Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) is one of the most important companies in the world. In fact, according to some, it's the most important company.

TSMC, as it's also known, is the world's largest contract semiconductor manufacturer. It's the company that many of the world's biggest chip users like Apple, Nvidia, Broadcom, and Advanced Micro Devices rely on to manufacture their chips.

As a result, TSMC is one of the most valuable companies in the world, and like most manufacturers, it has billions of dollars invested in its foundries, or the plants that make those chips. It finished the first quarter with $95.4 billion in property, plant, and equipment, which represents the book value of its factories rather than the market value, which is likely higher.

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Source Fool.com