Friday, January 17th 2025
Report: Intel Could Face Acquisition, Units to Remain Together
Multiple sources say an unidentified corporation is exploring the complete acquisition of Intel Corporation, according to tech publication SemiAccurate. The report points to an internal memo shared among a small group of top executives at the unnamed firm. A high-level insider confirmed the memo's legitimacy last week, reinforcing speculation that a purchase of Intel may be under serious consideration. SemiAccurate's report indicates that the prospective buyer has enough financial resources to acquire Intel outright, considering the company's current market valuation. Notably, this potential buyer has not been publicly identified in previous discussions about Intel's future, suggesting that planning has occurred behind closed doors. The memo's limited circulation hints that executives treat the proposal cautiously rather than engaging in casual exploratory talks.
Any attempt to purchase Intel would require extensive regulatory review, given the company's role in producing semiconductors for both commercial and government applications. Regulators would likely evaluate issues related to national security, supply chain stability, and competitive impact in the global chip market. While neither Intel nor the unidentified acquirer has issued an official statement on the rumor, we are watching for any signals of formal negotiations. Intel has long been a strategic source of the US semiconductor sector, and its potential ownership change would have to be domestic. If a deal does materialize, it would stand among the largest transactions in the technology field.
Source:
SemiAccurate
Any attempt to purchase Intel would require extensive regulatory review, given the company's role in producing semiconductors for both commercial and government applications. Regulators would likely evaluate issues related to national security, supply chain stability, and competitive impact in the global chip market. While neither Intel nor the unidentified acquirer has issued an official statement on the rumor, we are watching for any signals of formal negotiations. Intel has long been a strategic source of the US semiconductor sector, and its potential ownership change would have to be domestic. If a deal does materialize, it would stand among the largest transactions in the technology field.
25 Comments on Report: Intel Could Face Acquisition, Units to Remain Together
Apple
Nvidia
Microsoft
Google
Amazon
Facebook
Tesla
Broadcom
TSMC
Oracle
Samsung
Cisco
IBM
AMD
BlackRock..
Nvidia
Apple
Microsoft
Meta (way left field, but I can see it)
Is the order of possibility. Google needs their technology, engineers, and fabs for their quantum bet. Nvidia would get and FPGA, fabs, CPU, and a bunch of IP (both graphics and CPU and processing). Apple is considerably less likely than the first two, but not relying on TSMC and going all in on AI would be a good reason to buy Intel. Microsoft, same reason as apple, and they may be looking to start building their own hardware.
Even Apple, NV or Microsoft can't afford it easily, others not interested in x86 lakes..
I can see some high regulatory hurdles, but now that Arm is a (small) player in the desktop consumer space, and more FABs are being built in Intel’s home country, I think they might actually be able to argue around all of that, even if the buyer is NVIDIA.
I would be curious to see who has an interest overall. Of the contenders I think a few are knocked out immediately (My opinion of course)
AMD could not and it probably would not get past regulatory
Apple and Intel have been cross for a long time, now that Apple is making its own chips that would be pointless especially considering how good they are.
Microsoft probably would not want to spend the money if they could.
All the others I can think of I think would be a capital problem. Currently Intel is on a downward trend and I doubt anyone is looking to spend that kind of money on them in the state they are in. Someone clearly is, it will be interesting to see who.