Petteri Pyyny
19 Apr 2021 9:37
One of the biggest tech acquisitions ever gets slowed´down. American Nvidia has already agreed to buy UK-based ARM for a whopping $40 billion.
But now British authorities have intervened and have requested a report on impact to its national security. ARM is the chip designer whose chips power basically all the cell phones in the world: Androids, iPhones and more. Furthermore, Apple's new M1 chip is based on ARM technology and Microsoft is keen to push its Windows to run on ARM-based computers, too.
Britain's Digital Secretary said "Following careful consideration of the proposed takeover of ARM, I have today issued an intervention notice on national security grounds. As a next step and to help me gather the relevant information, the UK's independent competition authority will now prepare a report on the implications of the transaction, which will help inform any further decisions."
The deal would merge the leading GPU manufacturer Nvidia with the dominant mobile phone (and increasingly notable computer) chip maker.
ARM, based in Cambridge, UK, doesn't manufacture any of its chips, but licenses its technology. Notable clients include Apple, Qualcomm, Samsung and more.