Exhibit 99.1
ACTIVIDENTITY REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL YEAR 2010 FINANCIAL RESULTS
FREMONT, Calif., November 18, 2010 — ActivIdentity Corporation (NASDAQ: ACTI), a global leader in intelligent identity assurance, reported revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 of $15.2 million compared to revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 of $14.5 million and $13.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Revenue for the year ended September 30, 2010 was $57.7 million compared to $62.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2009.
ActivIdentity’s net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, was ($1.3) million, or ($0.03) per basic and diluted share, compared to net loss of ($0.3) million, or ($0.01) per basic and diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and net loss of ($0.2) million, or ($0.00) per basic and diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, was positively impacted by $0.4 million in net foreign exchange gains. ActivIdentity’s net loss for fiscal 2010 was ($5.7) million, or ($0.12) per basic and diluted share, as compared to a net loss for fiscal 2009 of ($5.5) million, or ($0.12) per basic and diluted share.
ActivIdentity’s operating loss was ($1.5) million in the quarter ended September 30, 2010 compared to an operating loss of ($1.3) million in the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and ($1.9) million in the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Operating loss in fiscal 2010 was ($9.3) million, as compared to an operating loss of ($7.2) million in fiscal 2009.
General and administrative expenses in the quarter ended September 30, 2010 and the year ended September 30, 2010 included significant IP litigation and M&A related expenses totaling $1.2 million and $3.4 million, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA was $0.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 compared to $0.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 and $0.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and is defined as operating income (loss) adjusted for non-recurring or non-cash items such as stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, amortization of intangibles, severance and asset impairments.
In light of the pending acquisition by ASSA ABLOY Inc., ActivIdentity will not be holding an earnings call.
Financial Highlights
| | Three Months Ended | | Years Ended | |
| | Sept. 30, | | Jun. 30, | | Sept. 30, | | Sept. 30, | | Sept. 30, | |
(In Millions, except Per Share Data) | | 2010 | | 2010 | | 2009 | | 2010 | | 2009 | |
GAAP RESULTS | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue | | $ | 15.2 | | $ | 13.6 | | $ | 14.5 | | $ | 57.7 | | $ | 62.3 | |
Net loss | | $ | (1.3 | ) | $ | (0.2 | ) | $ | (0.3 | ) | $ | (5.7 | ) | $ | (5.5 | ) |
Net loss per share — basic and diluted | | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (0.12 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
NON-GAAP RESULTS | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA | | $ | 0.2 | | $ | 0.8 | | $ | 0.5 | | $ | (1.3 | ) | $ | 2.3 | |
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ActivIdentity is presenting non-GAAP numbers in this press release to provide investors with a better understanding of operating results and underlying trends in order to assess our performance and liquidity. We evaluate our operating performance based on several measures, including the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is a useful supplemental financial measure for investors because it facilitates investors’ ability to evaluate the operational strength of the Company’s business. Please refer to the GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliation table for further detail. Certain financial results are subject to the application of accounting estimates, especially with regards to fair value accounting. Management has used what it believes to be appropriate valuation techniques to assess the fair value of the marketable securities and the fair value of undelivered elements in multi-element software arrangements.
About ActivIdentity
ActivIdentity Corporation is a global leader in intelligent identity assurance, providing solutions to confidently establish a person’s identity when interacting digitally. For more than two decades the Company’s experience has been leveraged by security-minded organizations in large-scale deployments such as the U.S. Department of Defense, Nissan, and Saudi Aramco. The Company’s customers have issued more than 100 million credentials, securing the holder’s digital identity. ActivIdentity is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. For more information, visit www.actividentity.com.
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ActivIdentity is a registered trademark in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners in the United States and/or other countries.
Additional Information
ActivIdentity has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials in connection with the merger. The proxy statement has been mailed to the stockholders of ActivIdentity. Before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the merger, investors and stockholders of ActivIdentity are urged to read the proxy statement and the other relevant materials when they become available because they will contain important information about the merger, ActivIdentity, the HID Global division of ASSA ABLOY Inc. and ASSA ABLOY Inc. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by ActivIdentity at its corporate website at www.ActivIdentity.com under Corporate/Investor Relations or by calling the investor relations department at (510)574-0100 or by writing to ActivIdentity Corporation, 6623 Dumbarton Circle, Fremont, California 94555, Attn: Investor Relations.
