SolarWorld increases operating result by 51.8 % in the first nine months
Bonn - SolarWorld AG further expanded sales and earnings by double digit percentage amounts in the 3rd quarter of 2008. In 3Q group sales grew by 47.2 percent to 238.3 (previous year: 161.9) million EUR and in the first nine months by 41.5 percent to 665.4 (previous year : 470.1) million EUR.
The operating result before interest and tax (EBIT) went up from July through September by 67.3 percent to 90.7 (previous year: 54.2) million EUR and cumulatively as per September by 51.8 percent to 209.3 (previous year: 137.9) million EUR.
The group profit could be increased in the 3rd quarter by 17.3 percent to 35.9 (previous year: 30.6) million EUR and in the first nine months by 56.1 percent to 123.0 (previous year: 78.8) million EUR.
SolarWorld AG has thus consistently taken all currently predictable capital market risks into consideration in its balance sheet.
The group-wide rate of international business amounted to 59 (previous year: 49) percent. The Management Board of SolarWorld AG expects to exceed the profit forecast for Fiscal Year 2008.
About the SolarWorld group
The SolarWorld group (ISIN: DE0005108401) is a worldwide leader in offering brand-name, high-quality, crystalline solar-power technology. Its strength is its fully integrated solar production. From silicon as the raw material through wafers, cells and modules all the way to turn-key solar systems, including recycling, the group combines all stages of the solar value chain. The central business activity is selling quality modules into the installation and distribution trades and crystalline wafers to the international solar cell industry. Group headquarters are located in Bonn, Germany. Production sites are to be found in Germany, the United States and South Korea. The group’s largest production facilities operate in Freiberg, Germany and Hillsboro in the U.S. state of Oregon. Sustainability is the basis of the group strategy. Under the name Solar2World, the group supports care projects using off-grid solar-power solutions in emerging economies and developing countries, exemplifying sustainable economic development. Worldwide, SolarWorld employs more than 2,700 people. SolarWorld AG has been quoted on the stock exchange since 1999 and today is listed on, among others, the TecDAX, ÖkoDAX, Dow Jones STOXX 600 as well as in the sustainability indices DAXglobal Alternative Energy and NAI.
www.solarworld-usa.com
Media Contact:
Ben Santarris
Public affairs manager
SolarWorld
25300 N.W. Evergreen Road
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Mobile: 503 927 9858
Office: 503 693 5189
ben.santarris(at)solarworld-usa.com