WACKER posts sales and earnings increase for fiscal 2008

- Sales climb 14 percent to €4.3 billion

- EBITDA up 5 percent to €1.05 billion

- Investments of €1.1 billion financed from cash flow

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Munich (euro adhoc) - January 28, 2009 - Wacker Chemie AG´s
preliminary 2008 figures show that sales and operating results
(EBITDA) both surpassed prior-year levels. Although the global
economic downturn impacted WACKER´s fourth-quarter business, the
Munich-based chemical company increased its full-year sales by 14
percent to EUR4.3bn (2007: EUR3.78 bn). The chief growth driver was
stronger sales volumes. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization (EBITDA) also rose once again, reaching EUR1.05bn
(2007: EUR1.00bn) and resulting in a full-year EBITDA margin of 24.5
percent (2007: 26.5 percent).

According to WACKER´s preliminary figures, investments amounted to
some EUR1.1bn in 2008 (2007: EUR699.3bn). Capital expenditures
focused on strategic growth projects, including production capacity
increases for polysilicon, the ongoing expansion of the Zhangjiagang
silicone production site in China, and the acquisition of full
ownership of Air Products Polymers and Wacker Polymer Systems (two
former joint ventures). WACKER fully financed these investments
through cash from operating activities. After offsetting bank
liabilities, WACKER´s balance of cash and cash equivalents was almost
EUR100m at year-end 2008. As expected, Q4 figures not only reflected
the normal seasonal slowdown, but also the substantial impact of the
global economic crisis. Preliminary fourth-quarter sales amounted to
EUR1.01bn (Q4 2007: EUR920.1m), up 9 percent year on year despite
economic headwinds. The company´s chemical divisions faced falling
demand, especially for construction and automotive products. As for
semiconductor wafers, Q4 saw a further drop in both sales volumes and
prices. In contrast, hyperpure polycrystalline silicon operations
remained very stable. Currently, these trends are continuing to
influence WACKER´s business activities. To lower production costs,
WACKER has decided to introduce shorter working hours at its German
sites and adopt similar measures at its locations outside Germany.

WACKER´s fourth-quarter EBITDA was EUR120m, down from EUR205.3m in Q4
2007. This drop stemmed chiefly from lower volumes at the Group´s
chemical divisions, as well as at Siltronic, where weaker prices
additionally weighed on profits. At WACKER POLYSILICON,
fourth-quarter earnings remained stable and strong. Group earnings
were additionally affected by EUR55m paid to German and foreign
pension plans, with most of this one-off payment impacting profits.

"We managed to meet our sales and earnings targets for 2008 despite
the tough fourth quarter," said CEO Rudolf Staudigl. "Our
balance-sheet figures are completely sound. So, we see ourselves well
equipped to meet the challenges of the current fiscal year."

The Q4 and fiscal 2008 figures and forecasts in this press release
are preliminary. Wacker Chemie AG will publish its Q4 Report and 2008
Annual Report on March 18, 2009.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on
assumptions and estimates of WACKER´s Executive Board. Although we
assume the expectations in these forward-looking statements are
realistic, we cannot guarantee they will prove to be correct. The
assumptions may harbor risks and uncertainties that may cause the
actual figures to differ considerably from the forward-looking
statements. Factors that may cause such discrepancies include, among
other things, changes in the economic and business environment,
variations in exchange and interest rates, the introduction of
competing products, lack of acceptance for new products or services,
and changes in corporate strategy. WACKER does not plan to update the
forward-looking statements, nor does it assume the obligation to do
so.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Wacker Chemie AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Christof Bachmair

Media Relations & Information

Tel.: +49 (0)89 6279 1830

E-Mail: christof.bachmair@wacker.com

Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE000WCH8881
WKN: WCH888
Index: Midcap Market Index, MDAX, CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX,
Prime All Share
Börsen: Börse Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard