VANCOUVER, Jan. 29, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sierra Wireless, Inc. announced today that it is implementing an expense reduction program.
The expense reduction program is expected to reduce labor costs by approximately $5.5 million on an annualized run rate basis. The program includes the elimination of approximately 56 positions, representing 10% of the company's workforce. The positions eliminated will impact all levels and functions of the company. These actions are expected to be largely completed during the first quarter of 2009. The company expects to incur a pre-tax charge of approximately $1.3 million in the first quarter for severance and other costs related to this program.
"We have experienced strong revenue growth over the past three years and have significantly expanded our team size. We also believe that our product portfolio and channel position in key markets remains strong. However, based on the expectation that economic uncertainty will continue for the foreseeable future, we felt it was prudent to reduce our cost structure now, in order to mitigate the potential impact of this uncertainty on our business" said Jason Cohenour, President and Chief Executive Officer.
We will host a conference call to review our fourth quarter 2008 results on Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 at 5:30pm Eastern time. To participate in this conference call, please dial 1-800-733-7560 or 1-416-644-3414 approximately ten minutes prior to the commencement of the call. The call will also be broadcast over the Internet
(http://www.newswire.ca/en/webcast/viewEvent.cgi?eventID=2503820) Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release that are not based on historical facts constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements are not promises or guarantees of future performance but are only predictions that relate to future events, conditions or circumstances or our future results, performance, achievements or developments and are subject to substantial known and unknown risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, achievements or developments in our business or in our industry to differ materially from those expressed, anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include all disclosure regarding possible events, conditions, circumstances or results of operations that are based on assumptions about future economic conditions, courses of action and other future events. We caution you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. These forward-looking statements appear in a number of different places in this press release and can be identified by words such as "may", "estimates", "projects", "expects", "intends", "believes", "plans", "anticipates", "continue", "growing", "expanding", or their negatives or other comparable words. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the outlook for our future operations, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement of our services and products, statements concerning strategies or developments, statements about future market conditions, supply conditions, end customer demand conditions, channel inventory and sell through, revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, profits, forecasts of future costs and expenditures, the outcome of legal proceedings, and other expectations, intentions and plans that are not historical fact. The risk factors and uncertainties that may affect our actual results, performance, achievements or developments are many and include, amongst others, our ability to develop, manufacture, supply and market new products that we do not produce today that meet the needs of customers and gain commercial acceptance, our reliance on the deployment of next generation networks by major wireless operators, the continuous commitment of our customers, and increased competition. These risk factors and others are discussed in our Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which may be found on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com/ and on EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov/ and in our other regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States and the Provincial Securities Commissions in Canada. Many of these factors and uncertainties are beyond our control. Consequently, all forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by this cautionary statement and we cannot assure you that actual results, performance, achievements or developments that we anticipate will be realized. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should the assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change, except as required by law.
About Sierra Wireless
Sierra Wireless modems and software connect people and systems to mobile broadband networks around the world. The Company offers a diverse product portfolio addressing enterprise, consumer, original equipment manufacturer, specialized vertical industry, and machine-to-machine markets, and provides professional services to customers requiring expertise in wireless design, integration and carrier certification. For more information about Sierra Wireless, visit http://www.sierrawireless.com/.
"AirCard" is a registered trademark of Sierra Wireless. Other product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
