The Information Technology 100
79
Chi Mei Optoelectronics
Chi Mei Optoelectronics, a Taiwanese TFT-LCD producer located outside the historic former capital of Tainan in the island’s south, is an offshoot of the Chi Mei group, one of Taiwan’s biggest industrial empires. Chi Mei in 1997 licensed TFT-LCD technology from Fujitsu and has barely looked back since. CMO has invested over $4 billion in its fabs, with more on the way, and is now one of the world’s top producers of LCD panels.
Like rivals such as Sharp and Samsung, CMO is counting on soaring demand for LCD televisions, producing not only the LCD panels but the insides as well. But unlike the better known Korean and Japanese companies, CMO leaves the branding to others. For instance, CMO is a key partner for Westinghouse Digital, the Southern California-based company that's trying to revive the Westinghouse brand for TVs.
Company Info
| STOCK INFO | NA |
| Revenues* | $3.5 BILLION |
| Revenue Growth | 42.8% |
| Return on Equity | 17.8% |
| Total Return | -11.3% |
| Profits* | $515.4 MILLION |
| Industry | COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS |
| CORPORATE WEB SITE | |
All figures are for the most recent available 12 months.
* Latest available data for the 12-month period ended Dec. 31, Jan. 31, Feb. 29, Mar. 31, or Apr. 30. For companies that do not report quarterly, the most recent annual data were used.
Data provided by Standard & Poor's Compustat, BusinessWeek
Why Taiwan Matters
China's New Taiwan Tack
IT 100 Scoreboard -- October, 2004
IT 100 Scoreboard -- July, 2004
Company Snapshot
Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp. engages in the manufacture, research, and sale of thin film transistor-liquid crystal display panels and color filters for notebook, desktop monitor, and television applications. The company sells its products worldwide. Chi Mei Optoelectronics was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Tainan County, Taiwan.
No. of Employees
NA
Data provided by 
Ching-Siang Liao
Bio
Ching-Siang Liao serves as the Chairman of Chi Mei Optoelectronics, Chi Mei Corp., Linklinear Development Co. Ltd., Chi Mei Communication Systems Inc., Chi Mei Frozen Food, and Nexgen Mediatech Inc. Mr. Liao also serves as a Director of Chi Mei Storage, Chi Mei Culture Foundation, Tai Chi Investment Ltd., Chi Mei Electroluminescence Corp., and Chi Lin Technology. He graduated from Chia-Yi Vocational High School.