Finally: Sharp/Sony LCD factory up and official

The recent economic problems have made things slow way down for this deal to go through, but Sharp and Sony have finally completed a billion dollar joint deal that has Sony taking a 7% stake later this year and stepping up to 34% by the end of April 2011, in a much-needed partnership between two companies struggling to sell units.

Production access is the big draw for Sony, while Sharp views this as the first of 2-3 deals to help them sell the 13+ million 42″ers produced each year to other manufacturers and companies under various nameplates.

The Nikkei says other partnerships with Toshiba and various other Europe companies are in the cards, so after October (when the plant will open) whatever name is on the front of your TV, there’s a 50/50 chance it will originate at this factory.