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Technology Stocks : Avid Technology -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: BMcV who wrote (655)2/4/1999 4:50:00 PM
From: BMcV  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 777
 
Blowout numbers:

Avid Technology Announces Record
Revenue and Operating Results for the
Fourth Quarter 1998

Tax-effected Fourth Quarter Income Before Acquisition Related Charges Rises 63%
to $15.2 Million or $0.57 Per Share

TEWKSBURY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 4, 1999-- Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVID - news) today
reported record revenues and operating results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 1998. Fourth quarter
revenues were a record $144.6 million compared to $123.7 million in the fourth quarter 1997. The Company recorded
tax-effected fourth quarter income of $15.2 million or $.57 per diluted share, before acquisition related charges
associated with the third quarter acquisition of Softimage Inc., as compared to $9.3 million or $.37 per diluted share in
the fourth quarter of 1997.

For the year ended December 31, 1998, revenues were $482.4 million, also a record, versus $471.3 million for 1997.
The Company reported record tax-effected 1998 income of $40.1 million or $1.56 per diluted share, before acquisition
related charges associated with the Softimage acquisition, as compared to $26.4 million or $1.08 per diluted share for
the year ended December 31, 1997.

William J. Miller, Avid's Chairman and CEO, commented, ''I am pleased to report record operating results for the
fourth quarter. Our strong revenues reflected favorable domestic and European demand for our film and video products
and included revenues from several key product releases. Our audio products also experienced record revenue during
the fourth quarter reflecting continuing strong demand for our Pro Tools product line. Additionally, gross margin rose
to a record 62.5% in the quarter.''

''We continued to strengthen our balance sheet,'' Miller added. ''Cash and investments increased by $13.5 million
during the fourth quarter, to end the year at $111.8 million. This largely reflected strong operating results partly offset
by $10.7 million used to buy back stock as part of our ongoing repurchase program. We also reduced accounts
receivable days sales outstanding to 56 days and inventory levels to $11.1 million at year-end.''

''This year reflects significant accomplishments which are critical to Avid's future success. The acquisition of
Softimage Inc. brought us both 3-D animation technology and SOFTIMAGE|DS, a product and architecture for
television finishing, which is central to our future. We also formed a strategic alliance with Tektronix, Inc. to provide
broadcasters with integrated end-to-end solutions as the industry migrates to digital production. Most importantly, we
successfully completed the most comprehensive introduction of new products in Avid's history. During the later part of
1998, we launched major new products, including Avid Symphony, SOFTIMAGE|DS 2.1, NewsCutter DV, Avid
Xpress for Windows NT and ProTools|24 MIX, in all of our key strategic markets. Avid is now a truly multi-platform
company with products to address the full range of customer needs from the consumer to the high-end production
studio,'' Miller concluded.

The Company stated that it is not reporting net income at this time because it is continuing to evaluate the need for
possible adjustments to the in-process research and development (''IPR&D'') charge taken in the third quarter of 1998.
At that time, the Company recorded a one-time pre-tax charge of $193.7 million for purchased IPR&D in its operating
results. This one-time charge was recorded in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and
established industry practice, and was supported by an independent third party valuation. Since that time, however, the
Securities and Exchange Commission (''SEC'') has expressed views on valuation methods for purchased IPR&D
which differ from prior industry practice. The Company is working closely with its independent auditors to make a
determination as to the application of the SEC's recent views to the Company's IPR&D valuation and the resulting
effect on the charge taken in the third quarter as well as on the amortization of intangible assets. Any application of the
methodology now supported by the SEC would likely result in a significantly lower IPR&D charge for the third quarter
of 1998 and the creation of goodwill which would be amortized against earnings beginning with the third quarter. An
adjustment to the IPR&D valuation, if any, would have no effect upon the financial condition or liquidity of the
Company. The Company will issue a press release announcing its final determination and any resulting accounting
adjustments. The Company said its fourth quarter and fiscal year-end 1998 operating results before acquisition related
charges are final and will not change.

Avid Technology, Inc. is an international, industry-leading provider of digital audio and video tools for creating content
for information and entertainment applications. The company's products are used by customers ranging from corporate
communications professionals to film, television and interactive content producers to broadcast news organizations.
For more information, visit Avid's World Wide Web site at www.avid.com.

Avid and Softimage are registered trademarks and Symphony, NewsCutter, SOFTIMAGE|DS, Pro Tools and Avid
Xpress are trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc., or its subsidiaries or divisions.

-0-

AVID TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, before acquisition
related charges
(in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
Dec. 31, Dec. 31,
1998 1997 1998 1997
(unaudited)(unaudited)(unaudited)

Net revenues $144,598 $123,735 $482,377 $471,338
Cost of revenues 54,256 54,062 190,249 221,553

Gross profit 90,342 69,673 292,128 249,785

Operating expenses:
Research and development 25,102 20,160 88,787 73,470
Marketing and selling 36,035 31,301 125,280 120,394
General and administrative 8,618 6,977 28,549 25,808
Total operating expenses 69,755 58,438 242,616 219,672

Operating income before
acquisition related charges 20,587 11,235 49,512 30,113

Interest and other income, net 1,371 2,244 8,636 8,125
Income before acquisition related
charges and income taxes 21,958 13,479 58,148 38,238
Provision for income taxes,
excluding the effect of
acquisition related charges 6,807 4,178 18,026 11,854

Tax-effected income before
acquisition related charges $ 15,151 $ 9,301 $ 40,122 $ 26,384

Tax-effected income before
acquisition related charges
per common share - diluted $ 0.57 $ 0.37 $ 1.56 $ 1.08

Weighted average common shares
outstanding - diluted 26,703 25,231 25,704 24,325

The results above do not include the effects of the third-quarter 1998 pre-tax charge for IPR&D of $193.7 million or
the amortization of acquired intangible assets related to the Company's purchase of Softimage Inc. See attached press
release for further details.



To: BMcV who wrote (655)2/4/1999 5:12:00 PM
From: BMcV  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 777
 
highlights:

--revenues grew 17% in 4Q, enough to quell doubts.

--cost of revenues remained the same on absolute terms, meaning $2o million in gross profit more than the same quarter last year.

--$5 million of that went to R&D, which is fine.

--$5 million went to Marketing, which is ok.

--$10 million went to pre-tax income, which is best of all.

"tax-effected income" simply means "fully taxed".

The possible restatement of the 3Q charge is related to recent comments from the SEC that they will look more closely at writeoffs of acquisitions as "purchased R&D". Every tech company that has made an acquisition in the last five or ten years has written off most of the purchase price as "purchased R%D" in order to get the goodwill and associated amortization (which hurts forward earnings) off the books. The SEC is looking into this practice and all companies should be so cautious in their comments as AVID is. However, depending on the spin the media and analysts put on this, it could hurt the stock tomorrow.

In short, stellar results from what looks again to be a growth company. If the world were just and intelligent, we should see 35 tomorrow.