Jordan Valley Appoints Ken Levy as the New Chairman of the Board of Directors

MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel, November 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Jordan Valley Semiconductors Ltd. (JVS), the market leader in X-Ray and VUV based metrology tools for the semiconductors industries, announced today that Ken Levy has been named chairman of its board of directors. Levy replaces Kalman Kaufman, who remains a member of the JVS Board.

Avi Fischer, Deputy Chairman of IDB Group (the largest shareholder in the company, through Clal Industries and Elron) said: "Jordan Valley led by the leadership of founder and CEO Isaac Mazor, presented impressive and unique progress in 2010. We thought that at this time the company could benefit from the skills and expertise of one of the most experienced, talented and highly regarded managers in the industry - Ken Levy.

With the addition of Ken and the continued tenure of Kalman Kaufman, who has played a great part in the dramatic progress that the company made, the company enjoys one of the most impressive boards of directors for a private company in its industry.

"I am pleased to assume the role of Chairman of the board," stated Ken Levy. "Jordan Valley's products are enabling X-Ray systems to move onto the high volume production applications. Their systems will enable the semiconductors industry to control its most advanced processes. I expect the company to continue to innovate and expand its business opportunities".

"It has been an honor to serve as Chairman of the Board these past three years and to be a part of Jordan Valley's board," said Kalman Kaufman. "I look forward to continuing to work with Ken, a seasoned business executive and visionary technologist, who founded and led KLA-Tencor for over 30 years".

"We are extremely pleased that Ken has accepted the position of Chairman. His experience and knowledge in the semiconductors capital equipment business will be a valuable asset to Jordan valley" noted Isaac Mazor, Founder and CEO of Jordan valley Semiconductors Ltd.

"I believe the next few years will prove to be a period of increased market penetration and high growth for Jordan Valley following its outstanding growth in 2010. As a chairman of the board, Ken will play a key role in driving the company's strategy," added Mr. Mazor.

About Ken Levy

Kenneth Levy has been an entrepreneur and corporate executive for over 35 years.

He founded KLA Instruments in 1976 and served as its CEO and then Chairman until 2006. Upon his retirement he was named Chairman Emeritus of the Company.

During his tenure at the company, KLA-Tencor went from a development stage company to one with sales of over $2 Billion and a market cap in excess $10 Billion. Today it is one of the five largest companies in the Semiconductor Capital Equipment Industry.

Mr. Levy has received numerous awards, including the "SEMMY" Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Institute award in the area of wafer fabrication, the SEMI Lifetime Achievement award, the Silicon Valley Hall of Fame, and he was elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Over the past 25 years, Mr. Levy has been active in helping to build Israeli hi-tech companies. In addition to investing in a number of Technology companies his spearheaded the establishment of KLA-Tencor Israel and served on a number of Israeli Boards including Saifun, Aprion, Scitex Digital, PowerDsine, Genoa, and DigiFlex. For his contributions to Israeli Industry, he was awarded the "State of Israel Jubilee Award" by Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Ken Levy has a BSEE from City College of New York and MSEE from Syracuse University.

About Jordan Valley Semiconductors Ltd. http://www.jvsemi.com

Jordan Valley Semiconductors Ltd. (JVS), the leader in X-ray and VUV metrology solutions for advanced semiconductor fabs, develops and supplies superior metrology equipment for quality control of thin films based on rapid, non-contacting and non-destructive technologies. The company offers the Semiconductor Industry the most comprehensive solutions for process monitoring of Hi-K metal gate, SiGe stacks, Cu metallization, Litho enhancement metrology (Hard mask), UBM, micro bumps and others. The company sale fully automated fab tools based on advanced metrology methods such as XRR (X-Ray reflectance) , XRF (X-Ray florescence), HRXRD (High resolution X-Ray diffraction), VUV (Vacuum Ultra Violet light) and other technologies, ideal for product or blanket wafers. For the High brightness LED manufacturing market (HBLED), JVS offers fast and economic process quality control tools.

Jordan Valley's investors include Clal Industries and Investments Ltd. (TASE: CII), Intel Capital (NASDAQ: INTC) and Elron Electronics Industries Ltd. (ELRN). With headquarters in Migdal Haemek, Israel, the company has offices in Durham, United Kingdom and Austin, Texas, USA, as well as representatives worldwide.

    Jordan Valley Semiconductors Ltd.
    P.O. Box 103
    Migdal Haemek 23100 Israel
    Tel: +972-4-6543666
    Fax: +972-4-6547472
    http://www.jvsemi.com

    For more information:
    Alon Kapel, Director of marketing
    Jordan Valley Semiconductors Ltd.
    Tel: +972-4-654-3666 x 134
    [email protected]

    Media Contact:
    Michal Kashti
    Jordan Valley Semiconductors Ltd.
    Tel: +972-4-654-3666 x 103
    [email protected]

SOURCE Jordan Valley Semiconductors Ltd.