Record Quarterly and Annual Shipments, Revenue and Gross Margin Achieved
CHANGZHOU, China, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) ("Trina Solar" or the "Company"), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules, announced today its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009.
Fourth Quarter 2009 Financial and Operating Highlights
-- Solar module shipments were approximately 164 MW, compared to the
Company's previous guidance of 145 MW to 165 MW, representing an
increase of 33.5% sequentially and 184.3% year-over-year
-- Net revenues were $313.3 million, an increase of 25.4% sequentially and
44.8% year-over-year
-- Gross margin was 32.6%, above the Company's guidance of 25% to 27%,
compared to 28.5% sequentially and 9.6% year-over-year
-- Operating income and operating margin were $64.4 million and 20.6%,
respectively, compared to $45.5 million and 18.2%, respectively, in the
third quarter of 2009
-- Net income was $49.2 million, compared to $40.1 million in the third
quarter of 2009
-- Earnings per fully diluted American Depositary Share ("ADS") were $0.74,
compared to $0.65 in the third quarter of 2009
Full Year 2009 Results Financial and Operating Highlights
-- Solar module shipments were approximately 399MW, compared to the
Company's previous guidance of 380 MW to 400 MW, an increase of 98.5%
from 2008
-- Total net revenues were $845.1 million, an increase of 1.6% from 2008
-- Gross profit was $237.2 million, an increase of 44.2% from 2008
-- Gross margin was 28.1%, compared to 19.8% in 2008
-- Net income for the full year was $97.6 million, an increase of 59.0%
from 2008
-- Earnings per fully diluted ADS for 2009 were $1.68, compared to $1.20
in 2008
"We are highly pleased with our strong performance in the fourth quarter, which saw a record shipment volume highlighted by a gross margin that exceeded our previous guidance for the quarter," said Mr. Jifan Gao, Chairman and CEO of Trina Solar.
"Our increased brand recognition and ongoing commitment to improving customer support in key areas resulted in the near doubling of our shipment volumes and a year-on-year revenue increase in 2009. Although significant ASP declines were felt across the industry, due to effective management and our strong execution capability, we achieved consistently healthy and expanding margins by streamlining our manufacturing processes, enhancing our supply chain, and implementing innovative technologies that improved our manufacturing efficiency."
"In 2009, we also significantly strengthened our balance sheet through our successful follow-on offering in July, our recently announced five-year syndicated loan facility, and a continued focus on our operational cashflow, which together supported our market-driven capacity expansion."
"Supported by our advanced Centre For Excellence, a quality test lab we inaugurated in 2009, we continue to advance our R&D program, improve our cell and module conversion efficiencies and bring new products to the market. Our technological improvements, combined with our recently launched East Campus manufacturing facility and our growing list of PV Park supply partners, put us in an advantageous position to meet the rigorous demands of our sector's next growth phase."
Recent Business Highlights
During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company benefited from:
-- The successful commercial launch of its East Campus manufacturing
operations, resulting from the Company's 500 MW capacity expansion
project
-- Capacity expansion to approximately 600 MW for each of cell and module
productions and 500 MW for each of ingot and wafer productions as of
December 31, 2009
-- Announced sales agreement to supply approximately 8 MW of PV modules
products to the Chinese domestic market shipped in the fourth quarter
of 2009
-- Announced sales agreements in Spain and Italy to supply approximately
120 MW PV modules in the first half of 2010
-- A five-year syndicated loan facility of approximately $304 million to
support its East Campus capacity expansion project. The US dollar and
Renminbi denominated loan facility will be used to finance the
Company's 500 MW capacity expansion project to be completed over the
next three years. The syndicate of five domestic banks was led by
Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China
-- Announced the inauguration of Europe's largest photovoltaic rooftop
system with a capacity of 40 MW. The system was built for a global
logistics service provider with headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium.
Subsequent Events
Subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company changed the ratio of its ordinary shares to ADSs from one hundred (100) ordinary shares to one ADS to fifty (50) ordinary shares to one ADS, which resulted in the same effect as a two-for-one ADS split. As a result, the EPS figures for all prior periods have been adjusted to reflect this ADS ratio change.
In January 2010, the Company's European subsidiary obtained a Euro 100 million loan facility from a Chinese domestic bank with a term of 15 years. The facility can be drawn down in the event that the Company requires financing in connection with certain downstream projects in Europe. We believe our participation in such projects will enable us to provide value-added services to select customers. The facility is guaranteed by the Company's operating subsidiary in China. As of the date hereof, the Company has not utilized this loan facility.
