AMSTERDAM (AP) — ASML Holding NV, the biggest supplier of equipment to semiconductor manufacturers, has offered to buy Cymer Inc. of the U.S. for around $2.55 billion in cash and shares.
Cymer makes the focused beams of light that ASML uses in its lithography machines, which trace out the circuitry of computer chips. ASML said its offer of $20.00 in cash and 1.1502 ASML shares per Cymer share represents a 61 percent premium to Cymer's average closing price over the past month.
Cymer shares closed at $47.83 Tuesday.
Also Wednesday, ASML reported third quarter earnings of €322.6 million ($422.4 million), down from €350.1 million a year ago. Sales fell 16 percent to €1.29 billion.
ASML's major customers, Intel Corp., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., and Samsung Inc., all own small stakes in ASML.
