MILPITAS, Calif., Nov. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

• Revenue of $58.2 million; Book to Bill > 1
• GAAP Gross Margin of 29.8%, an increase of 340 basis points year-over-year; Non-GAAP Gross Margin of 29.9%, an improvement of 340 basis points year-over-year
• GAAP Operating Expenses of $20.3 million, a reduction of $2.3 million or 10.3% year-over-year; Non-GAAP Operating Expenses of $19.7 million, a reduction of $2.4 million or 10.9% year-over-year
• GAAP Net Loss Attributable to Aviat Networks of $(0.6) million, an improvement of $0.6 million year-over-year
• Non-GAAP Loss from Continuing Operations Attributable to Aviat Networks of $(2.6) million, a decline of $1.2 million year-over-year
• Adjusted EBITDA of $(0.6) million compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $0.7 million in Q1 Fiscal 2016
• Cash and cash equivalents at Fiscal 2017 first quarter end of $31.8 million; net cash increased $1.3 million from FY16 year-end

Aviat Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVNW), ("Aviat Networks" or "the Company"), the leading expert in microwave networking solutions, today reported financial results for its fiscal 2017 first quarter ended September 30, 2016.

Commenting on the Company's fiscal 2017 first quarter results, Michael Pangia, President and CEO of Aviat Networks stated, "Across the board, we are very pleased with our results. Our bookings, revenues, expenses and cash all tracked to expectations, while our gross margins exceeded our internal goals. We now have a better view to generating positive Adjusted EBITDA in our fiscal second quarter and for the full fiscal year."

Mr. Pangia further commented, "We continue to win competitive deals, have strengthened both our products and services and have new solutions in development which will enhance our customer offerings further. North America remains a key driver for our business, and with the momentum established within the Private Networks vertical, we believe we are positioned to grow in North America this fiscal year. Overall, we are making significant progress and sustainable profitability is well within our reach."

Fiscal 2017 First Quarter Results Comparisons

The Company reported total revenues of $58.2 million for its fiscal 2017 first quarter as compared to $79.6 million in the comparable fiscal 2016 period. The decline in revenues was primarily attributed to lower overall spending by the Company's Mobile Operator customer base, and the timing associated with some Private Network projects coming to completion, which impacted both product and service revenues across reportable geographic segments. On a sequential basis, total revenues were flat as compared to the prior fiscal 2016 fourth quarter.

GAAP gross margins for the fiscal 2017 first quarter were 29.8% as compared to 26.4% in the fiscal 2016 first quarter, an improvement of approximately 340 basis points. Non-GAAP gross margins for the fiscal 2017 first quarter, excluding the impact of share-based compensation, were 29.9% as compared to 26.5% in the fiscal 2016 first quarter, an increase of 340 basis points. Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin percentage improvements were primarily driven by better efficiencies within the Company's services business combined with process enhancements within supply chain operations.

GAAP total operating expenses for the fiscal 2017 first quarter were $20.3 million as compared to $22.6 million reported in the fiscal 2016 first quarter, a reduction of $2.3 million or 10.3%. Non-GAAP total operating expenses for the fiscal 2017 first quarter, excluding the impact of restructuring charges and share-based compensation, were $19.7 million as compared to $22.1 million reported in the fiscal 2016 first quarter, a reduction of $2.4 million or 10.9%. The year-over-year improvement in both GAAP total operating expenses and non-GAAP total operating expenses is a direct result of the Company's continuing focus on lowering its overall cost structure.

GAAP operating loss was $2.9 million for the fiscal 2017 first quarter as compared to a GAAP operating loss of $1.6 million for the comparable fiscal 2016 period. Non-GAAP operating loss was $2.3 million for the fiscal 2017 first quarter as compared to a Non-GAAP operating loss of $1.1 million for the comparable fiscal 2016 period. The Company reported a GAAP loss from continuing operations of $0.6 million or a loss of $0.12 per diluted share and a Non-GAAP loss from continuing operations of $2.6 million or a loss of $0.49 per diluted share. This compares to a GAAP loss from continuing operations of $1.6 million or a loss of $0.30 per diluted share for the comparable year-ago period, and a Non-GAAP loss from continuing operations attributable to Aviat Networks of $1.4 million or a loss of $0.26 per diluted share for the comparable fiscal 2016 period.

Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal 2017 first quarter was $(0.6) million, compared with $0.7 million in the comparable fiscal 2016 period. In addition to the $0.5 million of share-based compensation expense excluded from non-GAAP loss from continuing operations, Adjusted EBITDA also excluded $0.2 million of restructuring-related charges as part of the Company's Process Improvement and Realignment initiatives.

Cash and cash equivalents were $31.8 million as of September 30, 2016 as compared to $30.5 million as of July 1, 2016, an improvement of $1.3 million.

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 along with the accompanying notes is provided in Table 3 below.

Conference Call Details

Aviat Networks will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on November 15, 2016 to discuss its financial results for the fiscal 2017 first quarter. To listen to the live conference call, please dial toll free (US/CAN) 877-627-6590, (INTL) 719-325-4744, conference ID: 5081739. Investors are invited to listen via webcast, which will be broadcasted live and via replay approximately two hours after the call at http://investors.aviatnetworks.com/events.cfm.

Non-GAAP Measures and Comparative Financial Information

Aviat Networks, Inc. reports information in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). Management of Aviat Networks monitors gross margin, research and development expenses, selling and administrative expenses, operating loss, income tax provision, loss from continuing operations attributable to Aviat Networks, basic and diluted net loss per share from continuing operations attributable to Aviat Networks, adjusted losses before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") attributable to Aviat Networks adjusted to exclude certain costs, charges, gains and losses, on a non-GAAP basis for planning and forecasting results in future periods, and may use these measures for some management compensation purposes. These measures exclude certain costs, expenses, gains and losses as shown on the attached Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures table (Table 3). As a result, management is presenting these non-GAAP measures in addition to results reported in accordance with GAAP to better communicate underlying operational and financial performance in each period. Management believes these non-GAAP measures provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results separate and apart from items that may, or could, have a disproportionate positive or negative impact on results in any given period. Management also believes that these non-GAAP measures enhance the ability of an investor to analyze trends in Aviat Networks' business and to better understand our performance. Aviat Networks' management does not, nor does it suggest that investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Aviat Networks presents these non-GAAP financial measures in reporting its financial results to provide investors with an additional tool to evaluate its financial performance. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP are included in the tables below.

About Aviat Networks

Aviat Networks, Inc. works to provide dependable products, services and support to our customers. With more than one million systems sold into 170 countries worldwide, communications service providers and private network operators including state/local government, utility, federal government and defense organizations trust Aviat with their critical applications. Coupled with a long history of microwave innovations, Aviat provides a comprehensive suite of localized professional and support services enabling customers to drastically simplify both their networks and their lives. For more than 50 years, the experts at Aviat have delivered high performance products, simplified operations and the best overall customer experience. Aviat Networks is headquartered in Milpitas, California. For more information, visit www.aviatnetworks.com or connect with Aviat Networks on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information contained in this document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 including Aviat Networks' beliefs and expectations regarding business conditions, new product solutions, customer positioning, future orders, bookings, new contracts, cost structure, profitability in fiscal 2017, process improvements, realignment plans and review of strategic alternatives. All statements, trend analyses and other information contained herein regarding the foregoing beliefs and expectations, as well as about the markets for the services and products of Aviat Networks and trends in revenue, and other statements identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "will," "see," "continue," "delivering," "view," and "intend," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, forward-looking statements are based on estimates reflecting the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the senior management of Aviat Networks regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should therefore be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in this document. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include the following:

• continued price and margin erosion as a result of increased competition in the microwave transmission industry;
• the impact of the volume, timing and customer, product and geographic mix of our product orders;
• our ability to meet financial covenant requirements which could impact, among other things, our liquidity;
• the timing of our receipt of payment for products or services from our customers;
• our ability to meet projected new product development dates or anticipated cost reductions of new products;
• our suppliers' inability to perform and deliver on time as a result of their financial condition, component shortages, or other supply chain constraints;
• customer acceptance of new products;
• the ability of our subcontractors to timely perform;
• continued weakness in the global economy affecting customer spending;
• retention of our key personnel;
• our ability to manage and maintain key customer relationships;
• uncertain economic conditions in the telecommunications sector combined with operator and supplier consolidation;
• our failure to protect our intellectual property rights or defend against intellectual property infringement claims by others;
• the results of restructuring efforts;
• the ability to preserve and use our net operating loss carryforwards;
• the effects of currency and interest rate risks; and
• the impact of political turmoil in countries where we have significant business.

For more information regarding the risks and uncertainties for our business, see "Risk Factors" in our Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on September 9, 2016 as well as other reports filed by Aviat Networks, Inc. with the SEC from time to time. Aviat Networks undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, for any reason, except as required by law, even as new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

Investor Relations:

Glenn Wiener, Aviat Networks, Inc., 212-786-6011, [email protected] or [email protected]

Financial Tables to Follow:

AVIAT NETWORKS, INC.

Fiscal Year 2017 First Quarter Summary

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES AND REGULATION G DISCLOSURE

To supplement the consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), we provide additional measures of gross margin, research and development expenses, selling and administrative expenses, operating loss, income tax provision, loss from continuing operations attributable to Aviat Networks, basic and diluted net loss per share from continuing operations attributable to Aviat Networks, and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") attributable to Aviat Networks, adjusted to exclude certain costs, charges, gains and losses, as set forth below. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the GAAP financial measures provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results separate and apart from items that may, or could, have a disproportionate positive or negative impact on results in any particular period. We also believe these non-GAAP measures enhance the ability of investors to analyze trends in our business and to understand our performance. In addition, we may utilize non-GAAP financial measures as a guide in our forecasting, budgeting and long-term planning process and to measure operating performance for some management compensation purposes. Any analysis of non-GAAP financial measures should be used only in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP follow.

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SOURCE Aviat Networks, Inc.