Microchip Technology Announces Financial Results for Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2009 and Quarterly Cash Dividend

NET SALES OF $192.2 MILLION, DOWN 28.8% SEQUENTIALLY AND DOWN 23.9% OVER THE YEAR AGO QUARTER ON A GAAP BASIS: GROSS MARGIN OF 54.5%; OPERATING MARGIN OF 21.1%; NET INCOME OF $73.2 MILLION OR 38.1% OF SALES; EPS OF 40 CENTS PER DILUTED SHARE ON A NON-GAAP BASIS: GROSS MARGIN OF 55.2%; OPERATING MARGIN OF 25.8%; NET INCOME OF $41.2 MILLION OR 21.4% OF SALES; EPS OF 23 CENTS PER DILUTED SHARE QUARTER-OVER-QUARTER REDUCTION OF OPERATING EXPENSES OF $14.0 MILLION, OR 19.9% MAINTAINED DIVIDEND AT 33.9 CENTS PER SHARE

CHANDLER, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Microchip Technology Incorporated (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, today reported results for the three months ended December 31, 2008. Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 were $192.2 million, down 28.8% sequentially from net sales of $269.7 million in the immediately preceding quarter, and down 23.9% from net sales of $252.6 million in the prior year's third quarter. GAAP earnings per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 were 40 cents, down 2.3% from GAAP earnings per diluted share of 41 cents in the immediately preceding quarter, and up 4.9% from GAAP earnings per diluted share of 38 cents in the prior year's third quarter.

Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 were 23 cents, down 49.5% from non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of 45 cents in the immediately preceding quarter, and down 41.5% from non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of 39 cents in the prior year's third quarter. Non-GAAP results exclude a favorable settlement with the IRS, a favorable adjustment to tax reserves based on a clarification of tax regulations announced by the IRS, the retroactive reinstatement of the R&D tax credit, a loss on trading securities, the effect of share-based compensation and the impacts of the acquisition of Hampshire Company. A reconciliation of non-GAAP and GAAP results is included in this press release.

Microchip also announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of 33.9 cents per share. The quarterly dividend is payable on February 27, 2009 to stockholders of record on February 13, 2009. Microchip initiated quarterly cash dividend payments in the third quarter of fiscal 2003.

"General economic and semiconductor industry conditions continued to decline during the December quarter," said Steve Sanghi, Microchip's President and CEO. "Our December earnings results are reflective of these conditions, and we have taken actions to moderate expense levels and adjust our capacity. We have instituted pay cuts for all of our employees worldwide, and we are substantially reducing or eliminating discretionary expenses. We were able to reduce non-GAAP operating expenses in the quarter ended December 31, 2008 by $14 million, or 20%, over the operating expenses in the quarter ended September 30, 2008."

"We are continuing actions to reduce production levels in our wafer fabrication facilities in the U.S. and our assembly and test facility in Thailand to moderate inventory growth. We are lowering our production levels by about 40% in the March quarter from peak levels in the September 2008 quarter. We are charging the underutilization to cost of goods sold to reflect lower than normal production levels. We are also implementing various other actions to further reduce operating expenses," continued Mr. Sanghi.

"We are positioning Microchip to emerge from this economic downturn stronger than our competition by maintaining our focus on product and technology development activities, demand creation initiatives and driving internal efficiencies. We believe that we will continue to expand our market share in our strategic product lines through our focus on design win opportunities and new product introductions," Mr. Sanghi continued.

"Our 16-bit product line revenue was only down 7 percent sequentially and was up 28% from a year ago, which we find encouraging given the depth of the current downturn," said Ganesh Moorthy, Executive Vice President. "The number of volume customers in 16-bit continued to grow even in the current environment, and we continue to gain market share and traction in this strategic product line."

Mr. Eric Bjornholt, Microchip's Chief Financial Officer, said, "Inventory levels on Microchip's balance sheet grew to 143 days at the end of December compared to 110 days at the end of the September quarter. Deferred income on shipments to distributors fell by $5.1 million in the December quarter while days of inventory in the distribution channel increased from 35 days to 41 days. Despite our actions to reduce our production levels, demand fell so significantly that we were unable to prevent the increase in days of inventory. We are taking actions that over time should adjust our inventory levels to be more in line with our recent history."

Mr. Sanghi concluded, "In light of the unprecedented global economic conditions and limited visibility, Microchip is not providing revenue guidance at this time. However, for our internal activities, we are planning revenue for the quarter ending March 31, 2009 to be approximately $173 million."

Microchip's Recent Highlights:

    --  During the quarter, Microchip shipped 32,799 new development systems,
        demonstrating the continued strong interest in Microchip's products. The
        total cumulative number of development systems shipped now stands at
        735,802.
    --  Adding to its world-class development systems portfolio, Microchip
        announced the MPLAB(R) ICD 3 in-circuit debugger--a cost-effective,
        high-speed development tool that supports in-circuit programming and
        debugging of Microchip's Flash-based 8-bit PIC(R) microcontrollers
        (MCUs), and its entire line of 16- and 32-bit MCUs and 16-bit dsPIC(R)
        Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs). Additionally, the new PICkit(TM) 3
        Debug Express kit overcomes the cost and complexity barriers to enter
        the world of code development and embedded programming, at a very
        cost-effective price point of $69.99.
    --  Building upon the success of its popular 8-bit Mid-range core
        microcontrollers, Microchip announced that it has developed an enhanced
        core to provide additional performance, while maintaining compatibility
        with existing Mid-range products for true product migration. The
        enhancements provide users with a boost in performance of up to 50% and
        code-size reductions of up to 40% for various algorithms and functions.
    --  Microchip announced the world's first Inductive Touch-Sensing Technology
        solution, which enables touch sensing capability through a front panel,
        such as plastic, stainless steel or aluminum, as well as through gloves
        and on surfaces that contain liquids. With this new technology,
        Microchip allows designers to integrate inductive touch-sensing
        functionality with their existing application code in a single standard
        8-, 16- or 32-bit PIC MCU or 16-bit dsPIC DSC, thus reducing total
        system costs.
    --  The Company introduced its new MCP3422/3/4 low-power, high-resolution
        Delta-Sigma Analog-to-Digital Converters which provide 18-bits of
        resolution and consume only 135 micro Amperes at 3V continuous
        conversion.
    --  Microchip announced a new MCP9509/10 low-power, resistor-programmable,
        logic-output temperature switches, which have a threshold that can be
        programmed with a single external resistor. This means designers can now
        stock one device for measuring multiple temperature points by varying
        the external resistance value.
    --  The Company also introduced a family of serial EEPROM devices with
        built-in EUI-48(TM) and EUI-64(TM) compatible MAC addresses. Designed to
        work on standard busses, such as SPI, I2C(TM) and the UNI/O(R) bus, the
        devices provide easy and inexpensive access to MAC addresses, and
        feature up to 1.5 Kb of EEPROM that can be used for storing
        configuration and user settings, or as a scratch-pad area for buffering
        small amounts of data.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2009 Outlook:

The following statements are based on current expectations. These statements are forward-looking, and actual results may differ materially.

    --  In light of the highly uncertain global economic conditions and limited
        visibility, Microchip is not providing revenue guidance at this time.
        However, for our internal activities, we are planning revenue for the
        quarter ending March 31, 2009 to be approximately $173 million. All
        financial information provided below is based on this internal revenue
        plan of approximately $173 million.
    --  The internal plan for gross margin for the quarter ending March 31, 2009
        is about 49% on a GAAP basis, and about 50% on a non-GAAP basis, prior
        to the effect of share-based compensation and the amortization of
        acquisition related intangibles. This reduction in gross margin is
        primarily because of underutilization of our manufacturing facilities
        being charged to cost of goods sold in the quarter ending March 31,
        2009. Generally, gross margin fluctuates over time, driven primarily by
        the mix of microcontrollers, analog products and memory products sold;
        variances in manufacturing yields; fixed cost absorption; wafer fab
        loading levels; pricing pressures in our non-proprietary product lines;
        and competitive and economic conditions.
    --  The operating expense plan for the quarter ending March 31, 2009 is for
        operating expenses to be moderately down in dollars from the levels in
        the December 2008 quarter. Operating expenses fluctuate over time,
        primarily due to revenue and profit levels.
    --  The tax rate on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis for the quarter ending March
        31, 2009 is expected to be approximately 14% to 16%.
    --  The internal plan for earnings per diluted share for the quarter ending
        March 31, 2009 is approximately 9 to 11 cents on a GAAP basis. The
        company currently has investments in trading securities that are subject
        to mark-to-market considerations. We have assumed zero gain or loss on
        such securities for the internal target for GAAP EPS. The plan for
        earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis is approximately 13 to 15 cents,
        excluding the effect of share-based compensation expense,
        acquisition-related charges and any mark-to-market adjustment on the
        value of trading securities owned.
    --  The plan for capital expenditures for the quarter ending March 31, 2009
        is approximately $15 million, predominantly consisting of previously
        committed capital to complete the building expansion in our Thailand
        factory. Capital expenditures for fiscal year 2009 are expected to be
        approximately $106 million. The current internal plan for capital for
        all of fiscal year 2010 is approximately $15 million.
    --  Microchip's Board of Directors authorized a stock buy back of up to 10.0
        million shares in December 2007. At December 31, 2008, approximately 2.5
        million shares remained available for purchase under this program.
        Future purchases will depend upon market conditions, interest rates and
        corporate considerations.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

SFAS 123(R) requires us to estimate the cost of certain forms of share-based compensation, including employee stock options and restricted stock units under our employee stock purchase plan (ESPP Plan), and to record a commensurate expense in our income statement. Share-based compensation expense is a non-cash expense that varies in amount from period to period and is affected by market forces that are difficult to predict and are not within the control of management, such as the price of our common stock. Our loss on trading securities varies in amount from period to period and is affected by fluctuations in the market prices of such securities that we cannot predict and are not within the control of management. The non-GAAP adjustments related to the impact of the acquisition of Hampshire Company are non-cash expenses related to such transaction. Our sale of Fab 3 in Puyallup, Washington, our favorable settlement with the IRS, the favorable adjustment to tax reserves based on a clarification of tax regulations announced by the IRS and the retroactive reinstatement of the R&D tax credit, are one-time events in our business. Accordingly, management excludes all of these items from its internal operating forecasts and models.

We are using non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP research and development expenses, non-GAAP selling, general and administration expenses, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, which exclude a favorable settlement with the IRS, a favorable adjustment to tax reserves based on a clarification of tax regulations announced by the IRS, the retroactive reinstatement of the R&D tax credit, a loss on trading securities, the effect of share-based compensation, the impacts of the acquisition of Hampshire Company and our sale of Fab 3 in the second quarter of fiscal 2008, to permit additional analysis of our performance. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors because they enhance the understanding of our historical financial performance and comparability between periods. Many of our investors have requested that we disclose this non-GAAP information because they believe it is useful in understanding our performance as it excludes non-cash and other charges that many investors feel may obscure our true operating costs. Management uses these non-GAAP measures to manage and assess the profitability of its business. Specifically, we do not consider such items when developing and monitoring our budgets and spending. As described above the economic substance behind our decision to exclude such items relates either to these charges being non-cash in nature or to the one-time nature of the events. Our determination of the above non-GAAP measures might not be the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies, and it should not be construed as a substitute for gross margin; research and development expenses; selling, general and administrative expenses; operating income; net income and diluted earnings per share determined in accordance with GAAP. There are limitations associated with using non-GAAP measures, including that they exclude financial information that some may consider important in evaluating our performance. Management compensates for this by presenting information on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis for investors and providing reconciliations of the GAAP and non-GAAP results.


MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME



(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

                               Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                               December 31,             December 31,

                               2008         2007        2008         2007

Net sales                      $ 192,166    $ 252,600   $ 730,044    $ 775,319

Cost of sales                    87,379       99,553      297,507      309,015

Gross profit                     104,787      153,047     432,537      466,304

Operating expenses:

Research and development         26,973       30,306      89,868       89,358

Selling, general and             36,840       43,501      127,882      130,250
administrative

Special charges                  500          -           500          26,763

                                 64,313       73,807      218,250      246,371

Operating income                 40,474       79,240      214,287      219,933

Other income and expense, net    (18,743 )    12,037      (5,959  )    42,231

Income before income taxes       21,731       91,277      208,328      262,164

Income taxes                     (51,438 )    11,153      (17,663 )    41,068

Net income                     $ 73,169     $ 80,124    $ 225,991    $ 221,096

Basic net income per share     $ 0.40       $ 0.39      $ 1.23       $ 1.02

Diluted net income per share   $ 0.40       $ 0.38      $ 1.20       $ 1.00

Basic shares used in             181,963      207,002     183,414      216,046
calculation

Diluted shares used in           183,999      211,337     187,661      221,097
calculation




MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

ASSETS

                                                December 31,   March 31,
                                                2008           2008

                                                (Unaudited)

Cash and short-term investments                 $ 1,397,611    $ 1,324,790

Accounts receivable, net                          78,557         138,319

Inventories                                       136,509        124,483

Other current assets                              128,255        130,138

Total current assets                              1,740,932      1,717,730

Property, plant & equipment, net                  543,705        522,305

Long-term investments                             76,332         194,274

Other assets                                      86,174         77,998

Total assets                                    $ 2,447,143    $ 2,512,307

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities  $ 77,323       $ 95,640

Deferred income on shipments to distributors      98,421         95,441

Total current liabilities                         175,744        191,081

Convertible debentures                            1,148,975      1,150,128

Long-term income tax payable                      68,637         112,311

Deferred tax liability                            33,980         21,460

Other long-term liabilities                       1,283          1,104

Stockholders' equity                              1,018,524      1,036,223

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity      $ 2,447,143    $ 2,512,307




MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
(Unaudited)
(in thousands except per share amounts and percentages)

RECONCILIATION OF GROSS PROFIT TO NON-GAAP GROSS PROFIT

                             Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended
                             December 31,               December 31,

                             2008         2007          2008         2007

Gross profit, as reported    $ 104,787    $ 153,047     $ 432,537    $ 466,304

Share-based compensation       967          1,555         4,645        4,638
expense

Hampshire-related acquired
inventory valuation costs      308          -             308          -
and intangible asset
amortization

Non-GAAP gross profit        $ 106,062    $ 154,602     $ 437,490    $ 470,942

Non-GAAP gross profit          55.2    %    61.2    %     59.9    %    60.7    %
percentage

RECONCILIATION OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES TO NON-GAAP

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES

                             Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended
                             December 31,               December 31,

                             2008         2007          2008         2007

Research and development     $ 26,973     $ 30,306      $ 89,868     $ 89,358
expenses, as reported

Share-based compensation       (2,948  )    (2,729  )     (8,023  )    (7,824  )
expense

Non-GAAP research and        $ 24,025     $ 27,577      $ 81,845     $ 81,534
development expenses

Non-GAAP research and
development expenses as a      12.5    %    10.9    %     11.2    %    10.5    %
percentage of net sales

RECONCILIATION OF SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES TO

NON-GAAP SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

                             Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended
                             December 31,               December 31,

                             2008         2007          2008         2007

Selling, general and
administrative expenses, as  $ 36,840     $ 43,501      $ 127,882    $ 130,250
reported

Share-based compensation       (4,250  )    (4,073  )     (11,689 )    (11,699 )
expense

Hampshire-related
intangible asset               (128    )    -             (128    )    -
amortization

Non-GAAP selling, general    $ 32,462     $ 39,428      $ 116,065    $ 118,551
and administrative expenses

Non-GAAP selling, general
and administrative expenses    16.9    %    15.6    %     15.9    %    15.3    %
as a percentage of net
sales

RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING INCOME TO NON-GAAP OPERATING INCOME

                             Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended
                             December 31,               December 31,

                             2008         2007          2008         2007

Operating income, as         $ 40,474     $ 79,240      $ 214,287    $ 219,933
reported

Share-based compensation       8,165        8,357         24,357       24,161
expense

Hampshire-related acquired
inventory valuation costs      436          -             436          -
and intangible asset
amortization

Special charge - Hampshire     500          -             500          -
in-process R&D

Special charge - sale of       -            -             -            26,763
Fab 3

Non-GAAP operating income    $ 49,575     $ 87,597      $ 239,580    $ 270,857

Non-GAAP operating income
as a percentage of net         25.8    %    34.7    %     32.8    %    34.9    %
sales

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME AND DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE TO

NON-GAAP NET INCOME AND NON-GAAP DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE

                             Three Months Ended         Nine Months Ended
                             December 31,               December 31,

                             2008         2007          2008         2007

Net income, as reported      $ 73,169     $ 80,124      $ 225,991    $ 221,096

Share-based compensation       6,711        6,811         19,973       19,398
expense, net of tax effect

Hampshire-related acquired
inventory valuation costs
and intangible asset           358          -             358          -
amortization, net of tax
effect

Special charge - Hampshire
in-process R&D, net of tax     411          -             411          -
effect

