Intel secures SoftBank investment amid stake talk

SoftBank commits $2 billion to Intel as reports surface that the US government may seek a stake in the chipmaker.

SoftBank backs Intel with $2bn investment amid possible US stake

SoftBank announced a $2 billion investment in Intel, giving the Japanese group roughly a 2 percent stake in the New York listed chip maker. The move comes as reports circulate that the Trump administration is considering taking a stake in Intel, potentially up to 10 percent. Intel chief Lip-Bu Tan, who took the top job four months ago, said the company is pleased to deepen its relationship with SoftBank. After hours, Intel shares rose more than 5 percent while SoftBank shares fell in Tokyo.

Tan has been tasked with a difficult turnaround amid slow sales and a struggle to keep Intel at the technological edge. The policy backdrop adds risk, with Washington signaling a desire to protect strategic tech assets and ideas of higher government involvement in private firms. If a government stake appears, it would mark a major shift in how governing bodies interact with private tech companies and could affect investment decisions. Trump had earlier criticized Tan but later praised him after a meeting in Washington. The broader context shows a push to secure supply chains and manufacturing leadership in the tech sector.

The deal highlights how private capital and national strategy are intertwining in the chip sector. A SoftBank investment can help Intel stabilize while it reshapes its business, but it also brings political risk into the boardroom. If the government takes a stake, governance and strategic priorities could move closer to public policy than market signals.

This moment could set a precedent for future cross border investments in semiconductors. The balance between market discipline and policy influence will test investor confidence and corporate autonomy in critical industries. The outcome will reveal how much leverage policymakers want over the most sensitive parts of the tech supply chain.

Highlights

The path ahead will test how far public policy and private capital can align