FREMONT, Calif. - April 25, 2012 - Mattson Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTSN), a leading supplier of advanced process equipment used to manufacture semiconductors, today announced results for the first quarter of 2012 ended April 1, 2012.

• First quarter net sales of $50.5 million increased 21 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2011.
• Net loss for the first quarter was $1.1 million, or a loss of $0.02 per share. Excluding restructuring charges of $0.7 million, first quarter net loss would have been $0.4 million, or a loss of $0.01 per share.
• The Company's balance sheet continues to be strong, with working capital of $55.8 million. Cash and cash equivalents increased $4.5 million to $37.4 million and the Company continues to carry no debt.

David L. Dutton, Mattson Technology's president and chief executive officer, commented, "The first quarter of 2012 was a solid start for Mattson Technology driven by a strong increase in sales. We approached breakeven for the quarter, and our efforts to improve gross margins and reduce operating expenses are on track to bring the Company into profitability during the year. At the same time that we are improving our financial performance, we also have extended our growth potential. Our paradigmE® etch system was released for production at a leading semiconductor's foundry facility and by a major Asian CMOS image sensor foundry. We expect that these new etch positions will incrementally add approximately 25% more annual sales opportunity to our etch business and will begin contributing to sales in the second half of 2012. Our most advanced RTP system, the Millios™, shipped to a third foundry/logic customer in the first quarter, further evidence of our emerging RTP position in foundry/logic. With our broadened product positions in foundry and NAND, plus our gross margin improvement and cost reduction programs, we expect that 2012 will result in profitable growth for Mattson Technology."

First quarter 2012 net sales of $50.5 million increased $8.8 million, or 21.1 percent, compared with $41.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, and increased $3.5 million, or 7.3 percent, compared with $47.0 million in the first quarter of 2011. Gross margin for the first quarter of 2012 was 33.5 percent as compared to the 33.3 percent gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2011, and represents a six-point increase over the 27.4 percent gross margin in the first quarter of 2011.

Total operating expenses were $18.2 million for the first quarter of 2012, a decrease of $0.5 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2011. Total operating expenses increased $0.3 million as compared to the first quarter of 2011. First quarter 2012 results include charges related to an agreement with the Bureau of Industry and Security that is in the final stages of approval to pay $0.25 million in connection with certain self-reported violations, as well as related legal fees.

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Net loss for the first quarter of 2012 was $1.1 million, or a $0.02 loss per share. This compares with a net loss of $4.2 million, or a $0.07 loss per share, in the fourth quarter of 2011 and a net loss of $6.3 million, or a $0.12 loss per share, reported in the first quarter of 2011.

Operating expenses excluding restructuring charges were $17.5 million for the first quarter of 2012, a $0.6 million increase compared with $16.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, and a $0.5 million decrease compared with $18.0 million in the first quarter of 2011. Excluding restructuring charges of $0.7 million, first quarter net loss would have been $0.4 million, or a loss of $0.01 per share.

Working capital at the end of the first quarter was $55.8 million, compared with $56.2 million at December 31, 2011. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at April 1, 2012 was $37.4 million, an increase of $4.5 million, compared with $32.9 million at December 31, 2011.

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company's future prospects and plans, including, but not limited to: potential future net sales, profit, cash flow, cash position and other financial results, future customer demand and industry and economic conditions, Company strategies and the market opportunity and acceptance of Company products in various customer markets. Forward-looking statements address matters that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: Company expectations with respect to continued growth of its business; growth of the industry and the size of the Company's served available market; the timing of significant customer orders for the Company's products; customer acceptance of delivered products and the Company's ability to collect amounts due upon shipment and upon acceptance; the Company's cash position overall, especially as a result of payments made for inventory and the related collections upon shipment of such inventory; end-user demand for semiconductors, including the growing mobility electronics industry; customer demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; the Company's ability to timely manufacture, deliver and support ordered products; the Company's ability to bring new products to market, to gain market share with such products and the overall mix of the Company's products; customer rate of adoption of new technologies; risks inherent in the development of complex technology; the timing and competitiveness of new product releases by the Company's competitors; the Company's ability to align its cost structure with market conditions; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information provided in this news release.

Mattson Technology, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets semiconductor wafer processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. We are a leading supplier of plasma and rapid thermal processing equipment to the global semiconductor industry, and operate in three primary product sectors: dry strip, rapid thermal processing and etch. Through manufacturing and design innovation, we have produced technologically advanced systems that provide productive and cost-effective solutions for customers fabricating current and next-generation semiconductor devices. For more information, please contact Mattson Technology, Inc., 47131 Bayside Parkway, Fremont, CA, 94538. Telephone: (800) MATTSON/(510) 657-5900. Internet:www.mattson.com.

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