Mega merger creates LCD giant

AU Optronics will produce more large-sized LCD and notebook LCD panels than any other firm

Shareholders and regulators in Taiwan have approved a merger which will form one of the world's largest LCD makers.

AU Optronics Corp announced today that its merger with Quanta Display Inc is now officially complete. 

Following the merger, AU Optronics will produce more large-sized LCD and notebook LCD panels than any other firm, the company claims. Large-sized panels are defined as having a diagonal of 10in or more.

AU Optronics will hold almost 21 per cent of the large-sized panel market and more than 25 per cent of the notebook panel market, according to historical unit sales data compiled by DisplaySearch. 

The firm will also become one of the top three players, based on unit sales, in several other markets, including LCD TV panels, LCD monitor panels and digital camera LCD displays.

Previously, AU Optronics had ranked amongst the top five global manufacturers in these sectors.

The new company will employ 42,000 worldwide. To prepare for the merger, Quanta Display laid off 1,400 of its 14,000 staff last month.

"AU Optronics and Quanta Display complement one another in their strengths, ushering in the arrival of a new era," said AU Optronics chairman K Y Lee.

"The post-merger AU Optronics will be better able to utilise its resources and R&D talent to strengthen its leadership in the global TFT-LCD industry. "