InterDigital Announces Second Quarter 2009 Financial Results

InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDCC) today announced financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009. Highlights for second quarter 2009 include:

• Revenue of $74.9 million, an increase of 28 percent over second quarter 2008;
• Operating expenses of $34.7 million, a 32 percent decrease from second quarter 2008;
• Net income of $26.4 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, more than four times greater than second quarter 2008;
• Ending cash and short-term investments of $216.6 million; and
• Repurchase of $14.7 million, or 0.6 million shares, of common stock through June 30, 2009.

"We are pleased to announce a very strong second quarter, marked by strong earnings and positive cash flow,” commented William J. Merritt, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our results clearly demonstrate that our licensing efforts continue to drive significant value. Additionally, our first quarter realignment, which refocused our business on our core research and development and licensing activities, contributed to a significant improvement in profitability in the second quarter. All these efforts should continue to produce substantial benefits to our shareholders both in the short and long term.”

Second Quarter Summary

The company’s second quarter 2009 net income totaled $26.4 million or $0.59 per diluted share, more than four times greater than the company’s net income of $5.9 million, or $0.13 per diluted share for the comparable quarter 2008. This year-over-year increase was driven by revenue contributions from a new patent license agreement with Samsung signed in January 2009 as well as reduced operating expenses resulting from the company’s repositioning plan announced in first quarter 2009.

Revenues totaled $74.9 million in second quarter 2009, a 28 percent increase over the $58.7 million reported in second quarter 2008. Patent licensing royalties of $72.7 million in second quarter 2009 posted a 29 percent increase over $56.2 million in second quarter 2008, due to the addition of $25.7 million in fixed-fee amortized royalty revenue from a patent license agreement with Samsung signed in first quarter 2009, $2.3 million in royalties for past sales, partly offset by a $10.4 million decrease in per-unit royalty revenue related to industry-wide declines in handset sales for comparable first quarter sales. Despite this overall decline in per unit royalties, certain licensees with concentrations in the smartphone market reported increased sales for the reporting period. Technology solutions revenue of $2.2 million in second quarter 2009 decreased 12 percent from $2.5 million in second quarter 2008. The decrease is primarily attributable to engineering service fees earned in second quarter 2008 that did not recur in second quarter 2009, offset by an increase in royalties earned on InterDigital’s SlimChip^™ modem IP. In second quarter 2009, 53 percent of total revenue of $74.9 million was attributable to companies that individually accounted for 10 percent or more of this amount, Samsung (34 percent) and LG (19 percent).

Second quarter 2009 operating expenses of $34.7 million decreased $16.2 million, or 32 percent, compared to second quarter 2008. The decrease was due primarily to the company’s repositioning announced on March 30, 2009, which decreased development expenses by $9.0 million, or 41 percent year-over-year, from $22.2 million in second quarter 2008 to $13.2 million in second quarter 2009. In addition, patent administration and licensing expenses declined significantly from $21.4 million in second quarter 2008 to $15.6 million in second quarter 2009, a decrease of $5.9 million, or 27 percent. This year-over-year reduction was driven largely by the resolution of the company’s various disputes with Samsung and the third quarter 2008 resolution of the Nokia U.K. patent litigations. On a sequential basis, development expenses declined $13.6 million, or 51 percent, from first quarter 2009, reflecting the results of the company’s repositioning efforts.

Net interest and investment income of $0.6 million in second quarter 2009 decreased $0.6 million from second quarter 2008 because of lower rates of return and lower investment balances.

The company’s second quarter 2009 effective tax rate was approximately 35%, level with second quarter 2008.

During second quarter 2009, the company generated $43.4 million of free cash flow¹, compared to $19.9 million of free cash flow in second quarter 2008. The increase of $23.5 million was driven by a higher level of cash receipts in from the company’s patent licensees and a lower level of cash outlays.

Six Months Summary

The company’s first half 2009 net income totaled $17.8 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, a 35 percent increase from the company’s net income of $13.2 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2008. This year-over-year increase was driven by revenue contributions from a new patent license agreement with Samsung signed in January 2009 as well as reduced operating expenses resulting from the company’s repositioning plan announced in first quarter 2009.

Pro forma net income for first half 2009, which excludes a $37.0 million repositioning charge, totaled $41.8 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, reflecting an increase of $28.6 million, more than three times the reported first half 2008 net income of $13.2 million, or $0.28 per diluted share.

Revenues of $145.5 million in first half 2009 grew $30.8 million, or 27 percent, compared to $114.7 million in first half 2008. Patent licensing royalties were $142.1 million in first half 2009, up from $110.1 million in first half 2008. The increase in patent licensing royalties was primarily related to a $46.4 million increase in fixed-fee amortized royalty revenue driven by the company’s patent license agreement with Samsung. This increase was partly offset by a $15.9 million decrease in per-unit royalty revenue relating to an overall decrease in industry handset sales.

Excluding a $37.0 million repositioning charge in 2009, pro forma operating expenses of $82.1 million in first half 2009 decreased 15 percent, or $13.9 million, from $96.0 million in first half 2008, driven primarily by a $10.1 million decrease in net litigation and arbitration expenses and a lower level of development expenses.

Net interest and investment income of $1.5 million in first half 2009 decreased $0.2 million from $1.7 million in first half 2008 due primarily to lower rates of return.

The company’s first half 2009 effective tax rate was approximately 36%. In first half 2008, the company’s effective tax rate was approximately 35%.

During first half 2009, the company generated $86.5 million of free cash flow, compared to $97.6 million of free cash flow in first half 2008. The decrease of $11.1 million, or 11 percent, was driven by a $28.5 million reduction in cash receipts from license agreements, due primarily to the aforementioned reduction in current royalty revenue and the timing of prepayments, offset by lower cash operating expenses. The higher level of cash receipts in first half 2008 was partly offset by a $23.0 million payment to post a bond for the Federal Insurance Company arbitration award.

Scott McQuilkin, Chief Financial Officer, commented, "We posted a very strong quarter, with an increase in royalty revenue combining with a decrease in our core operating expenses to drive greatly improved profitability. Our second quarter 2009 development expenses were slightly lower than our guidance, reflecting the positive impact of a Canadian research and development credit and lower than expected consulting services as we transitioned our full development efforts to our core business. Our selling, general and administrative expenses also benefited from a $1.0 million credit associated with the reversal of an allowance for an uncollectible receivable. As is our practice, we will provide an update on our expectation for third quarter 2009 revenue after we receive and review the applicable royalty reports. Nevertheless, I am pleased to note that we received our second $100.0 million installment from Samsung in July.”

Due to the repositioning announced on March 30, 2009, the company reclassified its income statement presentation to better align its operating expense classifications with its ongoing activities. The company eliminated the General and administrative and Sales and marketing classifications within operating expenses and created the Selling, general and administrative classification. All costs previously reported under General and administrative have been reclassified to Selling, general and administrative, while Sales and marketing costs have been reclassified between Selling, general and administrative and Patent administration and licensing. Additionally, the company reclassified portions of its Development costs to Patent administration and licensing.

Conference Call Information

InterDigital^® will host a conference call on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its second quarter 2009 performance and other company matters. For a live Internet webcast of the conference call, visit www.interdigital.com and click on the link to the Live Webcast on the homepage. The company encourages participants to take advantage of the Internet option.

For telephone access to the conference, call (888) 802-2225 within the U.S. or (913) 312-1254 from outside the U.S. Please call by 9:50 a.m. ET on July 29 and ask the operator for the InterDigital Financial Call.

An Internet replay of the conference call will be available for 30 days on InterDigital’s web site in the Investor Relations section. In addition, a telephone replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. ET July 29 through 1:00 p.m. ET August 3. To access the recorded replay, call (888) 203-1112 or (719) 457-0820 and use the replay code 4896432.

About InterDigital

InterDigital designs, develops and provides advanced wireless technologies and products that drive voice and data communications. InterDigital is a leading contributor to the global wireless standards and holds a strong portfolio of patented technologies, which it licenses to manufacturers of 2G, 2.5G, 3G, and 802 products worldwide.

InterDigital is a registered trademark and SlimChip is a trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include information regarding our current beliefs, plans and expectations, including, without limitation, with respect to: (i) the benefits to shareholders from the company’s licensing and realignment efforts and (ii) third quarter 2009 revenue guidance. Words such as "should continue to,” "will” or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual outcomes could differ materially from those expressed in or anticipated by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, those identified in this press release, as well as the following: (i) unanticipated delays, difficulties or acceleration in the execution of patent license agreements; (ii) our ability to leverage our strategic relationships and secure new patent licensing agreements on acceptable terms; (iii) changes in the market share and sales performance of our primary licensees, delays in product shipments of our licensees and timely receipt and final reviews of quarterly royalty reports from our licensees and related matters; and (iv) the resolution of current legal proceedings, including any awards or judgments relating to such proceedings, additional legal proceedings, changes in the schedules or costs associated with legal proceedings or adverse rulings in such legal proceedings. We undertake no duty to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law, regulation or other competent legal authority.

¹ Free cash flow is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that InterDigital believes is helpful in evaluating the company’s ability to invest in its business, make strategic acquisitions and fund share repurchases among other things. A limitation of the utility of free cash flow as a measure of financial performance is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in the company’s cash balance for the period. InterDigital defines "free cash flow” as operating cash flow less purchases of property and equipment, technology licenses, investments in patents and unrealized (loss) gain on short-term investments. InterDigital’s computation of free cash flow might not be comparable to free cash flow reported by other companies. The presentation of this financial information, which is not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). A detailed reconciliation of free cash flow to GAAP results is provided at the end of this press release.