WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) today announced financial results for its third fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2008. For the quarter, Novell reported net revenue of $245 million. This compares to net revenue of $237 million for the third fiscal quarter 2007. Income from operations for the third fiscal quarter 2008 was $1 million, compared to a loss from operations of $10 million for the third fiscal quarter 2007. Loss from continuing operations in the third fiscal quarter 2008 was $15 million, or $0.04 loss per share, due to a $15 million impairment charge related to our auction-rate securities. This compares to a loss from continuing operations of $4 million, or $0.01 loss per share, for the third fiscal quarter 2007. Foreign currency exchange rates favorably impacted revenue by $7 million, unfavorably impacted operating expenses by $7 million and did not materially impact income from operations year-over-year. On a non-GAAP basis, income from operations for the third fiscal quarter 2008 was $24 million. This compares to non-GAAP income from operations of $14 million in the year-ago quarter. Non-GAAP income from continuing operations for the third fiscal quarter 2008 was $21 million, or $0.06 per share. This compares to non-GAAP income from continuing operations of $19 million, or $0.05 per share, for the third fiscal quarter 2007.

For the third fiscal quarter 2008, Novell reported $33 million of product revenue from Open Platform Solutions of which $31 million was from Linux Platform Products, up 30% year-over-year. Product revenue from Identity and Security Management was $37 million of which Identity and Access Management was $34 million, up 22% year-over-year. Product revenue from Systems and Resource Management was $47 million, up 25% year-over-year. Workgroup product revenue of $92 million was down 1% year-over-year.

"We had another quarter of strong product revenue growth and expanding operating margins," said Ron Hovsepian, President and CEO of Novell. "Our transformation of the company positions us well to focus on sustained growth in 2009."

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $1.4 billion at July 31, 2008, down from $1.8 billion in the year-ago quarter, primarily due to the acquisition of PlateSpin, the repurchase of a portion of our debentures and our stock repurchase program. Days sales outstanding in accounts receivable was 78 days at the end of the third fiscal quarter 2008, up from 74 days at the end of the year-ago quarter. Total deferred revenue was $726 million at the end of the third fiscal quarter 2008, down from $734 million at the end of the year-ago quarter. Cash flow from operations was $30 million for the third fiscal quarter 2008. This compares to cash flow from operations of $25 million in the third fiscal quarter 2007.

With regard to the Company's previously announced share repurchase program, Novell repurchased 7 million shares of common stock at a cost of $45 million during the quarter. To date, the Company has repurchased 10 million shares at a cost of $58 million. The Company has $42 million remaining under the existing share repurchase program.

During the quarter, Novell used $27 million of cash to repurchase a portion of its outstanding 0.5% senior convertible debentures. To date, $142 million of cash has been used for these repurchases.

Full details on Novell's reported results, including a reconciliation of the non-GAAP results, are included in the financial schedules that are a part of this release.


                                                      Financial Outlook
    Novell management issues the following financial guidance:

    For the full fiscal year 2008:
    --  Net revenue is expected to be between $940 million and $970 million.
    --  Non-GAAP operating margin is expected to be between 8% and 10%,
        exceeding previously stated guidance of between 7% to 9%.

Conference Call Notification and Web Access Detail

A live Webcast of a Novell conference call to discuss the quarter will be broadcast at 5:00 PM ET August 28, 2008, from Novell's Investor Relations Web page: http://www.novell.com/company/ir/qresults/. The domestic conference call dial-in number is 866-335-5255, password "Novell", and the international dial-in number is +1-706-679-2263, password "Novell".

The call will be archived on the Novell Web site approximately two hours after its conclusion and will remain on the Web site until September 12, 2008. The call will also be available for telephone playback through midnight ET, September 12, 2008. The domestic toll-free replay number is 800-642-1687, and the international replay number is +1-706-645-9291. Replay listeners must enter conference ID number 56398624.

A copy of this press release is posted on Novell's Web site at: http://www.novell.com/company/ir/qresults/.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We supplement our consolidated unaudited condensed financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP with certain non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures include adjusted income from operations, operating margin, income from continuing operations, net income, income per share from continuing operations and net income per share. We provide non-GAAP financial measures to enhance an overall understanding of our current financial performance and prospects for the future and to enable investors to evaluate our performance in the same way that management does. Management uses these same non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate performance, allocate resources, and determine bonuses. The non-GAAP financial measures do not replace the presentation of our GAAP financial results, but they eliminate expenses and gains that are unusual, that are excluded from analysts' consensus estimates, and/or that arise outside of the ordinary course of business, such as, but not limited to, those related to stock-based compensation, acquisition-related intangible asset amortization, restructuring, asset impairments, litigation judgments and settlements, purchased in-process research and development, and the sale of business operations, long-term investments, and property, plant and equipment.

Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that are not historical in nature and that may be characterized as "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, including those related to future financial and operating results, future opportunities, the benefits and synergies of the company's brands, strategies and acquisitions, and the growth of the Linux Platform Products, Identity and Access Management, and Systems and Resource Management markets. You should be aware that Novell's actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements, which are based on current expectations of Novell management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, Novell's ability to transform its business through the implementation of its strategic plan, Novell's ability to realize the benefits anticipated from the Microsoft transaction and other transactions, Novell's ability to realize the benefits anticipated from its restructuring plan, and the expected charges to be incurred and payments to be made under the restructuring plan, Novell's ability to achieve its expense targets, Novell's success in executing its Linux Platform Products, Identity and Access Management, and Systems and Resource Management strategies, Novell's ability to take a competitive position in the Linux Platform Products, Identity and Access Management, and Systems and Resource Management industries, business conditions and the general economy, market opportunities, potential new business strategies, competitive factors, sales and marketing execution, shifts in technologies or market demand, Novell's ability to integrate acquired operations and employees, and the other factors described in Novell's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2007. Novell disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release except as required by the securities laws.

About Novell

Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers the best engineered, most interoperable Linux platform and a portfolio of integrated IT management software that helps customers around the world reduce cost, complexity and risk. With our infrastructure software and ecosystem of partnerships, Novell harmoniously integrates mixed IT environments, allowing people and technology to work as one. For more information, visit http://www.novell.com.

Novell, the Novell logo, and PlateSpin are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All third party marks are the property of their respective owners.





                                 Novell, Inc.
          Consolidated Unaudited Condensed Statements of Operations
                    (In thousands, except per share data)

                                         Fiscal Quarter
                                              Ended       Fiscal Year-to-Date
                                        Jul 31,   Jul 31,  Jul 31,   Jul 31,
                                          2008     2007      2008      2007
    Net revenue:
      Software licenses                  $53,408  $44,738  $138,293  $125,070
      Maintenance and subscriptions      154,982  142,833   454,287   417,246
      Services (1)                        36,795   49,219   119,197   145,247
    Total net revenue                    245,185  236,790   711,777   687,563

    Cost of revenue:
      Software licenses                    5,544    4,793    13,003    13,280
      Maintenance and subscriptions       13,948   13,184    38,234    36,109
      Services                            40,678   48,546   128,540   146,151
    Total cost of revenue                 60,170   66,523   179,777   195,540

    Gross profit                         185,015  170,267   532,000   492,023

    Operating expenses:
      Sales and marketing                 94,213   84,176   272,894   262,450
      Product development                 51,759   54,207   145,846   153,236
      General and administrative          26,941   28,219    82,141    81,479
      Other operating expenses (2)        11,131   13,780    20,000    37,335
    Total operating expenses             184,044  180,382   520,881   534,500

    Income (loss) from operations            971  (10,115)   11,119   (42,477)
      Operating margin %                    0.4%    -4.3%      1.6%     -6.2%

    Other income (loss), net:
      Interest income, net                 7,384   16,192    33,807    45,410
      Other                              (16,160)    (739)   (7,575)    1,836
    Total other income (loss), net        (8,776)  15,453    26,232    47,246

    Income (loss) from continuing
     operations, before income taxes      (7,805)   5,338    37,351     4,769

    Income tax expense                     7,320    8,970    31,926    21,882

    Income (loss) from continuing
     operations                          (15,125)  (3,632)    5,425   (17,113)

    Income (loss) from discontinued
     operations, before income taxes           -      (47)    1,285    (9,468)
    Income tax benefit on discontinued
     operations                                -        -      (836)      (69)
    Income (loss) from discontinued
     operations                                -      (47)    2,121    (9,399)

    Net income (loss)                   $(15,125) $(3,679)   $7,546  $(26,512)

    Income (loss) per share:

      Continuing operations               $(0.04)  $(0.01)    $0.02    $(0.05)

      Net income (loss)                   $(0.04)  $(0.01)    $0.02    $(0.08)

    Weighted average shares              351,878  348,177   353,290   346,731

    (1)  Services includes professional services, technical support and
         training services.

