Aviza Technology Augments Presence in Japan; Japanese Subsidiary Created for Local Sales, Service and Support.

Business Editors

SEMICON Japan 2003

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 2003

Aviza Technology, Inc. today introduced Aviza Technology Japan KK, a Japanese subsidiary providing local sales and service support to the vital Japanese semiconductor market. Aviza Technology, which was formed in October 2003 with the acquisition of ASML Thermal, will be exhibiting in booth 6-B707 at SEMICON Japan, held at the Makuhari Messe Event Hall and Conference Center in Chiba, Japan, Dec. 3-5.

Aviza Technology has a substantial Japanese installed base that continues to grow with placement of new products like the Pantheon(TM) atomic layer deposition (ALD) systems. These systems provide crucial process steps for the development of next generation devices and are already being used in production by some of the world's largest semiconductor manufacturers. In addition to the Pantheon, Aviza Technology's Japanese installed base includes systems originally manufactured by Watkins-Johnson's Semiconductor Equipment Group, Silicon Valley Group Thermal Systems and ASML Thermal.

"Aviza Technology may be a new company, but we can trace our semiconductor industry roots back more than 40 years, including more than 20 years in Japan," said Jerry Cutini, Aviza Technology president and CEO. "Aviza Technology Japan allows us to provide world class support for our heritage products, and also to present our new solutions in technology and productivity. The establishment of this subsidiary attests to Aviza Technology's deep commitment to this region and to our Japanese customers."

Aviza Technology Japan is based in Kawasaki and will employ a substantive force to deliver preeminent sales and service support to new and existing customers within Japan. The subsidiary will provide Japanese customers with access to the entire portfolio of Aviza Technology products, including single wafer and batch ALD solutions, vertical processors, atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVCD) systems and thermal reactors.

About Aviza Technology, Inc.

Aviza Technology is a leading supplier of thermal processing and deposition solutions to the global semiconductor industry. The company maintains a worldwide installed base of more than 7,000 tools. Aviza Technology's headquarters, manufacturing and R&D facilities are located in Scotts Valley, Calif. Additional sales and customer support facilities are located in Germany, France, Scotland, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. Aviza Technology employs approximately 400 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at www.avizatechnology.com.