Confirming Nikkei's December 11 report that Sharp will close production lines manufacturing small- and medium-sized LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panels for use in mobile phones and PCs, Osaka-based Sharp announced on December 12 that it will shut down LCD panel production lines at two western Japan facilities starting from January 2009, Bloomberg reported. The two facilities named in Sharp's decision are located in Mie Prefecture and Nara Prefecture, respectively. In addition, 380 temporary employees at three plants will be let go as well, according to the Bloomberg report.