Buyout firm Apollo Global Management will acquire a 49 per cent equity interest in a joint venture related to Intel’s manufacturing facility in Ireland for US$11 billion, the companies said on Tuesday.
Apollo will acquire the stake in the Fab 34 joint venture in Leixlip, Ireland, the US chipmaker’s first high-volume location for its Intel 4 manufacturing process using extreme ultraviolet lithography machines.
The deal, expected to close in the second quarter, would allow Intel to redeploy parts of its investment in the project to other parts of its business, the company said.
Intel has invested US$18.4 billion in the facility till date.
The company announced plans in 2022 to build chip factories in Ireland and France as it seeks to benefit from easier European Commission funding rules and subsidies as the bloc looks to cut its dependence on U.S. and Asian supply.
Intel will retain full ownership and operational control of Fab 34 and its assets.
“This transaction allows us to share our investment with an established financial partner on attractive terms,” Intel Chief Financial Officer David Zinsner said.
Intel forecast second-quarter revenue and profit below market estimates in April as it faces weak demand for its traditional data center and personal computing chips, amid a surging market for AI components.
