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Quotes & Info
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| IMMR > SEC Filings for IMMR > Form 10-Q on 7-Nov-2008 | All Recent SEC Filings |
7-Nov-2008
Quarterly Report
statements. In addition, any statements, which refer to expectations,
projections, or other characterizations of future events, or circumstances, are
forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors,
including those set forth below in Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Risk Factors, those described
elsewhere in this report, and those described in our other reports filed with
the SEC. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date of this report, and we undertake no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements after the filing of this
report. You are urged to review carefully and consider our various disclosures
in this report and in our other reports publicly disclosed or filed with the SEC
that attempt to advise you of the risks and factors that may affect our
business.
OVERVIEW
We are a leading provider of haptic technologies that allow people to use
their sense of touch more fully when operating a wide variety of digital
devices. To achieve this heightened interactivity, we develop and manufacture or
license a wide range of hardware and software technologies and products. While
we believe that our technologies are broadly applicable, we are currently
focusing our marketing and business development activities on the following
target application areas: automotive, consumer electronics, entertainment,
gaming, and commercial and industrial controls; medical simulation; mobile
communications; and three-dimensional design and interaction. We manage these
application areas under two operating and reportable segments: 1) Immersion
Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial and 2) Immersion Medical.
In some markets, such as video console gaming, mobile phones, and automotive
controls, we license our technologies to manufacturers who use them in products
sold under their own brand names. In other markets, such as medical simulation
and 3D design and interaction, we sell products manufactured under our own brand
name through direct sales to end users, distributors, OEMs, or value-added
resellers. From time to time, we also engage in development projects for third
parties.
Our objective is to drive adoption of our touch technologies across markets
and applications to improve the user experience with digital devices and
systems. We and our wholly owned subsidiaries hold more than 700 issued or
pending patents in the U.S. and other countries, covering various aspects of
hardware and software technologies.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of
operations are based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these condensed
consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues,
expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an
ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those
related to revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, bad debts, inventory
reserves, short-term investments, warranty obligations, patents and intangible
assets, contingencies, and litigation. We base our estimates and assumptions on
historical experience and on various other factors that we believe to be
reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for
making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are
not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these
estimates and assumptions.
We believe the following are our most critical accounting policies as they
require our significant judgments and estimates in the preparation of our
condensed consolidated financial statements:
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenues in accordance with applicable accounting standards,
including SAB No. 104, "Revenue Recognition," EITF No.
00-21, "Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables," AICPA
SOP 81-1 "Accounting for Performance for Construction-Type and Certain
Production-Type contracts," and AICPA SOP 97-2, "Software Revenue Recognition,"
as amended. Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement
exists, delivery has occurred or service
has been rendered, the fee is fixed and determinable, and collectability is
probable. We derive our revenues from three principal sources: royalty and
license fees, product sales, and development contracts.
Royalty and license revenue - We recognize royalty and license revenue based
on royalty reports or related information received from the licensee as well as
time-based licenses of our intellectual property portfolio. Up-front payments
under license agreements are deferred and recognized as revenue either based on
the royalty reports received or amortized over the license period depending on
the nature of the agreement. Advance payments under license agreements that also
require us to provide future services to the licensee are deferred and
recognized over the service period when VSOE related to the value of the
services does not exist.
We generally recognize revenue from our licensees under one or a combination
of the following license models:
License revenue model Revenue recognition
Perpetual license of intellectual Based on royalty reports received
property portfolio based on per unit from licensees. No further
royalties, no services contracted. obligations to licensee exist.
Time-based license of intellectual Based on straight-line amortization
property portfolio with up-front of annual minimum/up-front payment
payments and/or annual minimum recognized over contract period or
royalty requirements, no services annual minimum period.
contracted. Licensees have certain
rights to updates to the
intellectual property portfolio
during the contract period.
Perpetual license of intellectual Based on cost-to-cost
property portfolio or technology percentage-of-completion accounting
license along with contract for method over the service period or
development work. completed contract method.
Obligation to licensee exists until
development work is complete.
License of software or technology, Up-front revenue recognition based
no modification necessary, no on SOP 97-2 criteria or EITF No.
services contracted. 00-21, as applicable.
