Astrotech Reports First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Results
Austin, TX - November 13, 2018 -
Astrotech Corporation (NASDAQ: ASTC) reported its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 ended September 30, 2018.
Astrotech’s 1st Detect subsidiary recently accomplished significant milestones by being accepted by both the U.S. Transportation Security Agency (TSA) and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) for testing of its mass spectrometry-based explosives trace detector, the TRACER 1000. To be accepted for testing, the TRACER 1000 completed a stringent pre-test requirement that verifies the instrument’s viability and performance. During this quarter, the TRACER 1000 has been undergoing TSA and ECAC testing in both the U.S. and Europe.
“In anticipation of our expected growth, Astrotech is overseeing the transition of 1st Detect from a devoted R&D company to a manufacturing organization. The Company is able to use its existing facilities to accommodate the near-term manufacturing requirements and does not expect to incur any additional facilities costs,” stated Thomas B. Pickens III, Chairman and CEO of Astrotech.
In October, Astrotech completed a $3 million private investment from its Chairman and CEO and another long-term investor.
“These investments are expected to provide the necessary resources to continue working uninterrupted toward the goal of securing TSA and ECAC certification for the TRACER 1000,” continued Pickens.
There is no assurance that TSA or ECAC certifications will be granted.
Finally, Astrotech filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in anticipation of accessing the capital markets for growth capital, which became effective on August 20.
First Quarter Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Highlights
Management continues efforts to optimize our resources while reducing cost and adding financial flexibility.
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Operating expenses decreased $829 thousand, or 27%, during the first quarter of fiscal 2019, compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2018, due to an ongoing emphasis on cost reduction.
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Our monthly cash burn for this quarter has been reduced to $749 thousand, a 17% reduction from our run rate in fiscal year 2018.
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Astrotech Corporation had no debt at September 30, 2018.
About Astrotech
Astrotech (NASDAQ: ASTC) is a science and technology development and commercialization company that launches, manages, and builds scalable companies based on innovative technology in order to maximize shareholder value. 1st Detect develops, manufactures, and sells chemical analyzers for use in the security, defense, healthcare, and environmental markets. Astral Images sells film-to-digital image enhancement, defect removal, color correction, and post processing software, providing economically feasible conversion of film to the new 4K ultra-high definition (UHD), high-dynamic range (HDR) format. Astrotech is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
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, the Company’s use of proceeds from the private placement transaction, whether we can successfully develop our proprietary technologies and whether the market will accept our 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 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018. Any forward-looking statements in this document should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. In addition, any forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views only as of the date of its publication and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Company Contact:
Eric Stober
Chief Financial Officer
Astrotech Corporation
(512) 485-9530
Investor Relations Contact:
Nicole Conser
Director of Marketing
Astrotech Corporation
(512) 485-9530