Highpower International Reports Unaudited Second Quarter First Half 2017 Financial Results

SAN DIEGO and SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Highpower International, Inc. (NASDAQ: HPJ) ("Highpower" or the "Company"), a developer, manufacturer, and marketer of lithium ion and nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) rechargeable batteries, battery management systems, and a provider of battery recycling, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017.

Second Quarter 2017 Highlights

    --  Net sales for the second quarter of 2017 increased by 40.7% to $51.7
        million from $36.7 million in the prior year period.
    --  Gross profit for the second quarter of 2017 increased by 57.9% to $12.1
        million from $7.6 million in the prior year period
    --  EBITDA for the second quarter of 2017 increased by 67.1% to $6.5 million
        from $3.9 million in the prior year period.
    --  Net income attributable to the Company for the second quarter of 2017
        was $4.4 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, as compared to $2.1
        million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the prior year period.

Mr. George Pan, Chairman and CEO of Highpower International, commented, "We are extremely pleased to deliver yet another quarter of strong top- and bottom-line results in the second quarter of 2017. Our lithium ion battery and battery solution business continued to enjoy healthy growth, driven by continued high demand for energy storage systems, smart wearable devices, and other digital products. Our gross margins performed well as we continued to benefit from efficiencies of scale, and we continued to invest in areas that are critical to our business.

As we enter the second half of 2017, we expect a stronger cash position and reasonable growth given our much higher baseline. We believe that the cash received from the previously announced equity transfer of our Yipeng ownership will help us expand our production capacity and research and development efforts. We also look forward to seeing the financial benefits of the previously announced partnerships for supplying batteries to industry-leading smart vacuum brands as well as supplying PHEV and EV to Yipeng. We will continue to drive our business forward by focusing on strategic partnerships. We are well-positioned to take advantage of strong growth opportunities and expand current partnerships with leading brands."

Second Quarter and First Half 2017 Financial Results

Net Sales

Net sales for the second quarter of 2017 increased by 40.7% to $51.7 million from $36.7 million in the prior year period, primarily attributable to the substantial growth in revenue from the Lithium and New Materials segments, driven by increased demand in consumer products including portable power stations, digital products, smart wearable devices, and notebooks.

Net sales increased 42.1% to $93.6 million in the first half of 2017 as compared to $65.8 million for the first half in 2016. The increase was driven by higher sales volume and revenue from the Lithium and New Materials segments.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2017 increased by 57.9% to $12.1 million from $7.6 million in the prior year period, primarily attributable to a higher margin product mix and efficiencies gained from economies of scale. Gross margin for the second quarter of 2017 increased to 23.3% from 20.8% in the prior year period.

Gross profit for the first half of 2017 increased 62.8% to $22.0 million from $13.5 million in prior year period. Gross margin was 23.5% and 20.5% for first half 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Operating Expenses

    --  Research and development (R&D) expenses for the second quarter of 2017
        were $2.1 million as compared to $2.0 million in the prior year period.
        Research and development expenses were $4.0 million, or 4.2% of net
        sales, for the first half of 2017 as compared to $3.7 million, or 5.6%
        of net sales, for the first half of 2016.

    --  Selling and distribution expenses for the second quarter of 2017 were
        $1.7 million as compared to $1.5 million in the prior year period. As a
        percentage of net sales, selling and distribution expenses decreased to
        3.3% from 4.2% in the prior year period, primarily attributable to the
        Company's customer base optimization efforts.Selling and distribution
        expenses were $3.4 million, or 3.6% of net sales, for the first half of
        2017 as compared with $3.1 million, or 4.7% of net sales, for the first
        half of 2016.

    --  General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2017 were
        $3.0 million as compared to $3.2 million in the prior year period. As a
        percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses decreased
        to 5.8% from 8.8% in the prior year period.General and administrative
        expenses were $6.1 million, or 6.5% of net sales, for the first half of
        2017 as compared with $6.3 million, or 9.6% of net sales, for the six
        months ended June 30, 2016.

Net Income

Net income attributable to the Company for the second quarter of 2017 increased to $4.4 million from $2.1 million in the prior year period. Net income attributable to the Company per diluted share for the second quarter of 2017 increased to $0.28 from $0.14 in the prior year period.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company's weighted average diluted shares outstanding used in computing diluted share was 15,479,357 and 15,102,877, respectively.

Net income attributable to the Company for the first half of 2017 increased to $6.9 million from $1.7 million in the prior year period. Net income attributable to the Company per diluted share for the first half of 2017 increased to $0.45 from $0.11 in the prior year period.

