Asustek Computer wins six seats on Ability's board

Asustek Computer Inc (華碩電腦), the world's largest computer motherboard maker, grabbed six of nine seats at the board of Ability Enterprise Co (佳能企業) yesterday to cement its influence in the digital camera producer.

During an extraordinary shareholders meeting yesterday, six Asustek representatives -- led by Liao Tsu-cheng (廖賜政) -- were elected to Ability's board of directors.

Asustek also took one of the two supervisory director seats.

At an ad hoc board meeting held immediately after the shareholders meeting, Tung Chiung-hsi (董炯熙), a major shareholder who controls Ability, was elected to be the company's new chairman, while Liao was appointed vice chairman.

In July, Asustek announced it would form a strategic alliance with Ability through a NT$2.8 billion (US$86 million) share-swap deal, allowing Asustek to own a 13 percent stake in Ability while Ability would take a 0.8 percent stake in Asustek.

Ability said yesterday that its shipments and sales reached record levels last month and it expected the high season for its products to continue this month and next.

The camera maker posted NT$3.65 billion in sales last month, up 18.62 percent from the previous month. Shipments reached 1.3 million units last month, it said.

For the first nine months of the year, shipments totaled at 8.46 million units, the company's figures showed. The company predicts shipments will reach 12 million units this year and 15 million next year.