Avago Technologies Limited Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2014 Financial Results

• Quarterly net revenue from continuing operations up 25 percent sequentially
• Quarterly GAAP gross margin from continuing operations of 50 percent; Quarterly Non-GAAP gross margin from continuing operations of 58 percent
• Quarterly GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.50; Quarterly Non-GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations of $1.99

SAN JOSE, Calif. and SINGAPORE, Dec. 3, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avago Technologies Limited (Nasdaq:AVGO), a leading semiconductor device supplier to the enterprise storage, wired, wireless and industrial end markets, today reported financial results for the fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended November 2, 2014, and provided guidance for the first quarter of its fiscal year 2015.

Basis of Presentation

Avago completed the acquisitions of LSI Corporation ("LSI") on May 6, 2014 and of PLX Technology Inc. ("PLX") on August 12, 2014. Avago's results include the operating results from LSI starting the third fiscal quarter of 2014 and from PLX starting in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2014. Avago also recently completed its dispositions of LSI's flash and Axxia networking businesses. The financial results from the flash and Axxia businesses have been classified as discontinued operations in the Company's financial statements and the results of operations from these businesses are not included in the results presented below, unless otherwise stated.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2014 GAAP Results from Continuing Operations

Net revenue from continuing operations was $1,590 million, an increase of 25 percent from $1,269 million in the previous quarter and an increase of 115 percent from $738 million in the same quarter last year.

Gross margin from continuing operations was $788 million, or 50 percent of net revenue. This compares with gross margin of $393 million, or 31 percent of net revenue last quarter, and gross margin of $346 million, or 47 percent of net revenue in the same quarter last year.

Operating expenses from continuing operations were $487 million. This compares with $555 million in the prior quarter and $176 million for the same quarter last year.

Income from operations was $301 million. This compares with a loss from operations of $162 million in the prior quarter and with income from operations of $170 million in the same quarter last year.

Fourth quarter net income, which includes the impact of discontinued operations, was $135 million, or $0.50 per diluted share. This compares with a net loss of $164 million, or ($0.65) per diluted share, for the prior quarter, and net income of $172 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, in the same quarter last year.

The Company's cash balance at the end of the fourth fiscal quarter was $1.6 billion, compared to $1.3 billion at the end of the prior quarter.

The Company generated $381 million in cash from operations in the fourth quarter and spent $189 million on capital expenditures.

On September 30, 2014 the Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per ordinary share, totaling approximately $81 million.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2014 Non-GAAP Results From Continuing Operations

The differences between our GAAP and non-GAAP results are described generally under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below, and presented in detail in the financial reconciliation tables attached to this release.

Net revenue from continuing operations was $1,610 million, an increase of 25 percent from $1,287 million in the previous quarter and an increase of 118 percent from $738 million in the same quarter last year.

Gross margin from continuing operations was $939 million, or 58 percent of net revenue. This compares with gross margin of $735 million, or 57 percent of net revenue last quarter, and gross margin of $374 million, or 51 percent of net revenue in the same quarter last year.

Income from continuing operations was $636 million, a 49% increase from $428 million in the prior quarter. Income from continuing operations was $229 million in the same quarter last year.

Net income from continuing operations was $556 million, or $1.99 per diluted share. This compares with net income of $347 million, or $1.26 per diluted share last quarter, and net income of $227 million, or $0.89 per diluted share in the same quarter last year.

 "We are very pleased with our fourth quarter performance where we sequentially grew revenue by 25% and operating income by 49%," said Hock Tan, President and CEO of Avago Technologies Limited. "And we expect our business to sustain into the first quarter of 2015."

Other Quarterly Data

Fiscal Year 2014 Financial Results From Continuing Operations

GAAP net revenue from continuing operations was $4,269 million, an increase of 69 percent from $2,520 million in the prior year. GAAP gross margin was $1,877 million, or 44 percent of net revenue versus $1,198 million, or 48 percent of net revenue in fiscal year 2013. GAAP income from operations was $438 million. This compares with $552 million in the prior year. GAAP net income, which includes the impact from discontinued operations, was $263 million, or $0.99 per diluted share. This compares with GAAP net income of $552 million, or $2.19 per diluted share in fiscal year 2013.

Non-GAAP net revenue from continuing operations was $4,307 million, an increase of 71 percent from $2,520 million in the prior year. Non-GAAP gross margin was $2,421 million, or 56 percent of net revenue versus $1,282 million, or 51 percent of net revenue in fiscal year 2013. Non-GAAP income from continuing operations was $1,521 million. This compares with $740 million in the prior year. Non-GAAP net income was $1,343 million, or $4.90 per diluted share. This compares with Non-GAAP net income of $731 million, or $2.89 per diluted share in fiscal year 2013.

