Advanced Technology Investment Co. reportedly is looking to take full control of Globalfoundries, the processor manufacturing venture created in 2009 with chip maker Advanced Micro Devices.
AMD spun off its manufacturing business to create Globalfoundries as part of its goal of becoming a fabless company that designs its processors and then outsources the manufacturing of the chips.
According to documents filed by Abu Dhabi’s ATIC with the Germany cartel office and cited by Reuters, ATIC’s plan to assume full control of Globalfoundries was part of the strategy when it and AMD created the business. AMD officials planned to eventually give up any stake in Globalfoundries, according to the documents cited by Reuters.
At the time Globalfoundries was created, ATIC controlled almost 66 percent of the company, with AMD controlling the rest.
Since its creation, Globalfoundries officials have been busy trying to build the company. Most recently, the company inked a deal with Qualcomm Jan. 7 to build products focusing on the mobile chip maker’s wireless business.
A week later, Globalfoundries announced that it had completed the integration of Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, the Taiwanese manufacturer that the company bought for $1.8 billion. Globalfoundries bought the company to help it better compete with the likes of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the contract chip making business.
The company also has signed on STMicroelectronics as a customer, though that company has some manufacturing plants of its own.
In addition, Globalfoundries has broken ground on a $4.2 billion manufacturing plant in upstate New York.