ARM pulls SOCs up with Infinite buy

ARM Holdings has bought a Infinite Designs, a privately-held Sheffield firm specialising in system on a chip (SOC) designs for digital signal processing (DSP) wireless and multimedia. The firm suggested further investments in the area were likely. News of the acquisition comes hard upon a 157 per cent increase in net profits and 64 per cent in its quarter to the 31 March, which also showed a 64 per cent boost in turnover. ARM said its pre-tax profits would be £8.2 million for the last quarter of 1999, compared to £3.2 million for the same quarter the year before. Robin Saxby, CEO and chairman, said the company had signed five additional licensees in Q1. It will also open a Taiwanese office this month, he said. Saxby said the firm will continue to look for further acquisitions to fuel its growth. ®