For the first time, Berkshire Hathaway, the real estate firm owned by business magnet Warren Buffett, has invested in a semiconductor firm, pure-play foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC).
According to a report from CNN, Berkshire Hathaway purchased a $4.1 billion stake in TSMC, or about 60 million American depository shares of the company.
Why it matters
Semiconductors have been growing in importance since the COVID-19 pandemic revealed flaws in the aggregation of chip manufacturing globally. Semiconductors became a matter of national security for the U.S. and particularly the Biden Administration made it a key goal to pass the CHIPS and Science Act that would supply $52 billion in funding for the construction of new manufacturing facilities in the U.S.
Semiconductors have evolved from a niche market in the public eye to something much discussed among everyone in the world. It has emerged as an industry of critical importance to all electronics, whether it be a smartphone, television, military vehicle, aircraft and more.
Warren Buffett investing in TSMC, which has become not just the leading foundry but one of the largest semiconductor firms in the world, is proof that chips have moved into the spotlight for the critical role it plays in every gadget, appliance and computer we use daily.
Additionally, TSMC is investing in U.S. manufacturing as well a $12 billion fab in Arizona that is currently under construction. However, a report revealed TSMC may be building another fab adjacent to this first facility that will likely represent another $12 billion in investment. This “gigafab” could be capable of producing 100,000 wafers per month.
