SoftBank Group has finalized a $6.5bn all-cash deal to acquire Ampere Computing, marking another major private equity exit in the semiconductor sector.

The deal will see Carlyle Group and Oracle Corp selling their stakes in the California-based chip designer as part of the transaction.

Ampere, founded by former Intel executive Renee James, specializes in processors for data centers, including technology used by chip designer Arm Holdings, which is majority-owned by SoftBank. The company was previously valued at over $8bn in 2021 when SoftBank considered a minority investment.

This acquisition provides SoftBank with access to one of the few remaining independent design teams for high-performance data center chips, an increasingly competitive sector driven by the AI boom. The deal ensures Ampere remains a key player in developing energy-efficient processors for large-scale data centers, a critical need as AI computing demands accelerate.

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son emphasized that the future of AI requires breakthrough computing power, and Ampere’s expertise in semiconductors and high-performance computing aligns with this vision. Ampere will continue operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of SoftBank while maintaining its headquarters in Santa Clara.

For Carlyle, the sale of Ampere follows its broader trend of exiting technology investments as market conditions evolve. The deal underscores the growing influence of private equity in semiconductor transactions, particularly as firms position themselves amid surging demand for AI infrastructure.