| Company
Announces Second Quarter Financial Results and Provides Progress Update
LATHAM, N.Y.-- Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:
PLUG - News), a leader in providing clean, reliable on-site energy products,
today announced that it has installed 104 GenCore® systems in the first
half of 2007, already surpassing 2006 full-year installations. The Company
also reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2007, which
include the results of Cellex Power Products, Inc. and General Hydrogen
Corporation, both of which the Company acquired during the second quarter
of 2007.
Revenue for the second quarter of
2007 increased by 43 percent to $4.0 million compared with $2.8 million
in the same period of 2006 due to higher research and development contract
revenue. Deferred revenue was $3.6 million at June 30, 2007, compared with
$3.9 million as of June 30, 2006.
Net loss for the second quarter of
2007 was $16.7 million compared with $13.0 million for the second quarter
of 2006. The $3.7 million increase primarily reflects $2.7 million related
to the operating results of the acquired companies and a $2.0 million charge
related to certain expected service and warranty costs for the fuel cell
units currently comprising the Company's installed base. On a diluted per-share
basis, net loss was $0.19 for the second quarter of 2007 compared with
$0.15 for the comparative quarter of 2006.
"Our organization continues to meet
the challenge of the increased pace of GenCore installations in the first
half of the year, while capturing significant learning from a demanding
field environment," said Dr. Roger Saillant, Plug Power's President and
CEO. "We will be striving to accelerate both installations and orders in
the third quarter to achieve our goals."
Plug Power continues to aggressively
pursue the five milestones established for 2007, including an adjusted
cash burn milestone. The milestones are:
-- Install 400
GenCore systems
-- Achieve 50
percent reduction in Plug Power's GenCore support costs by
the end of the fourth quarter
-- Reduce GenCore
manufacturing costs by 25 percent
-- Expand into
new fuel cell applications through strategic partnerships
or acquisitions
-- Contain cash
used in operations to $50 to $55 million in 2007, adjusted
to include the estimated cash to be used in 2007 for the combined
operations of Plug Power, Cellex Power and General Hydrogen. The
milestone for cash used in operations was originally established as $45
to $50 million.
GenCore Installations, Shipments,
Orders and Backlog
GenCore installations in the second
quarter of 2007 were 41 compared with 17 in the second quarter of 2006.
For the first half of 2007, Plug Power installed 104 GenCore systems compared
with a total of 85 installations for all of 2006.
Plug Power shipped 62 GenCore systems
in the second quarter of 2007 compared with 37 in the second quarter of
2006. Plug Power received orders for 18 GenCore systems during the second
quarter of 2007 compared with 29 orders in the same period last year. GenCore
orders include firm orders, stocking orders and orders that require certain
conditions or contingencies and certain redesign elements to be satisfied
prior to shipment, some of which are outside Plug Power's control. The
time periods from order receipt to shipment date vary widely and are determined
by a number of factors, including the customer contract terms and deployment
plan.
GenCore backlog on June 30, 2007,
was 489 systems compared with 219 on June 30, 2006, and 533 at the end
of first quarter 2007.
Acquisition Integration
During the second quarter, Plug Power
acquired Cellex Power and General Hydrogen. Both Cellex Power and General
Hydrogen develop fuel cell power units and hydrogen refueling technology
for electric lift trucks. By acquiring both companies, Plug Power is expected
to offer fuel cell solutions for Class 1, 2 and 3 lift trucks, under GenDrive(TM),
the brand name for Plug Power's material handling applications product
portfolio. This portfolio approach will create maximum value for customers
by allowing conversion of entire fleets to fuel cell power units, eliminating
the need to maintain a lead-acid battery support infrastructure. Additionally,
the acquisitions allow Plug Power to leverage the manufacturing, supply
chain and technology expertise across all three organizations.
