Dutch chip maker ASML foresees sales pick-up in 2013

Dutch chip equipment producer ASML on Wednesday reported a quarterly increase in the company's profit in the second quarter of 2013, and said it expected higher full-year sales due to a growing demand for chips for mobile devices. Net profit stood at 221 million euros (290 million U.S. dollars) in the second quarter, down by 24.3 percent year on year, the company said. The results included the effects of a deal to buy the San Diego-based Cymer corporation for 1.95 billion euros, finalized in May. ASML is the largest equipment supplier to semiconductor makers such as Intel Corp. and Samsung Inc. "ASML's second-quarter operational performance was as planned, excluding the impact of Cymer, which we were pleased to include as an ASML company after having received all the regulatory approvals for the acquisition," said Peter Wennink, President and Chief Executive Officer of ASML, in a press release. For the third quarter of 2013, ASML expects net sales of about 1.3 billion euros. The company also expects full-year 2013 sales at a level of up to 5 billion euros, excluding an expected contribution of about 180 million euros from Cymer, higher than the 4.73 billion euros in 2012.