BOC Edwards Buys Chemical Management Division Of FSI International

BOC Edwards, a business unit of the BOC Group Inc. (Surrey, UK), has entered into a formal agreement to purchase the Chemical Management Division of FSI International Inc. (Chaska, MN) for approximately $38 million (£23 million), subject to an adjustment for the change in net working capital from April 3, 1999 through closing. Completion of the deal is subject to various conditions, including regulatory approvals.

According to Raj Rajagopal, CEO of BOC Edwards, the acquisition further strengthens BOC Edwards' position as a fully integrated supplier of products and services to the global semiconductor industry. "It builds on our acquisition of Systems Chemistry two years ago and reflects our strategy for growth and expansion," said Rajagopal.

BOC Edwards is involved in several stages of semiconductor manufacture—from the management of materials for wafer preparation and process tools, through sustaining process vacuum and the safe removal and treatment of by-products.

FSI International Inc. is a supplier of processing equipment used to manufacture microelectronics. The company develops, manufactures, markets, and supports products used in the technology areas of microlithography, surface conditioning, and chemical management.

For more information, call Laurie Walker of BOC Edwards at 612-448-8066.