News Release

TAINAN, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 2000--In a ceremony today, Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT), the world's largest semiconductor equipment company, marked the opening of its first building in Taiwan's Tainan Science-based Industrial Park. The new Tainan Technology Extension Center is part of Applied Materials Taiwan's (AMT) four phase facility investment plan in the region.

The Tainan campus operations will focus on research and development and manufacturing of key semiconductor equipment components as well as provide customers with advanced manufacturing process support and technical training. Applied Materials Taiwan's construction of an additional manufacturing center in early 2001 will complete the first phase of construction on its Tainan campus.

"Taiwan has been a driving force in the global semiconductor industry and an important part of Applied Materials' business for more than a decade," said James C. Morgan, chairman and chief executive officer of Applied Materials. "Our investment in this advanced R&D, service and manufacturing center represents Applied Materials' commitment to enhancing the competitiveness of our customers and suppliers here while expanding our manufacturing and support capabilities throughout Taiwan."

Applied Materials is the first global semiconductor equipment supplier to locate in the Tainan Science-based Industrial Park and was the first such company to manufacture semiconductor equipment components in Taiwan.

"The new Tainan site enables us to bring Applied Materials' Total Solutions(TM) approach to customer service in a timely and more local way to effectively support our customers in Taiwan," said Chiam Wu, group vice president of Applied Materials, Inc., and general manager of Applied Materials Taiwan. "The new facility will also allow us to participate in the establishment of more complete supply chain for the local semiconductor industry and help to extend high technology development to Southern Taiwan. Our presence should help suppliers to realize the value of a move from traditional machining businesses to higher value-added technology and semiconductor equipment component manufacturing."

Applied Materials (Nasdaq:AMAT) is a leader of the Information Age and the world's largest supplier of products and services to the global semiconductor industry. Applied Materials' Web site is www.appliedmaterials.com.

Applied Materials Taiwan (AMT), a subsidiary of Applied Materials in Taiwan, was established in December 1989. Applied Materials Taiwan's Web site is www.amt.com.tw.

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