Qualcomm rejects $103bn Broadcom takeover offer

Reuters – Mobile chipmaker Qualcomm has rejected rival Broadcom's $103bn takeover bid, saying the offer “dramatically” undervalued the US company.

Shares of Qualcomm were up 1% at $65.25 in pre-market trading, while those of Broadcom fell 0.7% to $263.

“After a comprehensive review, conducted in consultation with our financial and legal advisors, the board has concluded that Broadcom’s proposal dramatically undervalues Qualcomm and comes with significant regulatory uncertainty,” Qualcomm’s presiding director Tom Horton said in a statement.

Broadcom made an unsolicited bid last week in its efforts to become the dominant supplier of chips used in the 1.5 billion or so smartphones expected to be sold around the world this year.

Reuters reported on Sunday that Qualcomm would rebuff the $70 per share offer, citing people familiar with the matter.

Broadcom could not immediately be reached for comment.

NXP

The offer also comes at a time when Qualcomm is trying to close its pending $38bn acquisition of automotive chipmaker NXP Semiconductors.

Broadcom has indicated it is willing to buy Qualcomm irrespective of whether it closes the NXP deal.

A sale to Broadcom would also need a nod from the antitrust officials, who are still considering Qualcomm’s purchase of NXP.

Pioneer

Qualcomm, an early pioneer in mobile phone chips, supplies so-called modem chips to phone makers such as Apple, Samsung and LG that help the phones connect to wireless data networks.

“No company is better positioned in mobile, IoT, automotive, edge computing and networking within the semiconductor industry,” Qualcomm’s chief executive Steve Mollenkopf said.

“We are confident in our ability to create significant additional value for our stockholders.”

Qualcomm chief executive, Steve Mollenkopf