Solar Industries increases its share capital and continues expansion – Matthias Schoft appointed Gro

A total of 792,459 new registered shares with a par value of CHF 4.60 each were subscribed by the company's previous shareholders as well as new investors at the issue price of CHF 5.80 per share. This raised the company’s share capital from CHF 21,572,068 to CHF 25,217,379. A second stage of this transaction should take place in the first quarter 2011.

Matthias Schoft (54) was appointed to April 1st CEO of Solar Industries Module GmbH (SI Module), the new Group subsidiary that was established in December 2010. In addition to his duties as SI Module’s CEO he will assume the function of COO of Solar Industries AG. As Group COO, one of his main responsibilities will be initiating module production operations in Switzerland and ramping up capacity at SIAG’s other production sites. Matthias Schoft has entrepreneurial experience as a founder and successful manager of his own HVAC and aluminum construction businesses. He was most recently involved in building up a photovoltaic module production site in Mediterranean area, where production capacity was gradually increased from 0.8 MWp to 130 MWp during the past eight years (2010 sales: EUR 90 million).

Realization of production facilities in Switzerland by 2012
SIAG is planning to set up its own production site for solar modules in German-speaking Switzerland by 2012 (total of 150 MWp). Thanks to its current cooperation with distribution partners in Germany and the additional sales potential offered by its subsidiary SI Solutions GmbH in Puchheim, Germany (near Munich), SIAG already has efficient distribution channels in place. SIAG is aiming to establish itself in the Swiss solar market as “the system integrator” offering a complete range of solutions and playing a key role in future developments. SI Module has already been producing photovoltaic modules for the German and Swiss markets in Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany) since the beginning of 2011. This new group subsidiary acquired a photovoltaic module production line with a nominal capacity of 25 MWp (megawatt peak) from Somont GmbH at the end of 2010.

Continuing development of industrial investment portfolio
SIAG intends to actively develop the interests it currently holds in various industrial companies and is expanding its organizational footprint in Glarus Nord (Niederurnen). SIAG is active in Germany through its sales and distribution company (SI Solutions GmbH), which offers photovoltaic systems to installation companies and project developers. In Italy it is collaborating with MX Group SpA in Milano (minority interest). MX Group operates production sites for photovoltaic solar modules and also designs and builds solar parks. MX Group launched a module production site in the US solar market (New Jersey, USA) in December 2010, where high growth rates are forecast for the coming years. The investments in the key solar markets of Italy and Germany serve as a platform for expanding the company's activities to other markets in Europe and overseas.

Information about Solar Industries AG
Solar Industries AG is pursuing a growth and “buy & build” strategy along the value chain for solar module manufacturing and marketing. SIAG invests in start-up and early-stage companies active in photovoltaics with the eventual goal of successful integration in a competitive market environment. SIAG has already invested in three module-manufacturing sites in Germany and Italy via Solar Industries Module GmbH and MX Group. Currently these plants have a production capacity of 145 MWp per year. SIAG has also established a presence in the PV systems and PV engineering businesses through its majority interest in SI Solutions GmbH, a subsidiary headquartered in Puchheim, Germany (near Munich).

Information about New Value AG
New Value, listed at the SIX Swiss Exchange, invests directly in promising private companies in Switzerland and neighbouring countries with above-average market and growth potential. As an investment company, New Value promotes innovative business models with venture capital and accompanies those to market success. The portfolio covers companies of different stages of development, starting with the market introduction phase up to medium-sized enterprises with stable profits. The portfolio contains companies active in cleantech and healthcare. New Value assigns great value to ethical business concepts and good corporate governance while selecting their portfolio companies. Criteria such as meaningfulness, social responsibility and ecological sustainability are considered by New Value as decisive competitive advantages, which affect and enhance the quality of products and services offered and thus, facilitate an above average increase of value potential. Since the formation of New Value, EPS Value Plus AG, Zurich, has served as investment manager.

Listing SIX Swiss Exchange (www.six-swiss-exchange.com) Xetra, Open Market Frankfurt, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart and Munich Ticker symbol NEWN (CH), N7V (D) Valor no. 1081986 Security identif. no. 552932 ISIN CH0010819867

Contact
New Value AG Tel. +41 43 344 38 38 Bodmerstrasse 9 Fax +41 43 344 38 39 CH-8027 Zurich Rolf Wägli Tel. +41 43 344 38 38, waegli@newvalue.ch Peter Letter Tel. +41 43 344 38 18, letter@newvalue.ch Information/ www.newvalue.ch Email: info@newvalue.ch Downloads www.epsvalueplus.ch Email: info@epsvalueplus.ch