- 120 Megawatt order commitment and $30 million equity investment by POSCO Energy
- Executing on European growth strategy
- Cost control and volume are leading to expanding gross margins
DANBURY, Conn., March 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL), a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable fuel cell power plants, today reported results for its first quarter ended January 31, 2012 along with its business highlights.
Financial Results
First quarter 2012
FuelCell Energy (the Company) reported total revenues for the first quarter of 2012 of $31.3 million compared to $28.1 million in the same period last year. Product sales and revenues in the first quarter increased 15 percent to $29.6 million compared to $25.8 million in the prior year quarter, due to increasing demand for Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plants, components and installation services. First quarter product revenue included $20.9 million of power plants and fuel cell kits, $5.3 million of power plant component sales and installation services, and $3.4 million of service and power purchase agreements. Product sales and service backlog totaled $184.1 million as of January 31, 2012 compared to $156.9 million as of January 31, 2011. Product sales backlog was $107.9 million and $78.9 million as of January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Service agreement backlog was $76.2 million and $78.0 million as of January 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Backlog does not include the 120 MW POSCO Energy announcement or service agreement with Southern California Edison received subsequent to quarter end.
Research and development contract revenue was $1.7 million for the first quarter of 2012 compared to $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2011. The Company's research and development contract backlog totaled $14.1 million as of January 31, 2012 compared to $7.9 million as of January 31, 2011, reflecting the awarding of contracts during 2011 for carbon capture research and hydrogen separation and compression programs.
Total gross profit was $2.1 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to a gross loss of $2.3 million in the first quarter of 2011. Gross profit for product sales and revenues improved $4.2 million compared to the first quarter of 2011. The product gross margin was 6.6 percent for the first quarter of 2012 compared to negative 8.9 percent in the prior year period. Improvements in margin compared to the prior year period are primarily attributable to increased production volume, lower product costs achieved from manufacturing and supply chain efficiencies and improved services margins as older early generation power plants are offset by new installations with profitable service contracts.
First quarter 2012 loss from operations decreased to $5.4 million compared to $10.6 million for the comparable prior year period as higher sales volume reduced product costs combined with the benefit of lower operating expenses. A series of cost control initiatives resulted in reduced operating expenses for the current period compared to the prior year period. Net loss to common shareholders for the first quarter of 2012 decreased to $6.7 million, or $0.05 per basic and diluted share, compared to $11.7 million or $0.10 per basic and diluted share in the first quarter of 2011.
Cash and investments in U.S. Treasuries
Total cash, cash equivalents and investments in U.S. Treasuries were $41.5 million as of January 31, 2012. Net cash, cash equivalents and investments used in the first quarter of 2012 was $21.9 million. The change in cash during the quarter included an increase of inventory and accounts receivable of $8.1 million and the payment of $4.3 million of payments on preferred stock obligations. Inventory increased as fuel cell power plants were built to prepare for expected near-term order activity. Preferred stock payments included a $3.2 million payment to the holder of the Series I preferred shares, the last of four scheduled principal repayments under a previously announced agreement. Quarterly preferred stock payments going forward will total approximately $1.1 million. Capital spending for the first quarter of 2012 was $0.9 million and depreciation expense was $1.4 million.
Business Highlights
Growth Strategies
"The strategic initiatives announced with POSCO Energy enable us to capture the expanding market opportunities in Asia for our ultra-clean baseload power plants," said Chip Bottone, President and CEO, FuelCell Energy, Inc.
The Company is expanding the partnership with POSCO Energy including a 120 MW multi-year order commitment, acceleration of deliveries under the existing 70 MW order, a commitment by POSCO Energy to purchase 20 million shares of FuelCell Energy common stock at a price of $1.50 per share for proceeds of $30 million, and a license commitment for manufacturing of Direct FuelCell® components in South Korea.
"We continue to execute on our global expansion strategy with the Fraunhofer IKTS and Abengoa announcements, both exceptional organizations that will help us take advantage of the extensive opportunities in Europe as well as Latin America for ultra-clean baseload distributed power generation," continued Mr. Bottone.
