ANAHEIM, Calif., Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc. (NASDAQ: MFLX), a leading global provider of high-quality, technologically advanced flexible printed circuit and value-added component assembly solutions to the electronics industry, today reported strong financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2011.  Net sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 were $239.3 million, exceeding the high end of the Company's guidance range, compared to net sales of $241.2 million in the same period of the prior year.  

Gross margin during the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was 12.2 percent, compared to 14.3 percent for the same period in fiscal 2011.  The year-over-year decline was attributable to higher capacity related costs to support anticipated 2012 customer demand, as well as rising labor costs and an appreciating yuan in China.  Sequentially, gross margin increased 220 basis points primarily due to improved capacity utilization.

Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $13.5 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, compared to net income of $15.1 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the same period in the prior year.

Cash flows from operating activities for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 were $5.7 million.  At December 31, 2011, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $75.8 million, or $3.14 per diluted share.

Non-GAAP Results

A reconciliation of GAAP net income and earnings per share to non-GAAP net income and earnings per share is provided in the table at the end of this press release.  

Share Repurchase Program

During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company repurchased approximately 391,000 shares at a weighted-average purchase price of $20.08 per share, for a total purchase price of $7.9 million.

Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company expects net sales to range between $210 and $225 million, and gross margin to range between 10.5 and 11.5 percent based on the projected product mix and sales volume.

Commenting on the Company's business outlook, Reza Meshgin, Chief Executive Officer of MFLEX, noted, "We anticipate continued strong demand for our flex assemblies for both smartphones and tablets in the second quarter of fiscal 2012.  However, we expect lower sequential sales to reduce our capacity utilization and in turn, gross margin during the quarter.  Looking further ahead, with increasing opportunities in the smartphone and tablet industries, we continue to expect year-over-year top line growth and sequential margin expansion in the second half of 2012."

Conference Call

MFLEX will host a conference call at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time (2:30 p.m. Pacific time) today to review its fiscal 2012 first quarter financial results.  The dial-in number for the call in North America is 1-877-941-2332 and 1-480-629-9866 for international callers. The call also will be webcast live on the Internet and can be accessed by logging onto www.mflex.com.

The webcast will be archived on the Company's website for at least 60 days following the call. An audio replay of the conference call will be available for seven days beginning at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time (5:30 p.m. Pacific time) today.  The audio replay dial-in number for North America is 1-800-406-7325 and 1-303-590-3030 for international callers.  The replay passcode is 4508078.

About MFLEX

MFLEX (www.mflex.com) is a global provider of high-quality, technologically advanced flexible printed circuit and value-added component assembly solutions to the electronics industry. The Company is one of a limited number of manufacturers that provides a seamless, integrated end-to-end flexible printed circuit solution for customers, ranging from design and application engineering, prototyping and high-volume manufacturing to turnkey component assembly and testing. The Company targets its solutions within the electronics market and, in particular, focuses on applications where flexible printed circuits are the enabling technology in achieving a desired size, shape, weight or functionality of an electronic device. Current applications for the Company's products include smartphones, tablets, computer/data storage, portable bar code scanners and other consumer electronic devices. MFLEX's common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol MFLX.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements and predictions regarding: revenues; net sales; sales; net income; profitability; growth; gross margins; customer mix and concentration; seasonality of the Company's business; customer and seasonal demand; capacity, utilization and capacity expansion; product mix; market share; and programs and the ramping thereof.  Additional forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements pertaining to other financial items, plans, strategies or objectives of management for future operations, the Company's future operations and financial condition or prospects, and any other statement that is not historical fact, including any statement which is preceded by the words "forecast," "guidance," "preliminary," "scheduled," "assume," "can," "will," "plan," "should," "expect," "estimate," "aim," "intend," "look," "project," "foresee," "target," "anticipate," "may," "believe," or similar words. Actual events or results may differ materially from those stated or implied by the Company's forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including the effect of the economy or seasonality on the demand for electronic devices; the Company's success with new and current customers, those customers' success in the marketplace and usage of flex in their products; product mix; the Company's ability to develop and deliver new technologies; the Company's ability to diversify and expand its customer base and markets; the Company's effectiveness in managing manufacturing processes and costs; currency fluctuations; the Company's ability to manage quality assurance and workforce issues; the degree to which the Company is able to utilize available manufacturing capacity, enter into new markets and execute its strategic plans; electricity, material and component shortages; the impact of natural disasters, competition, pricing pressures and technological advances; the outcome of tax audits; labor issues in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2011.  These forward-looking statements represent management's judgment as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.  

(SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOLLOWS)

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

To supplement the condensed consolidated financial results prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), the Company uses non-GAAP financial measures (non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share) that exclude certain charges and gains. Management excludes these items because it believes that the non-GAAP measures enhance an investor's overall understanding of the Company's financial performance and future prospects by being more reflective of the Company's recurring operational activities and to be more comparable with the results of the Company over various periods. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures internally for strategic decision making, forecasting future results and evaluating current performance. By disclosing non-GAAP financial measures, management intends to provide investors with a more meaningful, consistent comparison of the Company's core operating results and trends for the periods presented. Non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP; therefore, the information is not necessarily comparable to other companies' financial information and should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

The items excluded from GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share in calculating these non-GAAP financial measures, are as follows: (a) stock-based compensation expense; and (b) impairment and restructuring activities, including asset impairments, one-time termination benefits and other restructuring-related costs. Management excludes these amounts when evaluating its core operating activities and for strategic decision making and forecasting of future results and believes that evaluating current performance, and excluding such items from MFLEX's operations, provides investors with a more meaningful way of evaluating the Company's current operating performance.

SOURCE Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc.