CEVA, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End 2009 Financial Results

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CEVA, Inc. (NASDAQ: CEVA); (LSE: CVA), the leading licensor of silicon intellectual property (SIP) platform solutions and DSP cores for the mobile handset, portable and consumer electronics markets, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051010/CEVALOGO)

Fourth Quarter 2009

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $10.2 million, an increase of 2% compared to $10 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2008. Fourth quarter 2009 licensing revenue was $4.7 million, an increase of 2% when compared to $4.6 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2008. Royalty revenue for the fourth quarter of 2009 was a record $4.8 million, an increase of 13% compared to $4.3 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2008. Revenue from services for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $0.7 million, down 41% from $1.1 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2008.

U.S. GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $2.9 million, an increase of 203% over $1.0 million reported for the same period in 2008. U.S. GAAP diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $0.14, an increase of 180% compared to $0.05 for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $2.4 million and $0.11, respectively, representing an increase of 53% and 38%, respectively, over the $1.6 million and $0.08 reported for the fourth quarter of 2008. Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2009 exclude an aggregate equity-based compensation expense of $0.7 million, a pre-tax capital gain of $1.8 million related to the divestment of the Company's equity interest in GloNav Inc. and its related tax expense of $0.6 million. Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2008 excluded equity-based compensation expense of $0.8 million, a pre-tax capital gain of $0.9 million related to the divestment of the Company's equity interest GloNav Inc., its related tax expense of $0.1 million, a loss of $0.1 million related to disposal of fixed assets and an reorganization expense of $0.6 million related to certain cost reduction measures taken to reduce ongoing expenses associated with the Company's SATA/SAS activities.

Gideon Wertheizer, Chief Executive Officer of CEVA, stated, "Our strong fourth quarter results were driven by strategic licensing agreements for next generation wireless products and the continued expansion of our DSPs in the wireless handset space. Our value proposition with a diversity of product offerings and strong customer relationships led to our worldwide DSP market share in handsets to increase to a record high of 27%, based on worldwide quarterly shipments in the third quarter of 2009."

Mr. Wertheizer continued, "Our licensing agreements for the fourth quarter of 2009 included three design wins for long term evolution (LTE), the next generation wireless standard for mobile Internet. Notably, one of the LTE agreements was with a first tier original equipment manufacturer (OEM) who will use CEVA's technologies across its product lines for the first time. Needless to say, we are excited about the long-term prospects of this relationship. Another LTE agreement was for our newest CEVA-XC DSP core adopted by a leading company in the fourth generation cellular space. Overall, despite the challenging environment in 2009, we managed to significantly increase our profitability and execute on our long term business and technology goals. We believe CEVA is well positioned to exploit the stabilized and improving business environment in 2010 as DSPs become the critical technology for the digital era."

During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company concluded nine new license agreements. Six agreements were for CEVA DSP cores, platforms and software, two agreements were for CEVA Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) technology and one agreement was for phase-locked loops (PLL) technology.

Target applications for customer deployment are LTE and 3G data cards and handsets, wireless machine-to-machine applications, broadband residential gateways, solid-state drives (SSDs) and SAS-based storage equipment. Geographically, three of the agreements signed were in the U.S., five were in Europe and one in Asia.

Full Year 2009 Review

Total revenue for 2009 was $38.5 million, a decrease of 5% compared to $40.4 million reported for 2008. Royalty revenue for 2009 was a record high of $16.2 million, representing an increase of 13% compared to $14.3 million reported for 2008. Licensing revenue for 2009 was $18.8 million, a decrease of 14% compared to $21.7 million reported a year ago. A total of 34 new licensing agreements were signed in 2009, compared to 30 agreements in 2008. Shipped units by licensees increased 9% to a record 334 million in 2009, compared to 307 million units in 2008.

US GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for 2009 was $8.3 million and $0.41, a slight decrease of 3% and 2%, respectively, compared to $8.6 million and $0.42 reported in 2008.

Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for 2009 was $8.7 million and $0.42, representing an increase of 29% and 31%, respectively, over the $6.7 million and $0.32 reported for 2008. Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for 2009 excludes an aggregate equity-based compensation expense of $2.9 million, a pre-tax capital gain of $3.7 million related to the divestment of the Company's equity interest in GloNav Inc. and the related tax expense of $1.1 million. Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for 2008 excluded equity-based compensation expenses of $2.9 million, a pre-tax capital gain of $12.1 million related to the divestment of the Company's equity interest in GloNav Inc., and its related tax expense of $3.1 million, an expense of $3.5 million associated with the exit of the Dublin long-term lease during the first quarter of 2008, and a restructuring expense of $0.6 million associated with the company's SATA/SAS activities in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Yaniv Arieli, Chief Financial Officer of CEVA, stated, "During the fourth quarter of 2009, CEVA was able to generate record high royalty revenue. This continued royalty revenue progress is clearly reflected in the Company's record full year 2009 financials with total royalty revenue up 13% year-over-year, combined with significant profitability and net income per share improvements. Despite a slight revenue decrease in 2009, non-GAAP net income and diluted EPS for the full year grew by 29% and 31%, respectively. We also managed to generate positive cash flow of $16 million during 2009, thereby strengthening our balance sheet considerably. As of December 31, 2009, CEVA's cash balances and marketable securities were $100.6 million."

CEVA Conference Call

On January 28, 2010, CEVA management will conduct a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time / 1:30 p.m. London time, to discuss the operating performance for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

The conference call will be available via the following dial in numbers:

  • US Participants: Dial 1-877-493-9121 (Access Code: CEVA)
  • UK/Rest of World: Dial +44-800-051-3806 (Access Code: CEVA)

The conference call will also be available live via the Internet at the following link: http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=65003. Please go to the website at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available by dialing 1-800-642-1687 (passcode: 49615290) for US domestic callers and +44-800-917-2646 (passcode: 49615290) for international callers from two hours after the end of the call until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 4, 2010. The replay will also be available at CEVA's web site ceva-dsp.com.

About CEVA, Inc.

Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., CEVA is the leading licensor of silicon intellectual property (SIP) DSP Cores and platform solutions for the mobile handset, portable and consumer electronics markets. CEVA's IP portfolio includes comprehensive technologies for cellular baseband (2G / 3G / 4G), multimedia, HD audio, voice over packet (VoP), Bluetooth, Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) and Serial ATA (SATA). In 2009, CEVA's IP was shipped in over 330 million devices, including handsets from all top five handset OEMs - Nokia, Samsung, LG, Motorola and Sony Ericsson. Today, more than one in every four handsets shipped worldwide is powered by a CEVA DSP core. For more information, visit ceva-dsp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that if they materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of CEVA to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including Mr. Wertheizer's statements about the long-term prospects with OEM customers and the company being well positioned to exploit the market recovery in 2010, and Mr. Arieli's statements about the progress in royalty revenues. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions include: the ability of the CEVA DSP cores and other technologies to continue to be strong growth drivers for us; our success in penetrating new markets and maintaining our market position in existing markets; the effect of intense competition within our industry; the effect of the challenging period of growth experienced by industries in which we license our technologies; the possibility that the markets for our technologies may not develop as expected; the possibility that the markets for our technologies may not develop as expected or that products incorporating our technologies do not achieve market acceptance; our ability to timely and successfully develop and introduce new technologies; our ability to continue to improve our royalty revenue in future periods; and general market conditions and other risks relating to our business, including, but not limited to, those that are described from time to time in our SEC filings. CEVA assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates.


                        CEVA, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
           CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - U.S. GAAP
                 U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data


                                  Quarter ended           Year ended
                                   December 31,           December 31,
                                  2009      2008         2009      2008
                                  ----      ----         ----      ----
                               Unaudited  Unaudited   Unaudited  Audited
                               ---------  ---------   ---------  -------
     Revenues:
      Licensing                  $4,705    $4,613      $18,764   $21,701
      Royalties                   4,822     4,282       16,225    14,349
      Other revenues                658     1,114        3,478     4,315
                                     --      ----         ----      ----

     Total revenues              10,185    10,009       38,467    40,365
                                  -----     -----        -----     -----

     Cost of revenues               906     1,125         4117     4,668
                                     --      ----          ---      ----

     Gross profit                 9,279     8,884       34,350    35,697
                                   ----      ----        -----     -----

     Operating expenses:
      Research and
       development, net           4,429     5,039       16,561    20,172
      Sales and marketing         1,818     1,687        6,732     7,088
      General and
       administrative             1,532     1,646        6,087     6,637
      Amortization of
       intangible assets              -         -            -        53
      Reorganization expense          -       584            -     4,121
                                    ---       ---          ---     -----

     Total operating
      expenses                    7,779     8,956       29,380    38,071
                                  -----     -----       ------    ------

     Operating income (loss)      1,500       (72)       4,970    (2,374)
     Interest and other
      income, net                 2,358     1,514        5,760    14,740
                                  -----     -----        -----    ------

     Income before taxes
      on income                   3,858     1,442       10,730    12,366
     Taxes on income                948       482        2,384     3,801
                                     --        --         ----      ----

     Net income                  $2,910      $960       $8,346    $8,565
                                  =====       ===        =====     =====

    Basic earnings per share      $0.14     $0.05        $0.42     $0.43
    Diluted earnings per share    $0.14     $0.05        $0.41     $0.42
     Weighted-average
      number of Common
      Stock used in
      computation of
      earnings per share
      (in thousands):
     Basic                       20,101    19,647       19,717    20,009
     Diluted                     21,375    19,977       20,411    20,575
                                 ======    ======       ======    ======




          Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP to Non GAAP Financial Measures
               (U.S. Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


                               Quarter ended            Year ended
                                December 31,            December 31,
                              2009        2008        2009         2008
                              ----        ----        ----         ----
                           Unaudited   Unaudited   Unaudited     Audited
                           ---------   ---------   ---------     -------
    GAAP net income          2,910         960       8,346         8,565
    Equity-based
     compensation
     expense included in
     cost of revenue            25          29         115           112
    Equity-based
     compensation
     expense included in
     research and
     development
     expenses                  184         283         873         1,088
    Equity-based
     compensation
     expense included in
     sales and marketing
     expenses                  148         151         590           531
    Equity-based
     compensation
     expense included in
     general and
     administrative
     expenses                  353         375       1,342         1,191
     Reorganization
      expense                    -         584 (3)       -         4,121 (3)
     Other income           (1,811)(1)    (760)(4)  (3,712)(2)   (12,007)(5)
     Taxes on income           572 (1)     (61)(4)   1,115 (2)     3,116 (5)
                            ------     -------    --------      --------
    Non-GAAP net income      2,381       1,561       8,669         6,717
                             =====       =====       =====         =====

    GAAP weighted-
     average number of
     Common Stock used
     in computation of
     diluted earnings
     per share (in
     thousands)             21,375      19,977      20,411        20,575
    Weighted-average
     number of shares
     related to
     outstanding options       105           5          52           128
                               ---         ---         ---           ---
    Weighted-average
     number of Common
     Stock used in
     computation of
     diluted earnings
     per share,
     excluding equity-
     based compensation
     expense;
     reorganization
     expense, net;
     capital gains
     associated with
     CEVA's equity
     divestment of
     GloNav Inc., net;
     and disposal of an
     investment (in
     thousands)             21,480      19,982      20,463        20,703

    GAAP diluted
     earnings per share      $0.14       $0.05       $0.41         $0.41
    Equity-based
     compensation
     expense                 $0.03       $0.04       $0.14         $0.14
    Reorganization
     expense                     -       $0.03 (3)       -         $0.20 (3)
    Other income            ($0.08)(1)  ($0.04)(4)  ($0.18)(2)    ($0.58)(5)
    Taxes on income          $0.02 (1)   $0.00 (4)   $0.05 (2)     $0.15 (5)
                          --------    --------    --------      --------
    Non GAAP diluted
     earnings per share      $0.11       $0.08       $0.42         $0.32
                             =====       =====       =====         =====

