Westport Fuel Systems Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westport Fuel Systems Inc. ("WFS") (TSX:WPRT / Nasdaq:WPRT) reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021, and provided an update on operations. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

THIRD QUARTER 2021 HIGHLIGHTS

• Revenues of $74.3 million, up 14% compared to the same period in 2020, due to the continued recovery of sales volumes in our light-duty OEM businesses since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and $7.1 million revenue from our recently acquired fuel storage business, partially offset by the decrease in the independent aftermarket ("IAM") business
• Net loss of $5.8 million and net loss per share of $0.03 mainly due to increased operating expenses, lower government wage-subsidy and support programs, and lower foreign exchange gain
• Global supply chain challenges and the shortage of semiconductors adversely impacted growth of our HPDI sales, independent aftermarket business, and delayed OEM businesses due to lower production compared to customer demand
• Awarded our single largest IAM tender bid of €9 Million for the supply of 60,000 LPG systems to NAFTAL, a branch of SONATRACH, the national Algerian Oil & Gas company
• Published our annual ESG report, featuring 34.4% lower overall GHG emissions (tonnes-CO2e) and reduced GHG intensity by 20.6% year over year
• Cartesian Capital Group debt converted into common shares of the company

"While this was a challenging quarter for our company as we felt the larger effects of both the ongoing semi-conductor shortage and global supply chain issues across key parts of our business; despite these challenges, market conditions for our company and the potential for our clean, affordable products remain positive and we are still showing an improving trend in our business. Sales of our light-duty LPG and CNG components in Europe showed recovery over last year, we expect continued positive growth in Europe, as well as growth in emerging markets. The heavy-duty business remains fundamentally strong and we anticipate a return to expected full-year growth trend when the semi-conductor shortage challenges are resolved, as market and customer feedback is positive. Demand for heavy-duty vehicles will continue to increase and our HPDI technology, fueled by LNG and RNG today and next by green Hydrogen, is in a key competitive position to expand as OEMs need to act to respond to environmental regulations and meet the demand for clean, efficient, and affordable solutions. Our products will continue to play an important role in the immediate future towards overall carbon reduction in transportation and ensuring a clean and prosperous future for all."

David M. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer

Third Quarter Financial Highlights Operations

⁽¹⁾ This includes income primarily from our Cummins Westport Inc. ("CWI") and Minda Westport Technologies Limited joint ventures.

⁽²⁾ EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. Please refer to GAAP and NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES for the reconciliation to equivalent GAAP measures and limitations on the use of such measures.

Revenues in 3Q21 increased 14% to $74.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2021, resulting from higher sales volume and recovery in our light-duty OEM business and the addition of $7.1 million in revenue from our recently acquired fuel storage business, partially offset by the decrease in the IAM business.

WFS reported a net loss of $5.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to net income of $0.8 million for the same quarter last year. The $6.6 million decrease in earnings was primarily the result of increases in research and development expenditures and general and administrative expenditures, lower foreign exchange gain and increase in income tax expense compared to the prior quarter. Equity income from CWI was $1.0 million lower compared to the same prior year quarter. Government-wage subsidies and support programs received were also $0.9 million lower compared to the same prior year quarter.

WFS recorded negative $1.4 million Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 compared to $4.0 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the same period in 2020. This was due to increased R&D spending and higher SG&A expenses.

Segment Information

Original Equipment Manufacturer Segment

Revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $48.0 million and $138.2 million, respectively, compared with $37.4 million and $90.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. Revenue for the OEM business segment increased by $10.6 million and $47.4 million, respectively. The increase during the current quarter was mainly due to higher light-duty OEM sales volumes, particularly sales to Indian and Russian OEMs, and $7.1 million additional revenue from the recently acquired fuel storage business. The impact of COVID-19 was significant in the prior year period, which was impacted by plant shutdowns combined with lower light-duty OEM sales to German and Russian OEMs. HD OEM revenue was comparable year-over-year and reflects the impact of manufacturing delays caused by the shortage of semiconductors on our initial OEM launch partner. Despite the headwinds from supply chain issues and increases in LNG prices, we expect to see continued growth in HPDI through the remainder of this year as production recovers.

Independent Aftermarket Segment

Revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, was $26.3 million and $91.6 million, respectively, compared with $28.0 million and $77.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. Revenue for the third quarter decreased by $1.7 million year-over-year because of a slowdown in sales due to supply chain issues, including semiconductors shortages. Year-to-date, revenues are higher by $13.8 million compared to the same prior year period, mainly due to due to the recovery from the impact of COVID-19 across all markets and growth in the emerging markets offset by the aforementioned global supply chain issues. We expect to see continued improvement in revenues from the IAM business segment in the fourth quarter of the year, but we temper expectations due to the ongoing global shortage of semiconductors, and recent spike in LPG and CNG prices which could continue to impact the IAM business.

CUMMINS WESTPORT INC.

Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2021 for the Cummins Westport Inc. ("CWI") joint venture, was $83.3 million compared to $84.4 million year-over-year. Unit sales for the three months ended September 30, 2021, were 1,764 compared to 1,912 year-over-year. The decrease in unit sales is a result of delays in OEM orders due to supply chain issues in the quarter. Parts revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was $29.4 million compared to $25.1 million year-over-year. Currently, we are working with Cummins to wrap up the final terms for the conclusion of the joint-venture. We expect engines with our HPDI technology to have an important role in the North American market, as they have had in Europe.

Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $255.8 million compared to $227.5 million for the same prior year period. Unit sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 were 5,642 compared to 4,777 for the same prior year period. Unit sales were higher in the current year reflecting the impact of OEM factory shutdowns in April and May 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parts revenue for nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $83.3 million compared to $79.2 million for same prior year period.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS & MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

To view WFS financials for the second quarter ended September 30, 2021, please visit https://investors.wfsinc.com/financials/

LIVE CONFERENCE CALL & WEBCAST

WFS has scheduled a conference call for Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 7:00 am Pacific Time (10:00 am Eastern Time) to discuss these results. To access the conference call by telephone, please dial 1-800-319-4610 (Canada & USA toll-free) or 604-638-5340. The live webcast of the conference call can be accessed through the WFS website at https://investors.wfsinc.com/

REPLAY CONFERENCE CALL & WEBCAST

To access the conference call replay, please dial 1-800-319-6413 (Canada & USA toll-free) or +1-604-638-9010 using the passcode 7899. The telephone replay will be available until Tuesday, November 16, 2021. The webcast will be archived on the Westport Fuel Systems website and replay will be available in streaming audio and a downloadable MP3 file.

About Westport Fuel Systems

Westport Fuel Systems is driving innovation to power a cleaner tomorrow. The company is a leading supplier of advanced fuel delivery components and systems for clean, low-carbon fuels such as natural gas, renewable natural gas, propane, and hydrogen to the global automotive industry. Westport Fuel Systems’ technology delivers the performance and fuel efficiency required by transportation applications and the environmental benefits that address climate change and urban air quality challenges. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with operations in Europe, Asia, North America and South America, the company serves customers in more than 70 countries with leading global transportation brands. For more information, visit www.wfsinc.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding revenue and cash usage expectations, future strategic initiatives and future growth, future of our development programs (including those relating to HPDI and Hydrogen), the impact of COVID-19 and ongoing semiconductor shortages on our business, the demand for our products, the future success of our business and technology strategies, intentions of partners and potential customers, the performance and competitiveness of Westport Fuel Systems’ products and expansion of product coverage, future market opportunities, speed of adoption of Natural Gas for transportation and terms and timing of future agreements as well as Westport Fuel Systems management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on both the views of management and assumptions that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activities, performance or achievements expressed in or implied by these forward looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include those related to our revenue growth, operating results, industry and products, the general economy, conditions of and access to the capital and debt markets, access to required semiconductors, solvency, governmental policies and regulation, technology innovations, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, operating expenses, continued reduction in expenses, ability to successfully commercialize new products, the performance of our joint ventures, the availability and price of natural gas, global government stimulus packages and new environmental regulations, the acceptance of and shift to natural gas vehicles, the relaxation or waiver of fuel emission standards, the inability of fleets to access capital or government funding to purchase natural gas vehicles, the development of competing technologies, our ability to adequately develop and deploy our technology, the actions and determinations of our joint venture and development partners, the effects and duration of COVID-19 and the ongoing semiconductor shortage as well as other risk factors and assumptions that may affect our actual results, performance or achievements or financial position discussed in our most recent Annual Information Form and other filings with securities regulators. Readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in these forward looking statements except as required by National Instrument 51-102. The contents of any website, RSS feed or twitter account referenced in this press release are not incorporated by reference herein.

Contact Information
Christian Tweedy
Investor Relations
Westport Fuel Systems
T: +1 604-718-2046

GAAP and NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Management reviews the operational progress of its business units and investment programs over successive periods through the analysis of net income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. The Company defines EBITDA as net income or loss from continuing operations before income taxes adjusted for interest expense (net), depreciation and amortization. Westport Fuel Systems defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA from continuing operations excluding expenses for stock-based compensation, unrealized foreign exchange gain or loss, and non-cash and other adjustments. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a long-term indicator of operational performance since it ties closely to the business units’ ability to generate sustained cash flow and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.  Adjusted EBITDA includes the company's share of income from joint ventures.

The terms EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not defined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") and are not a measure of operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as an analytical tool, and when assessing the company's operating performance, investors should not consider EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in isolation, or as a substitute for net loss or other consolidated statement of operations data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Among other things, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the company's actual cash expenditures. Other companies may calculate similar measures differently than Westport Fuel Systems, limiting their usefulness as comparative tools. The company compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on its U.S. GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental information.