Azores Corp to Continue Support of Customers in MRS Technology's Installed Base

Business Wire, April 27, 1999

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 1999--

Azores Corp announced today that it has commenced operations providing support to customers using MRS Technology's PanelPrinters(tm), large area step & repeat photolithography systems.

Just seven weeks after MRS Technology, Inc. was forced to discontinue its business operations, Azores Corp has successfully negotiated contracts and obtained funding to provide support services to MRS PanelPrinter owners. Azores is formed by a group of ex-MRS employees lead by Elvino da Silveira, President, formerly MRS VP of Customer Support, and Steven Gardner, Vice President, formerly MRS Systems Engineering Manager. Azores has finalized the purchase of MRS assets and is focusing on the existing support operations and future business opportunities.

According to Philip Ong, Senior Director of Operations at Intarsia Corporation, "We are very excited about the prospects of the newly formed company, Azores Corporation. Azores will provide the missing support structure and value added services for the MRS equipment base. The Azores team has retained the talent and the necessary inventory to continue supporting Intarsia as well as the rest of their customers." Mr. da Silveira, adds "Our first priority is assuring our customers that there will be no change to the world class services they expect. Additionally, we are in a position to relocate, reconfigure, and install systems for customers."

PanelPrinter(tm) systems are in use in the USA, Europe and Asia, manufacturing flat panel displays, x-ray sensor arrays, digital printer components, and high density interconnect products.