UMC outscores TSMC in survey
STAFF WRITER
United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, Áp¹q), Taiwan's second largest chipmaker, ranked eighth in a major survey of best global high tech firms, beating its larger rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, ¥x¿n¹q).
The venerable TSMC, run by chairman Morris Chang (±i©¾¿Ñ) ranked 24th, a full 10 notches below Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (ÂE®üºë±K), which is listed at number 14 in The Information Technology 100 in the latest issue of Business Week.
In an accompanying story, the magazine quoted UBS Warburg Hong Kong-based tech strategist Sean Debow as saying that UMC is "within striking distance of TSMC now." In January-May, UMC's sales stood at NT$34.36 billion, down 1.65 percent from the corresponding period last year.
Among other local firms making it into the global ranks, motherboard maker Asustek Computer Inc (µØºÓ¹q¸£), now aggressively pushing into China, ranked 42 while notebook PC maker Compal Electronics Inc (¤¯Ä_¹q¸£) was put at 47, for "perfecting the art of supply-chain management."
VIA Technologies Inc («Â²±¹q¤l), a chip designer which is also one of the world's fastest growing companies, ranked 69th as Macronix International Co (©ô§»¹q¤l), a manufacturer of flash memory chips for companies such as Nintendo, came in at number 99.
Business Week chose the companies from a universe of nearly 550 companies with revenues of at least US$400 million, while Internet companies with US$25 million or more in sales were included.
The companies were ranked based on five financial indicators: revenue, revenue growth, return on equity, total return and profits.
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