LIDR AEye Inc

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 9, 2023

 

AEYE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware		001-39699		37-1827430
(State or other jurisdiction		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation)

 

One Park Place, Suite 200, Dublin, California		94568
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (925) 400-4366

 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o       Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o       Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) 

o       Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o       Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share	LIDR	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Warrants to receive one share of Common Stock	LIDRW	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company x

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

 

 

 

Item 2.02

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On November 9, 2023, AEye, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The information provided in Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statement and Exhibits.

 

(d)          Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number

Description

 

99.1

Press release dated November 9, 2023.

 

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		AEye, Inc.
Dated: November 9, 2023
		By:	/s/ Andrew S. Hughes
			Andrew S. Hughes
			Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1 

 

AEye Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

Provides Update on Automotive-First Strategy

Significant Reduction in Burn Rate Extending Cash Runway out to 2025

DUBLIN, Calif. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- November 9, 2023 -- AEye, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIDR), a global leader in adaptive, high performance lidar solutions, today announced its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

Management Commentary

“Market conditions are evolving, and we believe the lidar market has shifted from a ‘battle for the best technology’ to a ‘battle for the best path to commercialization.’ We’ve been relentlessly focused on ensuring AEye enters the automotive market with a differentiated and superior product, so we are ready for the transition,” said Matt Fisch, AEye CEO. “We have recently taken decisive steps to optimize our operating and cost structure around our automotive-first strategy and are well positioned with the right technology, business model, and resources to deliver sustained growth and success over the long-term.”

Key Q3 2023 Financial Highlights

“During the quarter, we achieved our goal of reducing our cash burn by 50% since the beginning of the year one quarter sooner than anticipated. We have now aligned our expenses with our automotive-first strategy and have extended our cash runway into 2025. We closed the quarter with a healthy balance sheet, including $45.9 million of cash, and will continue to manage expenses carefully,” said Conor Tierney, AEye CFO. “The continued cost reduction initiatives in the third quarter were the main driver for meeting our GAAP EPS net loss guidance and beating our non-GAAP EPS net loss guidance by one cent.”

●

Revenue of $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2023.

●

GAAP net loss was $(17.0) million, or $(0.09) per share, based on 184.1 million weighted average common shares outstanding.

●

Non-GAAP net loss was $(9.5) million, or $(0.05) per share, based on 184.1 million weighted average common shares outstanding.

●

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $45.9 million as of September 30, 2023.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

AEye management will hold a conference call today, November 9, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss these results. AEye CEO Matt Fisch and CFO Conor Tierney will host the call, followed by a question-and-answer session.

The webcast and accompanying slides will be accessible via the company’s website at https://investors.aeye.ai/.

Access is also available via:

Conference call: https://bit.ly/AEyeconferencecall

Webcast: https://bit.ly/AEyewebcast

 

 

About AEye

AEye’s unique software-defined lidar solution enables advanced driver-assistance, vehicle autonomy, smart infrastructure, and logistics applications that save lives and propel the future of transportation and mobility. AEye’s 4Sight™ Intelligent Sensing Platform, with its adaptive sensor-based operating system, focuses on what matters most: delivering faster, more accurate, and reliable information. AEye’s 4Sight™ products, built on this platform, are ideal for dynamic applications which require precise measurement imaging to ensure safety and performance. AEye has a global presence through its offices in Germany, Korea, and the United States.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The non-GAAP measures provided in this press release should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial data is included in the supplemental financial data attached to this press release. Non-GAAP financial measures do not have any standardized meaning and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. AEye considers these non-GAAP financial measures to be important because they provide additional insight into the Company’s on-going performance. The Company provides this information to investors for a more consistent basis of comparison and to help investors evaluate the results of the Company’s on-going operations, and to help enable more meaningful period-to-period comparisons. Non-GAAP financial measures are presented only as supplemental information for the purpose of understanding the Company’s operating results. The non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP.

This press release includes non-GAAP financial measures, including:

∙

Non-GAAP net loss which is defined as GAAP net loss plus stock-based compensation, plus expenses related to the registration statements on Forms S-1 and S-3, plus expenses related to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, less change in fair value of convertible note and warrant liabilities, plus realized loss on instrument-specific credit risk, plus one-time termination benefits and restructuring costs, plus non-routine write-down of inventory, plus impairment of ROU assets, plus stock issuance costs, plus debt issuance costs; and

 

∙

Adjusted EBITDA which is defined as non-GAAP net loss plus depreciation and amortization expense, plus interest expense and other, less interest income and other, plus provision for income tax expense.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are sometimes accompanied by words such as “believe,” “continue,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “predict,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends, or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements included in this press release include statements about the evolving market conditions in the automotive lidar industry, the differentiation and performance of AEye’s products, the changes to AEye’s operations and cost structure, as well as AEye’s cost reduction initiatives, among others. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release.

