STARKVILLE, MS – October 12, 2005 – Continuing to expand its executive management, SemiSouth today announced that Robert D. Maddox has been hired as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mr. Maddox will take over the financial leadership of SemiSouth, a role that has been managed by Dr. Jeffrey B. Casady, president and co-founder of SemiSouth.

“Robert Maddox is a seasoned professional who will help shape the financial future of SemiSouth by focusing on investor relations and steering the company into position to become a global silicon carbide electronics component supplier,” said Casady. “As our revenues transition from a primarily government contract basis to more commercial endeavors, it is the right time to bring on a financial leader who has a strong background in multinational operations and a solid knowledge of the financial community.  Robert will be instrumental in implementing new initiatives as we move forward, and helping to provide the financial foundation that will support our continued growth.”

Before joining SemiSouth, Mr. Maddox served as Vice President of Finance and Global Controller for Thermadyne Holdings Corp., a multi-national manufacturer of cutting and welding equipment based in St. Louis, Missouri, with revenues in excess of a half billion dollars. During his 12-year career with Thermadyne, he also held the role of Vice President and Corporate Controller. Between 1982 and 1992, Mr. Maddox worked in positions of increasing responsibility at Big 4 accounting firms including Ernst & Young in Dallas, Texas, and KMPG Peat Marwick in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Along with being a CPA, Mr. Maddox is a graduate of Oklahoma State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

Mr. Maddox is the second executive manager to be brought on by SemiSouth this year. In March, Keith Nootbaar was hired as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.  Mr. Nootbaar has more than 25 years of experience in the semiconductor industry and is responsible for the development of the product and marketing strategies for the company, as well as implementing and overseeing the global sales strategy.  Prior to joining SemiSouth, Mr. Nootbaar served as Director of ON Semiconductor's Power Discrete Business Unit and before that he was Vice President and Managing Director with ROHM Electronics.  Mr. Nootbaar is also a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He has extensive graduate education at the University of Minnesota (Electrical Engineering) and Strategic Marketing at University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.