De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has advised ASML on acquiring Cymer, a leading supplier of lithography light sources used by chipmakers to manufacture advanced semiconductor devices. With a deal value of EUR 1.95 billion this is the biggest acquisition of ASML in history.

ASML's acquiring Cymer is intended to accelerate the development of Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) semiconductor lithography technology and will improve ASML's abilities to bring new technologies to its clients.

The acquisition will be effected through a merger which had to be structured to accommodate Dutch law requirements relating to the issuance of shares to Cymer shareholders. The transaction is subject to the approval of Cymer shareholders and regulatory review in the US and other relevant jurisdictions. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2013.

Team: Martin van Olffen, Arne Grimme, Paul Sleurink, Casper Nagtegaal, Joost Steenhuis.