CHANGZHOU, China, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 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, today announced its financial results for the third quarter 2008.
Third Quarter 2008 Financial Highlights
-- Solar module shipments were 66.36 MW, up 213.7% from 21.15 MW in the
third quarter of 2007 and 39.5% from 47.57 MW in the second quarter of
2008
-- Total net revenues increased to $290.7 million, up 252.1% year-over-
year and 42.4% sequentially
-- Gross margin was 22.4%, compared to 20.1% in the third quarter of 2007
and 23.2% in the second quarter of 2008
-- Operating margin was 16.1%, compared to 8.4% in the third quarter of
2007 and 14.3% in the second quarter of 2008
-- Net income was $32.1 million, compared to $7.8 million in the third
quarter of 2007 and $17.1 million in the second quarter of 2008
-- Net income includes a foreign currency exchange loss of $4.9 million
-- Earnings per fully diluted ADS were $1.17. The effect of the third
quarter foreign currency exchange losses was approximately $0.17 per
fully diluted ADS
"We are very pleased with our strong performance during the third quarter," said Jifan Gao, Trina Solar's Chairman and CEO. "Despite further rising silicon costs, over the last four reporting quarters we have either met or exceeded our aggressive goals for output, revenues and operating margin. In the third quarter we again demonstrated the ability to leverage on our integrated manufacturing capabilities, enhanced further by significant improvements in operating efficiencies and cost controls as measured by our operating expenses. We are also pleased by the recently announced expansion of our product portfolio via our in-house developed UMG-based module product. This timely offering is expected to address increasing customer demand for lower cost modules, with initial sales expected in fourth quarter of 2008."
Third Quarter 2008 and Recent Business Highlights
-- Expanded capacity to approximately 300 MW for each of ingot, wafer,
cell and module production as of September 30, 2008
-- Launched cell Lines 11 through 14, of which lines 11 and 12 were put
into commercial production
-- Announced sales agreements with Invictus NV (Belgium), American Capital
Energy (US), GreenergyCapital and Enel (Italy), and a sales and
marketing collaboration agreement with Spanish Premier League Football
Club Espanyol
-- Announced the product launch of an in-house developed UMG-based module
product, with sales expected in the current fourth quarter
-- Enhanced the Company's brand recognition and market share by further
developing sales channels in developing solar markets, including the US,
Belgium, France, South Korea, and Australia
-- Announced the Company's intentions to base its North American
operations in the City of San Francisco
-- Announced the Company's intentions to establish warehouse operations in
Rotterdam, a key port city in the Netherlands
Third Quarter 2008 Results
Net Revenues
Trina Solar's net revenues in the third quarter of 2008 were $290.7 million, an increase of 42.4% sequentially and 252.1% year-over-year. Total shipments in the third quarter of 2008 increased to 66.36 MW, up from 47.57 MW in the second quarter of 2008 and 21.15 MW in the third quarter of 2007. Average sales price ("ASP") was $4.09 in the third quarter of 2008, compared to $4.03 in the second quarter of 2008 and $3.75 in the third quarter of 2007.
Gross Profit and Margin
Gross profit in the third quarter of 2008 was $65.2 million, an increase of 37.6% sequentially and 292.9% year-over-year. Gross margin was 22.4% in the third quarter of 2008, a decrease from 23.2% in the second quarter of 2008 and an increase from 20.1% in the third quarter of 2007. The sequential decrease in gross margin was predominantly due to higher cost of silicon raw materials while the year-over-year increase was primarily due to higher module ASP and cost efficiencies from an increased degree of vertical integration, including in-house cell production.
Operating Expense, Income and Margin
Operating expenses in the third quarter of 2008 were $18.4 million, or 6.3% of net revenues. This compares to 8.9% in the second quarter, reflecting the fourth straight quarterly improvement as a net revenue percentage. Operating expenses in the third quarter of 2008 included approximately $0.6 million of share-based compensation expenses.
Operating income in the third quarter of 2008 was $46.8 million, an increase of 60.6% sequentially and 575.0% year-over-year.
Operating margin was 16.1% in the third quarter of 2008, compared to 14.3% in the second quarter of 2008 and 8.4% in the third quarter of 2007. The sequential increase was primarily due to lower general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues while the year-over-year increase was primarily due to both lower general and administrative expenses and selling expenses as a percentage of net revenues.
