- Chipmaker AMD has announced the acquisition of server manufacturer ZT Systems for $4.9 billion, aiming to bolster its artificial intelligence ecosystem and compete more effectively against rivals like Nvidia.
- The deal will grant AMD access to ZT Systems’ team of around 1,000 engineers specialising in system design and rack-scale solutions, enabling more comprehensive AI offerings to cloud and enterprise customers, while AMD plans to divest the acquired company’s server manufacturing business to a strategic partner.
OUR TAKE
The acquisition of ZT Systems by AMD signals a strategic push into the AI ecosystem, enabling more comprehensive solutions and competition with Nvidia. Gaining ZT’s expertise in system design and rack-scale solutions will enhance AMD’s offerings to cloud and enterprise customers, solidifying its position in the evolving AI landscape.
–Vicky Wu, BTW reporter
What happened
Chipmaker AMD has announced the acquisition of server manufacturer ZT Systems for $4.9 billion, aiming to bolster its artificial intelligence ecosystem and compete more effectively against rivals like Nvidia. AMD intends to finance 75% of the ZT Systems acquisition through cash, with the remaining portion being paid in stock. As of the second quarter, the company held $5.34 billion in cash and short-term investments.
This strategic move underscores AMD’s commitment to expanding its footprint in the AI sector, where the demand for efficient and scalable computing solutions is rapidly growing. By acquiring ZT Systems, AMD gains access to a team of approximately 1,000 engineers who specialize in system design and rack-scale solutions, crucial for enhancing the performance and efficiency of AI systems. This will enable AMD to offer more comprehensive AI solutions to cloud and enterprise customers, including Microsoft and Meta Platforms, and to accelerate the deployment of its AI graphics processing units (GPUs).
AMD intends to integrate ZT Systems’ expertise in computing infrastructure design while planning to divest the acquired company’s server manufacturing business to a strategic partner. ZT Systems CEO Frank Zhang will join AMD and oversee the manufacturing business, reporting to AMD’s data center chief, Forrest Norrod.
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Why it’s important
The acquisition reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where companies are increasingly focusing on holistic ecosystem approaches rather than single-product offerings. As AI systems become more complex, the ability to provide integrated hardware and software solutions becomes essential. With the addition of ZT Systems’ capabilities, AMD aims to differentiate itself by offering end-to-end data center AI infrastructure at scale, leveraging its existing product portfolios, including its Instinct AI accelerators, EPYC CPUs, and networking products.
“AI systems are our number one strategic priority,” AMD CEO Lisa Su said. “The main way (ZT Systems) is additive to the company is we sell more GPUs.”
The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025, with AMD anticipating significant contributions to its financial performance by the end of that year. This acquisition highlights AMD’s determination to compete head-on with Nvidia in the AI race and solidifies its position as a key player in the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem.
