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 devices, analog and discrete devices, electronic assemblies and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), today reported results for its first quarter ended December 31, 2021.

First Quarter Fiscal 2022 Financial and Operational Highlights:

• Net revenue of $27.3 million
• Operating income of $1.2 million
• Net income of $1.0 million
• Net income per diluted share of $0.07
• Customer orders of $31.6 million
• Book to bill ratio of 1.2:1
• Unrestricted cash of $32.2 million
• Repurchased 291,383 shares for $2.7 million
• December 31, 2021 backlog of $48.5 million

Mr. Michael Whang, Chief Executive Officer of Amtech, commented, “We are encouraged by the continued bookings and revenue momentum we experienced during the first quarter of fiscal 2022, with over $31 million in bookings and over $27 million in revenue, representing year-over-year growth rates of 77% and 52%, respectively. Despite ongoing shipping and supply chain challenges across the industry, demand within our served end markets continues to be strong. For the second consecutive quarter we generated a record backlog, reaching $48.5 million and representing more than two and a half times that of this period a year ago, while new quoting activity is now extending beyond the current fiscal year.”

Net revenues increased 12% sequentially and 52% from the first quarter of fiscal 2021, with the sequential increase primarily attributable to strong shipments of our advanced packaging and SMT equipment and increased shipments of our horizontal diffusion furnace. The prior year period was more heavily affected by uncertainty in the global economy because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Relative to last quarter, gross margin increased in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 primarily due to a more favorable product mix. Gross margin in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 decreased compared to prior year due to primarily to product mix, with increased shipments of our horizontal diffusion furnaces and our high temperature belt furnaces.

Selling, General & Administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased $1.4 million on a sequential basis. Adjusting for the partial insurance reimbursement for the cyber incident ($0.4 million) in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2021, SG&A increased sequentially by $1.0 million due primarily to increased shipping and logistics costs, driven by higher revenues, as well as higher shipping rates for our products shipped from our Shanghai factory. SG&A increased $2.7 million compared to the prior year period due primarily to $1.1 million in increased shipping and logistics costs, driven by higher revenues and increased shipping rates, $0.4 million in higher commissions on higher sales, $0.3 million in added SG&A from our acquisition of Intersurface Dynamics in March 2021, and $0.4 million for IT and ERP consulting, legal and increased travel.

Research, Development and Engineering increased $0.2 million sequentially and $0.3 million compared to the same prior year period due primarily to the timing of materials used in our strategic R&D projects.

Operating income was $1.2 million, compared to operating income of $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 and an operating income of $1.1 million in the same prior year period.

Income tax provision was $0.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021, compared to a provision of $0.7 million in the preceding quarter and $0.1 million in the same prior year period.

Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was $1.0 million, or 7 cents per share. This compares to net income of $0.7 million, or 5 cent per share, for both the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and the preceding quarter.

Outlook

The Company’s outlook reflects the anticipated ongoing logistical impacts and the related delays for goods shipped to and from China. Actual results may differ materially in the weeks and months ahead. Additionally, the semiconductor equipment industries can be cyclical and inherently impacted by changes in market demand. Operating results can be significantly impacted, positively or negatively, by the timing of orders, system shipments, and the financial results of semiconductor manufacturers.

For the second fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2022, revenues are expected to be in the range of $26 to $28 million. Gross margin for the quarter ending March 31, 2022, is expected to be approximately 40% with operating margin in the upper single digits.

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.

Conference Call

Amtech Systems will host a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss our fiscal first quarter financial results. The call will be available to interested parties by dialing 1-877-614-0009. For international callers, please dial +1 313-209-7315. The confirmation code is 9145284. 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 web site 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 and wafer polishing, and related consumables used in fabricating semiconductor devices, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon power devices, analog and discrete devices, electronic assemblies and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). We sell these products 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 our core competencies in thermal and substrate processing. We are a market leader in the high-end power chip market (SiC substrates, 300mm horizontal thermal reactor, and electronic assemblies used in power, RF, and other advanced applications), developing and supplying essential equipment and consumables used in the semiconductor industry. Amtech's products are recognized under the leading brand names BTU International, 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, 2021, 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 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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220214005712/en/