Sharp is reportedly negotiating a 30-billion-yen (US$296 million; US$1=101.399 yen) deal with Apple to buy back smartphone panel capacity at its Kameyama Plant No. 1 in Mie Prefecture, reported Nikkei on July 12. The plant, which began operation in 2004 to make LCD TV displays, has changed to produce small-sized panels for Apple iPhone since 2012, when the Cupertino-based company invested roughly 100 billion yen (US$986 million) for the transition. By regaining control over the LCD plant, Sharp aims to play down Apple's influence on its LCD business and expand its customer base to include some China's smartphone manufacturers. The company plans to spend 35 billion yen (US$345 million) this fiscal year to ramp up IGZO (Indium-Gallium-Zinc Oxide) panel production.