Ad-hoc | 17 December 2004 08:29

PVA TePla AG : Joint Venture in China for Crystal Growing Systems

Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Joint Venture in China for Crystal Growing Systems Aßlar/Xi’an, 17.12.2004: The Crystal Growing Systems division (CGS-GmbH) of PVA TePla AG has signed a joint venture agreement with the Technical University of Xian (TUX) to establish Xi’an HuaDe CGS GmbH, domiciled in Xi’an, China. TUX is China’s biggest producer of silicon crystal-growing systems and in its leader in this technology. The objects of the new company, in which CGS GmbH will hold a 51% interest, include the development, marketing, assembly, installation and servicing of crystal growing, high- temperature and plasma systems. The main focus of activity in the next few years will be to produce and market crystal growing systems for solar silicon. CGS GmbH will provide its leading know-how in the field of solar crystal growing systems and will receive royalties on sales generated by the new company. The first order – to supply 20 crystal growing systems to a major Chinese manufacturer of solar power systems – is expected to be placed in the near future. Contact: Peter Banholzer (IR Manager) Tel.: +49 / (0)6441 / 5692-342 eMail: peter.banholzer@pvatepla.com end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 17.12.2004 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad-hoc-announcement: Background: Rapid growth in the global solar cell market has led to strong demand for monocrystal solar-grade silicon wafers in recent years. China is the world’s largest market for crystal growing systems for the production of monocrystal solar-grade silicon. Several companies engaged in the production of solar silicon have been established in China in recent years. The biggest and best- known supplier, with more than 20 years’ experience in mechanical engineering, is the Technical University of Xian (TUX). As part of the government’s Alternative Energy Programme, China plans to cover more than ten percent of its national energy requirements with renewable energies by the year 2010. This means the solar industry will continue to be a high-growth market in the years ahead. The PVA TePla Group is thus establishing its first subsidiary in the Chinese market and expects the demand in China for PVA TePla machinery designed for the production and treatment of high-tech materials to grow faster even than the global average. ——————————————————————————– WKN: 746100; ISIN: DE0007461006; Index: Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover und Stuttgart 170829 Dez 04