President Trump nixes Broadcom-Qualcomm deal
by from Techreport on (#3J2CF)
Broadcom's attempt to take control of rival chipmaker Qualcomm appears to have hit a tough barrier, as US President Donald Trump has weighed in with a presidential order forbidding any merger between the two companies. Furthermore, Trump disqualified all 15 of Broadcom's candidates for Qualcomm's board of directors. The order cites national security concerns as the primary reason for blocking the acquisition of San Diego-based Qualcomm by Broadcom, an organization with elements in the US, Singapore, and the Cayman Islands.
Trump cites subsection 721f of the Defense Production Act of 1950 in the order, but does not specifically refer to how a merger between the two silicon design firms would "impair the national security of ...