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Orbital Sciences Corporation s 45101 Warp Drive, Dulles, VA 20166 s 703-406-5000

 

Revenues decreased $15.0 million, or 5%, in the second quarter of 2014 compared to the second quarter of 2013.  Revenues declined $8.2 million in the launch vehicles segment, $6.6 million in the satellites and space systems segment and $6.4 million in the advanced space programs segment.  Intersegment revenue eliminations decreased $6.2 million.

Adjusted operating income decreased $4.4 million, or 17%, in the second quarter of 2014 compared to operating income in the second quarter of 2013.  Operating income in the satellites and space systems segment decreased $7.9 million, while operating income in the advanced space programs and launch vehicles segments increased $2.9 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

Results for the second quarter of 2014 included an approximately $12 million insurance recovery accrual recognized in "other income (expense)" pertaining to a satellite anomaly reported in the first quarter of 2014.

The company's effective income tax rate was 36.6% in the second quarter of 2014 compared to 36.4% in the second quarter of 2013.

Adjusted net income in the second quarter of 2014 was $20.7 million, or $0.34 adjusted diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $16.3 million, or $0.27 diluted earnings per share, in the second quarter of 2013

Launch vehicles segment revenues decreased $8.2 million in the second quarter of 2014 compared to the second quarter of 2013 mainly due to decreased activity on space launch vehicles and target vehicles, partially offset by increased activity on missile defense interceptors.

Segment operating income increased $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2014 compared to the second quarter of 2013, despite the reduction in revenues, largely due to profit improvement on missile defense interceptors.  Segment operating margin increased primarily due to the same factor.

Satellites and space systems segment revenues decreased $6.6 million in the second quarter of 2014 compared to the second quarter of 2013 primarily due to lower science and remote sensing satellite revenues partially offset by higher communications satellite revenues.  Science and remote sensing satellite revenues declined mainly due to the completion and launch of a satellite in 2013.  Communications satellite revenues increased largely due to increased activity on several recently awarded contracts.

Segment operating income decreased $7.9 million in the second quarter of 2014 compared to the second quarter of 2013 principally due to the completion of a science and remote sensing satellite in 2013 and a reduction in communications satellite operating profit.  Operating results in 2013 included profit improvements in connection with the successful completion of certain communications and science and remote sensing satellite contracts.  Segment operating margin decreased primarily due to the profit improvements recognized in 2013 and lower profit rates on contract activity in 2014.

Advanced space programs segment revenues decreased $6.4 million in the second quarter of 2014 compared to the second quarter of 2013 primarily due to decreased activity levels on national security satellite contracts and the CRS space station cargo contract, partially offset by activity on a new advanced flight system contract awarded in 2013.

Segment operating income increased $2.9 million in the second quarter of 2014 compared to the second quarter of 2013, despite the reduction in revenues, principally due to a profit improvement in connection with the substantial completion of important milestones on a national security satellite contract.  Segment operating margin increased primarily due to the same factor.

 

In the second quarter of 2014, Orbital recorded approximately $435 million in new firm and option contract bookings.  In addition, the company received approximately $115 million of option exercises under existing contracts.  As of June 30, 2014, the company's firm contract backlog was approximately $2.3 billion and its total backlog (including options, indefinite-quantity contracts and undefinitized orders) was approximately $4.8 billion.

In the second quarter of 2014, Orbital carried out one major space mission, launched three small research rockets and delivered ten other space and rocket systems for future missions.  In June, the Orbital Boost Vehicle (OBV), the company's long-range missile defense interceptor, was successfully launched in support of a test of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense system.  More recently, Orbital conducted two other important space missions in July.  In early July, the Orbital-built Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) environmental monitoring satellite was successfully deployed for NASA and is now progressing well with its in-orbit checkout procedures.  Earlier this week, Orbital launched its Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus spacecraft, which arrived yesterday at the International Space Station (ISS) with over 3,600 pounds of supplies and scientific experiments.  This successful launch was the fourth in the first 15 months of operations of the Antares program.  In addition, the Cygnus cargo logistics spacecraft is completing its third cargo delivery mission to the ISS in the last ten months.

For the remainder of 2014, Orbital plans to conduct numerous major operational events and to deliver additional systems to customers for future space missions or operational deployments, averaging about one mission or product delivery per week.  Major mission operations for the remainder of 2014 will be highlighted by another Antares rocket launch and Cygnus spacecraft deployment to the ISS, which will be the third operational cargo supply mission for NASA under the eight-mission CRS contract.  The company is also scheduled to deploy several national security spacecraft this summer and to deliver and launch approximately 15 short- and medium-range targets and research rockets before the end of the year.

We define free cash flow as GAAP (U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment, plus proceeds from disposition of property.  A reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities is included above in the section entitled "Cash Flow."  Management believes that the company's presentation of free cash flow is useful because it provides investors with an important perspective on the company's liquidity, financial flexibility and ability to fund operations and service debt.

 

About Orbital

Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers.  The company's primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-Earth orbit, geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary exploration spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles; and advanced flight systems for atmospheric and space missions.  Orbital also provides satellite subsystems and space-related technical services to U.S. Government agencies and laboratories.  More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Certain statements in this press release may be forward-looking in nature or "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those related to our financial outlook, liquidity, goals, business strategy, projected plans and objectives of management for future operating results and forecasts of future events, and those related to the proposed merger of Orbital with ATK's Aerospace and Defense Groups and the expected timetable for completing the merger.  These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  Forward-looking statements often include the words "anticipate," "forecast," "expect," "believe," "should," "will," "intend," "plan" and words of similar substance.  Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause the actual results or performance of the company to be materially different from the forward-looking statement.  Uncertainty surrounding factors such as Orbital's and ATK's ability to consummate the merger; the conditions to the completion of the merger, including the receipt of approval of both Orbital's stockholders and ATK's stockholders; the regulatory approvals required for the merger not being obtained on the terms expected or on the anticipated schedule; the parties' ability to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the merger; reductions or changes in NASA or U.S. Government military spending, timing of payments and budgetary policies, including impacts of sequestration under the Budget Control Act of 2011, and sourcing strategies; intense competition; increases in costs, which the business may not be able to react to due to the nature of U.S. Government contracts; changes in cost and revenue estimates and/or timing of programs; the potential termination of U.S. Government contracts and the potential inability to recover termination costs; actual pension and other postretirement plan asset returns and assumptions regarding future returns, discount rates, service costs, mortality rates, and health care cost trend rates; greater risk associated with international business, including foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; other risks associated with U.S. Government contracts that might expose Orbital to adverse consequences; government investigations; security threats, including cybersecurity and other industrial and physical security threats, and other disruptions; changes in domestic and global economic conditions and unstable geopolitical conditions, including in Russia and Ukraine; supply, availability, and costs of raw materials and components, including commodity price fluctuations; government laws and other rules and regulations applicable to Orbital, such as procurement and

import-export control; development of key technologies and retention of a qualified workforce; fires or explosions at any of Orbital's facilities; environmental laws that govern past practices and rules and regulations, noncompliance with which may expose Orbital to adverse consequences; impacts of financial market disruptions or volatility to customers and vendors; unanticipated changes in the tax provision or exposure to additional tax liabilities; and the costs and ultimate outcome of litigation matters and other legal proceedings.  Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in Orbital's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Orbital's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Orbital assumes no obligation to update or revise publicly the information in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger, Orbital and ATK intend to file relevant materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including an ATK registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of Orbital and ATK and that also constitutes a prospectus of ATK.   INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ORBITAL, ATK AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.  The joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents relating to the proposed transaction (when they are available) can be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.  These documents (when they are available) can also be obtained free of charge from Orbital upon written request to Orbital at investor.relations@orbital.com or by calling Barron Beneski at 703-406-5528 or from ATK upon written request to ATK at investor.relations@atk.com or by calling Michael Pici at 703-412-3216.

Participants in the Solicitation

This press release is not a solicitation of a proxy from any investor or security holder.  However, Orbital and ATK and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC.  Information regarding Orbital's directors and executive officers may be found in its Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2013 on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 25, 2014 and the definitive proxy statement relating to its 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on March 11, 2014.  Information regarding ATK directors and executive officers may be found in its Annual Report for the year ended March 31, 2014 on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on May 23, 2014 and the definitive proxy statement relating to its 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on June 13, 2014.  These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.  Additional information regarding the interests of these participants will also be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.

No Offer or Solicitation

This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.  No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

A transcript of the earnings teleconference call will be available on Orbital's website at http://www.orbital.com/Investor.

Contact:

Barron Beneski (703) 406-5528

Public and Investor Relations

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