AU Optronics Corp. (AUO) , the world's third-largest flat panel maker, said Friday that the company's indictment by the U.S. Justice Department for price- fixing will not have a 'material adverse impact' on its day-to-day operations. 'The company believes in the integrity and fairness of the U.S. justice system and will continue to defend itself, ' AUO said in a statement. A federal grand jury in San Francisco charged a Houston-based U.S. subsidiary of AUO and six of its executives Thursday for participating in a conspiracy to fix prices of thin-film-transistor liquid crystal display (TFT LCD) panels from September 2001 to December 2006. The six executives facing the indictment include AUO Vice Chairman H.B. Chen and President L.J. Chen. If convicted of price-fixing, they could face up to 10 years in prison, a US$1 million (NT$32.39 million) fine for each individual and a US$100 million fine for the company, according to the Justice Department. AUO said it has cooperated with the Justice Department and other judicial authorities in the probes into the price-fixing allegations since December 2006 and that it is disappointed with the indictments. According to the company, the allegations do not reflect the reality and 'the facts of the case do not warrant such charges, as shown, among others, by intense competition within the industry.' This competition, AUO said, has benefited consumers through sharp declines in flat panel prices over the years. AUO said it is 'confident justice will prevail.' So far, the Justice Department said, six electronics companies have pleaded guilty in connection with the conspiracy case and have paid fines totaling more than US$860 million. It added that following the AUO indictments, a total of 17 executives have been charged. 