The Company achieved two major milestones in Europe with the announcements of a proposed joint venture with German based Fraunhofer IKTS and a partnership with Spanish based Abengoa. Fraunhofer will contribute research expertise to the announced joint venture, particularly in materials science, as well as relationships with utilities, on-site power users and regulatory authorities. FuelCell Energy has developed a strong pipeline of prospective orders in Europe with only limited direct marketing to date. European based sales resources will further expand interest and order activity for DFC plants.
Abengoa develops and owns power generation and transmission projects in Europe and Latin America. Their liquid biofuels expertise, extensive industry and regulatory relationships, and financial resources make them an ideal partner to develop and expand the market for megawatt-class stationary fuel cell power plants in Europe and Latin America, particularly DFC plants utilizing renewable biogas or liquid biofuels.
Services and Customer Installations
Services represents a growing source of revenue reflecting the expanding installed base as customers outsource the operation and maintenance of the fuel cell power plants to the Company. In March 2012, another California utility executed a multi-year service agreement for a DFC power plant that will be installed at a university.
The Company has completed approximately 75 percent of the work related to the previously announced repair and upgrade program for a select group of fuel cell stacks produced between 2007 and early 2009. The program remains on schedule with expected conclusion by early summer 2012.
Installation and commissioning update:
- One 1.4 MW plant purchased by a project investor and installed on a university campus in Connecticut was commissioned in December 2011.
- 4.5 MW of plants sold to a project investor and located at municipal locations and a university in San Diego, CA were commissioned during the first quarter of 2012.
- 4.2 MW of plants sold to a project investor and located at two wastewater treatment facilities in California are undergoing commissioning.
- A 300 kW CE-compliant plant is in transit for installation in a high profile central London commercial building during the second quarter of 2012.
- POSCO Energy completed installation of two DFC3000 power plants during the first quarter of 2012, with fuel cell modules provided by FuelCell Energy. The customer, an independent power producer, is now operating a fuel cell park totaling 10.4 MW. This is the second fuel cell park operating in South Korea that is in excess of 10 MW.
- Two demonstration 100 kW Direct FuelCell power plants targeting the building application market in South Korea were commissioned by POSCO Energy.
Cautionary Language
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's anticipated financial results and statements regarding the Company's plans and expectations regarding the continuing development, commercialization and financing of its fuel cell technology and business plans. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that could cause such a difference include, without limitation, changes to whether the Company is able to reach definitive agreements on the terms contemplated in the recently announced memorandums of understanding with POSCO Energy, projected deliveries and order flow, changes to production rate and product costs, general risks associated with product development, manufacturing, changes in the regulatory environment, customer strategies, changes in critical accounting policies, potential volatility of energy prices, rapid technological change, competition, and the Company's ability to achieve its sales plans and cost reduction targets, as well as other risks set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
About FuelCell Energy
Direct FuelCell® power plants are generating ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power at more than 50 locations worldwide. With over 180 megawatts of power generation capacity installed or in backlog, FuelCell Energy is a global leader in providing ultra-clean baseload distributed generation to utilities, industrial operations, universities, municipal water treatment facilities, government installations and other customers around the world. The Company's power plants have generated over one billion kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable biogas from wastewater treatment and food processing, as well as clean natural gas. For more information please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com
The FuelCell Energy, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3284
Direct FuelCell, DFC, DFC/T, DFC-H2 and FuelCell Energy, Inc. are all registered trademarks of FuelCell Energy, Inc. DFC-ERG is a registered trademark jointly owned by Enbridge, Inc. and FuelCell Energy, Inc.
Conference Call Information
FuelCell Energy management will host a conference call with investors beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on March 12, 2012 to discuss the first quarter results. An accompanying slide presentation for the earnings call will be available at http://fcel.client.shareholder.com/eventdetail.cfm?eventid=109986 immediately prior to the call.
