Intel to Sell Majority Stake in Altera to Silver Lake in $14 Billion Deal

Intel has agreed to sell a majority stake in its programmable chip unit Altera to private equity firm Silver Lake in a transaction valued at approximately $14 billion, as the company sharpens its focus on core operations and capital discipline.

Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg News

Altera, which Intel acquired in 2015 for $16.7 billion, will be spun off into a standalone company, with Silver Lake investing $3 billion for a significant equity position. Intel will retain a minority stake and maintain a strategic relationship with the new entity, which will continue to develop programmable logic devices used in data centers, telecom, automotive, and industrial sectors.

The move supports Intel’s broader strategy to streamline its portfolio, raise capital, and prioritize investments in foundry expansion and AI infrastructure. For Silver Lake, the deal represents a high-potential asset in a segment poised for growth as demand for adaptable, low-latency computing accelerates.

corpbrief insight:

Intel is trading ownership for optionality. The Altera deal gives the chipmaker cash to invest and flexibility to refocus — while Silver Lake bets on the programmable future of silicon.