Mergers & Acquisitions Mergers & Acquisitions

Comment: Collapse of Applied Materials-Kokusai tie-up highlights China-based merger risks

By Sachiko Sakamaki and Yonnex Li
  • 13 Apr 2021 23:05
  • 14 Apr 2021 01:56
US semiconductor equipment maker Applied Materials’ recent decision to shelve plans to acquire Japanese peer Kokusai Electric was yet another reminder that a Chinese antitrust review can be enough to bring a deal undone — especially when semiconductor-related items are involved.

The fact that the $3.5 billion deal received unconditional cleara

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Sachiko Sakamaki

Senior Correspondent, Tokyo


Sachiko covers antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, privacy and data security, as well as patent disputes related to connected cars. She has an undergraduate degree from Waseda University in Tokyo and a master's degree in communications from United States International (now Alliant International) University in California. She previously worked as a journalist for Time magazine, the Far Eastern Economic Review, Bloomberg News, and the Washington Post in Japan.

Yonnex Li

Chief Correspondent, Greater China


Yonnex has an MA in Journalism from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, after obtaining a BA in Translation at the same university. At MLex, she writes extensively on antitrust developments in the Greater China region, including investigations, court cases and merger control of international transactions. Prior to joining MLex, she worked as a reporter at the English division of the Hong Kong Economic Journal, providing coverage and analysis on China's banking sector, asset management industry as well as currency and financial reforms.

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