ASML Invests €1.3 Billion in Mistral AI, Becomes Largest Shareholder
ASML Holding NV (AS:ASML) announced on Tuesday that it had taken a major stake in Mistral AI, investing €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) in the French artificial intelligence startup. The deal makes ASML the company’s top shareholder.
Alongside the investment, ASML entered a strategic partnership with Mistral to explore integrating AI models into its product lineup and research and development operations.
Details of the Investment and Partnership
The €1.3 billion investment was made during Mistral’s series C funding round, giving ASML an 11% stake in the company. According to Reuters, the round is worth $2 billion and is expected to push Mistral’s valuation to around €10 billion ($11.7 billion), making it Europe’s most valuable startup.
As part of the deal, ASML will also take a seat on Mistral’s strategic committee. Chief Financial Officer Roger Dassen will represent ASML in the advisory role while continuing his current responsibilities.
ASML’s Role in the Global Chip Industry
ASML is the world’s leading manufacturer of advanced lithography equipment essential for semiconductor production. It supplies cutting-edge technology to major chipmakers, including TSMC (NYSE:TSM) and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC).
The company has been a key beneficiary of surging global demand for chips, driven by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence applications.
Europe’s AI Ambitions Strengthened
Mistral AI has quickly become a European challenger to U.S. giants such as OpenAI and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL). The startup is also backed by NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), the world’s top AI chipmaker, which previously joined Mistral’s funding round that valued the firm at $6 billion in 2024.
Founded in 2023 by Arthur Mensch, a former Google DeepMind researcher, along with ex-Meta scientists Timothee Lacroix and Guillaume Lample, Mistral has positioned itself as a leading force in Europe’s AI landscape.
The partnership between ASML and Mistral ties together two of Europe’s most important technology players at the intersection of chips and artificial intelligence.
