(a) On September 23, 2009, Novellus Systems, Inc. (the "Company") entered into a First Amendment to Credit Agreement (the "Amendment") with Bank of America, N.A. (the "Lender") to its Credit Agreement dated June 17, 2009 (the "Credit Agreement"). Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The Amendment, among other things, amends the Credit Agreement to (A) add new definitions to the Credit Agreement, (B) amend certain existing definitions within the Credit Agreement to expand the definition of Collateral to include Foreign Collateral, (C) amend Schedule 1.01(a) to the Credit Agreement and (D) amend Schedule I to the Borrowing Base Certificate set forth in Exhibit D to the Credit Agreement.

In connection with the Amendment, the Company and the Lender also entered into that certain First Amendment to Security Agreement and the Amended and Restated Collateral Account Control Agreement, dated of even date therewith, which were also amended to include the concept of Foreign Collateral within the definition of Collateral.

The foregoing description of the Amendment in this current report on Form 8-K is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Amendment, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.29, and incorporated herein by reference.

(a) The description of the Amendment, which is included in Item 1.01 of this current report on Form 8-K, is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

(d) Exhibits.

The exhibit listed below is being furnished with this Form 8-K.

Exhibit
Number      Description
10.29       First Amendment to Credit Agreement, by and between Novellus Systems,
            Inc. and Bank of America, N.A., dated September 23, 2009.