Fremont, CA, August 18, 1998 - Asyst Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASYT), the leading supplier of manufacturing automation and Standard Mechanical InterFace (SMIF) isolation to the semiconductor industry, today announced it has named Dennis R. Riccio (47) senior vice president of worldwide sales and service, reporting to Asyst's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mihir Parikh. In this new role, he will be responsible for worldwide end-user sales, OEM sales, sales support and customer satisfaction.

Commenting on the appointment, Parikh noted, "We're very pleased to have recruited Dennis to manage Asyst's sales and service. Dennis will play a key role in this effort and will be instrumental in driving Asyst's growth once the market conditions improve-helping us accelerate our sales effort to capitalize on new opportunities during the next industry expansion."

Asyst's President and Chief Operating Officer Terry Moshier added, "Recruiting Dennis, a seasoned sales professional from the semiconductor industry, has been part of Asyst's growth strategy as SMIF has been adopted on a global basis. Not only is Dennis highly capable of driving Asyst's sales growth as more chipmakers and equipment suppliers adopt SMIF, but he has demonstrated the ability to manage a diverse customer base. We are confident that Asyst's customers and the Asyst organization will benefit from his knowledge and expertise."

A 25-year industry veteran, Riccio most recently was president of North America Operations at Novellus Systems, where he was responsible for all field-based resources including sales, service, process and technical support. Prior to that, he spent eight years with Applied Materials, where he held a number of senior management positions, including managing director of global customer operations, Thermal Process and Implant Product Business Group. Also during his tenure, he pioneered the account management concept, now an Applied and industry standard, and established the sales infrastructure for the Thermal Process and Implant Product Business Group.

Earlier in his career, Riccio was a founder and served as vice president, marketing and sales for Three-Five Semiconductor, which is now Three-Five Systems (NYSE:TFS). Before that, he held senior sales and service management positions with Eaton Semiconductor Equipment, as well as sales, marketing and materials positions with Fairchild Semiconductor and Motorola Semiconductor. Riccio holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona.

About Asyst
The pioneer of the Standard Mechanical InterFace (SMIF), Asyst Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of automated material handling systems critical to seamless factory automation in the most advanced fabs worldwide. Asyst's comprehensive solutions, which include industry-leading 200 mm and 300 mm product offerings, result in greater fab profitability and productivity. Through innovative developments in the software and integration services area, Asyst Software, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, provides integrated circuit (IC) manufacturers fully automated solutions addressing their most advanced manufacturing challenges. Hine Design Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary, designs and manufactures precision substrate handling equipment for vacuum, atmospheric and corrosive environments. Asyst's homepage is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.asyst.com

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	December 27,		December 28,		December 27,		December 28,
	1997		1996		1997		1996
Net sales	$ 42,310		$ 36,432		$120,308		$102,665
Cost of sales	23,374		22,396		67,276		60,863
Gross margin	18,936		14,036		53,032		41,802
Operating expenses:
Research and development	3,350		2,307		9,388		6,176
General, Selling & Administrative	8,541		7,215		25,595		20,650
In-process research and development of
acquired business business	0		1,335		0		1,335
Total operating expenses	11,891		10,857		34,983		28,161
Operating income	7,045		3,179		18,049		13,641
Other income, net	1,095		194		2,090		505
Income from continuing operations
before income taxes	8,140		3,373		20,139		14,146
Provision for income taxes	2,930		1,680		7,250		5,573
Income from continuing operations	5,210		1,693		12,889		8,573
Discontinued Operations:
Loss from operations of Asyst Automation, Inc.,
net of applicable income tax benefit	0		(4,763)		0		(6,092)
Loss on closure of Asyst Automation, Inc.,
net of applicable income tax benefit	(1,840)		(8,573)		(1,840)		(8,573)
Net income / (loss)	3,370		(11,643)		11,049		(6,092)
Weighted average of common and common
share equivalents used for the calculation of:
Basic earnings per share	11,925		10,368		11,129		10,189
Diluted earnings per share	12,853		10,519		11,882		10,413
Basic Earnings / (Loss) Per Share:
Income per share from continuing operations	$ 0.44		$ 0.16		$ 1.16		$ 0.84
Net income / (loss) per common share	$ 0.28		$ (1.12)		$ 0.99		$ (0.60)
Diluted Earnings / (Loss) Per Share:
Income per share from continuing operations	$ 0.41		$ 0.16		$ 1.08		$ 0.82
Net income / (loss) per common share	$ 0.26		$ (1.11)		$ 0.93		$ (0.59)

	December 27, 1997		March 31, 1997
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 43,149		$ 11,021
Short-term investments	32,869		1,000
Accounts receivable, net	28,559		35,259
Inventories	21,899		18,609
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	14,070		12,626
Net current assets of discontinued operations	0		2,749
Total current assets	140,546		81,264
Property and equipment, net	10,764		10,363
Other assets, net	2,087		2,452
	$ 153,397		$ 94,079
Liabilities and Shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$ 8,996		$ 13,392
Accrued liabilities and other	14,838		10,205
Customer deposits	2,083		2,968
Net current liabilities of discontinued operations	743		0
Income taxes payable	3,847		2,510
Total current liabilities	30,507		29,075
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	113,782		66,945
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	9,108		(1,941)
Total shareholders' equity	122,890		65,004
	$ 153,397		$ 94,079

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