Hisense acquires Sharp America for $23.7m

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In another sign of consolidation in the TV manufacturing market, Sharp America has been taken over by Chinese electronics giant Hisense.

The deal sees Hisense buying all equity and assets of Sharp's TV factory in Mexico, as well as the right to use the Sharp brand name in north and south America. Sharp pulled out of the European TV market last year.

Hisense, formed in 1969, claims to be the fourth largest TV manufacturer in the world, selling its products in more than 130 countries, although it has yet to become a household name in the UK. It is planning to launch a range of 4K TVs in the UK later this year and employs 75,000 people worldwide, generating sales of $16bn in 2014. The firm also has a stake in Loewe, supplying panels for the high-end German TV company.

Sharp was established in 1912 and made its name as one of the early pioneers of LCD TVs. More recently it has focused on a new range of 4K Ultra HD TVs running the Android TV platform.

MORE: See all our Sharp reviews

Andy Clough
Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.