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Avid Announces Fourth Quarter 2008 Results


WEBWIRE

TEWKSBURY, Mass. — Avid Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVID) today reported revenues of $206.7 million for the three-month period ended December 31, 2008, compared to $258.5 million for the same period in 2007. Preliminary GAAP net loss for the quarter was $31.9 million, or $.86 per share, compared to GAAP net income of $3.9 million, or $.09 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Preliminary GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of 2008 included goodwill and intangible asset non-cash impairment charges associated with the company’s Consumer Video segment, amortization of intangibles, stock-based compensation, restructuring costs, net gains from product line divestitures and related taxes collectively totaling $22.6 million. Excluding these items, non-GAAP net loss was $9.3 million for the fourth quarter, or $.25 per share. The goodwill and intangible asset impairment charge related to the Consumer Video segment was estimated at $9.6 million. Therefore the 2008 GAAP results are preliminary and there may be additional charges recorded in the three-month period ended December 31, 2008 as the company completes its annual impairment analysis for all of its business segments. The company’s non-GAAP results will not be impacted by any additional impairment charges resulting from this analysis.

“We have completed our internal reorganization and we have made great progress executing on our strategy, which we believe will have a positive impact on our business as we move forward, both for our customers and shareholders,” said Gary Greenfield, Avid’s chairman and CEO. “While the economic climate in 2009 will be challenging, the changes we have made to our company put us in a better position to meet these challenges.”

Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $844.9 million compared to revenues of $929.6 million for 2007. The 2008 revenues include $61.5 million of revenues associated with divested or discontinued product lines. Preliminary GAAP net loss for 2008 was $129.8 million, or $3.46 per share, compared to GAAP net loss of $8.0 million, or $.19 per share, for 2007. Preliminary GAAP net loss for 2008 includes $104.6 million of impairment charges, amortization, stock-based compensation, restructuring charges, net gains from divested product lines and related tax adjustments. Excluding these items, non-GAAP net loss for 2008 was $25.2 million, or $.67 per share.

At the end of 2008, the company’s cash balance was $147.7 million, up $25.3 million since the end of the third quarter of 2008 primarily related to the receipt of $28.8 million of proceeds from product line divestitures.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains “non-GAAP financial measures” under the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This non-GAAP information supplements, and is not intended to represent a measure of performance in accordance with, disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. The reconciliation for net income and earnings per share for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 are in the tables attached to this press release.

The company uses non-GAAP financial measures internally to manage its business, for example, in establishing its annual operating budget, in assessing segment operating performance and for measuring performance under employee incentive compensation plans. Non-GAAP financial measures are used by management in its operating and financial decision-making because management believes these measures reflect the company’s ongoing business in a manner that allows meaningful period-to-period comparisons. Accordingly, the company believes it is useful for investors and others to review both GAAP and non-GAAP measures in order to (a) understand and evaluate the company’s current operating performance and future prospects in the same manner as management does and (b) compare in a consistent manner the company’s current financial results with past financial results. The primary limitations associated with the company’s use of non-GAAP financial measures are that these measures may not be directly comparable to the amounts reported by other companies and they do not include all items of income and expense that affect the company’s operations. The company’s management compensates for these limitations by considering the company’s financial results as determined in accordance with GAAP and by providing a detailed reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in this press release.
Conference Call

A conference call to discuss Avid’s fourth quarter 2008 financial results will be held today, January 29, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. EST. The call will be open to the public and can be accessed by dialing 719.457.2617 and referencing confirmation code 4569475. The call and subsequent replay will also be available on Avid’s website. To listen via this alternative, go to the Investor Relations page under the About Us menu at www.avid.com for complete details prior to the start of the conference call.
Use of Forward-Looking Statements

The above release is subject to the completion and filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. This release includes forward-looking statements, as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, about Avid’s performance. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, such as Avid’s ability to execute on its transformation strategy and meet customer needs, general economic conditions, competitive factors, pricing pressures, delays in product shipments and other important events and factors disclosed previously and from time to time in Avid’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements contained herein represent Avid’s estimates only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing the company’s estimates as of any subsequent date. While Avid may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Avid specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if the estimates change.

Avid is a worldwide leader in tools for film, video, audio and broadcast professionals – as well as for home audio and video enthusiasts. Avid professional and consumer brands include Avid®, Digidesign®, M-Audio®, Pinnacle Systems® and Sibelius®. The vast majority of primetime television shows, feature films, commercials and chart-topping music hits are made using one or more Avid products. Whether used by seasoned professionals or beginning students, Avid’s products and services enable customers to work more efficiently, productively and creatively. Avid received an Oscar® statuette representing the 1998 Scientific and Technical Award for the concept, design and engineering of the Avid® Film Composer® system for motion picture editing. For more information about the company’s Oscar, Grammy® and Emmy® award-winning products and services, visit www.avid.com, del.icio.us, Flickr, twitter and YouTube; connect with Avid on Facebook or subscribe to Avid Industry Buzz.



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