Hoku Scientific, Inc. (NasdaqGM:HOKU) may borrow up to $185 million from Merrill Lynch for its planned polysilicon production plant in Pocatello, Idaho, according to a company release.
Hoku signed a non-binding term sheet with Merrill Lynch for Hoku Materials, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary, to fund the construction, procurement and start-up of the plant.
In addition, prior to receiving any of the loan proceeds, Hoku Scientific will be required to provide Hoku Materials with approximately $35 million in cash for use in the construction of the planned polysilicon plant. To meet this and other capital requirements, Hoku Scientific says it will be required to secure additional financing.
The Pocatello facility is expected to produce approximately 2,500 metric tons of solar-grade polysilicon per year when it is running at full capacity, and the first customer shipments are planned for the beginning of 2009.
Hoku recently announced plans for Phase II of its planned polysilicon facilities, which would increase its capacity beyond 2,500 metric tons per year to meet its obligations to Solarfun Power Hong Kong Limited. Hoku began construction in May 2007 of its Phase I, 2,500 metric tons per year, facility, and estimates that total construction costs for Phase I will be approximately $290 million.
In addition to the loan and Hoku's cash contribution, Hoku says its customers, SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., Global Expertise Wafer Division Ltd., and Solarfun Power Hong Kong Limited, have committed to prepay a combined total of approximately $240 million for future product shipments to support Hoku's construction and start-up costs.
About Hoku Scientific, Inc.
Hoku Scientific is a diversified clean energy technologies company with three business units: Hoku Materials, Hoku Solar and Hoku Fuel Cells. Hoku Materials plans to manufacture, market, and sell polysilicon for the solar market from its plant currently under construction in Pocatello, Idaho. Hoku Solar is a provider of turnkey photovoltaic systems in Hawaii. Hoku Fuel Cells has developed proprietary fuel cell membranes and membrane electrode assemblies for stationary and automotive proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
