Form 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of: November 2007
SGL CARBON Aktiengesellschaft
(Name of registrant)
Rheingaustrasse 182
65203 Wiesbaden
Germany
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the SEC
pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Yes No X
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): N/A
Exhibit Index
1. November 29, 2007 German Press Release - SGL Group strengthens Carbon
Fiber Activities in the US
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SGL CARBON Aktiengesellschaft
Date: December 18, 2007 By: /s/ Robert J. Kohler
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Name: Robert J. Koehler
Title: Chairman of the Board of
Management
By: /s/ Sten Daugaard
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Name: Mr. Sten Daugaard
Title: Member of the Board of
Management
Exhibit 1
SGL Group strengthens Carbon Fiber Activities in the US
o SGL acquires Aldila's interest in Evanston (Wyoming) USA joint venture -
increasing SGL's ownership to 100%
o Second carbon fiber production line to be built in Evanston
o Extension of Evanston site into a major carbon fiber production hub as an
integral part of SGL Group's growth strategy
Wiesbaden, November 29, 2007. SGL Group - The Carbon Company - yesterday has
signed definitive agreements to acquire Aldila Inc.'s interest in Carbon Fiber
Technology LLC (CFT), Evanston (Wyoming), USA, a joint venture between SGL and
Aldila. Since 1999, SGL Group and Aldila - the world's leading producer of
composite golf shafts - each held a 50 percent stake in the joint venture. The
purchase price was agreed to be (euro) 13 million. For SGL Group, this
corresponds to less than an investment in a comparable greenfield plant, and
bears the advantage of taking over an existing business and making use of a low
cost and efficient infrastructure.
With an annual output of approx. 1,000 metric tons, the Evanston plant produces
carbon fiber for a variety of applications, including wind power, automotive,
engineering plastics and the recreation sector. The joint venture, which the
Group had accounted for at equity to date, will henceforth be fully
consolidated.
The acquisition of the joint venture is an integral part of the published growth
strategy of SGL Group to expand the total production capacity for carbon fibers
up to 12,000 metric tons by 2012. It is a key milestone in SGL Group's intention
to develop the Evanston plant into a major carbon fiber production site as a
complement to the Company's sites in Europe. With the acquisition of the Aldila
stake, 100% owned production capacity will increase from 500 to 1,000 metric
tons. As a next step, a second production line with an annual capacity of
approx. 1,000 metric tons will be built. Project start is scheduled for
beginning of December 2007, with full commercial production as of second quarter
2009. The Evanston plant is expected to continue to operate at capacity
including its expansion due to long-term supply contracts with Aldila, as well
as with other customers in the wind, engineering plastics, and other industries.
Leveraging the existing infrastructure - together with its attractive cost
position - the Company further intends to raise production capacity stepwise at
Evanston to around 4,000 metric tons by 2012.
SGL Group - The Carbon Company
Corporate Communications, Media Relations
Rheingaustrasse 182, D-65203 Wiesbaden
Tel.: +49 (6 11) 60 29-100, Fax: +49 (6 11) 60
29-101
E-Mail: cpc@sglcarbon.de, Internet: www.sglcarbon.de
Dr. Hariolf Kottmann, member of SGL Group's Board of Management, reiterated
already-announced plans to "invest around (euro) 300 million to participate in
the growth market for carbon fiber," and, "to increase SGL's total production
ca-pacity, up to 12,000 metric tons by 2012." He cited the acquisition of
Aldila's stake and the production expansion at Evanston to 2,000 metric tons as
a key milestone to become one of the leading carbon fiber producers operating in
the US with a significant part of our midterm production capacity located in the
US dollar area."
In addition to the plans for the Evanston site, and the previously announced
expansion of capacity in Inverness, Scotland to an annual production of approx.
4,000 metric tons by the end of 2008, SGL Group also plans to establish a new
carbon fiber production unit with similar capacity in Meitingen, Germany. In
implementing this growth strategy, the Group expects to increase sales revenues
of its Business Unit Carbon Fibers & Composites (CFC) by considerably more than
15% p.a. between now and 2011.
Due to increasing substitution of traditional materials worldwide demand for
carbon fiber of currently 30,000 metric tons p.a., is expected to double by 2012
with stable annual growth rates of approx. 15% p.a. Among the eight producers of
carbon fibers worldwide, SGL Group is the only European producer.
About SGL Group - The Carbon Company
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The SGL Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers of carbon-based
products. It has a comprehensive portfolio ranging from carbon and graphite
products to carbon fibers and composites. SGL Group's core competencies are its
expertise in high-temperature technology as well as its applications and
engineering know-how gained over many years. These competencies enable the
Company to make full use of its broad material base. SGL Group's carbon-based
materials combine several unique properties such as electrical and thermal
conductivity, heat and corrosion resistance as well as high mechanical strength
combined with low weight. Due to the paradigm shift in the use of materials as a
result of the worldwide shortage of energy and raw materials, there is a growing
demand for SGL Group's high-performance materials and products from an
increasing number of industries. Carbon and graphite products are used whenever
other materials such as steel, aluminum, copper, plastics, wood etc. fail due to
their limited properties. Products from the SGL Group are used predominantly in
the steel, aluminum, automotive, chemical and glass/ceramics industries.
However, manufacturers in the semiconductor, battery, solar/wind energy,
environmental protection, aerospace and defense industries as well as in the
nuclear energy industry also figure among the Company's customers.
With around 30 production sites in Europe, North America and Asia as well as a
service network covering more than 100 countries, the SGL Group is a company
with a global presence. In 2006, the Company's workforce of 5,250 generated
sales of (euro) 1.2 billion. The Company's head office is located in
Wiesbaden/Germany.
Important note:
This press release contains statements on future developments that are based on
currently available information and that involve risks and uncertainties that
could lead to actual results deviating from these forward-looking statements.
The statements on future developments are not to be understood as guarantees.
The future developments and events are dependent on a number of factors, they
include various risks and unanticipated circumstances and are based on
assumptions that may not be correct. These risks and uncertainties include, for
example, unforeseeable changes in political, economic and business conditions,
particularly in the area of electrosteel production, the competitive situation,
interest rate and currency developments, technological developments and other
risks and unanticipated circumstances. We see other risks in price developments,
unexpected developments relating to acquired and consolidated companies and in
the ongoing cost optimization programs. SGL Group does not intend to update
these forward-looking statements.
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Your contact person:
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Corporate Communications / Press office / Tino Fritsch
Tel.: +49 611 60 29 105 / Fax: +49 6 11 60 29 101 / Cellphone: +49 170 540 2667
E-mail: tino.fritsch@sglcarbon.de / Internet: www.sglcarbon.de
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