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Individual contracts may have characteristics that do not fall within a
specific license model or may have characteristics of a combination of license
models. Under those circumstances, we recognize revenue in accordance with SAB
No. 104, EITF No. 00-21, SOP 81-1, and SOP 97-2, as amended, to guide the
accounting treatment for each individual contract. See also the discussions
regarding "Multiple element arrangements" below. If the information received
from our licensees regarding royalties is incorrect or inaccurate, our revenues
in future periods may be adversely affected. To date, none of the information we
have received from our licensees has caused any material reduction in future
period revenues.
Product sales - We recognize revenues from product sales when the product
is shipped, provided the other revenue recognition criteria are met, including
that collection is determined to be probable and no significant obligation
remains. We sell our products with warranties ranging from three to sixty
months. We record the estimated warranty costs during the quarter the revenue is
recognized. Historically, warranty-related costs and related accruals have not
been significant. We offer a general right of return on the MicroScribe product
line for 14 days after purchase. We recognize revenue at the time of shipment of
a
MicroScribe digitizer and provide an accrual for potential returns based on
historical experience. We offer no other general right of return on our
products.
Development contracts and other revenue - Development contracts and other
revenue is comprised of professional services (consulting services and/or
development contracts), customer support, and extended warranty contracts.
Development contract revenues are recognized under the cost-to-cost
percentage-of-completion accounting method based on physical completion of the
work to be performed or completed contract method. Losses on contracts are
recognized when determined. Revisions in estimates are reflected in the period
in which the conditions become known. Customer support and extended warranty
contract revenue is recognized ratably over the contractual period.
Multiple element arrangements - We enter into revenue arrangements in which
the customer purchases a combination of patent, technology, and/or software
licenses, products, professional services, support, and extended warranties
(multiple element arrangements). When VSOE of fair value exists for all
elements, we allocate revenue to each element based on the relative fair value
of each of the elements. If vendor specific objective evidence does not exist,
the revenue is generally recorded over the term of the contract.
Our revenue recognition policies are significant because our revenues are a
key component of our results of operations. In addition, our revenue recognition
determines the timing of certain expenses, such as commissions and royalties.
Revenue results are difficult to predict, and any shortfall in revenue or delay
in recognizing revenue could cause our operating results to vary significantly
from quarter to quarter and could result in greater or future operating losses.
Stock-based Compensation
We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with SFAS No. 123R. We
elected the modified-prospective method, under which prior periods are not
revised for comparative purposes. Under the fair value recognition provisions of
this statement, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date
based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense on a
straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting
period.
Valuation and amortization method - We use the Black-Scholes model,
single-option approach to determine the fair value of stock options, and ESPP
shares. All share-based payment awards are amortized on a straight-line basis
over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the
vesting periods. The determination of the fair value of stock-based payment
awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by our
stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective
variables. These variables include actual and projected employee stock option
exercise behaviors, our expected stock price volatility over the term of the
awards, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends.
Expected term - We estimate the expected term of options granted by
calculating the average term from our historical stock option exercise
experience. We used the simplified method as prescribed by SAB No. 107 for
options granted prior to December 31, 2007.
Expected volatility - We estimate the volatility of our common stock taking
into consideration our historical stock price movement, the volatility of stock
prices of companies of similar size with similar businesses, if any, and our
expected future stock price trends based on known or anticipated events.
Risk-free interest rate - We base the risk-free interest rate that we use
in the option pricing model on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with remaining
terms similar to the expected term on the options.
Expected dividend - We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the
foreseeable future and therefore use an expected dividend yield of zero in the
option pricing model.
Forfeitures - We are required to estimate future forfeitures at the time of
grant and revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures
differ from those estimates. We use historical data to estimate pre-vesting
option forfeitures and record stock-based compensation expense only for those
awards that are expected to vest. Changes in estimated forfeitures will be
recognized through a cumulative catch-
up adjustment in the period of change and will also impact the amount of
compensation expense to be recognized in future periods.
If factors change and we employ different assumptions for estimating
stock-based compensation expense in future periods, or if we decide to use a
different valuation model, the future periods may differ significantly from what
we have recorded in the current period and could materially affect our operating
results.
The Black-Scholes model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of
traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable,
characteristics not present in our option grants and ESPP shares. Existing
valuation models, including the Black-Scholes and lattice binomial models, may
not provide reliable measures of the fair values of our stock-based
compensation. Consequently, there is a risk that our estimates of the fair
values of our stock-based compensation awards on the grant dates may bear little
resemblance to the actual values realized upon the exercise, expiration, early
termination, or forfeiture of those stock-based payments in the future. Certain
stock-based payments, such as employee stock options, may expire and be
worthless or otherwise result in zero intrinsic value as compared to the fair
values originally estimated on the grant date and reported in our financial
statements. Alternatively, value may be realized from these instruments that are
significantly higher than the fair values originally estimated on the grant date
and reported in our financial statements. There currently is no market-based
mechanism or other practical application to verify the reliability and accuracy
of the estimates stemming from these valuation models, nor is there a means to
compare and adjust the estimates to actual values.
See Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further
information regarding the SFAS No. 123R disclosures.
Accounting for Income Taxes
We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under
this method, income tax expense is recognized for the amount of taxes payable or
refundable for the current year. In addition, deferred tax assets and
liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary
differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and
liabilities, and for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Management
must make assumptions, judgments, and estimates to determine our current
provision for income taxes and also our deferred tax assets and liabilities and
any valuation allowance to be recorded against a deferred tax asset.
Our judgments, assumptions, and estimates relative to the current provision
for income tax take into account current tax laws, our interpretation of current
tax laws, and possible outcomes of current and future audits conducted by
foreign and domestic tax authorities. We have established reserves for income
taxes to address potential exposures involving tax positions that could be
challenged by tax authorities. Although we believe our judgments, assumptions,
and estimates are reasonable, changes in tax laws or our interpretation of tax
laws and any future tax audits could significantly impact the amounts provided
for income taxes in our consolidated financial statements.
Our assumptions, judgments, and estimates relative to the value of a deferred
tax asset take into account predictions of the amount and category of future
taxable income, such as income from operations or capital gains income. Actual
operating results and the underlying amount and category of income in future
years could render inaccurate our current assumptions, judgments, and estimates
of recoverable net deferred taxes. Any of the assumptions, judgments, and
estimates mentioned above could cause our actual income tax obligations to
differ from our estimates, thus materially impacting our financial position and
results of operations.
Litigation Conclusions and Patent License
In March 2007, we announced the conclusion of our patent infringement
litigation against Sony Computer Entertainment at the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit. Sony Computer Entertainment satisfied the U.S. District
Court for the Northern District of California judgment against it. As of
March 19, 2007, we entered into a new business agreement with Sony Computer
Entertainment. We determined that the conclusion of our litigation with Sony
Computer Entertainment did not trigger any payment obligations under our
Microsoft agreements. However, on June 18, 2007, Microsoft filed a complaint
against us in the United States District Court for the Western District of
Washington alleging
breach of our "Sublicense Agreement" dated July 25, 2003 and seeks damages,
specific performance, declaratory judgment, and attorneys' fees and costs. At a
court ordered mediation meeting on December 11, 2007, Microsoft indicated they
believe the amount owed to be $35.6 million. On August 25, 2008, the parties
agreed to settle Microsoft's breach of contract claim as well as our
counterclaim. The settlement arrangement provided that we pay Microsoft
$20.8 million, which we paid in October 2008, and the case was dismissed.
Short-term Investments
Our short-term investments consist primarily of highly liquid commercial
paper and government agency securities purchased with an original or remaining
maturity of greater than 90 days on the date of purchase. We classify all debt
securities with readily determinable market values as "available-for-sale" in
accordance with SFAS No. 115. Even though the stated maturity dates of these
debt securities may be one year or more beyond the balance sheet date, we have
classified all debt securities as short-term investments in accordance with
Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43, Chapter 3A, "Working Capital-Current Assets
and Current Liabilities," as they are reasonably expected to be realized in cash
or sold during our normal operating cycle. These investments are carried at fair
market value with unrealized gains and losses considered to be temporary in
nature reported as a separate component of other comprehensive income
(loss) within stockholders' equity.
