<PAGE>

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

/X/  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934
     For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996

/ /  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

     For the transition period from                to
                                    ---------------    ---------------

                         Commission file number 0-17157

                             NOVELLUS SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


               CALIFORNIA                              77-0024666
    (State or other jurisdiction of                 (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                Identification No.)

                   3970 NORTH FIRST STREET, SAN JOSE, CA 95134
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (408) 943-9700
                         (Registrant's telephone number
                              including area code)

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                                Name of Each Exchange on
           Title of Each Class                      Which Registered
           -------------------                  ------------------------
                  None                                     N/A

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                  Common Stock
                                (Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.      Yes   X      No
                                             ---         ---

As of March 7, 1997 the aggregate market value of voting stock held by
non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $1,087,579,164.00 based on
the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as reported on the
Nasdaq National Market on such date.  Shares of Common Stock held by officers,
directors and holders of more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock have been
excluded from this calculation because such persons may be deemed to be
affiliates.  This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a
conclusive determination for other purposes.

The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on March 7, 1997 was
16,431,000.

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K.    /  /

Documents Incorporated by Reference:  Part II of this Report on Form 10-K
incorporates information by reference to Registrant's 1996 Annual Report to
Shareholders.  Part III of this Report on Form 10-K incorporates information by
reference from the Registrant's Proxy Statement for its 1997 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.

<PAGE>

                                     PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

     Novellus is a leading supplier of high productivity chemical vapor
deposition (CVD) systems used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. CVD
systems are used to deposit all of the dielectric (insulating) layers and
certain of the conductive metal layers on the surface of a semiconductor wafer.
The overall growth in the semiconductor industry and the increasing number of
layers used in complex integrated circuits have lead to increased demand for
advanced CVD equipment.  The Company's products are differentiated by their
simultaneous ability to provide superior film quality while providing the
highest productivity and lowest cost of ownership in the advanced CVD market.
The Company's strategy is to focus on major semiconductor manufacturers, and the
Company has sold one or more of its systems to each of the 20 largest
semiconductor manufacturers in the world.

INDUSTRY BACKGROUND

     The semiconductor industry has experienced significant growth in recent
years due to the continued growth of the personal computer market, the expansion
of the telecommunications industry, the emergence of new applications such as
consumer electronics products, wireless communications devices and mobile
computers and the increased semiconductor content in these electronics systems.
Significant performance advantages and lower prices for integrated circuits have
contributed to the growth and expansion of the semiconductor industry.  In
response to the growth in demand for integrated circuits, the semiconductor
industry is significantly increasing its manufacturing capacity through the
expansion of existing facilities and construction of new facilities.

     The fabrication of integrated circuits requires a number of complex and
repetitive processing steps, including deposition, photolithography and etch.
Deposition is a process in which a film of either electrically insulating or
electrically conductive material is deposited on the surface of a wafer.  The
two principal methods of thin film deposition are CVD, which can be used to
deposit both insulating and conductive films, and physical vapor deposition
(PVD), which is used primarily for sputtering conductive metals onto the wafer
surface. In the CVD process, wafers are typically placed in a reaction chamber
and a variety of pure and precisely metered gases are introduced while some form
of energy is added to activate a chemical reaction on the wafer surface.  The
result of this reaction is the deposition of a film on the wafer. CVD has become
the predominant deposition solution for smaller line width geometry
semiconductor devices because CVD is more effective than PVD in uniformly
filling the narrower spaces and holes in depositing insulating material and
certain metals in advanced devices.

     CVD processes are used to deposit all of the dielectric films and certain
conductive, metal films in an integrated circuit. The dielectric layers in an
integrated circuit include the initial interlayer, portions of the interconnect
layers and the final passivation layer. CVD is also used for deposition of
conductive metal layers, particularly those metals that are more difficult to
deposit in smaller line width geometry devices through conventional PVD or other
deposition technology. CVD technology is particularly effective for depositing
blanket tungsten as a "plug" layer that connects one conductive metal layer to
another in a multi-level integrated circuit. For such applications, tungsten is
replacing aluminum, which has certain physical properties that reduce its
efficacy for the smaller interconnect holes of devices with smaller line width
geometries.


                                        2

<PAGE>

     Advanced integrated circuit technology has created increased demand for
more sophisticated semiconductor processing equipment. Today's complex
semiconductor devices, such as 64 megabit DRAM memories and 64-bit
microprocessors, are being designed with line width geometries of .35 micron and
below, and the microprocessors have up to four layers of interconnect circuitry.
The next generation of semiconductor devices, including 256 megabit DRAM's and
64-bit microprocessors, are being designed with .25 micron line geometries, and
the microprocessors will incorporate four or more interconnect layers. Each
additional interconnect layer requires three separate layers of deposition,
which include the initial metal layer, a non-conductive dielectric layer and
then a "plug" metal film to fill patterned holes in the dielectric layer that
connects the metal layers on either side of the dielectric. The Company believes
that the greater complexity and number of interconnect layers in advanced
integrated circuits will enable the markets for dielectric and metal CVD systems
to experience significant growth.

     Semiconductor manufacturers generally measure the cost performance of their
production equipment in terms of "cost per wafer," which is determined by
factoring in the fixed costs for acquisition and installation of such equipment,
its variable operating costs and its net throughput rate. A system with higher
throughput allows the semiconductor manufacturer to recover the purchase price
of the system over a greater number of wafers and thereby reduce the cost of
ownership of the system on a per wafer basis. Throughput is most accurately
measured on a net or overall basis, which takes into account the processing
speed of the system and any non-operational downtime for cleaning, maintenance
or other repairs. Yield and film quality are also significant factors to the
semiconductor manufacturer in selecting processing equipment. The increased
costs of larger and more complex semiconductor wafers have made high yields
extremely important to semiconductor manufacturers. To achieve higher yields and
better film quality, deposition systems must be capable of repeating the
original process on a consistent basis without a disqualifying level of defects.
This characteristic, known in the industry as "repeatability," is extremely
important in achieving commercially acceptable yields.  Repeatability is more
easily achieved in those systems that can operate at desired throughput rates
without requiring the system to approach its critical tolerance limits.

     The continuing evolution of semiconductor devices to smaller line width
geometries and more complex multi-level circuitry has significantly increased
the cost and performance requirements of the capital equipment used to
manufacture these devices. Many of the advanced eight inch fabrication lines
that are currently planned or in construction will cost up to $1 billion each,
representing a substantial increase over the costs of prior generation
fabrication facilities.  Increased capital depreciation costs will continue to
become a much larger percentage of the aggregate production costs for
semiconductor manufacturers relative to labor, materials and other variable
manufacturing costs.  As a result, there has been an increasing focus by the
semiconductor industry on obtaining increased productivity and higher returns
from its semiconductor manufacturing equipment, thereby reducing the effective
cost of ownership of such systems.

THE NOVELLUS SOLUTION

     Novellus focuses on advanced CVD systems that provide superior film quality
and yield while attaining the high levels of productivity required to meet the
semiconductor industry's need for high volume, low cost wafer production. The
Company's multi-station continuous processing architecture enables its systems
to address each of the following critical parameters of CVD system performance:

     -    THROUGHPUT, COST PER WAFER.  In contrast to CVD systems which process
only one wafer at a time in a chamber, the Company's multi-station continuous
processing systems can process  five, six, or seven wafers at the same time in a
chamber, leading to higher throughput levels.  The design


                                        3

<PAGE>

simplicity and automatic cleaning capabilities of the Company's systems further
increase net throughput by reducing production downtime. The Company believes
that its systems attain the highest levels of productivity and lowest cost per
wafer in the advanced CVD equipment market.

     -    YIELD AND FILM QUALITY. With Novellus' unique sequential,
multi-station chamber design, each wafer receives a fraction of the desired film
thickness at each of five, six, or seven deposition stations in the process
chamber.  The "averaging" effect created by this design tends to reduce
anomalies in film thickness and thereby improves film uniformity and quality.
The Company's systems can obtain in general within-wafer and wafer-to-wafer
uniformity levels of +/- 1% of film thickness as measured at one standard
deviation, which the Company believes are the highest in the industry.

     -    PROCESS REPEATABILITY. Because of the inherently higher throughput
potential of continuous processing, the Company's systems are able to deposit
materials at lower, more controlled rates than single wafer processing systems
which generally deposit at faster rates closer to the process performance limits
to achieve production-level throughputs. Lower deposition rates avoid straining
the system's process tolerance limits and thereby permit increased process
control and repeatability.

STRATEGY

     The Company's objective is to increase its market share in the worldwide
CVD market and strengthen its position as a leading supplier of semiconductor
processing equipment.  The key elements of the Company's strategy are as
follows:

     -    EMPHASIS ON HIGH PRODUCTIVITY SYSTEMS. Novellus focuses on 
providing high productivity CVD systems to leading semiconductor companies. 
The Company addresses the needs of semiconductor manufacturers through its 
unique continuous processing architecture which enables its systems to attain 
high levels of wafer throughput, yield and film quality. The architecture's 
simple design also provides the Company's systems with greater up-time and 
smaller footprints compared to competitive systems, resulting in additional 
cost of ownership advantages.  The Company believes that one of its new 
products, SPEED, a high density plasma (HDP) dielectric deposition system, is 
the most productive HDP system on the market today. The Company intends to 
retain its focus on productivity by leveraging its continuous processing 
architecture in product enhancements and new product offerings.

     -    LEADERSHIP IN CVD TECHNOLOGY. The Company's strategy is to provide 
a family of deposition systems which utilize advanced CVD technologies to 
address leading-edge wafer processing needs. The Company's Concept 
One-Dielectric offers a dual frequency deposition technology to achieve 
superior results for a wide variety of films on wafers as large as eight 
inches and geometries as small as .35 micron. The Company's Concept One-W 
with proprietary back-side exclusion technology is used by manufacturers to 
connect multiple metal layers in advanced devices and the Company believes 
that it is currently the only system that provides high volume manufacturing 
worthy full coverage tungsten deposition. The Company's Concept Two system is 
a modular CVD system designed to address the needs of wafer fabs that demand 
greater levels of wafer processing integration, higher volume production and 
increased factory automation. The Company is focusing its research and 
development efforts on additional Concept Two modules, advanced "gap fill" 
technology, primary conductor metals, low K dielectric materials, and 
additional advanced technologies for the next generation of smaller geometry 
fabrication lines, as well as equipment to process 300mm wafers. The 
Company's first offering in the advanced "gap fill" technology market, SPEED, 
was introduced in February 1996.

