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Aehr Test Systems Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2019 Financial Results

FREMONT, Calif., April 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aehr Test Systems (NASDAQ: AEHR), a worldwide supplier of semiconductor test and burn-in equipment, today announced financial results for its third quarter of fiscal 2019 ended February 28, 2019.

Fiscal Third Quarter Financial Results:

Fiscal First Nine Months Financial Results:

An explanation of the use of non-GAAP financial information and a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures can be found in the accompanying tables.

Third Quarter and Recent Business Highlights:

Gayn Erickson, President and CEO of Aehr Test Systems, commented:

“While our revenue in the third quarter was significantly lower on a year-over-year basis, it was in line with Street estimates and our expectations discussed in last quarter’s call for a weak third quarter. This is due to many of our customers’ capacity ramps pushed into our fiscal fourth quarter and into next fiscal year that begins June 1, 2019. Our significant increase in bookings in the third quarter and subsequent orders after the close of the quarter are evidence of the beginning of this ramp. With the $6.9 million backlog at the beginning of the current fourth quarter plus the orders announced since then, we effectively have over $10 million in backlog for the quarter so far. We are feeling very good about the strong bookings momentum we see with existing and multiple potential new customers for our new FOX products.

“We have seen business shift considerably toward our new wafer level and singulated die level FOX test and burn-in products, particularly in silicon photonics, 5G infrastructure, 2D and 3D sensors used in mobile, and enterprise / data center storage applications. With this shift in our business, we foresaw a need to make some structural staffing changes that position us for success in addressing our new market opportunities.  As a consequence of these changes, our third quarter results include a one-time restructuring charge of $607,000 related to severance packages. Going forward, we expect these changes will lower our operating costs by over $1.2 million per year beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. Also, there was an additional one-time charge of approximately $795,000 related to slow moving and obsolete package part burn-in product inventory as well as inventory related charges with the completion of our new family of FOX-P products.

“As we complete our fiscal fourth quarter and head into our fiscal 2020, we are very optimistic about the market acceptance and the new opportunities we see for our full family of FOX-P wafer level and singulated die test and burn in solutions. With the recent introduction and customer commitments for our new FOX-NP low cost, small footprint entry-level system and our FOX-CP single-wafer compact test and reliability verification solution for logic, memory, photonic, 5G infrastructure, and data storage devices, we expect to increase our installed base of FOX systems substantially. As a result, we expect our consumables business to continue to grow with current and new customers, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of revenue. Longer term, we believe we can reach a point where our WaferPak and DiePak contactors comprise over half of our annual revenue.

“We expect to see a significant increase in bookings in the current fiscal fourth quarter, with an increase in backlog heading into fiscal 2020, and we believe that our revenue will significantly improve to enable us to return to profitability in the current fiscal fourth quarter.

“The fundamental growth drivers for Aehr Test Systems remain intact, as the continued rapid growth of semiconductor content in nearly every part of life and the increasing requirements on semiconductors to meet substantially higher safety, security, and long-term reliability needs continues to drive the need to ensure 100% validation and assurance of burn-in and test results.”

Management Conference Call and Webcast
Aehr Test Systems will host a conference call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern (2:00 p.m. PT) to discuss its third quarter fiscal 2019 operating results. To access the call dial 800-263-0877 (+1 323-994-2132 outside the United States) and give the participant pass code 6357648. In addition, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available over the Internet at www.aehr.com in the Investor Relations section. A replay of the conference call will also be available via telephone beginning approximately two hours after conclusion of the call through 8:00 p.m. ET on April 11, 2019. To access the replay dial-in information, please click here.

About Aehr Test Systems
Headquartered in Fremont, California, Aehr Test Systems is a worldwide provider of test systems for burning-in and testing logic, optical and memory integrated circuits and has over 2,500 systems installed worldwide. Increased quality and reliability needs of the Automotive and Mobility integrated circuit markets are driving additional test requirements, incremental capacity needs, and new opportunities for Aehr Test products in package, wafer level, and singulated die/module level test. Aehr Test has developed and introduced several innovative products, including the ABTS™ and FOX-P™ families of test and burn-in systems and FOX WaferPakTM Aligner, FOX-XP WaferPak Contactor, FOX DiePak® Carrier and FOX DiePak Loader. The ABTS system is used in production and qualification testing of packaged parts for both lower power and higher power logic devices as well as all common types of memory devices. The FOX-XP and FOX-NP systems are full wafer contact and singulated die/module test and burn-in systems used for burn-in and functional test of complex devices, such as leading-edge memories, digital signal processors, microprocessors, microcontrollers, systems-on-a-chip, and integrated optical devices. The FOX-CP system is a new low-cost single-wafer compact test and reliability verification solution for logic, memory and photonic devices and the newest addition to the FOX-P product family. The WaferPak contactor contains a unique full wafer probe card capable of testing wafers up to 300mm that enables IC manufacturers to perform test and burn-in of full wafers on Aehr Test FOX systems. The DiePak Carrier is a reusable, temporary package that enables IC manufacturers to perform cost-effective final test and burn-in of both bare die and modules. For more information, please visit Aehr Test Systems’ website at www.aehr.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on information available to Aehr Test as of the date hereof and actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied due to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Aehr Test’s expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future including statements regarding future market opportunities and conditions, expected product shipment dates, customer orders or commitments and future operating results. The risks and uncertainties that could cause Aehr Test’s results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, general market conditions, customer demand and acceptance of Aehr Test’s products and Aehr Test’s ability to execute on its business strategy. See Aehr Test’s recent 10-K, 10-Q and other reports from time to time filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more detailed description of the risks facing Aehr Test’s business. Aehr Test disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

– Financial Tables to Follow –

AEHR TEST SYSTEMS AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
           
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  Feb 28, Nov 30, Feb 28, Feb 28, Feb 28,
   2019   2018   2018   2019   2018 
           
Net sales$3,163  $5,911  $7,393  $13,814  $22,286 
Cost of sales 2,891   3,513   4,217   9,591   13,061 
Gross profit 272   2,398   3,176   4,223   9,225 
           
Operating expenses:         
Selling, general and administrative 1,850   1,977   1,829   5,706   5,474 
Research and development 931   986   1,040   3,033   3,085 
Restructuring 607   -   -   607   - 
Total operating expenses 3,388   2,963   2,869   9,346   8,559 
           
(Loss) income from operations (3,116)  (565)  307   (5,123)  666 
           
Interest expense, net (76)  (74)  (98)  (228)  (310)
Other (expense) income, net (11)  29   (33)  27   (100)
           
(Loss) income before income tax benefit (expense) (3,203)  (610)  176   (5,324)  256 
           
Income tax benefit (expense) 2   (19)  91   (21)  81 
           
Net (loss) income (3,201)  (629)  267   (5,345)  337 
           
Less:  Net income attributable to the         
 noncontrolling interest -   -   -   -   - 
           
Net (loss) income attributable to Aehr Test         
 Systems common shareholders$(3,201) $(629) $267  $(5,345) $337 
           
Net (loss) income per share         
Basic$(0.14) $(0.03) $0.01  $(0.24) $0.02 
Diluted$(0.14) $(0.03) $0.01  $(0.24) $0.01 
           
Shares used in per share calculations:         
Basic 22,459   22,294   21,832   22,314   21,631 
Diluted 22,459   22,294   22,641   22,314   22,838 
           


AEHR TEST SYSTEMS AND SUBSIDIARIES
Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
            
            
   Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
   Feb 28, Nov 30, Feb 28, Feb 28, Feb 28,
    2019   2018   2018  2019   2018
            
            
GAAP net (loss) income $(3,201) $(629) $267 $(5,345) $337
Stock-based compensation expense  225   224   242  705   822
Restructuring  607   -   -  607   -
Excess and obsolescence provision  795   -   -  795   -
Non-GAAP net (loss) income $(1,574) $(405) $509 $(3,238) $1,159
            
GAAP net (loss) income per diluted share $(0.14) $(0.03) $0.01 $(0.24) $0.01
Non-GAAP net (loss) income per diluted share $(0.07) $(0.02) $0.02 $(0.15) $0.05
Shares used in GAAP diluted shares calculation  22,459   22,294   22,641  22,314   22,838
Shares used in non-GAAP diluted shares calculation  22,459   22,294   22,641  22,314   22,838
  
  
            
Non-GAAP net (loss) income is a non-GAAP measure and should not be considered a replacement for GAAP results.  Non-GAAP net (loss) income is a financial measure the Company uses to evaluate the underlying results and operating performance of the business.  The limitation of this measure is that it excludes items that impact the Company's current period net income.  This limitation is best addressed by using this measure in combination with net (loss) income (the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure).  These measures are not in accordance with GAAP and may differ from non-GAAP methods of accounting and reporting used by other companies. 
 
We believe these measures enhance investors’ ability to review the company’s business from the same perspective as the company’s management and facilitate comparisons of this period’s results with prior periods.


AEHR TEST SYSTEMS AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
        
   February 28, November 30, May 31,
    2019   2018   2018 
ASSETS            
        
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents$12,300  $14,002  $16,848 
Accounts receivable, net 1,944   3,868   2,856 
Inventories  9,189   9,983   9,049 
Prepaid expenses and other 787   688   703 
Total current assets 24,220   28,541   29,456 
        
Property and equipment, net 975   1,074   1,203 
Other assets  256   286   296 
Total assets $25,451  $29,901  $30,955 
        
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY     
        
Current liabilities:      
Current portion of long-term debt$6,110  $6,110  $6,110 
Accounts payable 557   1,953   1,762 
Accrued expenses 2,085   1,487   1,646 
Customer deposits and deferred revenue, short-term 1,267   2,068   1,630 
Total current liabilities 10,019   11,618   11,148 
        
Deferred rent  151   147   63 
Deferred revenue, long-term 240   252   459 
Total liabilities 10,410   12,017   11,670 
        
Aehr Test Systems shareholders' equity 15,060   17,902   19,305 
Noncontrolling interest (19)  (18)  (20)
Total shareholders' equity 15,041   17,884   19,285 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity$25,451  $29,901  $30,955 
        

Aehr Test Systems 
Ken Spink
Chief Financial Officer 
(510) 623-9400 x309

Investor Relations Contact:
Todd Kehrli or Jim Byers
MKR Group, Inc.
(323) 468-2300
aehr@mkr-group.com 

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