News Article
Spectris to acquire ASD for $14 million
The supplier of productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls is branching out into NIR spectroscopy
Spectris plc. has signed an agreement to acquire Analytical Spectral Devices Inc. (ASD), a manufacturer of Near-Infrared (NIR) instrumentation solutions and applications expertise for materials measurement and research.
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a spectroscopic method that uses the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum (from about 800nm to 2500nm).
NIRS is based on molecular overtone and combination vibrations. Such transitions are forbidden by the selection rules of quantum mechanics. As a result, the molar absorptivity in the near IR region is typically quite small.
One advantage is that NIR can typically penetrate much further into a sample than mid infrared radiation. Near-infrared spectroscopy is, therefore, not a particularly sensitive technique, but it can be very useful in probing bulk material with little or no sample preparation.
With regards to compound semiconductors, techniques have been developed for NIR spectroscopy of microscopic sample areas for film thickness measurements, research into the optical characteristics of nanoparticles and optical coatings for the telecommunications industry.
Spectris is buying ASD for a debt and cash-free net consideration of $14 million (approximately £8.8 million).
The consideration will be met from existing cash and bank facilities and is subject to routine balance sheet adjustments. Spectris expects the acquisition to complete before the end of the year upon ASD shareholders’ approval.
Also, a contingent consideration of up to $19 million (£11.9 million) may become payable to the sellers, based on achieving growth in sales targets for the 36 month period ending 31st December 2015.
The acquisition of ASD is in line with Spectris’ established strategy of growing and strengthening its businesses via acquisition of complementary businesses. ASD will become part of the Materials Analysis segment and will be integrated with PANalytical.
Jim Webster, Spectris’ Business Group Director, comments, “ASD’s successful NIR solutions for the Remote Sensing, Mining and other Industrial markets complement and extend PANalytical’s offering towards scientific and industrial customers and will add a new contiguous product line with portable, handheld, benchtop and online products. Furthermore, the acquisition of ASD will provide strong synergies in the combination of both companies’ technologies, customer support capabilities and distribution channels.”
ASD, based in Boulder, Colorado (USA), employs around 50 people. PANalytical is a supplier of instrumentation and services for X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, with more than half a century of experience. The company offers analytical equipment for industrial and scientific applications as well as for the semiconductor market.
PANalytical, founded in 1948 as part of Philips, is headquartered in Almelo, the Netherlands. The firm is part of Spectris plc.
Spectris plc is a supplier of productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls. The company’s products and technologies help customers to improve product quality, performance, core manufacturing processes, and reduce downtime, wastage and time to market.
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a spectroscopic method that uses the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum (from about 800nm to 2500nm).
NIRS is based on molecular overtone and combination vibrations. Such transitions are forbidden by the selection rules of quantum mechanics. As a result, the molar absorptivity in the near IR region is typically quite small.
One advantage is that NIR can typically penetrate much further into a sample than mid infrared radiation. Near-infrared spectroscopy is, therefore, not a particularly sensitive technique, but it can be very useful in probing bulk material with little or no sample preparation.
With regards to compound semiconductors, techniques have been developed for NIR spectroscopy of microscopic sample areas for film thickness measurements, research into the optical characteristics of nanoparticles and optical coatings for the telecommunications industry.
Spectris is buying ASD for a debt and cash-free net consideration of $14 million (approximately £8.8 million).
The consideration will be met from existing cash and bank facilities and is subject to routine balance sheet adjustments. Spectris expects the acquisition to complete before the end of the year upon ASD shareholders’ approval.
Also, a contingent consideration of up to $19 million (£11.9 million) may become payable to the sellers, based on achieving growth in sales targets for the 36 month period ending 31st December 2015.
The acquisition of ASD is in line with Spectris’ established strategy of growing and strengthening its businesses via acquisition of complementary businesses. ASD will become part of the Materials Analysis segment and will be integrated with PANalytical.
Jim Webster, Spectris’ Business Group Director, comments, “ASD’s successful NIR solutions for the Remote Sensing, Mining and other Industrial markets complement and extend PANalytical’s offering towards scientific and industrial customers and will add a new contiguous product line with portable, handheld, benchtop and online products. Furthermore, the acquisition of ASD will provide strong synergies in the combination of both companies’ technologies, customer support capabilities and distribution channels.”
ASD, based in Boulder, Colorado (USA), employs around 50 people. PANalytical is a supplier of instrumentation and services for X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, with more than half a century of experience. The company offers analytical equipment for industrial and scientific applications as well as for the semiconductor market.
PANalytical, founded in 1948 as part of Philips, is headquartered in Almelo, the Netherlands. The firm is part of Spectris plc.
Spectris plc is a supplier of productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls. The company’s products and technologies help customers to improve product quality, performance, core manufacturing processes, and reduce downtime, wastage and time to market.
