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TSMC eyes solar spread, to pick E-Ton stake

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CIOL Bureau
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TAIPEI, TAIWAN: Hinting at a possible investment in the solar cell manufacturing industry, chip maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is said to be mulling over pumping in money into solar cell major E-Ton Solar tech.

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According to industry sources, TSMC has already delegated a team of executives to tour the facilities of E-Ton and evaluate the possibility of making an equity investment in the company. Sources add that the company will look at pocketing at least 20 per cent stake in E-Ton, though TSMC has not yet commented on the news.

The development seems to be on the right direction considering the fact that TSMC had approved a budget of $50 million for solar energy-related investments during August 2009. Solar technologies have for long been TSMC’s plans. The company had, through venture capital affiliate VentureTech Alliance, bought out a portion of the stake in Neo Solar Power, another Taiwan-based solar cell maker, recently.

According to Commercial Times, a China-based newspaper, TSMC is believed to be looking at hiking its stake in Neo Solar to 25 per cent and this may happen soon.

Meanwhile, related sources added that the pure play foundry has already struck deal with DRAM maker Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation to take over its 9.7 per cent stake in Neo Solar.

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