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Arotech Corportation
Reports Results for the
Fourth Quarter and Full Year, 2005
Fourth quarter results reflect
initial benefits of restructuring program
Company also announces that it has appealed Nasdaq delisting letter
March
30, 2006 - Arotech Corporation (NasdaqNM: ARTX) a provider of
quality defense and security products for the military, law enforcement
and security markets, today reported results for the quarter and
full year ending December 31, 2005.
Fourth Quarter Results
Revenues for the fourth quarter reached $15.2 million, compared
to $11.2 million in the previous quarter and $16.6 million for the
corresponding period in 2004.
Gross Profit for the quarter was
$4.3 million or 28.0% of revenues, compared to $5.2 million or 31.6%
of revenues for the corresponding period in 2004.
Arotech’s results for the
fourth quarter include a charge to operating income of $1.2 million
for the impairment of goodwill in respect of the Company’s
Armour of America’s (AoA) subsidiary. Including this charge,
the Company’s operating loss was $2.9 million compared to
an operating loss of $843,000 for the corresponding period in 2004.
The net loss including the above-mentioned charge was $3.3 million
or ($0.04) per share, which was similar to the corresponding period
in 2004.
“During the third quarter,
we initiated an extensive restructuring program which includes consolidating
and growing our existing businesses and instituting a corporate
austerity program in order to dramatically reduce operating costs,”
said Robert S. Ehrlich, Chairman and CEO of Arotech Corporation.
“The program is part of our focus on internal growth and our
goal to reach GAAP profitability through existing operations.
“We have since made significant progress towards achieving
these goals. The consolidation of our Simulation and Training operations,
which entails relocating our IES Interactive Training subsidiary
to our FAAC subsidiary headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is well
underway. By doing so, further to enhancing our leading position
in both military transit and law-enforcement training solutions,
this move will enable us to realize significant product synergies
and reduce costs.
“During the year we experienced
exceptional demand for our simulation training products which enabled
us to maintain year ago revenue levels despite the revenue decrease
in our Armor Division. As part of our restructuring program, we
are in the process of moving our AoA subsidiary to the location
of MDT’s headquarters in Auburn, Alabama, in order to achieve
overhead efficiencies, reduce operating costs and enhance our performance
going forward.
"Our Armor Division is currently
working on several important programs which we hope will lead to
a growth in revenues this year compared to the previous year. One
such example is MDT’s recently-announced successful introduction
into the market for military armored combat vehicles. We have since
witnessed increasing interest in this solution which we believe
will translate into significant demand this year.
“Our Battery and Power Systems
Division was awarded several new contracts for its rechargeable
batteries and chargers in 2005 and we see this momentum growing
in 2006. We are also engaged in several significant development
projects with our Gen4 zinc-air technology, and recently announced
additional funding from the U.S. Army.
“In 2006, we will continue to focus on
internal growth and achieving sustainable profitable growth through
existing operations. We are currently engaged in several significant
projects which we believe will enable us to enhance our market share
and show overall growth in revenues and an improvement in operating
results this year, compared to 2005,” concluded Ehrlich.
Conference Call
Arotech Corporation will hold a conference call to discuss its fourth
quarter and full year 2005 results, tomorrow, Friday, March 31,
2006, at 9:00 a.m. EST. Those wishing to take part in the conference
call should call U.S. (800) 967-7140 or International 1 (719) 457-2629
a few minutes before the 9:00 a.m. EST start time. In addition,
a replay option will be available Friday, March 31, 2006 at 1:00
p.m. EST until Sunday at 11:59 p.m. EST. The replay telephone number
is U.S. (888) 203-1112 or International 1 (719) 457-0820. The replay
passcode is: 4647965.
Results for the Full Year
Revenues for the full year ended December 31,
2005 reached $49.0 million, compared to $50.0 million in 2004.
Gross Profit for the full year, 2005 was $14.7
million or 29.9% of revenues compared to $15.9 million or 31.9%
of revenues in 2004.
Operating loss for the full year, 2005, was
$21.3 million compared to an operating loss of $4.2 million in 2004.
Arotech’s results for the full year 2005 include charges to
operating income of $12.3 million for the impairment of goodwill
and other intangible assets, primarily reflecting reevaluations
of Armour of America’s, (AoA’s) value resulting from
its disappointing performance to date.
Net loss (including impairment of goodwill
and other intangible assets charges in relation to AoA of $12.3
million) for the full year, 2005, was $24.0 million or ($0.29) per
share compared to a net loss of $12.4 million or ($0.18) per share
for the corresponding period in 2004.
Cash Position at Year End
Cash-on-hand and cash equivalents, restricted
collateral deposits and other restricted cash at the end of the
year stood at $6.2 million in cash, $3.9 million in restricted collateral
securities and restricted held-to-maturity securities due within
one year and $779,000 in long term restricted deposits, as compared
with $6.7 million in cash, $7.0 million in restricted collateral
securities and restricted held-to-maturity securities due within
one year and $4.0 million in long-term restricted securities and
deposits and at the end of 2004.
Stockholders’ equity at the end of the
quarter was approximately $46 million.
Nasdaq Notification
Arotech also announced today that on March
28, 2005, it had received a Nasdaq Staff Determination indicating
that it was not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement
for continued listing set forth in Marketplace Rule 4450(a) and
that its securities are, therefore, subject to delisting from the
Nasdaq National Market at the opening of business on April 6, 2006.
The letter also stated that Arotech may request a review of the
Staff Determination to a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel.
Arotech has requested a review of the Staff
Determination by a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel. Although
there can be no assurance that the Panel will grant Arotech’s
request for continued listing, the request for review will stay
the delisting of Arotech’s stock from the Nasdaq National
Market pending the Panel’s decision. In the event the Panel
does not grant Arotech’s request for continued listing, Arotech
stated that it would apply to transfer our common stock to the Nasdaq
Capital Market, and that it currently satisfies the relevant requirements
for initial inclusion on such market as set forth in Marketplace
Rule 4310(c).
If an application by Arotech to transfer to
the Nasdaq Capital Market were approved, Arotech would have until
September 22, 2006 to demonstrate compliance with the $1.00 minimum
bid continued listing requirement of the Nasdaq Capital Market.
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 Training and Battery
and Power Systems.
Arotech is incorporated in Delaware, with corporate
offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 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, including the results of our restructuring program.
Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current knowledge,
assumptions, judgment and expectations regarding future performance
or events. Although management believes that the expectations reflected
in such statements are reasonable, 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 materially. 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; Arotech’s
ability to remain listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market in accordance
with the Nasdaq’s $1.00 minimum bid price and other continued
listing standards; dilution resulting from issuances of Arotech’s
common stock upon conversion or payment of its outstanding convertible
debt, which would be increasingly dilutive if and to the extent
that the market price of Arotech’s stock decreases; and other
risk factors detailed in Arotech’s most recent Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, as amended,
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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