LTX Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Results


NORWOOD, Mass., Aug. 26, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LTX Corporation (Nasdaq:LTXX), a leading provider of semiconductor test solutions, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended July 31, 2008.

Sales for the 2008 fourth fiscal quarter were $35,848,000, down 9% from the prior quarter, and up 19% from a year ago. Net income for the quarter was $630,000, or $0.01 per share on a GAAP basis. Prior quarter sales for the 2008 third fiscal quarter were $39,320,000, and the net income was $2,172,000, or $0.03 per share on a GAAP basis. Sales for the 2007 fourth fiscal quarter were $30,114,000 and the net loss was $(4,185,000), or $(0.07) per share on a GAAP basis. Incoming orders for the 2008 fourth fiscal quarter were $30 million.

For the twelve-month period ended July 31, 2008, sales were $135,825,000 compared to $147,639,000 in the preceding fiscal year. Net loss was $(600,000), or $(0.01) per share on a GAAP basis, which included a tax benefit totaling $3,091,000, or $0.05 per share. For the prior fiscal year, net loss was $(10,666,000), or $(0.17) per share on a GAAP basis, which included inventory and restructuring charges totaling $3,798,000, or $0.06 per share.

David G. Tacelli, chief executive officer and president, commented, "Our fourth quarter results reflect a softening in the SOC test market, however, our business model continues to perform ahead of our expectations and resulted in achieving a $35 million quarterly break-even for the quarter. Certain market segments that showed strength in the previous quarter have pulled back during the quarter. The cause for this pullback was a combination of seasonal effects and broad economic conditions."

FIRST QUARTER FISCAL 2009 OUTLOOK

For the quarter ending October 31, 2008, revenue for LTX as a stand-alone company is expected to be in the range of $30 million to $34 million, with gross margin of approximately 49%. The loss per share is projected to be in the range of $(0.06) to $(0.02) assuming 63 million shares outstanding.

Assuming the proposed merger between LTX Corporation and Credence Systems Corporation is completed by the end of August 2008, the combined company revenue guidance for the quarter ending October 31, 2008 is expected to be in the range of $60 million to $64 million. This guidance for the combined company is based on three months of LTX revenue and approximately two months of Credence revenue during the quarter.

The Company will conduct a conference call today, August 26, 2008, at 8:30 AM EDT to discuss this press release. The conference call will be simulcast via the LTX web site (www.ltx.com). Audio replays of the call can be heard through September 25, 2008 via telephone by dialing 888-286-8010, passcode 62613242 or by visiting our web site at www.ltx.com.

A special meeting of stockholders of LTX is scheduled to be held at the offices of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, located at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 12:00 noon EDT. The vote of each LTX stockholder is very important and the merger with Credence cannot be completed unless LTX stockholders approve an amendment to LTX's articles of organization and the issuance of LTX common stock in connection with the merger. Information about the special meeting, the merger and other business to be considered by stockholders is contained in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus dated July 29, 2008 mailed to LTX stockholders on or about July 30, 2008. Stockholders are urged to read the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus carefully.

SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this press release regarding the proposed transaction between LTX and Credence Systems Corporation, including LTX's, Credence's and/or the combined company's revenue, gross margin or earnings guidance, the ability of LTX and Credence to complete the proposed merger, the ability of LTX to obtain stockholder approval of matters relating to the proposed merger, the timing of the completion of the proposed merger and any other statements about LTX or Credence managements' future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "may," "will," "would," "intends," "estimates" and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including: the ability to obtain stockholder approval for matters relating to the proposed merger, the ability to complete the proposed merger, the ability to satisfy the other conditions to the completion of the proposed merger, the ability to successfully integrate LTX's and Credence's operations and employees; the ability to realize anticipated synergies and cost savings; the risk of fluctuations in sales and operating results; risks related to the timely development of new products, options and software applications and the other factors described in LTX's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007 and Credence's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 3, 2007, their most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and their Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, each as filed with the SEC. LTX and Credence disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the issuance of this press release.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC

This communication is being made with respect to the proposed business combination involving LTX and Credence. In connection with the proposed transaction, LTX has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 containing a Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and each of LTX and Credence may file with the SEC other documents regarding the proposed transaction. The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which has been mailed to stockholders of LTX and Credence, contains important information about LTX, Credence, the transaction and related matters. Investors and security holders are urged to read the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus as well as other documents that may be filed with the SEC carefully in their entirety because they contain important information about the proposed transaction.

Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by LTX and Credence through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus from LTX by contacting Mark Gallenberger at mark_gallenberger@ltx.com, or 781-467-5417 or from Credence by contacting Brenda Ropoulos at brenda_ropoulos@credence.com, or 408-635-4309.

