Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has announced that they have agreed to purchase $2bn in Intel stock, in a bid to alleviate the financial pressure that is building on the beleaguered US chipmaker.
SoftBank have made a number of major investments across the US, following President Trump’s return to power in January of this year.
It has also been reported in recent days that the Japanese company has just bought a factory from Foxconn in Ohio, which it plans to use to build AI data centre equipment as part of their role in the $500bn Stargate project.
Their investment in Intel, which will see them pay $23 per-share of Intel common stock will help SoftBank expand their growing footprint across the United States.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, stressed that the decision to buy Intel’s stock demonstrated the unwavering belief they have in the company.
Son said, “Intel has been a trusted leader in innovation for more than 50 years. This investment reflects our belief that advanced semiconductor manufacturing and supply will further expand in the United States, with Intel playing a critical role”.
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said: “We are very pleased to deepen our relationship with SoftBank,” a company at the forefront of so many areas of emerging technology and innovation.
The news comes hot on the heels of reports that the Trump administration is strongly considering a 10% stake in Intel, which would be financed by direct funding from the US CHIPS and Science Act.
It’s been a turbulent few weeks for Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who was told to resign by US President Donald Trump, before he softened his stance a few days later.
Intel laid off 15,000 workers at the end of 2024, and has announced plans to further reduce its headcount by 20% by the end of this year.
