Polar Power Reports Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Management to Host Conference Call Today at 4:30 p.m. ET

GARDENA, Calif., Nov. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Polar Power, Inc. (NASDAQ: POLA), a global provider of prime, backup and solar hybrid DC power solutions, reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Third Quarter 2018 and Subsequent Highlights:

•   Quarterly Highlights

• Backlog as of September 30, 2018 improved to $11.5 million, as compared to $5.8 million at the end of Q2 2018. A significant portion of the growth is a result of production orders from two Tier-1 telecom customers in the U.S. market.  Backlog as of November 9, 2018 was $15.2 million.
  
  
• During Q3 2018, we experienced shortages in components and engines from our supply chain related to uncertainty over tariffs. This caused a disruption in our manufacturing and shipments and negatively impacted our revenue and profits in the quarter. The supply chain disruptions were short-term in nature and have since been resolved.
  
  
• Net sales increased 67% to $5.1 million in Q3 2018, as compared to $3.0 million during Q3 2017, and increased 51% to $15.7 million for the first nine months of 2018, as compared to $10.4 million for the first nine months of 2017.
  
  
• Gross margin increased to 30% during Q3 2018 from 27% in Q3 2017 largely due to higher revenue and better fixed cost absorption. On sequential basis, Q3 2018 gross margin declined to 30% from 36% in Q2 2018. The decline was driven by two key factors: lower manufacturing efficiencies related to the start-up production of new generator models, and higher component costs due to short-term disruptions in our supply chain that required us to use alternate, higher price sources.
  
  
• Net loss was $(0.7) million in Q3 2018, or $(0.07) per basic and diluted share, as compared to net loss of $(0.4) million, or $(0.04) per basic and diluted share in Q3 2017.  Increase in net loss was attributable to increases in production staff, machinery and new manufacturing facility, while revenue was lower due to supply chain disruption.

Management Commentary

“During the Q3 2018, we made significant progress towards our growth objectives. Our backlog as of November 9, 2018 has grown to $15.2 million, and we have remedied our supply chain issues that impacted shipments last quarter that prevented us from meeting our revenue goal. The tariffs put in place and the possible trade wars created an international and domestic stampede for engines, electronic parts, aluminum, and steel. This had a negative impact on our manufacturing efficiency and production schedules during the third quarter.  This has since been resolved and we are back on track with our original suppliers. Although the tariffs impacted some parts of our supply chain during the quarter, I would note that Polar directly imports only a single item from China. Our raw materials and components come primarily from the USA, Japan, Korea, Canada, and Europe, which has been our policy since 1979,” said Polar Power’s CEO, Mr. Arthur Sams.

Mr. Sams continued, “Despite some supply chain disruptions during the quarter, we have made significant progress on our key strategic goals year-to-date. We continue to develop sales offices globally, achieve product certifications from major Tier-1 telecom providers in the U.S. and abroad and have expanded our aftermarket support and service infrastructure in the U.S. Our investments in these objectives are now delivering results with a more diversified customer base and record backlog. In anticipation of what we believe will be a solid demand cycle, we have also increased our manufacturing capacity to accommodate expected demand. We also continue our focus on key R&D and engineering objectives and continue to develop products integrating solar and lithium storage technologies with our DC generators, which are designed for emerging markets for use in areas hindered by unreliable electric grids,” concluded Mr. Sams.

Conference Call Details

Polar Power CEO Arthur Sams, COO Rajesh Masina and CFO Luis Zavala will host the conference call, followed by a question and answer period.

To access the call, please use the following information:

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Integra Investor Relations at 1-415-233-7094.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=132075 and via the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.polarpower.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available after 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time through November 20, 2018.

About Polar Power, Inc.
Gardena, California-based Polar Power, Inc. (NASDAQ: POLA), designs, manufactures and sells direct current, or DC, power systems, lithium battery powered hybrid solar systems for applications in the telecommunications market and, in other markets, including military, electric vehicle charging, cogeneration, distributed power and uninterruptable power supply. Within the telecommunications market, Polar’s systems provide reliable and low-cost energy for applications for off-grid and bad-grid applications with critical power needs that cannot be without power in the event of utility grid failure. For more information, please visit www.polarpower.com. or follow us on www.linkedin.com/company/polar-power-inc/

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This news release contains certain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events or future business performance. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” “will,” “outlook” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current plans, estimates, assumptions and projections, and speak only as of the date they are made. With the exception of historical information, the matters discussed in this press release including, without limitation, Polar Power’s expectation of a solid demand cycle;  and Polar Power’s expectation to continue its focus on R&D and engineering objectives and continue to develop products integrating solar and lithium storage technologies with its DC generators, which are designed for emerging markets for use in areas hindered by unreliable electric grids are forward-looking statements and considerations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The actual future results of Polar Power could differ from those statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, adverse domestic and foreign economic and market conditions, including demand for DC power systems; trade tariffs on raw materials; changes in domestic and foreign governmental regulations and policies; and other events, factors and risks. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement in light of new information or future events, except as otherwise required by law. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of the impact of a number of factors, many of which are discussed in more detail in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Media and Investor Relations:
Shawn Severson
Integra Investor Relations
Shawn M. Severson
+1 415-233-7094
shawn@integra-ir.com
@Integra IR
www.integra-ir.com

Company Contact:
Polar Power, Inc.
249 E. Gardena Blvd.
Gardena, CA 90248
Tel: 310-830-9153
ir@polarpowerinc.com
www.polarpower.com

Released November 13, 2018