LIDR AEye Inc

Apollo shines in major in-vehicle driving test with NVIDIA

Plan to establish Apollo manufacturing line with LITEON in 2024

AEye, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIDR), a global leader in adaptive, high performance lidar solutions, today announced its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Quarterly Business Highlights

• Apollo met the NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion specifications, paving way for platform integration
• Apollo samples shipped to OEMs; sets new long-distance performance standard of 1 kilometer
• Apollo manufacturing line planned with LITEON in 2024, quoting multiple OEMs
• New financial instruments extend cash runway; pave way to automotive mass production

Management Commentary

Matt Fisch, AEye CEO, said, “AEye’s made significant strides in the third quarter in meeting product and partner milestones and putting the financial tools in place that move us closer to our production goals. On the product front, we announced that Apollo set a new bar in terms of performance, with high-resolution object detection at a distance of one kilometer. We believe this accomplishment is the first among our peers. Apollo demonstrations have led to a spike in customer interest across the board, and we have now delivered samples of Apollo to our partners.

“During the quarter, we demonstrated that Apollo met the NVIDIA Hyperion specifications, which demand a challenging combination of high-resolution detection at very long distances. This major in-vehicle driving test is a significant achievement that further validates the strength of our technology and paves the way for deeper integration with the NVIDIA platform.

“We made significant progress with our partners over the quarter. ATI, our partner in China, is demonstrating Apollo to potential customers. We are also engaged in multiple global OEM quoting activities with our Tier 1 partner, LITEON, and plan to begin development of an Apollo manufacturing line in the fourth quarter of 2024.

“Our ability to attract new investors to AEye has enabled us to build the financial tools and liquidity to support the multi-year runway required by the automotive production pipeline. We believe we have the most efficient business model in the industry and our capital-light approach positions us well to navigate the evolving lidar landscape.”

Third Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

• Quarterly revenue of $104 thousand, primarily from sales of inventory to non-automotive customers, meeting consensus estimates
• Cash burn of $5.6 million, beating guidance of $5.9 million
• GAAP net loss was $(8.7) million, or $(1.01) per share, based on 8.6 million weighted average common shares outstanding
• Non-GAAP net loss was $(6.0) million, or $(0.70) per share, based on 8.6 million weighted average common shares outstanding, beating consensus estimates
• Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $22.4 million as of September 30, 2024

“We believe our unique capital-light model is a key differentiator in the lidar market. Not only does it allow us to maintain a balance sheet with very little debt compared to some of our peers, it also gives us what we believe is the lowest cost structure in the industry. We expect this will lead to greater efficiencies as we can do more with less. We believe this is a powerful selling point to OEMs, as it enables us to offer a superior product at a competitive price point.

“We ended the quarter with $22.4 million of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. Our total potential liquidity, which includes the ELOC and the ATM facility, we believe, extends our cash runway, gives us the ability to execute with our OEM partners, and ultimately prepares us for the commercialization of Apollo,” said Conor Tierney, AEye CFO.

In December 2023, the company effected a 1-for-30 reverse stock split, and all the financial information disclosed has been adjusted to account for the revised share count numbers.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

AEye management will hold a conference call today, November 12, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss these results. AEye CEO Matt Fisch and CFO Conor Tierney will host the call, followed by a question-and-answer session.

The webcast and accompanying slides will be accessible via the company’s website at https://investors.aeye.ai/.

Access is also available via:

Conference call: https://aeye.pub/48pgxWe

Webcast: https://aeye.pub/4e8yny0

About AEye

AEye’s unique software-defined lidar solution enables advanced driver-assistance, vehicle autonomy, smart infrastructure, and logistics applications that save lives and propel the future of transportation and mobility. AEye’s 4Sight™ Intelligent Sensing Platform, with its adaptive sensor-based operating system, focuses on what matters most: delivering faster, more accurate, and reliable information. AEye’s 4Sight™ products, built on this platform, are ideal for dynamic applications which require precise measurement imaging to ensure safety and performance.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The non-GAAP measures provided in this press release should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial data is included in the supplemental financial data attached to this press release. Non-GAAP financial measures do not have any standardized meaning and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. AEye considers these non-GAAP financial measures to be important because they provide additional insight into the Company’s on-going performance. The Company provides this information to help investors evaluate the results of the Company’s on-going operations and to enable more meaningful and consistent period-to-period comparisons. Non-GAAP financial measures are presented only as supplemental information to understand the Company’s operating results. The non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP.

