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STMicroelectronics Inc. wins the 1999 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award

ST's US subsidiary receives the highest level of national recognition for quality available to US companies

Geneva, November 23, 1999 - STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) announced today that its United States subsidiary, STMicroelectronics, Inc., has been awarded the 1999 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, created by public law in 1987 as part of the national quality improvement campaign, is the highest level of national recognition for quality that a US company can receive. The highly prestigious award promotes an understanding of excellence, greater awareness of quality as a crucial competitive element, and the sharing of quality information and strategies.

Upon notification of the award by Secretary of Commerce William Daley, Richard Pieranunzi, President and CEO of STMicroelectronics, Americas Region, said, "There is no doubt that this great achievement is recognition that we have reached the best in class level. "He continued, "With ST's commitment to TQEM and continuous improvement, all employees embraced the application process as an opportunity to challenge and benchmark that commitment. We are all very proud of the result and view it as a high point in our ongoing quest for excellence."

When informed that ST had won the award, Pasquale Pistorio, President and CEO of STMicroelectronics remarked, "I am proud of our American Team for its dedication to excellence and its drive to achieve ever higher levels of quality." He added, "In 1997, STMicroelectronics was awarded the European Quality Award, and earlier this year, the Singapore Quality Award. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is a further recognition of the rigorous standards ST sets for all its activities."
Through a highly competitive application process including detailed reviews and numerous site visits, the performance of MBNQA applicants is assessed in the following areas: Leadership, Strategic Planning, Customer and Market Focus, Information and Analysis Systems, Human Resources, Process Management, and Business Results. Applicants are chosen by a Board of Examiners, comprised of leading U.S. business, health care, and education experts and individuals selected from industry, professional and trade organizations, government agencies, and other not-for-profit groups.

STMicroelectronics (formerly SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics) is a global independent semiconductor company, whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on the Bourse de Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. The Company designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) and discrete devices used in a wide variety of microelectronic applications, including telecommunications systems, computer systems, consumer products, automotive products and industrial automation and control systems. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com .

NOTES FOR THE EDITOR

In 1988, the U.S. Government set up the annual award in honor of Malcolm Baldrige, a former U.S. Secretary of Commerce who was a major proponent of quality management as a key to U.S. prosperity and long-term strength, to guide and recognize American businesses which symbolize excellence in performance.

Last year's winners were Boeing Airlift and Tanker Programs, Solar Turbines Inc., and Texas Nameplate Co., Inc. Previous recipients include Texas Instruments, AT&T Network Systems Group (now Lucent Technologies), IBM Rochester, and Federal Express Corporation. This year MBNQA has expanded the company categories to include Education, and Health Services. This will make a total of 5 Categories. Large Manufacturing (which is what ST applied under), Service (Small and large), Small Manufacturing, Health Services, and Education. Under each category, there may be as many as 3 awards given by MBNQA.


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