10-K

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

(Mark One)
þ	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For fiscal year ended September 30, 2012
	or
¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the transition period from                 to                 .

Commission File Number: 0-25434

Brooks Automation, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware	04-3040660
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
15 Elizabeth Drive Chelmsford, Massachusetts (Address of Principal Executive Offices)	01824 (Zip Code)

978-262-2400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class	Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ¨        No  þ

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ¨        No  þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  þ        No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  þ        No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to the Form 10-K.    ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer þ	Accelerated filer ¨	Non-accelerated filer ¨	Smaller reporting company ¨
	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).    Yes  ¨        No  þ

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value, held by nonaffiliates of the registrant as of March 30, 2012, was approximately $797,115,000 based on the closing price per share of $12.33 on that date on the Nasdaq Stock Market. As of March 31, 2012, 66,316,471 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value, were outstanding. As of November 5, 2012, 66,327,021 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01, par value, were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement involving the election of directors, which is expected to be filed within 120 days after the end of the registrant’s fiscal year, are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Report.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
Item 1.	Business	3
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	10
Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	15
Item 2.	Properties	16
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	16
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	17
PART II
Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	17
Item 6.	Selected Financial Data	19
Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	21
Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	38
Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	39
Item 9.	Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Financial Accounting and Financial Disclosure	84
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	84
Item 9B.	Other Information	85
PART III
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	85
Item 11.	Executive Compensation	85
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	85
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	85
Item 14.	Principal Accountant Fees and Services	85
PART IV
Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Schedules	85
SIGNATURES		89

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PART I

Item 1. Business

Brooks Automation, Inc. (“Brooks”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), a Delaware corporation, is a leading worldwide provider of automation, vacuum and instrumentation solutions for multiple markets including semiconductor manufacturing, technology device manufacturing and life sciences. Our technologies, engineering competencies and global service capabilities provide customers speed to market and ensure high uptime and rapid response, which equate to superior value in their mission-critical controlled environments. Since 1978, we have been a leading partner to the global semiconductor manufacturing markets and through product development initiatives and strategic business acquisitions we have expanded our reach to meet the needs of customers in technology markets adjacent to semiconductor and life sciences. Brooks is headquartered in Chelmsford, MA with full service operations in North America, Europe and Asia.

Our company initially developed and marketed automated handling equipment for front end semiconductor manufacturing tools and became a publicly traded company in February 1995. Through both internal product development and significant business acquisition activity we became the leading provider of these automation solutions in this market. Since that time, we have expanded both the markets we serve as well as our core product capabilities. A notable step in our diversification was the acquisition of Helix Technology Corporation in 2005 which provided us with leading technology solutions in vacuum and instrumentation equipment and which allowed us to serve a broader set of markets. In 2011, we identified life sciences as a strategically underserved market with favorable growth opportunities where Brooks’ core competencies of automation and cold temperature management of a controlled environment could provide enabling technology solutions. During 2011 we made two strategic acquisitions to penetrate this market. In April 2011, we acquired RTS Life Sciences (“RTS”), a Manchester, UK-based business, and in July 2011 we acquired Nexus Biosystems, Inc. (“Nexus”), a Poway, CA-based business. We further enhanced our life sciences offering in 2012 by acquiring the Celigo^® automated Cell Cytometer product line (“Celigo”) from Cyntellect, Inc., a San Diego, CA-based business.

During the period 2006 through June 2011 we acquired and then further developed a significant contract manufacturing business providing leading wafer front-end equipment manufacturers with an extension of their own assembly and test capability to better focus on their core processes and to offer flexibility during industry cycles. In June 2011, we divested this business in order to focus on our core technology solutions.

Although we have entered into transactions to expand the non-semiconductor portions of our business, we will continue to make investments to maintain and grow our semiconductor product and service offerings. In January 2012, we acquired primarily intangible assets from Intevac, Inc. for $3.0 million, which we intend to use in the development of next generation semiconductor automation tools. In October 2012, we acquired Crossing Automation Inc., a Fremont, CA-based provider of automation solutions for the global semiconductor front-end market, for $63.1 million in cash, which is subject to a working capital adjustment to be determined subsequent to the closing.

Markets

Our fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 revenues by end market were as follows:

	2012			2011			2010
Semiconductor capital equipment		54	%		65	%		71	%
Service and spares		17	%		13	%		13	%
Industrial capital equipment		11	%		11	%		8	%
Life sciences		10	%		2	%		—	%
Other adjacent technology markets		8	%		9	%		8	%
		100	%		100	%		100	%

The markets we serve are changing rapidly as a result of our internal product and sales initiatives, our acquisitions and divestiture and the cyclical nature of the semiconductor capital equipment market. Our divested contract manufacturing business exclusively served semiconductor product end markets, and the RTS, Nexus and

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Celigo acquisitions serve life sciences markets. Although we have entered into transactions to expand the non-semiconductor portions of our business, we will continue to make investments to maintain and grow our semiconductor product and service offerings.

Semiconductor capital equipment

The global semiconductor capital equipment industry is a highly cyclical industry with a long term growth profile driven by the expanded use of semiconductor devices and the device complexity, each necessitating incremental equipment purchases. This growth is increasingly focused in Asia. The production of advanced semiconductor chips is an extremely complex and logistically challenging manufacturing activity. To create the tens of millions of microscopic transistors and connect them both horizontally and in vertical layers in order to produce a functioning integrated circuit, or IC chip, the silicon wafers must go through hundreds of process steps that require complex processing equipment, or tools, to create the integrated circuits. A large production fab may have more than 70 different types of process and metrology tools, totaling as many as 500 tools or more. Up to 40% of these tools perform processes in a vacuum, such as removing, depositing, or measuring material on wafer surfaces. Wafers can go through as many as 400 different process steps before fabrication is complete. These steps, which comprise the initial fabrication of the integrated circuit and are referred to in the industry as front-end processes, are repeated many times to create the desired pattern on the silicon wafer. As the complexity of semiconductors continues to increase, the number of process steps that occur in a vacuum environment also increases, resulting in a greater need for both automation and vacuum technology solutions due to the sensitive handling requirements and increased number of tools. The requirement for efficient, higher throughput and extremely clean manufacturing for semiconductor wafer fabs and other high performance electronic-based products has created a substantial market for substrate handling automation (moving the wafers around and between tools in a semiconductor fab), tool automation (the use of robots and modules used in conjunction with and inside process tools that move wafers from station to station), and vacuum systems technology to create and sustain the environment necessary to fabricate various products. Advanced chip processing used to form three dimensional structures of the previously patterned integrated circuit is emerging. This processing, often referred to as wafer level packaging, is typically performed at what would be considered the back-end processing of a chip. To accomplish this work, there is an extension of some front-end processes into the back-end, thereby increasing the market for automation solutions.

Service and spares

Whereas sales for production equipment are typically made to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), the service and spares support of that equipment is more typically a relationship with the end-user manufacturer who is using that equipment in a productive capacity. While the majority of the market that we currently address with our service and spares activities is the semiconductor manufacturing market, we are actively looking to increase our service offerings in the life science market.

Industrial capital equipment

There are a variety of industrial manufacturing operations that require either a vacuum or significant cooling for effective deposition of films or coatings. The expansion of technologies such as touch screen equipment is driving greater application of these operations and the requirement for the associated vacuum and instrumentation solutions that we provide. These deposition processes are typically performed on equipment that cycle from an uncontrolled atmospheric environment for loading and unloading to a controlled vacuum environment for processing. The transition to the controlled vacuum environment requires removal of large amounts of moisture inherent from the air in a typical operation. This moisture removal is accomplished by deep cooling of coils within the vacuum chamber and the increased need for the equipment necessary to deliver refrigerant supply to those coils results in increased demand for our products.

Life Sciences

There is a broad market of devices, systems and consumables that support the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, health care research and diagnostics industries in the advanced handling, processing, storage and

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distribution of biological and compound samples. At the heart of these activities is sample storage. Facilities that store biological samples are commonly called biobanks or biorepositories. Such sample storage is generally more effective in maintaining a controlled environment, tracking samples, and reliably and quickly handling samples, if the store is automated. These automated sample management systems are at the heart of the complete sample handling process. With the advent of personalized medicine linking DNA to optimal treatment regimens, the expansion of mass storage of key biological material to support rapidly expanding comparative and longitudinal studies, and the accumulation of samples taken from surgical and other procedures, we believe that the numbers of samples in storage is expanding at between 25 — 30% per annum on a global basis. We believe that this expansion, together with manual stores that become overwhelmed by the numbers of samples they accumulate, will drive a solid growth in automated sample management equipment.

Other adjacent technology markets

There are a variety of markets that have adopted, or are adopting, similar manufacturing methods to those utilized by the semiconductor industry. Frequently, these markets have common customers but technology applications in the end markets are still maturing. We serve a variety of these evolving markets including light emitting diode (“LED”) applications. High Brightness LED (“HBLED”) is a potential clean energy solution replacing incandescent lighting sources. We believe that the application of HBLED solutions to these general illumination applications is expected to expand as manufacturing processes for these products advance, resulting in lower costs of production and more attractive pricing for these products. Organic LED (“OLED”) solutions provide lower power consumption for high clarity video. OLED applications are gaining traction in the mobile computing and telecommunications device markets. Other evolving markets which utilize our products include microelectronic mechanical systems (“MEMS”) manufacturing and solar panel manufacturing. MEMS applications, which include accelerometers, self tuning antennae and pressure gauges, are expanding in automotive, mobile computing and telecommunications device markets. We believe that solar panel production is also expanding, and our products are used in the production of thin film solar panels which require cooling to effectuate deposition and adhesion.

Products

In the semiconductor industry, wafer handling robotics have emerged as a critical technology in determining the efficacy and productivity of complex production tools in the world’s most advanced 300mm wafer fabs. A tool is built around a process chamber using automation technology to move wafers into and out of the chamber. Today, OEMs build their tools using a cluster architecture, whereby several process chambers are mounted to one central transfer module that processes these wafers. High wafer throughput density and new materials require advanced automation solutions to address the challenging equipment needs for multiple substrate sizes, including the emerging 450mm wafer size transition and advanced technology nodes, in today’s and tomorrow’s production environment. We specialize in developing and building the handling system, as well as the vacuum technology used in these tools. Our products can be utilized as an individual component or as a completely integrated handling system. Automation products are provided to support both atmospheric and vacuum based processes while our focus remains on improving performance and productivity. The majority of our product revenue is derived from sales to OEMs and semiconductor device manufacturers.

We provide high vacuum pumps and instrumentation which are required in certain process steps to create and to optimize the process environment by maintaining pressure consistency of the known process gas. To achieve optimal production yields, semiconductor manufacturers must ensure that each process operates at carefully controlled pressure levels. Impurities or incorrect pressure levels can lower production yields, thereby significantly increasing the cost per useable semiconductor chip produced. We provide various pressure measurement instruments that form part of this pressure control loop on production processing equipment. Some key vacuum processes include: dry etching and dry stripping, chemical vapor deposition, or CVD, physical vapor deposition, or PVD, and ion implantation. Our cryogenic vacuum pumps are considered the industry standard by many leading semiconductor device manufacturers for ion implant and PVD applications.

In the HBLED market we have worked with leading manufacturers to develop advanced automation solutions that improve the productivity of processes that were previously manual. These LEDs are made also

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using vacuum processes for certain production steps, very similar to the semiconductor manufacturing flow. We have been successful in capturing market share for our vacuum product offerings and for high payload and throughput tool architectures. In other adjacent markets, such as MEMS and Wafer Level Packaging (“WLP”) applications, unique wafer handling and automation solutions to accommodate increasingly thinner and sometimes bowed substrates are required. We are developing differentiated solutions to address the requirements in these high growth market segments.

For the life science markets we provide automated sample management platforms that store samples (e.g.: DNA, blood, drug compounds, biologics) in a controlled environment and automate the process (vials are typically stored in racks or plates) of the subsequent extractions of specifically selected samples from those racks or plates. The storage environments ensure samples are preserved within a narrow temperature band to maintain their integrity for long periods while providing absolute accuracy in the identification and selection of samples. We are an early pioneer in bringing to market stores that operate as low as minus 80^OC.

In providing comprehensive solutions to the life science markets we also provide systems for automated blood fractionation, sealing and de-sealing equipment for samples stored on plates and automated cappers and de-cappers for samples stored in tubes. We also provide consumables in the form of sample plates, micro-plates and tubes.

In the Cytometry application, we offer whole well cell counting systems using brightfield imaging technology to improve the accuracy of cell cultures and eliminate the need for detached enzymes and hematocytometer. The flexibility and ease-of-use of the Celigo cell counting application also allows cell growth to be monitored over time and facilitates the daily management of cultures. The standardization of this process leads to increased consistency of quantitative cell-based assays.

Segments

We report financial results in four segments: Brooks Product Solutions; Brooks Global Services; Brooks Life Science Systems; and Contract Manufacturing.

The Brooks Product Solutions segment provides a variety of products critical to technology equipment productivity and availability. Those products include atmospheric and vacuum tool automation systems, atmospheric and vacuum robots and robotic modules and cryogenic vacuum pumping, thermal management and vacuum measurement solutions which are used to create, measure and control critical process vacuum applications.

The Brooks Global Services segment provides an extensive range of support services including on and off-site repair services, on and off-site diagnostic support services, and installation services to enable our customers to maximize process tool uptime and productivity. This segment also provides end-user customers with spare parts support services to maximize customer tool productivity.

The Brooks Life Science Systems segment provides automated sample management systems for automated cold sample storage, automated blood fractionation equipment, sample preparation and handling equipment, cellular imaging, consumables, and parts and support services to a wide range of life science customers including pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, biobanks, national laboratories, research institutes and research universities.

The Contract Manufacturing segment provided services to build equipment front-end modules, vacuum transport modules and other subassemblies which enabled our customers to effectively source high quality and high reliability process tools for semiconductor market applications. We sold this segment on June 28, 2011.

Customers

Within the semiconductor industry, we sell our products and services to most of the major semiconductor chip manufacturers and OEMs in the world. Our customers outside the semiconductor industry are broadly diversified. We have major customers in North America, Europe and Asia. Additionally, although much of our equipment sales ship to United States OEMs, many of those products ultimately are utilized in international markets. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for a discussion of the risks related to foreign operations. The Brooks Global Services business provides support to leading fabs and foundries across the globe.

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Our life sciences systems solutions are used by pharmaceutical customers, national laboratories, biological drug development companies, research institutes and research hospitals. There is no continuing concentration of customers for the Brooks Life Science Systems segment although given the size of particular projects, an individual customer may be significant to the life science segment in a given quarter or fiscal year.

Relatively few customers account for a substantial portion of our revenues, with the top 10 customers accounting for approximately 43% of our business in fiscal 2012. We have one customer, Applied Materials, Inc., that accounted for more than 10% of our overall revenues for the year.

In our assessment of customer concentration, we primarily consider the OEM who designs the proprietary tool as our customer since they make the design-in decision rather than an intermediary contract manufacturer who is the entity to whom we invoice. For fiscal 2012, no contract manufacturer represented more than 10% of revenues.

Sales, Marketing and Customer Support

We market and sell most of our semiconductor, industrial and other adjacent technology market products and services in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America through our direct sales organization. The sales process for our products is often multilevel, involving a team comprised of individuals from sales, marketing, engineering, operations and senior management. In many cases a customer is assigned a team that engages the customer at different levels of its organization to facilitate planning, provide product customization when required, and to ensure open communication and support. Some of our vacuum and instrumentation products and services for certain international markets are sold through local country distributors. Additionally, we serve the Japanese market for our robotics and automation products through our Yaskawa Brooks Automation (YBA) joint venture with Yaskawa Electric Corporation of Japan.

We market to most of our life sciences customers through our direct Brooks Life Science Systems sales force. In regions with emerging life science industries such as China, India and the Middle East, we leverage local distributors to assist in the sales process. The sales process for our larger sample management systems may take 6-18 months to complete and it involves a team comprised of individuals from sales, marketing, engineering and senior management.

Our marketing activities include participation in trade shows, delivery of seminars, participation in industry forums, distribution of sales literature, publication of press releases and articles in business and industry publications. To enhance communication and support, particularly with our international customers, we maintain sales and service centers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. These facilities, together with our headquarters, maintain local support capability and demonstration equipment for customers to evaluate. Customers are encouraged to discuss features and applications of our demonstration equipment with our engineers located at these facilities.

Net revenues for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 based upon the source of the order by geographic area are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
North America	$	230,735	$	349,456	$	322,542
Asia/Pacific		194,711		244,524		203,172
Europe		94,005		94,125		67,258
	$	519,451	$	688,105	$	592,972

The geographic location of an OEM is not indicative of where our products will eventually be used. This is determined by the onward sale of an OEM system which incorporates our sub-systems and/or components.

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Long-lived assets, consisting of property, plant and equipment by geographic area are as follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
North America	$	51,546	$	55,295
Asia/Pacific		2,123		1,920
Europe		10,809		11,381
	$	64,478	$	68,596

Competition

We operate in a variety of niches of varying breadth and with differing competitors and competitive dynamics. The semiconductor and adjacent technology markets, and process equipment manufacturing industries are highly competitive and characterized by continual changes and improvements in technology. The significant portion of equipment automation is still done in-house by OEMs. Our competitors among external vacuum automation suppliers are primarily Japanese companies such as Daihen, Daikin and Rorze. Our competitors among vacuum components suppliers include Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Genesis and Telemark. We have a significant share of the market for vacuum cryogenic pumps and mixed gas cryo-chillers. Competitors in markets for our instrumentation products include MKS Instruments and Inficon. Atmospheric tool automation is typically less demanding and has a larger field of competitors. We compete directly with other equipment automation suppliers of atmospheric modules and systems such as Hirata, Kawasaki, Genmark, Rorze, Sankyo, TDK and Symphonia. Contract manufacturers such as Celestica and Flextronics are also providing assembly and manufacturing services for atmospheric systems.

Our Life Science Systems business competes with a number of smaller private companies in providing automated sample management systems. These competitors include Hamilton, Matrical, HighRes Biosolutions, Liconic and TTP LabTech.

We believe our customers will purchase our equipment automation products and vacuum subsystems as long as we continue to provide the necessary throughput, reliability, contamination control and accuracy in our products at an acceptable price point. We believe that we have competitive offerings with respect to all of these factors; however, we cannot guarantee that we will be successful in selling our products to OEMs who currently satisfy their automation needs in-house or from other independent suppliers, regardless of the performance or price of our products.

Research and Development

Our research and development efforts are focused on developing new products and also enhancing the functionality, degree of integration, reliability and performance of our existing products. Our engineering, marketing, operations and management personnel leverage their close collaborative relationships with many of their counterparts in customer organizations in an effort to proactively identify market demands with an ability to refocus our research and development investment to meet our customer demands. With the rapid pace of change that characterizes the markets we serve, it is essential for us to provide high-performance and reliable products in order for us to maintain our leadership position.

Our research and development spending for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $47.5 million, $39.8 million and $31.2 million, respectively.

Manufacturing

Our manufacturing operations are used for product assembly, integration and testing. We have adopted quality assurance procedures that include standard design practices, component selection procedures, vendor control procedures and comprehensive reliability testing and analysis to ensure the performance of our products.

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Our major manufacturing facilities are located in Chelmsford, Massachusetts; Poway, California; Petaluma, California; Longmont, Colorado; Monterrey, Mexico; Yongin-City, South Korea and Manchester, UK. We also provide service and spare parts support to end users throughout the world. Many of our service customers are based outside of the U.S., with many in Asia. We have service and support locations close to these customers to provide rapid response to their service needs. We have service and support locations in Chelmsford, Massachusetts; Chu Bei City, Taiwan; Yongin City, South Korea; Yokohama, Japan; Shanghai, China; Singapore; Jena, Germany; Oberdiessbach, Switzerland; and, Israel.

We utilize a just-in-time manufacturing strategy, based on the concepts of demand flow technology, for a large portion of our manufacturing process. We believe that this strategy, coupled with the outsourcing of non-critical components such as machined parts, wire harnesses and PC boards, reduces our fixed operating costs, improves our working capital efficiency, reduces our manufacturing cycle times and improves our flexibility to rapidly adjust production capacities. While we often use single source suppliers for certain key components and common assemblies to achieve quality control and the benefits of economies of scale, we believe that these parts and materials are readily available from other supply sources. We expect to continue to broaden the sourcing of our components to low cost regions, including Asia.

Patents and Proprietary Rights

We rely on patents, trade secret laws, confidentiality procedures, copyrights, trademarks and licensing agreements to protect our technology. Our United States patents expire at various times through 2028. Due to the rapid technological change that characterizes the life sciences, semiconductor, adjacent technology markets and related process equipment industries, we believe that the improvement of existing technology, reliance upon trade secrets and unpatented proprietary know-how and the development of new products may be as important as patent protection in establishing and maintaining a competitive advantage. To protect trade secrets and know-how, it is our policy to require all technical and management personnel to enter into proprietary information and nondisclosure agreements. We cannot guarantee that these efforts will meaningfully protect our trade secrets.

We have successfully licensed our front-opening unified pod (“FOUP”) load port technology to significant FOUP manufacturers.

Backlog

Backlog for our products as of September 30, 2012, totaled $81.1 million as compared to $99.7 million at September 30, 2011. Backlog consists of purchase orders for which a customer has scheduled delivery within the next 12 months. Backlog consists of orders principally for hardware and service agreements. Orders included in the backlog may be cancelled or rescheduled by customers without significant penalty. Backlog as of any particular date should not be relied upon as indicative of our revenues for any future period. A substantial percentage of current business generates no backlog because we deliver our products and services in the same period in which the order is received.

Employees

At September 30, 2012, we had 1,427 full time employees. In addition, we utilized 120 part time employees and contractors. Approximately 46 employees in our facility in Jena, Germany are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We consider our relationships with these and all employees to be good.

Available Information

We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The public may read and copy any materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Also, the SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including Brooks Automation, Inc., that file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that we file with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

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Our internet website address is http://www.brooks.com. Through our website, we make available, free of charge, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed, or furnished to, the SEC. These SEC reports can be accessed through the investor relations section of our website. The information found on our website is not part of this or any other report we file with or furnish to the SEC.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Factors That May Affect Future Results

You should carefully consider the risks described below and the other information in this report before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock. These are the risks and uncertainties we believe are most important for you to consider. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, which we currently deem immaterial or which are similar to those faced by other companies in our industry or business in general, may also impair our business operations. If any of the following risks or uncertainties actually occurs, our business, financial condition and operating results would likely suffer. In that event, the market price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Relating to Our Industry

Due in part to the cyclical nature of the semiconductor manufacturing industry and related industries, as well as due to volatility in worldwide capital and equity markets, we have previously incurred operating losses and may have future losses.

Our business is largely dependent on capital expenditures in the semiconductor manufacturing industry and other businesses employing similar manufacturing technology. The semiconductor manufacturing industry in turn depends on current and anticipated demand for integrated circuits and the products that use them. In recent years, these businesses have experienced unpredictable and volatile business cycles due in large part to rapid changes in demand and manufacturing capacity for semiconductors, and these cycles have had an impact on our business, sometimes causing declining revenues and operating losses. We could experience future operating losses during an industry downturn. If an industry downturn continues for an extended period of time, our business could be materially harmed. Conversely, in periods of rapidly increasing demand, we could have insufficient inventory and manufacturing capacity to meet our customer needs on a timely basis, which could result in the loss of customers and various other expenses that could reduce gross margins and profitability.

We face competition which may lead to price pressure and otherwise adversely affect our sales.

We face competition throughout the world in each of our product areas. This comes from competitors as discussed in Part I, Item 1, “Business — Competition” as well as internal robotic capabilities at larger OEMs. Many of our competitors have substantial engineering, manufacturing, marketing and customer support capabilities. We expect our competitors to continue to improve the performance of their current products and to introduce new products and technologies that could adversely affect sales of our current and future products and services. New products and technologies developed by our competitors or more efficient production of their products could require us to make significant price reductions or decide not to compete for certain orders. If we fail to respond adequately to pricing pressures or fail to develop products with improved performance or developments with respect to the other factors on which we compete, we could lose customers or orders. If we are unable to compete effectively, our business and prospects could be materially harmed.

Risks Relating to Brooks

Our operating results could fluctuate significantly, which could negatively impact our business.

Our revenues, operating margins and other operating results could fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter depending upon a variety of factors, including:

• demand for our products as a result of the cyclical nature of the semiconductor manufacturing industry and the markets upon which it depends or otherwise;

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• changes in the timing and terms of product orders by our customers as a result of our customer concentration or otherwise;

• changes in the mix of products and services that we offer;

• changes in the demand for the mix of products and services that we offer;

• timing and market acceptance of our new product introductions;

• delays or problems in the planned introduction of new products, or in the performance of any such products following delivery to customers;

• new products, services or technological innovations by our competitors, which can, among other things, render our products less competitive due to the rapid technological change in our industry;

• the timing and related costs of any acquisitions, divestitures or other strategic transactions;

• our ability to reduce our costs in response to decreased demand for our products and services;

• disruptions in our manufacturing process or in the supply of components to us;

• write-offs for excess or obsolete inventory; and

• competitive pricing pressures.

As a result of these risks, we believe that quarter to quarter comparisons of our revenue and operating results may not be meaningful, and that these comparisons may not be an accurate indicator of our future performance.

If we do not continue to introduce new products and services that reflect advances in technology in a timely and effective manner, our products and services may become obsolete and our operating results will suffer.

Our success is dependent on our ability to respond to the technological change present in the markets we serve. The success of our product development and introduction depends on our ability to:

• accurately identify and define new market opportunities and products;

• obtain market acceptance of our products;

• timely innovate, develop and commercialize new technologies and applications;

• adjust to changing market conditions;

• differentiate our offerings from our competitors’ offerings;

• obtain intellectual property rights where necessary;

• continue to develop a comprehensive, integrated product and service strategy;

• properly price our products and services; and

• design our products to high standards of manufacturability such that they meet customer requirements.

If we cannot succeed in responding in a timely manner to technological and/or market changes or if the new products that we introduce do not achieve market acceptance, it could diminish our competitive position which could materially harm our business and our prospects.

The global nature of our business exposes us to multiple risks.

For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, approximately 56% and 49%, respectively, of our revenues were derived from sales outside North America. We expect that international sales, including increased sales in Asia, will continue to account for a significant portion of our revenues. We maintain a global footprint of sales, service and repair operations. As a result of our international operations, we are exposed to many risks and uncertainties, including:

• longer sales-cycles and time to collection;

• tariff and international trade barriers;

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• fewer or less certain legal protections for intellectual property and contract rights abroad;

• different and changing legal and regulatory requirements in the jurisdictions in which we operate;

• government currency control and restrictions on repatriation of earnings;

• fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and interest rates, particularly in Asia and Europe; and

• political and economic instability, changes, hostilities and other disruptions in regions where we operate.

Negative developments in any of these areas in one or more countries could result in a reduction in demand for our products, the cancellation or delay of orders already placed, threats to our intellectual property, difficulty in collecting receivables, and a higher cost of doing business, any of which could materially harm our business and profitability.

Our business could be materially harmed if we fail to adequately integrate the operations of the businesses that we have acquired or may acquire.

We have made in the past, and may make in the future, acquisitions or significant investments in businesses with complementary products, services and/or technologies. Our acquisitions present numerous risks, including:

• difficulties in integrating the operations, technologies, products and personnel of the acquired companies and realizing the anticipated synergies of the combined businesses;

• defining and executing a comprehensive product strategy;

• managing the risks of entering markets or types of businesses in which we have limited or no direct experience;

• the potential loss of key employees, customers and strategic partners of ours or of acquired companies;

• unanticipated problems or latent liabilities, such as problems with the quality of the installed base of the target company’s products or infringement of another company’s intellectual property by a target company’s activities or products;

• problems associated with compliance with the target company’s existing contracts;

• difficulties in managing geographically dispersed operations; and

• the diversion of management’s attention from normal daily operations of the business.

If we acquire a new business, we may be required to expend significant funds, incur additional debt or issue additional securities, which may negatively affect our operations and be dilutive to our stockholders. In periods following an acquisition, we will be required to evaluate goodwill and acquisition-related intangible assets for impairment. When such assets are found to be impaired, they will be written down to estimated fair value, with a charge against earnings. The failure to adequately address these risks could materially harm our business and financial results.

Entering new markets introduces new competitors and commercial risks.

A key part of our growth strategy is to continue expanding into adjacent technology and life sciences markets beyond the semiconductor manufacturing market. As part of this strategy, we expect to diversify our product sales by leveraging our core technologies, which requires investments and resources which may not be available as needed. We cannot guarantee that we will be successful in leveraging our capabilities into the life sciences market to meet all the needs of these new customers and to compete favorably. Because a significant portion of our growth potential may be dependent on our ability to increase sales to markets beyond semiconductor manufacturing, an inability to successfully enter new markets may adversely impact future financial results.

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Changes in key personnel could impair our ability to execute our business strategy.

The continuing service of our executive officers and essential engineering, technical and management personnel, together with our ability to attract and retain such personnel, is an important factor in our continuing ability to execute our strategy. There is substantial competition to attract such employees and the loss of any such key employees could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. The same could be true if we were to experience a high turnover rate among engineering and technical personnel and we were unable to replace them.

We may be subject to claims of infringement of third-party intellectual property rights, or demands that we license third-party technology, which could result in significant expense and prevent us from using our technology.

We rely upon patents, trade secret laws, confidentiality procedures, copyrights, trademarks and licensing agreements to protect our technology. Due to the rapid technological change that characterizes the semiconductor and adjacent technology markets, we believe that the improvement of existing technology, reliance upon trade secrets and unpatented proprietary know-how and the development of new products may be as important as patent protection in establishing and maintaining competitive advantage. To protect trade secrets and know-how, it is our policy to require all technical and management personnel to enter into nondisclosure agreements. We cannot guarantee that these efforts will meaningfully protect our trade secrets.

There has been substantial litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the semiconductor related industries. We have in the past been, and may in the future be, notified that we may be infringing intellectual property rights possessed by third parties. We cannot guarantee that infringement claims by third parties or other claims for indemnification by customers or end users of our products resulting from infringement claims will not be asserted in the future or that such assertions, if proven to be true, will not materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We cannot predict the extent to which we might be required to seek licenses or alter our products so that they no longer infringe the rights of others. We also cannot guarantee that licenses will be available or the terms of any licenses we may be required to obtain will be reasonable. Similarly, changing our products or processes to avoid infringing the rights of others may be costly or impractical and could detract from the value of our products. If a judgment of infringement were obtained against us, we could be required to pay substantial damages and a court could issue an order preventing us from selling one or more of our products. Further, the cost and diversion of management attention brought about by such litigation could be substantial, even if we were to prevail. Any of these events could result in significant expense to us and may materially harm our business and our prospects.

Our failure to protect our intellectual property could adversely affect our future operations.

Our ability to compete is significantly affected by our ability to protect our intellectual property. Existing trade secret, trademark and copyright laws offer only limited protection. Our success depends in part on our ability to obtain and enforce patent protection for our products both in the United States and in other countries. We own numerous U.S. and foreign patents, and we intend to file additional applications, as appropriate, for patents covering our products and technology. Our current patents will expire from time to time through 2028 and new patents may not be issued for any pending or future patent applications, and the claims allowed under any issued patents may not be sufficiently broad to protect our technology. Any issued patents owned by or licensed to us may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, and the rights under these patents may not provide us with competitive advantages. In addition, the laws of some countries in which our products are or may be developed, manufactured or sold may not fully protect our products. We cannot guarantee that the steps we have taken to protect our intellectual property will be adequate to prevent the misappropriation of our technology. Other companies could independently develop similar or superior technology without violating our intellectual property rights. In the future, it may be necessary to engage in litigation or like activities to enforce our intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of proprietary rights of others, including our customers. This could require us to incur significant expenses and to divert the efforts and attention of our management and technical personnel from our business operations.

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If our manufacturing sites were to experience a significant disruption in operations, our business could be materially harmed.

We have a limited number of manufacturing facilities for our products. If the operations of these facilities were disrupted as a result of a natural disaster, fire, power or other utility outage, work stoppage or other similar event, our business could be seriously harmed because we may be unable to manufacture and ship products and parts to our customers in a timely fashion.

Our business could be materially harmed if one or more key suppliers fail to continuously deliver key components of acceptable cost and quality.

We currently obtain many of our key components on an as-needed, purchase order basis from numerous suppliers. In some cases we have only a single source of supply for necessary components and materials used in the manufacturing of our products. Further, we are increasing our sourcing of products in Asia, and particularly in China, and we do not have a previous course of dealing with many of these suppliers. We do not generally have long-term supply contracts with any of these suppliers, and many of them underwent cost-containment measures in light of the last industry downturn. As the industry has recovered, these suppliers have faced challenges in delivering components on a timely basis. This volatility in demand has led some of our vendors to exit the semiconductor market, and other vendors may also decide to exit this market. Our inability to obtain components or materials in required quantities or of acceptable cost and quality and with the necessary continuity of supply could result in delays or reductions in product shipments to our customers. In addition, if a supplier or sub-supplier suffers a production stoppage or delay for any reason, including natural disasters like the ones that affected Japan and Thailand, this could result in a delay or reduction in product shipments to our customers. Any of these contingencies could cause us to lose customers, result in delayed or lost revenue and otherwise materially harm our business.

Our stock price is volatile.

The market price of our common stock has fluctuated widely. From the beginning of fiscal year 2011 through the end of fiscal year 2012, our stock price fluctuated between a high of $14.59 per share and a low of $6.37 per share. Consequently, the current market price of our common stock may not be indicative of future market prices, and we may be unable to sustain or increase the value of an investment in our common stock. Factors affecting our stock price may include:

• variations in operating results from quarter to quarter;

• changes in earnings estimates by analysts or our failure to meet analysts’ expectations;

• changes in the market price per share of our public company customers;

• market conditions in the semiconductor and other industries into which we sell products;

• economic conditions in Europe and general economic conditions;

• political changes, hostilities or natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods;

• low trading volume of our common stock; and

• the number of firms making a market in our common stock.

In addition, the stock market has in the past experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. These fluctuations have particularly affected the market prices of the securities of high technology companies like ours. These market fluctuations could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

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Risks Relating to Our Customers

Because we rely on a limited number of customers for a large portion of our revenues, the loss of one or more of these customers could materially harm our business.

We receive a significant portion of our revenues in each fiscal period from a relatively limited number of customers, and that trend is likely to continue. Sales to our ten largest customers accounted for approximately 43%, 55% and 63% of our total revenues in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. While we expect this percentage to continue to decrease due to the sale of our contract manufacturing business and our life sciences acquisitions, the loss of one or more of these major customers, a significant decrease in orders from one of these customers, or the inability of one or more customers to make payments to us when they are due could materially affect our revenue, business and reputation. In addition, there has been and may continue to be significant consolidation among some of our largest OEM customers, which could lead to increased pressure to reduce the price of our products and/or decreased market share with the combined companies.

Because of the lengthy sales cycles of many of our products, we may incur significant expenses before we generate any revenues related to those products.

Our customers may need several months to test and evaluate our products. This increases the possibility that a customer may decide to cancel or change plans, which could reduce or eliminate our sales to that customer. The impact of this risk can be magnified during the periods in which we introduce a number of new products, as has been the case in recent years. As a result of this lengthy sales cycle, we may incur significant research and development expenses, and selling, general and administrative expenses before we generate the related revenues for these products, and we may never generate the anticipated revenues if our customer cancels or changes its plans.

In addition, many of our products will not be sold directly to the end-user but will be components of other products. As a result, we rely on OEMs to select our products from among alternative offerings to be incorporated into their equipment at the design stage; so-called design-ins. The OEMs’ decisions often precede the generation of volume sales, if any, by a year or more. Moreover, if we are unable to achieve these design-ins from an OEM, we would have difficulty selling our products to that OEM because changing suppliers involves significant cost, time, effort and risk on the part of that OEM.

Customers generally do not make long term commitments to purchase our products and our customers may cease purchasing our products at any time.

Sales of our products are often made pursuant to individual purchase orders and not under long-term commitments and contracts. Our customers frequently do not provide any assurance of minimum or future sales and are not prohibited from purchasing products from our competitors at any time. Accordingly, we are exposed to competitive pricing pressures on each order. Our customers also engage in the practice of purchasing products from more than one manufacturer to avoid dependence on sole-source suppliers for certain of their needs. The existence of these practices makes it more difficult for us to increase price, gain new customers and win repeat business from existing customers.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

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Item 2. Properties

Our corporate headquarters and primary manufacturing/research and development facilities are currently located in three buildings in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, which we purchased in January 2001. We lease a fourth building in Chelmsford adjacent to the three that we own. In summary, we maintain the following active principal facilities:

Location	Functions	Square Footage (Approx.)		Ownership Status/Lease Expiration
Chelmsford, Massachusetts	Corporate headquarters, training, manufacturing and R&D		214,000	Owned
Chelmsford, Massachusetts	Manufacturing		97,000	October 2014
Petaluma, California	Manufacturing and R&D		72,300	September 2013
Poway, California	Manufacturing and R&D		67,600	July 2015
Longmont, Colorado	Manufacturing and R&D		60,900	February 2015
Yongin-City, South Korea	Manufacturing, R&D and sales & support		49,600	February 2022
Manchester, UK	Manufacturing, R&D and sales & support		42,000	December 2019
Jena, Germany	Manufacturing, R&D and sales & support		30,100	January 2017
Chu Bei City, Taiwan	Sales & support		28,600	June 2014

Our Brooks Product Solutions segment utilizes the facilities in Massachusetts, Petaluma, California, Colorado and South Korea as well as a smaller manufacturing and R&D facility in Germany. Our Brooks Global Services segment utilizes the facilities in Massachusetts, South Korea, Germany and Taiwan. Our Brooks Life Science Systems segment utilizes the facilities in Poway, California and the UK.

We maintain additional sales and support and training offices in California and Texas and overseas in Europe (France, Germany and Switzerland), as well as in Asia (Japan, China, Singapore and Taiwan) and the Middle East (Israel).

We utilize a third party to manage a manufacturing operation in Mexico. As part of our arrangement with this third party, we guarantee a lease for a 56,100 square foot manufacturing facility. The remaining payments under this lease, which expires in 2015, are approximately $0.9 million.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings, both asserted and unasserted, that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that none of these claims will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

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Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the symbol “BRKS”. The following table sets forth the high and low close prices per share of our common stock as reported by the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC and the cash dividends declared per common share for the periods indicated:

	Market Price				Dividends Declared
	High		Low
Fiscal year ended September 30, 2012
First quarter	$	10.96	$	7.52	$	0.08
Second quarter		12.38		10.13		0.08
Third quarter		12.34		8.95		0.08
Fourth quarter		9.84		7.86		0.08
Fiscal year ended September 30, 2011
First quarter	$	9.48	$	6.37
Second quarter		13.94		8.72
Third quarter		14.59		9.96
Fourth quarter		11.66		7.74		0.08

Number of Holders

As of October 31, 2012, there were 869 holders of record of our common stock.

Dividend Policy

Dividends are declared at the discretion of our Board of Directors and depend on actual cash from operations, our financial condition and capital requirements and any other factors our Board of Directors may consider relevant. Future dividend declarations, as well as the record and payment dates for such dividends, will be determined by our Board of Directors on a quarterly basis.

On November 7, 2012, our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.08 per share payable on December 28, 2012 to common stockholders of record on December 7, 2012.

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Comparative Stock Performance

The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return (assuming reinvestment of dividends) from investing $100 on September 30, 2007, and plotted at the last trading day of each of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, in each of (i) the Company’s Common Stock; (ii) the NASDAQ/AMEX/NYSE Market Index of companies; (iii) a peer group comprised of: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., Cymer, Inc., Entegris, Inc., FEI Company, LAM Research Corporation, Mattson Technology, Inc., MKS Instruments, Inc., Photronics, Inc., Ultra Clean Technology, Inc. and Veeco Instruments Inc. We believe this graph best represents our peer groups in the end markets that we serve. The stock price performance on the graph below is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.

Performance Graph

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*

Among Brooks Automation, Inc., The NASDAQ/AMEX/NYSE Index

and a Peer Group

* $100 invested on September 28, 2007 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.

Fiscal year ending September 30.

	9/28/07		9/30/08		9/30/09		9/30/10		9/30/11		9/28/12
Brooks Automation, Inc.		100.00		58.71		54.28		47.12		57.75		58.84
NASDAQ/AMEX/NYSE		100.00		74.19		85.17		122.91		108.42		126.72
Peer Group		100.00		64.37		71.68		78.60		76.17		86.24

The information included under the heading “Performance Graph” in Item 5 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or subject to Regulation 14A, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

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Issuance of Unregistered Common Stock

Not applicable.

Issuer’s Purchases of Equity Securities

As part of our equity compensation program, we offer recipients of restricted stock awards the opportunity to elect to sell their shares at the time of vesting to satisfy tax obligations in connection with such vesting. The following table provides information concerning shares of our Common Stock, $0.01 par value, purchased in connection with the forfeiture of shares to satisfy the employees’ obligations with respect to withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of certain shares of restricted stock during the three months ended September 30, 2012. Upon purchase, these shares are immediately retired.

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares  Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs		Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that  May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1 — 31, 2012		—	$	—		—	$	—
August 1 — 31, 2012		1,585		9.52		1,585		—
September 1 — 30, 2012		—		—		—		—
Total		1,585	$	9.52		1,585	$	—

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The selected consolidated financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” appearing elsewhere in this report.

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012(6)(7)(8)		2011(4)(5)(9)		2010(3)(9)		2009(2)(9)			2008(1)(9)
			(In thousands, except per share data)
Revenues	$	519,451	$	688,105	$	592,972	$	218,706		$	526,366
Gross profit (loss)	$	173,486	$	223,021	$	166,295	$	(5,996	)	$	126,828
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures	$	11,420	$	127,576	$	56,064	$	(226,917	)	$	(236,152	)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	$	136,835	$	130,437	$	59,884	$	(227,527	)	$	(236,351	)
Net income (loss) attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$	136,789	$	130,385	$	59,841	$	(227,612	)	$	(235,619	)
Basic net income (loss) from continuing operations per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	2.10	$	2.02	$	0.94	$	(3.62	)	$	(3.66	)
Diluted net income (loss) from continuing operations per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	2.08	$	2.01	$	0.93	$	(3.62	)	$	(3.66	)
Shares used in computing basic earnings (loss) per share		65,128		64,549		63,777		62,911			64,542
Shares used in computing diluted earnings (loss) per share		65,722		65,003		64,174		62,911			64,542
Cash dividends per share	$	0.32	$	0.08	$	—	$	—		$	—

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	As of September 30,
	2012		2011(10)		2010(10)		2009(10)		2008(10)
	(In thousands)
Total assets	$	741,960	$	636,958	$	517,040	$	411,569	$	662,611
Working capital	$	266,298	$	224,785	$	219,176	$	150,700	$	235,795
Total Brooks Automation, Inc. stockholders’ equity	$	648,666	$	518,347	$	387,631	$	317,376	$	540,968

	Year Ended September 30, 2012
	First Quarter(9)		Second Quarter(7)(9)		Third Quarter(7)		Fourth Quarter(6)(7)(8)
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Revenues	$	120,228	$	139,337	$	140,437	$	119,449
Gross profit	$	40,357	$	48,282	$	46,240	$	38,607
Net income	$	2,831	$	9,726	$	8,025	$	116,253
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$	2,823	$	9,721	$	8,028	$	116,217
Basic net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	0.04	$	0.15	$	0.12	$	1.78
Diluted net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	0.04	$	0.15	$	0.12	$	1.77

	Year Ended September 30, 2011
	First Quarter(9)		Second Quarter(9)		Third Quarter(4)(5)(9)		Fourth Quarter(4)(9)
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Revenues	$	178,367	$	192,651	$	186,136	$	130,951
Gross profit	$	57,319	$	61,674	$	56,970	$	47,058
Net income	$	23,955	$	26,841	$	66,921	$	12,720
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$	23,955	$	26,823	$	66,915	$	12,692
Basic net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	0.37	$	0.42	$	1.03	$	0.20
Diluted net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	0.37	$	0.41	$	1.03	$	0.19

(1) Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures, income (loss) from continuing operations and net income (loss) attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. includes a $197.9 million charge for the impairment of goodwill and a $5.7 million charge for the impairment of long-lived assets.

(2) Gross profit (loss) includes a $20.9 million impairment of long-lived assets. Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures, income (loss) and net income (loss) attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. includes a $71.8 million charge for the impairment of goodwill and a $35.5 million charge for the impairment of long-lived assets.

(3) Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures, income (loss) and net income (loss) attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. includes a $7.8 million gain on the sale of certain patents and patents pending related to a legacy product line.

(4) Amounts include results of operations of RTS Life Science Limited (acquired effective April 1, 2011) and Nexus Biosystems, Inc. (acquired effective July 25, 2011) for the periods subsequent to their acquisition.

(5) On June 28, 2011, we disposed of our contract manufacturing business which did not qualify as discontinued operations. As such, the operations prior to the divestiture are included in our results of operations. Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures, income (loss) and net income (loss) attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. includes a $45.0 million pre-tax gain on the sale of our contract manufacturing business.

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(6) Income (loss) from continuing operations and net income (loss) attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. includes a $121.8 million deferred income tax benefit in connection with a reversal of a majority of the valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets.

(7) Amounts include results of operations of the Celigo^® product line (acquired December 30, 2011) for the period subsequent to the acquisition.

(8) Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures, income (loss) and net income (loss) attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. includes an $8.9 million charge in connection with the settlement of our U.S. defined benefit pension plan.

(9) Income (loss) from continuing operations and net income (loss) attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. reflects effects of revision to equity in earnings of joint ventures reflected in our consolidated statements of operations. See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for the impact of the revision that relates to fiscal years 2011 and 2010. Fiscal year 2009 net income was increased by $0.2 million due to the revision, and for fiscal year 2008, net income was increased by $0.3 million.

(10) Total assets and Total Brooks Automation, Inc. stockholders’ equity reflect the effects of revision to investment in joint ventures reflected in our consolidated balance sheets. See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Certain statements in this Form 10-K constitute “forward-looking statements” which involve known risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, our performance or our achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements such as estimates of future revenue, gross margin, and expense levels as well as the performance of the markets we serve. Such factors include the “Risk Factors” set forth in Part I, Item 1A. Precautionary statements made herein should be read as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements whenever they appear in this report.