    (1) Results for the three months ended December 31, 2009 included a 
        capital gain of $1.8 million reported in interest and other income, 
        net, and the applicable tax expense of $0.6 million reported in taxes 
        on income, related to the equity divestment of GloNav Inc. to NXP 
        Semiconductors.
    (2) Results for the year ended December 31, 2009 included a capital gain 
        of $3.7 million reported in interest and other income, net, and the 
        applicable tax expense of $1.1 million reported in taxes on income, 
        related to the equity divestment of GloNav Inc. to NXP Semiconductors.
    (3) Results for the three months ended December 31, 2008 included a 
        reorganization expense of $0.6 million related to cost cutting 
        measures associated with SATA activities. Results for the year ended 
        December 31, 2008 included a reorganization expense of $3.5 million 
        related to the termination of the long-term Harcourt lease in Dublin, 
        Ireland and $0.6 million related to SATA activities.
    (4) Results for the three months ended December 31, 2008 included a 
        capital gain of $0.9 million reported in interest and other income, 
        net, and the applicable tax expense of $0.06 million reported in taxes 
        on income, related to the equity divestment of GloNav Inc. to NXP 
        Semiconductors and a loss of $0.14 million reported in interest and 
        other income, net, related to disposal of fixed assets.
    (5) Results for the year ended December 31, 2008 included a capital gain 
        of $12.12 million reported in interest and other income, net, and the 
        applicable tax expense of $3.1 million reported in taxes on income, 
        related to the equity divestment of GloNav Inc. to NXP Semiconductors 
        and a gain of $0.03 million reported in interest and other income, 
        net, related to the disposal of an investment and a loss of $0.14 
        million reported in interest and other income, net, related to 
        disposal of fixed assets.


                          CEVA, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
                       CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                            (U.S. Dollars in thousands)

                                                    December 31,  December 31,
                                                        2009          2008
                                                        ----          ----
                                                      Unaudited      Audited
                                                      ---------      -------
       ASSETS
     Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                         $12,104       $13,328
      Marketable securities and bank deposits            88,494        71,301
      Trade receivables, net                              5,995         5,390
      Deferred tax assets                                   912         1,085
      Prepaid expenses and other accounts                                      
       receivables                                        5,345         4,921
                                                          -----         -----
           Total current assets                         112,850        96,025
                                                         ------         -----
     Long-term investments:                                                    
      Severance pay fund                                  4,455         3,441
     Deferred tax assets                                    309           351
     Property and equipment, net                          1,148         1,271
     Goodwill                                            36,498        36,498
                                                          -----         -----
           Total assets                                $155,260      $137,586
                                                       ========      ========
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 
     Current liabilities:
      Trade payables                                       $530          $615
      Deferred revenues                                     432         1,034
      Taxes payable                                          46            44
      Accrued expenses and other payables                 9,689        10,446
      Deferred tax liabilities                              984                
                                                       --------      --------
           Total current liabilities                     11,681        12,139

      Accrued severance pay                               4,483         3,788
          
          
           Total liabilities                             16,164        15,927
                                                          -----         -----
          
     Stockholders' equity:      
     Common Stock:                                           20            20
     Additional paid in-capital                         158,325       153,712
     Treasury Stock                                           -        (5,077)
     Other comprehensive income (loss)                      251           (24)
     Accumulated deficit                                (19,500)      (26,972)
                                                        -------       -------
           Total stockholders' equity                   139,096       121,659
                                                         ------        ------
           Total liabilities and stockholders' 
            equity                                     $155,260      $137,586
                                                       ========      ========

Audio: http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=65003

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051010/CEVALOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk [email protected]

SOURCE: CEVA, Inc.

Web site: https://www.ceva-ip.com/