- According to reports, SoftBank is close to buying amps
- The $ 6.5 billion agreement could shake the AI and data centers
- There are questions about how it affects arm neutrality and SoftBank’s long -term strategy
SoftBank, the Japanese owner of ARM, is close to acquiring Ampere Computing, a company that develops central data chips based on ARM architecture.
In January 2025, BNN Bloomberg Softbank informed was exploring a purchase of amps, which is backed by Oracle and the private capital firm Carlyle Group, in a broadly seen movement as part of the SoftBank offer to challenge AMD and Intel’s dominance in the Ia chip market and Data Center. However, as we reported before, there were some obstacles to overcome: Ampere was preparing for an OPI, which suggests a desire to remain independent, while Softbank would require the approval of Oracle and Carlyle Group before an agreement could move forward.
However, a new Bloomberg The report suggests that the agreement is about to end and could be announced in the coming weeks. Sources familiar with the matter estimate that its value is around $ 6.5 billion, including debt. In 2021, Softbank valued the amperium of more than $ 8 billion during a proposed minority investment.
Strategic questions
AMPERE develops high performance processors for data centers, including the 192 “Polaris” Ampereone and the next “Magnetrix” of 256 cores, using ARM chip designs. Ampere’s acquisition could help Softbank, who previously bought Graphcore from the artificial intelligence chips designer based in the United Kingdom, expand its footprint at the competitive data center and AI markets.
That said, the measure raises some interesting strategic questions. ARM, dominant long in mobile chips, has been working to expand in server processing and AI.
Ampere is one of the few companies that independently develop the SER server chips. If the agreement progresses, it could affect the role of ARM as a neutral intellectual property supplier. The integration of amps into the softbank ecosystem can also change competitive dynamics in the industry.
Market conditions add an additional level of complexity to the benefits of buying amps that will bring to Softbank. The semiconductor sector faces a growing competence and concerns about the slowdown of AI -related investments.
As Bloomberg The notes, “the Chinese Startup Depseek, which revealed a model of low cost last month, has raised the spectrum that technology suppliers will not generate as many income as predicted.”
