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☆ Incident at TSMC’s Semiconductor Plant in Arizona Injures One
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Meaghan Tobin | More About Meaghan Tobin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The driver of a waste disposal truck was rushed to a hospital on Wednesday following an incident at the Phoenix campus of the Taiwanese chip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which is under construction. Local media reported that an explosion had occurred that, the company said in a statement, did not damage the facility. The truck driver is a contractor, and no TSMC employees or construction workers were injured, the statement said. TSMC has long dominated the global chip supply chain from its home base in Taiwan. TSMC over the past four years has committed to build new factories in Japan, Germany and Arizona.

Persons: TSMC, Biden Organizations: Phoenix, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Locations: United States, Taiwan, Beijing, TSMC, Japan, Germany, Arizona

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is transforming the small Japanese farm town of Kikuyo into a key node in Asia’s chip supply chain. TSMC, as the company is known, dominates the global semiconductor business. At its home base in Taiwan, TSMC sits at the center of a web of factories, suppliers and engineering firms. In February, TSMC opened a factory, known as a chip “fab,” for fabricator, on a ridge overlooking Kikuyo. The Japanese electronics giants Sony, Denso and Toyota, major buyers of TSMC semiconductors, are investing huge sums in TSMC’s Japan subsidiary.

Persons: TSMC Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Sony, Toyota, TSMC’s Locations: Kikuyo, Taiwan, Japan, TSMC’s Japan

☆ TSMC Will Receive $6.6 Billion to Bolster U.S. Chip Manufacturing
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Madeleine Ngo | Don Clark | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration will award up to $6.6 billion in grants to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the leading maker of the most advanced microchips, in a bid to bring some of the most cutting-edge semiconductor technology to the United States. TSMC will also increase its total investments in the United States to more than $65 billion, up from $40 billion. Bringing the world’s most sophisticated chip manufacturing to the United States has been a major goal for the Biden administration. Although semiconductors were invented in the United States, production has largely shifted overseas in recent decades. Only about 10 percent of the world’s chips are made in the United States.

Persons: Biden, TSMC Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Locations: United States, U.S, Phoenix, Phoenix , U.S

☆ TSMC: How the world’s biggest chipmaker is working to overcome a shortage of talent
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Eric Cheung | Will Ripley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

All that changed three years ago, when a global chip shortage and rising geopolitical tension turbocharged growth at TSMC. TSMC set up the Newcomer Training Center inside a sprawling science park in the city of Taichung in central Taiwan in 2021. “After many years, what we want to do is to gradually reduce assignees [and] increase the local hires.”The Newcomer Training Center opened in 2021. The soaring demand, particularly for chips that power AI, has created a shortage of talent for the semiconductor industry. Countries compete for this talent.”TSMC’s Ho said a shortage of talent is one of the main challenges the company faces.

Persons: Taiwan CNN —, —, TSMC, Joe Biden, ”, Marcus Chen, ” Lora Ho, John Mees, Stewart Randall, ” TSMC’s Ho, Ho, Kristy Hsu, “, it’s, ” Ho, “ It’s, — CNN’s Juliana Liu Organizations: Taiwan CNN, Moore’s, Apple, Nvidia, AMD, CNN, “, Training, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, IC, Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center, Economic Research Locations: Taichung, Taiwan, TSMC, Arizona, fabs, United States, Japan, Germany, China, Washington, Kumamoto, Phoenix , Arizona, Dresden, Europe

☆ Plans to Expand U.S. Chip Manufacturing Are Running Into Obstacles
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Don Clark | Ana Swanson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In December 2022, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the key maker of the world’s most cutting-edge chips, said it planned to spend $40 billion in Arizona on its first major U.S. hub for semiconductor production. The much ballyhooed project outside Phoenix — with two new factories, including one with more advanced technology — became a symbol of President Biden’s quest to spur more domestic production of chips, the slices of silicon that help all manner of devices make calculations and store data. Then last summer, TSMC pushed back initial manufacturing at its first Arizona factory to 2025 from this year, saying local workers lacked expertise in installing some sophisticated equipment. Last month, the company said the second plant wouldn’t produce chips until 2027 or 2028, rather than 2026, citing uncertainty about tech choices and federal funding. Progress at the Arizona site partly depends on “how much incentives that the U.S. government can provide,” Mark Liu, TSMC’s chairman, said in an investor call.

