Microchip Technology Announces Outstanding Financial Results for Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2017
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Microchip Technology Announces Outstanding Financial Results for Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2017

CHANDLER, Ariz., Feb. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Microchip Technology Incorporated (NASDAQ:MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, today reported results for the three months ended December 31, 2016 as summarized in the following table:

(in millions, except per share amounts and percentages)Three Months Ended December 31, 2016
 GAAP% of
Net
Sales
Non-
GAAP1
% of
Net
Sales
Net Sales$834.4  $881.2  
Gross Margin$465.3 55.8%$509.7 57.8%
Operating Income$118.1 14.2%$289.1 32.8%
Other Expense$(34.6) $(20.2) 
Income Tax (Benefit) Provision$(23.8) $22.4  
Net Income from Continuing Operations$107.3 12.9%$246.5 28.0%
Earnings per Diluted Share from Continuing Operations46 cents $1.05  
Net Loss from Discontinued Operations$(0.2)%  
Loss per Diluted Share from Discontinued Operations0 cents   
See the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section of this release.
 

GAAP net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 were $834.4 million, up 54.4% from GAAP net sales of $540.3 million in the prior year's third fiscal quarter.  GAAP net income from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 was $107.3 million, or 46 cents per diluted share, up from GAAP net income of $61.2 million, or 28 cents per diluted share, in the prior year's third fiscal quarter.

Non-GAAP net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 were $881.2 million, up 59.6% from non-GAAP net sales of $552.0 million in the prior year's third fiscal quarter.  Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 was $246.5 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, up 78.1% from non-GAAP net income of $138.4 million, or 64 cents per diluted share, in the prior year's third fiscal quarter.  For the third quarters of fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, our non-GAAP results exclude the effect of discontinued operations, share-based compensation, expenses related to our acquisition activities (including intangible asset amortization, inventory valuation costs, severance costs, and legal and other general and administrative expenses associated with acquisitions), preclusion of revenue recognition under GAAP for inventory in the distribution channel on the acquisition dates of our acquisitions, revenue recognition changes related to Atmel and Micrel distributors, non-cash interest expense on our convertible debentures, gains on equity securities, impairments on available-for-sale investments, the related income tax implications of these items, tax adjustments in accordance with ASC 740-270 and non-recurring tax events.  A reconciliation of our non-GAAP and GAAP results is included in this press release.

Microchip announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of 36.10 cents per share.  The quarterly dividend is payable on March 7, 2017 to stockholders of record on February 21, 2017.

"Our December quarter financial results were extremely strong," said Steve Sanghi, Chief Executive Officer.  "Our non-GAAP net sales, gross margin percentage, operating profit percentage and diluted earnings per share all exceeded the high end of our updated guidance provided on November 29, 2016.  We were not able to provide GAAP guidance for the December quarter due to our acquisition of Atmel."

Mr. Sanghi added, “As a result of the 'go live' of our business system integration for Atmel on January 1, 2017, several of our customers requested early shipment of their product that was originally requested to be delivered in the early part of January.  We believe the impact from these customer requests added approximately one percent to our December quarter revenue.  Ordinarily we attempt to schedule these business system integrations in the middle of a quarter to minimize the impact on our quarterly revenue results.  As a result, investors should view the true end market demand for our products in the fiscal third quarter to be about one percent lower than our reported GAAP and non-GAAP net sales and our fiscal fourth quarter 2017 true end market demand to be about two percent higher than the midpoint of our GAAP and non-GAAP net sales guidance.”

Mr. Sanghi further added, "Non-GAAP earnings per share was an all-time record and was 14.5 cents per share better than the mid-point of our guidance given on November 29, and up 64.9% from the December quarter of a year ago due to improving sales, gross margin percentage, operating expense leverage and the successful execution of our core business as well as accretion from our acquisitions.  GAAP earnings per share was up 62.4% from the December quarter of a year ago."

"Microcontroller revenue was outstanding in the December quarter and represented 63.1% of Microchip’s overall revenue," said Ganesh Moorthy, President and Chief Operating Officer.  "We remain pleased with the performance and competitiveness of our 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit microcontroller portfolio.  We continue to gain market share, and we believe we have the new product momentum and customer engagement to continue to gain even more share, as we further build the best performing microcontroller franchise in the industry."

Mr. Moorthy added, "Our analog business performance was also outstanding and represented 25.9% of Microchip’s overall revenue in the December quarter.  We continue to develop and introduce a wide range of innovative and proprietary new linear, mixed-signal, power, interface, timing and security products to fuel the future growth of our analog business."

Eric Bjornholt, Microchip's Chief Financial Officer, said, "The cash flow from operations in the December quarter was a record $290.8 million.  As of December 31, 2016, the consolidated cash and total investment position on our balance sheet was $699.7 million."

Mr. Sanghi added, "I want to thank all of the employees of Microchip, including acquired employees from Micrel, Atmel and other acquisitions worldwide for delivering such a strong quarter."

Mr. Sanghi concluded, "We expect total net sales to be between $872 million and $908 million in the March 2017 quarter.  Having achieved non-GAAP operating profit of 32.8% in the December quarter which is very close to our long term target of 33% non-GAAP operating profit, we are revising our long-term operating model.  Our long-term non-GAAP operating model used to be 59% gross margin, 26% operating expenses and 33% operating profit.  Today we are revising it upwards to 60% non-GAAP gross margin, 24% non-GAAP operating expenses and 36% non-GAAP operating profit.  Microchip does not utilize a GAAP long-term operating model.”

Microchip's Highlights for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2016:

Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2017 Outlook:

The following statements are based on current expectations.  These statements are forward-looking, and actual results may differ materially.  The table below provides our guidance on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis for the March 31, 2017 quarter:

 Microchip Consolidated Guidance
 GAAPNon-GAAP
Adjustments
Non-GAAP1
    
Net Sales$872 to $908 million $872 to $908 million
Gross Margin257.6% to 58.0%$3.8 to $3.9 million58.0% to 58.4%
Operating Expenses36.4% to 37.6%$110.0 to $113.0 million24.0% to 25.0%
Operating Income20.0% to 21.6%$113.8 to $116.9 million33.0% to 34.4%
Other Expense$35.9 million$13.1 million$22.8 million
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)(21.8%) to (23.3%)$56.0 to $58.0 million8.0% to 9.0%
Net Income$170.1 to $194.4 million$70.9 to $72.0 million$241.0 to $266.4 million
Diluted Common Shares
Outstanding3  
Approximately 238.4 to
239.4 million shares
 Approximately 238.4 to
239.4 million shares
Earnings per Diluted Share3
71 to 81 centsAbout 30 cents$1.01 to $1.11
See the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section of this release.
2 See Footnote 2 under the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section of this release.
3 Earnings per share has been calculated based on the diluted shares outstanding of Microchip on a consolidated basis.
 

1  Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures:  Our non-GAAP adjustments, where applicable, include the effect of discontinued operations, share-based compensation, expenses related to our acquisition activities (including intangible asset amortization, inventory valuation costs, severance costs, and legal and other general and administrative expenses associated with acquisitions), preclusion of revenue recognition under GAAP for inventory in the distribution channel on the acquisition dates of our acquisitions, revenue recognition changes related to Atmel and Micrel distributors, resulting from changes to business practices with those distributors, non-cash interest expense on our convertible debentures, gains on equity securities, impairments on available-for-sale investments, the related income tax implications of these items, tax adjustments in accordance with ASC 740-270 and non-recurring tax events.  Our non-GAAP results for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 reflect an adjustment for a manufacturing excursion issue with one of our suppliers.  Our non-GAAP net sales outlook for the March 2017 quarter reflects accounting for revenue for Atmel distributors on a sell-through basis.  Net sales from Atmel's sell-through distributors that the distributors owned as of the acquisition date is not recognized for GAAP purposes.  We believe that our disclosure of non-GAAP net sales provides investors with useful information regarding the actual end market demand for our products.

We are required to estimate the cost of certain forms of share-based compensation, including employee stock options, restricted stock units and our employee stock purchase plan, and to record a commensurate expense in our income statement.  Share-based compensation expense is a non-cash expense that varies in amount from period to period and is affected by the price of our stock at the date of grant.  The price of our stock is affected by market forces that are difficult to predict and are not within the control of management.  Our other non-GAAP adjustments are either non-cash expenses or other expenses related to transactions.  Management excludes all of these items from its internal operating forecasts and models.

