UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q (MARK ONE) [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED: MARCH 31, 1998 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _______ TO _______ COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-25434 ------- BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) DELAWARE 04-3040660 -------- ---------- (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.) 15 ELIZABETH DRIVE CHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) 01824 (ZIP CODE) REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (978) 262-2566 _____________________________________________ INDICATE BY CHECK MARK WHETHER THE REGISTRANT: (1) HAS FILED ALL REPORTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED BY SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 DURING THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS (OR FOR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD THAT THE REGISTRANT WAS REQUIRED TO FILE SUCH REPORTS), AND (2) HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO SUCH FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PAST 90 DAYS. YES [X] NO ____ -- AS OF MAY 6, 1998, THERE WERE OUTSTANDING 10,112,721 SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE. THIS REPORT, INCLUDING ALL EXHIBITS AND ATTACHMENTS, CONTAINS 20 PAGES.
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. INDEX <TABLE> <CAPTION> PAGE PART 1 FINANCIAL INFORMATION NUMBER - ------ --------------------- ------ <S> <C> <C> Item 1 Financial Statements: Consolidated Balance Sheet 3 Consolidated Statement of Operations 4 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 5 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 6-7 Item 2 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 8-17 PART II OTHER INFORMATION - ------- ----------------- Item 5 Other Information 18 Item 6 Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 18 Signatures 19 </TABLE> Page 2 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE-RELATED DATA) <TABLE> <CAPTION> MARCH 31, SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 1997 (UNAUDITED) <S> <C> <C> ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 65,462 $ 71,753 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $376 and $160, respectively, and including related party receivables of $6,256 and $5,204, respectively 23,522 28,408 Inventories 26,659 23,253 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,946 1,980 Deferred income taxes 4,510 1,710 ---------- ---------- Total current assets 123,099 127,104 Fixed assets, net 19,161 19,054 Other assets 3,528 3,572 ---------- ---------- Total assets $ 145,788 $ 149,730 ---------- ---------- LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations $ 150 $ 399 Accounts payable 9,155 9,125 Accrued compensation and benefits 2,700 2,719 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 2,285 2,193 ---------- ---------- Total current liabilities 14,290 14,436 Long-term debt and capital lease obligations 72 190 Deferred income taxes 1,008 905 ---------- ---------- Total liabilities 15,370 15,531 ---------- ---------- Commitments and contingency Stockholders' equity: - - Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding - - Common stock, $.01 par value 21,500,000 shares authorized; 10,111,221 and 10,052,663 shares issued and outstanding, respectively 101 101 Additional paid-in-capital 117,500 117,139 Cumulative translation adjustment (180) 5 Deferred compensation (343) (416) Retained earnings 13,340 17,370 ---------- ---------- Total stockholders' equity 130,418 134,199 ---------- ---------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 145,788 $ 149,730 ---------- ---------- </TABLE> The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. Page 3 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) (UNAUDITED) <TABLE> <CAPTION> SIX MONTHS ENDED THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, MARCH 31, 1998 1997 1998 1997 <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> Revenues $ 44,841 $ 32,544 $ 20,211 $ 16,433 Cost of revenues 35,560 22,666 18,951 12,035 -------- -------- -------- -------- Gross profit 9,281 9,878 1,260 4,398 -------- -------- -------- -------- Operating expenses: Research and development 9,733 6,108 4,620 3,298 Selling, general and administrative 8,044 5,537 3,997 2,983 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total operating expenses 17,777 11,645 8,617 6,281 -------- -------- -------- -------- Loss from operations (8,496) (1,767) (7,357) (1,883) Interest expense 173 257 33 186 Interest income 1,878 16 939 - -------- -------- -------- -------- Loss before income taxes (6,791) (2,008) (6,451) (2,069) Income tax benefit (2,761) (504) (2,651) (525) -------- -------- -------- -------- Net loss $ (4,030) $ (1,504) $ (3,800) $ (1,544) -------- -------- -------- -------- Basic losses per share $ (0.40) $ (0.20) $ (0.38) $ (0.20) -------- -------- -------- -------- Diluted losses per share $ (0.40) $ (0.20) $ (0.38) $ (0.20) -------- -------- -------- -------- Shares used in calculating basic and diluted losses per share 10,080 7,600 10,107 7,625 -------- -------- -------- -------- </TABLE> The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. Page 4 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED) <TABLE> <CAPTION> SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 1997 <S> <C> <C> INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net loss $ (4,030) $ (1,504) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 2,846 1,966 Amortization of deferred financing fee 115 20 Compensation expense related to common stock options 73 9 Deferred income taxes (2,704) - Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 4,823 1,788 Inventories (3,602) (648) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (497) (2,125) Accounts payable 46 (876) Accrued compensation and benefits 18 (498) Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (434) 295 -------- -------- Net cash used in operating activities (3,346) (1,573) -------- -------- CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Purchases