SoftBank announced the acquisition of Ampere Computing, an independent silicon design company, in an all-cash transaction valued at $6.5 billion.
The deal, which is expected to close in the second half of 2025, will see Ampere operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo, Japan-based SoftBank Group while retaining its name. It will remain headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Carlyle and Oracle will be selling their respective stakes in Ampere as part of the transaction.
The acquisition aligns with SoftBank’s goal to broaden its AI infrastructure investments, which include ventures such as Cristal intelligence and Stargate.
“The future of Artificial Super Intelligence requires breakthrough computing power,” Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son said in a statement.
“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.”
Renee James, Ampere CEO, described the acquisition as a “fantastic outcome” for the company.
“With a shared vision for advancing AI, we are excited to join SoftBank Group and partner with its portfolio of leading technology companies,” James said.
SoftBank’s US-listed shares traded modestly higher following the announcement, up 0.3% at about $26.