We are using non-GAAP net sales, non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross profit percentage, non-GAAP operating expenses in dollars and as a percentage of sales including non-GAAP research and development expenses and non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP other expense, net, non-GAAP income tax rate, non-GAAP net income from continuing operations, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations which exclude the items noted above, as applicable, to permit additional analysis of our performance.

Management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors because they enhance the understanding of our historical financial performance and comparability between periods.  Many of our investors have requested that we disclose this non-GAAP information because they believe it is useful in understanding our performance as it excludes non-cash and other charges that many investors feel may obscure our underlying operating results.  Management uses these non-GAAP measures to manage and assess the profitability of our business.  Specifically, we do not consider such items when developing and monitoring our budgets and spending.  Our determination of the above non-GAAP measures might not be the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies, and it should not be construed as a substitute for amounts determined in accordance with GAAP.  There are limitations associated with using non-GAAP measures, including that they exclude financial information that some may consider important in evaluating our performance.  Management compensates for this by presenting information on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis for investors and providing reconciliations of the GAAP and non-GAAP results.

2  Generally, gross margin fluctuates over time, driven primarily by the mix of microcontrollers, mixed-signal products, analog products and memory products sold and licensing revenue; variances in manufacturing yields; fixed cost absorption; wafer fab loading levels; costs of wafers from foundries; inventory reserves; pricing pressures in our non-proprietary product lines; and competitive and economic conditions.  Operating expenses fluctuate over time, primarily due to net sales and profit levels.

3  Diluted Common Shares Outstanding can vary for, among other things, the trading price of our common stock, the exercise of options or vesting of restricted stock units, the potential for incremental dilutive shares from our convertible debentures (additional information regarding our share count is available in the investor relations section of our website under the heading "Supplemental Financial Information"), and repurchases or issuances of shares of our common stock.  The diluted common shares outstanding presented in the guidance table above assumes an average Microchip stock price in the March 2017 quarter between $69 and $71 per share (however, we make no prediction as to what our actual share price will be for such period or any other period and we cannot estimate what our stock option exercise activity will be during the quarter).

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
       
  Three Months ended Nine Months Ended
  December 31, December 31,
  2016 2015 2016 2015
         
Net sales

 
 $834,366  $540,344  $2,505,141  $1,615,687 
Cost of sales 369,107  247,626  1,280,771  713,002 
Gross profit 465,259  292,718  1,224,370  902,685 
         
Research and development 132,433  97,022  418,111  276,958 
Selling, general and administrative 111,017  76,270  388,651  223,377 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets 82,791  48,312  243,356  126,764 
Special charges (income) and other, net 20,944  (5,018) 52,522  3,187 
Operating expenses 347,185  216,586  1,102,640  630,286 
         
Operating income
 118,074  76,132  121,730  272,399 
Losses on equity method investments (55) (56) (167) (289)
Other expense, net (34,521) (25,918) (103,578) (48,430)
         
Income before income taxes 83,498  50,158  17,985  223,680 
Income tax benefit (23,837) (11,053) (15,699) (32,890)
Net income from continuing operations 107,335  61,211  33,684  256,570 
Discontinued operations:        
Loss from discontinued operations (191)   (7,514)  
Income tax benefit (31)   (1,561)  
Net loss from discontinued operations (160)   (5,953)  
         
Net income 107,175  61,211  27,731  256,570 
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests       207 
Net income attributable to Microchip Technology $107,175  $61,211  $27,731  $256,777 
         
Basic net income per common share attributable to Microchip Technology stockholders
        
Net income from continuing operations $0.50  $0.30  $0.16  $1.26 
Net loss from discontinued operations     (0.03)  
Net income attributable to Microchip Technology $0.50  $0.30  $0.13  $1.26 
Diluted net income per common share attributable to Microchip Technology stockholders
        
Net income from continuing operations $0.46  $0.28  $0.14  $1.18 
Net loss from discontinued operations     (0.02)  
Net income attributable to Microchip Technology $0.46  $0.28  $0.12  $1.18 
         
