ARRIS Announces Preliminary and Unaudited Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Results

SUWANEE, Ga., Feb. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- ARRIS (NASDAQ: ARRS) today announced preliminary and unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2018.    

"We had a strong finish to 2018 generating $0.76 of non-GAAP earnings per share and $229 million of cash from operating activities in the fourth quarter," said Bruce McClelland ARRIS CEO.   "Led by strength in our Network and Cloud business, sales of our E6000 CCAP product were particularly strong with several customers increasing year end capital spend. CPE sales were higher than any other quarter over the last year, exceeding $1 billion.  Enterprise sales were disappointing with sales of Ruckus products below expectations in North America, due to higher channel inventory.  Looking forward, we anticipate 2019 to be a stronger year than 2018, with the first quarter expected to be the lowest quarter of the year.  We are on track to transition the majority of Broadband CPE production out of China by early second quarter to address US import tariffs, resulting in reduced sales in the first quarter. Additionally, we expect lower sales of Network and Cloud in Q1 due to strong end of year shipments, and flat Enterprise sales as channel inventory normalizes."

Revenues were $1.787 billion in the quarter and $6.743 billion for full year 2018. 

GAAP net income in the quarter was $0.25 per diluted share and $0.62 per diluted share year to date through December 31, 2018.       

Adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure) in the quarter was $0.76 per diluted share and $2.89 per diluted share for full year 2018.

A reconciliation of adjusted net income per diluted share to GAAP net income per diluted share is attached to this release and can be found on the Company's website (www.ARRIS.com).

Cash & Cash Equivalents - The Company generated $229 million of cash from operating activities during the fourth quarter 2018 and ended the year with $735 million of cash resources.

Further details are attached to this release and full results will be filed in our 10K.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release, including those related to preliminary revenues and net income for the fourth quarter and full year 2018, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements.  Among other things:

• projected results for the fourth quarter 2018 and beyond are based on preliminary estimates, assumptions and projections that management believes to be reasonable at this time, but are beyond management's control;
• satisfaction of conditions for the completion of the proposed acquisition of ARRIS by CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (the "Acquisition"), including receipt of remaining required regulatory approvals, may be delayed or may not be satisfied at all;
• delays in moving certain manufacturing from China or difficulties in commencing production in new locations as planned could materially impact revenues;
• volatility in component pricing and supply could impact revenues and gross margins more than currently anticipated;
• any increase in tariffs enacted on imports from China or an expansion of the products covered, could have a material adverse impact on our financial results;
• volatility in currency fluctuation may adversely impact our international customers' ability or willingness to purchase products and the pricing of products;
• impacts of the U.K. invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to leave the European Union, could have an adverse impact on results of operations;
• regulatory changes, including those related to recently completed changes to the U.S. income tax code, could have an adverse impact on operations and results of operations; 
• the impact of litigation and similar regulatory proceedings that we are involved in or may become involved in, including the costs of such litigation; and
• the Company's customers operate in a capital-intensive consumer-based industry, and volatility in the capital markets or changes in customer spending may adversely impact their ability or willingness to purchase the products that the Company offers.

These factors are not intended to be an all-encompassing list of risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business and results from operations. Additional information regarding these and other factors can be found in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. In providing forward-looking statements, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update these statements publicly or otherwise, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

About ARRIS
ARRIS (NASDAQ: ARRS) is powering a smart, connected world.  The company's leading hardware, software and services transform the way that people and businesses stay informed, entertained and connected.  For more information, visit www.ARRIS.com.

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ARRIS, the ARRIS logo and E6000 are trademarks of ARRIS International plc and/or its affiliates. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. © 2018 ARRIS Enterprises LLC. All rights reserved.

Notes to GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP" or referred to herein as "reported"). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide management and other users with additional meaningful financial information that should be considered when assessing our ongoing performance. Our management regularly uses our supplemental non-GAAP financial measures internally to understand, manage and evaluate our business and make operating decisions. These non-GAAP measures are among the factors management uses in planning for and forecasting future periods.  Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative to, the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.  Our non-GAAP financial measures reflect adjustments based on the following items, as well as the related income tax effects:

Reduction in Revenue Related to Warrants:    We entered into agreements with two customers for the issuance of warrants to purchase up to 14.0 million of ARRIS's ordinary shares. Vesting of the warrants is subject to certain purchase volume commitments, and therefore the accounting guidance requires that we record any change in the fair value of warrants as a reduction in revenue. Until final vesting, changes in the fair value of the warrants will be marked to market and any adjustment recorded in revenue. We have excluded the effect of the implied fair value in calculating our non-GAAP financial measures. We believe it is useful to understand the effects of these items on our total revenues and gross margin.

