UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

_______________________

 

FORM 6-K
_______________________

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of September 2017

 

Commission File Number: 001-33911

 


_______________________

 

RENESOLA LTD
_______________________

 

No. 8 Baoqun Road, YaoZhuang
Jiashan, Zhejiang 314117
People’s Republic of China
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F þ     Form 40-F ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

  RENESOLA LTD  
        
        
        
  By:  /s/ Yuanyuan (Maggie) Ma  
  Name:  Yuanyuan (Maggie) Ma  
  Title:  Chief Financial Officer  

 

 

 

Date: September 27, 2017

 

 

 

 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

    
Exhibit 99.1  Press Release

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

ReneSola Provides Business Update and Announces Second Quarter 2017 Results

 

--Transaction to Transform Company into Pure Play Downstream Player—

-- Company also Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results--

 

Shanghai, China, September 27, 2017– ReneSola Ltd (“ReneSola” or the “Company”) (www.renesola.com) (NYSE: SOL), a leading fully-integrated solar project developer and provider of energy efficient products, today provides a business update and announces its unaudited second quarter 2017 results.

 

As announced on September 25, the Company has entered into a definitive share repurchase and subscription agreement (the “SPA”) with Mr. Xianshou Li, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (the "Buyer") for the sale of the Company's manufacturing (including polysilicon, solar wafer, solar cell and solar module manufacturing) and LED distribution businesses (the “Acquired Businesses”). The transaction will also transfer substantially all of ReneSola’s related indebtedness to Li. The transaction will result in:

 

i)The Company will no longer be liable for the bank borrowings in excess of RMB 3 billion, and the Buyer and his spouse will continue to provide personal guarantees for a majority of such bank’s borrowings;

 

ii)The acquired businesses will cancel approximately $217.3 million of intercompany payables owed to it by the Company; and

 

iii)The Company will issue 180 million ordinary shares to ReneSola Singapore Pte. Ltd., an entity to be fully owned by the Buyer upon completion.

 

Mr. Li commented, “This transaction completes the strategic transformation that was initiated in 2015. We will exit the manufacturing business, which has been impaired by overcapacity, pricing pressure and low profitability, and will become a pure play in the rapidly growing and profitable project development market. We believe this is the best path forward for ReneSola. The losses and a weakened balance sheet of the manufacturing business have been significant constraints on the growth of our downstream business. I am very excited to see ReneSola start anew with a stronger balance sheet, a highly capable team and significant growth opportunities. This transaction represents the beginning of a new chapter for ReneSola.”

 

This transaction will significantly improve the Company’s balance sheet, providing the financial flexibility necessary to drive the growth of the Company’s project development business. The table below summarizes the pro forma changes in the Company’s balance sheet, based on the terms of the transaction when it is completed.

 

 

 

 

All amounts, other than
percentages, are in millions
of US$

Post- Transaction

June 30, 2017

Pre-Transaction

June 30, 2017

Total Asset 250.0 1,154.9
     
Total Liabilities 169.5 1,140.2
     
----Bank Borrowings 33.5 701.7
     
Total Equity 80.5 14.7
     
Debt-Asset Ratio 67.8% 98.7%

 

The table below outlines the key benefits that ReneSola expects to derive from this transaction.

 

Key Benefits Details
Low Leverage Eliminate over RMB 3 billion of bank debt
  Debt-asset ratio of 68% down from 98.7% as of June 30, 2017
Lower Management & Financial Costs Management costs are expected to drop from $46 million to $12 million per year
  Financial costs to further decrease
Enhanced Financing Ability for Projects Lower corporate leverage improves project bankability
  Healthy balance sheet enables the Company to lower financing cost and achieve attractive IRR for projects
Restore Investor Confidence Operate growing project business with proven track record
  Spin-off indebted manufacturing business
  Solid global project pipeline to ensure future growth
Strategic Success Completes multi-year transition to downstream business

 

Project Development Strategy

 

Since entering the project development business, ReneSola has developed over 480 MW of projects around the world. These projects range from utility scale to smaller rooftop distributed generation. They share the common traits of operating in stable, mature markets with attractive subsidies. The Company believes that its strong track record in solar project development will enable it to accelerate the development of its project pipeline, as well as attract project financing on favorable terms.

