ADVA Optical Networking Reports Audited 2014 IFRS Financial Results in Line With Guidance


Q4 2014 revenues at EUR 86.7 million,
IFRS pro forma operating income of EUR 5.1 million (5.9% of revenues)

FY 2014 revenues at EUR 339.2 million,
IFRS pro forma operating income of EUR 9.5 million (2.8% of revenues)

Q1 2015 revenues expected to range  between  EUR 90 million and EUR 95 million
with  IFRS pro forma operating income  between 0% and 4% of revenues

MARTINSRIED/MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 25, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADVA Optical Networking (FSE: ADV) announced Q4 and audited full-year 2014 financial results for the period ended December 31, 2014, and prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Q4 2014 IFRS FINANCIAL RESULTS
Revenues in Q4 2014 at EUR 86.7 million were in the upper half of guidance between EUR 83 million and EUR 88 million, up a significant 13.8% vs. Q4 2013 at EUR 76.2 million and slightly down 0.4% vs. Q3 2014 at EUR 87.1 million. IFRS pro forma operating income, excluding stock-based compensation and amortization & impairment of goodwill & acquisition-related intangible assets, amounted to EUR 5.1 million in Q4 2014 or 5.9% of revenues, at the upper end of guidance of between 2% and 6% of revenues. This compares to a Q4 2013 IFRS pro forma operating income of EUR 2.3 million or 3.0% of revenues, and EUR 3.5 million or 4.0% in Q3 2014. The year-on-year rise of pro forma operating income is largely due to higher revenues, increased income from capitalization of development expenses and increased other operating income, while the quarter-on-quarter increase is mainly due to increased other operating income and higher gross margins.

The IFRS operating income in Q4 2014 was EUR 5.1 million, up significantly from EUR 1.9 million in Q4 2013. Key drivers for this development are the above-mentioned reasons for higher pro forma operating income and the revaluation of stock appreciation rights, which resulted in a stock compensation benefit of EUR 0.2 million in Q4 2014, after a stock compensation expense of EUR 0.2 million in Q4 2013.

The IFRS net income in Q4 2014 amounted to EUR 4.3 million, after EUR 8.5 million in Q4 2013. The favorable development of operating income explained above was overcompensated by a revision of deferred tax assets which resulted in an additional tax benefit of EUR 6.1 million in Q4 2013 and the restatement of tax benefits from EUR 1.2 million to EUR 7.3 million in Q4 2013. This compares to a tax expense of EUR 0.7 million in Q4 2014. Basic and diluted IFRS net earnings per share in Q4 2013 were restated accordingly and increased from EUR 0.05 each to EUR 0.18 and EUR 0.17 respectively. Basic and diluted IFRS net earnings per share in Q4 2014 were EUR 0.09 each.

FULL-YEAR 2014 IFRS FINANCIAL RESULTS
Driven by increased enterprise network and carrier infrastructure business particularly in the Americas and Asia Pacific, revenues rose to a record high of EUR 339.2 million in 2014, up by a sound 9.2% from EUR 310.7 million in 2013. IFRS pro forma operating income amounted to EUR 9.5 million in 2014 or 2.8% of revenues, after EUR 8.6 million in 2013 or 2.8% of revenues. This development is largely due to higher revenues, increased net capitalization of development expenses as well as an increase in other operating income.

2014 IFRS operating income at EUR 8.4 million also improved from EUR 7.0 million in 2013. The main reason for this development is the above-mentioned increase in pro forma operating income. Further, a reduction in stock compensation expenses from EUR 0.9 million in 2013 to EUR 0.4 million in 2014 contributed to this positive development.

Finally, IFRS net income amounted to EUR 8.4 million in 2014, after EUR 11.6 million in 2013. Beyond the favorable development of operating income, net foreign currency exchange gains of EUR 1.1 million 2014, after respective losses of EUR 1.5 million recorded in 2013 contributed to this development. These effects were overcompensated by the decrease in tax benefits, with a reported income tax benefit of EUR 0.2 million in 2014 after an income tax benefit of EUR 7.3 million in 2013. The 2014 tax benefit mainly results from the recognition of deferred tax assets related to tax-loss carry forwards while in 2013 the tax benefit was mainly due to the recognition of deferred tax assets on tax-loss carry forwards and the release of tax provisions related to open tax audit appeals that were partially resolved in 2013. Basic and diluted IFRS net earnings per share were EUR 0.17 each in 2014, after EUR 0.24 each in 2013.

"We are extremely pleased with our 2014 revenues which are at a record high of EUR 339.2 million, up a sound 9.2% compared to 2013. Q4 2014 revenues at EUR 86.7 million are in the upper half of guidance. This marks the fourth consecutive quarter with year-on-year growth. In addition, our pro forma gross margin at 36.6% in Q4 2014 improved from 35.3% in Q3 2014. We achieved a pro forma operating income of 5.9% of revenues in Q4 2014, at the upper end of guidance, demonstrating our focus on managing operational costs. Further, for the second consecutive quarter end, cash and cash equivalents as well as net liquidity were at new quarter-end record highs of EUR 83.9 million and EUR 48.9 million respectively. Throughout the year, ADVA Optical Networking maintained financial strength, with an equity ratio in excess of 50% and high net liquidity levels in all quarters," commented Ulrich Dopfer, chief financial officer of ADVA Optical Networking.

CONFERENCE CALL
In conjunction with the release of its full-year 2014 audited IFRS financial results on February 26, 2015, ADVA Optical Networking will host a conference call for analysts and investors at 3:00 p.m. CET / 9:00 a.m. EST. Participating in the call will be ADVA Optical Networking's chief executive officer, Brian Protiva, and chief financial officer, Ulrich Dopfer. Interested parties may dial in at +49 69 201744 210 or +1 877 423 0830, pin code 262 302#, and download the corresponding presentation from ADVA Optical Networking's website, www.advaoptical.com, located in the "About Us / Investor Relations" section on the "Financial Results" page under "Conference Calls".

Q1 2015 OUTLOOK
In Q1 2015, ADVA Optical Networking expects revenues to range between EUR 90 million and EUR 95 million, and anticipates pro forma operating income of between 0% and 4% of revenues. As a matter of caution, ADVA Optical Networking notes that it will continue to perform quarterly reviews of the expected business development with respect to all intangible assets, including capitalized development expenses. In case of highly adverse business prospects, these reviews may result in non-cash impairment charges in Q1 2015 and beyond. The pro forma operating income guidance provided above excludes any such potential impairment charges. ADVA Optical Networking will publish its Q1 2015 financial results on April 23, 2015.

"2014 marks the strongest year in our history. We not only grew revenues, but also achieved our goal to grow profitably with a pro forma operating income which expanded by 10.5% in 2014 from the prior year. In its overall addressable market, ADVA Optical Networking continued to hold a strong position. For fiber-based Ethernet access devices, the Group ranks second with a market share of 15%.[1] More than ever, it feels like it is all about "networks". Looking ahead to 2015 and beyond, we are confident that we can expand our focus on profitable growth. The momentum is continuing. We are experiencing a strong pick-up in demand with current levels of order book entries reaching an all-time high in Q4 2014.  While Europe's spending levels have been far below trends seen in North America and the Emerging markets, we are now seeing signs of the telecommunications industry slowly returning to growth in Europe. Over the past two decades, ADVA Optical Networking has built its reputation with innovative product and service offerings, and our strong R&D investments will continue. New product cycles and launching market-leading technology will be the catalyst for improved shareholder value, supporting our expanded focus and commitment to grow profitably," stated Brian Protiva, chief executive officer of ADVA Optical Networking.

IFRS CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

(in thousands of EUR,
except earnings per share)
Q4
2014
Q4
2013
FY
2014
FY
2013
         
Revenues 86,749 76,237 339,168 310,702
Pro forma cost of goods sold -54,996 -46,239 -220,408 -188,561
Pro forma gross profit 31,753 29,998 118,760 122,141
Pro forma
selling and marketing expenses
-12,906 -10,894 -48,003 -46,717
Pro forma
general and administrative expenses
-6,817 -6,720 -27,151 -26,225
Pro forma
research and development expenses
-17,196 -16,177 -67,461 -65,649
Income from capitalization of development expenses 7,958 4,950 27,108 22,490
Other operating income and expenses, net 2,345 1,098 6,214 2,531
Pro forma operating income 5,137 2,255 9,467 8,571
Amortization of
intangible assets from acquisitions
-188 -171 -733 -683
Stock compensation expense 192 -173 -382 -913
Operating income 5,141 1,911 8,352 6,975
Interest income and expenses, net -307 -303 -1,267 -1,144
Other financial gains and losses, net 170 -465 1,142 -1,475
Income before tax 5,004 1,143 8,227 4,356
Income tax benefit (expense), net* -676 7,352 148 7,279
Net income* 4,328 8,495 8,375 11,635
         
Earnings per share in EUR*        
  basic 0.09 0.18 0.17 0.24
  diluted 0.09 0.17 0.17  0.24 

*A retrospective restatement in accordance with IAS 8 was made in which prior year values were corrected as follows: as per December 31, 2013, deferred tax assets at prior year-end increased by EUR 6,128 thousand. As a result, the line items "income tax benefit (expense), net" and "net income", and "earnings per share in EUR" in the consolidated income statement increased accordingly. The effect on net income in Q4 2013 and FY 2013 was an increase from EUR 2,367/5,507 thousand to 8,495/11,635 thousand respectively. The effect on basic and diluted IFRS net earnings per share was an increase by EUR 0.11/0.12 in Q4 2013 and by EUR 0.13 each in FY 2013 which resulted in the restatement to EUR 0.18/0.17 and to EUR 0.24 each respectively.
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About ADVA Optical Networking
At ADVA Optical Networking we're creating new opportunities for tomorrow's networks, a new vision for a connected world. Our intelligent telecommunications hardware, software and services have been deployed by several hundred service providers and thousands of enterprises. Over the past twenty years, our innovative connectivity solutions have helped to drive our customers' networks forward, helped to drive their businesses to new levels of success. We forge close working relationships with all our customers. As their trusted partner we ensure that we're always ready to exceed their networking expectations. For more information on our products and our team, please visit us at: www.advaoptical.com.

The economic projections and forward-looking statements contained in this document relate to future facts. Such projections and forward-looking statements are subject to risks which cannot be foreseen and which are beyond the control of ADVA Optical Networking. ADVA Optical Networking is therefore not in a position to make any representation as to the accuracy of economic projections and forward-looking statements or their impact on the financial situation of ADVA Optical Networking or the market in the shares of ADVA Optical Networking.

ADVA Optical Networking provides consolidated pro forma financial results in this press release solely as supplemental financial information to help investors and the financial community make meaningful comparisons of ADVA Optical Networking's operating results from one financial period to another. ADVA Optical Networking believes that these pro forma consolidated financial results are helpful because they exclude non-cash charges related to the stock option programs and amortization and impairment of goodwill and acquisition-related intangible assets, which are not reflective of the Company's operating results for the period presented. This pro forma information is not prepared in accordance with IFRS and should not be considered a substitute for historical information presented in accordance with IFRS.

Published By:
ADVA Optical Networking SE, Martinsried/Munich and Meiningen, Germany
www.advaoptical.com

Für Presse:                                                                    
Gareth Spence                                                   
t +44 1904 699 358                                                                     
public-relations(at)advaoptical.com

Für Investoren: 
Karin Tovar
t +1 201 940 7212
investor-relations(at)advaoptical.com

[1] Based on 2013 total revenues for Ethernet access devices relevant for ADVA Optical Networking. Source: Infonetics Research Ethernet Access Devices Biannual Market Share, Size and Forecasts, 2nd Edition, September 2014.

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