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AST SpaceMobile Provides First Quarter 2023 Business Update

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AST SpaceMobile provides business update for Q1 2023, including successful voice calls from space to smartphones and progress in satellite manufacturing. Financial highlights show increased operating expenses and significant capitalized costs.
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  • AST SpaceMobile completes successful two-way voice calls from space to smartphones, validating satellite technology and ability to integrate with cellular ecosystem. Manufacturing underway for launch of Block 1 satellites in 2024. Signed spectrum lease agreement with AT&T for future commercial service.
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  • No negative takes found in the PR.

MIDLAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, is providing its business update for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

“AST SpaceMobile is making history,” said Abel Avellan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AST SpaceMobile. “Completing the first-ever direct voice connection from our BlueWalker 3 test satellite in space to everyday cellular devices in April was hailed by our partners and leaders in the wireless ecosystem as the latest ‘first’ that changed the way people connect. This accomplishment validated our technology in orbit, and confirmed we have the ability to connect with everyday smartphones from all major handset manufacturers in a market with over five billion mobile devices in use today.”

Business Update

  • Completed successful first-ever two-way voice calls from space directly to everyday unmodified smartphones using the BlueWalker 3 (“BW3”) test satellite
  • Key milestone in the BW3 testing program validates the satellite technology, including the ability to work with everyday smartphones and ability to integrate with the existing cellular ecosystem, including spectrum
  • Testing plan has transitioned to demonstration of 4G and 5G download speeds
  • Confirmed no major changes to the design of the Block 1 satellites following BlueWalker 3 testing
  • Manufacturing underway in Midland, Texas, with production on track for planned launch of five Block 1 BlueBird satellites in Q1 2024
  • Signed spectrum lease agreement with AT&T, a first step to offering commercial service to AT&T customers in the U.S., contingent upon regulatory approval and execution of a definitive commercial agreement

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

  • Ended the first quarter with cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash of $185.7 million
  • Total operating expenses increased by $1.9 million to $44.5 million for the first quarter of 2023, as compared to $42.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, due to a $1.7 million increase in research and development costs, $0.5 million increase in engineering services and $0.5 million increase in depreciation and amortization costs, offset by a $0.8 million decrease in general and administrative costs
  • As of March 31, 2023, the Company incurred $92.5 million of capitalized costs (including launch costs and non-recurring engineering costs) related to the assembly, testing and deployment of the BlueWalker 3 test satellite
  • As of March 31, 2023, the Company incurred approximately $66.5 million of capitalized property and equipment costs related to development of assembly, integration, and test facilities in Texas, as well as satellite related purchases including assembly equipment, direct materials and antennas

Conference Call Information

AST SpaceMobile will hold a quarterly business update conference call at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Monday, May 15, 2023. The call will be accessible via a live webcast on the Events page of AST SpaceMobile’s Investor Relations website at https://ast-science.com/investors/. 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 everyday 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 YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Watch this video for an overview of the SpaceMobile mission.

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 preliminary agreements and memoranda of understanding; (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 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023.

The planned testing of the BW3 test satellite may not be completed due to a variety of factors, which could include loss of satellite connectivity, destruction of the satellite, or other communication failures, and even if completed as planned, the BW3 testing may indicate adjustments that are needed or modifications that must be made, any of which could result in additional costs, which could be material, and delays in commercializing our service. If there are delays or issues with our testing, it may become more costly to raise capital, if we are able to do so at all.

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 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023. 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.

First Quarter Financial Results

AST SPACEMOBILE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

March 31,
2023

 

 

December 31,
2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

185,043

 

 

$

238,588

 

Restricted cash

 

 

653

 

 

 

668

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

3,228

 

 

 

4,100

 

Other current assets

 

 

38,185

 

 

 

24,954

 

Total current assets

 

 

227,109

 

 

 

268,310

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

BlueWalker 3 satellite - construction in progress

 

 

92,464

 

 

 

92,077

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

66,452

 

 

 

53,912

 

Total property and equipment, net

 

 

158,916

 

 

 

145,989

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other non-current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets, net

 

 

12,955

 

 

 

7,671

 

Other non-current assets

 

 

1,744

 

 

 

16,402

 

Total other non-current assets

 

 

14,699

 

 

 

24,073

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

400,724

 

 

$

438,372

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

 

11,348

 

 

 

13,929

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

23,246

 

 

 

13,145

 

Current operating lease liabilities

 

 

952

 

 

 

722

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

35,546

 

 

 

27,796

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warrant liabilities

 

 

31,448

 

 

 

38,946

 

Non-current operating lease liabilities

 

 

12,105

 

 

 

7,046

 

Long-term debt

 

 

4,696

 

 

 

4,758

 

Total liabilities

 

 

83,795

 

 

 

78,546

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A Common Stock, $.0001 par value; 800,000,000 shares authorized; 71,877,559 and 71,819,926 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

 

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

Class B Common Stock, $.0001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 50,041,757 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

 

 

5

 

 

 

5

 

Class C Common Stock, $.0001 par value; 125,000,000 shares authorized; 78,163,078 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

 

 

8

 

 

 

8

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

236,886

 

 

 

235,384

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

183

 

 

 

229

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(118,419

)

 

 

(102,101

)

Noncontrolling interest

 

 

198,259

 

 

 

226,294

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

316,929

 

 

 

359,826

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

$

400,724

 

 

$

438,372

 

AST SPACEMOBILE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

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

 

 

 

Three Months ended March 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

-

 

 

$

2,394

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of items shown separately below)

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,986

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

 

-

 

 

 

408

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engineering services

 

 

16,483

 

 

 

11,740

 

General and administrative costs

 

 

9,857

 

 

 

11,619

 

Research and development costs

 

 

16,381

 

 

 

8,281

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

1,733

 

 

 

1,100

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

44,454

 

 

 

32,740

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain (loss) on remeasurement of warrant liabilities

 

 

7,498

 

 

 

(5,482

)

Other income (expense), net

 

 

(8,144

)

 

 

15

 

Total other income (expense), net

 

 

(646

)

 

 

(5,467

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss before income tax expense

 

 

(45,100

)

 

 

(37,799

)

Income tax expense

 

 

(116

)

 

 

(104

)

Net loss before allocation to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(45,216

)

 

 

(37,903

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(28,898

)

 

 

(27,182

)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

 

$

(16,318

)

 

$

(10,721

)

Net loss per share attributable to holders of Class A Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

 

$

(0.23

)

 

$

(0.21

)

Weighted average shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

 

 

71,845,206

 

 

 

51,760,520

 

AST SPACEMOBILE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss before allocation to noncontrolling interest

 

$

(45,216

)

 

$

(37,903

)

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

(128

)

 

 

(432

)

 

Total other comprehensive loss

 

 

(128

)

 

 

(432

)

 

Total comprehensive loss before allocation to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(45,344

)

 

 

(38,335

)

 

Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(28,980

)

 

 

(27,542

)

 

Comprehensive loss attributable to common stockholders

 

$

(16,364

)

 

$

(10,793

)

 

AST SPACEMOBILE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Three Months ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss before allocation to noncontrolling interest

 

 

$

(45,216

)

 

$

(37,903

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss before noncontrolling interest to cash
used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

1,733

 

 

 

1,100

 

(Gain) loss on remeasurement of warrant liabilities

 

 

 

(7,498

)

 

 

5,482

 

Non-cash lease expense

 

 

 

306

 

 

 

170

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

2,474

 

 

 

2,254

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(470

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

 

(12,168

)

 

 

(6,838

)

Inventory

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(457

)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

 

5,553

 

 

 

2,684

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

 

(300

)

 

 

(112

)

Deferred revenue

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,333

 

Other assets and liabilities

 

 

 

17,383

 

 

 

(14,751

)

Net cash used in operating activities

 

 

 

(37,733

)

 

 

(47,508

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of property and equipment

 

 

 

(15,228

)

 

 

(4,660

)

BlueWalker 3 satellite - construction in process

 

 

 

(160

)

 

 

(16,907

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

 

(15,388

)

 

 

(21,567

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of incentive equity units under employee stock plan

 

 

 

96

 

 

 

31

 

Proceeds from warrant exercise

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2

 

(Repayments of) proceeds from debt

 

 

 

(60

)

 

 

97

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

 

 

(475

)

 

 

(482

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

 

 

(53,560

)

 

 

(69,427

)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

 

 

 

239,256

 

 

 

324,537

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

 

 

$

185,696

 

 

$

255,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash transactions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of construction in process in accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

$

3,651

 

 

$

1,483

 

Purchases of property and equipment in accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

 

426

 

 

 

1,661

 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities

 

 

 

5,507

 

 

 

191

 

 

Investor Contact:

Scott Wisniewski

investors@ast-science.com

Media Contact:

Allison+Partners

Eva Murphy Ryan

917-547-7289

ASTSpaceMobile@allisonpr.com

Source: AST SpaceMobile, Inc.

FAQ

What is the business update provided by AST SpaceMobile for Q1 2023?

AST SpaceMobile has completed successful voice calls from space to smartphones and is progressing in satellite manufacturing. Financially, there has been an increase in operating expenses and significant capitalized costs.

What milestones have been achieved by AST SpaceMobile?

AST SpaceMobile has achieved the milestone of completing two-way voice calls from space to smartphones, validating the satellite technology and its integration with the cellular ecosystem.

What is the manufacturing progress of AST SpaceMobile?

Manufacturing is underway for the launch of five Block 1 BlueBird satellites in Q1 2024.

What agreement has AST SpaceMobile signed with AT&T?

AST SpaceMobile has signed a spectrum lease agreement with AT&T, which is a first step towards offering commercial service to AT&T customers in the U.S., pending regulatory approval and execution of a definitive commercial agreement.

What are the financial highlights for the first quarter of 2023?

AST SpaceMobile ended the quarter with $185.7 million in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash. Total operating expenses increased to $44.5 million, primarily due to increased research and development costs. The company also incurred significant capitalized costs for satellite assembly, testing, and deployment, as well as property and equipment costs for development.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc.

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