Lexmark reports third quarter results

Results¹

GAAP Summary

3Q16

3Q15

Year-to-Year
Change

Revenue (millions)

$844

$851

-1%

     ISS²

$688

$703

-2%

     ES³

$156

$148

+5%

     Core⁴

$830

$820

+1%

     Higher Value Solutions⁵

$366

$355

+3%

Gross Profit Margin

39.0%

37.6%

Operating Income Margin

4.3%

-2.5%

EPS

$0.28

-$0.25

Non-GAAP Summary

3Q16

3Q15

Year-to-Year
Change

Year-to-Year
Change at
Constant
Currency⁶

Revenue (millions)

$846

$868

-3%

0%

     ISS

$688

$703

-2%

+1%

     ES

$157

$165

-5%

-4%

     Core                                                                             

$832

$837

-1%

+2%

     Higher Value Solutions

$367

$372

-1%

0%

Gross Profit Margin

41.3%

40.9%

Operating Income Margin

9.9%

7.4%

Adjusted EBITDA⁷

$122

$104

EPS

$0.77

$0.57

Balance Sheet / Cash Flow (millions)

3Q16

Cash⁸

$118

   U.S.

$13

   Non-U.S.

$105

Net debt⁹

$900

Operating cash flow

$25

Free cash flow¹⁰

$9

Quarterly dividend ($0.36/share)

$23

Footnotes       

(1)

Totals may not foot due to rounding.

(2)

ISS is the acronym for Lexmark's Imaging Solutions and Services segment.

(3)

ES is the acronym for Lexmark's Enterprise Software segment.

(4)

Core revenue is defined as total Lexmark revenue minus Inkjet Exit revenue. Inkjet Exit is defined as consumer and business inkjet hardware and supplies that the company is exiting.

(5)

Higher Value Solutions revenue is defined as combined Managed Print Services (MPS) and Enterprise Software revenue. MPS is defined as ISS laser hardware, supplies, and fleet management solutions sold through a managed print services agreement.

(6)

Constant currency is calculated by translating prior period results at current period exchange rates and removing related hedge gains and losses.

(7)

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net earnings plus net interest expense (income), provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding restructuring charges and project costs, acquisition and divestiture related adjustments, pension plan actuarial gains or losses, and remediation related adjustments.

(8)

Cash is defined as cash and cash equivalents.

(9)

Net debt, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as Cash minus long-term and short-term debt.

(10)

Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net cash flows provided by operating activities minus purchases of property, plant and equipment plus proceeds from sale of fixed assets if applicable.

LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30

September 30

2016

2015

2016

Revenue:

Product

$

647.8

$

669.0

$

1,940.0

$

2,103.6

Service

196.1

182.1

572.7

478.8

Total Revenue

843.9

851.1

2,512.7

2,582.4

Cost of revenue:

Product

415.8

423.8

1,236.9

1,267.9

Service

98.7

107.7

303.0

302.1

Restructuring-related costs

–

–

–

0.8

Total Cost of revenue

514.5

531.5

1,539.9

1,570.8

Gross profit

329.4

319.6

972.8

1,011.6

Research and development

68.5

81.6

228.0

244.9

Selling, general and administrative

228.5

261.0

743.1

736.0

Restructuring and related (reversals) charges

(3.5)

(1.4)

(18.6)

32.2

Operating expense

293.5

341.2

952.5

1,013.1

Operating income (loss)

35.9

(21.6)

20.3

(1.5)

Interest expense (income), net

11.5

10.4

33.8

28.1

Other expense (income), net

1.3

3.4

2.5

3.6

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

23.1

(35.4)

(16.0)

(33.2)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

4.8

(20.2)

40.5

(3.5)

Net earnings (loss)

$

18.3

$

(15.2)

$

(56.5)

$

(29.7)

Net earnings (loss) per share:

Basic

$

0.29

$

(0.25)

$

(0.90)

$

(0.48)

Diluted

$

0.28

$

(0.25)

$

(0.90)

$

(0.48)

Shares used in per share calculation:

Basic

63.0

61.7

62.8

61.5

Diluted

64.2

61.7

62.8

61.5

Cash dividends declared per common share

$

0.36

$

0.36

$

1.08

$

1.08

LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(In Millions)

(Unaudited)

September 30,

December 31,

2016

2015

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

117.7

$

158.3

Trade receivables, net

397.5

434.2

Inventories

238.9

231.9

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

169.2

204.9

Total current assets

923.3

1,029.3

Property, plant and equipment, net

683.2

740.2

Goodwill

1,323.0

1,325.1

Intangibles, net

432.6

532.5

Other assets

275.2

285.3

Total assets

$

3,637.3

$

3,912.4

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

398.9

$

501.7

Accrued liabilities

645.4

669.8

Total current liabilities

1,044.3

1,171.5

Long-term debt, net of unamortized discounts and issuance costs

1,017.9

1,061.3

Other liabilities

571.6

561.6

Total liabilities

2,633.8

2,794.4

Stockholders' equity:

Common stock and capital in excess of par

1,069.4

1,026.9

Retained earnings

1,165.7

1,292.8

Treasury stock, net

(1,040.4)

(1,036.7)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(191.2)

(165.0)

Total stockholders' equity

1,003.5

1,118.0

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

3,637.3

$

3,912.4

LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

(In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30

September 30

2016

2015

2016

2015

Net Earnings (Loss)

GAAP

$

18

$

(15)

$

(57)

$

(30)

Pre-tax adjustments:

Restructuring charges (reversals) and project costs

1

1

(11)

40

Acquisition, strategic alternatives, and divestiture-related adjustments

46

82

150

198

Actuarial loss on pension plan

–

–

26

–

Remediation-related charges

2

3

10

3

Total pre-tax adjustments

48

86

176

241

Tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments and constant non-GAAP tax rate

(16)

(35)

(7)

(66)

Non-GAAP

$

49

$

35

$

112

$

146

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

GAAP Net Earnings (Loss)

$

18

$

(15)

$

(57)

$

(30)

Interest expense (income), net

12

10

34

28

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

5

(20)

41

(4)

Depreciation and amortization

69

80

213

223

EBITDA

$

104

$

55

$

230

$

218

Restructuring charges (reversals) and project costs

1

1

(12)

39

Acquisition, strategic alternatives, and divestiture-related adjustments

16

44

61

105

Actuarial loss on pension plan

–

–

26

–

Remediation-related charges

2

3

10

3

Adjusted EBITDA

$

122

$

104

$

316

$

365

Earnings (Loss) Per Share

GAAP

$

0.28

$

(0.25)

$

(0.90)

$

(0.48)

Pre-tax adjustments:

Restructuring charges (reversals) and project costs

0.01

0.01

(0.17)

0.65

Acquisition, strategic alternatives, and divestiture-related adjustments

0.71

1.32

2.39

3.22

Actuarial loss on pension plan

–

–

0.42

0.00

Remediation-related charges

0.02

0.05

0.17

0.05

Total pre-tax adjustments

0.74

1.39

2.81

3.93

Tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments and constant non-GAAP tax rate

(0.26)

(0.57)

(0.12)

(1.08)

Non-GAAP

$

0.77

$

0.57

$

1.79

$

2.37

Refer to Appendix 1 for discussion of management's use of GAAP and Non-GAAP measures.

Totals may not foot due to rounding.

LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

(In Millions)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30

September 30

2016

2015

2016

2015

Revenue

(1)

GAAP

$

844

$

851

$

2,513

$

2,582

Acquisition-related adjustments

[A][B]

2

17

10

32

Non-GAAP

$

846

$

868

$

2,523

$

2,614

Constant currency adjustments

(1)

(21)

(1)

(90)

Non-GAAP, at constant currency

$

844

$

847

$

2,522

$

2,524

Higher Value Solutions Revenue

(2)

GAAP

$

844

$

851

$

2,513

$

2,582

Inkjet Exit Revenue

(14)

(31)

(49)

(114)

Non-MPS Revenue

(465)

(465)

(1,401)

(1,500)

Higher Value Solutions Revenue

$

366

$

355

$

1,063

$

969

Acquisition-related adjustments

[A][B]

2

17

10

32

Higher Value Solutions Revenue,

excluding acquisition-related adjustments

$

367

$

372

$

1,073

$

1,000

Constant currency adjustments

–

(6)

–

(26)

Non-GAAP, at constant currency

$

367

$

366

$

1,073

$

974

Core Revenue

(3)

GAAP

$

844

$

851

$

2,513

$

2,582

Inkjet Exit Revenue

(14)

(31)

(49)

(114)

Core Revenue

$

830

$

820

$

2,464

$

2,469

Acquisition-related adjustments

[A][B]

2

17

10

32

Core Revenue, excluding acquisition-related

adjustments

$

832

$

837

$

2,474

$

2,500

Constant currency adjustments

(1)

(21)

(1)

(89)

Non-GAAP, at constant currency

$

831

$

816

$

2,473

$

2,412

Enterprise Software Revenue

(4)

GAAP

$

156

$

148

$

458

$

373

Acquisition-related adjustments

[A][B]

2

17

10

32

Non-GAAP

$

157

$

165

$

468

$

405

Constant currency adjustments

–

(1)

–

(4)

Non-GAAP, at constant currency

$

157

$

164

$

468

$

401

Imaging Solutions and Services ("ISS") Revenue

(5)

GAAP

$

688

$

703

$

2,055

$

2,209

Constant currency adjustments

(1)

(19)

(1)

(86)

Non-GAAP, at constant currency

$

687

$

684

$

2,054

$

2,123

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30

September 30

2016

2015

2016

2015

Free Cash Flow

(6)

GAAP Cash Flows Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities

$

25

$

22

$

128

$

5

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

(17)

(19)

(57)

(84)

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets

1

–

3

–

Non-GAAP Free Cash Flow

$

9

$

3

$

74

$

(79)

September 30

December 31

2016

2015

Net (Debt) Cash

(7)

GAAP Cash and Cash Equivalents

$

118

$

158

Long-term debt

(1,018)

(1,061)

Non-GAAP Net Debt

$

(900)

$

(903)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30

September 30

2016

2015

2016

2015

Gross Profit

GAAP

$

329

$

320

$

973

$

1,012

Restructuring charges and project costs

[C][D]

–

–

–

1

Acquisition-related adjustments

[A][B]

20

35

64

79

Actuarial loss on pension plan

[E][F]

–

–

6

–

Non-GAAP

$

349

$

355

$

1,043

$

1,092

Gross Profit Margin (%)

GAAP

39.0%

37.6%

38.7%

39.2%

Restructuring charges and project costs

–

–

–

0.0%

Acquisition-related adjustments

2.3%

4.0%

2.6%

3.0%

Actuarial loss on pension plan

–

–

0.2%

0.0%

Non-GAAP

41.3%

40.9%

41.3%

41.8%

Operating (Loss) Income

GAAP

$

36

$

(22)

$

20

$

(2)

Restructuring charges (reversals) and project costs

[C][D]

1

1

(11)

40

Acquisition, strategic alternatives, and divestiture-related adjustments

[A][B]

46

82

150

198

Actuarial loss on pension plan

[E][F]

–

–

26

–

Remediation-related charges

[G][H]

2

3

10

3

Non-GAAP

$

83

$

64

$

197

$

240

Operating Income Margin (%) 

GAAP

4.3%

(2.5)%

0.8%

(0.1)%

Restructuring charges (reversals) and project costs

0.1%

0.1%

(0.4)%

1.5%

Acquisition, strategic alternatives, and divestiture-related adjustments

5.4%

9.4%

6.0%

7.6%

Actuarial loss on pension plan

–

–

1.0%

0.0%

Remediation-related charges

0.2%

0.4%

0.4%

0.1%

Non-GAAP

9.9%

7.4%

7.8%

9.2%

Refer to Appendix 1 for discussion of management's use of GAAP and Non-GAAP measures.

Totals may not foot due to rounding.

(1)

Year-to-year Revenue growth for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately -1% on a GAAP basis, -3% on a non-GAAP basis, excluding acquisition-related adjustments, and 0% on a non-GAAP basis at constant currency.

Year-to-year Revenue growth for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately -3% on a GAAP basis, -3% on a non-GAAP basis, excluding acquisition-related adjustments, and 0% on a non-GAAP basis at constant currency. Financial results of 2015 include those of Kofax acquired in the second quarter of 2015.

(2)

Year-to-year Higher Value Solutions Revenue growth for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately 3% on a GAAP basis, -1% on a non-GAAP basis, excluding acquisition-related adjustments, and 0% on a non-GAAP basis at constant currency.

Year-to-year Higher Value Solutions Revenue growth for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately 10% on a GAAP basis, 7% on a non-GAAP basis, excluding acquisition-related adjustments, and 10% on a non-GAAP basis at constant currency. Financial results of 2015 include those of Kofax acquired in the second quarter of 2015.

