Amtech Systems Inc: Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar 31, 2024

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our “Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Quarterly Report”) and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 (the “2023 Form 10-K”).

Overview

We are a leading, global manufacturer of capital equipment, including thermal processing and wafer polishing and related consumables used in fabricating semiconductor devices, such as silicon carbide ("SiC") and silicon power devices, analog and discrete devices, electronic assemblies, and light-emitting diodes ("LEDs"). We sell these products to semiconductor device and module manufacturers worldwide, particularly in Asia, North America and Europe.

We operate in two reportable segments, based primarily on the industries they serve: (i) Semiconductor and (ii) Material and Substrate. In our Semiconductor segment, we supply thermal processing equipment, including solder reflow ovens, horizontal diffusion furnaces, and custom high-temp belt furnaces for use by semiconductor, electronics and electro/mechanical assembly manufacturers. Our semiconductor customers are primarily manufacturers of integrated circuits and optoelectronic sensors and discrete ("O-S-D") components used in analog, power and radio frequency ("RF"). In our Material and Substrate segment, we produce wafer cleaning equipment as well as substrate consumables and chemicals for lapping (fine abrading) and polishing of materials, such as silicon wafers for semiconductor products, sapphire wafers for LED applications, and compound substrates, like SiC wafers, for power device applications.

The semiconductor industry is cyclical, but not seasonal, and historically has experienced fluctuations. Our revenue is impacted by these broad industry trends.

Strategy

We continue to focus on our plans to profitably grow our business and have developed a strategic growth plan and a capital allocation plan that we believe will support our growth objectives. Our Power Semiconductor strategic growth plan leverages our experience, products and capabilities in pursuit of growth, profitability and sustainability. Our core focus areas are:

• Advanced Mobility - Advanced Mobility encompasses both the development and adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, including both electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), as well as advanced automotive electronics including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), infotainment and telematics. Our products intersect these markets in multiple ways: consumables and wafer cleaning systems for the SiC substrates used in power modules; thermal processing systems for cooling modules and DBC substrate manufacturing; and reflow ovens for ADAS, infotainment and telematics component assemblies.
• Supply Chain Resiliency - There is a global trend of creating supply chain resiliency by expanding and/or relocating operations outside of mainland China. These factory openings will create demand for new equipment and services in growing regions like Mexico and Southeast Asia.
• Artificial Intelligence - With Artificial Intelligence (AI), our reflow oven systems are the favored choice for Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test Services (OSATS) providers who perform advanced packaging of the AI chips.

We anticipate future investments will be required to meet the expected demand from our growing served markets to achieve our revenue growth targets, including investments in research and development as well as capital expenditures, which also includes further investments in talent and management information systems. In June 2022, we completed the sale of the real property where our manufacturing facility in Massachusetts is located. In connection with this sale, we entered into a two-year leaseback of the facility. This sale-leaseback transaction resulted in a net cash inflow of approximately $14.9 million, after repayment of the existing mortgage and settlement of related sale expenses. In September 2023, we signed a lease for a new location more in line with the needs of our Semiconductor product lines. The new location has less square footage as we expand our use of contract manufacturers. We expect to complete the move to this new facility in the third quarter of fiscal 2024. In March 2024, we completed the sale of our corporate headquarters real property in Arizona. The sale resulted in a net cash inflow of approximately $2.5 million, after settlement of related sale expenses. Following the closing of this transaction, we entered into a lease agreement for a new office for our corporate headquarters, which is expected to commence during the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. In addition, we are evaluating business continuity and resiliency within our operations, our management information systems, and our needs to allow for greater efficiencies and to ensure our infrastructure can support our future growth plans. As a capital equipment manufacturer, we will continue to invest in our business to drive future growth.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth certain operational data as a percentage of net revenue for the periods indicated:

Net Revenue

Net revenue consists of revenue recognized upon shipment or delivery of equipment. Spare parts sales are recognized upon shipment and service revenue is recognized upon completion of the service activity, which is generally ratable over the term of the service contract. Since the majority of our revenue is generated from large system sales, revenue, gross profit and operating income can be significantly impacted by the timing of system shipments.

