Samsung Electronics may join the race to buy ARM

In a recent twist of events, Samsung Electronics and Intel may try to jointly take over ARM. Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman, Lee Jae-yong and Intel CEO, Pat Gelsinger held a meeting on May 30 that most likely discussed joint investment in ARM. According to reports, ARM-related mergers and acquisitions have been going on for years. Nvidia announced in September 2020 that it would acquire the UK-based company. However, the attempt failed after antitrust scrutiny in multiple countries. Subsequently, SK Hynix, Intel, and Qualcomm also issued similar announcements.

Now, Samsung Electronics could also join the fray, allowing ARM's technology to be incorporated into its Exynos processors. Samsung Electronics' goal is to become the leading manufacturer in the global non-memory chip market by 2030. The acquisition of ARM can be an effective way. Samsung Electronics will have to compete with SK Hynix, Intel, and Qualcomm, according to insiders. But there are other possibilities, including two or more of these companies forming a consortium that is not subject to antitrust regulations.

Samsung set to abandon the LCD panel business

According to media reports, Samsung Display, which supplies OLED panels for smartphone manufacturers such as Apple, has decided to abandon the LCD panel business and focus on the OLED panel and quantum dot panel business. The company has since confirmed that it will discontinue operations in June.

Samsung Display abandoned the LCD panel business, which means that they need to relocate or adjust related employees. There are reports that Samsung will transfer hundreds of employees from the panel business unit to the chip packaging business unit. The company is now accepting applications for adjustment from employees. Employees aged 37 and below in the display business department can apply for adjustment to the chip packaging business department. Samsung’s goal is to transfer 300 employees from the display business department. The company will complete the chip packaging business unit in the second half of the year. Thus, employee relocation will be complete before then.

The department where Samsung's display and chip packaging business is located belongs to the device solutions department of Samsung Electronics. If there is a need for personnel adjustments, it will happen within the device solutions department.

At the end of last year, Samsung Electronics adjusted its high-level and main business units. The company had to merge the consumer electronics and mobile business units. The single department, "experience department@ is now led by vice chairman and CEO Han Zongxi. However, the device solutions department s led by the president and co-CEO, Qing Guixian.

Samsung Electronics has repeatedly adjusted Samsung Display employees

This is not the first time they have made personnel adjustments between the two business units. Samsung Electronics has repeatedly adjusted Samsung Display employees to the chip packaging business unit, mainly because they plan to withdraw from the LCD panel business. They originally planned to give up at the end of 2020, but due to the request of Samsung Electronics' TV business unit, they retained some production lines. For this reason, the company had to postpone its exit from the LCD panel business.

By adjusting some employees of the display business department to the chip packaging business department, Samsung Electronics also hopes to make full use of its excellent internal employees to promote the development of the chip business. At the same time, the chip business department is also facing talent challenges and needs more employees.

Last week, Samsung Group announced that they plan to invest 450 trillion won, or $356 billion, in key areas such as semiconductors, biopharmaceuticals, and other next-generation technologies by 2026 to drive the development of these key business areas. Most of the 450 trillion won that Samsung Group plans to invest will be invested in the chip business, including memory chips, logic chips, and foundry business.