FREMONT, Calif. , July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mattson Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTSN), a leading supplier of advanced process equipment used to manufacture semiconductors, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 29, 2008 (hereafter referred to as 'current quarter').

    Technology Highlights of this report include:

    -- Recognized revenue on the first Etch tool, Nexion(TM)
    -- Shipped Millios(TM) to a key memory customer in Asia
    -- Won two additional accounts with Suprema(TM)
    -- Shipped initial Alpine(TM) system to a major semiconductor manufacturer
       in Taiwan

Net sales for the current quarter were $41.8 million , down 14 percent from $48.7 million for the previous quarter, and down 52 percent from $86.5 million in the second quarter of 2007. Net sales for the second quarter of 2008 and 2007 included royalties of $6.4 million and $8.6 million , respectively, related to the settlement of the patent infringement suit with Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ('DNS').

Gross margin for the current quarter was 44.1 percent, up 1.3 percentage points from 42.8 percent for the previous quarter, and down 4.0 percentage points from 48.1 percent for the second quarter of 2007. Excluding royalty income from DNS, gross margin for the current quarter was $12.1 million or 34.1 percent, compared to $33.0 million or 42.4 percent for the second quarter of 2007. Operating expenses for the current quarter were $25.7 million , compared to $24.7 million for the previous quarter and $26.1 million reported for the second quarter of 2007. Interest and other income (expense) for the quarter reflected an income of $0.9 million , compared to an expense of $0.2 million in the previous quarter and income of $2 million reported for the second quarter of 2007.

Net loss for the current quarter was $6.8 million , or $0.14 loss per diluted share, compared with $4.2 million , or $0.09 loss per share, for the previous quarter, and net income of $11.5 million , or $0.22 earnings per share, for the second quarter of 2007. Net loss for the current quarter included non-recurring items for DNS royalty of $6.4 million , restructuring expenses of $0.7 million , and severance expenses of $0.2 million . The net favorable impact of these non-recurring items was $0.11 per share.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at the end of the second quarter were $135.7 million , down $10.1 million from $145.8 million in the previous quarter.

'While our financial results for the second quarter clearly reflect the impact of the industry's protracted weakness in the memory markets,' said David L. Dutton, chief executive officer of Mattson Technology, 'it is notable that our revenue shortfall was not attributable to competitive losses. In anticipation of improved market conditions, we continue to invest in new products and growth initiatives; specifically, in the etch market with innovative products targeting high volume dielectric etch applications, and the millisecond annealing and thermal oxidation markets. We are proud of the traction our new products have gained in the market place. Our new products enable our customers to meet their next generation specification requirements, and we are committed to ensuring that they are optimally positioned for the next industry up-cycle.'

Attached to this news release are preliminary unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and balance sheets.

Guidance 2008 -- Third Quarter

The Company's guidance for the third quarter of 2008 is based on a continued weakness in the memory market. For the third quarter, Mattson expects the following:

    -- Revenues in the range of $29 million to $37 million
    -- Gross Margins between 33 percent and 37 percent
    -- Earnings in a range of loss per share of $0.30 to loss per share of
       $0.22

On Wednesday, July 23, 2008 , at 2:30 PM Pacific Time ( 5:30 PM Eastern Time ), Mattson will hold a conference call to review the following topics: second quarter 2008 financial results, current business conditions and the near-term business outlook. The conference call will be simultaneously webcast at http://www.mattson.com under the 'Investors' section. In addition to the live webcast, a replay will be available to the public on the Mattson website for one week following the live broadcast.

Mattson will also webcast a slide presentation in conjunction with the conference call, which can also be accessed at http://www.mattson.com under the 'Investors' section.

'Safe Harbor' Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company's future prospects, including, but not limited to: anticipated bookings, revenue, margins, earnings per share, market share, tax rate and fully diluted shares outstanding for future periods. 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: end-user demand for semiconductors; customer demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; 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 ability to timely manufacture, deliver and support ordered products; the Company's ability to bring new products to market and to gain market share with such 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. Results for the current quarter are preliminary and subject to adjustment. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information provided in this news release.

About Mattson Technology, Inc.