     -    FOCUS ON MAJOR SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURERS. The Company has sold one
or more CVD systems to each of the 20 largest semiconductor manufacturers in the
world.  The long term growth prospects for semiconductors have caused many of
these manufacturers to plan major capacity expansions over the next several
years. The Company's sales objective is to work closely with customers



                                        4

<PAGE>


to secure purchase orders for multiple systems as such customers expand existing
facilities and build next generation wafer fabs.  The Company seeks to build
customer loyalty and achieve a high level of repeat business by offering high
reliability products, comprehensive field support and a responsive parts
replacement and service program.

     -    EXPANSION OF ASIAN MARKET PRESENCE. An industry source estimates 
that Asian manufacturers accounted for over half of the worldwide market for 
processing semiconductor equipment in 1996, due to Japan's large 
semiconductor industry and the recent rapid growth of manufacturers in Korea, 
Taiwan and Singapore. While Novellus derives a significant percentage of its 
net sales from the Asian marketplace, the Company believes that substantial 
additional growth potential exists.  Currently, the Company's local presence 
in Asia includes sales and support offices through the Company's wholly owned 
subsidiary in Japan and one in each of Korea, Taiwan, Mainland China, 
Singapore and Thailand. The Company also sells its products through a 
distributor in Japan and manufacturer's representatives in other Asia-Pacific 
countries.  Novellus feels it is an important part of its current business 
strategy to aggressively build its infrastructure in Asia to serve this 
rapidly growing region.

     -    LOW MANUFACTURING COST STRUCTURE.  Novellus utilizes an outsourcing
strategy for the manufacture of major subassemblies and performs system design,
assembly and testing in-house. Novellus believes that outsourcing enables it to
minimize its fixed costs and capital expenditures while also providing the
flexibility to increase capacity as needed. This strategy also allows the
Company to focus on product differentiation through system design and quality
control. Through the use of third party manufacturing specialists, the Company
ensures that its subsystems incorporate advanced technologies in robotics, gas
panels and microcomputers. The Company works closely with its suppliers to
achieve mutual cost reduction through joint design efforts.

PRODUCTS

          Since the introduction of its original Concept One-Dielectric system
in 1987, the Company has developed and now offers a family of processing systems
for the CVD dielectric and metal markets.  The Concept One-Dielectric deposits a
variety of insulating or "dielectric" films on wafers including Oxide, Nitride
and TEOS.  In 1990, the Company introduced a modified version of the Concept
One-Dielectric, the Concept One-W, which also uses a CVD process to deposit
blanket tungsten metal films on wafers primarily as the metal interconnect
between conductor layers in the integrated circuit layers.  In November 1991,
the Company introduced the Concept Two, which is a modular, integrated
production system capable of depositing both dielectric and conductive metal
layers by combining one or more processing chambers around a common, automated
robotic wafer handler. In February 1996, the Company introduced SPEED on the 
Concept Two platform. Targeted at advanced intermetal dielectric (IMD) 
deposition, SPEED is the semiconductor industry's first high density plasma 
deposition solution capable of high volume manufacturing.


   CONCEPT ONE-DIELECTRIC

     The Concept One-Dielectric is shipped in two versions, the Concept One-150,
which processes 100, 125, and 150 mm (approximately 4, 5, and 6 inches) wafers
and the Concept One-200, which processes 125, 150 and 200 mm (approximately 5, 6
and 8 inches) wafers and is designed for advanced eight inch fabrication lines.

     The Concept One consists principally of two attached chambers and
associated hardware and electronics.  The first chamber of the system, called
the "loadlock," isolates the process chamber from the outside environment.
Depending on the model of the Concept One-Dielectric, the loadlock accepts up to
75 wafers sized from 100 to 200 mm (approximately 4 to 8 inches) in diameter in
cassette carriers.


                                        5

<PAGE>

The operator inserts the cassettes of wafers in batches into the loadlock, and
the pressure inside the loadlock is decreased to create a vacuum, which matches
the constant pressure level of the process chamber.  A robotic arm, as the wafer
transport mechanism, in the center of the loadlock transfers wafers one at a
time from the cassettes to the process chamber and, upon completion of the
deposition process, returns the finished wafers to the cassettes.  The loadlock
isolates the process chamber from the fabrication environment, permitting the
process chamber to remain at constant temperature and pressure while wafers are
transferred from the cleanroom to the loadlock and from the loadlock to the
process chamber.  These stable process chamber conditions enhance film quality,
process repeatability, and throughput.  The loadlock design also reduces
particulate contamination because the robotic arm is the only moving mechanism
in the loadlock and because the wafer cassettes are isolated from the cleanroom.

     The process chamber for the Concept One-Dielectric has six or eight
stations depending on the particular model.  One station is used as a
load/unload site and the remaining five or seven stations are used for wafer
deposition.  Each deposition station employs a dedicated shower head which
delivers gases and plasma energy to the wafer surface.  In a six station process
chamber for example, each wafer moves through the system and stops at each of
the five deposition stations to receive one-fifth of its preprogrammed film
thickness.  Some CVD products, called "single wafer" systems, process only one
wafer at a time in a process chamber, while multistation continuous process
systems, like the Concept One, can process numerous wafers at the same time.
The continuous processing capabilities of a multistation system generally enable
such systems to attain higher throughput while using a less critical, more
repeatable process than would be required for a single wafer system at
equivalent throughput levels.  This multiple deposition design also results in
greater film uniformity and improved film quality because small variations in
deposition at any single station tend to be offset by deposition of the same
film at other stations.

     After the entire batch of up to 75 wafers has been processed and returned
to the cassettes, an automatic cleaning cycle in the process chamber removes
residual deposition materials, which could otherwise cause particulate
contamination in a subsequent deposition process.  During this cleaning cycle,
the loadlock automatically returns to atmospheric pressure, enabling the
operator to remove the cassettes of finished wafers without impacting system
throughout.

     The Concept One-Dielectric uses electrical, radio frequency (RF) plasma
energy to enhance thermal energy, enabling the system to process wafers at a
relatively low temperature, thereby reducing the risk of heat damage to existing
metal layers during processing.  The system also suppresses hillock formation by
limiting the time that the wafer is exposed to elevated temperatures prior to
deposition.  The wafer is heated for 10 seconds or less in advance of deposition
in the Concept One-Dielectric, which the Company believes is one of the shortest
preheat times of any CVD system.  Stress related defects are addressed through
the system by addition of a proprietary dual frequency, "stress control" option
which the Company offers.  The system's vacuum loadlock reduces the level of
particulates, thereby improving film quality by isolating the process chamber of
the Concept One-Dielectric from temperature and pressure fluctuations.  In
addition, the automatic cleaning capability and relatively simple mechanical
design of the system reduce particulate contaminants and thereby increase yields
and film quality.

     In 1995, the Company introduced  an extension to its Concept One-Dielectric
system, the Concept One Maxus. The Maxus extends the Company's leadership in
nitride passivation by enhancing the nitride deposition rate while retaining
superior nitride film performance. It also enhances the gap fill capability of
TEOS films by enabling fluorinated-TEOS (F-TEOS) processing for .35 micron gap
fill. F-TEOS enables the customer to lower the dielectric constant to 3.7, an
important capability in enhancing device performance.


                                        6

<PAGE>

     The Maxus is available on both the Concept One and Concept Two platform.

CONCEPT ONE-W

     The Concept One-W was introduced in 1990 to address the tungsten CVD
market.  The Concept One-W deposits blanket tungsten metal films, which are
increasingly used in advanced semiconductor devices to connect multiple metal
layers in the integrated circuit. Like the Concept One-Dielectric, the Concept
One-W uses a multistation, sequential deposition design that achieves high
throughput with desirable film properties for the entire range of film
thickness.  The Concept One-W also uses an approach patented by the Company to
provide full-coverage frontside tungsten deposition while preventing deposition
of tungsten on the backside of the wafer.  This capability helps prevent the
generation of damaging particles on the wafer and eliminates the need for
time-consuming etching on the backside of the wafer to remove the film.


     During 1993, the Concept One-W successfully completed a 21 day, 24 hour per
day wafer manufacturing trial at SEMATECH, a U.S. semiconductor industry
consortium. The results of this extended manufacturing trial demonstrated that
the Concept One-W achieved or surpassed all program goals, which included system
availability, film uniformity, particulates and other film properties. SEMATECH
has also announced that the Concept One-W was one group of U.S. manufactured
semiconductor production tools capable of producing devices with 0.35 micron
geometries.  The success of the Concept One-W in these SEMATECH trials was a
major milestone for the Company in attaining market acceptance for the Concept
One-W at major U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and in enabling the Company to
penetrate certain of these important accounts.

CONCEPT TWO

     The Concept Two, which was introduced in November 1991, is a modular,
integrated production system that is capable of depositing both dielectric and
conductive metal layers by combining one or more processing chambers around a
common, automated robotic wafer handler. The Concept Two enables the
semiconductor manufacturer to increase production throughput and system
capability as needed without equipment replacement by adding additional process
modules through the Concept Two's modular configuration. The Concept Two was
initially available with a tungsten process chamber and a PVD process module for
deposition of certain metal layers. In late 1994, a dielectric process module
became available for Concept Two systems. The Concept Two has been designed to
be compatible with the modular equipment interface standard established by the
Modular Equipment Standards Committee (MESC), which is sponsored by SEMATECH.

     The Concept Two in a typical configuration incorporates a central cassette
module and wafer handler that interfaces with the cleanroom and has multiple
interfaces for process or transport modules.  The cassette module manages wafer
movement through its robotics between the various processing stations that can
be included in a particular Concept Two configuration. Different cassette
modules are available depending on the customer requirements.  An optional
isolation chamber is also available that is connected to the cassette module to
connect high vacuum process chambers and other portions of the system.

     In 1993, the Company introduced the Concept Two-ALTUS, which combines the
modular architecture of the Concept Two system with an advanced tungsten CVD
process chamber. The system features a dual loadlock cassette module with full
factory automation capability to meet the high throughput requirements of high
volume automated eight inch wafer fabs.  This dual loadlock cassette


                                        7

<PAGE>

handler permits continuous operation of the process chamber with one loadlock,
while a second loadlock is simultaneously being loaded or unloaded by the
operator in the cleanroom. Through its modular configuration, the Concept Two
enables the semiconductor manufacturer to combine multistation modules for
slower processes with single wafer modules for faster processes to balance the
throughput of the overall system.  A dielectric version of the Concept Two
ALTUS, the Concept Two SEQUEL, was shipped in late 1994.  This system brought
the same level of factory automation and throughput to the dielectric market as
the ALTUS did to the metals market. The Concept Two SEQUEL was initially shipped
in a single chamber version targeted at thin dielectric films used in volume
200mm IMD production applications.

     In 1994, the Company introduced the Concept Two-Dual ALTUS tungsten
deposition system.  The Dual ALTUS features the production proven performance of
Novellus' tungsten CVD chamber in a dual chamber configuration that delivers the
throughput power to dramatically lower the cost of tungsten deposition.  The
Company feels that the Dual ALTUS is the best solution in the industry for very
high volume 200mm wafer fabs producing state-of-the-art 0.35um semiconductor
devices.

     Subsequent to 1994, the Company has continued to expand its Concept Two
product offerings as follows:

CONCEPT TWO DUAL SEQUEL

     This dual chamber version of the SEQUEL dielectric family is designed for
high throughput deposition of thick films, such as layers before CMP (chemical-
mechanical planarization), and dual layer passivation films.  It utilizes two
process chambers to provide the throughput power of twelve stations, resulting
in dramatic improvements in productivity for these types of films.

CONCEPT TWO SEQUEL-S AND ALTUS-S

     These enhanced versions of the SEQUEL and ALTUS systems offer improved
throughput performance for both thick and thin dielectric films, while occupying
45% less space than previous versions. They also provide a range of improved
maintainability features and design enhancements that reduce customer facilities
costs. They are available in both single and dual chamber versions.

     In addition, in 1995 the Company began accepting orders for its Concept Two
Titanium Nitride (TiN) system. This system is used to form a high quality, low
cost barrier/adhesion layer prior to depositing tungsten (W). The Company began
shipments of this system in 1996.

CONCEPT TWO SPEED

     Introduced in February 1996, SPEED is the Company's advanced dielectric gap
fill system, the semiconductor capital equipment industry's first high density
plasma deposition solution capable of high-volume manufacturing.  SPEED is
targeted for advanced inter-metal dielectric (IMD) deposition for 0.35 micron
devices and below.  The IMD market is the largest segment in dielectric CVD and
is also the fastest growing.  SPEED is offered either as a stand alone gap fill
system or integrated with the Concept Two SEQUEL to provide a complete high-
throughput, low-cost gap fill and chemical mechanical polishing gap layer
solution for logic manufacturing.  The system utilizes a patented hemispherical
source design and a proprietary electrostatic chuck to provide excellent fill,
superior reproducibility, low damage and high throughput. In 1996 the Company
received and shipped orders for multiple production



                                        8

<PAGE>

SPEED systems and announced an enhanced version (SPEED-S) occupying 40% less
space, thus improving throughput densities for customers.

ANTI REFLECTION LAYER

     In December 1996, the Company announced a new plasma enhanced 
anti-reflection layer (ARL) product. The ARL product achieves tighter levels 
of critical dimension control with i-line and Deep UV lithography in advanced 
semiconductor devices while reducing cost per wafer. Running on a Concept Two 
Sequel, the ARL offers very competitive throughput and low cost of ownership 
for the industry. The Novellus ARL product is currently being used in 
production in customer manufacturing facilities.

MARKETING, SALES AND SERVICE

     Novellus markets its products worldwide to manufacturers of semiconductors,
including both captive fabrication lines, which produce semiconductors primarily
for internal consumption, and merchant semiconductor manufacturers, which
produce semiconductors primarily for sales to third party customers.  In North
America, the Company sells products primarily through a direct sales force. It
has one manufacturer's representative.  The Company's U.S. sales and support
offices are located in Boston, Orlando, Austin, Dallas, Phoenix, Hopewell
Junction, New York, Williston, Vermont and Beaverton, Oregon.  In Europe, the
Company's products are predominantly sold through a wholly owned subsidiary,
Novellus Systems, Ltd, which has a sales and support facility outside London and
in Scotland.  The Company also has sales and services support offices in The
Netherlands, France and Germany.  In Asia, the Company sells its products
through a wholly owned subsidiary and through an independent distributor in
Japan, through wholly owned subsidiaries in Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Mainland
China, and Thailand, and through manufacturers representatives in other Asia
Pacific countries.  The Company's Japanese subsidiary maintains two offices 
located near Tokyo (including Company headquarters), three offices in 
Western Japan, and two offices in Kyushu.

     The ability to provide prompt and effective field support is critical to
the Company's sales efforts, due to the substantial operational and financial
commitments made by customers that purchase a CVD system. The Company's strategy
of supporting its installed base through both its customer support and research
and development groups has served to encourage use of the Company's systems in
production applications and has accelerated penetration of certain key accounts.
The Company believes that its marketing efforts are enhanced by the technical
expertise of its research and development personnel who provide customer process
support and participate in a number of industry forums such as conferences and
publications.

     The Company believes that its ability to service its customers is enhanced
by the design simplicity of its systems.  The Company generally warrants its
products against defects in design, materials, and workmanship.  In 1992, the
Company became the first semiconductor equipment manufacturer to extend its
warranty to 24 months from shipment and in 1993 also included the cost of all
consumable parts in the system and preventative maintenance parts.  The Company
offers maintenance contracts as an additional service to its customers.

     For the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, one customer, Seki 
Technotron (a distributor in Japan), accounted for 12%, 11% and 13% of the 
Company's net sales, respectively.

                                        9

<PAGE>

     Export sales for the year ended December 31, 1996 were approximately 
$295.2 million, or 64% of net sales.  For the years ended December 31, 1995, 
and 1994, export sales (including sales made by the Company's Japanese 
subsidiary) were approximately $209.4 million and $123.9 million, 
respectively, or 56% and 55% of net sales, respectively. Export sales 
increased due to strong international demand for semiconductor processing 
equipment, particularly in Asia.

     Historically, the Company has sold a significant proportion of its 
systems in any particular period to a limited number of customers. Sales to 
the Company's ten largest customers in 1996 and 1995 accounted for 59% and 
58% of net sales, respectively. The Company expects that sales of its 
products to relatively few customers will continue to account for a high 
percentage of its net sales in the foreseeable future.

BACKLOG

     As of December 31, 1996, the Company's backlog was $156,434,000, as 
compared to a backlog of $151,456,000 at December 31, 1995. The Company 
includes in its backlog only those customer orders for which it has accepted 
purchase orders and assigned shipment dates within twelve months. All orders 
are subject to cancellation or rescheduling by customers with limited or no 
penalties. Because of orders received in the same quarter in which a system 
is shipped, possible changes in system delivery schedules, cancellations of 
orders and delays in systems shipments, the Company's backlog at any 
particular date is not necessarily a reliable indicator of actual sales for 
any succeeding period.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

     The semiconductor manufacturing industry is subject to rapid 
technological change and new product introductions and enhancements. The 
Company's ability to remain competitive in this market will depend in part 
upon its ability to develop new and enhanced systems and to introduce these 
systems at competitive prices and on a timely and cost-effective basis. 
Accordingly, the Company devotes a significant portion of its personnel and 
financial resources to research and development programs and seeks to 
maintain close relationships with its customers to remain responsive to their 
product needs.

     The Company's current research and development efforts are directed at 
development of new systems and processes and improving existing system 
capabilities. The Company is focusing its research and development efforts on 
additional Concept Two modules, advanced gap fill technology, primary 
conductor metals, low K dielectric materials and additional advanced 
technologies for the next generation of smaller geometry fabrication lines, 
as well as equipment to process 300mm wafers.

     Expenditures for research and development during 1996, 1995 and 1994 were
$53,902,000, $41,009,000, and $26,012,000, or approximately 12%, 11%, and 12% of
net sales, respectively.  The Company expects in future years that research and
development expenditures will continue to represent a substantial percentage of
net sales.

     The success of the Company in developing, introducing and selling new and
enhanced systems depends upon a variety of factors, including product selection,
timely and efficient completion of product design and development, timely and
efficient implementation of manufacturing and assembly processes, product
performance in the field and effective sales and marketing. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be successful in selecting, developing,
manufacturing and marketing new products or in enhancing its existing products.
As is typical in the semiconductor capital equipment market, the Company has
experienced delays from time to time in the introduction of, and certain
technical and


                                       10

<PAGE>

manufacturing difficulties with, certain of its systems and enhancements and may
experience delays and technical and manufacturing difficulties in future
introductions or volume production of new systems or enhancements. The Company's
inability to complete the development or meet the technical specifications of
any of its new systems or enhancements or to manufacture and ship these systems
or enhancements in volume in a timely manner would materially adversely affect
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. In
addition, the Company may incur substantial unanticipated costs to ensure the
functionality and reliability of its future product introductions early in the
product's life cycle. If new products have reliability or quality problems,
reduced orders or higher manufacturing costs, delays in collecting accounts
receivable and additional service and warranty expense may result. Any of such
events could materially adversely affect the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations.

MANUFACTURING

     The Company's manufacturing activities consist primarily of assembling and
testing components and subassemblies which are acquired from third party vendors
and then integrated into a finished system by the Company. The Company utilizes
an outsourcing strategy for the manufacture of major subassemblies and performs
system design, assembly and testing in-house. Novellus believes that outsourcing
enables it to minimize its fixed costs and capital expenditures while also
providing the flexibility to increase production capacity. This strategy also
allows the Company to focus on product differentiation through system design and
quality control. Through the use of manufacturing specialists, the Company
ensures that its subsystems incorporate advanced technologies in robotics, gas
panels and microcomputers. The Company works closely with its suppliers on
achieving mutual cost reduction through joint design efforts.

     The Company manufactures its system units in clean-room environments which
are similar to the clean rooms used by semiconductor manufacturers for wafer
fabrication.  This procedure is intended to reduce the amount of particulates
and other contaminants in the final assembled system, which in turn improves
yield and reduces the level of contaminants at the customer level. Following
assembly, the completed system is packaged in a plastic shrink wrap to maintain
cleanroom standards during shipment.

     Certain of the components and subassemblies included in the Concept
One-Dielectric, Concept One-W and Concept Two are obtained from a limited group
of suppliers.  Although the Company seeks to reduce its dependence on these
limited source suppliers, disruption or termination of certain of these sources
could occur and such disruptions could have at least a temporary adverse effect
on the Company's operations. Moreover, a prolonged inability to obtain certain
components could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and
results of operations and could result in damage to customer relationships.

COMPETITION

     Significant competitive factors in the semiconductor equipment market
include system performance and flexibility, cost, the size of each
manufacturer's installed customer base, capability for customer support and
breadth of product line.  The Company believes that it competes favorably in the
CVD marketplace primarily on the basis of system performance and flexibility,
cost and customer support capability.

     The semiconductor equipment industry is highly competitive. The Company
faces substantial competition in the markets in which it competes from both
established competitors and potential new


                                       11

<PAGE>

entrants. In the CVD market, the Company's principal competitor is Applied
Materials, Inc., which is a major supplier of CVD systems and has established a
substantial base of CVD and other equipment in large semiconductor
manufacturers. Certain of the Company's competitors have greater financial,
marketing, technical or other resources, broader product lines, greater customer
service capabilities and larger and more established sales organizations and
customer bases than the Company. The Company may also face future competition
from new market entrants from Japan and other overseas and domestic sources. The
Company expects its competitors to continue to improve the design and
performance of their products. There can be no assurance that the Company's
competitors will not develop enhancements to or future generations of
competitive products that will offer superior price or performance features. In
addition, a substantial investment is required by customers to install and
integrate capital equipment into a semiconductor production line. As a result,
once a semiconductor manufacturer has selected a particular vendor's capital
equipment, the Company believes that the manufacturer will be generally reliant
upon that equipment for the specific production line application. Accordingly,
the Company may experience difficulty in selling a product line to a particular
customer for a significant period of time if that customer selects a
competitor's product. Increased competitive pressure could lead to lower prices
for the Company's products, thereby adversely affecting the Company's operating
results. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete
successfully in the future.

PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

     The Company intends to continue to pursue primarily the legal protection 
of its technology through patent and trade secret protection. The Company 
currently holds eleven patents in the United States, some with pending 
foreign counterparts, has sixteen patent applications allowed but not yet 
issued or pending in the United States and intends to file additional patent 
applications as appropriate. There can be no assurance that patents will 
issue from any of these pending applications or that any claims allowed from 
existing or pending patents will be sufficiently broad to protect the 
Company's technology. While the Company intends to protect its intellectual 
property rights vigorously, there can be no assurance that any patents held 
by the Company will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, or that 
the rights granted thereunder will provide competitive advantages to the 
Company. The Company also relies on trade secrets and proprietary technology 
that it seeks to protect, in part, through confidentiality agreements with 
employees, consultants and other parties. There can be no assurance that 
these agreements will not be breached, that the Company will have adequate 
remedies for any breach, or that the Company's trade secrets will not 
otherwise become known to or independently developed by others. See Item 3. 
Legal Proceedings.

                                 12
<PAGE>

OTHER CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

     Certain of the statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are
forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, in
addition to those risks and uncertainties described above.  These additional
risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from
those described herein and include the following:


                                       13

<PAGE>

     -    MARKET RISK.  The Company's business depends predominantly on capital
expenditures of semiconductor manufacturers, which, in turn, depend on the
current and anticipated market demand for integrated circuits and products
utilizing integrated circuits.  The semiconductor industry has historically been
very cyclical and has experienced periodic downturns, which have had a material
adverse effect on the semiconductor industry's demand for semiconductor
processing equipment, including equipment manufactured and marketed by the
Company.  No assurance can be given that the Company's net sales and operating
results will not be adversely affected if downturns or slowdowns in the rate of
capital investment in the semiconductor industry occur in the future.  In
addition, the semiconductor equipment industry is highly competitive, and
subject to rapid change and new products and enhancements.

     -    COMPETITION.  The Company faces substantial competition in each of the
markets in which it sells its products.  Certain of the Company's competitors
are larger, and have greater resources, financial and otherwise, than the
Company.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful, or as
successful as its competitors, in selecting, developing, manufacturing, and
marketing its new products, or enhancing its existing products.  Failure to
successfully develop new products could materially adversely affect the
Company's business, financial condition, and results of operations.

     -    PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS.  There has also been substantial 
litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in 
semiconductor related industries.  The Company is currently involved in such 
litigation (see Item 3. Legal Proceedings and Note 9 to the consolidated 
financial statements), and, although it is not aware of any infringement by 
its products of any patent or proprietary rights of others, it could become 
involved in additional litigation in the future.  Although the Company does 
not believe the outcome of the current litigation will have a material impact 
on the Company's financial condition or results of operations, no assurances 
can be given that this litigation or future litigation will not have such an 
impact.

     -    INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS.  Export sales accounted for approximately
64%, 56%, and 55% of net sales in 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively.  The
Company anticipates that export sales will account for a significant portion of
net sales in the foreseeable future.  As a result, a significant portion of the
Company's sales will be subject to certain risks, including tariffs and other
barriers, difficulties in staffing and managing foreign subsidiary operations,
difficulties in managing distributors, potentially adverse tax consequences, and
the possibility of difficulty in accounts receivable collection.  The Company is
also subject to the risks associated with the imposition of legislation and
regulations relating to the import or export of semiconductor products.  The
Company cannot predict whether quotas, duties, taxes, or other charges or
restrictions will be implemented by the United States or any other country upon
the importation or exportation of the Company's products in the future.  There
can be no assurance that any of these factors or the adoption of restrictive
policies will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition or results of operations.  In addition, sales of systems
shipped by the Company's Japanese subsidiary are denominated in Japanese Yen.
The Company sells the systems to its Japanese subsidiary in U.S. Dollars.  It
then enters into forward foreign exchange contracts to hedge against the short-
term impact of foreign currency fluctuations of intercompany accounts payable
denominated in U.S. Dollars recorded by the Japanese subsidiary.

EMPLOYEES

     At December 31, 1996, the Company had 1143 full time and temporary
employees.


                                       14

<PAGE>

     The success of the Company's future operations depends in large part on the
Company's ability to recruit and retain engineers and technicians, as well as
marketing, sales, service and other key personnel, who in each case are in great
demand.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in
retaining or recruiting key personnel.

     None of the Company's employees is represented by a labor union and the
Company has never experienced a work stoppage, slowdown, or strike.  The Company
considers its employee relations to be good.

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

     The Company's operations are conducted primarily in a business park and an
additional building located near each other in San Jose, California.  The
business park contains five buildings with a combined square footage of 249,408
square feet, three of which are currently occupied by the Company and two of
which are occupied by other parties. The Company leases the business park under
a lease that expires in 2001 and subleases the two buildings that it does not
occupy.  Of the three buildings occupied by the Company, one serves as corporate
headquarters and consists of 42,048 square feet, the second is used primarily
for manufacturing and contains 42,624 square feet. and the third consists of
59,904 square feet and is used primarily for office space and warehousing. The
additional building  is used for research and development and customer
demonstrations.  It consists of 58,000 square feet under a lease that expires in
2001. The Company also operates a research and development facility in
Wilsonville, Oregon containing 16,644 square feet under a lease that expires in
2001.

     On October 24, 1996, the Company entered into a 10 year lease agreement for
approximately 4.4 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to the leased business
park. The Company anticipates a research and development facility will be built
on this land to support future business expansion.

     The Company also operates facilities in Kawasaki and Sagimihara, Kanagawa
Prefecture, Japan. The former serves as corporate headquarters, sales offices,
service, technology and customer demonstration center and the latter as a
logistics, customer training, and production engineering facility for the
Company's Japanese subsidiary. The facility in Kawasaki is operated under a five
year lease expiring in 2001. The facility in Sagamihara is operated under a two
year lease with options to renew every two years  up to a total of ten years.
If all the options to renew are exercised, the lease would end in 2001.

     The Company leases various other smaller facilities worldwide which are
used as sales and customer service centers.

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     On January 30, 1995, Applied Materials, Inc. (Applied) filed a patent 
infringement suit against the Company in the United States District Court for 
the Northern District of California (the "TEOS Suit") alleging the Company's 
TEOS products infringe Applied's U.S. Patent 5,362,526 issued in November 
1994. On September 15, 1995, the Company filed a patent infringement suit 
against Applied in the United States District Court for the Northern District 
of California (the "Tungsten Suit") alleging that Applied's tungsten products 
infringe the Company's U.S. Patent 5,238,499 issued in August 1993. In 
addition, on September 15, 1995, Applied filed a patent infringement suit 
against the Company in the United States District Court for the Northern 
District of California alleging that one of the Company's tungsten processes 
infringes Applied's patent 5,028,565 issued in July 1991. On October 10, 
1995, the Company filed a counterclaim in the Tungsten Suit alleging that 
Applied's TEOS products infringe a second patent of the Company, U.S. Patent 
5,425,803 issued in June 1995. On October 26, 1995, the Company filed an 
amended counterclaim in the Tungsten Suit alleging that Applied's tungsten 
products infringe a third patent of the Company, U.S. Patent 5,374,594 issued 
in December 1994. On August 7, 1996 the Company filed an amended complaint 
and an amended counterclaim in the Tungsten suit alleging that Applied's 
tungsten products infringe a fourth patent of the Company, U.S. Patent 
5,230,741 issued in July 1993. In November 1996 the Court in the Tungsten 
Suit upheld the Company's claim that one of Applied's products infringes the 
Company's U.S. Patent 5,425,803 but has not yet ruled on Applied's invalidity 
and unenforceability claims. In December 1996 in the TEOS suit, the same 
court  ruled in favor of Applied on certain summary judgment and related 
motions which will limit the issues the Company will be able to litigate at 
trial and make more difficult the Company's defense of Applied's claims at 
trial. Applied's claims in the matters in litigation relate to the Company's 
Concept One, Concept Two and Maxus products and seek an injunction against 
use of Applied's patented technology in Company products as well as 
unspecified damages. The Company's claims relate to Applied's P5000 CVD, 
Century CVD and Optima DX2 products and seek an injunction against  use of 
the Company's patented technology in Applied products as well as unspecified 
damages.

