Merck's acquisition of Unity-SC complements its science- and technology-based portfolio in the semiconductor industry and strengthens its ability to capitalize on growth opportunities created by artificial intelligence.

Merck announced on the 23rd that it plans to acquire UnitySC.

France-headquartered UnitySC, a supplier of metrology and defect inspection equipment for the semiconductor industry, is being acquired for €155 million, with additional payments possible based on future performance milestones.

The technological combination of Merck and UnitySC is expected to create a high value-added solution for global semiconductor device manufacturing.

Metrology and inspection solutions are needed to improve the reliability, quality, and cost of AI, HPC, HBM, and compound semiconductors, and to increase manufacturing yields.

Metrology is the scientific discipline that deals with the precise measurement of elements necessary to accurately determine physical properties.

Metrology and inspection solutions are a key step in semiconductor manufacturing, and are particularly critical in the manufacture of heterogeneous 3D cutting-edge packaging devices.

Headquartered in Montbonno-Saint-Martin, Grenoble, France, UnitySC has a total of 160 employees, 70 of whom are in research and development.

“UnitySC is an integrated solutions provider for customers developing next-generation semiconductors. With this acquisition, we will complement our science- and technology-based portfolio in the semiconductor industry and strengthen our ability to capitalize on future growth opportunities created by artificial intelligence,” said Belen Garijo, Chairman of the Merck Executive Board and CEO.

“We expect that 3D metrology tools will drive the semiconductor materials industry in the same way that manufacturing tool design and metrology have driven the life sciences industry,” said Kai Beckmann, member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO Merck Electronics. “Adding metrology to our portfolio will enable us to offer even more materials and solutions to solve our customers’ toughest challenges, helping them continue to advance Moore’s Law at both advanced nodes and heterogeneous integration.”

Meanwhile, Dan Lee, CEO of UnitySC, said, “The combination of Merck’s extensive knowledge in semiconductor materials manufacturing, broad optical expertise in light manipulation and instrumentation capabilities in life sciences provides UnitySC with a significant advantage. Joining forces with Merck will enable UnitySC to develop high-value solutions to support our shared customers. We look forward to becoming an important part of a global company with close customer relationships like Merck’s, providing a broad range of products and services to the semiconductor industry.”

The planned acquisition of UnitySC currently requires a meeting and consultation with the works council located in France, and is subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, subject to compliance with applicable requirements.