半导体芯闻·2025-03-12 10:48Core Viewpoint - TSMC is considering acquiring a stake in a joint venture that would operate Intel's foundry business, with the aim of reviving Intel's struggling operations and supporting U.S. advanced manufacturing efforts [1][5][6] Group 1: TSMC's Proposal and Negotiations - TSMC has approached companies like Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom regarding a potential investment in a joint venture for Intel's foundry operations, with TSMC not holding more than 50% of the stake [1][2] - The negotiations are in early stages and require approval from the Trump administration, which is concerned about foreign control over Intel [2][5] - TSMC's proposal is part of a broader strategy to enhance its presence in the U.S. semiconductor market, following a commitment to invest $100 billion in new chip factories [5] Group 2: Intel's Current Situation - Intel's stock has dropped over 50% in the past year, and the company reported a net loss of $18.8 billion in 2024, marking its first loss since 1986, primarily due to significant asset impairments [4] - The company’s foundry division has a book value of $108 billion as of December 31 [4] - Intel's board supports negotiations with TSMC, although there is internal opposition from some executives [6] Group 3: Technical and Operational Challenges - Any collaboration between TSMC and Intel will face significant challenges due to differences in manufacturing processes, chemicals, and equipment used by both companies [6][7] - TSMC aims for potential investors to not only be shareholders in the joint venture but also customers of Intel's advanced manufacturing business [7] - The 18A process technology has become a contentious point in negotiations, with Intel claiming it is more advanced than TSMC's 2nm process [7]