Phoenix Solar AG presents its figures for the first half of 2012

Sulzemoos, 9 August 2012 / Phoenix Solar AG (ISIN DE000A0BVU93), a leading international photovoltaic system integrator listed in Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, is today releasing its financial report for the first half of 2012. Despite dynamic developments in the market, above all in Germany, revenues in the first half of the current financial year 2012 were slightly below the company's expectations. This is attributable to the tumbling prices of solar modules and the company's challenging situation. In the first six months, the company's development was impacted by restructuring, refinancing negotiations and uncertainty on the part of customers and suppliers. However, against the backdrop of the scheduled implementation of restructuring, the result in the first half-year improved notably compared with the year-earlier period.

Performance in the second quarter
In the second quarter, the Phoenix Solar Group delivered consolidated revenues of EUR 46.5 million (Q2/2011: EUR 108.4 million), which corresponds to a decline of 57.1 percent. Revenues generated through international business dropped disproportionately, by 25.9 percent to EUR 33.6 million (Q2/2011: EUR 45.3 million). The share in total revenues, however, rose to 72.2 percent (Q2/2011: 41.8 percent).

The Components & Systems Segment posted revenues of EUR 19.2 million (Q2/2011: EUR 72.2 million), thus falling 73.5 percent short of its 2011 counterpart, and contributed 41.2 percent (Q2/2011: 66.6 percent) to consolidated revenues. The Power Plants Segment delivered revenues of EUR 27.3 million (Q2/2011: EUR 36.2 million), down 24.6 percent in a year-on-year comparison. This segment contributed 58.8 percent (Q2/2011: 33.4 percent) to total revenues.

In the second quarter, consolidated earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) came to EUR –13.0 million (Q2/2011: EUR –9.4 million). This figure includes a non-recurrent burden on the result in the upper single-digit million range from the Kazanlak Project in Bulgaria where the feed-in tariff valid until 30 June 2012 was not secured.

The EBIT margin (ratio of EBIT to revenues) stood at –28.1 percent (Q2/2011: –8.7 percent). After tax, the consolidated result in the second quarter stood at EUR –15.3 million (Q2/2011: EUR –8.2 million), which corresponds to earnings per share of EUR –2.13 (Q2/2011: EUR –1.11).

Results for the first half of 2012
In the first half of the year, the revenues of the Phoenix Solar Group declined by 40.1 percent to EUR 84.4 million (H1/2011: EUR 140.8 million). The share in revenues generated through international business, however, fell by only 13.4 percent to EUR 59.4 million (H1/2011: EUR 68.6 million), and contributed 70.4 percent (H1/2011: 48.7 percent) to total revenues.

The Components & Systems Segment delivered revenues of EUR 38.5 million in the first six months (H1/2011: EUR 89.2 million), thus falling 56.9 percent below the previous year's figure and contributing 45.6 percent (H1/2011: 63.4 percent) to consolidated revenues. The share of the segment's revenues generated through international business climbed to 49.1 percent (H1/2011: 23.5 percent). The Power Plants Segment posted revenues of EUR 45.9 million (H1/2011: EUR 51.6 million), which corresponds to a decline of 11.1 percent in a year-on-year comparison. This segment contributed 54.4 percent (H1/2011: 36.6 percent) to total revenues. The share of the segment's revenues generated through international business advanced to 88.2 percent (H1/2011: 92.2 percent).

The Group's EBIT improved significantly to EUR –14.1 million at the end of the first six months (H1/2011: EUR –26.3 million). The EBIT margin came in at –16.7 percent (H1/2011: –18.7 percent). The consolidated result after tax amounted to EUR –16.5 million in the first half-year (H1/2011: EUR –21.1 million), which corresponds to earnings per share of EUR –2.25 (H1/2011: EUR –2.86).

Orders in hand at the end of the first half-year
At the end of the first six months, consolidated orders in hand stood at EUR 143 million (H1/2011: EUR 311.1 million), which is 54.0 percent lower than the year-earlier figure. The proportion of international business in the order book came to € 137.3 million (H1/2011: EUR 238.1 million), thereby contributing 96.0 percent (H1/2011: 76.6 percent) to the sum total of orders in hand.

“Our endeavours in the first six months of the year were focused on restructuring our organisation and on bringing our refinancing negotiations to a successful conclusion. We view 2012 as a year of transition dedicated to fully implementing our restructuring plan, which will enable us to lay the foundations for a return to future profitable growth in the years ahead”, stated Dr. Bernd Köhler, Chief Financial Officer of Phoenix Solar AG.

Outlook
The Executive Board affirms its guidance for achieving revenues ranging from EUR 210 to 240 million and an EBIT of between EUR –25 and –19 million in the financial year 2012. This result is burdened by special items from restructuring and refinancing. In addition, the ongoing costs, incurred for instance by reducing personnel capacities, are also a burdening factor.

Figures for the first half of the financial year 2012 at a glance

This is an English translation of the German original. Only the German version is binding.

About Phoenix Solar AG
Phoenix Solar AG, which has its headquarters in Sulzemoos near Munich, is a leading international photovoltaic system integrator. The Group develops, plans, builds and operates large-scale photovoltaic plants and is a specialist wholesaler for turnkey power plants, solar modules and accessories. With sales operations throughout Germany and subsidiaries on three continents, the company has sold solar modules with an output of more than one gigawatt since its founding. The shares of Phoenix Solar AG (ISIN DE000A0BVU93) are listed on the official market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. www.phoenixsolar-group.com
 

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Phoenix Solar AG
Hirschbergstraße 8
D-85254 Sulzemoos

Jutta Stolp
Tel. +49 (0) 8135 938-315
Fax +49 (0) 8135 938-399
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www.phoenixsolar-group.de