Acer Incorporated - Introduction

Introduction

9F, 88 Hsin Tai Wu Rd., Sec 1
Hsichih, Taipei 221
Taiwan
Telephone: 886-2-696-1234
Fax: 888-2-696-3535
Web site: http://www.acer.com

Public Company
Incorporated: 1976 as Multitech International
Employees: 6,560
Sales: $7.03 billion (2004)
Stock Exchanges: Taiwan
Ticker Symbol: ACER
NAIC: 334111 Electronic Computer Manufacturing; 334613 Magnetic and Optical Recording Media Manufacturing; 334290 Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing; 334119 Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing; 334310 Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing; 511210 Software Publishers

Acer Incorporated is Taiwan's leading exporter and the world's fifth largest computer manufacturer. The company designs, manufactures, and sells computer hardware and software products; it ranks among the world's largest manufacturers of individual components such as keyboards, motherboards, set-up boxes, storage drives, monitors, CD-ROM drives, keyboards, printers, scanners, and software. Acer's nearly 30 years of growth results primarily from its business of manufacturing and assembling branded and contract PCs in several locations throughout the world. The company sells its products through dealers and distributors in more than 100 countries.

Taiwan's high-tech industry pioneer Stan Shih cofounded Acer. Over the years Shih guided his company through several corporate restructuring processes as well as financial ups and downs of the 1980s and 90s. In a significant restructuring in 2000 Acer spun off its lucrative contract manufacturing business and renamed it Wistron Corporation. This helped position Acer on a growth curve in several markets. When Stan Shih retired in early 2005 Acer's branded products had strong sales figures worldwide, and the company was poised to make a larger impact in the U.S. market through its desktop and notebook PCs.