Qualcomm Slapped With $975m Record China Fine

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 11 Februari 2015 | 00.25

US chip-maker Qualcomm has said it will not contest a $975m (£640m) fine imposed by China - the largest such penalty in the country's history.

The deal followed a 14-month investigation into anti-competitive practices amid allegations Qualcomm abused its market position by charging excessive fees for technology used in smartphones.

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said it had required the firm to lower its royalty rates on patents used in China, likely helping local smartphone makers such as Xiaomi and Huawei.

Beijing has been investigating a number of foreign firms in what appears to be an effort to force down prices.

The Qualcomm penalty was twice the size of the $492m (£297m) fine imposed on British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline last September for bribery.

Derek Aberle, president of Qualcomm, said: "We are pleased that the investigation has concluded and believe that our licensing business is now well positioned to fully participate in China's rapidly accelerating adoption of our 3G/4G technology.

Qualcomm makes most of its profit from licensing fees paid by companies that use its chips.

China accounts for about half the company's revenue.

Qualcomm said the agreement removed a major source of concern for its investors and a cut to its full-year earnings estimate did not dent demand for its stock, with shares of the San Diego-based firm rising almost 3% in after-hours trading.

Asked whether the resolution in China could affect the outcome of ongoing antitrust probes into Qualcomm in Europe and the US, Mr Aberle added: "We fully respect their authority, but we don't believe it's likely that other agencies will necessarily meet similar conclusions."

Xu Kunlin, head of the NDRC's anti-monopoly bureau, said: "Issuing the fine was not our primary purpose.

"Our purpose was to restore orderly, free-market competition. Qualcomm's practices had stifled innovation."

He insisted the intention of the country's investigations was to ensure a level playing field, rather than force foreign firms out of China.

But he added that time was needed to "guide" the prices of mobile phones.


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