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 Home  >  News & Events > Press Release > Company News
Mar 30, 2010
LDK Solar Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2009

Xinyu City, China and Sunnyvale, California, March 30, 2010 ¨C LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (¡°LDK Solar¡±; NYSE: LDK), a leading manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers and PV products, today reported its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009.

All financial results are reported in U.S. dollars on a U.S. GAAP basis.

Recent Highlights:

  • Fourth quarter 2009 revenue was $304.6 million;
  • Shipped 340.4 MW of wafers in the fourth quarter, up 33.8% year-over-year;
  • Gross margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was 9.9%;
  • Net loss was $7.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted ADS for the fourth quarter;
  • Increased wafer capacity to 1.8 GW in 2009;
  • Sold 15% ownership stake in 15,000 metric ton (MT) annualized capacity polysilicon plant to Jiangxi International Trust and Investment Co., Ltd. for proceeds of approximately $219.7 million; and
  • Completed follow-on public offering and received net proceeds of $111.0 million.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 were $304.6 million, compared to $281.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2009, and $426.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, gross profit was $30.2 million, compared to $56.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009, and a gross loss of $211.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

Gross margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was 9.9%, compared to 20.1% in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and negative 49.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

Loss from operations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was $3.5 million, compared to income from operations of $37.1 million for the third quarter of 2009, and compared to loss from operations of $251.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. Fourth quarter 2009 loss from operations includes a non-recurring charge of $10.0 million for the settlement of a class action lawsuit.

Operating margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was negative 1.1% compared to 13.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and negative 59.0% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

Income tax benefit for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was $0.7 million, compared to income tax expense of $6.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and an income tax benefit of $30.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was $7.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted ADS, compared to a net income of $29.4 million, or $0.27 per diluted ADS for the third quarter of fiscal 2009.

Excluding the one-time items of $10.0 million for the settlement of a class action lawsuit, net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was $2.7 million, or $0.03.

LDK Solar ended the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 with $384.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and $68.9 million in short-term pledged bank deposits.

"During the fourth quarter, we continued to see strengthening wafer demand and improvement in the operating environment for the solar industry," stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO of LDK Solar. "We reached a number of important milestones and took steps to further strengthen our business. We expanded our wafer capacity to 1.8 GW at the end of the quarter, further extending our market leadership in wafer capacity. We took several initiatives to strengthen our financial position including the sale of 15% ownership stake in our polysilicon manufacturing facility, the swap of short-term borrowings with long-term borrowings and a follow-on equity offering. These actions provided the Company with additional liquidity and operating flexibility."

"We continue to make progress in ramping polysilicon production. Our 1,000 MT plant is producing near capacity. We continued ramping up operations for the first 5,000 MT train of our 15,000 MT plant during the quarter and increasing output on a monthly basis."

"We made significant progress in diversifying and integrating our business. We are now able to serve our global customer base with a new line of solar module products via the acquisition of the module assembly assets from Best Solar. We are encouraged that we will be able to expand our sales throughout Europe, North America and Asia. We continue to be excited by the long-term growth opportunities in the solar industry," concluded Mr. Peng.

LDK Solar will include full year 2009 financial results in its upcoming 20-F filing with the SEC.

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 first quarter of fiscal 2010, LDK Solar estimates its revenue to be in the range of $310 million to $330 million with wafer shipments between 370 MW to 400 MW and module shipments between 25 MW to 30 MW.

Conference Call Details

The LDK Solar Fourth Quarter 2009 teleconference and webcast is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET), on March 30, 2010. To listen to the live conference call, please dial 877-941-2324 (within U.S.) or 480-629-9716 (outside U.S.) at 7:50 a.m. ET on March 30, 2010. An audio replay of the call will be available through April 1, 2010, by dialing 800-406-7325 (within U.S.) or 303-590-3030 (outside U.S.) and entering the pass code 4263815#.

