EX-99.1 2 ex99-1.htm

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

AST SpaceMobile Provides Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Business Update

 

MIDLAND, TX, March 31, 2022 – AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by standard mobile phones, today is providing its business update for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

 

“Since our last quarterly business update, our global team has worked diligently to substantially complete the assembly of, and critical testing milestones related to our next satellite, BlueWalker 3. The satellite is on schedule for our planned summer launch and all testing and integration are near completion,” said Abel Avellan, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile.

 

Mr. Avellan added, “In our first year as a public company, we have achieved important technical milestones to position ourselves for the planned launch of BlueWalker 3, which will bring to a close our initial development phase. In parallel, we’ve advanced our production spacecraft design and procurement, made facility and human capital investments to support high-volume manufacturing capabilities, and furthered our relationships with mobile network operators around the globe.”

 

Business Highlights Through March 31, 2022

 

●Substantially completed the assembly of, and critical testing milestones for BlueWalker 3 in advance of its planned summer launch

 

●Completed the purchase of a 100,000 square feet extension facility in Texas, to support our commercial satellite manufacturing capabilities

 

●Completed the first phase of renovations on the extension facility and earmarked approximately $20.0 million of additional investment

 

●Established new technology hub in Maryland to support Systems Engineering, Network Operations Center (“NOC”) and Satellite Operations Center (“SOC”)

 

 
 

 

●Increased to more than 1.8 billion the number of subscribers represented by mobile network operators who have agreements and memoranda of understanding with AST SpaceMobile as of March 31, 2022, compared to 1.5 billion at November 15, 2021

 

●Signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Orange S.A., one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators serving more than 220 million mobile customers across the globe

 

●Growth of 30 employees across all offices in the fourth quarter of 2021, with a team of 566 as of December 31, 2021, including 386 full-time employees and consultants and 180 employees of 3rd party engineering service providers working on AST SpaceMobile

 

●Grew portfolio of patent- and patent-pending claims to more than 2,100 worldwide as of March 31, 2022

 

●Signed a multi-launch agreement, covering the planned summer launch of BW3 and the launch of the first BlueBird satellite, and providing a framework for future launches, and paid $22.75 million in the first quarter of 2022 in connection therewith

 

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Highlights

 

●Ended the fourth quarter with cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash of $324.5 million and $5.0 million of debt as of December 31, 2021, incurred in connection with the purchase of the new Texas facility

 

●Total operating expenses increased by $64.3 million to $91.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $27.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Operating expenses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and for the period from January 1, 2021 up to April 6, 2021, the date of the Business Combination, are of the accounting predecessor, AST LLC. After the Business Combination, upon obtaining additional funding of $416.9 million, the Company significantly expanded its operations and research and development initiatives, made significant progress on the BW3 test satellite and design of the BB satellites, and increased the headcount of employees and consultants, which contributed to a significant increase in operating expenses during 2021

 

●Total operating expenses increased by $8.2 million to $31.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, as compared to $23.1 million in the third quarter of 2021, due to a $3.0 million increase in research and development costs, $2.9 million increase in engineering services, and $2.3 million increase in general and administrative expenses

 

● Through December 31, 2021 and as of March 31, 2022, invested $67.6 million and $80.7 million, respectively, in the construction of BlueWalker 3 satellite. The BlueWalker 3 satellite is substantially complete, and we do not expect to incur material costs in future periods related to the BlueWalker 3 satellite

 

●As of December 31, 2021, invested $31.9 million in property and equipment primarily related to the Texas facilities, satellite antennas, test equipment, and leasehold improvements

 

 
 

 

Conference Call Information

 

AST SpaceMobile will hold a quarterly business update conference call at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) today, March 31, 2022. The call will be accessible via a live webcast on the Events page of AST SpaceMobile’s Investor Relations website at https://investors.ast-science.com/. An archive of the webcast will be available shortly after the call.

 

About AST SpaceMobile

 

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today’s five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected. For more information, follow AST SpaceMobile on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Watch this video for an overview of the SpaceMobile mission.

 

To receive alerts about upcoming events and press releases, please sign up for our investor relations email alerts list at https://investors.ast-science.com/ir-resources/email-alerts.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” that are not historical facts, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results of AST SpaceMobile to differ materially from those expected and projected. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “potential,” “projects,” “predicts,” “continue,” or “should,” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology.

