GT Advanced Technologies Lawsuit Is 'Baseless' Says Poly Plant Project, Inc.

Jan Maurits, President of Poly Plant Project, Inc. (PPP), worldwide provider of advanced polysilicon production process technology and polysilicon production equipment systems used to produce high-purity polysilicon for the solar industry and semiconductor industry, believes that the lawsuit filed by GT Advanced Technologies against PPP is "completely false and baseless." 

GT Advanced Technologies, a Merrimack, New Hampshire-based company, filed the case against PPP in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. 

"There's no way to stop a company from filing a frivolous case," Mr. Maurits said. "Back in 2008 GT Solar filed a suit against Fabrizio Goi, who is a prized PPP consultant, now GT Solar is essentially making the same claims against Poly Plant Project, Inc. GT Solar's lawsuit appears to be nothing more than a continued strategy of competition by litigation. This lawsuit only validates PPP's belief that PPP is a true competitor in the eyes of GT Solar and the polysilicon industry. This lawsuit will not deter PPP from competing against GT Solar in the polysilicon market." 

Poly Plant Project, Inc. is a designer, manufacturer and seller of Chemical Vapor Deposition Reactor systems that produce high-purity polysilicon, the raw material used to make photovoltaic systems that generate electrical power from the sun's energy. 

"Siemens type CVD reactors have been in use in polysilicon production for more than 50 years. The generic 36 rod Siemens type reactor is being sold by a number of companies and is in use all over the world by many polysilicon plants. It is clear GT Solar's claims against PPP for the 36 rod Siemens type reactor is disingenuous. GT Solar's lawsuit against PPP is just a rehash of the frivolous, unsubstantiated lawsuit against Fabrizio Goi. 

"Regardless of this frivolous lawsuit, PPP has been selling its CVDR-500, a better, higher-output, high-efficiency, CVD reactor using a 54 rod design which is more efficient and produces more polysilicon than the smaller, 48 and 36 rod reactors similar to those being sold by GT Solar," said Mr. Maurits. 

Michael J. Connolly, Partner at Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP, representing PPP and Mr. Goi, said, "We have to question the sincerity behind the filing of suit in Los Angeles against PPP that asserts the same false and baseless claims that were raised three years ago in a case pending in New Hampshire. GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) has not proven those claims in the New Hampshire case, nor can it prove them in Los Angeles, because they are completely bogus. 

"At no time was proprietary or confidential proprietary information from GT Advanced Technologies imparted or disclosed to anyone at PPP for use in its products. Contrary to the allegations in the GTAT suit, neither PPP nor Mr. Goi have used any GTAT confidential information obtained from Mr. Goi's prior employer. Mr. Goi had substantial years of experience in the design and fabrication of different types of polysilicon reactors before GTAT had entered this market. This lawsuit reflecting recycled and baseless claims appears to be a shameless media campaign by GTAT to undermine a competitor with a superior product, as opposed to a legitimate claim in the courts. GTAT may have opened itself to potential liability to PPP for tortious interference with PPP's customers. We are confident that the GTAT case will be dismissed or fail on the merits."