HONG KONG, Nov. 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sky Solar Holdings, Ltd. (Nasdaq:SKYS) ("Sky Solar" or the "Company"), a global developer, owner and operator of solar parks, today announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2014.
Third Quarter 2014 Highlights:
- The Company priced its initial public offering on November 13, 2014, and completed the transaction and received net proceeds of approximately $46.1 million on November 18, 2014
- Electricity sales revenue of $6.9 million, up 119% year-over-year
- Adjusted EBITDA of $1.6 million
- 54.5 MW of IPP assets in operation as of November 13, 2014, compared with 51.8 MW as of the end of the third quarter of 2014, 51.3 MW as of the end of second quarter 2014 and 43.3 at the end of 2013
- As of November 13, 2014, the Company had a 1.3 GW project pipeline, including 22.6 MW under construction, 257.1 MW shovel-ready and 1.1 GW under development
- As of the end of the third quarter, the Company had a 1.2 GW project pipeline, including 4.6 MW under construction, 280.3 MW of shovel-ready projects and 858.6 MW of solar parks under development
Mr. Weili Su, founder and executive chairman of Sky Solar, commented, "We are pleased to report our earnings for the first time as a NASDAQ-listed company. Our third quarter results demonstrated the effectiveness of our strategic shift from solar energy system sales to electricity sales, as our electricity sales increased 119% year-over-year, and comprised 67% of our total revenue in the third quarter of 2014. As we grow our portfolio of solar park assets, we expect electricity sales to further dominate our revenue mix, driving both revenue growth and margin expansion.
"Looking ahead, we are focused on development in several key geographies where we see strong growth potential, including Japan and South America. We believe our strong foundation in the most promising solar power markets will drive our growth in 2015 and beyond.
"Finally, I personally want to thank everyone on our team for their hard work and dedication in our IPO. We could have not succeeded without their diligence and sacrifice. We look forward to substantial growth and a promising future for our shareholders, employees and business partners."
Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results
Net revenue was $10.3 million, up 26.1% from $8.2 million in the same period in 2013. The increase was due to strong growth in electricity sales, partially offset by a decline in solar energy system sales, as a result of the Company's strategic shift from solar energy system sales to IPP electricity sales. Revenue from electricity sales was $6.9 million, up 119.0% from $3.2 million in the same period in 2013, while revenue from solar energy system and other sales was $3.4 million, down 32.4% from $5.0 million in the same period in 2013.
The following table shows the Company's sequential and year-over-year growth in revenue for each of the regions and periods indicated.
|
Q3 2014 |
Sequential Growth |
Q2 2014 |
Year-Over- Year Growth |
Q3 2013 |
|
| Europe | 5,265 | 8.8% | 4,837 | -11.7% | 5,959 |
| Electricity Sales | 4,555 | 2.8% | 4,431 | 139.9% | 1,898 |
| System Sales and Other | 710 | 74.8% | 406 | -82.5% | 4,061 |
| Asia | 2,867 | 6.7% | 2,687 | 125.9% | 1,269 |
| Electricity Sales | 2,210 | -17.8% | 2,687 | 76.0% | 1,256 |
| System Sales and Other | 657 | -- | 0 | 4953.8% | 13 |
| North America | 2,165 | 237.9% | 642 | 131.4% | 936 |
| Electricity | 143 | -- | 0 | -- | 0 |
| System Sales and Other | 2,022 | 215.5% | 642 | 116.0% | 936 |
| Electricity Sales | 6,908 | -3.0% | 7,119 | 119.0% | 3,154 |
| System Sales and Other | 3,389 | 223.8% | 1,047 | -32.4% | 5,010 |
Cost of sales and services was $5.4 million, compared with $7.3 million in the same period in 2013. The reduction was primarily due to the Company's strategic shift away from its solar energy system sales business, which decreased the costs of rendering construction services, developing permits and purchasing equipment.
