CalAmp Reports Fiscal 2009 First Quarter Results

CalAmp Corp. (Nasdaq:CAMP), a leading provider of wireless products, services and solutions, today reported results for its fiscal 2009 first quarter ended May 31, 2008. Key elements include: Consolidated first quarter revenues of $27.9 million; wireless datacom revenues of $20.3 million. GAAP loss from continuing operations of $0.5 million, or $0.02 loss per basic and diluted share; Adjusted basis (non-GAAP) income from continuing operations of $0.3 million or $0.01 income per basic and diluted share. Consolidated gross margin percentage of 33.8%; wireless datacom gross margin of 42.9%. Net cash provided by operations of $1.8 million. Resumed DBS product shipments to historically largest customer. Rick Gold, CalAmp’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Overall, the Company’s first quarter operating performance was solid. Top-line results were impacted by lower than expected sales of our satellite products. However, I am very pleased with the contributions from our wireless datacom business that helped push the Company’s overall gross margin percentage to 33.8%, representing CalAmp’s highest quarterly gross margin result in recent memory.” Mr. Gold added, "I am encouraged with the progress we made during this latest quarter towards our goal of returning CalAmp to profitability. Although revenue came in just under our guidance range for the quarter, both the GAAP and non-GAAP income/loss per share amounts were better than the respective guidance ranges. Furthermore, recent actions to combine our former Satellite and Wireless DataCom Divisions into one streamlined operating unit are expected to leverage CalAmp’s full range of engineering and operational resources while improving operating efficiencies in fiscal 2009 and beyond.” Mr. Gold continued, "As previously announced, we resumed shipments of latest generation Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) products to our historically largest customer during the first quarter. To date, initial product shipments have been modest, however, we expect that unit volume with this customer will ramp higher over the next several quarters. Resolving this issue has been a top priority and with this initial milestone behind us, we will work to rebuild our competitive position in the DBS market.” Fiscal 2009 First Quarter Results Total revenue for the fiscal 2009 first quarter was $27.9 million compared to $46.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2008. The reduction in revenues was due primarily to significantly lower sales of the Company’s satellite products. Gross profit for the fiscal 2009 first quarter was $9.4 million, or 33.8% of revenues compared to gross loss of $5.4 million for the same period last year. The improvement in gross profit and gross margin percentage in the latest quarter was due primarily to a $16 million charge recorded in the same period last year for estimated product warranty and related costs associated with the Company’s satellite products. Results of operations for the fiscal 2009 first quarter as determined in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") was a loss from continuing operations of $0.5 million, or $0.02 loss per basic and diluted share. This compares to a loss from continuing operations of $10.9 million, or $0.46 loss per basic and diluted share, in the first quarter of last year. The Adjusted Basis (non-GAAP) income from continuing operations for the fiscal 2009 first quarter was $0.3 million, or $0.01 income per basic and diluted share compared to Adjusted Basis loss from continuing operations of $9.4 million or $0.40 loss per basic and diluted share for the same period last year. Adjusted Basis income (loss) from continuing operations excludes the impact of amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense and in-process research and development, each net of tax. A reconciliation of the GAAP basis income (loss) from continuing operations to Adjusted Basis income (loss) from continuing operations is provided in the table at the end of this press release. Liquidity At May 31, 2008, the Company had total cash of $7.2 million, with $27.1 million in total outstanding bank debt and a $5 million note payable to a key DBS customer. Net cash provided by operating activities was $1.8 million for the three months ended May 31, 2008. Business Outlook Commenting on the Company's business outlook, Mr. Gold said, "While I am pleased with our recent progress, our second quarter outlook remains cautious due in part to ongoing uncertainty surrounding the U.S. economy, which will likely continue to impact purchase decisions by key customers. We also expect our satellite revenues to be lower this quarter reflecting a decline in sales of certain lower-margin products as we focus on ramping our volume of the recently requalified products. Based on our current forecast, we believe fiscal 2009 second quarter consolidated revenues will be in the range of $24 to $28 million, with a GAAP basis net loss in the range of $0.04 to $0.08 per diluted share. The Adjusted Basis (non-GAAP) results of operations for the second quarter, which exclude amortization of intangible assets and stock-based compensation expense net of tax, are expected to be in the range of breakeven to a $0.04 loss per diluted share.” Conference Call and Webcast A conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss fiscal 2009 first quarter financial results and business outlook will be held today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern / 1:30 p.m. Pacific. The live webcast of the call is available on CalAmp's web site at www.calamp.com. Participants are encouraged to visit the web site at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. CalAmp's President and CEO Rick Gold and CFO Rick Vitelle will host the conference call. After the live webcast, a replay will remain available until the next quarterly conference call in the Investor Relations section of CalAmp's web site. About CalAmp Corp. CalAmp provides wireless communications solutions that enable anytime/anywhere access to critical data and content. The Company serves customers in the public safety, industrial monitoring and controls, mobile resource management, and direct broadcast satellite markets. The Company’s products are marketed under the CalAmp, Dataradio, SmartLink, Aercept, LandCell and Omega trade names. For more information, please visit www.calamp.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements, that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "could," "estimate," "judgment," "targeting," "should," "anticipate," "goal" and variations of these words and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those implied by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including general and industry economic conditions, product demand, increased competition, competitive pricing and continued pricing declines in the DBS market, the timing of customer approvals of new product designs, operating costs, the Company's ability to efficiently and cost-effectively integrate its acquired businesses, the risk that the ultimate cost of resolving a product performance issue with one of the Company's key DBS customers may exceed the amount of reserves established for that purpose, and other risks or uncertainties that are described in the Company's fiscal 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 2008. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.     CAL AMP CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited, in thousands except per share amounts)   Three Months Ended May 31, 2008 2007   Revenues $ 27,901 $ 46,393   Cost of revenues   18,472     51,779     Gross profit (loss)   9,429     (5,386 )   Operating expenses: Research and development 3,200 4,319 Selling 2,272 2,269 General and administrative 3,096 3,202 Intangible asset amortization 1,332 1,744 In-process research and development   -     310     9,900     11,844     Operating loss (471 ) (17,230 )   Non-operating expense, net   (416 )   (583 )   Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (887 ) (17,813 )   Income tax benefit   390     6,868     Loss from continuing operations (497 ) (10,945 )   Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax -   (417 )   Net loss $ (497 ) $ (11,362 )   Basic and diluted loss per share: Loss from continuing operations $ (0.02 ) $ (0.46 ) Loss from discontinued operations   -     (0.02 )   Total basic and diluted loss per share $ (0.02 ) $ (0.48 )   Shares used in per share calculations: Basic 24,703 23,600 Diluted 24,703 23,600       CAL AMP CORP. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited, in thousands)   Three Months Ended May 31, 2008 2007 Revenue Satellite $ 7,641 $ 23,031 Wireless DataCom   20,260     23,362     Total revenue $ 27,901   $ 46,393     Gross profit (loss) Satellite $ 733 $ (13,916 ) Wireless DataCom   8,696     8,530     Total gross profit (loss) $ 9,429   $ (5,386 )   Operating income (loss) Satellite $ (332 ) $ (15,231 ) (a) Wireless DataCom 1,057 (b) (646 ) (c) Corporate expenses   (1,196 )   (1,353 )   Total operating loss $ (471 ) $ (17,230 )   (a) Includes charges for estimated product warranty and related costs of $16 million.   (b) Includes intangible asset amortization expense of $1,332K.   (c) Includes intangible asset amortization expense of $1,744K and the write-off of in-process research and development costs of $310K associated with the acquisition of SmartLink.       CAL AMP CORP. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited - In thousands)   May 31, February 28, 2008 2008 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 7,212 $ 6,588 Accounts receivable, net 16,000 20,043 Inventories 25,348 25,097 Deferred income tax assets 5,179 5,306 Prepaid expenses and other current assets   10,167     9,733     Total current assets 63,906 66,767   Equipment and improvements, net 4,638 5,070   Deferred income tax assets, less current portion 15,319 14,802   Goodwill 28,520 28,520   Other intangible assets, net 23,092 24,424   Other assets   3,752     3,458     $ 139,227   $ 143,041     Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt $ 5,800 $ 5,343 Accounts payable 10,127 10,875 Accrued payroll and employee benefits 3,662 4,218 Accrued warranty costs 4,035 3,818 Other accrued liabilities 11,211 11,800 Deferred revenue   3,212     4,005     Total current liabilities   38,047     40,059     Long-term debt, less current portion 26,260 27,187   Other non-current liabilities 2,140 2,375   Stockholders' equity: Common stock 250 250 Additional paid-in capital 144,253 144,318 Accumulated deficit (71,646 ) (71,149 ) Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (77 )   1     Total stockholders' equity   72,780     73,420     $ 139,227   $ 143,041         CAL AMP CORP. CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENTS (Unaudited - In thousands)   Three Months Ended May 31, 2008 2007 Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss $ (497 ) $ (11,362 ) Depreciation and amortization 1,972 2,659 Stock-based compensation expense 9 486 Write-off of in-process research and development costs - 310 Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation - (49 ) Deferred tax assets, net (390 ) (12,147 ) Gain on sale of investment - (331 ) Changes in operating working capital 721 20,753 Other   -     (2 )   Net cash provided by operating activities   1,815     317     Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (216 ) (516 ) Earnout payments on TechnoCom acquisition (575 ) - Collections on note receivable from sale of discontinued operations 140 - Proceeds from sale of property and equipment - 4 Proceeds from sale of investment - 1,045 Acquisition of Aercept - (19,367 ) Acquisition of SmartLink   -     (7,944 )   Net cash used in investing activities   (651 )   (26,778 )   Cash flows from financing activities: Debt repayments (470 ) (739 ) Proceeds from stock option exercises - 141 Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation   -     49     Net cash used in financing activities   (470 )   (549 )   Effect of exchange rate changes on cash   (70 )   611     Net change in cash and cash equivalents 624 (26,399 )   Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   6,588     37,537     Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 7,212   $ 11,138             CAL AMP CORP. NON-GAAP EARNINGS RECONCILIATION (Unaudited, in thousands except per share amounts)   Non-GAAP Earnings Reconciliation "GAAP" refers to financial information presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States. This press release includes historical non-GAAP financial measures, as defined in Regulation G promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. CalAmp believes that its presentation of historical non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplementary information to investors. The presentation of historical non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.   In this press release, CalAmp reports the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted Basis Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations and Diluted Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Per Share. CalAmp uses these non-GAAP financial measures to enhance the investor's overall understanding of the financial performance and future prospects of CalAmp's core business activities. Specifically, CalAmp believes that a report of Adjusted Basis (non-GAAP) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations and Diluted Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Per Share provides consistency in its financial reporting and facilitates the comparison of results of core business operations between its current and past periods.   The reconciliation of the GAAP Basis Loss from Continuing Operations to Adjusted Basis (non-GAAP) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations is as follows:   Three Months Ended May 31, 2008 2007   GAAP Basis Loss from Continuing Operations $ (497 ) $ (10,945 )   Adjustments to reconcile to Adjusted Basis Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations: Amortization of intangible assets, net of tax 746 1,072 Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax 5 283 In-process R&D, net of tax   -     190     Adjusted Basis Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations $ 254   $ (9,400 )   Adjusted Basis Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations per diluted share $ 0.01 $ (0.40 )   Weighted average common shares outstanding on diluted basis 24,703 23,600   The reconciling items above are tax effected using the year-to-date effective tax rate. The computation of the year-to-date effective income tax rate is as follows:   Three Months Ended May 31, 2008 2007 Pretax loss from continuing operations, as reported $ (887 ) $ (17,813 )   Income tax benefit, as reported 390   6,868     Effective income tax rate 44.0 % 38.6 %