ACORN ENERGY ANNOUNCES YEAR END 2015 RESULTS
Wilmington, DE – March 30, 2016 – Acorn Energy, Inc. (OTCQB: ACFN), today announced its results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
For 2015, revenue from continuing operations was $19.1 million compared to $19.6 million in 2014. The net loss for 2015 was $10.6 million, or $0.40 per share, compared to a net loss of $27.1 million, or $1.19 per share, in 2014. Results for the 2015 year include non-cash charges of $1.6 million for impairments of goodwill and other intangibles in continuing operations. Results for the 2014 year include non-cash charges of $10.4 million for impairments of inventory, fixed assets, goodwill and other intangibles which are included in loss from discontinued operations of $19.1 million. Results for 2014 also include a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $1.8 million and $0.3 million for restructuring charges in continuing operations.
On January 28, 2016, Acorn announced the sale of a 50% strategic interest in its DSIT Solutions, Ltd. business to Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, a major Israeli defense company. Acorn expects to receive gross proceeds of approximately $4.9 million before escrow (approximately $0.6 million), fees and taxes. Acorn is also eligible to receive its pro-rata share of a $1.0 million earn-out over a three-year period. In addition to customary closing conditions, the DSIT Transaction requires the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Israeli Anti-Trust Authority. Both approvals have already been received. Acorn expects that the DSIT Transaction will close in the first two weeks of April 2016. Following the sale, Acorn will own approximately 41.2% of DSIT.
Jan Loeb, President and CEO of Acorn, stated “2015 did not turn out as we expected. The Board has taken decisive action by raising the capital necessary to keep our businesses operating, selling a portion of our interests in DSIT to Rafael which we believe can be a strategic partner for DSIT and further reducing overhead costs. We are beginning to see the benefits of those actions. Our goal for 2016 is to focus our efforts on the exciting opportunities of our growing businesses and developing those businesses and to provide them with the capital they need to execute their business plan. In the process we plan to continue to streamline our cost structure and work to improve our balance sheet.”
Portfolio Companies
DSIT
DSIT Solutions Ltd., based in Israel, develops and produces advanced underwater sonar detection systems to protect ships and critical harbor installations against attack. Primary customers for its systems are navies, homeland security agencies, oil and gas (O&G) companies, nuclear power facilities and port authorities.
DSIT’s fiscal year 2015 revenue was $13.5 million vs. $12.3 million in 2014. The increase in revenue was primarily due to a $15.4 million order received in early 2015 for four Hull Mounted Sonar (HMS) systems and an anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) trainer for an undisclosed navy. DSIT’s backlog at the end of 2015 was $20.6 million as compared to $12.0 million at the end of 2014.
GridSense
GridSense develops and markets remote monitoring systems for electric utility companies. The systems are used for outage management, power quality measurement, systems planning, trouble-shooting and maintenance. The company’s focus is on the early detection of problems on power lines and transformers and the prevention of power outages. Its unique solution is applicable to hundreds of thousands of underground and vault transformers, most of which are approaching or past their life expectancies. Compared to manual inspections, the use of remote monitoring can save time and money and alert management to problems and possible failures. Also closer monitoring and maintenance can help extend the usable lives of transformers, whose replacement costs are prohibitive. GridSense’s low-cost and effective monitoring system is one answer to a growing problem.
Fiscal year 2015 revenue was $2.5 million compared to $4.5 million in 2014. The decrease in revenues was due to lower backlog entering 2015 combined with a reduced sales force in place in the U.S. in the beginning of 2015. R&D expenses were $0.5 million compared to $1.1 million in 2014 (a reduction of 54%) while SG&A expenses for 2015 decreased $0.9 million, or 32% compared to 2014. The decrease in expenses were primarily due to the elimination of GridSense’s Australian operations and the downsizing of its U.S. operations following GridSense’s restructuring which began in mid-2013.
GridSense’s management has realigned its sales and engineering efforts and is focusing on more standardized opportunities which seem most likely to result in commercial-scale orders. Specifically, GridSense plans to focus sales efforts in 2016 only on those products that have already shown the most traction in the marketplace such as the Transformer IQ® and the Line IQ®.
OmniMetrix
OmniMetrix has developed what it believes are the most advanced systems available for wirelessly and remotely monitoring back-up generators and other equipment, like oil corrosion protection systems on pipelines, to prevent failures. The system collects key data continuously and alerts the responsible manager to signs of trouble. With the emergence of applications that aggregate multiple sensors and monitors into a simplified customer dashboard interface, OmniMetrix, which monitors all major brands of critical equipment, believes it can play a key role in this new market.
OmniMetrix is marketing its products to end-users as well as to select dealers identified as possessing both a substantial maintenance customer base and a willingness to provide value-added services. OmniMetrix also provides corrosion monitoring and control of gas pipelines.
OmniMetrix revenue increased 11% from $2.8 million in 2014 to $3.0 million in 2015. The increase in revenue was driven by increased monitoring revenue. Gross margins for fiscal year 2015 were 59% compared to 58% in 2014. As monitoring revenue continues to grow, OmniMetrix’s margins are expected to increase as well, as monitoring revenues generate significantly higher margins than hardware sales.
Conference Call
Acorn Energy will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and year-end 2015 results and corporate developments shortly after the closing of the sale of a portion of its holdings in DSIT which is expected in April 2016.
