收购MIPS，无意之中离间了ARM与Imagination

已经打算出售近一年的MIPS终于找到归宿，这场内容复杂的交易牵涉到Imagination Technologies与ARM。 绘图处理IP供货商Imagination是在美国时间11月6日宣布以6,000万美元金额收购MIPS的经营业务(operating business)，并将因此新增160名工程师与82项 MIPS 专利。此举被视为Imagination能强化其CPU 核心技术专长，并巩固在绘图处理技术领导地位的策略，也将让Imagination与ARM分庭抗礼；ARM一直积极推广其整合CPU与GPU的解决方案。 在另一方面，ARM则宣布主导一个名为Bridge Crossing的投资联盟，以3.50亿美元的现金收购489项MIPS专利组合；其中ARM将出资1.675亿美元。Bridge Crossing隶属于一个时常进行专利买 断或授权活动的财团Allied Security Trust (AST)，金主包括Avaya、HP、IBM、Intel、Motorola、Oracle、Philips、RIM等公司。 市场研究机构The Linley Group资深分析师J. Scott Gardner表示：“ARM已经收购了所有MIPS专利组合的权利，因此双方可避免法律纠纷。”但仍有待厘清的是，包括Qualcomm、 Broadcom、Apple等公司是否得付费才能取得使用AST所收购专利的权限。 “据我所知，AST的具体目标是防止那 些专利落入流氓(troll)之手；我认为那些其它公司也是AST集团的成员，因此也是安全的。”Gardner补充指出。但是Imagination与MIPS的高层在被问到AST有那些成员，以及谁有权使用MIPS的489项专利组合时，他们都不愿回答。 Imagination CEO Hossein Yassaie表示，其中有82项所收购的专利是属于MIPS架构的关键部分，这将有助于Imagination进一步朝MIPS架构前进，同时保住来自目前与未来MIPS核心授权者的权利金。Yassaie并指出，一旦Imagination与MIPS的交易完成，MIPS的权利金就会转至Imagination手中，并非AST。 针对那些打算取得MIPS技术授权的客户，Yassaie则表示他们的联系窗口将会是Imagination，而非ARM所率领的投资联盟；该联盟所收购的498项MIPS专利只是提供其成员一般性的专利保护，并不能让他们取得MIPS架构的特定组成部分。 ARM与该投资联盟其它成员收购MIPS专利的主要目的，是降低侵犯专利权的风险；ARM也表示，投资联盟也将开放让其它非联盟厂商取得所收购专利的授权。 本文授权编译自EE Times，版权所有，谢绝转载 本文下一页：MIPS找到了好归宿？

相关阅读：
• MIPS同意将部分专利资产出售给AST，并由Imagination收购
• MIPS分卖两家：ARM与Imagination分获专利与运营权
• Microchip扩展70 MIPS dsPIC33E DSC和PIC24E MCUUv7esmc

{pagination} MIPS找到了好归宿？ MIPS CEO Sandeep Vij 坚称，该公司与Imagination、ARM的专利交易，是“基于对业界伙伴、股东、员工的最大利益”；而尽管MIPS即将被瓜分，可能不会有比这更好的选择。 The Linley Group的Gardner表示，实际上MIPS的交易将产生目前帐面上MIPS每股价格之三倍的报酬，高过于MIPS约3.80亿美元的资本价值。对于 MIPS的员工来说，这场交易应该也很OK，因为Imagination表示打算保留目前MIPS约160名的人力。 MIPS的卖价(包括来自ARM所率领投资集团的3.5亿美元，以及Imagination的6,000万美元)，说明了MIPS现有IP的价值；事实上，MIPS可说是交易中的大赢家。Gardner表示：“MIPS专利能用来跟大多数开发CPU的公司收取授权费。” Gardner指出，身为32位与64位CPU架构领导供货商的MIPS，发明了许多关键的微处理器架构概念，这也是为何ARM积极推动投资联盟收购MIPS专利的主要原因。而MIPS交易最重要的一点，可能就是Imagination不会消灭MIPS的承诺。 有许多产业观察家都很忧虑MIPS架构的未来命运；对此Imagination CEO Yassaie强调，该公司将会让MIPS架构“继续向前”，并表示成 长中的CPU市场，是“我们需要参与其中的重要业务”。他表示，Imagination目前的CPU开发团队约有100名工程师，未来MIPS工程师加入后，将使团队规模成长一倍。 Yassaie也重申让Imagination在CPU市场战争中扩张版图的决心，并认为该市场竞争重点在于连网装置。他表示，交易最终的目标是顺利整合Imagination与MIPS各自的CPU开发资源：“我们自己开发的CPU与MIPS的CPU有很多相似性。” Gardner 则以分析师的角度表示，Imagination整合MIPS架构意味着与ARM正面宣战，而这可能会让业界厂商在短时间不太适应，因为ARM与Imagination仍有紧密的合作关系；此外 Imagination也是Apple的GPU供货商。Intel也使用Imagination的GPU，不过Gardner认为Intel对 Imagination与MIPS的合并，忧虑程度并不会超过ARM。 本文授权编译自EE Times，版权所有，谢绝转载 本文下一页：收购MIPS还基于三大因素

