Fremont, CA, March 9, 2000 - Asyst Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: ASYT) today announced that it has received a multimillion-dollar order from 1st Silicon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. for its fab-wide automation solution at the new 200mm operation in Kuching, Malaysia. The order includes Asyst's SMIF-LPT™ line of products, minienvironments, SMART-Traveler's System™ for automated lot ID, and SMART Storage SystemTM. Asyst's products are intended for 1st Silicon's wafer production, starting with 0.25µm digital and mixed-signal CMOS technologies followed by 0.18µm and below. The projected date of installation at the 90,000-square-foot cleanroom is May, 2000.

Commenting on the order, 1st Silicon's Chief Executive Officer Claudio Loddo cited Asyst's technology, experience and excellent support system as key factors in choosing Asyst as 1st Silicon enters the highly competitive foundry market. "Overall operation efficiency, productivity, yields, and quality is imperative to 1st Silicon's success in foundry services. We believe that Asyst's advanced wafer isolation, and material handling and tracking technologies will provide us the most advantageous means of achieving these goals." Mr. Loddo further noted, "1st Silicon sought a technology leader like Asyst to provide solutions for efficient fab floor operation and manufacturing quality. We are confident that Asyst's technologies and support will help to ensure the processing integrity at our new fab."

"We are gratified by 1st Silicon's decision to utilize Asyst's factory automation solutions for its initial fab," commented Mihir Parikh, Asyst's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Malaysia is clearly a new and growing center for semiconductor fabrication, and this order marks an important step for Asyst as we continue to gain momentum and capitalize upon this strategic region." Dr. Parikh noted that in line with the company's commitment to the success of 1st Silicon and in an effort to provide their fab with on-site local support, Asyst intends to open a field service office in Kuching.

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 recent S-3 Registration Statement.

About 1st Silicon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.: 1st Silicon is a dedicated semiconductor foundry founded in 1998 by the Malaysian State of Sarawak. 1st Silicon's 200mm wafer fab with an ultimate capacity of 30K wafers per month will be operational in Q3 2000. The facility will commence production with 0.25µm digital and mixed signal CMOS technology, followed by 0.18µm and below. SHARP Corporation is 1st Silicon's technology partner as well as first customer. The company is headquartered in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, with an office in San Jose, CA. Homepage: www.1stsilicon.com.

About Asyst: Asyst Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of SMIF-based minienvironment and manufacturing automation systems that enable semiconductor manufacturers to protect customers' valued assets throughout the manufacturing process while increasing manufacturing productivity. Asyst offers a broad range of 200 mm and 300 mm products that enable the Company to provide semiconductor manufacturers and OEMs automated manufacturing solutions for the transfer of wafers and information between the process equipment and the fab line.

SMIF-LPT, SMIF-Indexer, SMIF-Enclosure and SMART-Tag are trademarks of Asyst Technologies.