 

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside AST SpaceMobile’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) expectations regarding AST SpaceMobile’s strategies and future financial performance, including AST’s future business plans or objectives, expected functionality of the SpaceMobile Service, anticipated timing and level of deployment of satellites, anticipated demand and acceptance of mobile satellite services, prospective performance and commercial opportunities and competitors, the timing of obtaining regulatory approvals, ability to finance its research and development activities, commercial partnership acquisition and retention, products and services, pricing, marketing plans, operating expenses, market trends, revenues, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and AST’s ability to invest in growth initiatives; (ii) the negotiation of definitive agreements with mobile network operators relating to the SpaceMobile service that would supersede memoranda of understanding and preliminary agreements; (iii) the ability of AST SpaceMobile to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees and AST SpaceMobile’s responses to actions of its competitors and its ability to effectively compete; (iv) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (v) the possibility that AST SpaceMobile may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (vi) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against AST SpaceMobile; and (vii) other risks and uncertainties indicated in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including those in the Risk Factors section of AST SpaceMobile’s Form S-1 Registration Statement filed with the SEC on June 25, 2021 (File No. 333-257425) as well as the Risk Factors contained in Part II, Item 1A of AST SpaceMobile’s Form 10-Q dated August 16, 2021, as well as the Risk Factors to be included in AST SpaceMobile’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, to be filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022.

 

AST SpaceMobile cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. AST SpaceMobile cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors incorporated by reference into AST SpaceMobile’s Form S-1 Registration Statement filed with the SEC on June 25, 2021 (File No. 333-257425) as well as the Risk Factors contained in Part II, Item 1A of AST SpaceMobile’s Form 10-Q dated August 16, 2021, as well as the Risk Factors to be included in AST SpaceMobile’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, to be filed with the SEC on March 31, 2022. AST SpaceMobile’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, AST SpaceMobile disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

 
 

 

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results

 

AST SPACEMOBILE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

   December 31, 
   2021   2020 
         
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $321,787   $42,777 
Restricted cash   2,750    - 
Accounts receivable   2,173    2,081 
Inventories   1,412    2,591 
Prepaid expenses   3,214    1,249 
Other current assets   4,467    2,234 
Total current assets   335,803    50,932 
           
Property and equipment:          
BlueWalker 3 satellite - construction in progress   67,615    27,013 
Property and equipment, net   28,327    10,057 
Total property and equipment, net   95,942    37,070 
           
Other non-current assets:          
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net   7,991    7,045 
Intangible assets, net   242    526 
Goodwill   3,641    3,912 
Other non-current assets   317    160 
Total other non-current assets   12,191    11,643 
           
TOTAL ASSETS  $443,936   $99,645 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $6,638   $4,990 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   7,469    4,222 
Deferred revenue   6,636    3,401 
Current operating lease liabilities   634    504 
Total current liabilities   21,377    13,117 
           
Warrant liabilities   58,062    - 
Non-current operating lease liabilities   7,525    6,541 
Long-term debt   5,000    - 
Total liabilities   91,964    19,658 
           
Commitments and contingencies          
           
Stockholders’ Equity:          
Class A Common Stock, $.0001 par value, 800,000,000 shares authorized, 51,730,904 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021   5    - 
Class B Common Stock, $.0001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 51,636,922 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021   5    - 
Class C Common Stock, $.0001 par value, 125,000,000 shares authorized, 78,163,078 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021   8    - 
Additional paid-in capital   171,155    - 
Common equity (pre-combination)   -    117,573 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (433)   (168)
Accumulated deficit   (70,461)   (39,908)
Noncontrolling interest   251,693    2,490 
Total stockholders’ equity   351,972    79,987 
           
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  $443,936   $99,645 

 

 
 

 

AST SPACEMOBILE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2021   2020 
         
Revenues  $12,405   $5,967 
           
Cost of sales (exclusive of items shown separately below)   7,563    3,025 
           
Gross profit   4,842    2,942 
           
Operating expenses:          
Engineering services   29,599    13,081 
General and administrative costs   35,636    12,320 
Research and development costs   23,440    1,011 
Depreciation and amortization   2,913    887 
Total operating expenses   91,588    27,299 
           
Other income:          
Gain on remeasurement of warrant liabilities   15,766    - 
Other income (expense), net   (1,950)   83 
Total other income, net   13,816    83 
           
Loss before income tax expense   (72,930)   (24,274)
Income tax expense   331    131 
Net loss before allocation to noncontrolling interest   (73,261)   (24,405)
           
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (42,708)   (344)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders  $(30,553)  $(24,061)
Net loss per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders (1)          
Basic and diluted  $(0.37)   N/A 
Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per share of common stock (1)          
Basic and diluted   51,729,785    N/A 

 

(1) Earnings per share information has not been presented for periods prior to the Business Combination, as it resulted in values that would not be meaningful to the readers of these consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 16 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 for further information.

