Nat Semi pinches ARS

NEWS US-based National Semiconductor has bought two Baltic companies. The chip giant is about to finalise its purchase of Fincitec, a Finnish mobile phone chip maker, and Estonian semi-conductor specialist ARSMicro. All the companies' employees will be working for Nat Semi but the plants and workers will remain where they are. Finitec was established in 1986 and ARSMicro in 1997. The sale is said to be worth E17m (£10.5m).