Overview

We are a leading provider of automation, vacuum and instrumentation solutions for multiple markets and are a valued business partner to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and equipment users throughout the world. We serve markets where equipment productivity and availability is a critical factor for our customers’ success, typically in demanding temperature and/or pressure environments. Our largest served market is the semiconductor capital equipment industry, which represented approximately 54%, 65% and 71% of our consolidated revenues for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. These decreases are the result of our efforts to target certain non-semiconductor revenue opportunities, including acquisitions and a divestiture which has led to an increase in the non-semiconductor portion of our revenues. The non-semiconductor markets served by us include life sciences, industrial capital equipment and other adjacent technology markets.

The demand for semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment is cyclical, resulting in periodic expansions and contractions of this market. Demand for our products has been impacted by these cyclical industry conditions. Our revenues from the latter half of fiscal 2009 through fiscal year 2011 benefited from an upturn in the semiconductor capital equipment market. Revenues for fiscal year 2012 have been impacted by our acquisitions and divestures, and also impacted more recently by weakness in demand for semiconductor capital equipment. We expect this weakness to continue into the early part of fiscal year 2013.

We expect the semiconductor equipment market will continue to be a key end market for our products, however, we intend to acquire and develop technologies that will create opportunities outside of the semiconductor market. We completed the following acquisitions and investments to expand our life sciences product offering:

• RTS Life Sciences (“RTS”), a United Kingdom based provider of automation solutions to the life sciences markets, acquired on April 1, 2011 for $3.4 million, net of cash on hand;

• Nexus Biosystems, Inc. (“Nexus”), a California based provider of automation solutions and consumables to the life sciences markets on July 25, 2011 for $84.9 million, net of cash on hand;

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• The Celigo^® automated Cell Cytometer product line from Cyntellect Inc., a life sciences product used for cellular imaging, acquired on December 30, 2011 for $8.7 million in cash, plus a deferred cash payment of $0.5 million that was paid in July 2012.

Although we have entered into transactions to expand the non-semiconductor portions of our business, we will continue to make investments to maintain and grow our semiconductor product and service offerings. On January 6, 2012, we acquired primarily intangible assets from Intevac, Inc. for $3.0 million. We will use these assets in the development of a next generation of semiconductor automation tools. We expensed essentially all of this asset purchase as an in-process research and development cost in the three months ended March 31, 2012. On October 29, 2012, we acquired Crossing Automation Inc. (“Crossing”), a U.S. based provider of automation solutions for the global semiconductor front-end markets. The purchase price was approximately $63.1 million, which is subject to a working capital adjustment to be determined subsequent to the closing.

On April 20, 2011, we entered into an agreement with affiliates of Celestica Inc. (“Celestica”) to sell the assets of our Contract Manufacturing segment (the “Business”). The sale was completed on June 28, 2011 for a purchase price of $78.0 million in cash, plus $1.3 million as consideration for cash acquired in the sale. An additional $2.5 million of proceeds was paid during our fourth quarter of 2011, which represents a working capital normalizing adjustment. In addition, Brooks and Celestica entered into certain commercial supply and license agreements at the closing of the sale. Pursuant to those agreements, Brooks supplies Celestica with certain products and has licensed to Celestica certain intellectual property needed to run the Business and Celestica supplies certain products to Brooks. Due to the significance of these ongoing commercial arrangements, the sale did not qualify for discontinued operations treatment. Therefore, historical financial results of the divested business are not segregated within our consolidated financial statements for the historical periods in which this business was part of us.

We report financial results in four segments: Brooks Product Solutions, Brooks Global Services, Brooks Life Science Systems and Contract Manufacturing. This financial reporting structure was implemented effective as of the beginning of our fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011 in response to changes in our management structure as well as the acquisition of two life science companies in the second half of fiscal 2011.

The Brooks Product Solutions segment provides a variety of products critical to technology equipment productivity and availability. Those products include atmospheric and vacuum tool automation systems, atmospheric and vacuum robots and robotic modules and cryogenic vacuum pumping, thermal management and vacuum measurement solutions which are used to create, measure and control critical process vacuum applications.

The Brooks Global Services segment provides an extensive range of support services including on and off-site repair services, on and off-site diagnostic support services, and installation services to enable our customers to maximize process tool uptime and productivity. This segment also provides end-user customers with spare parts support services to maximize customer tool productivity.

The Brooks Life Science Systems segment provides automated sample management systems for automated cold sample storage, automated blood fractionation equipment, sample preparation and handling equipment, cellular imaging, consumables, and parts and support services to a wide range of life science customers including pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, biobanks, national laboratories, research institutes and research universities.

The Contract Manufacturing segment provided services to build equipment front-end modules, vacuum transport modules and other subassemblies which enabled our customers to effectively source high quality and high reliability process tools for semiconductor market applications. We sold this segment on June 28, 2011.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we identified prior period errors related to the accounting for our equity method investment in ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc. (“UCI”). We determined that certain subsidiaries of UCI were not fully included in the results UCI reported to us and therefore not reflected within equity in earnings of joint ventures in our consolidated statements of operations or within equity investment in joint ventures in our consolidated balance sheets for the quarterly and annual periods beginning in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 through the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012. We concluded that these errors were not material

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individually or in the aggregate to any of the prior reporting periods, and therefore, amendments of previously filed reports were not required. However, if the entire correction was recorded in the third quarter of 2012, the cumulative amount would be material in the year ended September 30, 2012 and would have impacted comparisons to prior periods. As such, the revisions for these corrections to the applicable prior periods are reflected in the financial information herein and will be reflected in future filings containing such financial information. The revision had no net impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows for any prior period. The specific amount of each revision is detailed in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to bad debts, inventories, intangible assets, goodwill, income taxes, warranty obligations, pensions and contingencies. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, including current and anticipated worldwide economic conditions both in general and specifically in relation to the semiconductor industry, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. As discussed in the year over year comparisons below, actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

Revenues

Product revenues are associated with the sale of hardware systems, components and spare parts as well as product license revenue. Service revenues are associated with service contracts, repairs, upgrades and field service. Shipping and handling fees, if any, billed to customers are recognized as revenue. The related shipping and handling costs are recognized in cost of sales.

Revenue from product sales that does not include significant customization is recorded upon delivery and transfer of risk of loss to the customer provided there is evidence of an arrangement, fees are fixed or determinable, collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured and, if applicable, customer acceptance criteria have been successfully demonstrated. Customer acceptance provisions include final testing and acceptance carried out prior to shipment. These pre-shipment testing and acceptance procedures ensure that the product meets the published specification requirements before the product is shipped. When significant on site customer acceptance provisions are present in the arrangement, revenue is recognized upon completion of customer acceptance testing.

Revenue from product sales that does include significant customization, which primarily include life science automation systems, is recorded using the percentage of completion method whereby revenue is recorded as work progresses based on a percentage that incurred labor effort to date bear to total projected labor effort. In addition, contracts are reviewed on a regular basis to determine whether a loss exists. A loss will be accrued in the period in which estimated contract revenue is less than the current estimate of total contract costs.

Revenue associated with service agreements is generally recognized ratably over the term of the contract. Revenue from repair services or upgrades of customer-owned equipment is recognized upon completion of the repair effort and upon the shipment of the repaired item back to the customer. In instances where the repair or upgrade includes installation, revenue is recognized when the installation is completed.

Intangible Assets, Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets

As a result of our acquisitions, we have identified intangible assets other than goodwill and generated significant goodwill. General intangible assets other than goodwill are valued based on estimates of future cash flows and amortized over their estimated useful life. Goodwill is subject to annual impairment testing as well as testing upon the occurrence of any event that indicates a potential impairment. General intangible assets other

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than goodwill and other long-lived assets are subject to an impairment test if there is an indicator of impairment. We conduct our annual goodwill impairment test as of our fiscal year end, or September 30th. Our tests of goodwill as of September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 indicated that we did not have any impairment to goodwill.

Under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), the testing of goodwill for impairment is to be performed at a level referred to as a reporting unit. A reporting unit is either the “operating segment level” or one level below, which is referred to as a “component.” The level at which the impairment test is performed requires an assessment as to whether the operations below the operating segment constitute a self-sustaining business, testing is generally required to be performed at this level. We currently have three reporting units that have goodwill, including two reporting units that are part of our Brooks Product Solutions operating segment and the sole reporting unit included in our Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment.

We determine the fair value of our reporting units using an Income Approach, specifically the Discounted Cash Flow Method (“DCF Method”). The DCF Method includes five year future cash flow projections, which are discounted to present value, and an estimate of terminal values, which are also discounted to present value. Terminal values represent the present value an investor would pay today for the rights to the cash flows of the business for the years subsequent to the discrete cash flow projection period. We consider the DCF Method to be the most appropriate valuation indicator as the DCF analyses are based on management’s long-term financial projections. However, we also use market-based valuation techniques to test the reasonableness of the fair values determined by the DCF Method. We also compare the aggregate fair value of our reporting units and corporate assets to our overall market capitalization.

Goodwill impairment testing is a two-step process. The first step of the goodwill impairment test, used to identify potential impairment, compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its respective carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is not considered impaired. If the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds the fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test must be completed to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any. The second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying value of goodwill. The implied fair value is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit, the excess of the fair value over amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill determined in this step is compared to the carrying value of goodwill. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying value of goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the difference.

For our annual goodwill impairment test as of September 30, 2012, we determined that the estimated fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value and no impairment existed. The fair value of the two reporting units that are part of our Brooks Product Solutions operating segment each exceeded their carrying value by more than 20%. The fair value of the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment exceeded its carrying value by 5%. The discount rate used in the DCF analysis for the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment was 18.5%. The revenue multiple used in the terminal value calculation for the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment was 1.9x, and is consistent with revenue multiples of peers in the life science industry. The final terminal value calculation for this reporting unit reflects an equal weighting of a revenue multiple and capitalizing cash flow from the terminal year, which is consistent with our approach utilized in the prior year. We acquired the businesses comprising the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment at various dates over the last eighteen months. While we believe our assumptions are reasonable, actual results could differ from our projections. To the extent projected results of cash flows are revised downward, the reporting unit may be required to write down all or a portion of its goodwill, which would adversely impact our earnings.

Under GAAP, we are required to test long-lived assets, which exclude goodwill and intangible assets that are not amortized, when indicators of impairment are present. For purposes of this test, long-lived assets are grouped with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. When we determine that indicators of potential impairment exist, the next step of the impairment test requires that the potentially impaired long-lived asset group is tested for recoverability. The test for recoverability compares the undiscounted future cash flows of the long-lived asset group to its carrying value. If the carrying values of the long-lived asset group exceed the future cash flows, the assets are considered to be potentially impaired. The next step in the impairment process is to

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determine the fair value of the individual net assets within the long-lived asset group. If the aggregate fair values of the individual net assets of the group are less than the carrying values, an impairment charge is recorded equal to the excess of the aggregate carrying value of the group over the aggregate fair value. The loss is allocated to each asset within the group based on their relative carrying values, with no asset reduced below its fair value. We have not tested long-lived assets other than goodwill since 2009, since no events have occurred that would require an impairment assessment.

Accounts Receivable

We record trade accounts receivable at the invoiced amount. Trade accounts receivables do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in our existing accounts receivable. We determine the allowance based on historical write-off experience. We review our allowance for doubtful accounts quarterly. Past due balances are reviewed individually for collectibility. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when we feel it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. We do not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to our customers.

Warranty

We provide for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time revenue is recognized. While we engage in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of our component suppliers, our warranty obligation is estimated by assessing product failure rates, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. Should actual product failure rates, material usage or service delivery costs differ from our estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty liability would be required and may result in additional benefits or charges to operations.

Inventory

We provide reserves for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. We fully reserve for inventories and noncancelable purchase orders for inventory deemed obsolete. We perform periodic reviews of all inventory items to identify excess inventories on hand by comparing on-hand balances to anticipated usage using recent historical activity as well as anticipated or forecasted demand, based upon sales and marketing inputs through our planning systems. If estimates of demand diminish further or actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

Deferred Taxes

We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. We have considered recent historical income, estimated future taxable income, carry-forward periods of tax attributes, the volatility of the semiconductor industry and ongoing tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance. In the event we determine that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in excess of their net recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would increase income in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should we subsequently determine that we would not be able to realize all or part of our net deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would be charged to income in the period such determination was made.

Prior to fiscal year 2012 management had concluded that it was more likely than not that our deferred tax assets would not be realized and recorded a full valuation allowance against all global deferred tax assets. As of September 30, 2012 management has changed this judgment upon the careful consideration of all available positive and negative evidence. The positive evidence considered was three year U.S. historical cumulative income, projected future taxable income and the length of carry-forward periods of tax attributes. The primary negative evidence to be considered is the volatility of the semiconductor industry which creates uncertainty in forecasting profits. As a result of this change in judgment we recorded a tax benefit of $121.8 million resulting from the reduction in the valuation allowance. We continue to maintain a valuation allowance in the U.S. against certain tax attributes based on the uncertainty of their realization based on long-term forecasts and the expiration dates of the attributes.

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We also maintain a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets in certain foreign jurisdictions. We will continue to assess the need for a valuation allowance in future periods. If future operating results of the U.S. or these foreign jurisdictions significantly exceed expectations it is reasonably possible that there could be a further reduction in the valuation allowance in the future. Further reduction of the valuation allowance, in whole or in part, would result in a non-cash income tax benefit during the period of reduction.

Pension Plans

Our U.S. defined benefit pension plan was fully settled in September 2012 but we continue to sponsor two non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans. The cost and obligations of these arrangements are calculated using many assumptions to estimate the benefits that the employee earns while working, the amount of which cannot be completely determined until the benefit payments cease. Major assumptions used in the accounting for these employee benefit plans include the discount rate, expected return on plan assets and rate of increase in employee compensation levels. Assumptions are determined based on company data and appropriate market indicators in consultation with third-party actuaries, and are evaluated each year as of the plans’ measurement date. Total pension costs for our pension plans totaled $10.3 million for fiscal year 2012, which includes an $8.9 million settlement charge for the U.S. plan. Our unfunded benefit obligation totaled $2.2 million at September 30, 2012, as compared to $7.9 million at September 30, 2011. Should any of our assumptions change, they would have an effect on net periodic pension costs and the unfunded benefit obligation. We expect to contribute approximately $0.5 million to our defined benefit pension plans during fiscal year 2013.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure compensation cost for all employee stock awards at fair value on date of grant and recognize compensation expense over the service period for awards expected to vest. The fair value of restricted stock is determined based on the number of shares granted and the excess of the quoted price of our common stock over the exercise price of the restricted stock on the date of grant, if any, and the fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. Such value is recognized as expense over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires significant judgment. We consider many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. In addition, for stock-based awards where vesting is dependent upon achieving certain operating performance goals, we estimate the likelihood of achieving the performance goals. Actual results, and future changes in estimates, may differ from our current estimates.

Year Ended September 30, 2012, Compared to Year Ended September 30, 2011

Revenues

We reported revenues of $519.5 million for fiscal year 2012, compared to $688.1 million in the previous year, a 25% decrease. The total decrease in revenues of $168.6 million is the result of the sale of our Contract Manufacturing segment, which had revenues of $137.3 million in the prior year, decreased demand for our Brooks Product Solutions products which resulted in $70.4 million of decreased revenues and reduced demand for products and services from our Brooks Global Services segment which resulted in $2.9 million of lower revenues. These decreases were partially offset by $42.0 million of increased revenues from our Brooks Life Science Systems segment due to the acquisitions of RTS and Nexus in the last half of fiscal 2011.

Our Brooks Product Solutions segment reported revenues of $380.9 million for fiscal year 2012, a decrease of 16% from $451.3 million in the prior year. These decreases are attributable to lower volumes of shipments to most of the end markets served by this segment. Recent demand for semiconductor capital equipment has declined, and we expect this reduction in demand to result in lower revenues for this segment in the near term as compared to the revenues achieved in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012.

Our Brooks Global Services segment reported revenues of $86.0 million for fiscal year 2012, a 3% decrease from $88.8 million in the prior year. The decrease includes a $3.4 million decrease in product revenues, which are comprised mostly of spare part sales to end users. This decrease, which is primarily attributable to decreased demand from our semiconductor customers, is partially offset by a $0.6 million increase in revenues from services.

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Our Brooks Life Science Systems segment reported revenues of $52.6 million for fiscal year 2012, a 396% increase from $10.6 million in the prior year. This increase is primarily the result of the timing of our acquisitions. We acquired RTS on April 1, 2011, Nexus on July 25, 2011 and Celigo on December 31, 2011. Revenues for this segment for fiscal year 2012 include $39.7 million of product revenue, which includes sales of automated systems and consumables. The balance of the fiscal year 2012 revenues, or $12.9 million, is comprised of service revenues to support deployed automation systems.

Our Contract Manufacturing segment reported revenues of $137.3 million for fiscal year 2011. This segment was sold on June 28, 2011.

Revenues from the Brooks Product Solutions segment for the fiscal year 2011 include intercompany sales of $49.2 million from this segment to the Contract Manufacturing segment. These intercompany revenues have been eliminated from the revenues of Contract Manufacturing.

Revenues for the Contract Manufacturing segment for the fiscal year 2011 exclude intercompany sales of $10.7 million from this segment to the Brooks Product Solutions segment.

Revenues outside the United States were $290.8 million, or 56% of total revenues, and $339.9 million, or 49% of total revenues, for fiscal years 2012 and 2011, respectively. We expect that revenues outside the United States will continue to account for a significant portion of total revenues.

Gross Margin

Gross margin percentage increased to 33.4% for fiscal year 2012, compared to 32.4% for the prior year. This increase was primarily attributable to a more favorable product mix with the addition of our higher margin Brooks Life Science Systems segment and the sale of our lower margin Contract Manufacturing segment. This increase in gross margin percentage was partially offset by weaker margins in our Brooks Product Solutions and Brooks Global Services segments.

Gross margin percentage of our Brooks Product Solutions segment decreased to 33.5% for fiscal year 2012 as compared to 38.1% in the prior year. The decrease was due in part to a less favorable product mix, which decreased gross margin by 1.8%, plus increased charges for excess and obsolete inventory which reduced gross margin by 0.6%. The balance of the reduction in gross margin is mostly attributable to reduced production and lower absorption of our fixed costs. The reduced cost absorption is the result of weakening demand for semiconductor capital equipment, as the industry is currently experiencing a cyclical downturn. We recently initiated restructuring programs to better align the resources of this segment with expected future business requirements.

Gross margin percentage of our Brooks Global Services segment decreased to 29.8% for fiscal year 2012 as compared to 35.7% in the prior year. This decrease is due to lower sales of higher margin spare parts, which reduced gross margin by 3.1%, higher charges for excess and obsolete inventory which reduced gross margin by 0.8%, with the balance of the decrease primarily attributable to increased costs to expand our service capacity. During the latter part of fiscal 2012, we initiated cost reduction initiatives to align the resources of this segment with future business requirements.

Gross margin percentage for our Brooks Life Science Systems segment increased to 38.8% for fiscal year 2012 as compared to 21.2% in the prior year. The increase is due to the reduction of purchase accounting related adjustments that impact the valuation of deferred revenue obligations and the step-up in value of acquired inventory, which reduced gross margin percentage by 1.6% for fiscal year 2012 as compared to a reduction of 11.9% for the prior year. In addition, reduced charges for excess and obsolete inventories for fiscal year 2012 as compared to the prior year resulted in a 5.5% improvement in gross margin percentage. The balance of the increase relates to the increased production and improved absorption of our fixed costs. These increases in gross margin percentage were partially offset by increased amortization for completed technology intangible assets which decreased gross margin percentage by 1.0% as compared to the prior year.

Gross margin percentage for our Contract Manufacturing segment for fiscal year 2011 was 12.5%. The sale of this lower gross margin segment at the end of our third quarter of fiscal year 2011 has led to an overall increase in our consolidated post-sale gross margin percentage.

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Research and Development

Research and development, or R&D, expenses for fiscal year 2012 were $47.5 million, an increase of $7.7 million, compared to $39.8 million in the previous year. This increase relates primarily to our life sciences acquisitions, which increased R&D expenses by $7.0 million over the prior year.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expenses were $101.2 million for fiscal year 2012, a decrease of $1.3 million compared to $102.5 million in the prior year. The decrease is attributable to $3.3 million of net insurance proceeds as reimbursement of litigation related costs previously incurred which was recorded as a reduction to SG&A during the three months ended March 31, 2012, a $5.1 million reduction of labor-related costs as a result of lower accruals for incentive based compensation due to the Company’s reduced financial performance and $1.4 million of lower labor costs due to cost reduction programs implemented in the latter half of fiscal year 2012. These decreases were partially offset by the acquisitions of Nexus and RTS, which increased SG&A costs by $7.4 million, including $2.2 million of amortization of intangible assets. Other cost increases include $1.6 million of higher consulting costs in connection with our initiatives to improve certain operating efficiencies.

Restructuring Charges

We recorded a restructuring charge of $3.3 million for fiscal year 2012. These charges are related primarily to a series of workforce reductions implemented to improve the Company’s cost structure by eliminating 118 employees. The Brooks Product Solutions segment incurred a severance charge of $1.3 million to eliminate 60 positions; Brooks Global Services segment incurred a severance charge of $1.0 million to eliminate 34 positions, and we incurred $0.7 million to eliminate 10 corporate support positions. These workforce reductions were implemented to better align our resources with our future requirements. The Brooks Life Science Systems segment incurred severance charges of $0.3 million to eliminate 14 positions, mainly due to the consolidation of administrative functions. We estimate $10 million of aggregate annual savings from the workforce reductions completed during fiscal 2012. We are continuing to evaluate our cost structure, and could take additional severance charges during the first quarter of fiscal year 2013. All unpaid severance charges as of September 30, 2012 will be paid during fiscal year 2013, with a significant majority paid during the first half of fiscal year 2013.

We recorded a restructuring charge of $1.0 million for fiscal year 2011. These charges include severance related costs of $0.7 million, which are comprised of $0.3 million of severance for the elimination of 19 employees, including 13 employees in the Brooks Life Science Systems segment resulting from the consolidation of certain functions as the operations of RTS and Nexus are combined into one operating segment, and $0.4 million of adjustments for contingent severance arrangements for corporate management positions eliminated in prior periods. We also incurred $0.3 million of facility-related costs for facilities exited in previous years. The costs for these exited facilities ended as of September 30, 2011.

Pension Settlement

During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, we advised participants of our frozen U.S. defined benefit pension plan that we intend to settle this pension obligation during fiscal year 2012. This settlement occurred in the quarter ended September 30, 2012 and resulted in accelerated cash payments of approximately $6.4 million by the Company to fully satisfy the pension liability, and resulted in an accelerated amortization of approximately $8.9 million of prior pension losses that were previously reported in accumulated other comprehensive income.

In-process Research and Development

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we acquired primarily intellectual property from Intevac, Inc. for $3.0 million. Management evaluated this asset purchase to determine if this acquisition would be considered an acquisition of a business. Since only a limited amount of assets were acquired, management concluded that the inputs and processes required to meet the definition of a business were not acquired in this

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transaction, therefore, this transaction was treated as the purchase of an asset group. This asset group includes primarily intellectual property that will be utilized in the development of a next generation of semiconductor automation tools that resides within the Brooks Product Solutions segment. We expensed essentially all of this asset purchase as an in-process research and development cost in the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Interest Income

Interest income was $1.2 million for both fiscal year 2012 and 2011.

Sale of Contract Manufacturing Business in 2011

We closed the sale of our extended factory contract manufacturing business on June 28, 2011 with affiliates of Celestica Inc. The gross proceeds on this transaction were $81.8 million, of which $79.3 million was received on the closing. The balance of $2.5 million represents a working capital normalizing adjustment, and was received during our fourth quarter of 2011. The gross proceeds included the reimbursement of $1.3 million of cash on hand at the closing offset by $2.3 million of transaction expenses. The pre-tax gain on the sale was $45.0 million. Our fiscal year 2011 income tax provision includes $2.4 million of incremental taxes on this gain.

We also entered into certain commercial supply and license agreements with Celestica which will govern the ongoing relationship between Celestica and us. Pursuant to those agreements we will supply Celestica with certain products and have licensed to Celestica certain intellectual property needed to run the business and Celestica will supply certain products to us. Due to the significance of these ongoing commercial arrangements, the sale did not qualify for discontinued operations treatment. Therefore, historical financial results of the divested business will not be segregated within our consolidated financial statements for the historical periods in which this business was part of us.

Other Income

Other income, net of $0.7 million for fiscal year 2012 consists primarily of joint venture management fee income of $1.0 million which has been partially offset by foreign exchange losses of $0.4 million. Other income, net of $1.9 million for fiscal year 2011 consists primarily of joint venture management fee income of $1.1 million and $0.7 million from a litigation settlement.

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)

We recorded an income tax benefit of $123.3 million for fiscal year 2012. This benefit includes a $121.8 million deferred income tax benefit, primarily resulting from a significant reduction in the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets. We considered the weight of both positive and negative evidence as of September 30, 2012 and concluded that a substantial portion of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The tax benefit for fiscal year 2012 was partially offset by U.S. state income taxes and foreign taxes. We recorded an income tax provision of $2.0 million for fiscal year 2011, which includes $2.5 million of foreign and U.S. state income taxes, and an additional $2.4 million of income taxes relating to the sale of our Contract Manufacturing segment. These provisions have been reduced by net favorable adjustments of $3.9 million to our liability for unrecognized tax benefits, primarily due to the expiration of certain statutes and a favorable audit outcome. We provided a full valuation allowance for our net deferred tax assets at September 30, 2011. Considering the weight of both positive and negative evidence as of September 30, 2011, we concluded that it was more likely than not that the future tax benefits from accumulated net operating losses and other temporary differences would not be realized.

Equity in Earnings of Joint Ventures

Income associated with our 50% interest in ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc., a joint venture with ULVAC Corporation of Japan, was $2.0 million for fiscal year 2012 as compared to $4.3 million for fiscal year 2011, due to the decline in demand for semiconductor capital equipment. These numbers reflect the revision to UCI’s earnings as discussed in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements. Income associated with our 50% interest in Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc., a joint venture with Yaskawa Electric Corporation of Japan was $0.1 million for fiscal year 2012 as compared to $0.5 million for fiscal year 2011.

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Year Ended September 30, 2011, Compared to Year Ended September 30, 2010

Revenues

We reported revenues of $688.1 million for fiscal year 2011, compared to $593.0 million in the previous year, a 16% increase. The total increase in revenues of $95.1 million is the result of increased demand for our products and services which resulted in $88.8 million of increased revenues from our Brooks Product Solutions segment and $13.9 million of higher revenues from our Brooks Global Services segment. In addition, the acquisitions of RTS and Nexus provided $10.6 million of increased revenues from our Brooks Life Science Systems segment. These increases were partially offset by an $18.2 million decrease in Contract Manufacturing revenues, due to the sale of that segment at the end of our third fiscal quarter.

Our Brooks Product Solutions segment reported revenues of $451.3 million for fiscal year 2011, an increase of 24% from $362.5 million in the prior year. These increases are primarily attributable to higher volumes of shipments to semiconductor capital equipment customers, which increased $46.8 million for fiscal year 2011 as compared to the prior year, and an increase of $42.0 million from non-semiconductor customers for fiscal year 2011 as compared to the prior year.

Our Brooks Global Services segment reported revenues of $88.8 million for fiscal year 2011, a 19% increase from $74.9 million in the prior year. The increase includes a $1.0 million increase in product revenues, which are comprised mostly of spare part sales to end users, and a $12.9 million increase in revenues from services. These increases are primarily attributable to increased demand from our semiconductor customers.

Our Brooks Life Science Systems segment reported revenues of $10.6 million for fiscal year 2011. This segment includes revenues for RTS, which was acquired on April 1, 2011 and for Nexus, which was acquired on July 25, 2011. Revenues from these newly acquired entities are included in our operating results from their respective acquisition dates through the end of our fiscal year. Revenue from this segment includes $7.7 million for the sale of product, including automation systems and consumables, and includes $2.9 million of service revenue for the support of deployed automation systems.

Our Contract Manufacturing segment reported revenues of $137.3 million for fiscal year 2011, a 12% decrease from $155.5 million in the prior year. This decrease is due to the sale of this segment at the end of our third fiscal quarter. Through the first nine months of fiscal year 2011, Contract Manufacturing revenues increased 28% as compared to the same prior year period.

Revenues from the Brooks Product Solutions segment for the fiscal years 2011 and 2010 include intercompany sales of $49.2 million and $62.9 million, respectively, from this segment to the Contract Manufacturing segment. These intercompany revenues have been eliminated from the revenues of Contract Manufacturing.

Revenues for the Contract Manufacturing segment for the fiscal years 2011 and 2010 exclude intercompany sales of $10.7 million and $12.5 million, respectively, from this segment to the Brooks Product Solutions segment.

Revenues outside the United States were $339.9 million, or 49% of total revenues, and $271.5 million, or 46% of total revenues, for fiscal years 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Gross Margin

Gross margin percentage increased to 32.4% for fiscal year 2011, compared to 28.0% for the prior year. This increase is primarily attributable to higher absorption of indirect factory overhead on higher revenues. Further, the sale of our Contract Manufacturing segment, which earned lower gross margins than our other operating segments, favorably impacted our gross margin percentage in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011. These increases in gross margin percentage were partially offset by reduced benefits from the sale of previously reserved excess and obsolete inventory. The increase in the net charge for excess and obsolete inventory in fiscal year 2011 as compared to the prior year decreased gross margin percentage by 0.6%.

Gross margin percentage of our Brooks Product Solutions segment was 38.1% for fiscal year 2011 as compared to 35.4% in the prior year. This increase is primarily the result of higher absorption of indirect factory

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overhead on higher revenues. This increase was partially offset by increased net charges for excess and obsolete inventory which reduced gross margin percentage by 1.0% as compared to the prior year.

Gross margin percentage of our Brooks Global Services segment was 35.7% for fiscal year 2011 as compared to 27.2% in the prior year. The increase in gross margin percentage was attributable to higher absorption of indirect service overhead on higher revenues. In addition, decreased charges for excess and obsolete inventory led to an increase in gross margin percentage of 0.9% for fiscal year 2011 as compared to the prior year.

Gross margin percentage for our Brooks Life Science Systems segment was 21.2% for fiscal year 2011, and has been reduced 11.9% for the impact of the valuation of deferred revenue obligations and the step-up in value of acquired inventory. Gross margin percentage was also decreased by 6.0% for charges for excess and obsolete inventories. Gross margin was further reduced by 2.8% for amortization of completed technology intangible assets.

Gross margin percentage of our Contract Manufacturing segment was 12.5% for fiscal year 2011 as compared to 11.2% in the prior year. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2011, revenues for Contract Manufacturing had increased 28% over the same prior year period. This increase in revenues led to higher absorption of indirect factory overhead and resulted in a higher gross margin percentage.

Research and Development

R&D expenses for fiscal year 2011 were $39.8 million, an increase of $8.6 million, compared to $31.2 million in the previous year. This increase includes $1.8 million of R&D costs incurred by RTS and Nexus since their respective acquisition dates. The balance of the increase is the result of our increased pace of spending for R&D throughout fiscal year 2011 as we supported certain enhancements to our product offerings.

Selling, General and Administrative

SG&A expenses were $102.5 million for fiscal year 2011, an increase of $16.9 million compared to $85.6 million in the prior year. The increase is partly attributable to higher labor-related costs of $8.9 million as a result of increased accruals for incentive based compensation due to our improved financial performance, combined with a 3% increase in SG&A headcount. We have included the results of RTS and Nexus in our results since their respective acquisition dates, which increased our SG&A costs by $4.0 million, which includes a $0.4 million increase in amortization of intangible assets. Other increases in SG&A costs include outside strategic consulting costs of $1.7 million, professional fees associated with the acquisition of Nexus of $0.7 million, higher commissions to independent sales representatives of $0.8 million due to higher revenues and $0.7 million of increased legal fees associated with our intellectual property portfolio as we increase our investments in R&D.

Restructuring Charges

We recorded a restructuring charge of $1.0 million for fiscal year 2011. These charges include severance related costs of $0.7 million, which are comprised of $0.3 million of severance for the elimination of 19 employees, including 13 employees in the Brooks Life Science Systems segment resulting from the consolidation of certain functions as the operations of RTS and Nexus are combined into one operating segment, and $0.4 million of adjustments for contingent severance arrangements for corporate management positions eliminated in prior periods. We also incurred $0.3 million of facility-related costs for facilities exited in previous years. We have reached the end of the lease period for all of our exited leased facilities as of September 30, 2011.

We recorded a restructuring charge of $2.5 million for fiscal year 2010. These charges include severance related costs of $0.9 million, and facility related costs of $1.6 million. The severance costs primarily include adjustments for contingent severance arrangements for corporate management positions eliminated in prior periods. The facility costs include $0.4 million to amortize the deferred discount on multi-year facility restructuring liabilities.

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Interest Income

Interest income was $1.2 million for fiscal year 2011 as compared to $1.1 million for the prior year. The increase is primarily related to higher balances available for investing.

Sale of Intellectual Property Rights

During fiscal year 2010, we sold certain patents and patents pending related to a legacy product line and recorded a gain of $7.8 million. The terms of the sale permit us to continue to use these patents to support our ongoing service and spare parts business included within our Brooks Global Services segment.

Sale of Contract Manufacturing Business

We closed the sale of our extended factory contract manufacturing business on June 28, 2011 with affiliates of Celestica Inc. The gross proceeds on this transaction were $81.8 million, of which $79.3 million was received on the closing. The balance of $2.5 million represents a working capital normalizing adjustment, and was received during our fourth quarter of 2011. The gross proceeds include the reimbursement of $1.3 million of cash on hand at the closing offset by $2.3 million of transaction expenses. The pre-tax gain on the sale was $45.0 million. Our fiscal year 2011 income tax provision includes $2.4 million of incremental taxes on this gain.

Loss on Investment

During fiscal year 2010, we recorded a charge of $0.2 million for the sale of our minority equity investment in a closely-held Swiss public company. We no longer have an equity investment in this entity.

Other Income

Other income, net of $1.9 million for fiscal year 2011 consists primarily of joint venture management fee income of $1.1 million and $0.7 million from a litigation settlement. Other income, net of $0.4 million for fiscal year 2010 consists of joint venture management fee income of $0.7 million which has been partially offset by foreign exchange losses of $0.3 million.

Income Tax Provision

We recorded an income tax provision of $2.0 million for fiscal year 2011, which includes $2.5 million of foreign and U.S. state income taxes, and an additional $2.4 million of income taxes relating to the sale of our Contract Manufacturing segment. These provisions have been reduced by net favorable adjustments of $3.9 million to our liability for unrecognized tax benefits, primarily due to the expiration of certain statutes and a favorable audit outcome. We recorded an income tax benefit of $2.7 million for fiscal year 2010. This benefit includes a $3.9 million refund from the carryback of alternative minimum tax losses as a result of the Worker, Home Ownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 which provides for 100% (previously 90%) of certain net operating loss carrybacks against alternative minimum taxable income. The tax benefit for fiscal year 2010 was partially offset by U.S. state income taxes and foreign taxes.

Equity in Earnings of Joint Ventures

Income associated with our 50% interest in ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc. was $4.3 million for fiscal year 2011 as compared to $1.0 million for fiscal year 2010. These numbers reflect the revision to UCI’s earnings as discussed in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements. Income associated with our 50% interest in Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc. was $0.5 million for fiscal year 2011 as compared to $0.1 million for fiscal year 2010.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

A considerable portion of our revenues are dependent on the demand for semiconductor capital equipment. Demand for this equipment has historically experienced periodic downturns. This cyclicality makes estimates of a considerable portion of our future revenues and cash flows inherently uncertain.

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At September 30, 2012, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities aggregating $200.2 million. This amount was comprised of $54.6 million of cash and cash equivalents, $85.7 million of investments in short-term marketable securities and $59.9 million of investments in long-term marketable securities. Our marketable securities are generally readily convertible to cash without an adverse impact.

Cash and cash equivalents were $54.6 million at September 30, 2012, a decrease of $4.2 million from September 30, 2011. The significant uses of cash during fiscal year 2012 included a payment of cash dividends of $21.0 million, a cash outflow of $9.2 million in connection with the acquisition of Celigo, $8.7 million of capital expenditures and an investment of $3.0 million. These uses of cash were mostly offset by cash provided by operating activities of $36.0 million and $1.7 million of proceeds from the issuance of common stock under our employee stock purchase plans.

Cash provided by operating activities was $36.0 million for fiscal year 2012, and was comprised of net income of $136.8 million, plus non-cash charges of $44.5 million, such as $21.6 million of depreciation and amortization, an $8.9 million non-cash charge related to our pension settlement and $8.6 million of stock-based compensation. These sources of cash were partially offset by a $121.8 million of a non-cash tax benefit included in our net income related to the reversal of a significant portion of our deferred tax asset valuation allowance, and a $23.1 million of increase in working capital. Increases to working capital included an $11.2 million decrease in accounts payable, a $5.8 million decrease in accrued pension costs due primarily to the settlement of the U.S. defined benefit pension plan and a $4.9 million decrease in accrued compensation. The decrease in accounts payable was due to lower purchasing activity on reduced semiconductor equipment demand while the reduction in accrued compensation was a result of the timing of payments for incentive compensation related to the prior fiscal year.

Cash used in investing activities was $21.0 million for fiscal year 2012 and was principally comprised of $9.2 million in connection with the acquisition of Celigo, $8.7 million of capital expenditures, an investment of $3.0 million and net purchases of marketable securities of $0.7 million. Cash used in investing activities was partially offset by a $0.5 million decrease in restricted cash related to expirations of certain cash collateralized international letters of credit. Capital expenditures include $1.4 million for the implementations of software, including the completion of our international implementations of our Oracle ERP system, the implementation of the Oracle system for Brooks Life Science Systems and a new global Human Resource Information System.

Cash used in financing activities was $19.2 million for fiscal year 2012 and includes $21.0 million for our quarterly cash dividends paid on December 30, 2011, March 30, 2012, June 29, 2012 and September 28, 2012, which was partially offset by $1.7 million of cash generated from our employee stock purchase plans.

At September 30, 2011, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities aggregating $205.8 million. This amount was comprised of $58.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, $65.7 million of investments in short-term marketable securities and $81.3 million of investments in long-term marketable securities.

Cash and cash equivalents were $58.8 million at September 30, 2011, a decrease of $1.0 million from September 30, 2010. The significant uses of cash during fiscal year 2011 included the acquisitions of RTS and Nexus, which cost $88.3 million, net of cash acquired, net investments in marketable securities of $66.6 million, capital expenditures of $6.5 million and the payment of $5.2 million in dividends. The significant sources of cash include $87.7 million of cash provided by operations and $78.2 million of cash generated from the sale of our Contract Manufacturing segment.

Cash provided by operating activities was $87.7 million for fiscal year 2011, and was comprised of net income of $130.4 million, which includes $26.3 million of non-cash related charges such as $17.2 million of depreciation and amortization and $6.8 million of stock-based compensation. Cash provided by operations was partially offset by $21.4 million of increases in working capital. Increases in inventory levels were the primary contributor to increased working capital. Increases in inventory were driven by reductions in demand from our semiconductor equipment customers during our fourth quarter, along with $5.0 million of increased service inventories to improve delivery and service responsiveness. In addition, the gain of $45.0 million from the sale of

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our Contract Manufacturing segment, which is included in our net income, has been removed from cash provided by operating activities since the cash flow from this transaction is considered to be an investing activity.

Cash used in investing activities was $84.3 million for fiscal year 2011 and was attributable to the acquisitions of RTS and Nexus, which cost $88.3 million, net investments in marketable securities of $66.6 million, capital expenditures of $6.5 million and a $1.3 million increase in restricted cash to support certain international letters of credit. These uses of cash were partially offset by $78.2 million of net proceeds from the sale of our Contract Manufacturing segment and $0.2 million from the sale of other assets.

Cash used in financing activities was $3.8 million for fiscal year 2011 and includes $5.2 million for our first quarterly cash dividend paid during the fourth quarter, which was partially offset by $1.4 million of cash generated from our employee stock purchase plans.

At September 30, 2012, we had approximately $3.3 million of letters of credit outstanding.

Our contractual obligations consist of the following at September 30, 2012 (in thousands):

	Total		Less than One  Year		One to Three Years		Four to Five Years		Thereafter
Contractual obligations
Operating leases	$	18,771	$	6,694	$	8,994	$	1,499	$	1,584
Pension funding		2,166		478		960		500		228
Purchase commitments and other		65,268		63,774		1,494		—		—
Total contractual obligations	$	86,205	$	70,946	$	11,448	$	1,999	$	1,812

As of September 30, 2012, the total amount of net unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions and the accrual for the related interest was $7.6 million, all of which represents a potential future cash outlay. We are unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate of the timing of the cash settlement for this liability since the timing of future tax examinations by various tax jurisdictions and the related resolution is uncertain.

In connection with our acquisition of Nexus, we assumed responsibility for the Nexus Biosystems AG Pension Plan (the “Nexus Plan”). The timing of payments we make for the Nexus Plan is impacted by a number of estimates including earnings on plan assets and the timing of future distributions. Actual results may differ from these estimates, which may materially impact the timing of future payments. Nexus prepaid contributions to the investment manager of this plan prior to the closing of the acquisition. The investment manager draws on these prepaid contributions to fund contributions to the plan, as required. As of September 30, 2012, we had $0.2 million on deposit for this plan which is expected to cover contribution requirements in the near term.

In addition, we are a guarantor on a lease in Mexico that expires in January 2015. The remaining payments under this lease at September 30, 2012 are approximately $0.9 million.

On June 21, 2010, we filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC to sell up to $200 million of securities, before any fees or expenses of the offering. Securities that may be sold include common stock, preferred stock, warrants or debt securities. Any such offering, if it does occur, may happen in one or more transactions. Specific terms of any securities to be sold will be described in supplemental filings with the SEC. This registration statement will expire on July 1, 2013.

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Our Board of Directors declared the following dividends (in thousands, except per share data):

Declaration Date	Dividend per Share		Record Date	Total		Payment Date
Year Ended September 30, 2012
November 8, 2011	$	0.08	December 9, 2011	$	5,184	December 30, 2011
February 8, 2012		0.08	March 9, 2012		5,258	March 30, 2012
May 9, 2012		0.08	June 8, 2012		5,277	June 29, 2012
August 8, 2012		0.08	September 7, 2012		5,234	September 28, 2012
Year Ended September 30, 2011
August 3, 2011		0.08	September 9, 2011		5,180	September 30, 2011

On November 7, 2012, our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.08 per share of the Company’s common stock. The total dividend of approximately $5.2 million will be paid on December 28, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 7, 2012.

Dividends are declared at the discretion of our Board of Directors and depend on actual cash from operations, our financial condition and capital requirements and any other factors our Board of Directors may consider relevant. We intend to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future; however, the amount and timing of these dividends may be impacted by the cyclical nature of certain markets that we serve. We may reduce, delay or cancel a quarterly cash dividend based on the severity of a cyclical downturn.

On October 29, 2012, we acquired Crossing, a U.S. based provider of automation solutions for the global semiconductor front-end markets. The purchase price was approximately $63.1 million, which consists entirely of cash consideration. The purchase price is subject to a working capital adjustment, also payable in cash, with the amount to be determined subsequent to the closing. For the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2012, Crossing had revenues of approximately $51 million, which generated operating profits of approximately $3 million with gross margins of approximately 41%.

We believe that we have adequate resources to fund our currently planned working capital and capital expenditure requirements for the next twelve months. The cyclical nature of our served markets and uncertainty with the current global economic environment makes it difficult for us to predict longer-term liquidity requirements with certainty. We may be unable to obtain any required additional financing on terms favorable to us, if at all. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully develop or enhance products, respond to competitive pressure or take advantage of acquisition opportunities, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Other Key Indicators of Financial Condition and Operating Performance

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA presented below are supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP.

EBITDA represents net income before interest income, income tax provision (benefit), depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA further adjusted to give effect to certain non-recurring and/or non-cash items and other adjustments. We believe that the inclusion of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in this Form 10-K is appropriate because we consider it an important supplemental measure of our performance and believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties. We use Adjusted EBITDA internally as a critical measurement of operating effectiveness. We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA facilitates operating performance comparison from period to period and company to company by backing out potential differences caused by variations in capital structures, tax positions (such as the impact on periods or companies of changes in effective tax rates or net operating losses) and the age and book depreciation of facilities and equipment (affecting relative depreciation expense).

In determining Adjusted EBITDA, we eliminate the impact of a number of items. For the reasons indicated herein, you are encouraged to evaluate each adjustment and whether you consider it appropriate. In addition, in

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evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

• they do not reflect our cash expenditures for capital expenditure or contractual commitments;

• they do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital requirements;

• other companies, including other companies in our industry, may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as a comparative measure.

Because of these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. For these purposes, we rely on our GAAP results. For more information, see our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA for the years indicated (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$	136,789		$	130,385		$	59,841
Interest income, net		(1,199	)		(1,088	)		(1,041	)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(123,282	)		1,954			(2,746	)
Depreciation and amortization		21,620			17,249			18,420
EBITDA	$	33,928		$	148,500		$	74,474

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA for the years indicated (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011			2010
EBITDA	$	33,928	$	148,500		$	74,474
Stock-based compensation		8,647		6,752			6,567
Restructuring charges		3,275		1,036			2,529
Restructuring and acquisition related inventory charges		—		625			—
Purchase accounting impact on contracts acquired		866		1,270			—
Merger costs		221		719			—
Pension settlement		8,937		—			—
In-process research and development		3,026		—			—
Gain on sale of Contract Manufacturing business, pre-tax		—		(45,009	)		—
Litigation settlement		—		(664	)		—
Sale of intellectual property rights		—		—			(7,840	)
Loss on investment		—		—			191
Adjusted EBITDA	$	58,900	$	113,229		$	75,921

The decrease in EBITDA from fiscal 2011 to fiscal 2012 is primarily related to decreases in our pre-tax income of $116.2 million. This decrease was partially offset by $3.3 million of insurance proceeds received during fiscal 2012 as reimbursement of litigation related costs incurred in prior fiscal years. The increase in EBITDA from fiscal 2010 to fiscal 2011 is primarily related to increased profits on $95.1 million of higher revenues, and the $45.0 million gain on the sale of our contract manufacturing business.

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In fiscal 2011, based on a review of Nexus inventory values performed shortly after the closing of the acquisition, we recorded a charge of $0.6 million for excess and obsolete inventories.

In connection with the acquisitions of RTS, Nexus and Celigo, we allocated the purchase price to the net assets acquired based on the fair value of each asset and liability. As part of this allocation, we valued certain inventory and deferred revenue balances above and below their pre-acquisition carrying values, respectively. These adjustments reduced our net income for fiscal year 2012 by $0.9 million and by $1.3 million in fiscal year 2011.

