content: <PAGE>
  
                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  
                             Washington, D. C.  20549
  
                                     FORM 8-K
  
                                  CURRENT REPORT
  
  
                      Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
  
         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 23, 2000
  
  
  
                             ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
                                    California
                  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
  
  
       000-22430                                            94-2944251
  (Commission File No.)                         (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
  
                                  48761 Kato Road
                             Fremont, California 94538
               (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
  
  
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (510) 661-5000
  
                                         1
  <PAGE>
  
       This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward looking statements that
  involve risks and uncertainties relating to the acquisition by Asyst
  Technologies, Inc., a California corporation ("Asyst"), of a majority ownership
  position in MECS Corporation, a corporation  based in Nagoya, Japan (MECS).
  Actual results and developments may differ materially from those described in
  this Current Report.  For more information about Asyst and risks relating to
  investing in Asyst, refer to Asyst's most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form
  10-Q and most recent registration statement on Form S-3.
  
  Item 2.   Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
  
       On March 27, 2000, Asyst completed the second phase of its acquisition of
  MECS by acquiring a majority ownership position of 79 percent with a second
  investment of approximately $9.8 million. Originally announced on September
  22, 1999, the transaction was structured as a staged acquisition, with Asyst
  holding an initial minority share ownership of ten percent. Under the terms of
  the purchase agreement, Asyst agreed to move to a majority ownership position
  upon attainment by MECS of certain business objectives. The purchase agreement
  places an enterprise valuation on MECS of approximately $45 million. Based in
  Nagoya, MECS is one of Japan's leading suppliers of robotic systems used to
  automate sophisticated semiconductor and flat panel display manufacturing
  equipment.
  
       A copy of the press release announcing the strategic alliance with and
  minority ownership position in MECS is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and
  incorporated by reference herein.  A copy of the press release announcing the
  acquisition of a majority ownership position in MECS is attached hereto as
  Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated by reference herein.
  
  
  Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  
       (a)   Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.
             -------------------------------------------
  
       The Registrant believes that it would be impractical to provide the
  required financial statements at the time this Report on Form 8-K is filed.
  The Registrant intends to file such financial information as an amendment to
  this Form 8-K within 60 days of the date hereof.
  
       (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information
             -------------------------------
  
       The Registrant believes that it would be impractical to provide the
  required pro forma financial information at the time this Report on Form 8-K is
  filed.  The Registrant intends to file such financial information as an
  amendment to this Form 8-K within 60 days of the date hereof.
  
       (c)   Exhibits.
             --------
  
    Exhibit No.  Description
    ----------   -----------
  
                                         2
  <PAGE>
  
       2.1*      Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2000.
  
       2.2*      Purchase Agreement, dated as of September, 1999.
  
       4.1       Reference is made to Exhibits 2.1 and 2.2.
  
       99.1*     Press release announcing the minority ownership position in MECS.
  
       99.2*     Press release announcing the majority ownership position in MECS.
  
  ------------------
  * The Registrant will file the exhibits as an amendment to this Form 8-K
    within 60 days of the date hereof.
  
                                         3
  <PAGE>
  
                                    SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  
  
                                               ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  
  
  
  Dated: April 7, 2000                         By:  /s/ Douglas J. McCutcheon
                                                  -------------------------------
                                                        Douglas J. McCutcheon
                                                        Senior Vice President and
                                                        Chief Financial Officer
  
                                         4
  <PAGE>
  
                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  
  Exhibit No.    Description
  ----------     -----------
       2.1*      Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2000.
  
       2.2*      Purchase Agreement, dated as of September, 1999.
  
       4.1       Reference is made to Exhibits 2.1 and 2.2.
  
       99.1*     Press release announcing the minority ownership position in MECS.
  
       99.2*     Press release announcing the majority ownership position in MECS.
  
  ------------------
  * The Registrant will file the exhibits as an amendment to this Form 8-K
    within 60 days of the date hereof.
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text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  
                             Washington, D. C.  20549
  
                                     FORM 8-K
  
                                  CURRENT REPORT
  
                      Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 23, 2000
  
                             ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                    California
                  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
       000-22430                                            94-2944251
  (Commission File No.)                         (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
                                  48761 Kato Road
                             Fremont, California 94538
               (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (510) 661-5000
  
                                         1
  This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward looking statements that
  involve risks and uncertainties relating to the acquisition by Asyst
  Technologies, Inc., a California corporation ("Asyst"), of a majority ownership
  position in MECS Corporation, a corporation  based in Nagoya, Japan (MECS).
  Actual results and developments may differ materially from those described in
  this Current Report.  For more information about Asyst and risks relating to
  investing in Asyst, refer to Asyst's most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form
  10-Q and most recent registration statement on Form S-3.
  
  Item 2.   Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
  
       On March 27, 2000, Asyst completed the second phase of its acquisition of
  MECS by acquiring a majority ownership position of 79 percent with a second
  investment of approximately $9.8 million. Originally announced on September
  22, 1999, the transaction was structured as a staged acquisition, with Asyst
  holding an initial minority share ownership of ten percent. Under the terms of
  the purchase agreement, Asyst agreed to move to a majority ownership position
  upon attainment by MECS of certain business objectives. The purchase agreement
  places an enterprise valuation on MECS of approximately $45 million. Based in
  Nagoya, MECS is one of Japan's leading suppliers of robotic systems used to
  automate sophisticated semiconductor and flat panel display manufacturing
  equipment.
  
       A copy of the press release announcing the strategic alliance with and
  minority ownership position in MECS is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and
  incorporated by reference herein.  A copy of the press release announcing the
  acquisition of a majority ownership position in MECS is attached hereto as
  Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated by reference herein.
  
  Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  
       (a)   Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.
             -------------------------------------------
  
       The Registrant believes that it would be impractical to provide the
  required financial statements at the time this Report on Form 8-K is filed.
  The Registrant intends to file such financial information as an amendment to
  this Form 8-K within 60 days of the date hereof.
  
       (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information
             -------------------------------
  
       The Registrant believes that it would be impractical to provide the
  required pro forma financial information at the time this Report on Form 8-K is
  filed.  The Registrant intends to file such financial information as an
  amendment to this Form 8-K within 60 days of the date hereof.
  
       (c)   Exhibits.
             --------
  
    Exhibit No.  Description
    ----------   -----------
  
                                         2
  2.1*      Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2000.
  
       2.2*      Purchase Agreement, dated as of September, 1999.
  
       4.1       Reference is made to Exhibits 2.1 and 2.2.
  
       99.1*     Press release announcing the minority ownership position in MECS.
  
       99.2*     Press release announcing the majority ownership position in MECS.
  
  ------------------
  * The Registrant will file the exhibits as an amendment to this Form 8-K
    within 60 days of the date hereof.
  
                                         3
  SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                               ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  
  Dated: April 7, 2000                         By:  /s/ Douglas J. McCutcheon
                                                  -------------------------------
                                                        Douglas J. McCutcheon
                                                        Senior Vice President and
                                                        Chief Financial Officer
  
                                         4
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit No.    Description
  ----------     -----------
       2.1*      Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2000.
  
       2.2*      Purchase Agreement, dated as of September, 1999.
  
       4.1       Reference is made to Exhibits 2.1 and 2.2.
  
       99.1*     Press release announcing the minority ownership position in MECS.
  
       99.2*     Press release announcing the majority ownership position in MECS.
  
  ------------------
  * The Registrant will file the exhibits as an amendment to this Form 8-K
    within 60 days of the date hereof.