Leadis Technology Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results (Revenue down 52%)
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Leadis Technology Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results (Revenue down 52%)

SUNNYVALE, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- Oct 23, 2008 -- Leadis Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: LDIS), an analog and mixed-signal semiconductor developer of color display drivers, LED drivers, power management, audio and touch ICs for mobile consumer electronics devices, today announced results for the third quarter of 2008, ended September 30, 2008. The company also announced anticipated restructuring activities, including the divestiture of its Audio business and other expense reductions.

Q3 2008 Highlights

 

--  Leadis achieved ten new product design wins in the quarter, including
    four new display driver designs and six new LED/Power designs.  Two of the
    display driver wins utilize RGBW, and one design win utilizes Leadis'
    proprietary Epic™ technology for AM-OLED displays.
    
--  Leadis announced sample availability of the LDS535, a 480 channel, one
    billion color AM-OLED source driver IC, the first of many products the
    company is developing for the mid-size AM-OLED display market.
    
--  Leadis shipped over 50 Touch evaluation kits, with customer interest
    extending beyond consumer portable devices into a variety of other markets.
    The company expects its first Touch design wins in the fourth quarter and
    revenue in the first quarter of 2009, with promising customer evaluations
    occurring throughout the world.
    
--  Leadis is currently testing first silicon utilizing its Epic™
    technology for AM-OLED displays.
    
--  Leadis shipped engineering samples of its first display driver design
    utilizing RGBW technology for high resolution amorphous TFT displays.
    

Financial Results

Third quarter revenue was $4.7 million, below the company's guidance of $5.9 million. Third quarter gross margin was 6%, with 7% gross margin on product sales offset by negative gross margin on NRE activity during the quarter. Under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), third quarter net loss was $7.7 million, or $0.26 per basic share, as compared with the $19.5 million, or $0.67 per basic share, net loss reported in the previous quarter and the $8.4 million, or $0.29 per basic share, net loss reported in the third quarter of 2007. The loss in the third quarter of 2008 included a $0.5 million tax benefit for reversal of a tax reserve. The loss in the second quarter of 2008 included a $9.4 million non-cash impairment charge for goodwill and other intangible assets originally recorded in connection with previous business acquisitions.

In addition to reporting GAAP results, the company reports non-GAAP results, which exclude share-based compensation expense per FAS 123(R) and acquisition-related expenses, and goodwill and intangible impairment charges. Non-GAAP net loss for the third quarter of 2008 was $6.9 million, or $0.23 per basic share, as compared to a net loss of $8.2 million, or $0.28 per basic share, in the second quarter of 2008 and a net loss of $5.9 million, or $0.20 per basic share, in the third quarter of 2007. A reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures is included in the financial statements portion of this press release.

The company reported cash, restricted cash and long-term investments of $43 million as of September 30, 2008, which was $11.3 million lower than its balance as of June 30, 2008, due to the third quarter net loss as well as a $1.8 million gross inventory build and $1.2 million increase in receivables.

Business Summary

"Third quarter revenue fell short of our guidance as a result of a decline in one of our key display driver programs," said Mr. Tony Alvarez, President and CEO. "We expect product revenue to improve in the fourth quarter. We managed expenses closely during this difficult quarter, with non-GAAP operating expenses reduced $0.4 million from the previous quarter."

The company continues to focus on achieving design wins across its business areas, as well as expanding its line of analog and mixed-signal products. Design win progress and product introductions for the quarter included:

 

--  Leadis gained four new display driver design wins, including its third
    design win utilizing its Epic™ technology designed to dramatically
    improve AM-OLED manufacturing yields and picture quality.  The company won
    two additional designs utilizing RGBW technology and one AM-OLED design.
    The company has thirteen display driver design wins through the first three
    quarters of the year, surpassing its goal of ten to twelve for the full
    year.
    
--  The company achieved four LED/Power design wins utilizing the LDS8845
    and LDS8846, a family of no noise, highly efficient 4-channel white LED
    drivers.  The company added two additional design wins utilizing Power
    management products.  The first utilizes the LDS102, a low voltage
    reference chip optimized for low noise, and the second utilizes the
    LDS431L, a 1.24v shunt voltage regulator with greater bandwidth than
    current industry standard products.
    
