Form 8-K FIRST SOLAR, INC. For: May 03
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E-mailUNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 3, 2016
FIRST SOLAR, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | 001-33156 (Commission File Number) | 20-4623678 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||
350 West Washington Street
Suite 600
Tempe, Arizona 85281
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(602) 414-9300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensation Arrangements of Certain Officers
Effective July 1, 2016, Georges J. Antoun, age 53, has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer of First Solar, Inc. (“First Solar”), reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Mr. Antoun will have comprehensive leadership responsibility for global project and business development. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Antoun served as President, U.S. since July 2015, and as Chief Operating Officer from July 2012 through June 2015. Mr. Antoun has over 20 years of operational and technical experience, including leadership positions at several global technology companies. Prior to joining First Solar in July 2012, Mr. Antoun served as Venture Partner at Technology Crossover Ventures (“TCV”), a private equity and venture firm that he joined in July 2011. Prior to joining TCV, Mr. Antoun was the Head of Product Area IP & Broadband Networks for Ericsson, based in San Jose, California. Mr. Antoun joined Ericsson in 2007, when Ericsson acquired Redback Networks, a telecommunications equipment company, where Mr. Antoun served as the Senior Vice President of World Wide Sales & Operations. After the acquisition, Mr. Antoun was promoted to Chief Executive Officer of the Redback Networks subsidiary. Prior to Redback Networks, Mr. Antoun spent five years at Cisco Systems, where he served as Vice President of Worldwide Systems Engineering and Field Marketing, Vice President of Worldwide Optical Operations, and Vice President of Carrier Sales. He has also held senior management positions at Newbridge Networks, a data and voice networking company, and Nynex (now Verizon Communications), where he was part of its Science and Technology Division. Mr. Antoun is a member of the board of directors of Ruckus Wireless, Inc. and Violin Memory, Inc., both publicly-traded companies. Mr. Antoun earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Master’s degree in Information Systems Engineering from NYU Poly. Mr. Antoun is not a party to any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K and has no family relationships with any other director or executive officer of First Solar.
Effective June 30, 2016, First Solar and Joseph G. Kishkill, President, International, mutually agreed to end Mr. Kishkill's employment with First Solar. Mr. Kishkill will receive certain compensation and benefits in connection with the termination of his employment in accordance with the terms of his employment agreement. Mr. Kishkill entered into a non-competition and non-solicitation agreement and a confidentiality and intellectual property agreement upon his employment, both of which shall continue to apply in accordance with their terms.
On May 9, 2016, First Solar issued a press release regarding these officer changes, which is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number | Description | |
99.1 | Press Release of First Solar, Inc. dated May 9, 2016 | |
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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 hereunto duly authorized.
FIRST SOLAR, INC. | |||
Dated: May 9, 2016 | By: | /s/ PAUL KALETA | |
Name: | Paul Kaleta | ||
Title: | Executive Vice President and General Counsel | ||
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EXHIBIT 99.1
News Release | ||||
First Solar Names Georges Antoun as Chief Commercial Officer
Antoun will oversee global project and business development
Joe Kishkill, President – International Business Development, to depart
TEMPE, Ariz., May 9, 2016 – First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced that Georges Antoun, President – U.S., has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer, effective July 1, 2016.
Antoun will have comprehensive leadership responsibility for Global Project and Business Development, with a primary focus on increased sales and sustainable growth in emerging markets. Reporting to Antoun will be First Solar global project development, business development and strategic marketing teams.
“Georges has a deep and broad grasp of every aspect of our operations,” said First Solar Chief Financial Officer Mark Widmar, who will become Chief Executive Officer on July 1. “I am confident that he can lead a fully integrated international business development organization that will deliver on our strategic objectives while focusing on deeper customer intimacy.”
As President – U.S., Antoun oversaw project and business development for the United States. Previously, he served as the company’s Chief Operations Officer, joining First Solar in June 2012 after working in the international IT and Telecommunications industries.
“I am honored to take on this expanded role as we enter a new phase of growth and development,” said Antoun. “I look forward to working with the management team and global associates to execute on our strategies and capitalize on the exciting opportunities before us.”
As part of this transition, Joe Kishkill, First Solar’s President – International, will leave the company to pursue other interests.
“Joe played an important role in positioning First Solar as a global player,” said Widmar. “We thank Joe for his contributions, and wish him all the best in his next endeavors.”
About First Solar, Inc.
First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) solar systems which use its advanced module and system technology. The company’s integrated power plant solutions deliver an economically attractive alternative to fossil-fuel electricity generation today. From raw material sourcing through end-of-life module recycling, First Solar's renewable energy systems protect and enhance the environment. For more information about First Solar, please visit www.firstsolar.com.
For First Solar Investors
This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements, among other things, concerning: effects on our financial statements and guidance resulting from pending tax matters; our business strategy, including anticipated trends and developments in and management plans for our business and the markets in which we operate; future financial results, operating results, revenues, gross margin, operating expenses, products, projected costs (including estimated future module collection and recycling costs), warranties, solar module efficiency and balance of systems cost reduction roadmaps, restructuring, product reliability, investments in unconsolidated affiliates and capital expenditures; our ability to continue to reduce the cost per watt of our solar modules; our ability to reduce the costs to construct PV solar power systems; research and development programs and our ability to improve the conversion efficiency of our solar modules; our ability to expand manufacturing capacity worldwide; sales and marketing initiatives; and competition. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of words such as “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “goal,” “target,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “predict,” “continue” and the negative or plural of these words and other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and our projections
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about future events. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the matters discussed in Item 1A: “Risk Factors,” of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports filed with the SEC.
Contacts
First Solar Media
Steve Krum
+1 602-427-3359
First Solar Investors
Stephen Haymore
+1 602 414-9315
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