THE TAIWAN FUND, INC.
 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

December 1, 2001
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)

The Taiwan Fund, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
         
Delaware   811-04893   042942862
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification Number)
     
225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts   02110
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(212) 662-2789
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.
SIGNATURES

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.

         Pursuant to Regulation FD Rules 100-103, The Taiwan Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) furnishes the December 2001 Monthly Review on the Fund by the Fund’s investment adviser.

2


 

SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

         
Dated: January 11, 2002        
    By:   /s/ Haichi Vicki Hau 
       
        Name:   Haichi Vicki Hau
Title:     Secretary

3


 

         
THE TAIWAN FUND, INC. REVIEW
DECEMBER 2001
 
HSBC Asset Management (Taiwan) Limited
24/F No. 99, Tunhwa S. Rd., Sec. 2
Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
   
Tel: (8862) 2325-7888
Fax: (8862) 2706-5371

Portfolio Review

         Taiwan’s stock market rebounded due to the continuous inflow of foreign portfolio investments and the low interest rate environment which helps to generate liquidity. During December, foreign portfolio investors were net buyers of NT$6.7 billion (US$0.2 billion), the stock market rebounded 23.09% in U.S. dollar terms and the NT dollar (NT$) depreciated against the U.S. dollar (US$) by 1.55%. During 2001, foreigners were net buyers of approximately NT$306 billion (US$8.7 billion), while the NT dollar depreciated against the U.S. dollar by 6.08%. In December, TAIEX and OTC electronics sectors were the leading sectors, increasing 28.45% and 50.01% in NT dollars respectively. Steel, tourism and shipping were the worst performing sectors, increasing only 5.81%, 6.59% and 9.91% in NT dollars respectively. The average daily turnover reached NT$146.7 billion in December, compared to NT$87.48 billion in November.

         In the technology sector, the Fund continues to focus on the electronics sector, particularly the Integrated Circuit (IC) fabless design house related companies, as those companies continue to deliver both revenues and earnings growth. Also, the Fund increased its holdings in data networking related stocks due to continuous demand for broadband devices. DRAM stocks were also added to the Fund’s holdings due to the rebound in DRAM spot price. Such a rebound can be attributed to the possibility of the merger between Micron Technology (U.S.’s) and Hynix Semi (Korea), which may, in turn, result in a decreased supply of DRAM chips to the market. In addition to the technology sector, the Fund continues to increase its holdings in certain companies related to medical-mechanical devices.

Albert King          

Core & Active Portfolio Asset Allocation

                         
As of 12/31/01   % of Core   % of Active   % of
    Portfolio   Portfolio   TAIEX
Semiconductor
    25.38       15.62       24.67  
Electronics
    18.18       27.38       18.11  
Banking
    15.52       0       15.66  
PC & Peripherals
    14.66       26.06       14.96  
Telecommunication
    7.55       14.69       6.68  
Plastics
    3.48       0       3.41  
Textile
    2.45       0       2.49  
Steel
    1.43       0       1.54  
Transportation
    1.19       0       1.35  
Retail
    1.08       0       0.94  
Foods
    0.83       0       0.86  
Chemical
    0.79       3.88       1.06  
*C. S. & Software
    0.76       1.32       0.73  
Auto
    0.74       0       0.67  
Insurance
    0.71       0       0.89  
Others
    5.25       2.29       5.98  
Total
    100.00       91.24       100.00  
Cash
            8.76          
Total Active Portfolio Net Asset: US$87.38M
Total Core Portfolio Net Asset: US$132.87M
                       

Total Fund Asset Allocation

                 
As of 12/31/01   % of   % of
    Total Fund   TAIEX
Electronics
    21.70       18.11  
Semiconductor
    21.62       24.67  
PC & Peripherals
    19.04       14.96  
Telecommunication
    10.27       6.68  
Banking
    9.55       15.66  
Plastics
    2.14       3.41  
Chemical
    1.97       1.06  
Textile
    1.52       2.49  
*C. S. & Software
    0.98       0.73  
Steel
    0.88       1.54  
Transportation
    0.74       1.35  
Retail
    0.66       0.94  
Foods
    0.51       0.86  
Insurance
    0.46       0.89  
Auto
    0.45       0.67  
Others
    4.15       5.98  
Total
    96.64       100.00  
Cash
    3.36          
Total Net Asset: US$220.25M
               
(*)=Computer Service & Software
               

Top 10 Holdings of Active Portfolio

         
As of 12/31/01   % of Active Portfolio
Mediatek Incorporation
    8.02  
Accton Technology Corp
    7.37  
Realtek Semiconductor
    5.83  
United Micro Electronics
    5.39  
ProMos Technologies Inc.
    5.30  
Optoma Corp
    5.05  
Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg
    4.92  
Micro-Star International
    4.45  
Premier Camera Taiwan Ltd
    4.00  
Quanta
    3.89  
     

 
Total
    54.22  

Top 10 Holdings of Total Fund Portfolio

         
As of 12/31/01   % of Total Portfolio
United Micro Electronics
    8.83  
Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg
    8.60  
Quanta
    4.08  
Mediatek Incorporation
    4.04  
Realtek Semiconductor
    3.81  
Asustek Computer Inc.
    3.74  
Hon Hai Precision Industry
    3.52  
Accton Technology Corp
    2.98  
Chunghwa Telecom Co
    2.48  
Ambit Microsystems
    2.44  
 
   
 
Total
    44.52  

 


 

Premium/Discount of TWN

Taiwan Fund Premium/Discount
01/01/1993-12/31/2001

[LINE GRAPH]

         
NAV: US$13.46
No. of Shares: 16.4M
  Price: US$11.75   Prem.: -12.70%

Performance Comparison

         

(Return in US$)
  Total Returns
As of 12/31/01
 
Unit:%
                                                         
    Last   Last   Last                
    1 Mth   3 Mth   6 Mth     2001   2000   1999   1998
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
TWN
    21.26       51.75       12.35       6.57       -45.08       47.29       -15.31  
ROC
    19.73       38.46       3.05       -6.57       -39.94       35.86       -18.42  
Taipei
    20.25       38.41       1.09       -15.69       -50.94       13.87       -11.90  
Formosa
    22.14       45.70       2.07       9.35       -51.04       19.57       -13.85  
Formosa Growth
    18.82       41.18       2.82       4.46       -51.94       38.49       -5.47  
New Taipei
    23.93       50.54       3.53       2.33       -45.59       33.91       2.40  
Index
    23.09       50.67       11.84       10.42       -46.53       34.16       -20.31  
Taiwan Fund (Since Launch 12/31/1986): 619.75%    

Performance Chart

[LINE GRAPH]

[LINE GRAPH]

Taiwan’s Macro Economics Review

Foreign Portfolio Investments v.s. TAIEX Index
1/1990-12/2001

[LINE GRAPH]

The recent rally on the Taiwan stock market is attributed to the inflows of foreign portfolio investments. In 2001, Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFII’s) were net buyers of approximately NT$306 billion or US$8.7 billion.

*Disclaimer:   This report is based on information believed by us to be reliable. No representation is made that it is accurate or complete. The figures mentioned above are unaudited. This report is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned.

*Effective. from 1st November 1999, the daily NAV of the Fund is available at Lipper and CDA Weisenberger, or you may call toll free (800)636-9242.

*Please notify us immediately if you are having problems receiving this telecopy.   Fund Manager: Albert King