Newport Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter And Year End 2012 Results

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Newport Corporation (NASDAQ: NEWP) today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 29, 2012, and its outlook for 2013.  The company noted the following regarding the fourth quarter results:

• Net sales of $141.6 million;
• Net loss attributable to Newport Corporation of $112.8 million, or $2.94 per share, when measured according to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP);
• Non-GAAP net income of $14.3 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, excluding the impairment of assets related to Ophir, acquisition expenses, restructuring and severance costs, the amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense, and the tax impact of excluded amounts; and
• Cash generated from operations of $27.1 million, which contributed to an increase in cash and marketable securities of $23.5 million in the fourth quarter, to $100.4 million.

Commenting on the results, Robert J. Phillippy, Newport's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The fourth quarter was another demonstration of solid operational execution by the Newport team.  Our non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP earnings per share and cash from operations all reached their highest levels of the year, despite a slight sequential reduction in revenue.  We continue to implement our strategic plan, with specific focus on long-term growth initiatives and effective operational execution, to position Newport to achieve significant growth in sales and profitability in the future." 

Sales and Orders

Newport's sales and orders by end market were as follows:

Notes:

¹    Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, the company's sales and orders decreased 12.0% and 11.3%, respectively, compared with the fourth quarter of 2011, due to weakness in most of its end markets.  However, the company noted that sales to and orders from customers in its industrial manufacturing and other end markets increased 10.5% and 6.7%, respectively, compared with the prior year period.   

On a sequential basis, sales declined slightly compared with the third quarter of 2012, due to weaker demand in the microelectronics and industrial manufacturing markets, offset by higher sales to customers in the scientific research and life and health sciences markets.  New orders in the fourth quarter of 2012 declined 6.9% compared with the third quarter level, due primarily to lower demand from customers in the microelectronics and life and health sciences end markets, offset in part by higher demand from customers in the scientific research and industrial manufacturing end markets.

Operating Income (Loss) and Net Income (Loss)

Newport reported an operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2012 of $116.3 million when calculated in accordance with GAAP.  This operating loss was due to a $130.9 million non-cash charge relating to the impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets associated with the acquisition of Ophir.  On a non-GAAP basis, excluding the impairment charge related to Ophir, acquisition-related expenses, restructuring and severance costs, amortization of intangible assets and stock-based compensation expense, the company's operating income for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $21.6 million, or 15.2% of net sales.

On a GAAP basis, the company reported a net loss attributable to Newport Corporation for the fourth quarter of 2012 of $112.8 million, or $2.94 per share.  On a non-GAAP basis, excluding the items referenced above and the tax impact of such excluded amounts, net income for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $14.3 million, or $0.37 per diluted share. 

The company has provided a reconciliation of its gross profit, operating income, net income and net income per diluted share calculated in accordance with GAAP and on a non-GAAP basis on page 7 of this release.  Management believes that the supplemental presentation of non-GAAP financial information provides insight into the company's core business results, as well as a more meaningful comparison of its financial results between periods. 

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

In the fourth quarter of 2012, Newport generated $27.1 million in cash from operations, which was the highest level in any quarter of the year.  During the full year of 2012, Newport generated cash from operations of $81.4 million and reduced its total indebtedness by $39.5 million, or 18%.  As of December 29, 2012, the company had a total of $100.4 million in cash and marketable securities.

Financial Outlook

Commenting on Newport's outlook for 2013, Mr. Phillippy said, "Over the past year we have integrated our recent acquisitions, improved operational efficiencies and increased our cash generation despite very challenging market conditions.  Based on the input we have received from our customers, we expect market conditions to improve during the course of 2013 and our sales to increase in the second half of the year.  However, we have not yet seen a meaningful increase in order activity, and based on our current backlog we expect our net sales in the first quarter of 2013 to be slightly lower on a sequential basis.  Additionally, we expect our non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share to decline sequentially in the first quarter, due to an increase in our operating expenses resulting from the seasonal nature of some expenses and continued investment to fund our growth initiatives.  We expect the benefit of these investments, coupled with improved market conditions, to position us well to deliver solid financial results in 2013 and beyond."

ABOUT NEWPORT CORPORATION 
Newport Corporation is a leading global supplier of advanced-technology products and systems to customers in the scientific research and defense/security, microelectronics, life and health sciences and industrial manufacturing markets.  Newport's innovative solutions leverage its expertise in advanced technologies, including lasers, photonics and precision motion equipment, and optical components and sub-systems, to enhance the capabilities and productivity of its customers' manufacturing, engineering and research applications.  Newport is part of the Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index and the Russell 2000 Index.

To download Newport's investor relations app, which offers access to its SEC filings, press releases, videos, audiocasts and more, please visit Apple's App Store for the iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android mobile devices.

INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL
Robert J. Phillippy, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Charles F. Cargile, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will host an investor conference call today, February 20, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time) to review the company's results for the fourth quarter of 2012 and business outlook for 2013.  The call will be open to all interested investors through a live audio web broadcast via the Internet at www.newport.com/investors.  The call also will be available to investors and analysts by dialing 877-889-9587 within the U.S. and Canada or 973-935-2046 from abroad.  The passcode to enter the conference call is 94827664.

The webcast will be archived on the Newport website and can be reached through the same link.  An archived webcast will also be available on Newport's investor relations app.  A telephonic playback of the conference call will be available by calling 855-859-2056 within the U.S. and Canada and 404-537-3406 from abroad.  Playback will be available beginning at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, and continue through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, February 27, 2013.  The replay passcode is 94827664.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding the company's expectation of significant future growth in sales and profitability resulting from its focus on its long-term growth initiatives and its effective operational execution, its expectation of improved market conditions during the course of 2013, Newport's expected sales, operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share levels in the first quarter of 2013, and the company's expectation of increased sales in the second half of 2013 and solid financial results in 2013 and beyond.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "estimate" or "continue" or the negative or other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements.  Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments and risks with respect to, among other things, Newport's ability to achieve expected benefits from the integration of acquired businesses and its other cost savings initiatives; the strength of business conditions in the industries Newport serves, particularly the semiconductor and defense/security industries; Newport's ability to successfully penetrate and increase sales to its targeted end markets; the levels of private and governmental research funding worldwide; potential order cancellations and push-outs; future economic, competitive and market conditions, including those in Europe and Asia and those related to its strategic markets; whether its products will continue to achieve customer acceptance; and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the control of Newport.  Certain of these judgments and risks are discussed in more detail in Newport's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Although Newport believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that the results contemplated in forward-looking statements will be realized.  In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking information included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Newport or any other person that Newport's objectives or plans will be achieved.  Newport undertakes no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contact:
Charles F. Cargile, 949/863-3144
Newport Corporation, Irvine, CA
[email protected]
or
Rob Fink, 212/896-1206
KCSA Strategic Communications
[email protected]

SOURCE Newport Corporation

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