.
Overview January to September 2014:
- 3.3 gigawatts of inverter output sold (Q1-Q3 2013: 4.0 GW)
- €549.3 million in sales (Q1-Q3 2013: €709.3 million)
- International share increased further to 72.1% (Q1-Q3 2013: 69.3%)
- Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of €-72.7 million (Q1-Q3 2013: €-30.1 million)
- Net cash of €224.8 million (December 31, 2013: €308.1 million) and equity ratio of 54.7% (December 31, 2013: 57.5%)
- Managing Board confirms sales and earnings forecast for the current fiscal year as adjusted on July 30, 2014, and expects greater demand in the fourth quarter of 2014
In the third quarter of 2014, SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA/FWB: S92) saw a considerable increase in sales compared to the two previous quarters. With 1.3 gigawatts of inverter output sold, the Company was nearly at the level of the good third quarter of 2013. From January to September 2014 as a whole, however, SMA could not reach the sales volume of the same period of the previous year due to the weak first half of the year. In the reporting period, SMA sold PV inverters with an output of 3.3 gigawatts (Q1-Q3 2013: 4.0 GW) and generated sales of €549.3 million (Q1-Q3 2013: €709.3 million).
The decline in sales in the reporting period is primarily attributable to project delays in important foreign markets and a sharp reduction in demand in Europe as a result of a significant deterioration of subsidy conditions. This affected Germany, Spain, Italy and Greece in particular. Demand in Thailand also decreased as a result of subsidy cuts and political unrest. The decline was not completely offset by stronger demand in North and South America.
In the first nine months of the year, the international share in sales rose to 72.1% (Q1-Q3 2013: 69.3%). The most important foreign markets for the company included North America, Australia, Japan and Great Britain.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were positive for the first time this year in the third quarter at €8.8 million (Q3 2013: €12.7 million). The improvement in earnings is attributable to the measures introduced to reduce material and operating costs. The staff reduction that has already been completed was also reflected in earnings. Due to the weak order situation and the high price pressure in the first half of the year, however, SMA posted negative EBITDA of €-8.2 million in the reporting period (Q1-Q3 2013: €26.9 million). In the reporting period, EBIT fell to €-72.7 million (Q1-Q3 2013: €-30.1 million). This corresponds to an EBIT margin of -13.2% (Q1-Q3 2013: -4.2%). The consolidated earnings for the period amounted to €-54.1 million (Q1-Q3 2013: €-22.0 million).
"The increase in demand in the third quarter was not as sharp as expected. First, projects were postponed until the fourth quarter of 2014 and next fiscal year. Second, commercial business in Europe deteriorated again compared to the first half of the year. For the fourth quarter of 2014, we expect a better sales situation, which we can already discern in SMA's high order backlog. Overall, the market for PV inverters will remain volatile and dominated by high price pressure. Our strategy is aimed at returning SMA to profitability in this market environment. With an equity ratio of almost 55% and net cash of around €225 million, SMA will be able to implement the required measures with its own resources. The acquisition of Phoenix Solar's European service portfolio, which was concluded last Friday, is an important component of this strategy," explains SMA CEO Pierre-Pascal Urbon.
The SMA Managing Board confirms its sales and earnings forecast for fiscal year 2014 as adjusted on July 30, 2014. It predicts sales of €850 million to €950 million for the SMA Group. In the best-case scenario, the Managing Board also expects to break even in terms of operating earnings. At the lower end of the sales forecast, the SMA Managing Board anticipates a loss of approximately €45 million. To achieve the lower end of the sales forecast, the contracts expected to be concluded in the project business in the fourth quarter would have to be turned around in the current fiscal year. The SMA Managing Board also expects commercial business to pick up as usual toward the end of the year. The earnings forecast does not take into account any non-recurring expenses from the staff reduction announced on July 30, 2014.
The financial report for January to September 2014 is available online at www.SMA.de/....
Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the Managing Board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.