In fiscal 2011, we received $1.3 million of proceeds from the sale of our stock by a former executive, and remitted half of these proceeds to our insurance providers. We recorded $0.7 million of income from this settlement. For further details on this litigation matter, see Note 20 to our consolidated financial statements.

For a discussion of our stock-based compensation, restructuring charges, pension settlement, in-process research and development, the sale of the contract manufacturing business, the sale of intellectual property rights, and the loss on investment, see the discussion of our results of operations above.

The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA from fiscal 2011 to fiscal 2012 was the result of lower revenues which led to a $49.5 million reduction in gross profits. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA from fiscal 2010 to fiscal 2011 is primarily related to increased revenue, which led to a $56.7 million increase in gross profits. This increase in gross profit for fiscal 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010 was partially offset by higher operating expenses. For a discussion of our operating expenses, see the discussion of our results of operations above.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to the accounting requirements of goodwill, which requires a qualitative approach to considering impairment for a reporting unit with zero or negative carrying value. On October 1, 2011 we adopted this standard, which had no impact on our financial position or results of operations.

In December 2010, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting requirements of business combinations, which establishes accounting and reporting standards for pro forma revenue and earnings of the combined entity for the current and comparable reporting periods. On October 1, 2011 we adopted this standard, which had no impact on our financial position or results of operations.

In May 2011, the FASB issued updated accounting guidance related to fair value measurements and disclosures that result in common fair value measurements and disclosures between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. This guidance includes amendments which change the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. On January 1, 2012 we adopted this standard, which had no impact on our financial position or results of operations.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance for presentation of comprehensive income. Under the amended guidance, a company may present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This authoritative guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholder’s equity. This amendment is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Other than a change in presentation, the adoption of this guidance will not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

In September 2011, the FASB issued revised guidance intended to simplify how an entity tests goodwill for impairment. The amendment will allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. An entity no longer will be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. On October 1, 2011 we adopted this standard, which had no impact on our financial position or results of operations.

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to a variety of market risks, including changes in interest rates affecting the return on our cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

Interest Rate Exposure

As our cash and cash equivalents consist principally of money market securities, which are short-term in nature, our exposure to market risk related to interest rate fluctuations for these investments is not significant. Our short-term and long-term investments consist mostly of highly rated corporate debt securities, and as such, market risk to these investments is not significant. At September 30, 2012, the unrealized gain position on marketable securities was $201,000, which is included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” in the consolidated balance sheets. We did not have any realized losses on marketable securities for the year ended September 30, 2012. A hypothetical 100 basis point change in interest rates would result in an annual change of approximately $2.0 million in interest income earned.

Currency Rate Exposure

We have transactions and balances denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Most of these transactions or balances are denominated in Euros, sterling and a variety of Asian currencies. Sales in currencies other than the U.S. dollar were 28% of our total sales for the year ended September 30, 2012. These foreign sales were made primarily by our foreign subsidiaries, which have cost structures that substantially align with the currency of sale.

In the normal course of our business, we have short-term advances between our legal entities that are subject to foreign currency exposure. These short-term advances were approximately $16.5 million at September 30, 2012, and relate to the Euro, sterling and a variety of Asian currencies. We utilize forward contracts to hedge our exposures. At September 30, 2012, we had forward contracts with a notional value of $7.6 million to hedge our exposure from these advances. We incurred net foreign currency losses of $0.4 million for fiscal year 2012, which relates to the currency fluctuation on these advances between the time the transaction occurs and the ultimate settlement of the transaction. A hypothetical 10% change in foreign exchange rates at September 30, 2012 would result in a $0.9 million change in our net income.

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	40
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2012 and 2011	41
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010	42
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010	43
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the three years ended September  30, 2012, 2011 and 2010	44
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	45

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

of Brooks Automation, Inc.:

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the accompanying index present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Brooks Automation, Inc. and its subsidiaries at September 30, 2012 and 2011, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2012 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/S/    PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

November 21, 2012

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BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

	September 30, 2012			September 30, 2011
	(In thousands, except share and per share data)
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	54,639		$	58,833
Restricted cash		763			1,293
Marketable securities		85,646			65,695
Accounts receivable, net		78,855			76,701
Inventories		102,985			107,654
Deferred tax assets		15,531			—
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		9,070			10,348
Total current assets		347,489			320,524
Property, plant and equipment, net		64,478			68,596
Long-term marketable securities		59,946			81,290
Long-term deferred tax assets		104,626			—
Goodwill		88,440			84,727
Intangible assets, net		39,400			44,314
Equity investment in joint ventures		31,428			34,950
Other assets		6,153			2,557
Total assets	$	741,960		$	636,958
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	28,988		$	40,199
Deferred revenue		9,986			14,073
Accrued warranty and retrofit costs		7,329			7,438
Accrued compensation and benefits		14,118			17,288
Accrued restructuring costs		2,098			293
Accrued income taxes payable		1,699			4,015
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		16,973			12,433
Total current liabilities		81,191			95,739
Income taxes payable		6,356			11,728
Long-term pension liability		1,688			7,161
Other long-term liabilities		3,424			3,394
Total liabilities		92,659			118,022
Commitments and contingencies (Note 20)
Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and 2011		—			—
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 125,000,000 shares authorized, 79,790,557 shares issued and 66,328,688 shares outstanding at September 30, 2012, 79,737,189 shares issued and 66,275,320 shares outstanding at September 30, 2011		798			797
Additional paid-in capital		1,817,706			1,809,287
Accumulated other comprehensive income		23,642			17,324
Treasury stock at cost, 13,461,869 shares at September 30, 2012 and 2011		(200,956	)		(200,956	)
Accumulated deficit		(992,524	)		(1,108,105	)
Total Brooks Automation, Inc. stockholders’ equity		648,666			518,347
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries		635			589
Total equity		649,301			518,936
Total liabilities and equity	$	741,960		$	636,958

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

41

BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Revenues
Product	$	431,961		$	611,117		$	531,807
Services		87,490			76,988			61,165
Total revenues		519,451			688,105			592,972
Cost of revenues
Product		283,377			411,610			377,466
Services		62,588			53,474			49,211
Total cost of revenues		345,965			465,084			426,677
Gross profit		173,486			223,021			166,295
Operating expenses
Research and development		47,464			39,846			31,162
Selling, general and administrative		101,223			102,542			85,597
Restructuring charges		3,275			1,036			2,529
Pension settlement		8,937			—			—
In-process research and development		3,026			—			—
Total operating expenses		163,925			143,424			119,288
Operating income		9,561			79,597			47,007
Interest income		1,213			1,153			1,121
Interest expense		(14	)		(65	)		(80	)
Gain on sale of intellectual property rights		—			—			7,840
Gain on sale of contract manufacturing business		—			45,009			—
Loss on investment		—			—			(191	)
Other income, net		660			1,882			367
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures		11,420			127,576			56,064
Income tax provision (benefit)		(123,282	)		1,954			(2,746	)
Income before equity in earnings of joint ventures		134,702			125,622			58,810
Equity in earnings of joint ventures		2,133			4,815			1,074
Net income	$	136,835		$	130,437		$	59,884
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(46	)		(52	)		(43	)
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$	136,789		$	130,385		$	59,841
Basic net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	2.10		$	2.02		$	0.94
Diluted net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	2.08		$	2.01		$	0.93
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic		65,128			64,549			63,777
Diluted		65,722			65,003			64,174

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

42

BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
	(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	136,835		$	130,437		$	59,884
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		21,620			17,249			18,420
Stock-based compensation		8,647			6,752			6,567
Amortization of premium on marketable securities		2,401			2,283			942
Undistributed (earnings) losses of joint ventures		2,942			(2,416	)		(1,074	)
Deferred income tax benefit		(122,136	)		(276	)		—
Pension settlement		8,937			—			—
Gain on sale of contract manufacturing business		—			(45,009	)		—
(Gain) loss on disposal of long-lived assets		(63	)		10			4
Loss on investment		—			—			191
Gain on sale of intellectual property rights		—			—			(7,840	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and disposals:
Accounts receivable		(784	)		9,916			(53,163	)
Inventories		5,874			(19,131	)		(31,341	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		726			1,806			(499	)
Accounts payable		(11,182	)		(15,099	)		39,352
Deferred revenue		(4,684	)		1,841			1,487
Accrued warranty and retrofit costs		(123	)		(1,420	)		2,483
Accrued compensation and benefits		(4,878	)		1,717			(755	)
Accrued restructuring costs		1,930			(3,212	)		(4,123	)
Accrued pension		(5,772	)		2,014			(2,605	)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(4,252	)		188			(58	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		36,038			87,650			27,872
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(8,653	)		(6,455	)		(3,472	)
Purchases of marketable securities		(132,015	)		(186,718	)		(117,473	)
Sale/maturity of marketable securities		131,317			120,095			84,546
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash		530			(1,293	)		—
Proceeds from the sale of the contract manufacturing business		—			78,249			—
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(9,216	)		(88,309	)		—
Other investment		(3,000	)		—			—
Proceeds from the sale of intellectual property rights		—			—			7,840
Purchase of intangible assets		—			—			(892	)
Other		—			181			243
Net cash used in investing activities		(21,037	)		(84,250	)		(29,208	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock under stock option and stock purchase plans		1,705			1,358			1,245
Common stock dividend paid		(20,953	)		(5,180	)		—
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(19,248	)		(3,822	)		1,245
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		53			(568	)		(71	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(4,194	)		(990	)		(162	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year		58,833			59,823			59,985
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$	54,639		$	58,833		$	59,823
Supplemental disclosures:
Cash paid during the year for interest	$	14		$	65		$	80
Cash paid (refunded) during the year for income taxes, net	$	4,282		$	1,042		$	(1,866	)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

43

BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

	Common Stock Shares		Common Stock at Par Value		Additional Paid-In Capital			Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Accumulated Deficit			Treasury Stock			Total Brooks Automation, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity			Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries		Total Equity
	(In thousands, except share data)
Balance September 30, 2009		77,883,173	$	779	$	1,795,619					$	14,963		$	(1,293,029	)	$	(200,956	)	$	317,376		$	494	$	317,870
Shares issued under stock option, restricted stock and purchase plans, net		986,158		10		935															945					945
Stock-based compensation						6,567															6,567					6,567
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income								$	59,841						59,841						59,841			43		59,884
Currency translation adjustments									3,940			3,940									3,940					3,940
Changes in unrealized loss on marketable securities									(36	)		(36	)								(36	)				(36	)
Actuarial loss arising in the year									(1,001	)		(1,001	)								(1,001	)				(1,001	)
Comprehensive income								$	62,744
Balance September 30, 2010		78,869,331		789		1,803,121						17,866			(1,233,188	)		(200,956	)		387,632			537		388,169
Shares issued under stock option, restricted stock and purchase plans, net		867,858		8		(586	)														(578	)				(578	)
Stock-based compensation						6,752															6,752					6,752
Common stock dividend declared															(5,302	)					(5,302	)				(5,302	)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income								$	130,385						130,385						130,385			52		130,437
Currency translation adjustments									947			947									947					947
Changes in unrealized loss on marketable securities									(445	)		(445	)								(445	)				(445	)
Actuarial loss arising in the year									(1,044	)		(1,044	)								(1,044	)				(1,044	)
Comprehensive income								$	129,843
Balance September 30, 2011		79,737,189	$	797	$	1,809,287					$	17,324		$	(1,108,105	)	$	(200,956	)	$	518,347		$	589	$	518,936
Shares issued under stock option, restricted stock and purchase plans, net		53,368		1		(228	)														(227	)				(227	)
Stock-based compensation						8,647															8,647					8,647
Common stock dividend declared															(21,208	)					(21,208	)				(21,208	)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income								$	136,789						136,789						136,789			46		136,835
Currency translation adjustments									(2,406	)		(2,406	)								(2,406	)				(2,406	)
Changes in unrealized gain on marketable securities									393			393									393					393
Actuarial loss arising in the year									(606	)		(606	)								(606	)				(606	)
Recognition of pension settlement in earnings									8,937			8,937									8,937					8,937
Comprehensive income								$	143,107
Balance September 30, 2012		79,790,557	$	798	$	1,817,706					$	23,642		$	(992,524	)	$	(200,956	)	$	648,666		$	635	$	649,301

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

44

BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.    Nature of the Business

Brooks Automation, Inc. (“Brooks” or the “Company”) is a leading worldwide provider of automation, vacuum and instrumentation solutions for multiple markets including semiconductor manufacturing, technology device manufacturing and life sciences. The Company’s technologies, engineering competencies and global service capabilities provide customers speed to market and ensure high uptime and rapid response, which equate to superior value in their mission-critical controlled environments. Since 1978, the Company has been a leading partner to the global semiconductor manufacturing markets and through product development initiatives and strategic business acquisitions Brooks has expanded its reach to meet the needs of customers in technology markets adjacent to semiconductor and life sciences.

Revision of Prior Period Financial Statements

In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company identified prior period errors related to the accounting for its equity method investment in ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc. (“UCI”). Specifically, the Company determined that certain subsidiaries of UCI were not fully included in the results of UCI reported to the Company. Therefore the Company’s portion of these subsidiaries of the joint venture were not reflected within equity in earnings of joint ventures in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations or within equity investment in joint ventures in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for the quarterly and annual periods beginning in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 through the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012. In evaluating whether the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements were materially misstated, the Company considered the guidance in Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) Topic 250, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections,” ASC Topic 250-10-S99-1, “Assessing Materiality,” and ASC Topic 250-10-S99-2, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements.”

The Company concluded these errors were not material individually or in the aggregate to any of the prior reporting periods, and therefore, amendments of previously filed reports were not required. The Company evaluated the cumulative error in relation to the results for the year ended September 30, 2012 and concluded revision of prior periods was appropriate. As such, the revisions for these corrections to the applicable prior periods are reflected in the financial information herein and will be reflected in future filings containing such financial information. The revision had no net impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows for any prior period.

The following table summarizes the effects of the error on the annual prior period financial statements (in thousands, except per share data):

Revised Consolidated Balance Sheet Amounts

	As of September 30, 2011
	As Previously Reported			Adjustment			As Revised
Equity investments in joint ventures	$	34,612		$	338		$	34,950
Total assets		636,620			338			636,958
Accumulated other comprehensive income		19,480			(2,156	)		17,324
Accumulated deficit		(1,110,599	)		2,494			(1,108,105	)
Total Brooks Automation, Inc. stockholders’ equity		518,009			338			518,347
Total equity		518,598			338			518,936
Total liabilities and equity		636,620			338			636,958

45

BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Revised Consolidated Statement of Operations Amounts

	Year Ended September 30, 2011						Year Ended September 30, 2010
	As Previously Reported		Adjustment		As Revised		As Previously Reported		Adjustment		As Revised
Equity in earnings of joint ventures	$	2,782	$	2,033	$	4,815	$	215	$	859	$	1,074
Net income		128,404		2,033		130,437		59,025		859		59,884
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.		128,352		2,033		130,385		58,982		859		59,841
Net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common shareholders:
Basic	$	1.99	$	0.03	$	2.02	$	0.92	$	0.01	$	0.94
Diluted	$	1.97	$	0.03	$	2.01	$	0.92	$	0.01	$	0.93

2.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated. Equity investments in which the Company exercises significant influence but does not control and is not the primary beneficiary are accounted for using the equity method.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are associated with accounts receivable, inventories, intangible assets, goodwill, deferred income taxes, warranty obligations and revenue recognized using the percentage of completion method. Although the Company regularly assesses these estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known.

Foreign Currency Translation

Some transactions of the Company and its subsidiaries are made in currencies different from their functional currency. Foreign currency gains (losses) on these transactions or balances are recorded in “Other (income) expense, net” when incurred. Net foreign currency transaction losses included in income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures totaled $0.4 million, $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. For non-U.S. subsidiaries, assets and liabilities are translated at period-end exchange rates, and income statement items are translated at the average exchange rates for the period. The local currency for the majority of foreign subsidiaries is considered to be the functional currency and, accordingly, translation adjustments are reported in “Accumulated other comprehensive income”. Foreign currency translation adjustments are one of the components in the calculation of comprehensive net income (loss).

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. At September 30, 2012 and 2011, cash equivalents were $17.5 million and $9.6 million,

46

BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

respectively. Cash equivalents are held at cost which approximates fair value due to their short-term maturities and varying interest rates.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of trade receivables and temporary and long-term cash investments in treasury bills and commercial paper. The Company restricts its investments to U.S. government and corporate securities, and mutual funds that invest in U.S. government securities. The Company’s customers are concentrated in the semiconductor industry, and relatively few customers account for a significant portion of the Company’s revenues. The Company’s top ten largest customers account for approximately 43% of revenues for the year ended September 30, 2012. One of the Company’s customers accounted for 13% of revenues for the year ended September 30, 2012. The Company regularly monitors the creditworthiness of its customers and believes that it has adequately provided for exposure to potential credit losses.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in its existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience. The Company reviews its allowance for doubtful accounts quarterly. Past due balances are reviewed individually for collectibility. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company feels it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. The Company does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined using a standard costing system which approximates cost based on a first-in, first-out method. The Company provides inventory reserves for excess, obsolete or damaged inventory based on changes in customer demand, technology and other economic factors.

Fixed Assets, Intangible Assets and Impairment of Long-lived Assets

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method. Depreciable lives are summarized below:

Buildings	20 - 40 years
Computer equipment and software	2 - 7 years
Machinery and equipment	2 - 10 years
Furniture and fixtures	3 - 10 years

Leasehold improvements and equipment held under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the term of the respective leases. Equipment used for demonstrations to customers is included in machinery and equipment and is depreciated over its estimated useful life. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

The Company has developed software for internal use. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, internal and external labor costs incurred during the application development stage are capitalized. Costs incurred prior to application development and post implementation are expensed as incurred. Training and data conversion costs are expensed as incurred.

When an asset is retired, the cost of the asset disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is included in the determination of operating profit (loss).

47

BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

As a result of the Company’s acquisitions, the Company has identified general intangible assets other than goodwill. General intangible assets other than goodwill are valued based on estimates of future cash flows and amortized over their estimated useful life.

Patents include capitalized direct costs associated with obtaining patents as well as assets that were acquired as a part of business combinations. Capitalized patent costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the patents. As of September 30, 2012 and 2011, the net book value of the Company’s patents was $0.7 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

Intangibles assets other than goodwill are tested for impairment when indicators of impairment are present. For purposes of this test, long-lived assets are grouped with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. When the Company determines that indicators of potential impairment exist, the next step of the impairment test requires that the potentially impaired long-lived asset group is tested for recoverability. The test for recoverability compares the undiscounted future cash flows of the long-lived asset group to its carrying value. The future cash flow period is based on the future service life of the primary asset within the long-lived asset group. If the carrying values of the long-lived asset group exceed the future cash flows, the assets are considered to be potentially impaired. The next step in the impairment process is to determine the fair value of the individual net assets within the long-lived asset group. If the aggregate fair values of the individual net assets of the group are less than their carrying values, an impairment is recorded equal to the excess of the aggregate carrying value of the group over the aggregate fair value. The loss is allocated to each asset within the group based on their relative carrying values, with no asset reduced below its fair value.

The amortizable lives of intangible assets, including those identified as a result of purchase accounting, are summarized as follows:

Patents	7 - 15 years
Completed technology	2 - 10 years
License agreements	5 years
Trademarks and trade names	2 - 6 years
Non-competition agreements	3 - 5 years
Customer relationships	4 - 13 years

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of the businesses the Company acquired. The Company performs an annual impairment test of its goodwill on September 30 of each fiscal year unless interim indicators of impairment exist (see Note 7).

The testing of goodwill for impairment is performed at a level referred to as a reporting unit. A reporting unit is either the “operating segment level” or one level below, which is referred to as a “component.” The level at which the impairment test is performed requires an assessment as to whether the operations below the operating segment constitute a self-sustaining business, testing is generally required to be performed at this level. The Company currently has three reporting units that have goodwill, including two reporting units that are part of the Brooks Product Solutions operating segment and the sole reporting unit included in the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment.

The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units using an Income Approach, specifically the Discounted Cash Flow Method (“DCF Method”). The DCF Method includes five year future cash flow projections, which are discounted to present value, and an estimate of terminal values, which are also discounted to present value. Terminal values represent the present value an investor would pay today for the rights to the cash flows of the business for the years subsequent to the discrete cash flow projection period. The Company

48

BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

considers the DCF Method to be the most appropriate valuation indicator as the DCF analyses are based on management’s long-term financial projections. Given the dynamic nature of the cyclical semiconductor equipment market, management’s projections as of the valuation date are considered more objective since other market metrics for peer companies fluctuate over the cycle. However, the Company also uses market-based valuation techniques to test the reasonableness of the fair values determined by the DCF Method and compares the aggregate fair value of its reporting units and corporate assets to its overall market capitalization.

Goodwill impairment testing is a two-step process. The first step of the goodwill impairment test, used to identify potential impairment, compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its respective carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is not considered impaired. If the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds the fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test must be completed to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any. The second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying value of goodwill. The implied fair value is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit, the excess of the fair value over amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill determined in this step is compared to the carrying value of goodwill. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying value of goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the difference.

Pension Plans

The Company’s U.S. defined benefit pension plan was fully settled in September 2012 but it continues to sponsor two non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans. The cost and obligations of these arrangements are calculated using many assumptions to estimate the benefits that the employee earns while working, the amount of which cannot be completely determined until the benefit payments cease. Major assumptions used in the accounting for these employee benefit plans include the discount rate, expected return on plan assets and rate of increase in employee compensation levels. Assumptions are determined based on Company data and appropriate market indicators in consultation with third-party actuaries, and are evaluated each year as of the plans’ measurement date.

Revenue Recognition

Product revenues are associated with the sale of hardware systems, components and spare parts as well as product license revenue. Service revenues are associated with service contracts, repairs, upgrades and field service. Shipping and handling fees, if any, billed to customers are recognized as revenue. The related shipping and handling costs are recognized in cost of sales.

Revenue from product sales that does not include significant customization is recorded upon delivery and transfer of risk of loss to the customer provided there is evidence of an arrangement, fees are fixed or determinable, collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured and, if applicable, customer acceptance criteria have been successfully demonstrated. Customer acceptance provisions include final testing and acceptance carried out prior to shipment. These pre-shipment testing and acceptance procedures ensure that the product meets the published specification requirements before the product is shipped. When significant on site customer acceptance provisions are present in the arrangement, revenue is recognized upon completion of customer acceptance testing.

Revenue from product sales that does include significant customization, which primarily include life science automation systems, is recorded using the percentage of completion method whereby revenue is recorded as work progresses based on a percentage that incurred labor effort to date bear to total projected labor effort. In addition, contracts are reviewed on a regular basis to determine whether a loss exists. A loss will be accrued in the period in which estimated contract revenue is less than the current estimate of total contract costs.

Revenue associated with service agreements is generally recognized ratably over the term of the contract. Revenue from repair services or upgrades of customer-owned equipment is recognized upon completion of the

49

BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

repair effort and upon the shipment of the repaired item back to the customer. In instances where the repair or upgrade includes installation, revenue is recognized when the installation is completed.

Warranty

The Company offers warranties on the sales of certain of its products and records an accrual for estimated future claims. Such accruals are based upon historical experience and management’s estimate of the level of future claims.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development costs are charged to expense when incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures compensation cost for all employee stock awards at fair value on date of grant and recognizes compensation expense over the service period for awards expected to vest. The fair value of restricted stock is determined based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, and the fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. Such value is recognized as expense over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires significant judgment. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. In addition, for stock-based awards where vesting is dependent upon achieving certain operating performance goals, the Company estimates the likelihood of achieving the performance goals. Actual results, and future changes in estimates, may differ substantially from the Company’s current estimates.

During the year ended September 30, 2012, the Company granted 1,527,000 shares of restricted stock to members of senior management of which 406,750 shares vest over the service period and the remaining 1,120,250 shares vest upon the achievement of certain financial performance goals which will be measured at the end of fiscal year 2014. Total compensation expense on these awards is a maximum of $18.1 million, net of cancellations. Awards subject to service criteria are being recorded to expense ratably over the vesting period. Awards subject to performance criteria are expensed over the related service period when attainment of the performance condition is considered probable. The total amount of compensation recorded will depend on the Company’s achievement against performance targets. Changes to the projected attainment against performance targets during the vesting period may result in an adjustment to the amount of cumulative compensation recorded as of the date the estimate is revised.

During the three months ended December 31, 2011, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer was granted an award of 100,000 cash settled phantom units, which are subject to the same vesting terms as the performance-based restricted stock units. The Company’s consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2012 includes a liability of approximately $78,000 for this potential cash payment. The Company incurred an expense of $78,000 for the year ended September 30, 2012 in connection with the cash settled phantom unit award.

The following table reflects compensation expense recorded during the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Stock options	$	—	$	—	$	170
Restricted stock		8,098		6,248		5,944
Employee stock purchase plan		549		504		453
	$	8,647	$	6,752	$	6,567

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Valuation Assumptions for Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchase Plans

No stock options were granted for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

The fair value of shares issued under the employee stock purchase plan was estimated on the commencement date of each offering period using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012	2011	2010
Risk-free interest rate	0.1%	0.2%	0.2%
Volatility	45%	50%	58%
Expected life	6 months	6 months	6 months
Dividend yield	2.75% - 3.30%	0% - 3%	0%

Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities of the Company’s common stock; the expected life represents the weighted average period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding giving consideration to vesting schedules and the Company’s historical exercise patterns; and the risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected life of the option. Dividend yields are projected based on the Company’s history of dividends declared, and management’s intention for future dividend declarations.

Equity Incentive Plans

The Company’s equity incentive plans are intended to attract and retain employees and to provide an incentive for them to assist the Company to achieve long-range performance goals and to enable them to participate in the long-term growth of the Company. The equity incentive plans consist of plans under which employees may be granted options to purchase shares of the Company’s stock, restricted stock and other equity incentives. Stock options generally had a vesting period of four years and are exercisable for a period not to exceed seven years from the date of issuance. Restricted stock awards generally vest over two to four years, with certain restricted stock awards vesting immediately. At September 30, 2012, a total of 3,848,477 shares were reserved and available for the issuance of awards under the plans.

Income Taxes

The Company records income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company’s consolidated financial statements contain certain deferred tax assets which have arisen primarily as a result of operating losses, as well as other temporary differences between financial and tax accounting. A valuation allowance is established if the likelihood of realization of the deferred tax assets is not considered more likely than not based on an evaluation of positive and negative evidence and the extent to which that evidence is objectively verifiable. Significant management judgment is required in determining the Company’s provision for income taxes, the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against those net deferred tax assets. The Company evaluates the weight of all available evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred income tax assets will not be realized.

The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We recognize liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or

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litigation processes, if any. If we determine that a tax position will more likely than not be sustained on audit, the second step requires us to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as we have to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. We re-evaluate these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors such as changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, new audit activity, and effectively settled issues. Determining whether an uncertain tax position is effectively settled requires judgment. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common equivalent shares assumed outstanding during the period. Shares used to compute diluted earnings per share exclude common share equivalents if their inclusion would have an anti-dilutive effect.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The carrying amounts of these items reported in the balance sheets approximate their fair value at September 30, 2012 and 2011. In the case of marketable securities, measurement is based on quoted market prices.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made in the 2011 and 2010 consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2012 presentation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to the accounting requirements of goodwill, which requires a qualitative approach to considering impairment for a reporting unit with zero or negative carrying value. On October 1, 2011 the Company adopted this standard, which had no impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In December 2010, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting requirements of business combinations, which establishes accounting and reporting standards for pro forma revenue and earnings of the combined entity for the current and comparable reporting periods. On October 1, 2011 the Company adopted this standard, which had no impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In May 2011, the FASB issued updated accounting guidance related to fair value measurements and disclosures that result in common fair value measurements and disclosures between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. This guidance includes amendments which change the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. On January 1, 2012 the Company adopted this standard, which had no impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance for presentation of comprehensive income. Under the amended guidance, a company may present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This authoritative guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholder’s equity. This amendment is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15,

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2011. Other than a change in presentation, the adoption of this guidance will not have an impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In September 2011, the FASB issued revised guidance intended to simplify how an entity tests goodwill for impairment. The amendment will allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. An entity no longer will be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. On October 1, 2011 the Company adopted this standard, which had no impact on its financial position or results of operations.

3.    Acquisitions and Divestiture

Acquisition of Intellectual Property from Intevac, Inc.

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company acquired primarily intellectual property from Intevac, Inc. for $3.0 million. Management evaluated this asset purchase to determine if this acquisition would be considered an acquisition of a business. Since only a limited amount of assets were acquired, management concluded that the inputs and processes required to meet the definition of a business were not acquired in this transaction, therefore, this transaction was treated as the purchase of an asset group. This asset group includes primarily intellectual property that will be utilized in the development of the Company’s next generation of semiconductor automation tools that resides within the Brooks Product Solutions segment. The Company expensed essentially all of this asset purchase as an in-process research and development cost in the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Acquisition of Celigo

On December 30, 2011, the Company acquired the Celigo^® automated Cell Cytometer product line (“Celigo”) from Cyntellect, Inc., for $8.7 million in cash, plus a deferred cash payment of $0.5 million that was paid in July 2012. The Celigo product line provides life science customers with cellular imaging in a high-throughput, easy-to-use and affordable platform. Celigo’s operations were based in San Diego, California, and have been integrated into the Company’s nearby Poway, California-based life sciences operation shortly after the acquisition. The Celigo product line resides in the Brooks Life Science Systems segment. The acquisition of Celigo provides a complementary analysis tool for customers currently using the Company’s automated sample management systems.

The assets and liabilities associated with Celigo were recorded at their fair values as of the acquisition date and the amounts follow (in thousands):

Accounts receivable	$	897
Inventory		1,139
Property, plant and equipment		202
Completed technology		3,540
Trademarks and trade names		70
Goodwill		3,713
Accounts payable		(13	)
Deferred revenue		(326	)
Other current liabilities		(6	)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired	$	9,216

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The estimated fair value attributed to the completed technologies was determined based upon a discounted cash flow forecast. Cash flows were discounted at a rate of 25%. The fair value of the completed technologies will be amortized over a period of 6 years on a straight-line basis, which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits of the completed technologies are expected to be realized.

The fair value of the trade names will be amortized over 6 years on a straight-line basis, which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits of the trade names will be realized.

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired and is primarily the result of expected synergies. Goodwill arising from the acquisition will be deductible for tax purposes.

Celigo’s operating results have been included in the Company’s results of operations from the acquisition date. Pro forma results are not provided as Celigo’s results of operations were not material. Transaction costs related to this acquisition were $105,000 for the first quarter ended December 31, 2011, and are included in selling, general and administrative expense. There were no transaction costs subsequent to December 31, 2011.

Acquisition of Nexus

On July 25, 2011, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Nexus Biosystems, Inc. (“Nexus”), a privately held company, for $84.9 million, net of cash acquired. Nexus is a U.S. based provider of automation solutions and consumables to the life sciences market, with a product development, service and support operation located in Switzerland, and service and support locations in Japan and Germany. The acquisition significantly enhances the breadth of the Company’s product offering for its main target market within the life sciences industry, specifically biobanking and compound sample management. Shortly after completing the Nexus acquisition, the Company reorganized the management of Nexus and RTS into one operating segment, Brooks Life Science Systems.

The assets and liabilities of Nexus were recorded at their fair values as of the acquisition date as follows (in thousands):

Accounts receivable	$	5,708
Inventory		7,481
Other current assets		4,522
Property, plant and equipment		12,527
Completed technology		6,000
Customer relationships		31,000
Trademarks and trade names		100
Goodwill		33,033
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(6,563	)
Deferred revenue		(3,692	)
Other current liabilities		(1,534	)
Deferred tax liabilities		(2,584	)
Other long-term liabilities		(1,070	)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired	$	84,928

The estimated fair value attributed to the completed technologies was determined based upon a discounted cash flow forecast utilizing the relief from royalty method. The royalty rate was determined to be 6% based on a review of comparable royalty arrangements. Cash flows were discounted at a rate of 17%. The fair value of the

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completed technologies will be amortized over a period of 6 years on a straight-line basis, which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits of the completed technologies are expected to be realized.

The estimated fair value attributed to the customer relationships was determined based upon a discounted forecast of estimated net future cash flows to be generated from the relationships discounted at a rate of 17% — 18%. The fair value of customer relationships for systems will be amortized over a period of 6 years, while the estimated fair value of customer relationships for consumables and service are expected to be amortized over a period of 13 years. The amortization will be amortized on a straight-line basis, which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits of the customer relationships are expected to be realized.

The fair value of the trade name will be amortized over 2 years on a straight-line basis, which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits of the trade names will be realized.

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Goodwill arising from the acquisition will not be deductible for tax purposes.

Nexus operating results have been included in the Company’s results of operations from the acquisition date. Nexus revenues and net loss for the period from July 26, 2011 to September 30, 2011 was $4.9 million and $(3.2) million, respectively. The net loss includes charges to expense from the step-up of acquired inventories of $0.7 million and $0.6 million of charges for excess and obsolete inventory based on an assessment of inventory performed in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011.

The following unaudited pro forma summary presents consolidated information of the Company as if the acquisition of Nexus occurred on October 1, 2009 (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2011		2010
Revenue	$	720,989	$	625,128
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.		124,114		70,205

The pro forma net income has been adjusted to reflect additional amortization and depreciation expense from the adjustments to intangible assets and property, plant and equipment as if those adjustments had been applied as of October 1, 2009.

Nexus net income for fiscal year 2010 included a $12.0 million gain (unaudited) from the bargain purchase of Nexus Biosystems AG (formerly Remp AG), which is included in the pro forma net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. for fiscal year 2010.

Transaction costs related to this acquisition were $719,000 for fiscal year 2011, and are included in selling, general and administrative expense.

Acquisition of RTS

On April 1, 2011, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of RTS Life Science Limited (“RTS”), a privately held company, for $3.4 million, net of cash acquired. RTS is a provider of automation solutions to the life sciences market, located in Manchester, United Kingdom. The acquisition provides the Company with biobanking and compound sample management, and the ability to leverage the Company’s existing automation technologies with those of RTS.

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The assets and liabilities of RTS were recorded at their fair values as of the acquisition date as follows (in thousands):

Accounts receivable	$	3,156
Inventory		1,668
Other current assets		1,008
Property, plant and equipment		860
Completed technology		1,524
Customer relationships		577
Trademarks and trade names		64
Goodwill		3,556
Accounts payable		(1,397	)
Deferred revenue		(5,232	)
Other current liabilities		(2,403	)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired	$	3,381

The completed technology will be amortized to cost of revenue over its estimated useful life of 5 to 7 years, the customer relationships will be amortized to operating expense over 7 years and the trademarks and trade names will be amortized to operating expense over 3 years. Goodwill arising from the acquisition will not be deductible for tax purposes.

RTS’s operating results have been included in the Company’s results of operations from the acquisition date, and were not material. Pro forma results are not provided as RTS’s results of operations were not material. Transaction costs related to this acquisition were $188,000 for fiscal year 2011, and are included in selling, general and administrative expense.

Divestiture

On April 20, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with affiliates of Celestica Inc. (the “Buyers”) to sell the assets of its extended factory contract manufacturing business (the “Business”). The Buyers also agreed to assume certain liabilities related to the Business (the “Asset Sale”). The Asset Sale was completed on June 28, 2011 (the “Closing”). At the Closing, the Buyers paid the Company a total purchase price of $78.0 million in cash, plus $1.3 million as consideration for cash acquired in the Asset Sale. An additional $2.5 million of proceeds was paid during the Company’s fourth quarter of 2011, which represents a working capital normalizing adjustment. The Company paid $2.3 million of transaction expenses. During the three months ended June 30, 2011, the Company recorded a gain on this sale of $45.0 million, before income taxes. Income taxes directly attributable to this gain of $2.4 million were also recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2011.

The Company and the Buyers also entered into certain commercial supply and license agreements at the Closing which will govern the ongoing relationship between the Buyers and the Company. Pursuant to those agreements, the Company will supply the Buyers with certain products and has licensed to the Buyers certain intellectual property needed to run the Business and the Buyers will supply certain products to the Company. Due to the significance of these ongoing commercial arrangements, the sale did not qualify for discontinued operations treatment. Therefore, historical financial results of the divested business will not be segregated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the historical periods in which this business was part of the Company.

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4.    Marketable Securities

The Company invests its cash in marketable securities and classifies them as available-for-sale. The Company records these securities at fair value. Marketable securities reported as current assets represent investments that mature within one year from the balance sheet date. Long-term marketable securities represent investments with maturity dates greater than one year from the balance sheet date. At the time that the maturity dates of these investments become one year or less, the securities are reclassified to current assets. Unrealized gains and losses are excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of stockholders’ equity until they are sold or mature. At the time of sale, any gains or losses, calculated by the specific identification method, will be recognized as a component of operating results.

The following is a summary of marketable securities (included in short and long-term marketable securities in the consolidated balance sheets), including accrued interest receivable, as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
September 30, 2012:
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies	$	41,202	$	15	$	(2	)	$	41,215
Corporate securities		64,102		138		(16	)		64,224
Mortgage-backed securities		1,310		42		(1	)		1,351
Other debt securities		13		—		—			13
Municipal securities		34,777		25		(1	)		34,801
Bank certificate of deposits		3,987		1		—			3,988
	$	145,391	$	221	$	(20	)	$	145,592
September 30, 2011:
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies	$	53,342	$	17	$	(21	)	$	53,338
Corporate securities		66,045		50		(203	)		65,892
Mortgage-backed securities		1,576		26		(53	)		1,549
Other debt securities		434		—		—			434
Municipal securities		24,125		9		(17	)		24,117
Bank certificate of deposits		1,655		—		—			1,655
	$	147,177	$	102	$	(294	)	$	146,985

Gross realized gains on sales of available-for-sale marketable securities included in “Other (income) expense” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations was $15,000, $24,000 and $10,000 for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. There were no gross realized losses for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

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The fair value of the marketable securities at September 30, 2012 by contractual maturity, are shown below. The following expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because the issuers of the securities may have the right to prepay obligations without prepayment penalties (in thousands):

	Fair Value
Due in one year or less	$	85,646
Due after one year through five years		56,148
Due after ten years		3,798
	$	145,592

Loss on Investment

During fiscal 2010, the Company recorded a charge of $0.2 million related to its minority equity investment in a Swiss public company. The $0.2 million charge represents the loss on the sale of this investment. As of September 30, 2010, the Company no longer had an equity investment in this entity.

5.    Fair Value Measurements

The fair value measurement guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset and liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Level 2 Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Assets and liabilities of the Company measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

	September  30, 2012		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
Description			Quoted Prices in Active  Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant  Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets
Cash Equivalents	$	17,508	$	17,508	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale securities		145,592		60,231		85,361		—
Foreign exchange contracts		10		—		10		—
Total Assets	$	163,110	$	77,739	$	85,371	$	—
Liabilities
Foreign exchange contracts	$	13	$	—	$	13	$	—

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	September  30, 2011		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant  Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets
Cash Equivalents	$	9,576	$	9,576	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale securities		146,985		63,331		83,654		—
Total Assets	$	156,561	$	72,907	$	83,654	$	—

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents of $17.5 million and $9.6 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, consisting primarily of Money Market Funds, are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices in active markets.

Available-For-Sale Securities

Available-for-sale securities of $60.2 million and $63.3 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, consisting of highly rated Corporate Bonds, are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices in active markets of identical assets or liabilities. Available-for-sale securities of $85.4 million and $83.7 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, consisting of Mortgage-Backed Securities, Municipal Securities, Bank Certificate of Deposits, Commercial Paper and U.S. Treasury Securities and Obligations of U.S. Government Agencies are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using matrix pricing and benchmarking. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique used to value securities by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted prices.

Foreign Exchange Contracts

Foreign exchange contract assets and foreign exchange contract liabilities of $10,000 and $13,000, respectively, at September 30, 2012 are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because there may not be an active market for each contract, however, the inputs used to calculate the value of the contract were obtained from an active market.

6.    Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Buildings and land	$	55,352		$	54,330
Computer equipment and software		70,719			68,476
Machinery and equipment		51,813			49,105
Furniture and fixtures		10,908			10,451
Leasehold improvements		18,938			17,301
Capital projects in progress		2,614			1,899
		210,344			201,562
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(145,866	)		(132,966	)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	64,478		$	68,596

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Depreciation expense was $13.4 million, $12.6 million and $14.6 million for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

7.    Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company performs an annual impairment test of its goodwill on September 30 of each fiscal year unless interim indicators of impairment exist. Goodwill is considered to be impaired when the net book value of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value. Fair values are estimated using a discounted cash flow methodology. Discounted cash flows are based on the businesses’ strategic plans and management’s best estimate of revenue growth and gross profit by each reporting unit. The Company performed its goodwill impairment test as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, and determined that no adjustment to goodwill was necessary.

The Company completed its annual goodwill impairment test by reporting unit as of September 30, 2012 and determined that the estimated fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value and no impairment existed. The discount rate used in the DCF analysis for the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment was 18.5%. The revenue multiple used in the terminal value calculation for the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment was 1.9x, and is consistent with revenue multiples of peers in the life science industry. The final terminal value calculation for this reporting unit reflects an equal weighting of a revenue multiple and capitalizing cash flow from the terminal year, which is consistent with the approach used by the Company in the prior year. The Company acquired the businesses comprising the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment at various dates over the last eighteen months. While the Company believes its assumptions are reasonable, actual results could differ from its projections. To the extent projected results of cash flows are revised downward, the reporting unit may be required to write down all or a portion of its goodwill, which would adversely impact the Company’s earnings.

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The components of the Company’s goodwill by business segment at September 30, 2012 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):

	Brooks Product Solutions			Brooks Global Services			Brooks Life Science Systems		Contract Manufacturing			Other			Total
Gross goodwill at September 30, 2010	$	485,844		$	151,238		$	—	$	18,593		$	7,421		$	663,096
Acquisitions and adjustments during fiscal 2011		—			—			36,589		—			—			36,589
Gross goodwill at September 30, 2011		485,844			151,238			36,589		18,593			7,421			699,685
Acquisitions and adjustments during fiscal 2012		—			—			3,713		—			—			3,713
Gross goodwill at September 30, 2012	$	485,844		$	151,238		$	40,302	$	18,593		$	7,421		$	703,398
Accumulated goodwill impairments at September 30, 2010	$	(437,706	)	$	(151,238	)	$	—	$	(18,593	)	$	(7,421	)	$	(614,958	)
Impairments recorded during fiscal 2011		—			—			—		—			—			—
Accumulated goodwill impairments at September 30, 2011		(437,706	)		(151,238	)		—		(18,593	)		(7,421	)		(614,958	)
Impairments recorded during fiscal 2012		—			—			—		—			—			—
Accumulated goodwill impairments at September 30, 2012	$	(437,706	)	$	(151,238	)	$	—	$	(18,593	)	$	(7,421	)	$	(614,958	)
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at September 30, 2011	$	48,138		$	—		$	36,589	$	—		$	—		$	84,727
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at September 30, 2012	$	48,138		$	—		$	40,302	$	—		$	—		$	88,440

Components of the Company’s identifiable intangible assets are as follows (in thousands):

	September 30, 2012						September 30, 2011
	Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net Book Value		Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net Book Value
Patents	$	7,808	$	7,093	$	715	$	7,808	$	6,989	$	819
Completed technology		54,583		42,751		11,832		50,975		39,235		11,740
Trademarks and trade names		4,014		3,880		134		3,941		3,719		222
Customer relationships		48,654		21,935		26,719		49,029		17,496		31,533
	$	115,059	$	75,659	$	39,400	$	111,753	$	67,439	$	44,314

In connection with the acquisition of Celigo during fiscal year 2012, the Company allocated a portion of the purchase price to the following intangible assets: Completed Technology — $3.5 million and Trademarks and Trade Names — $0.1 million. For details regarding these intangible assets see Note 3. These intangible assets support the products and services provided by the Brooks Life Science Systems segment.

In connection with the acquisitions of Nexus and RTS during fiscal year 2011, the Company allocated a portion of the purchase price to the following intangible assets: Completed Technology — $7.5 million,

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Customer Relationships — $31.6 million and Trademarks and Trade Names — $0.2 million. For details regarding these intangible assets see Note 3. These intangible assets support the products and services provided by the Brooks Life Science Systems segment.

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $8.2 million, $4.6 million and $3.9 million for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Estimated future amortization expense for the intangible assets recorded by the Company as of September 30, 2012 is as follows (in millions):

Year ended September 30,
2013	$	6.5
2014		5.8
2015		5.7
2016		5.1
2017		4.5
Thereafter		11.8
	$	39.4

8.    Investment in Affiliates

Joint Ventures

The Company participates in a 50% joint venture, ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc. (“UCI”) with ULVAC Corporation of Chigasaki, Japan. UCI manufactures and sells cryogenic vacuum pumps, principally to ULVAC Corporation. The Company has revised UCI’s previously reported earnings as discussed in Note 1 and the results herein reflect the revisions. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded income associated with UCI of $2.0 million, $4.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, management fee payments received by the Company from UCI were $1.0 million, $1.1 million and $0.7 million, respectively. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company incurred charges from UCI for products or services of $0.8 million, $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively. At September 30, 2012 and 2011 the Company owed UCI $0.1 million in connection with accounts payable for unpaid products and services. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company received $5.1 million and $2.4 million, respectively, of cash dividends from UCI. Summarized condensed financial information for UCI is as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended June 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Statements of Operations:
Revenue	$	70,532	$	75,311	$	38,470
Gross profit		19,816		22,974		10,747
Net income		4,004		8,644		2,341

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	June 30,
	2012		2011
Balance Sheets:
Current assets	$	62,144	$	79,226
Noncurrent assets		13,805		13,904
Current liabilities		24,784		45,518
Noncurrent liabilities		206		192
Shareholders’ equity		50,959		47,420

The Company participates in a 50% joint venture with Yaskawa Electric Corporation (“Yaskawa”) called Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc. (“YBA”) to exclusively market and sell Yaskawa’s semiconductor robotics products and Brooks’ automation hardware products to semiconductor customers in Japan. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded income associated with YBA of $0.1 million, $0.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company earned revenues for sales to YBA of $8.0 million, $9.6 million and $13.5 million, respectively. The amount due from YBA included in accounts receivable at September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $2.0 million and $2.2 million, respectively. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company incurred charges from YBA for products and services of $0.5 million, $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively. At September 30, 2012 and 2011 the Company owed YBA $0.1 in connection with accounts payable for unpaid products and services. Summarized condensed financial information for YBA is as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Statements of Operations:
Revenue	$	83,192	$	104,940	$	65,923
Gross profit		8,112		10,445		6,950
Net income		6		1,258		261

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Balance Sheets:
Current assets	$	32,046	$	44,211
Noncurrent assets		587		504
Current liabilities		23,801		35,533
Noncurrent liabilities		504		397
Shareholders’ equity		8,328		8,785

These investments are accounted for using the equity method. Under this method of accounting, the Company records in income its proportionate share of the earnings of the joint ventures with a corresponding increase in the carrying value of the investment.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

9.    Earnings Per Share

Below is a reconciliation of weighted average common shares outstanding for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$	136,789	$	130,385	$	59,841
Weighted average common shares outstanding used in computing basic earnings per share		65,128		64,549		63,777
Dilutive common stock options and restricted stock awards		594		454		397
Weighted average common shares outstanding for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share		65,722		65,003		64,174
Basic net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	2.10	$	2.02	$	0.94
Diluted net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	2.08	$	2.01	$	0.93

Approximately 238,000, 387,000 and 888,000 options to purchase common stock and 2,000, 413,000 and 187,000 shares of restricted stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

10.    Investment in Variable Interest Entity

During the three months ended June 30, 2012, the Company provided a strategic partner (the “Borrower”) in the life science industry a loan of $3.0 million to support their future product development and other working capital requirements. The loan bears interest at a rate of 9%. The outstanding principal and interest under the loan is payable in May 2015. The Company also received warrants to purchase the Borrower’s common stock in the event of an equity offering by the Borrower. The Company determined that the loan and the warrants had fair values of $2.8 million and $0.2 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2012. The fair value of the loan and the warrants are recorded as long-term other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The loan agreement also provides the Company with certain other rights related to conversion of the loan, first refusal to acquire the Borrower and a redemption premium. The loan is secured by a security agreement that gives the Company the first interest in substantially all of the assets of the Borrower.

