As part of the optimisation programme regarding the Thun manufacturing site and the company’s product portfolio which was communicated on 2 November 2017, Meyer Burger Technology Ltd (SIX Swiss Exchange: MBTN) announced today that it will transfer its Solar Systems business (“Energy Systems”) and the 32 impacted employees to 3S Solar Plus AG, a company which will be newly created and which has been sold to Dr Patrick Hofer-Noser. In the past few months Meyer Burger had evaluated various strategic options for the business which mainly addresses the Swiss market with its MegaSlate® products. The sale will result in a loss for Meyer Burger in the low single-digit million range including a goodwill recycling of around CHF 1 million. Completion of the contract which has been signed with Dr Patrick Hofer-Noser is subject to standard closing conditions and expected to be completed in the first half of 2018. Both parties have agreed to maintain confidentiality regarding the transaction price.
Hans Brändle, CEO of Meyer Burger: “By selling the Solar Systems unit to Patrick Hofer-Noser, we have found an industrial and especially also local solution for the MegaSlate® business and the employees.”
Patrick Hofer-Noser is a long-time, internationally respected specialist in the solar industry. He was a founding member and later Delegate of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of 3S Industries AG, in Lyss/Switzerland, which merged into Meyer Burger Group in 2010. Thereafter he was Chief Technology Officer and member of the Executive Board of Meyer Burger Group until 2012. From April 2012 until April 2017, Patrick Hofer-Noser was Head of Energy Systems and until he left Meyer Burger in December 2017 he held the position of Policy Liaison Officer.
Patrick Hofer-Noser: “Together with my employees and partners I look forward to further developing and expanding the market position of the aesthetic and reliable MegaSlate® solar roof and facade system which has been manufactured in Switzerland for more than 15 years and to making a contribution to protecting the climate.”
About Meyer Burger Technology Ltd
www.meyerburger.com
Meyer Burger is a leading global technology company specialising on innovative systems and processes based on semiconductor technologies. The company’s focus is on photovoltaics (solar industry) while its competencies and technologies also cover important areas of the semiconductor and the optoelectronic industries as well as other selected high-end markets based on semiconductor materials. Over the past ten years, Meyer Burger has risen to the forefront of the photovoltaic market and established itself as an international premium brand by offering superior precision products and innovative technologies.
Meyer Burger’s offering in systems, production equipment and services along the photovoltaic value chain includes the manufacturing processes for wafers, solar cells, solar modules and solar systems. Meyer Burger provides substantial added value to its customers and clearly differentiates itself from its competitors by focusing on core technologies of the value chain.
The company’s comprehensive product portfolio is complemented by a worldwide service network with spare parts, consumables, process know-how, customer support, after-sales services, training and other services. Meyer Burger is represented in Europe, Asia and North America in the respective key markets and has subsidiaries and own service centres in China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore, Taiwan and the USA. The company is also working intensively to develop new markets such as South America, Africa and the Arab region. The registered shares of Meyer Burger Technology Ltd are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (Ticker: MBTN).
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