LTX and Credence, and their respective directors and executive officers, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement among LTX, Zoo Merger Corporation and Credence. Information regarding LTX's directors and executive officers is contained in LTX's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2007, its proxy statement dated November 6, 2007 and its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2008 and July 29, 2008, which are filed with the SEC. Information regarding Credence's directors and executive officers is contained in Credence's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 3, 2007, its proxy statement dated March 7, 2008, its Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on April 18, 2008; May 1, 2008; June 10, 2008; June 17, 2008 and June 23, 2008, and its Form 4 filed on April 29, 2008, which are filed with the SEC. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

ABOUT LTX

LTX Corporation (Nasdaq:LTXX) is a leading supplier of test solutions for the global semiconductor industry. LTX's X-Series, the industry's most comprehensive family of production-proven, compatible test systems, delivers a scalable solution that provides the right test performance and the right cost of test. Combined with LTX's industry-leading applications engineering and customer service teams, the X-Series enables companies to accelerate their time to market, optimize test economics and stay ahead of the technology curve. Additional information can be found at www.ltx.com.

LTX and Fusion are registered trademarks and enVision is a trademark of LTX Corporation.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.



                             LTX CORPORATION

                       CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                             (In thousands)

                                                  July 31,    July 31,
                                                    2008        2007
                                                 ---------   ---------
 ASSETS
 Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                      $  51,052   $  63,302
  Marketable securities                             20,410      35,236
  Accounts receivable - trade, net                  24,161      22,479
  Accounts receivable - other                        1,245       1,475
  Inventories                                       22,504      27,102
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets          2,750       3,783
                                                 ---------   ---------

    Total current assets                           122,122     153,377

 Property and equipment, net                        27,213      32,483
 Goodwill                                           14,368      14,762
 Other assets                                        6,024         500
                                                 ---------   ---------

    Total assets                                 $ 169,727   $ 201,122
                                                 =========   =========

 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Current liabilities:
  Current portion of long-term debt              $   5,700   $  29,322
  Accounts payable                                  14,058      15,333
  Other accrued expenses                            14,081      19,605
  Deferred revenues and customer advances            1,777       1,838
                                                 ---------   ---------

    Total current liabilities                       35,616      66,098
                                                 ---------   ---------


 Long-term debt, net of current portion             12,200      17,900
 Other long-term liabilities                         4,631       4,016
 Stockholders' equity                              117,280     113,108
                                                 ---------   ---------

    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 169,727   $ 201,122
                                                 =========   =========



                           LTX CORPORATION


                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


           (In thousands, except earnings per share data)



                                Three Months              Year
                                    Ended                 Ended
                                   July 31,              July 31,
                            --------------------  --------------------
                               2008       2007       2008       2007
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Net sales                 $  35,848  $  30,114  $ 135,825  $ 147,639

  Cost of sales                17,704     16,108     67,981     77,441

  Inventory related
   provision                       --         --         --      4,175
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Gross profit               18,144     14,006     67,844     66,023

  Engineering and product
   development expenses        11,244     11,986     46,020     50,044


  Selling, general and
   administrative expenses      6,519      6,493     26,563     26,770

  Reorganization costs             --         --         --       (377)
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Income (loss) from
     operations -- (Note 1)       381     (4,473)    (4,739)   (10,414)

  Interest income
   (expense), net                 303        288      1,048       (252)
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Income (loss) before
     provision (benefit)
     for taxes                    684     (4,185)    (3,691)   (10,666)

  Provision (benefit)
   for taxes                       54         --     (3,091)        --
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Net income (loss)         $     630  $  (4,185) $    (600) $ (10,666)
                            =========  =========  =========  =========

  Net income (loss)
   per share:
  Basic                     $    0.01  $   (0.07) $   (0.01) $   (0.17)
  Diluted                   $    0.01  $   (0.07) $   (0.01) $   (0.17)

  Weighted average
   shares outstanding:
  Basic                        62,796     62,325     62,611     62,130
  Diluted                      62,809     62,325     62,611     62,130


 Note 1: The following table presents stock-based compensation expense
         included in the Company's unaudited consolidated statements of
         operations (in thousands):


                                Three Months              Year
                                   Ended                 Ended
                                  July 31,              July 31,
                            --------------------  --------------------
                              2008        2007       2008       2007
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

  Cost of sales             $      27  $      26  $     117  $     107
  Engineering and product
   development expenses           241        262      1,294      1,098
  Selling, general and
   administrative expenses        574        637      2,982      2,854
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Total stock-based
   compensation expense     $     842  $     925  $   4,393  $   4,059
                            =========  =========  =========  =========


            

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