We follow the guidance provided by FSP 115-1/124-1 and EITF No. 03-01 to
assess whether our investments with unrealized loss positions are other than
temporarily impaired. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to
be other than temporary are determined based on the specific identification
method and are reported in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
Factors considered in determining whether a loss is temporary include the length
of time and extent to which fair value has been less than the cost basis, the
financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, and our intent and
ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any
anticipated recovery in market value.
Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 157, which
defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and
expands disclosures about fair value measurements required under other
accounting pronouncements. SFAS No. 157 clarifies that fair value is an exit
price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid
to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants.
SFAS No. 157 also requires that a fair value measurement reflect the assumptions
market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on the best
information available. Assumptions include the risks inherent in a particular
valuation technique (such as a pricing model) and/or the risks inherent in the
inputs to the model.
SFAS No. 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs
to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the
highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical
assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to
unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value
hierarchy under SFAS No. 157 are described below:
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at
the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial
instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or
indirectly;
Level 3: Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant
to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is based on
the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
In February 2008, the Financial FASB issued FSP No. 157-2 that delays the
effective date of SFAS No. 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial
liabilities, except for items that are recognized or
disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at
least annually) until fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The delay
is intended to allow the FASB and constituents additional time to consider the
effect of various implementation issues that have arisen, or that may arise,
from the application of SFAS No. 157. The Company continues to assess the impact
that FSP 157-2 may have on our consolidated financial position and results of
operations.
Further information about the application of SFAS No. 157 may be found in
Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Recovery of Accounts Receivable
We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting
from our review and assessment of our customers' ability to make required
payments. If the financial condition of one or more of our customers were to
deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments,
additional allowances might be required. To date such estimated losses have been
within our expectations.
Inventory Reserves
We reduce our inventory value for estimated obsolete and slow moving
inventory in an amount equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and
the net realizable value based upon assumptions about future demand and market
conditions. If actual future demand and market conditions are less favorable
than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be
required.
Product Return and Warranty Reserves
We provide for estimated costs of future anticipated product returns and
warranty obligations based on historical experience when related revenues are
recognized, and we defer warranty-related revenue over the related warranty
term.
Intangible Assets
We have acquired patents and other intangible assets. In addition, we
capitalize the external legal and filing fees associated with patents and
trademarks. We assess the recoverability of our intangible assets, and we must
make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors to
determine the fair value of the respective assets that affect our condensed
consolidated financial statements. If these estimates or related assumptions
change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges for these
assets. We amortize our intangible assets related to patents and trademarks,
once they issue, over their estimated useful lives, generally 10 years. Future
changes in the estimated useful life could affect the amount of future period
amortization expense that we will incur. During the three months and nine months
ended September 30, 2008, we capitalized costs associated with patents and
trademarks of $674,000 and $1.9 million, respectively. Our total amortization
expense for the same periods for all intangible assets was $179,000, and
$584,000, respectively.
The above listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all of our
accounting policies. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular
transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP, with no need for management's
judgment in their application. There are also areas in which management's
judgment in selecting any available alternative would not produce a materially
different result.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
2008 AND 2007
The following Management's Discussion and Analysis gives effect to the
restatement discussed in Note 15 to the condensed consolidated financial
statements.
Overview
We achieved a 3% increase in revenues during the three months ended
September 30, 2008 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2007. The
third quarter revenue growth was primarily due to a 64% increase in royalty and
license revenues mainly from increased gaming and mobility royalty and license
fees. The revenue increase was partially offset by a 12% decrease in product
sales and a 62%
decrease in development contract revenues. We achieved an 11% increase in revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The first nine months revenue growth was primarily due to a 45% increase in royalty and license revenues mainly from increased gaming and mobility royalty and license fees, partially offset by a 2% decrease in product sales and an 18% decrease in development contract revenues. Our net loss was $32.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008 compared to net income of $493,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007. Our net loss was $38.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 compared to net income of $116.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. In the third quarter of 2008 and throughout the first nine months of 2008, we continued to invest in research, development, sales, and marketing across all our key business segments. In August 2008, we settled our litigation with Microsoft and we agreed to make a one time payment to Microsoft in the amount of $20.8 million which was recorded in the third quarter of 2008 and paid in October 2008. In March 2007, we concluded our patent infringement litigation against Sony Computer Entertainment and recognized a gain of . . .
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