    (2)  See Page 8 of 11 for a detail of other operating expenses.

    Revisions were made to prior period amounts in order to conform to the
    current period's presentation.



                                 Novell, Inc.
               Consolidated Unaudited Condensed Balance Sheets
                                (In thousands)

                                              Jul 31, 2008      Oct 31, 2007
    Assets

    Current assets:
        Cash and cash equivalents                 $973,837        $1,079,819
        Short-term investments                     390,715           777,818
        Restricted cash                             52,410                 -
        Receivables, net                           212,923           208,318
        Prepaid expenses                            50,725            53,316
        Deferred income taxes                        3,773                 -
        Other current assets                        40,580            35,065
    Total current assets                         1,724,963         2,154,336

    Property, plant and equipment, net             187,641           180,537
    Long-term investments                           29,586            37,304
    Goodwill                                       593,983           404,612
    Intangible assets, net                          65,508            33,572
    Deferred income taxes                           32,729            14,518
    Other assets                                    22,503            29,515

    Total assets                                $2,656,913        $2,854,394

    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

    Current liabilities:
        Accounts payable                           $39,678           $45,135
        Accrued compensation                       100,323           112,794
        Other accrued liabilities                  104,469           122,850
        Income taxes payable                        14,772            46,724
        Senior convertible debentures              451,394                 -
        Deferred revenue                           480,765           494,615
    Total current liabilities                    1,191,401           822,118

    Deferred income taxes                            7,703               884
    Other long-term liabilities                     45,436                 -
    Long-term deferred revenue                     244,876           273,066
    Senior convertible debentures                        -           600,000

    Total liabilities                            1,489,416         1,696,068

    Stockholders' equity                         1,167,497         1,158,326

    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                                     $2,656,913        $2,854,394



                                 Novell, Inc.
          Consolidated Unaudited Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
                                (In thousands)

                                    Fiscal Quarter Ended  Fiscal Year-to-Date
                                      Jul 31,   Jul 31,    Jul 31,   Jul 31,
                                       2008       2007      2008       2007

    Cash flows from operating
     activities
      Net income (loss)               $(15,125)  $(3,679)    $7,546  $(26,512)
      Adjustments to reconcile net
       income (loss) to net cash
       provided by (used in)
       operating activities:
        Stock-based compensation
         expense                         7,593     8,859     25,370    23,489
        Stock-based compensation
         modification expense                -       673          -     2,475
        Depreciation and amortization   11,980     9,690     30,827    31,163
        Change in accounts receivable
         allowances                       (250)     (427)       421      (878)
        Utilization of previously
         reserved acquired net
         operating losses                    1        10      5,026     4,835
        Purchased in-process research
         and development                     -         -      2,700         -
        Gain on debenture repurchases     (139)        -       (544)        -
        (Gain) loss on discontinued
         operations, before taxes            -         -     (1,180)   10,220
        (Gain) loss on impaired
         long-term investments          14,738         -     14,488    (1,738)
        Gain on sale of venture
         capital funds                       -         -          -    (3,591)
        Impairment of intangible assets      -     3,851          -     3,851
        Loss on subsidiary sales         3,811         -      3,811         -
        Changes in current assets and
         liabilities, excluding the
         effect of acquisitions and
         dispositions                    7,500     6,438   (102,323)  300,374

      Net cash provided by (used
       in) operating activities         30,109    25,415    (13,858)  343,688

    Cash flows from financing
     activities
        Issuance of common stock, net      868     6,248      7,646    14,370
        Excess tax effects from stock-
          based compensation            (7,186)    1,634     16,809     6,357
        Common stock
         repurchases/retirements       (44,663)        -    (44,663)        -
        Debenture repurchases          (26,868)        -   (142,457)        -

        Net cash (used in) provided
         by financing activities       (77,849)    7,882   (162,665)   20,727

    Cash flows from investing
     activities
        Purchases of property,
         plant and equipment           (12,201)   (4,971)   (28,523)  (17,479)
        Short-term investment activity  33,820   (24,913)   359,260   (72,333)
        Long-term investment activity    7,215         -     21,738     1,738
        Cash restricted due to
         litigation                       (286)        -    (52,410)        -
        Net (distributions) proceeds
         from subsidiary sales          (6,427)        -     (7,336)    2,749
        Proceeds from sale of venture
         capital funds                       -         -          -     4,964
        Net cash paid for acquisitions     920         -   (219,553)   (9,727)
        Purchases of intangible assets  (6,000)     (300)    (6,000)   (1,175)
        Other                            1,138     3,274      3,365     8,440

