Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has agreed to invest $2 billion in Intel, underscoring its commitment to advanced semiconductor technology in the United States.
The deal, announced Monday after markets closed, will see SoftBank purchase Intel common stock at $23 per share. Intel stock, which ended the day at $23.66, jumped more than 5% in after-hours trading following the news.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said the investment reflects confidence in U.S. semiconductor growth and Intel’s role in it. The move also signals SoftBank’s renewed focus on AI infrastructure, following its recent acquisition of a Foxconn factory in Ohio to develop AI data centers.
For Intel, led by new CEO Lip-Bu Tan, the deal provides a much-needed validation as it undergoes restructuring. The company has shuttered its automotive division, cut staff, and announced workforce reductions in its Intel Foundry division by up to 20%.
The agreement comes amid heightened political scrutiny. President Donald Trump has called for Tan’s resignation over unsubstantiated conflict-of-interest claims, while his administration considers taking a stake in Intel and imposing new tariffs on imported chips to bolster U.S. manufacturing.
