SunPower Reports Second Quarter 2012 Results

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) today announced financial results for its 2012 second quarter ended July 1, 2012. 

"Our second quarter 2012 results reflect the success of our diversified end market strategy and good execution on both our technology and cost roadmaps, all enabling us to exceed our margin and earnings targets for the quarter," said Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO.  "In North America, our utility and power plants group again outperformed as we met our second-quarter project commitments and remain ahead of plan for our 250-megawatt (MW) California Valley Solar Ranch (CVSR) project for NRG Energy.  In the North American residential segment, we increased our leading market share, doubling the number of signed leases in the second quarter compared to the first quarter.  Europe remains a very challenging market and we are looking at a number of strategies to improve our long term performance in the region.  In Asia, demand in Japan remains strong and we are well positioned for future growth through our partnership with Toshiba. 

"Operationally, we had a very strong quarter related to cost reduction as our blended cost per watt declined more than 10 percent sequentially as we benefitted from higher yields, further execution on our manufacturing step reduction program and lower raw material costs.  As a result, we are accelerating our fourth-quarter blended panel cost per watt goal by more than 10 percent and expect to achieve a cost per watt of less than $0.75 on an efficiency adjusted basis on our lowest cost solar panels as we exit 2012, a full year ahead of schedule.  Additionally, the commercial production of our Maxeon® Gen 3 solar cell technology, with efficiencies of up to 24 percent, is on track and we are increasing shipments of our 21 percent efficiency panel to customers.

"We firmly believe that by effectively managing our assets, driving new market development, controlling operating expenses and investing in areas that offer us the greatest returns, we will be in a leading market position when the industry exits its current transition phase," concluded Werner. 

Key milestones achieved by the company since the first quarter of 2012 include:

• Beat cost per watt target for the quarter, lowering fourth quarter 2012 forecast by more than 10 percent
• Signed a 6-MW SunPower® C7 Tracker deployment agreement with a U.S. utility for first half of 2013 construction
• Finalized agreement with Citi and Credit Suisse for $325 million in lease financing capacity
• Expanded residential lease program to 225 dealers – more than 10,000 leases signed to date
• Installed more than 30 percent of 250-MW CVSR power plant for NRG Energy
• Sold 25-MW McHenry Solar Project to K Road Power, 25-year power purchase agreement with Modesto Irrigation District
• Extended current supplier agreement with Toshiba for the Japanese market

"We prudently managed our balance sheet and working capital during the quarter as we reduced inventory and lowered our expenses," said Chuck Boynton, SunPower CFO.  "Looking forward, we continue to drive cost reduction initiatives and invest in our industry leading technology while leveraging our partnership with Total for emerging market development."

Second quarter fiscal 2012 GAAP results include pre-tax charges, expenses and adjustments totaling approximately $90.6 million, including a $14.9 million gross margin adjustment related to the timing of revenue recognition from utility power plant projects and construction activities, $44.5 million in restructuring charges related to the company's consolidation of its Philippines manufacturing operations, $22.3 million in stock-based compensation, non-cash interest expense and amortization of intangible expenses, $4.6 million related to charges on manufacturing step reduction program, $3.0 million of restructuring charges related to December 2011 Restructuring Plan, and $1.3 million related to acquisition and integration costs.  These charges are excluded from the company's non-GAAP results.  Additionally, second-quarter GAAP results exclude an adjustment of approximately $54.8 million in revenue related to GAAP real estate accounting requirements.

2012 Financial Outlook

The company's third quarter 2012 consolidated non-GAAP guidance is as follows: revenue of $550 million to $625 million, gross margin of 10 percent to 12 percent, earnings per diluted share loss of ($0.20) to ($0.05), capital expenditures of $25 million to $30 million and MW recognized in the range of 250 MW to 275 MW.  On a GAAP basis, the company expects revenue of $545 million to $620 million, gross margin of 8 percent to 10 percent and net loss per diluted share of ($0.25) to ($0.10).

For fiscal year 2012, the company expects non-GAAP revenue of $2.6 billion to $2.8 billion, GAAP revenue of $2.4 billion to $2.6 billion and MW recognized to be in the range of 900 MW to 1,050 MW.  SunPower remains committed to achieving break even or better non-GAAP profitability and a year-end unrestricted cash balance of more than $300 million, while investing in cost reduction initiatives. 

This press release contains both GAAP and non-GAAP financial information.  Non-GAAP historical figures are reconciled to the closest GAAP equivalent categories in the financial attachment of this press release.  Please note that the company has posted supplemental information and slides related to its second quarter 2012 performance on the Events and Presentations section of the SunPower Investor Relations page at http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/events.cfm.  The capacity of power plants in this release is described in approximate megawatts on an alternating current (ac) basis unless otherwise noted.

About SunPower

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company's quarter century of experience and guaranteed performance to provide maximum return on investment throughout the life of the solar system. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. For more information, visit www.SunPowercorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements -

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are statements that do not represent historical facts and may be based on underlying assumptions. The company uses words and phrases such as  "well positioned," "goal," "expect to," "on track," "continuing to," "will," "believe," "forecast," "agreement," "looking forward," "outlook," "guidance," "expects," "committed to,"  and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements in this press release, including forward-looking statements regarding:  (a) being well position for future growth in Japan; (b) reducing cost per watt goal to achieve $0.75 cost per watt target on an efficiency adjusted basis on SunPower's lowest cost solar panels; (c) commercial production of the Maxeon Gen 3 solar cell technology on track and increasing shipment on 21 percent efficient panels; (d) exiting the current industry transition in a leading market position; (e) being able to deploy the 6-MW SunPower C7 Tracker project for first half of 2013 construction; (f) continuing to leverage Total for emerging market development; (g) forecasted GAAP and non-GAAP Q3 2012 revenues, GAAP and non-GAAP gross margins, GAAP and non-GAAP net income/loss per diluted share, capital expenditures and MW recognized, and forecasted GAAP and non-GAAP revenues and MW recognized for fiscal 2012; and (h) commitment to break even or better non-GAAP profitability in 2012 and year end unrestricted cash balance of $300 million. Such forward-looking statements are based on information available to the company as of the date of this release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some beyond the company's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties such as:  (i) increasing supply and competition in the industry and lower average selling prices, impact on gross margins, and any revaluation of inventory as a result of decreasing ASP or reduced demand;(ii) the impact of regulatory changes and the continuation of governmental and related economic incentives promoting the use of solar power, and the impact of such changes on our revenues, financial results, and any potential impairments or write off to our intangible assets, project assets, long-lived assets and goodwill; (iii) the company's ability to meet its cost reduction plans and reduce it operating expenses; (iv) the company's ability to obtain and maintain an adequate supply of raw materials, components, and solar panels, as well as the price it pays for such items and third parties' willingness to renegotiate or cancel above market contracts; (v) general business and economic conditions, including seasonality of the solar industry and growth trends in the solar industry; (vi) the company's ability to revise its portfolio allocation geographically and across downstream channels to respond to regulatory changes; (vii) the company's ability to increase or sustain its growth rate; (viii) construction difficulties or potential delays, including obtaining land use rights, permits, license, other governmental approvals, and transmission access and upgrades, and any litigation relating thereto; (ix) timeline for revenue recognition and impact on the company's operating results; (x) the significant investment required to construct power plants and the company's ability to sell or otherwise monetize power plants, including the company's success in completing the design, construction and maintenance of CVSR and the 601 MW power plant project; (xi) fluctuations in the company's operating results and its unpredictability; (xii) the availability of financing arrangements for the company's projects and the company's customers; (xiii) potential difficulties associated with operating the joint venture with AUO and the company's ability to achieve the anticipated synergies from the Tenesol acquisition; (xiv) success in achieving cost reduction, and the company's ability to remain competitive in its product offering, obtain premium pricing while continuing to reduce costs and achieve lower targeted cost per watt; (xv) the company's liquidity, substantial indebtedness, and its ability to obtain additional financing; (xvi) manufacturing difficulties that could arise;(xvii) the company's ability to achieve the expected benefits from its relationship with Total; (xviii) the success of the company's ongoing research and development efforts and the acceptance of the company's new products and services; (xix) the company's ability to protect its intellectual property; (xx) the company's exposure to foreign exchange, credit and interest rate risk; (xxi) possible impairment or write off of goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets and project assets; (xxii) the success of our residential lease program; (xxiii) the accuracy of assumptions and compliance with treasury grant guidance and timing and amount of cash grant; (xxiv) possible consolidation of the joint venture AUO SunPower; and (xxv) other risks described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 2012, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 1, 2012 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the company's views as of any subsequent date, and the company is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any responsibility to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About SunPower's Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement its consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, SunPower uses non-GAAP measures which are adjusted from the most directly comparable GAAP results for certain items, as described below. In addition, the presentation of non-GAAP gross margin and non-GAAP operating income includes the results of discontinued operations. Management does not consider these items in evaluating the core operational activities of SunPower. The specific non-GAAP measures listed below are gross margin, operating income (loss) and net income (loss) per share. Management believes that each of these non-GAAP measures (gross margin, operating income (loss) and net income (loss) per share) are useful to investors by enabling them to better assess changes in each of these key elements of SunPower's results of operations across different reporting periods on a consistent basis, independent of these items. Thus, each of these non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with another method for assessing SunPower's operating results in a manner that is focused on its ongoing core operating performance, absent the effects of these items. Management also uses these non-GAAP measures internally to assess the business and financial performance of current and historical results, for strategic decision making, forecasting future results and evaluating the company's current performance. Many of the analysts covering SunPower also use these non-GAAP measures in their analyses. Given management's use of these non-GAAP measures, SunPower believes these measures are important to investors in understanding SunPower's current and future operating results as seen through the eyes of management. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with or an alternative for GAAP financial data, the non-GAAP measures should be reviewed together with the GAAP measures and are not intended to serve as a substitute for results under GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

• Non-GAAP gross margin. The use of this non-GAAP financial measure allows management to evaluate the gross margin of SunPower's core businesses and trends across different reporting periods on a consistent basis, independent of charges including amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation, charges on manufacturing step reduction program, certain losses due to change in European government incentives, acquisition and integration costs, and interest expense. In addition, the presentation of non-GAAP gross margin includes the revenue recognition of utility and power plant projects on a non-GAAP basis. This non-GAAP financial measure is an important component of management's internal performance measurement process as it is used to assess the current and historical financial results of the business, for strategic decision making, preparing budgets and forecasting future results. Management presents this non-GAAP financial measure to enable investors and analysts to evaluate SunPower's revenue generation performance relative to the direct costs of revenue of its core businesses.
• Non-GAAP operating income (loss). The use of this non-GAAP financial measure allows management to evaluate the operating results of SunPower's core businesses and trends across different reporting periods on a consistent basis, independent of charges including amortization of intangible assets and promissory notes, stock-based compensation, charges on manufacturing step reduction program, restructuring charges, acquisition and integration costs, certain losses due to change in European government incentives, and interest expense. In addition, the presentation of non-GAAP operating income (loss) includes the revenue recognition of utility and power plant projects on a non-GAAP basis. Non-GAAP operating income (loss) is an important component of management's internal performance measurement process as it is used to assess the current and historical financial results of the business, for strategic decision making, preparing budgets and forecasting future results. Management presents this non-GAAP financial measure to enable investors and analysts to understand the results of operations of SunPower's core businesses and to compare results of operations on a more consistent basis against that of other companies in the industry.
• Non-GAAP net income (loss) per share. Management presents this non-GAAP financial measure to enable investors and analysts to assess SunPower's operating results and trends across different reporting periods on a consistent basis, independent of items including amortization of intangible assets and promissory notes, stock-based compensation, charges on manufacturing step reduction program, restructuring charges, acquisition and integration costs, certain losses due to change in European government incentives, interest expense, net gains (losses) on mark-to-market derivative instruments, sale of or change in our equity interest in unconsolidated investee, and the tax effects of these non-GAAP adjustments. In addition, the presentation of non-GAAP net income (loss) includes the revenue recognition of utility and power plant projects on a non-GAAP basis. Management presents this non-GAAP financial measure to enable investors and analysts to compare SunPower's operating results on a more consistent basis against that of other companies in the industry.