Basic common shares outstanding 216,210  203,294  215,360  203,267 
Diluted common shares outstanding 235,424  217,975  233,351  217,280 



MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
    
ASSETS
    
 December 31, March 31,
 2016 2016
 (Unaudited)  
Cash and short-term investments$669,643  $2,446,035 
Accounts receivable, net475,093  290,183 
Inventories419,618  306,815 
Assets held for sale5,757   
Other current assets106,639  53,680 
Total current assets1,676,750  3,096,713 
    
Property, plant and equipment, net698,704  609,396 
Long-term investments30,007  118,549 
Other assets4,739,120  1,713,225 
Total assets$7,144,581  $5,537,883 
    
    
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities$357,294  $198,577 
Deferred income on shipments to distributors294,259  183,432 
Total current liabilities651,553  382,009 
    
Long-term line of credit1,675,423  1,043,156 
Senior convertible debentures1,250,178  1,216,313 
Junior convertible debentures198,393  193,936 
Long-term income tax payable266,763  111,061 
Long-term deferred tax liability386,824  399,218 
Other long-term liabilities148,549  41,271 
    
Stockholders' equity2,566,898  2,150,919 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$7,144,581  $5,537,883 



MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
(in thousands except per share amounts and percentages)
(unaudited)
 
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET SALES TO NON-GAAP NET SALES
 
 Three Months ended Nine Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
Net sales, as reported$834,366  $540,344  $2,505,141  $1,615,687 
Distributor revenue recognition adjustment46,821  11,669  93,879  29,710 
Non-GAAP net sales$881,187  $552,013  $2,599,020  $1,645,397 


RECONCILIATION OF GAAP GROSS PROFIT TO NON-GAAP GROSS PROFIT
 
 Three Months ended Nine Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
Gross profit, as reported$465,259  $292,718  $1,224,370  $902,685 
Distributor revenue recognition adjustment, net of product cost25,985  6,936  50,323  18,399 
Share-based compensation expense3,468  2,270  15,465  6,325 
Manufacturing excursion    800   
Acquisition-related restructuring and acquired inventory valuation costs15,008  17,817  189,774  27,449 
Non-GAAP gross profit$509,720  $319,741  $1,480,732  $954,858 
Non-GAAP gross profit percentage57.8% 57.9% 57.0% 58.0%


RECONCILIATION OF GAAP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES TO NON-GAAP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES
 
 Three Months ended Nine Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
Research and development expenses, as reported$132,433  $97,022  $418,111  $276,958 
Share-based compensation expense(9,881) (7,855) (37,569) (23,623)
Acquisition-related and other costs(723)   25   
Non-GAAP research and development expenses$121,829  $89,167  $380,567  $253,335 
Non-GAAP research and development expenses as a percentage of net sales13.8% 16.2% 14.6% 15.4%


RECONCILIATION OF GAAP SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES TO NON-GAAP SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
 
 Three Months ended Nine Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
Selling, general and administrative expenses, as reported$111,017  $76,270  $388,651  $223,377 
Share-based compensation expense(8,771) (6,840) (53,055) (24,155)
Acquisition-related and other costs(3,444) (1,461) (21,992) (4,698)
Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses$98,802  $67,969  $313,604  $194,524 
Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales11.2% 12.3% 12.1% 11.8%


RECONCILIATION OF GAAP OPERATING EXPENSES TO NON-GAAP OPERATING EXPENSES
 
 Three Months ended Nine Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
Operating expenses, as reported$347,185  $216,586  $1,102,640  $630,286 
Share-based compensation expense(18,652) (14,695) (90,624) (47,778)
Acquisition-related and other costs(4,167) (1,461) (21,967) (4,698)
Amortization of acquired intangible assets(82,791) (48,312) (243,356) (126,764)
Special charges (income) and other, net(20,944) 5,018  (52,522) (3,187)
Non-GAAP operating expenses$220,631  $157,136  $694,171  $447,859 
Non-GAAP operating expenses as a percentage of net sales25.0% 28.5% 26.7% 27.2%


