Amtran Technology Co Ltd (瑞軒科技), which makes flat-panel televisions for companies such as Vizio Inc, yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with Victor Company of Japan Ltd to make and sell the Japanese company’s JVC-brand LCD TVs in the US initially.
Amtran has been expanding its customer portfolio to companies other than Vizio, in which Amtran holds a stake of about 23 percent.
“The strategic cooperation means a big step for both companies ... We will add one more customer and more business opportunities,” Amtran spokesman Scottie Chiu (邱裕平) said by telephone. “Amtran will be responsible for the design, production and sale of JVC-brand LCD TVs.”
The strategic alliance would go beyond a pure OEM partnership as Amtran would be authorized to operate the JVC brand in the US in its early stage and in the Asia region later, Chiu said.
LEVERAGES
JVC Kenwood would provide brand licensing and its leverages in technologies, quality and sales, according to a joint statement. Victor Company of Japan is an operating company of JVC Kenwood Holdings Inc. No financial details were disclosed.
The partnership could be part of Victor Company of Japan’s recent efforts to farm out production to reduce costs for its unprofitable home and mobile electronics segment.
“It is too early to say how much the agreement will boost Amtran’s TV shipment,” Chiu said.
Amtran, based in Taipei County’s Zhonghe (中和), said it expected to launch the first new JVC TVs early next year via the strategic alliance.
The company aims to ship as many as 7 million LCD TV units this year, up 77 percent from 3.94 million units last year. The company shipped 1.6 million units in the first and second quarters, according to a company statement released on Thursday.
The company said it was optimistic about fourth-quarter shipments on the back of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday shopping seasons.
NET PROFITS
The Taiwanese TV maker reported 84 percent growth in net profits at NT$490 million (US$15.3 million) for the second quarter, compared with NT$267 million in the same period of last year.
That brought the company’s first-half net income to NT$870 million, or NT$1.14 per share, down 6.75 percent from net profits of NT$933 million, or NT$1.44 a share, during the first six months of last year.
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