Intel kicking tires on buying chipmaker Altera

The possibility of Intel spending up to $15 billion to buy chipmaker Altera is far from remote.

Altera is expected to soon resume sale talks with Intel, led by CEO Brian Krzanich, a source close to the situation said Thursday.

“Yes, they will be engaging,” the source, who has direct knowledge of the situation, said, noting the talks may begin within a few weeks.

Last month, talks between chip leader Intel and Altera ended when Intel balked at the price of around $54 a share, sources said.

Altera’s shares this week were down 12 percent, to $39.56, from their April high of $44.85. They closed Thursday at $41.68, up 2.4 percent on a day the markets were down sharply.

Since the talks collapsed, however, Altera reported disappointing earnings that could influence a new deal price, Bernstein Research Senior Analyst Stacy Rasgon told The Post.

“I wonder what the price is they would pay now,” he said.

The growing part of Intel’s business is selling chips for data center servers for about $650 each. This represents 40 percent of Intel’s profits.

But about one-third of the time, data center customers buy customized programmable chips specifically for their use — made by Altera and Xilinx.

Altera, starting in 2013, paid Intel to make its chips.

Intel might make the acquisition to stop Altera from growing.

There has been pressure, meanwhile, from Altera shareholders to get the San Jose company back to the bargaining table.

Hedge fund TIG Advisors earlier this week publicly called on fellow Altera shareholders to vote against Altera’s lead independent director, T. Michael Nevens — who it believes opposed a deal — at the May 11 annual meeting.

The vote isn’t binding.

“It will send a strong signal to the board to immediately reengage with Intel regarding its mutually beneficial strategic acquisition offer without delay,” TIG said in a letter.

Altera’s bylaws do not give its directors much long-term protection.

Stockholders representing 20 percent of the shares can call for a special meeting four months after the May 11 annual meeting. Then a simple majority can remove the board.

Intel declined comment. Altera did not return calls.