Persons: —, Biden’s, TSMC, ” Mark Liu Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Phoenix Locations: Arizona, U.S, Phoenix —

HONG KONG (AP) — Asia markets mostly advanced Friday after Wall Street recouped most of the week's earlier losses and Japan reported slowing inflation, which may keep its ultra-low interest rates steady. Japan’s inflation slowed for a second straight month, increasing the chance that the Bank of Japan will keep its ultra-low interest rates unchanged at its meeting next week. Hong Kong stocks were on track for their third consecutive week of losses as investors remain worried about the gloomy economic prospects. The market was broadly steadier as Treasury yields in the bond market slowed their jump from earlier in the week. On the losing end of Wall Street were several financial companies that reported weaker results for the end of 2023 than analysts expected.

Persons: Australia’s, Taiwan’s Taiex, homebuilders, KeyCorp, Brent Organizations: —, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Big Tech, Apple, Broadcom, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Discover Financial Services, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, — Asia, Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, South Korea, Bangkok, United States

☆ TSMC delays its $40 billion chip project in Arizona, now to be completed in 2027 or 2028
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It’s the second time TSMC (TSM), the world’s largest chipmaker, has been forced to push back its plans in the western US state. It announced in 2022 that it would build a second semiconductor plant in Arizona, adding to plans for an existing fab and raising its overall investment in the state from $12 billion to $40 billion. TSMC is also considering whether to open a second facility in Japan. “The second fab in Japan is in serious evaluation stage,” and the firm is holding talks with the government, according to Liu. It cited a boon for the global semiconductor industry from “the rising emergence of generative AI-related applications,” which include popular platforms such as ChatGPT.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — TSMC, Joe Biden’s, Mark Liu, Liu, Biden, TSMC, “, C.C, Wei Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Global, Apple, Nvidia Locations: Hong Kong, Arizona, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Dresden, Germany, Europe, Japan, Kumamoto, New York, Taipei

☆ Fixing Intel ends with taking it apart
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A man walks past an Intel wall at the 2009 Computex trade show in Taipei June 3, 2009. REUTERS/Pichi Chuang Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 29 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Intel (INTC.O) will have to get out of its own way. But now that its manufacturing technology has fallen behind, it’s dragging down both sides of the business. Snag is, Intel’s manufacturing arm will always have a reason to prioritize its own chips to support its design business. CONTEXT NEWSIntel announced on Sept. 29 the start of high volume manufacturing using its Intel 4 process technology at a plant in Leixlip, Ireland.

Persons: Pichi Chuang, Boss Pat Gelsinger, Intel’s, Gelsinger, Jonathan Guilford, Sharon Lam Organizations: Intel, Electronics, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Arizona, Leixlip, Ireland

☆ Germany spends big to win $11 billion TSMC chip plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC on Tuesday committed 3.5 billion euros ($3.8 billion) to a factory in Germany, its first in Europe, taking advantage of huge state support for the $11 billion plant as the continent seeks to bring supply chains closer to home. TSMC said it would invest up to 3.499 billion euros into a subsidiary, European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC), of which it will own 70%. The factory will cost around 10 billion euros in total. “There is going to be a real ecosystem for semiconductor manufacturing in Germany,” he said. TSMC said in a statement after a board meeting that approved the German investment that it had also approved a capital injection of not more than $4.5 billion for the Arizona plant as part of the overall $40 billion investment.

Persons: TSMC, Olaf Scholz, Michael Kretschmer, ” Kretschmer, Germany’s, NXP, Robert Habeck, ”, “ It’s Organizations: European Union, Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Germany, Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Germany’s Bosch, Infineon, Semiconductor, EU, Sony Locations: Germany, Europe, Taiwan, China, Asia, United States, Dresden, Saxony, ” Saxony, Netherlands, Ukraine, Arizona, Japan

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company said on Tuesday it would team up with three German technology firms to build a facility in eastern Germany capable of producing up to 40,000 microchips each month as part of efforts to further diversify its production locations. TSMC, the world’s largest maker of semiconductors, said it would invest 3.5 billion euros ($3.8 billion) and own 70 percent of the joint venture, to be located in Dresden. The German companies Robert Bosch, Infineon Technologies and NXP Semiconductors will each control 10 percent. The combined private and public investment, “including strong support from the European Union and German government,” is expected to total €10 billion, the company said. The plant would be TSMC’s first location in Europe, and represents a win for Germany, which has been seeking out manufacturers of microchips, the tiny devices essential for the country’s large automotive industry and countless other devices.

Persons: Robert Bosch, ” Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Infineon Technologies, European Union, Germany Locations: Germany, Dresden, Europe

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which is manufacturing the world’s most advanced microchips, conducts business on the island of Taiwan, dead center in one of the most geopolitically volatile places on the planet. That makes people in Washington very nervous. TSMC dominates the semiconductor industry; it’s a company that the United States can’t do without, 80 miles off the coast of China. The U.S. government has appropriated tens of billions of dollars to strengthen America’s own semiconductor sector and help fund TSMC’s nascent operations in the United States, far from China, which has never renounced the use of force to absorb Taiwan. But TSMC has invested billions of its own over nearly four decades growing deep roots in Taiwan.

Persons: TSMC Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Locations: Taiwan, Washington, United States, China, The U.S

☆ Thales cyber push meets investor shoulder shrug
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) - France's Thales (TCFP.PA) is doubling down on cybersecurity with its $3.6 billion purchase of U.S. firm Imperva. Thales's boss Patrice Caine briefly considered buying Atos's (ATOS.PA) cybersecurity arm last year, but didn’t go through with it. The purchase values the Thoma Bravo-backed group at 17 times forecast 2024 operating profit, according to Thales. Meanwhile Caine’s push into the racy cyber sector doesn’t seem to register in the group’s valuation. That means investors are sceptical that Thales’s efforts to crack the war against hacking will work out for shareholders.

Persons: Patrice Caine, Thoma, Caine’s, Refinitiv Datastream, Pamela Barbaglia, Liam Proud, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Thales, Thoma Bravo, BAE Systems, Twitter, Thomson Locations: U.S, Spain

☆ Office landlord offers glimpse of what’s to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Piedmont Office Realty Trust (PDM.N) is sifting through the rubble. The $910 million owner of high-quality office buildings in Boston, Dallas and beyond just borrowed at 9.25%, more than twice the interest rate it’s replacing. It’s an ominous sign for U.S. office landlords facing $60 billion of debt maturing at the end of 2023 and 2024, per data miner RCA. Office prices have fallen so much that cap rates are approaching 10%, according to Jonathan Litt, founder of activist hedge fund Land and Buildings Investment Management. Pricier debt means less income, but if rents have stabilized and interest rates keep rising, Piedmont was wise to start reconstructing its balance sheet sooner rather than later.

Persons: Brent Smith, Jonathan Litt, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Realty Trust, Refinitiv, RCA, Buildings Investment Management, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Boston, Dallas, Piedmont, Spain

☆ Spain vote stalemate requires winner to drop out
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - After Sunday’s election, neither the conservative People’s Party nor the governing Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party are likely to have enough support to rule. But he could shorten the pain by declining to form a government, paving the way for another poll in the autumn. The snap election called by left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in May failed to deliver either bloc the 176 parliamentary seats needed to govern. Since Sánchez is also unlikely to muster enough support, that would give Spaniards another chance to choose a leader in cooler conditions. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Pedro Sánchez, King Felipe VI’s, Mariano Rajoy, Francesco Guerrera, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, People’s Party, Spanish Socialist Workers ’ Party, El, Vox, PSOE, Spanish, Twitter, Thomson Locations: “ El Gobierno, el aire, El Pais

