Novell Reports Financial Results for First Fiscal Quarter 2008

Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOVL) today announced financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended Jan. 31, 2008. For the quarter, Novell reported net revenue of $231 million. This compares to net revenue of $218 million for the first fiscal quarter 2007. Income from operations for the first fiscal quarter 2008 was $8 million, compared to a loss from operations of $21 million for the first fiscal quarter 2007. Income from continuing operations in the first fiscal quarter 2008 was $15 million, or $0.04 per share. This compares to a loss from continuing operations of $12 million, or $0.04 loss per share, for the first fiscal quarter 2007. Foreign currency exchange rates favorably impacted revenue and unfavorably impacted operating expenses by $7 million and did not materially impact income from operations year-over-year.

On a non-GAAP basis, income from operations for the first fiscal quarter 2008 was $24 million. This compares to non-GAAP loss from operations of $1 million in the year-ago quarter. Non-GAAP income from continuing operations for the first fiscal quarter 2008 was $29 million, or $0.08 per share. This compares to non-GAAP income from continuing operations of $3 million, or $0.01 per share, for the first fiscal quarter 2007.

For the first fiscal quarter 2008, Novell reported $30 million of revenue from Open Platform Solutions of which $28 million was from Linux* Platform Products, up 65 percent year-over-year. Revenue from Identity and Security was $32 million, of which Security was $28 million, up 15 percent year-over-year. Revenue from Systems and Resource Management was $37 million, up 5 percent year-over-year. Workgroup revenue of $90 million was up 1 percent year-over-year.

“We are very pleased with our results this quarter. We delivered product revenue growth across all business units and continued expense control this quarter,” said Ron Hovsepian, president and CEO of Novell. “These results are indicative that our strategic initiatives are yielding tangible results and that we are on the right path to achieve long-term, sustainable profitability.”

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $1.8 billion at Jan. 31, 2008, consistent with the year-ago quarter. Days sales outstanding in accounts receivable was 51 days at the end of the first fiscal quarter 2008, down from 57 days at the end of the year-ago quarter. Total deferred revenue was $723 million at the end of the first fiscal quarter 2008, down from $728 million at the end of the year-ago quarter. Cash flow from operations was a negative $26 million for the first fiscal quarter 2008, which includes $31 million in special interest and restructuring payments. This compares to cash flow from operations of $348 million in the first fiscal quarter 2007, which includes the $348 million payment from Microsoft and $8 million in special interest payments.

Full details on Novell's reported results, including a reconciliation of the non-GAAP results, are included in the financial schedules that are a part of this release.

Financial Outlook

As a result of our acquisition of PlateSpin and our first fiscal quarter 2008 performance, Novell® management issues the following financial guidance:

For the full fiscal year 2008:

• Net revenue is expected to be between $940 million and $970 million, exceeding previously stated guidance of between $920 million and $945 million.
• Non-GAAP operating margin is expected to be between 7 and 9 percent, excluding all acquisition- related intangible asset amortization.

Conference Call Notification and Web Access Detail

A live Webcast of a Novell conference call to discuss the quarter will be broadcast at 5:00 PM ET Feb. 28, 2008, from Novell's Investor Relations Web page: http://www.novell.com/company/ir/qresults/. The domestic conference call dial-in number is 866-335-5255, password “Novell”, and the international dial-in number is +1-706-679-2263, password “Novell”.

The call will be archived on the Novell Web site approximately two hours after its conclusion and will remain on the Web site until March 14, 2008. The call will also be available for telephone playback through midnight ET, March 14, 2008. The domestic toll-free replay number is 800-642-1687, and the international replay number is +1-706-645-9291. Replay listeners must enter conference ID number 33480646.

A copy of this press release is posted on Novell's Web site at: http://www.novell.com/company/ir/qresults/.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We supplement our consolidated unaudited condensed financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP with certain non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures include adjusted income (loss) from operations, operating margin, income from continuing operations, net income, income per share from continuing operations and net income per share both of which are based on an adjusted number of diluted weighted average shares. We provide non-GAAP financial measures to enhance an overall understanding of our current financial performance and prospects for the future and enable investors to evaluate our performance in the same way that management does. Management uses these same non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate performance, allocate resources, and determine bonuses. The non-GAAP financial measures do not replace the presentation of our GAAP financial results, but they eliminate expenses and gains that are unusual, that are excluded from analysts' consensus estimates, and/or that arise outside of the ordinary course of business, such as, but not limited to, stock-based compensation expenses, restructuring expenses, asset impairments, litigation judgments and settlements, the write-off of acquired in-process research and development, and gains (losses) on the sale of business operations, long-term investments, and property, plant and equipment.

Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that are not historical in nature and that may be characterized as “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, including those related to future financial and operating results, future opportunities, the benefits and synergies of the company's brands, strategies and acquisitions, and the growth of the market for Linux Platform Products, Security, and Systems and Resource Management. You should be aware that Novell's actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations of Novell management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, Novell's completion of announced acquisitions, Novell's ability to transform its business through the implementation of its strategic plan, Novell's ability to realize the benefits anticipated from the Microsoft transaction and other transactions, Novell's ability to realize the benefits anticipated from its restructuring plan, and the expected charges to be incurred and payments to be made under the restructuring plan, Novell's ability to achieve its expense targets, Novell's success in executing its Linux Platform Products, Security, and Systems and Resource Management strategies, Novell's ability to take a competitive position in the Linux Platform Products, Security, and Systems and Resource Management industries, business conditions and the general economy, market opportunities, potential new business strategies, competitive factors, sales and marketing execution, shifts in technologies or market demand, Novell's ability to integrate acquired operations and employees, and the other factors described in Novell's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Dec. 21, 2007. Novell disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release except as required by the securities laws.