LPTH Lightpath Technologies Inc

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:LPTH), manufacturer and integrator of families of precision molded aspheric optics, precision molded infrared optics, GRADIUM(R) glass products, and high-performance fiber-optic collimators and isolators, today announced financial results for the second quarter of its 2007 fiscal year and the six months ended December 31, 2006. Gross margin percentage in the second quarter of fiscal 2007 improved to 32%, compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2006 when gross margin percentage was 25%. For the first six months of fiscal 2007 gross margin improved to 28% compared to 23% for the same period in the prior fiscal year. The primary reason for these improved results comes from the move to the Company's Shanghai manufacturing facility, which contributed more than 50% of the production of molded optics in the second quarter of fiscal 2007. The Company is continuing to invest in equipment and facilities for that site which management believes will continue to achieve both cost reduction and new growth opportunities. For the second quarter of fiscal 2007 and the six months ended December 31, 2006, sales increased by 28% to $3.79 million and by 45%, to $8.18 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year. In second quarter of fiscal 2007 orders activity in the communications market has slowed down compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2007. This appears to be due to customers delaying order ship dates or placing reduced new orders, a trend which may continue into the quarter ending March 31, 2007. Our Disclosure Backlog, (as defined in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for June 30, 2006), was $2.6 million at December 31, 2006 compared to $3.0 million at December 31, 2005. As discussed in the last quarter release, a majority of delinquent backlog was shipped during the first quarter of fiscal 2007. Financial Quick Reference (In millions, except Three Months Ended Six Months Ended for per share data) December 31, December 31, Unaudited 2006 2005 2006 2005 Total revenues $ 3.79 $ 2.95 $ 8.18 $ 5.66 Total costs and expenses $ 4.16 $ 3.58 $ 9.02 $ 7.10 Net loss $ (0.34) $ (0.62) $ (0.80) $ (1.42) Net loss per share $ (0.08) $ (0.17) $ (0.18) $ (0.39) Decrease in cash and cash equivalents $ (0.71) $ (0.11) $ (1.33) $ (0.84) December 31, June 30, 2006 2006 (In millions) Cash and cash equivalents $ 2.43 $ 3.76 Detailed comments about the second quarter of fiscal 2007: For the quarter ended December 31, 2006, the Company reported total revenues of $3.79 million compared to $2.95 million for the same quarter of the previous fiscal year, for an increase of 28%. Net loss for the quarter was $0.34 million, or $0.08 per share. Our gross margin percentage in the second quarter of fiscal 2007 improved to 32%, compared to the same quarter of fiscal 2006 when it was 25%. While we are experiencing improved margins due primarily to lower material costs, better utilization of our manufacturing plant and higher volumes of product sales, our efforts to improve margins remain a major focus. SG&A expenses increased from $1.12 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2006 to $1.28 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2007, largely due to increased costs incurred at our China facility, sales commissions and recruitment costs. This increase in SG&A expenses was partially offset by decreased insurance, legal and travel costs. New Product Development expenses increased to $0.28 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2006 when it was $0.24 million, a result of slightly higher personnel and new product materials costs. Detailed comments about the first six months of fiscal 2007: For the first six months of fiscal 2007, ended December 31, 2006, the Company reported total revenues of $8.18 million compared to $5.66 million for the comparable period of the previous fiscal year, for an increase of 45%. Net loss for the first six months of fiscal 2007 was $0.80 million, or $0.18 per share, an improvement of $0.63 million over the loss of $1.42 million in last fiscal year's comparable period. Gross margin in the first six months of fiscal 2007 increased $0.98 million, or 28%, up from 23% in the comparable prior period. While we have seen margin improvements over the past four and one-half years, due to higher sales volumes that have increased plant utilization rates, we still have the challenge of improving our process yields to improve margins. SG&A expenses increased from $2.20 million in the first six months of fiscal 2006 to $2.56 million in the first six months of fiscal 2007 due primarily to increases in sales commissions, which were partially offset by decreased insurance costs. New Product Development expenses increased from $0.50 million during the first six months of fiscal 2006 to $0.54 million in the first six months of fiscal 2007. The increase was due primarily to increased compensation costs for additional optical engineers and materials for product development work, which are expensed in the period they are incurred. Cash Status: The Company is continuing to invest in equipment and facilities for its Shanghai location which management