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InterDigital Announces Third Quarter 2010 Financial Results

^{Published on 2010-10-27 15:21:42 - Market Wire}
 

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDCC) today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010.

"We turned in another very strong quarter, as evidenced by significant profitability and a substantially strengthened cash position"

Highlights for third quarter 2010:

• Net income of $35.5 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, a 16 percent increase over third quarter 2009;
• Revenue of $91.9 million, a 22 percent increase over third quarter 2009; and
• Ending cash and short-term investments totaling $563.6 million.

aWe turned in another very strong quarter, as evidenced by significant profitability and a substantially strengthened cash position,a commented William J. Merritt, InterDigitala™s President and Chief Executive Officer. aThe broad improvement in our results arose from several key factors, including the contribution from new customer agreements and very strong unit volume growth from existing customers.a

aOur development programs also progressed well, continuing to address the complex bandwidth challenge facing networks today,a continued Mr. Merritt. aIn one of our programs, we demonstrated a Machine-to-Machine gateway and server prototype, which should enable the proliferation of M2M connections while preserving network integrity and capacity. That demonstration was well received by manufacturers and standards bodies alike, and is among the many innovations the company is producing to address the demand for more wireless data throughput with better performance characteristics.a

aInterDigitala™s balance sheet has never been stronger, owing to the company's excellent performance recently,a commented Terry Clontz, InterDigitala™s Chairman of the Board. Mr. Clontz added, "The Board has been carefully considering its capital management policy in view of the companya™s strong cash flow, generated by one of the best wireless technology patent portfolios in the industry. The Board believes opportunities remain robust to enhance shareholder value through continued focused investments in market-leading wireless technology, while also returning appropriate levels of capital to our shareholders. In the past we have returned cash to shareholders through share buybacks. While the company plans to maintain its current share repurchase authorization, we believe it is time to include other means of returning surplus cash to shareholders. Given our financial strength and confidence in our core licensing business, the Board intends to announce a regular quarterly dividend policy during fourth quarter 2010. The initiation of a regular dividend is expected to be at a level commensurate with other high technology companies with similar growth prospects and cash positions.a

Third Quarter 2010 Summary

Net income for third quarter 2010 totaled $35.5 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, an increase of 16 percent over third quarter 2009 net income of $30.6 million, or $0.69 per diluted share. Contributions from several new customers as well as higher unit sales by many of the companya™s existing per-unit customers drove higher profitability in the quarter.

Total revenue in third quarter 2010 of $91.9 million increased 22 percent from $75.5 million reported in third quarter 2009. Patent licensing royalties of $86.1 million increased 18 percent, over $73.0 million in third quarter 2009. The increase is driven by new and renewed agreements as well as growth in customersa™ smartphone product sales. The fixed fee amortized portion of the royalty revenue totaled $49.6 million, an increase of 11 percent over third quarter 2009 of $44.8 million, driven by new customer agreements. Per-unit royalties of $35.8 million rose 29 percent over $27.7 million reported for third quarter 2009, driven by increasing sales of customersa™ mobile devices and new customer agreements. Technology solutions revenue in third quarter 2010 of $5.8 million more than doubled from $2.5 million in third quarter 2009 due to contributions from customers added during first nine months 2010. Customers that accounted for ten percent or more of the $91.9 million of third quarter 2010 total revenue were Samsung (28 percent), LG Electronics (16 percent), and Sharp (11 percent).

Third quarter 2010 operating expenses of $37.5 million increased by $8.6 million, or 30 percent, over $28.9 million reported in third quarter 2009. The increase in expense is largely the result of adjustments to the accrual for the companya™s long-term compensation program (aLTCPa). In third quarter 2009, the company reduced the accrual for an incentive period under the LTCP by $4.0 million based on the companya™s revised expectations for a lower payout. However, during 2010, new customer agreements and amendments have contributed in excess of $100 million of cash and receivables, which resulted in an increase to the LTCP accrual. In addition, expenses rose $6.1 million as a result of (i) sublicense fees and other non-personnel expenses to support technology transfers under the new technology solutions agreements entered into during first nine months 2010, (ii) new research and development projects initiated in the last twelve months, (iii) patent amortization and (iv) an increase in costs associated with due diligence related to potential patent acquisition opportunities. These and other increases were offset by a lower level of intellectual property enforcement activity ($1.4 million in third quarter 2010 versus $3.3 million in third quarter 2009).