RECONCILIATION OF GAAP OPERATING INCOME TO NON-GAAP OPERATING INCOME
 
 Three Months ended Nine Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
Operating income, as reported$118,074  $76,132  $121,730  $272,399 
Distributor revenue recognition adjustment25,985  6,936  50,323  18,399 
Share-based compensation expense22,120  16,965  106,089  54,103 
Manufacturing excursion    800   
Acquisition-related restructuring, acquired inventory valuation and other costs19,175  19,278  211,741  32,147 
Amortization of acquired intangible assets82,791  48,312  243,356  126,764 
Special charges (income) and other, net20,944  (5,018) 52,522  3,187 
Non-GAAP operating income$289,089  $162,605  $786,561  $506,999 
Non-GAAP operating income as a percentage of net sales32.8% 29.5% 30.3% 30.8%


RECONCILIATION OF GAAP OTHER EXPENSE, NET TO NON-GAAP OTHER EXPENSE, NET
 
 Three Months ended Nine Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
Other expense, net, as reported$(34,521) $(25,918) $(103,578) $(48,430)
Gain on equity securities and equity method investment  (83) (468) (16,147)
Non-cash other expense, net12,955  12,813  38,244  37,085 
Impairment on available-for-sale investment1,433  3,995  1,433  3,995 
Other expenses on acquisition restructuring  501    501 
Non-GAAP other expense, net$(20,133) $(8,692) $(64,369) $(22,996)
Non-GAAP other expense, net, as a percentage of net sales(2.3)% (1.6)% (2.5)% (1.4)%


RECONCILIATION OF GAAP INCOME TAX BENEFIT TO NON-GAAP INCOME TAX PROVISION
 
 Three Months ended Nine Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
Income tax benefit, as reported$(23,837) $(11,053) $(15,699) $(32,890)
Income tax rate, as reported(28.5)% (22.0)% (87.3)% (14.7)%
Distributor revenue recognition adjustment(20) 2,556  4,164  6,810 
Share-based compensation expense7,376  5,460  36,622  17,566 
Manufacturing excursion    295   
Acquisition-related restructuring, acquired inventory valuation costs, intangible asset amortization and other costs8,688  12,797  28,630  32,781 
Special charges (income) and other, net8,557  (201) 18,069  1,414 
Gain on equity securities and equity method investment  (31) (172) (31)
Impairment on available-for-sale investment526  1,472  526  1,472 
Non-cash other expense, net4,698  4,722  14,017  13,734 
Non-recurring tax events7,524  (301) 10,335  12,406 
Tax adjustment in accordance with ASC 740-270
8,841    (34,901)  
Non-GAAP income tax provision$22,353  $15,421  $61,886  $53,262 
Non-GAAP income tax rate8.3% 10.0% 8.6% 11.0%


RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS AND GAAP DILUTED NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS ATTRIBUTABLE TO MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY STOCKHOLDERS TO NON-GAAP NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS AND NON-GAAP DILUTED NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS ATTRIBUTABLE TO MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY STOCKHOLDERS
 
 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 December 31, December 31,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
Net income from continuing operations, as reported$107,335  $61,211  $33,684  $256,777 
Distributor revenue recognition adjustment, net of tax effect26,005  4,380  46,159  11,589 
Share-based compensation expense, net of tax effect14,744  11,505  69,467  36,537 
Manufacturing excursion, net of tax effect    505   
Acquisition-related restructuring, acquired inventory valuation costs, intangible asset amortization and other costs, net of tax effect93,278  55,294  426,467  126,631 
Special charges (income) and other, net of tax effect12,387  (4,817) 34,453  1,773 
Noncontrolling interests      (375)
Gain on equity securities and equity method investment, net of tax effect  (52) (296) (16,116)
Impairment on available-for-sale investment, net of tax effect907  2,523  907  2,523 
Non-cash other expense, net of tax effect8,257  8,091  24,227  23,351 
Non-recurring tax events(7,524) 301  (10,335) (12,406)
Tax adjustment in accordance with ASC 740-270(8,841)   34,901   
Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations$246,548  $138,436  $660,139  $430,284 
Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations as a percentage of net sales28.0% 25.1% 25.4% 26.2%
Diluted net income per common share from continuing operations attributable to Microchip Technology stockholders, as reported$0.46  $0.28  $0.14  $1.18 
Non-GAAP diluted net income per common share from continuing operations attributable to Microchip Technology stockholders$1.05  $0.64  $2.83  $1.98 
Diluted common shares outstanding, as reported235,424  217,975  233,351  217,280 
Diluted common shares outstanding Non-GAAP235,424  217,975  233,351  217,109 
            

