ReneSola Announces First Quarter 2013 Results

JIASHAN, China, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ReneSola Ltd ("ReneSola" or the "Company") (NYSE: SOL), a leading brand and technology provider of solar photovoltaic ("PV") products, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013.

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First Quarter 2013 Financial and Operating Highlights

• Total solar wafer and module shipments in Q1 2013 were 662.1 megawatts ("MW"), in line with the Company's guidance and representing a decrease of 7.2% from 713.2 MW in Q4 2012.
• Q1 2013 net revenues were US$284.2 million, exceeding Company guidance and representing a decrease of 7.3% from US$306.5 million in Q4 2012.
• Q1 2013 gross loss was US$5.6 million with a gross margin of negative 2.0%, compared to a gross profit of US$10.3 million with a gross margin of 3.3% in Q4 2012.
• Q1 2013 operating loss was US$33.4 million with an operating margin of negative 11.8%, compared to an operating loss of US$23.8 million with an operating margin of negative 7.8% in Q4 2012.
• Q1 2013 net loss was US$39.0 million, representing basic and diluted loss per share of US$0.23 and basic and diluted loss per American depositary share ("ADS") of US$0.45.
• Cash and cash equivalents plus restricted cash were $442.7 million as of the end of Q1 2013, an increase from US$268.1 million as of the end of Q4 2012.
• Q1 2013 net cash inflow from operating activities was US$4.2 million, compared to net cash inflow of US$25.8 million in Q4 2012.

"Over the past year, we have worked hard to transform our company into a leading global solar brand and technology leader," said Mr. Xianshou Li, ReneSola's chief executive officer. "With vigorous sales and marketing efforts, we have expanded our module business in several key markets, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United States, Australia, India and Japan. Additionally, we continue to push our R&D with downstream products like our AC module and small-scale storage system, and we plan to offer residential PV solutions soon. Although we are seeing the solar market stabilize, a persistent demand-supply imbalance, coupled with competitive pricing, continues to impact our business and the overall industry. Despite this challenging macro environment, we will continue to invest in technologies that help reduce cost and improve efficiency in order to grow our business and gain new global market share."

First Quarter 2013 Results

Solar Wafer and Module Shipments

The sequential decrease in solar product shipments was mainly the result of a decrease in sales of the Company's wafer business due to additional wafers being used to produce ReneSola-branded modules, partially offset by increased demand for the Company's solar modules across a number of geographic regions and the increasing competitiveness of solar power as a viable power source.

Net Revenues

Revenues in Q1 2013 decreased quarter over quarter due to a decrease in the average selling prices ("ASPs") of solar wafers and modules from US$0.24 per watt ("W") and US$0.63/W, respectively, to US$0.22/W and US$0.61/W, respectively, as well the decrease in wafer shipments.

Gross Profit (Loss)

The decrease in gross profit was due to the significant decline in ASPs and the decrease in wafer shipments, as well as the temporary halt in production at the Company's Sichuan polysilicon plant to upgrade its facilities and equipment.

Operating Loss

The decrease in operating expenses was primarily due to a reduction in the Company's research and development ("R&D") expenses in Q1 2013.

Foreign Exchange Gain (Loss)

The Company had a foreign exchange loss of US$3.0 million in Q1 2013, primarily due to the depreciation of the euro against the renminbi ("RMB"), compared to a gain of US$3.1 million in Q4 2012. The Company also recognized a US$3.9 million gain on foreign currency derivatives, compared to a gain of US$0.9 million in Q4 2012.

Net Loss Attributable to Holders of Ordinary Shares

Business Highlights

Research and Development

ReneSola continued to invest in R&D in Q1 2013 to improve the technology behind its brand, products and manufacturing processes. With regard to solar wafers, the Company's next generation Virtus A+++ wafer, with an average efficiency of 0.15% to 0.20% higher than that of Virtus A++, will begin mass production in Q2 2013. 

With regard to solar modules, the Company's 210 W monocrystalline and 260 W multicrystalline modules are now in full production. The Company's full line of solar module products has achieved potential induced degradation ("PID") free status, further substantiating their reliability. Recently, the Company's solar modules have been accredited by TUV NORD, a leading German industry-certification body, demonstrating that ReneSola products can withstand difficult desert-like and dusty conditions.

ReneSola is developing a proprietary, second-generation Micro Replus microinverter, which will reduce the cost to customers by 20% compared to the first generation model. ReneSola is also developing an AC module that combines a solar module with Micro Replus. At the same time, a specialized, small-scale storage research team has been established to develop a series of systems that would largely increase the efficiency of ReneSola's products.

