Applied Materials to raise BESI stake to about 20%

What happened

Applied Materials said on Monday it plans to raise its stake in Dutch company BE Semiconductor Industries (BESI) to about 20% from 9%. It entered an accelerated share purchase agreement for the additional shares, subject to US antitrust review.

Confirmed

Global impact / market context

The larger stake deepens a partnership focused on advanced chip packaging, which connects chips for AI uses. For investors, it signals Applied Materials is committing more capital to this technology, potentially supporting future revenue from equipment used to make high-performance chips.

Analyst inference

Applied Materials has been BESI's largest shareholder since buying a 9% stake in April 2025, and the companies have collaborated since 2020 on hybrid bonding, an advanced packaging technique. The move reflects growing industry attention to chip packaging as AI chips become more complex.

Analyst inference

What to watch

1. The deal is subject to US antitrust review, which means regulators will examine whether the larger stake could reduce competition before the purchase can proceed. Confirmed
2. Watch whether the expanded partnership leads to new chip-connection and packaging products that generate revenue for Applied Materials and BESI. Analyst inference
3. Applied Materials said it does not plan to raise its stake beyond about 20% or seek board representation at BESI, limiting its influence over BESI's decisions. Confirmed

Evidence

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