Published:
Hoku and Solargiga Sign $455 Million Polysilicon Supply Contract

Hoku Materials, Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Hoku Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOKU) established to
manufacture and sell polysilicon for the solar market, and Wealthy Rise
International, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Solargiga Energy
Holdings, Ltd. (HKG: 0757), a manufacturer of monocrystalline ingots and
wafers in China, today announced the signing of a definitive contract for
Hoku's sale and delivery of polysilicon to Solargiga over a ten-year period
beginning in early 2010.
According to the contract, up to approximately $455 million may be payable
to Hoku during the ten-year period, subject to product deliveries and other
conditions. The contract provides for the delivery of predetermined volumes
of polysilicon each year, with the first shipment in the first quarter of
2010 and the remainder over a ten-year period at set prices that will
decline throughout the term of the agreement. The contract also provides
for a deposit of $22 million to Hoku within 15 days, and requires that
Solargiga make additional deposits for products in the amount of $21
million by December 20, 2008, $20 million by March 31, 2009, and $5 million
upon first shipment. Under the agreement, Hoku will grant to Solargiga a
security interest in its polysilicon assets to secure Hoku's obligation to
repay $68 million to Solargiga as a credit against product shipments over
time.
"This agreement with Hoku is key to our company's expansion plans," said
Solargiga's president and executive director, Wenhua Tan. "Solargiga is
currently the number two producer of monocrystalline ingots in China but we
are implementing an aggressive plan to double our capacity by the end of
2009. We selected Hoku to supply us with polysilicon because they share
Solargiga's focus on delivering only the highest possible quality product,
and because -- like us -- they believe in the importance of establishing a
long-term partnership."
"We are pleased to enter into this long-term supply agreement with
Solargiga," said Dustin Shindo, chief executive officer of Hoku Scientific.
"They are an established leader in the global solar market, and Solargiga's
strong expansion plans coupled with their demonstrated commitment to
technology and innovation make them an excellent strategic partner for
Hoku."
About Hoku Scientific, Inc.
Hoku Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOKU) is a diversified clean energy
technologies company with three business units: Hoku Materials, Hoku Solar
and Hoku Fuel Cells. Hoku Materials plans to manufacture, market, and sell
polysilicon for the solar market from its plant currently under
construction in Pocatello, Idaho. Hoku Solar provides turnkey photovoltaic
systems in Hawaii. Hoku Fuel Cells has developed proprietary fuel cell
membranes and membrane electrode assemblies for stationary and automotive
proton exchange membrane fuel cells. For more information visit
www.hokuscientific.com.
Hoku ®, Hoku Scientific ®, Hoku Solar(TM) and Hoku Fuel Cells(TM) are
trademarks of Hoku Scientific, Inc., and Hoku Materials(TM) is a trademark
of Hoku Materials, Inc.
About Solargiga Energy Holdings, Ltd. and Wealthy Rise International, Ltd.
Solargiga Energy Holdings Limited (HKG: 0757) is an investment holding
company. The Company, along with its subsidiaries, is engaged in the
trading of, manufacturing of and provision of processing services for
monocrystalline silicon ingots/wafers. Its subsidiaries include Jinzhou
Yangguang Energy Co. Ltd, Jinzhou Rixin Silicon Materials Co., Ltd., and
Wealthy Rise International Limited. In June 2007, it acquired Solar
Technology Investment (Cayman) Corp. (Solartech), Shanghai Jingji Electron
aterial Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Jingji) and Jinzhou Youhua New Energy Co.,
Ltd. (Jinzhou Youhua), which comprised, amongst others, established
polysilicon reclaiming and upgrading facilities and monocrystalline silicon
ingot manufacturing facilities. Wealthy Rise International was incorporated
in Hong Kong on June 21, 2007 to act as the intermediate holding company
for all PRC-incorporated group companies, and engages in the trading of raw
materials, ingots and wafers. www.solargiga.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve many
risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to Hoku Materials's
ability to successfully derive revenues from the sale of polysilicon to
Wealthy Rise International, Ltd. and Solargiga Energy Holdings, Ltd.,
Tianwei New Energy, Kinko Energy, Solarfun, and Suntech; the timing of Hoku
aterials's receipt of future prepayments in the aggregate amount of $68
million from Solargiga; its ability to successfully raise sufficient funds
to establish a polysilicon manufacturing plant; its ability to engineer and
construct a production plant for polysilicon; its ability to manufacture
polysilicon; its ability to meet the delivery schedule in its agreement
with Solargiga; the quality of polysilicon to be manufactured; Hoku
aterials's costs to manufacture polysilicon, and its ability to offer
pricing that is competitive with competing products; Solargiga's plans to
expand its silicon ingot and wafer businesses; Hoku Scientific and
Solargiga's future financial performance; their respective business
strategies and plans; and objectives of each company's management for
future operations. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking
statements by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "can," "continue,"
"could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential,"
"predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions
intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
Hoku Scientific and/or Solargiga's actual results, performance, time frames
or achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance, time frames or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and other
factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically
consider the risks described in Hoku Scientific's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and Solargiga's filings with the Hong
Kong Stock Exchange, as applicable. Except as required by law, neither Hoku
Scientific nor Solargiga assumes an obligation to update these
forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual
results could differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in
the future.
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