夏普拟再出售液晶面板厂，买家是？

Core Viewpoint - Sharp is strategically divesting its LCD panel production facilities to focus on high-growth, high-margin sectors such as automotive, VR, and AI, amidst a declining profitability trend in the LCD panel market due to increased competition and technological advancements in OLED and Mini/Micro LED technologies [2][3]. Group 1: Business Adjustments - Sharp plans to sell its second LCD panel factory in Kameyama to its parent company Foxconn, marking another step in its strategy to reduce its LCD panel business [1][8]. - The company has reported cumulative losses of 410 billion yen for the fiscal years 2022-2023, prompting a shift from heavy asset reliance in LCD production to a lighter asset model [3][8]. - Sharp aims to transform into a brand-centric enterprise, focusing on high-value sectors while divesting from low-margin LCD production [3][8]. Group 2: Timeline of Asset Sales - On May 14, 2024, Sharp announced the closure of its Sakai 10th generation factory, which primarily produced large LCD TV panels, with full production ceasing by the third quarter of 2024 [4][5]. - Sharp has reached agreements to sell parts of the Sakai factory site to KDDI for an AI data center, expected to be operational by 2026 [6]. - In March 2025, Sharp signed a deal with SoftBank for the sale of the Sakai factory and land for approximately 100 billion yen, aiming to develop a large data center in collaboration with OpenAI [7]. - The company also sold its first factory in Mie Prefecture to Aoi Electronics, which plans to introduce semiconductor packaging lines there by 2027 [7]. Group 3: Financial Performance - Sharp reported a net profit of 36.1 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, marking its first profit in three years, compared to a loss of 149.98 billion yen in the previous year [9][8]. - The company’s net sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, were 2,160.15 million yen, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 7% [9]. Group 4: Industry Trends - The LCD panel industry is undergoing consolidation, with a shift towards higher generation panel production and a focus on improving profitability through strategic mergers and acquisitions [10][11]. - Demand for larger panels is increasing, which is expected to help normalize inventory levels and drive future growth in panel shipments [12]. - The industry is moving towards a more balanced supply-demand dynamic, with manufacturers adjusting production rates in response to market fluctuations [12].