Our net revenue by reportable segment was as follows, dollars in thousands:

Total net revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $25.4 million and $33.3 million, respectively, a decrease of approximately $7.9 million or 24%. Our Semiconductor results for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 reflect decreases in shipments of our belt furnaces, surface-mount technology (“SMT”) and packaging equipment. We continue to experience softness in shipments of our advanced packaging and SMT equipment, primarily related to a slowdown in global demand in the consumer markets. Material and Substrate revenue decreased due to a lower sales of our wafer cleaning equipment and lower demand for spare parts.

Total net revenue for the six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $50.4 million and $54.9 million, respectively, a decrease of approximately $4.5 million or 8%. Revenue from the Semiconductor segment decreased $4.0 million compared to the prior year period. This change is primarily attributable to fewer shipments of our horizontal diffusion furnaces, SMT and packaging equipment partially offset by an increase in shipments of our belt furnaces. Revenue from our Material and Substrate segment decreased $0.5 million due to decreased shipments of consumables.

Orders and Backlog

New orders booked by reportable segment were as follows, dollars in thousands:

Our backlog by reportable segment was as follows, dollars in thousands:

As of March 31, 2024, one of our Semiconductor segment customers individually accounted for 29% of our backlog. Additionally, one customer of both our Semiconductor and Material and Substrate segments accounted for 23% of our backlog. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of our backlog as of March 31, 2024. The orders included in our backlog are generally credit approved customer purchase orders believed to be firm and are generally expected to ship within the next twelve months. Our backlog at any particular point in time is not necessarily representative of actual sales for succeeding periods, nor is backlog any assurance that we will realize profit from completing these orders.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Gross profit is the difference between net revenue and cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold consists of purchased material, labor and overhead to manufacture equipment and spare parts and the cost of service and support to customers for installation, warranty and paid service calls. Gross margin is gross profit as a percent of net revenue. Our gross profit and gross margin by business segment were as follows, dollars in thousands:

Our gross margins can be affected by capacity utilization, material costs, and the type and volume of machines and consumables sold each quarter. Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $8.5 million (33% of net revenue) and $13.5 million (40% of net revenue), respectively, a decrease of $5.0 million. Gross margin on products from our Semiconductor segment decreased due to changes in our product mix, higher material costs, and lower utilization at our Shanghai facility. Gross margin on products from our Material and Substrate segment increased compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to a more favorable product mix, with increased consumable sales partially offset by lower equipment sales. We are experiencing increased material costs across all our segments. In response to such increased costs, we continually review our pricing plans and supplier agreements, with the objective of passing these increased costs to our customers where possible; however, we continue to experience pricing pressure from our customers. Additionally, there is the potential that our backlog could be negatively affected due to rising material costs. We are also exploring partnerships with contract manufacturers, who can leverage their buying power on a larger scale. In the first quarter of fiscal 2024, we began making targeted labor reductions as a result of the shift to contract manufacturing and the continuing slowdown in the broader semiconductor industry.

Gross profit for the six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $16.7 million (33% of net revenue) and $21.8 million (40% of net revenue), respectively, a decrease of $5.1 million. Gross margin on products from our Semiconductor segment decreased compared to the six months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to changes in our product mix and increased material costs. Gross margin on products from our Material and Substrate segment decreased compared to the six months ended March 31, 2023 primarily due to an impairment charge of $0.8 million for intangible assets.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses consists of the cost of employees, consultants and contractors, facility costs, sales commissions, shipping costs, promotional marketing expenses, legal and accounting expenses and bad debt expense.

SG&A expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were $8.3 million and $11.4 million, respectively. SG&A decreased compared to the prior year quarter due primarily to decreased shipping expense on lower sales and decreased labor and employee-related expenses as a result of staff reductions across all of our divisions. Additionally, the prior year period included $1.5 million of transaction expenses related to the acquisition of Entrepix.

SG&A expenses for the six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were $16.8 million and $20.6 million, respectively. SG&A decreased compared to the prior year period primarily due to decreased shipping expense on lower sales, decreased labor and employee-related expenses as a result of staff reductions across all of our divisions, and lower consulting fees. Additionally, the six months ended March 31, 2023 included $3.0 million of transaction expenses related to the acquisition of Entrepix.

Research, Development and Engineering

Research, development and engineering (“RD&E”) expenses consist of the cost of employees, consultants and contractors who design, engineer and develop new products and processes as well as materials and supplies used in producing prototypes. RD&E expenses may vary from period to period depending on the engineering projects in process. Expenses related to engineers working on strategic projects or sustaining engineering projects are recorded in RD&E. However, from time to time we add functionality to our products or develop new products during engineering and manufacturing to fulfill specifications in a customer’s order, in which case the cost of development, along with other costs of the order, are charged to cost of goods sold. Occasionally, we receive reimbursements through governmental research and development grants which are netted against these expenses when certain conditions have been met.

RD&E expense, net of grants earned, for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were $0.9 million and $1.5 million, respectively, and $2.5 million and $2.9 million in the six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease in RD&E is due to the timing of purchases related to specific strategic-development projects at our Semiconductor segment. Grants earned are immaterial in all periods presented.

Goodwill Impairment

During the six months ended March 31, 2024, we recognized impairment of our goodwill of $6.4 million at our Material and Substrate segment as a result of a triggering event identified at the end of the first quarter.

Intangible Asset Impairment

During the six months ended March 31, 2024, we recognized impairment of our definite lived intangible assets of $1.3 million at our Material and Substrate segment. As stated above, $0.8 million of this impairment was recorded in cost of goods sold, and the remainder was recorded within operating expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Severance Expense

Severance expense was $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. There was no severance expense recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2023. Severance expense was $0.3 million and $0.4 million for the six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2024, the amount relates to staff reductions across all our divisions. Severance expense for the six months ended March 31, 2023 relates to the retirement of our founder, Mr. J.S. Whang.

Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate was (3.5%) and 118.0% for the six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The effective tax rate for the six months ended March 31, 2024 differs from the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21% primarily due to losses for which no tax benefit can be recognized. The effective tax rate for the six months ended March 31, 2023 differs from the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21% primarily due to the release of a portion of our valuation allowance in connection with a deferred tax liability related to the Entrepix acquisition resulting in recognition of previously recorded deferred tax assets. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we recorded income tax expense of $0.2 million and an income tax benefit of $2.9 million, respectively. For the six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we recorded income tax expense of $0.3 million and income tax benefit of $3.0 million, respectively. The quarterly income tax provision is calculated using an estimated annual effective tax rate, based upon expected annual income, permanent items, statutory rates and planned tax strategies in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. However, losses in certain jurisdictions and discrete items are excluded from the determination of the estimated annual effective tax rate.

Our future effective income tax rate depends on various factors, such as the amount of income (loss) in each tax jurisdiction, tax regulations governing each region, non-tax deductible expenses incurred as a percent of pre-tax income and the effectiveness of our tax planning strategies.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash and Cash Flow

The following table sets forth for the periods presented certain consolidated cash flow information, in thousands:

A summary of our cash position as of March 31, 2024 and September 30, 2023, is as follows, in thousands, except working capital ratio:

The decrease in cash and cash equivalents from September 30, 2023 of $0.1 million was primarily due to payments on long-term debt and fixed asset purchases, partially offset by increased customer down payments, collections from customers and proceeds from the sale of our real property in Arizona. We maintain a portion of our cash and cash equivalents in Renminbis, a Chinese currency, at our operations in China; therefore, changes in the exchange rates have an impact on our cash balances. The decrease in working capital of $7.1 million (calculated in the table above) was primarily due to the decrease in accounts receivable and inventories.

During periods of weakening demand, we typically generate cash from operating activities, which we may decide to reinvest in our business via strategic projects. Conversely, we are more likely to use operating cash flows for working capital requirements during periods of higher growth. Our sources of capital in the past have included the sale of equity securities, which includes common stock sold in private transactions and public offerings, the incurrence of long-term debt and customer deposits. Additionally, in January 2023, we entered into the Loan Agreement with UMB Bank, which included a revolving line of credit with availability up to $8.0 million. On December 5, 2023, we amended this credit facility to, among other things, (i) increase the availability under the revolving line of credit from $8.0 million to $14.0 million (the “Revolver”), (ii) reduce the term loan commitment from $12.0 million to $4.4 million (the “Term Loan”), (iii) extend the maturity date of the Revolver one year to January 17, 2025 and the Term Loan one year to January 17, 2029. See the Forbearance Agreement disclosure under the heading Financing Facilities. Future borrowings, if any, under the Loan Agreement are subject to, among other things, having sufficient unencumbered Eligible Accounts, Eligible Foreign Accounts and Eligible Inventory (as such terms are defined in the Loan Agreement) to meet the borrowing base requirements included in the amended credit facility. There can be no assurance that we can raise such additional capital resources when needed or on satisfactory terms. We believe that our principal sources of liquidity discussed above are sufficient to support operations for at least the next twelve months.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash provided by our operating activities was $5.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $5.3 million used in operating activities for the six months ended March 31, 2023. During the first half of fiscal 2024, our accounts receivable collections exceeded new accounts receivable due to the timing of shipments and collections. Additionally, we received more down payments from customers for future shipments during the quarter. During the six months ended March 31, 2023, we used cash to increase our inventory balances in preparation for shipments scheduled over the next four quarters and to pay the related accounts payable.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Cash provided by investing activities was $0.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $36.5 million used in investing activities in the six months ended March 31, 2023. The fiscal 2024 amount consists of $2.7 million of proceeds from the sale of our real property in Arizona, partially offset by capital expenditures. The fiscal 2023 amount consists primarily of cash paid for the acquisition of Entrepix. We expect capital expenditures to increase in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 as we relocate our Massachusetts operations to a smaller facility.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

For the six months ended March 31, 2024, cash used in financing activities was $6.4 million, primarily comprised of $6.4 million in payments on long-term debt. For the six months ended March 31, 2023, cash provided by financing activities was $11.9 million, comprised of $12.0 million in borrowings on debt facility and $0.3 million of proceeds received from the exercise of stock options partially offset by $0.4 million in payments on long-term debt.

Financing Facilities

Our debt balance as of March 31, 2024 was $4.3 million, including our finance lease obligations. As previously disclosed in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, at such date we were not in compliance with the Debt to EBITDA and Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio financial covenants under our Loan Agreement. On December 5, 2023, we entered into a Forbearance & Modification Agreement (the “Forbearance Agreement”) with UMB Bank related to such non-compliance, pursuant to which UMB Bank agreed to forbear from exercising its rights and remedies available to it as a result of such defaults. We will be operating under the terms of such Forbearance Agreement through January 17, 2025 (the “Forbearance Period”).

The Forbearance Agreement also amends the Loan Agreement to, among other things, (i) increase the availability under the revolving line of credit from $8.0 million to $14.0 million (the "Revolver"), and (ii) reduce the term loan commitment from $12.0 million to $4.4 million (the “Term Loan”). The Revolver maturity date was extended one year to January 17, 2025 and the Term Loan maturity date was extended one year to January 17, 2029. Both the Revolver and the Term Loan have a floating per annum rate of interest equal to the Prime Rate, adjusted daily, plus the Applicable Margin (as such terms are defined in the Loan Agreement). We are required to pay a non-utilization fee equal to 0.125% of any unused portion of the Revolver in excess of any letter of credit obligations. As of September 30, 2023, no amounts were borrowed against the Revolver and there were no letters of credit outstanding. As of the effective date of the Forbearance Agreement, $10.0 million will be drawn under the Loan Agreement, which includes $4.4 million under the Term Loan and $5.6 million under the Revolver. As of March 31, 2024, $4.2 million was outstanding on the Term Loan, no amounts were borrowed against the Revolver, and there was an outstanding letter of credit in the amount of $0.3 million..

Future borrowings, if any, under the Loan Agreement are subject to, among other things, having sufficient unencumbered Eligible Accounts, Eligible Foreign Accounts and Eligible Inventory (as such terms are defined in the Loan Agreement) to meet the borrowing base requirements included in the amended Loan Agreement.

Under the Loan Agreement, as amended by the Forbearance Agreement, the Company is required to comply with the following financial covenants:

• Maintaining, on a consolidated basis, a minimum EBITDA (as defined in the Loan Agreement) through the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, measured on a quarterly basis (the “Minimum EBITDA Covenant”). The Minimum EBITDA Covenant amount increases each quarter during such period. At March 31, 2024, we were in compliance with the Minimum EBITDA Covenant for such period (not less than negative EBITDA of $800,000 for the six-month period ended March 31, 2024), with actual positive EBITDA of $1.0 million for such period. The Minimum EBITDA Covenant replaced the Senior Debt to EBITDA covenant set forth in the original Loan Agreement.
• As of the end of each of the Company’s fiscal years, commencing for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, the Company must maintain a ratio of (a) the total for such fiscal year of EBITDAR (as defined in the Loan Agreement) minus the sum of all income taxes paid in cash plus cash dividends/distributions plus maintenance Capital Expenditures (as defined in the Loan Agreement) plus management fees paid in cash, to (b) the sum for such fiscal quarter of (1) Interest Charges (as defined in the Loan Agreement) plus (2) required payments of principal on Debt (as defined in the Loan Agreement) (including the Term Loan, but excluding the Revolver) plus (3) operating lease/rent expense, of not less than 1.30 to 1.00 based on a trailing four (4) quarter basis (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Covenant”). Prior to entering into the Forbearance Agreement, this covenant was measured as of the end of each of the Company’s fiscal quarters, beginning March 31, 2023.
• As of the end of each of the Company’s fiscal quarters, commencing March 31, 2023, the Company must maintain a consolidated working capital of current assets (excluding related party receivables and prepaid expenses) minus current liabilities of at least $35.0 million. This financial covenant is unchanged in the Forbearance Agreement.

If the Lender does not extend the Forbearance Period or otherwise grant a waiver in the future for the covenant defaults described above, an event of default under the Loan Agreement would exist. To the extent the Lender so elects, the outstanding indebtedness under the Loan Agreement could be accelerated following the expiration of any applicable cure periods, causing such debt to be immediately due and payable. In addition, should the Company default in its obligation to comply with any of the covenants described immediately above during the Forbearance Period, an event of default would then exist, and, absent a further forbearance agreement or waiver granted by the Lender, the Lender would have the right to accelerate the indebtedness following the expiration of any applicable cure periods, causing such debt to be immediately due and payable. Both of the foregoing events would also result in the termination of all commitments to extend further credit under the Loan Agreement. There is no guarantee we will have sufficient liquidity to repay our outstanding debt under the Loan Agreement in full if such debt were accelerated. As of March 31, 2024, we had $13.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, and $4.2 million in debt under the Loan Agreement. If we are unable to pay such debt as it comes due, or obtain waivers for such payments, our Lender could foreclose on the assets securing such debt. These events could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. As of March 31, 2024, all outstanding debt under the Loan Agreement was classified as current as a result of the Lender’s ability, in its sole discretion, to call the amounts due thereunder at the end of the Forbearance Period.

