- Management to Host Conference Call at 8:30 am Pacific Time (11:30 am Eastern Time) -

VANCOUVER, March 4, 2016 /CNW/ - Norsat International Inc. ("Norsat" or the "Company") (TSX: NII and NYSE MKT: NSAT), a provider of unique and customized communication solutions for remote and challenging applications, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2015.

Financial Highlights

For the three months ended December 31, 2015

• $9.5 million in revenue for the quarter, compared to $9.4 million for the same period last year.
• Gross profit margin of 41% for the quarter, an increase of 6% from 35% for the same period last year.
• Net earnings for the quarter were $5.9 million, including the deferred income tax recovery of $3.8 million, or $1.03 per share, basic and diluted, an increase of $5.8 million from $51,000, or $0.01 per share, basic and diluted, for the same period last year.
• Adjusted EBITDA is a measure the Company uses to reflect the results of its core earnings. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before income tax expense, financing costs, depreciation and amortization, foreign exchange gain or loss, corporate development costs, write-down of inventory, impairment charges or recoveries, discontinued operations and other non-cash charges.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $1.5 million for the quarter, an increase of 97% from $0.7 million for the same period last year.
• Deferred income tax recovery for the quarter was $3.8 million, compared to $70,000 for the same period last year. The recovery was based on an assessment of the Company's history of profitability and its ability to realize deferred income tax assets.

For the year ended December 31, 2015

• $36.1 million in revenue for the year, consistent with revenue of $36.2 million in 2014.
• Gross profit margin of 41% for the year, compared to 40% for 2014.
• Net earnings were $8.7 million, for the year including the deferred income tax recovery of $3.8 million, or $1.50 per share, basic and diluted, an increase of $4.5 million from $4.2 million, or $0.73 per share, basic and diluted, for 2014.
• $4.6 million of cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2015, compared to $5.5 million at December 31, 2014.
• No bank debt outstanding as the Company repaid the remaining balance during the second quarter in 2015. Bank debt at December 31, 2014 was $2.4 million.
• $19.4 million of working capital at December 31, 2015, compared to $13.8 million at December 31, 2014.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $5.3 million for the year, an increase of 12% from $4.7 million for 2014.
• Deferred income tax recovery for the year was $3.8 million, compared to $0.3 million for 2014. The recovery was based on an assessment of the Company's history of profitability and its ability to realize deferred income tax assets.

"Fiscal 2015 demonstrated continued solid operating results as we continued to work through the sizable backlog of orders booked earlier in the year." said Dr. Amiee Chan, President and CEO of Norsat.  "We have been experiencing increased demand for components including our successful and expanding ATOM product line and solutions supplied to militaries around the globe which is driving improvements in our Satellite Communications segment. Offsetting the improved results within the Satellite Communications segment was a continuation of headwinds within our Land Mobile Radio (LMR) segment both in the U.S. and particularly in the Canadian public safety markets.  Partially offsetting the softness in LMR was an increase in sales of our positive train control (PTC) products as railroads worked toward the December 31, 2015 deadline.  In late December 2015, the deadline for certain railroads to install PTC technologies was extended to December 31, 2018 with a possibility of further extending the deadline to the 2020 year if railroads meet certain conditions.  Therefore, we believe the program's scope will continue over the coming years as thousands of locomotives and miles of track still need equipment to enable PTC to be fully operational, providing Norsat with a strong backlog of order flow for years to come."

A full set of financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for Norsat is available at www.norsat.com and will be available at www.sedar.com.

Conference Call Details
Norsat will host a conference call today, March 4, 2016 at 8:30 am Pacific Time (11:30 am Eastern Time) to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2015. To access the conference call, please dial toll-free 1-888-886-7786 or 416-764-8658. The conference call title is: 'Norsat Investor Call'. Please connect approximately 10 – 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the call to ensure participation. A digital recording and transcript of the call will be available after the live call at: http://www.norsat.com/investors/financial-information/conference-call-recordings/

About Norsat International Inc.

Founded in 1977, Norsat International Inc. is a provider of unique and customized communication solutions for remote and challenging applications. Norsat's products and services include leading-edge product design and development, production, distribution and infield support and service of fly-away satellite terminals, microwave components, antennas, Radio Frequency (RF) conditioning products, maritime based satellite terminals and remote network connectivity solutions. More information is available at www.norsat.com, via email at investor@norsat.com or by phone at 1-604-821-2800.

Forward Looking Statements

The discussion and analysis of this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning anticipated developments in Norsat's operations in future periods, the adequacy of its financial resources and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates,", "predicts," "potential," "targeted," "plans," "possible" and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results "will," "may," "could" or "should" occur or be achieved. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about Norsat's market opportunities, strategies, competition, expected activities and expenditures as it pursues its business plan, the adequacy of available cash resources and other statements about future events or results. Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, such as business and economic risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made. Consequently, all forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by this cautionary statement and there can be no assurance that actual results or anticipated developments will be realized. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Norsat assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, other than as required by law.

SOURCE Norsat International Inc.