VSEA Varian Semiconductor (MM)

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSEA) announced today that it has received an order for its VIISta(TM) HC single wafer high current ion implanter from a major Japanese chipmaker. This order continues Varian Semiconductor's penetration of advanced manufacturing fabs in the strategically important Japanese market. "For the first time, this customer placed an order for Varian Semiconductor's VIISta HC expanding the Company's considerable lead in single wafer high current," said Gary Dickerson, chief executive officer of Varian Semiconductor. Dickerson continued, "As Japan continues to transition from batch to single wafer, Varian Semiconductor's VIISta single wafer high current tools are becoming the tool of choice based on key architectural advantages. The combined advantages of high productivity, superior particle control and outstanding device performance result in Varian Semiconductor further increasing its gains in ion implant market share." The global shift to single wafer ion implanters is driven by both the sensitivity of advanced devices to contamination and the requirement for precise implant angle accuracy. The VIISta HC single wafer ion implanter is the only system featuring a dual magnet ribbon beam architecture that provides the highest productivity and lowest contamination levels in the industry. In addition, the VIISta HC's unique closed-loop Varian Positioning System (VPS(TM)) offers interlockable angle control for true zero degree applications. These features, combined with repeatable, patented beam steering control, assure the precise dopant placement required in sub-65nm devices. The VIISta HC is a member of the VIISta suite of ion implanters - the only production proven single wafer platform solution for all implant segments with over 350 systems in production worldwide. About Varian Semiconductor Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. is the leading producer of ion implantation equipment used in the manufacture of semiconductors. The Company is headquartered in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and operates worldwide. Varian Semiconductor maintains a web site at www.vsea.com. The information contained in the Company's web site is not incorporated by reference into this release, and the web site address is included in this release as an inactive textual reference only. Note: This release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, the statements concerning the Company's performance, market share and technology leadership, technological capabilities and benefits are forward-looking statements and any statements using the terms "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," or similar expressions are forward-looking statements. There are a number of important risks and factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements. These include, among others, volatility in the semiconductor equipment industry; economic conditions in general and as they affect the Company's customers; significant fluctuations in the Company's quarterly operating results; the impact of rapid technological change; the Company's dependence on the development and introduction of new products; the Company's concentration on ion implantation systems and related products; concentration in the Company's customer base and lengthy sales cycles; the highly competitive market in which the Company competes; risks of international sales; foreign currency risks; and general economic conditions; and other factors identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.