JIASHAN, China, March 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- ReneSola Ltd ("ReneSola" or the "Company") (NYSE: SOL) announced today that it plans to offer approximately US$175 million of its convertible senior notes due 2018 (the "notes"). ReneSola plans to grant the initial purchasers of the notes a 30-day option to purchase up to US$25 million in aggregate principal amount of the notes solely to cover over-allotments, if any. The notes will be convertible into ReneSola's American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"), each representing as of the date above two ordinary shares of ReneSola, based on a conversion rate to be determined. Interest on the notes will be payable semiannually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning September 15, 2011. The notes will mature on March 15, 2018, unless previously repurchased or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. ReneSola anticipates using the proceeds for capped call transactions as described below and expansion of polysilicon production capacity. The terms and timing of the offering have not been finalized.
Concurrently with the offering, ReneSola also intends to enter into capped call transactions with affiliates of certain of the initial purchasers of the notes, or the hedge counterparties. The capped call transactions are expected generally to reduce potential dilution to the ordinary shares and ADSs upon conversion of the notes. If the initial purchasers exercise their over-allotment option, ReneSola may enter into additional capped call transactions with the hedge counterparties.
In connection with establishing their initial hedges of the capped call transactions, the hedge counterparties (or their affiliates) expect to enter into various derivative transactions with respect to the ADSs concurrently with, and/or purchase ADSs shortly after, the pricing of the notes. These activities could have the effect of increasing, or reducing the size of any decrease in, the price of the ADSs concurrently with, or shortly after, the pricing of the notes.
In addition, the hedge counterparties (or their affiliates) are likely to modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivative transactions with respect to the ADSs and/or by purchasing or selling the ADSs or other securities of the Company in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the notes and prior to the maturity of the notes (and are likely to do so during a valuation period under the capped call transactions preceding the maturity date, and on or around any earlier conversion date related to a conversion of notes).
The notes will be offered to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The notes and ReneSola's ADSs issuable upon conversion of the notes, and the ordinary shares represented thereby, have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities. Any offers of securities will be made only by means of a offering memorandum.
This press release contains information about pending transactions, and there can be no assurance that these transactions will be completed.
About ReneSola
ReneSola is a leading global manufacturer of solar wafers and producer of solar power products based in China. Capitalizing on proprietary technologies, economies of scale, low-cost production capabilities and technological innovations and know-how, ReneSola leverages its in-house virgin polysilicon and solar cell and module production capabilities to provide its customers with high-quality, cost-competitive solar wafer products and processing services. The Company possesses a global network of suppliers and customers that includes some of the leading global manufacturers of solar cells and modules. ReneSola's ADSs are traded on The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: SOL).
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Whenever you read a statement that is not simply a statement of historical fact (such as when the Company describes what it "believes," "expects" or "anticipates" will occur, what "will" or "could" happen, and other similar statements), you must remember that the Company's expectations may not be correct, even though it believes that they are reasonable. The Company does not guarantee that the forward-looking statements will happen as described or that they will happen at all. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 20-F. The Company undertakes no obligation, beyond that required by law, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made, even though the Company's situation may change in the future.
