Intel raises $20bn as Sony and TSMC seal Japan sensor venture
Intel upsized its share sale to about $20bn on Tuesday. Sony and TSMC sealed a $4.7bn image-sensor venture in Japan the same day.
Intel placed nearly 211 million new shares at $95 each on Tuesday, 11 August, a third more than planned and 6.5 percent below Friday's close, FAZ reported. The proceeds go to its contract manufacturing arm, which Intel says can no longer meet demand. BNP Paribas' Stephan Kemper said the multiply oversubscribed placement showed trust in the AI buildout was unbroken.
A sensor hub in Kumamoto
Advanced Vision Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp will build smartphone image sensors in Kumamoto, site of TSMC's JASM plant, from 2029. Sony takes control with 465bn yen ($2.92bn), including its new Kumamoto factory; TSMC adds 282bn yen.
SK Hynix weighs Chongqing exit
SK Hynix said on Monday it was examining options for its packaging business after reports on its Chongqing NAND plant; Bloomberg puts a possible stake sale near $3bn. Analysts told the South China Morning Post the goal is higher-margin AI memory.
Terafab in Texas
SpaceX and Tesla are building Terafab in Grimes County, Texas, a 100-million-square-foot site for logic, memory and packaging, Breitbart reported. Governor Greg Abbott put phase one at more than $16.8bn and 3,000 jobs.
Other opinions
Global Times, state-affiliated, reported none of the deals, covering a Jilin packaging plant instead; the South China Morning Post framed SK Hynix's move via Chinese analysts.