For more information, contact:

Richard Beck Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. 970.407.6204 dick.beck@aei.com

Cathy Kawakami Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. 970.407.6732 cathy.kawakami@aei.com

Advanced Energy to Acquire Leading Temperature Metrology Company

Fort Collins, Colorado (July 24, 2000)-Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEIS) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Sekidenko, Inc. Sekidenko is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, and is the dominant supplier of Optical Fiber Thermometers (OFTs) to the semiconductor capital equipment industry. The acquisition will be an exchange of stock, and is expected to be accounted for as a pooling of interests.

 

"This recent agreement with Sekidenko continues to support our strategy to acquire leading technologies in order to enhance our product offering for the direct benefit of our customers," said Doug Schatz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Energy. "OFT is the preferred method for non-contact temperature measurement in the semiconductor industry, and Sekidenko is a leader in this market. Looking ahead, Sekidenko is well-positioned to gain market share through new product efforts in integrated metrology, which addresses both the retrofit market and next generation wafer processing requirements."

"Sekidenko's temperature measurement ties in very well with our current product offering," continued Mr. Schatz. "Our RF power delivery system heats the wafer, our e-chuck power supply holds the wafer, Noah's technology cools the wafer and Sekidenko's solution senses and controls wafer temperature. This acquisition will move us closer to our goal of providing a complete, integrated sub-system architecture where the whole is greater than the sum of parts," said Mr. Schatz.

Sekidenko's principal shareholder and president is Dr. Ray Dils, who invented the original OFT twenty years ago, and was subsequently presented with an Industrial Research 100 Award in 1983. The company's products represent the latest generation of OFTs using state-of-the-art electronics and software, providing superior accuracy, repeatability and ease of use in RTP, CVD, Etch, Epitaxy, PVD and crystal growth semiconductor manufacturing applications. Sekidenko is currently expanding its addressable market into new areas within semiconductor manufacturing such as emissivity measurement and unified control systems for plasma enhanced CVD.

"We share Advanced Energy's vision to integrate critical process components and develop highly differentiated solutions for our customers," said Dr. Ray Dils, President of Sekidenko. "Accurate wafer temperature measurement is of rising importance to our OEM customers, and we are pleased to have the support of Advanced Energy as we enter an exciting new growth phase in the metrology market."

The acquisition of Sekidenko is subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino Act review and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2000. There is no assurance that it will be completed.

About Advanced Energy
Advanced Energy is a global leader in the development, marketing, and support of technology solutions that are critical in the manufacture of semiconductors, data storage products, and flat panel displays as well as in applications that involve surface modification and process power control. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end-users around the world depend on AE products when plasma-based technology plays a central role in their manufacturing process. AE offers a comprehensive line of technology solutions including power conversion and control systems, process monitoring and control tools, ion-beam sources, dynamic temperature control products, and plasma abatement systems. AE technology solutions are sold and supported globally by direct offices, representatives, and distributors. Founded in 1981, AE is a publicly held company traded on Nasdaq National Market under the symbol AEIS.

Conference Call
The company will hold a conference call to discuss this announcement today, Monday, July 24, 2000, at 10:00 am Eastern time. To participate on this conference call, please dial (800) 305-1078 approximately five min