Carlyle Group´s Taiwan Gambit

This paper presents news on the impending acquisition of the Taiwan-based Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Co. (ASE), the world´s largest semiconductor assembly and testing services provider, by the Carlyle Group. The announcement that the U.S. investment group would buy ASE for the equivalent of US $5.5 billion prompted complaints about top Taiwan companies falling into foreign hands. The main concern has been whether rules governing transfer of sensitive technology to mainland China would be circumvented