AU Optronics Corp. Reports 1Q2010 Financial Results
By Au Optronics Corp., PRNEWednesday, April 21, 2010
HSINCHU, Taiwan, April 22, 2010 - AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO)
today announced its unaudited results for the first quarter of 2010(1). For
the first quarter ended March 31, 2010, AUO posted consolidated revenue of
NT$111,564 million (US$3,516 million)(2), down 2.9% from the previous
quarter. Gross profit improved 62.8% quarter-over-quarter to NT$14,270
million (US$450 million), representing a gross margin of 12.8%. Operating
income, on the other hand, reached NT$8,129 million (US$256 million), with an
impressive quarterly growth rate of 327.9% and an operating margin of 7.3%.
Consequently, AUO's net income came in at NT$7,274 million (US$229 million),
attributable to equity holders of the parent company at NT$7,103 million
(US$224 million), or basic EPS of NT$0.8 per common share (US$0.25 per ADR)
for the first quarter of 2010.
1Q2010 Result Highlights
AUO reported the following unaudited consolidated results for the first
quarter of 2010:
-- Revenue of NT$111,564 million, down 2.9% quarter-over-quarter -- Net income of NT$7,274 million -- Basic EPS of NT$0.8 per common share -- Gross margin of 12.8% -- Operating margin of 7.3% -- EBITDA(3) margin of 27.6%
For the first quarter, AUO's large-sized panels totaled 27.22 million
units, down 0.6% quarter-over-quarter but up significantly 107.1%
year-over-year. In terms of small- and medium-sized panels, the shipment was
over 56.99 million units, down 5.2% quarter-over-quarter but up 32.7%
year-over-year.
"Although the first quarter was the traditional low season, we have seen
relatively stable panel prices thanks to recovering global demand and healthy
inventory levels in the channel," said Mr. Andy Yang, Chief Financial Officer
of AUO. "As a result, the Company's average selling price per square meter
dropped by merely 1.6% from the previous quarter. In addition, the management
team has taken a proactive approach toward product mix improvements. On
rising high-end product mix and the design efforts which helped lower our
costs effectively, our gross margin picked up from last quarter's 7.6% to
12.8% this quarter. Meanwhile, our operating margin also increased
considerably from 1.7% last quarter to 7.3%. Being noteworthy, our EBITDA
margin expanded to 27.6% for the first quarter."
In view of the positive outlook for the demand in 2010, the total
capacity of AUO's 7.5 generation fabs is planned to increase from 100,000
sheets per month in the first quarter of 2010 to 120,000 sheets by the end of
the second quarter, aiming at meeting the growing demands in the emerging
markets and seizing the opportunities brought by recovery of the European and
American markets.
(1) All financial information was unaudited and was prepared by the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Taiwan ("ROC GAAP") (2) Amounts converted by an exchange rate of NTD31.73:USD1 based on Federal Reserve Bank of New York, USA as of March 31, 2010. (3) EBITDA=Operating Income + D&A
ABOUT AU OPTRONICS
AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) is a global leader of thin film transistor
liquid crystal display panels (TFT-LCD).
AUO is able to provide customers with a full range of panel sizes and
comprehensive applications, offering TFT-LCD panels in sizes ranging from 1.2
inches to greater than 65 inches. AUO generated NT$359.3 billion (US$11.2
billion) in sales revenue* in 2009 with global operations in Taiwan, Mainland
China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the U.S., and Europe. Additionally, AUO
is the first pure TFT-LCD manufacturer to be successfully listed at the New
York Stock Exchange (NYSE). AUO extended its market to the green energy
industry in late 2008, and formally founded its Solar Photovoltaic Business
Unit in October, 2009. For more information, please visit AUO.com.
* 2009 year end revenue converted at an exchange rate of NTD31.95:USD1.
Safe Harbour Notice
AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO), a
global leader of TFT-LCD panels, today announced the above news. Except for
statements in respect of historical matters, the statements contained in this
Release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of
the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements were based on our
management's expectations, projections and beliefs at the time regarding
matters including, among other things, future revenues and costs, financial
performance, technology changes, capacity, utilization rates, yields, process
and geographical diversification, future expansion plans and business
strategy. Such forward looking statements are subject to a number of known
and unknown risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including
risks related to the flat panel display industry, the TFT-LCD market,
acceptance of and demand for our products, technological and development
risks, competitive factors, and other risks described in the section entitled
"Risk Factors" in our Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission on May 27th, 2009.
Freda Lee, Corporate Communications Division, AU Optronics Corp. at +886-3-5008800 x3206, fax: +886-3-5772730 or freda.lee at auo.com; Yawen Hsiao, Corporate Communications Division, AU Optronics Corp. at +886-3-5008800 x3211, fax: +886-3-5772730 or yawen.hsiao at auo.com
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