Broadcom withdraws Qualcomm offer after Trump blocks bid

PARIS-Agence France-Presse

Singapore-based Broadcom said on March 14 it was abandoning efforts to take over U.S. smartphone chipmaker Qualcomm, two days after its bid was blocked by President Donald Trump over national security concerns.

"Although we are disappointed with this outcome, Broadcom will comply" with the order blocking its effort to buy Qualcomm, it said in a statement.

Broadcom said it had withdrawn its candidates for the board of directors of Qualcomm, which it had hoped shareholders would elect to endorse the $117 billion deal that would have been the biggest mergers in the tech sector.

Qualcomm, which is the dominant maker of microprocessors for smartphones, had rejected the unsolicited offers from Broadcom, which makes an array of chips for wireless communications, set-top boxes and electronic displays.

Qualcomm insisted the price offered by Broadcom was too low and that it has a bright future on its own, especially ahead of a transition to fifth-generation (5G) wireless communications networks.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which said over the weekend it had "confirmed" national security concerns, indicated that a Broadcom-Qualcomm merger could weaken Qualcomm's leadership in the field.          

This would likely help Chinese competitors such as telecommunications firm Huawei, particularly in the emerging 5G blazing fast wireless internet, where a stronger China could present a national security issue.

Trump issued on March 12 an order barring the proposed mega-acquisition, saying there is credible evidence such a deal "threatens to impair the national security of the United States," according to a White House statement.

Broadcom indicated in its statement it will move forward with its effort to move its headquarters back to the United States.