TAIPEI (TVBS News) — HTC (宏達電) Chairwoman Cher Wang (王雪紅) announced on Friday (June 20) that although HTC turned a profit this year, it remains in the early stages of expansion, necessitating substantial investment. Speaking during the company's annual shareholders meeting, Wang mentioned the possibility of considering dividends and share buybacks next year.
Shareholders suggested utilizing funds from Google and cash from factory sales for buybacks and dividends. Wang responded that it is not the right time, but they will revisit the idea next year. She emphasized that the AI era and Google's funding provide HTC with a transformative opportunity, requiring significant investment in large language models (LLM) despite this year's profitability.
Lu Chia-te (盧佳德), HTC's chief legal officer, stated that the company anticipates profits this year and will consider dividends next year based on cash flow and operational status. Lu mentioned that any decision would likely be submitted to the board for consideration. Shareholders also expressed interest in HTC's investment in the startup VRChat. Wang assured them of HTC's strong connection with VRChat and revealed plans for a U.S. IPO, expressing optimism about its development and market trends.
In addition to its collaboration with Kaohsiung and the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 疾管署), HTC is expanding its innovative applications and smart city initiatives by providing city platform services in the digital twin fields in Japan and the Middle East. This strategic move signifies HTC's commitment to innovation and market expansion.