MATHESON Acquires Majority Share of RASIRC

MATHESON and RASIRC®, the steam purification company, announced that MATHESON has acquired a majority share of RASIRC, Inc. The agreement provides RASIRC with access to MATHESON'S global reach, logistical expertise, and customer support network, while providing MATHESON with additional research and product development capabilities and new and innovative products and chemicals for the semiconductor, solar, and related microelectronics industries. RASIRC will continue to operate as an independent corporation under the leadership of current RASIRC president Jeffrey Spiegelman, with all offices, employees, suppliers, and sales channels remaining unchanged.

"This acquisition is consistent with our electronics and solar strategies to enhance our purification technology and product line," stated William J. Kroll, chairman and CEO of MATHESON. "RASIRC's membrane technology and purification techniques offer significant synergy, both to our purification products business and to our high purity material business, as liquid chemicals become increasingly critical components in the advanced technologies employed in the semiconductor industry."

RASIRC develops products that purify and deliver ultra-pure liquids and gases, with an initial focus on water vapor. Products include steam purification equipment, high temperature humidifiers, and vaporizers. RASIRC's patented seal and product designs enable fluid delivery and control of temperature, flow rate, and purity. This technology reduces cost, improves quality, and dramatically improves safety.

"RASIRC will continue to develop new and innovative products focused on in situ chemical generation of ultra high purity vapors from liquid chemical sources," said Jeffrey Spiegelman, RASIRC founder and president. "Having global infrastructure, logistics, and R&D, the MATHESON brand presence will assure customers that we have the size and stability to support them through a complete product adoption cycle - from bench top testing, to pilot line, and high volume."

About MATHESON

MATHESON is a single source for industrial, medical, specialty and electronic gases, gas handling equipment, high performance purification systems, engineering and gas management services, and on-site gas generation with a mission to deliver innovative solutions for global customer requirements. MATHESON is the largest subsidiary of the Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation Group, one of the top five suppliers of industrial, specialty, and electronics gases in the world. Contact www.mathesontrigas.com.