Plug Power's integration of the two
acquired companies is on schedule. The Company has formed a cross-functional
and cross-entity integration task force assigned to establish one team,
one facility and one operation in Richmond, British Columbia, to conduct
the engineering, sales and customer operations work for GenDrive. In parallel,
Plug Power is moving GenDrive manufacturing to its facility in Latham,
NY.
Certain preliminary estimates have
been made in the initial purchase accounting for these acquisitions. As
the fair values of certain tangible and intangible assets are finalized,
preliminary estimates may change.
Revenue
Product and service revenue was $0.7
million for the second quarter of 2007, consistent with product and service
revenue during the same period in 2006. Deferred product and service revenue
increased to $3.2 million at the end of the second quarter of 2007 compared
with $2.8 million at June 30, 2006. Substantially all of the deferred product
and services revenue is expected to be recognized over the next 30 months.
Research and development (R&D)
contract revenue for the second quarter of 2007 increased to $3.3 million
from $2.0 million for the second quarter of 2006. The increase in R&D
contract revenue in the second quarter of 2007 was primarily related to
contracts with Honda R&D Co., Ltd. of Japan., U.S. Department of Defense,
U.S. Department of Energy, New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority and NASA. Deferred R&D contract revenue at June 30, 2007,
was $0.4 million compared with $1.2 million at June 30, 2006.
Operational Results
Cost of product and service revenue
for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, was $4.4 million compared with $1.3
million in the second quarter of 2006. The increase in cost of product
and service revenue primarily resulted from a $2.0 million charge for certain
expected service and warranty costs for existing fuel cell units in the
field, materials and build costs associated with a higher number of shipments
and servicing costs of the larger installed base. Cost of R&D contract
revenue was $4.7 million for the second quarter of 2007 compared with $2.4
million in the second quarter of 2006. The increase in the cost of R&D
contract revenue reflects the increase in R&D contract work during
the quarter.
R&D expenses for the second quarter
of 2007 were $8.8 million, a decrease of $1.2 million compared with $10.0
million for the second quarter of 2006. The decrease primarily resulted
from an increase in resources assigned to revenue-generating R&D contract
programs, which more than offset the additional R&D costs incurred
by the acquired companies.
General and administrative expenses
were $5.4 million for the second quarter of 2007 compared with $3.0 million
for the prior year's second quarter. The increase in G&A expenses related
primarily to the general and administrative costs of the acquired companies
plus increased marketing and sales activities.
Interest income grew to $2.6 million
in the second quarter of 2007 from $1.0 million in the second quarter of
2006 as a result of investment returns from higher cash and available-for-sale
security balances due to the $217 million cash proceeds received from Smart
Hydrogen in the second quarter of 2006.
Cash and Liquidity
Net cash used in operating activities
for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, by the combined companies was $14.6
million, inclusive of $1.8 million to pay down liabilities of the acquired
companies. On June 30, 2007, Plug Power had cash, cash equivalents and
marketable securities of $190.8 million compared with $251.4 million as
of March 31, 2007. During the quarter, Plug Power used $45.4 million (net)
for acquisitions, $14.6 million to fund ongoing operations and $0.6 million
for capital expenditures.
Conference Call
Plug Power has scheduled a conference
call today at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) to review the Company's results for the
second quarter of 2007. Interested parties are invited to listen to the
conference call by calling (617) 614-6207 and entering the pass code PLUG
(7584), or by visiting the Plug Power Web site at www.plugpower.com. The
call will be archived on the Company's Web site for a period of time following
the call.
About Plug Power
Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq: PLUG - News),
an established leader in the development and deployment of clean, reliable,
on-site energy products, integrates fuel cell technology into backup and
primary power products for telecommunications, material handling, utility
and uninterruptible power supply applications. The Company is actively
engaged with private and public customers in targeted markets throughout
the world, including North America, Europe, the Middle East, Russia, South
Africa and South America. For more information about how to join Plug Power's
energy revolution as an investor, customer, supplier or strategic partner,
please visit www.plugpower.com.
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