HAYWARD, Calif., Feb. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: UCTT), a leading developer and supplier of critical systems and subsystems for the semiconductor capital equipment, flat panel, medical, energy and research industries, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 25, 2015.

Fourth Quarter Results
Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $103.4 million, a decrease of 15.8% compared to the third quarter of 2015 and a decrease of 13.8% compared to the same period a year ago. Semiconductor revenue was 93.9% of total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to 92.0% in previous quarter, and 85.1% in the same period a year ago. Revenue outside the U.S. was 38.4% for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to 35.6% in the previous quarter, and 29.9% in the four quarter of fiscal 2014. Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2015 was 12.9%, compared to 15.4% for the previous quarter and 15.3% for the same period a year ago. During the fourth quarter, the Company recorded a non-cash charge of $13.9 million for a valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets related to its net operating loss carryforwards.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 was $15.8 million, or $0.49 per share (basic and diluted) compared to net income of $1.7 million, or $0.05 per share (basic and diluted), in the previous quarter and net income of $3.5 million, or $0.12 per share (basic and diluted), for the same period a year ago. Excluding the non-cash charge of $13.9 million for the valuation allowance, pre-tax charges of $2.2 million for intangible asset amortization costs and $0.6 million of costs related to severance payments and the closure of one of the Company's U.S. facilities, the Company would have reported a loss of $0.4 million, or $0.01 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2015.

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015 were $50.1 million, a decrease of $9.7 million from the previous quarter. Outstanding debt was $75.5 million at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015, a decrease of $1.4 million from the previous quarter.

"Overall, 2015 was a very productive year as we achieved record semiconductor revenue and began to lay the foundation for future growth," said Jim Scholhamer, UCT's Chief Executive Officer. "We successfully completed two significant acquisitions that expanded our capabilities, invested strategically in areas outside of our core business, strengthened our team, and optimized our worldwide footprint. With these accomplishments we believe we are setting the stage to outperform the broader semiconductor capital equipment market as the industry begins to recover."

Fiscal Year 2015 Results
For fiscal year 2015 revenue was $469.1 million or a decline of 8.7% from fiscal year 2014. Semiconductor revenue was 92.4% of total revenue for fiscal year 2015 and 82.4% for fiscal 2014. Revenue outside the U.S. was 34.5% of total revenue in fiscal year 2015 compared to 29.6% in fiscal 2014.

Gross margin for fiscal year 2015 was 15.1% compared to 14.2% for fiscal year 2014.

Net loss for fiscal 2015 was $10.7 million, or $0.34 per share (basic and diluted), compared to net income of $11.4 million, or $0.38 per share (diluted) and $0.39 per share (basic), for fiscal year 2014. Excluding the non-cash charge of $13.9 million for the valuation allowance, pre-tax charges of $6.2 million for intangible asset amortization costs, $0.6 million of costs related to the acquisitions of Marchi and Miconex and $3.0 million of costs related to severance payments and the closure of one of the Company's U.S. facilities, the Company would have reported net income of $10.2 million, or $0.32 per share (diluted) for fiscal year 2015. Net income for fiscal year 2014 included pre-tax charges of $4.9 million for intangible asset amortization costs. Excluding these charges, the Company would have reported net income of $15.3 million, or $0.51 per share (diluted) for fiscal 2014.

First Quarter 2016 Outlook
The Company expects revenue to be in the range between $108.0 million to $113.0 million and diluted net income (loss) per share in the range of $(0.02) to $0.01 based on an effective tax rate of 28.0%. Excluding intangible asset amortization costs of $1.4 million, the Company expects diluted income per share to be in the range of $0.01 to $0.04.

Conference Call
UCT will conduct a conference call today, Tuesday, February 23, 2016, beginning at 1:45 p.m. PDT. The call-in number is (888) 561-5097 (domestic) and (706) 679-7569 (international). A replay of the conference will be available for fourteen days following the call at (855) 859-2056 (domestic) and (404) 537-3406 (international). The confirmation number for live broadcast and replay is 23022728 (all callers). 

About Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.
Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. is a leading developer and supplier of critical systems and subsystems for the semiconductor capital equipment, flat panel, medical, energy and research industries. Ultra Clean offers its customers an integrated outsourced solution for gas delivery systems and other subassemblies, improved design-to-delivery cycle times, component neutral design and manufacturing and component testing capabilities. Ultra Clean's customers are primarily original equipment manufacturers for the semiconductor capital equipment, flat panel, medical, energy and research industries. Ultra Clean is headquartered in Hayward, California. Additional information is available at www.uct.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
The foregoing information contains, or may be deemed to contain, "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. We use words such as "anticipates,", "projection", "forecast", "believes," "plan," "expect," "future,"' "intends," "may," "will," "estimates," "predicts,"  and similar expressions to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements included in this press release include our expectations with respect to first quarter 2016 revenue and earnings per share and our forecasted tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2016. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, the Company's actual results may differ materially from the results predicted or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors also include, among others, those identified in "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations'' and elsewhere in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2014 and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 25, 2015, each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additional information will also be set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2015. Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise unless required by law.

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SOURCE Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.