 

These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by an investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are very difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from the assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of AEye. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) the risks that market conditions may evolve in a manner not anticipated by AEye such that AEye misses some or all of the market opportunities presented; (ii) the risks that AEye many not have the best path to commercialization amongst its competitors or as defined by the marketplace; (iii) the risks that AEye may be unable to enter the automotive market with a product that the market believes is sufficiently differentiated or superior to the competition; (iv) the risks that AEye may not be ready for the transition in the marketplace, should such transition occur; (v) the risks that the steps taken to optimize AEye’s operating and cost structure may not position AEye with the right technology, business model, or resources to deliver sustained growth and success over the long-term, or otherwise, to the extent anticipated, or at all; (vi) the risks that AEye’s ability to maintain a reduced cash burn may not be sustainable by the company to the extent anticipated, or at all, due to expenses that are unforeseen or otherwise; (vii) the risks that AEye may be unable to extend the company’s cash runway into 2025; (viii) the risks that AEye may be unable to continue to manage expenses to the extent anticipated, or at all; (ix) the risks that lidar adoption occurs slower than anticipated or fails to occur at all; (x) the risks that AEye’s products may not meet the diverse range of performance and functional requirements of target markets and customers; (xi) the risks that AEye’s products may not function as anticipated by AEye, or by target markets and customers; (xii) the risks that AEye may not be in a position to adequately or timely address either the near or long-term opportunities that may or may not exist in the evolving autonomous transportation industry; (xiii) the risks that laws and regulations are adopted impacting the use of lidar that AEye is unable to comply with, in whole or in part; (xiv) the risks associated with changes in competitive and regulated industries in which AEye operates, variations in operating performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting AEye’s business; (xv) the risks that AEye is unable to adequately implement its business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify and realize additional opportunities; and (xvi) the risks of economic downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive and evolving industry in which AEye operates. These risks and uncertainties may be amplified by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to cause significant economic uncertainty. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the periodic report that AEye has most recently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and other documents filed by us or that will be filed by us from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.

Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements; AEye assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. AEye gives no assurance that AEye will achieve any of its expectations.

 

 

 

 

AEYE, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands) (Unaudited)
		September 30, 2023				December 31, 2022
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	37,149			$	19,064
Marketable securities			8,743				75,135
Accounts receivable, net			238				617
Inventories, net			4,868				4,553
Prepaid and other current assets			4,509				6,181
Total current assets			55,507				105,550
Right-of-use assets			14,397				15,502
Property and equipment, net			7,787				7,665
Restricted cash			2,150				2,150
Other noncurrent assets			1,040				2,473
Total assets		$	80,881			$	133,340
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	4,707			$	3,218
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			7,247				9,764
Contract liabilities			18				987
Convertible notes			—				8,594
Total current liabilities			11,972				22,563
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent			15,484				16,681
Other noncurrent liabilities			82				126
Total liabilities			27,538				39,370
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred stock			—				—
Common stock			19				16
Additional paid-in capital			363,176				345,742
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			1				(1,279	)
Accumulated deficit			(309,853	)			(250,509	)
Total stockholders’ equity			53,343				93,970
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	80,881			$	133,340

 

 

AEYE, INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)
		Three months ended September 30,								Nine months ended September 30,
		2023				2022				2023				2022
Revenue:
Prototype sales		$	56			$	652			$	426			$	1,182
Development contracts			132				115				969				1,373
Total revenue			188				767				1,395				2,555
Cost of revenue			4,479				2,708				8,651				5,617
Gross loss			(4,291	)			(1,941	)			(7,256	)			(3,062	)
Operating Expenses:
Research and development			5,654				8,971				20,993				28,309
Sales and marketing			1,910				4,466				10,782				14,405
General and administrative			5,380				7,896				20,279				29,053
Total operating expenses			12,944				21,333				52,054				71,767
Loss from operations			(17,235	)			(23,274	)			(59,310	)			(74,829	)
Other income (expense):
Change in fair value of convertible note and warrant liabilities			12				16				(914	)			125
Interest income and other			354				335				932				1,109
Interest expense and other			(174	)			(688	)			(9	)			(1,338	)
Total other income (expense), net			192				(337	)			9				(104	)
Provision for income tax expense			5				13				43				39
Net loss		$	(17,048	)		$	(23,624	)		$	(59,344	)		$	(74,972	)
Per Share Data
Net loss per common share (basic and diluted)		$	(0.09	)		$	(0.15	)		$	(0.34	)		$	(0.48	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted)			184,117,531				159,312,203				172,182,776				156,702,000

