Akoustis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKTS) Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

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Ken Boller: Yeah. So we, like I said, there’s about over a dozen new products that we’re introducing over the next three months to nine months and then more to follow after that. And as Dave mentioned, they’ll slowly be accepted by the market and be brought into our sales funnel. And as I mentioned earlier, there also — is the new base station products. And those have a higher ASP and have a lower cost as well. So we’ll start to see that funnel in more and then get to 25% gross margin in that range when we get to this time next year in the December quarter.

Jeff Shealy: And Suji, let me add, this is Jeff, let me add to that really three dynamics that’s going on that margin improvement. Dave touched on the size. The laminate has — our selection of laminate to lower cost laminates is certainly a selection criteria. And I do want to emphasize the work by the team in the yield category. So that it’s those size of product laminate as well as the yields that’s going to be driving gross margin going forward.

Suji Desilva: Okay. Great guys. My other question is on the financial side. What’s the CapEx budget expected maybe the next 12 months, calendar ‘24, whatever time frame you want to use, just understand? How capital intends the next phases.

Ken Boller: Yeah. So we’ve just completed our 500 million capacity — 500 million filters per year capacity expansion and also beefed up some of our back end processing capabilities in this quarter. If you look at our financials, you’ll see a footnote disclosure stating about $1 million f spend that is left. However, I would also tell you that we’re looking to, we’re looking into it and seeing what expenses we can defer or not do from that angle as well as far as a further cost reduction program. But at most, if you look at our footnote, it’s a little over $1 million for the next 12 months.

Jeff Shealy: And, Suji, let me add to that tool capacity expansion. Those tools are predominantly installed and running. We have deferred on some of the labor, as we’ve been able to make strides and yields and that’s, that’s put some of the labor component that’s driving some of that cost of goods, that’s pushed some of that out and that’s part of what Ken’s referencing in terms of some of the savings program. So we’ve got the tool capacity and Ken add the labor and bring that trained up, generally speaking, in one or two quarters.

Suji Desilva: Okay. All right. Thanks, guys.

Jeff Shealy: Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. This concludes our question-and-answer session. I’ll now hand the floor back to management for closing remarks.

Jeff Shealy: Thank you, operator and thank you all for your time today. We look forward to speaking with you during our next update call to discuss the current quarter execution against our milestones, as well as against future expectations. Thank you again and wish everybody a wonderful week. Thank you.

Operator: This will conclude today’s conference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. Thank you for your participation.

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