Sony is paying Michael Jackson's estate $750m (£526m) for the late pop star's share of a joint music publishing venture that it does not already own.
Jackson held a 50% stake in Sony ATV Music Publishing as part of a business partnership that began in 1995.

The purchase will give Sony the rights to about three million songs, including works by the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift. However, the deal does not include Jackson's master recordings. His estate will maintain its holdings in Mijac Music, which owns all the songs written by Jackson, as well as EMI Music Publishing.

The agreement will reportedly help reduce the Jackson estate's remaining $250m debt and give the late musician's three children more financial flexibility.

The purchase of Jackson's stake also strengthens Sony's US entertainment business, which includes a film studio and music recording company.
"The entertainment businesses have long been a core part of Sony and are a key driver of our future growth," Kazuo Hirai, Sony's president and chief executive, said in a statement.