Recent Business Developments

• In May 2013, ReneSola announced it had provided solar modules to solar tracker manufacturer and project developer AllEarth Renewables, Inc. for use in three community-scale solar power projects in Vermont.
• In April 2013, ReneSola announced its 125-square monocrystalline module had been listed by the Japan Photovoltaic Expansion Center ("JPEC") as qualified for the Japan market.
• In April 2013, ReneSola announced that following its participation at the World Future Energy Summit ("WFES") in Abu Dhabi earlier in the year, a range of its PV modules had been accredited by TUV NORD.
• In April 2013, ReneSola announced it had agreed to provide Enerparc AG, an internationally oriented and dynamically growing provider of solar power plant installation and operation services, with 43.6 MW of solar modules, 35 MW of which will be delivered through original equipment manufacturers in Poland and India.
• In April 2013, ReneSola announced it had signed a sales contract to supply 2 MW of its highest-efficiency polysilicon module, 260 W Virtus II, to a mega solar project in Uenohara-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.
• In April 2013, ReneSola announced it had been contracted to provide 7,200 of its 250 W high-efficiency polycrystalline solar PV modules for a solar project to be built by S&C Electric Company, a Chicago-based provider of equipment and services for electric power systems, in Roswell, New Mexico in 2013.
• In April 2013, ReneSola announced it had agreed to provide more than 108,000 of its 300 W high-efficiency Virtus II 72-cell polycrystalline solar modules to Strata Solar, LLC, one of the top solar developers and EPCs in the United States, for use in five 6.5 MW solar farms in North Carolina.
• In March 2013, ReneSola announced it had signed a RMB320 million (approximately US$50.9 million) 15-year loan agreement with China Development Bank.
• In March 2013, ReneSola announced it had been contracted to provide 460 kilowatts ("kW") of its high-efficiency solar modules to Cummings Properties, one of the most prominent full-service commercial real estate development and property management organizations in Massachusetts.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash inflow from operating activities was US$4.2 million in Q1 2013, compared to net cash inflow from operating activities of US$25.8 million in Q4 2012. Net cash and cash equivalents plus restricted cash improved to US$442.7 million at the end of Q1 2013, compared to US$268.1 million at the end of Q4 2012.

Total debt was US$958.6 million at the end of Q1 2013, compared to US$790.2 million at the end of Q4 2012, excluding US$111.6 million of convertible notes due March 15, 2018, unless repurchased or converted at an earlier date. Short-term borrowings were US$832.8 million in Q1 2013, compared to US$733.6 million in Q4 2012.

Capital expenditures were US$5.7 million in Q1 2013, primarily to expand the Company's polysilicon production capacity and integrate Phase II of its Sichuan polysilicon production plant.

Outlook

For Q2 2013, the Company expects total solar wafer and module shipments to be in the range of 700 MW to 720 MW, with solar module shipments expected to be in the range of 400 MW to 420 MW. Revenues are expected to be in the range of US$310 million to US$330 million and gross margin is expected to be in the range of 3% to 5%. Operating cash flow is expected to exceed US$40 million.

For the full year 2013, the Company expects total solar wafer and module shipments to be in the range of 2.7 GW to 2.9 GW, with solar module shipments expected to be in the range of 1.4 GW to 1.6 GW.

Conference Call Information

ReneSola's management will host an earnings conference call on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 8 am U.S. Eastern Time (8 pm Beijing/Hong Kong time).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call. The passcode is "ReneSola Call".

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until May 23, 2013:

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of ReneSola's website at www.renesola.com.

About ReneSola

Founded in 2005, ReneSola (NYSE:SOL) is a leading brand and technology provider of solar PV products. Leveraging its proprietary technologies, economies of scale and technical expertise, ReneSola uses in-house virgin polysilicon and a vertically integrated business model to provide customers with high-quality, cost-competitive products. ReneSola solar modules have scored top PVUSA Test Conditions (PTC) ratings with high annual kilowatt-hour output, according to the California Energy Commission (CEC). ReneSola solar PV modules can be found in projects ranging in size from a few kilowatts to multi-megawatts in markets around the world, including the United States, Germany, Italy, Belgium, China, Greece, Spain and Australia. For more information, please visit www.renesola.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that constitute ''forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Whenever you read a statement that is not simply a statement of historical fact (such as when the Company describes what it "believes," "expects" or "anticipates" will occur, what "will" or "could" happen, and other similar statements), you must remember that the Company's expectations may not be correct, even though it believes that they are reasonable. The Company does not guarantee that the forward-looking statements will happen as described or that they will happen at all. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 20-F. The Company undertakes no obligation, beyond that required by law, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made, even though the Company's situation may change in the future.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Mr. Tony Hung
ReneSola Ltd
Tel: +86-573-8473-9011
Email: [email protected]

Mr. Derek Mitchell
Ogilvy Financial, Beijing
Tel: +86-10-8520-3073
Email: [email protected]

In the United States:

Ms. Jessica Barist Cohen
Ogilvy Financial, New York
Tel: +1-646-460-9989
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE ReneSola Ltd.