MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Nov. 06, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hydrogenics Corporation (NASDAQ:HYGS) (TSX:HYG) ("Hydrogenics" or "the Company"), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and hydrogen-based power modules, today reported third quarter 2017 financial results. Results are reported in US dollars and are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Recent Highlights

“Over the last two years we have executed on a strategy to build long-term value and create an industry-leading enterprise with solid growth potential. We’ve refined and reduced costs on standardized products, taken advantage of many emerging market opportunities, accumulated a strong, diverse, multi-year backlog, brought in new investment capital, and delivered cutting-edge fuel cell solutions to mainstream rail and bus applications. It is gratifying to see these decisive steps beginning to show in our underlying operating results,” said Daryl Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our successful partnerships with several Chinese certified integrators have led to an acceleration in heavy duty fuel cell shipments – a trend we see continuing in the quarters to come. At the same time, we delivered a previously-announced energy storage/generation system to the Electrical Generation Authority of Thailand, making the Lam Takhong Wind Hydrogen Hybrid Project the first megawatt-scale renewable energy facility in Southeast Asia. It will convert excess electricity from wind to hydrogen and then use our HyPM fuel cell power plant to generate 300 kilowatts of electricity for EGAT’s Learning Center, an energy-neutral building – marking yet another milestone project for us, the first in the region.

“We continue to explore further strategic initiatives in China with additional partners given the size and importance of the market opportunity there. We’re also pleased to see growing momentum in rail applications with our existing partner Alstom as well as elsewhere around the globe. Given Hydrogenics’ sizable backlog and ongoing business development initiatives, we remain confident of achieving solid revenue growth in 2017 and beyond. We have the right strategy in place to take Hydrogenics to the next level in its growth trajectory, and I am pleased that our financial performance is beginning to reflect the significant progress we are making.”

Summary of Results for the Quarter September 30, 2017

  • Revenue rose 81% to $12.2 million in the third quarter of 2017 from $6.7 million in the prior-year period, reflecting a significant increase in deliveries of fuel cell mobility modules to China as well as increased sales revenue in the balance of the Power Systems segment and in the OnSite Generation segment.

  • Hydrogenics ended the third quarter of 2017 with a backlog of $147.5 million, securing orders of $5.0 million for electrolyzer and fuel cell applications. Order backlog movement during the third quarter (in $ millions) was as follows:
      
      
 June 30, 
2017 backlog
Orders
Received
FXOrders
Delivered/
Revenue
Recognized
September 30, 
2017 backlog
OnSite Generation$  28.3$  4.1$  0.7$  6.1$  27.0
Power Systems 123.8 0.9 1.9 6.1 120.5
Total$  152.1$  5.0$  2.6$  12.2$  147.5
           
  • Of the above backlog of $147.5 million, the Company expects to recognize approximately $65 million during the following 12 months as revenue. In addition, revenue for the years ending December 31, 2017 and 2018 will include orders received and delivered in the balance of 2017 and 2018.

  • Gross profit rose to $2.9 million in the current quarter from $1.0 million in the prior-year period, an increase of 190%. Gross margin expanded to 24% from 15% in 2016 primarily due to product mix, driven by a substantial increase in standard production batches within the Power Systems segment.

  • Cash operating costs1 increased by $2.3 million, to $4.9 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2017, with the variance due to a $1.9 million increase in net research and development (“R&D”) expense as well as a $0.4 million SG&A increase (excluding compensation indexed to share price) as discussed below:

    • Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense for the third quarter of 2017 increased $0.5 million compared to the prior-year period, primarily due to higher advertising and marketing costs within the Power Systems business segment.

    • Net R&D expense increased principally due to a reduction in government-funded R&D year-over-year as shown below. Investment in R&D spending focused on multi-megawatt energy storage projects and mobility fuel cell applications, primarily for heavy duty commercial vehicles and rail fuel cell stack platforms.
       
Three months ended September 30,   2017    2016 
Gross R&D expenses$  2.6 $  3.1 
Less: Government R&D funding   (0.4)   (2.8)
Net R&D expense$  2.2 $  0.3 
       
  • The Company’s Adjusted EBITDA2 loss increased by $0.4 million, to $1.9 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 from a loss of $1.5 million in 2016. While gross profit rose $1.9 million year-over-year, this was more than offset by an increase in R&D spending and SG&A expense as noted above.

  • Hydrogenics’ net loss was $2.0 million for the third quarter of 2017, an increase of $0.1 million from 2016. Net loss per share declined to $(0.13) per share for the three months ended September 30, 2017 from $(0.15) per share last year as a result of an increase in the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.

Notes      

  1. Cash operating costs are defined as the sum of SG&A and R&D, less amortization and depreciation, and stock-based compensation expense inclusive of compensation costs indexed to the Company’s share price. This is a non-IFRS measure and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Management uses this measure as a rough estimate of the amount of fixed costs to operate the Corporation and believes this is a useful measure for investors for the same purpose.