Gross profit was $4.9 million, up 501.5% from $0.8 million in the same period in 2013. Gross margin was 47.9%, compared with 10.0% in the same period in 2013. The improvement in gross margin was largely due to the Company's strategic shift toward higher-margin electricity sales.
Selling expenses were $0.4 million, relatively unchanged from the same period in 2013. Selling expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 4.1% from 5.5% in the same period in 2013.
Administrative expenses were $4.5 million, up 10.3% from $4.1 million in the same period in 2013, primarily due to costs related to geographic expansion.
Operating income was $4.5 million, compared to an operating loss of $1.9 million in the same period in 2013. Operating margin was 43.9%.
Financing costs were $0.4 million, down 64.4% from the same period in 2013.
Other non-operating expenses were $7.1 million, consisting of $5.0 million of exchange losses of euro-denominated loans made to subsidiaries as a result of the depreciation of the euro, $1.0 million of IPO expenses and $1.1 million in fair value fluctuation of financial liabilities.
Income tax expense was $0.6 million, compared with $0.8 million in the same period in 2013.
Net loss was $3.6 million, compared with a net loss of $2.9 million in the same period in 2013.
Basic and diluted loss per share were $0.01, compared with basic and diluted loss per share of $0.01 in the same period in 2013. Basic and diluted loss per ADS were $0.09, compared with basic and diluted loss per ADS of $0.07 in the same period in 2013.
Third quarter 2014 Adjusted EBITDA was $1.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA generated in the first nine months of 2014 was $2.4 million.
Pipeline Analysis
As of November 13, 2014, the Company owned and operated 54.5 MW of IPP assets, compared with 51.8 MW at the end of the third quarter, 51.3 MW at the end of the second quarter, and 43.3 MW at the end of 2013.
The Company also had 22.6 MW of projects under construction (as compared with 4.6 MW at the end of the third quarter), including 18.5 MW in Japan alone, representing new construction begun since the end of the third quarter. We expect 8.0 MW of these projects to be complete prior to the end of the year, with the remainder complete by the end of the first quarter of 2015. In Canada, we expect the 4.1 MW of projects under construction as of November 13, 2014 to be completed by the end of the year.
In total, the Company had 1.3 GW of projects in various stages of development, which includes the projects under construction described above as well as 257.1 MW of shovel-ready projects and more than 1 GW of projects in pipeline.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
As of September 30, 2014, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $33.2 million, compared with $18.7 million as of June 30, 2014. Total short-term borrowings were $28.8 million and total long-term borrowings were $19.3 million. Other long-term liabilities increased to $32.6 million.
Initial Public Offering
On November 18, 2014, the Company closed an initial public offering of 6.4 million American depositary shares ("ADSs"), each representing eight ordinary shares, at a price to the public of $8.00 per ADS, which included the purchase of 828,750 ADSs by the underwriters upon exercise in full of their option to purchase additional ADSs. Sky Solar estimates net proceeds from the offering to be approximately $46.1 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commission and estimated offering expenses. The ADSs trade on the NASDAQ Capital Markets under the symbol "SKYS."
Use of Non-GAAP Measures
To provide investors with additional information regarding the Company's financial results, the Company has disclosed Adjusted EBITDA, a non-IFRS financial measure, below. The Company presents this non-IFRS financial measure because it is used by the Company's management to evaluate its operating performance. The Company also believes that this non-IFRS financial measure provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating the Company's consolidated results of operations in the same manner as the Company's management and in comparing financial results across accounting periods and to those of its peers.
Adjusted EBITDA, as the Company presents it, represents profit or loss for the period before taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted to eliminate the impact of share-based compensation expense, interest expenses, impairment loss, IPO expenses and charges of fair value changes of financial liabilities.
