ISSAQUAH, WASH. - Dec. 9, 1999 - As part of its strategy to grow the company by adding the best and brightest to its team, Applied Precision, Inc. has appointed several new employees, including two vice presidents. Applied Precision leads the high-tech industry in the development and manufacture of "precisionware." "Precisionware" represents the unique convergence of software, electronics and mechanics into specialized product solutions for science and technology.

"The convergence of semiconductor and biotechnology engineering experience will be the driving force behind future high-tech innovations," said Don Snow, chairman and co-founder of Applied Precision. "We are uniquely positioned to show the semiconductor and biotech industries the benefits of convergence engineering and technology. The addition of these key team members gives us the expertise we need to more rapidly achieve our continued growth and future vision goals."

Key Additions Augment Company's Leadership Team

James Sargeant joined Applied Precision as vice president of operations in June, and has already reorganized the operations group into processed-based teams accountable for cost reductions, quality control and on-time delivery. Prior to joining Applied Precision, Sargeant was general manager of two Thomas & Betts plants. He managed 480 employees in departments as diverse as engineering, operations, and marketing and administration. Under his supervision, the management team improved Thomas & Betts' business value, resulting in the successful divestiture of the two groups to Scientific Atlanta and ACI in 1999. Sargeant received his B.S. in industrial engineering from Cal Poly State University and furthered his academics with graduate work in both computer engineering and business administration at Santa Clara University and the University of Washington, respectively.

Joseph Victor, Applied Precision's vice president of engineering, is charged with leading the engineering teams for each of Applied Precision's product groups. Victor has held managerial positions in the aerospace and high-tech industries for the last 15 years. He was most recently the vice president of engineering at AIM Aviation, where he was responsible for all product engineering, research and development, manufacturing engineering, CNC programming, tooling, technical publications and document control. Prior to that position, he managed the engineering departments of Fairchild Fasteners, Advanced Wind Turbines and Flight Structures Inc. Victor earned an M.S. in aeronautical structures engineering and a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Washington. He also completed a mini-M.B.A. at the University of Washington Executive Management Program.

"James and Joe are both great additions to the Applied Precision team," said Snow. "James has already proven his ability to improve the value of what we deliver to our customers, and Joe's leadership will enhance the convergence of ideas throughout our engineering team and inspire on-going innovation and success for each of our product groups."

Applied Precision is focusing much of its personnel hiring efforts in its biotechnology group, to support strong market demand and introduction of new products for the coming year. Additions to the Applied Precision biotechnology group include:

• Nancy Kroner, senior field service engineer, biotechnology; previously field service engineer at Woodward Governor Company
• Marc Ann Perrine, applications engineer, biotechnology; formerly international product support specialist for TriPath Imaging, Inc.
• Mark Rand, Ph.D., Neurobiology, applications manager, biotechnology; previously acting assistant research professor in the Department of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine

Applied Precision Retains Services of Leading Public Relations Agency

Applied Precision also recently began working with BRW LeGrand, a leading Denver-based public relations agency. BRW LeGrand is charged with promoting and increasing industry awareness of Applied Precision through media relations and branding efforts. "It is crucial to us to have BRW LeGrand's strategic counsel and tactical expertise," said Snow. "BRW LeGrand has the experience and savvy to assist us in achieving our aggressive corporate growth goals."

About Applied Precision

Applied Precision leads the high-tech industry in the development and manufacture of "precisionware". "Precisionware" represents the unique convergence of software, electronics and mechanics into specialized product solutions for biotechnology research, semiconductor metrology test, photonics, digital flow control and micropositioning.

Applied Precision was founded in 1986 by engineers from three disciplines - mechanics, electronics and physics. The company now employs over 100 engineers, technicians, managers, and sales and marketing professionals at its Seattle-area headquarters and its European and Asian sales and service centers. Applied Precision has been in the Deloitte & Touche Washington State Technology Fast 50, a ranking of the 50 fastest-growing high-tech companies in the state, for four years in a row. For additional information, call (425) 557-1000.