Cameca acquired by the Carlyle Group.

Paris, France 4/7/05 -- Carlyle Europe Venture Partners, part of private equity firm The Carlyle Group, and a consortium of company management has acquired Cameca from Barclays Private Equity, Perfectis Private Equity and a group of individual investors for an undisclosed sum. Cameca is a manufacturer of ion and electron probes, including electron probe microanalyzers and secondary ion mass spectroscopy systems, which are used in research applications in the earth and planetary sciences, materials and nuclear sciences, biology, nanotechnology and semiconductor measurements. Headquartered in Courbevoie, France, near Paris, Cameca has an installed base of more than 900 active instruments and employs more than 220. "We are looking forward to our collaboration with The Carlyle Group. Their expertise in the semiconductor industry and their ability to support us financially and through their global network will be of great benefit to us as we seek to grow our business and consolidate our position in the semiconductor capital equipment sector," commented Cameca President and CEO Georges Antier. The acquisition was completed in June.

The purchase adds to The Carlyle Group's portfolio of investments in companies that supply products for semiconductor development and production. Cameca was 80% owned by Perfectis Private Equity and Barclays Private Equity, which purchased the shares in 2001 for 38 million [euros] ($35.2 million), and 20% owned by private investors and Cameca management. In 2003, CAMECA posted sales of 40 million [euros] ($45.5 million) and EBIT of 4 million [euros] ($4.5 million). The acquisition is an example of private equity firms' increased activity in Europe over the last few years.