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 Home  >  News & Events > Press Release > Company News
Nov 19,2008
LDK Solar Reports Financial Results for Third Quarter 2008

Xinyu City, China and Sunnyvale, California, November 19, 2008 ¨C LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (¡°LDK Solar¡±; NYSE: LDK), a leading manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers, today reported its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008.
All financial results are reported in U.S. dollars on a U.S. GAAP basis.
Third Quarter 2008 Financial Highlights:

  • Revenue of $541.8 million, up 22.7% quarter-over-quarter;
  • Annualized wafer production capacity reached 1.2 GW by end the quarter;
  • Signed 14 long-term wafer supply agreements year-to-date;
  • Total wafer shipments increased 31.8% to 252.7 MW during the quarter;
  • Gross profit margin for the quarter was 22.7%; and
  • Completed a follow-on offering of 4.8 million American depositary shares (¡°ADSs¡±), further enhancing LDK Solar¡¯s resources for accelerated expansion plans.

Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 were $541.8 million, up 22.7% from $441.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2008, and up 241.4% from $158.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2007.
Gross profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 was $122.9 million, up 9.5% from $112.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2008, and up 151.3% from $48.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2007. Gross profit margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 was 22.7% compared to 25.4% in the second quarter of fiscal 2008 and 30.8% in the third quarter of fiscal 2007. Operating profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 was $107.8 million, up 7.5% from $100.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2008, and up 149.6% from $43.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2007. Operating profit margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 was 19.9% compared to 22.7% in the second quarter of fiscal 2008 and 27.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2007.
Income tax expense for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 was $13.8 million, compared to income tax expense of $13.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2008.
Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 was $88.4 million, or $0.77 per diluted ADS, compared to net income of $149.5 million, or $1.29 per diluted ADS for the second quarter of fiscal 2008.
LDK Solar ended the third quarter of fiscal 2008 with $347.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and $115.0 million in short-term pledged bank deposits.
On September 24, 2008, LDK Solar closed a follow-on offering of 4,800,000 ADSs, resulting in net proceeds of $192.4 million from the offering. As disclosed in the prospectus, LDK Solar expects to use approximately 60% of the net proceeds to fund the construction of its polysilicon manufacturing plant, approximately 30% to fund the capacity expansion of its wafer production facilities and the remaining 10% to fund other general corporate activities.
¡°We are pleased to deliver strong third quarter financial results as we continue to experience robust demand and significant growth of our business,¡± stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO of LDK Solar. ¡°Total revenue this quarter was at the high end of our previously released guidance. During the quarter, we also successfully completed a secondary share offering which resulted in net proceeds of approximately $192.4 million. As a result, we believe that we are well positioned with sufficient resources to fund our current growth plans through 2009. Our market leadership position is strengthened by our accelerated execution of our wafer capacity expansion, strong wafer supply contract backlog, and our geographically diverse customer base.¡±
¡°The plant commissioning process for the 1,000 MT polysilicon plant has progressed and all stations are now fully operational. Based upon the current status of the commissioning and testing phase, we expect polysilicon output in early December 2008 and estimate 2008 production to be between 15 MT and 25 MT. We anticipate a smaller than previously expected polysilicon output in 2008 as we have committed more time to industry safety and environmental protection measures. We have made considerable progress on our construction schedule for both plants and remain confident in the timeline for the construction of our 15,000 MT polysilicon plant, where we currently expect the first 5,000 MT train to be operational at the end of first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter 2009. We remain confident that we will produce between 5,000 and 7,000 MT of polysilicon in 2009,¡± continued Mr. Peng.
¡°As we look ahead, our business will not be immune to the current global economic downturn. However, given the strength of our business model, conservative financial management, and our strong cash position, we remain confident in our long-term growth opportunities, and in our ability to succeed and to continue our role in driving the solar industry forward,¡± 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 fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, LDK Solar estimates its revenue to be in the range of $555 million to $565 million with wafer shipments between 260 MW to 270 MW and gross margin between 18% and 21%. By the end of fiscal 2008, LDK Solar currently expects to:

  • Reach an annualized wafer production capacity of 1.4 GW; and
  • Produce 15 to 25 MT of polysilicon.
For the full year of fiscal 2009, LDK Solar currently estimates:
  • Revenue to be in the range of $2.9 billion to $3.1 billion;
  • Wafer shipments in the range of 1.80 GW to 1.85 GW;
  • Annualized wafer production capacity to be 2.3 GW by the end of 2009;
  • Gross margin between 26% and 31%; and
  • Production of between 5,000 and 7,000 MT of polysilicon in 2009.

