China Hydroelectric Corporation Announces Record Results for the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2012

NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- China Hydroelectric Corporation (NYSE: CHC, CHCWS) ("China Hydroelectric" or "the Company"), an owner, developer and operator of small hydroelectric power projects in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"), today announced its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

"The new Board of Directors has devoted a significant amount of time and effort to ensure a smooth transition for the Company following recent changes in the composition of the Board of Directors and management. With the able assistance of Dr. You-Su Lin serving as interim Chief Executive Officer and the efforts of the transition committee of the Board, I am pleased that the business operations have proceeded without any disruption," stated Amit Gupta, recently elected Chairman of the Board.

Dr. You-Su Lin, interim chief executive officer, said, "I am pleased to report that China Hydroelectric continued to benefit from favorable hydrological conditions in two key provinces as presented below and, as a result, realized record revenues, gross profit, operating income and EBITDA for the third consecutive quarter. These results compare favorably with the same periods in 2011 since precipitation was well below average throughout all of 2011. The Company's liquidity position, which is principally dependent on two key factors, cash flow generated from operations and the state of domestic financial markets in China, materially improved as the year progressed.  Lending by banks and other financial institutions in China, which first showed notable signs of improvement in the second quarter of 2012, has enabled the Company to raise a total of $91.7 million from new borrowings and favorable refinancings this year."

"With the previously announced signing of a Share Transfer Agreement to sell the 30 megawatt Yuheng hydroelectric power project located in Fujian province, and the record operating results as well as recent borrowing and refinancing activity, the Company's short-term liquidity needs will be met. Management's long-term goal, through further negotiations with lending institutions, is to more closely match the Company's debt maturity to the long-life of its operating assets, thereby minimizing the likelihood of future liquidity crises," added Dr. Lin.

General

The following table presents precipitation levels for the regions as a percentage of long term average for the periods indicated. Precipitation is the principal factor affecting our revenues, profitability and cash generated by operations. The various provinces in which the Company operates are subject to different weather patterns or systems and precipitation fluctuates from region to region and quarter to quarter. On a total portfolio basis the Company's facilities experienced below average precipitation in the first three quarters of 2011 and above average precipitation in the first three quarters of 2012.

Precipitation -- Percentage of Long-Term Average *

*Source: Data collected by the Company and by provincial and national meteorological recording stations
N/M - Not material.

The following table presents some key comparative financial and other information (in US$ millions, except for electricity sold, effective tariff, per ADS data and percentages):

Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2012 Financial and Operational Results

Revenues

Revenues, net of value added taxes, from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2012 were $21.0 million, an increase of 30%, or $4.9 million, from $16.1million for the three months ended September 30, 2011. This increase was principally due to better than average hydrological conditions in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter and a higher effective tariff rate due to the mix of revenue from the respective provinces.

The Company sold 529.7 million kWh from continuing operations in the three months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of 119.4 million kWh, or 29%, from 410.3 million kWh sold in the three months ended September 30, 2011.

The consolidated effective utilization rate from continuing operations for the three months ended September 30, 2012 was 43.8%, compared to 33.9% in the three months ended September 30, 2011. The higher consolidated effective utilization rate in the current period was principally the result of above average precipitation in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, offset by below average precipitation in Yunnan province.

The effective tariff increased from RMB 0.27/kWh in the three months ended September 30, 2011 to RMB0.28/kWh in the three months ended September 30, 2012. The increase of 4% was caused by tariff increases received this year in Fujian province and at the Dazhaihe project in Yunnan.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues for the third quarter of 2012 was $9.1 million, as compared to $8.5 million for the third quarter of 2011, primarily due to variable costs that were higher as a result of more favorable rainfall in the third quarter of 2012. Cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues decreased to 43% for the third quarter of 2012, from 53% in the third quarter of 2011, because the percentage increase in revenues was much higher than the percentage increase in cost of revenues. The decrease of cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues is attributable to the fixed nature of certain expenses included in cost of revenues. Depreciation and amortization, non-cash expenses included in cost of revenues from continuing operations, was $5.8 million for the third quarter of 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Gross Profit and Margin

Gross profit was $11.8 million for the third quarter of 2012, an increase of $4.2 million, from $7.6 million in the third quarter of 2011. Gross margin for the third quarter of 2012 was 56% compared to 47% in the same period of 2011 primarily due to greater revenues, a result of tariff increases in Fujian province and at the Dazhaihe project as well as favorable rainfall, and the fixed nature of expenses included in cost of revenues.

