Sharp has just announced that it’s getting a £73 million shot in the arm from Samsung. In turn, that will help guarantee Sammy as many LCD panels as it can use.
The sum actually buys Samsung a three-per cent stake in Sharp — which sounds small but in fact makes it the biggest shareholder that isn’t a financial institution (and the fifth-largest stakeholder overall!). In other words, that buys it power — and, crucially, access to Sharp’s LCD supply. It’s expected that Samsung will lap up its 32-inch television screens, in particular.
Sharp had previously been in talks with Taiwanese Hon Hai Precision to strike a similar deal, which fell through when Sharp’s share price faltered. Sammy’s gain, it seems.