MKS Instruments to Acquire Electro Scientific Industries

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MKS Instruments, Inc., a global provider of technologies that enable advanced processes and improve productivity, and Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (ESI), an innovator in laser-based manufacturing solutions for the micro-machining industry, announced that they have entered into an agreement for MKS to acquire ESI for $30.00 per share. The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately $1 billion.

The combined company is expected to have approximately $2.2 billion in pro forma annual revenue, based on the two companies' calendar 2017 historical results. The transaction is expected to be accretive to MKS’ Non-GAAP net earnings and free cash flow during the first 12 months post-closing. The combined company expects to realize $15 million in annualized cost synergies within 18 to 36 months.

“We believe the ESI acquisition will help us deliver on one of our long-term strategic objectives, which is to broaden our base as a technical solutions provider to additional customers and markets.” said MKS CEO Gerald Colella. “We anticipate that the addition of ESI will strengthen our expertise in the photonics and optics markets, enabling us to develop systems that provide rich and robust solutions to meet the challenges of evolving technology needs. We expect to further progress our philosophy of “Solve Together. Succeed Together” by bringing the best technologies and high quality, reliable solutions in partnership with our customers, as we have demonstrated with the Newport acquisition.”

MKS anticipates the acquisition will further advance the MKS strategy to enhance our Surround the WorkpieceSM offerings by adding extraordinary systems expertise and deep technical understanding of laser materials processing interactions. ESI’s leadership in Printed Circuit Board processing systems and other capabilities will provide MKS the opportunity to accelerate the roadmaps and performance of our laser, motion, and photonics portfolio. In addition, ESI brings a new platform of industrial markets enabling MKS to leverage its expertise more broadly.

"We believe this combination will provide significant value for ESI’s customers, as well as create exciting opportunities for our employees," said Michael Burger, president and chief executive officer of ESI. "Over the years, MKS’ solutions have helped us improve our offerings for the printed circuit board processing market. I anticipate that the continued close collaboration and expertise of these two outstanding companies will create even better and more valuable solutions for our customers."

MKS intends to fund the transaction with a combination of available cash on hand and up to $650 million in committed term loan debt financing. On a pro forma basis, as if the transaction closed on June 30, 2018, we expect the combined company to have a strong balance sheet with combined pro forma net cash and investments of approximately $400 million and total term loan debt outstanding of $1 billion. This would result in pro forma trailing twelve month leverage, defined as debt to Adjusted EBITDA of 1.3 times and pro forma net leverage of 0.8 times.Actual leverage ratios will depend upon a number of factors and shall be determined at the time of the closing. The company has also obtained a commitment to upsize its asset based revolving credit facility to $100 million.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the MKS and ESI boards of directors and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and approval by ESI’s shareholders, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019.

Lazard is acting as financial advisor, Barclays is acting as a financial advisor and lead bank, and WilmerHale is acting as legal advisor to MKS. Stifel is acting as financial advisor and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati P.C. is acting as legal advisor to ESI.

About MKS Instruments

MKS Instruments, Inc. is a global provider of instruments, subsystems and process control solutions that measure, monitor, deliver, analyze, power and control critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes to improve process performance and productivity for our customers. Our products are derived from our core competencies in pressure measurement and control, flow measurement and control, gas and vapor delivery, gas composition analysis, residual gas analysis, leak detection, control technology, ozone generation and delivery, power, reactive gas generation, vacuum technology, lasers, photonics, sub-micron positioning, vibration control and optics. We also provide services relating to the maintenance and repair of our products, installation services and training. Our primary served markets include semiconductor, industrial technologies, life and health sciences, research and defense. For more information, click here.

About ESI

ESI’s manufacturing systems are designed to enable manufacturers of electronic components and devices to improve their production capabilities and commercialize technologies through laser processing.  ESI’s systems deliver more control, greater flexibility and more precise processing of a wider range of materials. The result is higher production quality, faster throughput and higher backend yields, allowing customers to more easily meet new and challenging customer requirements, consistently meet aggressive production goals and better control costs. ESI is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with global operations from the Pacific Northwest to the Pacific Rim.