ASYS - Amtech Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results

Amtech Systems, Inc. ("Amtech") (NASDAQ: ASYS), a manufacturer of capital equipment, including thermal processing and wafer polishing, and related consumables used in fabricating semiconductor devices, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon power, analog and discrete devices, and electronic assemblies and modules focusing on enabling technologies for electric vehicles (EV) and clean technology (CleanTech) applications, today reported results for its third quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2023 Financial and Operational Highlights:

• Net revenue of $30.7 million
• GAAP operating loss of $1.1 million
• Non-GAAP operating income of $0.4 million ⁽¹⁾
• GAAP net loss of $1.0 million
• Non-GAAP net income of $0.3 million ⁽¹⁾
• GAAP net loss per diluted share of $0.07
• Non-GAAP net income per diluted share of $0.02 ⁽¹⁾
• Customer orders of $26.2 million
• Book to bill ratio of 0.9:1
• Backlog of $61.3 million.

“I am excited to take on the role of CEO and am looking forward to leading Amtech and driving efforts to fully capitalize on the exciting growth opportunities before us. In the coming quarters, we will focus our efforts on operational and supply chain improvements to ensure that we create meaningful value from the secular drivers influencing our business. We will be outlining our targets and plans in more detail on our next earnings call,” commented Mr. Bob Daigle, Chief Executive Officer of Amtech.

(1) See GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation in schedules following this release.

GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Results

Net revenues decreased 8% sequentially and increased 54% from the third quarter of fiscal 2022. The increase from prior year is primarily attributable to additional revenue of $7.2 million from Entrepix and increased shipments of our high temperature belt furnaces. The sequential decrease is primarily due to approximately $1.5 million in revenue that shifted from the third quarter to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 due to three BTU customers pushing out delivery dates and operational challenges surrounding the implementation of our new ERP system at P.R. Hoffman.

Gross margin decreased sequentially due primarily to product mix within our Semiconductor segment. Gross margin increased when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2022, as the prior year period was affected by the government-mandated shutdown of our Shanghai manufacturing location.

Selling, General & Administrative (“SG&A”) expenses decreased $1.1 million on a sequential basis and increased $3.1 million compared to the prior year period. The sequential decrease is due primarily to acquisition costs of $1.5 million in the prior sequential period, which were not incurred during the third quarter. Compared to the prior year, the increase is due primarily to added Entrepix SG&A of $1.9 million, inclusive of $0.7 million of amortization of intangible assets, as well as increased consulting and ERP project expenses.

Research, Development and Engineering expenses increased $0.3 million sequentially and increased $0.2 million compared to the same prior year period.

GAAP operating loss was $1.1 million, compared to GAAP operating income of $0.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2023 and GAAP operating income of $9.6 million in the same prior year period. The prior year period includes the gain on the sale-leaseback of our Massachusetts facility.

The Company has incurred amortization of intangible assets, included in its GAAP financial statements, related to the acquisition of Entrepix, Inc. The amount of an acquisition’s purchase price allocated to intangible assets and term of its related amortization can vary significantly. The purchase price allocation reflected in our GAAP financial statements is preliminary. The Company expects to incur amortization of acquired intangible assets relating to Entrepix, Inc. of approximately $985,000 per quarter through December 31, 2023, and approximately $460,000 per quarter thereafter.

(1) See GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation in schedules following this release.

Non-GAAP operating income was $0.4 million, compared to non-GAAP operating income of $3.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2023 and non-GAAP operating loss of $2.8 million in the same prior year period.

Income tax expense was $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, compared to a benefit of $2.9 million in the preceding quarter and expense of $20,000 in the same prior year period. Income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2023, includes a one-time tax benefit of $3.2 million related to the release of a portion of our valuation allowance in connection with a deferred tax liability related to the Entrepix acquisition resulting in recognition of previously recorded deferred tax assets.

GAAP net loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was $1.0 million, or 7 cents per share. This compares to GAAP net income of $3.2 million, or 23 cents per share, for the preceding quarter and GAAP net income of $10.2 million, or 73 cents per share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2022.

Non-GAAP net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was $0.3 million, or 2 cents per share. This compares to non-GAAP net income of $2.7 million, or 19 cents per share, for the preceding quarter and non-GAAP net loss of $2.1 million, or 15 cents per share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2022.

In discussing financial results for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, and the three months ended March 31, 2023, in this press release, the Company refers to certain financial measures that are adjusted from the financial results prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). All non-GAAP amounts exclude certain adjustments for stock compensation expense, severance expense, gain on sale-leaseback of our Massachusetts facility, amortization of acquired intangible assets, acquisition expenses, and income tax benefit related to our acquisition of Entrepix, Inc. A tabular reconciliation of financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP to the non-GAAP financial measures is included at the end of this press release.

Outlook

Operating results can be significantly impacted, positively or negatively, by the timing of orders, system shipments, logistical challenges, and the financial results of semiconductor manufacturers. Additionally, the semiconductor equipment industries can be cyclical and inherently impacted by changes in market demand. Actual results may differ materially in the weeks and months ahead.

For the fourth fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2023, we expect revenue and operating profit to improve incrementally over the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

A portion of Amtech's results is denominated in Renminbis, a Chinese currency. The outlook provided in this press release is based on an assumed exchange rate between the United States Dollar and the Renminbi. Changes in the value of the Renminbi in relation to the United States Dollar could cause actual results to differ from expectations.

(1) See GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation in schedules following this release.

Conference Call

Amtech Systems will host a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss our fiscal third quarter financial results. The call will be available to interested parties by dialing 1-888-886-7786. For international callers, please dial +1-416-764-8658. A live webcast of the conference call will be available in the Investor Relations section of Amtech’s website at: https://www.amtechsystems.com/investors/events .

A replay of the webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at http://www.amtechsystems.com/conference.htm shortly after the conclusion of the call and will remain available for approximately 30 calendar days.

About Amtech Systems, Inc.

Amtech Systems, Inc. is a leading, global manufacturer of capital equipment, including thermal processing, wafer cleaning, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) technology, and related consumables used in fabricating semiconductor devices, such as silicon carbide (SiC), silicon power, electronic assemblies and modules focusing on enabling technologies for electric vehicles (EV) and clean technology (CleanTech) applications. We sell process equipment and services to semiconductor device and module manufacturers worldwide, particularly in Asia, North America and Europe. Our strategic focus is on semiconductor growth opportunities in power electronics, sensors and analog devices leveraging our strength in core competencies in thermal and substrate processing. Amtech's products are recognized under the leading brand names BTU International, Entrepix, Inc., Bruce Technologies™, PR Hoffman™ and Intersurface Dynamics, Inc.

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, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). 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 profitably grow our revenue, and enhancements to our technologies and expansion of our product portfolio. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "plan," "anticipate," "seek," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "believe," "continue," "predict," "potential," "project," "should," "would," "could", "likely," "future," "target," "forecast," "goal," "observe," and "strategy" 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, 2022, 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 in our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Qs, 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.