Chip makers shake on £257m deal

Germans in for Swedes...

Infineon and Ericsson shook hands yesterday on a much-anticipated deal that will see the German firm snapping up the microelectronics operations of the Swedish telecoms equipment maker. The all-share deal is worth E400m (£257m). Ericsson's microelectronics division makes components for mobile phones and fixed-line telephone networks. The talks have been ongoing for several months. Ericsson's mobile phone rivals Nokia and Siemens have long since concentrated on handset design and marketing buying in microchips from third parties.