"AZEM make high-purity, advanced specialty chemicals and materials for use in integrated circuits and devices, flat panel displays and photolithographic printing.
Spin-on Dielectrics or AZ "Spinfil" SOD Series is a Poly (perhydrosilazane) � (SiH2NH) based inorganic SOD material designed by AZ Electronic Materials to be used for gapfilling and in planarization applications in advanced device manufacturing. AZ "Spinfil" SOD Series can be converted to SiO2 based film which has similar properties to high performance CVD.
AZ "Spinfil" SOD Series is the industry-standard material and is used as the dielectric technology for FEOL gapfilling applications in advanced device manufacturing
Klebosol is a leading brand of multipurpose colloidal silica, with applications in a diverse array of industries ranging from beverage to electronics.
The Klebosol range of colloidal silica products are stable suspensions of independent (non-agglomerated), non-porous and spherical particles of silica (SiO)
The Optronic market covers Flat-Panel Display, LED and Solar markets where reflectance, transmittance and absorption of visible light are key in the end products.
In combination of our coating, lithography and silicon technologies, AZEM develop, produce and sell products which are key in the performance of the end products and allow for efficient and cost-effective production processes.
AZEM produce and sell specialty niche products consisting of dielectrics, underlayers, yield enhancers and pattern enhancers as well as conventional products consisting of IC photoresist, TFRs, EBRs and other ancillary products.
These products enable the production of ICs, which are integral to the manufacture of a broad range of electronic devices such as computers, telecommunications equipment, electronic systems in automotive and industrial applications and a wide variety of other consumer electronics products."

StockMarketWire.com
N+1 Singer lifts AZ Electronic Materials to buy from hold, target 320p from 420p.

Credit Suisse starts neutral on AZ Electronic Materials, target 350p.

Confirmation of 2013 Half-Year Results Announcement Date
AZ Electronic Materials S.A. confirms that it intends to announce its half-year results for the six months ended 30 June 2013 on Thursday, 15 August 2013.

The Company will host a results presentation for sell-side analysts on that day at 8.30am (BST) at the offices of FTI Consulting, Holborn Gate, 26 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A 1PB.

StockMarketWire.com

Deutsche Bank has downgraded its recommendation on AZ Electronic Materials (LON:AZEM) to "hold" from "buy" seeing any upside momentum to earnings per share forecasts as unlikely and therefore believes current balance of risk and reward is not attractive enough to warrant an ongoing "buy" rating. The City broker has left its price target unchanged at 380 pence per share.

StockMarketWire.com
AZ Electronic Materials posts operating profits of $60.5m for the six months to the end of June - 16% down on last time.

Revenues were 1% lower at $363.7m and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fell by 10% to $110.7m.

The group says its earnings expectations for the current year are unchanged.

It says many of its customers are increasing their investment in new and leading edge semiconductor and display technologies, indicating longer term confidence in these markets. However, in the short term they are using their existing capacities with caution in light of macroeconomic uncertainties.

Consequently, it anticipates a softer pick-up in demand for its products in the second half than previously anticipated.

Chief executive Geoff Wild said: "The group is making encouraging progress with the development and commercialisation of new products for our key customers in both IC Niche and Optronics. While the industry backdrop is likely to remain unpredictable in the near-term, the long term demand drivers for our business remain strong and our customers continue to invest heavily in leading edge innovation to support new consumer technologies.

"We remain focused on positioning AZ to capture these opportunities and on building long term value for our shareholders."

StockMarketWire.com
AZ Electronic Materials' third quarter revenues down 10% on a year ago at $182.9m - 5% on a constant currency basis

The group says trading conditions during the quarter were consistent with those anticipated at the time of the half-year results, announced on 15 August.

Group revenue for the nine months ended 30 September was $546.6m, down 7% from the corresponding period last year (down 3% at constant currencies). The group's EBITDA margin in Q3 was in line with expectations.

StockMarketWire.com
AZ Electronic Materials board has agreed a £1,565m offer from Merck.

The recommended cash offer of 403.5p per share represents a premium of 53% to the closing price last night (4 December).

AZ chairman John Whybrow said: "For many years AZ has been recognised as one of the foremost leaders in high purity innovative materials for the high technology electronics market.

"Since its IPO in 2010, AZ has concentrated on diversifying its product portfolio and investing in both its IC and Optronics businesses. As materials become increasingly important in the markets we serve, strong R&D capabilities and a broad base are needed to secure economies of scale and entry into new markets.

"The current strategic opportunity for AZ to combine with Merck is therefore compelling. AZ has strong market positions along with a focused product development capability: by combining with Merck, these two attributes will reinforce long term growth opportunities.

"The recommended offer by Merck reflects this opportunity and represents attractive value for AZ's shareholders."