Solyndra, the secretive developer of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells, is trying to raise $350 million in an effort to get into mass production, but the deal is causing some in Silicon Valley to shiver.
The Fremont-based company, which raised $79 million in venture funds in 2007, wants the money to build a 420-megawatt solar plant, according to sources and documents reviewed by Greentech Media. Under the deal, Goldman Sachs, the lead bank on the deal, is trying to sell $120 million of convertible securities to existing investors and $230 million to newcomers. The convertible securities could be converted to Solyndra shares in the event of an IPO.
Assuming an IPO can be pulled off, the owners of the securities would get Solyndra stock at a discount of the IPO price. If Solyndra eventually sells shares at $10, for instance, investors holding the convertible securities would be able to get shares for $8 dollars. The exact discount isn’t specified in the document, but sources say Goldman is telling investors that they will get a discount of 20 percent.
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