SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Coherent, Inc. (Nasdaq: COHR), a world leader in providing photonics based solutions to the commercial and scientific research markets, today announced financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended January 1, 2011.

    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                                        Three Months Ended
                                        ------------------
    GAAP Results              Jan. 1,       Oct. 2,       Jan. 2,
    (in millions except per share
     data)
                                  2011          2010          2010
                                  ----          ----          ----
    Bookings                    $234.4        $192.5        $158.4
    Net sales                   $183.1        $166.4        $122.8
    Net income                   $19.1          $9.9          $4.2
    Diluted EPS                  $0.76         $0.39         $0.17

    Non-GAAP Results
    (in millions except per share
     data)

    Net income                   $21.4         $14.9          $5.1
    Diluted EPS                  $0.85         $0.59         $0.21


FIRST FISCAL QUARTER DETAILS

For the first fiscal quarter ended January 1, 2011, Coherent announced net sales of $183.1 million and net income, on a U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis, of $19.1 million, or $0.76 per diluted share. These results compare to net sales of $122.8 million and net income of $4.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Non-GAAP net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 was $21.4 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, and non-GAAP net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 was $5.1 million, or $0.21 per diluted share. Please see the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results included at the end of our release.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 were $166.4 million and net income, on a GAAP basis, was $9.9 million, or $0.39 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $14.9 million, or $0.59 per diluted share.

Bookings received during the three months ended January 1, 2011 of $234.4 million increased 48.0% from $158.4 million in the same prior year period and increased by 21.8% compared to bookings of $192.5 million in the immediately preceding quarter. The book-to-bill ratio was 1.28, resulting in backlog of $308.9 million at January 1, 2011 compared to a backlog of $262.0 million at October 2, 2010 and a backlog of $202.8 million at January 2, 2010.

"We continue to see strength in our markets as evidenced by record sales and bookings. We are also realizing the benefits of our prior restructuring efforts, which combined with higher revenues and favorable mix led to record operating profit," said John Ambroseo, Coherent's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Positive news continues to flow in the second fiscal quarter. We have just received another substantial order for $32 million for lasers used in OLED and LCD manufacturing. These systems are scheduled for delivery through the end of the calendar year. The combined impact of record orders, record backlog and the completion of the Hypertronics transaction result in a higher revenue outlook for fiscal 2011 of $760-$780 million," he added.

Coherent ended the quarter with cash and short term investments of $296.6 million, an increase of $33.8 million from cash and short term investments of $262.8 million at October 2, 2010.

"In addition to the record performance on the income statement, we have done an outstanding job managing working capital and ended the first quarter with approximately $297 million in cash and cash investments. We plan to deploy some of this cash on targeted acquisitions. We have also received approval from our Board to repurchase up to $75 million in common stock over the next twelve months," Ambroseo said.

CONFERENCE CALL REMINDER

The Company will host a conference call today to discuss its financial results at 1:30 P.M. Pacific (4:30 P.M. Eastern). A listen-only broadcast of the conference call can be accessed on the Company's website at either http://www.coherent.com/Investors/ or http://www.earnings.com. For those who are not able to listen to the live broadcast, the call will be archived for approximately three months on both web sites. A transcript of management's prepared remarks can be found at http://www.coherent.com/Investors/.

    Summarized statement of operations information is as follows
    (unaudited, in thousands except per share data):
                                             Three Months Ended
                                             ------------------
                                  January        October        January
                                     1,             2,             2,
                                      2011           2010           2010
                                      ----           ----           ----

    Net sales                     $183,111       $166,398       $122,815
    Cost of sales (A) (B) (D)      100,717         96,579         71,783
                                   -------         ------         ------
    Gross profit                    82,394         69,819         51,032
    Operating expenses:
      Research & development
       (A) (B) (D)                  18,530         19,192         15,410
      Selling, general &
       administrative (A) (B)
       (C) (D)                      36,078         32,848         27,979
      Intangibles amortization       2,095          2,044          1,961
                                     -----          -----          -----
       Total operating expenses     56,703         54,084         45,350
                                    ------         ------         ------
    Income from operations          25,691         15,735          5,682
    Other income (expense),
     net(D)                          1,754         (1,000)           792
                                     -----         ------            ---
    Income before income
     taxes                          27,445         14,735          6,474
    Provision for income
     taxes                           8,332          4,882          2,295
                                     -----          -----          -----
    Net income                     $19,113         $9,853         $4,179
                                   =======         ======         ======

    Net income per share:
      Basic                          $0.77          $0.40          $0.17
                                     =====          =====          =====
      Diluted                        $0.76          $0.39          $0.17
                                     =====          =====          =====

    Shares used in
     computation:
      Basic                         24,688         24,677         24,469
                                    ======         ======         ======
      Diluted                       25,268         25,240         24,678
                                    ======         ======         ======



            Stock-related compensation expense included in
            operating results is summarized below (all footnote
    (A)     amounts are unaudited, in thousands):



    Stock-related
     compensation expense              Three Months Ended
                                       ------------------
                             Jan. 1,        Oct. 2,       Jan. 2,
                                 2011           2010          2010
                                 ----           ----          ----
    Cost of sales                $244           $241          $219
    Research & development        337            311           273
    Selling, general &
     administrative             2,342          1,500         1,670
                                -----          -----         -----
    Impact on income from
     operations                $2,923         $2,052        $2,162
                               ------         ------        ------


    For the quarters ended January 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and January
    2, 2010, the impact on net income, net of tax was $2,248 ($0.09 per
    diluted share), $1,864 ($0.07 per diluted share) and $1,519 ($0.06
    per diluted share), respectively.



        Restructuring costs included in operating results are
    (B) summarized below:



    Restructuring costs                Three Months Ended
                                       ------------------
                             Jan. 1,        Oct. 2,       Jan. 2,
                                 2011           2010          2010
                                 ----           ----          ----
    Cost of sales                  $-         $3,453          $309
    Research & development          -            282           409
    Selling, general &
     administrative                 -            861           518
                                  ---            ---           ---
    Impact on income
     (loss) from
     operations                    $-         $4,596        $1,236
                                  ---         ------        ------


    Restructuring costs for the quarter ended January 1, 2011 were not
    material to our results of operations and have not been broken out
    here or in our non-GAAP reconciliation. For the quarters ended
    October 2, 2010 and January 2, 2010, the impact on net income, net
    of tax was $3,209 ($0.13 per diluted share) and $813 ($0.03 per
    diluted share), respectively.



             The quarter ended October 2, 2010 includes $2,185
             ($1,438 net of tax ($0.06 per diluted share)) net
             receipt from the settlement of litigation resulting
    (C)      from our internal stock option investigation.
             Changes in deferred compensation plan liabilities are
             included in cost of sales and operating expenses
             while gains and losses on deferred compensation plan
             assets are included in other income (expense) net.
             Deferred compensation expense (benefit) included in
    (D)      operating results is summarized below:



    Deferred compensation
     expense (benefit)                 Three Months Ended
                                       ------------------
                             Jan. 1,        Oct. 2,       Jan. 2,
                                 2011           2010          2010
                                 ----           ----          ----
    Cost of sales                 $50             $-           $32
    Research & development        195             15           132
    Selling, general &
     administrative             1,495             68         1,114
                                -----            ---         -----
    Impact on income from
     operations                $1,740            $83        $1,278
                               ------            ---        ------


    For the quarters ended January 1, 2011, October 2, 2010 and January
    2, 2010, the impact on other income (expense) net from gains or
    losses on deferred compensation plan assets was income of $1,553,
    expense of $74 and income of $1,063, respectively.

    Summarized balance sheet information is as follows (unaudited, in
    thousands):
                                            January 1,       October 2,
                                            ----------       ----------
                                                   2011             2010
                                                   ----             ----
                     ASSETS
    Current assets:
      Cash, cash equivalents and short-
       term investments                        $296,574         $262,771
      Restricted cash                               625              625
      Accounts receivable, net                  107,938          110,211
      Inventories                               121,210          113,858
      Prepaid expenses and other assets          66,874           55,052
                                                 ------           ------
       Total current assets                     593,221          542,517
    Property and equipment, net                  88,343           90,339
    Other assets                                158,393          170,248
                                                -------          -------
       Total assets                            $839,957         $803,104
                                               ========         ========

         LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
                     EQUITY
    Current liabilities:
      Current portion of long-term
       obligations                                  $16              $18
      Accounts payable                           40,869           39,737
      Other current liabilities                  99,649           92,165
                                                 ------           ------
       Total current liabilities                140,534          131,920
    Other long-term liabilities                  80,447           79,721
    Total stockholders' equity                  618,976          591,463
                                                -------          -------
       Total liabilities and stockholders'
        equity                                 $839,957         $803,104
                                               ========         ========


    Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP net income (unaudited, in
    thousands, net of tax):
                                           Three Months Ended
                              January        October        January
                                 1,             2,             2,
                             --------            2010      --------
                                  2011                          2010
                                  ----                          ----
    GAAP net income            $19,113         $9,853         $4,179
    Stock-related
     compensation expense        2,248          1,864          1,519
    Restructuring costs             --          3,209            813
    Stock option
     investigation and
     litigation benefit             --             --         (1,438)
    Non-GAAP net income        $21,361        $14,926         $5,073
                               =======        =======         ======

    Non-GAAP net income
     per diluted share           $0.85          $0.59          $0.21
                                 =====          =====          =====


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements, as defined under the Federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include the statements in this press release that relate to our fiscal 2011 revenue outlook, the strength of our markets and our plans for future acquisitions. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks associated with any general market recovery, our successful implementation of our customer design wins, our and our customers' exposure to risks associated with worldwide economic slowdowns, the ability of our customers to forecast their own end markets, our ability to increase our sales volumes, our ability to accurately forecast future periods, customer acceptance and adoption of our new product offerings, level of government spending and continued purchases of our existing and new products and services, our ability to timely ship our products and our customers' ability to accept such shipments, our ability to have our customers qualify our product offerings, our ability to identify and then negotiate, sign and close any potential acquisition, our ability to successfully integrate the acquired business assets and to expand our operations in Singapore and other risks identified in the Company's SEC filings. Readers are encouraged to refer to the risk disclosures and critical accounting policies and estimates described in the Company's reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, as applicable and as filed from time-to-time by the Company. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially from those presented herein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements as a result of events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Founded in 1966, Coherent, Inc. is a world leader in providing photonics based solutions to the commercial and scientific research markets and part of the Russell 2000. Please direct any questions to Leen Simonet, Chief Financial Officer at 408-764-4161. For more information about Coherent, visit the Company's Web site at http://www.coherent.com/ for product and financial updates.

SOURCE Coherent, Inc.