PHOENIX, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- White Electronic Designs Corporation (Nasdaq: WEDC) reported financial results for the third quarter ended July 4, 2009.

Highlights of the quarter and the first nine months of fiscal 2009 included:

Continuing Operations

    --  Q3 revenue of $16.6 million;
    --  Q3 bookings of $18.2 million;
    --  Anti-tamper component only bookings reached $12.6 million for the first
        nine months of fiscal 2009;
    --  Circuit card assemblies with anti-tamper component bookings were $6.2
        million for the first nine months of fiscal 2009;
    --  Circuit card assemblies with anti-tamper component shipments ramped to
        $1.8 million in Q3 up from $0.1 million in Q1 of fiscal 2009; and

    --  Backlog at the end of the Q3 reaches $45.7 million.

Discontinued Operations

    --  Interface Electronics Division - Production and shipments completed end
        of June 2009 .

Third Quarter Fiscal 2009 Results:

For the quarter, the Company's net sales were $16.6 million, a 12% increase when compared to $14.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2008.

Gross margin from continuing operations for the quarter was 37% compared with 44% in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. Income from continuing operations for the quarter was $0.4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $1.7 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2008.

Financial results for the quarter were impacted by expenses associated with the retirement of our former chairman of the Board of Directors, Edward White, expenses for our ERP system upgrade and expenses supporting process and organizational revisions as part of the structural upgrade of the business in support of higher volume manufacturing. Additionally, a continued decline in interest rates reduced our interest income and a valuation allowance recorded against some expiring net operating losses increased our tax expense for the quarter.

Loss from discontinued operations for the quarter totaled $0.1 million, or $(0.01) per diluted share, versus a loss of $3.7 million, or $(0.16) per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2008.

Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 was $0.2 million or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $2.0 million, or $(0.09) per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2008.

Roger Derse, Chief Financial Officer and member of the interim Office of the President, said, "While we absorbed some additional costs this quarter, overall we are pleased with the outcome of the quarter and the current direction of the Company. Revenue is now incorporating integrated circuit card assemblies with our anti-tamper components as well as our traditional individual components with our anti-tamper technology. We also completed the production and sales activity at our Columbus facility, the last of our discontinued operations.

"The traction that we are achieving as a premier defense circuit card integrator comes, however, with a reduction in earnings for the quarter. Adjustments in personnel, modifications of information systems and structural revisions were required to position us as an advanced supplier of these products. Our focus on Lean Six Sigma manufacturing will allow us to efficiently produce the volumes that we are anticipating going forward."

As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company had $58.8 million in cash and no debt. Due to the continued decline in interest rates, the Company has experienced a significant drop in interest income which has historically contributed to its operating income. Interest in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 was $61,000 compared to $242,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. Interest income is expected to remain lower for the remainder of fiscal 2009.

Nine Months Fiscal 2009 Results:

For the nine month period, revenues from continuing operations increased 13% to $47.0 million in fiscal 2009 from $41.5 million for the comparable period in fiscal 2008. The Company reported income from continuing operations for the nine month period of $2.0 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to income of $3.6 million, or $0.16 per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal 2008. The nine month period has been collectively impacted by the added expenses and reduced interest income noted above for the third quarter and the shareholder agreement costs expensed in the second quarter of fiscal 2009.

Bookings / Backlog

Bookings for continuing operations for the quarter totaled $18.2 million compared to $11.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. The first nine months of fiscal 2009 bookings totaled $55.1 million and resulted in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.17:1. The bookings amount represents a 42% increase over the first nine months of fiscal 2008 bookings.

Total anti-tamper bookings for the first nine months of fiscal 2009 totaled $18.8 million, a significant improvement from $4.8 million of anti-tamper bookings for all of fiscal 2008. Our reference to anti-tamper includes the growing integrated circuit card/GPS receiver boards which include our anti-tamper components. Anti-tamper component only bookings totaled $12.6 million and integrated circuit card assemblies with anti-tamper components totaled $6.2 million for the first nine month period of fiscal 2009.

Total backlog at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2009 was $45.7 million compared to $35.9 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2008.

Dan Tarantine, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing and member of the interim Office of the President, said, "We have attained bookings this year through the end of the third quarter that almost match our total bookings for fiscal 2008. Our anti-tamper business continues to be strong with growth expectations leading into fiscal 2010. We are executing to our strategic vision pertaining to products that target greater participation in defense electronics with a specific focus in weapon and communication platforms."

Conference Call

The Company will conduct a conference call today, Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 4:30 pm ET to review the financial results of the quarter.

Interested parties can access the call by dialing (877) 407-8031 (domestic) or (201) 689-8031 (international). A replay of the call will be available at (877) 660-6853 (domestic) or (201) 612-7415 (international), account number 286, access number 330019 for 7 days following the call.

A live web cast of the call will be available at http://www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=148445. The online replay will be available shortly after the end of the call and can be reached at http://www.vcall.com. After accessing the Vcall site enter the Company's symbol, WEDC. The webcast will be archived for the following 3 months.

About White Electronic Designs Corporation

White Electronic Designs (NASDAQ: WEDC) delivers sophisticated multi-chip semiconductor packages, high-efficiency memory devices and build-to-print electromechanical assemblies for defense and aerospace applications. The ability to address the unique size, performance and quality requirements for technology creators in the defense and aerospace market has established White Electronic Designs as a customer-focused solutions provider. Capabilities include design, manufacturing and obsolescence management for advanced defense electronics solutions, including die stacking and secure microelectronics, as well as complex circuit card assembly services. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, White Electronic Designs operates world class development and production centers in Arizona and Indiana. To learn more about us, visit our website at http://www.whiteedc.com.

