22. March 2025
Softbank To Acquire Chip Startup Ampere In 65 Billion Deal
SoftBank has announced plans to acquire chip startup Ampere in a $6.5 billion all-cash deal, marking a significant expansion of its AI portfolio and cementing its position as a leading player in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
For eight years, Ampere has been designing high-performance processors tailored specifically for cloud computing, AI workloads, and data centers. The company’s lead investors, private equity firm Carlyle and IT giant Oracle, will sell their shares, which equate to 59.65% and 32.27% stakes in the company, respectively. SoftBank will retain Ampere as an independent subsidiary based in Santa Clara, once the deal closes in the second half of 2025.
This acquisition is a strategic move by SoftBank to bolster its AI offerings and investments, which have been gaining momentum in recent years. In 2016, SoftBank acquired Arm Holdings, a semiconductor design company that licenses its blueprints out to tech giants that handle implementation and manufacturing, for $31 billion. Arm went public in 2023, but SoftBank retains a majority stake.
SoftBank’s interest in expanding its AI portfolio dates back to 2021, when the company was reportedly considering acquiring a minority stake in Ampere, according to Bloomberg. Since then, SoftBank has been actively pursuing various initiatives to strengthen its position in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
In 2016, SoftBank acquired Arm Holdings for $31 billion, giving it access to a vast library of intellectual property and expertise in designing semiconductors for various applications. Under SoftBank’s ownership, Arm Holdings continued to expand its product portfolio, licensing its designs out to leading tech companies such as Samsung, Huawei, and Apple.
In 2023, Arm Holdings went public with an initial public offering (IPO) that raised $1 billion. While the company is now listed on the London Stock Exchange, SoftBank retains a majority stake in Arm, holding approximately 27% of the outstanding shares. This stake gives SoftBank significant influence over the company’s strategic direction and product development.
SoftBank has also announced its involvement in the Stargate Project, an ambitious initiative aimed at contributing $500 billion in total to generative AI infrastructure over the next four years. The project will support the development of large-scale data centers, specialized hardware, and advanced software for deploying generative AI models. This investment is part of SoftBank’s broader strategy to create a robust ecosystem for artificial intelligence that can drive innovation across various industries.
SoftBank has partnered with OpenAI on the development of “Cristal intelligence,” a custom enterprise AI service designed to provide organizations with a more secure and private experience when deploying generative AI models. This partnership underscores SoftBank’s commitment to advancing its AI capabilities and providing innovative solutions for businesses and governments.
The acquisition of Ampere by SoftBank is seen as a strategic move that benefits both parties. For SoftBank, the deal provides access to high-performance processors designed specifically for cloud computing, AI workloads, and data centers. This will help accelerate its vision for artificial superintelligence and deepen its commitment to AI innovation in the United States.
For Ampere, the acquisition offers an opportunity to leverage SoftBank’s global resources, expertise, and network to drive growth and expansion of its product portfolio. The company’s CEO, Renée James, is the former president of Intel, bringing a wealth of experience in the semiconductor industry. With SoftBank as its new partner, Ampere can tap into SoftBank’s vast ecosystem of startups and research institutions, further accelerating its development of energy-efficient chips for AI workloads.
The future of Artificial Super Intelligence requires breakthrough computing power," said Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group, in a statement. “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.”
Ampere’s CEO, Renée James, added, “This is a fantastic outcome for our team, and we are excited to drive forward our AmpereOne roadmap for high performance Arm processors and AI.”