Canon U.S.A. Promotes Naoki Ayata to Senior Vice President and General Manager of Semiconductor Equipment Division; Goal is to Reach No. 1 in Litho Tool Market.

Business Editors

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 19, 2002

Canon U.S.A., Inc., the Lake Success, New York, subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), has promoted Naoki Ayata to senior vice president and general manager of the company's Semiconductor Equipment Division.

Based in San Jose, Mr. Ayata will oversee all business operations for the division in the U.S., including new business development, sales and marketing, service, technical support and training. He also will serve on the board of directors of Canon U.S.A.

"The semiconductor division provides a significant contribution to the company's core businesses," said Kinya Uchida, president and CEO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "The technology directly contributes to the company's imaging technologies that are found in such products as cameras, copiers, printers and television broadcast lenses. Mr. Ayata's leadership in the U.S. will help Canon achieve the top position worldwide in the microlithography marketplace."

Mr. Ayata emphasized that Canon's semiconductor business will continue to strengthen its technical/engineering expertise and its sales application skills. Greater emphasis will be placed on relationships with partners to provide intergraded solutions and technical support.

"We are going to expand and strengthen the expertise we generate, gather, co-develop, integrate, deliver and support into an optimized product for our customers," said Mr. Ayata. "Technology leadership and productivity depends more than ever on leaders working together."

Canon's joint development goals will ensure optimized process control and results by providing customers with end-to-end lithography solutions.

"This means more intense, expert, well-integrated R&D process development, delivery, implementation and ramp-up," said Mr. Ayata. "It involves exposure platforms, reticles, track systems, metrology, etching, automation and optical extension technologies - often referred to as RET."

Mr. Ayata also acknowledged that greater collaboration among equipment manufacturers and chipmakers is necessary to manage the costs and risks of next generation lithography development. He noted that Canon's large size and core competency in advanced imaging provides the company with significant advantages in internal collaboration.

"What we learn about advanced lithography imaging technology," added Mr. Ayata, "supports the development of Canon products, and what the product groups learn about high volume precision manufacturing can apply to litho tool production."

Mr. Ayata, who reports directly to the president and CEO, is from Japan. He earned his bachelor's degree in physics from Hokkaido University and began his career with Canon as an electrical engineer in 1969. He resides in San Jose.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc., provides professional and consumer imaging solutions that give people the Know How to access the latest technology. The company's comprehensive product line includes networked multifunction devices; digital and analog copiers (color and black and white); printers, scanners, image filing systems, and facsimile machines; camcorders, cameras and lenses; and semiconductor, broadcast and medical equipment. Canon employs 12,000 people at more than 30 facilities throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

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