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TSMC's board of directors approved plans to invest in Anthropic and OpenAI, increased the cash dividend for the third quarter of 2026 to NT$9 per share, and approved a capital budget of approximately US$40.93 billion to expand advanced process capacity and R&D footprint.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has approved plans to invest in artificial intelligence companies Anthropic and OpenAI, while raising its third-quarter 2026 cash dividend to NT$9 per share — a record high for a single quarter — as Taiwan's semiconductor industry deepens its presence in the AI ecosystem amid continued global expansion in the sector.

According to a Nov. 11 report by the Central News Agency, TSMC's board approved the investment plans on Nov. 10. The company plans to subscribe to Anthropic common shares at the IPO issue price when the AI company goes public, with the investment capped at US$500 million.

Anthropic, the developer of the Claude AI assistant, is reportedly expected to launch its IPO later this month. The offering is expected to be priced at US$70 to US$78 per share and could raise as much as US$64.4 billion.

TSMC's board also approved a plan to invest up to US$500 million in preferred shares issued by OpenAI. The developer of ChatGPT has continued to expand its artificial intelligence models and related computing infrastructure in recent years. Market analysts said TSMC's investments in two leading AI companies reflect its confidence in the sector's long-term prospects and its desire to build closer ties with major AI players.

In addition to direct investments in AI companies, TSMC's board approved the establishment of an investment company with capital of up to US$500 million to make strategic investments in the semiconductor and related industries. The company said the investments would support the development of the semiconductor industry and its long-term strategy.

On dividends, TSMC approved a third-quarter cash dividend of NT$9 per share, up from NT$7 in the second quarter. Net profit for the third quarter reached NT$763.06 billion, up 68.7% year on year, while earnings per share stood at NT$29.43. The ex-dividend date is set for March 11, 2027, with payment expected on April 8.

TSMC also approved a capital budget of about US$40.93 billion for expanding advanced-process capacity, building wafer fabs and research and development. The company has previously maintained its 2026 capital spending forecast at between US$60 billion and US$64 billion, reflecting expectations for AI and advanced-chip demand over the next several years.