CBA Chairman Takes Helm at Universal

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. Jean-Luc Pelissier, chairman of the CBA Group, comprising Universal Instruments Corporation, Vitronics Soltec, Unovis Solutions, and Hover-Davis, will take assume the role of president and CEO at Universal in October. Jeroen Schmits, Universal's current president and CEO, will pursue a career outside of the electronics manufacturing equipment industry.

Pelissier is experienced in global market development, key account and customer relationship management, and in strategic mergers and acquisitions (M&A), said David ibnAle, partner, Francisco Partners, adding that he has served as executive chairman for a year with CBA. In more than 20 years experience in the electronics industry and capital equipment markets, Pelissier held executive posts with Schlumberger and NPTest, a Schlumberger spin-off purchased by Francisco Partners in 2003. He led the initial public offering (IPO) at NPTest and subsequently sold the company to Credence Systems Corporation. Pelissier also worked with SABER, HCD, Thomson, Elf Aquitaine, and IBM. He holds a Ph.D. in electronics, circuits, and systems and two engineering degrees in microelectronics and automation from the University of Science and Techniques du Languedoc (Montpellier, France).

Schmits spent more than 10 years with Universal Instruments, Vitronics Soltec, and Hover-Davis in various positions. He was named president of Universal in 2005, and an executive at the CBA Group upon Francisco Partners' acquisition. Universal completed the Genesis product family of high-speed and flexible placement equipment under Schmits. He also led Universal's realignment, which resulted in the formation of Unovis Solutions, a combination of former Universal divisions.

The CBA Group LLC is a Francisco Partners holding company focused on capital equipment and services investments in the global electronics industry. To learn more, visit www.cbagroupllc.com. Francisco Partners acquired Universal, Hover-Davis, and Vitronics Soltec in 2006. To learn more about Francisco, see www.franciscopartners.com.