Axcelis Announces Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2006

August 2, 2006 at 4:14 PM EDT

Experiences broad-based demand across product portfolio and significant momentum with new product introductions

BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2006-- Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACLS) today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2006. The Company reported revenues of $117.6 million, compared to $97.9 million for the first quarter of 2006. Worldwide revenues for the second quarter, which include revenues of SEN Corporation, an SHI and Axcelis Company, the Company's 50% owned joint venture in Japan, were $198.2 million, compared to $145.8 million for the preceding quarter. Net income for the second quarter was $12.1 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to net income for the first quarter of 2006 of $0.5 million, or $0.01 per share. In the corresponding quarter for the previous year, the Company reported net revenues of $92.2 million, worldwide revenues of $191.4 million, and net income of $0.7 million, or $0.01 per share, which included restructuring and related costs of $3.8 million, or $0.04 per diluted share.

Commenting on the Company's performance, Chairman and CEO Mary Puma said, "We achieved positive financial results in the second quarter, driven by broad-based demand across our product portfolio. New products continued to gather momentum as our Optima single wafer platform gained traction in the market. The platform's significant productivity and yield advantages are generating significant customer interest. During the quarter, we secured two key penetrations for our new single wafer Optima HD high dose system and multiple follow-on orders for our single wafer Optima MD mid dose implanter. We also landed a major order for our dry strip system from a significant memory device manufacturer, as well as several strategic placements for our film curing system."

"During the quarter we introduced the Optima HD Imax, the industry's first implanter to deliver the power of molecular implants for advanced memory and logic devices," continued Puma. "This highly enabling technology allows customers to dramatically boost productivity and reduce low energy, high dose implant process times by implanting clusters of boron, instead of individual atoms. The design builds on traditional, proven implant technology, and can be easily integrated into production - a compelling benefit for customers. We're very excited about the additional productivity and process advantages this new version of the Optima HD will provide to customers."

Axcelis believes that reporting the combined revenues of SEN, a 50% owned unconsolidated subsidiary of Axcelis, with Axcelis' own revenues, is useful to investors. SEN's ion implant products are covered by a license from Axcelis and therefore the combined revenue of the two companies indicates the full market penetration of Axcelis' technology.

    Second Quarter Detail

    Shipments and Margins

Shipments before provision for deferred revenue for the second quarter totaled $116.6 million with worldwide shipments, including SEN, totaling $195.7 million. Axcelis shipments, excluding SEN, were up 18.4% from the first quarter of 2006 and worldwide shipments, including SEN, were up 31.6%.

Geographically, Axcelis systems shipments, excluding SEN, were to: Asia 57%, North America 27% and Europe 16%.

The ion implantation business (excluding SEN) accounted for 77% of total shipments in the second quarter while other products (RTP, Dry Strip and Curing) accounted for 23%.

Service revenue (service labor, spare parts and consumables), excluding SEN, was $46.9 million for the quarter, up 6.3% from the first quarter of 2006.

Gross margin for the second quarter was 40.8%, up from 39.9% in the preceding quarter.

Orders and Backlog

Orders (new systems bookings and service excluding SEN) received for the second quarter totaled $159.1 million, compared to $96.9 million for the first quarter of 2006. New system bookings, excluding service, amounted to $112.2 million compared to $52.8 million for the preceding quarter. Worldwide orders, including SEN, were $260.3 million, compared to $178.7 million for the first quarter of 2006.

Backlog plus deferred systems revenue at quarter end was $128.9 million. Backlog consists of systems only (i.e., excluding service contracts) that are generally scheduled to ship within six months.

Balance Sheet

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments increased by $25.4 million (of which $24.2 million was received from the sale of convertible debentures) to $176.2 million at June 30, 2006. The Company ended the quarter with working capital of $265.1 million.

Business Outlook

Axcelis' financial outlook for the third quarter of 2006 assumes no material change in the semiconductor spending environment. Revenues in the third quarter are expected to be in a range of $117.0 million to $127.0 million. Worldwide revenues, including SEN, are expected to be in a range of $187.0 million to $202.0 million. The Company anticipates gross margins to be in a range of 42% to 43% and results of operations to provide earnings per share in the range of $0.11 to $0.15 per share.

Axcelis assumes no responsibility to update guidance. Axcelis will only confirm or update guidance via a press release.

Second Quarter 2006 Conference Call

The Company will be hosting a conference call today, Wednesday, August 2, 2006, beginning at 5:00 pm ET. The purpose of the call is to discuss second quarter results and to provide guidance for the third quarter of 2006. The call will be available to interested listeners via an audio webcast that can be accessed through Axcelis' home page at www.axcelis.com, or by dialing 1-800-479-1628 (1-719-457-2729 outside North America). Participants calling into the conference call will be requested to provide the company name: Axcelis Technologies, the conference leader: Maureen Hart, and pass code: #5745391. A webcast replay will be available from 8:00 pm ET on August 2, 2006 until 5:00 pm ET September 1, 2006.

Safe Harbor Statement

This document contains forward-looking statements under the SEC safe harbor provisions. These statements, which include those relating to the company developing new products, building its position in the ion implant market, and its guidance for future financial performance, are based on management's current expectations and should be viewed with caution. They are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the Company, including the timing of orders and shipments, the conversion of orders to revenue in any particular quarter, or at all, our ability to implement successfully our profit plans, the continuing demand for semiconductor equipment, relative market growth, continuity of business relationships with and purchases by major customers, competitive pressure on sales and pricing, increases in material and other production costs that cannot be recouped in product pricing and global economic, political and financial conditions. These risks and other risk factors relating to Axcelis are described more fully in the most recent Form 10-K filed by Axcelis and in other documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Axcelis Technologies, Inc.

Axcelis Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, provides innovative, high-productivity solutions for the semiconductor industry. Axcelis is dedicated to developing enabling process applications through the design, manufacture and complete life cycle support of ion implantation, rapid thermal processing, and cleaning and curing systems. Axcelis Technologies has key product development centers in Beverly, Massachusetts, as well as in Saijo, Japan through its joint venture, SEN Corporation, an SHI and Axcelis Company. The company's Internet address is: www.axcelis.com.

                      Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
                      Consolidated Balance Sheets
                             In thousands
                              (Unaudited)

                                                       June  December
                                                        30,       31,
                                                       2006      2005
                                                   --------- ---------
Assets

Current assets
  Cash and cash equivalents                         $69,347   $71,417
  Marketable securities                              94,880    93,797
  Restricted cash                                     9,225     8,037
  Accounts receivable, net                          103,636    79,379
  Inventories, net                                  130,583   109,972
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets          35,816    32,767
                                                   --------- ---------
Total current assets                                443,487   395,369

Property, plant & equipment, net                     66,777    71,443
Investment in SEN                                   120,604   108,815
Goodwill                                             46,773    46,773
Intangible assets                                    14,861    16,100
Restricted cash, long-term portion                    2,718     3,195
Other assets                                         21,704    19,748
                                                   --------- ---------
                                                   $716,924  $661,443
                                                   ========= =========

Liabilities and stockholders' equity

Current liabilities
  Accounts payable                                  $30,656   $25,556
  Accrued compensation                               18,424    18,437
  Warranty                                            5,276     5,739
  Income taxes                                        2,478     3,021
  Deferred revenue                                   34,728    30,140
  Other current liabilities                          12,627    11,333
  Current portion, long term debt                    74,217         -
                                                   --------- ---------
Total current liabilities                           178,406    94,226

Long-term debt                                       75,457   125,000
Long-term deferred revenue                            8,932    11,177
Other long-term liabilities                           4,543     4,999
Commitments and contingencies                             -         -

Stockholders' equity
  Preferred Stock                                         -         -
  Common stock                                          101       101
  Additional paid-in capital                        466,020   466,454
  Deferred compensation                                   -    (5,385)
  Treasury stock                                     (1,218)   (1,218)
  Accumulated deficit                               (18,498)  (31,187)
  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)       3,181    (2,724)
                                                   --------- ---------
                                                    449,586   426,041
                                                   --------- ---------
                                                   $716,924  $661,443
                                                   ========= =========


                      Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
                 Consolidated Statements of Operations
                In thousands, except per share amounts
                              (Unaudited)

                                     Three months      Six months
                                     ended             ended
                                     June 30,          June 30,
                                 ----------------- -------------------
                                    2006     2005      2006      2005
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
Revenue
   Systems                       $67,734  $48,947  $120,138  $108,640
   Services                       46,863   39,003    90,944    77,444
   Royalties, primarily from SEN   3,043    4,228     4,479     6,130
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
                                 117,640   92,178   215,561   192,214
Cost of Revenue                   69,698   53,238   128,577   111,477
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------

Gross profit                      47,942   38,940    86,984    80,737

Operating expenses
     Research & development       18,191   17,543    36,403    33,410
     Sales and marketing          11,569   12,004    22,176    23,874
     General and administrative   11,419   11,819    22,272    23,002
     Amortization of intangible
      assets                         627      612     1,239     1,224
     Restructuring charges           399    2,083        94     3,882
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
                                  42,205   44,061    82,184    85,392
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------

Income (loss) from operations      5,737   (5,121)    4,800    (4,655)

Other income (expense)
     Equity income of SEN          6,146    7,626     8,362     9,965
     Interest income               1,915    1,284     3,566     2,294
     Interest expense             (2,446)  (1,656)   (4,087)   (3,310)
     Other-net                     1,339     (423)      684      (437)
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
                                   6,954    6,831     8,525     8,512
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------

Income before income taxes        12,691    1,710    13,325     3,857

Income taxes                         547      961       636     1,210
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------

Net income                       $12,144     $749   $12,689    $2,647
                                 ======== ======== ========= =========

Net income per share
   Basic                           $0.12    $0.01     $0.13     $0.03
   Diluted                         $0.12    $0.01     $0.13     $0.03

Shares used in computing net
 income per share
     Basic                       100,958  100,199   100,921   100,169
     Diluted                     101,080  100,604   101,098   100,737

CONTACT: Company Contact: Axcelis Technologies, Inc. Maureen Hart, 978-787 4266 Fax: 978-787 4275 maureen.hart@axcelis.com or

Investor Contact: Axcelis Technologies, Inc. Stephen Bassett, 978-787 4000 Fax: 978-787 9133 investor.relations@axcelis.com or

Agency Contact: Loomis Group Heather Smith, 617-638 0022 Fax: 617-638 0033 smithh@loomisgroup.com SOURCE: Axcelis Technologies