Demonstrating AUO's Transparency and Completeness Under the Highest Global Guidelines


    HSINCHU, Aug. 7 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) today announces that its 2007 CSR report is to be Taiwan's first ever CSR report receiving G3 GRI A+(1) verification, as well as the first one in the global TFT-LCD industry, demonstrating how AUO discloses its economic, environmental and social performance under global reporting framework in a transparent, complete and balanced means.

    AUO 2007 CSR report follows the standard 2006 Global Reporting Initiative's Sustainability Reporting Guidelines (GRI G3) and has been verified as the highest Level A+ by SGS(2), a world-recognized inspection and certification company.  Moreover, AUO has also accomplished the AA1000AS (1) (AccountAbility 1000 Assurance Standard), demonstrating the materialism, completeness and responsiveness of this report.  AUO has integrated CSR in all aspects of its strategic planning, including company policies, business models, execution procedures and employee training systems. This report provides transparent, complete and balanced data to our global investors, customers, communities, employees and all other stakeholders.  In 2004, AUO initiated its first environmental report, followed by an environmental, safety and health report in 2005, and published its first CSR report in 2006.  This second 2007 CSR Report received GRI G3 Level A+ recognition, which represents AUO's commitment to social responsibility and its stakeholders.

    "Just as a financial report transparently discloses a corporation's financial status, CSR information is also obligated to be open to the public in a balanced way," said Dr. L.J. Chen, President and COO of AUO. "We are honored to receive this highest recognition, and we hope to provide its global investors and customers a comprehensive, transparent and balanced report. AUO will continuously execute our 'Green Solutions' as a core of our CSR, to benefit the society we live in."

    Mr. Dennis Yang, COO of SGS South Asia, noted, "We highly recognize AUO's dedication to social responsibility, as well as the disclosure of its CSR report following Global Reporting Initiative guidelines. After a 2-month verification process led by Lead Verifier of SGS UK Ms. Rita Godfrey and SGS jury, we consentaneously issue the GRI A+ appraisal to the AUO 2007 CSR Report, to recognize the materiality, completeness and responsiveness in terms of economic, environmental and social performance."      

    AUO Report Assurance Download: http://auo.com/auoDEV/download.php?path=about&file=AUO_csr2007en_Chapter12.pdf

    (1) About GRI and AA1000AS

    Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) issues the most recognized and most commonly-used sustainability reporting guidelines by organizations for disclosure about their sustainability performance, and also provides stakeholders a universally-applicable, comparable framework in which to understand disclosed information. Up to Jan 2007, nearly 1000 organizations from over 60 countries adopt GRI reporting framework. AccountAbility 1000 Assurance Standard (AA1000AS) is a process standard for assessing the credibility and quality of an organisation's social, economic and environmental reporting. Stakeholder engagement is central to the AA1000AS.   Reporting organizations base on AA1000AS to demonstrate they are open, engaging and responsive to stakeholder perceptions and expectations.

    (2) About SGS

    SGS Group Switzerland is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, and is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. SGS employs over 50,000 people and operates a network of more than 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.  

    About AU Optronics

    AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO") is the world's 3rd largest manufacturer* of large-sized thin film transistor liquid crystal display panels ("TFT-LCD"), with approximately 19%* of global market share in Q1/2008 and revenues of NT$480.2 billion (US$14.81billion)* in 2007.  TFT-LCD technology is currently the most widely used flat panel display technology.  Targeted for 40"+ sized LCD TV panels, AUO's new generation (7.5-generation) fabrication facility production started mass production in the fourth quarter of 2006.  The Company currently operates one 7.5-generation, two 6th-generation, four 5th-generation, one 4th-generation, and four 3.5-generation TFT-LCD fabs, in addition to eight module assembly facilities and the AUO Technology Center specializes in new technology platform and new product development.  AUO is one of few top-tier TFT-LCD manufacturers capable of offering a wide range of small- to large-sized (1.5"-65") TFT-LCD panels, which enables it to offer a broad and diversified product portfolio.

    * DisplaySearch 2Q2008 WW Large-Area TFT-LCD Shipment Report dated July 
      30, 2008.  This data is used as reference only and AUO does not make 
      any endorsement or representation in connection therewith. 2007 year 
      end revenue converted by an exchange rate of NTD32.43:USD1.

 
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