Samsung Electronics to transfer solar battery business to SDI

Samsung Electronics Co., the world's top memory chip maker, will unload its solar battery business to its affiliate Samsung SDI Co. for 160.8 billion won (US$147.6 million), the companies said Friday, in an apparent bid to revitalize the team's disappointing performance,

The boards of the two companies each approved the plan, which calls for Samsung Electronics to hand over its solar battery workforce and equipment to Samsung SDI as of July 1, they said in separate regulatory filings. About 300 employees will be affected.

The decision was made to streamline and to maintain focus on the tech titan's electronics business, which spans from memory chips, LCD panels, mobile phones, TVs, home appliances and personal computers, the companies said.

Samsung SDI, which makes hybrid electric car batteries, expects to boost its energy business through the acquisition, it said.

Solar batteries were one of the five areas that Samsung Group, the parent of the tech juggernaut, had planned to nurture as new revenue sources for the long run. The four other areas were hybrid car batteries, light-emitting diode (LED), biomedicine and medical equipment.

The group's flagship unit, Samsung Electronics, which is the world's top supplier of LCD panels and flat-screen TVs, has been tasked with producing solar battery cells and modules since 2009.

Samsung set its solar battery revenue target at 10 trillion won ($9.18 billion) in 2020 and investment goal at 6 trillion won.

Earlier this month, Rhee In-yong, a senior vice president and chief spokesman, denied rumors that Samsung is reassessing its solar battery business after the team failed to make a mark in the past two years, adding that the group's solar battery plan remained unchanged.

Each of Samsung's units is charged with a part of the solar battery business, including Samsung Corning Precision Glass Co. making wafers, Samsung Everland Inc. building a solar power plant and Samsung C&T Corp. operating the plant.

Source: http://bit.ly/

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U.S. Households Spending Down on Consumer Electronics

According to a study released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the average U.S. household spent $1,179 on consumer electronics (CE) products in the past 12 months, $201 less than the year before. CEA’s “13th Annual Household CE Ownership and Market Potential Study,” conducted from January 27–31, 2011, found the average adult spent $652 on CE products in the past 12 months, down from $794 the 12 months before. Women spent, on average, $520 on CE, down $111 from last year’s study. Men reported spending $793, down $176 from the 12 months before. The average household reports owning 24 discrete CE products, down slightly from 25 devices last year.

“Several factors have led to a decrease in spending, including changes in consumer purchase patterns, product consolidation, decreasing price points and the high unemployment rate,” said Brian Markwalter, CEA’s senior vice president of research and standards.

The study also found that video products continue to be the most-owned CE device. Forty percent of televisions in U.S. households are HDTVs with LCD TVs the preferred choice. Internet-connected TVs and 3DTVs, both included in the study for the first time this year, are two new products driving video growth. In particular, broadband-enabled TVs are expected to have a quick uptake with 10 percent of consumers planning to purchase an Internet-connected TV in the next year.

Household penetration for LCD TVs grew the most of any CE device over the past 12 months as well, growing 12 percent year-over-year. Wireless CE products also gained momentum among U.S. households. Ownership of eReaders doubled to 13 percent over the past 12 months. Additionally, more than one-third of households now own a smartphone and almost one in 10 households own a tablet computer. These products are expected to see increased penetration in the marketplace this year as they were among the top devices consumers intend to purchase.

The study showed that households are increasingly streaming video content through their devices. Subscriptions to movie rental services experienced a 40-percent growth year-over-year. With more than 28 million subscribers, content providers have enabled access to services directly through displays, game consoles and other set-top boxes connected to the Internet. Greater broadband access will continue to increase streaming video subscriptions.

Source: http://bit.ly/jirmXd

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Samsung Electronics announces first quarter 2011 results

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced revenues of $206.2m on a consolidated basis for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011, a -7% increase year-on-year. For the quarter, the company posted consolidated net income of $194.3m, representing a -30% decrease year-on-year. Consolidated operating profit for the quarter was $206.2m.

In its earnings guidance disclosed on April 7, Samsung estimated first-quarter consolidated revenues would reach approximately $258.6bn with an operating profit of $20.3bn.

By business, Telecom, Semiconductor and Digital Media & Appliances drove revenue growth in the quarter. The Semiconductor Business saw sales jump -12% year-on-year thanks to stronger demand for NAND products used in smartphones and tablet PCs, while the Telecom segment continued to perform strongly with sales reaching $74.36bn.

"A difficult business environment remained in the first quarter, due to rising costs of raw materials, uncertainties in the financial market in Europe, and the devastating earthquake in Japan," said Sangsuk Roh, President of Samsung Electronics Levant.

"But we will actively respond to such challenges by enhancing cost competitiveness in memory products through geometry migration, launching new smartphones and tablet PCs, as well as increasing the sales focus on premium LCD panels and TVs." he Sangsuk added.

Samsung forecasts that the challenging business conditions will persist in the second quarter, effected by lingering worries over the global economy and tight competition in consumer electronics and mobile businesses.

The impact on earnings from volatility in foreign exchange was minimal, as the fluctuation of the Korean won against the US dollar and the euro was less than 1%. With regards to concerns over disruptions to the supply chain after the March 11 earthquake in Japan, Samsung expects the impact on its businesses to be relatively limited.

Samsung's previously announced capital expenditure for 2011 of $160.75bn is being executed as planned. During the first quarter, capex was $38.4bn or 24% of the annual plan, which could be increased depending on market conditions.

Beginning this quarter, Samsung has renamed the LCD and Digital Media segments in the earnings release as Display Panel (DP) and Digital Media & Appliances (DM&A), respectively. The set-top box product line, which previously was under Telecom, is now part of DM&A, and 2010 earnings have been re-stated for comparison.

Samsung's Semiconductor Business recorded a consolidated operating profit of $11.46bn in the first quarter, down from the $13.7bn registered a year ago. Revenue reached $64.16bn, a -12% increase year-on-year.

The Telecommunications businesses - including mobile communications and telecommunication networks - posted an operating profit of $9.99bn on revenue of $74.36bn. The businesses maintained an operating profit margin of 13.5% for the quarter.

Operating profit for Digital Media & Appliances Business turned around from the previous quarter to register $698,913 on revenue of $94.49bn in the first quarter.

Source: http://bit.ly/kut2Np

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