Olympus' New Subsidiary Announces Chief Technology Officer.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2000

Olympus Integrated Technologies America, Inc. of San Jose (OITA), a new subsidiary of Olympus Optical, Ltd. Japan, has announced the appointment of Dr. Richard Savage as Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

Dr. Savage will be responsible for product development and product definition for Olympus' semiconductor business. He has over twenty years of experience in the semiconductor equipment business and a thorough understanding of customer requirements in this industry.

Dr. Savage comments, "It is the responsibility of the supplier to understand the customer's process including desired results and how to correlate them into the hardware. On Wafer Results (OWR) is what we will be striving for in the development of products for Olympus Integrated Technologies America." With the creation of the new subsidiary, Dr. Savage will have the opportunity to investigate existing core technologies of Olympus and to extend them into semiconductor related equipment applications. In addition, his industry experience will provide insight into strategic technical and business alliances that will be developed on behalf of the new subsidiary.

In a recent interview, Rick LaFrance, president of Olympus Integrated Technologies America, stated, "This is one of the first times a Japanese company has started a subsidiary with the strategy of jointly developing products with local companies on a partnership basis. Typically Japanese companies have attempted to enter the market with sales and service operations or perhaps some 'listening post' type of R&D facility that does not contribute to the local industry. OITA will define and develop products in partnership with local companies using Olympus technology and the partner's access and strengths to build mutually beneficial global business relationships. The addition of Dr. Savage to our team is a key part of this strategy."

In his most recent position as vice president of Research and Development at Silicon Valley Group's (SVG) Thermal Systems Division, Dr. Savage was responsible for advanced technology and new product development for CVD, RTO and VLK technologies. His work experience also includes Director of Process Technology at SVG's PhotoProcess Division, responsible for the field and applications lab process groups, 300mm process module development/design and strategic technology programs. Prior to SVG, Dr. Savage was founder and president of two high-tech start-up companies focused on metrology tools for plasma diagnostics, on-line thin film analysis of thickness/color for semiconductor and optical coatings industries, as well as optical diagnostic instruments for the plasma etch and analytical products divisions.

Dr. Savage currently holds four issued patents and five pending patents. The patents generally focus on adaptive process controls, ways to use sensor technology to develop feedforward and feedback intelligent control systems. He has also served on the advisory board for industry/university research programs at Stanford, UC Berkeley, MIT and University of Texas, Austin. His in-depth understanding of process, application and equipment technologies will greatly assist in the development of Olympus Integrated Technologies America's product offering.

Corporate Data

Name: Olympus Integrated Technologies America, Inc. Date of Establishment: Tuesday, March 7, 2000 Date of Operations Commencement: Monday, April 3, 2000 Representatives: Yoshihide Yamaoke (CEO), Rick LaFrance (COO, President) Business Content: Sales, marketing and after-sales service of semiconductor inspection equipment Address: 2400 Ringwood Avenue, San Jose, CA 95131-1700 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]