Lite-On Technology Corp (
Losses will be fully covered by a fire insurance policy with Ping An Insurance (Group) Co of China (中國平安保險公司), including losses stemming from a disruption in production, Lite-On said in a filing to the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The insurer is assessing the fire claim, it said.
Lite-On shares fell by the 7 percent daily limit yesterday, underperforming the benchmark TAIEX index, which dropped 1.57 percent in the first trading session following the six-day Lunar New Year holiday.
"The impact on the first quarter will be limited as we have inventory [to cope with customer demand]. The impact should reflect on revenues during the second quarter," Lite-On spokeswoman Elaine Su (
The company said that the fire broke out at its factory in Dongguan on Feb. 3 and was caused by a short-circuiting electrical line. No injuries were reported, it said.
The incident disrupted all 14 LCD monitor production lines at the factory, Su said.
LCD monitors made up the biggest portion -- at more than 40 percent -- of Lite-On's overall revenues in past years, Su said.
Lite-On posted record-high revenues of NT$17 billion last year after reporting NT$5.3 billion in revenues in the fourth quarter.
"Lite-On is helping customers obtain supplies from different sources," Su said.
Dell Inc and Hewlett Packard Co are major customers of Lite-On, market researcher DisplaySearch said.
The company intends to resume production of LCD monitors after the insurer has completed its assessment of claim, Lite-On said.
The production lines for LCD TV displays and cathode-ray-tube monitors, which were not damaged in the fire, will soon restart operation, the company said.