Imagination Technologies is a British company that’s responsible for a wide range of chip designs including MIPS processors and PowerVR graphics. In recent years, it’s the company’s graphics solutions that’s taken the spotlight, as Imagination has provided the graphics technology for every Apple iPhone released to date.

But earlier this year Apple announced it will stop licensing tech from Imagination and instead start using its own graphics technology in the future. That sent Imagination’s stock prices plummeting, and the company announced plans to sell off some of its businesses in May, while also beginning a dispute resolution process with Apple.

Now Imagination is putting the whole company up for sale.

Apple has been the company’s biggest customer in recent years, and losing that contract will likely cost Imagination a lot of money, although it’s possible the company’s ongoing dispute dispute resolution negotiations could result in some ongoing revenue.

Imagination says “it would be extremely challenging to design a brand new GPU from basics without infringing on its intellectual property rights.” So perhaps if the company can show that Apple is building on Imagination designs rather than starting from scratch, there could be some licensing money.

But in the meantime, Imagination is looking for a buyer. The company has a large stockpile of intellectual property for graphics, processor, and communication technologies, and potential buyers could include companies that want to develop chips for phones, tablets, Internet of Things products, smart TV products, or other Internet of Things gadgets.

 

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5 replies on “Want to buy a chip designer? Imagination is up for sale after losing Apple deal”

  1. Looks like my prediction that Apple pulling out and crippling Imagagination stock price, would lead to them buying Imagination. Remember Apple had tried to buy them before. As I said last time, one can could imagine this was the ploy from the beginning.

    1. Imagination would be very fortunate if Apple gave another bid. Should have taken the money tombs!

    2. Manipulating a company’s stock price to make the company cheaper to acquire — if that’s not illegal, it should be. I’m not saying you’re wrong, but that’s a really shady business practice. I wouldn’t put it past Apple though.

  2. If I was Samsung I’d buy them just to put a thumb in Apple’s eye. The patent legal battle would be pleasure as well.

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