Deals
German Push Grows for Chinese Investment Curbs as Aixtron Probed
- Protectionist backlash builds momentum in EU’s biggest economy
- Semiconductor equipment maker’s takeover under new scrutiny
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Germany is seeking tighter control over foreign investment in European companies, in a sign of a growing protectionist reaction to China’s appetite for overseas acquisitions.
Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Monday reopened a review of the takeover of Aixtron SE, which supplies equipment to the semiconductor industry, by China’s Grand Chip Investment GmbH. That follows calls by Gabriel, who is also Chancellor Angela Merkel’s deputy, for European Union measures to give national governments more powers to block or impose conditions on shareholdings of non-EU companies.