JIASHAN, China, November 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ReneSola Ltd ("ReneSola" or the "Company") (NYSE: SOL), a leading global manufacturer of solar photovoltaic ("PV") modules and wafers, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012.
Third Quarter 2012 Financial and Operating Highlights
"While we delivered record shipments in the third quarter, declining selling prices and the substantial supply-demand imbalance continued to have a large impact on our margins," said Mr. Xianshou Li, ReneSola's chief executive officer. "Nevertheless, we continued to drive down costs and improve efficiency through strong management and a dedicated R&D team. Over the year, we've leveraged our core competitive strength in wafer manufacturing and technology to develop highly efficient solar modules that have attracted customers in a number of markets, most notably Europe and Australia, and also the United States and China. Despite the difficult market conditions impacting the industry, we are confident in our ability to lower costs and develop superior technology that will grow our solar module business in both the near and long term."
Third Quarter 2012 Results
Solar Wafer and Module Shipments
3Q12 | 2Q12 | 3Q11 | Q-o-Q% | Y-o-Y% | |
Total Solar Wafer and Module Shipments (MW) | 532.8 | 503.7 | 328.5 | 5.8% | 62.2% |
Solar Wafer Shipments (MW) | 387.5 | 344.0 | 294.8 | 12.6% | 31.4% |
Solar Module Shipments (MW) | 145.3 | 159.7 | 33.7 | (9.0%) | 331.2% |
The sequential increase in solar product shipments was mainly the result of an increase in the demand of the Company's high-efficiency solar wafers from Asia-Pacific customers.
Net Revenues
3Q12 | 2Q12 | 3Q11 | Q-o-Q% | Y-o-Y% | |
Net Revenues (US$mln) | $218.2 | $233.0 | $189.1 | (6.4%) | 15.4% |
Revenues in Q3 2012 decreased quarter over quarter due to a decrease in the average selling prices ("ASPs") of solar wafers and modules to US$0.28 per watt ("W") and US$0.67/W, respectively.
Gross Profit (Loss)
3Q12 | 2Q12 | 3Q11 | Q-o-Q% | Y-o-Y% | |
Gross Profit (Loss) (US$mln) | ($39.2) | $1.3 | ($7.7) | - | - |
Gross Margin | (18.0%) | 0.6% | (4.0%) | - | - |
The sequential decrease in gross profit was primarily due to an inventory write-down of US$31.6 million to reflect the decline in the price of solar wafers and polysilicon.
Operating Income (Loss)
3Q12 | 2Q12 | 3Q11 | Q-o-Q% | Y-o-Y% | |
Operating Expenses (US$mln) | $43.6 | $35.9 | $26.8 | 21.2% | 62.3% |
Operating Income (Loss) (US$mln) | ($82.8) | ($34.6) | ($34.5) | - | - |
Operating Margin | (38.0%) | (14.9%) | (18.2%) | - | - |
The sequential increase in operating expenses was primarily due to (1) an increase in sales and marketing expenses in conjunction with the Company's expansion of its business outside of China, (2) an increase in general and administrative expenses as a result of a US$1.8 million bad debt provision for difficulty collecting receivables, (3) an impairment loss on long-lived assets of US$6.1 million related to the discontinuation of 200 MW of monocrystalline wafer furnace production capacity and (4) a goodwill impairment charge of US$5.8 million related to the Company's solar cell and module business acquired in 2009, offset by a decrease of US$5.6 million in research and development ("R&D") expenses in order to save costs. Operating expenses represented 20.0% of total revenues in Q3 2012, compared to 15.4% in Q2 2012.
Foreign Exchange Gain (Loss)
The Company had a foreign exchange net gain of US$2.1 million in Q3 2012, primarily due to the appreciation of the euro against the U.S. dollar and the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the renminbi ("RMB"). The Company also recognized a US$0.3 million loss on derivatives in Q3 2012, compared to a loss of US$0.7 million in Q2 2012.
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Holders of Ordinary Shares
3Q12 | 2Q12 | 3Q11 | |
Net Income (Loss) (US$mln) | ($78.6) | ($34.8) | ($8.2) |
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share | ($0.46) | ($0.20) | ($0.05) |
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per ADS | ($0.91) | ($0.40) | ($0.09) |
Business Highlights
Research and Development
ReneSola continued to invest in R&D to enhance the technology behind its products and manufacturing with the primary goals of lowering cost and improving efficiency. The Company's Virtus II products are currently in full production, with average efficiencies of 15.7%. A 60-cell Virtus II module produces an average of 255 W. Additionally, the Company's microinverter, Micro Replus, successfully completed its initial testing phase in the United States, Australia and Europe. ReneSola has also began research on small-scale storage systems, with the aim of providing these products to the market by the middle of next year, as well as began R&D on developing its own AC-OC optimizer, with the aim of providing this product to the market by the end of next year.
