But the transaction faced numerous financial, regulatory and operational hurdles, including the assumption of Intel’s more than $50 billion in debt. It likely would have drawn a lengthy and arduous antitrust review, including in China, which is a key market for both companies.
Qualcomm would have had to handle Intel’s money-losing semiconductor manufacturing unit, a business where it has no experience.
Sounds like Qualcomm got a little bit ahead of itself during their initial inquiries about acquiring Intel.