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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. [ ])*
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Shares, par value $0.0001
(Title of Class of Securities)
(CUSIP Number)
Stig E. Smedsvig
Norsk Hydro ASA
Drammensveien 264
N-0240 Oslo, Norway
Telephone: +47 (0) 2253 8100
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to
Receive Notices and Communications)
with a copy to:
George Karafotias
Shearman & Sterling LLP
Broadgate West, 9 Appold Street
London EC2A 2AP, United Kingdom
+44 (0) 20 7655 5576
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g) check the following box. o
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP No. |
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043635101 |
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Page |
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2 |
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of |
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19 Pages |
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1 |
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS:
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I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY): |
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Norsk Hydro ASA |
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2 |
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS):
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(a) o |
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(b) þ |
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3 |
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SEC USE ONLY: |
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4 |
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SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS): |
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AF |
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5 |
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CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e): |
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o |
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6 |
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: |
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Kingdom of Norway
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7 |
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SOLE VOTING POWER: |
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NUMBER OF |
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0 |
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SHARES |
8 |
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SHARED VOTING POWER: |
BENEFICIALLY |
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OWNED BY |
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1,600,000 |
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EACH |
9 |
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: |
REPORTING |
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PERSON |
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0 |
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WITH |
10 |
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SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: |
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1,600,000 |
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11 |
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON: |
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1,600,000 |
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12 |
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CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS): |
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o
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13 |
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11): |
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23.0% |
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14 |
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS): |
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CO |
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP No. |
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043635101 |
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Page |
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3 |
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of |
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19 Pages |
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1 |
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS:
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I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY): |
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Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS |
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2 |
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS):
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(a) o |
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(b) þ |
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3 |
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SEC USE ONLY: |
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4 |
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SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS): |
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WC |
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5 |
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CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e): |
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o |
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6 |
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: |
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Kingdom of Norway
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7 |
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SOLE VOTING POWER: |
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NUMBER OF |
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0 |
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SHARES |
8 |
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SHARED VOTING POWER: |
BENEFICIALLY |
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OWNED BY |
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1,600,000 |
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EACH |
9 |
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SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: |
REPORTING |
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PERSON |
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0 |
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WITH |
10 |
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SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: |
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1,600,000 |
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11 |
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON: |
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1,600,000 |
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12 |
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CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS): |
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o
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13 |
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11): |
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23.0% |
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14 |
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS): |
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CO |
Item 1. Security and Issuer.
This Statement on Schedule 13D (this Statement) relates to the common shares, par
value $0.0001 per share (the Shares), of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the Company), whose principal executive offices are located at 8120 Shaffer
Parkway, Littleton, Colorado 80127, United States.
Item 2. Identity and Background.
This Statement is being filed by Norsk Hydro ASA, a public limited liability company organized
under the laws of the Kingdom of Norway (Norsk Hydro), and Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS, a
limited liability company organized under the laws of the Kingdom of Norway (Produksjon).
Norsk Hydro is engaged in the oil and energy, light metals and petrochemicals industries.
Produksjon is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Norsk Hydro and is engaged in the oil and energy and
petrochemicals industries.
The principal executive offices of each of Norsk Hydro and Produksjon are located at
Drammensveien 264, N-0240 Oslo, Norway.
The name, business address, present principal occupation or employment and citizenship of each
of the executive officers and directors of Norsk Hydro and Produksjon are set forth in Schedule A
hereto and are incorporated by reference herein.
During the last five years, neither Norsk Hydro nor Produksjon nor, to the best of their
knowledge, any of the persons listed in Schedule A hereto has been: (i) convicted in a criminal
proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) a party to a civil
proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such
proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of,
or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any
violation with respect to such laws.
Norsk Hydro and Produksjon have entered into a Joint Filing Agreement, dated March 22, 2007, a
copy of which is filed with this Schedule 13D as Exhibit A, pursuant to which they have agreed to
file this Schedule 13D jointly in accordance with the provisions of Rule 13d-1(k)(1) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act).
Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Considerations.
On March 13, 2007, Produksjon and the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement
(the Securities Purchase Agreement), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit B hereto.
The description of the Securities Purchase Agreement contained herein is qualified in its entirety
by reference to Exhibit B, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Page 4 of 19
Tranche 1 Shares
Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company issued to Produksjon, and
Produksjon purchased, accepted and acquired from the Company an aggregate of 1,600,000 Shares (the
Tranche 1 Shares), at an issue price of $5.7725 in cash per Tranche 1 Share, or
$9,236,000 in the aggregate, at a closing that occurred on March 13, 2007 (the First
Closing).
The funds for the subscription price for the Tranche 1 Shares were obtained by Produksjon from
its working capital.
Initial Warrants Call Option
Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company granted to Produksjon, and
Produksjon acquired from the Company, the option to acquire from the Company, and to require the
Company to sell to Produksjon (the Initial Warrants Call Option), (i) a number of
restricted, redeemable Class A public warrants otherwise identical to the publicly traded Class A
public warrants of the Company, each of which entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share at
an exercise price of $6.60 per Share (the Class A Warrants), that will result in
Produksjon owning 23% of all issued and outstanding Class A Warrants immediately after such sale
and purchase (the Initial Class A Warrants) and (ii) a number of restricted,
non-redeemable Class B public warrants otherwise identical to the publicly traded Class B public
warrants of the Company, each of which entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share at an
exercise price of $11.00 per Share (the Class B Warrants; together with the Class A
Warrants, the Warrants), that will result in Produksjon owning 23% of all issued and
outstanding Class B Warrants immediately after such sale and purchase (the Initial Class B
Warrants; together with the Initial Class A Warrants, the Initial Warrants).
The Initial Warrants Call Option may be exercised by Produksjon at any time after the
Companys stockholders approve in a regular or special meeting (the Stockholders
Meeting) the issuance of the Initial Warrants and the issuance of the Tranche 2 Securities
(defined below) (such approval by the Companys stockholders, the Stockholder Approval)
until two years from the date thereof. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the
Stockholders Meeting will be held as promptly as practicable, but in no case later than July 13,
2007.
The purchase price for each (i) Initial Class A Warrant will be an amount equal to the average
of the closing bids for the Companys Class A Warrants on Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq)
during the five consecutive trading days ending on (and including) the trading day that is one day
prior to the date of exercise of the Initial Warrants Call Option and (ii) Initial Class B Warrant
will be an amount equal to the average of the closing bids for the Companys Class B Warrants on
Nasdaq during the five consecutive trading days ending on (and including) the trading day that is
one day prior to the date of exercise of the Initial Warrants Call Option. The issuance, purchase
and sale of the Initial Warrants is hereinafter referred to as the Initial Warrants
Closing.
Page 5 of 19
Pursuant to a Stockholders Agreement entered into by the Company and Produksjon on the First
Closing (the Stockholders Agreement), Produksjon can exercise the Initial Warrants only
to maintain its 23.0% ownership of the Companys Common Shares.
Produksjon expects to obtain the funds for the purchase of the Initial Class A Warrants and
the Initial Class B Warrants, if any, from its working capital.
Tranche 2 Call Option
Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company granted to Produksjon, and
Produksjon acquired from the Company, the option to acquire from the Company, and to require the
Company to sell to Produksjon (the Tranche 2 Call Option), up to a maximum of (i) an
additional number of Shares that will result in Produksjon owning 35% of all issued and outstanding
Shares immediately after such sale and purchase (the Tranche 2 Shares), (ii) an
additional number of restricted Class A Warrants that will result in Produksjon owning 35% of all
issued and outstanding Class A Warrants immediately after such sale and purchase (the Option
Class A Warrants) and (iii) an additional number of restricted Class B Warrants that will
result in Produksjon owning 35% of all issued and outstanding Class B Warrants immediately after
such sale and purchase (the Option Class B Warrants; together with the Option Class A
Warrants, the Option Warrants; the Option Warrants together with the Tranche 2 Shares,
the Tranche 2 Securities; and the Tranche 2 Securities together with the Tranche 1 Shares
and the Initial Warrants, the Purchased Securities).
The Tranche 2 Call Option may be exercised by Produksjon at any time during the period (i)
after 9:00 a.m. Denver, Colorado time, on the date that is the later of (x) December 13, 2007 and
(y) the date the Stockholder Approval is obtained and (ii) prior to 5:00 p.m., Denver, Colorado
time on the date two years thereafter.
