Definitive Additional Materials

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.     )

 

Filed by the Registrant    x

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant    ¨

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨ Preliminary Proxy Statement
  ¨   Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
         (as permitted by §14a-6(e)(2))
¨ Definitive Proxy Statement

 

x Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨ Soliciting Material §240.14a-11(c) or §240.14a-12

 

Applied Materials, Inc.


(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

    


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x No Fee Required.

 

¨ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

 

  (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 


 

  (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 


 

  (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 


 

  (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 


 

  (5) Total fee paid:

 


 

¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:

 

¨ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by Registration Statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

  (1) Amount previously paid:

 


 

  (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 


 

  (3) Filing party:

 


 

  (4) Date filed:

 



To:

From:

Subject:

Date:

  

All Employees

Mike Splinter

2004 Proxy Materials

February 17, 2004

 

In connection with our March 24, 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Company’s 2003 Annual Report, 2003 Form 10-K and 2004 Proxy Statement are now available to you electronically. Continuing the practice we implemented last year, we produced a “10-K wrap” — a shorter version of the Annual Report bound together with the Form 10-K into a single document. You may view and/or print these documents by clicking on the link below or by visiting the Company’s Web site at the following address: http://www.appliedmaterials.com/investors/annual_proxy.html.

 

If you are an Applied Materials stockholder who owns shares (1) through the Applied Materials Employee Savings and Retirement Plan (the “401(k) plan”); (2) through the Applied Materials Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan with UBS Paine Webber; or (3) as a registered holder, you will receive instructions by e-mail in the next few days on how to vote for each account in which you hold shares. Please note that if you vote over the Internet, there may be nominal costs associated with electronic access, such as usage charges from telephone companies and Internet access providers.

 

I urge you to read carefully the Company’s 2004 Proxy Statement. It contains important information concerning the proposals to elect 10 directors and to approve the amended and restated Employee Stock Incentive Plan.

 

If you prefer to receive hard copies of the Company’s 2003 Annual Report and Form 10-K or 2004 Proxy Statement, please contact Sherry Blum in Investor Relations in Santa Clara at ext. 35227.