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SoftBank to acquire Arm Holdings for £24.3 billion: Report

In a move for towards the Internet of Things, SoftBank is set to bet big on Arm. The announcement is expected on Monday, and it would mark the largest acquisition of a tech company in Europe.
Written by Jake Smith, Contributor

SoftBank has agreed to acquire UK semiconductor giant Arm Holdings for £24.3 billion (roughly $32 billion), in a deal that will be announced Monday, according to the Financial Times.

SoftBank is intending to use Arm's semiconductor design expertise -- found in most popular smartphones on the market -- for its Internet of Things division, the report says.

SoftBank, a technology conglomerate in Japan, will pay £17 per share for Arm in a cash deal, a 43 percent premium to its closing price on Friday.

Neither company confirmed the news. The New York Times is also reporting the deal, which would mark the biggest acquisition for a technology company in Europe. The Wall Street Journal says both boards have approved the deal.

The acquisition, if announced on Monday, comes at a turbulent time in European politics following Britain's vote to leave the European Union. The move has put distress on currency markets and caused several Britain-based tech companies to be uncertain about the future.

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