KEY TAKEAWAYS SoftBank Group said Thursday it has struck a deal to buy U.S.-based chip designer Ampere Computing Holdings for $6.5 billion, as part of the Japanese investment firm’s plans to boost its exposure to artificial intelligence development.

SANTA CLARA, California/TOKYO (Reuters) -- Japanese technology investor SoftBank Group is accelerating its move into chip technology companies with the $6.5 billion purchase of Ampere Computing, a U.S. chip startup founded by the former president of Intel.

SoftBank Group Corp. said Thursday it will acquire U.S. semiconductor design company Ampere Computing Holdings LLC for $6.5 billion a