‘National security’ invoked by UK government to probe Nvidia’s ARM deal

The UK’s digital minister, Oliver Dowden, has issued a so-called “intervention notice” over the sale of ARM by Japan’s SoftBank to Nvidia.

The decision came as the UK government said that it will look into the national security implications of Nvidia’s proposed acquisition of the British chip designer ARM Holdings. The announcement has raised serious questions over whether the $40 billion deal will now be approved.

“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,” said Dowden.

“We want to support our thriving UK tech industry and welcome foreign investment, but it is appropriate that we properly consider the national security implications of a transaction like this,” Dowden added.

ARM is a major player in global semiconductors and its IP and technology is used across a range of critical technologies from artificial intelligence and quantum computing to 5G telecoms networks.

Semiconductors also underpin Britain’s critical national infrastructure and, according to the government, officials from the security community had supported the decision to intervene.

The Competition and Markets