Evergreen Solar Announces 2009 First Quarter Results Devens Factory Production Sequentially Doubles to 18 MW
MARLBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 30, 2009-- Evergreen Solar, Inc. (NasdaqGM: ESLR), a manufacturer of String Ribbon™ solar power products with its proprietary, low-cost silicon wafer technology, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended April 4, 2009.
“The capacity expansion of our Devens facility remains on the original schedule that we established in the summer of 2007,” said Richard M. Feldt, Chairman, CEO and President. “For the first quarter of 2009, we produced 18.2 MW, more than double the 8.5 MW that we produced in the fourth quarter of 2008, and we sold 17.3 MW at an average selling price of $3.13 per watt compared to $3.39 per watt for the fourth quarter of 2008.
“While we could meet our second quarter production goal of approximately 30 MW, softness in demand due to tight credit markets and uncertain economic conditions will likely result in production and sales volume of 20 MW to 25 MW,” continued Mr. Feldt.
“We still expect to have the capability to produce about 40 MW per quarter at Devens by the end of 2009 and achieve our target manufacturing costs of approximately $2 per watt at that production level,” Mr. Feldt concluded.
First Quarter 2009 Financial Results
Revenues for the first quarter of 2009 were $55.8 million, including $1.4 million of fees from our Sovello joint venture, compared to $44.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2008, including $3.1 million of fees and $22.9 million for the first quarter of 2008, including $4.7 million of fees.
Gross margin for the first quarter of 2009 was 1.2%, compared to 4.6% for the fourth quarter of 2008 and 33.6% for the first quarter of 2008. The decrease from last year was due to lower average selling prices and lower fees from Sovello.
Net loss for the first quarter of 2009 was $64.3 million, or $0.40 per share, and includes charges of $43.9 million for the write-off of our loan receivable and related interest from a future silicon supplier, $3.5 million of facility start-up costs for the second phase of Devens and Midland string factory, and $1.8 million of on-going costs associated with the closure of the Marlboro pilot facility.
Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $52.1 million, or $0.32 per share, and included charges of $23.1 million for the closure of the Marlboro pilot facility, $9.7 million of facility start-up costs for Devens and Midland and $8.0 million for the write-off of certain research and development equipment. Net loss for the first quarter of 2008 was $25,000.
Conference Call Information
Management will conduct a conference call at 5:00 p.m. (ET) today to review the Company's first quarter financial results and highlights. The call will be webcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by logging on to the "Investors" section of Evergreen Solar's website, www.evergreensolar.com prior to the event.
The call also can be accessed by dialing (877) 704-5378 or (913) 312-1269 (International) prior to the start of the call. For those unable to join the live conference call, a replay will be available from 8:00 p.m. (ET) on April 30 through 8:00 p.m. (ET) on May 7. To access the replay, dial (888) 203-1112 or (719) 457-0820 and refer to confirmation code 5600248.
About Evergreen Solar, Inc.
Evergreen Solar, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets String Ribbon™ solar power products using its proprietary, low-cost silicon wafer technology. The Company's patented wafer manufacturing technology uses significantly less polysilicon than conventional processes. Evergreen Solar's products provide reliable and environmentally clean electric power for residential and commercial applications globally. For more information about the Company, please visit www.evergreensolar.com. Evergreen Solar® and String Ribbon™ are trademarks of Evergreen Solar, Inc.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those related to expectations regarding demand for product, selling prices, manufacturing costs, the capacity of our Devens facility and our ability to manufacture and sell our products. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, including risks associated with the company’s ability to successfully manufacture and sell its products; uncertainties related to government regulations, subsidies and incentives; risks from various economic factors such as credit market conditions, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and other risks and uncertainties identified in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Evergreen Solar disclaims any obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect any change in company expectations, or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESLR) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (a) (in thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)
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§ December 31, 2008
§ April 4, 2009 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 100,888 $ 56,868 Marketable securities 76,621 2,684 Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts 35,458 47,470 Due from Sovello AG 1,949 2,370 Inventory 23,500 29,771 Prepaid cost of inventory 11,696 13,903 VAT receivable, net 1,474 1,716 Other current assets 7,684 7,851 Total current assets 259,270 162,633
§ Investment in and advances to Sovello AG 115,553 124,086 Restricted cash 212 206 Deferred financing costs 6,152 5,806 Loan receivable from silicon supplier 41,757 - Prepaid cost of inventory 172,193 165,251 Fixed assets, net 406,191 440,808 Other assets 3,579 400
§ Total assets $ 1,004,907 $ 899,190
§ Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 62,652 $ 45,245 Due to Sovello AG 22,840 3,529 Accrued employee compensation 6,451 3,801 Accrued interest 7,392 3,236 Accrued warranty 1,182 1,452 Total current liabilities 100,517 57,263
§ Senior convertible notes 373,750 373,750 Debt discount (62,219 ) (59,374 ) Deferred income taxes 9,776 9,416 Total liabilities 421,824 381,055 Commitments and contingencies
§ Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $0.01 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized, 164,874,850 and 164,952,098 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2008 and April 4, 2009, respectively 1,649 1,650 Additional paid-in capital 803,491 805,510 Accumulated deficit (223,687 ) (287,976 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
§ 1,630 (1,049 )
§ Total stockholders' equity 583,083 518,135
§ Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,004,907 $ 899,190
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§ (a) On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted FSP No. APB 14-1 "Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash Upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement)." The rule requires restatement of prior periods to conform to current accounting. Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESLR) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (a) (in thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)
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§Quarter Ended
§ March 29, 2008
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April 4, 2009
§ Product revenues $ 18,259 $ 54,439 Royalty and fee revenues 4,688 1,367 Total revenues 22,947 55,806 Cost of revenues 15,231 55,122 Gross profit 7,716 684 Operating expenses: Research and development 4,943 4,446 Selling, general and administrative 4,992 6,376 Write-off of loan receivable from silicon supplier - 43,882 Facility start-up 3,419 3,459 Restructuring charges 1,862 1,792 Total operating expenses 15,216 59,955
§ Operating loss (7,500 ) (59,271 )
§ Other income (expense): Foreign exchange gains (losses), net 3,814 (699 ) Interest income 3,027 2,213 Interest expense (316 ) (5,380 ) Other income (expense), net 6,525 (3,866 ) Loss before equity income (loss) from interest in Sovello AG (975 ) (63,137 ) Equity income (loss) from interest in Sovello AG 950 (1,152 ) Net loss $ (25 ) $ (64,289 )
§ Net loss per share: Basic $ (0.00 ) $ (0.40 ) Diluted $ (0.00 ) $ (0.40 )
§ Weighted average shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share: Basic 108,816 161,888 Diluted 108,816 161,888
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(a) On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted FSP No. APB 14-1 "Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash Upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement)" concerning convertible debt accounting and FSP EITF 03-6-1 "Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating Securities" concerning the calculation of earnings per share. These rules require restatement of prior periods to conform to current accounting.
Source: Evergreen Solar, Inc.
Evergreen Solar, Inc. Michael El-Hillow, 508-251-3311 Chief Financial Officer investors@evergreensolar.com |