Net Interest Expense
Net Interest expense in the third quarter of 2008 was $7.2 million, compared to $5.1 million in the second quarter of 2008 and $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2007.
Foreign Currency Exchange Loss
Foreign currency exchange loss was $4.9 million in the third quarter of 2008, compared to $6.1 million sequentially. This was primarily due to the devaluation of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar, which resulted in a loss upon the remeasurement of the Company's receivables.
Net Income and EPS
Net income was $32.1 million in the third quarter of 2008, compared to $17.1 million in the second quarter of 2008 and $7.8 million in the third quarter of 2007. Net Income includes a foreign currency exchange loss of $4.9 million.
Net margin was 11.0% in the third quarter of 2008, compared to 8.4% in the second quarter of 2008 and 9.4% in the third quarter of 2007. The effect of the third quarter foreign currency exchange losses, net of tax effect, were approximately $0.17 per fully diluted ADS. Earnings per fully diluted ADS were $1.17.
Senior Convertible Notes Offering
On July 24, 2008, Trina Solar completed a public offering of $138 million of Senior Convertible Notes due 2013. The net proceeds of the offering is being used for the expansion of manufacturing lines for the production of silicon ingots, wafers, solar cells and solar modules, the purchase of raw materials, research and development and other general corporate purposes.
Financial Condition
As of September 30, 2008, the Company had $136.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, excluding the Company's restricted cash balance of $48.5 million. The restricted cash comprises deposits pledged to banks to secure bank borrowings and letter of credit facilities.
As of October 31, 2008, the Company's total approved credit facilities totaled approximately $450 million, of which includes approximately $150 million in available credit.
Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2008 Guidance
For the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company expects to ship between 55 MW and 60 MW of PV modules and currently expects total net revenues to be in the range of $190 million to $210 million. The Company expects gross margin for the fourth quarter will likely be between 13% and 15% and estimates operating margin to range between 5% and 7% of total net revenues.
For the full year of 2008, the Company updates its projections as follows:
Total net revenues to be in the range of $800 million to $850 million, compared to previous guidance of $850 million to $900 million.
Total PV module shipments between 200 MW to 206 MW, compared to previous guidance of 210 MW to 220 MW.
The Company believes gross margin to be in the range of 20% and 22% for the year, compared to previous guidance of 23% and 25%, and estimates operating margin will likely be in the range of 12% to 14% of total net revenues, compared to previous guidance of 15% and 17%.
Business Outlook
Given industry concerns related to changes in the global economic and credit environments, the Company reiterates its confidence in regards to its financial strength and operational strategies for fiscal year 2009.
"We are confident in our ability to successfully navigate our operations and related capital requirements despite recent and significant market environment changes," stated Terry Wang, Chief Financial Officer. "We are fully aware of the risks and volatility of market conditions. After careful examination of various scenarios reflecting market demand, average selling price, and cost reductions of key material inputs, we reiterate expectations to preserve sufficient cash holdings and to maintain positive cashflows from operations initiated in the third quarter, which were over $20 million. These cashflows will drive the funding for future operations and capacity expansions, to be deployed prudently and effectively based on evolving market conditions."
Management Changes
The Company announces recent management changes:
Dr. Suping Chen has joined the Company as Vice President of Manufacturing, East Campus. Mr. Chen previously worked at Samsung Electronics (Suzhou) Semiconductor Co., Ltd. and at Seagate Technology International (Wuxi) Co., Ltd., where he served for over seven years in roles including Senior Product Manager and Operations Director. Dr. Chen, who formed his own management consulting company in 2006, has more than 12 years of IT manufacturing experience in China.
Dr. Qiang Huang has been appointed as Vice President of Technology. He replaces Mr. Ting Cheong Ang, the former Vice President of Technology Development. Dr. Huang served earlier as a Director of Manufacturing Engineering. Before joining our Company, he earlier served as Engineering Manager with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and as a Senior Manager of Device Integration at ST Microelectronics in Singapore. Dr. Huang has more than eight years of commercial operations experience in semiconductor engineering development and engineering problem solving.
The Company also announces the appointment of Mr. Steven (Yu) Zhu as Vice President of International Procurement and Business Development. The position fills the vacancy created by the departure of Mr. Andrew Klump, the former Vice President of Business Development. Mr. Zhu, who joined the Company in 2005, earlier worked for IBM in the United States for four years as a global training leader and software engineer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Zhu also was founder and president of a wireless internet company from 2002 to 2005.