Fourth Quarter 2009 Results
Net Revenues
Trina Solar's net revenues in the fourth quarter of 2009 were $313.3 million, an increase of 25.4% sequentially and an increase of 44.8% year-over-year. Total shipments were 163.7 MW, compared to the Company's previous guidance of 145 MW to 165 MW, versus 122.6 MW in the third quarter of 2009 and 57.6 MW in the fourth quarter of 2008. The sequential increase in total shipments was primarily due to increased demand in European markets, due, in part, to improved PV system purchase financing conditions in major European markets and increased year-end demand to install new PV systems ahead of annual feed-in tariff adjustments in January in established PV markets including Germany and Italy.
Gross Profit and Margin
Gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2009 was $102.2 million, compared to $71.1 million in the third quarter of 2009 and $20.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Gross margin was 32.6% in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to the Company's previous guidance of 25% to 27%, and was primarily due to greater than anticipated silicon cost reduction as a result of renegotiated contracts and inventory management, and higher than anticipated ASP. The fourth quarter gross margin increased from 28.5% in the third quarter of 2009 and 9.6% in the fourth quarter of 2008. The year-over-year increase in gross margin was primarily due to the Company's favorable reduction of its silicon purchase price and non-silicon manufacturing costs relative to module ASP decline. The Company continued its focused efforts to reduce its manufacturing cost per watt through ongoing efficiency gains linked to its lean manufacturing initiatives and improved supply chain management. The Company achieved additional yield enhancements in our manufacturing techniques involving proprietary processes for our ingot, wafer, cell and module manufacturing, and higher cell conversion efficiencies.
Operating Expense, Income and Margin
Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2009 were $37.8 million, an increase of 47.5% sequentially and 123.0% year-over-year. The Company's operating expenses represented 12.1% of its fourth quarter net revenues, an increase from 10.3% in the third quarter of 2009 and 7.8% in the fourth quarter of 2008. The sequential percentage increase was primarily due to the Company's write-off of doubtful receivables in the fourth quarter, while the yearly percentage increase was primarily due to ASP declines in 2009, and was net of expense-control measures taken by the Company. Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2009 include a $6.0 million doubtful receivables write-off primarily related to the collectability of one European customer and one supplier, compared to $3.6 million in the third quarter. Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2009 also include $1.2 million in share-based compensation expenses, compared to $1.2 million in the third quarter of 2009 and $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.
As a result of the foregoing, operating income in the fourth quarter of 2009 was $64.4 million, compared to $45.5 million in the third quarter of 2009 and $3.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Operating margin was 20.6% in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to 18.2% in the third quarter of 2009 and 1.8% in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense in the fourth quarter of 2009 was $6.9 million, compared to $5.9 million in the third quarter of 2009 and $6.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. The sequential year-over-year increases were due to additional bank borrowings to support the Company's announced capacity expansion.
Foreign Currency Exchange
The Company had a loss in foreign currency exchange of $2.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, which was net of changes in fair value of derivative instruments. This compares to a net gain of $7.9 million in the third quarter of 2009 and a net gain of $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. This net loss was primarily due to the depreciation of the Euro against the U.S. dollar in the fourth quarter, which was partially offset by the gain from foreign currency forward contracts used by the Company to hedge its foreign currency risk exposure.
The Company continued foreign currency hedging during the fourth quarter of 2009 using foreign currency forward contracts between the Euro and the U.S. dollar, with the goal of mitigating the effects of exchange rate volatility.
Net Income and EPS
Net income was $49.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, an increase from $40.1 million in the third quarter of 2009 and compared to a $0.7 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2008. Net income includes the impact of an approximately $6.0 million of doubtful receivables write-off and a net foreign currency exchange loss of $2.6 million.
Net margin was 15.7% in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to 16.1% in the third quarter of 2009 and negative 0.3% in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Earnings per fully diluted ADS were $0.74. The effects of the net fourth quarter foreign currency exchange loss and the doubtful receivables write-off were approximately $0.04 and $0.09, respectively, per fully diluted ADS.
Full Year 2009 Results
For 2009, net revenues were $845.1 million, an increase of 1.6% from $831.9 million in 2008, primarily due to increased shipments that offset decreased ASP. Total shipments were 399.0 MW, an increase of 98.5% from 201.0 MW in 2008. Gross profit for 2009 was $237.2 million, an increase of 44.2% from $164.4 million in 2008. Gross margin was 28.1% in 2009, compared to 19.8% in 2008. The gross margin increase was primarily due to decreases in silicon purchase prices and reductions in non-silicon manufacturing cost per watt in 2009.
Operating income for 2009 was $135.4 million, up 35.4% from $100.0 million in 2008. Operating margin was 16.0% in 2009, compared to 12.0% in 2008.
Net income was $97.6 million, an increase of 59.0% from 2008. Net margin was 11.6% in 2009, compared to 7.4% in 2008. The net margin increase was primarily due to the Company's improved gross margin in 2009.
