Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology : acquires Nor-Cal Products for USD 68 million

06-22-2017

• Transaction creates leading supplier of vacuum components in the USA
• Acquisition establishes further growth opportunities in Asia
• Extension of business across all market segments through increased sales reach
• Customers to benefit from a broader product portfolio, new technology solutions, and a more extensive sales network
• Rapid integration into existing Pfeiffer Vacuum structures

The Management Board of Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG ('Pfeiffer Vacuum') today announces the acquisition of US-based Nor-Cal Products Inc. ('Nor-Cal'), effective June 22, 2017. With around 300 employees in the USA and Vietnam, Nor-Cal manufactures premium-quality vacuum components, chambers and valves for international customers in the fields of semiconductors, coating and displays as well as for leading universities and research facilities. Nor-Cal is currently benefiting from this industry's very positive outlook and expects fullyear sales of around USD 60 million at an EBIT margin around the level of the Pfeiffer Vacuum group. The agreed purchase price amounts to USD 68 million on a cash and debt-free basis. The transaction was mainly financed via a bank loan.

'This is an important transaction for Pfeiffer Vacuum. With Nor-Cal, we will significantly reinforce our position in the increasingly attractive market for vacuum components. The merger makes us a leading supplier in the USA, an important growth market. Our joint American clientele will benefit from a broader product portfolio, new technology solutions and a more extensive sales network. Selling Nor-Cal products via Pfeiffer Vacuum's far stronger distribution network in Asia will also drive sales substantially. After all, we will continue offering Nor-Cal's high-class components to semiconductor customers but will also integrate them into the Analytics and Industrial market segments and, hence, generate additional economies of scale, higher margins and sustained growth,' says Manfred Bender, CEO of Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG. 'Furthermore, the manufacturing site in Vietnam, with its proximity to our Asian clients and its beneficial cost structure will allow us to increase our profitability further.'

Founded in 1962 in Yreka, California, USA, Nor-Cal operates plants at its Yreka headquarters and in Ho-Chi-Minh-City, Vietnam, which will further improve the group's global production footprint. In recent years, the company has benefited greatly from its persistent focus on customers in the semiconductor industry and this segment's comparatively high growth. Nor-Cal has identified the medical engineering sector in North America as another very interesting future growth market.

Pfeiffer Vacuum will take advantage of Nor-Cal's high profile and its advanced online and offline sales channels to win new customers and grow its market share in North America. In order to successfully combine both businesses, Nor-Cal and its management team will immediately be integrated into Pfeiffer Vacuum's existing organizational structure.

'After the acquisitions of Dreebit and ATC, we have achieved a particularly attractive milestone with the acquisition of Nor-Cal. Now we are not only better able to serve growth markets in the USA and Asia, we have also reinforced all market segments. The transaction fully supports our declared strategy of tapping the vacuum market's great potential by way of acquisitions. And the long-term prospects, which were already excellent, have further improved for our shareholders,' says Manfred Bender.

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