Included items

• Revenue and cost of revenue. The Company includes adjustments to Non-GAAP revenue and Non-GAAP cost of revenue related to the utility and power plant projects based on the separately identifiable components of the transactions in order to reflect the substance of the transactions. Such treatment is consistent with accounting rules under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). On a GAAP basis, such revenue and costs of revenue are accounted for under U.S GAAP real estate accounting guidance. Management presents this non-GAAP financial measure to enable investors and analysts to evaluate SunPower's revenue generation performance relative to the direct costs of revenue of its core businesses.

Excluded Items

• Amortization of intangible assets. SunPower incurs amortization of intangible assets as a result of acquisitions, which includes in-process research and development, patents, project assets, purchased technology and trade names. SunPower excludes these items because these expenses are not reflective of ongoing operating results in the period incurred. These amounts arise from prior acquisitions and have no direct correlation to the operation of SunPower's core businesses.
• Stock-based compensation. Stock-based compensation relates primarily to SunPower stock awards such as stock options and restricted stock. Stock-based compensation is a non-cash expense that varies in amount from period to period and is dependent on market forces that are difficult to predict. As a result of this unpredictability, management excludes this item from its internal operating forecasts and models. Management believes that non-GAAP measures adjusted for stock-based compensation provide investors with a basis to measure the company's core performance against the performance of other companies without the variability created by stock-based compensation.
• Restructuring charges. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company approved a company-wide restructuring program (the December 2011 Restructuring Plan) in order to accelerate operating cost reduction and improve overall operating efficiency. In April 2012, as a result of continued cost reduction strategy, the Company approved a restructuring plan (the April 2012 Restructuring Plan) to consolidate its Philippine manufacturing operations into Fab 2 and begin repurposing Fab 1 in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. Restructuring charges are excluded from non-GAAP financial measures because they are not considered core operating activities and such costs have historically occurred infrequently. Although SunPower has engaged in restructuring activities in the past, each has been a discrete event based on a unique set of business objectives. As such, management believes that it is appropriate to exclude restructuring charges from SunPower's non-GAAP financial measures as they are not reflective of ongoing operating results or contribute to a meaningful evaluation of a company's past operating performance.
• Charges on manufacturing step reduction program. As part of its cost reduction roadmap, SunPower implemented a manufacturing step reduction program, which required the acceleration of depreciation on certain previously owned manufacturing equipment. The charges as a result of the acceleration of depreciation are excluded as they are non-cash in nature and not reflective of ongoing operating results. Excluding this data provides investors with a basis to compare the company's performance against the performance of other companies without such charges.
• Acquisition and integration costs. SunPower excludes expenses such as legal, banking and other professional services incurred in connection with Total Gas & Power USA, SAS's investment in SunPower as well as integration costs related to Tenesol acquisition. SunPower excludes such charges because these expenses are not reflective of ongoing operating results in the period incurred. These amounts arise from the investment made by Total and the acquisition of Tenesol and have no direct correlation to the operation of SunPower's core businesses.
• Amortization of promissory notes. Included in the total consideration for a prior acquisition completed on March 26, 2010 is $14 million in promissory notes to the acquiree's management shareholders issued by SunPower. Since the vesting and payment of the promissory notes are contingent on future employment, the promissory notes are considered deferred compensation and therefore are not included in the purchase price allocated to the net assets acquired. SunPower excludes this non-cash charge over the service period required under the terms of the promissory notes because these expenses are not reflective of ongoing operating results in the period incurred. These amounts arise from prior acquisitions and have no direct correlation to the operation of SunPower's core businesses.
