SoftBank Accountive of Ai Chip ampere may face FTC probe

Softbank’s 6.5 billion dollars in acquisition From the AI-CIP ampere designer faces an in-depth American government’s investigation that may delay the deal, according to Bloomberg. The Federal Trade Committee (FTC) has opened the so -called second request to obtain information, which is a relatively rare investigation that can continue for more than a year or even block it, according to people familiar with the matter. Softbank nor Ampre commented on this issue.

Japanese Softbank, headed by Masayoshi Son, already owns the arm designer after a Earn 32 billion dollars In 2016, Ampre, which was established in 2018 with a focus on the original cloud computing, recently moved to the design of artificial intelligence chips-so Softbank is betting that the company will enhance and develop arm research in this field. Under the deal, Santa Clara, based on its name and operation as a fully -owned subsidiary.

If the deal continues, Softbank will own his arm, UK chip designer Graphcore Ltd. And Ampere, all the main players in the artificial intelligence space. Therefore, FTC may investigate the deal as a possible problem to combat monopoly. Softbank was trying to sell the arm to NVIDIA Eliminating in the end For similar reasons. The area of ​​artificial intelligence has also become politicized Projects like Stargate,, Which are largely involved in Softbank as well.

Softbank has fought some of the recent winds. Stargit Confronting the delay Because of the tariff and the division of the arm Qualcomm fighting On chips and anti -monopoly licenses complain in Europe, the United States and South Korea.