Neonode Inc. - Annual Report: 2006 (Form 10-K)
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
DC 20549
FORM
10-K
FOR
ANNUAL AND TRANSITION REPORTS
PURSUANT
TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Mark
One)
ý
|
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the fiscal year ended
October 31, 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 No. 0-8419
SBE,
INC.
(Exact
name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
94-1517641
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
|
(IRS
Employer Identification
|
incorporation
or organization)
|
Number)
|
4000
Executive Parkway, Suite 200, San Ramon, California 94583
(Address
of principal executive offices and Zip Code)
(925)
355-2000
(Registrant's
Telephone Number, including Area Code)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common
Stock
(Title
of
Class)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined
in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨
No
ý
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant
to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨
No
ý
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the
preceding 12 months (or 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 ý
No
¨
-1-
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K is not contained herein and will not be contained, to the best
of
the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to
this
Form 10-K. ý
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in
Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes ¨
No
ý
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Yes ¨
No
ý
The
approximate aggregate market value of the common stock of the registrant held
by
non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing price for the
registrant's common stock on April 30, 2006 as reported on the Nasdaq Capital
Markets, was $8,336,445.
Shares
of Common Stock held by each executive officer, director and stockholder whose
ownership exceeds five percent of Common Stock outstanding have been excluded
because such persons may be deemed to be affiliates of the registrant. This
determination of affiliate status for purposes of the foregoing calculation
is
not necessarily a conclusive determination of affiliate status for other
purposes.
The
number of shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding as of January
23,
2007 was 11,130,831.
-2-
SBE,
INC.
FORM
10-K
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
PART
I
|
|||
Item
1
|
Business
|
4
|
|
Item
1A
|
Risk
Factors
|
12
|
|
Item
2
|
Properties
|
17
|
|
Item
3
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
17
|
|
Item
4
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
|
17
|
|
PART
II
|
|||
Item
5
|
Market
for Registrant's Common Equity,
|
||
Related
Stockholder Matters and Issuer
|
|||
Purchases
of Equity Securities
|
19
|
||
Item
6
|
Selected
Financial Data
|
20
|
|
Item
7
|
Management's
Discussion and Analysis of
|
||
Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
20
|
||
Item
7A
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
|
34
|
|
Item
8
|
Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data
|
35
|
|
Item
9
|
Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants
|
||
on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure
|
35
|
||
Item
9A
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
35
|
|
Item
9B
|
Other
Information
|
36
|
|
PART
III
|
|||
Item
10
|
Directors
and Executive Officers of the Registrant
|
37
|
|
Item
11
|
Executive
Compensation
|
42
|
|
Item
12
|
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
|
||
and
Management and Related Stockholder Matters
|
46
|
||
Item
13
|
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
|
47
|
|
Item
14
|
Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
|
48
|
|
PART
IV
|
|||
Item
15
|
Exhibits
and Financial Statement Schedules
|
50
|
|
SIGNATURES
|
54
|
-3-
SPECIAL
NOTE ON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain
statements set forth in or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report
on
Form 10-K constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934. These statements include, without limitation, our expectations
regarding our sales of storage software, our expectations regarding the market
for client server networking products, the adequacy of anticipated sources
of
cash, planned capital expenditures, the effect of interest rate increases,
and
trends or expectations regarding our operations. Words such as “may,” “will,”
“should,” "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," ”plans,” "estimates"
and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements,
but
are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Such statements
are
based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information
and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that
the forward-looking statements reflect management's estimates only as of the
date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update these statements, even if
new
information becomes available or other events occur in the future. Actual future
results, events and trends may differ materially from those expressed in or
implied by such statements depending on a variety of factors, including, but
not
limited to those set forth under "Item 1A Risk Factors" on page 12 and elsewhere
in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
PART
I
ITEM
1. BUSINESS
Overview
SBE
designs, manufactures and sells embedded hardware products including wide area
network (WAN) and local area network (LAN) network interface cards (NICs) and
central processing units (CPUs) to OEMs who
embed
our hardware products into their products for the communications
markets.
Our
embedded hardware products perform critical, computing and Input/Output (I/O)
tasks in diverse markets such as
high-end
enterprise level computing servers, Linux super-computing clusters,
workstations, media gateways, routers and Internet access devices.
We
also
design and provide software based storage networking solutions for an extensive
range of business critical applications, including Disk-to-Disk Back-up and
Disaster Recovery. We deliver an affordable, expandable, and easy-to-use
portfolio of software solutions designed to enable optimal performance and
rapid
deployment across a wide range of next generation storage systems We sell
standards-based storage software solutions to original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs), system integrators and value added resellers (VARs) who embed our
software into their IP
storage area network (IP SAN) and network attached storage (NAS) systems
to provide data storage solutions for the small and medium business (SMB)
enterprise storage markets.
We
experienced a decline in our sales volume of our embedded hardware products
and
a lack of market acceptance for our storage software that dramatically effected
our operating cash flow for fiscal 2006. Because of the continuing decline
of
our cash balance, we have been evaluating strategic alternatives to return
the
company to cash flow positive and unlock value for our shareholders.
In
September 2006, our Board of Directors and management believed that the best
course of action was to consider selling our embedded hardware and storage
software businesses and to consider seeking a viable merger candidate.
-4-
On
January 11, 2007, we signed an asset purchase agreement with One Stop Systems,
Inc., a private California corporation, to purchase our embedded hardware
business for $2.2 million cash plus the assumption of our corporate headquarters
office lease and a lease for certain engineering equipment. When the divesture
of our embedded hardware business is completed we will no longer participate
in
the embedded hardware markets. We will transfer all our inventor and the
engineering and test equipment associated with the embedded hardware business
to
One Stop.
On
January 19, 2007, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization, with Neonode Inc., a Delaware corporation. Neonode
is a Swedish based developer and manufacturer of multimedia mobile handsets.
With over five years of research and development Neonode is today a
leader and trendsetter in buttonless touch screen mobile phones and
gesture-based user interfaces. Neonode mobile phones are based on patented
technologies. With Neonode's open Microsoft based platform consumers can
themselves upgrade and customize their handsets similar to a
PC.
It is
anticipated that our name will be changed to “Neonode Inc.” in connection with
the completion of the merger.
We
intend
to file a proxy statement in connection with the merger with Neonode. The
proxy statement, when it becomes available, will contain important information
about the merger transaction. Free copies of the proxy statement will be
available at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.
We
are
evaluating strategic alternatives regarding our storage software
business.
Products
& Technologies
Storage
Products
Storage
Software Management Solutions
Managing,
growing, and protecting storage is regarded as one of the most burdensome and
expensive responsibilities of a company’s data center management. In the
direct-attached storage (DAS) environments that most small to mid-sized
companies deploy, the process of managing storage is made more difficult by
the
number of physical connection points and the number of storage systems in the
organization. Imagine an environment with ten computers, each with its own
storage system. That creates ten storage systems that need to be managed and
maintained, which then equates to ten times the effort normally required in
order to handle storage expansion, reallocation and repairs. One of the main
driving
forces behind a transition from DAS to a SAN is often high data growth and
the
need for operations efficiency. In these circumstances the legacy DAS
environment becomes increasingly complex, backup/restore operations become
increasingly unreliable, and the storage environment is unable to support the
demands of the business.
Developed
to extend the reach of SANs by enabling SAN functionality over the IP network,
Internet
Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI)
technology uses the SCSI command set over Transmission Control Protocol/
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), enabling any requesting node on the IP network
(the
initiator) to contact any remote storage server (the target) and perform block
I/O on the target as if it was a local hard drive. Because
of the ubiquity of IP networks, iSCSI can be used to transmit data over LANs,
WANs, or the Internet and can enable location independent data storage and
retrieval. iSCSI
has
no distance limitations, can utilize existing network infrastructure, does
not
require specialized training, and takes advantage of Ethernet’s economies of
scale. With the immediate availability of 10G adapters and switches, we believe
that iSCSI SANs can more than double the performance levels of leading-edge
Fibre Channel implementations, while mass adoption continues to drive costs
down.
-5-
On
top of
all that, regulatory compliance pressures, the need to integrate geographically
dispersed data assets, and the availability of effective information life-cycle
management solutions create further issues and serve as drivers behind the
move
to IP SANs. Another significant driver behind IP SANs is the availability of
data center staff. Most smaller, regional, and departmental data centers have
to
operate with limited staff. Often, the decision to move to a SAN environment
hinges on whether the existing staff can handle it. In these cases an IP SAN
solution becomes a viable alternative, since it can almost always be more easily
managed by existing staff and skill sets.
Our
IP
SAN Director Suite addresses the need for easy-to-manage, inexpensive storage
and data protection through our iSCSI transport stack, storage management
features, and data protection modules.
The
iSCSI
transport stack is the foundation of our IP SAN Director Suite and is
scalable from Wi-Fi to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. It delivers the same level of
reliability, quality of service and system robustness as alternative solutions,
such as Fibre Channel, but at a fraction of the cost. We believe that the
advanced features designed into the architecture of our iSCSI protocol stack
enables highly efficient and cost-effective storage transport by optimizing
bandwidth usage, enabling unlimited storage to be attached to each target
device, and leveraging existing network technologies.
Our
iSCSI
protocol stack provides
multipathing I/O functionality for maximum redundancy and reliability,
aggregation of bandwidth to reduce service costs, as well as multiple
connections per session to increase bandwidth efficiency and data integrity.
Enterprise-level quality of service functionality enables traffic to be
consistently classified, prioritized, and queued at line rate.
We
believe that the
Error
Recovery Level 2 (ERL2) featured in our iSCSI protocol stack increases system
reliability, availability and adaptability. ERL2 supports active/active task
migration, which prevents session and data loss. Our
iSCSI
stack is fully tested and compliant with IETF RFC-3720 iSCSI standards,
including all mandatory and optional feature sets. Our SBE iSCSI target supports
most Linux distributions and is compatible with any compliant iSCSI initiator
under any OS distribution, including Linux, Windows and Solaris. An
additional benefit of using iSCSI transport is its interoperability with any
storage protocol disk drive interfaces (SCSI, Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), Serial
ATA (SATA), Fiber Channel drives).
On
top of
our foundation iSCSI protocol stack, we have developed and manufactured a wide
variety of storage management features and data protection modules. While the
iSCSI protocol stack provides for a robust, inexpensive, and highly scalable
transport infrastructure, modules included in our IP SAN Director Suite such
as
iSNS (Internet Storage Name Service), SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol),
Snapshot, High Availability, and Replication seamlessly address the needs and
requirements of today’s IT storage managers.
The
iSNS
feature set provides similar functionality as a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol) server. As new storage subsystems are brought online, iSNS allows
automatically names and adds them to the storage pool. Consistent with our
integrated approach to system design, both an iSNS client and iSNS server are
provided. To further ease the burdens of large-scan storage administration,
the
SNMP module allows the user to monitor the status of a large SAN from a single
console.
-6-
As
a
component of our IP SAN Director Suite, the Snapshot add-in module provides
critical data protection by creating point-in-time images of iSCSI data volumes.
As a standalone application the snapshot module provides maximum protection;
users may access data at discrete times in history when a combination of
application error and user error overwrites, or corrupts critical data. In
the
event of a catastrophic event such as virus infection, the rollback feature
allows the IT administrator to recover the entire data volume to a previously
known healthy state. The Snapshot module conjoined with backup software running
on an application server allows mainline, primary data access to continue,
while
the backup process copies the snapshot image to a secondary and offline
storage.
Replication
across storage subsystems is a critical part of any IP SAN data protection
solution. Multiple versions of replication exist and are required for different
purposes and application environments. To effectively address the wide spectrum
of needs, we are developing 3 distinct Replication add-in modules that are
seamlessly integrated into our IP SAN Director Suite. The first two add-in
modules in our Replication portfolio address the need for data mirrors for
primary storage within a SAN. With the Synchronous Online Replication module,
both the local target and remote target must complete any writes from iSCSI
initiators before an acknowledgment is sent. This guarantees data integrity
and
works well in low-latency SAN environments for primary storage.
There
are
some instances where performance is the top priority. In these cases, the
Asynchronous Online Replication module is appropriate. Writes completed on
the
primary target are immediately acknowledged in parallel with writes that are
sent to the mirror target, thus the latency associated with waiting for the
mirror target to acknowledge a write are avoided. This is also beneficial in
higher latency environments for backup when the mirror target may be on a WAN
connection.
In
a
disaster recovery scenario, the mirror target is often located several hundred
miles from the primary target and accessible only through a bandwidth-limited
WAN connection. In this situation, the Offline Replication module is most
appropriate. This module allows the system administrator to schedule replication
events during discrete periods of time.
A
complete IP SAN solution requires data availability and access features as
well
as data protection features. While SBE’s Snapshot and Replication add-in modules
support data protection, SBE is proud to offer High Availability as an
additional module to directly address the need for uninterruptible access to
missing critical data. In the event of failure at the primary storage director,
the mirror storage director automatically takes over with no disruption and
interruption of service to the initiators accessing the underlying storage.
The
high availability functionality is transparent to the initiators requiring
zero
additional configuration.
-7-
Hardware
Products
Upon
closing the sale of our embedded hardware business to One Stop Systems,
estimated to take place in the second quarter of fiscal 2007, we will no longer
have a hardware product line and the terms and conditions of the asset sale
agreement prohibit us from competing in the embedded hardware markets for at
least four year after the transaction is completed.
Network
Interface Cards
Wide
Area Networking Adapters. A
WANis a
computer or communications network that spans a relatively large geographical
area. Computers attached to a WAN are often connected through dedicated
networks, such as the telephone system, leased lines or satellites. Our series
of WAN adapter products is designed to address the need for WAN interfaces
in
data communication products, such as those used in Internet and other
communications routers, security firewalls, Virtual Private Network (VPN)
servers and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateways. We provide a broad
range of standards-based interfaces that can be easily integrated into our
OEM
customers’ products.
Local
Area Networking Adapters.
A LAN
is a computer network spanning a relatively small geographical area. Often
confined to a single building or group of buildings, most LANs connect
workstations and personal computers in an office environment. Each computer
in
the LAN is able to access data and devices, such as printers, located anywhere
on the LAN. There are many different types of LANs but Ethernet is the one
that
is most commonly deployed. Ethernet LAN connectivity is utilized by virtually
every market segment in both the embedded and enterprise space.
Our
LAN
adapter products are focused on LAN connectivity using high speed Ethernet
technology. We offer single, dual or quad port LAN adapters that feature
connectivity speeds of up to 10 Megabits (Mb)/second, 100 Mb/second or 1000
Mb/second. Our Gigabit Ethernet NICs include trunking and failover features.
These features allow our customers’ systems to take advantage of static load
balancing and failure recovery within a user-defined communications trunk.
Our
Gigabit Ethernet NICs are designed to distribute traffic across the aggregated
links, detect port failures, and increase throughput. In the event of a system
failure, the
software will automatically redistribute outgoing loads across the remaining
links.
Storage
Network Interface Cards.
Our
storage NICs are comprised of SCSI products. SCSI is a parallel interface
standard used by personal computers and many UNIX systems for attaching
peripheral devices, such as printers and disk drives, to computers. SCSI
interfaces are designed to allow for faster transmission rates than standard
serial ports, which transfer data one bit at a time, and parallel ports, which
simultaneously transfer data more than one bit at a time. Our series of SCSI
host bus adapters are specifically designed for the enterprise Sun UNIX market.
With transfer rates ranging from 40 Megabytes (MB)/sec to 320 MB/sec, our SCSI
adapters have been utilized in data centers and enterprise environments within
the financial, government, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. These SCSI
boards are also utilized in UNIX-based SCSI tape backup systems.
Encryption
Adapters.
Our
securePMC
series
of high-performance security offload solutions is designed for integration
into
Linux-based systems. Advanced encryption processors accelerate SSL and IPsec
cryptographic operations, significantly improving security, performance, and
availability of networking applications. Designed to enable quick integration
by
OEMs, VARs and end users, our securePMC adapters can be used in a wide variety
of networking equipment, including routers, switches, web servers, server load
balancers, firewalls, SANs and VPN gateways.
-8-
TCP/IP
Offload Engine (TOE). A
TOE is
a highly specialized TCP/IP protocol accelerator. Typically, in the form of
a
NIC, it is designed to reduce the amount of host CPU cycles required for TCP/IP
processing and maximize Ethernet throughput. This is accomplished by offloading
TCP/IP protocol processing from the host processor to the hardware on the TOE.
It is designed to provide fast, reliable, and secure access to networked storage
devices via the Internet without seriously impacting the host CPU.
Intelligent
Communications Controllers
Our
HighWire products are "intelligent," containing their own microprocessors and
memory. This architecture allows our communications controllers to offload
many
of the lower-level communications tasks that would typically be performed by
the
host platform.
In
the
telecommunications market, the HighWire series of communications controller
products provide high bandwidth intelligent connectivity to servers designed
to
act as gateways and signaling points within communication networks and network
devices. The HighWire
co-processing controllers enable operators of wireline and wireless networks
to
deliver Intelligent Network and Advanced Intelligent Network services such
as
Caller ID, voice messaging, personal number calling, Service Provider Local
Number Portability, and customized routing and billing, as well as digital
wireless services such as Personal Communications Systems (PCS) and Global
System for Mobile Telecommunications (GSM). The HighWire products are designed
for integration with standard server platforms that enable traditional carriers
and new telecommunications entrants to pursue cost-reduced and
performance-enhanced network architectures based on IP, broadband or other
"packet" technologies.
Other
Although
we continue to sell and manufacture legacy products such as Multibus,
Versa
Module Europa (VME)
bus,
and ISA, we emphasize three principal lines of products: storage software
solutions, WAN/LAN adapter products, and carrier platforms (also known as our
“HighWire” line).
The
following table shows sales by major product type as a percentage of net sales
for fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004:
Year
Ended October 31,
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
||||
(percentage
of net sales)
|
||||||||||
VME
|
8
|
%
|
20
|
%
|
43
|
%
|
||||
Adapters
|
59
|
48
|
46
|
|||||||
HighWire
|
32
|
32
|
11
|
|||||||
Storage
Software
|
1
|
---
|
---
|
|||||||
100%
|
100
|
%
|
100
|
%
|
-9-
Distribution,
Sales, and Marketing
We
sell
and license our products, both domestically and internationally, using a direct
sales force as well as independent manufacturers' representatives, resellers,
and distributors. We have a network of 8 manufacturers’ representatives covering
the United States and Canada. In addition, we have 12 distributors and resellers
covering the United States, Canada, Western and Eastern Europe and Asia. We
believe that our direct sales force is well suited to communicate how our
products differ from those of our competitors. Since our products represent
a
complex and technical sale, our sales force is supported by field application
engineers who provide customers with pre-sale technical assistance.
Our
internal sales and marketing organization supports our channel marketing
partners by providing sales collateral, such as product data sheets,
presentations, and other sales/marketing resource tools. Our sales staff
solicits prospective customers, provides technical advice with respect to our
products, and works closely with marketing partners to train and educate their
staffs on how to sell, install, and support our product lines.
We
have
focused our sales and marketing efforts in North America, Europe and Asia.
All
of our international sales are negotiated and executed in U.S. dollars.
International
sales constituted 43%, 37% and 12% of net sales in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004,
respectively. . International sales are primarily executed in Europe with 31%
to
customers in the United Kingdom.
Our
direct sales force is based in three locations in the United States and we
conduct our marketing activities from our corporate headquarters in San Ramon,
California.
Research
and Development
We
continue to invest in research and development of current and emerging
technologies that we deem critical to maintaining our competitive position
in
the storage software market. Many factors are involved in determining the
strategic direction of our product development focus, including trends and
developments in the marketplace, competitive analyses, market demands, business
conditions, and feedback from our customers and strategic partners.
Our
product development efforts are focused principally on our storage software
products, providing advanced storage software features.
Subsequent
to year-end, we entered into an Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Assets
with One Stop Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of industrial-grade computing
systems and components, pursuant to which we agreed to sell all of the assets
associated with our embedded hardware business. In addition, we entered into
an
Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, with Neonode Inc., a designer
and manufacturer of mobile telephones in which we agreed to merge the two
companies.
Although
we are evaluating strategic alternatives for our storage software business
including selling the business, we continued development of our storage software
products to bring
a
broader spectrum of IP storage solutions to market. In fiscal 2006, we completed
the development of some key storage
networking solutions that enable an extensive range of business critical
applications, including Disk-to-Disk Back-up and Disaster Recovery to complement
our iSCSI based transport software.
-10-
During
fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, we incurred $3.9 million, $2.7 million and $2.4
million, respectively, in product research and development
expenses.
Manufacturing
We
do not
engage in any manufacturing operations. Instead, we utilize third-party
manufacturers to build our embedded hardware products. We currently have
non-exclusive manufacturing agreements with ProWorks, Inc., United
Manufacturing, Inc. and Sonic Manufacturing Technology. We believe that
ProWorks, United and Sonic are equipped to provide cost-efficient and timely
product delivery, thus allowing us to focus on our core competencies of product
development and technology innovation. The use of external manufacturing
partners allows us to respond more quickly and effectively to fluctuations
in
customer demand.
Competition
The
market for both storage and communications interface products is highly
competitive. Many of our competitors have greater financial resources and are
well established in the space. Competition within the communications market
varies principally by application segment. Our storage software product competes
with products designed and/or manufactured by Lefthand Networks, Wasabi Systems,
OpenE Software, FalconStor Software and UNH. Our intelligent communications
products compete with offerings from Radisys Corp, Performance Technologies,
Interphase Corp, Artesyn Technologies, and Adax, along with various other
platform and controller product providers. Our WAN/LAN products compete
primarily with products from Performance Technologies, Motorola, Interphase
Corp., Themis Computers, GE Fanuc and various other companies on a
product-by-product basis. Our SCSI products compete with LSI,
Adaptec, Qlogic and Sun Microsystems, Inc. Our TOE products compete with Qlogic
and Adaptec. To compete and differentiate ourselves in our markets, we emphasize
the functionality, engineering support, quality and price of our products in
relation to the products of our competitors, as well as our ability to customize
our products to meet the customers’ specific application needs.
Additionally,
we compete with the internal engineering resources of our customers. Typically,
as our customers become successful with their products, they seek to reduce
costs and integrate functions. To compete with the internal engineering
resources of our customers, we position
ourselves as an extension of our customers’ engineering teams, focusing on
satisfying their price/performance and time-to-market challenges through product
innovation, technological expertise, and comprehensive support. By doing so,
we
emphasize the advantages and efficiencies of outsourcing embedded hardware
and
software, and keeping internal engineering resources focused on their core
competencies and value-added services.
Intellectual
Property
We
believe that innovation in product engineering, sales, marketing, support,
and
customer relations, and protection of this proprietary technology and knowledge
impacts our future success. Subsequent to year-end we entered into separate
agreements to sell our embedded hardware business and to merge with a designer
of mobile telephones. We rely on a combination of copyright, trademark, trade
secret laws and contractual provisions to establish and protect our proprietary
rights in our products. We typically enter into confidentiality agreements
with
our employees, strategic partners, channel partners and suppliers, and enforce
strict limitations and access to our proprietary information.
-11-
Backlog
On
October 31, 2006, we had a sales backlog of product orders of approximately
$1.1
million, compared to a sales backlog of product orders of approximately $1.2
million as of October 31, 2005. Because customer purchase orders are subject
to
changes in customer delivery schedules, cancellation, or price changes, our
backlog as of any particular date may not be representative of actual sales
for
any succeeding fiscal period. We do not anticipate any problems in fulfilling
our current backlog.
Employees
Our
employees represent one of our most valuable assets. We believe that our future
success will depend, in part, on our ability to attract and retain qualified
technical (particularly engineering), marketing and management personnel. We
promote employee-focused programs designed to foster a positive and productive
work environment, including specialized training/development, in-house seminars,
and team-building activities.
On
December 31, 2006, we had 34 employees. None of our employees are represented
by
a labor union. We have experienced no work stoppages. We believe our employee
relations are positive.
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS
In
addition to the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K,
stockholders or prospective investors should carefully consider the following
risk factors:
Risks
Related to Our Business
Our
future capital needs will require us to seek a merger partner and sell all
or
portions of our operating assets.
