Foxconn Completes Purchase Of Sharp -- WSJ
August 15 2016 - 3:03AM
Dow Jones News
By Takashi Mochizuki
TOKYO -- IPhone assembler Foxconn Technology Group completed its
$3.8 billion deal to buy electronics maker Sharp Corp. on Friday,
setting the stage for Taiwanese tycoon Terry Gou to rework the
troubled Japanese company.
Osaka-based Sharp said it received a Yen388.8 billion ($3.81
billion) cash infusion from Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai
Precision Industry Co., on Friday. In return, the Taiwanese
contract electronics assembler assumed a 66% stake in Sharp.
Sharp's chief executive, Kozo Takahashi, resigned Friday, with
Mr. Gou's right-hand man, Tai Jeng-wu, set to step in. Sharp's
board met Saturday and named him the new chief executive.
The series of actions represented the long-delayed denouement of
a deal that began to take shape early this year as Sharp teetered
because of big losses. Foxconn, which prospered by assembling
products such as Apple Inc.'s iPhone, saw in the century-old
Japanese company a chance to expand to branded electronic goods and
build a bigger business with Apple. Sharp supplies display panels
for major smartphone makers including Apple.
After nearly reaching a deal in early February, last-minute
hitches emerged and Mr. Gou spent a month negotiating a lower
price. Then, after the sides agreed on terms in late March, they
couldn't close the deal because a review by Chinese antitrust
authorities dragged on longer than expected. Beijing finally gave
the go-ahead on Thursday.
With the deal complete, Sharp faces changes. Mr. Gou has
improved profitability at a Sharp display factory in Japan that he
has operated for several years through a joint venture, and he has
signaled job cuts are in store at Sharp. Also, analysts say melding
the corporate cultures may be a challenge as Sharp employees come
to terms with the army-like atmosphere at their new Taiwanese
parent.
Sharp is known for innovative consumer-electronic products such
as microwave ovens, air purifiers and, more recently, a
robot-smartphone hybrid called Robohon. But it ran into financial
trouble as its consumer-electronics business encountered new Asian
competition and as it became too reliant on the volatile
display-panel business for growth. Price pressure from South Korean
and Chinese rivals worsened Sharp's standing.
Foxconn hopes to leverage Sharp's assets to diversify its
business portfolio, as its core electronics-manufacturing service
offers razor-thin profit margins. When times are good, display
panels can offer wider profit margins, and Mr. Gou has said he
would accelerate Sharp's efforts to produce organic light-emitting
diode, or OLED, displays.
South Korean companies have the lead in OLED displays, which
could offer more flexibility and energy efficiency than today's
standard liquid-crystal displays. Apple is expected to adopt OLED
for some iPhones and iPads as early as next year, analysts say.
Foxconn's backing of Sharp could threaten other Apple suppliers
including struggling Japan Display Inc ., given Mr. Gou's
familiarity with the Apple business.
Sharp said it has lined up Yen150 billion in credit from its
main lenders, the core banking units of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial
Group Inc. and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. The commitments were
requested by Foxconn as a requirement of the takeover deal.
Japan Industrial Solutions Co., a fund that had a stake in Sharp
and representation on the board, sold the holding at a 12% premium
to face value, said Sharp, which remains listed on the Tokyo Stock
Exchange.
Write to Takashi Mochizuki at takashi.mochizuki@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 15, 2016 02:48 ET (06:48 GMT)
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