CLEARONE INC - Quarter Report: 2006 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
(Mark
One)
x Quarterly
Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
For
the
quarterly period ended September
30, 2006
OR
¨ Transition
Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
For
the
transition period from _______________ to _______________
Commission
file number: 000-17219
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Utah
|
87-0398877
|
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
employer
identification
number)
|
5225
Wiley Post Way, Suite 500
Salt
Lake City, Utah
|
84116
|
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (801)
975-7200
1825
Research Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84119
(Former
address of principal executive offices, if changed since last
report)
Indicate
by check 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
x No
¨
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 larger accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check
one):
Larger
Accelerated Filer ¨
Accelerated Filer ¨
Non-Accelerated Filer x
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No
x
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable date. There were 12,145,068 shares of the
Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001, outstanding on November 13,
2006.
1
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
REPORT
ON FORM 10-Q
FOR
THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006
INDEX
Page
Number
|
||
3
|
||
PART
I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
||
Item
1
|
Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
|
|
4
|
||
5
|
||
7
|
||
9
|
||
Item
2
|
22
|
|
Item
3
|
32
|
|
Item
4
|
32
|
|
PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
|
||
Item
1
|
33
|
|
Item
1A
|
34
|
|
Item
2
|
39
|
|
Item
3
|
40
|
|
Item
4
|
40
|
|
Item
5
|
40
|
|
Item
6
|
40
|
|
|
41
|
2
This
report contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect our views with respect
to future events based upon information available to us at this time. These
forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties and other factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements.
Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the use of the words
“believe,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,”
“project,” “propose,” “plan,” “intend,” and similar words and expressions;
however, not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Examples of
forward-looking statements are statements that describe the proposed
development, manufacturing, and sale of our products; statements that describe
our results of operations, pricing trends, the markets for our products, our
anticipated capital expenditures, our cost reduction and operational
restructuring initiatives, and regulatory developments; statements with regard
to the nature and extent of competition we may face in the future; statements
with respect to the sources of and need for future financing; and statements
with respect to future strategic plans, goals, and objectives. Forward-looking
statements are contained in this report in Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” Item 3,
“Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” and Item 4,
“Controls and Procedures” included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The
forward-looking statements are based on present circumstances and on our
predictions respecting events that have not occurred, that may not occur, or
that may occur with different consequences and timing than those now assumed
or
anticipated. Actual events or results may differ materially from those discussed
in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including
the
risk factors discussed in this report under Part II - Other Information, Item
1A, “Risk Factors” and the application of “Critical Accounting Policies” as
discussed in Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations.” These cautionary statements are intended
to be applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear
in this report. The cautionary statements contained or referred to in this
report should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written
or
oral forward-looking statements that may be issued by us or persons acting
on
our behalf. Any forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of
this
report and ClearOne assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements
to reflect subsequent events, changes in circumstances, or changes in estimates.
3
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
September
30,
|
June
30,
|
||||||
2006
|
2006
|
||||||
ASSETS
|
|||||||
Current
assets:
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
1,734
|
$
|
1,240
|
|||
Marketable
securities
|
20,550
|
20,550
|
|||||
Accounts
receivable
|
7,300
|
7,784
|
|||||
Note
receivable
|
153
|
-
|
|||||
Inventories,
net
|
6,179
|
6,614
|
|||||
Income
tax receivable
|
2,548
|
2,607
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes, net
|
94
|
128
|
|||||
Prepaid
expenses
|
188
|
255
|
|||||
Net
Assets of Discontinued Operations
|
-
|
565
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
38,746
|
39,743
|
|||||
Property
and equipment, net
|
1,473
|
1,647
|
|||||
Note
receivable - long-term
|
166
|
-
|
|||||
Other
assets
|
22
|
15
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
40,407
|
$
|
41,405
|
|||
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|||||||
Current
liabilities:
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$
|
1,643
|
$
|
2,597
|
|||
Accrued
liabilities
|
2,136
|
2,397
|
|||||
Deferred
product revenue
|
5,249
|
5,871
|
|||||
Total
current liabilities
|
9,028
|
10,865
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes, net
|
94
|
128
|
|||||
Total
liabilities
|
9,122
|
10,993
|
|||||
Commitments
and contingencies (see Note 8)
|
|||||||
Shareholders'
equity:
|
|||||||
Common
stock, par value $0.001, 50,000,000 shares authorized,
|
|||||||
12,185,427
and 12,184,727 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
|
12
|
12
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
52,997
|
52,764
|
|||||
Treasury
stock
|
(37
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(21,687
|
)
|
(22,364
|
)
|
|||
Total
shareholders' equity
|
31,285
|
30,412
|
|||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$
|
40,407
|
$
|
41,405
|
|||
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
statements
|
4
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Product
Revenue:
|
$
|
9,411
|
$
|
8,778
|
|||
Cost
of goods sold:
|
|||||||
Product
|
4,205
|
3,921
|
|||||
Product
inventory write-offs
|
111
|
93
|
|||||
Total
cost of goods sold
|
4,316
|
4,014
|
|||||
Gross
profit
|
5,095
|
4,764
|
|||||
Operating
expenses:
|
|||||||
Marketing
and selling
|
1,918
|
1,812
|
|||||
General
and administrative
|
809
|
1,771
|
|||||
Settlement
in shareholders' class action
|
-
|
(1,205
|
)
|
||||
Research
and product development
|
2,079
|
1,799
|
|||||
Total
operating expenses
|
4,806
|
4,177
|
|||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
289
|
587
|
|||||
Other
income (expense), net:
|
|||||||
Interest
income
|
307
|
159
|
|||||
Other,
net
|
25
|
7
|
|||||
Total
other income (expense), net
|
332
|
166
|
|||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
|
621
|
753
|
|||||
Benefit
from income taxes
|
19
|
222
|
|||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations
|
640
|
975
|
|||||
Discontinued
operations:
|
|||||||
Income
from discontinued operations
|
55
|
118
|
|||||
Gain
on disposal of discontinued operations
|
3
|
1,496
|
|||||
Income
tax provision
|
(21
|
)
|
(602
|
)
|
|||
Income
from discontinued operations
|
37
|
1,012
|
|||||
Net
income
|
$
|
677
|
$
|
1,987
|
|||
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
statements
|
5
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Basic
earnings (loss) per common share from continuing
operations
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.09
|
|||
Diluted
earnings (loss) per common share from continuing
operations
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.08
|
|||
Basic
earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued
operations
|
$
|
0.00
|
$
|
0.09
|
|||
Diluted
earnings (loss) per common share from discontinued
operations
|
$
|
0.00
|
$
|
0.08
|
|||
Basic
earnings (loss) per common share
|
$
|
0.06
|
$
|
0.18
|
|||
Diluted
earnings (loss) per common share
|
$
|
0.06
|
$
|
0.16
|
|||
Basic
weighted average shares
|
12,184,849
|
11,284,244
|
|||||
Diluted
weighted average shares
|
12,231,744
|
12,278,664
|
|||||
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
statements
|
6
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|||||||
Net
income from continuing operations
|
$
|
640
|
$
|
975
|
|||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) from continuing operations
|
|||||||
to
net cash provided by operations:
|
|||||||
Depreciation
and amortization expense
|
268
|
326
|
|||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
230
|
342
|
|||||
Write-off
of inventory
|
111
|
93
|
|||||
(Gain)
loss on disposal of assets and fixed assets write-offs
|
-
|
(40
|
)
|
||||
Provision
for doubtful accounts
|
-
|
3
|
|||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
484
|
(414
|
)
|
||||
Note
receivable - Ken-A-Vision
|
(319
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Inventories
|
324
|
661
|
|||||
Prepaid
expenses and other assets
|
67
|
(280
|
)
|
||||
Accounts
payable
|
(954
|
)
|
(430
|
)
|
|||
Accrued
liabilities
|
(261
|
)
|
(1,357
|
)
|
|||
Income
taxes
|
59
|
380
|
|||||
Deferred
product revenue
|
(622
|
)
|
(207
|
)
|
|||
Net
change in other assets/liabilities
|
(6
|
)
|
1
|
||||
Net
cash provided by continuing operating activities
|
21
|
53
|
|||||
Net
cash provided by discontinued operating activities
|
35
|
527
|
|||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
56
|
580
|
|||||
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|||||||
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
(112
|
)
|
(64
|
)
|
|||
Proceeds
from the sale of property and equipment
|
18
|
43
|
|||||
Purchase
of marketable securities
|
-
|
(3,000
|
)
|
||||
Sale
of marketable securities
|
-
|
1,800
|
|||||
Net
cash used in continuing investing activities
|
(94
|
)
|
(1,221
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash provided by discontinued investing activities
|
567
|
938
|
|||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
473
|
(283
|
)
|
||||
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from common stock
|
2
|
-
|
|||||
Common
stock purchased and retired
|
(37
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Net
cash used in continuing financing activities
|
(35
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Net
cash used in discontinued financing activities
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
(35
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Net
increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
494
|
297
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
|
1,240
|
1,892
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at the end of the period
|
$
|
1,734
|
$
|
2,189
|
|||
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
statements
|
7
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Supplemental
disclosure of cash flow information:
|
|||||||
Cash
paid for interest
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|||
Cash
paid (received) for income taxes
|
(57
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Supplemental
disclosure of non-cash financing activities:
|
|||||||
Value
of common shares issued in shareholder settlement
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
2,264
|
|||
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
statements
|
8
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
1.
Basis of Presentation
The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, consisting
of the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2006 and June
30, 2006, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three
months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 and the condensed consolidated
statements of cash flows for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and
2005,
have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions
to Form 10-Q of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote
disclosures normally included in complete financial statements have been
condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should
be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes
thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
June 30, 2006.
In
management’s opinion, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring
adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.
The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative
of
the results of operations to be expected for the entire year or for any future
period.
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policy Update
Pervasiveness
of Estimates
- The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of sales and expenses during
the reporting periods. Key estimates in the accompanying condensed consolidated
financial statements include, among others, revenue recognition, allowances
for
doubtful accounts and product returns, provisions for obsolete inventory,
valuation of long-lived assets including goodwill, and deferred income tax
asset
valuation allowances. Actual results could differ materially from these
estimates.
Revenue
Recognition
- The
Company evaluates, at each quarter-end, the inventory in the channel through
information provided by certain of its distributors. The level of
inventory in the channel will fluctuate up or down, each quarter, based upon
these distributors’ individual operations. Accordingly, each quarter-end
revenue deferral is calculated and recorded based upon the underlying, estimated
channel inventory at quarter-end. The amounts of deferred cost of goods
sold were included in consigned inventory. The following table details the
amount of deferred revenue, cost of goods sold, and gross profit at each period
end for the 21-month period ended September 30, 2006.
Deferred
Revenue
|
Deferred
Cost of Goods Sold
|
Deferred
Gross Profit
|
||||||||
September
30, 2006
|
$
|
5,249
|
$
|
2,541
|
$
|
2,708
|
||||
June
30, 2006
|
5,871
|
2,817
|
3,054
|
|||||||
March
31, 2006
|
5,355
|
2,443
|
2,912
|
|||||||
December
31, 2005
|
4,936
|
2,199
|
2,737
|
|||||||
September
30, 2005
|
4,848
|
2,373
|
2,475
|
|||||||
June
30, 2005
|
5,055
|
2,297
|
2,758
|
|||||||
March
31, 2005
|
5,456
|
2,321
|
3,135
|
|||||||
December
31, 2004
|
4,742
|
1,765
|
2,977
|
9
Share-Based
Payment
In
December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No.
123R, “Share-Based Payment.” SFAS No. 123R is a revision of SFAS No. 123. SFAS
No. 123R establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which
an
entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services. Primarily, SFAS
No. 123R focuses on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains
employee services in share-based payment transactions. It also addresses
transactions in which an entity incurs liabilities in exchange for goods or
services that are based on the fair value of the entity’s equity instruments or
that may be settled by the issuance of those equity instruments.
SFAS
No.
123R requires the Company to measure the cost of employee services received
in
exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant date fair value
of the award (with limited exceptions). That cost will be recognized over the
period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange
for
the awards - the requisite service period (usually the vesting period). No
compensation cost is recognized for equity instruments for which employees
do
not render the requisite service. Therefore, if an employee does not ultimately
render the requisite service, the costs associated with the unvested options
will not be recognized, cumulatively.
Effective
July 1, 2005, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123R and its fair value recognition
provisions using the modified prospective transition method. Under this
transition method, stock-based compensation cost recognized after July 1, 2005
includes the straight-line basis compensation cost for (a) all share-based
payments granted prior to July 1, 2005, but not yet vested, based on the grant
date fair values used for the pro-forma disclosures under the original SFAS No.
123 and (b) all share-based payments granted or modified on or after July 1,
2005, in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123R. See Note 9 for
information about the Company’s various share-based compensation plans, the
impact of adoption of SFAS No. 123R, and the assumptions used to calculate
the
fair value of share-based compensation.
If
assumptions change in the application of SFAS No. 123R in future periods, the
stock-based compensation cost ultimately recorded under SFAS No. 123R may differ
significantly from what was recorded in the current period.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting
for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
In
July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”),
Accounting
for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,
which
clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the
financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109,
Accounting
for Income Taxes.
FIN 48
provides guidance on the financial statement recognition and measurement of
a
tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides
guidance on recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting
in
interim periods, disclosures, and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2006. We are currently evaluating the
impact of FIN 48 on our consolidated financial statements.
Inventory
Costs
In
November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs - an Amendment of
ARB No. 43,” which is the result of its efforts to converge U.S. accounting
standards for inventories with International Accounting Standards. SFAS No.
151
requires idle facility expenses, freight, handling costs, and wasted material
(spoilage) costs to be recognized as current-period charges. It also requires
that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be
based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. SFAS No. 151 was
effective beginning with the Company’s fiscal 2006 financial statements. There
was not a significant impact on the Company’s business, results of operations,
financial position, or liquidity from the adoption of this
standard.
10
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
Accounting
Changes and Error Corrections
In
May
2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections -
a Replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3,” in order to
converge U.S. accounting standards with International Accounting Standards.
SFAS
No. 154 changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a
change in accounting principle. Previously, most voluntary changes in accounting
principles required recognition of a cumulative effect adjustment within net
income of the period of the change. SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective
application to prior periods’ financial statements, unless it is impracticable
to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of
the
change. SFAS No. 154 is effective for accounting changes made in fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2005; however, it does not change the transition
provisions of any existing accounting pronouncements. The Company does not
believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 154 will have a material effect on its
business, results of operations, financial position, or liquidity.
3.
Earnings Per Common Share
The
following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss)
per common share:
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
(in
thousands of dollars,
except
per share amounts)
|
|||||||
Numerator:
|
|||||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations
|
$
|
640
|
$
|
975
|
|||
Income
(loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
|
35
|
74
|
|||||
Gain
(loss) on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax
|
2
|
938
|
|||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$
|
677
|
$
|
1,987
|
|||
Denominator:
|
|||||||
Basic
weighted average shares
|
12,184,849
|
11,284,244
|
|||||
Dilutive
common stock equivalents using treasury stock method
|
46,895
|
994,420
|
|||||
Diluted
weighted average shares
|
12,231,744
|
12,278,664
|
|||||
Basic
earnings (loss) per common share:
|
|||||||
Continuing
operations
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.09
|
|||
Discontinued
operations
|
0.00
|
0.01
|
|||||
Disposal
of discontinued operations
|
0.00
|
0.08
|
|||||
Net
income (loss)
|
0.06
|
0.18
|
|||||
Diluted
earnings (loss) per common share:
|
|||||||
Continuing
operations
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.08
|
|||
Discontinued
operations
|
0.00
|
0.01
|
|||||
Disposal
of discontinued operations
|
0.00
|
0.08
|
|||||
Net
income (loss)
|
0.06
|
0.16
|
Options
that had an exercise price greater than the average market price of the common
shares (“Out-of-the-Money Options”) during the respective period were not
included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as the effect would
be
anti-dilutive. An average total of 1,231,591 and 1,454,061 Out-of-the-Money
Options were not included during the three months ended September 30, 2006
and
2005, respectively. Warrants to purchase 150,000 shares of common stock were
outstanding as of September 30, 2006 and 2005, but were not included in the
computation of diluted earnings per share as the effect would be anti-dilutive.
The Company issued 228,000 shares in November 2004 and 920,494 shares in
September 2005.
11
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
4.
Discontinued Operations
During
the first fiscal quarter of 2007, the Company completed the sales of its
document and educational camera product line to Ken-A-Vision Manufacturing.
Additionally, during fiscal 2005, the Company sold its Canadian audiovisual
integration services, OM Video, to 6351352 Canada Inc, a Canada corporation
(the
“OM Purchaser”). Accordingly, the results of operations and the financial
position have been reclassified in the accompanying condensed consolidated
financial statements as discontinued operations. Finally, during fiscal 2001,
the Company sold certain assets to Burk Technology, Inc. (“Burk”) whose sales
proceeds are included with discontinued operations. Summary operating results
of
the discontinued operations are as follows:
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Income
from discontinued operations:
|
|||||||
Ken-A-Vision
|
$
|
55
|
$
|
118
|
|||
Gain
on disposal of discontinued operations:
|
|||||||
Ken-A-Vision
|
$
|
3
|
$
|
-
|
|||
OM
Video
|
-
|
150
|
|||||
Burk
|
-
|
1,346
|
|||||
Total
gain on disposal of discontinued operations
|
3
|
1,496
|
|||||
Income
tax (provision) benefit:
|
|||||||
Ken-A-Vision
|
$
|
(21
|
)
|
$
|
(44
|
)
|
|
OM
Video
|
-
|
(56
|
)
|
||||
Burk
|
-
|
(502
|
)
|
||||
Total
income tax (provision) benefit
|
(21
|
)
|
(602
|
)
|
|||
Total
income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes:
|
|||||||
Ken-A-Vision
|
$
|
37
|
$
|
74
|
|||
OM
Video
|
-
|
94
|
|||||
Burk
|
-
|
844
|
|||||
Total
income from discontinued operations,
|
|||||||
net
of income taxes
|
$
|
37
|
$
|
1,012
|
Document
and Camera Product Line
On
August
23, 2006, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Ken-A-Vision
Manufacturing Company, Inc. (“KAV”), a privately held manufacturer of camera
solutions for education, audio visual, research, and manufacturing applications,
to sell inventory, equipment, tools, and certain intellectual property
pertaining to its document and education camera product line. KAV also agreed
to assume certain warranty obligations with respect to historical Company
camera product sales. The purchase price, which was subject to adjustment based
upon the quantities of a mix of finished good inventory to be delivered to
KAV, as defined in the agreement, was $635, payable in cash and a 24-month
note
receivable. The sale closed on August 30, 2006.
12
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
OM
Video
On
March
4, 2005, the Company sold all of the issued and outstanding stock of its
Canadian subsidiary, ClearOne Communications of Canada, Inc. (“ClearOne Canada”)
to 6351352 Canada Inc., a Canada corporation. ClearOne Canada owned all the
issued and outstanding stock of Stechyson Electronics, Ltd., which conducts
business under the name OM Video. The Company agreed to sell the stock of
ClearOne Canada for $200 in cash; a $1,256 note receivable over a 15-month
period, with interest accruing on the unpaid balance at the rate of 5.3 percent
per year; and contingent consideration ranging from 3.0 percent to 4.0 percent
of related gross revenues over a five-year period. In June 2005, the Company
was
advised that the OM Purchaser had settled an action brought by the former
employer of certain of OM Purchaser’s owners and employees alleging violation of
non-competition agreements. The settlement reportedly involved a cash payment
and an agreement not to sell certain products for a period of one year. Based
on
an analysis of the facts and circumstances that existed at the end of fiscal
2005, and considering the guidance from Topic 5U of the SEC Rules and
Regulations, “Gain Recognition on the Sale of a Business or Operating Assets to
a Highly Leveraged Entity,” the gain is being recognized as cash is collected
(as collection was not reasonably assured). OM Video pre-tax income (loss),
reported in discontinued operations, for the three months ended September 30,
2005 was $150. Through December 31, 2005, all payments required through such
date had been received and $854 of the promissory note remained outstanding;
however, 6351352 Canada Inc. failed to make any subsequent, required payments
under the note receivable until June 30, 2006, when we received a payment of
$50. The note receivable is in default and we are currently considering our
collection options.
Burk
On
August
22, 2005, the Company entered into a Mutual Release and Waiver Agreement with
Burk pursuant to which Burk paid the Company $1,346 in full satisfaction of
the
promissory note, which included a discount of $119. As part of the Mutual
Release and Waiver Agreement, the Company waived any right to future commission
payments from Burk. Additionally, Burk and the Company granted mutual releases
to one another with respect to future claims and liabilities. Accordingly,
the
total pre-tax gain on the disposal of discontinued operations, related to Burk,
was approximately $2,419. The gain was recognized beginning in fiscal 2001.
The
Company realized pre-tax gain on the disposal of discontinued operations of
$1,346 during the three months ended September 30, 2005.
5.
Income Taxes
During
the three months ended September 30, 2006, the Company recorded a benefit for
income taxes from continuing operations of $19. This compares to a benefit
for
income taxes of $222 during the three months ended September 30, 2005. Taxes
are
based on the estimated annual effective tax rate.
SFAS
No.
109, “Accounting
for Income Taxes,”
requires
that a valuation allowance be established when it is more likely than not that
all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.
As of
September 30, 2006, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance against
all
of its net deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of realization of the
assets. Based on the Company’s lack of cumulative profitability in recent years
it is more likely than not that all of the net deferred tax assets will not
be
realized.
6.
Inventory
Inventories,
net of reserves, consist of the following as of September 30, 2006 and June
30,
2006:
September
30,
|
June
30,
|
||||||
2006
|
2006
|
||||||
Raw
materials
|
$
|
188
|
$
|
513
|
|||
Finished
goods
|
3,450
|
3,284
|
|||||
Consigned
inventory
|
2,541
|
2,817
|
|||||
Total
inventory
|
$
|
6,179
|
$
|
6,614
|
13
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
Consigned
inventory represents inventory at distributors and other customers where revenue
recognition criteria have not been achieved.
7.
Accrued Liabilities
Accrued
liabilities consist of the following as of September 30, 2006 and June 30,
2006:
September
30,
|
June
30,
|
||||||
2006
|
2006
|
||||||
Accrued
salaries and other compensation
|
$
|
800
|
$
|
1,150
|
|||
Other
accrued liabilities
|
1,336
|
1,247
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
2,136
|
$
|
2,397
|
8.
Commitments and Contingencies
The
Company establishes contingent liabilities when a particular contingency is
both
probable and estimable. For the contingencies noted below, the Company has
accrued amounts considered probable and estimable. The Company is not aware
of
pending claims or assessments, other than as described below, which may have
a
material adverse impact on the Company’s business, results of operations,
financial position, or liquidity.
Outsource
Manufacturer.
On
August 11, 2003, the Company entered into a manufacturing agreement with an
international outsource manufacturer related to the outsourced manufacturing
of
certain of its products. The manufacturing agreement established annual volume
commitments. In the event annual volume commitments are not met, the Company
will be subject to a tooling amortization charge for the difference between
the
Company’s volume commitment and its actual product purchases. For the calendar
year ended December 31, 2004, the Company was also responsible for prepayment
of
$274 in certain raw material inventory related to the annual volume commitment.
As of September 30, 2006, $30 of the prepayment remained outstanding. The
Company is also obligated to repurchase all raw materials sold to the
international outsource manufacturer.
On
August
1, 2005, the Company entered into a manufacturing agreement with a domestic
outsource manufacturer related to the outsourced manufacturing of certain of
its
products. The raw materials owned by the Company were consigned to the
manufacturer at August 1, 2005 in the amount of $2,285. The consigned raw
material balance at September 30, 2006 was $175. The agreement established
annual volume commitments and forecasting requirements. When the manufacturer
procures materials for the forecast and actual orders do not meet the forecast,
the Company is responsible to advance to the manufacturer the value of the
inventory greater than a 90 day supply. The amount advanced to the domestic
manufacturer at September 30, 2006 was $657. The consigned raw material balance
and the amount advanced to the domestic manufacturer, net of estimated reserves,
is included in raw materials.
Legal
Proceedings.
In
addition to the legal proceedings described below, the Company is also involved
from time to time in various claims and other legal proceedings which arise
in
the normal course of business. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties
and outcomes that are not predictable. However, based on the information
available to the Company as of November 1, 2006 and after discussions with
legal
counsel, the Company does not believe any such other proceedings will have
a
material, adverse effect on its business, results of operations, financial
position, or liquidity, except as described below.
