ARM Holdings plc Reports Results For The Third Quarter and Nine Months Ended 30 September 2008

A conference call with the company will be audiocast today at 08:30 at www.arm.com/ir.

CAMBRIDGE, UK, 28 October 2008—ARM Holdings plc [(LSE: ARM); (NASDAQ: ARMH)], the world's leading semiconductor intellectual property supplier, announces its unaudited financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended 30 September 2008

Highlights (US GAAP unless otherwise stated)

• Highest ever quarterly revenues at $134.4m, up 7% year-on-year
  • Normalised operating margin at 33% (US GAAP 21%)
  • Normalised PBT at £24.9m (US GAAP £16.3m), up 17% (US GAAP 36%)
  • Normalised EPS at 1.38p (US GAAP 0.92p), up 23% (US GAAP 46%)
• Processor Division (PD): Strong licensing platform driving royalty momentum
  • Total revenue at $90.7m, up 7% year-on-year
    • Licensing revenues up 18% sequentially to $35.5m
    • Royalty revenue up 30% year-on-year
      • One billion units reported in a quarter for the first time
• Physical IP Division (PIPD): Licensing leading technology nodes to IDMs and foundries
  • Total revenue at $21.4m, up 4% year-on-year
    • Licensing revenues decreased 17% sequentially to $10.4m
    • Royalty revenue at a record $11m, up 38% year-on-year
      • Underlying royalty revenue up 21% to $9.3m
  • Leading-edge technology development yields long-term strategic deals
    • STMicroelectronics buys 40nm platform license
    • 32nm and 28nm collaboration with the Common Platform technology partnership
• Continuing cost discipline
  • Headcount at end Q3 marginally lower than at start of year
  • Normalised Q3 operating expenses higher at £40.8m (US GAAP £49.1m) due primarily to stronger dollar
  • Operating margins and earnings likely to benefit further from stronger dollar
• Strong cash generation continues
  • £22.5m cash generated in the quarter
  • £8.6m share buyback in Q3
  • £66m net cash at the end of Q3

Outlook

Following the sequential improvement in PD licensing revenues and the signing of key strategic deals in PIPD in Q3, the license opportunity pipeline remains robust as we enter the fourth quarter.

Although the global macroeconomic conditions make the near-term trading environment uncertain, based on the order backlog, robust licensing pipeline and underlying momentum in royalties, we expect that group dollar revenues in Q4 2008 will be at least in line with expectations. In addition, we anticipate that profits and earnings will benefit further from the strengthening of the dollar against sterling.

Commenting on the results, Warren East, Chief Executive Officer, said:

“In Q3, ARM delivered the best quarterly revenue performance in its history and we continue to see strong demand for ARM’s technology including long-term commitments for our physical IP technology by industry leaders.

Growth of at least 30% year-on-year in royalty revenues for both PD and PIPD provides further evidence of the increasing use of ARM’s technology in a broadening range of consumer electronics products.

We are encouraged to see that the inherent operating leverage in the ARM business model, combined with sound cost discipline and the recent strengthening of the dollar against sterling, has given rise to earnings growth in Q3 of more than 20% on dollar revenue growth of 7%.”

Q3 2008 – Revenue Analysis

¹ Includes catch-up royalties in Q3 2008 of $1.7m (£0.9m) and in Q3 2007 of $0.3m (£0.1m).

YTD 2008 – Revenue Analysis

	Revenue ($m)***			Revenue (£m)
	YTD 2008	YTD 2007	% Change	YTD 2008	YTD 2007	% Change
PD
Licensing	102.1	125.1	-18%	52.8	64.1	-18%
Royalties	161.0	127.7	26%	83.1	64.3	29%
Total PD	263.1	252.8	4%	135.9	128.4	6%
PIPD
Licensing	34.8	43.6	-20%	17.9	21.9	-19%
Royalties1	29.7	23.6	26%	15.4	11.9	30%
Total PIPD	64.5	67.2	-4%	33.3	33.8	-1%
Development Systems	44.9	40.0	12%	23.1	20.2	14%
Services	24.3	24.0	1%	12.3	12.4	-1%
Total Revenue	396.8	384.0	3%	204.6	194.8	5%

¹ Includes catch-up royalties in YTD 2008 of $3.6m (£1.9m) and in YTD 2007 of $2.4m (£1.2m).

Q3 2008 – Financial Summary

YTD 2008 – Financial Summary

*	Normalised figures are based on US GAAP, adjusted for acquisition-related, share-based compensation and restructuring charges. For reconciliation of GAAP measures to normalised non-GAAP measures detailed in this document, see notes 6.1 to 6.27.
**	Before dividends and share buybacks, net cash flows from share option exercises, disposals of available-for-sale investments and acquisition consideration – see notes 6.14 to 6.18.
***	Dollar revenues are based on the group’s actual dollar invoicing, where applicable, and using the rate of exchange applicable on the date of the transaction for invoicing in currencies other than dollars.  Approximately 95% of invoicing is in dollars.
****	Each American Depositary Share (ADS) represents three shares.

Financial review

(US GAAP unless otherwise stated)

Total revenues

Total dollar revenues in Q3 2008 were $134.4 million, up 7% on Q3 2007.  Sterling revenues of £71.7 million, up 14% on Q3 2007.

Year-to-date dollar revenues in 2008 amounted to $396.8 million, up 3% on 2007.

License revenues

Total dollar license revenues in Q3 2008 fell by 17% to $45.9 million, representing 34% of group revenues, compared to $55.1 million in Q3 2007. License revenues comprised $35.5 million from PD, up 18% sequentially, and $10.4 million from PIPD.

Year-to-date dollar license revenues amounted to $136.9 million, down 19% on 2007.

Backlog at 30 September 2008, whilst lower than at the half year, was approximately 30% higher compared to backlog at 30 September 2007.

Royalty revenues

Year-on-year, total dollar royalty revenues in Q3 2008 were up 31% at $66.2 million, representing 49% of group revenues, compared to $50.6 million in Q3 2007.   Royalty revenues comprised $55.2 million from PD and $11.0 million from PIPD (including $1.7 million of “catch-up” royalties).

Underlying royalties of $9.3 million for PIPD were up 21% year-on-year.

Year-to-date dollar royalty revenues amounted to $190.7 million, up 26% on 2007.

Development Systems and Service revenues

Sales of development systems in Q3 2008 were up 18% to $14.6 million, representing 11% of group revenues, compared to $12.3 million in Q3 2007.   Consistent with previous years, development system revenues decreased sequentially in the third quarter due to seasonality.

Service revenues in Q3 2008 were up 1% year-on-year at $7.7 million, representing 6% of group revenues, compared to $7.6 million in Q3 2007.

Year-to-date development systems dollar revenues were $44.9 million, up 12% on 2007. Service dollar revenues were up by 1% to $24.3 million.

Gross margins

Gross margins in Q3 2008, excluding share-based compensation charges of £0.2 million (see below), were 89.9 % compared to 89.8% in Q3 2007.

Year-to-date gross margins, excluding share-based compensation charges of £0.8 million, were 89.3% compared to 89.7% in 2007.

Operating expenses and operating margin

Total operating expenses in Q3 2008 were £49.1 million (Q3 2007: £45.5 million) including amortisation of intangible assets and other acquisition-related charges of £4.6 million (Q3 2007: £4.8 million), £3.3 million (Q3 2007: £4.2 million) in relation to share-based compensation charges and related payroll taxes and restructuring charges of £0.4 million (Q3 2007: £0.1 million).  The total share-based compensation charges of £3.5 million in Q3 2008 are included within cost of revenues (£0.2 million), research and development (£2.4 million), sales and marketing (£0.5 million) and general and administrative (£0.4 million).  Normalised Q3 and year-to-date income statements for 2008 and 2007 are included in notes 6.24 to 6.27 below which reconcile US GAAP to the normalised non-GAAP measures referred to in this earnings release.

Operating expenses (excluding acquisition-related, share-based compensation and restructuring charges) in Q3 2008 were £40.8 million compared to £37.5 million in Q2 2008 and £36.5 million in Q3 2007. The sequential increase in operating expenses this quarter is due primarily to the strengthening of the dollar against sterling which has had two effects: firstly, an increase in the sterling value of the group’s US dollar denominated costs (which account for about half of total costs) and secondly, the impact of accounting for derivative instruments is a net charge in Q3 2008 compared to a net credit in Q2 2008. Costs continue to be carefully managed with group headcount at the end of Q3 marginally lower than at the start of the year (see People section below).

Normalised research and development expenses were £15.7 million in Q3 2008, representing 22% of revenues, compared to £15.3 million in Q2 2008 and £14.8 million in Q3 2007. Normalised sales and marketing costs in Q3 2008 were £11.4 million, representing 16% of revenues, compared to £10.9 million in Q2 2008 and £10.3 million in Q3 2007. Normalised general and administrative expenses in Q3 2008 were £13.7 million, representing 19% of revenues, compared to £11.3 million in Q2 2008 and £11.4 million in Q3 2007. The increase in operating expenses due to the strengthening dollar explained above is reported for the most part within general and administrative expenses.

Normalised operating margin in Q3 2008 was 33.0%^(6.1)  compared to 31.5% ^(6.2)   in Q2 2008 and 31.8% ^(6.3)  in Q3 2007.

Total operating expenses for the first nine months of 2008 were £143.3 million, including acquisition-related, share-based compensation and restructuring charges of £13.6 million, £10.3 million and £1.6 million respectively. Excluding these charges, operating expenses for the first nine months were £117.8 million, compared to £113.6 million in 2007, an increase of 4%.

Normalised operating margin in the first nine months of 2008 was 31.7%^(6.4)  compared to 31.3% ^(6.5)  in 2007.

Earnings and taxation

Income before income tax in Q3 2008 was £16.3 million compared to £12.0 million in Q3 2007. After adjusting for acquisition-related, share-based compensation and restructuring charges, normalised income before income tax in Q3 2008 was £24.9 million ^(6.6) compared to £21.3 million ^(6.8) in Q3 2007.

The group’s effective tax rate under US GAAP for the full-year 2008 is expected to be in the range 27-28%, reflecting the availability of research and development tax credits and taking into account the benefits arising from the structuring of the Artisan® acquisition.

In Q3 2008, fully diluted earnings per share prepared under US GAAP were 0.92 pence (4.9 cents per ADS****) compared to earnings per share of 0.63 pence (3.8 cents per ADS****) in Q3 2007. Normalised fully diluted earnings per share in Q3 2008 were 1.38 pence ^(6.19) per share (7.4 cents per ADS****) compared to 1.12 pence ^(6.21)   (6.8 cents per ADS****) in Q3 2007.

Balance sheet

Intangible assets at 30 September 2008 were £410.8 million, comprising goodwill of £382.7 million and other intangible assets of £28.1 million, compared to £344.7 million and £30.6 million respectively at 30 June 2008. The increase in goodwill at the end of Q3 arises from the stronger dollar at the end of Q3 compared to the end of Q2.

Total accounts receivable were £66.2 million at 30 September 2008, comprising £48.8 million of trade receivables and £17.4 million of amounts recoverable on contracts, compared to £60.3 million at 30 June 2008, comprising £42.9 million of trade receivables and £17.4 million of amounts recoverable on contracts. Days sales outstanding (DSOs) were 55 at 30 September 2008 compared to 45 at 30 June 2008.

Cash flow and share buyback programme

Net cash at 30 September 2008 was £66.0 million ^(6.11) compared to £50.6 million ^(6.12) at 30 June 2008. Normalised cash generation in Q3 2008 was £22.5 million ^(6.14).

During the quarter, £8.6 million of cash was returned to shareholders through the purchase of 7.8 million own shares.

Operating review

Backlog

At the end of Q3 2008, backlog was lower than at the end of Q2 2008 but approximately 30% higher than a year ago.  We enter Q4 with a robust opportunity pipeline for licensing.

PD Licensing

ARM signed 13 processor licenses in Q3.  The quarter was characterised by licensing of ARM® technologies across the portfolio, with licenses being signed for the ARM7™, ARM9™, ARM11™ and Cortex™ processor families, as well as for the Mali™ graphics processor, including with STMicroelectronics who licensed ARM’s latest graphics processor, the Mali 400MP GPU.

Non-mobile applications continue to be the driver for a high proportion of processor licenses, including graphics processors.  Approximately, 75% of licenses are expected to be used initially in applications such as digital TV, microcontrollers, robotics and passive optical networking (PON).

Mobile applications drive approximately 25% of licenses, with ARM processors and graphics processors being designed into a widening range of mobile technology such as chips for Bluetooth, gaming, mobile computing and mobile TV.

Two new companies licensed ARM processor technology for the first time.

Q3 2008 and Cumulative PD Licensing Analysis

	Multi-use			Term			Per-use				Cumulative
	U	D	N	U	D	N	U	D	N	Total	Total
ARM7	1	1							1	3	158
ARM9			1	1						2	249
ARM11	1		1	1			1			4	70
Cortex-M3	1									1	22
Cortex-R4					1					1	12
Cortex-A8											10
Cortex-A9											5
Mali	1	1								2	10
Other											30
									Total	13	566

U: Upgrade     D: Derivative     N: New

PD Royalties

Year-on-year, reported PD unit shipments grew strongly in Q3 2008 (our partners report royalties one quarter in arrears) buoyed by growth in automotive, Bluetooth, digital consumer, microcontrollers, storage (HDD and Flash) and Wi-Fi. Reported processor unit shipments were 1 billion in the quarter, up 44% compared to Q3 2007.

The ARM7, ARM9 and ARM11 families now represent 53%, 44% and 3% of total shipments respectively. There are now six partners shipping Cortex processor-based products into a broad range of applications including consumer electronics, microcontrollers, mobile computers, networking and Wi-Fi applications.

In Q3 2008, shipments of ARM technology-based chips in mobile devices grew approximately 40% compared to Q3 2007.  For the quarter, an ARM technology-based mobile phone contained an average of 1.8 ARM microprocessors, the same as in the prior quarter.  As well as smartphones containing multiple ARM technology-based chips, more feature phones are now being shipped with multiple ARM processors.

In Q3 2008, shipments of ARM technology-based chips in embedded devices continued to grow strongly with microcontroller shipments up approximately 50% compared with Q3 2007. Units shipped into enterprise applications grew by approximately 60% driven by increased use of ARM in networking and storage devices; whilst units shipped into the home products market grew approximately 50% driven by increased market share in consumer electronics products such as DVD, set-top boxes and digital TV.

PIPD Licensing

ARM signed 14 physical IP licenses in Q3 for technologies at all process nodes from 180nm to 28nm; and for a wide range of ARM products including platforms of physical IP for new process nodes; memories, standard cells and PHYs for mature nodes; and power-optimised components for use with ARM processors.

Major semiconductor manufacturers continued the trend for outsourcing physical IP as demonstrated by STMicroelectronics buying a license to a 40nm physical IP platform; a tier-1 IDM buying four physical IP licenses in four consecutive quarters; and another tier-1 fabless manufacturer buying their first significant physical IP license, part of a synergistic deal with an ARM processor.  In all, there were four synergy deals signed within the quarter, where optimised physical IP was licensed for use with an ARM processor.  These included high-speed 65nm physical IP for use with the Cortex-A8 processor in a mobile computing application and very low power 180nm physical IP for use with the Cortex-M3 processor in a microcontroller application.

In addition, demand for leading edge physical IP continues as ARM has signed agreements with Chartered, IBM and Samsung to develop and license 32nm and 28nm physical IP for the Common Platform

Q3 2008 and Cumulative PIPD Licensing Analysis

	Process Node (nm)	Total
Platform Licenses
Advantage	32/28	2
Advantage	45	1
Standard Cell Libraries
Advantage	65	2
Metro	180/130	1
Memory Compilers
Metro	180/65	2
Classic	180/130	2
Velocity PHYs	90/65	4
Quarter Total		14
Cumulative Total		393

PIPD Royalties

PIPD royalty revenue grew 38% year-on-year and 14% sequentially to a record $11.0m, including $1.7m of catch-up royalties.  Underlying royalties grew by 21% year-on-year and 7% sequentially, demonstrating a higher growth rate than the 5% growth that foundries reported in the related period (PIPD royalties are reported one quarter in arrears).    More than 25 companies are now reporting physical IP royalties.

People

At 30 September 2008, ARM had 1,724 full-time employees, a net decrease of 4 since the start of the year. Year-to-date headcount has increased by 19 in India and China and decreased by 23 in ROW. At the end of Q3, the group had 635 employees based in the UK, 509 in the US, 196 in Continental Europe, 305 in India and 79 in the Asia Pacific region.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The principal risks and uncertainties faced by the group that could affect the results for the fourth quarter of 2008 and beyond are noted within the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2007.  There have been no changes to these risks that would materially impact the group in the foreseeable future.  These include but are not limited to: ARM's quarterly results may fluctuate significantly and be unpredictable which could adversely affect the market price of ARM ordinary shares; general economic conditions may reduce ARM's revenues and harm its business; ARM competes in the intensely competitive semiconductor market and ARM may not operate systems which comply fully with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

ARM Holdings plc Financial Results Detail [Download the 57KB PDF ]
for the Third Quarter and Nine Months Ended 30 September 2008

About ARM

ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM’s comprehensive product offering includes 32-bit RISC microprocessors, graphics processors, enabling software, cell libraries, embedded memories, high-speed connectivity products, peripherals and development tools. Combined with comprehensive design services, training, support and maintenance, and the company’s broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com.