• Loss on change in European government incentives. On May 5, 2011, the Italian government announced a legislative decree which defined the revised feed-in-tariff ("FIT") and the transition process effective June 1, 2011. The decree announced a decline in FIT and also set forth a limit on the construction of solar plants on agricultural land. Similarly, other European countries reduced government incentives for the solar market. Such changes had a materially negative effect on the market for solar systems in Europe and affected SunPower's financial results as follows:
  • Restructuring. In response to reductions in European government incentives, which have had a significant impact on the global solar market, on June 13, 2011, SunPower's Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan to realign its resources. As a result, SunPower recorded restructuring charges during fiscal 2011. Restructuring charges are excluded from non-GAAP financial measures because they are not considered core operating activities and such costs have historically occurred infrequently. Although SunPower has engaged in restructuring activities in the past, each has been a discrete event based on a unique set of business objectives. As such, management believes that it is appropriate to exclude restructuring charges from SunPower's non-GAAP financial measures as they are not reflective of ongoing operating results or contribute to a meaningful evaluation of a company's past operating performance.
  • Write-down of project assets. Project assets consist primarily of capitalized costs relating to solar power system projects in various stages of development that we incur prior to the sale of the solar power system to a third party. These costs include costs for land and costs for developing and constructing a solar power system. The fair market value of these project assets declined due to SunPower's inability to develop, commercialize and sell active projects within Europe. Such charges are excluded from non-GAAP financial measures as they are related to a discrete event and are not reflective of ongoing operating results.
  • Third-party inventory charges. Charges relate to the write-down of third-party inventory and costs associated with the termination of above-market third-party solar cell supply contracts as the decline in European government incentives, primarily in Italy, has driven down demand and average selling price in certain areas of Europe. Such charges are excluded from non-GAAP financial measures as they are related to a discrete event and are not reflective of ongoing operating results.
  • Loss on foreign currency derivatives. SunPower has an active hedging program designed to reduce its exposure to movements in foreign currency exchange rates. As a part of this program, SunPower designates certain derivative transactions as effective cash flow hedges of anticipated foreign currency revenues and records the effective portion of changes in the fair value of such transactions in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the anticipated revenues have occurred, at which point the associated income or loss would be recognized in revenue. In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, in connection with the decline in forecasted revenue surrounding the change in the Italian FIT, SunPower reclassified an amount held in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to other income (expense), net for certain previously anticipated transactions which did not occur or were now probable not to occur. SunPower excludes this item as it is not reflective of ongoing operating results and excluding this data provides investors with a basis to compare the company's performance against the performance of other companies without such transactions.
• Non-cash interest expense. SunPower separately accounted for the liability and equity components of its convertible debt issued in 2007 in a manner that reflected interest expense equal to its non-convertible debt borrowing rate. In addition, SunPower measured the two share lending arrangements entered into in connection with its convertible debt issued in 2007 at fair value and amortized the imputed share lending costs in current and prior periods. As a result, SunPower incurs interest expense that is substantially higher than interest payable on its 1.25% senior convertible debentures and 0.75% senior convertible debentures.

