LDK Solar Reports Financial Results for First Quarter of Fiscal 2012

XINYU CITY, China and SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- LDK Solar Co., Ltd. ("LDK Solar"; NYSE: LDK), a leading vertically integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic products, today reported its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

All financial results are reported in U.S. dollars on a U.S. GAAP basis.

First Quarter Highlights:

• Net sales of $200.1 million;
• Shipped 164.4 megawatts (MW) of wafers, 153.9 MW of cells and modules in the first quarter;
• Produced a total of approximately 1,900.8 MT of polysilicon during the first quarter; and
• Produced a total of approximately 51.2 MW of cells during the first quarter.

Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 were $200.1 million, compared to $420.2 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, and $766.3 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

Gross loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $131.0 million, compared to gross loss of $275.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, and gross profit of $241.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

Gross margin for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was negative 65.5%, compared to negative 65.5% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, and positive 31.5% in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

During the preparation of its first quarter 2012 financial results, LDK Solar's management determined that an inventory write-down and a provision for firm purchase commitment totaling $91.1 million was required as a result of the relatively high production cost of polysilicon in the first quarter and continuous drop in market price for polysilicon, wafers, and modules.  An additional provision was required for potential countervailing and anti-dumping duties totaling $5.7 million.  As a result, gross margin and results from operations were negatively impacted in the first quarter of fiscal 2012.

Loss from operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $135.8 million, compared to loss from operations of $531.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, and income from operations of $196.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2011.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, $43.8 million of provision for doubtful receivables and prepayments was reversed and deducted in general and administrative expenses as a result of subsequent settlement or the finalization of offset agreements with the corresponding customers having payable balances.

Operating margin for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was negative 67.9% compared to negative 126.5% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, and positive 25.6% in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

Income tax benefit for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $15.6 million, compared to income tax benefit of $45.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 and income tax expense of $44.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

Net loss available to LDK Solar's shareholders for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $185.2 million, or a loss of $1.46 per diluted ADS, compared to a net loss of $588.7 million, or a loss of $4.63 per diluted ADS for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 and net income of $135.4 million, or $0.95 per diluted ADS for the first quarter of fiscal 2011. The number of shares for calculating diluted ADS was approximately 127.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2012.

LDK Solar ended the first quarter of fiscal 2012 with $135.7 million in cash and cash equivalents and $603.3 million in short-term pledged bank deposits.

"Our revenue was within the expected range as our results reflected first quarter seasonality and the continued difficult solar industry conditions," stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO of LDK Solar.  "Industry-wide overcapacity continued and drove price declines across the entire solar supply chain, which significantly reduced our revenue and negatively impacted our margins.

"We are navigating the current volatile market environment by focusing on streamlining manufacturing operations, reducing production costs and improving utilization, while closely managing our operating expenses.  While we expect to see continued challenging conditions in the solar industry in the near-term, we anticipate that some markets such as China will begin to see improved demand as the year progresses.  We firmly believe that lower PV system costs will drive adoption of solar power and long-term market growth," concluded Mr. Peng.

Business Outlook

The following statements are based upon management's current expectations. These statements are forward-looking in nature, and the actual results may differ materially. You should read the "Safe Harbor Statement" below with respect to the risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2012, LDK Solar estimates its revenue to be in the range of $220 million to $270 million, wafer shipments between 300 MW and 350 MW, cells and module shipments between 140 MW and 180 MW, in-house polysilicon production between 520 MT and 570 MT and in-house cell production between 80 MW and 100 MW.

For fiscal 2012, LDK Solar estimates its revenue to be in the range of $1.5 billion to $2.0 billion, polysilicon production between 5,000 MT and 7,000 MT, of which shipments to 3rd party customers are expected to be between 2,000 MT and 3,000 MT, wafer production between 2.0 gigawatts (GW) and 2.5 GW, of which shipments to 3rd party customers are expected to be between 1.2 GW and 1.5 GW, in-house cell production between 0.7 GW and 1.0 GW, and module production between 0.9 GW and 1.2 GW, with cell and module shipments to 3rd party customers between 0.8 GW and 1.0 GW and inverter shipments between 200 MW to 250 MW.  LDK Solar expects PV system project construction to be in the range of 400 MW to 600 MW and to recognize between 270 MW and 360 MW through project sales and EPC services for 3rd party customers.

Conference Call Details

The LDK Solar First Quarter 2012 teleconference and webcast is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET), on June 26, 2012.  To listen to the live conference call, please dial 877-941-1427 (within U.S.) or 480-629-9664 (outside U.S.) at 8:00 a.m. ET on June 26, 2012.  An audio replay of the call will be available through July 10, 2012, by dialing 800-406-7325 (within U.S.) or 303-590-3030 (outside U.S.) and entering the pass code 4545213#.

A live webcast of the call will be available on the company's investor relations website at http://investor.ldksolar.com.

About LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK)

LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) is a leading vertically integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) products. LDK Solar manufactures polysilicon, mono and multicrystalline ingots, wafers, cells, modules, systems, power projects and solutions. LDK Solar's headquarters and principal manufacturing facilities are located in Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province in the People's Republic of China. LDK Solar's office in the United States is located in Sunnyvale, California. For more information about LDK Solar and its products, please visit www.ldksolar.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release 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 press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, LDK Solar's ability to raise additional capital to finance its operating activities, the effectiveness, profitability and marketability of its products, the future trading of its securities, the ability of LDK Solar to operate as a public company, the period of time during which its current liquidity will enable LDK Solar to fund its operations, its ability to protect its proprietary information, the general economic and business environment and conditions, the volatility of LDK Solar's operating results and financial condition, its ability to attract and retain qualified senior management personnel and research and development staff, its ability to timely and efficiently complete its ongoing projects, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in LDK Solar's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on information available to LDK Solar's management as of the date hereof and on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about LDK Solar and the PV industry. Actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results because of such and other risks and uncertainties. LDK Solar undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections except as may be required by law.

SOURCE LDK Solar Co., Ltd.