Chip equipment maker ASMPT draws takeover interest - Bloomberg News (updated)

ASMPT

10/03/2023 08:03

(Adds background, PAG response, details from Bloomberg News
report)
       March 10 (Reuters) - Semiconductor and electronics
equipment maker ASMPT Ltd  0522.HK  is attracting takeover
interest from private-equity companies, Bloomberg News reported
on Friday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
    Alternative investment firm PAG is among the companies that
have expressed interest to take the Hong Kong-listed company
private, the report said, adding that "PAG has sounded out
several lenders about financing the potential deal".
    ASMPT did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for
comment, while PAG declined to comment.
    Deliberations are at an early stage, and there's no
certainty they will result in a transaction, the report quoted
people who requested anonymity.
    Shares of the equipment maker rose as much as 5.2%, while
Hong Kong's Hang Seng benchmark  .HSI  dropped 3.2%.
    The market capitalization of ASMPT stood at nearly 30.5
billion Hong Kong dollars ($3.89 billion), as of Friday.
    Incorporated in 1975, the Singapore-headquartered ASMPT has
its presence in more than 30 countries and about 12,000
employees worldwide, according to data on company website.
    

    ($1 = 7.8496 Hong Kong dollars)
    

 (Reporting by Anirudh Saligrama in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry
Jacob-Phillips)
 ((Anirudh.Saligrama@thomsonreuters.com; @journoanirudh on
Twitter;))