Our
existing cash balances and our anticipated cash flow from operations will not
satisfy our working capital needs for the foreseeable future. Because
of the decline in our sales volume and the lack of market acceptance for our
storage software, we evaluated strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder
value. As a result of our evaluation, we
entered into an agreement to sell our embedded hardware business to One Stop
Systems, Inc. for $2.2 million in cash and the assumption of the lease on our
headquarters building. We also signed an agreement to merge with Neonode, Inc.
Both of these transactions are subject to the approval of our shareholders.
After the sale of the embedded business and merger transactions are completed,
we will no longer be active in the embedded hardware business and will change
our name to “Neonode, Inc” and be active in the design and manufacturing of
mobile telephones.
Historically, the overwhelming majority of our cash flow from operations has
been generated from our embedded hardware business that we are selling and
after
the sale of that business our future cash flow will be wholly dependent on
Neonode’s ability to execute on its business plan.
-12-
Our
future capital needs may exceed our ability to raise
capital.
We
do not
believe that our existing cash balances and our anticipated cash flow from
our
currently operations will satisfy our working capital needs for the foreseeable
future. Failure to sell our embedded hardware business to One Stop Systems
and
merge with Neonode will require us to seek additional financing in fiscal 2007.
There can be no assurance that additional financing, if required, will be
available on reasonable terms or at all. To the extent that additional capital
is raised through the sale of additional equity or convertible debt securities,
the issuance of such securities could result in additional dilution to our
stockholders.
If
our storage software products contain undetected errors, we could incur
significant unexpected expenses and experience product returns and lost
sales.
Our
storage software products are highly technical and complex. While our storage
software products have been tested, because of their nature, we can not be
certain of their performance either as stand-alone products or when integrated
with our customer’s product lines. There can be no assurance that defects or
errors may not arise or be discovered in the future. Any defects or errors
in
our storage software products discovered in the future could result in a loss
of
customers or decrease in net revenue and market share.
We
depend upon a small number of OEM customers. The loss of any of these customers,
or their failure to sell their products, could limit our ability to generate
revenues.
Orders
by
our OEM customers are affected by factors such as new product introductions,
product life cycles, inventory levels, manufacturing strategies, contract
awards, competitive conditions and general economic conditions. Our sales to
any
single OEM customer are also subject to significant variability from quarter
to
quarter. Such fluctuations may have a material adverse effect on our operating
results. A significant reduction in orders from any of our OEM customers, could
have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial condition
and
cash flows.
Because
of our dependence on single suppliers for some components, we may be unable
to
obtain an adequate supply of such components, or we may be required to pay
higher prices or purchase components of lesser
quality.
The
chip
sets used in some of our products are currently available only from a single
supplier. If these suppliers discontinue or upgrade some of the components
used
in our products, we could be required to redesign a product to incorporate
newer
or alternative technology. The inability to obtain sufficient key components
as
required, or to develop alternative sources if and as required in the future,
could result in delays or reductions in product shipments or margins that,
in
turn, would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results,
financial condition and cash flows. If enough components are unavailable, we
may
have to pay a premium in order to meet customer demand. Paying premiums for
parts, building inventories of scarce parts and obsolescence of existing
inventories could lower or eliminate our profit margin, reduce our cash flow
and
otherwise harm our business. To offset potential component shortages, we have
in
the past, and may in the future, carry an inventory of these components. As
a
result, our inventory of components parts may become obsolete and may result
in
write-downs.
-13-
If
we fail to develop and produce new products, we may lose sales and our
reputation may be harmed.
The
markets for our products are characterized by rapidly changing technologies,
evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. Our future
success will depend on our ability to enhance our existing products and to
introduce new products and features to meet and adapt to changing customer
requirements and emerging technologies such as VoIP, third generation wireless
services (3G Wireless), SATA, iSCSI, SAS, Gigabit Ethernet, 10G and TOE. There
can be no assurance that we will be successful in identifying, developing,
manufacturing and marketing new products or enhancing our existing products.
In
addition, there can be no assurance that services, products or technologies
developed by others will not render our products obsolete.
We
have
focused a significant portion of our research and development, marketing and
sales efforts on HighWire, WAN and LAN adapters and storage software products.
The success of these products is dependent on several factors, including timely
completion of new product designs, achievement of acceptable manufacturing
quality and yields, introduction of competitive products by other companies,
market acceptance of our products and our ability to sell our products. If
the
HighWire, adapter products, storage software or other new products developed
by
us do not gain market acceptance, our business, operating results, financial
condition and cash flows would be materially adversely affected.
Our
storage software products will require a substantial product development
investment by us and we may not realize any return on our
investment.
The
development of new or enhanced products is a complex and uncertain process.
As
we develop new features for our storage software, our customers may experience
design, manufacturing, marketing and other difficulties that could delay or
prevent the development, introduction or marketing of new products and
enhancements. Development costs and expenses are incurred before we generate
any
net revenue from sales of the products resulting from these efforts. We expect
to incur additional research and development expenses relating to our storage
software product lines, which could have a negative impact on our earnings
in
future periods.
The
storage and embedded products market is intensely competitive, and our failure
to compete effectively could reduce our revenues and
margins.
We
compete directly with traditional vendors of storage software and hardware
devices, including Fibre Channel SAN products, open source “free” software, TOE
and application-specific storage solutions. We compete with communications
suppliers of routers, switches, gateways, NICs and other products that connect
to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and the Internet. In the future,
we expect competition from companies offering client/server
access
solutions based on emerging technologies such as Fibre Channel, switched digital
telephone services, iSCSI, SAS, TOE and other technologies. In addition, we
may
encounter increased competition from operating system and network operating
system vendors to the extent that such vendors include full communications
and
storage capabilities in their products. We may also encounter future competition
from telephony service providers (such as AT&T or the regional Bell
operating companies) and storage product providers (such as EMC Corporation,
Network Appliance, Inc. and Qlogic Corporation).
-14-
Increased
competition with respect to any of our products could result in price reductions
and loss of market share, which would adversely affect our business, operating
results, financial condition and cash flows. Many of our current and potential
competitors have greater financial, marketing, technical and other resources
than we do. There can be no assurance that we will be able to compete
successfully with our existing competitors or will be able to compete
successfully with new competitors.
We
signed
an agreement to sell our embedded hardware business and that business generates
substantially all our revenue and gross margin. We also risk the loss of
customers for our embedded hardware products by announcing the sale of the
embedded hardware business.
We
depend on our key personnel. If we are unable to retain our current personnel
and hire additional qualified personnel as needed, our business will be harmed.
We
are
highly dependent on the technical, management, marketing and sales skills of
a
limited number of key employees. We do not have employment agreements with,
or
life insurance on the lives of, any of our key employees. The loss of the
services of any key employees could adversely affect our business and operating
results. Our future success will depend on our ability to continue to attract
and retain highly talented personnel to the extent our business grows.
Competition for qualified personnel in the networking and software industries,
and in the San Francisco Bay Area, is intense. There can be no assurance that
we
will be successful in retaining our key employees or that we can attract or
retain additional skilled personnel as required.
We
may be unable to protect our software, which could reduce any competitive
advantage we have.
Although
we believe that our future success will depend primarily on continuing
innovation, sales, marketing and technical expertise and the quality of product
support and customer relations, we must also protect the proprietary technology
contained in our products. We do not currently hold any patents and rely on
a
combination of copyright, trademark, trade secret laws and contractual
provisions to establish and protect proprietary rights in our products. There
can be no assurance that steps taken by us in this regard will be adequate
to
deter misappropriation or independent third-party development of our technology.
Although we believe that our products and technology do not infringe on the
proprietary rights of others, there can be no assurance that third parties
will
not assert infringement claims against us.
Risks
Associated with Ownership of Our Common Stock
The
market price of our common stock is likely to continue to be volatile. You
may
not be able to resell your shares at or above the price at which you purchased
such shares.
The
trading price of our common stock is subject to wide fluctuations in response
to
quarter-to-quarter fluctuations in operating results, the failure to meet
analyst estimates, announcements of technological innovations or new products
by
us or our competitors, general conditions in the computer and communications
industries and other events or factors. Our common stock has historically had
relatively small trading volumes. As a result, small transactions in our common
stock can have a disproportionately large impact on the quoted price of our
common stock.
-15-
If
we continue to experience losses we could experience difficulty meeting our
business plan, and our stock price could be negatively
affected.
We
experienced a decline in our sales volume of our embedded hardware products
and
a lack of market acceptance for our storage software that dramatically effected
our operating cash flow for fiscal 2006. If we are unable to gain market
acceptance of tour storage software solutions, we
will
experience continuing operating losses and negative cash flow from our
operations. Any failure to achieve or maintain profitability could negatively
impact the market price of our common stock. We anticipate that we will continue
to incur product development, sales and marketing and administrative expenses.
As a result, we will need to generate significant quarterly revenues if we
are
to achieve and maintain profitability. A substantial failure to achieve
profitability could make it difficult or impossible for us to grow our business.
Our business strategy may not be successful, and we may not generate significant
revenues or achieve profitability. Any failure to significantly increase
revenues would also harm our ability to achieve and maintain profitability.
If
we do achieve profitability in the future, we may not be able to sustain or
increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.
Our
merger with Neonode, Inc. may not produce the desired
results.
In
September 2006, our Board of Directors and management believed the best course
of action was to consider selling our embedded hardware and storage software
businesses and to consider seeking a viable merger candidate. On January 11,
2007, we signed an asset purchase agreement with One Stop Systems, Inc., a
private California corporation, to purchase our embedded hardware business
for
$2.2 million cash plus the assumption of our corporate headquarters office
lease
and a lease for certain engineering equipment. When the divesture of our
embedded hardware business is completed we will no longer participate in the
embedded hardware markets. On January 19, 2007, we entered into an Agreement
and
Plan of Merger and Reorganization, with Neonode Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Neonode
is a Swedish based developer and manufacturer of multimedia mobile handsets.
It
is
anticipated that our name will be changed to “Neonode Inc.” in connection with
the completion of the merger.
There
can
be no assurance that we will be successful in
obtaining the required approval of our shareholders, and if we do, we may not
be
successful in increasing shareholder value and our stock price may be negatively
affected.
Our
common stock is at risk for delisting from the Nasdaq Capital Market. If it
is
delisted, our stock price and your liquidity may be
impacted.
Our
common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq has
requirements that a company must meet in order to remain listed on the Nasdaq
Capital Market. These requirements include maintaining a minimum closing bid
price of $1.00 and minimum stockholders’ equity of $2.5 million. Our
stockholders’ equity as of October 31, 2006 was approximately $3.3 million and
our closing bid price on October 31, 2006 was $0.37.
On
July
14, 2006, we received a notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq) indicating
that for 30 consecutive business days prior to the notification date, the bid
price of our common stock closed below the $1.00 minimum bid price required
for
continued listing by Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4310(c)(4) (the Rule). On January
11, 2007, we received a notice from Nasdaq that our stock is subject to
delisting and that we would not be given an additional 180 day compliance period
indicating that we did not meet Nasdaq’s initial listing criteria as set forth
in Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4310(c). Our shareholders’ equity is less than the
required $5.0 million and the market value of our public float is less than
the
required $5.0 million. We filed an appeal of the staff’s determination to a
Listings Qualifications Panel (Panel). Delisting of our stock from Nasdaq is
stayed pending the determination of the Listings Qualifications Panel. We have
an appeals hearing with the Panel scheduled for February 22, 2007.
-16-
If
we
fail to regain compliance with the standards necessary to be quoted on Nasdaq
or
we are unsuccessful in our appeal of the delisting determination and our common
stock is delisted, trading in our common stock would be conducted on the OTC
Bulletin Board as long as we continue to file reports required by the Securities
and Exchange Commission. The OTC Bulletin Board is generally considered to
be a
less efficient market than Nasdaq, and our stock price, as well as the liquidity
of our common
stock,
may be
adversely impacted as a result.
Our
certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation
Law
contain provisions that could delay or prevent a change in
control.
Our
board
of directors has the authority to issue up to 2,000,000 shares of preferred
stock and to determine the price, rights, preferences and privileges of those
shares without any further vote or action by the stockholders. The rights of
the
holders of common stock will be subject to, and may be materially adversely
affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be issued
in the future. The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of making
it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding
voting stock. Furthermore, certain other provisions of our certificate of
incorporation and bylaws may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes
in control or management, which could adversely affect the market price of
our
common stock. In addition, we are subject to the provisions of Section 203
of
the Delaware General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law.
ITEM
2. PROPERTIES
We
lease
22,000 square feet of office space to house our engineering and administrative
headquarters located in San Ramon, California. The lease expires in 2010. .
In
connection with the sale of our hardware business, on January 10, 2007, we
signed a definitive agreement providing for the assumption of the lease of
our
San Ramon office space effective with the closing of the transaction. We will
continue to be secondary guarantor on the lease for the term of the lease.
ITEM
3. LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
We
are
not a party to any pending legal proceedings.
ITEM
4. SUBMISSION
OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There
were no matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders in the fourth quarter
of
2006.
-17-
IDENTIFICATION
OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Our
executive officers and their respective ages and positions as of October 31,
2006 are set forth in the following table. There are no familial relationships
between our directors or our executive officers and any other director or
executive officer.
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
Kenneth
G. Yamamoto
|
51
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
David
W. Brunton
|
56
|
Vice
President, Finance, Chief Financial
|
Officer,
Treasurer and Secretary
|
||
Leo
Fang
|
35
|
Executive
Vice President
|
Nelson
Abal
|
49
|
Vice
President, Sales
|
Mr.
Yamamoto was
appointed President
and CEO on March 3, 2006. Mr. Yamamoto joined SBE as Vice President and General
Manager of the Storage Group following the acquisition of PyX Technologies,
Inc
in July 2005, where he had served as Chief Executive Officer since January
2005.
Prior to PyX Technologies, Mr. Yamamoto was Co-Founder and COO of DataPath
Systems, Inc., a developer of mixed-signal communication integrated circuits,
which was acquired by LSI Logic, Inc. in July 2000. Mr. Yamamoto was Senior
Director of Business Development for the Storage and Communications Division
of
LSI Logic, Inc. from July 2000 until December 2004.
Mr.
Brunton joined us in November 2001 as Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial
Officer, Secretary and Treasurer. From 2000 to 2001 he was the Chief Financial
Officer for NetStream, Inc., a telephony broadband network service provider.
From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Brunton was the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice
President - Operations for ReSourcePhoenix.com, a financial services outsource
provider. From 1987 to 1997, Mr. Brunton was the Corporate Controller for the
Phoenix American Companies, an equipment leasing, cable TV, telecommunications
and software development company. Mr. Brunton is a certified public
accountant.
Mr.
Fang
was appointed Executive Vice President on May 22, 2007. He joined SBE as Vice
President, Engineering following the acquisition of PyX Technologies in August
2005, where Mr. Fang served as COO. From 2000 through 2005, Mr. Fang was
Director of SERDES and USB Development at LSI Logic, where he led a large,
multi-disciplinary engineering department that developed an industry-leading
transceiver product line. Before LSI Logic, Mr. Fang held several senior design
engineering positions within storage-centric companies such as
Quantum Corporation and DataPath Systems, Inc.
Mr.
Abal
joined us in November 2003 a our Western Region Sales Manager. Mr. Abal was
appointed Vice President, Sales in July 2005. Prior to joining us, from 2001
to
2002, Mr. Abal was self employed as a network consultant. Prior to 2001 Mr.
Abal
was Director of Strategic Development for Peak XV, a network consulting
business.
-18-
PART
II
ITEM
5. MARKET
FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our
common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol SBEI.
The
following table presents quarterly information on the price range of our common
stock, indicating the high and low bid prices reported by the Nasdaq Capital
Market. These prices do not include retail markups, markdowns or commissions.
As
of December 31, 2006, there were approximately 427 holders of record of our
common stock.
Fiscal
quarter ended
|
|||||||||||||
Fiscal
2006
|
January
31
|
|
April
30
|
|
July
31
|
|
October
31
|
||||||
High
|
$
|
1.44
|
$
|
1.08
|
$
|
0.40
|
$
|
0.38
|
|||||
Low
|
1.33
|
1.05
|
0.36
|
0.35
|
|||||||||
Fiscal
2005
|
|||||||||||||
High
|
$
|
4.59
|
$
|
3.55
|
$
|
3.65
|
$
|
3.50
|
|||||
Low
|
3.03
|
2.30
|
2.09
|
2.17
|
There
are
no restrictions on our ability to pay dividends; however, it is currently the
intention of our Board of Directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use
in
our business and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable
future. Any future determination as to the payment of dividends will depend,
among other factors, upon our earnings, capital requirements, operating results
and financial condition.
The
following table includes information regarding our equity incentive plans as
of
the end of fiscal 2006:
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
Plan
category
|
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights
|
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants
and
rights
|
|
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding securities
reflected
in column (a))
|
|||||
(a)
|
||||||||||
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders
|
3,661,087(1
|
)
|
$
|
2.53
|
108,750
|
|||||
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
388,785(2
|
)
|
$
|
2.24
|
135,699
|
|||||
Total
|
4,049,872
|
$
|
2.50
|
244,449
|
(1) |
Includes
options to purchase 1,021,200 shares our common stock at $2.17 per
share
pursuant to the PyX 2005 Employee Stock Option Plan assumed by us
as part
of the PyX acquisition.
|
(2) |
See
Footnote 11 “Stock Option and Stock Purchase Plans“ to the SBE, Inc.
financial statements.
|
-19-
ITEM
6. SELECTED
FINANCIAL DATA
The
following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and the Financial Statements and the Notes thereto included
elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
For
years ended October 31,
|
||||||||||||||||
and
at October 31
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
2003
|
|
2002
|
|||||||
(in
thousands, except for per share amounts and number of
employees)
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
sales
|
$
|
6,127
|
$
|
8,056
|
$
|
11,066
|
$
|
7,456
|
$
|
6,898
|
||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$
|
(16,183
|
)
|
$
|
(4,230
|
)
|
$
|
(1,679
|
)
|
$
|
563
|
$
|
(1,731
|
)
|
||
Net
income (loss) per share - basic
|
$
|
(1.57
|
)
|
$
|
(0.66
|
)
|
$
|
(0.33
|
)
|
$
|
0.13
|
$
|
(0.46
|
)
|
||
Net
income (loss) per share - diluted
|
$
|
(1.57
|
)
|
$
|
(0.66
|
)
|
$
|
(0.33
|
)
|
$
|
0.12
|
$
|
(0.46
|
)
|
||
Product
research and development
|
$
|
3,979
|
$
|
2,694
|
$
|
2,411
|
$
|
1,330
|
$
|
3,027
|
||||||
Expenses
|
||||||||||||||||
Working
capital
|
$
|
1,701
|
$
|
5,520
|
$
|
3,939
|
$
|
3,945
|
$
|
2,985
|
||||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
4,868
|
$
|
18,832
|
$
|
6,173
|
$
|
6,975
|
$
|
5,321
|
||||||
Long-term
liabilities
|
$
|
255
|
$
|
241
|
$
|
139
|
$
|
217
|
$
|
10
|
||||||
Stockholders'
equity
|
$
|
3,321
|
$
|
17,348
|
$
|
4,303
|
$
|
5,387
|
$
|
3,696
|
||||||
Number
of employees
|
34
|
37
|
36
|
32
|
24
|
ITEM
7. MANAGEMENT'S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
We
experienced a decline in our sales volume of our embedded hardware products
and
a lack of market acceptance for our storage software that dramatically effected
our operating cash flow for fiscal 2006. Because of the continuing decline
of
our cash balance, we have been evaluating strategic alternatives to return
the
company to cash flow positive and unlock value for our shareholders.
In
September 2006, our Board of Directors and management believed that the best
course of action was to consider selling our embedded hardware and storage
software businesses and to consider seeking a viable merger candidate.
We
design, manufacture and sell embedded hardware products including wide area
network (WAN) and local area network (LAN) network interface cards (NICs) and
central processor units (CPUs) to OEMs who
embed
our hardware products into their products for the communications
markets.
Our
hardware products perform critical, computing and, Input/Output (I/O) tasks
in
diverse markets such as
high-end
enterprise level computing servers, Linux super-computing clusters,
workstations, media gateways, routers and Internet access devices.
-20-
We
also
design and provide software based storage networking solutions for an extensive
range of business critical applications, including Disk-to-Disk Back-up and
Disaster Recovery. We deliver an affordable, expandable and easy-to-use
portfolio of software solutions designed to enable optimal performance and
rapid
deployment across a wide range of next generation storage systems. We sell
standards-based storage software solutions to original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs), system integrators and value added resellers (VARs) who embed our
software into their IP
storage area network (IP SAN) and network attached storage (NAS) systems
to provide data storage solutions for the small and medium business (SMB)
enterprise storage markets.
Our
products are distributed worldwide through a direct sales force, distributors,
independent manufacturers' representatives and value-added
resellers.
Our
business is characterized by a concentration of sales to a small number of
OEMs
and distributors who provide products and services to the communications and
data storage markets. Consequently, the timing of significant orders from major
customers and their product cycles cause fluctuation in our operating results.
Data Connection Limited (DCL) was the largest of our customers representing
31%
of our sales in fiscal 2006. The Hewlett Packard Company (HP) has historically
been one of our largest customer and represented 13% and 45% of net sales in
fiscal 2005 and 2004 respectively. We
shipped the last $1.0 million of VME products to HP in the first quarter of
fiscal 2005.
We do
not expect to receive any future purchase orders from HP.
During
the year ended October 31, 2006, $257,000 or 4% of our sales were sold to
distributors compared to $640,000 or 8% and $874,000 or 8% in fiscal 2005 and
2004, respectively. Our reserves for distributor programs total approximately
$13,000 and $22,000 as of October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
On
January 11, 2007, we entered into an asset purchase Agreement for the Purchase
and Sale of Assets (the Purchase Agreement) with One Stop Systems, Inc., a
manufacturer of industrial-grade computing systems and components (One Stop),
pursuant to which we agreed to sell all of the assets associated with our
embedded hardware business (excluding cash, accounts receivable and other
excluded assets specified in the asset purchase agreement) to One Stop for
approximately $2.2 million in cash plus One Stop’s assumption of the lease of
our corporate headquarters building and certain equipment leases. Substantially
all our revenue has been generated from our embedded hardware business. Upon
closing the sale of our embedded hardware business to One Stop Systems we will
no longer have a hardware product line and the terms and conditions of the
asset
sale agreement prohibit us from competing in the embedded hardware markets
for
at least four year after the transaction is completed.
On
January 19, 2007, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization, with Neonode Inc., a Delaware corporation. Neonode
is a Swedish based developer and manufacturer of multimedia mobile handsets.
With over five years of research and development, Neonode is today a
leader and trendsetter in buttonless touch screen mobile phones and gesture
based user interfaces. Neonode mobile phones are based on patented
technologies. With Neonode's open Microsoft based platform, consumers can
themselves upgrade and customize their handsets similar to a
PC.
It is
anticipated that our name will be changed to “Neonode Inc.” in connection with
the completion of the merger.
-21-
We
intend
to file a proxy statement in connection with the merger with Neonode. The
proxy statement, when it becomes available, will contain important information
about the merger transaction. Free copies of the proxy statement will be
available at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.
We
are
evaluating strategic alternatives regarding our storage software
business.
In
the
future, if any of our major customers reduces orders for our products, we could
lose revenues and suffer damage to our business reputation. Orders by our OEM
customers are affected by factors such as new product introductions, product
life cycles, inventory levels, manufacturing strategy, contract awards,
competitive conditions and general economic conditions.
On
October 31, 2006, we had a sales backlog of product orders of approximately
$1.1
million compared to a sales backlog of product orders of approximately $1.2
million as of October 31, 2005.
Critical
Accounting Policies and 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 revenues and expenses
during the reporting period. Such estimates include levels of reserves for
doubtful accounts, obsolete inventory, warranty costs and deferred tax assets.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Our
critical accounting policies and estimates include the following:
Revenue
Recognition:
Hardware
Products
Our
policy is to recognize revenue for hardware product sales when title transfers
and risk of loss has passed to the customer, which is generally upon shipment
of
our hardware products to our customers. We defer and recognize service revenue
over the contractual period or as services are rendered. We estimate expected
sales returns and record the amount as a reduction of revenue and cost of
hardware and other revenue at the time of shipment. Our policy complies with
the
guidance provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Staff
Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 104, Revenue
Recognition in Financial Statements.
Judgments are required in evaluating the credit worthiness of our customers.
Credit is not extended to customers and revenue is not recognized until we
have
determined that collectibility is reasonably
assured. Our sales transactions are denominated in U.S. dollars.
The
software component of our hardware products is considered incidental. Therefore,
we do not recognize software revenue related to our hardware products separately
from the hardware product sale.
When
selling hardware, our agreements with OEMs, such as DCL and Nortel Networks
Corp. (Nortel), typically incorporate clauses reflecting the following
understandings:
-22-
- |
all
prices are fixed and determinable at the time of
sale;
|
- |
title
and risk of loss pass at the time of shipment (FOB shipping
point);
|
- |
collectibility
of the sales price is probable (the OEM is creditworthy, the OEM
is
obligated to pay and such obligation is not contingent on the ultimate
sale of the OEM’s integrated
solution);
|
- |
the
OEM’s obligation to us will not be changed in the event of theft or
physical destruction or damage of the
product;
|
- |
we
do not have significant obligations for future performance to directly
assist in the resale of the product by the OEMs;
and
|
- |
there
is no contractual right of return other than for defective
products.
|
Our
agreements with our distributors include certain product rotation and price
protection rights. All distributors have the right to rotate slow moving
products once each fiscal quarter. The maximum dollar value of inventory
eligible for rotation is equal to 25% of our products purchased by the
distributor during the previous quarter. In order to take advantage of their
product rotation rights, the distributors must order and take delivery of
additional products of ours equal to at least the dollar value of the products
that they want to rotate.
Each
distributor is also allowed certain price protection rights. If and when we
reduce or plan to reduce the price of any of our products and the distributor
is
holding any of the affected products in inventory, we will credit the
distributor the difference in price when they place their next order with us.
We
record an allowance for price protection at the time of the price reduction,
thereby reducing our net sales and accounts receivable. The allowance is based
on the price difference of the inventory held by our stocking distributors
at
the time we expect to reduce selling prices. We believe we are able to fully
evaluate potential returns and adjustments and continue to recognize the sale
based on shipment to our distributors. Reserves for the right of return and
restocking are established based on the requirements of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)
SFAS 48, Revenue
Recognition when Right of Return Exists.
During
the year ended October 31, 2006, $257,000 or 4% of our sales were sold to
distributors compared to $640,000 or 8% and $874,000 or 8% in fiscal 2005 and
2004, respectively. Our reserves for distributor programs total approximately
$13,000 and $22,000 as of October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Software
Products
We
derive
revenues from the following sources: (1) software, which includes new iSCSI
software licenses and (2) services, which include consulting. We
account for the licensing of software in accordance with of American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) 97-2,
Software
Revenue Recognition.
SOP 97-2
requires judgment, including whether a software arrangement includes multiple
elements, and if so, whether vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) of fair
value exists for those elements. These documents include post delivery support,
upgrades and similar services. We typically charge software maintenance equal
to
20% of the software license fees.
For
software license arrangements that do not require significant modification
or
customization of the underlying software, we recognize new software license
revenues when: (1) we enter into a legally binding arrangement with a customer
for the license of software; (2) we deliver the products; (3) customer payment
is deemed fixed or determinable and free of contingencies or significant
uncertainties; and (4) collection is reasonably assured. We initially defer
all
revenue related to the software license and maintenance fees until such time
that we are able to establish VSOE for these elements of our software products.
Revenue deferred under these arrangements is recognized to revenue over the
expected contract term. We
will
also continue to defer
revenues that represent undelivered post-delivery engineering support until
the
engineering support has been completed and the software product is accepted.
-23-
For
one
customer we began recognizing software license fee revenue and related
engineering support revenue by amortizing previously deferred revenue related
to
engineering services over 36-months beginning in March 2006, which was the
month
the first software license for this customer was activated. The 36-month
amortization period is the estimated life of the related software product for
this customer. We also amortize all fees related to the licensing of our
software to this customer over 36-months beginning with the month the software
license is activated. In the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, we recognized
$16,800 of software license fees for this customer and $26,000 of deferred
revenue related to engineering services to this customer.
Certain
software arrangements include consulting implementation services sold separately
under consulting engagement contracts. For the fiscal year ended October 31,
2006, we recognized $10,000 of software consulting revenue.
Allowance
for Doubtful Accounts:
Our
policy is to maintain allowances for estimated losses resulting from the
inability of our customers to make required payments. Credit limits are
established through a process of reviewing the financial history and stability
of each customer. Where appropriate, we obtain credit rating reports and
financial statements of the customer when determining or modifying their credit
limits. We regularly evaluate the collectibility of our trade receivable
balances based on a combination of factors. When a customer’s account balance
becomes past due, we initiate dialogue with the customer to determine the cause.
If it is determined that the customer will be unable to meet its financial
obligation to us, such as in the case of a bankruptcy filing, deterioration
in
the customer’s operating results or financial position or other material events
impacting their business, we record a specific allowance to reduce the related
receivable to the amount we expect to recover. Should all efforts fail to
recover the related receivable, we will write-off the account.
We
also
record an allowance for all customers based on certain other factors including
the length of time the receivables are past due and historical collection
experience with customers. We believe our reported allowances are adequate.
If
the financial conditions of those customers were to deteriorate, however,
resulting in their inability to make payments, we may need to record additional
allowances which would result in additional general and administrative expenses
being recorded for the period in which such determination was made.
Warranty
Reserves:
We
accrue
the estimated costs to be incurred in performing warranty services at the time
of revenue recognition and shipment of the products to the OEMs. Because
there
is
no contractual right of return other than for defective products, we can
reasonably estimate such returns and record a warranty reserve at the point
of
shipment. Our
estimate of costs to service our warranty obligations is based on historical
experience and expectation of future conditions. To the extent we experience
increased warranty claim activity or increased costs associated with servicing
those claims, the warranty accrual will increase, resulting in decreased gross
margin.
-24-
Inventories:
Inventories
are stated at the lower of cost, using the first-in, first-out method, or market
value. We utilize standard cost, which approximates actual costs for certain
indirect costs.
We
are exposed
to a number of economic and industry factors that could result in portions
of
our inventory becoming either obsolete or in excess of anticipated usage, or
subject to lower of cost or market issues. These factors include, but are not
limited to, technological changes in our markets, our ability to meet changing
customer requirements, competitive pressures in products and prices, and the
availability of key components from our suppliers. Our policy is to establish
inventory reserves when conditions exist that suggest that our inventory may
be
in excess of anticipated demand or is obsolete based upon our assumptions about
future demand for our products and market conditions. We regularly evaluate
our
ability to realize the value of our inventory based on a combination of factors
including the following: historical usage rates, forecasted sales or usage,
product end-of-life dates, estimated current and future market values and new
product introductions. Purchasing practices and alternative usage avenues are
explored within these processes to mitigate inventory exposure. When recorded,
our reserves are intended to reduce the carrying value of our inventory to
its
net realizable value. If actual demand for our products deteriorates, or market
conditions are less favorable than those that we project, additional inventory
reserves may be required.
Income
Taxes:
We
account for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting
for Income Taxes.
SFAS 109
requires recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected
future tax consequences of items that have been included in the financial
statements or tax returns. Deferred income taxes represent the future net tax
effects resulting from temporary differences between the financial statement
and
tax bases of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for
the
year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances
are
recorded against net deferred tax assets where, in our opinion, realization
is
uncertain. Based on the uncertainty of future pre-tax income, we fully reserved
our deferred tax assets as of October 31, 2006 and 2005. In the event we were
to
determine that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the
future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would increase income in the
period such determination was made. The provision for income taxes represents
the net change in deferred tax amounts, plus income taxes payable for the
current period.
Long-lived
Assets:
We
assess
any impairment by estimating the future cash flow from the associated asset
in
accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.
If the
estimated undiscounted cash flow related to these assets decreases in the future
or the useful life is shorter than originally
estimated, we
may
incur charges for impairment of these assets. The impairment is based on the
estimated discounted cash flow associated with the asset. Capitalized software
costs consist of costs to purchase software and costs to internally develop
software. Capitalization of software costs begins upon the establishment
of technological feasibility. All capitalized software costs are amortized
as
related sales are recorded on a per-unit basis with a minimum amortization
to
cost of goods sold based on a straight-line method over the estimated useful
life, generally two to three years. We evaluate the estimated net realizable
value of each software product and record provisions to the asset value
of
each product for which the net book value is in excess of the net realizable
value.
-25-
During
fiscal 2006, we evaluated the current expected cash flow from the sale of
storage software and determined that the net book value was in excess of the
net
realizable value. In the year ended October 31, 2006, we recorded asset
impairment charges of $6.5 million against our earnings for the period, reducing
our capitalized storage software asset to $1.3 million, which represents the
present value of the expected future sales of our storage software products
less
costs. This asset impairment charge is included in amortization of purchased
software in
the
Statements of Operations for
the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2006.
Prior
to the write-down, we amortized our storage software over 36 months at the
rate
of $339,000 per month. We will amortize the remaining $1.3 million software
asset over the remaining 21-month amortization period at the rate of $63,000
per
month.
New
Accounting Pronouncements:
In
June
2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting
for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.
FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized
in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS 109. This
interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute
for
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
derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim
periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 will be effective for us
beginning November 1, 2007. We are currently evaluating this interpretation
to determine if it will have a material impact on our financial
statements.
In
September 2006, the SEC issued SAB 108, Considering
the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements in Current Year Financial
Statements.
SAB 108 expresses the SEC Staff’s views regarding the process of
quantifying financial statement misstatements. SAB 108 addresses the
diversity in practice in quantifying financial statement misstatements and
the
potential under current practice for the build up of improper amounts on the
balance sheet. SAB 108 will be effective for the year beginning November 1,
2006. The cumulative effect of the initial application of SAB 108 will be
reported in the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities as of the beginning
of the fiscal year, with the offsetting balance to retained earnings. We do
not
expect the adoption of SAB 108 to have a material impact on our financial
statements.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair
Value Measurements.
SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair
value as required by other accounting pronouncements and expands fair value
measurement disclosures. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2007. We are currently evaluating the impact of
SFAS 157 on our financial statements.
-26-
Results
of Operations
The
following table sets forth, as a percentage of net sales, certain statements
of
operations data for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004.
These operating results are not necessarily indicative of our operating results
for any future period.
Year
Ended October 31,
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
||||
Net
sales
|
100
|
%
|
100
|
%
|
100
|
%
|
||||
Operating
expenses:
|
||||||||||
Amortization
and impairment of acquired
|
||||||||||
software
and intellectual property
|
161
|
13
|
11
|
|||||||
Cost
of hardware and other revenue
|
66
|
54
|
49
|
|||||||
Product
research and development
|
65
|
33
|
22
|
|||||||
Sales
and marketing
|
36
|
28
|
19
|
|||||||
General
and administrative
|
37
|
24
|
16
|
|||||||
Loan
loss recovery
|
---
|
---
|
(2
|
)
|
||||||
Total
operating expenses
|
365
|
85
|
55
|
|||||||
Operating
loss before income taxes
|
(265
|
)
|
(52
|
)
|
(15
|
)
|
||||
Income
tax (provision) benefit
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
|||||||
Net
loss
|
(265
|
)%
|
(52
|
)%
|
(15
|
)%
|
Net
Sales
Net
sales
for fiscal 2006 were $6.1 million, a 25% decrease from $8.1 million in fiscal
2005. Our net sales for fiscal 2005 represents a
27%
decrease from $11.1 million in fiscal 2004. The decrease in fiscal 2006 sales
as
compared to fiscal 2005 were primarily attributable to a decrease in sales
to
what was our largest customer, HP. We did not have any sales to HP in fiscal
2006 compared to $1.0 million in fiscal 2005. In addition, sales to other
customers also decreased in fiscal 2006 as compared to 2005, most notably a
$400,000 reduction in the sales of our Antares products to our distributors,
a
$300,000 year over year reduction in sales to DCL and a $100,000 reduction
in
sales to Nortel The decrease in fiscal 2005 net sales as compared to fiscal
2004
was primarily attributable to a decrease in sales to HP. Sales to HP were $1.0
million in fiscal 2005 compared to $4.9 million in fiscal 2004. We
shipped our final order for $1.0 million of VME products to HP in the first
quarter of fiscal 2005.
Sales
to HP, primarily of VME products, represented 0% of net sales in fiscal 2006
compared to 13% of net sales for fiscal 2005 and 45% during fiscal 2004.
Sales
to
individual customers in excess of 10% of net sales for the year ended October
31, 2006 included sales to DCL located in the United Kingdom of $1.9 million,
or
31% of net sales, Nortel of $1.3 million, or 21% of net sales and Raytheon
of
$750,000, or 12% of net sales. In fiscal 2005, sales to DCL were $2.2 million,
or 28% of net sales and to were Nortel of $1.4 million, or 18% of net sales.
Sales to Nortel were $1.5 million, or 13% of net sales in fiscal 2004.
Sales
of
our adapter products were $4.0 million for fiscal 2006, as compared to $4.0
million in fiscal 2005 and $4.9 million in fiscal 2004. Sales of our HighWire
products were $2.0 million in fiscal 2006, as compared to $2.5 million in fiscal
2005 and $1.3 million in fiscal 2004. Our adapter products are used primarily
in
edge-of-the-network applications such as VPN and other routers, VoIP gateways
and security devices, whereas our HighWire products are primarily targeted
at
core-of-the-network applications used primarily by telecommunications central
offices.
-27-
Revenue
from software license fees was $16,700 and from software consulting services
$36,100 in fiscal 2006 compared to none in prior years.
Our
sales
backlog at October 31, 2006 was $1.1 million compared to $1.2 million at October
31, 2005. Most of our backlog at October 31, 2006 will be shipped to customers
in the first quarter of fiscal 2007.
While
we
anticipated an increase in the sales volume of our storage software, adapter
and
HighWire products over the course of fiscal 2006 as certain
of our prior design wins went into production
and our
software products gained market acceptance, the expected sales growth did not
occur. Because of the decline in our sales volume and the lack of market
acceptance for our storage software, we evaluated strategic alternatives to
enhance shareholder value. As a result of our evaluation, we
entered into an agreement to sell our embedded hardware business to One Stop
Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of industrial-grade computing systems and
components and an agreement to merge the company with Neonode, Inc., a designer
and manufacturer of mobile multi-media telephones. After the sale of the
embedded business and merger transactions are completed, we will no longer
be
active in the embedded hardware business and will change our name to “Neonode,
Inc” and be active in the design and manufacturing of mobile multi-media
telephones with
patented buttonless touch screen mobile phones and gesture-based user
interfaces.
We
are
evaluating strategic alternatives regarding our storage software business.
International
sales constituted 43%, 37% and 12% of net sales in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004,
respectively. International sales are primarily executed in Europe with 31%
to
customers in the United Kingdom. All international sales are executed in U.S.
dollars.
Amortization
and Impairment of Purchased Software and Intellectual
Property
We
recorded a software asset totaling $12.4 million when we acquired PyX and
capitalized $256,000 related to the development of the now discontinued VoIP
products. We also continually upgrade our software by enhancing the existing
features of our products and by adding new features and products. We often
evaluate whether to develop these new offerings in-house or whether we can
achieve a greater return on investment by purchasing or licensing software
from
third parties. Based on our evaluations we have purchased or licensed various
software for resale since 1996.
Recurring
amortization of capitalized software and intellectual property costs totaled
$3.4 million for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 compared to $1.0 million
for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 and $408,000 for the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2004 and is included in amortization
of purchased software and intellectual property in our Statements of
Operations.
The
increase in 2006 over 205 and 2004 was due to the amortization of the software
asset acquired in the PyX acquisition.
-28-
In
the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 we discontinued our VoIP product development
and as a result wrote-off $256,000 of capitalized software development costs
related to the VoIP products. This write-off is included in our product research
and development expense in our Statements of Operations.
In
the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, we recorded an asset impairment charge
of
$6.5 million against our earnings for the year, reducing our storage software
asset to $1.3 million. This asset impairment charge is included in amortization
and impairment of purchased software and intellectual property in
our
Statements of Operations. Prior to the write-down, we amortized our storage
software over 36 months at the rate of $339,000 per month. We will amortize
the
remaining $1.3 million software asset over the remaining 21 month amortization
period at the rate of $63,000 per month.
In
the
fiscal ended October 31, 2004 we recorded an asset impairment charge of $713,000
against our earnings for the year. We wrote off the remaining balance of the
intellectual property asset related to our acquisition of Antares Microsystems,
Inc. This asset impairment charge is included in amortization and impairment
of
purchased software and intellectual property in
our
Statements of Operations.
Cost
of Hardware Products and Other Revenue
Cost
of
hardware products and other revenues consists of the direct and indirect costs
of our manufactured hardware products and the cost of personnel in our
operations and production departments including share-based payment compensation
expense associated with the implementation of SFAS No. 123(R) Share
Based Payment.
Cost of
hardware products and other revenues for the year ended October 31, 2006
decreased by 7% to $4.0 million compared with $4.4 million for the fiscal year
ended October 31, 2005. Cost of hardware products and other revenues for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 decreased by 19.8% compared with $5.4 million
the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004. The decrease in cost of hardware
products and other revenue in absolute dollars for both the comparative fiscal
periods was principally due to a lower volume of hardware sales that decreased
the total direct and indirect cost of our manufactured products.
Included
in cost of hardware products and other revenue expense for the fiscal year
ended
October 31, 2006 is $80,000 of non-cash stock-based compensation expense related
to the stock-for-pay program, stock option expense under SFAS 123R and the
issuance of restricted stock to employees compared to none in 2005 and
2004.
Gross
profit is calculated as net sales less the cost of hardware and other revenue.
Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 34%, 46% and 51% in fiscal 2006,
2005 and 2004, respectively. The decrease in our gross profit margin in fiscal
2006 as compared to 2005 is related to the reduction in sales of higher gross
margin products to HP combined with a
change
to
the
product mix of our sales and a lower sales volume not efficiently absorbing
our
second line production costs. The
decrease in our gross profit margin in fiscal 2005 as compared to 2004 is
related to the reduction in sales of higher gross margin products to HP. In
fiscal 2004 we sold $4.9 million of product to HP and in fiscal 2005 we sold
$1.0 million. The
gross
profit on the HP sales was approximately 70% as compared to the average gross
profit on HighWire products, which was approximately 60%, and adapter products,
which was approximately 55%.
-29-
Product
Research and Development
Product
research and development (R&D) expenses were $3.9 million, a 48% increase
over $2.7 million in fiscal 2006. R&D expense for fiscal 2005 increased by
11% over $2.4 million in fiscal 2004.
The
increase in R&D in fiscal 2006 as compared to fiscal 2005 is primarily the
result of three factors:
· |
the
inclusion of $543,300 of non-cash compensation expense related to
stock
option expense under SFAS 123(R) compared to none in 2005 and
2004;
|
· |
an
increase in engineering design projects related expenditures related
to
the development of our storage software;
and
|
· |
a
$256,000 asset impairment write-off of previously capitalized VoIP
development expense that was written-off to expense in fiscal 2006
due to
the cancellation of the VoIP development
project.
|
The
increase in R&D in fiscal 2005 as compared to fiscal 2004 is primarily the
result of two factors:
· |
the
inclusion of increases related to our Storage business segment when
we
hired seven employees in conjunction with the PyX acquisition; and
|
· |
an
increase in engineering design project related expenditures related
to the
development of our storage software and VoIP/DSP gateway
products.
|
In
fiscal
2006, we continued development of our PyX storage software. During fiscal 2006
we developed a wide variety of storage software management features and data
protection modules. While the iSCSI protocol stack provides for a robust,
inexpensive, and highly scalable transport infrastructure, modules included
in
our IP SAN Director Suite such as iSNS (Internet Storage Name Service), SNMP
(Simple Network Management Protocol), Snapshot, High Availability, and
Replication seamlessly address the needs and requirements of today’s IT storage
managers.
Included
in R&D expense for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, in addition to
the $543,300 stock option expense previously mentioned, is $282,000 of non-cash
stock-based compensation expense related to the stock-for-pay program and the
issuance of restricted stock to employees compared to none in 2005 and
2004.
With
the
planned sale of our embedded hardware business and lack of market acceptance
for
our storage software products, we reduced our R&D budget significantly and
have focused our R&D efforts on key storage management features to enhance
the value of our storage software business.
We
did
not capitalize any internal software development costs in fiscal 2006, 2005
or
2004 and do not expect to capitalize internal software development costs in
the
future .
-30-
Sales
and Marketing
Sales
and
marketing expenses for fiscal 2006 were $2.3 million, a 5% decrease from fiscal
2005. This decrease is primarily related to a decrease in headcount and
decreased travel and product marketing activities. We decreased our marketing
expenditures by 30% in fiscal 2006 as we reduce cash expenditures across the
company.
Fiscal
2005 sales and marketing expense was $2.2 million, a 5% increase over fiscal
2004. This increase is primarily related to an increase in headcount due to
the
acquisition of PyX and an increase travel and product marketing activities.
We
increased our marketing expenditures by 58% in fiscal 2005 as we attended more
industry trade shows and increased our advertising and public relations efforts
to reach our target prospects more effectively.
Included
in sales and marketing expense for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 is
$234,000 of non-cash stock-based compensation expense related to the
stock-for-pay program, stock option expense under SFAS 123(R) and the issuance
of restricted stock to employees compared to none in 2005 and 2004.
We
are
not currently planning to attend trade shows or engage in product marketing
activities other than via our Web site and word of mouth.
General
and Administrative
General
and administrative expenses for fiscal 2006 increased approximately $340,000
to
$2.2 million in fiscal 2005. General and administrative expenses for fiscal
2006
include $592,000 of non-cash compensation expense related to stock option
expense under SFAS 123(R) compared to none in 2005 and 2004. General and
administrative expenses for fiscal 2005 increased approximately $150,000 to
$1.9
million as compared to fiscal 2004. We
assumed the PyX employee stock option plan as part of our acquisition of PyX
and
recorded $2,484,000
of deferred compensation. Included in general and administrative expense for
fiscal 2005 is $173,000 amortization expense related to the deferred
compensation.
Included
in general and administrative expense for the fiscal year ended October 31,
2006, in addition to the $592,000 stock option expense previously mentioned,
is
$357,000 of non-cash stock-based compensation expense related to the
stock-for-pay program and the issuance of restricted stock to employees compared
to none in 2005 and 2004.
Loan
Reserve Benefit
On
November 6, 1998, we made a loan to our former president and chief executive
offer, who retired as of December 31, 2004. The loan was used by him to exercise
an option to purchase 139,400 shares of our common stock and pay related taxes.
The loan, as amended, was collateralized by shares of our common stock, bore
interest at a rate of 2.48% per annum and was due on December 14,
2003.
On
October 31, 2002, we determined that it was probable that we would be unable
to
fully recover the balance of the loan on its due date of December 14, 2003.
Accordingly, a valuation allowance of $474,000 was recorded against the loan
at
October 31, 2002.
-31-
During
the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003, the officer repaid $362,800 of the loan
and,
as a result, we recognized a benefit of $235,000 related to the reversal of
the
loan impairment charge taken by us in fiscal 2002. During the first quarter
of
fiscal 2004, the officer repaid the remaining loan balance in full and, as
a
result, we recorded a benefit of $239,000 relating to the reversal of the
remaining loan impairment charge.
Income
Taxes
Our
effective tax rate was 0% in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. We
recorded valuation allowances in fiscal 2006 and 2005 for deferred tax assets
due to the uncertainty of realization. In the event of future taxable income,
our effective income tax rate in future periods could be lower than the
statutory rate as such tax assets are realized.
Net
Loss
As
a
result of the factors discussed above, we recorded a net loss of $16.2 million
in fiscal 2006 compared to a net loss of $4.2 million in fiscal 2005 and $1.7
in
fiscal 2004.
