Air Liquide Electronics Announces Agreement to Acquire Balazs Analytical Laboratory

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DALLAS, July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Liquide America's Electronics division and Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Balazs Analytical Laboratory announced today an agreement designed to create a new Air Liquide business unit combining both companies' analytical laboratory services. Financial terms were not disclosed. The closing of the transaction is expected to occur on or about July 31. 

The focus of Air Liquide Electronics is to expand its offer to the semiconductor industry. Balazs' ultra-trace water analysis capability complements Air Liquide Electronics' ultra-trace chemical analysis capability and establishes a new technological leader. 

The new business unit of Air Liquide will operate from Balazs' new state- of-the-art clean room facility in Fremont, Calif., and will maintain existing facilities in Dallas and Austin, Texas, and at its customer-dedicated onsite labs. All current employees of Balazs will receive an offer of employment with the new entity, which when combined will employ approximately 100 people dedicated to providing analytical services in North America. Owner Marjorie Balazs, who founded Balazs labs in 1975, will play a continuing role in providing scientific consulting to the labs. "Air Liquide has a unique network of onsite services that were the best match for our business model. It just makes perfect sense, and I am confident that our customers will recognize the value of this world-class combination of expertise," she said. 

"As a customer-driven organization, this agreement is consistent with our commitment to serving the semiconductor industry," said Rich Jahr, vice president Electronics, Air Liquide America. "The technical challenges the industry faces with 300mm, copper and Low-k new processes will call for more analytical expertise," he continued. "By integrating our analytical labs and onsite operations service, we are creating a strong technical leader and the most comprehensive offer to the semiconductor industry." 

Balazs Analytical Laboratory is a leader in providing accurate, rapid- turnaround ultra-trace analytical data to the semiconductor industry. Its work in high purity water, chemicals, thin and thick films, and solutions to micro-contamination problems is recognized worldwide. Its 1985 pure water specifications were adopted by the SEMI organization and have since become industry standards. 

Air Liquide Electronics maintains a global organization with more than 50 on site Total Gas and Chemical Management centers complemented by dedicated research and development facilities in Japan, the United States and Europe that are responsible for more than 5,000 active patents. 

The Dallas-based Electronics division of Air Liquide America, part of the Air Liquide Group, accompanies semiconductor manufacturers in their worldwide developments by supplying gas and chemical products, services and equipment. In 2000, the division represented 15 percent of Air Liquide's gases and services sales. For more information, contact Air Liquide America Corporation at 1-800-820-2522 or at www.airliquide.com/us . 

Air Liquide Group is a global provider of industrial and medical gases and related services. By staying at the vanguard of technological leadership, Air Liquide provides its customers all over the world with new products, services and solutions. Founded in 1902, Air Liquide has 125 subsidiaries in 60 countries and employs more than 30,000 people. Sales in 2000 totaled 8.1 billion Euro with sales outside of France accounting for 77%. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and is a member of the CAC 40 Index (Euroclear 12 007). 

Contact: Linda Krupps 

Corporate Communications 

713/624-8051 

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http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X57780261 

SOURCE Air Liquide America Corporation 

CO: Air Liquide America Corporation; Balazs Analytical Laboratory; Air Liquide Group 

ST: Texas, California, France 

IN: CHM 

SU: TNM 

07/24/2001 13:59 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com