SemiLEDs Corp - Quarter Report: 2013 November (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended November 30, 2013

 

or

 

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from            to            

 

Commission File Number: 001-34992

 

SemiLEDs Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

+886-37-586788
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x  No o

 

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

 

 

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

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 27,760,780 shares of common stock, par value $0.0000056 per share, outstanding as of January 6, 2014.

 

 

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SEMILEDS CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q for the Quarter Ended November 30, 2013

 

INDEX

 

				Page No.
		Part I. Financial Information
Item 1.		Financial Statements		1
		Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of November 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013		1
		Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012		2
		Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012		3
		Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the three months ended November 30, 2013		4
		Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012		5
		Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements		6
Item 2.		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		14
Item 3.		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		26
Item 4.		Controls and Procedures		27
		Part II. Other Information
Item 1.		Legal Proceedings		28
Item 1A.		Risk Factors		28
Item 2.		Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		29
Item 3.		Defaults Upon Senior Securities		29
Item 4.		Mine Safety Disclosures		29
Item 5.		Other Information		29
Item 6.		Exhibits		29
Signatures				30
Index to Exhibits				31

 

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.    Financial Statements

 

SEMILEDS CORPORATION

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands of U.S. dollars and shares, except par value)

 

		November 30, 2013			August 31, 2013
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	28,122		$	36,272
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,601 and $1,616 as of November 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013, respectively		2,417			2,152
Accounts receivable from related parties, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,410 and $1,395 as of November 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013, respectively		133			120
Inventories		11,342			10,500
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,149			1,080
Total current assets		43,163			50,124
Property, plant and equipment, net		29,487			30,473
Intangible assets, net		1,431			1,379
Goodwill, net		59			59
Investments in unconsolidated entities		2,220			2,275
Other assets		1,470			1,395
TOTAL ASSETS		$	77,830		$	85,705
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current installments of long-term debt		$	2,243		$	2,294
Accounts payable		2,455			3,534
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		5,802			6,825
Deferred income, current portion		51			51
Total current liabilities		10,551			12,704
Long-term debt, excluding current installments		5,755			6,169
Deferred income, net of current portion		327			339
Total liabilities		16,633			19,212
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)
EQUITY:
SemiLEDs stockholders’ equity
Common stock, $0.0000056 par value—32,143 shares authorized; 27,761 shares issued and outstanding		—			—
Additional paid-in capital		169,505			169,114
Accumulated other comprehensive income		6,075			5,557
Accumulated deficit		(114,447		)	(108,155		)
Total SemiLEDs stockholders’ equity		61,133			66,516
Noncontrolling interests		64			(23		)
Total equity		61,197			66,493
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		$	77,830		$	85,705

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SEMILEDS CORPORATION

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands of U.S. dollars and shares, except per share data)

 

		Three Months Ended November 30,
		2013			2012
Revenues, net		$	3,417		$	6,227
Cost of revenues		5,754			9,515
Gross loss		(2,337		)	(3,288		)
Operating expenses:
Research and development		1,126			1,223
Selling, general and administrative		2,644			3,663
Total operating expenses		3,770			4,886
Loss from operations		(6,107		)	(8,174		)
Other income (expenses):
Equity in losses from unconsolidated entities, net		(63		)	(75		)
Interest income (expenses), net		(37		)	5
Other income, net		54			52
Foreign currency transaction loss, net		(197		)	(926		)
Total other expenses, net		(243		)	(944		)
Loss before income taxes		(6,350		)	(9,118		)
Income tax expense		—			—
Net loss		(6,350		)	(9,118		)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(58		)	(195		)
Net loss attributable to SemiLEDs stockholders		$	(6,292	)	$	(8,923	)
Net loss per share attributable to SemiLEDs stockholders:
Basic and diluted		$	(0.23	)	$	(0.32	)
Shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to SemiLEDs stockholders:
Basic and diluted		27,784			27,495

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SEMILEDS CORPORATION

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

		Three Months Ended November 30,
		2013			2012
Net loss		$	(6,350	)	$	(9,118	)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $0 for both periods		521			2,715
Comprehensive loss		$	(5,829	)	$	(6,403	)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		$	(55	)	$	(166	)
Comprehensive loss attributable to SemiLEDs stockholders		$	(5,774	)	$	(6,237	)

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SEMILEDS CORPORATION

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

(In thousands of U.S. dollars and shares)

 

		Common Stock					Additional Paid-in			Accumulated Other Comprehensive			Accumulated			Total SemiLEDs Stockholders’			Non-Controlling			Total
		Shares		Amount			Capital			Income			Deficit			Equity			Interests			Equity
BALANCE—September 1, 2013		27,761		$	—		$	169,114		$	5,557		$	(108,155	)	$	66,516		$	(23	)	$	66,493
Stock-based compensation		—		—			533			—			—			533			—			533
Purchase of common shares in Ning Xiang		—		—			(142		)	—			—			(142		)	142			—
Comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment		—		—			—			518			—			518			3			521
Net loss		—		—			—			—			(6,292		)	(6,292		)	(58		)	(6,350		)
BALANCE—November 30, 2013		27,761		$	—		$	169,505		$	6,075		$	(114,447	)	$	61,133		$	64		$	61,197

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SEMILEDS CORPORATION

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

		Three Months Ended November 30,
		2013			2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss		$	(6,350	)	$	(9,118	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		1,566			2,097
Stock-based compensation expense		533			336
Bad debt expense		31			686
Provisions for inventory write-downs		187			712
Equity in losses from unconsolidated entities, net		63			75
Income recognized on patents assignment		(13		)	(13		)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition:
Accounts receivable, net		(285		)	262
Inventories		(915		)	957
Prepaid expenses and other		37			101
Accounts payable		(807		)	147
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		525			508
Net cash used in operating activities		(5,428		)	(3,250		)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(483		)	(1,669		)
Purchase of investment		—			(2,873		)
Payments related to acquisition of business		(1,626		)	—
Payments for development of intangible assets		(80		)	(119		)
Placement of refundable deposits		(78		)	(1		)
Increase in restricted cash		(97		)	—
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments		—			488
Proceeds from return of investment in unconsolidated entity		—			250
Net cash used in investing activities		(2,364		)	(3,924		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from line of credit		170			—
Payments on line of credit		(170		)	(1,623		)
Payments of long-term debt		(562		)	(244		)
Other financing activities		3			1
Net cash used in financing activities		(559		)	(1,866		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		201			1,132
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(8,150		)	(7,908		)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of period		36,272			47,228
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of period		$	28,122		$	39,320
NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Accrual related to property, plant and equipment		$	203		$	1,776
Accrual related to acquisition of business		$	450		$	—

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SEMILEDS CORPORATION

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1. Business

 

SemiLEDs Corporation (“SemiLEDs”) was incorporated in Delaware on January 4, 2005 and is a holding company for various wholly and majority owned subsidiaries. SemiLEDs and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) develop, manufacture and sell high performance light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). The Company’s core products are LED chips and LED components, but lighting products have also become an increasingly important part of the Company’s business. A portion of the Company’s business consists of the sale of contract manufactured LED products. The Company’s customers are concentrated in a few select markets, including Taiwan, the United States, China and Russia.

 

As of November 30, 2013, SemiLEDs had seven wholly owned subsidiaries and an 87% equity interest in Ning Xiang Technology Co., Ltd. (“Ning Xiang”). The most significant of these consolidated subsidiaries is SemiLEDs Optoelectronics Co., Ltd. (“Taiwan SemiLEDs”) located in Hsinchu, Taiwan where a substantial portion of research, development, manufacturing, marketing and sales activities currently take place and where a substantial portion of the assets are held and located. Taiwan SemiLEDs owns a 100% equity interest in Silicon Base Development, Inc. (“SBDI”). SBDI is engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, marketing and sales of LED components. As of November 30, 2013, the Company also owned an 87% interest in Ning Xiang, which consisted of a 51% interest acquired in August 2011, an additional 15% interest acquired in April 2013 and an additional 21% interest acquired in November 2013. Ning Xiang is engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of lighting fixtures and systems.

 

SemiLEDs’ common shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LEDS” since December 8, 2010.

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation—The Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and applicable provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting. Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. Accordingly, these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on November 26, 2013. The unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of August 31, 2013 included herein was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date.

 

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of November 30, 2013, the statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012, the statement of changes in equity for the three months ended November 30, 2013, and the statements of cash flows for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012. The results for the three months ended November 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending August 31, 2014.

 

Principles of Consolidation—The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SemiLEDs and its consolidated subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated during consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates—The preparation of unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP 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 unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the collectibility of accounts receivable, inventory net realizable values, realization of deferred tax assets, valuation of stock-based compensation expense, the useful lives of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, the recoverability of the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, goodwill and investments in unconsolidated entities, the fair value of acquired tangible and intangible assets, income tax uncertainties, provision for potential litigation costs and other contingencies. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and also on assumptions that it believes are reasonable. Management assesses these estimates on a regular basis; however, actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

 

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Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties—The Company is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s future financial position or results of operations, which risks and uncertainties include, among others: it has incurred significant losses over the last three fiscal years, any inability of the Company to compete in a rapidly evolving market and to respond quickly and effectively to changing market requirements, any inability of the Company to grow its revenue and/or maintain or increase its margins, it may experience fluctuations in its revenues and operating results, any inability of the Company to protect its intellectual property rights, claims by others that the Company infringes their proprietary technology, and any inability of the Company to raise additional funds in the future.

 

Concentration of Supply Risk—Some of the components and technologies used in the Company’s products are purchased and licensed from a limited number of sources and some of the Company’s products are produced by a limited number of contract manufacturers. The loss of any of these suppliers and contract manufacturers may cause the Company to incur transition costs to another supplier or contract manufacturer, result in delays in the manufacturing and delivery of the Company’s products, or cause it to carry excess or obsolete inventory. The Company relies on a limited number of such suppliers and contract manufacturers for the fulfillment of its customer orders. Any failure of such suppliers and contract manufacturers to perform could have an adverse effect upon the Company’s reputation and its ability to distribute its products or satisfy customers’ orders, which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk—Financial instruments that subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable.

 

The Company keeps its cash and cash equivalents in demand deposits with prominent banks of high credit quality and invests only in money market funds. Deposits held with banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. As of November 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013, cash and cash equivalents of the Company consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents by Location		November 30, 2013			August 31, 2013
United States:
Denominated in U.S. dollars		$	18,582		$	18,631
Taiwan:
Denominated in U.S. dollars		6,997			16,158
Denominated in New Taiwan dollars		1,403			445
Denominated in other currencies		332			264
China (including Hong Kong):
Denominated in U.S. dollars		377			345
Denominated in Renminbi		430			428
Denominated in H.K. dollars		1			1
Total cash and cash equivalents		$	28,122		$	36,272

 

The Company’s revenues are substantially derived from the sales of LED products. A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from a limited number of customers and sales are concentrated in a few select markets. Management performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral on accounts receivable. Management evaluates the need to establish an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated potential credit losses at each reporting period. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the management’s assessment of the collectibility of its customer accounts. Management regularly reviews the allowance by considering certain factors, such as historical experience, industry data, credit quality, age of accounts receivable balances and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay.

 

Net revenues generated from sales to the top ten customers represented 43% and 47% of the Company’s total net revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

The Company’s revenues have been concentrated in a few select markets, including Taiwan, the United States, China and Russia. Net revenues generated from sales to customers in these markets, in the aggregate, accounted for 61% and 62% of the Company’s total net revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

Noncontrolling Interests—Noncontrolling interests are classified in the consolidated statements of operations as part of consolidated net income (loss) and the accumulated amount of noncontrolling interests in the consolidated balance sheets as part of equity. Changes in ownership interest in a consolidated subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control are accounted for as an equity transaction. If a change in ownership of a consolidated subsidiary results in loss of control and deconsolidation, any retained ownership interests are remeasured with the gain or loss reported in net earnings.

 

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Transactions with noncontrolling interests had the following effect on equity attributable to SemiLEDs stockholders (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended November 30, 2013
Net loss attributable to SemiLEDs stockholders		$	(6,292	)
Transfers to noncontrolling interests:
Decrease in SemiLEDs additional paid in capital for purchase of common shares in Ning Xiang		(142		)
Change from net loss attributable to SemiLEDs stockholders and transfer to noncontrolling interests		$	(6,434	)

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

 

Presentation of Certain Unrecognized Tax Benefits—In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists,” which requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss (NOL) carryforward, or similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward, rather than as a liability, when: (1) the uncertain tax position would reduce the NOL or other carryforward under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction; and (2) the entity intends to use the deferred tax asset for that purpose. The ASU is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption and retrospective application are permitted. This ASU is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. The Company has elected not to early adopt this ASU.

 

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3. Balance Sheet Components

 

Inventories

 

Inventories as of November 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

		November 30, 2013			August 31, 2013
Raw materials		$	2,237		$	2,193
Work in process		3,403			3,865
Finished goods		5,702			4,442
Total		$	11,342		$	10,500

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment as of November 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

		November 30, 2013			August 31, 2013
Buildings and improvements		$	14,675		$	14,510
Machinery and equipment		68,302			67,109
Leasehold improvements		3,184			3,144
Other equipment		2,730			2,686
Construction in progress		761			1,028
Total property, plant and equipment		89,652			88,477
Less: Accumulated depreciation, amortization and impairment		(60,165		)	(58,004		)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$	29,487		$	30,473

 

Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets as of November 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

		November 30, 2013
		Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)		Gross Carrying Amount			Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
Patents and trademarks		14		$	1,080		$	184		$	896
Acquired technology		5		727			192			535
Total				$	1,807		$	376		$	1,431

 

		August 31, 2013
		Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years)		Gross Carrying Amount			Accumulated Amortization and Impairment(1)			Net Carrying Amount
Patents and trademarks		15		$	973		$	161		$	812
Acquired technology		5		719			152			567
Customer relationships		5		1,337			1,337			—
Total				$	3,029		$	1,650		$	1,379

 

(1)         Includes an impairment charge of $851 thousand recognized in the year ended August 31, 2013 to write down the intangible asset for customer relationships to its fair value of zero before the end of its estimated useful life.

 

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4. Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

 

The Company’s ownership interest and carrying amounts of investments in unconsolidated entities as of November 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013 consisted of the following (in thousands, except percentages):

 

		November 30, 2013					August 31, 2013
		Percentage Ownership		Amount			Percentage Ownership		Amount
Equity method investments:
SILQ (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.		50	%	$	219		50	%	$	289
Xurui Guangdian Co., Ltd. (“China SemiLEDs”)		49	%	—			49	%	—
Cost method investments		Various		2,001			Various		1,986
Total investments in unconsolidated entities				$	2,220				$	2,275

 

There were no dividends received from unconsolidated entities through November 30, 2013.

 

Equity Method Investments

 

The carrying amount of the Company’s investment in China SemiLEDs was reduced to zero as of August 31, 2012 as a result of the Company recognizing its proportionate share of the net loss reported by China SemiLEDs. The Company has suspended using the equity method of accounting and will no longer amortize the excess of the Company’s share of the net assets of China SemiLEDs over the carrying amount of this investment until its share of future income, if any, from China SemiLEDs is sufficient to recover its share of the cumulative losses that have not previously been recognized.

