Newly merged Chimei Innolux Corp (奇美電子), the nation’s largest LCD panel maker by capacity, yesterday reported a first-quarter profit of NT$3.39 billion (US$108 million).
Chimei Innolux is the product of a merger on March 18 between Innolux Display Corp (群創光電), Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp (奇美電子) and TPO Display Corp (統寶光電), with Innolux Display as the surviving company.
The first-quarter figures comprise Innolux Display’s stand-alone results prior to the merger, and results from the three-way-merger from March 18.
Consolidated results of all three companies in the first quarter showed losses of NT$1.72 billion, an improvement from losses of NT$24.05 billion in the same period last year.
Combined revenues in the first quarter reached NT$136.5 billion, compared with NT$77.58 billion in the same period last year.
Smaller rival Chunghwa Picture Tubes Inc (中華映管) yesterday also reported its smallest quarterly loss in six quarters as prices rebounded amid recovering demand.
Losses shrank to NT$2.99 billion in the first quarter, compared with losses of NT$11.13 billion in the same period last year and losses of NT$11.92 billion in the final quarter of last year.
Chunghwa Picture president Lin Sheng-chang (林盛昌) said demand could weaken slightly this quarter, followed by a panel supply constraint in the second half of the year.
Small LCD panel maker Hannstar Display Corp (瀚宇彩晶) yesterday said first-quarter losses shrank to NT$891 million from losses of NT$4.92 billion a year ago and losses of NT$6.3 billion in the fourth quarter of last year.
Gross margin rose to 4 percent, from minus 62 percent in the first quarter of last year, as prices rebounded nearly 20 percent, it said.
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