AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES INC - Quarter Report: 2016 September (Form 10-Q)

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016

 

Or

 

 

For the transition period from               to               

 

Commission file number 000-30941

 

AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

108 Cherry Hill Drive

Beverly, Massachusetts 01915

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(978) 787-4000

(Registrant’s 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 ☒  No ☐.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes ☒  No ☐.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)  Yes ☐ No ☒

 

As of October 31, 2016 there were 29,368,142 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

PART 1—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.    Financial Statements.

 

Axcelis Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Axcelis Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements

Axcelis Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Axcelis Technologies, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Axcelis Technologies, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

Note 1.  Nature of Business

 

Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (“Axcelis” or the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware in 1995, and is a worldwide producer of ion implantation and other processing equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductor chips in the United States, Europe and Asia. In addition, the Company provides extensive aftermarket service and support, including spare parts, equipment upgrades, used equipment and maintenance services to the semiconductor industry.

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments which are of a normal recurring nature and considered necessary for a fair presentation of these financial statements have been included. Operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for other interim periods or for the year as a whole.

 

The balance sheet at December 31, 2015 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in Axcelis Technologies, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

 

 

Note 2.  Correction of Accounting Error in Prior Period

 

Subsequent to March 31, 2016, but prior to filing the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, the Company discovered a cumulative error associated with the elimination of profits on sales of inventory to its subsidiaries.  This error had no impact upon the Company’s consolidated statement of operations or consolidated statement of cash flows subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2010.  The following financial statement line items reported in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were affected by the correction of this accounting error:

 

 

This error was associated with transactions occurring prior to September 2010, at which time the Company revised its methodology to compute and eliminate intercompany profits. However, the Company failed to identify and record an entry to eliminate the cumulative error resulting from the prior methodology. This $6.5 million error resulted in an overstatement of inventory and a cumulative understatement of cost of product revenue as of September 2010.  Thereafter, the effect was an overstatement of inventory and understatement of accumulative deficit for each subsequent reporting period.  The consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 have been revised to reflect the correction of the error through a decrease in inventory and an increase in accumulated deficit of $6.5 million.  In the opinion of management, the effect is not material to the consolidated financial position or results of operations for any previously reported period.  However, prior year amounts will be revised, as reflected above, in future filings.

 

 

 

 

Note 3. 1-for-4 Reverse Stock Split 

 

As of 6:00 PM Eastern Time on June 30, 2016, the Company effected a 1-for-4 reverse stock split of its common stock. The Company continues to be traded under its unchanged symbol “ACLS.” All previously reported common stock share amounts in the accompanying financial statements and related notes have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split. As a result of the reduced number of shares outstanding after the reverse stock split, the stated capital attributable to common stock on the Company’s balance sheet (which consists of the unchanged $0.001 par value per share multiplied by the aggregate number of shares issued and outstanding), has been reduced. Correspondingly, the Company’s additional paid-in capital account, which consists of the difference between its stated capital and the aggregate amount paid to the Company upon issuance of all currently outstanding shares of its common stock, has been credited with the amount by which the stated capital was reduced. The Company’s stockholders’ equity, in the aggregate, remains unchanged.

 

Immediately prior to the effectiveness of the reverse stock split, the Company retired 120,000 shares of common stock held in treasury to the status of authorized and unissued.

 

 

 

Note 4.  Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company maintains the Axcelis Technologies, Inc. 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2012 Equity Plan”), which became effective on May 2, 2012, and permits the issuance of options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance awards to selected employees, directors and consultants of the Company. The Company’s 2000 Stock Plan (the “2000 Stock Plan”), expired on May 1, 2012 and no new grants may be made under that plan after that date.  However, unexpired awards granted under the 2000 Stock Plan remain outstanding and subject to the terms of the 2000 Stock Plan. The Company also maintains the Axcelis Technologies, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), an Internal Revenue Code Section 423 plan.

 

The 2012 Equity Plan and the ESPP are more fully described in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $1.9 million and $1.4 million for the three month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $3.9 million and $4.5 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  These amounts include compensation expense related to restricted stock units, non-qualified stock options and stock to be issued to participants under the ESPP.

 

In the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2016, the Company issued 0.2 million and 0.4 million shares of common stock, respectively, in connection with the exercise of stock options, resulting in proceeds of $1.2 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

 

Note 5.  Computation of Net Earnings per Share

 

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders (the numerator) by the weighted‑average number of common shares outstanding (the denominator) for the period. The computation of diluted earnings per share is similar to basic earnings per share, except that the denominator is increased by the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive common shares issuable for stock options, restricted stock units and employee stock purchase plan accounts had been issued, calculated using the treasury stock method. The earnings per share amounts presented within our financial statements and related notes and the related basic and diluted weighted average share amounts stated below have been revised to reflect the 1-for-4 reserve stock split described in Note 3 above.

 

The components of net earnings per share are as follows:

 

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding does not include options and restricted stock units outstanding to purchase 0.9 million and 0.9 million common equivalent shares for the three month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and does not include options and restricted stock units outstanding to purchase 0.9 million and 1.0 million common equivalent shares for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

 

 

 

 

 

Note 6.  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

The following table presents the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, by component for the nine months ended September 30, 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note 7.  Inventories, net

 

The components of inventories are as follows:

 

 

 

The value of raw materials shown for December 31, 2015, reflects the correction of an immaterial error discussed in Note. 2.

 

When recorded, inventory reserves are intended to reduce the carrying value of inventories to their net realizable value. The Company establishes inventory reserves when conditions exist that indicate inventory may be in excess of anticipated demand or is obsolete based upon assumptions about future demand for the Company’s products or market conditions. The Company regularly evaluates the ability to realize the value of inventories based on a combination of factors including the following: forecasted sales or usage, estimated product end of life dates, estimated current and future market value and new product introductions. Purchasing and usage alternatives are also explored to mitigate inventory exposure. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, inventories are stated net of inventory reserves of $9.4 million and $10.5 million, respectively.

 

 

 

Note 8.  Product Warranty

 

The Company generally offers a one year warranty for all of its systems, the terms and conditions of which vary depending upon the product sold. For all systems sold, the Company accrues a liability for the estimated cost of standard warranty at the time of system shipment and defers the portion of systems revenue attributable to the fair value of non-standard warranty. Costs for non-standard warranty are expensed as incurred. Factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the number of installed units, historical and anticipated product failure rates, material usage and service labor costs. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of its recorded liability and adjusts the amount as necessary.

 

The changes in the Company’s standard product warranty liability are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Note 9.  Restructuring Charges

 

In the first quarter of 2016, due to changes in customer service contracts resulting from a consolidation in our customer base, the Company had severance and other costs related to a reduction in force. Changes in the Company’s restructuring liability, which consist primarily of payments made on obligations of severance and related costs (which obligations are included in amounts reported as other current liabilities), are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note 10.  Fair Value Measurements

 

Certain of the assets and liabilities on the Company’s balance sheets are reported at their “fair value.” Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

 

(a)  Fair Value Hierarchy

 

The accounting guidance for fair value measurement requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the level of independent, objective evidence surrounding the inputs used to measure fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:

 

Level 1 - applies to assets or liabilities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2 - applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.

 

Level 3 - applies to assets or liabilities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

 

(b)  Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company’s money market funds are included in cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated balance sheets and are considered a level 1 investment as they are valued at quoted market prices in active markets. The Company’s sale leaseback obligation relating to the sale of our corporate headquarters is carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value based on an implied borrowing rate of 10.65%. The underlying cash flow associated with our lease payments is being applied to both an interest and principal component using the effective interest method over the associated lease term. The liability is categorized as level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s assets and liabilities by level within the fair value hierarchy:

 

 

 

 

 

(c)  Other Financial Instruments

 

The carrying amounts reflected in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents (which are comprised primarily of deposit and investment accounts), accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current and non-current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities.

 

 

 

Note 11.  Financing Arrangements

 

Sale Leaseback Obligation

 

On January 30, 2015, the Company sold its corporate headquarters facility to Beverly Property Owner LLC, an affiliate of Middleton Partners, based in Northbrook, Illinois, for the purchase price of $48.9 million. As part of the sale, the Company also entered into a 22-year lease agreement with Beverly Property Owner LLC. The sale leaseback is accounted for as a financing arrangement for financial reporting and, as such, the Company has recorded a financing obligation of $47.6 million as of September 30, 2016. The associated lease payments are deemed to include both an interest component and payment of principal, with the underlying liability being extinguished at the end of the original lease term. The Company posted a collateralized security deposit of $5.9 million in the form of an irrevocable letter of credit at the time of the closing. This letter of credit is cash collateralized and is classified as restricted cash as of September 30, 2016.

 

 

 

Note 12.  Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense relates principally to operating results of foreign entities in jurisdictions, primarily in Europe and Asia, where the Company earns taxable income. The Company has significant net operating losses in the United States and certain other tax jurisdictions and, as a result, does not pay significant income taxes in those jurisdictions.

 

At December 31, 2015, the Company had $124.2 million of deferred tax assets worldwide relating to net operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards and other temporary differences, which are available to reduce income taxes in future years. The Company maintains a 100% domestic valuation allowance, reducing the carrying value of the deferred tax assets in the United States to zero.  The Company will continue to maintain a full valuation allowance

for those tax assets until accounting principles require the release of the allowance based on expectations of continuing profitability.

 

During the first quarter of 2016, the statute of limitations associated with a tax position previously taken by the Company expired. The related tax reserve of $0.6 million and accrued interest of $0.3 million that had been recorded were reversed during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

 

See Note 15 for the effect of the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-17.

