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Canadian Solar Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

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GUELPH, ON, Aug. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Canadian Solar Inc. (“Canadian Solar” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: CSIQ) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Highlights

Solar module shipments of 8.2 GW, above guidance of 7.5 GW to 8.0 GW.Net revenues of $1.6 billion, in line with guidance of $1.5 billion to $1.7 billion.17.2% gross margin, in line with guidance of 16% to 18%.e-STORAGE backlog grew to $2.6 billion, backed by a record 66 GWh of pipeline, as of June 30, 2024.Recurrent Energy expanded its total development pipeline to 27 GWp of solar and 63 GWh of battery energy storage, as of June 30, 2024.Achieved initial closing of BlackRock’s investment in Recurrent Energy, representing the majority of the planned $500 million capital infusion.Announced a $200 million private placement of secured convertible notes with PAG.Published the 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report, featuring sustainability disclosures aligned with global standards, on May 31, 2024.

Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO, commented, “We achieved solid results in the second quarter of 2024, with shipments, revenue, and gross margin meeting or surpassing our previous guidance. Today, we have reached an optimal scale—large enough to maintain a highly competitive cost structure yet lean enough to adapt swiftly to changes in industry dynamics. In our module business, we continue to apply a disciplined approach to operations, from strategic capacity investments to stringent order management. At the same time, we are positioning ourselves for sustainable medium- and long-term growth through our energy storage business, e-STORAGE, and global project development platform, Recurrent Energy. Sustainable and ethical growth is key to our strategy, and we are proud to have published our latest Corporate Sustainability Report, featuring expanded disclosures and enhanced transparency.”

Yan Zhuang, President of Canadian Solar’s CSI Solar subsidiary, said, “Despite challenging market dynamics, CSI Solar achieved strong results in the first half. Amidst fierce industry competition, we maintained our focus on profitability while also increasing volume this quarter. As polysilicon prices further declined, the resulting price decreases across the upstream supply chain helped reduce manufacturing costs. Given the current industry landscape, we have decided to delay certain upstream investments to further prioritize profitability. In these situations, our partial vertical integration affords us strategic agility. Additionally, e-STORAGE not only delivered record volumes, but also grew its backlog to $2.6 billion, supported by a robust 66 GWh pipeline.”

Ismael Guerrero, CEO of Canadian Solar’s Recurrent Energy subsidiary, said, “We successfully completed the initial closing of BlackRock’s $500 million investment and expect to finalize the transaction in the coming months. As we progress toward our operational targets, we continue to demonstrate our ability to secure competitive financing. Notably, we obtained a landmark multi-currency revolving credit facility valued at up to €1.3 billion, involving ten banks, to support the construction of renewable energy projects across several European countries.”

Xinbo Zhu, Senior VP and CFO, added, “In the second quarter of 2024, we delivered $1.6 billion in revenue, a gross margin of 17.2%, and $4 million in net income. Going forward, CSI Solar and Recurrent Energy’s leverage profiles will align with their respective strategic goals. This quarter, CSI Solar reduced its debt to better navigate the industry cycle. Meanwhile, Recurrent Energy will continue to increase leverage in the near-term to support its transition to a partial IPP model. The recently announced convertible notes will contribute to optimizing our capital structure, providing us with added financial flexibility.”

Second Quarter 2024 Results

Total module shipments recognized as revenues in the second quarter of 2024 were 8.2 GW, up 30% quarter-over-quarter (“qoq”) and remained consistent year-over-year (“yoy”). Of the total, 135 MW were shipped to the Company’s own utility-scale solar power projects.

Net revenues in the second quarter of 2024 increased 23% qoq and decreased 31% yoy to $1.6 billion. The sequential increase primarily reflects a higher solar module shipment volume, partially offset by a decline in module average selling price (“ASP”). The yoy decrease primarily reflects a decline in module ASPs and lower project sales, partially offset by higher battery energy storage solutions sales.

Gross profit in the second quarter of 2024 was $282 million, up 12% qoq and down 36% yoy. Gross margin in the second quarter of 2024 was 17.2%, compared to 19.0% in the first quarter of 2024 and 18.6% in the second quarter of 2023. The gross margin sequential decrease was primarily caused by lower module ASPs. The gross margin yoy decrease was primarily driven by lesser margin contribution from solar power and battery energy storage asset sales and lower module ASPs, partially offset by lower manufacturing costs.

Total operating expenses in the second quarter of 2024 were $234 million, compared to $204 million in the first quarter of 2024 and $216 million in the second quarter of 2023. The sequential and yoy increases were primarily driven by higher shipping and handling expenses, with the yoy increase being partially offset by a decrease in share-based compensation expense.

Depreciation and amortization charges in the second quarter of 2024 were $122 million, compared to $110 million in the first quarter of 2024 and $73 million in the second quarter of 2023. The sequential and yoy increases were primarily driven by the Company’s continued investment in vertical integration and incremental capacity expansion.

Net interest expense in the second quarter of 2024 was $19 million, compared to less than $1 million in the first quarter of 2024 and $21 million in the second quarter of 2023. Net interest expense returned to a normalized level in the second quarter of 2024 with the absence of an interest benefit deriving from the interest income generated by anti-dumping and countervailing duty deposit refunds in the first quarter of 2024.

Net foreign exchange and derivative gain in the second quarter of 2024 was $13 million, compared to a net loss of $4 million in the first quarter of 2024 and a net gain of $34 million in the second quarter of 2023.

Net income attributable to Canadian Solar in the second quarter of 2024 was $4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $12 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024, and net income of $170 million, or $2.39 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2023. Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) includes Recurrent Energy redeemable preferred shares dividends payable in kind. As a result, an EPS effect of 3 cents was deducted in the second quarter of 2024 on a dilutive basis.

Net cash flow used in operating activities in the second quarter of 2024 was $429 million, compared to net cash flow used in operating activities of $291 million in the first quarter of 2024 and net cash flow provided by operating activities of $290 million in the second quarter of 2023. The operating cash outflow primarily resulted from increased project assets and accounts receivable.

Total debt was $4.2 billion as of June 30, 2024, including $2.0 billion, $2.0 billion, and $0.2 billion related to CSI Solar, Recurrent Energy, and convertible notes, respectively. Total debt decreased as compared to $4.3 billion as of March 31, 2024, mainly driven by optimization of CSI Solar’s financial leverage to navigate the industry cycle, partially offset by new project development for Recurrent Energy.

Business Segments

The Company has two business segments: Recurrent Energy and CSI Solar. The two businesses operate as follows:

Recurrent Energy is one of the world’s largest clean energy project development platforms with 15 years of experience, having delivered approximately 11 GWp of solar power projects and 3.7 GWh of battery energy storage projects. It is vertically integrated and has strong expertise in greenfield origination, development, financing, execution, operations and maintenance, and asset management.CSI Solar consists of solar module and battery energy storage manufacturing, and delivery of total system solutions, including inverters, solar system kits, and EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) services. CSI Solar’s e-STORAGE branded battery energy storage business includes its utility-scale turnkey battery energy system solutions, as well as a small but growing residential battery energy storage business. These battery energy storage systems solutions are complemented with long-term service agreements, including future battery capacity augmentation services.

Recurrent Energy Segment

As of June 30, 2024, the Company held a leading position with a total global solar development pipeline of 27 GWp and a battery energy storage development pipeline of 63 GWh.

While Recurrent Energy’s business model was historically predominantly develop-to-sell, the Company has been adjusting its strategy to create greater asset value and retain greater ownership of projects in select markets to increase revenues generated through recurring income, such as power sales, operations and maintenance, and asset management income.

The business model consists of three key drivers:

Electricity revenue from operating portfolio to drive stable, diversified cash flows in growth markets with stable currencies;Asset sales (solar power and battery energy storage) in the rest of the world to drive cash-efficient growth model, as value from project sales will help fund growth in operating assets in stable currency markets; andPower services (O&M) and asset management through long-term operations and maintenance (“O&M”) contracts, currently with approximately 11 GW of contracted projects, to drive stable and long-term recurring earnings and synergies with the project development platform.

In January 2024, the Company announced a $500 million investment from BlackRock. The investment will provide Recurrent Energy with additional capital to grow its high value project development pipeline while executing its strategy to transition from a pure developer to a developer plus long-term owner and operator in select markets including the U.S. and Europe. This transition is expected to create a more diversified portfolio and provide more stable long-term revenue in low-risk currencies, and enables Recurrent Energy to create and retain greater value in its own project development pipeline. The perimeter of the transaction includes 30 countries, excluding China and Japan.

In June 2024, Recurrent Energy announced the initial closing of the $500 million investment. The initial closing presents the majority of the planned capital infusion at $300 million (before transaction costs). Once the transaction is fully complete, BlackRock’s $500 million investment will represent 20% of the outstanding fully diluted shares of Recurrent Energy on an as-converted basis. Canadian Solar will continue to own the remaining majority shares of Recurrent Energy.

Project Development Pipeline – Solar

As of June 30, 2024, Recurrent Energy’s total solar project development pipeline was 27.4 GWp, including 1.7 GWp under construction, 4.8 GWp of backlog, and 20.9 GWp of projects in advanced and early-stage pipelines, defined as follows:

Backlog projects are late-stage projects that have passed their risk cliff date and are expected to start construction in the next 1-4 years. A project’s risk cliff date is the date on which the project passes the last high-risk development stage and varies depending on the country where it is located. This is usually after the projects have received all the required environmental and regulatory approvals, and entered into interconnection agreements, feed-in tariff (“FIT”) arrangements, and power purchase agreements (“PPAs”). A significant majority of backlog projects are contracted (i.e., have secured a PPA or FIT), and the remaining have a reasonable assurance of securing PPAs.Advanced pipeline projects are mid-stage projects that have secured or have more than 90% certainty of securing an interconnection agreement.Early-stage pipeline projects are early-stage projects controlled by Recurrent Energy that are in the process of securing interconnection.

While the magnitude of the Company’s project development pipeline is an important indicator of potential expanded power generation and battery energy storage capacity as well as potential future revenue growth, the development of projects in its pipeline is inherently uncertain. If the Company does not successfully complete the pipeline projects in a timely manner, it may not realize the anticipated benefits of the projects to the extent anticipated, which could adversely affect its business, financial condition, or results of operations. In addition, the Company’s guidance and estimates for its future operating and financial results assume the completion of certain solar projects and battery energy storage projects that are in its pipeline. If the Company is unable to execute on its actionable pipeline, it may miss its guidance, which could adversely affect the market price of its common shares and its business, financial condition, or results of operations.

The following table presents Recurrent Energy’s total solar project development pipeline.

Solar Project Development Pipeline (as of June 30, 2024) – MWp*

Region

In
Construction

Backlog

Advanced
Pipeline

Early-Stage
Pipeline

Total

North America

261

224

1,244

4,374

6,103

Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
(“EMEA”)

783**

2,465

1,578

5,539

10,365

Latin America

450**

486

83

4,540

5,559

Asia Pacific excluding China and Japan

173

708

1,413

2,294

China

100

1,320**

1,390

2,810

Japan

59

131

49

239

Total

1,653

4,799

3,613

17,305

27,370

*All numbers are gross MWp.

**Including 74 MWp in construction and 551 MWp in backlog that are owned by or already sold to third parties.

Project Development Pipeline – Battery Energy Storage

As of June 30, 2024, Recurrent Energy’s total battery energy storage project development pipeline was 62.8 GWh, including 8.5 GWh under construction and in backlog, and 54.3 GWh of projects in advanced and early-stage pipelines.

The table below sets forth Recurrent Energy’s total battery energy storage project development pipeline.

Battery Energy Storage Project Development Pipeline (as of June 30, 2024) – MWh

Region

In
Construction

Backlog

Advanced
Pipeline

Early-Stage
Pipeline

Total

North America

1,400

600

1,580

15,444

19,024

EMEA

1,580

4,627

26,612

32,819

Latin America

1,765

1,765

Asia Pacific excluding China and Japan

444

400

1,240

2,084

China

2,000

2,600

4,600

Japan

727

449

1,350

2,526

Total

3,844

4,672

7,056

47,246

62,818

Projects in Operation – Solar Power and Battery Energy Storage Power Plants (Including Unconsolidated Projects)

As of June 30, 2024, the solar power and battery energy storage plants in operation totaled around 1.6 GWp and 1.0 GWh respectively, with a combined estimated net resale value of approximately $1.2 billion. The estimated net resale value is based on selling prices that Recurrent Energy is currently negotiating or comparable asset sales.

Power Plants in Operation*

North
America

EMEA

Latin
America

Asia Pacific

ex. China and
Japan

China

Japan

Total

Solar (MWp)

163

58

970

6

310

62

1,569

Battery Energy
Storage (MWh)

280

24

700

1,004

*All numbers are net MWp or MWh owned by Recurrent Energy; total gross MWp of solar projects is 2,621 MWp and total gross battery
energy storage projects is 2,124 MWh, including volume that is already sold to third parties.

Operating Results

The following table presents select unaudited results of operations data of the Recurrent Energy segment for the periods indicated.

Recurrent Energy Segment Financial Results

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Percentages)

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

2024

March 31,

2024

June 30,

2023

June 30,

2024

June 30,

2023

Net revenues

50,525

39,433

360,045

89,958

380,097

Cost of revenues

26,564

26,381

201,981

52,945

214,824

Gross profit

23,961

13,052

158,064

37,013

165,273

Operating expenses

32,877

33,573

35,874

66,450

58,288

Income (loss) from
operations*

(8,916)

(20,521)

122,190

(29,437)

106,985

Gross margin

47.4 %

33.1 %

43.9 %

41.1 %

43.5 %

Operating margin

-17.6 %

-52.0 %

33.9 %

-32.7 %

28.1 %

* Income (loss) from operations reflects management’s allocation and estimate as some services are shared by the Company’s two business segments.

CSI Solar Segment

Solar Modules and Solar System Kits

CSI Solar shipped 8.2 GW of solar modules and solar system kits to more than 70 countries in the second quarter of 2024. For the second quarter of 2024, the top five markets ranked by shipments were China, the U.S., Pakistan, Germany, and Brazil.

CSI Solar’s revised manufacturing capacity expansion targets are set forth below.

Solar Manufacturing Capacity, GW*

June 2024

Actual

September 2024

Plan

December 2024

Plan

Ingot

20.4

25.0

25.0

Wafer

28.0

31.0

31.0

Cell

48.4

48.4

48.4

Module

60.0

61.0

61.0

*Nameplate annualized capacities at said point in time. Capacity expansion plans are subject to change without notice
based on market conditions and capital allocation plans.

e-STORAGE: Battery Energy Storage Solutions

e-STORAGE is CSI Solar’s utility-scale battery energy storage platform. e-STORAGE provides customers with competitive turnkey, integrated, utility-scale battery energy storage solutions, including bankable, end-to-end, utility-scale, turnkey battery energy storage system solutions across various applications. System performance is complemented with long-term service agreements, which include future battery capacity augmentation services and bring in long-term, stable income.

As of June 30, 2024, e-STORAGE had a total project turnkey pipeline of around 66 GWh, which includes both contracted and in-construction projects, as well as projects at different stages of the negotiation process. In addition, e-STORAGE had approximately 3.1 GWh of operating battery energy storage projects contracted under long-term service agreements, all of which were battery energy storage projects previously executed by e-STORAGE.

As of June 30, 2024, the contracted backlog, including contracted long-term service agreements, was $2.6 billion. These are signed orders with contractual obligations to customers, providing significant earnings visibility over a multi-year period.

The table below sets forth e-STORAGE’s manufacturing capacity expansion targets.

Battery Energy Storage Manufacturing
Capacity, GWh*

June 2024

Actual

December 2025

Plan

SolBank

20.0

30.0

*Nameplate annualized capacities at said point in time. Capacity expansion plans are subject to change without notice
based on market conditions and capital allocation plans. 

Operating Results 

The following table presents select unaudited results of operations data of the CSI Solar segment for the periods indicated. 

CSI Solar Segment Financial Results* 

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Percentages)

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,
2024

March 31,
2024

June 30,

2023

June 30,
2024

June 30,

2023

Net revenues

1,731,470

1,342,153

2,013,993

3,073,623

3,723,723

Cost of revenues

1,441,897

1,094,568

1,726,154

2,536,465

3,120,275

Gross profit

289,573

247,585

287,839

537,158

603,448

Operating expenses

196,255

165,113

168,455

361,368

314,606

Income from operations

93,318

82,472

119,384

175,790

288,842

Gross margin

16.7 %

18.4 %

14.3 %

17.5 %

16.2 %

Operating margin

5.4 %

6.1 %

5.9 %

5.7 %

7.8 %

*Include effects of both sales to third-party customers and to the Company’s Recurrent Energy segment. Please refer to the
attached financial tables for intercompany transaction elimination information. Income from operations reflects
management’s allocation and estimate as some services are shared by the Company’s two business segments.

The table below provides the geographic distribution of the net revenues of CSI Solar:

CSI Solar Net Revenues Geographic Distribution* (In Millions of U.S. Dollars, Except Percentages)

Q2 2024

% of Net
Revenues

Q1 2024

% of Net
Revenues

Q2 2023

% of Net
Revenues

Americas

892

56

676

53

722

36

Asia

455

29

417

32

716

36

Europe and others

238

15

197

15

566

28

Total

1,585

100

1,290

100

2,004

100

*Excludes sales from CSI Solar to Recurrent Energy.

Business Outlook

The Company’s business outlook is based on management’s current views and estimates given factors such as existing market conditions, order book, production capacity, input material prices, foreign exchange fluctuations, the anticipated timing of project sales, and the global economic environment. This outlook is subject to uncertainty with respect to, among other things, customer demand, project construction and sale schedules, product sales prices and costs, supply chain constraints, and geopolitical conflicts. Management’s views and estimates are subject to change without notice.

For the third quarter of 2024, the Company expects total revenue to be in the range of $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion. Gross margin is expected to be between 14% and 16%. Total module shipments recognized as revenues by CSI Solar are expected to be in the range of 9.0 GW to 9.5 GW, including approximately 100 MW to the Company’s own projects. Total battery energy storage shipments by CSI Solar in the third quarter of 2024 are expected to be between 1.4 GWh to 1.7 GWh, including about 1.2 GWh to the Company’s own projects.

For the full year of 2024, the Company expects total module shipments to be in the range of 32 GW to 36 GW and CSI Solar’s total battery energy storage shipments in the range of 6.5 GWh to 7.0 GWh, including approximately 1 GW and 2.5 GWh respectively to the Company’s own projects. The Company’s total revenue is expected to be in the range of $6.5 billion to $7.5 billion.

Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO, commented, “While we continue to navigate challenging market conditions, our focus remains on sustainable, profitable growth. We are beginning to see signs of market rationalization, as module pricing and input costs reach record lows. In line with our commitment to strategic future planning, we are adjusting certain capacity investments to ensure a resilient financial profile. We anticipate stabilization in the second half of the year. Although global economic and political uncertainties will likely persist in the coming months, we have consistently managed risk effectively for our shareholders, partners, and customers in the past—and we remain committed to doing so going forward.”

Recent Developments

Canadian Solar

On August 19, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had entered into a definitive agreement with PAG, pursuant to which PAG will subscribe for US$200 million in aggregate principal of convertible notes due 2029. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to closing conditions. The Company will retain certain flexibility on drawdowns, using the net proceeds to optimize its capital structure.

On May 31, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had published its 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report that showcases the Company’s ongoing progress and achievements in its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. The sustainability disclosures in this report are aligned with global standards set by the SASB (the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), with reference to the IFRS (the International Financial Reporting Standards) set by ISSB (International Sustainability Standards Board). 

CSI Solar

On August 8, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had signed a turnkey EPC contract for 100 MW / 200 MWh energy storage solutions with Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) Australia for FRV’s Terang energy storage project in Victoria, Australia. FRV Australia, part of Jameel Energy and the Canadian infrastructure fund OMERS, is a leading developer of sustainable energy solutions. An energy storage supply agreement and a long-term service agreement had been signed between the companies. Construction of the project is scheduled to commence in August 2024.

On July 18, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had signed a contract with Root-Power Ltd., part of YLEM Group, to supply 11 MW AC / 22 MWh AC energy storage solutions for Root-Power’s Coryton Energy Park project located in Corringham, Essex, England. Construction of the project started in late May 2024. An energy storage supply agreement and long-term service agreement had been signed between the companies.

On July 9, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had secured a contract with Aypa Power to deliver a 498 MWh DC standalone battery energy storage system for Aypa’s Bypass Project in Texas. The project is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2025. After integrating and commissioning the project to commercial operation, e-STORAGE will provide ongoing operational support for the project under a long-term service agreement.

On July 8, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had secured a contract from Nova Scotia Power to develop flagship energy storage projects across three locations in Nova Scotia, Canada: Bridgewater, Waverley, and White Rock. The projects total 150 MW / 705 MWh DC. Construction will be completed by the end of 2026, and the first site is expected to be operational in 2025. e-STORAGE will provide comprehensive EPC services along with long-term service agreements.

On June 20, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had entered into a partnership agreement with leading renewable energy supplier Lifestyle Solar Inc. to provide solar and energy storage solutions to homebuilders in California. Canadian Solar will offer its new N-type modules from its factory in Mesquite, TX, and the innovative stackable EP Cube home battery, enabling Lifestyle Solar’s clients to achieve energy resilience and lower electricity costs.

On June 13, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had entered into an agreement with U.S. homebuilder D.R. Horton to offer its solar and energy storage products across communities in California. In its commitment to excellence, D.R. Horton has chosen Canadian Solar’s solar panels and batteries, a testament to the superior quality of Canadian Solar’s products.

Recurrent Energy

On August 6, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had completed the sale of an 83 MWp project in the Dominican Republic to Grupo País and Acciona Energía. The Pedro Corto solar project, located in San Juan de la Maguana, is in the late stage of development.

On July 24, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had achieved the financial close on a €50 million loan from the European Investment Bank. The facility will support the development and construction of a solar energy portfolio in Italy.

On July 10, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had signed a 10-year power purchase agreement with GKN Automotive, a global leader in drive systems, for the annual production of approximately 200 GWh of renewable electricity produced by Recurrent Energy’s 115 MWp Rey I Project located in Seville, Andalucia, Spain. Currently under construction, Rey I is expected to be fully operational by the first half of 2026. Recurrent Energy will own and operate the project upon completion.

On June 27, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had signed a $103 million tax credit facilitation agreement with Bank of America for its North Fork Solar Project. The 160 MW solar project, located southwest of Oklahoma City, is now operational.

On June 20, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had secured $513 million in project financing for its landmark Papago Storage project located in Maricopa County, Arizona. Construction of the 1,200 MWh Papago Storage is slated to commence in the third quarter of 2024, with commercial operations expected to begin in the second quarter of 2025. This project holds a 20-year tolling agreement with Arizona Public Service, and Recurrent Energy will own and operate the project after construction.

On June 17, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had achieved commercial operation on its first portfolio of Japan’s feed-in premium (FIP) PV projects on June 1, 2024. Toyota Tsusho Corporation entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Company, securing 100% of the PV power, together with the Non-Fossil Certificates (NFCs) generated by the project. 

On June 10, 2024, Canadian Solar announced the inauguration of the 446 MWp / 360 MWac Marangatu Solar Complex in Brasileira, Brazil. SPIC owns 70% of the project, while Recurrent Energy owns the remaining 30%. Developed by Recurrent Energy, Marangatu Solar Complex was fully energized in April 2024. 75% of the energy generated is secured through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).

On June 3, Canadian Solar announced it had achieved the initial closing and funding of an investment in Recurrent Energy’s platform by BlackRock through a fund managed by its climate infrastructure business. The initial closing of the transaction, first announced in January 2024, was contingent on requisite regulatory approvals and other conditions, which have now been met.

On May 23, 2024, Canadian Solar announced it had secured a landmark multi-currency revolving credit facility valued at up to €1.3 billion with ten banks for the construction of solar and battery energy storage projects in several European countries, including Spain, Italy, the UK, the Netherland, France and Germany. Initially, the facility will support the near-term construction of close to 1 GW of solar capacity, with the vast majority allocated to Spain and the remainder to the UK.

Conference Call Information

The Company will hold a conference call on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 p.m., Thursday, August 22, 2024, in Hong Kong) to discuss its second quarter 2024 results and business outlook. The dial-in phone number for the live audio call is +1-877-704-4453 (toll-free from the U.S.), +852 800 965 561 (from Hong Kong), +86 400 120 2840 (local dial-in from Mainland China) or +1-201-389-0920 from international locations. The conference ID is 13747972. A live webcast of the conference call will also be available on the investor relations section of Canadian Solar’s website.

A replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of the call until 11:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Thursday, September 5, 2024 (11:00 a.m. September 6, 2024, in Hong Kong) and can be accessed by dialing +1-844-512-2921 (toll-free from the U.S.) or +1-412-317-6671 from international locations. The replay pin number is 13747972. A webcast replay will also be available on the investor relations section of Canadian Solar’s at www.canadiansolar.com

About Canadian Solar Inc.

Canadian Solar was founded in 2001 in Canada and is one of the world’s largest solar technology and renewable energy companies. It is a leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules, provider of solar energy and battery energy storage solutions, and developer of utility-scale solar power and battery energy storage projects with a geographically diversified pipeline in various stages of development. Over the past 23 years, Canadian Solar has successfully delivered over 133 GW of premium-quality, solar photovoltaic modules to customers across the world. Likewise, since entering the project development business in 2010, Canadian Solar has developed, built, and connected approximately 11 GWp of solar power projects and 3.7 GWh of battery energy storage projects across the world. Currently, the Company has approximately 1.6 GWp of solar power projects in operation, 6.5 GWp of projects under construction or in backlog (late-stage), and an additional 20.9 GWp of projects in advanced and early-stage pipeline. In addition, the Company has 1 GWh of battery energy storage projects in operation and a total battery energy storage project development pipeline of around 63 GWh, including approximately 8.5 GWh under construction or in backlog, and an additional 54.3 GWh at advanced and early-stage development. Canadian Solar is one of the most bankable companies in the solar and renewable energy industry, having been publicly listed on the NASDAQ since 2006. For additional information about the Company, follow Canadian Solar on LinkedIn or visit www.canadiansolar.com.

Safe Harbor/Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release, including those regarding the Company’s expected future shipment volumes, revenues, gross margins, and project sales are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are made under the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by such terms as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include general business, regulatory and economic conditions and the state of the solar power and battery energy storage market and industry; geopolitical tensions and conflicts, including impasses, sanctions and export controls; volatility, uncertainty, delays and disruptions related to global pandemics; supply chain disruptions; governmental support for the deployment of solar power and battery energy storage; future available supplies of silicon, solar wafers and lithium cells; demand for end-use products by consumers and inventory levels of such products in the supply chain; changes in demand from significant customers; changes in demand from major markets such as China, the U.S., Europe, Brazil and Japan; changes in effective tax rates; changes in customer order patterns; changes in product mix; changes in corporate responsibility, especially environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) requirements; capacity utilization; level of competition; pricing pressure and declines in or failure to timely adjust average selling prices; delays in new product introduction; delays in utility-scale project approval process; delays in utility-scale project construction; delays in the completion of project sales; the pipeline of projects and timelines related to them; the ability of the parties to optimize value of that pipeline; continued success in technological innovations and delivery of products with the features that customers demand; shortage in supply of materials or capacity requirements; availability of financing; exchange and inflation rate fluctuations; litigation and other risks as described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F filed on April 26, 2024. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance, or achievements. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All information provided in this press release is as of today’s date, unless otherwise stated, and Canadian Solar undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Wina Huang

Investor Relations

Canadian Solar Inc.

investor@canadiansolar.com

 

 

 

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

The following tables provide unaudited select financial data for the Company’s CSI Solar and Recurrent Energy businesses.

Select Financial Data – CSI Solar and Recurrent Energy

Three Months Ended and As of June 30, 2024

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Percentages)

CSI Solar

Recurrent

Energy

Elimination

and

unallocated

items (1)

Total

Net revenues 

$1,731,470

$50,525

$(146,562)

$1,635,433

Cost of revenues

1,441,897

26,564

(115,122)

1,353,339

Gross profit

289,573

23,961

(31,440)

282,094

Gross margin

16.7 %

47.4 %

17.2 %

Income (loss) from
   operations (2)

$ 93,318

$(8,916)

$(36,752)

$47,650

Supplementary

   Information:

Interest expense (3)

$(15,924)

$(15,289)

$(1,809)

$(33,022)

Interest income (3)

11,037

3,075

10

14,122

Cash and cash equivalents

$1,379,591

$234,023

$6,223

$1,619,837

Restricted cash – current and

571,546

858

572,404

    noncurrent

Non-recourse borrowings

781,634

781,634

Other short-term and long-

1,778,326

1,099,669

2,877,995

    term borrowings

Green bonds and convertible

146,998

228,165

375,163

    notes

Select Financial Data – CSI Solar and Recurrent Energy

Six Months Ended June 30, 2024

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Percentages)

CSI Solar

Recurrent

Energy

Elimination

and

unallocated

items (1)

Total

Net revenues 

$3,073,623

$89,958

$(199,037)

$2,964,544

Cost of revenues

2,536,465

52,945

(159,713)

2,429,697

Gross profit

537,158

37,013

(39,324)

534,847

Gross margin

17.5 %

41.1 %

18.0 %

Income (loss) from

$175,790

$(29,437)

$(49,631)

$96,722

operations (2)

Supplementary

   Information:

Interest expense (3)

$(31,633)

$(29,578)

$(6,678)

$(67,889)

Interest income (3)

42,906

5,479

39

48,424

Select Financial Data – CSI Solar and Recurrent Energy

Three Months Ended June 30, 2023

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Percentages)

CSI Solar

Recurrent

Energy

Elimination

and
unallocated

items (1)

Total

Net revenues 

$2,013,993

$360,045

$(10,015)

$2,364,023

Cost of revenues

1,726,154

201,981

(4,686)

1,923,449

Gross profit

287,839

158,064

(5,329)

440,574

Gross margin

14.3 %

43.9 %

18.6 %

Income from operations (2)

$119,384

$122,190

$(17,451)

$224,123

Supplementary

   Information:

Interest expense (3)

$(15,833)

$(12,824)

$(1,798)

$(30,455)

Interest income (3)

7,550

1,905

1

9,456

Select Financial Data – CSI Solar and Recurrent Energy

Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Percentages)

CSI Solar

Recurrent

Energy

Elimination

and

unallocated items (1)

Total

Net revenues 

$3,723,723

$380,097

$(38,516)

$4,065,304

Cost of revenues

3,120,275

214,824

(28,370)

3,306,729

Gross profit

603,448

165,273

(10,146)

758,575

Gross margin

16.2 %

43.5 %

18.7 %

Income from operations (2)

$288,842

$106,985

$(26,100)

$369,727

Supplementary
    Information:

Interest expense (3)

$(29,421)

$(17,889)

$(3,593)

$(50,903)

Interest income (3)

14,027

3,357

28

17,412

(1) Includes inter-segment elimination, and unallocated corporate items not considered part of management’s evaluation of business segment operating performance.

(2) Income (loss) from operations reflects management’s allocation and estimate as some services are shared by the Company’s two business segments.

(3) Represents interest expenses payable to and interest income earned from third parties.

 

 

Select Financial Data – CSI Solar and Recurrent Energy

Three Months Ended

June 30,

2024

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2024

Three Months Ended

June 30,

 2023

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars)

CSI Solar Revenues:

Solar modules

$ 1,207,816

$ 912,150

$ 1,722,687

Solar system kits

114,869

99,247

216,867

Battery energy storage solutions

225,805

251,473

14,889

EPC and others

36,418

26,808

49,535

Subtotal

1,584,908

1,289,678

2,003,978

Recurrent Energy Revenues:

Solar power and battery energy storage asset
sales

12,752

6,044

338,487

Power services (O&M) and asset
management

18,644

15,868

13,408

Electricity revenue from operating portfolio
and others

19,129

17,521

8,150

Subtotal

50,525

39,433

360,045

Total net revenues

$ 1,635,433

$ 1,329,111

$ 2,364,023

 

 

Select Financial Data – CSI Solar and Recurrent Energy

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2024

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2023

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars)

CSI Solar Revenues:

Solar modules

$ 2,119,966

$ 3,177,563

Solar system kits

214,116

350,454

Battery energy storage solutions

477,278

29,699

EPC and others

63,226

127,491

Subtotal

2,874,586

3,685,207

Recurrent Energy Revenues:

Solar PV and battery energy storage asset
sales

18,796

343,108

Power services (O&M) and asset
management

34,512

22,095

Electricity revenue from operating portfolio
and others

36,650

14,894

Subtotal

89,958

380,097

Total net revenues

$ 2,964,544

$ 4,065,304

 

 

 

Canadian Solar Inc.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Share and Per Share Data)

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

March 31,

June 30,

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net revenues

$ 1,635,433

$ 1,329,111

$ 2,364,023

$ 2,964,544

$ 4,065,304

Cost of revenues

1,353,339

1,076,358

1,923,449

2,429,697

3,306,729

Gross profit

282,094

252,753

440,574

534,847

758,575

Operating expenses:

Selling and distribution
expenses

131,692

88,412

87,686

220,104

176,057

General and
administrative expenses

100,911

94,693

139,571

195,604

218,219

Research and
developmentexpenses

25,578

34,279

23,137

59,857

40,444

Other operating income,
net

(23,737)

(13,703)

(33,943)

(37,440)

(45,872)

Total operating expenses

234,444

203,681

216,451

438,125

388,848

Income from operations

47,650

49,072

224,123

96,722

369,727

Other income (expenses):

Interest expense

(33,022)

(34,867)

(30,455)

(67,889)

(50,903)

Interest income

14,122

34,302

9,456

48,424

17,412

Gain (loss) on change in
fair value of derivatives,
net

81

(16,694)

(23,775)

(16,613)

(16,174)

Foreign exchange gain,
net

12,486

12,913

57,532

25,399

36,672

Investment income (loss),
net

(835)

169

1,955

(666)

10,335

Total other income
(expenses)

(7,168)

(4,177)

14,713

(11,345)

(2,658)

Income before income taxes
and equity in earnings of
affiliates

40,482

44,895

238,836

85,377

367,069

Income tax expense

(5,283)

(9,677)

(46,019)

(14,960)

(74,734)

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates

(7,775)

1,005

4,719

(6,770)

12,030

Net income

27,424

36,223

197,536

63,647

304,365

Less: Net income
attributable to non-
controlling interests and
redeemable non-
controlling interest

23,602

23,871

27,566

47,473

50,683

Net income attributable to
Canadian Solar Inc.

$ 3,822

$ 12,352

$ 169,970

$ 16,174

$ 253,682

Earnings per share – basic

$ 0.02

$ 0.19

$   2.62

$ 0.21

$   3.92

Shares used in computation –
basic

66,413,750

66,164,560

64,912,928

66,289,155

64,716,522

Earnings per share –
diluted

$ 0.02

$ 0.19

$   2.39

$ 0.21

$   3.58

Shares used in computation –
diluted

66,984,783

66,642,725

71,689,925

66,813,754

71,571,041

 

 

 

Canadian Solar Inc.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars)

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

March 31,

June 30,

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net Income

$ 27,424

$ 36,223

$ 197,536

$ 63,647

$ 304,365

Other comprehensive income (loss):

Foreign currency translation
adjustment

(59,897)

(53,813)

(68,507)

(113,710)

(45,257)

Gain (loss) on changes in fair
value of available-for-sale debt
securities, net of tax

769

880

(1,050)

1,649

(711)

Gain (loss) on interest rate
swap, net of tax

(481)

965

(67)

484

(172)

Share of gain (loss) on changes
in fair value of derivatives of
affiliate, net of tax

(159)

1,134

503

975

(107)

Comprehensive income (loss)

(32,344)

(14,611)

128,415

(46,955)

258,118

Less: comprehensive income
attributable to non-controlling
interests and redeemable non-
controlling interest

15,637

20,337

3,690

35,974

28,852

Comprehensive income (loss)
attributable to Canadian Solar
Inc.

$ (47,981)

$ (34,948)

$124,725

$ (82,929)

$ 229,266

 

 

 

Canadian Solar Inc.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars)

June 30,

December 31,

2024

2023

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 1,619,837

$ 1,938,689

Restricted cash

562,427

999,933

Accounts receivable trade, net

1,019,370

904,943

Accounts receivable, unbilled

164,226

101,435

Amounts due from related parties

35,215

40,582

Inventories

1,204,986

1,179,641

Value added tax recoverable

171,859

162,737

Advances to suppliers, net

172,408

193,818

Derivative assets

5,613

9,282

Project assets

555,555

280,793

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

268,433

283,600

Total current assets

5,779,929

6,095,453

Restricted cash

9,977

7,810

Property, plant and equipment, net

3,079,646

3,088,442

Solar power systems, net

1,266,529

951,513

Deferred tax assets, net

314,200

263,458

Advances to suppliers, net

231,298

132,218

Investments in affiliates

227,703

236,928

Intangible assets, net

33,923

19,727

Project assets

688,648

576,793

Right-of-use assets

226,517

237,007

Amounts due from related parties

38,668

32,313

Other non-current assets

239,899

254,098

TOTAL ASSETS

$ 12,136,937

$ 11,895,760

 

 

 

Canadian Solar Inc.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Continued)

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars)

June 30,

December 31,

2024

2023

LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NON-
CONTROLLING INTEREST AND EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Short-term borrowings

$ 2,036,003

$ 1,805,198

Accounts payable

842,105

813,677

Short-term notes payable

765,511

878,285

Amounts due to related parties

3,629

511

Other payables

1,179,390

1,359,679

Advances from customers

274,051

392,308

Derivative liabilities

1,387

6,702

Operating lease liabilities

18,006

20,204

Other current liabilities

458,808

587,827

Total current liabilities

5,578,890

5,864,391

Long-term borrowings

1,623,626

1,265,965

Green bonds and convertible notes

375,163

389,033

Liability for uncertain tax positions

5,847

5,701

Deferred tax liabilities

88,624

82,828

Operating lease liabilities

113,331

116,846

Other non-current liabilities

491,554

465,752

TOTAL LIABILITIES

8,277,035

8,190,516

Redeemable non-controlling interest

$ 72,785

$ —

Equity:

Common shares

835,543

835,543

Additional paid-in capital

470,628

292,737

Retained earnings

1,565,881

1,549,707

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(215,620)

(118,744)

Total Canadian Solar Inc. shareholders’
equity

2,656,432

2,559,243

Non-controlling interests

1,130,685

1,146,001

TOTAL EQUITY

3,787,117

3,705,244

TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NON-
CONTROLLING INTEREST AND EQUITY

$ 12,136,937

$ 11,895,760

 

 

 

Canadian Solar Inc.

Unaudited Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(In Thousands of U.S. Dollars)

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30,

March 31,

June 30,

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2024

2023

2024

2023

Operating Activities:

Net income

$ 27,424

$ 36,223

$ 197,536

$ 63,647

$ 304,365

Adjustments to reconcile net
income to net cash provided by
operating activities

174,201

158,350

190,634

332,551

258,372

Changes in operating assets
and liabilities

(630,963)

(486,060)

(98,611)

(1,117,023)

(226,006)

Net cash provided by (used in)
operating activities

(429,338)

(291,487)

289,559

(720,825)

336,731

Investing Activities:

Purchase of property, plant and
equipment

(390,248)

(266,462)

(283,065)

(656,710)

(516,097)

Purchase of solar power
systems

(10,936)

(173,341)

(36,329)

(184,277)

(146,195)

Other investing activities

2,515

6,832

(17,927)

9,347

(29,010)

Net cash used in investing
activities

(398,669)

(432,971)

(337,321)

(831,640)

(691,302)

Financing Activities:

Net proceeds from sale of
subsidiary’s redeemable
preferred shares

297,000

297,000

Payments for repurchase of
subsidiary’s ordinary shares

(70,624)

(70,624)

Net proceeds from subsidiary’s
public offering of ordinary shares

803,645

803,645

Other financing activities

(38,778)

723,412

547,492

684,634

927,241

Net cash provided by financing
activities

187,598

723,412

1,351,137

911,010

1,730,886

Effect of exchange rate changes

(61,483)

(51,253)

(128,769)

(112,736)

(95,679)

Net increase (decrease) in cash,
cash equivalents and restricted cash

(701,892)

(52,299)

1,174,606

(754,191)

1,280,636

Cash, cash equivalents and
restricted cash at the beginning
of the period

$ 2,894,133

$ 2,946,432

$ 2,075,533

$ 2,946,432

$ 1,969,503

Cash, cash equivalents and
restricted cash at the end of the
period

$ 2,192,241

$ 2,894,133

$ 3,250,139

$ 2,192,241

$ 3,250,139

 

 

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/canadian-solar-reports-second-quarter-2024-results-302228478.html

SOURCE Canadian Solar Inc.

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Technology

Toronto firm fined $5,000 for unauthorized use of professional engineer’s seal

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TORONTO, May 6, 2026 /CNW/ – The Ontario Court of Justice has fined a Toronto firm $5,000 for applying a facsimile of a professional engineer’s seal to an engineering report without the engineer’s knowledge or consent.

In June 2023, 11951076 Canada Inc., operating as Studio Four, affixed an engineer’s seal to an engineering report and submitted it to the City of Hamilton in connection with a residential building project. The engineer whose seal was used did not authorize the use of the seal.

A complaint was made to Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), which investigated and laid charges under the Professional Engineers Act (PEA).

On April 24, 2026, Studio Four pleaded guilty to one count of breaching section 40(3)(b) of the PEA. The firm’s two directors, Salim Afroz and Ashweek Chhabra, also pleaded guilty to breaching section 40(5) of the Act in connection with this conduct.

Studio Four was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. The two directors each received suspended sentences.

As the regulator of professional engineering in Ontario, PEO reminds the public that the unauthorized use or forgery of a professional engineer’s seal on construction or design drawings is a quasi-criminal offence under the PEA. Such conduct may also result in criminal charges under the Criminal Code of Canada.

PEO administers the Professional Engineers Act to serve and protect the public interest by licensing Ontario’s more than 98,000 professional engineers and engineering firms. Professional engineers can be identified by the “P.Eng.” designation following their names.

Members of the public can verify a professional engineer or engineering firm by searching PEO’s public directories at peo.on.ca/directory. Concerns about unlicensed individuals or unauthorized firms may be reported through PEO’s enforcement hotline at 416-840-1444, 1-800-339-3716 ext. 1444, or enforcement@peo.on.ca.

SOURCE Professional Engineers Ontario

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Tell a Friend, Save on Travel! EF World Journeys Launches Cross-Brand Referral Program That Rewards Travelers to Inspire the People in Their Lives to Tour the Globe

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New benefit allows travelers to unlock savings on future trips by introducing friends and family to EF Go Ahead Tours, EF Ultimate Break, and EF Adventures

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EF World Journeys, a leader in guided, experiential travel for adults from Gen Z to Baby Boomers, today announced the launch of a new referral program, a travel rewards benefit that can be redeemed across EF Go Ahead Tours, EF Ultimate Break, and EF Adventures.

Under the new program, travelers will receive $100 in travel credit for every friend who books a trip using their referral, with every fifth referral earning you $500 and no cap on total rewards earned. In short, the more friends or family who book from your referral, the more you save on your next trip.

Each year, guided trips across EF World Journeys’ portfolio bring travelers together through shared experiences that extend far beyond the journey itself. Many of those travelers continue to engage with the people they meet on tour, often exchanging photos, stories, and future travel inspiration well after returning home. The new referral program builds on the natural desire to share those experiences, offering travelers easy ways to connect and invite friends, family members, and fellow adventurers to experience a guided group tour for themselves.

“At EF, we’ve always believed that one of the most powerful parts of travel is the connections and communities we create along the way,” said Heidi Durflinger, CEO of EF World Journeys USA. “This referral program makes that even easier, giving our travelers a way to bring friends and family into the experience while continuing to grow a global community of people who choose to explore the world together.”

How it works: Give $100. Get $100.

Refer a friend: Any traveler who has taken a trip with or is currently booked on tour  with EF Go Ahead Tours, EF Ultimate Break, or EF Adventures can now share a personal referral link via email, text, social media, or their respective EF World Journeys mobile app. Friends must be new to EF World Journeys, 18 or older, and have a valid email address to qualify.Both travelers earn $100: When the referred traveler books, both receive $100 in travel credit. Rewards are issued 60 days after booking confirmation, and referrals must book within six months.Earn $500 on every fifth referral: Referring travelers receive $500 for every fifth successful referral. There is no limit to how many referrals can be made, and rewards NEVER expire.

To celebrate the launch of the new referral program, EF Go Ahead Tours is offering an additional limited-time incentive. For the month of May 2026, travelers who refer a friend that books an EF Go Ahead Tours trip will receive an extra $100 referral reward on top of the standard program credit. The promotional bonus applies exclusively to EF Go Ahead Tours bookings and is available for a limited time.

One program. Three brands. Built for every kind of traveler.

EF World Journeys’ referral benefits are available when booking across its entire portfolio of guided, experiential travel companies, allowing travelers to earn and share rewards regardless of which tour operator they or their friends or family choose.

EF Go Ahead Tours offers curated guided travel for adults of all ages, including multi-generational travel groups and private or customized group tours.EF Ultimate Break serves travelers ages 18–35 with social, immersive itineraries.EF Adventures provides hiking, biking, and multi-adventure trips for active adults with a focus on lifelong learning, wellness and community.

Because the referral program spans all three tour operators at EF World Journeys, credits can move naturally within families and friend networks whose travel styles differ.

For example, a traveler who just had a life-changing trip on EF Go Ahead Tours’ A Week in Greece can refer her college-aged daughter to EF Ultimate Break’s Europe’s Icons: London, Paris & Rome and both receive $100 towards their next tour. She can then refer her basketball coach who is a hiking enthusiast to EF Adventure’s Italy Hiking: The Dolomites — and earn again.

This cross brand traveler benefit ensures that no matter how or where someone chooses to book travel across EF Go Ahead Tours, EF Ultimate Break, or EF Adventures – the rewards follow.

For EF Go Ahead Tours, please visit: https://www.goaheadtours.com/about/referrals
For EF Ultimate Break, please visit: https://www.efultimatebreak.com/traveling-with-us/refer-a-friend
For EF Adventures, please visit: https://www.efadventures.com/about/referrals-program

About EF World Journeys
EF World Journeys  is a leader in guided, experiential travel. We connect cultures, communities, and people through guided, group travel with leading tour operator brands like EF Ultimate Break (adults 18-35), EF Go Ahead Tours (adults 35+), and our newest brand, EF Adventures, focused on adventure tours for the active traveler in you. EF World Journeys is part of EF Education First. For over 60 years, EF has planned guided tours with a focus on education and cultural immersion. EF offers travelers 24/7 global support, affordable payment plans, and supports tours in more than 400 destinations worldwide. Since 1965, EF has been committed to opening the world through education. At EF World Journeys, we do just that, helping people of all ages experience the magic of travel, connecting travelers with new places, cultures, and, best of all, a diverse community of people excited to explore the world.

About EF Go Ahead Tours
EF Go Ahead Tours offers more than 200 guided trips across six continents. Each carefully planned, expertly led tour makes it easy for curious travelers of all ages to get to the heart of a destination. With a maximum group size well below the industry average, each trip has the perfect balance of planned sightseeing and free time to explore.

EF Go Ahead Tours is a tour operator brand within EF World Journeys, one of North America’s leading guided, experiential travel companies.

Join EF Go Ahead Tours’ affiliate program, supported by AWIN and earn commissions on booked tours.

About EF Ultimate Break
EF Ultimate Break is the best way to experience the world for anyone 18-35. With over 175 trips, we handle logistics for everything that makes travel a great experience from accommodations to flights to amazing tour directors to memory-making excursions. Our affordable interest-free payment plans make international travel possible for every traveler. EF Ultimate Break is part of EF World Journeys, a leader in guided, experiential travel with tour operator brands that also include EF Go Ahead Tours (adults 35+) and EF Adventures (all ages, 14+ with adult supervision). 

Are you an influencer or creator who wants to lead tours with your growing audience? Earn commissions on each booking by joining our influencer-hosted tour program

Media partners can now participate in EF Ultimate Break’s affiliate marketing program and earn commissions for tour bookings. Click here to learn more.

About EF Adventures
EF Adventures is an education-based adventure travel company offering 40+ guided tours across 25 countries and 5 continents. Launched in September 2024 as part of the EF World Journeys family of experiential travel brands, EF Adventures builds on more than 30 years of EF’s global expertise in educational and cultural immersion.

Each small-group tour blends active exploration with authentic learning, inviting travelers to engage with local traditions, communities, and ecosystems through guided experiences like hiking, biking, and multi-adventure activities such as kayaking, yoga, ziplining, and more. Designed for varied fitness levels and age groups, the EF Adventures experience combines adventure-based activity with hands-on cultural discovery that transforms how people see the world.

EF Adventures invites publishers and creators to become part of its growing affiliate network. Earn competitive commissions on confirmed bookings by referring travelers to efadventures.com. Learn more and apply here.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tell-a-friend-save-on-travel-ef-world-journeys-launches-cross-brand-referral-program-that-rewards-travelers-to-inspire-the-people-in-their-lives-to-tour-the-globe-302761895.html

SOURCE EF World Journeys

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NEO Battery Partners with Highest-Ranking ROK Army’s Capital Defense Command for Defense Drone & Robotics Batteries

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Defense technology partnership with Republic of Korea (“ROK) Army’s Capital Defense Command (“CDC”), one of the highest-ranking command units responsible for securing the Presidential Office, the capital and key national infrastructureFocuses on battery supply and integration within CDC defense drone and robotics units, featuring specialized drone training and technical battery advisoryLeverages the CDC’s decision-making authority to accelerate the adoption of Korea-made battery technology across broader national defense and military units

TORONTO, May 6, 2026 /CNW/ – NEO Battery Materials Ltd. (“NEO” or the “Company”) (TSXV: NBM) (OTC: NBMFF), a low-cost, silicon-enhanced battery developer that enables longer-running, rapid-charging batteries for drones, robotics, and physical AI, is pleased to announce it has entered into a significant defense partnership agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Republic of Korea (“ROK”) Army’s Capital Defense Command (CDC) – a direct reporting unit to the President of South Korea and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Stationed in Seoul and known as the “Shield Unit”, the CDC is one of the highest-ranking national command units, responsible for protecting the Presidential Office (Blue House), the capital and key national infrastructure.

This partnership represents a strategic expansion into a higher command level within the ROK Army, operating directly under the Army Headquarters with significant decision-making and procurement authority. The Agreement builds on NEO’s momentum in its Korean Defense Integration Strategy (see previously announced partnerships with the 12th Infantry Division dated April 1, 2026, and the Capital Mechanized Infantry Division dated April 22, 2026), and serves as a critical milestone due to the CDC’s ability to advocate for the prompt implementation of non-Chinese battery solutions that meet stringent security clearance and performance requirements.

The Agreement will focus on the supply and deployment of high-performance, defense batteries within the CDC’s drone and robotics units to enhance operational runtime and energy efficiency. Furthermore along with Korean drone partners, NEO will provide specialized drone training and technical battery advisory to support CDC’s personnel, all of whom are required to be certified in drone operations. This Agreement followed a successful live demonstration of NEO’s high-energy drone batteries held at the CDC’s parade ground on April 30, 2026.

Lieutenant General Changjoon Eo, Commander of the Capital Defense Command, expressed, “The CDC was highly impressed with the drone flight time performance exhibited by NEO’s high-performance batteries compared to commercial Chinese products. As the ROK Army and its units initiate the transition towards a Korea-made supply chain, NEO Battery will act as an integral partner for the CDC and its sub-units to ensure traceability and performance for defense batteries in our drone and robotics platforms.”

“Securing this partnership with a high-ranking command unit such as the CDC further validates the effectiveness of NEO’s battery technology,” stated Spencer Huh, President & CEO of NEO. “As the CDC is a heavy consumer of drone technology and requires high-performance, non-Chinese components to ensure national security, NEO’s in-country presence, along with our robust performance data and wide technology offering, aptly positions us to meet stringent scopes of work for the highest levels of the ROK military.”

About the ROK Army’s Capital Defense Command
Operating under the name “Shield Unit” or Chungjeongdae, the ROK Army’s Capital Defense Command is one of the highest-ranking, corps-level military organizations within the Republic of Korea’s Armed Forces and Operations Command. The CDC is primarily responsible for defending the Presidential Office, the capital, the Ministry of National Defense facilities, major government buildings, and key national infrastructure. The Command exercises several subordinate units, including the 1st Security Group, the 1st Air Defense Brigade, the CDC Military Police Group, and the 52nd and 56th Infantry Divisions.

About NEO Battery Materials Ltd.
NEO Battery Materials is a Canadian-South Korean battery technology company focused on developing and producing silicon-enhanced lithium-ion batteries in drones, robotics, physical AI, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems. With a patent-protected, low-cost silicon manufacturing process, NEO Battery enables longer-running and ultra-fast charging properties and provides end-to-end battery solutions from materials selection, cell architecture, and process optimization. The Company aims to be a globally-leading producer of high-performance lithium-ion batteries and materials, building a secure, robust battery supply chain for Western manufacturers. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: https://www.neobatterymaterials.com/.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Spencer Huh
Director, President, and CEO

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management’s objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified notably by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: volatile stock prices; the general global markets and economic conditions; the possibility of write-downs and impairments; the risk associated with the research and development of battery-related technologies; the risk associated with the effectiveness and feasibility of battery material, electrode, and cell technologies that have not yet been tested or proven on commercial scale or under real-world operating conditions; the risks associated with battery-related manufacturing process scale-up, including maintaining consistent material, component, and cell quality, production yields, and process reproducibility at a pilot, semi-commercial, or commercial scale; the risks associated with compatibility of existing battery chemistries, formulations, components, or designs; unforeseen risks associated with entering into and maintaining collaborations, joint ventures, partnerships, or commercial contracts with battery cell manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, and various companies in the global battery and downstream end-user supply chain; the risks associated with the failure to develop and produce commercially viable battery-related products or that technical goals may not be achieved within expected timelines or budgets under a joint development or collaboration; the risks associated with the Company’s technologies and products not meeting performance requirements or customer specifications; the risks that prototype and pilot-scale products do not advance into commercially produced products or translate into commercial orders; the risk associated with battery components and cell purchase orders and offtake supply that may not be fulfilled in full, on time, or at all as actual revenue realization depends on delivery schedules, achievement of technical milestones, and customer acceptance and validation; the risk associated with losing official vendor registration or status with existing customers; counterparty risk upon delivery of prototype and commercial products; the risks associated with constructing, completing, securing, and financing pilot, semi-commercial, and commercial battery materials, components, and cell manufacturing facilities including the Canadian and South Korean facilities; the risks associated with potential delays or increased costs with site preparation, equipment procurement and installation, and facility commissioning; the risks associated with integrating silicon anode material production, electrode manufacturing, and cell assembly within a single operational cluster or the Company’s business portfolio; the risks associated with supply chain disruptions or cost fluctuations in raw materials, processing chemicals, and additive prices, impacting production costs and commercial viability; the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of research, development and production; competition faced by the Company in securing experienced personnel, contracts and sales, and financing; access to adequate infrastructure and resources to support battery materials, components, and cell research and development activities; the risks associated with changes in the technology regulatory regime governing the Company; the risks associated with the timely execution of the Company’s strategies and business plans; the risks associated with the lithium-ion battery industry and end-users’ demand and adoption of the Company’s silicon anode technology and battery products; market adoption and integration challenges, including the difficulty of incorporating silicon anodes and silicon battery products within battery manufacturers and OEMs’ systems; the risks associated with the various environmental and political regulations the Company is subject to; risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; the reliance on key personnel; liquidity risks; the risk of litigation; risk management; and other risk factors as identified in the Company’s recent Financial Statements and MD&A and in recent securities filings for the Company which are available on www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued R&D and commercialization activities, no material adverse change in precursor, raw material, equipment, and relevant cost prices, development and commercialization plans to proceed in accordance with plans and such plans to achieve their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company’s business, operations, research and development, and commercialization plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this presentation, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE NEO Battery Materials Ltd.

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