ActivIdentity and its officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from ActivIdentity’s stockholders with respect to the merger. A description of any interests that these officers and directors have in the merger is available in the definitive proxy statement. Information concerning ActivIdentity’s directors and executive officers is set forth in ActivIdentity’s proxy statement for its 2010 special meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on November 12, 2010. These documents are available free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov or by going to ActivIdentity’s Investor Relations page on its corporate website at www.ActivIdentity.com.
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Safe Harbor Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including but not limited to, statements regarding the expected closing of ASSA ABLOY Inc.’s acquisition of ActivIdentity. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ, including, but not limited to, changes to the preliminary financial results upon completion of our quarterly and fiscal year financial statements and associated audit, risks and uncertainties arising from the possibility that the closing of the transaction with ASSA ABLOY Inc. may be delayed or may not occur and such other risks as identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and all subsequent filings, which contain and identify important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward looking statements. ActivIdentity assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this press release.
Investor Contact:
Jacques Kerrest
Chief Financial Officer
+1 510-574-1792
jkerrest@actividentity.com
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ACTIVIDENTITY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
| | September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | 2009 | |
ASSETS | | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 72,519 | | $ | 75,624 | |
Marketable securities | | 3,780 | | 3,100 | |
Accounts receivable, net | | 12,247 | | 13,983 | |
Inventories | | 883 | | 701 | |
Prepaid and other current assets | | 3,509 | | 556 | |
Total current assets | | 92,938 | | 93,964 | |
Restricted cash | | — | | 1,746 | |
Investments | | — | | 11,752 | |
Property and equipment, net | | 1,637 | | 2,353 | |
Intangible assets, net | | 9,075 | | 1,842 | |
Goodwill | | 9,416 | | — | |
Other long-term assets | | 660 | | 2,920 | |
Total assets | | $ | 113,726 | | $ | 114,577 | |
| | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 1,731 | | $ | 1,853 | |
Accrued compensation and related benefits | | 4,693 | | 5,507 | |
Accrued restructuring liability | | 148 | | 642 | |
Accrued and other current liabilities | | 3,914 | | 3,493 | |
Current portion of deferred revenue | | 9,520 | | 12,574 | |
Total current liabilities | | 20,006 | | 24,069 | |
Long-term portion of deferred revenue | | 2,296 | | 1,240 | |
Accrued restructuring liability | | — | | 325 | |
Deferred rent | | 502 | | 114 | |
Other long-term liabilities | | 460 | | 582 | |
Total liabilities | | 23,264 | | 26,330 | |
| | | | | |
Commitments and contingencies | | | | | |
Stockholders’ equity: | | | | | |
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value: 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2010 and 2009 | | — | | — | |
Common stock, $0.001 par value: 75,000,000 shares authorized; 47,249,335 and 45,866,110 issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2010 and 2009 | | 48 | | 46 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | 436,166 | | 429,105 | |
Accumulated deficit | | (334,314 | ) | (328,599 | ) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | (11,750 | ) | (12,616 | ) |
Total ActivIdentity stockholders’ equity | | 90,150 | | 87,936 | |
Non-controlling interest | | 312 | | 311 | |
Total stockholders’ equity | | 90,462 | | 88,247 | |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | $ | 113,726 | | $ | 114,577 | |
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ACTIVIDENTITY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
| | Years Ended September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | 2009 | | 2008 | |
Revenue: | | | | | | | |
Software | | $ | 21,533 | | $ | 23,975 | | $ | 19,589 | |
Hardware | | 13,578 | | 15,784 | | 15,078 | |
Service | | 22,595 | | 22,562 | | 24,342 | |
Total revenue | | 57,706 | | 62,321 | | 59,009 | |
Cost of revenue: | | | | | | | |
Software | | 1,229 | | 4,179 | | 963 | |
Hardware | | 6,887 | | 7,954 | | 9,551 | |
Service | | 8,071 | | 7,677 | | 10,779 | |
Amortization of developed technology and patents | | 972 | | 2,168 | | 2,380 | |
Total cost of revenue | | 17,159 | | 21,978 | | 23,673 | |
Gross profit | | 40,547 | | 40,343 | | 35,336 | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | |
Sales and marketing | | 17,516 | | 19,572 | | 25,602 | |
Research and development | | 15,892 | | 15,053 | | 18,867 | |
General and administration | | 15,785 | | 12,769 | | 11,380 | |
Restructuring expense (net of recoveries) | | (356 | ) | — | | (70 | ) |
Amortization of other intangible assets | | 985 | | 140 | | 165 | |
Write-down of goodwill | | — | | — | | 35,874 | |
Total operating expenses | | 49,822 | | 47,534 | | 91,818 | |
Loss from operations | | (9,275 | ) | (7,191 | ) | (56,482 | ) |
Other income (expense): | | | | | | | |
Interest income, net | | 564 | | 1,710 | | 4,659 | |
Other income (expense), net | | 3,169 | | (508 | ) | (25,190 | ) |
Total other income (expense), net | | 3,733 | | 1,202 | | (20,531 | ) |
Loss before income taxes and non-controlling interest | | (5,542 | ) | (5,989 | ) | (77,013 | ) |
Income tax benefit (provision) | | (172 | ) | 344 | | 506 | |
Net loss | | (5,714 | ) | (5,645 | ) | (76,507 | ) |
Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest | | (1 | ) | 99 | | 50 | |
Net loss | | $ | (5,715 | ) | $ | (5,546 | ) | $ | (76,457 | ) |
Net loss per share — basic and diluted | | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (1.67 | ) |
Shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share | | 47,317 | | 45,814 | | 45,770 | |
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ACTIVIDENTITY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
| | Years Ended September 30, | |
| | 2010 | | 2009 | | 2008 | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (5,715 | ) | $ | (5,546 | ) | $ | (76,457 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | | | | | | | |
Gain on sale of investments and marketable securities | | (4,121 | ) | — | | — | |
Stock-based compensation | | 3,431 | | 3,074 | | 2,874 | |
Depreciation of property and equipment | | 1,121 | | 1,243 | | 1,566 | |
Amortization of other intangible assets | | 985 | | 140 | | 165 | |
Amortization of developed technology and patents | | 972 | | 2,168 | | 2,380 | |
Unrealized foreign exchange loss | | 639 | | 1,558 | | 1,782 | |
Impairment of investments | | 294 | | — | | 21,209 | |
Non-controlling interest in ActivIdentity Europe S.A. | | 1 | | (99 | ) | (50 | ) |
Loss on disposal of property and equipment | | — | | 45 | | 24 | |
Goodwill impairment charge | | — | | — | | 35,874 | |
Currency translation loss on liquidation of investments in foreign entity | | — | | — | | 1,946 | |
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination: | | | | | | | |
Accounts receivable | | 2,434 | | (1,854 | ) | 2,643 | |
Inventories | | (227 | ) | 1,044 | | 402 | |
Prepaid and other current assets | | 1,051 | | (1,542 | ) | 872 | |
Other assets | | 151 | | 2,428 | | (3,074 | ) |
Accounts payable | | (245 | ) | 163 | | (444 | ) |
Accrued compensation and related benefits | | (961 | ) | (485 | ) | (838 | ) |
Accrued restructuring liability | | (819 | ) | (611 | ) | (729 | ) |
Accrued and other current liabilities | | 621 | | (2,447 | ) | 2,598 | |
Deferred revenue | | (2,183 | ) | 1,395 | | (872 | ) |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | | (2,571 | ) | 674 | | (8,129 | ) |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments and marketable securities | | 14,898 | | 6,525 | | 85,165 | |
Other long-term assets | | — | | 25 | | 136 | |
Acquisition, net of cash acquired | | (12,769 | ) | — | | — | |
Purchases of property and equipment | | (467 | ) | (760 | ) | (307 | ) |
Restricted cash | | — | | (1,458 | ) | — | |
Purchases of marketable securities | | — | | — | | (37,245 | ) |
Net cash provided by investing activities | | 1,662 | | 4,332 | | 47,749 | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options | | 335 | | — | | 25 | |
Repurchase of stock | | (2,413 | ) | — | | — | |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | | (2,078 | ) | — | | 25 | |
| | | | | | | |
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | (118 | ) | 445 | | (111 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | | (3,105 | ) | 5,451 | | 39,534 | |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | | 75,624 | | 70,173 | | 30,639 | |
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | | $ | 72,519 | | $ | 75,624 | | $ | 70,173 | |
| | | | | | | |
Supplemental disclosures: | | | | | | | |
Cash paid (refund received) for income taxes, net | | $ | (1,140 | ) | $ | 186 | | $ | (11 | ) |
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Supplemental Financial Measures — Adjusted EBITDA
In this press release we intend to provide investors with a better understanding of operating results and underlying trends to assess our performance and liquidity. We evaluate our operating performance based on several measures, including the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA (defined as operating income (loss) adjusted for non-recurring or non-cash items such as stock-based compensation expenses, depreciation, amortization of intangibles, severance and asset impairments). We believe Adjusted EBITDA is a useful supplemental financial measure for investors because it facilitates investors’ ability to evaluate the operational strength of the Company’s business. Adjusted EBITDA, however, is not calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for net income (loss) as an indicator of operating performance. A reconciliation of operating loss from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA is presented below.
ActivIdentity Corporation
Reconciliation from GAAP Operating Loss to Adjusted EBITDA
(In thousands)
| | Three Months Ended | | Years Ended | |
| | Sept. 30, | | Jun. 30, | | Sept. 30, | | Sept. 30, | | Sept. 30, | |
| | 2010 | | 2010 | | 2009 | | 2010 | | 2009 | |
Operating loss | | $ | (1,472 | ) | $ | (1,920 | ) | $ | (1,335 | ) | $ | (9,275 | ) | $ | (7,191 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Add back depreciation expense | | 272 | | 300 | | 270 | | 1,122 | | 1,243 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Add back amortization expense | | 574 | | 574 | | 406 | | 1,957 | | 2,308 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Add back stock compensation expense | | 516 | | 962 | | 922 | | 3,431 | | 3,074 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Add back severance expense | | 306 | | 840 | | 198 | | 1,846 | | 2,839 | |
Add back restructuring related expense (net of recoveries) | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | (356 | ) | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA | | $ | 196 | | $ | 756 | | $ | 461 | | $ | (1,275 | ) | $ | 2,273 | |
Supplemental Financial Measures — Non-GAAP Results
This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures. The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures in the press release to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP measures include non-GAAP costs of revenue, operating expenses, other expenses, net loss and net loss per share amounts.
Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP financial measures, which should be considered as the primary financial metrics for evaluating our financial performance. Significantly, non-GAAP financial measures are not based on a comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Instead, they are based on subjective determinations by management designed to supplement our GAAP financial measures. They are subject to a number of important limitations and should be considered only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our non-GAAP financial measures differ from GAAP measures with the same names, may vary over time, and
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may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar names used by other companies. Accordingly, investors should exercise caution when evaluating our non-GAAP financial measures.
Despite these limitations, we believe our non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information about our operating results, primarily because they exclude expenses that we do not believe are indicative of the ongoing operating performance of our business and our senior management. Although these items should properly be considered in our GAAP financial measures, we believe they should be excluded when evaluating our current operating performance. The non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in the accompanying press release are used by our Board of Directors and senior management to evaluate our current operating performance, are used in evaluating the performance of our senior management, and are used in our budget and planning processes. We believe that our non-GAAP financial measures are helpful to investors by facilitating comparisons of our current and prior operating results and by facilitating comparisons of our operating results with those of other software companies.
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Unaudited Reconciliation from GAAP to Non-GAAP Expenses
(In thousands)
| | Three Months Ended | | Twelve Months Ended | |
| | Sept. 30, | | Jun. 30, | | Sept. 30, | | Sept. 30, | | Sept. 30, | |
| | 2010 | | 2010 | | 2009 | | 2010 | | 2009 | |
COST OF REVENUE (GAAP) | | $ | 4,178 | | $ | 4,006 | | $ | 5,039 | | $ | 17,159 | | $ | 21,978 | |
Subtract depreciation expense | | (7 | ) | (9 | ) | (14 | ) | (40 | ) | (72 | ) |
Subtract amortization expense | | (263 | ) | (263 | ) | (389 | ) | (972 | ) | (2,168 | ) |
Subtract stock-based compensation expense | | (11 | ) | (44 | ) | (39 | ) | (142 | ) | (147 | ) |
Subtract severance expense | | 20 | | 0 | | 0 | | (20 | ) | (37 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
COST OF REVENUE (NON-GAAP) | | 3,917 | | 3,690 | | 4,597 | | 15,985 | | 19,554 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
OPERATING EXPENSES | | | | | | | | | | | |
Sales & Marketing (GAAP) | | $ | 4,188 | | $ | 4,494 | | $ | 4,400 | | $ | 17,516 | | $ | 19,572 | |
Subtract depreciation expense | | (15 | ) | (17 | ) | (27 | ) | (76 | ) | (127 | ) |
Subtract stock-based compensation expense | | (94 | ) | (117 | ) | (126 | ) | (454 | ) | (591 | ) |
Subtract severance expense | | (183 | ) | (540 | ) | (182 | ) | (964 | ) | (1,794 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Sales & Marketing (Non-GAAP) | | 3,896 | | 3,820 | | 4,065 | | 16,022 | | 17,060 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Research & Development (GAAP) | | $ | 3,651 | | $ | 4,057 | | $ | 3,363 | | $ | 15,892 | | $ | 15,053 | |
Subtract depreciation expense | | (26 | ) | (48 | ) | (38 | ) | (139 | ) | (178 | ) |
Subtract stock-based compensation expense | | 12 | | (210 | ) | (205 | ) | (617 | ) | (695 | ) |
Subtract severance expense | | (4 | ) | (156 | ) | (17 | ) | (242 | ) | (801 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Research & Development (Non-GAAP) | | 3,633 | | 3,643 | | 3,103 | | 14,894 | | 13,379 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
General & Administration (GAAP) | | $ | 4,347 | | $ | 2,660 | | $ | 3,037 | | $ | 15,785 | | $ | 12,769 | |
Subtract depreciation expense | | (224 | ) | (227 | ) | (191 | ) | (868 | ) | (866 | ) |
Subtract stock-based compensation expense | | (423 | ) | (591 | ) | (552 | ) | (2,218 | ) | (1,641 | ) |
Subtract severance expense | | (139 | ) | (143 | ) | 0 | | (619 | ) | (208 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
General & Administration (Non-GAAP) | | 3,561 | | 1,699 | | 2,294 | | 12,080 | | 10,054 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Amortization of intangibles expense | | 311 | | 311 | | 17 | | 985 | | 140 | |
Subtract amortization expense | | (311 | ) | (311 | ) | (17 | ) | (985 | ) | (140 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Restructuring related expense (net of recoveries) | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | (356 | ) | 0 | |
Subtract restructuring related expense (net of recoveries) | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | 356 | | 0 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
OPERATING EXPENSES (GAAP) | | $ | 12,497 | | $ | 11,522 | | $ | 10,817 | | $ | 49,822 | | $ | 47,534 | |
OPERATING EXPENSES (NON-GAAP) | | $ | 11,090 | | $ | 9,162 | | $ | 9,462 | | $ | 42,996 | | $ | 40,493 | |
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Discussion of Specific Items Excluded from Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We exclude the below items from our non-GAAP financial measures because we believe they are not closely related to the ongoing operating performance of our business and management and are generally excluded from our budget and planning process. In addition, we believe our non-GAAP financial measures are helpful to investors by facilitating comparisons of our operating results over different time periods and by facilitating comparisons of our financial performance with that of other companies. Except for costs and expenses related to restructuring and severance, these items are non-cash and do not affect cash flows.
1. Amortization of acquired intangible assets — In accordance with GAAP, we amortize intangible assets acquired in connection with acquisitions over the estimated useful lives of the assets. We exclude amortization expense from our non-GAAP financial measures because it (i) results from prior acquisitions, rather than the ongoing operating performance of our business, and (ii) absent additional acquisitions, is expected to decline over time as the remaining carrying amounts of these assets are amortized. We believe excluding this expense helps investors compare our financial performance with that of other companies with different acquisition histories. However, as with impairment charges, we recognize that amortization expense provides a helpful measure of the financial impact and performance of prior acquisitions and investors should consider our non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with our GAAP financial results that include amortization expense.
2. Stock-based compensation — We exclude stock-based compensation expense associated with stock options and restricted stock units granted to employees and non-executive directors from our non-GAAP financial measures. While stock based compensation is a significant component of our expenses, we believe that investors wish to be able to exclude the effects of stock based compensation expenses in comparing our financial performance with that of other companies.
3. Restructuring and severance — We exclude restructuring and severance from our non-GAAP financial measures because these costs are unrelated to our ongoing operations. We believe excluding restructuring and severance expenses help investors compare our operating performance with that of other companies. We recognize, however, that restructuring and severance will impact cash flows and that we and investors should carefully consider the impact of these costs on future cash flows.
4. Depreciation expenses — We exclude depreciation expense from our non-GAAP financial measures because it is a non-cash charge. Depreciation is the attribution of the original cost of a fixed asset upon acquisition over that asset’s estimated useful life.
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