FARO Reports First Quarter 2014 Sales Growth of 12%

LAKE MARY, Fla., April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- FARO Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: FARO) today announced results for the first quarter ended March 29, 2014.  Sales in the first quarter of 2014 increased 12.2% to $73.4 million, from $65.4 million in the first quarter of 2013.  The Company reported net income increased to $5.0 million, or $0.29 per share, in the first quarter of 2014, from $4.6 million, or $0.27 per share, in the comparable period in 2013.

New order bookings for the first quarter of 2014 increased 9.8% to $70.9 million, from $64.6 million in the first quarter of 2013.

First quarter gross margin at 54.6%, was lower than 56.3% in the first quarter of 2013. This was primarily driven by a write-down of laser scanner demonstration and service loaner inventory that became obsolete through the highly successful release of the Focus^3D and X330/X130 laser scanners.  Partially offsetting this charge was favorable pricing and related gross margin arising from the Tracker and the new Laser Scanner product lines.

The Company's operating margin for the first quarter was 9.5%, compared with 8.7% in the first quarter of 2013.  Operating margin was favorably impacted by top line sales growth, solid cost management, and timing of planned R&D expenditures.

"The first quarter was a strong start to the new fiscal year, as our results were in-line with our internal expectations," stated Jay Freeland, FARO's President & CEO.  "Customer demand in all three regions was solid, driving double-digit sales growth in the Americas and Asia and an improving European market where our orders achieved double-digit growth.  While we continue to exercise prudent cost control across all departments, in 2014 we are accelerating our investments in R&D, creating new products for our early stage markets such as Architecture, Engineering and Construction and Forensics as well as our primary markets such as Aerospace, Automotive, and Heavy Industrial.  We remain diligent in developing new ways to disrupt and transform the marketplace."

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and uncertainties, such as statements about FARO's growth, demand for and customer acceptance of FARO's products, anticipated improvement in the markets in which FARO operates, and FARO's product development and product launches. Statements that are not historical facts or that describe the Company's plans, objectives, projections, expectations, assumptions, strategies, or goals are forward-looking statements. In addition, words such as "continue," "are," "remain," "will," and similar expressions or discussions of FARO's plans or other intentions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performances, or achievements to differ materially from future results, performances, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Consequently, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

• development by others of new or improved products, processes or technologies that make the Company's products less competitive or obsolete;
• the Company's inability to maintain its technological advantage by developing new products and enhancing its existing products;
• declines or other adverse changes, or lack of improvement, in industries that the Company serves or the domestic and international economies in the regions of the world where the Company operates and other general economic, business, and financial conditions; and
• other risks detailed in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Forward-looking statements in this release represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law.

About FARO
FARO is the world's most trusted source for 3D measurement technology. The Company develops and markets computer-aided measurement and imaging devices and software. Technology from FARO permits high-precision 3D measurement, imaging and comparison of parts and complex structures within production and quality assurance processes. The devices are used for inspecting components and assemblies, rapid prototyping, documenting large volume spaces or structures in 3D, surveying and construction, as well as for investigation and reconstruction of accident sites or crime scenes.

Approximately 15,000 customers are operating more than 30,000 installations of FARO's systems, worldwide. The Company's global headquarters is located in Lake Mary, FL; its European regional headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany; and its Asia Pacific regional headquarters in Singapore. FARO has other offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, India, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea and Japan.

More information is available at http://www.faro.com.

Financial tables to follow:

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"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding FARO Technologies, Inc.'s business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.

SOURCE FARO Technologies, Inc.

Peter Abram, Senior Vice President and CFO, Peter.Abram@faro.com, 407-333-9911