EXHIBIT 99.1

                     ASYST TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES PRICING OF
                         COMMON STOCK IN PUBLIC OFFERING

FREMONT, Calif., November 21, 2003 - Asyst Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASYT)
today announced that it has priced an offering of 6 million shares of its common
stock at $15.17 per share for estimated net proceeds to Asyst of approximately
$86 million. The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to 900,000
additional shares of common stock from the company solely to cover
over-allotments, if any. All of the shares of common stock are being offered by
the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement previously filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Citigroup and Merrill Lynch & Co.
are acting as the joint book-running managers for the offering, together with
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray and Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior
to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any
jurisdiction. The shares of common stock may only be offered by means of a
prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying
prospectus can be obtained from the Prospectus Departments of Citigroup Global
Markets Inc., Brooklyn Army Terminal, 140 58th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11220, or
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 4 World Financial Center,
New York, NY 10080, or from Asyst (Attention: Investor Relations Department,
Asyst Technologies, Inc., 48761 Kato Road, Fremont, CA 94538, phone (510)
661-5000).

ABOUT ASYST TECHNOLOGIES

Asyst Technologies, Inc. provides integrated automation solutions that enable
semiconductor and flat panel display (FPD) manufacturers to increase their
manufacturing productivity and protect their investment in materials during the
manufacturing process. Encompassing isolation systems, work-in-process materials
management, substrate-handling robotics, automated transport and loading
systems, and connectivity automation software, Asyst's modular, interoperable
solutions allow chip and FPD manufacturers, as well as original equipment
manufacturers, to select and employ the value-assured, hands-off manufacturing
capabilities that best suit their needs.

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding expectations as
to the completion, timing and size of any public offering. A number of risks and
uncertainties could cause actual events to differ from the company's
expectations indicated by these forward-looking statements. These risks include
successful closing with the underwriters, successful completion of the offering
and other risks addressed in the company's periodic reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to its Annual
Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.