SoftBank Group Corporation, through its subsidiary Silver Bands 6 (US) Corporation, has acquired Ampere Computing for a total consideration of $6.5 billion. The acquisition gives SoftBank full control of one of the world’s most important ARM-based, energy-efficient semiconductor companies—critical to the future of AI infrastructure.
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Parties Involved
Acquirer: SoftBank Group Corporation
Target: Ampere Computing
Indian Counsel to Target: Argus Partners
Global Counsel to Target: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Global Counsel to SoftBank: Morrison Foerster
Polish Counsel to SoftBank: Wolf Theiss
Legal Advisory — Argus Partners (India Counsel to Ampere Computing)
Core Team
Pallavi Kanakagiri, Partner
Anantha Krishnan Iyer, Partner
Scope included advising Ampere on all India law elements of the transaction.
Legal Advisory — Wilson Sonsini (Global Counsel to Ampere Computing)
Corporate / M&A Team
Robert G. Day, Partner
Todd Cleary, Partner
Brendan Ripley Mahan, Partner
Kristen Kercher, Partner
Eleanor Bleecker, Partner
Wilson Sonsini advised on the overall global acquisition, guiding Ampere across structuring, diligence, and execution.
Legal Advisory — Morrison Foerster (Global Counsel to SoftBank Group)
Lead Team
Kenneth Siegel, Managing Partner – Tokyo; Head – Tokyo M&A Team
Lauren Bellerjeau, Corporate Partner – Austin
Global Team Members
Eric McCrath, Partner
Matt O’Donnell, Partner
Michael Santos, Partner
Morrison Foerster advised SoftBank on cross-border M&A, regulatory aspects, and large-scale technology transaction structuring.
Legal Advisory — Wolf Theiss (Polish Counsel to SoftBank Group)
Legal Team
Katarzyna Wójcik-Bąkowska, Partner
Krzysztof Libiszewski, Partner
Katarzyna Jaroszyńska-Lewandowska, Senior Associate
Bartosz Lewandowski, Senior Associate
Wolf Theiss advised SoftBank on Polish legal considerations and local regulatory compliance.
Key Transaction Highlights
Deal Value: $6.5 billion upfront + earn-out potential
Strategic Intent: Strengthen SoftBank’s AI and cloud infrastructure portfolio
Transaction Scope: Multi-jurisdictional M&A involving the U.S., India, Europe, and Asia
Sector: Semiconductors, AI Compute, Advanced Chip Design
About the Target — Ampere Computing
Ampere Computing is a leading semiconductor design company known for:
High-performance ARM-based processors
Energy-efficient and sustainable AI compute solutions
Providing chips to major cloud and hyperscaler environments
Competing with Nvidia, Intel, and AMD in the AI/data-center CPU space
Its processors are increasingly pivotal for AI workloads, cloud computing, and hyperscale data centers.
Strategic Significance
1. SoftBank’s Deep Bet on AI Infrastructure
The acquisition strengthens SoftBank’s positioning across the AI supply chain, complementing its Vision Fund portfolio and giving it direct control over CPU manufacturing capabilities.
2. ARM Ecosystem Consolidation
With ARM already part of SoftBank’s strategic investments, acquiring Ampere creates a vertically aligned stack for AI compute.
3. Shift Toward Sustainable Compute
Ampere’s low-power architecture aligns with rising demand for energy-efficient hyperscale AI infrastructure.
Why It Matters
This acquisition is significant because:
It is one of the largest global semiconductor acquisitions in recent years
It deepens Japan-based SoftBank’s role in global chip geopolitics
It highlights the growing demand for AI-optimised, ARM-based processors
The deal also showcases a highly coordinated, multi-jurisdictional legal effort involving several top global law firms.
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Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Readers should consult professionals before making decisions
