On March 25, 2020, the exciting news about the planned joint venture combining NEC Display Solutions, Ltd. (NDS), a subsidiary of NEC Corporation, with Sharp Corporation was shared. Due to unforeseen delays from COVID-19 and the global pandemic, NEC and Sharp have mutually agreed to delay the launch date of the planned joint venture.
First announced in March, the completion of the transaction was originally planned for July 1, 2020. However, as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory approvals remain outstanding. Both companies are moving towards completion of those approvals, but uncontrollable variables have delayed the finalization of the joint venture. The transaction is now expected to be concluded in two to four months from the original July 1, 2020 date.
The Sharp and NEC joint venture, to be called Sharp NEC Display Solutions, will be mutually complementary and will allow both companies to build upon their strengths and address the visualization needs of their global customers. Both companies remain committed to the strategic rationale for the proposed joint venture and will provide further updates in due course. In the meantime, it remains business as usual for both Sharp and NEC Display Solutions.