Microchem Corp. Named One of New England's Fastest Growing Companies

Newton, MA. September 14, 2000. MicroChem Corp. (MCC) has been recognized as part of the prestigious "New England Technology Fast 50" for 2000, a ranking of the 50 fastest growing technology companies in the area. Rankings are based on five- revenue growth (19995-19999). The program is co-sponsored by professional services firm of Deloitte & Touche and the law firm of Hale and Dorr LLP, in association with Mass High Tech, the Journal of New England Technology.

"The definition of success in the technology market place is an elusive, forward moving target. While it can be measured in many ways, it is pretty clear that the Fast 50 have made a definite impact on the market place and on the New England economy-at-large. Congratulations to MicroChem for achieving this impressive benchmark of success," said Steve Dipietro, a partner with Deloitte & Touche and Co-chair of the 2000 New England Technology Fast 50 program.

To qualify for the 2000 Fast 50 program, companies must have had operating revenues of at least $50,000 in 1995 and a minimum of $1 million in operating revenues in 1999: may be public or private: and must be headquartered in the region. To be considered for an award, the company must produce technology, manufacture a technology product, be technologically intensive, use technology in problem solving, or devote high percentage of effort to the research and development of technology.

All nominees of the 22 regional U.S. and Canadian Fast 50 programs are automatically entered in the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500 program, which ranks North America's top 500 fastest growing technology companies.

For the last eight years, MicroChem Corp. has built up a unique business in the photo-resist marketplace, developing new products and improving on existing products to meet specific needs of customers that are not being met by the larger photo-resist manufacturers. The company started by formulating a new e-beam resist product that provided improved environmental qualities to users in the e-beam sector. Since then it has brought to market lift off resist products that are used in the fabrication of thin film heads for magnetic hard drives. In 1997 it introduced a family of thick film negative resists for use in the growing microelectromechanical (MEMS) market.

For more information on Deloitte & Touche, visit the web site at www.us.deloitte.com. For more information on Mass High Tech, visit the web site at www.masshightech.com.

About MicroChem

Scott Heidemann
Sales & Marketing Manager

MicroChem Corp.
90 Oak St.
Newton, MA 02464
617-965-5511 x311
sheidemann
@microchem.com