Advantest Corporation Lists On The New York Stock Exchange.

Business Editors & Technology Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2001

Advantest Corporation, one of the world's leading manufacturers of test systems for the semiconductor industry, announced that it will list and begin trading its American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on the New York Stock Exchange when the market opens today. The ADRs will be traded under the symbol "ATE."

Advantest's ADR ratio is four Advantest ADRs equal to one common share traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Advantest, based in Tokyo, is a leading manufacturer of automatic test equipment for the semiconductor industry, as well as a manufacturer of measuring instruments used in the design, production and maintenance of electronic systems including fiber optic and wireless communications equipment and digital consumer products. The company reported revenues of (Yen)276.5 billion, or US$2.2 billion in fiscal 2000, which ended March 31, 2001.

"We are pleased to be among the first companies to list on the reopening of the New York Stock Exchange," said Hiroshi Oura, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Advantest. "This listing demonstrates our confidence in, and commitment to, the international financial markets."

Advantest is the world's second largest manufacturer of semiconductor test systems and is the world's leading manufacturer of semiconductor test systems for memory semiconductors with over a 60 percent market share in 2000.

A key business strategy for Advantest in the past decade has been to increase overseas sales and to focus on research and development. In fiscal 2000, which ended March 31, 2001, approximately 72 percent of Advantest's net sales were derived from products and services sold to customers located outside Japan, up from 20 to 30 percent in the early 1990s. In fiscal 2000, 50.6 percent of Advantest's total net sales came from Asia (excluding Japan), 14.7 percent from North America and 6.2 percent from Europe.

The company is also working to expand its research and development capabilities in the U.S. As a part of this effort Advantest opened a new research and development center in Portland, OR, in July. The center develops and expands Advantest's electronic measuring instruments business in the U.S. in product planning and development, marketing and manufacturing.

About Advantest

Advantest Corporation (NYSE:ATE), based in Tokyo, is a global leader in the design, manufacture and sale of automatic test equipment for the semiconductor industry. The company also manufactures measuring instruments used in the design, production and maintenance of electronic systems, including fiber optic and wireless communications equipment and digital consumer products. Founded in 1954 as Takeda Riken Industry Co., Ltd., the company changed its name to Advantest Corporation in 1985. Advantest entered the semiconductor testing business in 1972, established its North American subsidiary in 1982 and began trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1983. Advantest operates in 13 countries and has approximately 4,800 employees worldwide. Further information on the company is available at www.advantest.com.