Fremont, CA, April 12, 1999 - Asyst Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASYT), the leading supplier of manufacturing automation and Standard Mechanical InterFace (SMIF) isolation solutions to the semiconductor industry, today announced it has entered into an agreement with The European Business Team as the company's European sales representative. Asyst also announced the appointment of Robert Kane (42) to the new position of president, European customer operations, reporting directly to Dennis Riccio, Asyst's senior vice president, global customer operations.

Asyst's agreement with The European Business Team was developed in response to increasing sales activities from both current and potential new customers in the region. According to Riccio, the agreement with The European Business Team strategically aligns Asyst with an established European semiconductor equipment sales representative. "The European Business Team has fostered strong customer relationships with some of Europe's most successful and influential chipmakers," noted Riccio. "This agreement will help Asyst enhance its current customer relationships and accelerate its responsiveness to many recent inquiries from chipmakers throughout Europe who are looking to leverage new manufacturing strategies to optimize their production of next-generation devices." The European Business Team includes Alliance Sales (Europe) Ltd.; High Tech Trade (HTT), Germany; and Systems Technology International (STI), France.

With increased wireless communications activities and the recent development of technology centers throughout Europe, many analysts and global economists predict this region is primed for an economic resurgence driven by high technology. Semiconductor growth projections from industry analyst firm VLSI Research Inc. (San Jose, CA) estimates that semiconductor sales by European chip companies will exceed $14 billion by the end of 2000, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly nine percent from 1998 through 2000, while the CAGR projected for Japanese chip companies is less than one percent for the same time period.

Chartered with driving the growth of Asyst's European customer operations, Kane will be responsible for integrating all of Asyst's European activities, including sales, customer service, project management, and training. Kane brings more than 20 years' experience in the semiconductor industry to this position. "Bob's extensive experience-almost all of it managing European operations-will be invaluable in helping expand Asyst's European customer base," commented Riccio.

Kane joins Asyst from Applied Materials where he was most recently the director of business development in Europe for the company's Thermal Processes and Implant Division. In his nearly 10 years with Applied Materials, Kane held various business management positions with increasing responsibilities. Prior to that, Kane held European management positions with several semiconductor equipment companies, including Eaton Semiconductor, General Signal and GCA Corp. Kane's experience also includes management positions with Motorola's and Plessey's semiconductor operations in the United Kingdom. Kane was educated in chemistry and applied physics at Oxford Polytechnic University (Oxford, England). Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release are forward-looking. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, semiconductor industry cycles, risks associated with the acceptance of new products and product capabilities, and other factors more fully detailed in the Company's most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and annual report to shareholders.

About The European Business Team: The European Business Team is a unique and highly effective partnership of three owner-managed companies, well known and respected by their key customers over many years. HTT - High Tech Trade GmbH, Germany; STI - Systems Technology International, France; and Alliance Sales (Europe) Ltd., United Kingdom together employ some 50 specialists and work together providing seamless coverage of the European Market from seven locations. The European Business Team represents an extensive range of semiconductor/electronics manufacturing equipment from all over the world, with the aim of bringing to their customers the best in new technology with outstanding service and support.

About Asyst:
The pioneer of the Standard Mechanical InterFace (SMIF), Asyst Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of automated material handling systems and software critical to seamless factory automation in the most advanced fabs worldwide. Asyst's comprehensive solutions, which include industry-leading loadport, auto ID, environmental control, robotic, and automation software products for 200 mm and 300 mm applications, result in greater fab profitability and productivity.