EX-99.1 2 a2023q2earningsrelease.htm EX-99.1 Document

Exhibit 99.1
esslogoa.jpg
ESS Tech, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results
Record Revenue of $2.8 Million
Delivered Energy Warehouses™ to Four New Customers
Announces Partnership with LEAG

WILSONVILLE, Ore. – August 8, 2023 – ESS Tech, Inc. (“ESS,” “ESS, Inc.” or the “Company”) (NYSE: GWH), a leading manufacturer of long-duration energy storage systems for commercial and utility-scale applications, today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2023.
“I’m proud of the progress ESS made in the second quarter, recognizing record revenue of $2.8 million and delivering nine Energy Warehouses to four different customers. We’ve made significant improvements across our internal operations which are driving solid gains in manufacturing efficiency, greater predictability in our ability to meet our customers' needs and more streamlined revenue recognition,” said Eric Dresselhuys, CEO of ESS. “Our innovative, sustainable iron flow battery technology remains the key to our success and fuels our potential for long-term growth and profitability. As the Inflation Reduction Act continues to spark increased interest among customers seeking low-cost ways to decarbonize and enable long-duration energy storage in their grids, ESS remains well-positioned to capture share in this rapidly expanding market, as evidenced by our partnership with LEAG. With continually improving execution and visibility across the business, we expect revenue for the next two quarters to continue at approximately the same rate as the second quarter. Our tightly-aligned team is poised to unlock even greater efficiency improvements in the coming quarters while maintaining a healthy cash balance.”
Recent Business Highlights
•Recognized $2.8 million in revenue and shipped nine Energy Warehouses™ in the second quarter.
•Entered into a strategic partnership with LEAG, a major German energy provider. LEAG and ESS plan to build a 500 MWh iron flow battery system at the Boxberg Power Plant site in Germany, to help manage demand charges and ensure resilient operations while creating a template for further storage installations. The execution of definitive agreements is expected in the third quarter in anticipation of project financial close.
•Began shipments for the first phase of ESS’ relationship with Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), to support SMUD’s 2030 Zero Carbon Plan. As previously announced, ESS has agreed to supply up to 2 GWh of long-duration energy storage over the next four years in the form of Energy Warehouses™ and Energy Centers™. As part of this multi-year agreement, ESS also intends to set up facilities for battery system assembly, operations and maintenance support and project delivery in Sacramento, creating local, high-paying jobs. In addition, ESS and SMUD plan to team up with local colleges and universities to establish a Center of Excellence to expand and train the workforce that will be needed to support long-duration energy storage technology.
•ESS Energy Warehouse units received certification to the Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) 9540 standard, an industry standard for stationary energy storage systems. This certification underscores our technology's resilience, safety and quality in a variety of environments and conditions.
•ESS has been awarded 10 additional patents for its iron flow battery technology in the second quarter, further reinforcing its position as an industry leader in the long-duration energy storage market. This brings


the total number of patents held by the company to 70 worldwide and a total of 235 applications filed, as of June 30, 2023.
Conference Call Details
ESS will hold a webcast conference call on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. EDT to discuss financial results for its second quarter 2023 ended June 30, 2023. Interested parties may join the conference call beginning at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 via telephone by calling (833) 927-1758 in the U.S., or for international callers, by calling +1 (929) 526-1599 and entering conference ID 025797. A telephone replay will be available until August 15, 2023, by dialing (866) 813-9403 in the U.S., or for international callers, +44 (204) 525-0658 with conference ID 253542. A live webcast of the conference call will be available on ESS’ Investor Relations website at http://investors.essinc.com/.
A replay of the call will be available via the web at http://investors.essinc.com/.
About ESS, Inc.
At ESS (NYSE: GWH), our mission is to accelerate global decarbonization by providing safe, sustainable, long-duration energy storage that powers people, communities and businesses with clean, renewable energy anytime and anywhere it’s needed. As more renewable energy is added to the grid, long-duration energy storage is essential to providing the reliability and resiliency we need when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing.
Our technology uses earth-abundant iron, salt and water to deliver environmentally safe solutions capable of providing up to 12 hours of flexible energy capacity for commercial and utility-scale energy storage applications. Established in 2011, ESS Inc. enables project developers, independent power producers, utilities and other large energy users to deploy reliable, sustainable long-duration energy storage solutions. For more information visit www.essinc.com.
Energy Warehouses and Energy Centers are trademarks of ESS Tech, Inc. Any third-party trademarks are property of their respective owners and any usage herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between ESS and the third party unless expressly stated.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this press release and the accompanying earnings call, the Company includes Non-GAAP Operating Expenses and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP performance measures that the Company uses to supplement its results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. As required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Company has provided herein a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures contained in this press release and the accompanying earnings call to the most directly comparable measures under GAAP. The Company’s management believes Non-GAAP Operating Expenses and Adjusted EBITDA are useful in evaluating its operating performance and are similar measures reported by publicly-listed U.S. companies, and regularly used by securities analysts, institutional investors, and other interested parties in analyzing operating performance and prospects. By providing these non-GAAP measures, the Company’s management intends to provide investors with a meaningful, consistent comparison of the Company’s profitability for the periods presented. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a substitute for net income/loss or any U.S. GAAP financial measure and, as calculated, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of performance of other companies in other industries or within the same industry. Further, Non-GAAP Operating Expenses are not intended to be a substitute for GAAP Operating Expenses or any U.S. GAAP financial measure and, as calculated, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of performance of other companies in other industries or within the same industry.
The Company defines and calculates Non-GAAP Operating Expenses as GAAP Operating Expenses adjusted for stock-based compensation and other special items determined by management as they are not indicative of business operations. The Company defines and calculates Adjusted EBITDA as net loss before interest, other non-operating expense or income, (benefit) provision for income taxes, and depreciation, and further adjusted for stock-based compensation and other special items determined by management, including, but not limited to, fair value adjustments for certain financial liabilities associated with debt and equity transactions as they are not indicative of business operations.


Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding ESS and its management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. The words “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intends”, “may”, “might”, “plan”, “possible”, “potential”, “predict”, “project”, “should”, “will” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding revenue expectations, the Company’s manufacturing plans, the Company’s order and sales pipeline, the Company’s ability to execute on orders, the Company’s ability to effectively manage costs, and the Company’s partnerships with third parties such as LEAG and Sacramento Municipal Utility District. These forward-looking statements are based on ESS’ current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on ESS. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication. There can be no assurance that the future developments affecting ESS will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond ESS’s control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, which include, but are not limited to, continuing supply chain issues; delays, disruptions, or quality control problems in the Company’s manufacturing operations; the Company’s ability to hire, train and retain an adequate number of manufacturing employees; issues related to the shipment and installation of the Company’s products; issues related to customer acceptance of the Company’s products; issues related to the Company’s partnerships with third parties; inflationary pressures; risk of loss of government funding for customer projects; and the Company’s need to achieve significant business growth to achieve sustained, long-term profitability; as well as those risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2023, to be filed with the SEC on August 8, 2023, and its other filings filed with the SEC. Except as required by law, ESS is not undertaking any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts
Investors:
Erik Bylin
investors@essinc.com
Media:
Morgan Pitts
+1 (503) 568-0755
Morgan.Pitts@essinc.com

Source: ESS Tech, Inc.



ESS Tech, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
Six Months Ended June 30,
 2023202220232022
Revenue:
Revenue$2,826 $404 $3,197 $404 
Revenue - related parties1 282 2 $282 
Total revenue2,827 686 3,199 $686 
Operating expenses:
Research and development19,450 16,165 37,181 29,063 
Sales and marketing1,739 1,900 3,592 3,402 
General and administrative5,845 6,797 11,132 14,586 
Total operating expenses27,034 24,862 51,905 47,051 
Loss from operations(24,207)(24,862)(48,706)(46,365)
Other income (expenses), net:
Interest income, net1,330 247 2,582 218 
Gain (loss) on revaluation of common stock warrant liabilities(115)8,596 573 25,101 
Other income (expense), net63 (255)721 (251)
Total other income (expenses), net1,278 8,588 3,876 25,068 
Net loss and comprehensive loss to common stockholders$(22,929)$(16,274)$(44,830)$(21,297)
Net loss per share - basic and diluted$(0.15)$(0.10)$(0.29)$(0.14)
Weighted-average shares used in per share calculation - basic and diluted154,900,330 152,723,980 154,514,265 152,206,773 


ESS Tech, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share data)
 June 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
Assets 
Current assets: 
Cash and cash equivalents$30,287  $34,767 
Restricted cash, current1,373  1,213 
Accounts receivable, net1,393 4,952 
Short-term investments69,216 105,047 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets3,148  5,657 
Total current assets105,417  151,636 
Property and equipment, net18,483  17,570 
Operating lease right-of-use assets2,797 3,401 
Restricted cash, non-current944  675 
   Other non-current assets115 271 
Total assets$127,756  $173,553 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity 
Current liabilities: 
Accounts payable$2,838  $3,036 
Accrued and other current liabilities8,970  14,125 
Accrued product warranties5,103 1,643 
Operating lease liabilities, current1,500 1,421 
Deferred revenue3,167 6,168 
Notes payable, current1,127  1,600 
Total current liabilities22,705  27,993 
Notes payable, non-current—  315 
Operating lease liabilities, non-current1,767 2,535 
Deferred revenue, non-current3,348 2,442 
Common stock warrant liabilities2,636 3,209 
Other non-current liabilities—  85 
Total liabilities30,456  36,579 
Stockholders' equity: 
Preferred stock ($0.0001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022)
—  — 
Common stock ($0.0001 par value; 2,000,000,000 shares authorized, 155,570,588 and 153,821,339 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)
16  16 
Additional paid-in capital760,693  755,537 
Accumulated deficit(663,409) (618,579)
Total stockholders' equity97,300  136,974 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$127,756  $173,553 


ESS Tech, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
Six Months Ended June 30,
20232022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss$(44,830)$(21,297)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization2,105 463 
Non-cash interest (income) expense(1,487)7 
Non-cash lease expense604555 
Stock-based compensation expense4,784 5,705 
Change in fair value of common stock warrant liabilities(573)(25,101)
Other non-cash income and expenses, net(33)238 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net4,653 1,841 
Prepaid expenses and other assets2,561 1,336 
Accounts payable(664)(786)
Accrued and other current liabilities(4,234)1,961 
Accrued product warranties3,460 1,158 
Deferred revenue(3,189)(687)
Operating lease liabilities(689)74 
Net cash used in operating activities(37,532)(34,533)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment(3,440)(8,463)
Maturities and purchases of short-term investments, net37,363 (79,599)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities33,923 (88,062)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on notes payable(800)(967)
Proceeds from stock options exercised122 95 
Proceeds from contributions to Employee Stock Purchase Plan332 — 
Repurchase of shares from employees for income tax withholding purposes(82)(2,808)
Other, net(14)(7)
Net cash used in financing activities(442)(3,687)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash(4,051)(126,282)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period36,655 240,232 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period$32,604 $113,950 




ESS Tech, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
Six Months Ended June 30,
20232022
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for operating leases included in cash used in operating activities$827 $806 
Non-cash investing and financing transactions:
Purchase of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued and other current liabilities931 556 
Right-of-use operating lease assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations— 4,534 
Right-of-use finance lease assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations— 123 
Cash and cash equivalents$30,287 $112,708 
Restricted cash, current1,373 1,167 
Restricted cash, non-current944 75 
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows$32,604 $113,950 


ESS Tech, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Expenses
(unaudited)
(in thousands)

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2023202220232022
Research and development$19,450 $16,165 $37,181 $29,063 
Less: stock-based compensation(1,130)(587)(2,123)(1,173)
Non-GAAP research and development$18,320 $15,578 $35,058 $27,890 
Sales and marketing$1,739 $1,900 $3,592 $3,402 
Less: stock-based compensation(165)(125)(315)(179)
Non-GAAP sales and marketing$1,574 $1,775 $3,277 $3,223 
General and administrative$5,845 $6,797 $11,132 $14,586 
Less: stock-based compensation(1,430)(2,233)(2,346)(4,353)
Non-GAAP general and administrative$4,415 $4,564 $8,786 $10,233 
Total operating expenses$27,034 $24,862 $51,905 $47,051 
Less: stock-based compensation(2,725)(2,945)(4,784)(5,705)
Non-GAAP total operating expenses$24,309 $21,917 $47,121 $41,346 


ESS Tech, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA
(unaudited)
(in thousands)

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
Net loss$(22,929)$(44,830)
Interest income, net(1,330)(2,582)
Stock-based compensation2,725 4,784 
Depreciation1,027 2,098 
Gain (loss) on revaluation of common stock warrant liabilities115 (573)
Other income (expense), net(63)(721)
Adjusted EBITDA$(20,455)$(41,824)