Now that’s interesting … especially now that Nvidia is bigger than Intel, they now have the funds and the means to acquire ARM from Softbank. This would be epic, and this goes through we’ll be seeing ARM technologies integrated in to Nvidia chips!
Taken from Bloomberg … Arm Ltd., the semiconductor designer owned by SoftBank Group Corp., is attracting takeover interest from graphics chipmaker Nvidia Corp., people with knowledge of the matter said.
Nvidia made an approach in recent weeks about a potential deal for Cambridge, England-based Arm, according to the people. Other potential bidders could also emerge, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.
SoftBank, led by billionaire Masayoshi Son, is exploring options to sell part or all of its stake in Arm through a private deal or public stock listing, Bloomberg News reported this month. Nvidia’s interest may not lead to a deal, and SoftBank may still opt to pursue a listing, the people said. Representatives for SoftBank, Arm and Nvidia declined to comment.
A deal for Arm could become the biggest-ever acquisition in the chip industry, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Arm is owned by SoftBank and its $100 billion Vision Fund. The Japanese group bought Arm, which at the time was the U.K.’s largest listed technology company, for about $32 billion in 2016.
Since that deal, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange Semiconductor Index has rallied 185% as investors pour money into an industry they’re betting will grow rapidly, fueled by new markets and technologies such as automotive and artificial intelligence.
Source: Bloomberg
