Semiconductors meaning

In this issue: UK NSI Act UK mergers UK competition policy EU mergers EU antitrust EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation New and updated content Daily and weekly news alerts Caselex UK NSI Act Government consults on proposed reforms to the NSI Act 2021 mandatory notification regime The UK Government has launched a consultation on proposed revisions to the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (Notifiable Acquisition) (Specification of Qualifying Entities) Regulations 2021, which determine the scope of mandatory filings under the NSI Act. This follows the 2024 statutory review of the NARs and engagement through the 2023 Call for Evidence. The Government sets out targeted adjustments intended to keep the regime proportionate and effective at capturing national security risks in sensitive parts of the UK economy, whilst ensuring that the vast majority of transactions remain outside its reach. Key proposals include: New standalone mandatory notification areas: creating two separate categories for...

NSI Act Government consults on proposed reforms to the NSI Act 2021 mandatory notification regime The UK Government has opened a consultation on changes to the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (Notifiable Acquisition) (Specification of Qualifying Entities) Regulations 2021 (the NARs), which determine when a mandatory notification is required under the NSI Act. This follows the Government’s 2024 statutory review and prior engagement with stakeholders through the 2023 Call for Evidence. The package sets out targeted refinements to keep the regime proportionate and effective at capturing national security risks in sensitive areas of the UK economy, whilst ensuring the overwhelming majority of deals proceed unaffected. Key proposals include: New standalone mandatory notification areas: creation of distinct categories for Semiconductors and Critical Minerals, both currently within the Advanced Materials sector; and relocating Computing Hardware, now a standalone sector, into the Semiconductors category. New sector added: introduction of a mandatory notification area for the Water sector, focused on acquisitions of water operating companies...

In this issue: Key R&I law developments Personal insolvency Restructuring Directors and insolvency Insolvency litigation The office-holder Financial institutions Daily and weekly news alerts Key dates for restructuring and insolvency professionals New content Key R&I law developments Government consults on proposed reforms to the NSI Act 2021 mandatory notification regime The UK government has opened a consultation on amendments to the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (Notifiable Acquisition) (Specification of Qualifying Entities) Regulations 2021, which set the boundaries of the NSI Act’s mandatory notification regime. Headline proposals are: (i) creating two discrete categories for semiconductors and critical minerals, (ii) introducing a mandatory notification area for the water sector, and (iii) refining several existing sectors to enhance certainty and reflect technological and market change. The consultation runs until 14 October 2025. See: LNB News 24/07/2025 72. Scotland’s AiB publishes insolvency statistics for Q1 2025–26 The Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) has released...

Background to semiconductors A semiconductor is, at its core, a material with electrical conductivity that can permit or, alternatively, obstruct the passage of electric current. Chips based on semiconductors—seen in devices such as computers, mobile phones and microwave ovens—are typically produced from circular silicon wafers. Intellectual property rights operate to safeguard the semiconductor sector, encompassing electronic circuit boards and the component chips. Semiconductor topography rights The semiconductor topography right sits alongside unregistered design law and is aimed at protecting a particular industrial article, namely, as noted above, the electronic circuit board and the layout of semiconductors. This right entered UK law through the Design Right (Semiconductor Topographies) Regulations 1989, SI 1989/1100, which implemented European Directive 87/54/EC and now form assimilated law as EU‑derived domestic legislation. Assimilated law is the term applied to retained EU law (REUL) that continues in force after the end of 2023. The shift from REUL (and related expressions) to assimilated law denotes a change in its status and treatment within UK law, in...

CASE HUB ARCHIVED — this archived case hub reflects the position as at the decision date of 21 August 2023; it is no longer obtained. See the timeline and commentary for further details Case facts Outline UK merger investigation into the proposed acquisition by Broadcom Inc. of VMware, Inc. The deal features horizontal overlaps in the supply of network interface cards, fibre channel host-bus adapters, and storage adapters. Latest developments On 21 August 2023, the CMA published its final report, granting unconditional clearance. The CMA upheld its provisional view that: (i) any prospective financial gain to Broadcom Inc and VMware Inc from making competitors’ products operate less effectively with VMware Inc’s software would be outweighed by the financial downside from lost business; and (ii) the merger is unlikely to hinder innovation, particularly because information on new product adaptations only has to be shared with VMware Inc at a point when it is too late to deliver a commercial advantage to Broadcom Inc. Parties ...

CASE HUB ARCHIVED This archived hub sets out the position as at 8 February 2022, the date the investigation was cancelled following the transaction being abandoned; it is no longer maintained. See the timeline and commentary. Case facts Outline: UK merger review concerning the completed anticipated acquisition by NVIDIA Corporation of Arm Limited’s Intellectual Property Group business. Latest developments On 8 February 2022, the CMA cancelled its phase 2 investigation after NVIDIA decided to abandon the merger. Parties NVIDIA Corporation (NVIDIA) – a US-based provider of semiconductors and computing platforms serving a wide range of applications; through Mellanox it also supplies network interconnect products, including SmartNICs; listed on NASDAQ. Arm Limited (Arm) – a UK-based company that develops and licences semiconductor IP built on a particular ISA to semiconductor suppliers worldwide. Background On 13 September 2020, NVIDIA agreed to acquire Arm’s Intellectual Property Group for US$40bn. On 19 April 2021, the DCMS publicised a Public Interest...