Canon Sales Company, Inc. and RAVE, LLC Announce Distribution Agreement

Japanese Sales & Marketing Efforts Will Bring Advanced Defect Repair To The Forefront of the Photomask Marketplace

Canon Sales Co., Inc., the independent marketing arm of Canon Inc.; and RAVE, LLC, the world's leading provider of advanced photomask repair solutions, announced an agreement today under which Canon Sales will operate as the distribution partner of RAVE, LLC's products in Japan.

"We are very pleased to partner with RAVE, the pioneer of nanomachining as a solution to the problem of advanced photomask defect removal," says Mr. Hideo Kikuchi, Senior General Manager of Industrial Equipment Company, Canon Sales. "RAVE, LLC's product and services are the first, and only advanced photomask repair solution for our customers. RAVE easily surpasses our criteria for excellence."

Kikuchi went on to say that RAVE's solutions are an integral part of the Canon Sales product strategy, as customers are "searching for proven products with strong, tangible ROI based on immediate time and cost savings."

"Canon Sales' Japanese market presence, expertise, and service are of the highest caliber," says Mr. Barry Hopkins, President and CEO of RAVE, LLC. "We're confident that this will be a successful partnership, especially given Canon Sales' unique proficiency in the distribution and support of high technology products for microelectronics applications. We expect that this partnership will significantly expand the distribution of our products in Japan. It's a true pleasure to work with such a progressive organization."

About Canon Sales Company, Inc.

Canon Sales Co., Inc. is the independent marketing arm of Canon Inc., -wholesaling and retailing a broad range of products developed and manufactured by Canon. In addition to the parent company, the Canon Sales Group currently encompasses 20 subsidiaries, 18 of which are consolidated, and two affiliates, including one accounted for using the equity method. As of December 2002, the Group's lineup includes such office equipment as copying machines, telecommunications products, computers and computer peripherals; optical products, including semiconductor and medical equipment; and cameras, video cameras and related products.

Canon Sales has outlined a vision designed to guide the efforts of the Group toward a mature and globally focused entity with leading-edge marketing technologies, and evolve as an advanced digital solutions producer by encouraging creativity and innovation. The Company is currently implementing a variety of strategic measures aimed at the realization of this vision.

About RAVE, LLC

RAVE, LLC is a global supplier of nanomachining solutions to the photomask marketplace as a method of repair of advanced photomasks. Nanomachining technology as applied to photomask repair is the precise and accurate removal of defects in quartz, chrome, MoSi, and various exotic materials.

Since its inception, RAVE has become recognized as the industry leader for Alternating and Embedded Phase shift mask repair. RAVE's emphasis has been on materials that provide significant challenges for the current industry standard repair techniques; specifically, quartz bumps on alternating phase shift masks, trimming of carbon patches, and repairs within tight lines and spaces.

RAVE's newest product, its nm 650, supports mask repair in support of next generation 65 nanometer device design node.

Headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., RAVE, LLC has sales and service offices around the world. All product and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The Companies undertake no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.