UMC outscores TSMC in survey

United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, 聯電), Taiwan's second largest chipmaker, ranked eighth in a major survey of best global high tech firms, beating its larger rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電).

The venerable TSMC, run by chairman Morris Chang (張忠謀) ranked 24th, a full 10 notches below Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密), which is listed at number 14 in The Information Technology 100 in the latest issue of Business Week.

In an accompanying story, the magazine quoted UBS Warburg Hong Kong-based tech strategist Sean Debow as saying that UMC is "within striking distance of TSMC now." In January-May, UMC's sales stood at NT$34.36 billion, down 1.65 percent from the corresponding period last year.

Among other local firms making it into the global ranks, motherboard maker Asustek Computer Inc (華碩電腦), now aggressively pushing into China, ranked 42 while notebook PC maker Compal Electronics Inc (仁寶電腦) was put at 47, for "perfecting the art of supply-chain management."

VIA Technologies Inc (威盛電子), a chip designer which is also one of the world's fastest growing companies, ranked 69th as Macronix International Co (旺宏電子), a manufacturer of flash memory chips for companies such as Nintendo, came in at number 99.

Business Week chose the companies from a universe of nearly 550 companies with revenues of at least US$400 million, while Internet companies with US$25 million or more in sales were included.

The companies were ranked based on five financial indicators: revenue, revenue growth, return on equity, total return and profits.