In addition, SunPower separately accounted for the fair value liabilities of the embedded cash conversion option and the over-allotment option on its 4.5% senior cash convertible debentures issued in 2010 as an original issue discount and a corresponding derivative conversion liability. As a result, SunPower incurs interest expense that is substantially higher than interest payable on its 4.5% senior cash convertible debentures. SunPower excludes non-cash interest expense because the expense is not reflective of its ongoing financial results in the period incurred. In addition, in connection with the Liquidity Support Agreement with Total executed on February 28, 2012, the Company issued warrants to Total to acquire 9,531,677 shares of its common stock. The fair value of the warrants is recorded as debt issuance costs and amortized over the expected life of the agreement.  As a result, SunPower incurs non-cash interest expense associated with the amortization of the warrants. Excluding this data provides investors with a basis to compare the company's performance against the performance of other companies without non-cash interest expense.

• Gain (loss) on mark-to-market derivative instruments. In connection with the issuance of its 4.5% senior cash convertible debentures in 2010, SunPower entered into certain convertible debenture hedge and warrant transactions with respect to its class A common stock intended to reduce the potential cash payments that would occur upon conversion of the debentures. The convertible debenture hedge and warrant transactions consisting of call option instruments are deemed to be mark-to-market derivatives until such transactions settle or expire. As of December 23, 2010, the warrant transactions were amended to be share-settled rather than cash-settled, therefore, the warrant transactions are not subject to mark-to-market accounting treatment subsequent to December 23, 2010. In addition, the embedded cash conversion option of the debt is deemed to be a mark-to-market derivative instrument during the period in which the cash convertible debt remains outstanding. Finally, the over-allotment option in favor of the debenture underwriters is deemed a mark-to-market derivative instrument during the period the over-allotment option remained unexercised, or from April 1, 2010 through April 5, 2010. SunPower excluded the net gain (loss) relating to the above mentioned derivative instruments from its non-GAAP results because it was not realized in cash and it is not reflective of the company's ongoing financial results. Excluding this data provides investors with a basis to compare the company's performance against the performance of other companies without a net non-cash gain (loss) on mark-to-market derivative instruments.
• Gain on change in equity interest in unconsolidated investee. On June 30, 2010, Woongjin Energy Co., Ltd ("Woongjin Energy") completed its initial public offering and the sale of 15.9 million new shares of common stock. In the second quarter of 2011, Woongjin Energy issued additional equity to other investors. SunPower did not participate in these common stock issuances by Woongjin Energy. As a result of the new common stock issuances by Woongjin Energy, SunPower's percentage equity interest in Woongjin Energy decreased and SunPower recognized a non-cash gain in both the second quarter of 2011 and 2010, representing the excess of the price over SunPower's per share carrying value of its shares. SunPower excluded the non-cash gain from its non-GAAP results because it was not realized in cash and it is not reflective of its ongoing financial results. Excluding this data provides investors with a basis to compare SunPower's performance against the performance of other companies without non-cash income from a gain on change in its equity interest in unconsolidated investees.
• Gain on sale of equity interest in unconsolidated investee. As noted in the "Gain on change in equity interest in unconsolidated investee" section above, SunPower previously excluded certain non-cash gains from its non-GAAP results.  During the first quarter of 2012, SunPower sold its equity interests in Woongjin Energy. As the gain on sale was now realized in cash, SunPower recognized an incremental gain on sale in its non-GAAP results based on the cumulative amount of gains previously excluded from non-GAAP results and the proportional amount of equity interests sold.
• Tax effect. This amount is used to present each of the amounts described above on an after-tax basis with the presentation of non-GAAP net income (loss) per share. Beginning in the first quarter of 2012, the Company's non-GAAP tax amount is based on estimated cash tax expense and reserves. This approach is designed to enhance the ability of investors to understand the Company's tax expense on its current operations, provide improved modeling accuracy, and substantially reduce fluctuations caused by GAAP to non-GAAP adjustments which may not reflect actual cash tax expense. The Company forecasts its annual cash tax liability and allocates the tax to each quarter in proportion to earnings for that period. Non-GAAP tax amounts for periods prior to fiscal 2012 have not been adjusted to reflect this new methodology.

For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Reconciliations of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures" set forth at the end of this release and which should be read together with the preceding financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.