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NATURE OF OPERATIONS

We are a global supplier of precision-engineered solutions

for use in manufacturing and testing across a wide range of markets including automotive, defense/aerospace, energy, industrial, semiconductor and telecommunications. We manage our business as

two

operating segments which are also our reportable segments: Thermal Products ("Thermal") and Electromechanical Semiconductor Products ("EMS"). Our Thermal segment designs, manufactures and sells our thermal test and thermal process products while our EMS segment designs, manufactures and sells our semiconductor test products. We manufacture our products in the U.S. Marketing and support activities are conducted worldwide from our facilities in the U.S., Germany, Singapore, the Netherlands and the U.K. The consolidated entity is comprised of inTEST Corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Our EMS segment sells its products to semiconductor manufacturers and

third

-party test and assembly houses (end user sales) and to automated test equipment (“ATE”) manufacturers (original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) sales), who ultimately resell our equipment with theirs to both semiconductor manufacturers and

third

-party test and assembly houses. Our Thermal segment sells its products to many of these same types of customers. However, it also sells into a variety of other markets, including the automotive, consumer electronics, defense/aerospace, energy, industrial and telecommunications markets. As a result of the acquisition of Ambrell Corporation (“Ambrell”) in

May 2017,

our Thermal segment also sells into the consumer products packaging, fiber optics and other sectors within the broader industrial market, and into the wafer processing sector within the broader semiconductor market.

Both of our operating segments have multiple products that we design, manufacture and market to our customers. Due to a number of factors, our products have varying levels of gross margin. The mix of products we sell in any period is ultimately determined by our customers' needs. Therefore, the mix of products sold in any given period can change significantly from the prior period. As a result, our consolidated gross margin can be significantly impacted in any given period by a change in the mix of products sold in that period.

Historically, we have referred to our markets as “Semiconductor” (which includes both the broader semiconductor market as well as the more specialized ATE and wafer processing sectors within the broader semiconductor market), and “Non-Semiconductor” (which includes all of the other markets we serve). Starting in the

second

quarter of

2019,

we are referring to the broader semiconductor market, including the ATE and wafer processing sectors within that market, as the “Semi Market.” All other markets are designated as “Multimarket.” The Semi Market, which is the principal market in which we operate, is characterized by rapid technological change, competitive pricing pressures and cyclical as well as seasonal market patterns. This market is subject to significant economic downturns at various times. Our financial results are affected by a wide variety of factors, including, but

not

limited to, general economic conditions worldwide and in the markets in which we operate, economic conditions specific to the Semi Market and the other markets we serve, our ability to safeguard patented technology and intellectual property in a rapidly evolving market, downward pricing pressures from customers, and our reliance on a relatively few number of customers for a significant portion of our sales. In addition, we are exposed to the risk of obsolescence of our inventory depending on the mix of future business and technological changes within the markets that we serve. We also continue to implement an acquisition strategy that

may

cause us to incur substantial expense in reviewing and evaluating potential transactions. We

may

not

be successful in locating suitable businesses to acquire and in closing acquisitions of businesses we pursue. In addition, we

may

not

be able to successfully integrate any business we do acquire with our existing business and we

may

not

be able to operate the acquired business profitably. As a result of these or other factors, we

may

experience significant period-to-period fluctuations in future operating results.