TOKYO, Japan, July 4, 2012 - Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857, NYSE: ATE) today announced that its South Korean subsidiary, Advantest Korea Co., Ltd. (Seoul, South Korea) broke ground on June 28 for its new factory in Cheonan City, Chungnam Province, South Korea. The ground breaking ceremony was attended by Cheonan mayor Moo-Yong Sung and other local dignitaries, in addition to representatives from Advantest customers and suppliers, who joined in cutting the tape at the construction site.

The new factory will comprise a two-storey building and a basement area with a total area of 39,821 m2 equipped with environmental friendly Solar panel. Construction costs are expected to be approximately 50 billion won ($44 million / ¥3.5 billion), with the factory scheduled for completion in December 2012, and production to start in January 2013. The Cheonan factory will produce test handlers, used in conjunction with semiconductor test systems, and peripheral devices including probe cards and device interfaces.