MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel, Feb. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TowerJazz (NASDAQ:TSEM) (TASE:TSEM) today reports results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2016 ended December 31, 2016.

Highlights of the Full Year 2016

• Record revenues of $1.25 billion, up 30% year over year;
• Record EBITDA of $367 million, up 48% year over year;
• Record net profit of $204 million, as compared to a net loss of $30 million for the full year of 2015;
• Record cash from operations of $327 million and record free cash flow of $118 million, resulting in record cash balance and record shareholders’ equity.

Highlights of the Fourth Quarter of 2016 and First Quarter of 2017 Guidance

• Record revenues of $340 million, up 34% year over year;
• Record gross profit of $88 million, up 36% year over year;
• Record operating profit of $55 million, up 61% year over year;
• Record EBITDA of $105 million, up 39% year over year;
• Net profit of $48 million, up 119% year over year;
• Cash from operations of $82 million and record free cash flow of $39 million;
• First quarter revenue guidance with mid-range of $330 million, up 19% year over year; targeting growth throughout the year.  

Chairman and CEO End of Year Commentary
Mr. Russell Ellwanger, Chief Executive Officer of TowerJazz, commented, “2016 was on all fronts, business, financial, operational and technological, the best year TowerJazz has posted. The year began with a successful acquisition of the San Antonio facility, increasing our capacity and operational flexibility, and ended achieving our stated target in the fourth quarter of $100 million annualized third party revenue at TPSCo.”

Continued Mr. Ellwanger, “Entering 2017, we focus on utilizing the capacity of the acquired Panasonic and Maxim fabs to meet the increasing customers’ demand within our strong advanced analog offerings. Present customer forecast indicates growth throughout the year with each quarter being significantly higher year over year. We are excited with our business and financial position that allows us to capitalize upon new initiatives to continue value creation.”

Mr. Amir Elstein, Chairman of the TowerJazz Board of Directors, summarized: “2016, as a record year, is a strong validation of the business models and the executions behind becoming the worldwide leading specialty analog foundry. The board and I wholeheartedly congratulate all the dedicated employees of TowerJazz, the management and Russell, for all their efforts, activities and accomplishments of multiple years resulting in this record year we have just completed. We very much look forward to another significant year with great achievements.”

Fourth Quarter Results Overview
Revenues for the 2016 fourth quarter were a record $340 million reflecting 34% growth as compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. Revenues were 4% higher than those of the previous quarter.

Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $88 million, representing an increase of 36% as compared with $65 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, and an increase of 8% as compared with $81 million gross profit in the immediately preceding quarter.

Operating profit was $55 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, as compared with $34 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2015 and $49 million operating profit in the immediately preceding quarter.

Net profit for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $48 million, or $0.53 basic earnings per share, demonstrating increased sustainable GAAP net profit, as compared with $22 million or $0.28 basic earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2015. Net profit for the third quarter of 2016 of $51 million, or $0.58 basic earnings per share, and included a non-recurring $6 million of income tax benefit related to finalization of the closure of the Japanese subsidiary that held the fab in Nishiwaki, Japan, which ceased operations in 2014.

On an adjusted basis, as described and reconciled in the tables below, adjusted net profit for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $53 million, compared with $26 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 and $49 million in the immediately preceding quarter.

EBITDA for the fourth quarter totaled $105 million. This represents a 39% increase as compared with $76 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 and a 9% sequential increase as compared with $97 million in the immediately preceding quarter.

Cash and short term deposits on December 31, 2016 were $389 million as compared to $363 million as of September 30, 2016. The main cash activities during the fourth quarter of 2016 were comprised of the following: $82 million cash generated from operating activities; $11 million received from the exercise of warrants and options; investments of $43 million in fixed assets, net; $6 million debt repayments and $17 million effect of the Japanese Yen exchange rate on cash balance.

Full Year 2016 Financial Results
Revenues for 2016 were a record $1.25 billion reflecting 30% growth as compared to 2015 revenues of $961 million.

Gross profit for 2016 was $303 million. This represents an increase of 48% as compared with $205 million in 2015. Operating profit was $175 million in 2016, as compared with $82 million in 2015.

Net profit for 2016 was $204 million, or $2.33 basic earnings per share, demonstrating increased net profit, as compared with net loss of $30 million or $0.40 basic loss per share in 2015. Net profit for 2016 included $50 million gain, net, from the San Antonio acquisition and $6 million income tax benefit related to the closure finalization of the Nishiwaki Japanese subsidiary, which were partially offset by $7 million non-cash financing expenses relating to the Israeli banks’ loans early repayment. Net loss for 2015 included $81 million non-cash financing expense associated with Series F Bonds accelerated conversion done in 2015, $18 million income tax benefit resulting from the expiration of statute of limitations and Japanese income tax rate reduction.

On an adjusted basis, as described and reconciled in the tables below, adjusted net profit for 2016 was $175 million, compared with $49 million for 2015, representing a $126 million increased adjusted net profit derived from the $289 million higher revenues.

EBITDA for the year was $367 million. This represents a 48% increase as compared with $248 million in 2015, or $119 million increased EBITDA derived from the $289 million higher revenues.

Cash and short term deposits on December 31, 2016 were $389 million as compared to $206 million on December 31, 2015. The main cash activities during 2016 were comprised of the following: $327 million cash generated from operating activities; $39 million received from the exercise of warrants and options; $37 million debt received, net of debt principal payments; and investments of $210 million in fixed assets, net.

Shareholders' equity as of December 31, 2016 was a record of $683 million, 77% higher than $386 million as of December 31, 2015. Net cash as of December 31, 2016 totaled $37 million as compared to net debt of $105 million as of December 31, 2015.

Business Outlook
TowerJazz expects revenues for the first quarter of 2017 ending March 31, 2017 to be $330 million with an upward or downward range of 5%, representing approximately 19% year over year revenue growth as compared to the first quarter of 2016.

Teleconference and Webcast
TowerJazz will host an investor conference call today, February 13, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time (9:00 a.m. Central time, 8:00 a.m. Mountain time, 7:00 a.m. Pacific time and 5:00 p.m. Israel time) to discuss the Company’s financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2016 and its first quarter 2017 outlook.

This call will be webcast and can be accessed via TowerJazz’s website at www.towerjazz.com., or by calling: 1-888-668-9141 (U.S. Toll-Free), 03-918-0609 (Israel), +972-3-918-0609 (International).  For those who are not available to listen to the live broadcast, the call will be archived for 90 days.

The Company presents its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP . The audited financial statements in accordance with US GAAP will be included in the 6-K to be filed with the annual financial statements and Form 20-F.  The financial information included in the tables below contain abbreviated financial results which are not audited or in accordance with US GAAP. Some of the financial information in this release, which we refer to in this release as “adjusted financial measures”, are non-GAAP financial measures as defined in Regulation G and related reporting requirements promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission as they apply to our Company. These adjusted financial measures are calculated excluding one or more of the following: (1) amortization of acquired intangible assets; (2) compensation expenses in respect of equity grants to directors, officers and employees; (3) gain from acquisition, net; (4) other non-cash financing expense, net associated with Bonds Series F accelerated conversion; (5) non-cash financing expenses related to bank loans early repayment; (6) non-recurring income tax benefit; (7) Nishiwaki Fab restructuring and impairment cost (income), net; and (8) other non-recurring items. These adjusted financial measures should be evaluated in conjunction with, and are not a substitute for, GAAP financial measures. The tables also present the GAAP financial measures, which are most comparable to the adjusted financial measures as well as reconciliation between the adjusted financial measures and the comparable GAAP financial measures . As used in this release, the term Earnings Before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) consists of profit or loss, according to U.S. GAAP, excluding gain from acquisition, net, interest and other financing expenses (net), other income (expense), net, taxes, non-controlling interest, depreciation and amortization, stock based compensation expenses, acquisition related costs and Nishiwaki Fab restructuring and impairment cost (income), net. EBITDA is reconciled in the tables below from GAAP operating profit. EBITDA is not a required GAAP financial measure and may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure employed by other companies . EBITDA and the adjusted financial information presented herein should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating profit, net profit or loss, cash flows provided by operating, investing and financing activities, per share data or other profit or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Net cash or net debt, as presented in this release, is comprised of the outstanding principal amount of banks’ loans (in the amounts of approximately $166 million and $246 million as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively) and the outstanding principal amount of debentures (in the amounts of approximately $186 million and $65 million as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively), less cash and short-term deposits (in the amounts of approximately $389 million and $206 million as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively).