Prime Highlights:
SoftBank Group to acquire Ampere Computing in a $6.5 billion all-cash deal, expected to close in the second half of 2025.
Carlyle (59.65% stake) and Oracle (32.27% stake) will sell their shares in Ampere.
Key Background:
SoftBank Group has announced plans to acquire Ampere Computing, a semiconductor design company, in a $6.5 billion all-cash transaction. This strategic acquisition, set to close in the second half of 2025, aligns with SoftBank’s efforts to enhance its investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Upon completion of the deal, Ampere will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SoftBank.
Ampere, based in Santa Clara, California, was founded by former Intel executive Renee James. The company specializes in designing server chips based on the ARM compute platform, a key area of interest for SoftBank, which is the largest shareholder of ARM Holdings. Ampere’s client base includes major cloud providers such as Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Oracle Cloud, and Tencent, as well as hardware companies like Supermicro and HPE.
Carlyle and Oracle, Ampere’s primary investors, will sell their shares in the company. Carlyle holds a 59.65% stake, while Oracle owns 32.27%. With a team of 1,000 semiconductor engineers, Ampere has become a leader in cloud-native and sustainable AI compute.
SoftBank’s acquisition of Ampere will enhance its ability to accelerate AI development and bolster its existing capabilities in high-performance computing. This move follows a series of recent deals by SoftBank, including its partnership with OpenAI to develop an advanced AI platform, “Cristal intelligence,” and its investment in the Stargate project, which aims to build data centers for OpenAI across the United States.
Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank, highlighted the significance of the acquisition, stating, “The future of Artificial Super Intelligence requires breakthrough computing power. Ampere’s expertise in semiconductors and high-performance computing will help accelerate this vision and deepen our commitment to AI innovation in the United States.” Founded in 2017, Ampere’s mission to advance AI aligns with SoftBank’s long-term vision, as both companies aim to drive innovation in the semiconductor and AI industries.
