26.06.2001 17:00:00 CET

ASM Wins VLSI Research's 10 BEST Award for Customer Satisfaction

BILTHOVEN, The Netherlands - June 26, 2001 - ASM International N.V. (Nasdaq: ASMI and Euronext Stock Exchange in Amsterdam: ASM) today announced that VLSI Research has named ASM International one of the 10 BEST winners in the 2001 Customer Satisfaction Survey on Chip Making Equipment.
This is the second time that ASM has been ranked in the 10 BEST Assembly & Specialty Equipment segment and the first time that the company has been identified among the top five companies in two categories: the large suppliers of wafer processing equipment and assembly and specialty equipment. ASM debuted in the large suppliers of wafer processing equipment category by exceeding the $300M minimum for total chip equipment revenues for 2001, from the small suppliers category where the company competed the year before.
"It is a continuing source of pride for ASM to make the list again this year," said Arthur del Prado, CEO, president and Managing Director of ASM International. "Being recognized by such a global group of semiconductor customers for the second time is extremely gratifying for us. These high rankings are a reward for ASM's ongoing efforts to continuously improve product performance, quality, usable throughput and customer service."
ASM made its debut in large suppliers of wafer processing equipment category at number three. In the assembly and specialty equipment category, the company ranked number five.
"The level of commitment demonstrated by ASM in providing excellent service to its customers is evident in the high rankings the company achieved in this year's survey," said Dan Hutchenson, President of VLSI Research. "The primary purpose of the surveys is to promote improved customer relationships and report on issues most sensitive to customers. Focusing on and continuously meeting customers requirements enables companies like ASM maintain a competitive market position."
VLSI Research Inc is a market research company regarded, in the industry, as the leading company covering chip making equipment. The company is an authoritative source for information on trends and issues in the semiconductor industry.

VLSI Research's customer satisfaction surveys are conducted annually. The participants in the survey are representatives from semiconductor companies in all areas of the world who rated their suppliers in thirteen categories that exemplify a supplier's relationship with its customers. More than 5,300 evaluations of each of the thirteen categories were compiled to generate this year's survey results.


About ASM


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

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Safe Harbor Statement under the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements regarding orders, earnings development and the effects of research and new products on ASM's future, and other 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 registered trademark of ASM International.

Contact:
Yinka Massally
Public Relations
+1 602-470-5829
yinka.massally@asm.com

Mary Jo Dieckhaus
Investor Relations
+1 212-986-2900
ddandw@compuserve.com

Robert L. de Bakker
Chief Financial Officer
+31 30 2298 506
robert.de.bakker@asm.com

Annemiek van Gijn
Public Relations
+31 30 2298411
annemiek.van.gijn@asm.com