 

While Build-Transfer continues to be an important strategy for the foreseeable future, ReneSola also intends to retain more projects in selected regions and become an independent power producer (“IPP”). The IPP model is especially attractive, due to the resulting high margin recurring revenue. Over time, the Company intends to shift a meaningful amount of its revenue to recurring power sales.

 

 

 

 

The Company believes the China rooftop solar market is an especially lucrative opportunity and has aggressively established its presence in that market. Rooftop projects can provide steady cash flow, double-digit IRRs, and reduced risk of curtailment or subsidy delays. ReneSola currently owns over 130 MW of rooftop projects under development, concentrated in a handful of eastern provinces of China with attractive development environments. The Company anticipates to own 150 MW of China’s rooftop projects by the end of 2017.

 

Operating Assets Capacity (MW)
China DG 131.2
-Zhejiang 33.3
-Anhui 28.8
-Henan 57.9
-Jiangsu 5.7
-Shandong 5.5
Romania 15.4

 

Mr. Li further commented, “We have demonstrated our ability to successfully build and transfer solar power projects globally. Our project development team consists of 314 dedicated employees around the world. Our strong and capable team, extensive financing relationships and track record of success give us high confidence that we can profitably grow the ‘new’ ReneSola.”

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s late-stage project pipeline by location:

 

Project Location Shovel-ready (MW)
USA 151.8
UK 4.3
Japan 17.5
Canada 8.6
Turkey 133.01
France 0.3
Poland 55.0
Thailand 5.0
China DG 104.5
Total 480.0

 

As of September 10, 2017, the Company had a pipeline of over 1 GW of projects in various stages, of which 480 MW are projects that are “shovel-ready”. The shovel-ready projects include (i) oversea projects that ReneSola has the right to develop or has self-originated in that ReneSola has obtained definitive agreement, and (ii) projects in China that are either owned by ReneSola and have been filed with PRC National Development and Reform Commission, or third-party projects to which the Company has signed definitive agreements for EPC services. The Company has identified a number of opportunities in China’s domestic distributed generation market, and had 104.5 MW of such projects in the shovel-ready stage as of September 10, 2017.

 

 

1 With the start of operation, ReneSola holds 50% of the economics in the projects, which are held for sale and expected to be sold in the normal course upon connection or shortly thereafter.

 

 

 

 

Outlook

 

For the third quarter of 2017, the Company’s project business is expected to generate revenue in the range of $40 to $45 million and overall gross margin in the range of 15% to 20% with the gross margin of IPP business in the range of 65%-70%. The Company expects to connect 20 to 30 MW of projects during the third quarter of 2017.

 

Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results

 

The Company today also announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter of 2017. Because the majority of revenue and losses are related to the Acquired Businesses being sold, the consolidated results are not indicative of the Company’s future financial outlook. As such, the Company is only presenting a brief summary for informational purposes.

 

Second quarter revenue of $151.6 million was down 3.2% sequentially and down 39.4% year-over-year. Net loss was $31.5 million, compared to net loss of $23.2 million in Q1 2017 and net income of $5.5 million in Q2 2016.

 

The Company recognized revenue of $3.1 million from the sale of rooftop projects of 3.0 MW in China’s domestic distributed generation market in Q2 2017. The Company also signed an agreement to sell a utility-scale project located in North Carolina with a capacity of approximately 6.75 MW with revenue expected to be recognized in Q3 2017. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company signed additional agreements to sell projects overseas, including (i) two ground-mount projects in the United Kingdom with a combined capacity of approximately 10 MW; and (ii) a portfolio of ground-mount projects in North Carolina with an aggregate capacity of 24 MW. These projects are expected to be connected to the grid by December 2017.

