SolarWorld AG announces acquisition of the German solar cell and module production of Bosch Solar Energy / Contract signed - European gigawatt group arises

Bonn (ots) - The European solar technology manufacturer SolarWorld
AG announces the acquisition of the cell and module production of
Bosch Solar Energy in Arnstadt in the German federal state of
Thuringia. This means that around 800 jobs will be preserved and
secured in the wholly-owned SolarWorld subsidiary SolarWorld
Industries-Thüringen GmbH. The purchase agreement has been signed
today. With this purchase, SolarWorld takes over a cell production
plant with a nominal year-end capacity of 700 MW and a module
production plant with a nominal year-end capacity of 200 MW from
Bosch Solar Energy AG.

With the acquisition, the first European solar energy group with a
production capacity of over one gigawatt arises. SolarWorld produces
solar wafers, solar cells and solar modules in Germany and the United
States. Together with the newly acquired production facilities,
SolarWorld will be the largest solar technology manufacturer in the
Western world.

Dr.-Ing. E. h. Frank Asbeck, CEO of SolarWorld AG: "We believe in
Made in Germany and Made in the United States. Only with the highest
quality standards can we meet the demands of our customers and offer
guarantees of 25 or even 30 years. The acquisition of the production
facilities of Bosch Solar Energy strengthens SolarWorld. We are
reinforcing Germany's leadership in photovoltaics."

Bosch and SolarWorld use cell technologies with high degrees of
efficiency. Both are leaders in the technological development and
industrial application of high-efficiency PERC technology. With the
consolidation of research activities and with their combined
production experience, SolarWorld expects further efficiency gains
and cost reductions. The implementation of the acquisition as well as
the successful completion of the SolarWorld's restructuring process
is to take place at the end of February 2014. The transaction is
subject to a pending antitrust approval and other closing conditions.

At a staff meeting of Bosch Solar Energy on Tuesday morning, Dr.
Frank Asbeck and Bosch's CEO Dr. Volkmar Denner jointly announced the
takeover decision to employees in Arnstadt. Asbeck: "With the
locations of Arnstadt/Thuringia, Freiberg/Saxony and Hillsboro/United
States, the gigawatt manufacturer arises that was long called for in
the solar industry by European politics. With the best technology and
the best quality, we will assume a leadership role in the solar
industry. We are going to implement the energy transition in
practice."

Please find here a detailed interview with Dr.-Ing. E.h. Frank
Asbeck: http://www.solarworld.de/en/press

About SolarWorld AG: SolarWorld AG manufactures solar power
systems and in doing so contributes to a cleaner energy supply
worldwide. The company, located in Bonn, employs approximately 2,500
people and carries out production in Freiberg, Germany, and
Hillsboro, USA. From raw material silicon to the solar module,
SolarWorld manages all stages of production, including its own
research and development. Through an international distribution
network, SolarWorld supplies customers all over the world with solar
modules and complete systems. The company maintains high social
standards at all locations across the globe, and has committed itself
to resource- and energy-efficient production. SolarWorld has been
publically traded on the stock market since 1999. More information at
www.solarworld.com.

Contact:
SolarWorld AG
Martin-Luther-King-Str. 24
53175 Bonn +49 (0) 228/55920 409
press@solarworld.de
www.solarworld.de