VIA and S3 revised their proposed graphics-chip joint venture after Taiwan’s government objected to the original deal’s scale. The replacement terms reduced the immediate accounting burden on VIA and changed what S3 would receive; the venture was later finalized as S3 Graphics, Inc.
Why did VIA and S3 revise the agreement?
Taiwanese officials blocked the original agreement in July 2000, viewing it as too large and saying it would have required nearly three times VIA’s paid-in capital. On August 4, EE Times reported that Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs had denied the application based on VIA’s initial filing but was open to reconsidering revised information: EE Times’ report.
VIA Technologies and S3 Inc. agreed revised terms, reported by EDN on September 1, 2000, designed to lower the transaction’s accounting impact on VIA while improving its economics for S3. S3 chairman and chief executive Ken Potashner said the new agreement addressed the Taiwanese government’s concerns and was financially better for S3. He also said its accelerated payment schedule would let S3 put proceeds to work immediately.
What changed in the deal?
| Term | Original proposal | Revised proposal |
|---|---|---|
| VIA’s consideration for S3 | VIA would buy 3 million S3 shares and pay $323 million in cash and stock, according to EDN’s 2000 report. | S3 would receive $208 million in cash at closing and a $60 million benefit from assumed liabilities. It could also receive up to $45 million in additional tax reduction, according to EDN’s 2000 report. |
| Shares held by VIA | Not stated in the cited EDN account of the original proposal. | VIA could substitute the 13 million S3 shares it already held for the initial cash payment; the agreement also gave VIA a warrant to buy up to 2 million S3 shares for $20 million, according to EDN. |
| Additional payments | Not stated in the cited EDN account of the original proposal. | S3 could receive further payments if the venture met profitability targets; the targets were not disclosed, according to EDN. |
The revised structure changed the timing and form of consideration rather than simply lowering a headline price: S3’s package included cash, assumed liabilities and a possible tax benefit, while VIA could use its existing S3 shareholding in place of the initial cash payment. The warrant and possible profitability-based payments added further terms beyond the closing consideration.
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What was the joint venture meant to do?
The August 28, 2000 amended and restated investment agreement described a corporate venture to manufacture and distribute graphics products and conduct related research and development. S3 would contribute specified graphics assets in exchange for joint-venture stock; VIA or its designee would contribute cash and/or S3 stock for joint-venture stock.
The strategic fit was graphics technology alongside VIA’s core-logic chipset business. In a September 21 press release, S3 described the combination as “S3’s cutting-edge graphics and video capabilities with VIA’s market-leading core logic chipset technology.” VIA president and chief executive Wen-Chi Chen said the company had significant expectations for the graphics business.
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Was the joint venture eventually approved?
Yes. After Taiwan’s initial denial and the renegotiated proposal, EDN later reported that VIA and SONICblue—the successor name used by S3—finalized the joint venture as S3 Graphics, Inc. The available 2000–2001 reporting establishes that finalization, but does not establish the venture’s later product performance, ownership changes or current retail availability.
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