UK chip design company ARM (LON:ARM) has announced its unaudited financials for Q1 FY12, the three months ending 31 March.

Continuing its recent strong growth, revenue was £132.5 million ($209.4 million), up 14 percent year-on-year.

Profit before tax was £61.9 million ($98 million), up 22 percent.

ARM generated £58 million ($92 million) in net cash during the quarter.

ARM everywhere

"In the first quarter of 2012 we saw continuing demand for technology licenses driven by a remarkable variety of end markets from highly efficient servers to energy-sipping sensors," explained CEO Warren East.

"ARM's royalty revenues continued to outperform the overall semiconductor industry as our customers launch their products into new markets and gain market share within existing markets.

"This growth enables us to invest in future innovative technology as well as delivering increases in profit and cash flow."

Nation of billions

During the three months, 1.1 billion chips using ARM's architecture shipped into mobile phones and mobile computers. This is static year-on-year.

However, 800 million chips shipped into consumer and embedded digital devices, up 15 percent year-on-year.

Among the 22 new processor licences signed across all markets, the company signed two new licences for its Mali mobile graphics processor, which is used in Samsung's Galaxy S II amongst others.

Both licences were with companies who hadn't previously used the technology. ARM has now has 60 Mali licences in operation.

The company ended the quarter with total cash of £469 million ($740 million) , up $45 million ($71 million) from three months ago.

That's almost as much as its 2011 annual revenue; £492 million.

[source: ARM]