Giga-tronics Reports Seventh Straight Quarterly Profit

SAN RAMON, Calif., Aug. 4, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giga-tronics Incorporated (Nasdaq:GIGA) reported today a net profit of $13,625,000 or $2.73 per fully diluted share for the quarter ended June 26, 2010 primarily due to a change in the valuation allowance against the Company's deferred tax asset. This compares with a net profit of $333,000 or $0.07 per fully diluted share for the same period a year ago. Net sales increased 5% to $4,701,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to $4,469,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Gross margin of $1,933,000 decreased by $181,000 over the same quarter last year. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased by 6.2% to 41.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 as compared to 47.3% in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 due to a change in product mix. Operating expenses increased 6% or $101,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 over fiscal 2010 primarily due to an increase of $104,000 in product development expenses. The increase in product development expenses is due to lower customer funded projects. Orders increased 22% in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 to $3,079,000 from $2,533,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

The Company has reviewed all available evidence (both positive and negative) as described in Accounting Standards Codification 740. The Company has demonstrated consistent pre-tax book income for the past seven quarters and does not have cumulative losses over the past three years. The Company's FY 2011 Budget and Strategic Plans for FY 2012 and FY 2013 are all forecasted to be profitable. The Company continues to maintain a two year backlog of orders for its YIG (Yttrium, Iron, Garnet) filters and projects continued orders. Its legacy Model 8003 precision scalar analyzer continues to receive orders from the U.S. Navy. The Company is now serving a new market in the consumer wireless handheld telecommunication market with its high volume production automation switch. The Company has entered the semiconductor market with its new integrated switch product for testing thin-film memory storage components. The Test and Measurement market is forecasted to grow at the rate of 4% per year, per industry forecasting experts. The Company has no known contingencies or unsettled circumstances. Based on historical income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets become deductible, management believes the Company is more likely than not to realize benefits of these deductible differences. Management has, therefore, reversed the valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets, resulting in an income tax benefit of $13,569,000 for the three month period ended June 26, 2010.

Non-GAAP net income, which excludes share based compensation, for the three month period ended June 26, 2010 would have been $46,000 higher or $13,671,000. Non-GAAP basic earnings per share would have been $2.79 compared to $2.78 as reported. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share would have been $2.73 compared to $2.73 as reported. For the same period last year, the Company's non-GAAP net profit would have been $37,000 higher or $370,000 and the basic and diluted share profit would have been $0.08 compared to $0.07 as reported.

Backlog for the quarter ended June 26, 2010 was $6.8 million (approximately $6.3 million shippable within one year) as compared to $7.1 million (approximately $5.7 million shippable within one year) for the quarter ended June 27, 2009.

Cash and cash equivalents at June 26, 2010 were $3,235,000 compared to $3,074,000 as of March 27, 2010.

Giga-tronics will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the first quarter results. To participate in the call, dial (866) 551-3680 domestically or (212) 401-6760 for international, and enter PIN Code 6803983#. The call will also be broadcast over the internet at www.gigatronics.com under "Investor Relations". The conference call discussion reflects management's views as of August 4, 2010 only.

Giga-tronics is a publicly held company, traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "GIGA". Giga-tronics produces instruments, subsystems and sophisticated microwave components that have broad applications in defense electronics, aeronautics and wireless telecommunications.

The Giga-tronics Incorporated logo is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6087

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning profitability, backlog, shipments and the likelihood of realizing certain tax benefits. Actual results may differ significantly due to risks and uncertainties, such as future orders, cancellations or deferrals, disputes over performance, the ability to collect receivables and general market conditions. For further discussion, see Giga-tronics' most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 27, 2010, Part I, under the heading "Certain Factors Which May Adversely Affect Future Operations or an Investment in Giga-tronics" and Part II, under the heading "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations".


   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
  --------------------------------------------------

                                              March
  (In thousands except share       June 26,    27,
   data)                             2010     2010
  -------------------------------  --------  -------
  Assets
  Current assets
   Cash and cash-equivalents         $3,235   $3,074
   Trade accounts receivable, net
    of allowance of $97 and $95,
    respectively                      3,441    4,332
   Inventories, net                   5,785    5,803
   Prepaid expenses and other
    current assets                      412      383

   Deferred income tax                1,949       --
  -------------------------------  --------  -------

  Total current assets               14,822   13,592
  -------------------------------  --------  -------

  Property and equipment, net           351      311
  Deferred income tax -- Long
   term                              11,620       --

  Other assets                           16       16
  -------------------------------  --------  -------

  Total assets                      $26,809  $13,919
  ===============================  ========  =======

  Liabilities and shareholders'
   equity
  Current liabilities
   Accounts payable                     788      881
   Accrued commission                   164      227
   Accrued payroll and benefits         634      698
   Accrued warranty                     121      139
   Deferred revenue                   2,018    2,682
   Deferred rent                         96       --
   Capital lease obligation              43       57

   Other current liabilities            151      225
  -------------------------------  --------  -------
  Total current liabilities           4,015    4,909
  Long term obligations -
   Deferred rent                         78       31

  Long term obligations --
   Capital lease                         33       36
  -------------------------------  --------  -------

  Total liabilities                   4,126    4,976
  -------------------------------  --------  -------
  Commitments and contingencies
  Shareholders' equity
  Preferred stock of no par
   value;
   Authorized 1,000,000 shares;
    no shares outstanding at June
    26, 2010 and
   March 27, 2010                        --       --
  Common stock of no par value;
   Authorized 40,000,000 shares;
    4,912,019 shares at June 26,
    2010 and 4,891,394
   shares at March 27, 2010
    issued and outstanding           14,094   13,979

  Accumulated earnings (deficit)      8,589  (5,036)
  -------------------------------  --------  -------

  Total shareholders' equity         22,683    8,943
  -------------------------------  --------  -------

  Total liabilities and
   shareholders' equity             $26,809  $13,919
  ===============================  ========  =======


    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                    (UNAUDITED)
  -----------------------------------------------
                                   Three Months
                                      Ended

                                            June
  (In thousands except           June 26,   27,
   per-share data)                 2010     2009
  -----------------------------  --------  ------
  Net sales                        $4,701  $4,469

  Cost of sales                     2,768   2,355
  -----------------------------  --------  ------

  Gross profit                      1,933   2,114
  -----------------------------  --------  ------

  Engineering                         485     381

  Selling, general and
   administrative                   1,391   1,394
  -----------------------------  --------  ------

  Total operating expenses          1,876   1,775
  -----------------------------  --------  ------

  Operating income                     57     339

  Other expense, net                   --     (1)

  Interest expense, net               (1)     (3)
  -----------------------------  --------  ------
  Income before income taxes           56     335

  (Benefit) provision for
   income taxes                  (13,569)       2
  -----------------------------  --------  ------

  Net income                      $13,625    $333
  =============================  ========  ======

  Earnings per share - basic        $2.78   $0.07
  Earnings per share - diluted      $2.73   $0.07

  Shares used in per share
   calculation:
   Basic                            4,901   4,824
   Diluted                          5,000   4,826
CONTACT:  Giga-tronics Incorporated
          Pat Lawlor, Vice President, Finance/Chief Financial Officer
          (925) 328-4656