Group 1 - Sumitomo Chemical announced the acquisition of all shares of Asia Union Electronic Chemical Corp, a Taiwanese semiconductor cleaning agent manufacturer, with an estimated transaction value of approximately 10 billion yen (about 63.85 million USD) [1] - The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and is subject to regulatory approval, establishing Sumitomo Chemical's first production base in Taiwan, complementing its existing sites in Japan, the US, mainland China, and South Korea [1] - Asia Union Electronic Chemical currently operates factories in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Reno, Nevada, and Shanghai, focusing on high-purity chemicals for semiconductor cleaning applicable to both mature and advanced processes [1] Group 2 - The semiconductor materials industry has high market entry barriers due to long customer relationship cycles and complex product certification processes [2] - By acquiring a mature company like Asia Union Electronic Chemical, Sumitomo Chemical aims to quickly penetrate the market and accelerate business expansion, while also applying its production technology to enhance efficiency at Asia Union's factories [2] - Sumitomo Chemical's semiconductor materials business, including photoresists, is a core growth segment, with a target to double revenue from semiconductor process chemicals by the fiscal year 2030 compared to fiscal year 2024 [2]