The Company determined that the level of equity investment at risk is not sufficient for the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support and as a result, represents a variable interest entity. However, the Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the Borrower’s economic performance and would not absorb the majority of the expected losses from the Borrower, and therefore does not qualify as the primary beneficiary. The Company has no future contractual funding commitments to the Borrower and as a result, the Company’s exposure to loss is limited to the outstanding principal and interest.

11.    Derivative Instruments

The Company has transactions and balances denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Most of these transactions or balances are denominated in Euros, sterling and a variety of Asian currencies. These transactions and balances, including short-term advances between the Company and its subsidiaries, subject the Company’s operations to exposure from exchange rate fluctuations. The impact of currency exchange rate

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movement can be positive or negative in any period. We mitigate the impact of potential currency translation gains and losses on short-term intercompany advances through timely settlement of each transaction, generally within 30 days. The Company entered into foreign exchange contracts to reduce its exposure to currency translation. Under forward contract arrangements, the Company typically agrees to purchase a fixed amount of U.S. Dollars in exchange for a fixed amount of a foreign currency on specified dates with maturities of three months or less. These transactions do not qualify for hedge accounting and, accordingly, the instrument is recorded at fair value with the corresponding gains and losses recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company had the following notional amounts outstanding under foreign currency contracts at September 30, 2012 (in thousands):

Buy Currency	Notional Amount of Buy Currency		Sell Currency	Maturity		Notional Amount of Sell Currency in U.S. Dollars		Fair Value of Assets		Fair Value of Liabilities
U.S. Dollar	$	2,791	Taiwan Dollar		October 2012	$	2,786	$	5	$	—
U.S. Dollar		1,842	Israeli Shekel		October 2012		1,854		—		12
U.S. Dollar		1,058	Singapore Dollar		October 2012		1,056		2		—
U.S. Dollar		806	Korean Won		October 2012		803		3		—
U.S. Dollar		611	Japanese Yen		October 2012		611		—		—
U.S. Dollar		524	British Pound		October 2012		525		—		1
	$	7,632				$	7,635	$	10	$	13

There were no forward contracts outstanding at September 30, 2011.

The fair values of the forward contracts described above are recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as prepaid expenses and other current assets and accrued expenses and other current liabilities at September 30, 2012. The amount recorded in the results of operations related to these forward contracts are recorded in other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

12.    Income Taxes

The components of the income tax provision (benefit) are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Current income tax provision (benefit):
Federal	$	15		$	16		$	(3,883	)
State		213			1,356			616
Foreign		(1,374	)		858			521
Total current income tax provision (benefit)		(1,146	)		2,230			(2,746	)
Deferred income tax (benefit):
Federal		(118,432	)		—			—
State		(291	)		—			—
Foreign		(3,413	)		(276	)		—
Total deferred income tax (benefit)		(122,136	)		(276	)		—
Income tax provision (benefit)	$	(123,282	)	$	1,954		$	(2,746	)

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The components of income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Domestic	$	2,204	$	111,053	$	44,956
Foreign		9,216		16,523		11,108
	$	11,420	$	127,576	$	56,064

The differences between the income tax provision (benefit) and income taxes computed using the applicable U.S. statutory federal tax rate is as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Income tax provision computed at federal statutory rate	$	4,728		$	45,736		$	19,622
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		260			1,848			699
Net operating loss carryback refund		—			—			(3,899	)
Foreign income taxed at different rates		(832	)		(1,546	)		(1,650	)
Dividends		956			(219	)		1,006
Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance		(125,479	)		(42,608	)		(18,423	)
Reduction in uncertain tax positions		(3,732	)		(3,719	)		(609	)
Nondeductible compensation		1,339			295			379
Tax credits generated		(1,195	)		(1,179	)		(414	)
Other		673			3,346			543
Income tax provision (benefit)	$	(123,282	)	$	1,954		$	(2,746	)

As of September 30, 2012, a deferred tax liability has not been established for any earnings of the foreign subsidiaries since the Company plans to indefinitely re-invest these earnings in overseas operations. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred income tax liability related to these earnings is not practicable.

The significant components of the net deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Accruals and reserves not currently deductible	$	10,489		$	10,357
Federal, state and foreign tax credits		18,963			22,673
Other assets		1,655			3,304
Net operating loss carryforwards		101,713			119,167
Inventory reserves and valuation		8,790			11,650
Deferred tax assets		141,610			167,151
Depreciation and intangible amortization		5,418			6,851
Deferred tax liabilities		5,418			6,851
Valuation allowance		(16,035	)		(162,208	)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$	120,157		$	(1,908	)

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Management has considered the weight of all available evidence in determining whether a valuation allowance remains to be required against its deferred tax assets at September 30, 2012. After consideration of both positive and negative evidence management has concluded that it is more likely than not that a substantial portion of its deferred tax assets will be realized. The positive evidence considered was three year U.S. historical cumulative profitability, projected future taxable income and length of carry-forward periods of net operating losses and tax credits. The primary negative evidence to be considered is the volatile semiconductor industry that the Company operates in. The Company recorded a tax benefit of $121.8 million resulting from the reduction in the valuation allowance. The Company has continued to maintain a valuation allowance in the U.S. against certain tax credits and state net operating losses due to the uncertainty of their realization based on long-term Company forecasts and the expiration dates on these attributes. The Company has also continued to maintain a valuation allowance in certain jurisdictions that have not generated historical cumulative profitability. If future operating results of the U.S. or these foreign jurisdictions significantly exceed expectations it is reasonably possible that there could be a further reduction in the valuation allowance in the future. Further reduction of the valuation allowance, in whole or in part, would result in a non-cash income tax benefit during the period of reduction.

As of September 30, 2012, the Company had federal, state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $378.8 million and federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards of approximately $23.1 million available to reduce future tax liabilities, which expire at various dates through 2031. The net operating loss carryforward includes excess deductions related to stock compensation in the amount of $12.5 million which have not been recognized for financial statement purposes. The benefits of these tax deductions will be credited to additional paid-in capital upon being realized.

The Company has performed studies to determine if there are any annual limitations on the federal net operating losses under section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”). As a result of these studies, the Company has determined that ownership changes have occurred primarily in connection with acquisitions when the Company has issued stock to the sellers, as well as ownership changes in the subsidiaries acquired by the Company. Certain limitations have been calculated and the benefits of the net operating losses that will expire before utilization have not been recorded as deferred tax assets in the financial statements. The Company’s U.S. net operating losses expire at various dates through 2030.

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A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the consolidated liability for unrecognized income tax benefits during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

	Unrecognized Tax Benefit			Interest and Penalties			Total
Balance at October 1, 2009	$	9,794		$	1,669		$	11,463
Additions for tax positions of prior years		3,287			506			3,793
Additions for tax positions related to current year		468			—			468
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(40	)		(19	)		(59	)
Reductions from lapses in statutes of limitations		(413	)		—			(413	)
Reductions from settlements with taxing authorities		(193	)		(4	)		(197	)
Foreign exchange rate adjustment		(87	)		—			(87	)
Balance at September 30, 2010		12,816			2,152			14,968
Additions for tax positions of prior years		184			447			631
Additions for tax positions related to current year		242			—			242
Reductions from lapses in statutes of limitations		(961	)		—			(961	)
Reductions from settlements with taxing authorities		(3,392	)		(610	)		(4,002	)
Foreign exchange rate adjustment		122			—			122
Balance at September 30, 2011		9,011			1,989			11,000
Additions for tax positions of prior years		242			247			489
Reductions from lapses in statutes of limitations		(3,125	)		(607	)		(3,732	)
Foreign exchange rate adjustment		(167	)		15			(152	)
Balance at September 30, 2012	$	5,961		$	1,644		$	7,605

As of September 30, 2012 all of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. The Company recognizes interest related to unrecognized benefits as a component of tax expense, of which $0.2 million, $0.4 million and $0.4 million was recognized for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax and various state, local and international income taxes in various jurisdictions. The amount of income taxes paid is subject to the Company’s interpretation of applicable tax laws in the jurisdictions in which it files. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world. The statute of limitations lapsed on several uncertain tax positions in the foreign jurisdictions related to transfer pricing and income tax withholding during fiscal year 2012 that resulted in a $3.7 million reduction in gross unrecognized tax benefits that impacted the effective tax rate. The Company is subject to income tax audits in various global jurisdictions in which it operates. In the Company’s U.S. and international jurisdictions, the years that may be examined vary, with the earliest tax year being 2007. Based on the outcome of these examinations, or the expiration of statutes of limitations for specific jurisdictions, it is reasonably possible that the related unrecognized tax benefits could change from those recorded in the Company’s statement of financial position. The Company currently anticipates that it is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefit will be reduced by approximately $1.1 million during the next twelve months primarily as the result of statutes of limitations expiring.

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13.    Postretirement Benefits

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

On October 26, 2005, the Company purchased Helix Technology Corporation and assumed responsibility for the liabilities and assets of the Helix Employees’ Pension Plan (the “Helix Plan”). The Plan is a final average pay pension plan. In May 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the freezing of benefit accruals and future participation in the Plan effective October 31, 2006. During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, the Company advised participants of the Helix Plan that it intended to settle this pension obligation during fiscal year 2012. This settlement occurred in the quarter ended September 30, 2012 and resulted in accelerated cash payments of approximately $6.4 million by the Company to fully satisfy the pension liability, and resulted in an accelerated amortization of approximately $8.9 million of prior pension losses which is included as a pension settlement charge in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company acquired Nexus on July 25, 2011, and in connection with this acquisition, assumed responsibility for the liabilities of the Nexus Biosystems AG Pension Plan (the “Nexus Plan”). The Nexus Plan covers substantially all employees of the Company’s Swiss subsidiary. Admittance for risk benefits (disability and death) is as of January 1 for employees who are 17 or older. Admittance into the pension plan with retirement pension occurs as of January 1 for employees who are age 24 or older. Pension benefits are based on the accumulated savings credits plus interest. The amount of the savings credit is based on the employee’s age.

The Company also has a pension plan covering certain employees of its Taiwan subsidiary that were employed by this entity on or before July 1, 2005 (the “Taiwan Plan”). After July 1, 2005, most participants of this plan decided to join a defined contribution plan and as a result, their service earned under the Taiwan Plan was frozen.

The Company uses a September 30th measurement date in the determination of net periodic benefit costs, benefit obligations and the value of plan assets for all plans. The following tables set forth the funded status and amounts recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2012 and 2011 for the Helix Plan, the Nexus Plan and the Taiwan Plan (the “Plans”) (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	28,068		$	15,914
Acquisition date benefit obligations from entities acquired during the fiscal year		—			10,354
Service cost		787			216
Interest cost		984			796
Actuarial loss		1,235			2,138
Benefits paid		(2,203	)		(356	)
Settlement loss		1,040			—
Settlements paid		(18,928	)		—
Foreign currency translation		(802	)		(994	)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	10,181		$	28,068

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	September 30,
	2012			2011
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	$	20,173		$	9,990
Acquisition date fair value of assets for entities acquired during the fiscal year		—			9,226
Actual return on plan assets		1,446			1,322
Disbursements		(2,463	)		(356	)
Employer contributions		7,684			778
Employee contributions		334			76
Settlements paid		(18,928	)		—
Foreign currency translation		(231	)		(863	)
Fair value of assets at end of year	$	8,015		$	20,173

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Funded status/accrued benefit liability	$	(2,166	)	$	(7,895	)

The following table provides pension amounts recorded within the account line items of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Accrued compensation and benefits	$	478	$	734
Long-term pension liability		1,688		7,161

In addition, accumulated other comprehensive income at September 30, 2012 and 2011 includes unrecognized net actuarial losses of $1.1 million and $8.9 million, respectively. The estimated portion of net actuarial loss remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income that is expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic pension cost for the year ended September 30, 2013 is $6,000.

Net periodic pension cost consisted of the following (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Service cost	$	787		$	216		$	100
Interest cost		984			796			775
Expected return on assets		(1,072	)		(764	)		(604	)
Amortization of losses		620			458			327
Net periodic pension cost		1,319			706			598
Settlement loss		8,937			—			—
Total pension cost	$	10,256		$	706		$	598

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Other changes in Plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive loss (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Net loss	$	1,226		$	1,502
Amortization of net loss		(620	)		(458	)
Settlement loss		(8,937	)		—
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		(8,331	)		1,044
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	(7,012	)	$	1,750

Certain information for the Plans with respect to accumulated benefit obligations follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Projected benefit obligation	$	10,181	$	28,068
Accumulated benefit obligation		8,906		26,663
Fair value of plan assets		8,015		20,173

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net cost at September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 follows:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Discount rate		3.51	%		3.99	%		5.50	%
Expected return on plan assets		2.18	%		4.68	%		8.00	%
Rate of compensation increase		1.84	%		1.79	%		N/A

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the pension obligation at September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 follows:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Discount rate		1.89	%		3.76	%		4.75	%
Rate of compensation increase		1.84	%		1.79	%		N/A

Compensation increase assumptions for the periodic pension cost and pension obligation apply to the Nexus Plan and Taiwan Plan only.

The Company bases its determination of pension expense or benefit on a market-related valuation of assets, which reduces year-to-year volatility. This market-related valuation recognizes investment gains or losses over a five-year period from the year in which they occur. Investment gains or losses for this purpose are the difference between the expected return calculated using the market-related value of assets and the actual return on assets. Since the market-related value of assets recognizes gains or losses over a five-year period, the future value of assets will be impacted as previously deferred gains or losses are recognized. As of September 30, 2012, under the Plans, the Company had cumulative investment losses of approximately $44,000, which remain to be recognized in the calculation of the market-related value of assets. The Company also had cumulative other actuarial losses of $1,026,000 at September 30, 2012, which are amortized into net periodic benefit costs over the average remaining service period of active participants in the plans.

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The discount rate utilized for determining the future pension obligations for the Nexus Plan is based on corporate bonds yields for bonds denominated in Swiss francs. This discount rate was 1.90% at September 30, 2012, down from 2.30% at September 30, 2011.

The expected long term rate of return on Plan assets used to determine future pension obligations was 2.18% and 4.68% as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In developing the expected return on plan assets assumption, the Company evaluated fixed income yield curve data and equity return assumption studies, and applied this data to the expected asset allocation to develop an appropriate projected return on Plan assets.

Plan Assets

The fair value of plan assets for the Nexus Plan and Taiwan Plan were $7.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively, at September 30, 2012. As is customary with Swiss pension plans, the assets of the Nexus Plan are invested in a collective fund with multiple employers through a Swiss insurance company. Investment holdings are primarily in highly rated debt securities. The assets of the Taiwan Plan are invested with a trustee that has been selected by the Taiwan government. The Company has no investment authority over the assets of either the Nexus Plan or the Taiwan Plan. The asset allocation of the plan assets of the non-U.S. plans at September 30, 2012 was as follows:

	Percentage of Plan Assets at September 30, 2012
Equity securities		4	%
Debt securities		76
Other		19
Cash		1
		100	%

The fair value of pension assets by asset category and by level at September 30, 2012 were as follows (in thousands):

	As of September 30, 2012
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Swiss Life collective foundation	$	—		7,513		—	$	7,513
Taiwan collective trust		—		502		—		502
Total	$	—	$	8,015	$	—	$	8,015

See Note 5 for a description of the levels of inputs used to determine fair value measurements.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012, the Company made contributions of $6.4 million to the Helix Plan in connection with the settlement, which was in addition to the $0.7 million of required minimum contributions made to this plan throughout fiscal year 2012. The Company made required minimum contributions throughout fiscal year 2012 to all of its plans of $1.2 million. The Company expects to contribute $0.5 million to its plans in fiscal 2013 to meet minimum funding targets.

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Expected benefit payments over the next ten years are anticipated to be paid as follows (in thousands):

2013	$	1,590
2014		53
2015		55
2016		56
2017		57
2018-2022		457

The Company sponsors defined contribution plans that meet the requirements of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. All United States employees of the Company who meet minimum age and service requirements are eligible to participate in the plan. The plan allows employees to invest, on a pre-tax basis, a percentage of their annual salary subject to statutory limitations.

The Company’s contribution expense for worldwide defined contribution plans was $3.1 million, $2.9 million and $2.6 million for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

14.    Stockholders’ Equity

Preferred Stock

At September 30, 2012 and 2011 there were one million shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share authorized; no shares were issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and 2011. Preferred stock may be issued at the discretion of the Board of Directors without stockholder approval with such designations, rights and preferences as the Board of Directors may determine.

15.    Stock Plans

Amended and Restated 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

The purposes of the Amended and Restated 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2000 Plan”), are to attract and retain employees and to provide an incentive for them to assist the Company to achieve long-range performance goals and to enable them to participate in the long-term growth of the Company. Under the 2000 Plan the Company may grant (i) incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, and (ii) options that are not qualified as incentive stock options (“nonqualified stock options”) and (iii) stock appreciation rights, performance awards and restricted stock. All employees of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, independent directors, consultants and advisors are eligible to participate in the 2000 Plan. Options under the 2000 Plan generally vest over four years and expire seven years from the date of grant. A total of 9,000,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2000 Plan. As of September 30, 2012, 145,000 options are outstanding and 3,392,134 shares remain available for grant.

During the year ended September 30, 2012, the Company issued 685,171 shares of restricted stock or units under the Amended and Restated 2000 Equity Incentive Plan, net of cancellations. These restricted stock awards generally have the following vesting schedules: immediate; three year vesting in which one-quarter vest at the end of Year 1, one-quarter vest at the end of Year 2 and one-half vest at the end of Year 3; and three year vesting in which one-third vest at the end of Year 1, one-third vest at the end of Year 2 and one-third vest at the end of Year 3. Compensation expense related to these awards is being recognized on a straight line basis over the vesting period, based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. In addition, in fiscal 2012, the Company granted 1,054,250 restricted stock awards net of cancellations to senior management, the number of shares ultimately issued will be measured at the end of fiscal year 2014 and is dependent upon the achievement of certain financial performance goals. These awards are expensed over the related service period when attainment of the performance condition is considered probable. The total amount of compensation recorded will depend on the Company’s achievement of performance targets. Changes to the

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projected attainment of performance targets during the vesting period may result in an adjustment to the amount of cumulative compensation recorded as of the date the estimate is revised.

1998 Employee Equity Incentive Plan

The purposes of the 1998 Employee Equity Incentive Plan (the “1998 Plan”), adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company in April 1998, are to attract and retain employees and provide an incentive for them to assist the Company in achieving long-range performance goals and to enable them to participate in the long-term growth of the Company. All employees of the Company, other than its officers and directors, (including contractors, consultants, service providers or others) who are in a position to contribute to the long-term success and growth of the Company, are eligible to participate in the 1998 Plan. Options under the 1998 Plan generally vest over a period of four years and generally expire seven years from the date of grant. On February 26, 2003, the Board of Directors voted to cancel and not return to the reserve any 1998 Plan forfeited options. From February 26, 2003 through September 30, 2012, 3,211,820 options were forfeited due to employee terminations. On August 5, 2009, the Board of Directors voted not to issue any further shares out of the 1998 Plan. A total of 1,000 options are outstanding under the 1998 Plan as of September 30, 2012.

1993 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan

The purpose of the 1993 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the “Directors Plan”) was to attract and retain the services of experienced and knowledgeable independent directors of the Company. Options granted under the Directors Plan generally vested over a period of five years and generally expired ten years from the date of grant. A total of 10,000 options are outstanding and no shares remain available for grant under the Directors Plan as of September 30, 2012.

Stock Options of Acquired Companies

In connection with the acquisition of Helix on October 26, 2005, the Company assumed the outstanding options of multiple stock option plans that were adopted by Helix. At acquisition, 689,622 options to purchase Helix common stock were outstanding and converted into 765,480 options to purchase the Company’s Common Stock. A total of 37,182 options are outstanding and 456,343 shares remain available for grant under the Helix plans as of September 30, 2012. The Company does not intend to issue any additional options under the Helix stock option plan.

Stock Option Activity

Aggregate stock option activity for all the above plans for the year ended September 30, 2012 is as follows:

	2012
	Shares			Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term		Weighted Average Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (In Thousands)
Options outstanding at beginning of year		370,137				$	14.57
Exercised		(13,320	)			$	7.75
Forfeited/expired		(163,635	)			$	16.84
Options outstanding at end of year		193,182			0.4 years	$	13.11	$	3
Vested at end of year		193,182			0.4 years	$	13.11	$	3
Options exercisable at end of year		193,182			0.4 years	$	13.11	$	3
Options available for future grant		3,848,477

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The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total intrinsic value, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $8.04 as of September 28, 2012, which would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options as of that date.

No stock options were granted in fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $56,000, $15,000 and $3,000, respectively. The total cash received from employees as a result of employee stock option exercises during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $103,000, $6,000 and $19,000, respectively.

As of September 30, 2012 there was no future compensation cost related to stock options as all outstanding stock options have vested.

The Company settles employee stock option exercises with newly issued common shares.

Based on information currently available, the Company believes that, although certain options may have been granted in violation of its applicable option plans, those options are valid and enforceable obligations of the Company.

Restricted Stock Activity

Restricted stock for the year ended September 30, 2012 was determined using the fair value method. A summary of the status of the Company’s restricted stock as of September 30, 2012 and changes during the year is as follows:

	2012
	Shares			Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding at beginning of year		1,590,989		$	10.15
Awards granted		1,887,419		$	11.80
Awards vested		(597,962	)	$	9.67
Awards canceled		(147,998	)	$	11.54
Outstanding at end of year		2,732,448		$	10.47

The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock granted during fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 was $11.27 and $8.73 per share, respectively. The fair value of restricted stock awards vested during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $5.6 million, $7.4 million and $6.8 million, respectively.

As of September 30, 2012, the unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock is $8.8 million and will be recognized over an estimated weighted average amortization period of 1.8 years.

1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

On February 22, 1996, the stockholders approved the 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “1995 Plan”) which enables eligible employees to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Under the 1995 Plan, eligible employees may purchase up to an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares during six-month offering periods commencing on February 1 and August 1 of each year at a price per share of 85% of the lower of the fair market value price per share on the first or last day of each six-month offering period. On February 8, 2012, the stockholders approved an amendment to the 1995 Plan to increase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for issuance by 1,000,000 shares, from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 shares. Participating employees may elect to have up to 10% of their base pay withheld and applied toward the purchase of such shares. The rights of participating employees under the 1995 Plan terminate upon voluntary withdrawal from the

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plan at any time or upon termination of employment. As of September 30, 2012, 2,909,645 shares of common stock have been purchased under the 1995 Plan and 1,090,355 shares remain available for purchase.

16.    Restructuring Costs and Accruals

Fiscal 2012 Activities

The Company recorded a restructuring charge of $3.3 million for fiscal year 2012. These charges are related primarily to a series of workforce reductions implemented to improve the Company’s cost structure by eliminating 118 employees. The Brooks Product Solutions segment incurred a severance charge of $1.3 million to eliminate 60 positions; Brooks Global Services segment incurred a severance charge of $1.0 million to eliminate 34 positions, and the Company incurred $0.7 million to eliminate 10 corporate support positions. These workforce reductions were implemented to better align resources with future requirements. The Brooks Life Science Systems segment incurred severance charges of $0.3 million to eliminate 14 positions, mainly due to the consolidation of administrative functions. All unpaid severance charges as of September 30, 2012 will be paid during fiscal year 2013, with a significant majority paid during the first half of fiscal year 2013.

Fiscal 2011 Activities

The Company recorded a charge to operations of $1.0 million in the year ended September 30, 2011 for restructuring costs. Of this amount, $0.7 million related to workforce reductions and $0.3 million related to facility costs. The severance costs are comprised of $0.3 million of severance for the elimination of 19 employees, including 13 employees in the Brooks Life Science Systems segment resulting from the consolidation of certain functions as the operations of RTS and Nexus were combined into one operating segment, and $0.4 million of adjustments for contingent severance arrangements for corporate management positions eliminated in prior periods. The facility costs relate to facilities exited in previous years. The costs for these exited facilities ended as of September 30, 2011.

Fiscal 2010 Activities

The Company recorded a charge to operations of $2.5 million in the year ended September 30, 2010 for restructuring costs. Of this amount, $0.9 million related to workforce reductions and $1.6 million related to facility costs. The severance costs primarily included adjustments for contingent severance arrangements for corporate management positions eliminated in prior periods. The facility costs included $0.4 million to amortize the deferred discount on multi-year facility restructuring liabilities.

The activity related to the Company’s restructuring accruals is below (in thousands):

	Fiscal 2012 Activity
	Balance September  30, 2011		Expense		Utilization			Balance September  30, 2012
Workforce-related	$	293	$	3,275	$	(1,470	)	$	2,098

	Fiscal 2011 Activity
	Balance September  30, 2010		Expense		Utilization			Balance September  30, 2011
Facilities and other	$	3,509	$	310	$	(3,819	)	$	—
Workforce-related		—		726		(433	)		293
	$	3,509	$	1,036	$	(4,252	)	$	293

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	Fiscal 2010 Activity
	Balance September  30, 2009		Expense		Utilization			Balance September  30, 2010
Facilities	$	6,289	$	1,584	$	(4,364	)	$	3,509
Workforce-related		1,372		945		(2,317	)		—
	$	7,661	$	2,529	$	(6,681	)	$	3,509

17.    Segment and Geographic Information

The Company reports financial results in four segments: Brooks Product Solutions, Brooks Global Services, Brooks Life Science Systems and Contract Manufacturing. This financial reporting structure was implemented effective as of the beginning of the Company’s fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011 in response to changes in its management structure as well as the acquisition of two life science companies in the second half of fiscal 2011.

The Brooks Product Solutions segment provides a variety of products critical to technology equipment productivity and availability. Those products include atmospheric and vacuum tool automation systems, atmospheric and vacuum robots and robotic modules and cryogenic vacuum pumping, thermal management and vacuum measurement solutions which are used to create, measure and control critical process vacuum applications.

The Brooks Global Services segment provides an extensive range of support services including on and off-site repair services, on and off-site diagnostic support services, and installation services to enable our customers to maximize process tool uptime and productivity. This segment also provides end-user customers with spare parts support services to maximize customer tool productivity.

The Brooks Life Science Systems segment provides automated sample management systems for automated cold sample storage, automated blood fractionation equipment, sample preparation and handling equipment, cellular imaging, consumables, and parts and support services to a wide range of life science customers including pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, biobanks, national laboratories, research institutes and research universities.

The Contract Manufacturing segment provided services to build equipment front-end modules, vacuum transport modules and other subassemblies which enabled the Company’s customers to effectively source high quality and high reliability process tools for semiconductor market applications. The Company sold this segment on June 28, 2011.

The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on revenues, operating income (loss) and returns on invested assets. Operating income (loss) for each segment includes selling, general and administrative expenses directly attributable to the segment. Intersegment revenues between Brooks Product Solutions and Contract Manufacturing were eliminated from Contract Manufacturing revenues. The profits reported on intercompany transactions are based on the transfer prices charged which approximates fair value to third parties. Other unallocated corporate expenses (primarily certain legal costs associated with the Company’s past equity incentive-related practices and costs to indemnify a former executive in connection with these matters), amortization of acquired intangible assets (excluding completed technology), restructuring, pension settlement and in-process research and development are excluded from the segments’ operating income (loss). The Company’s non-allocable overhead costs, which include various general and administrative expenses, are allocated among the segments based upon various cost drivers associated with the respective administrative function, including segment revenues, segment headcount, or an analysis of the segments that benefit from a specific administrative function. Segment assets exclude cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, marketable securities, long-term deferred tax assets and investments in joint ventures.

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Financial information for the Company’s business segments is as follows (in thousands):

	Brooks Product Solutions		Brooks Global Services		Brooks Life Science Systems			Contract Manufacturing		Total
Year ended September 30, 2012
Revenues
Product	$	380,888	$	11,324	$	39,749		$	—	$	431,961
Services		—		74,628		12,862			—		87,490
	$	380,888	$	85,952	$	52,611		$	—	$	519,451
Gross profit	$	127,472	$	25,599	$	20,415		$	—	$	173,486
Segment operating income (loss)	$	21,319	$	9,404	$	(3,139	)	$	—	$	27,584
Depreciation	$	8,952	$	2,344	$	2,111		$	—	$	13,407
Assets	$	218,799	$	56,120	$	107,530		$	—	$	382,449
Year ended September 30, 2011
Revenues
Product	$	451,287	$	14,786	$	7,715		$	137,329	$	611,117
Services		—		74,058		2,930			—		76,988
	$	451,287	$	88,844	$	10,645		$	137,329	$	688,105
Gross profit	$	171,801	$	31,750	$	2,260		$	17,210	$	223,021
Segment operating income (loss)	$	64,921	$	13,293	$	(4,684	)	$	10,649	$	84,179
Depreciation	$	8,597	$	2,481	$	543		$	1,000	$	12,621
Assets	$	235,322	$	52,354	$	101,331		$	—	$	389,007
Year ended September 30, 2010
Revenues
Product	$	362,524	$	13,740	$	—		$	155,543	$	531,807
Services		—		61,165		—			—		61,165
	$	362,524	$	74,905	$	—		$	155,543	$	592,972
Gross profit	$	128,479	$	20,354	$	—		$	17,462	$	166,295
Segment operating income	$	40,143	$	3,805	$	—		$	8,335	$	52,283
Depreciation	$	9,465	$	2,843	$	—		$	2,255	$	14,563
Assets	$	227,408	$	53,564	$	—		$	57,024	$	337,996

Revenues from the Brooks Product Solutions segment for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 include intercompany sales of $49.2 million and $62.9 million, respectively, from this segment to the Contract Manufacturing segment. These intercompany revenues have been eliminated from the revenues of Contract Manufacturing.

Revenues for the Contract Manufacturing segment for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 exclude intercompany sales of $10.7 million and $12.5 million, respectively, from this segment to the Brooks Product Solutions segment.

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A reconciliation of the Company’s reportable segment operating income and segment assets to the corresponding consolidated amounts as of and for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

	As of and for the Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2010
Segment operating income	$	27,584		$	84,179	$	52,283
Other unallocated corporate expenses(1)		(1,833	)		1,135		778
Amortization of acquired intangible assets		4,618			2,411		1,969
Restructuring charges		3,275			1,036		2,529
Pension settlement		8,937			—		—
In-process research and development		3,026			—		—
Total operating income	$	9,561		$	79,597	$	47,007
Segment assets	$	382,449		$	389,007
Investments in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities		200,994			207,111
Long-term deferred tax assets		104,626			—
Investments in joint ventures		31,428			34,950
Other unallocated corporate net assets		22,463			5,890
Total assets	$	741,960		$	636,958

(1) Other unallocated corporate expenses for the year ended September 30, 2012 includes a credit of $3.3 million related to insurance proceeds received as reimbursement of litigation costs previously incurred

Net revenues based upon the source of the order by geographic area are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
North America	$	230,735	$	349,456	$	322,542
Asia/Pacific		194,711		244,524		203,172
Europe		94,005		94,125		67,258
	$	519,451	$	688,105	$	592,972

Long-lived assets, consisting of property, plant and equipment by geographic area are as follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
North America	$	51,546	$	55,295
Asia/Pacific		2,123		1,920
Europe		10,809		11,381
	$	64,478	$	68,596

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18.    Significant Customers

The Company had one customer that accounted for more than 10% of revenues, at 13%, in the year ended September 30, 2012. The Company had two customers that each accounted for more than 10% of revenues, at 15% and 13%, respectively, in the year ended September 30, 2011. The Company had three customers that each accounted for more than 10% of revenues, at 21%, 15% and 10%, respectively, in the year ended September 30, 2010. The Company did not have any customers that accounted for more than 10% of its accounts receivable balance at September 30, 2012 and 2011.

19.    Other Balance Sheet Information

The following is a summary of accounts receivable at September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Accounts receivable	$	79,706	$	77,318
Less allowance for doubtful accounts		851		617
	$	78,855	$	76,701

The allowance for doubtful accounts activity for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were as follows (in thousands):

Description	Balance at Beginning  of Period		Provisions		Reversals of Bad Debt Expense			Write-offs  and Adjustments			Balance at End of Period
2012 Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	617	$	367	$	(130	)	$	(3	)	$	851
2011 Allowance for doubtful accounts		491		—		—			126			617
2010 Allowance for doubtful accounts		719		125		(192	)		(161	)		491

The following is a summary of inventories at September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Inventories
Raw materials and purchased parts	$	64,732	$	65,770
Work-in-process		20,800		29,460
Finished goods		17,453		12,424
	$	102,985	$	107,654

Reserves for excess and obsolete inventory were $23.2 million, $24.7 million and $23.8 million at September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company recorded charges/credits to reserves for excess and obsolete inventory of $4.3 million, $2.2 million and $(1.9) million in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The net credits recorded for fiscal 2010 are related to the sales of previously reserved items. The Company reduced the reserves for excess and obsolete inventory by $5.8 million, $3.5 million and $1.5 million, in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, for disposals of inventory.

The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties, primarily from historical information, at the time product revenue is recognized and retrofit accruals at the time retrofit programs are established. The

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Company’s warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, utilization levels, material usage, service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure, and supplier warranties on parts delivered to the Company. Product warranty and retrofit activity on a gross basis for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

Balance at September 30, 2009	$	5,698
Accruals for warranties during the year		17,948
Settlements made during the year		(15,451	)
Balance at September 30, 2010		8,195
Adjustments for acquisitions and divestitures		698
Accruals for warranties during the year		11,299
Settlements made during the year		(12,754	)
Balance at September 30, 2011		7,438
Adjustments for acquisitions and divestitures		7
Accruals for warranties during the year		13,751
Settlements made during the year		(13,867	)
Balance at September 30, 2012	$	7,329

20.    Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Commitments

The Company leases manufacturing and office facilities and certain equipment under operating leases that expire through 2022. Rental expense under operating leases, excluding expense recorded as a component of restructuring, for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $4.8 million, $4.9 million and $4.7 million, respectively. Future minimum lease commitments on non-cancelable operating leases are as follows (in thousands):

	Operating Leases
Year ended September 30, 2013	$	6,694
2014		4,871
2015		2,825
2016		1,298
2017		835
Thereafter		2,248
	$	18,771

The Company is a guarantor on a lease in Mexico that expires in January 2015. As of September 30, 2012, the remaining payments under this lease are approximately $0.9 million.

Letters of Credit

At September 30, 2012, the Company had $3.3 million of outstanding letters of credit.

Purchase Commitments

The Company has non-cancelable contracts and purchase orders for inventory of $64.3 million at September 30, 2012.

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Contingencies

On August 22, 2006, an action captioned as Mark Levy v. Robert J. Therrien and Brooks Automation, Inc., was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, seeking recovery, on behalf of Brooks, from Mr. Therrien (the Company’s former Chairman and CEO) under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act for alleged “short-swing” profits earned by Mr. Therrien due to the loan and stock option exercise in November 1999, and a sale by Mr. Therrien of Brooks stock in March 2000. On February 20, 2007, a second Section 16(b) action, concerning the same loan and stock option exercise in November 1999 discussed above, was filed in the United States District Court of the District of Delaware, captioned Aron Rosenberg v. Robert J. Therrien and Brooks Automation, Inc. On April 4, 2007, the court issued an order consolidating the Levy and Rosenberg actions (the “Section 16(b) Action”).

On February 24, 2011, the parties executed a settlement agreement to resolve the Section 16(b) Action. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Therrien sold 150,000 shares of Brooks stock, the proceeds of which formed the settlement fund and totaled approximately $1.9 million.

In connection with the agreement to settle the Section 16(b) Action, the Company reached an agreement with Mr. Therrien and the Company’s former Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Carriers (the “Global Settlement Agreement”) to resolve (1) Mr. Therrien’s civil litigation with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), (2) any of the Company’s advancement or indemnification obligations to Mr. Therrien in connection with that matter, and (3) the Company’s claim against these insurance carriers for reimbursement of certain defense costs which the Company paid to Mr. Therrien pursuant to his indemnification agreement with the Company. Pursuant to the Global Settlement Agreement, Mr. Therrien agreed to enter into a settlement with the SEC. If approved by the SEC and the court in that matter, in addition to delivering to the Company the net proceeds of the sale of 150,000 shares of Brooks stock in connection with the Section 16(b) matter, Mr. Therrien would pay the SEC approximately $728,000 in disgorgement and $100,000 in fines. To resolve any indemnification claim by Mr. Therrien against the Company in connection with this matter, the Company has agreed to reimburse him $500,000 towards his disgorgement payment. Finally, upon resolution of both the Section 16(b) matter and the SEC matter, the Company’s insurers agreed to pay Brooks a net sum of approximately $3.5 million to resolve any claim the Company may have against its former insurers for certain defense costs paid to Mr. Therrien.

Following a hearing on May 17, 2011, the court in the Section 16(b) Action found that the settlement in the Section 16(b) Action and the Global Settlement Agreement were both in the best interest of the parties and the Company’s shareholders. On June 16, 2011, the settlement of the Section 16(b) Action became final and the Company received $1.3 million in settlement proceeds of which 50% will be paid to the Company’s insurance company and the remaining 50% has been recorded as income. On February 1, 2012, the court approved Mr. Therrien’s settlement with the SEC, and the Company subsequently received additional net insurance proceeds to reimburse litigation related costs previously incurred of approximately $3.3 million which was recorded as a reduction to Selling, General & Administrative costs during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings, both asserted and unasserted, that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that none of these claims will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

21.    Subsequent Events

On October 29, 2012, the Company acquired all the outstanding stock of Crossing Automation Inc. (“Crossing”), a U.S. based provider of automation solutions and consumables primarily to global semiconductor front-end markets. The Company paid, in cash, an aggregate merger consideration of $63.1 million, which is subject to working capital adjustments to be determined subsequent to the closing. The acquisition of Crossing

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provides the Company with the opportunity to enhance its existing capabilities with respect to manufacturing of atmospheric and vacuum automation solutions within the semiconductor front-end market.

On November 7, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.08 per share payable on December 28, 2012 to common stockholders of record on December 7, 2012. Dividends are declared at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and depend on actual cash from operations, the Company’s financial condition and capital requirements and any other factors the Company’s Board of Directors may consider relevant. Future dividend declarations, as well as the record and payment dates for such dividends, will be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors on a quarterly basis.

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Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Financial Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Not applicable.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon this evaluation, our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, as a process designed by, or under the supervision of our chief executive and chief financial officers and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

• pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and disposition of our assets;

• provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorization of our management and directors; and

• provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2012. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) an Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment, we concluded that, as of September 30, 2012, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2012 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2012, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

84

Item 9B. Other Information

None.

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The information required by this Item 10 is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed by us within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by this Item 11 is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed by us within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information required by this Item 12 is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed by us within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information required by this Item 13 is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed by us within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information required by this Item 14 is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement to be filed by us within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a)  Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules

The consolidated financial statements of the Company are listed in the index under Part II, Item 8, in this Form 10-K.

Other financial statement schedules are omitted because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the required information is given in the supplementary consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

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(b)  Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Description
	3.01	Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-4 (Reg. No. 333-127945), filed on August 30, 2005 (the “Helix S-4”), as amended on September 22, 2005).
	3.02	Certificate of Designations of the Company’s Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.03 of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 333-34487), filed on August 27, 1997).
	3.03	Certificate of Amendment of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Helix S-4, as amended on September 22, 2005).
	3.04	Certificate of Amendment of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Helix S-4).
	3.05	Certificate of Increase of Shares Designated as the Company’s Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.5 of the Helix S-4).
	3.06	Certificate of Ownership and Merger of PRI Automation, Inc. into the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.6 of the Helix S-4).
	3.07	Certificate of Change of Registered Agent and Registered Office of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.8 of the Helix S-4).
	3.08	Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.9 to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, as filed on November 23, 2010 (“2010 10-K”)).
	3.09	Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.10 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	3.10	Certificate of Increase of Shares Designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.12 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	3.11	Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.01 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed on February 11, 2008).
	4.01	Specimen Certificate for shares of the Company’s common stock (incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 333-88320), filed on May 15, 2002).
	10.01	Shareholders’ Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2006, among Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Brooks Automation, Inc. and Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	10.02	U.S. Robot Supply Agreement, made as of June 30, 2006, by and between Brooks Automation, Inc. and Yaskawa Electric Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.02 to the 2010 10-K).
	10.03	Brooks Japan Robot Supply Agreement, made as of June 30, 2006, by and between Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc. and Brooks Automation, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.03 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	10.04	Basic agreement between the Company and Ulvac Corporation dated August 17, 1981 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of the registration statement on Form S-2 (Reg. No. 2-84880) filed by Helix Technology Corporation)).
	10.05	Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-87296), filed on December 13, 1994 (the “Brooks S-1”)).

86

Exhibit No.		Description
	10.06	Employment Agreement, effective as of January 28, 2008, by and between Brooks Automation, Inc. and Martin S. Headley (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on January 31, 2008).
	10.07	Employment Agreement, effective as of April 5, 2010, by and between Brooks Automation, Inc. and Stephen S. Schwartz (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010, filed on May 6, 2010).
	10.08	Offer letter dated December 1, 2011 between the Company and Mark D. Morelli.
	10.09	Separation Agreement dated November 8, 2012 between the Company and Steven Michaud.
	10.10	1993 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-22717), filed on March 4, 1997).
	10.11	1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	10.12	Amended and Restated 2000 Equity Incentive Plan, restated as of December 29, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2008, filed on February 9, 2009).
	10.13	Helix Technology Corporation 1996 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-129724), filed on November 16, 2005).
	10.14	Helix Technology Corporation Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-129724), filed on November 16, 2005).
	10.15	Form of 2000 Equity Incentive Plan New Employee Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	10.16	Form of 2000 Equity Incentive Plan Existing Employee Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	10.17	Form of 2000 Equity Incentive Plan Director Stock Option Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	10.18	Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	10.19	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Notice (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, as filed on November 28, 2011 (“2011 10-K”)) .
	10.20	Non-Employee Directors Stock Grant/Restricted Stock Unit Election Form (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	10.21	Brooks Automation, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	10.22	Amendment No. 2008-01 to the Brooks Automation, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, filed on August 8, 2008).
	10.23	Lease between the Company and BerCar II, LLC for 12 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, Massachusetts dated October 23, 2002 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Company’s 2008 10-K).

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Exhibit No.		Description
	10.24	First Amendment to Lease between the Company and BerCar II, LLC for 12 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, Massachusetts dated November 1, 2002 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Company’s 2008 10-K).
	10.25	Lease, dated May 14, 1999, between MUM IV, LLC as Lessor and the Company as Lessee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the 2010 10-K).
	10.26	Factory Lease Advanced Agreement among Sang Chul Park, Young Ja Kim, Joon Ho Park, Brooks Automation Asia, Ltd. and Brooks Automation Korea, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	10.27	Lease dated September 6, 2001 between The Harry Friedman and Edith B. Friedman Revocable Living Trust Dated May 15, 1986 et al as Lessor and the Company (IGC — Polycold Systems Inc.) as Lessee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Company’s 2010 10-K).
	10.28	Lease dated August 8, 2008 between the Company and Koll/Intereal Bay Area for 4051 Burton Drive, Santa Clara, CA (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the Company’s 2008 10-K).
	10.29	Standard Industrial lease dated May 31, 2010 by and between Brooks Automation, Inc. (formerly Nexus Biosystems, Inc.) and Crest Partners-Poway One Danielson for 14100 Danielson Street, Building 100, Poway, California (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Company’s 2011 10-K).
	10.30	Agreement and Plan of Merger among Nexus Biosystems, Inc., the Company, Spurs Acquisition, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Telegraph Hill Partners Management Company LLC, dated as of July 25, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed on July 29, 2011).
	10.31	Master Purchase and Sale Agreement by and among Brooks Automation, Inc., Celestica Oregon LLC, 2281392 Ontario Inc., and, for the limited purposes set forth therein, Celestica, Inc., dated as of April 20, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed on April 26, 2011).
	10.32	Agreement and Plan of Merger among Crossing Automation Inc., the Company, Niners Acquisition Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Shareholder Representative Services LLC, dated as of October 28, 2012 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed on October 31, 2012).
	21.01	Subsidiaries of the Company.
	23.01	Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Independent registered public accounting firm for the Company).
	31.01	Rule 13a-14(a), 15d-14(a) Certification.
	31.02	Rule 13a-14(a), 15d-14(a) Certification.
	32	Section 1350 Certification.
	101	The following material from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended September 30, 2012, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity; and (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

88

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.
By:	/S/    STEPHEN S. SCHWARTZ
	Stephen S. Schwartz Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 20, 2012

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature	Title	Date
/S/ STEPHEN S. SCHWARTZ Stephen S. Schwartz	Director and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	November 20, 2012
/S/ MARTIN S. HEADLEY Martin S. Headley	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)	November 20, 2012
/S/ TIMOTHY S. MATHEWS Timothy S. Mathews	Vice President and Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)	November 20, 2012
/S/ A. CLINTON ALLEN A. Clinton Allen	Director	November 20, 2012
/S/ JOSEPH R. MARTIN Joseph R. Martin	Director	November 20, 2012
/S/ JOHN K. MCGILLICUDDY John K. McGillicuddy	Director	November 20, 2012
/S/ KRISHNA G. PALEPU Krishna G. Palepu	Director	November 20, 2012
/S/ CHONG SUP PARK Chong Sup Park	Director	November 20, 2012
/S/ KIRK P. POND Kirk P. Pond	Director	November 20, 2012
/S/ ALFRED WOOLLACOTT III Alfred Woollacott III	Director	November 20, 2012
/S/ MARK S. WRIGHTON Mark S. Wrighton	Director	November 20, 2012
/S/ ELLEN M. ZANE Ellen M. Zane	Director	November 20, 2012

89

EX-10.08

Exhibit 10.08

December 1, 2011

Mr. Mark D. Morelli

111 Shore Rush Drive

Saint Simons Island, GA 31522

Dear Mark:

It is with excitement and great anticipation that we extend an invitation to become part of Brooks and our executive team. Our discussions on this opportunity for you to assist us in growing our Company has been a true pleasure. Personally, I am very much looking forward to learning from and working with you as we tackle the challenges of growing an organization and business that is focused on success. Your competencies and prior achievements will be a tremendous asset and I am fully confident Brooks will be a very rewarding personal and professional experience.

