3 ms·

Could Apple acquire TSMC or is it state owned?

• hajile 6y ago
  Regulators across the globe would flat-out say no.
  • tiffanyh 6y ago
    Not trying to stir the pot but genuine question - why would national states not approve this? Samsung (another phone manufacturer like Apple) has it's own Fab. And regardless of Intel latest troubles, they are still the dominant fab for non-mobile devices (desktop/laptop/server)
    • hajile 6y ago
      The EU is already investigating Apple as a monopoly. There have been similar vibes from the US. They would see a TSMC purchase as a big monopoly play and squash it. The theory is that at a certain point, vertical integration is so extensive that you are keeping all the profits along the entire chain and nobody can compete on price. That's a very bad place for government-enforced monopolies like Apple (standing on the back of government-enforced patent and copyright monopolies).
    • stjohnswarts 6y ago
      Taiwan will never let TSMC go as long as it's a national treasure like it currently is. I think for a similar reason the UK will buck the Nvidia buyout of ARM
  • amelius 6y ago
    They could still buy all the top talent.