14
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
The
Shareholders’ Class Action
. On
June 30, 2003, a consolidated complaint was filed against the Company,
eight present or former officers and directors of the Company, and Ernst &
Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”), the Company’s former independent public
accountants, by a class consisting of purchasers of the Company’s common stock
during the period from April 17, 2001 through January 15, 2003. The action
followed the consolidation of several previously filed class action complaints
and the appointment of lead counsel for the class. The allegations in the
complaint were essentially the same as those contained in the SEC complaint
described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June
30, 2005. On December 4, 2003, the Company, on behalf of itself and all other
defendants with the exception of Ernst & Young, entered into a settlement
agreement with the class pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay the class
$5,000 and to issue the class 1.2 million shares of its common stock. The cash
payment was made in two equal installments, the first on November 10, 2003
and
the second on January 14, 2005. On May 23, 2005, the court order was amended
to
require the Company to pay cash in lieu of stock to those members of the class
who would otherwise have been entitled to receive fewer than 100 shares of
stock. On September 29, 2005, the Company completed its obligations under the
settlement agreement by issuing a total of 1,148,494 shares of the Company’s
common stock to the plaintiff class, including 228,000 shares previously issued
in November 2004, and the Company paid an aggregate of $127 in cash in lieu
of
shares to those members of the class who would otherwise have been entitled
to
receive an odd-lot number of shares or who resided in states in which there
was
no exemption available for the issuance of shares. The cash payments were
calculated on the basis of $2.46 per share which was equal to the higher of
(i)
the closing price for the Company’s common stock as reported by the Pink Sheets
on the business day prior to the date the shares were mailed, or (ii) the
average closing price over the five trading days prior to such mailing
date.
On
a
quarterly basis, the Company revalued the un-issued shares to the closing price
of the stock on the later of the date the shares were mailed or the last day
of
the quarter. During fiscal 2006 and 2005, the Company received a benefit of
approximately $1,205 and $2,046, respectively, while during fiscal 2004 the
Company incurred an expense of approximately $4,080 related to the revaluation
of the 1.2 million shares of the Company’s common stock that were issued in
November 2004 and September 2005.
The
Shareholder Derivative Actions.
Between
March and August 2003, four shareholder derivative actions were filed by
certain shareholders of the Company against various present and past officers
and directors of the Company and against Ernst & Young. The complaints
asserted allegations similar to those asserted in an SEC complaint described
in
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2005 and
the shareholders’ class action described above and also alleged that the
defendant directors and officers violated their fiduciary duties to the Company
by causing or allowing the Company to recognize revenue in violation of
generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and to issue materially
misstated financial statements and that Ernst & Young breached its
professional responsibilities to the Company and acted in violation of GAAP
by
failing to identify or prevent the alleged revenue recognition violations and
by
issuing unqualified audit opinions with respect to the Company’s fiscal 2002 and
2001 financial statements. One of these actions was dismissed without prejudice
on June 13, 2003. As to the other three actions, the Company’s Board of
Directors appointed a special litigation committee of independent directors
to
evaluate the claims made by these shareholders. That committee determined that
the maintenance of the derivative proceedings against the individual defendants
was not in the best interest of the Company. Accordingly, on December 12, 2003,
the Company moved to dismiss those claims. In March 2004, the Company’s
motions to dismiss those claims were granted and the derivative claims were
dismissed with prejudice as to all defendants except Ernst & Young. The
Company was substituted as the plaintiff in the action and is now pursuing
in
its own name the claims against Ernst & Young.
15
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
The
Insurance Coverage Action.
On
February 9, 2004, the Company and Edward Dallin Bagley, the Chairman of the
Board of Directors and a significant shareholder of the Company, jointly filed
an action against National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania (“National Union”) and Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company of
Berkeley Heights, New Jersey (“Lumbermens Mutual”), the carriers of certain
prior period directors and officers’ liability insurance policies, to recover
the costs of defending and resolving claims against certain of the Company’s
present and former directors and officers in connection with the SEC complaint,
the shareholders’ class action, and the shareholder derivative actions described
above, and seeking other damages resulting from the refusal of such carriers
to
timely pay the amounts owing under such liability insurance policies. This
action has been consolidated into a declaratory relief action filed by one
of
the insurance carriers on February 6, 2004 against the Company and certain
of
its current and former directors. In this action, the insurers assert that
they
are entitled to rescind insurance coverage under our directors and officers
liability insurance policies, $3,000 of which was provided by National Union
and
$2,000 of which was provided by Lumbermens Mutual, based on alleged
misstatements in the Company’s insurance applications. In February 2005, the
Company entered into a confidential settlement agreement with Lumbermens Mutual
pursuant to which the Company and Mr. Bagley received a lump-sum cash amount
and
the plaintiffs agreed to dismiss their claims against Lumbermens Mutual with
prejudice. The cash settlement is held in a segregated account until the claims
involving National Union have been resolved, at which time the amounts received
in the action will be allocated between the Company and Mr. Bagley. The amount
distributed to the Company and Mr. Bagley will be determined based on future
negotiations between the Company and Mr. Bagley. The Company cannot currently
estimate the amount of the settlement which it will ultimately receive. Upon
determining the amount of the settlement which the Company will ultimately
receive, the Company will record this as a contingent gain. None of the cash
held in the segregated account is recorded as an asset at September 30, 2006.
On
October 21, 2005, the court granted summary judgment in favor of National Union
on its rescission defense and accordingly entered a judgment dismissing all
of
the claims asserted by the Company and Mr. Bagley. In connection with the
summary judgment, the Company has been ordered to pay approximately $59 in
expenses. However, due to the Lumbermans Mutual cash proceeds discussed above
and the appeal to the summary judgment discussed below, this potential liability
has not been recorded in the balance sheet as of September 30, 2006. On February
2, 2006, the Company and Mr. Bagley filed an appeal to the summary judgment
granted on October 21, 2005 and intend to vigorously pursue the appeal and
any
follow-up proceedings regarding their claims against National Union, although
no
assurances can be given that they will be successful. The Company and Mr. Bagley
have entered into a Joint Prosecution and Defense Agreement in connection with
the action and the Company is paying all litigation expenses except litigation
expenses which are solely related to Mr. Bagley’s claims in the litigation. The
Company has recognized and continues to recognize the expenses incurred related
to this action at the dates incurred.
9.
Share-Based Payment
The
Company’s share-based compensation primarily consists of the following
plans:
On
September 30, 2006, the Company had two share-based compensation plans, one
which expired on December 15, 2005, and one which remains active, which are
described below.
The
Company’s 1990 Incentive Plan (the “1990 Plan”) had shares of common stock
available for issuance to employees and directors. Provisions of the 1990 Plan
included the granting of stock options. Generally, stock options vested over
a
five-year period at 10 percent, 15 percent, 20 percent, 25 percent, and 30
percent per year. Certain other stock options vested in full after eight years.
As of September 30, 2006, there were no options outstanding under the 1990
Plan
and no additional options were available for grant under such plan.
The
Company also has a 1998 Stock Option Plan (the “1998 Plan”). Provisions of the
1998 Plan include the granting of 2,500,000 incentive and non-qualified stock
options. Options may be granted to directors, officers, and key employees and
may be granted upon such terms as the Board of Directors, in their sole
discretion, determine. Through December 1999, 1,066,000 options were granted
that would cliff vest after 9.8 years; however, such vesting was accelerated
for
637,089 of these options upon meeting certain earnings per share goals through
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003. Subsequent to December 1999 and through
June 2002, 1,248,250 options were granted that would cliff vest after 6.0 years;
however, such vesting was accelerated for 300,494 of these options upon meeting
certain earnings per share goals through the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005.
As
of September 30, 2006, 22,500 and 150,500 of these options that cliff vest
after
9.8 and 6.0 years, respectively, remain outstanding.
16
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
Of
the
options granted subsequent to June 2002, all vesting schedules are based on
3 or
4-year vesting schedules, with either one-third or one-fourth vesting on the
first anniversary and the remaining options vesting ratably over the remainder
of the vesting term. Generally, directors and officers have 3-year vesting
schedules and all other employees have 4-year vesting schedules. Additionally,
in the event of a change in control or the occurrence of a corporate transaction
all directors and officers’ unvested options shall vest and become exercisable
immediately prior to the event or closing of the transaction. All options
outstanding as of September 30, 2006 had contractual lives of ten years. Under
the 1998 Plan, 2,500,000 shares were authorized for grant. The 1998 Plan expires
June 10, 2008, or when all the shares available under the plan have been issued
if this occurs earlier. As of September 30, 2006, there were 1,251,921 options
outstanding under the 1998 Plan, which includes the cliff vesting and 3 or
4-year vesting options discussed above, and 945,255 options available for grant
in the future.
In
addition to the two stock option plans, the Company has an Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). Employees can purchase common stock through payroll
deductions of up to 10 percent of their base pay. Amounts deducted and
accumulated by the employees are used to purchase shares of common stock on
the
first day of each month. The Company contributes to the account of the employee
one share of common stock for every nine shares purchased by the employee under
the ESPP. The program was suspended during the period the Company failed to
remain current in its filing of periodic reports with the SEC and reinstated
in
fiscal year 2007 after the Company became current.
Effective
July 1, 2005, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment.” The
Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123R using
the
modified prospective transition method. Under this transition method,
stock-based compensation cost recognized beginning July 1, 2005 includes the
straight-line compensation cost for (a) all share-based payments granted prior
to July 1, 2005, but not yet vested, based on the grant date fair values used
in
the pro-forma disclosures under the original SFAS No. 123 and (b) all
share-based payments granted on or after July 1, 2005, in accordance with the
provisions of SFAS No. 123R.
The
Company uses judgment in determining the fair value of the share-based payments
on the date of grant using an option-pricing model with assumptions regarding
a
number of highly complex and subjective variables. These variables include,
but
are not limited to, the risk-free interest rate of the awards, the expected
life
of the awards, the expected volatility over the term of the awards, the expected
dividends of the awards, and an estimate of the amount of awards that are
expected to be forfeited. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing
model to determine the fair value of share-based payments granted under SFAS
No.
123R and the original SFAS No. 123.
In
applying the Black-Scholes methodology to the options granted during the three
months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company used the following
assumptions:
Three
Months Ended
|
||
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
|
2006
|
2005
|
|
Risk-free
interest rate, average
|
4.8%
|
4.1%
|
Expected
option life, average
|
4.6
years
|
5.8
years
|
Expected
price volatility, average
|
88.4%
|
88.3%
|
Expected
dividend yield
|
0.0%
|
0.0%
|
Expected
annual forfeiture rate
|
10.0%
|
10.0%
|
The
risk-free interest rate is determined using the U.S. Treasury rate in effect
as
of the date of the grant, based on the expected life of the stock option. The
expected life of the stock option is determined using historical data. The
expected price volatility is determined using a weighted average of daily
historical volatility of the Company’s stock price over the corresponding
expected option life. The Company does not currently intend to distribute any
dividend payments to shareholders. The Company recognizes compensation cost
net
of an expected forfeiture rate and recognized the associated compensation cost
for only those awards expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the
underlying requisite service period. The Company estimated the forfeiture rates
based on its historical experience and expectations about future forfeitures.
The Company determined the annual forfeiture rate for options that will cliff
vest after 9.8 or 6.0 years to be 38.0 percent and the annual forfeiture rate
for options that vest on 3 or 4-year vesting schedules to be 10.0
percent.
17
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
In
the
three months ended September 30, 2006, the adoption of SFAS No. 123R resulted
in
incremental, pre-tax, stock-based compensation cost of $230. For the three
months ended September 30, 2006, the Company expensed $10 in cost of goods
sold,
$25 in marketing and selling, $167 in general and administrative, and $28 in
research and product development expense related to the transition to SFAS
No.
123R. The stock-based compensation cost associated with adoption of SFAS No.
123R reduced net operating income for the three months ended September 30,
2006
by $230, decreased net income by $144, and reduced basic and diluted earnings
per share by $0.01 per share. The total income tax provision (benefit) related
to share-based compensation for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was
($86).
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
September
30,
|
|||||||
2006
|
|||||||
SFAS
|
|||||||
No.
123R
|
|||||||
Compensation
|
|||||||
As
Reported
|
Expense
|
||||||
Revenue
|
$
|
9,411
|
$
|
-
|
|||
Cost
of goods sold
|
4,316
|
10
|
|||||
Gross
profit
|
5,095
|
(10
|
)
|
||||
Operating
expenses:
|
|||||||
Marketing
and selling
|
1,918
|
25
|
|||||
General
and administrative
|
809
|
167
|
|||||
Research
and product development
|
2,079
|
28
|
|||||
Total
operating expenses
|
4,806
|
220
|
|||||
Operating
(loss) income
|
289
|
(230
|
)
|
||||
Other
income (expense), net
|
332
|
-
|
|||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
|
621
|
(230
|
)
|
||||
Benefit
for income taxes
|
19
|
86
|
|||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations
|
640
|
(144
|
)
|
||||
Income
from discontinued operations, net of tax
|
37
|
-
|
|||||
Net
income
|
$
|
677
|
$
|
(144
|
)
|
||
Basic
earnings (loss) per common share:
|
|||||||
Continuing
operations
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.01
|
|||
Discontinued
operations
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Net
income
|
0.06
|
0.01
|
|||||
Diluted
earnings (loss) per common share:
|
|||||||
Continuing
operations
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.01
|
|||
Discontinued
operations
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Net
income
|
0.06
|
0.01
|
As
of
September 30, 2006, the total compensation cost related to unvested stock
options not yet recognized was $1,414 which is expected to be recognized over
the next 4.0 years on a straight-line basis. The weighted-average estimated
fair
value of the stock options granted during the three months ended September
30,
2006 and 2005 was $3.57 and $2.91, per share, respectively.
18
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
The
following table shows the stock option activity for the three months ended
September 30, 2006.
Stock
Options
|
Number
of Shares
|
Weighted
Average Exercise Price
|
Weighted
Remaining Contractual Term (years)
|
|||||||
Outstanding
at June 30, 2006
|
1,237,920
|
$
|
6.12
|
|||||||
Granted
|
321,000
|
3.57
|
||||||||
Expired
and canceled
|
(275,720
|
)
|
6.91
|
|||||||
Forfeited
prior to vesting
|
(30,579
|
)
|
3.90
|
|||||||
Exercised
|
(700
|
)
|
2.88
|
|||||||
Outstanding
at September 30, 2006
|
1,251,921
|
5.35
|
7.3
years
|
|||||||
Exercisable
|
712,238
|
5.73
|
6.2
years
|
Non-vested
Shares
|
Number
of Shares
|
Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair Value
|
|||||
Non-vested
at June 30, 2006
|
320,124
|
$
|
4.39
|
||||
Granted
|
321,000
|
2.47
|
|||||
Vested
|
(70,862
|
)
|
3.33
|
||||
Forfeited
prior to vesting
|
(30,579
|
)
|
2.95
|
||||
Non-vested
at September 30, 2006
|
539,683
|
$
|
3.47
|
Due
to
the Company’s failure to remain current in its filing of periodic reports with
the SEC during fiscal 2004, 2005, and most of 2006, employees, executive
officers, and directors were not allowed to exercise options under the 1998
Plan. Since December 2003, individual grants that had been affected by this
situation were modified to extend the exercise period of the option through
the
date the Company became current in its filings with the SEC and options again
became exercisable. Since July 1, 2003, modifications of stock option grants
included (i) the extension of the post-service exercise period of vested options
held by persons who have ceased to remain employed by the Company; (ii) the
extension of the option exercise period for maturing options that were fully
vested and unexercised; (iii) the acceleration of vesting schedule for certain
key employees whose employment terminated due to the sale of the conferencing
services business to Premiere; and (iv) the acceleration of vesting schedule
for
one former officer at termination. For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2006,
2005, and 2004, the Company modified stock options related to 8, 32, and 20
employees, respectively. Compensation cost is recognized immediately for options
that are fully vested on the date of modification. During the fiscal years
ended
June 30, 2006, 2005, and 2004, the Company expensed $16, $41, and $200,
respectively, in compensation cost associated with these modifications.
19
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
10.
Segment and Geographic Information
During
the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, all revenue and income
(loss) from continuing operations was included in the product segment.
Additionally, the United States was the only country to contribute more than
10
percent of total revenues in each fiscal year. The Company’s revenues are
substantially denominated in U.S. dollars and are summarized geographically
as
follows:
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
United
States
|
$
|
6,938
|
$
|
6,824
|
|||
All
other countries
|
2,473
|
1,954
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
9,411
|
$
|
8,778
|
11.
Manufacturing Transition
In
May
2005, the Company approved an
impairment action and a restructuring action in connection with its decision
to
outsource its Salt Lake City manufacturing operations. These actions were
intended to improve the overall cost structure for the product segment by
focusing resources on other strategic areas of the business. The Company
recorded an impairment charge of $180 and a restructuring charge of $110 during
the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005 as a result of these actions. These charges
were disclosed separately in the consolidated statements of operations. The
impairment charge consisted of an immediate impairment of certain property
and
equipment of $180 that had value to the Company while it manufactured product
but that was not purchased by Third Party Manufacturer (“TPM”) and at the time
were not considered likely to be sold. These assets would have remained in
service had the Company not outsourced its manufacturing operations. The
restructuring charge also consisted of severance and other employee termination
benefits of $70 related to a workforce reduction of approximately 20 employees
who were transferred to an employment agency used by TPM to transition the
workforce and a charge of $40 related to the operating lease for the Company’s
manufacturing facilities that would no longer be used by the Company. All
severance payments were paid by December 31, 2005.
The
following table summarizes changes in the Company’s restructuring charges for
the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.
Severance
|
Manufacturing
Facilities Lease
|
Total
|
||||||||
Balance
at June 30, 2005
|
$
|
70
|
$
|
40
|
$
|
110
|
||||
Utilized
|
(30
|
)
|
(8
|
)
|
(38
|
)
|
||||
Balance
at September 30, 2005
|
$
|
40
|
$
|
32
|
$
|
72
|
||||
Balance
at June 30, 2006
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
43
|
$
|
43
|
||||
Utilized
|
0
|
(29
|
)
|
(29
|
)
|
|||||
Balance
at September 30, 2006
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
14
|
$
|
14
|
12.
Settlement Agreement and Release
The
Company entered into a settlement agreement and release with its former
Vice-President - Operations in connection with the cessation of his employment,
which generally provided for his resignation from his position and employment
with the Company, the payment of severance, and a general release of claims
against the Company by him. On August 24, 2006, an agreement was entered into
which generally provided for a severance payment of $9 and his surrender and
delivery to the Company of 45,000 unexercised stock options in exchange for
an
additional $5 payment.
20
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
(in
thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
13.
Subsequent Events
On
October 30, 2006, the Company announced a self-tender offer through which it
intends to repurchase at a price of $4.25 per share up to 2,353,000 of its
shares. If the offer is fully subscribed, the Company's outstanding shares
would
be reduced by approximately 19% at an aggregate cost of approximately $10,000.
The tender offer commenced on November 6, and is scheduled to expire on December
6, 2006, unless extended.
21
The
following discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements and related notes to condensed consolidated
financial statements included in this Form 10-Q and our audited consolidated
financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended June 30, 2006 filed with the SEC and management’s discussion and analysis
contained therein. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based
on
current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans,
objectives, expectations, and intentions, as set forth under “Disclosure
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Our actual results and the timing of
events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth in the
following discussion and under the caption “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A,
as well as other information found in the documents we file from time to time
with the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to a year reflect
our
fiscal year that ends on June 30.
CRITICAL
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Our
discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition
are
based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been
prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We
review the accounting policies used in reporting our financial results on a
regular basis. The preparation of these financial statements requires management
to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets
and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses
during the reporting period. We evaluate our assumptions and estimates on an
ongoing basis and may employ outside experts to assist in our evaluations.
We
believe that the estimates we use are reasonable; however, actual results could
differ from those estimates. We believe the following critical accounting
policies affect our more significant assumptions and estimates that we used
to
prepare our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Revenue
and Associated Allowances for Revenue Adjustments and Doubtful
Accounts
Included
in continuing operations is product revenue, primarily from product sales to
distributors, dealers, and end-users. Product revenue is recognized when (i)
the
products are shipped and any right of return expires, (ii) persuasive evidence
of an arrangement exists, (iii) the price is fixed and determinable, and (iv)
collection is reasonably assured.
We
provide a right of return on product sales to distributors. Currently, we do
not
have sufficient historical return experience with our distributors that is
predictive of future events given historical excess levels of inventory in
the
distribution channel. Accordingly, revenue from product sales to distributors
is
not recognized until the return privilege has expired, which approximates when
product is sold-through to customers of the Company’s distributors (dealers,
system integrators, value-added resellers, and end-users) rather than when
the
product is initially shipped to a distributor. We evaluate, at each quarter-end,
the inventory in the channel through information provided by certain of our
distributors. The level of inventory in the channel will fluctuate up or down,
each quarter, based upon our distributors’ individual operations. Accordingly,
each quarter-end revenue deferral is calculated and recorded based upon the
underlying, estimated channel inventory at quarter-end. Although, certain
distributors provide certain channel inventory amounts, we make judgments and
estimates with regard to the amount of inventory in the entire channel, for
all customers and for all channel inventory items, and the appropriate
revenue and cost of goods sold associated with those channel
products. Although these assumptions and judgments regarding total channel
inventory revenue and cost of goods sold could differ from actual
amounts, we believe that our calculations are indicative of actual levels of
inventory in the distribution channel. As of September 30, 2006, the
Company deferred $5.3 million in revenue and $2.5 million in cost of goods
sold
related to products sold where return rights had not lapsed. As of September
30,
2005, the Company deferred $4.8 million in revenue and $2.4 million in cost
of
goods sold related to products sold where return rights had not lapsed. The
amounts of deferred cost of goods sold were included in consigned inventory.
The
following table details the amount of deferred revenue, cost of goods sold,
and
gross profit at each period end for the 21-month period ended September 30,
2006
(in thousands).
22
Deferred
Revenue
|
Deferred
Cost of Goods Sold
|
Deferred
Gross Profit
|
||||||||
September
30, 2006
|
$
|
5,249
|
$
|
2,541
|
$
|
2,708
|
||||
June
30, 2006
|
5,871
|
2,817
|
3,054
|
|||||||
March
31, 2006
|
5,355
|
2,443
|
2,912
|
|||||||
December
31, 2005
|
4,936
|
2,199
|
2,737
|
|||||||
September
30, 2005
|
4,848
|
2,373
|
2,475
|
|||||||
June
30, 2005
|
5,055
|
2,297
|
2,758
|
|||||||
March
31, 2005
|
5,456
|
2,321
|
3,135
|
|||||||
December
31, 2004
|
4,742
|
1,765
|
2,977
|
We
offer
rebates and market development funds to certain of our distributors and direct
dealers/resellers based upon volume of product purchased by them. We record
rebates as a reduction of revenue in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force
(“EITF”) Issue No. 00-22, “Accounting for Points and Certain Other Time-Based or
Volume-Based Sales Incentive Offers, and Offers for Free Products or Services
to
Be Delivered in the Future.” Beginning January 1, 2002, we adopted EITF Issue
No. 01-9, “Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer
(Including a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products).” We continue to record rebates
as a reduction of revenue in the period revenue is recognized.
We
offer
credit terms on the sale of our products to a majority of our customers and
perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition. We
maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting
from
the inability or unwillingness of our customers to make required payments based
upon our historical collection experience and expected collectibility of all
accounts receivable. Our actual bad debts in future periods may differ from
our
current estimates and the differences may be material, which may have an adverse
impact on our future accounts receivable and cash position.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
We
assess
the impairment of long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and
definite-lived intangibles subject to amortization, annually or whenever events
or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may
not
be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by
a
comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to estimated future
undiscounted net cash flows of the related asset or group of assets over their
remaining lives. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future
undiscounted cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount
by
which the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset.
Impairment of long-lived assets is assessed at the lowest levels for which
there
are identifiable cash flows that are independent of other groups of assets.
The
impairment of long-lived assets requires judgments and estimates. If
circumstances change, such estimates could also change. Assets held for sale
are
reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value, less the estimated
costs to sell.
Accounting
for Income Taxes
We
are
subject to income taxes in both the United States and in certain non-U.S.
jurisdictions. We estimate our current tax position together with our future
tax
consequences attributable to temporary differences resulting from differing
treatment of items, such as deferred revenue, depreciation, and other reserves
for tax and accounting purposes. These temporary differences result in deferred
tax assets and liabilities. We must then assess the likelihood that our deferred
tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income, prior year carryback,
or future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences. To the extent
we
believe that recovery is not more likely than not, we establish a valuation
allowance against these deferred tax assets. Significant management judgment
is
required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets
and liabilities, and any valuation allowance recorded against our deferred
tax
assets. To the extent we establish a valuation allowance in a period, we must
include an expense for the allowance within the tax provision in the condensed
consolidated statement of operations. The reversal of a previously established
valuation allowance results in a benefit for income taxes.
