Nvidia buys ARM Holdings from SoftBank for $40 billion

[Arthur]

Source: BBC News

 

UK-based computer chip designer ARM Holdings is being sold to the American graphics chip specialist Nvidia.

 

The deal values ARM at $40bn (£31.2bn), four years after it was bought by Japanese conglomerate Softbank for $32bn.

 

ARM's technology is at the heart of most smartphones, among many other devices.

 

Nvidia has promised to keep the business based in the UK, to hire more staff, and to retain ARM's brand.

 

It added that the deal would create "the premier computing company for the age of artificial intelligence" (AI).

 

"ARM will remain headquartered in Cambridge," said Nvidia's chief executive Jensen Huang.

 

"We will expand on this great site and build a world-class AI research facility, supporting developments in healthcare, life sciences, robotics, self-driving cars and other fields."

 

Softbank made commitments to secure jobs and keep ARM's headquarters in the UK until September next year.

 

"So far, when you read the announcement coming from Nvidia they said they will honour that Softbank has made at the time," said Sonja Laud, chief investment officer at Legal & General Investment Management.

 

"But with the expiry about to happen and obviously the Brexit negotiations under way it will be very interesting to see how this develops in the future."