AIXTRON REPORTS ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL FISCAL YEAR

!!! Press Release !!!

AIXTRON REPORTS ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL FISCAL YEAR
HIGH GROWTH IN REVENUES AND PROFITS IN 2001

REVENUES: EUR 240.1 MIL. (+52% YOY)
EARNINGS AFTER TAXES: EUR 33.6 MIL. (+82% YOY)

DIVIDEND PROPOSAL OF EUR 0.18 (+80%)

Aachen, March 8, 2002 - AIXTRON - the global market and technology leader for MOCVD equipment, the enabling technology to manufacture compound semiconductors and other multicomponent materials - is extremely satisfied with the results of fiscal year 2001. Revenues increased by 52% to EUR 240.1 mil. (thereof 51% in Asia, 29% in North America, and 20% in Europe), EBIT by 65% to EUR 54.2 mil. and EBT by 60% to EUR 57.7 mil.. Consolidated net profits were up 82% to EUR 36.6 mil. Earnings per share amounted to EUR 0.52 (pr. y. EUR 0.29). The return on sales after taxes totaled 14.0% (pr. y. 11.7%). The Executive Board and Supervisory Board will recommend a dividend of EUR 0.18 per share to the General Meeting (+80% yoy).

The classic end-user markets in the fields of advanced micro- and optoelectronics, for which AIXTRON supplies the enabling technology, were also hit by the global economic downturn. Forecasts by various market research institutions are nonetheless predicting that high growth rates will continue in the coming years. At the same time AIXTRON is also expanding the range of applications for its technology used to manufacture multi-component materials, such as for future generations of DRAMs and smart cards or organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In 2001, AIXTRON received orders for MOCVD equipment totaling EUR 163.4 mil. (pr. y. EUR 217.3 mil.). The order backlog at the end of 2001 amounted to EUR 133 mil. (pr. y. EUR 170 mil.), foreign exchange in order backlog valued with 1.00 EUR equals 0.95 US-Dollar. According to initial estimates, the AIXTRON Group increased its global market share to around 58% in 2001. The Group filed 20 new patents in the year under review to further secure its technological lead.

The AIXTRON Executive Board is expecting revenues in 2002 of EUR 210.0 mil. and profits after taxes of EUR 29.0 mil., which correspond to a return on sales of 14%. As part of its ongoing preparations for continued growth, the company further expanded its production capacity and established subsidiaries in Japan, Taiwan and Korea in 2001.

Download AIXTRON's annual report 2001 at www.aixtron.com.

AIXTRON GROUP FURTHER STRENGTHENS ITS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

The fiscal year 2001 was so far the most successful year in AIXTRON Group history. Since the IPO in November 1997, AIXTRON's revenues have grown from 39.8 million Euro to 240.1 million Euro in 2001 (+ 503%) and the net profit after tax has grown from 2.2 million Euro to 33.6 million Euro (+ 977%). Concurrent with such exceptional performance, the company has continuously developed and strengthened its organizational structure.

The latest step was taken in March 2001 when new operational responsibilities were successfully implemented through the introduction of a matrix organisational structure. Improvements through such organisational measures were a logical progression of growth oriented internal structuring. Thereby, clearly defined operational responsibilities have been achieved for the various business units Compound Semiconductor Equipment, Semiconductor Equipment, Global Service Operations (GSO) and Manufacturing Operations.

This reorganization has enabled AIXTRON to enter into new markets such as Oxide Materials and Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs). The creation of the new business unit GSO, which encompasses all group service activities, highlights, that customer satisfaction and a close customer relationship is viewed by AIXTRON as an essential goal of the company.

According to the Executive and Supervisory Board resolutions as of March 7, 2002, a further strengthening of the operational functions of the business units within the aforementioned matrix structure has been agreed. As a second step, aiming at continued improvements and increased efficiency of AIXTRON's operational procedures to the benefit of AIXTRON's customers, technology and market position, the business unit Directors Paul Hyland, Chris Dodson, Dr. Bernd Schulte and Steve Perry have been appointed to the Executive Board, effective as of April 1, 2002.

Today's Executive Board Dr. Holger Juergensen and Kim Schindelhauer will shift their focus to substantially develop the Group's strategic position in its respective markets. They will concern themselves with mid to long term strategic decisions, i.e. technology, future products and potential acquisitions.

In a third step, it will be proposed to the General Shareholder Meeting on 22 May 2002, that Dr. Holger Juergensen and Kim Schindelhauer will be elected into the Supervisory Board of AIXTRON AG. Forming a Chairman's Committee within the Supervisory Board, they will work closely with the Executive Board and will advise and support the Executive Board to reach technology and strategy related decisions. Prof. Dr. R. von Rosen, Managing Director of "Deutsches Aktieninstitut", will be proposed as an additional member of the Supervisory Board. Therefore the total will be increased to six members. Commencing on May 23, 2002, Paul Hyland will be Chief Executive Officer of AIXTRON AG with Chris C. Dodson as Chief Financial Officer.

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