Veeco to Purchase Synos Technology

Veeco Instruments Inc. announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire privately held Synos Technology, Inc. Synos designs and manufactures Fast Array Scanning Atomic Layer Deposition (FAST-ALD) systems that are enabling the production of flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays for mobile devices.

“We have found a great fit to add to Veeco’s technology portfolio and expand our growth opportunities,” said John R. Peeler, Veeco’s chairman and CEO. Synosis an early stage company with big growth potential. We believe that their fast array scanning ALD technology for thin film encapsulation layers will remove the primary barrier to adoption of flexible OLED displays, helping make unbreakable, light-weight mobile displays a reality. Their systems are poised to move from pilot line to full production at the world leader in mobile OLED displays.” Synos’ first pilot production system has been installed and the manufacturing ramp is currently expected to begin in 2014.

According to industry forecasting firm IHS iSuppli, the flexible OLED display market is expected to grow from $21 million in 2013 to almost $12 billion by 2020, and will revolutionize the entire display industry.

“Near-term, we believe the OLED equipment market opportunity for Synos’ ALD technology exceeds $400 million for mobile phones alone,” Mr. Peeler added. “We also see numerous extended opportunities for this breakthrough ALD technology in OLED TV, lighting, solar, batteries and other large adjacent markets.”

“We are at an exciting inflection point in our history,” added Ilsong Lee, president and CEO of Synos. “It is time for us to join forces with Veeco, a world leader in advanced deposition technologies. Veeco will bring the global operating experience and resources we need to ramp our business, support our key customer, and deliver on the promise of our technology.”

Lee will join Veeco as senior vice president and ALD general manager. In addition, Synos co-founder Dr. Sang In Lee will join Veeco as chief technology officer for Veeco ALD.

“Synos’ FAST-ALD provides an elegant solution for some very complicated challenges faced by OLED display manufacturers,” added Daniel Rubin, chairman and co-founder of Synos. “Veeco’s well-known commitment to customer satisfaction and operating excellence will accelerate the market adoption of this technology for OLED and other advanced manufacturing applications.”

Synos’ FAST-ALD represents a paradigm shift in a technology long known for excellent deposition uniformity and pin-hole free films. While traditional ALD is slow, costly and limited to “chamber-sized” reactors, FAST-ALD can deposit materials below 100º Celsius and 10 times faster, making it capable of deposition on substrates with virtually no size limitation. Synos’ patented linear reactor allows the chemical reaction to occur at the substrate’s surface. When utilized for OLED encapsulation, FAST-ALD becomes a key enabler of truly unbreakable and flexible devices.

The initial purchase price is $70 million. Synos shareholders will receive additional payments upon the achievement of future performance milestones, with maximum potential consideration for the transaction of $185 million. The merger is scheduled to close in the fourth quarter of 2013. Synos is currently expected to be dilutive to Veeco in 2014 and solidly accretive in 2015.