WASHINGTON – The Semiconductor Industry Association today applauded a bipartisan bill that gives US negotiators the authority to finalize trade agreements.

RAMBOUILLET, FRANCE – Viapaq Group has acquired Tepcomp, an EMS firm with production sites in Finland and Estonia. No financial terms were disclosed.

ESPOO, FINLAND -- Finnish research organization VTT has developed a method for printing memory circuits directly on various substrates such as consumer packaging, and is seeking partners to commercialize the invention.

ROTHERHAM, UK – Two managers of Purex Fume Extraction Systems have completed a management buyout of the firm.

OYSTER BAY, NY – Connected automotive infotainment systems are expected to grow at a CAGR of 33.8% over the next five years, says ABI Research. Rapid expansion is expected in connected navigation and in-car Wi-Fi driving growth.

SAN JOSE -- Flextronics is in "advanced talks" to acquire a portion of Alcatel-Lucent's China manufacturing operations, according to a report in Reuters today.

SCHAUMBURG, IL -- The Hunter has become the hunted. A Sparton subsidiary has completed a merger with Hunter Technology for $55 million in cash, subject to certain and conditional post-closing adjustments.

CHATSWORTH, CA -- Natel Engineering has completed its merger with fellow EMS company OnCore Manufacturing. 

ROME, NY – The ESDA and JEDEC have published an update to the industry standard for ESD testing of components.

HERNDON, VA – Mercury Learning and Information has published Basic Electronics: Theory and Practice.

STAMFORD, CT – Worldwide IT spending is set to shrink to $3.66 trillion in 2015, a 1.3% decrease from 2014, says Gartner.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Worldwide PC shipments totaled 68.5 million units in the first quarter, a year-over-year decline of 6.7%, according to IDC.