ORBIMAGE Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2004 Financial Results
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ORBIMAGE Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2004 Financial Results

DULLES, Va., April 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ORBIMAGE Inc. (Pink Sheets: ORBM) announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2004 and for the year ended December 31, 2004.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040930/DCTH068LOGO-a )

Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2004 were $10.4 million versus fourth quarter 2003 revenues of $5.1 million. Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2004 was $5.8 million versus net earnings of $94.7 million in the same period a year ago. Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2004 were $31.0 million versus $9.2 million in 2003. Net loss for 2004 was $24.7 million versus net earnings of $84.3 million in 2003. Total revenues in the 2004 periods reflect the commencement of OrbView-3 operations, while net loss in the 2004 periods reflect an increase in operating costs (including depreciation) resulting from the OrbView-3 satellite and from interest expense on the Company's Senior Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes issued on December 31, 2003. Net earnings in the 2003 periods include a gain of $116.1 million which resulted from the discharge of pre-Chapter 11 indebtedness.

"2004 was an extraordinary year for the Company," said ORBIMAGE's President and Chief Executive Officer Matthew O'Connell. "Since the beginning of the year, we emerged from Chapter 11; commenced full OrbView-3 operations; signed the ClearView contract with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), our largest customer; won the NGA NextView Second Vendor Program satellite procurement; and, during 2004 and 1st quarter 2005 raised over $100 million in additional equity to support our operations and the NextView satellite program. We've achieved our goal of establishing ourselves as an industry leader for providing imagery products and services in the U.S. and abroad. Our continuing focus is on delivering the highest quality imagery products to our customers and expanding our U.S. and international sales penetration. We have also made a number of important additions to our senior management team in order to support the expansion of our operations."

On December 31, 2003 (the "Effective Date"), Orbital Imaging Corporation (the "Predecessor Company") emerged from reorganization proceedings under Chapter 11 of the Federal bankruptcy laws pursuant to the terms of the Plan of Reorganization. Upon reorganization, the Orbital Imaging Corporation changed its name to ORBIMAGE Inc. (the "Successor Company'). As a result of applying Fresh-Start accounting, the reported historical financial statements of the Predecessor Company for periods ended prior to December 31, 2003 generally are not comparable to those of ORBIMAGE Inc. Therefore, comparisons of earnings per share data are not included herein. As referenced within this news release, results of operations for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2003 refer to the Predecessor Company.

Operating Results

The following table presents ORBIMAGE's summary reported results for the fourth quarter and annual periods (in thousands, except share and per share data):

                              Successor  Predecessor  Successor  Predecessor
                               Company     Company     Company    Company
                                Three Months Ended         Year Ended
                                   December 31,           December 31,
                                    2004        2003        2004      2003

  Revenues                       $10,370      $5,093     $31,020    $9,219

  Loss from operations            (3,006)    (19,812)    (14,480)  (24,427)

  Reorganization items, net            -     115,136           -   110,019

  Net earnings (loss)             (5,782)     94,669     (24,739)   84,289

  Diluted earnings (loss) per
   common share                   $(0.74)      $1.95      $(3.80)    $1.73


Revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2004 were $10.4 million, a significant increase compared to $5.1 million in the same period in 2003. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2004 were $31.0 million compared to $9.2 million in the same period in 2003. The increase in 2004 revenues was primarily due to the commencement of OrbView-3 operations for the U.S. Government and our major international customers. Revenues generated from OrbView-3 products and services were approximately $8.7 million and $23.2 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2004, respectively. Total backlog was $462.1 million at December 31, 2004. This amount includes funded backlog (unfilled firm orders for which funding has been both authorized and appropriated by the customer) of $36.7 million and excludes unexercised options or task orders to be issued under indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity ("IDIQ") type contracts.

Loss from operations was $3.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2004 versus $19.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2003. Loss from operations in the fourth quarter of 2003 included a $18.2 million loss from the sale of the Predecessor Company's RadarSat-2 satellite territorial license. In 2004, ORBIMAGE commenced recording depreciation expense on the OrbView-3 satellite and related ground station assets. Loss from operations includes depreciation expense of $6.5 million and $0.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2004 and 2003, respectively. Additionally, loss from operations in the fourth quarter of 2004 includes $1.5 million of amortization of deferred compensation associated with stock awards granted to employees. Loss from operations was $14.5 million for 2004 and $24.4 million for 2003. Loss from operations includes depreciation expense of $22.6 million and $3.4 million in 2004 and 2003, respectively. Loss from operations in 2004 also includes $3.5 million of amortization of deferred compensation associated with stock awards granted to employees. The remaining variance for both 2004 periods compared to 2003 results principally from the commencement of OrbView-3 revenue activities.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2004 was $5.8 million versus a net gain of $94.7 million in the comparable 2003 period. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $24.7 million versus net income of $84.3 million in the same period a year ago. Net income in the 2003 periods includes a gain of $104.8 million that was recorded on the discharge of the Predecessor Company's old Senior Notes. ORBIMAGE recorded net interest expense of approximately $2.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2004 and $10.3 million for the year on long-term debt incurred as part of the Chapter 11 restructuring. Net loss for both the quarter and year ended December 31, 2003 includes net interest expense of $0.7 million and $1.3 million on debt incurred in June 2003 to purchase insurance coverage for the combined risk of launch, satellite checkout and on-orbit satellite operations with respect to OrbView-3. This debt was converted to New Senior Notes on the effective date of the emergence from Chapter 11. The Predecessor Company previously had recognized no interest expense on its old Senior Notes because it was operating under bankruptcy protection.

Cash Flow and Leverage

As of December 31, 2004, ORBIMAGE had approximately $60.6 million of cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities. Net cash provided by operating activities for 2004 was $27.5 million. Much of this cash was generated by payments received by NGA in the fourth quarter of 2004 to help fund the NextView program. Net cash used for investing activities in 2004 was $3.5 million, most of which represents internal salary and related costs as well as external costs associated with the in-orbit check-out of OrbView-3 and related systems. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2004 was $22.2 million. In conjunction with the NextView program, ORBIMAGE completed a private placement in which the Company issued investment units composed on 3.25 million shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 4.25 million shares of common stock for a purchase price of $10 per share. At the closing of the private placement, ORBIMAGE received $32.5 million in gross proceeds. Additionally, ORBIMAGE incurred approximately $10.2 million of investment management fees and other professional costs associated with debt offerings that will be executed in 2005 associated with the NextView program.

ORBIMAGE will be required to make significant capital expenditures to develop, manufacture and launch the OrbView-5 satellite. The Company estimates that its total project cost (including financing and launch insurance costs) to bring the OrbView-5 satellite into service in the second quarter of 2007 will be approximately $502 million. In order to perform its obligations under the NextView contract, ORBIMAGE will fund its cost contribution for the project through a combination of an equity offering of $65 million as described below, an issuance of $155 million of senior subordinated indebtedness, and $45 million in cash flow from existing operations. NGA's contract will also provide revenue commitments to commence following OrbView-5's in-service date.

ORBIMAGE has received commitments from investors (the "Backstop Investors") to purchase 6.5 million units at $10 per unit. Each unit consists of one share of common stock and one warrant with an exercise price of $10 per share and a 5-year maturity. The Company called $32.5 million of this commitment during the fourth quarter 2004 by privately issuing to these investors 3.25 million units on November 16, 2004, together with 1.0 million warrants on the same terms. To raise the remaining $32.5 million of the equity portion of financing to cover its cost share of the NextView project, the Company conducted a rights offering in March 2005 permitting its shareholders to purchase an additional 3.25 million units on the same terms. The rights offering closed on March 14, 2005 and was oversubscribed. On March 26, the Company received $32.6 million in gross proceeds.

ORBIMAGE has received commitments from investors to fund the $155 million in aggregate principal amount of additional senior subordinated indebtedness. The additional senior subordinated indebtedness would rank pari passu with the Company's existing Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "Senior Sub Notes") and would not have any scheduled amortization or a maturity date prior to the scheduled maturity of the Senior Sub Notes. The parties who committed to the additional senior subordinated indebtedness received a commitment fee equal to $1.6 million in cash for the total aggregate principal to which their commitments relate plus a pro rata share of 155,000 shares. The parties also received an additional $0.8 million in cash in January 2005 since the commitments were not refinanced by three months from contract execution.

At September 30, 2004 the Company had received consents from the holders of its Senior Sub Notes and the holders of its Senior Notes due 2008 that permit the Company to use up to $45 million of its cash flow from existing operations toward project costs for the OrbView-5 Satellite. The consenting holders who held notes on the record date of July 29, 2004 received a consent fee in additional notes equal to 200 basis points on the principal amount of the notes to which the holders' consents relate.

On March 31, 2005, we repaid our Senior Notes due 2008 out of existing cash received pursuant to the exercise of warrants by certain investors during the first quarter of 2005. In the second quarter of 2005, we intend to undertake a holding company reorganization, which will result in a holding company being created that will hold all of the capital stock of the Company, and will itself be held by the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to consummation of the reorganization. We plan for the new holding company to raise approximately $240 million through an offering of new senior notes of the holding company in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and we have engaged a placement agent to assist us in the placement of these notes. The new senior notes would not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. We expect that the holding company would contribute the proceeds of this offering to the Company as a capital contribution, which would constitute "unrestricted cash," a portion of which we would be obligated to use to repay our Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 together with interest thereon to June 30, 2005, under the mandatory redemption provisions of the Senior Subordinated Notes. Upon repayment of our Senior Subordinated Notes, we would provide a guarantee of the new senior notes issued by the new holding company. We expect to use the remainder of the cash that is contributed by the new holding company to replace the $155 million of debt commitments that were previously released, with the remaining proceeds to be used for general working capital purposes.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. ORBIMAGE's actual financial results could differ materially from those anticipated due to the company's dependence on conditions in the remote sensing industry, the level of new commercial imagery orders, production rates for advanced image processing, the level of defense spending, competitive pricing pressures, start-up costs and possible overruns on new contracts, and technology and product development risks and uncertainties.

                              ORBIMAGE Inc.
                         STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                    (In thousands, except share data)


                                Successor Company       Predecessor Company
                          Quarter Ended December 31,  Year Ended December 31,
                                    2004        2003        2004      2003
  Revenues                       $10,370      $5,093     $31,020    $9,219

  Direct expenses                  8,757       5,280      33,754    10,697

  Gross (loss) profit              1,613        (187)     (2,734)   (1,478)

  Selling, general and
   administrative expenses         4,619       1,420      11,746     4,744
  Asset losses and impairment
   charges                             -      18,205           -    18,205

  Loss from operations            (3,006)    (19,812)    (14,480)  (24,427)

  Interest expense, net            2,776         655      10,259     1,303

  Loss before reorganization
   items and provision
   (benefit) for income
   taxes                          (5,782)    (20,467)    (24,739)  (25,730)

  Reorganization items:
      Gain on debt discharge           -    (116,056)          -  (116,056)
      Professional fees                -         935           -     6,067
      Interest earned on
       accumulated cash and
       cash equivalents
       during Chapter 11
       proceedings                     -         (15)          -       (30)

  Earnings (loss) before
   provision (benefit) for
   income taxes                   (5,782)     94,669     (24,739)   84,289

  Provision (benefit) for
   income taxes                        -           -           -         -

  Net earnings (loss)            $(5,782)    $94,669    $(24,739)  $84,289

  Earnings (loss) per common
   share - basic                  $(0.74)      $3.85      $(3.80)    $3.34
  Earnings (loss) per common
   share - diluted                $(0.74)      $1.95      $(3.80)    $1.73



                              ORBIMAGE Inc.
                              BALANCE SHEETS
                    (In thousands, except share data)


                                                  December 31,  December 31,
         ASSETS                                           2004        2003
  Current assets:
        Cash and cash equivalents                      $60,565     $14,405
        Receivables net of allowances of $126 and
         $0, respectively                               12,148         756
        Other current assets                             2,612       1,143
                            Total current assets        75,325      16,304

  Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated
   depreciation of $3,751 and $0, respectively          18,263      17,714
  Satellites and related rights, less accumulated
   depreciation and amortization of $18,142 and
   $0, respectively                                    116,640      89,370
  Goodwill                                              28,490      28,490
  Other assets                                          10,428       1,441

          Total assets                                $249,146    $153,319

         LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

  Current liabilities:
        Accounts payable and accrued expenses           $3,970      $4,743
        Amounts payable to subcontractors               47,545           -
        Deferred revenue                                 2,234         651
               Total current liabilities                53,749       5,394

  Long-term debt                                        85,018      73,115
  Deferred revenue, net of current portion              24,491           -
               Total liabilities                       163,258      78,509

  Stockholders' equity:
          Common stock, par value $0.01;
           25,000,000 shares authorized,
           9,917,078 shares issued and
           outstanding and 6,332,993 shares
           issued and outstanding at December
           31, 2004 and 2003, respectively                  99          63
          Additional paid-in-capital                   112,373      78,149
          Unearned compensation                         (1,845)     (3,402)
          Accumulated deficit                          (24,739)          -

          Total stockholders' equity                    85,888      74,810

          Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $249,146    $153,319



                              ORBIMAGE Inc.
                         STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                              (In thousands)


                                                  Successor    Predecessor
                                                   Company       Company
                                                 Year Ended    Year Ended
                                                December 31,  December 31,
                                                       2004          2003
  Cash flows from operating activities:
       Net earnings (loss)                          $(24,739)      $84,289
       Adjustments to reconcile net earnings
        (loss) to net cash provided by
        (used) in operating activities:
                  Depreciation, amortization and
                   other                              22,575         3,356
                  Interest expense paid in kind       11,903         1,403
                  Stock compensation                   3,452             -
                  Gain on debt extinguishment              -      (116,056)
                  Asset losses and impairment
                   charges                                 -        18,205
       Changes in assets and liabilities:
                  (Increase) decrease in
                   receivables and other current
                   assets                            (11,993)        5,416
                  Decrease in other assets             1,000             -
                  Decrease in accounts payable
                   and accrued expenses                 (773)         (181)
                  Increase (decrease) in
                   deferred revenue                   26,075           581
       Net cash provided by (used) in operating
        activities                                    27,500        (2,987)

  Cash flows from investing activities:
       Capital expenditures                           (3,530)      (21,402)
       Proceeds from sale of satellite license             -        10,000
       Proceeds from launch delay penalties                -         2,284
       Net cash used in investing activities          (3,530)       (9,118)

  Cash flows from financing activities:
        Prepaid financing costs                      (10,174)            -
        Issuance of common stock                      32,364             -
        Proceeds from insurance loan                       -        17,717
        Proceeds from Orbital Sciences note                -         2,500
        Net cash provided by financing activities     22,190        20,217

  Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
   equivalents                                        46,160         8,112

  Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year        14,405         6,293
  Cash and cash equivalents, end of year             $60,565       $14,405

  Supplemental cash flow information:
    Interest paid                                    $     -       $     -


  Non-cash items:
    Capital expenditures                            $(47,545)     $      -
    Amounts payable to subcontractors                 47,545             -


  About ORBIMAGE:

ORBIMAGE is a leading global provider of Earth imagery products and services, with digital remote sensing satellites and an integrated worldwide image receiving, processing and distribution network. In addition to the high- resolution OrbView-3 satellite, ORBIMAGE operates the OrbView-2 ocean and land multispectral imaging satellite and the SeaStar Fisheries Information Service, which provides maps derived from essential oceanographic information to aid in commercial fishing. ORBIMAGE also produces value-added imagery products and advanced photogrammetric engineering services at its St. Louis facility. The company distributes its products directly to the U.S. government for national security and related mapping applications. Commercial sales are handled through a worldwide network of value-added resellers, regional distributors, sales agents, and select strategic partners. The company is currently building a next-generation satellite, OrbView-5, which it plans to have in operation early in 2007.

To find more information about ORBIMAGE, please see our web site at http://www.orbimage.com/.

CONTACT: William Warren of ORBIMAGE Inc., +1-703-480-5672, or
Email Contact

Web site: http://www.orbimage.com/