The use of the Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's financial results as reported under IFRS. Some of these limitations are: (a) although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditure requirements; (b) Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, the Company's working capital needs; (c) Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the potentially dilutive impact of equity-based compensation; (d) Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to the Company; and (e) other companies, including companies in the Company's industry, may calculate Adjusted EBITDA or similarly titled measures differently, which reduces their usefulness as a comparative measure. Because of these and other limitations, you should consider Adjusted EBITDA alongside the Company's other IFRS-based financial performance measures, such as profit (loss) for the period and the Company's other IFRS financial results.
The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to profit (loss) for the period, the most directly comparable IFRS measure, for each of the periods indicated:
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||
| 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | |
| Net Loss | (2,860) | (3,562) | (22,709) | (11,787) |
| Income tax expense | 789 | 607 | 2,003 | 1,023 |
| Depreciation of PPE and IPP solar parks | 1,495 | 1,828 | 2,813 | 4,577 |
| Amortization | 30 | 43 | 90 | 129 |
| Share-based payment charged into profit or loss | 1,573 | -- | 2,995 | 275 |
| Interest expenses | 1,084 | 386 | 2,257 | 1,728 |
| Impairment loss on IPP solar parks | 416 | -- | 2,564 | 1,280 |
| Impairment on the receivable provision | -- | -- | -- | 2,200 |
| IPO expenses | 1,138 | 1,095 | 1,830 | 1,756 |
| Fair value changes of financial liabilities-FVTPL | -- | 1,186 | -- | 1,186 |
| Adjusted EBITDA | 3,665 | 1,583 | (8,157) | 2,367 |
The Company does not consider historical Adjusted EBITDA to be representative of future Adjusted EBITDA, as the Company's revenue model changed from primarily generating revenue from selling solar energy systems to primarily generating revenue from selling electricity in the fourth quarter of 2013. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is an important measure for evaluating the results of its IPP business.
These measures are not intended to represent or substitute numbers as measured under IFRS. The submission of non-IFRS numbers is voluntary and should be reviewed together with IFRS results.
Conference Call
Sky Solar will hold a conference call on November 25, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 p.m. Hong Kong Time) to discuss the Company's third quarter 2014 results.
Dial-in details for the live conference call are as follows:
| International: | +65-6823-2299 |
| United States: | +1 (855) 298-3404 |
| Hong Kong: | +852-5808-3202 |
| Passcode: | 2221921 |
A simultaneous live webcast will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.skysolargroup.com.
A telephone replay will be available approximately two hours after the call concludes through December 2, 2014. The dial-in details for the replay are as follows:
| International: | +61-2-9641-7900 |
| United States: | +1 (866) 846-0868 |
| Hong Kong: | 800-966-697 |
| Passcode: | 2221921 |
About Sky Solar Holdings, Ltd.
Sky Solar is a global independent power producer ("IPP") that develops, owns and operates solar parks and generates revenue primarily by selling electricity. Since its inception, Sky Solar has focused on the downstream solar market and has developed projects in Asia, South America, Europe, North America and Africa. The Company's broad geographic reach and established presence across key solar markets are significant differentiators that provide global opportunities and mitigate country-specific risks. Sky Solar aims to establish operations in select geographies with highly attractive solar radiation, regulatory environments, power pricing, land availability, financial access and overall power market trends. As a result of its focus on the downstream PV segment, Sky Solar is technology agnostic and is able to customize its solar parks based on local environmental and regulatory requirements. As of November 13, 2014, the Company has developed 200 solar parks with an aggregate capacity of 181.7 MW and owned and operated 54.5 MW of solar parks.
