Seiko Epson and Sanyo announced today that they will form a new company to go after the small/medium LCD display industry.

Seiko Epson Corporation and Sanyo Electronics Corporation announced o­n the 24th that they have reached an agreement to integrate their medium/small LCD display divisions, and establish a new jointly-operated company, to be named "Sanyo Epson Imaging Device Corporation."

The base target of the unification will be the manufacture/production of D-TDF, STN, Low-Temp Polysilicon TFT, and TFT LCD displays by Epson, Sanyo Electronics, Tottori Sanyo Electronics, and Sanyo LCD Engineering. Their main target will be LCD displays for cellular phones, digital cameras, and automobiles.

Not included in the unification is both companies' Organic EL projects, nor Epson's High-Temp Polysilicon TFT project.

The companies have said "Concentrating o­n our strong points - miniaturization, higher resolution, higher detail, manufacturing - we will learn from o­ne another's synergy." With the intensification of the price competition in the LCD display market, and to overcome the problems associated with R&D/equipment investment, the companies are aiming for "establishment of an overwhelming presence in the medium/small LCD display markets."

Epson will divide their LCD division and it will be absorbed into the aforementioned company. Sanyo Electronics, Tottori Sanyo Electronics, and Sanyo LCD Engineering will be assigned to be managed by the aforementioned company. The new company's establishment is set for October 2004. The income for these divisions included in the unification for 2003 was around 360,000,000,000 yen.

The investment ratio of Sanyo Epson Imaging Device Corporation will be 55% from Epson, and 45% from Sanyo Electronics. The Representative Director/President of the company will be the current Sanyo Electronics Performance Official Component Enterprise Group Display Company President, and Tottori Sanyo Electronics Manager Tabata Teruo. The Vice President of the company will be the current Senior Executive Manager of Epson's display division, Ariga Shuji. Including those two, there will be four managers from Epson, and three from Sanyo Electronics.

Inspired by:
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2004/0324/epson.htm

Press Release (Epson):
http://www.epson.co.jp/osirase/2004/040324.htm

Press Release (Sanyo Electronics):
http://www.sanyo.co.jp/koho/hypertext4/0403news-j/0324-2.html