SMART Global Holdings Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2018 Financial Results


NEWARK, Calif., June 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SMART Global Holdings, Inc. (“SMART”) (NASDAQ:SGH), parent company of SMART Modular Technologies, Inc., today reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2018 ended May 25, 2018.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2018 Highlights:

  • Net sales of $335.5 million, 62% higher than comparable quarter of prior year
  • GAAP operating income of $48.7 million
  • GAAP net income of $31.9 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $51.5 million
  • GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.37
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $1.84 (excluding FX losses)

“I am pleased to report another strong sales quarter with net revenues 62 percent higher than the comparable period a year ago.  Both our Specialty and Brazil businesses performed very well.  Additionally, as announced on June 11, we have embarked upon the first step in our strategy to broaden our offerings with the acquisition of Penguin Computing,” commented Ajay Shah, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SMART Global Holdings.  “Penguin is the cornerstone of our new business unit, SMART Specialty Compute & Storage Solutions (SCSS), and greatly expands the markets and technologies where we can participate into areas requiring specialized computing platforms in artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced modeling and high performance computing.  We expect to leverage our proven system design and integration capabilities and create a more diversified business.”

Jack Pacheco, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, added, “The strength in net sales in the third fiscal quarter was due to continued strength in our Specialty Memory business and our increased penetration into the Brazilian market.  That said, due to the recent depreciation of the Brazilian Real, we saw a $0.27 per share negative impact to our GAAP earnings due to foreign currency losses.  The Specialty Memory business and our Brazil memory business continue to be markets where we have a unique competitive advantage, a proven business model, and growth potential in multiple sectors.”

          
Quarterly Financial ResultsGAAP (1) Non-GAAP (2)  
(In millions, except per share amounts)Q3 FY18Q2 FY18Q3 FY17 Q3 FY18Q2 FY18Q3 FY17  
Net sales$335.5$314.0$207.0 $335.5$314.0$207.0  
Gross profit$78.1$73.0$47.4 $78.5$73.2$47.6  
Operating income$48.7$45.1$20.4 $53.8$48.5$24.8  
Net income$31.9$36.8$8.0 $43.0$37.7$14.6  
Diluted earnings per share (EPS) (3)$1.37$1.60$0.50 $1.84$1.64$0.92  

(1)  GAAP represents U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
(2)  Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Information” section and the "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" table below for further detail on the non-GAAP financial reporting referenced herein and a reconciliation of such measures to our nearest GAAP measures.
(3)  Beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we will exclude foreign currency gains/losses from our non-GAAP diluted EPS as we believe this non-GAAP financial measure is a more relevant indicator of our core operating results. This change is reflected for all the periods presented in this release.       

Business Outlook
The following statements are based upon management's current expectations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 ending August 31, 2018 and include the results of Penguin Computing from the acquisition date of June 8, 2018. As the purchase accounting for this acquisition is still being evaluated, the GAAP forecast does not incorporate any related purchase price adjustments which may affect actual results. These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. SMART undertakes no obligation to update these statements.

       
  Net Sales - GAAP / Non-GAAP$360 to $380 million  
  Gross Margin - GAAP / Non-GAAP22% to 23%  
  Diluted EPS - GAAP$1.41 to $1.50  
      
  Share-based compensation per share$0.12  
  Intangible amortization per share$0.05  
  Acquisition costs per share$0.04  
      
  Diluted EPS - Non-GAAP$1.62 to $1.71  
      
  Expected diluted share count23.4 million  
       

Conference Call Details
SMART will host a conference call today for analysts and investors at 1:30pm Pacific Time, 4:30pm Eastern Time. Dial-in US toll free +1-866-487-6452 using access code 6781298.

