MEMC Reinstates Share Repurchase Program

ST. PETERS, Mo., May 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE: WFR) announced today that its Board of Directors reinstated an existing share repurchase program authorization that was suspended by the Board in April 2009.  Approximately $550 million of repurchase capacity remains under this authorization.  As originally authorized, the program allows the company to purchase common stock from time to time on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions using available cash.  The specific timing and amount of repurchases will vary based on market conditions and other factors. The stock repurchase program may be modified, extended or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time.

Tim Oliver, MEMC's Chief Financial Officer, commented, "The company routinely reviews opportunities and priorities for the redeployment of cash and currently believes that investments in operations that catalyze future period growth offer the optimal return.  That said, the share repurchase program reauthorization provides an alternative for cash redeployment should investment priorities change."

About MEMC

MEMC is a global leader in the manufacture and sale of wafers and related intermediate products to the semiconductor and solar industries. MEMC is also a developer of solar power projects and North America's largest solar energy services provider.  MEMC has been a pioneer in the design and development of silicon wafer technologies for 50 years. With R&D and manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Europe and Asia, MEMC enables the next generation of high performance semiconductor devices and solar cells.  MEMC's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "WFR" and is included in the S&P 500 Index. For more information about MEMC, visit www.memc.com.

SOURCE MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.