Owning the plant demonstrates its “clear commitment to the site,” the German group said, giving it the flexibility to invest in its production facilities and strengthen R&D capabilities in its global network of high-tech locations.
Jeff White, president of EMD Performance Materials, as Merck’s US-based Performance Materials business is called, said the reasonable purchase price allows more long-term planning for future R&D and production investments, further strengthening the business’s position in the electronics market.
As part of the transaction, Merck has also acquired the ground leasehold interest in the facility. The site within the Arizona State University Research Park employs more than 180 people supporting the group’s Semiconductor Solutions business in the areas of manufacturing, R&D, administration, sales and marketing. In recent years, Versum had invested $10 million to enhance its manufacturing and R&D capabilities.
Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist
