ICOS Vision Systems Approves Authorization for Repurchase Of Shares

ICOS Vision Systems Corporation NV (Nasdaq and Euronext:
IVIS), a world leader in vision solutions for the chip industry,
announced that at the Extraordinary General Assembly of shareholders
held today, its shareholders approved the grant to the Board of
Directors of the authority to allow the Company to purchase up to a
maximum of one million shares of its Common Stock over a period of 18
months, starting the date of publication of this decision in the
Official Belgian Gazette. The shares may be repurchased from
time-to-time in open market transactions over the Euronext stock
exchange. Currently, the Company has approximately 10.6 million shares
outstanding.
   The Board of Directors intends to implement this mandate in such a
way that the company will purchase its shares on a regular basis. With
this in mind, it is also the Board's intention to propose to the
annual shareholders meeting to renew this mandate on a yearly basis.
   ICOS designs and manufactures inspection equipment for the
semiconductor packaging industry. It is a world-leading supplier of
equipment for the final visual control of chips before they are used
in various applications, such as PC's, cars or portable phones. ICOS'
systems perform two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) inspections as
part of the final visual quality control step in the manufacturing of
chips, wafers, flexible tapes for flat panel displays, sockets,
substrates and solar cells. Aside from its complete systems, ICOS also
offers inspection subsystems for integration in other equipment.
   ICOS' headquarters are located in Heverlee, Belgium and it has R&D
centers in Belgium, Germany and Hong Kong and sales and support
offices in Japan, the USA, Singapore, Korea and Hong Kong and
production facilities in Belgium, Hong Kong and China.

   "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995: This News Release contains forward-looking
information that involves risks and uncertainties, including
statements regarding ICOS's plans, objectives, expectations and
intentions. Such statements include, without limitation, statements
regarding the stock repurchase program authorized to be implemented by
the Board of Directors and the anticipated benefits of that program,
if implemented. These forward-looking statements are subject to known
and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those anticipated. ICOS cannot assure that the
Company will repurchase all or any part of the one million shares that
the Board of Directors has the discretion to authorize the Company to
repurchase, or that any repurchase by the Company of its shares will
have a beneficial affect for the Company or its shareholders. Any such
repurchase would have the effect of reducing the Company' liquidity
and capital resources and may otherwise be at a price that is not
beneficial to the Company or its stockholders. Other risks relating to
the company and its business are set forth in the Company's most
recent annual report on form 20-F and other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions readers not
to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date made. The Company expressly disclaims
any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or
revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in the
Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based.