Applied Materials receives record $182 million order from TSMC; full spectrum of Applied Materials' technologies chosen for milestone industry order.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 1997--Applied Materials received the largest single purchase ever disclosed in the semiconductor equipment industry from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TSMC). The Hsin Chu, Taiwan-based semiconductor manufacturer placed an order totaling $182 million for Applied Materials' advanced semiconductor production systems.

The majority of the order was booked in Applied Materials' second fiscal quarter of 1997, with portions booked in the first and third quarters. Delivery of the systems will take place throughout the rest of the fiscal year for installation in several of TSMC's semiconductor manufacturing facilities, including its new Fab V.

"TSMC is continuing to invest aggressively in the most advanced technology to sustain our growth into the next century," said Dr. Rick Tsai, vice president of operations at TSMC. "Our choice of Applied Materials is based on the company's outstanding process technology, the proven productivity of its systems in high-volume production, and the excellent service and support provided by Applied Materials Taiwan."

TSMC's order included the following Applied Materials' process technologies: -0-

-- Multiple repeat Mirra(TM) CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) systems;

-- Metal Etch DPS Centura(R), Oxide Etch MxP+(TM) Centura, Silicon Etch DPS Centura and other plasma etching systems;

-- A high temperature film (HTF) system;

-- A variety of plasma silane and TEOS CVD (chemical vapor deposition) systems, sub-atmospheric CVD (SACVD) systems for doped and undoped films, and systems for tungsten deposition;

-- Endura(R) VHP PVD (physical vapor deposition) systems configured with a broad variety of sputtering technologies for aluminum and barrier metal deposition;

-- Multiple units of the Implant xR80(TM) ion implantation system;

-- Multiple RTP (rapid thermal processing) Centura systems; -0-

"Over the past several years TSMC has taken giant steps and become one of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers, with world class technology," said Dr. David N. K. Wang, senior vice president of Applied Materials. "We will continue to expand our service and support infrastructure to serve TSMC's growing position in chipmaking."

TSMC is the world's leading semiconductor manufacturing service company and the largest semiconductor maker in Taiwan. Its stock is publicly traded on the Taiwan stock exchange.

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 System under the symbol "AMAT." Applied Materials' web site is http://www.AppliedMaterials.com .

CONTACT: Applied Materials

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