Qualcomm Incorporated’s Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire NUVIA for approximately US$1.4 billion before working capital and other adjustments. 

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

The company said in a statement that 5G is further accelerating the convergence of mobility and computing. 

The acquisition of NUVIA builds on Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon technology leadership, delivering step-function improvements in CPU performance and power efficiency to meet the demands of next-generation 5G computing.

NUVIA comprises a CPU and technology design team, with expertise in high performance processors, Systems on a Chip (SoC) and power management for compute-intensive devices and applications. 

The addition of NUVIA CPUs to Qualcomm Technologies’ mobile graphics processing unit (GPU), AI engine, DSP and dedicated multimedia accelerators will further extend the reach of Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms.

NUVIA CPUs are expected to be integrated across Qualcomm Technologies’ broad portfolio of products, powering flagship smartphones, next-generation laptops, and digital cockpits, as well as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, extended reality and infrastructure networking solutions.

Cristiano Amon, president and CEO-elect, Qualcomm Incorporated, said: “5G, the convergence of computing and mobile architectures, and the expansion of mobile technologies into other industries are significant opportunities for Qualcomm. 

“The NUVIA team are proven innovators, and like Qualcomm, have a strong heritage in creating leading technology and products. I am very excited to have them join our team. Together, we are very well positioned to redefine computing and enable our ecosystem of partners to drive innovation and deliver a new class of products and experiences for the 5G era.”

Also commenting, Jim Thompson, Chief Technology Officer of Qualcomm, said: “Creating high performance, low-power processors and highly integrated, complex SoCs are part of our DNA. Adding NUVIA’s deep understanding of high-performance design and integrating NUVIA CPUs with Snapdragon – together with our industry-leading graphics and AI – will take computing performance to a new level and drive new capabilities for products that serve multiple industries.”

As part of the transaction, NUVIA founders Gerard Williams III, Manu Gulati and John Bruno, and their employees will be joining Qualcomm.

Gerard Williams CEO of NUVIA, added: “CPU performance leadership will be critical in defining and delivering on the next era of computing innovation. The combination of NUVIA and Qualcomm will bring the industry’s best engineering talent, technology and resources together to create a new class of high-performance computing platforms that set the bar for our industry. We couldn’t be more excited for the opportunities ahead.”