4 1 nasdaq 0001185708 Director NOVELLUS SYSTEMS, INC. 0000836106 77-0024666 04/16/03 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 4 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP [ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. 1. Name and Address of Reporting Person(s) NISHI, YOSHIO 4000 NORTH FIRST STREET SAN JOSE, CA 95134 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NOVELLUS SYSTEMS, INC. (NVLS) 3. I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (Voluntary) 4. Statement for Month/Day/Year 04/16/2003 5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year) 6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) [X] Director [ ] 10% Owner [ ] Officer (give title below) [ ] Other (specify below) 7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) [X] Form filed by One Reporting Person [ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON /S/ By: ROBIN S YIM For: YOSHIO NISHI DATE 04/16/03

NISHI YOSHIO 4