--  The company shipped samples of its LDS9505/9504 headphone amplifiers
    with Gmax™ technology to over 30 customers during the quarter, primarily
    for evaluation in mobile phone and MP3/PMP applications.
    
--  Leadis signed two additional NRE contracts during the third quarter,
    and has contracts signed year to date in excess of $2 million.  Four
    additional NRE contracts are committed and currently under negotiation.  In
    aggregate, NRE contracts signed and committed in 2008 are expected to
    contribute over $4 million upon completion of the related projects.
    

Q4 2008 Outlook

"We expect revenue to increase by approximately 10% in the fourth quarter of 2008 as compared with the third quarter," said Mr. Alvarez. "Our current display driver programs are expected to show modest growth. We also expect continued traction in our analog businesses. While the analog revenue level remains modest, we now see an increasing number of design opportunities converting to design wins and revenue."

"Based on our current outlook, we must significantly reduce expenses to preserve cash and extend the horizon for our most promising lines of business," continued Mr. Alvarez. "To achieve this, we hired financial advisors during the quarter to assist us in the divestment of our Audio business. We are currently entertaining bids from parties that have expressed interest in this business. Through this divestment and other spending reductions, we are targeting the reduction of our non-GAAP quarterly operating expenses to below $6 million in the first quarter of 2009."

Based on information currently available to the company, expectations for the fourth quarter of 2008 are as follows:

 

--  Revenue is expected to increase approximately 10% in the fourth
    quarter of 2008.
    
--  Gross margin on product sales, which varies with product mix, selling
    price and unit costs, is expected to be approximately flat in the fourth
    quarter.
    
--  Non-GAAP operating expenses will be reduced as described above, with
    the goal to be below $6 million in operating expenses in the first quarter
    of 2009.
    

Conference Call Today

Leadis will broadcast its conference call today, Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 2 p.m. Pacific Time (5 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss its third quarter 2008 earnings and provide additional guidance.

To listen to the call, dial 1-877-545-1409 approximately ten minutes before the start of the call. A taped replay will be made available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call and will remain available for one week. To access the replay, dial 1-888-203-1112. The confirmation code for the replay is 4649358.

A live webcast of the call will be available on the investor relations section of the company's web site, http://ir.leadis.com. An archived webcast of the call will remain available until the company's next earnings call.

About Leadis Technology, Inc.

Leadis Technology, Inc., headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, designs, develops and markets analog and mixed-signal semiconductors that enable and enhance the features and capabilities of portable and consumer electronics devices. Leadis' product offerings include color display drivers, which are critical components of displays used in portable consumer electronic devices; LED drivers, which provide controlled levels of current required to drive light emitting diodes in diverse applications including backlight units; power management ICs including LDOs, LDO controllers, shunt references, thermal switches, current regulators, and battery charger controllers; audio CODEC and FM transmitter ICs, which are integral components in portable media players and their associated aftermarket accessories; and touch controller ICs, which enable highly reliable touch-based input controls and attractive industrial design options for both mobile and non-mobile applications.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Leadis reports financial information in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), but believes that non-GAAP financial measures are helpful in evaluating its ongoing operating results and comparing its performance to comparable companies. Leadis management uses financial statements that exclude share-based compensation expense and the impact of purchase accounting expenses, including in-process research and development expenses, amortization of purchased intangible assets, impairment charges for goodwill and other intangible assets, and retention expenses connected with acquisitions, to plan and evaluate its financial performance. Consequently, Leadis has excluded these expenses and charges in deriving calculations of net income (loss), net income (loss) per share, gross profit or margin and certain operating expenses (including cost of sales, research and development, selling, general and administrative, and provision for income taxes). Leadis believes the inclusion of these non-GAAP measures enhances the comparability of current results against the results of prior periods. These non-GAAP measures will enable investors to evaluate the company's operating results and business outlook in a manner similar to how the company internally analyzes its operating results and makes strategic decisions. Investors should note, however, that the non-GAAP financial measures used by the company may not be the same non-GAAP financial measures, and may not be calculated in the same manner, as that of other companies. The company does not itself, nor does it suggest that investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures alone or as a substitute for financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of GAAP financial measures to non-GAAP financial measures is included in the financial statements portion of this press release. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. For additional information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please see the Form 8-K regarding this press release furnished today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Cautionary Language

