Cookson Electronics Completes Worldwide Study; Announces New Customer Initiative.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 2003

Company launches Shared Intelligence(TM) program

Following the completion of a worldwide employee, customer and channel partner study, Cookson Electronics today announced that it is launching a new customer-focused education and marketing program under the banner of "Shared Intelligence."

"It has been a dynamic year for Cookson Electronics, and we have done a lot of listening, planning and focusing," said Raymond P. Sharpe, president & CEO, Cookson Electronics. "From exiting the cyclical equipment business to expanding our capabilities in chemistry and materials, Cookson is moving forward with a clear direction that will better align us with our customers and partners as well as separate us from the pack."

The Shared Intelligence program will explain and build on the company's integrated process expertise in surface finishing, printed wiring boards, electronics circuits assembly and semiconductor packaging chemistry and materials. "Our customers and partners have told us what they need from us and how we can help them improve their applications," Sharpe said. "And, we believe that great ideas and solutions don't come out of a vacuum. Only shared knowledge and experience inspires innovation.

"Through the Shared Intelligence message, we would like the marketplace to know that we'll share our minds, our analytical and testing facilities, our experience -- and most of all -- our passion to collaborate and solve problems," Sharpe said.

As part of the research leading to Cookson's Shared Intelligence positioning, the company interviewed nearly 100 customers. "In many cases, OEMs and contract manufacturers told us that they have fewer in-house resources for testing and analysis as a result of cost-cutting programs," Sharpe said. "So in response, we have bolstered our services by purchasing millions of dollars worth of technology and expertise, and we will soon announce the availability of CE Analytics, a collaboration of innovators, problem solvers and technological resources that can be brought to bear on very specific application issues.

"Our research tells us that Cookson customers and employees agree that our expertise and value revolves around an ability to provide high-quality, in-depth engineering and applications support. This expertise is grounded in our breadth and depth of process knowledge. A good example of this is our work in lead- and halogen-free applications," added Sharpe.

"Years ago, we looked ahead and measured how environmental legislation would impact customers' profitability, then we made an investment to develop solutions that would solve customer-specific application needs. Today, our 'green' materials eliminate contaminates and improve recyclability without sacrificing quality or yields. And, we're developing our next generation of high-performance products to do the same in meeting customer specifics for CAF-resistant and low-coefficient or thermal expansion applications."

Sharpe also points to Cookson's PWB Materials & Chemistry's new alliance with ATMI, Inc. as an example of sharing intelligence to improve customer offerings. Through this collaboration, Cookson is expanding distribution of its Enthone ViaForm(R) copper damascene electrochemical deposition processes. Cookson will back ATMI's technical support organization with research and manufacturing capability through its Enthone business.

"ATMI and Cookson share a commitment in helping customers reduce their total cost of ownership," Sharpe said. "Through this alliance, we are sharing intelligence and technology to enable customers to increase yields and productivity, providing the marketplace with unmatched service, support and supply," he said.

With the process of divesting its equipment line well underway, Cookson is now looking for opportunities to grow its core advanced materials business. Sharpe said Cookson's recent acquisition of the GETEK(R) product line from GE Plastics underscores the company's commitment to the overall global electronic materials market. "We will continue to invest in the technologies that expand our specialty materials base and that support the needs of our customers," he said.

The GETEK product line allows Cookson to strategically strengthen its existing offerings of high-reliability, electrically enhanced materials, while enabling GETEK customers to benefit from Cookson's substantial global manufacturing and service infrastructure.

"We're looking forward to the months ahead as we demonstrate to the marketplace that we're the electronics materials and chemistry company that delivers smart engineered processes to help our customers solve their application problems to lower their costs. And we have the people, service infrastructure and technology to make it happen."

About Cookson Electronics

Cookson Electronics is a leading supplier of high-performance assembly materials, semiconductor packaging and specialty chemicals and coatings used in the electronics assembly and surface-finishing industries. Cookson Electronics is a division of Cookson Group plc, a global leader in electronic materials and ceramics.

Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Cookson Group plc is a $3.2 billion multinational company that employs more than 18,000 people in over 35 countries, selling its products and services in over 100 countries. Through three strategic business divisions - Electronics, Ceramics and Precious Metals - Cookson companies provide specialized industrial materials and equipment for the electronics, precious metals and ceramics industries.

GETEK is a registered trademark of General Electric Company.