A123 Systems Announces Second Quarter 2012 Financial Results

A123 Systems (Nasdaq:AONE), a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate® lithium iron phosphate batteries and systems, has announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012.

"A123 reported second quarter revenue of $17 million as we balanced manufacturing new products for customers with producing prismatic packs for our ongoing field campaign," said David Vieau, CEO of A123 Systems. "Since the end of the second quarter, we have also taken steps toward securing A123's financial stability. We have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Wanxiang Group Corporation establishing the framework for a strategic agreement through which Wanxiang would invest up to $450 million in A123. Wanxiang is China's largest automotive components manufacturer and one of China's largest non-government-owned companies. Under the proposed terms of the strategic agreement outlined in the MOU, Wanxiang would provide A123 with up to $75 million in initial debt financing under a Senior Secured Bridge Facility, with an initial credit extension of $25 million and $50 million to be funded after the satisfaction of certain closing conditions, and, subsequently, upon satisfaction of certain closing conditions, purchase $200 million aggregate principal amount of A123's Senior Secured Convertible Notes. The agreement would also include the potential for Wanxiang to invest up to an additional $175 million if it exercises the warrants that would be issued in connection with the Bridge Facility and the Convertible Notes for cash. We believe this proposed agreement would strengthen A123's financial situation, enable us to continue building on the manufacturing and systems engineering capabilities we have established in Michigan and Massachusetts and help enhance our competitive position in the global marketplace, especially in China."

"During the second quarter, we introduced our next-generation Nanophosphate EXT technology, which is designed to improve power capability at low temperatures and battery life at high temperatures, potentially reducing or eliminating the need for costly thermal management systems for telecommunications backup, micro hybrid vehicles and EVs, among other applications. We have already signed our first production customer for this technology, and expect to begin shipping products in the first half of 2013. In addition, we extended our position as the leading provider of lithium ion battery technology to the commercial vehicle market with an expanded relationship with one of our long-standing customers, BAE Systems. BAE has deployed our cylindrical cell-based packs on nearly 3,000 hybrid buses worldwide. Under a new agreement, A123 will supply lithium ion battery packs based on our prismatic cells for BAE's HybriDrive propulsion system for use in city transit buses and other commercial vehicle applications. We also made progress in our grid business with a new contract with Ray Power Systems, a Chinese company focused on developing the frequency regulation market. Ray Power expects to deploy an A123 grid energy storage system to showcase energy storage as a valuable resource for meeting China's growing frequency regulation demand."

Financial Highlights

Revenue: Total revenue for the second quarter of 2012 was $17.0 million, a decrease of 53% from $36.4 million in the second quarter of 2011. Within total revenue, product revenue was $11.5 million, a 61% decrease from $29.6 million in the second quarter of 2011, and services revenue was $5.5 million, a decrease of 19% from $6.8 million in the second quarter of 2011.

Gross Profit/(Loss): Gross loss was ($29.2) million in the second quarter of 2012, compared to a gross loss of ($17.5) million in the second quarter of 2011. Included in the second quarter of 2012 gross loss is a ($3.3) million non-cash asset impairment charge related to the Korea facility shutdown.

Net Income/(Loss): Net loss was ($82.9) million, or ($0.56) per common share, based on 147.0 million weighted average common shares outstanding in the second quarter of 2012. This compared to a net loss of ($55.4) million in the second quarter of 2011, or ($0.44) per common share, based on 124.5 million weighted average common shares outstanding. The second quarter of 2012 net loss included a ($8.4) million non-cash charge related to the change in fair value of warrants and embedded derivatives that the Company issued in January and May of 2012, as well as a ($2.9) million non-cash charge related to an additional write down of our investment in Fisker Automotive.

Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was a loss of ($52.4) million in the second quarter of 2012, compared to a loss of ($41.1) million in the second quarter of 2011.

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results has been provided in the financial statement tables included at the end of this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Cash: A123 Systems had cash and cash equivalents of $47.7 million as of June 30, 2012. This balance does not reflect $6.8 million in net proceeds from the Company's registered direct offering of common stock and warrants announced on July 6, 2012, $30.0 million from the Company's 6.00% senior convertible notes offering that was restricted as of June 30, 2012, or the bridge facility, and convertible notes and warrants offering announced today. Cash and cash equivalents were $113.1 million as of March 31, 2012.

Other Second Quarter and Recent Business Highlights

Product Revenue Mix: During the second quarter of 2012, transportation revenue was $7.0 million and commercial revenue was $4.5 million. This compares to transportation revenue of $24.4 million and commercial revenue of $5.2 million in the second quarter of 2011. Revenue from the electric grid market was not material in the second quarter of 2012 or the second quarter of 2011.

Product Shipments: During the second quarter of 2012, product shipments were 16.3 million watt hours compared to 42.6 million watt hours in the second quarter of 2011.

Financial and Business Metric Summary

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains a non-GAAP financial measure under the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for adjusted EBITDA. This non-GAAP information supplements and is not intended to represent a measure of performance in accordance with disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. Non-GAAP financial measures are used internally to manage the business, such as in establishing an annual operating budget. Non-GAAP financial measures are used by A123 Systems management in its operating and financial decision-making because management believes these measures reflect ongoing business in a manner that allows meaningful period-to-period comparisons. Accordingly, A123 Systems believes it is useful for investors and others to review both GAAP and non-GAAP measures in order to (a) understand and evaluate current operating performance and future prospects in the same manner as management does and (b) compare in a consistent manner the company's current financial results with past financial results. The primary limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures are that these measures may not be directly comparable to the amounts reported by other companies and they do not include all items of income and expense that affect operations. A123 Systems management compensates for these limitations by considering the company's financial results and outlook as determined in accordance with GAAP and by providing a detailed reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in the tables attached to this press release.

A123 Systems defines "Adjusted EBITDA" as operating loss plus depreciation and amortization of tangible and intangible assets, which includes impairment charges, and stock-based compensation expense.