JIASHAN, China, June 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- ReneSola Ltd ("ReneSola" or the "Company") (www.renesola.com) (NYSE: SOL), a leading brand and technology provider of energy-efficient products, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015.
First Quarter 2015 Financial and Operating Highlights
"Amidst a first quarter backdrop with a number of macroeconomic challenges and lingering foreign exchange volatility, we continued with our strategy to transition our business into the downstream project and services segment of the market," said Mr. Xianshou Li, ReneSola's chief executive officer. "We are leveraging the flexibility in our business model to quickly respond to changing market dynamics and to capture market opportunities. At the beginning of 2015, we began to scale back our global OEM capacity and focus more on our downstream project opportunities. We have completed over 70 MW of projects in the UK and expect to monetize in the near-term while expanding into a larger portfolio of downstream projects in the second half of 2015. As we continue with this strategic transition into the downstream services and project area, we believe we will be better positioned to achieve long-term profitability."
Mr. Daniel K. Lee, ReneSola's chief financial officer, said, "We continue to focus on actively managing our balance sheet. In Q1 we substantially reduced our inventory by $88.8 million as well as our long-term liabilities, reducing our convertible notes by $31.7 million. Going forward, we expect to further improve our balance sheet as well as cash flow as we monetize on our existing project portfolio and successfully execute on our long-term downstream strategy."
First Quarter 2015 Results
Solar Wafer and Module Shipments
1Q15 |
4Q14 |
1Q14 |
Q-o-Q% |
Y-o-Y% |
|
Module Shipments (MW) |
496.4 |
488.4 |
521.1 |
1.6% |
-4.7% |
Wafer Shipments (MW) |
195.1 |
255.9 |
189.0 |
-23.8% |
3.2% |
Total Solar Wafer and Module Shipments (MW) |
691.5 |
744.3 |
710.1 |
-7.1% |
-2.6% |
The quarter-over-quarter increase in module shipments was mainly due to strong demand in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom. The quarter-over-quarter decrease in wafer shipments reflects the Company's strategy of shifting away from the lower-margin wafer business and towards the higher-margin module business as well as downstream business.
Net Revenues and Gross Profit
1Q15 |
4Q14 |
1Q14 |
Q-o-Q% |
Y-o-Y% |
|
Net Revenues (US$mln) |
$349.0 |
$387.0 |
$415.0 |
-9.8% |
-15.9% |
Gross Profit (US$mln) |
$36.7 |
$51.2 |
$44.0 |
-28.3% |
-16.6% |
Gross Margin |
10.5% |
13.2% |
10.6% |
- |
- |
Net revenues decreased quarter over quarter due to lower average selling price (ASP) of modules, as well as a decrease in wafer shipments. The quarter-over-quarter decrease in the Company's gross margin was a result of a lower average selling price (ASP) of modules, which was partially affected by appreciation of the US dollar, especially against the euro.
Operating Income (Loss)
1Q15 |
4Q14 |
1Q14 |
Q-o-Q% |
Y-o-Y% |
|
Operating Expenses (US$mln) |
$46.2 |
$53.4 |
$52.8 |
-13.5% |
-12.5% |
Operating Income (Loss) |
($9.5) |
($2.2) |
($8.7) |
- |
- |
Operating Margin |
-2.7% |
-0.6% |
-2.1% |
- |
- |
The quarter-over-quarter decrease in operating expenses was primarily due to lower SG&A expenses as well as one-time administrative gain.
Foreign Exchange Gain (Loss)
In Q1 2015, the Company had a foreign exchange loss of US$16.1 million and recognized a US$4.5 million gain on derivatives. The foreign exchange loss was primarily due to the depreciation of the euro, pound and yen against the U.S. dollar.
Other Gains (Loss)
During the first quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a gain of $11.6 million from the repurchase of convertible notes.
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Holders of Ordinary Shares
1Q15 |
4Q14 |
1Q14 |
|
Net Income (Loss) (US$mln) |
($18.0) |
($8.1) |
($14.6) |
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share |
($0.09) |
($0.04) |
($0.07) |
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per ADS |
($0.18) |
($0.08) |
($0.14) |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net cash outflow from operating activities was US$9.0 million in Q1 2015, compared to net cash inflow of US$41.9 million in Q4 2014.
