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8-K - 8-K - TRIMBLE INC.d919234d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

Trimble Reports First Quarter 2015 Results

 

    First Quarter 2015 Revenue $582.6 Million, Down 4 Percent

 

    GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.13; Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.28

SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 30, 2015 – Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2015.

First Quarter 2015 Financial Summary

First quarter 2015 revenue of $582.6 million was down 4 percent as compared to the first quarter of 2014. Engineering and Construction revenue was $299.3 million, down 3 percent. Field Solutions revenue was $115.3 million, down 17 percent. Mobile Solutions revenue was $128.2 million, up 8 percent. Advanced Devices revenue was $39.8 million, up 3 percent. Foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted company revenue by approximately 4 percent as compared to the first quarter of 2014.

GAAP operating income was $39.5 million, down 48 percent as compared to the first quarter of 2014. GAAP operating margin was 6.8 percent of revenue as compared to 12.5 percent of revenue in the first quarter of 2014.

GAAP net income was $34.1 million, down 50 percent as compared to the first quarter of 2014. Diluted GAAP earnings per share were $0.13 as compared to diluted GAAP earnings per share of $0.26 in the first quarter of 2014.

Non-GAAP operating income of $96.8 million was down 24 percent as compared to the first quarter of 2014. Non-GAAP operating margin was 16.6 percent of revenue as compared to 21.2 percent of revenue in the first quarter of 2014.

Non-GAAP net income of $72.7 million was down 29 percent as compared to the first quarter of 2014. Diluted non-GAAP earnings per share were $0.28 as compared to diluted non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.39 in the first quarter of 2014.

The GAAP tax rate for the quarter was 23 percent and the non-GAAP tax rate was 24 percent.

Operating cash flow in the quarter was $107.2 million, up 29 percent as compared to the first quarter of 2014.

“We continued to face the same headwinds we encountered in late 2014, primarily associated with the agriculture market, the fallout from the oil price decline, and the strong dollar,” said Steven W. Berglund, Trimble’s president and chief executive officer. “On the positive side, we had several meaningful competitive wins that validate our strategy in construction and transportation. We continue to see a challenge in the first half of 2015 with a return to growth and improved margins in the second half.”


Forward Looking Guidance

For the second quarter of 2015 Trimble expects revenue to be between $570 million and $600 million with GAAP earnings per share of $0.04 to $0.12 and non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.23 to $0.30. Non-GAAP guidance excludes the amortization of intangibles of $40 million related to previous acquisitions, anticipated acquisition costs of $4 million, the anticipated impact of stock-based compensation expense of $13 million, and $5 million in anticipated restructuring charges. GAAP guidance assumes a tax rate of 28 percent and non-GAAP guidance assumes a tax rate of 24 percent. Both GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per share assume approximately 262 million shares outstanding.

Investor Conference Call / Webcast Details

Trimble will hold a conference call on April 30, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. PT to review its first quarter 2015 results. It will be broadcast live on the Web at http://investor.trimble.com. Investors without Internet access may dial into the call at (800) 528-9198 (U.S.) or (702) 928-6633 (international). The pass code is 30863036. The replay will also be available on the Web at the address above.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

To help our investors understand our past financial performance and our future results, as well as our performance relative to competitors, we supplement the financial results that we provide in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, with non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures can be used to evaluate our historical and prospective financial performance, as well as our performance relative to competitors. Our management regularly uses our supplemental non-GAAP financial measures internally to understand, manage and evaluate our business, and to make operating decisions. These non-GAAP measures are among the primary factors management uses in planning for and forecasting future periods. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business. Further, we believe some of our investors track our “core operating performance” as a means of evaluating our performance in the ordinary, ongoing, and customary course of our operations. Core operating performance excludes items that are non-cash, not expected to recur or not reflective of ongoing financial results. Management also believes that looking at our core operating performance provides a supplemental way to provide consistency in period to period comparisons.

The specific non-GAAP measures, which we use along with a reconciliation to the nearest comparable GAAP measures and the explanation for why these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors regarding our financial condition and results of operations and why management chose to exclude selected items can be found at the end of this release. The method we use to produce non-GAAP results is not computed according to GAAP and may differ from the methods used by other companies. Our non-GAAP results are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable


GAAP measures and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP results, which is attached to this earnings release. Additional financial information about our use of non-GAAP results can be found on the investor relations page of our Web site at http://investor.trimble.com.

About Trimble

Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.

For more information visit: www.trimble.com.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include expectations for future financial market and economic conditions, the impact of acquisitions, the ability to deliver revenue, earnings per share and other financial projections that Trimble has guided for the second quarter and second half of 2015, the expected tax rate, the anticipated impact of stock-based compensation expense, the amortization of intangibles related to previous acquisitions and the anticipated number of shares outstanding and interest costs. These forward-looking statements are subject to change, and actual results may materially differ from those set forth in this press release due to certain risks and uncertainties. The Company’s results may be adversely affected if the Company is unable to market, manufacture and ship new products, obtain new customers, or integrate new acquisitions. The Company’s results would also be negatively impacted by weakening in the macro environment. Any failure to achieve predicted results could negatively impact the Company’s revenues, cash flow from operations, and other financial results. The Company’s financial results will also depend on a number of other factors and risks detailed from time to time in reports filed with the SEC, including its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its annual report on Form 10- K, such as changes in economic conditions, further worsening in the agricultural market, critical part supply chain shortages, possible write-offs of goodwill, and regulatory proceedings affecting GPS. Undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statement contained herein, especially in light of greater uncertainty than normal in the economy in general. These statements reflect the Company’s position as of the date of this release.


The Company expressly disclaims any undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any statements to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change of events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

FTRMB


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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In millions, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     First Quarter of  
     2015     2014  

Revenues:

    

Product

   $ 400.6      $ 442.6   

Service

     100.9        93.3   

Subscription

     81.1        68.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

  582.6      604.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of sales:

Product

  187.7      203.7   

Service

  41.4      34.2   

Subscription

  23.8      19.0   

Amortization of purchased intangible assets

  22.5      20.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cost of sales

  275.4      277.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

  307.2      326.9   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin (%)

  52.7   54.1

Operating expenses

Research and development

  87.2      76.4   

Sales and marketing

  96.5      97.4   

General and administrative

  64.7      57.4   

Restructuring

  1.1      0.3   

Amortization of purchased intangible assets

  18.2      19.7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

  267.7      251.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

  39.5      75.7   

Non-operating income, net

Interest expense, net

  (6.4   (3.7

Foreign currency transaction gain, (loss), net

  1.1      (0.1

Income from equity method investments, net

  3.0      3.5   

Other income, net

  7.0      13.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-operating income, net

  4.7      12.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before taxes

  44.2      88.5   

Income tax provision

  10.2      20.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

  34.0      68.1   

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

  (0.1   (0.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Trimble Navigation Ltd.

$ 34.1    $ 68.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per share attributable to Trimble Navigation Ltd.

Basic

$ 0.13    $ 0.26   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

$ 0.13    $ 0.26   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used in calculating earnings per share:

Basic

  259.4      259.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

  262.4      264.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

 

As of

   First Quarter of
2015
    Fiscal Year End
2014
 

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 145.7      $ 148.0   

Accounts receivable, net

     383.0        362.0   

Other receivables

     20.4        29.5   

Inventories, net

     276.0        278.1   

Deferred income taxes

     47.1        45.6   

Other current assets

     44.8        39.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

  917.0      902.6   

Property and equipment, net

  155.2      157.4   

Goodwill

  2,059.4      2,101.2   

Other purchased intangible assets, net

  546.2      594.5   

Other non-current assets

  119.9      118.6   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

$ 3,797.7    $ 3,874.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities

Current liabilities:

Current portion of long-term debt

$ 133.1    $ 64.4   

Accounts payable

  114.0      103.8   

Accrued compensation and benefits

  81.1      98.9   

Deferred revenue

  255.4      211.6   

Accrued warranty expense

  19.0      20.6   

Other accrued liabilities

  95.7      89.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

  698.3      588.3   

Non-current portion of long-term debt

  530.3      674.0   

Non-current deferred revenue

  27.0      26.3   

Deferred income taxes

  110.8      121.1   

Other non-current liabilities

  90.7      95.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

  1,457.1      1,505.5   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

Equity

Shareholders’ equity:

Common stock

  1,233.3      1,207.3   

Retained earnings

  1,234.5      1,211.0   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (128.4   (61.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Trimble Navigation Ltd. shareholders’ equity

  2,339.4      2,357.0   

Noncontrolling interests

  1.2      11.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

  2,340.6      2,368.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

$ 3,797.7    $ 3,874.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

 

     First Quarter of  
     2015     2014  

Cash flow from operating activities:

    

Net Income

   $ 34.0      $ 68.1   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation expense

     8.7        7.5   

Amortization expense

     40.7        40.6   

Provision for doubtful accounts

     1.0        0.5   

Deferred income taxes

     (1.3     (1.5

Stock-based compensation

     12.5        10.1   

Income from equity method investments

     (3.0     (3.5

Gain on an equity sale

     —          (15.1

Acquisition / divestiture (gain)/loss

     (5.8     1.7   

Excess tax benefit for stock-based compensation

     (0.7     (10.2

Provision for excess and obsolete inventories

     0.8        1.1   

Other non-cash items

     11.0        (2.3

Add decrease (increase) in assets:

    

Accounts receivables

     (28.9     (61.9

Other receivables

     4.9        (1.7

Inventories

     (6.4     (13.4

Other current and non-current assets

     (8.0     (2.2

Add increase (decrease) in liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

     11.2        10.5   

Accrued compensation and benefits

     (15.0     (11.5

Deferred revenue

     49.4        47.1   

Accrued warranty expense

     (1.5     0.4   

Other liabilities

     3.6        19.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  107.2      83.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flow from investing activities:

Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired

  (36.9   (11.0

Acquisitions of property and equipment

  (10.6   (13.6

Purchases of equity method investments

  (1.3   —     

Net proceeds from sale of business

  12.6      —     

Dividends received from equity method investments

  —        12.4   

Other

  0.8      (2.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (35.4   (14.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flow from financing activities:

Issuance of common stock, net of tax withholdings

  14.7      32.5   

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

  (12.6   —     

Excess tax benefit for stock-based compensation

  0.7      10.2   

Proceeds from debt and revolving credit lines

  130.0      17.0   

Payments on debt and revolving credit lines

  (198.0   (110.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

  (65.2   (51.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

  (8.9   (0.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

  (2.3   18.0   

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period

  148.0      147.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period

$ 145.7    $ 165.2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


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REPORTING SEGMENTS

(Dollars in millions)

(Unaudited)

 

     Reporting Segments  
     Engineering
and
Construction
    Field
Solutions
    Mobile
Solutions
    Advanced
Devices
 

FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL 2015 :

        

Revenues

   $ 299.3      $ 115.3      $ 128.2      $ 39.8   

Operating income before corporate allocations:

   $ 37.0      $ 40.6      $ 20.5      $ 15.2   

Operating margin (% of segment external net revenues)

     12.4     35.2     16.0     38.2

FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL 2014 :

        

Revenues

   $ 309.3      $ 138.2      $ 118.6      $ 38.6   

Operating income before corporate allocations:

   $ 61.1  ( A )    $ 53.7  ( A )    $ 17.3  ( A )    $ 12.2  ( A ) 

Operating margin (% of segment external net revenues)

     19.8     38.9     14.6     31.6

 

(A) Beginning with the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company changed its methodology for allocating stock-based compensation. Historically, the Company allocated stock-based compensation to each business segment. Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, stock-based compensation is considered a corporate expense and not reflected in segment results. The Company has adjusted the segment operating income for all prior periods to conform to the current year methodology.


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GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION

(Dollars in millions, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

            First Quarter of  
            2015     2014  
            Dollar     % of     Dollar     % of  
            Amount     Revenue     Amount     Revenue  

GROSS MARGIN:

           

GAAP gross margin:

      $ 307.2        52.7   $ 326.9        54.1

Restructuring

     ( A )         0.2        0.0     0.1        0.0

Amortization of purchased intangible assets

     ( B )         22.5        3.9     20.9        3.4

Stock-based compensation

     ( C )         0.9        0.2     0.7        0.1
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-GAAP gross margin:

$ 330.8      56.8 $ 348.6      57.6
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES:

GAAP operating expenses:

$ 267.7      45.9 $ 251.2      41.5

Restructuring

  ( A )      (1.1   -0.2   (0.3   -0.1

Amortization of purchased intangible assets

  ( B )      (18.2 )   -3.1   (19.7   -3.3

Stock-based compensation

  ( C )      (11.6   -2.0   (9.4   -1.5

Acquisition / divestiture items

  ( D )      (2.8   -0.5   (1.4   -0.2
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-GAAP operating expenses:

$ 234.0      40.1 $ 220.4      36.4
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME:

GAAP operating income:

$ 39.5      6.8 $ 75.7      12.5

Restructuring

  ( A )      1.3      0.2   0.4      0.1

Amortization of purchased intangible assets

  ( B )      40.7      7.0   40.6      6.7

Stock-based compensation

  ( C )      12.5      2.1   10.1      1.7

Acquisition / divestiture items

  ( D )      2.8      0.5   1.4      0.2
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-GAAP operating income:

$ 96.8      16.6 $ 128.2      21.2
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NON-OPERATING INCOME, NET:

GAAP non-operating income, net:

$ 4.7    $ 12.8   

Acquisition / divestiture items

  ( D )      (5.8   1.7   

Gain on an equity sale

  ( E )      —        (15.1

Debt issuance cost write-off

  ( F )      (0.1   —     
     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Non-GAAP non-operating loss, net:

$ (1.2 $ (0.6
     

 

 

     

 

 

   
                  GAAP and
Non-GAAP
Tax Rate % ( I )
          GAAP and
Non-GAAP
Tax Rate % ( I )
 

INCOME TAX PROVISION:

           

GAAP income tax provision:

      $ 10.2        23   $ 20.4        23

Non-GAAP items tax effected

     ( G )         12.8          11.0     

Tax on gain on an equity sale

     ( H )         —            (5.8  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-GAAP income tax provision:

$ 23.0      24 $ 25.6      20
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME:

GAAP net income attributable to Trimble Navigation Ltd.

$ 34.1    $ 68.6   

Restructuring

  ( A )      1.3      0.4   

Amortization of purchased intangible assets

  ( B )      40.7      40.6   

Stock-based compensation

  ( C )      12.5      10.1   

Acquisition / divestiture items

  ( D )      (3.0   3.1   

Gain on an equity sale

  ( E )      —        (15.1

Debt issuance cost write-off

  ( F )      (0.1   —     

Non-GAAP tax adjustments

  ( G ), ( H )      (12.8   (5.2
     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Non-GAAP net income attributable to Trimble Navigation Ltd.

$ 72.7    $ 102.5   
     

 

 

     

 

 

   

DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE:

GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Trimble Navigation Ltd.

$ 0.13    $ 0.26   

Restructuring

  ( A )      —        —     

Amortization of purchased intangible assets

  ( B )      0.16      0.16   

Stock-based compensation

  ( C )      0.05      0.04   

Acquisition / divestiture items

  ( D )      (0.01   0.01   

Gain on an equity sale

  ( E )      —        (0.06

Debt issuance cost write-off

  ( F )      —        —     

Non-GAAP tax adjustments

  ( G ), ( H )      (0.05   (0.02
     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Trimble Navigation Ltd.

$ 0.28    $ 0.39   
     

 

 

     

 

 

   

OPERATING LEVERAGE:

Increase (decrease) in non-GAAP operating income

$ (31.4 $ 17.9   

Increase (decrease) in revenue

$ (22.1 $ 48.6   

Operating leverage (increase in non-GAAP operating income as a % of increase in revenue)

  N/A      36.8


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FOOTNOTES TO GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION

(Unaudited)

Our non-GAAP measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP measures. The non-GAAP financial measures included in the previous table as well as detailed explanations to the adjustments to comparable GAAP measures, are set forth below:

Non-GAAP gross margin

We believe our investors benefit by understanding our non-GAAP gross margin as a way of understanding how product mix, pricing decisions and manufacturing costs influence our business. Non-GAAP gross margin excludes restructuring costs, amortization of purchased intangible assets, and stock-based compensation from GAAP gross margin. We believe that these exclusions offer investors additional information that may be useful to view trends in our gross margin performance.

