Comment by voxadam

The CHIPS grants had clawback provisions, which carry risk. This transaction removes that risk, so it's very good news for Intel.

> The existing claw-back and profit-sharing provisions associated with the government’s previously dispersed $2.2 billion grant to Intel under the CHIPS Act will be eliminated to create permanency of capital as the company advances its U.S. investment plans.

Because the government having a financial interest in Intel’s success is expected by the market to result in the government acting in Intel’s interest, in order to profit.

Government now has a vested interest in seeing Intel succeed. And as much as RW debate in bad faith about cutting public funding being good and private entities should pick up the slack etc. there is no bigger catalyst than government policy. Intel can now get preferential policies like bigger tax breaks/holidays, preferential treatment in government contracts, cheaper access to Federal land etc.

In the long term though, at least in hands of the government like the current admin, they will ensure Intel slows down innovation. They will push for every company in US to use Intel chips in one way or the other - national security and what not. Without competition companies often get complacent - not many can match the might of a government and US govt at that. So, yay for national security and nay for Intel becoming innovation powerhouse.

Intel is now a meme stock. The gamestop crew is getting in

It means Intel is far worse off than publicly acknowledged, and without this it might be worthless.