Cree Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2017

DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), a market leader in LED lighting, today announced consolidated revenue of $347 million from continuing operations, and $54 million from discontinued operations, for a combined revenue of $401 million for its second quarter of fiscal 2017.

This represents an 8% decrease compared to combined revenue of $436 million ($394 million from continuing operations and $42 million from discontinued operations) for the second quarter of fiscal 2016 and an 8% increase compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Combined GAAP net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 was $6 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, compared to combined GAAP net income of $13 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2016. On a non-GAAP basis, combined net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 was $30 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, compared to combined non-GAAP net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2016 of $28 million, or $0.28 per diluted share.

Revenue from continuing operations was $347 million in the second quarter of 2017 compared to revenue from continuing operations of $394 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Loss from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 was $1 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $9 million or $0.09 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2016. On a non-GAAP basis, income from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 was $20 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP income from continuing operations of $22 million or $0.21 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2016.

Revenue from discontinued operations was $54 million in the second quarter of 2017 compared to revenue from discontinued operations of $42 million in the second quarter of 2016. Income from discontinued operations, net of tax for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 was $7 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared to income from discontinued operations, net of tax of $4 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2016. On a non-GAAP basis, income from discontinued operations, net of tax for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 was $10 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP income from discontinued operations, net of tax of $7 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2016.

"We delivered very good results in fiscal Q2, as revenue and non-GAAP earnings were significantly above our targeted range due to the settlement of our patent infringement and false advertising lawsuit with Feit Electric," stated Chuck Swoboda, Cree Chairman and CEO. "The fundamentals in our business have improved over the last several quarters, and we remain focused on building a larger and more valuable LED lighting company by bringing better light to our customers."

Business Outlook:

For its third quarter of fiscal 2017 ending March 26, 2017, Cree targets combined revenue, which includes both continuing and discontinued operations, in a range of $340 million to $370 million. Combined GAAP net income is targeted at a $1 million loss to $3 million income, or a $0.01 loss to $0.03 income per diluted share. Combined non-GAAP net income is targeted in a range of $10 million to $18 million, or $0.10 to $0.18 per diluted share. Targeted combined non-GAAP income excludes $23 million of pre-tax expenses related to stock-based compensation expense, the amortization or impairment of acquisition-related intangibles and transaction costs associated with the sale of the Wolfspeed business. The GAAP and non-GAAP targets do not include any estimated change in the fair value of Cree's Lextar investment.

For continuing operations, revenue is targeted in a range of $285 million to $315 million. GAAP loss from continuing operations is targeted at $3 million to $6 million, or $0.03 to $0.06 per diluted share. Non-GAAP income from continuing operations is targeted in a range of $1 million to $9 million, or $0.01 to $0.09 per diluted share. Targeted non-GAAP income from continuing operations excludes $17 million of pre-tax expenses related to stock-based compensation expense and the amortization or impairment of acquisition-related intangibles. The GAAP and non-GAAP targets do not include any estimated change in the fair value of Cree's Lextar investment.

For discontinued operations, revenue is targeted at $55 million +/-. GAAP income from discontinued operations, net of tax is targeted at $5 million +/-, or $0.05 per diluted share +/-. Non-GAAP income from discontinued operations, net of tax is targeted at $9 million +/-, or $0.09 per diluted share +/-. Targeted non-GAAP income from discontinued operations, net of tax excludes $4 million of expenses related to stock-based compensation expense, the amortization or impairment of acquisition-related intangibles and transaction costs associated with the sale of the Wolfspeed business.

About Cree, Inc.

Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, lighting products and semiconductor products for power and radio frequency (RF) applications. Cree believes in better light experiences and is delivering new innovative LED technology that transforms the way people experience light through high-quality interior and exterior LED lighting solutions.

Cree's product families include LED lighting systems and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and RF devices. Cree's products are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, electronic signs and signals, power supplies and inverters.

For additional product and Company information, please refer to www.cree.com

Sale of Wolfspeed to Infineon Update

As previously announced, Cree reached an agreement to sell the Wolfspeed business to Infineon Technologies AG. The parties are continuing to work together to obtain the customarily required regulatory approvals in various jurisdictions, including foreign and domestic antitrust approvals, as well as CFIUS approval. The Company targets closing the transaction within its third quarter of fiscal 2017.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

This press release highlights the Company's financial results on both a GAAP and a non-GAAP basis. The GAAP results include certain costs, charges and expenses which are excluded from non-GAAP results. By publishing the non-GAAP measures, management intends to provide investors with additional information to further analyze the Company's performance, core results and underlying trends. Cree's management evaluates results and makes operating decisions using both GAAP and non-GAAP measures included in this press release. Non-GAAP results are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and non-GAAP information should be considered a supplement to, and not a substitute for, financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors and potential investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures attached to this press release.

Forward Looking Statements:

The schedules attached to this release are an integral part of the release. This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Actual results, including with respect to our targets and prospects, could differ materially due to a number of factors, including the risk that we may not obtain sufficient orders to achieve our targeted revenues; price competition in key markets; the risk that we or our channel partners are not able to develop and expand customer bases and accurately anticipate demand from end customers, which can result in increased inventory and reduced orders as we experience wide fluctuations in supply and demand; the risk that our commercial Lighting results will continue to suffer if new issues arise regarding the new ERP system we implemented in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 for this business; the risk that we may experience production difficulties that preclude us from shipping sufficient quantities to meet customer orders or that result in higher production costs and lower margins; our ability to lower costs; the risk that our results will suffer if we are unable to balance fluctuations in customer demand and capacity; product mix; risks associated with the ramp-up of production of our new products, and our entry into new business channels different from those in which we have historically operated; the risk that customers do not maintain their favorable perception of our brand and products, resulting in lower demand for our products; the risk that our products fail to perform or fail to meet customer requirements or expectations, resulting in significant additional costs, including costs associated with warranty returns or the potential recall of our products; the risk that retail customers may alter promotional pricing, increase promotion of a competitor's products over our products or reduce their inventory levels, all of which could negatively affect product demand; the risk that the sale of our Wolfspeed business to Infineon may be delayed or may not occur; the ability to obtain regulatory approval or the possibility that such regulatory approval may result in the imposition of conditions that could cause the parties to abandon the Wolfspeed transaction; the risk that one or more of the conditions to closing of the Wolfspeed transaction may not be satisfied; the possibility that anticipated benefits of the proposed Wolfspeed transaction will not be realized, including the amount of cash to be realized by Cree from the transaction or our resulting ability to pursue select strategic transactions and stock repurchases; potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships during the pendency before closing that could affect our financial performance; the risk that our investments may experience periods of significant stock price volatility causing us to recognize fair value losses on our investment; the risk that we have an increasingly complex supply chain and its ability to scale to enable maintaining a sufficient supply of raw materials, subsystems and finished products with the required specifications and quality; ongoing uncertainty in global economic conditions, infrastructure development or customer demand that could negatively affect product demand, collectability of receivables and other related matters as consumers and businesses may defer purchases or payments, or default on payments; the risk we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings if our goodwill or amortizable assets become impaired; our ability to complete development and commercialization of products under development, such as our pipeline of improved LED chips, LED components and LED lighting products; risks resulting from the concentration of our business among few customers, including the risk that customers may reduce or cancel orders or fail to honor purchase commitments; risks related to our multi-year warranty periods for LED lighting products; risks associated with acquisitions, divestitures or investments generally; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render our products obsolete; the potential lack of customer acceptance for our products; risks associated with ongoing litigation; and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 26, 2016, and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. These forward-looking statements represent Cree's judgment as of the date of this release. Except as required under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, Cree disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, developments, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Cree® is a registered trademark and Wolfspeed™ is a trademark of Cree, Inc.