Austin, TX (November 5, 2010) - 

Astrotech Corporation (NASDAQ: ASTC), a leading provider of commercial aerospace services, today announced financial results for its fiscal year 2011 first quarter ended September 30, 2010.

 

“Over the last six months we have worked to improve our competitive position through cost cutting measures, debt restructuring and increasing our cash on hand,” said Thomas B. Pickens III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Astrotech. “As a service provider to the U.S. Government, we value the benefits of a solid customer base, both operationally and financially. Our reliance on the launch schedule of our customers causes ASO to experience variability quarterly and from year to year in our financial results. As we begin fiscal 2011, we are entering a period where we expect less launch activity than in previous years and where we no longer have the benefit of revenue from the construction of the facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base. In an effort to keep Astrotech in a strong financial position we are reducing costs and working diligently to increase future business prospects.”

 

First Quarter Results

The Company posted a first quarter fiscal year 2011 net loss of $1.2 million, or $(0.07) per diluted share on revenue of $5.3 million compared with a first quarter fiscal year 2010 net income of $0.8 million, or $0.04 per diluted share on revenue of $7.8 million.

 

Update of Ongoing Operations

The Company’s 18-month rolling backlog, which includes contractual backlog and scheduled but uncommitted missions, was $19.9 million at September 30, 2010. The majority of the backlog is for ASO pre-launch satellite processing services, which include hardware launch preparation; advanced planning; use of unique satellite preparation facilities; and spacecraft checkout, encapsulation, fueling, transport, and command and control through launch.

 

In addition to providing support for missions in process at our facilities in Florida and California, ASO supported two successful launches during the first quarter. Most notable was the Air Force’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency -1 (AEHF-1) launched on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and the Air Force’s Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite launch on an Orbital Sciences Minotaur IV rocket.

 

1st Detect was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract for $735,000 from the Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense in the quarter ended September 30, 2010. The funds from the contract will be used to design and develop a novel sample inlet system intended to significantly improve the sensitivity of mass spectrometers used for chemical detection in the field.

 

Financial Position and Liquidity

Working capital was $2.9 million as of September 30, 2010, which included $9.7 million in cash and $4.7 million of accounts receivable. Of the $9.7 million in cash at September 30, 2010, $0.1 million was obligated to funding the development of the Miniature Chemical Detector. Included in current liabilities are the Company’s $5.1 million of senior convertible notes and $3.4 million term loan, which have scheduled maturity in the next twelve months.

Subsequent to quarter end, the Company paid off the $5.1 million of its senior convertible notes which were included in current liabilities at September 30, 2010. Additionally, ASO entered into a financing arrangement on October 21, 2010 with a commercial bank that allows the Company to borrow up to $10.0 million. The proceeds of the loan agreement were used to pay off the existing commercial debt and will fund future working capital needs. The financing arrangement includes a $7.0 million term loan and a $3.0 million revolving credit facility, both at floating rates of bank prime plus 0.25% (with a 4.00% floor).

 

Financial Tables for FY2011 1st Quarter [PDF 69KB]

 

 

About Astrotech Corporation

 

Astrotech is one of the first space commerce companies and remains a strong entrepreneurial force in the aerospace industry. We are leaders in identifying, developing and marketing space technology for commercial use. Our Astrotech Space Operations (ASO) business unit serves our government and commercial satellite and spacecraft customers with pre-launch services on the eastern and western range. 1st Detect Corporation is developing what we believe is a breakthrough miniature chemical detector, while Astrogenetix, Inc. is a biotechnology company utilizing microgravity as a research platform for drug discovery and development.

 

The statements in this document may contain 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, product performance and market acceptance of products and services, as well as other risk factors and business considerations described in the company's Securities & 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.