SEIA Finance and Tax Seminar

This year, the SEIA Finance and Tax Seminar will present a new series of sessions on the fundamentals of solar finance and tax issues. The Foundation Sessions will take place during the final 20 minutes of each networking break immediately prior to the related Deep Dive Sessions. This will give all attendees the opportunity for a refresher on principles of solar finance and the opportunity to deepen existing knowledge through communication with subject matter experts.

Foundation Sessions
Speakers will provide concise, comprehensive introductions to the various tax equity structures used in the solar market today. Common challenges for developers and financiers will also be addressed.

Deep Dive Sessions
Speakers will offer more advanced reviews of transaction structures for professionals who are already comfortable with the basic mechanics of financing solar energy projects. Discussions will focus on the latest industry trends and project case studies.

Agenda

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Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM	Registration Open
12:20 PM - 1:20 PM	Networking Lunch
1:30 PM - 1:40 PM	Welcome Address Lee Peterson- Reznick Group, P.C.
1:40 PM - 2:40 PM	Tax Equity Financing for Solar Projects What is the current status of the tax equity market for residential and commercial solar projects? What will the tax equity market look like in a post-Treasury Grant world? Speakers: Keith Martin- Chadbourne & Parke LLP Mit Buchanan- JP Morgan Capital Corporation Jeetu Balchandani- MetLife Tracey Gunn- U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. Curtis Ravenel- Bloomberg L.P.
2:40 PM - 3:10 PM	Passive Activity Losses Internal Revenue Code rules governing passive activity losses determine the universe of permissible tax equity investors for solar and other renewable energy projects. The speaker will review the history and rationale for the rules, as well as provide an update on recent rulings at the U.S. Treasury. Speaker: John Eliason- Foley & Lardner LLP
3:10 PM - 3:40 PM	Networking Break
3:20 PM - 3:40 PM	Foundations: Sale Leasebacks The speaker will introduce the fundamental characteristics of this transaction structure and identify common challenges for developers and financiers. Speaker: Forrest Milder- Nixon Peabody LLP
3:40 PM - 4:10 PM	Sale Leaseback Deep Dive The speaker will highlight the latest industry trends associated with this transaction structure and walk through specific project case studies. Speaker: Forrest Milder- Nixon Peabody LLP
4:10 PM - 4:40 PM	Preserving your 1603 Safe Harbor Status Many companies qualified projects for the 1603 Treasury Program in late 2011 by satisfying the 5% safe harbor test. As Treasury attempts to discourage equipment “trafficking,” the speakers will address how to developers can preserve safe harbor status while remaining flexible to accommodate project realities. Speakers: Katherine Breaks- KPMG John Gimigliano- KPMG
4:40 PM - 5:40 PM	Challenges with Projects involving Non-Profits, Governments, and the Military Tax-exempt entities are among those most interested in going solar, but this demand introduces additional tax and regulatory burdens for developers. The speakers will identify successful strategies to navigate these project risks. Speakers: Greg Schelble- Solar Law P.C. Albert Luu- SolarCity Dave Belote- DoD Siting Clearinghouse Jon Gensler- Borrego Solar Systems, Inc.
5:40 PM - 9:00 PM	Networking Reception - Off Site

Thursday, July 19, 2012

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM	Registration Open
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM	Debt Financing in the Solar Energy Industry What is the availability of and what are the recent trends for debt financing of solar projects? Speakers: Edward Kayukov- Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP Gavin Danaher- John Hancock Mike Goolden- TCF Equipment Finance, Inc. Chris Diaz- Seminole Financial Services, LLC Christopher Stolarski- Mizuho, Corporate Bank, Ltd.
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM	Networking Break
10:10 AM - 10:30 AM	Foundations: Partnerships The speaker will introduce the fundamental characteristics of this transaction structure and identify common challenges for developers and financiers. Speaker: Timothy Kemper- Reznick Group, P.C.
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM	Partnerships Deep Dive The speaker will highlight the latest industry trends associated with this transaction structure and walk through specific project case studies. Speaker: David Burton- Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM	SEIA Policy Priorities Update Smart, stable federal policy is critical to the continued growth of the solar industry. Senior Government Affairs staff from SEIA will provide the latest policy and campaign intelligence from Washington. Speaker: Manning Feraci- Solar Energy Industries Association
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM	Private Equity Investment in the Solar Industry Private equity can be a great source of patient and smart capital for solar projects, developers, EPCs, and equipment companies. Find out what types of investments these prominent sponsors find attractive and not in the solar value chain and what trends they foresee for future private equity participation in the solar industry. Speakers: W. Andrew Jack- Covington & Burling LLP Daniel Gross- Hudson Clean Energy Partners Saurabh Anand- Denham Capital Management LP Himanshu Saxena- Starwood Energy Group Global, LLC
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM	Networking Lunch
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM	Solar Project M&A Many new parties are entering the solar market through project acquisitions. As investors become more comfortable with solar as an asset class, this panel will explore the unique nuances of solar project sales and the implications for tax incentives and financing. Speakers: Matthew Meares- Amonix Inc. Matthew Cheney- Clean Path Ventures, LLC Chris Bailey- SunEdison Bruce Kolesnik- Enbridge Inc. Billy Owens- Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd.
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM	Cost Basis Best Practices for your Project Developers are well-advised to rigorously scrutinize their projects’ estimated cost basis to fully comply with tax law and satisfy review by the U.S. Treasury and IRS. The speaker will address common questions about what can be added to basis and help you avoid the perils of others’ missteps. Speaker: David Lowman- Hunton & Williams LLP
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM	Networking Break
3:10 PM - 3:30 PM	Foundations: Inverted Leases The speaker will introduce the fundamental characteristics of this transaction structure and identify common challenges for developers and financiers. Speaker: Eli Katz- Chadbourne & Parke LLP
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM	Inverted Leases Deep Dive The speaker will highlight the latest industry trends associated with this transaction structure and walk through specific project case studies. Speaker: Jason Cavaliere- CitiBank
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM	Appraisers and other Independent 3rd Parties in Project Documentation Appraisals and independent engineering reports are essential elements of successful project development. The speaker will review best practices when working with these third parties and recommendations to ensure efficiency and positive outcomes. Speakers: Brent Solomon- Reznick Group P.C. Brad Duck- Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. Marie Schnitzer- AWS Truepower, LLC Ralph Romero- Black & Veatch Holding Company
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM	Top Ten Tax Mistakes This presentation walks through the top ten tax-related mistakes seen over the past several years. Speaker: Laura Jones- Hunton & Williams LLP
5:30 PM - 5:40 PM	Closing Remarks Lee Peterson- Reznick Group P.C.

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