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Japanese investment holding company SoftBank announced on Tuesday that it will invest $2 billion in U.S. semiconductor giant Intel through the purchase of ordinary shares.
Under the agreement, SoftBank will pay $23 per share, according to a joint statement released by both companies.
SoftBank stated that the investment aligns with its long-term vision of accelerating digital transformation, cloud computing, and next-generation infrastructure, while contributing to theadvancement of artificial intelligence technologies.
Masayoshi Son, Chief Executive Officer of SoftBank Group, stated that the move demonstrates confidence in the expansion of advanced semiconductor production and supply within the United States, adding that Intel is poised to play a central role in this process.
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan welcomed the partnership, noting that SoftBank shares the company’s commitment to advancing technology leadership and manufacturing capacity in the U.S.
The investment comes as the U.S. government explores the possibility of acquiring a 10% stake in Intel, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 14.
The plan under discussion would involve converting part or all of Intel’s $10.9 billion in funding under the U.S. Chips and Science Act into equity holdings.
At Intel’s current market value, a 10% stake would amount to roughly $10.5 billion.
According to Bloomberg, it remains uncertain whether the White House will proceed with the plan, and no final decision has been made.
Officials have not clarified whether discussions have taken place with Intel or other stakeholders in the semiconductor sector.
The reported talks follow a broader policy shift in Washington toward securing supply chains by taking ownership positions in strategic companies.
Last month, the Department of Defense acquired a $400 million preferred ownership stake in MP Materials Corp., a U.S. producer of rare-earth elements essential for defense and high-tech manufacturing.
For Intel, Chips Act funding was originally designed to be distributed in phases tied to project milestones.
The company had already received more than $2.2 billion in grants by January, according to official figures.
The government discussions also come amid a tense political backdrop. U.S. President Donald Trump recently met Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, describing his career trajectory as “an amazing story.”
However, earlier this month, Trump called for Tan’s immediate resignation over alleged ties to Chinese firms with military links.
“The CEO of Intel is highly conflicted and must resign immediately. There is no other solution,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
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