A replay of the conference call will be available for one week following today’s call through the Events section of the SMART website at www.smartgh.com or by calling US toll free +1-855-859-2056; Passcode: 6781298.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains, and statements made during the above-referenced conference call will contain "forward-looking statements" including among other things, statements regarding future events and the future financial performance of SMART (including the business outlook for the next fiscal quarter) and statements regarding growth drivers in SMART’s and Penguin’s industry and markets. These statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to: business and economic conditions and growth trends in the technology industry, our customer markets and various geographic regions; global economic conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment; changes in currency exchange rates; overall information technology spending; appropriations for government spending; the success of our strategic initiatives including additional investments in new products, additional capacity and acquisitions; the DRAM market and the temporary and volatile nature of pricing trends; deterioration in customer relationships; production or manufacturing difficulties; competitive factors; technological changes; difficulties with or delays in the introduction of new products;  slowing or contraction of growth in the memory market in Brazil; reduction in or termination of local content requirements in Brazil;  changes to applicable tax regimes or rates; prices for the end products of our customers; fluctuations in material costs and availability; strikes or labor disputes; deterioration in or loss of relations with any of our limited number of key vendors;  changes in the availability of supply of materials, components or memory products; the inability of Penguin Computing to maintain its status as a small business or to obtain and retain security clearances to expand its government business; and other factors and risks detailed in SMART’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such factors and risks as outlined above and in such filings may not constitute all factors and risks that could cause actual results of SMART to be materially different from the historical results and/or from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. SMART and its subsidiaries operate in a continually changing business environment and new factors emerge from time to time. SMART cannot predict such factors, nor can it assess the impact, if any, from such factors on SMART or its subsidiaries’ results. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. These forward-looking statements are made as of today, and SMART does not intend, and has no obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

Non-GAAP Information
Certain non-GAAP financial measures are contained in this press release or will be discussed on our conference call, including non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per diluted share and Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as GAAP net income plus net interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense, share-based compensation expense, acquisition costs, restructuring charges,  amortization of non-cash debt discount related to warrants, non-cash charges in connection with refinancing, and other infrequent or unusual items. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should be viewed as a supplement to, not a substitute for, our results of operations presented on the basis of U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA also does not purport to represent cash flow provided by, or used in, operating activities in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should not be used as a measure of liquidity.

The non-GAAP financial results presented herein exclude share-based compensation expense, intangible amortization expense, acquisition costs, amortization of non-cash debt discount related to warrants, non-cash charges in connection with refinancing and, with respect to non-GAAP diluted EPS, foreign currency gains (losses). These non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the user's overall understanding of our financial performance. By excluding these charges, as well as any related tax effects, our non-GAAP results provide information to management and investors that is useful in assessing SMART's core operating performance and in evaluating and comparing our results of operations on a consistent basis from period to period. These non-GAAP financial measures are also used by management to evaluate financial results, to plan and forecast future periods, and to assess performance of certain executives for compensation purposes. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be a substitute for the corresponding financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, these measures may not be used similarly by other companies and therefore may not be comparable between companies.

Investors are encouraged to review the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Results” and “Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA” tables below for more detail on non-GAAP calculations.

About SMART Global Holdings
The SMART family of companies are global leaders in specialty memory, storage and hybrid solutions serving the electronics industry with standard and custom products for over 25 years. SMART delivers components, modules and solutions to a broad customer base, including OEMs in computing, networking, communications, storage, mobile and industrial markets. With the addition of Penguin Computing and the creation of a new business unit, SMART Specialty Compute & Storage Solutions (SCSS), SMART has expanded its serviceable markets into areas requiring specialized computing platforms in artificial intelligence and machine learning, advanced modeling and high performance computing. Customers rely on SMART as a strategic supplier with custom designs, product quality, technical support, a global footprint, and the ability to provide locally manufactured products in multiple geographies. See www.smartgh.com, www.smartm.com, www.smarth.com or www.smartsscs.com for more information.



SMART Global Holdings, Inc. 
and Subsidiaries 
Consolidated Statements of Income 
(In thousands, except per share data) 
                
      Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 
       May 25,
2018 
  February 23,
2018
 
  May 26,
2017 
  May 25,
2018 
  May 26,
2017 
 
Net sales:             
 Brazil DRAM   $71,157  $67,322  $38,028  $190,438  $86,051  
 Brazil Mobile Memory    161,585   141,311   71,216   408,787   177,359  
 Specialty Memory    102,735   105,332   97,730   315,626   274,862  
  Total net sales    335,477   313,965   206,974   914,851   538,272  
Cost of sales (1)    257,423   240,948   159,599   705,944   424,030  
 Gross profit    78,054   73,017   47,375   208,907   114,242  
Operating expenses:             
 Research and development (1) (2)    9,763   9,852   8,797   28,165   28,442  
 Selling, general and administrative (1) (2)    19,597   18,087   17,193   55,502   49,037  
 Management advisory fees          1,000      3,000  
 Restructuring                457  
  Total operating expenses    29,360   27,939   26,990   83,667   80,936  
  Income from operations    48,694   45,078   20,385   125,240   33,306  
Other income (expense):             
 Interest expense, net    (4,098)  (4,230)  (8,294)  (12,927)  (23,072) 
 Other income (expense), net    (7,145)  2,548   (762)  (7,312)  (1,664) 
  Total other expense    (11,243)  (1,682)  (9,056)  (20,239)  (24,736) 
  Income before income taxes    37,451   43,396   11,329   105,001   8,570  
Provision for income taxes    5,505   6,602   3,371   15,256   6,156  
  Net income   $31,946  $36,794  $7,958  $89,745  $2,414  
                
Earnings per share:             
 Basic   $1.44  $1.68  $0.57  $4.09  $0.17  
 Diluted   $1.37  $1.60  $0.50  $3.90  $0.16  
                
Shares used in computing earnings per share:             
 Basic    22,206   21,915   13,986   21,932   13,909  
 Diluted    23,306   23,038   15,955   23,020   15,230  
                
(1) Includes share-based compensation expense as follows:           
 Cost of sales   $414  $227  $176  $859  $444  
 Research and development    325   288   (22)  887   423  
 Selling, general and administrative    2,558   1,182   1,235   4,853   2,666  
  Total stock-based compensation expense   $3,297  $1,697  $1,389  $6,599  $3,533  
                
(2) Includes amortization of intangible assets expense as follows:         
 Research and development   $245  $245  $1,224  $735  $3,672  
 Selling, general and administrative    976   993   1,774   2,992   5,296  
  Total amortization expense   $1,221  $1,238  $2,998  $3,727  $8,968  



SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Results
(In thousands, except per share data)
               
      Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
       May 25,
2018 
  February 23,
2018
 
  May 26,
2017 
  May 25,
2018 
  May 26,
2017 
Reconciliation of gross profit:            
GAAP gross profit   $78,054  $73,017  $47,375  $208,907  $114,242 
 GAAP gross margin    23.3%  23.3%  22.9%  22.8%  21.2%
               
Add: Share-based compensation included in cost of sales    414   227   176   859   444 
               
Non-GAAP gross profit   $78,468  $73,244  $47,551  $209,766  $114,686 
 Non-GAAP gross margin    23.4%  23.3%  23.0%  22.9%  21.3%
               
Reconciliation of operating expenses:            
GAAP operating expenses   $29,360  $27,939  $26,990  $83,667  $80,936 
               
Less: Share-based compensation expense included in opex            
 Research and development    325   288   (22)  887   423 
 Selling, general and administrative    2,558   1,182   1,235   4,853   2,666 
  Total    2,883   1,470   1,213   5,740   3,089 
               
Less: Amortization of intangible assets included in opex            
 Research and development    245   245   1,224   735   3,672 
 Selling, general and administrative    976   993   1,774   2,992   5,296 
  Total    1,221   1,238   2,998   3,727   8,968 
               
Less: S-1 related costs       513      813    
Less: Acquisition costs    591         591    
               
Non-GAAP operating expenses   $24,665  $24,718  $22,779  $72,796  $68,879 
               
Reconciliation of income from operations:            
GAAP income from operations   $48,694  $45,078  $20,385  $125,240  $33,306 
 GAAP operating margin    14.5%  14.4%  9.8%  13.7%  6.2%
               
Add: Share-based compensation expense    3,297   1,697   1,389   6,599   3,533 
Add: Amortization of intangible assets    1,221   1,238   2,998   3,727   8,968 
Add: S-1 related costs       513      813    
Add: Acquisition costs    591         591    
               