     The trial in the TEOS Suit is now scheduled for March 24, 1997. The 
Company has filed a notice with the Court of the Company's intention to ask 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a reexamination of Applied's 
patent 5,362,526 upon which Applied's TEOS Suit claims are based. The trial in 
the Tungsten Suit is currently scheduled for August 1997, but is expected to 
be continued until a later date. Management's expectations are that the 
ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect 
on the Company's financial position, cash flows, or results of operations and 
no provision has been made for the ultimate outcome of these matters in the 
Company's financial statements. However based on future developments, 
management's estimate of the ultimate outcome could change in the near term.

       In addition, in the normal course of business, the Company from time to
time receives inquiries with regard to possible other patent infringements.  The
Company believes it is unlikely that the outcome of the patent infringement
inquiries will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial
position or results of operations.

     There has been substantial litigation regarding patent and other
intellectual property rights in semiconductor-related industries. Although the
Company is not aware of any infringement by its products of any patents or
proprietary rights of others except as claimed by Applied, further
commercialization of the Company's products could provoke claims of infringement
from third parties. In the future, litigation may be necessary to enforce
patents issued to the Company, to protect trade secrets or know-how owned by the
Company or to defend the Company against claimed infringement of the rights of
others and to determine the scope and validity of the proprietary rights of
others. Any such litigation could result in substantial cost and diversion of
effort by the Company, which by itself could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's financial condition and operating results. Further, adverse
determinations in such litigation could result in the Company's loss of
proprietary rights, subject the Company to significant liabilities to third
parties, require the Company to seek licenses from third parties or prevent the
Company from manufacturing or selling its products, any of which could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of
operations.

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

     Not applicable.


                                       15

<PAGE>

                                     PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

     The information required by this item is included under "Stock Information"
on page 16 of the Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders and is
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     The information required by this item is included under "Selected
Consolidated Financial Data" on page 11 of the Company's 1996 Annual Report to
Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     The information required by this item is included under "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" on
pages 12-15 of the Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders and is
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

     The information required by this item is included on pages 17-30 of the
Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders and is incorporated herein by
reference. Such information is listed under Item 14 of Part IV of this Report on
Form 10-K.

ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING
AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

     Not applicable.



                                    PART III

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

     The information required by this item is included under "Proposal No. 1:
Election of Directors," "Other Information - Executive Officers" and "Compliance
with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act" in the Company's Proxy Statement to be
filed in connection with its 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The information required by this item is included under "Other
Information - Executive Compensation" in the Company's Proxy Statement to be
filed in connection with its 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is
incorporated herein by reference.


                                       16

<PAGE>

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT

     The information required by this item is included under "Other
Information - Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" in
the Company's Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with its 1997 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

     The information required by this item is included under "Other
Information - Certain Transactions" in the Company's Proxy Statement to be filed
in connection with its 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated
herein by reference.

                                     PART IV

ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM
8-K

     (a) 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  The following financial statements and
schedules of the Registrant are contained on pages 17-31 of the Company's 1996
Annual Report to Shareholders and are incorporated herein by reference:

          Report of Ernst & Young, LLP Independent Auditors.

          Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 1996 and 1995.

          Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the three years in the
period ended December 31, 1996.

          Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1996.

          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 1996.

          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

         2.  FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.  The following financial statement
schedule for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996 is
filed as part of this Report on Form 10-K and should be read in conjunction with
the financial statements:

             Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.

             Schedules not listed above have been omitted because they are
either inapplicable or the required information has been given in the financial
statements or the notes thereto.

     (b) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.  None filed during quarter ended December 31,
1996.


                                       17

<PAGE>

(c) EXHIBITS


     3.1 (5) Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of
             Registrant...............................................
     3.2 (1) Form of Bylaws of Registrant, as amended to date.........
     4.1 (1) Registration Rights Agreement dated December 21,
             1987 between Registrant, holders of Series A
             Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series D
             Preferred Stock, Warrants to purchase Series B and
             Series C Preferred Stock and Robert F. Graham, and
             amendment thereto........................................
    10.1 (8) Credit Agreement dated June 23, 1992 between
             Registrant and Bank of America National Trust and
             Savings Association......................................
    10.2 (9) First Amendment dated May 1, 1993 to Credit
             Agreement dated June 23, 1992 between Registrant
             and Bank of America National Trust and Savings
             Association..............................................
    10.3(10) Second Amendment dated April 30, 1994 to Credit
             Agreement dated June 23, 1992 between Registrant
             and Bank of America National Trust and Savings
             Association..............................................
    10.4(11) Third Amendment dated April 28, 1995 to Credit
             Agreement dated June 23, 1992 between Registrant
             and Bank of America National Trust and Savings
             Association..............................................
     10.5(9) Credit Agreement dated April 30, 1993 between
             Registrant and Sanwa Bank of California, as amended
             August 19, 1993..........................................
     10.6(9) Guaranty dated November 29, 1993 between Registrant
             and The Sanwa Bank Ltd...................................
    10.7(10) Line of Credit Agreement dated June 13, 1994
             between Registrant and Sanwa Bank of California..........
    10.8(11) Amendment dated May 2, 1995 of Commercial Credit
             Agreement dated June 13, 1994 between Registrant
             and Sanwa Bank of California.............................
    10.9 (5) Business Loan Agreement dated August 2, 1990
             between Registrant and Silicon Valley Bank...............
   10.10 (7) Change in Terms Agreement dated September 23, 1991
             to Business Loan Agreement dated August 2, 1990
             between Registrant and Silicon Valley Bank...............
   10.11 (8) Change in Terms Agreement dated July 29, 1992 to
             Business Loan Agreement dated August 2, 1990
             between Registrant and Silicon Valley Bank...............
    10.12(9) Change in Terms Agreement dated May 12, 1993 to
             Business Loan Agreement dated August 2, 1990
             between Registrant and Silicon Valley Bank...............
    10.13(9) Modification dated May 12, 1993 to Business Loan
             Agreement dated August 2, 1990 between Registrant
             and Silicon Valley Bank, as amended September 23,
             1991 and July 29, 1992...................................
   10.14(10) Loan Modification Agreement dated July 15, 1995
             between


                                       18

<PAGE>

(c) EXHIBITS

             Registrant and Silicon Valley Bank.......................
    10.15(9) Commercial Guaranty dated May 12, 1993 between the
             Registrant, Silicon Valley Bank and Individual
             Employees of Novellus Systems, Inc.......................
    10.16(7) Loan and Guaranty Agreement dated November 29, 1991
             between Registrant and The Japan Development Bank........
   10.17(11) Commercial Loan Agreement dated November 15, 1995
             between Registrant and Sumitomo Bank of California.......
       10.18 Commercial Loan Agreement dated April 3, 1996
             between Registrant and Sumitomo Bank of California.......
       10.19 Amendment Agreement Number 1 dated October 18, 1996
             to Commercial Loan Agreement dated April 3, 1996
             between Registrant and Sumitomo Bank of California.......
   10.20(11) Guarantee dated August 31, 1995 between Registrant
             and The Mitsubishi Bank, Limited.........................
    10.21(5) Commercial Lease dated October 19, 1990 between
             Registrant and Sobrato Development Companies #871,
             concerning property located at 81 Vista Montana,
             San Jose, California.....................................
    10.22(1) Commercial Lease dated March 11, 1987 between
             Registrant and California Second, Ltd., concerning
             property located at 3950 North First Street, San
             Jose, California.........................................
    10.23(3) First Amendment dated February 8, 1989 to
             Commercial Lease dated March 11, 1987 between
             Registrant and California Second Ltd., concerning
             property located at 3950 North First Street, San
             Jose, California.........................................
   10.24(11) Lease dated September 26, 1995 between Registrant
             and W. F. Batton & Co., Inc. concerning property
             located at 3590 North First Street, San Jose,
             California...............................................
   10.25(10) Standard Sublease dated April 28, 1994 between
             Registrant and Granada Computer Services, Inc.,
             concerning property located 3940 North First
             Street, San Jose, California.............................
   10.26(11) Sublease Agreement dated January 13, 1995 between
             Registrant and LTX Corporation concerning property
             located at 3970 North First Street, San Jose,
             California...............................................
   10.27(11) Assignment and Assumption of Lease dated November
             22, 1995 among Registrant, Circadian, Incorporated
             (Assignor) and California Second, Ltd. (Landlord)
             concerning property located at 3942 North First
             Street, San Jose, California.............................
   10.28(11) Lease Agreement dated January 11, 1996 between
             Registrant and South Bay/Fortran concerning
             property located at 4415 Fortran Court, San Jose,
             California...............................................
       10.29 Purchase and Master Lease Agreement dated April 10,
             1996 among Registrant and Sumitomo Bank Leasing and
             Finance, Inc. (as Agent for Lessors) concerning
             property located from 3930 through 3970 North First
             Street, San Jose, California.............................
       10.30 Purchase and Master Lease Agreement dated October
             24, 1996 among Registrant and Sumitomo Bank Leasing
             and Finance, Inc. (as Agent for Lessors) concerning
             property located at the corner of