 

 
 

 

AST SPACEMOBILE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(dollars in thousands)

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2021   2020 
         
Net income (loss) before allocation to noncontrolling interest  $(73,261)  $(24,405)
Other comprehensive income (loss)          
Foreign currency translation adjustments   (666)   382 
Total other comprehensive income (loss)   (666)   382 
Total comprehensive income (loss) before allocation to noncontrolling interest   (73,927)   (24,023)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest   (43,109)   (123)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common stockholders  $(30,818)  $(23,900)

 

 
 

 

AST SPACEMOBILE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

   Three Months Ended December 31, 
   2021   2020 
         
Revenues  $6,220   $2,702 
           
Cost of sales (exclusive of items shown separately below)   3,441    391 
           
Gross profit   2,779    2,311 
           
Operating expenses:          
Engineering services   10,842    4,655 
General and administrative costs   11,605    4,682 
Research and development costs   7,949    951 
Depreciation and amortization   864    470 
Total operating expenses   31,260    10,758 
           
Other income:          
Gain on remeasurement of warrant liabilities   18,042    - 
Other income (expense), net   (2,106)   25 
Total other income, net   15,936    25 
           
Loss before income tax expense   (12,545)   (8,422)
Income tax expense   258    131 
Net loss before allocation to noncontrolling interest   (12,803)   (8,553)
           
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (9,693)   (17)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders  $(3,110)  $(8,536)
Net loss per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders (1)          
Basic and diluted   (0.06)   N/A 
Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per share of common stock (1)          
Basic and diluted   51,729,943    N/A 

 

(1) Earnings per share information has not been presented for periods prior to the Business Combination, as it resulted in values that would not be meaningful to the users of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 
 

 

AST SPACEMOBILE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands)

 

   Three Months Ended December 31, 
   2021   2020 
         
Net income (loss) before allocation to noncontrolling interest  $(12,803)  $(8,553)
Other comprehensive income (loss)          
Foreign currency translation adjustments   (172)   128 
Total other comprehensive income (loss)   (172)   128 
Total comprehensive income (loss) before allocation to noncontrolling interest   (12,975)   (8,425)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest   (9,826)   94 
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common stockholders  $(3,149)  $(8,519)

 

 
 

 

AST SPACEMOBILE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(dollars in thousands)

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2021   2020 
         
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net loss before allocation to noncontrolling interest  $(73,261)  $(24,405)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss before noncontrolling interest to cash
used in operating activities:		          
Depreciation   2,689    670 
Amortization of intangible assets   224    217 
(Gain) loss on remeasurement of warrant liabilities   (15,766)   - 
Non-cash lease expense   574    219 
Stock-based compensation   3,736    283 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   (220)   (1,568)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (4,216)   (1,485)
Inventory   1,039    (2,236)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   2,091    3,476 
Operating lease liabilities   (398)   (219)
Deferred revenue   3,572    2,235 
Other assets and liabilities   (159)   6 
Net cash used in operating activities   (80,095)   (22,807)
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Purchase of property and equipment   (15,080)   (8,123)
Purchase of intangible asset   -    (23)
BlueWalker 3 satellite - construction in process   (39,712)   (22,258)
Net cash used in investing activities   (54,792)   (30,404)
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Proceeds from Business Combination   456,420    - 
Direct costs incurred for the Business Combination   (39,542)   (775)
Proceeds from warrant exercises   14    - 
Repayment for founder bridge loan   -    (1,750)
Proceeds from issuance of Series B Preferred Stock   -    79,833 
Issuance costs from issuance of Series B Preferred Stock   -    (7,745)
Proceeds from promissory note with common shareholder   -    100 
Proceeds from debt   49    - 
Net cash provided by financing activities   416,941    69,663 
           
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   (294)   (173)
           
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   281,760    16,279 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period   42,777    26,498 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period  $324,537   $42,777 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:          
Non-cash transactions:          
Purchases of construction in process in accounts payable  $3,265   $2,615 
Purchases of property and equipment in accounts payable   1,429    794 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities as of January 1, 2020 upon adoption of ASC 842   -    6,472 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities   1,557    734 
Purchases of property and equipment using proceeds from long-term debt   5,000    - 
Cash paid during the fiscal year for:          
Interest  $13   $25 
Income taxes, net   186    134