On behalf of Brooks and our Directors, I am pleased to provide you the terms of our offer as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Brooks Automation, Inc. In this role, you will have responsibility for managing all of Brooks’ business units and functional areas directly related to delivering products and services to market, including product development and engineering, manufacturing and supply chain, product management, global sales and marketing, and services/customer support.

The position will report to me. A summary of the terms are as follows:

1. Your base salary will be set initially at $425,000 annually, and paid biweekly. Subsequent salary reviews for executive positions are normally conducted and effective in January each year.

2. You are eligible to participate in the annual Performance Based Variable Compensation Plan on a pro-rata basis for FY 2012 (Plan year beginning 10-01-11), with an annual target of 100% of base salary paid and an upside potential to 150% of base salary paid. Payment of variable compensation is subject to your meeting aggressive but achievable corporate and individual goals and objectives defined and agreed upon for 2012 and subsequent years.

3. You will be a participant in the Company’s executive Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) and, subject to final Board approval, receive an initial grant of 150,000 restricted units for the 2012-2014 LTIP period. This award will be in the form of restricted units with time based (25%) and performance (75%) restrictions. You will be eligible for subsequent awards in future years. In addition, subject to final Board approval at its next scheduled meeting in February, you will receive an equity grant of 50,000 restricted units. These units will “vest” over a three year period in one third increments annually.

4. You will be eligible for our Company sponsored benefit plans. Brooks Automation currently pays a majority (approximately 75%) of the cost of medical, dental and vision insurance and 100% of the cost of life and disability insurance. The Company also offers a 401(k) savings and retirement plan with a 4.5% company match, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a 15% discount, a non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan and a Flexible Leave time off policy. Enclosed is a summary of these plans.

5. If you should voluntarily terminate employment in the future, Brooks will provide you with your pro-rata base salary up to your termination date.

If Brooks terminates your employment without “cause” (as defined in Brooks’ equity grant documents), you will be eligible for salary continuation payments at your then current base salary for a period of twelve months from your termination date. If you have not secured employment following the initial 12 months of salary continuation, Brooks will continue your salary on a bi-weekly basis for up to or 12 additional months while you are not employed. In addition, you will continue to be covered under the Company’s medical, dental and vision plans at the same contribution level as current active employees. In exchange, you agree to sign the Company’s customary Separation Agreement and Waiver of Claims.

If Brooks terminates your employment for cause, you will receive your pro-rata base salary up to your termination date.

6. For purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 409A”), each installment of salary continuation or other payment shall be deemed to be a “separate payment” (within the meaning of Section 409A), and each payment shall be deemed exempt from the definition of nonqualified deferred compensation to the fullest extent possible under the short-term deferral exception and the involuntary separation pay exception of the Section 409A regulations.

7. Brooks will provide you with relocation benefits and professional support to transfer to the greater Boston, MA area. These benefits will provide reimbursement or direct payment of eligible relocation expenses associated with your move up to $100,000 and we will be flexible in working with you to ease any financial and contingent issues that may arise.

Eligible relocation expenses as required will include:

• Actual cost of moving household goods

• House hunting trip(s) prior to your move

• Temporary living and storage expenses for up to 6 months

• Travel expenses associated with moving your family to the new residence

• Assistance with the sale of your current home under the Company’s arrangement with its relocation vendor. Assistance will include the reimbursement of a broker’s commission and eligible seller expenses and fees

• Assistance with the rental or purchase of a new residence in the greater Boston, MA area to include eligible fees and expenses associated with the purchase at closing or rental acquisition

• Miscellaneous expense allowance of $10,000

• Non-deductible expenses, except for the expense allowance, are eligible for gross-up of federal and state tax.

Mark, we will work with you to address any relocation issues not currently addressed in our policy.

As part of our customary relocation policy, if you should voluntarily terminate employment with Brooks within one year of your hire date, 100% of relocation assistance payments must be reimbursed to the Company. If you should voluntarily terminate employment during the second year following hire, 50% of relocation assistance benefits must be reimbursed to Brooks.

You will be required to successfully complete the Company’s customary background check process. The offer will remain open until Friday, December 2, 2011.

Mark, we are truly excited with the prospects of you joining Brooks and working with you to realize the full value of our Company. We believe we have assembled an outstanding team of people that will certainly benefit from your management. Your experience, intellect and skills will be critical in helping lead as we seek to grow Brooks for the benefit of its shareholders, customers, employees and you personally.

2

We look forward to your acceptance and our mutually agreed start date. Please sign and return one copy of this letter in the enclosed envelope provided or you may fax a copy of your acceptance to Bill Montone in Human Resources at 978-262-2508. Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Stephen S. Schwartz

President and Chief Executive Officer

cc: William T. Montone, SVP Human Resources

Lenny Vairo, Russell Reynolds Associates

File

Enclosures

Acceptance:
	Signature Date	Date
	Start Date

3

EX-10.09

Exhibit 10.09

SEPARATION AGREEMENT

This Separation Agreement (the “Agreement”) is being entered into between Brooks Automation, Inc. (the “Company”) and Steven Michaud (the “Employee”). For purposes of this Agreement, Company includes parent, subsidiary and affiliated entities, and the stockholders, trustees, directors, officers, agents and employees of the Company or such entities. Employee includes heirs, spouse, legal representative and assigns of the Employee.

This Agreement sets forth the complete understanding between the Employee and the Company. This Agreement replaces any prior agreements except for the Company’s Equity Grant Agreements, which are not affected, by this Agreement as well as any documents referred to in section 5 of this document. There are no oral understandings, which relate to this Agreement.

The Employee acknowledges that the benefits described in this Agreement constitute good and sufficient consideration for this Agreement and include benefits or other valuable consideration in addition to what the Employee was entitled to without this Agreement. Unless otherwise provided for expressly in this Agreement, all other benefits will cease as of November 9, 2012 (the “Termination Date”).

1. The Company will provide the following severance pay and benefits:

(a) Conditional on the execution of this Agreement, Employee will be paid twelve months (the “Initial Salary Continuation Period”) severance ($12,115.38 biweekly) plus a monthly car allowance of $1,000. The severance will be subject to all applicable taxes and deductions and will be made in installments pursuant to normal payroll practices commencing on the next payroll cycle on or following 60 days after the Termination Date, or such earlier date as may be determined in the Company’s sole discretion. Failure to execute this Agreement, or revoking the Agreement during the seven-day period after executing this Agreement, will result in forfeiture of severance pay.

Following your initial twelve months of severance, if you have not found a full time comparable executive position with another employer during the Initial (12 months) Salary Continuation Period, the Company will extend the bi-weekly payment plan on a pay period to pay period basis (the “Contingent Salary Continuation Period”, and together with the Initial Salary Continuation Period, the “Total Salary Continuation Period”) until the earlier to occur of (A) twelve (12) additional months (26 additional bi-weekly payments) or (B) the date Employee secures full-time employment, in each case subject only to the Employee’s obligation to inform the Company’s Human Resources Department that Employee’s search for replacement employment is ongoing and continuing in good faith. Said Notice from Employee shall be made on the 15^th of the month commencing with the last month of the Initial Salary Continuation Period and monthly thereafter as applicable. Employee’s rights under the Contingent Salary Continuation Period shall be eliminated or offset by income earned from consulting fees with the Company, by short term and/or sporadic consulting fees earned from any other business entity or by income received for part time employment with another business entity.

(b) If the Employee timely elects to purchase group health and dental insurance continuation coverage under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) law and timely remits the employee portion of premiums for such coverage, then the Company will maintain such coverage in effect until the end of the Total Salary Continuation Period. The severance period runs concurrently with the COBRA period. Thereafter, the Employee may continue receiving group health and dental coverage at the Employee’s own expense as provided by COBRA law for the remainder of the COBRA period. Eligibility to continue this coverage ends upon the termination of any period allowed by law. Failure by the Employee to make timely payment of the Employee’s portion of the premiums will result in termination of coverage. The Employee agrees to notify the Company promptly when he or she is covered by another plan. If the Employee is a “highly compensated individual” (as defined in Section 105(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), the Company-paid portion of the group health and dental coverage, as determined by reference to the total COBRA premium, will be reported to the IRS as taxable income. In the event that the Total Salary Continuation Period extends beyond the Cobra period, the Company will provide Employee with health and dental insurance coverage at the then active employee rate for the remainder of the Total Salary Continuation Period.

(c) The Employee shall also be entitled to any benefits provided by the Company’s 401(k) plan, other retirement plans, and stock option, restricted stock and other equity incentive plans in which the Employee is a participant to the extent such benefits are earned and vested as of the Termination Date as determined under the terms of such plans.

(d) The Company has retained the services of an outplacement organization that will provide the Employee with best-in-class outplacement assistance that includes resume preparation, interviewing skills coaching, and job search counseling and resources. The Employee will be introduced to a representative from the outplacement organization who will provide the Employee with more information on this service, which includes sessions with a professional from the outplacement organization. These outplacement services will be available immediately.

(e) The Employee agrees to provide certain transition services to the Company as more fully described on Exhibit 3 attached hereto.

2. The Employee acknowledges that arrangements for all outstanding wages and any other amounts owed have been paid.

3. The Company will respond to reference requests consistent with its policy of disclosing only factual information such as date hired and date terminated. The Employee will direct requests for references to Human Resources.

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4. The Employee acknowledges that the Employee signed an Executive Invention, Nondisclosure, Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 1, which is incorporated herein by reference, and remains in full force and effect.

(a)

5. The Employee will deliver to the Company all documents or materials of any nature belonging to it whether in original form or copies of any kind, including any trade secrets and proprietary information. The Employee will return all property belonging to the Company including, but not limited to, keys, access card, computer software, and any related equipment.

6. If the Employee violates Employee’s obligations under this Agreement, the Company will have the right to pursue any and all remedies at law or in equity including injunctive relief and to obtain money damages and recover the value of any benefit which Employee received as a result of Employee’s violation.

7. The Employee specifically releases, remises and forever discharges the Company from all claims of any nature which the Employee now has or ever had arising from Employee’s employment or the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company, including any common law claims or statutory claims including, but not limited to:

(a) claims under any state or federal discrimination, fair employment practices or other employment related statute, or regulation (as they may have been amended through the date of this Agreement) prohibiting discrimination or harassment based upon any protected status including, without limitation, race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, marital status, disability, handicap, veteran status or sexual orientation. Without limitation, specifically included in this paragraph are any claims arising under the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act and any similar state or local statute or ordinance.

(b) claims under any other state or federal employment related statute, or regulation (as they may have been amended through the date of this Agreement) relating to wages, hours or any other terms and conditions of employment. Without limitation, specifically included in this paragraph are any claims arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the National Labor Relations Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) and any similar state or local statute or ordinance.

(c) claims under any state or federal common law theory including, without limitation, wrongful discharge, breach of express or implied contract, promissory estoppel, unjust enrichment, breach of a covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of public policy, defamation, interference with contractual relations, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, misrepresentation, deceit, fraud or negligence.

(d) any other claim arising under state or federal law.

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8. This paragraph is intended to comply with the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (“OWBPA”) with regard to the Employee’s waiver of rights under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”):

(a) The Employee is specifically waiving rights and claims under ADEA;

(b) The waiver of rights under ADEA does not extend to any rights or claims arising after the date this Agreement is signed by the Employee;

(c) The Employee acknowledges receiving consideration for this waiver;

(d) The Employee acknowledges that the Employee has been advised to consult with an attorney before signing this Agreement;

(e) The Employee acknowledges that after receiving a copy of this Agreement, the Employee had the right to take up to 45 days to consider the Employee’s decision to sign the Agreement; the parties agree that changes, whether material or immaterial do not restart the running of the 45 day period.

This Agreement does not become effective for a period of seven (7) days after the Employee signs it. The Employee has the right to revoke this Agreement during the seven (7) day period. Revocation must be made in writing, signed by the Employee and delivered to the Company during the seven (7) day period. If the Employee revokes this Agreement, the entire Agreement shall be null and void, and no severance benefits will be payable.

9. This Agreement will be governed by Massachusetts law. The Employee consents to the jurisdiction of any court within Massachusetts.

10. In case it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that any provision herein contained is illegal or unenforceable, such determination shall not impair the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

11. It is expressly understood and acknowledged by the Employee that this Agreement provides the Employee with valuable consideration to which the Employee would not ordinarily be entitled.

12. This Agreement may not be amended except by a writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought.

13. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same document.

14. The Employee agrees that the terms and amount of this Agreement shall be confidential and agrees not to disclose them except to Employee’s spouse, attorney, accountant, federal or state tax authorities or where disclosure is compelled pursuant to legal process, or to the extent necessary in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement.

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15 The Employee agrees that the Employee will not disparage the Company or its products, services, agents, representatives, directors, officers, shareholders, attorneys, employees, vendors, affiliates, successors or assigns, or any person acting by, through, under or in concert with any of them, with any written or oral statement.

16. This Agreement will remain effective regardless of the sale of all or substantially all of the Stock or assets of the Company, and in the event of such a sale this Agreement will remain binding on the Company and on the acquiring entity or entities.

17. The Employee acknowledges that Employee has been afforded sufficient time to understand the terms and effects of this Agreement, and that the agreements and obligations herein are made voluntarily, knowingly and without duress, and that neither the Company nor its agents or representatives have made any representations inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

18. Section 409A Requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the following provisions shall apply to any payments and benefits otherwise payable to or provided to the Employee under this Agreement:

(a) For purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”), (1) each “payment” (as defined by Section 409A) made under this Agreement shall be considered a “separate payment,” and (2) payments shall be deemed exempt from the definition of deferred compensation under Section 409A to the fullest extent possible under (a) the “short-term deferral” exemption of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(4), and (b) (with respect to amounts paid as separation pay no later than the second calendar year following the calendar year containing the Employee’s “separation from service” (as defined for purposes of Section 409A)) the “two-years/two-times” separation pay exemption of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), which are hereby incorporated by reference.

(b) If the Employee is a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A (and as applied according to procedures of the Company) as of the Employee’s separation from service, to the extent any payment under this Agreement constitutes deferred compensation (after taking into account any applicable exemptions from Section 409A), and to the extent required by Section 409A, no payments due under this Agreement may be made until the earlier of: (1) the first day of the seventh month following the Employee’s separation from service, or (2) the Employee’s date of death; provided, however, that any payments delayed during this six-month period shall be paid in the aggregate in a lump sum, without interest, on the first day of the seventh month following the Employee’s separation from service.

(c) If this Agreement fails to meet the requirements of Section 409A, the Company shall not have any liability for any tax, penalty or interest imposed on the Employee by Section 409A, and the Employee shall have no recourse against the Company for payment of any such tax, penalty or interest imposed by Section 409A.

-5-

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employee and the Company’s duly authorized representative have caused this Agreement to be executed under seal on the dates shown below, to become effective 7 days after the Employee signs as provided in Paragraph 9.

I, Steven Michaud, represent and agree that I have carefully read this Agreement; that I have been given ample opportunity to consult with my legal counsel or any other party to the extent, if any that I desire and that I am voluntarily signing by my own free act. This Agreement constitutes a voluntary and knowing waiver of rights under the laws and statutes referenced above.

Dated: November 8, 2012	/s/ Steven Michaud
	Steven Michaud

	BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.
Dated: November 8, 2012	BY:	/s/ William T. Montone
		Name: William T. Montone       Title: Senior Vice President, Human Resource

-6-

EX-21.01

EXHIBIT 21.01

BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

Legal Entity	Jurisdiction
Brooks Automation (Delaware) LLC	USA
Brooks Automation (France) SAS	France
Brooks Automation (Germany) GmbH	Germany
Brooks Automation (Singapore) PTE LTD	Singapore
Brooks Automation Taiwan Company Ltd	Taiwan
Brooks Automation (UK) Ltd	UK
Brooks Automation Asia Ltd (own 70%)	Korea
Brooks Automation Israel, Ltd	Israel
Brooks Automation Korea Inc.	Korea
Brooks Automation Luxembourg SARL	Luxembourg
Brooks Technology (Shanghai) Limited	China
CTI Nuclear, Inc.	USA
Granville — Phillips Company	USA
Helix Securities Corp.	USA
Brooks Japan KK	Japan
Brooks Automation AG	Switzerland
Brooks Automation Holding GmbH	Switzerland
Interval Logic Corporation (own 90%)	USA
Strathmore Corporation	USA
Ulvac Cryogenics Inc. (50% JV in Japan)	Japan
Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc. (50% JV in Japan)	Japan

EX-23.01

Exhibit 23.01

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-142873, 333-129724, 333-123242, 333-88154, 333-88158, 333-87764) and Form S-3 (No. 333-167657) of Brooks Automation, Inc. of our report dated November 21, 2012 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

November 21, 2012

EX-31.01

EXHIBIT 31.01

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Stephen S. Schwartz, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Brooks Automation, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ STEPHEN S. SCHWARTZ

Stephen S. Schwartz

Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 21, 2012

EX-31.02

EXHIBIT 31.02

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Martin S. Headley, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Brooks Automation, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ MARTIN S. HEADLEY

Martin S. Headley

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 21, 2012

EX-32

EXHIBIT 32

CERTIFICATION

PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 (SUBSECTIONS (A)

AND (B) OF SECTION 1350, CHAPTER 63 OF TITLE 18, UNITED STATES CODE)

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), the undersigned officer of Brooks Automation, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), does hereby certify that:

(1) The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2012 of the Company fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Annual Form 10-K fairly presents, in all materials respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ STEPHEN S. SCHWARTZ

Stephen S. Schwartz

Director and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Dated: November 21, 2012

/s/ MARTIN S. HEADLEY

Martin S. Headley

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

Dated: November 21, 2012

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Brooks Automation, Inc. and will be retained by Brooks Automation, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

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Postretirement Benefits (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Funded Status and Amounts Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheet

The following tables set forth the funded status and amounts recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2012 and 2011 for the Helix Plan, the Nexus Plan and the Taiwan Plan (the “Plans”) (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	28,068		$	15,914
Acquisition date benefit obligations from entities acquired during the fiscal year		—			10,354
Service cost		787			216
Interest cost		984			796
Actuarial loss		1,235			2,138
Benefits paid		(2,203	)		(356	)
Settlement loss		1,040			—
Settlements paid		(18,928	)		—
Foreign currency translation		(802	)		(994	)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	10,181		$	28,068

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	$	20,173		$	9,990
Acquisition date fair value of assets for entities acquired during the fiscal year		—			9,226
Actual return on plan assets		1,446			1,322
Disbursements		(2,463	)		(356	)
Employer contributions		7,684			778
Employee contributions		334			76
Settlements paid		(18,928	)		—
Foreign currency translation		(231	)		(863	)
Fair value of assets at end of year	$	8,015		$	20,173

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Funded status/accrued benefit liability	$	(2,166	)	$	(7,895	)

Pension Amounts Recorded Within Account Line Items of Consolidated Balance Sheets

The following table provides pension amounts recorded within the account line items of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Accrued compensation and benefits	$	478	$	734
Long-term pension liability		1,688		7,161

Net Periodic Pension Cost

Net periodic pension cost consisted of the following (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Service cost	$	787		$	216		$	100
Interest cost		984			796			775
Expected return on assets		(1,072	)		(764	)		(604	)
Amortization of losses		620			458			327
Net periodic pension cost		1,319			706			598
Settlement loss		8,937			—			—
Total pension cost	$	10,256		$	706		$	598

Other changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Loss

Other changes in Plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive loss (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Net loss	$	1,226		$	1,502
Amortization of net loss		(620	)		(458	)
Settlement loss		(8,937	)		—
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		(8,331	)		1,044
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	(7,012	)	$	1,750

Certain Information for the Plan with Respect to Accumulated Benefit Obligations

Certain information for the Plans with respect to accumulated benefit obligations follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Projected benefit obligation	$	10,181	$	28,068
Accumulated benefit obligation		8,906		26,663
Fair value of plan assets		8,015		20,173

Fair Value of Pension Assets by Asset Category and by Level

The fair value of pension assets by asset category and by level at September 30, 2012 were as follows (in thousands):

	As of September 30, 2012
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Swiss Life collective foundation	$	—		7,513		—	$	7,513
Taiwan collective trust		—		502		—		502
Total	$	—	$	8,015	$	—	$	8,015

Expected Benefit Payments over the Next Ten Years

Expected benefit payments over the next ten years are anticipated to be paid as follows (in thousands):

2013	$	1,590
2014		53
2015		55
2016		56
2017		57
2018-2022		457

Benefit net cost

Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Cost or Pension Obligation

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net cost at September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 follows:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Discount rate		3.51	%		3.99	%		5.50	%
Expected return on plan assets		2.18	%		4.68	%		8.00	%
Rate of compensation increase		1.84	%		1.79	%		N/A

Pension obligation

Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Cost or Pension Obligation

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the pension obligation at September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 follows:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Discount rate		1.89	%		3.76	%		4.75	%
Rate of compensation increase		1.84	%		1.79	%		N/A

Foreign Defined Benefit Plan

Asset Allocation of Plan Assets

The asset allocation of the plan assets of the non-U.S. plans at September 30, 2012 was as follows:

	Percentage of Plan Assets at September 30, 2012
Equity securities		4	%
Debt securities		76
Other		19
Cash		1
		100	%

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Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Feb. 24, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012 Mexico	Jun. 16, 2011 Securities Litigation	Mar. 31, 2012 Securities Litigation	Sep. 30, 2012 Securities Litigation	Jun. 16, 2011 Securities Litigation Insurance Company	Jun. 16, 2011 Securities Litigation Income	Feb. 24, 2011 Securities Litigation Mr. Therrien
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Rental expense under operating leases		$ 4,800,000	$ 4,900,000	$ 4,700,000
Description of leasing arrangements		The Company leases manufacturing and office facilities and certain equipment under operating leases that expire through 2022.
Operating lease arrangements, year of expiration		2022
Lease guaranteed by company, expiration date					2015-01
Remaining payments under lease guarantee					900,000
Outstanding letters of credit		3,300,000
Non-cancelable contracts and purchase orders for inventory		64,300,000
Proceeds from sale of shares											1,900,000
Number of shares sold											150,000
Reimbursement to Mr. Therrien towards his disgorgement payment	500,000
Net amount to be recovered from insurance company	3,500,000
Litigation settlement, disgorgement payment											728,000
Litigation settlement, fines											100,000
Proceeds from litigation settlement						1,300,000
Percent of litigation settlement									50.00%	50.00%
Net insurance proceeds							$ 3,300,000	$ 3,300,000

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Amount of Assets and Liabilities of Nexus at Fair Value as of Acquisition Date (Detail) (Nexus, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 25, 2011
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 5,708
Inventory	7,481
Other current assets	4,522
Property, plant and equipment	12,527
Goodwill	33,033
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(6,563)
Deferred revenue	(3,692)
Other current liabilities	(1,534)
Deferred tax liabilities	(2,584)
Other long-term liabilities	(1,070)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired	84,928
Completed technology
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Identifiable intangible assets	6,000
Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Identifiable intangible assets	31,000
Trademarks and trade names
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Identifiable intangible assets	$ 100

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Summary of Depreciable Lives (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Buildings | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives	20 years
Buildings | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives	40 years
Computer equipment and software | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives	2 years
Computer equipment and software | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives	7 years
Machinery and equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives	2 years
Machinery and equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives	10 years
Furniture and fixtures | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives	3 years
Furniture and fixtures | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciable lives	10 years

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Condensed Balance Sheets, Ulvac Cryogenics, Inc (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc.	Jun. 30, 2011 ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Current assets	$ 347,489	$ 320,524	$ 62,144	$ 79,226
Noncurrent assets			13,805	13,904
Current liabilities	81,191	95,739	24,784	45,518
Noncurrent liabilities			206	192
Shareholders' equity	$ 648,666	$ 518,347	$ 50,959	$ 47,420

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Unaudited Pro Forma Summary Consolidated Information on Acquisition of Nexus (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 720,989	$ 625,128
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$ 124,114	$ 70,205

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Components of Income Before Income Taxes and Equity in Earnings of Joint Ventures (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Domestic	$ 2,204	$ 111,053	$ 44,956
Foreign	9,216	16,523	11,108
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures	$ 11,420	$ 127,576	$ 56,064

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Net Revenues based upon Source of Order by Geographic Area (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net Revenues	$ 519,451	$ 688,105	$ 592,972
North America
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net Revenues	230,735	349,456	322,542
Asia/Pacific
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net Revenues	194,711	244,524	203,172
Europe
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net Revenues	$ 94,005	$ 94,125	$ 67,258

XML

Revised Consolidated Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Equity in earnings of joint ventures	$ 2,133	$ 4,815	$ 1,074
Net income	136,835	130,437	59,884
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	136,789	130,385	59,841
Net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common shareholders:
Basic	$ 2.10	$ 2.02	$ 0.94
Diluted	$ 2.08	$ 2.01	$ 0.93
As Previously Reported
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Equity in earnings of joint ventures		2,782	215
Net income		128,404	59,025
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.		128,352	58,982
Net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common shareholders:
Basic		$ 1.99	$ 0.92
Diluted		$ 1.97	$ 0.92
Adjustment
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Equity in earnings of joint ventures		2,033	859
Net income		2,033	859
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.		$ 2,033	$ 859
Net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common shareholders:
Basic		$ 0.03	$ 0.01
Diluted		$ 0.03	$ 0.01

XML

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Assets and liabilities of the Company measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

	September  30, 2012		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
Description			Quoted Prices in Active  Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant  Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets
Cash Equivalents	$	17,508	$	17,508	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale securities		145,592		60,231		85,361		—
Foreign exchange contracts		10		—		10		—
Total Assets	$	163,110	$	77,739	$	85,371	$	—
Liabilities
Foreign exchange contracts	$	13	$	—	$	13	$	—

	September  30, 2011		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant  Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets
Cash Equivalents	$	9,576	$	9,576	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale securities		146,985		63,331		83,654		—
Total Assets	$	156,561	$	72,907	$	83,654	$	—

XML

Differences Between Income Tax Provision (Benefit) and Income Taxes Computed using Applicable U.S. Statutory Federal Tax Rate (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax provision computed at federal statutory rate	$ 4,728	$ 45,736	$ 19,622
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	260	1,848	699
Net operating loss carryback refund			(3,899)
Foreign income taxed at different rates	(832)	(1,546)	(1,650)
Dividends	956	(219)	1,006
Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance	(125,479)	(42,608)	(18,423)
Reduction in uncertain tax positions	(3,732)	(3,719)	(609)
Nondeductible compensation	1,339	295	379
Tax credits generated	(1,195)	(1,179)	(414)
Other	673	3,346	543
Income tax provision (benefit)	$ (123,282)	$ 1,954	$ (2,746)

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Reconciliation of Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding for Purposes of Calculating Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$ 136,789	$ 130,385	$ 59,841
Weighted average common shares outstanding used in computing basic earnings per share	65,128	64,549	63,777
Dilutive common stock options and restricted stock awards	594	454	397
Weighted average common shares outstanding for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share	65,722	65,003	64,174
Basic net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$ 2.10	$ 2.02	$ 0.94
Diluted net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$ 2.08	$ 2.01	$ 0.93

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Weighted-Average Assumption Used to Determine Net Cost (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs Weighted Average Assumptions [Line Items]
Discount rate	3.51%	3.99%	5.50%
Expected return on plan assets	2.18%	4.68%	8.00%
Rate of compensation increase	1.84%	1.79%

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Summary of Marketable Securities Including Accrued Interest Receivable (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	$ 145,391	$ 147,177
Gross Unrealized Gains	221	102
Gross Unrealized Losses	(20)	(294)
Fair Value	145,592	146,985
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	41,202	53,342
Gross Unrealized Gains	15	17
Gross Unrealized Losses	(2)	(21)
Fair Value	41,215	53,338
Corporate securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	64,102	66,045
Gross Unrealized Gains	138	50
Gross Unrealized Losses	(16)	(203)
Fair Value	64,224	65,892
Mortgage-backed securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	1,310	1,576
Gross Unrealized Gains	42	26
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1)	(53)
Fair Value	1,351	1,549
Other debt securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	13	434
Fair Value	13	434
Municipal securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	34,777	24,125
Gross Unrealized Gains	25	9
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1)	(17)
Fair Value	34,801	24,117
Bank certificate of deposits
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost	3,987	1,655
Gross Unrealized Gains	1
Fair Value	$ 3,988	$ 1,655

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Summary of Inventories (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Inventories
Raw materials and purchased parts	$ 64,732	$ 65,770
Work-in-process	20,800	29,460
Finished goods	17,453	12,424
Inventories, net	$ 102,985	$ 107,654

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Notional Amounts Outstanding under Foreign Currency Contracts (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Buy Currency	$ 7,632
Notional Amount of Sell Currency in U.S. Dollars	7,635
Fair Value of Assets	10
Fair Value of Liabilities	13
Buy Currency, U.S. Dollar, Sell Currency, Taiwan Dollar
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Buy Currency	2,791
Maturity	2012-10
Notional Amount of Sell Currency in U.S. Dollars	2,786
Fair Value of Assets	5
Buy Currency, U.S. Dollar, Sell Currency, Israeli Shekel
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Buy Currency	1,842
Maturity	2012-10
Notional Amount of Sell Currency in U.S. Dollars	1,854
Fair Value of Liabilities	12
Buy Currency, U.S. Dollar, Sell Currency, Singapore Dollar
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Buy Currency	1,058
Maturity	2012-10
Notional Amount of Sell Currency in U.S. Dollars	1,056
Fair Value of Assets	2
Buy Currency, U.S. Dollar, Sell Currency, Korean Won
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Buy Currency	806
Maturity	2012-10
Notional Amount of Sell Currency in U.S. Dollars	803
Fair Value of Assets	3
Buy Currency, U.S. Dollar, Sell Currency, Japanese Yen
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Buy Currency	611
Maturity	2012-10
Notional Amount of Sell Currency in U.S. Dollars	611
Buy Currency, U.S. Dollar, Sell Currency, British Pound
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Buy Currency	524
Maturity	2012-10
Notional Amount of Sell Currency in U.S. Dollars	525
Fair Value of Liabilities	$ 1

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Net Periodic Pension Cost (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 787	$ 216	$ 100
Interest cost	984	796	775
Expected return on assets	(1,072)	(764)	(604)
Amortization of losses	620	458	327
Net periodic pension cost	1,319	706	598
Settlement loss	8,937
Total pension cost	$ 10,256	$ 706	$ 598

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Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Deferred income tax benefit	$ (122,136,000)	$ (276,000)
Federal, state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards	378,800,000
Federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards	23,100,000
Federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards, expiration year	2031
Net operating losses, expiration dates	U.S. net operating losses expire at various dates through 2030
Interest related to unrecognized benefits	200,000	400,000	400,000
Reductions from settlements with taxing authorities	3,700,000	4,002,000	197,000
Anticipated unrecognized tax benefit reduction during next twelve months	1,100,000
Stock Compensation Plan
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Federal, state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards	$ 12,500,000

XML

Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Summary of Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net loss	$ 1,226	$ 1,502
Amortization of net loss	(620)	(458)
Settlement loss	(8,937)
Total recognized in other comprehensive income	606	1,044	1,001
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	(7,012)	1,750
Defined Benefit Plan
Summary of Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost and Other Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total recognized in other comprehensive income	$ (8,331)	$ 1,044

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Components of Income Tax Provision (Benefit) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Current income tax provision (benefit):
Federal	$ 15	$ 16	$ (3,883)
State	213	1,356	616
Foreign	(1,374)	858	521
Total current income tax provision (benefit)	(1,146)	2,230	(2,746)
Deferred income tax (benefit):
Federal	(118,432)
State	(291)
Foreign	(3,413)	(276)
Total deferred income tax (benefit)	(122,136)	(276)
Income tax provision (benefit)	$ (123,282)	$ 1,954	$ (2,746)

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Condensed Statements of Operations, Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 519,451	$ 688,105	$ 592,972
Gross profit	173,486	223,021	166,295
Net income	136,789	130,385	59,841
Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenue	83,192	104,940	65,923
Gross profit	8,112	10,445	6,950
Net income	$ 6	$ 1,258	$ 261

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Other Balance Sheet Information

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Other Balance Sheet Information

19.    Other Balance Sheet Information

The following is a summary of accounts receivable at September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Accounts receivable	$	79,706	$	77,318
Less allowance for doubtful accounts		851		617
	$	78,855	$	76,701

The allowance for doubtful accounts activity for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were as follows (in thousands):

Description	Balance at Beginning  of Period		Provisions		Reversals of Bad Debt Expense			Write-offs  and Adjustments			Balance at End of Period
2012 Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	617	$	367	$	(130	)	$	(3	)	$	851
2011 Allowance for doubtful accounts		491		—		—			126			617
2010 Allowance for doubtful accounts		719		125		(192	)		(161	)		491

The following is a summary of inventories at September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Inventories
Raw materials and purchased parts	$	64,732	$	65,770
Work-in-process		20,800		29,460
Finished goods		17,453		12,424
	$	102,985	$	107,654

Reserves for excess and obsolete inventory were $23.2 million, $24.7 million and $23.8 million at September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company recorded charges/credits to reserves for excess and obsolete inventory of $4.3 million, $2.2 million and $(1.9) million in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The net credits recorded for fiscal 2010 are related to the sales of previously reserved items. The Company reduced the reserves for excess and obsolete inventory by $5.8 million, $3.5 million and $1.5 million, in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, for disposals of inventory.

The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties, primarily from historical information, at the time product revenue is recognized and retrofit accruals at the time retrofit programs are established. The Company’s warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, utilization levels, material usage, service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure, and supplier warranties on parts delivered to the Company. Product warranty and retrofit activity on a gross basis for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

Balance at September 30, 2009	$	5,698
Accruals for warranties during the year		17,948
Settlements made during the year		(15,451	)
Balance at September 30, 2010		8,195
Adjustments for acquisitions and divestitures		698
Accruals for warranties during the year		11,299
Settlements made during the year		(12,754	)
Balance at September 30, 2011		7,438
Adjustments for acquisitions and divestitures		7
Accruals for warranties during the year		13,751
Settlements made during the year		(13,867	)
Balance at September 30, 2012	$	7,329

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Compensation Expense (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation	$ 8,647,000	$ 6,752,000	$ 6,567,000
Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation			170,000
Restricted stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation	8,098,000	6,248,000	5,944,000
Employee stock purchase plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation	$ 549,000	$ 504,000	$ 453,000

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Segment and Geographic Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Financial Information for Business Segments

Financial information for the Company’s business segments is as follows (in thousands):

	Brooks Product Solutions		Brooks Global Services		Brooks Life Science Systems			Contract Manufacturing		Total
Year ended September 30, 2012
Revenues
Product	$	380,888	$	11,324	$	39,749		$	—	$	431,961
Services		—		74,628		12,862			—		87,490
	$	380,888	$	85,952	$	52,611		$	—	$	519,451
Gross profit	$	127,472	$	25,599	$	20,415		$	—	$	173,486
Segment operating income (loss)	$	21,319	$	9,404	$	(3,139	)	$	—	$	27,584
Depreciation	$	8,952	$	2,344	$	2,111		$	—	$	13,407
Assets	$	218,799	$	56,120	$	107,530		$	—	$	382,449
Year ended September 30, 2011
Revenues
Product	$	451,287	$	14,786	$	7,715		$	137,329	$	611,117
Services		—		74,058		2,930			—		76,988
	$	451,287	$	88,844	$	10,645		$	137,329	$	688,105
Gross profit	$	171,801	$	31,750	$	2,260		$	17,210	$	223,021
Segment operating income (loss)	$	64,921	$	13,293	$	(4,684	)	$	10,649	$	84,179
Depreciation	$	8,597	$	2,481	$	543		$	1,000	$	12,621
Assets	$	235,322	$	52,354	$	101,331		$	—	$	389,007
Year ended September 30, 2010
Revenues
Product	$	362,524	$	13,740	$	—		$	155,543	$	531,807
Services		—		61,165		—			—		61,165
	$	362,524	$	74,905	$	—		$	155,543	$	592,972
Gross profit	$	128,479	$	20,354	$	—		$	17,462	$	166,295
Segment operating income	$	40,143	$	3,805	$	—		$	8,335	$	52,283
Depreciation	$	9,465	$	2,843	$	—		$	2,255	$	14,563
Assets	$	227,408	$	53,564	$	—		$	57,024	$	337,996

Reconciliation of Reportable Segment Operating Income and Segment Assets to Corresponding Consolidated Amounts

A reconciliation of the Company’s reportable segment operating income and segment assets to the corresponding consolidated amounts as of and for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

	As of and for the Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2010
Segment operating income	$	27,584		$	84,179	$	52,283
Other unallocated corporate expenses(1)		(1,833	)		1,135		778
Amortization of acquired intangible assets		4,618			2,411		1,969
Restructuring charges		3,275			1,036		2,529
Pension settlement		8,937			—		—
In-process research and development		3,026			—		—
Total operating income	$	9,561		$	79,597	$	47,007
Segment assets	$	382,449		$	389,007
Investments in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities		200,994			207,111
Long-term deferred tax assets		104,626			—
Investments in joint ventures		31,428			34,950
Other unallocated corporate net assets		22,463			5,890
Total assets	$	741,960		$	636,958

(1) Other unallocated corporate expenses for the year ended September 30, 2012 includes a credit of $3.3 million related to insurance proceeds received as reimbursement of litigation costs previously incurred

Net Revenues by Geographic Area

Net revenues based upon the source of the order by geographic area are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
North America	$	230,735	$	349,456	$	322,542
Asia/Pacific		194,711		244,524		203,172
Europe		94,005		94,125		67,258
	$	519,451	$	688,105	$	592,972

Long-Lived Assets, Consisting of Property, Plant and Equipment by Geographic Area

Long-lived assets, consisting of property, plant and equipment by geographic area are as follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
North America	$	51,546	$	55,295
Asia/Pacific		2,123		1,920
Europe		10,809		11,381
	$	64,478	$	68,596

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Investment in Variable Interest Entity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
Equity Method Investments and Variable Interest Entities[Line Items]
Loan provided to borrower		$ 3,000,000
Variable Interest Entity
Equity Method Investments and Variable Interest Entities[Line Items]
Loan provided to borrower	3,000,000
Loan provided to borrower, interest rate	9.00%
Loan provided to borrower, due date	2015-05
Debt, fair value		2,800,000
Warrants, fair value		$ 200,000

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Restricted Stock Activity (Detail) (Restricted stock, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Restricted stock
Shares
Outstanding at beginning of year	1,590,989
Awards granted	1,887,419
Awards vested	(597,962)
Awards canceled	(147,998)
Outstanding at end of year	2,732,448	1,590,989
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding at beginning of year	$ 10.15
Awards granted	$ 11.80	$ 11.27	$ 8.73
Awards vested	$ 9.67
Awards canceled	$ 11.54
Outstanding at end of year	$ 10.47	$ 10.15

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Derivative Instruments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Notional Amounts Outstanding under Foreign Currency Contracts

The Company had the following notional amounts outstanding under foreign currency contracts at September 30, 2012 (in thousands):

Buy Currency	Notional Amount of Buy Currency		Sell Currency	Maturity		Notional Amount of Sell Currency in U.S. Dollars		Fair Value of Assets		Fair Value of Liabilities
U.S. Dollar	$	2,791	Taiwan Dollar		October 2012	$	2,786	$	5	$	—
U.S. Dollar		1,842	Israeli Shekel		October 2012		1,854		—		12
U.S. Dollar		1,058	Singapore Dollar		October 2012		1,056		2		—
U.S. Dollar		806	Korean Won		October 2012		803		3		—
U.S. Dollar		611	Japanese Yen		October 2012		611		—		—
U.S. Dollar		524	British Pound		October 2012		525		—		1
	$	7,632				$	7,635	$	10	$	13

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Acquisitions and Divestiture - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended							3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012 Completed technology Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 Completed technology Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 Customer relationships Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 Customer relationships Maximum	Dec. 31, 2011 CeligoCell Cytometer product line	Dec. 30, 2011 CeligoCell Cytometer product line	Dec. 31, 2011 CeligoCell Cytometer product line Completed technology	Dec. 31, 2011 CeligoCell Cytometer product line Trade Name	Sep. 30, 2011 Nexus	Sep. 30, 2010 Nexus	Jul. 25, 2011 Nexus	Jul. 25, 2011 Nexus Completed technology	Jul. 25, 2011 Nexus Trade Name	Jul. 25, 2011 Nexus Customer relationships Minimum	Jul. 25, 2011 Nexus Customer relationships Maximum	Jul. 25, 2011 Nexus Customer relationships System	Jul. 25, 2011 Nexus Customer relationships Consumables and service	Sep. 30, 2011 RTS Life Science Limited	Apr. 01, 2011 RTS Life Science Limited	Sep. 30, 2012 RTS Life Science Limited Completed technology Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 RTS Life Science Limited Completed technology Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 RTS Life Science Limited Customer relationships	Sep. 30, 2012 RTS Life Science Limited Trademarks and trade names
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
In-process research and development		$ 3,026,000
Business acquisition, cash payment										8,700,000
Business acquisition deferred cash payable										500,000
Cash flow discount rate											25.00%					17.00%		17.00%	18.00%
Amortizable lives					2 years	10 years	4 years	13 years			6 years	6 years				6 years	2 years			6 years	13 years			5 years	7 years	7 years	3 years
Transaction costs related to acquisition									105,000				719,000									188,000
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired										9,216,000					84,928,000								3,381,000
Royalty rate																6.00%
Revenues		519,451,000	688,105,000	592,972,000									4,900,000
Net income (loss)		136,789,000	130,385,000	59,841,000									(3,200,000)
Net losses, charges to expense the step-up of acquired inventories													700,000
Net losses, charges for excess and obsolete inventory													600,000
Gain from bargain purchase														12,000,000
Proceeds from the sale of the contract manufacturing business			78,249,000
Considerations received from asset sale			1,300,000
Additional estimated proceeds from sale of business	2,500,000
Transaction expenses			2,300,000
Sale of contract manufacturing business			45,009,000
Gain recognized on sale of assets, income tax			$ 2,400,000

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Estimated Future Amortization Expense for Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Future amortization expense for year ended September 30,
2013	$ 6,500,000
2014	5,800,000
2015	5,700,000
2016	5,100,000
2017	4,500,000
Thereafter	11,800,000
Net Book Value	$ 39,400,000	$ 44,314,000

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Product Warranty and Retrofit Activity on Gross Basis (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Product Liability Contingency [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of year	$ 7,438	$ 8,195	$ 5,698
Adjustments for acquisitions and divestitures	7	698
Accruals for warranties during the year	13,751	11,299	17,948
Settlements made during the year	(13,867)	(12,754)	(15,451)
Balance at end of year	$ 7,329	$ 7,438	$ 8,195

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Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities	$ 145,592	$ 146,985
Foreign exchange contract assets	10
Foreign exchange contract liabilities	13
Corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities	64,224	65,892
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash Equivalents	17,508	9,576
Available-for-sale securities	145,592	146,985
Foreign exchange contract assets	10
Foreign exchange contract liabilities	13
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash Equivalents	17,508	9,576
Available-for-sale securities	60,231	63,331
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Corporate securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities	60,200	63,300
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities	85,361	83,654
Foreign exchange contract assets	10
Foreign exchange contract liabilities	13
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Asset Backed Securities, Municipal Bonds, and Government Agencies
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities	$ 85,400	$ 83,700

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended									12 Months Ended									3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012 Top Ten Largest Customers	Sep. 30, 2012 Customer 1	Sep. 30, 2011 Customer 1	Sep. 30, 2010 Customer 1	Sep. 30, 2012 Patents	Sep. 30, 2011 Patents	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted stock	Sep. 30, 2011 Restricted stock	Sep. 30, 2010 Restricted stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted stock Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted stock Minimum	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted stock Senior Management	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted stock Senior Management Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted stock Senior Management Awards subject to service criteria	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted stock Senior Management Awards subject to performance criteria	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted stock Chief Executive Officer Phantom Stock Units	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted stock Chief Executive Officer Phantom Stock Units	Sep. 30, 2012 Stock options	Sep. 30, 2010 Stock options	Sep. 30, 2012 Stock options Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Net foreign currency transaction losses	$ 400,000	$ 100,000	$ 300,000
Cash equivalents	17,500,000	9,600,000
Percentage of revenues by customer				43.00%	13.00%	15.00%	21.00%
Intangible assets, net	39,400,000	44,314,000						715,000	819,000
Restricted stocks granted										1,887,419					1,527,000				100,000
Restricted stocks vested										597,962							406,750	1,120,250
Total compensation expense on awards	8,647,000	6,752,000	6,567,000							8,098,000	6,248,000	5,944,000				18,100,000				78,000		170,000
Restricted stocks granted, financial performance measurement year																		2014
Liability related to potential cash payment																				$ 78,000
Shares available for grant	3,848,477
Equity Incentive Plans, vesting period													4 years	2 years							4 years
Equity incentive plans, exercisable period																							7 years

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Acquisitions and Divestiture

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Acquisitions and Divestiture

3.    Acquisitions and Divestiture

Acquisition of Intellectual Property from Intevac, Inc.

