<December 28, 2011> Multiple reports from The New York Times, Reuters, the Nikkei and others say that Sony Corp. has decided to pull out of its joint venture with Samsung called S-LCD Corp. Launched in 2004, the JV manufactured LCD TVs in South Korea for both partners and was Sony’s attempt to catch up with the rest of the industry after its disastrous decision to stay with analog sets as everyone else turned to flat panels. [Read more…] about Sony Decides to Stop Sleeping With the Enemy; Breaks Off Samsung Partnership
Asian Connection
Toshiba to Close Three Chip Plants as Demand Slacks for TVs & PCs
<November 30, 2011> Toshiba Corporation said today in Tokyo that it will close three of its six factories in Japan producing so-called discrete or single-function chips which are widely used in the electronics business. A very competitive part of the chip business, Toshiba has struggled to maintain profits in this division as competitors such as Samsung put downward pressure on the pricing – and profits – for these chips. [Read more…] about Toshiba to Close Three Chip Plants as Demand Slacks for TVs & PCs
Pioneer, Pummeled by Problems, Reveals Revised Recovery Plans
<November 30, 2011> On Tuesday, Pioneer Corporation released its revised medium-term business plan designed to rebuild their sales and profits after a tough year of environmental and economic challenges including earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan and Thailand, as well as a global economic slowdown. The company also revised its forecast for the results of the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 showing a slightly better outcome than the last revised guidance offered. [Read more…] about Pioneer, Pummeled by Problems, Reveals Revised Recovery Plans