For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company's weighted average diluted shares outstanding used in computing diluted share was 15,304,773 and 15,103,886, respectively.

EBITDA

EBITDA for the second quarter of 2017 increased by 67.1% to $6.5 million from $3.9 million in the prior year period. EBITDA for the first half of 2017 increased by 124.9% to $11.5 million from $5.1 million in the prior year period.

A table reconciling EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to the appropriate GAAP measure is included with the Company's financial information below.



    Balance Sheet Highlights

    ($ in millions, except per share data)            June 30,          December 31,
    -------------------------------------

                                           2017 2016
                                           ---- ----

                                                     (Unaudited)

                                                                      $                  $

    Cash                                                          $19.3                $9.3

    Total Current Assets                                         $126.0              $104.5

    Total Assets                                                 $188.2              $163.3


    Total Current Liabilities                                    $133.6              $118.0

    Total Liabilities                                            $133.6              $118.0

    Total Equity                                                  $54.5               $45.3

    Total Liabilities and Equity                                 $188.2              $163.3

    Book Value Per Share                                          $3.55               $3.00

Ganzhou Highpower

Shenzhen Highpower Technology Co., Ltd ("Shenzhen Highpower"), Xiamen Tungsten Co. Ltd. (SHA: 600549) ("Tungsten"), and other minority shareholders of Ganzhou Highpower Technology Co., Ltd. ("Ganzhou Highpower") have been in discussions regarding, and Tungsten recently announced that its board of directors has approved, a proposed investment of RMB 78.8 million (or approximately $11.8 million) in exchange for the acquisition of 47% ownership of Ganzhou Highpower, the Company's majority-owned subsidiary. Shenzhen Highpower would not be transferring any of its equity ownership of Ganzhou Highpower and it would not receive any of the consideration, which would be given directly to Ganzhou Highpower. The proposed transaction is subject to approval by Highpower's board of directors and execution of a definitive binding agreement and related documentation, satisfaction of conditions included therein, and other customary approvals and conditions. As a result of this transaction, if consummated, Shenzhen Highpower's ownership of Ganzhou Highpower would decrease from 70% to 31.3%. There can be no assurance that a definitive agreement will be entered into or that the proposed transaction will be consummated. Further, readers are cautioned that the terms of the proposed transaction described herein, including the consideration to be issued therein, are non-binding.

Conference Call Details

The Company will hold a conference call on Thursday, Aug 10, 2017 at 10:00 am Eastern Time or 10:00 pm Beijing Time to discuss the financial results. Participants may access the call by dialing the following numbers:


    United States:                       877-407-3108

    International:                       201-493-6797

To listen to the live webcast, please go to www.highpowertech.com and click on the conference call link, or go to http://highpowertech.equisolvewebcast.com/q2-2017. This webcast will be archived and accessible through the Company's website for approximately 30 days following the call.

About Highpower International, Inc.

Highpower International was founded in 2001 and produces high-quality Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) and lithium-based rechargeable batteries used in a wide range of applications such as electric buses, bikes, energy storage systems, power tools, medical equipment, digital and electronic devices, personal care products, and lighting, etc. Highpower's target customers are Fortune 500 companies and top 20 companies in each vertical segment. With advanced manufacturing facilities located in Shenzhen, Huizhou, and Ganzhou of China, Highpower is committed to clean technology, not only in the products it makes, but also in the processes of production. The majority of Highpower International's products are distributed to worldwide markets mainly in the United States, Europe, China and Southeast Asia.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

The Company has supplemented its reported GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) financial information with non-GAAP measures. EBITDA was derived by taking earnings before interest expense (net), taxes, depreciation and amortization. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as it provides a basis for evaluating the Company's operating results in the ordinary course of its operations. This non-GAAP measure is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. The Company believes that non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with its results of operations as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP and that these measures should only be used to evaluate the Company's results of operations in conjunction with, and not in lieu of, the corresponding GAAP measures. EBITDA is reconciled in the table below to the most directly comparable measure as reported in accordance with GAAP.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements include the proposed transaction regarding Ganzhou Highpower, approval by Highpower's board and Highpower's resulting equity ownership, Highpower's cash position and growth, production capacity, research and development efforts, strategic partnerships and business and financial expectations. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "project," "plan," "seek," "intend," or "anticipate" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such statements, including, without limitation, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the terms of the proposed Ganzhou Highpower not hereafter being approved by Highpower's board or memorialized in a definitive agreement; inability to successfully expand our production capacity; fluctuations in the cost of raw materials; our dependence on, or inability to attract additional, major customers for a significant portion of our net sales; our ability to increase manufacturing capabilities to satisfy orders from new customers; our ability to maintain increased margins; our dependence on the growth in demand for smart wearable devices and energy storage systems, and other digital products and the success of manufacturers of the end applications that use our battery products; lower than expected sales of batteries to producers of smart vacuum products; our responsiveness to competitive market conditions; our ability to successfully manufacture our products in the time frame and amounts expected; the market acceptance of our battery solutions, including our lithium ion batteries; and our ability to continue R&D development to keep up with technological changes. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties see "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's public filings with the SEC. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company has no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

CONTACT:

Highpower International, Inc.

Sunny Pan
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +86-755-8968-6521
Email: ir@highpowertech.com

Yuanmei Ma
Investor Relations Manager
Tel: +1-909-214-2482
Email: ir@highpowertech.com

ICR, Inc.
Rose Zu
Tel: +1-646-931-0303
Email: ir@highpowertech.com


                                               HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                           (Stated in US Dollars)


                                                                      June 30,                December 31, 2016

                                                                                       2017

                                                                 (Unaudited)

                                                                                       $                            $

    ASSETS

                Current Assets:

                Cash                                                            19,325,657                     9,324,393

                Restricted cash                                                 15,918,318                    11,213,640

                Accounts receivable, net                                        42,737,207                    46,280,769

                Amount due from Yipeng                                           2,465,325                     7,517,250

                Notes receivable                                                 2,192,197                     1,093,730

                Prepayments and other receivables                               10,922,029                     6,899,872

                Inventories                                                     32,488,267                    22,207,333
                                                                              ----------


                Total Current Assets                                           126,049,000                   104,536,987
                                                                             -----------


                Property, plant and equipment, net                              46,167,556                    43,504,991

                Land use right, net                                              3,670,645                     3,622,435

                Other assets                                                       475,000                       500,000

                Deferred tax assets                                              1,248,226                     1,477,761

                Long-term investment                                            10,540,473                     9,689,576


    TOTAL ASSETS                                                             188,150,900                   163,331,750
                                                                             ===========                   ===========


    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY


    LIABILITIES

                Current Liabilities:

                Accounts payable                                                49,132,387                    49,463,901

                Deferred income                                                    892,154                       761,491

                Short-term loans                                                19,329,517                    18,776,080

                Non-financial institution borrowings                            11,804,285                     3,741,115

                Notes payable                                                   41,373,724                    30,658,000

                Amount due to Yipeng                                                62,204                     1,522,313

                 Other payables and accrued
                 liabilities                                                     9,249,029                    11,148,556

                Income taxes payable                                             1,782,786                     1,963,298


                Total Current Liabilities                                      133,626,086                   118,034,754
                                                                             -----------


                Warrant Liability                                                        -                          259


                 TOTAL
                 LIABILITIES                                                   133,626,086                   118,035,013
                ------------


    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES                                                      -                            -


                                                                                               HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                                                                                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                                                                           (Stated in US Dollars)


                                                                                                                                                  June 30,               December 31, 2016

                                                                                                                                                                    2017

                                                                                                                                              (Unaudited)

                                                                                                                                                                    $                               $

    EQUITY

                 Stockholders' equity

                 Preferred stock                                                                                                                                      -                               -

                 (Par value: $0.0001, Authorized: 10,000,000 shares, Issued and outstanding:
                 none)

                 Common stock

                 (Par value: $0.0001, Authorized: 100,000,000 shares, 15,356,560 shares                                                                           1,536                            1,511
                 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017 and 15,114,991 shares issued and
                 outstanding at December 31, 2016)

                 Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                                  12,249,531                       11,580,934

                 Statutory and other reserves                                                                                                                 4,992,463                        4,992,463

                 Retained earnings                                                                                                                           36,172,954                       29,266,068

                 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)                                                                                                  600,641                        (873,582)
                                                                                                                                                              -------


                 Total equity attributable to the stockholders of Highpower International Inc.                                                               54,017,125                       44,967,394


                 Non-controlling interest                                                                                                                       507,689                          329,343


    TOTAL EQUITY                                                                                                                                           54,524,814                       45,296,737
                                                                                                                                                           ----------                       ----------


    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                                                                                                                          188,150,900                      163,331,750
                                                                                                                                                          ===========                      ===========


                                                                             HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                                            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

                                                                                         (Stated in US Dollars)