Conference Call Details
The LDK Solar Third Quarter 2008 teleconference and webcast is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET), on November 19, 2008. To listen to the live conference call, please dial 800-366-7417 (within U.S.) or 303-205-0033 (outside U.S.) at 7:50 a.m. ET on November 19, 2008. An audio replay of the call will be available to investors through November 23, 2008 by dialing 800-405-2236 (within U.S.) or 303-590-3000 (outside U.S.) and entering the passcode 11122228#.

LDK Solar Co., Ltd.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Information
(In US$¡¯000, except share and per share data)

 

9/30/2008

 

6/30/2008

Assets

     

Current assets

     

-Cash and cash equivalents

347,762

 

83,742

-Pledged bank deposits

115,028

 

261,934

-Trade accounts receivable, net

40,286

 

34,964

-Inventories

702,314

 

656,202

-Prepayments to suppliers

294,855

 

253,806

-Other current assets

47,800

 

48,830

-Deferred income tax assets

1,965

 

1,307

Total current assets

1,550,010

 

1,340,785

Property, plant and equipment, net

1,138,539

 

705,784

Deposits for purchases of property, plant and equipment

301,252

 

222,400

Intangible asset, net

1,074

 

1,103

Land use rights

97,818

 

78,946

Inventories to be processed beyond one year

7,678

 

10,529

Prepayments to suppliers expected to be utilized beyond one year

22,082

 

20,538

Pledged bank deposits-non-current
49,476
 
33,444
Debt issuance costs, net 9,657   10,530

Investment in an associate

2,579

 

3,196

Deferred income tax assets

1,052

 

596

Total assets

3,181,217

 

2,427,851

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholders¡¯ equity

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

-Short-term bank borrowings and current portion of long-term bank borrowings

451,940

 

375,634

-Trade accounts payable

59,165

 

67,003

-Advance payments from customers

342,879

 

242,962

-Accrued expenses and other payables

326,395

 

166,994

-Income tax payable
5,023
 
5,293

-Other financial liabilities

500

 

6,213

Total current liabilities

1,185,902

 

864,099

Long-term bank borrowings, excluding current portions

159,465

 

99,158

Convertible senior notes 400,000   400,000

Advance payments from customers ¨C non-current

434,303

 

364,706

Other liabilities

2,172

 

2,252

Total liabilities

2,181,842

 

1,730,215

Shareholders¡¯ equity

 

 

 

 

Ordinary shares: US$0.10 par value; 499,580,000 shares authorized; 113,501,049 and 107,228,033 shares issued as of September 30 and June 30, 2008, respectively; 113,109,250 and 106,478,033 shares outstanding as of September 30 and June 30, 2008, respectively

11,311

 

10,648

Additional paid-in capital

441,913

 

238,555

Statutory reserve

18,697

 

18,697

Accumulated other comprehensive income

93,610

 

84,340

Retained earnings

433,844

 

345,396

Total shareholders¡¯ equity

999,375

 

697,636

Total liabilities and shareholders¡¯ equity

3,181,217

 

2,427,851

LDK Solar Co., Ltd.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Income Statement Information
(In US$¡¯000, except per ADS data)

  For the 3 Months Ended

 

9/30/2008

6/30/2008

Net sales

541,819

441,665

Cost of goods sold

(418,906)

(329,372)

Gross profit

122,913

112,293

Selling expenses

(1,567)

(599)

General and administrative expenses

(10,904)

(10,956)

Research and development expenses

(2,648)

(437)

Total operating expenses

(15,119)

(11,992)

Income from operations

107,794

100,301

Other income/(expenses):

 

 

   Interest income

1,872

1,698

    Interest expense and amortization of debt issuance costs

(10,612)

(10,197)

    Foreign currency exchange gain/(loss), net

(1,617)

5,823

    Government subsidy

5,431

4,347

    Change in fair value of prepaid forward contracts
  60,028
  Others
(641) 856

Income before income tax

102,227

162,856

Income tax expenses

(13,779)

(13,322)

Net income available to ordinary shareholders

88,448

149,534

Net income per ADS, Diluted

$0.77

$1.29

About LDK Solar
LDK Solar Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers, which are the principal raw material used to produce solar cells. LDK Solar sells multicrystalline wafers globally to manufacturers of photovoltaic products, including solar cells and solar modules. In addition, LDK Solar provides wafer processing services to monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar cell and module manufacturers. LDK Solar¡¯s headquarters and 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.
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 construction projects, including its polysilicon plants, 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 solar 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.

For more information contact:
Lisa Laukkanen
The Blueshirt Group for LDK Solar
lisa@blueshirtgroup.com
+1-415-217-4967
Jack Lai
Executive VP and CFO
LDK Solar Co., Ltd.
IR@ldksolar.com
+1- 408-245-8801

 
 

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