A look at Japan's Panasonic and Sanyo

Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:11 AM EST

Panasonic has begun talks to take over smaller Japanese rival Sanyo. A look at the two electronics makers:

— Panasonic Corp. dropped the name of its charismatic founder Konosuke Matsushita last month to take on its internationally known brand as its official name.

Founded: 1918

Headquarters: Osaka

Employees: 306,000

Revenue: Net sales of 9 trillion yen ($93 billion) in the last fiscal year, which ended March 31.

Products: Flat-panel TVs, digital cameras, video players, Blu-ray disc recorders, semiconductors, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, batteries, laptops, lighting, toilets, hair dryers, massage chairs, mobile phones, car navigation equipment, memory cards.

— Sanyo Electric Co., founded by Matsushita's brother-in-law, has been struggling, losing money in recent years as it fought scandals about falsified earnings and damage to plants from an earthquake.

Founded: 1947

Headquarters: Osaka

Employees: 100,000

Revenue: Net sales of 2 trillion yen ($21 billion in the fiscal year that ended March 31.

Products: TVs, digital cameras, auto batteries, solar cells, semiconductors, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, batteries, boilers, car navigation equipment, golf carts, security cameras.