ASM Announces US $4.5 Million Multi-Product Order for a Leading U.S. Semiconductor Company's New China Facility


BILTHOVEN, The Netherlands, Oct. 21, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- ASM InternationalN.V. (Nasdaq:ASMI)(Euronext Amsterdam:ASM) today announced that its 54%-owned subsidiary, ASM Pacific technology, Ltd. (Hong Kong Exchanges: 0522) has received a multiple product order from a U.S. manufacturer of high-performance power semiconductor products. Valued in excess of US $4.5 million, the equipment is scheduled for delivery to the customer's China facility in the next six months.

"While the customer is a long-established and valued client, this purchase signifies their first orders for ASM's innovative IDEALmold; our new higher throughput, more cost-effective soft solder die attach system; and, our value-added trim and form platform," confirmed Patrick Lam, managing director of ASM Pacific Technology, Ltd. (ASMPT).

Patrick Lam further commented, "ASM was involved early in the manufacturing process and equipment designs for the optimal solution in production cost. Combining our process knowledge in assembly and packaging with the adoption of ASM's mold design resulted in a leadframe strip of unprecedented high density, enabling the customer to save in leadframe material costs and molding compound consumption for their power packages."

ASM's IDEALmold, a flexible-capacity, automatic encapsulation system for integrated circuit products, was the winner of the Advanced Packaging Magazine Award in the encapsulation/molding category for both 2002 and 2003.

About ASM and ASMPT

ASM International N.V. is headquartered in Bilthoven, the Netherlands. ASM International is a global company, serving one of the most important and demanding industries in the world. The Company possesses a strong technological base, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, a competent and qualified workforce and a highly trained, strategically distributed support network. ASM International's subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International and its subsidiaries provide production solutions for wafer processing, assembly and packaging through their facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock shares trade on Nasdaq (symbol ASMI) and the Euronext Stock Exchange in Amsterdam (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASM's web site at http://www.asm.com

ASM Pacific Technology, Ltd. with headquarters in Hong Kong, has operations in Shenzhen China, Singapore and Malaysia. It is the world's largest supplier of a full line of assembly and packaging equipment for the semiconductor industry. It also supplies the Photonics and Optoelectronics markets. With its financial strength and R&D resources, ASMPT offers its customers total solutions in process innovations, package development and factory automation. ASMPT is 54%-owned by ASM International N.V. ASM Pacific Technology, Ltd. common shares trade on the Hong Kong Exchanges under the symbol: 0522. For more information, visit ASMPT's web site at www.asmpacific.com

Safe Harbor Statement under the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The matters discussed in this statement, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to economic conditions in the semiconductor industry, currency fluctuations, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, risk factors related to litigation and other risks indicated in filings from time to time with the SEC and Stock Exchange Authorities.

ASM is a trademark of ASM International N.V.

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