Rambus Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2016 Financial Results

Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ:RMBS) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016.

Commenting on the results, chief executive officer Dr. Ron Black stated, “Our activity throughout 2016 has prepared us well for profitable growth moving into 2017. Our memory and interfaces business continues to perform well with the ability to accelerate our customer engagements for the data center. We also have several avenues of exciting opportunities to extend beyond our historic business, particularly as we move closer to the consumer with offerings serving the mobile edge.”

GAAP Financial Results:

Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $97.6 million, up 9% on a sequential basis from the third quarter of 2016 primarily due to higher product revenue from the memory and interfaces business and higher royalty revenue. As compared to the fourth quarter of 2015, revenue was up 27% primarily due to higher revenue from the security technology business, higher product revenue primarily from the memory and interfaces business, and higher royalty revenue.

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $336.6 million, up 14% from the year ended December 31, 2015, which is primarily due to higher revenue from the security technology business and higher product revenue primarily from the memory and interfaces business.

Total operating costs and expenses for the fourth quarter of 2016 were $97.0 million, 24% higher than the previous quarter and 72% higher than the fourth quarter of 2015. Fourth quarter operating costs and expenses of $97.0 million included $5.7 million of stock-based compensation expenses, $11.1 million of amortization expenses, $18.3 million impairment of long-lived assets, $1.1 million related to the purchase accounting adjustment for inventory fair value step-up and $0.2 million of acquisition-related transaction costs, offset by a reduction of acquisition purchase consideration of $6.8 million. In comparison, total operating costs and expenses for the third quarter of 2016 of $78.0 million included $5.4 million of stock-based compensation expenses, $10.2 million of amortization expenses, $1.2 million related to the purchase accounting adjustment for inventory fair value step-up and $0.4 million of acquisition-related transaction costs. Total operating costs and expenses for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $56.4 million, which included $3.3 million of stock-based compensation expenses, $6.2 million of amortization expenses and $3.6 million of restructuring charges. The change in total operating costs and expenses in the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to the third quarter of 2016 was primarily attributable to the impairment of long-lived assets, higher headcount-related costs, higher amortization expense, higher prototyping costs and higher costs of goods sold related to memory and security products, partially offset by a reduction of acquisition purchase consideration in the fourth quarter of 2016. The change in total operating costs and expenses in the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2015 was primarily attributable to the impairment of long-lived assets, higher headcount-related costs, higher amortization expense, higher consulting costs and higher costs of goods sold related to memory and security products, partially offset by a reduction of acquisition purchase consideration and lack of restructuring charges in 2016.

Total operating costs and expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $303.0 million, 35% higher than the year ended December 31, 2015. The year ended December 31, 2016 operating costs and expenses of $303.0 million included $21.0 million of stock-based compensation expenses, $37.1 million of amortization expenses, $18.3 million of impairment of long-lived assets, $2.3 million related to the purchase accounting adjustment for inventory fair value step-up and $3.2 million of acquisition-related transaction costs, offset by a reduction of acquisition purchase consideration of $6.8 million. This is compared to total operating costs and expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 of $224.9 million, which included $15.1 million of stock-based compensation expenses, $25.1 million of amortization expenses and $3.6 million of restructuring charges. The change in total operating costs and expenses was primarily attributable to the impairment of long-lived assets, higher headcount-related costs, higher amortization expense, higher consulting costs, higher stock-based compensation expense, higher expenses related to software design tools, higher acquisition-related transaction costs, the purchase accounting adjustment for inventory fair value step-up, higher costs of goods sold related to memory and security products and lack of gain from sale of intellectual property in 2016, partially offset by a reduction of acquisition purchase consideration and lack of restructuring charges in 2016.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $3.4 million as compared to net income of $4.5 million in the third quarter of 2016 and net income of $13.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. Diluted net loss per share for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $0.03 as compared to diluted net income per share of $0.04 in the third quarter of 2016 and diluted net income per share of $0.11 in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $6.8 million as compared to a net income of $211.4 million for the same period of 2015. Diluted net income per share for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $0.06 as compared to a diluted net income per share of $1.80 for the same period of 2015.

Non-GAAP Financial Results (1):

Total non-GAAP operating costs and expenses in the fourth quarter of 2016 were $67.5 million, 11% higher than the previous quarter, and 56% higher than the fourth quarter of 2015. The change in total non-GAAP operating costs and expenses in the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to the third quarter of 2016 was primarily due to higher headcount-related costs, higher prototyping costs and higher costs of goods sold related to memory and security products in the fourth quarter of 2016. The change in total non-GAAP operating costs and expenses in the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2015 was primarily due to higher headcount-related costs, higher consulting costs and higher costs of goods sold related to memory and security products.

Total non-GAAP operating costs and expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $227.8 million as compared to $181.1 million in the same period of 2015 are primarily due to higher headcount-related costs, higher consulting costs, higher expenses related to software design tools and higher costs of goods sold related to memory and security products.

Non-GAAP net income in the fourth quarter of 2016 was $18.7 million, 4% higher than the prior quarter and 10% lower than the fourth quarter of 2015. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share was $0.16 in the fourth quarter of 2016 as compared to $0.16 in the prior quarter and $0.18 in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Non-GAAP net income for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $67.9 million as compared to $70.6 million in the same period of 2015. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share was $0.60 for the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to non-GAAP diluted net income per share of $0.60 for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Other Financial Highlights:

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of December 31, 2016 were $172.2 million, an increase of $21.4 million from September 30, 2016, mainly due to cash generated from operating activities.

During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company recorded an income tax provision of approximately $0.9 million.

