letter of intent to supply of wind power equipment in Inner Mongolia
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Jun 24, 2009 09:38AM
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Attention Business Editors Hanwei provides business update and announces new letter of intent contemplating the supply of wind power equipment in Inner Mongolia TSX: HE VANCOUVER, June 24 /CNW/ - Hanwei Energy Services Corp. ("Hanwei" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a non-binding letter of intent ("LOI") with the Xilinguole Prefecture Administration Bureau, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China ("Xilinguole Bureau") contemplating the supply of wind power turbines and blades for up to 3,000 MW of wind resources located in the area administered by the Xilinguole Bureau. This is the second LOI Hanwei has entered into to participate in the development of wind power resources in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (see press release dated April 22, 2009). In addition, Hanwei is also pleased to provide an update on Hanwei's business operations, which follows in the second part of this press release. Under the non-binding LOI, it is contemplated that the parties will cooperate to develop a 3,000 MW wind resource under certain terms and conditions including the following: << - It is contemplated that Hanwei will establish a wind power subsidiary in Xilinguole and the subsidiary will build a manufacturing facility in the Xilinguole region with an initial capacity of at least 200 turbines and blade sets per annum; and that Hanwei will use its best efforts to complete construction of the facility before the end of 2010. - It is provided that the Xilinguole Bureau will facilitate all government approvals for the wind farm and manufacturing facility; and that Xilinguole Bureau will exclusively promote the use of wind power equipment manufactured by Hanwei. - It is further provided that Hanwei and Xilinguole Bureau will cooperate to identify investors and operators for the Xilinguole wind resource. >> Hanwei and the Xilinguole Bureau are currently engaged in discussions to settle the terms for a binding agreement and the timeline for construction of the wind power facility and delivery of the turbines and blade sets. Hanwei does not expect the LOI or the binding agreement (if one is concluded) to have a material impact on its funding needs for 2009 or its financial performance for 2009 as presented with the release of its 2008 financial results. If Hanwei and the Xilinguole Bureau settle the terms for a binding agreement, Hanwei will need to secure significant working capital to support the construction of the new facility and the production of turbines and blade sets. "Xilinguole is being developed as an energy centre for China with its large wind and coal resources. The Chinese government is investing in the Xilinguole energy industry by expanding and improving the electric grid infrastructure to support growing energy exports to other parts of China," said Mr. Fulai Lang, CEO of Hanwei. "This LOI, combined with the LOI we recently signed for Boatou, represent our efforts to attempt to secure additional customers for our wind power business. However, Hanwei faces significant challenges to progress these LOI's to formal contracts and start delivering wind power equipment." Hanwei is pleased to provide an update of its business operations as follows. << Wind Power Equipment -------------------- >> Hanwei has secured the supply chain and funding to deliver 118 MW of wind power equipment to Daqing Ruihao Energy Technology Co., Ltd. ("Ruihao") under its agreement to supply 1,200 MW wind power equipment products. The wind power equipment is to be supplied to three subsidiaries of Ruihao, including Daqing Longjiang Wind Power Co. Ltd. ("Longjiang"), with the majority of deliveries expected in the second half of 2009 and in early 2010. Longjiang owns and operates the wind farm in Du Meng County, Heilongjiang Province, where it is installing the initial 40 wind turbines supplied by Hanwei. Ruihao is developing two other wind farms in Heilongjiang Province that will be supplied under the agreement with Hanwei. Longjiang is currently installing the balance of the 40 turbines delivered by Hanwei to date. The installed turbines are performing well and Hanwei expects the mandated 500-hour testing process to start in July. Hanwei's research and development team are working to improve the current 1.5 MW turbines, focusing on the quality and cost of the supply chain and improving performance under regional weather conditions. In addition, Hanwei is working on a development plan for 2.0 MW and 2.5 MW technologies, including the consideration of licensing or joint development programs. Hanwei is continuing to recruit appropriate technical expertise to strengthen its internal research and development capability. In addition to the LOI's set out in the preceding section of the news release, Hanwei is actively marketing its turbines and blades in China. Hanwei sales and marketing efforts are primarily focused on orders for delivery in 2010 and beyond. << FRP Pipe -------- >> Hanwei expects sales to oil pipe customers to be flat or down in 2009 compared to 2008 due to delays in oil field development caused by lower oil prices. However, FRP pipe sales are expected to grow in 2009 due to sales to new industries in China, such as salt mining and water transport, and sales to new international oil pipe customers. Hanwei has been successful in diversifying its FRP pipe business and reducing its reliance on a few large customers, by investing in product development of larger diameter pipe and new joint methods and expanding its international sales and marketing team. With the economic downturn and after further analysis, Hanwei believes that it can add FRP pipe capacity in China at lower cost and risk; therefore, Hanwei has determined that the development of a plant in Kazakhstan be delayed for the foreseeable future. In addition, gross margin in Kazakhstan has improved significantly, decreasing the urgency to reduce shipping costs. Currently, Hanwei has sufficient FRP pipe capacity at Daqing for 2009; however, the Company will need to add capacity to have the flexibility to grow the business in 2010. Hanwei is planning to increase capacity in China by adding production lines to the Tianjin facility. The Company expects that the new lines could be added at a very low capital cost, and within the 2009 capital expenditure budget since the Tianjin infrastructure is already in place. FGD The Hanwei Ershigs JV is progressing as well as expected with technology transfer, production training and business development. However, China's big five coal power companies have all delayed new coal plants in 2009 due