Newport Corp. Adds Metrology Firm

Newport Corp. said Monday it acquired CE Johansson AB, a Swedish-based metrology systems supplier. Terms weren’t disclosed.

Newport, an Irvine maker of equipment used to build semiconductors and fiber-optic parts, said previously it plans to make acquisitions to broaden its line of test, measurement and automation products.

Newport said CE Johansson is expected to log sales of about $18 million for the year. The Swedish firm should have an immaterial impact on Newport’s fourth-quarter results and add slightly to 2001 earnings.

A First Call/Thomson Financial survey of nine analysts produced a mean earnings estimate of 33 cents a share in the fourth quarter and $1.41 a share for fiscal 2001.

Newport earned $3 million, or 31 cents a share, in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 1999, on revenue of $41.5 million. For the year ended last Dec. 31, the company earned $8.3 million, or 88 cents a diluted share, on revenue of $141.9 million.