Mattson Technology, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets semiconductor wafer processing equipment used in the fabrication of integrated circuits. The Company is a leading supplier of dry strip and rapid thermal processing equipment to the global semiconductor industry. Its strip and RTP equipment utilize innovative technology to deliver advanced processing performance and productivity gains to semiconductor manufacturers worldwide for the fabrication of current- and next-generation devices. Mattson is expanding into the etch market with innovative products targeting high volume dielectric etch applications, and is also expanding into the millisecond annealing and thermal oxidation markets. The Company expects that entry into these new markets will enhance its technical leadership and deliver revenue and profitability gains. Mattson was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Fremont, California . For more information, please contact Mattson Technology, Inc., 47131 Bayside Parkway, Fremont, Calif. 94538. Telephone: (800) MATTSON/(510) 657-5900. Fax: (510) 492-5911. Internet: http://www.mattson.com

     Mattson Technology Contact               Investor & Media Contact
     Andy Moring                              Laura Guerrant-Oiye
     Mattson Technology, Inc.                 Guerrant Associates
     tel  510-492-6530                        tel  808-882-1467
     fax  510-492-5963                        fax  808-882-1267
     andy.moring@mattson.com                  lguerrant@guerrantir.com



                              MATTSON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                (Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                        Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                         June 29,  July 1,   June 29,  July 1,
                                           2008     2007      2008      2007

      Net sales                          $41,790  $86,544   $90,445  $156,485
      Cost of sales                       23,345   44,909    51,166    83,622
        Gross margin                      18,445   41,635    39,279    72,863
      Operating expenses:
        Research, development and
         engineering                       9,215    8,893    17,061    18,004
        Selling, general and
         administrative                   15,592   17,090    32,367    33,069
        Amortization of intangibles          128      128       256       255
        Restructuring charges                748      -         748       -
           Total operating expenses       25,683   26,111    50,432    51,328
      Income (loss) from operations       (7,238)  15,524   (11,153)   21,535
      Interest and other income
       (expense), net                        906    2,023       739     4,625
      Income (loss) before income taxes   (6,332)  17,547   (10,414)   26,160
      Provision for income taxes             422    6,000       556     6,962
      Net income (loss)                  $(6,754) $11,547  $(10,970)  $19,198
      Net income (loss) per share:
           Basic                          $(0.14)   $0.22    $(0.22)    $0.37
           Diluted                        $(0.14)   $0.22    $(0.22)    $0.36
      Shares used in computing net
       income (loss) per share:
           Basic                          49,419   52,531    49,391    52,546
           Diluted                        49,419   53,627    49,391    53,573



                           MATTSON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (in thousands)

                                                   June 29,       December 31,
                                                    2008              2007
                                                 (unaudited)          (1)

    ASSETS
    Current assets:
      Cash, cash equivalents and
       short-term investments                     $135,739          $152,567
      Accounts receivable, net                      28,304            36,011
      Advance billings                               9,175             2,576
      Inventories                                   57,546            51,073
      Inventories -- delivered systems               4,178               -
      Prepaid expenses and other assets              8,181            10,996
           Total current assets                    243,123           253,223
    Property and equipment, net                     32,500            28,600
    Goodwill                                        18,076            18,076
    Intangibles, net                                 6,824             7,080
    Other assets                                    10,774            10,791
                Total assets                      $311,297          $317,770

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable                             $16,240           $18,097
      Accrued liabilities                           22,845            26,900
      Deferred revenue                              12,198             7,207
           Total current liabilities                51,283            52,204
    Income taxes payable, noncurrent                15,153            14,147
    Other liabilities                                5,827             6,136
           Total liabilities                        72,263            72,487

    Stockholders' equity:
      Common stock                                      54                54
      Additional paid-in capital                   626,273           623,527
      Accumulated other comprehensive
       income                                       23,620            19,032
      Treasury stock                               (37,987)          (35,374)
      Accumulated deficit                         (372,926)         (361,956)
           Total stockholders' equity              239,034           245,283
                Total liabilities and
                 stockholders' equity             $311,297          $317,770

    (1)Derived from audited financial statements

SOURCE Mattson Technology, Inc.