TOKYO and SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Japanese tech investor SoftBank Group Corp. plans to acquire a $2 billion stake in American chipmaker Intel Corp., the companies announced Tuesday.
The investment comes as both Intel and SoftBank deepen their commitment to investing in advanced technology and semiconductor innovation in the United States.
“Semiconductors are the foundation of every industry. For more than 50 years, Intel has been a trusted leader in innovation,” Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank, said in a statement. “This strategic investment reflects our belief that advanced semiconductor manufacturing and supply will further expand in the United States, with Intel playing a critical role.”
Lip-Bu Tan, CEO of Intel, said the investment is an important step to advancing technology and innovation in the United States. “We are very pleased to deepen our relationship with SoftBank, a company that’s at the forefront of so many areas of emerging technology and innovation and shares our commitment to advancing U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership,” he said.
Under the terms of the agreement, SoftBank will pay $23 per share of Intel common stock. The transaction is subject to closing conditions.
The investment comes days after President Donald Trump openly considered the United States taking a 10% stake in Intel, which has struggled over the past two years.
SoftBank’s investment in Intel builds upon its long-term strategy of expanding artificial intelligence by accelerating access to advanced technologies that support digital transformation, cloud computing and next-generation infrastructure, the companies said.
Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn confirmed Monday that SoftBank purchased Foxconn’s plant and equipment in Lordstown for $375 million. Foxconn Chairman Young Li told reporters Monday that Foxconn plans to manufacture components for AI data centers at the factory as part of SoftBank’s Stargate program, which envisions a $500 billion investment in AI capabilities across the United States.
The investment could also help jump-start Intel’s plans to construct a $20 billion computer chip manufacturing campus near Columbus. The project has experienced numerous delays, and in April, Intel said it had pushed back completion date to 2031. Then, in July, the company stated it would be “further slowing construction in Ohio.”
Pictured at top: A rendering of the Intel project in Ohio. (JobsOhio)