Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) soars on Q2 2008 results

Energy Conversion Devices; ENER Announces Second Quarter 2008 Financial Results


Consolidated Revenues Increase 20 Percent on Strong UNI-SOLAR(R) Sales- Solar Production Increases Nearly 50 Percent- Company Reaffirms Sustainable Profitability in Fiscal Q4

February 07, 2008

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) , the leading global manufacturer of solar thin-film laminate products, today reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2008, ended December 31, 2007.

Revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2008 were $56.4 million, up 20 percent from first quarter revenues of $47.0 million and up 146 percent from $22.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2007. Revenues from the company's solar business were $51.7 million, or 92 percent of total revenues. Second quarter solar revenues represented a 23 percent sequential increase and a 169 percent increase over the prior-year quarter. Gross margins in the solar business were 19.2 percent.

ECD reported a net loss for the quarter of $5.4 million, or $0.14 per share, compared to a net loss of $7.6 million, or $0.19 per share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2008, and a net loss of $2.9 million, or $0.07 per share, in the year-ago period. Second quarter results included $2.5 million, or $0.06 per share, of restructuring charges principally for severance and other costs associated with corporate staff reductions and management transition. Results in the quarter were also impacted by approximately $2.3 million, or $0.06 per share, of preproduction costs.

For the first six months of fiscal 2008, total revenues were $103.5 million compared with $50.1 million for the first six months of fiscal 2007, an increase of 106 percent. Revenues from the solar business totaled $93.6 million in the first six months of fiscal 2008, a 118 percent increase compared with $43.0 million last year.

For the six-month period, the company reported a net loss of $13.0 million, or $0.33 per share, compared with the previous year's net loss of $5.2 million, or $0.13 per share. Restructuring costs for the first six months of fiscal 2008 amounted to $5.1 million, or $0.13 per share. Preproduction costs for the period were $4.8 million, or $0.12 per share.

Mark Morelli, ECD's president and CEO, commented, "We are excited with the progress we are making in growing revenues and reinventing the company around operational excellence. During the quarter, our production of thin-film solar laminates expanded by 50 percent over the first quarter, and tripled over last year's second quarter. At the same time, our sales pipeline continues to run ahead of production capacity as new and repeat customers in key markets around the world have come to recognize the significant advantages and attractive return on investment of our UNI-SOLAR laminates. As a result, we remain confident that we will reach sustainable profitability by the fiscal fourth quarter."

The company's manufacturing ramp continues on schedule, and United Solar Ovonic produced 15.4 MW in the quarter and 25.8 MW for the first half of the fiscal year. No polysilicon is required for the manufacturing of UNI-SOLAR laminates; therefore, production is not affected by polysilicon supply. Nameplate capacity currently stands at 118 MW.

Sanjeev Kumar, ECD's CFO, said, "United Solar's gross margin of 19.2 percent for the quarter exceeded our forecast of 15 to 16 percent due to improved production ramp and operational efficiencies. We continue to see excellent top-line momentum going forward, which will begin to appear below the line in the coming quarters as we complete our restructuring and management transition."

"As a result of our significant cost reductions in R&D, Ovonic Materials has reached breakeven, and we expect it to remain so going forward. Second quarter, consolidated SG&A costs increased about $6 million from the second quarter last year as a result of investments we are making in the right staff and expertise to grow our solar business. The key takeaway is that these costs are increasing at a much slower rate than our overall sales and productivity. These line items now constitute about 23% of revenues and will continue to decline as a percentage of revenues over time as we successfully scale our operations," Kumar added.

Key Developments

-- A multiple-year supply agreement to sell up to 21.15 MW of UNI-SOLAR
laminates to Enfinity Management, one of Europe's largest investors in
solar PV installations. Enfinity will use the UNI-SOLAR products for
rooftop installations in Europe.
-- An agreement with SunEdison, North America's largest solar energy
service provider, to provide up to 17 MW of UNI-SOLAR laminates for use
on large-scale rooftop installations on industrial and commercial
buildings, principally in the US.
-- The hiring of key senior management, including Marcelino Susas, Vice
President, Strategic Marketing; Corby Whitaker, Vice President, Global
Sales; Joseph Conroy, Vice President, Operations; and Tom Schultz, Vice
President, Human Resources - United Solar Ovonic Operations.
-- The signing of several sales agreements in South Korea, one of the
world's fastest growing solar markets, including a take-or-pay
commitment from AirTec for 25 MW in calendar 2008 and 2009.
-- The completion of a $55 million credit facility. In addition, the
company had approximately $155 million in cash and cash equivalents at
the end of the quarter.

Narrowing Full-Year Revenue Guidance; Reiterating Sustainable Profitability in Fiscal Q4

The company narrowed its prior revenue guidance provided at the end of the fiscal first quarter. Fiscal year 2008 consolidated revenues are now expected to be $235 to $245 million versus prior guidance of $220 to $245 million. Fiscal year United Solar product sales are expected to be $215 to $225 million versus prior guidance of $205 to $225 million. Anticipated full-year preproduction costs are in the range of $8 to $9 million. Restructuring costs for fiscal year 2008 are expected to be $7.0 to $8.0 million versus prior guidance of $3 to $5 million due to additional staff reductions and other cost-saving initiatives. The company is reiterating its expectation that it will reach sustainable profitability in the fiscal fourth quarter.

For the fiscal third quarter ending March 31, 2008, total consolidated revenues are expected to be between $65 to $70 million, of which solar product sales are expected to be $60 to $65 million. Gross margins on solar product sales for the fiscal third quarter are expected to be approximately 21 to 23 percent, reflecting further improvement in operational performance and the ramp up of the company's first Greenville manufacturing facility. Restructuring costs for the third quarter are expected to be in the range of $2.0 to $3.0 million. The company anticipates preproduction costs of approximately $1.5 to $2.5 million in the quarter.

Additionally, the company is increasing its guidance on United Solar gross margins for the fiscal fourth quarter to approximately 23 to 25 percent.

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