MW SoftBank expands its AI footprint with $6.5 billion purchase of Ampere Computing

By Mike Murphy

SoftBank Group Corp. announced late Wednesday it is acquiring semiconductor designer Ampere Computing in a $6.5 billion deal that will expand its investments in AI infrastructure.

"The future of Artificial Super Intelligence requires breakthrough computing power," Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's (JP:9984) chairman and chief executive, 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."

Ampere, a Silicon Valley-based startup, makes high-performance data-center processors using technology from Arm Holdings Plc. $(ARM)$. Ampere's two lead investors, Carlyle Group $(CG)$ and Oracle Corp. $(ORCL)$, will sell their stakes in the company, SoftBank said.

Ampere will keep its name and become a wholly owned subsidiary of SoftBank. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2025.

"With a shared vision for advancing AI, we are excited to join SoftBank Group and partner with its portfolio of leading technology companies," Renee James, Ampere's founder and CEO, said in a statement.

SoftBank, a Japanese investment conglomerate, has been building its AI portfolio for years. It bought U.K.-based chip designer Arm in 2016, and took it public in 2023. Earlier this year, it joined with Oracle and OpenAI for the Stargate initiative, a $500 billion joint venture to build AI data centers in the U.S. And last month there were reports that SoftBank would significantly raise its investment in OpenAI, starting with $40 billion in new funding.

Son, SoftBank's chairman, has been a vocal advocate of AI, musing last year that "Artificial Super Intelligence will evolve into Super Wisdom and contribute to the happiness of all humanity."

-Mike Murphy

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March 19, 2025 22:30 ET (02:30 GMT)

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