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company acquired primarily intellectual property from Intevac, Inc. for $3.0 million. Management evaluated this asset purchase to determine if this acquisition would be considered an acquisition of a business. Since only a limited amount of assets were acquired, management concluded that the inputs and processes required to meet the definition of a business were not acquired in this transaction, therefore, this transaction was treated as the purchase of an asset group. This asset group includes primarily intellectual property that will be utilized in the development of the Company’s next generation of semiconductor automation tools that resides within the Brooks Product Solutions segment. The Company expensed essentially all of this asset purchase as an in-process research and development cost in the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Acquisition of Celigo

On December 30, 2011, the Company acquired the Celigo^® automated Cell Cytometer product line (“Celigo”) from Cyntellect, Inc., for $8.7 million in cash, plus a deferred cash payment of $0.5 million that was paid in July 2012. The Celigo product line provides life science customers with cellular imaging in a high-throughput, easy-to-use and affordable platform. Celigo’s operations were based in San Diego, California, and have been integrated into the Company’s nearby Poway, California-based life sciences operation shortly after the acquisition. The Celigo product line resides in the Brooks Life Science Systems segment. The acquisition of Celigo provides a complementary analysis tool for customers currently using the Company’s automated sample management systems.

The assets and liabilities associated with Celigo were recorded at their fair values as of the acquisition date and the amounts follow (in thousands):

Accounts receivable	$	897
Inventory		1,139
Property, plant and equipment		202
Completed technology		3,540
Trademarks and trade names		70
Goodwill		3,713
Accounts payable		(13	)
Deferred revenue		(326	)
Other current liabilities		(6	)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired	$	9,216

The estimated fair value attributed to the completed technologies was determined based upon a discounted cash flow forecast. Cash flows were discounted at a rate of 25%. The fair value of the completed technologies will be amortized over a period of 6 years on a straight-line basis, which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits of the completed technologies are expected to be realized.

The fair value of the trade names will be amortized over 6 years on a straight-line basis, which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits of the trade names will be realized.

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired and is primarily the result of expected synergies. Goodwill arising from the acquisition will be deductible for tax purposes.

Celigo’s operating results have been included in the Company’s results of operations from the acquisition date. Pro forma results are not provided as Celigo’s results of operations were not material. Transaction costs related to this acquisition were $105,000 for the first quarter ended December 31, 2011, and are included in selling, general and administrative expense. There were no transaction costs subsequent to December 31, 2011.

Acquisition of Nexus

On July 25, 2011, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Nexus Biosystems, Inc. (“Nexus”), a privately held company, for $84.9 million, net of cash acquired. Nexus is a U.S. based provider of automation solutions and consumables to the life sciences market, with a product development, service and support operation located in Switzerland, and service and support locations in Japan and Germany. The acquisition significantly enhances the breadth of the Company’s product offering for its main target market within the life sciences industry, specifically biobanking and compound sample management. Shortly after completing the Nexus acquisition, the Company reorganized the management of Nexus and RTS into one operating segment, Brooks Life Science Systems.

The assets and liabilities of Nexus were recorded at their fair values as of the acquisition date as follows (in thousands):

Accounts receivable	$	5,708
Inventory		7,481
Other current assets		4,522
Property, plant and equipment		12,527
Completed technology		6,000
Customer relationships		31,000
Trademarks and trade names		100
Goodwill		33,033
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(6,563	)
Deferred revenue		(3,692	)
Other current liabilities		(1,534	)
Deferred tax liabilities		(2,584	)
Other long-term liabilities		(1,070	)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired	$	84,928

The estimated fair value attributed to the completed technologies was determined based upon a discounted cash flow forecast utilizing the relief from royalty method. The royalty rate was determined to be 6% based on a review of comparable royalty arrangements. Cash flows were discounted at a rate of 17%. The fair value of the completed technologies will be amortized over a period of 6 years on a straight-line basis, which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits of the completed technologies are expected to be realized.

The estimated fair value attributed to the customer relationships was determined based upon a discounted forecast of estimated net future cash flows to be generated from the relationships discounted at a rate of 17% — 18%. The fair value of customer relationships for systems will be amortized over a period of 6 years, while the estimated fair value of customer relationships for consumables and service are expected to be amortized over a period of 13 years. The amortization will be amortized on a straight-line basis, which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits of the customer relationships are expected to be realized.

The fair value of the trade name will be amortized over 2 years on a straight-line basis, which approximates the pattern in which the economic benefits of the trade names will be realized.

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Goodwill arising from the acquisition will not be deductible for tax purposes.

Nexus operating results have been included in the Company’s results of operations from the acquisition date. Nexus revenues and net loss for the period from July 26, 2011 to September 30, 2011 was $4.9 million and $(3.2) million, respectively. The net loss includes charges to expense from the step-up of acquired inventories of $0.7 million and $0.6 million of charges for excess and obsolete inventory based on an assessment of inventory performed in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011.

The following unaudited pro forma summary presents consolidated information of the Company as if the acquisition of Nexus occurred on October 1, 2009 (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2011		2010
Revenue	$	720,989	$	625,128
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.		124,114		70,205

The pro forma net income has been adjusted to reflect additional amortization and depreciation expense from the adjustments to intangible assets and property, plant and equipment as if those adjustments had been applied as of October 1, 2009.

Nexus net income for fiscal year 2010 included a $12.0 million gain (unaudited) from the bargain purchase of Nexus Biosystems AG (formerly Remp AG), which is included in the pro forma net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. for fiscal year 2010.

Transaction costs related to this acquisition were $719,000 for fiscal year 2011, and are included in selling, general and administrative expense.

Acquisition of RTS

On April 1, 2011, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of RTS Life Science Limited (“RTS”), a privately held company, for $3.4 million, net of cash acquired. RTS is a provider of automation solutions to the life sciences market, located in Manchester, United Kingdom. The acquisition provides the Company with biobanking and compound sample management, and the ability to leverage the Company’s existing automation technologies with those of RTS.

The assets and liabilities of RTS were recorded at their fair values as of the acquisition date as follows (in thousands):

Accounts receivable	$	3,156
Inventory		1,668
Other current assets		1,008
Property, plant and equipment		860
Completed technology		1,524
Customer relationships		577
Trademarks and trade names		64
Goodwill		3,556
Accounts payable		(1,397	)
Deferred revenue		(5,232	)
Other current liabilities		(2,403	)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired	$	3,381

The completed technology will be amortized to cost of revenue over its estimated useful life of 5 to 7 years, the customer relationships will be amortized to operating expense over 7 years and the trademarks and trade names will be amortized to operating expense over 3 years. Goodwill arising from the acquisition will not be deductible for tax purposes.

RTS’s operating results have been included in the Company’s results of operations from the acquisition date, and were not material. Pro forma results are not provided as RTS’s results of operations were not material. Transaction costs related to this acquisition were $188,000 for fiscal year 2011, and are included in selling, general and administrative expense.

Divestiture

On April 20, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with affiliates of Celestica Inc. (the “Buyers”) to sell the assets of its extended factory contract manufacturing business (the “Business”). The Buyers also agreed to assume certain liabilities related to the Business (the “Asset Sale”). The Asset Sale was completed on June 28, 2011 (the “Closing”). At the Closing, the Buyers paid the Company a total purchase price of $78.0 million in cash, plus $1.3 million as consideration for cash acquired in the Asset Sale. An additional $2.5 million of proceeds was paid during the Company’s fourth quarter of 2011, which represents a working capital normalizing adjustment. The Company paid $2.3 million of transaction expenses. During the three months ended June 30, 2011, the Company recorded a gain on this sale of $45.0 million, before income taxes. Income taxes directly attributable to this gain of $2.4 million were also recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2011.

The Company and the Buyers also entered into certain commercial supply and license agreements at the Closing which will govern the ongoing relationship between the Buyers and the Company. Pursuant to those agreements, the Company will supply the Buyers with certain products and has licensed to the Buyers certain intellectual property needed to run the Business and the Buyers will supply certain products to the Company. Due to the significance of these ongoing commercial arrangements, the sale did not qualify for discontinued operations treatment. Therefore, historical financial results of the divested business will not be segregated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the historical periods in which this business was part of the Company.

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Property, Plant and Equipment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 210,344	$ 201,562
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(145,866)	(132,966)
Property, plant and equipment, net	64,478	68,596
Buildings and land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	55,352	54,330
Computer equipment and software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	70,719	68,476
Machinery and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	51,813	49,105
Furniture and fixtures
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	10,908	10,451
Leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	18,938	17,301
Capital projects in progress
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 2,614	$ 1,899

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Other Balance Sheet Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Summary of Accounts Receivable

The following is a summary of accounts receivable at September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Accounts receivable	$	79,706	$	77,318
Less allowance for doubtful accounts		851		617
	$	78,855	$	76,701

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Activity

The allowance for doubtful accounts activity for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were as follows (in thousands):

Description	Balance at Beginning  of Period		Provisions		Reversals of Bad Debt Expense			Write-offs  and Adjustments			Balance at End of Period
2012 Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	617	$	367	$	(130	)	$	(3	)	$	851
2011 Allowance for doubtful accounts		491		—		—			126			617
2010 Allowance for doubtful accounts		719		125		(192	)		(161	)		491

Summary of Inventories

The following is a summary of inventories at September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Inventories
Raw materials and purchased parts	$	64,732	$	65,770
Work-in-process		20,800		29,460
Finished goods		17,453		12,424
	$	102,985	$	107,654

Product Warranty and Retrofit Activity on a Gross Basis

Product warranty and retrofit activity on a gross basis for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

Balance at September 30, 2009	$	5,698
Accruals for warranties during the year		17,948
Settlements made during the year		(15,451	)
Balance at September 30, 2010		8,195
Adjustments for acquisitions and divestitures		698
Accruals for warranties during the year		11,299
Settlements made during the year		(12,754	)
Balance at September 30, 2011		7,438
Adjustments for acquisitions and divestitures		7
Accruals for warranties during the year		13,751
Settlements made during the year		(13,867	)
Balance at September 30, 2012	$	7,329

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Nature of the Business (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Condensed Balance Sheets

The following table summarizes the effects of the error on the annual prior period financial statements (in thousands, except per share data):

Revised Consolidated Balance Sheet Amounts

	As of September 30, 2011
	As Previously Reported			Adjustment			As Revised
Equity investments in joint ventures	$	34,612		$	338		$	34,950
Total assets		636,620			338			636,958
Accumulated other comprehensive income		19,480			(2,156	)		17,324
Accumulated deficit		(1,110,599	)		2,494			(1,108,105	)
Total Brooks Automation, Inc. stockholders’ equity		518,009			338			518,347
Total equity		518,598			338			518,936
Total liabilities and equity		636,620			338			636,958

Condensed Statements of Operations

Revised Consolidated Statement of Operations Amounts

	Year Ended September 30, 2011						Year Ended September 30, 2010
	As Previously Reported		Adjustment		As Revised		As Previously Reported		Adjustment		As Revised
Equity in earnings of joint ventures	$	2,782	$	2,033	$	4,815	$	215	$	859	$	1,074
Net income		128,404		2,033		130,437		59,025		859		59,884
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.		128,352		2,033		130,385		58,982		859		59,841
Net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common shareholders:
Basic	$	1.99	$	0.03	$	2.02	$	0.92	$	0.01	$	0.94
Diluted	$	1.97	$	0.03	$	2.01	$	0.92	$	0.01	$	0.93

ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc.

Condensed Balance Sheets

	June 30,
	2012		2011
Balance Sheets:
Current assets	$	62,144	$	79,226
Noncurrent assets		13,805		13,904
Current liabilities		24,784		45,518
Noncurrent liabilities		206		192
Shareholders’ equity		50,959		47,420

Condensed Statements of Operations

               Summarized condensed financial information for UCI is as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended June 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Statements of Operations:
Revenue	$	70,532	$	75,311	$	38,470
Gross profit		19,816		22,974		10,747
Net income		4,004		8,644		2,341

Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc.

Condensed Balance Sheets

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Balance Sheets:
Current assets	$	32,046	$	44,211
Noncurrent assets		587		504
Current liabilities		23,801		35,533
Noncurrent liabilities		504		397
Shareholders’ equity		8,328		8,785

Condensed Statements of Operations

Summarized condensed financial information for YBA is as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Statements of Operations:
Revenue	$	83,192	$	104,940	$	65,923
Gross profit		8,112		10,445		6,950
Net income		6		1,258		261

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated. Equity investments in which the Company exercises significant influence but does not control and is not the primary beneficiary are accounted for using the equity method.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are associated with accounts receivable, inventories, intangible assets, goodwill, deferred income taxes, warranty obligations and revenue recognized using the percentage of completion method. Although the Company regularly assesses these estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation

Some transactions of the Company and its subsidiaries are made in currencies different from their functional currency. Foreign currency gains (losses) on these transactions or balances are recorded in “Other (income) expense, net” when incurred. Net foreign currency transaction losses included in income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures totaled $0.4 million, $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. For non-U.S. subsidiaries, assets and liabilities are translated at period-end exchange rates, and income statement items are translated at the average exchange rates for the period. The local currency for the majority of foreign subsidiaries is considered to be the functional currency and, accordingly, translation adjustments are reported in “Accumulated other comprehensive income”. Foreign currency translation adjustments are one of the components in the calculation of comprehensive net income (loss).

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. At September 30, 2012 and 2011, cash equivalents were $17.5 million and $9.6 million, respectively. Cash equivalents are held at cost which approximates fair value due to their short-term maturities and varying interest rates.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of trade receivables and temporary and long-term cash investments in treasury bills and commercial paper. The Company restricts its investments to U.S. government and corporate securities, and mutual funds that invest in U.S. government securities. The Company’s customers are concentrated in the semiconductor industry, and relatively few customers account for a significant portion of the Company’s revenues. The Company’s top ten largest customers account for approximately 43% of revenues for the year ended September 30, 2012. One of the Company’s customers accounted for 13% of revenues for the year ended September 30, 2012. The Company regularly monitors the creditworthiness of its customers and believes that it has adequately provided for exposure to potential credit losses.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in its existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience. The Company reviews its allowance for doubtful accounts quarterly. Past due balances are reviewed individually for collectibility. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company feels it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. The Company does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined using a standard costing system which approximates cost based on a first-in, first-out method. The Company provides inventory reserves for excess, obsolete or damaged inventory based on changes in customer demand, technology and other economic factors.

Fixed Assets, Intangible Assets and Impairment of Long-lived Assets

Fixed Assets, Intangible Assets and Impairment of Long-lived Assets

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method. Depreciable lives are summarized below:

Buildings	20 - 40 years
Computer equipment and software	2 - 7 years
Machinery and equipment	2 - 10 years
Furniture and fixtures	3 - 10 years

Leasehold improvements and equipment held under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the term of the respective leases. Equipment used for demonstrations to customers is included in machinery and equipment and is depreciated over its estimated useful life. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

The Company has developed software for internal use. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, internal and external labor costs incurred during the application development stage are capitalized. Costs incurred prior to application development and post implementation are expensed as incurred. Training and data conversion costs are expensed as incurred.

When an asset is retired, the cost of the asset disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is included in the determination of operating profit (loss).

As a result of the Company’s acquisitions, the Company has identified general intangible assets other than goodwill. General intangible assets other than goodwill are valued based on estimates of future cash flows and amortized over their estimated useful life.

Patents include capitalized direct costs associated with obtaining patents as well as assets that were acquired as a part of business combinations. Capitalized patent costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the patents. As of September 30, 2012 and 2011, the net book value of the Company’s patents was $0.7 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

Intangibles assets other than goodwill are tested for impairment when indicators of impairment are present. For purposes of this test, long-lived assets are grouped with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. When the Company determines that indicators of potential impairment exist, the next step of the impairment test requires that the potentially impaired long-lived asset group is tested for recoverability. The test for recoverability compares the undiscounted future cash flows of the long-lived asset group to its carrying value. The future cash flow period is based on the future service life of the primary asset within the long-lived asset group. If the carrying values of the long-lived asset group exceed the future cash flows, the assets are considered to be potentially impaired. The next step in the impairment process is to determine the fair value of the individual net assets within the long-lived asset group. If the aggregate fair values of the individual net assets of the group are less than their carrying values, an impairment is recorded equal to the excess of the aggregate carrying value of the group over the aggregate fair value. The loss is allocated to each asset within the group based on their relative carrying values, with no asset reduced below its fair value.

The amortizable lives of intangible assets, including those identified as a result of purchase accounting, are summarized as follows:

Patents	7 - 15 years
Completed technology	2 - 10 years
License agreements	5 years
Trademarks and trade names	2 - 6 years
Non-competition agreements	3 - 5 years
Customer relationships	4 - 13 years

Goodwill

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of the businesses the Company acquired. The Company performs an annual impairment test of its goodwill on September 30 of each fiscal year unless interim indicators of impairment exist (see Note 7).

The testing of goodwill for impairment is performed at a level referred to as a reporting unit. A reporting unit is either the “operating segment level” or one level below, which is referred to as a “component.” The level at which the impairment test is performed requires an assessment as to whether the operations below the operating segment constitute a self-sustaining business, testing is generally required to be performed at this level. The Company currently has three reporting units that have goodwill, including two reporting units that are part of the Brooks Product Solutions operating segment and the sole reporting unit included in the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment.

The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units using an Income Approach, specifically the Discounted Cash Flow Method (“DCF Method”). The DCF Method includes five year future cash flow projections, which are discounted to present value, and an estimate of terminal values, which are also discounted to present value. Terminal values represent the present value an investor would pay today for the rights to the cash flows of the business for the years subsequent to the discrete cash flow projection period. The Company considers the DCF Method to be the most appropriate valuation indicator as the DCF analyses are based on management’s long-term financial projections. Given the dynamic nature of the cyclical semiconductor equipment market, management’s projections as of the valuation date are considered more objective since other market metrics for peer companies fluctuate over the cycle. However, the Company also uses market-based valuation techniques to test the reasonableness of the fair values determined by the DCF Method and compares the aggregate fair value of its reporting units and corporate assets to its overall market capitalization.

Goodwill impairment testing is a two-step process. The first step of the goodwill impairment test, used to identify potential impairment, compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its respective carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is not considered impaired. If the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds the fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test must be completed to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any. The second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying value of goodwill. The implied fair value is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit, the excess of the fair value over amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill determined in this step is compared to the carrying value of goodwill. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying value of goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the difference.

Pension Plans

Pension Plans

The Company’s U.S. defined benefit pension plan was fully settled in September 2012 but it continues to sponsor two non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans. The cost and obligations of these arrangements are calculated using many assumptions to estimate the benefits that the employee earns while working, the amount of which cannot be completely determined until the benefit payments cease. Major assumptions used in the accounting for these employee benefit plans include the discount rate, expected return on plan assets and rate of increase in employee compensation levels. Assumptions are determined based on Company data and appropriate market indicators in consultation with third-party actuaries, and are evaluated each year as of the plans’ measurement date.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Product revenues are associated with the sale of hardware systems, components and spare parts as well as product license revenue. Service revenues are associated with service contracts, repairs, upgrades and field service. Shipping and handling fees, if any, billed to customers are recognized as revenue. The related shipping and handling costs are recognized in cost of sales.

Revenue from product sales that does not include significant customization is recorded upon delivery and transfer of risk of loss to the customer provided there is evidence of an arrangement, fees are fixed or determinable, collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured and, if applicable, customer acceptance criteria have been successfully demonstrated. Customer acceptance provisions include final testing and acceptance carried out prior to shipment. These pre-shipment testing and acceptance procedures ensure that the product meets the published specification requirements before the product is shipped. When significant on site customer acceptance provisions are present in the arrangement, revenue is recognized upon completion of customer acceptance testing.

Revenue from product sales that does include significant customization, which primarily include life science automation systems, is recorded using the percentage of completion method whereby revenue is recorded as work progresses based on a percentage that incurred labor effort to date bear to total projected labor effort. In addition, contracts are reviewed on a regular basis to determine whether a loss exists. A loss will be accrued in the period in which estimated contract revenue is less than the current estimate of total contract costs.

Revenue associated with service agreements is generally recognized ratably over the term of the contract. Revenue from repair services or upgrades of customer-owned equipment is recognized upon completion of the repair effort and upon the shipment of the repaired item back to the customer. In instances where the repair or upgrade includes installation, revenue is recognized when the installation is completed.

Warranty

Warranty

The Company offers warranties on the sales of certain of its products and records an accrual for estimated future claims. Such accruals are based upon historical experience and management’s estimate of the level of future claims.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development costs are charged to expense when incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures compensation cost for all employee stock awards at fair value on date of grant and recognizes compensation expense over the service period for awards expected to vest. The fair value of restricted stock is determined based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, and the fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. Such value is recognized as expense over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires significant judgment. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. In addition, for stock-based awards where vesting is dependent upon achieving certain operating performance goals, the Company estimates the likelihood of achieving the performance goals. Actual results, and future changes in estimates, may differ substantially from the Company’s current estimates.

During the year ended September 30, 2012, the Company granted 1,527,000 shares of restricted stock to members of senior management of which 406,750 shares vest over the service period and the remaining 1,120,250 shares vest upon the achievement of certain financial performance goals which will be measured at the end of fiscal year 2014. Total compensation expense on these awards is a maximum of $18.1 million, net of cancellations. Awards subject to service criteria are being recorded to expense ratably over the vesting period. Awards subject to performance criteria are expensed over the related service period when attainment of the performance condition is considered probable. The total amount of compensation recorded will depend on the Company’s achievement against performance targets. Changes to the projected attainment against performance targets during the vesting period may result in an adjustment to the amount of cumulative compensation recorded as of the date the estimate is revised.

During the three months ended December 31, 2011, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer was granted an award of 100,000 cash settled phantom units, which are subject to the same vesting terms as the performance-based restricted stock units. The Company’s consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2012 includes a liability of approximately $78,000 for this potential cash payment. The Company incurred an expense of $78,000 for the year ended September 30, 2012 in connection with the cash settled phantom unit award.

The following table reflects compensation expense recorded during the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Stock options	$	—	$	—	$	170
Restricted stock		8,098		6,248		5,944
Employee stock purchase plan		549		504		453
	$	8,647	$	6,752	$	6,567

Valuation Assumptions for Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchase Plans

Valuation Assumptions for Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchase Plans

No stock options were granted for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

The fair value of shares issued under the employee stock purchase plan was estimated on the commencement date of each offering period using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012	2011	2010
Risk-free interest rate	0.1%	0.2%	0.2%
Volatility	45%	50%	58%
Expected life	6 months	6 months	6 months
Dividend yield	2.75% - 3.30%	0% - 3%	0%

Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities of the Company’s common stock; the expected life represents the weighted average period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding giving consideration to vesting schedules and the Company’s historical exercise patterns; and the risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected life of the option. Dividend yields are projected based on the Company’s history of dividends declared, and management’s intention for future dividend declarations.

Equity Incentive Plans

Equity Incentive Plans

The Company’s equity incentive plans are intended to attract and retain employees and to provide an incentive for them to assist the Company to achieve long-range performance goals and to enable them to participate in the long-term growth of the Company. The equity incentive plans consist of plans under which employees may be granted options to purchase shares of the Company’s stock, restricted stock and other equity incentives. Stock options generally had a vesting period of four years and are exercisable for a period not to exceed seven years from the date of issuance. Restricted stock awards generally vest over two to four years, with certain restricted stock awards vesting immediately. At September 30, 2012, a total of 3,848,477 shares were reserved and available for the issuance of awards under the plans.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company records income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company’s consolidated financial statements contain certain deferred tax assets which have arisen primarily as a result of operating losses, as well as other temporary differences between financial and tax accounting. A valuation allowance is established if the likelihood of realization of the deferred tax assets is not considered more likely than not based on an evaluation of positive and negative evidence and the extent to which that evidence is objectively verifiable. Significant management judgment is required in determining the Company’s provision for income taxes, the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against those net deferred tax assets. The Company evaluates the weight of all available evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred income tax assets will not be realized.

The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We recognize liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. If we determine that a tax position will more likely than not be sustained on audit, the second step requires us to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as we have to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. We re-evaluate these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors such as changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, new audit activity, and effectively settled issues. Determining whether an uncertain tax position is effectively settled requires judgment. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common equivalent shares assumed outstanding during the period. Shares used to compute diluted earnings per share exclude common share equivalents if their inclusion would have an anti-dilutive effect.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The carrying amounts of these items reported in the balance sheets approximate their fair value at September 30, 2012 and 2011. In the case of marketable securities, measurement is based on quoted market prices.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made in the 2011 and 2010 consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2012 presentation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to the accounting requirements of goodwill, which requires a qualitative approach to considering impairment for a reporting unit with zero or negative carrying value. On October 1, 2011 the Company adopted this standard, which had no impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In December 2010, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting requirements of business combinations, which establishes accounting and reporting standards for pro forma revenue and earnings of the combined entity for the current and comparable reporting periods. On October 1, 2011 the Company adopted this standard, which had no impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In May 2011, the FASB issued updated accounting guidance related to fair value measurements and disclosures that result in common fair value measurements and disclosures between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. This guidance includes amendments which change the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. On January 1, 2012 the Company adopted this standard, which had no impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance for presentation of comprehensive income. Under the amended guidance, a company may present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This authoritative guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholder’s equity. This amendment is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Other than a change in presentation, the adoption of this guidance will not have an impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In September 2011, the FASB issued revised guidance intended to simplify how an entity tests goodwill for impairment. The amendment will allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. An entity no longer will be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. On October 1, 2011 the Company adopted this standard, which had no impact on its financial position or results of operations.

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Segment and Geographic Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Segment	Sep. 30, 2011 Entity	Sep. 30, 2011 Brooks Product Solutions	Sep. 30, 2010 Brooks Product Solutions	Sep. 30, 2011 Contract Manufacturing	Sep. 30, 2010 Contract Manufacturing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments	4
Number of companies acquired		2
Intercompany sales			$ 49.2	$ 62.9	$ 10.7	$ 12.5

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Assets and Liabilities of RTS Recorded at Fair Values As of Acquisition (Detail) (RTS Life Science Limited, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 01, 2011
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 3,156
Inventory	1,668
Other current assets	1,008
Property, plant and equipment	860
Goodwill	3,556
Accounts payable	(1,397)
Deferred revenue	(5,232)
Other current liabilities	(2,403)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired	3,381
Completed technology
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Identifiable intangible assets	1,524
Customer relationships
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Identifiable intangible assets	577
Trademarks and trade names
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions [Line Items]
Identifiable intangible assets	$ 64

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Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Future Minimum Lease Commitments on Non-cancelable Operating Leases, Lease Income and Sublease Income

Future minimum lease commitments on non-cancelable operating leases are as follows (in thousands):

	Operating Leases
Year ended September 30, 2013	$	6,694
2014		4,871
2015		2,825
2016		1,298
2017		835
Thereafter		2,248
	$	18,771

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Summary of Depreciable Lives

 Depreciable lives are summarized below:

Buildings	20 - 40 years
Computer equipment and software	2 - 7 years
Machinery and equipment	2 - 10 years
Furniture and fixtures	3 - 10 years

Summary of Amortizable Lives of Intangible Assets

The amortizable lives of intangible assets, including those identified as a result of purchase accounting, are summarized as follows:

Patents	7 - 15 years
Completed technology	2 - 10 years
License agreements	5 years
Trademarks and trade names	2 - 6 years
Non-competition agreements	3 - 5 years
Customer relationships	4 - 13 years

Compensation Expense

The following table reflects compensation expense recorded during the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Stock options	$	—	$	—	$	170
Restricted stock		8,098		6,248		5,944
Employee stock purchase plan		549		504		453
	$	8,647	$	6,752	$	6,567

Fair Value of Shares Issued under Employee Stock Purchase Plan Estimated using Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model

The fair value of shares issued under the employee stock purchase plan was estimated on the commencement date of each offering period using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012	2011	2010
Risk-free interest rate	0.1%	0.2%	0.2%
Volatility	45%	50%	58%
Expected life	6 months	6 months	6 months
Dividend yield	2.75% - 3.30%	0% - 3%	0%

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Acquisitions and Divestiture (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Unaudited Pro Forma Summary of Consolidated Information on Acquisition of Nexus

The following unaudited pro forma summary presents consolidated information of the Company as if the acquisition of Nexus occurred on October 1, 2009 (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2011		2010
Revenue	$	720,989	$	625,128
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.		124,114		70,205

Acquisition Of Celigo

Assets and Liabilities of Business Acquired Recorded at Fair Values as of Acquisition Date

The assets and liabilities associated with Celigo were recorded at their fair values as of the acquisition date and the amounts follow (in thousands):

Accounts receivable	$	897
Inventory		1,139
Property, plant and equipment		202
Completed technology		3,540
Trademarks and trade names		70
Goodwill		3,713
Accounts payable		(13	)
Deferred revenue		(326	)
Other current liabilities		(6	)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired	$	9,216

Acquisition Of Nexus

Assets and Liabilities of Business Acquired Recorded at Fair Values as of Acquisition Date

The assets and liabilities of Nexus were recorded at their fair values as of the acquisition date as follows (in thousands):

Accounts receivable	$	5,708
Inventory		7,481
Other current assets		4,522
Property, plant and equipment		12,527
Completed technology		6,000
Customer relationships		31,000
Trademarks and trade names		100
Goodwill		33,033
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(6,563	)
Deferred revenue		(3,692	)
Other current liabilities		(1,534	)
Deferred tax liabilities		(2,584	)
Other long-term liabilities		(1,070	)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired	$	84,928

Acquisition Of RTS

Assets and Liabilities of Business Acquired Recorded at Fair Values as of Acquisition Date

The assets and liabilities of RTS were recorded at their fair values as of the acquisition date as follows (in thousands):

Accounts receivable	$	3,156
Inventory		1,668
Other current assets		1,008
Property, plant and equipment		860
Completed technology		1,524
Customer relationships		577
Trademarks and trade names		64
Goodwill		3,556
Accounts payable		(1,397	)
Deferred revenue		(5,232	)
Other current liabilities		(2,403	)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired	$	3,381

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated. Equity investments in which the Company exercises significant influence but does not control and is not the primary beneficiary are accounted for using the equity method.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are associated with accounts receivable, inventories, intangible assets, goodwill, deferred income taxes, warranty obligations and revenue recognized using the percentage of completion method. Although the Company regularly assesses these estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known.

Foreign Currency Translation

Some transactions of the Company and its subsidiaries are made in currencies different from their functional currency. Foreign currency gains (losses) on these transactions or balances are recorded in “Other (income) expense, net” when incurred. Net foreign currency transaction losses included in income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures totaled $0.4 million, $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. For non-U.S. subsidiaries, assets and liabilities are translated at period-end exchange rates, and income statement items are translated at the average exchange rates for the period. The local currency for the majority of foreign subsidiaries is considered to be the functional currency and, accordingly, translation adjustments are reported in “Accumulated other comprehensive income”. Foreign currency translation adjustments are one of the components in the calculation of comprehensive net income (loss).

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. At September 30, 2012 and 2011, cash equivalents were $17.5 million and $9.6 million, respectively. Cash equivalents are held at cost which approximates fair value due to their short-term maturities and varying interest rates.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of trade receivables and temporary and long-term cash investments in treasury bills and commercial paper. The Company restricts its investments to U.S. government and corporate securities, and mutual funds that invest in U.S. government securities. The Company’s customers are concentrated in the semiconductor industry, and relatively few customers account for a significant portion of the Company’s revenues. The Company’s top ten largest customers account for approximately 43% of revenues for the year ended September 30, 2012. One of the Company’s customers accounted for 13% of revenues for the year ended September 30, 2012. The Company regularly monitors the creditworthiness of its customers and believes that it has adequately provided for exposure to potential credit losses.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in its existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience. The Company reviews its allowance for doubtful accounts quarterly. Past due balances are reviewed individually for collectibility. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company feels it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. The Company does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined using a standard costing system which approximates cost based on a first-in, first-out method. The Company provides inventory reserves for excess, obsolete or damaged inventory based on changes in customer demand, technology and other economic factors.

Fixed Assets, Intangible Assets and Impairment of Long-lived Assets

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method. Depreciable lives are summarized below:

Buildings	20 - 40 years
Computer equipment and software	2 - 7 years
Machinery and equipment	2 - 10 years
Furniture and fixtures	3 - 10 years

Leasehold improvements and equipment held under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the term of the respective leases. Equipment used for demonstrations to customers is included in machinery and equipment and is depreciated over its estimated useful life. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

The Company has developed software for internal use. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, internal and external labor costs incurred during the application development stage are capitalized. Costs incurred prior to application development and post implementation are expensed as incurred. Training and data conversion costs are expensed as incurred.

When an asset is retired, the cost of the asset disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is included in the determination of operating profit (loss).

As a result of the Company’s acquisitions, the Company has identified general intangible assets other than goodwill. General intangible assets other than goodwill are valued based on estimates of future cash flows and amortized over their estimated useful life.

Patents include capitalized direct costs associated with obtaining patents as well as assets that were acquired as a part of business combinations. Capitalized patent costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the patents. As of September 30, 2012 and 2011, the net book value of the Company’s patents was $0.7 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

Intangibles assets other than goodwill are tested for impairment when indicators of impairment are present. For purposes of this test, long-lived assets are grouped with other assets and liabilities at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. When the Company determines that indicators of potential impairment exist, the next step of the impairment test requires that the potentially impaired long-lived asset group is tested for recoverability. The test for recoverability compares the undiscounted future cash flows of the long-lived asset group to its carrying value. The future cash flow period is based on the future service life of the primary asset within the long-lived asset group. If the carrying values of the long-lived asset group exceed the future cash flows, the assets are considered to be potentially impaired. The next step in the impairment process is to determine the fair value of the individual net assets within the long-lived asset group. If the aggregate fair values of the individual net assets of the group are less than their carrying values, an impairment is recorded equal to the excess of the aggregate carrying value of the group over the aggregate fair value. The loss is allocated to each asset within the group based on their relative carrying values, with no asset reduced below its fair value.

The amortizable lives of intangible assets, including those identified as a result of purchase accounting, are summarized as follows:

Patents	7 - 15 years
Completed technology	2 - 10 years
License agreements	5 years
Trademarks and trade names	2 - 6 years
Non-competition agreements	3 - 5 years
Customer relationships	4 - 13 years

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of the businesses the Company acquired. The Company performs an annual impairment test of its goodwill on September 30 of each fiscal year unless interim indicators of impairment exist (see Note 7).

The testing of goodwill for impairment is performed at a level referred to as a reporting unit. A reporting unit is either the “operating segment level” or one level below, which is referred to as a “component.” The level at which the impairment test is performed requires an assessment as to whether the operations below the operating segment constitute a self-sustaining business, testing is generally required to be performed at this level. The Company currently has three reporting units that have goodwill, including two reporting units that are part of the Brooks Product Solutions operating segment and the sole reporting unit included in the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment.

The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units using an Income Approach, specifically the Discounted Cash Flow Method (“DCF Method”). The DCF Method includes five year future cash flow projections, which are discounted to present value, and an estimate of terminal values, which are also discounted to present value. Terminal values represent the present value an investor would pay today for the rights to the cash flows of the business for the years subsequent to the discrete cash flow projection period. The Company considers the DCF Method to be the most appropriate valuation indicator as the DCF analyses are based on management’s long-term financial projections. Given the dynamic nature of the cyclical semiconductor equipment market, management’s projections as of the valuation date are considered more objective since other market metrics for peer companies fluctuate over the cycle. However, the Company also uses market-based valuation techniques to test the reasonableness of the fair values determined by the DCF Method and compares the aggregate fair value of its reporting units and corporate assets to its overall market capitalization.

Goodwill impairment testing is a two-step process. The first step of the goodwill impairment test, used to identify potential impairment, compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its respective carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is not considered impaired. If the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds the fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test must be completed to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any. The second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying value of goodwill. The implied fair value is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit, the excess of the fair value over amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill determined in this step is compared to the carrying value of goodwill. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying value of goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the difference.

Pension Plans

The Company’s U.S. defined benefit pension plan was fully settled in September 2012 but it continues to sponsor two non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans. The cost and obligations of these arrangements are calculated using many assumptions to estimate the benefits that the employee earns while working, the amount of which cannot be completely determined until the benefit payments cease. Major assumptions used in the accounting for these employee benefit plans include the discount rate, expected return on plan assets and rate of increase in employee compensation levels. Assumptions are determined based on Company data and appropriate market indicators in consultation with third-party actuaries, and are evaluated each year as of the plans’ measurement date.

Revenue Recognition

Product revenues are associated with the sale of hardware systems, components and spare parts as well as product license revenue. Service revenues are associated with service contracts, repairs, upgrades and field service. Shipping and handling fees, if any, billed to customers are recognized as revenue. The related shipping and handling costs are recognized in cost of sales.

Revenue from product sales that does not include significant customization is recorded upon delivery and transfer of risk of loss to the customer provided there is evidence of an arrangement, fees are fixed or determinable, collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured and, if applicable, customer acceptance criteria have been successfully demonstrated. Customer acceptance provisions include final testing and acceptance carried out prior to shipment. These pre-shipment testing and acceptance procedures ensure that the product meets the published specification requirements before the product is shipped. When significant on site customer acceptance provisions are present in the arrangement, revenue is recognized upon completion of customer acceptance testing.

Revenue from product sales that does include significant customization, which primarily include life science automation systems, is recorded using the percentage of completion method whereby revenue is recorded as work progresses based on a percentage that incurred labor effort to date bear to total projected labor effort. In addition, contracts are reviewed on a regular basis to determine whether a loss exists. A loss will be accrued in the period in which estimated contract revenue is less than the current estimate of total contract costs.

Revenue associated with service agreements is generally recognized ratably over the term of the contract. Revenue from repair services or upgrades of customer-owned equipment is recognized upon completion of the repair effort and upon the shipment of the repaired item back to the customer. In instances where the repair or upgrade includes installation, revenue is recognized when the installation is completed.

Warranty

The Company offers warranties on the sales of certain of its products and records an accrual for estimated future claims. Such accruals are based upon historical experience and management’s estimate of the level of future claims.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development costs are charged to expense when incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures compensation cost for all employee stock awards at fair value on date of grant and recognizes compensation expense over the service period for awards expected to vest. The fair value of restricted stock is determined based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, and the fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. Such value is recognized as expense over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires significant judgment. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. In addition, for stock-based awards where vesting is dependent upon achieving certain operating performance goals, the Company estimates the likelihood of achieving the performance goals. Actual results, and future changes in estimates, may differ substantially from the Company’s current estimates.

During the year ended September 30, 2012, the Company granted 1,527,000 shares of restricted stock to members of senior management of which 406,750 shares vest over the service period and the remaining 1,120,250 shares vest upon the achievement of certain financial performance goals which will be measured at the end of fiscal year 2014. Total compensation expense on these awards is a maximum of $18.1 million, net of cancellations. Awards subject to service criteria are being recorded to expense ratably over the vesting period. Awards subject to performance criteria are expensed over the related service period when attainment of the performance condition is considered probable. The total amount of compensation recorded will depend on the Company’s achievement against performance targets. Changes to the projected attainment against performance targets during the vesting period may result in an adjustment to the amount of cumulative compensation recorded as of the date the estimate is revised.

During the three months ended December 31, 2011, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer was granted an award of 100,000 cash settled phantom units, which are subject to the same vesting terms as the performance-based restricted stock units. The Company’s consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2012 includes a liability of approximately $78,000 for this potential cash payment. The Company incurred an expense of $78,000 for the year ended September 30, 2012 in connection with the cash settled phantom unit award.

The following table reflects compensation expense recorded during the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Stock options	$	—	$	—	$	170
Restricted stock		8,098		6,248		5,944
Employee stock purchase plan		549		504		453
	$	8,647	$	6,752	$	6,567

Valuation Assumptions for Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchase Plans

No stock options were granted for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

The fair value of shares issued under the employee stock purchase plan was estimated on the commencement date of each offering period using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012	2011	2010
Risk-free interest rate	0.1%	0.2%	0.2%
Volatility	45%	50%	58%
Expected life	6 months	6 months	6 months
Dividend yield	2.75% - 3.30%	0% - 3%	0%

Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities of the Company’s common stock; the expected life represents the weighted average period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding giving consideration to vesting schedules and the Company’s historical exercise patterns; and the risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected life of the option. Dividend yields are projected based on the Company’s history of dividends declared, and management’s intention for future dividend declarations.

Equity Incentive Plans

The Company’s equity incentive plans are intended to attract and retain employees and to provide an incentive for them to assist the Company to achieve long-range performance goals and to enable them to participate in the long-term growth of the Company. The equity incentive plans consist of plans under which employees may be granted options to purchase shares of the Company’s stock, restricted stock and other equity incentives. Stock options generally had a vesting period of four years and are exercisable for a period not to exceed seven years from the date of issuance. Restricted stock awards generally vest over two to four years, with certain restricted stock awards vesting immediately. At September 30, 2012, a total of 3,848,477 shares were reserved and available for the issuance of awards under the plans.

Income Taxes

The Company records income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company’s consolidated financial statements contain certain deferred tax assets which have arisen primarily as a result of operating losses, as well as other temporary differences between financial and tax accounting. A valuation allowance is established if the likelihood of realization of the deferred tax assets is not considered more likely than not based on an evaluation of positive and negative evidence and the extent to which that evidence is objectively verifiable. Significant management judgment is required in determining the Company’s provision for income taxes, the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against those net deferred tax assets. The Company evaluates the weight of all available evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred income tax assets will not be realized.

The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. We recognize liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. If we determine that a tax position will more likely than not be sustained on audit, the second step requires us to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as we have to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. We re-evaluate these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors such as changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, new audit activity, and effectively settled issues. Determining whether an uncertain tax position is effectively settled requires judgment. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common equivalent shares assumed outstanding during the period. Shares used to compute diluted earnings per share exclude common share equivalents if their inclusion would have an anti-dilutive effect.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The carrying amounts of these items reported in the balance sheets approximate their fair value at September 30, 2012 and 2011. In the case of marketable securities, measurement is based on quoted market prices.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made in the 2011 and 2010 consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2012 presentation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to the accounting requirements of goodwill, which requires a qualitative approach to considering impairment for a reporting unit with zero or negative carrying value. On October 1, 2011 the Company adopted this standard, which had no impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In December 2010, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting requirements of business combinations, which establishes accounting and reporting standards for pro forma revenue and earnings of the combined entity for the current and comparable reporting periods. On October 1, 2011 the Company adopted this standard, which had no impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In May 2011, the FASB issued updated accounting guidance related to fair value measurements and disclosures that result in common fair value measurements and disclosures between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. This guidance includes amendments which change the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. On January 1, 2012 the Company adopted this standard, which had no impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance for presentation of comprehensive income. Under the amended guidance, a company may present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This authoritative guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholder’s equity. This amendment is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Other than a change in presentation, the adoption of this guidance will not have an impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In September 2011, the FASB issued revised guidance intended to simplify how an entity tests goodwill for impairment. The amendment will allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. An entity no longer will be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. On October 1, 2011 the Company adopted this standard, which had no impact on its financial position or results of operations.

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Marketable Securities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Summary of Marketable Securities Including Accrued Interest Receivable

The following is a summary of marketable securities (included in short and long-term marketable securities in the consolidated balance sheets), including accrued interest receivable, as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
September 30, 2012:
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies	$	41,202	$	15	$	(2	)	$	41,215
Corporate securities		64,102		138		(16	)		64,224
Mortgage-backed securities		1,310		42		(1	)		1,351
Other debt securities		13		—		—			13
Municipal securities		34,777		25		(1	)		34,801
Bank certificate of deposits		3,987		1		—			3,988
	$	145,391	$	221	$	(20	)	$	145,592
September 30, 2011:
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies	$	53,342	$	17	$	(21	)	$	53,338
Corporate securities		66,045		50		(203	)		65,892
Mortgage-backed securities		1,576		26		(53	)		1,549
Other debt securities		434		—		—			434
Municipal securities		24,125		9		(17	)		24,117
Bank certificate of deposits		1,655		—		—			1,655
	$	147,177	$	102	$	(294	)	$	146,985

Fair Value of Marketable Securities by Contractual Maturity

The fair value of the marketable securities at September 30, 2012 by contractual maturity, are shown below. The following expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because the issuers of the securities may have the right to prepay obligations without prepayment penalties (in thousands):

	Fair Value
Due in one year or less	$	85,646
Due after one year through five years		56,148
Due after ten years		3,798
	$	145,592

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Postretirement Benefits - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012 Helix Plan	Sep. 30, 2012 Helix Plan	Sep. 30, 2012 Nexus Plan	Sep. 30, 2011 Nexus Plan	Jul. 25, 2011 Nexus Plan Risk benefits (disability and death) Y	Jul. 25, 2011 Nexus Plan Pension plans Y	Sep. 30, 2012 Taiwan Plan Assets	Sep. 30, 2012 Worldwide Defined Contribution Plans	Sep. 30, 2011 Worldwide Defined Contribution Plans	Sep. 30, 2010 Worldwide Defined Contribution Plans	Sep. 30, 2012 Market Related Valuation of Assets	Sep. 30, 2012 Other actuarial losses
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Settlements paid	$ 18,928,000			$ 6,400,000
Pension settlement	8,937,000			8,900,000
Minimum age for employees to be admitted into plan								17	24
Accumulated other comprehensive income, unrecognized net actuarial losses	1,100,000	8,900,000												44,000	1,026,000
Net actuarial loss in accumulated other comprehensive income that is expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic pension cost	6,000
Investment gains or losses recognition period, years														5 years
Discount rate	1.89%	3.76%	4.75%			1.90%	2.30%
Expected return on assets	2.18%	4.68%	8.00%
Fair value of plan assets	8,015,000	20,173,000	9,990,000			7,500,000				500,000
Voluntary contribution				6,400,000
Required minimum contributions	1,200,000				700,000
Expected contribution to the Plan to meet minimum funding targets	500,000
Employer contributions	$ 7,684,000	$ 778,000									$ 3,100,000	$ 2,900,000	$ 2,600,000

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Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended
	Nov. 07, 2012 Dividend Declared	Oct. 29, 2012 Crossing Automation Inc.
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Merger consideration paid		$ 63.1
Cash dividend declared, per share	$ 0.08
Cash dividend declared, payment date	Dec. 28, 2012
Cash dividend declared, record date	Dec. 07, 2012

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Stock Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Aggregate Stock Option Activity

Aggregate stock option activity for all the above plans for the year ended September 30, 2012 is as follows:

	2012
	Shares			Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term		Weighted Average Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (In Thousands)
Options outstanding at beginning of year		370,137				$	14.57
Exercised		(13,320	)			$	7.75
Forfeited/expired		(163,635	)			$	16.84
Options outstanding at end of year		193,182			0.4 years	$	13.11	$	3
Vested at end of year		193,182			0.4 years	$	13.11	$	3
Options exercisable at end of year		193,182			0.4 years	$	13.11	$	3
Options available for future grant		3,848,477

Restricted Stock Activity

A summary of the status of the Company’s restricted stock as of September 30, 2012 and changes during the year is as follows:

	2012
	Shares			Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding at beginning of year		1,590,989		$	10.15
Awards granted		1,887,419		$	11.80
Awards vested		(597,962	)	$	9.67
Awards canceled		(147,998	)	$	11.54
Outstanding at end of year		2,732,448		$	10.47

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Assets and Liabilities of Celigo at Fair Value as of Acquisition Date (Detail) (CeligoCell Cytometer product line, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 30, 2011
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 897
Inventory	1,139
Property, plant and equipment	202
Goodwill	3,713
Accounts payable	(13)
Deferred revenue	(326)
Other current liabilities	(6)
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired	9,216
Completed technology
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Identifiable intangible assets	3,540
Trademarks and trade names
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Identifiable intangible assets	$ 70

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Condensed Balance Sheets, Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Current assets	$ 347,489	$ 320,524
Current liabilities	81,191	95,739
Shareholders' equity	648,666	518,347
Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Current assets	32,046	44,211
Noncurrent assets	587	504
Current liabilities	23,801	35,533
Noncurrent liabilities	504	397
Shareholders' equity	$ 8,328	$ 8,785

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 54,639	$ 58,833
Restricted cash	763	1,293
Marketable securities	85,646	65,695
Accounts receivable, net	78,855	76,701
Inventories	102,985	107,654
Deferred tax assets	15,531
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	9,070	10,348
Total current assets	347,489	320,524
Property, plant and equipment, net	64,478	68,596
Long-term marketable securities	59,946	81,290
Long-term deferred tax assets	104,626
Goodwill	88,440	84,727
Intangible assets, net	39,400	44,314
Equity investment in joint ventures	31,428	34,950
Other assets	6,153	2,557
Total assets	741,960	636,958
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	28,988	40,199
Deferred revenue	9,986	14,073
Accrued warranty and retrofit costs	7,329	7,438
Accrued compensation and benefits	14,118	17,288
Accrued restructuring costs	2,098	293
Accrued income taxes payable	1,699	4,015
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	16,973	12,433
Total current liabilities	81,191	95,739
Income taxes payable	6,356	11,728
Long-term pension liability	1,688	7,161
Other long-term liabilities	3,424	3,394
Total liabilities	92,659	118,022
Commitments and contingencies (Note 20)
Equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and 2011
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 125,000,000 shares authorized, 79,790,557 shares issued and 66,328,688 shares outstanding at September 30, 2012, 79,737,189 shares issued and 66,275,320 shares outstanding at September 30, 2011	798	797
Additional paid-in capital	1,817,706	1,809,287
Accumulated other comprehensive income	23,642	17,324
Treasury stock at cost, 13,461,869 shares at September 30, 2012 and 2011	(200,956)	(200,956)
Accumulated deficit	(992,524)	(1,108,105)
Total Brooks Automation, Inc. stockholders' equity	648,666	518,347
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	635	589
Total equity	649,301	518,936
Total liabilities and equity	$ 741,960	$ 636,958

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Revised Consolidated Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity investments in joint ventures	$ 31,428	$ 34,950
Total assets	741,960	636,958
Accumulated other comprehensive income	23,642	17,324
Accumulated deficit	(992,524)	(1,108,105)
Total Brooks Automation, Inc. stockholders' equity	648,666	518,347
Total equity	649,301	518,936	388,169	317,870
Total liabilities and equity	741,960	636,958
As Previously Reported
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity investments in joint ventures		34,612
Total assets		636,620
Accumulated other comprehensive income		19,480
Accumulated deficit		(1,110,599)
Total Brooks Automation, Inc. stockholders' equity		518,009
Total equity		518,598
Total liabilities and equity		636,620
Adjustment
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity investments in joint ventures		338
Total assets		338
Accumulated other comprehensive income		(2,156)
Accumulated deficit		2,494
Total Brooks Automation, Inc. stockholders' equity		338
Total equity		338
Total liabilities and equity		$ 338

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Stock Option Activity (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Number of Stock Options
Options outstanding at beginning of year	370,137
Exercised	(13,320)
Forfeited/expired	(163,635)
Options outstanding at end of year	193,182
Vested at end of year	193,182
Options exercisable at end of year	193,182
Options available for future grant	3,848,477
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
Options outstanding at end of year	4 months 24 days
Vested at end of year	4 months 24 days
Options exercisable at end of year	4 months 24 days
Weighted Average Price
Options outstanding at beginning of year	$ 14.57
Exercised	$ 7.75
Forfeited/expired	$ 16.84
Options outstanding at end of year	$ 13.11
Vested at end of year	$ 13.11
Options exercisable at end of year	$ 13.11
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Options outstanding at end of year	$ 3
Vested at end of year	3
Options exercisable at end of year	$ 3

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Future Minimum Lease Commitments on Non-Cancelable Operating Leases, Lease Income and Sublease Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating Lease
Year ended September 30, 2013	$ 6,694
2014	4,871
2015	2,825
2016	1,298
2017	835
Thereafter	2,248
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Total	$ 18,771

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Treasury Stock	Total Brooks Automation, Inc. Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries
Beginning Balance at Sep. 30, 2009	$ 317,870	$ 779	$ 1,795,619		$ 14,963	$ (1,293,029)	$ (200,956)	$ 317,376	$ 494
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2009		77,883,173
Shares issued under stock option, restricted stock and purchase plans, net (in shares)		986,158
Shares issued under stock option, restricted stock and purchase plans, net	945	10	935					945
Stock-based compensation	6,567		6,567					6,567
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income	59,884			59,841		59,841		59,841	43
Currency translation adjustments	3,940			3,940	3,940			3,940
Changes in unrealized loss on marketable securities	(36)			(36)	(36)			(36)
Actuarial gain (loss) arising in the year	(1,001)			(1,001)	(1,001)			(1,001)
Comprehensive income				62,744
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2010	388,169	789	1,803,121		17,866	(1,233,188)	(200,956)	387,632	537
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2010		78,869,331
Shares issued under stock option, restricted stock and purchase plans, net (in shares)		867,858
Shares issued under stock option, restricted stock and purchase plans, net	(578)	8	(586)					(578)
Stock-based compensation	6,752		6,752					6,752
Common stock dividend declared	(5,302)					(5,302)		(5,302)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income	130,437			130,385		130,385		130,385	52
Currency translation adjustments	947			947	947			947
Changes in unrealized loss on marketable securities	(445)			(445)	(445)			(445)
Actuarial gain (loss) arising in the year	(1,044)			(1,044)	(1,044)			(1,044)
Comprehensive income				129,843
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	518,936	797	1,809,287		17,324	(1,108,105)	(200,956)	518,347	589
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2011		79,737,189
Shares issued under stock option, restricted stock and purchase plans, net (in shares)		53,368
Shares issued under stock option, restricted stock and purchase plans, net	(227)	1	(228)					(227)
Stock-based compensation	8,647		8,647					8,647
Common stock dividend declared	(21,208)					(21,208)		(21,208)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income	136,835			136,789		136,789		136,789	46
Currency translation adjustments	(2,406)			(2,406)	(2,406)			(2,406)
Changes in unrealized gain on marketable securities	393			393	393			393
Actuarial gain (loss) arising in the year	(606)			(606)	(606)			(606)
Recognition of pension settlement in earnings	8,937			8,937	8,937			8,937
Comprehensive income				143,107
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 649,301	$ 798	$ 1,817,706		$ 23,642	$ (992,524)	$ (200,956)	$ 648,666	$ 635
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012		79,790,557

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Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares authorized	1,000,000	1,000,000
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, share issued
Preferred stock, shares outstanding

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Fair Value of Marketable Securities by Contractual Maturity (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date [Line Items]
Due in one year or less	$ 85,646
Due after one year through five years	56,148
Due after ten years	3,798
Fair Value	$ 145,592	$ 146,985

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Activity Related to Restructuring Accruals (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 293	$ 3,509	$ 7,661
Restructuring expense	3,275	1,036	2,529
Utilization		(4,252)	(6,681)
Ending Balance		293	3,509
Workforce-related
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	293		1,372
Restructuring expense	3,275	726	945
Utilization	(1,470)	(433)	(2,317)
Ending Balance	2,098	293
Facilities and other
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Beginning Balance		3,509	6,289
Restructuring expense		310	1,584
Utilization		(3,819)	(4,364)
Ending Balance			$ 3,509

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Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Components of Goodwill By Business Segment

The components of the Company’s goodwill by business segment at September 30, 2012 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):

	Brooks Product Solutions			Brooks Global Services			Brooks Life Science Systems		Contract Manufacturing			Other			Total
Gross goodwill at September 30, 2010	$	485,844		$	151,238		$	—	$	18,593		$	7,421		$	663,096
Acquisitions and adjustments during fiscal 2011		—			—			36,589		—			—			36,589
Gross goodwill at September 30, 2011		485,844			151,238			36,589		18,593			7,421			699,685
Acquisitions and adjustments during fiscal 2012		—			—			3,713		—			—			3,713
Gross goodwill at September 30, 2012	$	485,844		$	151,238		$	40,302	$	18,593		$	7,421		$	703,398
Accumulated goodwill impairments at September 30, 2010	$	(437,706	)	$	(151,238	)	$	—	$	(18,593	)	$	(7,421	)	$	(614,958	)
Impairments recorded during fiscal 2011		—			—			—		—			—			—
Accumulated goodwill impairments at September 30, 2011		(437,706	)		(151,238	)		—		(18,593	)		(7,421	)		(614,958	)
Impairments recorded during fiscal 2012		—			—			—		—			—			—
Accumulated goodwill impairments at September 30, 2012	$	(437,706	)	$	(151,238	)	$	—	$	(18,593	)	$	(7,421	)	$	(614,958	)
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at September 30, 2011	$	48,138		$	—		$	36,589	$	—		$	—		$	84,727
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at September 30, 2012	$	48,138		$	—		$	40,302	$	—		$	—		$	88,440

Components of Identifiable Intangible Assets

Components of the Company’s identifiable intangible assets are as follows (in thousands):

	September 30, 2012						September 30, 2011
	Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net Book Value		Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net Book Value
Patents	$	7,808	$	7,093	$	715	$	7,808	$	6,989	$	819
Completed technology		54,583		42,751		11,832		50,975		39,235		11,740
Trademarks and trade names		4,014		3,880		134		3,941		3,719		222
Customer relationships		48,654		21,935		26,719		49,029		17,496		31,533
	$	115,059	$	75,659	$	39,400	$	111,753	$	67,439	$	44,314

Estimated Future Amortization Expense for Intangible Assets

Estimated future amortization expense for the intangible assets recorded by the Company as of September 30, 2012 is as follows (in millions):

Year ended September 30,
2013	$	6.5
2014		5.8
2015		5.7
2016		5.1
2017		4.5
Thereafter		11.8
	$	39.4

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Components of Goodwill by Business Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Beginning Balance	$ 699,685	$ 663,096
Acquisitions and adjustments during fiscal year	3,713	36,589
Goodwill Ending Balance	703,398	699,685
Accumulated Goodwill Impairments Beginning Balance	(614,958)	(614,958)
Impairments recorded during fiscal year
Accumulated Goodwill Impairments Ending Balance	(614,958)	(614,958)
Goodwill	88,440	84,727
Brooks Product Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Beginning Balance	485,844	485,844
Goodwill Ending Balance	485,844	485,844
Accumulated Goodwill Impairments Beginning Balance	(437,706)	(437,706)
Impairments recorded during fiscal year
Accumulated Goodwill Impairments Ending Balance	(437,706)	(437,706)
Goodwill	48,138	48,138
Brooks Global Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Beginning Balance	151,238	151,238
Goodwill Ending Balance	151,238	151,238
Accumulated Goodwill Impairments Beginning Balance	(151,238)	(151,238)
Impairments recorded during fiscal year
Accumulated Goodwill Impairments Ending Balance	(151,238)	(151,238)
Brooks Life Science Systems
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Beginning Balance	36,589
Acquisitions and adjustments during fiscal year	3,713	36,589
Goodwill Ending Balance	40,302	36,589
Impairments recorded during fiscal year
Goodwill	40,302	36,589
Contract Manufacturing
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Beginning Balance	18,593	18,593
Goodwill Ending Balance	18,593	18,593
Accumulated Goodwill Impairments Beginning Balance	(18,593)	(18,593)
Impairments recorded during fiscal year
Accumulated Goodwill Impairments Ending Balance	(18,593)	(18,593)
Other
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Beginning Balance	7,421	7,421
Goodwill Ending Balance	7,421	7,421
Accumulated Goodwill Impairments Beginning Balance	(7,421)	(7,421)
Impairments recorded during fiscal year
Accumulated Goodwill Impairments Ending Balance	$ (7,421)	$ (7,421)

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Restructuring Costs and Accruals

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Restructuring Costs and Accruals

16.    Restructuring Costs and Accruals

Fiscal 2012 Activities

The Company recorded a restructuring charge of $3.3 million for fiscal year 2012. These charges are related primarily to a series of workforce reductions implemented to improve the Company’s cost structure by eliminating 118 employees. The Brooks Product Solutions segment incurred a severance charge of $1.3 million to eliminate 60 positions; Brooks Global Services segment incurred a severance charge of $1.0 million to eliminate 34 positions, and the Company incurred $0.7 million to eliminate 10 corporate support positions. These workforce reductions were implemented to better align resources with future requirements. The Brooks Life Science Systems segment incurred severance charges of $0.3 million to eliminate 14 positions, mainly due to the consolidation of administrative functions. All unpaid severance charges as of September 30, 2012 will be paid during fiscal year 2013, with a significant majority paid during the first half of fiscal year 2013.

Fiscal 2011 Activities

The Company recorded a charge to operations of $1.0 million in the year ended September 30, 2011 for restructuring costs. Of this amount, $0.7 million related to workforce reductions and $0.3 million related to facility costs. The severance costs are comprised of $0.3 million of severance for the elimination of 19 employees, including 13 employees in the Brooks Life Science Systems segment resulting from the consolidation of certain functions as the operations of RTS and Nexus were combined into one operating segment, and $0.4 million of adjustments for contingent severance arrangements for corporate management positions eliminated in prior periods. The facility costs relate to facilities exited in previous years. The costs for these exited facilities ended as of September 30, 2011.

Fiscal 2010 Activities

The Company recorded a charge to operations of $2.5 million in the year ended September 30, 2010 for restructuring costs. Of this amount, $0.9 million related to workforce reductions and $1.6 million related to facility costs. The severance costs primarily included adjustments for contingent severance arrangements for corporate management positions eliminated in prior periods. The facility costs included $0.4 million to amortize the deferred discount on multi-year facility restructuring liabilities.

The activity related to the Company’s restructuring accruals is below (in thousands):

	Fiscal 2012 Activity
	Balance September  30, 2011		Expense		Utilization			Balance September  30, 2012
Workforce-related	$	293	$	3,275	$	(1,470	)	$	2,098

	Fiscal 2011 Activity
	Balance September  30, 2010		Expense		Utilization			Balance September  30, 2011
Facilities and other	$	3,509	$	310	$	(3,819	)	$	—
Workforce-related		—		726		(433	)		293
	$	3,509	$	1,036	$	(4,252	)	$	293

	Fiscal 2010 Activity
	Balance September  30, 2009		Expense		Utilization			Balance September  30, 2010
Facilities	$	6,289	$	1,584	$	(4,364	)	$	3,509
Workforce-related		1,372		945		(2,317	)		—
	$	7,661	$	2,529	$	(6,681	)	$	3,509

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Earnings Per Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Reconciliation of Weighted Average Shares Outstanding for Calculating Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

Below is a reconciliation of weighted average common shares outstanding for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$	136,789	$	130,385	$	59,841
Weighted average common shares outstanding used in computing basic earnings per share		65,128		64,549		63,777
Dilutive common stock options and restricted stock awards		594		454		397
Weighted average common shares outstanding for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share		65,722		65,003		64,174
Basic net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	2.10	$	2.02	$	0.94
Diluted net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	2.08	$	2.01	$	0.93

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Restructuring Costs and Accruals - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011 Employee	Sep. 30, 2010
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	$ 3,275,000	$ 1,036,000	$ 2,529,000
Number of employees impacted by workforce reductions		19
Severance cost		300,000
Brooks Life Science Systems
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of employees impacted by workforce reductions		13
Workforce-related
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	3,275,000	726,000	945,000
Number of employees impacted by workforce reductions	118
Workforce-related | Brooks Product Solutions
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,300,000
Number of employees impacted by workforce reductions	60
Workforce-related | Brooks Global Services
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	1,000,000
Number of employees impacted by workforce reductions	34
Workforce-related | Brooks Life Science Systems
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	300,000
Number of employees impacted by workforce reductions	14
Workforce-related | Corporate Support functions
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	700,000
Number of employees impacted by workforce reductions	10
Facilities and other
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		310,000	1,584,000
Corporate management
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance cost		400,000
Deferred discount on multi-year facility restructuring liabilities
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			$ 400,000

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Significant Customers

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Significant Customers

18.    Significant Customers

The Company had one customer that accounted for more than 10% of revenues, at 13%, in the year ended September 30, 2012. The Company had two customers that each accounted for more than 10% of revenues, at 15% and 13%, respectively, in the year ended September 30, 2011. The Company had three customers that each accounted for more than 10% of revenues, at 21%, 15% and 10%, respectively, in the year ended September 30, 2010. The Company did not have any customers that accounted for more than 10% of its accounts receivable balance at September 30, 2012 and 2011.

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Investment in Affiliates - Additional information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures	$ 2,133,000	$ 4,815,000	$ 1,074,000
ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures	2,000,000	4,300,000	1,000,000
Management fee payments received	1,000,000	1,100,000	700,000
Charges for products or services	800,000	400,000	300,000
Joint venture interest, percentage	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%
Accounts payable for unpaid products and services	100,000	100,000
Cash dividend received	5,100,000	2,400,000
Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures	100,000	500,000	100,000
Charges for products or services	500,000	300,000	200,000
Joint venture interest, percentage	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%
Accounts payable for unpaid products and services	100,000	100,000
Revenues earned from joint ventures	8,000,000	9,600,000	13,500,000
Amount due from joint ventures	$ 2,000,000	$ 2,200,000

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Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Activity (Detail) (Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance at Beginning of Period	$ 617	$ 491	$ 719
Provisions	367		125
Reversals of Bad Debt Expense	(130)		(192)
Write-offs and Adjustments	(3)	126	(161)
Balance at End of Period	$ 851	$ 617	$ 491

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Nature of the Business

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Nature of the Business

1. Nature of the Business

Brooks Automation, Inc. (“Brooks” or the “Company”) is a leading worldwide provider of automation, vacuum and instrumentation solutions for multiple markets including semiconductor manufacturing, technology device manufacturing and life sciences. The Company’s technologies, engineering competencies and global service capabilities provide customers speed to market and ensure high uptime and rapid response, which equate to superior value in their mission-critical controlled environments. Since 1978, the Company has been a leading partner to the global semiconductor manufacturing markets and through product development initiatives and strategic business acquisitions Brooks has expanded its reach to meet the needs of customers in technology markets adjacent to semiconductor and life sciences.

Revision of Prior Period Financial Statements

In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company identified prior period errors related to the accounting for its equity method investment in ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc. (“UCI”). Specifically, the Company determined that certain subsidiaries of UCI were not fully included in the results of UCI reported to the Company. Therefore the Company’s portion of these subsidiaries of the joint venture were not reflected within equity in earnings of joint ventures in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations or within equity investment in joint ventures in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for the quarterly and annual periods beginning in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 through the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012. In evaluating whether the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements were materially misstated, the Company considered the guidance in Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) Topic 250, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections,” ASC Topic 250-10-S99-1, “Assessing Materiality,” and ASC Topic 250-10-S99-2, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements.”

The Company concluded these errors were not material individually or in the aggregate to any of the prior reporting periods, and therefore, amendments of previously filed reports were not required. The Company evaluated the cumulative error in relation to the results for the year ended September 30, 2012 and concluded revision of prior periods was appropriate. As such, the revisions for these corrections to the applicable prior periods are reflected in the financial information herein and will be reflected in future filings containing such financial information. The revision had no net impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows for any prior period.

The following table summarizes the effects of the error on the annual prior period financial statements (in thousands, except per share data):

Revised Consolidated Balance Sheet Amounts

	As of September 30, 2011
	As Previously Reported			Adjustment			As Revised
Equity investments in joint ventures	$	34,612		$	338		$	34,950
Total assets		636,620			338			636,958
Accumulated other comprehensive income		19,480			(2,156	)		17,324
Accumulated deficit		(1,110,599	)		2,494			(1,108,105	)
Total Brooks Automation, Inc. stockholders’ equity		518,009			338			518,347
Total equity		518,598			338			518,936
Total liabilities and equity		636,620			338			636,958

Revised Consolidated Statement of Operations Amounts

	Year Ended September 30, 2011						Year Ended September 30, 2010
	As Previously Reported		Adjustment		As Revised		As Previously Reported		Adjustment		As Revised
Equity in earnings of joint ventures	$	2,782	$	2,033	$	4,815	$	215	$	859	$	1,074
Net income		128,404		2,033		130,437		59,025		859		59,884
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.		128,352		2,033		130,385		58,982		859		59,841
Net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common shareholders:
Basic	$	1.99	$	0.03	$	2.02	$	0.92	$	0.01	$	0.94
Diluted	$	1.97	$	0.03	$	2.01	$	0.92	$	0.01	$	0.93

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	1,000,000	1,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued
Preferred stock, shares outstanding
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	125,000,000	125,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	79,790,557	79,737,189
Common stock, shares outstanding	66,328,688	66,275,320
Treasury stock, shares	13,461,869	13,461,869

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Derivative Instruments

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Derivative Instruments

11.    Derivative Instruments

The Company has transactions and balances denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Most of these transactions or balances are denominated in Euros, sterling and a variety of Asian currencies. These transactions and balances, including short-term advances between the Company and its subsidiaries, subject the Company’s operations to exposure from exchange rate fluctuations. The impact of currency exchange rate movement can be positive or negative in any period. We mitigate the impact of potential currency translation gains and losses on short-term intercompany advances through timely settlement of each transaction, generally within 30 days. The Company entered into foreign exchange contracts to reduce its exposure to currency translation. Under forward contracts arrangements, the Company typically agrees to purchase a fixed amount of U.S. Dollars in exchange for a fixed amount of a foreign currency on specified dates with maturities of three months or less. These transactions do not qualify for hedge accounting and, accordingly, the instrument is recorded at fair value with the corresponding gains and losses recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company had the following notional amounts outstanding under foreign currency contracts at September 30, 2012 (in thousands):

Buy Currency	Notional Amount of Buy Currency		Sell Currency	Maturity		Notional Amount of Sell Currency in U.S. Dollars		Fair Value of Assets		Fair Value of Liabilities
U.S. Dollar	$	2,791	Taiwan Dollar		October 2012	$	2,786	$	5	$	—
U.S. Dollar		1,842	Israeli Shekel		October 2012		1,854		—		12
U.S. Dollar		1,058	Singapore Dollar		October 2012		1,056		2		—
U.S. Dollar		806	Korean Won		October 2012		803		3		—
U.S. Dollar		611	Japanese Yen		October 2012		611		—		—
U.S. Dollar		524	British Pound		October 2012		525		—		1
	$	7,632				$	7,635	$	10	$	13

There were no forward contracts outstanding at September 30, 2011.

The fair values of the forward contracts described above are recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as prepaid expenses and other current assets and accrued expenses and other current liabilities at September 30, 2012. The amount recorded in the results of operations related to these forward contracts are recorded in other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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Reconciliation of Reportable Segment Operating Income and Segment Assets to Corresponding Consolidated Amounts (Parenthetical) (Detail) (Securities Litigation, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
Securities Litigation
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net insurance proceeds	$ 3.3	$ 3.3

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Expected Benefit Payment Over Next Ten Years are Anticipated to be Paid (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule of Pension Expected Future Benefit Payments [Line Items]
2013	$ 1,590
2014	53
2015	55
2016	56
2017	57
2018-2022	$ 457

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Asset Allocation of Plan Assets of Non-U.S. Plans (Detail) (Non-U.S. Plans)	Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Asset Allocation Targets [Line Items]
Percentage of Plan Assets	100.00%
Equity securities
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Asset Allocation Targets [Line Items]
Percentage of Plan Assets	4.00%
Debt Securities
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Asset Allocation Targets [Line Items]
Percentage of Plan Assets	76.00%
Other Investments
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Asset Allocation Targets [Line Items]
Percentage of Plan Assets	19.00%
Cash
Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Asset Allocation Targets [Line Items]
Percentage of Plan Assets	1.00%

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Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 05, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	BRKS
Entity Registrant Name	BROOKS AUTOMATION INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000933974
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		66,327,021	66,316,471
Entity Public Float				$ 797,115,000

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Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Income Taxes

12.    Income Taxes

The components of the income tax provision (benefit) are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Current income tax provision (benefit):
Federal	$	15		$	16		$	(3,883	)
State		213			1,356			616
Foreign		(1,374	)		858			521
Total current income tax provision (benefit)		(1,146	)		2,230			(2,746	)
Deferred income tax (benefit):
Federal		(118,432	)		—			—
State		(291	)		—			—
Foreign		(3,413	)		(276	)		—
Total deferred income tax (benefit)		(122,136	)		(276	)		—
Income tax provision (benefit)	$	(123,282	)	$	1,954		$	(2,746	)

The components of income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Domestic	$	2,204	$	111,053	$	44,956
Foreign		9,216		16,523		11,108
	$	11,420	$	127,576	$	56,064

The differences between the income tax provision (benefit) and income taxes computed using the applicable U.S. statutory federal tax rate is as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Income tax provision computed at federal statutory rate	$	4,728		$	45,736		$	19,622
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		260			1,848			699
Net operating loss carryback refund		—			—			(3,899	)
Foreign income taxed at different rates		(832	)		(1,546	)		(1,650	)
Dividends		956			(219	)		1,006
Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance		(125,479	)		(42,608	)		(18,423	)
Reduction in uncertain tax positions		(3,732	)		(3,719	)		(609	)
Nondeductible compensation		1,339			295			379
Tax credits generated		(1,195	)		(1,179	)		(414	)
Other		673			3,346			543
Income tax provision (benefit)	$	(123,282	)	$	1,954		$	(2,746	)

As of September 30, 2012, a deferred tax liability has not been established for any earnings of the foreign subsidiaries since the Company plans to indefinitely re-invest these earnings in overseas operations. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred income tax liability related to these earnings is not practicable.

The significant components of the net deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Accruals and reserves not currently deductible	$	10,489		$	10,357
Federal, state and foreign tax credits		18,963			22,673
Other assets		1,655			3,304
Net operating loss carryforwards		101,713			119,167
Inventory reserves and valuation		8,790			11,650
Deferred tax assets		141,610			167,151
Depreciation and intangible amortization		5,418			6,851
Deferred tax liabilities		5,418			6,851
Valuation allowance		(16,035	)		(162,208	)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$	120,157		$	(1,908	)

Management has considered the weight of all available evidence in determining whether a valuation allowance remains to be required against its deferred tax assets at September 30, 2012. After consideration of both positive and negative evidence management has concluded that it is more likely than not that a substantial portion of its deferred tax assets will be realized. The positive evidence considered was three year U.S. historical cumulative profitability, projected future taxable income and length of carry-forward periods of net operating losses and tax credits. The primary negative evidence to be considered is the volatile semiconductor industry that the Company operates in. The Company recorded a tax benefit of $121.8 million resulting from the reduction in the valuation allowance. The Company has continued to maintain a valuation allowance in the U.S. against certain tax credits and state net operating losses due to the uncertainty of their realization based on long-term Company forecasts and the expiration dates on these attributes. The Company has also continued to maintain a valuation allowance in certain jurisdictions that have not generated historical cumulative profitability. If future operating results of the U.S. or these foreign jurisdictions significantly exceed expectations it is reasonably possible that there could be a further reduction in the valuation allowance in the future. Further reduction of the valuation allowance, in whole or in part, would result in a non-cash income tax benefit during the period of reduction.

As of September 30, 2012, the Company had federal, state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $378.8 million and federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards of approximately $23.1 million available to reduce future tax liabilities, which expire at various dates through 2031. The net operating loss carryforward includes excess deductions related to stock compensation in the amount of $12.5 million which have not been recognized for financial statement purposes. The benefits of these tax deductions will be credited to additional paid-in capital upon being realized.

The Company has performed studies to determine if there are any annual limitations on the federal net operating losses under section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”). As a result of these studies, the Company has determined that ownership changes have occurred primarily in connection with acquisitions when the Company has issued stock to the sellers, as well as ownership changes in the subsidiaries acquired by the Company. Certain limitations have been calculated and the benefits of the net operating losses that will expire before utilization have not been recorded as deferred tax assets in the financial statements. The Company’s U.S. net operating losses expire at various dates through 2030.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the consolidated liability for unrecognized income tax benefits during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

	Unrecognized Tax Benefit			Interest and Penalties			Total
Balance at October 1, 2009	$	9,794		$	1,669		$	11,463
Additions for tax positions of prior years		3,287			506			3,793
Additions for tax positions related to current year		468			—			468
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(40	)		(19	)		(59	)
Reductions from lapses in statutes of limitations		(413	)		—			(413	)
Reductions from settlements with taxing authorities		(193	)		(4	)		(197	)
Foreign exchange rate adjustment		(87	)		—			(87	)
Balance at September 30, 2010		12,816			2,152			14,968
Additions for tax positions of prior years		184			447			631
Additions for tax positions related to current year		242			—			242
Reductions from lapses in statutes of limitations		(961	)		—			(961	)
Reductions from settlements with taxing authorities		(3,392	)		(610	)		(4,002	)
Foreign exchange rate adjustment		122			—			122
Balance at September 30, 2011		9,011			1,989			11,000
Additions for tax positions of prior years		242			247			489
Reductions from lapses in statutes of limitations		(3,125	)		(607	)		(3,732	)
Foreign exchange rate adjustment		(167	)		15			(152	)
Balance at September 30, 2012	$	5,961		$	1,644		$	7,605

As of September 30, 2012 all of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. The Company recognizes interest related to unrecognized benefits as a component of tax expense, of which $0.2 million, $0.4 million and $0.4 million was recognized for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax and various state, local and international income taxes in various jurisdictions. The amount of income taxes paid is subject to the Company’s interpretation of applicable tax laws in the jurisdictions in which it files. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world. The statute of limitations lapsed on several uncertain tax positions in the foreign jurisdictions related to transfer pricing and income tax withholding during fiscal year 2012 that resulted in a $3.7 million reduction in gross unrecognized tax benefits that impacted the effective tax rate. The Company is subject to income tax audits in various global jurisdictions in which it operates. In the Company’s U.S. and international jurisdictions, the years that may be examined vary, with the earliest tax year being 2007. Based on the outcome of these examinations, or the expiration of statutes of limitations for specific jurisdictions, it is reasonably possible that the related unrecognized tax benefits could change from those recorded in the Company’s statement of financial position. The Company currently anticipates that it is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefit will be reduced by approximately $1.1 million during the next twelve months primarily as the result of statutes of limitations expiring.

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Significant Components of Net Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Accruals and reserves not currently deductible	$ 10,489	$ 10,357
Federal, state and foreign tax credits	18,963	22,673
Other assets	1,655	3,304
Net operating loss carryforwards	101,713	119,167
Inventory reserves and valuation	8,790	11,650
Deferred tax assets	141,610	167,151
Depreciation and intangible amortization	5,418	6,851
Deferred tax liabilities	5,418	6,851
Valuation allowance	(16,035)	(162,208)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$ 120,157	$ (1,908)

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Weighted Average Assumption Used to Determine Pension Obligation (Detail)	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Schedule of Benefit Obligations Weighted Average Assumptions [Line Items]
Discount rate	1.89%	3.76%	4.75%
Rate of compensation increase	1.84%	1.79%

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenues
Product	$ 431,961	$ 611,117	$ 531,807
Services	87,490	76,988	61,165
Total revenues	519,451	688,105	592,972
Cost of revenues
Product	283,377	411,610	377,466
Services	62,588	53,474	49,211
Total cost of revenues	345,965	465,084	426,677
Gross profit	173,486	223,021	166,295
Operating expenses
Research and development	47,464	39,846	31,162
Selling, general and administrative	101,223	102,542	85,597
Restructuring charges	3,275	1,036	2,529
Pension settlement	8,937
In-process research and development	3,026
Total operating expenses	163,925	143,424	119,288
Operating income	9,561	79,597	47,007
Interest income	1,213	1,153	1,121
Interest expense	(14)	(65)	(80)
Gain on sale of intellectual property rights			7,840
Gain on sale of contract manufacturing business		45,009
Loss on investment			(191)
Other income, net	660	1,882	367
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures	11,420	127,576	56,064
Income tax provision (benefit)	(123,282)	1,954	(2,746)
Income before equity in earnings of joint ventures	134,702	125,622	58,810
Equity in earnings of joint ventures	2,133	4,815	1,074
Net income	136,835	130,437	59,884
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(46)	(52)	(43)
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$ 136,789	$ 130,385	$ 59,841
Basic net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$ 2.10	$ 2.02	$ 0.94
Diluted net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$ 2.08	$ 2.01	$ 0.93
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic	65,128	64,549	63,777
Diluted	65,722	65,003	64,174

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Property, Plant and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Property, Plant and Equipment

6.    Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Buildings and land	$	55,352		$	54,330
Computer equipment and software		70,719			68,476
Machinery and equipment		51,813			49,105
Furniture and fixtures		10,908			10,451
Leasehold improvements		18,938			17,301
Capital projects in progress		2,614			1,899
		210,344			201,562
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(145,866	)		(132,966	)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	64,478		$	68,596

Depreciation expense was $13.4 million, $12.6 million and $14.6 million for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

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Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Fair Value Measurements

5.    Fair Value Measurements

The fair value measurement guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset and liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Level 2 Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Assets and liabilities of the Company measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

	September  30, 2012		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
Description			Quoted Prices in Active  Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant  Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets
Cash Equivalents	$	17,508	$	17,508	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale securities		145,592		60,231		85,361		—
Foreign exchange contracts		10		—		10		—
Total Assets	$	163,110	$	77,739	$	85,371	$	—
Liabilities
Foreign exchange contracts	$	13	$	—	$	13	$	—

	September  30, 2011		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant  Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets
Cash Equivalents	$	9,576	$	9,576	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale securities		146,985		63,331		83,654		—
Total Assets	$	156,561	$	72,907	$	83,654	$	—

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents of $17.5 million and $9.6 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, consisting primarily of Money Market Funds, are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices in active markets.

Available-For-Sale Securities

Available-for-sale securities of $60.2 million and $63.3 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, consisting of highly rated Corporate Bonds, are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices in active markets of identical assets or liabilities. Available-for-sale securities of $85.4 million and $83.7 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, consisting of Mortgage-Backed Securities, Municipal Securities, Bank Certificate of Deposits, Commercial Paper and U.S. Treasury Securities and Obligations of U.S. Government Agencies are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using matrix pricing and benchmarking. Matrix pricing is a mathematical technique used to value securities by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted prices.

Foreign Exchange Contracts

Foreign exchange contract assets and foreign exchange contract liabilities of $10,000 and $13,000, respectively, at September 30, 2012 are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because there may not be an active market for each contract, however, the inputs used to calculate the value of the contract were obtained from an active market.

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Segment and Geographic Information

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Segment and Geographic Information

17.    Segment and Geographic Information

The Company reports financial results in four segments: Brooks Product Solutions, Brooks Global Services, Brooks Life Science Systems and Contract Manufacturing. This financial reporting structure was implemented effective as of the beginning of the Company’s fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011 in response to changes in its management structure as well as the acquisition of two life science companies in the second half of fiscal 2011.

The Brooks Product Solutions segment provides a variety of products critical to technology equipment productivity and availability. Those products include atmospheric and vacuum tool automation systems, atmospheric and vacuum robots and robotic modules and cryogenic vacuum pumping, thermal management and vacuum measurement solutions which are used to create, measure and control critical process vacuum applications.

The Brooks Global Services segment provides an extensive range of support services including on and off-site repair services, on and off-site diagnostic support services, and installation services to enable our customers to maximize process tool uptime and productivity. This segment also provides end-user customers with spare parts support services to maximize customer tool productivity.

The Brooks Life Science Systems segment provides automated sample management systems for automated cold sample storage, automated blood fractionation equipment, sample preparation and handling equipment, cellular imaging, consumables, and parts and support services to a wide range of life science customers including pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, biobanks, national laboratories, research institutes and research universities.

The Contract Manufacturing segment provided services to build equipment front-end modules, vacuum transport modules and other subassemblies which enabled the Company’s customers to effectively source high quality and high reliability process tools for semiconductor market applications. The Company sold this segment on June 28, 2011.

The Company evaluates performance and allocates resources based on revenues, operating income (loss) and returns on invested assets. Operating income (loss) for each segment includes selling, general and administrative expenses directly attributable to the segment. Intersegment revenues between Brooks Product Solutions and Contract Manufacturing were eliminated from Contract Manufacturing revenues. The profits reported on intercompany transactions are based on the transfer prices charged which approximates fair value to third parties. Other unallocated corporate expenses (primarily certain legal costs associated with the Company’s past equity incentive-related practices and costs to indemnify a former executive in connection with these matters), amortization of acquired intangible assets (excluding completed technology), restructuring, pension settlement and in-process research and development are excluded from the segments’ operating income (loss). The Company’s non-allocable overhead costs, which include various general and administrative expenses, are allocated among the segments based upon various cost drivers associated with the respective administrative function, including segment revenues, segment headcount, or an analysis of the segments that benefit from a specific administrative function. Segment assets exclude cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, marketable securities, long-term deferred tax assets and investments in joint ventures.

Financial information for the Company’s business segments is as follows (in thousands):

	Brooks Product Solutions		Brooks Global Services		Brooks Life Science Systems			Contract Manufacturing		Total
Year ended September 30, 2012
Revenues
Product	$	380,888	$	11,324	$	39,749		$	—	$	431,961
Services		—		74,628		12,862			—		87,490
	$	380,888	$	85,952	$	52,611		$	—	$	519,451
Gross profit	$	127,472	$	25,599	$	20,415		$	—	$	173,486
Segment operating income (loss)	$	21,319	$	9,404	$	(3,139	)	$	—	$	27,584
Depreciation	$	8,952	$	2,344	$	2,111		$	—	$	13,407
Assets	$	218,799	$	56,120	$	107,530		$	—	$	382,449
Year ended September 30, 2011
Revenues
Product	$	451,287	$	14,786	$	7,715		$	137,329	$	611,117
Services		—		74,058		2,930			—		76,988
	$	451,287	$	88,844	$	10,645		$	137,329	$	688,105
Gross profit	$	171,801	$	31,750	$	2,260		$	17,210	$	223,021
Segment operating income (loss)	$	64,921	$	13,293	$	(4,684	)	$	10,649	$	84,179
Depreciation	$	8,597	$	2,481	$	543		$	1,000	$	12,621
Assets	$	235,322	$	52,354	$	101,331		$	—	$	389,007
Year ended September 30, 2010
Revenues
Product	$	362,524	$	13,740	$	—		$	155,543	$	531,807
Services		—		61,165		—			—		61,165
	$	362,524	$	74,905	$	—		$	155,543	$	592,972
Gross profit	$	128,479	$	20,354	$	—		$	17,462	$	166,295
Segment operating income	$	40,143	$	3,805	$	—		$	8,335	$	52,283
Depreciation	$	9,465	$	2,843	$	—		$	2,255	$	14,563
Assets	$	227,408	$	53,564	$	—		$	57,024	$	337,996

Revenues from the Brooks Product Solutions segment for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 include intercompany sales of $49.2 million and $62.9 million, respectively, from this segment to the Contract Manufacturing segment. These intercompany revenues have been eliminated from the revenues of Contract Manufacturing.

Revenues for the Contract Manufacturing segment for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 exclude intercompany sales of $10.7 million and $12.5 million, respectively, from this segment to the Brooks Product Solutions segment.

A reconciliation of the Company’s reportable segment operating income and segment assets to the corresponding consolidated amounts as of and for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

	As of and for the Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011		2010
Segment operating income	$	27,584		$	84,179	$	52,283
Other unallocated corporate expenses(1)		(1,833	)		1,135		778
Amortization of acquired intangible assets		4,618			2,411		1,969
Restructuring charges		3,275			1,036		2,529
Pension settlement		8,937			—		—
In-process research and development		3,026			—		—
Total operating income	$	9,561		$	79,597	$	47,007
Segment assets	$	382,449		$	389,007
Investments in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities		200,994			207,111
Long-term deferred tax assets		104,626			—
Investments in joint ventures		31,428			34,950
Other unallocated corporate net assets		22,463			5,890
Total assets	$	741,960		$	636,958

(1) Other unallocated corporate expenses for the year ended September 30, 2012 includes a credit of $3.3 million related to insurance proceeds received as reimbursement of litigation costs previously incurred

Net revenues based upon the source of the order by geographic area are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
North America	$	230,735	$	349,456	$	322,542
Asia/Pacific		194,711		244,524		203,172
Europe		94,005		94,125		67,258
	$	519,451	$	688,105	$	592,972

Long-lived assets, consisting of property, plant and equipment by geographic area are as follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
North America	$	51,546	$	55,295
Asia/Pacific		2,123		1,920
Europe		10,809		11,381
	$	64,478	$	68,596

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Postretirement Benefits

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Postretirement Benefits

13.    Postretirement Benefits

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

On October 26, 2005, the Company purchased Helix Technology Corporation and assumed responsibility for the liabilities and assets of the Helix Employees’ Pension Plan (the “Helix Plan”). The Plan is a final average pay pension plan. In May 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the freezing of benefit accruals and future participation in the Plan effective October 31, 2006. During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, the Company advised participants of the Helix Plan that it intended to settle this pension obligation during fiscal year 2012. This settlement occurred in the quarter ended September 30, 2012 and resulted in accelerated cash payments of approximately $6.4 million by the Company to fully satisfy the pension liability, and resulted in an accelerated amortization of approximately $8.9 million of prior pension losses which is included as a pension settlement charge in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company acquired Nexus on July 25, 2011, and in connection with this acquisition, assumed responsibility for the liabilities of the Nexus Biosystems AG Pension Plan (the “Nexus Plan”). The Nexus Plan covers substantially all employees of the Company’s Swiss subsidiary. Admittance for risk benefits (disability and death) is as of January 1 for employees who are 17 or older. Admittance into the pension plan with retirement pension occurs as of January 1 for employees who are age 24 or older. Pension benefits are based on the accumulated savings credits plus interest. The amount of the savings credit is based on the employee’s age.

The Company also has a pension plan covering certain employees of its Taiwan subsidiary that were employed by this entity on or before July 1, 2005 (the “Taiwan Plan”). After July 1, 2005, most participants of this plan decided to join a defined contribution plan and as a result, their service earned under the Taiwan Plan was frozen.

The Company uses a September 30th measurement date in the determination of net periodic benefit costs, benefit obligations and the value of plan assets for all plans. The following tables set forth the funded status and amounts recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2012 and 2011 for the Helix Plan, the Nexus Plan and the Taiwan Plan (the “Plans”) (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	28,068		$	15,914
Acquisition date benefit obligations from entities acquired during the fiscal year		—			10,354
Service cost		787			216
Interest cost		984			796
Actuarial loss		1,235			2,138
Benefits paid		(2,203	)		(356	)
Settlement loss		1,040			—
Settlements paid		(18,928	)		—
Foreign currency translation		(802	)		(994	)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	10,181		$	28,068

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	$	20,173		$	9,990
Acquisition date fair value of assets for entities acquired during the fiscal year		—			9,226
Actual return on plan assets		1,446			1,322
Disbursements		(2,463	)		(356	)
Employer contributions		7,684			778
Employee contributions		334			76
Settlements paid		(18,928	)		—
Foreign currency translation		(231	)		(863	)
Fair value of assets at end of year	$	8,015		$	20,173

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Funded status/accrued benefit liability	$	(2,166	)	$	(7,895	)

The following table provides pension amounts recorded within the account line items of the Company’s consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Accrued compensation and benefits	$	478	$	734
Long-term pension liability		1,688		7,161

In addition, accumulated other comprehensive income at September 30, 2012 and 2011 includes unrecognized net actuarial losses of $1.1 million and $8.9 million, respectively. The estimated portion of net actuarial loss remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income that is expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic pension cost for the year ended September 30, 2013 is $6,000.

Net periodic pension cost consisted of the following (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Service cost	$	787		$	216		$	100
Interest cost		984			796			775
Expected return on assets		(1,072	)		(764	)		(604	)
Amortization of losses		620			458			327
Net periodic pension cost		1,319			706			598
Settlement loss		8,937			—			—
Total pension cost	$	10,256		$	706		$	598

Other changes in Plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive loss (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Net loss	$	1,226		$	1,502
Amortization of net loss		(620	)		(458	)
Settlement loss		(8,937	)		—
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		(8,331	)		1,044
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	(7,012	)	$	1,750

Certain information for the Plans with respect to accumulated benefit obligations follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Projected benefit obligation	$	10,181	$	28,068
Accumulated benefit obligation		8,906		26,663
Fair value of plan assets		8,015		20,173

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net cost at September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 follows:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Discount rate		3.51	%		3.99	%		5.50	%
Expected return on plan assets		2.18	%		4.68	%		8.00	%
Rate of compensation increase		1.84	%		1.79	%		N/A

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine the pension obligation at September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 follows:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Discount rate		1.89	%		3.76	%		4.75	%
Rate of compensation increase		1.84	%		1.79	%		N/A

Compensation increase assumptions for the periodic pension cost and pension obligation apply to the Nexus Plan and Taiwan Plan only.

The Company bases its determination of pension expense or benefit on a market-related valuation of assets, which reduces year-to-year volatility. This market-related valuation recognizes investment gains or losses over a five-year period from the year in which they occur. Investment gains or losses for this purpose are the difference between the expected return calculated using the market-related value of assets and the actual return on assets. Since the market-related value of assets recognizes gains or losses over a five-year period, the future value of assets will be impacted as previously deferred gains or losses are recognized. As of September 30, 2012, under the Plans, the Company had cumulative investment losses of approximately $44,000, which remain to be recognized in the calculation of the market-related value of assets. The Company also had cumulative other actuarial losses of $1,026,000 at September 30, 2012, which are amortized into net periodic benefit costs over the average remaining service period of active participants in the plans.

