Exhibit 99.2
Asyst to Receive $72.0 Million From Convertible Debt Offering.

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 2001--Asyst Technologies, Inc.
(Nasdaq:ASYT - news) announced today that it has agreed to the private sale of a
        ----   ----
series of convertible subordinated notes due 2008 to qualified institutional
buyers. Asyst anticipates net proceeds of approximately $72.0 million and
intends to use those proceeds primarily for general corporate purposes,
including working capital. The initial purchasers of the notes will also have a
30-day option to purchase additional notes to cover over-allotments, which, if
exercised, would give Asyst additional net proceeds of up to approximately $10.9
million.

The notes will be convertible at a price of $15.18 per share into approximately
4.94 million shares of Asyst common stock, plus approximately 740,000 shares if
the over-allotment option is fully exercised. The notes will bear interest at
5.75% per year, payable semiannually and will be redeemable by Asyst at any time
on or after July 3, 2004. Asyst has agreed to file a registration statement for
the resale of the notes and the shares of the common stock issuable upon
conversion of the notes within 90 days after the closing of the offering. The
offering is scheduled to close on July 3, 2001.

The notes and the common stock issuable upon conversion have not been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or applicable state securities
laws, and are being offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144A under the
Securities Act. Unless so registered, the notes and common stock issued upon
conversion of the notes may not be offered or sold in the United States except
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act and applicable state securities laws.  This announcement is neither an offer
to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities. This
press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release
are forward-looking. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
statements made. These factors include, but are not limited to: the volatility
of semiconductor industry cycles, failure to respond to rapid demand shifts,
dependence on a few significant customers, the transition of the industry from
200mm wafers to 300mm wafers, risks associated with the acceptance of new
products and product capabilities, including our Plus Portal systems,
competition in the semiconductor equipment industry, failure to efficiently
integrate acquired companies, failure to retain employees, and other factors
more fully detailed in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year
ended March 31, 2001 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June
19, 2001.

About Asyst

Asyst Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated automation systems
for the semiconductor manufacturing industry, which enable semiconductor
manufacturers to increase their manufacturing productivity and protect their
investment in silicon wafers during the manufacture of integrated circuits, or
ICs. Through its ``Value-Assured Fab'' strategy, Asyst offers a broad range of
200mm and 300mm solutions that enable the safe transfer of wafers and
information between the process equipment and the fab line throughout the IC
fabrication

                                       1


process, while reducing IC damage caused by human, environmental,
mechanical and chemical factors. 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 chipmakers and original equipment manufacturers,
or OEMs, to select and employ the value-assured, hands-off manufacturing
capabilities that best suit their needs. Asyst's homepage is
http://www.asyst.com
- --------------------

                                       2