Applied Materials Increases Its Stake in Besi to 20%

American company Applied Materials plans to increase its stake in Dutch firm BE Semiconductor Industries (Besi) to approximately 20%. Both companies work on technologies required for semiconductor manufacturing and have been collaborating for years.

Applied Materials acquired a 9% stake in Besi in April 2025. One of the key areas of their collaboration is chip interconnect technology, which is used in the production of next-generation artificial intelligence processors.

Following Applied Materials' decision, Besi's shares rose by nearly 9% on the Amsterdam exchange. Speculation has emerged in the market that the American company may consider a full acquisition of Besi in the future.

At this stage, Applied Materials is not confirming this. The company states that it does not plan to increase its stake in Besi beyond 20% or to take a seat on its supervisory board.

The deal requires approval from the US antitrust authority. An additional complication may be the fact that both companies have significant business in China. Approximately 30% of Applied Materials' 2025 revenue came from China.

Source: Reuters