Evergreen Solar`s Sequential Shipments Increase 35% to 31 MW for the Third Quarter

Wed Nov 4, 2009 4:01pm EST
 
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http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091104006379/en

Transition of Devens Panel Assembly to China Planned for 2010 

Wafer and Cell Production to Remain in Devens 
MARLBORO, Mass.--(Business Wire)--
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 third quarter ended October 3, 2009. 

Key accomplishments during the quarter were:

* Shipped 31.3 MW from our Devens facility, an increase of 35% over second
quarter shipments of 23.2 MW; 
* Reduced total manufacturing cost to $2.24 per watt, down 17% from $2.70 per
watt for the second quarter. Wafer manufacturing cost was approximately $0.75
per watt, down from $0.85 per watt in the second quarter; 
* Generated EBITDA of $6.3 million, compared to $1.4 million in the second
quarter; 
* Finalized agreements with Jiawei Solar and the Wuhan, China Government`s Hubei
Science & Technology Investment Co., Ltd. ("HSTIC"), under which:

* Evergreen Solar will manufacture String Ribbon wafers using our
state-of-the-art Quad furnaces at a leased facility currently being built by
Jiawei in Wuhan, China on Jiawei`s campus; 
* Jiawei will convert the String Ribbon wafers into Evergreen Solar-branded
panels on a contract manufacturing basis beginning in the spring 2010; and 
* HSTIC provided $33 million of 7.5% financing, which Evergreen Solar must repay
no later than July 2014, all of which has been received.

* Hired our Chinese executive team, including Henry Ng, former General Manager
of Suntech Power Company Ltd.`s factory in Wuxi, China; 
* Began pilot production at our Michigan high-temperature filament plant.

"Due to strong demand from our customers, we were able to increase our
sequential production substantially and sell everything we produced," stated
Richard M. Feldt, Chairman, CEO and President. "While demand continues to be
solid early in the fourth quarter, we expect to experience some of the typical
seasonal moderation in December which we expect will extend into the first
quarter. 

"Our Devens facility has continuously met its key operational goals of rapid
sequential production increases and significantly reduced manufacturing costs
since opening in mid-2008. In particular, we are especially pleased with the
success of our Quad wafer production performance, which has met or exceeded our
expectations to date. However, panel prices have fallen over 30% since mid-2008
making it very difficult for manufacturers located in high-cost regions to
remain price competitive. Therefore, we are accelerating our strategic
initiative of increasing the focus on our unique wafer manufacturing technology;
and we will begin to transition our Devens-based panel assembly to China in
mid-2010," continued Feldt. 

"Until we begin this transition, we expect to produce approximately 30 to 35
megawatts each quarter at our Devens facility. After the transition is complete,
we will continue to produce wafers and cells at our Devens facility and may
increase capacity if market demand warrants. If long-term demand for panels
manufactured in the United States significantly increases, we will be
well-positioned to quickly reintroduce panel assembly again at Devens," Feldt
concluded. 

Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results

Revenues for the third quarter of 2009 were $77.7 million, including $2.2
million of fees from our Sovello joint venture, compared to $63.8 million for
the second quarter of 2009, including $1.1 million of fees and $22.1 million for
the third quarter of 2008, including $4.3 million of fees. 

Gross margin for the third quarter of 2009 was 9.7%, compared to 1.9% for the
second quarter of 2009 and 5.7% for the third quarter of 2008. 

Operating loss for the third quarter was $6.0 million, compared to $11.5 million
for the second quarter of 2009 and $22.1 million for the third quarter of 2008.
Net loss for the third quarter of 2009 was $82.4 million compared to $20.3
million in the second quarter of 2009 and $24.6 million for the third quarter
2008. Net loss for the third quarter 2009 includes a charge of approximately $70
million reflecting the write-down of our investment in Sovello to its estimated
fair value. In making the assessment, we considered Sovello`s cash position,
projected cash flow, comparable market data, the current investing environment,
management changes and competition. If Sovello is not able to restructure the
terms of its loan agreements or its operations continue to deteriorate, the
carrying value of this investment could be further impaired in the future. 

This press release contains both GAAP and non-GAAP financial information.
Non-GAAP figures are reconciled to the closest GAAP equivalent categories in the
financial attachment of this press release. 

Conference Call Information

Management will conduct a conference call at 8:30 a.m. (ET) tomorrow (November
5, 2009) to review the Company's third 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) 312-1294
(International) prior to the start of the call and refer to confirmation code
3659743. 

For those unable to join the live conference call, a webcast replay will be
available from 11:00 a.m. (ET) on November 5 through 8:00 p.m. (ET) on November
13. To access the replay, logon to the "Investors" section of Evergreen Solar`s
website, www.evergreensolar.com. 

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 our ability to continue to significantly reduce our
manufacturing costs; potential cost savings from the transition of our panel
operation to China; potential increases in the wafer and cell production
capacity at our Devens facility; our ability generally to manufacture and sell
our products and the possible changes in pricing and demand for 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 lower manufacturing costs and otherwise 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 for any reasons.

 Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESLR)                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (a)                                                                                                                                                                                                      
 (in thousands, except per share data)                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 (Unaudited)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                          Quarter Ended                                                 Year-to-Date Period Ended                                     
                                                                                                                          September 27,                  October 3,                   September 27,                    October 3,                 
                                                                                                                                   2008                         2009                       2008                           2009            
                                                                                                                          (Adjusted)                                                  (Adjusted)                                                  
 Product revenues                                                                                                         $        17,803              $        75,450            $        54,180                $        192,586         
 Royalty and fee revenues                                                                                                          4,264                        2,208                      13,590                         4,716           
 Total revenues                                                                                                                    22,067                       77,658                     67,770                         197,302         
 Cost of revenues                                                                                                                  20,820                       70,092                     50,914                         187,842         
 Gross profit                                                                                                                      1,247                        7,566                      16,856                         9,460           
 Operating expenses:                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
 Research and development                                                                                                          5,541                        4,417                      16,371                         13,307          
 Selling, general and administrative                                                                                               6,174                        5,872                      17,060                         18,990          
 Write-off of loan receivable from silicon supplier                                                                                -                            -                          -                              43,882          
 Facility start-up                                                                                                                 8,956                        2,493                      20,948                         6,639           
 Restructuring charges                                                                                                             2,709                        777                        7,279                          3,394           
 Total operating expenses                                                                                                          23,380                       13,559                     61,658                         86,212          
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 Operating loss                                                                                                                    (22,133  )                   (5,993   )                 (44,802  )                     (76,752   )     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 Other income (expense):                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
 Foreign exchange gains (losses), net                                                                                              (5,017   )                   2,478                      (1,361   )                     3,460           
 Interest income                                                                                                                   4,242                        118                        10,004                         3,672           
 Interest expense                                                                                                                  (3,295   )                   (7,430   )                 (3,657   )                     (19,342   )     
 Other income (expense), net                                                                                                       (4,070   )                   (4,834   )                 4,986                          (12,210   )     
 Loss before equity income (loss) from interest in Sovello AG, impairment of equity investment and income tax benefit                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                          (26,203  )                   (10,827  )                 (39,816  )                     (88,962  )         
 Equity income (loss) from interest in Sovello AG and impairment of investment                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                          1,558                        (79,423  )                 6,224                          (85,915  )         
 Income tax benefit                                                                                                                -                            (7,805   )                 -                              (7,805    )     
 Net loss                                                                                                                 $        (24,645  )          $        (82,445  )        $        (33,592  )            $        (167,072  )     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 Net loss per share:                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
 Basic                                                                                                                    $        (0.19    )          $        (0.40    )        $        (0.28    )            $        (0.92     )     
 Diluted                                                                                                                  $        (0.19    )          $        (0.40    )        $        (0.28    )            $        (0.92     )     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 Weighted average shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share:                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
 Basic                                                                                                                             132,034                      204,790                    119,807                        182,250         
 Diluted                                                                                                                           132,034                      204,790                    119,807                        182,250         
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 (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, which has been incorporated into Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 470, 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, which has been incorporated 
 into ASC 260. These rules require restatement of prior periods to conform to current accounting.                                                                                                                                                         


 Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESLR)                                                                                                                                                                                        
 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (a)                                                                                                                                                                                   
 (in thousands, except share data)                                                                                                                                                                                           
 (Unaudited)                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                                        December 31,         October 3,  
                                                                                                                                                                                        2008                 2009        
                                                                                                                                                                                        (Adjusted)                       
 Assets                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 Current assets:                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                                              $ 100,888            $ 90,960    
 Marketable securities                                                                                                                                                                  76,621               -           
 Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts                                                                                                                           35,458               63,796      
 Due from Sovello AG                                                                                                                                                                    1,949                3,318       
 Inventory                                                                                                                                                                              23,500               30,743      
 Prepaid cost of inventory                                                                                                                                                              11,696               19,302      
 VAT receivable, net                                                                                                                                                                    1,474                1,601       
 Other current assets                                                                                                                                                                   7,684                7,980       
 Total current assets                                                                                                                                                                   259,270              217,700     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Investment in and advances to Sovello AG                                                                                                                                               115,553              50,000      
 Restricted cash                                                                                                                                                                        212                  3,138       
 Deferred financing costs                                                                                                                                                               6,152                5,115       
 Loan receivable from silicon supplier                                                                                                                                                  41,757               -           
 Prepaid cost of inventory                                                                                                                                                              172,193              155,996     
 Fixed assets, net                                                                                                                                                                      406,191              440,348     
 Other assets                                                                                                                                                                           3,579                330         
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Total assets                                                                                                                                                                           $ 1,004,907          $ 872,627   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Liabilities and stockholders' equity                                                                                                                                                                                    
 Current liabilities:                                                                                                                                                                                                    
 Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                                                                                                                                  $ 62,652             $ 25,951    
 Due to Sovello AG                                                                                                                                                                      22,840               1,620       
 Accrued employee compensation                                                                                                                                                          6,451                5,646       
 Accrued interest                                                                                                                                                                       7,392                3,277       
 Accrued warranty                                                                                                                                                                       1,182                2,091       
 Total current liabilities                                                                                                                                                              100,517              38,585      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Senior convertible notes, net of discount                                                                                                                                              311,531              320,262     
 Loan Payable                                                                                                                                                                           -                    14,115      
 Deferred income taxes                                                                                                                                                                  9,776                2,400       
 Total liabilities                                                                                                                                                                      421,824              375,362     
 Commitments and contingencies                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Stockholders' equity:                                                                                                                                                                                                   
 Common stock, $0.01 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized, 164,874,850 and 207,845,548 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2008 and October 3, 2009, respectively                                          
                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                                                 1,649                2,078  
 Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                                                                             803,491              881,192     
 Accumulated deficit                                                                                                                                                                    (223,687)            (390,759)   
 Accumulated other comprehensive income                                                                                                                                                 1,630                4,754       
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Total stockholders' equity                                                                                                                                                             583,083              497,265     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                                                                                                                                             $ 1,004,907          $ 872,627   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 (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)" which has been incorporated into Accounting Standards Codification 470. The rule requires restatement of prior periods to conform to current accounting. 


Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes a discussion of EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP
financial measure and is provided as a complement to results provided in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America ("GAAP"). The term "EBITDA" refers to a financial measure that we define
as operating loss plus depreciation and amortization of prepaid cost of
inventory. This Non-GAAP measure should be considered in addition to results
prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for,
or superior to, GAAP results. In addition, our definition of EBITDA may not be
comparable to the definitions as reported by other companies. We believe
adjusted EBITDA is relevant and useful information because it provides us and
investors with an additional measurement to compare the Company`s operating
performance. This measure is part of our internal management reporting and
planning process and is a primary measure used by management to evaluate the
operating performance of our business. The components of EBITDA include the key
revenue and expense items for which our operating managers are responsible and
upon which we evaluate their performance. EBITDA is also used for planning
purposes and in presentations to financial institutions and our board of
directors. Furthermore, we intend to provide this non-GAAP financial measure as
part of our future earnings discussions and, therefore, the inclusion of this
non-GAAP financial measure will provide consistency in our financial reporting. 

Adjusted EBITDA was determined as follows:

                                               Quarter Ended                  
                                               July 4,          October 3,  
                                               2009             2009        
                                                                            
   Operating loss per statement of operations  (11,488)         (5,993)     
   Depreciation                                10,017           10,583      
   Amortization of prepaid cost of inventory   2,918            1,709       
   Adjusted EBITDA                             1,447            6,299       


Evergreen Solar, Inc.
Michael McCarthy, 508-251-3261
Director - Investor Relations
mmccarthy@evergreensolar.com


Copyright Business Wire 2009

 

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