Non-GAAP income from operations   $53,803  $48,526  $24,772  $136,970  $45,807 
 Non-GAAP operating margin    16.0%  15.5%  12.0%  15.0%  8.5%
               
Reconciliation of income before income taxes:            
GAAP income before income taxes   $37,451  $43,396  $11,329  $105,001  $8,570 
Add: Share-based compensation expense    3,297   1,697   1,389   6,599   3,533 
Add: Amortization of intangible assets    1,221   1,238   2,998   3,727   8,968 
Add: S-1 related costs       513      813    
Add: Acquisition costs    591         591    
Less: Amortization of debt discount related to warrants          1,733      3,913 
Less: Loss on extinguishment of LT debt                1,385 
Add: Foreign currency (gains) losses    6,932   (2,415)  1,009   7,259   748 
               
Non-GAAP income before income taxes   $49,492  $44,429  $18,458  $123,990  $27,117 
               
Reconciliation of provision for income taxes:            
GAAP provision for income taxes   $5,505  $6,602  $3,371  $15,256  $6,156 
 GAAP effective tax rate    14.7%  15.2%  29.8%  14.5%  71.8%
               
Tax effect of adjustments to GAAP results    (1,025)  (96)  (477)  (1,744)  (1,153)
               
Non-GAAP provision for income taxes   $6,530  $6,698  $3,848  $17,000  $7,309 
 Non-GAAP effective tax rate    13.2%  15.1%  20.8%  13.7%  27.0%



SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Results (continued)
(In thousands, except per share data)
               
      Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
       May 25,
2018 
  February 23,
2018
 
  May 26,
2017 
  May 25,
2018 
  May 26,
2017 
Reconciliation of net income and earnings per share (diluted):           
GAAP net income   $31,946  $36,794  $7,958  $89,745  $2,414 
               
Adjustments to GAAP net income:            
 Share-based compensation    3,297   1,697   1,389   6,599   3,533 
 Amortization of intangible assets    1,221   1,238   2,998   3,727   8,968 
 S-1 related costs       513      813    
 Acquisition costs    591         591    
 Amortization of debt discount related to warrants          1,733      3,913 
 Loss on extinguishment of LT debt                1,385 
 Foreign currency (gains) losses    6,932   (2,415)  1,009   7,259   748 
 Tax effect of items excluded from non-GAAP results    (1,025)  (96)  (477)  (1,744)  (1,153)
               
Non-GAAP net income   $42,962  $37,731  $14,610  $106,990  $19,808 
               
Shares used in computing earnings per share (diluted)    23,306   23,038   15,955   23,020   15,230 
               
Non-GAAP earnings per share (diluted)   $   1.84   $   1.64   $   0.92   $   4.65   $   1.30  



SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
 
and Subsidiaries 
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA 
(In thousands) 
              
    Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 
     May 25,
2018 
  February 23,
2018
 
  May 26,
2017 
  May 25,
2018 
  May 26,
2017 
 
              
GAAP net income $31,946 $36,794 $7,958 $89,745 $2,414 
              
 Share-based compensation expense  3,297  1,697  1,389  6,599  3,533 
 Amortization of intangible assets  1,221  1,238  2,998  3,727  8,968 
 Interest expense, net  4,098  4,230  8,294  12,927  23,072 
 Provision for income tax  5,505  6,602  3,371  15,256  6,156 
 Depreciation  4,806  5,120  4,848  14,928  16,431 
 S-1 related costs    513    813   
 Acquisition costs  591      591   
 Management advisory fees      1,000    3,000 
 Debt extension costs*          1,745 
 Loss on extinguishment of LT debt **          1,385 
 Restructuring          457 
 Special retention bonuses          25 
 Investment advisory fees          540 
 Obsolete inventory related to restructuring         372 
              
 Adjusted EBITDA $51,464 $56,194 $29,858 $144,586 $68,098 
              
 * Debt extension costs consist of $1.7 million associated with the amendment of our senior secured term loan and revolving credit facility in November 2016.
 ** Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt consists of $1.4 million loss on a February 2017 extinguishment.     



SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
 
and Subsidiaries 
Consolidated Balance Sheets 
(In thousands) 
             
        May 25,  August 25,  
        2018
 2017
  
Assets      
Current assets:       
 Cash and cash equivalents $64,495  $22,436   
 Accounts receivable, net  262,101   183,303   
 Inventories   147,948   127,135   
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets  20,219   14,115   
     Total current assets  494,763   346,989   
Property and equipment, net  53,051   55,182   
Other noncurrent assets  21,193   26,728   
Intangible assets, net  1,173   5,107   
Goodwill     42,872   46,022   
     Total assets $613,052  $480,028   
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity      
Current liabilities:      
 Accounts payable $264,954  $189,717   
 Accrued liabilities  20,816   27,316   
 Current portion of long-term debt  22,073   22,841   
     Total current liabilities  307,843   239,874   
Long-term debt   136,606   154,450   
Deferred tax liabilities  351   1,439   
Other long-term liabilities  1,897   1,869   
     Total liabilities $446,697  $397,632   
Shareholders’ equity:      
 Ordinary shares  672   653   
 Additional paid-in capital  245,097   232,162   
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (161,950)  (143,210)  
 Retained earnings  82,536   (7,209)  
     Total shareholders’ equity  166,355   82,396   
     Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $613,052  $480,028   



SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
                 
        Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
        May 25,
2018
 February 23,
2018
 May 26,
2017
  May 25,
2018 
  May 26,
2017 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
 Net income  $31,946  $36,794  $7,958  $89,745  $2,414 
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash          
  provided by (used in) operating activities:          
   Depreciation and amortization  6,028   6,358   7,846   18,656   25,399 
   Share-based compensation  3,297   1,697   1,389   6,599   3,533 
   Provision for doubtful accounts receivable and sales returns  (80)  39   205   (13)  31 
   Deferred income tax benefit  (422)  (734)  (84)  (1,376)  (1,195)
   (Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment  (14)  244      230   129 
   Write off of long-term asset  250         250    
   Extinguishment loss on long-term debt              1,386 
   Amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs  714   722   2,480   2,165   6,424 
   Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
    Accounts receivable  (45,799)  14,894   (36,891)  (86,706)  (33,516)
    Inventories  (6,384)  (17,810)  (4,833)  (27,940)  (31,184)
    Prepaid expenses and other assets  (5,186)  (67)  (735)  (3,495)  741 
    Accounts payable  46,532   (10,145)  27,525   83,879   11,799 
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities  (2,545)  2,705   3,846   (4,703)  7,097 
     Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  28,337   34,697   8,706   77,291   (6,942)
Cash flows from investing activities:          
 Capital expenditures and deposits on equipment  (7,794)  (4,418)  (3,784)  (18,251)  (11,179)
 Proceeds from sale of property and equipment  35   66   425   101   467 
     Net cash used in investing activities  (7,759)  (4,352)  (3,359)  (18,150)  (10,712)
Cash flows from financing activities:          
 Long-term debt payment  (6,093)  (6,125)  (5,954)  (18,402)  (17,689)
 Payment for extinguishment of long-term debt              (938)
 Fees paid for revolving line of credit refinancing     (469)     (768)   
 Payment of costs related to initial public offering     (302)  (200)  (1,591)  (200)
 Proceeds from borrowings under revolving line of credit  69,000   103,000   123,000   277,500   338,250 
 Repayments of borrowings under revolving line of credit  (69,000)  (103,000)  (123,000)  (277,500)  (338,250)
 Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares from share option exercises 1,993   3,638   348   6,170   348 
     Net cash used in financing activities  (4,100)  (3,258)  (5,806)  (14,591)  (18,479)
 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents  (3,799)  1,226   (541)  (2,491)  (160)
     Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  12,679   28,313   (1,000)  42,059   (36,293)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period  51,816   23,503   23,341   22,436   58,634 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $64,495  $51,816  $22,341  $64,495  $22,341 


Investor Contact:
Suzanne Schmidt
Investor Relations for SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
(510) 360-8596
ir@smartm.com