MKS Instruments, Inc. To Acquire Umetrics

WILMINGTON, Mass., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MKS Instruments, Inc. , a leading worldwide provider of monitoring and control technologies for improving productivity in semiconductor and other advanced manufacturing processes, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire privately held Umetrics AB, based in Umea, Sweden, a leader in multivariate data analysis and modeling software for semiconductor, pharmaceutical, petrochemical and other manufacturing processes. The acquisition strengthens the alliance between the two companies to enable advanced process control by linking MKS' process monitoring, process control and digital connectivity technologies with Umetrics' process analysis technology. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and the acquisition, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2006, is not expected to materially affect MKS' near-term financial results.

Leo Berlinghieri, MKS' Chief Executive Officer and President, said, "I am pleased that our partnership with Umetrics has expanded beyond our exclusive license agreement, and they will be part of our Instruments and Control Systems product group. Through our TOOLweb(R) platform, we have been combining MKS' and third-party process sensors for data collection and integration, and data storage and visualization with Umetrics' multivariate analysis and modeling software. Semiconductor fab customers are using this open and modular platform to detect and classify process excursions and to convert process data into useable information for improving yields of increasingly complex devices. Going forward, we expect to work even more closely together to address both the process and the service requirements of our combined customer base, and leverage the power of information in semiconductor, pharmaceutical and other markets."

Umetrics is a leading provider of multivariate data analysis and modeling software that transforms statistical and mathematical data into application- focused information for improving on-line and batch process yields in diverse industries. The company was co-founded in 1987 by Svante Wold, Professor of Chemometrics at Umea University. Professor Wold, who is a member of the Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and Umetrics' Chief Scientific Officer, said, "We look forward to joining MKS and working together to develop and enhance next-generation solutions for maximizing productivity across a wide range of processes."

MKS Instruments, Inc. is a leading worldwide provider of process control solutions for advanced manufacturing processes such as semiconductor device manufacturing; thin-film manufacturing for flat panel displays, data storage media, architectural glass and electro-optical products; and technology for medical imaging equipment. Our instruments, components and subsystems incorporate sophisticated technologies to power, measure, control, and monitor increasingly complex gas related semiconductor manufacturing processes, thereby enhancing our customers' uptime, yield and throughput, and improving their productivity and return on invested capital.

This release contains projections or other forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding MKS' future growth and the future financial performance of MKS. These projections or statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the projections or other forward-looking statements set forth herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those in the projections or other forward-looking statements are the fluctuations in capital spending in the semiconductor industry, fluctuations in net sales to MKS' major customers, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, the challenges, risks and costs involved with integrating the operations of MKS and any acquired companies, dependence on new product development, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, manufacturing and sourcing risks, volatility of stock price, international operations, financial risk management, and future growth subject to risks. Readers are referred to MKS' quarterly filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for a discussion of these and other important risk factors concerning MKS and its operations. MKS is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

MKS Instruments, Inc.

CONTACT: Ronald Weigner, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of MKSInstruments, Inc., +1-978-284-4446

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