Release Details

POWAY, Calif., April 20, 2006 -- Cohu, Inc. (NASDAQ:COHU) today announced that net sales were $58.3 million for the first quarter ended March 25, 2006 compared to $44.4 million for the first quarter of 2005 and $74.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2005. Net income for the first quarter of 2006 was $3.4 million or $0.15 per share compared to net income of $6.5 million or $0.30 per share for the first quarter of 2005 and net income of $12.3 million or $0.53 per share for the fourth quarter of 2005. Net income for the first quarter of 2005 benefited from an income tax adjustment of approximately $3.0 million, or $0.14

First quarter 2006 sales of semiconductor test handling equipment accounted for 85% of total sales. Sales of television cameras and related equipment were 6% of sales and metal detection and microwave communications equipment contributed 9% of sales for the same period.

In the first quarter of 2006, Cohu adopted revised Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Share- Based Payment, ("FAS 123R"), which requires that share-based compensation be recorded in a company's financial statements. Historically, this had been identified in the footnote disclosures to our financial statements in accordance with FAS 123. Cohu has implemented FAS 123R using the modified prospective method. Under this method, prior period financial results have not been revised and as a result are not comparative to the 2006 results. Total sharebased compensation expense recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 was approximately $805,000. The adoption of FAS 123R in the first quarter of 2006 resulted in a $0.03 reduction in net income per share.

Cohu consolidated orders for the first quarter of 2006, including $14.5 million of orders from our previously announced asset acquisition from Unisys in March 2006, were $76.5 million compared to $71.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2005. Fourth quarter orders included a $9.0 million order for microwave communications equipment that is scheduled to ship over the next eighteen months. First quarter 2006 orders for semiconductor equipment, excluding the acquired Unisys backlog, increased from $51.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 to $53.5 million in the first quarter of 2006. Backlog was a record $101.4 million at March 25, 2006 compared to $83.2 million at December 31, 2005. Cohu expects second quarter 2006 sales to be comparable to the first quarter, excluding revenue from our $8.9 million contract with the United Arab Emirates that has been deferred and will be recognized upon customer acceptance.

James A. Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Semiconductor test handling sales were better than expected, though gross margin in Q1 was impacted by higher than expected costs associated with supporting certain customer test handler applications and a more conservative estimate of future handler support costs. We expect these costs will be lower in Q2."

Donahue concluded, "The acquisition of patents, other intellectual property and burn-in products in March significantly enhances our proprietary and industry-leading thermal technology. We believe that our new product offerings, significant portfolio of thermal IP, and increasing requirements for precise temperature control during semiconductor test and burn-in place us in a very strong competitive position. We are excited about potential new business opportunities as a result of the acquisition."

Certain matters discussed in this release including statements concerning Cohu's expectations of 2006 operations and performance are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or forecasted. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, failure to obtain customer acceptance resulting in the inability to recognize revenue and accounts receivable collection problems; the concentration of our revenues from a limited number of customers; intense competition in the semiconductor test handler industry; our reliance on patents and intellectual property; inventory write-offs; the cyclical and unpredictable nature of capital expenditures by semiconductor manufacturers; Cohu's ability to convert new products under development into production on a timely basis, support product development and meet customer delivery and acceptance requirements for next generation equipment; difficulties in integrating acquisitions and new technologies and other risks addressed in Cohu's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the most recently filed Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Cohu assumes no obligation to update the information in this release.

Cohu is a leading supplier of test handling solutions used by the global semiconductor industry as well as a supplier of closed circuit television, metal detection and microwave communications equipment.

Cohu will be conducting their conference call on Thursday, April 20, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The call will be webcast at www.cohu.com. Replays of the call can be accessed at www.cohu.com.

Full Press Release including Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Balance Sheets

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