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EXHIBIT 99.1
ASM LITHOGRAPHY HOLDING N.V. AND SILICON VALLEY GROUP, INC. ANNOUNCE INTENT
TO WITHDRAW AND REFILE THEIR PETITION FOR EXON - FLORIO REVIEW
VELDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS AND SAN JOSE, CA - JANUARY 8, 2001 - ASM
Lithography Holding N.V. (Amsterdam Exchanges and NASDAQ: ASML) and Silicon
Valley Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SVGI) today announced that in order to provide
additional time to address certain U.S. government inquiries pertaining to the
pending merger, the companies, on Friday, January 5, 2001, voluntarily requested
the withdrawal of their filing in connection with the Exon-Florio review process
and plan to refile their petition by the end of the month.
Doug Dunn, Chief Executive Officer of ASML, said, "This initiative, done in
good faith and full cooperation with U.S. government officials, is consistent
with our resolve to complete this transaction in a timely fashion. By refiling
the petition, we believe that we will be able to be more responsive to the U.S.
government's review, providing them some additional time to finalize their work
and thereby advance the approval process."
Exon-Florio is the common name for the review process the U.S. government
uses to screen acquisitions of U.S. companies such as Silicon Valley Group by
foreign entities such as ASML. The review, which is performed by the Committee
on Foreign Investment in the United States, is authorized by the Exon-Florio
Amendment to the Defense Production Act of 1950.
Having already received antitrust clearance, the consummation of the merger
agreement remains subject to the Exon-Florio review process, approval by SVG's
stockholders and other customary conditions.
For more information about the merger agreement and the combining
companies, please see the October 2, 2000 press release announcing the
transaction at www.asml.com or www.svg.com and the proxy statement-propsectus
related to the merger on file with Securities and Exchange Commission and
available at www.sec.gov.
ABOUT ASML
ASML, headquartered in Veldhoven, The Netherlands, was founded in 1984 to
bring advanced microlithography systems to the global semiconductor industry.
The company develops, manufactures and services lithography systems, known as
wafer steppers and step-and-scan systems. The company
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supplies its products to integrated circuit manufacturers, worldwide, that use
them to produce semiconductors.
The company has successfully leveraged its technology and, today, is
recognized as supplying the world's most productive imaging systems. From 1998
to 1999, the company's sales increased from EUR 779 million (US$875 million) to
EUR 1,197 million (US$1,277 million). ASML's total installed base is now more
than 1,500 systems.
Leveraging a high-technology network that includes Philips Research
Laboratories, Philips Center for Fabrication Technology, Carl Zeiss, IMEC and
Agilent enables ASML to offer its customers the most advanced imaging technology
and fully developed products on the market.
ASML's manufacturing operations and its pilot development and R&D
facilities are located at its global headquarters in Veldhoven. In addition,
ASML maintains state-of-the-art applications and training facilities in
Veldhoven; at its US headquarters in Tempe, Arizona; and in Korea and Taiwan.
Today, it employs more than 3,700 employees. The company's web address is
www.asml.com.
ABOUT SVG
SVG, headquartered in San Jose, California, was founded in 1977 and is a
leading supplier of wafer processing equipment for the worldwide semiconductor
industry. The company designs, manufactures and markets technically
sophisticated equipment used in the primary stages of semiconductor
manufacturing. Its products include: photoresist processing equipment;
oxidation, diffusion and low-pressure chemical vapor deposition processing
systems; atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition systems; lithography
exposure tools that use step-and-scan technology; and precision optical
components and systems. The company's web address is www.svg.com.
In connection with the proposed transaction, ASML has filed a registration
statement on Form F-4 and SVG has filed a proxy statement-prospectus, each with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors and security holders are
advised to read the registration statement and the proxy statement-prospectus
when they become available because they will contain important information.
Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy
statement-prospectus and other documents filed by SVG with the Securities and
Exchange Commission at the Securities and Exchange Commission's web site at
www.sec.gov. Free copies of the registration statement and other documents filed
by ASML with the SEC may be obtained from ASML by directing a request to ASML,
Attention: Franki D'Hoore (+31 40) 268-3938. Free copies of the proxy statement
- prospectus and other documents filed by SVG with the SEC may also be obtained
from SVG by directing a request to SVG, Attention: Manager of Investor Relations
(408) 467-5870.
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SVG and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies from SVG stockholders in favor of
the merger. These directors and executive officers include the following:
Michael J. Attardo, Papken S. Der Torossian, William A. Hightower, William L.
Martin, Nam P. Suh, Lawrence Tomlison, Russell G. Weinstock, John Shamaly,
Steven L. Jensen, Jeffrey M. Kowalski, and Borris Lipkin. Collectively, as of
December 20, 2000, the directors and executive officers of SVG may be deemed to
beneficially own approximately 5.29% of the outstanding shares of SVG common
stock. Investors and security holders may obtain additional information
regarding the interests of the participants by reading the registration
statement and proxy statement-prospectus when each becomes available.
"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE U.S. PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM
ACT OF 1995: THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS CERTAIN "FORWARD-LOOKING" STATEMENTS
WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995.
These statements are based on management's current expectations and are
naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results
may vary materially from the expectations contained herein. The forward -
looking statements contained herein include statements about future financial
and operating results and benefits of the pending merger between ASML and SVG.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described herein include: the inability to obtain regulatory approvals; actions
of the U.S., foreign and local governments; the inability to successfully
integrate the businesses of ASML and SVG; costs related to the merger; labor
integration issues; the economic environment of the semiconductor industry; and
the general economic environment. More detailed information about these factors
is set forth in the reports filed by ASML and SVG with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Neither ASML nor SVG is under any obligation to (and
expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward -
looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Company Contact: Investor Relations:
Werner Rust Nancy Szymanski
Silicon Valley Group Inc. Silicon Valley Group Inc.
Phone: (408) 467-5949 Phone: (408) 467-5870
Fax: (408) 467-5867 Fax: (408) 467-5955
[email protected] [email protected]
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