Agilent Technologies' Market Share Leadership Confirmed in Board Test Market Study; Prime Research Group Industry Study Shows Agilent to Be Market Leader in Imaging and In-Circuit Test.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2001

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today announced that, according to a study just completed by Prime Research Group, Agilent commands more than 44 percent of the $740 million in-circuit test industry(1) and more than 25 percent of the $404.5 million imaging inspection industry.(2)

"The electronics manufacturing industry's explosive growth in 2000 drove total market dollars higher than ever and propelled Agilent to a definitive position as customers' first choice," said Kamran Firooz, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Manufacturing Test Business Unit. "Customers continue to embrace Agilent's intelligent test strategy to optimize manufacturing, through improved quality, profitability and time to market."

According to the study, the total in-circuit test market grew by nearly 23 percent in 2000.(1) Agilent's in-circuit business grew over 40 percent, propelling Agilent from 39 to 44 percent market share and maintaining its position as the largest competitor in in-circuit test systems.

The study also shows that in imaging inspection technology (all types of optical, X-ray and laser machines used in production), total market size grew over 53 percent in one year.(2) Even in that phenomenal expansion market, Agilent's total market share grew from 15.6 percent to 25.5 percent of 2000's $404.5 million worldwide imaging test systems market.

"Agilent's 151 percent growth in this market(3) is wholly due to the success of our award-winning 5DX Series 3 automated X-ray inspection system," said Firooz. "The marketplace has clearly accepted X-ray technology as a viable, mainstream solution."

Agilent's recent acquisition of MV Technology (MVT), a leading global supplier of automated optical inspection (AOI) equipment, is not reflected in these figures for 2000, since that closing did not occur until March 2001. The study cites that, prior to its acquisition by Agilent, MVT's revenue grew 67 percent in 2000 and accounted for 7.4 percent of the worldwide imaging test systems market.(2)

"With the addition of MVT to our full-strength portfolio, Agilent now provides a complete range of innovative measurement technologies, best-in-class product platforms, integrating and collaborating software, and support services," said Firooz. "We are in a position to offer our manufacturing customers the best choices for their test and inspection needs at any and every step of the board assembly process."

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. The company's 48,000 employees serve customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $9.4 billion in fiscal year 2000, as restated to reflect the pending sale of its healthcare business. Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, information regarding the continued acceptance of X-ray technology by manufacturers and Agilent's ability to maintain a leadership position in this market) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results of Agilent Technologies to differ materially from management's current expectations. These and other risks are detailed in Agilent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Oct. 31, 2000, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2001, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(1) Prime Research Group, www.primeresearchgroup.com.
    Automatic Test Equipment Industry Service
    "In-Circuit Test System Module," Appendix B, June 27, 2001.

(2) Ibid., "Imaging Test System Module," June 7, 2001.

(3) Ibid., "Special Report, 2000 Market Competitors, Imaging Test
    Systems," June 20, 2001.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Market size and market share figures may differ from one industry analyst to another due to specific assumptions about which technologies are included in respective studies. Within a given study, it is expected that definitions and assumptions are applied consistently.