HILLSBORO, Ore., May 12, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- FEI Company (Nasdaq: FEIC) today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $20 million of the Company's common stock. Share repurchases under this program may be made through open market and privately negotiated transactions, at times and in such amounts as management deems appropriate. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors including price, corporate and regulatory requirements and other market conditions. The stock repurchase program does not have an expiration date and may be limited or terminated at any time without prior notice.

About FEI

FEI's Tools for Nanotech(TM), featuring focused ion- and electron-beam technologies, deliver 3D characterization, analysis and modification capabilities with resolution down to the sub-Angstrom level. With R&D centers in North America and Europe and sales and service operations in more than 50 countries around the world, FEI is bringing the nanoscale within the grasp of leading researchers and manufacturers and helping to turn some of the biggest ideas of this century into reality. More information can be found on the FEI website at: http://www.feicompany.com.

SOURCE FEI Company

Fletcher Chamberlin, Investor Relations of FEI Company, +1-503-726-7710 or fchamberlin@feico.com

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