ORLANDO, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 8, 2024 / LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LPTH) ("LightPath," the "Company," or "we"), a leading global, vertically integrated provider of thermal imaging cores, custom optical assemblies, photonics and infrared solutions for the industrial, commercial, defense, telecommunications, and medical industries, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2024 second quarter ended December 31, 2023.

Fiscal 2024 Second Quarter Highlights:

• Revenue of $7.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2024
• Total backlog at December 31, 2023 of $21.2 million
• Net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 was $1.7 million
• EBITDA* loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 was $0.5 million
• Initial $4.7 million order from partnership with Lockheed Martin to develop an advanced infrared camera system for a key Army program
• Secured renewal order of $3.4 million, a 36% increase from initial order to provide advanced infrared optics for a critical international military program
• Completed over $5 million expansion and renovation of Orlando facility, increasing total footprint from 34,000 square feet to 55,000 square feet

Management Commentary

LightPath's President and Chief Executive Officer Sam Rubin stated, "The second fiscal quarter of 2024 was highlighted by a key first order in our partnership with Lockheed Martin, a major milestone in our strategy to pivot from a pure components manufacturer to an imaging solutions provider. In September we were selected to design the electro-optical system for a new Lockheed Martin missile program. The $4.7 million order is the first part of the $7.5 million design phase of the program. It is expected that in the later part of the design phase, the end customer will decide whether to award the production order for the Lockheed Martin solution, or select the competing solution that is being developed in parallel.

"The decision date to move the program to production was shortened from 2028 to 2026, at which point, if our customer's solution is selected as the winning solution, an initial production of 10,000 systems will commence. Expected volumes for production have also increased, with the potential for tens of thousands of units. The demand and timeline for the project are being impacted by recent geopolitical escalations, and the customer might begin investing in production of the units even before an official decision is made. A fully in-production program would likely have an average selling price between $5,000 and $10,000 per system for LightPath's contribution, and significant follow-on orders after the initial 10,000 systems. The ultimate selection of Lockheed Martin by the military would likely result in a substantial revenue opportunity should LightPath supply the part we are designing for Lockheed Martin.

"During the second fiscal quarter we continued the integration of Visimid Technologies with a focus on new products in fire, safety and defense. This acquisition added the capability to produce end-to-end custom imaging cores and new engineering capabilities that allow us to be involved earlier within our customers' design cycle and increase our likelihood of servicing those designs through to manufacturing. We are integrating Visimid's custom imaging core work into new camera products, several of which we demonstrated at the recent SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, and some of which we are working with customers to develop customized solutions. All of these products utilize Visimid's unique video engine in conjunction with our optics to develop low weight, high efficiency solutions for drones and unmanned aerial vehicles ("UAVs"), as well as industrial applications such as gas sensing and early fire detection.

"On the materials front, in the second fiscal quarter we installed key equipment for glass measurement and are completing readiness of three new types of glass. We recently received a refractometer that will allow us to complete the last sets of qualification data, and with that we expect to release BDNL-4, BDNL-6 and BDNL-8 materials soon. In the meantime, we have completed design and began prototype deliveries of new optics made of our BlackDiamond materials to replace Germanium-based optics used by customers," concluded Rubin.

2024 Fiscal Second Quarter Financial Results

Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 was approximately $7.3 million, a decrease of approximately $1.2 million, or 9%, as compared to approximately $8.5 million in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. Revenue among our product groups for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 was as follows:

** Numbers may not foot due to rounding

• Revenue generated by IR components was approximately $3.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of approximately $0.3 million, or 9%, as compared to approximately $3.3 million in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The increase in revenue is primarily due to an increase in shipments against an annual contract for an international military program. This contract was renewed during the first quarter of fiscal 2024 for a higher dollar value than the previous contract.
• Revenue generated by visible components was approximately $2.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2024, a decrease of approximately $1.2 million, or 31%, as compared to approximately $3.9 million in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in revenue is primarily due to a decrease in sales to customers in the defense industry, as well as a decrease in sales through catalog and distribution channels in the U.S. and in Europe. Sales to customers in the telecommunications industry in China also decreased.
• Revenue from assemblies and modules decreased by 20%, as compared to the same quarter of the prior fiscal year, primarily due to timing of shipments against a multi-year contract with a defense customer. This decrease was partially offset by the addition of Visimid revenue.
• Revenue from engineering services was flat for the second quarter of fiscal 2024, as compared to the same quarter of the prior fiscal year.

