News Release

Applied Materials Acquires ATMI's Treatment Systems Business; Acquisition Extends Applied's Expertise in Providing Environmental Solutions

Dec 16, 2004 at 5:02 PM EST

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec 16, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) today announced that it has purchased the assets of ATMI, Inc.'s Treatment Systems business for an undisclosed cash amount. The business will be operated as a division of Metron Technology, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Applied Materials and will continue to support the gas abatement requirements of current and future process equipment for semiconductor manufacturing and other industrial applications.

"ATMI's effluent treatment products are a natural extension of Applied Materials' recognized leadership and long-term commitment to providing environmentally responsible solutions to the semiconductor manufacturing industry," said Russell Ellwanger, group vice president and general manager of Applied Global Services. "This acquisition, combined with Applied's core process knowledge and extensive environmental expertise, allows us to provide a broad range of optimized environmental abatement solutions to customers for multi-vendor systems and applications."

ATMI's Treatment Systems Division is a worldwide leader in providing point-of-use abatement systems to the semiconductor industry that treat gas emissions from process chambers before they are released to the environment. These systems include dry, wet, thermal and integrated thermal/wet technologies.

As part of Metron Technology, the Treatment Systems Division will have access to Applied Materials' significant portfolio of environmental solutions and resources for developing best of breed systems that maximize efficiency, enable rapid cycle time for new processes and chemistries, and assure global environmental regulatory compliance for its customers.

"Reducing hazardous air pollutants, volatile organic compounds and global warming gases is a critical objective for Applied Materials and its customers," said Werner Finsterbusch, general manager of Metron Technology. "Our acquisition of ATMI's abatement equipment business provides us with an excellent opportunity to work together with our customers to help assure environmental compliance of processes and products worldwide."

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to expected benefits from the acquisition of ATMI's environmental abatement equipment business, the capabilities of Applied's environmental solutions equipment and service products, and all other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements include the assumptions that underlie such statements and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied, including but not limited to: the successful integration and performance of the acquired business; sustainability of demand in the semiconductor and semiconductor equipment industries, which is subject to many factors, including global economic conditions, demand for electronic products and semiconductors, and geopolitical uncertainties; Applied's ability to successfully and cost-effectively supply a broad range of equipment and service products and to support non-Applied Materials systems; the realization of synergies expected to result from the acquisition; retention of key employees; and other risks described in Applied Materials' SEC filings. All forward-looking statements are based on management's estimates, projections and assumptions as of the date hereof and Applied Materials assumes no obligation to update this press release.

Applied Materials, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is the largest supplier of equipment and services to the global semiconductor industry. Applied Materials' Website is http://www.appliedmaterials.com.

SOURCE: Applied Materials, Inc.

Applied Materials, Inc.
Betty Newboe, 408-563-0647 (technical media)
David Miller, 408-563-9582 (business media)
Paul Bowman, 408-563-1698 (financial community)