Exhibit 99.01

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACTS
Investor Contact
Mary Lai
  
Media Contact
Spring Harris
NortonLifeLock Inc.
  
NortonLifeLock Inc.
IR@NortonLifeLock.com
  
Press@NortonLifeLock.com

NortonLifeLock’s Q3 Growth Momentum Fueled by Cyber Safety Adoption
Direct Customer Count Increased to 21 Million, Up 876,000 YoY and Up 334,000 QoQ

TEMPE, Ariz. – February 4, 2021 – NortonLifeLock Inc. (NASDAQ: NLOK), a global leader in consumer Cyber Safety, today reported results for its fiscal year 2021 third quarter which ended January 1, 2021.

Q3 GAAP Financial Results YoY
Q3 GAAP revenue was $639 million, up 3% in USD. Q3 GAAP operating margin was 43.8%, up 33.8 points. Q3 GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.29, down 47%. Q3 operating cash flow was $293 million.

Q3 Non-GAAP Financial Highlights and Commentary YoY
●
Revenue was $639 million, up 6% in USD
●
Diluted EPS was $0.38, up 52%
●
Operating margin was 51.0%, up 14.8 points
●
Consumer reported billings was $700 million, up 10% in USD
●
Direct customer count of 21.0 million, up over 876,000
●
Average revenue per user of $9.10 per month, up 1%

“Our vision to protect and empower everyone to live their digital lives safely has never been more relevant than it is today,” said Vincent Pilette, CEO of NortonLifeLock. “Consumers are seeing the value of Cyber Safety with nearly 60% of our customers using Norton 360. We are accelerating our investments in new products and customer experiences that are driving our growth momentum, and with the Avira acquisition, we are just getting started.”

“We delivered another quarter of accelerated top-line growth and achieved our long-term commitment of $1.50 in annualized EPS,” said Natalie Derse, CFO of NortonLifeLock. “We are on the path to generate more than $900 million in annual free cash flow. We have a strong track record of execution that is built on a foundation of operational discipline.”
Fiscal 2021 Q4 Guidance
●
Non-GAAP Revenue is expected to be in the range of $655 to $665 million, translating to high-single digit growth YoY
●
Non-GAAP EPS is expected to be in the range of $0.37 to $0.39

Quarterly Cash Dividend
NortonLifeLock’s Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per common share to be paid on March 17, 2021 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 22, 2021.

Avira Acquisition Complete
NortonLifeLock closed the acquisition of Avira in January 2021 (Q4 Fiscal 2021).

Q3 Conference Call
Fiscal 2021 Q3 Earnings Call
February 4, 2021
2 p.m. PST / 5 p.m. EST

Domestic: (833) 970-2458 | International: (929) 517-9556
Conference ID: 4409529
Live webcast: Investor.NortonLifeLock.com (replay will be posted after the conference call)
Detailed presentation slides available on Investor.NortonLifeLock.com

To help readers understand our past financial performance and our future results, we supplement the financial results that we provide in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, with non-GAAP financial measures. The methods we use to produce non-GAAP results are not in accordance with GAAP and may differ from the methods used by other companies. Additional information regarding our non-GAAP measures are provided below. No reconciliation of the forecasted range for non-GAAP EPS guidance is included in this release because most non-GAAP adjustments pertain to events that have not yet occurred. It would be unreasonably burdensome to forecast, therefore we are unable to provide an accurate estimate.

For additional details regarding NortonLifeLock’s results and outlook, please see the Earnings Presentation and the Supplemental Information on the investor relations page of our website at Investor.NortonLifeLock.com.

About NortonLifeLock Inc.
NortonLifeLock Inc. (NASDAQ: NLOK) is a global leader in consumer Cyber Safety, protecting and empowering people to live their digital lives safely. We are the consumer’s trusted ally in an increasingly complex and connected world. Learn more about how we’re transforming Cyber Safety at www.NortonLifeLock.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements which may be considered forward-looking within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of terms such as “expect,” “will,” “continue,” or similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the statements under “Fiscal Year 2021 Q4 Guidance,” including expectations relating to fourth quarter non-GAAP revenue, non-GAAP revenue growth and non-GAAP EPS; the statements contained in the quotations, including expectations related to our growth strategies and free cash flow; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied in this press release. Such risk factors include, but are not limited to, those related to: the current and future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business and industry; the effect of the sale of substantially all of the Enterprise Security assets on NortonLifeLock’s retained businesses and products; retention of executive leadership team members; difficulties in improving sales and product development during leadership transitions; difficulties in executing the operating model for the consumer cyber safety business; lower than anticipated returns from the Company's investments in direct customer acquisition; difficulties and delays in reducing run rate expenses and monetizing underutilized assets; general business and economic conditions; matters arising out of our completed Audit Committee investigation and the ongoing U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation; fluctuations and volatility in NortonLifeLock’s stock price; the ability of NortonLifeLock to successfully execute strategic plans; the ability to maintain customer and partner relationships; the ability of NortonLifeLock to achieve its cost and operating efficiency goals; the anticipated growth of certain market segments; NortonLifeLock’s sales and business strategy; fluctuations in tax rates and foreign currency exchange rates; the timing and market acceptance of new product releases and upgrades; and the successful development of new products and the degree to which these products gain market acceptance. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Risk Factors sections of NortonLifeLock’s most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. NortonLifeLock assumes no obligation, and does not intend, to update these forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
We use non-GAAP measures of operating margin, net income and earnings per share, which are adjusted from results based on GAAP and exclude certain expenses, gains and losses. We also provide the non-GAAP metrics of Consumer revenues, constant currency revenues and Consumer reported billings, which exclude revenues from our divested ID Analytics solutions. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the user’s understanding of our past financial performance and our prospects for the future. Our management team uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing NortonLifeLock’s performance, as well as in planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures are not computed according to GAAP and the methods we use to compute them may differ from the methods used by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental, should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Readers are encouraged to review the reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP results, which is attached to our quarterly earnings release and which can be found, along with other financial information including the Supplemental Information, on the investor relations page of our website at Investor.NortonLifeLock.com.

NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions, unaudited)
             
   
January 1, 2021
    
April 3, 2020
  
ASSETS
Current assets:
            
Cash and cash equivalents
  
$
1,046
    
$
2,177
  
Short-term investments
    
27
      
86
  
Accounts receivable, net
    
111
      
111
  
Other current assets
    
394
      
435
  
Assets held for sale
    
270
      
270
  
Total current assets
    
1,848
      
3,079
  
Property and equipment, net
    
70
      
238
  
Operating lease assets
    
80
      
88
  
Intangible assets, net
    
999
      
1,067
  
Goodwill
    
2,606
      
2,585
  
Other long-term assets
    
754
      
678
  
Total assets
  
$
6,357
    
$
7,735
  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
                
Accounts payable
  
$
67
    
$
87
  
Accrued compensation and benefits
    
86
      
115
  
Current portion of long-term debt
    
63
      
756
  
Contract liabilities
    
1,090
      
1,049
  
Current operating lease liabilities
    
24
      
28
  
Other current liabilities
    
491
      
587
  
Total current liabilities
    
1,821
      
2,622
  
Long-term debt
    
3,542
      
3,465
  
Long-term contract liabilities
    
45
      
27
  
Deferred income tax liabilities
    
201
      
149
  
Long-term income taxes payable
    
1,096
      
1,310
  
Long-term operating lease liabilities
    
73
      
73
  
Other long-term liabilities
    
71
      
79
  
Total liabilities
    
6,849
      
7,725
  
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)
    
(492
)
    
10
  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)
  
$
6,357
    
$
7,735
  

NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (1)
(In millions, except per share data, unaudited)
 
  
Three Months Ended
    
Nine Months Ended
  
   
January 1, 2021
    
January 3, 2020
    
January 1, 2021
    
January 3, 2020
  
Net revenues
  
$
639
    
$
618
    
$
1,879
    
$
1,876
  
Cost of revenues
    
87
      
103
      
263
      
296
  
Gross profit
    
552
      
515
      
1,616
      
1,580
  
Operating expenses:
                                
Sales and marketing
    
140
      
178
      
428
      
551
  
Research and development
    
71
      
72
      
199
      
258
  
General and administrative
    
42
      
85
      
163
      
271
  
Amortization of intangible assets
    
18
      
20
      
54
      
61
  
Restructuring and other costs
    
1
      
98
      
142
      
128
  
Total operating expenses
    
272
      
453
      
986
      
1,269
  
Operating income
    
280
      
62
      
630
      
311
  
Interest expense
    
(32
)
    
(51
)
    
(109
)
    
(146
)
Other income, net
    
5
      
399
      
62
      
397
  
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    
253
      
410
      
583
      
562
  
Income tax expense
    
80
      
57
      
95
      
133
  
Income from continuing operations
    
173
      
353
      
488
      
429
  
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
    
5
      
2,492
      
(128
)
    
3,227
  
Net income
  
$
178
    
$
2,845
    
$
360
    
$
3,656
  
                                 
Income (loss) per share - basic:
                                
Continuing operations
  
$
0.29
    
$
0.57
    
$
0.83
    
$
0.69
  
Discontinued operations
  
$
0.01
    
$
4.01
    
$
(0.22
)
  
$
5.20
  
Net income per share - basic (2)
  
$
0.30
    
$
4.58
    
$
0.61
    
$
5.90
  
                                 
Income (loss) per share - diluted:
                                
Continuing operations
  
$
0.29
    
$
0.55
    
$
0.81
    
$
0.67
  
Discontinued operations
  
$
0.01
    
$
3.85
    
$
(0.21
)
  
$
5.01
  
Net income per share - diluted (2)
  
$
0.30
    
$
4.40
    
$
0.60
    
$
5.68
  
                                 
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
                                
Basic
    
593
      
621
      
591
      
620
  
Diluted
    
597
      
647
      
604
      
644
  

(1) The nine months ended January 1, 2021 consisted of 39 weeks whereas the nine months ended January 3, 2020 consisted of 40 weeks. The impact of the extra week on revenues in the nine months ended January 3, 2020 is estimated to be approximately $44 million.
(2) Net income per share amounts may not add due to rounding.

NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In millions, unaudited)
 
  
Three Months Ended
    
Nine Months Ended
  
   
January 1, 2021
    
January 3, 2020
    
January 1, 2021
    
January 3, 2020
  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
                        
Net income
  
$
178
    
$
2,845
    
$
360
    
$
3,656
  
Adjustments:
                                
Amortization and depreciation
    
28
      
56
      
113
      
307
  
Impairments of current and long-lived assets
    
—
      
28
      
88
      
32
  
Stock-based compensation expense
    
21
      
120
      
66
      
270
  
Deferred income taxes
    
17
      
721
      
47
      
14
  
Gain on extinguishment of debt
    
—
      
—
      
(20
)
    
—
  
Loss from equity interest
    
—
      
9
      
—
      
31
  
Gain on sale of Enterprise Security assets
    
—
      
(5,422
)
    
—
      
(5,422
)
Gain on sale of equity method investment
    
—
      
(379
)
    
—
      
(379
)
Gain on sale of property
    
—
      
—
      
(35
)
    
—
  
Non-cash operating lease expense
    
6
      
9
      
17
      
32
  
Other
    
16
      
20
      
54
      
27
  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                                
Accounts receivable, net
    
(12
)
    
426
      
1
      
537
  
Accounts payable
    
1
      
11
      
(23
)
    
(21
)
Accrued compensation and benefits
    
11
      
(79
)
    
(25
)
    
(99
)
Contract liabilities
    
46
      
(34
)
    
21
      
(163
)
Income taxes payable
    
(49
)
    
2,091
      
(348
)
    
2,096
  
Other assets
    
15
      
(89
)
    
36
      
(94
)
Other liabilities
    
15
      
66
      
(2
)
    
81
  
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    
293
      
399
      
350
      
905
  
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
                                
Purchases of property and equipment
    
(2
)
    
(10
)
    
(5
)
    
(86
)
Proceeds from divestitures, net of cash contributed and transaction costs
    
—
      
10,572
      
—
      
10,572
  
Proceeds from maturities and sales of short-term investments
    
13
      
15
      
60
      
135
  
Proceeds from sale of property
    
—
      
—
      
118
      
—
  
Proceeds from sale of equity investment method
    
—
      
378
      
—
      
378
  
Other
    
(4
)
    
(3
)
    
(9
)
    
(8
)
Net cash provided by investing activities
    
7
      
10,952
      
164
      
10,991
  
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
                                
Repayments of debt and related equity component
    
—
      
(302
)
    
(1,929
)
    
