HOLI Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd

First Half of Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Highlights

• Total revenues were $369.6 million, an increase of 13.8% compared to the comparable prior year period.
• Gross margin was 35.3%, compared to 36.1% for the comparable prior year period. Non-GAAP gross margin was 35.4%, compared to 36.1% for the comparable prior year period.
• Net income attributable to Hollysys was $44.3 million, a decrease of 14.6% compared to the comparable prior year period. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys was $51.3 million, a decrease of 3.3% compared to the comparable prior year period. 
• Diluted earnings per share was $0.72, a decrease of 16.3% compared to the comparable prior year period. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.83, a decrease of 4.6% compared to the comparable prior year period.
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $51.1 million.
• Days sales outstanding ("DSO") of 173 days, compared to 163 days for the comparable prior year period.
• Inventory turnover days of 48 days, compared to 41 days for the comparable prior year period.

Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Highlights

• Total revenues were $216.3 million, an increase of 10.7% compared to the comparable prior year period.
• Gross margin was 36.1%, compared to 37.7% for the comparable prior year period. Non-GAAP gross margin was 36.2%, compared to 37.7% for the comparable prior year period.
• Net income attributable to Hollysys was $30.1 million, a decrease of 4.1% compared to the comparable prior year period. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys was $33.1 million, an increase of 2.9% compared to the comparable prior year period.
• Diluted earnings per share was $0.49, a decrease of 3.9% compared to the comparable prior year period. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.54, an increase of 1.9% compared to the comparable prior year period.
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $29.3 million.
• DSO of 147 days, compared to 142 days for the comparable prior year period.
• Inventory turnover days of 50 days, compared to 40 days for the comparable prior year period.

See the section entitled "Non-GAAP Measures" for more information about non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share.

BEIJING, March 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: HOLI) ("Hollysys" or the "Company"), a leading provider of automation and control technologies and applications in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter and first half of fiscal year 2022 ended December 31, 2021. Dr. Changli Wang, the CEO and director of Hollysys, stated:

"We are very delighted to report another fiscal quarter with solid financial and operational performance against all external and internal odds. Amid a disturbing and unfavorable environment, Hollysys never forgot our vision of bringing people better lives, showed great solidarity, confidence and strength to all, especially when wrapped in sandpaper, and lived up to our mission and honor. Today, in a seemingly mundane moment, fate requires me to be here shouldering the responsibility of leading Hollysys to a widely shared expectation of a promising future. We will continue to demonstrate the classic Hollysys spirit, building up and adding value to the Company through larger market shares and penetration on pillar business units of industrial automation ("IA") and rail transportation automation ("RTA") and potential drives on possible new business segments like new energy, among others. There was a decrease in net income for the reporting period compared to that for the comparable prior year period, primary due to an increase in operating expenses, especially research and development expenses and general and administration expenses. However, we believe such investment in operating expenses will give more knowledge and insights for the Company to optimize its existing operation and achieve greater economies of scale in a long run.

Here I would like to take the opportunity to discuss the current situation of the Company and address a brief development strategy.

The Company is of high growing potential. After over a month's discussion with colleagues from different levels and business units, a fact found is that Hollysys embraced various expertise from our competitors and our senior technicians have grown into capable specialists or managers with clear minds, distinct directions and glowing motivations over years. In addition, our research and development capability has been enhanced significantly. Furthermore, the current incentive plan and performance appraisal system are effective and encouraging. Externally, China is facing the challenges of an aging population tendency and achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, which provides Hollysys with great developing opportunities and directions.

Based on the situations stated above, Hollysys mapped out developing strategy below. On IA business, we are initiating steps to extend aggressively by grasping the chance of market reshuffle with advantages of our exceptional and reliable solutions, sophisticated engineering work, competent personnel and national service network. Additionally, we are extending product lines down stream to hardware and upper stream to comprehensive integrated control platforms. On RTA business, we will sustain and fortify our market share in high speed rail, enrich product lines constantly, foster subway signaling for a further breakthrough, and promote application of new products of urban transportation. In new business segments, we intend to launch new energy related products and services after proper investigation and evaluation.