2017 First Quarter Outlook:

For the first quarter of 2017, the Company expects revenue to be between $93 million and $98 million. Revenue is not without risk and achieving revenue in this range will require that the Company sign new customer agreements for various product sales, mobile payments software and solutions licensing among other matters. The Company also expects operating costs and expenses to be between $85 million and $88 million, and diluted net income per share to be between $0.02 and $0.06. The Company also expects non-GAAP operating costs and expenses to be between $67 million and $70 million, and non-GAAP diluted net income per share to be between $0.13 and $0.17. These non-GAAP expectations assume non-GAAP interest and other income and expense of $1 million, tax rate of 35% (refer to non-GAAP financial information below - income tax adjustments) and diluted share count of 114 million, and exclude stock-based compensation expense ($7 million), amortization expense ($11 million), and non-cash interest expense on convertible notes ($2 million).

Conference Call:

The Company will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. PT today to discuss its financial results. The call, audio and slides will be available online at investor.rambus.com. A replay will be available following the call as a webcast on the Rambus Investor Relations website and for one week at the following numbers: (855) 859-2056 (domestic) or (404) 537-3406 (international) with ID#50043108.

(1) Non-GAAP Financial Information:

In the commentary set forth above and in the financial statements included in this earnings release, the Company presents the following non-GAAP financial measures: operating costs and expenses, operating income (loss) and net income (loss). In computing each of these non-GAAP financial measures, the following items were considered as discussed below: stock-based compensation expenses, acquisition-related transaction costs and retention bonus expense, restructuring charges, impairment charges, amortization expenses, non-cash interest expense and certain other one-time adjustments. The non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by the Company should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, and the financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations from these results should be carefully evaluated. Management believes the non-GAAP financial measures are appropriate for both its own assessment of, and to show investors, how the Company’s performance compares to other periods. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies. Reconciliation from GAAP to non-GAAP results is included in the financial statements contained in this release.

The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures reflect adjustments based on the following items:

Stock-based compensation expense. These expenses primarily relate to employee stock options, employee stock purchase plans, and employee non-vested equity stock and non-vested stock units. The Company excludes stock-based compensation expense from its non-GAAP measures primarily because such expenses are non-cash expenses that the Company does not believe are reflective of ongoing operating results. Additionally, given the fact that other companies may grant different amounts and types of equity awards and may use different option valuation assumptions, excluding stock-based compensation expense permits more accurate comparisons of the Company’s results with peer companies.

Acquisition-related transaction costs and retention bonus expense. These expenses include all direct costs of certain acquisitions and the current periods’ portion of any retention bonus expense associated with the acquisitions. The Company excludes these expenses in order to provide better comparability between periods.

Purchase accounting adjustment for inventory fair value step-up. These adjustments are the result of accounting for certain business acquisitions and are excluded because such adjustments are non-recurring. Additionally, the Company excludes these expenses in order to provide better comparability between periods.

Restructuring charges. These charges may consist of severance, contractual retention payments, exit costs and other charges and are excluded because such charges are not directly related to ongoing business results and do not reflect expected future operating expenses.

Impairment of long-lived assets. These charges consist of non-cash charges to long-lived assets and are excluded because such charges are non-recurring and do not reduce the Company’s liquidity.

Change in contingent consideration. This change is due to a reduction of acquisition purchase consideration. This is a non-recurring benefit that has no direct correlation to the operation of the Company's business and no cash flow impact.

Amortization expense. The Company incurs expenses for the amortization of intangible assets acquired in acquisitions. The Company excludes these items because these expenses are not reflective of ongoing operating results in the period incurred. These amounts arise from the Company’s prior acquisitions and have no direct correlation to the operation of the Company’s core business.

Non-cash interest expense on convertible notes. The Company incurs non-cash interest expense related to its convertible notes. The Company excludes non-cash interest expense related to its convertible notes to provide more accurate comparisons of the Company’s results with other peer companies and to more accurately reflect the Company’s ongoing operations.

Income tax adjustments. For purposes of internal forecasting, planning and analyzing future periods that assume net income from operations, the Company estimates a fixed, long-term projected tax rate of approximately 35 percent for periods in 2016 and 36 percent for periods in 2015, which consists of estimated U.S. federal and state tax rates, and excludes tax rates associated with certain items such as withholding tax, tax credits, deferred tax asset valuation allowance and the release of any deferred tax asset valuation allowance. Accordingly, the Company has applied these tax rates to its non-GAAP financial results for all periods in the relevant years to assist the Company’s planning for future periods. The Company has provided below a reconciliation of its GAAP provision for income taxes and GAAP effective tax rate to the assumed non-GAAP provision for income taxes and non-GAAP effective tax rate.

On occasion in the future, there may be other items, such as significant gains or losses from contingencies that the Company may exclude in deriving its non-GAAP financial measures if it believes that doing so is consistent with the goal of providing useful information to investors and management.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including those relating to Rambus’ expectations regarding financial guidance for the first quarter of 2017, including revenue, operating costs and expenses, earnings per share and estimated, fixed, long-term projected tax rates. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by Rambus’ management. Actual results may differ materially. Rambus’ business generally is subject to a number of risks which are described more fully in Rambus’ periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Rambus undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

About Rambus Inc.

Rambus creates innovative hardware and software technologies, driving advancements from the data center to the mobile edge. Our chips, customizable IP cores, architecture licenses, tools, services, training and innovations improve the competitive advantage of our customers. We collaborate with the industry, partnering with leading ASIC and SoC designers, foundries, IP developers, EDA companies and validation labs. For more information, visit www.rambus.com.

RMBSFN

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(1) Total stock-based compensation expense for the three months and years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 are presented as follows:

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