e10vq
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(MARK ONE)
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þ |
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006
OR
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o |
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For
the transition period from
to
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Commission file number 000-27969
IMMERSION CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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94-3180138 |
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(State or other jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
incorporation or organization) |
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801 Fox Lane, San Jose, California 95131
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
(408) 467-1900
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed
by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated
filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer þ Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No þ
Number of shares of common stock outstanding at May 3, 2006: 24,538,069
IMMERSION CORPORATION
INDEX
2
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
IMMERSION CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
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March 31, |
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December 31, |
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2006 |
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2005 |
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ASSETS |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
30,945 |
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$ |
28,171 |
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Accounts receivable (net of allowances for doubtful accounts of: March 31, 2006, $357
and December 31, 2005, $383) |
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3,766 |
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4,650 |
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Inventories |
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2,661 |
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2,655 |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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1,089 |
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1,131 |
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Total current assets |
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38,461 |
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36,607 |
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Property and equipment, net |
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1,393 |
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1,366 |
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Intangibles and other assets, net |
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6,856 |
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6,787 |
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Total assets |
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$ |
46,710 |
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$ |
44,760 |
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS DEFICIT |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accounts payable |
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$ |
890 |
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$ |
2,179 |
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Accrued compensation |
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1,219 |
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1,193 |
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Other current liabilities |
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1,803 |
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1,604 |
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Deferred revenue and customer advances |
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2,038 |
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2,741 |
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Current portion of long-term debt |
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3 |
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5 |
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Total current liabilities |
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5,953 |
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7,722 |
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Long-term debt, less current portion |
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17,648 |
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17,490 |
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Long-term deferred revenue, less current portion |
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26,551 |
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21,294 |
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Long-term customer advance from Microsoft (Note 8) |
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15,000 |
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15,000 |
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Other long-term liabilities |
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44 |
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49 |
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Total liabilities |
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65,196 |
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61,555 |
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Contingencies (Note 16) |
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Stockholders deficit: |
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Common stock and additional paid-in capital $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares
authorized; shares issued and outstanding: March 31, 2006, 24,534,319 and
December 31, 2005, 24,360,427 |
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107,492 |
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106,277 |
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Warrants |
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3,686 |
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3,686 |
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Accumulated other comprehensive income |
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64 |
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64 |
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Accumulated deficit |
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(129,728 |
) |
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(126,822 |
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Total stockholders deficit |
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(18,486 |
) |
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(16,795 |
) |
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Total liabilities and stockholders deficit |
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$ |
46,710 |
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$ |
44,760 |
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See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
3
IMMERSION
CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended |
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March 31, |
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2006 |
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2005 |
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Revenues: |
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Royalty and license |
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$ |
1,910 |
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$ |
2,471 |
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Product sales |
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3,366 |
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2,695 |
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Development contracts and other |
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756 |
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606 |
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Total revenues |
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6,032 |
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5,772 |
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Costs and expenses: |
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Cost of product sales (exclusive of amortization of intangibles
shown separately below) |
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1,355 |
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1,389 |
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Sales and marketing |
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3,077 |
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2,819 |
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Research and development |
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1,729 |
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1,509 |
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General and administrative |
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2,811 |
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2,286 |
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Amortization of intangibles |
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210 |
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367 |
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Litigation settlement |
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(650 |
) |
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Restructuring costs |
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185 |
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Total costs and expenses |
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8,532 |
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8,555 |
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Operating loss |
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(2,500 |
) |
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(2,783 |
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Interest and other income |
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103 |
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116 |
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Interest expense |
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(407 |
) |
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(399 |
) |
Other expense |
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(2 |
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Loss before provision for income taxes |
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(2,804 |
) |
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(3,068 |
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Provision for income taxes |
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(102 |
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(65 |
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Net loss |
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$ |
(2,906 |
) |
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$ |
(3,133 |
) |
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Basic and diluted net loss per share |
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$ |
(0.12 |
) |
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$ |
(0.13 |
) |
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Shares used in calculating basic and diluted net loss per share |
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24,419 |
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23,663 |
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See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
4
IMMERSION CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended |
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March 31, |
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2006 |
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2005 |
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Cash flows from operating activities: |
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Net loss |
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$ |
(2,906 |
) |
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$ |
(3,133 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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168 |
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217 |
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Amortization of intangibles |
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210 |
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367 |
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Stock-based compensation |
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723 |
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2 |
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Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation |
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(16 |
) |
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Interest expense accretion on 5% Convertible Debenture (Note 6) |
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158 |
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160 |
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Fair value adjustment of Put Option and Registration Rights |
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(5 |
) |
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(11 |
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Loss on disposal of equipment |
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3 |
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2 |
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Accounts receivable |
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884 |
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9 |
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Inventories |
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(6 |
) |
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(130 |
) |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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53 |
|
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|
(387 |
) |
Accounts payable |
|
|
(1,277 |
) |
|
|
(2,806 |
) |
Accrued compensation and other current liabilities |
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|
231 |
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(202 |
) |
Deferred revenue and customer advances |
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4,555 |
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6,547 |
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Net cash provided by operating activities |
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2,775 |
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|
635 |
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Cash flows used in investing activities: |
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Intangibles and other assets |
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(280 |
) |
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|
(246 |
) |
Purchases of property and equipment |
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(198 |
) |
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(106 |
) |
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Net cash used in investing activities |
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(478 |
) |
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(352 |
) |
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Cash flows from financing activities: |
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Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan |
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126 |
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116 |
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Exercise of stock options |
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350 |
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|
1,098 |
|
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation |
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16 |
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Increase in issuance cost of 5% Convertible Debenture (Note 6) |
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(94 |
) |
Payments on notes payable and capital leases |
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(3 |
) |
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(3 |
) |
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Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
489 |
|
|
|
1,117 |
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|
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Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents |
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(12 |
) |
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(25 |
) |
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Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
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|
2,774 |
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|
|
1,375 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents: |
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Beginning of the period |
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28,171 |
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|
25,538 |
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End of the
period |
|
$ |
30,945 |
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$ |
26,913 |
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Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
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Cash paid for taxes |
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$ |
6 |
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$ |
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Cash paid for interest |
|
$ |
254 |
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$ |
275 |
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Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities: |
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Costs related to debt issuance |
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$ |
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$ |
94 |
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|
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|
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See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
5
IMMERSION CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2006
(Unaudited)
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Description of Business
Immersion Corporation (the Company) was incorporated in 1993 in California and
reincorporated in Delaware in 1999 and develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range
of hardware and software technologies and products that enhance touch interaction with digital
devices.
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Immersion
Corporation and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts, transactions and
balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for
interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation
S-X and, therefore, do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a complete
presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Companys audited
consolidated financial statements included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. In the opinion of management, all adjustments consisting of
only normal recurring items necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position and
results of operations for the interim periods have been included.
The results of operations for the interim period ended March 31, 2006 are not necessarily
indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year balances in order to conform to the
current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net loss or stockholders
deficit.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with applicable accounting standards including
Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 104, Revenue Recognition, Emerging Issues Task Force
(EITF) Issue No. 00-21, Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables, and the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (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 collectibility is probable. The Company derives its revenues from three principal
sources: royalty and license fees, product sales, and development contracts.
Royalty and license revenue The Company recognizes royalty and license revenue based on
royalty reports or related information received from the licensee as well as time-based licenses of
its intellectual property portfolio. Up-front payments under license agreements are deferred and
recognized as revenue based on either 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 the Company to provide future services to the licensee are deferred and recognized
over the service period when vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) related to the value of
the services does not exist.
6
The Company generally recognizes revenue from its licensees under one or a combination of the
following models:
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License revenue model |
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Revenue recognition |
Perpetual license of intellectual
property portfolio based on per unit
royalties, no services contracted.
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Based on royalty reports received
from licensees. No further
obligations to licensee exist. |
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Time-based license of intellectual
property portfolio with up-front
payments and/or annual minimum
royalty requirements, no services
contracted.
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Based on straight-line amortization
of annual minimum/up-front payment
recognized over contract period or
annual minimum period. No further
obligations to licensee exist.
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Perpetual license of intellectual
property portfolio or technology
license along with contract for
development work.
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Based on cost-to-cost percentage-of-completion accounting
method over the service period.
Obligation to licensee exists until
development work is complete. |
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License of software or technology, no
modification necessary, no services
contracted.
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Up-front revenue recognition based
on SOP 97-2 criteria or EITF No.
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, the
Company recognizes revenue in accordance with SAB No. 104, EITF No. 00-21, and SOP 97-2, as
amended, to guide the accounting treatment for each individual contract. See also comments
regarding Multiple element arrangements below. If the information received from the Companys
licensees regarding royalties is incorrect or inaccurate, the Companys revenues in future periods
may be adversely affected. To date, none of the information the Company has received from the
Companys licensees has caused any material adjustment to period revenues.
Product sales The Company recognizes revenues from product sales when the product is
shipped, provided that collection is determined to be probable and no significant obligation
remains. The Company sells the majority of its products with warranties ranging from 3 to 24
months. The Company records the estimated warranty costs during the quarter the revenue is
recognized. Historically, warranty-related costs and related accruals have not been significant.
The Company offers a general right of return on the MicroScribe product line for 14 days after
purchase. The Company recognizes revenue at the time of shipment of a MicroScribe digitizer and
provides an accrual for potential returns based on historical experience. The Company offers no
other general right of return on its 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. 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 The Company enters 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, the Company allocates revenue to each element based on the
relative fair value of each of the elements. The price charged when the element is sold separately
generally determines the fair value or VSOE. For arrangements where VSOE of fair value exists only
for the undelivered elements, the Company defers the full fair value of the undelivered elements
and recognizes the difference between the total arrangement fee and the amount deferred for the
undelivered items as revenue, assuming all other criteria for revenue recognition have been met.
The Companys revenue recognition policies are significant because the Companys revenues are
a key component of its results of operations. In addition, the Companys revenue recognition
determines the timing of certain expenses, such as commissions and royalties.
Stock-based Compensation
On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of, and accounted for stock-based
compensation in accordance with, the Financial Accounting Standards Boards (FASB) Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123revised 2004 (SFAS No. 123R), Share-Based Payment which
replaced Statement of Financial Accounting
7
Standards No. 123 (SFAS No. 123), Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 (APB 25),
Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Under the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No.
123R, 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. The valuation provisions of SFAS No. 123R apply to new grants and to
grants that were outstanding as of the effective date and are subsequently modified. Estimated
compensation for grants that were outstanding as of the effective date will be recognized over the
remaining service period using the compensation cost estimated for the SFAS No. 123 pro forma
disclosures.
The Company elected the modified-prospective method, under which prior periods are not revised
for comparative purposes. The adoption of SFAS No. 123R had a material impact on the Companys
consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in the quarter ended March
31, 2006. See Note 9 for further information regarding the Companys stock-based compensation
assumptions and expenses, including pro forma disclosures as if the Company had recorded
stock-based compensation expense for prior periods.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
No significant items.
2. INVENTORIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Raw materials and subassemblies |
|
$ |
2,318 |
|
|
$ |
2,369 |
|
Work in process |
|
|
85 |
|
|
|
55 |
|
Finished goods |
|
|
258 |
|
|
|
231 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
2,661 |
|
|
$ |
2,655 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Computer equipment and purchased software |
|
$ |
3,036 |
|
|
$ |
2,974 |
|
Machinery and equipment |
|
|
2,364 |
|
|
|
2,235 |
|
Furniture and fixtures |
|
|
1,249 |
|
|
|
1,229 |
|
Leasehold improvements |
|
|
805 |
|
|
|
798 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
7,454 |
|
|
|
7,236 |
|
Less accumulated depreciation |
|
|
(6,061 |
) |
|
|
(5,870 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
$ |
1,393 |
|
|
$ |
1,366 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
4. INTANGIBLES AND OTHER ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Patents and technology |
|
$ |
11,758 |
|
|
$ |
11,478 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other assets |
|
|
83 |
|
|
|
83 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross intangibles and other assets |
|
|
11,841 |
|
|
|
11,561 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated amortization of patents and technology |
|
|
(4,985 |
) |
|
|
(4,774 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangibles and other assets, net |
|
$ |
6,856 |
|
|
$ |
6,787 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The estimated annual amortization expense for intangible assets as of March 31, 2006 is
$822,000 in 2006, $1.1 million in 2007, $762,000 in 2008, $660,000 in 2009, $604,000 in 2010, and
$3.2 million thereafter.
5. COMPONENTS OF OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES AND DEFERRED REVENUE AND CUSTOMER ADVANCES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Accrued legal |
|
$ |
308 |
|
|
$ |
307 |
|
Other current liabilities |
|
|
1,495 |
|
|
|
1,297 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other current liabilities |
|
$ |
1,803 |
|
|
$ |
1,604 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred revenue |
|
$ |
1,999 |
|
|
$ |
2,702 |
|
Customer advances |
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current deferred revenue and customer advances |
|
$ |
2,038 |
|
|
$ |
2,741 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6. LONG-TERM DEBT
The components of long-term debt are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
5% Senior Subordinated Convertible Debenture |
|
$ |
17,648 |
|
|
$ |
17,490 |
|
Other |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
17,651 |
|
|
|
17,495 |
|
Current portion |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total long-term debt |
|
$ |
17,648 |
|
|
$ |
17,490 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5% Senior Subordinated Convertible Debenture (5% Convertible Debenture) On December 23,
2004, the Company issued an aggregate principal amount of $20.0 million of 5% Convertible
Debentures. The 5% Convertible Debentures will mature on December 22, 2009. The amount payable at
maturity of each 5% Convertible Debenture is the initial principal plus all accrued but unpaid
interest thereon, to the extent such principal amount and interest have not been converted into
common shares or previously paid in cash. The Company cannot prepay the 5% Convertible Debenture
except as described below in Mandatory Conversion and Mandatory Redemption of 5% Convertible
Debentures at the Companys Option. Interest accrues daily on the principal amount of the 5%
Convertible Debenture at a rate of 5% per year and is payable on the last day of each calendar
quarter. Interest will cease to accrue on that
portion
9
of the 5% Convertible Debenture that is converted or paid, including pursuant to
conversion right or redemption. The holder of a 5% Convertible Debenture has the right to convert
the outstanding principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest, in whole or in part, into the
Companys common shares at a price of $7.0265 per common share, the Conversion Price. In the event
of a change of control, a holder may require the Company to redeem all or a portion of their 5%
Convertible Debenture. This is referred to as the Put Option. The redeemed portion shall be
redeemed at a price equal to the redeemed amount multiplied by (a) 105% of the principal amount of
the 5% Convertible Debenture if the change of control occurs on or prior to December 23, 2006 or
(b) 100% of the principal amount of the 5% Convertible Debenture if the change of control occurs
after December 23, 2006. The Conversion Price will be reduced in certain instances where shares
of common stock are sold or deemed to be sold at a price less than the applicable Conversion Price,
including the issuance of certain options, the issuance of convertible securities, or the change in
exercise price or rate of conversion for options or convertible securities. The Conversion Price
will be proportionately adjusted if the Company subdivides (by stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization, or otherwise) or combines (by combination, reverse stock split, or otherwise) one
or more classes of its common stock. So long as any 5% Convertible Debentures are outstanding,
the Company will not, nor will the Company permit any of its subsidiaries to directly or indirectly
incur or guarantee, assume or suffer to exist, any indebtedness other than permitted indebtedness
under the 5% Convertible Debenture agreement. If an event of default occurs, and is continuing with
respect to any of the Companys 5% Convertible Debentures, the holder may, at its option, require
the Company to redeem all or a portion of the 5% Convertible Debenture.
Mandatory Conversion and Mandatory Redemption of 5% Convertible Debentures at the Companys
Option If the daily volume-weighted average price of the Companys common shares is at or above
200% of the Conversion Price for at least 20 consecutive trading days and certain other conditions
are met, the Company has the right to (i) require the holder of a 5% Convertible Debenture to
convert the 5% Convertible Debenture in whole, including interest, into shares of the Companys
common stock at a price of $7.0265 per common share, as may be adjusted under the debenture, as set
forth and subject to the conditions in the 5% Convertible Debenture, or (ii) redeem the 5%
Convertible Debenture. If the Company makes either of the foregoing elections with respect to any
5% Convertible Debenture, the Company must make the same election with respect to all 5%
Convertible Debentures.
Warrants On December 23, 2004, in connection with the issuance of the 5% Convertible
Debentures, the Company issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 426,951 shares of its common
stock at an exercise price of $7.0265. The warrants may be exercised at any time prior to 5:00 p.m.
Eastern time, on December 23, 2009. Any warrants not exercised prior to such time will expire.
The exercise price will be reduced in certain instances where shares of common stock are sold or
deemed to be sold at a price less than the applicable exercise price, including the issuance of
certain options, the issuance of convertible securities, or the change in exercise price or rate of
conversion for option or convertible securities. The exercise price will be proportionately
adjusted if the Company subdivides (by stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, or otherwise)
or combines (by combination, reverse stock split, or otherwise) one or more classes of its common
stock.
Registration Rights On April 18, 2005, the Companys registration statement relating to the
5% Convertible Debentures, and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the
debentures, was declared effective by the SEC. The Company expects to keep this registration
statement effective until the earlier of (i) such time as all of the shares covered by the
prospectus have been disposed of pursuant to and in accordance with the registration statement, or
(ii) the date on which the shares may be sold pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act.
The Company incurred approximately $1.3 million in issuance costs and other expenses in
connection with the offering. This amount has been deferred and is being amortized to interest
expense over the term of the 5% Convertible Debenture. Additionally, the Company evaluated the
various instruments included in the agreements entered into on December 22, 2004 and allocated the
relative fair values to be as follows: warrants $1.7 million, Put Option $0.1 million,
Registration Rights $0.1 million, issuance costs $1.3 million, 5% Convertible Debenture $16.8
million. The 5% Convertible Debentures will be accreted to $20.0 million over their five-year
life, resulting in additional interest expense. The value of the warrants has been included in
Stockholders Deficit; the value of the Put Option and Registration Rights have been recorded as a
liability and are subject to future value adjustments; and the value of the 5% Convertible
Debentures has been recorded as long-term debt.
Annual maturities of long-term debt at March 31, 2006 are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
$ |
3 |
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
20,003 |
|
|
|
|
|
10
7. LONG-TERM DEFERRED REVENUE
At March 31, 2006, long-term deferred revenue included payments of approximately $22.1 million
of compulsory license fees and interest from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Sony Computer
Entertainment of America Inc. (collectively, Sony Computer Entertainment), pursuant to Court
rulings on January 10 and February 9, 2005. Due to the contingent nature of the court-order
payments made by Sony Computer Entertainment, the Company will not record any revenue or interest
associated with these payments as revenue or income until such time as the contingency lapses.
