Nvidia completes purchase of 3dfx assets

The sale of assets belonging to graphics chip designer 3dfx Interactive to its former competitor and legal adversary Nvidia Corp. is now complete. Patents, patent applications, trademarks and brand names have been exchanged for $55 million in cash with the incentive of another $25 million in cash and/or a million shares of Nvidia stock if 3dfx satisfies "certain additional conditions provided for" in the agreement that have not been announced.

By purchasing only the assets of the company rather than the entire company, Nvidia avoided assuming the liabilities and debts of 3dfx. The hundred or so hardware and software engineers hired from the now defunct company is considered by many to be the most important asset gained by Nvidia.

For more information, read maccentral.yahoo and theregister.co.uk.