Chronology

2010

Akira Saeki, corporate senior advisor and former president, passes away
Develops high-conversion-efficiency solar cells
Starts production of solar cells at Green Front Sakai
Solar cell business recognized as IEEE Milestone
Establishes Sharp Corporation Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (SCMEX) as sales base in Mexico
Establishes Enel Green Power & Sharp Solar Energy S.r.l. (ESSE) as independent power producer in Italy
Establishes 3 Sun S.r.l. as manufacturing base in Italy
Establishes Sharp Electronics Research & Development (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. (SERD) as design and development base in China
Acquires Recurrent Energy, LLC, a US developer of solar power plants

2011

Establishes Sharp Laboratories of China Co., Ltd. (SLC) as R&D base in China
Establishes Sharp Solar Maintenance Asia Co., Ltd. (SSMA) as maintenance company for solar power plants in Thailand
Establishes Sharp Brasil Comércio e Distribuição de Artigos Eletrônicos Ltda. (SBCD) as sales base in Brazil
Establishes Sharp (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (SCIC) as Chinese headquarters

2012

Executive Managing Officer Takashi Okuda named president; President Mikio Katayama named chairman
Starts mass production of LCD panels using IGZO (oxide semiconductor) technology
Establishes Sharp Electronics (Europe) Limited (SEE) as European headquarters in the UK
Celebrates 100th anniversary of company founding
Forms capital alliance with Qualcomm Incorporated and signs joint development agreement for next-generation MEMS displays

2013

Reorganizes Japanese domestic sales companies: establishes Sharp Business Solutions Corporation (SBS) to handle B2B sales; changes name of solar and energy-related sales company to Sharp Energy Solutions Corporation (SESJ)
Strengthens alliance with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. in LCD business and forms capital alliance with its Japanese subsidiary Samsung Electronics Japan Co., Ltd.
Crystal Clear Solar, a joint venture of Sharp and Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd., starts operation of solar power plants in Osaka and several other locations in Japan
Starts production of IGZO LCD panels for notebook PCs
Construction completed on solar power plant in Thailand
Executive Vice President Kozo Takashi named president; Takashi Okuda named chairman
Enters into LED and laser diode patent cross-licensing agreement with OSRAM GmbH
Starts operations of new home appliance plant in Karawang, Indonesia
Enters into collaborative partnership with Denso Corporation, forms capital alliances with Makita Corporation and Lixil Corporation, and issues new shares through third-party allotment with the three companies
Increases capital through public stock offering

2014

50th anniversary since releasing the first calculator in Japan
Develops Free-Form Display that enables the creation of new display designs to match a variety of applications
14-Inch TFT-LCD Recognized as IEEE Milestone
Opens multipurpose space for solution proposals at "ABENO HARUKAS" (Abeno-ku, Osaka), the tallest building complex in Japan

2015

Representative Director and Executive Vice President Shigeaki Mizushima named chairman
Issuance of Class Shares by third party allotment to Mizuho Bank Ltd., The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ. Ltd., and Japan Industrial Solutions
New FFD (Free Form Display) technology developed allowing designers to integrate a display of virtually any shape into their products
Crystal Clear Solar, a joint venture of Sharp and Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd., expands operation area of solar power plants to Hokkaido and other locations in Japan
Industry first products such as "AQUOS 4K NEXT" 4K LCD TV realizing 8K equivalent display, "Healsio Hotcook" and "DC Hybrid Air Conditioner" introduced

2016

World's first Plasmacluster Air Purifier with Mosquito catcher without using chemicals introduced to Japanese market (introduced to ASEAN market in September 2015)
Announces strategic alliance with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
Reassignment to 2nd Section from 1st Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange
Head office relocated from Osaka City (22-22, Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City) to Sakai City (1 Takumi-cho, Sakai-ku, Sakai City)
Sharp's shares of 388.8 billion yen in total subscribed to Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. and 3 others
J.W. Tai (Executive V.P. of Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.) named president

2010 -