EX-1 2 exhibit1.htm EXHIBIT 1 exhibit1.htm


FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 8, 2007CONTACT:  Sonia Ross (403) 295-4532

NovAtel Inc. Reports Record Revenue for the
Third Quarter 2007

(Calgary, Alberta, Canada, November 8, 2007) — NovAtel Inc. (NASDAQ: NGPS), a precise positioning technology company, today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007.

Revenues in the third quarter 2007 were CDN $23.3 million (US $22.2 million), compared to CDN $19.0 million (US $16.9 million) in the similar period a year ago.  Net income for the third quarter 2007 was CDN $5.3 million (US $5.1 million) or CDN $0.60 (US $0.57) per share (diluted), compared to a net income of CDN $5.6 million (US $5.0 million) or CDN $0.63 (US $0.56) per share (diluted) in the similar period a year ago.

Revenues in the nine months ended September 30, 2007 were CDN $65.3 million (US $59.2 million), compared to CDN $58.4 million (US $51.3 million) in 2006.  The Company is reporting net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 of CDN $16.3 million (US $14.8 million) or CDN $1.84 (US $1.67) per share (diluted), compared to net income of CDN $16.3 million (US $14.3 million) or CDN $1.84 (US $1.61) per share (diluted), in the 2006 period.

“Revenue for the third quarter of 2007 grew 23% compared to the similar period last year, and surpasses our previous record achieved during the second quarter 2007,” said Jon Ladd, President and CEO.  “We were able to achieve this despite the continued weakening of the US dollar relative to the Canadian dollar, which adversely affected revenue by approximately $1.6 million during the quarter, relative to the third quarter a year ago.”

“Growth was primarily driven by our largest customer category, Special Applications, with revenue of $15.7 million, an improvement of 24% over the similar period in 2006,” continued Ladd.  Revenue growth in the quarter was the result of increased shipments of precise positioning components into Asia and strong sales into the precision agriculture market.  Revenue from shipments to Leica Geosystems AG, despite declining 5% compared to the third quarter 2006, accounted for approximately 18% of total revenue for the quarter.  Sales related to Antcom Corporation, which NovAtel acquired on September 18, 2007, contributed $0.3 million to revenue.

Revenue in the Geomatics category increased 42% to $4.7 million in the third quarter 2007, compared to the third quarter 2006.  The majority of the Geomatics revenue is comprised of the composite business attributable to Point, Inc., NovAtel’s joint venture with Sokkia Co. Ltd.  During the quarter, the Company reverted to its standard accounting policy of recognizing revenue at the point of shipment instead of upon collection of payment from Point, which provided a benefit of approximately $0.6 million to Geomatics revenue in the current quarter.

Third quarter 2007 revenue of $2.8 million from the Aerospace and Defence category declined by 7% over the similar period a year ago, largely due to timing of deliveries under large, government-funded contracts. The majority of the third quarter 2007 revenue was derived from the achievement of project milestones associated with Europe’s future Galileo system.

“Our third quarter 2007 revenue growth over the comparable period last year was dampened by approximately 6% due to the effect of the US dollar, which continued to weaken relative to the Canadian dollar.  Net income for the current quarter declined to $5.3 million, compared to $5.6 million in the third quarter of last year, primarily due to legal costs relating to an intellectual property dispute and the impact of foreign exchange.  Gross margins remained strong at 61.1% of revenue in the current quarter,” said Werner Gartner, Executive Vice President and CFO at NovAtel.

Foreign Exchange

Although approximately 98% of NovAtel’s revenues in the first nine months of 2007 were earned in US dollars, the financial results are reported in Canadian dollars and in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. The CDN/US dollar exchange rate has declined from an average rate of approximately CDN $1.14 per US dollar in all of 2006 to a rate of approximately CDN $1.00 per US dollar as of September 30, 2007.

The US dollar financial information presented above is translated from the Canadian dollar financial information at the average rates in effect during the relevant reporting periods, as follows:
   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
Sep. 30,
   
Sep. 30,
   
Sep. 30,
   
Sep. 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
Canadian dollar per US dollar
   
1.051
     
1.124
     
1.102
     
1.140
 

* * * * *
Due to the pending tender offer by Hexagon for all the outstanding shares of NovAtel, NovAtel will not host a conference call to discuss further the third quarter 2007 financial results.
 
About NovAtel
 
NovAtel Inc. (NASDAQ:NGPS) is a leading provider of precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) components and subsystems that afford its customers rapid integration of precise positioning technology.  The Company’s mission is to provide exceptional return on investment and outstanding service to our customers.  An ISO 9001 certified company, NovAtel is focused on developing quality OEM products including receivers, antennas, enclosures and firmware that are integrated into high precision positioning applications worldwide.  These applications include surveying, Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping, precision agriculture machine guidance, port automation, mining, marine and defence industries. NovAtel’s reference receivers are also at the core of national aviation ground networks in the USA, Japan, Europe, China and India.  The Company is committed to providing its customers with advanced positioning technology through significant R&D investment focusing on the modernized Global Positioning System (GPS), the revitalized Russian GLONASS and the emerging European Galileo satellite systems, as well as the integration of additional complementary technologies such as Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs).  For more information, visit www.novatel.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on management’s current expectations regarding NovAtel’s future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures, competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities.  Wherever possible, words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “may”, “could”, “potential”, “intend”, “estimate”, “should”, “plan”, “predict”, “forecast” or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including operating results of the Company’s joint venture Point, Inc. (“Point”), U.S. dollar to Canadian dollar exchange rate fluctuations, establishing and maintaining effective distribution channels, certification and market acceptance of NovAtel’s new products, the impact and timing of large orders, dependence on key customers, credit risks of customers and the Company’s joint venture Point, pricing pressures in the market and other competitive factors, maintaining technological leadership, timing of revenue recognition in connection with certain contracts, the ability to maintain supply of products from subcontract manufacturers, the procurement of components to build products, product defects, the impact of industry consolidations, including the proposed acquisition of NovAtel Inc. by Hexagon AB and proposed merger between Sokkia Co. Ltd. and Topcon Corp., vulnerability to general economic, market and business conditions, competition, environmental and other actions by governmental authorities, reliance on key personnel and other factors described in the Company’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006 and other SEC filings, many of which are beyond the control of NovAtel.  These factors should be considered carefully and undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and NovAtel assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.




NOVATEL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, Canadian dollars)
(Unaudited)
   
Sep. 30,
     
Dec. 31,
 
   
2007
   
 2006
 
 
ASSETS
         
Current assets:
       
Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                
  $
9,418
    $
3,853
 
Short-term investments                                                                                
   
42,760
     
45,454
 
Accounts receivable                                                                                
   
17,975
     
13,697
 
Related party receivables                                                                                
   
788
     
920
 
Related party notes receivable                                                                                
   
324
     
378
 
Inventories                                                                                
   
10,721
     
8,075
 
Prepaid expenses and deposits                                                                                
   
1,983
     
578
 
Future income tax asset                                                                                
   
4,137
     
3,356
 
Total current assets                                                                            
   
88,106
     
76,311
 
         
Capital assets                                                                                   
   
7,536
     
6,079
 
Intangible assets and goodwill                                                                                   
   
12,980
     
8,213
 
Other assets                                                                                   
   
1,041
     
816
 
Deferred development costs                                                                                   
   
1,044
     
1,253
 
Future income tax asset                                                                                   
   
4,740
     
4,296
 
               Total assets                                                                                   
  $
115,447
    $
96,968
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
         
Current liabilities:
       
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $
12,089
    $
12,336
 
Income tax payable                                                                                
   
139
     
¾
 
Related party payables                                                                                
   
30
     
72
 
Notes payable                                                                                
   
463
     
541
 
Deferred revenue and customer deposits
   
905
     
692
 
Provision for future warranty costs                                                                                
   
887
     
816
 
Future income tax liabilities                                                                                
   
142
     
¾
 
Total current liabilities                                                                            
   
14,655
     
14,457
 
         
Future income tax liabilities                                                                                   
   
859
     
¾
 
Licence fee payable                                                                                   
   
155
     
691
 
Deferred gain on sale/leaseback of capital assets
   
147
     
231
 
Total liabilities                                                                            
   
15,816
     
15,379
 
         
Shareholders' equity:
       
Capital stock                                                                                
   
41,904
     
40,953
 
(Common shares issued and outstanding:  8,633 atSeptember 30, 2007 and 8,529 at Dec. 31, 2006)
       
Contributed surplus                                                                                
   
2,460
     
1,647
 
Retained earnings                                                                                
   
55,267
     
38,989
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
   
     
 
Total shareholders' equity                                                                            
   
99,631
     
81,589
 
 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $
115,447
    $
96,968
 



NOVATEL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 (in Canadian $ thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
Sep. 30,
   
Sep. 30,
   
Sep. 30,
   
Sep. 30,
 
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
Revenues:
                       
Product sales                                                        
  $
21,673
    $
18,230
    $
62,271
    $
54,910
 
NRE fees                                                        
   
1,665
     
793
     
3,027
     
3,528
 
Total revenues                                                    
   
23,338
     
19,023
     
65,298
     
58,438
 
                                 
Cost of sales:
                               
Cost of product sales                                                        
   
7,929
     
6,296
     
23,371
     
20,684
 
Cost of NRE fees                                                        
   
1,148
     
609
     
2,051
     
2,170
 
Total cost of sales                                                    
   
9,077
     
6,905
     
25,422
     
22,854
 
                                 
Gross profit                                                           
   
14,261
     
12,118
     
39,876
     
35,584
 
                                 
Operating expenses:
                               
Research and development
   
4,238
     
3,480
     
12,525
     
10,003
 
Selling and marketing                                                        
   
2,126
     
1,984
     
5,863
     
5,632
 
General and administration
   
2,819
     
2,031
     
7,221
     
5,617
 
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
   
517
      (69 )    
423
     
79
 
Total operating expenses
   
9,700
     
7,426
     
26,032
     
21,331
 
                                 
Operating income                                                           
   
4,561
     
4,692
     
13,844
     
14,253
 
                                 
Interest income, net                                                           
   
586
     
468
     
1,600
     
1,135
 
Other expense                                                           
    (9 )     (56 )     (130 )     (139 )
                                 
Income from operations before income taxes                                                       
   
5,138
     
5,104
     
15,314
     
15,249
 
                                 
Income taxes
                               
Current provision                                                        
   
120
     
96
     
261
     
276
 
Future income tax expense (benefit)
    (327 )     (600 )     (1,225 )     (1,373 )
                                 
Net income                                                           
  $
5,345
    $
5,608
    $
16,278
    $
16,346
 
                                 
Net income per share (basic)
  $
0.62
    $
0.66
    $
1.90
    $
1.94
 
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding (basic)                                                     
   
8,622
     
8,475
     
8,583
     
8,429
 
                                 
Net income per share (diluted)
  $
0.60
    $
0.63
    $
1.84
    $
1.84
 
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding (diluted)                                                     
   
8,852
     
8,917
     
8,832
     
8,860
 



NOVATEL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in Canadian $ thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
Three months ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
Sep. 30, 2007
   
Sep. 30, 2006
   
Sep. 30, 2007
   
Sep. 30, 2006
 
Operating activities:
                       
Net income
  $
5,345
    $
5,608
    $
16,278
    $
16,346
 
Charges and credits to operations not involving an outlay of cash:
                               
Amortization
   
936
     
851
     
2,767
     
2,522
 
Loss (gain) on disposal of capital assets
   
¾
     
15
     
9
      (13 )
Current income tax provision and future income tax benefit
    (249 )     (514 )     (1,307 )     (1,380 )
Stock-based compensation expense
   
438
     
872
     
1,020
     
1,693
 
Amortization of deferred gain on sale/leaseback of capital assets
    (28 )     (28 )     (84 )     (83 )
Accretion on royalty payable
   
55
     
     
167
     
 
Net change in non-cash working capital related to operations:
                               
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable and related party receivables
    (1,790 )    
379
      (3,326 )     (2,736 )
Increase in inventories
    (1,038 )     (1,001 )     (1,344 )     (2,891 )
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and deposits
    (1,229 )    
148
      (1,334 )     (332 )
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and related party payables
   
1,194
     
603
      (1,640 )    
918
 
Increase in deferred revenue and customer deposits
   
167
     
153
     
213
     
506
 
Increase in provision for future warranty costs
   
24
     
49
     
71
     
209
 
Decrease (increase) in other assets
    (389 )    
      (225 )    
 
Cash provided by operating activities
   
3,436
     
7,135
     
11,265
     
14,759
 
Financing activities:
                               
Issuance of shares
   
130
     
373
     
744
     
846
 
Related party notes receivable
   
83
     
12
     
¾
      (351 )
Notes payable
    (82 )     (14 )    
¾
     
510
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on financing activities
    (10 )    
2
      (24 )     (2 )
Cash provided by financing activities
   
121
     
373
     
720
     
1,003
 
Investing activities:
                               
Purchase of capital and intangible assets
    (1,895 )     (2,465 )     (4,402 )     (4,548 )
Proceeds from disposal of capital assets
   
     
¾
     
     
35
 
Purchase of short-term investments
    (3,344 )     (10,843 )     (38,032 )     (36,993 )
Proceeds from short-term investments
   
12,544
     
9,358
     
40,726
     
30,681
 
Acquisition of Antcom, Inc., net of cash acquired
    (4,712 )    
¾
      (4,712 )    
¾
 
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities
   
2,593
      (3,950 )     (6,420 )     (10,825 )
                                 
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
6,150
     
3,558
     
5,565
     
4,937
 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
   
3,268
     
4,100
     
3,853
     
2,721
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $
9,418
    $
7,658
    $
9,418
    $
7,658
 
Interest paid related to bank advances and capital lease obligations
  $
    $
    $
    $
 
Income taxes paid
  $
42
    $
10
    $
343
    $
283