Micron Technology, Inc., Reports Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2011

BOISE, Idaho, March 23, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micron Technology, Inc., (Nasdaq:MU) today announced results of operations for its second quarter of fiscal 2011, which ended March 3, 2011. For the second quarter, the company had net income attributable to Micron shareholders of $72 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, on net sales of $2.3 billion. The results for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 compare to net income of $155 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, on net sales of $2.3 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2011, and net income of $365 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, on net sales of $2.0 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2010.

Revenue from sales of DRAM products was 6 percent lower in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2011 due to a 23 percent decrease in average selling prices largely offset by an increase in volume. Revenue from sales of NAND Flash products was 8 percent higher in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2011 due to an increase in volume partially offset by a 4 percent decrease in average selling prices. Revenue from sales of NOR Flash products was 7 percent lower in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2011 due primarily to a decrease in average selling prices. The company's consolidated gross margin was 19 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 and was lower compared to its gross margin of 23 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 due primarily to the decreases in average selling prices partially offset by decreases in manufacturing costs.

Cash flows from operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 were $809 million. During the second quarter of fiscal 2011, the company invested $840 million in capital expenditures. In addition, during the second quarter, the company completed the acquisition of the remaining noncontrolling interests in TECH in two cash transactions aggregating $159 million. The company ended the second fiscal quarter with cash and short-term investments of $2.2 billion.

The company will host a conference call today at 2:30 p.m. MDT to discuss its financial results. The call, audio and slides will be available online at http://investors.micron.com/events.cfm. A webcast replay will be available on the company's web site until March 23, 2012. A taped audio replay of the conference call will also be available at (706) 645-9291 (conference ID: 52960648) beginning at 5:30 p.m. MDT today and continuing until 5:30 p.m. MDT on Wednesday, March 30, 2011.

Micron Technology, Inc., is one of the world's leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions. Through its worldwide operations, Micron manufactures and markets a full range of DRAM, NAND Flash and NOR Flash memory, as well as other innovative memory technologies, packaging solutions and semiconductor systems for use in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking, embedded and mobile products. Micron's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the MU symbol. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc., visit www.micron.com.

The Micron Technology, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6950

(1)   Other operating (income) expense consisted of the following:

In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, the company entered into a 10-year patent cross-license agreement with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. ("Samsung"). Under the agreement, Samsung agreed to pay the company $275 million, of which $200 million was paid on October 8, 2010, $40 million was paid on January 28, 2011, and $35 million is due March 31, 2011. The license is a life-of-patents license for existing patents and applications, and a 10-year term license for all other patents.

Other operating income in the second quarter of fiscal 2010 included $11 million of receipts from the U.S. government in connection with anti-dumping tariffs.

(2)   In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, the company entered into separate privately negotiated purchase and exchange agreements under which it repurchased $91 million in principal amount of its 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 ("4.25% Notes"), repurchased $176 million in principal amount of its 1.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014 ("Existing 1.875% Notes") and exchanged $175 million of the Existing 1.875% Notes for $175 million in aggregate principal amount of new 1.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 ("New 1.875% Notes").

The New 1.875% Notes are convertible under certain circumstances, at the holder's option, at an initial conversion rate of 91.7431 common shares per $1,000 principal amount. Upon conversion, holders will receive cash up to the principal amount, and any excess value will be delivered, at the company's election, in cash, common stock or a combination of cash and common stock. Holders of the New 1.875% Notes have an option to require the company to purchase the notes on June 1, 2017, and in certain other circumstances, at a price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of notes plus accrued and unpaid interest.

In connection with the repurchase transactions, the aggregate carrying amount of debt (including unamortized discount and issuance costs) of $232 million was redeemed for $328 million in cash (including fees). As a result of the repurchase transactions and the effect of the exchange, the company recognized a non-operating loss of $111 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. Including the effects of the repurchase and exchange transactions and other scheduled repayments, the company reduced its debt by a net amount of $620 million during the first six months of fiscal 2011.

Other non-operating income in the first six months of fiscal 2010 included a gain of $56 million recognized in the first quarter in connection with the August 2009 issuance of common shares in a public offering by Inotera Memories, Inc. ("Inotera") — an investment accounted for by the company under the equity method. As a result of, and at the time of, the issuance, the company's interest in Inotera decreased from 35.5% to 29.8%.

(3)   Income tax provision in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 included a charge to reduce net deferred tax assets by $19 million in connection with a change in tax rates. Income tax provision in the second and first quarters of fiscal 2011 included charges of $7 million and $33 million, respectively, in connection with the Samsung agreement. Remaining taxes in fiscal 2011 and 2010 primarily reflected taxes on the company's non-U.S. operations and U.S. alternative minimum tax. The company has a valuation allowance for a substantial portion of its net deferred tax assets associated with its U.S. operations. Taxes attributable to U.S. operations in fiscal 2011 and 2010 were substantially offset by changes in the valuation allowance.

(4)   On December 17, 2010, the company acquired Hewlett-Packard Singapore (Private) Limited's interest in TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd., ("TECH"), a consolidated joint venture of the company, for $38 million. On January 28, 2011, the company acquired Canon Inc.'s interest in TECH for $121 million. In connection therewith, noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries was reduced by $226 million and additional capital was increased by $67 million. As a result of these transactions, the company's ownership interest in TECH increased from approximately 87.1% to 100%.

CONTACT: Kipp A. Bedard

         Investor Relations

         kbedard@micron.com

         (208) 368-4465



         Daniel Francisco

         Media Relations

         dfrancisco@micron.com

         (208) 368-5584

News Provided by Acquire Media

Close window | Back to top