Earnings per fully diluted ADS for 2009 were $1.68, an increase of 39.3%, compared to $1.20 per fully diluted ADS for the full year 2008.
Financial Condition
As of December 31, 2009, the Company had $478.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. The Company's working capital balance was $412.1 million. Total bank borrowings stood at $449.9 million, of which $182.5 million were long-term borrowings. The Company reduced its short-term borrowings by $89.5 million to approximately $267 million in the fourth quarter.
Shareholders' equity was $677.2 million, an increase from $626.1 million at the end of the third quarter of 2009.
The Company increased the size of its foreign currency hedging program during the fourth quarter of 2009, involving forward currency contracts between the Euro and the U.S. dollar, with the goal to mitigate the effects of exchange rate volatility.
First Quarter and Fiscal Year 2010 Guidance
For the first quarter of 2010, the Company expects to ship between 180 MW to 190 MW of PV modules. The Company believes gross margin for the first quarter will likely be between 26% and 28%.
For the full year of 2010, the Company expects total PV module shipments between 750 MW to 800 MW, representing an increase of 88% to 100% from 2009.
Operations and Business Outlook for 2010
Non-Silicon Cost Reduction
In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company's non-silicon manufacturing cost for its core raw materials to module production was approximately $0.78 per watt, a sequential reduction of $0.04. By the year end of 2010, the Company expects further reduction to reach approximately $0.70 through the continuation of technology and manufacturing process improvements, including supply chain and logistics management initiatives currently under testing or development.
Silicon Procurement
Through the Company's diversified range of short-, medium-, and long-term supply contracts, which include agreements entered into in the first quarter of 2007, the Company will continue to maintain competitive silicon costs relative to the current market price.
Capacity Expansion
To meet expected demand for its PV solar modules, the Company expects to expand its annualized cell and module production capacity to between 850 MW and 950 MW by the end of 2010. The Company will expand its capacity at its new East Campus manufacturing facility, where commercial operations commenced in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Cell Technology and Product Development Update
The Company is currently improving its cell manufacturing processes, which include passivation and metallization techniques for its PV manufacturing processes. The Company expects to enhance its cell efficiencies for monocrystalline and multicrystalline cells by the end of 2010 to up to 19.5% and 18.0%, respectively, on a test production line basis, compared to 18.8% and 17.5%, respectively, in December 2009.
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on February 24, 2010, to discuss the results for the quarter ended December 31, 2009. Joining Jifan Gao, Chairman and CEO of Trina Solar, will be Terry Wang, Chief Financial Officer, Sean Tzou, Chief Operating Officer, and Thomas Young, Director of Investor Relations. Supplemental information will be made available on the Investors Section of the Trina Solar's website at http://www.trinasolar.com . To participate in the conference call, please dial the following number five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time: 1 (800) 884-2382. International callers should dial +1 (660) 422-4933. The conference ID for the call is 543-03953.
If you are unable to participate in the call at this time, a replay will be available on February 24 at 10:00 a.m. ET, through March 9, at 11:59 p.m. ET. To access the replay, dial 1 (800) 642-1687, international callers should dial +1 (706) 645-9291, and enter the conference ID 543-03953.
This conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by all interested parties on Trina Solar's website at http://www.trinasolar.com . To listen to the live webcast, please go to Trina Solar's website at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. For those unable to participate during the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call on Trina Solar's website for 90 days.
About Trina Solar Limited
Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) is a well recognized manufacturer of high quality modules and has a long history as a solar PV pioneer since it was founded in 1997 as a system installation company. Trina Solar is one of the few PV manufacturers that has developed a vertically integrated business model from the production of monocrystalline and multicrystalline ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of high quality modules. Trina Solar's products provide reliable and environmentally friendly electric power for a growing variety of end-user applications worldwide. For further information, please visit Trina Solar's website at http://www.trinasolar.com .
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the Company's ability to raise additional capital to finance the Company's activities; the effectiveness, profitability, and marketability of its products; the future trading of the securities of the Company; the ability of the Company to operate as a public company; the period of time for which its current liquidity will enable the Company to fund its operations; the Company's ability to protect its proprietary information; general economic and business conditions; the volatility of the Company's operating results and financial condition; the Company's ability to attract or retain qualified senior management personnel and research and development staff; and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or to changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward looking statements are reasonable, they cannot assure you that their expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.