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. The words, "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "will" and other similar statements of expectation identify forward-looking statements. Specific forward looking statements in this press release include but are not limited to the Company's expectations related to: anticipated reduction in defense programs not likely affecting programs that the Company focuses on, the Company's book-to-bill ratio, that the focus on Lean Six Sigma will allow the Company to efficiently produce the anticipated volumes, and the continued growth of anti-tamper in fiscal 2010. Additionally, other factors that could materially and unexpectedly affect the Company's results are set forth in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or new information after this press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. WEDC-F


                    Financial Tables on the Following Pages



                WHITE ELECTRONIC DESIGNS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                            CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                    (Unaudited)
                         (In thousands, except share data)

                                                       July 4,  September 27,
                                                        2009        2008
                                                        ----        ----
    ASSETS
    Current Assets
      Cash and cash equivalents                       $58,758     $52,604
      Accounts receivable, less allowance for
       doubtful accounts of $186 and $74               12,607      10,508
      Inventories                                      17,571      15,359
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets         2,334       2,027
      Deferred income taxes                             4,293       2,962
      Assets held for sale                              2,605      12,668
                                                        -----      ------
            Total Current Assets                       98,168      96,128
    Property, plant and equipment, net                 10,696      10,137
    Deferred income taxes                               1,164       1,900
    Goodwill                                            1,764       1,764
    Other assets                                           67          67
    Assets held for sale                                  722       1,662
                                                          ---       -----
            Total  Assets                            $112,581    $111,658
                                                     ========    ========
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current Liabilities
      Accounts payable                                 $3,649      $2,038
      Accrued salaries and benefits                     1,562       1,490
      Other accrued expenses                            1,836       1,260
      Deferred revenue                                  2,665       4,016
      Liabilities related to assets held for sale         699       2,327
                                                          ---       -----
            Total Current Liabilities                  10,411      11,131
    Accrued pension liability                             224         640
    Other liabilities                                     849         948
    Liabilities related to assets held for sale             -         101
                                                          ---         ---
            Total Liabilities                          11,484      12,820
                                                       ------      ------
    Commitments and Contingencies
    Shareholders' Equity
      Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized,
       no shares issued                                     -           -
      Common stock, $0.10 stated value, 60,000,000
       shares authorized, 25,404,367 and 25,048,639
       shares issued                                    2,540       2,504
      Treasury stock, 2,464,371 and 2,464,371
       shares, at par                                    (247)       (247)
      Additional paid-in capital                       83,608      82,608
      Retained earnings                                15,427      14,241
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss               (231)       (268)
                                                         ----        ----
            Total Shareholders' Equity                101,097      98,838
                                                      -------      ------
            Total Liabilities and Shareholders'
             Equity                                  $112,581    $111,658
                                                     ========    ========



                WHITE ELECTRONIC DESIGNS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                     (Unaudited)
                   (In thousands, except share and per share data)

                                   Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended
                                   ------------------      -----------------
                                   July 4,    June 28,     July 4,    June 28,
                                    2009        2008        2009        2008
                                    ----        ----        ----        ----

    Net sales                     $16,620     $14,807     $47,035     $41,500
    Cost of sales                  10,472       8,357      28,291      24,611
                                   ------       -----      ------      ------
    Gross profit                    6,148       6,450      18,744      16,889
                                    -----       -----      ------      ------
    Operating expenses:
      Selling, general and
       administrative               4,433       3,556      12,871      10,615
      Research and development      1,019         971       3,105       2,731
                                    -----         ---       -----       -----
        Total operating expenses    5,452       4,527      15,976      13,346
                                    -----       -----      ------      ------
    Operating income                  696       1,923       2,768       3,543
    Interest income                    61         242         367       1,267
                                      ---         ---         ---       -----
    Income from continuing
     operations, before
     income taxes                     757       2,165       3,135       4,810
    Provision for income taxes       (407)       (467)     (1,139)     (1,233)
                                     ----        ----      ------      ------
    Income from continuing
     operations                       350       1,698       1,996       3,577
    Discontinued operations:
      Loss from discontinued
       operations, net of tax         (62)     (2,942)        (70)     (3,916)
      Loss on sale of discontinued
       operations, net of tax         (64)       (785)       (740)     (3,018)
                                      ---        ----        ----      ------
    Loss from discontinued
     operations                      (126)     (3,727)       (810)     (6,934)
                                     ----      ------        ----      ------
    Net income (loss)                $224     $(2,029)     $1,186     $(3,357)
                                     ====     =======      ======     =======
    Income from continuing
     operations per common share:
      Basic                         $0.02       $0.08       $0.09       $0.16
                                    =====       =====       =====       =====
      Diluted                       $0.02       $0.07       $0.09       $0.16
                                    =====       =====       =====       =====
    Loss from discontinued
     operations per common share:
      Basic                        $(0.01)     $(0.17)     $(0.04)     $(0.31)
                                   ======      ======      ======      ======
      Diluted                      $(0.01)     $(0.16)     $(0.04)     $(0.30)
                                   ======      ======      ======      ======
    Net income (loss) per
     common share:
      Basic                         $0.01      $(0.09)      $0.05      $(0.15)
                                    =====      ======       =====      ======
      Diluted                       $0.01      $(0.09)      $0.05      $(0.15)
                                    =====      ======       =====      ======
    Weighted average number of
     common shares and
     equivalents:
      Basic                    22,920,939  22,440,431  22,850,616  22,525,069
      Diluted                  23,039,639  22,756,198  23,138,611  22,866,801


    Company Contact:                     Investor Contact:
    Roger Derse                          Lytham Partners, LLC
    Interim Office of the President,     Joe Diaz, Robert Blum, Joe Dorame
    Chief Financial Officer              602-889-9700
    602-437-1520                         wedc@lythampartners.com
    rderse@wedc.com

SOURCE White Electronic Designs Corporation