Applied Materials Donates Equipment, Funds to National Tsing Hua University for Development of Semiconductor R&D Facility.

TAIPEI, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 1999--

Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT), the world's largest supplier of wafer fabrication systems and services to the global semiconductor industry, announced today that it will donate a Precision(R) 5000 semiconductor manufacturing system and approximately NT$10 million (US$300,000) to National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) to assist in the construction of a semiconductor R&D facility.

"We are delighted to support such an important program," said Chiam Wu, corporate vice president of Applied Materials and president of Applied Materials Taiwan (AMT). "Working in partnership with Taiwan's leading universities is an important part of Applied Materials' strong commitment supporting the development of semiconductor technology. Such programs further enhance the local research environment and cultivate new talent for the semiconductor industry in Taiwan."

In order to create an optimal semiconductor research environment, NTHU began planning to construct a semiconductor research center. Applied Materials' contribution of funds and a Precision 5000 system will enable the accelerated completion of its semiconductor research facilities.

Beginning with the Precision 5000 CVD system, introduced in April 1987, the widespread adoption of the Company's multi-chamber platforms launched Applied Materials to a position of sustained global leadership in the semiconductor equipment industry. The advanced capabilities of Applied Materials' single-wafer, multi-chamber systems have revolutionized the way semiconductor devices are manufactured, enabling ever-smaller device geometries that, in turn, have resulted in vast increases in computing power and speed.

"We are very grateful to Applied Materials for its kind donation. Applied Materials has always been generous in contributing to the local community. This donation significantly boosts the capability and quality of research at NTHU and in the local academic environment," said Dr. C.L. Liu, president of NTHU.

AMT has maintained a close cooperative relationship with the industrial and research sectors, government agencies and academic institutions. It actively participates in the strategic research programs of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Precision Machinery Industry Development Committee and Independent Scientific Industry Foundation, providing concrete advice and strategies for the development of infrastructural support systems for the semiconductor industry.

Applied Materials, Inc. is a Fortune 500 global growth company and the world's largest supplier of wafer fabrication systems and services to the global semiconductor industry. Applied Materials is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol, "AMAT." Applied Materials' website is http://www.appliedmaterials.com.