Safe-Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements 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. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends, "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company's operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Sky Solar's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its final prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4). Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
| Sky Solar Holdings Ltd. | ||||
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | ||||
| USD In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts | ||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||
| 2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |
| Revenue: | ||||
| Electricity generation income | 6,908 | 3,154 | 18,747 | 5,946 |
| Solar energy system and other sales | 3,389 | 5,010 | 5,972 | 25,976 |
| Total revenue | 10,297 | 8,164 | 24,719 | 31,922 |
| Cost of sales and services | (5,362) | (7,344) | (13,649) | (27,642) |
| Gross profit | 4,935 | 820 | 11,070 | 4,280 |
| Impairments | -- | (416) | (3,480) | (2,564) |
| Selling expenses | (434) | (452) | (926) | (919) |
| Administrative expenses | (4,490) | (4,069) | (13,593) | (18,755) |
| Other operating income | 4,504 | 2,217 | 5,947 | 2,352 |
| Profit (loss) from operations | 4,515 | (1,900) | (982) | (15,606) |
| Finance costs | (386) | (1,084) | (1,728) | (2,257) |
| Other non-operating expenses | (7,084) | 913 | (8,055) | (2,842) |
| Loss before taxation | (2,955) | (2,071) | (10,765) | (20,705) |
| Income tax expense | (607) | (789) | (1,022) | (2,004) |
| Loss for the period | (3,562) | (2,860) | (11,787) | (22,709) |
| Other comprehensive (expense) income that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss: | ||||
| Exchange differences on translation of financial statements of foreign operations | (2,559) | (9,259) | (2,168) | (10,263) |
| Total comprehensive income (expense) for the year | (6,121) | (12,119) | (13,955) | (32,972) |
| Profit (loss) for the year attributable to owners of the Company | (3,694) | (2,860) | (11,889) | (22,709) |
| (Loss) profit for the year attributable to non-controlling interests | 132 | -- | 102 | -- |
| (3,562) | (2,860) | (11,787) | (22,709) | |
| Total comprehensive income (expense) attributable to: | ||||
| Owners of the Company | (6,224) | (12,119) | (14,026) | (32,973) |
| Non-controlling interests | 103 | -- | 71 | 1 |
| (6,121) | (12,119) | (13,955) | (32,972) | |
| Loss per share – Basic | (0.01) | (0.01) | (0.04) | (0.07) |
| Loss per share – Diluted | (0.01) | (0.01) | (0.04) | (0.07) |
| Loss per ADS – Basic | (0.09) | (0.07) | (0.28) | (0.54) |
| Loss per ADS – Diluted | (0.09) | (0.07) | (0.28) | (0.54) |
| Sky Solar Holdings Ltd. | ||
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||
| USD In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts | ||
| (Unaudited) | ||
| December 31, 2013 | September 30, 2014 | |
| Current assets: | ||
| Bank balances and cash | 9,742 | 32,010 |
| Restricted cash | 2,275 | 1,166 |
| Amounts due from customers for contract work | 1,333 | 127 |
| Amounts due from related parties | 35,121 | 15,465 |
| Trade and other receivables | 66,707 | 27,474 |
| Inventories | 7,683 | 3,000 |
| 122,861 | 79,242 | |
| Non-current assets: | ||
| IPP solar parks | 119,506 | 147,824 |
| Other non-current assets | 8,900 | 11,886 |
| 128,406 | 159,710 | |
| Total assets | 251,267 | 238,952 |
| Current liabilities: | ||
| Trade and other payables | 57,684 | 48,396 |
| Amount due to other related parties | 21,988 | 1,631 |
| Amounts due to customers for contract work | 1,234 | 334 |
| Tax payable | 9,672 | 7,490 |
| Borrowings | 40,075 | 28,781 |
| 130,653 | 86,632 | |
| Non-current liabilities: | ||
| Borrowings | 16,400 | 19,296 |
| Amounts due to other related parties | 796 | -- |
| Other non-current liabilities | 5,314 | 32,664 |
| 22,510 | 51,960 | |
| Total liabilities | 153,163 | 138,592 |
| Total assets less total liabilities | 98,104 | 100,360 |
| Equity: | ||
| Share capital | -- | -- |
| Reserves | 98,104 | 100,288 |
| Equity attributable to owners of the Company | 98,104 | 100,288 |
| Non-controlling interests | -- | 72 |
| Total equity | 98,104 | 100,360 |
| Total liabilities and equity | 251,267 | 238,952 |