Germany's Bosch sues S.Korea's Mando in U.S. on alleged patent infringements; Mando denies (updated)

HL Mando

30/09/2016 10:56

* Bosch claims Mando violates 4 patents in Michigan suit 
    * Mando issues denial, to "actively respond" to lawsuit 
    * Mando denial comes after shares skid 13 pct in Seoul 
 
 (Add Mando denial) 
    By Hyunjoo Jin 
    SEOUL, Sept 30 (Reuters) - German auto parts supplier Robert 
Bosch GmbH lodged a lawsuit in the United States against South 
Korean peer Mando Corp  204320.KS  alleging infringement of four 
patents, a claim Mando later said was groundless, pledging to 
"actively respond". 
    Shares in Mando tumbled 13 percent on Friday to their lowest 
levels in more than two months after the suit was filed at 
United States District Court for the Eastern District of 
Michigan on Thursday. 
    The suit claims some brake systems (ABS) and electronic 
stability control (ESC) products supplied by Mando, South 
Korea's No.2 auto parts maker after Hyundai Mobis  012330.KS , 
breach four of Bosch's patents. 
    Bosch said it's seeking an disclosed amount of damages and a 
court order to prohibit Mando from further infringing the 
patents. "Unless Mando is enjoined from its infringement, Bosch 
will continue to suffer irreparable harm," the German firm said 
in Thursday's filing.  
    Mando denied the claims in a statement issued in Seoul on 
Friday, saying it would make an unspecified but "active" 
response to the lawsuit to resolve the dispute as quickly as 
possible. 
    "We will prove that Bosch's claims are groundless should the 
lawsuit proceed," Mando said in its statement, adding the 
dispute would not affect the stability of supply of its products 
to customers.  
    Mando has two U.S. factories, in Alabama and Georgia, 
catering to demand from Hyundai Motor  005380.KS  and General 
Motors  GM.N . 
    Mando also supplies steering racks for Tesla Motor's 
 TSLA.O  Model S vehicles, and is in talks with the U.S. 
automaker to supply unidentified components to the upcoming 
Model 3 car, Reuters reported in May.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N18L28N 
 
 (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Additional reporting by Yun Hwan 
Chae; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) 
 ((hyunjoo.jin@thomsonreuters.com; 82-2-3704-5685; Reuters 
Messaging: hyunjoo.jin.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: MANDO CORP BOSCH/