of fixed assets (2,521) (3,489) Increase in other assets (540) (1,260) -------- -------- Net cash used in investing activities (3,061) (4,749) -------- -------- CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Net borrowings under line of credit - 4,956 Principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations (367) (216) Proceeds from issuance of common stock 361 318 -------- -------- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (6) 5,058 -------- -------- Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 122 (43) -------- -------- Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (6,291) (1,307) -------- -------- Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 71,753 2,102 -------- -------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 65,462 $ 795 ======== ======== </TABLE> The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. Page 5 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION --------------------- The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Brooks Automation, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company") have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and with the instructions to Article 10 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company which are included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1997. The results of operations for the six months and three months ended March 31, 1998 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998. 2. INVENTORIES ----------- <TABLE> <CAPTION> Inventories consist of the following: March 31, September 30, (in thousands) 1998 1997 ---- ---- <S> <C> <C> Raw materials and purchased parts $16,251 $14,750 Work-in-process 7,778 7,745 Finished goods 2,630 758 ------- ------- $26,659 $23,253 ======= ======= </TABLE> 3. EARNINGS (LOSSES) PER SHARE --------------------------- On October 1, 1997, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share" (SFAS128), which establishes standards for computing and presenting earnings per share. The new standard replaces the presentation of earnings per share as prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 15, "Earnings per Share" (APB15) with a presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share on the face of the statement of operations. Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. The diluted earnings per share computation is similar to primary diluted earnings per share pursuant to APB15. The Company has restated all prior period earnings per share amounts in accordance with the requirements of SFAS128. The dilutive potential shares have been excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation for all periods presented due to their anti- dilutive effect. 4. SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER AND RELATED PARTY INFORMATION -------------------------------------------------- During the six months ended March 31, 1998 and 1997, the Company had revenues from related parties representing 23% and 19% of revenues, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 1998 and 1997, the Company had revenues from related parties representing 28% and 17% of revenues, respectively. At March 31, 1998 and September 30, 1997, related party accounts receivable accounted for 27% and 18% of total accounts receivable, respectively. Page 6 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) During the six months ended March 31, 1998, the Company had revenues from a customer (not a related party) representing 11% of revenues. During the six months ended March 31, 1997, the Company had revenues from two customers (not related parties) representing 12% and 10% of total revenues. During the three months ended March 31, 1998, the Company had revenues from two customers (not related parties) which each represented 11% of revenues. During the three months ended March 31, 1997, the Company had revenues from two customers (not related parties) representing 10% and 13% of revenues, respectively. 5. STOCK PLANS ----------- On February 26, 1998, the stockholders of the Company approved an increase in the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 1992 Combination Stock Option Plan from 1,550,000 to 1,950,000. Additionally, on February 26, 1998 the Company's stockholders approved an increase in the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan from 150,000 to 250,000. 6. CONTINGENCY ----------- There has been substantial litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the semiconductor related industries. The Company has received notice from a third party alleging infringements of such party's patent rights, relating to cluster tool architecture, by certain of the Company's products. In the event of litigation with respect to this claim, the Company is prepared to vigorously defend its position. However, because patent litigation can be extremely expensive and time consuming, the Company may seek to obtain a license to one or more of the disputed patents. Based upon currently available information, the Company would only do so if such license fees would not be material to the Company's consolidated financial statements. Currently, the Company does not believe that it is probable that future events related to this threatened matter will have an adverse effect on the Company's business. The Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate any possible loss related to this matter. Page 7 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Certain statements in this quarterly report constitute "forward-looking statements" which involve known risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include the factors that may affect future results set forth in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations which is included in this report. Precautionary statements made herein should be read as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this report. OVERVIEW The predecessor of Brooks Automation, Inc. (the "Company") was organized in February 1989 and acquired the semiconductor wafer handling business of the Brooks Automation Division of Aeronca Electronics, Inc., a subsidiary of Fleet Aerospace Corporation, in March 1989. The Company and its predecessors have been in the semiconductor wafer handling business since 1978. Since the acquisition in 1989, the Company has invested over $50.0 million in research and development focused primarily on vacuum transfer robots and other vacuum automation modules and systems. In 1992, the Company introduced the family of vacuum central wafer handling systems and modules that forms the foundation of the Company's current business. In 1994, the Company introduced a similar family of systems and modules for flat panel display substrates, including a next-generation magnetically driven vacuum transfer robot. In 1996, the Company acquired Techware Systems Corporation (now Brooks Automation Software), a designer and supplier of integrated equipment control software for the semiconductor and related industries, expanding its software and control capability. In 1997, the Company introduced a line of products for the atmospheric handling market, including in-line and controlled environment systems, robots, aligners and traversers. Many of the Company's customers purchase the Company's vacuum transfer robots and other modules before purchasing the Company's vacuum central wafer handling systems. The Company believes that once a customer has selected the Company's products for a process tool, the customer is likely to rely on those products for the life of that process tool model, which can be in excess of five years. The Company records revenue from product sales upon shipment to the customer provided that no significant Company obligations remain and collection of the related receivable is deemed probable by management. When insignificant Company obligations remain after shipment of the product, the Company accrues for the estimated cost of such obligation upon shipment. Additionally, the Company accrues for any estimated warranty costs upon shipment. Most of the Company's revenues have been generated by sales to customers in the United States, although the Company believes that a significant portion of these customers incorporate the Company's products into equipment sold to their foreign customers. The Company's foreign sales have occurred principally in Japan, South Korea and Europe. The Company's foreign revenues are generally denominated in United States dollars. Accordingly, foreign currency fluctuations have not had a significant impact on the comparison of the results of operations for the periods presented. The costs and expenses of the Company's Page 8 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS international subsidiaries are generally denominated in currencies other than the United States dollar. However, since the functional currency of the Company's international subsidiaries is the local currency, foreign currency translation adjustments are reflected as a component of stockholders' equity. To the extent that the Company expands its international operations or changes its pricing practices to denominate prices in foreign currencies, the Company will be exposed to increased risk of currency fluctuation. The Company's business is highly dependent upon the capital expenditures of semiconductor and flat panel display manufacturers which historically have been cyclical, and on the Company's ability to develop, manufacture and sell new products and product enhancements. The Company's results will also be affected, especially when measured on a quarterly basis, by the volume, composition and timing of orders, conditions in industries served by the Company, competition and general economic conditions. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following table sets forth certain financial data for the periods indicated as a percentage of revenues: <TABLE> <CAPTION> Six months ended Three months ended March 31, March 31, 1998 1997 1998 1997 ------ ------ ------ ------ <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> Revenues 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % Cost of revenues 79.3 69.6 93.8 73.2 ------ ------ ------ ------ Gross profit 20.7 30.4 6.2 26.8 Operating expenses: Research and development 21.7 18.8 22.8 20.1 Selling, general and administrative 17.9 17.0 19.8 18.2 ------ ------ ------ ------ Loss from operations (18.9) (5.4) (36.4) (11.5) Interest expense 0.4 0.8 0.2 1.1 Interest income 4.2 0.0 4.7 - ------ ------ ------ ------ Loss before income taxes (15.1) (6.2) (31.9) (12.6) Income tax benefit (6.1) (1.6) (13.1) (3.2) ------ ------ ------ ------ Net loss (9.0) % (4.6) % (18.8) % (9.4) % ------ ------ ------ ------ </TABLE> The net loss for the three and six month periods ended March 31, 1998 are attributed primarily to the continuing softness in demand for semiconductor and flat panel display fabrication equipment, as well as ongoing uncertainty about business conditions in Asia. The Company remains cautious about when growth in the semiconductor fabrication equipment sector will return. THREE MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 COMPARED WITH THREE MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 Revenues Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 1998 increased 23.0% to $20.2 million compared with revenues of $16.4 million in the comparable prior fiscal period. Revenues for the six months ended March 31, 1998 increased 37.8% to $44.8 million compared with revenues of $32.5 million in the comparable prior fiscal period. Revenues from 200mm vacuum central wafer handling systems and components increased 58.6% or $4.7 million and 69.3% Page 9 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS or $11.8 million for the three months and six months ended March 31, 1998, respectively, due primarily to increased shipments resulting from improved market demand for semiconductor fabrication equipment. The increase in 200mm product revenues in the current quarter was offset primarily by decreased flat panel display product revenues. Increased control software and service revenues, offset by decreased revenues from shipments of 300 mm and flat panel display products, also contributed to the overall increase in revenues in the first half of fiscal 1998. Foreign revenues for the three months ended March 31, 1998 increased 31.0% to $5.4 million (26.5% of revenues), including $4.7 million of direct sales to Asian customers, compared with foreign revenues of $4.1 million (24.9% of revenues), including $3.1 million of direct sales to Asian customers in the comparable prior fiscal period. Foreign revenues for the six months ended March 31, 1998 increased 32.3% to $14.1 million (31.4% of revenues), including $10.5 million of direct sales to Asian customers, compared with foreign revenues of $10.6 million (32.6% of revenues), including $8.4 million of direct sales to Asian customers in the comparable prior fiscal period. The Company expects that foreign revenues will continue to account for a significant portion of total revenues in fiscal 1998. The Company has been adversely affected by the unstable economy in Asia. There can be no assurance that the geographical growth rates, if any, in the foreseeable future, particularly in Asia which is suffering regional economic downturns, will be comparable to those achieved in the six months ended March 31, 1998. See "Risk of International Sales and Operations". GROSS PROFIT Gross profit as a percentage of revenues was 6.2% and 20.7%, respectively, for the three months and six months ended March 31, 1998 compared with 26.8% and 30.4%, respectively, for the comparable prior fiscal periods. During the three months ended March 31, 1998, the Company recorded a nonrecurring charge of $4.2 million primarily to provide additional reserves for slow-moving and obsolete inventories. These reserves reflect management's assessment of the currently required inventory reserve level in view of the accelerating decline, particularly in the current quarter, in customer demand for semiconductor and flat panel display fabrication equipment, coupled with management's expectation of a prolonged recovery period. Gross profit as a percentage of revenues was relatively flat at 27.0%, before nonrecurring charges, for the three months ended March 31, 1998 compared with 26.8% for the comparable prior fiscal period. Gross profit as a percentage of revenues decreased to 30.1%, before nonrecurring charges, for the six months ended March 31, 1998 compared with 30.4% for the comparable prior fiscal period. The decrease in the gross profit percentage in the first half of fiscal 1998, before nonrecurring charges, is attributable to underutilization of manufacturing capacity primarily due to customer requested shipment delays and pricing pressure from volume production customers, partially offset by the sales mix of higher gross margin 200mm products. Global support costs, primarily comprised of personnel costs and travel expenses, were $1.6 million and $3.1 million, respectively, for the three months and six months ended March 31, 1998, compared to $1.6 million and $2.9 million in the comparable prior fiscal periods, respectively. Global support costs decreased as a percentage of revenues to 7.9% and 6.9%, respectively for the three months and six months ended March 31, 1998 as compared with 9.8% and 8.9% of revenues for the comparable prior fiscal periods. The decrease in global support costs as a percentage of revenues reflects the leveraging of the Company's investment in its global support infrastructure coupled with increased revenues as compared with the comparable prior fiscal period. In future periods, gross profit may be adversely affected by changes in the mix of products sold, continued pricing pressure or increases in the cost of goods and global support. Page 10 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Research and development expenses increased 40.1% to $4.6 million (22.8% of revenues) for the three months ended March 31, 1998 from $3.3 million (20.1% of revenues) in the comparable prior fiscal period. Research and development expenses increased 59.3% to $9.7 million (21.7% of revenues) for the six months ended March 31, 1998 from $6.1 million (18.8% of revenues) in the comparable prior fiscal period. The increase in research and development expenses in the current quarter and first half of fiscal 1998 primarily resulted from incremental spending associated with the launch of new atmospheric products and the transition to next generation vacuum wafer handling products. SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 34.0% to $4.0 million (19.8% of revenues) for the three months ended March 31, 1998 from $3.0 million (18.2% of revenues) in the comparable prior fiscal period. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 45.3% to $8.0 million (17.9% of revenues) for the six months ended March 31, 1998 from $5.5 million (17.0% of revenues) in the comparable prior fiscal period. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses is due primarily to the worldwide expansion of the Company's sales and administrative organizations to support revenue growth. INTEREST EXPENSE AND INTEREST INCOME Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 1998 decreased to $33,000 (0.2% of revenues) from $186,000 (1.1% of revenues) in the comparable prior fiscal period. Interest expense for the six months ended March 31, 1998 decreased to $173,000 (0.4% of revenues) from $257,000 (0.8% of revenues) in the comparable prior fiscal period. The decrease in interest expense is due primarily to the repayment of short-term borrowings under revolving credit facilities in September 1997, partially offset by amortization of $115,000 of deferred financing costs in the first quarter of fiscal year 1998. There were no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facilities at March 31, 1998. The amortization of deferred financing costs included in interest expense in the first quarter of fiscal 1998 resulted from the repayment of the related note payable in September 1997. Interest income increased to $939,000 (4.7% of revenues) for the three months ended March 31, 1998. Interest income for the six months ended March 31, 1998 increased to $1,878,000 (4.2% of revenues) from $16,000 in the comparable prior fiscal period. The increases in interest income are due to higher cash and investment balances during the first half of fiscal 1998, resulting from the Company's $80.8 million public stock offering in September 1997. INCOME TAX PROVISION (BENEFIT) The Company recorded net tax benefits of $2.7 million and $2.8 million, respectively, during the three months and six months ended March 31, 1998 and net tax benefits of $525,000 and $504,000, respectively, during the comparable prior fiscal periods, primarily due to the tax benefit of domestic net operating losses and research and development tax credit carryforwards. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES As of March 31, 1998, the Company had working capital of $108.8 million, including $65.5 million of cash and cash equivalents, compared with working capital of $112.7 million, including $71.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, as of September 30, 1997. During the six months ended March 31, 1998, the Company used cash of $3.3 million in operating activities, primarily to finance increased inventory levels. Inventories increased during the six months ended March 31, 1998, net of a $4.0 million increase in inventory reserves, primarily due to continuing softness in demand for semiconductor fabrication equipment and previously unanticipated customer Page 11 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS requested shipment delays. Investing activities during the six months ended March 31, 1998 consisted primarily of capital spending for information systems and facility improvements. The Company anticipates that it will continue to make capital expenditures to support its business activities. Financing activities during the six months ended March 31, 1998 consisted primarily of the issuance of common stock under the employee stock purchase plan and the repayment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Company's credit facilities at March 31, 1998. The Company has received notice from a third-party alleging infringements of such party's patent rights by certain of the Company's products. The Company believes the patents claimed may be invalid. In the event of litigation with respect to this claim, the Company is prepared to vigorously defend its position. Currently, the Company does not believe that it is probable that future events related to this threatened matter will have a material adverse effect on the Company's business; however, there can be no assurance that this will be the case. The Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate any possible loss related to this matter. The Company believes that available funds will be adequate to fund the Company's currently planned working capital and capital expenditure requirements for the next twelve months. FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS QUARTERLY FLUCTUATIONS IN OPERATING RESULTS AND MARKET PRICE OF SECURITIES The Company's operating results have in the past fluctuated and may in the future continue to fluctuate significantly depending upon a variety of factors. Such factors may include: the demand for semiconductors in general; cyclicality in the market for semiconductor manufacturing equipment; the timing and size of orders from the Company's customer base; the ability of the Company to manufacture, test and deliver products in a timely and cost effective manner; the ability of the Company's competitors to obtain orders from the Company's customers; the timing of new product announcements and releases by the Company and its competitors; the mix of products sold by the Company; and competitive pricing pressures. The Company has historically derived a substantial portion of its quarterly and annual revenues from the sale of a relatively small number of semiconductor and flat panel display substrate handling systems, which have relatively high selling prices compared to its other products. As a result, the precise timing of the recognition of revenue from an order for one or a small number of systems can have a significant impact on the Company's total revenues and operating results for a particular period. The Company's operating results for a particular period could be adversely affected if orders for a small number of systems are canceled or rescheduled by customers or cannot be filled in time to recognize revenue during that period due to, for example, unanticipated manufacturing, testing, shipping or product acceptance delays. The Company's expense levels are based, in large part, on the Company's expectations as to future revenues and are, therefore, relatively fixed in the short term. If revenue levels fall below expectations, net income will be disproportionately and adversely affected. The impact of these and other factors on the Company's revenues and operating results in any future period cannot be forecast with any degree of certainty. These factors could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, future financial condition, revenues and results of operations. DEPENDENCE ON SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY The Company's business is significantly dependent on capital expenditures by manufacturers of semiconductors. The semiconductor industry is highly cyclical and has experienced periods of oversupply, resulting in significantly reduced demand for capital equipment, including the products manufactured and marketed by the Company. The Page 12 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Company's future financial condition, revenues and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected by semiconductor industry downturns or slowdowns. The Company believes that downturns in the semiconductor manufacturing industry will occur in the future, and will result in decreased demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment. In addition, the Company believes that its ability to reduce expenses in a future downturn will be constrained by the need for continual investment in research and development, and the need to maintain ongoing customer service and support capability. Accordingly, any downturn in the semiconductor industry could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, future financial condition and results of operations. CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION Relatively few customers account for a substantial portion of the Company's revenues. Sales to the Company's ten largest customers in the six months ended March 31, 1998, fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1996 accounted for 76%, 71% and 69% of revenues, respectively. In the six months ended March 31, 1998 and in fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1996, sales to Lam Research Corporation ("Lam"), the Company's largest customer in these periods, accounted for 23%, 21% and 21% of the Company's revenues respectively, in each of these fiscal periods. The Company expects that sales to Lam will continue to represent a significant portion of the Company's revenues for the foreseeable future. The Company's customers, including Lam, generally do not enter into long-term agreements obligating them to purchase the Company's products. A reduction or delay in orders from Lam or other significant customers, including reductions or delays due to market, economic or competitive conditions in the semiconductor or flat panel display industries, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. RELIANCE ON OEM CUSTOMERS; LENGTHY SALES CYCLE The Company's products are principally sold to OEMs which incorporate the Company's products into their equipment. Due to the significant capital commitments usually incurred by semiconductor and flat panel display manufacturers in their purchases of these OEMs' equipment, these manufacturers demand highly reliable products which may require several years for OEMs to develop. The Company's revenues are therefore primarily dependent upon the timing and effectiveness of the efforts of its OEM customers in developing and marketing equipment incorporating the Company's products. The Company's new products are generally incorporated into an OEM customer's process tools at the design stage. However, customer decisions to use the Company's products, which can often require significant expenditures by the Company without any assurance of success, often precede the generation of volume sales, if any, by a year or more. There can be no assurance that the Company will continue to achieve design wins, that the process tools manufactured by the Company's customers will be introduced in a timely manner or that such systems will achieve market acceptance. The Company's or its customers' failure to develop and introduce new products successfully and in a timely manner could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. RISKS OF INTERNATIONAL SALES AND OPERATIONS During the six months ended March 31, 1998, fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1996, the Company derived approximately 31%, 38% and 20% of its revenues from customers located outside the United States. The Company anticipates that international revenues will continue to account for a significant portion of its revenues. To support its international customers, the Company maintains subsidiaries in Japan, Europe, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to manage these operations effectively or that the Company's investment in these activities will enable it to compete successfully in international markets or to meet the service and support needs of its customers. Page 13 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The Company will continue to be affected, for the foreseeable future, by the unstable economy caused by currency volatility, particularly in Japan and South Korea. As a result, there are uncertainties that may affect future operations. It is not possible to determine the future effect a continuation of the economic crisis may have on the Company's liquidity and earnings. Related effects will be reported in the financial statements as they become known and estimable. Additionally, a significant portion of the Company's revenues and operations could be subject to certain risks, including tariffs, foreign government standards and regulations and other barriers, difficulties in staffing and managing foreign subsidiary operations, currency exchange risks and exchange controls, adverse tax consequences and difficulty in accounts receivable collection. International trade regulations, such as United States export controls, could change in the future and make it more difficult for the Company to export its products to various countries. There can be no assurance that any of these factors will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. NEW PRODUCTS AND RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE The semiconductor and flat panel display manufacturing industries have been characterized by rapid technological change and evolving industry requirements and standards. The Company believes that these trends will continue. The Company's success will depend upon its ability to enhance its existing products and to develop and market new products to meet customer requirements. Successful product development and introduction depends on a number of factors, including accurate new product definition, timely completion and introduction of new product designs and market acceptance of the Company's products and its customers' products. Currently, the Company's major development programs include expanding its product offerings of semiconductor and flat panel display substrate handling systems to address emerging industry requirements for 300mm wafer and fourth generation flat panel substrates, as well as wafer handling systems and modules for atmospheric process tools. In addition, the Company continues to develop and enhance its process control software product offerings. There can be no assurance that the Company will adjust to changing market conditions or be successful in introducing products or