Austin, TX - May 13, 2019 -

 

Astrotech Corporation (NASDAQ: ASTC) reported its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 ended March 31, 2019.

​

The third quarter was pivotal for Astrotech’s 1st Detect subsidiary, having announced on February 21 that it received official European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) certification for both passenger and cargo screening. 

​

With a near-zero false alarm rate, a virtually unlimited detection library, and near 100% uptime, the TRACER 1000™ is the only certified explosives trace detector (ETD) that can detect more threats than the extremely limited number detected by current ETDs. We believe these features will accelerate airport passenger security line throughput, significantly enhance passenger and cargo security, and position the TRACER 1000 as a market disruptor in explosives and harmful substance trace detection. 

​

“ECAC certification has led to two successful field trials and in both instances, the state-of-the-art TRACER 1000 outperformed the currently deployed ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) based ETDs. We are excited that these field trials confirm the results we have been seeing in testing,” stated Thomas B. Pickens III, Chairman and CEO of Astrotech. 

​

Following the end of the third quarter, in April 2019, Astrotech completed a $2 million private investment from its Chairman and CEO and another long-term investor.  

​

“This investment is expected to provide the resources toward the goal of transitioning from a devoted R&D company to a manufacturing organization after receiving ECAC certification,” continued Pickens.  

​

Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Highlights 

Management continues efforts to optimize our resources while reducing cost and adding financial flexibility. 

• Operating expenses decreased 27% through the third quarter of fiscal 2019, compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2018, due to an ongoing emphasis on cost reduction. 

• Monthly cash burn for the fiscal year has been reduced to $731 thousand, a 25% reduction from our run rate through the third quarter of fiscal year 2018. 

• Astrotech Corporation had no debt at March 31, 2019. 

​

About Astrotech Corporation

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, 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.

 

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, 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. 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.

​

Company Contact:

 

Eric Stober

Chief Financial Officer

Astrotech Corporation

(512) 485-9530