Sarcos Takes Steps to Improve Efficiency, Reduce Cash Spend
13 July 2023 - 6:05AM
Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation (“Sarcos” or “Company”)
(NASDAQ: STRC and STRCW), a leader in the design, development, and
manufacture of advanced robotic systems, solutions, and software
that redefine human possibilities, today announced that it has
further refined its sales strategy to focus on products that have
the most potential for near-term revenue growth and strategic
opportunities that show the greatest market traction and meet an
acute customer need.
“We have initiated a more focused business plan, concentrating
on solutions that we believe have the greatest alignment with
customer demand and speed to market. These solutions consist of our
Guardian® Sea Class, aviation and solar solutions, as well as
advancing our AI software,” said Laura Peterson, Interim President
and Chief Executive Officer of Sarcos. “We are realigning our
operations to capitalize on the most promising revenue
opportunities and end markets. We are also reducing expenses and
headcount and consolidating our manufacturing footprint.
“These decisions are always difficult because they involve our
colleagues, but we must be pragmatic about where we are as a
company, the level of revenue we are producing and our cash usage.
These business optimization efforts are expected to result in a
marked decrease in cash spend and more streamlined operations.”
Optimization efforts include the following:
- Focusing on targeted
robotics solutions for the subsea, aviation and solar end
markets
- Forming new Advanced
Technologies software business division to drive emerging SaaS/AI
revenue opportunities; unit to be led by the Company’s Chief
Technology Officer, Dr. Denis Garagić. This division will continue
to advance Sarcos’ AI platform to support a broad range of
industrial robots, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) and Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
- Realigning cost
structure and reducing cash use by reorganizing the workforce and
rationalizing spend across the business
- Optimizing
manufacturing facilities: Pittsburgh manufacturing to be
consolidated into Salt Lake City location
In conjunction with these initiatives, Sarcos conducted a
thorough review of its organization and made the difficult but
strategic decision to significantly reduce its headcount. The
leaner structure matches the company’s refined focus and positions
the Company for future growth, while reducing monthly average cash
usage from approximately $6.5 million in the second quarter of 2023
to $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2024. As a result,
approximately one-fourth of the Company’s approximately 300
employees will be let go across the company. The reduction in force
is largely happening immediately and is expected to save
approximately $14.1 million annually. A one-time charge of
approximately $1.5 million will occur in the third quarter.
Sarcos New AI-Focused Business Division Advanced
Technologies Ramping to Meet Increased Demand
The focus of the Advanced Technologies division will be the
company’s AI and machine learning (ML) software platform for
generalizable autonomy. The AI and ML platform will be designed to
be usable across a variety of autonomous systems, including factory
robots and drones. Advanced Technologies will have a market-led
approach through collaboration with industry partners to accelerate
the adoption of its innovative AI platform and related
technologies.
Financial Discussion
“Our agreement with VideoRay, to provide underwater robotic
systems combining VideoRay’s remotely operated vehicles and our
Guardian® Sea Class system, continues and we anticipate sales
of such systems in the second half of this year,” continued
Peterson. “We also continue to make progress developing our
industry-specific solutions for solar panel installation and
baggage handling, building upon the foundational technology and
know-how in our Guardian family of robotic systems. However, the
timeline to get commercial-ready industry-specific solutions to our
customers is longer than we originally expected. This, coupled with
the impact of the current macro climate, has extended the sales
cycle, and we are not realizing revenue at the rate we anticipated
this year. As such, we are announcing preliminary revenue of
approximately $1.3 million for the second quarter of 2023. We are
also withdrawing our prior full year revenue guidance.
“With today’s announced actions, we are significantly reducing
our cash usage to provide us the runway to continue developing our
products and capitalize on anticipated demand. We intend to manage
our average monthly cash usage to approximately $3.0 million in
2024.”
About Sarcos Technology and Robotics
CorporationSarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation
(NASDAQ: STRC and STRCW) designs, develops, and manufactures a
broad range of advanced mobile robotic systems, solutions, and
software that redefine human possibilities and are designed to
enable the safest most productive workforce in the world. Sarcos
robotic systems operate in challenging, unstructured, industrial
environments and include teleoperated robotic systems, a powered
robotic exoskeleton, and software solutions that enable task
autonomy. For more information, please visit
www.sarcos.com and connect with us on LinkedIn at
www.linkedin.com/company/sarcos.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including
statements regarding the Company’s products, revenue opportunities,
customer demand and end markets, cash savings and future cash
usage. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks,
uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not
historical facts, including statements concerning possible or
assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of
operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be
preceded by, followed by, or include the words “believes,”
“estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,”
“aim,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates,”
“intends” or “continue” or similar expressions. Such
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may
cause actual events, results, or performance to differ materially
from those indicated by such statements. These forward-looking
statements are based on Sarcos’ management’s current expectations
and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future
events. However, there can be no assurance that the events,
results, or trends identified in these forward-looking statements
will occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as
of the date they are made, and Sarcos is not under any obligation
and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, alter or
otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result
of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required
by law.
Readers should carefully review the statements set forth in the
reports which Sarcos has filed or will file from time to time with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in particular
the risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections of those
reports entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements,” for a description of risks facing
Sarcos and that could cause actual events, results or performance
to differ from those indicated in the forward-looking statements
contained herein. The documents filed by Sarcos with the SEC may be
obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Sarcos Media and Investor Contacts:Media:
mediarelations@sarcos.comInvestors: STRC@finprofiles.com
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