(3)

Year-to-year Core Revenue growth for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately 1% on a GAAP basis, -1% on a non-GAAP basis, excluding Inkjet Exit and acquisition-related adjustments, and 2% on a non-GAAP basis at constant currency.

Year-to-year Core Revenue growth for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately 0% on a GAAP basis, -1% on a non-GAAP basis, excluding Inkjet Exit and acquisition-related adjustments, and 3% on a non-GAAP basis at constant currency. Financial results of 2015 include those of Kofax acquired in the second quarter of 2015.

(4)

Year-to-year Enterprise Software Revenue growth for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately 5% on a GAAP basis, -5% on a non-GAAP basis, excluding acquisition-related adjustments, and -4% on a non-GAAP basis at constant currency.

Year-to-year Enterprise Software Revenue growth for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately 23% on a GAAP basis, 16% on a non-GAAP basis, excluding acquisition-related adjustments, and 17% on a non-GAAP basis at constant currency. Financial results of 2015 include those of Kofax acquired in the second quarter of 2015.

(5)

Year-to-year ISS Revenue growth for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately -2% on a GAAP basis and 1% on a non-GAAP basis at constant currency.

Year-to-year ISS Revenue growth for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was approximately -7% on a GAAP basis and -3% on a non-GAAP basis at constant currency.

(6)

Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net cash flows provided by operating activities minus purchases of property, plant and equipment plus proceeds from sale of fixed assets, if applicable.

(7)

Net Debt or Net Cash, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as cash and cash equivalents minus long-term and short-term debt.

[A]

Amounts for the three months ended September 30, 2016, include total acquisition and strategic alternatives-related adjustments of $45.6 million with $1.8 million, $17.8 million, $0.3 million and $25.7 million included in Revenue, Cost of revenue, Research and development and Selling, general and administrative, respectively. Selling, general and administrative includes $20.6 million of acquisition-related expenses and $5.1 million of strategic alternatives-related expenses.

Amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, include total acquisition and strategic alternatives-related adjustments of $150.2 million with $10.3 million, $54.1 million, $0.9 million and $84.9 million included in Revenue, Cost of revenue, Research and development and Selling, general and administrative, respectively. Selling, general and administrative includes $67.1 million of acquisition-related expenses and $17.8 million of strategic alternatives-related expenses.

[B]

Amounts for the three months ended September 30, 2015, include total acquisition-related adjustments of $81.5 million with $16.9 million, $18.2 million, $0.4 million and $46.0 million included in Revenue, Cost of revenue, Research and development and Selling, general and administrative, respectively. Selling, general and administrative includes $45.8 million of acquisition-related expenses and $0.2 million of divestiture-related expenses.

Amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, include total acquisition-related adjustments of $197.9 million with $31.6 million, $47.6 million, $0.9 million and $117.8 million included in Revenue, Cost of revenue, Research and development and Selling, general and administrative, respectively. Selling, general and administrative includes $117.2 million of acquisition-related expenses and $0.6 million of divestiture-related expenses.

[C]

Amounts for the three months ended September 30, 2016, include total restructuring charges (reversals) and project costs of $0.5 million with $4.0 million included in Selling, general and administrative and $(3.5) million included in Restructuring and related (reversals) charges.

Amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, include total restructuring (reversals) charges and project costs of $(10.8) million with $7.8 million included in Selling, general and administrative and $(18.6) million included in Restructuring and related (reversals) charges.

[D]

Amounts for the three months ended September 30, 2015, include total restructuring charges and project costs of $0.9 million with $2.3 million included in Selling, general and administrative and $(1.4) million included in Restructuring and related (reversals) charges.

Amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, include total restructuring charges and project costs of $40.0 million with $0.8 million and $7.0 million included in Restructuring-related costs and Selling, general and administrative, respectively, in addition to $32.2 million in Restructuring and related (reversals) charges.

[E]

Amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, include actuarial loss on pension plan of $26.4 million with $6.0 million, $4.3 million and $16.1 million included in Cost of revenue, Research and development and Selling, general and administrative, respectively.

[F]

Amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, include actuarial loss on pension plan of $0.3 million with $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million included in Cost of revenue, Research and development and Selling, general and administrative, respectively.

