HALFYR: WTL: Windflow Technology Preliminary Result

16 Mar 2010 3:59 pm

WTL 16/03/2010 HALFYR

REL: 1559 HRS Windflow Technology Limited

HALFYR: WTL: Windflow Technology Preliminary Result

Windflow Technology: Interim Report 2010

Overview - Windflow's major achievements in the first half of the 09/10 financial year were:

- Installing and commissioning the remainder of Stage 3 to take Te Rere Hau (TRH) wind farm to a total of 65 turbines. - Delivering TRH turbines operating availability to above 93% for calendar 2009, and starting 2010 above 95% availability. - Submitting (as part of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Type Certification) the final documents to Lloyds Register in Britain for Class 1A Design Evaluation of the Windflow 500. - Gaining resource consent to develop the 25 turbine Long Gully wind farm in Wellington.

Financial Results - Windflow continued to produce a positive gross profit for the half year. Consolidated revenue for the six months was $13.597 million (compared with $11.834 million for the previous comparable six month period). Direct production costs including turbine costs for the same period were $12.694 million (compared with $10.841 million for the previous year) resulting in a gross profit of $0.903 million for the period compared with $0.993 million for the previous year). The result is that Windflow has recorded a half-year loss of $1.628 million (compared with $ 1.082 million last year).

Cash held at 31 December 2009 was $2.034 million, a reduction of $9.693 million for the six months. The reduction in cash held is attributable to an anticipated cash outflow during the latter stages of production, the dispute with NZ Windfarms, and some production related timing impacts. Windflow expects to generate a cash surplus from operations over the coming period with a corresponding improvement in its cash position.

Windflow's short-term cash situation is dependent on that of its customer NZ Windfarms, which has released various statements about its need to raise additional funding to complete the Te Rere Hau wind farm. If NZ Windfarms is not successful in raising sufficient additional funding or if it were to again withhold significant payments, then Windflow could have major cash flow issues.

For the full year ending 30 June 2010 Windflow expects a positive gross profit and an overall net loss similar to last year.

Windflow's financial statements have been prepared using the assumption that Windflow is a going concern. If the going concern assumption were not appropriate then the amounts at which items were recorded in the financial statements could change significantly. Windflow's directors believe that the going concern assumption is appropriate because the NZ Windfarms board has expressed confidence in NZ Windfarms' ability to raise additional funding and continue as a going concern.

Te Rere Hau wind farm performance - with 65 turbines operating, TRH is establishing the reputation of the Windflow 500 as a cost-effective, efficient, and robust design. On a site regularly experiencing severe gales (90-120 km/h), and hurricane force winds (>120 km/h), the Windflow 500 turbines achieved availability of 93.3% - a significant accomplishment in first year, large scale operation. For comparison the international norm for wind farms deploying turbines from long established manufacturers is 94% availability in the first year of operation.

Windflow and its suppliers have rectified under warranty some non-recurring issues which arose during 2009. These issues caused overall availability in 2009 to be below 95%, triggering a warranty payment of $41,453 being payable to NZ Windfarms.

First-year issues typically arise in the wind industry, and Windflow's financial warranty provisions have proved adequate. The work which Windflow carried out in 2009 has ensured that availability has stayed above 95% in 2010 to date. Warranty, operating and maintenance costs are being managed within competitive budgets and lower than industry benchmark figures. The lightest machine on the market for its output, the Windflow 500 is now proving at TRH that it is one of the most reliably cost-effective.

IEC Certification - for the last four years, Windflow has worked assiduously towards gaining the highest standard Class 1A Edition 3, IEC Type Certification for the Windflow 500 turbine. Granted ISO 9001 certification in June 2008, Windflow submitted final IEC calculations to Lloyds Register (LR) in July 2009. LR has issued the Design Appraisal Document (DAD) for the Windflow 500's blades. The DAD's for the nacelle, covering almost all major components, and the tower are expected within weeks. These will complete the package of three DAD's required by Lloyds Register to complete the Design Evaluation part of IEC Type Certification.

Te Rere Hau wind farm completion - Windflow continues to manufacture the balance of Stage 4 (the last 32 turbines for the Te Rere Hau wind farm) which NZ Windfarms Ltd ordered in September 2008. The completion of this order has been delayed as a result of a dispute with NZ Windfarms covering a range of issues including project delays, funding uncertainty and concerns about design differences between the first 49 turbines ordered for TRH and the last 48 turbines.

The concerns about the design differences have been addressed and quantified by an independent expert report which Windflow commissioned and provided to NZ Windfarms. Since then NZ Windfarms has ceased withholding invoices over this matter and paid the invoices that were outstanding. In the current calendar year, the two companies have been making good progress on negotiating an agreement to resolve any design differences, along with the outstanding issues about the delays to Stage 4. NZ Windfarms advised Windflow in July 2009 that it wishes to delay Stage 4 and use the turbines at the extension site which has higher wind speeds but which was subject to consent. At time of writing the consent has been granted but appealed. NZ Windfarms has reported that it is in discussion with the one appellant and considers that it is likely agreement can be reached to have the appeal withdrawn.

The resource consent for the Te Rere Hau extension is for 56 turbines. Assuming it proceeds and the 32 turbines for Stage 4 of Te Rere Hau are relocated to the extension, there will remain 56 sites, across both the original and extension TRH sites, which are consented for the Windflow turbine.

Long Gully Wind Farm - with cornerstone shareholder Mighty River Power (MRP), Windflow is developing the Long Gully wind farm situated near the Wellington suburb of Brooklyn. Resource Consent for up to 25 Windflow 500 turbines was obtained in October. Subsequently two appeals were lodged. Windflow and MRP are working with the appellants seeking a mediated or, if necessary, Environment Court resolution. At the same time Windflow and MRP are negotiating the details of a turbine sale and purchase agreement in anticipation of the appeals being resolved.

Other Projects in the Pipeline - whilst building on its strong commitment to work with wind farm developers and consultants nationally, Windflow continues to explore projects and opportunities globally which might extend the scope of the Windflow 500's reach beyond New Zealand's shores.

Production - quality is fundamental to success, and Windflow continues to work with suppliers to ensure components of world class standard. Windflow is also working to qualify alternative suppliers for many of the key components in the turbine, including some which Windflow has previously obtained from only a single supplier.

Production figures for the Financial Year 09/10 will be similar to 08/09 at around 40 turbines, with further orders in prospect both from domestic and international markets.

Outlook - 2009 was a year in which all businesses faced up to the global financial crisis. The wind industry was not immune to this and growth slowed but was still significant. Global growth was 31%, adding 37.5 GW in 2009 (the equivalent of 75,000 Windflow 500's and about $90 billion worth of business) to bring total installations up to 158 GW. A third of these additions were made in China, which experienced over 100% growth in 2009.

The lower than anticipated growth has led to an oversupply of wind turbines (outside of China) and competitive price pressure from the large established manufacturers. The NZ$ exchange rate has fluctuated significantly, at first to the advantage of local producers, but then returning to similar levels against the US$ and Euro as in mid-2008. Thus the net effect is still slightly positive as regards Windflow's competitive position against European turbines.

Encouraged by the growing track record of the Windflow 500, the Directors remain convinced that both expanding into global markets and growing domestic market share are eminently achievable goals.

The Directors would like to thank the Shareholders for their continuing strong commitment to Windflow Technology. They also wish to thank Windflow's Staff, whose talent, professionalism, expertise and creative drive have made an important contribution to Windflow's prospects and the New Zealand knowledge economy. End CA:00192548 For:WTL Type:HALFYR Time:2010-03-16:15:59:11

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