Novell Reports Financial Results for Third Fiscal Quarter 2007

Novell, Inc. announced financial results for its third fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2007. For the quarter, Novell reported net revenue of $243 million, compared to net revenue of $236 million for the third fiscal quarter 2006. The loss from operations for the third fiscal quarter 2007 was $10 million, compared to a loss from operations of $40 million for the third fiscal quarter 2006. The loss available to common stockholders from continuing operations in the third fiscal quarter 2007 was $3 million, or $0.01 loss per common share. This compares to a loss available to common stockholders from continuing operations of $17 million, or $0.05 loss per common share, for the third fiscal quarter 2006. Foreign currency exchange rates favorably impacted total revenue by approximately $4 million and negatively impacted the loss from operations by $1 million year-over-year.

On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted income from operations for the third fiscal quarter 2007 was $12 million. This compares to non-GAAP adjusted income from operations of $6 million in the year-ago quarter. Non-GAAP adjusted income available to common stockholders from continuing operations for the third fiscal quarter 2007 was $16 million, or $0.05 per adjusted diluted common share. This compares to non-GAAP adjusted income available to common stockholders from continuing operations of $24 million, or $0.06 per adjusted diluted common share, for the third fiscal quarter 2006.

For the third fiscal quarter 2007, Novell reported $22 million of revenue from Open Platform Solutions of which $21 million was from Linux* Platform Products, up 77 percent year-over-year. Linux Platform Products invoicing was $38 million, up 95 percent year-over-year. Revenue from Identity and Security Management was $30 million of which Identity and Access Management was $27 million, up 2 percent year-over-year. Revenue from Systems and Resource Management was $35 million, up 4 percent year-over-year. Revenue from our Workgroup business unit declined 2 percent from the year-ago period to $83 million.

“We are encouraged by our Linux performance and the market's continued enthusiasm for our desktop to datacenter strategy. In addition, we are pleased with our operating margin expansion and progress on our strategic initiatives,” said Ron Hovsepian, president and CEO of Novell.

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $1.8 billion at July 31, 2007, consistent with last quarter. Days sales outstanding in accounts receivable was 74 days at the end of the third fiscal quarter 2007, down from 88 days at the end of the year-ago quarter. Total deferred revenue was $734 million at the end of the third fiscal quarter 2007, up $343 million, or 88 percent, from July 31, 2006. Cash flow from operations was $26 million for the third fiscal quarter 2007, compared to $36 million in the third fiscal quarter 2006.

Full details on Novell's reported results, including a reconciliation of the non-GAAP adjusted 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 2007:

Net revenue is expected to be between $925 million and $955 million, in line with prior guidance.

On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted income from operations is expected to exceed previously stated guidance of between break-even and $10 million.

Novell reiterates fiscal 2007 non-GAAP exit rate operating margin, as defined below, of between 5 and 7 percent.

Non-GAAP exit rate operating margin is defined as an annualized run rate expense level at the end of the period that, when compared to the full fiscal year's revenue, would result in pro forma operating margin for the year.

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, adjusted diluted income available to common stockholders from continuing operations, and adjusted diluted income per common share from continuing operations based on an adjusted number of diluted weighted average shares. We provide non-GAAP financial measures to (i) enhance an overall understanding of our current financial performance and prospects for the future and (ii) enable investors to evaluate our performance in the same way that management does. Management uses these non-GAAP adjusted financial measures to evaluate performance, allocate resources, and determine commissions and bonuses. The non-GAAP adjusted 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.

These non-GAAP financial measures exclude items such as, but not limited to, stock-based compensation expenses, restructuring expenses, asset impairments, litigation judgments and settlements, the write-off of acquired in-process research and development, and gains (losses) on the sale of business operations, long-term investments, and property, plant and equipment.

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