Applied Materials Said to Buy Kokusai Electric

(Bloomberg) -- Applied Materials Inc., the biggest maker of machines used to make semiconductors, is buying Kokusai Electric from KKR in a deal worth about 250 billion yen ($2.3 billion), a person with knowledge of the matter said, asking not to be identified because the details aren’t public.

Investment firm KKR bought the Japanese mobile phone and wireless communication equipment manufacturer, a former unit of Hitachi, in a tender offer in 2017.

A representative for KKR declined to comment. Representatives for Applied Materials didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Applied Materials sought to merge with Tokyo Electron in 2015, but the deal was scrapped amid opposition from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The proposed deal by Applied Materials to buy Kokusai Electric, first reported by the Nikkei newspaper, is also seen facing scrutiny from regulators.

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