Meyer Burger Technology AG — Earnings Release 2008

Oct 29, 2008

News Details

Corporate | 29 October 2008 10:02

Roth & Rau: Strong growth in first nine months of 2008

Roth & Rau AG / Preliminary Results

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Roth & Rau: Strong growth in first nine months of 2008
- Sales grow by 83.7 % to EUR 197,479k
- Substantial improvement in EBIT margin to 10.6 %
- Orders on hand as of 30 September 2008: EUR 238,220k

Hohenstein-Ernstthal, 29 October 2008 – Based on preliminary figures, the
Roth & Rau Group achieved strong growth in the first nine months of the
2008 financial year. By the end of September 2008, the Group had generated
sales of EUR 197,479k, thus exceeding the previous year’s figure by 83.7%
(2007: EUR 107,528k). This growth was driven in particular by strong demand
from the Asian region, which accounted for around 53.2 % of sales.

In spite of its strong operative growth, Roth & Rau also further boosted
its profitability. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose by 97.3 %
from EUR 10,577k to EUR 20,869k. The EBIT margin showed a significant
increase from 9.8 % to 10.6 %. 'We are therefore absolutely on budget in
terms of both sales and earnings. We can thus affirm our forecast for the
2008 financial year as a whole, namely of achieving sales of at least EUR
250 million with an EBIT margin of least 10.0 %', commented Carsten
Bovenschen, CFO of Roth & Rau AG.

The Group is also well prepared for the coming 2009 financial year. Orders
on hand amounted to EUR 238,220k as of 30 September 2008 and were thus 64.1
% up on the previous year’s figure of EUR 145,165k. Moreover, the company
currently has letters of intent for around EUR 90 million. 'Negotiations
are at a very advanced stage for several major orders. These also include
orders for large numbers of facilities from our new MAiA product line. We
are confident that we will be able to sign the contracts for at least EUR
57 million of these orders by the end of the fourth quarter', added Dr.
Dietmar Roth, CEO of Roth & Rau AG. MAiA involves a new generation of
equipment for the introduction of new solar cell technologies. One of the
key characteristics of this modified equipment series is its flexibility in
terms of assembly and its possible applications. Its modular structure
enables new plasma technologies, such as the two-sided coating of solar
cells or the use of layer materials, to be implemented separately or in
combination.

The full interim report will be published on 11 November 2008.

About Roth & Rau AG:
Roth & Rau AG based in Hohenstein-Ernstthal (ISIN DE000A0JCZ51) is by
market share one of the world’s leading suppliers of plasma process systems
for the photovoltaics industry. Furthermore Roth & Rau supplies components
and process systems based on plasma and ion beam technology for other
sectors. Developed by Roth & Rau, these products are manufactured and
distributed worldwide through the company’s photovoltaic and plasma and ion
beam technology divisions. Roth & Rau’s photovoltaic division focuses on
providing antireflective coating facilities as well as fully automated
manufacturing lines (turnkey production lines) for the production of
crystalline silicon solar cells. Another focus is on the production of
equipment for the coating of thin film solar modules. The plasma and ion
beam technology division, which accounted for 6 percent of total sales in
the 2007 financial year, produces plasma sources and ion beam sources as
well as process systems for plasma and ion beam enhanced thin film and
surface processing methods. Customers served by this division include, in
particular, companies in the semiconductor and automotive industries, R&D
departments in various industries including photovoltaics as well as
research institutes and universities. Roth & Rau AG posted sales of EUR 146
million and EBIT of EUR 14 million pursuant to IFRS for the 2007 financial
year and had an average of 190 employees. Sales in the first half of the
year amounted to EUR 104 million, with EBIT coming in at EUR 11
million.

Contact:
Haubrok Investor Relations GmbH
Simone Gorny
Kaistraße 16
40221 Düsseldorf
Tel.: +49 (0) 211/30126-130
Fax: +49 (0)211/30126-5130
E-Mail: s.gorny@haubrok.de

29.10.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

Language: English
Issuer: Roth & Rau AG
An der Baumschule 6-8
09337 Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Deutschland
Phone: 03723 6685-0
Fax: 03723 6685-100
E-mail: info@roth-rau.de
Internet: www.roth-rau.de
ISIN: DE000A0JCZ51
WKN: A0JCZ5
Indices: TecDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Düsseldorf, München, Berlin, Stuttgart

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