Leading provider of lithography systems ASML expects to complete the buyout of Cymer by the end of May - early June 2013, as the Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has approved the merger.
Following the transaction, ASML will manage Cymer as an independent business unit where it concerns commercial hardware sales and services activities, and Cymer will continue to supply sources to and engage in R&D activities with all lithography tool manufacturers on "fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory commercial terms. "
Cymer develops lithography light sources, used by chipmakers worldwide to pattern advanced semiconductor chips. The San Diego compay is also working towards the industry's transition to EUV lithography, the next viable step on the technology roadmap for the creation of smaller, faster chips.
ASML said it would continue to let its scanner customers choose their preferred light source, and its scanners would continue to interface with light sources from all manufacturers.
ASML is a provider of lithography systems for the semiconductor industry, manufacturing complex machines that are critical to the production of integrated circuits or chips. Samsung, Intel, Globalfoundries and TSMC have invested on the Dutch company in order to accelerate research into next-generation chipmaking technology.