SoftBank’s Intel Bet Looks Like Another Misstep

Masayoshi Son has built a career on splashy, high-visibility wagers. His $2 billion purchase of roughly 2% of Intel is another example: it looks like a vote of confidence, but it changes little about the company’s hard problems. The deal supplies capital and publicity, not governance or the operational muscle Intel needs. SoftBank’s financial position shapes how investors read these moves. The group has relied heavily on asset sales, most notably its steady selldown of Alibaba, to fund stock buybacks and reduce leverage. That has kept its share price supported but also limited flexibility for longer-term bets. With gross debt still high and cash largely tied to maintaining balance-sheet stability, a $2 billion equity stake in Intel looks more like a signaling device than a carefully