Solar Module Business
ReneSola delivered 145.3 MW of solar modules, of which 101.7 MW were Virtus modules, in Q3 2012, down slightly quarter over quarter due to seasonality. For Q3 2012, the Company's total solar module selling cost was approximately US$0.65/W, slightly lower compared to Q2 2012. Gross margin for the Company's solar module business was approximately 1.0% in Q3 2012. The Company expects to continue to reduce its solar module manufacturing costs through improvements in its manufacturing methods as well as a reduction in material costs and capitalize on the module business's higher margins relative to solar wafer production. In Q4 2012, the Company expects its total solar module production cost to decrease to approximately US$0.57/W and its shipments to increase to a range of 250 MW to 270 MW.
Solar Wafer Business
ReneSola reached its year-end blended non-silicon solar wafer processing cost target of US$0.15/W in Q3 2012, a decrease from US$0.17/W in Q2 2012 as a result of the Company's continued cost-reduction efforts. As announced last quarter, the Company has began manufacturing Virtus A++ wafers, which use new proprietary manufacturing technology that allows the Company to produce a larger number of high-efficiency solar wafers per ingot, in its newest facilities. The Company expects non-silicon solar wafer processing cost in these new facilities to reach US$0.11/W by the end of 2012. Overall, the Company expects to further drive down its blended non-silicon solar wafer processing cost to US$0.12/W by the end of 2012.
Polysilicon Production
In Q3 2012, ReneSola produced approximately 1,175.7 metric tons ("MT") of polysilicon, an increase from approximately 1,119.4 MT in Q2 2012. At the end of Q3 2012, the Company had a polysilicon production capacity of 4,000 MT. The Company expects polysilicon production capacity to reach 10,000 MT by the end of Q1 2013 through the completion of Phase II of its polysilicon production plant. On November 1, 2012, the Company temporarily halted polysilicon production to upgrade its facilities and equipment, as well as integrate Phase II with Phase I. Trial production for Phase II is expected to begin in January 2013.
ReneSola's internal polysilicon production cost decreased to approximately US$23.57 per kilogram ("kg") at the end of Q3 2012, compared to approximately US$25.80/kg at the end of Q2 2012, as a result of improvements in the Company's manufacturing techniques. The Company expects its polysilicon production facilities to have a polysilicon production cost below US$18/kg by the end of Q1 2013.
Projects and Systems Business
To date, ReneSola has 40 MW of projects under construction in China and 6 MW of projects under construction in Romania. The Company will selectively evaluate and engage in solar project opportunities as they arise. China Development Bank has, in the past, indicated its support for the Company's additional solar power projects.
Recent Business Developments
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net cash outflow from operating activities was US$46.0 million for Q3 2012, compared to net cash inflow of US$14.2 million in Q2 2012. Net cash and cash equivalents plus restricted cash were US$335.2 million at the end of Q3 2012, compared to US$394.2 million at the end of Q2 2012.
Total debt was US$850.3 million at the end of Q3 2012, compared to US$821.3 million at the end of Q2 2012, excluding US$111.6 million of convertible notes due March 15, 2018, unless repurchased or converted at an earlier date. Short-term borrowings were US$715.8 million in Q3 2012, an increase from US$691.1 million in Q2 2012.
Capital expenditures were US$30.6 million for Q3 2012, primarily for the Company's PV project business, as well as expanding its polysilicon production capacity and improving its manufacturing processes.
2012 Capacity Expansion Plans and Related CAPEX
The Company expects to spend approximately US$14.8 million in Q4 2012 to expand its polysilicon production capacity and integrate Phase II of its Sichuan polysilicon production plant, as well as build up its horizontal and project businesses.
Amendment of 2007 Employee Stock Option Plan to Establish New Exercise Price
In Q3 2012, ReneSola's board of directors approved the amendment of 7,835,600 stock options previously granted under the 2007 employee stock option plan to establish a new exercise price for such stock options held by current employees equal to $1.47 per ADS, which was the closing price of the Company's ADSs on August 8, 2012.
Outlook
For Q4 2012, the Company expects total solar wafer and module shipments to be in the range of 635 MW to 675 MW, with solar module shipments expected to be in the range of 250 MW to 270 MW. Revenues are expected to be in the range of US$240 million to US$260 million and gross margin is expected to be positive in Q4 2012.
