Asyst Technologies Will Delay Filing of Annual Report Pending Inquiry into Past Stock Option Grants and Practices.

FREMONT, Calif. -- Asyst Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASYT) today announced that it will file Form 12b-25 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) because of an anticipated delay in filing of the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006. The company is delaying the filing while a special committee of independent directors conducts an inquiry into past stock option grants and practices.

The company received a letter dated June 7, 2006, from the SEC requesting that Asyst voluntarily produce documents relating to stock options granted from January 1, 1997 to the present. The SEC's letter states that it should not be construed as an indication by the SEC or its staff that any violations of law have occurred nor should it be considered an adverse reflection upon any person, entity or security. The company is cooperating in the SEC's inquiry.

On June 9, 2006, the company's board of directors appointed a special committee of independent members to initiate an inquiry into stock option grants and practices during the period outlined in the SEC letter. The special committee has retained independent legal counsel to assist in the inquiry.

The company currently anticipates that this inquiry will be completed in time to enable Asyst to file the Form 10-K on or before June 29, 2006, but cannot assure that it will be able to so.

Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this form are forward-looking. The forward-looking statements include statements regarding the expected time of completion of the special committee's inquiry and the intended date of filing the Form 10-K. The forward-looking 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, uncertainties related to: the time needed to complete the special committee's inquiry described above; whether or not the special committee's inquiry would lead to the discovery of accounting errors or other adverse facts that could delay the filing of the Form 10-K or require correction or restatement of previous financial statements; if the Form 10-K is not filed on or before June 29, 2006, the possible need to seek from NASDAQ an extension of time to file our Form 10-K in order to avoid possible de-listing of our common stock from the NASDAQ National Market; uncertainties associated with any hearing or appeals that could seek de-listing by NASDAQ for failure to file timely periodic reports with the SEC; uncertainties associated with lawsuits that might be filed against the company, and/or its management or directors, if the special committee inquiry were to lead to the discovery of accounting errors or other adverse facts; and whether the SEC's inquiry would lead to allegations of improper accounting or other improprieties relating to option grant practices.

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