 

Conference Call Information

 

ReneSola's management will host an earnings conference call on September 27, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (8:30 p.m. China Time).

 

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

 

  Phone Number Toll-Free Number
United States +1 8456750437 +1 8665194004
Hong Kong +852 30186771 +852 800906601
Mainland China

+86 8008190121

+86 4006208038

 
Other International +65 67135090  

 

Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call. The passcode is 77739816.

 

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following numbers until October 5, 2017. To access the replay, please again reference the conference passcode 77739816.

 

  Phone Number Toll-Free Number
United States +1 6462543697 +1 8554525696
Hong Kong +852 30512780 +852 800963117
Mainland China

+86 8008700206

+86 4006322162

 
Other International +61 281990299  

 

 

 

 

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of ReneSola's website at http://www.renesola.com.

 

 

About ReneSola

 

Founded in 2005, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2008, ReneSola (NYSE: SOL) is an international leading brand of solar project developer and technology provider of energy efficient products. Leveraging its global presence, expansive distribution and sales network, ReneSola is well positioned to develop green energy projects with attractive return and provide its highest quality green energy products around the world. For more information, please visit www.renesola.com.

 

Safe Harbor Statement

 

This press release contains statements that constitute ''forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Whenever you read a statement that is not simply a statement of historical fact (such as when the Company describes what it "believes," "expects" or "anticipates" will occur, what "will" or "could" happen, and other similar statements), you must remember that the Company’s expectations may not be correct, even though it believes that they are reasonable. The Company does not guarantee that the forward-looking statements will happen as described or that they will happen at all. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F. The Company undertakes no obligation, beyond that required by law, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made, even though the Company’s situation may change in the future.

 

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

 

In China:

 

ReneSola Ltd

Ms. Rebecca Shen

+86 (21) 6280-9180 x106

ir@renesola.com

 

The Blueshirt Group Asia

Mr. Gary Dvorchak, CFA

+86 (138) 1079-1480

gary@blueshirtgroup.com

 

In the United States:

 

The Blueshirt Group

Mr. Ralph Fong

+1 (415) 489-2195

ralph@blueshirtgroup.com

 

 

 

 

RENESOLA LTD

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

(US dollars in thousands)

 

   Jun 30,   Mar 31,   Jun 30, 
   2017   2017   2016 
ASSETS            
Current assets:               
Cash and cash equivalents   28,633    26,634    23,723 
Restricted cash   110,661    117,783    139,645 
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts   112,185    108,230    185,573 
Inventories   92,291    153,220    165,470 
Advances to suppliers-current   15,891    15,727    23,286 
Amounts due from related parties   12,553    9,385    77 
Value added tax recoverable   8,084    10,956    5,911 
Prepaid income tax   1,142    1,115    4,338 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   20,723    16,002    18,288 
Project assets   116,869    75,574    64,756 
Deferred convertible notes issue costs-current               
Derivative assets   124        2,077 
Assets held-for-sale   -    8,540    - 
Deferred tax assets-current, net   -    -    - 
Total current assets   519,156    543,166    633,144 
                
Property, plant and equipment, net   537,595    486,278    568,090 
Prepaid land use right, net   32,204    31,923    35,842 
Deferred tax assets-non-current, net   16,766    19,168    14,403 
Advances for purchases of property, plant and equipment   3,554    1,824    285 
Deferred project costs   20,913    19,153    17,576 
Project assets-noncurrent   4,537    6,103    9,463 
Other long-lived assets   20,201    18,706    9,943 
Total assets   1,154,926    1,126,321    1,288,746 
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY               
                
Current liabilities:               
Convertible bond payable-current               
Short-term borrowings   671,432    647,587    716,512 
Accounts payable   203,185    221,580    280,609 
Advances from customers-current   83,954    36,701    20,342 
Amounts due to related parties   5,076    4,575    2,831 
Other current liabilities   61,473    59,655    66,536 
Income tax payable   318    302    128 
Derivative liabilities   -    371    - 
Warrant liability   -    -    26 
Total current liabilities   1,025,438    970,771    1,086,984 
               
