Reports say Buffett 'very likely' to purchase troubled solar panel firm
Shares in Suntech Power Holdings Co have rallied after a report that billionaire Warren Buffett is set to come to the troubled Chinese solar panel maker's rescue, igniting hope that it could find the capital it needs for a turnaround plan.
The New York-listed company rose 15.63 percent to $0.48 on Monday. Bloomberg reported that Suntech shares had jumped as much as 28 percent, after it said Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co may buy the company's bankrupted Wuxi subsidiary. Both Suntech and MidAmerican Energy declined to comment on the market speculation.
"If the rumor turns out to be true, which I personally think very likely, it may create a win-win situation," said Cheng Peng, a partner with Adfaith Management Consulting.
The bankrupt Suntech subsidiary would be a great bargain for Buffett, Cheng added, assuming the parent company would be glad to get rid of the burden at a bargain-basement price.
Wuxi Suntech, analysts said, still holds some good-quality assets, including land, equipment, its workforce and also technology.
The proposed acquisition "is in accordance with Buffett's investment habits, which emphasizes long-term returns," Cheng said.
"For Suntech, Buffett's investment could not only quench its thirst for capital, but also strongly boost confidence of shareholders, clients, and customers."
Citing an insider in the Wuxi government, National Business News said that a restructuring plan for Wuxi Suntech is expected within six to nine months.
March purchases accelerate driven by demand for entry-level models
China's passenger vehicle sales returned to high-speed growth in March due to surging demand for entry-level cars, as well as the flurry of new models launched in the spring, the China Passenger Car Association said on Tuesday.
The total sales of passenger cars, sport-utility vehicles, multi-purpose vehicles and minivans jumped 15 percent year-on-year to 1,459,095 units in March, the third-highest monthly growth in a year, the association said.
The strong performance in March boosted first-quarter domestic passenger vehicle sales to 4.21 million units, up 19.2 percent year-on-year.
"Usually, automakers prefer to debut new or updated models in March and April. That way, they can use the Spring Festival holidays to prepare for the new product launches," said Rao Da, secretary-general of the association.
"Also, the demand for passenger cars for family use on free-toll expressway trips during the three-day Tomb Sweeping Festival holidays also spurred sales. We saw higher growth in the entry-level segment," he added.
Rao also predicted robust growth in April as the Shanghai International Auto Show, which will start on April 21, will further boost consumption enthusiasm with new models expected to be launched by nearly all the brands.
"If the government doesn't implement measures to curb growth in the automotive industry, which has brought high pressure to traffic and the environment, passenger vehicle sales, excluding minivans, will surpass 1.2 million units in April," Rao said.
In 2010, China had 90 million vehicles on its roads, and the figure surged to more than 120 million by the end of last year, according to the association.
Rao said that the number of cars is expected to be between 260 and 330 million in 2020, with 70 percent of the vehicles in cities.
"Take Beijing as an example. In four to seven years, the capital will face serious traffic jams, which will have a heavy impact on employees' efficiency and economic development," he said.
The insider said several strategic investors have shown interest in the business, focusing on the Suntech brand, its influence on the market, and the quality of its products.
A creditors' meeting will be held in late April, the insider added.
Earlier reports said the State-owned Wuxi Guolian Development (Group) Co was ready to acquire the company wholly or partially.
Suntech Power Holdings announced in late March that it had submitted a petition for the insolvency and restructuring of Wuxi Suntech, after it defaulted on a $541 million bond repayment.
A local court has appointed an administration committee, consisting of local government representatives and accounting and legal professionals to administer the restructuring.
The primary goal is to restructure Wuxi Suntech's debt obligations, while continuing production and operations, Suntech said in a recent statement.
Wuxi Suntech is Suntech's principal operating subsidiary in China engaged in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells and PV modules.
It will continue operations through the restructuring period, the company said.
Chinese solar companies have been severely hit due to a supply glut, alternative-energy subsidy cuts in Europe, and also the imposition of hefty anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties in the US.
