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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):		April 22, 2015

MKS Instruments, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Massachusetts	000-23621	04-2277512
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
2 Tech Drive, Suite 201, Andover, Massachusetts		01810
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:		978-645-5500

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On April 22, 2015, MKS Instruments, Inc. announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. The full text of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information in this Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 of the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press Release dated April 22, 2015

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		MKS Instruments, Inc.
April 22, 2015		By:		Seth H. Bagshaw
				Name: Seth H. Bagshaw
				Title: VP, CFO & Treasurer

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Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release dated April 22, 2015

(MKS LOGO)

EXHIBIT 99.1

MKS Instruments Reports Q1 2015 Financial Results

Andover, Mass., April 22, 2015 — MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI), a global provider of technologies that enable advanced processes and improve productivity; today reports first quarter 2015 financial results.

First Quarter Financial Results

Sales were $214 million, an increase of 5% from $203 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, and an increase of 4% from $206 million in the first quarter of 2014.

First quarter net income was $33.8 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, compared to net income of $34.2 million, or $0.64 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2014, and $31.2 million, or $0.58 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2014.

Non-GAAP net earnings, which exclude special charges and credits, were $35.5 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, compared to $29.1 million, or $0.54 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2014, and $27.2 million, or $0.51 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2014.

In the first quarter, the board of directors authorized a quarterly cash dividend of $0.165 per share, and the Company paid a dividend of $8.8 million on March 13^th.

Gerald Colella, Chief Executive Officer and President, said, “The first quarter was another strong quarter financially for MKS. Sales were up 5% from the fourth quarter and at the high end of our guidance range, and profitability exceeded our expectations with non-GAAP earnings per share up over 20% sequentially. The favorable results were primarily driven by improvements to our operating model, as well as a continued strong environment for our semiconductor business, which increased 7% from the fourth quarter, while sales to all other markets grew for the sixth straight quarter.

“Recent reports for semiconductor capital spending are mixed, but continue to indicate a healthy market for wafer fab equipment in 2015. Our near-term visibility indicates a continued positive business environment in both our semiconductor and other advanced markets for the second quarter, which we expect will be stronger than the same period last year. As we operate within this healthy business environment, we continue to make refinements to our operating structure and improvements to our profitability, as well as redeploying resources to strategic and high-growth areas.

“Based on these factors, and looking at current business levels, we anticipate that sales in the second quarter may range from $200 million to $220 million, and at these volumes, our non-GAAP net earnings could range from $0.53 to $0.66 per share and our GAAP net income could range from $0.54 to $0.67 per share.”

Conference Call Details

A conference call with management will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT). To participate in the conference call, please dial (877) 212-6076 for domestic callers and (707) 287-9331 for international callers, and an operator will connect you. Participants will need to provide the operator with the Conference ID of 14695327, which has been reserved for this call. A live and archived webcast of the call will be available on the company’s website at www.mksinst.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Results

Non-GAAP amounts exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets, costs associated with completed acquisitions, restructuring charges, discrete tax benefits and charges, and the related tax effect of these adjustments. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). MKS’ management believes the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors for comparing prior periods and analyzing ongoing business trends and operating results.

About MKS Instruments

MKS Instruments, Inc. is a global provider of instruments, subsystems and process control solutions that measure, control, power, monitor and analyze critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes to improve process performance and productivity. Our products are derived from our core competencies in pressure measurement and control, materials delivery, gas composition analysis, control and information technology, power and reactive gas generation, and vacuum technology. Our primary served markets are manufacturers of capital equipment for semiconductor devices, and for other thin film applications including flat panel displays, solar cells, light emitting diodes, data storage media, and other advanced coatings. We also leverage our technology in other markets with advanced manufacturing applications including medical equipment, pharmaceutical manufacturing, energy generation and environmental monitoring.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains projections or other forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27 of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act regarding MKS’ future growth and the future financial performance of MKS. These projections or statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the projections or other forward-looking statements set forth herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those in the projections or other forward-looking statements are the fluctuations in capital spending in the semiconductor industry, and other advanced manufacturing markets, fluctuations in net sales to MKS’ major customers, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, the challenges, risks and costs involved with integrating the operations of MKS and any acquired companies, dependence on new product development, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, manufacturing and sourcing risks, volatility of stock price, international operations, financial risk management, and future growth subject to risks. Readers are referred to MKS’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for a discussion of these and other important risk factors concerning MKS and its operations. MKS is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Company Contact: Seth H. Bagshaw
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Telephone: 978.645.5578

Investor Relations Contact: Claire McAdams
Headgate Partners LLC
Telephone: 530.265.9899
Email: claire@headgatepartners.com

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MKS Instruments, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)

Note 1: In the fourth quarter of 2014, we recorded $1.4 million of withholding tax related to a foreign intercompany dividend.

Note 2: Reserve releases related to the settlement of audits and expiration of the statute of limitations.

Note 3: In the fourth quarter of 2014, we recorded a tax benefit of $3.2 million related to a German NOL resulting from a change in tax status and we recorded a $1.4 million tax credit for the reinstatement of the U.S. research credit for the full year 2014. In the first quarter of 2014, we recorded a tax benefit of $5.1 million related to the settlement of an audit and other discrete items.

Note 4: We recorded $0.03 million of acquisition costs related to the Precisive LLC acquisition, which closed during the first quarter of 2015. We recorded $0.2 million of acquisition costs comprising of legal and filing fees related to the Granville-Phillips acquisition, which closed during the second quarter of 2014.

Note 5: In the first quarter of 2015, we recorded restructuring charges related to the outsourcing of an international manufacturing operation. In the first and fourth quarters of 2014, we recorded restructuring charges primarily for severance costs related to a reduction in workforce and the consolidation of certain facilities.

Note 6: The Non-GAAP net earnings and Non-GAAP net earnings per share amounts exclude amortization of intangible assets, restructuring costs, acquisition costs, discrete tax benefits and charges, and the related tax effect of these adjustments to reflect the expected full year effective tax rate in the related quarter.

Note 7: The Non-GAAP income from operations and Non-GAAP operating margin percentages exclude amortization of intangible assets, restructuring costs, and acquisition costs.

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MKS Instruments, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP Income Tax Rate to Non-GAAP Income Tax Rate
(In thousands)

Note 1: In the fourth quarter of 2014, we recorded $1.4 million of withholding tax related to a foreign intercompany dividend.

Note 2: Reserve releases related to the settlement of audits and expiration of the statute of limitations.

Note 3: In the fourth quarter of 2014, we recorded a tax benefit of $3.2 million related to a German NOL resulting from a change in tax status and we recorded a $1.4 million tax credit for the reinstatement of the U.S. research credit for the full year 2014. In the first quarter of 2014, we recorded a tax benefit of $5.1 million related to the settlement of an audit and other discrete items.

Note 4: We recorded $0.03 million of acquisition costs related to the Precisive LLC acquisition, which closed during the first quarter of 2015. We recoded $0.2 million of acquisition costs comprising of legal and filing fees related to the Granville-Phillips acquisition, which closed during the second quarter of 2014.

Note 5: In the first quarter of 2015, we recorded restructuring charges related to the outsourcing of an international manufacturing operation. In the first and fourth quarters of 2014, we recorded restructuring charges primarily for severance costs related to a reduction in workforce and the consolidation of certain facilities.

3

MKS Instruments, Inc.
Reconciliation of Q2-15 Guidance — GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Net Earnings
(In thousands, except per share data)

Note 1: Represents the estimated effect of the sale of inventory reduced to fair-market value in a prior period.

Note 2: The Non-GAAP adjustments are tax effected at the estimated Q2-15 tax rate of 29%.

4

MKS Instruments, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet
(In thousands)

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