Alibaba Wholly Acquires CPU IP Core Chip Maker C-SKY Microsystems
Lanjing TMT, 4/20/18
Chinese internet conglomerate Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA) announced today the full acquisition of mainland China's only embedded CPU IP Core company C-SKY Microsystems at an undisclosed price.
IP Core is the core of base chip ability, explained Alibaba CTO Zhang Jianfeng about the acquisition. Entering the IP Core area is seen as the basis for China's chip industry becoming "self-reliant."
Hangzhou-based C-SKY focuses on 32-bit embedded CPU IP R&D and scaled applications touching on IoT fields of multimedia, security, home, transportation, and smart city. C-SKY has shipped more than 700 mln chips globally.
Editor’s Note: Separately, Chinese news media Zhidongxi also reported that it learned a week ago from an industry source that Alibaba had invested RMB 5 bln in Shanghai-based Espressif Systems, a fabless semiconductor company providing low power Wi-Fi and Bluetooth SoCs and wireless solutions for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, to become its majority shareholder. Alibaba, however, subsequently responded to a request for confirmation from 21st Century Business Herald, saying that the rumors of its investment in Espressif were false.
Keywords: semiconductor C-SKY M&A hardware embedded Alibaba Group Zhang Jianfeng BABA chipmaker Espressif