NXP Semiconductors Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2015 Results

• 2015 revenue up 8 percent year-on-year
• Continued strong earnings growth
• Freescale merger complete and synergies on track                                                             

EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands, Feb. 03, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ:NXPI) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and the full-year 2015, ended December 31, 2015, as well as provided guidance for the first quarter of 2016. 

“The end of 2015 brought to a close a year filled with significant accomplishments and a few challenges for NXP.  During the fourth quarter we successfully completed the previously announced merger with Freescale Semiconductor.  NXP is now the clear market leader in automotive, microcontroller and security semiconductor solutions.  Notwithstanding our success, we faced an uncertain macro demand environment during the second-half of 2015.  Despite this, we continued to outperform the overall industry.  Looking forward, our task is to continue to outgrow the market despite the uncertain environment,” said Richard Clemmer, NXP Chief Executive Officer.

On a full-year basis, NXP delivered revenue of $6.1 billion, up 8 percent from 2014, including the benefit of approximately one month of revenue contribution from Freescale.  Revenue from our strategic HPMS segment was $4.72 billion, up 12 percent year-on-year, with nearly all of the operating segments delivering positive growth for the year.  Standard Product segment revenue was $1.24 billion, down 3 percent versus the prior year.  Full-year non-GAAP operating profit and non-GAAP earnings were both up strongly versus 2014.  Non-GAAP operating income was $1.68 billion, up 19 percent versus the prior year, and non-GAAP earnings per share were $5.60, up nearly 18 percent versus 2014, and non-GAAP free cash flow was $996 million. 

Looking at our results for the fourth quarter 2015, revenue was $1.61 billion, up 4 percent year-on-year, and up nearly 6 percent versus the prior quarter.  HPMS segment revenue was $1.31 billion, up 12 percent from the same period a year ago, as well as sequentially.  Standard Product segment revenue was $271 million, down 18 percent from same period a year ago and down 17 percent sequentially.  In spite of weaker revenue trends, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share were $1.25, reflective of better gross margin and solid expense control resulting in improved profit fall-through. Additionally we generated $180 million non-GAAP free cash flow. 

“In summary, we believe NXP is ideally positioned in the right markets, with the right customers and highly competitive portfolio of solutions. I would like to personally thank all of our employees for their tireless efforts in bringing the merger to a successful conclusion. I would further like to thank our customers for the positive inputs and confidence in the vision of the combined company.  We believe the merger will result in significant value creation both in terms of giving us an even more competitive cost structure as well broadening the product portfolio we can offer our customers,” said Clemmer.

Summary of Fourth Quarter and Full-year 2015 Results ($ millions, except diluted EPS, unaudited)

Please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” on page 3 of this release.

Additional Information for the Fourth Quarter and full-year 2015:

• On December 7, 2015, NXP completed its merger with Freescale Semiconductor, Ltd. (“FSL Merger”).  NXP’s fourth quarter 2015 results include the operating results of FSL from that date forward.  As a result of the FSL Merger, NXP recognized a restructuring charge of $239 million.  The charge is comprised of employee related severance accruals and contract termination costs.  In addition, NXP recognized $49 million of stock based compensation charges related to employees terminated as a result of the FSL Merger.
• On November 7, 2015, in connection with the FSL Merger, NXP entered into a $2.7 billion secured term loan (“Term Loan B”). Proceeds from the issuance, together with cash-on-hand were used to (i) pay the cash consideration in connection with the FSL Merger, (ii) effect the repayment of any amounts under Freescale’s outstanding credit facility and (iii) pay certain transaction costs, in each case simultaneously with the issuance of the Term Loan.
• On December 7, 2015 NXP completed the divestiture of its RF Power business to Jianguang Asset Management Co. Ltd.
• On November 9, 2015, NXP and Jianguang Asset Management Co. Ltd. completed its previously announced creation of WeEn Semiconductors, a Bipolar Power joint venture (JV) in China following the clearance of regulators.
• During the fourth quarter of 2015, NXP repurchased approximately 1.8 million shares for a total cost of approximately $151 million. For the full-year of 2015, NXP repurchased approximately 5.3 million shares for a total cost of approximately $475 million.  
• During the fourth quarter of 2015, SSMC, NXP’s consolidated joint-venture wafer fab with TSMC, reported fourth quarter 2015 operating income of $40 million, EBITDA of $56 million and a closing cash balance of $485 million.  For the full-year 2015, SSMC reported operating income of $181 million, EBITDA of $241 million and a closing cash balance of $485 million. 
• During the fourth quarter of 2015, utilization in the combined NXP wafer-fabs averaged 86 percent.  For the full-year 2015 utilization in the combined NXP wafer-fabs averaged 94 percent.

Supplemental Information ($ millions, unaudited) ^{(1, 2)}

Note:

1. As a result of the FSL Merger, NXP has included previously reported Freescale Semiconductor (“Freescale”) product group revenue into its various existing High Performance Mixed Signal (HPMS) and Standard Products (STDP) segments. As of the fourth quarter 2015, the NXP HPMS operating segments include the following (1) Automotive includes revenue from Freescale’s Automotive MCU and Analog & Sensor product groups; (2) Secure Connected Devices includes revenue from Freescale’s Microcontroller product group; (3) Secure Interface & Infrastructure, previously known as Secure Interface & Power includes revenue from Freescale’s Digital Networking and RF product groups.  Additionally, certain portions of Freescale’s Analog & Sensor product group and Other revenue is apportioned to various NXP operating segments consistent with NXPs prior product and revenue classification approach, this included product-functionality alignment as well intellectual property (IP) sales and licensing revenue.
2. Product revenue is the combination of revenue from the High Performance Mixed Signal (HPMS) and Standard Products (STDP) segments. Percent of quarterly total amounts may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.

            
Guidance for the First Quarter 2016: ($ millions) ⁽¹⁾

Note (1):  NXP has based the guidance included in this release on judgments and estimates that management believes are reasonable given its assessment of historical trends and other information reasonably available as of the date of this release. Please note:

• During 4Q15, results only include approximately one-month of Freescale revenue. Guidance growth rates based on absolute reported financial results.
• The guidance included in this release consists of predictions only, and is subject to a wide range of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond NXP's control.  The guidance included in this release should not be regarded as representations by NXP that the estimated results will be achieved.  Actual results may vary materially from the guidance we provide today.  In relation to the use of non-GAAP financial information see the note regarding "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" elsewhere in this release.  For the factors, risks and uncertainties to which judgments, estimates and forward-looking statements generally are subject see the note regarding "Forward-looking Statements."
• We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, including the guidance set forth herein, to reflect future events or circumstances.  Considering the uncertain magnitude and variability of the foreign exchange consequences upon "PPA effects", "restructuring costs", "other incidental items" and any interest expense or taxes in future periods, management believes that GAAP financial measures are not available for NXP without unreasonable efforts on a forward looking basis.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to providing financial information on a basis consistent with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), NXP also provides the following selected financial measures on a non-GAAP basis: (i) Gross profit, (ii) Gross margin, (iii) Research and development, (iv) Selling, general and administrative, (v) Other income, (vi) Operating income (loss), (vii) Operating margin, (viii) Financial Income (expense), (ix) Cash tax expense, (x) Results relating to equity-accounted investees, (xi) Net income (loss), (xii) Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders, (xiii) Weighted average shares –diluted, (xiv) Diluted net income (loss) attributable to stockholders per share, (xv) EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and trailing 12 month adjusted EBITDA, and (xvi) non-GAAP free cash flow. The non-GAAP information excludes the amortization of acquisition related intangible assets, the purchase accounting effect on inventory and property, plant and equipment, merger related costs (including integration costs), certain items  related to divestitures, share-based compensation expense, restructuring and asset impairment charges, process and product transfer costs, non-cash interest expense on convertible notes, extinguishment of debt, changes in the fair value of the warrant liability, foreign exchange differences on our debt and the non-cash impact on income tax expense. 

Management does not believe that these items are reflective of the Company’s underlying performance. The presentation of these and other similar items in NXP’s non-GAAP financial results should not be interpreted as implying that these items are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual. NXP believes this non-GAAP financial information provides additional insight into the Company’s on-going performance and has therefore chosen to provide this information to investors for a more consistent basis of comparison and to help them evaluate the results of the Company’s on-going operations and enable more meaningful period to period comparisons. These non-GAAP measures are provided in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most comparable measures calculated in accordance with GAAP are provided in the financial statements portion of this release in a schedule entitled “Financial Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Results (unaudited).”

Conference Call and Webcast Information
NXP will host a conference call on February 4, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Central European Time) to discuss its fourth quarter and full-year 2015 results and provide an outlook for the first quarter of 2016. 

Interested parties may join the conference call by dialing 1 – 888 – 311 – 8119 (within the U.S.) or 1 – 330 – 863 - 3362 (outside of the U.S.).  The participant pass-code is 23904851.  To listen to a webcast of the event, please visit the Investor Relations section of the NXP website at www.nxp.com.  The webcast will be recorded and available for replay shortly after the call concludes.

About NXP Semiconductors
NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ:NXPI) enables secure connections and infrastructure for a smarter world, advancing solutions that make lives easier, better and safer. As the world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, NXP is driving innovation in the secure connected vehicle, end-to-end security & privacy and smart connected solutions markets. Built on more than 60 years of combined experience and expertise, the company has 45,000 employees in more than 35 countries, and posted revenue of $6.1 billion in 2015. Find out more at www.nxp.com.

Forward-looking Statements
This document includes forward-looking statements which include statements regarding NXP’s business strategy, financial condition, results of operations, and market data, as well as any other statements which are not historical facts.  By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected.  These factors, risks and uncertainties include the following: market demand and semiconductor industry conditions; the ability to successfully introduce new technologies and products; the end-market demand for the goods into which NXP’s products are incorporated; the ability to generate sufficient cash, raise sufficient capital or refinance corporate debt at or before maturity; the ability to meet the combination of corporate debt service, research and development and capital investment requirements; the ability to accurately estimate demand and match manufacturing production capacity accordingly or obtain supplies from third-party producers; the access to production capacity from third-party outsourcing partners; any events that might affect third-party business partners or NXP’s relationship with them;  the ability to secure adequate and timely supply of equipment and materials from suppliers; the ability to avoid operational problems and product defects and, if such issues were to arise, to correct them quickly; the ability to form strategic partnerships and joint ventures and to successfully cooperate with alliance partners; the ability to win competitive bid selection processes to develop products for use in customers’ equipment and products; the ability to successfully establish a brand identity; the ability to successfully hire and retain key management and senior product architects; and, the ability to maintain good relationships with our suppliers.  In addition, this document contains information concerning the semiconductor industry and NXP’s business segments generally, which is forward-looking in nature and is based on a variety of assumptions regarding the ways in which the semiconductor industry, NXP’s market segments and product areas may develop.  NXP has based these assumptions on information currently available, if any one or more of these assumptions turn out to be incorrect, actual market results may differ from those predicted.  While NXP does not know what impact any such differences may have on its business, if there are such differences, its future results of operations and its financial condition could be materially adversely affected.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak to results only as of the date the statements were made.  Except for any ongoing obligation to disclose material information as required by the United States federal securities laws, NXP does not have any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after we distribute this document, whether to reflect any future events or circumstances or otherwise.  For a discussion of potential risks and uncertainties, please refer to the risk factors listed in our SEC filings. Copies of our SEC filings are available on our Investor Relations website, www.nxp.com or from the SEC website, www.sec.gov.