FORM
6-K
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Report
of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant
to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
March 31,
2008
| Commission
File Number 001-31335 |
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AU
Optronics Corp.
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(Translation
of registrant’s name into English)
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No.
1 Li-Hsin Road 2
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Hsinchu
Science Park
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Hsinchu,
Taiwan
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(Address
of principal executive offices)
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Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under
cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
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Form
20-F X
Form 40-F ___
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Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted
by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule
101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely
to provide an attached annual report to security holders.
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted
by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule
101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to
furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer
must furnish and make public under the laws of the
jurisdiction
in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the
registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home country exchange on
which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other
document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been
distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material
event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission
filing on EDGAR.
Indicate
by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the
registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant
to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
If "Yes"
is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
Not
applicable
INDEX TO
EXHIBITS
Item
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1.
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Press
release entitled, “AU Optronics to Strengthen Relationship with Qisda ”,
dated March 31, 2008.
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Signatures
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.
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AU
Optronics Corp.
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Date:
March 31,
2008
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By:
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/s/
Max Cheng
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Name:
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Max
Cheng
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Title:
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Chief
Financial Officer
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Item
1
AU
Optronics to Strengthen Relationship with Qisda
Issued by: AU Optronics
Corp.
Issued on: March 31,
2008
Hsinchu,
Taiwan, March 31, 2008 –
AU
Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the
"Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) today announced that its Board of
Directors has approved the purchase of Qisda Corporation’s common shares at the
amount within NT$ 2 billion through a private placement in order to strengthen a
long term strategic relationship. This three win strategy will ensure that AUO
and Qisda can further foster their core competitiveness respectively and provide
brand customers with better solutions in capturing emerging trends of TFT-LCD
applications in consumer markets. AUO plans to acquire 90,456,800
common shares at NT$22.11 per share with total share holding in Qisda reaching
9.58% after the investment.
AUO stated that the
recent alliances among some TFT-LCD manufactures, system integrators, together
with some brands have been changing TFT-LCD supply chain. This trend
will also support consumer electronic products in customization and
diversification with right time to market. To provide better service
to its brand customers and take potential business opportunities in the early
stage, AUO will prepare itself for the next move by building up further
relations with important system integrators. Since Qisda has been a
long-term strategic partner to AUO, Board of Directors also believes the
decision will support AUO’s long-standing sustainability. It is
believed that the tie-up investment will help Qisda, an important customer to
AUO, to scale up its business operation as well as enhance the competitiveness
and operational efficiency for both entities through a stronger cooperation
relationship, and to maximize mutual shareholder values.”
# # #
ABOUT
AU OPTRONICS
AU
Optronics Corp. (“AUO”) is the world largest manufacturer* of large-size thin
film transistor liquid crystal display panels (“TFT-LCD”), with approximately
20.3%* of global market share with revenues of NT$480.2 billion
(US$14.81billion)* in 2007. TFT-LCD technology is currently the most
widely used flat panel display technology. Targeted for 40”+ sized
LCD TV panels, AUO’s new generation (7.5-generation) fabrication facility
production started mass production in the fourth quarter of 2006. The
Company currently operates one 7.5-generation, two 6th-generation, four
5th-generation, one 4th-generation, and four 3.5-generation TFT- LCD fabs, in
addition to eight module assembly facilities and the AUO Technology Center
specializes in new technology platform and new product
development. AUO is one of few top-tier TFT-LCD manufacturers capable
of offering a wide range of small- to large- size (1.5”-65”) TFT-LCD panels,
which enables it to offer a broad and diversified product
portfolio.
*
DisplaySearch 4Q2007 WW Large-Area TFT-LCD Shipment Report dated Jan 23,
2008. This data is used as reference only and AUO does not make any
endorsement or representation in connection therewith. 2007 year end revenue
converted by an exchange rate of NTD32.43:USD1.
Safe Harbour
Notice
AU Optronics Corp. (“AUO” or the “Company”) (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO), the
world’s third largest manufacturer of
large-size TFT-LCD panels, today announced the above news. Except for
statements in respect of historical matters, the statements contained in this
Release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section
27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E
of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These
forward-looking statements were based on our management's expectations, projections
and beliefs at the time regarding matters including, among other things, future
revenues and costs, financial performance, technology changes, capacity,
utilization rates, yields, process and geographical diversification, future expansion plans and business
strategy. Such forward looking statements are subject to a number of known and
unknown risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including risks related to the flat panel
display industry, the TFT-LCD market, acceptance and demand for our products,
technological and development risks, competitive factors, and
other risks described in the section entitled "Risk
Factors" in our Form 20-F
filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on
December 31, 2006.
For more
information, please contact:
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Fiona
Chiu
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Yawen
Hsiao
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Corporate
Communications Dept
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Corporate
Communications Dept.
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AU Optronics
Corp
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AU Optronics
Corp.
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Tel: +886-3-5008899
ext 3206
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+886-3-5008899
ext 3211
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Fax:
+886-3-5772730
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+886-3-5772730
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Email: fiona.chiu@auo.com
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yawen.hsiao@auo.com
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