Search the web
Welcome, Guest
[Sign Out, My Account]
EDGAR_Online

Quotes & Info
Enter Symbol(s):
e.g. YHOO, ^DJI
Symbol Lookup | Financial Search
IMMR > SEC Filings for IMMR > Form 10-Q on 7-Nov-2008All Recent SEC Filings

Show all filings for IMMERSION CORP | Request a Trial to NEW EDGAR Online Pro

Form 10-Q for IMMERSION CORP


7-Nov-2008

Quarterly Report


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "may," "will," and other similar expressions. However, these words are not the only way we identify forward-looking


Table of Contents

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


Table of Contents

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.

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


Table of Contents

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-


Table of Contents

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


Table of Contents

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


Table of Contents

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%


Table of Contents

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 . . .

  Add IMMR to Portfolio     Set Alert         Email to a Friend  
Get SEC Filings for Another Symbol: Symbol Lookup
Quotes & Info for IMMR - All Recent SEC Filings
Sign Up for a Free Trial to the NEW EDGAR Online Pro
Detailed SEC, Financial, Ownership and Offering Data on over 12,000 U.S. Public Companies.
Actionable and easy-to-use with searching, alerting, downloading and more.
Request a Trial      Sign Up Now


Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service
SEC Filing data and information provided by EDGAR Online, Inc. (1-800-416-6651). All information provided "as is" for informational purposes only, not intended for trading purposes or advice. Neither Yahoo! nor any of independent providers is liable for any informational errors, incompleteness, or delays, or for any actions taken in reliance on information contained herein. By accessing the Yahoo! site, you agree not to redistribute the information found therein.