SoftBank Group Corp. said it will invest $2 billion in Intel Corp., purchasing newly issued common stock at $23 a share. The deal would give the Japanese conglomerate an interest of roughly 2 percent, making it one of Intel’s ten largest shareholders and broadening SoftBank’s portfolio of semiconductor bets that already includes Arm Holdings and a planned $500 billion “Stargate” data-centre venture. Intel’s stock gained about 6 percent in after-hours and pre-market trading after the announcement, while SoftBank fell in Tokyo. The cash injection offers a rare vote of confidence for the U.S. chipmaker, which reported a $18.8 billion loss last year and is struggling to regain technological leadership from rivals Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Nvidia. SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son said the investment “reflects our belief that advanced semiconductor manufacturing and supply will further expand in the United States, with Intel playing a critical role.” Intel did not immediately comment on whether the purchase involves newly issued shares or stock bought from existing holders. In a separate development, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC the Trump administration is negotiating to take a non-voting equity stake of about 10 percent in Intel by converting nearly $7.9 billion in CHIPS and Science Act grants into shares. Lutnick argued the shift would secure “a return for the American taxpayer” without giving the government governance rights. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the step would aim to stabilise Intel’s finances and shore up domestic chip production. The Financial Times reported that Son recently met Intel chief executive Lip-Bu Tan to discuss a possible acquisition of the company’s faltering contract-manufacturing business. While no agreement has been reached, the talks underscore mounting pressure on Tan to find partnerships and capital as Intel pushes ahead with multibillion-dollar fabrication projects in Ohio and Arizona.