Qualcomm set to get nod from Japan, Europe for NXP bid

Brussels

US smartphone chipmaker Qualcomm is set to win "imminent" Japanese antitrust clearance for its US$38 billion bid for NXP Semiconductors and gain Europe's approval by the end of the year with slight tweaks to its concessions, a person familiar with the matter said.

Winning the green light from both competition authorities would take Qualcomm a major step forward to closing the deal and reinforce its fight against an unsolicited US$103 billion takeover bid from Broadcom.