Nippon Investment and Finance Co. Takes Stake in Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.
LOS GATOS, Calif. — March 9, 1993 — Robin Saxby, managing director of Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) Ltd., announced Tuesday that Nippon Investment and Finance Co. Ltd. (NIF), a Daiwa Securities Group company, has taken the opportunity to invest $900,000 for a shareholding in ARM.
ARM, based in Cambridge, England, designs and licenses high performance, low cost 32-bit RISC processors for embedded and portable applications such as the Newton PDA, the recently announced Interactive Multiplayer from 3DO, and high performance, low cost personal computers from Acorn.
The investment by NIF provides ARM with a strategic partner in Japan to enable ARM to develop a bridgehead in the Far East. ARM's strategy is to develop its worldwide business through strategic partnerships and this agreement with NIF gives ARM access to independent information and high level business contacts in Japan and the Far East.
Sadao Kunieda, managing director of NIF, said, "We have decided to invest in ARM because it has outstanding technology matching the current and future trend of downsizing in microprocessors and products which use microprocessors. We believe the company's technology will offer tremendous business opportunities. Daiwa Research, which conducted a joint study of ARM with us, has given ARM a very high investment rating. In discussions with ARM Ltd., we have been very impressed by their global approach to the challenge that they are facing."
Robin Saxby further commented, "We are delighted to have NIF as a partner-investor in ARM. We appreciate that their neutral position in Japan will help us to develop our Japanese business as well as providing us with a spring-board from which to develop our business in the rest of Asia, a region that is growing faster than any other in the world."
The investment by NIF has been approved by ARM's existing shareholders. The new partner is seen as being complementary to the existing partner-investors; Acorn Computers, Apple Computer and VLSI Technology. NIF's stakeholding in ARM comes from the shares set aside at the formation of ARM, specifically for future strategic partners. ARM's Semiconductor Partner Licensees are GEC Plessey Semiconductors, VLSI Technology and Sharp. ARM also will be announcing the opening of its Japanese office shortly.
The highly innovative design of the ARM architecture has led to its selection for many innovative products in the emerging fields of personal digital assistants and consumer oriented multi-media applications. Applications publicly announced that use the ARM architecture include the Newton PDA, which is being jointly developed by Apple and Sharp, as well as the Interactive Multiplayer being developed by California-based 3DO.
Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) was formed in 1990 by Acorn Computers, Apple Computer and VLSI Technology. ARM focuses on high performance, low cost, low power consumption 32-bit RISC processors for embedded control, computing, digital signal processing and portable applications. ARM also designs peripherals, supporting software and hardware tools. ARM has licensed its technology to two semiconductor manufacturers, VLSI Technology and GEC Plessey Semiconductors.
Both manufacture and sell ARM products worldwide. ARM also offers design service, consultancy, feasibility studies, training and supply of prototypes.
note to Editors: ARM is registered trademark of Advanced RISC Machines Ltd.
CONTACT:
Advanced RISC Machines, Los Gatos
Tim O'Donnell, 408/399-5195
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Gordon Daggy, 408/954-0377