ASML Holding N.V.

Veldhoven The Netherlands

  (Euronext Amsterdam: ASO)

Company Description

ASML Holding holds a strong hand in the semiconductor lithography game. The company is one of the world's largest makers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. In particular, it vies with Japanese giants Canon and Nikon for supremacy in the market for the specialized photolithography systems used to imprint microscopic circuitry patterns onto silicon wafers. To keep on top of advanced technology, the company formed strategic partnerships with a range of companies, including Carl Zeiss and Philips Electronics. Customers include silicon foundries (contract semiconductor manufacturers), such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. ASML gets about two-thirds of its business from Asia.