> I can't fathom how TSMC would've let Infineon+NXP into the deal without some level of positive, or negative coercion. Easy: Infineon is German, NXP is Dutch,

> I can't fathom how TSMC would've let Infineon+NXP into the deal without some level of positive, or negative coercion. Easy: Infineon is German, NXP is Dutch, Bosch is German. Germany is not exactly going to give a massive subsidy to a foreign company, but giving one to local companies is "bolstering local economy". And TSMC gets a fab at a 50% discount out of it.