SoftBank is considering acquiring the chip company Ampere for 6.5 billion dollars. Ampere was founded by former Intel executive Renee James and is known for its energy-efficient ARM designs for large networks and data storage centers. The company has been seeking a buyer since September 2024.
According to Bloomberg, advanced negotiations are underway between SoftBank and Ampere, with an official announcement potentially coming soon. Recently, it was reported that Arm Holdings, in which SoftBank holds the majority stake, has also shown interest in Ampere.
Renee James left Intel in 2017 after not being selected for the CEO position and founded Ampere. Along with AMD's CEO Lisa Su, James is one of the two women leading the production of semiconductors, materials that allow electricity to pass under certain conditions, in the electronics and computer technology industries.
Renee James owns 29% of Ampere and has future investment options that could give her control over the company's management.
