FTC celebrates after Nvidia-Arm deal collapses

America's Federal Trade Commission has taken a victory lap of sorts, welcoming Nvidia's termination of its proposed $66bn acquisition of chip design house Arm. In a Monday statement, the watchdog opined that combining the companies would result in the largest semiconductor chip merger to date – before claiming its demise would …

[Suburban Inmate]

I thoroughly welcome this not happening.

I welcome this. Not from any position of business expertise, or any personal interests, but because a certain level of plurality at the top is essential in my opinion.

Monopolies, duopolies, and cosy little (big) cartels don't serve us great unwashed or our businesses. Competition leads to more innovation and differentiation. If the few biggest players are just Borg-ing up others... Where's the fun in that?

Or am I just an idealistic old-ish curmudgeon?

[Shalghar]

Re: I thoroughly welcome this not happening.

Especially when looking at the x86 architecture compared to the now sadly irrelevant 68k or powerPC processors, the need for something different like the ARM technology is evident.

Merging everything in some misguided melange would kill much needed diversification and optimisation and cement a state of stagnant one overpriced size fits nobody tech for everything.

[Pascal Monett]

Ah, but true capitalists are always banging the drum of competition.

Until they get to the top, at which point they talk about competition but steer towards monopoly.

Because capitalism is not about making money, it's about being the only one to make money.

[Anonymous Coward]

It has nothing to do with capitalism or any economic model.

People lie to get their way.

They have done, keep doing and will do the same in socialism, communism or any other ism you can think of that involves people.

And we’ll need rules for any ism for that reason.

Here is a good example where the rules worked.

[Gene Cash]

Re: I thoroughly welcome this not happening.

Yeah, I miss Microsoft or Nokia (or anybody else, really) being a major smartphone player.

[Suburban Inmate]

Re: I thoroughly welcome this not happening.

Alcatel, anyone?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: I thoroughly welcome this not happening.

"just" ?

[Anonymous Coward]

As ever

the second most self entitled nation on the planet taking the "glory".

But it was the U.K. that looked at this merger first. Followed by Europe.

[JBowler]

So what now?

Apparently an IPO, as various US new organizations are reporting it (a few hours ago) after it was initially suggested a week or so ago.