October 7th, 2016
Japan Fair Trade Commission
The Japan Fair Trade Commission (hereinafter “JFTC”), after receiving a submission from Lam Research Corporation*1 (hereinafter “Lam”) and KLA-Tencor Corporation*2 (hereinafter “KT”) of a plan notification relating to their proposed business integration, had conducted a review of the plan.
The JFTC had informed the parties of a concern that the proposed business integration would substantially restrain competition in the field of the production and sale of semiconductor fabrication equipments, due to creation of the potential for Lam to foreclose its competitors by reducing their timely access to KT’s metrology and inspection equipments and related services. The parties announced that they abandoned their proposed business integration plan and withdrew the submission on October 6th. Therefore, the JFTC closed its review on the proposed business integration plan.
The proposed business integration plan was also reviewed by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (hereinafter ‘’DOJ’’) and other competition authorities. The JFTC cooperated with the DOJ by exchanging information during the investigation.
【Reference】The process of the JFTC’s review on this case
February 4th, 2016 Submission of a plan notification from the parties
March 2nd, 2016 Withdrawal of the submission by the parties
(The JFTC’s review continued)
September 15th, 2016 Resubmission from the parties
October 6th, 2016 Withdrawal of the submission by the parties
*1 Lam Research Corporation, based in California, U.S., is a leading supplier of semiconductor fabrication equipment.
*2 KLA-Tencor Corporation, based in California, U.S., is a leading supplier of metrology and inspection equipment.
*Every announcement is tentative translation. Please refer to the original text written in Japanese.
