(A missing letter was added to the news from February 13)

ELLWANGEN (dpa-AFX) - The battery group Varta has shut down its IT systems and production following a hacker attack. The SDax company announced on Tuesday shortly before the close of business in Ellwangen that it was currently unable to provide any information on the extent of the impact. It is also still unclear whether any damage has actually occurred. Normal operations should be restored "as quickly as possible", it said. Varta shares lost 5.6 percent shortly after the news broke./ngu/he