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TriQuint, RFMD set merger vote date: Sept. 5 [The Oregonian, Portland, Ore. :: ](Oregonian (Portland, OR) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 31--Shareholders in Hillsboro-based TriQuint Semiconductor and its merger partner, North Carolina's RF Micro Devices, will vote on the deal Sept. 5, the companies said this morning. There's little doubt they will approve it -- investors love the idea of combining the companies' businesses manufacturing computer chips for communications, and adore the cost-cuts the two companies promise. TriQuint shares have doubled since the companies announced their plan to combine last February, and RFMD is up steeply, too. (It helps that each company has reported improved financial results this year, too.) The deal gives shareholders a 50-50 stake in the combined company and puts RFMD's chief executive in charge of that new business. TriQuint's CEO, Ralph Quinsey, will be chairman. While shareholders are on board, though, many questions remain about the deal for employees and for Oregon -- TriQuint is among the biggest tech companies in the state, with roughly 900 employees at its Hillsboro headquarters and chip factory. Uncertainties include: --The name of the combined company. --Where it will put its headquarters -- The companies have said they're considering North Carolina, Oregon and other, unspecified locales. --And most importantly, what will happen to TriQuint's Hillsboro chip factory? The companies have indicated they will have excess production capacity and will likely shutter a factory in Greensboro or the one in Hillsboro. They have not given a timetable for a decision. TriQuint shares are down 48 cents in morning trading at $18.37. -- Mike Rogoway; twitter: @rogoway; 503-294-7699 ___ (c)2014 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Visit The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) at www.oregonian.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |