Non-GAAP Financial Results (1):

Total non-GAAP operating costs and expenses in the fourth quarter of 2015 were $43.4 million, 6% lower than the previous quarter, and 3% lower than the fourth quarter of 2014.

Non-GAAP net income in the fourth quarter of 2015 was $20.7 million, 22% higher than the prior quarter and 24% higher than the fourth quarter of 2014. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share was $0.18 in the fourth quarter of 2015 as compared to $0.14 in the prior quarter and $0.14 in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Total non-GAAP operating costs and expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 were $181.1 million as compared to $177.4 million in the same period of 2014 due primarily to higher headcount related costs, higher expenses related to software design tools and higher cost of sales due to higher sales of security and lighting products offset by lower consulting costs.

Non-GAAP net income for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $70.6 million as compared to $70.1 million in the same period of 2014. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share was $0.60 for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to non-GAAP diluted net income per share of $0.60 for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Other Financial Highlights:

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of December 31, 2015 were $287.7 million, a decrease of $75.2 million from September 30, 2015, mainly due to the repurchased 7.8 million shares of the Company's common stock under its share repurchase program via an accelerated share repurchase program.

During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company recorded an income tax provision of approximately $4.6 million.

2016 First Quarter and Annual Outlook:

For the first quarter of 2016, the Company expects revenue to be between $71 million and $75 million. For 2016, the Company expects revenue to be between $310 million and $325 million. Revenue is not without risk and includes expectations that the Company will sign new customers for patent as well as solutions licensing and renew or extend agreements with existing customers.

Conference Call:

The Company will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. PT today to discuss its financial results. The call, audio and slides will be available online at investor.rambus.com. A replay will be available following the call as a webcast on the Rambus Investor Relations website and for one week at the following numbers: (855) 859-2056 (domestic) or (404) 537-3406 (international) with ID#23967982.

(1) Non-GAAP Financial Information:

In the commentary set forth above and in the financial statements included in this earnings release, the Company presents the following non-GAAP financial measures: operating costs and expenses, operating income (loss) and net income (loss). In computing each of these non-GAAP financial measures, the following items were considered as discussed below: stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related transaction costs and retention bonus expense, restructuring charges, amortization expense, non-cash interest expense and certain other one-time adjustments. The non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by the Company should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, and the financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations from these results should be carefully evaluated. Management believes the non-GAAP financial measures are appropriate for both its own assessment of, and to show investors, how the Company’s performance compares to other periods. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies. Reconciliation from GAAP to non-GAAP results is included in the financial statements contained in this release.

The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures reflect adjustments based on the following items:

Stock-based compensation expense. These expenses primarily relate to employee stock options, employee stock purchase plans, and employee non-vested equity stock and non-vested stock units. The Company excludes stock-based compensation expense from its non-GAAP measures primarily because such expenses are non-cash expenses that the Company does not believe are reflective of ongoing operating results. Additionally, given the fact that other companies may grant different amounts and types of equity awards and may use different option valuation assumptions, excluding stock-based compensation expense permits more accurate comparisons of the Company’s results with peer companies.

Acquisition-related transaction costs and retention bonus expense. These expenses include all direct costs of certain acquisitions and the current periods’ portion of any retention bonus expense associated with the acquisitions. The Company excludes these expenses in order to provide better comparability between periods.

Restructuring charges. These charges may consist of severance, contractual retention payments, exit costs and other charges and are excluded because such charges are not directly related to ongoing business results and do not reflect expected future operating expenses.

Amortization expense. The Company incurs expenses for the amortization of intangible assets acquired in acquisitions. The Company excludes these items because these expenses are not reflective of ongoing operating results in the period incurred. These amounts arise from the Company’s prior acquisitions and have no direct correlation to the operation of the Company’s core business.