Fortinet Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Financial Results

Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights

  • Product revenue of $540.1 million, up 43% year over year
  • Service revenue of $742.9 million, up 27% year over year
  • Total revenue of $1.28 billion, up 33% year over year
  • Billings of $1.72 billion, up 32% year over year1
  • GAAP operating income of $357.8 million, up 66% year over year
  • Non-GAAP operating income of $417.6 million, up 52% year over year1
  • GAAP operating margin of 27.9%
  • Non-GAAP operating margin of 32.5%1
  • GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc. of $0.40, up 67% year over year2
  • Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc. of $0.44, up 76% year over year1 2
  • Cash flow from operations of $528.1 million
  • Free cash flow of $497.2 million1

Full Year 2022 Highlights

  • Product revenue of $1.78 billion, up 42% year over year
  • Service revenue of $2.64 billion, up 26% year over year
  • Total revenue of $4.42 billion, up 32% year over year
  • Billings of $5.59 billion, up 34% year over year1
  • Deferred revenue of $4.64 billion, up 34% year over year
  • GAAP operating income of $969.6 million, up 49% year over year
  • Non-GAAP operating income of $1.21 billion, up 38% year over year1
  • GAAP operating margin of 21.9%
  • Non-GAAP operating margin of 27.3%1
  • GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc. of $1.06, up 45% year over year2
  • Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc. of $1.19, up 49% year over year1 2
  • Cash flow from operations of $1.73 billion
  • Free cash flow of $1.45 billion1
  • Cash paid for share repurchases of $1.99 billion

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortinet® (Nasdaq: FTNT), a global leader in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2022.

“Total revenue grew 32% in 2022 and year-over-year to $4.42 billion, and we generated GAAP net income of $857.3 million. This marks the 14th consecutive year that we have been GAAP profitable, including every year since our 2009 IPO. Cash flow from operations was $1.73 billion and free cash flow was a Fortinet record of $1.45 billion for the year,” said Ken Xie, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Our market share gains are being driven by Fortinet’s integrated and single platform approach to cybersecurity combined with FortiASIC technology, which lowers the management costs and the total cost of ownership for organizations. Given our cost-for-performance advantage, the convergence of security and networking, and the consolidation of products and vendors, we expect to continue our solid growth trajectory.”

Financial Highlights for the Fourth Quarter of 2022

  • Product Revenue: Product revenue was $540.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, an increase of 42.5% compared to $378.9 million for the same quarter of 2021.
  • Service Revenue: Service revenue was $742.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, an increase of 27.1% compared to $584.7 million for the same quarter of 2021.
  • Revenue: Total revenue was $1.28 billion for the fourth quarter of 2022, an increase of 33.1% compared to $963.6 million for the same quarter of 2021.
  • Billings1: Total billings were $1.72 billion for the fourth quarter of 2022, an increase of 31.6% compared to $1.31 billion for the same quarter of 2021.
  • GAAP Operating Income and Margin: GAAP operating income was $357.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, representing a GAAP operating margin of 27.9%. GAAP operating income was $214.9 million for the same quarter of 2021, representing a GAAP operating margin of 22.3%.
  • Non-GAAP Operating Income and Margin1: Non-GAAP operating income was $417.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, representing a non-GAAP operating margin of 32.5%. Non-GAAP operating income was $274.7 million for the same quarter of 2021, representing a non-GAAP operating margin of 28.5%.
  • GAAP Net Income and Diluted Net Income Per Share Attributable to Fortinet, Inc.2: GAAP net income was $313.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to GAAP net income of $199.0 million for the same quarter of 2021. GAAP diluted net income per share was $0.40 for the fourth quarter of 2022, based on 791.8 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding, compared to GAAP diluted net income per share of $0.24 for the same quarter of 2021, based on 835.0 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding.
  • Non-GAAP Net Income and Diluted Net Income Per Share Attributable to Fortinet, Inc.1 2: Non-GAAP net income was $349.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to non-GAAP net income of $205.8 million for the same quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share was $0.44 for the fourth quarter of 2022, based on 791.8 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding, compared to $0.25 for the same quarter of 2021, based on 835.0 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding.
  • Cash Flow: Cash flow from operations was $528.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to $366.8 million for the same quarter of 2021.
  • Free Cash Flow1: Free cash flow was $497.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to $215.5 million for the same quarter of 2021.

Financial Highlights for the Full Year 2022

  • Product Revenue: Product revenue was $1.78 billion for 2022, an increase of 41.9% compared to $1.26 billion in 2021.
  • Service Revenue: Service revenue was $2.64 billion for 2022, an increase of 26.3% compared to $2.09 billion in 2021.
  • Revenue: Total revenue was $4.42 billion for 2022, an increase of 32.2% compared to $3.34 billion in 2021.
  • Billings1: Total billings were $5.59 billion for 2022, an increase of 33.8% compared to $4.18 billion in 2021.
  • Deferred Revenue: Total deferred revenue was $4.64 billion as of December 31, 2022, an increase of 34.4% compared to $3.45 billion as of December 31, 2021.
  • GAAP Operating Income and Margin: GAAP operating income was $969.6 million for 2022, representing a GAAP operating margin of 21.9%. GAAP operating income was $650.4 million for 2021, representing a GAAP operating margin of 19.5%.
  • Non-GAAP Operating Income and Margin1: Non-GAAP operating income was $1.21 billion for 2022, representing a non-GAAP operating margin of 27.3%. Non-GAAP operating income was $875.5 million for 2021, representing a non-GAAP operating margin of 26.2%.
  • GAAP Net Income and Diluted Net Income Per Share Attributable to Fortinet, Inc.2: GAAP net income was $857.3 million for 2022, compared to GAAP net income of $606.8 million for 2021. GAAP diluted net income per share was $1.06 for 2022, based on 805.3 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding, compared to GAAP diluted net income per share of $0.73 for 2021, based on 835.3 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding.
  • Non-GAAP Net Income and Diluted Net Income Per Share Attributable to Fortinet, Inc.1 2: Non-GAAP net income was $961.6 million for 2022, compared to non-GAAP net income of $666.0 million for 2021. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share was $1.19 for 2022, based on 805.3 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding, compared to $0.80 for 2021, based on 835.3 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding.
  • Cash Flow: Cash flow from operations was $1.73 billion in 2022 compared to $1.50 billion in 2021.
  • Free Cash Flow1: Free cash flow was $1.45 billion in 2022, compared to $1.20 billion in 2021.
  • Share Repurchase Program2: During the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, Fortinet repurchased 36.0 million and 12.9 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $55.37 and $57.45 per share, respectively, and for an aggregate purchase price of $1.99 billion and $741.8 million, respectively.

Guidance

For the first quarter of 2023, Fortinet currently expects:

  • Revenue in the range of $1.180 billion to $1.220 billion
  • Billings in the range of $1.415 billion to $1.465 billion
  • Non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 75.0% to 76.0%
  • Non-GAAP operating margin in the range of 23.0% to 24.0%
  • Diluted non-GAAP net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc. in the range of $0.27 to $0.29, assuming a non-GAAP effective tax rate of 17%. This assumes a diluted share count of 795 million to 805 million.

For the fiscal year 2023, Fortinet currently expects:

  • Revenue in the range of $5.370 billion to $5.430 billion
  • Service revenue in the range of $3.335 billion to $3.365 billion
  • Billings in the range of $6.710 billion to $6.790 billion
  • Non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 75.0% to 76.0%
  • Non-GAAP operating margin in the range of 25.0% to 26.0%
  • Diluted non-GAAP net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc. in the range of $1.39 to $1.41, assuming a non-GAAP effective tax rate of 17%. This assumes a diluted share count of 805 million to 815 million.

These statements are forward looking and actual results may differ materially. Refer to the Forward-Looking Statements section below for information on the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements.

Our guidance with respect to non-GAAP financial measures excludes stock-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangible assets and gain on intellectual property matters. We have not reconciled our guidance with respect to non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures because certain items that impact these measures are uncertain or out of our control, or cannot be reasonably predicted. Accordingly, a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures is not available without unreasonable effort.

1 A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures has been provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
2 All share and per share amounts presented herein have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the five-for-one forward stock split which was effective June 22, 2022.

Conference Call Details

Fortinet will host a conference call today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss the earnings results. A live webcast of the conference call and supplemental slides will be accessible from the Investor Relations page of Fortinet’s website at https://investor.fortinet.com and a replay will be archived and accessible at https://investor.fortinet.com/events-and-presentations.

First Quarter 2023 Conference Participation Schedule:

  • Baird’s Silicon Slopes Event
    March 2, 2023
  • Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference
    March 7, 2023

Members of Fortinet’s management team are expected to present at these conferences and discuss the latest company strategies and initiatives. Fortinet’s conference presentations are expected to be available via webcast on the company’s web site. To access the most updated information, pre-register and listen to the webcast of each event, please visit the Investor Presentation & Events page of Fortinet’s website at https://investor.fortinet.com/events-and-presentations. The schedule is subject to change.

About Fortinet (www.fortinet.com)

Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) makes possible a digital world that we can trust through its mission to protect people, devices and data everywhere. This is why many of the world’s largest enterprises, service providers and government organizations choose Fortinet to securely accelerate their digital journey. The Fortinet Core Platform and Platform Extension products deliver broad, integrated and automated protections across the entire digital attack surface, securing critical devices, data, applications, and connections from the data center to the cloud to the home office. The Fortinet NSE Training Institute, an initiative of Fortinet’s Training Advancement Agenda, provides one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry to make cyber training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog or FortiGuard Labs.

Copyright © 2022 Fortinet, Inc. All rights reserved. The symbols ® and ™ denote respectively federally registered trademarks and common law trademarks of Fortinet, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. Fortinet’s trademarks include, but are not limited to, the following: Fortinet, the Fortinet logo, FortiGate, FortiOS, FortiGuard, FortiCare, FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager, FortiASIC, FortiClient, FortiCloud, FortiMail, FortiSandbox, FortiADC, FortiAI, FortiAIOps, FortiAntenna, FortiAP, FortiAPCam, FortiAuthenticator, FortiCache, FortiCall, FortiCam, FortiCamera, FortiCarrier, FortiCASB, FortiCentral, FortiCNP, FortiConnect, FortiController, FortiConverter, FortiCWP, FortiDB, FortiDDoS, FortiDeceptor, FortiDeploy, FortiDevSec, FortiEDR, FortiExplorer, FortiExtender, FortiFirewall, FortiFone, FortiGSLB, FortiGuest, FortiHypervisor, FortiInsight, FortiIsolator, FortiLAN, FortiLink, FortiMonitor, FortiNAC, FortiNDR, FortiPenTest, FortiPhish, FortiPolicy, FortiPortal, FortiPresence, FortiProxy, FortiRecon, FortiRecorder, FortiSASE, FortiSDNConnector, FortiSIEM, FortiSMS, FortiSOAR, FortiSwitch, FortiTester, FortiToken, FortiTrust, FortiVoice, FortiWAN, FortiWeb, FortiWiFi, FortiWLC, FortiWLM and FortiXDR. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners. Fortinet has not independently verified statements or certifications herein attributed to third parties and Fortinet does not independently endorse such statements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing herein constitutes a warranty, guarantee, contract, binding specification or other binding commitment by Fortinet or any indication of intent related to a binding commitment, and performance and other specification information herein may be unique to certain environments.

FTNT-F

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding any indications related to future market share gains, guidance and expectations around future financial results, including guidance and expectations for the first quarter and full year 2023, statements regarding the momentum in our business and future growth expectations, and any statements regarding our market opportunity and market size, and business momentum. Although we attempt to be accurate in making forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based such that actual results are materially different from our forward-looking statements in this release. Important factors that could cause results to differ materially from the statements herein include the following: general economic risks, including those caused by economic challenges, expectations of a recession or any actual recession, and the effects of increased inflation and interest rates in certain geographies or as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine; supply chain challenges due to the current global environment; negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic on sales, billings, revenue, demand and buying patterns, component supply and ability to manufacture products to meet demand in a timely fashion, and costs such as possible increased costs for shipping and components; global economic conditions, country-specific economic conditions, and foreign currency risks; competitiveness in the security market; the dynamic nature of the security market and its products and services; specific economic risks worldwide and in different geographies, and among different customer segments; uncertainty regarding demand and increased business and renewals from existing customers; uncertainties around continued success in sales growth and market share gains; uncertainties in market opportunities and the market size; actual or perceived vulnerabilities in our supply chain, products or services, and any actual or perceived breach of our network or our customers’ networks; longer sales cycles, particularly for larger enterprise, service providers, government and other large organization customers; the effectiveness of our salesforce and failure to convert sales pipeline into final sales; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products and other product functionality risks; risks associated with integrating acquisitions and changes in circumstances and plans associated therewith, including, among other risks, changes in plans related to product and services integrations, product and services plans and sales strategies; sales and marketing execution risks; execution risks around new product development and introductions and innovation; litigation and disputes and the potential cost, distraction and damage to sales and reputation caused thereby or by other factors; cybersecurity threats, breaches and other disruptions; market acceptance of new products and services; the ability to attract and retain personnel; changes in strategy; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles, particularly in larger organizations; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; risks associated with the adoption of, and demand for, our products and services in general and by specific customer segments, including those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; competition and pricing pressure; product inventory shortages for any reason, including those caused by the effects of increased inflation and interest rates in certain geographies, the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine; risks associated with business disruption caused by natural disasters and health emergencies such as earthquakes, fires, power outages, typhoons, floods, health epidemics and viruses such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and by manmade events such as civil unrest, labor disruption, international trade disputes, international conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, terrorism, wars, and critical infrastructure attacks; tariffs, trade disputes and other trade barriers, and negative impact on sales based on geo-political dynamics and disputes and protectionist policies; any political and government disruption around the world, including the impact of any future shutdowns of the U.S. government; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or upon request from our investor relations department. All forward-looking statements herein reflect our opinions only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update forward-looking statements herein in light of new information or future events.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We have provided in this release financial information that has not been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial and liquidity measures are not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. We use these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing our financial results and believe they are useful to investors, as a supplement to GAAP measures, in evaluating our ongoing operational performance. We believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing our financial results with peer companies, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors.

Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures provided in the financial statement tables below.

Billings (non-GAAP). We define billings as revenue recognized in accordance with GAAP plus the change in deferred revenue from the beginning to the end of the period, less any deferred revenue balances acquired from business combination(s) and adjustment due to adoption of new accounting standard during the period. We consider billings to be a useful metric for management and investors because billings drive current and future revenue, which is an important indicator of the health and viability of our business. There are a number of limitations related to the use of billings instead of GAAP revenue. First, billings include amounts that have not yet been recognized as revenue and are impacted by the term of security and support agreements. Second, we may calculate billings in a manner that is different from peer companies that report similar financial measures. Management accounts for these limitations by providing specific information regarding GAAP revenue and evaluating billings together with GAAP revenue.

Free cash flow (non-GAAP). We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities minus purchases of property and equipment and excluding any significant non-recurring items. We believe free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by the business that, after capital expenditures and net of proceeds from intellectual property matter, can be used for strategic opportunities, including repurchasing outstanding common stock, investing in our business, making strategic acquisitions and strengthening the balance sheet. A limitation of using free cash flow rather than the GAAP measures of cash provided by or used in operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities is that free cash flow does not represent the total increase or decrease in the cash and cash equivalents balance for the period because it excludes cash flows from significant non-recurring items, investing activities other than capital expenditures and cash flows from financing activities. Management accounts for this limitation by providing information about our capital expenditures and other investing and financing activities on the face of the cash flow statement and under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K and by presenting cash flows from investing and financing activities in our reconciliation of free cash flow. In addition, it is important to note that other companies, including companies in our industry, may not use free cash flow, may calculate free cash flow in a different manner than we do or may use other financial measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of free cash flow as a comparative measure.

Non-GAAP operating income and operating margin. We define non-GAAP operating income as operating income plus stock-based compensation, impairment and amortization of acquired intangible assets, less gain on intellectual property matter and, when applicable, other significant non-recurring items in a given quarter. Non-GAAP operating margin is defined as non-GAAP operating income divided by GAAP revenue. We consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be useful metrics for management and investors because they exclude the items noted above so that our management and investors can compare our recurring core business operating results over multiple periods. There are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP operating income instead of operating income calculated in accordance with GAAP. First, non-GAAP operating income excludes the items noted above. Second, the components of the costs that we exclude from our calculation of non-GAAP operating income may differ from the components that peer companies exclude when they report their non-GAAP results of operations. Management accounts for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP operating income and evaluating non-GAAP operating income together with operating income calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Non-GAAP net income and diluted net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc. We define non-GAAP net income as net income plus the items noted above under non-GAAP operating income and operating margin. In addition, we adjust non-GAAP net income and diluted net income per share for a non-cash charge on equity method investment comprised of impairment and other intervening events, a tax adjustment required for an effective tax rate on a non-GAAP basis and adjustments attributable to non-controlling interests, which differs from the GAAP effective tax rate. We define non-GAAP diluted net income per share as non-GAAP net income divided by the non-GAAP diluted weighted-average shares outstanding. We consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be useful metrics for management and investors for the same reasons that we use non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating margin. However, in order to provide a more complete picture of our recurring core business operating results, we include in non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted net income per share, the tax adjustment required resulting in an effective tax rate on a non-GAAP basis, which often differs from the GAAP tax rate. We believe the non-GAAP effective tax rates we use are reasonable estimates of normalized tax rates for our current and prior fiscal years under our global operating structure. The same limitations described above regarding our use of non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating margin apply to our use of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted net income per share. We account for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted net income per share and evaluating non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted net income per share together with net income and diluted net income per share calculated in accordance with GAAP.

FORTINET, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited, in millions)

December 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,682.9 $ 1,319.1
Short-term investments 502.6 1,194.0
Marketable equity securities 25.5 38.6
Accounts receivable—net 1,261.7 807.7
Inventory 264.6 175.8
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 73.1 65.4
Total current assets 3,810.4 3,600.6
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS 45.5 440.8
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT—NET 898.5 687.6
DEFERRED CONTRACT COSTS 518.2 423.3
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS 569.4 342.3
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS—NET 184.0 188.7
OTHER ASSETS 202.0 235.8
TOTAL ASSETS $ 6,228.0 $ 5,919.1
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable $ 243.4 $ 148.4
Accrued liabilities 266.3 197.3
Accrued payroll and compensation 219.4 195.0
Deferred revenue 2,349.3 1,777.4
Total current liabilities 3,078.4 2,318.1
DEFERRED REVENUE 2,291.0 1,675.5
INCOME TAX LIABILITIES 67.8 79.5
LONG-TERM DEBT 990.4 988.4
OTHER LIABILITIES 82.0 59.2
Total liabilities 6,509.6 5,120.7
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY (DEFICIT):
Common stock 0.8 0.8
Additional paid-in capital 1,284.2 1,253.6
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (20.2 ) (4.8 )
Accumulated deficit (1,546.4 ) (467.9 )
Total Fortinet, Inc. stockholders’ equity (deficit) (281.6 ) 781.7
Non-controlling interests 16.7
Total equity (deficit) (281.6 ) 798.4
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT) $ 6,228.0 $ 5,919.1

FORTINET, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited, in millions, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended Year Ended
December 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
December 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
REVENUE:
Product $ 540.1 $ 378.9 $ 1,780.5 $ 1,255.0
Service 742.9 584.7 2,636.9 2,087.2
Total revenue 1,283.0 963.6 4,417.4 3,342.2
COST OF REVENUE:
Product 189.9 146.5 691.3 487.7
Service 107.4 81.8 393.6 295.3
Total cost of revenue 297.3 228.3 1,084.9 783.0
GROSS PROFIT:
Product 350.2 232.4 1,089.2 767.3
Service 635.5 502.9 2,243.3 1,791.9
Total gross profit 985.7 735.3 3,332.5 2,559.2
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Research and development 128.9 112.6 512.4 424.2
Sales and marketing 455.9 367.7 1,686.1 1,345.7
General and administrative 44.3 41.3 169.0 143.5
Gain on intellectual property matter (1.2 ) (1.2 ) (4.6 ) (4.6 )
Total operating expenses 627.9 520.4 2,362.9 1,908.8
OPERATING INCOME 357.8 214.9 969.6 650.4
INTEREST INCOME 9.1 1.0 17.4 4.5
INTEREST EXPENSE (4.5 ) (4.5 ) (18.0 ) (14.9 )
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)—NET 5.8 (4.1 ) (13.5 ) (11.6 )
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND LOSS FROM EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENT 368.2 207.3 955.5 628.4
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 9.2 3.7 30.8 14.1
LOSS FROM EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENT (45.2 ) (4.8 ) (68.1 ) (7.6 )
NET INCOME INCLUDING NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS 313.8 198.8 856.6 606.7
Less: NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS, NET OF TAX (0.2 ) (0.7 ) (0.1 )
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO FORTINET, INC. $ 313.8 $ 199.0 $ 857.3 $ 606.8
Net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc.(a):
Basic $ 0.40 $ 0.24 $ 1.08 $ 0.74
Diluted $ 0.40 $ 0.24 $ 1.06 $ 0.73
Weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc.(a):
Basic 780.9 814.9 791.4 816.1
Diluted 791.8 835.0 805.3 835.3

(a) All share and per share amounts presented herein have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the five-for-one forward stock split which was effective June 22, 2022.

FORTINET, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited, in millions)

Year Ended
December 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income including non-controlling interests $ 856.6 $ 606.7
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation 217.3 207.9
Amortization of deferred contract costs 223.3 175.9
Depreciation and amortization 104.3 84.4
Amortization of investment premiums 4.4 6.9
Loss from equity method investment 68.1 7.6
Other 23.6 7.9
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of impact of business combinations:
Accounts receivable—net (456.7 ) (72.5 )
Inventory (109.1 ) (19.4 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (7.7 ) (17.7 )
Deferred contract costs (318.2 ) (294.5 )
Deferred tax assets (226.4 ) (94.0 )
Other assets (35.3 ) (19.0 )
Accounts payable 105.2 (13.1 )
Accrued liabilities 55.2 49.9
Accrued payroll and compensation 25.0 44.0
Other liabilities 23.5 (0.7 )
Deferred revenue 1,177.5 839.4
     Net cash provided by operating activities 1,730.6 1,499.7
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of investments (389.1 ) (2,308.0 )
Sales of investments 3.0 85.5
Maturities of investments 1,462.0 1,470.3
Purchases of property and equipment (281.2 ) (295.9 )
Purchases of investment in privately held company (160.0 )
Payments made in connection with business combinations, net of cash acquired (30.8 ) (74.9 )
Purchases of marketable equity securities (42.5 )
Other 0.4
     Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 763.9 (1,325.1 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from long-term borrowings, net of discount and underwriting fees 989.4
Payments for debt issuance costs (2.4 )
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (1,991.2 ) (741.8 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 26.1 26.0
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (160.4 ) (167.9 )
Payments of debt assumed in connection with business combinations (19.5 )
Other (4.8 ) (1.0 )
     Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (2,130.3 ) 82.8
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (0.4 ) (0.1 )
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 363.8 257.3
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of year 1,319.1 1,061.8
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of year $ 1,682.9 $ 1,319.1

Reconciliations of non-GAAP results of operations measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures
(Unaudited, in millions, except per share amounts)

Reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow

Three Months Ended Year Ended
December 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
December 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 528.1 $ 366.8 $ 1,730.6 $ 1,499.7
Less: Purchases of property and equipment (30.9 ) (151.3 ) (281.2 ) (295.9 )
Free cash flow $ 497.2 $ 215.5 $ 1,449.4 $ 1,203.8
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities $ 217.4 $ (265.9 ) $ 763.9 $ (1,325.1 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities $ (27.4 ) $ (633.6 ) $ (2,130.3 ) $ 82.8

Reconciliation of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP operating income, operating margin, net income attributable to Fortinet, Inc. and diluted net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2022 Three Months Ended December 31, 2021
GAAP Results Adjustments Non-GAAP Results GAAP Results Adjustments Non-GAAP Results
Operating income $ 357.8 $ 59.8 (a) $ 417.6 $ 214.9 $ 59.8 (b) $ 274.7
Operating margin 27.9 % 32.5 % 22.3 % 28.5 %
Adjustments:
Stock-based compensation 55.3 54.2
Amortization of acquired intangible assets 5.7 6.8
Gain on intellectual property matter (1.2 ) (1.2 )
Tax adjustment (63.6 ) (c) (52.4 ) (c)
Non-cash charge on equity method investment 39.7 (d)
Adjustments attributable non-controlling interests (0.6 ) (e)
Net income attributable to Fortinet, Inc. $ 313.8 $ 35.9 $ 349.7 $ 199.0 $ 6.8 $ 205.8
Diluted net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc.(f) $ 0.40 $ 0.44 $ 0.24 $ 0.25
Shares used in diluted net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc. calculations(f) 791.8 791.8 835.0 835.0

(a) To exclude $55.3 million of stock-based compensation and $5.7 million of amortization of acquired intangible assets, offset by a $1.2 million gain on intellectual property matter in the three months ended December 31, 2022.
(b) To exclude $54.2 million of stock-based compensation and $6.8 million of amortization of acquired intangible assets, offset by a $1.2 million gain on intellectual property matter in the three months ended December 31, 2021.
(c) Non-GAAP financial information is adjusted to an overall effective tax rate of 17% and 21% in the three months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, on a non-GAAP basis, which differs from the GAAP effective tax rate.
(d) To exclude a $39.7 million non-cash charge, primarily comprised of the impairment charge on our equity method investment in Linksys Holdings Inc. (“Linksys”) and other intervening events related to the establishment of a valuation allowance against Linksys deferred tax assets.
(e) Adjustments related to the non-GAAP results attributable to non-controlling interests, which were adjusted to an effective tax rate of 31% for the subsidiary of Alaxala Networks Corporation (“Alaxala”) in the three months ended December 31, 2021.
(f) All share and per share amounts presented herein have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the five-for-one forward stock split which was effective June 22, 2022.

