Highpower International, Inc. (NASDAQ: HPJ),
a developer, manufacturer and marketer of nickel-metal hydride
(Ni-MH) and lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and related products,
today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March
31, 2011.
Business Highlights
- Grew net sales by 33.3% for the first quarter of 2011 to $27.0
million from $20.2 million in the first quarter 2010
- Strong traction in Li-ion batteries with an increase of 50.7%
in net sales over the first quarter of 2010
- Increased demand for Ni-MH batteries with a 9.5% increase in
net sales over the first quarter of 2010
- Reaffirms full year net sales guidance of $125 million to $135
million
"During the first quarter, our margins were negatively affected
by substantial increases in raw material prices, including nickel
and rare earth materials," said Mr. George Pan, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Highpower International. "Despite these
headwinds, we still experienced strong end market demand and
significant growth for both our Ni-MH and Lithium-ion batteries. We
grew Li-ion sales by 51% year-over-year and Ni-MH sales by almost
10%."
"We remain confident that we will continue to see high demand
for our products in 2011. We are seeing a strong appetite for
higher capacity batteries, especially from emerging sectors such as
energy storage systems and specialty smaller vehicles, which
include electric bikes, golf carts, and wheelchairs. To that end,
we are already seeing traction from our new subsidiary, Iconergy,
which we formed earlier this year to focus on this lucrative
market, with the order of 400 units of lithium-ion battery systems
from a French distributor for electric wheelchairs and 100 units
for golf carts that we announced earlier this week," concluded Mr.
Pan.
Mr. Henry Sun, Chief Financial Officer of Highpower
International added, "Looking ahead, during the second quarter we
are focused on implementing measures to offset margin pressures and
increase our profitability. We are renegotiating yearly customer
contracts, hedging, and implementing price adjustments with new
customers to alleviate some of the pressure from commodity prices.
We have already begun to see some positive trends from our efforts.
Our balance sheet remains strong and we are on track for the
opening of our new battery manufacturing facility in Huizhou,
Guangdong Province before year-end."
First Quarter 2011 Financial Results
Net sales for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011 totaled
$27.0 million, a year-over-year increase of 33.3% compared with
$20.2 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010. The
increase in sales for the first quarter was primarily due to
overall strong demand for our batteries, including a 51% increase
in revenue for lithium-ion batteries as well as a $4.0 million
increased contribution from our new materials business.
First quarter 2011 gross profit decreased 5.8% to $4.0 million,
as compared with $4.2 million for the first quarter 2010. Gross
profit margin was 14.8% for the first quarter 2011, as compared
with 21.0% for the first quarter 2010. The year-over-year decrease
in gross profit margin for the first quarter 2011 was primarily due
to a rise in raw material prices, including nickel and rare earth
materials.
Selling and distribution costs, including stock-based
compensation, were $1.2 million for the first quarter 2011, as
compared with $0.8 million for the comparable period in 2010,
reflecting increased sales and marketing activities worldwide.
General and administrative expenses, including stock-based
compensation, were $2.6 million, or 9.6% of net sales, for the
first quarter 2011, as compared to $1.5 million, or 7.2% of net
sales, for the first quarter 2010. The increase was primarily due
to increased spending on senior and mid-level management staffing
and increased investment in our management information systems,
both of which are required to support the growth of our
business.
Loss from operations for the first quarter of 2011 was $0.5
million, as compared with income from operations of $1.9 million
for the first quarter of 2010. The 2011 results include a $0.17
million loss on the exchange rate difference between the U.S.
Dollar ("USD") and the Renminbi ("RMB") as compared with a $0.02
million loss in the 2010 first quarter. Also included in these
results were non-cash stock-based compensation expenses of $0.2
million and $0.1 million for the 2011 and 2010 quarters,
respectively.
