Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. ("Altair") today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2012.
For the year ended December 31, 2012, Altair reported revenues of $1.5 million compared to $5.2 million in 2011. The gross loss was $1.3 million compared to $571,000 a year ago. The net loss for 2012 was $18 million, or $1.55 a share, compared to a net loss of $19.9 million, or $2.55 a share, for 2011. Deferred revenues grew to $7.2 million as of December 31, 2012, compared to $1.6 million as of December 31, 2011.
For the 2012 fourth quarter, Altair reported revenues of $476,000 compared to $1.3 million for the same period in 2011. The gross loss was $114,000 compared to $445,000, primarily due to the reversal of inventory reserves. Operating expenses were $4.1 million compared to $5.6 million, primarily due to the impairment of fixed assets in the fourth quarter of 2011. The net loss for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $3.6 million, or $0.31 per share, compared to a net loss of $5.1 million, or $0.51 per share, for the same period in 2011.
"In 2012, we focused our efforts on the execution of key milestones, including our customer deliverables, product development, cost reduction, and the expansion of our business into the Chinese market," stated Alexander Lee, Altair's Chief Executive Officer. "We are well positioned to leverage our operational successes in 2012 and to ramp up and recognize revenue in 2013."
Highlights for the year ended December 31, 2012 and subsequent events include:
5 ALTI-ESS systems were built, and 4 were shipped in 2012 -- the most ever for Altair.
- In July 2012, the Company shipped a 1.2 megawatt (MW) ALTI-ESS to Vestas for a wind integration project in Denmark. This system was installed and commissioned in November 2012, and it went into commercial operation in February 2013.
- In August 2012, the Company shipped an ALTI-ESS to the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI). This system was installed and commissioned at a wind farm in December 2012.
- In October 2012, the Company entered into a contract with TSK Solar, a leading energy EPC contractor and engineering firm, to supply a 2 MW ALTI-ESS Advantage system that will be installed at the San Fermin 26 MW photovoltaic solar farm in Puerto Rico. The Company shipped the system in November 2012.
- In November 2012, the Company shipped a 1.8 MW ALTI-ESS system to an east coast utility customer. This system was installed and commissioned in December 2012, and it went into commercial operation in January 2013.
Economic development deals.
- In April 2012, Altair's subsidiary in China, Northern Altair Nanotechnologies Co., Ltd. ("Northern Altair") entered into an economic development agreement with the cities of Wu'an and Handan in Hebei Province, China.
- In August 2012, Northern Altair received a 30 percent down payment of $1.9 million from Wu'an for its initial order of 50 electric buses under our economic development agreement.
- In October and November 2012, the Company and Northern Altair entered into a series of transactions, wherein, Northern Altair set aside, as restricted cash, $5.9 million with two banks in China. In return, the banks loaned the Company $5.7 million to be used as working capital.
- In October 2012, the Company and Northern Altair entered into two intercompany agreements, which involve the transfer and sale of lithium titanate (nLTO) manufacturing equipment and nLTO materials from the Company to Northern Altair. Under the Agreements, Northern Altair will transfer $2.9 million to the Company. In March 2013, Northern Altair transferred $878,000 as a down payment on the nLTO equipment and materials.
- In November 2012, Northern Altair entered into a $13.6 million agreement to acquire the commercial land use rights for 66 acres of land in Wu'an, China. In November 2012, Northern Altair received $11.8 million in cash for grant incentives, which shall be used for the development and construction of Northern Altair's new nLTO and ESS assembly plants. In December 2012, Northern Altair's land use rights were appraised for $32 million. However, the Company has recorded the transaction based on the $13.6 million cost for acquiring the land use rights.
Sales and Contracts.
- In May 2012, the Company closed a supply agreement with Proterra for the sale of battery modules, which shall be delivered throughout the year in 2013.
- In September 2012 and March 2013, the Company was granted contract extensions by INE, which allows INE to seek the required regulatory approvals.
- In January 2013, the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute placed its third ALTI-ESS order with the Company.
Altair's cash and cash equivalents decreased by $34.1 million, from $46.5 million at December 31, 2011 to $12.4 million at December 31, 2012. The decrease in cash was primarily due to the $20.6 million of cash used in operating activities during 2012. The bulk of the cash used in operations went to cover our net loss of $18 million offset by $6.7 million in proceeds from three short-term notes payable used towards the $5.5 million build-up of work in process inventory related to the fulfillment of customer sales backlog, of which $2.4 million is included in deferred contract costs. Northern Altair also received cash grant incentives of $11.8 million from the Wu'an government and recorded it as restricted cash, which can be used subject to meeting certain guidelines agreed upon by the Wu'an government and the Company.
A summary of the cash position at December 31, 2012 included cash and cash equivalents of $12.4 million. In addition, the Company has $18.0 million in restricted cash of which $6.2 million is classified as short-term. A $293,000 stand-by-letter of credit is included in the $6.2 million short-term restricted cash. This $293,000 stand-by-letter of credit will be released in the first quarter of 2013. The remaining $11.8 million in restricted cash, relates to the grant incentives which is classified as long-term.
"We initiated several measures to reduce our overall burn rate in 2012. We have targeted additional cost reduction items that will further reduce our operating expenses starting in the second quarter," said Mr. Lee. "Our overall cash position, including restricted and long-term restricted classifications, currently stands at $30.4 million. Some of the restricted cash is ear marked for our expansion plans in China. As we continue to grow and gain sales and installations, we believe we will have access to the necessary capital to fund our growth."
Altair received $5.9 million in customer receipts during 2012. The Company is expecting an estimated $2.0 million in cash receipts during 2013, which relates to three large projects sitting in our deferred revenue at December 31, 2012. Of this amount, $1.0 million has already been invoiced and is in the accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2012 and the other $1.0 million is expected to be invoiced for these large projects in the first half of 2013.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Conference Call
Altair will hold a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2012 results on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Shareholders and members of the investment community are invited to participate in the conference call. The dial-in number for both U.S. and international callers is +1 678-224-7719. Please dial in to the conference five minutes before the call is scheduled to begin. Ask the operator for the Altair Nanotechnologies call.
Post call, a phone-based audio replay will be available from 2:00 p.m. EDT, Thursday, March 28, 2013 until Midnight EDT, April 4, 2013. It can be accessed by dialing +1 404-537-3406 and entering the conference number 27496431. Additionally, the conference call and replay will be available online, and can be accessed by visiting Altair's web site, www.altairnano.com.
Source: http://www.altairnano.com/