tech:

taffy

Cohu to acquire Xcerra for $627M

Semiconductor testing company Cohu and Xcerra  have entered into a definitive merger agreement, where Cohu is acquiring Xcerra for a combination of cash and stock. The deal is valued at roughly $627 million.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of calendar year 2018, subject to approval by both companies’ respective shareholders, antitrust regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Luis Müller, president and CEO at Cohu, is expected to remain president and chief executive officer and lead the combined company. Jeff Jones will continue to serve as vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Two members of Xcerra’s board of directors will join Cohu’s board upon the closing of the transaction.

Deutsche Bank Securities served as the exclusive financial advisor to Cohu and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton served as Cohu’s legal advisor. Cowen served as exclusive financial advisor to Xcerra and Latham & Watkins served as Xcerra’s legal advisor.

[Image courtesy: Cohu]

Just in

Oso Semiconductor raises $5.2M

Oso Semiconductor has raised $5.2 million in seed funding. The round was led by Engine Ventures.

OpenAI launches ChatGPT Gov for U.S. government agencies — CNBC

It’s called ChatGPT Gov and was built specifically for U.S. government use; writes Hayden Field. 

DeepSeek’s popular AI app is explicitly sending US data to China — Wired

Users have already reported several examples of DeepSeek censoring content that is critical of China or its policies, writes Matt Burgess and Lily Hay Newman. 

DeepSeek hit with large-scale cyberattack, says it’s limiting registrations — CNBC

DeepSeek on Monday said it would temporarily limit user registrations “due to large-scale malicious attacks” on its services; writes Hayden Field.