This press release includes non-GAAP financial measures, including:

• Non-GAAP net loss which is defined as GAAP net loss plus stock-based compensation, plus expenses related to registration statements and common stock purchase agreements, less change in fair value of convertible note and warrant liabilities, plus realized loss on instrument-specific credit risk, plus one-time termination benefits and other restructuring costs, plus non-routine write-down of inventory, plus impairment of right-of-use assets, less gain on termination of operating lease, net; and
• Adjusted EBITDA, defined as non-GAAP net loss plus depreciation and amortization expense, less interest income and other, less interest expense and other, plus provision for income tax expense.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are sometimes accompanied by words such as “believe,” “continue,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “predict,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends, or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements included in this press release include statements about deeper integration of Apollo with the NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion platform, the success of global OEM quoting activities, LITEON’s anticipated establishment of a manufacturing line in 2024, the potential liquidity available to AEye from new financial instruments, expected efficiencies deriving from our capital-light model, and the competitiveness of our pricing as compared to our competitors, among others. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by an investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are very difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from the assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of AEye. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) the risks that Apollo, despite meeting the NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion specifications, may not be integrated into the NVIDIA DRIVE platform in the time frame anticipated, or at all; (ii) the risks that LITEON may not establish a manufacturing line for Apollo in 2024, or at all; (iii) the risks that AEye may be unable to meet the requirements to draw on one or more of the new financial instruments such that the extension of the cash runway will not extend as far as anticipated, nor allow AEye to execute with its OEM partners or adequately prepare AEye for the commercialization of Apollo to the extent anticipated, or at all; (iv) the risks that the high-resolution object detection at a distance of up to one kilometer has been or may be met or exceeded by AEye’s competitors; (v) the risks that AEye’s capital-light business model may not position AEye to navigate the evolving lidar landscape to the extent anticipated; (vi) the risks that AEye’s capital-light business model may not be a key differentiator in the lidar market to the extent anticipated, or at all; (vii) the risks that AEye may not be in a position to maintain a balance sheet with very little debt compared to some of its peers to the extent anticipated, or at all; (viii) the risks that AEye may be unable to maintain the lowest cost structure in the industry; (ix) the risks that AEye may not realize the greater efficiencies expected to the extent anticipated, or at all; (x) the risks that AEye may not be able to offer OEMs a superior product at a competitive price point to the extent anticipated, or at all; (xi) the risks that market conditions may create delays in the demand for commercial lidar products beyond AEye’s expectations; (xii) the risks that lidar adoption occurs slower than anticipated or fails to occur at all; (xiii) the risks that AEye’s products may not meet the diverse range of performance and functional requirements of target markets and customers; (xiv) the risks that AEye’s products may not function as anticipated by AEye, or by target markets and customers; (xv) the risks that AEye may not be in a position to adequately or timely address either the near or long-term opportunities that may or may not exist in the evolving autonomous transportation industry;(xvi) the risks that laws and regulations are adopted impacting the use of lidar that AEye is unable to comply with, in whole or in part; (xvii) the risks associated with changes in competitive and regulated industries in which AEye operates, variations in operating performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting AEye’s business; (xviii) the risks that AEye is unable to adequately implement its business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify and realize additional opportunities; and (xix) the risks of economic downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive and evolving industry in which AEye operates. These risks and uncertainties may be amplified by current or future global conflicts and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, both of which continue to cause economic uncertainty. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the periodic report that AEye has most recently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and other documents filed by us or that will be filed by us from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.

Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements; AEye assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. AEye gives no assurance that AEye will achieve any of its expectations.

