Sharp Targets Turnaround of Toshiba PC Biz within 2 Years

June 6, 2018

Osaka- Sharp Corp. President Tai Jeng-wu on Wednesday indicated a target of turning around Toshiba Corp.'s <6502> personal computer operations in one or two years after Sharp acquires them in October.

Speaking to reporters, Tai expressed confidence about realizing such a turnaround and securing investment returns.

Sharp announced the previous day that it will buy an equity stake of 80.1 pct in Toshiba Client Solutions Co., currently wholly owned by Toshiba, for about 4 billion yen. Sharp will reenter the PC market, from which it withdrew in 2010.

In the year that ended in March this year, the Toshiba unit posted an operating loss of 8.4 billion yen. For the unit's early turnaround, Sharp is ready to employ measures used for its own rehabilitation under its Taiwanese parent, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.

The Sharp chief said the company will initially focus on shoring up the PC unit's domestic sales while maintaining its famous Dynabook brand.

He expressed expectations for synergies between the PC company and Sharp's artificial intelligence and Internet of Things operations. Jiji Press