Ascent Solar Selected as Constituent of the NYSE-Listed Ocean Tomo 300(R) Patent Index

THORNTON, CO--(Marketwired - Nov 17, 2015) - Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTI), a developer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art, flexible thin-film photovoltaic modules integrated into the company's EnerPlex™ series of consumer products, announced today the company has been selected for inclusion into the 2015-2016 Ocean Tomo 300® Patent Index (NYSE Euronext: OTPAT), effective November 2, 2015. The Ocean Tomo Index, launched in 2006, is priced and published by the NYSE Euronext.

The Ocean Tomo 300 Patent Index is the first stock index based on the value of corporate intellectual property. The Patent Index is composed of 300 companies chosen for the value of their patent portfolios relative to book value, and is a key market equity index for the knowledge economy. Other technology companies featured on the list include 3M Co, Apple Inc., Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp., Qualcomm, Fitbit Inc. and Tesla Motors Ltd.

Rafael Gutierrez, Senior Vice President and COO, said, "Ascent Solar Technologies currently holds exclusive rights to 16 patents, and the company has over 15 additional patents pending. The number of patents, combined with over $200 million of investment in CapEx, R&D and Engineering over the past decade, has allowed Ascent to build a strong and leading IP position in the manufacturing and production of thin-film solar on plastic substrate."

"We are honored to be included as a constituent of the OTPAT Index and to have our intellectual property portfolio recognized by knowledgeable, objective third parties," said Victor Lee, President and CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies. "Ascent Solar believes our patents and IP are key assets that will enable us to provide value to our customers and investors. We also believe that our current stock market capitalization does not adequately reflect the substantial investments we have made to create our IP portfolio."

About Ascent Solar Technologies:

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. is a developer of thin-film photovoltaic modules using flexible plastic substrate materials that are more versatile and rugged than traditional solar panels. Ascent Solar modules, which were named one of TIME Magazine's 50 best inventions for 2011, can be directly integrated into consumer products and off-grid applications, commercial transportation, automotive solutions, space applications, consumer electronics for portable power and durable off-grid solutions. Ascent Solar is headquartered in Thornton, Colorado. For more information, go to www.goenerplex.com and www.ascentsolar.com.

About Ocean Tomo 300 Patent Index:

The Ocean Tomo 300® Patent Index (OT300) is the industry's first index based on the value of intellectual property, and represents a diversified portfolio of 300 companies that own the most valuable patents relative to their book value. The Index is priced and published by the NYSE Euronext (NYSE Euronext: OTPAT). Two related Indexes -- the Ocean Tomo 300® Patent Growth Index (NYSE Euronext: OTPATG) and the Ocean Tomo 300® Patent Value Index (NYSE Euronext: OTPATV) -- complete the suite of Indexes. For more information, go to: www.oceantomo.com

Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors that could cause the Company's actual operating results to be materially different from any historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements that explicitly describe these risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements that contain terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "expect," "intends," "intend," "anticipate," "anticipates," "plans," "plan," to be uncertain and forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.