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To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (14662)	7/7/1998 6:29:00 PM
From: Andrew Vance	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 17305

AV--I might only be there for a day or two just to do the front end processing stuff and blowing off the back end Test and Assembly portion of the show in San Jose. As far as LRCX is concerned, I agree they are getting close to being a one trick pony. This would not be good since AMAT is the king of the etchers. Getting out of CVD was a good move since they had no business being in that business. Between AMAT and NVLS, you are a pathetic third place finisher. The CMP is a tough subject since there is a genral lack of interest in this technology currently. AMAT might be the top banana in the eyes of some but SFAM and IPEC are also players. The rollout of CMP has been pathetic, at best, so no company can claim #1 status as yet. Even if you did have a #1 company today, the number of units in the field is the very tip of the iceberg, giving everyone a good chance to grab marketshare. A NVLS/LRCX combination would be a great idea and create a good, strong, and formidable competitor to AMAT. It would also create a "one stop" solution to the upcoming copper process technology. It looks like AMAT will supply the whole solution while NVLS and LRCX are collaborating together to supply different parts of the solution. The KLAC-TNCR merger made a great deal of sense and came about. The NVLS-LRCX makes as much sense and should be pursued. Furthermore, if need be, a further consolidation of these two merged entities would give AMAT fits down the road. Andrew