KLA-Tencor to buy microelectronic biz of Vistec

KLA-Tencor has entered into an agreement to acquire the Microelectronic Inspection Equipment (MIE) business unit of Vistec Semiconductor Systems, a wholly owned by private equity firm Golden Gate Capital. The MIE business unit of Vistec is headquartered in Weilburg, Germany and provides advanced semiconductor mask and wafer manufacturing systems. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Vistec's MIE business unit is one of three internationally active business units of Vistec Semiconductor Systems, which was formerly a part of Leica Microsystems and took on its current name in March 2006.

"The Microelectronic Inspection Equipment division of Vistec not only complements KLA-Tencor's product portfolio, it will give us an opportunity for growth into new segments of the mask and wafer markets. Vistec's mask registration measurement systems will enable us to offer an expanded range of products that provide increased operational benefits to our customers," said Rick Wallace, CEO of KLA-Tencor. "With its heritage as part of the Leica group, Vistec has a deep technology foundation that will be a good fit with KLA-Tencor's culture of innovation in optics and other advanced technologies."

Gerhard Ruppik, general manager of Vistec's MIE business unit, said, "Becoming part of KLA-Tencor, the world leader in inspection and metrology, is a unique opportunity for us to accelerate our advanced technology development."

Vistec's advanced mask metrology tools for registration metrology (pattern placement) are among the leading tools in this area. In addition, the company's latest pattern placement metrology tool, which is already being used by customers to measure prototype EUV masks, offers repeatability and accuracy in 2D coordinate measurement. The MIE business unit of Vistec is also a leading provider of SEM-based tools for mask critical dimension measurement, with products designed to meet the requirements of 45nm photomask production and 32nm development. Other MIE technologies include macro defect-inspection systems, overlay-measurement systems for MEMS applications, and software packages for defect classification and data analysis.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close before year-end.