SoftBank Group Corp has agreed to acquire semiconductor design company Ampere Computing LLC, a move that further expands the Japanese investment firm's efforts in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
SoftBank will acquire Ampere in an all-cash deal, valuing the Santa Clara, California-based company at $6.5 billion, according to a statement seen by the media. The acquisition is expected to be announced later Wednesday.
Early backers of Ampere include Oracle Corp. and private equity firm Carlyle Group Inc. Media reported in February this year that SoftBank’s negotiations to acquire Ampere had entered an in-depth stage.
Oracle and Carlyle will sell their stakes in Ampere as part of the deal, which is expected to close in the second half of 2025. Ampere will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SoftBank, retaining its name and Santa Clara headquarters.