NVIDIA’s 2022 attempt to acquire Arm faced insurmountable regulatory challenges, leading to its dissolution, as stated by US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairperson Lin Khan during a recent Bloomberg conference. Despite the setback, Khan highlighted the positive outcomes, emphasizing a shift towards innovation and organic business development for both companies.
Regulatory Impact:
The collapse of the deal prompted NVIDIA and Arm to refocus on organic growth and explore new revenue streams, notably in the realm of artificial intelligence. Khan praised the antimonopoly authorities for their success in regulating the high-tech market, asserting that the redirected trajectories of both companies have not only benefited them individually but also contributed to societal gains.
Financial Resilience:
Khan pointed to the current stock quotes as evidence of success for NVIDIA and Arm. NVIDIA’s market capitalization now approaches $2 trillion, solidifying its position as the largest company on the US stock market. Arm, entering the market post-NVIDIA, experienced a successful stock placement, with its capitalization surpassing $150 billion, a significant increase from the initial $40 billion valuation during the proposed deal.
Regulatory Objections and Investor Confidence:
The FTC’s objections to the NVIDIA-Arm deal, citing potential limitations on innovation and negative effects on competition, led to the termination of preliminary agreements, notes NIXSolutions. The high current stock prices of both companies reflect strong investor confidence in their market strategies, according to Khan. The FTC’s proactive intervention, Khan argues, has preserved a competitive landscape and fostered investor trust in the companies’ abilities to navigate the market successfully.