AIXTRON acquires Thomas Swan's Scientific Equipment Division

AIXTRON AG has today signed an agreement to acquire from Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. the equipment and service business of the Thomas Swan Scientific Equipment Division. This division produces equipment for the production of semiconductors near Cambridge, England, and distributes them world-wide.
Sales in the business year 1998/99 of the Scientific Equipment Division of Thomas Swan reached 6.6 million pound sterling. The assets of the former Thomas Swan Division will be acquired by Thomas Swan Scientific Equipment Limited, a newly formed company owned 100% by AIXTRON AG and registered in England. This company and the acquisition are governed by English law, including English regulations on competition.
This acquisition will mean a significant extension to the range of products offered by the AIXTRON Group, whereby the English equipment will continue to be distributed under the established trade name "Thomas Swan" world-wide. The experienced management team and the staff will further the growth of the enterprise, benefiting from group synergy in the fields of research and development, services and logistics.