Carlyle buys Clariant photoresist unit
AZ Electronic Materials is a photoresist supplier to the semiconductor and flat panel display industries. The acquired unit has research and development and manufacturing sites in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Germany, France and the US with 800 employees. "We are fully committed to supporting and investing in the growth of AZ, and will be building a facility in China in the near future, and expanding the Taiwan site," says Robert Easton, managing director, The Carlyle Group.
Carlyle has previous expertise in semiconductors and electronic materials through its buyout and venture activities, including investments in Jazz Semiconductor, Ness and CPU Technology. The total transaction value includes a vendor loan note to be held by Clariant of CHF40mn.