Trina Solar Limited
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations
(US dollars in thousands, except ADS and share data)
Three Months Three Months Three Months
ended Dec 31, ended Sept 30, ended Dec 31,
2009 2009 2008
Net revenues $313,271 $249,750 $216,338
Cost of revenues 211,073 178,677 195,535
Gross profit 102,198 71,073 20,803
Operating expenses
Selling expenses 12,722 8,295 5,348
General and administrative
expenses 23,061 15,828 11,313
Research and development
expenses 1,987 1,481 278
Total operating expenses 37,770 25,604 16,939
Operating income 64,428 45,469 3,864
Exchange gain or (loss) (8,284) 12,154 3,209
Interest expenses (7,200) (6,178) (7,011)
Interest income 253 268 544
Gain (loss) on change in
fair value of derivative 5,719 (4,247) (1,067)
Other income 1,883 839 1
Income (loss) before income
taxes 56,799 48,305 (460)
Income tax expenses (7,637) (8,200) (213)
Net income (loss) from
continuing operations 49,162 40,105 (673)
Net income (loss) $49,162 $40,105 $(673)
Earnings (loss) per ADS -
post share split (1)
Basic 0.81 0.71 (0.01)
Diluted 0.74 0.65 (0.01)
Weighted average ADS
outstanding - pre share
split
Basic 30,364,438 28,350,368 25,072,075
Diluted 34,673,093 32,478,303 25,072,075
Weighted average ADS
outstanding - post share
split
Basic 60,728,876 56,700,735 50,144,151
Diluted 69,346,186 64,956,606 50,144,151
Year ended December 31,
2009 2008
Net revenues $845,136 $831,901
Cost of revenues 607,982 667,459
Gross profit 237,154 164,442
Operating expenses
Selling expenses 30,940 20,302
General and administrative expenses 65,406 41,114
Research and development expenses 5,439 3,039
Total operating expenses 101,785 64,455
Operating income 135,369 99,987
Exchange gain or (loss) 9,958 (11,802)
Interest expenses (25,737) (23,937)
Interest income 1,667 2,944
Gain (loss) on change in fair value
of derivative (1,590) (1,067)
Other income 2,613 (156)
Income (loss) before income taxes 122,280 65,969
Income tax expenses (24,696) (4,609)
Net income (loss) from continuing
operations 97,584 61,360
Net income (loss) $97,584 $61,360
Earnings (loss) per ADS - post share
split (1)
Basic 1.79 1.23
Diluted 1.68 1.20
Weighted average ADS outstanding -
pre share split
Basic 27,242,033 25,012,027
Diluted 31,315,228 26,907,234
Weighted average ADS outstanding -
post share split
Basic 54,484,067 50,024,054
Diluted 62,630,455 53,814,468
(1) All EPS figures shown reflect ADS ratio change effective January 2010
Trina Solar Limited
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets
(US dollars in thousands)
December 31, September 30, December 31,
2009 2009 2008
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $406,058 $346,824 $132,224
Restricted cash 72,006 37,943 44,991
Marketable securities 4,034 4,479 --
Inventories 81,154 62,987 85,687
Accounts receivable, net 287,950 288,962 105,193
Current portion of advances
to suppliers 41,303 39,231 42,247
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets, net 35,012 19,933 9,541
Total current assets 927,517 800,359 419,883
Property, plant and equipment 476,858 417,470 357,594
Prepaid land use rights 27,423 27,564 26,915
Advances to suppliers - long-term 105,188 116,440 130,352
Deferred tax assets 9,926 7,699 2,808
Other noncurrent assets 1,786 1,962 2,564
TOTAL ASSETS $1,548,698 $1,371,494 $940,116
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including
current portion of long-term debt $267,428 $356,944 $248,558
Accounts payable 186,535 146,007 62,504
Income tax payable 12,874 12,593 3,649
Accrued expenses and other
current liabilities 48,564 34,410 21,003
Total current liabilities 515,401 549,954 335,714
Long-term bank borrowings 182,516 24,308 14,631
Convertible note payable 135,123 134,655 133,248
Accrued warranty costs 21,023 17,626 12,473
Other noncurrent liabilities 17,410 18,893 10,993
Total liabilities 871,473 745,436 507,059
Ordinary shares 35 35 30
Additional paid-in capital 455,453 453,473 308,898
Retained earnings 210,297 161,135 112,713
Other comprehensive income 11,440 11,415 11,416
Total shareholders' equity 677,225 626,058 433,057
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $1,548,698 $1,371,494 $940,116
For further information, please contact:
Trina Solar Limited
Terry Wang, CFO
Phone: +86-519-8548-2009 (Changzhou)
Thomas Young, Director of Investor Relations
Phone: +86-519-8548-2009 (Changzhou)
Email: ir@trinasolar.com
Brunswick Group
Caroline Jinqing Cai
Phone: +86-10-6566-2256
Michael Fuchs
Phone: +86-10-6566-2256
Email: trina@brunswickgroup.com
