$40bn takeover of UK chip designer Arm Holdings raises ‘serious competition concerns’
The $40bn takeover of UK chip designer Arm Holdings by US tech giant Nvidia faces an in-depth probe after regulators found the deal could weaken rivals and stifle innovation.
Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it could ultimately mean more expensive or lower quality products in cutting edge technologies.
These include fields such as gaming, data centres, the “internet of things” – the use of electronic devices connected to the internet such as smart speakers – and self-driving cars.
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UK government ‘should block’ Arm’s sale to Nvidia
The CMA said undertakings offered by Nvidia about the way the business is run could not allay its “serious competition concerns” and that the deal should be more closely examined in a “phase two” investigation.
It said it had worked with other competition authorities around the world to examine the impact of the takeover of Arm, which licenses its designs to most of the global semiconductor industry with customers including Apple, Samsung, Intel and Qualcomm.
The 180 billion chips sold based on its technology are used in products ranging from smartphones to toasters.
Arm’s customers include companies that are rivals of Nvidia in the supply of semiconductor chips and related products.
It estimates that 70% of the world engages with its technology, the CMA’s report said.
The UK-based company has been put up for sale by current owner Softbank, the Japanese conglomerate, which agreed a deal with Nvidia last September.
SoftBank has agreed to sell Arm Holdings
The CMA was asked, alongside its initial look at competition concerns, to investigate any UK national security implications arising from the deal.
It sent its findings last month to Oliver Dowden, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS), but details are only now being published.
Mr Dowden must make a formal decision on proceeding to the next stage of the probe.
CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli said: “We’re concerned that Nvidia controlling Arm could create real problems for Nvidia’s rivals by limiting their access to key technologies, and ultimately stifling innovation across a number of important and growing markets.
“This could end up with consumers missing out on new products, or prices going up.
“The chip technology industry is worth billions and is vital to products that businesses and consumers rely on every day.
“This includes the critical data processing and datacentre technology that supports digital businesses across the economy, and the future development of artificial intelligence technologies that will be important to growth industries like robotics and self-driving cars.”
Nvidia said in a statement: “We look forward to the opportunity to address the CMA’s initial views and resolve any concerns the government may have.
“We remain confident that this transaction will be beneficial to Arm, its licensees, competition, and the UK.”
Nvidia has previously said that Arm would remain based in Cambridge and its site expanded
A DCMS spokesperson said: “We have received the CMA’s phase one report and the digital secretary will make a decision on whether to proceed to the next phase of the investigation in due course.”
A shoplifter has been jailed and banned from every Boots store after stealing £107,000 worth of goods from the high street chain.
Liam Hutchinson, 32, of no fixed address, was sentenced to a year in prison at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
He was also issued with a criminal behaviour order, banning him from every Boots store in the UK for 10 years – and the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea for five years.
Metropolitan Police detectives trawled through hours of CCTV footage to find that Hutchinson had committed 99 shoplifting offences at Boots stores in the borough between May and August 2025.
Hutchinson stealing from shelves in Boots on CCTV. Pic: Met Police
Often stealing large quantities of razors and electrical items, his crimes cost the retailer £107,000 in revenue, Sergeant Jack Vine, of the Met’s volume crime team said.
“We recognised the impact Hutchinson’s actions were having on the retailer, and through working with staff, we built a strong case of evidence against him, which has been reflected in his sentencing,” he added.
“This result should act as a warning that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated, and that we will come down hard on those who show a complete disregard for the law, terrorise retail workers and cost businesses thousands of pounds.”
Liam Hutchinson being caught by officers in bodycam footage. Pic: Met Police
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Nicky Harrop, head of security, fraud, and contract management at Boots, said the company have been investing “significantly” in anti-theft measures to make sure stores “remain a safe and respectful environment” for customers and staff.
The Met says it is prioritising shoplifting, having solved 163% more cases in London compared to the same time last year.
It is also dedicating up to 80 additional officers across London’s West End, with 90 more in high-risk theft areas.
A man has been arrested in the UK by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of an investigation into a cyber incident which caused chaos at European airports.
Flights were cancelled at Brussels Airport, and several more were delayed at Heathrow, Berlin, and Dublin, among others, leaving passengers stranded.
The incident, which was reported on 19 September, hit the systems of Collins Aerospace, which operates check-in and boarding systems.
Passengers reported being unable to check in online, queuing for hours, and their flights eventually not taking off.
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NCA officers, supported by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, arrested a man in his 40s in West Sussex on Tuesday evening on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences. He has been released on conditional bail.
Collins Aerospace, whose network was affected, runs systems for several airlines at multiple airports across the world. Pic: PA
Deputy director Paul Foster, head of the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit, said: “Although this arrest is a positive step, the investigation into this incident is in its early stages and remains ongoing.
“Cybercrime is a persistent global threat that continues to cause significant disruption to the UK.
“Alongside our partners here and overseas, the NCA is committed to reducing that threat in order to protect the British public.”
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