Siliconware Precision Industries Co Ltd (SPIL, 矽品精密) yesterday expressed support for the Free Trade Commission’s decision to defer its ruling on whether to approve Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc’s (ASE, 日月光半導體) bid to acquire it.
Following a 60-day extension, the final ruling is to be rendered no later than May 1, Free Trade Commission Vice Chairman Chiu Yung-ho (邱永和) said.
Chiu said the deal is among the highest priorities of the commission, adding that he does not rule out holding further discussions with academics and industry experts before coming to a final decision.
SPIL applauded the commission’s decision, saying that it reflects the regulator’s impartiality and expertise.
The commission said that it is still reviewing the deal and that more time is required to assess the ramifications of the union, including the two companies’ product offerings, coverage of geographical markets, potential impacts to the industry’s innovation and competition and the overall affect on the nation’s economic interests.
ASE has adopted a passive stance toward SPIL’s recent vocal objections to the deal, such as SPIL’s dismissal of a survey commissioned by ASE, which showed that 70.7 percent of respondents expressed support for the acquisition compared with 20.2 percent who said they were against the deal.
The survey questioned 1,205 respondents older than 20 by telephone on Monday and Tuesday last week.
SPIL railed against the survey’s findings, saying that ASE had employed manipulative political tactics typically seen during elections.
The survey is a manipulation of populism, and its design was flawed, SPIL said, adding that the survey should have been directed at people who work in the semiconductor sector and not the general public.
In addition, the survey failed to mention that ASE’s takeover bid is hostile, SPIL said.
ASE, the world’s largest chip packaging and testing service provider, said the outcome of the acquisition deal would have a profound impact on the future of Taiwan’s semiconductor sector, while emphasizing that the company is not aiming to take over managerial control of SPIL, its No. 3 peer.
According to ASE, the acquisition would bolster the nation’s semiconductor sector industry at a time when competitors across the globe are hastening consolidation efforts.
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