product enhancements on a timely basis, if at all, or that the Company will be able to market successfully these products and product enhancements once developed. Further, there can be no assurance that the Company's products will not be rendered obsolete by new industry standards or changing technology. MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH The Company's strategy is to grow by providing hardware and software solutions to enhance semiconductor and flat panel display substrate handling systems of advanced tools used to produce semiconductors and flat panel displays. Due to the level of technical and marketing expertise necessary to support its existing and new customers, the Company must attract and retain highly qualified and well-trained domestic and international personnel. There is a limited number of persons with the requisite skills to serve in these positions and it may become increasingly difficult for the Company to hire such personnel. The Company will also be required to manage its expanding international operations, to effect timely deliveries of its products and to maintain the product quality and reliability required by its customers. The Company's expansion may also significantly strain the Company's management, manufacturing, financial and other resources. There can be no assurance that the Company's systems, procedures, controls and existing space will be adequate to support the Company's operations. Failure to properly manage the Company's growth, if any, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, future financial condition and results of operations. Page 14 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY The markets for the Company's products are highly competitive and subject to rapid technological change. The Company believes that its primary competition is from integrated OEMs that satisfy their semiconductor and flat panel display handling needs in-house rather than by purchasing systems or modules from an independent supplier such as the Company. Many of these other potential competitors have substantially greater resources than the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in selling its products to OEMs that currently satisfy their substrate handling needs in-house, regardless of the performance or the price of the Company's products. Moreover, there can be no assurance that integrated OEMs will not begin to commercialize their handling capabilities. Competitors may develop superior products or products of similar quality at the same or lower prices. Other technical innovations may impair the Company's ability to market its products. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully. RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH POSSIBLE ACQUISITIONS The Company may pursue potential acquisitions of businesses, products and technologies that could complement or expand the Company's business. The Company currently has no plans, commitments or agreements with respect to any material acquisitions and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to identify any appropriate acquisition candidates. If the Company identifies an acquisition candidate, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully negotiate the terms of any such acquisition, finance such acquisition or integrate such acquired businesses, products or technologies into the Company's existing business and products. The negotiation of potential acquisitions as well as the integration of an acquired business could cause diversion of management's time and resources. Future acquisitions by the Company could result in potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, the incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities and amortization expenses. If any such acquisition were to occur, there can be no assurance that, whether or not consummated, any such acquisition would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, future financial condition and results of operations. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION AND RELATED CONTINGENCY There can be no assurance that the Company's pending patent applications or any future applications will be approved, that any patents will provide it with competitive advantages or will not be challenged by third parties, or that the patents of others will not have an adverse effect on the Company's ability to do business. Because foreign patents may afford less protection under foreign law than is available under United States patent law, there can be no assurance that any such patents issued to the Company will adequately protect the Company's proprietary information. There can be no assurance that others will not independently develop similar products, duplicate the Company's products or, if patents are issued to the Company, design around the patents issued to the Company. Others may have filed and in the future may file patent applications that are similar or identical to those of the Company. To determine the priority of inventions, the Company may have to participate in interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent and Trademark Office that could result in substantial cost to the Company. No assurance can be given that any such patent application will not have priority over patent applications filed by the Company. The Company also relies upon trade secret protection, employee and third- party nondisclosure agreements and other intellectual property protection methods to protect its confidential and proprietary information. Despite these efforts, there can be no assurance that others will not independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to the Company's trade secrets or disclose such technology or that the Company can meaningfully protect its trade secrets. Page 15 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS There has been substantial litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the semiconductor related industries. The Company had received notice from General Signal Corporation ("General Signal") alleging infringements of General