ARM acquired all of Apical in May 2016 for $350 million in cash, adding imaging and embedded computer-vision technology to its chip-licensing business. The deal was intended to complement ARM’s Mali graphics, display and video products and help its licensees build devices that can interpret visual data—not just process it.
What did ARM buy, and when did the deal close?
ARM announced the acquisition on May 18, 2016. Its regulatory filing records the completion date as May 17, 2016, at a cash purchase price of £251.5 million; ARM described the deal publicly as a $350 million cash acquisition. ARM’s announcement and its SEC filing report the transaction in those respective terms.
What technology did Apical add?
Apical developed imaging and embedded-computer-vision intellectual property (IP). ARM said its technologies would extend and complement the company’s existing Mali graphics, display and video roadmap.
| Technology | What it does |
|---|---|
| Spirit | Power-efficient computer-vision IP that converts raw sensor data or video into a machine-readable representation. |
| Assertive Display | Adapts a screen’s output to changing light conditions while reducing power consumption. |
| Assertive Camera | Combines image-signal processors and software for high-dynamic-range imaging, noise reduction and color management. |
Together, those capabilities addressed different stages of visual computing: capturing and adjusting images, interpreting sensor input, and displaying results. ARM’s deal announcement described the technologies and their fit with its product roadmap.
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Why was computer vision strategically important to ARM?
ARM’s core business licensed processor designs and related IP to companies that make chips. Apical broadened that portfolio into visual computing: technology that helps a device derive useful information from images or video, rather than merely display them. Combining Apical’s camera, display and vision IP with Mali products gave ARM licensees additional building blocks for locally processing visual data.
That mattered for devices where cameras and sensors could inform a response. ARM identified opportunities in connected vehicles, robotics, smart cities, security systems, smartphones, cameras, industrial and retail applications, and other Internet of Things devices. In July 2016, ARM also cited smart buildings, augmented reality, self-driving cars and advanced robotics as applications of visual computing. ARM’s acquisition announcement and its Q2 2016 earnings commentary set out those markets.
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How widely had Apical’s technology been used?
ARM said Apical’s technology had shipped in more than 1.5 billion smartphones and approximately 300 million other consumer and industrial devices in 2016. Innovate UK, also writing in 2016, reported more than 1 billion smartphones and around 100 employees. These are figures from different sources with different levels of rounding, not a single independently reconciled device count. ARM and Innovate UK provide their respective figures.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the acquisition did—and did not—mean
The deal expanded the range of IP ARM could offer to chip designers, particularly for imaging, displays and computer vision. It did not mean ARM was buying a consumer-device brand or that every licensee would use Apical technology; ARM described the opportunity in terms of IP complementing its roadmap and serving multiple markets.
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At the time, ARM CEO Simon Segars characterized computer vision as an emerging field, saying: “Computer vision is in the early stages of development and the world of devices powered by this exciting technology can only grow from here.” Apical founder and CEO Michael Tusch said its imaging technologies drew on research into human vision and visual processing. Innovate UK’s 2016 profile of Apical records both statements.
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- ANY SHOT, ALL THE DETAILS: Dive into the details of any image with our best camera on a foldable smartphone. Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra boasts a 200MP camera — and an upgraded 50MP Ultra Wide lens — for both stunning wide shots and extreme close-ups.
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