Convertible notes payable-non-current               
Long-term borrowings   30,328    31,057    - 
Deferred revenue   33,305    32,566    28,366 
Warranty   28,704    28,114    38,870 
Deferred subsidies and other   21,267    20,943    22,203 
Other long-term liabilities   1,139    939    15 
Total liabilities   1,140,181    1,084,390    1,176,438 
               
Shareholders' equity               
Common shares   476,658    476,658    477,171 
Additional paid-in capital   8,569    8,420    7,994 
Accumulated loss   (524,665)   (493,215)   (424,020)
Accumulated other comprehensive income   53,385    50,068    51,163 
Total equity attribute to ReneSola Ltd   13,947    41,931    112,308 
Noncontrolling interest   798    -    - 
Total  shareholders' equity   14,745    41,931    112,308 
                
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   1,154,926    1,126,321    1,288,746 

 

 

 

 

RENESOLA LTD

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income

(US dollar in thousands, except ADS and share data)

                     

 

   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   Jun 30,
2017
   Mar 31,
2017
   Jun 30,
2016
   Jun 30,
2017
   Jun 30,
2016
 
                     
Net revenues from third parties   151,632    148,267    250,038    299,899    510,734 
Net revenues from related parties   -    8,343    -    8,343    0 
Total net revenues   151,632    156,610    250,038    308,242    510,734 
Cost of revenues   (147,509)   (154,889)   (208,886)   (302,398)   (425,077)
Gross profit   4,123    1,721    41,152    5,844    85,657 
GP%   2.72%   1.10%   16.50%   1.9%   16.8%
Operating (expenses) income:                         
Sales and marketing   (11,753)   (3,776)   (15,152)   (15,529)   (28,652)
General and administrative   (12,649)   (12,450)   (13,525)   (25,099)   (26,794)
Research and development   (5,352)   (5,707)   (7,424)   (11,059)   (15,614)
Other operating income   5,250    2,458    1,324    7,708    4,018 
Total operating expenses   (24,504)   (19,475)   (34,777)   (43,979)   (67,042)
                          
Income (loss) from operations   (20,381)   (17,754)   6,375    (38,135)   18,615 
    -13.40%   -6.30%   2.50%   -12.37%   3.64%
                          
Non-operating (expenses) income:                         
Interest income   378    312    715    690    1,492 
Interest expense   (8,571)   (9,248)   (8,477)   (17,819)   (18,337)
Foreign exchange gains (losses)   (78)   161    4,336    83    7,281 
Gains (losses) on derivatives, net   (411)   (332)   2,869    (743)   2,267 
Investment gain on disposal of subsidiaries   -    -    -    0    7 
Gains on repurchase of convertible bonds   -    -    -    0    213 
Fair value change of warrant liability   -    -    131    0    551 
Income (loss) before income tax, noncontrolling interests   (29,063)   (26,861)   5,949    (55,924)   12,089 
                          
Income tax (expense) benefit   (2,396)   3,621    (425)   1,225    (832)
Net income (loss)   (31,459)   (23,240)   5,524    (54,699)   11,257 
                          
Less: Net income (loss) attributed to noncontrolling interests   (9)   0    0    (9)   0 
Net income (loss) attributed to holders of ordinary shares   (31,450)   (23,240)   5,524    (54,690)   11,257 
                          
Earnings per share                         
Basic   (0.16)   (0.12)   0.03    (0.27)   0.06 
Diluted   (0.16)   (0.12)   0.03    (0.27)   0.06 
                          
Earnings per ADS                         
Basic   (1.57)   (1.16)   0.27    (2.73)   0.56 
Diluted   (1.57)   (1.16)   0.27    (2.73    0.56 
                          
Weighted average number of shares used in computing loss per share                         
Basic   200,538,902    200,538,902    201,998,340    200,538,902    202,580,825 
Diluted   200,538,902    200,538,902    201,998,340    200,538,902    202,580,825 