Participants can access the live call via webcast on the Company website or by telephone as follows:
- The live webcast of this call will be available on the Company website at www.fuelcellenergy.com. To listen to the call, select 'Investors' on the home page, then click on 'events & presentations' and then click on 'Listen to the webcast'
- Alternatively, participants in the U.S. or Canada can dial 877-303-7005
- Outside the U.S. and Canada, please call 678-809-1045
- The passcode is 'FuelCell Energy'
The webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's Investors' page at www.fuelcellenergy.com. Alternatively, the replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call until midnight Eastern Time on March 18, 2012:
- From the U.S. and Canada please dial 855-859-2056
- Outside the U.S. or Canada please call 404-537-3406
- Enter confirmation code 55343886
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FUELCELL ENERGY, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts) |
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|
January 31, 2012 |
October 31, 2011 |
|
| ASSETS | ||
| Current assets: | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $37,030 | $51,415 |
| Investments — U.S. treasury securities | 4,502 | 12,016 |
| Accounts receivable, net | 23,892 | 21,950 |
| Inventories | 46,304 | 40,101 |
| Other current assets | 6,467 | 7,466 |
| Total current assets | 118,195 | 132,948 |
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 23,429 | 23,925 |
| Investment in and loans to affiliate | 10,075 | 10,466 |
| Other assets, net | 18,219 | 16,291 |
| Total assets | $169,918 | $183,630 |
| LIABILITIES AND DEFICIT | ||
| Current liabilities: | ||
| Current portion of long-term debt | $5,085 | $5,056 |
| Accounts payable | 17,841 | 14,143 |
| Accounts payable due to affiliate | 325 | 104 |
| Accrued liabilities | 23,003 | 26,894 |
| Deferred revenue | 58,180 | 64,114 |
| Preferred stock obligation of subsidiary | 1,071 | 3,854 |
| Total current liabilities | 105,505 | 114,165 |
| Long-term deferred revenue | 6,750 | 7,000 |
| Long-term preferred stock obligation of subsidiary | 12,559 | 12,878 |
| Long-term debt and other liabilities | 4,075 | 4,105 |
| Total liabilities | 128,889 | 138,148 |
|
Redeemable preferred stock (liquidation preference of $64,020 at January 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011) |
59,857 | 59,857 |
| Total Deficit: | ||
| Shareholders' deficit | ||
|
Common stock ($.0001 par value; 225,000,000 shares authorized; 140,583,373 and 138,400,497 shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively) |
13 | 13 |
| Additional paid-in capital | 689,420 | 687,857 |
| Accumulated deficit | (707,279) | (701,336) |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | 13 | 15 |
|
Treasury stock, Common, at cost (5,679 shares at January 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011) |
(53) |
(53) |
| Deferred compensation | 53 | 53 |
| Total shareholders' deficit | (17,833) | (13,451) |
| Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries | (995) | (924) |
| Total deficit | (18,828) | (14,375) |
| Total liabilities and deficit | $169,918 | $183,630 |
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FUELCELL ENERGY, INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts) |
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Three Months Ended January 31, |
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| 2012 | 2011 | |
| Revenues: | ||
| Product sales and revenues | $29,600 | $25,760 |
| Research and development contracts | 1,737 | 2,320 |
| Total revenues | 31,337 | 28,080 |
| Costs of revenues: | ||
| Cost of product sales and revenues | 27,660 | 28,059 |
| Cost of research and development contracts | 1,573 | 2,337 |
| Total cost of revenues | 29,233 | 30,396 |
| Gross profit/(loss) | 2,104 | (2,316) |
| Operating expenses: | ||
| Administrative and selling expenses | 3,764 | 4,050 |
| Research and development expenses | 3,783 | 4,246 |
| Total operating expenses | 7,547 | 8,296 |
| Loss from operations | (5,443) | (10,612) |
| Interest expense | (630) | (54) |
| Loss from equity investment | (362) | (198) |
| License fee and royalty income | 424 | 359 |
| Interest and other income, net | 196 | 41 |
| Loss before redeemable preferred stock of subsidiary | (5,815) | (10,464) |
| Accretion of redeemable preferred stock of subsidiary | — | (525) |
| Loss before provision for income taxes | (5,815) | (10,989) |
| Provision for income taxes | (199) | (18) |
| Net loss | (6,014) | (11,007) |
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | 71 | 69 |
| Net loss attributable to FuelCell Energy, Inc. | (5,943) | (10,938) |
| Preferred stock dividends | (800) | (800) |
| Net loss to common shareholders | $(6,743) | $(11,738) |
| Net loss per share to common shareholders | ||
| Basic | $(0.05) | $(0.10) |
| Diluted | $(0.05) | $(0.10) |
| Weighted average shares outstanding | ||
| Basic | 139,555,596 | 115,086,014 |
| Diluted | 139,555,596 | 115,086,014 |