  2. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net loss excluding stock based compensation (both cash settled long term compensation indexed to share price and share based compensation), other finance income and expenses, depreciation and amortization. These items are considered by management to be outside of Hydrogenics’ ongoing operational results.  Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies.

Conference Call Details
Hydrogenics will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. EST on November 6, 2017 to review the third quarter results. The telephone number for the conference call is (877) 307-1373 or, for international callers, (678) 224-7873.  A live webcast of the call will also be available on the company's website, www.hydrogenics.com.

An archived copy of the conference call and webcast will be available on the company's website, www.hydrogenics.com, approximately six hours following the call. 

About Hydrogenics
Hydrogenics Corporation is a world leader in engineering and building the technologies required to enable the acceleration of a global power shift. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Hydrogenics provides hydrogen generation, energy storage and hydrogen power modules to its customers and partners around the world. Hydrogenics has manufacturing sites in Germany, Belgium and Canada and service centers in Russia, Europe, the US and Canada.

Forward-looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and under applicable Canadian securities law. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and actual results may differ from these forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including: our inability to increase our revenues or raise additional funding to continue operations, execute our business plan, or to grow our business; inability to address a slow return to economic growth, and its impact on our business, results of operations and consolidated financial condition; our limited operating history; inability to implement our business strategy; fluctuations in our quarterly results; failure to maintain our customer base that generates the majority of our revenues; currency fluctuations; failure to maintain sufficient insurance coverage; changes in value of our  goodwill; failure of a significant market to develop for our products; failure of hydrogen being readily available on a cost-effective basis; changes in government policies and regulations; failure of uniform codes and standards for hydrogen fueled vehicles and related infrastructure to develop; liability for environmental damages resulting from our research, development or manufacturing operations; failure to compete with other developers and manufacturers of products in our industry; failure to compete with developers and manufacturers of traditional and alternative technologies; failure to develop partnerships with original equipment manufacturers, governments, systems integrators and other third parties; inability to obtain sufficient materials and components for our products from suppliers; failure to manage expansion of our operations; failure to manage foreign sales and operations; failure to recruit, train and retain key management personnel; inability to integrate acquisitions; failure to develop adequate manufacturing processes and capabilities; failure to complete the development of commercially viable products; failure to produce cost-competitive products; failure or delay in field testing of our products; failure to produce products free of defects or errors; inability to adapt to technological advances or new codes and standards; failure to protect our intellectual property; our involvement in intellectual property litigation; exposure to product liability claims;  failure to meet rules regarding passive foreign investment companies; actions of our significant and principal shareholders; dilution as a result of significant issuances of our common shares and preferred shares; inability of US investors to enforce US civil liability judgments against us; volatility of our common share price; and dilution as a result of the exercise of options. Readers should not place undue reliance on Hydrogenics’ forward-looking statements. Investors are encouraged to review the section captioned “Risk Factors” in Hydrogenics’ regulatory filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of factors that could affect Hydrogenics’ future performance. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this release, and Hydrogenics undertakes no obligations to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release, unless otherwise required by law. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified by this.

Hydrogenics Contacts:

Bob Motz, Chief Financial Officer
Hydrogenics Corporation
(905) 361-3660
investors@hydrogenics.com

Chris Witty
Hydrogenics Investor Relations
(646) 438-9385
cwitty@darrowir.com

Reconciliation of Cash Operating Costs to Operating Costs and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss
(in thousands of US dollars)
(unaudited)

Cash operating costs

 Three months ended
September 30,
Nine months ended
September 30,
  2017  2016  2017  2016 
Selling, general and administrative expenses$2,884 $2,365 $9,218 $7,719 
Research and product development expenses 2,157  263  4,654  2,831 
Total operating costs$5,041 $2,628 $13,872 $10,550 
Less: Amortization and depreciation (101) (98) (314) (298)
Less: DSUs recovery (expense) (176) (6) (548) 100 
Less: Stock-based compensation expense (including PSUs & RSUs) (199) 36  (539) (254)
Less: Loss on disposal of assets -  -  (117) - 
Cash operating costs$4,914 $2,560 $12,354 $10,098 
             

Adjusted EBITDA

 Three months ended
September 30
Nine months ended
September 30,
  2017  2016  2017  2016 
Net loss$(2,003)$(1,899)$(10,011)$(7,353)
Finance loss  (138) 271  1,969  833 
Amortization and depreciation 199  192  600  548 
DSUs expense (recovery) (176) 6  548  (100)
Stock-based compensation expense (including PSUs & RSUs) 199  (36) 539  254 
Adjusted EBITDA$(1,919)$(1,466)$(6,355)$(5,818)
             

Hydrogenics Corporation
Condensed Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands of US dollars)
(unaudited)

  September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
     
Assets    
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents$18,345 $10,338 
Restricted cash 1,241  405 
Trade and other receivables   18,604  9,802 
Inventories 18,298  17,208 
Prepaid expenses 1,424  918 
  57,912  38,671 
Non-current assets    
Restricted cash 725  535 
Investment in joint ventures 2,771  1,750 
Property, plant and equipment 3,710  4,095 
Intangible assets 207  203 
Goodwill 4,498   4,019 
  11,911  10,602 
Total assets$69,823   $49,273  
     
