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8-K - FORM 8-K - ULTRALIFE CORPf8k_103113.htm
Exhibit 99.1
 
Company Contact:
Investor Relations Contact:
Ultralife Corporation
Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates
Philip Fain
Jody Burfening
(315) 332-7100
(212) 838-3777
pfain@ulbi.com
jburfening@lhai.com
 
Ultralife Corporation Reports Third Quarter Results

NEWARK, N.Y. – October 31, 2013 -- Ultralife Corporation (NASDAQ: ULBI) reported operating income from continuing operations of $0.7 million on revenue of $20.4 million for the quarter ended September 29, 2013.  For the third quarter of 2012, the company reported operating income from continuing operations of $1.8 million on revenue of $26.2 million.

“On a sequential basis, revenue increased $3.1 million benefiting from closing Communications Systems orders that had been delayed in the second quarter.  As a result of higher sales, improved gross margins and lower operating expenses, we restored profitability this quarter improving operating income $2.5 million from last quarter’s operating loss,” said Michael D. Popielec, Ultralife’s president and chief executive officer.  “In the face of difficult market conditions, we remain focused on protecting the P&L and maintaining a strong balance sheet.  On the strength of a $3.2 million inventory reduction, we ended the quarter with a net cash balance of $10.8 million giving us ample liquidity to support our growth initiatives.”

Popielec continued, “Growing the top-line remains our highest priority.  As we expand our opportunities in commercial end markets, we are very encouraged by the level of interest in the company’s new products serving the medical cart and emergency response markets.  This validates our approach of leveraging our proven military grade battery systems through multi-generational product planning for use in applications in the commercial sector.”

Third Quarter 2013 Financial Results

Discontinued operations reflect the operating results of RedBlack, which was sold on September 28, 2012. All revenue, gross margin and operating expense amounts presented below represent results from continuing operations.

Revenue was $20.4 million, compared to $26.2 million for the third quarter of 2012, a 22% decline.     Battery & Energy Products sales declined by $3.1 million to $13.5 million, primarily due to the continued slowdown in the government and defense order rate for rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries.  Communications Systems sales were $6.9 million, compared to $9.5 million for the same period last year, a decrease of $2.7 million. Included in the prior year Communications Systems’ sales was $3.4 million related to the final shipment of SATCOM systems units.  Absent the SATCOM shipment, Communications Systems sales increased 11% reflecting higher shipments of amplifiers to US and international customers.
 
Gross profit was $6.1 million, or 30.1% of revenue, compared to $8.2 million, or 31.4% of revenue, for the same quarter a year ago, a decrease of 130 basis points.  Battery & Energy Products’ gross margin was 26.7%, compared to 28.7% last year, a 200 basis point decrease reflecting lower overhead absorption as a consequence of strict inventory control.  Communications Systems’ gross margin was 36.9%, compared to 36.1% last year, an increase of 80 basis points reflecting favorable mix.

Operating expenses declined $1.0 million or 15% to $5.5 million, compared to $6.5 million a year ago, primarily due to reductions in general and administrative expense and continued focus on controlling discretionary spending.  As a percent of revenue, operating expenses were 26.9%, compared to 24.7% a year ago.

Operating profit was $0.7 million, compared to $1.8 million for the same period in 2012, reflecting lower gross profit including the impact of the SATCOM shipment, partially offset by operating expense reductions. Operating margin was 3.2%, compared to 6.7% for the year-earlier period.

Net income from continuing operations was $0.6 million, or $0.04 per share, compared to net income of $1.5 million, or $0.09 per share, for the third quarter of 2012.  Net income from discontinued operations was $0.0 million, or $0.00 per share, compared to $0.2 million, or $0.01 per share, for the same quarter last year.

Outlook

For 2013, although the Company's pending project pipelines are growing, the continuing U.S. Government budget challenges have muddled our predictability of converting Communication Systems’ sales opportunities in the timeframe originally forecasted.  Primarily for this reason, management now expects that an overall year-over-year revenue decline could be approximately 20%, with Communications Systems revenues down in a comparable range for the year versus our prior expectations. Given the potential for reduced revenue, management now expects to report operating results in the range of breakeven to a modest operating loss for the year.

Management cautions that the timing of orders and shipments may cause variability in quarterly results.
 
About Ultralife Corporation
 
Ultralife Corporation serves its markets with products and services ranging from portable power solutions to communications and electronics systems. Through its engineering and collaborative approach to problem solving, Ultralife serves government, defense and commercial customers across the globe.

Headquartered in Newark, New York, the company's business segments include: Battery & Energy Products and Communications Systems. Ultralife has operations in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.ultralifecorp.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: uncertain global economic conditions, increased competitive environment and pricing pressures, disruptions related to restructuring actions and delays. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's analysis only as of today's date. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Further information on these factors and other factors that could affect Ultralife's financial results is included in Ultralife's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including the latest Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Conference Call Information

Ultralife will hold its third quarter earnings conference call today at 10:00 AM ET. To participate, please call (800) 915-4836, identify yourself and ask for the Ultralife call. The conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet at http://investor.ultralifecorp.com. To listen to the call, please go to the web site at least fifteen minutes early to download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live webcast, a replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the call at the same location.
 
 

 
 
 
ULTRALIFE CORPORATION
 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
(unaudited)
 
   
September 29,
   
December 31,
 
ASSETS
 
2013
   
2012
 
             
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 10,785     $ 10,078  
Trade accounts receivable, net
    15,571       20,913  
Inventories
    27,829       30,370  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    1,955       2,461  
Total current assets
    56,140       63,822  
                 
Property and equipment
    10,836       12,415  
                 
Other assets:
               
Goodwill, intangible and other assets
    21,699       21,481  
                 
Total Assets
  $ 88,675     $ 97,718  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
Current liabilities:
               
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt
  $ -     $ -  
Accounts payable
    6,057       11,357  
Other current liabilities
    5,026       8,535  
Total current liabilities
    11,083       19,892  
                 
Long-term liabilities:
               
Other long-term liabilities
    4,357       4,370  
                 
Shareholders' equity:
               
Ultralife equity:
               
Common stock, par value $0.10 per share
    1,888       1,886  
Capital in excess of par value
    174,541       173,791  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (567 )     (620 )
Accumulated deficit
    (94,873 )     (93,878 )
 
    80,989       81,179  
Less -- Treasury stock, at cost
    7,658       7,658  
Total Ultralife equity
    73,331       73,521  
Noncontrolling interest
    (96 )     (65 )
Total shareholders' equity
    73,235       73,456  
                 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
  $ 88,675     $ 97,718  
 
 
 

 
 
ULTRALIFE CORPORATION
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Month Periods Ended
   
Nine Month Periods Ended
 
                         
   
September 29,
2013
   
September 30,
2012
   
September 29,
2013
   
September 30,
2012
 
                         
Revenues:
                       
Battery & energy products
  $ 13,507     $ 16,633     $ 41,216     $ 52,238  
Communications systems
    6,854       9,548       17,443       20,150  
Total revenues
    20,361       26,181       58,659       72,388  
                                 
Cost of products sold:
                               
Battery & energy products
    9,906       11,863       31,025       39,762  
Communications systems
    4,328       6,099       10,606       13,347  
Total cost of products sold
    14,234       17,962       41,631       53,109  
                                 
Gross profit
    6,127       8,219       17,028       19,279  
                                 
Operating expenses:
                               
Research and development
    1,418       1,596       4,456       5,706  
Selling, general, and administrative
    4,057       4,869       13,419       16,041  
Total operating expenses
    5,475       6,465       17,875       21,747  
                                 
Operating income (loss)
    652       1,754       (847 )     (2,468 )
                                 
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest income
    13       1       27       4  
Interest expense
    (66 )     (97 )     (199 )     (316 )
Miscellaneous
    (8 )     (15 )     (31 )     17  
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
    591       1,643       (1,050 )     (2,763 )
 
                               
Income tax provision (benefit)-current
    (19 )     120       42       387  
Income tax provision-deferred
    3       55       93       50  
Total income taxes
    (16 )     175       135       437  
                                 
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
    607       1,468       (1,185 )     (3,200 )
                                 
Discontinued operations:
                               
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
    15       200       159       178  
                                 
Net income (loss)
    622       1,668       (1,026 )     (3,022 )
                                 
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
    22       11       31       31  
                                 
Net income (loss) attributable to Ultralife
  $ 644     $ 1,679     $ (995 )   $ (2,991 )
                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                               
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    32       (204 )     53       (81 )
                                 
Comprehensive income (loss) loss attributable to Ultralife
  $ 676     $ 1,475     $ (942 )   $ (3,072 )
                                 
                                 
Net income (loss) attributable to Ultralife common shareholders - basic
                         
Continuing operations
  $ 0.04     $ 0.09     $ (0.07 )   $ (0.18 )
Discontinued operations
  $ 0.00     $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ 0.01  
Total
  $ 0.04     $ 0.10     $ (0.06 )   $ (0.17 )
Net income (loss) attributable to Ultralife common shareholders - diluted
                         
Continuing operations
  $ 0.04     $ 0.09     $ (0.07 )   $ (0.18 )
Discontinued operations
  $ 0.00     $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ 0.01  
Total
  $ 0.04     $ 0.10     $ (0.06 )   $ (0.17 )
                                 
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic
    17,467       17,418       17,461       17,390  
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted
    17,532       17,418       17,461       17,390