 

 

 

Note 13.  Concentration of Risk

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2016, three customers accounted for 16.0%, 12.0% and 11.7% of consolidated revenue, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, two customers accounted for 12.3% and 10.1% of total revenue, respectively.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2015, two customers accounted for 32.8% and 16.1%, of consolidated revenue, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, one customer accounted for 33.0% of consolidated revenue.

 

At September 30, 2016, two customers accounted for 27.0% and 16.0% consolidated accounts receivable, respectively. At December 31, 2015, three customers accounted for 22.9%, 12.7% and 11.6% of accounts receivable, respectively.

 

 

 

Note 14.  Contingencies

 

(a)  Litigation

 

The Company is, from time to time, a party to litigation that arises in the normal course of its business operations. The Company is not presently a party to any litigation that it believes might have a material adverse effect on its business operations.

 

(b)  Indemnifications

 

The Company’s system sales agreements typically include provisions under which the Company agrees to take certain actions, provide certain remedies and defend its customers against third-party claims of intellectual property infringement under specified conditions and to indemnify customers against any damage and costs awarded in connection with such claims. The Company has not incurred any material costs as a result of such indemnifications and has not accrued any liabilities related to such obligations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

Note 15.  Recent Accounting Guidance

 

Accounting Standards or Updates Recently Adopted

 

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-17, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes.” The amendments in this ASU require entities that present classified statements of financial position to classify deferred tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent. They apply to all entities that present a classified statement of financial position. For public business entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted ASU No. 2015-17 

early, effective June 30, 2016, on a prospective basis.  As a result, we have presented all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent on our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2016, reducing current deferred tax assets by $0.2 million, long-term deferred tax assets by $0.3 million and short-term deferred tax liabilities by $0.5 million. The current deferred tax assets and liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015, have not been reclassified.  

 

Accounting Standards or Updates Not Yet Effective

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which provides guidance for revenue recognition. The standard’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which further clarifies performance obligations in a contract with a customer. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which provides a more narrow interpretation of ASU No. 2014-09. These ASUs are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those annual periods. We are currently assessing the potential impact the adoption of these standards will have on our financial statements.

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory,” which changes the inventory measurement principles for entities using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost methods. For entities utilizing one of these methods, the inventory measurement principle will change from lower of cost or market to the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less the reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The amendments are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on our financial statements and disclosures.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 “Leases.” The ASU requires lessees to recognize the rights and obligations created by most leases as assets and liabilities on their balance sheet and continue to recognize expenses on their income statement over the lease term. It will also require disclosures designed to give financial statement users information on the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. We are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-02 on the consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09 “Compensation — Stock Compensation,” which changes the accounting for stock-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. For public business entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for all entities and any entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period.  The adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on our financial statements and disclosures.

 

 

 

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Certain statements in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Words such as may, will, should, would, anticipates, expects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations and entail various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, among other things, those set forth under "Liquidity and Capital Resources" and under “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A to our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which discussion is incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's analysis only as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

 

 

Overview

 

Axcelis is a worldwide producer of ion implantation and other processing equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductor chips in the United States, Europe and Asia.  In addition, the Company provides extensive aftermarket service and support, including spare parts, equipment upgrades and maintenance services to the semiconductor industry worldwide.  Consolidation and partnering within the semiconductor manufacturing industry has resulted in a small number of customers representing a substantial portion of our business.  Our ten largest customers accounted for 69.0% of total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

 

Our product development and manufacturing activities occur primarily in the United States.  Axcelis’ equipment and service products are highly technical and are sold primarily through a direct sales force in the United States, Europe and Asia.

 

Demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and services has historically been subject to cyclical industry conditions reflecting our customers’ responses to changes in the nature and timing of technological advances in fabrication processes, supply and demand for chips, and global economic and market conditions. Separately from overall market demand, Axcelis’ results are also impacted by our customers’ decisions to purchase our products rather than our competitors’ systems. Our financial results in 2015 reflected increased sales of our innovative Purion ion implantation systems over 2014. Purion sales in the first three quarters of 2016 as compared to the same period in 2015 have declined as a result of a decrease in purchasing by dynamic random access memory (DRAM) sector customers. In 2015 and throughout 2016, we have continued to invest in research and development programs related to our Purion products. We expect to continue to grow Purion system sales, gain market share and improve gross margins.   

 

In light of these conditions, Axcelis' results can vary significantly year-over-year, as well as quarter-over-quarter.  

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

Management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations included herein and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 are based upon Axcelis’ consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions. Management’s estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed 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 under different assumptions or conditions.

 

Management has not identified any need to make any material change in, and has not changed, any of our critical accounting estimates and judgments as described in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth our results of operations as a percentage of total revenue:

 

 

Revenue

 

The following table sets forth our revenue: