DGAP-News: SolarWorld AG increases shipments in 2014 more

DGAP-News: SolarWorld AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results/Miscellaneous SolarWorld AG increases shipments in 2014 more strongly than expected 14.08.2014 / 09:00 --------------------------------------------------------------------- SolarWorld AG released its report on the first half of 2014 today. In the first six months of the year, SolarWorld AG significantly increased shipments, compared with the same period of the previous year. Overall, groupwide shipments of solar wafers, cells, modules and kits rose by 53 percent to 357 (H1 2013: 233) megawatts (MW). Shipments of modules and kits increased to 333 (H1 2013: 211) MW. In this segment, SolarWorld started the year's second half with an order book of more than 400 MW. Today already, shipments of modules and kits (including shipments in July of more than 90 MW) plus the order book exceed the target for the whole year 2014. Management expected shipments of modules and kits to increase by more than 40 percent, compared with 2013, to more than 767 (2013: 548) MW. "Products from SolarWorld are highly in demand worldwide. In July alone, we sold more than 90 MW, a new record for our company. At all production sites in Germany and the United States, we soon will partly re-activate capacities that are not being utilized and further invest to grow organically groupwide in line with demand," explains Dr.-Ing. E. h. Frank Asbeck, CEO of SolarWorld AG. As an internationally oriented company, SolarWorld was able to grow primarily in markets such as the United States, Great Britain, France and Japan. About 81 percent of sales came from outside of Germany. SolarWorld customers primarily demanded high-performance modules, while, contrary to expectations, shipments of complete systems declined significantly. SolarWorld generally sells the largest share of its kits in Germany. Due to the strong decrease of the German market, the group did not succeed in reaching its shipment target for kits here. This shift in the product mix and price reductions in the solar markets considerably affected consolidated revenue, which rose by 13 percent to EUR 228 (H1 2013: 201) million and remained below the group's expectations. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) improved in the first half of 2014 to EUR 101 million. This result included a one-time, non-cash impairment of EUR 36 million, which resulted from the agreement with a raw-material supplier, as well as one-offs from financial restructuring and initial consolidation of assets taken over from Bosch Solar Energy AG. Adjusted for these one-offs mentioned above, EBITDA rose to EUR 1 (H1 2013: -37) million. Consolidated earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased in the first half of 2014 to EUR 81 (H1 2013: -59) million. Also adjusted for the one-offs mentioned above, EBIT amounted to EUR -19 million. After the company had made redemptions and payments of interest on debt totaling EUR 34 million at the end of the second quarter as planned, the company had liquid funds of EUR 159 million, a reduction of EUR 24 million, compared with the end of the first quarter (March 31, 2014: EUR 183 million). Outlook: Expectations for 2014 and 2015 While SolarWorld AG will exceed its shipment target for 2014, the company probably will not reach its revenue target of more than EUR 680 million in light of the shift in product mix and price reductions in the solar market. For 2014, SolarWorld AG expects a positive EBITDA adjusted for the one-offs mentioned above and the recognized impairment losses. Including all one-offs, SolarWorld expects a positive consolidated result for the year in a three digit million euro amount. For 2015, SolarWorld AG confirms its forecast that it will be able to achieve a positive operating result. Consolidated Interim Report - first half of 2014: http://www.solarworld.de/financial-reports SolarWorld REAL VALUE: SolarWorld manufactures and sells solar power solutions and in doing so contributes to a cleaner energy supply worldwide. The group, headquartered in Bonn, Germany, employs approximately 3,200 people and carries out production in Freiberg, Germany; Arnstadt, Germany; and Hillsboro, USA. From raw material silicon to solar wafers, cells and modules, SolarWorld manages all stages of production ‒ including its own research and development. Through an international distribution network with locations in Europe, USA, Singapore and South Africa, SolarWorld supplies customers all over the world. The company maintains high social standards at all locations across the globe, and has committed itself to resource- and energy-efficient production. SolarWorld was founded in 1998 and has been publically traded on the stock market since 1999. More information at www.solarworld.de/en Contact: SolarWorld AG Investor Relations Phone: +49 228 55920-470; Fax: +49 228 55920-9470, Email: placement@solarworld.de; Internet: www.solarworld.de/en/investor-relations --------------------------------------------------------------------- 14.08.2014 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: SolarWorld AG Martin-Luther-King-Straße 24 53175 Bonn Germany Phone: +49 (0)228 - 559 20 470 Fax: +49 (0)228 - 559 20 9470 E-mail: placement@solarworld.de Internet: www.solarworld.de ISIN: DE000A1YCMM2, DE000A1YDDX6, DE000A1YCN14 WKN: A1YCMM, A1YDDX, A1YCN1 Listed: Regulierter Markt in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 282252 14.08.2014