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