The purchase price for each (i) Tranche 2 Share will be an amount equal to the average of the
closing bids for the Shares on Nasdaq during the five consecutive trading days ending on (and
including) the trading day that is one day prior to the date of exercise of the Tranche 2 Call
Option, (ii) Option Class A Warrant will be an amount equal to the average of the closing bids for
the Class A Warrants on Nasdaq during the five consecutive trading days ending on (and including)
the trading day that is one day prior to the date of exercise of the Tranche 2 Call Option and
(iii) Option Class B Warrant will be an amount equal to the average of the closing bids for the
Class B Warrants on Nasdaq during the five consecutive trading days ending on (and including) the
trading day that is one day prior to the date of exercise of the Tranche 2 Call Option.
Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, Produksjon can exercise the Option Warrants only to
maintain its percentage ownership of the Companys Common Shares existing immediately after the
closing of the issuance, purchase and sale of the Tranche 2 Securities (the Second
Closing).
Produksjon expects to obtain the funds for the purchase of the Tranche 2 Shares, the Option
Class A Warrants and the Option Class B Warrants, if any, from its working capital.
Page 6 of 19
Redemption of Class A Warrants
If the Class A Warrants have been redeemed by the Company in accordance with their terms on or
prior to the Initial Warrants Closing or the Second Closing, as the case may be, the Company will
issue to Produksjon, and Produksjon will purchase, accept and acquire from the Company, a number of
Shares, at a price per Share equal to the average of the closing bids for the Shares on Nasdaq
during the five consecutive trading days ending on (and including) the trading day that is one day
prior to the date of exercise of the Initial Warrants Call Option or the Tranche 2 Call Option, as
the case may be, sufficient to ensure that Produksjon acquires the percentage ownership of the
Company that it would otherwise have acquired had the Company not redeemed the Class A Warrants on
or prior to such date.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.
The information set forth in Items 3 and 6 is hereby incorporated by reference in this Item 4.
Stockholders Agreement
On the First Closing, the Company and Produksjon entered into the Stockholders Agreement, a
copy of which is attached as Exhibit C hereto, pursuant to which, among other things, the Company
has agreed to cause its Nominating and Governance Committee to recommend for election to the
Companys board of directors (the Board) one director designated by Produksjon (the
Investor Designated Director). From and after the Companys 2007 annual shareholders
meeting, so long as Produksjon beneficially owns 15% or more of the outstanding Shares, the Company
and Produksjon will use all reasonable efforts to cause there to be one Investor Designated
Director elected as a member of the Board. In the event Produksjon beneficially owns less than 15%
of the outstanding Shares, Produksjon will have no right to designate an Investor Designated
Director, and, at the request of the Board, will cause any Investor Designated Director then in
office to resign immediately. However, if the Stockholder Approval has not been obtained by July
13, 2007, regardless of Produksjons beneficial ownership of the outstanding Shares, the Company
and Produksjon will use all reasonable efforts (i) to cause there to be one Investor Designated
Director elected as a member of the Board as soon as reasonably practicable and (ii) to cause the
Board to include one Investor Designated Director at least until March 13, 2009.
To the extent permitted by the rules and regulations of Nasdaq or the Boston Stock Exchange,
Incorporated (Exchange Regulation), so long as Produksjon beneficially owns 15% or more
of the outstanding Shares, the Company and the Board will take all necessary action to permit one
individual designated by Produksjon (in addition to the Investor Designated Director) to attend
each meeting of the Board at which non-independent or management directors are permitted to be in
attendance (the Observer). The Observer will have no right to vote at any meeting of the
Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Stockholder Approval has not been obtained by July
13, 2007, regardless of Produksjons beneficial ownership of the outstanding Shares, to the extent
permitted by Exchange Regulation, the Company and the Board will take all necessary actions (i) to
permit the Observer to attend each meeting of the Board at which non-independent or management
directors are permitted to be in attendance and (ii) to provide the
Page 7 of 19
Observer with notice of and information regarding each such meeting as is provided to members
of the Board, in each case for the period beginning on July 13, 2007 and ending on March 13, 2009.
Subject to the receipt of the Stockholder Approval, from the date Produksjon beneficially
acquires 35% of the issued and outstanding Shares until the second anniversary of the receipt of
the Stockholder Approval, without the prior approval of the Board, Produksjon will not purchase or
otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership of any Shares such that the
aggregate beneficial ownership of Produksjon, after giving effect to any such acquisition, would be
in excess of 35% of the issued and outstanding Shares.
In addition, subject to the receipt of the Stockholder Approval, from the date Produksjon
beneficially acquires 35% of the issued and outstanding Shares, Produksjon agrees that, prior to
the second anniversary of the receipt of the Stockholder Approval and subject to certain
exceptions, Produksjon will not, without the prior approval of the Board, directly or indirectly:
(i) acquire, offer to acquire, or agree to acquire, directly or indirectly, by purchase
or otherwise, any securities or direct or indirect rights to acquire any securities of the
Company, or of any successor to or person in control of the Company, or any assets of the
Company or any division thereof or of any such successor or controlling person;
(ii) make or in any way participate, directly or indirectly, in any solicitation of
proxies (as such terms are used in the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
SEC)) to vote any voting securities of the Company, other than solicitations
exempted from the proxy solicitation rules by Rule 14a-2 under the Exchange Act or any
successor provision;
(iii) submit to the Board a written proposal for or offer of (with or without
conditions), any merger, recapitalization, reorganization, business combination or other
extraordinary transaction involving the Company or any of its securities or assets, or make
any public announcement with respect to such a proposal or offer; or
(iv) with certain exceptions, enter into any discussions, negotiations, arrangements or
understandings with any third party with respect to any of the foregoing, or otherwise form,
join or in any way engage in discussions relating to the formation of, or participate in, a
group with any third party, in connection with any of the foregoing;
provided, however, that none of the foregoing (i) will prevent, restrict, encumber
or in any way limit the exercise of the fiduciary rights and obligations of the Investor Designated
Director as a director or prevent, restrict, encumber or in any way limit the ability of the
Investor Designated Director to vote on matters, influence officers, employees, agents, management
or the other directors of the Company, take any action or make any statement at any meeting of the
Board or any committee thereof, or otherwise to act in his or her capacity as a director; (ii) will
prevent Produksjon from selling any Purchased Securities or any Shares then owned or thereafter
acquired by Produksjon (the Covered Securities) or voting its Shares; (iii) will apply to
or restrict any discussions or other communications between or among directors, officers,
Page 8 of 19
employees or agents of Produksjon or any affiliate thereof; (iv) will prohibit Produksjon from
soliciting, offering, seeking to effect or negotiating with any person with respect to transfers of
Covered Securities otherwise permitted by the Stockholders Agreement or (v) restrict any
disclosure or statements required to be made by the Investor Designated Director or Produksjon
under applicable law or Exchange Regulation.
The foregoing restrictions applicable to Produksjon from the date it beneficially acquires 35%
of the issued and outstanding Shares will terminate upon the earliest of: (i) such date as the
Board determines to solicit any acquisition proposal with respect to 20% of more of the
consolidated assets or any class of equity securities of the Company (an Acquisition
Proposal), (ii) such date as the Board approves, accepts, authorizes or recommends to the
Companys stockholders their approval of any Acquisition Proposal, (iii) such date that the Company
or any affiliate thereof has entered into a letter of intent, agreement in principle, definitive
agreement or any other agreement with any party, with respect to an Acquisition Proposal and (iv)
such date that any person or group, other than Produksjon or any of its affiliates, will have
acquired or announced its intention to acquire beneficial ownership of 20% of the Companys
outstanding Shares.
During the period ending six months after (i) March 13, 2007 in the case of the Tranche 1
Shares, (ii) the date of the Initial Warrants Closing in the case of the Initial Warrants and (iii)
the date of the Second Closing in the case of the Tranche 2 Securities (in any case, the
Initial Restricted Period), Produksjon agreed not to make or solicit any sale of the
Tranche 1 Shares, the Initial Warrants or the Tranche 2 Securities, respectively, subject to
certain exceptions. After the Initial Restricted Period, neither Produksjon nor any of its
affiliates will sell any of the Covered Securities except in certain limited circumstances, such as
a sale or transfer in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
Securities Act), pursuant to a bona fide public offering registered under the Securities
Act or in certain business combination transactions, among others.
Subject to certain exceptions, in the event that the Company proposes to issue any capital
stock of the Company, rights, options or warrants to purchase such capital stock or securities
convertible into such capital stock (New Securities), Produksjon will have the right,
within 30 days after receipt of a notice from the Company describing the material terms of such New
Securities, (i) to purchase in lieu of the person to whom the Company proposed to issue such New
Securities, in accordance with certain procedures, or, (ii) at its option, to exercise Warrants to
purchase, a number of New Securities equal to the product of (A) the total number or amount of New
Securities that the Company proposes to issue at such time and (B) a fraction, the numerator of
which will be the total number of Shares that Produksjon owns at such time, and the denominator of
which will be the total number of Shares then outstanding.
If, at any time and from time to time, the Company issues Shares that are not New Securities,
Produksjon will have the right, for a period of 30 days, to exercise such number of Warrants
beneficially owned by Produksjon as is necessary to maintain its percentage ownership of the
Companys Shares.
The description of the Stockholders Agreement contained herein is qualified in its entirety
by reference to Exhibit C, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Page 9 of 19
Voting Agreement
On the First Closing, Dr. Mohan S. Misra, Chairman of the Board (Dr. Misra), Inica,
Inc., a Colorado corporation (Inica), ITN Energy Systems, Inc., a Colorado corporation
(ITN; and together with Dr. Misra and Inica, the Stockholders), and Produksjon
entered into a Voting Agreement (the Voting Agreement), a copy of which is attached as
Exhibit D hereto, pursuant to which each Stockholder agreed that he or it will, among other things:
(i) vote (or cause to be voted) in person or by proxy all Shares beneficially owned by
such Stockholder and any Shares of which such Stockholder subsequently acquires beneficial
ownership (collectively, the Covered Shares) (A) in favour of the approval of the
issuance of the Initial Warrants and the issuance of the Tranche 2 Securities to Produksjon
and (B) against any proposal, action or transaction involving the Company which would impede,
frustrate, prevent or materially delay the consummation of the issuance of the Initial
Warrants or the issuance of the Tranche 2 Securities or the other transactions contemplated by
the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Stockholders Agreement or the Voting Agreement or the
approval of the issuance of the Initial Warrants or the issuance of the Tranche 2 Securities
to Produksjon; and
(ii) vote (or cause to be voted) in person or by proxy all Covered Shares (A) in favor of
the appointment of the Investor Designated Director to the Board and (B) against any proposal,
action or transaction involving the Company, which proposal, action or transaction would
impede, frustrate, prevent or materially delay the appointment of the Investor Designated
Director to the Board.
The Stockholders Agreement will terminate upon the earliest of (i) the later of the Initial
Warrants Closing and the Second Closing, (ii) the termination of the Securities Purchase Agreement
in accordance with its terms and (iii) written notice of termination of the Stockholders Agreement
by Produksjon to the Stockholders; provided, however, that each Stockholders
obligation to vote in favor of the appointment of the Investor Designated Director to the Board
will terminate (y) when Produksjon beneficially owns less than 15% of the Companys Shares or (z)
on March 13, 2009 if the Stockholder Approval has not been obtained by July 13, 2007.
The description of the Voting Agreement contained herein is qualified in its entirety by
reference to Exhibit D, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Registration Rights Agreement
On the First Closing, the Company and Produksjon entered into a Registration Rights Agreement
(the Registration Rights Agreement), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit E hereto,
pursuant to which the Company agreed to provide Produksjon with certain registration rights in
respect of the Shares held by Produksjon.
At any time after March 13, 2008, Produksjon may request that the Company file a registration
statement with the SEC covering at least 250,000 Shares in respect of which Produksjon has
requested registration (a Demand Registration). Produksjon is entitled to demand up to
three Demand Registrations provided that (i) no more than one Demand
Page 10 of 19
Registration may be requested in any twelve-month period and (ii) no request for a Demand
Registration may be made within 120 days of the date of effectiveness of any other registration
statement filed by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
If, at any time, the Company files a registration statement with the SEC, Produksjon will be
entitled, subject to certain exceptions, to exercise piggyback registration rights requiring the
Company to include in any such registration that number of Shares held by Produksjon as Produksjon
may request, subject only to certain prescribed limitations provided in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
The Company may, on a limited number of occasions, and in certain prescribed circumstances,
delay the filing or effectiveness of any registration statement required to be filed pursuant to
the Registration Rights Agreement.
The description of the Registration Rights Agreement contained herein is qualified in its
entirety by reference to Exhibit E, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Although Norsk Hydro and Produksjon have no present intention to acquire securities of the
Company other than pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement or the Stockholders Agreement,
they intend to review their investment on a regular basis and, as a result thereof and subject to
the terms and conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Stockholders Agreement, may
at any time or from time to time determine, either alone or as part of a group, (i) to acquire
additional securities of the Company, through open market purchases, privately negotiated
transactions or otherwise, (ii) to dispose of all or a portion of the securities of the Company
owned by them in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise or (iii) to
take any other available course of action, which could involve one or more of the types of
transactions or have one or more of the results described in the next paragraph of this Item 4.
Any such acquisition or disposition or other transaction would be made in compliance with all
applicable laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, each of Norsk Hydro
and Produksjon specifically reserves the right to change its intention with respect to any or all
of such matters. In reaching any decision as to its course of action (as well as to the specific
elements thereof), each of Norsk Hydro and Produksjon currently expects that it would take into
consideration a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the following: the Companys
business and prospects; other developments concerning the Company and its businesses generally;
other business opportunities available to Norsk Hydro and Produksjon; changes in law and government
regulations; general economic conditions; and money and stock market conditions, including the
market price of the securities of the Company.
Except as set forth in this Schedule 13D, Norsk Hydro and Produksjon have no present plans or
proposals that relate to or would result in:
(i) The acquisition by any person of additional securities of the Company, or the
disposition of securities of the Company,
(ii) An extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or
liquidation, involving the Company,
(iii) A sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Company,
Page 11 of 19
(iv) Any change in the present board of directors or management of the Company, including
any plans or proposals to change the number or term of directors or to fill any existing
vacancies on the board,
(v) Any material change in the present capitalization or dividend policy of the Company,
(vi) Any other material change in the Companys business or corporate structure,
(vii) Changes in the Companys charter, bylaws or instruments corresponding thereto or
other actions that may impede the acquisition of control of the Company by any person;
(viii) A class of securities of the Company being delisted from a national securities
exchange or ceasing to be authorized to be quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system of a
registered national securities association,
(ix) A class of equity securities of the Company becoming eligible for termination of
registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Securities Act, or
(x) Any action similar to any of those enumerated above.
Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
The responses of Norsk Hydro and Produksjon to Rows (7) through (13) of the cover pages of
this Schedule 13D and the information set forth in Item 3 is hereby incorporated by reference in
this Item 5.
Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, on the First Closing, Produksjon acquired
1,600,000 Shares, representing 23.0% of the Companys outstanding Shares. Each of Norsk Hydro and
Produksjon is deemed to beneficially own 1,600,000 Shares representing 23.0% of the Companys
outstanding Shares.
In addition, the Shares deemed beneficially owned by each of Norsk Hydro and Produksjon with
respect to which such person (i) has sole voting power, (ii) shares voting power, (iii) has sole
dispositive power and (iv) shares dispositive power are listed in the responses to Items 7, 8, 9
and 10, respectively, of the cover page of this Schedule 13D relating to such person.
Except as disclosed in this Schedule 13D, neither Norsk Hydro nor Produksjon nor, to the best
of their knowledge, any of the persons listed in Schedule A hereto, beneficially owns any Shares or
has the right to acquire any Shares.
Except as disclosed in this Schedule 13D, neither Norsk Hydro nor Produksjon nor, to the best
of their knowledge, any of the persons listed in Schedule A hereto, presently has the power to vote
or to direct the vote or to dispose or direct the disposition of any of the Shares that they may be
deemed to beneficially own.
Page 12 of 19
Except as disclosed in this Schedule 13D, neither Norsk Hydro nor Produksjon nor, to the best
of their knowledge, any of the persons listed in Schedule A hereto, has effected any transaction in
the Shares during the past 60 days.
To the best knowledge of Norsk Hydro and Produksjon, no other person has the right to receive
or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the Shares
beneficially owned by Norsk Hydro and Produksjon.
|
|
Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the
Issuer. |
The information set forth in Items 3 and 4 is hereby incorporated by reference in this Item 6.
Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the Company has agreed that it will use all proceeds
received from Produksjon for the sale of the Purchased Securities pursuant to the Securities
Purchase Agreement for the development and installation of a 1.5 MW production line, purchase of
capital equipment, and for general corporate purposes, including salary, overhead and other
expenses.
Except as described above or elsewhere in this Schedule 13D or incorporated by reference in
this Schedule 13D, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or
otherwise) between Norsk Hydro and Produksjon or, to the best of their knowledge, any of the
persons named in Schedule A hereto or between Norsk Hydro or Produksjon and any other person or, to
the best of their knowledge, any person named in Schedule A hereto and any other person with
respect to any securities of the Company, including, but not limited to, transfer or voting of any
securities, finders fees, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees
of profits, division of profits or losses, or the giving or withholding of proxies.
Page 13 of 19
Item 7. Material to Be Filed as Exhibits.
