A $35bn US semiconductor industry merger is being delayed by Beijing’s antitrust regulator, after Donald Trump tightened chip export controls against China in a move that exacerbated trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation has postponed its approval of the proposed deal between Synopsys, a maker of chip design tools, and engineering software developer Ansys, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.
The transaction between the American groups, which has received the blessing of authorities in the US and Europe, had already entered the last stage of SAMR’s approval process and was expected to be completed by the end of this month, said the people.