BEVERLY, Mass., April 14, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NasdaqGM:ACLS - News) today revised its previously announced guidance for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008. Axcelis expects its net loss per share to be in the range of $0.10 to $0.14, which is below the $0.04 to $0.08 range previously provided. The reason for the shortfall is due to an unanticipated drop in the quarter in the the equity income and royalties received from SEN, the Company's 50% owned joint venture with Sumitomo Heavy Industries (SHI).

In mid-March 2008, SEN provided revised forecasts that projected net income and royalties payable to Axcelis significantly less than less than their original December forecast, creating an increase to Axcelis' net loss for the quarter of $6 million, or $0.06 per share. Axcelis' guidance was based on a forecast provided by SEN in December 2007 which was not updated by SEN prior to mid-March. SEN's forecasts have historically been very reliable.

A conference call to discuss first quarter results for 2008 and to provide guidance for the second quarter of 2008 is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, 2008, beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET.

The call will be available to interested listeners via an audio webcast that can be accessed through Axcelis' home page at http://www.axcelis.com, or by dialing 1-800-479-1628 (1-719-457-2729 outside North America). Participants calling into the conference call will be requested to provide the company name: Axcelis Technologies, the conference leader: David Snyder, and pass code: # 7110454. A webcast replay will be available from 8:00 p.m. ET on May 7, 2008 until 5:00 p.m. ET, June 7, 2008.

Safe Harbor Statement

This document contains forward-looking statements under the SEC safe harbor provisions. These statements, which include our guidance for future financial performance, are based on management's current expectations and should be viewed with caution. They are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the Company, including the timing of orders and shipments, the conversion of orders to revenue in any particular quarter, or at all, our ability to implement successfully our profit plans, the continuing demand for semiconductor equipment, relative market growth, continuity of business relationships with and purchases by major customers, competitive pressure on sales and pricing, increases in material and other production costs that cannot be recouped in product pricing and global economic, political and financial conditions. These risks and other risk factors relating to Axcelis are described more fully in the most recent Form 10-K filed by Axcelis and in other documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Axcelis Technologies, Inc.

Axcelis Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, provides innovative, high-productivity solutions for the semiconductor industry. Axcelis is dedicated to developing enabling process applications through the design, manufacture and complete life cycle support of ion implantation and cleaning systems. Axcelis also licenses its 50% owned joint venture, SEN Corporation, an SHI and Axcelis Company, to manufacture and sell certain implant products in Japan. The company's Internet address is: http://www.axcelis.com.

          Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
          Company Contact:
          David Snyder
            (978) 787-4273
            Fax: (978) 787-4275
            david.snyder@axcelis.com
          Investor Contact:
          Stephen Bassett
            (978) 787-4000
            Fax: (978) 787-9133
            investor.relations@axcelis.com

          Loomis Group
          Agency Contact:
          Heather Smith
          (617) 309-8005
          Fax: (617) 638-0033
          smithh@loomisgroup.com