Brookfield Asset Management has put its chips on the table and agreed to jointly finance Intel Corporation’s semiconductor factories in Arizona to the tune of circa $30 billion. It is a sign of US chipmakers’ intent to onshore chip production in a bid to overcome global supply chain issues and follows President Biden’s introduction of the CHIPS and Science Act, providing subsidies to domestic chipmakers. The financing cost is believed to be in the 4.4% to 8.5% range. It goes to show that when the chips are down, US corporations are willing to explore new initiatives. Watch this space for further joint financing arrangements between corporate America and private capital.
