DGAP-News: Dialog Semiconductor Plc. / Key word(s): Quarter Results 
Q4 2020 revenue at USUSD439 million, up 15% year-on-year. 
2021-03-03 / 07:30 
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 
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Underlying operating profit at USUSD110.5 million, up 21% year-on-year. Revenue excluding licensed PMICs was up 39% 
year-on-year. 
London, UK, 3 March 2021 - Dialog Semiconductor Plc (XETRA: DLG) today reports unaudited results for the fourth quarter 
ended 31 December 2020. 
IFRS basis (unaudited) Underlying basis1 (unaudited) 
USUSD millions unless stated otherwise Q4 2020 Q4 2019 Q4 2020 Q4 2019  Change 
Revenue                                438.7   380.6   438.7   380.6    +15% 
Gross margin                           49.2%   50.0%   50.8%   50.2%  +60bps 
Operating expenses2                    149.1   137.0   115.3   100.5    +15% 
Operating (loss)/profit                 69.9    53.7   110.5    91.3    +21% 
Operating margin                       15.9%   14.1%   25.2%   24.0% +120bps 
Diluted EPS                            USD0.81   USD0.61   USD1.26   USD1.02    +24% 
Free cash flow                           N/A     N/A   115.3    44.4   +160%

1 Underlying measures and free cash flow quoted in this Press Release are non-IFRS measures (see page 6).

2 Comprising SG&A and R&D expenses.

Q4 2020 Financial highlights

- Revenue of USUSD439 million, including acquisitions, 8% above the mid-point of the November outlook range and 15% above Q4 2019.

- Strength across the product portfolio with revenue excluding licensed main Power Management ICs ("PMICs") up 39% year-on-year.

- Gross margin at 49.2% (Q4 2019: 50.0%). Continued progress on underlying gross margin at 50.8% (Q4 2019: 50.2%) up 60bps year-on-year.

- Operating profit of USUSD69.9 million (Q4 2019: USUSD53.7 million), and underlying operating profit of USUSD110.5 million (Q4 2019: USUSD91.3 million).

- Diluted EPS of USUSD0.81 (Q4 2019: USUSD0.61) and underlying diluted EPS of USUSD1.26 (Q4 2019: USUSD1.02).

- On 8 October 2020, we completed the second tranche of the 2019 Share Buyback for a total amount of EUR70.0 million at an average price of EUR34.37.

- Q4 2020 cash flow from operating activities of USUSD130.8 million (Q4 2019: USUSD57.4 million) which included the recoupment of the prepayment relating to the license agreement.

- During Q4 2020, we reorganised the Group's structure bringing together the businesses from Adesto and Creative Chips into a new segment named Industrial IoT.

- Subsequent to quarter end, on 8 February 2021, Dialog reached agreement on the terms of a recommended acquisition by Renesas Electronics Corporation ("Renesas") of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of the Company (the "Acquisition"). Under the terms of the Acquisition, Dialog shareholders will be entitled to receive EUR67.50 in cash per Dialog share at completion.

Q4 2020 Operational highlights

- Continued design-in momentum at our largest customers for the development and supply of several mixed-signal integrated circuits. We have made significant progress on a number of designs scheduled for 2022 production.

- Strong operational performance despite evolving lockdown restrictions.

- Revenue from new mixed-signal products in Custom Mixed Signal business segment from our largest customer was up 35% year-on-year.

- Q4 2020 revenue from AMS segment up 19% year-on-year driven by strong demand for Configurable Mixed-signal ICs ("CMICs") and backlighting products.

- In Q4 2020 we launched a new member of the GreenPAK(TM) family, the SLG47004, the first fully programmable advanced analog system IC with configurable op amp functionality.

- Q4 2020 revenue in C&A segment up 21% mostly driven by strong demand for audio products.

- In support of our expansion into industrial IoT, we introduced the SmartServer(TM) IoT Partner programme for edge solutions in smart buildings and factories.

- During Q4 2020, industry-wide capacity constraints impacted our ability to meet incremental customer demand.

Update on COVID-19 Throughout the pandemic, our main focus has been to protect the health and wellbeing of our employees and business partners. As lockdown restrictions continue to evolve and change, we are following applicable Health and Safety guidelines and where appropriate, opening our offices, albeit at a low capacity. We continued to maintain a minimal staff presence in our test labs, where required, and adhered to recommended safe working practices. Our supply chain has remained stable during the quarter, with most suppliers and our customers' contract manufacturers continuing to operate at almost full capacity. Customer engagements continued to be effectively managed remotely and we continue to make good progress.

Our business remains resilient. Our fabless business model and the strength of our balance sheet provide us with financial resilience and operational flexibility to navigate the current circumstances.

