sharp

Sharp to miss investment deadline issued by Qualcomm -- report

After failing to advance far enough toward a manufacturing process goal, Sharp says that it will miss a March 29 deadline to receive the second half of a $120 million investment from chipmaker Qualcomm.

In December, the ailing Japanese electronics maker said it reached a partnership with U.S.-based Qualcomm, which agreed to invest $120 million in a project to jointly develop display panels. However, as reported by Reuters, Qualcomm's conditions included the stipulation that Sharp meet strict deadlines to fabricate power-conserving screens, and as a result, Sharp will not yet be granted the remaining $60 million the … Read more

Sharp to take out $313 million in loans for ailing business -- report

Sharp, the ailing electronics maker that's in desperate need of cash, has decided to take out a major loan from three banks, according to a new report.

Sometime this week, Sharp will sign deals with three financial institutions for loans that equate to 30 billion yen ($313 million), Bloomberg is reporting, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the company's plans. Sharp hasn't publicly confirmed that it's getting loans, but a representative said that the company is hoping that many more banks will come to its aid.

Sharp has watched its business hemorrhage cash over … Read more

Sharp wouldn't sell copier, printer business to Samsung -- report

Samsung and Sharp might have come to an ownership agreement, but the deal doesn't include the Galaxy handset maker gobbling up a key piece of Sharp's business, according to a new report.

In the deal that results in Samsung acquiring a 3 percent stake in Sharp for $111 million, Samsung tried to acquire the printer and copier division. According to a Sharp spokeswoman who spoke to Reuters in an interview published today, her company declined Samsung's offer.

For Sharp, accepting such a deal would have been a catch-22. The company needs to repay a $2.1 billion … Read more

Foxconn won't be investing in Sharp after all, report says

It looks like Foxconn won't be investing in Sharp after all, according to a new report from an Asian newspaper.

The two companies, which have been talking to revise an earlier agreement, won't reach a new deal by a March 26 deadline, according to Reuters, citing an Asahi report. The publication said Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou informed Sharp's bankers that there'd be no deal this month but that he'd again consider an investment after Sharp creates a new business plan in the near future.

The Asahi newspaper didn't say where it got the information, … Read more

Samsung's investment in Sharp could prick Apple

Apple just can't get away from Samsung.

With Apple reportedly trying to reduce its reliance on Samsung, things just got a bit harder with the Korean company investing $111 million for a 3 percent stake in another big Apple supplier: Sharp.

While Samsung says it won't get involved with Sharp's business management in "any way or form," it will be getting a "steady" supply of LCD (liquid crystal display) panels used for smartphone and tablet displays. And it probably will get a line of sight into Sharp's future products and customers, as … Read more

Samsung invests $111M in Sharp to buoy display business

Samsung has agreed to invest 10.4 billion yen, or about $111.3 million, in Sharp, helping buoy the struggling display maker.

Sharp said it will issue 35.8 million shares to give Samsung's Japanese electronics unit an approximate 3 percent stake in the company. Sharp noted in a press release that the investment "is to build up mutual trust" in the liquid crystal display business and at the same time boost Sharp's capital position.

The new partnership will ensure that Samsung receives a steady supply of large LCD panels for TVs and small and medium … Read more

Samsung said to be eyeing $107 million investment in Sharp

As Sharp works to restructure and stay afloat, word has it that Samsung may come in to help. According to Bloomberg, Samsung is reportedly in talks to invest roughly 10 billion yen, or $107 million, in the ailing Japanese consumer-electronics maker.

People familiar with the situation told Bloomberg that details of the possible partnership could be announced as soon as today, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Sharp has had a rough go over the past couple of years. The electronics manufacturer saw sales drop 16 percent year-over-year to 1.1 trillion yen, or $13.7 billion, in the six … Read more

Sharp, Foxconn deal seems increasingly unlikely -- report

Sharp and Foxconn Technology Group likely won't arrive at a deal by the time their negotiations are scheduled to end in March, a new report claims.

The companies have been in talks for months for Foxconn to acquire a stake in Sharp, but they haven't been able to come to terms. Citing people who claim to have knowledge of the companies' negotiation, Bloomberg is reporting today that they can't come to agreement on the share price Foxconn would pay to acquire a piece of Sharp. The companies are also unwilling to agree on corporate control and overarching … Read more

Dell's U2413 monitor is a good thing in a small package

Less than a year after it released the U2412M, Dell's added a new 24-inch monitor to its lineup. The U2413 is engineered for color-critical work and is currently available at $599.

The monitor has a 12-bit internal processor and is calibrated to support 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color space and 100 percent of sRGB. Ports on the monitor include USB 3.0, DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, DVI, and HDMI.

The model's high-performing predecessors set high expectations for the U2413's release. The U2412M was a highly rated monitor that performed well, but the U2413's 12-bit internal … Read more