Sony and Samsung have signed a final agreement for the construction of an 8G TFT-LCD panel manufacturing line in Korea for their joint venture, S-LCD. The two companies will evenly share the investment of US$1.9 billion, which does not include land development cost. The new facility is expected to start operation in the fall of 2007. Its initial capacity is targeted at 50,000 units per month. Both Sony and Samsung are expected to benefit from the production expansion to meet market demand for 50-inch and larger LCD TVs.