| Just in... Firearms Training Systems, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 1999
 Revenue and Earnings
 
 Business Wire - November 16, 1998 07:16
 
 SUWANEE, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 1998--Firearms Training Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: FATS) today
 reports results for its second quarter ended September 30, 1998. Revenue for the second quarter was $12,111,000
 versus $19,415,000 for the same period of the previous year. Second quarter net loss was $826,000 or $0.04 per
 diluted share, compared with net income of $2,089,000 or $0.10 per diluted share for the same period of fiscal 1998.
 Revenue for the six months ended September 30, 1998 was $24,376,000 versus $38,024,000 for the same period of
 the previous year. Net loss before the nonrecurring restructuring charge for the six months ended September 30, 1998
 was $2,270,000 or $0.11 per diluted share, compared with net income of $4,275,000 or $0.20 per diluted share for
 the same period of fiscal 1998.
 
 The decrease in revenues for the three and six months ended September 30, 1998 and the decrease in net income
 before the special charge for the three and six months ended Sept. 30, 1998 were primarily due to reduced sales to
 U.S. military customers. Management expects that the decrease in sales to this sector will be partially offset in future
 reporting periods by a number of recent achievements, including the selection of FATS as the preferred tenderer to
 supply small arms and indirect fire training systems to the Australian Army, a sole source contract to upgrade FATS(R)
 systems owned by the British Ministry of Defense, an award by the Greek Police for the newest FATS(R) digital
 system and a repeat order from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While certain of these new initiatives have
 contributed to FATS' revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 1999, management expects recognition of the majority of
 sales from these contracts to begin in the third and fourth quarter of fiscal 1999.
 
 Based upon these developments as well as a number of pending business opportunities in the domestic and international
 military and law enforcement sectors, FATS' business opportunities are robust. Taking into consideration results through
 the September quarter, however, we are revising our expectations for fiscal 1999 in the aggregate. Management now
 estimates that revenue for fiscal 1999 will be in the $60 million to $70 million range, which is based upon the expected
 delivery of approximately $24.6 million of the $39.6 million backlog as of September 30, 1998 as well as the receipt
 and delivery of several new orders from existing and new customers. FATS currently anticipates gross margins of
 approximately 38% to 42% and operating margins of approximately 8% to 15% in fiscal 1999. FATS expects to post
 positive net income no later than the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999.
 
 FATS continues to pursue vigorously a favorable resolution of its protest activities related to the pending U.S. Army
 Engagement Skills Trainer program and expects that the matter will be concluded in the near future. The company
 remains hopeful that it will achieve a positive outcome in this matter.
 
 On November 13, 1998, FATS entered into an agreement with Centre Capital Investors II, L.P. and related entities
 ("Centre"), collectively owners of 49.8% of the Company's voting common shares, whereby Centre infused $3 million
 of new equity through the purchase of 18,182 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase an
 additional 2,909,120 shares of FATS' Class B common stock. While Centre's investment does not affect its ownership
 percentage of voting common shares, the $3 million infusion will provide FATS with additional working capital. Centre
 initially invested in FATS in July 1996 and has not sold any portion of its equity interest in FATS since the Company's
 initial public offering in November 1996. Concurrent with this investment, FATS reached an agreement with
 NationsBank, N.A., to amend the terms of its credit facility. Included among the terms of this amendment are an easing
 of the terms of certain financial covenants, the reduction of FATS' revolving credit facility by $1.5 million as of the
 closing date and an additional $1.5 million no later than March 31, 1999 as well as a temporary increase in interest
 rates. The investment by Centre, in conjunction with the amendments to the credit facility, provides the Company with
 over $9 million in combined cash and revolver availability.
 
 Backlog, representing customer orders that have been contracted for future delivery, totaled approximately $39.6
 million as of September 30, 1998, comprised of $21.9 million from FATS' international customers, $14.1 million from
 Canadian customers of FATS' Simtran subsidiary, and $2.6 million from FATS' U.S. military customers. Approximately
 $24.6 million of the contracted orders are scheduled for delivery during fiscal year 1999.
 
 FATS is the leading worldwide producer of interactive simulation systems designed to provide training in the handling
 and use of small and supporting arms. FATS(R) products also include air defense, anti-armor, and armored vehicle
 training products, which are designed and manufactured by its Canadian subsidiary, Simtran Technologies, Inc.
 Commercial versions of FATS(R) products supporting the sports shooting enthusiast and professional hunter are
 designed and manufactured by its Colorado-based subsidiary, Dart International, Inc.
 
 Certain of the foregoing information are forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial
 performance of the Company, and are subject to a number of risks and other factors which could cause the actual
 results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Among such factors including those
 discussed above are: general business and economic conditions; the company's success in competing for new contract
 awards; customer acceptance of and demand for the Company's new products; receipt and delivery of a sufficient level
 of orders from new and existing customers as well as satisfactory completion of delivery of a sufficient portion of
 backlog, the Company's overall ability to design, test, and introduce new products on a timely basis; the cyclical nature
 of the markets addressed by the Company's products; and the risk factors listed from time to time in documents on file
 with the SEC.
 
 FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC.
 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 (In thousands, except per share data)
 (Unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended
 September 30,
 1998        1997
 ---------   ---------
 Revenues                                     $12,111     $19,415
 Cost of revenues                               8,061       9,105
 ---------   ---------
 Gross profit                                   4,050      10,310
 ---------   ---------
 Operating expenses:
 Selling, general and
 administrative expenses                     2,128       3,959
 Research and development expenses              838       1,433
 Depreciation and amortization                  507         208
 ---------   ---------
 Total operating expenses                 3,473       5,600
 ---------   ---------
 Operating income                                 577       4,710
 ---------   ---------
 Other (expense), net:
 Interest (expense), net                     (1,782)     (1,466)
 Other (expense) income, net                   (172)         20
 ---------   ---------
 Total other (expense), net              (1,954)     (1,446)
 ---------   ---------
 (Loss) income before income taxes             (1,377)      3,264
 (Benefit) provision for income taxes            (551)      1,175
 
 ---------   ---------
 Net (loss) income                           $   (826)   $  2,089
 =========   =========
 Basic (loss) earnings per share
 $  (0.04)   $   0.10
 =========   =========
 Diluted (loss) earnings per share
 $  (0.04)   $   0.10
 =========   =========
 Weighted average common shares
 outstanding - Basic                          20,673      20,406
 =========   =========
 Weighted average common shares
 outstanding - Diluted                        20,673      21,464
 =========   =========
 
 FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC.
 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 (In thousands, except per share data)
 (Unaudited)
 
 Six months ended September 30,
 ------------------------------------------
 1998                   1997
 ------------------------------   ---------
 As     Special       As          As
 Reported  Charge(1)  Adjusted    Reported
 --------- ---------  ---------   ---------
 Revenues                   $ 24,376  $      -   $ 24,376    $ 38,024
 Cost of revenues             15,612         -     15,612      17,346
 --------- ---------  ---------   ---------
 Gross profit                  8,764         -      8,764      20,678
 --------- ---------  ---------   ---------
 Operating expenses:
 Selling, general and
 administrative expenses    5,303         -      5,303       7,891
 Research and development
 expenses                   2,372         -      2,372       2,796
 Nonrecurring
 restructuring charge         870      (870)         -           -
 Depreciation and
 amortization                 984         -        984         384
 --------- ---------  ---------   ---------
 Total operating
 expenses               9,529      (870)     8,659      11,071
 --------- ---------  ---------   ---------
 Operating (loss) income        (765)      870        105       9,607
 --------- ---------  ---------   ---------
 Other (expense),
 net:
 Interest
 (expense), net            (3,393)        -     (3,393)     (2,920)
 Other
 (expense), net              (276)        -       (276)         (7)
 --------- ---------  ---------   ---------
 Total other
 (expense), net         (3,669)        -     (3,669)     (2,927)
 --------- ---------  ---------   ---------
 (Loss) income before
 income taxes                (4,434)      870     (3,564)      6,680
 (Benefit) provision for
 income taxes                (1,590)      296     (1,294)      2,405
 --------- ---------  ---------   ---------
 Net (loss) income          $ (2,844)  $   574   $ (2,270)   $  4,275
 ========= =========  =========   =========
 Basic (loss) earnings
 per share                 $  (0.14)  $  0.03   $  (0.11)   $   0.21
 ========= =========  =========   =========
 Diluted (loss) earnings
 per share                 $  (0.14)  $  0.03   $  (0.11)   $   0.20
 ========= =========  =========   =========
 Weighted average common
 shares outstanding -
 Basic                       20,668    20,668     20,668      20,405
 ========= =========  =========   =========
 Weighted average common
 shares outstanding -
 Diluted                     20,668    20,668     20,668      21,578
 ========= =========  =========   =========
 
 (1) Nonrecurring restructuring charge related to workforce reduction
 and certain other measures.
 
 FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC.
 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 (In thousands)
 
 Sept. 30,            March 31,
 1998                 1998
 -------------        ------------
 (Unaudited)
 
 ASSETS
 Current assets:
 Cash and cash equivalents      $   2,560            $   3,395
 Accounts receivable, net          21,757               22,710
 Inventories                       16,806               17,725
 Income taxes receivable            2,170                    -
 Prepaid expenses and other
 current assets                       740                  594
 Deferred income taxes, net             -                1,050
 ---------            ---------
 Total current assets          44,033               45,474
 
 
 Property and equipment, net           4,096                3,971
 Goodwill, net                         4,800                2,751
 Deferred financing costs, net         2,669                3,007
 Deferred income taxes                   988                1,065
 Other assets                             93                  112
 =========            =========
 $  56,679            $  56,380
 =========            =========
 
 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Current liabilities:
 Accounts payable               $   2,829            $   3,389
 Accrued liabilities                7,874               11,060
 Income taxes payable                   -                  390
 Deferred income taxes, net         1,231                    -
 Deferred revenue                   3,125                6,428
 Current maturities of
 long-term debt                    6,000                5,300
 ---------            ---------
 Total current
 liabilities                  21,059               26,567
 ---------            ---------
 
 Long-term debt, less current         64,700               57,700
 maturities
 ---------            ---------
 Other noncurrent liabilities            249                  344
 ---------            ---------
 
 Stockholders' equity:
 Class A common stock                   -                    -
 Additional paid-in-capital       114,280              112,390
 Accumulated (deficit) earnings  (143,414)            (140,569)
 Cumulative foreign currency
 translation adjustment             (195)                 (52)
 ---------            ---------
 Total stockholders'
 (deficit) equity            (29,329)             (28,231)
 ---------            ---------
 $  56,679            $  56,380
 =========            =========
 
 CONTACT: Firearms Training Systems, Inc.
 Investor Relations
 770/622-3236
 
 
 
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