January 18, 2025 – Rumors have been swirling in the industry about a possible acquisition of Intel ever since the company showed signs of weakness last year. On Friday, technology media outlet SemiAccurate reported that multiple sources had confirmed a mysterious company was exploring the possibility of a full acquisition of Intel. This news sent Intel’s shares soaring, closing up 9.25% and continuing to rise in after-hours trading, with a gain of approximately 1.5%.
According to SemiAccurate, they had received “an email regarding an unnamed company’s attempt to acquire Intel” and that “this mysterious company has the resources to complete the acquisition.” The report further stated that they are 90% confident that the information they received about the potential acquisition is “genuine,” which was later confirmed by another “highly placed source.”
Meanwhile, a blogger from Taiwan’s semiconductor industry fueled the speculation by claiming to have heard rumors that “Musk wants to acquire Intel,” suggesting a possible connection with Trump. However, the identity of the mysterious potential buyer remains unknown, indicating that the plans have been kept tightly under wraps.
It’s worth noting that previous discussions about Intel’s future had not publicly mentioned this potential buyer, suggesting that the plans have been developing behind the scenes. Additionally, the confidential memo was limited to senior internal circulation, implying that Intel executives are treating the proposal with caution and are not likely to accept or reject it lightly.
Reports of capital interest in acquiring Intel have been circulating since before Gelsinger stepped down. For instance, Qualcomm had previously negotiated with Intel about a possible acquisition but ultimately abandoned the idea. Similarly, Arm had inquired about acquiring Intel’s product division but was informed that it was not for sale. As the rumors continue to swirl, the future of Intel remains uncertain.
