TSMC (Hsinchu, Taiwan) is mulling over a plan to acquire Philips Lumiled Lighting Co., a supplier of LEDs, according to media reports in Taiwan. That story can be read here.

Lumileds began as the optoelectronics division in Hewlett-Packard (HP) almost 40 years ago. In 2005, Royal Philips Electronics acquired that business.

According to Digitimes, TSMC is also mulling a plan to acquire Toyoda Gosei for its LED patents. That story can be read here.

TSMC is also seeking an investment in the solar field. In August, the foundry giant took a step into the solar sector and confirmed its capital spending plans. It approved the appropriation of $50 million for ''possible use'' in investment in solar energy-related areas and LEDs. No details were given at the time.