Non-GAAP operating expenses

We believe this measure is important to investors evaluating our non-GAAP spending in relation to revenue. Non-GAAP operating expenses exclude restructuring costs, amortization of purchased intangible assets, stock-based compensation, and acquisition/divestiture costs associated with external and incremental costs resulting directly from merger and acquisition activities such as legal, due diligence, and integration costs from GAAP operating expenses. We believe that these exclusions offer investors supplemental information to facilitate comparison of our operating expenses to our prior results.

Non-GAAP operating income

We believe our investors benefit by understanding our non-GAAP operating income trends which are driven by revenue, gross margin, and spending. Non-GAAP operating income excludes restructuring costs, amortization of purchased intangible assets, stock-based compensation, acquisition/divestiture costs associated with external and incremental costs resulting directly from merger and acquisition activities such as legal, due diligence, and integration costs and litigation expenses. We believe that these exclusions offer an alternative means for our investors to evaluate current operating performance compared to results of other periods.

Non-GAAP non-operating income, net

We believe this measure helps investors evaluate our non-operating income trends. Non-GAAP non-operating income, net excludes acquisition and divestiture gains/losses associated with unusual acquisition related items such as intangible asset impairment charges and gains or losses related to the acquisition or sale of certain businesses and investments, and a gain on an equity sale. These gains/losses are specific to particular acquisitions and divestitures and vary significantly in amount and timing. Non-GAAP non-operating income, net also excludes the write-off of debt issuance costs associated with terminated and/or modified credit facilities and costs associated with the issuance of new credit facilities and Senior Notes that were not capitalized as debt issuance costs. We believe that these exclusions provide investors with a supplemental view of our ongoing financial results.

Non-GAAP income tax provision

Non-GAAP items tax effected adjusts the provision for income taxes to reflect the effect of certain non-GAAP items on non-GAAP net income. We believe this information is useful to investors because it provides for consistent treatment of the excluded items in our non-GAAP presentation.

Non-GAAP net income

This measure provides a supplemental view of net income trends which are driven by non-GAAP income before taxes and our non-GAAP tax rate. Non-GAAP net income excludes restructuring costs, amortization of purchased intangible assets, stock-based compensation, acquisition and divestiture costs, a gain on an equity sale, a write off of debt issuance costs and non-GAAP tax adjustments from GAAP net income. We believe our investors benefit from understanding these exclusions and from an alternative view of our net income performance as compared to our past net income performance.

Non-GAAP diluted net income per share

We believe our investors benefit by understanding our non-GAAP operating performance as reflected in a per share calculation as a way of measuring non-GAAP operating performance by ownership in the company. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share excludes restructuring costs, amortization of purchased intangible assets, stock-based compensation, acquisition and divestiture costs, a gain on an equity sale, a write off of debt issuance costs and non-GAAP tax adjustments from GAAP diluted net income per share. We believe that these exclusions offer investors a useful view of our diluted net income per share as compared to our past diluted net income per share.

Non-GAAP operating leverage

We believe this information is beneficial to investors as a measure of how much incremental revenue contributed to our operating income. Non-GAAP operating leverage is the increase in non-GAAP operating income as a percentage of the increase in revenue. We believe that this information offers investors supplemental information to evaluate our current performance and to compare to our past non-GAAP operating leverage.

These non-GAAP measures can be used to evaluate our historical and prospective financial performance, as well as our performance relative to competitors. We believe some of our investors track our “core operating performance” as a means of evaluating our performance in the ordinary, ongoing, and customary course of our operations. Core operating performance excludes items that are non-cash, not expected to recur or not reflective of ongoing financial results. Management also believes that looking at our core operating performance provides a supplemental way to provide consistency in period to period comparisons. Accordingly, management excludes from non-GAAP those items relating to restructuring, amortization of purchased intangible assets, stock based compensation, acquisition and divestiture costs, a gain on an equity sale, a write off of debt issuance costs and non-GAAP tax adjustments. For detailed explanations of the adjustments made to comparable GAAP measures, see items (A) - ( I ) below,

 

(A) Restructuring costs. Included in our GAAP presentation of cost of sales and operating expenses, restructuring costs recorded are primarily for employee compensation resulting from reductions in employee headcount in connection with our company restructurings. We exclude restructuring costs from our non-GAAP measures because we believe they do not reflect expected future operating expenses, they are not indicative of our core operating performance, and they are not meaningful in comparisons to our past operating performance. We have incurred restructuring expense in each of the periods presented however the amount incurred can vary significantly based on whether a restructuring has occurred in the period and the timing of headcount reductions.


(B) Amortization of purchased intangible assets. Included in our GAAP presentation of gross margin and operating expenses is amortization of purchased intangible assets. US GAAP accounting requires that intangible assets are recorded at fair value and amortized over their useful lives. Consequently, the timing and size of our acquisitions will cause our operating results to vary from period to period, making a comparison to past performance difficult for investors. This accounting treatment may cause differences when comparing our results to companies that grow internally because the fair value assigned to the intangible assets acquired through acquisition may significantly exceed the equivalent expenses that a company may incur for similar efforts when performed internally. Furthermore, the useful life that we expense our intangible assets over may be substantially different from the time period that an internal growth company incurs and recognizes such expenses. We believe that by excluding the amortization of purchased intangible assets, which primarily represents technology and/or customer relationships already developed, it provides an alternative way for investors to compare our operations pre-acquisition to those post-acquisitions and to those of our competitors that have pursued internal growth strategies. However, we note that companies that grow internally will incur costs to develop intangible assets that will be expensed in the period incurred, which may make a direct comparison more difficult.
(C) Stock-based compensation. Included in our GAAP presentation of cost of sales and operating expenses, stock-based compensation consists of expenses for employee stock options and awards and purchase rights under our employee stock purchase plan. We exclude stock-based compensation expense from our non-GAAP measures because some investors may view it as not reflective of our core operating performance as it is a non-cash expense. For the first quarter and fiscal 2015 and 2014, stock-based compensation was allocated as follows:

 

     First Quarter of  
(Dollars in millions)    2015      2014  

Cost of sales

   $ 0.9       $ 0.7   

Research and development

     2.2         1.5   

Sales and Marketing

     2.3         1.9   

General and administrative

     7.1         6.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
$ 12.5    $ 10.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(D) Acquisition / divestiture items. Included in our GAAP presentation of operating expenses, acquisition costs consist of external and incremental costs resulting directly from merger and acquisition and strategic investment activities such as legal, due diligence, and integration costs as well as adjustments to the fair value of earn-out liabilities. Included in our GAAP presentation of non-operating income net, acquisition / divestiture items includes unusual acquisition, investment, or divestiture gains/losses. Although we do numerous acquisitions, the costs that have been excluded from the non-GAAP measures are costs specific to particular acquisitions. These are one-time costs that vary significantly in amount and timing and are not indicative of our core operating performance.
(E) Gain on an equity sale. Included in our GAAP presentation of non-operating income, net this amount represents a gain on a partial equity sale of Virtual Site Solutions. We excluded the gain from our non-GAAP measures. We believe that investors benefit from excluding this item from our non-GAAP measures because it facilitates an evaluation of our non-operating income trends.
(F) Debt issuance cost write-off. Included in our GAAP non-operating income, net this amount represents a write-off of debt issuance costs for terminated and/or modified credit facilities and costs associated with the issuance of new credit facilities and Senior Notes that were not capitalized as debt issuance costs. We excluded the debt issuance cost write-off from our non-GAAP measures. We believe that investors benefit from excluding this item from our non-operating income to facilitate a more meaningful evaluation of our non-operating income trends.
(G) Non-GAAP items tax effected. This amount adjusts the provision for income taxes to reflect the effect of the non-GAAP items
( A ) - ( F ) on non-GAAP net income. We believe this information is useful to investors because it provides for consistent treatment of the excluded items in this non-GAAP presentation.
(H) Tax on gain on an equity sale. This amount represents the tax effect of a gain on a partial equity sale of Virtual Site Solutions. We excluded this item as it represents the tax effect of a non-recurring gain. We believe that investors benefit from excluding this item from our non-GAAP income tax provision because it facilitates a comparison of the non-GAAP tax rate in 2014 to the non-GAAP tax rates in the current and prior periods.
(I) GAAP and non-GAAP tax rate %. These percentages are defined as GAAP income tax provision as a percentage of GAAP income before taxes and non-GAAP income tax provision as a percentage of non-GAAP income before taxes. We believe that investors benefit from a presentation of non-GAAP tax rate percentage as a way of facilitating a comparison to non-GAAP tax rates in prior periods.