AETI Announces 61% quarterly revenue growth

Growth driven by 169% increase in oil & gas sector revenues

HOUSTON, Aug. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Electric Technologies, Inc. AETI, a leading supplier of power delivery solutions for the global energy industry, today announced its second quarter 2017 financial results.

AETI announced revenue for the quarter of $13.0 million, up 61% from the $8.0 million reported in the first quarter of 2017 and up 13% compared with the second quarter of 2016.

This quarterly revenue increase was primarily driven by growth in the oil & gas sector which saw revenue growth of 169% to $10.5 million. The majority of the oil & gas sector growth came from previously reported backlog in our Technical Products operations, but the Company also saw recovery in its M&I Electric Brazil operation in the quarter as well.

Gross margin for the quarter was up $1.4 million from the first quarter of 2017 but down $410k from the second quarter of 2016 due primarily to market pricing pressures in the US oil and gas markets.

The Company reported quarter ending backlog of $22.7 million, down $3.9 million from the $26.6 million reported at the end of the first quarter of 2017. The Company's quarter ending backlog did not include the previously announced $4M West Texas pipeline project award received during the first week of July.

Based on the increased revenue and gross margins, the Company saw a $1.5 million improvement in quarterly operating results versus the first quarter of 2017.

EBITDA (a non-U.S. GAAP measure) improved to a loss of $0.7 million, from a loss of $2.1 million in the first quarter of 2017, but down versus a gain of $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2016, while net loss attributable to common shareholders in the quarter was $1.1 million, compared with a loss of $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2017 and net income of $0.1 million in the second quarter of 2016. The second quarter of 2016 EBITDA and net income included $0.4 million of one-time gains from the settlement of a claim and the gain from the sale of assets related to the disposition of the company's South Coast facility which closed in the second quarter of 2016.

"We were pleased with the growth in revenue and bottom line improvements resulting from our strong backlog growth in the first quarter and our services operations in the US and Brazilian markets," said Charles Dauber, AETI president and chief executive officer. "Although our markets continue to be very challenging and liquidity remains tight, the company is doing a good job of booking business and executing projects as we head in the second half of 2017."

Conference Call
AETI will conduct a conference call at 11 a.m. EDT on August 8, 2017 to discuss the results with analysts, investors and other interested parties. Individuals who wish to participate in the conference call should dial 888-632-3384 passcode 817746, in the United States and Canada. International callers should dial +1 785-424-1675 passcode 817746.

American Electric Technologies, Inc. AETI is a leading provider of power delivery solutions to the global energy industry. AETI offers M&I Electric^™ power distribution and control products, electrical services, and construction services.

AETI is headquartered in Houston and has global sales, support and manufacturing operations in Beaumont, Texas and Houma, Louisiana; and Rio de Janeiro, Macaé and Belo Horizonte, Brazil. In addition, AETI has minority interests in two joint ventures, which have facilities located in Xian, China and Singapore. AETI's SEC filings, news and product/service information are available at www.aeti.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, concerning anticipated future domestic and international demand for our products, and other future plans and objectives. While the Company believes that such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such future revenues, profits, plans and objectives will be achieved on the schedule or in the amounts indicated. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual events or results may differ from the Company's expectations, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those listed in Item 1A of the Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2017. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future events make it clear that any of the projected results expressed or implied herein will not be realized.

American Electric Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

	June 30, 2017			December 31,
	(unaudited)			2016
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,242		$	1,618
Restricted short-term investments		507			507
Accounts receivable-trade, net of allowance of $99 and $204 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016		6,803			6,717
Inventories, net of allowance of $134 and $60 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016		1,106			1,181
Cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts		6,701			5,829
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		275			349
Total current assets		18,634			16,201
Property, plant and equipment, net		7,016			7,298
Advances to and investments in foreign joint ventures		10,245			10,663
Retainage receivable		741			649
Intangibles		493			527
Other assets		85			46
Total assets	$	37,214		$	35,384
Liabilities, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Revolving line of credit	$	-		$	1,500
Current portion of long-term note payable		-			300
Short-term note payable		299			-
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses		10,060			9,798
Accrued payroll and benefits		1,039			1,093
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts		4,387			208
Total current liabilities		15,785			12,899
Long-term note payable, net		6,104			3,900
Deferred compensation		237			260
Deferred income taxes		2,726			2,824
Total liabilities		24,852			19,883
Convertible preferred stock:
Redeemable convertible preferred stock, Series A, net of discount of $590 at June 30, 2017 and $617 at December 31, 2016; $0.001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016		4,410			4,383
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock; $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 8,710,677 and 8,499,508 shares issued and 8,529,795 and 8,335,968 shares outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016		9			8
Treasury stock, at cost 180,882 and 163,540 shares at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016		(893	)		(863	)
Additional paid-in capital		13,106			12,613
Accumulated other comprehensive income		100			(2	)
Retained Deficit; including accumulated statutory reserves in equity method investments of $2,887 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016		(4,370	)		(638	)
Total stockholders' equity		7,952			11,118
Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders' equity	$	37,214		$	35,384

American Electric Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
Unaudited
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Net sales	$	12,960		$	11,444		$	20,990		$	19,742
Cost of sales		12,144			10,218			20,730			18,425
Gross margin		816			1,226			260			1,317
Operating expenses:
Research and development		78			196			182			719
Selling and marketing		695			417			1,306			1,293
General and administrative		897			981			1,991			2,327
Total operating expenses		1,670			1,594			3,479			4,339
Loss from operations		(854	)		(368	)		(3,219	)		(3,022	)
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations:
Equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations		134			347			186			152
Foreign joint ventures' operations related expenses		(64	)		(98	)		(128	)		(149	)
Net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations		70			249			58			3
Loss from operations and net equity income from foreign joint ventures' operations		(784	)		(119	)		(3,161	)		(3,019	)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense and other, net		(365	)		317			(465	)		278
Income (loss) before income taxes		(1,149	)		198			(3,626	)		(2,741	)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(90	)		47			(72	)		(9	)
Net income (loss) before dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock		(1,059	)		151			(3,554	)		(2,732	)
Dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock		(89	)		(88	)		(178	)		(176	)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	(1,148	)	$	63		$	(3,732	)	$	(2,908	)
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic	$	(0.13	)	$	0.01		$	(0.44	)	$	(0.35	)
Diluted	$	(0.13	)	$	0.01		$	(0.44	)	$	(0.35	)
Weighted - average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		8,504,240			8,292,751			8,420,680			8,277,897
Diluted		8,504,240			8,292,751			8,420,680			8,277,897

American Electric Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations
Computation of Earnings on Continuing Operations , Including Net Equity Income from Foreign Joint Ventures, Before Interest,
Dividends, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA")
Unaudited
(in thousands)

	Three Months Ended June 30,					Six Months Ended June 30,
	2017			2016		2017			2016
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	$	(1,148	)	$	63	$	(3,732	)	$	(2,908	)
Add: Depreciation and amortization	218				223	436				444
Interest expense	238				64	338				103
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(90	)		47		(72	)		(9	)
Dividend on redeemable preferred stock	89				88	178				176
EBITDA	$	(693	)	$	485	$	(2,852	)	$	(2,194	)

The Company is disclosing EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure, because it is used by management and provided to investors to provide comparability of underlying operational results. For more discussion of the use and limitations of EBITDA, see the 2016 10-K which was filed on March 30, 2017.

Investor Contact: 
American Electric Technologies, Inc. 
Bill Brod
713-644-8182 
investorrelations@aeti.com

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