SolarWorld moves on financial restructuring plan
At an extraordinary general meeting in Bonn, Germany, more than 91 percent of SolarWorld's shareholders voting agreed to implement capital measures to restructure the company's financial position and balance sheet. On Aug. 5 and 6, more than 99 percent of voting holders of SolarWorld's two notes also accepted the package. As a result of the vote, the intended path to restructuring know has some structure.
Dr. Claus Recktenwald, chairman of SolarWorld's Supervisory Board, announced that Frank Asbeck's appointment as CEO will extend five more years, until Jan. 9, 2019.
Asbeck said: "Our restructuring concept has been accepted by an overwhelming majority of all parties. Thanks to the decisions of noteholders and shareholders, SolarWorld will stand on a stable financial foundation again. We will now implement the approved measures with due care as quickly as possible." SolarWorld's Management Board assumes that the debt-restructuring resolutions can be carried out between November 2013 and February 2014.
"Today's agreement sends a strong signal to the industry: SolarWorld stands for continuity and reliability. Customers, business partners and employees can again have confidence in the company's financial stability. As always, we strive to be the industry leader in technology and quality, while passing cost reductions based on our self-developed innovations on to our customers," Asbeck said.
The package's key element is a considerable cut in SolarWorld's debt. About 55 percent of the company's liabilities will be converted into shares. Toward this end, SolarWorld's shareholders had to agree to a capital reduction followed by an issuance of new shares.
On June 18, SolarWorld announced that Qatar Solar S.P.C. of Doha, Qatar, and Asbeck intend to purchase SolarWorld's new share capital. As a new investor, Qatar Solar is expected to acquire a 29 percent stake in the financially reformulated company. Through private investment, Asbeck will acquire a 19.5 percent stake. A 5 percent holding of the (existing) shareholders after the implementation of the capital increase in kind remains unaffected.