8-K 1 novl-8k_030107.htm NOVELL, INC. - Q1 FY07 EARNINGS RELEASE 8-K for Q1 2007 Earnings

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

March 1, 2007
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported)

NOVELL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
0-13351
(Commission File
Number)
87-0393339
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)


404 Wyman Street, Suite 500
Waltham, MA 02451
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)


(781) 464-8000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)


Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions.

 

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act

 

(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act

 

(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 


Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On March 1, 2007, Novell, Inc. (“Novell”) issued a press release to report Novell's preliminary financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2007. A copy of the press release is attached to this current report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

We disclosed non-GAAP adjusted financial measures in the press release for the fiscal quarters ended January 31, 2007 and January 31, 2006. These non-GAAP measures include adjusted diluted income (loss) available to common stockholders from continuing operations, adjusted diluted income (loss) per common share from continuing operations and adjusted diluted weighted average shares. These non-GAAP financial measures do not replace the presentation of Novell's GAAP financial results but are provided to improve overall understanding of current financial performance and prospects for the future because they eliminate expenses and gains that are unusual and/or not predictable or are not within our control.

We believe the presentation of non-GAAP adjusted financial measures presents a useful performance measure because it enables investors to track and compare our on-going, ordinary operating performance from one reporting period to another and helps investors better understand management's view of our on-going, ordinary business. Novell's management also includes non-GAAP financial measures as a component of regular internal operating reports. Our management uses non-GAAP measures to allocate resources, determine commissions and bonuses, and evaluate performance. By making these same measures available in our external reporting, we are able to provide investors with the additional financial measures that management believes reflect its view of the on-going, ordinary business, thus improving investors' ability to assess the future prospects of Novell.

Adjusted diluted income (loss) available to common stockholders from continuing operations is useful to investors in evaluating our results of operations because it provides a more consistent reflection of our on-going, ordinary operating performance. Most adjustments are for items that are unusual, infrequent, often material and difficult to predict. Non-GAAP financial measures exclude amounts that may recur but cannot be predicted. Also excluded are items that distort trends in our on-going, ordinary business. During the fiscal quarters ended January 31, 2007 and January 31, 2006, we made adjustments to diluted income (loss) available to common stockholders from continuing operations for the following:

  • Restructuring expenses - The restructuring expenses we incurred in the first fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2007 related to a decision to refocus our business to increase sustainable profitability. The amended restructuring plan resulted from our continuing efforts to develop our comprehensive transformation of our business as we work towards achieving our stated goal of 5% to 7% exit rate operating margins by the end of the full fiscal year ended October 31, 2007. These expenses are not expected to recur once this restructuring is completed, currently targeted for the end of fiscal 2007. In the first fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2006 we did not incur restructuring expenses; however, we did have a reversal of some prior restructuring expenses to adjust the liability based on changes in estimates. This reversal was not anticipated and is not expected to recur.
  • Litigation-related income - The actual litigation settlement in the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2007 was unusual, unexpected and not part of our on-going, ordinary business.
  • Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets - In the first fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2007, a review of existing goodwill and intangible assets resulted in certain impairments. Impairments of goodwill and intangible assets occur infrequently; therefore, these costs were not considered part of our on-going, ordinary business.
  • Stock-based compensation review expenses - In the third fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2006, we began a self-initiated, voluntary review of historical stock-based compensation practices and related potential accounting impact. In the first fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2007, we incurred expenses related to this review. This type of review occurs infrequently; therefore, the costs related to the review were not considered part of our on-going, ordinary business.
  • Gain on sale of venture capital partnership interests - In prior years, we had a portfolio of investments in various venture capital partnerships. As part of our cash management strategy, we decided to eliminate this type of investment vehicle. In the first fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2007, we sold the remaining investments. The sale of this portfolio of venture capital partnership interests was a one-time occurrence since the former investment program is no longer in place; therefore, the gain on the sale of the venture capital partnership interests was not considered part of our ongoing, ordinary business.
  • Net gain (loss) on impaired long-term investments - Losses from impairments of long-term investments are not considered to be part of our on-going business. Likewise, gains from the sale of long-term investments made when we had the investment program in place are not considered to be part of our on-going business.
  • Adjustments to tax - These adjustments result from the adjustments made to GAAP income (loss) from continuing operations related to the excluded items indicated above.
  • Allocation of earnings to preferred stockholders - This adjustment results from the adjustments made to GAAP income (loss) available to common stockholders from continuing operations to arrive at non-GAAP income available to common stockholders from continuing operations and are required to be made based on the accounting rules for calculating diluted net income available to common stockholders from continuing operations and diluted net income per common share from continuing operations.

Adjusted diluted income (loss) per common share from continuing operations is useful to investors in evaluating the overall net effect of the foregoing adjustments on a diluted per share basis.

Adjusted diluted weighted average shares is useful to investors in evaluating the changes to diluted weighted average shares required by changes between GAAP and non-GAAP income (loss) from continuing operations.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits

Exhibit Number Description
99.1 Press Release dated March 1, 2007.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Novell, Inc.
(Registrant)

Date: March 1, 2007

By /s/ Dana C. Russell

(Signature)
Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
(Title)

EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibit is filed as part of this current report on Form 8-K.

Exhibit Number Description
Exhibit 99.1 Press Release of Novell, Inc. dated March 1, 2007