STRONG DEMAND AND PRICING FOR SEMICONDUCTOR WAFERS LIFT WACKER’S EARNINGS EXPECTATIONS

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Reflecting ongoing favorable trading conditions and further improved
expectations regarding customer demand for semiconductor wafers for
the second half of 2006, WACKER is raising its full-year sales and
earnings forecast. The chemical company based in Munich (Germany)
forecasts full-year sales to exceed 2005’s EUR2.76 billion by some 20
percent. Based on currently prevailing currency rates, WACKER expects
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
(EBITDA) of between EUR730 million and EUR750 million, which is about
30 percent higher than last year’s adjusted EBITDA of EUR567 million.
Previously WACKER had forecasted a sales growth of larger than 10
percent and EBITDA of between EUR640 million and EUR680 million.

WACKER Group CFO Joachim Rauhut said, "What we see from our first
analysis of preliminary second-quarter figures is that these are
pretty much in line with our forecast given at our Q1 conference
call. Group Sales and EBITDA for Q2 are expected to be reported at
about 4 percent over Q1’2006. With better visibility for Siltronic we
now are confident that we can actually exceed our previously
announced full-year financial targets with improved performance
during the second half of 2006." Besides stronger-than-expected sales
and earnings growth in its wafer business, WACKER also sees higher
silicones sales improving the forecast for second-half results.

In detail, WACKER expects a full-year increase in Siltronic sales of
about 35 percent over fiscal year 2005 to about EUR1,250 million with
an EBITDA margin of about 26 percent (last year 18 percent), driven
by stronger pricing and volumes especially in the second half of the
year. Results for the second quarter were strong as expected with
sales of about EUR300 million and an EBITDA of approximately EUR73
million. Sales for the second half of 2006 are expected to increase
over the first half by 13 percent with EBITDA margins growing due to
firm pricing and volumes to about 28 percent on average over the
second half. Demand for all wafers is developing stronger than WACKER
had anticipated earlier, and wafer pricing is further improving.

For WACKER POLYSILICON, full-year sales are expected to grow by about
10 percent to EUR320 million mainly driven by yield improvements and
an accelerated ramp-up of a 1,000 metric tons capacity addition in
existing facilities. Sales and EBITDA in the second quarter were
roughly EUR78 million and EUR23 million, respectively. With
engineering costs for plant expansions and ramp-up costs weighing on
the second quarter, full-year EBITDA margin for Polysilicon is
expected to be in the mid thirties.

The Chemical segments as a whole are benefiting from positive effects
from volume gains and product mix improvements which are nearly
offsetting increasing raw material and energy costs. Taken together,
WACKER POLYMERS, WACKER SILICONES and WACKER FINE CHEMICALS Q2 sales
were approximately EUR503 million while EBITDA was about EUR99
million. Full-year combined sales are expected to grow by about 12
percent to EUR1,900 million with EBITDA margins slightly below 2005
levels at about 18 percent. Margins for the Chemical segments are
expected to be lower in the second half due to seasonality, higher
plant maintenance costs and increases in raw materials and energy
costs.

WACKER Group CFO Joachim Rauhut said, "Overall the outlook for the
company is improving. Sales in 2006 for the WACKER group are now
expected to increase to about EUR3,300 million driven mainly by
Siltronic and WACKER SILICONES. EBITDA is anticipated to rise by
about 30 percent. The company is benefiting from strength in its key
markets and from tight management of costs coupled with judicious
expansion of core operations. The strong results underline the
suc-cess of WACKER’s long-term strategy of focusing on growth and
margins."

It should be noted that indicated results for the second quarter are
preliminary. WACKER’s actual results for the quarter will be reported
on August 21, 2006.

This press release contains forward looking statements based on
assumptions and estimates of WACKER's Executive Board. Although we
assume the expectations in these forward looking statements are
realistic, we cannot guarantee they will prove to be correct. The
assumptions may harbor risks and uncertainties that may cause the
actual figures to differ considerably from the forward looking
statements. Factors that may cause such discrepancies include, among
other things, changes in the economic and business environment,
variations in exchange and interest rates, the introduction of
competing products, lack of acceptance for new products or services,
and changes in corporate strategy. WACKER does not plan to update the
forward looking statements, nor does it assume the obligation to do
so.

end of announcement euro adhoc 01.08.2006 08:24:41
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ots Originaltext: Wacker Chemie AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:
Christof Bachmair
+49 (0)89 6279 1830
christof.bachmair@wacker.com

Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE000WCH8881
WKN: WCH888
Index: CDAX, MDAX
Börsen: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / official dealing/prime standard
Börse Berlin-Bremen / free trade
Hamburger Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade
Bayerische Börse / free trade


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