Applied Materials Boosts Besi Stake to 20% to Secure AI Tech

The investment, which brings Applied Materials’ total stake to 20%, follows an initial entry into the company in April 2025. Based on Monday’s closing prices, the acquisition of an additional 11% share requires an investment of approximately 1.30 billion euros, or $1.45 billion. Despite the expanded financial ties, Applied Materials stated it will not seek board representation or pursue further stake increases at this time.

Prabu Raja, president of the semiconductor products group at Applied Materials, highlighted the strategic necessity of the move. He noted that hybrid bonding and interconnect architectures are vital for energy-efficient artificial intelligence performance. The two companies have maintained a collaborative partnership since 2020, with Besi recently joining the Applied Materials research-and-development center as a formal innovation partner. This move marks a significant recovery for Besi, as the stock had previously declined 54% from its June highs due to broader investor concerns surrounding AI infrastructure demand.