Merck, a leading science and technology company, plans to acquire Unity-SC, a provider of metrology and inspection instruments for the semiconductor industry. The deal includes an initial payment of €155 million and additional milestone-based payments. Unity-SC, located in Montbonnot-Saint-Martin near Grenoble, France, has approximately 160 employees, with 70 in research and development.
Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck, stated, “The acquisition of Unity-SC enhances our portfolio for the semiconductor sector, positioning us to capitalize on growth opportunities in Artificial Intelligence as a comprehensive solutions provider for next-generation chip development.”
Unity-SC’s precise metrology devices are instrumental in optimizing the quality, yield, and manufacturing costs of chips used in AI, High-Performance Computing (HPC), and High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) applications. These tools are critical for quality control in semiconductor production, especially in testing chips produced through “Advanced Packaging” and “Heterogeneous Integration,” where multiple chiplets are stacked in a compact, three-dimensional structure to create high-performance chips for AI data centers, autonomous vehicles, 5G, smartphones, and virtual reality.
The integration of Unity-SC’s measurement technologies with Merck’s semiconductor materials portfolio will advance the development of chips needed for innovations in AI and other applications. Kai Beckmann, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO of Electronics, remarked, “We believe 3D metrology tools will drive progress in the semiconductor industry. Adding metrology to our portfolio will allow us to offer more materials and solutions to address our customers’ needs for faster, more powerful, and efficient chips.”
Dan Lee, CEO of Unity-SC, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, saying, “We look forward to leveraging Merck’s extensive knowledge in semiconductor materials and optical expertise. Together, we can deliver valuable solutions to our shared customers and become an integral part of a global company with strong customer relationships and a comprehensive semiconductor offering.”
The acquisition is subject to consultation with the French works council and requires regulatory approval and other closing conditions. If all conditions are met, the deal is expected to close by the end of 2024.
