First Solar takes over OptiSolar’s PV line in $400 million transaction

Following our report two weeks ago revealing the first inklings of a takeover bid by First Solar, Inc. of OptiSolar’s photovoltaic project pipeline, the news that the $400 million all-stock deal has been finalised has been revealed. First Solar will complete construction of the plants developed under the pipeline over the next few years, with plans to sell those plants to various regulated utilities, diversified energy companies and other independent power producers.

First Solar has confirmed that it will keep on the OptiSolar core development team that designed and executed the PV project pipeline. The ailing thin-film module company had shed more than 600 jobs in the past few months from the McClellan Park facility in Sacramento and from the company's Hayward HQ/panel plant.

As a result of recent appreciation in the price of the company’s common stock shares, First Solar is planning to issue approximately 3 million shares of common stock at a 3.5% dilution instead of the expected 5% dilution.

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  • Photovoltaics International 14th Edition

    Photovoltaics International 14th Edition

    Published in November 2011, the 14th edition of Photovoltaics International provides a variety of technical papers from some of the industry’s stalwarts. Features include: TÜV Rheinland on junction box testing; Laser Zentrum Hannover on laser edge isolation of mc-Si cells; Calisolar on the importance of traceability; Fraunhofer ISE on EWT cells; and EPIA on Europe’s LCOE.

  • Photovoltaics International Lite, Volume 05 - 2011

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    This digital interactive Lite sees Tom Cheyney follow Agua Caliente’s progress on becoming one of first truly utility-scale PV power farms, where 40–50MW (AC) will be commissioned by the end of the year. We also feature one of the world’s largest silicon thin-film PV power plants, Avenal; a report on warnings of the collapse of module prices from Solarbuzz and PI-Berlin presents tips on PV module testing. A print version of this edition will be distributed at Solar Power International 2011 in Dallas, Texas.

  • Manufacturing The Solar Future: The 2011 Production Annual

    Manufacturing The Solar Future: The 2011 Production Annual

    Manufacturing the Solar Future is the primary source guide for detailed information on the PV production process. This annual provides technical details on how the leading companies and research organizations worldwide are addressing this need by dramatically improving their manufacturing processes.

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