SoftBank to Acquire Ampere Computing for $6.5 Billion to Increase AI Infrastructure Investments
SoftBank Group Corp. has announced its decision to acquire Ampere Computing, a leading independent silicon design firm, for an all-cash deal of $6.5 billion. After the buyout, Ampere will exist as a subsidiary company of SoftBank, though its name and operations will not change. The lead investors, Carlyle and Oracle Corp., will dispose of their respective shareholding in the firm under the terms of the acquisition.
This buyout is one of SoftBank Group's overall strategies to boost AI infrastructure investments, such as ventures Cristal Intelligence and Stargate. The acquisition will further support SoftBank's strengths in critical technology areas, propelling its expansion in the AI industry.
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A Step Toward AI Supercomputing
Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group, said, “The future of Artificial Super Intelligence requires breakthrough computing power. Ampere’s expertise in semiconductors and high-performance computing will help accelerate this vision and deepens our commitment to AI innovation in the United States.”i
Ampere's Role in Advancing AI
Established 2018 in Silicon Valley, Ampere initially specialized in cloud-native computing but has since diversified its solutions into sustainable AI computing solutions. Ampere has developed various products to optimize cloud workloads, from edge computing to cloud data centers.
Renee James, the Founder and CEO of Ampere, said, “With a shared vision for advancing AI, we are excited to join SoftBank Group and partner with its portfolio of leading technology companies. This is a fantastic outcome for our team, and we are excited to drive forward our AmpereOne® roadmap for high performance Arm processors and AI.”
The $6.5 billion transaction is contingent upon customary closing conditions, such as regulatory approvals, and is anticipated to close in the second half of 2025. Ampere will continue to have its headquarters in Santa Clara, California.
