GlobalFoundries and Taiwanese chipmaker UMC mull potential merger, Nikkei reports (updated)

United Microelectronics

31/03/2025 15:57

Updates with UMC response in paragraph 5

By Milana Vinn

March 31 (Reuters) - Taiwan's major chipmaker United Microelectronics 2303.TW and U.S.-based GlobalFoundries GFS.O are looking into the possibility of a merger, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.

A combined company would establish a larger U.S.-based firm with a global manufacturing footprint spanning Asia, the United States and Europe.

The potential deal comes as the U.S. seeks to strengthen its semiconductor supply chain amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Taiwan Strait and increasing competition from China in the mature chip market.

The merged company would prioritize research and development investments in the U.S. and could possibly emerge as a viable alternative to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co 2330.TW, the world's leading chipmaker.

UMC said the "company policy is not to comment on market rumours", while GlobalFoundries did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

GlobalFoundries has a market capitalisation of $20.41 billion, while UMC is currently valued at $16.90 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Shares of UMC ended 0.2% higher at 44.65 Taiwanese dollars on Monday, while GlobalFoundries closed marginally up.

 (Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee and Shivangi Lahiri in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Shreya Biswas and Stephen Coates)

 ((Rishav.Chatterjee@thomsonreuters.com;))