Quantum Global Technologies (QuantumClean®) Completes Acquisition of Chamber Cleaning and Coating Services Group from Applied Materials

DUBLIN, Pa., June 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Global Technologies, LLC (QuantumClean®), a leading provider of validated high-purity outsourced process tool parts cleaning and restoration to the semiconductor industry, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the Metron Chamber Performance Services (Metron CPS) business from Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMAT). Applied Materials, headquartered in Santa Clara CA, is a world leader in semiconductor and solar wafer fabrication equipment. Metron CPS was part of the Applied Materials Global Services Group (AGS) and offers semiconductor process kit precision cleaning, coating and associated analytical testing services.

QuantumClean acquired Metron CPS in the continuing execution of its strategy to expand its high-value service offerings to all major hubs of semiconductor fabrication and related equipment and consumables manufacturing worldwide. This acquisition creates the world's largest and most capable outsourced process tool parts cleaning, refurbishing and coating service provider to the semiconductor, solar, MBE, aerospace, military, and other industries requiring these services.

"The acquisition positions QuantumClean as the only provider of outsourced process tool parts cleaning, coating and restoration services in our industry with comprehensive worldwide coverage", according to Scott Nicholas, CEO & President of QuantumClean. "The company now boasts regional, full-capability service centers in every major U.S. semiconductor market (including Colorado Springs, CO, Hillsboro, OR, Irving, TX, Phoenix, AZ, San Jose and Fremont, CA, Scarborough, ME, and Washougal, WA), Asia (Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan), Europe (Scotland) and the Middle East (Israel)".

QuantumClean has also acquired from Applied two full-capability solutions-based analytical laboratories, located in Fremont, CA and Portland, OR, and additional R&D resources relating to cleaning, coating and refurbishment of process tool parts.

QuantumClean's fab, OEM, and OPM customers will benefit immediately from the acquisition in five distinct areas: unparalleled expertise in cleaning, coating and refurbishment knowhow, consistency of service worldwide, full service capability facilities, expanded analytical laboratory services, and enhanced R&D capability.  

Global semiconductor manufacturers with plants in multiple locations will no longer have to contract with multiple outsourced parts cleaning providers with varying service capabilities and quality levels, or ship parts to distant service centers to obtain consistency of service or specific services. Access to regional service centers in every major semiconductor market reduces turnaround time, shrinks tool inventory, mitigates the risk of damaged parts, and creates a high degree of redundancy of service capability (i.e. for disaster recovery planning).

"Applied Materials is now a significant and strategic customer of our business and we look forward to supporting Applied's growing needs across the globe," says Nicholas.

QuantumClean also acquired Applied Materials' ChemTrace® analytical laboratory business in this transaction, which supports the Metron CPS parts cleaning business, original equipment and tool manufacturers, IC fabricators, specialty chemical distributors and manufacturers, silicon wafer manufacturers, solar fabs, packagers of high-purity products, universities, and water treatment plants. "The ChemTrace® analytical laboratory business is an exciting addition to QuantumClean's core and a business which we intend to actively promote. This business is accretive to our in-house laboratory capability which is used to provide analytical verification of the cleanliness of our finished parts as well as for quality control purposes," comments David Zuck, QuantumClean's COO.  

QuantumClean partnered with Argosy Private Equity, Spring Capital and NewSpring Capital to finance the acquisition with a combination of equity and mezzanine debt. Argosy and Spring led the equity financing, while NewSpring led the mezzanine debt financing. All three institutional investors, collectively with $1.3 billion in assets under management, are based near QuantumClean's headquarters in suburban Philadelphia and invest in growing manufacturing and business service companies. For more information, visit the institutional investors' websites: www.ArgosyCapital.com, www.SpringCap.com, www.NewSpringCapital.com. Bank financing was provided by Fox Chase Bank (www.foxchasebank.com) while Bryant Park Capital acted as QuantumClean's exclusive financial advisor on this transaction (www.bryantparkcapital.com).

About Quantum Global Technologies, LLC ("QuantumClean®") QuantumClean is a leading provider of high-purity outsourced process tool parts cleaning and restoration services, tool part life extension and process tool part optimization solutions for semiconductor fabricators. The company operates technologically innovative cleaning centers which provide process improvement through consistently cleaner parts® which greatly reduces its customers' total cost-of-ownership. Founded in 2000, QuantumClean is headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, with Advanced Technology Cleaning Centers® in every major semiconductor market across the U.S., and now Asia (Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan), Europe (Scotland), and the Middle East (Israel). www.quantumclean.com

Contact:
Clara Lummus (QuantumClean) +1.215.249.1717
[email protected]

SOURCE QuantumClean