Japan’s investment conglomerate SoftBank Group (SFTBY) reportedly explored a takeover of Marvell Technology (MRVL) earlier this year in what could have become the largest semiconductor deal ever, according to a Bloomberg report. The move was part of SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son’s plan to combine Marvell with Arm Holdings (ARM), the UK-based chip designer the company controls, to expand its reach in AI infrastructure.
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According to the report, SoftBank looked into the idea a few months ago but did not reach a deal. While discussions have stopped for now, the company could revisit the plan later. The proposed deal would have valued Marvell at about $80–$100 billion, making it one of the biggest in tech history.
SoftBank’s Push Into AI Hardware
SoftBank has been shifting its focus toward AI investments, aiming to connect Arm’s chip designs with other hardware makers that build processors for AI data centers. Marvell makes custom chips used in cloud computing, networking, and AI systems, with major clients such as Amazon (AMZN) and Microsoft (MSFT).
A merger of Marvell and Arm could have created a strong rival to Nvidia (NVDA) and Broadcom (AVGO), two leaders in AI chips. Analysts said such a deal could help speed up the creation of custom AI chips for large data centers.
SoftBank already owns nearly 90% of Arm after its IPO last year and has been expanding its AI plans. It has also invested in Ampere Computing, another chip company, and is working with OpenAI and Oracle (ORCL) on the Stargate project to build large AI data centers.
While no deal is expected soon, the report shows that SoftBank is betting heavily on AI hardware as it tries to match the success of leaders like Nvidia.
Is SFTBY a Good Stock to Buy Now?
SFTBY stock has gained 164.61% so far in 2025, supported by its focus on AI and data center infrastructure projects. The company is making significant bets in the technology space, attracting investor interest.