Contractual
Obligations and Commercial Commitments
The
following table sets forth a summary of our material contractual obligations
and
commercial commitments as of October 31, 2006:
|
Payments
due by period (in thousands)
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
Less
than
|
1-2
|
3-5
|
More
than
|
|||||||||||
Contractual
Obligations
|
Total
|
1
year
|
Years
|
Years
|
5
Years
|
|||||||||||
Building
leases
|
$
|
2,223
|
$
|
580
|
$
|
1,160
|
$
|
483
|
$
|
—
|
||||||
Capital
leases
|
255
|
74
|
149
|
32
|
—
|
|||||||||||
Total
net lease payments
|
$
|
2,478
|
$
|
654
|
$
|
1,309
|
$
|
515
|
$
|
—
|
One
Stop
Systems, Inc. agreed to the assumption of our corporate headquarters office
lease and a lease for certain engineering equipment as part of the consideration
related to the purchase of our embedded hardware business. One Stop will assume
approximately $2.2 million of future lease payments. The sale transaction to
One
Stop is expected to be completed in our second quarter of fiscal
2007.
In
addition to salary, each of our directors and executive officers is eligible
to
receive a bonus pursuant to our Director and Officer Bonus Plan adopted
September 21, 2006 and each of our executive officers have severance agreements
that provide for 6 months salary and accelerated vesting of all unvested stock
options upon certain events triggered by a change in control. The total
estimated amounts due under the Bonus and severance agreements is approximately
$530,000. The amounts due will be paid to the directors and executive officers
upon completion of the asset sale and merger.
-32-
Substantially
all our sales backlog at October 31, 2007 of $1.1 million is scheduled for
shipment to customers prior to the projected closing of the sale of our embedded
hardware business to One Stop Systems, Inc.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
We
do not
have any transactions, arrangements, or other relationships with unconsolidated
entities that are reasonably likely to affect our liquidity or capital resources
other than the operating leases noted above. We have no special purpose or
limited purpose entities that provide off-balance sheet financing, liquidity,
or
market or credit risk support; or engage in leasing, hedging, research and
development services, or other relationships that expose us to liability that
is
not reflected on the face of the financial statements.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
We
experienced a decline in our sales volume of our embedded hardware products
and
a lack of market acceptance for our storage software that dramatically effected
our operating cash flow for fiscal 2006. Because of the continuing decline
of
our cash balance, we have been evaluating strategic alternatives to return
the
company to cash flow positive. We determined the best way to enhance shareholder
value and preserve the remaining cash balance was to
sell our
embedded hardware business to One Stop Systems, Inc. and to merge with Neonode,
Inc. The sale of the embedded hardware business will provide cash of $2.2
million plus relieve us of a $2.2 million real estate lease burden. After the
sale of the embedded business and merger transactions are completed, we will
no
longer be active in the embedded hardware business and
future cash will have to be derived from the operations of Neonode.
Our
liquidity is dependent on many factors, including sales volume, operating profit
and the efficiency of asset use and turnover. Our future liquidity after the
merger with Neonode is completed will be affected by, among other
things:
- |
actual
versus anticipated sales of Neonode’s
products;
|
- |
our
actual versus anticipated operating
expenses;
|
- |
the
timing of Neonode’s product
shipments;
|
- |
our
actual versus anticipated Neonode’s gross profit
margin;
|
- |
our
ability to raise additional capital, if necessary;
and
|
- |
our
ability to secure credit facilities, if
necessary.
|
We
had
cash and cash equivalents of $1.2 million and $3.6 million on October 31, 2006
and October 31, 2005, respectively. In
fiscal
2006, $2.3 million of cash was used by operating activities,
primarily as a result of net losses. Our cash used was reduced by the inclusion
of $6.5 million impairment write-down of the PyX software plus $3.9 million
of
amortization and depreciation expense related to property and equipment and
capitalized software and $2.1 million of stock based compensation expense that
are included in the $16.2 million net loss but did not require cash. Cash was
generated by a $625,000 decrease in our accounts receivable and a $544,000
decrease in our inventory. The decrease in trade accounts receivable is due
to a
general decrease in overall sales activity in fiscal 2006 as compared to the
end
of fiscal 2005. The decrease in inventory is due to reducing
our inventory from $1.3 million at the beginning of the year to $740,000 at
year-end. The current inventory level better matches our current sales levels.
Our working
capital (current assets less current liabilities) at October 31, 2006 was $1.7
million, as compared to $5.2 million at October 31, 2005.
-33-
In
fiscal
2006, we purchased $176,000 of fixed assets, consisting primarily of computers
and engineering equipment. Purchased software amounted to $40,000, primarily
for
engineering and product design activities and payments related to our cancelled
VoIP products.
We
received $37,000 in fiscal 2006 from proceeds associated with the exercise
of
employee stock options.
In
mid-January 2006, we took steps to reduce our cash flow break-even point. We
changed the formula for paying all officers and employees and our Board of
Directors (Board) for their services. For the January 31, 2006 through March
31,
2006 payrolls, officer and employees were paid 70% in cash and 30% in shares
of
our common stock. Beginning with our April 15, 2006 payroll, the formula was
changed to a range of 62% to 90% in cash and 10% to 38% in shares of our common
stock. Our Board’s monthly fees were paid entirely in our common stock. On
August 21, 2006, the Board suspended the stock-for-pay program for all members
of the Board and officers. The suspension was effective August 1, 2006 for
members of the board and effective August 16, 2006 for officers. Despite the
suspension of the stock-for-pay program, the previously-announced salary
reductions for officers and cessation of cash Board compensation will remain
in
effect until such time as the Board shall determine. The stock-for-pay program
has continued for our non-officer employees.
As
of
October 31, 2006, we had $1.2 million in cash and we are not operating at cash
breakeven. Unless we are able to increase our sales to get to cash breakeven,
we
will not have sufficient cash generated from our business activities to support
our operations for the next twelve months. We have embarked on a strategy to
sell all or a portion of our business and signed a definitive agreement to
sell
our embedded hardware business. The overwhelming majority of our cash flow
from
operations has been generated from the embedded hardware business that we are
selling. We expect to close the sale of our embedded hardware business in our
second quarter of fiscal 2007. We also signed a definitive agreement to merge
with Neonode and have been reducing our staffing levels and other cash
expenditures to sustainable levels. We expect the $2.2 million cash proceeds
from the sale of our embedded hardware business to be sufficient to support
our
remaining operations until the merger transaction closes, or for at least the
next twelve months if the merger is delayed. We are also seeking other strategic
alternatives including selling our storage software business.
If
our
projected sales of our storage software products do not materialize or we are
unable to consummate the sale of our embedded hardware business and the merger
transaction, we will need to reduce expenses further and raise additional
capital through customer prepayments or the issuance of debt or equity
securities. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of preferred
stock
or debt, these securities could have rights, privileges or preferences senior
to
those of common stock, and debt covenants could impose restrictions on our
operations. The sale of equity or debt could result in additional dilution
to
current stockholders, and such financing may not be available to us on
acceptable terms, if at all.
ITEM
7A. QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our
cash
and cash equivalents are subject to interest rate risk. We invest primarily
on a
short-term basis. Our financial instrument holdings at October 31, 2006 were
analyzed to determine their sensitivity to interest rate changes. The fair
values of these instruments were determined by net present values. In our
sensitivity analysis, the same change in interest rate was used for all
maturities and all other factors were held constant. If interest rates increased
by 10%, the expected effect on net loss related to our financial instruments
would be immaterial. We hold no assets or liabilities denominated in a foreign
currency and all sales are denominated in U.S. dollars.
-34-
ITEM
8. FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The
financial statements and supplementary data required under Item 8 are provided
under Item 15.
ITEM
9. CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM
9A. CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
An
evaluation as of October 31, 2006 was carried out under the supervision of
and
with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation
of
our “disclosure controls and procedures,” which are defined under SEC rules as
controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within required time
periods. In
our
financial reporting process, our Chief Financial Officer, in discussions with
our independent registered public accounting firm, identified a certain
“material weakness” (as such term is defined under Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 2) in disclosure controls and
procedures. As a result of this material weakness, our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have determined that our
disclosure controls and procedures are ineffective.
During
the year ended October 31, 2006, our independent registered public accounting
firm communicated to management and the audit committee a material weakness
arising out of an adjustment to revenue related to our software contracts which
they identified during their review of our interim condensed consolidated
financial statements. The material weakness identified pertains to our revenue
recognition policies and procedures for software arrangements, which is new
to
us, and not adequately robust to identify vendor specific objective evidence
and
separate multiple element arrangements. We are working to establish
policies and procedures in this area.
Limitations
on the Effectiveness of Controls
A
control
system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable,
not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the controls are met. Because
of
the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls
can
provide absolute assurance that all control issues within a company, if any,
have been detected. Accordingly, our disclosure controls and procedures are
designed to provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives
of
our disclosure control system are met and, as set forth above, our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded, based on their
evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this annual report on Form
10-K, that our disclosure controls and procedures were not sufficiently
effective to provide reasonable assurance that the objectives of our disclosure
control system were met.
-35-
ITEM
9B. OTHER
INFORMATION
None.
-36-
PART
III
ITEM
10. DIRECTORS
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Identification
of Directors; Audit Committee Financial Expert; Section 16(a) Beneficial
Ownership Reporting Compliance; Code of Ethics
The
information required by Item 10 concerning our executive officers is set forth
in the section entitled "Identification of Executive Officers" appearing in
Part
I of this annual report.
Board
of Directors
The
Board
is divided into three classes. Each class consists, as nearly as possible,
of
one-third of the total number of directors, and each class has a three-year
term. Vacancies on the Board may be filled only by persons elected by a majority
of the remaining directors. A director elected by the Board to fill a vacancy
in
a class shall serve for the remainder of the full term of that class, and until
the director’s successor is elected and qualified. This includes vacancies
created by an increase in the number of directors.
The
Board
presently has five members. The following is a brief biography of each director
Kenneth
G. Yamamoto
Mr.
Yamamoto, 51, was
appointed
as
President,
CEO and director on March 3, 2006. Mr. Yamamoto joined SBE as Vice President
and
General Manager of the Storage Group following the acquisition of PyX
Technologies, Inc in July 2005, where he had served as Chief Executive Officer
since January 2005. Prior to PyX, Mr. Yamamoto was Co-Founder and COO of
DataPath Systems, Inc., a developer of mixed-signal communication integrated
circuits, which was acquired by LSI Logic, Inc. in July 2000. Mr. Yamamoto
was
Senior Director of Business Development for the Storage and Communications
Division of LSI Logic, Inc. from July 2000 until December 2004.
Ronald
J. Ritchie
Mr.
Ritchie, 64, has served as a director since 1997 and as Chairman since 2004.
Mr.
Ritchie has served as president of Ritchie Associates, a business and management
consulting firm. From October 1999 to June 2002, Mr. Ritchie also served as
director of PixTech, Inc., a provider of field emission displays to worldwide
customers, and he served as interim Chief Executive Officer of PixTech from
August 2001 to June 2002. Mr. Ritchie served as Chairman of the Board of VXI
Electronics, Inc., a supplier of power conversion components, from February
1998
until its acquisition by Celestica Inc. in September 1999. Mr. Ritchie was
President and CEO of Akashic Memories Corporation, a firm supplying thin film
hard disk media to manufacturers of disk drive products, from November 1996
to
January 1998. From May 1994 to November 1996, Mr. Ritchie also served as
President of Ritchie Associates. From August 1992 to April 1994, Mr. Ritchie
was
President and Chief Operating Officer of Computer Products, Inc., a supplier
of
power conversion components and system applications for the computer and
networking industry.
-37-
Marion
M. (Mel) Stuckey
Mr.
Stuckey, 66, has served as a director since December 2003. Since 2003, Mr.
Stuckey has served as Chief Executive Officer of the DECAF Company LLC, a
high-tech polymer company. Since 2001, Mr. Stuckey has served as Chief Executive
Officer of CEO Jumpstart LLC, a management consulting firm. From 1983 to 2001,
Mr. Stuckey was the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Fourth
Shift Corporation, a provider of supply chain and customer management software.
From 1978 to 1982, Mr. Stuckey was the President of the CPI subsidiary of
Control Data Corporation. From 1962 to 1978, Mr. Stuckey held various IBM prior
to being named the Northern California and Nevada Manager for IBM
Corporation.
John
Reardon
Mr.
Reardon, 44, has served as a director since February 2004. Mr. Reardon has
served as President and member of the Board of Directors of The RTC Group,
a
technical publishing company since 1990. In 1994, Mr. Reardon founded a Dutch
corporation, AEE, to expand the activities of The RTC Group into Europe. Mr.
Reardon continues to serve on the Board of Directors of One Stop Systems, Inc.,
a computing systems and manufacturing company.
John
D’Errico
Mr.
D’Errico has
served as a director since
April
2006. Mr. D’Errico is the former Executive Vice President of LSI Logic
Corp’s Storage Component Business, a business unit providing solutions for the
storage market. Mr. D’Errico began his career at LSI Logic in 1984 in LSI’s
worldwide manufacturing organization. During his 21 year career at LSI, Mr.
D’Errico served as Vice-President of U.S. Manufacturing, Vice-President and
General Manager of LSI Logic’s Japanese subsidiary and Vice-President and
General Manager of LSI Logic’s Pan Asia Marketing and Sales. From 1998 to 2003
he was a member of the Colorado Governor’s Commission on Science and Technology.
Information
Regarding the Board of Directors and its Committees
Independence
of the Board of Directors
As
required under the Nasdaq listing
standards, a majority of the members of a listed company’s board of directors
must qualify as “independent,” as affirmatively determined by the board of
directors. The Board consults with our counsel to ensure that the Board’s
determinations are consistent with all relevant securities and other laws and
regulations regarding the definition of “independent,” including those set forth
in pertinent listing standards of Nasdaq, as in effect time to time.
Consistent
with these considerations, after review of all relevant transactions or
relationships between each director, or any of his or her family members, and
SBE, our senior management and its independent auditors, the Board affirmatively
has determined that all of our directors are our independent directors within
the meaning of the applicable Nasdaq listing
standards.
-38-
Board
Committees
The
Board
has three committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a
Nominating and Governance Committee.
Audit
Committee.
The
Audit
Committee of the Board oversees our corporate accounting and financial reporting
process. For this purpose, the Audit Committee performs several functions.
The
Audit Committee evaluates the performance of and assesses the qualifications
of
the independent auditors; determines and approves the engagement of the
independent auditors; determines whether to retain or terminate the existing
independent auditors or to appoint and engage new independent auditors; reviews
and approves the retention of the independent auditors to perform any proposed
permissible non-audit services; monitors the rotation of partners of the
independent auditors on our audit engagement team as required by law; confers
with management and the independent auditors regarding the effectiveness of
internal controls over financial reporting; establishes procedures, as required
under applicable law, for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints
received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing
matters and the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns
regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; reviews the financial
statements to be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K; and discusses
with
management and the independent auditors the results of the annual audit and
the
results of our quarterly financial statements. Three directors comprise the
Audit Committee: Messrs. Stuckey, Reardon and Ritchie. The Audit Committee
has
adopted a written Audit Committee Charter.
The
Board
annually reviews the Nasdaq listing standards definition of independence for
Audit Committee members and has determined that all members of our Audit
Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule
4350(d)(2)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Nasdaq listing standards). All members of
the
Audit Committee meet Nasdaq’s audit committee financial sophistication
requirements. We do not have an “audit committee financial expert” (as defined
in the rules of the SEC) serving on the Audit Committee but the Board believes
that the background and financial sophistication of its members are sufficient
to satisfy the requirements of Rule 4350(d)(z)(A) of the Nasdaq listing
standards and to fulfill the duties of the Audit Committee. Nasdaq does not
currently require that audit committees include an “audit committee financial
expert” Only that they meet certain requirements as to financial
sophistication.
Compensation
Committee.
The
Compensation Committee of the Board reviews and approves our overall
compensation strategy and policies. The Compensation Committee reviews and
approves corporate performance goals and objectives relevant to the compensation
of our executive officers and other senior management; reviews and approves
the
compensation and other terms of employment of our Chief Executive Officer;
reviews and approves the compensation and other terms of employment of the
other
executive officers; and administers our stock option and purchase plans, pension
and profit sharing plans, stock bonus plans, deferred compensation plans and
other similar programs. Three directors comprise the Compensation Committee:
Messrs. Stuckey, Reardon and Ritchie. All members of the our Compensation
Committee are independent (as independence is currently defined in Rule
4200(a)(15) of the Nasdaq listing standards.
Nominating
and Governance Committee. The
Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board is responsible for identifying,
reviewing and evaluating candidates to serve as our directors (consistent with
criteria approved by the Board), reviewing and evaluating incumbent directors,
recommending to the Board for selection candidates for election to the Board
and
making recommendations to the Board regarding the membership of the committees
of the Board. Our Nominating and Governance Committee charter can be found
on
our corporate website at www.sbei.com. Three directors comprise the Nominating
and Governance Committee: Messrs. Stuckey, Reardon and Ritchie. All members
of
the Nominating and Governance Committee are independent (as independence is
currently defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the Nasdaq listing standards).
-39-
The
Nominating and Governance Committee believes that candidates for director should
have certain minimum qualifications, including being able to read and understand
basic financial statements, being over 21 years of age and having the highest
personal integrity and ethics. The committee also intends to consider such
factors as possessing relevant expertise upon which to be able to offer advice
and guidance to management, having sufficient time to devote to our affairs,
demonstrated excellence in his or her field, having the ability to exercise
sound business judgment and having the commitment to rigorously represent the
long-term interests of our stockholders. However, the committee retains the
right to modify these qualifications from time to time. Candidates for director
nominees are reviewed in the context of the current composition of the Board,
our operating requirements and the long-term interests of stockholders. In
conducting this assessment, the committee considers diversity, age, skills,
and
such other factors as it deems appropriate given the current needs of the Board,
SBE, to maintain a balance of knowledge, experience and capability. In the
case
of incumbent directors whose terms of office are set to expire, the Nominating
and Governance Committee reviews such directors’ overall service to SBE during
their term, including the number of meetings attended, level of participation,
quality of performance, and any other relationships and transactions that might
impair such directors’ independence. In the case of new director candidates, the
committee also determines whether the nominee must be independent for
Nasdaq purposes,
which determination is based upon applicable Nasdaq listing
standards, applicable SEC rules and regulations and the advice of counsel,
if
necessary. The committee then uses its network of contacts to compile a list
of
potential candidates, but may also engage, if it deems appropriate, a
professional search firm. The committee conducts any appropriate and necessary
inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications of possible candidates after
considering the function and needs of the Board. The committee meets to discuss
and consider such candidates’ qualifications and then selects a nominee for
recommendation to the Board by majority vote. To date, the Nominating and
Governance Committee has not paid a fee to any third party to assist in the
process of identifying or evaluating director candidates.
Compensation
of Directors
In
January 2006, as part of a company-wide reduction in salaries and other
expenses, we revised our director compensation policy to suspend all cash fees
and retainers payable to our directors. The Board approved a Stock-for-Pay
plan
that included all our employees as well as members of the Board. The
number of shares of stock issued to employees and Board member in-lieu of their
cash compensation is calculated at a 15% reduction from the market price on
the
date of issuance. Effective
August 1, 2006, the
Board
approved the suspension of all cash payments of Board and Board committee fees,
until further notice. A total of 158,295 shares of our common stock has been
issued to Board members in lieu of such fees under the stock-for-pay plan since
January 1, 2006. For
the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, we recorded approximately $126,000 of
stock-based compensation and director expense associated with the stock-for-pay
plan.
-40-
Prior
to
adoption of the company-wide reduction in salaries and other expenses, each
of
our non-employee directors received an annual retainer of $30,000, payable
monthly in arrears. The Chairman of the Board received an annual retainer of
$45,000, payable monthly in arrears. No director has been entitled to receive
a
per-meeting fee since March 2004, when our director compensation policy was
revised to eliminate such fees and replace them with the annual retainers
described above. In the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, the total cash
compensation paid to non-employee directors was $33,750. The members of the
Board are also eligible for reimbursement for their expenses incurred in
attending Board meetings in accordance with Company policy.
Each
of
our non-employee directors also receives stock option grants under the 2001
Directors’ Stock Option Plan (Directors’ Plan). Only our non-employee directors
are eligible to receive options under the Directors’ Plan. Options granted under
the Directors’ Plan do not qualify as incentive stock options under the Internal
Revenue Code. Option grants under the Directors’ Plan are non-discretionary.
Upon a non-employee director’s initial appointment or election to the Board, he
or she is automatically granted an option to purchase 15,000 shares of common
stock under the Directors’ Plan. On April 1 of each year (or the next
business day if that date is a legal holiday), each non-employee director is
automatically granted an additional option to purchase 10,000 shares of common
stock under the Directors’ Plan. No other options may be granted at any time
under the Directors’ Plan. The exercise price of options granted under the
Directors’ Plan is 100% of the fair market value of the common stock subject to
the option on the date of the option grant. Options granted under the Directors’
Plan may not be exercised until the date upon which the optionee (or the
affiliate of the optionee) has provided one year of continuous service as a
non-employee director following the date of grant of such option, at which
point
100% of the option becomes exercisable. The
options will fully vest upon a change of control, as defined in the Directors’
Plan, unless the acquiring company assumes the options or substitutes similar
options. The
term
of options granted under the Directors’ Plan is seven years.
During
the last fiscal year, we granted options covering 65,000 shares to our
non-employee directors, of which 40,000 were granted at an exercise price of
$1.08 per share and 25,000 were granted at an exercise price of $1.10 per share.
The fair market value of such common stock on the dates of grant was $1.08
and
$1.10 per share, respectively (based on the closing sales price reported on
Nasdaq for the date of grant).
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”) requires our
directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent
of a
registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports
of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock and other
equity securities. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders
are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file.
To
our
knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished
to
us and written representations that no other reports were required, during
the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, all Section 16(a) filing requirements
applicable to our officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial
owners were complied with.
-41-
Code
Of Ethics
We
have
adopted the SBE, Inc. Code of Business Conduct that applies to all officers,
directors and employees. All of our employees must carry out their duties in
accordance with the policies set forth in the Code of Business Conduct and
with
applicable laws and regulations. The Code of Business Conduct contains a
separate Code of Ethics that applies specifically to our Chief Executive Officer
and senior financial officers. The Code of Business Conduct and Code of Ethics
is available on our website at www.sbei.com.
If
we
make any substantive amendments to the Code of Business Conduct or grants any
waiver from a provision of the Code to any executive officer or director, we
will promptly disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver on our
website.
ITEM
11. EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
-42-
Summary
of Compensation
The
following table shows for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2004, 2005 and
2006, compensation awarded or paid to, or earned by, our Chief Executive Officer
and our other four most highly compensated executive officers at
October 31, 2006 (the “Named Executive Officers”):
Summary
Compensation Table
Annual
Compensation
|
Long-Term
Compensation Awards
|
||||||
Name
and Principal
Position
|
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Other
Annual
Compen-sation
($)(1)
|
Stock
Awards
(#)(8)
|
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)
|
All
Other Compen-sation
($)(2)
|
Mr.
Kenneth Yamamoto
President
and Chief Executive Officer (7)
|
2006
2005
2004
|
143,617
75,104
--
|
--
--
--
|
708
--
--
|
74,088
--
--
|
100,000
--
--
|
1,094
--
--
|
Mr.
Leo Fang
Executive
Vice President(6)
|
2006
2005
2004
|
143,643
75,104
--
|
--
--
--
|
242
--
--
|
62,562
--
--
|
25,000
--
--
|
1,094
--
--
|
Mr.
David Brunton
Vice
President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
|
2006
2005
2004
|
144,649
170,000
167,500
|
--
--
--
|
1,103
1,058
541
|
49,683
--
--
|
25,000
100,000
25,000
|
425
3,613
4,875
|
Mr.
Kirk Anderson
Vice
President, Operations
|
2006
2005
2004
|
136,740
132,888
130,000
|
--
--
--
|
324
270
263
|
45,502
--
--
|
75,000
--
--
|
853
3,879
3,828
|
Mr.
Nelson Abal
Vice
President of Sales (10)
|
2006
2005
2004
|
118,789
105,416
100,000
|
13,599
37,677
61,315
|
185
128
121
|
29,791
--
--
|
20,000
70,000
--
|
813
3,163
2,250
|
Mr.
Daniel Grey
President
and Chief Executive Officer (3)
|
2006
2005
2004
|
77,492
200,000
200,904
|
--
--
--
|
317
4,052
4,052
|
13,286
--
--
|
--
250,000
25,000
|
625
2,875
6,000
|
Mr.