☆ Chevron’s restraint paying off
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Chevron’s (CVX.N)second-quarter profit was cut nearly in half as production rose slightly, according to a surprise early release of the oil giant’s earnings on Sunday night. Chevron’s profit jumped, too. Each barrel Chevron was producing brought in about $20 of profit, some 40% less than it had in the quarter earlier. Oil prices have continued to fall, but the drop in profit per barrel is less dramatic than before – just 8%. As long as restraint holds the upper hand, so will Chevron’s profit.

Persons: Brent, Goldman Sachs, Robert Cyran, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Chevron, Reuters Graphics, Twitter, Thomson Locations: U.S, Spain

☆ TSMC’s awkward signalling opens up chip limbo
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, July 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Is the chip market bottoming out? On the other hand, executives struck an upbeat tone on artificial intelligence, and noted the company is adding capacity on that front. TSMC's lower full-year revenue guidance now casts doubt on a much-anticipated year-end or early-2024 rebound in demand for electronics that would reverse the industry supply glut. Even so, investors have no clearer insight into how fast global demand will pick up, nor how the AI frenzy will evolve. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: C.C, Wei, TSMC, Robyn Mak, whir, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, TSMC, Twitter, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG

☆ SSAB profit hit flags EU steel's parlous state
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - SSAB (SSABa.ST) has kicked off European steelmakers' quarterly earnings season with a profit drama. Poor demand in Europe, declining steel prices and severe rises in energy and production costs are to blame. With steel consumption expected to decrease further in the second half of the year, investors sent SSAB stock down more than 15%. Without a deal, trade tariffs, which have been temporarily frozen, would return in December along with retaliatory measures from the EU. For SSAB, whose heavy plate business in North America was relatively stable during the second quarter, that would take things from bad to worse.

Persons: SSAB, steelmakers, Valdis Dombrovskis, Pamela Barbaglia, whir, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, SSAB, European Central Bank, Union, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Europe, U.S, North America

☆ TSMC says skilled worker shortage delays start of Arizona chip production
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

“While the company’s declining revenue and profit were disappointing, its long-term growth prospects remain encouraging,” said Brady Wang, associate director at Counterpoint Research. “The short-term frenzy about the AI demand definitely cannot extrapolate for the long term. Still, the company’s earnings of 181.8 billion Taiwan dollars ($5.85 billion) for the quarter ending in June beat forecasts. “We see TSMC well-positioned for a strong growth outlook in 2024,” Goldman Sachs said in a research note. “We expect a solid 2024-onward outlook on the back of its leading position in AI chip manufacturing,” Citi Research analysts said in a note.

Persons: ”, Brady Wang, Mark Liu, ” Liu, ” Goldman Sachs, “ Organizations: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Counterpoint Research, ”, ” Citi Research Locations: Arizona, Taiwan

☆ Japan’s largest port hit with ransomware attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Japan’s busiest shipping port said Thursday it would resume operations after a ransomware attack prevented the port from receiving shipping containers for two days. The expected restoration of the Port of Nagoya, a hub for car exports and an engine of the Japanese economy, will ease concerns about any wider economic fallout from the ransomware attack. The hack forced the port to stop handling shipping containers that came to the terminal by trailer, the association said. As of midday Thursday in Japan, there was no claim of responsibility for the Port of Nagoya ransomware attack from the LockBit group on their dark-web site. Though this may be a first for Japan, ransomware and related hacks have hit ports in other countries.

