EU probes two U.S.-Asian computer hardware deals

EU regulators opened all-embracing probes on Monday into two takeover bids in the computer accouterments area involving two Asian companies and two U.S. peers, adage it was anxious the deals would abate the cardinal of rivals.

U.S.-based Seagate Technology has said it wants to shop for Samsung Electronics Co's loss-making adamantine deejay drive assemblage for $1.4 billion.

Western Agenda affairs to acquirement Hitachi Ltd's adamantine deejay drive business for $4.3 billion to accord it an bend in developing next-generation accumulator technology.

The European Commission, the EU antagonism watchdog, which is now reviewing the two deals, said it capital to booty a afterpiece look.

"Hard drives are the courage of the agenda economy. The area has already accomplished cogent consolidation, and the proposed acquisitions will added abate competition," Antagonism Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in a statement.

The EU controlling said the Seagate and Samsung accord would consolidate the U.S. company's position in the adamantine deejay drive market, abrogation alone two rivals, Western Agenda and Hitachi.

The Western Agenda and Hitachi transaction would aftereffect in alone one aggregation aggressive in desktop adamantine deejay drives and aloof two rivals in adaptable adamantine deejay drives, the Commission said.

It will adjudge by October 10 whether to bright or block the two deals. The antecedent borderline for a accommodation on the Seagate and Samsung accord was Monday, while that for Western Agenda and Hitachi was Tuesday.