Hengeler Mueller advises Carl Zeiss AG on sale of interest in Carl Zeiss SMT to ASML

Carl Zeiss AG has sold an interest of 24.9% of its SMT division to ASML. The Dutch company ASML is the world's biggest provider of semiconductor lithography equipment which is used to produce integrated circuits (microchips). With its lithography optics and other optical systems, Carl Zeiss SMT enables the production of high performance microchips. Together with ASML, Carl Zeiss aims to develop the next generation of lithography systems (EUV). The purchase price is EUR 1 bn in cash. In addition to the agreement of the minority interest, the two companies have also agreed that ASML will support Carl Zeiss SMT`s research and development (R&D) for approximately EUR 220 m as well as capital expenditures and other supply chain investments for approximately EUR 540 m over the next 6 years.

Hengeler Mueller advised Carl Zeiss AG on this transaction. The Hengeler Mueller team included partners Georg Seyfarth (M&A/Corporate), Thorsten Mäger (Antitrust) (both Düsseldorf), Daniel Weiss, Christian Schmies (both Financing and Structuring, Frankfurt) as well as associates Tobias de Raet, Michael Danzeglocke (both M&A/Corporate), Anja Balitzki (Antitrust) (all Düsseldorf) and Malte Wundenberg (Financing, Frankfurt).