Note 1: Company and Industry Information

The Company designs, manufactures, markets, refurbishes and services semiconductor processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. Semiconductor wafers are subjected to a complex series of process and preparation steps that result in the simultaneous creation of many individual integrated circuits. The Company leverages its expertise in the areas of etch and single-wafer clean to develop processing solutions that typically benefit its customers through lower defect rates, enhanced yields, faster processing time, or reduced cost. The Company sells its products and services primarily to companies involved in the production of semiconductors in North America, Europe, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Asia Pacific.

The semiconductor industry is cyclical in nature and has historically experienced periodic downturns and upturns. Today's leading indicators of changes in customer investment patterns, such as electronics demand, memory pricing, and foundry utilization rates, may not be any more reliable than in prior years. Demand for the Company's equipment can vary significantly from period to period as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, economic conditions, supply, demand, and prices for semiconductors, customer capacity requirements, and the Company's ability to develop and market competitive products. For these and other reasons, the Company's results of operations for fiscal years 2011, 2010, and 2009 may not necessarily be indicative of future operating results.