Ballard Power : MD&A Fourth Quarter 2024
BLDP.TO
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CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains forward-looking statements about expected events and the financial and operating performance of Ballard Power Systems Inc. ("Ballard", "the Company", "we", "us" or "our"). Forward-looking statements include any statements that do not refer to historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management and reflect our current expectations as contemplated under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as "estimate", "project", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may", "should", "will", the negatives of these words or other variations thereof and comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to our objectives, goals, liquidity, sources and uses of capital, outlook, strategy, order backlog, order book of expected deliveries, sales pipeline and future product sales; future product roadmap, including expected product costs and selling prices, future product sales; future production capacities and volumes; the markets for our products; expenses and costs; contributions and cash requirements to and from joint venture operations; research, technology and product development activities, including future product performance, attributes, and launches and product cost reduction plans; as well as statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions, including regarding our ability to implement, execute, complete or realize benefits of our restructuring initiatives on the timelines we expect, including our expectations with response to our expected restructuring changes, cost savings and the reduction of our planned capital expenditure. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. In particular, these forward-looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions relating to our expectations with respect to hydrogen and fuel cell market development; certain factors and assumptions relating to our existing customer and partner relationships; the generation of new sales; producing, delivering, and selling the expected product and service volumes at the expected prices and costs; and controlling our costs. They are also based on a variety of general factors and assumptions including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding technology and product development efforts; manufacturing capacity and cost; product and service pricing; market demand; and the availability and prices of raw materials, labour, and supplies. These assumptions have been derived from information available to the Company including information obtained by the Company from third parties. These assumptions may prove to be incorrect in whole or in part. In addition, actual results may differ materially from those expressed, implied, or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause our actual results or outcomes to differ materially from the results expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: challenges or delays in our technology and product development activities; changes in the availability or price of raw materials, labour, supplies and shipping; our ability to attract and retain business partners, suppliers, employees and customers; our ability to extract value from joint venture operations; global economic trends and geopolitical risks, including changes in economic growth, rates of investment, inflation, interest rates or currency fluctuations in our key markets, including magnitude of the rate of change of the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar; geopolitical risk or an escalation of trade tensions such as those between the U.S. and China and the U.S. and Canada; the rate of commercial adoption of our markets, products or related ecosystem, including the availability and cost of hydrogen; investment in hydrogen fueling infrastructure and competitive pricing of hydrogen fuel; the relative strength of the value proposition that we offer our customers with our products or services; changes in competitive technologies, including internal combustion engine, battery and fuel cell technologies; changes in our customers' requirements, the competitive environment and/or related market conditions; product safety, liability or warranty issues; warranty claims, product performance guarantees, or indemnification claims; changes in product or service pricing or cost; market developments or customer actions that may affect levels of demand and/or the financial performance of the major industries, regions and customers we serve, such as secular, cyclical and competitive pressures in the bus, truck, rail, marine and stationary sectors; cybersecurity threats; our ability to protect our intellectual property; climate risk; changing government or environmental regulations, including subsidies, credits, incentives or penalties associated with the adoption of clean energy products, including zero or low emission vehicles, hydrogen and fuel cells; our access to funding and our ability to provide the capital required for product development, operations and marketing efforts, working capital requirements, and joint venture capital contributions; changes in U.S. tax laws and tax status related to "passive foreign investment company" designation; potential merger and acquisition activities, including risks related to integration, loss of key personnel and disruptions to operations; changes in U.S. tax laws and tax status related to the Inflation Reduction Act; and the general assumption that none of the risks identified in the Risks and Uncertainties section of this document or in our most recent Annual Information Form will materialize. Readers should not place undue reliance on Ballard's forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date of this Management Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"). Except as required by applicable legislation, Ballard does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this MD&A including the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
March 12, 2025
Section
Description
1.
Introduction
1.1 Preparation of the MD&A
1.2 Management's Report on Disclosure Controls
and Procedures and Internal Controls over
Financial Reporting
1.3 Risks and Uncertainties
2.
Core Strategy and Business
2.1 Core Business
2.2
Strategic Imperatives
3.
Select Annual Financial Information
3.1 Select Annual Financial Information
and 2025 Business Outlook
3.2 2024 Performance Compared to 2024 Business
Outlook
3.3
2025 Business Outlook
4.
