November 20, 2008

Wuxi, China: Suntech Reports Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results

Suntech Power today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008.

Total net revenues for the third quarter of 2008 were $594.4 million, representing an increase of 53.7% from the corresponding period in 2007.

Non-GAAP gross profit for the third quarter of 2008 was $129.7 million, an increase of 56.6% year-over-year. Non-GAAP gross margin for the Company's standard PV module business was 23.4% and non-GAAP consolidated gross margin was 21.8%. Gross margin decreased from the second quarter of 2008 primarily due to a decrease in the average selling price resulting from the depreciation of the Euro versus the U.S. dollar and a slight increase in silicon wafer costs.

Non-GAAP operating expenses in the third quarter of 2008 totaled $37.1 million or 6.2% of total net revenues. The sequential increase in operating expenses was primarily due to increased spending on research and development of the Pluto technology.

Non-GAAP income from operations for the third quarter of 2008 was $92.6 million, an increase of 43.1% year-over-year. Non-GAAP operating margin was 15.6%.

Net interest expense was $7.9 million in the third quarter of 2008 compared to net interest expense of $5.2 million in the second quarter of 2008. The sequential increase in net interest expenses was primarily due to increased bank borrowing balances.

On a GAAP basis, for the third quarter of 2008 gross profit was $128.3 million, an increase of 60.4% year-over-year. Gross margin for the standard PV module business was 23.1% and consolidated gross margin was 21.6% for the third quarter of 2008.

As of September 30, 2008, Suntech had cash and cash equivalents of $394.6 million, compared to $605.2 million as of June 30, 2008. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was mainly due to capital expenditures related to capacity expansions and prepayments to suppliers. This was partially offset by an increase of bank borrowings.

"Our third quarter performance was driven by healthy demand for our solar products, resulting in strong top-line growth that exceeded the high end of our guidance," said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Chairman and CEO. "However, the rapid weakening of the Euro relative to the USD over the past two months combined with the unstable credit markets has created a challenging environment in the fourth quarter of 2008. This has resulted in a faster than expected sequential decline in sales prices and the deferment of some customer orders, which will significantly impact our profitability in the fourth quarter of 2008."

"Due to these near-term challenges, we have been implementing a range of measures to prudently manage this temporary downturn. These include the minimization of cash outlays, renegotiation of high priced, short-term silicon contracts, optimization of our supply chain and production, and the enhancement of currency risk management. We believe that these steps will enable us to weather the short term market disturbances and we expect our profitability will steadily improve in 2009 as multiple long term, low cost silicon contracts initiate delivery."

“In addition, we believe that the industry recalibration will benefit Suntech as we expect a flight to quality solar companies that are positioned to be long-term leaders in the solar industry,” continued Dr. Shi. “Suntech’s exceptional project history, dedication to innovation and focus on producing premium quality solar products differentiate Suntech’s products and brand. Moreover, our localized customer service, broad product range and manufacturing scale provide a stable base to serve our customers’ long-term needs. We are confident that our customers recognize the value in partnering with Suntech, and we expect to improve our market position in 2009.”

"Suntech's goal is to drive down the cost of solar to grid parity, and these macroeconomic changes should accelerate the reduction in silicon costs and sales prices and stimulate demand. In addition, the outlook for 2009 demand is encouraging. Although customers have deferred some orders in the fourth quarter, many are committing to increased volumes for 2009 indicative of customers' confidence that the financing environment will improve. We have already received orders for over 600MW of PV products for 2009 from our European customers and are pursuing a growing pipeline of additional orders."

During the quarter ended September 30, 2008 the average value of the U.S. dollar was $1.50 to the Euro. Assuming an exchange rate of $1.28 U.S. dollars to the Euro in the fourth quarter of 2008, the Euro will have depreciated approximately 15% against the U.S. dollar sequentially resulting in an approximate $45 million impact on fourth quarter 2008 gross profit and approximately 12 percentage point impact on gross margin.

Based on current operating conditions and assuming an exchange rate of $1.28 U.S. dollars to the Euro for the fourth quarter, Suntech expects revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008 to be in the range of $345 million to $360 million. The sequential decline in revenues primarily reflects the depreciation of the Euro versus the U.S. dollar, the deferment of some customer orders due to delays in project financing and the seasonality impact due to winter in Northern Europe.

Assuming an exchange rate of $1.28 U.S. dollars to the Euro for the fourth quarter, GAAP consolidated gross margin for the fourth quarter 2008 is expected to be marginally positive or breakeven. The sequential decline in gross margin primarily reflects the decline in product sales prices due to the rapid depreciation of the Euro versus the U.S. dollar, the negative impact of high cost inventories from the third quarter of 2008, and the high cost of raw materials purchased in October 2008.

Due to the abnormal depreciation of the Euro versus the U.S. dollar and the tighter credit markets, Suntech has reduced full year 2008 revenue guidance from a range of $2.05 billion to $2.15 billion to a range of $1.85 billion to $1.87 billion. Suntech has revised its full year 2008 PV product shipment target from 550MW to approximately 490MW. Suntech remains on target to reach 1GW of installed PV cell production capacity by year-end 2008.

Suntech expects full-year 2009 shipments of more than 800MW. Suntech intends to hold PV cell production capacity at 1GW in 2009 until credit market visibility has improved. Suntech expects to reduce capital expenditures to approximately $80 million in 2009 from approximately $300 million in 2008. The majority of 2009 capital expenditures will be utilized to retrofit existing production capacity to the high efficiency, Pluto technology.

Further details about: Suntech Power