CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Arm is the UK’s largest chip designer with a valuation of around $60 billion, providing chips to the likes of Intel, Apple and Samsung. The company was acquired by SoftBank for $32 billion in 2016 and has grown exponentially ever since, even during the semiconductor shortage.

Detailed explanation-2: -Since 2016, it has been owned by Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group. While ARM CPUs first appeared in the Acorn Archimedes, a desktop computer, today’s systems include mostly embedded systems, including ARM CPUs used in virtually all modern smartphones.

Detailed explanation-3: -SoftBank acquired Arm, whose technology powers Apple’s iPhone and nearly all other smartphones, in 2016 for $32 billion.

Detailed explanation-4: -NVIDIA and SoftBank Group Announce Termination of NVIDIA’s Acquisition of Arm Limited. SANTA CLARA, Calif., and TOKYO – Feb. 7, 2022 – NVIDIA and SoftBank Group Corp. (“SBG” or “SoftBank”) today announced the termination of the previously announced transaction whereby NVIDIA would acquire Arm Limited (“Arm”) from SBG.

Detailed explanation-5: -In 2020, SoftBank decided to sell Arm to help shore up its finances after losing money on other investments, including shared office space firm WeWork and ride-hailing platform Uber. In recent years, Nvidia has become America’s most valuable chip company on the strength of its graphic processors.