Schott Solar aims at $743 mln IPO by year-end

It plans to use the proceeds to fund further expansion and strengthen its capital base.

Schott Solar employs 1,449 staff in Germany, Spain, the United States and Czech Republic.

It reported a 310 percent gain in third-quarter earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to 22.6 million euros on sales of 147.9 million euros, up 96 percent.

German rival SolarWorld (SWVG.DE), which offers a similar product range, reported operating earnings of 75.7 million euros for the three months to end-June on sales of 259.6 million euros. Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE), JPMorgan (JPM.N) and Commerzbank (CBKG.DE) are joint bookrunners for the IPO and LBBW acts as co-lead manager, the company said. (Reporting by Eva Kuehnen; Editing by David Cowell)