Fremont, CA — Jan 8, 2002 — Asyst Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASYT), a leading provider of integrated automation solutions for the semiconductor manufacturing industry, announced that its management team will present at the Needham & Company Fourth Annual Growth Conference in New York, NY on January 10, 2002 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Needham will be providing a live webcast of the presentation over the internet. To access the webcast please go to http://www.asyst.com/frame/in_events_frame.html. For more information regarding the Needham conference, please contact your representative at Needham directly.

About Asyst
Asyst Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated automation solutions that enable semiconductor manufacturers to increase overall equipment effectiveness, improve yields and increase fab throughput. The company offers a broad range of 200mm and 300mm solutions that enable the safe and rapid transfer of wafers and information between process equipment and the fab line throughout the IC fabrication process, while reducing IC damage caused by human, environmental, mechanical and chemical factors.

Safe Harbor
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 10Q quarterly report on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Reticle Management System, SMIF, SMIF-Indexer, SMART-Tag and AdvanTag are trademarks of Asyst Technologies, Inc.