Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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Charlie Chan: Hey, gentlemen. Good afternoon. Thanks for taking my questions. So my first question is about the overseas fab cost seems to get higher. So would the TSMC consider to further adjust your pricing to absorb those increased costs? And also management mentioned that you’re doubling or more than doubling your advanced packaging, given the AI Russia [ph] order. Would that give you a chance to reprice the back end foundry service? Because I remember there was a kind of below company’s gross margin average. Would that be a chance to bring that back to the corporate average? Thank you.

Jeff Su: Okay. Charlie. Charlie’s first question is, I guess, regarding pricing, two parts or two angles. First on the overseas fab, given that the costs are higher, would TSMC consider to further adjust our wafer price. And also along similar lines related to advanced packaging, given we are – C.C. said doubling roughly the capacity would we consider to also charge more or higher given that the returns of the back end are lower?

Wendell Huang: Right. Let me answer the first question first. Yes, the overseas fab will cost higher, at least for the near future, where their supply ecosystem is not mature yet. And the labor cost is from our experience, actually it’s a little bit higher than we expected. But to answer your question, yes, as we try to get the maximum government subsidy, and we also really look at the – how the price value for the overseas geographical flexibilities, these are all considered. The aim is to, one, to increase our customer trust, make them continue to work with us going forward under the geopolitical concerns. Secondly is to maximize shareholders’ value. To answer your question on price is strategically yes.

C. C. Wei: All right…

Wendell Huang: C.C, can you answer second question?

C. C. Wei: Okay. I think the second question is about the pricing or the – on the cohorts. As I answer the question, we are increasing the capacity as soon as possible manner, of course, not including actual cost. So in fact, we are working with our customers. And the most important thing for them right now is supply assurance, is supply to meet their demand. So we are working with them. We do everything possible to increase the capacity. And of course, at the same time, we share our value.

Wendell Huang: And then…

Charlie Chan: Thanks. So may I – may ask a second question, its a different topic. Is that, okay?

Wendell Huang: Sure.

Jeff Su: You get two questions. So, sure.

Charlie Chan: Thank you. Thanks, Jeff. So another question is about the AI SME demand, right, since you’re providing your revenue contribution, growth assumption that is super helpful. But I’m wondering how TSMC can judge the AI demand? Because right now, it’s [indiscernible] right now, customers are very aggressive booking capacity. So I’m wondering how company can judge whether those AI SME demand is for real? And also in terms of breakdown, I’m wondering whether companies said ASIC, the customer ship is outgrowing GPU. I think the more important one should be the first part of the question, especially investors are concerned whether AI is cannibalizing the CPU server demand. So – so those are kind of the questions are in our mind. Thank you.

Jeff Su: Okay. Let me summarize your second question, Charlie. Charges on AI demand. He wants to know how do we judge the demand properly because customers are very aggressive, but how in his words, how do we know that this demand is real. And then also, how do we see the demand specifically for ASIC as it relates to AI?

Wendell Huang: Okay. You want to answer?

C. C. Wei: Let me try first and you probably…

Wendell Huang: Sure…

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