Besi stock: Applied Materials lifts stake to 20%

Applied Materials is moving to deepen its strategic relationship with Dutch semiconductor-equipment maker BE Semiconductor Industries, known as Besi. The US company announced on October 26 that it had entered an accelerated share purchase agreement that would lift its holding from 9% to approximately 20% of Besi's outstanding shares.

The Edge Malaysia reported on October 30 that Applied Materials described the investment as long term and tied it to Besi's growing role in the artificial-intelligence computing supply chain. Delivery of the shares remains subject to the applicable US antitrust waiting period.

Strategic stake supports packaging cooperation

Besi specialises in hybrid bonding, a chip-assembly technology designed to connect chips more directly and support higher performance in AI applications. The companies have worked together for six years, and Besi recently joined Applied Materials' EPIC Center as an innovation partner.

The expanded cooperation extends beyond hybrid bonding to other interconnect architectures and applications. For Besi, the investment gives the partnership greater strategic weight while keeping execution, customer adoption and demand for advanced packaging equipment central to the investment case.

Applied Materials has also set clear limits around the transaction. It says it currently has no intention of increasing its investment beyond approximately 20% and does not intend to seek representation on Besi's board. The announcement therefore strengthens the commercial link between the companies without presenting itself as a takeover offer.

Share price remains sensitive to news

The real-time quote of Besi stock was EUR 155.45 at Lang & Schwarz on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 09:20 Berlin time.

The strategic investment follows a sharp market response earlier in the week, when Besi shares rose as much as 10% in Amsterdam trading after the announcement, according to The Edge Malaysia. The report said the company had a market value of about EUR 12.9 billion at that time. Investors are likely to focus next on regulatory clearance, implementation of the share purchase and evidence that the partnership converts into orders and wider adoption of advanced packaging.

The Dutch chip-equipment group operates in the Netherlands, where the AEX market environment provides the relevant domestic index context.

More news and analyses on Besi stock will track the transaction, regulatory developments and the companies' technology partnership.

Source: The Edge Malaysia.