                                                                                                                            Three months ended                    Six months ended

                                                                                                                                 June 30,                             June 30,
                                                                                                                               --------                          --------

                                                                                                                                2017                    2016                        2017            2016
                                                                                                                                ----                    ----                        ----            ----

                                                                                                                        (Unaudited)            (Unaudited)                (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)

                                                                                                                                   $                      $                          $              $

    Net sales                                                                                                             51,699,930              36,732,310                  93,566,778      65,829,365

    Cost of sales                                                                                                       (39,628,164)           (29,088,639)               (71,560,178)   (52,308,655)
                                                                                                                         -----------             -----------                 -----------     -----------

    Gross profit                                                                                                          12,071,766               7,643,671                  22,006,600      13,520,710
                                                                                                                          ----------               ---------                  ----------      ----------


    Research and development expenses                                                                                    (2,137,286)            (2,035,886)                (3,951,216)    (3,658,769)

    Selling and distribution expenses                                                                                    (1,722,910)            (1,539,395)                (3,361,223)    (3,074,431)

    General and administrative expenses                                                                                  (3,016,401)            (3,248,899)                (6,074,963)    (6,318,613)

    Foreign currency transaction (loss) gain                                                                               (514,624)                600,313                   (828,502)        509,877
                                                                                                                            --------                 -------                    --------         -------

    Total operating expenses                                                                                             (7,391,221)            (6,223,867)               (14,215,904)   (12,541,936)
                                                                                                                          ----------              ----------                 -----------     -----------


    Income from operations                                                                                                 4,680,545               1,419,804                   7,790,696         978,774
                                                                                                                           ---------               ---------                   ---------         -------


    Changes in fair value of warrant liability                                                                                31,811                   7,077                         259         126,546

    Other income                                                                                                             276,365               1,055,947                     854,458       1,211,875

    Equity in (loss) earnings of investee                                                                                   (41,607)                      -                    105,325               -

    Gain on dilution in equity method investee                                                                               491,325                       -                    491,325               -
                                                                                                                             -------                     ---                    -------             ---

    Interest expenses                                                                                                      (380,531)              (435,402)                  (983,848)      (710,394)

    Income before taxes                                                                                                    5,057,908               2,047,426                   8,258,215       1,606,801


    Income taxes expenses                                                                                                  (595,708)              (174,313)                (1,183,473)      (209,817)
                                                                                                                            --------                --------                  ----------        --------

    Net income                                                                                                             4,462,200               1,873,113                   7,074,742       1,396,984


    Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling                                                                   90,963               (178,669)                    167,856       (312,190)
    interest
                                                                                                                                                                                                  ---

    Net income attributable to the Company                                                                                 4,371,237               2,051,782                   6,906,886       1,709,174
                                                                                                                           =========               =========                   =========       =========


    Comprehensive income (loss)

    Net income                                                                                                             4,462,200               1,873,113                   7,074,742       1,396,984

    Foreign currency translation gain (loss)                                                                               1,508,714             (1,964,424)                  1,484,713     (1,714,278)
                                                                                                                           ---------              ----------                   ---------      ----------

    Comprehensive income (loss)                                                                                            5,970,914                (91,311)                  8,559,455       (317,294)


    Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-                                                                    98,795               (197,060)                    178,346       (325,882)
    controlling interest
                                                                                                                                                                                                  ---

    Comprehensive income attributable to the Company                                                                       5,872,119                 105,749                   8,381,109           8,588
                                                                                                                           =========                 =======                   =========           =====


    Earnings per share of common stock attributable to
    the Company

    - Basic                                                                                                                     0.29                    0.14                        0.45            0.11
                                                                                                                                ====                    ====                        ====            ====

    - Diluted                                                                                                                   0.28                    0.14                        0.45            0.11
                                                                                                                                ====                    ====                        ====            ====


    Weighted average number of common stock
    outstanding

    - Basic                                                                                                               15,317,101              15,101,679                  15,218,820      15,101,679
                                                                                                                          ==========              ==========                  ==========      ==========

    - Diluted                                                                                                             15,479,357              15,102,877                  15,304,773      15,103,886
                                                                                                                          ==========              ==========                  ==========      ==========


    Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA
    --------------------------------------

                                                                                                                          Three months ended                 Six months ended

                                                                                                                               June 30,                          June 30,
                                                                                                                               --------                          --------

                                                                                                                                2017                    2016                        2017            2016
                                                                                                                                ----                    ----                        ----            ----

                                                                                                                        (Unaudited)            (Unaudited)                (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)

                                                                                                                                   $                      $                          $              $

    Net income attributable to the Company                                                                                 4,371,237               2,051,782                   6,906,886       1,709,174
                                                                                                                           =========               =========                   =========       =========


    Interest expenses                                                                                                        380,531                 435,402                     983,848         710,394

    Income taxes expenses                                                                                                    595,708                 174,313                   1,183,473         209,817

    Depreciation and Amortization                                                                                          1,155,648               1,229,817                   2,429,982       2,486,196


    EBITDA                                                                                                                 6,503,124               3,891,314                  11,504,189       5,115,581
                                                                                                                           =========               =========                  ==========       =========


                                                                                  HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                                                                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                                                              (Stated in US Dollars)


                                                                                                                                   Six months ended June 30,
                                                                                                                                   -------------------------

                                                                                                                                          2017                        2016
                                                                                                                                          ----                        ----

                                                                                                                                  (Unaudited)                (Unaudited)

                                                                                                                                             $                          $

    Cash flows from operating activities

    Net income                                                                                                                       7,074,742                   1,396,984

    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    Depreciation and amortization                                                                                                    2,429,982                   2,486,196

    Allowance for doubtful accounts                                                                                                     17,994                       4,837

    Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment                                                                                   25,218                      95,368

    Deferred income tax                                                                                                                263,673                    (64,671)

    Equity in earnings of investee                                                                                                   (105,325)                          -

    Gain on dilution in equity method investee                                                                                       (491,325)                          -

    Share based compensation                                                                                                            44,815                     205,969

    Changes in fair value of warrant liability                                                                                           (259)                  (126,546)

    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    Accounts receivable                                                                                                              4,390,991                   3,216,097

    Notes receivable                                                                                                               (1,057,366)                  1,051,486

    Prepayments and other receivables                                                                                              (3,799,960)                  (770,029)

    Amount due from Yipeng                                                                                                           5,178,499                 (2,187,784)

    Amount due to Yipeng                                                                                                           (1,480,335)                    774,545

    Inventories                                                                                                                    (9,595,161)                (1,735,486)

    Accounts payable                                                                                                                 (494,812)                (2,843,233)

    Deferred income                                                                                                                    109,892                    (75,912)

    Other payables and accrued liabilities                                                                                         (2,145,295)                    349,026

    Income taxes payable                                                                                                             (227,668)                  (499,161)
                                                                                                                                      --------                    --------

    Net cash flows provided by operating activities                                                                                    138,300                   1,277,686
                                                                                                                                       -------                   ---------


    Cash flows from investing activities

    Acquisitions of plant and equipment                                                                                            (5,199,130)                (4,415,690)

    Proceeds from investment                                                                                                                 -                  (764,409)

    Net cash flows used in investing activities                                                                                    (5,199,130)                (5,180,099)
                                                                                                                                    ----------                  ----------


    Cash flows from financing activities

    Proceeds from short-term loans                                                                                                   2,916,017                   1,452,377

    Repayment of short-term loans                                                                                                  (2,841,696)                          -

    Repayment of long-term loans                                                                                                             -                  (917,291)

    Proceeds from non-financial institution borrowings                                                                              10,200,959                   4,586,455

    Repayment of non-financial institution borrowings                                                                              (2,331,648)                          -

    Proceeds from notes payable                                                                                                     40,861,835                  29,485,540

    Repayment of notes payable                                                                                                    (31,049,819)               (30,313,965)

    Proceeds from exercise of employee options                                                                                         623,806                           -

    Change in restricted cash                                                                                                      (4,364,417)                  1,531,837
                                                                                                                                    ----------                   ---------

    Net cash flows provided by financing activities                                                                                 14,015,037                   5,824,953
                                                                                                                                    ----------                   ---------

    Effect of foreign currency translation on cash                                                                                   1,047,057                   (973,532)
                                                                                                                                     ---------                    --------

    Net increase in cash                                                                                                            10,001,264                     949,008

    Cash - beginning of period                                                                                                       9,324,393                   5,849,967

    Cash - end of period                                                                                                            19,325,657                   6,798,975
                                                                                                                                    ==========                   =========


    Supplemental disclosures for cash flow information:

    Cash paid for:

    Income taxes                                                                                                                     1,147,467                     773,650

    Interest expenses                                                                                                                  948,831                     710,394

    Non-cash transactions

    Offset of deferred income related to government grant and property, plant and                                                       85,571                      26,988
    equipment

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SOURCE Highpower International, Inc.