(302
)
Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of issuance costs
    
—
      
300
      
750
      
300
  
Net proceeds from sales of common stock under employee stock incentive plans
    
6
      
21
      
16
      
109
  
Tax payments related to restricted stock units
    
(27
)
    
(6
)
    
(57
)
    
(71
)
Dividends and dividend equivalents paid
    
(113
)
    
(79
)
    
(300
)
    
(177
)
Repurchases of common stock
    
(133
)
    
(345
)
    
(138
)
    
(904
)
Short-swing profit disgorgement
    
—
      
9
      
—
      
9
  
Other
    
—
      
(1
)
    
—
      
(1
)
Net cash used in financing activities
    
(267
)
    
(403
)
    
(1,658
)
    
(1,037
)
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents
    
4
      
4
      
13
      
(1
)
Change in cash and cash equivalents
    
37
      
10,952
      
(1,131
)
    
10,858
  
Beginning cash and cash equivalents
    
1,009
      
1,697
      
2,177
      
1,791
  
Ending cash and cash equivalents
  
$
1,046
    
$
12,649
    
$
1,046
    
$
12,649
  

NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
Reconciliation of Selected GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures (1) (2)
(In millions, except per share data, unaudited)
   
Three Months Ended
  
   
January 1, 2021
    
January 3, 2020
  
Operating income
  
$
280
    
$
62
  
Stock-based compensation
    
21
      
36
  
Amortization of intangible assets
    
24
      
28
  
Restructuring and other costs
    
1
      
98
  
Acquisition and integration costs
    
1
      
—
  
Other
    
(1
)
    
—
  
Operating income (Non-GAAP)
  
$
326
    
$
224
  
                 
Operating margin
    
43.8
%
    
10.0
%
Operating margin (Non-GAAP)
    
51.0
%
    
36.2
%
                 
Net income
  
$
178
    
$
2,845
  
Adjustments to income from continuing operations:
                
Stock-based compensation
    
21
      
39
  
Amortization of intangible assets
    
24
      
28
  
Restructuring and other costs
    
1
      
98
  
Acquisition and integration costs
    
1
      
—
  
Other
    
(1
)
    
—
  
Non-cash interest expense
    
2
      
7
  
Gain on sale of equity method investment
    
—
      
(379
)
Loss from equity method investment
    
—
      
9
  
Total adjustments to GAAP income from continuing operations before income taxes
    
48
      
(198
)
Adjustment to GAAP provision for income taxes
    
8
      
3
  
Total adjustment to continuing operations, net of taxes
    
56
      
(195
)
Discontinued operations
    
(5
)
    
(2,492
)
Net income (Non-GAAP)
  
$
229
    
$
159
  
                 
Diluted net income per share
  
$
0.30
    
$
4.40
  
Adjustments to diluted net income per share:
                
Stock-based compensation
    
0.04
      
0.06
  
Amortization of intangible assets
    
0.04
      
0.04
  
Restructuring and other costs
    
0.00
      
0.15
  
Acquisition and integration costs
    
0.00
      
—
  
Other
    
(0.00
)
    
—
  
Non-cash interest expense
    
0.00
      
0.01
  
Gain on sale of equity method investment
    
—
      
(0.59
)
Loss from equity method investment
    
—
      
0.01
  
Total adjustments to GAAP income from continuing operations before income taxes
    
0.08
      
(0.31
)
Adjustment to GAAP provision for income taxes
    
0.01
      
0.00
  
Total adjustment to continuing operations, net of taxes
    
0.09
      
(0.30
)
Discontinued operations
    
(0.01
)
    
(3.85
)
Diluted net income per share (Non-GAAP)
  
$
0.38
    
$
0.25
  
                 
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding
    
597
      
647
  
Incremental dilution
    
—
      
—
  
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding (Non-GAAP)
    
597
      
647
  

(1) This presentation includes non-GAAP measures. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP.  For a detailed explanation of these non-GAAP measures, see Appendix A.
(2) Amounts may not add due to rounding.

NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
Consumer Revenues, Consumer Reported Billings and Consumer Cyber Safety Metrics
(In millions, except per user data, unaudited)
Consumer Revenues (Non-GAAP)
                  
   
Three Months Ended
  
   
January 1, 2021
    
January 3, 2020
    
Variance in %
  
Revenues
  
$
639
    
$
618
      
3
%
Exclude revenues from ID Analytics (1)
    
—
      
(15
)
        
Consumer revenues (Non-GAAP)
    
639
      
603
      
6
%
Exclude foreign exchange impact (2)
    
(10
)
    
—
          
Constant currency adjusted consumer revenues (Non-GAAP)
  
$
629
    
$
603
      
4
%

Consumer Reported Billings (Non-GAAP)
        
   
Three Months Ended
  
   
January 1, 2021
    
January 3, 2020
    
Variance in %
  
Revenues
  
$
639
    
$
618
      
3
%
Add: Contract liabilities (end of period)
    
1,135
      
1,047
          
Less: Contract liabilities (beginning of period)
    
(1,074
)
    
(1,016
)
        
Reported billings (Non-GAAP)
    
700
      
649
      
8
%
Exclude revenue from ID Analytics (1)
    
—
      
(15
)
        
Consumer reported billings (Non-GAAP)
  
$
700
    
$
634
      
10
%

Consumer Cyber Safety Metrics
                  
   
Three Months Ended
  
   
January 1, 2021
    
October 2, 2020
    
January 3, 2020
  
Direct customer revenues
  
$
569
    
$
563
    
$
542
  
Partner revenues
  
$
70
    
$
63
    
$
61
  
Revenues from ID Analytics
  
$
—
    
$
—
    
$
15
  
Average direct customer count
    
20.8
      
20.6
      
20.1
  
Direct customer count (at quarter end)
    
21.0
      
20.7
      
20.1
  
Direct average revenue per user (ARPU)
  
$
9.10
    
$
9.10
    
$
8.99
  

(1) In the three months ended April 3, 2020, we divested our ID Analytics solutions. We present consumer reported billings and consumer revenues to enhance comparability of the reported billings and revenues of our remaining solutions to the year ago period.
(2) Calculated using year ago foreign exchange rates.

NORTONLIFELOCK INC.
Appendix A
Explanation of Non-GAAP Measures and Other Items

Objective of non-GAAP measures:  We believe our presentation of non-GAAP financial measures, when taken together with corresponding GAAP financial measures, provides meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operating performance for the reasons discussed below. Our management team uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing NortonLifeLock’s performance, as well as in planning and forecasting future periods. Due to the importance of these measures in managing the business, we use non-GAAP measures in the evaluation of management’s compensation. These non-GAAP financial measures are not computed according to GAAP and the methods we use to compute them may differ from the methods used by other companies.  Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Contract liabilities adjustment:  Our non-GAAP net revenues eliminate the impact of contract liabilities purchase accounting adjustments required by GAAP. GAAP requires an adjustment to the liability for acquired contract liabilities such that the liability approximates how much we, the acquirer, would have to pay a third party to assume the liability. We believe that eliminating the impact of this adjustment improves the comparability of revenues between periods. Also, although the adjustment amounts will never be recognized in our GAAP financial statements, we do not expect the acquisitions to affect the future renewal rates of revenues excluded by the adjustments. In addition, our management uses non-GAAP net revenues, adjusted for the impact of purchase accounting adjustments to assess our operating performance and overall revenue trends. Nevertheless, non-GAAP net revenues has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP net revenues. We believe these adjustments are useful to investors as an additional means to reflect revenue trends of our business. However, other companies in our industry may not calculate these measures in the same manner which may limit their usefulness for comparative purposes.
Stock-based compensation:  This consists of expenses for employee restricted stock units, performance-based awards, bonus share programs, stock options and our employee stock purchase plan, determined in accordance with GAAP.  We evaluate our performance both with and without these measures because stock-based compensation is a non-cash expense and can vary significantly over time based on the timing, size, nature and design of the awards granted, and is influenced in part by certain factors that are generally beyond our control, such as the volatility of the market value of our common stock. In addition, for comparability purposes, we believe it is useful to provide a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes stock-based compensation to facilitate the comparison of our results to those of other companies in our industry.
Amortization of intangible assets:  Amortization of intangible assets consists of amortization of acquisition-related intangibles assets such as developed technology, customer relationships and trade names acquired in connection with business combinations. We record charges relating to the amortization of these intangibles within both cost of revenues and operating expenses in our GAAP financial statements.  Under purchase accounting, we are required to allocate a portion of the purchase price to intangible assets acquired and amortize this amount over the estimated useful lives of the acquired intangible assets. However, the purchase price allocated to these assets is not necessarily reflective of the cost we would incur to internally develop the intangible asset. Further, amortization charges for our acquired intangible assets are inconsistent in size and are significantly impacted by the timing and valuation of our acquisitions. We eliminate these charges from our non-GAAP operating results to facilitate an evaluation of our current operating performance and provide better comparability to our past operating performance.
Restructuring and other costs:  Restructuring charges are costs associated with a formal restructuring plan and are primarily related to employee severance and benefit arrangements, contract termination costs, and assets write-offs, as well as other exit and disposal costs. Included in other exit and disposal costs are advisory fees incurred in connection with restructuring events and facilities exit costs. Separation costs primarily consist of consulting costs incurred in connection with the divestiture of our Enterprise Security business (the Broadcom sale). We exclude restructuring and other costs from our non-GAAP results as we believe that these costs are incremental to core activities that arise in the ordinary course of our business and do not reflect our current operating performance, and that excluding these charges facilitates a more meaningful evaluation of our current operating performance and comparisons to our past operating performance.
Acquisition-related costs:  These represent the transaction and business integration costs related to significant acquisitions that are charged to operating expense in our GAAP financial statements. These costs include incremental expenses incurred to affect these business combinations such as advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees. We exclude these costs from our non-GAAP results as they have no direct correlation to the operation of our business, and because we believe that the non-GAAP financial measures excluding these costs provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the spending trends of our business. In addition, these costs vary, depending on the size and complexity of the acquisitions, and are not indicative of costs of future acquisitions.
Litigation settlement:  We may periodically incur charges or benefits related to litigation settlements.  We exclude these charges and benefits when associated with a significant settlement because we do not believe they are reflective of ongoing business and operating results. 
Non-cash interest expense and amortization of debt issuance costs:  In accordance with GAAP, we separately account for the value of the conversion feature on our convertible notes as a debt discount that reflects our assumed non-convertible debt borrowing rates. We amortize the discount and debt issuance costs over the term of the related debt. We exclude the difference between the imputed interest expense, which includes the amortization of the conversion feature and of the issuance costs, and the coupon interest payments because we believe that excluding these costs provides meaningful supplemental information regarding the cash cost of our convertible debt and enhance investors’ ability to view the Company’s results from management’s perspective.

