LG Display (LPL)

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Gyohoon Bae

LG Display Co., Ltd(LPL) is the second biggest producer of Liquid Crystal Display(LCD) in the world. LG Display engaged in the manufacture of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) in a range of sizes and specifications primarily for use in televisions, notebook computers and desktop monitors. LG Display also manufactures TFT-LCDs for handheld application products, such as mobile phones, and medium and large-size panels for industrial and other applications, such as entertainment systems, automotives, portable navigation devices, e-books, digital photo displays and medical diagnostic equipment.

During the year ended December 31, 2009, LG Display sold a total of 129.6 million large-size (10-inch or larger) TFT-LCD panels. On February 25, 2010, LG Display purchased the liquid crystal display module division of LG Innotek, a subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc.

In 2010, LG Display reflected the European Commission fines related to the alleged past anti-competitive acts in the LCD industry as an operating loss in the fourth quarter. However, LG Display posted a record high annual sales and stable earnings in 2010. Annual sales was KRW 25,512 billion, an increase of 27% from KRW 20,038 billion in 2009, and annual operating profit was KRW 1,310 billion, an increase of 30% from KRW 1,010 billion year-on-year.

Company Overview

History

Actually, LG Display was established in 1985, however, the basis of present LG Display was originally formed as a joint venture by the Korean electronics company LG Electronics(SEO:A066570) and the Dutch company Koninklijke Philips Electronics in 1999 to manufacture active matrix Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) and was formerly known as LG.Philips LCD, but Philips sold off its shares then LG.Philips LCD changed its corporate name to LG Display in 2008.

LG Display(NYSE:LPL, SEO:A034220) was the first Korean company which was listed simultaneously on New York Stock Exchange and Korea Stock Exchange in 2004. Today, LG Display is one of the biggest maker of liquid crystal display panels.

Business and Financial Metrics

Business Segments

LG Display’s display panels are included primarily in televisions, notebook computers, desktop monitors and industrial and other applications sold by its global end-brand customers. During the year ended December 31, 2009, its top ten end-brand customers included LG Electronics, Philips Electronics, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Toshiba, Apple, AmTRAN, Skyworth, Acer and Lenovo. LG Electronics Inc. is LG Display’s largest shareholder.

Televisions

LG Display’s television panels range from 15 inches to 55-inch, wide-format in size. Its sales of display panels for televisions were 54.7% of sales during 2009. LG Display’s product portfolio includes panels of various sizes, such as 17-inch, 19-inch, 20-inch, 22-inch, 26-inch, 32-inch, 37-inch, 42-inch, 47-inch and 55-inch panels. The 32-inch, 37-inch, 42-inch and 47-inch, wide-format panels comprise its principal products in this category in terms of sales revenue and sales volume.

Notebook Computers

LG Display’s display panels for notebook computers range from 8.9 inches to 20.1-inch, wide-format in size in a variety of display formats. LG Display's sales of display panels for notebook computers were 17.8% of sales during 2009. In 2009, 14.1-inch, 15.4-inch and 15.6-inch panels were LG Display’s principal products.

Desktop Monitors

LG Display’s desktop monitor display panels range from 15 inches to 30-inch, wide-format in size in a variety of display resolutions and formats. LG Display's sales of display panels for desktop monitors were 23.2% of sales in 2009. Desktop monitor display panels have become LG Display’s second largest product category. In 2009, 19-inch and 18.5-inch panels were LG Display’s principal products in terms of sales revenue and sales volume in this category.

Other Applications

LG Display’s product portfolio includes small-size TFT-LCD panels for use in handheld application products, such as mobile phones, and medium and large-size panels for industrial and other applications, such as entertainment systems, automotives, portable navigation devices, e-books, digital photo displays and medical diagnostic equipment. TFT-LCD panels that are 10 inches and smaller are referred to as small and medium-size panels, with those smaller than four inches being considered small-size panels. In 2009, sales of small-size panels constituted a significant majority in terms of both sales revenue and sales volume in the other applications category. Some of the panels produced by LG Display for industrial products, such as medical diagnostic devices, are highly specialized products manufactured to the specifications of its clients, while others, such as industrial controllers, may be manufactured by slightly modifying a standard product design for its other products, such as desktop monitors. LG Display’s sales of display panels for other applications were 4.3% of sales in 2009.

In 2010, because LCD TV market grew up, sales breakdown of TV increased by 0.5% point, compared in 2009. Also, sales breakdown of Application increased, due to growing of the demand for Smartphone based on In-Plane Switching(IPS) technology.

Competition

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References

1. ↑ DisplaySearch : Revenue Results and Growth by Supplier (US$ Millions) in Mar and Apr, 2011