The Loan Agreement also includes quarterly and annual reporting requirements and other customary affirmative and negative covenants and events of default for facilities of this type. At March 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all such covenants.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of March 31, 2024, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.

Contractual Obligations

Unrecorded purchase obligations were $16.3 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to $24.3 million as of September 30, 2023, a decrease of $8.0 million.

Other than as described in Note 2, there were no material changes to the contractual obligations included in "Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our 2023 Form 10-K.

Critical Accounting Estimates

"Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Quarterly Report discusses our condensed consolidated financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period.

On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, income taxes, inventory valuation, business combination, goodwill, and long-lived asset impairment. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, expectations regarding the future and on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these estimates and judgments form the basis for making conclusions about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

A critical accounting estimate is one that is both important to the presentation of our financial position and results of operations, and requires management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. These uncertainties are discussed in Part I, Item 1A of our 2023 Form 10-K. We believe our critical accounting estimates relate to the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

We believe the critical accounting estimates discussed in the section entitled “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies” in our 2023 Form 10-K represent the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. There have been no material changes in our critical accounting estimates during the six months ended March 31, 2024.

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

For discussion of the impact of recently issued accounting pronouncements, see “Part I, Item 1. Financial Information” under “Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements.”

As a smaller reporting company, as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K, we are electing scaled disclosure reporting obligations and, therefore, are not required to provide the information requested by this Item.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2024. Based upon the evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at a reasonable assurance level, due to the material weaknesses previously identified and disclosed in our 2023 Form 10-K and listed below. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting (“ICFR”) such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Other than as discussed below, there were no other changes to our internal control over financial reporting during the six months ended March 31, 2024, that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

We closed on the acquisition of Entrepix during the year ended September 30, 2023. We have evaluated the existing controls and procedures of Entrepix and integrated our internal control structure over this acquired business.

Remediation Plan for Existing Material Weaknesses

We are in the process of, and continue to focus on, designing and implementing effective measures to strengthen our ICFR and remediate the material weaknesses disclosed in our 2023 Form 10-K.

In relation to the material weakness identified in the areas of goodwill and intangible assets, we have evaluated the design of internal controls over non-routine and complex transactions, including the preparation and review of the third-party service provider valuation reports. Management engaged a new valuation firm to perform the impairment assessment for goodwill and intangible assets for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.

With respect to the material weakness related to general information technology controls, our management, under the oversight of our Audit Committee, has evaluated the current processes and has redesigned existing controls and implemented new controls to remediate the control deficiencies giving rise to this material weakness. Remediation efforts include, but are not limited to:

• Assessing and formalizing the design of certain information technology policies.
• Developing monitoring controls and protocols that will allow us to timely assess the design and operating effectiveness of the new controls.
• Strengthening of user access reviews and enhanced procedures surrounding program change management for systems supporting substantially all of the Company’s internal control processes.
• Assessing segregation of duties within the Company’s business processes.

The material weaknesses will not be considered remediated until the applicable controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are operating effectively. We anticipate that the remediation of this material weakness will be completed during fiscal year 2024. We are committed to continuing to improve our internal control processes, and, as we continue to evaluate and work to improve our internal control over financial reporting, we may take additional measures to address control deficiencies, or we may modify certain of our remediation measures.

We refer you to documents filed by us with the SEC, specifically “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2023 Form 10-K, which identifies important risk factors that could materially affect our business, financial condition and future results. We also refer you to the factors and cautionary language set forth in the section entitled “Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” immediately preceding “Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” of this Quarterly Report. This Quarterly Report, including the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes, should be read in conjunction with such risks and other factors for a full understanding of our operations and financial condition. The risks described in our 2023 Form 10-K and any described herein are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results. There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our 2023 Form 10-K and our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.