Taiwan Alpha Electronics earned NT$3.92 per share in 2002

Taipei, Jan. 23, 2003 (CENS)--Taiwan Alpha Electronic Co., Ltd., the largest local producer of varistors (variable resistors) listed on the local over-the-counter (OTC) bourse, recorded net (after-tax) earnings per share (EPS) of NT$3.92 for last year.

Taiwan Alpha rang up revenue of NT$386 million last year, fulfilling 93% of the 2002 target. In the meantime, the company reaped pretax profit of NT$124 million, 10.71% in excess of the NT$112 million projected for 2002. The corresponding after-tax profit for last year stood at NT$97.94 million, translating into net EPS of NT$3.92.

Currently, Taiwan Alpha occupies 40% of the domestic market for varistors and 10% of the global market. Japanese manufacturers such as ALPS, Nobel, Tocos, and Matsushita are Taiwan Alpha's main competitors in the international market for varistors.

Apart from varistors, Taiwan Alpha has received orders for encoders used in hand-held wireless intercom equipment from Cobra and Motorola. The sales revenue of encoders as a percentage of total revenue will rise from 5.19% last year to 6.11% this year, Taiwan Alpha indicated.

On the other hand, King Core Electronics Inc., an OTC-listed local manufacturer of inductors and other kinds of passive devices, posted revenue of NT$410 million last year. The company estimated its 2002 pretax profit at NT$154 million and after-tax profit at NT$119 million.