  AEYE, INC.Consolidated Balance Sheets(In thousands)(Unaudited)

September 30, 2024

December 31, 2023

ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents

$

5,851

 

$

16,932

 

Marketable securities

 

16,584

 

 

19,591

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

76

 

 

131

 

Inventories, net

 

258

 

 

583

 

Prepaid and other current assets

 

1,482

 

 

2,517

 

Total current assets

 

24,251

 

 

39,754

 

Right-of-use assets

 

703

 

 

11,226

 

Property and equipment, net

 

630

 

 

281

 

Restricted cash

 

—

 

 

2,150

 

Other noncurrent assets

 

784

 

 

906

 

Total assets

$

26,368

 

$

54,317

 

  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts payable

$

3,717

 

$

3,442

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

6,960

 

 

6,585

 

Contract liabilities

 

35

 

 

—

 

Total current liabilities

 

10,712

 

 

10,027

 

Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent

 

537

 

 

14,858

 

Convertible note

 

146

 

 

—

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

67

 

 

409

 

Total liabilities

 

11,462

 

 

25,294

 

Stockholders’ Equity: Preferred stock

 

—

 

 

—

 

Common stock

 

1

 

 

1

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

379,425

 

 

366,647

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

27

 

 

10

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(364,547

)

 

(337,635

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

14,906

 

 

29,023

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

26,368

 

$

54,317

 

    AEYE, INC.Consolidated Statements of Operations(In thousands, except share amounts and per share data)(Unaudited) Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30,

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Revenue: Prototype sales

$

65

 

$

56

 

$

91

 

$

426

 

Development contracts

 

39

 

 

132

 

 

65

 

 

969

 

Total revenue

 

104

 

 

188

 

 

156

 

 

1,395

 

Cost of revenue

 

306

 

 

4,479

 

 

729

 

 

8,651

 

Gross loss

 

(202

)

 

(4,291

)

 

(573

)

 

(7,256

)

Operating expenses: Research and development

 

3,767

 

 

5,654

 

 

12,137

 

 

20,993

 

Sales and marketing

 

74

 

 

1,910

 

 

482

 

 

10,782

 

General and administrative

 

3,803

 

 

5,380

 

 

13,641

 

 

20,279

 

Total operating expenses

 

7,644

 

 

12,944

 

 

26,260

 

 

52,054

 

Loss from operations

 

(7,846

)

 

(17,235

)

 

(26,833

)

 

(59,310

)

Other income (expense): Change in fair value of convertible note and warrant liabilities

 

9

 

 

12

 

 

(4

)

 

(914

)

Interest income and other

 

233

 

 

354

 

 

656

 

 

932

 

Interest expense and other

 

(1,102

)

 

(174

)

 

(729

)

 

(9

)

Total other income (expense), net

 

(860

)

 

192

 

 

(77

)

 

9

 

Loss before income tax expense

 

(8,706

)

 

(17,043

)

 

(26,910

)

 

(59,301

)

Provision for income tax expense

 

—

 

 

5

 

 

2

 

 

43

 

Net loss

$

(8,706

)

$

(17,048

)

$

(26,912

)

$

(59,344

)

  Per Share Data Net loss per common share (basic and diluted)

$

(1.01

)

$

(2.78

)

$

(3.90

)

$

(10.34

)

  Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted)

 

8,629,683

 

 

6,137,251

 

 

6,892,910

 

 

5,739,425

 

  AEYE, INC.Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows(In thousands)(Unaudited) Nine months endedSeptember 30,

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss

$

(26,912

)

$

(59,344

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Depreciation and amortization

 

80

 

 

998

 

Loss (gain) on sale of property and equipment, net

 

(12

)

 

53

 

Noncash lease expense relating to operating lease right-of-use assets

 

905

 

 

1,058

 

Gain on termination of operating lease, net

 

(680

)

 

—

 

Common stock purchase agreement costs

 

1,136

 

 

—

 

Impairment of right-of-use assets

 

—

 

 

47

 

Inventory write-downs, net of scrapped inventory

 

167

 

 

3,666

 

Change in fair value of convertible note and warrant liabilities

 

4

 

 

914

 

Realized loss on instrument-specific credit risk

 

—

 

 

46

 

Stock-based compensation

 

7,002

 

 

14,707

 

Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on marketable securities, net of change in accrued interest

 

(491

)

 

33

 

Expected credit losses, net of write-offs

 

35

 

 

—

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, net

 

20

 

 

379

 

Inventories, current and noncurrent, net

 

157

 

 

(2,681

)

Prepaid and other current assets

 

1,035

 

 

1,672

 

Other noncurrent assets

 

123

 

 

133

 

Accounts payable

 

275

 

 

1,494

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

(3,411

)

 

(2,571

)

Operating lease liabilities

 

(936

)

 

(1,143

)

Contract liabilities

 

35

 

 

(969

)

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

(346

)

 

—

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(21,814

)

 

(41,508

)

Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment

 

(420

)

 

(1,421

)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

 

45

 

 

243

 

Purchases of marketable securities

 

(24,241

)

 

(8,736

)

Proceeds from redemptions and maturities of marketable securities

 

27,756

 

 

76,350

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

3,140

 

 

66,436

 

Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

134

 

 

450

 

Proceeds from the issuance of convertible note

 

146

 

 

—

 

Payments for convertible note redemptions

 

—

 

 

(6,235

)

Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards

 

(113

)

 

(1,312

)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock under the Common Stock Purchase Agreements

 

5,863

 

 

136

 

Stock issuance costs related to Common Stock Purchase Agreements

 

(613

)

 

—

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

26

 

 

118

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

5,443

 

 

(6,843

)

Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

(13,231

)

 

18,085

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

 

19,082

 

 

21,214

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

5,851

 

$

39,299

 

  AEYE, INC.Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures(In thousands, except share amounts and per share data)(Unaudited) Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

GAAP net loss

$

(8,706

)

$

(17,048

)

$

(26,912

)

$

(59,344

)

Non-GAAP adjustments: Stock-based compensation

 

2,248

 

 

4,084

 

 

7,002

 

 

14,707

 

Expenses related to registration statements and common stock purchase agreements

 

1,136

 

 

233

 

 

1,136

 

 

233

 

Change in fair value of convertible note and warrant liabilities

 

(9

)

 

(12

)

 

4

 

 

914

 

Realized loss on instrument-specific credit risk

 

—

 

 

46

 

 

—

 

 

46

 

One-time termination benefits and other restructuring costs

 

—

 

 

172

 

 

—

 

 

1,470

 

Non-routine write-down of inventory

 

—

 

 

3,007

 

 

—

 

 

3,007

 

Impairment of right-of-use assets

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

47

 

Gain on termination of operating lease, net

 

(680

)

 

—

 

 

(680

)

 

—

 

Non-GAAP net loss

$

(6,011

)

$

(9,518

)

$

(19,450

)

$

(38,920

)

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

24

 

 

332

 

 

80

 

 

998

 

Interest income and other

 

(233

)

 

(354

)

 

(656

)

 

(932

)

Interest expense and other

 

(34

)

 

128

 

 

(407

)

 

(84

)

Provision for income tax expense

 

—

 

 

5

 

 

2

 

 

43

 

Adjusted EBITDA

$

(6,254

)

$

(9,407

)

$

(20,431

)

$

(38,895

)

  GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders: Basic and diluted

$

(1.01

)

$

(2.78

)

$

(3.90

)

$

(10.34

)

Non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders: Basic and diluted

$

(0.70

)

$

(1.55

)

$

(2.82

)

$

(6.78

)

Shares used in computing GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders: Basic and diluted

 

8,629,683

 

 

6,137,251

 

 

6,892,910

 

 

5,739,425

 

Shares used in computing Non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders: Basic and diluted

 

8,629,683

 

 

6,137,251

 

 

6,892,910

 

 

5,739,425

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241112782801/en/

Investor Relations Contacts:

Agency Contact Evan Niu, CFA Financial Profiles, Inc. eniu@finprofiles.com 310-622-8243

Company Contact AEye, Inc. Investor Relations info@aeye.ai 925-400-4366