Chimei Innolux Corporation

Chimei Innolux Corporation

Type	Public (TWSE: 3481)
Industry	TFT LCDs
Founded	January 14, 2003
Headquarters	Jhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
Key people	Ching-Siang Liao, Chairman Hsing-Chien Tuan (Vice Chairman, CEO)
Employees	110,000 (worldwide)
Parent	Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. Chi Mei Corporation
Website	chimei-innolux.com

Chimei Innolux Corporation (Chinese: 奇美電子) is a Taiwanese TFT-LCD panel manufacturer headquartered in Jhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.

Overview

The company is Taiwan's largest LCD maker.^[1] It produces many products including: TFT LCD panel modules, LCD display products, computer panels, AV and mobile panels, desktop monitors, and televisions.^[2] The company operates major manufacturing plants in Zhunan, Miaoli and Tainan in Taiwan. It also has overseas plants in Shenzhen, Ningbo, Nanjing, and Nanhai in China, as well as in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. In addition to providing manufacturing panels, the company also has an integrated supply chain.^[2]

Ching-Siang Liang (廖錦祥) serves as Chairman and Hsing-Chien Tuan (段行建) serves as Vice Chairman and CEO.^[3]

History

The company was established in 2003 as a result of a merger between Chi Mei Optoelectronics and TPO Displays Corp. TPO Displays was established on December 24, 1999, while Innolux Display Corporation was founded on January 1, 2003.^[4] Innolux Display Corp. was publicly listed starting October 24, 2006 on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

The two companies announced on October 5, 2009 that a merger would occur through common shares exchange.^[5] The Free Trade Commission (FTC) approved the merger in on December 22, 2009,^[6] and secured EU regulatory clearance on February 25, 2010.^[7] The merger was completed on March 18, 2010 and the new company began operating as Chimei Innolux Corporation on March 30, 2010.^[2]

In July 2010, the company announced that it had filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Sony Corp. relating to LCD televisions, digital cameras, and digital picture frames.^[8] In August 2010, it filed a second suit again Sony for patent infringement for technology used in PlayStation 3 consoles, televisions, notebook computers, and cameras.^[9]

In December 2010, Chimei Innolux announced it would be partnering with Foxconn to bring its displays to the Chinese market.^[10] It also aims to invest between NT$80 billion to NT$100 billion on capacity expansion in 2010.^[1]

In December 2010, the EU fined Chimiei Innolux for its part in an LCD price fixing scheme. The company paid the largest fine (€300 million).^[11] Other companies fined included LG Display, AU Optronics, Chunghwa Picture Tubes Limited, and HannStar Display Corporation. ^[12]

In January 2011, the company announced plans to spin off its touch panel business and is expected to start offering public shares in the latter half of the year.^[13]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Chimei Innolux posts better-than-expected profits". Taipei Times. 2010-08-10. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2010/08/10/2003480048. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Company Overview". Chimei Innolux Corporation. http://www.chimei-innolux.com/opencms/cmo/about_us/company_overview/?__locale=en. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
3. ^ "Executive Management". Chimei Innolux Corporation. http://www.chimei-innolux.com/opencms/cmo/about_us/executive_management/?__locale=en. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
4. ^ "Milestones". Chimei Innolux Corporation. http://www.chimei-innolux.com/opencms/cmo/about_us/milestones/?__locale=en. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
5. ^ "Innolux Display and TPO will merge the companies through the exchange of their common shares". Chimei Innolux Corporation. http://www.chimei-innolux.com/opencms/cmo/modules/news/MCNews/mcnews_0144.html?__locale=en. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
6. ^ "Innolux-Chi Mei-TPO merger plan clears Fair Trade Commission". The China Post. 2009-12-22. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/company-focus/2009/12/22/237603/Innolux-Chi-Mei-TPO.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
7. ^ "EU okays Taiwan LCD firms Chi Mei, Innolux, TPO deal". Reuters. 2010-02-25. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKBRQ00975520100225. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
8. ^ "Chimei Innolux Files Patent-Infringement Lawsuit Against Sony". Fox Business. 2010-07-07. http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2010/07/07/chimei-innolux-files-patent-infringement-lawsuit-sony/. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
9. ^ "Taiwanese LCD maker files second suit against Sony". Reuters. 2010-08-23. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE67M5E320100823. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
10. ^ "Foxconn to Bring Chi Mei Displays to China Market". National Business Daily. 2010-12-09. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2010-12-09/article/41649/foxconn_to_bring_chi_mei_displays_to_china_market. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
11. ^ "EU slaps huge fine on S.Korea, Taiwan LCD cartel". AFP. 2010-12-09. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jJMtkP_6vjytwz2JocSha_YuBB1A?docId=CNG.ed754de0e678c862bc18161c29a672e9.5d1. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
12. ^ http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/10/736&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en Joaquín Almunia Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Competition Policy Press conference on LCD cartel, Visa and French chemists' association decisions Press conference Brussels, 8 December 2010
13. ^ "Taiwan's Chimei to spin off touch panels: source". Reuters. 2011-01-18. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70H2FS20110118. Retrieved 2011-01-18. 

External links

• Official website