FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 23, 1998 |
For More Information Contact:
Stephanie M. Day
Vice President -
Corporate Communications
(408) 743-3429
sday@califmicro.com
Investor Information Line:
(Toll-free) 1-888-225-6789
http://www.calmike.com.
Deborah Passik
William Dunk Partners, Inc.
(919) 929-4100
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA - CALIFORNIA MICROWAVE, INC. (Nasdaq National Market: CMIC) today reported results from continuing operations for its fiscal 1998 third quarter ended March 31, 1998. Continuing operations for all periods presented exclude the operating results of Microwave Networks (MN) and Satellite Transmission Systems (STS), which have been divested. Third-quarter income from continuing operations was $3.1 million, or $.19 per share, on sales of $66.6 million. This compares to a profit of $1.9 million, or $.11 per share, on sales of $58.6 million reported for last year's third quarter. New orders booked in the third quarter decreased 8% to $69.5 million, compared to $75.3 million for the comparable period last year, driven primarily by timing of large government orders. For the nine-month-period ended March 31, new orders booked increased 10% in California Microwave's commercial businesses ($135 million compared to $123 million) and decreased 11% in the government sector, for a net bookings increase of 3%. International orders for the commercial business totaled $64.3 million for the latest nine months versus $58.2 million in last year's comparable period. Activity was strongest in Latin America, where both the terrestrial microwave and satellite communications businesses have good distribution. Sales and bookings into China were strong and offset any major impact from the continued softness in the remaining Asia markets where the company has limited presence. Backlog at March 31, 1998, totaled $104.8 million, compared to $119.8 million at March 31, 1997. "Our government sales growth has been impacted by contracting cycles and has reduced our year-to-date growth rates as some business has shifted between quarters. On the commercial side, however, we are pleased with the market prospects and our net year-to-year sales growth. In our terrestrial microwave business, Microwave Data Systems (MDS) is continuing to see strong business growth in its new line of digital signal processing-based multiple address radios, including both licensed products for international markets and spread-spectrum products, which are primarily for domestic applications. And, while we are pleased with the heightened interest from broadcasters in Microwave Radio Communications' (MRC) new digital video radios, the conversion from analog to digital transmission is not expected to gain real momentum until the 1999-2000 time frame. From a return perspective, we continue to be on track despite the shifts in government business, and expect to achieve our goal of 33% gross margin for FY98, which is driven by a changing business mix (commercial business growing faster than lower-margin government business), and increased product gross margins in our commercial business. Our focus in the fourth quarter is to reduce working capital and operating expenses as we begin our operational excellence initiative to consolidate and standardize our transaction processing throughout the commercial segments of the company," stated Donna S. Birks, executive vice president and chief financial officer. Beginning with this quarterly earnings release, the company has adopted segment reporting to conform with its Strategic Plan, which was announced today. The three segments are aligned as follows:
"We believe we can provide better insight into the focus and performance of the company by reporting in more detail by each division. The company will continue to review the data published each quarter to ensure adequate and relevant performance metrics are readily available. This is consistent with our focus on shareholder value," stated Donna Birks. As previously announced, the company completed sale of its STS division to L3 during the quarter and announced the sale of its Microwave Networks Division (MN) to Tadiran, which was completed on April 21. As announced on March 2, 1998, an additional provision of $12.5 million, or $.76 per share, was recorded in the third quarter to reflect the actual loss on sale of MN. Separately, California Microwave announced today its strategic plan for future growth and the appointment of retired General George A. Joulwan to its board of directors. Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including any statements about expectations for fiscal year 1998 and beyond are forward-looking statements, involving certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from management's projections, estimates and expectations include, but are not limited to, delays in the receipt of orders or in the shipment of products, the company's success in implementing its strategic plan, and other factors referred to in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. California Microwave, Inc. (http://www.calmike.com) is a leading U.S. supplier of satellite earth station and microwave radio infrastructure products and information and collection systems. |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 23, 1998 |
For More Information Contact:
Stephanie M. Day
Vice President -
Corporate Communications
(408) 743-3429
sday@califmicro.com
Investor Information Line:
(Toll-free) 1-888-225-6789
http://www.calmike.com.
Deborah Passik
William Dunk Partners, Inc.
(919) 929-4100
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA - CALIFORNIA MICROWAVE, INC. (Nasdaq National Market:CMIC) announced today a series of strategic and operational initiatives that are designed to provide greater focus, direction and growth for the company. After an extensive review of California Microwave's operations, Chief Executive Officer Frederick D. Lawrence stated, "We have carefully defined our field of play: wireless broadband access products and solutions for commercial, satellite and wireless business markets. Our strategies and resources are focused on improving our existing leadership positions in these markets, and developing additional growth segments within them. This focus places us in markets that are growing at rates greater than 20%, which is our growth goal for the company. We have moved decisively away from the holding-company approach that historically characterized the company, and are now managing California Microwave as a focused, integrated, operating business."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, April 23, 1998 |
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