Sigma-Aldrich's SAFC Hitech to Form JV with Soulbrain

SAFC Hitech Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sigma-Aldrich Corporation

, a leading Life Science and High Technology company, has signed an agreement to create a 50/50 joint venture (JV) with Korean-based Soulbrain Co. Ltd. ("Soulbrain").  Soulbrain is a publicly traded (KOSDAQ: 036830) specialty chemical company serving the flat panel display, semiconductor and electronic materials market.  The joint venture, known as Soulbrain Sigma-Aldrich Ltd., is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be finalized early in the first quarter of 2013. The newly formed JV will serve the Korean market and will focus on developing and commercializing advanced metal organic precursor technologies used in the semiconductor and LED markets.  Soulbrain will contribute certain electronic material product know-how, intellectual property (IP), and development personnel to the venture.  SAFC Hitech Ltd. will contribute related manufacturing and product know-how and IP for metal organic compounds used to manufacture semiconductors and will license its technology to the joint venture for products used to manufacture light emitting diodes (LED). The combination is expected to leverage the strong market position and customer intimacy of Soulbrain, and utilize SAFC Hitech's precursor technologies to better serve Korean customers.