LUGANO, Switzerland & WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NRGV) (“Energy Vault” or “the Company”), a leader in sustainable, grid-scale energy storage solutions, announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.
Robert Piconi, Chairman and CEO of Energy Vault, stated, “Following robust quarterly revenues of over $100 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, we had a strong commercial start to the year with impressive near term funnel growth dynamics and project awards of ~$1 billion while continuing our customer focus in executing on ~1 GWh of US battery projects on track for COD in the second half of 2023. We continue to make strong progress on our diverse range of projects, including the first deployment of the Company’s EVx gravity energy storage system (GESS) in China. During my recent trip to Rudong and Beijing in April, I had the opportunity to visit the site and witness the progress being made. We expect mechanical completion in Q2 2023 as previously anticipated and commencement of commissioning activities immediately afterwards.”
Mr. Piconi continued, “Looking ahead, we are laser focused on profitable and timely execution on our project portfolio to meet or exceed all customer requirements. I continue to be impressed with our team’s passion to serve our customers well. This is creating strong current customer references while also enabling additional project discussions to support our existing customer growth plans. This is underpinned by our technology-agnostic software platform and experienced team that can uniquely design solutions across short, long and ultra-long duration energy storage as the recent multi-day green hydrogen hybrid storage solution for PG&E demonstrates. Finally, we are optimistic about the magnitude of potential financial benefits from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the positive impact they can have to our existing forecast, in particular with our owned projects and what we have announced today with our investment into domestic US content battery supply chains. Overall, there are numerous tailwinds that reinforce my enthusiasm for our current position and our ability to drive long-term shareholder value.”
First Quarter 2023 and Recent Business Highlights:
- Energy Vault and PG&E receive CPUC approval for Calistoga microgrid project: The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved the request from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), for Energy Vault to deploy and operate a utility-scale battery plus green hydrogen long-duration energy storage system (BH-ESS). We expect the hybrid system to be capable of powering approximately 2,000 electricity customers within PG&E’s Calistoga microgrid for up to 96 hours (700 MWh of carbon-free energy) during a planned outage. This long-duration energy storage system is the “first-of-its-kind” and integrates a short duration battery system (for grid forming and black start capabilities) with a long duration liquid hydrogen-powered fuel cell system. The system is managed and dispatched by Energy Vault’s technology-agnostic Energy Management Software (EMS) to optimize performance and safety while minimizing operational cost. Further, the project is supported by a 10.5-year tolling agreement.
- Executed a strategic investment in Kore Power, a US manufacturer of batteries cells and modules, to build supply continuity on a prioritized basis for domestic US content supply chains for Energy Vault’s US customers, supporting our short duration battery energy storage solutions on a preferred economic basis. In parallel with Energy Vault’s investment, we also executed a comprehensive battery supply agreement. This agreement will significantly benefit our domestic customers as envisioned with their IRA project eligibility. In Q4 2022, Energy Vault participated in the initial tranche as an undisclosed investor alongside Siemens Financial Services, Quanta Services, Honeywell Ventures and others. In Q1 2023 we made our second and final strategic investment.
- Expanded previously announced Jupiter Power partnership to supply domestic US content of electrochemical battery modules from 2.4 GWh to 10 GWh, further strengthening the relationship with Jupiter to ensure supply chain priority on a 2-5 year planning horizon of project development while maximizing the financial benefits from the current IRA legislation.
- On track for commercial deployment of all three of the battery energy storage systems (BESS) within customer stated COD dates: Our initial project with Wellhead Electric (275 MWh) is expected to be completed in Q3 2023. Subsequently, Jupiter Power (220 MWh) and NV Energy (440 MWh) projects are anticipated to be installed before the end of the year.
2023 Outlook:
Energy Vault is reiterating its previously announced 2023 financial outlook, including:
- Energy Vault expects total revenue to be in the range of $325 million to $425 million, which reflects growth of approximately 2x to 3x over 2022.
- Gross margin in the 10-15% range.
- Adjusted EBITDA for the full-year 2023 is expected to be in the range of $(50) million to $(70) million.
Conference Call Information
Energy Vault will host a conference call today, May 9, 2023 at 4:30 PM ET to discuss the results, followed by a Q&A session. A live webcast of the call can be accessed at https://investors.energyvault.com/events-and-presentations/events. To access the call, participants may dial 1-877-704-4453, international callers may use 1-201-389-0920, and request to join the Energy Vault earnings call. A telephonic replay will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call and until, May 23, 2023. Participants may access the replay at 1-844-512-2921; international callers may use 1-412-317-6671, and enter access code 13737559. The call will also be available for replay via webcast link on the Investors portion of the Energy Vault website at https://www.energyvault.com/.
About Energy Vault
Energy Vault® develops and deploys utility-scale energy storage solutions designed to transform the world's approach to sustainable energy storage. The Company's comprehensive offerings include proprietary gravity-based storage, battery storage, and green hydrogen energy storage technologies. Each storage solution is supported by the Company’s hardware technology-agnostic energy management system software and integration platform. Unique to the industry, Energy Vault’s innovative technology portfolio delivers customized short-and-long-duration energy storage solutions to help utilities, independent power producers, and large industrial energy users significantly reduce levelized energy costs while maintaining power reliability. Utilizing eco-friendly materials with the ability to integrate waste materials for beneficial reuse, Energy Vault’s EVx™ gravity-based energy storage technology is facilitating the shift to a circular economy while accelerating the global clean energy transition for its customers. Please visit www.energyvault.com for more information.
Non-GAAP measures
Energy Vault has provided a reconciliation of net loss to adjusted EBITDA, with net loss being the most directly comparable GAAP measure, for the historical periods in this press release. A reconciliation of projected non-GAAP measures for the full-year 2023 has not been provided because certain information necessary to calculate such measures on a GAAP basis is unavailable or dependent on the timing of future events outside of our control. Therefore, because of the uncertainty and variability of the nature of the amount of future adjustments, which could be significant, the Company is unable to provide a reconciliation for these forward-looking non-GAAP measures without unreasonable effort.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to, among other things, the Company’s operations and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business plan and strategies. These statements often include words such as “ anticipate,” “expect,” “suggest,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projections,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “might,” “will” and other similar expressions. We base these forward-looking statements or projections on our current expectations, plans and assumptions, which we have made in light of our experience in our industry, as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances at the time. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of future performance, taking into account the information currently available to us. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including changes in our strategy, expansion plans, customer opportunities, future operations, future financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; the uncertainly of our bookings and backlogs equating to future revenue; the lack of assurance that non-binding letters of intent and other indication of interest can result in binding orders or sales; the possibility of our products to be or alleged to be defective or experience other failures; the implementation, market acceptance and success of our business model and growth strategy; our ability to develop and maintain our brand and reputation; developments and projections relating to our business, our competitors, and industry; the ability of our suppliers to deliver necessary components or raw materials for construction of our energy storage systems in a timely manner; the impact of health epidemics, on our business and the actions we may take in response thereto; our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; expectations regarding the time during which we will be an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act; our future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash; our ability to obtain funding for our operations and future growth; our business, expansion plans and opportunities and other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on April 13, 2023, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release and is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements included in this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable laws. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.
ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.
|
|||||||
|
March 31,
|
|
December 31,
|
||||
Assets |
|
|
|
||||
Current Assets |
|
|
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
114,556 |
|
|
$ |
203,037 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
82,417 |
|
|
|
83,145 |
|
Accounts receivable, net |
|
4,100 |
|
|
|
37,460 |
|
Contract assets, net |
|
29,149 |
|
|
|
28,978 |
|
Inventory |
|
4,899 |
|
|
|
4,378 |
|
Customer financing receivable, current portion, net |
|
1,313 |
|
|
|
1,500 |
|
Advances to suppliers |
|
95,341 |
|
|
|
24,327 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
6,779 |
|
|
|
7,242 |
|
Total current assets |
|
338,554 |
|
|
|
390,067 |
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
14,784 |
|
|
|
3,044 |
|
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net |
|
1,266 |
|
|
|
1,442 |
|
Customer financing receivable, long-term portion, net |
|
7,415 |
|
|
|
8,260 |
|
Other assets |
|
20,442 |
|
|
|
13,900 |
|
Total Assets |
$ |
382,461 |
|
|
$ |
416,713 |
|
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |
|
|
|
||||
Current Liabilities |
|
|
|
||||
Accounts payable |
$ |
8,427 |
|
|
$ |
60,315 |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
19,490 |
|
|
|
14,749 |
|
Contract liabilities, current portion |
|
86,027 |
|
|
|
49,434 |
|
Lease liabilities, current portion |
|
825 |
|
|
|
825 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
114,769 |
|
|
|
125,323 |
|
Deferred pension obligation |
|
734 |
|
|
|
890 |
|
Asset retirement obligation |
|
444 |
|
|
|
560 |
|
Contract liabilities, long-term portion |
|
1,500 |
|
|
|
1,500 |
|
Other long-term liabilities |
|
529 |
|
|
|
727 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
117,976 |
|
|
|
129,000 |
|
Stockholders’ Equity |
|
|
|
||||
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 5,000 shares authorized, none issued |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000 shares authorized, 141,392 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2023; 138,530 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 |
|
14 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
445,870 |
|
|
|
435,852 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
(180,796 |
) |
|
|
(147,265 |
) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
(603 |
) |
|
|
(888 |
) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
264,485 |
|
|
|
287,713 |
|
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |
$ |
382,461 |
|
|
$ |
416,713 |
|
ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.
|
|||||||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Revenue |
$ |
11,422 |
|
|
$ |
42,884 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
||||
Cost of revenue |
|
9,003 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Sales and marketing |
|
4,574 |
|
|
|
2,580 |
|
Research and development |
|
11,241 |
|
|
|
9,661 |
|
General and administrative |
|
19,546 |
|
|
|
9,806 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
(32,942 |
) |
|
|
20,837 |
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
||||
Interest expense |
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
Change in fair value of warrant liability |
|
— |
|
|
|
(20,237 |
) |
Transaction costs |
|
— |
|
|
|
(20,586 |
) |
Other income, net |
|
1,776 |
|
|
|
36 |
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
(31,167 |
) |
|
|
(19,951 |
) |
Provision for income taxes |
|
— |
|
|
|
128 |
|
Net loss |
$ |
(31,167 |
) |
|
$ |
(20,079 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Net loss per share — basic and diluted |
$ |
(0.22 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.25 |
) |
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic and diluted |
|
139,669 |
|
|
|
80,806 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) — net of tax |
|
|
|
||||
Actuarial gain on pension |
$ |
164 |
|
|
$ |
278 |
|
Foreign currency translation gain (loss) |
|
121 |
|
|
|
(94 |
) |
Total other comprehensive income |
|
285 |
|
|
|
184 |
|
Total comprehensive loss |
$ |
(30,882 |
) |
|
$ |
(19,895 |
) |
ENERGY VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.
|
|||||||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Cash Flows From Operating Activities |
|
|
|
||||
Net loss |
$ |
(31,167 |
) |
|
$ |
(20,079 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
||||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
209 |
|
|
|
1,218 |
|
Non-cash interest income |
|
(334 |
) |
|
|
(16 |
) |
Stock based compensation |
|
13,716 |
|
|
|
9,202 |
|
Change in fair value of warrant liability |
|
— |
|
|
|
20,237 |
|
Change in pension obligation |
|
— |
|
|
|
7 |
|
Change in asset retirement obligation |
|
(119 |
) |
|
|
19 |
|
Provision (benefit) for credit losses |
|
(14 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Foreign exchange gains and losses |
|
170 |
|
|
|
19 |
|
Change in operating assets |
|
(35,504 |
) |
|
|
(32,550 |
) |
Change in operating liabilities |
|
(17,729 |
) |
|
|
5,132 |
|
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
(70,772 |
) |
|
|
(16,811 |
) |
Cash Flows From Investing Activities |
|
|
|
||||
Purchase of property and equipment |
|
(11,635 |
) |
|
|
(83 |
) |
Purchase of equity securities |
|
(6,000 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
(17,635 |
) |
|
|
(83 |
) |
Cash Flows From Financing Activities |
|
|
|
||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options |
|
35 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
Proceeds from reverse recapitalization and PIPE financing, net |
|
— |
|
|
|
235,940 |
|
Payment of transaction costs related to reverse recapitalization |
|
— |
|
|
|
(20,651 |
) |
Payment of taxes related to net settlement of equity awards |
|
(800 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Payment of finance lease obligations |
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
(10 |
) |
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
(775 |
) |
|
|
215,304 |
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
|
(27 |
) |
|
|
(17 |
) |
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
|
(89,209 |
) |
|
|
198,393 |
|
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – beginning of the period |
|
286,182 |
|
|
|
105,125 |
|
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – end of the period |
|
196,973 |
|
|
|
303,518 |
|
Less: Restricted cash at end of period |
|
82,417 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period |
$ |
114,556 |
|
|
$ |
303,518 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information: |
|
|
|
||||
Income taxes paid |
|
— |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Cash paid for interest |
|
1 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Information: |
|
|
|
||||
Conversion of redeemable preferred stock into common stock in connection with the reverse recapitalization |
|
— |
|
|
|
182,034 |
|
Warrants assumed as part of reverse recapitalization |
|
— |
|
|
|
19,838 |
|
Actuarial gain on pension |
|
164 |
|
|
|
278 |
|
Property, plant and equipment financed through accounts payable |
|
4,021 |
|
|
|
137 |
|
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
We use adjusted EBITDA to complement our condensed consolidated statements of operations. Management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure complements our GAAP net loss and such measure is useful to investors. The presentation of this non-GAAP measure is not meant to be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net loss as an indicator of our performance.
The following table provides a reconciliation from net loss to non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, with net loss being the most directly comparable GAAP measure (amounts in thousands):
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Net loss (GAAP) |
$ |
(31,167 |
) |
|
$ |
(20,079 |
) |
Non-GAAP Adjustments: |
|
|
|
||||
Interest income, net |
|
(1,934 |
) |
|
|
(47 |
) |
Income tax expense |
|
— |
|
|
|
128 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
209 |
|
|
|
1,218 |
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
13,716 |
|
|
|
9,202 |
|
Change in fair value of warrant liability |
|
— |
|
|
|
20,237 |
|
Transaction costs |
|
— |
|
|
|
20,586 |
|
Foreign exchange (gains) and losses |
|
170 |
|
|
|
(11 |
) |
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) |
$ |
(19,006 |
) |
|
$ |
31,234 |
|
We present adjusted EBITDA, which is net loss excluding adjustments that are outlined in the quantitative reconciliation provided above, as a supplemental measure of our performance and because we believe this measure is frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. The items excluded from adjusted EBITDA are excluded in order to better reflect our continuing operations.
In evaluating adjusted EBITDA, one should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments noted above. Our presentation of adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by these types of adjustments. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net loss, operating loss, or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity.
Our adjusted EBITDA measure has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:
- it does not reflect our cash expenditures, future requirements for capital expenditures, or contractual commitments;
- it does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
- it does not reflect stock-based compensation, which is an ongoing expense;
- although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and our adjusted EBITDA measure does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements;
- it is not adjusted for all non-cash income or expense items that are reflected in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows;
- it does not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations;
- it does not reflect limitations on or costs related to transferring earnings from our subsidiaries to us; and
- other companies in our industry may calculate this measure differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
Because of these limitations, adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business or as a measure of cash that will be available to use to meet our obligations. You should compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using adjusted EBITDA only supplementally.