Steve Nester
Vice
President of Business Development(11)
|
2006
2005
2004
|
82,132
158,583
105,849
|
--
11,500
--
|
521
883
269
|
25,072
--
--
|
5,000
50,000
--
|
1,062
4,413
3,532
|
Ms.
Yee-Ling Chin
Vice
President, Marketing (9)
|
2006
2005
2004
|
67,725
120,000
120,000
|
--
--
--
|
83
125
94
|
9,795
--
--
|
10,000
25,000
--
|
750
3,600
3,600
|
Mr.
William B. Heye, Jr.
President
and Chief Executive Officer (4)
|
2006
2005
2004
|
--
--
250,000
|
--
--
--
|
--
--
4,968
|
30,545
--
--
|
10,000
75,000
125,000
|
--
208,333
6,000
|
Mr.
Ignacio C. Munio
Vice
President, Engineering (5)
|
2006
2005
2004
|
--
168,767
175,000
|
--
--
25,000
|
--
870
1,099
|
--
195,896
85,800(5)
|
--
28,945
--
|
--
5,075
5,250
|
-43-
(1)
|
Includes
$708, $242, $317, $1,103, $185, $521, $324 and $83 attributable in
fiscal
2006 to Messrs. Yamamoto, Fang, Grey, Brunton, Abal, Nester, Anderson
and
Ms. Chin, respectively, $693, $1,058, $128, $883, $270, $125 and
$870
attributable in fiscal 2005 to Messrs. Grey, Brunton, Abal, Nester,
Anderson, Ms. Chin and Mr. Munio, respectively, $4,052, $541,$121,$269,
$263, $94, $4,968 and $1,099 attributable in fiscal 2004 to Messrs.
Grey,
Brunton, Abal, Nester, Anderson, Ms. Chin and Messrs. Heye and Munio,
respectively, for premiums paid by us for group term life insurance.
Also
includes $3,600 attributable in each of fiscal 2004 to Mr. Grey for
an
automobile allowance.
|
(2)
|
The
sum for each Named Executive Officer was paid by us as matching and
profit
sharing contributions to our Savings and Investment Plan and Trust.
The
sum of $208,333 was paid to Mr. Heye and we granted Mr. Heye an option
to
purchase 75,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $4.00
per
share as severance in connection with his retirement as President
and
Chief Executive Officer effective December 31,
2004.
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Grey was Vice President, Sales prior to being promoted to the office
of
President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2005.
Mr. Grey
resigned as President and Chief Executive officer on March 3,
2006.
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Heye retired on December 31, 2004. Mr. Heye retired from the Board
of
Directors on October 31, 2006.
|
(5)
|
Mr.
Munio left the Company on October 4, 2005.
|
(6)
|
Mr.
Fang was promoted to Executive Vice President on May 22,
2006.
|
(7)
|
Mr.
Yamamoto was Vice President of Storage Software prior to being promoted
to
the office of President and Chief Executive Officer effective March
3,
2006.
|
(8)
|
Stock
granted to executive officers as part of our wide salary reductions
and
Stock-For-Pay program instituted in January
2006.
|
(9)
|
Ms.
Chin left the company on June 23,
2006.
|
(10)
|
Mr.
Abal was appointed to his current position in July
2005.
|
(11)
|
Mr.
Nester left the Company on May 31,
2006.
|
Stock
Option Grants And Exercises
We
grant
options to our executive officers under its 1996 Stock Option Plan (the “1996
Plan”, 1998 Stock Option Plan (the “1998 Plan”) and 2006 Equity Inventive Plan
(the “2006 Plan”). As of October 31, 2006, options to purchase a total of
1,693,672 shares were outstanding under the foregoing plans and 135,699 shares
remained available for grant under the foregoing plans. Options granted under
the foregoing plans during the year ended October 31, 2006 vest over a 4 year
period, 25% after one year and 2% to 3% monthly thereafter. The options will
fully vest upon a change of control, as defined in the plans, unless the
acquiring company assumes the options or substitutes similar options. The term
of options granted under the plans is generally seven years. The
following tables show for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, certain
information regarding options granted to, exercised by and held at year end
by
the Named Executive Officers:
-44-
Option
Grants in Last Fiscal Year
Individual
Grants
|
Potential
Realizable Value at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation
for
Option Term(1)
|
||||||||||||||||||
Name
|
Number
of Securities
Underlying Options
Granted (#)
|
%
of Total Options
Granted to Employees in Fiscal Year
|
Exercise
Or Base Price
($/Sh)
|
Expiration
Date
|
5%
($)
|
10%
($)
|
|||||||||||||
Mr.
Kenneth Yamamoto
|
100,000
|
12.2
|
%
|
1.00
|
03/21/2013
|
140,710
|
194,871
|
||||||||||||
Mr.
David Brunton
|
25,000
|
3.1
|
%
|
1.00
|
03/21/2013
|
35,177
|
48,717
|
||||||||||||
Mr.
Leo Fang
|
25,000
|
3.1
|
%
|
1.00
|
03/21/2013
|
35,177
|
48,717
|
||||||||||||
Mr.
Kirk Anderson
|
75,000
|
9.2
|
%
|
1.00
|
03/21/2013
|
105,532
|
146,153
|
||||||||||||
Mr.
Nelson Abal
|
20,000
|
2.5
|
%
|
1.00
|
03/21/2013
|
28,142
|
38,974
|
_____________
(1)
|
The
potential realizable value is based on the term of the option at
the time
of grant. It is calculated by assuming that the stock price on the
date of
grant appreciates at the indicated annual rate, compounded annually
for
the entire term of the option and that the option is exercised and
sold on
the last day of its term for the appreciated stock price. These amounts
represent certain assumed rates of appreciation only, in accordance
with
the rules of the SEC, and do not reflect our estimate or projection
of
future stock price performance or take
into account any taxes that may be payable in connection with the
transaction.
Actual gains, if any, are dependent on the actual future performance
of
our common stock and no gain to the optionee is possible unless the
stock
price increases after the date of grant, which increase, if any,
would
benefit all stockholders.
|
Aggregated
Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option
Values
Name
|
Shares
Acquired
on
Exercise (#)
|
Value
Realized
($)(1)
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
at
Fiscal
Year-End (#)
Exercisable/
Unexercisable(2)(3)
|
Value
of Unexercised
In-the-Money
Options
at
Fiscal
Year-End ($)
Exercisable/
Unexercisable(2)(4)
|
|||||||||
Mr.
Kenneth Yamamoto
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
143,747/301,253
|
|
|
0/0
|
|
||
Mr.
David Brunton
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
230,187/89,813
|
|
|
0/0
|
|
Mr.
Leo Fang
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
95/831/159,169
|
|
|
0/0
|
|
Mr.
Kirk Anderson
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
117,000/75,000
|
|
|
0/0
|
|
Mr.
Nelson Abal
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
39,761/50,239
|
|
|
0/0
|
______________
(1)
|
Value
realized is based on the fair market value of our common stock on
the date
of exercise minus the exercise price without taking into account
any taxes
that may be payable in connection with the
transaction.
|
-45-
(2)
|
Reflects
shares vested and unvested at October 31,
2006.
|
(3)
|
Includes
both “in the money” and “out of the money” options. “In the money” options
are options with exercise prices below the market price of our common
stock at October 31, 2006 ($0.37).
|
(4)
|
Fair
market value of our common stock at October 31, 2006 ($0.37) minus
the
exercise price of the options.
|
ITEM
12. SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of our
common stock as of January 10, 2007 by: (i) each director and nominee for
director; (ii) each of our “named executive officers,” as defined in Item 402
under Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission;
(iii) all executive officers and directors of SBE as a group; and (iv) all
those
known by us to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of its common
stock. The address for each of the persons and entities set forth below is
c/o
SBE, Inc., 4000 Executive Parkway, Suite 200, San Ramon, California 94583.
Beneficial
Ownership (1)
|
||
Beneficial
Owner
|
Number
of Shares
|
Percent
of Total(2)
|
AIGH
Investment Partners LLC
6006
Berkeley Avenue
Baltimore,
MD 21209
|
788,120
|
7.1%
|
Mr.
Andre Hedrick
4419
Sugarland Court
Concord,
CA 94521
|
1,436,943
|
12.9%
|
Mr.
Kenneth G. Yamamoto (3)(6)
|
853,031
|
7.7%
|
Mr.
John Reardon (3)
|
75,545
|
0.07%
|
Mr.
Ronald J. Ritchie (3)
|
95,817
|
0.09%
|
Mr.
Marion M. (Mel) Stuckey (3)
|
75,545
|
0.07%
|
Mr.
John D’Errico (3)
|
70,863
|
0.06%
|
Mr.
David Brunton (3)
|
453,982
|
4.1%
|
Mr.
Kirk Anderson (3)
|
244,392
|
2.2%
|
Mr.
Nelson Abal (3)
|
132,271
|
1.2%
|
Mr.
Leo Fang (3)
|
354,251
|
3.2%
|
All
executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons) (3)
|
2,355,697
|
21.2%
|
-46-
(1) |
This
table is based upon information supplied by officers, directors and
principal stockholders and Schedules 13D and 13G, if any, filed with
the
SEC. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table and
subject
to community property laws where applicable, we believe that each
of the
stockholders named in this table has sole voting and investment power
with
respect to the shares indicated as beneficially
owned.
|
(2) |
Applicable
percentages are based on 11,101,554 shares outstanding on January
10,
2007, adjusted as required by rules promulgated by the
SEC.
|
(3) |
Includes,
445,000, 45,000, 35,000, 45,000, 50,000, 320,000, 202,000, 110,000
and
255,000 shares that Messrs. Yamamoto, Reardon, Ritchie, Stuckey,
D’Errico,
Brunton, Anderson, Abal and Fang, respectively, have the right to
acquire
within 60 days after the date of this table under outstanding stock
options.
|
(4) |
Includes
60,000 shares
held by UTMA as Custodian for Melanie Yamamoto and 60,000 shares
held by
UTMA as Custodian for Nicholas Yamamoto, the children of Mr.
Yamamoto.
|
ITEM
13. CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
-47-
Certain
Transactions
In
January 2006, we approved and announced a company-wide reduction in employee
base cash salaries effective January 16, 2006 and a corresponding increase
in
stock grants to all employees, including officers, pursuant to our 1996 Plan.
The
number of shares of stock issued to employees and Board member in-lieu of their
cash compensation is calculated at a 15% reduction from the market price on
the
date of issuance. Through
October 31, 2006, a total of 1,016,335 shares of our common stock have been
issued pursuant to such stock grants of which 310,452 were issued to executive
officers. The cash salary reductions will remain in effect until such time
as
the Board determines to increase them.
On
August
21, 2006, the Board suspended the stock-for-pay program for all members of
the
Board and officers. The suspension is effective as of August 1, 2006 for all
members of the Board and August 16, 2006 for our officers. Despite suspension
of
the stock-for-pay program, the previously-announced salary reductions for all
officers and cessation of cash compensation for the Board will remain in effect
until such time as the Board shall determine. The Board adopted a bonus plan
for
the affected individuals that will pay a prescribed amount of cash or stock
upon
our completion of one of a number of specified milestones set forth in the
plan,
provided that the affected individual remains employed by us or a member of
the
Board at the time such milestone is achieved. All non-officer employees remain
on the stock-for-pay plan until such time as the Board shall
determine.
We
compensate our directors as described under “Compensation of Directors” above.
We compensated our named executive officers in fiscal 2006 as described under
“Compensation of Executive Officers” above. Prior to the salary reduction, our
executive officers received annual salaries at the following rates:
Prior
to Reduction
|
|
After
Reduction
|
|||||
Kenneth
Yamamoto
|
$
|
225,000
|
$
|
140,000
|
|||
David
Brunton
|
$
|
180,000
|
$
|
142,000
|
|||
Leo
Fang
|
$
|
200,000
|
$
|
140,000
|
|||
Kirk
Anderson
|
$
|
165,000
|
$
|
132,000
|
|||
Nelson
Abal
|
$
|
140,000
|
$
|
126,000
|
In
addition to salary, each of our directors and executive officers is eligible
to
receive a bonus pursuant to our Director and Officer Bonus Plan adopted
September 21, 2006 and stock option and other grants as may be made in the
sole
discretion of the Compensation Committee. We entered into severance and change
in control arrangements with our executive officers that provide for six months
salary and accelerated vesting of all unvested stock options upon certain events
triggered by a change in control.
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The
Audit
Committee of the Board has selected BDO Seidman, LLP as our independent auditors
for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2006. BDO Seidman, LLP has audited our
financial statements since 2003.
-48-
Independent
Auditors’ Fees
The
following table represents aggregate fees billed to us for fiscal years ended
October 31, 2006 and 2005, by BDO Seidman, LLP, our principal accountant.
Fiscal
Year Ended
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Audit
Fees
|
$
|
137
|
$
|
116
|
|||
Audit-related
Fees (1)
|
0
|
36
|
|||||
Tax
Fees (2)
|
12
|
12
|
|||||
All
Other Fees
|
0
|
0
|
|||||
Total
Fees
|
$
|
149
|
$
|
164
|
_______________
(1) |
Fees
paid in relation to our acquisition of PyX Technologies,
Inc.
|
(2) |
Fees
paid for preparation and filing of our federal and state income tax
returns.
|
All
fees
described above were approved by the Audit Committee. The
Audit
Committee has determined that the rendering of the foregoing services separate
from the audit services by BDO Seidman, LLP is compatible with maintaining
the
principal accountant’s independence.
Pre-Approval
of Audit and Non-Audit Services
The
Audit
Committee has not approved any formal policy concerning pre-approval of the
auditors to perform both audit and non-audit services (services other than
audit, review and attest services). Instead, on a case by case basis, any audit
or non-audit services proposed to be performed are considered by and, if deemed
appropriate, approved by the Audit Committee in advance of the performance
of
such services. All of the fees earned by BDO Seidman, LLP described above were
attributable to services pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
-49-
PART
IV
ITEM
15. EXHIBITS
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES
The
following documents are filed as part of this Report:
(a)(1)
Financial
Statements
|
||
|
Page
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
56
|
|
|
||
Balance
Sheets at October 31, 2006 and 2005
|
57
|
|
|
||
Statements
of Operations for fiscal years 2006, 2005
|
|
|
and
2004
|
58
|
|
|
||
Statements
of Stockholders' Equity for fiscal years 2006,
|
||
2005
and 2004
|
59
|
|
Statements
of Cash Flows for fiscal years 2006, 2005
|
||
and
2004
|
60
|
|
Notes
to Financial Statements
|
61
|
|
|
||
(a)(2)
Financial
Statement Schedule
|
||
Schedule
II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
|
87
|
|
All
other schedules are omitted as the required information is not applicable
or has been included in the financial statements or the notes
thereto.
|
||
(a)(3) List of Exhibits |
Exhibit
|
||||
Number
|
Description
|
|||
3.1(1)
|
Certificate
of Incorporation, as amended through December
15, 1997.
|
|||
3.2(2)
|
Bylaws,
as amended through December 8, 1998.
|
|||
3.3
|
Certificate
of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, dated March 26,
2004.
|
|||
10.1(3)*
|
1996
Stock Option Plan, as amended.
|
|||
10.2(3)*
|
2001
Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as
amended.
|
-50-
10.3(3)
|
1992
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.
|
|||
10.4(3)
|
1998
Non-Officer Stock Option Plan as amended.
|
|||
10.5(4)
|
2005
PyX Technologies Stock Option Plan.
|
||
10.6(5)
|
2006
Equity Incentive Plan.
|
||
10.6(6)
|
Lease
for 4000 Executive Parkway, Suite 200 dated July 27, 2005 between
the
Company and Alexander Properties Company.
|
||
10.8+
|
Letter
Agreement, dated October 30, 2001, amending (i) Amendment No. S/M018-4
dated April 3, 2001, and (ii) Purchase Agreement dated May 6, 1991,
each
between SBE, Inc. and Compaq Computer Corporation.
|
||
10.10(7)
|
Form
of warrant issued to associates of Puglisi & Co. ($1.50 exercise
price).
|
||
10.11(7)
|
Form
of warrant issued to associates of Puglisi & Co. ($1.75 and $2.00
exercise price).
|
||
10.12(8)
|
Unit
Subscription Agreement, dated May 4, 2005, by and between SBE, Inc.
and
the other parties thereto.
|
||
10.13(8)
|
Agreement
and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated March 28, 2005, by and
among
SBE, Inc., PyX Acquisition Sub, LLC, PyX Technologies, Inc. and the
parties identified on Exhibit A thereto.
|
||
10.14(8)
|
Investor
Rights Agreement, dated July 26, 2005, between SBE, Inc. and the
investors
listed on Exhibit A thereto.
|
||
10.15(8)
|
Form of warrant issued on July 26, 2005. | ||
10.16(9)
|
Executive
Severance Benefits Agreement between the Company and Leo Fang, dated
May
24, 2006.
|
||
10.17
|
Executive
Severance Benefits Agreement between the Company and Kenneth G. Yamamoto,
dated March 15, 2006.
|
||
10.18(10)
|
Executive
Severance Benefits Agreement between the Company and David W. Brunton,
dated April 12, 2004.
|
||
10.19(10)
|
Executive Severance Benefits Agreement between the Company and Kirk Anderson, dated April 12, 2004. | ||
11
|
Executive
Severance Benefits Agreement between the Company and Nelson
Abal, dated August 4, 2006.
|
||
12
|
Director
and Officer Bonus Plan, dated September 21, 2006
|
||
|
13
|
Asset purchase agreement with One Stop Systems, Inc., dated January 11, 2007. | |
|
14
|
Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, with Neonode Inc., dated January 19, 2007 |
-51-
23.1 |
Consent
of BDO Seidman LLP Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
|
31.1 |
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer
|
31.2 |
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer
|
32.1 |
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
*
|
Indicates
management contract or compensation plans or arrangements filed pursuant
to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation SK.
|
+ |
Certain
confidential information has been deleted from this exhibit pursuant
to a
confidential treatment order that has been
granted.
|
(1)
|
Filed
as an exhibit to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October
31,
1997 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(2) |
Filed
as an exhibit to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
October
31, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference.
|
(3)
|
Filed
as an exhibit to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October
31,
2002 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(4) |
Filed
as an exhibit to Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated September
20, 2005 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(5) |
Filed
as an exhibit to Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated March
24,
2006 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(6) |
Filed
as an exhibit to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
October
31, 2005 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(7)
|
Filed
as an exhibit to Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated July 11,
2003
and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(8)
|
Filed
as an exhibit to Proxy Statement on Form 14A dated June 24, 2005
and
incorporated herein by reference.
|
(9)
|
Filed
as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 26, 2006 and
incorporated herein by reference.
|
(10)
|
Filed
as an exhibit to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
January 31, 2005.
|
-52-
(11) |
Filed
as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 7, 2006
and incorporated
herein by reference.
|
(12) |
Filed
as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 21, 2006
and
incorporated herein by
reference
|
(13) |
Filed
as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 12,
2007 and
incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(14) |
Filed
as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 19, 2007
and
incorporated herein by
reference.
|
(b)
Exhibits
Required by Item 601
Please refer to Part IV, Item 15(a)(3).
(c)
Financial
Statements
Please
refer to Part IV, Item 15(a)(2).
-53-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SBE,
Inc.
|
||
Date:
January 26, 2007
|
By:
|
/s/
Kenneth G.
Yamamoto
|
Kenneth
G. Yamamoto
|
||
Chief
Executive Officer and
|
||
President
|
||
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
||
Date:
January 26, 2007
|
By:
|
/s/
David W.
Brunton
|
David
W. Brunton
|
||
Chief
Financial Officer,
|
||
Vice
President, Finance
|
||
and
Secretary
|
||
(Principal
Financial and
|
||
Accounting
Officer)
|
POWER
OF ATTORNEY
KNOW
ALL
PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned officers and directors
of the registrant constitutes and appoints, jointly and severally, Kenneth
G.
Yamamoto and David W. Brunton, and each of them, as lawful attorneys-in-fact
and
agents for the undersigned and for each of them, each with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for and in the name, place and stead of each
of
the undersigned officers and directors, in any and all capacities, to sign
any
and all amendments to this report, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities
and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing
necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the premises, as fully to
all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or any of
their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements for the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated, as of January
26, 2007.
-54-
Signature
|
Title
|
|
/s/
Kenneth G. Yamamoto
|
||
Kenneth
G. Yamamoto
|
Chief
Executive Officer and President
|
|
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
||
/s/
David W. Brunton
|
||
David
W. Brunton
|
Chief
Financial Officer, Vice President,
|
|
Finance
and Secretary
(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
||
/s/
Ronald J. Ritchie
|
||
Ronald
J. Ritchie
|
Director,
Chairman of the Board
|
|
/s/
John Reardon
|
||
John
Reardon
|
Director
|
|
/s/
Marion M. Stuckey
|
Director
|
|
Marion
M. Stuckey
|
||
/s/
John D’Errico
|
Director
|
|
John
D’Errico
|
-55-
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Board
of
Directors
SBE,
Inc.
San
Ramon, California
We
have
audited the accompanying balance sheets of SBE, Inc. as of October 31, 2006
and
2005 and the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period October 31, 2006. We have also
audited Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (the Schedule). These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and the
Schedule based on our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we
plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. The
Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of
its
internal control over financial reporting. Our
audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting
as a
basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances,
but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no
such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,
as
well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe
that
our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In
our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of SBE, Inc. at October 31, 2006
and
2005, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the
years
in the period ended October 31, 2006, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
Also,
in
our opinion, the Schedule presents fairly, in all material effects, the
information set forth therein.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company
will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial
statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses and negative cash flows
from operations that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue
as a
going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are described in
Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might
result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/
BDO
Seidman, LLP
December
21, 2006, except for Note 1.a. and 17 to the financial statements which is
as of
January 24, 2007.
San
Francisco, California
-56-
SBE,
INC.
BALANCE
SHEETS
(in
thousands, except share and per share amounts)
October
31
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
||||
ASSETS
|
|||||||
Current
assets:
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
1,147
|
$
|
3,632
|
|||
Trade
accounts receivable, net of allowance for
|
|||||||
doubtful
accounts of $26 and $54
|
930
|
1,555
|
|||||
Inventories
|
739
|
1,283
|
|||||
Other
|
177
|
293
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
2,993
|
6,763
|
|||||
Property
and equipment, net
|
508
|
563
|
|||||
Capitalized
software costs, net
|
1,314
|
11,424
|
|||||
Other
|
53
|
82
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
4,868
|
$
|
18,832
|
|||
|
|||||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
Current
liabilities:
|
|||||||
Trade
accounts payable
|
$
|
557
|
$
|
743
|
|||
Accrued
payroll and employee benefits
|
105
|
155
|
|||||
Capital
lease obligations - current portion
|
54
|
29
|
|||||
Deferred
software revenue
|
432
|
138
|
|||||
Other
|
144
|
178
|
|||||
Total
current liabilities
|
1,292
|
1,243
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Capital
lease obligations
|
158
|
111
|
|||||
Deferred
rent
|
97
|
130
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Total
long-term liabilities
|
255
|
241
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Total
liabilities
|
1,547
|
1,484
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Commitments
(Notes 9, 10 and 13)
|
|||||||
Stockholders'
equity:
|
|||||||
Convertible
preferred stock:
|
|||||||
$0.001
par value; authorized 2,000,000 shares; none
|
|||||||
outstanding
|
---
|
---
|
|||||
Common
stock and additional paid-in capital:
|
|||||||
$0.001
par value; authorized 25,000,000 shares;
|
|||||||
issued
and outstanding 10,951,348 and 9,892,347
|
35,186
|
35,431
|
|||||
Deferred
compensation
|
---
|
(2,401
|
)
|
||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(31,865
|
)
|
(15,682
|
)
|
|||
|
|||||||
Total
stockholders' equity
|
3,321
|
17,348
|
|||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders' equity
|
$
|
4,868
|
$
|
18,832
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
-57-
SBE,
INC.
