Hollysys Automation Technologies Reports Unaudited Financial Results for the First Nine Months and the Third Quarter Ended March 31, 2017

First Nine Months of Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Highlights

- Non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys was $47.5 million, a decrease of 45.6% compared to the comparable prior year period.

- Total revenues were $294.0 million, a decrease of 25.9% compared to the comparable prior year period.

- Non-GAAP gross margin was at 29.6%, compared to 37.2% for the comparable prior year period.

- Non-GAAP diluted EPS were at $0.79, a decrease of 45.5% compared to the comparable prior year period.

- Net cash provided by operating activities was $41.1 million for the current period.

- DSO of 212 days, compared to 169 days for the comparable prior year period.

- Inventory turnover days of 54 days, compared to 38 days for the comparable prior year period.

Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Highlights

- Non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys was $13.7 million, a decrease of 40.7% compared to the comparable prior year period.

- Total revenues were $91.3 million, a decrease of 23.1% compared to the comparable prior year period.

- Non-GAAP gross margin was at 30.7%, compared to 31.7% for the comparable prior year period.

- Non-GAAP diluted EPS were at $0.22, a decrease of 42.1% compared to the comparable prior year period.

- Net cash used in operating activities was $12.5 million for the current quarter.

- DSO of 219 days, compared to 181 days for the comparable prior year period.

- Inventory turnover days of 61 days, compared to 40 days for the comparable prior year period.

BEIJING, May 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: HOLI) ("Hollysys" or the "Company"), a leading provider of automation and control technologies and applications in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fiscal year 2017 third quarter ended on March 31, 2017 (see attached tables).

With market stabilization in parts of process industries, the performance of Industrial Automation has been getting better, especially recent order trend reflecting a positive momentum. Through actively traced our customers' new demands under adjusting circumstance, we got several significant contracts. For example, in power, we signed the contract to provide products for Sichuan Jiangyou 2X1000MW power units, Shanxi Yangmei 2X660MW power units. In chemical, we provided DCS and SIS for producing polycarbonate of Luxi Chemical Company. In petrochemical, we won the contract to provide DCS to Shengli oilfield Gudong production plant. In nuclear power, we are continuing providing DCS for Hongyanhe #5 & #6 units and Tianwan #5 & #6 units.

For Factory Automation, after changing strategies from selling products to providing solutions to customers, we did have some progress such as Hair project to help the customer improve the level of automation and Intelligence of their Tianjin-based factory which focuses on wash machine; integrated internal resources to improve the production and Hai Di Lao Hot Pot project to help the customer improve their efficiency of hot pot based making in the restaurant. Hollysys aims to make each project into a demonstration project to create values to the customers and explore more opportunities in sub-industries.

In high-speed railway, we won 106 C2-ATPs & 10 C3-ATPs but since the customer is changing the procurement timeline, it increases uncertainty and volatility of the performance of high-speed railway. In addition, since it is the beginning of the 13th five-year-plan, the finished infrastructure of new planned railway is limited. Therefore, in short term, the performance of high speed rail segment was unfavorable. However, from long run, according to the mid and long term plan of high-speed railway and with the increase of the after sell and replacement, as well as new products launching, we expect the sector will gradually recover in future. For subway, we won the contract to provide power SCADA for Dalian intercity line (from Jinzhou to Pulandianwan).

In the mechanical and electrical installation services, although Concord and Bond are facing some difficulties because of the local political and economic uncertainties in South East Asia and Middle East area, they are still working hard to develop businesses. As one of the strategies to expand overseas market, we will ensure a healthy development of Concord and Bond and take use of their advantages such as good customer relations and sales channels to find more international opportunities.

First Nine Months and the Third Quarter Ended March 31, 2017 Unaudited Financial Results Summary

To facilitate a clear understanding of Hollysys' operational results, a summary of unaudited non-GAAP financial results is shown as below:

Operational Results Analysis for the Third Quarter Ended March 31, 2017

Comparing to the third quarter of the prior fiscal year, the total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 decreased from $118.8 million to $91.3 million, representing a decrease of 23.1%. Broken down by the revenue types, services revenue increased by 17.7% to $3.4 million, integrated contracts revenue decreased by 21.6% to $78.2 million, and products sales revenue decreased by 39.7% to $9.7 million. In July 2016, the company's interests in Hollycon were diluted from 51.0% to 30.0% and the Company lost the control of Hollycon. As a result, Hollycon's financials would not be included in the Company's consolidated financials from July 2016 on. If Hollycon's revenue was excluded from the comparable figure for the third quarter of the prior fiscal year, the products sales revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2017 should be increased by 17.8%.

The Company's total revenues can also be presented in segments as shown in the following chart:

Overall gross margin excluding non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles (non-GAAP gross margin) was 30.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to 31.7% for the same period of the prior year. The non-GAAP gross margin for integrated contracts, product sales, and services rendered were 24.4%, 65.2% and 78.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to 27.1%, 55.5% and 59.1% for the same period of the prior year respectively. The gross margin fluctuation was mainly due to the different revenue mix with different margin. The GAAP overall gross margin which includes non-cash amortization of acquired intangibles was 30.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to 31.6% for the same period of the prior year. The GAAP gross margin for integrated contracts, product sales, and service rendered were 24.4%, 65.2% and 78.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to 26.9%, 55.5% and 59.1% for the same period of the prior year respectively.

