“U.S.-based Intel Corp and Qualcomm Inc are in talks to jointly invest about 30 billion yen ($378 million) in debt-stricken Japanese consumer electronics maker Sharp Corp, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday,” Reiji Murai reports for Reuters. “Sharp may reach an agreement as early as the end of this month with Qualcomm, said one source, who asked not to be identified as he was not authorized to speak to the media.”

“Sharp, whose displays are used in Apple Inc’s iPads and iPhones, has foundered as the strong yen has increased its manufacturing costs in the face of competition from foreign rivals such as Samsung Electronics Co. ,” Murai reports. “Sharp has been in talks for months with Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, which is considering becoming the century-old Japanese firm’s biggest shareholder, but has said it is looking at other alliances as well.”

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