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the company's business and financial outlook for the fourth quarter of 2008 and beyond, based on the company's current expectations. The words "expect," "will," "should," "would," "anticipate," "project," "outlook," "believe," "intend," "confident," "optimistic," "targeted," and similar phrases as they relate to future events are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the company's current views and assumptions but are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are the following: risks that the company may not be able to maintain its current level of revenue or its gross margin levels; risks that one or more of the company's concentrated group of customers may reduce demand or price for the company's products or a particular product; risks that design wins will not result in meaningful revenue; the company's dependence on a limited number of products; risks that the company's new products may not be completed in a timely fashion or gain market acceptance; risks associated with the company's efforts to expand its business beyond display drivers, including efforts to develop and market LED drivers, power management ICs, audio CODEC's and FM transmitters, and touch sensor technology products; risks related to the semiconductor and portable electronic industries; the company's ability to keep up with technological change; risks associated with any strategic transaction undertaken by the company; risks with managing international activities; and other factors. For a discussion of these and other factors that could impact the company's financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, in the sections titled Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Statements, which are available at www.leadis.com. The projections in this press release are based on information currently available to the company. Although such projections, as well as the factors influencing them, may change in the future, the company undertakes no responsibility to update the information contained in this press release. (LDISG)

 

                          LEADIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                (Unaudited)
                              (In thousands)


                                              Sep. 30,  June 30,  Dec. 30,
                                                2008      2008      2007
                                              --------  --------  --------
ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                   $ 27,154  $ 37,710  $ 33,945
  Restricted cash                                2,467     2,461     2,508
  Short-term investments                        11,146    11,851    31,286
  Accounts receivable, net                       4,943     3,772     5,787
  Inventory                                      5,716     4,659     2,210
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets      2,387     2,483     4,270
                                              --------  --------  --------
    Total current assets                        53,813    62,936    80,006
Property and equipment, net                      3,042     3,513     4,534
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets, net       80       107    11,233
Long term investments                            2,307     2,307     3,000
Other assets                                     1,558     1,630       806
                                              --------  --------  --------
    Total assets                              $ 60,800  $ 70,493  $ 99,579
                                              ========  ========  ========

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                            $  6,574  $  7,479  $  4,538
  Taxes payable                                     89        80       353
  Deferred margin                                  543       386         6
  Other accrued liabilities                      4,721     4,463     6,691
                                              --------  --------  --------
    Total current liabilities                   11,927    12,408    11,588
Long-term tax liabilities                        1,994     2,684     3,439
Other noncurrent liabilities                       767       901     1,075
                                              --------  --------  --------
    Total liabilities                           14,688    15,993    16,102

Stockholders' equity:
  Common stock and additional paid-in capital  109,118   109,814   109,171
  Accumulated deficit                          (63,006)  (55,314)  (25,694)
                                              --------  --------  --------
    Total stockholders' equity                  46,112    54,500    83,477
                                              --------  --------  --------
    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                                   $ 60,800  $ 70,493  $ 99,579
                                              ========  ========  ========


 

                          LEADIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                (Unaudited)
                 (In thousands, except per share amounts)


                           Three Months Ended           Nine Months Ended
                     -------------------------------  --------------------
                     Sep. 30,   June 30,   Sep. 30,   Sep. 30,   Sep. 30,
                       2008       2008       2007       2008       2007
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Product revenue      $   4,645  $   5,606  $   9,943  $  15,802  $  33,349
NRE  revenue                74        307          -        437          -
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Total revenue            4,719      5,913      9,943     16,239     33,349

Product cost of
 sales                   4,307      5,483      8,857     15,367     29,834
NRE cost of sales          144        453          -        629          -
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Total cost of sales      4,451      5,936      8,857     15,996     29,834
   Gross profit            268        (23)     1,086        243      3,515
Research and
 development
 expenses                5,434      5,485      5,391     16,252     13,230
Selling, general and
 administrative
 expenses                3,744      4,306      4,318     12,749     11,150
Amortization of
 purchased
 intangible assets          27        848        627      1,723      1,463
Impairment of
 goodwill and
 intangible assets           -      9,445          -      9,445          -
In process research
 and development             -          -        500          -      1,820
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
   Total operating
    expenses             9,205     20,084     10,836     40,169     27,663
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Operating loss          (8,937)   (20,107)    (9,750)   (39,926)   (24,148)
Interest and other
 income, net               581        340        997      1,718      3,319
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Loss before benefit
 from income taxes      (8,356)   (19,767)    (8,753)   (38,208)   (20,829)
Benefit from income
 taxes                    (665)      (221)      (394)      (896)      (946)
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
   Net loss          $  (7,691) $ (19,546) $  (8,359) $ (37,312) $ (19,883)
                     =========  =========  =========  =========  =========

