WACKER plans to set up new polysilicon production facility in the United States

• Land purchased in the State of Tennessee
• Mid-term plans for a
new integrated production site
• CEO Rudolf Staudigl: “Building
additional capacity outside the euro zone is targeted at meeting
expected growth in demand”

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Munich/Cleveland (TN, USA) (euro adhoc) - February 26, 2009 - Wacker
Chemie AG has mid-term plans to construct a new hyperpure
polycrystalline silicon facility in the US and has purchased land in
the State of Tennessee for this purpose. The Munich-based chemical
group announced the decision today. The land in Bradley County covers
approximately 550 acres (220 hectares), offering adequate space for a
new integrated silicon-based manufacturing site. The purchase price
totals almost $20 million. WACKER expects a mid-term investment in
the Cleveland, Tennessee area of around $1 billion to set up the new
plant, thereby creating about 500 new jobs. The size of the site, the
availability of reliable power from the Tennessee Valley Authority
(TVA), over-the-fence supply of chlorine from the adjacent OLIN
Corporation facility and excellent transportation infrastructure made
this an attractive site location.

"We expect polysilicon demand from the solar and semiconductor
industries to further increase in coming years," explained Rudolf
Staudigl, President and CEO of Wacker Chemie AG. "Purchasing the land
is an essential prerequisite to quickly build up additional
production capacities outside the euro zone in line with the
projected market trends and growth in demand."

According to Staudigl, this site was chosen not only for its well
developed infrastructure but also due to the outstanding support and
cooperation made available by the Bradley County government offices,
Bradley-Cleveland Chamber of Commerce and local businesses and the
State of Tennessee. The package of incentives connected with the land
purchase includes provisions for necessary transportation access and
a reliable source for water and electric-based energy which are key
resources associated with the production of hyperpure polycrystalline
silicon. In addition, electrical energy costs in Tennessee are
uniquely affordable, only about half the rated experienced at
comparable sites in Germany. "Government officials at all levels,
agencies and business associates from the State of Tennessee and
Bradley County were extremely attentive to our business requirements,
cooperative, and made every endeavor to support our plans," continued
Staudigl.

"This announcement further enhances Tennessee´s growing reputation as
an innovation center in the development and manufacture of clean
energy technologies," said Governor Phil Bredesen. "I appreciate
WACKER´s investment in Tennessee and its recognition of the
productivity of Tennessee workers, and I´m very pleased the company
believes Tennessee is the best place to enhance its position in a
growing economic sector."

"In Tennessee, we believe renewable energy has the potential to
transform our state's economy" said ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber.
"Announcements in this sector have resulted in more than $2.5 billion
dollars in new capital investment and over a thousand new jobs in the
past year and we truly believe Tennessee is well-positioned for the
growth of a sustainable economy in the U.S."

WACKER POLYSILICON is currently the world´s second largest producer
of hyperpure polycrystalline. WACKER has manufactured polysilicon for
the semiconductor industry for over 50 years. To meet rising
solar-silicon demand, WACKER POLYSILICON has steadily expanded its
capacity and, since 2000, has supplied increasing volumes to the
photovoltaics industry, too.

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
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ots Originaltext: Wacker Chemie AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Christof Bachmair

Media Relations & Information

Tel.: +49 (0)89 6279 1830

E-Mail: christof.bachmair@wacker.com

Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE000WCH8881
WKN: WCH888
Index: Midcap Market Index, MDAX, CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX,
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Börsen: Börse Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard