ASUS ---->>ASUS ALPHA

[Gość: galilleo]

Asustek to shift OEM notebook orders to subsidiary Asusalpha
Monday 21 February 2005

Asustek Computer has decided to shift its OEM notebook manufacturing business
to its 100%-owned subsidiary, Asusalpha Computer, in order to focus its
efforts on promoting sales of its own-brand notebooks, according to sources
close to Asustek.

Under the plan, Asustek will retain its OEM/ODM business unit to continue
soliciting notebook orders from current and potential clients and then
transfer the orders to Asusalpha, which will then be transformed into an EMS
(electronics manufacturing service) plant under the parent company.

Asusalpha was set up in early 2003 after Asustek acquired a notebook plant in
Chungli, Taoyuan, northern Taiwan, from Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS).
The plant, which now has a production capacity of 200,000 notebooks a month,
currently manufactures iBook notebooks for Apple Computer.

In addition to producing notebooks at its existing plant in Chungli,
Asusalpha plans to migrate a majority part of its notebook production to
China, the sources noted.

Asustek would also shift notebook orders from its current clients, which
include Sony and Samsung Electronics, to Asusalpha if the clients permit the
new production scheme, said the sources.

Asustek has begun the process of shifting production but did not specify as
to when the operation will be complete, the sources said.

The separation of sales and manufacturing units may help Asustek to secure
OEM notebook orders from other potential clients, the sources stated, noting
that Asustek will focus its efforts on soliciting orders from the Lenovo
Group, NEC, Dell and Hewlett-Packard (HP).

Asustek: 2005 estimated notebook shipments (million units)

Types of orders Own-brand OEM/ODM (Apple, Sony, Samsung) White-brand orders
2004 estimated 1.30 1.20 0.30
2005 estimated 2.00 1.50 0.50