!!! Press Release !!!

AIXTRON - record earnings in 2000

• Revenues: EUR 157.9 mil. (+ 87%)
• Profits: EUR 18.5 mil. (+ 78%), EUR 21.6 mil. (+ 93%) before goodwill
  
• Year-end order backlog: EUR 151 mil. (+ 105%)
  Strong growth planned in 2001
  
• Revenues: EUR 235 mil. (+ 49%)
  
• Profits: EUR 29.5 mil. (+ 59%), EUR 32.4 mil. (+ 50%) before goodwill
  1:1 share 'split' and dividend of EUR 0.20 per share (+122%) planned
  

AIXTRON - the global market and technology leader for MOCVD equipment, the key technology in the manufacture of compound semiconductors - ended fiscal year 2000 on an extremely high note. Revenues increased by 87% to EUR 157.9 mil. (thereof 43% in Asia, 41% in the US, 16% in Europe), EBIT by 92% to EUR 32.9 mil. and EBT by 102% to EUR 36 mil., and consolidated net income rose by 78% to EUR 18.5 mil.. Consolidated net income even grew by 93% to EUR 21.6 mil. before goodwill amortization. Earnings per share amounted to EUR 0.59 or EUR 0.68 before goodwill amortization. The return on sales after taxes amounted to 11.7% and to 13.7% before goodwill amortization.
The continually increasing demand worldwide for compound semiconductors, which form the core of many rapidly developing applications in modern opto- and microelectronics, was reflected in the order intake in 2000. AIXTRON received orders totalling EUR 217.3 mil. for MOCVD equipment - up 155% on 1999. The year-end order backlog amounted to EUR 151 mil., up 105% on the previous year. According to initial estimates, the AIXTRON Group increased its global market share to over 55% in 2000. AIXTRON registered 18 new patents in the year under review to further secure its technological lead.
On the basis of this excellent orders situation, the AIXTRON Executive Board is forecasting that 2001 will yield an increase in revenues of 49% to EUR 235 mil. and an increase in profits of 59% to EUR 29.5 mil. or of 50% to EUR 32.4 mil. before goodwill amortization. To prepare for further company growth, AIXTRON is further expanding its production facility in Herzogenrath considerably earlier than originally planned, after construction already commenced in February. As a result, maximal production capacity of approximately 380 systems per year will be available by the end of 2001.
Measures to increase shareholder value are planned once again for 2000. The Executive Board and Supervisory Board will propose a dividend payment of EUR 0.20 per share to the General Meeting (+122% on the previous year). In addition, a capital increase from retained earnings of EUR 32.3 mil. to EUR 64.6 mil. will be implemented. A 1:1 share 'split' will be proposed in conjunction with this, all AIXTRON shareholders will have an additional share credited. As a result, the number of AIXTRON shares will rise to 64.6 mil., 77% of which will be in free float.

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© AIXTRON AG, March 9, 2001

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