Meyer Burger Technology AG — Earnings Release 2007

May 15, 2007

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Corporate | 15 May 2007 09:29

Roth & Rau AG reports successful start to 2007

Roth & Rau AG / Quarter Results

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Roth & Rau AG reports successful start to 2007
- Sales growth of 250 % to Euro 24,568k
- Record level of incoming orders and orders on hand
- Confirmation of sales forecast of Euro 100 million in 2007

Hohenstein-Ernstthal, 15 May 2007 – Roth & Rau AG generated sales of Euro
24,568k in the first quarter of 2007, equivalent to an increase of 250 % on
the figure reported for the same period in the previous year (Euro 7,015k).
The photovoltaic division reaffirmed its traditional dominance, accounting
for 91.5 % of total sales. The company generated 68.8 % of its sales in
other countries. 'This pleasing performance in the first quarter means that
we have already matched the level of sales reported for the first nine
months of the past financial year,' comments Dr. Dietmar Roth, CEO of Roth
& Rau AG. 'Our growing presence in the Asian sales market is turning out to
be especially worthwhile, boosting the highly dynamic development of our
business with a large number of follow-on orders and new customers.'

Earnings also showed substantial growth in the first quarter. At Euro
2,512k, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved by 175 % on the
equivalent period in the previous year (Euro 914k). The EBIT margin
accordingly amounted to 10.2 % and was thus at the same level as the figure
of 10.5 % reported for the 2006 financial year as a whole. The net surplus
for the period also showed considerable growth of 228 % to reach Euro
1,794k. The photovoltaic division posted extremely successful results for
the first quarter, with operating earnings (EBIT) of Euro 3,298k and an
EBIT margin of 14.7 %. As a result of one-off items, however, the plasma
and ion beam technology division, which largely involves research and
development projects, performed more weakly than in the equivalent period
in the previous year, posting operating earnings (EBIT) of Euro -794k. The
company nevertheless expects this area to perform more positively in the
financial year as a whole.

The order situation showed extremely dynamic developments in the first
quarter. With incoming orders of Euro 32,233k (previous year: Euro 7,329k)
and orders on hand of Euro 109,849k (previous year: Euro 16,279k), Roth &
Rau AG achieved the highest quarterly figures in the company’s history to
date. The photovoltaic division accounted for 94.4 % of new orders. This
development was driven by the acquisition of a new major order in the field
of turnkey production lines in the first two months already, as well as by
the great demand for the successful main product of Roth & Rau AG, the
antireflective coating facilities in the SiNA series.

Dr. Roth is confident with regard to the future: 'The strong quarterly
figures show that we are on the right track. We see these results as
providing confirmation of our growth strategy and are adhering to our
target of generating sales of Euro 100 million and increased operating
earnings for the year as a whole. In coming months we will be focusing on
increasing our share of the value chain in the production of crystalline
silicon solar cells. This will enable us to do justice to the increasing
needs on the part of our customers for high-quality, optimised processes
and increased production facility productivity, as well as to further
expand our market share.'

Roth & Rau AG is planning to launch production activities at its new
photovoltaic location in Hohenstein-Ernstthal in September of this year.
'We are thus adapting our production capacities in a targeted manner to the
ongoing rise in demand in the photovoltaic industry,' comments Dr. Roth.
The company also reacts in terms of its personnel and plans to increase its
current total workforce of 156 employees by around 40 further employees in
the remainder of the year.

The quarterly report can be downloaded at www.roth-rau.de under the section
'Investor Relations'.

About Roth & Rau AG:
Roth & Rau AG (ISIN DE000A0JCZ51) develops and manufactures equipment and
process systems on the basis of plasma and ion beam technology and supplies
these to a global customer base in a wide variety of sectors. Roth & Rau’s
photovoltaic business field focuses on providing antireflective coating
facilities for crystalline silicon solar cells. With a global market share
(excluding Japan) of around 60 %, Roth & Rau is the global market leader in
this area. The company’s second business field of plasma and ion beam
technology, which accounted for around 15 % of total sales in the past
financial year, develops equipment for the semiconductor and automotive
industries, as well as for research and development in various
sectors.

Contact:
Haubrok Investor Relations GmbH
Simone Gorny
Kaistraße 16
40221 Düsseldorf
Tel.: +49 (0) 211/30126-130
Fax: +49 (0)211/30126-172
E-Mail: s.gorny@haubrok.de

DGAP 15.05.2007

Language: English
Issuer: Roth & Rau AG
Gewerbering 3 OT Wüstenbrand
09337 Hohenstein-Ernstthal Deutschland
Phone: 0372349880
Fax: 03723 498825
E-mail: silvia.roth@roth-rau.de
www: www.roth-rau.de
ISIN: DE000A0JCZ51
WKN: A0JCZ5
Indices:
Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart;
Entry Standard in Frankfurt

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