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

 

12/31/2009

 

9/30/2009

 
----------
 
---------

Assets

     

Current assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

384,761

 

67,753

Pledged bank deposits

68,913

 

72,665

Trade accounts receivable

214,157

 

247,212

Bills receivable

8,270

 

5,208

Inventories

432,193

 

392,409

Insurance recoveries receivable
6,000
 
-

Prepayments to suppliers,net

48,874

 

74,063

Due from related parties 37,615   15,309

Other current assets

150,697

 

154,098

Deferred income tax assets,net

  45,879

 

  69,909

 
------
 
------

Total current assets

1,397,359

 

1,098,626

Property, plant and equipment, net

2,608,725

 

2,480,554

Deposits for purchases of property, plant and equipment

32,529

 

56,742

Intangible asset, net

1,018

 

1,035

Land use rights

175,533

 

164,422

Inventories to be processed beyond one year 10,947   25,314

Prepayments to suppliers expected to be utilized beyond one year,net

26,482

 

30,624

Pledged bank deposits-non-current
50,797
 
50,382
Debt issuance costs, net
4,909   5,813

Investment in an associate and a joint venture

75,373

 

74,540

Deposits relating to sales and leaseback transactions

13,921

 

7,322

Deferred income tax assets

18,078

 

16,907

Other non-current assets

     4,106

 

       494

 
-----
 
---

Total assets

4,419,777

 

4,012,775

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and equity

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

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

980,359

 

1,103,754

Bills payable

97,872

 

103,065

Trade accounts payable

191,240

 

154,438

Advance payments from customers, current portion

199,075

 

488,677

Accrued expenses and other payables

656,697

 

537,006

Due to a related parties

62,271

 

32,628

Income tax payable
9,577
 
12,409
Obligations under capital leases - current portion
33,380
 
19,241

Other financial liabilities

  7,880

 

  1,345

 
-----
 
-----

Total current liabilities

2,238,351

 

2,452,563

Convertible senior notes

400,000

 

400,000

Debt discount

(8,358)

 

(9,898)

Long-term bank borrowings, excluding current installments

408,062

 

298,918

Obligations under capital leases, excluding current installments
50,664   25,576

Advance payments from customers ¨C non-current

177,773

 

177,967

Other liabilities

250,561

 

64,821

Deferred income tax liability

  8,545

 

  7,170

 
-----
 
-----

Total liabilities

3,525,598

 

3,417,117

Total equity

  894,179
 
  595,658
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 4,419,777
 
 4,012,775
 
=========
 
=========

LDK Solar Co., Ltd.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Information
(In US$'000, except per ADS data)

 
For the 3 Months Ended
  ----------------------

 

12/31/2009

9/30/2009

Net sales

304,590

281,888

Cost of goods sold

  (274,345)

  (225,118)

 
--------
--------

Gross profit(loss)

30,245

56,770

Selling expenses

(1,533)

(1,549)

General and administrative expenses

(21,021)

(16,110)

Research and development expenses

(1,168)

(2,007)

Legal settlements, net of insurance
recoveries
  (10,000)
      -
 
--------
----

Total operating expenses

  (33,722)

  (19,666)

 
--------
--------

(loss) Profit from operations

(3,477)

37,104

Other income(expenses):

 

 

Interest income

625

696

Interest expense and amortization of convertible senior notes issuance costs and debt discount

(14,434)

(11,365)

Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain,
net

(1,782)

925

Government subsidy

9,501

13,819

Others
  1,907
  (5,236)
 
--------
--------
(Loss) Profit before income tax
(7,660)
35,943

Income tax benefit (expense)

  664

  (6,562)

 
--------
--------

Net (loss) income after taxes before minority interest

(6,996)

29,381

(Profit) Loss attributable to non- controlling interest

  (289)

  60

 
--------
--------

Net (loss) income attributable to holders of ordinary shares

  (7,285)   29,441
  -------- --------

Net (loss) income per ADS, Diluted

$ (0.07)

$ 0.27

 
--------
--------
 

About LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK)

LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) is a leading vertically integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) products and the world's largest producer of multicrystalline wafers. LDK Solar manufactures polysilicon, mono and multi crystalline ingots, wafers, modules, and engages in project development activities in selected segments of the PV market. Through its broad product offering of mono and multi crystalline solar wafers and modules, LDK Solar provides its customers with a full spectrum of solutions. 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. For more information about our company and products, please visit www.ldksolar.com

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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