Net cash and cash equivalents plus restricted cash totaled US$228.1 million as of March 31, 2015, compared to US$221.7 million as of December 31, 2014.
Total bank borrowing was US$723.0 million as of March 31, 2015, compared to US$698.1 million as of December 31, 2014. Short-term borrowings were US$681.7 million at March 31, 2015, compared to US$654.7 million at December 31, 2014.
The Company has US$62.9 million of convertible notes due on March 15, 2018 with a put option on March 15, 2016. In Q1 2015, the Company repurchased $31.7 million notional amount of its convertible notes. The Company might continue to repurchase its convertible bonds from time to time, subject to market conditions and other strategic considerations.
Polysilicon Update
The Company's total output of polysilicon Q1 2015 was 1,522 metric tons, a slight decrease from the previous quarter due to annual maintenance which is regularly scheduled in Q1. The Company's polysilicon factory is currently running at full capacity and generating positive cash flow.
Project Business Update
ReneSola currently has a total of approximately 96.1 MW in existing projects, including four utility-scale projects totaling 71 MW in the United Kingdom and four utility-scale projects totaling 25.1 MW in Eastern Europe.
In Q1 2015, the Company successfully completed and connected three utility-scale projects totaling 57.5 MW in the United Kingdom, all of which are eligible for the R.O.C 1.4 scheme. In addition, the Company has signed an agreement to sell a 13.5 MW utility-scale project in the United Kingdom, which was connected to the grid by end of 2014. All together the Company expects to complete the sale for all 71 MW UK projects in coming quarters.
The Company is actively exploring project opportunities in several developed markets and expects to provide a detailed pipeline later this year.
Business Highlights
Geographic Breakdown of Module Shipments
2015 Q1 |
2014 Q4 |
2014 Q1 |
|
U.S. |
3.3% |
13.9% |
13.6% |
Europe |
44.4% |
30.5% |
39.2% |
Japan |
30.4% |
26.8% |
22.5% |
China |
4.8% |
7.7% |
11.4% |
Other |
17.1% |
21.1% |
13.3% |
The sequential increase of shipments to the European market was a result of a significant increase in shipments to the United Kingdom. The sequential decrease in shipments to the U.S. and China was mainly due to the Company's strategic shift towards higher margin markets during the quarter.
Research and Development
During Q1 2015, ReneSola continued to invest in the development of new technologies and to increase the efficiency of its current range of solar and other clean energy products.
Wafers and Modules
The Company's innovative A+++ wafer is now at 100% mass production. While maintaining the same average efficiency of 17.8%, the wafer's processing cost was reduced by 4%. Following the successful launch of its A+++ wafer, the Company will focus on the development of its A4+ wafer which has concentrated efficiency distribution and 0.1% higher cell average efficiency than the new A+++ wafer.
The Company's double-glass module with 1500V maximum system voltage has been certificated as 1500V maximum system voltage and Class-A fire rating by TUV. The Four Bus-Bar Cell module product is also certified by TUV, with around 5W output improvement compared to Three Bus-Bar products. Both module products have entered mass production in late May.
Inverter
ReneSola's innovative 5KW hybrid inverter has now received applicable certification and the Company has started promotions in Australia.
The Company's TLE-series inverter has received related certifications in the United Kingdom and Ireland and scale shipments have begun in these markets.
Both software and hardware have been upgraded for the Company's first generation micro-inverters, which have achieved elevated stability following half-year testing.
LED
In the North American market, ReneSola launched its T8 LED replacement series products, which commercial lighting clients can use to replace traditional fluorescent tubes. The T8 LED series can work with magnetic and electronic ballast and access the electricity power supply directly, which eliminates the need for clients to change wires in old fixtures. The T8 LED series is compatible with most traditional electronic ballast systems in the North American market. The T8 LED series comes with a 5-year warranty and with features including convenient installation, quick start-up, good heat dissipation, high efficiency, and low power consumption with more stable performance.
