Intel Capital, Intel Corp,'s global investment organization, on Tuesday announced an investment in ASM International (ASMI), one of the world’s leading producers of equipment used to manufacture semiconductors. The company said that the investment will help ASMI to “support semiconductor manufacturing innovation for advanced process technology”.

“Equipment and materials innovation is critical to enabling new capabilities in semiconductor device manufacturing. Our investment in ASMI is part of Intel Capital's strategy to foster innovation that aligns with Intel's manufacturing technology roadmap,” said Arvind Sodhani, Intel executive vice president and president of Intel Capital.

Intel Capital's investment through open market stock purchases is 4% of ASMI's total common share capital, based on approximately 54 million common shares outstanding. Earlier this year Tokyo Electron, a competitor of ASMI, acquired 4.9% stake in ASMI also through a purchase on the open market.

ASMI has been at the forefront of delivering materials and equipment innovation to integrated circuit manufacturers worldwide. ASMI’s equipment and materials are used in wafer processing, assembly and packaging of semiconductor devices. Its advanced technologies, which meet key International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors criteria, are important to extending Moore's law.

Tags: Intel, Semiconductor, Business