American Science and Engineering, Inc. Reports Double Digit Growth in Revenue, Net Income and EPS for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009.

AS&E's Board of Directors Approves Quarterly Dividend

BILLERICA, Mass. -- American Science and Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASEI) (AS&E([R])), a leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray inspection solutions, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. The Company reported revenues of $57,290,000 as compared with revenues of $42,020,000 for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, net income of $8,244,000 as compared with net income of $2,789,000 for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, and earnings per share of $0.92 as compared with earnings per share of $0.30 for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008. These results represent a 36% increase in revenues, 196% increase in net income, and a $0.62 increase in earnings per share when compared to results for the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, the Company reported record revenues of $218,367,000, which represents an increase of 31% as compared with revenues of $166,733,000 for the prior fiscal year, net income of $28,353,000 as compared with net income of $17,478,000 for the prior fiscal year, and earnings per share of $3.18 which represents a $1.31 increase in earnings per share as compared with earnings per share of $1.87 for the prior fiscal year.

The Company reported $59,257,000 in bookings for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009 as compared with $16,129,000 in bookings for the fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year and $274,094,000 in bookings for fiscal year 2009 as compared with $160,705,000 in bookings for the prior fiscal year. Backlog at March 31, 2009 increased 56% to $155,349,000 as compared to $99,606,000 in the prior fiscal year.

"We completed fiscal year 2009 with outstanding financial and operating results," said Anthony Fabiano, AS&E's President and CEO. "We met our strategic initiatives for the year and recorded the highest revenue in Company history -- with the cargo, Z Backscatter([TM]), and service product areas all recording double digit increases. To improve our bottom-line, we implemented several product and process improvements, and operating cost reductions -- increasing gross margin to 43% from 36% in the prior year. Additionally, we increased IRAD investment 47% from the last fiscal year resulting in the introduction of several new products and product enhancements."

Fabiano continued, "As we continued our investment in global marketing and sales activities, we achieved a record $274 million in bookings for the year with international product bookings increasing 59% from the prior fiscal year. Overall bookings were boosted by the continued diversification of our customer base -- including new orders for military, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, and port and border security. Our sales pipeline has increased from the prior year with new opportunities in the U.S., Middle East, APAC, Latin America, and Europe. With our increased sales penetration, new product offerings, and increased awareness of AS&E's proprietary technologies, we are confident in our abilities to provide best-in-class products and services for the growing security market in fiscal year 2010 and beyond."

The Company is declaring a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share, payable on June 4, 2009 to the holders of record at the close of business on May 26, 2009.

As previously announced, Anthony Fabiano, President and CEO, and Ken Galaznik, Senior Vice President, CFO and Treasurer, will host the quarterly conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the results and respond to questions. Please dial 1-866-788-0544 at least 10 minutes prior to starting time. For international participants, dial 1-857-350-1682. Please tell the Operator the confirmation code: 45396813. You will be placed on hold until the conference call is ready to begin.

An audio replay of the teleconference will be available, in its entirety, starting Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. ET for a 48-hour period by dialing 1-888-286-8010. Internationally, please dial 1-617-801-6888. The conference identification number is 35038795. The replay will also be available at www.as-e.com in the Investor Information section following the conference.

About AS&E([R])

American Science and Engineering, Inc. (AS&E) is the leading worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray inspection systems. With over 50 years of experience in developing advanced X-ray security systems, the Company's product line utilizes a combination of technologies, including patented Z Backscatter technology, Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD), high energy transmission and dual energy transmission X-ray. These technologies offer superior X-ray threat detection for plastic explosives, plastic weapons, liquid explosives, dirty bombs and nuclear devices. AS&E's complete range of products include cargo inspection systems for port and border security, baggage screening systems for facility and aviation security, and personnel and passenger screening systems. AS&E systems protect high-threat facilities and help combat terrorism and trade fraud, drug smuggling, weapon smuggling, and illegal immigration and people smuggling. AS&E customers include leading government agencies, border authorities, military bases, airports and corporations worldwide, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), HM Revenue & Customs (U.K.), Hong Kong Customs, and Abu Dhabi Customs. For more information on AS&E products and technologies, please visit www.as-e.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The foregoing press release contains statements concerning AS&E's financial performance, markets and business operations that may be considered "forward-looking" under applicable securities laws. AS&E wishes to caution readers of this press release that actual results might differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements contained herein include the following: significant reductions or delays in procurements of the Company's systems by the United States and other governments; disruption in the supply of any source component incorporated into AS&E's products and other factors which may cause delays in production and delivery schedules; litigation seeking to restrict the use of intellectual property used by the Company; potential product liability claims against the Company; failure of any of our products to meet performance requirements or to continue to operate reliably because of unexpected design flaws or manufacturing defects, global political trends and events which affect public perception of the threat presented by drugs, explosives and other contraband; global economic developments and the ability of governments and private organizations to fund purchases of the Company's products to address such threats; and the potential insufficiency of Company resources, including human resources, capital, plant and equipment and management systems, to accommodate any future growth, and future delays in federal funding. These and certain other factors which might cause actual results to differ materially from those projected are detailed from time to time in AS&E's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. AS&E undertakes no obligation to update forward looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes in future operating results, financial condition or business over time.

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