Asian Tech Press (June 8) -- Samsung reportedly plans to acquire Netherlands-based chipmaker NXP Semiconductors N.V., bullish on the automotive semiconductor market.

Samsung's de facto leader Lee Jae-yong will talk about possible merger and acquisition deal during his during his visit to Europe from June 7-18, targeting NXP, one of TSMC's major customers as the target.

Industry insiders analyzed that Samsung's move mostly implied its bullishness on the automotive semiconductor market, and the potential round of acquisitions will also be an important strategy for Samsung to poach TSMC customers.

In fact, the news that Samsung intends to acquire European chipmakers has been circulating since 2021, with targets ranging from Dutch firm NXP to Germany's Infineon Technologies AG and other major semiconductor manufacturers.

But because of the global outbreak of COVID-19 since 2020, Samsung's overseas acquisitions did not go well and were once halted.

Lee started an overseas trip after six months, in addition to a targeted investment or acquisition of NXP, Infineon in Germany and SoftBank-backed Arm Ltd. in the UK will also be the targets of cooperation.