SoftBank Group Corp. said it will invest $2 billion in Intel Corp., buying common shares at $23 each under a definitive securities-purchase agreement announced late Monday. The deal, funded entirely in cash, marks one of the Japanese conglomerate’s largest single equity purchases in a U.S. technology company since its Arm acquisition nearly a decade ago. The transaction represents roughly 2% of Intel’s outstanding stock, immediately placing SoftBank among the chipmaker’s biggest institutional investors. Intel shares rose about 4–6% in after-hours trading following the announcement, adding to an 18% year-to-date gain that has partially offset last year’s 60% slide. SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son said the investment “deepens our commitment to advancing U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership,” highlighting Intel’s plan to expand domestic production of advanced semiconductors and foundry services. Intel Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan called the funding a vote of confidence in the company’s turnaround strategy, which includes heavy spending on next-generation process nodes and artificial-intelligence chips. The agreement arrives amid heightened political interest in maintaining American control over leading-edge chip fabrication. Bloomberg News has reported that the U.S. government is exploring a separate move to acquire as much as 10% of Intel, a step that would eclipse SoftBank’s new position. No timeline has been disclosed for the completion of SoftBank’s share purchase, which is subject to customary closing conditions.