8. LONG-TERM CUSTOMER ADVANCE FROM MICROSOFT
On July 25, 2003, the Company contemporaneously executed a series of agreements with Microsoft
Corporation (Microsoft) that (1) settled the Companys lawsuit against Microsoft, (2) granted
Microsoft a worldwide royalty-free, irrevocable license to the Companys portfolio of patents (the
License Agreement) in exchange for a payment of $19.9 million, (3) provided Microsoft with
sublicense rights to pursue certain license arrangements directly with third parties including Sony
Computer Entertainment which, if consummated, would result in payments to the Company (the
Sublicense Rights), and conveyed to Microsoft the right to a payment of cash in the event of a
settlement within certain parameters of the Companys patent litigation against Sony Computer
Entertainment of America Inc. and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (the Participation Rights) in
exchange for a payment of $0.1 million, (4) issued Microsoft shares of the Companys Series A
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock (Series A Preferred Stock) for a payment of $6.0 million,
and (5) granted the Company the right to sell up to $9.0 million of debentures to Microsoft under
the terms and conditions established in newly authorized 7% Senior Redeemable Convertible
Debentures (7% Debentures) with annual draw down rights over a 48-month period. The sublicense
rights provided to Microsoft to contract directly with Sony Computer Entertainment have now
expired. The Company has, to date, not sold any 7% Debentures, of which $6 million remain available
for sale.
Under these agreements, in the event of a settlement of the Sony Computer Entertainment
litigation under certain terms, the Company will be required to make a cash payment to Microsoft of
(i) an amount to be determined based on the settlement proceeds, and (ii) any funds received from
Microsoft under the 7% Debentures.
In the event of a settlement of the Sony Computer Entertainment litigation, the Company will
realize and retain net cash proceeds received from Sony Computer Entertainment only to the extent
that settlement proceeds exceed the amounts due Microsoft for its Participation Rights and any
outstanding 7% Debentures and interest as specified above. Under certain circumstances related to a
Company initiated settlement with Sony Computer Entertainment, the Company would be obligated to
pay Microsoft a minimum of $15.0 million. In the event of an unfavorable judicial resolution or a
dismissal or withdrawal by the Company of the lawsuit meeting certain conditions, the Company would
not be required to make any payments to Microsoft except pursuant to the payment provisions
relating to any outstanding 7% Debentures.
9. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Stock Options
The Companys stock option program is a long-term retention program that is intended to
attract, retain, and provide incentives for talented employees, officers and directors, and to
align stockholder and employee interests. The Company considers its option programs critical to its
operation and productivity; essentially all of its employees participate. Under the Companys stock
option plans, the Company may grant options to purchase up to 16,338,095 shares of its common stock
to employees, directors, and consultants at prices not less than the fair market value on the date
of grant for incentive stock options and not less than 85% of fair market value on the date of
grant for nonstatutory stock options. These options generally vest over 4 years and expire 10 years
from the date of grant. At March 31, 2006, 2,577,102 stock options were available for grant and
7,724,588 stock options were outstanding.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company has an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP). Under the ESPP, eligible employees
may purchase common stock through payroll deductions at a purchase price of 85% of the lower of the
fair market value of the Companys stock at the beginning of the offering period or the purchase
date. Participants may not purchase more than
11
2,000 shares in a six-month offering period or stock
having a value greater than $25,000 in any calendar year as measured at the beginning of the
offering period. A total of 500,000 shares of common stock are reserved for the issuance under the
ESPP plus an automatic annual increase on January 1, 2001 and on each January 1 thereafter through
January 1, 2010 by an amount equal to the lesser of 500,000 shares per year or a number of shares
determined by the Board of Directors. As of March 31, 2006, 272,476 shares had been purchased under
the plan. Under SFAS 123R, the ESPP is considered a compensatory plan and the Company is required
to recognize compensation cost for grants made under the ESPP.
General Stock Option Information
The following table sets forth the summary of option activity under our stock option program
for the three months ended March 31, 2006:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
Number |
|
|
Average |
|
|
|
of Shares |
|
|
Exercise Price |
|
Outstanding, December 31, 2005 (4,595,431 exercisable at a weighted
average price of $8.03 per share) |
|
|
7,340,796 |
|
|
$ |
7.24 |
|
Granted (weighted average fair value of $4.32 per share) |
|
|
814,503 |
|
|
|
6.92 |
|
Exercised |
|
|
(148,220 |
) |
|
|
2.36 |
|
Canceled |
|
|
(282,491 |
) |
|
|
7.71 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding, March 31, 2006 (4,800,763 exercisable at a weighted
average price of $7.92 per share) |
|
|
7,724,588 |
|
|
$ |
7.29 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock-based Compensation
On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123R. See Note 1 for a
description of the Companys adoption of SFAS No. 123R.
Valuation and amortization method - The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing
model (Black-Scholes model), straight-line single-option approach to determine the fair value of
stock options and employee stock purchase plan 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. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R, the Company used the Black-Scholes model,
multiple-option approach to determine the fair value of stock options and employee stock purchase
plan shares and amortization of resulting stock-based compensation amounts included in its pro
forma disclosures of SFAS No. 123. The determination of the fair value of stock-based payment
awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by the Companys 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, the Companys expected stock
price volatility over the term of the awards, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends.
Expected term - The Company estimates the expected term of options granted by using the
simplified method as prescribed by SAB 107. The expected term of employee stock purchase plan
shares is the length of the offering period.
Expected volatility - The Company estimates the volatility of its common stock taking into
consideration its historical stock price movement, the volatility of stock prices of companies of
similar size with similar businesses to it, if any, and its expected future stock price trends
based on known or anticipated events.
Risk-free interest rate - The Company bases the risk-free interest rate that it uses 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 - The Company does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the
foreseeable future and therefore uses an expected dividend yield of zero in the option-pricing
model.
Forfeitures - The Company is required to estimate future forfeitures at the time of grant and
revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The
Company uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and record stock-based
compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest.
12
The assumptions used to value option grants and shares under the employee stock purchase plan
are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
March 31, |
|
March 31, |
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
Expected term (in years) |
|
|
6.25 |
|
|
|
2.5 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
Volatility |
|
|
62 |
% |
|
|
67 |
% |
|
|
34 |
% |
|
|
70 |
% |
Interest rate |
|
|
4.8 |
% |
|
|
4.1 |
% |
|
|
4.6 |
% |
|
|
2.1 |
% |
Dividend yield |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stock-based compensation recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of
operations is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
March 31, 2006 |
|
Income Statement Classifications |
|
(In thousands) |
|
Cost of product sales |
|
$ |
19 |
|
Sales and marketing |
|
|
286 |
|
Research and development |
|
|
129 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
289 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
723 |
|
|
|
|
|
SFAS No. 123R requires the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation
expense to be reported as a financing cash flow, rather than as an operating cash flow. This
requirement will reduce net operating cash flows and increase net financing cash flows in periods
after adoption. For the three months ended March 31, 2006 the Company recorded $16,000 of excess
tax benefits from stock-based compensation. Total cash flow under the new accounting rules is the
same as under the old accounting rules.
As of March 31, 2006, there was $4.4 million of unrecognized compensation cost, adjusted for
estimated forfeitures, related to non-vested stock options granted to the Companys employees and
directors. Total unrecognized compensation cost will be adjusted for future changes in estimated
forfeitures.
The following table sets forth the pro forma amounts of net income and net income per share,
for the three months ended March 31, 2005, that would have resulted if the Company had accounted
for its employee stock plans under the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
March 31, 2005 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Net loss as reported |
|
$ |
(3,133 |
) |
Add: Stock-based employee compensation included in
reported net loss, net of related tax effects |
|
|
2 |
|
Less: Stock-based compensation expense determined
using fair value method, net of tax |
|
|
(1,207 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Net loss pro forma |
|
$ |
(4,338 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted loss per common share as reported |
|
$ |
(0.13 |
) |
Basic and diluted loss per share pro forma |
|
$ |
(0.18 |
) |
13
10. LITIGATION SETTLEMENT
On September 24, 2004, the Company filed in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of California a complaint for patent infringement against Electro Source LLC (Electro
Source). On February 28, 2006, the Company announced that it had settled its legal differences
with Electro Source and the Company and Electro Source agreed to dismiss all claims and
counterclaims relating to this matter. In addition to the Confidential Settlement Agreement,
Electro Source entered into a worldwide license to the Companys patents for vibro-tactile devices
in the consumer gaming peripheral field of use. Electro Source will make royalty payments to the
Company based on sales by Electro Source of spinning mass vibro-tactile gamepads, steering wheels,
and other game controllers for dedicated gaming consoles, such as the Sony PlayStation and
PlayStation 2, the Nintendo GameCube, and the Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360. Both companies also
have agreed to explore the possibility of working together in technology or engineering related
assignments. In March 2006, Electro Source paid the Company $650,000. The Company is entitled to be
paid a minimum amount of $1.0 million in future periods. The Company and Electro Source each
assumed financial responsibility for their respective legal costs with respect to the lawsuit
between the Company and Electro Source.
11. RESTRUCTURING COSTS
The Company accounts for restructuring costs in accordance with SFAS No. 146, Accounting for
Costs Associated with Exit of Disposal Activities. There were no restructuring costs incurred in
the three months ended March 31, 2006. Restructuring costs of $185,000 incurred in the three months
ended March 31, 2005 consisted of severance benefits paid as a result of a reduction in workforce.
Employees from manufacturing, sales and marketing, research and development, and general and
administrative were included in the 2005 reduction in force. The Company did not incur any
additional charges related to the aforementioned reduction in force and management does not
anticipate any further costs in future periods related to this reduction in force.
Restructuring costs for the three months ended March 31, 2005 were as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
March 31, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restructuring |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restructuring |
|
|
costs expensed |
|
|
Restructuring |
|
|
Restructuring |
|
|
|
costs unpaid as |
|
|
in the three |
|
|
costs paid |
|
|
costs unpaid as |
|
|
|
of December |
|
|
months ended |
|
|
through |
|
|
of |
|
|
|
31, 2004 |
|
|
March 31, 2005 |
|
|
March 31, 2005 |
|
|
March 31, 2005 |
|
Nature of Restructuring Costs: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reduction in Force |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
185 |
|
|
$ |
185 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12. INCOME TAXES
For the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company recorded provisions for income
taxes of $102,000 and $65,000, yielding effective tax rates of (3.6)% and (2.1)%, respectively.
Although the Company incurred pre-tax losses, sums received from Sony Computer Entertainment and
interest thereon included in long-term deferred revenue, approximating $5.3 million and $7.0
million for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, created federal and state
alternative minimum taxable income.
At December 31, 2005, the Company has federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of
$75.9 million and $27.0 million, respectively, expiring from 2011 through 2025 and from 2007
through 2015, respectively.
Amongst the net operating loss carryforwards, approximately $4.0 million and $2.0 million of
federal and state net operating loss carryforwards were generated prior to 1999. These losses can
be used to offset future taxable income.
Usage is limited to approximately $16.4 million annually, due to an ownership change that
occurred during 1999. Approximately $10.6 million of federal and state net operating loss
carryforwards related to pre-acquisition losses from acquired subsidiaries can be used to offset
future taxable income. Usage of pre-acquisition losses will be limited to approximately $1.1
million annually. During 2005, the Company evaluated ownership changes from 1999 to 2004 and
determined that there were no further limitations on the Companys net operating loss
carryforwards.
14
Undistributed earnings of the Companys foreign subsidiaries are considered to be indefinitely
reinvested and accordingly, no provision for federal and state income taxes has been provided
thereon. Upon distribution of those earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company
would be subject to both U.S. income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits) and
withholding taxes payable to various foreign countries.
13. NET LOSS PER SHARE
The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used in computing basic
and diluted net loss per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Numerator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(2,906 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,133 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares used in computation, basic and diluted
(weighted average common shares outstanding) |
|
|
24,419 |
|
|
|
23,663 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.12 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.13 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the above-mentioned periods, the Company had securities outstanding that could potentially
dilute basic earnings per share in the future, but were excluded from the computation of diluted
net loss per share in the periods presented since their effect would have been anti-dilutive.
These outstanding securities consisted of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
Outstanding stock options |
|
|
7,724,588 |
|
|
|
7,911,063 |
|
Warrants |
|
|
778,494 |
|
|
|
778,494 |
|
5% Senior Subordinated Convertible Debentures |
|
|
2,846,363 |
|
|
|
2,846,363 |
|
14. COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
The following table sets forth the components of comprehensive loss (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(2,906 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,133 |
) |
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive loss |
|
$ |
(2,906 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,134 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15
15. SEGMENT INFORMATION, OPERATIONS BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA, AND SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
The Company develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of hardware and
software technologies that let users interact with digital devices using their sense of touch. The
Company focuses on five application areas gaming, mobility, 3D, touch interface, and medical. The
Company manages these application areas under two operating and reportable segments: 1) Immersion
Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial, and 2) Immersion Medical. The Company determines its
reporting segments in accordance with criteria outlined in SFAS No. 131, Disclosures about
Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. The gaming, mobility, 3D, and touch interface
areas do not individually meet the criteria for segment reporting as set out in SFAS No. 131.
The Companys chief operating decision maker (CODM) is the Chief Executive Officer. The
CODM allocates resources to and assesses the performance of each operating segment using
information about its revenue and operating profit before interest and taxes. A description of the
types of products and services provided by each operating segment is as follows:
Immersion Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial develops and markets touch feedback
technologies that enable software and hardware developers to enhance realism and usability in their
computing, entertainment, and industrial applications. Immersion Medical develops, manufactures,
and markets medical training simulators that recreate realistic healthcare environments.
The following tables display information about our reportable segments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Immersion Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial |
|
$ |
3,448 |
|
|
$ |
3,650 |
|
Immersion Medical |
|
|
2,601 |
|
|
|
2,218 |
|
Intersegment eliminations |
|
|
(17 |
) |
|
|
(96 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
6,032 |
|
|
$ |
5,772 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Loss: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Immersion Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial |
|
$ |
(2,638 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,384 |
) |
Immersion Medical |
|
|
(278 |
) |
|
|
(707 |
) |
Intersegment eliminations |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
(42 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
(2,906 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,133 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Included in net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2005 are restructuring costs of
$59,000 for the Immersion Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial segment and $126,000 for the
Immersion Medical segment. No further costs are expected to be incurred with respect to the
restructuring.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Total Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Immersion Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial |
|
$ |
62,817 |
|
|
$ |
60,457 |
|
Immersion Medical |
|
|
5,695 |
|
|
|
6,166 |
|
Intersegment eliminations |
|
|
(21,802 |
) |
|
|
(21,863 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
46,710 |
|
|
$ |
44,760 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16
Intersegment eliminations represent eliminations for intercompany sales and cost of sales and
intercompany receivables and payables between Immersion Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial
and Immersion Medical segments.
The Company operates primarily in the United States and in Canada where it operates through
its wholly owned subsidiary, Immersion Canada, Inc. Segment assets and expenses relating to the
Companys corporate operations are not allocated but are included in Immersion Computing,
Entertainment, and Industrial as that is how they are considered for management evaluation
purposes. As a result, the segment information may not be indicative of the financial position or
results of operations that would have been achieved had these segments operated as unaffiliated
entities. Management measures the performance of each segment based on several metrics, including
net loss. These results are used, in part, to evaluate the performance of, and allocate resources
to, each of the segments.
Revenue by Product Lines
Information regarding revenue from external customers by product lines is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consumer, Computing, and Entertainment |
|
$ |
1,408 |
|
|
$ |
1,825 |
|
3D |
|
|
1,177 |
|
|
|
1,140 |
|
Touch Interface |
|
|
846 |
|
|
|
616 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal Immersion Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial |
|
|
3,431 |
|
|
|
3,581 |
|
Immersion Medical |
|
|
2,601 |
|
|
|
2,191 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
6,032 |
|
|
$ |
5,772 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue by Region
The following is a summary of revenues by geographic areas. Revenues are broken out
geographically by the ship-to location of the customer. Geographic revenue as a percentage of
total revenue was as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
North America |
|
|
74 |
% |
|
|
78 |
% |
Europe |
|
|
15 |
% |
|
|
14 |
% |
Far East |
|
|
10 |
% |
|
|
5 |
% |
Rest of the world |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company derived 72% and 74% of its total revenues from the United States for the three
months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Revenues from other countries represented less
than 10% individually for the periods presented.
17
The majority of the Companys long-lived assets are located in the United States. Long-lived
assets include net property and equipment and long-term investments and other assets. Long-lived
assets that were outside the United States constituted less than 10% of the total at March 31, 2006
and December 31, 2005.
Significant Customers
Customers comprising 10% or greater of the Companys net revenues are summarized as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Customer A |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
15 |
% |
Customer B |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
19 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
* |
|
|
|
34 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Revenue derived from customer represented less than 10% for the period. |
Of the significant customers noted above, Customer B accounted for 19% of the Companys
accounts receivable at December 31, 2005. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of the
Companys accounts receivable at March 31, 2006 or December 31, 2005.
16. CONTINGENCIES
In re Immersion Corporation
The Company is involved in legal proceedings relating to a class action lawsuit filed on
November 9, 2001, In re Immersion Corporation Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation, No.
Civ. 01-9975 (S.D.N.Y.), related to In re Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation, No. 21 MC
92 (S.D.N.Y.). The named defendants are the Company and three of its current or former officers or
directors (the Immersion Defendants), and certain underwriters of the Companys November 12, 1999
initial public offering (IPO). Subsequently, two of the individual defendants stipulated to a
dismissal without prejudice.
The operative amended complaint is brought on purported behalf of all persons who purchased
the common stock of the Company from the date of the IPO through December 6, 2000. It alleges
liability under Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, on the grounds that the registration statement for the IPO did
not disclose that: (1) the underwriters agreed to allow certain customers to purchase shares in the
IPO in exchange for excess commissions to be paid to the underwriters; and (2) the underwriters
arranged for certain customers to purchase additional shares in the aftermarket at predetermined
prices. The complaint
also appears to allege that false or misleading analyst reports were issued. The complaint
does not claim any specific amount of damages.
Similar allegations were made in other lawsuits challenging over 300 other initial public
offerings and follow-on offerings conducted in 1999 and 2000. The cases were consolidated for
pretrial purposes. On February 19, 2003, the Court ruled on all defendants motions to dismiss. The
motion was denied as to claims under the Securities Act of 1933 in the case involving Immersion, as
well as in all other cases (except for 10 cases). The motion was denied as to the claim under
Section 10(b) as to the Company, on the basis that the complaint alleged that the Company had made
acquisition(s) following the IPO. The motion was granted as to the claim under Section 10(b), but
denied as to the claim under Section 20(a), as to the remaining individual defendant.
