The Founders of SMA Solar Technology AG pave the way for a sound future

The four founders and main shareholders of SMA Solar Technology AG (“SMA”) Günther Cramer, Peter Drews, Prof. (em.) Dr. Werner Kleinkauf and Reiner Wettlaufer have each transferred 6.3 % of the shares held by each of them to the next generation by way of donation. The transferred shares – all in all 25.2 % – are concentrated in a Pool-Agreement. This Pool-Agreement provides that the voting rights related to transferred shares shall only be exerted uniformly. Hereby, the founders and main shareholders of SMA have paved the way for the independence of SMA and a sound future of the company. The founders and main shareholders emphasize that, for them, an independent development of the company is an absolute priority.

By entering into the Pool-Agreement the founders and main shareholders for a short period of time crossed the 30 % threshold only to go below this threshold on the same day by their donation. The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht –“BaFin”) therefore exempted the main shareholders from the obligation to make a takeover offer pursuant to the provisions of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und  Übernahmegesetz – “WpÜG”) to the shareholders of SMA.

Furthermore, the four founders and main shareholders of SMA announced that they will transfer further parts of their shares to charitable trusts. This is another measure to ensure that SMA continues to have a sound shareholder structure.



About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of EUR 934 million Euro in 2009 and is the worldwide market leader for photovoltaic inverters, a key component of all solar power plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents by 13 foreign subsidiaries. The Group employs a staff of over 5,500 (incl. temporary workers). SMA’s product portfolio includes the most comprehensive range of inverters on the market, offering a compatible inverter for every type of photovoltaic module and for all plant sizes. The product range covers both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. 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. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer.


SMA Solar Technology AG
Sonnenallee 1
34266 Niestetal
Germany

Press contact:
Volker Wasgindt
Head of Press Relations and Public Affairs
Phone +49 561 9522-11 21
Fax +49 561 9522-11 03
Volker.Wasgindt@SMA.de


Investor Relations:
Anna Raudszus (Institutional Investors/Analysts)
Director Investor Relations
Phone +49 561 9522-22 22
Fax +49 561 9522-22 23
ir@SMA.de

Julia Damm (Private Investors)
Phone +49 561 9522-11 64
Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the executive board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.