AUO to Sell Plant to Micron, Transfer by 2027

On February 13, AUO Corporation's Chairman, Shuang-Lang Peng, announced during the company's earnings call that the Board of Directors has resolved to sell the eastern section of its AUO Crystal Materials Plant to Micron Technology. This sale, combined with the previously sold western section of the plant last year, brings the total transaction value to NT$3.75 billion.

Peng revealed that AUO Crystal Materials will exit the solar monocrystalline wafer business this year, focusing solely on semiconductor-related operations, which will be integrated into the company's Taichung facilities. While the plant is being sold, AUO will lease the facilities back for two years, with the final transfer of ownership to Micron expected to occur by 2027.

Furthermore, it was disclosed that the western section of the AUO Crystal Materials Hō-Li Plant had already been contracted for sale in August 2024. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025, pending approval from the Chung-Hsing Science Park Administration. Upon the completion of the transfer of both the eastern and western sections of the plant, AUO Crystal Materials is projected to record an estimated gain of NT$1.8 billion from the transaction.

In its recent financial report, AUO revealed that its January revenue reached NT$21.64 billion, reflecting a decrease of 11.9% month-over-month but a 17.4% year-over-year increase. According to TrendForce, a market research firm, TV panel prices are expected to continue rising this season, with monitor and laptop panel prices also showing positive movements. The market outlook remains optimistic, and the seasonal pricing trends could support AUO's operational performance in the coming months.