Then I would like to share some highlights and breakthrough the Company made in the first half of fiscal year 2022:

IA business continued its strong growth momentum with larger market shares. The Company keeps investment in research and development, aiming at users' challenges, carries out technological innovation, and strives to meet the needs of users. In the first half of fiscal year 2022, for example, Hollysys launched a new product—Industrial Optical Bus Control System ("OCS"), and achieved a number of contract breakthroughs. The application of the technology can help customers greatly reduce project cost, cut construction period and improve maintenance efficiency. This not only created huge economic benefits for customers, but also saved lots of non-ferrous copper for the society and fulfilled goals of energy saving and emission reduction. The smooth implementation of the projects also creates conditions for the full promotion of OCS in 2022. At the same time, Hollysys launched a fully self-controllable Distributed Control System ("DCS") to meet the increasing requirements of customers on reliability and security. In the first half of fiscal year 2022, such updated DCS system has been applied successfully in the project of 600MW power unit, the pipage of refined oil product, etc.

In the field of chemical and petrochemical industry, the Company has maintained its fast pace, which proves that its strategy of "vigorously developing chemical and petrochemical industry" is effective. In the first half of the fiscal year 2022, we gained a number of breakthrough projects, including signing a large scale oil refining project in Hainan. In addition, as of December 31, 2021, the Company has accumulated 38 offshore platform project orders, ranking first among domestic suppliers.

In our RTA business, we are excited about winning some key contracts. For example, we signed contracts to provide Automatic Train Protection ("ATP") with automatic train operation function to the Pearl River Delta region and the contract to provide Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition ("SCADA") system to Chengdu rail transit Line 30 Phase I. At the same time, the Company continues to offer various after-sales services, including software upgrading, spare parts sales, and maintenance and replacement services for high speed rail. Especially, in Hong Kong, we successfully entered into the second three-year maintenance contract with Mass Transit Railway Corporation Limited. In project delivery, several lines that we participated in went into operation, such as our track circuit which officially went into service, representing the first application of Hollysys track circuit on C2 high speed rail. Also, the first application of Hollysys subway signaling system in Kunming Changshui Airport Express went into full operation smoothly. In addition to boosting and exploring diversified development opportunities, the Company is also continuously promoting the incubation of innovative businesses. In the first half of the fiscal year 2022, both highway business and vocational education business have made remarkable progress. For example, in the field of vocational education, a comprehensive project of high-speed railway operation control drill field was signed with a railway vocational and technical college. In the field of highway, we signed the intelligent platform project of tunnel inspection and highway operation decision.

For overseas business, Thomson Line II in Singapore that the Company provided SCADA has been successfully put into operation. Under the threat of COVID-19, Hollysys project team worked unitedly to achieve the successful delivery of the project while ensuring personal safety and health, and won a very challenging and valuable award of the "Engineering Safety Excellence Award" 2021 from the Land Transport Authority of Singapore. Overall speaking, COVID-19 remains a challenge to the business unit of mechanical and electrical solutions and other overseas business. We will keep monitoring the impact of COVID-19, and risk control remains our key focus.

With our clear strategies, contentious dedication and experienced loyal expertise, we believe that we will continue to create greater value for our clients and shareholders."

Operational Results Analysis for the Second Quarter Ended December 31, 2021

Compared to the second quarter of the prior fiscal year, the total revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2021 increased from $195.3 million to $216.3 million, representing an increase of 10.7%. In terms of revenues by type, integrated contracts revenue increased by 16.9% to $166.5 million, products sales revenue increased by 16.7% to $9.9 million, and services revenue decreased by 10.2% to $39.9 million.

The following table sets forth the Company's total revenues by segment for the periods indicated.

Gross margin was 36.1% for the three months ended December 31, 2021, as compared to 37.7% for the same period of the prior fiscal year. The gross margin fluctuated mainly due to product and service mix. Gross margin of integrated solutions contracts, product sales, and service rendered was 27.5%, 75.0% and 62.0% for the three months ended December 31, 2021, as compared to 27.9%, 85.6% and 59.8% for the same period of the prior fiscal year, respectively. Non-GAAP gross margin was 36.2% for the three months ended December 31, 2021, as compared to 37.7% for the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP gross margin of integrated solutions contracts was 27.7% for the three months ended December 31, 2021, as compared to 28.0% for the same period of the prior fiscal year. See the section entitled "Non-GAAP Measures" for more information about non-GAAP gross margin and non-GAAP gross margin of integrated solutions contracts.

Selling expenses were $13.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021, representing an increase of $3.3 million, or 32.7%, compared to $10.3 million for the same period of the prior fiscal year, which was primarily due to the significant increase of sales scale. Selling expenses as a percentage of total revenues were 6.3% and 5.3% for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

General and administrative expenses were $26.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, representing an increase of $11.6 million or 80.3% compared to $14.4 million for the same quarter of the prior year, which was primarily due to a $7.3 million increase in credit losses and increased investments in strategic planning, internal management, compliance and corporate governance to improve the Company's core competitiveness. Share-based compensation expenses were $2.7 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues were 12.0% and 7.4% for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. 

Research and development expenses were $20.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021, representing an increase of $2.0 million, or 10.7%, compared to $18.6 million for the same period of the prior fiscal year, which was primarily due to increased investments in R&D, including the upgrading of mainstream products and new products developed to meet the needs of the digital infrastructure market, such as the new generation DCS Macs V7, smart factory and smart city rail. Research and development expenses as a percentage of total revenues were 9.5% and 9.5% for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The VAT refunds and government subsidies were $5.9 million for three months ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $3.1 million for the same period in the prior fiscal year, representing a $2.8 million, or 90.5%, increase.

The income tax expenses and the effective tax rate were $4.8 million and 13.7% for the three months ended December 31, 2021, respectively, as compared to $5.9 million and 15.9% for comparable period in the prior fiscal year, respectively. The effective tax rate fluctuates, as the Company's subsidiaries contributed different pre-tax income at different tax rates.

Net income attributable to Hollysys was $30.1 million, representing a decrease of 4.1% from $31.4 million reported in the comparable period in the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys, was $33.1 million or $0.54 per diluted share. See the section entitled "Non-GAAP Measures" for more information about non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys.

Diluted earnings per share was $0.49 for the three months ended December 31, 2021, a decrease of 3.9% from $0.51 reported in the reported in the comparable period in the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.54 for the three months ended December 31, 2021, an increase of 1.9% from $0.53 reported in the comparable period in the prior fiscal year. These were calculated based on 61.7 million and 60.9 million diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. See the section entitled "Non-GAAP Measures" for more information about non-GAAP diluted earnings per share.

Contracts and Backlog Highlights

Hollysys achieved $278.8 million of value of new contracts for the three months ended December 31, 2021. Order backlog of contracts presents the amount of unrealized revenue to be earned from the contracts that Hollysys won. The backlog was $772.1 million as of December 31, 2021. The following table sets forth a breakdown of the value of new contracts achieved and backlog by segment.

Cash Flow Highlights

For the three months ended December 31, 2021, the total net cash inflow was $11.4 million. The net cash provided by operating activities was $29.3 million. The net cash used in investing activities was $27.8 million, mainly consisting of $23.1 million purchases of short-term investments, $7.9 million purchases of property, plant and equipment, and $6.5 million acquisition of a subsidiary, partially offset by $9.5 million of receipts from collection of advances to equity investees.

