Executives of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) have recently paid several visits to E-Ton Solar Tech to evaluate the possibility of making an equity investment in the solar cell maker, according to industry sources.
The sources said TSMC is currently in talks regarding a purchase price to acquire an almost 20% stake in E-Ton.
TSMC has declined to comment on the speculation. The pure-play foundry in August 2009 approved a budget of US$50 million for solar energy-related investments.
TSMC, through venture capital affiliate VentureTech Alliance, recently acquired a portion of the stake in Neo Solar Power, another Taiwan-based solar cell maker, indicated the sources. As TSMC's recently acquired holdings in Neo Solar are not high enough to warrant a disclosure to the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE), details of the investment will only be revealed in the foundry's financial report for the second half of 2009, the sources said.
The Chinese-language Commercial Times citing industry sources as saying that TSMC is looking to ultimately increase its stake in Neo Solar to 25%. The foundry reportedly reached an agreement with Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation (PSC) to take over the DRAM maker's 9.7% stake in Neo Solar.
Article translated by Jessie Shen
