Applied Materials Agrees $252.5M Settlement, Launches 2nm AI Chip Systems
Applied Materials will pay $252.5 million to settle a U.S. export probe, preserving its $8.57 billion cash balance and closing related DOJ and SEC investigations. It also launched advanced deposition and etch systems for 2nm Gate-All-Around AI chips and secured Samsung’s participation in its $5 billion EPIC R&D Center.
1. Export Probe Settlement
Applied Materials agreed to pay $252.5 million to the U.S. Department of Commerce to resolve export compliance issues related to shipments to China from November 2020 to July 2022. The settlement closes parallel inquiries by the DOJ and SEC, safeguards its $8.57 billion cash balance and allows management to focus on long-term growth initiatives.
2. New 2nm Chipmaking Systems
The company introduced advanced deposition, etch and materials engineering platforms tailored for 2nm Gate-All-Around transistor architecture, targeting atomic-scale improvements in interconnects and transistors. These tools aim to enhance energy efficiency and performance of next-generation AI processors as 2nm-class GAA chips enter high-volume production.
3. Samsung EPIC R&D Partnership
Applied Materials confirmed Samsung Electronics will join its $5 billion EPIC (Equipment and Process Innovation and Commercialization) Center in Silicon Valley, a 180,000-square-foot facility set to be fully operational by spring 2026. The collaboration is designed to accelerate semiconductor development cycles through parallel process integration and joint R&D on advanced patterning and deposition at multiple nodes.