Net interest and investment income for third quarter 2010 of $0.6 million increased from $0.5 million in third quarter 2009 primarily due to higher investment balances in third quarter 2010.

The companya™s third quarter 2010 effective tax rate was approximately 36 percent, slightly higher than the 35 percent effective tax rate experienced in third quarter 2009.

Nine Months Summary

The companya™s first nine months 2010 net income totaled $119.3 million, or $2.66 per diluted share, a 65 percent increase over the first nine months 2009 pro forma net income¹ of $72.4 million, or $1.61 per diluted share. The first nine months 2009 pro forma results do not include a $37.0 million repositioning charge. This year-over-year increase in net income was driven by revenue contributions from several new customers as well as growth in sales from existing customers. On a GAAP-reported basis, first nine months 2009 net income totaled $48.4 million, or $1.08 per diluted share.

Total revenue in first nine months 2010 of $299.3 million increased 35 percent from $221.0 million reported in first nine months 2009, driven by a $70.0 million, or 33 percent, increase in patent licensing royalties. Of this increase, $38.5 million related to past sales generated by new and renewed agreements and routine audits, the largest contributor to which was Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. (aCHMCa). The fixed fee amortized portion of royalty revenue in first nine months 2010 totaled $146.3 million, an increase of 9 percent over first nine months 2009 of $133.7 million, driven by a new customer agreement with Pantech and a full nine months of revenue from the agreement with Samsung signed during first quarter 2009. Per-unit royalties of $97.4 million in first nine months 2010 rose 24 percent over $78.5 million reported for first nine months 2009, driven by new, renewed and expanded license agreements with customers as well as increased sales of customersa™ smartphone products. Technology solutions revenue in first nine months 2010 of $14.3 million more than doubled from $6.0 million in first nine months 2009 due to contributions from new technology solutions agreements added in first nine months 2010 and royalties on customer sales of products containing the companya™s SlimChipa" modem core platform. Customers that accounted for ten percent or more of the $299.3 million of first nine months 2010 total revenue were Samsung (26 percent), LG Electronics (14 percent), and CHMC (11 percent).

First nine months 2010 operating expenses of $117.1 million increased by 5 percent over the $111.0 million operating expenses during first nine months 2009, which excludes the $37.0 million repositioning charge during first nine months 2009. The increase in expense is largely the result of adjustments to the accrual for the companya™s LTCP, as described above. In addition, expenses rose $7.2 million as a result of sublicense fees and other non-personnel expenses to support technology transfers under the new technology solutions agreements entered into during first nine months 2010, patent amortization and an increase in costs associated with due diligence related to potential patent acquisition opportunities. These and other increases were offset by lower levels of personnel, depreciation and amortization and other costs resulting from the companya™s March 2009 decision to cease further development of its SlimChip modem technology. In addition, the company experienced a lower level of intellectual property enforcement activity in first nine months 2010 ($10.3 million in first nine months 2010 versus $11.5 million in first nine months 2009).

Net interest and investment income for each of first nine months 2010 and first nine months 2009 totaled $2.0 million.

The companya™s first nine months 2010 effective tax rate was approximately 35 percent, as compared to the first nine months 2009 effective tax rate of approximately 36 percent.

In first nine months 2010, the company generated $141.4 million of free cash flow² compared to $307.0 million in first nine months 2009. The decrease of $165.6 million in free cash flow was driven primarily by a reduction of $149.3 million in cash receipts from patent license agreements due to a higher level of patent licensing prepayments received in first nine months 2009 compared to first nine months 2010.

Near-Term Outlook

Scott McQuilkin, Chief Financial Officer, commented, aOur third quarter results reflect the growth of our customer base and strong sales from our existing customers driven by the rebound in industry mobile phone shipments. We will provide an update on our revenue expectations for fourth quarter 2010 after we receive and review the applicable patent license and product sales royalty reports.a

Conference Call Information

InterDigital will host a conference call on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its third quarter 2010 performance and other company matters. For a live Internet webcast of the conference call, visit [ www.interdigital.com ] and click on the link to the Live Webcast on the homepage. The company encourages participants to take advantage of the Internet option.

For telephone access to the conference call, please dial (888) 802-2225 within the U.S. or (913) 312-1254 from outside the U.S. Please call by 9:50 a.m. ET on October 28 and ask the operator for the InterDigital Financial Call.

An Internet replay of the conference call will be available on InterDigitala™s web site in the Investor Relations section. In addition, a telephone replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. ET October 28 through 1:00 p.m. ET November 2. To access the recorded replay, call (888) 203-1112 or (719) 457-0820 and use the replay code 3791114.

About InterDigital

InterDigital develops fundamental wireless technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the industrya™s most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks and a richer multimedia experience years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and partnerships with many of the worlda™s leading wireless companies.

InterDigital is a registered trademark and SlimChip is a trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

For more information, visit: [ www.interdigital.com ]

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include the information under the heading aNear-Term Outlooka and other information regarding our current beliefs, plans and expectations, including, without limitation: (i) our expectations regarding our M2M gateway and server prototype, (ii) our plans to maintain our current share repurchase authorization, (iii) our Boarda™s intention to announce a regular quarterly dividend policy in fourth quarter 2010 and its expectations regarding the dividend level, (iv) the impact of our recently signed agreements, and (v) fourth quarter 2010 revenue guidance. Words such as aanticipate,a aestimate,a aexpect,a aproject,a aintend,a aplan,a aforecast,a variations of any such words or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual outcomes could differ materially from those expressed in or anticipated by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation, those identified in this press release, as well as the following: (i) unanticipated delays, difficulties or acceleration in the execution of patent license agreements; (ii) our ability to leverage our strategic relationships and secure new patent license and technology solutions agreements on acceptable terms; (iii) changes in the market share and sales performance of our primary licensees, delays in product shipments of our licensees and timely receipt and final reviews of quarterly royalty reports from our licensees and related matters; (iv) the failure of the markets for our technologies to materialize to the extent or at the rate that we expect; (v) the resolution of current legal proceedings, including any awards or judgments relating to such proceedings, additional legal proceedings, changes in the schedules or costs associated with legal proceedings or adverse rulings in such legal proceedings; and (vi) an increase in the companya™s cash needs or decrease in available cash or the companya™s inability to declare a dividend in compliance with applicable laws. We undertake no duty to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law, regulation or other competent legal authority.

¹ Pro forma net income is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that InterDigital believes is helpful in evaluating the companya™s first nine months 2010 operating results relative to first nine months 2009. A limitation of the utility of pro forma net income as a measure of financial performance is that it does not represent the companya™s total operating expenses for the period. For purposes of this press release, InterDigital defines apro forma net incomea as net income excluding the expense associated with a repositioning charge and the related tax benefit, both non-recurring items in first quarter 2009. InterDigitala™s computation of pro forma net income might not be comparable to pro forma net income reported by other companies. The presentation of this financial information, which is not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (aGAAPa). A detailed reconciliation of pro forma net income to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is provided in the Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income at the end of this press release.

² Free cash flow is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that InterDigital believes is helpful in evaluating the companya™s ability to invest in its business, make strategic acquisitions and fund share repurchases, among other things. A limitation of the utility of free cash flow as a measure of financial performance is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in the companya™s cash balance for the period. InterDigital defines afree cash flowa as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, technology licenses and investments in patents. InterDigitala™s computation of free cash flow might not be comparable to free cash flow reported by other companies. The presentation of this financial information, which is not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. A detailed reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is provided at the end of this press release.

RECONCILIATION OF FREE CASH FLOW TO NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

In the summary cash flow statement and throughout this press release, the company refers to free cash flow. The table below presents a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.