相关阅读：
• MIPS同意将部分专利资产出售给AST，并由Imagination收购
• MIPS分卖两家：ARM与Imagination分获专利与运营权
• Microchip扩展70 MIPS dsPIC33E DSC和PIC24E MCUUv7esmc

{pagination} 长期来看，Gardner认 为，Imagination最好是将MIPS从其IP产品组合中去除，但他进一步指出：“Imagination的CPU核心Meta将会需要大量的时间与投资，才会成为ARM 核心的利害竞争对手；无论如何，两家公司的结合会比各自单打独斗要好。” 除了CPU大业，Yassaie显然认为收购MIPS还基于三大因素： ● 其一是Android平台，目前MIPS与 ARM、Intel是唯三直接支持该平台的CPU架构之一。Yassaie预期，收购 MIPS将去除目前后者周遭的不确定性，让Imagination有机会真正将MIPS架构变成与ARM、Intel平起平坐的CPU选项，特别是在 Android世界──也就是移动装置市场。 ● 第二个因素是中国市场；Imagination将继承MIPS的授权客户，包括中国无晶圆厂设计业者君正集成电路(Ingenic)。Gardner 表示，君正的CEO是在中国社科院(Chinese Academy of Sciences)学会设计MIPS核心处理器，并催生了数款MIPS架构产品，包括采用MIPS64的龙芯(Loongson)处理器： “Imagination可藉由收购案为其GPU拉拢那些采用MIPS架构的公司。” ● 第三个因素是MIPS目前的产品组合；Gardner表示，将持续开发MIPS核心的Imagination将会因三管齐下的Aptiv系列核心取得不错的起步，包括高性能的ProAptiv产品线。 Gardner指出，ARM最近发表Cortex-A57，性能可达3.9 CoreMark/MHz，但仍逊于MIPS ProAptiv的4.5 CoreMark/MHz：“MIPS核心在芯片占位面积以及功耗表现上，应该也优于高阶的ARM处理器核心。” Yassaie 强调，MIPS的交易并非“资产收购”而是“策略性收购”；他总结表示，Imagination对MIPS的业务、人才以及前景拥有浓厚的兴趣。 本文授权编译自EE Times，版权所有，谢绝转载 参考英文原文：ARM, Imagination divvy up MIPS;Imagination won't kill MIPS,by Junko Yoshida

相关阅读：
• MIPS同意将部分专利资产出售给AST，并由Imagination收购
• MIPS分卖两家：ARM与Imagination分获专利与运营权
• Microchip扩展70 MIPS dsPIC33E DSC和PIC24E MCUUv7esmc

