LONDON -- ARM Holdings (LSE: ARM.L) -- the world's leading semiconductor intellectual-property company -- reported a strong set of second-quarter and half-year results this morning, which pushed its share price more than 5% higher in morning trade. Second-quarter revenue was 135.5 million pounds, up 15% on 2011, while profit before tax increased 23% to 66.5 million pounds. Earnings per share were up 20% to 3.58 pence.

The growth owed to increased adoption of ARM processor technology, with the signing of 23 new processor licenses, greater shipments of ARM processor-based chips, 2 billion chips supplied in the second quarter, and a 14% year-on-year boost in processor royalties.

ARM CEO Warren East said:

ARM's royalty revenues continued to outperform the overall semiconductor industry as our customers gained market share within existing markets and launched products which are taking ARM technology into new markets. This quarter we have seen multiple market leaders announce exciting new products including computers and servers from Dell and Microsoft, and embedded applications from Freescale and Toshiba. In addition, ARM and TSMC announced a partnership to optimise next generation ARM processors and physical IP and TSMC's FinFET process technology.

All of these new products are the result of technology engagements over many years, and ARM's long-term commitment to invest in the development of innovative technology.

As ARM enters the second half of 2012 with a record order backlog, perhaps this is the start of a recovery in its share price, which remains more than 20% below its 52-week high of 647.5 pence last November. Whether or not that recovery can continue remains to be seen.

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