STATEMENTS
OF OPERATIONS
(in
thousands, except for per share amounts)
For
the years ended October 31,
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
|||||||
Net
sales
|
$
|
6,127
|
$
|
8,056
|
$
|
11,066
|
||||
Operating
expenses:
|
||||||||||
Amortization
and impairment of acquired
|
||||||||||
software
and intellectual property
|
9,894
|
1,048
|
1,213
|
|||||||
Cost
of hardware and other revenue
|
4,046
|
4,356
|
5,433
|
|||||||
Product
research and development
|
3,979
|
2,694
|
2,411
|
|||||||
Sales
and marketing
|
2,180
|
2,293
|
2,177
|
|||||||
General
and administrative
|
2,246
|
1,906
|
1,755
|
|||||||
Loan
loss recovery
|
---
|
---
|
(239
|
)
|
||||||
Total
operating expenses
|
22,345
|
12,297
|
12,750
|
|||||||
Operating
loss
|
(16,218
|
)
|
(4,241
|
)
|
(1,684
|
)
|
||||
Interest
income
|
42
|
22
|
5
|
|||||||
Other
expense
|
---
|
(6
|
)
|
---
|
||||||
Loss
before income taxes
|
(16,176
|
)
|
(4,225
|
)
|
(1,679
|
)
|
||||
Income
tax benefit (provision)
|
7
|
(5
|
)
|
---
|
||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(16,183
|
)
|
$
|
(4,230
|
)
|
$
|
(1,679
|
)
|
|
Basic
and diluted loss per common share
|
$
|
(1.57
|
)
|
$
|
(0.66
|
)
|
$
|
(0.33
|
)
|
|
Basic
and diluted - Shares used in per share
|
||||||||||
computations
|
10,304
|
6,439
|
5,022
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
-58-
SBE,
INC.
STATEMENTS
OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(in
thousands, except shares)
Common
Stock and Additional Paid-in Capital
|
|
Note
Receivable from
|
|
Deferred
|
|
Retained
Earnings (Accumulated
|
|
|
||||||||||
Shares
|
|
Amount
|
|
Stockholder
|
|
Compensation
|
|
deficit)
|
|
Total
|
||||||||
Balance,
October 31, 2003
|
4,808,650
|
15,302
|
(142
|
)
|
-
|
(9,773
|
)
|
5,387
|
||||||||||
Stock
issued in connection with stock purchase plan
|
9,903
|
18
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
18
|
||||||||||||
Stock
issued in connection with Stock Option Plans
|
164,136
|
233
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
233
|
||||||||||||
Stock
issued in connection with warrant exercise
|
81,429
|
116
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
116
|
||||||||||||
Stock
issued in connection with the acquisition of Antares
|
30,000
|
86
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
86
|
||||||||||||
Reversal
of valuation allowance on note receivable from officer
|
-
|
-
|
(239
|
)
|
-
|
-
|
(239
|
)
|
||||||||||
Collection
of note receivable from officer
|
-
|
-
|
381
|
-
|
381
|
|||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,679
|
)
|
(1,679
|
)
|
||||||||||
Balance,
October 31, 2004
|
5,094,118
|
15,755
|
-
|
-
|
(11,452
|
)
|
4,303
|
|||||||||||
Stock
issued in connection with Stock Option Plans
|
108,234
|
130
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
130
|
||||||||||||
Stock
issued in connection with the acquisition of Antares
|
68,945
|
197
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
197
|
||||||||||||
Stock
issued in connection with the acquisition of PyX
|
2,561,050
|
11,714
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11,714
|
||||||||||||
Stock
issued in connection with private placement financing, net of
financing
costs of $175
|
2,060,000
|
4,975
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4,975
|
||||||||||||
Deferred
compensation related to Stock Option Plans
|
-
|
2,660
|
-
|
(2,660
|
)
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
259
|
-
|
259
|
||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(4,230
|
)
|
(4,230
|
)
|
||||||||||
Balance,
October 31, 2005
|
9,892,347
|
35,431
|
-
|
(2,401
|
)
|
(15,682
|
)
|
17,348
|
||||||||||
Reclassification
of deferred compensation
|
(2,401
|
)
|
2,401
|
-
|
||||||||||||||
Stock
issued in connection with Stock Option Plans
|
42,666
|
37
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
37
|
||||||||||||
Stock
issued in connection with the Stock for Pay program
|
1,016,335
|
763
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
763
|
||||||||||||
Compensation
related to restricted stock issued to employees
|
-
|
89
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
89
|
||||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
-
|
1,267
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,267
|
||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(16,183
|
)
|
(16,183
|
)
|
||||||||||
Balance,
October 31, 2006
|
10,951,348
|
$
|
35,186
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
(31,865
|
)
|
$
|
3,321
|
||||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
-59-
SBE,
INC.
STATEMENTS
OF CASH FLOWS
(in
thousands)
For
the years ended October 31
|
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
||||||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(16,183
|
)
|
$
|
(4,230
|
)
|
$
|
(1,679
|
)
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile loss to net cash
|
||||||||||
used
in operating activities:
|
||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
3,880
|
1,241
|
829
|
|||||||
Impairment
of intellectual property and software
|
6,500
|
---
|
713
|
|||||||
Stock-based
compensation expense
|
2,119
|
259
|
--
|
|||||||
Non-cash
valuation allowance (recovery) on loan from officer
|
---
|
---
|
(240
|
)
|
||||||
Loss
on sale of assets
|
---
|
6
|
---
|
|||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||||
Trade
accounts receivable
|
625
|
113
|
150
|
|||||||
Inventories
|
544
|
643
|
(46
|
)
|
||||||
Other
assets
|
146
|
(121
|
)
|
13
|
||||||
Trade
accounts payable
|
(186
|
)
|
(113
|
)
|
160
|
|||||
Other
current liabilities
|
235
|
(319
|
)
|
(40
|
)
|
|||||
Non-current
liabilities
|
14
|
102
|
---
|
|||||||
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(2,306
|
)
|
(2,419
|
)
|
(140
|
)
|
||||
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
||||||||||
Purchases
of property and equipment
|
(176
|
)
|
(337
|
)
|
(87
|
)
|
||||
Cash
payments related to purchase of PyX, net of cash received
|
---
|
(359
|
)
|
---
|
||||||
Purchased
software
|
(40
|
)
|
(207
|
)
|
(136
|
)
|
||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(216
|
)
|
(903
|
)
|
(223
|
)
|
||||
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
||||||||||
Proceeds
from stock plans
|
37
|
130
|
251
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from issuance of common stock and warrants, net
|
---
|
4,975
|
202
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from repayment of shareholder note
|
---
|
---
|
382
|
|||||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
37
|
5,105
|
834
|
|||||||
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
(2,485
|
)
|
1,783
|
471
|
||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
3,632
|
1,849
|
1,378
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$
|
1,147
|
$
|
3,632
|
$
|
1,849
|
||||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
|
||||||||||
Cash
paid during the year for:
|
||||||||||
Income
taxes
|
$
|
7
|
$
|
5
|
$
|
1
|
||||
SUPPLEMENTAL
SCHEDULE OF NON CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
||||||||||
Assets
acquired under capital leases
|
$
|
---
|
$
|
---
|
$
|
164
|
||||
Non-cash
stock portion of PyX purchase price
|
$
|
---
|
$
|
11,714
|
$
|
---
|
||||
Non-cash
stock portion of Antares purchase price
|
$
|
---
|
$
|
197
|
$
|
86
|
||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
|
-60-
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Liquidity:
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a going concern
basis, which contemplates the realization of assets
and the settlement of liabilities and commitments in the
normal course of business. As reflected in the accompanying financial
statements, as of October 31, 2006, we had cash and cash equivalents on
hand of $1.2 million with cash used in operations of approximately $2.3 million
in the twelve months ended October 31, 2006 and an accumulated deficit of
approximately $31.9 million. Our ability to continue as a going
concern is dependent on our ability to raise additional funds and
implement our business plan. Our independent registered public accountants
stated in their opinion that there is substantial doubt about our ability to
continue as a going concern.
We
are
not operating at cash breakeven. Unless we are able to increase our sales to
get
to cash breakeven, we will not have sufficient cash generated from our business
activities to support our operations for the next twelve months. We have
embarked on a strategy to sell all or a portion of our business and signed
a
definitive agreement to sell our hardware business to One Stop Systems, Inc.
The
overwhelming majority of our cash flow from operations has been generated from
the embedded hardware business that we are selling. We expect to close the
sale
of our embedded hardware business in our second quarter of fiscal 2007 and
all
cash flow generated by the embedded hardware business will cease after that
date. We also signed a definitive agreement to merge with Neonode, Inc. and
have
been reducing our staffing levels and other cash expenditures to sustainable
levels. We expect the $2.2 million cash proceeds from the sale of our embedded
hardware business to be sufficient to support our remaining operations until
the
merger transaction closes, or for at least the next twelve months if the merger
is delayed. We are also seeking other strategic alternatives including selling
our storage software business.
If
our
projected sales of our storage software do not materialize or we are unable
to
consummate the sale of our embedded hardware business and the merger
transaction, we will need to reduce expenses further and raise additional
capital through customer prepayments or the issuance of debt or equity
securities. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of preferred
stock
or debt, these securities could have rights, privileges or preferences senior
to
those of common stock, and debt covenants could impose restrictions on our
operations. The sale of equity or debt could result in additional dilution
to
current stockholders, and such financing may not be available to us on
acceptable terms, if at all.
The
Company and Basis of Presentation:
SBE,
Inc., headquartered in San Ramon, California, designs, manufactures
and sells hardware products including wide area network (WAN) and local area
network (LAN) network interface cards (NICs) and central processor units (CPUs)
to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who
embed
our hardware products into their products for the telecommunications
markets.
Our
hardware products perform critical, computing and Input/Output (I/O) tasks
in
diverse markets such as
high-end
enterprise level computing servers, Linux super-computing clusters,
workstations, media gateways, routers and Internet access devices.
Our
products are distributed worldwide through a direct sales force, distributors,
independent manufacturers' representatives and value-added
resellers.
We also
provide Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI)-based storage
networking solutions for an extensive range of business critical applications,
including Disk-to-Disk Back-up and Disaster Recovery. We deliver an affordable,
expandable, and easy-to-use portfolio of software solutions designed to enable
optimal performance and rapid deployment across a wide range of next generation
storage systems.
-61-
Use
of Estimates:
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States of America requires us 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. Such estimates include levels of reserves for
doubtful accounts, obsolete inventory, warranty costs and deferred tax assets.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments:
The
fair
value of our cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable
and accrued liabilities approximate their carrying value due to the short-term
maturity rate structure of those instruments.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents:
We
consider all highly liquid investments readily convertible into cash with an
original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Substantially
all of our cash and cash equivalents are held with one large financial
institution and may at times be above insured limits.
Inventories:
Inventories
are stated at the lower of cost, using the first-in, first-out method, or market
value. We utilize standard costs, which approximates actual cost, for certain
indirect costs.
We
are exposed
to a number of economic and industry factors that could result in portions
of
our inventory becoming either obsolete or in excess of anticipated usage, or
subject to lower of cost or market issues. These factors include, but are not
limited to, technological changes in our markets, our ability to meet changing
customer requirements, competitive pressures in products and prices, and the
availability of key components from our suppliers. Our policy is to establish
inventory reserves when conditions exist that suggest that our inventory may
be
in excess of anticipated demand or is obsolete based upon our assumptions about
future demand for our products and market conditions. We regularly evaluate
our
ability to realize the value of our inventory based on a combination of factors
including the following: historical usage rates, forecasted sales or usage,
product end-of-life dates, estimated current and future market values and new
product introductions. Purchasing practices and alternative usage avenues are
explored within these processes to mitigate inventory exposure. When recorded,
our reserves are intended to reduce the carrying value of our inventory to
its
net realizable value. If actual demand for our products deteriorates, or market
conditions are less favorable than those that we project, additional inventory
reserves may be required.
-62-
Property
and Equipment:
Property
and equipment are carried at cost. We record depreciation charges on a
straight-line basis over the assets' estimated useful lives of three years
for
computers and related equipment to eight years for manufacturing equipment.
Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their useful lives
or
the remaining term of the related leases.
When
assets are sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation
are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss on sale or disposal is
recognized in operations. Maintenance, repairs and minor renewals are charged
to
expense as incurred. Expenditures which substantially increase an asset's useful
life are capitalized.
We
review
property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable.
In
performing the review for recoverability, we would estimate the future gross
cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual
disposition. If such gross cash flows are less than the carrying amount of
the
asset, the asset is considered impaired. The amount of the impairment loss,
if
any, would then be calculated based on the excess of the carrying amount of
the
asset over its fair value.
Long-lived
Assets:
We
assess
any impairment by estimating the future cash flow from the associated asset
in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 144,
Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.
If the
estimated undiscounted cash flow related to these assets decreases in the future
or the useful life is shorter than originally
estimated, we
may
incur charges for impairment of these assets. The impairment is based on the
estimated discounted cash flow associated with the asset.
Capitalized
software costs consist of costs to purchase software and costs to internally
develop software. Capitalization of software costs begins upon the establishment
of technological feasibility. All capitalized software costs are amortized
as
related sales are recorded on a per-unit basis with a minimum amortization
to
cost of goods sold based on a straight-line method over a two to three year
estimated useful life. We evaluate the estimated net realizable value of each
software product and record provisions to the asset value
of
each product for which the net book value is in excess of the net realizable
value.
Revenue
Recognition:
Hardware
Products
Our
policy is to recognize revenue for hardware product sales when title transfers
and risk of loss has passed to the customer, which is generally upon shipment
of
our hardware products to our customers. We defer and recognize service revenue
over the contractual period or as services are rendered. We estimate expected
sales returns and record the amount as a reduction of revenue and cost of
hardware and other revenue at the time of shipment. Our policy complies with
the
guidance provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Staff
Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 104, Revenue
Recognition in Financial Statements.
Judgments are required in evaluating the credit worthiness of our customers.
Credit is not extended to customers and revenue is not recognized until we
have
determined that collectibility is reasonably
assured. Our sales transactions are denominated in U.S. dollars.
The
software component of our hardware products is considered incidental. therefore,
we do not recognize software revenue related to our hardware products separately
from the hardware product sale.
-63-
When
selling hardware, our agreements with OEMs, such as Data Connection Limited
(DCL) and Nortel Networks Corp. (Nortel), typically incorporate clauses
reflecting the following understandings:
- |
all
prices are fixed and determinable at the time of
sale;
|
- |
title
and risk of loss pass at the time of shipment (FOB shipping
point);
|
- |
collectibility
of the sales price is probable (the OEM is creditworthy, the OEM
is
obligated to pay and such obligation is not contingent on the ultimate
sale of the OEM’s integrated
solution);
|
- |
the
OEM’s obligation to us will not be changed in the event of theft or
physical destruction or damage of the
product;
|
- |
we
do not have significant obligations for future performance to directly
assist in the resale of the product by the OEMs;
and
|
- |
there
is no contractual right of return other than for defective
products.
|
Our
agreements with our distributors include certain product rotation and price
protection rights. All distributors have the right to rotate slow moving
products once each fiscal quarter. The maximum dollar value of inventory
eligible for rotation is equal to 25% of our products purchased by the
distributor during the previous quarter. In order to take advantage of their
product rotation rights, the distributors must order and take delivery of
additional products of ours equal to at least the dollar value of the products
that they want to rotate.
Each
distributor is also allowed certain price protection rights. If and when we
reduce or plan to reduce the price of any of our products and the distributor
is
holding any of the affected products in inventory, we will credit the
distributor the difference in price when they place their next order with us.
We
record an allowance for price protection at the time of the price reduction,
thereby reducing our net sales and accounts receivable. The allowance is based
on the price difference of the inventory held by our stocking distributors
at
the time we expect to reduce selling prices. We believe we are able to fully
evaluate potential returns and adjustments and continue to recognize the sale
based on shipment to our distributors. Reserves for the right of return and
restocking are established based on the requirements of SFAS
48,
Revenue
Recognition when Right of Return Exists.
During
the year ended October 31, 2006, $257,000 or 4% of our sales were sold to
distributors compared to $640,000 or 8% and $874,000 or 8% in fiscal 2005 and
2004, respectively. Our reserves for distributor programs total approximately
$13,000 and $22,000 as of October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Software
Products
We
derive
revenues from the following sources: (1) software, which includes new iSCSI
software licenses and (2) services, which include consulting. We
account for the licensing of software in accordance with of American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) 97-2,
Software
Revenue Recognition.
SOP 97-2
requires judgment, including whether a software arrangement includes multiple
elements, and if so, whether vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) of fair
value exists for those elements. These documents include post delivery support,
upgrades and similar services. We typically charge software maintenance equal
to
20% of the software license fees.
-64-
For
software license arrangements that do not require significant modification
or
customization of the underlying software, we recognize new software license
revenues when: (1) we enter into a legally binding arrangement with a customer
for the license of software; (2) we deliver the products; (3) customer payment
is deemed fixed or determinable and free of contingencies or significant
uncertainties; and (4) collection is reasonably assured. We initially defer
all
revenue related to the software license and maintenance fees until such time
that we are able to establish VSOE for these elements of our software products.
Revenue deferred under these arrangements is recognized to revenue over the
expected contract term. We
will
also continue to defer
revenues that represent undelivered post-delivery engineering support until
the
engineering support has been completed and the software product is accepted.
For
one
customer we began recognizing software license fee revenue and related
engineering support revenue by amortizing previously deferred revenue related
to
engineering services over 36-months beginning in March 2006 which was the month
the first software license for this customer was activated. The 36-month
amortization period is the estimated life of the related software product for
this customer. We also amortize all fees related to the licensing of our
software to this customer over 36-months beginning with the month the software
license is activated. In the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, we recognized
$16,800 of software license fees to this customer and $26,000 of deferred
revenue related to engineering services to this customer.
Certain
software arrangements include consulting implementation services sold separately
under consulting engagement contracts.. For the fiscal year ended October 31,
2006, we recognized $10,000 of software consulting revenue.
Product
Warranty:
Our
embedded products are sold with warranty provisions that require us to remedy
deficiencies in quality or performance of our products over a specified period
of time, generally 12 months, at no cost to our customers. Our policy is to
establish warranty reserves at levels that represent our estimate of the costs
that will be incurred to fulfill those warranty requirements related to our
embedded products at the time that revenue is recognized. We believe that our
recorded liabilities are adequate to cover our future cost of materials, labor
and overhead for the servicing of our embedded products sold through that date.
If actual product failures, or material or service delivery costs differ from
our estimates, our warranty liability would need to be revised
accordingly.
Allowance
for Doubtful Accounts:
Our
policy is to maintain allowances for estimated losses resulting from the
inability of our customers to make required payments. Credit limits are
established through a process of reviewing the financial history and stability
of each customer. Where appropriate, we obtain credit rating reports and
financial statements of the customer when determining or modifying their credit
limits. We regularly evaluate the collectibility of our trade receivable
balances based on a combination of factors. When a customer’s account balance
becomes past due, we initiate dialogue with the customer to determine the cause.
If it is determined that the customer will be unable to meet its financial
obligation to us, such as in the case of a bankruptcy filing, significant
deterioration in the customer’s operating results or financial position or other
material events impacting its business, we record a specific allowance to reduce
the related receivable to the amount we expect to recover and should all
collection efforts fail, will write-off the account.
-65-
We
also
record an allowance for all customers based on certain other factors including
the length of time the receivables are past due and historical collection
experience with customers. We believe our reported allowances are adequate.
If
the financial conditions of those customers were to deteriorate, however,
resulting in their inability to make payments, we may need to record additional
allowances which would result in additional general and administrative expenses
being recorded for the period in which such determination is made.
Product
Research and Development Expenditures:
Product
research and development (R&D) expenditures, other than certain software
development costs, are charged to expense as incurred. Contractual
reimbursements for R&D expenditures under joint R&D contracts with
customers are accounted for as revenue when received.
Capitalized
software costs consist of costs to purchase software and costs to internally
develop software. Capitalization of software costs begins upon the establishment
of technological feasibility. All capitalized software costs are amortized
as
related sales are recorded on a per-unit basis with a minimum amortization
to
cost of goods sold based on a straight-line method over a two to three year
estimated useful life. We evaluate the estimated net realizable value of each
software product and record provisions to the asset value
of
each product for which the net book value is in excess of the net realizable
value. No internal software development costs were capitalized in the years
ended October 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004. All remaining capitalized software assets
result from our costs in the acquisition of PyX Technologies, Inc. (PyX) (see
note 15).
Stock-Based
Compensation:
Effective
November 1, 2005, we adopted the provisions of SFAS 123(R), Share-Based
Payment,
using
the modified prospective method, which requires measurement of compensation
cost
for all stock-based awards at fair value on the grant date and recognition
of
compensation expense over the requisite service period for awards expected
to
vest.
The
fair
value method under SFAS 123(R) is similar to the fair value method under SFAS
123, Accounting
for Stock Based Compensation (SFAS 123),
as
amended,
with
respect to measurement and recognition of stock-based compensation. However,
SFAS 123 permitted us to recognize forfeitures as they occur, while SFAS 123(R)
requires us to estimate future forfeitures and adjust our estimate on a periodic
basis. SFAS 123(R) also requires a classification change in the statement of
cash flows whereby the income tax benefit from stock option exercises is
reported as a financing cash flow rather than an operating cash flow as
previously reported.
We
have
several approved stock option plans for which stock options and restricted
stock
awards are available to grant to employees and directors. All employee and
director stock options granted under our stock option plans have an exercise
price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the grant
date. There are no vesting provisions tied to performance conditions for any
option as vesting for all outstanding option grants was based only on continued
service as an employee of SBE. All of our outstanding stock options and
restricted stock awards are classified as equity instruments.
-66-
Stock
For Pay Awards
On
January 12, 2006, our Board of Directors (Board) approved a Company-wide 30%
reduction in employee cash base salaries, effective January 16, 2006. In order
to continue to motivate and retain our employees despite such salary reductions,
the Board also approved stock grants to all of our employees pursuant to the
1996 Stock Option Plan and 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. Effective April 1, 2006,
the Board modified the 30% reduction in employee base salaries to a cash salary
reduction ranging from 10% to 38% of the employee’s base salaries. The level of
reduction of the cash portion of the salary for each employee is dependent
on
their respective position and base salary. Employees with lower salaries
generally have lower reductions. The stock issued to employees in-lieu of a
portion of their cash compensation is valued at a 15% reduction from the market
price on the date of issuance and is included in compensation expense.
In
addition, the Board approved the suspension of all cash payments of Board and
Board committee fees until further notice. The stock issued to Board members
in-lieu of their cash compensation is calculated at a 15% reduction from the
market price on the date of issuance and is included in general and
administrative expense.
On
August
21, 2006, the Board suspended the stock-for-pay program for all members of
the
Board and officers. The suspension is effective as of August 1, 2006 for all
members of the Board and August 16, 2006 for all officers. Despite suspension
of
the stock-for-pay program, the previously-announced salary reductions for the
affected officers and cessation of cash compensation for the Board will remain
in effect until such time as the Board shall determine. The Board adopted a
bonus plan for the affected individuals that will pay a prescribed amount of
cash or stock upon our completion of one of a number of specified milestones
set
forth in a written bonus plan, provided that the affected individual remains
employed by us or a member of the Board at the time such milestone is achieved.
All non-officer employees remain on the stock-for-pay plan until such time
as
the Board shall determine.
Restricted
Stock Awards
On
March
21, 2006, our Board approved restricted stock grants to all employees in order
to continue to motivate and retain our employees. The shares of restricted
stock
granted under the plan vest 25% on the first anniversary of the initial grant
date with the remainder vesting monthly thereafter for the following six months.
The total fair value of the restricted stock grants is calculated on the date
of
issuance and is amortized on a straight-line basis to expense over the 18-month
vesting period.
Advertising
Costs:
Advertising
and marketing expenditures are expensed as incurred. Advertising and marketing
costs were $225,000, $324,000 and $204,000 in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004,
respectively.
-67-
Income
Taxes:
We
account for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting
for Income Taxes.
SFAS No.
109 requires recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected
future tax consequences of items that have been included in the financial
statements or tax returns. Deferred income taxes represent the future net tax
effects resulting from temporary differences between the financial statement
and
tax bases of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for
the
year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances
are
recorded against net deferred tax assets where, in our opinion, realization
is
uncertain. The provision for income taxes represents the net change in deferred
tax amounts, plus income taxes payable for the current period.
Comprehensive
Income:
Comprehensive
income is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a
period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner
sources. Through October 31, 2006, we have not had any transactions that were
required to be reported in other comprehensive income and, accordingly,
comprehensive income (loss) is the same as net income (loss).
