Brooks Automation, Yaskawa Elec form Japanese JV
Mon May 8, 2006 8:41 AM ET
NEW YORK, May 8 (Reuters) - Microchip equipment maker Brooks Automation Inc.(BRKS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday it formed a joint venture with Japanese industrial robot maker Yaskawa Electric Corp. (6506.T: Quote, Profile, Research) to market semiconductor products in Japan.
The two companies will own equal shares in Yaskawa Brooks Automation, a sales and marketing channel for Yaskawa's semiconductor robotics products and Brooks' automation hardware products in Japan.
The joint venture will not include Yaskawa robots for flat panel display manufacturing and motion control products, or Brooks software and products of recently acquired Helix Technology.
Under the agreement, Brooks will also buy Synetics Solutions Inc., Yaskawa's U.S. subsidiary, it said. The joint venture and purchase agreement are expected to close in June 2006, with the joint company expected to begin operations in September.
Yaskawa Brooks Automation is expected to have initial revenue of more than $100 million in its first full year of operation, the companies said.
Synetics will operate as a division of Brooks and is expected to add about $70 million to $80 million of revenue. |
