MILPITAS, Calif., Jul 22, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----Linear Technology Corporation (NASDAQ:LLTC), a leading, independent manufacturer of high performance linear integrated circuits, today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended June 29, 2008. Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008 increased 3.1% to a quarterly record of $307.1 million compared to the previous quarter's revenue of $297.9 million and increased 14.5% or $39.0 million over $268.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007. Diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $0.46 increased $0.02 per share or 4.5% over the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 and increased $0.10 per share or 28% over the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007. Fourth quarter Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") net income of $103.1 million increased $3.9 million or 3.9% over $99.2 million reported in the third quarter of fiscal year 2008. Net income for the quarter was positively impacted by the increase in sales, a lower tax rate as a result of a discrete tax benefit and also by a modest gain from the sale of a strategic investment in a private company. These gains were partially offset by an increase in legal expenses. Net income increased $7.4 million or 7.8% over the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007.

During the June quarter the Company's cash and short-term investments balance increased $58.8 million net of spending $48.3 million to purchase approximately 1.3 million shares of its common stock. A cash dividend of $0.21 per share will be paid on August 27, 2008 to stockholders of record on August 15, 2008.

Revenue for the year ended June 29, 2008 was $1.175 billion, an increase of 8.5% or $92.1 million over revenue of $1.083 billion for the previous fiscal year. Diluted EPS for the year ended June 29, 2008 was $1.71, an increase of 23.0% or $0.32 per share over fiscal year 2007 diluted EPS of $1.39. The Company entered into a $3.0 billion Accelerated Stock Repurchase ("ASR") transaction at the end of fiscal year 2007 that along with the increase in sales drove the significant increase in EPS during fiscal 2008. The ASR transaction decreased shares used in the calculation of diluted EPS by 83.3 million shares or by approximately 27%. Net income in accordance with GAAP of $387.6 million for fiscal year 2008 decreased $24.1 million or 5.8% from $411.7 million reported in the previous fiscal year. As mentioned above, in April 2007 the Company entered into a $3.0 billion ASR transaction funded by $1.3 billion of the Company's own cash and $1.7 billion of convertible debt. As a result, the Company's fiscal year 2008 results had both a decrease in interest income and an increase in interest expense when compared to the prior fiscal year which resulted in lower net income in fiscal year 2008 but higher diluted EPS.

Non-GAAP diluted EPS for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008 was $0.51 per share, a $0.02 per share increase over the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 and a $0.09 per share increase over the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007. Fourth quarter non-GAAP net income of $114.4 million increased $4.4 million over $110.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 and $4.5 million over the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007. The Company's non-GAAP measures set forth above exclude charges related to stock-based compensation. The Company's management uses non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share to evaluate the Company's current operating results and financial results and to compare them against historical financial results. Reconciliations of reported net income and reported net income per diluted share to non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share, respectively, are included at the end of this press release.

According to Lothar Maier, CEO, "We met our guidance set at the beginning of the quarter by growing revenues 3% and EPS 5% over the March quarter. We have now grown revenues and EPS for five consecutive quarters. We grew annual revenues 9% and EPS 23% and outperformed our competitors in what most people would call a tough economic environment. Our strategy of diversification by geography and end-markets, emphasizing more traditional Linear end-markets, contributed to our record annual revenues and EPS.

"Looking ahead, given the concerns about economic difficulties particularly in the USA, forecasting future results continues to be a challenge. While we had a positive book to bill ratio for the June quarter, the summer or September quarter is typically a slow quarter for industrial and communication infrastructure business. However, we expect the September quarter to have some strength in certain high-end consumer end-markets. Consequently, we presently estimate that revenues and income before taxes will be flat to up 2% sequentially from the June quarter."

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements. In particular, the statements regarding the demand for our products, our customers' ordering patterns and the anticipated trends in our sales and profits are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are dependent on certain risks and uncertainties, including such factors, among others, as the timing, volume and pricing of new orders received and shipped, the timely introduction of new processes and products, general conditions in the world economy and financial markets and other factors described in our 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 1, 2007.

