SoftBank's acquisition of Ampere is now facing a deeper review by the FTC.

SoftBank Group Corporation's acquisition of semiconductor design company Ampere is facing a possible months-long investigation by the United States government. According to informed sources, one of the two regulatory agencies responsible for reviewing the deal - the Federal Trade Commission, has launched a thorough investigation into the acquisition, formally known as a second request for information on the transaction. These sources requested anonymity because the matter has not been made public. Only a very small number of transactions receive such follow-up requests. In some cases, the investigation could last a year or longer and could be a precursor to litigation to block the deal. A representative for Ampere declined to comment. A spokesperson for SoftBank was unable to immediately comment, and a representative for the Federal Trade Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment. SoftBank announced in March that it would acquire Ampere in an all-cash deal valued at $6.5 billion, marking another move by the Japanese company to enhance its capabilities in artificial intelligence infrastructure.