 

 

AEYE, INC. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands) (Unaudited)
		Nine months ended September 30,
		2023				2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss		$	(59,344	)		$	(74,972	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			998				794
Loss on sale of property and equipment, net			53				—
Noncash lease expense relating to operating lease right-of-use assets			1,058				993
Impairment of right-of-use assets			47				—
Inventory write-downs, net of scrapped inventory			3,666				576
Change in fair value of convertible note and warrant liabilities			914				(125	)
Realized loss on instrument-specific credit risk			46				—
Stock-based compensation			14,707				18,003
Realized loss on redemption of marketable securities			—				77
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on marketable securities, net of change in accrued interest			33				1,211
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net			379				3,598
Inventories, current and noncurrent, net			(2,681	)			(2,256	)
Prepaid and other current assets			1,672				(445	)
Other noncurrent assets			133				420
Accounts payable			1,494				(1,236	)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			(2,571	)			220
Operating lease liabilities			(1,143	)			(983	)
Contract liabilities			(969	)			(1,400	)
Net cash used in operating activities			(41,508	)			(55,525	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment			(1,421	)			(3,402	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			243				—
Purchase of marketable securities			(8,736	)			—
Proceeds from redemptions and maturities of marketable securities			76,350				93,592
Net cash provided by investing activities			66,436				90,190
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			450				1,032
Proceeds from the issuance of convertible notes			—				10,000
Payments for convertible note redemptions			(6,235	)			—
Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards			(1,312	)			(4,252	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under the Common Stock Purchase Agreement			136				2,891
Proceeds from issuance of common stock through Employee Stock Purchase Plan			118				—
Stock issuance costs related to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement			—				(29	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(6,843	)			9,642
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			18,085				44,307
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period			21,214				16,333
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		$	39,299			$	60,640

 

AEYE, INC. Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (In thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)
		Three months ended September 30,								Nine months ended September 30,
		2023				2022				2023				2022
GAAP net loss		$	(17,048	)		$	(23,624	)		$	(59,344	)		$	(74,972	)
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Stock-based compensation			4,084				6,106				14,707				18,003
Expenses related to registration statement on Form S-1s and Form S-3s			192				54				192				304
Expenses related to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement			41				—				41				—
Change in fair value of convertible note and warrant liabilities			(12	)			(16	)			914				(125	)
Realized loss on instrument-specific credit risk			46				—				46				—
Stock issuance costs			—				—				—				28
Debt issuance costs			—				437				—				437
One-time termination benefits and restructuring costs			172				—				1,470				—
Non-routine write-down of inventory			3,007				—				3,007				—
Impairment of right-of-use assets			—				—				47				—
Non-GAAP net loss		$	(9,518	)		$	(17,043	)		$	(38,920	)		$	(56,325	)
Depreciation and amortization expense			332				331				998				794
Interest income and other			(354	)			(335	)			(932	)			(1,109	)
Interest expense and other			128				307				(84	)			928
Provision for income tax expense			5				13				43				39
Adjusted EBITDA		$	(9,407	)		$	(16,727	)		$	(38,895	)		$	(55,673	)
GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic and diluted		$	(0.09	)		$	(0.15	)		$	(0.34	)		$	(0.48	)
Non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic and diluted		$	(0.05	)		$	(0.11	)		$	(0.23	)		$	(0.36	)
Shares used in computing GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic and diluted			184,117,531				159,312,203				172,182,776				156,702,000
Shares used in computing Non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic and diluted			184,117,531				159,312,203				172,182,776				156,702,000

 

Company Contacts:

Jennifer Deitsch

AEye, Inc.

jennifer@aeye.ai

925-400-4366

 

Evan Niu, CFA

Financial Profiles, Inc.

eniu@finprofiles.com

310-622-8243

 

Source: AEye, Inc.

 

v3.23.3

Cover	Nov. 09, 2023
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Nov. 09, 2023
Entity File Number	001-39699
Entity Registrant Name	AEYE, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001818644
Entity Tax Identification Number	37-1827430
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	One Park Place
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 200
Entity Address, City or Town	Dublin
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94568
City Area Code	(925)
Local Phone Number	400-4366
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Elected Not To Use the Extended Transition Period	false
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
Trading Symbol	LIDR
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Warrants to receive one share of Common Stock
Title of 12(b) Security	Warrants to receive one share of Common Stock
Trading Symbol	LIDRW
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ

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