Gross margin in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 was approximately $2.2 million, a decrease of $1.1 million, or 33%, as compared to the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. Total cost of sales was approximately $5.1 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to approximately $5.2 million for the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 30% for the second quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to 38% for the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of revenue is due to the decrease in visible components sales, which typically have higher margins than our IR components product group, which comprised a greater portion of our sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2024.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") costs were approximately $2.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2024, a decrease of approximately $172,000, or 6%, as compared to approximately $3.0 million in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in SG&A costs is primarily due to a decrease in stock-based compensation, partially offset by an increase in wages.

Net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 was approximately $1.7 million, or $0.05 basic and diluted loss per share, compared to $0.7 million, or $0.03 basic and diluted loss per share, for the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The increase in net loss of approximately $1 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2024, as compared to the same quarter of the prior fiscal year, was primarily attributable to the decrease in revenue and gross margin, partially offset by other income of approximately $190,000 from our Chinese subsidiary, for the return of funds previously misappropriated by our former Chinese management team, as a result of ongoing legal proceedings.

Our EBITDA for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 was a loss of approximately $454,000, compared to income of $207,000 for the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in EBITDA in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 was primarily attributable to lower sales and gross margin, partially offset by the aforementioned other income in our Chinese subsidiary.

2024 Fiscal Year-To-Date Financial Results

Revenue for the first half of fiscal 2024 was approximately $15.4 million, a decrease of approximately $0.4 million, or 3%, as compared to approximately $15.8 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Revenue among our product groups for the first half of fiscal 2024 was as follows:

** Numbers may not foot due to rounding

• Revenue generated by IR components was approximately $7.4 million in the first half of fiscal 2024, an increase of approximately $0.9 million, or 14%, as compared to approximately $6.5 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase in revenue is primarily due to an increase in shipments against an annual contract for an international military program.
• Revenue generated by visible components was approximately $5.4 million for the first half of fiscal 2024, a decrease of approximately $1.8 million, or 25%, as compared to approximately $7.1 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in revenue is primarily due to a decrease in sales to customers in the defense industry, as well as a decrease in sales through catalog and distribution channels in the U.S. and in Europe. Sales to customers in the telecommunications industry in China also decreased.
• Revenue from assemblies and modules increased by 7%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year, primarily due to the addition of Visimid revenue, which increase was partially offset by a decrease in shipments against a multi-year contract with a defense customer due to timing.
• Revenue from engineering services increased by $253,000, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year, primarily due to the addition of Visimid revenue as well as revenue from one of our space-related funded research contracts.

Gross margin in the first half of fiscal 2024 was approximately $4.5 million, a decrease of $1.0 million, or 18%, as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year. Total cost of sales was approximately $10.9 million for the first half of fiscal 2024, compared to approximately $10.4 million for the same period of the prior fiscal year. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 29% for the first half of fiscal 2024, compared to 34% for the same period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of revenue is due to the decrease in visible components sales, which typically have higher margins than our infrared components product group, which comprised a greater portion of our sales for the first half of fiscal 2024.

SG&A costs were approximately $5.5 million for the first half of fiscal 2024, a decrease of approximately $149,000, or 3%, as compared to approximately $5.7 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in SG&A costs is primarily due to a decrease in stock-based compensation, partially offset by an increase in wages. This decrease was also partially offset by costs of approximately $97,000 associated with the acquisition of Visimid, which closed in July 2023.

