Press Releases

San Jose, CA, July 12, 2006 -- Novellus Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVLS) the productivity and technology leader in advanced process equipment for the global semiconductor industry, today announced that Hoang Hoang has been promoted to vice president for Asia Region Business Management. In his new role, Hoang, 46, will be responsible for developing and growing the company's business across Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Reporting directly to Dr. Tom Caulfield, executive vice president of worldwide sales, marketing, and customer satisfaction, Hoang will work with each of the region's presidents for sales and service to increase the company's market share across all product lines.

Hoang joined Novellus in November 2004 as senior director for Asia-Pacific strategic business development. A 20-year veteran of the semiconductor and semiconductor equipment industries, he has held various sales and technical management positions at Applied Materials, SGS-Thompson Microelectronics, and Texas Instruments during his career. Hoang holds a bachelor's degree in Chemistry and a master's degree in Materials Engineering from Wayne State University in Michigan, and has completed his Ph.D. coursework in Materials Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

"Hoang brings an in-depth knowledge of the needs of the Asian semiconductor markets to this new position, a factor that is critical given the ever-increasing importance of the region to Novellus," said Caulfield. "He has contributed significantly over the past couple of years to the company's success with our Asian customers, and we look forward to even more success going forward." <

About Novellus:

Novellus Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVLS) is a leading provider of advanced process equipment for the global semiconductor industry. The company's products deliver value to customers by providing innovative technology backed by trusted productivity. An S&P 500 company, Novellus is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. with subsidiary offices across the globe. For more information please visit www.novellus.com

"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the statement regarding the ever-increasing importance of the Asian semiconductor markets to Novellus, and Novellus' continued success with Asian customers. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, difficulties in managing and expanding operations in foreign markets, challenges in providing technical resources and support to customers outside of the United States, and regional economic and political instability, as well as other risks indicated in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For more details, please refer to our SEC filings and the amendments thereto, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 1, 2006 and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements are made and based on information available to us on the date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to update them.

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