By: Guardian
April 19, 2021
Culture secretary cites competition and national security concerns over Cambridge-based chip designer
The UK government has stepped in to order an investigation of Nvidia’s $40bn takeover of the Cambridge-based chip designer Arm, citing potential national security concerns.
Oliver Dowden, the UK culture secretary, has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) instructing it to begin a “phase one” investigation into the deal, which was announced in September.
The competition regulator will prepare a report by the end of July with advice on jurisdictional and competition issues, as well as a summary of any representations on potential national security issues that arise from its consultation.
The government said it would examine the national security issues alongside the CMA’s process.