Press Release 

AIXTRON Appoints Klaus F. Gruendel as new Head of Investor Relations

Aachen, Germany, August 4, 2004 – AIXTRON AG (FSE: AIX; ISIN DE0005066203), a leading provider of equipment for semiconductor epitaxy, today announced the appointment of Klaus F. Gruendel as the Company’s new Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications.

Mr. Gruendel (38) holds an advanced degree in business administration from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, and a Master of Arts in economics from Wayne State University, Detroit, USA. In his international corporate finance career, he held a number of managerial positions at blue-chip companies such as Deutsche Bank, Siemens, Hughes, and Delphi.

Before joining AIXTRON, Mr. Gruendel held the position of Director Corporate Finance and Investor Relations at Intershop Communications AG (FSE: ISH1), a leading provider of e-commerce software solutions. At Intershop Mr. Gruendel successfully led Intershop’s global investor relations activity, with Intershop’s securities dually listed on both the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq National Market. In 2004, he completed Intershop’s first external equity financing round since 2000 and Intershop’s delisting from NASDAQ National Market.

“With his broad corporate finance and investor relations background, Klaus will be a key contributor to the success of AIXTRON’s planned secondary listing on the Nasdaq National Market in connection with the Company’s proposed merger with Genus, Inc. (NASDAQ: GGNS),” commented Chief Executive Officer Paul Hyland.

“AIXTRON today is an industry leader in MOCVD technology and is set to become a major force in the emerging nano deposition technology market. As AIXTRON moves into this new segment of the semiconductor equipment market, the Company will interface with a broader and more diversified investor and analyst base than in the past. With the proposed launch of its American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program, AIXTRON will expand the reach of its investor relations activity into to the world’s largest and most advanced capital market,” said Klaus F. Gruendel.

About AIXTRON

AIXTRON AG (FSE: AIX; ISIN DE0005066203) is a leading provider of equipment for semiconductor epitaxy. The Company’s products are used by a diverse range of customers worldwide to manufacture advanced semiconductor components such as HBTs, PHEMTs, MESFETs, Lasers, LEDs, Detectors and VCSELs used in fiber optic communication systems, wireless and mobile telephony applications, optical storage devices, illumination, signaling and lighting, as well as a range of other leading-edge technologies. AIXTRON AG’s securities are listed in the Prime Standard market segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and are included both in the Deutsche Boerse TecDAX index and the MSCI World Index. More information about AIXTRON can be found on the Web at www.aixtron.com.

Contact:
Klaus F. Gruendel
T: +49-241-8909-444
F: +49--241-8909-445
k.gruendel@aixtron.com

Forward-Looking StatementsThis 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.

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© AIXTRON AG, July 7th, 2004

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