Genus Shareholders Approve Acquisition by Merger With AIXTRON

SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Genus Inc., a leading provider of thin film deposition equipment for the semiconductor and data storage industries, announced today that the merger with AIXTRON AG, a leading provider of equipment for compound semiconductor epitaxy, has been completed pursuant to the laws of the State of California. The shareholders of Genus, at a special meeting held on March 10, 2005, approved the merger with a majority of approximately 61 percent of the Genus outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting. Of the shareholders who voted, 94 percent were in favor of the transaction.

The American Depositary Shares (ADS) to be issued in the merger to former Genus shareholders will commence trading on NASDAQ on March 11, 2005. Genus shareholders will receive 0.51 AIXTRON ADS in exchange for each Genus share. The AIXTRON ordinary shares underlying the ADS are also expected to be admitted for trading next week at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange following the registration of a share capital increase of AIXTRON which was approved during AIXTRON's extraordinary shareholders meeting held on September 30, 2004.

Commenting on the merger, Paul Hyland, CEO of AIXTRON AG, said, "We are delighted that the Genus shareholders voted in favor of the transaction. By combining the two companies we are creating one of the world's premier suppliers of advanced deposition technologies for the semiconductor industry. This transaction enables us to leverage the two companies' complementary strengths and gain the critical mass required to successfully compete in both the compound semiconductor and semiconductor equipment industries."

"We would like to thank all of our shareholders for their support on this very important strategic move," commented Bill Elder, chairman and CEO of Genus. "In the combined companies' position portfolio, AIXTRON's leading MOCVD equipment for the production of LEDs, high frequency chips and lasers, and in particular their ALD technology, will nicely complement Genus' leading-edge ALD technology, which is required in the production of advanced semiconductors and hard disc drives."

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements about the business, financial condition, results of operations and earnings outlook of AIXTRON within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "contemplate," "intend," "plans," "believe," "continue" and "estimate," and variations of these words and similar expressions, identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed herein. In any forward-looking statement in which AIXTRON expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the statement or expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. Actual operating results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements and are subject to certain risks, including risks arising from: actual customer orders received by AIXTRON; the extent to which metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, or MOCVD, technology is demanded by the market place; the timing of final acceptance of products by customers; the financial climate and accessibility of financing; general conditions in the thin film equipment market and in the macro-economy; cancellations, rescheduling or delays in product shipments; manufacturing capacity constraints; lengthy sales and qualification cycles; difficulties in the production process; changes in semiconductor industry growth; increased competition; exchange rate fluctuations; availability of government funding; variability and availability of interest rates; delays in developing and commercializing new products; general economic conditions being less favorable than expected; and other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and AIXTRON does not assume any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Any reference to the Internet website of AIXTRON is not an incorporation by reference of such information in this news release, and you should not interpret such a reference as an incorporation by reference of such information.

Additional Information

For additional information about factors that could affect our future financial and operating results, see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (Regis.No. 333-122624) filed with the Commission on February 8, 2005 and available at the Commission's website at www.sec.gov. Prior to the merger with AIXTRON, Genus traded on NASDAQ under the symbol GGN