Company officials will be discussing these results in greater detail in a conference call tomorrow, Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Coast Time. Those investors wishing to listen in may call (719) 325-4765 before 8:15 a.m. to be included in the audience. There will be a live webcast of this conference call that can be accessed through www.linear.com or www.streetevents.com. A replay of the conference call will be available from July 23, 2008 through July 29, 2008.

You may access the archive by calling (719) 457-0820 and entering reservation #3775341. An archive of the webcast will also be available at www.linear.com and www.streetevents.com as of July 23, 2008 until the fourth quarter earnings release next year.

Linear Technology Corporation, a manufacturer of high performance linear integrated circuits, was founded in 1981, became a public company in 1986 and joined the S&P 500 index of major public companies in 2000. Linear Technology products include high performance amplifiers, comparators, voltage references, monolithic filters, linear regulators, DC-DC converters, battery chargers, data converters, communications interface circuits, RF signal conditioning circuits, uModule(TM) products, and many other analog functions. Applications for Linear Technology's high performance circuits include telecommunications, cellular telephones, networking products such as optical switches, notebook and desktop computers, computer peripherals, video/multimedia, industrial instrumentation, security monitoring devices, high-end consumer products such as digital cameras and MP3 players, complex medical devices, automotive electronics, factory automation, process control, and military and space systems. For more information, visit www.linear.com.

For further information contact Paul Coghlan at Linear Technology Corporation, 1630 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, California 95035-7417, (408) 432-1900.

 LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except per share amounts) GAAP (unaudited)
   Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended ---------------------------------------------------- June 29, Mar. 30, July 1, June
   29, July 1, 2008 2008 2007 2008 2007 --------- --------- -------- ----------- ----------- Revenues $307,080 $297,865 $268,116
   $1,175,153 $1,083,078 Cost of sales (1) 69,793 66,939 61,338 267,005 241,513 --------- --------- -------- ----------- -----------
   Gross profit 237,287 230,926 206,778 908,148 841,565 --------- --------- -------- ----------- ----------- Expenses: Research
   & development (1) 51,897 49,613 46,713 197,089 183,557 Selling, general & administrative (1) 40,634 35,423 32,861
   142,395 133,690 --------- --------- -------- ----------- ----------- 92,531 85,036 79,574 339,484 317,247 --------- ---------
   -------- ----------- ----------- Operating income 144,756 145,890 127,204 568,664 524,318 Interest expense (14,421) (14,435)
   (10,795) (57,792) (12,093) Interest income 9,056 7,334 7,908 30,082 57,699 --------- --------- -------- ----------- -----------
   Income before income taxes 139,391 138,789 124,317 540,954 569,924 Provision for income taxes 36,242 39,555 28,593 153,341
   158,249 --------- --------- -------- ----------- ----------- Net income $103,149 $ 99,234 $ 95,724 $ 387,613 $ 411,675 =========
   ========= ======== =========== =========== Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.47 $ 0.45 $ 0.37 $ 1.74 $ 1.42 ========= =========
   ======== =========== =========== Diluted $ 0.46 $ 0.44 $ 0.36 $ 1.71 $ 1.39 ========= ========= ======== =========== ===========
   Shares used in the calculation of earnings per share: Basic 221,426 222,046 260,664 222,232 290,502 ========= ========= ========
   =========== =========== Diluted 225,014 224,489 266,474 226,257 296,616 ========= ========= ======== =========== ===========
   (1) Includes stock-based compensation charges as follows: Cost of sales $ 1,997 $ 1,996 $ 2,946 $ 7,862 $ 11,481 Research
   & development 8,454 8,360 9,595 32,743 37,341 Sales, general & administrative 4,758 4,675 5,885 18,261 22,786 

   LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) June 29, July 1, 2008 2007 (unaudited)
   (audited) ------------ ------------ ASSETS: Current assets: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments $ 966,701 $
   633,307 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,752 ($1,775 at July 1, 2007) 161,452 130,546 Inventories
   56,017 51,075 Deferred tax assets and other current assets 61,370 46,176 ------------ ------------ Total current assets 1,245,540
   861,104 ------------ ------------ Property, plant & equipment, net 261,085 266,600 Other noncurrent assets 77,264 91,153
   ------------ ------------ Total assets $ 1,583,889 $ 1,218,857 ============ ============ LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
   Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 16,860 $ 11,161 Accrued income taxes, payroll & other accrued liabilities 120,521
   128,762 Deferred income on shipments to distributors 37,777 39,946 ------------ ------------ Total current liabilities 175,158
   179,869 ------------ ------------ Convertible senior notes 1,700,000 1,700,000 Deferred tax and other long-term liabilities
   142,649 46,953 Stockholders' equity: Common stock 1,050,259 902,135 Accumulated deficit (1,485,629) (1,609,453) Accumulated
   other comprehensive income 1,452 (647) ------------ ------------ Total stockholders' deficit (433,918) (707,965) ------------
   ------------ $ 1,583,889 $ 1,218,857 ============ ============ 

 LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF
   GAAP NET INCOME TO NON-GAAP NET INCOME (In thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended ------------------------------------
   June 29, Mar. 30, July 1, 2008 2008 2007 ----------- ----------- ------------ Reported net income (GAAP basis) $ 103,149 $
   99,234 $95,724 Stock-based compensation (1) 15,209 15,031 18,426 Income tax effect of non- GAAP adjustments (3,954) (4,284)
   (4,238) ----------- ----------- ------------ Non-GAAP net income $ 114,404 $ 109,981 $109,912 =========== =========== ============
   Non-GAAP earnings per share excluding the effects of stock-based compensation: Basic $ 0.52 $ 0.50 $ 0.42 =========== ===========
   =========== Diluted $ 0.51 $ 0.49 $ 0.42 =========== =========== =========== Shares used in the calculation of Non-GAAP earnings
   per share: Basic 221,426 222,046 260,664 =========== =========== =========== Diluted 223,651(2) 223,119(2) 264,842(2) ===========
   =========== =========== Twelve Months Ended ------------------------ June 29, July 1, 2008 2007 ------------ ----------- Reported
   net income (GAAP basis) $ 387,613 $ 411,675 Stock-based compensation (1) 58,866 71,608 Income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments
   (16,686) (19,883) ------------ ----------- Non-GAAP net income $ 429,793 $ 463,400 ============ =========== Non-GAAP earnings
   per share excluding the effects of stock-based compensation: Basic $ 1.93 $ 1.60 ============ =========== Diluted $ 1.91 $
   1.57 ============ =========== Shares used in the calculation of Non-GAAP earnings per share: Basic 222,232 290,502 ============
   =========== Diluted 224,681(3) 294,792(3) ============ =========== 

1) Linear began expensing stock options in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006.

2) Excludes 1,363, 1,370 and 1,632 shares for the three months ended June 29, 2008, March 30, 2008 and July 1, 2007, respectively, to conform diluted outstanding shares calculated under FAS123R to diluted shares calculated under prior accounting standards.

3) Excludes 1,576 and 1,824 shares for the twelve months ended June, 29, 2008 and July 1, 2007, respectively, to conform diluted outstanding shares calculated under FAS123R to diluted shares calculated under prior accounting standards.

The Company's non-GAAP measures set forth above exclude charges related to stock-based compensation. The Company's management uses non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share to evaluate the Company's current operating results and financial results and to compare them against historical financial results. The Company excludes stock-based compensation expenses and the related tax effects primarily because they are significant non-cash expense estimates which management separates for consideration when evaluating and managing business operations.

In addition, the Company believes that providing investors with these non-GAAP measurements enhances their ability to compare the Company's business against that of its many competitors who employ and disclose similar non-GAAP measures. This financial measure may be different from non-GAAP methods of accounting and reporting used by the Company's competitors to the extent their non-GAAP measures include other items. The presentation of this additional information should not be considered a substitute for net income or net income per diluted share prepared in accordance with GAAP.

SOURCE: Linear Technology Corporation

Linear
   Technology Corporation Paul Coghlan, 408-432-1900 Vice President, Finance 

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