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Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
|
|
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A
|
|
Joint Filing Agreement, dated March 22, 2007, between Norsk
Hydro ASA and Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS |
|
|
|
B
|
|
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 13, 2007,
between Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. and Norsk Hydro
Produksjon AS |
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|
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C
|
|
Stockholders Agreement, dated as of March 13, 2007, between
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. and Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS |
|
|
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D
|
|
Voting Agreement, dated as of March 13, 2007, among Dr. Mohan
S. Misra, Inica, Inc., ITN Energy Systems, Inc. and Norsk
Hydro Produksjon AS |
|
|
|
E
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 13, 2007, by
and between Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. and Norsk Hydro
Produksjon AS |
Page 14 of 19
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the
information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated:
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March 22, 2007
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NORSK HYDRO ASA |
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/s/ Jørgen C. Arentz Rostrup
Signature
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Jørgen C. Arentz Rostrup, Senior Vice President
Name/Title
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NORSK HYDRO PRODUKSJON AS |
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/s/ Jørgen C. Arentz Rostrup
Signature
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Jørgen C. Arentz Rostrup, Chief Executive Officer
Name/Title
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Page 15 of 19
SCHEDULE A
Norsk Hydro ASA
Directors and Executive Officers
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Present Principal |
|
|
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|
Name |
|
Occupation |
|
Business Address |
|
Citizenship |
Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan Reinås |
|
Chairperson |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
|
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elisabeth Grieg |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
Grieg International |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
|
|
Karenslyst Allé 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
P.O. Box 513 Skøyen |
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|
|
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|
0214 Oslo |
|
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|
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Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Håkan Mogren |
|
Corporate Director |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Swedish |
|
|
|
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grete Faremo |
|
Director for Legal and Corporate |
|
Microsoft Norway |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
Affairs, Western Europe |
|
Lilleakerveien 6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0283 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
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Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Lena Olving |
|
Senior Vice President |
|
Volvo Car Corporation |
|
Swedish |
|
|
Process and |
|
405 31 Göteborg |
|
|
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|
Operational Excellence |
|
Sweden |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Kurt Anker Nielsen |
|
Corporate Director |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
|
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Terje Friestad |
|
Senior Engineer |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
|
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
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Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
Sten Roar Martinsen |
|
Process Operator |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
|
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Geir Nilsen |
|
Maintenance Supervisor |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
|
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Page 16 of 19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Present Principal |
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Occupation |
|
Business Address |
|
Citizenship |
Executive Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eivind Reiten |
|
President and Chief Executive |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
Officer |
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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John Ove Ottestad |
|
Executive Vice President and |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Cecilie Ditlev-Simonsen |
|
Executive Vice President |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
Communication and Reputation |
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
Management |
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
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Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Torstein Dale Sjøtveit |
|
Executive Vice President |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
Aluminium Metal |
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Svein Richard Brandtzæg |
|
Executive Vice President |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
Aluminium Products |
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tore Torvund |
|
Executive Vice President Oil and |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
Energy |
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
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Page 17 of 19
Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS
Directors and Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Present Principal Occupation |
|
Business Address |
|
Citizenship |
Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jørgen Kristian Andersen |
|
Senior Vice President Finance, |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
Oil & Energy |
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ida Helliesen |
|
Senior Vice President, |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
|
|
Corporate Finance |
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gunnar Andreas Hvattum |
|
Legal Counsel, |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
Heiberg |
|
Corporate Legal Department |
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jørgen Christian Arentz |
|
Senior Vice President, |
|
Norsk Hydro ASA |
|
Norwegian |
Rostrup |
|
Oil & Energy Markets |
|
Drammensveien 264, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N-0240 Oslo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norway |
|
|
Page 18
of 19
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
|
Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
|
|
|
A
|
|
Joint Filing Agreement, dated March 22, 2007, between Norsk
Hydro AS and Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS |
|
|
|
B
|
|
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 13, 2007,
between Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. and Norsk Hydro
Produksjon AS |
|
|
|
C
|
|
Stockholders Agreement, dated as of March 13, 2007, between
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. and Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS |
|
|
|
D
|
|
Voting Agreement, dated as of March 13, 2007, among Dr. Mohan
S. Misra, Inica, Inc., ITN Energy Systems, Inc. and Norsk
Hydro Produksjon AS |
|
|
|
E
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 13, 2007, by
and between Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. and Norsk Hydro
Produksjon AS |
Page 19 of 19