Auriga Measurement Systems and Cascade Microtech announce agreement to market on-wafer integrated turn-key test solutions.

Auriga’s ATE test platforms and the new Auriga Synthetic Instruments platforms, software and hardware test solutions; and Cascade Microtech’s On-wafer probing solutions, are combined providing cost effective customizable turn-key systems.

LOWELL MASSACHUSETTS, January 11, 2006

Auriga Measurement Systems, LLC, today announced an agreement with Cascade Microtech, Inc. of Beaverton, Oregon, 97006 (NASDAQ CSCD), to jointly develop and market integrated on-wafer load-pull, noise parameters, pulsed IV DC/RF test solutions for the semiconductor industry. The companies plan to pair Auriga’s system integration expertise and Cascade Microtech’s precision on-wafer test solutions. The first system planned is a pulsed-bias/pulsed-RF solution for isothermal characterization and modeling.

Auriga plans to use Agilent's IC-CAP parameter extraction and device-modeling software and instrumentation with Auriga's test instrumentation, along with Cascade’s on-wafer probing solutions. As part of this agreement, Auriga proposes to establish a mutually beneficial marketing and sales relationship with Cascade Microtech in a spirit similar to those relations that Auriga has established with Agilent Technologies, Focus Microwave and AWR. This partnership would be based on sharing of certain physical and intangible property, intellectual property, as well as cooperating on sales and marketing efforts including but not limited to customer events, sharing of sales leads and preferentially bundling each others products as part of providing complete solutions to customers.

Auriga believes that we can share significant value with Cascade, based on the strengths of our organization. Our people typically have >20-40 years experience in their respective fields of device modeling, characterization, test system development along with Marketing and Sales expertise. Our staff developed these skills at such respected industry members such as Hewlett Packard, Agilent Technologies, Raytheon Research Division and ATN Microwave. We believe our unique combination of device physics, device characterization and custom test system development make us a valuable resource in many of the core markets that Cascade works in.

Auriga specifically proposes to base its device modeling and characterization systems and solutions exclusively on Cascade’s products, not limited to probes and probe stations. Auriga’s solutions includes modeling services, Pulsed IV Systems, Pulsed IV/RF Systems, Load Pull Systems, Noise Parameter Systems, Dynamic Load Line Systems and T/R Module Systems.

Auriga has developed the above test and characterization systems and solutions and proposes to Cascade and Auriga customers a new ability to address their specific needs. Further, based on Auriga’s technical insight, based on our development of these systems and use of them, Auriga will be able to provide Cascade with technical direction and insight in areas of product development and improvement of Cascade’s products. One example of an area of cooperation would be Auriga’s evaluation of Cascade’s on-wafer and DC probes for suitability and range of operation for high voltage, short duration (200V, 100nSec), DC pulses used in Pulsed IV characterization. These cooperative evaluations and product improvements will be summarized in product and/or application notes due March 2006.

Look for Auriga to highlight Cascade’s products in our advertising, product promotions, customer events and other Auriga marketing activities. Auriga has incorporated Cascade’s logo and pictures of probe stations, in a fashion similar to the Agilent Channel Partner logo, in our advertising.

Auriga, as a test system developer and integrator, has developed extensive test and measurement software expertise, and proposes to share this expertise with Cascade to improve the end customer experience with products such as Nucleus. We are also in an excellent position to provide to Cascade customized software development tailored to specific customer needs.

As a test instrument developer, Auriga is also well positioned to tailor our products, such as Pulsed IV and Load Pull, to better integrate with Cascade’s hardware, and to develop custom hardware based on Cascade’s or customer inputs. We currently have VXI, USB and serial interfaced instruments or components in production and additional items in development. As needed, Auriga can make this design and manufacturing capability available to Cascade.

Additional information about Cascade Microtech products and application is available at http://www.cascademicrotech.com/index.cfm

Additional information about Agilent's EDA products and applications is available at www.agilent.com/find/eesof.

About Auriga Measurement Systems LLC

Auriga Measurement Systems LLC is focused on delivering a new standard to the microwave community in the areas of Active/Passive Device Modeling, Characterization Systems, and Manufacturing Test Systems. Auriga believes that the close link between measurement science and device physics is critical to improving the current state of device modeling, and that a sound understanding of the basic physics of current active devices is necessary to properly design and implement the measurement systems used to derive device models. Auriga blends these diverse technologies under one organization with the intent to lead the industry to a higher modeling and measurement standard. Auriga is located at Suite 205, 650 Suffolk Street, Lowell, MA 01854. For additional information about the company, please visit www.auriga-ms.com or call .