to the reduced demand for new capacity in China with the economic slow down. These projects are delayed, but are expected to proceed, since in the medium and long term, demand for new coal fired energy capacity in China is expected to be very strong. Spray header sales are still expected to grow due to the continuation of retrofitting FGD installations in 2009. The retrofit market includes the opportunity for chimney liners, which are currently being protected from corrosion by cheaper less reliable materials. In the USA, FRP dominates the market for chimney liners because it delivers the best value. The Company understands that in over 30 years Ershigs has not had one failure. In China, some of the cheaper materials used for chimney liners are failing after one or two years. The potential revenue from retrofitting chimneys is significant and may be more than 10 times the size of the China market for spray headers. The Hanwei Ershigs JV is working with industry and government agencies to promote the use of FRP, including a joint study with the technology division of one of China's big five power companies. Outlook The Company's outlook is marginally lower with that disclosed in the 2008 year end press release due to flat sales in the oil pipe sector and the potential for some wind power deliveries to be delayed to early 2010. As the Company's customers primarily operate in the energy sector in China where strong growth is still expected, the Company expects that the impact on the demand for its products from the current economic downturn will be manageable. Hanwei expects revenue growth of between 30 to 50 percent (reduced from the Company's previous expectation of 40 and 60 percent) in 2009 compared to 2008. The wind power and pipe businesses are expected to account for more than 90 percent of revenues in 2009, with an initial order for 100 MW of wind power equipment for delivery in 2009 and early 2010. Net margins are expected to be consistent with 2008 or will improve due to improved gross margin, economies of scale and lower tax rates for the wind power equipment business. EPS is expected to grow due to revenue growth, improved net margin, and Hanwei's acquisition of China National Petroleum Corporation's 9 percent minority interest in Harvest, which operates Hanwei's FRP pipe business. In addition, the Company plans to fund its growth in 2009 with cash on hand, cash flow from operations and debt, and limit shareholder dilution by controlling the issuance of additional shares. << FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION >> Certain information in this press release is forward-looking within the meaning of certain securities laws, and is subject to important risks, uncertainties and assumptions. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, information with respect to the entering into a binding agreement with Xilinguole Bureau, the establishment of a wind power subsidiary in Xilinguole, the development of a manufacturing facility in Xilinguole and the capacity of such a facility, the government approvals for the Xilinguole manufacturing facility, the impact of the Xilinguole agreement on Hanwei's funding needs, the need to secure required funding, the supply of wind power equipment to the Ruihao subsidiaries and their delivery dates, the installation of turbines and the timing of their testing process, the sales forecast for FRP pipe, the additional FRP pipe capacity in China, the demand for new coal fired energy capacity, the timing of new coal plants in 2009, the growth of the FGD retrofit installations and the potential revenue from such growth, and the Company's financial outlook. The forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions, which could change materially in the future, including the assumption that a binding agreement will be entered into between Hanwei and Xilinguole, that a subsidiary in Xilinguole and a manufacturing facility in the Xilinguole region will be established, that government approvals for the Xilinguole manufacturing facility will be obtained, that the Xilinguole transaction will not have a material impact on Hanwei's funding needs for 2009, that any required working capital will be secured, that Hanwei will be able to supply the wind power equipment to the Ruihao subsidiaries, that the testing of the turbines will proceed as scheduled, that FRP pipe sales will depend on the economy and the economy will perform as forecasted, that additional capacity at the Tianjin FRP pipe facility will be increased, that the new coal plants will proceed in the medium and long term and the demand for new coal fired energy capacity in China will be very strong, that the retrofitting FGD installations will continue to grow and the revenue from such installations will be significant, and that the factors impacting sales, revenues and earning growth are as set out in the Company's financial outlook. The forward-looking information in this press release describes the Company's expectations as of the date of this press release. The results or events anticipated or predicted in such forward-looking information may differ materially from actual results or events. Material factors or risks which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from a conclusion in such forward-looking information include the risks that the discussions subsequent to the LOI may not result in a binding agreement, the Company may not be able to execute on its expectations to deliver products in accordance with the LOI or any resulting binding agreement, the Company is unable to establish a subsidiary or manufacturing facility in Xilinguole, the Company will be able to secure additional working capital to support such growth, the necessary government approvals may be delayed or may not be obtained at all, the Company may not be able to supply the wind power equipment to the Ruihao subsidiaries, the Tianjin FRP pipe facility capacity may not be increased, the demand for new coal fired energy capacity in China may not materialize and no new coal plants may proceed in the medium and long term, retrofitting FGD installations may not continue to grow and the revenues from such installations may not be significant, and the economy may not recover or worsen, as well as the risks set out in the risk factors section of the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2009 for the year ended December 31, 2008 as filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE PRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME, EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LEGISLATION. -30- /For further information: Kim Oishi, SVP of Finance and Business Development, (416) 804-9228, koishi@hanweienergy.com; Kevin O'Connor, Investor Relations, (416) 962-3300, ko@spinnakercmi.com/