SoftBank Acquires Ampere Computing in $6.5 Billion Deal to Expand AI Investments

Ampere, a U.S.-based chip designer specializing in Arm-based server chips for AI and cloud computing, will operate as an independent subsidiary under SoftBank.

SoftBank announced its $6.5 billion all-cash acquisition of Ampere Computing, a U.S. semiconductor company, as part of its AI infrastructure strategy.
Ampere will retain its headquarters in Santa Clara, California, and operate as an independent subsidiary under SoftBank's ownership.
The acquisition aligns with SoftBank's ownership of Arm Holdings, whose architecture underpins Ampere's high-performance server chips used by major cloud providers like Google, Microsoft, and Oracle.
Ampere's founders and major investors, including Oracle and Carlyle Group, will sell their stakes as part of the agreement, with the deal expected to close in the second half of 2025.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son highlighted the acquisition as a step toward advancing 'artificial super intelligence' by leveraging Ampere's expertise in semiconductors and computing power.