Year Ended December 31, 2022 Year Ended December 31, 2021
GAAP Results Adjustments Non-GAAP Results GAAP Results Adjustments Non-GAAP Results
Operating income $ 969.6 $ 238.5 (a) $ 1,208.1 $ 650.4 $ 225.1 (b) $ 875.5
Operating margin 21.9 % 27.3 % 19.5 % 26.2 %
Adjustments:
Stock-based compensation 219.8 211.2
Amortization of acquired intangible assets 23.3 18.5
Gain on intellectual property matter (4.6 ) (4.6 )
Tax adjustment (172.2 ) (c) (165.1 ) (c)
Non-cash charge on equity method investment 39.7 (d)
Adjustments attributable non-controlling interests (1.7 ) (e) (0.8 ) (e)
Net income attributable to Fortinet, Inc. $ 857.3 $ 104.3 $ 961.6 $ 606.8 $ 59.2 $ 666.0
Diluted net income per share attributable to Fortinet, Inc.(f) $ 1.06 $ 1.19 $ 0.73 $ 0.80
Shares used in diluted net income per share calculations(f) 805.3 805.3 835.3 835.3

(a) To exclude $219.8 million of stock-based compensation and $23.3 million of amortization of acquired intangible assets, offset by a $4.6 million gain on intellectual property matter in 2022.
(b) To exclude $211.2 million of stock-based compensation and $18.5 million of amortization of acquired intangible assets, offset by a $4.6 million gain on intellectual property matter in 2021.
(c) Non-GAAP financial information is adjusted to an overall effective tax rate of 17% and 21% in 2022 and 2021, respectively, on a non-GAAP basis, which differs from the GAAP effective tax rate.
(d) To exclude a $39.7 million non-cash charge, primarily comprised of the impairment charge on our equity method investment in Linksys and other intervening events related to the establishment of a valuation allowance against Linksys deferred tax assets.
(e) Adjustments related to the non-GAAP results attributable to non-controlling interests, which were adjusted to an effective tax rate of 31% for the subsidiary of Alaxala in 2022 and 2021.
(f) All share and per share amounts presented herein have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the five-for-one forward stock split which was effective June 22, 2022.

Reconciliation of total revenue to total billings

Three Months Ended Year Ended
December 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
December 31,
2022
December 31,
2021
Total revenue $ 1,283.0 $ 963.6 $ 4,417.4 $ 3,342.2
Add: Change in deferred revenue 446.8 346.5 1,187.4 847.6
Less: Deferred revenue balance acquired in business acquisitions (10.8 ) (10.8 ) (4.1 )
Less: Adjustment due to adoption of ASU 2021-083 (4.3 ) (4.3 )
Total billings $ 1,719.0 $ 1,305.8 $ 5,594.0 $ 4,181.4

3 We early adopted ASU 2021-08 on a retrospective basis and effective for us beginning on January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2021-08 resulted in a $4.3 million adjustment attributable to the acquisition of Alaxala in 2021, as a result of the revised measurement of deferred revenue for acquisition.

Investor Contact: Media Contact:
Peter Salkowski John Welton
Fortinet, Inc. Fortinet, Inc.
408-331-4595 408-235-7700
psalkowski@fortinet.com pr@fortinet.com


GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8744713

Efforts exerted to increase climate change adaptability of Mekong Delta urban systems

Localities in the Mekong Delta region are working hard to increase their urban areas’ adaptability to climate change, and boost urban development to green and sustainable direction.

Climate change is posing a great challenge to the Mekong Delta region, especially erosion, landslides, flooding, and pollution.

Vice Director of the Department of the Urban Development under the Ministry of Construction Tran Thi Lan Anh said that Vietnam ranks 23th out of the 30 countries that are hardest hit by climate change, and the Mekong Delta is one of the three floodplains with the largest land loss risk in the world.

It is forecasted that by the end of the 21st century, the sea level will rise by 0.5 – 1 m, affecting about 39% of the area and 35% of the population of the Mekong Delta. All the 13 provinces and city in the region are at risk of flooding, which is higher in some large and medium urban areas such as Rach Gia and Ha Tien cities in Kien Giang province, Ca Mau city in Ca Mau province, Soc Trang city in Soc Trang province, Vi Thanh city in Hau Giang province, and Can Tho city, Anh said.

Currently, the urbanisation rate of the Mekong Delta is 31.16%, up 4.6% from 2015. Under an approved regional planning for the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050, the urban system of the region will be constructed with suitable distribution along the major economic corridors.

Accordingly, Can Tho city, a centrally-run first-tier urban area, is defined as a centre of administration, services, commerce, health care, education – training, science – technology, culture, tourism and processing industry of the whole region.

Rach Gia city will be developed into a hub of marine economy, trade and service in the western coastal area of the Mekong Delta, and a centre of for aquatic farming, exploitation and export. Ca Mau city will be the centre of the coastal sub-region in the area of the Ca Mau Peninsula, and a national centre of energy and petroleum services as well as ecotourism services.

Currently, Can Tho is designing measures to develop sectors towards sustainability in association with environmental protection and climate change response to suit its real conditions in particular development periods.

The city is implementing a number of projects in water drainage and wastewater treatment, climate change response and adaptation, while actively engaging in international organisations and networks to learn initiatives and solutions in environmental protection and climate change response.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Kien Giang Le Quoc Anh said that as part of the efforts to develop Vietnam’s urban areas with adaptation to climate change impacts in the 2021-2030 period, the locality is rolling out measures and solutions such as making surveys and evaluation of climate change impacts to existing and planned urban systems in the 2021-2030 period, thus calculating the capacity and level of adaptation, seeking response solutions and setting up database and risk alerting map system.

Kien Giang is also building a flood controlling system in urban areas, constructing dyke system, and piloting the development of green urban areas, he said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

New products, services needed to reach tourism targets

To realise the targets of attracting 110 million tourists and earning some 650 trillion VND (27.5 billion USD) in revenue this year, Vietnam is recommended to develop more products and services to offer new experiences to visitors.

The VNDirect Securities JSC held that the aviation and tourism industries will record breakthrough growth from 2023 thanks to the strong recovery of international markets.

The number of foreign arrivals in Vietnam is predicted to completely return to pre-pandemic levels by next year 2024 and be equivalent to 118.9% of the 2019 figure, before the COVID-19 broke out, a year later, the Lao dong (Labour) daily reported.

The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) recently also forecast the international tourist number may reach 80 – 95% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

The Vietfoot Travel company said the country’s tourism sector, including travel and event planning firms, will have opportunities to bounce back and soon regain its 2019 growth trend.

Vietnam welcomed 871,200 international arrivals in January. It targets 8 million foreigners for this year.

New products, services needed to reach tourism targets hinh anh 2

Foreign tourists visit the Old Quarter of Hanoi by pedicab. (Photo: VNA)

Despite a surge in the tourist number since the year’s beginning, the sector is still facing difficulties and challenges.

Lao dong quoted General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh as saying that due to impacts of the global economic recession and domestic socio-economic changes, travellers’ purchasing power has decreased and they tend to curb spending on middle- and high-end services.

To achieve the set targets, many experts recommended the sector develop new products and services, diversify and improve the quality of services, and increase experiences to meet tourists’ demand.

They added travel businesses should also increase communications and promotion activities, stay updated with market trends, and ensure security and safety of destinations. It is also necessary to enhance tourism connectivity among localities to attract more domestic and international visitors./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam puts children at centre of development policies, strategies: Ambassador

Children are always put at the centre of all development policies and strategies of Vietnam, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), has affirmed.

Addressing the first regular session of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Board held in New York from February 7-10, Giang briefed participants on outstanding results that Vietnam has achieved in the past one year since the executive board approved the Vietnam Country Programme in February 2022.

He thanked and appreciated the organisation’s effective and timely help and support for Vietnam, especially in providing tens of millions of doses of vaccines against the COVID-19.

In the context that the world is facing many crises, the ambassador emphasised that peace is a prerequisite for the development and prosperity of people, including children. UNICEF needs to work with other UN bodies and member countries to strive for this goal so that children and future generations can live in peace and have the opportunity to develop further.

Vietnam puts children at centre of development policies, strategies: Ambassador hinh anh 2

Overview of the session (Photo: VNA)

To ensure that UNICEF has enough resources to complete its Strategic Plan and contribute to effectively responding to global challenges, the Vietnamese representative called on countries to fulfill their commitments to contribute resources to UNICEF.

He took the occasion to reaffirm that he will continue to work closely with the UN body to promote and protect children’s rights.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in caring for and ensuring children’s rights, affirming that the organisation will continue working closely with Vietnam in this field in the coming time./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Despite decelerating, phone exports still have long-term prospects

The export of phones and components increased by less than 1% year-on-year and is forecast to continue to face difficulties this year due to the impact of inflation in many countries around the world.

Phones and components achieved an export turnover of 57.9 billion USD last year, a year-on-year increase of only 0.8%, according to the latest data from the General Department of Customs.

Exports to China reached 16.26 billion USD, up 7.1%; to the US reached 11.88 billion USD, up 22.5%; to the EU reached 6.7 billion USD, down 15.1%; to the Republic of Korea reached 5.05 billion USD, up 5.3%.

The phone exports grew slowly in the last months of last year, when export orders declined sharply due to the impact of economic slowdown and inflation in many major import markets of the country such as the US, EU, and Japan.

Particularly in December, the export turnover of this item reached 3.1 billion USD, down 31.4% from the previous month.

A report by HSBC said that after more than two years of booming trade, a period of “stagnation” has come to Vietnamese key export industries since the fourth quarter of last year.

Global orders fell sharply, affecting Asian exporters and Vietnam was no exception.

Among the key export sectors of Vietnam, including textiles, footwear, computers, furniture, mobile phone export has the largest influence.

Accounting for an increasingly large proportion (over 17%) of the country’s total export turnover, the growth of phones and components has a great influence on the overall export growth.

However, over 95% of the export turnover of this product belongs to FDI enterprises.

HSBC pointed out that the reason for the decline in exports in the last month of last year came from the electronics sector, which accounts for about 35% of Vietnam’s total export turnover.

New electronic orders in the world have begun to decline sharply from the second half of last year, affecting the consumer electronics sector more than industrial products.

The impact occurs on a large scale in the three main export destinations of Vietnam, the US, China and Europe.

Exports are still facing “headwinds” in the first month of the new year and it is forecast that the drag on exports will at least last until the end of the second quarter.

The export turnover of phones reached 4 billion USD last month, down 19.6% over the same period.

Vietnam was badly affected when global trade slowed, seeing its exports drop significantly for the first time compared to the past two years.

In particular, the decline stems from the economic downturn in the US, the largest export destination of Vietnam, followed by the EU.

Although decelerating, in the medium and long term, the phone and component manufacturing industry is still “leading” in terms of exports, because up to now, this field has attracted a huge amount of FDI into production.

Samsung alone has accumulated capital in Vietnam reaching 18.2 billion USD.

In recent years, the electronics and phone manufacturing industry has had many opportunities to welcome the investment wave from large technology corporations to move to Vietnam.

A series of large outsourcing partners of Apple and LG such as Foxconn, Luxshare, GoerTek, and Compal all have factories located in Vietnam or have relocated from China, creating an increasingly large production and supply capacity, making Vietnam an important export address in the production chain of this industry on the global map.

The export turnover of the group of phones and components increased by 9.2 times from 2010 to 2013, becoming the group with the highest export value and this position has been maintained continuously since 2013.

