Taiwan's AU Optronics to raise new funds, may seek partners

Taiwan's leading flat panel maker AU Optronics plans to raise at least $370 million in new funds and may introduce strategic partners from China or Japan, officials said Wednesday.

During a board meeting Tuesday, AU Optronics also decided to issue 800 million new shares, possibly in the form of a private placement.

"The proposal has been approved during the board meeting, but we have not yet decided on the way to raise the funds," company spokeswoman Hsiao Yawen told AFP.

She added that the company is not ruling out introducing Chinese or Japanese strategic investors.

Candidates for strategic partners include Japan's Sony and Toshiba as well as China's TCL and Haier and Changhong Electric, local media said.

AU Optronics closed at Tw$14.35 ($0.48), up 0.35 percent, on the Taiwan Stock Exchange Wednesday.

(c) 2012 AFP