11/15/2011 05:20:00 CET
Reutlingen, November 15, 2011 – Manz AG is planning to acquire the CIGS production line located at Schwäbisch Hall from Würth Solar GmbH & Co. KG. This production line is planned to be first converted into an innovation line for the further development of CIGS production and process technology. A total of 116 Würth Solar employees are to be integrated into the Manz Group as part of the acquisition of the entire CIGS technology. The new innovation factory is primarily intended to serve research and development with the focus being on accelerating further technological development, and the related reduction of production costs and boosting of module efficiencies.
Along with the production site, Manz is also acquiring licences and know-how from Würth Solar, including from the research co-operation venture with the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), and without further one-off costs. The know-how licensing and co-operation agreement that was concluded in 2010 will be replaced when the new agreement is concluded. This will dispense with the second tranche that was agreed in the original contract, which would have been due when the first CIGSfab was sold. To offset this, Manz will adopt most of the ongoing costs for the innovation line. The takeover should be concluded by early 2012.
This planned step allows both co-operation partners to successfully continue their collaboration of many years, with Manz focusing on the further technological development of the CIGS technology. Würth Solar will continue to be responsible for future sales of the CIGS modules that are produced on the innovation line, thereby concentrating clearly on its core competence of marketing photovoltaic modules and solutions.
Additional information:
ISIN: DE000A0JQ5U3
German Securities Identification Number (WKN) of the shares: A0JQ5U
Trading symbol: M5Z
Trading segment: Regulated market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
Manz AG
Steigäckerstraße 5
72768 Reutlingen
Germany