According to the filing data of November 14, the EU authorities requested TSMC to provide the relevant data and documents on September 28. TSMC said it will fully cooperate with the survey to provide the relevant data. However, as the investigation is still in its infancy, Unable to assess follow-up and possible outcomes or effects.
In September this year, Reuters had reported that TSMC's rival and the foundry's second-largest maker, Grodfand, had asked the antitrust authorities of the European Commission to investigate TSMC And alleged that TSMC's unfair competition over the years affected Groupe's market competitiveness.
At the time, TSMC ADR (American Depositary Receipts) fell for the first time in the session, but TSMC pointed out at that time that it did not receive any written instructions from the unit to investigate the TSMC and said that it has a complete internal mechanism and has always followed the rules and expressed its respect for customers However, yesterday TSMC confirmed that it is under preliminary investigation.
At that time, Reuters reported that insiders disclosed that Grodfand has complained to the EU that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. unfairly uses loyalty rebates, exclusion clauses, bundling rebates, and even fines to prevent users from turning to competitors. Luo Fangde's competitiveness.
According to IHS, in 2016, TSMC won the world's foundry champion with a market share of 56.6%, while Grosvenor was ranked 9.6% with UFJ and Samsung Electronics with 100% 8.1 points, tied for the third.
According to research institutes IC Insights survey, last year the global wafer foundry output value reached 50.05 billion US dollars, TSMC last year accounted for 59% market share, leading the way; Grovendese accounted for 11%, ranking No. 2.
Intel ten years ago also unfairly contested, and to pay a $ 1.06 billion fine, setting the highest fines record then.According to the EU anti-trafficking penalties, if the company is found to be illegal, the most global Revenue 10% of the fine, with IC Insights data, TSMC revenue nearly 300 billion US dollars, if found illegal, the maximum fine will be close to 3 billion US dollars.