Cabot Microelectronics Corporation Receives Intel’s Prestigious Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement Award

Aurora, IL, March 10, 2016 -- Cabot Microelectronics Corporation (Nasdaq: CCMP), the world’s leading supplier of chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) polishing slurries and a growing CMP pad supplier to the semiconductor industry, announced today that it has been recognized as one of only nine companies receiving Intel Corporation’s prestigious Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement (SCQI) award for its performance in 2015. Cabot Microelectronics Corporation was recognized for demonstrating outstanding performance to goals and extraordinary, industry-leading commitment across all critical focus areas on which they are measured: quality, cost, availability, technology, customer service, labor and ethics systems and environmental sustainability. This award is Intel’s highest honor for its suppliers, acknowledging truly exceptional and world-class execution. Cabot Microelectronics has been recognized by Intel for its world-class supply chain capabilities for nine out of the last ten years for providing CMP slurries and CMP pads, deemed essential to Intel’s success.

“This marks the fourth consecutive year that our company has earned Intel’s highest supplier honor, the Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement award,” said David Li, President and CEO of Cabot Microelectronics. “We believe this repeated recognition is evidence of our ongoing ability to successfully deliver innovative, high-quality, high-performing, and reliable CMP solutions. We are honored that Intel considers our company a long-term, strategic partner, and we look forward to continuing to support its business initiatives, and grow with them in the future.”

“Congratulations Cabot Microelectronics on your 2015 SCQI award. CMC is an impressive four-time consecutive winner of the Intel SCQI award, which reflects a commitment to quality and excellence," said Tim Hendry, Vice President and Director of Fab Materials in the Technology and Manufacturing Group at Intel. "CMC provides Intel with excellent R&D support enabling us to meet our technology needs across a wide variety of applications. We appreciate their hard work and dedication and are pleased to recognize their achievements.”

The SCQI award is part of Intel’s Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement program, which encourages Intel’s key suppliers to strive for excellence and continuous improvement. To qualify for SCQI, suppliers must score at least 95 percent on a report card that assesses performance and ability to meet cost, quality, availability, technology, environmental, social and governance goals. Suppliers must also achieve 90 percent or greater on a challenging improvement plan and demonstrate solid quality and business systems. Additional information about the SCQI program is available at http://intel.com/go/quality.

A celebration to honor SCQI award winners was held in Santa Clara, California on March 10, 2016 themed “Delivering the Future Together”, which illustrates the outstanding contributions Cabot Microelectronics made in 2015. In addition, there was an announcement on Intel’s website at http://intel.com/.

Intel is a trademark or registered trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

ABOUT CABOT MICROELECTRONICS

Cabot Microelectronics Corporation, headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is the world's leading supplier of CMP polishing slurries and a growing CMP pad supplier to the semiconductor industry. The company’s products play a critical role in the production of advanced semiconductor devices, enabling the manufacture of smaller, faster and more complex devices by its customers. The company's mission is to create value by developing reliable and innovative solutions, through close customer collaboration, that solve today's challenges and help enable tomorrow's technology. The company has approximately 1,100 employees on a global basis. For more information about Cabot Microelectronics Corporation, visit www.cabotcmp.com or contact Trisha Tuntland, Director of Investor Relations at 630-499-2600.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This news release may include statements that constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities regulations. These forward-looking statements include statements related to: future sales and operating results; growth or contraction, and trends in the industry and markets in which the company participates; the company’s management; various economic factors and international events; regulatory or legislative activity; product performance; the generation, protection and acquisition of intellectual property, and litigation related to such intellectual property; new product introductions; development of new products, technologies and markets; the company’s supply chain; natural disasters; the acquisition of or investment in other entities; uses and investment of the company’s cash balance, including dividends and share repurchases, which may be suspended, terminated or modified at any time for any reason, based on a variety of factors; financing facilities and related debt, payment of principal and interest, and compliance with covenants and other terms; the company’s capital structure; the company’s current or future tax rate; and the operation of facilities by Cabot Microelectronics Corporation. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those described from time to time in Cabot Microelectronics’ filings with the SEC, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described by these forward-looking statements. In particular, see "Risk Factors" in the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 and in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, both filed with the SEC. Cabot Microelectronics assumes no obligation to update this forward-looking information.

Trisha Tuntland
Director of Investor Relations
630-499-2600