Boris Petrov from Petrov Group speculates GlobalFoundries may acquire IBM's semiconductor fab. The analyst believes the move would give GlobalFoundries access to IBM's customers, who will eventually have to migrate to newer process technologies.
“It is highly probable that IBM will consider a business alliance of some sort with Globalfoundries. […] With its fabrication facilities worldwide, and a foundation in complex processor design and manufacturing, Globalfoundries should be able to incorporate state-of-the-art support for IBM, drive business economies, and ensure growth. Globalfoundries could be an ideal outlet for IBM's IC fabrication business, enabling it to sell a business that has not met financial performance requirements for years, and still providing it the depth, scope, and resources needed to not only provide manufacturing security for IBM but also further ensuring success of its foundry business,” Boris Petrov, the principal analyst of Petrov Group and a former director of strategic marketing at Chartered Semiconductor, wrote in his column.