BEIJING, May 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq:JASO) ("JA Solar" or the "Company"), one of the world's largest manufacturers of high-performance solar power products, today announced its unaudited financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2017.
First Quarter 2017 Highlights
- Total shipments were 1,392.7 megawatts (“MW”), consisting of 1,325.1 MW of modules and 50.2 MW of cells to external customers, and 17.4 MW of modules to the Company’s downstream projects. External shipments were up 32.5% y/y and down 2.6% sequentially
- Shipments of modules were 1,325.1 MW, an increase of 44.1% y/y and a decrease of 2.1% sequentially
- Shipments of cells were 50.2 MW, a decrease of 57.8% y/y and 14.8% sequentially
- Net revenue was RMB 3.7 billion ($536.4 million), an increase of 6.4% y/y and a decrease of 7.5% sequentially
- Gross margin was 11.7%, a decrease of 490 basis points y/y and 120 basis points sequentially
- Operating profit was RMB 80.0 million ($11.6 million), compared to RMB 223.3 million ($32.4 million) in the first quarter of 2016, and RMB 370.5 million ($53.8 million) in the fourth quarter of 2016
- Net income was RMB 8.1 million ($1.2 million), compared to RMB 158.0 million ($23.0 million) in the first quarter of 2016, and RMB 353.4 million ($51.3 million) in the fourth quarter of 2016
- Earnings per diluted ADS were RMB 0.17 or $0.03, compared to RMB 2.74 or $0.40 in the first quarter of 2016, and RMB 6.80 or $0.99 in the fourth quarter of 2016
- Cash and cash equivalents were RMB 2.3 billion ($332.1 million), a decrease of RMB 283.4 million ($41.2 million) during the quarter
- Non-GAAP earnings1 per diluted ADS were RMB 0.17 or $0.03, compared to RMB 2.33 or $0.34 in the first quarter of 2016, and RMB 6.80 or $0.99 in the fourth quarter of 2016
Mr. Baofang Jin, Chairman and CEO of JA Solar, commented, “Our operating results were in line with our expectations. We delivered high-single-digit year over year revenue growth on robust external shipments, driven by strength in the Asia Pacific markets. We expect solid demand from China in the second quarter, driven by accelerated activity ahead of subsidy reductions. Despite this near-term strength, we are cautious on the business outlook for the second half of 2017, given limited visibility into customer demand, as well as the competitive pricing environment across multiple geographies.”
Mr. Jin continued, “We remain committed to streamlining our operations in order to optimize efficiencies, and are focused on executing our business strategy to provide our customers with high-quality products. We continue to believe that our geographic exposure, prudent cost control and flexible business model will enable us to navigate through industry cycles. As market conditions improve, we will be positioned for sustainable long-term growth.”
All shipment and financial figures refer to the quarter ended March 31, 2017, unless otherwise specified. All “year over year” or “y/y” comparisons are against the quarter ended March 31, 2016. All “sequential” comparisons are against the quarter ended December 31, 2016.
Total shipments were 1,392.7 MW, in line with our previously announced guidance. External shipments of 1,375.3 MW increased 32.5% year over year and decreased 2.6% sequentially.
External shipments breakdown by product (MW)
| 2016Q1 | 2016Q4 | 2017Q1 | QoQ% | YoY% | |||
| Modules and module tolling | 919.4 | 1,353.0 | 1,325.1 | -2.1 | % | 44.1 | % |
| Cells and cell tolling | 118.9 | 58.9 | 50.2 | -14.8 | % | -57.8 | % |
| Total | 1,038.3 | 1,411.9 | 1,375.3 | -2.6 | % | 32.5 | % |
External shipments breakdown by region (percentage)
| 2016Q1 | 2016Q4 | 2017Q1 | QoQ(pp) | YoY(pp) | ||||
| China | 59.6 | % | 58.0 | % | 39.7 | % | -18.3pp | -19.9pp |
| APAC ex-China | 26.7 | % | 25.2 | % | 44.2 | % | 19.0pp | 17.5pp |
| Europe | 5.6 | % | 3.3 | % | 5.5 | % | 2.2pp | -0.1pp |
| North America | 4.5 | % | 7.4 | % | 8.1 | % | 0.7pp | 3.6pp |
| South America | 2.8 | % | 5.6 | % | 0.1 | % | -5.5pp | -2.7pp |
| Others | 0.8 | % | 0.5 | % | 2.4 | % | 1.9pp | 1.6pp |
Net revenue was RMB 3.7 billion ($536.4 million), an increase of 6.4% y/y and a decrease of 7.5% sequentially.
Gross profit of RMB 433.3 million ($63.0 million) decreased 24.7% y/y and 15.9% sequentially. Gross margin was 11.7%, which compares to 16.6% in the year-ago quarter, and 12.9% in the fourth quarter of 2016. The decrease in gross margin was primarily due to a decline of average selling price of solar modules in the first quarter of 2017.
