Evergreen Solar looks to restructure debt

MARLBORO, MASSACHUSETTS - Evergreen Solar Inc said it would ask its shareholders to support a debt-restructuring plan as it works to guarantee its survival amid stiff competition from cheaper Chinese rivals.

Stockholders will be asked to approve the plan, which aims to cut the company's debt and interest expense and raise an additional $40 million, at a special meeting early next year.

Evergreen, based in Marlboro, Massachusetts, is seeking to exchange much of the company's convertible debt for new debt with longer maturities and lower conversion prices.

Makers of solar cells and modules have struggled to maintain profit margins as financing for new projects tightened and a glut of supplies weighted on prices over the past two years.

Investors have been particularly wary of how the U.S. company can compete on price and its shares have languished below $1 for the last six months. Evergreen's string ribbon silicon wafers use half the polysilicon of traditional products, but are still sold at a premium to peers.

"They're noncompetitive in a market that was sold out," said Axiom Capital analyst Gordon Johnson. "Clearly they need to restructure. Things are going to get so significantly more difficult for these guys."

Evergreen manufactures panels in Massachusetts and China.

Specifically, Evergreen is asking holders of its existing 13 percent convertible senior secured notes to agree to eliminate covenants and certain events of default and release the company's collateral. An exchange offer will give holders of the 13 percent notes new 7.5 percent convertible senior notes due 2017.

Evergreen sold $165 million of the 13 percent notes in April.

In addition, Evergreen is seeking to exchange new 4 percent convertible subordinated cash notes due 2020 for up to $200 million aggregate principal amount of its existing 4 percent senior convertible notes. Holders must submit tenders in the range of $425 principal amount to $500 principal amount of the new notes that would be issued for each $1,000 principal amount of existing 4 percent notes.

Evergreen also hopes to raise and additional $40 million through the note sale and plans to implement a 1-for-6 reverse stock split.