Ascent Solar Secures $20 Million Funding
Ascent Solar Technologies, a developer of lightweight, flexible thin-film CIGS photovoltaic solutions, has entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Hong Kong Boone Group on February 8, 2017 for the investment of $20 million by purchasing the company's newly designated Series K Convertible Preferred Stock.
Pursuant to the agreement, shares of the Series K Preferred Stock, priced at $1,000 per share, will be convertible at the option of the investor into restricted common stock of Ascent Solar at a fixed conversion price of $0.004 per share, representing a premium of approximately 74 percent to the company's per share closing bid price on the day prior to the signing of the Agreement.
The initial closing of this financing is expected to occur on or before Feb 24, 2017, when the company will issue a total of 1,000 shares of Series K Preferred Stock to the investor in exchange for gross proceeds of $1 million.
The company will issue 4,000 additional shares of Series K Preferred Stock in exchange for aggregate gross proceeds of $4 million, in four closings scheduled to occur in March, April, May and June 2017.
A final closing is scheduled to occur in July 2017, when the company will issue 15,000 additional shares of Series K Preferred Stock in exchange for gross proceeds of $15 million.
The July 2017 closing will be conditioned on mutually satisfactory conditions regarding the use of such $15 million proceeds. In the event the Investor defaults in closing on any tranche of the Series K Preferred Stock, the Company would be entitled to redeem 50 percent of the then outstanding shares of Series K Preferred Stock at a price per preferred share equal to the $0.01.
Hong Kong Boone Group, is a major, multinational industrial group of companies that specializes in industrial control system integration and hydraulic pressure systems. It is part of the larger Boone Group, comprised of Guangzhou Boone Industrial, Guangzhou Boone Electrical Sales, Aerospace Financing & Leasing (Shenzhen), HeGang Boone New Energy Technology, XingJiang Boone New Energy Technology, QingHai Boone New Energy Technology, DeLingHa YaoCheng New Energy Technology, XiZang Boone New Energy Technology, and BaoTou Boone New Energy Technology, with headquarters based in Guangzhou City in China.
Boone Group also specialies in the procurement, planning, installation and ongoing maintenance of on-grid solar farm projects in China.
Song Liang, chairman and founder of Boone Group, commented, "We are extremely delighted to have the opportunity to invest in Ascent Solar and be part of their growth ambitions in the high value specialty PV market. Boone Group has been involved in the renewable energy sector for many years and we are deeply impressed with Ascent's lightweight and flexible thin-film CIGS technology, in particular their unique manufacturing process with the award winning monolithically-integrated technology."
Song continued, "China will undoubtedly be the world's largest solar market but it is now predominantly limited to the installation of the rigid, fragile and heavy crystalline silicon-based panels. I am convinced that Ascent's unparalleled PV module will have immense potential not only in China but the worldwide market, especially when Ascent can achieve the appropriate economies of scale. We hope to help Ascent achieve the economies of scale which their technology can enable."
President and CEO of Ascent Solar, Victor Lee, said, "We are more than excited to have secured this new investment from a very knowledgeable strategic partner who understands the value and capabilities of our technology. The Boone Group understands that achieving scale is a significant prerequisite to the success of Ascent, and we look forward to their support in aiding in that endeavor. The funding will provide us with ongoing working capital as we continue to focus on the high value specialty PV market. The new investment reinforces our investor's belief in Ascent's strategy and the tremendous potential of the Company's lightweight flexible CIGS solar panel."
