Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturer May Form Solar, LED Units

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world's top contract chipmaker, said on Tuesday it was may set up units in the solar and LED businesses.

The move came as TSMC and other Taiwan technology companies have been pushing into the $35 billion global solar energy market to leverage their expertise in chip and LCD manufacturing into new growth prospects.

In September, TSMC said it would complete the first phase of a planned solar energy plant in Taiwan in the first half of 2011 after an investment of over $200 million.

TSMC rival UMC and LCD firm AU Optronics are among companies buying smaller players or building solar cell plants in a strategy that dovetails with a Taiwan government initiative to develop green businesses.

TSMC also set its dividend at T$3 ($0.10).

Before the company's announcement, TSMC shares ended flat, trailing the broader market's 0.4 percent gain.

SOURCE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/15/us-tsmc-idUSTRE71E2DV20110215