Sharp's banks set to offer more aid as part of Foxconn deal

Sharp Corp's two main banks are set to lower interest rates on billions of dollars in loans and offer other financial support as part of a planned takeover by Taiwan's Foxconn, a source with direct knowledge of the plan said.

The move is partly a response to a last-minute hitch to the signing of the deal over potential liabilities at the ailing Japanese display maker, although some of the discussions have been going on for a while, the source said. The deal, which has been estimated to be worth $5.8 billion and will mark the largest acquisition of Japanese tech firm by a foreign company, is now likely to be announced next week, he said.

The core banking units of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc and Mizuho Financial Group Inc have extended the vast majority of Sharp's 510 billion yen ($4.5 billion) in syndicated loans which are due at the end of the month.

They also plan to extend the deadline and are considering an additional commitment line, the source said. Sharp has a total 700 billion yen in interest-bearing debt. The sources declined to be identified because the plan has not been officially announced. Representatives for Mitsubishi UFJ and Mizuho declined to comment. Sharp and Foxconn also declined to comment.