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ARTICLE · 05 MAY 2020

Attempted Imagination Coup Triggers UK Push For More National Security Blocking Powers On Foreign Asset Stripping

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On April 21, 2020, Imagination Technologies, a U.K. based company producing graphics processing units used in 11 billion devices globally, was summoned to answer questions by MPs in relation to national security concerns.

United KingdomGovernment, Public Sector
Jasper Helder
Jasper Helder
Chiara Klaui
Chiara Klaui
Isabel Foster
Isabel Foster
Daniel Lund
Daniel Lund
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Key Points

  • On April 21, 2020, Imagination Technologies, a U.K. based company producing graphics processing units used in 11 billion devices globally, was summoned to answer questions by MPs in relation to national security concerns. Lawmakers were alerted to the potential risk to U.K. critical digital infrastructure when a Chinese state-owned investor attempted a boardroom coup of Imagination in early April.
  • In recent years, Chinese state investment has sparked growing unease. This unease is not U.K. specific; a number of Western countries have cited concerns with Huawei's 5G infrastructure and the European Union competition chief has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic leaves EU companies vulnerable to Chinese takeovers. The U.K. government has bemoaned its deficient intervention powers in relation to foreign takeovers since September 2016, when Theresa May suggested that the U.K. might develop a more politically interventionist approach to merger control.

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