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[September 2007]
Ceradyne Completes EP Boron Acquisition
Ceradyne Inc (Costa Mesa, CA, USA) has announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of EaglePicher Boron LLC (Quapaw, OK, USA) for US$69.6 million in cash. EP Boron was established in the early 1970s to produce the boron isotope 10B. This isotope is a strong neutron absorber and is used for both nuclear waste containment and nuclear power plant neutron radiation control.
EP Boron also produces complementary chemical isotopes used in the normal operation and control of nuclear power plants. The remaining boron isotope produced by EP Boron is 11B which is used as an additive to semiconductor grade silicon as a 'doping' agent and in other semiconductor processes where ultra-high purity boron is required. This growing market currently accounts for approximately 40% of EP Boron sales.
EP Boron will be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Ceradyne Inc reporting to Michael Kraft. In June 2007, Mr Kraft was appointed Vice President of the company's nuclear and semiconductor business units.
Joel Moskowitz, Ceradyne's Chairman and CEO, said: "I am very pleased with this latest Ceradyne acquisition, which meets our diversification objectives and provides us with a strategic opportunity that supports our continued expansion into both the nuclear waste containment and semiconductor arenas. Each of these markets shows considerable promise in the company's future, and I am confident that Michael's business development experience in these industries will prove resourceful".
Michael Kraft commented: "This acquisition fits perfectly with Ceradyne's longer range global strategy. We will be developing plans to accelerate EP Boron's global growth with the assistance of their very capable management team”.
As previously disclosed, EP Boron's sales were approximately US$23 million in its fiscal year ended 30 November 2006, with strong operating margins.
ENDS