In a rather unexpected move if true, Intel has shown interest in buying GlobalFoundries (GF), according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. The report says that acquisition talks are underway and the buyout could happen for $30 billion, a valuation 50% higher than the alleged IPO value that was set recently for the foundry.
The move is unexpected as Intel recently said that it would more seriously consider tapping into third-party foundries for its products. This announcement came as a part of Intel"s new integrated device manufacturing or IDM 2.0 strategy. However, there is also a second part of this strategy where Intel is willing to expand its own foundry capacities which could be the basis for this.
GF was once part of Intel"s biggest rival AMD. But to cut costs so as to survive, AMD decided to go fabless back in 2008-09 despite company founder Jerry Sanders having once proudly stated "Real men have fabs". Currently, it is Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Investment Co. that owns 100% of GF, but AMD and GF have been in a Wafer Supply Agreement ever since.
In their most recent agreement, dubbed the "A&R Seventh Amendment" that was signed in May this year, it was decided that AMD will purchase approximately $1.6 billion of wafers from GF through the end of 2024.
Source: WSJ