 

 

 

 

RENESOLA LTD

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (loss)

(US dollar in thousands)

 

   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   Jun 30, 2017   Mar 31, 2017   Jun 30, 2016   Jun 30, 2017   Jun 30, 2016 
Net income (loss)   (31,459)   (23,240)   5,524    (54,699)   11,257 
Other comprehensive income (loss)                         
Foreign exchange translation adjustment   3,317    (1,165)   (7,921)   2,152    (10,414)
Other comprehensive income (loss)   3,317    (1,165)   (7,921)   2,152    (10,414)
                          
Comprehensive income (loss)   (28,142)   (24,405)   (2,397)   (52,547)   843 
Less:comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest   (9)   -    -    (9)   0 
                          
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to ReneSola   (28,133)   (24,405)   (2,397)   (52,538)   843 

 

 

 

 

RENESOLA LTD

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

(US dollar in thousands)

 

   Six Months Ended 
   Jun 30, 2017   Jun 30, 2016 
         
Operating activities:          
Net profit/(loss)   (54,690)   11,257 
Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activity:          
Inventory write-down   4,032    - 
Depreciation and amortization   38,766    39,275 
Amortization of deferred convertible bond issuances costs and premium   -    33 
Allowance of doubtful receivables, advance to suppliers and prepayment for purchases of property, plant and equipment   1,570    131 
Gain (loss) on derivatives   743    (2,088)
Fair value change of warrant liability   -    (551)
Gain from settlement of certain payables          
Gain from advances from customers          
Share-based compensation   339    512 
Gain (loss) on disposal of long-lived assets   (3,087)   5,358 
Gain on disposal of solar project   -    (2,527)
Impairment of goodwill          
Impairment of Intangible assets          
Impairment of  long-lived assets          
Reversal of firm purchase commitment          
Gain on disposal of  subsidiaries          
Gain on CB repurchase   -    (212)
Changes in assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   114    (29,480)
Inventories   2,008    1,119 
Project assets and deferred project cost   (64,395)   (25,676)
Advances to suppliers   (283)   (6,354)
Amounts due from related parties   119    257 
Value added tax recoverable   (4,342)   18,668 
Prepaid expenses and other assets   7,464    6,658 
Prepaid land use rights, net   1,342    464 
Accounts payable   (26,413)   (12,643)
Advances from customers   63,261    (8,198)
Income tax payable   (51)   (778)
Other  current liabilities   2,099    (10,050)
Deferred revenue   -    (4,010)
Other non-current assets   -    (458)
Other long-term assets          
Warranty   (7,002)   3,821 
Deferred taxes assets   (468)   1,959 
Other long-term liabilities   249    - 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   (38,625)   (13,513)
           
Investing activities:          
Purchases of property, plant and equipment   (22,750)   (4,162)
Advances for purchases of property, plant and equipment   (5,368)   5,140 
Cash received from government subsidy          
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment   74    - 
Advance from disposal of property, plant and equipment   2,916    - 
Changes in restricted cash   (12,248)   (2,895)
Cash consideration for investment, net of cash received   (885)   - 
Net cash received (paid) on settlement of  derivatives   (621)   179 
Purchases of investment securities          
Proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries          
Net  cash provided by (used in) investing activities   (38,882)   (1,738)
           
Financing activities:          
Proceeds from bank borrowings   473,657    497,630 
Proceeds from related parties   4,374    - 
Repayment of bank borrowings   (412,199)   (464,338)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options          
Paid for CB repurchase          
Share issuance costs          
Repurchace from noncontrolling interests   798    - 
Repurchase of convertible notes   -    (25,931)
Cash paid for ADS/s repurchase   -    (981)
Net cash provided  by (used in) financing activities   66,630    6,380 
           
Effect of exchange rate changes   2,174    (5,451)
           
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (8,703)   (14,322)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period/year   37,336    38,045 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period/year   28,633    23,723