Recent Business Developments
Outlook
For Q2 2015, the Company expects its net revenues to be in the range of US$250 million to US$300 million, and gross margin to be in the range of 16% to 18%.
Conference Call Information
ReneSola's management will host an earnings conference call on June 2, 2015 at 8 am U.S. Eastern Time (8 pm Beijing/Hong Kong time).
U.S. / International: |
+1-866-519-4004 |
Hong Kong: |
+852-3018-6771 |
Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call. The passcode is "ReneSola call."
A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until June 10, 2015:
International: |
+1-646-254-3697 |
Passcode: |
49776591 |
Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of ReneSola's website at http://www.renesola.com.
About ReneSola
Founded in 2005, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2008, ReneSola (NYSE:SOL) is an international leading brand and technology provider of green energy products. Leveraging its global presence and expansive OEM and sales network, ReneSola is well positioned to provide its highest quality green energy products and on-time services for EPC, installers, and green energy projects around the world. For more information, please visit www.renesola.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that constitute ''forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Whenever you read a statement that is not simply a statement of historical fact (such as when the Company describes what it "believes," "expects" or "anticipates" will occur, what "will" or "could" happen, and other similar statements), you must remember that the Company's expectations may not be correct, even though it believes that they are reasonable. The Company does not guarantee that the forward-looking statements will happen as described or that they will happen at all. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 20-F. The Company undertakes no obligation, beyond that required by law, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made, even though the Company's situation may change in the future.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In China:
Ms. Juliet Yang
ReneSola Ltd
Tel: +86 (21) 6280-9180 ext. 105
Email: ir@renesola.com
Mr. Derek Mitchell
Ogilvy Financial, Beijing
Tel: +86 (10) 8520-6139
Email: sol@ogilvy.com
In the United States:
Ogilvy Financial
Tel: +1 (646) 867-1888
Email: sol@ogilvy.com
RENESOLA LTD |
||||||
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet |
||||||
(US dollars in thousands) |
||||||
Mar 31, |
Dec 31, |
Mar 31, |
||||
2015 |
2014 |
2014 |
||||
ASSETS |
||||||
Current assets: |
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
47,857 |
99,848 |
52,660 |
|||
Restricted cash |
180,291 |
121,862 |
162,283 |
|||
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts |
133,462 |
125,743 |
206,771 |
|||
Inventories |
268,546 |
357,361 |
375,655 |
|||
Advances to suppliers-current |
50,629 |
27,494 |
8,699 |
|||
Amounts due from related parties |
12 |
452 |
205 |
|||
Value added tax recoverable |
29,261 |
30,514 |
29,359 |
|||
Prepaid income tax |
1,108 |
1,247 |
2,307 |
|||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
48,457 |
44,252 |
61,918 |
|||
Project assets |
65,791 |
37,040 |
33,158 |
|||
Deferred convertible notes issue costs-current |
414 |
661 |
784 |
|||
Derivative assets |
1,839 |
1,688 |
63 |
|||
Deferred tax assets-current, net |
3,568 |
11,368 |
1,557 |
|||
Total current assets |
831,235 |
859,531 |
935,419 |
|||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
728,670 |
750,298 |
827,460 |
|||
Prepaid land use right |
40,381 |
39,574 |
41,312 |
|||
Deferred tax assets-non-current, net |
17,428 |
8,462 |
19,740 |
|||
Deferred convertible notes issue costs-non-current |
- |
138 |
745 |
|||
Advances for purchases of property, plant and |
954 |
1,756 |
2,430 |
|||
Advances to suppliers-non-current |