                                       19

<PAGE>

(c) EXHIBITS

             First Street and Headquarters Drive,
             San Jose, California.....................................
    10.31(1) Commercial Lease dated May 2, 1988 between
             Registrant and Aetna Life Insurance Company,
             concerning property located at 12820 Hillcrest
             Road, Suite 122, Dallas, Texas...........................
    10.32(6) Amendment dated March 27, 1990 to Commercial Lease
             dated May 2, 1988 between Registrant and Aetna Life
             Insurance Company, concerning property located at
             12820 Hillcrest Road, Suite 122, Dallas, Texas...........
    10.33(9) Amendment dated March 29, 1993 to Lease dated May
             2, 1993 between Registrant and Aetna Life Insurance
             Company, concerning property located at 12820
             Hillcrest Road, Suite 122, Dallas, Texas.................
   10.34(10) Standard Office Building Lease Agreement dated
             August 15, 1994 between Registrant and Aetna Life
             Insurance Company concerning property located at
             12840 Hillcrest Road, Suite 104, Dallas, Texas...........
    10.35(6) Lease Agreement dated May 1, 1990 between
             Registrant and East Williston Road Associates,
             concerning property located at One Blair Park,
             Blair Park, Williston, Vermont...........................
    10.36(7) Amendment dated May 23, 1991 to Lease Agreement
             dated May 1, 1990 between Registrant and East
             Williston Road Associates, concerning property
             located at One Blair Park, Blair Park, Williston,
             Vermont..................................................
    10.37(9) Letter Extension dated October 25, 1993 to Lease
             Agreement dated May 1, 1990 between Registrant and
             East Williston Road Associates, concerning property
             located at One Blair Park, Blair Park, Williston,
             Vermont..................................................
   10.38(11) Addendum dated August 10, 1995 to Lease Agreement
             dated May 1, 1990 between Registrant and East
             Williston Road Associates, concerning property
             located at One Blair Park, Blair Park, Williston,
             Vermont..................................................
    10.39(7) Office Lease dated July 1, 1991 between Registrant
             and Ray Prather, concerning property located at
             4090 W. State Street, Boise, Idaho.......................
    10.40(8) Office Lease dated January 29, 1992 between
             Registrant and Alan Arkawy, concerning property
             located at 1123 Route 52, Fishkill, New York.............
   10.41(11) Lease dated August 14, 1995 between Registrant and
             East Fishkill Corporate Park Investments concerning
             property located at 25 Corporate Park Drive, Route
             52, East Fishkill, New York..............................
    10.42(7) Commercial Lease dated February 1, 1991 between
             Registrant (Nippon Novellus Systems, K.K.) and
             Tenko, K.K., concerning property located at 1-12-3
             Kamitsuruma, Sagimihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture,
             Japan....................................................
       10.43 Commercial Lease dated May 1, 1996 between
             Registrant (Nippon Novellus Systems, K.K.) and KSP
             Community, Inc, concerning property located at C-10F
             R&D KSP-Bldg., 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku,
             Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 213, Japan (English Summary
             of original Exhibit In Japanese).........................
       10.44 Commercial Lease dated February 1, 1995 between
             Registrant


                                       20

<PAGE>

(c) EXHIBITS

             (Nippon Novellus Systems, K.K.) and Tenko Agency Co,
             Ltd, concerning property located at 1-12-3
             Kamitsuruma, Sagimihara City, Kanagawa
             Prefecture, Japan (English Summary of original
             Exhibit In Japanese).....................................
       10.45 Commercial Lease dated July 15, 1995 between
             Registrant (Nippon Novellus Systems, K.K.) and
             Heiwa Kosan Co. Ltd., concerning property located
             at 6-1-3 Nishinakajima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi,
             Osaka 532, Japan (English Summary of original
             Exhibit In Japanese).....................................
       10.46 Commercial Lease dated November 21, 1994 between
             Registrant (Nippon Novellus Systems, K.K.) and Usui
             Kosan Ltd, concerning property located at 2-10-18-D
             Ohi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 812, Japan
             (English Summary of original Exhibit In Japanese)........
       10.47 Commercial Lease dated May 11, 1995 between
             Registrant (Nippon Novellus Systems, K.K.) and
             Tadokora Jisho Co, Ltd, concerning property
             located at 1-25-25 Onoue, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto
             862, Japan. (English Summary of original Exhibit In
             Japanese)................................................
       10.48 Commercial Lease dated December 13, 1995 between
             Registrant (Nippon Novellus Systems, K.K.) and
             Meiko Takahashi, concerning property located at 5-8-41
             Kasuga-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima 721, Japan
             (English Summary of original Exhibit In Japanese)........
       10.49 Commercial Lease dated March 1, 1996 between
             Registrant (Nippon Novellus Systems, K.K.) and
             Tatsuo Ogawa, concerning property located at 9-12
             Nishihamada, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie 510, Japan (English
             Summary of original Exhibit In Japanese).................
    10.50(8) Commercial Lease dated June 15, 1992 between
             Registrant (Novellus Systems, Ltd.) and
             Exploitatiemaatschappij Dillenberg B.V., concerning
             property located at Dillenburgstraat 5-B Eindhoven,
             The Netherlands..........................................
    10.51(8) Commercial Lease dated March 26, 1992 between
             Registrant (Novellus Systems, Ltd.) and W.B.
             Properties Ltd., concerning property located at 1
             to 5 Pyrford Road, West End Garage, West Byfleet,
             Surrey, United Kingdom...................................
    10.52(9) Lease dated August 17, 1993 between Registrant and
             OTR, acting as the duly authorized nominee of the
             Board of State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio,
             concerning property located at 1701 Directors
             Boulevard, Austin, Texas.................................
   10.53(11) Lease Agreement dated May 26, 1995 between
             Registrant and OTR, acting as the duly authorized
             nominee of the Board of State Teachers Retirement
             System of Ohio, concerning property located at 1701
             Directors Boulevard, Austin, Texas.......................
    10.54(9) Lease dated November 2, 1993 between Registrant and
             Arnbil Associates, concerning property located at 5
             Mount Royal Avenue, Marlborough, Massachusetts...........
       10.55 Lease dated November 13, 1996 between R. K.
             Associates-Marlboro, Inc., concerning property
             located at 201 Boston Post


                                       21

<PAGE>

(c) EXHIBITS

             Road West, Marlborough, Massachusetts. ..................
    10.56(9) Lease dated November 4, 1993 between Registrant and
             Canterbury Associates, concerning property located
             at 19 Walnut Hill Road, Poughkeepsie, New York...........
    10.57(9) Lease dated November 17, 1992 between Registrant
             and Aetna Casualty and Surety Company, concerning
             property located at Two Gateway, Suite 420,
             Phoenix, Arizona.........................................
    10.58(9) First Amendment dated November 30, 1993 to Lease
             dated November 17, 1992 between Registrant and
             Aetna Casualty and Surety Company, concerning
             property located at Two Gateway, Suite 420,
             Phoenix, Arizona.........................................
    10.59(9) Lease dated April 25, 1990 between Registrant and
             Korea Women's Missionary Union...........................
   10.60(11) Office Rental Contract dated November 28, 1994
             between Registrant (Novellus Systems Korea Co.,
             Ltd.) and Suh Won Building Management Company
             concerning property located at 57 Garak-Dong
             Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea..................................
   10.61(11) Sublease executed February 2, 1995 between
             Registrant (Novellus Systems, Ltd.) and Leyland DAF
             Finance PLC with the consent of Central Regional
             Council concerning property located at the Upper
             Ground Floor (East Wing), The Forum, Callendar
             Business Park, Falkirk, Scotland.........................
       10.62 Lease Agreement dated August 22, 1996 between
             Registrant (Novellus Systems SARL) concerning
             property located at Building D, 1st Floor, Parc de
             la Julienne, Coudray Montceaux, France (English
             Summary of original Exhibit In Japanese).................
   10.63(11) Commercial Lease Agreement dated February 1, 1996
             between Registrant and Faison & Associates, Inc.
             d/b/a Southland Management Company, not
             individually, but solely as Management and Leasing
             Broker for Plaza Central I concerning property
             located at 6220 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Suite 186,
             Orlando, Florida.........................................
   10.64(11) Office Lease dated March 20, 1995 between
             Registrant and Hartford Underwriters Insurance
             Company concerning property located at 15350 North
             West Greenbrier Parkway, Suite B-340, Beaverton,
             Oregon...................................................
       10.65 Office Lease dated May 3, 1995 between Registrant
             and Security Capital Industrial trust concerning
             property located at 26277 SW 95th Avenue, Suites
             402-403, Wilsonville, Oregon.............................
   10.66(11) Lease dated February 15, 1995 between Registrant
             (Novellus Systems Taiwan) and Mr. Woo-Shung Lin and
             Mr. Wing-Yee Lee concerning property located at 5F-1,
             No. 295, Sec. 2, Kwang Fu Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan
             R.O.C. (English translation of original exhibit in
             the Chinese language)....................................
       10.67 Tenancy Agreement dated March 14, 1996 between
             Registrant (Novellus Singapore PTE Ltd) and UOL
             Property Investments PTE Ltd concerning property
             located at 101 Thompson Road, #21-01/02 United
             Square, Singapore........................................
    10.68(2) Equipment Lease dated March 28, 1989 between Registrant and


                                       22

<PAGE>

(c) EXHIBITS

             Matsco Leasing Company...................................
    10.69(7) Distribution Agreement dated April 1, 1991 between
             Registrant and Seki Technotron Corporation...............
    10.70(9) First Amendment dated January 1, 1993 to
             Distribution Agreement dated April 1, 1991 between
             the Registrant and Seki Technotron Corporation...........
   10.71(11) Distribution Agreement dated January 1, 1996
             between Registrant and Seki Technotron Corporation.......
   *10.72(7) Registrant's Amended and Restated 1984 Stock Option
             Plan, together with forms of agreements thereunder.......
   *10.73(9) Registrant's 1992 Stock Option Plan, together with
             forms of agreements thereunder...........................
   *10.74(8) Registrant's 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan...........
   *10.75(1) Form of Agent Indemnification Agreement and
             amendment thereto........................................
   *10.76(4) Employment Agreement dated June 1, 1989 between
             Registrant and Evert van de Ven..........................
   *10.77(8) Employment Agreement dated as of June 15, 1992
             between the Registrant and Peter Hanley..................
   *10.78(9) Offer Letter Agreement dated November 1, 1993
             between Registrant and Richard S. Hill...................
   *10.79(8) Promissory Note secured by Deed of Trust between
             Registrant and Daniel Queyssac secured by property
             located at 6051 Reston Road, Care Creek, Arizona.........
        13.1 Registrant's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders
             (only portions of this document specifically
             incorporated herein by reference are included in
             this exhibit)............................................
        22.1 Subsidiaries of Registrant...............................
        23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP, Independent
             Auditors.................................................
        25.1 Powers of Attorney (see page 25).........................


