MediaTek, MStar Merger Gets China’s OK

LONDON — A previously stalled $4 billion merger between consumer electronics IC companies MediaTek Inc. and MStar Semiconductor Inc., both based in Hsinchu, Taiwan, has received approval from China’s antitrust regulator but with conditions covering the sale of LCD TV chips.

MediaTek acquired a 48 percent stake in MStar in August 2012 but since then has been battling to gain approval from authorities in Taiwan, South Korea, and China for a total merger and has postponed the closing deadline for the deal multiple times. (See: MediaTek, MStar merger delayed.)

MediaTek and MStar are public companies that design and sell SoCs that go in smartphones and other consumer and multimedia electronics. MediaTek is particularly strong in chips for smartphones.

The Chinese authorities were the last regional authority to rule on the proposed merger. The Ministry of Commerce has posted its findings on its website, including the requirement that MediaTek and MStar continue to compete in digital TV controller chips for three years after the merger completes. MStar must delist from the Taiwan Stock Exchange and become a subsidiary company of MediaTek but continue to operate separately for three years; and MediaTek must then reapply to have that condition lifted. However, MStar’s handset and wireless business units are expected to be incorporated within MediaTek.

MediaTek has still to submit a detailed plan to the Ministry of Communications on how it will effect the merger, and the closing date for the deal has now been postponed three months to Feb. 1, 2014.
　
　
EETimes / Peter Clarke

歷史上的今天

• 觀測站》博通來襲 聯發科準備好了嗎？ - 2008
• Apple 將靠「iPhone 稅」大發利市？行動電信業者想搭配 iPhone 推展行動服務，得掏出營收 10% 上繳給 Apple！？ - 2007
• R & D 人生 ─ 沒有牛肉可撈　誰還願意爆肝？ - 2007
• 進言集 ─ 散戶為何總是成為市場震盪下的祭品？知己之弱 以守為攻 - 2007
• Subversion 1.4.5 釋出 - 2007
• 什麼時候你才會成熟一點？ - 2005
• 全工研院第二快的蛙人 - 2004