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To: Raybert who wrote (2022)	3/16/1999 12:22:00 PM
From: Ram Seetharaman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2946

I don't disagree with you that this stock is undervalued in some sense, and has upside potential by end of 2000. It is not a bad deal to buy now, since it is trading $5 below book value. Most analysts I have seen lately are not even calling it a "market performer" and the most recent rating given was a "neutral" early this year when SVGI tried to buy into WJ. Today it is up because all its peers are up on upgrades and the contagion is spreading to SVGI. One thing I know about the semis and chips - they employ all kind of smart engineers and technicians who come up with great products. But market doesn't necessarily accept these as a "blowout". Often times these products sit on the shelves and are eventually sold at discounts affecting the "bottom line". SVGI is an archetypical example. Look at Hewlett Packard - they engineer all kinds of products and they have been pushing PCs for nearly twenty years. Market is not accepting their PCs as well as they accept those of Compaq and Dell. SVGI has similar problems. Their sales growth and profits are not the top in their field. An 8.5 % profit margin is not all that great for SVGI compared to the 30+ % margins for Novellus. Unless this changes, they will remain a "dog". It is a management problem - just like the one VLSI faced for years. I hope SVGI gets a suitor to change all this.

To: Raybert who wrote (2022)	3/17/1999 11:38:00 AM
From: Ram Seetharaman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2946

Some PR SVGI news today! Wednesday March 17, 9:34 am Eastern Time Company Press Release Silicon Valley Group Strengthens Leadership in Advanced Optical Lithography With Key Strategic Alliances to Support Industry's First 157 nm Development Move With Lamda Physik, Schott, Bicron and Tropel Demonstrates Confidence, Reinforcing Next-Generation Leadership and Extendibility of Optical Lithography to EUV in New Century SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 1999-- In a move that clearly strengthens its leadership in advanced optical lithography, Silicon Valley Group (Nasdaq:SVGI - news) announced today a strategic agreement that involves key technology alliances with four leading supplier companies that will help ensure the successful and timely development of its advanced 157nm deep ultraviolet (DUV) program -- an industry first. The announcement, made at the opening of the annual SPIE exposition here in San Jose, reinforces growing industry sentiment in the extendibility of DUV optical lithography and that 157nm will be the key link to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography as the Next Generation lithography of choice in the new millennium. Lambda Physik, one of two U.S.-based laser companies to have recently announced F2 laser capabilities, will collaborate with SVG on testing its 157nm laser. The tests will be conducted in Lambda Physik's new laser test facility in Florida. In addition, Germany-based Schott and U.S.-based Bicron have both signed on to supply SVG with calcium fluoride, which is necessary to make lenses that can withstand a 157nm laser without compromising performance below the .10 micron level. In related news, U.S.-based Tropel has joined with SVG to continue development of SVG's innovative new miniscanner line, available in the summer of 2000, which will help in supporting 157nm infrastructure efforts. ''We are extremely excited to be working with several industry leaders, both on the equipment and the customer sides, in making this ground-breaking technology a reality,'' said John Shamaly Corporate vice president for the corporation. ''Not so long ago, industry observers said that 157nm was not possible. Based on SVG's technology, the industry is now a believer,'' he added. According to company chairman and CEO, Papken Der Torossian, ''SVG's patented catadioptric lens system enables us to make 157 nm technology a reality so soon. The growing importance of 157nm as the bridge to EUV received even more support late last month when SEMATECH organized a high-level industry workshop devoted to 157nm technology.'' There, Jim McClay, vice president and head of SVG's 157nm program, was one of the speakers presenting data at the international event -- the first of its kind devoted solely to 157nm technology. During the event, McClay delivered a powerful and comprehensive presentation demonstrating the viability of 157nm. The presentation received positive overtures from several participants in the global supplier and chip communities largely because of the results reported by SVG, which according to some observers, support the belief that 157nm will be the ''bridge to EUV.'' ''We, like many in the industry, believe that this is a winning solution that is credible and an effective bridge to EUV in the new century and we are pleased that industry sentiment appears to be moving in that same direction,'' commented Der Torossian. Silicon Valley Group (Nasdaq:SVGI - news) is a leading manufacturer of automated wafer processing equipment for the worldwide semiconductor industry. The company designs, manufactures and markets technically sophisticated equipment used in the primary stages of semiconductor manufacturing. Its products include photolithography exposure tools; photoresist processing equipment; oxidation, diffusion and low-pressure chemical vapor deposition processing systems; and precision optical components and systems. For more information, visit www.svg.com. See Us at SPIE, Booth No. 707 Contact: Silicon Valley Group Werner Rust, 408/467-5949 rustw@svg.com or Mathews & Clark Communications Stew Chalmers, 408/736-1120 schalmers@mathewsandclark.com