Net loss for the first half of fiscal 2024 was approximately $3.1 million, or $0.08 basic and diluted loss per share, compared to $2.1 million, or $0.08 basic and diluted loss per share, for the same period of the prior fiscal year. The increase in net loss of approximately $1 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2024, as compared to the same quarter of the prior fiscal year, was primarily attributable to the decrease in revenue and gross margin, partially offset by the aforementioned other income in our Chinese subsidiary.

Our EBITDA for the first half of fiscal 2024 was a loss of approximately $886,000, compared to $185,000 for the same period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in EBITDA in the first half of fiscal 2024 was primarily attributable to lower revenue and gross margin, partially offset by the aforementioned other income in our Chinese subsidiary.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash provided by operations was approximately $851,000 for the first half of fiscal 2024, compared to cash used in operations of approximately $751,000 for the same period of the prior fiscal year. Cash provided by operations for the first half of fiscal 2024 was largely driven by decrease in accounts receivable, as sales were higher in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 than in each of the first two quarters of fiscal 2024. Cash used in operations in the first half of fiscal 2023 reflects a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities during such period resulting from the payment of certain expenses related to previously disclosed events that occurred at our Chinese subsidiaries, which were accrued in prior periods.

Capital expenditures were approximately $1.5 million for the first half of fiscal 2024, compared to approximately $412,000 in the same period of the prior fiscal year. The first half of fiscal 2024 also reflects proceeds of approximately $365,000 from sale-leasebacks of equipment. The spending in the first half of fiscal 2024 was largely driven by the Orlando Facility expansion, whereas the majority of our capital expenditures during the first half of fiscal 2023 reflected only maintenance capital expenditures. As previously disclosed, we constructed additional tenant improvements in our Orlando facility subject to our continuing lease, of which the landlord agreed to provide $2.4 million in tenant improvement allowances. The balance of the tenant improvement costs is estimated to be $3.7 million. During the first half of fiscal 2024, we expended $994,000 toward this project, with the remaining estimated $380,000 expected to be expended during the second half of fiscal 2024, pending final construction invoices. We also expended approximately $722,000, net of cash acquired, to acquire Visimid during the first half of fiscal 2024.

Sales Backlog

Our total backlog at December 31, 2023 was approximately $21.2 million, a decrease of 28%, as compared to $29.4 million as of December 31, 2022. Compared to the end of fiscal 2023, our total backlog decreased by 2% during the first half of fiscal 2024. The decrease in backlog during the first half of fiscal 2024 is primarily due shipments against several annual and multi-year contract renewals, which orders were added to the backlog in prior periods. Shipments during the first half of fiscal 2024 were partially offset by the following: (i) a significant contract renewal for advanced infrared optics for a critical international military program, which renewal represented a 40% increase in dollar value as compared to the previous order; and (ii) a significant contract awarded to Visimid by a defense customer in December 2023. In previous years we have typically received a significant contract renewal from our largest customer for infrared products made of Germanium during the second fiscal quarter. However, as previously disclosed we have decided to reduce the amount of optics we produce from Germanium, both to reduce our risk of supply chain disruption, and more importantly, to work with customers to convert their systems to use optics made of our own BlackDiamond materials. As such, in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 we have not booked our typical annual renewal order for Germanium optics with this customer. Instead, we continue to work with this customer, as well as other customers to convert their systems to use BlackDiamond optics. The timing of multi-year contract renewals are not always consistent and, thus, backlog levels may increase substantially when annual and multi-year orders are received, and decrease as shipments are made against these orders. We anticipate that our existing annual and multi-year contracts will be renewed in future quarters.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast Details

LightPath will host an audio conference call and webcast on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss its financial and operational performance for its fiscal 2024 second quarter.

Date: Thursday, February 8, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m. (ET)
Dial-in Number: 1-877-317-2514
International Dial-in Number: 1-412-317-2514
Webcast: Fiscal Second Quarter Earnings Webcast

Participants are recommended to dial-in or log-on approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the event. A replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after completion through February 22, 2024. To listen to the replay, dial 1-877-344-7529 (domestic) or 1-412-317-0088 (international), and enter conference ID #4755983.

*Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide investors with additional information regarding financial results, this press release includes references to EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, see the table provided in this press release.

A "non-GAAP financial measure" is generally defined as a numerical measure of a company's historical or future performance that excludes or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments, so as to be different from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company's management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure, when considered together with the GAAP financial measure, provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results separate and apart from items that may, or could, have a disproportionately positive or negative impact on results in any particular period. Management also believes that this non-GAAP financial measure enhances the ability of investors to analyze underlying business operations and understand performance. In addition, management may utilize these non-GAAP financial measures as guides in forecasting, budgeting, and planning. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP.

The Company calculates EBITDA by adjusting net income to exclude net interest expense, income tax expense or benefit, depreciation, and amortization.

About LightPath Technologies

LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPTH) is a leading global, vertically integrated provider of optics, photonics and infrared solutions for the industrial, commercial, defense, telecommunications, and medical industries. LightPath designs and manufactures proprietary optical and infrared components including molded glass aspheric lenses and assemblies, custom molded glass freeform lenses , infrared lenses and thermal imaging assemblies, fused fiber collimators, and proprietary Black Diamond ^TM ("BD6") chalcogenide-based glass lenses. LightPath also offers custom optical assemblies, including full engineering design support. The Company is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, with manufacturing and sales offices in Dallas, Texas, Latvia and China.

LightPath's wholly-owned subsidiary, Visimid Technologies , was acquired in July 2023, and specializes in the design and development of customized infrared cameras, for the industrial and defense industries. Such customized cameras are often sold together with customized optical assemblies from LightPath.

LightPath's wholly-owned subsidiary, ISP Optics Corporation , manufactures a full range of infrared products from high performance MWIR and LWIR lenses and lens assemblies. ISP's infrared lens assembly product line includes athermal lens systems used in cooled and un-cooled thermal imaging cameras. Manufacturing is performed in-house to provide precision optical components including spherical, aspherical and diffractive coated infrared lenses.

For more information on LightPath and its businesses, please visit www.lightpath.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "forecast," "guidance," "plan," "estimate," "will," "would," "project," "maintain," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "prospect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "believe," "continue," "opportunity," "potential," and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the impact of varying demand for the Company products; the ability of the Company to obtain needed raw materials and components from its suppliers; actions governments, businesses, and individuals take in response to the pandemic, including restrictions on onsite commercial interactions; general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; geopolitical tensions, the Russian-Ukraine conflict, and the Hamas/Israel war; the effects of steps that the Company could take to reduce operating costs; the inability of the Company to sustain profitable sales growth, convert inventory to cash, or reduce its costs to maintain competitive prices for its products; circumstances or developments that may make the Company unable to implement or realize the anticipated benefits, or that may increase the costs, of its current and planned business initiatives; and those factors detailed by LightPath Technologies, Inc. in its public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on 10-Q. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties, or facts materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contact:

Brian M. Prenoveau, CFA
MZ Group - MZ North America
LPTH@mzgroup.us
+561 489 5315

(tables follow)

To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we provide additional non-GAAP financial measures. Our management believes these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the GAAP financial measures, provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results separate and apart from items that may or could, have a disproportionally positive or negative impact on results in any particular period. Our management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures enhance the ability of investors to analyze our underlying business operations and understand our performance. In addition, our management may utilize these non-GAAP financial measures as guides in forecasting, budgeting, and planning. Any analysis on non-GAAP financial measures should be used in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP is presented in the tables below.

SOURCE: LightPath Technologies, Inc.