Exhibit 99.1

 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES THIRD QUARTER OPERATING INCOME UP 80%

ON 35% SALES GROWTH

 

Company Raises 2005 Guidance

 

ROCKY HILL, CT – October 26, 2005 – Axsys Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXYS), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of precision optical solutions, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended October 1, 2005.

 

Third Quarter Financial Highlights – versus fiscal 2004 third quarter:

 

                  Sales rose 35% to $35.6 million.

                  Gross margin increased to 31.5% from 30.2%.

                  Operating income was up 80% to $4.0 million; operating margin rose to 11.2% from 8.4%.

                  Net income was $1.7 million or $0.22 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2005, reflecting the return to a normalized tax rate, compared to $1.9 million or $0.26 per diluted share in the 2004 period.

                  Total backlog of firm orders at the end of the third quarter was a record $108.6 million.

 

The Company’s acquisition of Diversified Optical Products, Inc. (DiOP) on May 2, 2005 coupled with strong military spending on surveillance and targeting programs contributed to the year-over-year growth.  Organic year-over-year revenue growth during the comparable period was 9%.

 

Net income of $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2005 was impacted by the return to a normalized tax rate of 37.5%, compared to a tax rate of 10.0% in the comparable period of 2004.  In addition, Axsys incurred a pre-tax charge of $480,000 as a result of the write-off of loan origination fees and other expenses associated with the early termination of acquisition-related financing arrangements, which impacted earnings by $0.04 per diluted share in the quarter.

 

Segment Sales (in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended:

 

Nine Months Ended:

 

 

 

October 1,
2005

 

October 2,
2004

 

October 1,
2005

 

October 2,
2004

 

Optical Systems Group

 

$

29.3

 

$

19.9

 

$

78.8

 

$

56.4

 

Distributed Products Group

 

6.2

 

6.5

 

18.8

 

19.1

 

 

“The third quarter was a success for Axsys on many levels,” said Stephen W. Bershad, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Axsys.  “Financial performance exceeded our expectations, and importantly, we continued to book substantial quantities of new business.”

 

“During this quarter, we also completed a $62 million public equity offering, the net proceeds of which were used to repay existing term loans established in association with our recent acquisition of DiOP,” continued Mr. Bershad.  “As a result of this offering, Axsys has a debt-free balance sheet.”

 

1



 

Fiscal 2005 Guidance Update

 

“As a result of our strong performance in the third quarter, we are raising our fiscal year 2005 guidance,” concluded Mr. Bershad.  “At this time, we expect sales of approximately $133.0 million and operating income of approximately $13.9 million for fiscal 2005, up from our previous guidance of $131.0 million and $13.6 million, respectively.  This guidance represents year-over-year sales growth of 29% and operating income growth of 49%.”

 

Conference Call

 

Management will conduct a conference call to discuss the financial results on Thursday, October 27, 2005, at 10:00 am ET.  Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 706-679-3148 – please call in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and ask for the Axsys Technologies call.  The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet via the Investors section of the Company’s web site at www.axsys.com.  To listen to the live call, please go to the web site at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software.  If you are unable to listen live, the conference call will be archived on the Company’s web site.

 

About Axsys

 

Axsys Technologies, Inc. is a vertically integrated OEM supplier of precision optical solutions for high technology applications, serving the aerospace, defense and high performance commercial markets.  For more information, visit www.axsys.com.

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. One can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of the words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “may,”  “will,” “estimate” or other similar expressions.  Because such statements apply to future events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially.  Important factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially, are described in Axsys’ reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation: changes in the U.S. federal government spending priorities; the Company’s ability to compete in the industries in which it operates, including the introduction of competing products or technologies by other companies and/or pricing pressures from competitors and/or customers; the potential for the Company’s backlog to be reduced or cancelled; the Company’s ability to implement its acquisition strategy and integrate its acquired companies successfully, including the acquisition of Diversified Optical Products; the Company’s ability to manage costs under the Company’s fixed-price contracts effectively; and changes in general economic and business conditions.  These statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to Axsys.   Be advised that developments subsequent to this release are likely to cause these statements to become outdated with the passage of time, and we specifically disclaim any obligation to update these statements.  For more information concerning the foregoing risks and uncertainties, see the Securities and Exchange Commission filings for Axsys.

 

CONTACT:

 

-OR-

 

INVESTOR RELATIONS COUNSEL:

Axsys Technologies, Inc.

 

 

 

The Equity Group Inc.

David A. Almeida, CFO

 

 

 

Lauren Barbera

(860) 257-0200

 

 

 

(212) 836-9610, LBarbera@equityny.com

www.axsys.com

 

 

 

www.theequitygroup.com

 

2



 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

For the Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

October 1,
2005

 

October 2,
2004

 

October 1,
2005

 

October 2,
2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

35,571

 

$

26,356

 

$

97,603

 

$

75,491

 

Cost of sales

 

24,369

 

18,407

 

67,611

 

52,940

 

Gross margin

 

11,202

 

7,949

 

29,992

 

22,551

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

6,254

 

5,055

 

17,300

 

14,321

 

Research, development and engineering expenses

 

975

 

681

 

2,763

 

1,984

 

Write-off of restructuring accrual

 

 

 

 

(50

)

Operating income

 

3,973

 

2,213

 

9,929

 

6,296

 

Interest expense

 

(889

)

(75

)

(1,662

)

(183

)

Interest income

 

40

 

9

 

116

 

43

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

(480

)

 

(480

)

 

Other (expense) income, net

 

(4

)

(7

)

32

 

(29

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

2,640

 

2,140

 

7,935

 

6,127

 

Provision for income taxes

 

990

 

213

 

2,976

 

612

 

Income from continuing operations

 

1,650

 

1,927

 

4,959

 

5,515

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

 

(150

)

 

Net income

 

$

1,650

 

$

1,927

 

$

4,809

 

$

5,515

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.23

 

$

0.27

 

$

0.69

 

$

0.79

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

 

(0.02

)

 

Total

 

$

0.23

 

$

0.27

 

$

0.67

 

$

0.79

 

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding

 

7,269,843

 

7,040,110

 

7,142,273

 

7,009,215

 

DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.22

 

$

0.26

 

$

0.66

 

$

0.76

 

Discontinued operations

 

 

 

(0.02

)

 

Total

 

$

0.22

 

$

0.26

 

$

0.64

 

$

0.76

 

Weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding

 

7,632,385

 

7,319,353

 

7,506,357

 

7,241,249

 

 

3



 

AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited, in thousands)

 

 

 

October 1,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

5,959

 

$

6,000

 

Accounts receivable – net

 

18,498

 

15,715

 

Inventories – net

 

37,066

 

29,698

 

Deferred income taxes

 

3,308

 

3,553

 

Other current assets

 

1,164

 

1,020

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

 

65,995

 

55,986

 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT – net

 

15,167

 

13,337

 

AMORTIZABLE INTANGIBLE ASSETS - net

 

10,754

 

2,127

 

GOODWILL

 

57,581

 

13,013

 

OTHER ASSETS

 

1,139

 

1,352

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

150,636

 

$

85,815

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

8,130

 

$

6,459

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

13,559

 

9,513

 

Deferred income

 

7,526

 

7,195

 

Current portion of long-term capital lease obligations

 

 

368

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

 

1,000

 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

29,215

 

24,535

 

CAPITAL LEASES, less current portion

 

 

150

 

LONG-TERM DEBT, less current portion

 

 

3,333

 

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 

5,038

 

4,704

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, authorized 30,000,000 shares, issued 10,636,734 shares at October 1, 2005 and 7,186,734 shares at December 31, 2004

 

106

 

72

 

Capital in excess of par

 

97,605

 

39,612

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(3

)

(97

)

Retained earnings

 

19,198

 

14,389

 

Treasury stock, at cost, 63,902 shares at October 1, 2005 and 130,216 shares at December 31, 2004

 

(523

)

(883

)

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

116,383

 

53,093

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

150,636

 

$

85,815

 

 

4