23
Lower-of-Cost
or Market Adjustments and Reserves for Excess and Obsolete
Inventory
We
account for our inventory on a first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) basis, and make
appropriate adjustments on a quarterly basis to write down the value of
inventory to the lower-of-cost or market.
In
order
to determine what, if any, inventory needs to be written down, we perform a
quarterly analysis of obsolete and slow-moving inventory. In general, we write
down our excess and obsolete inventory by an amount that is equal to the
difference between the cost of the inventory and its estimated market value
if
market value is less than cost, based upon assumptions about future product
life-cycles, product demand, or market conditions. Those items that are found
to
have a supply in excess of our estimated demand are considered to be slow-moving
or obsolete and the appropriate reserve is made to write down the value of
that
inventory to its realizable value. These charges are recorded in cost of goods
sold. At the point of the loss recognition, a new, lower-cost basis for that
inventory is established and subsequent changes in facts and circumstances
do
not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established cost basis.
If there were to be a sudden and significant decrease in demand for our
products, or if there were a higher incidence of inventory obsolescence because
of rapidly changing technology and customer requirements, we could be required
to increase our inventory allowances, and our gross profit could be adversely
affected.
Share-Based
Payment
Prior
to
June 30, 2005 and as permitted under the original SFAS No. 123, we accounted
for
our share-based payments following the recognition and measurement principles
of
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees,” as interpreted. Accordingly, no share-based compensation expense had
been reflected in our statements of operations for unmodified option grants
since (1) the exercise price equaled the market value of the underlying common
stock on the grant date and (2) the related number of shares to be granted
upon
exercise of the stock option was fixed on the grant date.
In
December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment.” SFAS No.
123R is a revision of SFAS No. 123. SFAS No. 123R establishes standards for
the
accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments
for goods or services. Primarily, SFAS No. 123R focuses on accounting for
transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment
transactions. It also addresses transactions in which an entity incurs
liabilities in exchange for goods or services that are based on the fair value
of the entity’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of
those equity instruments.
Under
SFAS No. 123R, we measure the cost of employee services received in exchange
for
an award of equity instruments based on the grant date fair value of the award
(with limited exceptions). That cost will be recognized over the period during
which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the awards
-
the requisite service period (usually the vesting period). No compensation
cost
is recognized for equity instruments for which employees do not render the
requisite service. Therefore, if an employee does not ultimately render the
requisite service, the costs associated with the unvested options will not
be
recognized, cumulatively.
Effective
July 1, 2005, we adopted SFAS No. 123R and its fair value recognition provisions
using the modified prospective transition method. Under this transition method,
stock-based compensation cost recognized after July 1, 2005 includes the
straight-line basis compensation cost for (a) all share-based payments granted
prior to July 1, 2005, but not yet vested, based on the grant date fair values
used for the pro-forma disclosures under the original SFAS No. 123 and (b)
all
share-based payments granted or modified on or after July 1, 2005, in accordance
with the provisions of SFAS No. 123R.
Under
SFAS No. 123R, we recognize compensation cost net of an anticipated forfeiture
rate and recognize the associated compensation cost for those awards expected
to
vest on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. We use judgment
in determining the fair value of the share-based payments on the date of grant
using an option-pricing model with assumptions regarding a number of highly
complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited
to, the risk-free interest rate of the awards, the expected life of the awards,
the expected volatility over the term of the awards, the expected dividends
of
the awards, and an estimate of the amount of awards that are expected to be
forfeited. If assumptions change in the application of SFAS No. 123R in future
periods, the stock-based compensation cost ultimately recorded under SFAS No.
123R may differ significantly from what was recorded in the current
period.
24
SEASONALITY
Our
audio
conferencing products revenue has historically been strongest during our second
and fourth quarters. There can be no assurance that any historic sales patterns
will continue and, as a result, sales for any prior quarter are not necessarily
indicative of the sales to be expected in any future quarter.
BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
We
are an
audio conferencing products company. We develop, manufacture, market, and
service a comprehensive line of audio conferencing products, which range from
personal speaker phones to tabletop conferencing phones to professionally
installed audio systems. We believe we have a strong history of product
innovation and plan to continue to apply our expertise in audio engineering
to
developing innovative new products. The performance and reliability of our
high-quality solutions create a natural communication environment, which saves
organizations of all sizes time and money by enabling more effective and
efficient communication between geographically separated businesses, employees,
and customers.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
25
DISCUSSION
OF OPERATIONS
Results
of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005
The
following is a discussion of our results of operations for the three months
ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. All items are discussed on a consolidated
basis.
The
following table sets forth certain items from our unaudited condensed
consolidated statements of operations (in thousands) for the three months ended
September 30, 2006 and 2005, together with the percentage of total revenue
which
each such item represents:
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||||||
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||||
%
of Revenue
|
%
of Revenue
|
||||||||||||
Product
Revenue:
|
$
|
9,411
|
100.0%
|
|
$
|
8,778
|
100.0%
|
|
|||||
Cost
of goods sold:
|
|||||||||||||
Product
|
4,205
|
44.7%
|
|
3,921
|
44.7%
|
|
|||||||
Product
inventory write-offs
|
111
|
1.2%
|
|
93
|
1.1%
|
|
|||||||
Total
cost of goods sold
|
4,316
|
45.9%
|
|
4,014
|
45.7%
|
|
|||||||
Gross
profit
|
5,095
|
54.1%
|
|
4,764
|
54.3%
|
|
|||||||
Operating
expenses:
|
|||||||||||||
Marketing
and selling
|
1,918
|
20.4%
|
|
1,812
|
20.6%
|
|
|||||||
General
and administrative
|
809
|
8.6%
|
|
1,771
|
20.2%
|
|
|||||||
Settlement
in shareholders' class action
|
-
|
0.0%
|
|
(1,205
|
)
|
-13.7%
|
|
||||||
Research
and product development
|
2,079
|
22.1%
|
|
1,799
|
20.5%
|
|
|||||||
Total
operating expenses
|
4,806
|
51.1%
|
|
4,177
|
47.6%
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
289
|
3.1%
|
|
587
|
6.7%
|
|
|||||||
Other
income (expense), net:
|
|||||||||||||
Interest
income
|
307
|
3.3%
|
|
159
|
1.8%
|
|
|||||||
Other,
net
|
25
|
0.3%
|
|
7
|
0.1%
|
|
|||||||
Total
other income (expense), net
|
332
|
3.5%
|
|
166
|
1.9%
|
|
|||||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
|
621
|
6.6%
|
|
753
|
8.6%
|
|
|||||||
(Provision)
benefit from income taxes
|
19
|
0.2%
|
|
222
|
2.5%
|
|
|||||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations
|
640
|
6.8%
|
|
975
|
11.1%
|
|
|||||||
Discontinued
operations:
|
|||||||||||||
Income
from discontinued operations
|
55
|
0.6%
|
|
118
|
1.3%
|
|
|||||||
Gain
on disposal of discontinued operations
|
3
|
0.0%
|
|
1,496
|
17.0%
|
|
|||||||
Income
tax provision
|
(21
|
)
|
-0.2%
|
|
(602
|
)
|
-6.9%
|
|
|||||
Income
from discontinued operations
|
37
|
0.4%
|
|
1,012
|
11.5%
|
|
|||||||
Net
income
|
$
|
677
|
7.2%
|
|
$
|
1,987
|
22.6%
|
|
26
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2006 (“First Quarter of Fiscal
2007”)
Compared
to Three Months Ended September 30, 2005 (“First Quarter of Fiscal
2006”)
Revenue
Our
revenues were $9.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006
compared to revenues of $8.8 million for the three months ended September 30,
2005. Total revenues increased approximately $633,000 or 7%, in the first
quarter of fiscal 2006 compared to the same period of 2005. The increase in
revenue was due mainly to continued growth in the Company’s professional audio
and tabletop conferencing products which increased approximately $679,000.
Additionally, the Company realized revenue increases in the first quarter of
2006 over 2005 with other products totaling approximately $106,000. These
increases were partially offset by CLRO’s conferencing furniture and premium
conferencing products which declined approximately $210,000.
We
evaluate, at each quarter-end, the inventory in the channel through information
provided by certain of our distributors. The level of inventory in the
channel will fluctuate up or down, each quarter, based upon our distributors’
individual operations. Accordingly, each quarter-end revenue deferral is
calculated and recorded based upon the underlying, estimated channel inventory
at quarter-end. During the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005,
the net change in deferred revenue based on the net movement of inventory in
the
channel was a net recognition of $622,000 and $207,000in revenue, respectively.
Approximately $700,000 of the net (deferral) during fiscal 2006 related to
the
Company’s customers affected by the RoHS Directive ordering additional product
during the fourth quarter of 2006 in anticipation of an inability to get product
after June 30, 2006 until the Company’s product lines become compliant with the
RoHS Directive.
Total
revenues from sales outside of the United States accounted for 26.3% of total
revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 22.3% of total revenue
for the three months ended September 30, 2005.
Costs
of Goods Sold and Gross Profit
Costs
of
goods sold (“COGS”) from the product segment includes expenses associated with
finished goods purchased from outsourced manufacturers, the manufacture of
our
products, including material and direct labor, our manufacturing and operations
organization, property and equipment depreciation, warranty expense, freight
expense, royalty payments, and the allocation of overhead expenses.
The
following table shows our COGS and gross profit together with each item’s amount
as a percentage of total revenue:
Three
Months Ended September 30,
|
|||||||||||||
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||||
%
of Revenue
|
%
of Revenue
|
||||||||||||
Cost
of goods sold
|
$
|
4,316
|
45.9%
|
|
$
|
4,014
|
45.7%
|
|
|||||
Gross
profit
|
$
|
5,095
|
54.1%
|
|
$
|
4,764
|
54.3%
|
|
COGS
increased by $302,000, or 7.5%, to $4.3 million for the three months ended
September 30, 2006 compared with $4 million for the three months ended September
30, 2005. The increase in COGS in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 from the
same
period of 2005 was due primarily to the $633,000 revenue increase discussed
above. COGS for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, included
a
net decrease of $276,000 and net increase of $76,000 related to the deferral
of
product revenue from the respective deferral at June 30, 2006 and 2005 related
to respective return rights.
27
Our
gross
profit from continuing operations was $5.1 million, or 54.1% of revenue, for
the
three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $4.8 million, or 54.3% of
revenue, for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The gross profit
percentages were nearly identically in each comparative period as a result
of
the net revenue increase being nearly proportional on a product mix basis in
each respective period. The sale of our lower margin camera business in August,
2006 had a favorable impact on our gross profit as a percent of
revenues.
Operating
Expenses
Our
operating expenses were $4.8 million for the three months ended September 30,
2006, an increase of $629,000, or 15%, from $4.2 million for the three months
ended September, 2005. The increase in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 is
primarily related to an increase in research and development and marketing
and
selling of $280,000 and $106,000, respectfully in addition to the approximately
$1.2 million settlement (benefit) in the shareholders’ class action realized in
the first quarter of fiscal 2005. Each of these increases in the first three
months ending September 30, 2006 were offset by a $962,000 decrease in general
and administrative expenses. The following is a more detailed discussion of
expenses related to marketing and selling, research and product development,
general and administrative.
Marketing
and selling expenses.
Marketing and selling expenses include selling, customer service, and marketing
expenses such as employee-related costs, allocations of overhead expenses,
trade
shows, and other advertising and selling expenses. Total marketing and selling
expenses increased $106,000, or 6%, to $1.9 million for the three months ended
September 30, 2006 compared with expenses of $1.8 million for the three months
ended September 30, 2005. As a percentage of revenues, marketing and selling
expenses were about even for each the three months ended September 30, 2006
and
2005.
General
and administrative expenses.
General
and administrative expenses (“G&A”) include employee-related costs,
professional service fees, litigation costs, including costs associated with
the
SEC investigation and subsequent litigation, and corporate administrative costs,
including finance and human resources. Total G&A expenses decreased
$962,000, or 54 percent, to $809,000 for the three months ended September 30,
2006 compared with the three months ended September 30, 2005 expenses of $1.8
million. As a percentage of revenues, G&A expenses were 8.6% for the three
months ended September 30, 2006 and 20.2% for the three months ended September
30, 2005. A summary of our general and administrative expenses
follows:
Three
Months Ended
September
30,
|
|||||||
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Professional
fees (SEC investigation and subsequent litigation)
|
$
|
16
|
$
|
267
|
|||
Professional
fees (Other)
|
134
|
672
|
|||||
Compensation
cost related to SFAS No. 123R
|
167
|
229
|
|||||
Other
general and administrative expense
|
492
|
603
|
|||||
Total
G&A from continuing operations
|
$
|
809
|
$
|
1,771
|
The
significant decrease in G&A expenses was due to a $250,000 decrease in SEC
investigation and subsequent litigation related professional fees, $538,000
decrease in professional fees, primarily audit fees, and a $62,000 decrease
in
SFAS No. 123R compensation cost. Additionally, other G&A expenses decreased
$111,000 mainly as a result of lower payroll and related expenses
Research
and product development expenses.
Research
and product development expenses include research and development, product
line
management, and engineering services, and test and application expenses,
including employee-related costs, outside services, expensed materials,
depreciation, and an allocation of overhead expenses. Total research and product
development expenses increased $280,000, or 16%, to $2.1 million for the three
months ended September 30, 2006 compared with the three months ended September
30, 2005 expenses of $1.8 million. Research and product development expenses
were 22% of revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 20.5%
for
the three months ended September 30, 2005. The increase in product development
expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from the three months
ended September 30, 2005 was due to ongoing research and product development
efforts.
28
Operating
income (loss).
Despite
the $633,000 revenue increase in the first quarter of fiscal 2006, our operating
income decreased $298,000, or 51%, to $289,000, from operating income of
$587,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2005. As discussed above, the most
significant factors affecting the decrease in operating income were the first
quarter of fiscal 2005 settlement in the shareholders’ class action benefit of
$1.2 million not realized in the same period of 2006, the increase in research
and development expenses of $280,000 and marketing and selling of $106,000,
offset by the $962,000 decrease in general and administrative expenses.
Other
income (expense), net.
Other
income (expense), net, includes our interest income, interest expense, capital
gains, gain (loss) on the disposal of assets, and currency gain (loss). Other
income was $332,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2006, an increase
of approximately $166,000, or 100% from income of $166,000 for the three months
ended September 30, 2005. The increase in other income for the three months
ended September 30, 2006 over the same period in fiscal 2005 was primarily
due
to an increase in interest income associated with our marketable
securities.
Income
(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes.
Income
from continuing operations decreased $132,000, or 18% to $621,000 for the three
months ended September 30, 2006 compared with income from continuing operations
of $753,000 for the same period in 2005. As a percentage of revenues, income
from continuing operations was 7% for the three months ended September 30,
2006
and 9% for the three months ended September 30, 2005. We attribute the decrease
to the results of operations described above.
Benefit
(provision) for income taxes.
Benefit
from income taxes from continuing operations was $19,000 for the three months
ended September 30, 2006 and $222,000 for the three months ended September
30,
2005. The decrease in the benefit is mainly due to the income from discontinued
operations during the first quarter of fiscal 2005 being larger than the similar
income during the first quarter of fiscal 2006. The Company was able to
partially decrease a portion of the valuation allowance against deferred tax
assets based upon this income from discontinued operations. Given the Company’s
history of consecutive years of losses from continuing operations, we followed
the guidance of SFAS No. 109, “ Accounting
for Income Taxes
,” and
recorded a valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets where it
is
not considered more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be
realized. As of September 30, 2006 and 2005, we have fully reserved against
our
net deferred tax assets.
Income
from discontinued operations, net of tax. For
the
first three months ending September 30, 2006 and 2005 we recorded income from
discontinued operations, net of tax of $37,000 and $74,000, respectively,
related to the sale of our document and educational camera product line to
Ken-A-Vision in August, 2006.
We
received payments on our OM Video note receivable, net of tax, of $94,000 for
the three months ended September 30, 2005 compared to $0 for the same period
of
2006.
On
August
22, 2005 we entered into a Mutual Release and Waiver with Burk pursuant to
which
Burk paid us $1.3 million in full satisfaction of the promissory note, which
included a discount of $119,000. As part of the Mutual Release and Waiver
Agreement, we waived any right to future commission payments from Burk and
we
granted mutual releases to one another with respect to claims and liabilities.
We realized a gain, net of tax, of $844,000 for the three months ended September
30, 2005.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
As
of
September 30, 2006, our cash and cash equivalents were approximately $1.7
million and our marketable securities were approximately $20.6 million, which
represented an overall increase of approximately $500,000 in our balances from
June 30, 2006 which were cash and cash equivalents of approximately $1.2 million
and marketable securities of approximately $20.6 million.
Net
cash
flows provided by operating activities were $56,000 for the three months ended
September 30, 2006, a decrease of $524,000, from the net cash flows provided
by
operating activities of $580,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2005.
The year-over-year decrease was attributable mainly to lower net income from
continuing operations of $335,000 and a $492,000 decrease in cash provided
by
discontinued operations, offset by a decrease of $591,000 in cash used changes
in working capital, $112,000 lower stock-based compensation and $58,000 lower
depreciation and amortization expense.
29
Net
cash
flows provided by investing activities were $473,000 for the three months ended
September 30, 2006, an increase of $756,000 from the net cash flows (used in)
investing activities of ($283,000) for the three months ended September 30,
2005. The change was primarily attributable to a net purchase of marketable
securities of $1.2 million partially offset by a decrease in net cash provided
by discontinued investing operations of $371,000.
On
October 30, 2006, the Company announced a self-tender offer through which it
intends to repurchase at a price of $4.25 per share up to 2,353,000 of its
shares. If the offer is fully subscribed, the Company's outstanding shares
would
be reduced by approximately 19% at an aggregate cost of approximately $10
million. The tender offer commenced on November 6, and is scheduled to expire
on
December 6, 2006, unless extended.
Net
cash
flows used in financing activities for the three months ended September 30,
2006, were $35,000 primarily related to the repurchase and retirement of common
stock. We did not have any net cash flows used in financing activities for
the
three months ended September 30, 2005.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
The
Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are
reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition,
changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations,
liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to
investors.
Contractual
Obligations
Payments
Due by Period (in thousands of U.S. Dollars)
|
||||||||||||||||
Contractual
Obligations
|
Total
|
Remainder
of
Fiscal
2007
|
Fiscal
2008
and
2009
|
Fiscal
2010
and
2011
|
Thereafter
|
|||||||||||
Operating
Leases
|
$
|
4,974
|
$
|
584
|
$
|
1,469
|
$
|
1,313
|
$
|
1,608
|
||||||
Total
Contractual Cash
Obligations
|
$
|
4,974
|
$
|
584
|
$
|
1,469
|
$
|
1,313
|
$
|
1,608
|
At
September 30, 2006, we had open purchase orders related to our contract
manufacturers and other contractual obligations of approximately $5.1 million
primarily related to inventory purchases.
We
have
non-cancellable, non-returnable, and long-lead time commitments with our
outsourced manufacturers and certain suppliers for inventory components that
will be used in production. Our exposure associated with these commitments
is
approximately $1.6 million. We also have certain commitments with our outsourced
manufacturers for raw material inventory that is used in production on an
on-going basis. Our exposure associated with this inventory is approximately
$700,000.
Through
December 31, 2005, all payments due under the note receivable from the sale
of
OM Video through such date had been received and $854,000 of the promissory
note
remained outstanding; however, OM Purchaser has failed to make any subsequent,
required payments until June 30, 2006 when it paid $50,000. OM Video is in
default and we are currently considering our collection options.
Through
September 30, 2006, all payments due under the note receivable related to the
sale of our document and educational camera product line have been received
and
$319,000 of the promissory note remained outstanding.
30
Beginning
in January 2003 and continuing through the date of this report, we have incurred
significant costs with respect to the defense and settlement of legal
proceedings and the audits of our consolidated financial statements. Restatement
of fiscal 2002 and fiscal 2001 consolidated financial statements and the fiscal
2004 and fiscal 2003 audits were significantly more complex, time consuming,
and
expensive than we originally anticipated. The extended time commitment required
to complete the restatement of financial information was costly and diverted
our
resources, as well as had a material effect on our results of operations. We
paid $127,000 in fiscal 2006, $2.5 million in fiscal 2005, and $2.5 million
in
fiscal 2004 in cash to settle the shareholders’ class action lawsuit. We have
incurred legal fees in the amount of approximately $1.9 million from January
2003 through the date hereof and we have incurred audit and tax fees in the
amount of approximately $3.7 million from January 2004 through the date hereof.
Although we continue to incur expenses related to these issues in fiscal 2007,
we do not anticipate they will be as significant as in prior years.
We
did
not exercise our five-year renewal option on our existing Company headquarters.
On June 5, 2006, we entered into a new 86-month lease for our principal
administrative, sales, marketing, customer support, and research and product
development facility which will house our headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Under the terms of the new lease we will occupy a 36,279 square-foot facility
which will commence in November 2006. We believe the facility will be adequate
to meet our needs for the current fiscal year and beyond. On September 20,
2006
we entered into a new 24 month lease for our warehouse. Under the terms of
the
lease we will occupy approximately 17,000 square-feet of warehousing space
which
commenced in October 2006. The warehouse will be used to accommodate our product
fulfillment and related requirements.
Our
principal source of funding for these and other expenses has been cash generated
from operations and from the sale of discontinued operations. We believe that
our working capital and cash flows from operating activities will be sufficient
to satisfy our operating and capital expenditure requirements through fiscal
2007.
31
Our
exposure to market risk has not changed materially since June 30,
2006.
Item
4. CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
We
maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized,
and reported within the required time periods and that such information is
accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely
decisions regarding required disclosure. The effectiveness of any system of
disclosure controls and procedures is subject to certain limitations, including
the exercise of judgment in designing, implementing, and evaluating the controls
and procedures, the assumptions used in identifying the likelihood of future
events, and the inability to eliminate improper conduct completely. A controls
system, no matter how well-designed and operated, cannot provide absolute
assurance that the objectives of the controls system are met, and no evaluation
of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances
of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected. As a result, there can
be
no assurance that our disclosure controls and procedures will detect all errors
or fraud.
As
required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, we have completed an evaluation,
under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including
the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the
effectiveness and the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures as of September 30, 2006.
Based
upon this evaluation, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer
and
the Chief Financial Officer, has concluded that our disclosure controls and
procedures were effective as of September 30, 2006.
In
our
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, we reported and identified
a
material weakness in our internal controls as described below.
A
material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control
deficiencies, that result in more than a remote likelihood that a material
misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented
or detected in a timely basis by management or employees in the normal course
of
performing their assigned functions. As of June 30, 2006 we identified the
following material weakness in our internal controls:
· |
Ineffective
financial statement close process.
We had a material weakness in the timeliness of the monthly close
process
to effect a timely and accurate financial statement close with the
necessary level of review and supervision. Accounting personnel were
not
able to focus full attention to correcting this weakness due to their
focus on the preparation, audit, and issuance for the restated fiscal
2001, restated fiscal 2002, and fiscal 2003, 2004, and 2005 consolidated
financial statements as well as the interim fiscal 2006 condensed
consolidated financial statements.
|
There
were no changes to any reported financial results that have been released by
us
in this or any other filings as a result of the above-described material
weakness. The following actions were taken in response to the timeliness of
the
closing process noted above:
· |
Evaluation
of the staffing, organizational structure, systems, policies and
procedures, and other reporting processes, to improve the timeliness
of
closing these accounts and to enhance the timely review and
supervision.
|
These
actions, in conjunction with the fact that we are now current with our required
filings, has allowed us to timely and accurately close our financial statements
on a monthly basis with the necessary level of review and
supervision.
Other
than as described above, since the evaluation date, there has been no change
in
our internal controls and procedures over financial reporting (as defined in
Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected,
or
is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls and procedures
over financial reporting.
32
PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item
1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In
addition to the legal proceedings described below, we are also involved from
time to time in various claims and other legal proceedings which arise in the
normal course of our business. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties
and outcomes that are not predictable. However, based on the information
available to us as of November 1, 2006 and after discussions with legal counsel,
we do not believe any such other proceedings will have a material, adverse
effect on our business, results of operations, financial position, or liquidity,
except as described below.