believes will achieve both cost reductions and growth opportunities. For the quarter ended December 31, 2006, net cash declined by $0.71 million compared to a decrease of $0.11 million in the comparable quarter of the prior year. The cash was used to pay down current liabilities and invest in new capital equipment. For the six months ended December 31, 2006 net cash has declined $1.33 million compared to a decrease of $0.84 million in the same period of the prior year. Comments: Ken Brizel, President and CEO of LightPath, stated, "As we stated in our preliminary release, we increased our shipments by 28% this quarter over last fiscal year and maintained a very low delinquency rate in our shipments. The manufacturing team shifted more than 50% of our molded production to our Shanghai location, which helped reduce costs and increase production volume. Primarily due to these efforts we have increased our gross margin and our manufacturing capacity. The communications industry orders slowed during this quarter and, as a result, the disclosure backlog was down from the prior quarter. As we continue to grow other new market opportunities, communications will continue to be a smaller part of our business." Additional information concerning the Company and its products can be found at the Company's web site at http://www.lightpath.com/. Webcast Details: LightPath plans to hold an audio webcast at 3:00 p.m. EST on February 15, 2007 to discuss details regarding the company's performance for the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2007. The session may be accessed at http://www.lightpath.com/. A transcript archive of the webcast will be available for viewing or download on our web site shortly after the call is concluded. LightPath manufactures optical products, including precision molded aspheric optics, precision molded infrared optics, GRADIUM(R) glass products, proprietary collimator assemblies, isolators utilizing proprietary automation technology, higher-level assemblies and packing solutions. LightPath has a strong patent portfolio that has been granted or licensed to us in these fields. LightPath common stock trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "LPTH." Investors are encouraged to go to LightPath's website for additional financial information. Contact: Dorothy Cipolla, CFO LightPath Technologies, Inc. (407) 382-4003 Internet: http://www.lightpath.com/ This news release includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This information may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, factors detailed by LightPath Technologies, Inc. in its public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) December 31, June 30, Assets 2006 2006 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $2,433,685 $3,763,013 Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance of $152,165 at December 31, 2006 and $85,800 at June 30, 2006 2,004,605 1,891,024 Inventories 1,625,951 1,876,793 Prepaid expenses and other assets 97,112 145,349 Total current assets 6,161,353 7,676,179 Property and equipment - net 1,553,279 1,172,651 Intangible assets - net 249,039 265,473 Other assets 57,306 59,731 Total assets $8,020,977 $9,174,034 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $1,079,636 $1,668,683 Accrued liabilities 272,921 236,501 Accrued payroll and benefits 398,551 514,424 Notes Payable, current portion 147,657 270,710 Capital lease obligations, current portion 15,236 14,255 Total current liabilities 1,914,001 2,704,573 Capital lease obligation, excluding current portion 32,066 39,937 Notes payable, excluding current portion 295,313 - Total liabilities 2,241,380 2,744,510 Stockholders' equity: Common stock: Class A, $.01 par value, voting; 34,500,000 shares authorized; 4,493,653 and 4,468,588 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2006 and June 30, 2006, respectively 44,936 44,686 Additional paid-in capital 196,213,746 196,064,721 Accumulated deficit (190,479,085) (189,679,883) Total stockholders' equity 5,779,597 6,429,524 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $8,020,977 $9,174,034 LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Three months ended Six months ended December 31, December 31, 2006 2005 2006 2005 Product sales, net $3,789,312 $2,954,246 $8,175,635 $5,656,282 Cost of sales 2,589,384 2,210,436 5,902,582 4,360,756 Gross margin 1,199,928 743,810 2,273,053 1,295,526 Operating expenses: Selling, general and administrative 1,284,399 1,120,120 2,559,175 2,202,683 New product development 276,232 244,650 541,479 499,823 Amortization of intangibles 8,217 8,410 16,434 43,102 Gain on sales of assets - (3,480) - (9,134) Total costs and expenses 1,568,848 1,369,700 3,117,088 2,736,474 Operating loss (368,920) (625,890) (844,035) (1,440,948) Other income Investment and other income, net 24,587 7,756 44,833 15,182 Net loss $(344,333) $(618,134) $(799,202) $(1,425,766) Loss per share (basic and diluted) $(0.08) $(0.17) $(0.18) $(0.39) Number of shares used in per share calculation 4,493,497 3,695,644 4,492,507 3,695,644 DATASOURCE: LightPath Technologies, Inc. CONTACT: Dorothy Cipolla, CFO of LightPath Technologies, Inc., +1-407-382-4003 Web site: http://www.lightpath.com/

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