Phoenix Solar AG sells European O&M business

Sulzemoos, Germany, 6 August 2014 / Phoenix Solar AG (ISIN DE000A0BVU93), an international photovoltaic system integrator listed in Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, has sold its operation and maintenance activities (O&M business) in Europe to SMA Solar Technology AG by way of a contract (asset deal) dated 6 August 2014. The parties agreed to keep the contractual content confidential. The proceeds from the sale are to be used to repay debt and to strengthen the company's core operations. The disposal does not affect the O&M activities of the company's subsidiaries, particularly in the USA and Asia, which are run independently. Instead, their O&M business is to be expanded in the context of EPC projects realised in the future. The validity of the sale is still contingent on a few prerequisites which are to be fulfilled in the coming weeks.

The disposal has been planned and preparations have been under way since the end of 2013. Part of the process was to assess the importance of this business against the backdrop of the way Phoenix Solar AG's strategy was developing. Three aspects prompted the consideration of a sale: the discontinuation of the project business operated from Germany in the first quarter of 2013 and the resulting lack of new business generated for O&M, the downtrend in the construction of large photovoltaic power plants by the European subsidiaries and the lack of synergies with the O&M activities of the subsidiaries in Asia and the USA.

The good earnings position of the business, which enjoys a great deal of stability owing to the contract portfolio existing with partly long contractual terms, combined with a motivated team which guarantees that the business will continue to run smoothly, were indications that a transfer to another market participant would be successful. The proceeds from the sale are to be used to repay debt and to strengthen the company's core operations.

Dr. Bernd Köhler, Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Solar AG, stated: "It was not an easy decision for us to part with our Ulm-based O&M business. However, in view of our strategic focus on Asia and the USA, providing support for large solar parks in Europe was no longer readily compatible. Seen from this standpoint, the business did not have a strategic perspective. By contrast, we know that the prospects for our European O&M activities are very good with SMA, and that our former customers will continue to receive the best possible support. We will be able to use the proceeds from the sale to reduce our debt and strengthen our core business."

“Operation and maintenance services for PV power plants are an important driver of our growth strategy in the service business. After successfully establishing this business field last year in North America with 200 MW, we are now looking to develop the high-volume European market for SMA through the acquisition of the O&M business from Phoenix Solar. We will continue to expand our O&M services in Europe and North America and thus benefit from our outstanding expertise and installed basis,” explained SMA Chief Executive Officer Pierre-Pascal Urbon.

About Phoenix Solar AG
Phoenix Solar AG, which is based at Sulzemoos, near Munich, Germany, is an internationally operating photovoltaic system integrator. The Group develops, plans, constructs and assumes operational management of large photovoltaic power plants, and is a specialist wholesaler for complete solar electricity systems, solar modules and related equipment. With its subsidiaries on three continents, the company has sold solar modules with an output of well over one gigawatt worldwide since it was founded. The shares of Phoenix Solar AG (ISIN DE000A0BVU93) are listed on the Regulated Market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. www.phoenixsolar-group.com

About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of more than €930 million in 2013 and is the global market leader for solar inverters, a key component of all PV plants. SMA offers innovative key technologies for future power supply structures. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented in 21 countries. The Group employs more than 5,000 people worldwide. SMA’s broad product portfolio includes a compatible inverter for every type of module on the market and for all plant sizes. The product range includes both inverters for grid-connected photovoltaic plants as well as off-grid and hybrid system technology. The product portfolio is supplemented by comprehensive services and operational management of utility-scale pv-plants. Since 2008, the Group’s parent company, SMA Solar Technology AG, has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index.