02.19.2001
Lite-On Tech to make 40% dividend payout

• Lite-On Technology (2346 'Yuan Xing') estimates 2000 pretax EPS of NT$5.40, while the market expects the company to deliver a 40% dividend. Lite-On will decide on the dividend payout today.

• Subsidiary company Lite-On IT (unlisted, ‘Jian Xing’) contributed a pretax EPS of around NT$2.40 last year to its parent (which holds 72% of Lite-On IT). Lite-On IT will pay 30% stock dividend and 10% cash dividend based on 2000 pretax EPS of NT$7.80.

• Lite-On Tech expects 2001 revenue to reach NT$40b with monitor shipments of 7m, compared to 2000 revenue of NT$25.5b and 5.4m in monitor shipment. New monitor orders from the US' HP and Gateway are driving growth. Core business is expected to generate EPS of around NT$3.00, the same as last year.

• Lite-On also announced an 8.8m treasury stock buy back at an average price of NT$35.1 during last week; last week's closing price was NT$49.3.

MarthaChen@Primasia.com +886-[0]2-2547-8878