[G]

Amounts for the three months ended September 30, 2016, include remediation-related charges of $1.5 million included in Selling, general and administrative.

Amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, include remediation-related costs of $10.4 million included in Selling, general and administrative.

[H]

Amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, include remediation-related charges of $3.2 million included in Selling, general and administrative.

Appendix 1

Note: 

Management believes that presenting non-GAAP measures is useful because they enhance investors' understanding of how management assesses the performance of the Company's businesses. Management uses non-GAAP measures for budgeting purposes, measuring actual results to budgeted projections, allocating resources, and in certain circumstances for employee incentive compensation. Effective first quarter 2015, the Company is using a constant non-GAAP tax rate, which management believes reflects the long-term average tax rate based on our international structure and geographic distribution of earnings. In addition, the Company is also using constant currency which removes estimated currency rate impacts and related hedge gains and losses from key performance indicators, which management believes facilitates a better understanding of trends in our business. Adjustments to GAAP results in determining non-GAAP results fall into the categories that are described below:

1) Restructuring charges and project costs
In recent years, the Company has initiated restructuring plans which have resulted in operating expenses which otherwise would not have been incurred. The size of these items can vary significantly from period to period, and the Company does not consider these items to be part of core operating expenses of the business.  Restructuring and related charges that are excluded from GAAP earnings to determine non-GAAP earnings consist of accelerated depreciation, asset impairments, employee termination benefits, pension and postretirement plan curtailments, inventory-related charges and contract termination and lease charges. They also include project costs that relate to the execution of the restructuring plans. These project costs are incremental to normal operating charges and are expensed as incurred, such as compensation costs for overlap staffing, travel expenses, consulting costs and training costs.

2) Acquisition-related, divestiture-related and strategic alternatives-related adjustments
In connection with acquisitions, divestitures and the exploration of strategic alternatives management provides supplementary non-GAAP financial measures of revenue and expenses to normalize for the impact of business combination accounting rules as well as to exclude certain expenses which would not have been incurred otherwise.

a. Adjustments to Revenue
Due to business combination accounting rules, deferred revenue balances for service contracts assumed as part of acquisitions are adjusted down to fair value. Fair value approximates the cost of fulfilling the service obligation, plus a reasonable profit margin. Subsequent to acquisitions, management adds back the amount of amortized revenue that would have been recognized had the acquired company remained independent and had the deferred revenue balances not been adjusted to fair value.  Management reviews non-GAAP revenue to allow for more complete comparisons to historical performance as well as to forward-looking projections and also uses it as a metric for employee incentive compensation.

b. Amortization of intangible assets
Due to business combination accounting rules, intangible assets are recognized which were not previously presented on the balance sheet of the acquired company. These intangible assets consist primarily of purchased technology, customer relationships, trade names, in-process R&D and non-compete agreements. Subsequent to the acquisition date, some of these intangible assets begin amortizing and represent an expense that would not have been recorded had the acquired company remained independent. The total amortization of the acquired intangible assets varies from period to period, due to the mix in value and useful lives of the different assets. For the purpose of comparing financial results to historical performance as well as for defining targets for employee incentive compensation, management excludes the amortization of the acquired intangible assets on a non-GAAP basis.

c. Acquisition and integration costs
In connection with its acquisitions, the Company incurs expenses that would not have been incurred otherwise. The acquisition costs include items such as investment banking fees, legal and accounting fees, stock based compensation expense related to replacement awards issued to employees of acquired companies and costs of retention bonus programs for the senior management of acquired companies. Integration costs may consist of information technology expenses including software and systems to be implemented in acquired companies, consulting costs and travel expenses as well as non-cash charges related to the abandonment of assets under construction by the Company that are determined to be duplicative of assets of the acquired company and non-cash charges related to certain assets which are abandoned as systems are integrated across the combined entity. Acquisition and integration expenses also include costs associated with the Company's rebranding announcement in April 2015 as well as related non-cash charges for the abandonment of certain obsolete marketing assets. The costs are expensed as incurred and can vary substantially in size from one period to the next. For these reasons, management excludes these expenses from non-GAAP earnings in order to evaluate the Company's performance on a continuing and comparable basis.

