Accent Optical Technologies Closes Multimillion Dollar 300mm Deal With Samsung

Business Wire, July 3, 2001

Business Editors, Technology Writers

BEND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 3, 2001

Accent Optical Technologies (www.accentopto.com), a leading supplier of optoelectronics and silicon semiconductor process control systems, today announced a multi-million dollar order from Samsung for multiple 300mm and 200mm Overlay metrology and FT-IR tools.

The purchase of 300mm Overlay and FT-IR tools is the latest in a number of tool selection wins for Accent.

Samsung's purchase of Accent's products is part of an expansion for Samsung. The specific tool selection signifies Samsung's decision to emphasize production on 300mm wafers. The Accent systems will be used in Samsung's MPS (mass production simulation) and Line 10 facility in Kiheung, Korea.

"The success of Accent's 300mm business is directly related to the ongoing partnership between Accent and Samsung," said Greg Kaiser, Vice President and General Manager of Accent's Silicon Technology Group. "Samsung has depended on Accent's technology and proven production performance for a number of years in Samsung's leading edge 200mm R&D and high volume manufacturing lines in Kiheung, Korea."

"Samsung Corporation has selected Accent's 300mm Overlay and FT-IR tools because of their superior performance at 0.13 micron," said a spokesperson from Samsung's 300mm project team. "We believe that the reliability and customer support demonstrated over a number of years, at 200mm means that Accent tools are best positioned to help us meet both our 300mm and 0.13 micron ramp-up goals."

Accent's 300mm Overlay tool was developed over the past three years working closely with Samsung and a number of major IC manufacturers in Europe, the US and Japan. Accent's expertise in optical design and development, in combination with its factory integration experience, have allowed it to focus on the development of inherently accurate, precise, easy-to-use, production-ready solutions.

Accent Optical Technologies (www.accentopto.com) is a leading supplier of optoelectronic and silicon process control systems. The company's legacy dates backs over 300 years to its optical instrument manufacturing roots in York, England. It serves leading manufacturers of laser diodes, VCSELs, HBTs and high electron mobility transistors and supplies optical CD measurement, thin film characterization and optical lithography feedback control systems to leading silicon device manufacturers. Accent Optical Technologies a privately held company headquartered in Bend, Ore., operates in 19 countries with more than 280 employees, including over 70 technologists.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These include statements relating to our ability to reach our expansion goals and penetrate markets. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from those projected. Our business is subject to several risks, including, but not limited to, the cyclicality in the industries in which we participate, fluctuations in our operating results, rapid technological change and market acceptance of our products, as well as, general market conditions. We assume no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events.