ASTC up 66% leading the morning due to AH news
Monday, September 28 2009 4:20 PM, EST Astrotech Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009 and Announces Exploration of Strategic Alternatives Business Wire "US Press Releases "
AUSTIN, Texas --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Astrotech Corporation (NASDAQ:ASTC) today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 .
"This reporting period commemorates our return to profitable earnings and the completion of the turnaround for Astrotech that started in January 2007 ," said Thomas B. Pickens III , Chairman and CEO. "The Company is now on a firm foundation and I feel very confident about the future of Astrotech and its expected earnings going forward."
Fourth Quarter Results
The Company posted a fourth quarter fiscal year 2009 net income of $2.6 million , or $0.15 per diluted share on revenue of $10.4 million compared with a fourth quarter fiscal year 2008 net loss of $1.5 million , or $(0.11) per diluted share on revenue of $6.1 million .
Fiscal Year Results
Astrotech's net income for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 was $4.7 million , or $0.28 per diluted share on revenue of $32.0 million compared to a net loss of $36.0 million , or $(4.26) per diluted share on revenue of $25.5 million for the prior fiscal year. These results represent a 25.2% increase in revenue over fiscal year 2008. Additionally, this marks the first time since 2005 that the Company has reported net income for the fiscal year.
Liquidity
As of June 30, 2009 , we had cash on hand of $4.7 million and our working capital was approximately $8.4 million . The Company maintains a $6.0 million financing facility with Green Bank, N.A. , consisting of a $4.0 million term loan and a $2.0 million revolving credit facility. On June 30, 2009 , $3.6 million of the term loan, which expires in February 2011 , was outstanding. During third quarter fiscal year 2009, the Company renewed the one-year revolving credit facility through February 2010 on terms substantially similar to the previous facility. At June 30, 2009 , the Company had no outstanding liability under the revolving credit facility.
Update of Ongoing Operations
Astrotech's growth strategy is to build on its industry-leading ground support operations and offer a more comprehensive set of services to government and commercial satellite customers through its wholly owned and largest subsidiary, Astrotech Space Operations ("ASO"). Specifically, the Company has developed and has begun to offer an End-to-End Mission Assurance capability that leverages Astrotech's core-competency in ground processing services to provide pre-launch mission design and planning services and post-launch command-and-control and data management services. This initiative offers new opportunities to meet what the Company believes is an increasing demand from commercial and government customers for a cost-effective and reliable provider of these services.
The Company has a backlog of $25.4 million as of June 30, 2009 . The majority of this backlog is for ASO pre-launch satellite processing services, which include hardware launch preparation; advance planning; use of unique satellite preparation facilities; and, spacecraft checkout, encapsulation, fueling, transport, and remote control through launch.
Strategic Financial and Business Alternatives
Astrotech also announced today that its Board of Directors has engaged investment banking firm Lazard Ltd. to advise the Company in exploring strategic financial and business alternatives to enhance shareholder value. Lazard Middle Market is the midcap focused financial advisory business of Lazard.
The range of alternatives which may be considered could include strategic acquisitions, a sale of some or all of the company's assets or a variety of other possible transactions. There can be no assurance regarding the timing of or whether the Company will elect to pursue any of the strategic alternatives it may consider, or that any such alternatives will result in changes to the Company's plans or will be consummated.
About Astrotech Corporation
Astrotech is one of the first space commerce companies and remains a strong entrepreneurial leader in the aerospace industry. The Company serves our government and commercial satellite and spacecraft customers with our pre-launch services from our Astrotech Space Operations (ASO) subsidiary and incubates space technology businesses having formed three companies; the 1st Detect Corporation is developing what we believe is a breakthrough mini-mass spectrometer; Astrogenetix, Inc. expects to produce biotech products in space and has recently developed a vaccine candidate for Salmonella; and AirWard Corporation is drawing on Astrotech's space heritage of sending cargo to space by selling hazardous material containers for the airline industry.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, trends, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from the forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, continued government support and funding for key space programs, the ability to expand ASO, product performance and market acceptance of products and services, as well as other risk factors and business considerations described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings including the annual report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statements in this document should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Tables follow
ASTROTECH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2009 2008 2009 2008 Revenue $ 10,377 $ 6,050 $ 31,985 $ 25,544 Costs of revenue 4,130 4,490 15,723 19,540 Gross profit 6,247 1,560 16,262 6,004 Operating expenses Selling, general and 3,240 2,824 9,760 9,148 administrative Research and development 694 20 2,330 1,375 Asset impairment charge - 213 - 213 Total operating expenses 3,934 3,057 12,090 10,736 Gain (loss) from operations 2,313 (1,497 ) 4,172 (4,732 ) Debt conversion expense - - - (30,194 ) Gain on bond exchange - - 665 - Interest expense and Other (293 ) 327 (622 ) (427 ) expense, net Gain (loss) before income 2,020 (1,170 ) 4,215 (35,353 ) taxes Income tax benefit (expense) 603 (325 ) 510 (675 ) Net Income (loss) $ 2,623 $ (1,495 ) $ 4,725 $ (36,028 ) Deemed dividend related to induced conversion of - - - (3,344 ) preferred shares Net Income (loss) applicable $ 2,623 $ (1,495 ) $ 4,725 $ (39,372 ) to common shares Net income (loss) per share, $ 0.16 $ (0.11 ) $ 0.29 $ (4.26 ) basic Weighted average common shares 16,370 13,974 16,365 9,254 outstanding, basic Net income (loss) per share, $ 0.15 $ (0.11 ) $ 0.28 $ (4.26 ) diluted Weighted average common shares 17,617 13,974 16,904 9,254 outstanding, diluted
ASTROTECH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands, except share data) June 30, Assets 2009 2008 Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,730 $ 2,640 Accounts receivable, net 12,279 3,872 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 591 639 Total current assets 17,600 7,151 Property and equipment, net 40,226 40,999 Restricted cash - 8,386 Long term note receivable 691 717 Other assets, net 402 958 Total assets $ 58,919 $ 58,211 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities Term note payable $ 267 $ 267 Accounts payable 2,965 2,599 Deferred revenue 3,594 1,007 Accrued liabilities and other 2,356 2,756 Total current liabilities 9,182 6,629 Advances on construction contract - 4,863 Deferred revenue 649 1,227 Senior convertible subordinated notes payable - 5,111 6,861 5.5% Term note payable, net of current portion 3,324 3,526 Other 105 169 Total liabilities 18,371 23,275 Stockholders' equity Preferred stock, no par value, convertible, 2,500,000 authorized shares, 0 issued and outstanding shares, at June 30, 2009 and 2008 - - (liquidation preference of $12,000 ) Common stock, no par value, 75,000,000 and 7,000,000 shares authorized at June 30, 2009 and 2008 respectively, 16,754,378 and 14,966,038 shares issued at June 30, 183,341 183,306 2009 and 2008, respectively Treasury stock, 311,660 shares at cost (237 ) (117 ) Additional paid-in capital 1,663 691 Retained earnings (144,219 ) (148,944 ) Total stockholders' equity 40,548 34,936 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 58,919 $ 58,211
Source: Astrotech Corporation