Liabilities    
Current liabilities    
Operating borrowings$2,363 $2,111 
Trade and other payables 9,950  7,235 
Financial liabilities 5,552  3,939 
Warranty provisions 1,386  1,221 
Deferred revenue 15,954  10,788 
  35,205  25,294 
Non-current liabilities    
Other non-current liabilities   9,329    9,262 
Non-current warranty provisions   750    841 
Non-current deferred revenue   2,541    3,494 
     12,620    13,597 
Total liabilities   47,825    38,891 
Equity    
Share capital   385,753    365,923 
Contributed surplus   19,695    19,255 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (2,266)   (3,623)
Deficit    (381,184)   (371,173)
Total equity   21,998    10,382 
Total equity and liabilities$  69,823 $  49,273 
       

Hydrogenics Corporation
Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited) 

 Three months endedNine months ended
 September 30,September 30,
    2017    2016    2017    2016 
Revenues $  12,200 $  6,733 $  28,524 $  20,260 
Cost of sales    9,300    5,733    22,694    16,230 
Gross profit   2,900    1,000    5,830    4,030 
         
Operating expenses        
Selling, general and administrative expenses   2,884    2,365    9,218    7,719 
Research and product development expenses   2,157    263    4,654    2,831 
    5,041    2,628    13,872    10,550 
         
Loss from operations   (2,141)   (1,628)   (8,042)   (6,520)
         
Finance income (loss)        
Interest expense, net   (464)   (439)   (1,387)   (1,310)
Foreign currency gains (losses), net(1)   58    139    513    (39)
Gain (Loss) from joint ventures   (87)   (78)   (258)   (26)
Other finance gains (losses), net   631    107    (837)   542 
Finance income (loss), net   138    (271)   (1,969)   (833)
         
Loss before income taxes   (2,003)   (1,899)   (10,011)   (7,353)
Income tax expense    -    -  -    - 
Net loss for the period   (2,003)   (1,899)   (10,011)   (7,353)
         
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to net loss        
Exchange differences on translating foreign  operations   409    249    1,357    446 
Comprehensive loss for the period$  (1,594)$  (1,650)$  (8,654)$  (6,907)
         
Net loss per share        
Basic and diluted$    (0.13)$  (0.15 )$    (0.74  )$  (0.59 )
         

 

Hydrogenics Corporation
Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands of US dollars) (unaudited) 

 Three months endedNine months ended
 September 30,September 30,
    2017    2016    2017    2016 
Cash and cash equivalents provided by
   (used in):
        
Operating activities        
Net loss for the period$  (2,003)$  (1,899)$  (10,011)$  (7,353)
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash   133    364    (869)   371 
Items not affecting cash        
Loss on disposal of assets   3    -    117    - 
Amortization and depreciation   199    192    600    548 
Unrealized other losses on hedging   -    -    -    - 
Warrants   (631)   (106)   615    (522)
Unrealized foreign exchange losses (gains)   279    (41)   146    145 
Unrealized loss (gain) on joint ventures   87    78    258    26 
Accreted non-cash and unpaid interest and amortization of deferred financing fees   467    229    1,608    827 
Stock-based compensation   199    (36)   540    254 
Stock-based compensation - DSU’s   (176)   6    548    (100)
Net change in non-cash operating assets and liabilities   (7,005)   (1,336)   (4,858)   (6,326)
Cash used in operating activities   (8,448)   (2,549)  (11,306) (12,130)
         
Investing activities         
Investment in joint venture   -    -    (93)   - 
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment   -    -    1,035    - 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment   (180)   (1,275)   (2,255)   (2,178)
Receipt of IDF government funding   32    175    1,883    390 
Purchase of intangible assets   (33)   -    (34)   (47)
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities   (181)   (1,100)   536    (1,835)
         
Financing activities        
Common shares issued and stock options exercised, net of issuance costs   (40  )   -    19,730    - 
Interest repayment   -    (209)   (788)   (621)
Repayment of repayable government contributions   (1)   (55)   (113)   (163)
Principal repayment of long-term debt   -    -    (500)   - 
Proceeds of operating borrowings   98    2,248    287    2,248 
Repayment of operating borrowings   -    -    -    (1,077)
Cash provided by financing activities   57     1,984    18,616    387 
          
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period   (8,572)   (1,665)   7,846  (13,578)
Cash and cash equivalents - Beginning of period   27,161    11,579    10,338  23,398 
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents held   (244)   83    161    177 
Cash and cash equivalents - End of period$  18,345 $  9,997 $  18,345 $  9,997 
         
Supplemental disclosure        
Interest paid$  1 $  209 $  615 $  621 
             

Investment in R&D spending focused on multi-megawatt energy storage projects and mobility fuel cell applications, primarily for heavy duty commercial vehicles and rail fuel cell stack platforms.