Circuit-board competitors Merix Corp. and Viasystems Group to merge

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Published: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 | 4:27 AM ET
Canadian Press

BEAVERTON, Ore. - Circuit-board maker Merix Corp., of Beaverton, Oregon, will merge with Viasystems Group Inc., a St. Louis-based competitor.

The companies said Tuesday that the merger would create an $840 million company with an estimated 13,000 employees worldwide. The merged company's headquarters will be in St. Louis. Merix chief executive Michael Burger told The Oregonian newspaper that the merger should have little effect on the company's nearly 900 Oregon employees, unless the economic downturn continues.

Burger says the merger will be a good fit: Merix has been hurt by competition in Asia, where Viasystems has key factories, while Viasystems lacked domestic plants needed to supply the U.S. defence industry.