Net loss for the first quarter of 2011 was $0.5 million, or
$(0.03) per diluted share, based on 13.8 million weighted average
shares outstanding. This compares with first quarter 2010 net
income of $1.6 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, based on 13.6
million weighted average shares outstanding. As previously
mentioned, the 2011 first quarter's results were negatively
impacted by the recent dramatic increase in raw material costs,
particularly nickel and rare earth materials.
Balance Sheet
At March 31, 2011, Highpower International had cash, cash
equivalents and restricted cash totaling $15.8 million, total
assets of $72.9 million, working capital of $9.1 million and
stockholders' equity of $27.7 million. Bank credit facilities
totaled $82.4 million at March 31, 2011, of which $23.7 million was
utilized and $58.7 million was available as unused credit.
Outlook
Based on our current expectations for global demand for the
rechargeable battery market in 2011, the outlook for our key raw
material input prices and our planned increased investment in sales
and marketing and research and development, we are updating the
following financial guidance for 2011. We are reaffirming that we
expect net sales to be between $125 million and $135 million.
However, due to volatile commodity prices, we are updating our
guidance for net income, which we expect will now range between
$3.0 million and $4.0 million for the year ended December 31,
2011.
Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will host a conference call today at 7:00 a.m.
Pacific time/10:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss these results and
answer questions.
Individuals interested in participating in the conference call
may do so by dialing 877-941-2332 from the U.S., or 480-629-9643
from outside the U.S. and referencing the reservation code 4439539.
Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the
Internet may do so by visiting the Investor Relations section of
the Company's Web site at www.highpowertech.com or
www.InvestorCalendar.com.
About Highpower International, Inc.
Highpower International, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets
rechargeable nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) and lithium-ion (Li-ion)
batteries and related products for use in a variety of devices and
equipment including wireless communications, electronics, lighting,
backup power, electric tools, and transportation, etc. The majority
of Highpower International's products are distributed worldwide to
markets in the United States, Europe, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan,
Southeast Asia and South America. For more information, visit
http://www.highpowertech.com
To be added to the Company's email distribution for future news
releases, please send your request to HPJ@finprofiles.com. Company
news can also be found at
http://ir.haopengbattery.com/en/introduce028.html
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are not historical
facts. These statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expect," "may,"
"will," "should," "project," "plan," "seek," "intend," or
"anticipate" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, and
include discussions of strategy, and statements about industry
trends and the Company's future performance, operations and
products. Such statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's
actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or
implied by such statements. For a discussion of these and other
risks and uncertainties see "Risk Factors" and "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" in the Company's public filings with the SEC. Although
the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no
assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The
Company has no obligation to update the forward-looking information
contained in this press release.
- financial tables to follow -
HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Stated in US Dollars)
Three months ended March 31,
----------------------------
2011 2010
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
$ $
Net sales 26,950,666 20,223,372
Cost of sales (22,950,308) (15,977,042)
------------- -------------
Gross profit 4,000,358 4,246,330
Depreciation (113,570) (69,242)
Selling and distribution costs (1,174,685) (752,054)
General and administrative costs including
stock-based compensation (2,598,312) (1,453,607)
Loss on exchange rate difference (172,936) (22,354)
Loss on futures contract (450,591) -
Share of loss of an associate (1,772) -
------------- -------------
(Loss)/Income from operations (511,508) 1,949,073
Change in fair value of currency forwards -
Other income 232,548 77,374
Interest expenses (152,636) (66,333)
Other expenses (23,964) -
------------- -------------
(Loss)/Income before income taxes (455,560) 1,960,114
Income taxes (5,761) (379,414)
------------- -------------
Net (loss)/income (461,321) 1,580,700
Other comprehensive income
