Proposed Acquisition by W.C. Heraeus GmbH (through Heraeus Materials Singapore Pte Ltd) of the bonding wire business of Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.

Notifying Parties:

W.C.Heraeus GmbH
Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.

Notifying Date:

2 September 2008

Summary of transaction:

PART 5
INFORMATION FOR THE CCS PUBLIC REGISTER
(TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT(S))

1. The Applicants

W.C.Heraeus GmbH (“WCH”), Heraeus Materials Singapore Pte. Ltd.(“Heraeus Singapore”), and Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (“K&S”) (collectively, the “Applicants”).

2. Description of the merger

This Notification is in relation to the acquisition by WCH (through Heraeus Singapore) of the bonding wire business of K&S (“KSBW”), by way of a Master Sale and Purchase Agreement.

The Applicants are of the view that the anticipated merger, when carried into effect, is unlikely to lead to a substantial lessening of competition within any market in Singapore. The anticipated merger will only have a marginal impact on the competitive structure of the relevant market because WCH currently has a minimal market share in Singapore. Thus, post merger, WCH will have substantially the same market share as that currently possessed by K&S.

3. Relevant good(s) or service(s) involved

KSBW manufactures and sells gold, copper, aluminium, and other types of specialty bonding wire, which is used in the wire bonding process for semiconductor and microelectronic devices. The purchased assets include bonding wire manufacturing facilities located in Switzerland and in Singapore and inventory.

Decision:

The proposed acquisition, if carried into effect, will not infringe the section 54 prohibition.

Decision Date:

26 September 2008
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