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U.S. Technology Company News from the Inside

MFLEX Reports Strong Fiscal 2012 First Quarter Financial Results

Companies mentioned in this article: Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc.

ANAHEIM, Calif., Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc. (NASDAQ: MFLX), a leading global provider of high-quality, technologically advanced flexible printed circuit and value-added component assembly solutions to the electronics industry, today reported strong financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2011. Net sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 were $239.3 million, exceeding the high end of the Company's guidance range, compared to net sales of $241.2 million in the same period of the prior year.

Gross margin during the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was 12.2 percent, compared to 14.3 percent for the same period in fiscal 2011. The year-over-year decline was attributable to higher capacity related costs to support anticipated 2012 customer demand, as well as rising labor costs and an appreciating yuan in China. Sequentially, gross margin increased 220 basis points primarily due to improved capacity utilization.

Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $13.5 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, compared to net income of $15.1 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the same period in the prior year.

Cash flows from operating activities for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 were $5.7 million. At December 31, 2011, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $75.8 million, or $3.14 per diluted share.

Non-GAAP Results

A reconciliation of GAAP net income and earnings per share to non-GAAP net income and earnings per share is provided in the table at the end of this press release.

Share Repurchase Program

During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company repurchased approximately 391,000 shares at a weighted-average purchase price of $20.08 per share, for a total purchase price of $7.9 million.

Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company expects net sales to range between $210 and $225 million, and gross margin to range between 10.5 and 11.5 percent based on the projected product mix and sales volume.

Commenting on the Company's business outlook, Reza Meshgin, Chief Executive Officer of MFLEX, noted, "We anticipate continued strong demand for our flex assemblies for both smartphones and tablets in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. However, we expect lower sequential sales to reduce our capacity utilization and in turn, gross margin during the quarter. Looking further ahead, with increasing opportunities in the smartphone and tablet industries, we continue to expect year-over-year top line growth and sequential margin expansion in the second half of 2012."

Conference Call

MFLEX will host a conference call at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time (2:30 p.m. Pacific time) today to review its fiscal 2012 first quarter financial results. The dial-in number for the call in North America is 1-877-941-2332 and 1-480-629-9866 for international callers. The call also will be webcast live on the Internet and can be accessed by logging onto www.mflex.com.

The webcast will be archived on the Company's website for at least 60 days following the call. An audio replay of the conference call will be available for seven days beginning at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time (5:30 p.m. Pacific time) today. The audio replay dial-in number for North America is 1-800-406-7325 and 1-303-590-3030 for international callers. The replay passcode is 4508078.

About MFLEX

MFLEX (www.mflex.com) is a global provider of high-quality, technologically advanced flexible printed circuit and value-added component assembly solutions to the electronics industry. The Company is one of a limited number of manufacturers that provides a seamless, integrated end-to-end flexible printed circuit solution for customers, ranging from design and application engineering, prototyping and high-volume manufacturing to turnkey component assembly and testing. The Company targets its solutions within the electronics market and, in particular, focuses on applications where flexible printed circuits are the enabling technology in achieving a desired size, shape, weight or functionality of an electronic device. Current applications for the Company's products include smartphones, tablets, computer/data storage, portable bar code scanners and other consumer electronic devices. MFLEX's common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol MFLX.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements and predictions regarding: revenues; net sales; sales; net income; profitability; growth; gross margins; customer mix and concentration; seasonality of the Company's business; customer and seasonal demand; capacity, utilization and capacity expansion; product mix; market share; and programs and the ramping thereof. Additional forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements pertaining to other financial items, plans, strategies or objectives of management for future operations, the Company's future operations and financial condition or prospects, and any other statement that is not historical fact, including any statement which is preceded by the words "forecast," "guidance," "preliminary," "scheduled," "assume," "can," "will," "plan," "should," "expect," "estimate," "aim," "intend," "look," "project," "foresee," "target," "anticipate," "may," "believe," or similar words. Actual events or results may differ materially from those stated or implied by the Company's forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including the effect of the economy or seasonality on the demand for electronic devices; the Company's success with new and current customers, those customers' success in the marketplace and usage of flex in their products; product mix; the Company's ability to develop and deliver new technologies; the Company's ability to diversify and expand its customer base and markets; the Company's effectiveness in managing manufacturing processes and costs; currency fluctuations; the Company's ability to manage quality assurance and workforce issues; the degree to which the Company is able to utilize available manufacturing capacity, enter into new markets and execute its strategic plans; electricity, material and component shortages; the impact of natural disasters, competition, pricing pressures and technological advances; the outcome of tax audits; labor issues in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. These forward-looking statements represent management's judgment as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

(SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOLLOWS)


                                         Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc.
                                 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                     (in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                   (unaudited)


                                                                                 Three Months Ended
                                                                                    December 31,
                                                                                    ------------
                                                                                  2011                 2010
                                                                                  ----                 ----
    Net sales                                                                 $239,344             $241,154
    Cost of sales                                                              210,182              206,680
                                                                               -------              -------
       Gross profit                                                             29,162               34,474
    Operating expenses:
       Research and development                                                  2,079                2,751
       Sales and marketing                                                       6,387                7,433
       General and administrative                                                5,064                5,050
          Total operating expenses                                              13,530               15,234
                                                                                ------               ------
    Operating income                                                            15,632               19,240
    Other income (expense), net:
       Interest income                                                             292                  223
       Interest expense                                                           (154)                (116)
       Other income (expense), net                                                 471                 (165)
                                                                                   ---                 ----
          Income before income taxes                                            16,241               19,182
    Provision for income taxes                                                  (2,697)              (4,081)
          Net income                                                           $13,544              $15,101
                                                                               =======              =======

    Net income per share:
       Basic                                                                     $0.57                $0.63
       Diluted                                                                   $0.56                $0.62
    Shares used in computing net income per share:
       Basic                                                                    23,893               23,960
       Diluted                                                                  24,152               24,298


                      Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc.
                   Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                              (in thousands)
                                (unaudited)


                                             December       September
                                                31,             30,
                                                  2011            2011
                                                  ----            ----

    Cash and cash equivalents                  $75,808         $97,890
    Accounts receivable, net                   191,311         150,507
    Inventories                                 76,411          87,166
    Other current assets                        21,623          17,836
                                                ------          ------
              Total current assets             365,153         353,399
    Property, plant and equipment,
     net                                       236,018         244,026
    Other assets                                27,705          28,320
              Total assets                    $628,876        $625,745
                                              ========        ========

    Accounts payable                          $154,385        $162,790
    Other current liabilities                   33,089          31,544
                                                ------          ------
              Total current liabilities        187,474         194,334
    Other liabilities                           16,441          15,328
    Stockholders' equity                       424,961         416,083
                                               -------         -------
              Total liabilities and
               stockholders' equity           $628,876        $625,745
                                              ========        ========


                                  Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc.
                          Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                           (in thousands)
                                            (unaudited)

                                                                           Three Months Ended
                                                                              December 31,
                                                                              ------------
                                                                           2011          2010
                                                                           ----          ----
    Cash flows from operating activities
    Net income                                                          $13,544       $15,101
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
     cash provided by operating activities:
         Depreciation and amortization                                   12,709        11,169
         Provision for doubtful accounts and returns                      1,799         2,064
         Deferred taxes                                                      (3)          (34)
         Stock-based compensation expense                                 1,367         1,643
         Asset impairments                                                 (565)            -
         Loss on disposal of equipment                                       13             5
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities                        (23,125)      (26,427)
                 Net cash provided by operating activities                5,739         3,521
    Cash flows from investing activities
    Sales of investments                                                      -        14,991
    Purchases of property and equipment                                (20,346)      (18,327)
    Proceeds from sale of equipment                                         699           277
                 Net cash used in investing activities                 (19,647)        (3,059)
    Cash flows from financing activities
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options                                  52            52
    Tax withholdings for net share settlement of
     equity awards                                                         (800)         (959)
    Repurchase of common stock                                           (7,860)         (924)
                 Net cash used in financing activities                   (8,608)       (1,831)
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                                 434           655
                                                                            ---           ---
                 Net decrease in cash                                  (22,082)          (714)
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
     period                                                              97,890        99,875
                                                                         ------        ------
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                          $75,808       $99,161
                                                                        =======       =======


                                        Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc.
                         Selected Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Schedule Reconciling
                             Selected Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Comparable GAAP
                                               Financial Measures
                                    (in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                  (unaudited)

                                                                                      Three Months Ended
                                                                                         December 31,
                                                                                         ------------
                                                                                       2011          2010
                                                                                       ----          ----
    GAAP net income                                                                 $13,544       $15,101
    Stock-based compensation expense                                                  1,384         1,649
    Impairment and restructuring                                                       (565)            -
    Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments                                          (219)         (557)
    Non-GAAP net income                                                             $14,144       $16,193
                                                                                    =======       =======

    GAAP diluted earnings per share                                                   $0.56         $0.62
    Effect of non-GAAP adjustments on diluted
     earnings per share                                                                0.03          0.05
    Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share                                               $0.59         $0.67
                                                                                      =====         =====

    Weighted-average diluted shares used in
     calculating non-GAAP diluted earnings per
     share                                                                           24,152        24,298

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

To supplement the condensed consolidated financial results prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), the Company uses non-GAAP financial measures (non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share) that exclude certain charges and gains. Management excludes these items because it believes that the non-GAAP measures enhance an investor's overall understanding of the Company's financial performance and future prospects by being more reflective of the Company's recurring operational activities and to be more comparable with the results of the Company over various periods. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures internally for strategic decision making, forecasting future results and evaluating current performance. By disclosing non-GAAP financial measures, management intends to provide investors with a more meaningful, consistent comparison of the Company's core operating results and trends for the periods presented. Non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP; therefore, the information is not necessarily comparable to other companies' financial information and should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

The items excluded from GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share in calculating these non-GAAP financial measures, are as follows: (a) stock-based compensation expense; and (b) impairment and restructuring activities, including asset impairments, one-time termination benefits and other restructuring-related costs. Management excludes these amounts when evaluating its core operating activities and for strategic decision making and forecasting of future results and believes that evaluating current performance, and excluding such items from MFLEX's operations, provides investors with a more meaningful way of evaluating the Company's current operating performance.


    Contact:     Stacy Feit
                 Investor Relations
                 Tel:  213-486-6549
                  Email:
                  investor_relations@mflex.com

SOURCE Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc.