Earnings Release • Nov 8, 2012
Earnings Release
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Corporate | 8 November 2012 07:00
SMA Solar Technology AG: Results for the Period of January to September 2012: SMA Increases Volume and Achieves Sales at the Level of the Previous Year
SMA Solar Technology AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results
08.11.2012 / 07:00
SMA Solar Technology AG Corporate News
Results for the Period of January to September 2012: SMA Solar Technology AG Increases Volume and Achieves Sales at the Level of the Previous Year
Highlights Q1-Q3 2012:
– Inverter output sold increased by 9.5 percent to 5.9 gigawatts (Q1-Q3 2011: 5.4 GW)
– Sales remained consistent at EUR 1.2 billion (Q1-Q3 2011: EUR 1.2 billion)
– Gross foreign sales of EUR 659.7 million remained at the level of the previous year (Q1-Q3 2011: EUR 656 million)
– Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR 116 million (Q1-Q3 2011: EUR 178.3 million)
– Financial independence – net liquidity of EUR 425.8 million (Dec. 31, 2011: EUR 473.3 million)
– Managing Board confirms sales and earnings forecast for the fiscal years 2012 and 2013
Niestetal, November 8, 2012 – SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA/FWB: S92) achieved further increases in volume in the third quarter 2012. From January to September 2012 the company sold PV inverters with a total output of 5.9 gigawatts. This equates to an increase of 9.5 percent in a year-on-year comparison (Q1-Q3 2011: 5.4 GW). SMA Group sales reached the level of the previous year at EUR 1.196 billion (Q1-Q3 2011: EUR 1.192 billion). Gross foreign sales for the first nine months of the year also remained consistent at EUR 659.7 million (Q1-Q3 2011: EUR 656 million). Developments in the first nine months of the year were characterized by subsidy cuts in Europe and foreign growth.
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for the first to third quarters of 2012 was EUR 116 million
(Q1-Q3 2011: EUR 178.3 million). The EBIT margin of 9.7 percent is at the upper end of the earnings forecast
(Q1-Q3 2011: 15%). Consolidated net profit was EUR 81 million (Q1-Q3 2011: EUR 126.4 million). In the first nine months of the year, SMA strongly increased gross cash flow to EUR 149.5 million in a year-on-year comparison
(Q1-Q3 2011: EUR 124.6 million). The increase of 20 percent again underlines SMA's ability to generate cash even in a challenging competitive situation. With an equity ratio of 59 percent (Dec. 31, 2011: 57.4%) and net liquidity of EUR 425.8 million (Dec. 31, 2011: EUR 473.3 million), SMA continues to have a very solid balance sheet structure and can finance its further development from its own resources.
The SMA Managing Board confirms the sales and earnings forecast for 2012. It predicts an operating profit (EBIT) of EUR 100 million to EUR 150 million on sales of EUR 1.3 billion to EUR 1.5 billion. This corresponds to an EBIT margin of 8 percent to 10 percent. Due to massive subsidy cuts for photovoltaics in Europe, the SMA Managing Board is anticipating a noticeable decrease in demand and growing price pressure for 2013 and is projecting sales of between EUR 900 million and EUR 1.3 billion and a break-even result in the best case scenario.
SMA has adapted to the changes in the market and competitive conditions in photovoltaics as well as laid the groundwork over the last few months, especially in the business areas of Purchasing and Development, for the further reduction of production costs and the entry to the 2014 market with completely new product platforms.
'Especially considering an expected steep drop in demand in the next year, it is important for us that we can finance investments in the development of future technologies of strategic importance from our own resources. Important growth impulses come from applications in which photovoltaics is the more cost-effective solution in comparison with conventional energy sources. Here we will set ourselves apart from our competitors with technological innovations for the regulation of solar-diesel hybrid systems, intelligent energy management for the optimization of self-consumption as well as system solutions for large-scale PV plants. Our strong international service and sales structure is a further competitive advantage,' says SMA Speaker of the Managing Board Pierre-Pascal Urbon.
You can find the quarterly financial report for January to September 2012 at www.SMA.de/IR/FinancialReports. In addition, a video statement by the Speaker of the Managing Board can be found on the blog www.SMA-Sunny.com.
About SMA
The SMA Group generated sales of EUR1.7 billion in 2011 and is the global market leader for solar inverters, a key component of all PV plants and, as an energy management group, offers innovative key technologies for future power supply structures. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented internationally in 21 countries. The Group employs more than 5,500 people worldwide. SMA's broad product portfolio includes a compatible inverter for every type of module on the market and for all plant sizes. The product range includes both inverters for photovoltaic plants connected to the grid as well as inverters for off-grid systems. SMA is therefore able to provide ideal technical inverter solutions for all plant sizes and types. Since 2008, the Group's parent company, SMA Solar Technology AG, has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for excellence as an employer and achieved first place in the nationwide 'Great Place to Work (R)' competition in 2011 and 2012.
SMA Solar Technology AG
Sonnenallee 1
34266 Niestetal
Germany
Head of Corporate Communications:
Anja Jasper
Tel.: +49 561 9522-2805
Press contact:
Susanne Henkel
Manager Corporate Press
Tel.: +49 561 9522-1124
Fax +49 561 9522-421400
Investor Relations contact:
Julia Damm
Manager Investor Relations
Tel. +49 561 9522-2222
Fax +49 561 9522-2223
Disclaimer:
This corporate news serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the 'Company') or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the 'SMA Group') nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
This corporate news can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the Managing Board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.
End of Corporate News
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| Language: | English |
| Company: | SMA Solar Technology AG |
| Sonnenallee 1 | |
| 34266 Niestetal | |
| Germany | |
| Phone: | +49 (0)561 / 9522 – 0 |
| Fax: | +49 (0)561 / 9522 – 100 |
| E-mail: | [email protected] |
| Internet: | http://www.sma.de |
| ISIN: | DE000A0DJ6J9 |
| WKN: | A0DJ6J |
| Listed: | Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart |
| End of News | DGAP News-Service |
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| 192124 08.11.2012 |
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