For more information, contact:

Danny Herron
Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
970.407.6570
danny.herron@aei.com
Annie Leschin/Vanessa Lehr
Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
970.407.6555
ir@aei.com


Advanced Energy Announces Record Fourth Quarter Revenue Driven by Renewables


FORT COLLINS, Colo., February 14, 2011—
Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq GM: AEIS) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010. Reporting record revenue, the company posted fourth quarter sales of $148.7 million and earnings of $0.45 per diluted share from continuing operations.


“2010 was a year of significant accomplishments for Advanced Energy. We responded with speed and flexibility to meet the needs of our customers during this high growth period in the thin film and renewable markets,” said Dr. Hans Betz, chief executive officer. “Advanced Energy has become a clear leader in solar inverter solutions. Coupled with our industry-leading thin film products, our expansion into renewables led to our record revenue quarter, as we further penetrated the inverter market.”

Sales to the renewable inverter market surged ahead in the fourth quarter, reflecting the wide-ranging applicability of our extended product portfolio. Inverter sales grew substantially to $51.7 million, or 34.8% of total sales this quarter, compared to $37.4 million, or 27% of total sales in the third quarter of 2010. Sales to the non-semiconductor thin film markets were also extremely strong at $43.3 million, or 29.1% of total sales, compared to $41.1 million last quarter. Sales to the semiconductor market were $40.2 million, or 27.0% of sales compared to $49.4 million last quarter. During a seasonally soft quarter, service revenue performed well, roughly flat sequentially at $13.4 million, or 9.0% of total sales, compared to $13.2 million last quarter.
 
Bookings for the fourth quarter were $113.3 million, compared to $160.3 million in the third quarter of 2010. We entered the fourth quarter with record bookings as inverter customers placed orders for delivery prior to year-end in order to satisfy funding requirements for various federal incentives and grant programs in the US and Europe, many of which were expected to be reduced or ended in 2010, but have since been extended.

Gross margin for the fourth quarter improved sequentially at 43.6% compared to 43.1% in the third quarter of 2010. This was due in large part to the continued decline in warranty costs, reflecting continuous improvement in our product quality. Operating expenses for the fourth quarter increased to $40.8 million compared to $38.4 million in the third quarter in order to support higher sales volumes. Net income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter was $19.7 million or $0.45 per diluted share, compared to net income from continuing operations of $17.6 million or $0.40 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2010.

Cash and investments were $140.6 million at the end of the fourth quarter, compared to $112.4 million in the third quarter of 2010. We generated $34.9 million in cash from operations during the fourth quarter of 2010.

For the full year 2010, sales nearly tripled to $459.4 million, compared to $161.8 million in 2009. Net income from continuing operations for 2010 was $53.6 million or earnings per share of $1.23, compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $101.8 million, or a loss per share of $2.43 in 2009.

First Quarter 2011 Guidance

The Company anticipates first quarter 2011 results from continuing operations, to be within the following ranges:
  • Sales of $132 million to $142 million
  • Gross margin of 41% to 43%
  • Earnings per share of $0.32 to $0.38

Fourth Quarter 2010 Conference Call

Management will host a conference call tomorrow, Tuesday, February 15, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss Advanced Energy's financial results. Domestic callers may access this conference call by dialing (866) 783-2137. International callers may access the call by dialing (857) 350-1596. Participants will need to provide a conference pass code 67334137. For a replay of this teleconference, please call (888) 286-8010 or (617) 801-6888, and enter the pass code 61436573. The replay will be available for two weeks following the conference call. A webcast will also be available on the Investor Relations web page at http://ir.advanced-energy.com.

About Advanced Energy

Advanced Energy (NASDAQ: AEIS - News) is a global leader in innovative power and control technologies for thin-film manufacturing and high-growth solar-power generation. Advanced Energy is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, with dedicated support and service locations around the world. For more information, go to www.advanced-energy.com.

Forward-Looking Language

The Company’s expectations with respect to guidance to financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2011 and statements that are not historical information are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the effects of global macroeconomic conditions upon demand for our products, the volatility and cyclicality of the industries the company serves, particularly the semiconductor industry, the continuation of RPS (renewable portfolio standards), the timing and availability of incentives and grant programs in the US and Europe related to the renewable energy market, the timing of orders received from customers, the company's ability to realize benefits from cost improvement efforts, the ability to source materials and manufacture products, and unanticipated changes to management's estimates, reserves or allowances. These and other risks are described in Advanced Energy's Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other reports and statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports and statements are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies may also be obtained from Advanced Energy's website at www.advanced-energy.com or by contacting Advanced Energy's investor relations at 970-407-6555. Forward-looking statements are made and based on information available to the company on the date of this press release. The company assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release.
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
 
        Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended
        December 31,       September 30,     December 31,
        2010       2009       2010       2010       2009
                                         
SALES       $ 148,653         $ 58,081         $ 140,966         $ 459,414         $ 161,846  
COST OF SALES         83,910           34,812           80,276           260,215           112,056  
GROSS PROFIT         64,743           23,269           60,690           199,199           49,790  
          43.6 %         40.1 %         43.1 %         43.4 %         30.8 %
OPERATING EXPENSES:                                        
Research and development         15,275           10,720           16,672           56,604           41,132  

Selling, general and administrative

        24,586           10,316           20,545           74,543           38,041  
Impairment of goodwill         -           -           -           -           63,260  
Amortization of intangible assets         920           20           1,177           2,864           121  

Restructuring charges

        -           6           -           -           4,376  
Total operating expenses         40,781           21,062           38,394           134,011           146,930  
                                         
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS         23,962           2,207           22,296           65,188           (97,140 )
                                         

Other income, net

        392           494           1,224           2,221           1,910  
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes         24,354           2,701           23,520           67,409           (95,230 )
Provision for income taxes         4,624           1,025           5,964           13,816           6,582  
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS         19,730           1,676           17,556           53,593           (101,812 )
                                         
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax         12,531           -           -           12,531           -  
Results from discontinued operations, net of tax         (853 )         (153 )         2,392           5,068           (893 )
                                         
INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF INCOME TAXES         11,678           (153 )         2,392           17,599           (893 )
                                         
NET INCOME (LOSS)       $ 31,408         $ 1,523         $ 19,948         $ 71,192         $ (102,705 )
                                         
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding         43,315           42,032           43,254           42,862           41,966  
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding         43,796           42,464           43,849           43,419           41,966  
                                         
EARNINGS PER SHARE:                                        
CONTINUING OPERATIONS:                                        
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE       $ 0.46         $ 0.04         $ 0.41         $ 1.25         $ (2.43 )
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE       $ 0.45         $ 0.04         $ 0.40         $ 1.23         $ (2.43 )
                                         
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS                                        
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE       $ 0.27         $ (0.00 )       $ 0.06         $ 0.41         $ (0.02 )
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE       $ 0.27         $ (0.00 )       $ 0.05         $ 0.41         $ (0.02 )
                                         

NET INCOME (LOSS):

                                       
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE       $ 0.73         $ 0.04         $ 0.46         $ 1.66         $ (2.45 )
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE       $ 0.72         $ 0.04         $ 0.45         $ 1.64         $ (2.45 )
                                                             
         
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS        
(in thousands)                
                 
        December 31,
        2010       2009
                 
ASSETS                
                 
Current assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents       $ 130,914       $ 133,106
Marketable securities         9,640         44,401
Accounts receivable, net         119,893         50,267
Inventories, net         77,593         28,567
Deferred income taxes         9,303         9,222
Income taxes receivable         6,061         -
Assets held for sale         -         26,460
Other current assets         10,157         5,641
Total current assets         363,561         297,664
                 
Property and equipment, net         34,569         18,687
                 
Deposits and other         8,874         9,295
Goodwill and intangibles, net         96,781         -
Deferred income tax assets, net         1,373         19,479
Total assets       $ 505,158       $ 345,125
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                
                 
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable       $ 56,185       $ 23,802
Other accrued expenses         46,141         24,055
Liabilities of business held for sale         -         1,477
Total current liabilities         102,326         49,334
                 
Long-term liabilities         28,863         17,457
                 
Total liabilities         131,189         66,791
                 
Stockholders' equity         373,969         278,334
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity       $ 505,158       $ 345,125

SOURCE: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.