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Samsung Electronics has announced the acquisition of a 10.16% stake in Chinese panel maker TCL CSOT for about $960 million. The shares will be repurchased from Samsung Display, part of the same group. The aim of the transaction is to strengthen cooperation and ensure stable supplies of LCD panels for televisions.
Samsung tightens cooperation with TCL
TCL CSOT is one of the world's largest TV panel manufacturers. The company supplies LCD panels used, among others, in Samsung TVs.
Interestingly, Samsung Display has held stakes in TCL CSOT since 2020, when it sold its LCD factory in Suzhou to the Chinese firm. The company is now focusing on developing OLED technology, so the investment in the Chinese LCD panel manufacturer has lost its strategic importance for the company.
The situation is different for Samsung Electronics, which still needs vast quantities of LCD panels to manufacture TVs. Directly owning shares in TCL CSOT is intended to strengthen its position in negotiations with the supplier.
What does this mean for the TV market?
The acquisition of shares could help Samsung secure panel supplies and increase the stability of LCD TV production, including QLED and Mini LED models.
However, this does not mean automatic price reductions for TVs. The transaction is primarily strategic and does not involve taking control of TCL CSOT.
Samsung will pay about $960 million for the stakes, and the transaction is expected to be finalised in December 2026.
Sources: OLED-Info, The Korea Herald
