SoftBank Group has signed an acquisition deal with Ampere Semiconductor, a US-based semiconductor firm, for $6.5 billion. This acquisition highlights SoftBank’s ongoing strategy to bolster its investment in high-growth technology sectors, particularly in the semiconductor industry.
Ampere specializes in designing cutting-edge server chips and has attracted significant interest due to rising demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). Its energy-efficient chips are essential for high-performance computing applications, positioning it as a key player in the expanding semiconductor market.
SoftBank is already a majority shareholder in Arm Holdings, whose technology is used in 99% of smartphones. The acquisition, which is expected to close in the second half of this year, would strengthen SoftBank’s aggressive push into AI.
SoftBank’s CEO, Masayoshi Son, commented, “This acquisition strengthens our position in the global semiconductor space and provides us with critical technology to lead the next wave of cloud innovation.”
This move also positions SoftBank to benefit from Ampere’s expertise in energy-efficient computing solutions, which all play a crucial role in driving the sustainability goals of cloud and AI infrastructure globally. As the deal progresses, it is expected to drive significant growth and innovation within the semiconductor and tech industries.
Before this, SoftBank also invested $25 billion in OpenAI.
