Company:Sony Corporation of America

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Sony Corporation of America
TypeSubsidiary
Industry
FoundedFebruary 8, 1960; 66 years ago (1960-02-08)[1]
FounderAkio Morita
Headquarters25 Madison Avenue,
New York City
,
U.S.
Key people
Number of employees
33,234[2]
ParentSony Group Corporation
Websitesony.com/SCA

Sony Corporation of America[1] (SONAM,[3] also known as SCA) is the American arm of Japanese multinational conglomerate Sony Group Corporation.[4] Headquartered in New York City, the company manages Sony's business in the United States.[5]

Sony's principal U.S. businesses include Sony Corporation, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Music Group and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

It was reported in December 2016 by multiple news outlets that Sony was considering restructuring its U.S. operations by merging its television and film business, Sony Pictures Entertainment, with its gaming business, Sony Interactive Entertainment. According to the reports, such a restructuring would have placed Sony Pictures under Sony Interactive's then CEO, Andrew House, though he would not have assumed day-to-day operations of the film studio.[6][7][8] According to one report, Sony was set to make a final decision on the possibility of the merger of the television, film and gaming businesses by the end of its fiscal year in March of the following year (2017).[6] By January 2020, nothing had materialized.

Investments in the United States

Sony Group Corporation has been investing in the United States since the 1960s. Sony has made significant investments in various industries and has established a strong presence in the American market.

One of Sony's most notable investments in the US is in the entertainment industry. Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation, is a major player in the American film and television industry. The company produces, finances, and distributes a wide variety of content, including feature films, television shows, and streaming content. Sony Pictures has produced many successful and critically acclaimed movies, such as the Spider-Man and Jumanji franchises, as well as television shows like Breaking Bad and The Blacklist.[9]

In addition to the entertainment industry, Sony has also invested heavily in the gaming industry in the United States. Sony Interactive Entertainment, another subsidiary of Sony Corporation, is the company behind the PlayStation gaming console. The PlayStation has been a major player in the gaming market for decades and has consistently been one of the top-selling gaming consoles in the United States.[10]

Sony has also made investments in the technology and electronics industries in the United States. The company has manufacturing facilities and research and development centers in various states across the country, where they produce a wide range of products, including televisions, cameras, and audio equipment.[11]

Sony Corporation has made significant investments in the United States across multiple industries, including entertainment, gaming, technology, and electronics. The company's subsidiaries, such as Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Interactive Entertainment, have established a strong presence in the American market and have contributed to the growth of these industries. Sony's investments in the US have been successful and have helped to solidify the company's position as a major player in the global market. Sony is the tenth largest foreign direct investor in the United States, with investments worth more than $90 billion.[12] In 2021, more than half of Sony Corporation's revenue came from companies based in the United States.[13]

Sony Interactive Entertainment headquarters in San Mateo, California

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Main article: Company:Sony Interactive Entertainment

In 2016, Sony moved PlayStation, Sony's biggest brand by revenue, to the United States.[14] The largest acquisition by Sony Corporation was American video game company Bungie for $3.7 billion in 2022.[15] The PlayStation 4 was the most profitable console ever, selling over 117 million units, making it the fourth best-selling console of all time.[16] God of War became one of the 50 best-selling games of all time, selling 23 million units by November 2022.[17] Sony Interactive Entertainment's revenue was $25 billion in 2021. The PS5 became Sony's fastest-selling and most profitable console ever.[18]

Sony Pictures

Sony Pictures Entertainment headquarters in Culver City, California

On November 9, 1989, Sony entered the film industry by acquiring Columbia Pictures for $3.4 billion.[19] Columbia Pictures is considered one of the "Big Five" major American film studios. In 2021, Sony Pictures Entertainment became the highest earning film production company in the United States.

In 1999, Sony acquired the intellectual property (IP) movie rights to Spider-Man from Marvel Entertainment for $7 million.[20] The Spider-Man film franchise has grossed more than $9.8 billion, making it the fifth highest-grossing film franchise in history.[21] In 2021, Spider-Man: No Way Home became the seventh highest-grossing film of all time.[22]

On April 18, 2024, reports surfaced indicating Sony Pictures' interest in acquiring American media company Paramount Global through a joint buyout with Apollo Global Management. In May 2024, Sony Pictures and Apollo made an offer to acquire Paramount Global for $26 billion in cash.[23] The New York Times reported that the board of directors of Paramount Global formally initiated negotiations for the potential sale of the company with Sony and Apollo.[24] If the merger occurs, Sony would become as the third-largest movie company globally, following behind NBCUniversal and The Walt Disney Company, with Sony holding a 20.81% share in the US and Canada markets alone and Paramount Pictures becoming a sibling studio to Columbia Pictures and TriStar Pictures.[25] However, Skydance Media eventually became the emerging winner for the merger of Paramount.

Sony Music

On January 5, 1988, Sony entered the music industry by acquiring Sony Music (formerly CBS Records) for $2 Billion. With the $8.9 billion revenue in 2021, Sony Music Entertainment is the second largest of the "Big Three" record companies, behind Universal Music Group and followed by Warner Music Group.

List of American companies acquired by Sony

Acquired Company Business Value References
July 15, 2022 Bungie Video games $3.7 billion [15]
November 8, 1989 Columbia Pictures Movies/Television $3.4 billion [26]
January 5, 1988 CBS Records Music $2 billion [27]
August 9, 2021 Crunchyroll Video streaming service $1.17 billion [28]
November 18, 2019 Game Show Network Basic cable channel $500 million [29]
March 16, 2022 AWAL, Kobalt Neighboring Rights Music $430 million [30]
July 2, 2012 Gaikai Cloud gaming $380 million
March 3, 2022 Industrial Media Entertainment $350 million [31]
August 19, 2019 Insomniac Games Video games $229 million [32]
November 9, 1989 Guber-Peters Entertainment Movies/Television $200 million
June 12, 2024 Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Entertainment $200 million [33]
December 10, 2019 Sony Pictures Television Kids Movies/Television $195 million [34]
July 9, 2002 Acuff-Rose Music Music publishing $157 million
July 31, 2017 Funimation Entertainment $143 million [35]
January 22, 2001 Naughty Dog Video games [36]
December 1, 2000 Bend Studio Video games
August 2, 2011 Sucker Punch Productions Video games [37]
March 18, 2021 EVO Championship Esports [38]
September 30, 2021 Bluepoint Games Video games [39]
July 18, 2022 Repeat.gg Esports [40]
March 5, 2012 The Orchard Music [41]
August 4, 2022 Right Stuf Video publishing [42]
December 23, 2012 Ultra Records Music [43]
October 25, 2022 Pixomondo Visual effects [44]
April 20, 2023 Firewalk Studios Video games [45]
August 24, 2023 Audeze Music

List of stakes owned by Sony in American companies

In 2022, Sony announced that it will invest more than 1 billion in Epic Games. In total, Sony's total investment in Epic Games is worth 1.45 billion and they own 4.9% of Epic Games.[46]

Company Business Value Stakes % References
Epic Games Video games $1.45 billion 5.4% [47]
Discord Communication $100 million 1.4% [48]
Devolver Digital Video games $50 million 5.03% [49]

Former

Sony Entertainment

Sony Entertainment, Inc. dates back to March 30, 2012, when Michael Lynton, then-co-chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and executive vice president and general counsel of Sony, Nicole Seligman, were respectively named as CEO and president of Sony Corporation of America to oversee all of Sony's global entertainment businesses.[50] On April 9, 2013, Lynton renewed his contract with Sony and was elevated to the presidency at Sony Entertainment.[51]

On January 13, 2017, Lynton announced that he was stepping down as CEO of Sony Entertainment and Sony Pictures and chairman of the latter to become chairman for Snap Inc.[52][53] and was later replaced by Sony Pictures chairman and CEO Anthony Vinciquerra on 11 May 2017.[54]

News outlets including the New York Post, Complete Music Update and TheStreet reported on December 19, 2016, about Sony was considering a restructuring of its American operations by merging Sony Pictures with Sony Interactive Entertainment which would have placed Sony Pictures under Sony Interactive's then-CEO, Andrew House, though House wouldn't have taken over day-to-day operations of Sony Pictures.[55][56] However, a Sony spokesperson denounced any sort of planned merger or restructuring of any of the Sony media divisions at that time in an interview with the latter source.[57]

In 2019, the Sony Corporation, which had been operating as three separate companies (Sony Music Entertainment, Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Sony Pictures Entertainment), although on an integrated basis, underwent a fundamental restructuring. The music assets were consolidated under Sony Music Group while Sony Pictures Entertainment was divested as a standalone company, effectively dissolving the unit.[58]

Subsidiaries

  • Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
    • Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan
    • Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group
    • Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Inc.
    • Sony Pictures Television Inc.
    • Sony Pictures Experiences
  • Sony Music Group
  • Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC
  • Sony DADC US Inc.
  • Sony Mobile Communications (USA) Inc. (Sony Mobile Communications Inc.)[59]
  • Sony Immersive Music Entertainment (Sony Corporation of America)[60]

Other subsidiaries

  • Sony Plaza Public Arcade (New York City, New York)
  • Sony Optical Archive (formerly Optical Archive, San Jose, California)[61]
  • Sony Biotechnology (formerly iCyt Mission Technology, Champaign, Illinois)[62]
  • Micronics, Inc. (Redmond, Washington)[63]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sony Corporation of America". 1960-02-08. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ny/126313. 
  2. ↑ "Top Companies for | Find the Company". https://www.vault.com/company-profiles/general-consumer-products/sony-corporation-of-america. 
  3. ↑ "Sony Japan | Sony History 第10章 ソニーアメリカの設立". https://www.sony.co.jp/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/SonyHistory/1-10.html. 
  4. ↑ "Corporate Fact Sheet". http://www.sony.com/SCA/index.shtml. 
  5. ↑ "Who We Are". Sony Corporation of America. https://www.sony.com/en_us/SCA/who-we-are/overview.html. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Aldrich, Rachel (12 December 2016). "Why would Sony merge its gaming and film units?" (in en). TheStreet. https://www.thestreet.com/story/13922321/1/why-would-sony-merge-its-gaming-and-film-units.html. 
  7. ↑ Atkinson, Claire (12 December 2016). "Sony considers merging gaming and film divisions". New York Post. https://nypost.com/2016/12/11/sony-considers-merging-gaming-and-film-divisions/. 
  8. ↑ Cooke, Chris. "Revamp of Sony's entertainment business could more closely align Sony Music with Sony/ATV". http://www.completemusicupdate.com/article/revamp-of-sonys-entertainment-business-could-more-closely-align-sony-music-with-sonyatv/. 
  9. ↑ Mendelson, Scott. "Box Office: 'Jumanji: The Next Level' Is An Unprecedented Success" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/12/15/jumanji-the-next-level-weekend-box-office-60-million-dwayne-johnson-kevin-hart-jack-black-karen-gillan-awkafina/. 
  10. ↑ Gray, Jasmine (2022-08-25). "The 10 Largest Video Game Companies In The World, And What They Do" (in en-US). https://history-computer.com/largest-video-game-companies-in-the-world-and-what-they-do/. 
  11. ↑ "Sony Manufacturers | Suppliers of Sony (US Import Trade Data) — Panjiva" (in en). https://panjiva.com/Manufacturers-Of/sony. 
  12. ↑ "The Largest Foreign Investments In The U.S." (in en). https://www.forbes.com/2008/04/10/foreign-investment-stocks-2000global08-biz-cx_do_0410investments.html. 
  13. ↑ Osati, Sohrab (2020-08-06). "Sony Q1 2020 earnings overview: revenue 👆 2%, profits 👇 1%" (in en). https://sonyreconsidered.com/sony-q1-2020-earnings-overview-revenue-2-profits-1-f467dafe5609. 
  14. ↑ "StackPath". January 26, 2016. https://www.industryweek.com/technology-and-iiot/article/21967304/sony-moves-playstation-business-to-the-us. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Peters, Jay (2022-07-15). "Bungie is now officially part of Sony" (in en). https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/15/23220335/bungie-sony-acquisition-complete-official-done. 
  16. ↑ "PS4 is more profitable than any console in video game history" (in en). 2020-10-28. https://www.gamesradar.com/ps4-is-more-profitable-than-any-console-in-video-game-history/. 
  17. ↑ Wood, Anthony (2022-11-01). "God of War Sales Pass 23 Million Copies" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/god-of-war-sales-pass-23-million-copies. 
  18. ↑ Keane, Sean. "PS5 sales surpass 10 million, making it Sony's fastest-selling console" (in en). https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/ps5-sales-surpass-10-million-after-8-months/. 
  19. ↑ "Sony Completes $3.4-Billion Acquisition of Columbia". 1989-11-08. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-08-fi-1040-story.html. 
  20. ↑ "Why Sony Only Bought The Rights To Spider-Man From Marvel" (in en). 2018-02-15. https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2312272/why-sony-only-bought-the-rights-to-spider-man-from-marvel. 
  21. ↑ Whitten, Sarah (January 31, 2021). "The 13 highest-grossing film franchises at the box office" (in en). https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/31/the-13-highest-grossing-film-franchises-at-the-box-office.html. 
  22. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (2022-01-23). "'Spider-Man: No Way Home' Swings to Sixth-Highest Grossing Movie in History With $1.69 Billion Globally" (in en-US). https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/spiderman-no-way-home-sixth-highest-grossing-movie-1235160945/. 
  23. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2024-05-02). "Sony Pictures, Apollo Offer to Buy Paramount Global for $26 Billion in Cash" (in en-US). https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/sony-apollo-paramount-global-acquisition-offer-cash-1235981220/. 
  24. ↑ Mullin, Benjamin; Hirsch, Lauren (2024-05-05). "Sony and Apollo in Talks to Acquire Paramount" (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/05/business/media/sony-apollo-paramount.html. 
  25. ↑ "Distributors Movie Breakdown for 2023". https://www.the-numbers.com/market/2023/distributors. 
  26. ↑ "Sony Completes $3.4-Billion Acquisition of Columbia". 1989-11-08. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-08-fi-1040-story.html. 
  27. ↑ "Sony completes $2 billion purchase of CBS Records" (in en). https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/01/05/Sony-completes-2-billion-purchase-of-CBS-Records/2527568357200/. 
  28. ↑ Moore, D. M. (2020-12-09). "Funimation officially acquires anime streaming service Crunchyroll for $1.175B" (in en-US). https://www.polygon.com/2020/12/9/21547657/sonys-funimation-acquires-crunchyroll-deal-price-watching-anime. 
  29. ↑ Hayes, Dade (2019-11-18). "Sony Acquires AT&T's 42% Game Show Network Stake In Deal Worth $500M" (in en-US). https://deadline.com/2019/11/sony-acquires-atts-42-game-show-network-stake-in-deal-worth-500m-1202789119/. 
  30. ↑ "Sony Music Acquires Kobalt's Label and Neighboring Rights Division". 1 February 2021. https://variety.com/2021/music/news/sony-music-acquires-kobalt-label-neighboring-rights-1234897177/. 
  31. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2022-03-03). "Sony Pictures Television Acquires Industrial Media In $300M+ Deal, Restructures Its Unscripted Operations" (in en-US). https://deadline.com/2022/03/sony-pictures-television-acquires-industrial-media-unscripted-operations-restructure-90-day-fiance-1234969962/. 
  32. ↑ Reichert, Corinne. "Sony paid $229 million for Insomniac Games" (in en). https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/sony-paid-229-million-for-insomniac-games/. 
  33. ↑ Maruf, Ramishah (2024-06-12). "Sony Pictures is buying Alamo Drafthouse | CNN Business" (in en). https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/12/media/sony-pictures-buys-alamo-drafthouse/index.html. 
  34. ↑ Clarke, Stewart (2019-12-10). "Sony Pictures Television Buys Silvergate Media, Producer of 'Octonauts' and 'Hilda,' for $195 Million (EXCLUSIVE)" (in en-US). https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/sony-pictures-television-buys-silvergate-media-octonauts-hilda-producer-1203431092/. 
  35. ↑ "Feds OK Sony Purchase of Funimation" (in en). 2017-08-22. https://www.nexttv.com/news/feds-ok-sony-purchase-funimation-414752. 
  36. ↑ "Sony announces dual acquisitions" (in en-US). https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-announces-dual-acquisitions/1100-2677089/. 
  37. ↑ "SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES SUCKER PUNCH PRODUCTIONS, DEVELOPER OF TOP SELLING INFAMOUS FRANCHISE". 2011-08-19. http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/110802_e.html. 
  38. ↑ "Sony Buys Evo" (in en-us). 2021-03-18. https://kotaku.com/sony-buys-evo-1846507520. 
  39. ↑ "Sony buys Demon's Souls remake developer Bluepoint Games" (in en-gb). Eurogamer.net. 2021-09-30. https://www.eurogamer.net/sony-buys-demons-souls-remake-developer-bluepoint-games. 
  40. ↑ "PlayStation continues esports expansion with Repeat.gg acquisition" (in en). 2022-07-18. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playstation-to-buy-repeat-gg-as-it-continues-esports-expansion. 
  41. ↑ Christman, Ed (2012-03-06). "Orchard, IODA Merging; Sony Music To Invest In New Company: Sources" (in en-US). Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/orchard-ioda-merging-sony-music-to-invest-in-new-company-sources-1098586/. Retrieved 2022-11-06. 
  42. ↑ "Crunchyroll Purchases Anime Retailer Right Stuf" (in en). https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-08-04/crunchyroll-purchases-anime-retailer-right-stuf/.188366. 
  43. ↑ Billboard Staff (2013-01-24). "Ultra Music and Sony Announce Partnership, Patrick Moxey Named President of Electronic Music" (in en-US). Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ultra-music-and-sony-announce-partnership-patrick-moxey-1521649/. Retrieved 2022-11-06. 
  44. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (2022-10-25). "Sony Pictures Entertainment Acquires VFX Company Pixomondo (EXCLUSIVE)" (in en-US). https://variety.com/2022/artisans/news/sony-pictures-entertainment-acquires-vfx-company-pixomondo-1235413544/. 