Persons: Ransomware, Mihoko Matsubara, TSMC, Port, Matsubara Organizations: New, New York CNN, Nagoya Harbor Transportation Association, NTT Corporation, CNN, Port, Japan Locations: New York, Port, Nagoya, Japan, Ukraine

☆ TSMC stake sold by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Warren Buffett’s conglomerate has sold its remaining shares in the world’s largest chipmaker, TSMC, after the “Oracle of Omaha” sounded alarms about its homebase of Taiwan. In a Monday filing, Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA) disclosed that it was no longer holding a stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) as of the end of the first quarter. In February, Berkshire revealed it had sold 86% of its shares in TSMC, which were purchased for $4.1 billion just months before. As Berkshire Hathaway revealed its withdrawal Monday, other prominent investors made bets on the stock. According to a regulatory filing, Macquarie has increased its stake in TSMC, while Tiger Global has also bought in.

☆ ‘Double Tax’ Hinders Taiwan’s Investment in American Factories
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Yuka Hayashi | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

TSMC’s semiconductor facility under construction in Phoenix. The lack of a U.S. tax treaty with Taiwan means companies in the U.S. are taxed by both governments. Photo: Caitlin O’Hara/Bloomberg NewsWASHINGTON— Bowei Lee ’s chemical company wants to open a new American factory to make materials for semiconductors, exactly the type of investment U.S. officials are courting as they seek to shore up chip supply chains and boost domestic manufacturing. But the Taiwan-based firm, LCY Group , faces a problem: Earnings from the new factory would be taxed twice.

☆ TSMC’s Tough Quarter Complicates Its U.S. Chip Ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Jacky Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The $53 billion Chips Act seeks to end the U.S.’s reliance on foreign-made semiconductors, especially those used by the Pentagon. The latest results from the world’s largest contract chip manufacturer confirm the grim outlook facing the semiconductor industry. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s weak earnings could also make already difficult negotiations with Uncle Sam over big chip sector investments in the U.S. even more fraught. TSMC is an industry bellwether that supplies Apple and Nvidia , and is negotiating with Washington for a hefty chunk of the chip manufacturing subsidies recently authorized by Congress. Its revenue in dollar terms for the three months ended in March fell 5% from a year earlier, figures released Thursday showed, or a 16% decline quarter over quarter.

Beijing's retaliatory strategy against U.S. chip sanctions is a bigger worry. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has so far remained relatively unscathed since Washington stepped up sanctions to hobble China’s domestic semiconductor development. Second, even if Chinese companies account for just 11% of TSMC’s top line, its other customers are far more exposed to the People's Republic. How Beijing responds to American pressure will define the scope of TSMC’s recovery. In January, TSMC said its capital spending in 2023 would be between $32 billion and $36 billion, compared to $36.3 billion in 2022.

☆ Warren Buffett gives reason for decision to sell stake in Taiwan's TSMC
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Warren Buffett says geopolitical tensions were “a consideration” in the decision to sell most of Berkshire Hathaway’s shares in global chip giant TSMC, which is based in Taiwan. The 92-year-old “Oracle of Omaha” shed light on the investment call in a Tuesday interview with Japanese news agency Nikkei. He was quoted as sayiing that TSMC was a well-managed company but that Berkshire had “better places” to deploy its capital. In February, Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA) revealed that it had sold 86% of its shares in TSMC, which were purchased for $4.1 billion just months before. TSMC is considered a national treasure in Taiwan and supplies semiconductors to tech giants including Apple (AAPL) and Qualcomm (QCOM).

☆ TSMC: Taiwanese chipmaker plans to hire 6,000 employees in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Semiconductor giant TSMC plans to add more than 6,000 jobs this year, despite a broader slowdown in demand for chips. TSMC, which stands for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, produces an estimated 90% of the world’s super-advanced chips. TSMC announced last year that it’s building a second semiconductor factory in Phoenix, and increasing its investment there. The average salary for a new engineer based in Taiwan with a master’s degree would be 2 million New Taiwan Dollars (about $65,400), according to TSMC. That would equate to roughly 533,004 New Taiwan Dollars ($17,426) per year.

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