Solar Thin Films Announces Acquisition of BudaSolar Technologies Co. Ltd. and Management Reorganization
April 08 2009 - 10:09AM
Marketwired
Solar Thin Films, Inc. (OTCBB: SLTN) today announced that it and
its subsidiary, KRAFT Elektronikai Zrt. of Budapest, Hungary, have
agreed to acquire BudaSolar Technologies Co. Ltd., also of
Budapest, Hungary, in a transaction that management believes will
bring new process expertise to the combined company, as well as an
enhanced customer pipeline.
"In addition to bringing a highly qualified team of engineers
and technicians together, we are thrilled to be working together
again with Dr. Istvan Krafcsik, who, with Kraft's Dr. Laszlo
Farkas, co-founded Kraft over a decade ago. Dr. Krafcsik is a well
regarded scientist with a long background in the photovoltaics
industry, who together with a world-class development team located
inside the Central Research Institute for Physics campus in
Budapest, has already been able to bring improvements to our
existing offering."
Subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions, Kraft
will acquire 100% of the share capital of BudaSolar and will issue
to the BudaSolar Stockholders 49% of the share capital of Kraft. As
a result, the Company will own 51% of Kraft and our 51% owned Kraft
subsidiary will, in turn, own 100% of the share capital of
BudaSolar. The closing is scheduled to occur as soon as
practicable, but in any event by April 30, 2009. However, there can
be no assurances that the share exchange will be consummated.
In addition, Kraft entered into five year employment agreements
with each of Dr. Istvan Krafcsik and Attila Horvath as Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Kraft and its
BudaSolar subsidiary, respectively.
Today, Solar Thin Films also announced that Peter Lewis will
step down as CEO of the company to become Group Vice President,
Equipment and Thin Films Division, so that he can better focus on
the growing business opportunity afforded by Kraft's proposed
acquisition of BudaSolar. Mr. Lewis, whose focus since joining the
company in June of 2007 has been to strengthen the company's thin
film offering and improve its customer pipeline, will represent
Solar Thin Films on the board of directors of the new combined
company and will help lead an expanded worldwide marketing
effort.
"We are very happy to bring together two complementary teams,
both with significant expertise in equipment and processes
associated with the production and installation of 'turnkey'
amorphous silicon lines using a process that yields among the
lowest cost solar modules available today world-wide," said Bob
Rubin of Solar Thin Films. "To date, our collaboration has allowed
us to offer a broader product line to prospective customers as a
result of the joint Kraft/BudaSolar effort underway since last
September and we are confident that the combined pipeline and
marketing effort will yield positive results in the near
future."
"I am proud of the progress we have made at Kraft to migrate
from an equipment supplier to a supplier of higher margin 'turnkey'
amorphous silicon manufacturing lines," noted Mr. Lewis. "Over the
past 18 months, we have dramatically improved our product offering
and quality assurance programs and have redirected our marketing
effort at closing complete 'turnkey' lines as evidenced by our
recent contract with Grupo Unisolar of Bejar Spain. Upon the
consummation of the share exchange and the combination of the Kraft
and BudaSolar teams, we intend to focus our future efforts on new
product introductions and significantly expanding our sales
pipeline."
As part of the reorganization, Bob Rubin, Chairman, will also
assume the responsibility of CEO, and will focus on expanding the
solar businesses of Solar Thin Films beyond its Kraft and Solar
Thin Power subsidiaries. Mr. Rubin noted, "I look forward to
continuing my effort to expand the scope of Solar Thin Film's
businesses including first the prospective acquisition of Algatec,
maker of metallurgical crystalline modules, and also our effort at
ST Power to utilize both our thin film and soon metallurgical
technology to build a power projects division."
This press release is not a complete description of the amended
and restated stock exchange agreement to acquire BudaSolar
Technologies Co. Ltd. and reorganization of management. For
additional information, a copy of the agreement and related
transaction documents can be found in Solar Thin Film's Current
Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 7, 2009.
About Solar Thin Films, Inc.
Solar Thin Films (www.solarthinfilms.com) develops, manufactures
and markets a complete line of manufacturing equipment for the
production of "thin-film" amorphous silicon photovoltaic ("PV")
modules through its subsidiary based in Budapest, Hungary. The
Company sells both individual and "turnkey systems" to customers
located in China, Spain and the United States. The Company believes
that its line of thin-film photovoltaic manufacturing equipment
positions it to take advantage of the rapidly growing demand for
solar modules and an expected market shift towards "thin-film" PV
modules as part of a cost effective, "clean technology" energy
solution.
Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this news release regarding future financial and
operating results, potential applications of the Company's
technology, opportunities for the Company, and any other statements
about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects
expressed constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any
statements that are not statements of historical fact (including
statements containing the words "will," "believes," "plans,"
"anticipates," "expects," "estimates," and similar expressions)
should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There
are a number of important factors that could cause actual results
or events to differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements including: limited operating history,
need for future capital, and economic conditions generally.
Additional information on potential factors that could affect
results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to
time in the Company's periodic reports, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q,
8-K, and other forms filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC").
These statements, and other forward-looking statements, are not
guarantees of future performance and involve risks and
uncertainties.
Investor Relations Contact: Strategic Growth International,
Inc.: Stan Altschuler / Richard Cooper Tel: 212-838-1444
saltschuler@sgi-ir.com / rcooper@sgi-ir.com www.sgi-ir.com
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