AIXTRON AG performs Cost reduction

!!! Press Release !!!

AIXTRON AG performs Cost reduction

Aachen, March 13th, 2003 - The decision to reduce its workforce announced by the AIXTRON Executive Board on February 11, 2003 will be realized until March 31, 2003. Due to fast and constructive negotiations with the AIXTRON works council, Heads of Agreement concerning settlement of conflict of interest ('Interessenausgleich') and social redundancy plan ('Sozialplan') have been agreed.

The decision to actively reduce the cost base of the company has been taken to maintain the dominant profitable market position the company has created over the last 20 years and to protect the longer term potential of the company to create future growth opportunities.

As a consequence of this necessary alignment to the current market conditions, AIXTRON's workforce will be reduced by 52 employees.

Paul Hyland, President and CEO of AIXTRON: "The decision on the reduction of our workforce is unavoidable to react to the current world market situation and to take the responsibility in the interest of our employees and our investors.

As far we are able, we will try to assist those employees chosen by offering the transfer into an out-placement company.

I would like to emphasize again that our customers can be assured that these decisions will not have any impact on our high-level services.

We will maintain our plans to continue to invest in Research and Development and to develop and reinforce markets for new applications of our technology."

For further information please contact:

Dr. Claus Ehrenbeck
Head of Investor Relations and
Corporate Communications
AIXTRON AG
Kackertstr. 15 - 17
D-52072 Aachen, Germany
Phone:+49 241 8909 444
Fax: +49 241 8909 445
E-mail: invest@aixtron.com