     -------------

(1)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-23011, which was declared
     effective August 11, 1988.

(2)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31,
     1989.

(3)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-28108, which was declared
     effective May 2, 1989.

(4)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30,
     1990.

(5)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-37607, which was declared
     effective November 19, 1990.


                                       23

<PAGE>

(6)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29,
     1991.

(7)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30,
     1992.

(8)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26,
     1993.

(9)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18,
     1994.

(10) Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16,
     1995.

(11) Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 20,
     1996.



*    Management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.


                                       24

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in San Jose,
California on the 19th day of March, 1997.

                                   NOVELLUS SYSTEMS, INC.

                                   By:    /s/Robert H. Smith
                                       -------------------------------
                                        Robert H. Smith
                                        EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE AND
                                        ADMINISTRATION,
                                        CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND SECRETARY



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Richard S. Hill and Robert H. Smith, and
each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for
him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Report on
Form 10-K and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his
substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.


          SIGNATURE                        CAPACITY                   DATE
          ---------                        --------                   ----

       /s/Richard S. Hill     President and Chief Executive      March 19, 1997
    -----------------------   Officer (Principal Executive
       Richard S. Hill        Officer)

       /s/Robert H. Smith     Executive Vice President, Finance  March 19, 1997
    -----------------------   and Administration, Chief
       Robert H. Smith        Financial Officer and Secretary
                              (Principal Financial and
                              Accounting Officer)

      /s/Richard S. Hill      Chairman of the Board of           March 19, 1997
    -----------------------   Directors
       Richard S. Hill

       /s/D. James Guzy       Director                           March 19, 1997
    -----------------------
        D. James Guzy

        /s/Tom Long           Director                           March 19, 1997
    -----------------------
           Tom Long

        /s/Glen Possley       Director                           March 19, 1997
    -----------------------
         Glen Possley


                                       25

<PAGE>

      /s/Robert H. Smith      Director                           March 19, 1997
    -----------------------
       Robert H. Smith

     /s/Joseph Van Poppelen   Director                           March 19, 1997
    -----------------------
     Joseph Van Poppelen


                                       26

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE II

                        VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

                                ($ IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           Description                Balance at     Charged      Deductions(1)     Balance at
---------------------------------     Beginning      to Costs     -------------       End of
                                      of Period        and                            Period
                                      ----------     Expenses                       -----------
                                                     --------
<S>                                   <C>            <C>          <C>              <C>
Year Ended December 31, 1994           $  799        $  1,097        $  135        $  1,761
  Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Year Ended December 31, 1995            1,761             495            60           2,196
  Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Year Ended December 31, 1996            2,196             581             0           2,777
  Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

</TABLE>

---------------

(1)  Charges for uncollectable accounts


                                       27

<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT NUMBER                      DOCUMENT                      SEQUENTIALLY
--------------                      --------                      NUMBERED PAGE
                                                                  -------------

     3.1 (5)   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of
               Registrant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     3.2 (1)   Form of Bylaws of Registrant, as amended to
               date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     4.1 (1)   Registration Rights Agreement dated December 21,
               1987 between Registrant, holders of Series A
               Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock,
               Series D Preferred Stock, Warrants to purchase
               Series B and Series C Preferred Stock and
               Robert F. Graham, and amendment thereto.. . . . .
    10.1 (8)   Credit Agreement dated June 23, 1992 between
               Registrant and Bank of America National Trust
               and Savings Association.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.2 (9)   First Amendment dated May 1, 1993 to Credit
               Agreement dated June 23, 1992 between Registrant
               and Bank of America National Trust and Savings
               Association.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.3(10)   Second Amendment dated April 30, 1994 to Credit
               Agreement dated June 23, 1992 between Registrant
               and Bank of America National Trust and Savings
               Association.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.4(11)   Third Amendment dated April 28, 1995 to Credit
               Agreement dated June 23, 1992 between Registrant
               and Bank of America National Trust and Savings
               Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     10.5(9)   Credit Agreement dated April 30, 1993 between
               Registrant and Sanwa Bank of California, as
               amended August 19, 1993.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
     10.6(9)   Guaranty dated November 29, 1993 between
               Registrant and The Sanwa Bank Ltd.  . . . . . . .
    10.7(10)   Line of Credit Agreement dated June 13, 1994
               between Registrant and Sanwa Bank of
               California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
        10.8   Second Amendment dated April 5, 1996 to Line of
               Credit Agreement dated June 13, 1994 between
               Registrant and Sanwa Bank of California.. . . . .
        10.9   Third Amendment dated October 24, 1996 to Line of
               Credit Agreement dated June 13, 1994 between
               Registrant and Sanwa Bank of California.. . . . .
   10.10(11)   Amendment dated May 2, 1995 of Commercial Credit
               Agreement dated June 13, 1994 between Registrant
               and Sanwa Bank of California. . . . . . . . . . .
    10.11(5)   Business Loan Agreement dated August 2, 1990
               between Registrant and Silicon Valley Bank. . . .
    10.12(7)   Change in Terms Agreement dated September 23,
               1991 to Business Loan Agreement dated August 2,
               1990 between Registrant and Silicon Valley
               Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.13(8)   Change in Terms Agreement dated July 29, 1992 to
               Business Loan Agreement dated August 2, 1990
               between Registrant and Silicon Valley Bank. . . .
    10.14(9)   Change in Terms Agreement dated May 12, 1993 to
               Business Loan Agreement dated August 2, 1990
               between Registrant and Silicon
<PAGE>

EXHIBIT NUMBER                      DOCUMENT                      SEQUENTIALLY
--------------                      --------                      NUMBERED PAGE
                                                                  -------------

               Valley Bank.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.15(9)   Modification dated May 12, 1993 to Business Loan
               Agreement dated August 2, 1990 between Registrant
               and Silicon Valley Bank, as amended September 23,
               1991 and July 29, 1992. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   10.15(10)   Loan Modification Agreement dated July 15, 1995
               between Registrant and Silicon Valley Bank. . . .
    10.17(9)   Commercial Guaranty dated May 12, 1993 between
               the Registrant, Silicon Valley Bank and
               Individual Employees of Novellus Systems, Inc.. .
    10.18(7)   Loan and Guaranty Agreement dated November 29,
               1991 between Registrant and The Japan Development
               Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   10.19(11)   Commercial Loan Agreement dated November 15, 1995
               between Registrant and Sumitomo Bank of
               California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
       10.20   Commercial Loan Agreement dated April 3, 1996
               between Registrant and Sumitomo Bank of
               California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
       10.21   Amendment Agreement Number 1 dated October 18,
               1996 to Commercial Loan Agreement dated April 3,
               1996 between Registrant and Sumitomo Bank of
               California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   10.22(11)   Guarantee dated August 31, 1995 between Registrant
               and The Mitsubishi Bank, Limited. . . . . . . . .
       10.23   Guarantee dated June 7, 1996 between Registrant
               and The Sumitomo Bank, Limited. . . . . . . . . .
       10.24   Guarantee dated July 24, 1996 between Registrant
               and The Sanwa Bank, Limited . . . . . . . . . . .
       10.25   Guarantee dated July 24, 1996 between Registrant
               and The Bank Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Limited. . . . . .
    10.26(5)   Commercial Lease dated October 19, 1990 between
               Registrant and Sobrato Development Companies
               #871, concerning property located at 81 Vista
               Montana, San Jose, California.. . . . . . . . . .
    10.27(1)   Commercial Lease dated March 11, 1987 between
               Registrant and California Second, Ltd., concerning
               property located at 3950 North First Street,
               San Jose, California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.28(3)   First Amendment dated February 8, 1989 to
               Commercial Lease dated March 11, 1987 between
               Registrant and California Second Ltd., concerning
               property located at 3950 North First Street,
               San Jose, California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   10.29(11)   Lease dated September 26, 1995 between Registrant
               and W. F. Batton & Co., Inc. concerning property
               located at 3590 North First Street, San Jose,
               California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   10.30(10)   Standard Sublease dated April 28, 1994 between
               Registrant and Granada Computer Services, Inc.,
               concerning property located 3940 North First
               Street, San Jose, California. . . . . . . . . . .
   10.31(11)   Sublease Agreement dated January 13, 1995
               between Registrant and LTX Corporation concerning
               property located at 3970 North First Street,
               San Jose, California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   10.32(11)   Assignment and Assumption of Lease dated
               November 22, 1995 among Registrant, Circadian,
               Incorporated (Assignor) and

<PAGE>

EXHIBIT NUMBER                      DOCUMENT                      SEQUENTIALLY
--------------                      --------                      NUMBERED PAGE
                                                                  -------------

