Asustek makes it official: will split into 3.

TAIWAN -- Asustek Computer (asustek.com) will split into three companies Jan. 1 to separate its branded product business from its contract manufacturing operations, the company said. The three-way split requires the approval of government regulators before finalization.

Asustek's branded business will continue under the same name, while its PC-related manufacturing operations will become Unihan Technology; its casing, modules, and non-PC contract manufacturing business will become Pegatron Technology.

Pegatron will have the largest revenue of the three companies after the split. Revenue this year from the future Pegatron businesses should be between $9.14 billion and $10.7 billion, while the future Asustek business is expected to account for $7.63 billion, and what will become Unihan will see revenue of $4.5 billion, Asustek said.

That would make Unihan the world's eighth largest EMS company, between No. 7 Elcoteq and No. 9 Benchmark.

Asustek sells goods ranging from motherboards and graphics cards to laptop PCs and smart-phones under a few names, including its popular Asus brand.

Asustek will remain listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, while the company did not rule out the possibility of overseas stock market listings for the two new companies.

Edited by Mike Buetow