!!! Press Release !!!

AIXTRON: REVENUE AND EARNINGS ON TRACK AS PLANNED
AT END OF FIRST 3 QUARTER 2002

Aachen, November 7, 2002 - The AIXTRON Group, the global market and technology leader in epitaxy equipment for the manufacture of compound semiconductors and other multicomponent materials, (the key components of modern electronics and photonics), have reported consolidated revenues of EUR 118.6 million (2001: EUR 180.6 million) in the first three quarters of 2002. A split-up of revenues by region shows: 33% US, 54% Asia and 13% Europe. Earnings before taxes totaled EUR 22.0 million (2001: EUR 47.1 million) and consolidated net income amounted to EUR 14.9 million (2001: EUR 27.1 million). The return on sales after tax was 13% (2001: 15%), and the equity ratio was 76% (2001: 59%). Earnings per share amounted to EUR 0.23 (2001: EUR 0.42). As planned, we directed EUR 9.0 million (2001: EUR 10.4 million) or 8% (2001: 6%) of revenue into R&D up to the balance sheet date.

In Q3 alone, AIXTRON generated revenues of EUR 35.3 million (2001: EUR 69.1 million). Pre-tax earnings reached EUR 5.0 million (2001: EUR 27.1 million) and consolidated net income EUR 4.6 million (2001: EUR 10.6 million). Earnings per share amounted to EUR 0.07 (2001: EUR 0.16). New orders in Q2 were in line with our expectations, at EUR 23 million (2001: EUR 31 million) - Epitech, LEDEX, ForEpi and Epistar from Taiwan are just some of the companies who placed orders. Order backlog by the end of the third quarter totaled EUR105 million (2001: EUR 143 million).

Whilst the AIXTRON Executive Board is confident of the company's ability to achieve our forecast shipments, they acknowledge that in the current economic climate there is an increased risk of delayed revenue associated with potential late payments by customers and the subsequent impact on the top and bottom line revenue figure. Therefore AIXTRON now expect that for fiscal year 2002 revenue will be in the range of EUR 150 - 160 mil (2001: EUR 240.0 million) and net income will be in the range of EUR 17 - 20 mil (2001: EUR 33.6 million).

AIXTRON achieved excellent R&D results in Q3. An example of this is the Tricent OVPD technology for organic light emitting diodes. Using this know-how, AIXTRON is now heading a new German Government funded OLED research project. Further examples are Gallium Nitride-on-Si for cost reduction in ultra-high brightness light-emitting diodes (UHB LED) manufacturing and Gallium Arsenide on 8-inch wafers for the production of high power electronics. Paul Hyland, AIXTRON's CEO comments: "Despite the positive medium to long-term market prospects, the day to day market conditions remain difficult. Our customers are under pressure to balance their system and increasing capacity needs with the need for careful cash management in an uncertain economic environment. Whilst we remain optimistic for the company's growth for the years to come, we are continuing to focus on both future developments of our markets and the ongoing profitable cash management of our business. We believe that with our superior technology and worldwide market leadership, in conjunction with high profitability and solid balance sheet, we remain the most consistent and reliable strategic partner for both our customers and our shareholders."

Compound semiconductors and other multicomponent materials are the key components in LEDs for signal and illumination technology, full-color giant screens, lasers for optical data storage and fiber-optic technology, high-performance chips for mobile telecommunications, next generations of DRAMs and smart cards and OLEDs, for new kinds of light and energy-saving displays. - The complete Q3 2002 quarterly report is available as a PDF file at www.aixtron.com.

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© AIXTRON AG, November 07, 2002

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