The Company and most of the issuer defendants have settled with the plaintiffs. In this
settlement, plaintiffs have dismissed and released all claims against the Immersion Defendants, in
exchange for a contingent payment by the insurance companies collectively responsible for insuring
the issuers in all of the IPO cases, and for the assignment or surrender of certain claims the
Company may have against the underwriters. The Immersion Defendants will not be required to make
any cash payments in the settlement, unless the pro rata amount paid by the insurers in the
settlement exceeds the amount of the insurance coverage, a circumstance which the Company believes
is remote. The settlement will require approval of the Court, which cannot be assured, after class
members are given the opportunity to object to the settlement or opt out of the settlement. The
Court took the matter under submission of whether the settlement should be approved after a hearing
on April 24, 2006.
18
Immersion Corporation vs. Microsoft Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Sony
Computer Entertainment of America, Inc.
On February 11, 2002, the Company filed a complaint against Microsoft Corporation, Sony
Computer Entertainment, Inc., and Sony Computer Entertainment of America, Inc. in the U.S. District
Court for the Northern District Court of California alleging infringement of U.S. Patent Nos.
5,889,672 and 6,275,213. The case was assigned to United States District Judge Claudia Wilken. On
April 4, 2002, Sony Computer Entertainment and Microsoft answered the complaint by denying the
material allegations and alleging counterclaims seeking a judicial declaration that the asserted
patents were invalid, unenforceable, or not infringed. Under the counterclaims, the defendants were
also seeking damages for attorneys fees. On October 8, 2002, the Company filed an amended
complaint, withdrawing the claim under the U.S. Patent No. 5,889,672 and adding claims under a new
patent, U.S. Patent No. 6,424,333.
On July 28, 2003, the Company announced that it had settled its legal differences with
Microsoft, and both parties agreed to dismiss all claims and counterclaims relating to this matter
as well as assume financial responsibility for their respective legal costs with respect to the
lawsuit between the Company and Microsoft.
On August 16, 2004, the trial against Sony Computer Entertainment commenced. On September 21,
2004, the jury returned its verdict in favor of the Company. The jury found all the asserted claims
of the patents valid and infringed. The jury awarded the Company damages in the amount of $82.0
million. On January 10, 2005, the Court awarded the Company prejudgment interest on the damages the
jury awarded at the applicable prime rate. The Court further ordered Sony Computer Entertainment to
pay the Company a compulsory license fee at the rate of 1.37%, the ratio of the verdict amount to
the amount of sales of infringing products, effective as of July 1, 2004 and through the date of
Judgment. On February 9, 2005, the Court ordered that Sony Computer Entertainment provide the
Company with sales data 15 days after the end of each quarter and clarifying that Sony Computer
Entertainment shall make the ordered payment 45 days after the end of the applicable quarter. Sony
Computer Entertainment has made quarterly payments to the Company pursuant to the Courts orders.
Although the Company has received payments, the Company may be required to return them and any
future payments based on the outcome of the appeals process.
On February 9, 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to appeal the Courts January 10, 2005 order, and on
February 10, 2005 Sony Computer Entertainment filed an Amended Notice of Appeal to include an
appeal from the Courts February 9, 2005 order.
On January 5 and 6, 2005, the Court held a bench trial on Sony Computer Entertainments
remaining allegations that the 333 patent was not enforceable due to alleged inequitable conduct.
On March 24, 2005, the Court resolved this issue, entering a written order finding in favor of the
Company.
On March 24, 2005, Judge Wilken also entered judgment in the Companys favor and awarded the
Company $82.0 million in past damages, and pre-judgment interest in the amount of $8.7 million, for
a total of $90.7 million. The Company was also awarded certain court costs. Court costs do not
include attorneys fees. Additionally, the Court issued a permanent injunction against the
manufacture, use, sale, or import into the United States of the infringing Sony Computer
Entertainment PlayStation system consisting of the PlayStation consoles, Dual Shock controllers,
and the 47 games found by the jury to infringe the Companys patents. The Court stayed the
permanent injunction pending appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
The Court further ordered Sony Computer Entertainment to pay a compulsory license fee at the rate
of 1.37% for the duration of the stay of the permanent injunction at the same rate and conditions
as previously awarded in its interim January 10, 2005 and February 9, 2005 Orders. On April 7, 2005
pursuant to a stipulation of the parties, the Court entered an Amended Judgment to clarify that the
Judgment in favor of the Company and against Sony Computer Entertainment also encompassed Sony
Computer Entertainments counterclaims for declaratory relief on invalidity and unenforceability,
as well as non-infringement.
On April 27, 2005, the Court granted Sony Computer Entertainments request to approve a
supersedeas bond, secured by a cash deposit with the Court in the amount of $102.5 million, to
obtain a stay of enforcement of the Courts Amended Judgment pending appeal. On May 17, 2005, the
Court issued a minute order stating that in lieu of the supersedeas bond the Court would allow Sony
Computer Entertainment to place the funds on deposit with the Court in an escrow account subject to
acceptable escrow instructions. The parties have negotiated an agreement pursuant to which the
funds on deposit with the Court may be deposited in an escrow account at JP Morgan Chase. Sony
Computer Entertainment also filed further motions seeking judgment as a matter of a law (JMOL) or
for a new trial, and a motion for a stay of an accounting and execution of the Judgment. On May 17,
2005, Judge Wilken denied these motions.
19
On June 16, 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a Notice of Appeal from the District Court
Judgment to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The appeals of the January
and February orders regarding the compulsory license have been consolidated with the appeal of the
Judgment. Sony Computer Entertainments Opening Brief was filed on October 21, 2005; the Company
filed an Opposition Brief on December 5, 2005. Due to the cross appeal by ISLLC (see below), the
Federal Circuit allowed the Company to file a Substitute Opposition Brief on February 17, 2006
responding to the briefs filed by both Sony Computer Entertainment and ISLLC. On March 15, 2006,
the Company filed a further substitute brief in response to a Federal Circuit order clarifying the
maximum number of words the Company was allowed given ISLLCs cross appeal. Sony Computer
Entertainment filed its Reply Brief on April 27, 2006, and ISLLCs Reply Brief is expected to be
filed before the end of May 2006.
On July 21, 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a motion in the District Court before
Judge Wilken seeking relief from the final judgment under Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure on the grounds of alleged fraud and newly discovered evidence of purported prior art,
which Sony Computer Entertainment contends the Company concealed and withheld attributable to Mr.
Craig Thorner, a named inventor on three patents that Sony Computer Entertainment urged as a basis
for patent invalidity during the trial. A hearing on this motion was held before Judge Wilken on
January 20, 2006. On March 8, 2006, the Court entered an Order which denied Sony Computer
Entertainments motion pursuant to Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in its
entirety. On April 7, 2006, Sony filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit to appeal this ruling.
On May 17, 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a Request for Inter Partes Reexamination of
the 333 Patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). On May 19, 2005, Sony
Computer Entertainment filed a similar Request for reexamination of the 213 Patent. On July 6,
2005, the Company filed a Petition to dismiss, stay, or alternatively to suspend both of the
requests for reexamination, based at least on the grounds that a final judgment has already been
entered by a United States district court, and that the PTOs current inter partes reexamination
procedures deny due process of law. The PTO denied the first petition, and the Company filed a
second petition on September 9, 2005. On November 17, 2005, the PTO granted the Companys petition,
and suspended the inter partes reexaminations until such time as the parallel court proceedings
warrant termination or resumption of the PTO examination and prosecution proceedings. On December
13, 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a third petition requesting permission to file an
additional inter partes reexamination on the claims of the 333 and 213 Patents for which
reexamination was not requested in Sony Computer Entertainments original requests for
reexamination. The PTO dismissed this third petition on March 22, 2006. On December 13, 2005, Sony
Computer Entertainment also filed ex parte reexamination requests on a number of claims of the 213
and 333 patents, including all of the claims litigated in the District Court action, in addition
to others. On March 13, 2006, the PTO granted the ex parte reexam request only with respect to the
requested claims that were not litigated. On April 11, 2006, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a
fourth petition to the PTO requesting that the currently suspended inter partes proceeding and
the ex parte proceeding be merged into a single proceeding. The Company filed its opposition to
this petition on May 3, 2006, and the PTO has not yet issued a decision.
On December 13, 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a lawsuit against the PTO in the U.S.
District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia claiming that the PTO erred in suspending the
inter partes reexamination on November 17, 2005. The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge
Ellis. The Company moved to intervene in the lawsuit, and on March 31, 2006, the Court granted the
Companys motion to intervene of right. The Court entered a scheduling order which precluded
discovery and set an expedited briefing schedule for motions for summary judgment. Briefing with
regard to the summary judgment motions by all parties is complete, and the hearing before Judge
Ellis occurred on April 21, 2006. The Court has not yet ruled on the parties motions.
Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the Company cannot accurately predict
how the Court of Appeals will decide the appeal. If Sony Computer Entertainment ultimately were
successful on appeal or in the reexamination process, the Judgment may be put at risk, assets
relating to the patents in the lawsuit may be impaired, and Sony Computer Entertainment may seek
additional relief, such as attorneys fees.
In the event the Company settles its lawsuit with Sony Computer Entertainment, the Company
will be obligated to pay certain sums to Microsoft as described in Note 8 to the condensed
consolidated financial statements.
The Company anticipates that the litigation will continue to be costly, and there can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to recover the costs it incurs in connection with the
litigation. The Company expenses litigation costs as incurred, and only accrues for costs that have
been incurred but not paid to the vendor as of the financial statement date. The litigation has
diverted, and is likely to continue to divert, the efforts and attention of some of the Companys
key management and personnel. As a result, until such time as it is resolved, the litigation could
adversely affect the Companys business. Further, any unfavorable outcome could adversely affect
the Companys business.
20
Internet Services LLC Litigation
On October 20, 2004, ISLLC, the Companys licensee and the cross-claim defendant against whom
Sony Computer Entertainment had filed a claim seeking declaratory relief, filed claims against the
Company in its lawsuit against Sony Computer Entertainment, alleging that the Company breached a
contract with ISLLC by suing Sony Computer Entertainment for patent infringement relating to
haptically-enabled software whose topics or images are allegedly age-restricted, for judicial
apportionment of damages awarded by the jury between ISLLC and the Company, and for a judicial
declaration with respect to ISLLCs rights and duties under agreements with the Company. On
December 29, 2004, the Court issued an order dismissing ISLLCs claims against Sony Computer
Entertainment with prejudice and dismissing ISLLCs claims against the Company without prejudice to
ISLLC filing a new complaint if it can do so in good faith without contradicting, or repeating the
deficiency of, its complaint.
On January 12, 2005, ISLLC filed Amended Cross-Claims and Counterclaims against the Company
that contained similar claims. ISLLC also realleged counterclaims against Sony Computer
Entertainment. On January 28, 2005, the Company filed a motion to dismiss ISLLCs Amended
Cross-Claims and a motion to strike ISLLCs Counterclaims against Sony Computer Entertainment. On
March 24, 2005 the Court issued an order dismissing ISLLCs claims with prejudice as to ISLLCs
claim seeking a declaratory judgment that it is an exclusive licensee under the 213 and 333
patents and as to ISLLCs claim seeking judicial apportionment of the damages verdict in the Sony
Computer Entertainment case. The Courts order further dismissed ISLLCs claims without prejudice
as to ISLLCs breach of contract and unjust enrichment claims.
ISLLC filed a notice of appeal of those orders with the United States Court of Appeals for the
Federal Circuit on April 18, 2005. ISLLCs appeal has been consolidated with Sony Computer
Entertainments appeal. ISLLC filed its Opening Brief in December 2005. As noted above, the United
States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit allowed the Company to file a Substitute Opposition
Brief on March 15, 2006 responding to the briefs filed by both Sony Computer Entertainment and
ISLLC; the Company expects the briefing for the appeal to be concluded by all parties by the end of
May 2006.
On February 8, 2006, ISLLC filed a lawsuit against the Company in the Superior Court of Santa
Clara County. ISLLCs complaint seeks a share of the damages awarded to the Company in the March
24, 2005 Judgment and of the Microsoft settlement proceeds, and generally restates the claims
already adjudicated by the District Court. On March 16, 2006, the Company answered the complaint,
cross claimed for breach of contract by ISLLC and rescission of the contract, and removed
the lawsuit to federal court. The case was recently assigned to Judge Wilken given its
relationship to the previous proceedings involving Sony and ISLLC. ISLLC filed its answer to the
Companys cross claims on April 27, 2006.
Immersion Corporation vs. Thorner
On March 24, 2006, the Company filed a lawsuit against Craig Thorner in Santa Clara County
Superior Court. The complaint alleges claims for breach of contract with respect to Thorners
license to a third party of U.S. Patent No. 5,684,722, which the Company has alleged is in
violation of contractual obligations to it. Thorner removed the case to federal court, and filed
an answer and cross claims against Immersion on May 1, 2006. Thorner has been served with
discovery. The Company intends to vigorously prosecute this lawsuit.
Other Contingencies
From time to time, the Company receives claims from third parties asserting that the Companys
technologies, or those of its licensees, infringe on the other parties intellectual property
rights. Management believes that these claims are without merit. Additionally, periodically, the
Company is involved in routine legal matters and contractual disputes incidental to its normal
operations. In managements opinion, the resolution of such matters will not have a material
adverse effect on the Companys consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or
liquidity.
In the normal course of business, the Company provides indemnifications of varying scope to
customers against claims of intellectual property infringement made by third parties arising from
the use of the Companys intellectual property, technology, or products. Historically, costs
related to these guarantees have not been significant, and the Company is unable to estimate the
maximum potential impact of these guarantees on its future results of operations. The Company has
received a claim from one of its major licensees requesting indemnification from a patent
infringement allegation. The Company has reviewed this demand and believes that it is without
merit. The Company has not received
21
communication from this licensee with respect to this claim
since June of 2005. Such claim, however, could result in litigation, which could be costly and
time-consuming to defend. Further, the Companys business could be adversely affected if the
Company was unsuccessful in defending against the claim.
As permitted under Delaware law, the Company has agreements whereby it indemnifies its
officers and directors for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was,
serving at its request in such capacity. The term of the indemnification period is for the
officers or directors lifetime. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could
be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited; however, the Company
currently has director and officer insurance coverage that limits its exposure and enables it to
recover a portion of any future amounts paid. Management believes the estimated fair value of these
indemnification agreements in excess of applicable insurance coverage is minimal.
See also Note 6 regarding contingencies relating to the 5% Senior Subordinated Convertible
Debenture.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENTS 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 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
Managements 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 technology that enhances touch sensations for products in
a wide variety of markets. We develop, manufacture, license, and support a wide range of hardware
and software technologies that enhance touch interaction with digital devices. We focus on five
application areas gaming, mobility, 3D, touch interface, and medical. We manage these application
areas under two operating and reportable segments: 1) Immersion Computing, Entertainment, and
Industrial, and 2) Immersion Medical.
In markets where our touch technology is a small piece of a larger system (such as mobile
phones, consumer gaming peripherals, and automotive interfaces), we license our technologies to
third-party manufacturers who integrate our technology into their products and resell it under
their own brand names. In other markets, where our touch technology is a complete system (like
medical simulation systems and three-dimensional and professional products) or electronic
components, we manufacture and sell products under our own Immersion brand name, through direct
sales, distributors, and value added resellers. In all market areas, we also engage in development
projects for third parties and government agencies from time to time.
Our objective is to proliferate our technologies across markets, platforms, and applications
so that touch and feel become as necessary as color, graphics, and sound in modern user interfaces.
Immersion and its wholly owned subsidiaries hold more than 600 issued or pending patents in the
United States 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 unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The
preparation of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial
22
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, 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 critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments
and estimates used in the preparation of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements:
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenues in accordance with applicable accounting standards including SAB No.
104, Revenue Recognition, EITF Issue No. 00-21, Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with
Multiple Deliverables, 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
collectibility 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 based on either 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 vendor-specific objective evidence (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
property portfolio based on per unit
royalties, no services contracted.
|
|
Based on royalty reports received
from licensees. No further
obligations to licensee exist. |
|
|
|
Time-based license of intellectual
property portfolio with up-front
payments and/or annual minimum
royalty requirements, no services
contracted.
|
|
Based on straight-line amortization
of annual minimum/up-front payment
recognized over contract period or
annual minimum period. No further
obligations to licensee exist. |
|
|
|
Perpetual license of intellectual
property portfolio or technology
license along with contract for
development work.
|
|
Based on cost-to-cost
percentage-of-completion accounting
method over the service period.
Obligation to licensee exists until
development work is complete. |
|
|
|
License of software or technology, no
modification necessary, no services
contracted.
|
|
Up-front revenue recognition based
on SOP 97-2 criteria or EITF No.
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, and SOP 97-2, as amended, to
guide the accounting treatment for each individual contract. See also comments 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
collection is determined to be probable and no significant obligation remains. We sell the majority
of our products with warranties ranging from three to twenty-four 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
23
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. 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. Generally, the price charged when the element is sold separately
determines the fair value or VSOE. For arrangements where VSOE of fair value exists only for the
undelivered elements, we defer the full fair value of the undelivered elements and recognize
the difference between the total arrangement fee and the amount deferred for the undelivered items
as revenue, assuming all other criteria for revenue recognition have been met.
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 adopted the
provisions of SFAS No. 123R on January 1, 2006. 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 option-pricing model,
straight-line single-option approach to determine the fair value of stock options and employee
stock purchase plan 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 using the simplified
method as prescribed by SAB 107.
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 to ours, 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.
24
The Black-Scholes option-pricing 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 employee stock purchase plan 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.
The guidance in SFAS No. 123R and SAB 107 is relatively new. The application of these
principles may be subject to further interpretation and refinement over time. There are significant
differences among valuation models, and there is a possibility that we will adopt different
valuation models in the future. This may result in a lack of consistency in future periods and
materially affect the fair value estimate of stock-based payments. It may also result in a lack of
comparability with other companies that use different models, methods, and assumptions.
See Note 9 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further information
regarding the SFAS No. 123R disclosures.
Long-term Liabilities
In 2003, we executed a series of agreements with Microsoft as described in Note 8 to the
condensed consolidated financial statements that provided for settlement of our lawsuit against
Microsoft as well as various licensing, sublicensing, and equity and financing arrangements. We
accounted for the proceeds received under the agreements as a long-term customer advance based on
certain provisions that would result in payment of funds to Microsoft. Upon Microsofts election to
convert its shares of our Series A Preferred Stock into common stock, we reduced the long-term
customer advance from Microsoft to the minimum amount we would be obligated to pay Microsoft upon a
settlement with Sony Computer Entertainment. The remainder of the consideration was transferred to
common stock in 2004. Under certain circumstances related to a settlement with Sony Computer
Entertainment, we are obliged to pay Microsoft a minimum of $15.0 million. In the event of an
unfavorable judicial resolution or a dismissal or withdrawal by us of the lawsuit meeting certain
conditions, we would not be obliged to make any payment to Microsoft.
