Brooks Automation and Helix Technology Set Date for Special Meetings of Stockholders to Vote on Merger

CHELMSFORD and MANSFIELD, Mass., Sept. 22  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Brooks Automation, Inc. (NASDAQ:BRKS) and Helix Technology Corporation (NASDAQ:HELX) today announced that each company will hold a special meeting of its stockholders on October 26, 2005 to vote on the proposed merger of Brooks and Helix and other related proposals.  Stockholders of record at the close of business on September 21, 2005 will be entitled to vote by proxy or in person at their respective meetings.  A joint proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to stockholders on or about September 26, 2005.

The Brooks special meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m., local time, on October 26, 2005 at Brooks' offices located at 15 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, Massachusetts.  The Helix special meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m., local time, on October 26, 2005 at the offices of Palmer & Dodge LLP located at 111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts.  Subject to stockholder approval, the merger is expected to be formally completed shortly following conclusion of each company's special meeting.

About Brooks Automation, Inc.

Brooks is a leading worldwide provider of automation solutions to the global semiconductor and related industries.  The company's factory and tool automation hardware, software and professional services can manage every wafer, reticle and data movement in the fab, helping customers improve throughput and yield while reducing both cost and time to market.  Brooks products and services are used in virtually every fab in the world as well as by many customers in industries outside of semiconductor manufacturing.  For more information, visit http://www.brooks.com/.

About Helix Technology Corporation

Helix Technology Corporation is a global leader in the development and application of innovative solutions in the field of vacuum technology.  Helix product offerings provide a broad range of components and subsystems that are key to the manufacture of semiconductors, flat panel displays and data storage devices.  In addition, Helix's highly regarded Global Support activity provides critical ongoing operational support services to semiconductor device producers throughout the world.  For more information, visit http://www.helixtechnology.com/.

Important Additional Information to be Filed with the SEC

In connection with the proposed transaction, Brooks has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4 containing a Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Security holders of each company and other investors are urged to read the Registration Statement and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, including the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement because they will contain important information about Brooks, Helix, the proposed transaction and related matters.  The final Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of Brooks and Helix. Security holders and investors of Brooks and Helix will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into such documents, containing information about Brooks and Helix, without charge, at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov/).  These documents can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Brooks Automation, 15 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824, Attention: Investor Relations Dept., telephone: [phone], or at ; or to Helix Technology Corporation, Nine Hampshire Street, Mansfield, MA 02048, Attention: Investor Relations Dept., telephone: [phone], or at .  In addition, investors and security holders may access copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Brooks or Helix on their respective Web sites at http://www.brooks.com/ or http://www.helixtechnology.com/.

Participants in Solicitation

Brooks, Helix and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Brooks and Helix stockholders in respect of the proposed transaction.  Information regarding Brooks' participants is available in Brooks' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004, and the proxy statement, dated January 10, 2005, for its 2005 annual meeting of stockholders, which are filed with the SEC.  Information regarding Helix's participants is available in Helix's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and the proxy statement, dated May 2, 2005, for its 2005 annual meeting of stockholders, which are filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding interests of such participants will be included in the Registration Statement containing the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be filed with the SEC.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding the proposed transaction, and the expected timetable for completing the transaction, constitute forward- looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These include statements concerning the benefits of the proposed transaction, the combined company's status as a premier provider of integrated subsystems solutions primarily for the semiconductor capital equipment market; trends in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, including the trend among semiconductor capital equipment manufacturers to outsource production of certain of their systems and growth trends within the market segments in which the combined company will compete; the strength, profitability and capabilities of the combined company; the ability of the combined company to achieve efficiencies, profitability and growth; the capabilities and market acceptance of the combined company's products going forward; the impact of the acquisition and merger in mitigating the volatility of financial performance; and the importance of size and scale as a factor in competing in the market segments in which the combined company will operate. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Brooks' and Helix's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.  Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates" and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements.  There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: the failure of Brooks and Helix stockholders to approve the transaction; the ability of Brooks to successfully integrate Helix's operations and employees; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers and employees; and competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues.  Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in Brooks' and Helix's filings with the SEC, including Brooks' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004 and Helix's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, which are available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov/).  The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and Brooks and Helix disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

  Contacts:
   Mark B. Chung
   Director of Investor Relations
   Brooks Automation, Inc.
   Telephone: [phone]
   

   Beverly L. Couturier
   Director of Investor Relations
   Helix Technology Corporation
   Telephone: [phone]
   

DATASOURCE: Brooks Automation, Inc.



CONTACT:  Mark B. Chung, Director of Investor Relations of Brooks

Automation, Inc., [phone], ; or Beverly L.

Couturier, Director of Investor Relations of Helix Technology Corporation,

[phone], 



Web site:  http://www.brooks.com/

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