Moser Baer to expand Thin Film Photovoltaic capacity

Moser Baer India Ltd on February 09, 2008 has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, PV Technologies India Ltd, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a leading global equipment supplier to secure supply of critical equipment for a 565 MW phased expansion of its Thin Film Photovoltaic modules manufacturing capacity, which together with the current project capacity of 40 MW will take the total manufacturing capacity to over 600 MW by 2010.

Ravi Khanna, CEO, PV said, "Leaders in the PV industry will continue to emerge on the strengths of rapid scale up and technology differentiation. We see an increasingly significant role for Thin Film technologies in meeting peaking power requirements and now aim to be a significant player in this arena."

Thin film solar modules are ideal for energy farms, rural applications and building integrated Photovoltaic markets. Photovoltaic modules based on large area Thin Film technology provide a path to cost parity between solar grid power. According to market estimates, the Thin Film based solar modules will see large emerging applications and a robust demand that, according to industry estimates is expected to grow ten fold; from 250 MW currently to 2GW with a market size of $5 bn by 2010.

Moser Baer to set up India's largest grid connected Solar farm in Rajasthan

Moser Baer India Ltd has informed that Moser Baer Photo Voltaic (MBPV), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company on November 30, 2007 announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Rajasthan for setting up of a large Solar Power Project in the State with an estimated generation capacity of 1 - 5 MW. The project will be the largest grid-connected solar farm in India and entail an investment of around USD 25 million (Rs 100 crores) at USD 4.5 million per MW. The MoU was signed on November 30, 2007 at the 'Resurgent Rajasthan' summit at Jaipur between MBPV and Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation (RREC).

The SAARC region has large demand supply imbalances in energy generation capacities, with an increasing need to explore alternate and efficient energy sources. This offers a significant potential to Solar Photo Voltaic as an efficient energy option in the region. "MBPV aims to redefine the paradigms of solar power generation through its world class manufacturing and multi technology capabilities and demonstrate a commercially viable, grid-connected PV energy system in India through this project," said Ravi Khanna, CEO of MBPV. "This project is a pioneering initiative in that direction and we believe that the SAARC region provides huge opportunity for such large sized projects." he added.

Moser Baer is also evaluating various options for setting up large sized solar farms across the SAARC region with strategic tie ups with some of the leading global Solar PV Companies and clean energy funds.

Moser Baer Photo Voltaic plans to emerge as a leading technology driven PV equipment manufacturer in the world by implementing a capacity of 500 MW by FY10 through a mix of technologies in the crystalline silicon, concentrator and thin film domain.

The Company's photovoltalc equipment manufacturing capacities for crystalline silicon, concentrator and thin film technologies are coming up in an SEZ in Greater Noida.

Power sector in Rajasthan

Rajasthan is on course to become self sufficient in power by 2008. Besides setting up new power projects in the state sector, the government is also promoting private investment in power generation. The state already has an installed capacity of 5,500 MW of power and will add 4500 MW by 2011-12 through state sector projects of 1500 MW, private sector projects of 1500 MW and central sector projects of 1500 MW. Over 520 MW of non-conventional power is already being generated by private units in the State.

Moser Baer Q2 Results

Moser Baer India Ltd has announced the following Unaudited results for the quarter ended September 30, 2007:

The Company has posted a net profit after taxes of Rs 32.71 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 as compared to Rs 259.72 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006. Total Income has decreased from Rs 5132.52 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 to Rs 4903.30 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.

Moser Baer India - photovoltaic investment

Moser Baer India Ltd on October 19, 2007 announced that it has received the approval of its Board of Directors to raise USD 100 million (Rs 400 crores) in its wholly owned photovoltaic subsidiary. The investment will be made by a consortium of investors led by IDFC Private Equity, a private equity fund focused on the infrastructure space in India; together with GIC Special Investments, the private equity investment arm of GIC, a global investment management Company established manage Singapore’s foreign reserves; CDC Group plc (the UK government owned emerging markets fund of funds investors and Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC), India's infrastructure development and finance company. Moser Baer's photovoltaic subsidiary will use the proceeds to partially finance its overall plans to increase capacity to 500 MW by 2010 - making it one of the largest players in the global photovoltaic industry in a short span of time. Additionally, the transaction wilt position the photovoltaic subsidiary for a listing on an international exchange of repute.

"We are delighted to have respected & global private equity investors as our growth partners for the photovoltaic business. We are confident that Moser Baer will benefit from the international experience of these firms, their global network of professionals and relationships. This investment will enhance the speed of Implementation of our plans to emerge as a Leading technology driven Company in the global photovoltaic space from a position of financial strength and create incremental value for our shareholders. While the photovoltaic business has recently commenced commercial operations, this innovative deal has set a minimum threshold Valuation for the photovoltaic business at USD 1 billion". said Mr Ratul Puri, Executive Director of the Company.

The Company plans to rapidly emerge as a leading, global technology driven manufacturer by implementing a capacity of 500 MW by FY10 through a mix of technologies in the crystalline silicon, concentrator and thin film domain.

Globally, given the rapid growth of the photovoltaic industry, there is currently a shortage of silicon wafers, a key raw material for the photovoltaic industry. The Company has implemented a flexible three pronged model for securing raw material, supply through a mix of strategic investments in silicon manufacturing, long term wafer supply contracts and spot purchases.

The Company's photovoltaic manufacturing capacities for crystalline silicon, concentrator and thin film technologies are coming up in one of India's first renewable SEZ's in Greater Noida.

Moser Baer acquires Hindi, Gujarati titles

Moser Baer India Ltd on October 06, 2007 has announced the acquisition of Hindi and Gujarati titles from one of India's Largest Home video labels, Ultra Video.

The Company will be releasing these titles the Home video market at attractive price points. The Company's earlier title launches have been receiving overwhelming response from customers. The Company has already emerged as a leader in this market in a short span of 6 months due to its pan-India presence (offering home video copyrighted titles in multiple languages) and wide-spread distribution reach coupled with aggressive marketing.

Ultra Video, the second largest Home Video label in India, has 2200 titles of which the Company has acquired over 800 Hindi titles and Over 100 Gujarati titles. Some of the popular titles in Hindi are Sholay, Koi Mil Gaya, Andaz Apna Apna, 36 China Town, Iqbal, Dillagi, Bombay to Goa, Hero No. 1, Saagar, Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hai Kaun, Aradhana and Amar Prem. Some of the popular titles in Gujarati are Desh Re Joya Dada Pardesh Joya, Gaam Ma Piyaryu Ne Gaam Ma Sasar, Unchi Medi Na Uncha Mol, Hiran Ne Kanthe, Jode Rahejo Raj and Moti Verana Chawk Ma.

The Company will release video content of these Hindi and Gujarati titles on DVD and Video CD formats using its proprietary and patented technology which enhances quality and significantly reduces cost.

The Company will leverage upon its extensive distribution reach to market these titles to almost every movie enthusiast in the country. The Company has already lined up over 475 distributors across the country and stocks shall be soon available in around 100,000 outlets.

According to, Harish Dayani, Chief Executive, Entertainment Business, "With this acquisition, we own or have license for over 2500 Hindi titles and for over 400 Gujarati titles. This acquisition enables us to offer some latest hit titles to consumers at affordable prices points between Rs 28 - Rs 39 for VCD / DVD, by leveraging upon our patented and proprietary technology. I believe that at these price points, consumers will finally have wider choice to "Own Bollywood."

The Company is creating the consumer pull and awareness through TV and press campaign to reach out to consumers and communicate the value proposition offered. The business model is based on creating strong awareness and demand Among the consumers and towards this, it is working on an aggressive marketing strategy.

The Company's new division is close to acquiring copyrights / exclusive license for more than 9,000 titles in all major Indian languages, which comprises a third of all movies produced till date in India. With world packaging, wide distribution reach and global quality production standards in each product, customers will be given a compelling value proposition which has hitherto fore not been seen in India.

Moser-Baer (I) Ltd

Moser-Baer (I) Ltd has informed the Exchange regarding a press release dated September 10, 2007, titled "Moser Baer forays into PC peripherals market: Launches Optical Disk Drives (ODDs)".