Acquisition Accounting Impacts Related to Deferred Revenue:    In connection with the accounting related to our acquisitions, business combination rules require us to account for the fair values of deferred revenue arrangements for post contract support in our purchase accounting. The non-GAAP adjustment to our sales and cost of sales is intended to include the full amounts of such revenues as if these purchase accounting adjustments had not been applied. We believe the adjustment to these revenues is useful as a measure of the ongoing performance of our business. We historically have experienced high renewal rates related to our support agreements, and our objective is to increase the renewal rates on acquired post contract support agreements. However, we cannot be certain that our customers will renew their contracts.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense:    We have excluded the effect of stock-based compensation expenses in calculating our non-GAAP operating expenses and net income (loss) measures. Although stock-based compensation is a key incentive offered to our employees, we continue to evaluate our business performance excluding stock-based compensation expenses. We record non-cash compensation expense related to grants of restricted stock units. Depending upon the size, timing and the terms of the grants, the non-cash compensation expense may vary significantly but will recur in future periods.

Acquisition Accounting Impacts Related to Inventory Valuation:    In connection with the accounting related to our acquisitions, business combinations rules require the acquired inventory be recorded at fair value on the opening balance sheet. This is different from historical cost. Essentially, we are required to write the inventory up to the end customer price less a reasonable margin as a distributor. We have excluded the resulting adjustments in inventory and cost of goods sold as the historic and forward gross margin trends will differ as a result of the adjustments. We believe it is useful to understand the effects of this on cost of goods sold and margin.

Integration, Acquisition, Restructuring and Other Costs:    We have excluded the effect of acquisition, integration, and other expenses and the effect of restructuring expenses in calculating our non-GAAP operating expenses and net income measures. We incurred expenses in connection with the Pace and Ruckus Networks acquisitions, which we generally would not otherwise incur in the periods presented as part of our continuing operations. Acquisition and integration expenses consist of transaction costs, costs for transitional employees, other acquired employee related costs, and integration related outside services. Restructuring expenses consist of employee severance, abandoned facilities, product line disposition and other exit costs. We believe it is useful to understand the effects of these items on our total operating expenses.

Impairment of Goodwill and Intangible Assets:  We have excluded the effect of the estimated impairment of goodwill and intangible assets in calculating our non-GAAP operating expenses and net income measures.  Although an impairment does not directly impact the Company's current cash position, such expense represents the declining value of the business, technology and other intangible assets that were acquired.  We exclude these impairments when significant and they are not reflective of ongoing business and operating results.

Amortization of Intangible Assets:    We have excluded the effect of amortization of intangible assets in calculating our non-GAAP operating expenses and net income (loss) measures. Amortization of intangible assets is non-cash, and is inconsistent in amount and frequency and is significantly affected by the timing and size of our acquisitions. Investors should note that the use of intangible assets contributed to our revenues earned during the periods presented and will contribute to our future period revenues as well. Amortization of intangible assets will recur in future periods.

Gain on Disposal of Property, Plant & Equipment:    We have excluded the effect of a gain on the sale of our manufacturing facility and certain manufacturing fixed assets in Taiwan in calculating our non-GAAP financial measures. We believe it is useful to understand the effect of this item in our other expense (income).

Noncontrolling Interest share of Non-GAAP Adjustments:    The joint venture formed for the ActiveVideo acquisition is accounted for by ARRIS under the consolidation method. As a result, the consolidated Statements of Income include the revenues, expenses, and gains and losses of the noncontrolling interest. The amount of net income (loss) related to the noncontrolling interest are reported and presented separately in the consolidated Statements of Operations. We have excluded the noncontrolling share of any non- GAAP adjusted measures recorded by the venture, as we believe it is useful to understand the effect of excluding this item when evaluating our ongoing performance.

Impairment on Investments:    We have excluded the effect of other-than-temporary impairments and certain gains on investments in calculating our non-GAAP financial measures. We believe it is useful to understand the effect of this non-cash item in our other expense (income).

Debt Amendment Fees:    In 2017, the Company amended its credit agreement. This debt modification allowed us to improve the terms and conditions of the credit agreement and extend the maturities of certain loan facilities. We have excluded the effect of the associated fees in calculating our non-GAAP financial measures. We believe it is useful to understand the effect of this item in our other expense (income).

Pension Settlement Charge and Curtailment:    We have excluded the effect of the deferred actuarial gains and losses remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income related to the termination of our pension benefit plans in calculating our non-GAAP financial measures. We believe it is useful to understand the effect of this non-cash item in our other expense (income).

Remeasurement of Deferred Taxes:    The Company records foreign currency remeasurement gains and losses related to deferred tax liabilities in the United Kingdom. The foreign currency remeasurement gains and losses derived from the remeasurement of the deferred income taxes from GBP to USD. We have excluded the impact of these gains and losses in the calculation of our non-GAAP measures. We believe it is useful to understand the effects of this item on our total other expense (income).

Income Tax Expense (Benefit):    We have excluded the tax effect of the non-GAAP items mentioned above. Additionally, we have excluded the effects of certain tax adjustments related to tax and legal restructuring, state and non-US valuation allowances, benefits for releases of uncertain tax positions due to settlement, change in law or statute of limitations and provision to return differences.

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SOURCE ARRIS

Bob Puccini, Investor Relations, +1.720.895.7787, bob.puccini@arris.com