Not Their First Rodeo

Broadcom has frequently appeared before both U.S. and European regulators in recent years, either because of an acquisition it had planned or due to its sales practices.

The U.S. Justice Department killed Broadcom’s potential takeover of Qualcomm in 2018 on national security grounds arguing that the company was not US based. Since then, Broadcom has relocated its corporate headquarters to San Jose, Calif.

In 2021, Broadcom was hit with accusations of illegal sales practices in the EU and in the US. In both instances regulators said Broadcom was forcing suppliers to buy a certain percentage of their supply from Broadcom in order to qualify for discounts.

The U.S. and the European Commission both found problems with the practice, and Broadcom has been operating under a settlement agreement that allows regulators to inspect its books to ensure compliance with authorities.