- |
- |
5,627 |
|||
Other long-lived assets |
8,360 |
9,249 |
2,316 |
|||
Total assets |
1,627,028 |
1,669,008 |
1,835,049 |
|||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||
Convertible notes payable, current portion |
62,850 |
- |
- |
|||
Short-term borrowings |
681,707 |
654,675 |
653,295 |
|||
Accounts payable |
478,559 |
461,499 |
536,067 |
|||
Advances from customers-current |
53,109 |
84,412 |
65,929 |
|||
Amounts due to related parties |
2,889 |
7,570 |
4,558 |
|||
Other current liabilities |
118,794 |
126,623 |
142,642 |
|||
Income tax payable |
124 |
123 |
2,345 |
|||
Derivative liabilities |
22 |
- |
1,026 |
|||
Warrant liability |
1,733 |
1,890 |
8,295 |
|||
Total current liabilities |
1,399,787 |
1,336,792 |
1,414,157 |
|||
Convertible notes payable-non-current |
- |
94,599 |
111,616 |
|||
Long-term borrowings |
41,342 |
43,452 |
70,561 |
|||
Advances from customers-non-current |
1,191 |
936 |
7,105 |
|||
Warranty |
34,298 |
31,778 |
23,546 |
|||
Deferred subsidies and other |
24,988 |
25,347 |
54,375 |
|||
Other long-term liabilities |
1,128 |
946 |
933 |
|||
Total liabilities |
1,502,734 |
1,533,851 |
1,682,293 |
|||
Shareholders' equity |
||||||
Common shares |
478,391 |
476,766 |
475,816 |
|||
Additional paid-in capital |
6,882 |
7,512 |
6,549 |
|||
Accumulated losses |
(448,230) |
(430,202) |
(411,159) |
|||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
87,251 |
81,080 |
81,550 |
|||
Total equity attribute to ReneSola Ltd |
124,294 |
135,156 |
152,756 |
|||
Noncontrolling interest |
- |
- |
- |
|||
Total shareholders' equity |
124,294 |
135,156 |
152,756 |
|||
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |
1,627,028 |
1,669,008 |
1,835,049 |
|||
RENESOLA LTD |
||||||
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income |
||||||
(US dollar in thousands, except ADS and share data) |
||||||
Three Months Ended |
||||||
Mar 31, 2015 |
Dec 31, 2014 |
Mar 31, 2014 |
||||
Net revenues |
349,003 |
386,968 |
414,966 |
|||
Cost of revenues |
(312,338) |
(335,733) |
(370,917) |
|||
Gross profit (loss) |
36,665 |
51,235 |
44,049 |
|||
GP% |
10.5% |
13.2% |
10.6% |
|||
Operating (expenses) income: |
||||||
Sales and marketing |
(21,843) |
(23,338) |
(23,125) |
|||
General and administrative |
(13,736) |
(16,051) |
(20,202) |
|||
Research and development |
(13,418) |
(13,571) |
(11,757) |
|||
Other operating income, net |
2,812 |
(440) |
2,333 |
|||
Total operating expenses |
(46,185) |
(53,400) |
(52,751) |
|||
Income (loss) from operations |
(9,520) |
(2,165) |
(8,702) |
|||
Non-operating (expenses) income: |
||||||
Interest income |
932 |
1,172 |
1,271 |
|||
Interest expense |
(10,842) |
(12,273) |
(13,349) |
|||
Foreign exchange gain (loss) |
(16,070) |
(13,501) |
1,481 |
|||
Gain (loss) on derivatives, net |
4,501 |
4,359 |
(1,376) |
|||
Investment gain on disposal of subsidiaries |
- |
4,895 |
2,615 |
|||
Gains on repurchase of convertible bonds |
11,648 |
7,048 |
- |
|||
Fair value change of warrant liability |
158 |
4,672 |
1,050 |
|||
Income (loss) before income tax, noncontrolling interests |
(19,193) |
(5,793) |
(17,010) |
|||
Income tax (expense) benefit |
1,165 |
(2,262) |
2,419 |
|||
Net income (loss) |
(18,028) |
(8,055) |
(14,591) |
|||
Less: Net income (loss) attributed to noncontrolling interests |
- |
- |
(4) |
|||
Net income (loss) attributed to holders of ordinary shares |
(18,028) |
(8,055) |
(14,587) |
|||
Earnings per share |
||||||
Basic |
(0.09) |
(0.04) |
(0.07) |
|||
Diluted |
(0.09) |
(0.04) |
(0.07) |
|||
Earnings per ADS |
||||||
Basic |
(0.18) |
(0.08) |
(0.14) |
|||
Diluted |
(0.18) |
(0.08) |
(0.14) |
|||
Weighted average number of shares used in computing earnings per share |
||||||
Basic |
203,918,702 |
203,777,464 |
203,367,464 |
|||
Diluted |
203,918,702 |
203,777,464 |
203,367,464 |
|||
RENESOLA LTD |
||||||
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income |
||||||
(US dollar in thousands, except ADS and share data) |
||||||
Three Months ended |
||||||
Mar 31, 2015 |
Dec 31, 2014 |
Mar 31, 2014 |
||||
Net income (loss) |
(18,028) |
(18,028) |
(14,591) |
|||
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
||||||
Foreign exchange translation adjustment |
6,171 |
(3,872) |
(2,064) |
|||
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
6,171 |
(3,872) |
(2,064) |
|||
Comprehensive income (loss) |
(11,857) |
(21,900) |
(16,655) |
|||
Less: comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest |
- |
- |
(4) |
|||
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Renesola |
(11,857) |
(21,900) |
(16,651) |
|||
RENESOLA LTD |
||||
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow |
||||
(US dollar in thousands) |
||||
Three Months Ended |
||||
Mar 31, 2015 |
Mar 31, 2014 |
|||
Cash flow from operating activities: |
||||
Net loss |
(18,028) |
(14,591) |
||
Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activity: |
||||
Inventory write-down |
331 |
816 |
||
Depreciation and amortization |
22,430 |
28,449 |
||
Amortization of deferred convertible bond issuances costs and premium |
387 |
196 |
||
Allowance of doubtful receivables and advance to suppliers |
383 |
3,627 |
||
Loss (gain) on derivatives |
(4,501) |
1,376 |
||
Fair value change of warrant liability |
(158) |
(1,050) |
||
Share-based compensation |
425 |
600 |
||
Loss on disposal of long-lived assets |
(493) |
440 |
||
Gain on disposal of land use right |
- |
(411) |
||
Gain on disposal of subsidiaries |
- |
(2,615) |
||
Gain on CB repurchase |
(11,648) |
- |
||
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
||||
Accounts receivables |
(6,921) |
24,479 |
||
Inventories |
52,526 |
(21,772) |
||
Project assets |
(2,098) |
886 |
||
Advances to suppliers |
(23,833) |
5,319 |
||
Amounts due from related parties |
(170) |
(4,297) |
||
Value added tax recoverable |
473 |
44 |
||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
(2,245) |
949 |
||
Prepaid land use rights |
(742) |
1,324 |
||
Accounts payable |
21,510 |
(106,786) |
||
Advances from customers |
(27,133) |
(32,973) |
||
Income tax payable |
99 |
(2,654) |
||
Other current liabilities |
(9,510) |
9,902 |
||
Other long-term liabilities |
(380) |
(3,049) |
||
Other long-term assets |
(239) |
- |
||
Accrued warranty cost |
2,520 |
2,367 |
||
Deferred taxes assets |
(2,011) |
(2,829) |
||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
(9,026) |
(112,253) |
||
Cash flow from investing activities: |
||||
Purchases of property, plant and equipment |
(387) |
(35,876) |
||
Advances for purchases of property, plant and equipment |
(1,241) |
(1,188) |
||
Cash received from government subsidy |
- |
12,010 |
||
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment |
23 |
27 |
||
Changes in restricted cash |
(58,197) |
94,775 |
||
Net cash received (paid) on settlement of derivatives |
4,371 |
(371) |
||
Proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries |
- |
14,765 |
||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
(55,431) |
84,142 |
||
Cash flow from financing activities: |
||||
Proceeds from bank borrowings |
265,599 |
249,143 |
||
Repayment of related party |
(4,072) |
- |
||
Repayment of bank borrowings |
(236,907) |
(249,960) |
||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options |
1,625 |
- |
||
Paid for CB repurchase |
(20,059) |
- |
||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
6,186 |
(817) |
||
Effect of exchange rate changes |
6,280 |
(5,185) |
||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
(51,991) |
(34,113) |
||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year |
99,848 |
86,773 |
||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year |
47,857 |
52,660 |
||
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