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AMSTERDAM – Royal Philips Electronics has taken its first steps toward divesting its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), selling about 887 million shares to financial investors in Taiwan for about 1.3 billion euros in cash.

The move was expected: Philips on March 9 announced a multi-phased plan to divest itself from TSMC.

The sale generated proceeds of approximately 1.3 billion euros, and will result in a non-taxable gain of approximately 725 million euros for Philips’ first quarter 2007.

Philips now holds approximately 3,301 million shares in TSMC, lowering its holding in TSMC from 16.2% to 12.8%.

EL SEGUNDO, CA – Rapid price reductions are boosting sales of large-sized LCD TVs, says iSuppli, which increased its forecast for shipments in 2007.

TAIPEI – Asustek Computer Inc. forecast an 80% rise in shipments of its branded laptops this year, the company said in March. In January the company had forecast a 58% increase in laptop shipments.

Last year, Asustek, which is also the world’s largest motherboard maker, sold 2.7 million units. Asustek also makes computers for Apple, Dell, and Sony Corp.

“Orders right now are pretty good, so we are confident of hitting this target,” Asustek Asia Pacific sales president Benson Lin said at a March press conference.