 

The fair value of the Company’s investments in the non-marketable stock of its equity method investees is not readily available. These investments, except for China SemiLEDs which had a zero carrying amount at November 30, 2013, are assessed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable.

 

Cost Method Investments

 

In October 2012, the Company acquired a 9.9% equity interest in High Power Optoelectronics, Inc. (“HPO”) for total cash consideration of $2.9 million and had an option to increase its equity interest to more than 50% within one year of the acquisition. The fair values of the Company’s cost method investments are not readily available. All cost method investments are assessed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. In the third quarter of fiscal 2013, management reviewed the operating performance and financial condition of HPO based on the latest available financial statements of the investee and other publicly available information. Management considered the extent and duration of time to which the fair value of the investment has been less than its carrying amount, the financial condition of the investee and the prospect for recovery in the near term, and recognized an other-than-temporary impairment loss of $1,885 thousand on its investment in HPO for the year ended August 31, 2013.

 

5. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Operating Lease Agreements—The Company has several operating leases with unrelated parties, primarily for land, plant and office spaces in Taiwan, which are noncancellable and which expire at various dates between January 2014 and December 2020. Lease expense related to these noncancellable operating leases was $283 thousand and $202 thousand for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

 

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The aggregate future noncancellable minimum rental payments for the Company’s operating leases as of November 30, 2013 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

Years Ending August 31,		Operating Leases
Remainder of 2014		$	931
2015		1,295
2016		1,230
2017		642
2018		276
Thereafter		221
Total		$	4,595

 

Purchase Obligations—The Company had purchase commitments for property, plant and equipment in the amount of $2.1 million and $3.2 million as of November 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013, respectively.

 

Litigation—The Company is directly or indirectly involved from time to time in various claims or legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company records a liability when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable. There is significant judgment required in assessing both the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome and whether the amount of loss, if any, can be reasonably estimated.

 

On July 10, 2013, a putative class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company and certain of its current and former officers and directors, styled as Huard v. SemiLEDs Corporation, et al., alleging violations of the U.S. federal securities laws. On July 31, 2013, a second investor filed a complaint, styled as Mohammad v. SemiLEDs Corporation, et al. On September 30, 2013, the Court appointed Mohammad Yasir as lead plaintiff and Pomerantz Grossman Hufford Dahlstrom & Gross LLP as lead counsel. On November 15, 2013, the lead plaintiff filed its Amended Complaint, styled as In re SemiLEDs Corporation Litigation, Civil Action No. 1:13-cv-04776-DLC (S.D.N.Y.). The Amended Complaint alleges one count of violation of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and one count of violation of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, both arising out of alleged misstatements made by the Company and certain of its current and former officers and directors in connection with the Company’s initial public offering and the Company’s results in the first, second, and third quarter of 2011. Management believes that the Company has meritorious defenses and the Company intends to contest this lawsuit vigorously. In the opinion of management, the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome in the matters described above that would result in a material loss to the Company is less than probable, and the amount of potential losses for claims against the Company in the matters described above are not currently reasonably estimable.

 

6. Stock-based Compensation

 

The Company currently has one equity incentive plan (the “2010 Plan”), which provides for awards in the form of restricted shares, stock units, stock options or stock appreciation rights to the Company’s employees, officers, directors and consultants. Prior to SemiLEDs’ initial public offering, the Company had another stock-based compensation plan (the “2005 Plan”), but awards are made from the 2010 Plan after the initial public offering. Options outstanding under the 2005 Plan continue to be governed by its existing terms.

 

During fiscal 2013, SemiLEDs granted options for 100 thousand shares of SemiLEDs’ common stock and 1,195 thousand restricted stock units to the Company’s executives and employees. These options and stock units vest over four years at a rate of 25% on each anniversary of the vesting start date and the options have a contractual term of ten years, subject to earlier expiration in the event of the holder’s termination. The exercise price of stock options and the grant date fair value of stock units were equal to the closing price of the common stock on the date of grant. In addition, in February 2013, SemiLEDs granted 211 thousand restricted stock units to its directors that vest 100% on the earlier of the first anniversary of the vesting start date of February 6, 2013 and the date of the next annual meeting. The grant-date fair value of the restricted stock units was $0.71 per unit. Each restricted stock unit represents the contingent right to one share of SemiLEDs’ common stock.

 

The grant date fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires inputs including the market price of SemiLEDs’ common stock on the date of grant, the term that the stock options are expected to be outstanding, the implied stock volatilities of several of the Company’s publicly-traded peers over the expected term of stock options, risk-free interest rate and expected dividend. Each of these inputs is subjective and generally requires significant judgment to determine. The grant date fair value of stock units is based upon the market price of SemiLEDs’ common stock on the date of the grant. This fair value is amortized to compensation expense over the vesting term.

 

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Stock-based compensation expense is recorded net of estimated forfeitures such that expense is recorded only for those stock-based awards that are expected to vest. A forfeiture rate is estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from initial estimates. A forfeiture rate of zero is estimated for stock-based awards with vesting term that is less than or equal to one year from the date of grant.

