Masayoshi Son: "Contributing to U.S. advanced semiconductor manufacturing"… Signs contract to acquire 2% stake in Intel "U.S. government begins discussions on acquiring 10% stake" Industry: "Possible pressure on Korean companies for support"… "Need to prepare for Intel-centered seismic shifts"
Japan's SoftBank has joined a project to rescue Intel, which is in crisis, by deciding to inject nearly KRW 3 trillion in investment. The Donald Trump administration is reportedly discussing a plan to acquire Intel shares with an investment of approximately KRW 15 trillion. There are calls for South Korea to find ways to gain practical benefits from the U.S.-centered semiconductor reconstruction project led by Intel.
● Government Share Acquisition and SoftBank Investment
News also emerged that the Trump administration has begun discussions to acquire a 10% stake in Intel. This follows last week's reports of a share acquisition plan becoming more concrete.
Bloomberg reported, "The Trump administration could become Intel's largest shareholder, and 10% is valued at USD 10.5 billion based on Intel's current market value." There is also the possibility of converting USD 7.86 billion in subsidies, determined under the Semiconductor Act, into equity. Bloomberg noted, "The Trump administration is particularly focusing on the fab (factory) project in Ohio, the hometown of Vice President J.D. Vance." Intel announced in 2022 plans to invest over USD 20 billion in Ohio to build a new fab by 2025, but the completion date has been delayed twice to 2030.
● Seismic Shift Centered on Intel: "South Korea Must Prepare a Response"
Kwon Seok-jun, a professor of chemical engineering at Sungkyunkwan University, stated, "If South Korea is to support Intel, it should demand opportunities to participate as a strategic partner in U.S. semiconductors or be granted rights to utilize derivative technologies in return."
Park Hyun-ik
AI-translated with ChatGPT. Provided as is; original Korean text prevails.
ⓒ dongA.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction, redistribution, or use for AI training prohibited.
About Dong-A Ilbo