SoftBank Group has reached an agreement to acquire Ampere Computing, a U.S.-based chip designer, for $6.5 billion. This acquisition is a strategic move by SoftBank to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers, two rapidly growing areas. Ampere Computing, founded in 2017 by former Intel President Renée James, specializes in high-performance processors based on Arm architecture, which are designed to handle cloud computing and AI workloads efficiently.
Ampere is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has a workforce of approximately 1,000 engineers. The company has carved a niche for itself in the development of energy-efficient chips, which is becoming increasingly important as demand for cloud computing and AI processing continues to rise.
The deal is significant as SoftBank already owns Arm Holdings, the creator of the Arm architecture used in Ampere’s processors. The synergy between Ampere’s technology and SoftBank’s investment in Arm will likely provide a competitive edge in the chip market, particularly for AI and data center applications.
Once the deal is finalized, Ampere will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of SoftBank. Despite the change in ownership, the company will retain its name and headquarters in California. However, the acquisition is still pending approval from regulatory bodies, including the U.S. antitrust authorities and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). If everything goes smoothly, the deal is expected to close in the second half of 2025.
