Opinion | Buffett to rescue Suntech?

Rumours of a Warren Buffett investment in Suntech are most likely false, though Buffett could ultimately invest in China's solar sector when it returns to health

Reading Time:3 minutes

Published: 7:15pm, 9 Apr 2013

Intriguing rumours that billionaire investor Warren Buffett might be eying bankrupt former solar superstar Suntech (NYSE: STP) are breathing new life into embattled solar shares, as traders bet that western investors could help to revive the sector. Such a move would indeed be a major vote of confidence in this tarnished industry, since most observers believe that no private investors would want to bet on this group and a state-led rescue will be necessary to save the shaky sector. But all of that said, I'm quite skeptical that the latest rumors are true, since Buffett isn't known for investing in problem-plagued companies or sectors.

Regardless of whether they're true, the rumors that Buffett might want to buy Suntech helped to spark a rally in Chinese solar shares, with Suntech's own shares up nearly 16 per cent in Monday trade. Other solar shares joined the rally, with Trina (NYSE: TSL) and Yingli (NYSE: YGE) up 7.6 per cent and 4.5 per cent, respectively. Even mid-sized players joined in the rally, with Canadian Solar (Nasdaq: CSIQ) and JA Solar (Nasdaq: JASO) also gaining 9.7 per cent and 3.7 per cent, respectively.

Let's take a look first at the reasons why the rumours might be true to see why investors were so excited. Buffett has shown a recent interest in new energy companies, some of which could be poised for big growth as many governments try to wean their economies from overdependence on traditional fossil fuels.

One of Buffett's earliest investments in the area came in 2008, when he purchased 10 per cent of BYD (1211.HK; Shenzhen: 002594), a China-based maker of electric cars and buses. More recently, Buffett has also invested in solar power projects in California and Arizona, and in an Illinois-based wind farm. While the US-based investments are likely to produce their promised returns, results from the BYD investment have been decidedly worse as the company's EV program struggles.

Now let's take a quick look at the reasons why an investment in Suntech doesn't really sound like something Buffett would consider. Leading the list is the complexity of Suntech current situation, after the company defaulted on more than US$500 million in debt and was forced into bankruptcy last month by its largest lenders.

Not only is Suntech now in bankruptcy, but the case is being heard in a court in Suntech's home city of Wuxi where the local government wields big influence. Buffett would have to be very brave to try his luck in this unfamiliar territory, which is hardly like a bankruptcy case in the US court system.

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.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Rumours of a Warren Buffett investment in Suntech are most likely false, though Buffett could ultimately invest in China's solar sector when it returns to health

Rumours of a Warren Buffett investment in Suntech are most likely false, though Buffett could ultimately invest in China's solar sector when it returns to health