KLA-Tencor Corporation (NASDAQ:  KLAC) and Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ:  LRCX) today announced that they have agreed to terminate their proposed merger agreement. The parties decided to it was not in the best interests of their respective stakeholders to continue pursuing the merger after the U.S. Department of Justice advised KLA-Tencor and Lam Research that it would not continue with a consent decree that the parties had been negotiating. No termination fees will be payable by either the Company or Lam Research in connection with the termination of the Merger Agreement.

“Although we are disappointed with this outcome, KLA-Tencor’s performance over the past several quarters demonstrates the Company is executing our strategies at a high level and creating compelling value for the industry and for our stockholders,” commented Rick Wallace, President and Chief Executive Officer of KLA-Tencor.

“Today our customer engagement and market leadership is strong and KLA-Tencor is delivering superior financial results. Growth and earnings momentum is expected to continue as we go forward, fueled by new products in the marketplace today, and with many more products in the pipeline,” continued Mr. Wallace. “Additionally, our collaboration over the past year with Lam Research and with our customers has affirmed the value of closer cooperation between process and process control for new, enabling solutions. For that reason, we plan to explore collaboration opportunities with Lam Research around programs identified as beneficial to our customers.”

After the initial announcement of the proposed merger, which was expected to close mid-year 2016, analysts voiced concern over whether the deal would be approved. Robert Maire of Semiconductor Advisors wrote: “We think this is going to be the obvious biggest issue after the failed AMAT & TEL merger.  We think there will likely be opposition in the semi industry but probably less so than we heard the screaming related to AMAT/TEL.”