New
Accounting Pronouncements:
In
June
2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting
for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.
FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized
in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS 109,
Accounting
for Income Taxes.
This
interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute
for
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
derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim
periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 will be effective for the
Company beginning November 1, 2007. We are currently evaluating this
interpretation to determine if it will have a material impact on our financial
statements.
In
September 2006, the SEC issued SAB 108, Considering
the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements in Current Year Financial
Statements.
SAB 108 expresses the SEC Staff’s views regarding the process of
quantifying financial statement misstatements. SAB 108 addresses the
diversity in practice in quantifying financial statement misstatements and
the
potential under current practice for the build up of improper amounts on the
balance sheet. SAB 108 will be effective for the year beginning November 1,
2006. The cumulative effect of the initial application of SAB 108 will be
reported in the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities as of the beginning
of the fiscal year, with the offsetting balance to retained earnings. We do
not
expect the adoption of SAB 108 to have a material impact on our financial
statements.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No.157, Fair
Value Measurements.
SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair
value as required by other accounting pronouncements and expands fair value
measurement disclosures. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2007. We are currently evaluating the impact of
SFAS 157 on our financial statements.
-68-
2. INVENTORIES
Inventories
at October 31, are comprised of the following (in thousands):
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
||||
Finished
goods
|
$
|
273
|
$
|
815
|
|||
Parts
and materials
|
466
|
468
|
|||||
Total
inventory
|
$
|
739
|
$
|
1,283
|
The total reserve for slow moving and obsolete inventory is $2,567,000 and $2,313,000 at October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. All the inventory relates to the embedded hardware business and will be transferred to One Stop Systems upon the close of the sale transaction. (See note 17)
3. PROPERTY
AND EQUIPMENT
Property
and equipment at October 31, are comprised of the following (in
thousands):
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
||||
Machinery
and equipment
|
$
|
3,792
|
$
|
3,476
|
|||
Furniture
and fixtures
|
64
|
226
|
|||||
Leasehold
improvements
|
153
|
145
|
|||||
4,009
|
3,847
|
||||||
Less
accumulated depreciation
|
|||||||
and
amortization
|
(3,502
|
)
|
(3,284
|
)
|
|||
|
$
|
508
|
$
|
563
|
Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $230,000, $194,000 and $213,000 for the years ended October 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Depreciation expense on capital leases in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004 was $12,600, $25,000 and $25,000, respectively. Approximately $320,000 of our fixed assets will be sold to One Stop Systems upon the close of sale of the embedded hardware business.
4. CAPITALIZED
SOFTWARE COSTS
Capitalized
software costs at October 31, 2006 and 2005 comprise the following (in
thousands):
2006
|
|
2005
|
|||||
Purchased
software
|
$
|
14,217
|
$
|
14,177
|
|||
Less
accumulated amortization
|
(12,903
|
)
|
(2,753
|
)
|
|||
$
|
1,314
|
$
|
11,424
|
Capitalized
software costs consist of software relating to current products and the design
of future storage
software
products acquired with our acquisition of PyX in July 2005. We capitalized
$40,000, $12,424,000 and $136,000 of purchased software costs in 2006, 2005,
and
2004 respectively. We
amortized capitalized software related to the acquisition of PyX on a straight
line basis over 36 months at the rate of $339,000 per month, beginning August
1,
2005. Recurring
amortization of capitalized software costs totaled $3,394,000, $1,048,000,
and
$208,000 for the years ended October 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
-69-
In
the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 we discontinued our Voice over IP (VoIP)
product development and, as a result, wrote-off $256,000 of capitalized software
development costs related to the VoIP products. This write-off is included
in
our Product Research and Development expense in our Statements of Operations
for
the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006.
In
the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, we recorded an asset impairment charge
of
$6.5 million against our earnings for the period, reducing our storage software
asset to $1.3 million, which represents the present value of the expected future
sales of our storage software products less costs. This asset impairment charge
is included in amortization and impairment of acquired software
and
intellectual property in
the
Statements of Operations for
the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2006.
Prior
to the write-down, we amortized our storage software over 36 months at the
rate
of $339,000 per month. We will amortize the remaining $1.3 million software
asset over the remaining 21-month amortization period at the rate of $63,000
per
month.
5.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Antares
At
the
end of fiscal 2004 we completed our asset impairment review and determined
that
the estimated fair market value of the balance of the intellectual property
acquired when we purchased certain assets of Antares Microsystems, Inc.
(Antares), a California corporation, was nominal. As a result, we recorded
an
impairment charge of $713,000, thus writing off the remaining value, at October
31, 2004, of the intellectual property asset recorded when we acquired Antares
in August 2003.
The
non-cash amortization expense related to the Antares intellectual property
in
fiscal 2004 was $1.1 million and consisted of $408,000 of regularly scheduled
annual amortization expense plus $713,000 write down related to the Antares
impairment valuation analysis. This write-down plus the regularly scheduled
amortization is included as an expense item in amortization and impairment
of
acquired software and intellectual property for fiscal 2004.
6. STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
On
June
27, 2003, we completed a private placement of 500,000 shares of common
stock
plus a
warrant to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock, resulting in gross cash
proceeds of $550,000
and net cash proceeds of approximately $464,000.
The
warrant has a term of five years with
an
exercise price of
$1.50
per share subject
to certain adjustment provisions.
In
connection with the private placement we paid
Puglisi & Co. and
its
associates (together,
Puglisi) a
placement fee of $33,000 and warrants to purchase 150,000 shares of common
stock. The warrants have a five-year term with
exercise
prices
between
$1.50 and $2.00 per share,
subject
to certain adjustment provisions.
The
warrants to purchase a total of 200,000 shares of common stock have a calculated
fair value of approximately $225,000. This value was derived using the
“Black-Scholes” pricing model based on the following assumptions:
-70-
1)
expected life: 5 years,
2)
risk free interest rate: 3%,
3)
volatility: 121.71%.
We
registered for resale all of the shares of common stock sold in this offering
and the shares subject to sale pursuant to the exercise of the warrants with
the
Securities and Exchange Commission. During fiscal 2004, Puglisi exercised a
portion of their warrants and purchased 70,000 shares of common stock for a
total purchase price of $116,000.
During
fiscal 2005 and 2004, we issued 68,945 and 30,000 shares of our common stock,
respectively, to an employee who was one of the owners of Antares pursuant
to
the original purchase agreement. The value of the common stock was
$282,982.
In
fiscal
year 2004, we issued 9,903 shares of common stock under the Employee Stock
Purchase Plan.
On
July
26, 2005, we closed a private placement with AIGH Investment Partners, LLC
and
other accredited investors providing for the sale and issuance of shares of
our
common stock and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, with gross
proceeds to us of $5,150,000. The
investors purchased units consisting of one share of our common stock and a
warrant to purchase 0.5 of a share of our common stock at a price per unit
of
$2.50. We issued 2,060,000 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase
an additional 1,030,000 shares of our common stock in the future in connection
with the private placement. The warrants issued in connection with the private
placement have a term of five years and are exercisable at $3.33 per share,
subject to proportional adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends,
recapitalizations and the like. The warrants also contain a cashless exercise
feature. We registered for resale all of the shares of common stock sold in
this
offering and the shares subject to sale pursuant to the exercise of the warrants
with the Securities and Exchange Commission effective November 14,
2005.
On
July
26, 2005, we acquired PyX for a total purchase price of $11,714,000
paid to the selling shareholders of PyX in the form of shares of our common
stock and the assumption of PyX’s employee stock option plan plus cash expenses
totaling $359,000 for legal, accounting and valuation services. A
total
of 2,561,050 shares of our common stock were issued in respect of outstanding
PyX common stock.
We
registered for resale all of the shares of common stock issued to the selling
shareholders of PyX with the Securities and Exchange Commission effective
November 14, 2005 (see Note 15).
During
fiscal 2006, we issued 158,295 shares of our common stock to the non-employee
members of our Board of Directors in lieu of 100% of their cash compensation.
The value of the common stock of $126,000 was recorded as a general and
administrative expense.
During
fiscal 2006, we issued 858,040 shares of our common stock to our employees
and
contractors in lieu of a portion of their cash compensation. The value of the
common stock of $637,000 was recorded as compensation expense in the Statements
of Operations.
-71-
7.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION
On
January 1, 2005, our retiring President and Chief Executive Officer was awarded
options to purchase 75,000 shares of our common stock at a price of $4.00 per
share (closing price on December 31, 2004). The
fair
value of this option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model and was included as deferred compensation
on
the balance sheet. The $120,000 deferred compensation was amortized to general
and administrative expense at the rate of $8,000 per month over the 15 month
vesting period ending March 2006 based on his continued service as a director.
For the fiscal year ended ,October 31, 2005, $80,000 of the deferred
compensation has been amortized to expense and is included in general and
administrative expense. In
connection with the adoption of SFAS 123R, we reduced deferred compensation
and
common stock by $40,000, the value of the unamortized balance of the deferred
compensation as of November 1, 2005.
We
awarded stock option grants to certain non-employee strategic business advisors
as a part of their fee structure. The
fair
value of these option grants is estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model and is included as deferred compensation
on
the balance sheet. The deferred compensation balance is recalculated on a
quarterly basis based on market price. The $56,000 deferred compensation is
amortized to general and administrative expense at the rate of $2,000 per month
over the vesting period of the grants. As of October 31, 2005, $6,000 of the
deferred compensation has been amortized to expense and is included in General
and Administrative expense. In
connection with the adoption of SFAS 123R, we reduced deferred compensation
and
common stock by $48,000, the value of the unamortized balance of the deferred
compensation as of November 1, 2005
We
assumed the PyX employee stock option plan as part of the July 2005 acquisition
of PyX and as a result an additional 2,038,950 shares of our common stock,
with
an exercise price of $2.17, will be issuable upon exercise of assumed stock
options. The
intrinsic value of the unvested portion of these option is included as deferred
compensation on the balance sheet as of October 31, 2005. As of October 31,
2005, $173,000 of the deferred compensation has been amortized to expense and
is
included in General and Administrative expense. In
connection with the adoption of SFAS 123(R), we reduced deferred compensation
and common stock by $2.3 million, the value of the unamortized balance of the
deferred compensation as of November 1, 2005.
8. INCOME
TAXES
The
components of the benefit for income taxes for the years ended October 31,
2006,
2005 and 2004 are comprised of the following:
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
||||||
Federal:
|
||||||||||
Current
|
$
|
---
|
$
|
---
|
$
|
---
|
||||
Deferred
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
|||||||
State:
|
||||||||||
Current
|
7
|
5
|
---
|
|||||||
Deferred
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
|||||||
Net
income tax (benefit) provision
|
$
|
7
|
$
|
5
|
$
|
---
|
The
effective income tax rate differs from the statutory federal income tax rate
for
the following reasons:
-72-
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|||||
Statutory
federal income tax rate
|
(34.0
|
)%
|
(34.0
|
)%
|
(34.0
|
)%
|
||||
Basis
difference in acquisition
|
---
|
104.5
|
---
|
|||||||
Change
in valuation allowance
|
47.6
|
(95.3
|
)
|
34.0
|
||||||
True-up
of prior year and other
|
(13.6
|
)
|
24.8
|
---
|
||||||
|
(0
|
)%
|
(0
|
)%
|
(0 | )% |
Significant
components of our deferred tax balances as of October 31, 2006 and 2005 are
as
follows:
2006
|
|
2005
|
|||||
Deferred
tax assets:
|
|||||||
Current
|
|||||||
Accrued
employee benefits
|
$
|
27
|
$
|
32
|
|||
Inventory
allowances
|
1,039
|
926
|
|||||
Allowance
for doubtful accounts
|
26
|
21
|
|||||
Warranty
accruals and other assets
|
8
|
11
|
|||||
Distributor
reserves
|
4
|
8
|
|||||
Stock
compensation
|
506
|
103
|
|||||
Deferred
revenue
|
186
|
---
|
|||||
Noncurrent
|
|||||||
Deferred
rent
|
52
|
87
|
|||||
R&D
credit carryforward
|
3,053
|
2,859
|
|||||
Net
operating loss carryforwards
|
7,828
|
5,437
|
|||||
Depreciation
and amortization, net
|
446
|
---
|
|||||
Restructuring
costs
|
---
|
10
|
|||||
Total
deferred tax assets
|
13,175
|
9,494
|
|||||
Less:
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
|
(12,649
|
)
|
(4,923
|
)
|
|||
Net
deferred tax asset
|
526
|
4,571
|
|||||
Deferred
tax liability - acquired software
|
(526
|
)
|
(4,461
|
)
|
|||
Deferred
tax liability - capitalized assets
|
---
|
(110
|
)
|
||||
Net
deferred tax assets
|
$
|
---
|
$
|
---
|
Valuation
allowances are recorded to offset certain deferred tax assets due to
management's uncertainty of realizing the benefit of these items. The valuation
allowance increased by $7.7 million in fiscal 2006 primarily as a result of
a
increases in inventory allowances, stock compensation, deferred revenue, R&D
tax credit carryforwards and operating loss carryforwards. At October 31, 2006,
we have research and experimentation tax credit carryforwards of $2.0 million
and $1.4 million for federal and state tax purposes, respectively. These
carryforwards expire in the periods ending 2013 through 2026. The State of
California Research and Development tax credits do not expire. We have net
operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of
approximately $21.0 million and $11.7 million, respectively, which expire in
periods ending 2007 through 2026.
Under
the
Tax Reform Act of 1986, the amounts of benefits from net operating loss
carryforwards are limited as we have incurred a cumulative ownership change
of
more than 50%, as defined, over a three-year period. Usage of net operating
loss
carryforwards is limited based on the Company’s capital at the date of change
times a risk-free interest rate.
-73-
9.
WARRANTY OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER GUARANTEES:
The
following is a summary of our agreements that we
have
determined are within the scope of FIN 45 Guarantor's
Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, including Indirect
Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others
--
an
interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57 and 107 and rescission of FIN
34.
We
accrue
the estimated costs to be incurred in performing warranty services at the time
of revenue recognition and shipment of the products to
our
customers.
Our
estimate
of costs
to service our warranty obligations is based on historical experience and
expectation of future conditions. To the extent we experience increased warranty
claim activity or increased costs associated with servicing those claims, the
warranty accrual will increase, resulting in decreased gross
margin.
The
following table sets forth an analysis of our warranty reserve at October 31
(in
thousands):
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
||||
Warranty
reserve at beginning of period
|
$
|
22
|
$ | 20 | $ | 53 | ||||
Less:
Cost to service warranty obligations
|
(9
|
)
|
(12 | ) | (33 | ) | ||||
Plus:
Increases to reserves
|
---
|
14 | --- | |||||||
Total
warranty reserve included in other accrued expenses
|
$
|
13
|
$ | 22 | $ | 20 |
We
have
agreed to indemnify each
of
our
executive
officers
and directors for certain events or occurrences arising as a result of the
officer or director
serving
in such capacity. The term of the indemnification period is for the officer's
or
director's lifetime. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could
be
required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. However,
we have a directors’
and
officers’
liability insurance policy that should
enable
us to
recover a portion of future
amounts paid. As a result of our insurance policy coverage, we believe the
estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is minimal and have
no
liabilities recorded for these agreements as of October 31, 2006 and
2005,
respectively.
We
enter
into indemnification provisions under our agreements with other companies in
the
ordinary course of business, typically with business partners, contractors,
customers
and landlords.
Under these provisions we generally indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified
party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party as a result
of
our activities or, in some cases, as a result of the indemnified party's
activities under the agreement. These indemnification provisions often include
indemnifications relating to representations made by us with regard to software
rights. These indemnification provisions generally survive termination of the
underlying agreement. The maximum potential amount of future payments we could
be required to make under these indemnification provisions is unlimited. We
have
not incurred material costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to
these
indemnification agreements. As a result, we believe the estimated fair value
of
these agreements is minimal. Accordingly, we have no liabilities recorded for
these agreements as of October 31, 2006
and
2005,
respectively.
Other
Our
commitment as the secondary guarantor on the sublease of our previous
headquarters terminated in March 2006.
-74-
10.
COMMITMENTS
We
lease
our buildings under noncancelable operating leases which expire at various
dates
through the year 2010. Additionally, we have acquired assets with capital lease
obligations. Future
minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases and capital leases,
are as follows (in thousands):
|
Operating
|
Capital
|
|||||
Year
ending October 31:
|
|||||||
2007
|
$
|
580
|
$ | 74 | |||
2008
|
580
|
74 | |||||
2009
|
580
|
74 | |||||
2010
|
483
|
32 | |||||
2011
and thereafter
|
--- | 1 | |||||
Total
minimum lease payments
|
$ | 2,223 | $ | 255 | |||
Less:
Amount representing interest1
|
(42 | ) | |||||
Present
value of net minimum lease payments2
|
$ | 213 |
1Amount
necessary to reduce net minimum lease payments to present value calculated
at
the actual lease interest rate of 12% per annum at the inception of the
leases.
2
Reflected in the balance sheet as other current liabilities and other long-term
liabilities of $54,000 and $159,000, respectively.
In
October 2005, we entered into a facilities lease for our engineering and
administrative headquarters located in San Ramon, California. The lease expires
in 2010. On January 11, 2007, we signed a definitive agreement to sell our
hardware business to One Stop Systems, Inc. and as part of the sales price
One
Stop will assume the lease of our San Ramon office space. The assumption of
the
lease payments by One Stop will relieve us of approximately $2.2 million of
future lease payments. We are projecting to close the sale to One Stop in our
second quarter of fiscal 2007. We will continue to be the secondary guarantor
on
the lease for the term of the lease.
Our
rent
expense under all operating leases, net of reimbursements for subleases, for
the
years ended October 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 totaled $546,000, $381,000 and
$384,000, respectively. We had reimbursements of sublease proceeds of $265,000,
$637,000 and $637,000 for the years ended October 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004,
respectively.
In
connection with the retirement of Mr. William Heye, Jr. as our President and
Chief Executive Officer in 2004, we paid Mr. Heye $250,000 at the rate of
$20,833 each month for the period January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005.
The
commitment to pay $250,000 was accrued as of October 31, 2004 and is included
in
general and administrative expense and accrued payroll and employee benefits
liability as of that date.
11.
STOCK OPTION AND STOCK PURCHASE PLANS
-75-
Effective
November 1, 2005, we adopted SFAS 123(R) using the modified prospective method,
which requires measurement of compensation cost for all stock-based awards
at
fair value on the grant date and recognition of compensation expense over the
requisite service period for awards expected to vest. The fair value of stock
option grants is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model, which
is
consistent with our valuation techniques previously utilized for options in
footnote disclosures required under SFAS No. 123, Accounting
for Stock Based Compensation
as
amended. The fair value of restricted stock awards is determined based on the
number of shares granted and the quoted price of our common stock. Such fair
values will be recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service
period, net of estimated forfeitures, using the straight line method under
SFAS
123R.
The
fair
value method under SFAS 123(R) is similar to the fair value method under SFAS
123 with respect to measurement and recognition of stock-based compensation.
However, SFAS 123 permitted us to recognize forfeitures as they occur, while
SFAS 123(R) requires us to estimate future forfeitures and adjust our estimate
on a quarterly basis. SFAS 123(R) also requires a classification change in
the
statement of cash flows whereby the income tax benefit from stock option
exercises is reported as financing cash flow rather than an operating cash
flow
as previously reported.
We
have
several approved stock option plans for which stock options and restricted
stock
awards are available to grant to employees and directors. All employee and
director stock options granted under our stock option plans have an exercise
price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the grant
date. There are no vesting provisions tied to performance conditions for any
options, as vesting for all outstanding option grants was based only on
continued service as an employee of the Company. All of our outstanding stock
options and restricted stock awards are classified as equity instruments.
Stock
Options
We
sponsor four employee stock option plans:
· |
The
1996
Stock Option Plan (the 1996 Plan), terminated January 17, 2006;
|
· |
the
1998 Non-Officer Stock Option Plan (the 1998 Plan);
|
· |
the
PyX 2005 Stock Option Plan (the PyX Plan); and
|
· |
the
2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2006 Plan).
|
We
also
sponsor one non-employee stock option plan:
· |
The
2001 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the Director
Plan).
|
The
following table details the options to purchase shares pursuant to each plan
at
October 31, 2006:
Plan
|
Shares
Reserved
|
Options
Outstanding
|
Available
for
Issue
|
Outstanding
Options
Vested
|
|||||||||
1996
Plan
|
2,730,000
|
1,049,887
|
---
|
757,149
|
|||||||||
1998
Plan
|
650,000
|
258,785
|
135,699
|
220,545
|
|||||||||
PyX
Plan
|
2,038,950
|
1,021,200
|
---
|
425,495
|
|||||||||
2006
Plan
|
1,500,000
|
385,000
|
---
|
---
|
|||||||||
Director Plan
|
340,000
|
175,000
|
108,750
|
120,000
|
|||||||||
Total
|
7,258,950
|
2,889,872
|
244,449
|
1,523,189
|
-76-
The
1996
Plan terminated effective January 17, 2006 and although we can no longer issue
stock options out of the plan, the outstanding options at the date of
termination will remain outstanding and vest in accordance with their terms.
Options granted under the Director Plan vest over a one to four-year period,
expire five to seven years after the date of grant and have exercise prices
reflecting market value of the shares of our common stock on the date of grant.
Stock options granted under the 1996, 1998, 2006 and PyX Plans are exercisable
over a maximum term of ten years from the date of grant, vest in various
installments over a one to four-year period and have exercise prices reflecting
the market value of the shares of common stock on the date of grant.
On
November 1, 2005, the date of adoption of SFAS 123(R), there were options to
purchase 4,213,704 shares of our common stock outstanding, of which 1,400,397
were fully vested. The
fair
value of the unearned portion of stock-based compensation related to the
unvested employee stock options outstanding on November 1, 2005 is calculated
using the Black-Scholes option pricing model as of the grant date of the
underlying stock options. We recognized no net deferred tax impact on the
adoption of SFAS 123(R). The remaining unamortized stock-based compensation
expense associated with unvested employee stock options outstanding on November
1, 2005 is expensed over the remaining service period through September
2009.
Included
in the outstanding but unvested stock options on November 1, 2005, are options
to purchase 2,038,950 shares of our common stock related to the PyX 2005 Stock
Option Plan that was assumed by us in our acquisition of PyX. The fair value
related to the unvested portion of the PyX stock options totaled $2,484,000
and
was recorded as deferred compensation in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005.
In
connection with the adoption of SFAS 123(R), we reduced deferred compensation
and common stock by $2,311,000, the value of the unamortized balance of the
deferred PyX compensation as of November 1, 2005.
We
granted options to purchase 797,500 shares of our common stock to employees
and
members of the Board of Directors during the twelve months ended October 31,
2006, respectively. The fair value of the unearned portion of stock-based
compensation related to the employee and director stock options is calculated
using the Black-Scholes option pricing model as of the grant date of the
underlying stock options. The stock-based compensation expense associated with
the stock options granted to employees and directors during the twelve months
ended October 31, 2006, will be expensed over the remaining service period
through September 2010.
Employee
and Director stock-based compensation expense related to stock options in the
accompanying statements of operations (in thousands):
Year
Ended
October
31,
2006
|
|
Remaining
Unamortized
Expense
|
|||||
Stock
option compensation
|
$
|
1,245
|
$
|
2,237
|
-77-
The
fair
value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:
|
|
Options
Granted
|
|
||||
|
|
Unvested
Options
|
|
During
Year Ended
|
|
||
|
|
On
November 1,
|
|
October
31,
|
|
||
|
|
2005
|
|
2006
|
|||
Expected
life (in years)
|
4.19
|
5.13
|
|||||
Risk-free
interest rate
|
2.65%
- 4.36
|
%
|
4.63
|
%
|
|||
Volatility
|
53.76%
-151.22
|
%
|
106.4
|
%
|
|||
Dividend
yield
|
0.00
|
%
|
0.00
|
%
|
|||
Forfeiture
rate
|
6.71
|
%
|
6.01
|
%
|
The
fair
value of stock-based awards to employees is calculated using the Black-Scholes
option pricing model, even though this model was developed to estimate the
fair
value of freely tradable, fully transferable options without vesting
restrictions, which differ significantly from the our stock options. The
Black-Scholes model also requires subjective assumptions, including future
stock
price volatility and expected time to exercise, which greatly affect the
calculated values. The expected term and forfeiture rate of options granted
is
derived from historical data on employee exercises and post-vesting employment
termination behavior, as well as expected behavior on outstanding options.
