Asustek Computer Inc (
The move marked Asustek's second such deal this year, as it aims to cement its component suppliers. Asustek is also one of the world's leading laptop makers.
Last month, Asustek bought a 4 percent share in local keyboard chip designer Ene Technology Inc (迅杰科技) to further strengthen its partnership.
"Asustek will carry on this strategy in the future," an Asustek official, who declined to be named, said by phone.
In two filings to the Taiwan Stock Exchange earlier yesterday, Asustek said it and its fully-owned venture Asustek Investment Ltd (華旭投資) would purchase a combined 2 million common shares in Alcor at NT$60 each.
Alcor, which was founded in Santa Clara, California, in 1996, designs controller chips used in a wide range of electronics. It is now trading its shares on the over-the-counter GRETAI Securities Market.
Alcor intends to issue 7 million common shares to raise NT$420 million, which the chip design firm will spend on research and development and new equipment. Today is the deadline for investors to subscribe for the shares.
South Korean electronics giant Samsung Electronics Co could subscribe for the new shares, a local Chinese-language newspaper reported earlier this month.
Two other companies also announced yesterday they would purchase Alcor shares. Local memory module maker Transcend Information Inc (創見) said in a filing that it would spend NT$120 million on the purchase of 2 million Alcor shares, thereby increasing its stake in the chip designer to 7.55 percent.
Chicony Electronics Co (群光電子), a Taipei-based firm that focuses on computer software, input devices and peripheral equipment, said in a separate filing it would buy 1 million Alcor shares for NT$60 million, representing a 1.5 percent-stake in the chip design firm.
Taiwan Transport and Storage Corp (TTS, 台灣通運倉儲) yesterday unveiled its first electric tractor unit — manufactured by Volvo Trucks — in a ceremony in Taipei, and said the unit would soon be used to transport cement produced by Taiwan Cement Corp (TCC, 台灣水泥). Both TTS and TCC belong to TCC International Holdings Ltd (台泥國際集團). With the electric tractor unit, the Taipei-based cement firm would become the first in Taiwan to use electric vehicles to transport construction materials. TTS chairman Koo Kung-yi (辜公怡), Volvo Trucks vice president of sales and marketing Johan Selven, TCC president Roman Cheng (程耀輝) and Taikoo Motors Group
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