In December 2004, we executed a series of agreements as described in Note 6 to the condensed
consolidated financial statements that provided for the issuance of 5% Convertible Debenture, and
warrants, and that granted certain registration rights to the holders of the 5% Convertible
Debentures. We accounted for the issuance of our 5% Convertible Debentures and related warrants in
accordance with EITF No. 98-5, Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion
Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios and other related accounting guidance. We
estimated the relative fair value of the various instruments included in the agreements entered
into in December 2004 and allocated the relative fair values to be as follows: warrants $1.7
million, Put Option $0.1 million, Registration Rights $0.1 million, issuance costs $1.3
million, 5% Convertible Debenture $16.8 million. The 5% Convertible Debentures are being
accreted to $20.0 million over their five-year life, resulting in additional interest expense. The
value of the warrants is included in Stockholders Deficit, the value of the Put Option and
Registration Rights are recorded as liabilities and are subject to future value adjustments, and
the value of the 5% Convertible Debentures is recorded as long-term debt.
Long-term Deferred Revenue
In addition to normal items of deferred revenue due after one year, we have included Sony
Computer Entertainment compulsory license fees and interest earned thereon in long-term deferred
revenue due to the contingent nature of the court-ordered payments (see Note 7 to our condensed
consolidated financial statements). We will not record any revenue or interest income associated
with these payments until such time as the contingency lapses.
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.
25
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 intangibles. 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 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 ended March 31, 2006, we capitalized external costs
associated with patents and trademarks of $280,000. Our total amortization expense for the same
period for all intangible assets was $210,000.
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 managements judgment in their application. There are also areas
in which managements judgment in selecting any available alternative would not produce a
materially different result.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006 AND 2005
Overview
We achieved a 5% increase in revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2006 as compared
to the three months ended March 31, 2005 due to increased product sales and increased development
contract revenue, most notably medical product sales. The first quarter revenue growth was
impacted by a 23% decrease in gaming revenues, which was consistent with industry performance. We
believe the investments made in the sales and marketing area continue to contribute to our ability
to penetrate new and existing markets and build greater market acceptance for our touch
technologies. We incurred a net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2006 of $2.9 million, a
decrease of 7% from our $3.1 million net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The
decrease in the net loss was primarily due to increased gross margin mainly due to increased
medical product sales. Included in our operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2006
is a $723,000 charge for stock-based compensation due to our adoption of SFAS No. 123R on January
1, 2006. In addition, a $650,000 litigation settlement payment from Electro Source reduced total
operating expenses.
As of March 31, 2006, our cash and cash equivalents were $30.9 million. In February 2006, Sony
Computer Entertainment made a payment of approximately $5.1 million to us pursuant to the Court
orders of January 10, 2005 and February 9, 2005, which contributed to the cash increase.
During the remainder of 2006, we expect to focus on the execution of sales and marketing plans
in our established businesses to increase revenue and make selected investments in product and
technology development for longer-term new growth areas. We expect expenses related to our current
litigation with Sony Computer Entertainment to decrease in 2006 as compared to 2005. Although we
will focus on reducing operating expenses, we have budgeted to continue to protect and defend our
extensive intellectual property portfolio across all business segments. However, our success could
be limited by several factors, including the timely release of our new products or our licensees
products, continued market acceptance of our products and technology, the introduction of new
products by existing or new competitors, and the cost of ongoing litigation. For a further
discussion of these and other risk factors, see the section titled Risk Factors.
26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
Change |
|
REVENUES |
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
($ In thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Royalty and license |
|
$ |
1,910 |
|
|
$ |
2,471 |
|
|
|
(23 |
)% |
Product sales |
|
|
3,366 |
|
|
|
2,695 |
|
|
|
25 |
% |
Development contracts and other |
|
|
756 |
|
|
|
606 |
|
|
|
25 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Revenue |
|
$ |
6,032 |
|
|
$ |
5,772 |
|
|
|
5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months ended March 31, 2006 compared to three months ended March 31, 2005
Total Revenue Our total revenue for the first three months of 2006 increased by $260,000 or
5% from the first three months of 2005.
Royalty and license revenue Royalty and license revenue is comprised of royalties earned on
sales by our TouchSense licensees and license fees charged for our intellectual property portfolio.
Royalty and license revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $1.9 million, a decrease
of $561,000 or 23% from the three months ended March 31, 2005. The decrease in royalty and license
revenue was primarily due to a decrease in gaming royalties of $413,000, and a decrease in medical
license fees of $391,000, offset in part by an increase in touch interface product royalties of
$226,000.
The decrease in gaming royalties was mainly due to decreased third-party market share of
aftermarket game console controllers and significant declines in the game console controller market
in general. The overall video console gaming market has declined as console makers transition in
2006 from end-of-life console platforms (Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation 2, and Nintendo GameCube)
to next generation console platforms (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, and Nintendo
Revolution). Microsofts Xbox 360 launched in November 2005, and Sonys PlayStation 3 and Nintendo
Revolution are expected to be introduced in late 2006. As a result of these introductions, we
believe consumers are choosing not to purchase current generation consoles and instead are waiting
for the release of newer, more advanced, next generation consoles. When the Sony PlayStation 3 and
Nintendo Revolution launch in late 2006, we anticipate that third-party royalties will likely
decline further as these new consoles are introduced and market share shifts back to first-party
peripheral makers, just as we have seen with the Microsoft Xbox 360. Furthermore, Sony announced on May 8, 2006, that their controller for the PlayStation 3 will
not include the vibration features that have been available on the controllers for the PlayStation
and PlayStation 2. While we do not know what force feedback capabilities will be available in the
PlayStation 3 console at launch, if any, or whether or to what extent the PlayStation 3 console
will be compatible with third-party peripherals containing force feedback capability, if any, this
course of action by Sony may have materially adverse consequences on our future gaming royalty
revenues.
The decrease in medical royalty and license revenue was primarily due to a reduction in
license revenue recognized on our license and development agreements with Medtronic. Revenue
recognition on the license and development agreements with Medtronic is based on cost-to-cost
percentage-of-completion; a decrease in activity on these contracts results in a decrease in
revenue recognized. Touch interface product royalties increased due to increased licensee revenue
from signing a new licensee in 2005 and royalties from an increased number of vehicles manufactured
with our technology incorporated in them. We expect increased touch interface product royalties and
license revenue in 2006 based on new licensees signed and an increase in the number of cars sold
that incorporate our technology.
Product sales Product sales for the three months ended March 31, 2006 were $3.4 million, an
increase of $671,000 or 25% as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase in
product sales was primarily due to increased medical product sales of $570,000, mainly due to
increased sales of our endoscopy and laparoscopy simulator platforms. This was a result of
focusing sales force resources on selling training simulator products to hospitals and teaching
institutions. In addition, our 3D products increased by $188,000 primarily due to increased sales
of our MicroScribe, CyberGlove® and CyberForce® products. Partially offsetting this increase was a
decrease in product sales from force feedback electronics for arcade gaming of $115,000 due to the
timing of product introductions by our customers.
Development contract and other revenue Development contract and other revenue is comprised
of revenue on commercial and government contracts and extended support and warranty contracts.
Development contract and other revenue was $756,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2006,
an increase of $150,000 or 25% as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2005. Government
contract revenue increased by $294,000 primarily due to
increased work performed under a medical government contract which we anticipate completing by
the third quarter of 2006.
27
Commercial contract revenue decreased by $154,000 primarily due to a
decrease in development contract revenue from Immersion Medical.
We categorize our geographic information into four major regions: North America, Europe, Far
East, and Rest of the World. In the first three months of 2006, revenue generated in North
America, Europe, Far East, and Rest of the World represented 74%, 15%, 10%, and 1%, respectively,
compared to 78%, 14%, 5%, and 3%, respectively, for the first three months of 2005. The shift in
revenues among regions was mainly due to a decrease in revenue from North American customers such
as Medtronic and gaming licensees offset by increased sales of our 3D products in the Far East.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
Change |
COST OF PRODUCT SALES |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
($ In thousands) |
|
|
|
|
Three months ended: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of product sales |
|
$ |
1,355 |
|
|
$ |
1,389 |
|
|
|
(2 |
)% |
% of total product revenue |
|
|
40 |
% |
|
|
52 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Cost of Product Sales - Our cost of product sales consists primarily of materials, labor, and
overhead. There is no cost of product sales associated with royalty revenue or development
contract revenue. Cost of product sales were $1.4 million, a decrease of $34,000 or 2% for the
three months ended March 31, 2006 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2005. Cost of
product sales as a percentage of revenue declined to 40% for the three months ended March 31, 2006
as compared to 52% for the same period in 2005. The decrease in cost of product sales was primarily
due to decreased direct material costs of $79,000, offset in part by an increase of overhead costs
of $32,000. Despite an increase in product sales by 25% during the three months ended March 31,
2006 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2005, direct material costs decreased and cost of
product sales as a percentage of revenue decreased due to a favorable shift in the mix of products
sold during the quarter. Increased sales of higher margin products such as our medical training
simulators and reduced sales of lower margin products such as our SoftMouse product accounted for
the favorable mix shift. Overhead costs increased mainly due to increased salary expense and a
stock-based compensation charge of $19,000 due to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R.
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
Change |
OPERATING EXPENSES AND OTHER |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
($ In thousands) |
|
|
|
|
Three months ended: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales and marketing |
|
$ |
3,077 |
|
|
$ |
2,819 |
|
|
|
9 |
% |
% of total revenue |
|
|
51 |
% |
|
|
49 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
$ |
1,729 |
|
|
$ |
1,509 |
|
|
|
15 |
% |
% of total revenue |
|
|
29 |
% |
|
|
26 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative |
|
$ |
2,811 |
|
|
$ |
2,286 |
|
|
|
23 |
% |
% of total revenue |
|
|
47 |
% |
|
|
40 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization of intangibles |
|
$ |
210 |
|
|
$ |
367 |
|
|
|
(43 |
)% |
% of total revenue |
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Litigation settlement |
|
$ |
(650 |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
% of total revenue |
|
|
(11 |
)% |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restructuring Costs |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
185 |
|
|
|
|
|
% of total revenue |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Sales and Marketing Our sales and marketing expenses are comprised primarily of employee
compensation and benefits costs, advertising, trade shows, brochures, market development funds,
travel, and an allocation of facilities costs. Sales and marketing expenses were $3.1 million, an
increase of $258,000 or 9% in the first three months of 2006 compared to the comparable period in
2005. The increase was primarily due to increased salaries, benefits, and overhead expense of
$436,000 and an increase in travel expense to support sales and marketing efforts of $53,000,
offset in part by a reduction in bad debt expense of $147,000 and decreased shows and exhibits
expense of $69,000. The increased compensation, benefits, and overhead expense was primarily due to
increased stock-based compensation expense of $286,000 due to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R in the
first quarter of 2006 and an increase in variable compensation due to increased sales. We expect to
continue to focus our sales and marketing efforts on medical, mobile phone, and touchscreen market
opportunities to build greater market acceptance for our touch technologies. We anticipate
sales and marketing costs will increase in absolute dollars in 2006 compared to 2005. We expect to
continue to invest in sales and marketing in future periods to exploit market opportunities for our
technology.
Research and Development Our research and development expenses are comprised primarily of
employee compensation and benefits, consulting fees, tooling and supplies, and an allocation of
facilities costs. Research and development expenses were $1.7 million, an increase of $220,000 or
15% in the first three months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. The increase was
primarily due to increased compensation, benefits, overhead and travel of $141,000, an increase in
prototyping expenses of $61,000, and an increase in professional consulting expense of $16,000. The
increased compensation, benefits, and overhead expense was primarily due to increased stock-based
compensation expense of $129,000 due to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R in the first quarter of 2006.
We believe that continued investment in research and development is critical to our future success,
and we expect to make targeted investments in areas of product and technology development to
support future growth.
General and Administrative Our general and administrative expenses are comprised primarily
of employee compensation and benefits, legal and professional fees, office supplies, travel, and an
allocation of facilities costs. General and administrative expenses were $2.8 million, an increase
of $525,000 or 23% in the first three months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. The
increase was primarily due to increased compensation, benefits, overhead of $413,000 and increased
legal, professional, and license fee expense of $90,000 mostly related to the litigation against
Electro Source and Sony Computer Entertainment. The increased compensation, benefits, and overhead
expense was primarily due to increased stock-based compensation expense of $289,000 due to the
adoption of
SFAS No. 123R in the first quarter of 2006. Although we expect our litigation costs related to
the Sony Computer Entertainment litigation to
29
decrease in 2006, we expect that the dollar amount of
general and administrative expenses to continue to be a significant component of our operating
expenses. We will continue to incur litigation costs, including costs associated with the appeal
and other motions that Sony Computer Entertainment has made, and we expect we will continue to
incur costs related to litigation against other parties as we defend our intellectual property. In
addition, we anticipate costs associated with maintaining compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 and Nasdaq listing requirements will continue to be significant.
Amortization of Intangibles Our amortization of intangibles is comprised primarily of patent
amortization and other intangible amortization. Amortization of intangibles decreased by $157,000
or 43% in the first three months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. The decrease was
primarily attributable to some intangible assets reaching full amortization.
Litigation Settlement - Litigation settlement benefits were $650,000 for the three months
ended March 31, 2006. No litigation settlement benefits were received in the three months ended
March 31, 2005. In February 2006, we announced that we had settled our legal differences in our
complaint for patent infringement against Electro Source and that both parties had agreed to
dismiss all claims and counterclaims relating to this matter. In addition to the Confidential
Settlement Agreement, Electro Source entered into a worldwide license to our patents for
vibro-tactile devices in the consumer gaming peripheral field of use. According to the terms of the
agreement, Electro Source will make royalty payments to us based on sales by Electro Source of
spinning mass vibro-tactile gamepads, steering wheels, and other game controllers for dedicated
gaming consoles, such as the Sony PlayStation and PlayStation 2, the Nintendo GameCube, and the
Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360. Both companies also have agreed to explore the possibility of working
together in technology or engineering related assignments. In March 2006, Electro Source paid us
$650,000. We are entitled to be paid a minimum amount of $1.0 million in future periods.
Restructuring Costs No restructuring costs were incurred in the three months ended March 31,
2006. Restructuring costs were $185,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The costs
consisted of severance benefits resulting from a reduction in force during the period. Employees
from manufacturing, sales and marketing, research and development, and general and administrative
were included in the reduction in force. We did not incur any additional charges related to this
reduction in force and do not anticipate any further costs in future periods related to this
reduction in force.
Interest and Other Income Interest and other income consists primarily of interest income
and dividend income from cash and cash equivalents. Interest and other income decreased by $13,000
in the first three months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. This was the result of
decreased cash and cash equivalents invested, exclusive of monies received from Sony Computer
Entertainment, for the first three months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. Interest
income earned on the payments from Sony Computer Entertainment has been included in deferred
revenue.
Interest Expense Interest expense consists primarily of interest and accretion expense on
our 5% Convertible Debentures and notes payable. Interest expense increased by $8,000 in the first
three months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005 primarily due to increased accretion
expense on our 5% Convertible Debentures and interest due on funds held on a government contract.
Provision for Income Taxes For the three months ended March 31, 2006, we recorded a
provision for income taxes of $102,000 on a pre-tax loss of $2.8 million, yielding an effective tax
rate of (3.6)%. For the three months ended March 31, 2005, we recorded a provision for income
taxes of $65,000 on a pre-tax loss of $3.1 million yielding an effective tax rate of (2.1)%. The
provision for income tax was based on federal and state alternative minimum income tax payable on
taxable income. Although we incurred pre-tax losses, the sums received from Sony Computer
Entertainment and interest thereon included in long term deferred revenue, approximating $5.3
million and $7.0 million for the first three months of 2006 and 2005 respectively, are taxable,
giving rise to an overall taxable profit.
30
SEGMENT RESULTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006 AND 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Immersion Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial |
|
$ |
3,448 |
|
|
$ |
3,650 |
|
Immersion Medical |
|
|
2,601 |
|
|
|
2,218 |
|
Intersegment eliminations |
|
|
(17 |
) |
|
|
(96 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
6,032 |
|
|
$ |
5,772 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Loss: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Immersion Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial |
|
$ |
(2,638 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,384 |
) |
Immersion Medical |
|
|
(278 |
) |
|
|
(707 |
) |
Intersegment eliminations |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
(42 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
(2,906 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,133 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Immersion Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial segment Revenues from the Immersion
Computing, Entertainment, and Industrial segment were $3.4 million, a decrease of $202,000 or 6% in
the first three months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. Royalty and license revenues
decreased by $170,000, mainly due to decreased royalties from our licensees that sell console and
PC gaming peripheral products, partially offset by increased royalties and license fees from our
touch interface product licensees; product sales increased by $48,000, mainly due to increased
sales of our MicroScribe, CyberGlove and CyberForce products; and development contract revenues
decreased by $80,000, primarily due to reduced government contracts, partially offset in part by
increased revenue on touch interface contracts. Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2006
was $2.6 million, an increase of $254,000 or 11% compared to the same period in 2005. The increase
was primarily due to decreased gross margins of $173,000 primarily due to reduced royalty revenues
and increased non-operating expenses of $52,000 mainly due to reduced interest income and increased
provision for income taxes.
Immersion Medical segment Revenues from Immersion Medical were $2.6 million, an increase of
$383,000 or 17%, for the first three months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. The
increase was primarily due to an increase of $570,000 in product sales and an increase of $204,000
in development contract revenue which were partially offset by a decrease of $391,000 in royalty
and license revenues. Product sales increased primarily due to increased sales in our endoscopy
and laparoscopy simulator platforms. The product sales increase was a result of focusing sales
force resources on selling training simulator products to hospitals and teaching institutions as
well as targeted marketing programs and improved reseller performance. Development contract revenue
increased due to an increase in work performed under a government contract that was partially
offset by a reduction in commercial contract revenue. The decrease in medical royalty and license
revenue was primarily due to a reduction in license revenue recognized on our license and
development agreements with Medtronic. Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was
$278,000, a decrease of $429,000 or 61% compared to the same period in 2005. The improvement was
mainly due to increased gross margin of $388,000 primarily due to increased revenues and reduced
operating expenses of $45,000. The reduced operating expenses included reduced restructuring costs
and lower sales and marketing expenses partially offset by increased research and development
expenses and general and administrative expenses.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments consist primarily of money market funds
and highly liquid debt instruments. All of our cash equivalents and short-term investments are
classified as available-for-sale under the provisions of SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain
Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. The securities are stated at market value, with
unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income,
within stockholders deficit.