 

A summary of the stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012 was as follows (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended November 30,
		2013			2012
Cost of revenues		$	195		$	183
Research and development		111			94
Selling, general and administrative		227			59
		$	533		$	336

 

7. Net Loss Per Share of Common Stock

 

The following stock-based compensation plan awards were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share of common stock for the periods presented because including them would have been anti-dilutive (in thousands of shares):

 

		Three Months Ended November 30,
		2013		2012
Stock units and stock options to purchase common stock		25		10

 

8. Income Taxes

 

The Company’s loss before income taxes for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended November 30,
		2013			2012
U.S. operations		$	(563	)	$	(693	)
Foreign operations		(5,787		)	(8,425		)
Loss before income taxes		$	(6,350	)	$	(9,118	)

 

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

 

As of November 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits related to tax positions taken in prior periods of $147 thousand and $145 thousand, respectively. The entire amount of the unrecognized tax benefits would impact the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. The impact would be offset by an adjustment to the valuation allowance.

 

Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were immaterial. The Company files income tax returns in the United States, various U.S. states and certain foreign jurisdictions. The tax years 2005 through 2012 remain open in most jurisdictions. The Company is not currently under examination by income tax authorities in federal, state or foreign jurisdictions.

 

9. Related-Party Transactions

 

As of both November 30, 2013 and August 31, 2013, amounts due to related parties of $0.2 million, which consisted primarily of the outstanding balance on a one-year unsecured NT dollar-denominated loan entered into by a majority owned subsidiary with one of its shareholders, were recorded in other current liabilities. Management believes that the terms of this transaction are at current market rates and would not have been any different had it been negotiated with an independent third party.

 

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10. Subsequent Event

 

In January 2014, SemiLEDs’ board of directors approved an amendment to the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2010 Plan as described in Note 6 above, that increases the number of shares authorized for issuance under the plan by an additional 2.5 million shares. The amendment is subject to the approval of SemiLEDs’ stockholders at the 2014 annual meeting.

 

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

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or this Quarterly Report, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report, including statements regarding the future results of operations of SemiLEDs Corporation, or “we,” “our” or the “Company,” and financial position, strategy and plans, and our expectations for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “should,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “design,” “intend,” “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. These factors include, among other things,

 

·                                Our ability to reduce our net losses and to restore our operations to profitability.

 

·                                Our ability to successfully introduce new products that we can produce and that customers will purchase in such amounts as to be sufficiently profitable to cover the costs of developing and producing these products, as well as providing us additional net income from operations.

 

·                                Our ability to effectively develop, maintain and expand our sales and distribution channels.

 

·                                Our ability to successfully manage our operations in the face of the cyclicality, rapid technological change, rapid product obsolescence, declining average selling prices and wide fluctuations in supply and demand typically found in the LED market.

 

·                                Competitive pressures from existing and new companies.

 

·                                Our ability to grow our revenues generated from the sales of our products and to control our expenses.

 

·                                Our ability to implement our cost reduction program effectively.

 

·                                Loss of any of our key personnel, or our failure to attract, assimilate and retain other highly qualified personnel.

 

·                                Intellectual property infringement or misappropriation claims by third parties against us or our customers, including our distributor customers.

 

·                                The failure of LEDs to achieve widespread adoption in the general lighting market, or if alternative technologies gain market acceptance.

 

·                                Our ability to improve our gross margins.

 

·                                The loss of key suppliers or contract manufacturers.

 

·                                The inability of contract manufacturers to produce products that satisfy our requirements.

 

·                                Our ability to effectively expand or upgrade our production facilities or do so in a timely or cost-effective manner.

 

·                                Difficulty in managing our future growth or in responding to a need to contract operations, and the associated changes to our operations.

 

·                                Adverse development in those selected markets, including Taiwan, the United States, China and Russia, where our revenues are concentrated.

 

·                                Our ability to develop and execute upon a new strategy to exploit the China market.

 

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·                                The reduction or elimination of government investment in LED lighting or the elimination of, or changes in, policies in certain countries that encourage the use of LEDs over some traditional lighting technologies.

 

·                                Our ability to cost-effectively produce LED chips using larger wafer sizes.

 

·                                Our ability to implement our product innovation strategy effectively, particularly in view of the prohibition against our (and/or our assisting others in) making, using, importing, selling and/or offering to sell in the United States our accused products and/or any device that includes an accused product after October 1, 2012 as a result of the injunction agreed to in connection with the Cree Inc., or Cree, litigation.

 

·                                Loss of customers.

 

·                                Failure of our strategy of marketing and selling our products in jurisdictions with limited intellectual property enforcement regimes.

 

·                                Lack of marketing and distribution success by our third-party distributors.

 

·                                Our customers’ ability to produce and sell products incorporating our LED products.

 

·                                Our failure to adequately prevent disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information.

 

·                                Ineffectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting.

 

·                                Our ability to profit from existing and future joint ventures, investments, acquisitions and other strategic alliances.

 

·                                Impairment of goodwill, long-lived assets or investments;

 

·                                Undetected defects in our products that harm our sales and reputation and adversely affect our manufacturing yields.

 

·                                The availability of adequate and timely supply of electricity and water for our manufacturing facilities.

 

·                                Our ability to comply with existing and future environmental laws and the cost of such compliance.

 

·                                The non-compete provisions between us and Xurui Guangdian Co., Ltd., or China SemiLEDs, constraining our ability to grow in China, or actions by China SemiLEDs or the other shareholders of China SemiLEDs that are detrimental to us.

 

·                                The ability of SemiLEDs Optoelectronics Co., Ltd., or Taiwan SemiLEDs, to make dividends and other payments to us.

 

·                                Our ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals to make further investments in Taiwan SemiLEDs.

 

·                                Catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, floods, tornados, tsunamis, typhoons, pandemics, wars, terrorist activities and other similar events, particularly if these events occur at or near our operations, or the operations of our suppliers, contract manufacturers and customers.

 

·                                The effect of the legal system in the People’s Republic of China, or the PRC.

 

·                                Labor shortages, strikes and other disturbances that affect our operations.

 

·                                Deterioration in the relations between the PRC and Taiwan governments.

 

·                                Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar, the New Taiwan, or NT, dollar and other currencies in which our sales, raw materials and component purchases and capital expenditures are denominated.

 

·                                Our ability to obtain additional equity capital or credit when necessary for our operations, the difficulty of which may increase if our common stock is delisted from The NASDAQ Stock Market.

 

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·                                The effect of new disclosure requirements under the new provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act relating to “conflict minerals,” which could increase our costs and limit the supply of certain metals used in our products and affect our reputation with customers and shareholders.

 

·                                The impact on the trading price of our common stock if we are delisted for failure to meet the NASDAQ continued listing requirements if our stock trades below $1 per share.

 

·                                The costs and other effects of pending legal proceedings, the ultimate outcome of which is uncertain.

 

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We have not assumed any obligation to, and you should not expect us to, update or revise these statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

For more information on the significant risks that could affect the outcome of these forward-looking statements, see Item 1A “Risk Factors” in Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013, or the 2013 Annual Report, and those contained in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report, and other information provided from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon and should be read in conjunction with the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes and other information included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, in our 2013 Annual Report, and in other filings with the SEC.

 

Company Overview

 

We develop, manufacture and sell LED chips and LED components. Our products are used primarily for general lighting applications, including street lights and commercial, industrial and residential lighting. Our LED chips may also be used in specialty industrial applications, such as ultraviolet, or UV, curing of polymers, LED light therapy in medical/cosmetic applications, counterfeit detection, LED lighting for horticulture applications, architectural lighting and entertainment lighting. Our core products are LED chips and LED components, but lighting products have also become an increasingly important part of our business.

 

Utilizing our patented and proprietary technology, our manufacturing process begins by growing upon the surface of a sapphire wafer, or substrate, several very thin separate semiconductive crystalline layers of gallium nitride, or GaN, a process known as epitaxial growth, on top of which a mirror-like reflective silver layer is then deposited. After the subsequent addition of a copper alloy layer and finally the removal of the sapphire substrate, we further process this multiple-layered material to create individual LED chips.

 

We sell blue, green and UV LED chips under our MvpLED brand to a customer base that is heavily concentrated in a few select markets, including Taiwan, the United States, China and Russia. We also sell our new “Enhanced Vertical,” or EV, LED product series in blue, green and UV. We sell our LED chips to packagers or to distributors, who in turn sell to packagers. In addition, we package a portion of our LED chips into LED components, which we sell to distributors and end-customers in selected markets. Our lighting products customers consist primarily of original design manufacturers of lighting products and the end-users of lighting devices. We also contract other manufacturers to produce for our sale certain LED products, and for certain aspects of our product fabrication, assembly and packaging process, based on our design and technology requirements and under our quality control specifications and final inspection process.

 

We have developed advanced capabilities and proprietary know-how in:

 

·                                reusing sapphire substrate in subsequent production runs;

 

·                                optimizing our epitaxial growth processes to create layers that efficiently convert electrical current into light;

 

·                                employing a copper alloy base manufacturing technology to improve our chip’s thermal and electrical performance;

 

·                                utilizing nanoscale surface engineering to improve usable light extraction; and

 

·                                developing a LED structure that generally consists of multiple epitaxial layers which are vertically-stacked on top of and a copper alloy base.

 

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These technical capabilities enable us to produce LED chips that can provide efficacies of greater than 120 lumens per watt when packaged. We believe these capabilities and know-how also allow us to reduce our manufacturing costs and our dependence on sapphire, a costly raw material used in the production of sapphire-based LED devices. In addition, we believe our technological know-how and capabilities will help facilitate our migration to larger wafer sizes.

 

We were incorporated in the State of Delaware on January 4, 2005 and sold our first LED chips in November 2005. We are a holding company for various wholly and majority owned subsidiaries. Our most significant subsidiary is our wholly owned operating subsidiary, Taiwan SemiLEDs, where a substantial portion of our assets are held and located, where a substantial portion of our research, development, manufacturing, marketing and sales activities take place, and where most of our employees are based. As of November 30, 2013, we also owned an 87% interest in Ning Xiang Technology Co., Ltd., or Ning Xiang, which consisted of a 51% interest that we acquired in August 2011, an additional 15% interest that we acquired in April 2013, and an additional 21% interest that we acquired in November 2013. Ning Xiang is engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of lighting fixtures and systems.

 

We also have interests in unconsolidated joint ventures that we have accounted for as equity method investments and as such have not consolidated for financial reporting purposes. As of November 30, 2013, we owned a 50% interest in SILQ (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., or SILQ, a joint venture established in Malaysia to design, manufacture and sell lighting fixtures and systems. In January 2014, we participated in SILQ’s capital increase and contributed an additional $76 thousand. Following this capital increase, our equity interest in SILQ was reduced to 49%. We also had an inactive joint venture, China SemiLEDs, in which we held a 49% equity interest. China SemiLEDs was originally significant to our China strategy, but we wrote down the investment to a carrying amount of zero at August 31, 2012.

 

Key Factors Affecting Our Financial Condition, Results of Operations and Business

 

The following are key factors that we believe affect our financial condition, results of operations and business:

 

·                                Industry growth and demand for products and applications using LEDs.  The overall adoption of LED lighting devices to replace traditional lighting sources is expected to influence the growth and demand for LED chips and impact our financial performance. We believe the potential market for LED lighting will continue to expand. LEDs for efficient generation of UV light are also starting to gain attention for various medical, germicidal and industrial applications. Since a substantial portion of our LED chips, LED components and our lighting products are used by end-users in general lighting applications and specialty industrial applications such as UV curing, medical/cosmetic, counterfeit detection, horticulture, architectural lighting and entertainment lighting, the adoption of LEDs into these applications will have a strong impact on the demand of LED chips generally and, as a result, for our LED chips, LED components and LED lighting products. Fluctuations in demand for LED lights products will also affect the results of Ning Xiang.

 

·                                Average selling price of our products.  The average selling price of our products may decline for a variety of factors, including prices charged by our competitors, the efficacy of our products, our cost basis, changes in our product mix, the size of the order and our relationship with the relevant customer, as well as general market and economic conditions. Competition in the markets for LED products is intense, and we expect that competition will continue to increase, thereby creating a highly aggressive pricing environment. For example, some of our competitors have in the past reduced their average selling prices, and the resulting competitive pricing pressures have caused us to similarly reduce our prices, accelerating the decline in our revenues and the gross margin of our products. When prices decline, we must also write down the value of our inventory. Furthermore, the average selling prices for our LED products have typically decreased over product life cycles. Therefore, our ability to continue to innovate and offer competitive products that meet our customers’ specifications and pricing requirements, such as higher efficacy LED products at lower costs, will have a material influence on our ability to improve our revenues and product margins, although in the near term the introduction of such higher efficacy LED chips may further reduce the selling prices of our existing products or render them obsolete. Reduction in the average selling price of LED lights products will also affect the results of Ning Xiang.

 

·                                Changes in our product mix.  We anticipate that our gross margins will fluctuate from period to period as a result of the mix of products that we sell and the utilization of our manufacturing capacity in any given period, among other things. For example, in fiscal 2012, we placed greater emphasis on the sales of LED components rather than the sales of LED chip where we have been forced to cut prices on older inventory. In particular, we sold a significant volume of a category of lower-priced LED components designed to meet our customers’ demand. While such a shift in product mix to lower-priced products lowered our average selling price, the significant sales volume helped to improve revenues and gross margin in fiscal 2012. We intend to continue to pursue opportunities for profitable growth in areas of business where we see the best opportunity for our new EV LED product series of LED chips (particularly the UV market) and continue to expand the lower-priced LED components as appropriate. However, as we expand and diversify our product offerings and with varying average selling prices, a change in the mix of products that we sell in any given period may increase volatility in our revenues and gross margin from period to period.

 

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·                                Our ability to reduce cost to offset lower average prices.  Competitors may reduce average selling prices faster than our ability to reduce costs, and competitive pricing pressures may accelerate the rate of decline of our average selling prices. To address increased pricing pressure, we have invested in the development of larger wafer sizes, in particular using 4” wafers, which we believe should lower our production costs. We have substantially converted our manufacturing of LED chips based on 4” wafer technology. We have also improved and increased our production yields to reduce the per-unit cost of production for our products. However, such cost savings currently have had limited impact on our gross profit, as we suffered from the underutilization of our manufacturing capacity, primarily for our LED chips, starting in the fourth quarter of our fiscal 2011 and continuing through the first quarter of our fiscal 2014, and must absorb a high level of fixed cost, such as depreciation. While we continue to focus on managing our costs and expenses, over the long term we expect to be required to invest substantially in LED development and production equipment if we are to grow.

