PV Crystalox Solar PV Crystalox Solar PLC Annual report and accounts 2014 PLC Annual report and accounts 2014 ABOUT US AND HIGHLIGHTS PV Crystalox Solar is a long established supplier to the global photovoltaic industry, producing multicrystalline silicon wafers for use in solar electricity generation systems. • Cash conservation strategy continued during 2014 • There were no shipments to long-term contract customers • We have strengthened relationships with new customers in Taiwan and Europe • Wafer shipments were 212MW (2013: 211MW) Revenues Net cash (cash less external loans) Inventories €53.3m €24.6m €28.6m 2013: €71.4m 2013: €39.2m 2013: €13.0m Net cash from operating activities EBT (earnings before taxation) – continuing operations – continuing operations €(15.7)m €(4.7)m 2013: €4.4m 2013: €6.6m Find more online at www.pvcrystalox.com Strategic report Governance Financial statements IFC About us and highlights 14 Chairman’s introduction to governance Consolidated financial statements 01 Chairman’s statement 15 Corporate governance statement 33 Independent auditors’ report 02 Operational and financial review 17 Directors 37 Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 06 The current market 18 Report of the nomination committee 38 Consolidated balance sheet 08 Our strategy and KPIs 19 Directors’ remuneration report 39 Consolidated statement of changes in equity 10 Risk management and principal risks 28 Report of the audit committee 40 Consolidated cash flow statement 12 Corporate responsibility 30 Directors’ report 42 Notes to the consolidated financial statements 32 Statement of directors’ responsibilities Company financial statements 64 Independent auditors’ report 66 Accounting policies 67 Company balance sheet 68 Notes to the company financial statements Shareholder information 72 Advisers CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT report Strategic Cash conservation is the necessary Governance response to market conditions. Our future is dependent upon sensible Financial statements Financial trading conditions returning to the solar marketplace. The photovoltaic market continues to Our employees are one of the Group’s key experience significant growth in global strengths and are vital in ensuring that we retain our core production capabilities. During installations; however, pressure on 2014 we ramped up production volumes in pricing and international trade disputes order to consolidate relationships with our make it very challenging for all newly developed customer base. This required manufacturers. As a consequence, an increase in our staff numbers from 88 at the end of 2013 to 138 at the end of 2014. Many PV Crystalox Solar has continued to of these additional employees had previously protect shareholder value by operating been employed within the Group but had left in cash conservation mode, with some following the restructuring in 2011 and 2013. increase in production, albeit at levels I would like to welcome them back and to thank all our employees for their continuing far below our maximum capacity, and outstanding commitment and contribution. with a strong focus on cost control. I would also like to thank Peter Finnegan, who In 2014 we maintained wafer shipments at the retired from his role as Chief Financial Officer of same level as in 2013, but trading volumes of the Group on 31 May 2014. The Board expresses excess polysilicon were significantly lower than its gratitude to Peter for his contribution to the in 2013. As a consequence our revenues of success of the Group and wishes him well for €53.3 million were 25% lower than 2013 and the future. Following Peter Finnegan’s departure our year end polysilicon inventory was Matthew Wethey took over the Chief Financial €14.2 million higher. There was a reduction Officer role in addition to his role as in profitability during 2014 mainly due to the Group Secretary. negative impact of revised assumptions in The Board continues to believe that our cash respect of the onerous contract provision conservation strategy is the necessary response which was partly offset by higher levels of other to current market conditions, enabling us to income due to a customer settlement received protect shareholder value whilst preserving the in 2014. As a result the loss before tax from Group’s core production capabilities. Whilst the continuing operations was €4.7 million compared Board remains committed to the solar industry, to the €6.6 million profit in 2013. Net cash our future is dependent upon sensible trading at the year end was €24.6 million which was conditions returning to the solar marketplace. €14.6 million lower than the €39.2 million held at the end of 2013. John Sleeman Chairman 18 March 2015 PV Crystalox Solar PLC Annual report and accounts 2014 01 OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL REVIEW The Group has made steady progress during 2014 in its limited objectives to ramp up production output and consolidate relationships with its newly developed customer base, which is mainly in Taiwan. Operational review of 2014 accounted for 34% of wafer volumes as recently improvement programmes. As announced The Group has made steady progress during 2014 as 2013. The PV industry is now dominated by previously in the 2013 Annual Report, production in its limited objectives to ramp up production companies in other regions within Asia and volumes have been increased during 2014 to output and consolidate relationships with its by companies in China in particular. It is sobering consolidate links with our new customers. The newly developed customer base, which is mainly to note that ten of the 20 leading global crystalline increased output has enabled wafer shipments in Taiwan. However the industry environment silicon solar cell makers are based in China (2014: 212MW) to be maintained at levels in remains intensely competitive and continues and seven in Taiwan with China-based makers line with those achieved in the previous year to be disrupted by US-China trade disputes. accounting for 55% of global capacity and 20% (2013: 211MW) when almost half was supplied Pricing across the value chain has shown by those based in Taiwan. The abundance of from inventory. Nevertheless, the Group remains considerable volatility and market conditions local suppliers makes competing in the Chinese cautious and, in view of the unfavourable market have deteriorated markedly since the middle market impractical and so the Group’s focus pricing, no increase in output is anticipated for of the year with renewed pressure on pricing. is on customers in Taiwan and those survivors 2015 and production levels will be restricted to Wafer prices saw a modest recovery in late in Europe, where the weaker Euro is providing around 30% of our 750MW operating capacity. 2013 and peaked in Q1 2014 but have declined a lifeline. In common with most PV companies the thereafter barring a short lived rally in Q4 to reach The Group continues to operate in cash Group is burdened by long-term contractual levels close to historic lows during Q1 2015. conservation mode with reduced output, a strong commitments for purchase of polysilicon which Current wafer prices are 10% below the Q1 2014 focus on internal cost reduction and quality were made during 2008–2010 when market peak with premium wafers suffering an even greater fall of close to 20%. In contrast the decline in the pricing of polysilicon, the key raw material, has not been less precipitous and has further squeezed already negative margins. On a positive note the Group’s production and Experts in material costs, which are primarily incurred in Euro and Japanese Yen, have benefited from multicrystalline foreign currency effects during the year and increasingly so in recent months. Both currencies have significantly weakened against the US Dollar silicon wafers and accordingly costs in US Dollar terms have declined considerably. With wafer market prices PV Crystalox Solar continues to denominated in US Dollars the reduction in contribute to making solar power 1 production costs has effectively offset some cost competitive with conventional of the impact of the market price declines. Ingot production However, despite these currency effects our hydrocarbon power generation and, Multicrystalline silicon ingots production costs exceed market prices. as such, continues to seek to drive are directionally solidified, under The Group not only faces the challenge of aligning down the cost of production whilst carefully controlled conditions, from production costs with market prices but also increasing solar cell efficiency. molten, high-purity polysilicon, in has to deal with the shrinking accessible customer production systems designed and We are the only remaining pure-play wafer base for our wafers following the dramatic shift manufactured internally. manufacturer in Europe and are able to take in global manufacturing during recent years. advantage of any EU-specific manufacturing Most EU manufacturers have declared bankruptcy incentives. The Group exports the vast majority or shutdown operations and solar cell production of its wafers to customers around the world. 100% in Europe has declined alarmingly. Cell production Crystalox Limited, Abingdon, UK in Japan which had been historically a major Our three-stage production process: manufacturing centre has been drastically reduced as companies have opted to outsource manufacturing. The Group did not make any shipments in 2014 to Japan which had previously been the major market for the Group and PV Crystalox Solar PLC 02 Annual report and accounts 2014 Strategic