FREMONT, Calif., March 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AXT, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXTI), a leading manufacturer of compound semiconductor substrates, today announced that it intends to offer and sell shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering.  The offering is subject to market and other conditions and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering. 

Needham & Company, LLC is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering. 

AXT intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include the relocation of its gallium arsenide product line, working capital, capital expenditures and other corporate expenses.

A shelf registration statement relating to the shares of common stock was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and declared effective on November 4, 2016.  A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement (when available) and accompanying prospectus may be obtained from Needham & Company, LLC, 445 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022, via telephone at (800) 903-3268 or by email to prospectus@needhamco.com.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. Any offer, if at all, will be made only by means of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus forming a part of the effective registration statement.

About AXT, Inc.

AXT designs, develops, manufactures and distributes high-performance compound and single element semiconductor substrates comprising indium phosphide (InP), gallium arsenide (GaAs) and germanium (Ge) through its manufacturing facilities in Beijing, China.  In addition, AXT maintains its sales, administration and customer service functions at its headquarters in Fremont, California.  The company’s substrate products can be used primarily in fiber optic communications, 3-D sensing, solar cell, lighting display applications and wireless communications. Its vertical gradient freeze (VGF) technique for manufacturing semiconductor substrates provides significant benefits over other methods and enabled AXT to become a leading manufacturer of such substrates. AXT has manufacturing facilities in China and, as part of its supply chain strategy, has partial ownership in ten companies in China producing raw materials.

“Safe Harbor” Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, whether or not AXT will be able to raise capital through the sale of shares of common stock or consummate the offering, the final terms of the offering, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, prevailing market conditions, the anticipated use of the proceeds of the offering which could change as a result of market conditions or for other reasons, and the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally.  Additional risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed offering, AXT and its business can be found under the heading “Risk Factors” in AXT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and in the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  AXT assumes no duty or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Contacts:
Gary L. Fischer
Chief Financial Officer
(510) 438-4700

Leslie Green
Green Communications Consulting, LLC
(650) 312-9060