      Net cash provided by (used
       in) investing activities         18,179   (26,910)    70,541   (82,823)

    (Decrease) increase in cash and
     cash equivalents                  (29,561)    6,387   (105,982)  281,592

    Cash and cash equivalents --
     beginning of period             1,003,398   950,992  1,079,819   675,787

    Cash and cash equivalents --
     end of period                    $973,837  $957,379   $973,837  $957,379


    Revisions were made to prior period amounts in order to conform to the
    current period's presentation.



                                 Novell, Inc.
              Unaudited Non-GAAP Adjusted Income From Operations
                    (In thousands, except per share data)

                                          Fiscal Quarter
                                               Ended       Fiscal Year-to-Date
                                          Jul 31,  Jul 31,   Jul 31,  Jul 31,
                                           2008      2007     2008      2007

    GAAP income (loss) from operations      $971  $(10,115) $11,119  $(42,477)

      Adjustments:
        Stock-based compensation
         expense:
          Cost of revenue                    881     1,257    2,724     3,241
          Sales and marketing              1,953     2,831    7,400     7,091
          Product development              2,543     2,684    7,900     7,370
          General and administrative       2,216     2,087    7,346     5,787
            Sub-total                      7,593     8,859   25,370    23,489

        Acquisition-related intangible
         asset amortization:
          Cost of revenue                  3,184     1,360    6,035     3,916
          Sales and marketing              1,341       511    2,429     2,390
          Product development                  -         -        -       227
            Sub-total                      4,525     1,871    8,464     6,533

        Other operating expenses
         (income):
          Restructuring expenses           6,570     6,024   11,329    17,891
          Purchased in-process research
           and development                     -         -    2,700         -
          Litigation-related expense
           (income)                          750       450      750       (93)
          Acquisition integration costs        -         -    1,410         -
          Loss on subsidiary sales         3,811         -    3,811         -
          Impairment of intangible
           assets                              -     3,851        -     3,851
          Stock-based compensation
           review expenses                     -     3,455        -    15,686
            Sub-total                     11,131    13,780   20,000    37,335

        Total operating adjustments       23,249    24,510   53,834    67,357

    Non-GAAP income from operations      $24,220   $14,395  $64,953   $24,880
        Operating margin %                  9.9%      6.1%     9.1%      3.6%



                                 Novell, Inc.
                    Unaudited Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income
                    (In thousands, except per share data)

                                          Fiscal Quarter
                                               Ended       Fiscal Year-to-Date
                                         Jul 31,   Jul 31,  Jul 31,  Jul 31,
                                           2008     2007     2008      2007

    GAAP net income (loss)               $(15,125) $(3,679)  $7,546  $(26,512)

      Operating adjustments (detailed
       above)                              23,249   24,510   53,834    67,357
      Non-operating expenses (income)
       adjustments:
          Gain on sale of venture
           capital funds                        -        -        -    (3,591)
          Gain on debenture repurchases      (139)       -     (544)        -
          (Gain) loss on impaired long-
           term investments                14,738        -   14,488    (1,738)
            Sub-total                      14,599        -   13,944    (5,329)

      Total pre-tax adjustments            37,848   24,510   67,778    62,028

        Income tax adjustments             (1,888)  (2,121)    (334)   (2,462)

        Income (loss) from discontinued
         operations, net of taxes               -       47   (2,121)    9,399

        Total net adjustments              35,960   22,436   65,323    68,965

    Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP
     income from continuing operations    $20,835  $18,757  $72,869   $42,453


    GAAP net income (loss) per share       $(0.04)  $(0.01)   $0.02    $(0.08)
      Total adjustments detailed above       0.10     0.06     0.19      0.20

    Non-GAAP net income per share and
     non-GAAP income from continuing
     operations per share                   $0.06    $0.05    $0.21     $0.12


    GAAP weighted average shares          351,878  348,177  353,290   346,731

      Change from basic to diluted
       weighted average shares              1,319    2,969        -     2,217

    Non-GAAP weighted average shares      353,197  351,146  353,290   348,948

    Revisions were made to prior period amounts in order to conform to the
     current period's presentation.

SOURCE Novell, Inc.