(Source: MARKETWIRE)ALMERE, The Netherlands - July 20, 2009 - ASM International N.V. (NASDAQ: ASMI and Euronext Exchange in Amsterdam: ASM) announced today that it is accelerating its cost reduction and restructuring of worldwide Front-end operations. The goal of this restructuring program, called PERFORM!, launched and announced earlier this year, is to streamline ASMI's global operations and transfer Front-end into a strong profit making organization. The Company is making an important step in reaching this goal by increasing and accelerating the cost reduction target to at least 40% (compared to the Q4 2008 run rate) to be realized in the first half of 2010, which is six months earlier than previously announced.

The main components of the Company's accelerated execution plans are:

   * The consolidation of its global Front-end Manufacturing     operations from Europe, the United States and Japan, into its     Front-end manufacturing operations in Singapore by the end of     2010. This will be achieved by: 1) completing the previously     announced transfer from Almere, the Netherlands, which is on     schedule; 2) phasing out the manufacturing operation in Phoenix,     Arizona, in the first half of 2010; and 3) transferring     manufacturing from Nagaoka, Japan, no later than the fourth     quarter of 2010. The Company believes these actions will also     lead to significant Working Capital reductions.   * The reduction of Selling, General and Administration expenses by     making fundamental changes in our global support infrastructure.     This includes a significant simplification and streamlining of     our warehousing operations and the further strengthening of the     Global Sales & Service organization which was created last year.   * The leveraging of Research and Development and our product     portfolio by reprioritization of strategic programs in order to     maximize their potential. 

Following the implementation of these measures, ASMI will continue to maintain strong Research and Development, Product Management, Marketing and Customer Support activities in Almere, Phoenix and Nagaoka/Tama.

Unfortunately, restructuring on this scale requires the loss of many loyal and dedicated employees. The Company, however, remains committed to executing this key program.

The Company expects that total restructuring charges of approximately Euro 60 - 70 million, which include amounts disclosed earlier this year, will largely be accounted for in the 2009 accounts with the associated cash flows distributed relatively evenly over 2009 and 2010.