Operating Expenses

General and administrative expenses ("G&A expenses") for the third quarter of 2012 were $5.3 million, or 25% of revenues, compared to $4.5 million, or 28% of revenues for the third quarter of 2011. G&A expenses increased $0.8 million due in part to non-recurring expenses recorded in the amount of $1.6 million related to the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the "EGM"). The third quarter of this year included lower non-cash employee stock-based compensation expense of $0.05 million compared to $0.9 million in the same period in 2011 as a result of unamortized cost of stock-based compensation pertaining to 2009 and 2010 stock option grants being written off in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA Margin

Adjusted EBITDA attributable to China Hydroelectric Corporation shareholders was $12.3 million for the third quarter of 2012 compared to $9.8 million for the third quarter of 2011. Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 59% for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 61% in the same period of 2011 due to higher cost and operating expenses mentioned above.

Interest Expenses

Interest expenses, net, were $7.5 million during the third quarter of 2012 compared to $7.1 million in the same period of 2011. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the average bank interest rate incurred.

GAAP and Non-GAAP Net Income / Loss

Net loss attributable to China Hydroelectric Corporation shareholders was $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2012 compared to net loss of $4.1 million in the same period in 2011 principally due to more favorable hydrological factors, partially offset by the accrual of EGM related costs.

Non-GAAP net loss was $1.0 million, or $0.02 net loss per ADS, for the third quarter of 2012 compared to net loss of $3.2 million, or $0.06 net loss per ADS, for the third quarter of 2011. For a reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP earnings, see the table entitled "GAAP Net Income/(Loss) to Non-GAAP Net Income/(Loss) Reconciliation."

Weighted average American depository shares ("ADSs") used in the third quarter of 2012 and 2011 earnings per share calculation were 54.0 million ADSs, representing 162.0 million ordinary shares, and 52.5 million ADSs, representing 157.3 million ordinary shares, respectively.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 Financial and Operational Results

Revenues

Revenues, net of value added taxes, from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $77.4 million, an increase of 65%, or $30.6 million, from $46.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. This increase was  principally due to better than average hydrological conditions in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces in the current period compared to the prior year period and a higher effective tariff rate due to the mix of revenue from the respective provinces.

The Company sold 1,586.8 million kWh from continuing operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of 498.1 million kWh, or 46%, from 1,088.7 million kWh sold in the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

The consolidated effective utilization rate from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was 44.6%, compared to 30.6% in the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The higher consolidated effective utilization rate in the current period was principally the result of above average precipitation in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces compared to below average precipitation in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, offset by below average precipitation in Yunnan province.

The effective tariff increased from RMB0.30/kWh in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to RMB0.33/kWh in the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The increase of 10% is result of tariff increases the Company has received, and higher relative revenue contribution from projects located in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, where tariffs are higher than in Yunnan province.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $27.2 million, as compared to $23.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, primarily due to variable costs that were higher as a result of more favorable rainfall in the first nine months of 2012. Cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues decreased to 35% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, from 50% in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, because the percentage increase in revenue was much higher than the percentage increase in cost of revenues. The decrease of cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues is attributable to the fixed nature of certain expenses included in cost of revenues. Depreciation and amortization, non-cash expenses included in cost of revenues from continuing operations, was $17.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to $16.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Gross Profit and Margin

Gross profit was $50.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, an increase of $ 27.0 million, from $23.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was 65% compared to 50% in the same period of 2011 primarily due to greater revenues, a result of tariff increases in Fujian province and at the Dazhaihe project as well as favorable rainfall, and the fixed nature of expenses included in cost of revenues.

Operating Expenses

G&A expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were $14.1million, or 18% of revenues, compared to $14.7 million, or 31% of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. G&A expenses decreased $0.6 million due to lower stock-based compensation expense of $0.1 million in the current period compared to $2.9 million in 2011 as a result of unamortized cost of stock-based compensation pertaining to 2009 and 2010 stock option grants being written off in the fourth quarter of 2011, offset by the non-recurring EGM related costs in the amount of $1.6 million.

Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA Margin

Adjusted EBITDA attributable to China Hydroelectric Corporation shareholders was $54.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $29.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased to 70% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 62% in the same period of 2011 due to the effect of favorable hydrological factors in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.

