“Although Axcelis' recent trading prices, along with others' in the
industry, have been depressed, the Board believes the Company is well
positioned for the future and worth more than $6.00 per share,” noted
Mary G. Puma, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Axcelis
Technologies.
However, the company was not averse to further
meetings with SHI, in particular to discuss options regarding the SEN
joint venture. The companies have yet to agree on a licensing deal in
regard to the single wafer Optima tools, a topic that has dragged on
for over a year with little indication that the protracted negotiations
would be completed in 2008.