ATMI Sells Treatment Systems Business to Applied Materials

ATMI Sells Treatment Systems Business to Applied Materials 


DANBURY, Conn., Dec. 16  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ATMI (NASDAQ:ATMI), a
supplier of materials and materials packaging to the world's leading
semiconductor manufacturers, today announced that it has sold its environmental
abatement equipment business, headquartered in San Jose, California, to Applied
Materials, the leading supplier of equipment and services to the global
semiconductor industry.

Gene Banucci, ATMI Chief Executive Officer, said, "With the sale of the
treatment systems business, ATMI has successfully completed its plan to divest
its discontinued operations during 2004. With the largest installed base of
abatement treatment systems in the semiconductor industry, it was critically
important for ATMI to support its customers by finding a buyer that was capable
of providing world-class service capability. Further, we wanted to maximize the
opportunity for the retention and growth of the ATMI employees who are staying
with this business. We believe Applied Materials is the optimum buyer on both
counts."

Dan Sharkey, ATMI Chief Financial Officer, said, "This sale will complete the
divestment of our six Technologies businesses. Now, ATMI's business model has
been completely transformed into one of sustainable growth and profitability.
We will book a small gain on the sale of this business and will have sold six
businesses during 2004 for total cash proceeds of approximately $100 million.
The divested operations include the Gallium Nitride venture to Cree; the Life
Safety Systems unit to First Technology, a division of City Technology;
Epitaxial Services to International Rectifier; Fab Services to Materials
Support Resources; the Emosyn smartcard business to Silicon Storage Technology;
and with this sale, the Abatement Equipment business to Applied Materials."

ATMI provides specialty materials and materials packaging to the worldwide
semiconductor industry. As the Source of Semiconductor Process Efficiency, ATMI
helps customers improve wafer yields and lower operating costs. For more
information, please visit http://atmi.com/.

Statements contained herein that relate to ATMI's future performance,
including, without limitation, statements with respect to ATMI's anticipated
results of operations or level of business for 2004, 2005, or any other future
period, are forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on
current expectations only and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and
assumptions, including, but not limited to: changes in semiconductor industry
growth or ATMI's markets; competition, problems, or delays developing and
commercializing new products; problems or delays in integrating acquired
operations and businesses into ATMI; problems or delays associated with any
restructuring activity, or implementing any strategy, including resolution of
the various discontinued elements of ATMI's Technologies segment; and other
factors discussed in ATMI's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ
from those projected. ATMI undertakes no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information,
future events or otherwise. 

DATASOURCE: ATMI, Inc.



CONTACT: Dean Hamilton, ATMI Investor & Public Relations,

[phone],  



Web site:  http://atmi.com/ 

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