LONDON – NXP Semiconductors BV (Eindhoven, The Netherlands), the chip company separated from Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV by a private equity buy out in 2006, is in takeover talks with Intel, Qualcomm and Broadcom, according to online reports that cite Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reporting on Friday (April 8).

De Telegraaf referenced an unnamed banker as its source. According to reports NXP has declined to comment.

While the private equity consortium holding the majority ownership in NXP may be keen to exit, it is not clear that the still relatively broad NXP would make a good fit for Intel, Qualcomm or Broadcom, which are all strongly digital chip companies albeit with wireless capabilities or aspirations.

NXP now describes itself as a supplier of high-performance mixed-signal products into the automotive, identification, wireless infrastructure, lighting, industrial, mobile, consumer and computing sectors.

One focus of attraction for companies could be NXP's strong position in Near Field Communications (NFC). NFC is considered the likely way to incorporate the capability to make wireless financial transactions into cell phones turning them into electronic wallets.

NXP went public in August 2010 with an IPO, selling 34 million shares at $14 per share. At the end of March 2011 NXP priced a secondary share offering of 30 million shares at $30 per share although all the proceeds of that sale is expected to go to stake holders.