The
Shareholders’ Class Action
. On
June 30, 2003, a consolidated complaint was filed against the Company,
eight present or former officers and directors of the Company, and Ernst &
Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”), the Company’s former independent public
accountants, by a class consisting of purchasers of the Company’s common stock
during the period from April 17, 2001 through January 15, 2003. The action
followed the consolidation of several previously filed class action complaints
and the appointment of lead counsel for the class. The allegations in the
complaint were essentially the same as those contained in the SEC complaint
described above. On December 4, 2003, the Company, on behalf of itself and
all
other defendants with the exception of Ernst & Young, entered into a
settlement agreement with the class pursuant to which the Company agreed to
pay
the class $5 million and to issue the class 1.2 million shares of its common
stock. The cash payment was made in two equal installments, the first on
November 10, 2003 and the second on January 14, 2005. On May 23, 2005, the
court
order was amended to require the Company to pay cash in lieu of stock to those
members of the class who would otherwise have been entitled to receive fewer
than 100 shares of stock. On September 29, 2005, the Company completed its
obligations under the settlement agreement by issuing a total of 1,148,494
shares of the Company’s common stock to the plaintiff class, including 228,000
shares previously issued in November 2004, and the Company paid an aggregate
of
$127,000 in cash in lieu of shares to those members of the class who would
otherwise have been entitled to receive an odd-lot number of shares or who
resided in states in which there was no exemption available for the issuance
of
shares. The cash payments were calculated on the basis of $2.46 per share which
was equal to the higher of (i) the closing price for the Company’s common stock
as reported by the Pink Sheets on the business day prior to the date the shares
were mailed, or (ii) the average closing price over the five trading days prior
to such mailing date.
On
a
quarterly basis, the Company revalued the un-issued shares to the closing price
of the stock on the later of the date the shares were mailed or the last day
of
the quarter. During fiscal 2006 and 2005, the Company received a benefit of
approximately $1.2 million and $2.1 million, respectively, while during fiscal
2004 the Company incurred an expense of approximately $4.1 million related
to
the revaluation of the 1.2 million shares of the Company’s common stock that
were issued in November 2004 and September 2005.
The
Shareholder Derivative Actions
.
Between March and August 2003, four shareholder derivative actions were
filed by certain shareholders of the Company against various present and past
officers and directors of the Company and against Ernst & Young. The
complaints asserted allegations similar to those asserted in the SEC complaint
and shareholders’ class action described above and also alleged that the
defendant directors and officers violated their fiduciary duties to the Company
by causing or allowing the Company to recognize revenue in violation of GAAP
and
to issue materially misstated financial statements and that Ernst & Young
breached its professional responsibilities to the Company and acted in violation
of GAAP by failing to identify or prevent the alleged revenue recognition
violations and by issuing unqualified audit opinions with respect to the
Company’s fiscal 2002 and 2001 financial statements. One of these actions was
dismissed without prejudice on June 13, 2003. As to the other three
actions, the Company’s Board of Directors appointed a special litigation
committee of independent directors to evaluate the claims. That committee
determined that the maintenance of the derivative proceedings against the
individual defendants was not in the best interest of the Company. Accordingly,
on December 12, 2003, the Company moved to dismiss those claims. In
March 2004, the Company’s motions were granted, and the derivative claims
were dismissed with prejudice as to all defendants except Ernst & Young. The
Company was substituted as the plaintiff in the action and is now pursuing
in
its own name the claims against Ernst & Young.
33
The
Insurance Coverage Action.
On
February 9, 2004, the Company and Edward Dallin Bagley, the Chairman of the
Board of Directors and a significant shareholder of the Company, jointly filed
an action against National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania (“National Union”) and Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company of
Berkeley Heights, New Jersey (“Lumbermens Mutual”), the carriers of certain
prior period directors and officers’ liability insurance policies, to recover
the costs of defending and resolving claims against certain of the Company’s
present and former directors and officers in connection with the SEC complaint,
the shareholders’ class action, and the shareholder derivative actions described
above, and seeking other damages resulting from the refusal of such carriers
to
timely pay the amounts owing under such liability insurance policies. This
action has been consolidated into a declaratory relief action filed by one
of
the insurance carriers on February 6, 2004 against the Company and certain
of
its current and former directors. In this action, the insurers assert that
they
are entitled to rescind insurance coverage under our directors and officers
liability insurance policies, $3 million of which was provided by National
Union
and $2 million of which was provided by Lumbermens Mutual, based on alleged
misstatements in the Company’s insurance applications. In February 2005, the
Company entered into a confidential settlement agreement with Lumbermens Mutual
pursuant to which the Company and Mr. Bagley received a lump-sum cash amount
and
the plaintiffs agreed to dismiss their claims against Lumbermens Mutual with
prejudice. The cash settlement is held in a segregated account until the claims
involving National Union have been resolved, at which time the amounts received
in the action will be allocated between the Company and Mr. Bagley. The amount
distributed to the Company and Mr. Bagley will be determined based on future
negotiations between the Company and Mr. Bagley. The Company cannot currently
estimate the amount of the settlement which it will ultimately receive. Upon
determining the amount of the settlement which the Company will ultimately
receive, the Company will record this as a contingent gain. None of the cash
held in the segregated account is recorded as an asset at September 30, 2006.
On
October 21, 2005, the court granted summary judgment in favor of National Union
on its rescission defense and accordingly entered a judgment dismissing all
of
the claims asserted by the Company and Mr. Bagley. In connection with the
summary judgment, the Company has been ordered to pay approximately $59,000
in
expenses. However, due to the Lumbermans Mutual cash proceeds discussed above
and the appeal to the summary judgment discussed below, this potential liability
has not been recorded in the balance sheet as of September 30, 2006. On February
2, 2006, the Company and Mr. Bagley filed an appeal to the summary judgment
granted on October 21, 2005 and intend to vigorously pursue the appeal and
any
follow-up proceedings regarding their claims against National Union, although
no
assurances can be given that they will be successful. The Company and Mr. Bagley
have entered into a Joint Prosecution and Defense Agreement in connection with
the action and the Company is paying all litigation expenses except litigation
expenses which are solely related to Mr. Bagley’s claims in the litigation. The
Company has recognized and continues to recognize the expenses incurred related
to this action at the dates incurred.
Item
1A. RISK FACTORS
Investors
should carefully consider the risks described below. The risks described below
are not the only ones we face, and there are risks that we are not presently
aware of or that we currently believe are immaterial that may also impair our
business operations. Any of these risks could harm our business. The trading
price of our common stock could decline significantly due to any of these risks
and investors may lose all or part of their investment. In assessing these
risks, investors should also refer to the other information contained or
incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including
our
September 30, 2006 unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and
related notes.
Risks
Relating to Our Business
We
face intense competition in all of the markets for our products and services;
our operating results will be adversely affected if we cannot compete
effectively against other companies.
As
described in more detail in the section entitled “Competition,” in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2006, the markets for our
products and services are characterized by intense competition and pricing
pressures and rapid technological change. We compete with businesses having
substantially greater financial, research and development, manufacturing,
marketing, and other resources. If we are not able to continually design,
manufacture, and successfully introduce new or enhanced products or services
that are comparable or superior to those provided by our competitors and at
comparable or better prices, we could experience pricing pressures and reduced
sales, gross profit, profits, and market share, each of which could have a
materially adverse effect on our business.
34
Difficulties
in estimating customer demand in our products segment could harm our profit
margins.
Orders
from our distributors and other distribution participants are based on demand
from end-users. Prospective end-user demand is difficult to measure. This means
that our revenues in any fiscal quarter could be adversely impacted by low
end-user demand, which could in turn negatively affect orders we receive from
distributors and dealers. Our expectations for both short- and long-term future
net revenues are based on our own estimates of future demand.
Revenues
for any particular time period are difficult to predict with any degree of
certainty. We usually ship products within a short time after we receive an
order; so consequently, unshipped backlog has not been a good indicator of
future revenues. We believe that the current level of backlog will fluctuate
dependent in part on our ability to forecast revenue mix and plan our
manufacturing accordingly. A significant portion of our customers’ orders are
received in the last month of the quarter. We budget the amount of our expenses
based on our revenue estimates. If our estimates of sales are not accurate
and
we experience unforeseen variability in our revenues and operating results,
we
may be unable to adjust our expense levels accordingly and our gross profit
and
results of operations will be adversely affected. Higher inventory levels or
stock shortages may also result from difficulties in estimating customer
demand.
Our
sales depend to a certain extent on government funding and
regulation.
In
the
audio conferencing products market, the revenues generated from sales of our
audio conferencing products for distance learning and courtroom facilities
are
dependent on government funding. In the event government funding for such
initiatives was reduced or became unavailable, our sales could be negatively
impacted. Additionally, many of our products are subject to governmental
regulations. New regulations could significantly impact sales in an adverse
manner.
Environmental
laws and regulations subject us to a number of risks and could result in
significant costs and impact on revenue
New
regulations regarding the materials used in manufacturing, the process of
disposing of electronic equipment, and the efficient use of energy have emerged
in the last few years. The first implementations of these regulations have
taken
place in Europe and have required significant effort from ClearOne to comply.
Other countries and U.S. states are currently considering similar regulations,
which could require additional resources and effort from ClearOne to
comply.
The
European Parliament has published the RoHS Directive, which restricts the use
of
certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment beginning
July 1, 2006. In order to comply with this directive, it has become necessary
to
re-design the majority of our products and switch over to components that do
not
contain the restricted substances, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. This
process involves procurement of the new compliant components, engineering effort
to design, develop, test, and validate them, and re-submitting these re-designed
products for multiple country emissions, safety, and telephone line interface
compliance testing and approvals. This effort has consumed resources and time
that would otherwise have been spent on new product development, which will
continue until the products have been updated.
To
date,
we have completed the re-design of our products and begun shipping the majority
to the European market. Certain of the re-designed product have yet to launch
into the European market although we anticipate that most of these products
will
be ready for launch during the first half of fiscal 2007. Additionally, certain
of our products will not be re-designed. Accordingly, sales into the European
market may be negatively impacted and our results of operations could suffer.
Our outsourced manufacturers may hold us responsible for the cost of purchased
components that have become obsolete as a result of our re-design efforts.
To
the extent that we cannot manage these potential exposures to our current
estimates, our results of operations could be negatively impacted. In addition,
because this has essentially become a worldwide issue for all electronics
manufacturers who wish to sell into the European market, we have seen increased
lead times for compliant components because of the increased demand. This is
an
issue that is not unique to ClearOne, but also applies to many manufacturers
exporting products to the European Union.
35
The
European Parliament has also published the WEEE Directive, which makes producers
of certain electrical and electronic equipment financially responsible for
collection, reuse, recycling, treatment, and disposal of equipment placed on
the
European Union market after August 13, 2005. We are currently compliant in
terms
of the labeling requirements and have finalized the recycling processes with
the
appropriate entities within Europe. According to our understanding of the
directive, distributors of our product are deemed producers and must comply
with
this directive by contracting with a recycler for the recovery, recycling,
and
reuse of product.
The
California law regarding efficient use of energy goes into effect in July 2007
and will require re-design of power supplies in order to comply. ClearOne has
already begun this effort.
Product
development delays or defects could harm our competitive position and reduce
our
revenues.
We
have,
in the past, and may again experience, technical difficulties and delays with
the development and introduction of new products. Many of the products we
develop contain sophisticated and complicated circuitry and components, and
utilize manufacturing techniques involving new technologies. Potential
difficulties in the development process that could be experienced by us include
difficulty in:
·
|
meeting
required specifications and regulatory standards;
|
·
|
meeting
market expectations for performance;
|
·
|
hiring
and keeping a sufficient number of skilled developers;
|
·
|
obtaining
prototype products at anticipated cost levels;
|
·
|
having
the ability to identify problems or product defects in the development
cycle; and
|
·
|
achieving
necessary manufacturing
efficiencies.
|
Once
new
products reach the market, they may have defects, or may be met by unanticipated
new competitive products, which could adversely affect market acceptance of
these products and our reputation. If we are not able to manage and minimize
such potential difficulties, our business and results of operations could be
negatively affected.
Our
profitability may be adversely affected by our continuing dependence on our
distribution channels.
We
market
our products primarily through a network of distributors who in turn sell our
products to systems integrators, dealers, and value-added resellers. All of
our
agreements with such distributors and other distribution participants are
non-exclusive, terminable at will by either party and generally short-term.
No
assurances can be given that any or all such distributors or other distribution
participants will continue their relationship with us. Distributors and to
a
lesser extent systems integrators, dealers, and value-added resellers cannot
easily be replaced and the loss of revenues and our inability to reduce expenses
to compensate for the loss of revenues could adversely affect our net revenues
and profit margins.
Although
we rely on our distribution channels to sell our products, our distributors
and
other distribution participants are not obligated to devote any specified amount
of time, resources, or efforts to the marketing of our products or to sell
a
specified number of our products. There are no prohibitions on distributors
or
other resellers offering products that are competitive with our products and
most do offer competitive products. The support of our products by distributors
and other distribution participants may depend on the competitive strength
of
our products and the price incentives we offer for their support. If our
distributors and other distribution participants are not committed to our
products, our revenues and profit margins may be adversely
affected.
Reporting
of channel inventory by certain distributors.
We
defer
recognition of revenue from product sales to distributors until the return
privilege has expired, which approximates when product is sold-through to
customers of our distributors. We evaluate, at each quarter-end, the inventory
in the channel through information provided by certain of our distributors.
We
use this information along with our judgment and estimates to determine the
amount of inventory in the entire channel, for all customers and for all
inventory items, and the appropriate revenue and cost of goods sold associated
with those channel products. We cannot guarantee that the third party data,
as
reported, or that our assumptions and judgments regarding total channel
inventory revenue and cost of goods sold will be accurate.
36
We
depend on an outsourced manufacturing strategy.
In
August
2005, we entered into a manufacturing agreement with a manufacturing services
provider, to be the exclusive manufacturer of substantially all the products
that were previously manufactured at our Salt Lake City, Utah manufacturing
facility. This manufacturer is currently the primary manufacturer of many of
our
products. We also have an agreement with an offshore manufacturer for the
manufacture of other product lines. Additionally, in July 2006, we outsourced
the manufacturing of our furniture product lines to two manufacturers. If these
manufacturers experience difficulties in obtaining sufficient supplies of
components, component prices significantly exceed anticipated costs, an
interruption in their operations, or otherwise suffer capacity constraints,
we
would experience a delay in shipping these products which would have a negative
impact on our revenues. Should there be any disruption in services due to
natural disaster, economic or political difficulties, quarantines,
transportation restrictions, acts of terror, or other restrictions associated
with infectious diseases, or other similar events, or any other reason, such
disruption would have a material adverse effect on our business. Operating
in
the international environment exposes us to certain inherent risks, including
unexpected changes in regulatory requirements and tariffs, and potentially
adverse tax consequences, which could materially affect our results of
operations. Currently, we have no second source of manufacturing for
substantially all of our products.
The
cost
of delivered product from our contract manufacturers is a direct function of
their ability to buy components at a competitive price and to realize
efficiencies and economies of scale within their overall business structure.
If
they are unsuccessful in driving efficient cost models, our delivered costs
could rise, affecting our profitability and ability to compete. In addition,
if
the contract manufacturers are unable to achieve greater operational
efficiencies, delivery schedules for new product development and current product
delivery could be negatively impacted.
Product
obsolescence could harm demand for our products and could adversely affect
our
revenues and our results of operations.
Our
industry is subject to rapid and frequent technological innovations that could
render existing technologies in our products obsolete and thereby decrease
market demand for such products. If any of our products become slow-moving
or
obsolete and the recorded value of our inventory is greater than its market
value, we will be required to write down the value of our inventory to its
fair
market value, which would adversely affect our results of operations. In limited
circumstances, we are required to purchase components that our outsourced
manufacturers use to produce and assemble our products. Should technological
innovations render these components obsolete, we will be required to write
down
the value of this inventory, which could adversely affect our results of
operations.
If
we
are unable to protect our intellectual property rights or have insufficient
proprietary rights, our business would be materially impaired.
We
currently rely primarily on a combination of trade secrets, copyrights,
trademarks, patents, patents pending, and nondisclosure agreements to establish
and protect our proprietary rights in our products. No assurances can be given
that others will not independently develop similar technologies, or duplicate
or
design around aspects of our technology. In addition, we cannot assure that
any
patent or registered trademark owned by us will not be invalidated, circumvented
or challenged, or that the rights granted thereunder will provide competitive
advantages to us. Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual
property rights. We believe our products and other proprietary rights do not
infringe upon any proprietary rights of third parties; however, we cannot assure
that third parties will not assert infringement claims in the future. Our
industry is characterized by vigorous protection of intellectual property
rights. Such claims and the resulting litigation are expensive and could divert
management’s attention, regardless of their merit. In the event of a claim, we
might be required to license third-party technology or redesign our products,
which may not be possible or economically feasible.
We
currently hold only a limited number of patents. To the extent that we have
patentable technology for which we have not filed patent applications, others
may be able to use such technology or even gain priority over us by patenting
such technology themselves.
37
International
sales account for a significant portion of our net revenue and risks inherent
in
international sales could harm our business.
International
sales represent a significant portion of our total product sales. We anticipate
that the portion of our total product revenue from international sales will
continue to increase as we further enhance our focus on developing new products,
establishing new distribution partners, strengthening our presence in key growth
areas, and improving product localization with country-specific product
documentation and marketing materials. Our international business is subject
to
the financial and operating risks of conducting business internationally,
including:
·
|
unexpected
changes in, or the imposition of, additional legislative or regulatory
requirements;
|
·
|
unique
environmental regulations;
|
·
|
fluctuating
exchange rates;
|
·
|
tariffs
and other barriers;
|
·
|
difficulties
in staffing and managing foreign sales operations;
|
·
|
import
and export restrictions;
|
·
|
greater
difficulties in accounts receivable collection and longer payment
cycles;
|
·
|
potentially
adverse tax consequences;
|
·
|
potential
hostilities and changes in diplomatic and trade
relationships;
|
·
|
disruption
in services due to natural disaster, economic or political difficulties,
quarantines, transportation, or other restrictions associated with
infectious diseases.
|
We
may not be able to hire and retain qualified key and highly-skilled technical
employees, which could affect our ability to compete effectively and may cause
our revenue and profitability to decline.
We
depend
on our ability to hire and retain qualified key and highly-skilled employees
to
manage, research and develop, market, and service new and existing products.
Competition for such key and highly-skilled employees is intense, and we may
not
be successful in attracting or retaining such personnel. To succeed, we must
hire and retain employees who are highly skilled in the rapidly changing
communications and Internet technologies. Individuals who have the skills and
can perform the services we need to provide our products and services are in
great demand. Because the competition for qualified employees in our industry
is
intense, hiring and retaining employees with the skills we need is both
time-consuming and expensive. We might not be able to hire enough skilled
employees or retain the employees we do hire. In addition, provisions of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related rules of the SEC impose heightened
personal liability on some of our key employees. The threat of such liability
could make it more difficult to identify, hire and retain qualified key and
highly-skilled employees. We have relied on our ability to grant stock options
as a means of recruiting and retaining key employees. Recent accounting
regulations requiring the expensing of stock options will impair our future
ability to provide these incentives without incurring associated compensation
costs. Our inability to hire and retain employees with the skills we seek could
hinder our ability to sell our existing products, systems, or services or to
develop new products, systems, or services with a consequent adverse effect
on
our business, results of operations, financial position, or
liquidity.
Our
reliance on third-party technology or license agreements.
We
have
licensing agreements with various suppliers for software and hardware
incorporated into our products. These third-party licenses may not continue
to
be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. The termination
or impairment of these licenses could result in delays of current product
shipments or delays or reductions in new product introductions until equivalent
designs could be developed, licensed, and integrated, if at all possible, which
would have a material adverse effect on our business.
We
may have difficulty in collecting outstanding receivables.
We
grant
credit without requiring collateral to substantially all of our customers.
In
times of economic uncertainty, the risks relating to the granting of such credit
would typically increase. Although we monitor and mitigate the risks associated
with our credit policies, we cannot ensure that such mitigation will be
effective. We have experienced losses due to customers failing to meet their
obligations. Future losses could be significant and, if incurred, could harm
our
business and have a material adverse effect on our operating results and
financial position.
38
Interruptions
to our business could adversely affect our operations.
As
with
any company, our operations are at risk of being interrupted by earthquake,
fire, flood, and other natural and human-caused disasters, including disease
and
terrorist attacks. Our operations are also at risk of power loss,
telecommunications failure, and other infrastructure and technology based
problems. To help guard against such risks, we carry business interruption
loss
insurance to help compensate us for losses that may occur.
Risks
Relating to Our Company
Our
stock price fluctuates as a result of the conduct of our business and stock
market fluctuations.
The
market price of our common stock has experienced significant fluctuations and
may continue to fluctuate significantly. The market price of our common stock
may be significantly affected by a variety of factors, including:
·
|
statements
or changes in opinions, ratings, or earnings estimates made by brokerage
firms or industry analysts relating to the market in which we do
business
or relating to us specifically;
|
·
|
disparity
between our reported results and the projections of
analysts;
|
·
|
the
shift in sales mix of products that we currently sell to a sales
mix of
lower-gross profit product offerings;
|
·
|
the
level and mix of inventory levels held by our
distributors;
|
·
|
the
announcement of new products or product enhancements by us or our
competitors;
|
·
|
technological
innovations by us or our competitors;
|
·
|
success
in meeting targeted availability dates for new or redesigned
products;
|
·
|
the
ability to profitably and efficiently manage our supplies of products
and
key components;
|
·
|
the
ability to maintain profitable relationships with our
customers;
|
·
|
the
ability to maintain an appropriate cost structure;
|
·
|
quarterly
variations in our results of operations;
|
·
|
general
consumer confidence or general market conditions or market conditions
specific to technology industries;
|
·
|
domestic
and international economic conditions;
|
·
|
the
adoption of the new accounting standard, SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based
Payments,” which requires us to record compensation expense for certain
options issued before July 1, 2005 and for all options issued or
modified
after June 30, 2005;
|
·
|
our
ability to report financial information in a timely manner;
and
|
·
|
the
markets in which our stock is
traded.
|
We
have previously identified material weaknesses in our internal
controls.
In
our
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, we reported and identified
a
material weakness in our internal controls. Although we believe we have remedied
this weakness through the committment of considerable resources, we are always
at risk that any future failure of our own internal controls or the internal
control at any of our outsourced manufacturers or service providers could result
in additional reported material weaknesses. Any future failures of our internal
controls could have a material impact on our market capitalization, results
of
operations, or financial position, or have other adverse
consequences.
Our
directors and officer own a significant percentage of the Company,and may exert
significant influence over us.
Our
officers and directors together have beneficial ownership of approximately
19
percent of our common stock (including options that are currently exercisable
or
exercisable within 60 days of October 27, 2006). Further, at the conclusion
of
our self tender offer discussed in the subsequent events section of this filing
could own approximately 23 percent of our common stock. With this significant
holding in the aggregate, the officers and directors, acting together, could
exert a significant degree of influence over us and may be able to delay or
prevent a change in control.
Not
Applicable.
39
Item
3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not
Applicable.
Not
Applicable.
Item
5. OTHER INFORMATION
Not
Applicable.
Item
6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
|
SEC
Ref.
|
||
No.
|
No.
|
Title
of Document
|
Location
|
3.1
|
3
|
Articles
of Incorporation and amendments thereto
|
Incorp,
by reference1
|
3.2
|
3
|
Bylaws
|
Incorp.
by reference1
|
10.1
|
10
|
Asset
Purchase Agreement between Ken-A-Vision Manufacturing Company and
ClearOne
Communications, Inc., dated August 30, 2006
|
This
filing
|
10.2
|
10
|
Memorandum
of Asset Purchase Agreement between Ken-A-Vision Manufacturing Company
and
ClearOne Communications, Inc., dated August 30, 2006
|
This
filing
|
10.3
|
10
|
Warehouse
Lease Agreement between Alder Construction Company and ClearOne
Communications, Inc. dated September 20, 2006
|
This
filing
|
10.4
|
10
|
Settlement
Agreement and Release between ClearOne Communications, Inc. and Werner
Pekarek dated August 11, 2006*
|
This
filing
|
31.1
|
31
|
Section
302 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
|
This
filing
|
31.2
|
31
|
Section
302 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
|
This
filing
|
32.1
|
32
|
Section
906 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
|
This
filing
|
32.2
|
32
|
Section
906 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
|
This
filing
|
*Constitutes
a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
1 Incorporated
by reference to the Registrant’s Form S-3/A filed on November 1,
2002
40
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.
CLEARONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
|
||
November
13, 2006
|
By:
|
/s/
Zeynep Hakimoglu
|
Zeynep
Hakimoglu
|
||
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
||
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
||
November
13, 2006
|
By:
|
/s/
Greg A. LeClaire
|
Greg
A. LeClaire
|
||
Chief
Financial Officer
|
||
(Principal
Financial and Accounting
Officer)
|
41