On May 8, 2008, former President and CEO Dr. Peter-Alexander Wacker was unanimously elected Supervisory Board chairman of Wacker Chemie AG. In this position, he will continue to give the company the benefit of his extensive experience.

That very same day, I succeeded Dr. Wacker as President and CEO. At the same time, Dr. Wilhelm Sittenthaler was appointed to the Executive Board. The changeover at top management level has now been completed. I look forward to the challenge of making the company even stronger. WACKER has undergone lasting changes over the past few years, and is now more successful than ever before in its history. I intend to resolutely pursue this successful strategic course.

WACKER certainly got off to a good start during the first three months of 2008. The Group remains firmly on its growth course, both in sales and earnings. Our strong first quarter is a sound basis for a positive full-year performance. The Group is expecting year-on-year sales growth of well over 10 %. EBITDA is expected to climb, as well.

WACKER is working on numerous projects that are hugely significant for our future. In Burghausen, for example, polysilicon expansion, in particular, is creating new jobs. Our WACKER SCHOTT Solar joint venture began solar-wafer production this spring. Extra business from integrating Air Products Polymers will boost WACKER POLYMERS’ sales. At Zhangjiagang (China), expansion is making good progress – this will soon be the world’s largest and most advanced silicone-production site.

And our second major project in China, the new polymer plant in Nanjing, is also progressing well. Mid-June saw the start-up of our Fab 300-3 in Singapore, a joint venture with Samsung Electronics and one of the world’s most advanced 300 mm factories.

As you see, a lot is happening at WACKER. And this will remain so in the future.