MEMC Completes Acquisition of Solaicx

"We are delighted to complete this acquisition and to welcome the employees of Solaicx," said Ken Hannah, president of MEMC Solar Materials. "The acquisition brings to MEMC talented people and cost-effective, proprietary process and equipment that expand our served market in the solar industry."

As a result of the acquisition, MEMC now has proprietary continuous crystal growth manufacturing technology that yields low-cost, high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon wafers for the photovoltaic solar industry. MEMC also has low-cost polysilicon and crystal operations in North America, with support offices around the world that provide customers with industry-leading customer service. The acquisition advances MEMC's ability to drive solar industry toward grid parity.

In connection with the acquisition of Solaicx, the Company granted special inducement grants under its shareholder-approved 2001 Equity Incentive Plan to retain certain Solaicx employees as employees of MEMC. Solaicx, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, has approximately 80 employees and a large-scale production facility in Portland, Oregon.