* AU, Chi Mei receive EU's anti-cartel documents
* Both companies to look into the matter
* Issue has little impact on AU, Chi Mei shares so far
(Adds AU comment, details, closing prices)
By Argin Chang
TAIPEI, July 14 (Reuters) - Taiwan's top two LCD panel
makers said on Tuesday they had received documents from the
European Union as part of an EU investigation into price fixing
by some of the world's biggest manufacturers in the sector.
AU Optronics (2409.TW), the world's third-largest LCD maker
and Taiwan's biggest, and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (3009.TW), the
island's second-largest, said they were looking into the charges
by the European Commission.
"The company confirms that it has received such a document.
The company is reviewing the relevant documents and will reply
to the commission in due course," AU said in a statement filed
to the Taiwan stock exchange after markets closed.
Earlier in the day, an official from Chi Mei told Reuters
that it was looking into the matter, but declined to elaborate.
On Monday, the European Commission said it had sent
statements of objections to a number of liquid-crystal display
makers for suspected violation of anti-cartel rules, but did not
name the companies involved.
South Korea's LG Display (034220.KS) and Dutch electronics
company Philips (PHG.AS) said they had received statements from
the commission regarding the issue. [ID:nLD622564]
A statement of objections is a formal step in EU anti-trust
investigations through which the commission informs parties
concerned about objections raised against them, though it does
not prejudge the final outcome of the procedure.
The LCD manufacturing sector, one of the few bright spots in
the weak global tech sector, is largely dominated by Asian
players.
On Tuesday, AU shares ended 6.51 percent higher, while Chi
Mei was up 4.14 percent. Both stocks outperformed the benchmark
TAIEX share index's 1.66 percent rise as investors
focused on prospects of better demand in the second half of
2009.
(Writing by Lee Chyen Yee, editing by Will Waterman)