  45. ↑ B2B, Christopher Dring Head of Games (2023-04-20). "PlayStation to acquire AAA multiplayer developer Firewalk Studios" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playstation-to-acquire-aaa-multiplayer-developer-firewalk-studios. 
  46. ↑ Stewart, Marcus. "Sony Invests $1 Billion Into Epic Games' Metaverse Development" (in en). Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/04/11/sony-invests-1-billion-into-epic-games-metaverse-development. Retrieved 2022-09-15. 
  47. ↑ "Sony makes $1bn investment in Epic Games 'to deepen relationship in the metaverse field'" (in en-GB). 2022-04-11. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sony-makes-1bn-investment-in-epic-games-to-deepen-relationship-in-the-metaverse-field/. 
  48. ↑ Shaun Prescott (2021-05-03). "Sony makes minority investment in Discord following halt in Microsoft buyout talks" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/sony-makes-minority-investment-in-discord-following-halt-in-microsoft-buyout-talks/. 
  49. ↑ "Sony Takes 5% Stake In Devolver, Which Has Gone Public" (in en-US). https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-takes-5-stake-in-devolver-which-has-gone-public/1100-6497701/. 
  50. ↑ "Michael Lynton Named CEO of Sony Corporation of America; Nicole Seligman to Become SCA President". 30 March 2012. https://www.sonypictures.com/corp/press_releases/2012/03_12/20120330_lynton.html. 
  51. ↑ "Michael Lynton Re-Ups As CEO Of Sony Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood (Penske Media Corporation). 9 April 2013. https://deadline.com/2013/04/michael-lynton-re-ups-as-ceo-of-sony-entertainment-470992/. 
  52. ↑ Flemming, Jr., Mike; Busch, Anita; Lieberman, David (13 January 2017). "Michael Lynton Is Out As CEO Of Sony Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. https://deadline.com/2017/01/michael-lynton-out-sony-pictures-1201885958/. 
  53. ↑ Rainey, James (13 January 2017). "Michael Lynton Exits Sony Pictures Entertainment to Become Chair of Snapchat". Variety (Penske Media Corporation). https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/michael-lynton-out-at-sony-pictures-entertainment-1201960312/. 
  54. ↑ Busch, Anita (11 May 2017). "Tony Vinciquerra Named Chairman/CEO Of Sony Pictures Entertainment Replacing Outgoing Exec Michael Lynton". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. https://deadline.com/2017/05/tony-vinciquerra-named-chairmanceo-sony-pictures-entertainment-1202089700/. 
  55. ↑ Atkinson, Claire (12 December 2016). "Sony considers merging gaming and film divisions". https://nypost.com/2016/12/11/sony-considers-merging-gaming-and-film-divisions/. 
  56. ↑ Cooke, Chris (12 December 2016). "Revamp of Sony's entertainment business could more closely align Sony Music with Sony/ATV". http://www.completemusicupdate.com/article/revamp-of-sonys-entertainment-business-could-more-closely-align-sony-music-with-sonyatv/. 
  57. ↑ Aldrich, Rachel (12 December 2016). "Sony Reportedly May Merge Its Gaming and Film Units". https://www.thestreet.com/story/13922321/1/why-would-sony-merge-its-gaming-and-film-units.html. "A Sony spokesman said no such merger is planned." 
  58. ↑ Ingham, Tim (October 22, 2019). "Is Sony Finally Realizing Its Global Cross-Media Potential?". https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/is-sony-finally-realizing-its-global-cross-media-potential-901612/. 
  59. ↑ "Company Overview of Sony Mobile Communications (USA) Inc.". July 6, 2023. https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=24965698. 
  60. ↑ "Madison Beer Creates Ultra-Realistic Immersive Reality Concert Experience With Sony Music Entertainment and Verizon" (Press release). Sony Music. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  61. ↑ "Sony to Acquire Optical Archive Inc.". Sony Corporation of America. 2015-05-27. https://www.sony.com/en_us/SCA/company-news/press-releases/sony-corporation-of-america/2015/sony-to-acquire-optical-archive-inc.html. 
  62. ↑ "iCyt Mission Technology Renamed Sony Biotechnology". Sony Corporation of America. 2012-10-18. http://www.sony.com/SCA/press/icyt_rebranding.pdf. 
    - "Sony Enters the Flow Cytometry Business in Life Science Field by Acquiring iCyt". iCyt. http://www.i-cyt.com/news/2010/sony-icyt-merger.htm. 
  63. ↑ "Sony acquires Micronics, Inc., US diagnostic device development venture, Acquisition to accelerate development and commercialization of Point of Care diagnostic products". Sony Corporation. 2011-09-28. http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201109/11-123E/index.html. 



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