Microchip will host a conference call today, February 7, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss this release.  This call will be simulcast over the Internet at www.microchip.com. The webcast will be available for replay until February 21, 2017.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available at approximately 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 7, 2017 and will remain available until 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 21, 2017.  Interested parties may listen to the replay by dialing 719-457-0820 and entering access code 3591995.

Cautionary Statement:

The statements in this release relating to improving sales, gross margin percentage, operating expense leverage and accretion from our acquisitions, our belief that the impact from customer requests added approximately one percent to our December quarter revenue, that investors should view the true end market demand for our products in the fiscal third quarter to be about one percent lower than our reported GAAP and non-GAAP net sales and our fiscal fourth quarter 2017 true end market demand to be about two percent higher than the midpoint of our GAAP and non-GAAP net sales guidance, continuing to gain market share, having the new product momentum and customer engagement to continue to gain even more microcontroller market share, building the best performing microcontroller franchise in the industry, continuing to develop and introduce a wide range of innovative and proprietary new products to fuel the future growth of our analog business, expecting net sales in the March quarter to be between $872 million and $908 million, our long-term non-GAAP operating model being 60% gross margin, 24% operating expenses and 36% operating profit, that our MOST technology is still a leading standard for automotive infotainment, our fourth quarter fiscal 2017 GAAP and non-GAAP guidance including net sales, gross margin, operating expenses, operating income, other expense, income tax (benefit)/expense, net income, diluted common shares outstanding, earnings per diluted share, inventory days, capital expenditures for the March 2017 quarter and for all of fiscal 2017, continuing to invest to support the growth of our production capabilities for fast growing new products and technologies, that non-GAAP results provide investors with useful information regarding the actual end market demand for our products, and assumed average stock price in the March 2017 quarter are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to: any economic uncertainty due to monetary policy, political or other issues in the U.S. or internationally, any unexpected fluctuations or weakness in the U.S. and global economies (including China), changes in demand or market acceptance of our products and the products of our customers; foreign currency effects on our business; the mix of inventory we hold and our ability to satisfy short-term orders from our inventory; changes in utilization of our manufacturing capacity and our ability to effectively manage our production levels; competitive developments including pricing pressures; the level of orders that are received and can be shipped in a quarter; the level of sell-through of our products through distribution; changes or fluctuations in customer order patterns and seasonality; our ability to successfully integrate the operations and employees, retain key employees and customers and otherwise realize the expected synergies and benefits of our Atmel acquisition; our ability to continue to realize the expected benefits of our other acquisitions; the impact of any other significant acquisitions that we may make; our ability to obtain a sufficient supply of wafers from third party wafer foundries and the cost of such wafers, the costs and outcome of any current or future tax audit or any litigation or other matters involving intellectual property, customers, or other issues; our actual average stock price in the March 2017 quarter and the impact such price will have on our share count; fluctuations in our stock price and trading volume which could impact the number of shares we acquire under our share repurchase program and the timing of such repurchases; disruptions in our business or the businesses of our customers or suppliers due to natural disasters (including any floods in Thailand), terrorist activity, armed conflict, war, worldwide oil prices and supply, public health concerns or disruptions in the transportation system; and general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally.

For a detailed discussion of these and other risk factors, please refer to Microchip's filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.  You can obtain copies of Forms 10-K and 10-Q and other relevant documents for free at Microchip's website ( www.microchip.com) or the SEC's website ( www.sec.gov) or from commercial document retrieval services.

Stockholders of Microchip are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date such statements are made.  Microchip does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or new information after this February 7, 2017 press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

About Microchip:

Microchip Technology Incorporated is a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide.  Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality.  For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.

Note:  The Microchip name and logo, MOST, MPLAB, SuperFlash, tinyAVR and PIC are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the USA and other countries.  All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
J. Eric Bjornholt -- CFO
(480) 792-7804

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