{pagination} ARM, Imagination divvy up MIPS Junko Yoshida · MIPS Technologies, which has been on the block for almost a year, finally found buyers in a complicated deal involving Imagination Technologies and ARM. NEW YORK -- MIPS Technologies, which had been on the block for almost a year, finally found buyers in a complicated deal involving Imagination Technologies and ARM. Imagination said Tuesday (Nov. 6) it has agreed to buy MIPS' operating business for $60 million. Under terms of the deal, the U.K. graphics IP vendor will gain 160 engineers and 82 MIPS patents. The move is viewed as a way for Imagination to beef up its CPU core expertise while defending its graphics lead. It would also position Imagination to competing against ARM, which has been pursuing its integrated CPU-GPU solution strategy. Separately, ARM said it will lead a consortium buying the rights to the MIPS portfolio of 498 patents. The consortium, called Bridge Crossing LLC, will pay $350 million in cash to purchase the rights to the portfolio, of which ARM will contribute $167.5 million. Bridge Crossing is an acquisition vehicle for Allied Security Trust (AST), a consortium of companies with a history of buying up patents. The consortium often sells off or licenses those patents. Consortium members include Avaya, HP, IBM, Intel, Motorola, Oracle, Philips, Research in Motion and others. J. Scott Gardner, a senior analyst at The Linley Group, said “ARM purchased rights to all of the MIPS patents, so they have legal peace.” What remains unclear, however, is whether companies such as Qualcomm, Broadcom and Apple will have to purchase their own licenses for access to the AST portfolio, Gardner added. “As I understand it, the entire purpose of AST is to keep patents from falling into the hands of trolls. I assume that these other companies are part of the AST group and are also safe," he said. Asked during a conference call, which companies belong to AST and who have access to the MIPS portfolio of 498 patents, Imagination and MIPS executives declined to provide names. Imagination CEO Hossein Yassaie did say 82 of the patents acquired in the deal cover key aspects of the MIPS architecture. That will help Imagination to move MIPS architecture "go forward," he noted, while protecting royalties coming from current and future MIPS licensees. Once the Imagination-MIPS deal is completed, MIPS royalties will go to Imagination, not to AST, Yassaie said. Patent details For those customers seeking to license MIPS technologies, Yassaie said they will go through Imagination, not the consortium. The 498 MIPS patents bought by ARM-led consortium provide the group with general patent protection rather than access to specific parts of the MIPS architecture, he added. ARM and others in the consortium are hoping that the deal will reduce the risk of infringing any MIPS patents. The consortium will make available licenses to the patent portfolio to companies outside the consortium, ARM said. "ARM is a leading participant in this consortium, which presents an opportunity for companies to neutralize any potential infringement risk from these patents in the further development of advanced embedded technology," ARM CEO Warren East said in a statement. "Litigation is expensive and time consuming and, in this case, a collective approach with other major industry players was the best way to remove that risk." Imagination won't kill MIPS Junko Yoshida · It would be hard to come up with a better ending for struggling MIPS Technologies than the deal in which ARM and Imagination Technologies divvy up the company. NEW YORK – Things could hardly turned out better for MIPS Technologies in the latest patent acquisition deal in which ARM and Imagination Technologies are carving up the company. MIPS CEO Sandeep Vij insisted Tuesday (Nov. 6) after word of the deal broke that it was “done in the best interest of our industry partners, shareholders and employees.” Indeed, the transaction “returns over three times the book value per share [of MIPS] and more than the current market capitalization value of $380 million,” said J. Scott Gardner, a senior analyst at The Linley Group. It appears that MIPS employees are OK for now since Imagination said it plans to retain most of its current MIPS workforce of about 160 employees. The deal's price tag ($350 million from an ARM-led consortium and $60 million from Imagination) illustrates the value placed on MIPS' IP.and the fact that MIPS is also a winner in this deal. Gardner said “the MIPS patents could have been used to extract license fees from most of the companies building CPUs.” MIPS, a pioneer of 32- and 64-bit CPU architectures, “invented many of the key microprocessor concepts,” said Gardner. These were considered so essential that ARM led the group that was one of the keys to the acquisition, the Allied Security Trust, a consortium of companies with a history of buying up patents. Gloves off The most important element of the deal may be Imagination’s promise not to kill MIPS. Many observers were undoubtedly worried about the future of the MIPS architecture. During a conference call, Imagination CEO Hossein Yassaie (left) stressed that Imagination will keep the MIPS architecture “going forward” while calling the growing CPU market “the fundamental business we need to get engaged in.” Noting that Imagination currently has about 100 engineers on its CPU development team, Yassaie said “we will be almost doubling the team by adding MIPS engineers." Yassaie also reiterated his intention to raise the stakes in a CPU battle that is expected to be fought over connected devices. The endgame is to merge the internal CPU development efforts at Imagination and MIPS. “There are significant similarities between our in-house CPU and that of MIPS,” Yassaie said. Gardner, the analyst, said the new development effort means “the gloves coming off in its competition with ARM.” This could create near-term discomfort among industry players since ARM will still need to work closely with Imagination. Imagination also is Apple's GPU vendor. The company's GPUs are also used by Intel, but Gardner doesn’t believe Intel has as much to fear from the Imagination-MIPS deal as ARM. In the longer term, “Imagination is better off with MIPS in its portfolio of IP," he added. "Imagination’s ‘Meta’ CPU core would have required substantial time and investment” to be a serious alternative to ARM-base cores. “The combination of the two companies is ultimately stronger than either company could have been on its own." What drove the deal? Beyond his own CPU ambitions, Yassaie appears to see three upsides in purchasing MIPS’ operations. First is the Android factor. MIPS is one of the only three CPU architectures directly supported by the Android OS. The other two are ARM and Intel. He expects the deal to settle the current uncertainty surrounding MIPS, giving Imagination a chance to pitch MIPS to the industry as a legitimate CPU choice – “a real alternative to ARM and Intel” – especially in the Android world. That, by extension, means the global mobile industry. Second is the China factor. Imagination will inherit MIPS licensees, including the China-based fabless company Ingenic. Gardner explained, “Ingenic’s CEO learned to design MIPS-based processors at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which has spawned several MIPS designs, including the Loongson processor based on MIPS64.” He added, “Imagination may be able to use its MIPS acquisition to gain traction for its GPUs in the companies that favor the MIPS architecture.” Third is MIPS’ current product portfolio. Gardner said Imagination, in continuing to develop MIPS cores, will “start in a good position with the three-pronged Aptiv family of cores, including the high-performance ProAptiv line.” He noted that ARM’s recently announced Cortex-A57 “will achieve 3.9 CoreMark/MHz, which is below the MIPS ProAptiv score of 4.5 CoreMark/MHz.” Gardner added, “The MIPS cores should also consume less die area and power than the high-end ARM CPUs.” Yassaie stressed that the MIPS deal is “not an asset acquisition,” but “a strategic acquisition.” Imagination has a strong interest in “MIPS’ business, people and prospects,” he concluded.