Interest Expenses

Interest expenses, net, were $22.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to $18.2 million in the same period of 2011. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the average bank interest rate incurred.

GAAP and Non-GAAP Net Income / Loss

Net income attributable to China Hydroelectric Corporation shareholders was $6.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to net loss of $11.1 million in the same period in 2011 principally due to more favorable hydrological factors and a gain from the sale of the Yuanping hydroelectric power project, partially offset by the accrual of EGM related costs.

Non-GAAP net income was $7.2 million, or $0.13 net income per ADS, for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to net loss of $7.8 million, or $0.15 net loss per ADS, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. For a reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP earnings, see the table entitled "GAAP Net Income/(Loss) to Non-GAAP Net Income/(Loss) Reconciliation."

Weighted average ADSs used in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 earnings per share calculation were 54.0 million ADSs, representing 162.0 million ordinary shares, and 51.6 million ADSs, representing 154.7 million ordinary shares, respectively.

Liquidity

As of September 30, 2012, we had a working capital deficiency of $116.9 million (compared to $138.7 million at December 31, 2011). Given the use of leverage to finance acquisitions and the construction of power projects, the Company will normally be in a working capital deficiency position. The Company continually seeks to raise funds through various means, including, among other things new borrowings from banks and other non-financial institutions and refinancing shorter term loans with longer term loans.  Although the management remains hopeful that additional liquidity to meet short term liquidity can be secured, our ability to obtain additional funding necessary to meet our debt obligations, whether through bank borrowings or otherwise, cannot be fully guaranteed.

Historically, the Company has relied on the ready availability of credit in China to fund its operations and expansion. Commencing in 2011 and extending into early 2012, the Company's ability to obtain financing from its principal lenders in China has been constrained by restrictions on bank lending imposed by the central government in an effort to contain inflation. As described above, the bank lending market in China has improved throughout this fiscal year; since January 1, 2012, the Company has raised a total of $91.7 million through borrowings from banks and other institutions. We also entered into a Share Transfer Agreement with a third party to sell Yuheng, a 30 megawatt project located in Fujian province, for total consideration of RMB 279.0 million ($44.3 million) including the assumption of debt by the buyer. Our revenue and cash flow have also benefited from the favorable effect of above average precipitation. However, we cannot make any assurances that our cost reduction efforts will be effective or that any additional financing will be completed on a timely basis, on acceptable terms or at all. In the event that we fail to raise funds sufficient to meet our liquidity needs, we may be forced to substantially curtail our operations or otherwise take measures that would materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and business prospects.

Business Updates

The following table shows the operating projects acquired and sold since the beginning of 2011 up to September 30, 2012.

The sale of the Yuanping power project resulted in a gain of $1.84 million.

Business Outlook for Full Year 2012

As of the date of this release, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, our higher tariff regions, have experienced lower than normal precipitation in the current quarter; however, Yunnan province has experienced higher than normal precipitation. As fourth quarter precipitation is typically the third lowest quarter, deviations from average will not have a material effect on full year results. Therefore, the precipitation to be realized in the fourth quarter of 2012 will not affect the likelihood that 2012 will be an above than average year in terms of precipitation. 

Non-GAAP Net Income/(loss) Figures

Non-GAAP net income/(loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2012 and the third quarter of 2011 and 2012, excludes the following non-cash charges: stock-based compensation expenses; exchange gains or losses and the change in fair value of warrant liabilities. A reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP items is provided in the table entitled "GAAP Net Income/(Loss) to Non-GAAP Net Income/(Loss) Reconciliation."

Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation

Adjusted EBITDA is defined by the Company as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and excluding certain non-cash charges, including: stock-based compensation expenses, exchange losses, change in fair value of warrant liabilities, provision for impairment allowance for doubtful accounts on amount due from related party and prepayments and other current assets, impairment loss on long-lived assets, and impairment loss on goodwill. For further details, see the table entitled "Net income/(loss) to adjusted EBITDA reconciliation."

Conference Call

China Hydroelectric will host a conference call at 6:00 am (Pacific) / 9:00 am (Eastern) / 10:00 pm (Beijing/Hong Kong) on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 to discuss its third quarter 2012 financial results and recent business activities. To access the live teleconference, please dial (U.S.) +1-877-941-2068 or (International) +1-480-629-9712, and enter pass code 4575295. This call is being webcast by ViaVid Broadcasting and can be accessed by clicking on this link: http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=102506, or at ViaVid's website at http://viavid.com.

A playback will be available through December 11, 2012, by dialing (U.S.) +1-877-870-5176 or (International) +1-858-384-5517 and entering the pass code 4575295.

About China Hydroelectric Corporation

China Hydroelectric Corporation (NYSE: CHC, CHCWS) ("China Hydroelectric" or "the Company") is an owner and operator of small hydroelectric power projects in the People's Republic of China. Through its geographically diverse portfolio of operating assets, the Company generates and sells electric power to local power grids. Led by an international management team, the Company's primary business is to identify, evaluate, acquire, develop, construct and finance hydroelectric power projects. The Company currently owns 26 operating hydropower stations in China with total installed capacity of 547.8 MW, of which it acquired 22 operating stations and constructed four. These hydroelectric power projects are located in four provinces: Zhejiang, Fujian, Yunnan and Sichuan.  Hydropower is an important factor in meeting China's electric power needs, accounting for approximately 22% of total nation-wide capacity.

For further information about China Hydroelectric Corporation, please visit the Company's website at http://www.chinahydroelectric.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements and Weather Data

Statements contained herein that address operating results, performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to the Company's business strategies and plan of operations, the Company's ability to acquire hydroelectric assets, the Company's capital expenditure and funding plans, the Company's operations and business prospects, projects under development, construction or planning, the Company's ability to meet its short-term liquidity needs, the availability of restructuring measure or of lending by financing sources, including banks in China, and the regulatory environment. The forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Among the factors that could cause actual results to materially differ include: supply and demand changes in the electric markets, changes in electricity tariffs, hydrological conditions, the Company's relationship with and other conditions affecting the power grids we service, the Company's production and transmission capabilities, availability of sufficient and reliable transmission resources, our plans and objectives for future operations and expansion or consolidation, interest rate and exchange rate changes, the effectiveness of the Company's cost-control measures, the Company's liquidity and financial condition, environmental laws and changes in political, economic, legal and social conditions in China, the availability of financing from lenders in China due to bank restrictions or otherwise, and other factors affecting the Company's operations that are set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 27, 2012 and in the Company's future filings with the SEC. Unless required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This release also contains statistical data and estimates that we obtained from provincial and national meteorological recording stations. Although we believe that this data is reliable and consistent with our experience, we have not independently verified it.

Interim Financial Information

This release contains unaudited financial information which in the opinion of management includes all adjustments and normal accruals necessary for a fair presentation of financial position and the comparative results of operations and cash flows which are subject to year-end audit adjustments which could be significant. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those to be achieved or expected for the entire year. Certain information and footnote disclosures, normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), have been condensed or omitted.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement China Hydroelectric consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, China Hydroelectric uses non-GAAP net income and adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Net income/(loss) to adjusted EBITDA reconciliation" and "GAAP Net Income/(Loss) to Non-GAAP Net Income/(Loss) Reconciliation" below.

China Hydroelectric believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding certain expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance and financial condition from a cash perspective. We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company's performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to China Hydroelectric historical performance and liquidity. China Hydroelectric has computed its non-GAAP financial measures using methods consistent with the Company's annual report on Form 20-F. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are useful for investors because they permit greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that they exclude certain charges that have been and may continue for the foreseeable future to be significant expenses in the Company's results of operations.

For further information, please contact:

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and certain non-cash charges including exchange loss, change in fair value of warrant liability, stock-based compensation, bad debt, impairment loss on long-lived assets, and impairment loss on goodwill. We believe that EBITDA is widely used by other companies in the power industry and may be useful to investors as a measure of the Company's financial performance. Given the significant investments that we have made in net property, plant and equipment, depreciation and amortization expense comprises a meaningful portion of the Company's cost structure. We believe that EBITDA will provide a useful tool for comparability between periods because it eliminates depreciation and amortization expenses attributable to capital expenditures and business acquisitions. The presentation of EBITDA should not be construed as an indication that the Company's future results will be unaffected by other charges and gains we consider to be outside the ordinary course of our business.

All the reconciliation items are attributed to China Hydroelectric Corporation Shareholders.

EBITDA margin attributable to China Hydroelectric Corporation shareholders, as adjusted, is calculated by dividing the period's EBITDA by net revenue including discontinued operations.

SOURCE China Hydroelectric Corporation

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