Balance Sheet Highlights

The total amount of cash and cash equivalents were $715.5 million, $704.9 million, and $356.9 million as of December 31, 2021, September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

For the three months ended December 31, 2021, DSO was 147 days, as compared to 142 days for the comparable prior fiscal year and 198 days for the last fiscal quarter; inventory turnover days were 50 days, as compared to 40 days for the comparable prior fiscal year and 55 days for the last fiscal quarter.

Financial Performance Guidance

Based on information available as of the date of this press release, Hollysys provides the following financial performance guidance for the full fiscal year 2022:

• The total value of new contracts signed is expected to be between $770 million and $870 million, with a year-on-year increase of 5% to 18%.
• Revenue is expected to be between $625 million and $695 million, with a year-on-year increase of 5% to 17%.

About Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd.

Hollysys is a leading automation control system solutions provider in China, with overseas operations in eight other countries and regions throughout Asia. Leveraging its proprietary technology and deep industry know-how, Hollysys empowers its customers with enhanced operational safety, reliability, efficiency, and intelligence which are critical to their businesses. Hollysys derives its revenues mainly from providing integrated solutions for industrial automation and rail transportation automation. In industrial automation, Hollysys delivers the full spectrum of automation hardware, software, and services spanning field devices, control systems, enterprise manufacturing management and cloud-based applications. In rail transportation automation, Hollysys provides advanced signaling control and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems for high-speed rail and urban rail (including subways). Founded in 1993, with technical expertise and innovation, Hollysys has grown from a research team specializing in automation control in the power industry into a group providing integrated automation control system solutions for customers in diverse industry verticals. As of June 30, 2021, Hollysys had cumulatively carried out more than 35,000 projects for approximately 20,000 customers in various sectors including power, petrochemical, high-speed rail, and urban rail, in which Hollysys has established leading market positions.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements," including statements regarding the ability of the Company to achieve its commercial objectives; the business strategy, plans and objectives of the Company and its subsidiaries; and any other statements of non-historical information. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "target," "confident," or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements, based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Hollysys' management, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (http://www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

For further information, please contact:

Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd.
www.hollysys.com
+8610-58981386
investors@hollysys.com

Non-GAAP Measures

To supplement our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, in evaluating our results, we use the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin of integrated solutions contracts, non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd., as well as non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per share.

These non-GAAP financial measures serve as additional indicators of our operating performance and not as any replacement for other measures in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We believe these non-GAAP measures help identify underlying trends in the Company's business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of the share-based compensation expenses, which are calculated based on the number of shares or options granted and the fair value as of the grant date, and amortization of acquired intangible assets. They will not result in any cash inflows or outflows. We believe that using non-GAAP measures help our shareholders to have a better understanding of our operating results and growth prospects.

Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin of integrated solutions contracts, non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd., as well as non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per share should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to gross profit and gross margin, gross profit and gross margin of integrated solutions contracts, net income attributable to Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd., basic and diluted earnings per share, or any other measure of performance, or as an indicator of the Company's operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review the historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Non-GAAP gross profit and gross margin, non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin of integrated solutions contracts, non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd., as well as non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per share presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to the Company's data. The Company encourages investors and others to review the Company's financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

We define non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin as gross profit and gross margin, respectively, adjusted to exclude non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles. The following table provides a reconciliation of our gross profit and gross margin to non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin for the periods indicated.

We define non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin of integrated solutions contracts as gross profit and gross margin of integrated solutions contracts, respectively, adjusted to exclude non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles associated with integrated solutions contracts. The following table provides a reconciliation of the gross profit of integrated solutions contracts to non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin of integrated solutions contracts for the periods indicated.

We define non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys as net income attributable to Hollysys adjusted to exclude the share-based compensation expenses and non-cash amortization of acquired intangible assets. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income attributable to Hollysys to non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys for the periods indicated.

Non-GAAP basic (or diluted) earnings per share represents non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the periods (or on a diluted basis). The following table provides a reconciliation of our basic (or diluted) earnings per share to non-GAAP basic (or diluted) earnings per share for the periods indicated.

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