Santa Monica biopharmaceutical firm Kite Pharma Inc. has acquired a Dutch biotech company in a deal valued at more than $21 million, using the private firm to establish its European headquarters in Amsterdam.

Kite announced Tuesday it bought T-Cell Factory B.V., which it renamed Kite Pharma EU. The deal includes an upfront payment of up to $21.2 million to T-Cell Factory shareholders, licensors and employees, of which $4 million will be in Kite stock.

Kite is also obligated to pay up to $257 million upon the achievement of certain clinical, regulatory and sales milestones, according to a regulatory filing. A portion of the clinical and regulatory milestones may be paid in shares of Kite’s common stock.

The Dutch company has been working in a similar corner of cancer therapies as Kite. The deal will give the Santa Monica firm new intellectual property in that space, as well as access to European clinical manufacturing facilities and a base for Kite to build its global presence and initiate clinical programs in Europe.

In addition to growing its drug candidate pipeline, David Chang, Kite’ executive vice president of research and development and chief medical officer, said in a statement the “acquisition is an important first step in our goal of global clinical expansion outside the U.S.”

Kite shares rose 2.33 percent Tuesday to close at $63.65 in response to the news.