NIKON, ASML AND CARL ZEISS SIGN AGREEMENT TO SETTLE ALL LITIGATION
TOKYO, Japan, VELDHOVEN, the Netherlands and OBERKOCHEN, Germany - January 23, 2019 - Nikon Corporation (“Nikon”) (TYO: 7731), ASML Holding N.V. (“ASML”) (NASDAQ: ASML) and Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH (“Zeiss”) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding relating to a comprehensive settlement of all legal proceedings over patents for lithography equipment and digital cameras.
The Memorandum of Understanding is a binding agreement that concerns all pending disputes between Nikon, ASML and Zeiss in Europe, Japan and the United States, including at the U. S. International Trade Commission. The three companies expect to execute a definitive settlement and cross-license agreement and dismiss all legal proceedings between the parties in February 2019. The terms of the Memorandum include a payment to Nikon by ASML and Zeiss of a total of EUR 150 million (approximately 19.0 billion Japanese Yen*). Furthermore, the cross-license agreement contemplated by the Memorandum includes mutual royalty payments of 0.8% over the sales of immersion lithography systems for 10 years from the signature date of the parties’ definitive agreement.
* Based on an exchange rate of 1 EUR = 125 yen
0.8% van alle sales overmaken aan Nikon voor een periode van 10 jaar, dat is niet niks! Ik dacht dat Nikon geen poot om op te staan had, maar blijkbaar zien ASML en Zeiss dus toch te veel risico in doorprocederen. Een negatieve verrassing, deze had ik niet aan zien komen.