The
risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rates in effect during the
corresponding period of grant. The expected volatility is based on the
historical volatility of our stock price. These factors could change in the
future, which would affect the stock-based compensation expense in future
periods.
There
was
no stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options and
employee stock purchases recognized during the fiscal years ended
October 31,
2005
and 2004.
We
award
stock option grants to certain non-employee strategic business advisors as
part
of their fee structure. The fair value of these option grants is estimated
on
the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and is
recalculated on a monthly basis based on market price until vested. For the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 we recorded $2,900 of compensation expense
related to non-employee stock options.
A
summary
of the combined activity under all of the stock option plans is set forth
below:
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
Average
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Number
of
|
|
Price
Per
|
Exercise
|
|||||
|
Shares
|
Share
|
Price
|
|||||||
Outstanding
at
|
||||||||||
October
31, 2003
|
1,624,505
|
|
$0.70--$19.81
|
$
|
2.90
|
|||||
Granted
|
422,500
|
|
$2.86--$7.13
|
$
|
4.99
|
|||||
Cancelled
or expired
|
(67,874
|
)
|
|
$2.86--$7.00
|
$
|
3.98
|
||||
Exercised
|
(182,012
|
)
|
|
$0.90--$5.13
|
$
|
1.69
|
||||
Outstanding
at
|
||||||||||
October
31, 2004
|
1,797,119
|
|
$0.70--$19.41
|
$
|
3.48
|
|||||
Granted
|
856,154
|
|
$2.17--$4.00
|
$
|
3.48
|
|||||
PyX
Plan assumed
|
2,038,950
|
|
$2.17--$2.17
|
$
|
2.17
|
|||||
Cancelled
or expired
|
(301,340
|
)
|
|
$0.90--$7.13
|
$
|
4.03
|
||||
Exercised
|
(177,179
|
)
|
|
$0.70--$2.86
|
$
|
1.84
|
||||
Outstanding
at
|
||||||||||
October
31, 2005
|
4,213,704
|
$0.70--$18.38
|
$
|
3.05
|
||||||
Granted
|
817,500
|
|
$0.36--$2.59
|
$
|
1.42
|
|||||
Cancelled
or expired
|
(2,098,666
|
)
|
|
$0.90--$16.19
|
$
|
2.75
|
||||
Exercised
|
(42,666
|
)
|
|
$0.90--$0.90
|
$
|
0.90
|
||||
Outstanding
at
|
||||||||||
October
31, 2006
|
2,889,872
|
$0.36--$18,38
|
$ | 2.10 |
-78-
The
following table summarizes information with respect to all options to purchase
shares of common stock outstanding under the
1996
Plan, the 1998 Plan, the 2006 Plan,
the PyX
Plan
and the
Director Plan at October 31, 2006:
Options
Outstanding
|
|
Options
Exercisable
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|||||
|
|
Number
|
|
Remaining
|
|
Average
|
|
Number
|
|
Average
|
|
|||||
Range
of
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
Contractual
Life
|
|
Exercise
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|||||
Exercise
Price
|
|
at
10/31/06
|
|
(years)
|
|
Price
|
|
at
10/31/06
|
|
Price
|
||||||
$
0.00-$
1.00
|
806,500
|
4.76
|
$
|
0.72
|
430,666
|
$
|
0.91
|
|||||||||
$
1.01-$
2.00
|
145,000
|
3.18
|
$
|
1.33
|
63,000
|
$
|
1.64
|
|||||||||
$
2.01-$
3.00
|
1,424,076
|
5.32
|
$
|
2.34
|
589,659
|
$
|
2.35
|
|||||||||
$
3.01-$
4.00
|
206,000
|
3.14
|
$
|
3.55
|
141,912
|
$
|
3.71
|
|||||||||
$
4.01-$
5.00
|
175,796
|
1.64
|
$
|
4.51
|
171,601
|
$
|
4.51
|
|||||||||
$
5.01-
$
6.00
|
94,000
|
0.82
|
$
|
5.28
|
94,000
|
$ | 5.29 | |||||||||
$
6.01-$
7.00
|
13,000
|
3.44
|
$
|
6.87
|
9,977
|
$
|
6.85
|
|||||||||
$
7.01-$
8.00
|
25,000
|
4.16
|
$
|
7.09
|
21,874
|
$
|
7.10
|
|||||||||
$
8.01-$20.00
|
500
|
0.56
|
$
|
18.38
|
500
|
$
|
18.38
|
|||||||||
2,889,872
|
$
|
4.52
|
$
|
2.10
|
1,523,189 |
$
|
2.57
|
The
weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the fiscal
years ended October 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 was $1.42, $3.48 and $4.99,
respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the fiscal
years ended October 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 was $38,400, $128,200 and $221,300,
respectively.
Restricted
Stock Awards
On
March
21, 2006, our Board approved restricted stock grants to all employees in order
to continue to motivate and retain our employees. The shares of restricted
stock
granted by the board vest 25% on the first anniversary of the initial grant
date
with the remainder vesting monthly thereafter for the following six months.
A
total of 290,000 restricted shares of our common stock were issued to employees
under the restricted stock grants with initial vesting to commence between
April
1, 2007 and June 19, 2007. A total of 48,000 of the restricted shares have
been
cancelled that were issued to employees who have terminated their employment
prior to vesting. The total fair value of the restricted stock grants on the
date of issuance is $301,000 and will be amortized over the 18-month vesting
period. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, we recorded $88,500 of
amortization expense related to the restricted stock grants.
-79-
Weighted
Average
|
|
Average
|
|
||||
|
|
Shares
|
|
Grant
Date
|
|
||
|
|
Unvested
Stock Units
|
|
Fair Value
|
|||
Unvested
at November 1, 2005
|
--- | --- | |||||
Granted
|
290,000 | $ | 1.04 | ||||
Vested
|
--- | --- | |||||
Cancelled
|
(48,000 | ) | 1.04 | ||||
Unvested
at October 31, 2006
|
242,000
|
$ | 1.04 |
Stock
For Pay Plan
On
January 12, 2006, our Board approved a company-wide 30% reduction in employee
base salaries, effective January 16, 2006. In order to continue to motivate
and
retain our employees despite such salary reductions, the Board approved stock
grants to all of our employees pursuant to the 1996 Plan and 2006 Plan.
Effective April 1, 2006, the Board modified the 30% across the board reduction
in employee and contractor base salaries to a cash salary reduction ranging
from
10% to 38% of the employees base salaries. The level of reduction of the cash
portion of the salary for each employee and contractor is dependent on their
respective position and base salary, and employees with lower salaries generally
have lower reductions. A total of 858,040 shares of our common stock have been
issued since January 1, 2006 pursuant to the stock-for-pay plan. For
the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, we recorded approximately $637,000 of
stock-based compensation associated with such stock grants.
In
addition, the Board approved the suspension of all cash payments of Board and
Board committee fees, until further notice. A total of 158,295 shares of our
common stock has been issued to Board members in lieu of such fees under the
stock-for-pay plan since January 1, 2006. For
the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, we recorded approximately $126,000 of
stock-based compensation and director expense associated with the stock-for-pay
plan.
On
August
21, 2006, the Board suspended the stock-for-pay program for all members of
the
Board and executive officers of SBE. The suspension is effective as of August
1,
2006 for all members of the Board and August 16, 2006 for all affected executive
officers. Despite suspension of the stock-for-pay program, the
previously-announced salary reductions for the affected officers and cessation
of cash compensation for the Board will remain in effect until such time as
the
Board shall determine. The Board adopted a bonus plan for the affected
individuals that will pay a prescribed amount of cash or stock upon our
completion of one of a number of specified milestones set forth in the plan,
provided that the affected individual remains employed by the Company or a
member of the Board at the time such milestone is achieved. All non-officer
employees remain on the stock-for-pay plan until such time as the Board shall
determine.
Prior
Year
Prior
to
November 1, 2005, we accounted for stock-based awards under the intrinsic value
method, which followed the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting
principles board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting
for Stock Issued to Employees (APB Opinion 25),
and
related interpretations. Under this method, compensation expense was recorded
on
the date of grant only if the current market price of the underlying stock
exceeded the exercise price. Our practice is to award employee stock options
with an exercise price equal to the market price on the date of the award.
Accordingly, no stock-based employee compensation cost has previously been
recognized in net income for the stock option plans. Had compensation cost
for
our stock option plans been determined based on the fair value recognition
provisions of SFAS 123, our net income and income per share would have been
as
follows (in thousands):
-80-
For
the Year Ended October 31,
|
|||||||
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
||||
Net
loss - as reported
|
$ | (4,230 | ) | $ | (1,679 | ) | |
Stock
based employee compensation
|
|||||||
expense
included in reported
|
|||||||
net
loss, net of related tax effects
|
168 | --- | |||||
Less
total stock based employee
|
|||||||
compensation
expense determined
|
|||||||
under
fair value based method for
|
|||||||
all
awards, net of related tax effects
|
(1,237 | ) | (1,177 | ) | |||
Pro
forma net loss
|
$ | (5,299 | ) | $ | (2,856 | ) | |
Loss
per share:
|
|||||||
Basic
and diluted - as reported
|
$ | (0.66 | ) | $ | (0.33 | ) | |
Basic
and diluted - pro forma
|
$ | (0.82 | ) | $ | (0.57 | ) |
The
fair
value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions:
Options
granted in years ended October 31
|
2005
|
2004
|
|||||
Expected
life (in years)
|
4.00
|
4.00
|
|||||
Risk-free
interest rate
|
4.25
|
%
|
3.29
|
%
|
|||
Volatility
|
99.88
|
%
|
120.20
|
%
|
|||
Dividend
yield
|
0.00
|
%
|
0.00
|
%
|
The
weighted average fair value of options granted during 2005 and 2004 was $2.91
and $2.93 per option, respectively.
12. NET
LOSS PER SHARE:
Basic
net
loss
per
common share for the years ended October 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 was computed
by
dividing the net loss
for the
relevant period
by the
weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings
per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number
of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding.
-81-
Common
stock equivalents of approximately 149,000, 937,000 and 792,000 options are
excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation for fiscal 2006, 2005
and 2004, respectively, due to their anti-dilutive effect.
(in
thousands, except per share amounts)
|
Years
ended October 31
|
|
||||||||
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
||||
Basic
earnings per share:
|
||||||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(16,183
|
$)
|
$
|
(4,230
|
$)
|
$
|
(1,679
|
$)
|
|
Number
of shares for computation of
|
||||||||||
earnings
per share
|
10,304
|
6,439
|
5,022
|
|||||||
Basic
loss per share
|
$
|
(1.57
|
)
|
$
|
(0.66
|
)
|
$
|
(0.33
|
)
|
|
Diluted
earnings per share:
|
||||||||||
Weighted
average number of common
|
||||||||||
shares
outstanding during the year
|
10,304
|
6,439
|
5,022
|
|||||||
Assumed
issuance of stock under warrant
|
||||||||||
plus
stock issued the employee and
|
||||||||||
non-employee
stock option plans
|
(a
|
)
|
(a
|
)
|
(a
|
)
|
||||
Number
of shares for computation of
|
||||||||||
earnings
per share
|
10,304
|
6,439
|
5,022
|
|||||||
Diluted
loss per share
|
$
|
(1.57
|
)
|
$
|
(0.66
|
)
|
$
|
(0.33
|
)
|
(a)
|
In
loss periods, common share equivalents would have an anti-dilutive
effect
on
net
loss
per share and therefore have been
excluded.
|
13. EMPLOYEE
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN
We
contribute a percentage of income before income taxes into an employee savings
and investment plan. The percentage is determined annually by the Board of
Directors. These contributions are payable annually, vest over five years,
and
cover substantially all employees who have been employed by us at least one
year. Additionally, until January 2006 we made matching payments to the employee
savings and investment plan of 50% of each employee's contribution up to three
percent of employees' earnings. We suspended the matching payments program
in
January 2006.
For
the
years ended October 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, total expense under the employee
savings and investment plan was $18,685, $87,918 and $90,099,
respectively.
14. CONCENTRATION
OF CREDIT AND BUSINESS RISKS
Our
trade
accounts receivable are concentrated among a small number of customers,
principally located in the United States and Europe. Two customers accounted
for
52% of our outstanding accounts receivable at October 31, 2006 compared to
two
customers who accounted for more than 41% of total accounts receivable at
October 31, 2005. Ongoing credit evaluations of customers' financial condition
are performed and, generally, no collateral is required. We maintain an
allowance for doubtful accounts for potential credit losses. Actual bad debt
losses have not been material and have not exceeded our expectations. Trade
accounts receivable are recorded net of an allowance for doubtful accounts
of
$26,000 and $54,000 at October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
-82-
Sales
to
individual customers in excess of 10% of net sales for the year ended October
31, 2006 included sales to DCL located in the United Kingdom of $1.9 million,
or
31% of net sales, Nortel of $1.3 million, or 21% of net sales and Raytheon
of
$750,000, or 12% of net sales compared to sales to DCL in fiscal 2005 of $2.2
million, or 28% and Nortel of $1.4 million, or 18% of net sales, and sales
to HP
of $1.0 million, or 13% of net sales, in fiscal 2005.
International
sales constituted 43%, 37% and 12% of net sales in fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004,
respectively. International sales are primarily executed in Europe with 31%
to
customers in the United Kingdom. All international sales are executed in U.S.
dollars.
We
depend
on a limited number of customers for substantially all revenue to date. Failure
to anticipate or respond adequately to technological developments in our
industry, changes in customer or supplier requirements or changes in regulatory
requirements or industry standards, or any significant delays in the development
or introduction of products or services, could have a material adverse effect
on
our business, operating results and cash flows.
Substantially
all of our manufacturing process is subcontracted to three independent
companies. The
chipsets used in some of our hardware products are currently available from
single source suppliers. The inability to obtain sufficient key components
as
required, or to develop alternative sources if and as required in the future,
could result in delays or reductions in product shipments or margins that,
in
turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results,
financial condition and cash flows.
15.
ACQUISITION
OF PYX TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (PyX)
In
July
2005, we acquired PyX for a total purchase price of $11,714,000
paid to the selling shareholders of PyX in the form of shares of our common
stock and the assumption of PyX’s employee stock option plan, plus cash expenses
totaling $359,000 for legal, accounting and valuation services. A
total
of 2,561,050 shares of our common stock were issued in respect of outstanding
PyX common stock. We registered these shares for resale with the Securities
and
Exchange Commission. An additional 1,021,200 shares of our common stock will
be
issuable upon exercise of assumed stock options for services of selling
shareholders who became our employees. The option shares are issuable upon
exercise of options, subject to vesting restrictions, except that if an
optionee’s employment is terminated without cause or the optionee resigns for
certain specified reasons, the vesting on the option will accelerate and become
fully vested.
The
acquisition enabled us to obtain storage software which
we
consider to be complementary to our business. While this product has reached
technological feasibility and is being capitalized, we will continue to
customize it to meet our specific customer needs.
A
summary
of the assets acquired and consideration paid is as follows:
-83-
Tangible
assets acquired
|
$
|
31,000
|
||
Software
|
12,217,000
|
|||
Total
assets acquired
|
12,248,000
|
|||
Liabilities
assumed
|
534,000
|
|||
Net
assets acquired
|
$
|
11,714,000
|
||
Fair
value of common stock provided
|
$
|
9,040,000
|
||
Fair
value of stock options assumed
|
5,158,000
|
|||
Less:
value of deferred compensation
|
||||
related
to stock options
|
(2,484,000
|
)
|
||
Total
consideration
|
$
|
11,714,000
|
We used the purchase method of accounting for the acquisition and combined PyX results of operations with our own beginning July 26, 2005. The fair value of the common stock provided to the PyX shareholders was calculated as the value of the 2,561,050 shares of common stock multiplied by the closing price of our common stock on July 26, 2005 ($3.53 per share). The fair value of the vested portion of the 2,038,950 PyX stock options assumed by us was calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation model and included in the purchase price. The intrinsic value of the unvested portion of the 2,038,950 PyX stock options assumed by us was recorded as deferred compensation (see Note 7) and was amortized to compensation expense over the remaining 43-month vesting period. In connection with the adoption of SFAS 123(R), we reduced deferred compensation and common stock by $2,401,000, the value of the unamortized balance of the deferred compensation as of November 1, 2005. We allocated the purchase price to the tangible assets and liabilities based on fair market value at the time of the acquisition and to software based on future expected cash flows to be derived from the acquired iSCSI software product line.
16.
NASDAQ
NOTICE OF NON-COMPLIANCE
On
July
14, 2006, we received a notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq) indicating
that for the preceding 30 consecutive business days, the bid price of our common
stock closed below the $1.00 minimum bid price required for continued listing
by
Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4310(c)(4) (the Rule). The notice stated that we would
be provided 180 calendar days, or until January 10, 2007, to regain compliance
with the Rule. The notice further states that if we were not in compliance
with
the Rule by January 10, 2007, the Nasdaq staff would determine whether we meet
the Nasdaq initial listing criteria as set forth in Nasdaq Marketplace Rule
4310(c), except for the bid price requirement. If we met the initial listing
criteria, the Nasdaq staff would notify us that we had been granted an
additional 180 calendar day compliance period. If we were not eligible for
an
additional compliance period, the Nasdaq staff would provide us written
notification that our securities would be delisted from Nasdaq, and at that
time
we would be able to appeal the staff’s determination to a Listings
Qualifications Panel.
On
January 11, 2007, we received a notice from Nasdaq that our stock is subject
to
delisting and that we would not be given the additional 180 day compliance
period and that we did not meet the Nasdaq initial listing criteria as set
forth
in Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4310(c). Our shareholders’ equity and the market
value of our public float are each less than the required $5.0 million. We
filed
an appeal of the staff’s determination to a Listings Qualifications Panel.
Delisting of our stock from Nasdaq is stayed pending the determination of the
Listings Qualifications Panel. The appeals hearing is scheduled for February
22,
2007.
-84-
17.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Sale
of Embedded Hardware Business
On
January 11, 2007, we entered into an Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of
Assets (the “Purchase Agreement”) with One Stop Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of
industrial-grade computing systems and components (One Stop), pursuant to which
we agreed to sell all of the assets associated with our hardware business
(excluding cash, accounts receivable and other excluded assets specified in
the
asset purchase agreement) to One Stop for approximately $2,200,000 in cash
plus
One Stop’s assumption of the lease of our corporate headquarters building and
certain equipment leases. The purchase price will be reduced dollar-for-dollar
to the extent our hardware business inventory has a net book value of less
than
$680,000 as of the closing date. The purchase price will be increased
dollar-for-dollar to the extent our hardware business inventory has a net book
value of more than $800,000 as of the closing date. A total of $500,000 will
be
held back from the purchase price for a period of 60 days and will be used
to
pay certain liabilities of the embedded business and satisfy any indemnification
obligations to One Stop that arise under the asset purchase agreement during
such period. Any funds not used will be released to us after 60
days.
The
Purchase Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, covenants
and closing conditions. In addition, we have agreed that for four years
following the closing of the asset sale, we will not directly or indirectly
engage in the hardware business or have any interest in any entity engaged
in
the hardware business. Each party has agreed to indemnify the other party for
damages arising for any breach of any of the representations or warranties
or
covenants or obligations in the Purchase Agreement. In addition, we have agreed
to indemnify One Stop for any liabilities arising out of the ownership or
operation of the hardware business prior to the closing of the transaction.
All
representations, warranties and covenants will expire on the first anniversary
of the closing. Our liability for indemnification claims made by One Stop
pursuant to the asset purchase agreement is capped at $2,200,000 in the
aggregate.
Merger
and Reorganization
On
January 19, 2007, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization with Neonode Inc., a Delaware corporation. It is
anticipated that our name will be changed to “Neonode Inc.” upon completion of
the merger. The securities offered in the merger will not be registered under
the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States
absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration
requirements.
Although
the exact number of shares to be issued in the merger will be determined at
closing according to a formula contained in the merger agreement, it is
currently estimated that we will issue approximately 57 million shares of its
common stock in exchange for outstanding shares of Neonode common stock and
will
assume Neonode’s options and warrants exercisable for approximately 17 million
additional shares of SBE common stock.
-85-
We
expect
to complete the transaction in our second quarter of fiscal 2007, subject to
satisfaction of closing conditions set forth in the merger agreement. In
addition to customary closing conditions, the transaction is subject to the
approval of both our and Neonode’s shareholders and a reverse split of our
outstanding common stock. The number of shares referenced above is presented
on
a pre-split basis. After the merger is completed, the combined company's
headquarters will be in Stockholm, Sweden, where Neonode’s corporate
headquarters and research and development activities are located. The combined
company’s stock is expected to continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital
Market.
QUARTERLY
FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands except |
First
|
Second
|
Third
|
Fourth
|
||||||||||
per share amounts) |
Quarter
|
Quarter
|
Quarter
|
Quarter
|
||||||||||
2006: |
Net
sales
|
$
|
1,400
|
$
|
1,816
|
$
|
1,552
|
$
|
1,359
|
|||||
Gross
loss
|
(425
|
)
|
(487
|
)
|
(6,010
|
)
|
(895
|
)
|
||||||
Net
loss
|
(2,727
|
)
|
(3,029
|
)
|
(7,842
|
)
|
(2,585
|
)
|
||||||
Basic
and diluted loss per
|
||||||||||||||
common
share
|
$
|
(0.28
|
)
|
$
|
(0.30
|
)
|
$
|
(0.76
|
)
|
$
|
(0.23
|
)
|
||
2005: |
Net
sales
|
$
|
2,815
|
$
|
1,706
|
$
|
1,720
|
$
|
1,815
|
|||||
Gross
profit (loss)
|
1,585
|
630
|
648
|
(212
|
)
|
|||||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
177
|
(936
|
)
|
(945
|
)
|
(2,526
|
)
|
|||||||
Basic
income (loss) per
|
||||||||||||||
common
share
|
$
|
0.03
|
$
|
(0.18
|
)
|
$
|
(0.17
|
)
|
$
|
(0.26
|
)
|
|||
Diluted
income (loss) per
|
||||||||||||||
common
share
|
$
|
0.03
|
$
|
(0.18
|
)
|
$
|
(0.17
|
)
|
$
|
(0.26
|
)
|
-86-
SBE,
Inc.
Schedule
II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
For
the Years Ended October 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004
(amounts
in thousands)
Column
A
|
|
|
Column
B
|
|
|
Column
C
|
|
|
Column
D
|
|
|
Column
E
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at
|
|
|
Additions
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning
|
|
charged
to costs
|
|
|
|
|
End
of
|
|
||
Description
|
|
|
of
Period
|
|
|
and
expenses
|
|
|
Deductions
|
|
|
Period
|
|
Year
ended October 31, 2006
|
|||||||||||||
Allowance
for Doubtful Accounts
|
|||||||||||||
and
sales programs
|
$
|
54
|
$
|
---
|
$
|
(28
|
)
|
$
|
26
|
||||
Allowance
for Warranty Claims
|
22
|
---
|
(9
|
)
|
13
|
||||||||
Allowance
for Deferred Tax Assets
|
4,923
|
7,726
|
---
|
12,649
|
|||||||||
Year
ended October 31, 2005
|
|||||||||||||
Allowance
for Doubtful Accounts
|
|||||||||||||
and
sales programs
|
$
|
42
|
$
|
27
|
$
|
(15
|
)
|
$
|
54
|
||||
Allowance
for Warranty Claims
|
20
|
14
|
(12
|
)
|
22
|
||||||||
Allowance
for Deferred Tax Assets
|
8,944
|
---
|
(4,021
|
)
|
4,923
|
||||||||
Year
ended October 31, 2004
|
|||||||||||||
Allowance
for Doubtful Accounts
|
|||||||||||||
and
sales programs
|
$
|
90
|
$
|
---
|
$
|
(48
|
)
|
$
|
42
|
||||
Allowance
for Warranty Claims
|
53
|
---
|
(33
|
)
|
20
|
||||||||
Allowance
for Deferred Tax Assets
|
8,662
|
282
|
---
|
8,944
|
|||||||||
Allowance
for Stockholder Loan
|
239
|
---
|
(239
|
)
|
---
|
-87-