Certificati di investimento - Capitolo 9

SoftBankMakes Surprise $2 Billion Bet on Intel’s AI Revival (1)





2025-08-19 04:46:39 GMT











By Min Jeong Lee and Nick Turner


(Bloomberg) -- SoftBank Group Corp. agreed to buy $2


billion of Intel Corp. stock, a surprise deal to shore up a


struggling US name while boosting its own chip ambitions.


The Japanese company, which is adding Intel to an


investment portfolio that includes AI linchpins Nvidia Corp. and


Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., will pay $23 a share — a


small discount to Intel’s last close. Shares of the US


chipmaker, which will issue new stock to SoftBank, surged more


than 5% in after-hours trading. SoftBank’s stock fell as much as


5.4% Tuesday in Tokyo, its most since April.


SoftBank, which owns Arm Holdings Plc, has for decades


tried to be a central player in AI, but has been largely a


bystander to a global spending boom in hardware. Progress has


been slower than expected at Stargate, a $500 billion endeavor


with OpenAI, Oracle Corp. and Abu Dhabi fund MGX to build data


centers in the US. Masayoshi Son’s plan to design an energy-


efficient chip to better compete alongside Nvidia through the


“Izanagi” project has also yet to translate into a marketable


product.


“It’s hard to see how much this investment contributes to


either SoftBank’s value or short-term earnings,” said Tomoaki


Kawasaki, senior analyst at Iwaicosmo Securities.


For Intel, the Tokyo-based company’s move delivers a strong


vote of confidence in a storied US chipmaker that’s struggled to


remain relevant in the AI sphere.


Intel aims to prove it can be a technology leader again


after falling behind TSMC in contract chipmaking and Nvidia in


chip design. CEO Lip-Bu Tan met with US President Donald Trump


at the White House last week, helping lay the groundwork for


discussions around ways to rescue Intel.


The Santa Clara-based company held talks with the Trump


administration about a deal that would potentially turn the US


into its biggest backer. Officials have discussed taking a stake


of about 10% in the chipmaker, Bloomberg News reported Monday.


Read More: Trump Administration Said to Discuss Taking 10%


Intel Stake


For SoftBank, buying Intel stock expands its US footprint


at a time Tokyo is pressing Washington to cut tariffs in


exchange for investments in the US. SoftBank recently inked


adeal to buy Foxconn Technology Group’s electric vehicle plant


in Ohio in a move that could kickstart Stargate. That’s as some


of Asia’s biggest companies including TSMC and Samsung


Electronics Co. reiterate plans to spend billions of dollars on


factories in the US.


But the timing of the deal — days after Trump and Tan’s


meeting — is spurring fears that politics may have played a


part. “If it’s political, then it’s not profit-motivated,” said


Amir Anvarzadeh, Japan equity strategist at Asymmetric Advisors.


“Investing in Intel to appease Trump is perhaps not seen as good


business.”


In announcing its investment in Intel, SoftBank paid


tribute to the chip pioneer’s history.


“For more than 50 years, Intel has been a trusted leader in


innovation,” Son 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.”


Intel CEO Tan, a chip industry veteran who took the helm


this year, has invested in startups alongside Son and spent


years on SoftBank’s board as an independent director before


resigning in 2022.


“I appreciate the confidence he has placed in Intel with


this investment,” Tan said.
 

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