Westport Fuel Systems Reports Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results
Order Fulfillment of Westport™ HPDI 2.0 + Strengthened Balance Sheet
VANCOUVER, BC - Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (“Westport Fuel Systems”) (TSX:WPRT / Nasdaq:WPRT) reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, and provided an update on operations. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.
"We continue to execute on our plan to strengthen our balance sheet, drive operational efficiencies, and advance the commercialization of Westport HPDI 2.0," said Nancy Gougarty, Chief Executive Officer of Westport Fuel Systems. "This is the first comparable quarter on a year-over-year basis since the merger and we see improved results across the board. The actions taken and implemented a year ago to achieve merger synergies are being realized. Q3 was a strong quarter with a 54% improvement in adjusted EBITDA compared to Q3 2016. Our Automotive business is delivering improved adjusted EBITDA; Cummins Westport is seeing strong customer demand and delivering higher income contributions; and our technology portfolio is market ready with products that deliver solutions to customers today. We have made significant progress and will remain focused on delivering our commitment towards becoming a profitable and sustainable company."
| ($ in millions, except per share amounts) | Three months ended September 30 | Better / (Worse) | Nine months ended September 30,* | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | |||
|
*Note: The merger closed on June 1, 2016; therefore the nine months ended September 30, 2016 included only four months of Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. and its year-over-year comparison is not meaningful. |
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| Consolidated Revenues | $60.8 | $56.1 | 8% | $182.9 | $117.3 | |
| Consolidated Gross Margin | 14.8 | 8.7 | 70% | 48.1 | 23.2 | |
| Consolidated Gross Margin % | 24% | 15% | — | 26% | 20% | |
| Consolidated Operating Expenses | 34.9 | 41.0 | 15% | 96.5 | 116.6 | |
| Income from Unconsolidated Joint Ventures | 5.8 | 2.4 | 138% | 12.8 | 4.6 | |
| Net Loss from Continuing Operations | $(15.7) | $(33.6) | 53% | $(41.9) | $(54.7) | |
| Net Loss per Share from Continuing Operations | $(0.12) | $(0.31) | 61% | $(0.36) | $(0.65) | |
| Cash and Short-term Investments Balance | $51.1 | $71.2 | (28)% | $51.1 | $71.2 | |
"The company continues to effectively manage its working capital and ongoing liquidity," said Ashoka Achuthan, Chief Financial Officer of Westport Fuel Systems. “In the third quarter, our balance sheet was strengthened by the proceeds received from the equity issuance in July and the repayment of the $55M CDN debentures on September 15, 2017. Revenue growth year-overyear was driven by our core business and bolstered by the strong Euro. We remain focused on aligning our costs to our revenues and with this quarter's performance, we are moving closer to achieve positive adjusted EBITDA."
| ($ in millions, except unit amounts) | Three months ended September 30, | Better / (Worse) | Nine months ended September 30, | Better / (Worse) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2016 (Adjusted) | 2017 | 2016 (Adjusted) | |||
|
*Note: 2016 adjusted for change in accounting policy related to warranty. |
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| Units | 1,780 | 1,643 | 8% | 5,557 | 5,351 | 4% |
| Revenue | $75.5 | $67.5 | 12% | $225.7 | $206.0 | 10% |
| Gross Margin* | 27.9 | 22.0 | 27% | 78.2 | 59.5 | 31% |
| Gross Margin %* | 37% | 33% | — | 35% | 29% | — |
| Operating Expenses | 13.0 | 14.7 | 12% | 42.0 | 47.9 | 12% |
| Segment Operating Income | 14.9 | 7.3 | 104% | 36.1 | 11.6 | 211% |
| Westport Fuel Systems 50% Interest* | $5.8 | $2.4 | 142% | $12.8 | $4.4 | 191% |
Management reviews the operational progress of its business units and investment programs over successive periods through the analysis of net income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. The Company defines EBITDA as net loss from continuing operations before income taxes adjusted for interest expense (net), depreciation and amortization. Westport Fuel Systems defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA from continuing operations excluding expenses for stock-based compensation, unrealized foreign exchange gain or loss, and non-cash and other adjustments. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a long-term indicator of operational performance since it ties closely to the business units’ ability to generate sustained cash flow. Adjusted EBITDA includes the company's share of income from joint ventures.
The term Adjusted EBITDA is not defined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") and is not a measure of operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and when assessing the company's operating performance, investors should not consider Adjusted EBITDA in isolation, or as a substitute for net loss or other consolidated statement of operations data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Among other things, Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the company's actual cash expenditures. Other companies may calculate similar measures differently than Westport Fuel Systems, limiting their usefulness as comparative tools. The company compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its U.S. GAAP results and using Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental information.
| ($ in millions) | 30-Sep-2016 | 31-Dec-2016 | 31-Mar-2017 | 30-Jun-2017 | 30-Sept-2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss before Income Taxes | $(34.4) | $(41.7) | $(13.6) | $(17.3) | $(15.3) |
| Interest Expense, Net | 3.1 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 6.3 | 0.9 |
| Depreciation and Amortization | 5.2 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.9 |
| EBITDA | (26.1) | (33.5) | (6.5) | (7.5) | (10.5) |
| Stock based compensation | 2.9 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 2.1 |
| Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss | (7.1) | 8.1 | (1.6) | 1.0 | 2.5 |
| Asset impairment | — | 2.7 | — | — | — |
| Inventory impairment from product line closure | 4.3 | 1.3 | — | — | — |
| Bargain purchase gain | — | 7.1 | — | — | — |
| Merger and financing costs | 0.4 | — | — | — | 0.1 |
| Amortization of fair value inventory adjustment recorded on acquisition | 1.0 | — | — | — | — |
| (Gain) loss on sale of investments | (3.9) | (0.3) | — | — | — |
| Restructuring, termination and other exit costs | 17.5 | 1.5 | 1.6 | (1.6) | (0.1) |
| Other | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.3 | (0.3) | (0.9) |
| Total Adjusted EBITDA | $(10.8) | $(11.0) | $(4.1) | $(5.3) | $(5.0) |
To view Westport Fuel Systems full financials for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, please visit wfsinc.com/investors/financial-information.
Westport Fuel Systems is providing this presentation of financial information based on the most recent reporting structure that was implemented in the first quarter of 2017. The Company is providing this presentation as a guide to its financial information in a quick reference format and it should be read in conjunction with Westport Fuel Systems full financials for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, and full financials for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Westport Fuel Systems has scheduled a conference call for today, November 14, 2017, at 2:00 pm Pacific Time (5:00 pm Eastern Time) to discuss these results. The public is invited to listen to the conference call in real time by telephone or webcast. To access the conference call by telephone, please dial: 1-800-319-4610 (Canada & USA toll-free) or 604-638-5340. The live webcast of the conference call can be accessed through the Westport Fuel Systems website at wfsinc.com/investors.
To access the conference call replay, please dial 1-855-669-9658 (Canada & USA toll-free) or 604-674-8052 using the pass code 1762. The replay will be available until November 21, 2017. Shortly after the conference call, the webcast will be archived on the Westport Fuel Systems website and replay will be available in streaming audio and a downloadable MP3 file.
At Westport Fuel Systems, we are driving innovation to power a cleaner tomorrow. We are inventors, engineers, manufacturers and suppliers of advanced clean fuel systems and components that can change the way the world moves. Our technology delivers performance, fuel efficiency and environmental benefits to address the challenges of global climate change and urban air quality. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, we serve our customers in more than 70 countries with leading global transportation brands. At Westport Fuel Systems, we think ahead. For more information, visit www.wfsinc.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding revenue and cash usage expectations, time for achievement of positive adjusted EBITDA, rationalization of operations, and reduction of overhead expenses. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on both the views of management and assumptions that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activities, performance or achievements expressed in or implied by these forward looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include risks and assumptions related to our revenue growth, operating results, industry and products, the general economy, conditions of and access to the capital and debt markets, solvency, governmental policies and regulation, technology innovations, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, operating expenses, the availability and price of natural gas, global government stimulus packages, the acceptance of and shift to natural gas vehicles, the relaxation or waiver of fuel emission standards, the inability of fleets to access capital or government funding to purchase natural gas vehicles, the development of competing technologies, our ability to adequately develop and deploy our technology, the actions and determinations of our joint venture and development partners, as well as other risk factors and assumptions that may affect our actual results, performance or achievements or financial position discussed in our most recent Annual Information Form and other filings with securities regulators. Readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in these forward looking statements except as required by National Instrument 51-102. The contents of any website, RSS feed or twitter account referenced in this press release are not incorporated by reference herein.