When Vietnam became the world’s new production base, billions of dollars of FDI inflows from global corporations and businesses poured in, along with extensive opening and integration with the world through a system of free trade agreements (FTA), the export value of key manufacturing industries from phones and components increased every year.

In the two years of 2021 – 2022, although the economy was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, this group of goods still achieved a high and stable growth rate, and the export value continued to grow sharply, reaching 57.5 USD and 57.9 billion USD respectively, accounting for over 17% of total export turnover./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

PM’s visit to strongly boost Vietnam-Brunei comprehensive partnership

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s coming official visit to Brunei will create a strong impulse for further intensifying the two countries’ comprehensive partnership, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Brunei Tran Van Khoa.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Khoa said the visit on February 10 – 11 holds great significance as it is the first trip to Brunei by a PM of Vietnam in nearly 16 years and takes place amid growing bilateral relations, following the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2022.

The visit is a move to implement Vietnam’s foreign policy and shows the importance Vietnam attaches to the ties with Brunei as well as other ASEAN members.

During the trip, PM Chinh will have a meeting with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah to set up orientations for promoting bilateral cooperation in all aspects, thereby helping to effectively implement the comprehensive partnership, the ambassador noted.

For the last more than 30 years, Vietnam and Brunei have witnessed important strides in their relations in all fields, from politics, economy, and trade to culture and people-to-people exchange, Khoa noted.

PM’s visit to strongly boost Vietnam-Brunei comprehensive partnership hinh anh 2

Trade between Vietnam and Brunei has surpassed the target of 500 million USD ahead of schedule for 2025. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Since bilateral ties were officially established in 1992 and elevated to a comprehensive partnership in 2019, they have become increasingly close-knit, enhanced political trust and cooperation, and maintained mutual support at multilateral forums.

Bilateral trade has been on the rise after the COVID-19 pandemic, surpassing the target of 500 million USD ahead of schedule for 2025, he went on, adding that the countries launched the negotiations on agreements on security and anti-transnational crime cooperation in 2019.

The diplomat also highlighted collaboration in education, culture, and people-to-people exchange.

In the recent past, Vietnam – Brunei relations have been thriving in a substantive manner. They have continuously coordinated and supported each other at multilateral forums and international and regional organisations such as the ASEAN – EU cooperation framework, the Asia – Europe Meeting (ASEM), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the United Nations. They have also been working together to promote ASEAN’s centrality.

In the coming time, he suggested, the two sides should carry out the outcomes to be obtained during the PM’s coming visit; keep fostering the comprehensive partnership, especially tapping into every economic cooperation potential; and continue contributing to the solidarity of ASEAN for the sake of regional and global peace, stability, and development./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister leaves Hanoi for official visits to Singapore, Brunei

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam left Hanoi at noon on February 8 for official visits to Singapore and Brunei from February 8-11.

The visits are made at the invitations of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

This is the first trip to the two countries by Chinh in his new position, and also the first to Singapore by a head of the Vietnamese Government over the past five years, and to Brunei over the past 15 years.

PM Chinh and his entourage are scheduled to visit Singapore from February 8-10, and Brunei from February 10-11, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties with the two nations, and enhance cooperation in regional and international issues of mutual concern, including coordination in ASEAN and regional and international forums and organisations.

The visits are expected to deepen the strategic partnership with Singapore, an important economic partner of Vietnam, and the comprehensive partnership with Brunei, also a promising economic partner.

This year, Vietnam and Singapore will celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of bilateral comprehensive partnership. Meanwhile, Vietnam and Brunei marked the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic ties last year.

Singapore is now Vietnam’s top important economic partner in the region, with two-way trade nearing 9 billion USD last year, up 10.1% annually. The island state leads ASEAN and ranks second among the 141 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 3,032 valid projects worth 70.39 billion USD.

At present, 12 Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks in nine Vietnamese cities and provinces have an occupancy rate of around 83.2%, attracting 17.6 billion USD for some 900 projects and generating roughly 300,000 jobs.

PM Chinh’s visit to Singapore aims to lift Vietnam-Singapore economic connectivity to a greater height in the context that a series of new-generation free trade deals joined by the two nations have taken effect, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Meanwhile, two-way trade between Vietnam and Brunei hit 725.8 million USD in 2022, up 134% year-on-year, surpassing the goal of 500 million USD set for 2025 by their leaders.

In the near future, the two sides hope to boost joint work in promising areas such as agro-forestry-fisheries, Halal food, construction, infrastructure and joint ventures.

As of December 2022, Brunei ranked 26th out of the 141 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 157 valid projects valued at 971 million USD, mostly in industry, manufacturing and processing, construction and real estate. The southern province of Dong Nai was the biggest recipient of its investment capital, followed by Binh Duong, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Long Anh, Thai Binh and Phu Tho./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Thai agency reaffirms effectiveness of vaccine against COVID-19

The Thai Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Medical Sciences said on February 8 that the new Omicron sub-variant CH.1.1, which has been detected in 67 countries including Thailand, can evade immunity produced by long-acting antibody (LAAB) vaccines but its rate of transmission is low.

The department chief, Dr. Supakit Sirilak, said there is concern that CH.1.1 might prove detrimental to the efficiency of the LAAB shots that are used for those who have a compromised immune system, such as those with chronic kidney disease, cancer and organ transplant patients, the Bangkok Post reported.

He said that LAAB shots are still effective as a treatment to enhance human immunity against the COVID-19.

The department is closely monitoring virus mutations and will reduce complications in monitoring for virus mutations by using whole genome sequencing every two weeks, instead of conducting the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic test for specified sub-variants./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency