On June 16, 2024, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese manufacturer of passive electronic components, announced plans to sell its button battery business to Maxell Corporation for JPY 8 billion (approximately USD 51 million). The transaction is expected to be finalized by the end of fiscal year 2025.

The business generates annual sales of around JPY 10 billion (approximately USD 63 million) and includes three main types of primary batteries: lithium manganese button cells, silver oxide batteries, and alkaline button batteries. These products are primarily used in devices such as wristwatches and thermometers, and are produced at Murata facilities including those located in Fukushima, Japan.

Murata originally acquired the business from Sony in 2017 for approximately JPY 17.5 billion. However, the segment has faced ongoing challenges, culminating in an impairment loss of JPY 49.4 billion for the fiscal year ended March 2024. The divestment will allow Murata to refocus resources on its core strength—developing cylindrical lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.

For Maxell, the acquisition marks a strategic move to reinforce its primary battery operations, which have been designated as a key area for growth. President Keiji Nakamura stated that demand has outpaced Maxell’s current production capacity, and the company intends to leverage Murata’s manufacturing infrastructure to expand output. Both firms anticipate that the integration of their technologies will lead to enhanced product performance and new innovations.

Established in 1960, Maxell was the first Japanese company to domestically manufacture alkaline dry batteries and floppy disks. The brand name "Maxell" derives from "Maximum Capacity Dry Cell." In April 2024, Maxell announced its exit from the prismatic lithium-ion battery market and the dissolution of its Chinese subsidiary, Wuxi Maxell Energy Co., Ltd., as part of a broader corporate restructuring initiative.