Basic and diluted
 net loss per share  $   (0.26) $   (0.67) $   (0.29) $   (1.28) $   (0.68)
                     =========  =========  =========  =========  =========

Shares used in
 computing basic and
 diluted per share
 amounts                29,379     29,221     28,973     29,205     29,225
                     =========  =========  =========  =========  =========


 

                          LEADIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
         SUPPLEMENTAL RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP RESULTS
                                (Unaudited)
                 (In thousands, except per share amounts)


                           Three Months Ended           Nine Months Ended
                     -------------------------------  --------------------
                     Sep. 30,   June 30,   Sep. 30,   Sep. 30,   Sep. 30,
                       2008       2008       2007       2008       2007
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

A. GAAP net loss     $  (7,691) $ (19,546) $  (8,359) $ (37,312) $ (19,883)
   Adjustment for
    stock-based
    compensation
    within:
      Cost of sales         44         53         47        116        109
      Research and
       development
       expenses            250        329        291        712        742
      Selling,
       general and
       administrative
       expenses             99        229        634        900      1,551
      Provision for
       income taxes          -          -       (213)      (218)      (439)
   Adjustment for
    acquisition of
    business within:
      Research and
       development
       expenses            154        164        408        516        938
      Selling,
       general and
       administrative
       expenses            242        242        217        738        520
      Amortization
       of purchased
       intangible
       assets               27        848        627      1,723      1,463
      In-process
       research and
       development           -          -        500          -      1,820
      Provision for
       income taxes          -          -        (25)         -        (61)
   Adjustment for
    impairment of
    goodwill and
    intangible
    assets                   -      9,445          -      9,445          -
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Non-GAAP net loss   $  (6,875) $  (8,236) $  (5,873) $ (23,380) $ (13,240)

B. GAAP basic and
 diluted net loss
 per share           $   (0.26) $   (0.67) $   (0.29) $   (1.28) $   (0.68)
   Adjustment for
    stock-based
    compensation          0.01       0.02       0.03       0.05       0.07
   Adjustment for
    acquisition of
    business              0.02       0.04       0.06       0.10       0.16
   Adjustment for
    impairment of
    goodwill and
    intangible
    assets                   -       0.33          -       0.32          -
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Non-GAAP basic and
  diluted net loss
  per share          $   (0.23) $   (0.28) $   (0.20) $   (0.81) $   (0.45)

C. GAAP Gross Margin       5.7%      -0.4%      10.9%       1.5%      10.5%
   Adjustment for
    stock-based
    compensation           0.9%       0.9%       0.5%       0.7%       0.3%
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Non-GAAP Gross
  Margin                   6.6%       0.5%      11.4%       2.2%      10.9%

D. GAAP operating
 expenses            $   9,205  $  20,084  $  10,836  $  40,169  $  27,663
   Adjustment for
    stock-based
    compensation
    within:
      Research and
       development
       expenses           (250)      (329)      (291)      (711)      (742)
      Selling,
       general and
       administrative
       expenses            (99)      (229)      (634)      (900)    (1,551)
   Adjustment for
    acquisition of
    business within:
      Research and
       development
       expenses           (154)      (164)      (408)      (516)      (938)
      Selling,
       general and
       administrative
       expenses           (242)      (242)      (217)      (738)      (520)
      Amortization
       of purchased
       intangible
       assets              (27)      (848)      (627)    (1,723)    (1,463)
      In-process
       research and
       development           -          -       (500)         -     (1,820)
   Adjustment for
    impairment of
    goodwill and
    intangible
    assets                   -     (9,445)         -     (9,445)         -
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Non-GAAP Operating
  expenses           $   8,433  $   8,827  $   8,159  $  26,136  $  20,629


 

 

 

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Eric Itakura
Director Business Development & Investor Relations
(408) 331-8616