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on November 19, 2008, to discuss the results for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. Joining Jifan Gao, Chairman and CEO of Trina Solar, will be Terry Wang, Chief Financial Officer, Sean Tzou, Chief Operating Officer, Steven Zhu, Vice President, International Procurement and Business Development, Arturo Herrero, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, and Thomas Young, Director of Investor Relations. 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 7125-7607.
If you are unable to participate in the call at this time, a replay will be available on November 19 at 11:00 a.m. ET, through November 26, 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 7125-7607.
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
Consolidated Statement of Operations
(US dollars in thousands, except ADS and share data)
For the Three Months Ended
September 30, June 30, September 30,
2008 2008 2007
(unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited)
Net revenues $290,723 $204,169 $82,573
Cost of revenues 225,533 156,796 65,980
Gross profit 65,190 47,373 16,593
Operating expenses
Selling expenses 6,780 5,216 3,230
General and administrative
expenses 11,018 9,523 5,820
Research and development
expenses 502 1,510 612
Polysilicon project
discontinuance 102 1,998 --
Total operating expenses 18,402 18,247 9,662
Operating income 46,788 29,126 6,931
Exchange loss (4,882) (6,129) --
Interest expenses (7,764) (5,688) (2,081)
Interest income 608 551 1,494
Gain on change in fair value
of derivative -- -- 534
Other income (expenses) 1 (132) 738
Income before income taxes 34,751 17,728 7,616
Income tax expenses (2,698) (627) (15)
Net income from continuing
operations 32,053 17,101 7,601
Net income from discontinued
operations -- -- 170
Net income $32,053 $17,101 $7,771
Earnings per ADS from
continuing operations
Basic 1.28 0.68 0.30
Diluted 1.17 0.68 0.30
Earnings per ADS
Basic 1.28 0.68 0.31
Diluted 1.17 0.68 0.31
Weighted average ADS
outstanding
Basic 25,037,307 24,972,730 24,934,056
Diluted 28,394,335 25,194,109 25,289,363
Trina Solar Limited
Consolidated Balance Sheet
(US dollars in thousands)
September 30, December 31,
2008 2007
(unaudited) (audited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $136,297 $59,696
Restricted cash 48,526 103,375
Inventories 102,110 58,548
Accounts receivable, net 110,598 72,323
Other receivables 4,161 3,063
Advances to suppliers 69,121 42,953
Amount due from related parties 5,272 614
Value-added tax recoverable 7,639 1,417
Deferred tax assets 964 380
Current assets of discontinued
operations -- 33
Total current assets 484,688 342,402
Property, plant and equipment 355,378 197,124
Intangible assets, net 7,013 5,462
Advances to suppliers - long-term 113,286 53,737
Foreign currency embedded derivative 854 854
Deferred tax assets 2,609 1,095
Deferred convertible bond issue cost 1,861
TOTAL ASSETS $965,689 $600,674
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including
current portion of long-term debt $289,406 $163,563
Accounts payable 48,721 42,691
Accrued expenses 17,578 10,255
Advances from customers 8,795 2,371
Income tax payable 7,314 1,406
Current liabilities to be disposed -- 199
Total current liabilities 371,814 220,485
Long-term bank borrowings 14,666 8,214
Long-term advances from customers 1,170 --
Convertible bond payable 132,786 --
Accrued warranty costs 10,739 4,486
Long-term payables 1,771 --
Total liabilities 532,946 233,185
Ordinary shares 26 26
Additional paid-in capital 307,879 304,878
Retained earnings 113,380 51,352
Accumulated other comprehensive income 11,458 11,233
Total shareholders' equity 432,743 367,489
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY $965,689 $600,674
For more information, please contact:
Trina Solar Limited
Terry Wang, CFO
Phone: +86-519-8548-2008 (Changzhou)
Thomas Young, Director of Investor Relations
Phone: +86-519-8548-2008 (Changzhou)
Email: ir@trinasolar.com
CCG Investor Relations
Crocker Coulson, President
Phone: +1-646-213-1915
Email: crocker.coulson@ccgir.com
Richard Micchelli, Financial Writer
Phone: +1-646-454-4516
Email: richard.micchelli@ccgir.com
