Sony, Sharp to delay LCD joint venture by 1 year

TOKYO Jan 29 (Reuters) - Sony Corp (6758.T) and Sharp Corp (6753.T) said on Thursday they will postpone the launch of their liquid crystal display joint venture by about one year, due to a shift in the economic environment.

The Japanese electronics companies now aim to seal an official contract by June and set up the joint venture, which will make and sell large liquid crystal display panels, by March 2010, they said in a joint statement.

Sharp has kept unchanged its plan to start operations at its new liquid crystal panel plant, currently under construction in Osaka, by March 2010, they said.

(Reporting by Yumiko Nishitani)