DuPont acquires electronics materials manufacturer Laird Performance Materials

DuPont, a global leader in advanced electronics materials, announced a $2.3 billion acquisition plan Monday that will enhance its position as a source for materials for high-performance computing (HPC), 5G telecommunications, artificial intelligence (AI), and internet of things (IoT).

DuPont has agreed to purchased Laird Performance Materials from Advent International, one of the world’s largest private equity firms. Laird Performance Materials is a world leader in high-performance electromagnetic shielding and thermal management and specializes in performance components and solutions that manage heat and protect devices from electromagnetic interference.

Laird Performance Materials has a workforce of more than 4,300 employees, with a global network of 11 manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and Asia.

DuPont will pay $2.3 billion in cash for the company, and the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, subject to regulatory approvals.

The acquisition should help DuPont transform its electronics-industrial portfolio into what it calls a “total solutions provider,” meaning it can provide comprehensive solutions to industrial needs.

The transaction brings together DuPont’s technology portfolio in films, laminates and plating chemistry with Laird Performance Materials’ electromagnetic shielding and thermal management solutions for data centers’ server racks.

The combined organization aims to be a leader in rapidly growing advanced electronics applications supporting autonomous vehicles, 5G telecommunications, AI, IoT, and HPC.

DuPont intends to uniquely position itself to address the increasingly complex challenges manufacturers face in thermal management, signal integrity, miniaturization, power management, and reliability.

“The acquisition of Laird Performance Materials is a significant step in advancing DuPont’s strategy to grow as a global innovation leader and premier multi-industrial company,” said DuPont CEO Ed Breen.

“Laird Performance Materials is a strategic and complementary addition to the Electronics & Industrial (E&I) business, and our applied material science expertise together with Laird Performance Materials’ industry-leading application engineering capabilities further strengthens DuPont as an essential partner for major electronics manufacturers.”