Exhibit 99.1

INTEVAC ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2016 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Santa Clara, Calif.—February 1, 2017—Intevac, Inc. (Nasdaq: IVAC) today reported financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016.

2016 Highlights

“2016 marked an inflection point in the future revenue growth trajectory of Intevac,” commented Wendell Blonigan, president and chief executive officer. “Most notably, we secured a multi-system production capacity order for our VERTEX system, and an additional VERTEX customer during the year. Our multiple 200 Lean orders demonstrated the ongoing need for technology investments in our core HDD business, which improved compared to 2015. We increased our revenue opportunity pipeline for Photonics through successful demonstrations with our ground force monocular and high-resolution digital goggles, and while we experienced a pause in contract R&D revenues during the year, we grew our Photonics product revenues over 2015.”

“We also delivered continued improvement in our financial performance in 2016. We improved our gross margins, held SG&A flat, increased our strategic R&D investments by 16%, and significantly improved our operating performance compared to 2015. We won significant new orders in our Thin-film Equipment business, and grew backlog to levels not seen since 2010; in each of our served equipment markets. Given the momentum we have built in our strategic growth initiatives, we are on the path to profitability for 2017.”

Intevac’s non-GAAP adjusted results exclude the impact of the following, where applicable: (1) changes in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities associated with business combinations and (2) restructuring charges. A reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP adjusted results is provided in the financial table included in this release. See also “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2016 Summary

Net income for the quarter was $2.8 million, or $0.13 per diluted share. This compares to a net loss of $2.5 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2015. Non-GAAP net income was $2.8 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, compared to a non-GAAP net loss $2.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Revenues were $29.0 million, including $19.3 million of Thin-film Equipment revenues and Photonics revenues of $9.7 million. Thin-film Equipment revenues consisted of two 200 Lean HDD systems, one MATRIX™ PVD solar system, upgrades, spares and service. Photonics revenues included $2.0 million of research and development contracts. In the fourth quarter of 2015, revenues were $16.4 million, including $8.3 million of Thin-film Equipment revenues and Photonics revenues of $8.1 million, which included $1.4 million of research and development contracts.

Thin-film Equipment gross margin was 38.9% compared to 41.8 % in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 32.4% in the third quarter of 2016. The improvement from the third quarter of 2016 reflected higher revenues and improved factory absorption in the fourth quarter, and the lower-margin solar ion implant R&D tool included in revenues for the third quarter. The decline from the fourth quarter of 2015 reflected a higher mix of systems shipments versus higher-margin upgrades, offset in part by improved factory absorption.

Photonics gross margin was 45.5% compared to 39.6% in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 46.9% in the third quarter of 2016. The decline from the third quarter of 2016 was due to lower margins on technology development contracts. The improvement from the fourth quarter of 2015 was primarily due to higher margins on technology development contracts and lower inventory provisions. Consolidated gross margin was 41.1%, compared to 40.7% in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 37.7% in the third quarter of 2016.

Order backlog totaled $68.5 million on December 31, 2016, compared to $72.9 million on October 1, 2016 and $51.2 million on January 2, 2016. Backlog at December 31, 2016 included four 200 Lean HDD systems, four INTEVAC VERTEX display cover panel coating systems, one INTEVAC MATRIX solar system, and two ENERGi™ solar ion implant systems. Backlog at

October 1, 2016 included four 200 Lean HDD systems, three INTEVAC VERTEX display cover panel coating systems, two INTEVAC MATRIX solar systems, and two ENERGi solar ion implant systems. Backlog at January 2, 2016 included three solar systems and one PVD display cover panel coating system.

The Company ended the year with $49.8 million of total cash, restricted cash and investments and $71.0 million in tangible book value.

Fiscal Year 2016 Summary

The net loss was $7.4 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $9.2 million, or $0.41 per diluted share. The non-GAAP net loss was $7.5 million or $0.36 per diluted share, compared to the non-GAAP net loss of $9.3 million or $0.42 per diluted share for fiscal 2015.

Revenues were $80.1 million, including $45.3 million of Thin-film Equipment revenues and Photonics revenues of $34.9 million, of which $5.8 million was contract R&D revenues, compared to 2015 revenues of $75.2 million, including $39.6 million of Thin-film Equipment revenues and Photonics revenues of $35.5 million for 2015, of which $7.1 million was contract R&D revenues.

Thin-film Equipment gross margin was 32.8%, compared to 32.4% in 2015. The improvement from 2015 reflected a higher level of revenue and improved factory absorption. Photonics gross margin was 44.6% compared to 37.9% in 2015, reflecting a higher mix of product sales versus lower-margin technology development contracts. Consolidated gross margin was 38.0% compared to 35.0% in 2015.

Total R&D and SG&A expenses were $38.1 million compared to $35.3 million in 2015, with R&D investments up 16% and SG&A relatively unchanged from 2015 levels. The operating loss decreased by 13% from the prior year, to $7.6 million.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Intevac’s non-GAAP results exclude the impact of the following, where applicable: (1) changes in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities associated with business combinations; and (2) restructuring charges. A reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP results is provided in the financial tables included in this release.

Management uses non-GAAP results to evaluate the Company’s operating and financial performance in light of business objectives and for planning purposes. These measures are not in accordance with GAAP and may differ from non-GAAP methods of accounting and reporting used by other companies. Intevac believes these measures enhance investors’ ability to review the Company’s business from the same perspective as the Company’s management and facilitate comparisons of this period’s results with prior periods. The presentation of this additional information should not be considered a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Conference Call Information

The Company will discuss its financial results and outlook in a conference call today at 1:30 p.m. PST (4:30 p.m. EST). To participate in the teleconference, please call toll-free (877) 334-0811 prior to the start time. For international callers, the dial-in number is (408) 427-3734. You may also listen live via the Internet at the Company’s website, www.intevac.com, under the Investors link, or at www.earnings.com. For those unable to attend, these web sites will host an archive of the call. Additionally, a telephone replay of the call will be available for 48 hours beginning today at 7:30 p.m. EST. You may access the replay by calling (855) 859-2056 or, for international callers, (404) 537-3406, and providing Replay Passcode 47914252.

About Intevac

Intevac was founded in 1991 and has two businesses: Thin-film Equipment and Photonics.

In our Thin-film Equipment business, we are a leader in the design and development of high-productivity, thin-film processing systems. Our production-proven platforms are designed for high-volume manufacturing of substrates with precise thin film properties, such as the hard drive media, display cover panel, and solar photovoltaic markets we serve currently.

In our Photonics business, we are a recognized leading developer of advanced high-sensitivity digital sensors, cameras and systems that primarily serve the defense industry. We are the provider of integrated digital imaging systems for most U.S. military night vision programs.

For more information call 408-986-9888, or visit the Company’s website at www.intevac.com.

200 Lean^® is a registered trademark and INTEVAC MATRIX™, INTEVAC VERTEX™, ENERGi™ and oDLC™ are trademarks of Intevac, Inc.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”). Intevac claims the protection of the safe-harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the terms “may,” “believes,“ “projects,” “expects,” or “anticipates,” and do not reflect historical facts. Specific forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to: customer adoption of our products, an increase in the revenue opportunity pipeline for Photonics, and the future financial performance of Intevac, such as achieving profitability. The forward-looking statements contained herein involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations. These risks include, but are not limited to: technology risk and challenges achieving customer adoption and revenue recognition in Thin-film Equipment markets and delays in Photonics programs, each of which could have a material impact on our business, our financial results, and the Company’s stock price. These risks and other factors are detailed in the Company’s periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

INTEVAC, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited, in thousands, except percentages and per share amounts)

INTEVAC, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except par value)

Note: Amounts as of January 2, 2016 are derived from the January 2, 2016 audited consolidated financial statements.

INTEVAC, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS

(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)