Special charge - sale of       -            -             -            16,459
Fab 3, net of tax effect

Loss on trading securities,    11,852       -             11,852       -
net of tax effect

R&D tax credit                 (1,470  )    -             (1,470  )    -
reinstatement

Tax benefit related to IRS
settlement and                 (49,847 )    -             (49,847 )    -
clarification in tax
regulations

Tax benefit on resolution      -            (5,733  )     -            (5,733  )
of foreign tax matter

Non-GAAP net income          $ 41,184     $ 81,202      $ 207,268    $ 251,220

Non-GAAP net income as a       21.4    %    32.1    %     28.4    %    32.4    %
percentage of net sales

Diluted net income per       $ 0.40       $ 0.38        $ 1.20       $ 1.00
share, as reported

Share-based compensation       0.04         0.04          0.12         0.10
expense, net of tax effect

Hampshire-related acquired
inventory valuation costs
and intangible asset           -            -             -            -
amortization, net of tax
effect

Special charge - Hampshire
in process R&D, net of tax     -            -             -            -
effect

Special charge - sale of       -            -             -            0.07
Fab 3, net of tax effect

Loss on trading securities,    0.07         -             0.07         -
net of tax effect

R&D tax credit                 (0.01   )    -             (0.01   )    -
reinstatement

Tax benefit related to IRS
settlement and                 (0.27   )    -             (0.26   )    -
clarification in tax
regulations

Tax benefit on resolution      -            (0.03   )     -            (0.03   )
of foreign tax matter

Non-GAAP diluted net income  $ 0.23       $ 0.39        $ 1.12       $ 1.14
per share



Conference Call and Updates:

Microchip will host a conference call today January 29, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss this release. This call will be simulcast over the Internet at www.microchip.com. The webcast will be available for replay until February 5, 2009.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available at approximately 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) January 29, 2009 and will remain available until 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 5, 2009. Interested parties may listen to the replay by dialing 719-457-0820 and entering access code 3424864.

Cautionary Statement:

The statements in this release relating to taking actions to moderate expense levels and adjust capacity, reducing or eliminating discretionary expenses, continuing actions to reduce our production levels, moderating inventory growth, lowering our production levels, implementing various other actions to reduce operating expenses, positioning Microchip to emerge from this economic downturn stronger than our competition, maintaining our focus on product and technology development activities, demand creation initiatives and driving internal efficiencies, continuing to expand our market share in our strategic product lines, continuing to gain market share and traction in the 16-bit product line, taking actions that over time should adjust our inventory levels to be more in line with our recent history, continued strong interest in our products, our internal revenue plan for the March quarter, and the statements containing our GAAP and non-GAAP financial information (as applicable) for our internal planning for the quarter ending March 31, 2009 with respect to revenue, gross margins, operating expenses, tax rate, earnings per diluted share and capital expenditures for the March quarter and fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010 are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to: changes in demand or market acceptance of our products and the products of our customers due to difficulties in the market, liquidity and credit concerns or other factors; uncertainties resulting from the current adverse economic environment in the U.S. and other countries in which we do business, the mix of inventory we hold and our ability to satisfy short-term orders from our inventory; changes in utilization of our manufacturing capacity; competitive developments including pricing pressures; the level of orders that are received and can be shipped in a quarter; the level of sell-through of our products through distribution; changes or fluctuations in customer order patterns and seasonality; foreign currency effects on our business; costs and outcome of any current or future tax audit or any litigation involving intellectual property, customers or other issues; the impact of any acquisitions we may make including our announced intention to acquire Atmel Corporation; disruptions in our business or the businesses of our customers or suppliers due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict, war, worldwide oil prices and supply, public health concerns or disruptions in the transportation system; and general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally.

For a detailed discussion of these and other risk factors, please refer to Microchip's SEC filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. You can obtain copies of Forms 10-K and 10-Q and other relevant documents for free at Microchip's Web site (www.microchip.com) or the SEC's Web site (www.sec.gov) or from commercial document retrieval services.

Stockholders of Microchip are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date such statements are made. Microchip does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or new information after this January 29, 2009 press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

About Microchip:

Microchip Technology Incorporated is a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip Web site at www.microchip.com.

The Microchip name and logo, PIC, dsPIC, MPLAB, and UNI/O are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the USA and other countries. PICkit, and mTouch are trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.


    Source: Microchip Technology Incorporated