At March 31, 2006 our cash and cash equivalents totaled $30.9 million, an increase of $2.7
million from $28.2 million at December 31, 2005.
31
During 2003, we entered into a series of agreements with Microsoft in connection with the
settling of our lawsuit against Microsoft. As part of these agreements, we may require Microsoft,
at our discretion, to buy up to $6.0 million of our 7% Debentures, at a rate of $2.0 million per
annum plus any amounts not purchased in the prior 12 months, for the two years ending July 2007.
As of March 31, 2006, we had not sold any of these 7% Debentures to Microsoft.
In December 2004, we issued an aggregate principal amount of $20.0 million of 5% Convertible
Debentures. The 5% Convertible Debentures will mature on December 22, 2009. The amount payable at
maturity of each 5% Convertible Debenture is the initial principal plus all accrued but unpaid
interest thereon, to the extent such principal amount and interest has not been converted into
common shares or previously paid in cash. Commencing on the date the 5% Convertible Debentures were
issued, interest accrues daily on the principal amount of the 5% Convertible Debenture at a rate of
5% per year. Interest will cease to accrue on that portion of the 5% Convertible Debenture that is
converted or paid, including pursuant to conversion right or redemption. The holder of a 5%
Convertible Debenture has the right to convert the outstanding principal amount and accrued and
unpaid interest in whole or in part into shares of our common shares at a price of $7.0265 per
common share.
Net cash provided by operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2006 was
$2.8 million, a change of $2.1 million from the $635,000 provided during the three months ended
March 31, 2005. Cash provided by operations during the three months ended March 31, 2006 was
primarily the result of a $4.6 million increase due to a change in deferred revenue and customer
advances mainly related to compulsory license fee payments received and interest thereon from Sony
Computer Entertainment of $5.3 million. Cash provided by operations during the three months ended
March 31, 2006 was also impacted by noncash charges and credits of $1.2 million, including $723,000
of stock-based compensation, $210,000 in amortization of intangibles, $168,000 in depreciation, and
$158,000 in accretion expenses on our 5% Convertible Debentures, as well as an increase of $884,000
due to a change in accounts receivable, an increase of $231,000 due to a change in accrued
compensation and other current liabilities, and an increase of $53,000 due to a change in prepaid
expenses and other current assets. These increases were offset by our $2.9 million net loss and a
decrease of $1.3 million due to a change in accounts payable due to the timing of payments to
vendors.
Net cash used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2006 was
$478,000, compared to the $352,000 used in investing activities during three months ended March 31,
2005, an increase of $126,000. Net cash used in investing activities during the period consisted
of a $280,000 increase in other assets, primarily due to capitalization of external patent filing
and application costs and $198,000 used to purchase capital equipment.
Net cash provided by financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2006 was
$489,000 compared to $1.1 million provided during the three months ended March 31, 2005, or a
$628,000 decrease from the prior year. Net cash provided by financing activities for the period
consisted primarily of issuances of common stock and exercises of stock options in the amount of
$476,000.
We believe that our cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet our working capital
needs and our continued litigation costs for at least the next twelve months. We have taken
measures to control our costs and will continue to monitor these efforts. Although we will continue
to incur significant additional expenses associated with the reexamination proceedings before the
United States Patent and Trademark Office and an appeal process related to our litigation against
Sony Computer Entertainment, we expect our litigation costs associated with the Sony Computer
Entertainment litigation to decrease during 2006 compared to 2005. We anticipate that capital
expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2006 will total approximately $1.0 million in
connection with anticipated maintenance and upgrades to operations and infrastructure. If we are
unable to collect on the damages awarded in the Sony Computer Entertainment litigation, or have to
repay the compulsory license payments previously received and interest thereon totaling $22.1
million as of March 31, 2006, or are unsuccessful in resolving the Sony Computer Entertainment
litigation in the short term, we may elect to raise additional capital through sale of debt and/or
equity securities or through a line of credit. Additionally, if we acquire one or more businesses,
patents, or products, our cash or capital requirements could increase substantially. In the event
of such an acquisition, or should any unanticipated circumstances arise that significantly increase
our capital requirements, we may elect to raise additional capital through debt or equity
financing. Any of these events could result in substantial dilution to our stockholders. Although
we expect to be able to raise additional capital if necessary, there is no assurance that such
additional capital will be available on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
Our 5% Convertible Debentures accrue interest at 5% per annum. Accordingly, we are required to
make interest payments in the amount of $1.0 million per annum until such time as the 5%
Convertible Debentures are either converted to common stock or mature. If the daily
volume-weighted average price of our common shares is at or above 200% of the Conversion Price for
at least 20 consecutive trading days, and certain other conditions are met, we have the right to
(i) require the holder of a 5% Convertible Debenture to convert the 5% Convertible Debenture in
whole, including interest, into shares of our common stock at a price of $7.0265 per common share,
as may be adjusted under the debenture, as set forth and subject to the conditions in the 5%
Convertible Debenture, or (ii) redeem the 5% Convertible
32
Debenture. If we make either of the
foregoing elections with respect to any 5% Convertible
Debenture, we must make the same election
with respect to all 5% Convertible Debentures.
SUMMARY DISCLOSURES ABOUT CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMERCIAL COMMITMENTS
The following table reflects a summary of our contractual cash obligations and other
commercial commitments as of December 31, 2005 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 and |
|
2009 and |
Contractual Obligations |
|
Total |
|
2006 |
|
2008 |
|
2010 |
Long-term debt and interest |
|
$ |
23,975 |
|
|
$ |
1,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,000 |
|
|
$ |
20,975 |
|
Operating leases |
|
|
3,855 |
|
|
|
975 |
|
|
|
1,855 |
|
|
|
1,025 |
|
|
|
|
Total contractual cash obligations |
|
$ |
27,830 |
|
|
$ |
1,975 |
|
|
$ |
3,855 |
|
|
$ |
22,000 |
|
|
|
|
In connection with our series of agreements with Microsoft executed in July 2003, we are
obligated to pay Microsoft certain amounts based on a settlement of the Sony Computer Entertainment
litigation (see Note 8 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements).
With regard to our 5% Convertible Debentures, in the event of a change of control of us, a
holder may require us to redeem all or a portion of their 5% Convertible Debenture (Put Option).
The redeemed portion shall be redeemed at a price equal to the redeemed amount multiplied by (a)
105% of the principal amount of the 5% Convertible Debenture if the change of control occurs on or
prior to December 23, 2006, or (b) 100% of the principal amount of the 5% Convertible Debenture if
the change of control occurs after December 23, 2006. The conversion price will be reduced in
certain instances where shares of common stock are sold or deemed to be sold at a price less than
the applicable conversion price, including the issuance of certain options, the issuance of
convertible securities, or the change in exercise price or rate of conversion for options or
convertible securities. The conversion price will be proportionately adjusted if we subdivide (by
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, or otherwise) or combine (by combination, reverse
stock split, or otherwise) one or more classes of our common stock. So long as any 5% Convertible
Debentures are outstanding, we will not, nor will we permit any of our subsidiaries to, directly or
indirectly, incur or guarantee, assume or suffer to exist any indebtedness other than permitted
indebtedness under the 5% Convertible Debenture agreement. If an event of default occurs, and is
continuing with respect to any of our 5% Convertible Debentures, the holder may, at its option,
require us to redeem all or a portion of the 5% Convertible Debenture.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
No significant items.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We have limited exposure to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. The
fair value of our investment portfolio or related income would not be significantly impacted by a
100 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates due mainly to the short-term nature of the
major portion of our investment portfolio. An increase or decrease in interest rates would not
significantly increase or decrease interest expense on debt obligations due to the fixed nature of
our debt obligations.
Our foreign operations are limited in scope and thus we are not materially exposed to foreign
currency fluctuations.
As of March 31, 2006, we had outstanding $20.0 million of fixed rate long-term convertible
debentures. The holder of a 5% Convertible Debenture has the right to convert the outstanding
principal amount, and accrued and unpaid interest, in whole or in part into our common shares at a
price of $7.0265 per common share, the Conversion Price. In the event of a change of control, a
holder may require us to redeem all or a portion of their 5% Convertible Debenture. This is
referred to as the Put Option. The redeemed portion shall be redeemed at a price equal to the
redeemed amount multiplied by (a) 105%
33
of the principal amount of the 5% Convertible Debenture if
the change of control occurs on or prior to December 23, 2006, or (b) 100% of the principal amount
of the 5% Convertible Debenture if the change of control occurs after December 23, 2006. If the
daily volume-weighted average price of our common shares is at or above 200% of the Conversion
Price for at least 20 consecutive trading days and certain other conditions are met, we have the
right to (i) require the holder of a 5% Convertible Debenture to convert the debenture in whole,
including interest, into shares of our common stock at a price of $7.0265 per common share, as may
be adjusted under the debenture, as set forth and subject to the conditions in the 5% Convertible
Debenture, or (ii) redeem the 5% Convertible Debenture. If we make either of the foregoing
elections with respect to any 5% Convertible Debenture, we must make the same election with respect
to all 5% Convertible Debentures.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Based on their evaluation as of March 31, 2006, our management with the participation of our
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have concluded that our disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) were sufficiently effective to ensure that the information required to be
disclosed by us in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q was recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified in the SECs rules for 10-Q.
There were no changes to internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended
March 31, 2006, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our
internal control over financial reporting.
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not
expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent all error
and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only
reasonable, not absolute assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the
design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the
benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent
limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that
all control issues and instances of fraud, if any within Immersion, have been detected.
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In re Immersion Corporation
We are involved in legal proceedings relating to a class action lawsuit filed on November
9, 2001, In re Immersion Corporation Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation, No. Civ.
01-9975 (S.D.N.Y.), related to In re Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation, No. 21 MC 92
(S.D.N.Y.). The named defendants are Immersion and three of our current or former officers or
directors (the Immersion Defendants), and certain underwriters of our November 12, 1999 initial
public offering (IPO). Subsequently, two of the individual defendants stipulated to a dismissal
without prejudice.
The operative amended complaint is brought on purported behalf of all persons who purchased
our common stock from the date of our IPO through December 6, 2000. It alleges liability under
Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, on the grounds that the registration statement for the IPO did not disclose
that: (1) the underwriters agreed to allow certain customers to purchase shares in the IPO in
exchange for excess commissions to be paid to the underwriters; and (2) the underwriters arranged
for certain customers to purchase additional shares in the aftermarket at predetermined prices. The
complaint also appears
to allege that false or misleading analyst reports were issued. The complaint does not claim
any specific amount of damages.
Similar allegations were made in other lawsuits challenging over 300 other initial public
offerings and follow-on offerings conducted in 1999 and 2000. The cases were consolidated for
pretrial purposes. On February 19, 2003, the Court ruled on all defendants motions to dismiss. The
motion was denied as to claims under the Securities Act of 1933 in the case involving us as well as
in all other cases (except for 10 cases). The motion was denied as to the claim under Section 10(b)
as to us, on the basis that the complaint alleged that we had made acquisition(s) following the
IPO. The motion was granted as to the claim under Section 10(b), but denied as to the claim under
Section 20(a), as to the remaining individual defendant.
34
We and most of the issuer defendants have settled with the plaintiffs. In this settlement,
plaintiffs have dismissed and released all claims against the Immersion Defendants, in exchange for
a contingent payment by the insurance companies collectively responsible for insuring the issuers
in all of the IPO cases, and for the assignment or surrender of certain claims we may have against
the underwriters. The Immersion Defendants will not be required to make any cash payments in the
settlement, unless the pro rata amount paid by the insurers in the settlement exceeds the amount of
the insurance coverage, a circumstance which we believe is remote. The settlement will require
approval of the Court, which cannot be assured, after class members are given the opportunity to
object to the settlement or opt out of the settlement. The Court took the matter under submission
of whether the settlement should be approved after a hearing on April 24, 2006.
Immersion Corporation vs. Microsoft Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Sony
Computer Entertainment of America, Inc.
On February 11, 2002, we filed a complaint against Microsoft Corporation, Sony Computer
Entertainment, Inc., and Sony Computer Entertainment of America, Inc. in the U.S. District Court
for the Northern District Court of California alleging infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 5,889,672
and 6,275,213. The case was assigned to United States District Judge Claudia Wilken. On April 4,
2002, Sony Computer Entertainment and Microsoft answered the complaint by denying the material
allegations and alleging counterclaims seeking a judicial declaration that the asserted patents
were invalid, unenforceable, or not infringed. Under the counterclaims, the defendants were also
seeking damages for attorneys fees. On October 8, 2002, we filed an amended complaint, withdrawing
the claim under the U.S. Patent No. 5,889,672 and adding claims under a new patent, U.S. Patent No.
6,424,333.
On July 28, 2003, we announced that we had settled our legal differences with Microsoft, and
both parties agreed to dismiss all claims and counterclaims relating to this matter as well as
assume financial responsibility for their respective legal costs with respect to the lawsuit
between us and Microsoft.
On August 16, 2004, the trial against Sony Computer Entertainment commenced. On September 21,
2004, the jury returned its verdict in favor of us. The jury found all the asserted claims of the
patents valid and infringed. The jury awarded us damages in the amount of $82.0 million. On January
10, 2005, the Court awarded us prejudgment interest on the damages the jury awarded at the
applicable prime rate. The Court further ordered Sony Computer Entertainment to pay us a compulsory
license fee at the rate of 1.37%, the ratio of the verdict amount to the amount of sales of
infringing products, effective as of July 1, 2004 and through the date of Judgment. On February 9,
2005, the Court ordered that Sony Computer Entertainment provide us with sales data 15 days after
the end of each quarter and clarified that Sony Computer Entertainment will make the ordered
payment 45 days after the end of the applicable quarter. Sony Computer Entertainment has made
quarterly payments to us pursuant to the Courts orders. Although we have received payments, we may
be required to return them and any future payments based on the outcome of the appeals process.
On February 9, 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to appeal the Courts January 10, 2005 order, and on
February 10, 2005 Sony Computer Entertainment filed an Amended Notice of Appeal to include an
appeal from the Courts February 9, 2005 order.
On January 5 and 6, 2005, the Court held a bench trial on Sony Computer Entertainments
remaining allegations that the 333 patent was not enforceable due to alleged inequitable conduct.
On March 24, 2005, the Court resolved this issue, entering a written order finding in favor of us.
On March 24, 2005, Judge Wilken also entered judgment in our favor and awarded us $82.0
million in past damages, and pre-judgment interest in the amount of $8.7 million, for a total of
$90.7 million. We were also awarded certain court costs. Court costs do not include attorneys
fees. Additionally, the Court issued a permanent injunction
against the manufacture, use, sale, or import into the United States of the infringing Sony
Computer Entertainment PlayStation system consisting of the PlayStation consoles, Dual Shock
controllers, and the 47 games found by the jury to infringe our patents. The Court stayed the
permanent injunction pending appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
The Court further ordered Sony Computer Entertainment to pay a compulsory license fee at the rate
of 1.37% for the duration of the stay of the permanent injunction at the same rate and conditions
as previously awarded in its interim January 10, 2005 and February 9, 2005 Orders. On April 7, 2005
pursuant to a stipulation of the parties, the Court entered an Amended Judgment to clarify that the
Judgment in favor of us and against Sony Computer Entertainment also encompassed Sony Computer
Entertainments counterclaims for declaratory relief on invalidity and unenforceability, as well as
non-infringement.
On April 27, 2005, the Court granted Sony Computer Entertainments request to approve a
supersedeas bond, secured by a cash deposit with the Court in the amount of $102.5 million, to
obtain a stay of enforcement of the Courts
35
Amended Judgment pending appeal. On May 17, 2005, the
Court issued a minute order stating that in lieu of the supersedeas bond the Court would allow Sony
Computer Entertainment to place the funds on deposit with the Court in an escrow account subject to
acceptable escrow instructions. The parties have negotiated an agreement pursuant to which the
funds on deposit with the Court may be deposited in an escrow account at JP Morgan Chase. Sony
Computer Entertainment also filed further motions seeking judgment as a matter of a law (JMOL) or
for a new trial, and a motion for a stay of an accounting and execution of the Judgment. On May 17,
2005, Judge Wilken denied these motions.
On June 16, 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a Notice of Appeal from the District Court
Judgment to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The appeals of the January
and February orders regarding the compulsory license have been consolidated with the appeal of the
Judgment. Sony Computer Entertainments Opening Brief was filed on October 21, 2005; we filed an
Opposition Brief on December 5, 2005. Due to the cross appeal by ISLLC (see below), the Federal
Circuit allowed us to file a Substitute Opposition Brief on February 17, 2006 responding to the
briefs filed by both Sony Computer Entertainment and ISLLC. On March 15, 2006, we filed a further
substitute brief in response to a Federal Circuit order clarifying the maximum number of words we
were allowed given ISLLCs cross appeal. Sony Computer Entertainment filed its Reply Brief on
April 27, 2006 and ISLLCs Reply Brief is expected to be filed before the end of May 2006.
On July 21, 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a motion in the District Court before
Judge Wilken seeking relief from the final judgment under Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure on the grounds of alleged fraud and newly discovered evidence of purported prior art
which Sony Computer Entertainment contends we concealed and withheld attributable to Mr. Craig
Thorner, a named inventor on three patents that Sony Computer Entertainment urged as a basis for
patent invalidity during the trial. A hearing on this motion was held before Judge Wilken on
January 20, 2006. On March 8, 2006, the Court entered an Order which denied Sony Computer
Entertainments motion pursuant to Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in its
entirety. On April 7, 2006, Sony filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit to appeal this ruling.
On May 17, 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a Request for Inter Partes Reexamination of
the 333 Patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). On May 19, 2005, Sony
Computer Entertainment filed a similar Request for reexamination of the 213 Patent. On July 6,
2005, we filed a Petition to dismiss, stay, or alternatively to suspend both of the requests for
reexamination, based at least on the grounds that a final judgment has already been entered by a
United States district court, and that the PTOs current inter partes reexamination procedures deny
due process of law. The PTO denied the first petition, and we filed a second petition on September
9, 2005. On November 17, 2005, the PTO granted our petition, and suspended the inter partes
reexaminations until such time as the parallel court proceedings warrant termination or resumption
of the PTO examination and prosecution proceedings. On December 13, 2005, Sony Computer
Entertainment filed a third petition requesting permission to file an additional inter partes
reexamination on the claims of the 333 and 213 Patents for which reexamination was not requested
in Sony Computer Entertainments original requests for reexamination. The PTO dismissed this third
petition on March 22, 2006. On December 13, 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment also filed ex parte
reexamination requests on a number of claims of the 213 and 333 patents, including all of the
claims litigated in the District Court action, in addition to others. On March 13, 2006, the PTO
granted the ex parte reexam request only with respect to the requested claims that were not
litigated. On April 11, 2006, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a fourth petition to the PTO
requesting that the currently suspended inter partes proceeding and the ex parte proceeding be
merged into a single proceeding. We filed our opposition to this petition on May 3, 2006, and the
PTO has not yet issued a decision.
On December 13, 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment filed a lawsuit against the PTO in the U.S.
District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia claiming that the PTO erred in suspending the
inter partes reexamination on November 17, 2005. The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge
Ellis. We moved to intervene in the lawsuit, and on March 31, 2006, the Court granted our motion
to intervene of right. The Court entered a scheduling order which precluded discovery and set an
expedited briefing schedule for motions for summary judgment. Briefing with regard to the summary
judgment motions by all parties is complete, and the hearing before Judge Ellis occurred on April
21, 2006. The Court has not yet ruled on the parties motions.
Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, we cannot accurately predict how the
Court of Appeals will decide the appeal. If Sony Computer Entertainment ultimately were successful
on appeal or in the reexamination process, the Judgment may be put at risk, assets relating to the
patents in the lawsuit may be impaired, and Sony Computer Entertainment may seek additional relief,
such as attorneys fees.
In the event we settle our lawsuit with Sony Computer Entertainment, we will be obligated to
pay certain sums to Microsoft as described in Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial
statements.
We anticipate that the litigation will continue to be costly, and there can be no assurance
that we will be able to recover the costs we incur in connection with the litigation. We expense
litigation costs as incurred, and only accrue for costs that have been incurred but not paid to the
vendor as of the financial statement date. The litigation has diverted, and is likely to continue
to divert, the efforts and attention of some of our key management and personnel. As a result,
until such time as it is resolved, the litigation could adversely affect our business. Further, any
unfavorable outcome could adversely affect our business.
36
Internet Services LLC Litigation
On October 20, 2004, ISLLC, our licensee and the cross-claim defendant against whom Sony
Computer Entertainment had filed a claim seeking declaratory relief, filed claims against us in our
lawsuit against Sony Computer Entertainment, alleging that we breached a contract with ISLLC by
suing Sony Computer Entertainment for patent infringement relating to haptically-enabled software
whose topics or images are allegedly age-restricted, for judicial apportionment of damages awarded
by the jury between ISLLC and us, and for a judicial declaration with respect to ISLLCs rights and
duties under agreements with us. On December 29, 2004, the Court issued an order dismissing ISLLCs
claims against Sony Computer Entertainment with prejudice and dismissing ISLLCs claims against us
without prejudice to ISLLC filing a new complaint if it can do so in good faith without
contradicting, or repeating the deficiency of, its complaint.
On January 12, 2005, ISLLC filed Amended Cross-Claims and Counterclaims against us that
contained similar claims. ISLLC also realleged counterclaims against Sony Computer Entertainment.
On January 28, 2005, we filed a motion to dismiss ISLLCs Amended Cross-Claims and a motion to
strike ISLLCs Counterclaims against Sony Computer Entertainment. On March 24, 2005 the Court
issued an order dismissing ISLLCs claims with prejudice as to ISLLCs claim seeking a declaratory
judgment that it is an exclusive licensee under the 213 and 333 patents and as to ISLLCs claim
seeking judicial apportionment of the damages verdict in the Sony Computer Entertainment case.
The Courts order further dismissed ISLLCs claims without prejudice as to ISLLCs breach of
contract and unjust enrichment claims.
ISLLC filed a notice of appeal of those orders with the United States Court of Appeals for the
Federal Circuit on April 18, 2005. ISLLCs appeal has been consolidated with Sony Computer
Entertainments appeal. ISLLC filed its Opening Brief in December 2005. As noted above, the United
States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit allowed us to file a Substitute Opposition Brief on
March 15, 2006 responding to the briefs filed by both Sony Computer Entertainment and ISLLC; we
expect the briefing for the appeal to be concluded by all parties by the end of May 2006.
On February 8, 2006, ISLLC filed a lawsuit against us in the Superior Court of Santa Clara
County. ISLLCs complaint seeks a share of the damages awarded to us in the March 24, 2005
Judgment and of the Microsoft settlement proceeds, and generally restates the claims already
adjudicated by the District Court. On March 16, 2006, we answered the complaint, cross claimed for
breach of contract by ISLLC and rescission of the contract, and removed the lawsuit to federal
court. The case was recently assigned to Judge Wilken given its relationship to the previous
proceedings involving Sony and ISLLC. ISLLC filed its answer to our cross claims on April 27,
2006.
Immersion v. Thorner
On March 24, 2006, we filed a lawsuit against Craig Thorner in Santa Clara County Superior
Court. The complaint alleges claims for breach of contract with respect to Thorners license to a
third party of U.S. Patent No. 5,684,722, which we have alleged is in violation of contractual
obligations to us. Thorner removed the case to federal court, and filed an answer and cross claims
against Immersion on May 1, 2006 Thorner has been served with discovery. We intend to vigorously
prosecute this lawsuit.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Company Risks
WE HAD AN ACCUMULATED DEFICIT OF $130 MILLION AS OF MARCH 31, 2006, HAVE A HISTORY OF LOSSES, WILL
EXPERIENCE LOSSES IN THE FUTURE, AND MAY NOT ACHIEVE OR MAINTAIN PROFITABILITY.
Since 1997, we have incurred losses in every fiscal quarter. We will need to generate
significant ongoing revenue to achieve and maintain profitability. We anticipate that our expenses
will increase in the foreseeable future as we:
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protect and enforce our intellectual property, including the costs of our continuing litigation against Sony Computer Entertainment; |
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continue to develop our technologies; |
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attempt to expand the market for touch-enabled technologies and products; |
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increase our sales and marketing efforts; and |
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pursue strategic relationships. |
If our revenues grow more slowly than we anticipate or if our operating expenses exceed our
expectations, we may not achieve or maintain profitability.
OUR CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES PROVIDE FOR VARIOUS EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTIONS
THAT WOULD ENTITLE THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS TO REQUIRE US TO REPAY THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OWED IN CASH.
IF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT OR CHANGE OF CONTROL OCCURS, WE MAY BE UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY REPAY THE
AMOUNT OWED, AND ANY REPAYMENT MAY LEAVE US WITH LITTLE OR NO WORKING CAPITAL IN OUR BUSINESS.
Our convertible debentures provide for various events of default, such as the termination of
trading of our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market and specified change of control
transactions. If an event of default or change of control occurs prior to maturity, we may be
required to redeem all or part of the convertible debentures, including payment of applicable
interest and penalties. Some of the events of default include matters over which we may have some,
little, or no control. Many other events of default are described in the agreements we executed
when we issued the convertible debentures. If an event of default or a change of control occurs, we
may be required to repay the entire amount, plus liquidated damages, in cash. Any such repayment
could leave us with little or no working capital for our business. We have not established a
sinking fund for payment of our outstanding convertible debentures, nor do we anticipate doing so.
OUR CURRENT LITIGATION AGAINST SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AND OTHERS IS EXPENSIVE, DISRUPTIVE, AND
TIME CONSUMING, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE, UNTIL RESOLVED, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE ARE
ULTIMATELY SUCCESSFUL, COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.
We are involved in litigation with Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. and Sony Computer
Entertainment of America, Inc. relating to our allegations of their infringement of U.S. Patent
Nos. 6,275,213 and 6,424,333. This
litigation has been ongoing for more than four years, involves multiple parties, including one
of our licensees, and continues to be litigated on multiple fronts including at the U.S. District
Court for the Northern District of California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern
District of Virginia. For additional background on this litigation, please see Note 16 to the
condensed consolidated financial statements and the section above titled PART II, ITEM 1. LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS.
We are also involved in litigation with Internet Services LLC (ISLLC), our licensee and a
cross-claim defendant in our lawsuit against Sony Computer Entertainment. ISLLCs appeal from the
lawsuit judgment has been consolidated with Sony Computer Entertainments appeal of the lawsuit
judgment against it at the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. We are also
litigating a separate lawsuit involving claims for breach of contract and rescission against ISSLLC
in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, we cannot accurately predict how either of
these cases will ultimately be resolved. We anticipate that this litigation will continue to be
costly, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to recover the costs we incur in
connection with the litigation. We expense litigation costs as incurred, and only accrue for costs
that have been incurred but not paid to the vendor as of the financial statement date. The
litigation has diverted, and is likely to continue to divert, the efforts and attention of some of
our key management and personnel. As a result, until such time as it is resolved, the litigation
could adversely affect our business. Further, any unfavorable outcome could adversely affect our
business. See also Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements regarding our payment
obligations to Microsoft Corporation in the event that we settle our lawsuit with Sony Computer
Entertainment.
38
LITIGATION REGARDING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS COULD BE EXPENSIVE, DISRUPTIVE, AND TIME
CONSUMING; COULD RESULT IN THE IMPAIRMENT OR LOSS OF PORTIONS OF OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; AND
COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.
Intellectual property litigation, whether brought by us or by others against us, has caused us
to expend, and may cause us to expend in future periods, significant financial resources as well as
divert managements time and efforts. From time to time, we initiate claims against third parties
that we believe infringe our intellectual property rights. We intend to enforce our intellectual
property rights vigorously and may initiate litigation against parties that we believe are
infringing our intellectual property rights if we are unable to resolve matters satisfactorily
through negotiation. Litigation brought to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights
could be costly, time-consuming, and distracting to management and could result in the impairment
or loss of portions of our intellectual property. In addition, any litigation in which we are
accused of infringement may cause product shipment delays, require us to develop non-infringing
technologies, or require us to enter into royalty or license agreements even before the issue of
infringement has been decided on the merits. If any litigation were not resolved in our favor, we
could become subject to substantial damage claims from third parties and indemnification claims
from our licensees. We and our licensees could be enjoined from the continued use of the
technologies at issue without a royalty or license agreement. Royalty or license agreements, if
required, might not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. If a third party claiming
infringement against us prevailed, and we could not develop non-infringing technologies or license
the infringed or similar technologies on a timely and cost-effective basis, our expenses would
increase and our revenues could decrease.
We attempt to avoid infringing known proprietary rights of third parties. However, third
parties may hold, or may in the future be issued, patents that could be infringed by our products
or technologies. Any of these third parties might make a claim of infringement against us with
respect to the products that we manufacture and the technologies that we license. From time to
time, we have received letters from companies, several of which have significantly greater
financial resources than we do, asserting that some of our technologies, or those of our licensees,
infringe their intellectual property rights. Certain of our licensees have received similar letters
from these or other companies. Such letters or subsequent litigation may influence our licensees
decisions whether to ship products incorporating our technologies. In addition, such letters may
cause a dispute between our licensees and us over indemnification for the infringement claim. Any
of these notices, or additional notices that we or our licensees could receive in the future from
these or other companies, could lead to litigation against us, either regarding the infringement
claim or the indemnification claim.
We have acquired patents from third parties and also license some technologies from third
parties. We must rely upon the owners of the patents or the technologies for information on the
origin and ownership of the acquired or licensed technologies. As a result, our exposure to
infringement claims may increase. We generally obtain
representations as to the origin and ownership of acquired or licensed technologies and
indemnification to cover any breach of these representations. However, representations may not be
accurate and indemnification may not provide adequate compensation for breach of the
representations. Intellectual property claims against our licensees, or us, whether or not they
have merit, could be time-consuming to defend, cause product shipment delays, require us to pay
damages, harm existing license arrangements, or require us or our licensees to cease utilizing the
technologies unless we can enter into royalty or licensing agreements. Royalty or licensing
agreements might not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. Furthermore, claims by third
parties against our licensees could also result in claims by our licensees against us under the
indemnification provisions of our licensees agreements with us.
THE TERMS IN OUR AGREEMENTS MAY BE CONSTRUED BY OUR LICENSEES IN A MANNER THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH
THE RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE GRANTED TO OTHER LICENSEES, OR IN A MANNER THAT MAY REQUIRE US TO INCUR
SUBSTANTIAL COSTS TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS OVER LICENSE TERMS.
We have entered into, and we expect to continue to enter into, agreements pursuant to which
our licensees are granted rights under our technology and intellectual property. These rights may
be granted in certain fields of use, or with respect to certain market sectors or product
categories, and may include exclusive rights or sublicensing rights. We refer to the license terms
and restrictions in our agreements, including, but not limited to, field of use definitions, market
sector, and product category definitions, collectively as License Provisions.
Due to the continuing evolution of market sectors, product categories, and licensee business
models, and to the compromises inherent in the drafting and negotiation of License Provisions, our
licensees may, at some time during the term of their agreements with us, interpret License
Provisions in their agreements in a way that is different from our interpretation of such License
Provisions, or in a way that is in conflict with the rights that we have granted to other
licensees. Such interpretations by our licensees may lead to (a) claims that we have granted rights
to one licensee which
39
are inconsistent with the rights that we have granted to another licensee,
and/or (b) claims by one licensee against another licensee that may result in our incurring
indemnification or other obligations or liabilities.
In addition, after we enter into an agreement, it is possible that markets and/or products, or
legal and/or regulatory environments, will evolve in a manner that we did not foresee or was not
foreseeable at the time we entered into the agreement. As a result, in any agreement, we may have
granted rights that will preclude or restrict our exploitation of new opportunities that arise
after the execution of the agreement.
PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIMS COULD BE TIME-CONSUMING AND COSTLY TO DEFEND AND COULD EXPOSE US TO LOSS.
Our products or our licensees products may have flaws or other defects that may lead to
personal or other injury claims. If products that we or our licensees sell cause personal injury,
financial loss, or other injury to our or our licensees customers, the customers or our licensees
may seek damages or other recovery from us. Any claims against us would be time-consuming,
expensive to defend, and distracting to management, and could result in damages and injure our
reputation and/or the reputation of our products, or the reputation of our licensees or their
products. This damage could limit the market for our and our licensees products and harm our
results of operations.
In the past, manufacturers of peripheral products including certain gaming products such as
joysticks, wheels, or gamepads, have been subject to claims alleging that use of their products has
caused or contributed to various types of repetitive stress injuries, including carpal tunnel
syndrome. We have not experienced any product liability claims to date. Although our license
agreements typically contain provisions designed to limit our exposure to product liability claims,
existing or future laws or unfavorable judicial decisions could limit or invalidate the provisions.
IF THE SETTLEMENT ON OUR CURRENT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FALLS THROUGH, THE CONTINUING LAWSUIT COULD
BE EXPENSIVE, DISRUPTIVE, AND TIME CONSUMING TO DEFEND AGAINST, AND IF WE ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL, COULD
ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.
We are involved in legal proceedings relating to a class action lawsuit filed on November 9,
2001, In re Immersion Corporation Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation, No. Civ. 01-9975
(S.D.N.Y.), related to In re Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation, No. 21 MC 92
(S.D.N.Y.). The named defendants are Immersion and three of our current or former officers or
directors (the Immersion Defendants) and certain underwriters of our November 12, 1999 IPO.
Subsequently, two of the individual defendants stipulated to a dismissal without prejudice.
The operative amended complaint is brought on purported behalf of all persons who purchased
our common stock from the date of our IPO through December 6, 2000. It alleges liability under
Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 on the grounds that the registration statement for the IPO did not disclose
that: (1) the underwriters agreed to allow certain customers to purchase shares in the IPO in
exchange for excess commissions to be paid to the underwriters; and (2) the underwriters arranged
for certain customers to purchase additional shares in the aftermarket at predetermined prices. The
complaint also appears to allege that false or misleading analyst reports were issued. The
complaint does not claim any specific amount of damages.
Similar allegations were made in other lawsuits challenging over 300 other initial public
offerings and follow-on offerings conducted in 1999 and 2000. The cases were consolidated for
pretrial purposes. On February 19, 2003, the Court ruled on all defendants motions to dismiss. The
motion was denied as to claims under the Securities Act of 1933 in the case involving us, as well
as in all other cases (except for 10 cases). The motion was denied as to the claim under Section
10(b) as to us, on the basis that the complaint alleged that we had made acquisition(s) following
the IPO. The motion was granted as to the claim under Section 10(b), but denied as to the claim
under Section 20(a), as to the remaining individual defendant.
We and most of the issuer defendants have settled with the plaintiffs. In this settlement,
plaintiffs have dismissed and released all claims against the Immersion Defendants, in exchange for
a contingent payment by the insurance companies collectively responsible for insuring the issuers
in all of the IPO cases, and for the assignment or surrender of certain claims we may have against
the underwriters. The Immersion Defendants will not be required to make any cash payments in the
settlement, unless the pro rata amount paid by the insurers in the settlement exceeds the amount of
the insurance coverage, a circumstance which we believe is remote. The settlement will require
approval of the Court, which cannot be assured, after class members are given the opportunity to
object to the settlement or opt out of the settlement. The Court took the matter under submission
of whether the settlement should be approved after a hearing on April 24, 2006.
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IF OUR FACILITIES WERE TO EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC LOSS, OUR OPERATIONS WOULD BE SERIOUSLY HARMED.
Our facilities could be subject to a catastrophic loss such as fire, flood, earthquake, power
outage, or terrorist activity. A substantial portion of our research and development activities,
manufacturing, our corporate headquarters, and other critical business operations are located near
major earthquake faults in San Jose, California, an area with a history of seismic events. An
earthquake at or near our facilities could disrupt our operations, delay production and shipments
of our products or technologies, and result in large expenses to repair and replace the facility.
While we believe that we maintain insurance sufficient to cover most long-term potential losses at
our facilities, our existing insurance may not be adequate for all possible losses. In addition,
California has experienced problems with its power supply in recent years. As a result, we have
experienced utility cost increases and may experience unexpected interruptions in our power supply
that could have a material adverse effect on our sales, results of operations, and financial
condition.
Industry and Technology Risks
WE HAVE LITTLE OR NO CONTROL OR INFLUENCE ON OUR LICENSEES DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, PROMOTION,
DISTRIBUTION, OR PRICING OF THEIR PRODUCTS INCORPORATING OUR TOUCH-ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES, UPON
WHICH WE GENERATE ROYALTY REVENUE.
A key part of our business strategy is to license our intellectual property to companies that
manufacture and sell products incorporating our touch-enabling technologies. Sales of those
products generate royalty and license revenue for us. For the three months ended March 31, 2006 and
2005, 32% and 43%, respectively, of our total revenues were royalty and license revenues. However,
we do not control or influence the design, manufacture, quality control, promotion, distribution,
or pricing of products that are manufactured and sold by our licensees. In addition, we generally
do not have commitments from our licensees that they will continue to use our technologies in
current or future products. As a result, products incorporating our technologies may not be brought
to market, meet quality control standards, achieve commercial acceptance, or generate meaningful
royalty revenue for us. For us to generate royalty revenue, licensees that pay us per-unit
royalties must manufacture and distribute products incorporating our touch-enabling technologies in
a timely fashion and generate consumer demand through marketing and other promotional activities.
Products incorporating our touch-enabling technologies are generally more difficult to design and
manufacture, which may cause product introduction delays or quality control problems. If our
licensees fail to stimulate and capitalize upon market demand for products that generate royalties
for us, or if products are recalled because of quality control problems, our revenues will not grow
and could decline. Alternatively, if a product that incorporates our touch-enabling technologies
achieves widespread market acceptance, the product manufacturer may elect to stop making it rather
than pay us royalties based on sales of the product.
Peak demand for products that incorporate our technologies, especially in the video console
gaming and computer gaming peripherals market, typically occurs in the fourth calendar quarter as a
result of increased demand during the year-end holiday season. If our licensees do not ship
products incorporating our touch-enabling technologies in a timely fashion or fail to achieve
strong sales in the fourth quarter of the calendar year, we may not receive related royalty and
license revenue.
Most of our current gaming royalty revenues come from third-party peripheral makers who make
licensed gaming products designed for use with popular video game console systems from Microsoft,
Sony, and Nintendo. Video game console systems are closed, proprietary systems, and video game
console system makers typically impose certain requirements or restrictions on third-party
peripheral makers who wish to make peripherals that will be compatible with a particular video game
console system. These requirements and restrictions could be in the form of hardware technical
specifications, software technical specifications, security specifications or other security
mechanisms, component vendor specifications, licensing terms and conditions, or other forms. If
third-party peripheral makers can not or are not allowed to obtain or satisfy these requirements or
restrictions, our gaming royalty revenues could be significantly reduced. Furthermore, should a
significant video game console maker choose to omit touch-enabling capabilities from its console
system or choose not to allow third parties to make comparable peripherals, it may very well lead
our gaming licensees to stop making products with touch-enabling capabilities, thereby
significantly reducing our gaming royalty revenues. The recently launched Microsoft Xbox 360 ships
with touch-enabling capabilities built-in, and the upcoming next generation Nintendo Revolution has
been reported by Nintendo to have touch-enabling capabilities. Sony announced on May 8, 2006, that their controller for the PlayStation 3 will not include
vibration features that have been available on the controllers for the PlayStation and PlayStation
2. This course of action by Sony may have materially adverse consequences on our future gaming
royalty revenues.
Microsoft
launched its next-generation Xbox 360 video game console in November
2005, and it is anticipated that Sony and Nintendo will launch their
new next-generation video game console systems in 2006. Historically,
according to data from the NPD Group, third-party supplier market
share of sales of console peripherals will normally grow near the end
of the life cycle of a console system. When next-generation console
systems are released third-party peripheral product sales will
normally initially account for a small percentage of total market
share. This percentage increases as the console model ages. Most of
our current gaming royalty revenue is from third-party peripheral
makers. Though Microsofts Xbox 360 next-generation video
console system was introduced in November 2005, Microsoft has acknowledged that there was a shortage
of Xbox 360 console systems in Q4 2005 and Q1 2006. This shortage
suppressed sales of Xbox 360 console peripherals in both Q4 2005 and
Q1 2006. We have already experienced and expect to continue to
experience gaming royalty revenue declines from prior levels, which
hurts our business.
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BECAUSE WE HAVE A FIXED PAYMENT LICENSE WITH MICROSOFT, OUR ROYALTY REVENUE FROM LICENSING IN THE
GAMING MARKET AND OTHER CONSUMER MARKETS MIGHT DECLINE IF MICROSOFT INCREASES ITS VOLUME OF SALES
OF TOUCH-ENABLED GAMING PRODUCTS AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR OTHER LICENSEES.
Under the terms of our present agreement with Microsoft, Microsoft receives a royalty-free,
perpetual, irrevocable license to our worldwide portfolio of patents. This license permits
Microsoft to make, use, and sell hardware, software, and services, excluding specified products,
covered by our patents. We also granted to Microsoft a limited right, under our patents relating to
touch technologies, to sublicense specified rights, excluding rights to excluded products and
peripheral devices, to third-party customers of Microsofts or Microsofts subsidiaries products
(other than Sony Corporation, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment of
America Inc., and their
subsidiaries). In exchange, for the grant of these rights and the rights included in a
separate Sublicense Agreement, Microsoft paid us a one-time payment of $20.0 million. We will not
receive any further revenues or royalties from Microsoft under our current agreement with
Microsoft. Microsoft has a significant share of the market for touch-enabled console gaming
computer peripherals and is pursuing other consumer markets such as mobile phones and PDAs.
Microsoft has significantly greater financial, sales, and marketing resources, as well as greater
name recognition and a larger customer base than some of our other licensees. In the event that
Microsoft increases its share of these markets, our royalty revenue from other licensees in these
market segments might decline.
For the Microsoft Xbox 360 video console system launched in November 2005, Microsoft has, to
date, not licensed the rights to produce wireless controllers to any third-party peripheral makers.
Wireless game controllers account for a significant portion of our royalty revenue, including
revenue from Logitech and Mad Catz. Therefore, by retaining the market for wireless Xbox 360 game
controllers exclusively for itself, Microsoft will likely significantly increase its market share
of all aftermarket game controller sales, the effect of which is likely to reduce our gaming
royalty revenue.
WE GENERATE REVENUES FROM TOUCH-ENABLING COMPONENTS THAT ARE SOLD AND INCORPORATED INTO THIRD PARTY
PRODUCTS. WE HAVE LITTLE OR NO CONTROL OR INFLUENCE OVER THE DESIGN, MANUFACTURING, PROMOTION,
DISTRIBUTION, OR PRICING OF THOSE THIRD PARTY PRODUCTS.
Part of our business strategy is to sell components that provide touch feedback capability in
products that other companies design, manufacture, and sell. Sales of these components generate
product revenue. However, we do not control or influence the design, manufacture, quality control,
promotion, distribution, or pricing of products that are manufactured and sold by those customers
that buy these components. In addition, we generally do not have commitments from customers that
they will continue to use our components in current or future products. As a result, products
incorporating our components may not be brought to market, meet quality control standards, or
achieve commercial acceptance. If the customers fail to stimulate and capitalize upon market demand
for their products that include our components, or if products are recalled because of quality
control problems, our revenues will not grow and could decline.
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LOGITECH ACCOUNTS FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR REVENUE AND THE FAILURE OF LOGITECH TO ACHIEVE
SALES VOLUMES FOR ITS GAMING PERIPHERAL PRODUCTS THAT INCORPORATE OUR TOUCH-ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES
MAY REDUCE OUR TOTAL REVENUE.
Logitech accounts for a significant portion of our revenue. Logitech is a supplier of
aftermarket game console controllers, many of which incorporate our technology. In the past, during
transitions to next-generation console systems, sales of aftermarket game console controllers have
dropped significantly, reducing licensing royalties we earn. The gaming industry is currently
transitioning to the latest next-generation console systems, and we have experienced a significant
decline in revenues we earn from Logitech since this transition commenced. For the three months
ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, 6% and 15%, respectively, of our total revenues were derived from
Logitech. Revenues from Logitech may decline further if its aftermarket game console controller
sales decline further, or if it is unable to license rights to sell its controller from Sony or
Microsoft. Any decrease in sales of aftermarket game console systems that include our technology
by Logitech will reduce our gaming royalty revenues. The announcement by Sony on May 8, 2006, not to include certain vibration features in their
controller for the PlayStation 3 may significantly adversely affect Logitechs ability or desire to
include our technologies in products compatible with the PlayStation 3, which in return may
materially adversely affect our royalty revenue from Logitech.
MEDTRONIC ACCOUNTS FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR REVENUES AND A REDUCTION IN SALES TO MEDTRONIC,
OR A REDUCTION IN DEVELOPMENT WORK FOR MEDTRONIC, MAY REDUCE OUR TOTAL REVENUE.
Medtronic accounts for a significant portion of our revenue. For the three months ended March
31, 2006 and 2005, 8% and 19%, respectively, of our total revenues were derived from Medtronic. If
our product sales to Medtronic decline, and/or Medtronic reduces the development activities we
perform, then our total revenue may decline.
TOUCH INTERFACE PRODUCT ROYALTIES WILL BE REDUCED IF BMW WERE TO ABANDON ITS IDRIVE SYSTEM OR
REMOVE OUR TECHNOLOGY FROM THE IDRIVE.
Our largest royalty stream from touch interface products is currently from BMW for its iDrive
controller. Press reviews of this system have been largely negative and critical of the systems
complex user interface, which we did not design. Nevertheless, this negative press may cause BMW to
abandon the iDrive controller or to redesign it and/or
remove our technology from it. The design cycle time for major automotive systems like iDrive
is typically two to five years. One or more of the current BMW product lines may go through
replacement or redesign and during that cycle the iDrive controller may be replaced or removed.
Historically, BMW has often launched its newest technology in its 7 Series. We also believe that
the current 7 series is due for redesign by 2008 and that our technology may or may not be part of
the redesigned iDrive. If our technology is not incorporated in the redesigned iDrive our business
may suffer.
WE DEPEND ON THIRD-PARTY SUPPLIERS, AND OUR REVENUE AND/OR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS COULD SUFFER IF WE
FAIL TO MANAGE SUPPLIER ISSUES PROPERLY.
Our operations depend on our ability to anticipate our needs for components and products for a
wide variety of systems, products, and services, and on our suppliers ability to deliver
sufficient quantities of quality components, products, and services at reasonable prices in time
for us to meet critical schedules. We may experience a shortage of, or a delay in receiving,
certain supplies as a result of strong demand, capacity constraints, supplier financial weaknesses,
disputes with suppliers, other problems experienced by suppliers, or problems faced during the
transition to new suppliers. If shortages or delays persist, the price of these supplies may
increase, we may be exposed to quality issues, or the supplies may not be available at all. We may
not be able to secure enough supplies at reasonable prices or of acceptable quality to build
products or provide services in a timely manner in the quantities or according to the
specifications needed. We could lose time-sensitive sales, incur additional freight costs, or be
unable to pass on price increases to our customers. If we cannot adequately address supply issues,
we might have to reengineer some products or service offerings, resulting in further costs and
delays.
Additionally, our use of single source suppliers for certain components could exacerbate our
supplier issues. We obtain a significant number of components from single sources due to
technology, availability, price, quality, or other considerations. In addition, new products that
we introduce may use custom components obtained from only one source initially, until we have
evaluated whether there is a need for additional suppliers. The performance of such single source
suppliers may affect the quality, quantity, and price of supplies to us. Accordingly, our revenue
and/or results of operations could be adversely impacted by such events.
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COMPLIANCE WITH THE RESTRICTION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES (ROHS) DIRECTIVE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION MAY
INCREASE OUR COSTS AND LIMIT OUR REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES.
The RoHS Directive eliminates most uses of lead, cadmium, hexavalent-chromium, mercury, and
certain fire retardants in electronics placed on the market after the effective date of July 1,
2006. We have quantified the effect of this new Directive on our products and determined that
certain products require changes that may be costly to perform. Making such changes may have a
negative impact on our results of operations. If we are unable to, or decide not to make our
products compliant by the effective date, we will not be able to ship them in the European Union
and/or any other region that adopts the Directive until such time that they are compliant, and this
may have a negative impact on our revenue and results of operations.
IF WE FAIL TO INCREASE SALES OF OUR MEDICAL SIMULATION DEVICES, OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
OPERATIONS MAY SUFFER.
Our medical simulation products, such as our Endovascular AccuTouch System and our
Laparoscopic Surgical Workstation, have only recently begun to be used by hospitals and medical
schools to help train healthcare professionals. Yet, many of these medical institutions do not
budget for such simulation devices. To increase sales of our simulation devices, we must, in
addition to convincing medical institution personnel of the usefulness of the devices, persuade
them to include a significant expenditure for the devices in their budgets. If these medical
institutions are unwilling to budget for simulation devices or reduce their budgets as a result of
cost-containment pressures or other factors, we may not be able to increase or maintain sales of
medical simulators at a satisfactory rate. Any failure to increase sales of our medical simulation
products will harm our business.
BECAUSE PERSONAL COMPUTER PERIPHERAL PRODUCTS THAT INCORPORATE OUR TOUCH-ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES
CURRENTLY MUST WORK WITH MICROSOFTS OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE, OUR COSTS COULD INCREASE AND OUR
REVENUES COULD DECLINE IF MICROSOFT MODIFIES ITS OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE.
Our hardware and software technologies for personal computer peripheral products that
incorporate our touch-enabling technologies are currently compatible with Microsofts Windows 2000,
Windows Me, and Windows XP
operating systems, including DirectX, Microsofts entertainment applications programming
interface. Modifications and new versions of Microsofts operating system (including DirectX and
the upcoming Windows Vista anticipated to launch in late 2006) may require that we and/or our
licensees modify the touch-enabling technologies to be compatible with Microsofts modifications or
new versions, and this could cause delays in the release of products by our licensees. If Microsoft
modifies its software products in ways that limit the use of our other licensees products, our
costs could increase and our revenues could decline.
REDUCED SPENDING BY CORPORATE OR UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS MAY ADVERSELY
AFFECT SALES OF OUR THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRODUCTS.
Any economic downturn could lead to a reduction in corporate or university budgets for
research and development in sectors, including the automotive and aerospace sectors, which use our
three-dimensional and professional products. Sales of our three-dimensional and professional
products, including our CyberGlove line of whole-hand sensing gloves and our MicroScribe line of
digitizers, could be adversely affected by cuts in corporate research and development budgets.
COMPETITION BETWEEN OUR PRODUCTS AND OUR LICENSEES PRODUCTS MAY REDUCE OUR REVENUE.
Rapid technological change, short product life cycles, cyclical market patterns, declining
average selling prices, and increasing foreign and domestic competition characterize the markets in
which we and our licensees compete. We believe that competition in these markets will continue to
be intense and that competitive pressures will drive the price of our products and our licensees
products downward. These price reductions, if not offset by increases in unit sales or
productivity, will cause our revenues to decline.
We face competition from unlicensed products as well. Our licensees or other third parties may
seek to develop products using our intellectual property or develop alternative designs that
attempt to circumvent our intellectual property, which they believe do not require a license under
our intellectual property. These potential competitors may have significantly greater financial,
technical, and marketing resources than we do, and the costs associated with asserting our
intellectual property rights against such products and such potential competitors could be
significant. Moreover, if such alternative designs were determined by a court not to require a
license under our intellectual property rights, competition from such unlicensed products could
limit or reduce our revenues.
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WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN OUR BUSINESS, AND OUR FAILURE TO MANAGE THE COMPLEXITIES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHANGING ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY LANDSCAPE COULD HARM OUR BUSINESS.
Any future periods of rapid economic and technological change may place significant strains on
our managerial, financial, engineering, and other resources. Our failure to effectively manage
these resources during periods of rapid economic or technological change may harm our business.
THE MARKET FOR CERTAIN TOUCH-ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES AND TOUCH-ENABLED PRODUCTS IS AT AN EARLY STAGE
AND IF MARKET DEMAND DOES NOT DEVELOP, WE MAY NOT ACHIEVE OR SUSTAIN REVENUE GROWTH.
The market for certain of our touch-enabling technologies and certain of our licensees
touch-enabled products is at an early stage. If we and our licensees are unable to develop demand
for touch-enabling technologies and touch-enabled products, we may not achieve or sustain revenue
growth. We cannot accurately predict the growth of the markets for these technologies and products,
the timing of product introductions, or the timing of commercial acceptance of these products.
Even if our touch-enabling technologies and our licensees touch-enabled products are
ultimately widely adopted, widespread adoption may take a long time to occur. The timing and amount
of royalties and product sales that we receive will depend on whether the products marketed achieve
widespread adoption and, if so, how rapidly that adoption occurs.
We expect that we will need to pursue extensive and expensive marketing and sales efforts to
educate prospective licensees, component customers, and end users about the uses and benefits of
our technologies and to persuade software
developers to create software that utilizes our technologies. Negative product reviews or
publicity about our products, our licensees products, haptic features, or haptic technology in
general could have a negative impact on market adoption, our revenue, and/or our ability to license
our technologies in the future.
IF WE ARE UNABLE TO ENTER INTO NEW LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS WITH OUR EXISTING LICENSEES, AND WITH
ADDITIONAL THIRD-PARTY MANUFACTURERS FOR OUR TOUCH-ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES, OUR ROYALTY REVENUE MAY
NOT GROW.
Our revenue growth is significantly dependent on our ability to enter into new licensing
arrangements. Our failure to enter into new or renewal of licensing arrangements will cause our
operating results to suffer. We face numerous risks in obtaining new licenses on terms consistent
with our business objectives and in maintaining, expanding, and supporting our relationships with
our current licensees. These risks include:
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the lengthy and expensive process of building a relationship with potential licensees; |
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the fact that we may compete with the internal design teams of existing and potential licensees; |
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difficulties in persuading product manufacturers to work with us, to rely on us for critical
technology, and to disclose to us proprietary product development and other strategies; |
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challenges in demonstrating the compelling value of our technologies in new applications like
mobile phones and touchscreens; |
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difficulties in persuading existing and potential licensees to bear the development costs and
risks necessary to incorporate our technologies into their products; |
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difficulties in obtaining new automotive licensees for yet-to-be commercialized technology
because their suppliers may not be ready to meet stringent quality and parts availability
requirements; |
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difficulty in signing up new gaming licensees, as well as losing our existing gaming licensees,
if we are not successful in the litigation with Sony Computer Entertainment; |
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difficulty in signing up new gaming licensees if Sony does not include
vibration features in the PlayStation 3 or related products; and |
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reluctance of content developers, mobile phone manufacturers, and service providers to sign
license agreements without a critical mass of other such inter-dependent supporters of the
mobile phone industry having a license or without enough phones in the market that incorporate
our technologies. |
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A majority of our current royalty revenue has been derived from the licensing of our portfolio
of touch-enabling technologies for video game console and personal computer gaming peripherals,
such as gamepads, joysticks, and steering wheels. Though substantially smaller than the market for
dedicated gaming console peripherals, the market for gamepads, joysticks, and steering wheels for
use with personal computers is declining and is characterized by declining average selling prices.
If the console peripheral market also experiences declines in sales and selling prices, we may not
achieve royalty revenue growth.
IF WE FAIL TO PROTECT AND ENFORCE OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, OUR ABILITY TO LICENSE OUR
TECHNOLOGIES AND GENERATE REVENUES WOULD BE IMPAIRED.
Our business depends on generating revenues by licensing our intellectual property rights and
by selling products that incorporate our technologies. We rely on our significant patent portfolio
to protect our proprietary rights. If we are not able to protect and enforce those rights, our
ability to obtain future licenses or maintain current licenses and royalty revenue could be
impaired. In addition, if a court or the patent office were to limit the scope, declare
unenforceable, or invalidate any of our patents, current licensees may refuse to make royalty
payments, or they may choose to challenge one or more of our patents. It is also possible that:
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our pending patent applications may not result in the issuance of patents; |
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our patents may not be broad enough to protect our proprietary rights; and |
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effective patent protection may not be available in every country in which we or our licensees do business. |
We also rely on licenses, confidentiality agreements, other contractual agreements, and copyright,
trademark, and trade secret laws to establish and protect our proprietary rights. It is possible
that:
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laws and contractual restrictions may not be sufficient to prevent
misappropriation of our technologies or deter others from developing
similar technologies; and |
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policing unauthorized use of our products, trademarks, and other
proprietary rights would be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming,
particularly overseas. |
CERTAIN TERMS OR RIGHTS GRANTED IN OUR LICENSE AGREEMENTS OR OUR DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS MAY LIMIT
OUR FUTURE REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES.
While it is not our general practice to sign license agreements that provide exclusive rights
for a period of time with respect to a technology, field of use, and/or geography, or to accept
similar limitations in product development contracts, we have entered into such agreements and may
in the future. Although additional compensation or other benefits may be part of the agreement, the
compensation or benefits may not adequately compensate us for the limitations or restrictions we
have agreed to as that particular market develops. Over the life of the exclusivity period,
especially in markets that grow larger or faster than anticipated, our revenue may be limited and
less than what we could have achieved in the market with several licensees or additional products
available to sell to a specific set of customers.
IF WE ARE UNABLE TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVE AND REDUCE THE COST OF OUR TECHNOLOGIES, COMPANIES MAY NOT
INCORPORATE OUR TECHNOLOGIES INTO THEIR PRODUCTS, WHICH COULD IMPAIR OUR REVENUE GROWTH.
Our ability to achieve revenue growth depends on our continuing ability to improve and reduce
the cost of our technologies and to introduce these technologies to the marketplace in a timely
manner. If our development efforts are not successful or are significantly delayed, companies may
not incorporate our technologies into their products and our revenue growth may be impaired.
IF WE FAIL TO DEVELOP NEW OR ENHANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR NEW APPLICATIONS AND PLATFORMS, WE MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO CREATE A MARKET FOR OUR TECHNOLOGIES OR OUR TECHNOLOGIES MAY BECOME OBSOLETE, AND OUR
ABILITY TO GROW AND OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS MIGHT BE HARMED.
Our initiatives to develop new and enhanced technologies and to commercialize these
technologies for new applications and new platforms may not be successful. Any new or enhanced
technologies may not be favorably received
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by consumers and could damage our reputation or our
brand. Expanding our technologies could also require significant additional expenses and strain our
management, financial, and operational resources. Moreover, technology products generally have
relatively short product life cycles and our current products may become obsolete in the future.
Our ability to generate revenues will be harmed if:
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we fail to develop new technologies or products; |
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the technologies we develop infringe on third-party patents or other third party peripheral rights; |
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our new technologies fail to gain market acceptance; or |
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our current products become obsolete. |
THE HIGHER COST OF PRODUCTS INCORPORATING OUR TOUCH-ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES MAY INHIBIT OR PREVENT
THEIR WIDESPREAD ADOPTION.
Personal computer and console gaming peripherals, mobile phones, touchscreens, and automotive
and industrial controls incorporating our touch-enabling technologies can be more expensive than
similar competitive products that are not touch-enabled. Although major manufacturers, such as 3M
Touch Systems, ALPS Electric Co., BMW, Logitech, Microsoft, and Samsung have licensed our
technologies, the greater expense of development and production of products containing our
touch-enabling technologies as compared to non-touch-enabled products may be a significant barrier
to the widespread adoption and sale of touch-enabled products.
THIRD-PARTY VALIDATION STUDIES MAY NOT DEMONSTRATE ALL THE BENEFITS OF OUR MEDICAL TRAINING
SIMULATORS, WHICH COULD AFFECT CUSTOMER MOTIVATION TO BUY.
In medical training, validation studies are generally used to confirm the usefulness of new
techniques, devices, and training methods. For medical training simulators, several levels of
validation are generally tested: content, concurrent, construct, and predictive. A validation study
performed by a third party, such as a hospital, a teaching institution, or even an individual
healthcare professional, could result in showing little or no benefit for one or more types of
validation for our medical training simulators. Such validation study results published in medical
journals could impact the willingness of customers to buy our training simulators, especially new
simulators that have not previously been validated. Due to the time generally required to complete
and publish additional validation studies (often more than a year), the negative impact on sales
revenue could be significant.
MEDICAL LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION AUTHORITIES MAY NOT RECOMMEND OR REQUIRE USE OF OUR
TECHNOLOGIES FOR TRAINING AND/OR TESTING PURPOSES, SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWING OR INHIBITING THE MARKET
PENETRATION OF OUR MEDICAL SIMULATION TECHNOLOGIES.
Several key medical certification bodies, including the American Board of Internal Medicine,
or ABIM and the American College of Cardiology, or ACC, have great influence in recommending
particular medical methodologies, including medical training and testing methodologies, for use by
medical professionals. In the event that the ABIM and the ACC, as well as other, similar bodies, do
not endorse medical simulation products as a training and/or testing tool, market penetration for
our products could be significantly and adversely affected.
WE HAVE LIMITED DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS AND RESOURCES TO MARKET AND SELL OUR MEDICAL SIMULATION AND
THREE-DIMENSIONAL SIMULATION AND DIGITIZING PRODUCTS, AND IF WE ARE UNSUCCESSFUL IN MARKETING AND
SELLING THESE PRODUCTS, WE MAY NOT ACHIEVE OR SUSTAIN PRODUCT REVENUE GROWTH.
We have limited resources for marketing and selling medical simulation or three-dimensional
simulation and digitizing products either directly or through distributors. To achieve our business
objectives, we must build a balanced mixture of sales through a direct sales channel and through
qualified distribution channels. The success of our efforts to sell medical simulation and
three-dimensional simulation products will depend upon our ability to retain and develop a
qualified sales force and effective distributor channels. We may not be successful in attracting
and retaining the personnel necessary to sell and market our simulation products. A number of our
distributors represent small, specialized companies and may not have sufficient capital or human
resources to support the complexities of selling and supporting simulation
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products. There can be
no assurance that our direct selling efforts will be effective, distributors will market our
products successfully or, if our relationships with distributors terminate, that we will be able to
establish relationships with other distributors on satisfactory terms, if at all. Any disruption in
the distribution, sales, or marketing network for our simulation products could have a material
adverse effect on our product revenues.
COMPETITION IN THE MEDICAL MARKET MAY REDUCE OUR REVENUE.
If the medical simulation market develops as we anticipate, we believe that we will have
increased competition. This increased competition may result in the decline of our revenue and may
cause us to reduce our selling prices.
COMPETITION IN THE MOBILITY OR TOUCHSCREEN MARKETS MAY INCREASE OUR COSTS AND REDUCE OUR REVENUE.
If the mobility or touchscreen markets develop as we anticipate, we believe that we will face
a greater number of competitors, possibly including the internal design teams of existing and
potential OEM customers. These potential competitors may have significantly greater financial and
technical resources than we do, and the costs associated with competing with such potential
competitors could be significant. Additionally, increased competition may result in the reduction
of our market share and/or cause us to reduce our prices, which may result in a decline in our
revenue.
AUTOMOBILES INCORPORATING OUR TOUCH-ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES ARE SUBJECT TO LENGTHY PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT PERIODS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PREDICT WHEN AND WHETHER WE WILL RECEIVE PER UNIT
AUTOMOTIVE ROYALTIES.
The product development process for automobiles is very lengthy, sometimes longer than four
years. We do not earn per unit royalty revenue on our automotive technologies unless and until
automobiles featuring our technologies are shipped to customers, which may not occur until several
years after we enter into an agreement with an automobile manufacturer or a supplier to an
automobile manufacturer. Throughout the product development process, we face the risk that an
automobile manufacturer or supplier may delay the incorporation of, or choose not to incorporate,
our technologies into its automobiles, making it difficult for us to predict the per unit
automotive royalties we may receive, if any. After the product launches, our royalties still depend
on market acceptance of the vehicle or the option packages if our technology is an option (for
example, a navigation unit), which is likely to be determined by many factors beyond our control.
WE MIGHT BE UNABLE TO RETAIN OR RECRUIT NECESSARY PERSONNEL, WHICH COULD SLOW THE DEVELOPMENT AND
DEPLOYMENT OF OUR TECHNOLOGIES.
Our ability to develop and deploy our technologies and to sustain our revenue growth depends
upon the continued service of our management and other key personnel, many of whom would be
difficult to replace. Management and other key employees may voluntarily terminate their employment
with us at any time upon short notice. The loss of management or key personnel could delay product
development cycles or otherwise harm our business.
We believe that our future success will also depend largely on our ability to attract,
integrate, and retain sales, support, marketing, and research and development personnel.
Competition for such personnel is intense, and we may not be successful in attracting, integrating,
and retaining such personnel. Given the protracted nature of if, how, and when we collect royalties
on new design contracts, it may be difficult to craft compensation plans that will attract and
retain the level of salesmanship needed to secure these contracts. Some of our executive officers
and key employees hold stock options with exercise prices considerably above the current market
price of our common stock. Each of these factors may impair our ability to retain the services of
our executive officers and key employees. Our technologies are complex and we rely upon the
continued service of our existing engineering personnel to support licensees, enhance existing
technologies, and develop new technologies.
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Investment Risks
OUR QUARTERLY REVENUES AND OPERATING RESULTS ARE VOLATILE, AND IF OUR FUTURE RESULTS ARE BELOW THE
EXPECTATIONS OF PUBLIC MARKET ANALYSTS OR INVESTORS, THE PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK IS LIKELY TO
DECLINE.
Our revenues and operating results are likely to vary significantly from quarter to quarter
due to a number of factors, many of which are outside of our control and any of which could cause
the price of our common stock to decline.
These factors include:
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the establishment or loss of licensing relationships; |
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the timing of payments under fixed and/or up-front license agreements; |
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the timing of work performed under development agreements; |
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the timing of our expenses, including costs related to litigation,
stock-based awards, acquisitions of technologies, or businesses; |
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the timing of introductions and market acceptance of new products and
product enhancements by us, our licensees, our competitors, or their
competitors; |
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our ability to develop and improve our technologies; |
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our ability to attract, integrate, and retain qualified personnel; and |
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seasonality in the demand for our products or our licensees products. |
OUR STOCK PRICE MAY FLUCTUATE REGARDLESS OF OUR PERFORMANCE.
The stock market has experienced extreme volatility that often has been unrelated or
disproportionate to the performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may cause
our stock price to decline regardless of our performance. The market price of our common stock has
been, and in the future could be, significantly affected by factors such as: actual or anticipated
fluctuations in operating results; announcements of technical innovations; announcements regarding
litigation in which we are involved; changes by game console manufacturers to not include touch-enabling capabilities in their
products; new products or new contracts; sales or the perception in the
market of possible sales of large number of shares of our common stock by insiders or others;
changes in securities analysts recommendations; changing circumstances regarding competitors or
their customers; governmental regulatory action; developments with respect to patents or
proprietary rights; inclusion in or exclusion from various stock indices; and general market
conditions. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a companys
securities, securities class action litigation has been initiated against that company, such as the
suit currently filed against us.
PROVISIONS IN OUR CHARTER DOCUMENTS AND DELAWARE LAW COULD PREVENT OR DELAY A CHANGE IN CONTROL,
WHICH COULD REDUCE THE MARKET PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK.
Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may have the effect of delaying or
preventing a change of control or changes in our management. In addition, certain provisions of
Delaware law may discourage, delay, or prevent someone from acquiring or merging with us. These
provisions could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares.
ISSUANCE OF THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK UPON CONVERSION OF DEBENTURES, EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS,
AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS WILL DILUTE THE OWNERSHIP INTEREST OF EXISTING STOCKHOLDERS AND COULD
ADVERSELY AFFECT THE MARKET PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK.
The issuance of shares of common stock in the following circumstances will dilute the
ownership interest of existing stockholders: (i) upon conversion of some or all of the convertible
debentures (ii) upon exercise of some or all of the stock options, and (iii) upon exercise of some
or all of the warrants. Any sales in the public market of the common stock issuable upon such
conversion or upon such exercises, respectively, could adversely affect prevailing market prices of
our common stock. In addition, the existence of these convertible debentures, stock options, and
warrants may encourage short selling by market participants.
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OUR MAJOR STOCKHOLDERS RETAIN SIGNIFICANT CONTROL OVER US, WHICH MAY LEAD TO CONFLICTS WITH OTHER
STOCKHOLDERS OVER CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MATTERS AND COULD ALSO AFFECT THE VOLATILITY OF OUR STOCK
PRICE.
We currently have, have had in the past, and may have in the future, stockholders who retain
greater than 10%, or in some cases greater than 20%, of our outstanding stock. Acting together,
these stockholders would be able to exercise significant influence over matters that our
stockholders vote upon, including the election of directors and mergers or other business
combinations, which could have the effect of delaying or preventing a third party from acquiring
control over or merging with us. Further, if any individuals in this group elect to sell a
significant portion or all of their holdings of our common stock, the trading price of our common
stock could experience volatility.
WE MAY NEED TO RAISE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL IN THE FUTURE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL DILUTION TO
OUR STOCKHOLDERS.
We may need to raise additional capital in order to ensure a sufficient supply of cash for
continued operations and litigation costs. We have taken measures to control our costs and will
continue to monitor these efforts. In addition, Sony Computer Entertainment has made payments to us
pursuant to the Courts orders. Although we have received the payments, we may be required to
return them and any future payments based on the outcome of an appeals process. Our plans to raise
additional capital may include possible customer prepayments of certain royalty obligations in
exchange for a royalty discount and/or other negotiated concessions, entering into new license
agreements that require up-front license payments, and through debt or equity financing. We cannot
be certain that additional financing will be available to us on favorable terms when required, or
at all. Changes in equity markets over the past five years have adversely affected the ability of
companies to raise equity financing and have adversely affected the markets for financing for
companies with a history of losses such as ours. Additional financing may require us to take on
more debt or issue additional shares of our common or preferred stock such that our existing
stockholders may experience substantial dilution.
WE MAY ENGAGE IN ACQUISITIONS THAT COULD DILUTE STOCKHOLDERS INTERESTS, DIVERT MANAGEMENT
ATTENTION, OR CAUSE INTEGRATION PROBLEMS.
As part of our business strategy, we have in the past and may in the future, acquire
businesses or intellectual property that we feel could complement our business, enhance our
technical capabilities, or increase our intellectual property portfolio. If we consummate
acquisitions through cash and/or an exchange of our securities, our stockholders could suffer
significant dilution. Acquisitions could also create risks for us, including:
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unanticipated costs associated with the acquisitions; |
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use of substantial portions of our available cash to consummate the acquisitions; |
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diversion of managements attention from other business concerns; |
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difficulties in assimilation of acquired personnel or operations; and |
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potential intellectual property infringement claims related to newly acquired product lines. |
Any acquisitions, even if successfully completed, might not generate significant additional
revenue or provide any benefit to our business.
IF WE FAIL TO COMPLY WITH NASDAQS MAINTENANCE CRITERIA FOR CONTINUED LISTING ON THE NASDAQ
NATIONAL MARKET, OUR COMMON STOCK COULD BE DELISTED.
To maintain the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq National Market, we are required to
comply with one of two sets of maintenance criteria for continued listing. Under the first set of
criteria, among other things, we must maintain stockholders equity of at least $10 million, the
market value of our publicly held common stock (excluding shares held by our affiliates) must be
at least $5 million, and the minimum bid price for our common stock must be at least $1.00 per
share. Under the second set of criteria, among other things, the market value of our common stock
must be at least $50 million or we must have both $50 million in assets and $50 million in
revenues, the market value of our publicly held shares must be at least $15 million, and the
minimum bid price for our common stock must be at least $1.00 per share. As of March 31, 2006, our
most recent balance sheet date, we had a deficit in stockholders equity, and therefore would not
have been in compliance with the first set of listing criteria as of that date. Although we were in
compliance with the second set of criteria, should the price of our common stock decline to the
point where the aggregate value of our outstanding common stock falls below $50 million, the value
of our publicly held shares falls below $15 million, or the bid price of our common stock falls
below $1.00 per share, our shares could be delisted from the Nasdaq National Market. If we are
unable to comply with the applicable criteria and our common stock is delisted from the Nasdaq
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National Market, it would likely be more difficult to affect trades and to determine the market
price of our common stock. In addition, delisting of our common stock could materially affect the
market price and liquidity of our common stock and our future ability to raise necessary capital.
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE INTERNAL CONTROLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 404 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS AND STOCK PRICE.
If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, as standards are modified,
supplemented, or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an
ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Failure to maintain an effective internal control
environment could have a material adverse effect on our business and stock price.
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS, HIGHER INSURANCE COST, AND POTENTIAL NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS ARE LIKELY
TO IMPACT OUR FUTURE FINANCIAL POSITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
There have been regulatory changes and new accounting pronouncements including the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the recently enacted SFAS No. 123R which have had an effect on our
financial position and results of operations. There may potentially be new accounting
pronouncements or additional regulatory rulings that also have an impact on our future financial
position and results of operations. Under SFAS No. 123R, we have been required since January 1,
2006, to adopt a different method of determining the compensation expense of our employee stock
options. SFAS No. 123R has had a significant adverse effect on our reported financial conditions
and may impact the way we conduct our business. These and other potential changes could materially
increase the expenses we report under generally accepted accounting principles, and adversely
affect our operating results.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are filed herewith:
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Exhibit |
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Number |
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Description |
31.1
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Certification of Victor Viegas, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director,
pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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31.2
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Certification of Stephen Ambler, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President,
Finance, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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32.1
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Certification of Victor Viegas, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director,
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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32.2
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Certification of Stephen Ambler, Chief Financial Officer and Vice
President, Finance, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly
caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: May 10, 2006
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IMMERSION CORPORATION |
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By
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/s/ Stephen Ambler |
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Stephen Ambler |
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Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Finance |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit |
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Number |
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Description |
. |
31.1
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Certification of Victor Viegas, President, Chief Executive Officer, and
Director, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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31.2
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Certification of Stephen Ambler, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President,
Finance, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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32.1
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Certification of Victor Viegas, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director,
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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32.2
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Certification of Stephen Ambler, Chief Financial Officer and Vice
President, Finance, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |