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December 19, 2008
Mainz,
Germany: SCHOTT Solar AG Presents Preliminary FY 2007/2008 Figures
SCHOTT
Solar AG yesterday reported record results for the financial year
2007/2008. The company improved all key financial figures and
ratios, and the expansion of its two segments continued on schedule.
During
the company’s fiscal year 2007/2008 (1 October 2007 to 30 September
2008), SCHOTT
Solar AG recorded an approximately 70 percent growth in sales
to EUR 482 million (previous year: EUR 283 million). The same
period saw a significant improvement in the company’s earnings
before interest and taxes (EBIT) to EUR 52 million (previous year:
EUR 9 million).
As
of 30 September 2008, 1,650 people (previous year: 1,037) were
employed at locations in Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic and
the USA. SCHOTT Solar AG considers itself to be the leading supplier
of receivers for solar power plants with parabolic trough technology
and as an integrated provider of photovoltaic products.
"In
the past financial year we consistently implemented our company
strategy of sustainable growth, and thanks to our unique positioning
in the concentrated solar power und photovoltaics businesses we
are well prepared for the future," emphasized Dr. Martin Heming,
the company’s Chief Executive Officer.
The
company’s expansion of its photovoltaics production capacities
proceeded as planned. This included an increase in the crystalline
cell and module production capacities to 185 megawatts (previous
year: 135 megawatts) and 170 megawatts (previous year: 90 megawatts),
respectively. Thin film production capacity increased more than
10 times, to 35 megawatts (previous year: 3 megawatts).
The
start-up of the first production line at the new Aznalcollŕr factory
in Spain boosted the capacities of the Concentrated Solar Power
division to a total of approximately 400 megawatts. SCHOTT Solar
AG anticipates reporting continued strong sales growth and a positive
profit trend for the financial year 2008/2009.
However,
the overall 2009 business trend in the solar power industry will
substantially depend on the implications of the global economic
crisis in the financial market and the impact on the real economy.
The extent of this impact, and the implications on the global
solar market, is difficult to forecast, at this time.
Further details about: Schott
Solar
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