Intel is in a critical phase of its 56-year history: The chipmaker is reconsidering ongoing fab projects and evaluating various strategic options, including possibly splitting the company into a product and production company, Bloomberg reports. It is not the first time rumors of a spinoff of Intel's manufacturing arm have arisen — but with the company facing significant financial strains, such chatter looks dramatic.
Among the options on the table is the potential separation or sale of Intel's foundry business, which has bled billions of dollars in recent quarters. For example, in the second quarter, the Intel Foundry unit reported a loss of $2.8 billion. Consequently, Intel reported a net loss of $1.61 billion last quarter, and analysts forecast continued losses over the next year.