Selling expenses were $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, representing an increase of $0.8 million or 13.8% compared to $5.2 million for the same quarter of the prior year. Presented as a percentage of total revenues, selling expenses were 6.5% and 4.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

General and administrative expenses, excluding non-cash share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP G&A expenses), were $8.8 million and $8.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Presented as a percentage of total revenues, non-GAAP G&A expenses were 9.6% and 7.3% for quarters ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 respectively. The GAAP G&A expenses which include the non-cash share-based compensation expenses were $6.8 million and $9.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Research and development expenses were $6.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, representing a decrease of $2.3 million or 27.2% compared to $8.4 million for the same quarter of the prior year. Presented as a percentage of total revenues, R&D expenses were 6.7% and 7.0% for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The VAT refunds and government subsidies were $5.5 million for three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to $4.3 million for the same period in the prior year, representing a $1.2 million or 27.9% increase.

The income tax expenses and the effective tax rate were $4.4 million and 22.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to $3.4 million and 12.4% for comparable prior year period. The fluctuation of the effective tax rate was mainly due to the different pre-tax income mix with different tax rates, as the Company's subsidiaries apply to different tax rates. For the nine months ended March 31, 2017, the effective tax rate was 16.0%.

The non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys, which excludes non-cash share-based compensation expenses, amortization of acquired intangibles, acquisition-related consideration fair value adjustments and convertible bond related fair value adjustments was $13.7 million or $0.22 per diluted share based on 61.2 million shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2017. This represents a 40.7% decrease over the $23.1 million or $0.38 per share based on 60.6 million shares outstanding reported in the comparable prior year period. On a GAAP basis, net income attributable to Hollysys was $15.6 million or $0.26 per diluted share representing a decrease of 28.5% over the $21.9 million or $0.36 per diluted share reported in the comparable prior year period.  

Contracts and Backlog Highlights

Hollysys achieved $108.4 million new contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2017. And the backlog as of March 31, 2017 was $509.8 million. The detailed breakdown of the new contracts and backlog by segments is shown below:

Cash Flow Highlights

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the total net cash outflow was $27.6 million. The net cash used in operating activities was $12.5 million. The net cash used in investing activities was $10.0 million, mainly consisted of $22.8 million time deposits placed with banks, which was partially offset by $12.5 million maturity of time deposits. The net cash used in financing activities was $3.5 million, mainly consisted of $4.9 million repayments of long-term bank loans, which was partially offset by $1.1 million proceeds from short-term bank loans.

Balance Sheet Highlights

The total amount of cash and cash equivalents and time deposits with original maturities over three months were $268.8 million, $285.4 million, and $256.4 million as of March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016, respectively. As of March 31, 2017, the company held $182.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and $86.4 million in time deposits with original maturities over three months.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, DSO was 219 days, as compared to 181 days for the comparable prior year period and 208 days for the last quarter; and inventory turnover was 61 days, as compared to 40 days for the comparable prior year period and 52 days for the last quarter.

Outlook for FY 2017

The management concluded, "Consideration on the volatility of high-speed railway performance, we would like to keep the guidance even though meeting potential challenges, for fiscal year 2017 with revenue in the range of $480 million to $520 million and non-GAAP net income in the range of $90 million to $100 million."

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call at 9:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on May 11, 2017 / 9:00 a.m. Beijing Time on May 12, 2017, to discuss the financial results for the fiscal year 2017 third quarter ended on March 31, 2017 and business outlook.

To participate, please call the following numbers ten minutes before the scheduled start of the call. The conference call identification number is 2982392.

In addition, a recording of the conference call will be accessible within 48 hours via Hollysys' website at: http://ir.hollysys.com/ or http://hollysys.investorroom.com.

About Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: HOLI)

Hollysys Automation Technologies is a leading provider of automation and control technologies and applications in China that enables its diversified industry and utility customers to improve operating safety, reliability, and efficiency. Founded in 1993, Hollysys has approximately 3,600 employees with nationwide presence in over 60 cities in China, with subsidiaries and offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, India, and serves over 6,000 customers more than 20,000 projects in the industrial, railway, subway & nuclear industries in China, South-East Asia, and the Middle East. Its proprietary technologies are applied in its industrial automation solution suite including DCS (Distributed Control System), PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), RMIS (Real-time Management Information System), HAMS (HolliAS Asset Management System), OTS (Operator Training System), HolliAS BATCH (Batch Application Package), HolliAS APC Suite (Advanced Process Control Package), SIS (Safety Instrumentation System), high-speed railway signaling system of TCC (Train Control Center), ATP (Automatic Train Protection), Subway Supervisory and Control platform, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), nuclear power plant automation and control system and other products.

SAFE HARBOUR:

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements," including statements regarding: the ability of the Company to achieve its commercial objectives; the business strategy, plans and objectives of the Company and its subsidiaries; and any other statements of non-historical information. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements, based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Hollysys' management, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website (http://www.sec.gov). All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

For further information, please contact:

Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd.
www.hollysys.com
+8610-58981386
investors@hollysys.com

Non-GAAP Measures

In evaluating our results, the non-GAAP measures of "Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses", "Non-GAAP net income attributable to Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd. stockholders", "Non-GAAP basic earnings per share", and "Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share" serve as additional indicators of our operating performance and not as a replacement for other measures in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We believe these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors, as they exclude the non-cash share-based compensation expenses, which is calculated based on the number of shares or options granted and the fair value as of the grant date, amortization of acquired intangible assets, fair value adjustments of acquisition-related consideration, and fair value adjustments of a bifurcated derivative. They will not result in any cash inflows or outflows. We believe that using non-GAAP measures help our shareholders to have a better understanding of our operating results and growth prospects. In addition, given the business nature of the Company, it has been a common practice for investors to use such non-GAAP measures to evaluate the Company.

The following table provides a reconciliation of U.S. GAAP measures to the non-GAAP measures for the periods indicated:

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SOURCE Hollysys Automation Technologies, Ltd