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Extracted from Annual Report 2023

Chairman

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

On behalf of the Board of Directors (the "Board"), I am delighted to present our annual report for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 ("FY2023").

Sunpower achieved substantial growth in FY2023

The operational landscape improved in FY2023 following the various challenges of the 3-year pandemic faced by the Group. Domestic consumption improved in industries where the GI business has industrial steam customers, such as basic consumer goods (namely food and clothing1, and textiles2) and hospitality3. Further, the feedstock market witnessed relative stability in pricing4 as the balance of supply and demand gradually improved5.

Despite the mixed macro-environment still fraught with potential complications, the GI business demonstrated not only resilience but also made progress. Sunpower leveraged on its proven GI Business Model and continued to apply refined management practices to the GI projects to achieve an encouraging performance with substantial growth in FY2023.

By the close of FY2023, the Group had a sizeable portfolio of 11 operational GI projects with Shanxi Xinjiang Project newly put into commercial operation. It also achieved key milestones in the continued development of certain projects, as Yongxing Plant's general solid waste JV plant is in trial operation, and Jining Project has put part of its Phase 2 pipelines into use. Further, the completed addition of natural gas boilers by Lianshui Project and the ongoing addition of biomass boilers by Quanjiao Project cater to our customers' growing demand for clean industrial steam while providing more high quality industrial services.

With its encouraging performance and strong execution during the year, FY2023 marked a breakthrough for Sunpower. Total steam sales surpassed 10 million tons and GI recurring revenue exceeded RMB 3 billion for the first time, a positive trajectory for the company.

Profitability of GI business remained strong and grew faster than the growth in steam sales volume and revenue

In FY2023, GI recurring EBITDA6 rose 58.0% to RMB944.8 million and GI recurring PATMI7 rose 114.9% to RMB340.0 million. The profitability of the GI business surpassed the growth rates of both steam sales volume and revenue.

This encouraging financial performance also extended to GI operating cash flow, which rose 45.0% to RMB527.9 million.

The solid results are attributed to a comprehensive set of factors such as resilient demand for clean industrial steam in the projects' coverage areas, the effective ramping up of the GI projects, the emergence of beneficial economies of scale, a well-implemented price adjustment mechanism, and strategic technological upgrades and refined management practices in many aspects.

Looking ahead, Sunpower remains strategically focused on the continuous ramping up of existing GI projects to unlock potential opportunities for future growth. Its growth strategy is anchored in its adaptable business model and structural growth drivers, including the relocation of enterprises to industrial parks served by the GI projects, organic customer growth and ramp-up, the long-term structural expansion of industrial parks that either have strong economic viability in economically developed areas or have industry clusters of excellence, and the ongoing closures of small dirty boilers. Meanwhile, the Company will continue to evaluate pipelines for quality projects with potential.

CB maturity date has been extended to April 2025, amongst other amendments

In FY2023, the Group has reached a consensus with its Convertible Bond ("CB") holders to extend the maturity date of the CBs by two years to April 20258. In a Special General Meeting on 28 July 2023, shareholders approved the extension of the CB maturity date amongst other amendments.

The redemption of the CBs is now at the top of the Group's agenda. Sunpower is currently focusing on strategising and exploring options to raise the required funds for redemption. These options include but are not limited to seeking new investors, raising additional equity or debt funding, carrying out a strategic review of the Group's existing operations and financials, and monetising certain GI projects. The Group believes that the GI portfolio comprises valuable assets that are of interesting potential to investors.

Appreciation

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank our shareholders, customers, and business partners for your continued trust and support.

The Group remains focused on the improvement of shareholder value. Sunpower Group is on track to realise its growth potential with the focus on unlocking more potential value from its valuable assets for its shareholders in the future.

Guo Hong Xin
Non-Executive Chairman

1 https://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202402/t20240201_1947120.html
2 http://www.ce.cn/cysc/newmain/yc/jsxw/202401/30/t20240130_38885708.shtml
3 https://www.eeo.com.cn/2024/0202/634457.shtml
4 http://dsmv5.com/jijin/17829.html
5 https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1786053309250088261
6 For the definition of GI recurring EBITDA, please refer to the GI Financial Highlights page of the 2023 Annual Report.
7 For the definition of GI recurring PATMI, please refer to the GI Financial Highlights page of the 2023 Annual Report.
8 The maturity date of CBs has been extended to the later of (i) 3 April 2025; or (ii) if so elected by the Bondholders, the date that is the 15th Business Day after the date on which the Company's audited financial statements for 2024 are issued. For detailed information, please refer to the Circular to Shareholders in relation to the Proposed Amendments to the Convertible Bond Purchase Agreement and CB Terms and Conditions dated 11 July 2023.
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