For the full year of 2012, the Company expects total solar wafer and module shipments to be close to 2.2 GW.
Conference Call Information
ReneSola's management will host an earnings conference call on Friday, November 30, 2012 at 8 am U.S. Eastern Time (9 pm Beijing/Hong Kong time).
Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:
U.S. / International: | +1-718-354-1231 |
Hong Kong: | +852-2475-0994 |
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 December 7, 2012:
International: | +1-646-254-3697 |
Passcode: | 73036035 |
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, ReneSola (NYSE:SOL) is a leading global manufacturer of high-efficiency solar PV modules and wafers. Leveraging its proprietary technologies, economies of scale and technical expertise, ReneSola uses in-house virgin polysilicon and a vertically integrated business model to provide customers with high-quality, cost-competitive products. ReneSola solar modules have scored top PVUSA Test Conditions (PTC) ratings with high annual kilowatt-hour output, according to the California Energy Commission (CEC). ReneSola solar PV modules can be found in projects ranging in size from a few kilowatts to multi-megawatts in markets around the world, including the United States, Germany, Italy, Belgium, China, Greece, Spain and Australia. 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:
Mr. Tony Hung
ReneSola Investor Relations
Tel: +86-573-8473-9011
Email: ir@renesola.com
Mr. Derek Mitchell
Ogilvy Financial, Beijing
Tel: +86-10-8520-3073
Email: sol@ogilvy.com
In the United States:
Ms. Jessica Barist Cohen
Ogilvy Financial, New York
Tel: +1-646-460-9989
Email: sol@ogilvy.com
RENESOLA LTD | |||||
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet | |||||
(US dollars in thousands) | |||||
Sep 30, | Jun 30, | Sep 30, | |||
2012 | 2012 | 2011 | |||
ASSETS | |||||
Current assets: | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 265,421 | 314,229 | 406,280 | ||
Restricted cash | 69,749 | 79,939 | 43,999 | ||
Available-for-sale investment | - | - | 1,837 | ||
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts | 139,473 | 211,184 | 107,856 | ||
Inventories | 236,477 | 209,765 | 218,777 | ||
Advances to suppliers-current | 17,757 | 26,694 | 29,674 | ||
Amounts due from related parties | 828 | 1,358 | 352 | ||
Value added tax recoverable | 50,270 | 43,953 | 62,499 | ||
Income tax recoverable | 1,689 | 2,614 | 4,991 | ||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 27,801 | 15,056 | 13,330 | ||
Project assets | 21,622 | 18,527 | - | ||
Prepayment for investment | 1,298 | - | - | ||
Deferred convertible bond issue costs-current | 784 | 784 | 923 | ||
Derivative assets | 269 | 24 | 6,676 | ||
Assets held-for-sale | - | 6,103 | 3,248 | ||
Deferred tax assets-current | 28,725 | 20,535 | 22,636 | ||
Total current assets | 862,163 | 950,765 | 923,078 | ||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 1,021,147 | 1,003,293 | 911,190 | ||
Prepaid land use right | 48,883 | 48,488 | 49,937 | ||
Deferred tax assets-non-current | 45,032 | 39,195 | 11,256 | ||
Deferred convertible bond issue costs-non-current | 1,922 | 2,118 | 3,189 | ||
Advances to suppliers-non-current | 10,191 | 12,490 | 22,128 | ||
Advances for purchases of property, plant and equipment | 43,198 | 46,305 | 25,103 | ||
Other long-term assets | 11,570 | 10,597 | 6,253 | ||
Goodwill | 324 | 6,041 | 5,642 | ||
Total assets | 2,044,430 | 2,119,292 | 1,957,776 | ||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||||
Current liabilities: | |||||
Short-term borrowings | 715,825 | 691,065 | 523,530 | ||
Accounts payable | 395,637 | 404,021 | 209,493 | ||
Advances from customers-current | 35,574 | 46,714 | 59,810 | ||
Amounts due to related parties | 3,291 | 9,455 | - | ||
Other current liabilities | 105,795 | 108,756 | 112,327 | ||
Income tax payable | 1,472 | 2,784 | 3,611 | ||
Deferred tax liabilities | 1,057 | 1,099 | 3,438 | ||
Derivative liabilities | 1,766 | 765 | 6,657 | ||
Total current liabilities | 1,260,417 | 1,264,659 | 918,866 | ||
Convertible bond payable-non-current | 111,616 | 111,616 | 130,800 | ||