Recent Developments
4.1 Corporate
(Including Contractual Updates)
4.2 Europe
4.3
North America
4.4
China and Rest of World
5.
Results of Operations
5.1 Operating Segments
5.2
Summary of Key Financial Metrics -
Three months ended December 31, 2024
5.3
Summary of Key Financial Metrics -
Year ended December 31, 2024
5.4
Operating Expenses and Other Items -
Three months and year ended December 31,
2024
5.5
Summary of Quarterly Results
6. Cash Flow, Liquidity and Capital
6.1 Summary of Cash Flows
Resources
6.2 Cash Provided by (Used by) Operating
Activities
6.3
Cash Provided by (Used by) Investing Activities
6.4
Cash Provided by (Used by) Financing Activities
6.5
Liquidity and Capital Resources
7.
Other Financial Matters
7.1 Off Balance Sheet Arrangements and
Contractual Obligations
7.2
Related Party Transactions
7.3
Outstanding Share and Equity Information
8.
Use of Proceeds
8.1 Reconciliation of Use of Proceeds from
Previous Financings
9.
Accounting Matters
9.1 Overview
9.2
Critical Judgments in Applying Accounting
Policies
9.3
Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty
9.4
Recently Adopted Accounting Policy Changes
9.5
Future Accounting Policy Changes
10. Supplemental Non-GAAP Measures and
10.1 Overview
Reconciliations
10.2 Cash Operating Costs
10.3 EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Preparation of the MD&A
This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of Ballard Power Systems Inc. ("Ballard", "the Company", "we", "us" or "our") is prepared as of March 12, 2025 and should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2024. The results reported herein are presented in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated and have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Additional information relating to the Company, including our Annual Information Form, is filed with Canadian (www.sedarplus.ca) and U.S. (www.sec.gov) securities regulatory authorities and is also available on our website at www.ballard.com.
1.2 Management's Report on Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
Disclosure controls and procedures
Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that relevant information is gathered and reported to senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and the Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), on a timely basis so that appropriate decisions can be made regarding public disclosures.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the CEO and the CFO, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act"). The CEO and CFO have concluded that as of December 31, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified therein, and accumulated and reported to management to allow timely discussions regarding required disclosure.
Internal control over financial reporting
The CEO and CFO, together with certain other members of management, are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over the Company's financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is designed under our supervision, and overseen by the Company's board of directors, management, and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS.
There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility that misstatements may not be prevented or detected. Accordingly, even effective internal controls over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Furthermore, the effectiveness of internal controls can change with circumstances.
Management, including the CEO and CFO, have evaluated the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act, in relation to criteria described in Internal Control-IntegratedFramework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of
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the Treadway Commission ("COSO"). Based on this evaluation, management has determined that internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024.
KPMG LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements and expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. KPMG LLP has also expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
During the year ended December 31, 2024, there were no changes in internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Our design of disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting includes controls, policies and procedures covering our subsidiaries including Ballard Power Systems Europe A/S, Ballard Fuel Cell Systems Inc., and Guangzhou Ballard Power Systems Co., Ltd.
1.3 Risks and Uncertainties
An investment in our common shares involves risk. Investors should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and in our Annual Information Form. The risks and uncertainties described in our Annual Information Form are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that we do not know about now or that we currently deem immaterial, may also adversely affect our business. For a more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties which apply to our business and our operating results, please see our Annual Information Form and other filings with Canadian (www.sedarplus.ca) and U.S. (www.sec.gov) securities regulatory authorities.
A summary of our identified risks and uncertainties are as follows:
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2. CORE BUSINESS AND STRATEGY 2.1 Core Business
At Ballard, our vision is to deliver fuel cell power for a sustainable planet. We are recognized as a world leader in proton exchange membrane ("PEM") fuel cell power system development and commercialization.
Our principal business is the design, development, manufacture, sale and service of PEM fuel cell products for a variety of applications, focusing on power products for bus, truck, rail, marine, stationary and emerging market (material handling, off-road and other) applications, as well as the delivery of services, including technology solutions, after sales services and training.
