Credit：Intel
Intel has approached Apple Inc. to secure an investment and the two companies also haev discussed how to work more closely together, Bloomberg cited people familiar with the matter. The talks are reportedly still in early stages, and it’s possible no agreement comes out of it.
It was said that Intel has also looked to other companies about possible investments and partnerships. Intel declined to comment on the report. Apple didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Intel shares jumped as much as 8% on the report and closed 6.4% higher on Wednesday, outperforming the U.S. stock market and the semiconductor sector. The PHLX Semiconductor Index (SOX), an index composed of the 30 largest U.S. companies primarily involved in the design, distribution, manufacture, and sale of semiconductors, edged down nearly 0.2%, and Nvidia shares shed 0.8%.
The news came days after Intel reached a “historic” partnership with its rival Nvidia. Nvidia on September 18 said it will invest $5 billion in Intel’s common stock at price of $23.28 apiece. The investment, subject to customary closing conditions including required regulatory approvals, will enable Nvidia to own a 4% stake in Intel.
Nvidia and Intel will also jointly develop multiple generations of custom data center and personal computer (PC) products, focusing on connecting both companies’ architectures using Nvidia NVLink, the high-speed interconnect for graphics processing unit (GPU) and CPU processors in accelerated systems.
Wall Street analysts believe that the potential deal with Apple, a longtime Intel customer that started to switched to in-house processors in 2020, would make sense.
"Intel has already received support from the U.S. government and Nvidia, and by adding Apple, it can establish its future as the key provider of semi fabrication in the U.S.," D.A. Davidson head of technology research Gil Luria commented. "Before the U.S. got involved, Intel didn't have any anchor customers for its 14A technology, which put the future of the company in doubt," Luria said in emailed comments. "Now Intel has Nvidia lined up, and if it added Apple, would have the two biggest consumers of semi fabrication lined up to support its U.S. production."
Apple could benefit "from onshoring production of components that would avoid tariffs," said Brian Mullberry, senior portfolio manager at Zacks Investment Management. While a partnership could be the product of "good will", Mullberry is skeptical as Intel has not been able to keep up with the needs of Apple’s personal computer business in the past.
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