Oclaro Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2011 Financial Results

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Oclaro, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCLR), a tier-one provider of innovative optical communications and laser solutions, today announced the financial results for its fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011, and for its 2011 fiscal year, which both ended July 2, 2011.  

"In fiscal 2010 we transformed Oclaro into a tier-one supplier of optical components and subsystems through a series of strategic initiatives," said Alain Couder, Chairman and CEO of Oclaro. "In fiscal 2011 we began structuring the integrated company to scale, while accelerating our investment in new product innovation. As a result, we believe we are well positioned for growth as the telecom optical market recovers."  

Highlights for Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2011:

• Revenues were $109.2 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to $115.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.  
  • Revenues in the quarter ended July 2, 2011 included initial shipments of new products including 40G coherent transponders, tunable XFP transceivers, 40G lithium niobate external modulators and an integrated ROADM line card.
• GAAP gross margin was 23% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to 25% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.  GAAP gross margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 included approximately 3% points of impact from excess and obsolete reserves and related inventory valuation charges.
  • Non-GAAP gross margin was 23% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to 25% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.
• GAAP operating loss was $33.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, including $20 million of impairment charges following the company's annual review of goodwill, compared to a GAAP operating loss of $6.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.
  • Non-GAAP operating loss was $9.4 million, or 9% of revenues, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to a non-GAAP operating loss of $3.3 million, or 3% of revenues, in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.
  • The Company is now investing $18.9 million a quarter in research and development, as of the fourth fiscal quarter of 2011, which is $7.4 million, or 64%, more than in the same quarter of the 2010 fiscal year.
• Adjusted EBITDA was negative $4.7 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to a positive $0.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.
• GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 was $36.7 million, including $20 million of impairment charges following the company's annual review of goodwill, compared to a GAAP net loss of $9.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.
  • Non-GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 was $10.0 million, compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $4.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.
• Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $63.4 million as of July 2, 2011.  
• On July 26, 2011 the company closed an increase in its line of credit from $25 million to $45 million and extended its term through August 1, 2014.  No amounts were drawn under this line as of July 2, 2011.

Highlights for Fiscal Year 2011:

• Revenues were $466.5 million for fiscal 2011, compared to $392.5 million in fiscal 2010.  
• GAAP gross margin was 27% for fiscal 2011, compared to 28% in fiscal 2010.
  • Non-GAAP gross margin was 27% for fiscal 2011, compared to 28% in fiscal 2010.  
• GAAP operating loss was $33.6 million for fiscal 2011, including $20 million of impairment charges following the company's annual review of goodwill, compared to GAAP operating income of $4.8 million in fiscal 2010.
  • Non-GAAP operating income was $1.6 million for fiscal 2011, compared to $15.7 million in fiscal 2010.  
  • During fiscal 2011, the company increased its investment in research and development expenses by $24 million, compared to fiscal 2010. The company also had $4.5 million more depreciation expense in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010, associated with capital investments in scaling the company for long-term growth and new product introductions.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $17.0 million for fiscal 2011, compared to $26.5 million in fiscal 2010.  
• GAAP net loss for fiscal 2011 was $46.4 million, including $20 million of impairment charges following the company's annual review of goodwill, compared to GAAP net income of $12.4 million in fiscal 2010.  
  • Non-GAAP net loss for fiscal 2011 was $2.0 million, compared to non-GAAP net income of $14.1 million in fiscal 2010.  

First Quarter Fiscal 2012 Outlook

The results of Oclaro, Inc. for the first quarter of fiscal 2012, which ends October 1, 2011, are expected to be:

• Revenues in the range of $103 million to $113 million.
• Non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 18% to 24%.  
• Adjusted EBITDA in the range of negative $8.5 million to negative $2.5 million.

The foregoing guidance is based on current expectations. These statements are forward looking, and actual results may differ materially. Please see the Safe Harbor Statement in this earnings release for a description of certain important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ, and refer to Oclaro, Inc.'s most recent annual and quarterly reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a more complete description of the risks. Furthermore, our outlook excludes items that may be required by GAAP, including, but not limited to, restructuring and related costs, acquisition or disposal related costs, expenses or income from certain legal actions, settlements and related costs outside our normal course of business, impairments of other long-lived assets, depreciation and amortization, extraordinary items, as well as the expensing of stock options and restricted stock grants. We do not intend to update this guidance as a result of developments occurring after the date of this release.

Conference Call

Oclaro will hold a conference call to discuss financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2011 today at 1:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m. ET.  To listen to the live conference call, please dial (480) 629-9808.  A replay of the conference call will be available through August 5, 2011.  To access the replay, dial (858)384-5517.  The passcode for the replay is 4456430.  A webcast of this call will be available in the investors section of Oclaro's website at www.oclaro.com.

About Oclaro

Oclaro, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCLR) is a tier-one provider of optical communications and laser components, modules and subsystems for a broad range of diverse markets, including telecommunications, industrial, scientific, consumer electronics, and medical. Oclaro is a global leader, dedicated to photonics innovation with cutting-edge research and development (R&D) and chip fabrication facilities in the U.K., Switzerland and Italy, and in-house and contract manufacturing sites in the U.S., Thailand and China. To support its diverse and global customer base, Oclaro maintains design, sales and service organizations in each of the major regions around the world. For more information visit www.oclaro.com.