Total operating expenses of RMB 353.3 million ($51.3 million) were 9.6% of revenue. This compares to operating expenses of 10.1% of revenue in the year-ago quarter, and 3.6% of revenue in the fourth quarter of 2016. Included in operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2016 were a one-time reversal of RMB 348.3 million ($50.6 million) of previously recorded expenses due to the resolution of the Company’s dispute with Hemlock Semiconductor Pte. Ltd, and a one-time charge of RMB 99.6 million ($14.5 million) resulted from the termination of business relationship with one of the Company’s business partners.
Operating profit was RMB 80.0 million ($11.6 million), compared to RMB 223.3 million ($32.4 million) in the year-ago quarter, and RMB 370.5 million ($53.8 million) in the fourth quarter of 2016. Operating margin was 2.2%, compared with 6.4% in the prior year period and 9.3% in the previous quarter.
Interest expense was RMB 83.3 million ($12.1 million), compared to RMB 67.3 million ($9.8 million) in the year-ago quarter, and RMB 72.9 million ($10.6 million) in the fourth quarter of 2016.
The change in fair value of warrant derivatives was nil, compared with positive RMB 23.4 million ($3.4 million) in the year-ago quarter, and nil in the fourth quarter of 2016. The warrants were issued on August 16, 2013 in conjunction with the Company’s $96 million registered direct offering, and expired on August 16, 2016.
Earnings per diluted ADS were RMB 0.17 or $0.03, compared to earnings per diluted ADS of RMB 2.74 or $0.40 in the year-ago quarter, and earnings per diluted ADS of RMB 6.80 or $0.99 in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Liquidity
As of March 31, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB 2.3 billion ($332.1 million), and total working capital of RMB 0.8 billion ($118.0 million). Total short-term borrowings were RMB 3.2 billion ($467.1 million). Total long-term borrowings were RMB 2.9 billion ($425.4 million), of which RMB 870.9 million ($126.5 million) were due in one year.
Business Outlook
For the second quarter of 2017, the Company expects total cell and module shipments to be in the range of 1,550 to 1,650 MW. Nearly all will be external shipments.
Investor Conference Call / Webcast Details
JA Solar's management will host an earnings conference call on May 24, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 p.m. China Time).
Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:
| Phone Number | Toll-Free Number | |
| United States | +1 8456750437 | +1 8665194004 |
| Hong Kong | +852 30186771 | +852 800906601 |
| Mainland China | +86 8008190121 +86 4006208038 | |
| Other International | +65 67135090 |
Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call. The passcode is 21961068.
A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following numbers until June 1, 2017. To access the replay, please reference the conference ID 21961068.
| Phone Number | Toll-Free Number | |
| United States | +1 6462543697 | +1 8554525696 |
| Hong Kong | +852 30512780 | +852 800963117 |
| Mainland China | +86 8008700206 +86 4006322162 | |
| Other International | +61 281990299 |
Currency Convenience Translation
The conversion of Renminbi into U.S. dollars in this release, made solely for the convenience of the reader, is based on the noon buying rate in the city of New York for cable transfers of Renminbi as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of March 31, 2017, which was RMB 6.8832 to $1.00. No representation is intended to imply that the Renminbi amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into U.S. dollars at that rate on March 31, 2017, or at any other date. The percentages stated in this press release are calculated based on Renminbi.
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. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "may," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "potential," "continue," and other similar statements. Statements other than statements of historical facts in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, our expectations regarding the expansion of our manufacturing capacities, our future business development, and our beliefs regarding our production output and production outlook. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Form 20-F and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.
About JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd.
JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of high-performance solar power products that convert sunlight into electricity for residential, commercial, and utility-scale power generation. The Company is one of the world’s largest producers of solar power products. Its standard and high-efficiency product offerings are among the most powerful and cost-effective in the industry. The Company distributes products under its own brand and also produces on behalf of its clients. The Company shipped 5.2 GW of solar power products in 2016. JA Solar is headquartered in Beijing, China, and maintains production facilities in Shanghai, Hebei, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces in China, as well as Penang, Malaysia and Hanoi, Vietnam.
For more information, please visit www.jasolar.com.
1 JA Solar adjusts net income attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders to exclude changes in fair value of certain warrants granted to certain investors in a registered direct offering (the "Offering") closed on August 16, 2013.
| JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. | |||||||||
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income | |||||||||
| (Unaudited) | |||||||||
| For three months ended | |||||||||
| Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | ||||||
| RMB'000 | RMB'000 | RMB'000 | USD'000 | ||||||
| Net revenues | 3,469,714 | 3,990,642 | 3,701,133 | 537,705 | |||||
| Cost of sales | (2,894,352 | ) | (3,475,213 | ) | (3,264,362 | ) | (474,251 | ) | |
| Gross profit | 575,362 | 515,429 | 436,771 | 63,454 | |||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | (312,475 | ) | (99,969 | ) | (327,504 | ) | (47,580 | ) | |
| Research and development expenses | (39,599 | ) | (44,937 | ) | (40,460 | ) | (5,878 | ) | |
| Total operating expenses | (352,074 | ) | (144,906 | ) | (367,964 | ) | (53,458 | ) | |
| Income from operations | 223,288 | 370,523 | 68,807 | 9,996 | |||||
| Interest expense | (67,273 | ) | (72,879 | ) | (76,269 | ) | (11,081 | ) | |
| Change in fair value of warrant derivatives | 23,447 | - | - | - | |||||
| Other income, net | 16,281 | 95,596 | 19,411 | 2,820 | |||||
| Income before income taxes | 195,743 | 393,240 | 11,949 | 1,735 | |||||
| Income tax expense | (37,769 | ) | (39,814 | ) | (1,792 | ) | (260 | ) | |
| Net income | 157,974 | 353,426 | 10,157 | 1,475 | |||||
| Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 1,317 | 34,922 | - | - | |||||
| Net income attributable to JA Solar Holdings | 156,657 | 318,504 | 10,157 | 1,475 | |||||
| Net income per share attributable to ordinary shareholders: | |||||||||
| Basic | 0.55 | 1.36 | 0.04 | 0.01 | |||||
| Diluted | 0.55 | 1.36 | 0.04 | 0.01 | |||||
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding: | |||||||||
| Basic | 234,290,842 | 234,290,842 | 234,290,842 | 234,290,842 | |||||
| Diluted | 234,521,962 | 234,305,887 | 234,300,567 | 234,300,567 | |||||
| Comprehensive income | |||||||||
| Net income | 157,974 | 353,426 | 10,157 | 1,475 | |||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax | (140 | ) | (18,532 | ) | 1,136 | 165 | |||
| Other comprehensive loss | (140 | ) | (18,532 | ) | 1,136 | 165 | |||
| Comprehensive income | 157,834 | 334,894 | 11,293 | 1,640 | |||||
| Income attributable to noncontrolling interest | 1,317 | 34,922 | - | - | |||||
| Comprehensive income attributable to JA Solar Holdings | 156,517 | 299,972 | 11,293 | 1,640 | |||||
| NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION | |||||||||
| GAAP net income attributable to JA Solar Holdings | 156,657 | 318,504 | 10,157 | 1,475 | |||||
| Change in fair value of warrant derivatives | (23,447 | ) | - | - | - | ||||
| Non-GAAP net income attributable to JA Solar Holdings | 133,210 | 318,504 | 10,157 | 1,475 | |||||
| Non-GAAP net income per share attributable to ordinary shareholders: | |||||||||
| Basic | 0.47 | 1.36 | 0.03 | 0.01 | |||||
| Diluted | 0.47 | 1.36 | 0.03 | 0.01 | |||||
| Non-GAAP weighted average number of shares outstanding: | |||||||||
| Basic | 234,290,842 | 234,290,842 | 234,290,842 | 234,290,842 | |||||
| Diluted | 234,521,962 | 234,305,887 | 234,300,567 | 234,300,567 | |||||
| JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. | |||
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||
| (Unaudited) | |||
| Dec. 31, | Mar. 31, | ||
| 2016 | 2017 | 2017 | |
| RMB'000 | RMB'000 | USD'000 | |
| ASSETS | |||
| Current assets: | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 2,569,402 | 2,286,016 | 332,115 |
| Restricted cash | 836,761 | 756,005 | 109,833 |
| Accounts receivable | 2,753,678 | 3,131,601 | 454,963 |
| Notes receivable | 563,144 | 256,065 | 37,202 |
| Inventories | 2,460,488 | 3,099,716 | 450,331 |
| Advances to suppliers | 282,369 | 222,388 | 32,309 |
| Other current assets | 799,314 | 856,812 | 124,479 |
| Total current assets | 10,265,156 | 10,608,603 | 1,541,232 |
| Property and equipment, net | 5,219,501 | 5,444,942 | 791,048 |
| Project asset | 2,338,648 | 2,490,908 | 361,882 |
| Advances to suppliers | 97,429 | 71,024 | 10,318 |
| Prepaid land use rights | 524,208 | 533,080 | 77,447 |
| Long-term investment | 69,022 | 69,022 | 10,028 |
| Other long term assets | 517,292 | 483,523 | 70,247 |
| Total assets | 19,031,256 | 19,701,102 | 2,862,202 |
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||
| Current liabilities: | |||
| Short-term borrowings | 2,912,866 | 3,214,871 | 467,061 |
| Accounts payable | 2,635,525 | 2,909,599 | 422,710 |
| Advances from customers | 610,718 | 940,865 | 136,690 |
| Current portion of long term borrowings | 525,256 | 870,886 | 126,523 |
| Accrued and other liabilities | 1,966,475 | 1,638,687 | 238,071 |
| Total current liabilities | 8,650,840 | 9,574,908 | 1,391,055 |
| Long-term borrowings | 2,701,438 | 2,057,336 | 298,892 |
| Other long term liabilities | 1,217,648 | 1,596,110 | 231,885 |
| Total liabilities | 12,569,926 | 13,228,354 | 1,921,832 |
| Total JA Solar Holdings shareholders' equity | 6,461,130 | 6,472,549 | 940,340 |
| Noncontrolling interest | 200 | 200 | 29 |
| Total shareholders' equity | 6,461,330 | 6,472,749 | 940,369 |
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | 19,031,256 | 19,701,103 | 2,862,201 |