d. Divestiture-related adjustments
In connection with divestitures, management provides supplementary non-GAAP financial measures of expenses to normalize for the impact of certain earnings and expenses which would not have been incurred otherwise. In 2013 the Company recognized a net gain on the sale of inkjet-related technology and assets, which consisted of a subsidiary, intellectual property and other assets, and transition services. In addition, the Company has incurred costs related to the divestiture, such as employee travel expenses and compensation, consulting costs, training costs, and transition services. These costs are incremental to normal operating charges and are expensed as incurred. Management excluded the income and expenses from non-GAAP earnings in order to evaluate the Company's performance on a continuing and comparable basis.

e. Strategic alternative-related adjustments
In connection with the exploration of strategic alternatives, management provides supplementary non-GAAP financial measures of expenses to normalize for the impact of certain expenses which would not have been incurred otherwise. In 2015, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the exploration of strategic alternatives to unlock shareholder value. The Company has incurred costs related to the exploration of strategic alternatives, and anticipates incurring additional related costs such as legal and accounting fees, employee travel expenses and compensation, and consulting costs. These costs are incremental to normal operating charges and are expensed as incurred. Management excluded these expenses from non-GAAP earnings in order to evaluate the Company's performance on a continuing and comparable basis.

3) Actuarial gain/loss on pension plan
Lexmark elected during the fourth quarter of 2013 to change its method of accounting for mark-to-market ("MTM") asset and actuarial gains and losses for its pension and other postretirement plans to improve transparency of operational performance. MTM is also a more preferable approach under generally accepted accounting principles. Under this MTM accounting approach, asset and actuarial gains and losses will be recognized in net periodic benefit cost in the period in which they occur, rather than being recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income and amortized over future periods. Lexmark management believes that it is appropriate to exclude MTM asset and actuarial gains and losses from non-GAAP financial measures due to the nature and underlying volatility of these gains and losses.  Further, management believes that MTM asset and actuarial gains and losses relate to market performance of assets, discount rates, and actuarial assumptions, which do not directly arise from the Company's core operations, and the exclusion of these items from non-GAAP financial measures facilitates meaningful comparison both across periods and among entities.

4) Remediation-related adjustments
The Company implemented various remedial actions to address previously identified material weaknesses in internal control over accounting for income taxes. In connection with its remediation actions, the Company incurs expenses that would not have been incurred otherwise. The remediation-related costs include professional fees associated with the remediation actions being taken. These costs are incremental to normal operating charges and are expensed as incurred. Management excluded these expenses from non-GAAP earnings in order to evaluate the Company's performance on a continuing and comparable basis.

Tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments and constant non-GAAP tax rate
This line item shows tax effect of the non-GAAP adjustments and the difference between the GAAP effective tax rate and the constant non-GAAP tax rate. Effective the first quarter of 2015, Lexmark is using a constant non-GAAP tax rate of 30%, which management believes reflects the long-term average tax rate based on our global supply chain, including our geographic distribution of earnings. The long-term average rate is calculated after excluding the tax effect of the non-GAAP items described above. Further, the non-GAAP tax rate removes the variability introduced by discrete events such as tax law changes, tax authority settlements and other non-recurring items.  The Company believes the long-term non-GAAP tax rate eliminates the effects of non-recurring and period specific items which can vary in size and frequency, facilitating a meaningful comparison across periods.  This rate is subject to change over time for various reasons, including material changes in our geographic business mix, acquisitions and/or modifications to statutory tax rates.

Constant Currency
Lexmark presents certain measures, such as period-over-period revenue growth and operating income, on a constant currency basis, which excludes the effects of foreign currency translation. Due to the continuing strengthening of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies and the overall variability of foreign exchange rates from period to period, Lexmark's management uses these measures on a constant currency basis to evaluate period-over-period operating performance. Measures presented on a constant currency basis are calculated by translating prior period results at current period exchange rates and removing related hedge gains and losses.

In addition to GAAP results, management presents these non-GAAP financial measures to provide investors with additional information that they can utilize in their own methods of evaluating the Company's performance. Management compensates for the material limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures by having specific initiatives associated with restructuring actions and acquisitions approved by management, along with their budgeted costs. Subsequently, actual costs incurred as a part of these approved restructuring plans and acquisitions are monitored and compared to budgeted costs to assure that the Company's non-GAAP financial measures only exclude pre-approved restructuring-related costs and acquisition-related adjustments. Any non-GAAP measures provided by the Company may not be comparable to similar measures of other companies as not all companies calculate these measures in the same manner.