Highlights Q1 – Q3 2011:
- Again increase in inverter output sold in third quarter, 5.4 gigawatts of inverter output sold in total at the end of the period under review (Q1 – Q3 2010: 5,7 GW)
- €1.2 billion sales thanks to strong project and international business, €477 million of which in Q3 (Q1 – Q3 2010: €1.4 bn. Euro)
- Significantly increased export ratio of 53.4 % compared to the previous year’s period (Q1 – Q3 2010: 38.7 %)
- Second-best operating profit (EBIT) in Company’s history with €178 million (Q1 – Q3 2010: €418.2 million)
- Managing Board confirms sales and earnings forecast for 2011
Niestetal, November 11, 2011 – In the first nine months of 2011, SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA/FWB: S92) further expanded its position as the global market leader for solar inverters in a difficult market environment. With 5.4 gigawatts (GW) of inverter output sold and sales of €1.192 billion, SMA followed on well from the record year 2010 (Q1 – Q3 2010: 5.7 GW / €1.443 billion). SMA benefited from its broad product range and high product quality as well as from its strong international position and a tightly knit global service network in all important photovoltaics markets.
According to estimates by the SMA Managing Board, global newly installed photovoltaic capacity in the period under review fell short of the installed capacity of the same period of last year. Positive development in the project business did not offset the decline in demand in the high-volume commercial business. For the full year 2011, the SMA Managing Board expects global newly installed capacity of about 19 GW – 21 GW. The global market will thus remain below the record figure of the previous year of about 23 GW. “The subdued demand can be explained by a number of factors. Firstly, the Euro and debt crisis is unsettling many end customers, so investments in solar power plants are being postponed. Secondly, the banks’ significantly increased refinancing costs are changing the financing structures of large-scale solar projects," explains Pierre-Pascal Urbon, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of SMA. “The Euro and debt crisis will probably occupy us for another few months. We therefore expect moderate growth of global demand in the coming year. Stagnation can also not be ruled out at this point. In the medium term, photovoltaic energy has good prospects. The trend toward generating electricity with solar power plants in the direct vicinity of the electricity consumer is finding broad social support. In addition, positive development in demand can be seen abroad. Important regions for growth are North America and Japan.”
In the period under review, the foreign markets with the greatest newly installed capacity included Italy, North America, France and Australia. With its exceptional global position, SMA took the opportunities on the international markets and increased the export ratio to 53.4 % in the first nine months of the year (Q1 – Q3 2010: 38.7 %). SMA will continue to advance the internationalization of the Company and establish foreign companies in South America and Africa to serve customers in those regions even better.
The increased export ratio is reflected in the product mix. SMA recorded strong growth in the business with Sunny Central inverters, which are used in large-scale solar projects. In comparison to the same period of last year, sales in the High Power Solutions segment climbed by 74.3 % to €321.1 million (Q1 – Q3 2010: €184.2 million). The Medium Power Solutions segment was the strongest sales driver with a share of 70.3 % (Q1 – Q3 2010: 85.8 %).
With earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of €178.3 million, SMA achieved the second-best result in the Company’s history, which is still significantly lower than the record result of the previous year (Q1 – Q3 2010: €418.2 million). This corresponds to an EBIT margin of 15 %. Consolidated net profit amounted to €126.4 million (Q1 – Q3 2010: €296.9 million) and earnings per share to €3.64 (Q1 – Q3 2010: €8.56).
With €104.3 million in the third quarter of 2011, SMA achieved a positive net cash flow from operating activities for the first time in the period under review. The company thus demonstrated its ability to transfer sales into cash in a difficult market environment. At the end of the period under review, net working capital amounted to €341.6 million (June 30, 2011: €340.6 million). This corresponds to a net working capital ratio of 20.5 %.
With an equity ratio of 56.7 % and net cash of €338.2 million (December 31, 2010: €523.4 million), SMA continues to have a very solid equity base and is financially independent.
For the full year 2011, the SMA Managing Board expects sales of €1.5 billion to €1.7 billion and operating profit of €220 million to €300 million.
The quarterly financial report from January to September 2011 as well as a video statement is available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de/IR/FinancialReports.
About SMA
SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA/FWB: S92) is the global market leader for solar inverters, the leading supplier of transformers and chokes, and a provider of innovative energy supply solutions for mass transit and main-line rail transportation. The SMA Group generated sales of €1.9 billion in 2010. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented in 19 countries on four different continents. The Group employs a staff of over 5,300 worldwide, plus a number of temporary employees which varies on a seasonal basis. The multi award-winning product range covers solar inverters for roof systems, major solar projects and off-grid systems, enabling SMA to provide a technically optimized inverter solution for all size categories and system types. Its range of services is complemented by a worldwide service network. The highly flexible manufacturing plants for solar inverters in Germany and North America have a capacity of approximately 11.5 GW a year. The SMA Group also operates a manufacturing plant for electromagnetic core components in Poland. Since 2008, SMA has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for its excellence as an employer and achieved first place in 2011 in the federal “Great Place to Work” competition.
SMA Solar Technology AG
Sonnenallee 1
34266 Niestetal
Germany
Head of Corporate Communications:
Anja Jasper
Phone +49 561 9522-28 05
Presse@SMA.de
Press contact:
Susanne Henkel
Press Officer
Phone +49 561 9522-11 24
Fax +49 561 9522- 531 400
Presse@SMA.de
Investor Relations:
Stephanie Kniep
Director Investor Relations
Phone +49 561 9522-22 22
Fax +49 561 9522-22 23
ir@SMA.de
Julia Damm
Investor Relations Officer
Phone +49 561 9522-11 64
Disclaimer:
This press release 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 press release 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 executive 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.