Overview January to September 2014:
- 3.3 gigawatts of inverter output sold (Q1-Q3 2013: 4.0 GW)
- €549.3 million in sales (Q1-Q3 2013: €709.3 million)
- International share increased further to 72.1% (Q1-Q3 2013: 69.3%)
- Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of €-72.7 million (Q1-Q3 2013: €-30.1 million)
- Net cash of €224.8 million (December 31, 2013: €308.1 million) and equity ratio of 54.7% (December 31, 2013: 57.5%)
- Managing Board confirms sales and earnings forecast for the current fiscal year as adjusted on July 30, 2014, and expects greater demand in the fourth quarter of 2014
In the third quarter of 2014, SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA/FWB: S92) saw a considerable increase in sales compared to the two previous quarters. With 1.3 gigawatts of inverter output sold, the Company was nearly at the level of the good third quarter of 2013. From January to September 2014 as a whole, however, SMA could not reach the sales volume of the same period of the previous year due to the weak first half of the year. In the reporting period, SMA sold PV inverters with an output of 3.3 gigawatts (Q1-Q3 2013: 4.0 GW) and generated sales of €549.3 million (Q1-Q3 2013: €709.3 million).
The decline in sales in the reporting period is primarily attributable to project delays in important foreign markets and a sharp reduction in demand in Europe as a result of a significant deterioration of subsidy conditions. This affected Germany, Spain, Italy and Greece in particular. Demand in Thailand also decreased as a result of subsidy cuts and political unrest. The decline was not completely offset by stronger demand in North and South America.
In the first nine months of the year, the international share in sales rose to 72.1% (Q1-Q3 2013: 69.3%). The most important foreign markets for the company included North America, Australia, Japan and Great Britain.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were positive for the first time this year in the third quarter at €8.8 million (Q3 2013: €12.7 million). The improvement in earnings is attributable to the measures introduced to reduce material and operating costs. The staff reduction that has already been completed was also reflected in earnings. Due to the weak order situation and the high price pressure in the first half of the year, however, SMA posted negative EBITDA of €-8.2 million in the reporting period (Q1-Q3 2013: €26.9 million). In the reporting period, EBIT fell to €-72.7 million (Q1-Q3 2013: €-30.1 million). This corresponds to an EBIT margin of -13.2% (Q1-Q3 2013: -4.2%). The consolidated earnings for the period amounted to €-54.1 million (Q1-Q3 2013: €-22.0 million).
"The increase in demand in the third quarter was not as sharp as expected. First, projects were postponed until the fourth quarter of 2014 and next fiscal year. Second, commercial business in Europe deteriorated again compared to the first half of the year. For the fourth quarter of 2014, we expect a better sales situation, which we can already discern in SMA's high order backlog. Overall, the market for PV inverters will remain volatile and dominated by high price pressure. Our strategy is aimed at returning SMA to profitability in this market environment. With an equity ratio of almost 55% and net cash of around €225 million, SMA will be able to implement the required measures with its own resources. The acquisition of Phoenix Solar's European service portfolio, which was concluded last Friday, is an important component of this strategy," explains SMA CEO Pierre-Pascal Urbon.
The SMA Managing Board confirms its sales and earnings forecast for fiscal year 2014 as adjusted on July 30, 2014. It predicts sales of €850 million to €950 million for the SMA Group. In the best-case scenario, the Managing Board also expects to break even in terms of operating earnings. At the lower end of the sales forecast, the SMA Managing Board anticipates a loss of approximately €45 million. To achieve the lower end of the sales forecast, the contracts expected to be concluded in the project business in the fourth quarter would have to be turned around in the current fiscal year. The SMA Managing Board also expects commercial business to pick up as usual toward the end of the year. The earnings forecast does not take into account any non-recurring expenses from the staff reduction announced on July 30, 2014.
The financial report for January to September 2014 is available online at www.SMA.de/....
Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the Managing Board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.