The discount rate utilized for determining the future pension obligations for the Nexus Plan is based on corporate bonds yields for bonds denominated in Swiss francs. This discount rate was 1.90% at September 30, 2012, down from 2.30% at September 30, 2011.

The expected long term rate of return on Plan assets used to determine future pension obligations was 2.18% and 4.68% as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In developing the expected return on plan assets assumption, the Company evaluated fixed income yield curve data and equity return assumption studies, and applied this data to the expected asset allocation to develop an appropriate projected return on Plan assets.

Plan Assets

The fair value of plan assets for the Nexus Plan and Taiwan Plan were $7.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively, at September 30, 2012. As is customary with Swiss pension plans, the assets of the Nexus Plan are invested in a collective fund with multiple employers through a Swiss insurance company. Investment holdings are primarily in highly rated debt securities. The assets of the Taiwan Plan are invested with a trustee that has been selected by the Taiwan government. The Company has no investment authority over the assets of either the Nexus Plan or the Taiwan Plan. The asset allocation of the plan assets of the non-U.S. plans at September 30, 2012 was as follows:

	Percentage of Plan Assets at September 30, 2012
Equity securities		4	%
Debt securities		76
Other		19
Cash		1
		100	%

The fair value of pension assets by asset category and by level at September 30, 2012 were as follows (in thousands):

	As of September 30, 2012
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Swiss Life collective foundation	$	—		7,513		—	$	7,513
Taiwan collective trust		—		502		—		502
Total	$	—	$	8,015	$	—	$	8,015

See Note 5 for a description of the levels of inputs used to determine fair value measurements.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012, the Company made contributions of $6.4 million to the Helix Plan in connection with the settlement, which was in addition to the $0.7 million of required minimum contributions made to this plan throughout fiscal year 2012. The Company made required minimum contributions throughout fiscal year 2012 to all of its plans of $1.2 million. The Company expects to contribute $0.5 million to its plans in fiscal 2013 to meet minimum funding targets.

Expected benefit payments over the next ten years are anticipated to be paid as follows (in thousands):

2013	$	1,590
2014		53
2015		55
2016		56
2017		57
2018-2022		457

The Company sponsors defined contribution plans that meet the requirements of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. All United States employees of the Company who meet minimum age and service requirements are eligible to participate in the plan. The plan allows employees to invest, on a pre-tax basis, a percentage of their annual salary subject to statutory limitations.

The Company’s contribution expense for worldwide defined contribution plans was $3.1 million, $2.9 million and $2.6 million for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

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Funded Status and Amounts Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$ 28,068	$ 15,914
Acquisition date benefit obligations from entities acquired during the fiscal year		10,354
Service cost	787	216	100
Interest cost	984	796	775
Actuarial loss	1,235	2,138
Benefits paid	(2,203)	(356)
Settlement loss	1,040
Settlements paid	(18,928)
Foreign currency translation	(802)	(994)
Benefit obligation at end of year	10,181	28,068	15,914
Fair value of assets at beginning of year	20,173	9,990
Acquisition date fair value of assets for entities acquired during the fiscal year		9,226
Actual return on plan assets	1,446	1,322
Disbursements	(2,463)	(356)
Employer contributions	7,684	778
Employee contributions	334	76
Settlements paid	(18,928)
Foreign currency translation	(231)	(863)
Fair value of assets at end of year	8,015	20,173	9,990
Funded status/accrued benefit liability	$ (2,166)	$ (7,895)

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Earnings Per Share

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Earnings Per Share

9.    Earnings Per Share

Below is a reconciliation of weighted average common shares outstanding for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$	136,789	$	130,385	$	59,841
Weighted average common shares outstanding used in computing basic earnings per share		65,128		64,549		63,777
Dilutive common stock options and restricted stock awards		594		454		397
Weighted average common shares outstanding for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share		65,722		65,003		64,174
Basic net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	2.10	$	2.02	$	0.94
Diluted net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$	2.08	$	2.01	$	0.93

Approximately 238,000, 387,000 and 888,000 options to purchase common stock and 2,000, 413,000 and 187,000 shares of restricted stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

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Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Assets
Available-for-sale securities	$ 145,592	$ 146,985
Foreign exchange contracts	10
Liabilities
Foreign exchange contracts	13
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Assets
Cash Equivalents	17,508	9,576
Available-for-sale securities	145,592	146,985
Foreign exchange contracts	10
Total Assets	163,110	156,561
Liabilities
Foreign exchange contracts	13
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Assets
Cash Equivalents	17,508	9,576
Available-for-sale securities	60,231	63,331
Total Assets	77,739	72,907
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Assets
Available-for-sale securities	85,361	83,654
Foreign exchange contracts	10
Total Assets	85,371	83,654
Liabilities
Foreign exchange contracts	$ 13

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Other Balance Sheet Information - Additional Information (Detail) (Inventory Valuation Reserve, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Inventory Valuation Reserve
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Reserves for excess and obsolete inventory	$ 23,200,000	$ 24,700,000	$ 23,800,000
Charges/credits to reserves for excess and obsolete inventory	4,300,000	2,200,000	(1,900,000)
Reduction in reserves for excess and obsolete inventory	$ 5,800,000	$ 3,500,000	$ 1,500,000

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Goodwill and Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

7.    Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company performs an annual impairment test of its goodwill on September 30 of each fiscal year unless interim indicators of impairment exist. Goodwill is considered to be impaired when the net book value of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value. Fair values are estimated using a discounted cash flow methodology. Discounted cash flows are based on the businesses’ strategic plans and management’s best estimate of revenue growth and gross profit by each reporting unit. The Company performed its goodwill impairment test as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, and determined that no adjustment to goodwill was necessary.

The Company completed its annual goodwill impairment test by reporting unit as of September 30, 2012 and determined that the estimated fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value and no impairment existed. The discount rate used in the DCF analysis for the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment was 18.5%. The revenue multiple used in the terminal value calculation for the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment was 1.9x, and is consistent with revenue multiples of peers in the life science industry. The final terminal value calculation for this reporting unit reflects an equal weighting of a revenue multiple and capitalizing cash flow from the terminal year, which is consistent with the approach used by the Company in the prior year. The Company acquired the businesses comprising the Brooks Life Science Systems operating segment at various dates over the last eighteen months. While the Company believes its assumptions are reasonable, actual results could differ from its projections. To the extent projected results of cash flows are revised downward, the reporting unit may be required to write down all or a portion of its goodwill, which would adversely impact the Company’s earnings.

The components of the Company’s goodwill by business segment at September 30, 2012 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):

	Brooks Product Solutions			Brooks Global Services			Brooks Life Science Systems		Contract Manufacturing			Other			Total
Gross goodwill at September 30, 2010	$	485,844		$	151,238		$	—	$	18,593		$	7,421		$	663,096
Acquisitions and adjustments during fiscal 2011		—			—			36,589		—			—			36,589
Gross goodwill at September 30, 2011		485,844			151,238			36,589		18,593			7,421			699,685
Acquisitions and adjustments during fiscal 2012		—			—			3,713		—			—			3,713
Gross goodwill at September 30, 2012	$	485,844		$	151,238		$	40,302	$	18,593		$	7,421		$	703,398
Accumulated goodwill impairments at September 30, 2010	$	(437,706	)	$	(151,238	)	$	—	$	(18,593	)	$	(7,421	)	$	(614,958	)
Impairments recorded during fiscal 2011		—			—			—		—			—			—
Accumulated goodwill impairments at September 30, 2011		(437,706	)		(151,238	)		—		(18,593	)		(7,421	)		(614,958	)
Impairments recorded during fiscal 2012		—			—			—		—			—			—
Accumulated goodwill impairments at September 30, 2012	$	(437,706	)	$	(151,238	)	$	—	$	(18,593	)	$	(7,421	)	$	(614,958	)
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at September 30, 2011	$	48,138		$	—		$	36,589	$	—		$	—		$	84,727
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at September 30, 2012	$	48,138		$	—		$	40,302	$	—		$	—		$	88,440

Components of the Company’s identifiable intangible assets are as follows (in thousands):

	September 30, 2012						September 30, 2011
	Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net Book Value		Cost		Accumulated Amortization		Net Book Value
Patents	$	7,808	$	7,093	$	715	$	7,808	$	6,989	$	819
Completed technology		54,583		42,751		11,832		50,975		39,235		11,740
Trademarks and trade names		4,014		3,880		134		3,941		3,719		222
Customer relationships		48,654		21,935		26,719		49,029		17,496		31,533
	$	115,059	$	75,659	$	39,400	$	111,753	$	67,439	$	44,314

In connection with the acquisition of Celigo during fiscal year 2012, the Company allocated a portion of the purchase price to the following intangible assets: Completed Technology — $3.5 million and Trademarks and Trade Names — $0.1 million. For details regarding these intangible assets see Note 3. These intangible assets support the products and services provided by the Brooks Life Science Systems segment.

In connection with the acquisitions of Nexus and RTS during fiscal year 2011, the Company allocated a portion of the purchase price to the following intangible assets: Completed Technology — $7.5 million, Customer Relationships — $31.6 million and Trademarks and Trade Names — $0.2 million. For details regarding these intangible assets see Note 3. These intangible assets support the products and services provided by the Brooks Life Science Systems segment.

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $8.2 million, $4.6 million and $3.9 million for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Estimated future amortization expense for the intangible assets recorded by the Company as of September 30, 2012 is as follows (in millions):

Year ended September 30,
2013	$	6.5
2014		5.8
2015		5.7
2016		5.1
2017		4.5
Thereafter		11.8
	$	39.4

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Investment in Affiliates

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Investment in Affiliates

8.    Investment in Affiliates

Joint Ventures

The Company participates in a 50% joint venture, ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc. (“UCI”) with ULVAC Corporation of Chigasaki, Japan. UCI manufactures and sells cryogenic vacuum pumps, principally to ULVAC Corporation. The Company has revised UCI’s previously reported earnings as discussed in Note 1 and the results herein reflect the revisions. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded income associated with UCI of $2.0 million, $4.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, management fee payments received by the Company from UCI were $1.0 million, $1.1 million and $0.7 million, respectively. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company incurred charges from UCI for products or services of $0.8 million, $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively. At September 30, 2012 and 2011 the Company owed UCI $0.1 million in connection with accounts payable for unpaid products and services. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company received $5.1 million and $2.4 million, respectively, of cash dividends from UCI. Summarized condensed financial information for UCI is as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended June 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Statements of Operations:
Revenue	$	70,532	$	75,311	$	38,470
Gross profit		19,816		22,974		10,747
Net income		4,004		8,644		2,341

	June 30,
	2012		2011
Balance Sheets:
Current assets	$	62,144	$	79,226
Noncurrent assets		13,805		13,904
Current liabilities		24,784		45,518
Noncurrent liabilities		206		192
Shareholders’ equity		50,959		47,420

The Company participates in a 50% joint venture with Yaskawa Electric Corporation (“Yaskawa”) called Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc. (“YBA”) to exclusively market and sell Yaskawa’s semiconductor robotics products and Brooks’ automation hardware products to semiconductor customers in Japan. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded income associated with YBA of $0.1 million, $0.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company earned revenues for sales to YBA of $8.0 million, $9.6 million and $13.5 million, respectively. The amount due from YBA included in accounts receivable at September 30, 2012 and 2011 was $2.0 million and $2.2 million, respectively. For the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company incurred charges from YBA for products and services of $0.5 million, $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively. At September 30, 2012 and 2011 the Company owed YBA $0.1 in connection with accounts payable for unpaid products and services. Summarized condensed financial information for YBA is as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Statements of Operations:
Revenue	$	83,192	$	104,940	$	65,923
Gross profit		8,112		10,445		6,950
Net income		6		1,258		261

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Balance Sheets:
Current assets	$	32,046	$	44,211
Noncurrent assets		587		504
Current liabilities		23,801		35,533
Noncurrent liabilities		504		397
Shareholders’ equity		8,328		8,785

These investments are accounted for using the equity method. Under this method of accounting, the Company records in income its proportionate share of the earnings of the joint ventures with a corresponding increase in the carrying value of the investment. 

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Investment in Variable Interest Entity

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Investment in Variable Interest Entity

10.    Investment in Variable Interest Entity

During the three months ended June 30, 2012, the Company provided a strategic partner (the “Borrower”) in the life science industry a loan of $3.0 million to support their future product development and other working capital requirements. The loan bears interest at a rate of 9%. The outstanding principal and interest under the loan is payable in May 2015. The Company also received warrants to purchase the Borrower’s common stock in the event of an equity offering by the Borrower. The Company determined that the loan and the warrants had fair values of $2.8 million and $0.2 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2012. The fair value of the loan and the warrants are recorded as long-term other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The loan agreement also provides the Company with certain other rights related to conversion of the loan, first refusal to acquire the Borrower and a redemption premium. The loan is secured by a security agreement that gives the Company the first interest in substantially all of the assets of the Borrower.

The Company determined that the level of equity investment at risk is not sufficient for the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support and as a result, represents a variable interest entity. However, the Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the Borrower’s economic performance and would not absorb the majority of the expected losses from the Borrower, and therefore does not qualify as the primary beneficiary. The Company has no future contractual funding commitments to the Borrower and as a result, the Company’s exposure to loss is limited to the outstanding principal and interest.

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Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012 Brooks Life Science Systems	Dec. 30, 2011 CeligoCell Cytometer product line Completed technology	Dec. 30, 2011 CeligoCell Cytometer product line Trademarks and trade names	Sep. 30, 2011 Nexus and RTS Completed technology	Sep. 30, 2011 Nexus and RTS Trademarks and trade names	Sep. 30, 2011 Nexus and RTS Customer relationships
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Discount rate used in discounted cash flow analysis				18.50%
Revenue multiple used in terminal value calculation				1.9
Identifiable intangible assets					$ 3,540,000	$ 70,000	$ 7,500,000	$ 200,000	$ 31,600,000
Amortization expense for intangible assets	$ 8,200,000	$ 4,600,000	$ 3,900,000

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Pension Amounts Recorded Within Account Line Items of Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Accrued compensation and benefits	$ 478	$ 734
Long-term pension liability	$ 1,688	$ 7,161

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Components of Identifiable Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cost	$ 115,059	$ 111,753
Accumulated Amortization	75,659	67,439
Net Book Value	39,400	44,314
Patents
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cost	7,808	7,808
Accumulated Amortization	7,093	6,989
Net Book Value	715	819
Completed technology
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cost	54,583	50,975
Accumulated Amortization	42,751	39,235
Net Book Value	11,832	11,740
Trademarks and trade names
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cost	4,014	3,941
Accumulated Amortization	3,880	3,719
Net Book Value	134	222
Customer relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cost	48,654	49,029
Accumulated Amortization	21,935	17,496
Net Book Value	$ 26,719	$ 31,533

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Reconciliation of Reportable Segment Operating Income and Segment Assets to Corresponding Consolidated Amounts (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Other unallocated corporate expenses	$ (1,833)	[1]	$ 1,135	[1]	$ 778	[1]
Amortization of acquired intangible assets	4,618		2,411		1,969
Restructuring charges	3,275		1,036		2,529
Pension settlement	8,937
In-process research and development	3,026
Operating income (loss)	9,561		79,597		47,007
Investments in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities	200,994		207,111
Long-term deferred tax assets	104,626
Investments in joint ventures	31,428		34,950
Other unallocated corporate net assets	22,463		5,890
Total assets	741,960		636,958
Operating Segments, Total
Segment Reporting, Other Significant Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	27,584		84,179		52,283
Total assets	$ 382,449		$ 389,007		$ 337,996

[1] Other unallocated corporate expenses for the year ended September 30, 2012 includes a credit of $3.3 million related to insurance proceeds received as reimbursement of litigation costs previously incurred

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Property, Plant and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation expense	$ 13,407	$ 12,621	$ 14,563

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Fair Value of Pension Assets by Asset Category and by Level (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Schedule of Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 8,015	$ 20,173	$ 9,990
Other investments | Swiss Life collective foundation
Schedule of Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	7,513
Other investments | Taiwan collective trust
Schedule of Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	502
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Schedule of Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	8,015
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other investments | Swiss Life collective foundation
Schedule of Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	7,513
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other investments | Taiwan collective trust
Schedule of Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 502

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Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Buildings and land	$	55,352		$	54,330
Computer equipment and software		70,719			68,476
Machinery and equipment		51,813			49,105
Furniture and fixtures		10,908			10,451
Leasehold improvements		18,938			17,301
Capital projects in progress		2,614			1,899
		210,344			201,562
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(145,866	)		(132,966	)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	64,478		$	68,596

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Fair Value of Shares Issued under Employee Stock Purchase Plan Estimated using Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate	0.10%	0.20%	0.20%
Volatility	45.00%	50.00%	58.00%
Expected life	6 months	6 months	6 months
Minimum
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Dividend yield	2.75%	0.00%	0.00%
Maximum
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Dividend yield	3.30%	3.00%

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Stock Plans

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Stock Plans

15.    Stock Plans

Amended and Restated 2000 Equity Incentive Plan

The purposes of the Amended and Restated 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2000 Plan”), are to attract and retain employees and to provide an incentive for them to assist the Company to achieve long-range performance goals and to enable them to participate in the long-term growth of the Company. Under the 2000 Plan the Company may grant (i) incentive stock options intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, and (ii) options that are not qualified as incentive stock options (“nonqualified stock options”) and (iii) stock appreciation rights, performance awards and restricted stock. All employees of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, independent directors, consultants and advisors are eligible to participate in the 2000 Plan. Options under the 2000 Plan generally vest over four years and expire seven years from the date of grant. A total of 9,000,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2000 Plan. As of September 30, 2012, 145,000 options are outstanding and 3,392,134 shares remain available for grant.

During the year ended September 30, 2012, the Company issued 685,171 shares of restricted stock or units under the Amended and Restated 2000 Equity Incentive Plan, net of cancellations. These restricted stock awards generally have the following vesting schedules: immediate; three year vesting in which one-quarter vest at the end of Year 1, one-quarter vest at the end of Year 2 and one-half vest at the end of Year 3; and three year vesting in which one-third vest at the end of Year 1, one-third vest at the end of Year 2 and one-third vest at the end of Year 3. Compensation expense related to these awards is being recognized on a straight line basis over the vesting period, based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. In addition, in fiscal 2012, the Company granted 1,054,250 restricted stock awards net of cancellations to senior management, the number of shares ultimately issued will be measured at the end of fiscal year 2014 and is dependent upon the achievement of certain financial performance goals. These awards are expensed over the related service period when attainment of the performance condition is considered probable. The total amount of compensation recorded will depend on the Company’s achievement of performance targets. Changes to the projected attainment of performance targets during the vesting period may result in an adjustment to the amount of cumulative compensation recorded as of the date the estimate is revised.

1998 Employee Equity Incentive Plan

The purposes of the 1998 Employee Equity Incentive Plan (the “1998 Plan”), adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company in April 1998, are to attract and retain employees and provide an incentive for them to assist the Company in achieving long-range performance goals and to enable them to participate in the long-term growth of the Company. All employees of the Company, other than its officers and directors, (including contractors, consultants, service providers or others) who are in a position to contribute to the long-term success and growth of the Company, are eligible to participate in the 1998 Plan. Options under the 1998 Plan generally vest over a period of four years and generally expire seven years from the date of grant. On February 26, 2003, the Board of Directors voted to cancel and not return to the reserve any 1998 Plan forfeited options. From February 26, 2003 through September 30, 2012, 3,211,820 options were forfeited due to employee terminations. On August 5, 2009, the Board of Directors voted not to issue any further shares out of the 1998 Plan. A total of 1,000 options are outstanding under the 1998 Plan as of September 30, 2012.

1993 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan

The purpose of the 1993 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the “Directors Plan”) was to attract and retain the services of experienced and knowledgeable independent directors of the Company. Options granted under the Directors Plan generally vested over a period of five years and generally expired ten years from the date of grant. A total of 10,000 options are outstanding and no shares remain available for grant under the Directors Plan as of September 30, 2012.

Stock Options of Acquired Companies

In connection with the acquisition of Helix on October 26, 2005, the Company assumed the outstanding options of multiple stock option plans that were adopted by Helix. At acquisition, 689,622 options to purchase Helix common stock were outstanding and converted into 765,480 options to purchase the Company’s Common Stock. A total of 37,182 options are outstanding and 456,343 shares remain available for grant under the Helix plans as of September 30, 2012. The Company does not intend to issue any additional options under the Helix stock option plan.

Stock Option Activity

Aggregate stock option activity for all the above plans for the year ended September 30, 2012 is as follows:

	2012
	Shares			Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term		Weighted Average Price		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (In Thousands)
Options outstanding at beginning of year		370,137				$	14.57
Exercised		(13,320	)			$	7.75
Forfeited/expired		(163,635	)			$	16.84
Options outstanding at end of year		193,182			0.4 years	$	13.11	$	3
Vested at end of year		193,182			0.4 years	$	13.11	$	3
Options exercisable at end of year		193,182			0.4 years	$	13.11	$	3
Options available for future grant		3,848,477

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total intrinsic value, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $8.04 as of September 28, 2012, which would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options as of that date.

No stock options were granted in fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $56,000, $15,000 and $3,000, respectively. The total cash received from employees as a result of employee stock option exercises during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $103,000, $6,000 and $19,000, respectively.

As of September 30, 2012 there was no future compensation cost related to stock options as all outstanding stock options have vested.

The Company settles employee stock option exercises with newly issued common shares.

Based on information currently available, the Company believes that, although certain options may have been granted in violation of its applicable option plans, those options are valid and enforceable obligations of the Company.

Restricted Stock Activity

Restricted stock for the year ended September 30, 2012 was determined using the fair value method. A summary of the status of the Company’s restricted stock as of September 30, 2012 and changes during the year is as follows:

	2012
	Shares			Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding at beginning of year		1,590,989		$	10.15
Awards granted		1,887,419		$	11.80
Awards vested		(597,962	)	$	9.67
Awards canceled		(147,998	)	$	11.54
Outstanding at end of year		2,732,448		$	10.47

The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock granted during fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 was $11.27 and $8.73 per share, respectively. The fair value of restricted stock awards vested during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $5.6 million, $7.4 million and $6.8 million, respectively.

As of September 30, 2012, the unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock is $8.8 million and will be recognized over an estimated weighted average amortization period of 1.8 years.

1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

On February 22, 1996, the stockholders approved the 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “1995 Plan”) which enables eligible employees to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Under the 1995 Plan, eligible employees may purchase up to an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares during six-month offering periods commencing on February 1 and August 1 of each year at a price per share of 85% of the lower of the fair market value price per share on the first or last day of each six-month offering period. On February 8, 2012, the stockholders approved an amendment to the 1995 Plan to increase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for issuance by 1,000,000 shares, from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 shares. Participating employees may elect to have up to 10% of their base pay withheld and applied toward the purchase of such shares. The rights of participating employees under the 1995 Plan terminate upon voluntary withdrawal from the plan at any time or upon termination of employment. As of September 30, 2012, 2,909,645 shares of common stock have been purchased under the 1995 Plan and 1,090,355 shares remain available for purchase.

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Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies

20.    Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Commitments

The Company leases manufacturing and office facilities and certain equipment under operating leases that expire through 2022. Rental expense under operating leases, excluding expense recorded as a component of restructuring, for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $4.8 million, $4.9 million and $4.7 million, respectively. Future minimum lease commitments on non-cancelable operating leases are as follows (in thousands):

	Operating Leases
Year ended September 30, 2013	$	6,694
2014		4,871
2015		2,825
2016		1,298
2017		835
Thereafter		2,248
	$	18,771

The Company is a guarantor on a lease in Mexico that expires in January 2015. As of September 30, 2012, the remaining payments under this lease are approximately $0.9 million.

Letters of Credit

At September 30, 2012, the Company had $3.3 million of outstanding letters of credit.

Purchase Commitments

The Company has non-cancelable contracts and purchase orders for inventory of $64.3 million at September 30, 2012.

Contingencies

On August 22, 2006, an action captioned as Mark Levy v. Robert J. Therrien and Brooks Automation, Inc., was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, seeking recovery, on behalf of Brooks, from Mr. Therrien (the Company’s former Chairman and CEO) under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act for alleged “short-swing” profits earned by Mr. Therrien due to the loan and stock option exercise in November 1999, and a sale by Mr. Therrien of Brooks stock in March 2000. On February 20, 2007, a second Section 16(b) action, concerning the same loan and stock option exercise in November 1999 discussed above, was filed in the United States District Court of the District of Delaware, captioned Aron Rosenberg v. Robert J. Therrien and Brooks Automation, Inc. On April 4, 2007, the court issued an order consolidating the Levy and Rosenberg actions (the “Section 16(b) Action”).

On February 24, 2011, the parties executed a settlement agreement to resolve the Section 16(b) Action. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Therrien sold 150,000 shares of Brooks stock, the proceeds of which formed the settlement fund and totaled approximately $1.9 million.

In connection with the agreement to settle the Section 16(b) Action, the Company reached an agreement with Mr. Therrien and the Company’s former Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Carriers (the “Global Settlement Agreement”) to resolve (1) Mr. Therrien’s civil litigation with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), (2) any of the Company’s advancement or indemnification obligations to Mr. Therrien in connection with that matter, and (3) the Company’s claim against these insurance carriers for reimbursement of certain defense costs which the Company paid to Mr. Therrien pursuant to his indemnification agreement with the Company. Pursuant to the Global Settlement Agreement, Mr. Therrien agreed to enter into a settlement with the SEC. If approved by the SEC and the court in that matter, in addition to delivering to the Company the net proceeds of the sale of 150,000 shares of Brooks stock in connection with the Section 16(b) matter, Mr. Therrien would pay the SEC approximately $728,000 in disgorgement and $100,000 in fines. To resolve any indemnification claim by Mr. Therrien against the Company in connection with this matter, the Company has agreed to reimburse him $500,000 towards his disgorgement payment. Finally, upon resolution of both the Section 16(b) matter and the SEC matter, the Company’s insurers agreed to pay Brooks a net sum of approximately $3.5 million to resolve any claim the Company may have against its former insurers for certain defense costs paid to Mr. Therrien.

Following a hearing on May 17, 2011, the court in the Section 16(b) Action found that the settlement in the Section 16(b) Action and the Global Settlement Agreement were both in the best interest of the parties and the Company’s shareholders. On June 16, 2011, the settlement of the Section 16(b) Action became final and the Company received $1.3 million in settlement proceeds of which 50% will be paid to the Company’s insurance company and the remaining 50% has been recorded as income. On February 1, 2012, the court approved Mr. Therrien’s settlement with the SEC, and the Company subsequently received additional net insurance proceeds to reimburse litigation related costs previously incurred of approximately $3.3 million which was recorded as a reduction to Selling, General & Administrative costs during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings, both asserted and unasserted, that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that none of these claims will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

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Stock Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended						1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012 Stock options	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted stock	Sep. 30, 2011 Restricted stock	Sep. 30, 2010 Restricted stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted stock Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 Restricted stock Senior Management	Feb. 29, 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 1995 Plan	Feb. 12, 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 1995 Plan	Sep. 30, 2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 1995 Plan	Feb. 12, 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 1995 Plan Before Amendment	Feb. 12, 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 1995 Plan After Amendment Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 1998 Employee Equity Incentive Plan	Sep. 30, 2012 1998 Employee Equity Incentive Plan Stock options	Sep. 30, 2012 1993 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan	Sep. 30, 2012 1993 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan Stock options	Oct. 31, 2005 Helix Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2012 Helix Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2012 Equity Incentive Plan 2000	Sep. 30, 2012 Equity Incentive Plan 2000 Restricted stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Equity Incentive Plan 2000 Restricted stock Senior Management	Sep. 30, 2012 Equity Incentive Plan 2000 Restricted stock Share Vesting Over Three Year Period
Equity Incentive Plan [Line Items]
Equity incentive plan, vesting period					4 years				4 years								4 years		5 years			4 years	3 years
Equity incentive plan, expiration Period																	7 years		10 years			7 years
Shares of common stock reserved for issuance																						9,000,000
Options outstanding	193,182	370,137														1,000		10,000		689,622	37,182	145,000
Shares available for grant	3,848,477																				456,343	3,392,134
Restricted stock or units issued net of cancellations																							685,171
Awards granted						1,887,419				1,527,000														1,054,250
Restricted stock or units vesting description																							These restricted stock awards generally have the following vesting schedules: immediate; three year vesting in which one-quarter vest at the end of Year 1, one-quarter vest at the end of Year 2 and one-half vest at the end of Year 3; and three year vesting in which one-third vest at the end of Year 1, one-third vest at the end of Year 2 and one-third vest at the end of Year 3.
Equity incentive plan vesting in year one, percentage																							33.33%		25.00%
Equity incentive plan vesting in year two, percentage																							33.33%		25.00%
Equity incentive plan vesting in year three, percentage																							33.33%		50.00%
Options forfeited due to employee terminations																3,211,820
Options to purchase Helix common stock																				765,480
Closing stock price				$ 8.04
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	$ 56,000	$ 15,000	$ 3,000
Cash received from employee stock option exercises	103,000	6,000	19,000
Weighted average grant date fair value, Awards granted						$ 11.80	$ 11.27	$ 8.73
Fair value of restricted stock awards vested						5,600,000	7,400,000	6,800,000
Unrecognized compensation cost						$ 8,800,000
Unrecognized compensation cost, estimated weighted average amortization period						1 year 9 months 18 days
Employee stock purchase plan, description											Under the 1995 Plan, eligible employees may purchase up to an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares during six-month offering periods commencing on February 1 and August 1 of each year at a price per share of 85% of the lower of the fair market value price per share on the first or last day of each six-month offering period. On February 8, 2012, the stockholders approved an amendment to the 1995 Plan to increase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock available for issuance by 1,000,000 shares, from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 shares. Participating employees may elect to have up to 10% of their base pay withheld and applied toward the purchase of such shares.
Additional shares of common stock available for purchase												1,000,000
Shares of common stock available for purchase													1,090,355	3,000,000	4,000,000
Employee stock purchase plan, offering period											6 months
Employee stock purchase plan, price per share percentage											85.00%
Maximum percentage of base pay withheld and applied toward the purchase of shares											10.00%
Shares of common stock purchased under the 1995 Plan													2,909,645

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Summary of Amortizable Lives of Intangible Assets (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Patents | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable lives	7 years
Patents | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable lives	15 years
Completed technology | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable lives	2 years
Completed technology | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable lives	10 years
License agreements
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable lives	5 years
Trademarks and trade names | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable lives	2 years
Trademarks and trade names | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable lives	6 years
Non-competition agreements | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable lives	3 years
Non-competition agreements | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable lives	5 years
Customer relationships | Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable lives	4 years
Customer relationships | Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortizable lives	13 years

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Long-Lived Assets, Consisting of Property, Plant and Equipment by Geographic Area (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Long-Lived Assets by Geographical Areas [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 64,478	$ 68,596
North America
Long-Lived Assets by Geographical Areas [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	51,546	55,295
Asia/Pacific
Long-Lived Assets by Geographical Areas [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,123	1,920
Europe
Long-Lived Assets by Geographical Areas [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 10,809	$ 11,381

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Restructuring Costs and Accruals (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Activity Related to Restructuring Accruals

The activity related to the Company’s restructuring accruals is below (in thousands):

	Fiscal 2012 Activity
	Balance September  30, 2011		Expense		Utilization			Balance September  30, 2012
Workforce-related	$	293	$	3,275	$	(1,470	)	$	2,098

	Fiscal 2011 Activity
	Balance September  30, 2010		Expense		Utilization			Balance September  30, 2011
Facilities and other	$	3,509	$	310	$	(3,819	)	$	—
Workforce-related		—		726		(433	)		293
	$	3,509	$	1,036	$	(4,252	)	$	293

	Fiscal 2010 Activity
	Balance September  30, 2009		Expense		Utilization			Balance September  30, 2010
Facilities	$	6,289	$	1,584	$	(4,364	)	$	3,509
Workforce-related		1,372		945		(2,317	)		—
	$	7,661	$	2,529	$	(6,681	)	$	3,509

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Summary of Accounts Receivable (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Other Assets and Other Liabilities [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 79,706	$ 77,318
Less allowance for doubtful accounts	851	617
Accounts receivable, net	$ 78,855	$ 76,701

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 136,835	$ 130,437	$ 59,884
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	21,620	17,249	18,420
Stock-based compensation	8,647	6,752	6,567
Amortization of premium on marketable securities	2,401	2,283	942
Undistributed (earnings) losses of joint ventures	2,942	(2,416)	(1,074)
Deferred income tax benefit	(122,136)	(276)
Pension settlement	8,937
Gain on sale of contract manufacturing business		(45,009)
(Gain) loss on disposal of long-lived assets	(63)	10	4
Loss on investment			191
Gain on sale of intellectual property rights			(7,840)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and disposals:
Accounts receivable	(784)	9,916	(53,163)
Inventories	5,874	(19,131)	(31,341)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	726	1,806	(499)
Accounts payable	(11,182)	(15,099)	39,352
Deferred revenue	(4,684)	1,841	1,487
Accrued warranty and retrofit costs	(123)	(1,420)	2,483
Accrued compensation and benefits	(4,878)	1,717	(755)
Accrued restructuring costs	1,930	(3,212)	(4,123)
Accrued pension	(5,772)	2,014	(2,605)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(4,252)	188	(58)
Net cash provided by operating activities	36,038	87,650	27,872
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(8,653)	(6,455)	(3,472)
Purchases of marketable securities	(132,015)	(186,718)	(117,473)
Sale/maturity of marketable securities	131,317	120,095	84,546
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	530	(1,293)
Proceeds from the sale of the contract manufacturing business		78,249
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(9,216)	(88,309)
Other investment	(3,000)
Proceeds from the sale of intellectual property rights			7,840
Purchase of intangible assets			(892)
Other		181	243
Net cash used in investing activities	(21,037)	(84,250)	(29,208)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock under stock option and stock purchase plans	1,705	1,358	1,245
Common stock dividend paid	(20,953)	(5,180)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(19,248)	(3,822)	1,245
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	53	(568)	(71)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(4,194)	(990)	(162)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	58,833	59,823	59,985
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	54,639	58,833	59,823
Supplemental disclosures:
Cash paid during the year for interest	14	65	80
Cash paid (refunded) during the year for income taxes, net	$ 4,282	$ 1,042	$ (1,866)

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Certain Information for Plans with Respect to Accumulated Benefit Obligation (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Schedule of Pension Plans with Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets [Line Items]
Projected benefit obligation	$ 10,181	$ 28,068	$ 15,914
Accumulated benefit obligation	8,906	26,663
Fair value of plan assets	$ 8,015	$ 20,173	$ 9,990

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Marketable Securities

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Marketable Securities

4.    Marketable Securities

The Company invests its cash in marketable securities and classifies them as available-for-sale. The Company records these securities at fair value. Marketable securities reported as current assets represent investments that mature within one year from the balance sheet date. Long-term marketable securities represent investments with maturity dates greater than one year from the balance sheet date. At the time that the maturity dates of these investments become one year or less, the securities are reclassified to current assets. Unrealized gains and losses are excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of stockholders’ equity until they are sold or mature. At the time of sale, any gains or losses, calculated by the specific identification method, will be recognized as a component of operating results.

The following is a summary of marketable securities (included in short and long-term marketable securities in the consolidated balance sheets), including accrued interest receivable, as of September 30, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
September 30, 2012:
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies	$	41,202	$	15	$	(2	)	$	41,215
Corporate securities		64,102		138		(16	)		64,224
Mortgage-backed securities		1,310		42		(1	)		1,351
Other debt securities		13		—		—			13
Municipal securities		34,777		25		(1	)		34,801
Bank certificate of deposits		3,987		1		—			3,988
	$	145,391	$	221	$	(20	)	$	145,592
September 30, 2011:
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government agencies	$	53,342	$	17	$	(21	)	$	53,338
Corporate securities		66,045		50		(203	)		65,892
Mortgage-backed securities		1,576		26		(53	)		1,549
Other debt securities		434		—		—			434
Municipal securities		24,125		9		(17	)		24,117
Bank certificate of deposits		1,655		—		—			1,655
	$	147,177	$	102	$	(294	)	$	146,985

Gross realized gains on sales of available-for-sale marketable securities included in “Other (income) expense” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations was $15,000, $24,000 and $10,000 for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. There were no gross realized losses for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

The fair value of the marketable securities at September 30, 2012 by contractual maturity, are shown below. The following expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because the issuers of the securities may have the right to prepay obligations without prepayment penalties (in thousands):

	Fair Value
Due in one year or less	$	85,646
Due after one year through five years		56,148
Due after ten years		3,798
	$	145,592

Loss on Investment

During fiscal 2010, the Company recorded a charge of $0.2 million related to its minority equity investment in a Swiss public company. The $0.2 million charge represents the loss on the sale of this investment. As of September 30, 2010, the Company no longer had an equity investment in this entity.

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Marketable Securities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Gross realized gains on sales of available-for-sale marketable securities	$ 15,000	$ 24,000	$ 10,000
Other than temporary impairment of minority equity investment			200,000
Loss on sale of minority equity investment			$ 200,000

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Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Amount of Consolidated Liability for Unrecognized Income Tax Benefits (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 11,000	$ 14,968	$ 11,463
Additions for tax positions of prior years	489	631	3,793
Additions for tax positions related to current year		242	468
Reductions for tax positions of prior years			(59)
Reductions from lapses in statutes of limitations	(3,732)	(961)	(413)
Reductions from settlements with taxing authorities	(3,700)	(4,002)	(197)
Foreign exchange rate adjustment	(152)	122	(87)
Ending Balance	7,605	11,000	14,968
Unrecognized Tax Benefit
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	9,011	12,816	9,794
Additions for tax positions of prior years	242	184	3,287
Additions for tax positions related to current year		242	468
Reductions for tax positions of prior years			(40)
Reductions from lapses in statutes of limitations	(3,125)	(961)	(413)
Reductions from settlements with taxing authorities		(3,392)	(193)
Foreign exchange rate adjustment	(167)	122	(87)
Ending Balance	5,961	9,011	12,816
Interest and Penalties
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	1,989	2,152	1,669
Additions for tax positions of prior years	247	447	506
Reductions for tax positions of prior years			(19)
Reductions from lapses in statutes of limitations	(607)
Reductions from settlements with taxing authorities		(610)	(4)
Foreign exchange rate adjustment	15
Ending Balance	$ 1,644	$ 1,989	$ 2,152

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Significant Customers - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Customer	Sep. 30, 2011 Customer	Sep. 30, 2010 Customer
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of major customer by revenue	1	2	3
Revenue from major customers description	The Company had one customer that accounted for more than 10% of revenues, at 13%, in the year ended September 30, 2012.	The Company had two customers that each accounted for more than 10% of revenues, at 15% and 13%, respectively, in the year ended September 30, 2011.	The Company had three customers that each accounted for more than 10% of revenues, at 21%, 15% and 10%, respectively, in the year ended September 30, 2010.
Number of major customer by accounts receivable	1
Customer 1
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues by customer	13.00%	15.00%	21.00%
Customer 2
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues by customer		13.00%	15.00%
Customer 3
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of revenues by customer			10.00%
Accounts Receivable
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Line Items]
Revenue from major customers description	The Company did not have any customers that accounted for more than 10% of its accounts receivable balance at September 30, 2012	The Company did not have any customers that accounted for more than 10% of its accounts receivable balance at September 30, 2011.

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Condensed Statements of Operations, Ulvac Cryogenics, Inc (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2012 ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc.	Jun. 30, 2011 ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc.	Jun. 30, 2010 ULVAC Cryogenics, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 519,451	$ 688,105	$ 592,972	$ 70,532	$ 75,311	$ 38,470
Gross profit	173,486	223,021	166,295	19,816	22,974	10,747
Net income	$ 136,789	$ 130,385	$ 59,841	$ 4,004	$ 8,644	$ 2,341

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Subsequent Events

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Subsequent Events

21.    Subsequent Events

On October 29, 2012, the Company acquired all the outstanding stock of Crossing Automation Inc. (“Crossing”), a U.S. based provider of automation solutions and consumables primarily to global semiconductor front-end markets. The Company paid, in cash, an aggregate merger consideration of $63.1 million, which is subject to working capital adjustments to be determined subsequent to the closing. The acquisition of Crossing provides the Company with the opportunity to enhance its existing capabilities with respect to manufacturing of atmospheric and vacuum automation solutions within the semiconductor front-end market.

On November 7, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.08 per share payable on December 28, 2012 to common stockholders of record on December 7, 2012. Dividends are declared at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and depend on actual cash from operations, the Company’s financial condition and capital requirements and any other factors the Company’s Board of Directors may consider relevant. Future dividend declarations, as well as the record and payment dates for such dividends, will be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors on a quarterly basis.

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Earnings per Share - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Stock options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share	238,000	387,000	888,000
Restricted stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share	2,000	413,000	187,000

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Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Components of Income Tax Provision (Benefit)

The components of the income tax provision (benefit) are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Current income tax provision (benefit):
Federal	$	15		$	16		$	(3,883	)
State		213			1,356			616
Foreign		(1,374	)		858			521
Total current income tax provision (benefit)		(1,146	)		2,230			(2,746	)
Deferred income tax (benefit):
Federal		(118,432	)		—			—
State		(291	)		—			—
Foreign		(3,413	)		(276	)		—
Total deferred income tax (benefit)		(122,136	)		(276	)		—
Income tax provision (benefit)	$	(123,282	)	$	1,954		$	(2,746	)

Components of Income Before Income Taxes and Equity in Earnings of Joint Ventures

The components of income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2010
Domestic	$	2,204	$	111,053	$	44,956
Foreign		9,216		16,523		11,108
	$	11,420	$	127,576	$	56,064

Differences between Income Tax Provision (benefit) and Income Taxes Computed using Applicable U.S. Statutory Federal Tax Rate

The differences between the income tax provision (benefit) and income taxes computed using the applicable U.S. statutory federal tax rate is as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2012			2011			2010
Income tax provision computed at federal statutory rate	$	4,728		$	45,736		$	19,622
State income taxes, net of federal benefit		260			1,848			699
Net operating loss carryback refund		—			—			(3,899	)
Foreign income taxed at different rates		(832	)		(1,546	)		(1,650	)
Dividends		956			(219	)		1,006
Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance		(125,479	)		(42,608	)		(18,423	)
Reduction in uncertain tax positions		(3,732	)		(3,719	)		(609	)
Nondeductible compensation		1,339			295			379
Tax credits generated		(1,195	)		(1,179	)		(414	)
Other		673			3,346			543
Income tax provision (benefit)	$	(123,282	)	$	1,954		$	(2,746	)

Significant Components of Net Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

The significant components of the net deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

	September 30,
	2012			2011
Accruals and reserves not currently deductible	$	10,489		$	10,357
Federal, state and foreign tax credits		18,963			22,673
Other assets		1,655			3,304
Net operating loss carryforwards		101,713			119,167
Inventory reserves and valuation		8,790			11,650
Deferred tax assets		141,610			167,151
Depreciation and intangible amortization		5,418			6,851
Deferred tax liabilities		5,418			6,851
Valuation allowance		(16,035	)		(162,208	)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$	120,157		$	(1,908	)

Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Amount of Consolidated Liability for Unrecognized Income Tax Benefits

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the consolidated liability for unrecognized income tax benefits during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

	Unrecognized Tax Benefit			Interest and Penalties			Total
Balance at October 1, 2009	$	9,794		$	1,669		$	11,463
Additions for tax positions of prior years		3,287			506			3,793
Additions for tax positions related to current year		468			—			468
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		(40	)		(19	)		(59	)
Reductions from lapses in statutes of limitations		(413	)		—			(413	)
Reductions from settlements with taxing authorities		(193	)		(4	)		(197	)
Foreign exchange rate adjustment		(87	)		—			(87	)
Balance at September 30, 2010		12,816			2,152			14,968
Additions for tax positions of prior years		184			447			631
Additions for tax positions related to current year		242			—			242
Reductions from lapses in statutes of limitations		(961	)		—			(961	)
Reductions from settlements with taxing authorities		(3,392	)		(610	)		(4,002	)
Foreign exchange rate adjustment		122			—			122
Balance at September 30, 2011		9,011			1,989			11,000
Additions for tax positions of prior years		242			247			489
Reductions from lapses in statutes of limitations		(3,125	)		(607	)		(3,732	)
Foreign exchange rate adjustment		(167	)		15			(152	)
Balance at September 30, 2012	$	5,961		$	1,644		$	7,605

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Stockholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Stockholders' Equity

14.    Stockholders’ Equity

Preferred Stock

At September 30, 2012 and 2011 there were one million shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share authorized; no shares were issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and 2011. Preferred stock may be issued at the discretion of the Board of Directors without stockholder approval with such designations, rights and preferences as the Board of Directors may determine.

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Financial Information for Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenues
Product	$ 431,961	$ 611,117	$ 531,807
Services	87,490	76,988	61,165
Total revenues	519,451	688,105	592,972
Gross profit	173,486	223,021	166,295
Segment operating income	9,561	79,597	47,007
Depreciation	13,407	12,621	14,563
Assets	741,960	636,958
Brooks Product Solutions
Revenues
Product	380,888	451,287	362,524
Total revenues	380,888	451,287	362,524
Gross profit	127,472	171,801	128,479
Segment operating income	21,319	64,921	40,143
Depreciation	8,952	8,597	9,465
Assets	218,799	235,322	227,408
Brooks Global Services
Revenues
Product	11,324	14,786	13,740
Services	74,628	74,058	61,165
Total revenues	85,952	88,844	74,905
Gross profit	25,599	31,750	20,354
Segment operating income	9,404	13,293	3,805
Depreciation	2,344	2,481	2,843
Assets	56,120	52,354	53,564
Brooks Life Science Systems
Revenues
Product	39,749	7,715
Services	12,862	2,930
Total revenues	52,611	10,645
Gross profit	20,415	2,260
Segment operating income	(3,139)	(4,684)
Depreciation	2,111	543
Assets	107,530	101,331
Contract Manufacturing
Revenues
Product		137,329	155,543
Total revenues		137,329	155,543
Gross profit		17,210	17,462
Segment operating income		10,649	8,335
Depreciation		1,000	2,255
Assets			57,024
Operating Segments, Total
Revenues
Product	431,961	611,117	531,807
Services	87,490	76,988	61,165
Total revenues	519,451	688,105	592,972
Gross profit	173,486	223,021	166,295
Segment operating income	27,584	84,179	52,283
Depreciation	13,407	12,621	14,563
Assets	$ 382,449	$ 389,007	$ 337,996