Hydrogenics Reports First Quarter 2013 Results

Quarterly Revenue Up 115%; Gross Profit Climbs 340%

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, May 8, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGS) (TSX:HYG), ("Hydrogenics" or "the Company"), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and hydrogen-based power modules, today reported first quarter 2013 financial results. Results are reported in US dollars and are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

"Our first quarter played out as expected, and we saw both revenue and margins improve significantly," said Daryl Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Sales climbed 115% year-over-year and also rose 24% sequentially from the fourth quarter; at the same time, our gross profit expanded to 28.8% of revenue from 14.1% last year and 13.2% in Q4. The Company's backlog remains solid, and we continue to be very positive about the outlook for Hydrogenics in 2013. Hydrogen-based energy storage applications are clearly increasing – driven by strong demand and higher market acceptance – and we are likewise pleased by the opportunities provided by our fuel cell modules for CommScope and other key customers. 

"After the quarter, we successfully raised $6.2 million in net proceeds from a public offering by way of a prospectus supplement to the shelf prospectus filed last year. This raise, combined with our existing cash reserves, positions us to handle the rapid growth we foresee in the quarters to come. We view profitability as our near-term goal, and we are actively bidding on additional energy storage work and fuel cell power system applications around the globe. For hydrogen and Hydrogenics, it certainly appears we are well on our way."

Recent Highlights

• The Company secured $7.3 million of orders for industrial gas and fuel cell applications, as well as integrated power propulsion systems, driving order backlog to $55 million, an increase of 118% over March 31, 2012.  
• Order backlog movement during the first quarter (in $ millions) was as follows:

• Hydrogenics ended the first quarter with $12.2 million of cash and restricted cash, primarily reflecting: (i) $6.1 million of cash used in operations; and (ii) $0.2 million of capital expenditures; partially offset by (iii) $1.4 million of operating borrowings and (iv) $0.4 million of cash from exercised warrants.
• Revenue for the first quarter increased 115%, to $12.3 million, primarily reflecting increased sales in the Company's Power Systems business unit tied to its contract for integrated power propulsion systems; Power Systems revenue also rose from partial delivery of an order for fuel cell modules to CommScope, Inc.
• Gross profit was $3.5 million versus $0.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. Gross margin, as a percent of revenue, rose to 29% -- an increase of 15 percentage points year-over-year, primarily reflecting improved product mix within the Company's Power Systems business unit. Also contributing to the gross profit increase was the effect of product cost reductions through supply chain management initiatives and product design innovation in the Company's OnSite Generation business. 
• Cash Operating Costs¹ were $3.8 million versus $3.5 million for the comparable period in 2012, with costs as a percent of revenue falling 31%. The change reflects increased marketing expense and other costs tied to the Company's higher level of commercial activity as well as higher compensation costs arising from improved business performance in the Power Systems business segment, partially offset by $0.2 million of reduced research and development expenditures.
• Adjusted EBITDA loss decreased 73% from $3.1 million to $0.8 million, primarily attributable to the 115% increase in revenues and the corresponding increase in gross profit.

Notes

1. Cash operating costs are defined as the sum of SG&A and R&D, less amortization and depreciation, and stock-based compensation expense inclusive of compensation costs indexed to the Company's share price. This is a non-IFRS measure and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Management uses this measure as a rough estimate of the amount of fixed costs to operate the Company and believes this is a useful measure for investors for the same purpose.
    
2. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net loss excluding finance income, net, other losses, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Management uses adjusted EBITDA as a useful measure of cash flows.

Conference Call Details

Hydrogenics will hold a conference call at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time today, May 8, 2013 to review the first quarter results. The telephone number for the conference call is (877) 307-1373, or, for international callers, (678) 224-7873. A live webcast of the call will also be available on the Company's website at www.hydrogenics.com.

An archived copy of the conference call and webcast will be available on the Company's website www.hydrogenics.com approximately two hours following the call.

About Hydrogenics

Hydrogenics Corporation (www.hydrogenics.com) is a globally recognized developer and provider of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products and services, serving the growing industrial and clean energy markets of today and tomorrow. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Hydrogenics has operations in North America and Europe.

Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and under applicable Canadian securities law. These statements are based on management's current expectations and actual results may differ from these forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including: our inability to increase our revenues or raise additional funding to continue operations, execute our business plan, or to grow our business; inability to address a slow return to economic growth, and its impact on our business, results of operations and consolidated financial condition; our limited operating history; inability to implement our business strategy;  fluctuations in our quarterly results; failure to maintain our customer base that generates the majority of our revenues; currency fluctuations; failure to maintain sufficient insurance coverage; changes in value of our goodwill; failure of a significant market to develop for our products; failure of hydrogen being readily available on a cost-effective basis; changes in government policies and regulations; failure of uniform codes and standards for hydrogen fuelled vehicles and related infrastructure to develop; liability for environmental damages resulting from our research, development or manufacturing operations; failure to compete with other developers and manufacturers of products in our industry; failure to compete with developers and manufacturers of traditional and alternative technologies; failure to develop partnerships with original equipment manufacturers, governments, systems integrators and other third parties; inability to obtain sufficient materials and components for our products from suppliers; failure to manage expansion of our operations; failure to manage foreign sales and operations; failure to recruit, train and retain key management personnel; inability to integrate acquisitions; failure to develop adequate manufacturing processes and capabilities; failure to complete the development of commercially viable products; failure to produce cost-competitive products; failure or delay in field testing of our products; failure to produce products free of defects or errors; inability to adapt to technological advances or new codes and standards; failure to protect our intellectual property; our involvement in intellectual property litigation; exposure to product liability claims;  failure to meet rules regarding passive foreign investment companies; actions of our significant and principal shareholders; dilution as a result of significant issuances of our common shares and preferred shares; inability of US investors to enforce US civil liability judgments against us; volatility of our common share price; and dilution as a result of the exercise of options; and failure to meet continued listing requirements of Nasdaq. Readers should not place undue reliance on Hydrogenics' forward-looking statements. Investors are encouraged to review the section captioned "Risk Factors" in Hydrogenics' regulatory filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of factors that could affect Hydrogenics' future performance. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this release, and Hydrogenics undertakes no obligations to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release, unless otherwise required by law. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified by this.

CONTACT: Chris Witty
         Hydrogenics Investor Relations
         (646) 438-9385
         cwitty@darrowir.com
         
         Bob Motz, Chief Financial Officer
         Hydrogenics Corporation
         (905) 361-3660
         investors@hydrogenics.com