DGAP-News: Roth & Rau AG wins major order worth EUR 26.0 million

Roth & Rau AG / Miscellaneous

26.01.2009

Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
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Roth & Rau AG wins major order worth EUR 26.0 million
- Millinet Solar orders two 60 MWp turnkey production lines
- New orders in 2008 improve by 10.1% to EUR 269.2 million

Hohenstein-Ernstthal, 26 January 2009 - Roth & Rau AG has received a major
order to supply two turnkey production lines worth EUR 26.0 million. The
lines, which have production capacities of 60 MWp each, are due to be
supplied to the Korean solar cell manufacturer Millinet Solar from June
2009 (1st line) and November 2009 (2nd line). This major order underlines
Roth & Rau’s position as one of the world’s leading turnkey suppliers.
‘More than anything, it was our in-line technology and extensive experience
in organising and handling turnkey projects which enabled us to prevail
over international competitors,’ commented Dr. Dietmar Roth, CEO of Roth &
Rau AG.

The Millinet project will be the first project to be handled by Roth & Rau
together with its new cooperation partner, Manz Automation AG. ‘The
cooperation with Manz will enable our customers to benefit from an
optimally coordinated equipment and technology package characterised by a
high degree of cost effectiveness. We are pleased to have an opportunity of
proving this so quickly with our first reference project,’ commented Dr.
Dietmar Roth.

Roth & Rau achieved a further substantial increase in new orders in the
past 2008 financial year. Orders amounted to EUR 269.2 million in total and
thus improved by 10.1% compared with the previous year (2007: EUR 244.6
million). The first major order in the new year shows that companies are
continuing to invest in the development and expansion of production
capacities in 2009 as well and that turnkey projects are in especially
great demand. ‘Our superb positioning and our technologically leading
products enabled us to successfully acquire the Millinet order in spite of
the difficult market climate,’ added Dr. Dietmar Roth. ‘Against this
background, we are optimistic with regard to demand in the medium term. We
nevertheless expect to see more subdued developments in the order situation
in the first half of 2009, as some solar cell manufacturers will postpone
their investment projects. We expect to see a recovery in this respect at
the earliest in the second half of 2009.’

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 nine months of
the year amounted to EUR 197 million, with EBIT coming in at EUR 21
million.

Contact:
Roth & Rau AG
Dr. Silvia Roth
Tel.: +49 (0) 3723/6685-333
E-Mail: investor@roth-rau.de

Haubrok Investor Relations GmbH
Simone Gorny
Tel.: +49 (0) 211/30126-130
E-Mail: s.gorny@haubrok.de
26.01.2009 [1] Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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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 Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Düsseldorf

End of News DGAP News-Service

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