About Acorn Energy, Inc.
Acorn Energy, Inc. is a holding company whose three portfolio companies help their customers achieve greater productivity, reliability, security, and efficiency — factors which can lead to greater profitability. GridSense® provides monitoring for all critical points along the electricity delivery system. OmniMetrix™ remotely monitors emergency back-up power generation systems to increase their reliability. DSIT provides security solutions from underwater threats to naval and marine based energy assets. For more information visit: http://www.acornenergy.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. There is no assurance that Acorn Energy, Inc. will be successful in maximizing the value of or its operating companies and other assets. A complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties which may affect Acorn Energy’s business generally and the businesses of its subsidiaries is included in “Risk Factors” in Acorn’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Jan Loeb
(302) 656-1708
-Financial Tables to Follow-
ACORN ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)
| As of | ||||||||
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 172 | $ | 4,821 | ||||
| Restricted deposits | 2,172 | 467 | ||||||
| Escrow deposit | 100 | — | ||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 6,680 | 4,902 | ||||||
| Unbilled revenue | 3,849 | 7,890 | ||||||
| Inventory | 1,002 | 1,374 | ||||||
| Other current assets | 1,877 | 1,813 | ||||||
| Current assets – discontinued operations | — | 143 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 15,852 | 21,410 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 977 | 1,080 | ||||||
| Severance assets | 3,558 | 3,256 | ||||||
| Restricted deposits | 2,951 | 650 | ||||||
| Intangible assets, net | — | 1,211 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 516 | 1,031 | ||||||
| Other assets | 476 | 905 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 24,330 | $ | 29,543 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Short-term bank credit and current maturities of long-term debt | $ | 2,054 | $ | 4,419 | ||||
| Leap Tide loan payable, net of discount | 1,900 | — | ||||||
| Accounts payable | 3,296 | 2,187 | ||||||
| Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and social benefits | 1,506 | 1,584 | ||||||
| Deferred revenue | 5,268 | 1,634 | ||||||
| Other current liabilities | 2,796 | 3,028 | ||||||
| Current liabilities – discontinued operations | — | 4,693 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 16,820 | 17,545 | ||||||
| Long-term liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accrued severance | 4,984 | 4,594 | ||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 868 | 1,011 | ||||||
| Total long-term liabilities | 5,852 | 5,605 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Equity: | ||||||||
| Acorn Energy, Inc. shareholders | ||||||||
| Common stock - $0.01 par value per share: | 281 | 272 | ||||||
| Authorized – 42,000,000 shares; Issued – 28,127,511 and 27,277,511 shares at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 98,977 | 97,607 | ||||||
| Warrants | 1,597 | 1,641 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (97,191 | ) | (86,592 | ) | ||||
| Treasury stock, at cost – 801,920 shares at December 31, 2015 and 2014 | (3,036 | ) | (3,036 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (262 | ) | (212 | ) | ||||
| Total Acorn Energy, Inc. shareholders’ equity | 366 | 9,680 | ||||||
| Non-controlling interests | 1,292 | (3,287 | ) | |||||
| Total equity | 1,658 | 6,393 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 24,330 | $ | 29,543 | ||||
ACORN ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT NET LOSS PER SHARE DATA)
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | |||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||
| Projects | $ | 13,205 | $ | 11,970 | ||||
| Products | 3,555 | 5,682 | ||||||
| Services | 2,295 | 1,908 | ||||||
| Total revenues | 19,055 | 19,560 | ||||||
| Cost of sales: | ||||||||
| Projects | 8,918 | 8,352 | ||||||
| Products | 3,457 | 4,099 | ||||||
| Services | 493 | 471 | ||||||
| Total cost of sales | 12,868 | 12,922 | ||||||
| Gross profit | 6,187 | 6,638 | ||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||
| Research and development expenses, net | 2,205 | 2,714 | ||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 11,508 | 12,023 | ||||||
| Impairments of goodwill and intangibles | 1,562 | 1,773 | ||||||
| Restructuring and related charges | — | 294 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 15,275 | 16,804 | ||||||
| Operating loss | (9,088 | ) | (10,166 | ) | ||||
| Finance expense, net | (330 | ) | (129 | ) | ||||
| Loss before taxes on income | (9,418 | ) | (10,295 | ) | ||||
| Income tax expense | 211 | 164 | ||||||
| Net loss from continuing operations | (9,629 | ) | (10,459 | ) | ||||
| Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes | (1,173 | ) | (19,140 | ) | ||||
| Net loss | (10,802 | ) | (29,599 | ) | ||||
| Non-controlling interest share of loss – continuing operations | 105 | 47 | ||||||
| Non-controlling interest share of loss - discontinued operations | 98 | 2,407 | ||||||
| Net loss attributable to Acorn Energy, Inc. shareholders. | $ | (10,599 | ) | $ | (27,145 | ) | ||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to Acorn Energy, Inc. shareholders: | ||||||||
| From continuing operations | $ | (0.36 | ) | $ | (0.46 | ) | ||
| From discontinued operations | (0.04 | ) | (0.73 | ) | ||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to Acorn Energy, Inc. shareholders | $ | (0.40 | ) | $ | (1.19 | ) | ||
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding attributable to Acorn Energy, Inc. shareholders – basic and diluted | 26,803 | 22,844 | ||||||