Applied Materials Drops 4.48% Amid Strategic Investment in Besi

On April 16, 2025, Applied Materials experienced a 4.48% drop in pre-market trading, reflecting a significant decline in investor sentiment.

Applied Materials recently announced a strategic investment in BE Semiconductor Industries (Besi), acquiring a 9% stake in the Dutch semiconductor equipment manufacturer. This move positions Applied Materials as the largest shareholder of Besi, surpassing BlackRock's institutional trust. The investment is part of a long-term strategic partnership aimed at developing advanced hybrid bonding technology, which is crucial for the production of high-performance, energy-efficient chips used in AI applications.

Terry Lee, Vice President of Applied Materials, emphasized that this investment underscores the company's commitment to advancing hybrid bonding solutions, which are increasingly important for the development of advanced logic and storage chips that underpin AI technologies. The hybrid bonding technology, already used in cutting-edge chips like AMD's X3D processors, complements Applied Materials' existing equipment and enhances its capabilities in the semiconductor industry.