Signal's patent rights, relating to cluster tool architecture, by certain of the Company's products. The notification advised the Company that General Signal was attempting to enforce its rights to those patents in litigation against Applied Materials, Inc. ("Applied Materials"), and that, at the conclusion of that litigation, General Signal intended to enforce its rights against the Company and others. According to a recent press release issued by Applied Materials, Applied Materials settled its litigation with General Signal by acquiring ownership of five General Signal patents. Although not verified, these five patents would appear to be the patents referred to by General Signal in its prior notice to the Company. Applied Materials has not contacted the Company regarding these newly-acquired patents. In 1992, at the time that General Signal first raised patent claims in the cluster tool area, the Company joined with six major semiconductor process tool equipment manufacturers in forming an "Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense against General Signal Cluster Tool Patents." At that time, the members of the Ad Hoc Committee notified General Signal that the member companies were of the opinion that the General Signal patents were invalid based on (i) prior art, (ii) inequitable conduct before the Patent & Trademark Office and (iii) estoppel as a result of General Signal's activities in establishing standards for cluster tools and interfaces within the semiconductor industry. The Company believes that the position taken by the Ad Hoc Committee remains valid. However, if the holder of these patents were to seek to enforce these patents against the Company, there can be no assurance that the Company would prevail in such litigation. The Company has in the past been, and may in the future be, notified that it may be infringing intellectual property rights possessed by other third parties. Any patent litigation would be costly and could divert the efforts and attention of the Company's management and technical personnel, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. There can be no assurance that infringement claims by third parties or other claims for indemnification by customers or end users of the Company's products resulting from infringement claims will not be asserted in the future or that such assertions, if proven to be true, will not materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. If any such claims are asserted against the Company's intellectual property rights it may seek to enter into a royalty or licensing arrangement. There can be no assurance, however, that a license will be available on reasonable terms or at all. The Company could decide, in the alternative, to resort to litigation to challenge such claims or to design around the patented technology. Such actions could be costly and would divert the efforts and attention of the Company's management and technical personnel, which could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Page 16 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE The Company believes that a variety of factors could cause the price of the Company's Common Stock to fluctuate, perhaps substantially, including: announcements of developments related to the Company's business; quarterly fluctuations in the Company's actual or anticipated operating results and order levels; general conditions in the semiconductor and flat panel display industries or the worldwide economy; announcements of technological innovations; new products or product enhancements by the Company or its competitors; developments in patents or other intellectual property rights and litigation; and developments in the Company's relationships with its customers and suppliers. In addition, in recent years the stock market in general and the market for shares of small capitalization and semiconductor industry-related companies in particular, have experienced extreme price fluctuations which have often been unrelated to the operating performance of affected companies. Any such fluctuations in the future could adversely affect the market price of the Company's Common Stock. There can be no assurance that the market price of the Common Stock of the Company will not decline. Page 17 of 20
BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. PART II.OTHER INFORMATION Item 4 SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. ---------------------------------------------------- The following matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the Company's Annual Meeting held February 26, 1998. <TABLE> <CAPTION> Votes Cast For Authority Withheld -------------- ------------------ <S> <C> <C> 1. Election of directors: Robert J. Therrien 8,544,005 23,797 Norman B. Brooks 8,536,666 31,136 Roger D. Emerick 8,536,595 31,207 Amin J. Khoury 8,500,966 66,836 Votes Cast --------- Broker For Against Abstentions Non-votes --- ------- ----------- --------- 2. Approval of amendment to the Company's 1992 Combination Stock Option Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock 6,503,847 1,906,224 35,112 122,619 available for issuance thereunder from 1,550,000 to 1,950,000 shares. 3. Approval of amendment to the Company's 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock 8,307,550 97,566 40,067 122,619 available for issuance thereunder from 150,000 to 250,000 shares. </TABLE> Item 6 (a) EXHIBITS. --------- Exhibit No. ----------- 11.01 Computation of Net Income (Loss) Per Share 27.01 Financial Data Schedule Item 6 (b) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K. -------------------- No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended March 31, 1998. Page 18 of 20
SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC. May 14, 1998 /s/ Robert J. Therrien - ------------ ------------------------------- [Date] Robert J. Therrien Chief Executive Officer, President and Treasurer May 14, 1998 /s/ Deborah D. Fox - ------------ ------------------------------- [Date] Deborah D. Fox Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer Page 19 of 20