PRI Automation to Buy Equipe Technologies

PRI Automation Inc. said it will acquire closely held Equipe Technologies Inc. of Sunnyvale for $172 million, adding robots to its line of semiconductor equipment. PRI said it will issue 4.4 million shares, valued at $161.7 million based on Friday’s closing price of $36.75, for the acquisition. PRI will pay an additional $10.3 million to cover options held by Equipe employees, PRI Chief Financial Officer Steve Allison said. Among other benefits, the purchase will add a regional base for dealing with West Coast customers, said PRI, a Billerica, Mass.-based maker of hardware and software that automates the transfer of silicon wafers between different steps in the chip-making process. PRI stock fell $3.25 to close at $33.50 on Nasdaq.