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Sony produced Vaio laptops between 1994 and 2014, signifying nearly two decades for the brand before its expensive production costs, alongside competition from companies like Dell and Lenovo, forced a sale. In February 2014, Sony revealed plans to overhaul its PC and TV business strategy. This restructuring would divert attention away from the company’s computer business, as its profit targets for computers and TVs — reported together in financial statements — were deemed unachievable for the fiscal year concluding in March 2014.
The financial pressure on Sony from Vaio was worsened by an unprecedented downturn in the PC market in 2013, which saw shipments fall by 9.8%. On July 1, 2014, Sony officially severed ties with Vaio, transferring a significant portion of the brand to Japan Industrial Partners (JIP), who took over 95% while Sony retained a 5% minority interest. JIP is an equity firm located in Tokyo that specializes in corporate carve-out investment opportunities in Japan.