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Arotech Corporation Posts
Record Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year, 2004
2004 revenues reach $50 million
– close to triple year ago
Adjusted EBITDA for full year
reaches $1.8 million
Company continues to generate
positive cash flow from operations
in the fourth quarter
March
31, 2005 - Arotech Corporation (NasdaqNM: ARTX), a provider
of quality defense and security products for the military, law enforcement
and security markets, today reported record results for the quarter
and full year ending December 31, 2004.
Revenues for the fourth quarter
reached $16.6 million, an increase of more than 304% over the corresponding
period in 2003, and 2% more than the previous quarter. For the full
year of 2004, revenues increased to $50 million, 188% more than
last year.
Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth
quarter was $1.4 million, compared to a negative adjusted EBITDA
of ($1.1) million for the corresponding period in 2003. For the
full year of 2004, adjusted EBITDA was $1.8 million compared to
negative adjusted EBITDA of ($2.2) million for 2003. Arotech believes
that information concerning EBITDA enhances overall understanding
of its current financial performance. Arotech computes EBIDTA, which
is a non-GAAP financial measure, as reflected in the table below.
Net loss for the fourth quarter
from continuing operations was $3.3 million, or $0.04 per share,
compared to a net loss of $5.5 million, or $0.13 per share, in the
corresponding period last year. For the full year, net loss from
continuing operations before deemed dividend to certain stockholders
was $9.0 million, or $0.13 per share, compared to a net loss of
$9.3 million, or $0.24 per share in 2003.
“2004 was a very productive
and successful year for us, in which we transformed the Company
into a major vendor in the security and defense sector. We accomplished
the goals that we set out for ourselves at the beginning of the
year, becoming cash flow positive and growing both organically and
through strategic acquisitions,” said Robert S. Ehrlich, Chairman
and CEO of Arotech.
“We finished the year with
new record-high revenues and EBITDA profitability. The subsidiaries
that we acquired in 2004 are now fully integrated into the Company
and we have begun to benefit from the synergies of our entire portfolio
of companies. Focused on three key product areas – simulation
and security, armor, and battery and power systems – in which
we have vast experience and expertise, we are well-positioned to
continue to increase our market share in the rapidly growing defense
and security sector,” continued Ehrlich.
“In 2005, in addition to
growing the Company internally, we will continue to focus on growth
opportunities through strategic acquisitions that will significantly
contribute to our operating results.
“I am proud of our achievements
in 2004 and look forward to another year of substantial growth in
2005,” concluded Ehrlich.
Guidance for 2005
For the full year 2005, Arotech expects revenues from existing operations
to increase by at least 25% compared to the previous year. Adjusted
EBITDA from existing operations is projected to triple in 2005,
compared to 2004.
For the first quarter 2005, revenues are expected to increase by
approximately 40% compared to the first quarter of 2004. While strong
EBITDA growth is expected for the full year, the first quarter is
normally a seasonally weaker quarter and therefore, adjusted EBITDA
is expected to be less than breakeven for the first quarter of 2005.
Conference Call
Arotech Corporation will hold
a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2004
results, today, Thursday, March 31, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. EST. Those
wishing to take part in the conference call should call 1-800-289-0518
(US) or +1-913-981-5532 (international) a few minutes before the
10:00 a.m. EST start time. In addition, a replay option will be
available Thursday, March 31, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. EST until Wednesday,
April 6, 2005 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The replay telephone number is
1-888-203-1112 (US); +1-719-457-0820 (international). The replay
passcode is: 6564193.
Results for the Full
Year
Revenues for the full
year ended December 31, 2004 increased to $50.0 million
as compared with $17.3 million for 2003. This increase is largely
attributed to strong sales in the Company’s Armored Vehicle
Division, as well as the addition of the results of the Company’s
new acquisitions in 2004.
Adjusted Earnings Before
Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (Adjusted EBITDA),
adjusted to eliminate certain non-cash charges described below and
in the table below, for the full year 2004 increased to adjusted
EBITDA of $1.8 million as compared with a negative adjusted EBITDA
of ($2.2) million for 2003. Arotech believes that information concerning
adjusted EBITDA enhances overall understanding of its current financial
performance and its progress towards cash-flow break even and toward
GAAP profitability. Arotech computes adjusted EBITDA, which is a
non-GAAP financial measure, as reflected in the table below.
Net loss from continuing
operations before deemed dividend to certain shareholders
for the full year, 2004, was $9.0 million as compared with $9.3
million for the full year, 2003.
Basic and diluted net
loss per share before deemed dividend to certain stockholders
for the full year, 2004 was $0.13 as compared with $0.24 for the
full year, 2003.
Results for the Fourth
Quarter
Revenues for the quarter
ended December 31, 2004 increased to $16.6 million as compared with
$4.1 million for the corresponding period of 2003. This increase
is largely attributed to strong sales in the Company’s Armored
Vehicle Division, as well as the addition of the results of the
Company’s new acquisitions in 2004.
Adjusted Earnings Before
Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (Adjusted EBITDA),
adjusted to eliminate certain non-cash charges described below and
in the table below, for the quarter ended December 31, 2004 increased
to $1.4 million as compared with a negative adjusted EBITDA of ($1.1)
million for the corresponding period of 2003. Arotech believes that
information concerning adjusted EBITDA enhances overall understanding
of its current financial performance and its progress towards cash-flow
break even and toward GAAP profitability. Arotech computes adjusted
EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as reflected in the
table below.
Net loss from
continuing operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2004 was
$3.3 million as compared with a net loss of $5.5 million for the
corresponding quarter of 2003.
Basic and diluted net
earnings (loss) per share for the quarter ended December
31, 2004 was a net loss per share of $0.04 as compared with net
loss per share of $0.13 for the corresponding period of 2003.
Cash Position at Year
End
Cash-on-hand and cash
equivalents, restricted collateral deposits and other restricted
cash, and available-for-sale marketable securities at the
end of the year stood at $6.7 million in cash, $7.0 million in restricted
collateral securities and cash deposits due within one year (reserved
for payment in connection with the earnout contracted in Arotech’s
acquisition of FAAC) , $4.0 million in long-term restricted securities
and deposits, and $136,000 in available-for-sale marketable securities,
as compared with $13.7 million in cash and $706,000 in restricted
cash deposits due within one year at the end of 2003.
Stockholders’ equity
at the end of the quarter was approximately $65 million.
About Arotech Corporation
Arotech Corporation is a leading
provider of quality defense and security products for the military,
law enforcement and homeland security markets, including multimedia
interactive simulators/trainers, lightweight armoring and advanced
zinc-air and lithium batteries and chargers. Arotech operates through
three major business divisions: Armor, Simulation and Security and
Battery and Power Systems.
Arotech is incorporated in Delaware,
with corporate offices in Auburn, Alabama, and research, development
and production subsidiaries in Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, California
and Israel.
Except for the historical information
herein, the matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking
statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, as they are subject to various
risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary significantly.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks
relating to: product and technology development; the uncertainty
of the market for Arotech’s products; changing economic conditions;
delay, cancellation or non-renewal, in whole or in part, of contracts
or of purchase orders; and other risk factors detailed in Arotech’s
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Arotech assumes no obligation
to update the information in this release. Reference to the Company’s
website above does not constitute incorporation of any of the information
thereon into this press release.
Tables:
AROTECH CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
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