Suntron Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and 2006 Year End Results


PHOENIX, April 3, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Suntron Corporation (Nasdaq:SUNN), a leading provider of integrated electronics manufacturing solutions, today reported net sales of $69.3 million and an operating loss of $4.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2006. These results include $1.7 million of restructuring charges for severance, retention and lease exit costs, primarily associated with the Company's previously announced decisions to close two U.S. manufacturing operations and to transfer the related business to other Suntron sites.

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2006 totaled $320.8 million, a 2% decrease from $328.7 million reported for the previous year. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales improved to 5.6% for 2006 compared to 5.1% for 2005. Gross profit includes restructuring charges of $2.9 million for 2006 and $1.2 million for 2005. Net loss for 2006 was $11.9 million as compared to a net loss of $11.3 million for 2005. Included in the net losses are a write-off of debt issuance costs of $1.4 million for 2006, and restructuring charges of $3.5 million for 2006 and $2.1 million for 2005.

"Although the 2006 financial results do not reflect it, we believe the restructuring actions taken during the year have poised the company for a promising future," stated Paul Singh, Suntron's president and chief executive officer. "While we have significantly reduced our fixed cost structure through our restructuring efforts, we have also enhanced our sales and marketing resources in order to achieve profitable revenue growth in 2007 and beyond. In addition, during 2006 we reduced our total debt by one-third (over $16 million) and we refinanced our bank debt with a new banking partner," continued Mr. Singh.

Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2006 was a loss of $0.1 million, a decrease of $7.1 million as compared to gross profit of $7.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. The gross profit results include restructuring costs of $0.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2005 and $1.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2006. Excluding these restructuring costs, gross profit would have been $1.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2006 on a non-GAAP basis. In addition to higher restructuring costs, the decrease in gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2006 was driven primarily by the reduction in net sales from $83.9 million (including $2.5 million of excess inventory sales to customers) for the fourth quarter of 2005 to $69.3 million (including $12.4 million of excess inventory sales to customers) for the fourth quarter of 2006. Sequentially, fourth quarter of 2006 gross profit decreased $4.1 million from gross profit of $4.0 million reported for the third quarter of 2006.

Selling, general and administrative expense (SG&A) decreased to $4.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to $5.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2005 and $6.4 million for the third quarter of 2006. The decrease in SG&A for the fourth quarter of 2006 was primarily attributable to decreases in salaries and benefits, and legal fees related to our previously disclosed settlement agreement with Applied Materials, Inc.

Operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2006 was $4.7 million, an increase of $5.9 million as compared to operating income of $1.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2005. Operating results for the fourth quarter of 2006 were adversely impacted by reduced sales levels and increased restructuring expenses. Sequentially, operating loss increased $2.1 million from a loss of $2.6 million for the third quarter of 2006.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2006 was $5.7 million, an increase of $5.8 million as compared to net income of $0.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2005. Consequently, loss per share for the fourth quarter of 2006 was $0.21 per share, as compared to breakeven earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2005. For the third quarter of 2006, net loss was $3.7 million and loss per share was $0.13 per share.

"We believe that the majority of our restructuring efforts should be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2007. As we execute our 2007 business plan, our focus will be on profitable growth, working capital management, and quality customer service," concluded Mr. Singh.

About Suntron Corporation

Suntron delivers complete manufacturing services and solutions to support the entire life cycle of products in the industrial, semiconductor capital equipment, aerospace and defense, networking and telecommunications, and medical markets. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Suntron operates five full-service manufacturing facilities and two quick-turn manufacturing facilities in North America. Suntron is involved in product design, engineering services, cable and harness production, printed circuit card assembly, box build, large scale and complex system integration and test.

The Suntron Corporation logo is available at: http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2268

Non-GAAP Information

In addition to disclosing results determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Suntron also discloses certain non-GAAP results of operations that exclude certain items. These non-GAAP financial data are provided to facilitate meaningful period-to-period comparisons of underlying operational performance by eliminating infrequent or unusual charges. The primary measure of our operating performance is net income (loss). However, the Company's lenders, management and many investment analysts believe that other measures provide additional information to further analyze the Company's financial performance. Additionally, in evaluating alternative measures of operating performance, it is important to understand that there are no standards for these calculations. Accordingly, the lack of standards can result in subjective determinations by management about which items may be excluded from the calculations, as well as the potential for inconsistencies between different companies that have similarly titled alternative measures. See the tables to this press release for a reconciliation of GAAP amounts to non-GAAP amounts.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This release contains forward-looking statements that relate to future events or performance. These statements reflect Suntron's current expectations, and Suntron does not undertake to update or revise these forward-looking statements, even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied in this or other Company statements will not be realized. Furthermore, readers are cautioned that these statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Suntron's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions and specific conditions in the electronics industry, including the aerospace and semiconductor capital equipment market segments of the electronics industry; Suntron's dependence upon a small number of customers; the Company's ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers; cash availability/liquidity; changes or cancellations in customer orders; the ability to improve future profitability as a result of past restructuring actions, the ability to achieve profitable growth in the future that results from enhanced sales and marketing resources, the risks inherent with predicting cash flows, revenue and earnings outcomes as well as other factors identified as "Risk Factors" or otherwise described in Suntron's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

Visit www.suntroncorp.com or call 888-520-3382 for more information.



                 SUNTRON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
               (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)


                             Quarter Ended
                             -------------
                      Dec. 31,   Oct. 1   Dec. 31,      Year Ended
                      --------  --------  --------      ----------
                        2005      2006      2006      2005      2006
                      --------  --------  --------  --------  --------

 Net Sales            $ 83,853  $ 70,604  $ 69,286  $328,730  $320,786
 Cost of Goods Sold     76,878    66,577    69,420   311,894   302,673
                      --------  --------  --------  --------  --------
   Gross profit
    (loss)               6,975     4,027      (134)   16,836    18,113

 Operating Expenses:
   Selling, general
    and administrative
    expenses             5,352     6,363     4,203    22,758    22,815
   Severance,
    retention, and
    lease exit costs       188       123       152       869       619
   Related party
    management and
    consulting fees        187       188       187       750       750
                      --------  --------  --------  --------  --------
     Total operating
      expenses           5,727     6,674     4,542    24,377    24,184
                      --------  --------  --------  --------  --------
     Operating
      income (loss)      1,248    (2,647)   (4,676)   (7,541)   (6,071)

 Other Income
  (Expense):
   Interest expense     (1,227)   (1,075)   (1,098)   (4,703)   (5,936)
   Gain (loss) on
    sale of assets          40        (6)      (15)      695        25
   Interest and
    other income            65        25        66       207       103
                      --------  --------  --------  --------  --------
     Total other
      income
      (expense)         (1,122)   (1,056)   (1,047)   (3,801)   (5,808)
                      --------  --------  --------  --------  --------

     Net income
      (loss)          $    126  $ (3,703) $ (5,723) $(11,342) $(11,879)
                      ========  ========  ========  ========  ========

 Earnings (Loss)
  Per Share (Basic
  and Diluted)        $   0.00  $  (0.13) $  (0.21) $  (0.41) $  (0.43)
                      ========  ========  ========  ========  ========

 Weighted Average
  Shares Outstanding
  (Basic and Diluted)   27,415    27,551    27,566    27,415    27,525
                      ========  ========  ========  ========  ========


                 SUNTRON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
               (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

                                      Dec. 31,     Oct. 1,    Dec. 31,
                                        2005        2006        2006
                                      --------    --------    --------
                    ASSETS
 Current Assets:
   Cash and equivalents               $     59    $     45    $     46
   Trade receivables                    51,377      48,705      40,756
   Inventories                          61,985      60,801      56,038
   Land, building and improvements
    held for sale, net                  18,772          --          --
   Prepaid expenses and other            1,430       1,180       1,186
                                      --------    --------    --------
     Total Current Assets              133,623     110,731      98,026

  Net property and equipment             8,367       6,893       5,184
  Goodwill                              10,918      10,918      10,918
  Debt issuance costs, net               1,586         701         620
  Identifiable intangible assets           675         525         475
  Deposits and other                       180       1,737       1,690
                                      --------    --------    --------
     Total Assets                     $155,349    $131,505    $116,913
                                      ========    ========    ========

        LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Current Liabilities:
   Accounts payable                   $ 38,605    $ 30,337    $ 30,285
   Outstanding checks in excess
    of cash balances                     1,039       3,510         804
   Borrowings under revolving
    credit agreement                    47,000      24,038      19,759
   Accrued compensation and
    benefits                             6,181       7,478       4,721
   Current portion of accrued
    exit costs related to
    facility closures                      494         435         469
   Payable to affiliates                   501         493         432
   Other accrued liabilities             5,934       3,475       3,783
                                      --------    --------    --------
     Total Current Liabilities          99,754      69,766      60,253

 Long term Liabilities:
   Subordinated debt payable to
    affiliate                               --      10,858      11,353
   Other                                 1,027       1,791       1,755
                                      --------    --------    --------
     Total Liabilities                 100,781      82,415      73,361
                                      --------    --------    --------

 Stockholders' Equity:
   Preferred stock, $.01 par
    value. Authorized 10,000
    shares, none issued                     --          --          --
   Common stock, $.01 par value.
    Authorized 50,000 shares;
    issued and outstanding 27,415,
    27,563 and 27,577 shares,
    respectively                           274         275         276
   Additional paid in capital          380,744     381,145     381,329
   Deferred stock compensation            (276)         --          --
   Accumulated deficit                (326,174)   (332,330)   (338,053)
                                      --------    --------    --------
     Total Stockholders' Equity         54,568      49,090      43,552
                                      --------    --------    --------
     Total Liabilities and
      Stockholders' Equity            $155,349    $131,505    $116,913
                                      ========    ========    ========


     RECONCILIATION OF GAAP FINANCIAL RESULTS TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
                 (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

                     Q4         Q3         Q4          Year Ended
                    2005       2006       2006       2005       2006
                  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
 Net Loss (GAAP)  $    126   $ (3,703)  $ (5,723)  $(11,342)  $(11,879)
 Restructuring
  expenses             281      1,129      1,743      2,114      3,537
 Professional
  fees related
  to litigation        368      1,211        491      1,480      2,857
 Stock
  compensation
  (benefit)
  expense              (94)       291        184         96        861
                  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
   Net Income
    (Loss)
    (Non-GAAP)    $    681   $ (1,072)  $ (3,305)  $ (7,652)  $ (4,624)
                  ========   ========   ========   ========   ========

 Loss Per Share
  (GAAP)          $   0.00   $  (0.13)  $  (0.21)  $  (0.41)  $  (0.43)
                  ========   ========   ========   ========   ========

 Earning (Loss)
  Per Share
  (Non-GAAP)      $   0.02   $  (0.04)  $  (0.12)  $  (0.28)  $  (0.17)
                  ========   ========   ========   ========   ========


                    OTHER SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
                            (In Thousands)

                     Q4         Q3         Q4          Year Ended
                    2005       2006       2006       2005       2006
                  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------

 EBITDA           $  3,075   $ (1,654)  $ (3,783)  $  1,170   $ (1,346)
 Cash Flow
  Provided
  (Used) by
  Operating
  Activities         5,552     (1,273)     5,548     16,500      1,089
 Restructuring
  Charges:
   Included in
    Cost of
    Goods Sold          93      1,006      1,591      1,245      2,918
   Other               188        123        152        869        619
 Borrowing
  Availability
  (End of
  Period)           16,184     20,861     18,413     16,184     18,413
 Working Capital
  (End of
  Period)           33,869     40,965     37,773     33,869     37,773


                        CALCULATION OF EBITDA
                            (In Thousands)

                     Q4         Q3         Q4          Year Ended
                    2005       2006       2006       2005       2006
                  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
 Net Loss         $    126   $ (3,703)  $ (5,723)  $(11,342)  $(11,879)
 Interest
  Expense            1,227      1,075      1,098      4,703      5,936
 Income Tax
  Expense               --         --         --         --         --
 Depreciation
  and
  Amortization       1,722        974        842      7,809      4,597
                  --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
   EBITDA         $  3,075   $ (1,654)  $ (3,783)  $  1,170   $ (1,346)
                  ========   ========   ========   ========   ========


            

Contact Data