Apple Reports Second Fiscal Quarter Results
Company Recaps Extensive New Product Offerings and Restructuring Progress
CUPERTINO, Calif.–April 16, 1997–Apple Computer, Inc. today announced
financial results for the Company’s fiscal 1997 second quarter ended March
28, 1997. Revenues for the quarter were $1.6 billion, compared to $2.1
billion in the quarter ended Dec. 27, 1996 and $2.2 billion in the quarter
ended March 29, 1996. International sales accounted for 49 percent of total
revenues in the current quarter.
As previously indicated, the Company incurred two large charges of a
non-operating nature during the quarter. Pursuant to generally accepted
accounting principles, the Company recorded a charge of $375 million for
the write-off of in-process research and development activity related to
its Feb. 4, 1997 acquisition of NeXT Software, Inc.
Additionally, the Company recorded a charge of $155 million to increase
reserves to cover the costs of restructuring activities previously
announced by the Company on March 14, 1997.
The Company’s total loss for the quarter was $708 million, or $(5.64) per
share, compared to a net loss of $120 million, or $(.96) per share in the
December 1996 quarter and a net loss of $740 million, or $(5.99) per share,
in the year-ago quarter. Exclusive of the charges for restructuring and the
write-off of in-process research and development, the Company’s current
quarter loss from operations was $186 million, or $(1.48) per share.
Gross margins for the quarter were 19 percent, compared to 19 percent in
the December quarter, and compared to -19 percent (or 9 percent before
inventory adjustments) in the year-ago quarter.
Aside from the charges for restructuring and the write-off of in-process
research and development, operating expenses for the quarter were $489
million, down $32 million from the December quarter and down $65 million
from the year ago quarter.
“While the operating results are disappointing, we made significant
progress toward executing our strategic plans during the quarter,” said
Apple chairman and chief executive officer Dr. Gilbert F. Amelio. “We’ve
streamlined our organization and narrowed our focus, we’re divesting
non-core assets, and we’re executing a plan to reduce annual operating
expenses by $500 million. We’ve also made great progress toward
strengthening Apple’s competitive position by introducing several exciting
new products to the market, and we’ve completed the NeXT acquisition,
paving the way for delivery of our modern OS, code-named ‘Rhapsody.'”
“We experienced continued success in asset management during the quarter,”
said Apple executive vice president and chief financial officer Fred
Anderson. “Our cash balance at the end of Q2 was in excess of $1.4 billion,
our inventories were just over $500 million, and despite the quarter’s
loss, we generated positive cash flow from operations.”
“We expect to see rapid improvements in the Company’s financial performance
as the results of restructuring kick in,” added Anderson. “We anticipate
higher revenues and a significantly reduced operating loss in the Company’s
third fiscal quarter and continued progress toward our goal of returning to
profitability in the fourth quarter.”
New Products
Apple introduced an array of new products in recent weeks. On April 4, the
Company announced the Power Macintosh 6500 series of computers for home and
small business customers, including the first 300 MHz system to hit the
personal computer market. In addition, the Company introduced two
PC-compatible computers–the Power Macintosh 7300/180, which includes a 166
MHz Intel Pentium processor; and the Power Macintosh 4400/200, which
includes a 133 MHz Cyrix PR166 6×86 processor.
Earlier in the quarter, Apple announced the Macintosh PowerBook 3400
series, featuring the first 240 MHz notebook computer on the market, as
well as a new line of Power Macintosh computers for business, professional
publishing, and Internet/media authoring.
For education customers, Apple introduced its most comprehensive lineup of
new products in 20 years, including the eMate 300, three powerful
all-in-one desktop models, two models in a powerful new tower design, and
three new solution bundles for secondary schools.
Claris Corporation, Apple’s wholly-owned software subsidiary, achieved
record-breaking revenues of $70 million during the quarter. Revenue growth
was driven in large part by an unprecedented level of operating system
upgrades to Mac OS 7.6, introduced in January.
“In the last three months, we executed one of the most exciting and
comprehensive series of product introductions in the history of Apple,”
said Apple executive vice president of marketing Guerrino De Luca. “These
products demonstrate the ongoing innovation at Apple and our commitment to
providing distinctive, powerful, easy-to-use products to meet the needs of
our customers.”
Except for the historical information contained herein, the statements
regarding establishing competitive leadership, effecting innovation,
continuing focus on certain industry growth areas, reduction of the
Company’s operating expenses and losses, and the timing of execution of the
Company’s business plans are forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without
limitation, continued competitive pressures in the marketplace; the effect
competitive factors and the Company’s reaction to them may have on consumer
and business buying decisions with respect to the Company’s products; the
consequences competitive factors and buying decisions may have on current
inventory valuations; the Company’s ability to successfully integrate the
personnel, products and operations of NeXT Software; the ability of the
Company to make timely delivery of successful technological innovations to
the marketplace; the ability of the Company to successfully resolve its
quality issues; the effect of any future losses on the Company’s needs for
liquidity; the effect of the announced business restructuring on the future
performance of the Company, especially the performance of the Company’s
employees; and the need for any future restructuring, and the effect that
it might have on the performance of the Company. More information on
potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is
included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the 1996 fiscal year and will also
be included in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the second fiscal quarter, to be
filed with the SEC.
Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry
and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on
easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, handheld
computers and Internet content. Headquartered in Cupertino, California,
Apple develops, manufactures, licenses and markets solutions, products,
technologies and services for business, education, consumer, entertainment,
scientific and engineering and government customers in more than 140
countries.
Katie Cotton
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-7269
email: katiec@apple.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Nancy Paxton
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-5420
email: paxton1@apple.com
Apple’s home page on the World Wide Web:
http://www.apple.com/
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Power Macintosh, and PowerBook are
registered trademarks and eMate is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks of the individual companies and are respectfully acknowledged.