A fuel cell is an environmentally clean electrochemical device that combines hydrogen fuel with oxygen (from the air) to produce electricity. The hydrogen fuel can be obtained from natural gas, kerosene, methanol, ammonia, or other hydrocarbon fuels, or from water through electrolysis. Ballard's PEM fuel cell products are typically designed to feature high fuel efficiency, relatively low operating temperature, high durability, low noise and vibration, compact size, quick response to changes in electrical demand, and modular design. Embedded in each Ballard fuel cell product lies a stack of unit cells designed with
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our proprietary PEM fuel cell technology. This technology includes membrane electrode assemblies, catalysts, plates, and other key components, and draw on intellectual property from our patent portfolio, together with our extensive experience and know-how, in key areas of PEM fuel cell stack design, operation, production processes and systems integration.
We are based in Canada, with head office, research, technology and product development, engineering services, testing, manufacturing and after-sale service facilities in Burnaby, British Columbia. We also have sales and after-sale service facilities in Hobro, Denmark, a module assembly facility in Bend, Oregon, and a sales, quality, supply chain, and after-sales service office in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
We have a non-controlling, 49% interest in Weichai Ballard Hy-Energy Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Weichai Ballard JV"), located in Weifang, Shandong Province, China. Weichai Ballard JV's business is to manufacture certain fuel cell products utilizing Ballard's liquid cooled fuel cell stack ("LCS") and LCS- based power modules for bus, commercial truck, and forklift applications with certain exclusive rights in China.
We also have certain non-controlling and non-equity accounted investments including: (i) a 7.3% equity interest in Forsee Power SA ("Forsee Power"), a French public company specializing in the design, development, manufacture, commercialization, and financing of smart battery systems for sustainable electric transport; (ii) a 6.7% equity interest in Wisdom Group Holdings Ltd. ("Wisdom"), a Cayman Island private holding company with operating subsidiaries whose business includes the design and manufacture of vehicles, including zero emission fuel cell electric buses, trucks, and battery-electric vehicles; and (iii) a 3% equity interest in Quantron AG ("Quantron"), a private German electric vehicle integrator and specialty OEM to accelerate fuel cell truck adoption that is in insolvency proceedings.
We have also invested in three hydrogen infrastructure, decarbonization and/or growth equity funds: (i) a 12.4% interest in HyCap Fund I SCSP ("HyCap"), a special limited partnership registered in Luxembourg;
2.2 Strategic Focus and Context
We strive to build value for our shareholders by developing, manufacturing, selling, and servicing zero- emission, industry-leading PEM fuel cell technology products and services to meet the needs of our customers in target markets. More specifically, our business plan is to leverage our core competencies of PEM fuel cell stack technology and engine development and manufacturing, our investments in advanced manufacturing and production capacity, and our product portfolio by marketing our products and services across select large and attractive addressable market applications and select geographic regions.
We typically select our target market applications based on use cases where the comparative user value propositions for PEM fuel cells powered by hydrogen are strongest - such as where operators value low emission vehicles that require high utilization, long driving range, heavy payload, fast refueling, and similar user experiences to legacy diesel vehicles - and where the barriers to entry for hydrogen refueling
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infrastructure are lowest - such as use cases where vehicles typically return to a depot for centralized refueling and don't require a distributed refueling network. Our current target markets include certain medium- and heavy-duty mobility applications, such as bus, truck, rail, and marine, along with certain off- road mobility and stationary power applications.
We select our target geographic markets based on a variety of factors, including addressable market sizes of the target market applications in the geographic markets, historic deployments and expected market adoption rates for hydrogen and fuel cells, supportive government policies, existing and potential partner, customer, and end user relationships, and competitive dynamics. Our current key target markets are the geographic regions of Europe, North America, and China.
While we recognize addressing multiple market applications and geographic markets in parallel increases our near-term cost structure and investments, we believe offering the same core PEM fuel cell technologies and substantially similar derivative PEM fuel cell products across multiple mobility and power market applications and across select geographic regions will significantly expand and strengthen our long-term business prospects. We believe this model approach will increase volume scaling in our operations, enable lower product and production costs for the benefit of all markets, improve our competitive positioning and market share, enable diversified revenue streams and profit pools, and enhance our returns on investments in our technology, product development, and manufacturing.
There has been a material change in the outlook and sentiment for the hydrogen and fuel cell industry over the past five years. Policies, market outlook and investor sentiment were favorable and supportive in 2020 and 2021, resulting in many companies planning investments in the hydrogen and fuel cell industry. However, over the past few years, there have been significant changes in the industry context resulting from a variety of factors, including: an uncertain macroeconomic outlook; a dynamic geopolitical environment; prolonged policy uncertainty in the U.S., Europe and China; uncertain election cycles in key countries; rising interest rates, inflation and material costs; and various funding challenges. These changes have adversely impacted and delayed hydrogen projects across key global markets. We believe there is a multi-year push-out of the hydrogen and fuel cell industry, including hydrogen project development, the availability of low-cost hydrogen, the availability of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, and the commercial adoption of PEM fuel cell applications.
In addition, over the past few years, there has been a negative change in investor sentiment towards pre- profitability clean energy companies with long-duration investment horizons. In the hydrogen and fuel cell industry, many companies have been struggling with compressed valuations, liquidity issues, and restricted access to capital.
These factors have led to a rationalization across the hydrogen and fuel cell industry, starting in 2023. This rationalization has included numerous corporate restructurings, failures and insolvencies across the industry value chain. For example, in 2024, many hydrogen and fuel cell companies throughout the value chain took restructuring actions to reduce their corporate costs and cash burn rate.
At Ballard, we also implemented certain restructuring activities in 2023 and 2024 to moderate our investment intensity and pacing to better align with delayed market adoption.
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In 2023, we implemented a modest headcount reduction, rationalized our product portfolio, reduced the number of active product development programs, dropped new corporate development investments, and discontinued certain legacy products and non-core activities, including Ballard Motive Solutions in the U.K. We also suspended a proposed $130 million investment for the localization of a new MEA production facility in China.
In 2024, we observed further indicators of slowing hydrogen and fuel cell policy implementation and market adoption. We also noted a material weakening of the financial position of certain customers, increasing the risk regarding the ability of certain customers to continue with their product development programs and commercialization plans, in turn placing more risk on our sales order book and sales pipeline, as well as on certain of our development programs, trade receivables and inventory investments. We also observed a continued deterioration in the financing environment for certain customers and partners.
As this context represents a significant headwind to our corporate growth plan, we initiated a global corporate restructuring in September 2024 to moderate our investment intensity and pacing to better align with delayed market adoption. We expect our restructuring to reduce total annualized operating costs by more than 30%, with a substantial part of the anticipated reduction in annualized operating costs expected to be realized in 2025. Our restructuring included a sizeable workforce reduction, rationalization and consolidation of certain global operations and facilities, and a reduction in certain planned capital expenditures.
Given continued uncertainties in hydrogen and fuel cell policies, including the impact on hydrogen policies of the recent U.S. federal elections, and the uncertainties relating to the adoption rate and timing for PEM fuel cells in heavy mobility applications, the business case for production capacity expansion investments in the foreseeable future is extremely challenged. Accordingly, we have also repositioned our previously planned Texas gigafactory expansion program, where we expect to defer our final investment decision to 2026 pending market adoption and demand indicators.
With continued policy and other challenges in the China fuel cell market and underperformance of the Weichai Ballard JV, and as part of our global restructuring, we also reduced our corporate cost structure in China and initiated a strategic review of the Weichai Ballard JV. After conducting our strategic review, we have decided not to make any additional significant investments in China, including in the Weichai Ballard JV, for the foreseeable future.
As we look to our long-term strategic plan and cascading capital allocation, we continue to believe hydrogen and PEM fuel cells will play an important long-term role in decarbonizing select heavy mobility and stationary power applications. We believe there are certain use cases where customers will be attracted to the differentiated PEM fuel cell value proposition of long range, fast refueling, heavy payload, and zero tailpipe emissions.
However, given ongoing market uncertainties, we expect further industry rationalization, failures, restructurings and consolidation in 2025. We will continue to closely monitor various factors and circumstances that may impact the commercial adoption of our markets and products, including factors
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Disclaimer
Ballard Power Systems Inc. published this content on March 13, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on March 13, 2025 at 13:03:07.113.