- Foreign currency translation gain (18,783) (15,597)
- Cash flow hedge 3,567 2,517
------------- -------------
Comprehensive income (476,537) 1,567,620
============= =============
Income per common share
- Basic (0.03) 0.12
============= =============
- Diluted (0.03) 0.12
============= =============
Weighted average common shares outstanding
- Basic 13,582,106 13,582,106
============= =============
- Diluted 13,783,856 13,632,096
============= =============
HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Stated in US Dollars)
As of
---------------------------
March 31, December 31,
2011 2010
(Unaudited) (Audited)
$ $
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents 9,161,233 8,490,629
Restricted cash 6,636,347 6,044,960
Accounts receivable 20,317,450 20,846,540
Notes receivable 1,197,821 256,574
Prepaid expenses and other receivables 5,433,605 3,231,211
Inventories 11,551,519 13,447,432
------------- -------------
Total Current Assets 54,297,975 52,317,346
Plant and equipment, net 14,548,996 13,652,254
Leasehold land, net 3,065,895 3,022,293
Intangible asset, net 787,500 800,000
Investment in an associate 101,351 103,123
Investment securities 54,973 53,904
------------- -------------
TOTAL ASSETS 72,856,690 69,948,920
============= =============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Current Liabilities :
Non-trading foreign currency derivatives
liabilities 212,908 77,699
Accounts payable 14,679,034 13,407,204
Other payables and accrued liabilities 5,429,605 4,983,269
Income taxes payable 1,147,818 1,164,007
Bank borrowings 23,725,366 22,539,032
------------- -------------
Total Current Liabilities 45,194,731 42,171,211
------------- -------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
(Stated in US Dollars)
As of
---------------------------
March 31, December 31,
2011 2010
(Unaudited) (Audited)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred Stock
Par value: $0.0001
Authorized: 10,000,000 shares
Issued and outstanding: none - -
Common stock
Par value: $0.0001
Authorized: 100,000,000 shares
Issued and outstanding: 2011 - 13,582,106
shares (2010 - 13,582,106 shares) 1,358 1,358
Additional paid-in capital 5,408,939 5,180,318
Accumulated other comprehensive income 2,592,699 2,475,749
Retained earnings 19,658,963 20,120,284
------------- -------------
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 27,661,959 27,777,709
------------- -------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 72,856,690 69,948,920
============= =============
HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Stated in US Dollars)
Three months ended March 31,
----------------------------
2011 2010
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
$ $
Cash flows from operating activities
Net (loss)/income (461,321) 1,580,700
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of intangible asset 12,500 12,747
Amortization of leasehold land 16,395 15,726
Depreciation 415,965 360,572
Loss on disposal of plant and equipment 1,201 43,885
Loss on futures contract 450,591 -
Share based payment 228,621 73,177
Bad debt written off 1,017 41,675
Changes in operating assets and
liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in -
Accounts receivable 529,090 1,667,206
Notes receivable (941,247) (90,857)
Prepaid expenses and other receivables (2,202,395) (2,202,045)
Inventories 1,895,913 (651,133)
Increase (decrease) in -
Accounts payable 1,271,830 2,608,364
Other payables and accrued liabilities 446,336 523,479
Income taxes payable (16,189) 363,726
------------- -------------
Net cash flows provided by operating
activities 1,648,307 4,347,222
------------- -------------
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of plant and equipment (1,045,693) (565,454)
Sale proceeds of plant and equipment - (2,760)
------------- -------------
Net cash flows used in investing activities (1,045,693) (568,214)
------------- -------------
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from new short-term bank loans 6,758,980 -
Repayment of short-term bank loans (4,340,759) (2,929,416)
Repayment of other secured loans - (1,206,776)
Net (repayment) advancement of other bank
borrowings (1,764,322) 5,095,185
Increase in restricted cash (591,387) (575,878)
------------- -------------
Net cash flows provided by financing
activities 62,513 383,115
------------- -------------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 665,127 4,162,123
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash
and cash equivalents 5,477 (6,743)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of
period 8,490,629 2,967,586
------------- -------------
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period 9,161,233 7,122,966
============= =============
Supplemental disclosures for cash flow
information:
Cash paid for:
Interest 152,636 66,333
============= =============
Financial Profiles, Inc. Tricia Ross +1-916-939-7285 Email
Contact
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