Q4 2020 Financial overview Revenue was 15% above Q4 2019 at USUSD439 million mostly due to strong performance across the product portfolio offsetting the expected decline in licensed main PMICs to USUSD95.8 million (Q4 2019: USUSD134.4 million). Excluding the contribution of Adesto, revenue was 10% above Q4 2019. In particular, sales growth of PMICs, CMICs, audio, and Bluetooth(R) low energy ("BLE") was driven by the continuing strength of consumer demand for headphones, fitness trackers, digital watches, notebooks, and tablets. Group revenue excluding licensed main PMICs was up 39% year-on- year. License revenue of USUSD9 million related to the Apple agreement was reported in Corporate.

Gross margin was 49.2%, 80bps below Q4 2019 (Q4 2019: 50.0%) as a result of the consumption of the fair value uplift of the acquired Adesto inventory. Underlying gross margin was up 60bps year-on-year at 50.8%. This increase was mainly the result of revenue mix and continuing savings in manufacturing costs.

Operating expenses ("OPEX"), comprising SG&A and R&D expenses, in Q4 2020 were 9% above Q4 2019, representing 34.0% of revenue (Q4 2019: 36.0%). The increase in OPEX was mainly due to the acquisitions of Adesto and Creative Chips. In Q4 2020, we incurred USUSD1.3 million integration costs related to the acquisition of Adesto. Underlying OPEX

in Q4 2020 was 15% above Q4 2019 (Q4 2019: USUSD100.5 million), representing 26.3% of revenue (Q4 2019: 26.4%). The increase in underlying OPEX was mainly driven by the additional OPEX from Adesto.

In line with its long-term financial objectives, the Company has initiatives in place to reduce its cost base over time. In Q4 2020, the Company continued to make good progress on the execution of the planned cost synergies. All these initiatives seek to improve efficiency, protect profitability, and strengthen cash flow generation.

R&D expenses were 16% above Q4 2019 representing 20.8% of revenue (Q4 2019: 20.6%). Underlying R&D expenses in Q4 2020 were 21% above Q4 2019 representing 17.8% of revenue (Q4 2019: 16.9%). The increase in R&D and underlying R&D expenses was mainly due to the acquisitions of Adesto and Creative Chips as well as continuing investment in future growth.

SG&A expenses in Q4 2020 were slightly below Q4 2019, representing 13.2% of revenue (Q4 2019: 15.4%). The decrease was the result of cost savings offset by additional expenses from the acquisitions of Adesto and Creative Chips. Underlying SG&A expenses in Q4 2020 were 4% above Q4 2019 representing 8.5% of revenue (Q4 2019: 9.5%).

The increase in underlying SG&A expenses was mainly the result of the acquisitions of Creative Chips and Adesto partially offset by cost savings.

In Q4 2020, other operating income and underlying operating income, which comprised income from R&D contracts, were above Q4 2019 at USUSD2.9 million (Q4 2019: USUSD0.6 million).

Operating profit in Q4 2020 was USUSD69.9 million, 30% above Q4 2019 (Q4 2019: USUSD53.7 million), mainly due to the higher revenue and gross margin partially offset by the incremental operating expenses from the acquisitions of Adesto and Creative Chips, as well as cost savings. Underlying operating profit was 21% above Q4 2019, at USUSD110.5 million (Q4 2019: USUSD91.3 million) driven by the increase in revenue, gross margin, and OPEX savings, partially offset with additional operating expenses from the acquisitions of Creative Chips and Adesto.

The effective tax rate in 2020 was 27.7% (2019: 21.7%). Our relatively high effective tax rate for 2020 was principally due to the distorting effect on our income tax expense of the tax and accounting treatments of share-based compensation, business combinations and the goodwill impairment loss. The underlying effective tax rate in 2020 was 18.0%, down 180bps on the 2019 underlying effective tax rate of 19.8%. Our underlying effective tax rate for 2020 was lower than expected, principally because of the tax effects of unpredictable currency exchange rate movements.

In Q4 2020, net income was USUSD57.8 million, 29% above Q4 2019 (Q4 2019: USUSD44.8 million). This increase was mostly due to the increase in operating profit and the lower effective tax rate. Underlying net income was 21% higher year-on-year mainly driven by the same factors.

Diluted EPS in Q4 2020 was 33% above Q4 2019 at USUSD0.81 (Q4 2019: USUSD0.61). Underlying diluted EPS in Q4 2020 was 24% higher year-on-year to USUSD1.26 (Q4 2019: USUSD1.02).

At the end of Q4 2020, our total inventory level was USUSD159 million, 1% below the previous quarter. This is equivalent to 64 days of inventory representing an 8-day decrease in our days of inventory from Q3 2020, mainly due to the higher revenue.

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