Long-term borrowings | 134,451 | 130,237 | 167,830 | ||
Advances from customers-non-current | 38,668 | 43,486 | 57,389 | ||
Warranty | 8,124 | 7,006 | 12,137 | ||
Deferred gain | 29,925 | 29,093 | - | ||
Other long-term liabilities | 12,171 | 12,234 | 39,624 | ||
Total liabilities | 1,595,372 | 1,598,331 | 1,326,646 | ||
Shareholders' equity | |||||
Common shares | 421,452 | 420,370 | 422,314 | ||
Additional paid-in capital | 4,628 | 4,666 | 3,150 | ||
Treasury stock | - | - | (1,944) | ||
Retained earnings (accumulated losses) | (48,745) | 29,862 | 141,553 | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 71,200 | 65,709 | 66,057 | ||
Total equity attribute to ReneSola Ltd | 448,535 | 520,607 | 631,130 | ||
Noncontrolling interest | 523 | 354 | - | ||
Total shareholders' equity | 449,058 | 520,961 | 631,130 | ||
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | 2,044,430 | 2,119,292 | 1,957,776 |
RENESOLA LTD | ||||||||||
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income Data | ||||||||||
(US dollar in thousands, except ADS and share data) | ||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||
Sep 30, 2012 | Jun 30, 2012 | Sep 30, 2011 | Sep 30, 2012 | Sep 30, 2011 | ||||||
Net revenues | 218,155 | 233,038 | 189,062 | 662,678 | 797,588 | |||||
Cost of revenues | (257,381) | (231,735) | (196,716) | (708,634) | (658,165) | |||||
Gross profit (loss) | (39,226) | 1,303 | (7,654) | (45,956) | 139,423 | |||||
GP% | (18.0%) | 0.6% | (4.0%) | (6.9%) | 17.5% | |||||
Operating (expenses) income: | ||||||||||
Sales and marketing | (9,741) | (7,169) | (5,064) | (22,549) | (11,746) | |||||
General and administrative | (14,985) | (11,260) | (12,157) | (38,808) | (30,281) | |||||
Research and development | (8,087) | (13,690) | (12,152) | (33,490) | (35,509) | |||||
Other operating income (expenses) | 1,116 | (3,539) | 2,525 | (2,280) | 2,343 | |||||
Impairment of long-lived assets | (6,104) | (291) | - | (6,395) | - | |||||
Goodwill impairment | (5,783) | - | - | (5,783) | - | |||||
Total operating expenses | (43,584) | (35,949) | (26,848) | (109,305) | (75,193) | |||||
Income (loss) from operations | (82,810) | (34,646) | (34,502) | (155,261) | 64,230 | |||||
Non-operating (expenses) income: | ||||||||||
Interest income | 1,668 | 1,264 | 3,587 | 5,738 | 5,675 | |||||
Interest expense | (12,821) | (12,550) | (10,018) | (37,679) | (26,148) | |||||
Foreign exchange gain (loss) | 2,054 | (4,523) | (865) | (1,668) | 4,796 | |||||
Other-than-temporary impairment loss on | - | - | (1,705) | - | (4,371) | |||||
Gain on repurchase of convertible bonds | - | - | 20,153 | - | 20,153 | |||||
(Loss) gain on derivative, net | (302) | (669) | 10,055 | (935) | (19,092) | |||||
Total non-operating (expenses) income | (9,401) | (16,478) | 21,207 | (34,544) | (18,987) | |||||
Income (loss) before income tax, | (92,211) | (51,124) | (13,295) | (189,805) | 45,243 | |||||
Income tax benefit (expense) | 13,586 | 16,321 | 5,145 | 36,156 | (8,218) | |||||
Net income (loss) | (78,625) | (34,803) | (8,150) | (153,649) | 37,025 | |||||
Less: Net loss attributed to noncontrolling interests | (18) | (16) | - | (45) | - | |||||
Net income (loss) attributed to holders of | (78,607) | (34,787) | (8,150) | (153,604) | 37,025 | |||||
Earnings per share | ||||||||||
Basic | (0.46) | (0.20) | (0.05) | (0.89) | 0.21 | |||||
Diluted | (0.46) | (0.20) | (0.05) | (0.89) | 0.19 | |||||
Earnings per ADS | ||||||||||
Basic | (0.91) | (0.40) | (0.09) | (1.78) | 0.43 | |||||
Diluted | (0.91) | (0.40) | (0.09) | (1.78) | 0.37 | |||||
Weighted average number of shares used in computing | ||||||||||
Basic | 172,773,664 | 172,773,664 | 173,752,298 | 172,773,664 | 173,914,549 | |||||
Diluted | 172,773,664 | 172,773,664 | 173,752,298 | 172,773,664 | 198,308,624 | |||||
RENESOLA LTD | ||||||||||
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income | ||||||||||
(US dollar in thousands) | ||||||||||
Three Months ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||
Sep 30, 2012 | Jun 30, 2012 | Sep 30, 2011 | Sep 30, 2012 | Sep 30, 2011 | ||||||
Net income (loss) | (78,625) | (34,803) | (8,150) | (153,648) | 37,025 | |||||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax | ||||||||||
Foreign exchange translation adjustment | 5,490 | (5,466) | 10,575 | (446) | 26,805 | |||||
Change in fair value of available for sale investment | - | - | - | - | 2,330 | |||||
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges | - | - | - | - | 1,603 | |||||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax | 5,490 | (5,466) | 10,575 | (446) | 30,738 | |||||
Comprehensive income (loss) | (73,135) | (40,269) | 2,425 | (154,094) | 67,763 | |||||
Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to | (18) | (16) | - | (45) | - | |||||
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable | (73,117) | (40,253) | 2,425 | (154,049) | 67,763 |
RENESOLA LTD | ||||
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow | ||||
(US dollar in thousands) | ||||
Nine Months Ended | ||||
Sep 30, 2012 | Sep 30, 2011 | |||
Operating activity: | ||||
Net income (loss) | (153,648) | 37,025 | ||
Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: | - | - | ||
Inventory write-down | 58,606 | 22,747 | ||
Depreciation and amortization | 69,612 | 59,338 | ||
Amortization of deferred convertible bond issuances costs and premium | 588 | 669 | ||
Allowance of doubtful receivables and advance to suppliers and prepayment | 1,819 | (1,324) | ||
Loss on derivatives | 935 | 18,900 | ||
Share-based compensation | 1,599 | 3,399 | ||
Impairment of long-lived assets | 6,395 | 192 | ||
Loss on disposal of long-lived assets | 226 | 331 | ||
Impairment of goodwill | 5,783 | - | ||
Other-than-temporary impairment loss on available-for-sale investment | - | 4,371 | ||
Gain on repurchase of convertible bonds | - | (20,153) | ||
Reversal of purchase commitment | (3,940) | - | ||
Provision for litigation | 1,726 | - | ||
Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||
Accounts receivable | (29,173) | (35,407) | ||
Inventories | (140,572) | (65,130) | ||
Project assets | (21,622) | - | ||
Advances to suppliers | 5,856 | (9,743) | ||
Amounts due from related parties | 3,736 | 25 | ||
Value added tax recoverable | (8,315) | (16,540) | ||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (6,545) | 3,276 | ||
Prepaid land use rights | 201 | 1,597 | ||
Accounts payable | 159,823 | (17,228) | ||
Advances from customers | (32,047) | (18,439) | ||
Income tax payables | 3,613 | - | ||
Other current liabilities | (3,782) | (11,111) | ||
Other long-term liabilities | (708) | - | ||
Deferred tax assets | (34,854) | (6,712) | ||
Accrued warranty cost | (4,704) | 3,072 | ||
Net cash (used in) operating activities | (119,392) | (46,845) | ||
Investing activities: | ||||
Purchases of property, plant and equipment | (88,194) | (84,491) | ||
Advances for purchases of property, plant and equipment | (26,921) | (16,564) | ||
Purchases of other long-lived assets | (1,064) | (121) | ||
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment | 95 | - | ||
Cash received from government subsidy | 1,448 | 1,070 | ||
Changes in restricted cash | (11,268) | (8,864) | ||
Cash consideration for acquisition, net of cash received | (1,298) | (1,102) | ||
Net proceeds from (pay to) settlement of derivatives | 1,449 | (8,388) | ||
Net cash used in investing activities | (125,753) | (118,460) | ||
Financing activities: | ||||
Proceeds from bank borrowings | 839,380 | 648,194 | ||
Repayment of bank borrowings | (706,355) | (498,319) | ||
Cash paid for issuance costs | - | (7,150) | ||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | - | 148 | ||
Contribution from noncontrolling interests | 411 | - | ||
Cash paid for repurchase of convertible bonds | - | (46,714) | ||
Cash paid for ADSs repurchase | - | (1,944) | ||
Proceeds from issuance of convertible bonds | - | 200,000 | ||
Refund (purchase) of conversion spread hedges | - | (23,842) | ||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 133,436 | 270,373 | ||
Effect of exchange rate changes | (1,909) | 10,510 | ||
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (113,618) | 115,578 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 379,039 | 290,702 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | 265,421 | 406,280 |