EX-99.1 2 a07-12904_1ex99d1.htm EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contacts:

 

Wilson W. Cheung
Chief Financial Officer
(510) 683-5900

Leslie Green
Green Communications Consulting, LLC
(650) 312-9060

 

AXT, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2007 Results

FREMONT, Calif., May 2, 2007 — AXT, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXTI), a leading manufacturer of compound semiconductor substrates today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007.  The company’s financial statements have been presented to reflect the opto-electronics division as a discontinued operation for all periods presented.

First Quarter 2007 Results

Revenue for the first quarter of 2007 was $12.5 million, compared with $13.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, and $8.5 million in the first quarter of 2006.  Total GaAs substrate revenue was $8.8 million for the first quarter of 2007, compared with $11.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, and $6.8 million in the first quarter of 2006.  Specifically, 6-inch diameter wafer sales were $3.3 million for the first quarter of 2007 compared with $4.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, and $2.8 million in the first quarter of 2006.  The decrease in 6-inch diameter wafer sales from the prior quarter was primarily due to the delay in BIFET qualifications of certain customers and less than expected orders from a few handset market customers.

InP substrate revenue was $518,000 for the first quarter of 2007, compared with $456,000 in the fourth quarter of 2006, and $296,000 in the first quarter of 2006.  Ge substrate revenue was $541,000, compared with $318,000 in the fourth quarter of 2006, and $36,000 in the first quarter of 2006.  Sales of raw materials, primarily 99.99 percent pure gallium, were $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2007, compared with $1.2 million in the fourth quarter as a result of three new Japanese raw material customers; these additional raw materials sales are not expected to be repeated in such magnitude in the second quarter of 2007. Sales of raw materials were $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2006.

Gross margin was 43.2 percent of revenue for the first quarter of 2007.  This included a benefit from the sale of approximately $785,000 in fully reserved wafers, which positively affected the quarterly gross margin by 6.3 percentage points.  However, our gross margins continue to benefit from overall yield improvements in many areas of manufacturing.  By comparison, gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2006 was 38.2 percent, including a benefit from the sales of approximately $730,000 in fully reserved wafers, which positively affected fourth quarter gross margin by 5.6 percentage points.  Gross margin in the first quarter of 2006 was 17.8 percent, including a benefit from the sale of approximately $537,000 in fully reserved wafers, which positively affected the quarterly gross margins by 6.3 percentage points.

4281 Technology Drive
Fremont, CA 94538
Tel: 510.683.5900
Fax: 510.353.0668
www.axt.com.

 



AXT, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2007 Results
May 2, 2007
Page 2 of 5

Operating expenses were $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2007, compared with $3.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 primarily as a result of higher legal fees in anticipation of settling existing lawsuits; operating expenses were $3.8 million in the first quarter of 2006.

Income from operations for the first quarter of 2007 was $1.2 million, compared with income from operations of $1.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2006, and loss from operations of $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2006.

Net interest and other income for the first quarter of 2007 was $213,000 compared with net interest and other income of $1.1 million for the fourth quarter, which included a gain on sale of Finisar stock of $1.3 million; net interest and other income for the first quarter of 2006 was $366,000, primarily from a gain on sale of Finisar stock of $371,000.

Net income in the first quarter of 2007 was $1.3 million or $0.04 per diluted share, based on 31.3 million weighted average shares outstanding.  By comparison, in the fourth quarter of 2006 we reported net income of $3.4 million or $0.13 per diluted share, based on 25.5 million weighted average shares outstanding, which included approximately 5 cents from the gain on sale of Finisar stock and 4 cents from the company’s net income tax benefit.  The increase in shares outstanding is the result of our public offering of 6.6 million shares of common stock completed in December 2006 and January 2007.  Net loss in the first quarter of 2006 was $2.2 million, or $(0.10) per diluted share.

Management Qualitative Comments

“The first quarter was both challenging and rewarding for AXT,” said Phil Yin, chief executive officer.  “With the delay in BIFET qualifications of certain customers and less than expected orders from a few handset market customers, revenue came in below our expectations.  However, through significant engineering and operating achievements in our cost reduction efforts, coupled with positive product mix, we recorded gross margins of 43.2 percent in the quarter, allowing us to exceed our earnings expectations.  Further, qualification activity across all of our product lines has been robust and early feedback from our existing customers and potential customers leads us to believe that 2007 will be a strong year for AXT.  AXT continues to execute well at all levels and our accomplishments, coupled with our growing market and significant competitive advantages position us well for continued growth in 2007.”

Outlook for Second Quarter, Ending June 30, 2007

AXT estimates revenue for the second quarter will increase to between $13.1 million and $13.5 million. The company estimates that net income per diluted share will be between $0.03 and $0.06, which takes into account stock compensation expense of approximately $150,000 and our diluted weighted average share count of approximately 31.4 million shares.

Conference Call

The company will also host a conference call today to discuss these results at 1:30 p.m. PT. The conference call can be accessed at (973) 935-2100 (PIN 8595637). The call will also be simulcast on the Internet at http://www.axt.com. Replays will be available at (973) 341-3080 until May 9, 2007. Financial and statistical information to be discussed in the call will be available on the company’s website immediately prior to commencement of the call.  Additional investor information can be accessed at http://www.axt.com or by calling the company’s Investor Relations Department at (510) 683-5900.



AXT, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2007 Results
May 2, 2007
Page 3 of 5

About AXT, Inc.

 AXT designs, develops, manufactures and distributes high-performance compound and single element semiconductor substrates comprising gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium phosphide (InP) and germanium (Ge). The company’s substrate products are used primarily in lighting display applications, wireless communications, and fiber optic communications. Its vertical gradient freeze (VGF) technique for manufacturing semiconductor substrates provides significant benefits over other methods and enabled AXT to become a leading manufacturer of such substrates, particularly in optoelectronics applications. AXT has manufacturing facilities in China and invests in five joint ventures producing raw materials. For more information, see AXT’s website at http://www.axt.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The foregoing paragraphs contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal Securities laws, including statements related to the future financial performance of the company and our ability to continue growth, maintain profitability, control costs and improve efficiency, as well as relating to improvements in our manufacturing costs, improvements in our competitive position and our technology development.  These forward-looking statements are based upon specific assumptions that are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to the company’s operations and business environment, which could cause actual results of the company to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements contained in the foregoing discussion. These uncertainties and factors include but are not limited to the impact of customer qualification of our products, new opportunities for our China joint ventures, improvements in our production processes, product quality and yields, cost and supply of raw materials, the impact of technology developments providing new markets for GaAs and Ge substrates, overall conditions in the markets in which the company competes as well as market conditions and trends; market acceptance and demand for the company’s products; and other factors as set forth in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Each of these factors is difficult to predict and many are beyond the company’s control. The company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

###

FINANCIAL TABLES TO FOLLOW



AXT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

12,526

 

$

8,471

 

Cost of revenue

 

7,121

 

6,961

 

Gross profit

 

5,405

 

1,510

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

3,703

 

3,230

 

Research and development

 

460

 

534

 

Restructuring benefit

 

—

 

(2

)

Total operating expenses

 

4,163

 

3,762

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

1,242

 

(2,252

)

Interest income, net

 

224

 

128

 

Other income (expense), net

 

(11

)

238

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income taxes

 

1,455

 

(1,886

)

Provision for income taxes

 

111

 

318

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

1,344

 

(2,204

)

Discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Gain from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

—

 

1

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

1,344

 

$

(2,203

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

0.04

 

$

(0.10

)

Gain (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

—

 

—

 

Net income (loss) per share - basic

 

$

0.04

 

$

(0.10

)

Shares used in computing basic income (loss) per share

 

29,798

 

22,986

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

 

$

0.04

 

$

(0.10

)

Gain (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

—

 

—

 

Net income (loss) per share - diluted

 

$

0.04

 

$

(0.10

)

Shares used in computing diluted income (loss) per share

 

31,324

 

22,986

 

 

- more -

 



AXT, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited, in thousands)

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

15,064

 

$

16,116

 

Short-term investments

 

21,529

 

19,428

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

8,561

 

9,658

 

Inventories, net

 

24,389

 

20,263

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

3,630

 

3,985

 

Assets held for sale

 

4,659

 

4,659

 

Total current assets

 

77,832

 

74,109

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

13,757

 

12,775

 

Other assets

 

4,499

 

4,298

 

Restricted deposits

 

7,000

 

7,150

 

Total assets

 

$

103,088

 

$

98,332

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

3,115

 

$

3,764

 

Accrued liabilities

 

4,182

 

3,536

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

450

 

450

 

Total current liabilities

 

7,747

 

7,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

 

6,611

 

6,839

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

2,099

 

2,543

 

Total liabilities

 

16,457

 

17,132

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock

 

3,532

 

3,532

 

Common stock

 

184,793

 

180,965

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(102,488

)

(103,832

)

Other comprehensive income

 

794

 

535

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

86,631

 

81,200

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

103,088

 

$

98,332