First Quarter Fiscal Year 2015 Business Outlook

Based on current business trends and conditions, the outlook for continuing operations for the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, ending February 1, 2015, is expected to be as follows: 

Reconciling items include:

• Non-GAAP Revenue includes $21 million of LSI intellectual property licensing revenue, not included in GAAP revenue as a result of the effects of purchase accounting for the LSI acquisition;   
• Non-GAAP Gross Margin includes the effects of $21 million of LSI intellectual property licensing revenue and excludes the effects of $113 million of amortization of intangible assets, $6 million of share-based compensation expense, $2 million of restructuring charges, and $4 million of inventory step-up charges to record PLX inventory at fair value, as part of the purchase accounting for the PLX Technology acquisition;
• Non-GAAP Operating Expenses exclude $59 million of amortization of intangible assets, $45 million of share-based compensation, $11 million of restructuring charges, and $16 million of acquisition-related costs; and
• $4 million provision at the Taxes line, which represents the tax effects of the reconciling items noted above.

Capital expenditures for full fiscal year 2015 are expected to be approximately $600 million, of which approximately $200 million is expected to occur in the first quarter. For the first quarter depreciation is expected to be $52 million and amortization is expected to be $172 million.

The guidance provided above is only an estimate of what the Company believes is realizable as of the date of this release. Among other things, this guidance is based on an initial estimate of purchase accounting adjustments and allocations for the PLX acquisition, all of which are subject to revision. The guidance also excludes any impact from any further mergers, acquisitions and divestiture activity that may occur during the quarter. Actual results will vary from the guidance and the variations may be material. The Company undertakes no intent or obligation to publicly update or revise any of these projections, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Avago will be presenting at the Barclays Global Technology Conference in San Francisco on December 10, 2014. Avago will also be meeting with investors on January 6 and January 7, 2015, at the 2015 International CES and presenting at the J.P. Morgan Tech Forum CES 2015 and the Citi Internet, Media and Telecommunication Tech Forum CES 2015 in Las Vegas.

Financial Results Conference Call

Avago Technologies Limited will host a conference call to review its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2014, and to provide guidance for the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Those wishing to access the call should dial (877) 474-9506; International +1 (857) 244-7559. The passcode is 18490478. A replay of the call will be accessible one week after the call. To access the replay dial (888) 286-8010; International +1 (617) 801-6888; and reference the passcode: 28113597. A webcast of the conference call will also be available in the "Investors" section of Avago's website at www.avagotech.com. 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to GAAP reporting, Avago provides investors with net income, income from operations, gross margin, operating expenses and other data, on a non-GAAP basis. This non-GAAP information includes the effect of purchase accounting on revenues, excludes amortization of intangible assets, share-based compensation expense, restructuring charges, acquisition-related costs, purchase accounting effect on inventory, loss from discontinued operations and income tax effects of non-GAAP reconciling adjustments. Management does not believe that these items are reflective of the Company's underlying performance. The presentation of these and other similar items in Avago's non-GAAP financial results should not be interpreted as implying that these items are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual. Avago believes this non-GAAP financial information provides additional insight into the Company's on-going performance and has therefore chosen to provide this information to investors for a more consistent basis of comparison and to help them evaluate the results of the Company's on-going operations and enable more meaningful period to period comparisons. These non-GAAP measures are provided in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial data is included in the supplemental financial data attached to this press release.

About Avago Technologies Limited

Avago Technologies Limited is a leading designer, developer and global supplier of a broad range of analog semiconductor devices with a focus on III-V based products and complex digital and mixed signal CMOS based devices. Our product portfolio is extensive and includes thousands of products in four primary target markets: enterprise storage, wired infrastructure, wireless communications and industrial & other.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that address our expected future business and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections of future Company or industry performance, based on management's judgment, beliefs, current trends and market conditions, and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, we caution you not to place undue reliance on these statements. Particular uncertainties that could materially affect future results include our ability to integrate and realize the expected benefits from our acquisition of LSI; any loss of our significant customers and fluctuations in the timing and volume of significant customer demand; global economic conditions and concerns; cyclicality in the semiconductor industry or in our target markets; increased dependence on the volatile, wireless handset market and on the enterprise storage market; delays, challenges and expenses associated with integrating acquired companies with our existing businesses and our ability to achieve the growth prospects and synergies expected from acquisitions we may make, including our recent acquisitions of LSI and PLX; quarterly and annual fluctuations in operating results; our competitive performance and ability to continue achieving design wins with our customers, as well as the timing of those design wins; our ability to sell to new types of customers and to keep pace with technological advances; market acceptance of the end products into which our products are designed; rates of growth in our target markets; our dependence on contract manufacturing and outsourced supply chain and our ability to improve our cost structure through our manufacturing outsourcing program; prolonged disruptions of our or our contract manufacturers' manufacturing facilities or other significant operations; our dependence on outsourced service providers for certain key business services and their ability to execute to our requirements; our ability to maintain or improve gross margin; our ability to maintain tax concessions in certain jurisdictions; our ability to protect our intellectual property and the unpredictability of any associated litigation expenses; any expenses or reputational damage associated with resolving customer product and warranty and indemnification claims; dependence on and risks associated with distributors of our products; the significant indebtedness incurred by us in connection with the LSI acquisition, including the need to generate sufficient cashflows to service and repay such debt; and other events and trends on a national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive and regulatory nature. Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on September 12, 2014 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or "SEC" (which you may obtain for free at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov) discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no intent or obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.