               California Second, Ltd. (Landlord) concerning
               property located at 3942 North First Street,
               San Jose, California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   10.33(11)   Lease Agreement dated January 11, 1996 between
               Registrant and South Bay/Fortran concerning
               property located at 4415 Fortran Court,
               San Jose, California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
       10.34   Purchase and Master Lease Agreement dated
               April 10, 1996 among Registrant and Sumitomo
               Bank Leasing and Finance, Inc. (as Agent for
               Lessors) concerning property located from 3930
               through 3970 North First Street, San Jose,
               California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
       10.35   Purchase and Master Lease Agreement dated
               October 24, 1996 among Registrant and Sumitomo
               Bank Leasing and Finance, Inc. (as Agent for
               Lessors) concerning property located at the
               corner of First Street and Headquarters Drive,
               San Jose, California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.36(1)   Commercial Lease dated May 2, 1988 between
               Registrant and Aetna Life Insurance Company,
               concerning property located at 12820 Hillcrest
               Road, Suite 122, Dallas, Texas. . . . . . . . . .
    10.37(6)   Amendment dated March 27, 1990 to Commercial
               Lease dated May 2, 1988 between Registrant and
               Aetna Life Insurance Company, concerning
               property located at 12820 Hillcrest Road,
               Suite 122, Dallas, Texas. . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.38(9)   Amendment dated March 29, 1993 to Lease dated
               May 2, 1993 between Registrant and Aetna Life
               Insurance Company, concerning property located
               at 12820 Hillcrest Road, Suite 122,
               Dallas, Texas.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   10.39(10)   Standard Office Building Lease Agreement dated
               August 15, 1994 between Registrant and Aetna Life
               Insurance Company concerning property located at
               12840 Hillcrest Road, Suite 104, Dallas, Texas. .
    10.40(6)   Lease Agreement dated May 1, 1990 between
               Registrant and East Williston Road Associates,
               concerning property located at One Blair Park,
               Blair Park, Williston, Vermont. . . . . . . . . .
    10.41(7)   Amendment dated May 23, 1991 to Lease Agreement
               dated May 1, 1990 between Registrant and East
               Williston Road Associates, concerning property
               located at One Blair Park, Blair Park,
               Williston, Vermont. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.42(9)   Letter Extension dated October 25, 1993 to Lease
               Agreement dated May 1, 1990 between Registrant
               and East Williston Road Associates, concerning
               property located at One Blair Park, Blair Park,
               Williston, Vermont. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   10.43(11)   Addendum dated August 10, 1995 to Lease Agreement
               dated May 1, 1990 between Registrant and East
               Williston Road Associates, concerning property
               located at One Blair Park, Blair Park,
               Williston, Vermont. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.44(7)   Office Lease dated July 1, 1991 between
               Registrant and Ray Prather, concerning property
               located at 4090 W. State Street, Boise, Idaho.. .
    10.45(8)   Office Lease dated January 29, 1992 between
               Registrant and Alan Arkawy, concerning property
               located at 1123 Route 52, Fishkill, New York. . .


<PAGE>

EXHIBIT NUMBER                      DOCUMENT                      SEQUENTIALLY
--------------                      --------                      NUMBERED PAGE
                                                                  -------------

   10.46(11)   Lease dated August 14, 1995 between Registrant
               and East Fishkill Corporate Park Investments
               concerning property located at 25 Corporate Park
               Drive, Route 52, East Fishkill, New York. . . . .
    10.47(7)   Commercial Lease dated February 1, 1991 between
               Registrant (Nippon Novellus Systems, K.K.) and
               Tenko, K.K., concerning property located at
               1-12-3 Kamitsuruma, Sagimihara City, Kanagawa
               Prefecture, Japan.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
       10.48   Commercial Lease dated March 22, 1996 between
               Registrant (Nippon Novellus Systems, K.K.) and
               KSP Community, K.K. an agent for KSP K.K.,
               concerning property located at C-10F R&D KSP-
               Bldg., 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi,
               Kanagawa 213, Japan (English Summary of original
               Exhibit In Japanese). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
       10.49   Commercial Lease dated March 1, 1996 between
               Registrant (Nippon Novellus Systems, K.K.) and
               Tatsunaga Kogawa, concerning property located
               at 9-12 Nishihamada, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie 510,
               Japan (English Summary of original Exhibit
               In Japanese). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.50(8)   Commercial Lease dated June 15, 1992 between
               Registrant (Novellus Systems, Ltd.) and
               Exploitatiemaatschappij Dillenberg B.V.,
               concerning property located at
               Dillenburgstraat 5-B Eindhoven, The
               Netherlands.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.51(8)   Commercial Lease dated March 26, 1992 between
               Registrant (Novellus Systems, Ltd.) and W.B.
               Properties Ltd., concerning property located at
               1 to 5 Pyrford Road, West End Garage, West
               Byfleet, Surrey, United Kingdom.. . . . . . . . .
    10.52(9)   Lease dated August 17, 1993 between Registrant
               and OTR, acting as the duly authorized nominee of
               the Board of State Teachers Retirement System of
               Ohio, concerning property located at 1701
               Directors Boulevard, Austin, Texas. . . . . . . .
   10.53(11)   Lease Agreement dated May 26, 1995 between
               Registrant and OTR, acting as the duly authorized
               nominee of the Board of State Teachers Retirement
               System of Ohio, concerning property located at
               1701 Directors Boulevard, Austin, Texas.. . . . .
    10.54(9)   Lease dated November 2, 1993 between Registrant
               and Arnbil Associates, concerning property
               located at 5 Mount Royal Avenue, Marlborough,
               Massachusetts.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
       10.55   Lease dated November 13, 1996 between R. K.
               Associates-Marlboro, Inc., concerning property
               located at 201 Boston Post Road West,
               Marlborough, Massachusetts. . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.56(9)   Lease dated November 4, 1993 between Registrant
               and Canterbury Associates, concerning property
               located at 19 Walnut Hill Road, Poughkeepsie,
               New York. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.57(9)   Lease dated November 17, 1992 between Registrant
               and Aetna Casualty and Surety Company,
               concerning property located at Two Gateway,
               Suite 420, Phoenix, Arizona.. . . . . . . . . . .
    10.58(9)   First Amendment dated November 30, 1993 to Lease
               dated


<PAGE>

EXHIBIT NUMBER                      DOCUMENT                      SEQUENTIALLY
--------------                      --------                      NUMBERED PAGE
                                                                  -------------

               November 17, 1992 between Registrant and
               Aetna Casualty and Surety Company, concerning
               property located at Two Gateway, Suite 420,
               Phoenix, Arizona. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.59(9)   Lease dated April 25, 1990 between Registrant
               and Korea Women's Missionary Union. . . . . . . .
   10.60(11)   Office Rental Contract dated November 28, 1994
               between Registrant (Novellus Systems Korea Co.,
               Ltd.) and Suh Won Building Management Company
               concerning property located at 57 Garak-Dong
               Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
   10.61(11)   Sublease executed February 2, 1995 between
               Registrant (Novellus Systems, Ltd.) and Leyland
               DAF Finance PLC with the consent of Central
               Regional Council concerning property located at
               the Upper Ground Floor (East Wing), The Forum,
               Callendar Business Park, Falkirk, Scotland. . . .
       10.62   Lease Agreement dated August 22, 1996 between
               Registrant (Novellus Systems SaRL) concerning
               property located at Building D, 1st Floor,
               Parc de la Julienne, Coudray Montceaux, France
               (English Summary of original Exhibit In
               Japanese).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   10.63(11)   Commercial Lease Agreement dated February 1, 1996
               between Registrant and Faison & Associates, Inc.
               d/b/a Southland Management Company, not
               individually, but solely as Management and
               Leasing Broker for Plaza Central I concerning
               property located at 6220 S. Orange Blossom Trail,
               Suite 186, Orlando, Florida.. . . . . . . . . . .
   10.64(11)   Office Lease dated March 20, 1995 between
               Registrant and Hartford Underwriters Insurance
               Company concerning property located at 15350 North
               West Greenbrier Parkway, Suite B-340, Beaverton,
               Oregon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
       10.65   Office Lease dated May 3, 1995 between Registrant
               and Security Capital Industrial trust concerning
               property located at 26277 SW 95th Avenue, Suites
               402-403, Wilsonville, Oregon. . . . . . . . . . .
   10.66(11)   Lease dated February 15, 1995 between Registrant
               (Novellus Systems Taiwan) and Mr. Woo-Shung Lin
               and Mr. Wing-Yee Lee concerning property located
               at 5F-1, No. 295, Sec. 2, Kwang Fu Road, Hsinchu,
               Taiwan R.O.C. (English translation of original
               exhibit in the Chinese language). . . . . . . . .
       10.67   Tenancy Agreement dated March 14, 1996 between
               Registrant (Novellus Singapore PTE Ltd) and UOL
               Property Investments PTE Ltd concerning property
               located at 101 Thompson Road, #21-01/02 United
               Square, Singapore.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    10.68(2)   Equipment Lease dated March 28, 1989 between
               Registrant and Matsco Leasing Company.. . . . . .
    10.69(7)   Distribution Agreement dated April 1, 1991 between
               Registrant and Seki Technotron Corporation. . . .
    10.70(9)   First Amendment dated January 1, 1993 to
               Distribution Agreement dated April 1, 1991 between
               the Registrant and Seki Technotron Corporation. .


<PAGE>

EXHIBIT NUMBER                      DOCUMENT                      SEQUENTIALLY
--------------                      --------                      NUMBERED PAGE
                                                                  -------------

   10.71(11)   Distribution Agreement dated January 1, 1996
               between Registrant and Seki Technotron
               Corporation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   *10.72(7)   Registrant's Amended and Restated 1984 Stock
               Option Plan, together with forms of agreements
               thereunder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   *10.73(9)   Registrant's 1992 Stock Option Plan, together
               with forms of agreements thereunder.. . . . . . .
   *10.74(8)   Registrant's 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. .
   *10.75(1)   Form of Agent Indemnification Agreement and
               amendment thereto.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   *10.76(4)   Employment Agreement dated June 1, 1989 between
               Registrant and Evert van de Ven.. . . . . . . . .
   *10.77(8)   Employment Agreement dated as of June 15, 1992
               between the Registrant and Peter Hanley.. . . . .
   *10.78(9)   Offer Letter Agreement dated November 1, 1993
               between Registrant and Richard S. Hill. . . . . .
   *10.79(8)   Promissory Note secured by Deed of Trust between
               Registrant and Daniel Queyssac secured by
               property located at 6051 Reston Road,
               Care Creek, Arizona.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
        13.1   Registrant's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders
               (only portions of this document specifically
               incorporated herein by reference are included
               in this exhibit). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
        22.1   Subsidiaries of Registrant. . . . . . . . . . . .
        23.1   Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP, Independent
               Auditors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
        25.1   Powers of Attorney (see page 25). . . . . . . . .

---------------

(1)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-23011, which was declared
     effective August 11, 1988.

(2)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31,
     1989.

(3)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-28108, which was declared
     effective May 2, 1989.

(4)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30,
     1990.

(5)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's
     Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-37607, which was declared
     effective November 19, 1990.

(6)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29,
     1991.


<PAGE>

(7)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30,
     1992.

(8)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26,
     1993.

(9)  Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18,
     1994.

(10) Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16,
     1995.

(11) Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with Registrant's Report on
     Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 20,
     1996.


*    Management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.