Asus 2015 Annual Report Download - page 219

215
investigation in a Texas court, in a California court, in a Colorado court, in a Germany court,
in a Taiwan court and in a China court. The Group cannot presently determine the ultimate
outcome and effect of these lawsuits.
B. A plaintiff filed a criminal suit against the subsidiary, ASMEDIA, and a supplementary civil
action against the Company and its subsidiary, ASMEDIA, for infringement of patents. The
Company and its subsidiary, ASMEDIA, have appointed an attorney to deal with the cases
through the legal process and go through subsequent related matters. The lawsuit is currently
under examination in Taiwan Taipei District Court. The plaintiff also filed a lawsuit for patent
infringement and trade secret misappropriation against the Company and its subsidiaries,
ASMEDIA and ACI, in August, 2014. The lawsuit has gone to trial, but the Company and its
subsidiaries cannot presently determine the outcome of the lawsuit. The Group however expects
that the above cases will have no material effect on its operating and financial position.
(2) Commitments
Operating lease commitments
The Group leases offices, warehouse and parking lots under non-cancellable operating lease
agreements. The future aggregate minimum lease payments are as follows:
10. SIGNIFICANT DISASTER LOSS: None.
11. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER THE END OF THE FINANCIAL REPORTING PERIOD:
None.
12. OTHERS
(1) Capital management
The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as
a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and to maintain an optimal capital
structure to reduce the cost of capital. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group
may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new
shares or sell assets to reduce debt. The Group monitors capital on the basis of the liability ratio.
This ratio is calculated as total liabilities by total assets. Total liabilities is calculated as “current
liabilities plus non-current liabilities” as shown in the consolidated balance sheets.
During 2015, the Group’s strategy was to maintain the liability ratio within reasonable security
range, which was unchanged from 2014. The liability ratios are as follows:
2015/12/31 2014/12/31
Less than 1 year 509,111$ 423,244$
Between 1 and 2 years 406,663 304,424
Between 2 and 3 years 189,275 214,240
Between 3 and 4 years 113,309 56,936
More than 4 years 32,130 38,773