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November 6, 2008
Hamburg,
Germany: LG Electronics and Conergy End Joint Venture Negotiations
Due
to the worldwide financial crisis and changes in strategic direction,
the Korean company LG Electronics (LG) has informed Hamburg-based
Conergy AG that it currently does not wish to proceed with the
acquisition of a majority stake in Conergy’s solar module production
in Frankfurt (Oder) through a joint venture.
LG
will however continue to review other options for cooperation
with Conergy, a leading global downstream player.
On
11th September 2008, Conergy and LG had signed a non-binding Memorandum
of Understanding to jointly operate the plant in Frankfurt (Oder).
"Despite
LG’s decision we are pleased about the unchanged interest of LG
in a continued close collaboration with Conergy as a one of the
world’s largest system integrators. This once again reconfirms
our chosen downstream strategy. Regarding our plant inFrankfurt
(Oder), which is regarded as one of the most modern full-integrated
plants of its kind, we will examine all further options",
says Dieter Ammer, Chief Executive Officer of Conergy AG. “In
addition to negotiations about joint ventures with other interested
parties, retaining the plant in the Conergy Group is also a possible
scenario. The start of wafer deliveries by MEMC in the third quarter
2008 and the concurrent ramp-up of the plant by year end 2009
will allow profitable production in the future. The current budget
of our company takes into account – as previously - the full impact
on earnings and liquidity if the plant is retained.”
Conergy
is currently undertaking a restructuring process. Over the last
months, the Hamburg-based company has divested nearly all non-core
activities and has withdrawn from markets outside Germany which
are not expected to become sufficiently profitable. The company
plans to stabilize its financial situation on a sustainable basis
by means of a capital increase.
Further details about: Conergy
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