SoftBank Group Corp., the Japanese technology investment giant, announced on March 20, 2025, that it will acquire Ampere Computing, a Silicon Valley-based semiconductor company, for $6.5 billion in cash. The deal demonstrates SoftBank’s aggressive expansion into artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and semiconductor technology, positioning the company to capitalize on the growing demand for high-performance computing solutions. The transaction is expected to close in the latter half of 2025 once all the customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, are completed. Ampere’s lead investors, Carlyle Group and Oracle Corporation, will divest their stakes as part of the deal.
Ampere Computing was founded in 2018 by former Intel executive Renee James. It specializes in designing energy-efficient processors based on Arm architecture. The chips are widely used in data centers and cloud services provided by major companies like Oracle and Microsoft Azure. Following its acquisition, Ampere will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of SoftBank while retaining its name and headquarters in Santa Clara, California.
Strategic Importance for SoftBank:
This acquisition aligns with the Company’s broader strategy to dominate AI infrastructure development. Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group, emphasized that “the future of Artificial Super Intelligence requires breakthrough computing power,” .This also emphasized Ampere’s role in advancing AI innovation. Ampere’s expertise complements SoftBank’s portfolio, which includes Arm Holdings—a leader in chip design—and recent investments in AI initiatives like OpenAI collaborations and the Stargate project for U.S.-based AI data centers.
Ampere’s flagship products, such as the Ampere Altra processors featuring up to 128 cores, are designed for cloud-native applications and AI workloads. This positions SoftBank to address the surging demand for efficient computing solutions across industries.
Implications for the Semiconductor Industry:
The acquisition underscores the growing importance of semiconductors in powering AI technologies. With this move, SBG is doubling its commitment to revolutionize data center infrastructure and expand Arm-based chip applications beyond mobile devices into enterprise-level computing.
SoftBank’s purchase of Ampere Computing marks a significant milestone in its ambition for technological leadership. By integrating Ampere’s advanced chip designs into its portfolio, SoftBank aims to drive innovation and solidify its influence in the rapidly evolving AI-driven semiconductor market.