Gains on divestiture and sale of equity method investment:  We periodically recognize gains on divestitures. In the third quarter of fiscal 2020, we recognized a gain of $379 million related to the sale of our DigiCert equity interest. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, we recognized a gain of $250 million related to the divestiture of our ID Analytics solutions. We have excluded these gains for purposes of calculating our non-GAAP results. We believe making these adjustments facilitates a better evaluation of our current operating performance and comparisons to past operating results.
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt:  We record gains or losses on extinguishment of debt. Gains or losses represent the difference between the fair value of the exchange consideration and the carrying value of the liability component of the debt at the date of extinguishment. We exclude the gain or loss on debt extinguishment in our non-GAAP results because they are not reflective of our ongoing business. 
Gain (loss) from equity method investment:  We record gains or losses in equity method investments representing net income or loss attributable to our noncontrolling interest in companies over which we have limited control and visibility. We exclude such gains and losses in full because we lack control over the operations of the investee and the related gains and losses are not indicative of our ongoing core results.
Gain (loss) on equity investments:  We record gains or losses, unrealized and realized, on equity investments in privately-held companies. We exclude the net gains or losses because we do not believe they are reflective of our ongoing business.
Gain (loss) on sale of property: We periodically recognize gains or losses from the disposition of land and buildings. We exclude such gains or losses because they are not reflective of our ongoing business and operating results.
Income tax effects and adjustments:  We use a non-GAAP tax rate that excludes (1) the discrete impacts of changes in tax legislation, (2) most other significant discrete items, (3) certain unique GAAP reporting requirements under discontinued operations and (4) the income tax effects of the non-GAAP adjustment to our operating results described above. We believe making these adjustments facilitates a better evaluation of our current operating performance and comparisons to past operating results. Our tax rate is subject to change for a variety of reasons, such as significant changes in the geographic earnings mix due to acquisition and divestiture activities or fundamental tax law changes in major jurisdictions where we operate. In June 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Court issued an opinion in Altera Corp. v. Commissioner which reversed a United States Tax Court decision regarding the treatment of share-based compensation expense in a cost sharing arrangement. As a result, we recorded a cumulative income tax expense of $23 million for continuing operation in fiscal 2020, which has been excluded from our non-GAAP tax provision.
Discontinued operations:  On November 4, 2019, we completed the Broadcom sale. In January 2016, we completed the sale of assets related to our Veritas operations. The results of our divested operations that were subject to these divestitures are presented as discontinued operations in our statements of operations and thus have been excluded from non-GAAP net income for all reported periods.
Diluted GAAP and non-GAAP weighted-average shares outstanding:  Diluted GAAP and non-GAAP weighted-average shares outstanding are the same, except in periods that there is a GAAP loss from continuing operations. In accordance with GAAP, we do not present dilution for GAAP in periods in which there is a loss from continuing operations. However, if there is non-GAAP net income, we present dilution for non-GAAP weighted-average shares outstanding in an amount equal to the dilution that would have been presented had there been GAAP income from continuing operations for the period.
Reported billings:  We define reported billings as total revenue plus the change in adjusted contract liabilities. The change in contract liabilities excludes the change related to discontinued operations that does not amortize to revenue from continuing operations. We consider reported billings to be a useful metric for management and investors because it facilitates an analysis of changes in contract liabilities balances that are an indicator of the health and visibility of our business. There are several limitations related to the use of reported billings versus revenue calculated in accordance with GAAP. First, reported billings include amounts that have not yet been recognized as revenue. Second, our calculation of reported billings may be different from other companies in our industry, some of which may not use reported billings, may calculate reported billings differently, may have different reported billing frequencies, or may use other financial measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of reported billings as a comparative measure. We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding GAAP revenue and evaluating reported billings together with revenue calculated in accordance with GAAP.
Consumer reported billings:  We define consumer reported billings as total revenue plus the change in adjusted contract liabilities excluding amounts related to our ID Analytics solutions. ID Analytics solutions were divested in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. We are presenting consumer reported billings to provide readers with a better understanding of the impact from the divestiture of ID Analytics solutions on the historical performance of our consumer business and to assist readers in analyzing our performance in future periods. This metric is subject to the same limitations as reported billings discussed above.
Bookings: Bookings are defined as customer orders received that are expected to generate net revenues in the future. We present the operational metric of bookings because it reflects customers' demand for our products and services and to assist readers in analyzing our performance in future periods.
Free cash flow:  Free cash flow is defined as cash flows from operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. Free cash flow is not a measure of financial condition under GAAP and does not reflect our future contractual commitments and the total increase or decrease of our cash balance for a given period, and thus should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity.

Non-GAAP constant currency adjusted revenues:  Non-GAAP constant currency adjusted revenues are defined as revenues adjusted for foreign exchange impact, calculated by translating current period revenue using the year ago currency conversion rate.
Consumer revenues: Consumer revenues exclude revenues from our ID Analytics solutions, which was divested in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. We are presenting consumer revenues to provide readers with a better understanding of the impact from the divestiture of ID Analytics solutions on our historical results and to assist readers in analyzing results in future periods.
Consumer Cyber Safety direct customer count:  Direct customers are defined as active paid users of our consumer solutions who have a direct billing relationship with us at the end of the reported period. Users with multiple products or entitlements are counted for based on which solutions they are subscribed. We exclude users on free trials and promotions and users who have indirectly purchased our product or services through partners unless such users convert or renew their subscription directly with us. Average direct customer count presents the average of the total number of direct customers at the beginning and end of the fiscal quarter.
Consumer Cyber Safety direct average revenues per user (ARPU):  ARPU is calculated as estimated direct customer revenues for the period divided by the average direct customer count for the same period, expressed as a monthly figure. We monitor ARPU because it helps us understand the rate at which we are monetizing our consumer customer base.
Annual retention rate: Annual retention rate is defined as the number of direct customers who have more than a one-year tenure as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal period divided by the total number of direct customers as of the end of the period from one year ago. We monitor annual retention rate to evaluate the effectiveness of our strategies to improve renewals of subscriptions.