04.17.17
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. reported results for the full year ended Dec. 31, 2016. The company posted net revenue of $1.75 million in 2016, a decline of approximately 73.2% from $6.54 million in 2015.
Loss from operations in 2016, however, improved by $3.1 million, or 11.2% from -$27.7 million in 2015 to -$24.6 million. Ascent Solar attributes this to a substantial reduction in SG&A expenses of 16.9% from $12.4 million in 2015 to $10.3 million in 2016, lower depreciation and amortization as well as progressive cost reduction initiatives in R&D and manufacturing operations. These expenses are expected to decline further as the company continues to restructure and streamline its operations in 2017.
The revenue decline is a direct result of the company’s exit from brick and mortar retail customers due to a number of factors, including the high cost of doing business especially with those who were overly battery centric, which is no longer in line with Ascent’s overall roadmap; continuous price erosion witnessed in the portable battery market resulting from a huge influx of low cost products from Asia; very large charged-back and revenue contras from prior commitments resulting from discontinuation of EnerPlex sales channels; bankruptcy of The Sports Authority, one of our large retail customers; an overall negative retail environment (especially for brick and mortar retailers) during 2016; changes in commercial terms from our largest EnerPlex customer that caused revenue recognition to be delayed to later quarters; and capital constraints and cost-cutting at the company necessitated by the more difficult capital raising conditions especially following its de-listing from the Nasdaq Capital Market in February 2016.
“We are focused on improving our results as we moved on from the concentration in the consumer business,” said Victor Lee, president and CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. “Going forward, we will continue to streamline our business model in an effort to better allocate our resources to be fully focused on our core strength in the developing specialty PV markets with high entry barriers like the military, first responders, emergency power, aviation (drones), and space and near-space applications.
“The company has made significant progress in these developing high-value markets, and will continue to sharpen our focus in such areas where Ascent is truly at the forefront of the competition,” Lee added.
“Notable milestones include the recent announcements that the company’s superlight thin-film modules were selected by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) for the second phase of evaluation for deep space mission, as well as the securing of a major contract from an Asian-based customer,” Lee noted. “Great progress was also made in the defense and emergency power market, particularly in the increasing interest shown in our award winning, military-graded and GSA-listed MilPak E PV and battery-integrated blanket, which we believe will add to revenue growth in 2017 and beyond. We are optimistic and certainly look forward to a stronger 2017 and beyond, as our high-value PV market focus begins to take shape.”
Loss from operations in 2016, however, improved by $3.1 million, or 11.2% from -$27.7 million in 2015 to -$24.6 million. Ascent Solar attributes this to a substantial reduction in SG&A expenses of 16.9% from $12.4 million in 2015 to $10.3 million in 2016, lower depreciation and amortization as well as progressive cost reduction initiatives in R&D and manufacturing operations. These expenses are expected to decline further as the company continues to restructure and streamline its operations in 2017.
The revenue decline is a direct result of the company’s exit from brick and mortar retail customers due to a number of factors, including the high cost of doing business especially with those who were overly battery centric, which is no longer in line with Ascent’s overall roadmap; continuous price erosion witnessed in the portable battery market resulting from a huge influx of low cost products from Asia; very large charged-back and revenue contras from prior commitments resulting from discontinuation of EnerPlex sales channels; bankruptcy of The Sports Authority, one of our large retail customers; an overall negative retail environment (especially for brick and mortar retailers) during 2016; changes in commercial terms from our largest EnerPlex customer that caused revenue recognition to be delayed to later quarters; and capital constraints and cost-cutting at the company necessitated by the more difficult capital raising conditions especially following its de-listing from the Nasdaq Capital Market in February 2016.
“We are focused on improving our results as we moved on from the concentration in the consumer business,” said Victor Lee, president and CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. “Going forward, we will continue to streamline our business model in an effort to better allocate our resources to be fully focused on our core strength in the developing specialty PV markets with high entry barriers like the military, first responders, emergency power, aviation (drones), and space and near-space applications.
“The company has made significant progress in these developing high-value markets, and will continue to sharpen our focus in such areas where Ascent is truly at the forefront of the competition,” Lee added.
“Notable milestones include the recent announcements that the company’s superlight thin-film modules were selected by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) for the second phase of evaluation for deep space mission, as well as the securing of a major contract from an Asian-based customer,” Lee noted. “Great progress was also made in the defense and emergency power market, particularly in the increasing interest shown in our award winning, military-graded and GSA-listed MilPak E PV and battery-integrated blanket, which we believe will add to revenue growth in 2017 and beyond. We are optimistic and certainly look forward to a stronger 2017 and beyond, as our high-value PV market focus begins to take shape.”
