InvestorsHub Logo
icon url

swanlinbar

05/07/08 6:56 PM

#51 RE: swanlinbar #44

Airspan Networks Announces First Quarter 2008 Results
Wednesday May 7, 4:01 pm ET

BOCA RATON, FL--(MARKET WIRE)--May 7, 2008 -- Airspan Networks Inc. (NasdaqGM:AIRN - News)

Financial Highlights


-- $17.2 million in revenues for first quarter 2008 including $13.4
million of WiMAX
-- WiMAX represents 78% of revenues
-- Cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash
amounted to $34.0 million at the end of the quarter
-- Net cash use in the quarter $2.7 million
-- Cost reduction plans initiated to streamline operating expenses by
approximately 15% by the third quarter 2008

Business Highlights


-- Fujitsu Partnership Award for Landmark Japan National Mobile WiMAX
Project
-- Twenty new customer wins since the start of 2008
-- More than 90 WiMAX customers in the quarter
-- Leadership in the 3.65 GHz US WiMAX Market
-- Expanded Eastern Europe footprint: Comstar and Enforta

Airspan Networks Inc. (NasdaqGM:AIRN - News), a leading provider of WiMAX based broadband wireless access networks, today announced results for the first quarter ending March 30, 2008. First quarter revenues decreased by 36% to $17.2 million, compared to $26.7 million in the first quarter of 2007, largely driven by the continuing decline in non-WiMAX business. The first quarter gross margin was 31%, the same level as in the comparable quarter last year. Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $10.1 million or $0.17 per share for the first quarter of 2008, compared with $5.1 million or $0.13 per share in the first quarter of 2007.


Key Figures

First Qtr First Qtr Fourth Qtr
In $US thousands except for EPS 2008 2007 2007
---------- ---------- ----------
Total Revenue 17,159 26,660 23,767
---------- ---------- ----------
WiMAX Revenue 13,356 14,680 19,331
---------- ---------- ----------
Non-WiMAX Revenue 3,803 11,980 4,436
---------- ---------- ----------
Gross profit 5,236 8,251 6,945
---------- ---------- ----------
Operating Expenses 15,596 13,652 14,913
---------- ---------- ----------
Net Loss before deemed dividend (10,052) (5,128) (7,889)
---------- ---------- ----------
Deemed dividend associated with
preferred stock NA NA (532)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net loss attributable to common
stockholders (10,052) (5,128) (8,421)
---------- ---------- ----------
Net loss per share (basic and diluted) ($ 0.17) ($ 0.13) ($ 0.14)
---------- ---------- ----------
Weighted Average Common Shares
Outstanding (1) 58,599,702 40,528,097 58,294,901
---------- ---------- ----------


(1) Excludes shares of common stock issuable on exercise of stock options
and 21,630,856 shares of common stock issuable on conversion of the
Company's Series B preferred stock.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We continue to be optimistic about the WiMAX market and Airspan's leading position despite a tough quarter," commented Eric Stonestrom, Airspan's president and chief executive officer. "We are operating in a challenging environment where carriers are in a decision making process surrounding Mobile WiMAX. That said, WiMAX deployment in the developing world continues, where we recorded strong performance delivering equipment to fulfill the DSL experience for the underserved population. Our more challenging market was in Western Europe, as several operators delayed decisions.

"One of the major highlights of the quarter was our recent selection for a national mobile project in Japan. We formalized a partnership for joint product development with Fujitsu, who announced earlier this year that they had been selected as a WiMAX supplier by KDDI in its UQ Communications project. This win validates our product relevance in a very sophisticated market and we believe this type of next generation WIMAX base station is exactly what carriers deploying national roll-outs will need. Benefits of the platform include what we believe are the lowest operational cost and smallest footprint in the industry.

"We have ended the first quarter 2008 with a strong balance sheet and improved cash performance, with net cash used during the quarter at $2.7 million. Nevertheless, we are implementing a difficult but necessary cost and headcount reduction program to improve our results in the coming quarters, targeting 15% operating cost reduction by the end of the third quarter. We will continue to actively work to move the company towards operational profitability," Mr. Stonestrom continued.

First Quarter Financial highlights

Total first quarter revenues decreased by 36% to $17.2 million compared to $26.7 million in the first quarter of 2007, largely driven by the continuing decline in non-WiMAX business. Gross margin was 31%. Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2008 were $15.6 million, a 14% increase over the same period last year. This increase in operating expenses has resulted mainly from an increase in R&D spending as investment continues in mobile WiMAX technology and products, and an increase in sales and marketing, due, in part, to industry trade show expenses during the quarter.

The geographic breakdown of revenue for the quarter was as follows: 24% from Latin America and the Caribbean; 20% from Europe; 30% from Africa and the Middle East; 12% from Asia; and 14% from North America.

Cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash amounted to $34.0 million compared to 36.7 million at December 31, 2007, resulting in cash usage for the quarter of $2.7 million.

"We are committed to two primary objectives: Growing our revenues and, at the same time, reducing our costs to move the company towards profitability," commented David Brant, Airspan's chief financial officer.

Outlook

We continue to be cautiously optimistic for the year and believe the underserved market opportunities are large. In addition, we have intensified our focus on mobile network deployments with our strong product line up and expect that these new products will contribute revenues in the second half of 2008. We foresee revenues increasing in the second quarter 2008 to approximately $21 million.

Conference Call

The Company has scheduled an investor conference call for 5 p.m. EDT today. Please call the following dial-in number to participate in the call: US toll-free number is (888) 443-9987; the international access dial-in number is +1 (706) 634-0598. Please reference the Airspan Networks quarterly conference call, Conference ID 44220535. A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours following the live session through June 6, 2008. The U.S. toll-free number for the replay is (800) 642-1687; international dial-in number for the replay is +1 (706) 645-9291. Please use access code 44220535.

Investors may also register for the audio webcast of the conference call under the 'financial calendar' tab of the Investor Relations section of the Airspan Web site at http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=48201.

About Airspan Networks Inc.

Airspan is the industry's leading WiMAX pure player, ranked #1 for IEEE802.16-2004 WiMAX revenue in 2007 and has now been selected for some of the world's largest mobile WiMAX deployments. With direct sales offices throughout Asia, EMEA and the Americas, a worldwide network of resellers and agents, and partnership alliances with major OEMs, Airspan boasts over 100 commercial WiMAX deployments worldwide. www.airspan.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. The words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "projects," "will," "would" and similar expressions or negative variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. Investors and others are therefore cautioned that a variety of factors, including certain risks, may affect our business and cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The Company is subject to the risks and uncertainties described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for 2008. You should read those factors as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this press release. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.


Airspan Networks Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands except for share and per share data)



Three months and Year to Date
----------------------------
March 30, April 1,
2008 2007
------------- -------------
(unaudited)
Revenue $ 17,159 $ 26,660
Cost of revenue (11,923) (18,409)

------------- -------------
Gross profit 5,236 8,251
------------- -------------

Operating expenses:
Research and development 6,936 5,606
Sales and marketing 4,239 3,362
Bad debt provision 47 232
General and administrative 4,140 4,178
Amortization of intangibles 234 234
Restructuring - 40

------------- -------------
Total operating expenses 15,596 13,652
------------- -------------

Loss from operations (10,360) (5,401)

Interest income, net 116 280

Other income, net 242 32

------------- -------------
Loss before income taxes (10,002) (5,089)

Income tax provision (50) (39)

------------- -------------
Net loss $ (10,052) $ (5,128)
============= =============

Net loss per share - basic and diluted $ (0.17) $ (0.13)

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic
and diluted 58,599,702 40,528,097





Airspan Networks Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)


March 30, December 31,
2008 2007
------------- -------------
Unaudited Audited
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 30,789 $ 30,815
Restricted cash 525 393
Short-term investments 2,663 5,504
Accounts receivable, less allowance for
doubtful accounts 23,654 33,853
Inventory 16,055 16,720
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 4,607 5,338
------------- -------------
Total Current Assets 78,293 92,623

Property, plant and equipment, net 5,722 5,895
Goodwill 10,231 10,231
Intangible assets, net 1,636 1,870
Other non-current assets 3,309 3,402

------------- -------------
Total Assets $ 99,191 $ 114,021
============= =============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities
Accounts payable $ 9,008 $ 11,938
Deferred revenue 3,072 5,125
Customer advances 1,504 892
Other accrued expenses 11,796 13,063
Short-term debt 7,500 7,500
------------- -------------
Total Current Liabilities 32,880 38,518
------------- -------------

Non Current Liabilities
Long-term debt 1,787 1,787
Accrued interest on long term debt 229 191
------------- -------------
Total Liabilities 34,896 40,496
------------- -------------

Stockholders' Equity
Common stock 17 17
Note receivable - stockholder (87) (87)
Additional paid in capital 350,540 349,718
Accumulated deficit (286,175) (276,123)
------------- -------------
Total Stockholders' Equity 64,295 73,525
------------- -------------

------------- -------------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 99,191 $ 114,021
============= =============


Contact:

For Investor Relations and Media Inquiries, contact:

David Brant
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Airspan Networks Inc.
Tel: +1 561 893-8650
Fax: +1 561 893-8681
Email: Email Contact

Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane
Investor Relations
Email: Email Contact
Tel. +561 395 4581