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Oclaro, the Oclaro logo, and certain other Oclaro trademarks and logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Oclaro, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. Information in this release is subject to change without notice.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release, including the statements made by management, contain statements about management's future expectations, plans or prospects of Oclaro, Inc. and its business, and together with the assumptions underlying these statements, constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements include statements concerning (i) financial targets and expectations, and progress toward our targeted business model, including financial guidance for the fiscal quarter ending October 1, 2011 regarding revenue, non-GAAP gross margin and Adjusted EBITDA, (ii) the impact of acquisitions on the combined entity's financial performance, including our transformation into a tier-one supplier, (iii) sources for improvement of gross margin and operating expenses, including supply chain synergies, optimizing mix of product offerings, transition to higher margin product offerings, benefits of combined R&D and sales organizations and single public company costs, including statements regarding the expectation of further synergies, (iv) opportunities to grow in adjacent markets, (v) our organizational restructuring with the formation of two new business units focused on photonic components and networks solutions and (vi) our position with respect to our product roadmap. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may contain words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "outlook," "could," "target," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection the any discussion of future operations or financial performance.  There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including the impact of continued uncertainty in world financial markets and any resulting reduction in demand for our products, our ability to maintain our gross margin, the effects of fluctuating product mix on our results, our ability to timely develop and commercialize new products, our ability to respond to evolving technologies and customer requirements, our dependence on a limited number of customers for a significant percentage of our revenues, our ability to effectively compete with companies that have greater name recognition, broader customer relationships and substantially greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do, the future performance of Oclaro, Inc. following the closing of acquisitions, the potential inability to realize the expected benefits and synergies of acquisitions, increased costs related to downsizing and compliance with regulatory compliance in connection with such downsizing, competition and pricing pressure, the potential lack of availability of credit or opportunity for equity based financing, the risks associated with our international operations, the outcome of tax audits or similar proceedings, the outcome of pending litigation against the company, and other factors described in Oclaro's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other documents we periodically file with the SEC.  The forward-looking statements included in this announcement represent Oclaro's view as of the date of this announcement.  Oclaro anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause Oclaro's views and expectations to change.  Oclaro specifically disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this announcement.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Oclaro provides certain supplemental non-GAAP financial measures to its investors as a complement to the most comparable GAAP measures. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP gross margin rate is gross margin rate. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP operating income/loss is operating income/loss. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to non-GAAP net income/loss and Adjusted EBITDA is net income/loss. An explanation and reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP information is set forth below.

Oclaro believes that providing these non-GAAP measures to its investors, in addition to corresponding income statement measures, provides investors the benefit of viewing Oclaro's performance using the same financial metrics that the management team uses in making many key decisions and evaluating how Oclaro's "core operating performance" and its results of operations may look in the future. Oclaro defines "core operating performance" as its on-going performance in the ordinary course of its operations.  Items that are non-recurring or do not involve cash expenditures, such as impairment charges, income taxes, restructuring and severance programs, costs relating to specific major projects, and non-cash compensation related to stock and options, are not included in Oclaro's view of "core operating performance."  Management does not believe these items are reflective of Oclaro's ongoing core operations and accordingly excludes those items from non-GAAP gross margin rate, non-GAAP operating income/loss, non-GAAP net income/loss and Adjusted EBITDA. Additionally, each non-GAAP measure has historically been presented by Oclaro as a complement to its most comparable GAAP measure, and Oclaro believes that the continuation of this practice increases the consistency and comparability of Oclaro's earnings releases.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

Non-GAAP Gross Margin Rate

Non-GAAP gross margin rate is calculated as gross margin rate as determined in accordance with GAAP (gross profit as a percentage of revenues) excluding non-cash compensation related to stock and options. Oclaro evaluates its performance using non-GAAP gross margin rate to assess Oclaro's historical and prospective operating financial performance, as well as its operating performance relative to its competitors.

Non-GAAP Operating Income/Loss

Non-GAAP operating income/loss is calculated as operating income/loss as determined in accordance with GAAP excluding the impact of amortization of intangible assets, restructuring, acquisition and related costs, non-cash compensation related to stock and options granted to employees and directors, and certain other one-time charges and credits specifically identified in the non-GAAP reconciliation schedules set forth below. Oclaro evaluates its performance using, among other things, non-GAAP operating income/loss in evaluating Oclaro's historical and prospective operating financial performance, as well as its operating performance relative to its competitors.

Non-GAAP Net Income/Loss

Non-GAAP net income/loss is calculated as net income/loss excluding the impact of restructuring, acquisition and related costs, non-cash compensation related to stock and options granted to employees and directors, net foreign currency translation gains/losses, the impact of amortization of intangible assets and certain other one-time charges and credits specifically identified in the non-GAAP reconciliation schedules set forth below. Oclaro uses non-GAAP net income/loss in evaluating Oclaro's historical and prospective operating financial performance, as well as its operating performance relative to its competitors.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net income/loss excluding the impact of income taxes, net interest income/expense, depreciation and amortization, net foreign currency translation gains/losses, as well as restructuring, acquisition and related costs, non-cash compensation related to stock and options and certain other one-time charges and credits specifically identified in the non-GAAP reconciliation schedules set forth below. Oclaro uses Adjusted EBITDA in evaluating Oclaro's historical and prospective cash usage, as well as its cash usage relative to its competitors. Specifically, management uses this non-GAAP measure to further understand and analyze the cash used in/generated from Oclaro's core operations. Oclaro believes that by excluding these non-cash and non-recurring charges, more accurate expectations of its future cash needs can be assessed in addition to providing a better understanding of the actual cash used in or generated from core operations for the periods presented. Oclaro further believes that providing this information allows Oclaro's investors greater transparency and a better understanding of Oclaro's core cash position.

SOURCE Oclaro, Inc.