FARO Reports Second Quarter Earnings Per Share of $0.39 on Sales Growth of 25.3%

LAKE MARY, Fla., July 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FARO Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: FARO) today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2007. Net income for the second quarter was $5.8 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, an increase of $4.9 million, compared to $0.9 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2006.

Sales for the second quarter of 2007 were $47.6 million, an increase of $9.6 million, or 25.3%, from $38.0 million in the second quarter of 2006. New order bookings for the second quarter were $50.4 million, an increase of $9.6 million, or 23.5%, compared with $40.8 million in the year-ago quarter.

"The second quarter established another new milestone for the Company," stated Jay Freeland, President and CEO. "For the first time ever, we exceeded $50 million in new orders in a single quarter. Customer demand in all vertical markets remains strong and all three regions continue to meet or beat the expectations we established for them at the beginning of the year."

Gross margin for the second quarter of 2007 was 61.3%, compared to 59.3% in the second quarter of 2006. Gross margin increased primarily as the result of an increase in unit sales in product lines with lower unit costs due to continuing productivity improvements.

Selling expenses as a percentage of sales decreased to 29.4% in the second quarter of 2007 compared to 30.5% in the second quarter of 2006 primarily due to improved sales force productivity.

General and administrative expenses were 11.6% of sales for the second quarter of 2007 compared to 18.7% of sales in the second quarter of 2006. General and administrative expenses in the second quarter of 2007 included $0.5 million of professional fees related to the Company's Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") matter and its recently settled patent litigation compared to $2.6 million in the second quarter of 2006 for these matters.

Research and development expenses were $2.3 million for the second quarter of 2007, up from $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2006.

Operating margin for the second quarter of 2007 was 13.6%, compared to 2.5% in the year ago quarter.

Income tax expense was $1.4 million for the second quarter of 2007 compared to $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2006 primarily as a result of an increase in pretax income. The Company's effective tax rate was 19.6% in the second quarter of 2007 compared to 18.0% in the second quarter of 2006 due to an increase in taxable income in jurisdictions with higher tax rates.

"Our second quarter results are tracking towards the Company's long-term model. Looking at the second half of 2007, we are maintaining our previously stated full year guidance ranges of approximately 20% - 25% sales growth and 57% to 59% gross margin," Freeland concluded.

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 our plans, objectives, projections, expectations, assumptions, strategies, or future events. 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 "may," "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "estimates," "will," "should," "could," "projects," "forecast," "target," "goal," and similar expressions or discussions of our strategy or other intentions identify forward-looking statements. Other written or oral statements, which constitute forward-looking statements, also may be made by the Company from time to time. 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 forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

  • our inability to further penetrate our customer base;
  • development by others of new or improved products, processes or technologies that make our products obsolete or less competitive;
  • our inability to maintain our technological advantage by developing new products and enhancing our existing products;
  • our inability to successfully identify and acquire target companies or achieve expected benefits from acquisitions that are consummated;
  • the cyclical nature of the industries of our customers and the financial condition of our customers;
  • the fact that the market potential for the CAM2 market and the potential adoption rate for our products are difficult to quantify and predict;
  • the inability to protect our patents and other proprietary rights in the United States and foreign countries;
  • fluctuations in our annual and quarterly operating results , and the inability to achieve our financial operating targets as a result of a number of factors including, but not limited to (i) litigation and regulatory actions brought against us, (ii) quality issues with our products, (iii) excess or obsolete inventory,(iv) raw material price fluctuations, (v) expansion of our manufacturing capability and other inflationary pressures, (vi) the size and timing of customer orders, (vii) the amount of time that it takes to fulfill orders and ship our products, (viii) the length of our sales cycle to new customers and the time and expense incurred in further penetrating our existing customer base, (ix) increases in operating expenses required for product development and new product marketing, (x) costs associated with new product introductions, such as product development, marketing, assembly line start-up costs and low introductory period production volumes, (xi) the timing and market acceptance of new products and product enhancements, (xii) customer order deferrals in anticipation of new products and product enhancements, (xiii) our success in expanding our sales and marketing programs, (xiv) costs associated with opening new sales offices outside of the United States, (xv) fluctuations in revenue without proportionate adjustments in fixed costs, (xvi) the efficiencies achieved in managing inventories and fixed assets; (xvii) investments in potential acquisitions or strategic sales, product or other initiatives, (xviii)shrinkage or other inventory losses due to product obsolescence, scrap, or material price changes, (xix) adverse changes in the manufacturing industry and general economic conditions, and (xx) other factors noted herein;
  • changes in gross margins due to changing product mix of products sold and the different gross margins on different products,
  • our inability to successfully implement the requirements of Restriction of use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) compliance into our products;
  • the inability of our products to displace traditional measurement devices and attain broad market acceptance;
  • the impact of competitive products and pricing in the CAM2 market and the broader market for measurement and inspection devices;
  • the effects of increased competition as a result of recent consolidation in the CAM2 market;
  • risks associated with expanding international operations, such as fluctuations in currency exchange rates, difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, political and economic instability, and the burdens of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws and labor practices;
  • unforeseen developments in our FCPA matter or in complying with the FCPA in the future;
  • The outcome of the class action securities litigation against us;
  • higher than expected increases in expenses relating to our Asia Pacific expansion or our Singapore manufacturing facility;
  • our inability to find less expensive alternatives to stock options to attract and retain employees;
  • the loss of our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Technology Officer, our Chief Financial Officer, or other key personnel;
  • difficulties in recruiting research and development engineers, and application engineers;
  • the failure to effectively manage our growth;
  • variations in the effective tax rate and the difficulty predicting the tax rate on a quarterly and annual basis;
  • the loss of key suppliers and the inability to find sufficient alternative suppliers in a reasonable period or on commercially reasonable terms; and
  • the other risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  • 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.

    About FARO

    With more than 13,500 installations and 6,500 customers globally, FARO Technologies, Inc. designs, develops, and markets portable, computerized measurement devices and software used to create digital models - or to perform evaluations against an existing model - for anything requiring highly detailed 3-D measurements, including part and assembly inspection, factory planning and asset documentation, as well as specialized applications ranging from surveying, recreating accident sites and crime scenes to digitally preserving historical sites.

    FARO's technology increases productivity by dramatically reducing the amount of on-site measuring time, and the various industry-specific software packages enable users to process and present their results quickly and more effectively.

    Principal products include the world's best-selling portable measurement arm - the FaroArm; the world's best-selling laser tracker - the FARO Laser Tracker X and Xi; the FARO Laser ScanArm; FARO Laser Scanner LS; the FARO Gage, Gage-PLUS and PowerGAGE; and the CAM2 family of advanced CAD-based measurement and reporting software. FARO Technologies is ISO-9001 certified and ISO-17025 laboratory registered.

    
    
                       FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                     (UNAUDITED)
    
    
                                            Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended
                                               Jun 30,  Jul 1,   Jun 30,  Jul 1,
        (in thousands, except per share data)   2007     2006     2007     2006
    
        SALES                                  $47,579  $38,042  $87,868  $70,098
        COST OF SALES (exclusive of
         depreciation and amortization, shown
         separately below)                      18,355   15,480   34,808   28,701
    
        GROSS PROFIT                            29,224   22,562   53,060   41,397
    
        OPERATING EXPENSES:
          Selling                               14,022   11,610   26,326   21,861
          General and administrative             5,495    7,130   10,518   12,777
          Depreciation and amortization            951    1,062    2,042    2,073
          Research and development               2,276    1,797    4,248    3,649
    
          Total operating expenses              22,744   21,599   43,134   40,360
    
        INCOME FROM OPERATIONS                   6,480      963    9,926    1,037
    
        OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE
          Interest (income)                       (336)    (169)    (592)    (327)
          Other (income) expense, net             (382)      88     (707)    (287)
          Interest expense                           2        4        4        6
    
        INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX                 7,196    1,040   11,221    1,645
    
        INCOME TAX EXPENSE                       1,410      187    2,237      296
    
        NET INCOME                              $5,786     $853   $8,984   $1,349
    
        NET INCOME PER SHARE - BASIC             $0.39    $0.06    $0.61    $0.09
    
        NET INCOME PER SHARE - DILUTED           $0.39    $0.06    $0.60    $0.09
    
    
    
                        FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                               CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                       (UNAUDITED)
                                                      June 30,        December 31,
        (in thousands, except share data)              2007              2006
    
        ASSETS
        Current Assets:
          Cash and cash equivalents                   $19,213           $15,689
          Short-term investments                       21,021            15,790
          Accounts receivable, net                     44,959            42,706
          Inventories                                  22,318            23,429
          Deferred income taxes, net                    2,070             1,845
          Prepaid expenses and other current
           assets                                       6,197             3,222
            Total current assets                      115,778           102,681
        Property and Equipment:
          Machinery and equipment                      11,540             9,131
          Furniture and fixtures                        4,347             3,988
          Leasehold improvements                        2,770             2,615
            Property and equipment at cost             18,657            15,734
          Less: accumulated depreciation and
           amortization                               (11,790)           (8,889)
            Property and equipment, net                 6,867             6,845
        Goodwill                                       17,953            17,266
        Intangible assets, net                          5,857             6,221
        Service Inventory                               9,558             7,278
        Deferred income taxes, net                      4,016             3,985
    
        Total Assets                                 $160,029          $144,276
    
        LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
        Current Liabilities:
          Accounts payable                             $9,571           $11,182
          Accrued liabilities                          10,173            10,379
          Income taxes payable                            944             2,151
          Current portion of unearned service
           revenues                                     6,185             4,569
          Customer deposits                               322               618
          Current portion of long-term debt and
           obligations under capital leases                77                90
              Total current liabilities                27,272            28,989
        Unearned service revenues - less
         current portion                                4,465             2,917
        Deferred tax liability, net                     1,229             1,200
        Long-term debt and obligations under
         capital leases - less current
         portion                                           78               115
        Total Liabilities                              33,044            33,221
        Commitments and contingencies
    
        Shareholders' Equity:
          Common stock - par value $.001,
           50,000,000 shares authorized;
           14,937,123 and 14,586,402 issued;
           14,829,163 and 14,464,715
           outstanding, respectively                       15                14
          Additional paid-in-capital                   91,789            85,160
          Retained earnings                            34,437            25,452
          Accumulated other comprehensive
           (loss)                                         895               580
          Common stock in treasury, at cost -
           40,000 shares                                 (151)             (151)
        Total Shareholders' Equity                    126,985           111,055
        Total Liabilities and Shareholders'
         Equity                                      $160,029          $144,276
    
    
    
                         FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                       (UNAUDITED)
    
                                                            Six Months Ended
        (in thousands)                               Jun 30, 2007      Jul 1, 2006
        CASH FLOWS FROM:
        OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
        Net income                                       $8,984            $1,349
        Adjustments to reconcile net income
         to net cash used in
            operating activities:
          Depreciation and amortization                   2,042             2,073
          Amortization of stock options and
           restricted stock units                           573               148
          Provision for bad debts                            28               125
          Deferred income tax                              (188)             (736)
        Change in operating assets and
         liabilities:
        Decrease (increase) in:
          Accounts receivable, net                       (1,769)           (4,757)
          Inventories                                      (784)            2,220
          Prepaid expenses and other current
           assets                                        (2,919)             (743)
        Increase (decrease) in:
          Accounts payable and accrued
          liabilities                                    (1,703)           (2,444)
          Income taxes payable                           (1,163)              726
          Customer deposits                                (270)               82
          Unearned service revenues                       3,270             1,598
           Net cash provided by (used
            in) operating activities                      6,101              (359)
    
        INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
        Purchases of property and equipment              (1,345)           (2,122)
        Payments for intangible assets                     (148)             (589)
        (Purchases of) proceeds from short-
         term investments                                (5,230)              700
           Net cash used in investing
            activities                                   (6,723)           (2,011)
    
        FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
          Payments of capital leases                        (55)             (107)
          Income tax benefit from exercise of
           stock options                                  2,260                 -
          Proceeds from issuance of stock, net            3,356                 1
           Net cash provided by
            financing activities                          5,561              (106)
    
        EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON
         CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                       (1,415)              115
    
        INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH
         EQUIVALENTS                                      3,524            (2,361)
    
        CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING
         OF PERIOD                                       15,689             9,278
    
        CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF
         PERIOD                                         $19,213            $6,917
    

    SOURCE FARO Technologies, Inc.
    CONTACT: Keith Bair, Senior Vice President and CFO, FARO Technologies,
    Inc., +1-407-333-9911, keith.bair@FARO.com /
    /Web site: http://www.faro.com/
    (FARO)

    "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.