Amtech Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2019 Results

TEMPE, Ariz.: Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASYS), a manufacturer of capital equipment, including thermal processing and wafer handling automation, and related consumables used in fabricating semiconductor devices, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon power chips and solar cells, today reported results for its second quarter ended March 31, 2019.

On March 28, 2019, the Company adopted a plan to sell the majority of the Solar segment to include Tempress and SoLayTec.  As a result, the Company is reporting those subsidiaries as discontinued operations beginning with its second quarter results. Including discontinued operations, the Company had $28.8 million of revenue, gross margin of 24%, and operating loss of $5.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The remainder of this release, including the Outlook section below, relates only to the results from continuing operations.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2019 Financial and Operational Highlights from Continuing Operations:

• Net revenue of $20.6 million
• Income from continuing operations, net of tax, of $1.0 million
• Income per diluted share from continuing operations of $0.07
• Customer orders of $19.3 million
• March 31, 2019 backlog of $22.0 million
• Book to bill ratio of 0.9:1
• Unrestricted cash of $47.9 million

Mr. J.S. Whang, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Amtech, commented, “With the announced plans to divest our solar businesses, we are increasing our effort and focus on our semiconductor and SiC/LED businesses, and future opportunities, which we believe will best position Amtech Group for profitable growth over the long-term.”

Mr. Whang continued, “Despite a softening semi industry environment, our core semiconductor business continues to see a solid base level of demand.  We are benefiting from the strength in the North American market while also experiencing tough period-to-period comparisons as the industry is impacted by softening demand from Asia, particularly in China.  Our objective is to maintain our market share through the cycle, and we believe we are well positioned to do so. We are meeting with our customers to ensure we fully understand their current needs and longer-term objectives. These planning discussions suggest opportunity for us when the market turns up and further validates our semiconductor and SiC/LED businesses are well positioned to benefit in the near and longer term as demand for increasingly robust power chips continues to expand. In order to manage the current and anticipated future growth we are expanding SiC/LED capacity.”

Net revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2019 was $20.6 million compared to $23.2 million in the preceding quarter and $21.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2018. Sequentially, Semiconductor revenue decreased by approximately $2.9 million due primarily to quarter-to-quarter variability of orders and delivery schedules established by one customer. SiC/LED revenue increased by approximately $0.3 million due primarily to increased machine sales. Compared to prior year, Semi net revenue decreased by approximately $0.5 million due primarily to weakness in the China market, while SiC/LED revenue decreased slightly, by approximately $0.3 million, due primarily to higher initial sales of consumable products in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.

Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at our continuing operations at March 31, 2019 were $47.9 million, compared to $45.9 million at September 30, 2018.

At March 31, 2019, our total backlog was $22.0 million, compared to total backlog of $23.7 million at December 31, 2018. Backlog includes customer orders that are expected to ship within the next 12 months. The nature and composition of our backlog from continuing operations reflects shorter lead times and lower risk of cancellation when compared to previous quarters that included solar orders.

Gross margin in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 was 38%, compared to 39% in the preceding quarter and 41% in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.  Sequentially and compared to prior year, gross margins decreased primarily due to product mix, most notably, the type and volume of equipment and consumables sold in each quarter.

Selling, general and administrative expense (“SG&A”) in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 was $5.8 million, compared to $6.6 million in the preceding quarter and $6.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.  Sequentially and compared to prior year, SG&A decreased primarily due to lower headcount, employee-related expenses and professional fees.

Restructuring expense was $0.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2019, and $0.9 million in the preceding quarter. We did not have any restructuring expense in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.

Research, development and engineering (RD&E) expense was $0.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 compared to $0.9 million in the preceding quarter and $0.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.

Income tax expense in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 was $0.3 million compared to $0.6 million in the preceding quarter and $0.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.

Income from continuing operations, net of tax, for the second quarter of fiscal 2019 was $1.0 million, or $0.07 per share, compared to $1.1 million, or $0.07 per share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 and $0.2 million, or $0.02 per share, in the preceding quarter.

Outlook

For the quarter ending June 30, 2019, the Company expects continuing softness in the semiconductor equipment industry to result in revenue to be in the range of $19 to $21 million. Gross margin for the quarter ending June 30, 2019 is expected to be in the mid to upper 30 percent range, with operating margin in the low single digits.

The semiconductor equipment industries can be cyclical and inherently impacted by changes in market demand. Additionally, operating results can be significantly impacted, positively or negatively, by the timing of orders, system shipments, and the financial results of semiconductor manufacturers.

A substantial portion of Amtech’s revenues are denominated in Renminbis.  The revenue outlook provided in this press release is based on an assumed exchange rate between the United States Dollar and the Renminbi.  A significant decrease in the value of the Renminbi in relation to the United States Dollar could cause actual revenue to be lower than anticipated.

Conference Call

Amtech Systems will host a conference call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss second quarter financial results.  Those in the USA wishing to participate in the live call should dial (844) 868-9329. From Canada, dial (866) 605-3852, and internationally, dial (412) 317-6703.  Request “Amtech” when connected to the operator.  A replay of the call will be available one hour after the end of the conference call through May 16, 2019.  To access the replay please dial US toll free (877) 344-7529 and enter code 10130710.  Internationally, dial (412) 317-0088 and use the same code.  A live and archived web cast of the conference call can be accessed in the investor relations section of Amtech’s website at www.amtechsystems.com.

About Amtech Systems, Inc.

Amtech Systems, Inc. is a global supplier of advanced thermal processing and polishing equipment and related consumables to the semiconductor / electronics, power IC businesses, and advanced lighting manufacturing markets. Amtech’s equipment includes diffusion, solder reflow systems, wafer handling automation, and polishing equipment and related consumables for surface preparation of various materials, including silicon carbide (“SiC”), sapphire and silicon. The Company’s wafer handling, thermal processing, polishing and consumable products currently address the diffusion, oxidation, and deposition steps used in the fabrication of semiconductors, printed circuit boards, semiconductor packaging, MEMS, and advanced lighting, including the polishing of newly sliced sapphire and silicon wafers. Amtech’s products are recognized under the leading brand names BTU International, Bruce Technologies™, PR Hoffman™, and R2D Automation™.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this press release is forward-looking in nature. All statements in this press release, or made by management of Amtech Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Amtech”), other than statements of historical fact, are hereby identified as “forward-looking statements” (as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). The forward-looking statements in this press release relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this press release.  Examples of forward-looking statements include statements regarding Amtech’s future financial results, operating results, business strategies, projected costs, products under development, competitive positions, plans and objectives of Amtech and its management for future operations, efforts to improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness and greater China sourcing.  In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology used in this press release or by our management, which are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. The Form 10-K that Amtech filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the year-ended September 30, 2018, listed various important factors that could affect the company’s future operating results and financial condition and could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results and expectations based on forward-looking statements made in this document or elsewhere by Amtech or on its behalf.  These factors can be found under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Form 10-K and investors should refer to them.  Because it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors, any such list cannot be considered a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.  Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contacts:

Source: Amtech Systems, Inc.