 

·                                Our ability to continue to innovate.  As part of our growth strategy, we plan to continue to be innovative in product design, to deliver new products and to improve our manufacturing efficiencies. Our continued success depends on our ability to develop and introduce new, technologically advanced and lower cost products, such as more efficient, higher brightness LED chips. If we are unable to introduce new products that are commercially viable and meet rapidly evolving customer requirements or keep pace with evolving technological standards and market developments or are otherwise unable to execute our product innovation strategy effectively, we may not be able to take advantage of market opportunities as they arise, execute our business plan or be able to compete effectively. During the fourth quarter of our fiscal 2012, we introduced our new EV LED product series, capable of operating at a higher junction temperature and with higher thermal endurance, as well as our new ceramic LED component products, the C35 emitters, that incorporates the EV chip and also offers customers greater flexibility in making color choices. In June 2013, we expanded our UV LED product portfolio with the launch of mid- and high-power product series designed for industrial applications such as printing, coating, curing, signage and medical/cosmetic uses. We also broadened our LED components portfolio through an acquisition in July 2013. In November 2013, we announced the launch of our new compact multi-color LED component that integrates our vertical LED structure, white color chip and ceramic packaging technologies, which offers our customers easy color mixing and higher integration that simplifies the design of lighting fixtures and reduces the number of LED components used. Our near-term success will depend upon how attractive these products are to our customers versus competitors’ offerings and our customers’ willingness and promptness in qualifying our new products.

 

·                                General economic conditions and geographic concentration.  Many countries including the United States and the European Union members have instituted, or have announced plans to institute, government regulations and programs designed to encourage or mandate increased energy efficiency in lighting. These actions include in certain cases banning the sale after specified dates of certain forms of incandescent lighting, which are advancing the adoption of more energy efficient lighting solutions such as LEDs. The global financial crisis that began in late 2007 caused extreme disruption in the financial markets. Although the disruption in the financial markets moderated thereafter, the global financial markets continue to reflect uncertainty about a sustained economic recovery. When the global economy slows or a financial crisis occurs, consumer and government confidence declines, with levels of government grants and subsidies for LED adoption and consumer spending likely to be adversely impacted. Our revenues have been concentrated in a few select markets, including Taiwan, the United States, China and Russia. Given that we are operating in a rapidly changing industry, our sales in specific markets may fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Therefore, our financial results will be impacted by general economic and political conditions in such markets. For example, some of our customers in Russia have experienced temporary liquidity constraints as a result of the impact of the banking crisis in Cyprus in March 2013 on the Russian economy, which have led to reduced and/or delayed purchases of our products by these customers. In addition, we have historically derived a significant portion of our revenues from a limited number of customers. Some of our largest customers and what we produce/have produced for them have changed from quarter to quarter primarily as a result of the timing of discrete, large project-based purchases and broadening customer base, among other things. For the three months ended November 30, 2013, sales to our three largest customers, in the aggregate, accounted for 19% of our revenues.

 

·                                Intellectual property issues.  Competitors of ours and other third parties have in the past and will likely from time to time in the future allege that our products infringe on their intellectual property rights. Defending against any intellectual property infringement claims would likely result in costly litigation and ultimately may lead to our not being able to manufacture, use or sell products found to be infringing. In June 2012, we settled an intellectual property dispute involving Cree. We agreed to dismiss amended complaints filed against each other without prejudice. We agreed to the entry of a permanent injunction that was effective October 1, 2012 that precludes us from (and/or from assisting others in) making, using, importing, selling and/or offering to sell in the United States certain accused products and/or any device that includes such an accused product after that date and to payment of a settlement fee for past damages. All accused products sold before the date of settlement are released under this agreement and our customers and distributors are specifically released. All remaining claims between Cree and us were withdrawn without prejudice, with each retaining the right to assert them in the future. However, other third parties may also assert infringement claims against our customers with respect to our products, or our customers’ products that incorporate our technologies or products. Any such legal action or the threat of legal action against us, or our customers, could impair such customers’ continued demand for our products. This could prevent us from growing or even maintaining our revenues, or cause us to incur additional costs and expenses, and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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·                                Our ability to realize our strategic initiatives.  We have grown our business in part through strategic alliances and acquisitions. For example, our China strategy was initially premised on continuing our growth in China through China SemiLEDs; however, the launch of China SemiLEDs was not successful. We now no longer view China SemiLEDs as the vehicle to drive our growth in China. As the world’s second largest economy and one that is geographically close to our manufacturing operations, China continues to represent a key market for our products and we have been working towards formulating certain strategic alternatives to exploit the opportunities that it presents, including, but not limited to, developing and expanding our direct sales force and distribution channels through local third-party distributors. In addition, we continually evaluate and explore strategic opportunities as they arise, including product, technology, business or asset transactions, such as acquisitions or divestitures. For example, in July 2013, we acquired an LED components production line and related technology from certain third parties, and we believe this acquisition should allow us to expand our production capacity for LED components, and strengthen our product portfolio, technology and know-how related to LED components.

 

Recent Developments

 

Beginning in our fiscal 2014, in response to challenging business conditions and to improve our overall cost competitiveness and cash flow generation, we have initiated actions to accelerate operating cost reductions and improve operational efficiencies. As part of our continued cost reduction efforts, we recently initiated additional actions, which included the relocation and consolidation of our manufacturing operations at Sinwu, Taiwan, or Sinwu Facility, to other of our existing facilities. In connection with the closing and relocation of our Sinwu Facility, we plan to partially build out existing space in the building we own at Chu-Nan, Hsinchu Science Park. In accordance with the lease agreement with Luxxon Technology Corporation for our Sinwu Facility, we are required to provide a six-month written notice to terminate the lease. We expect to devote capital expenditures to expand our Chu-Nan facility and incur costs and expenses associated with these planned activities in the near term. We expect to substantially complete these activities in the fourth quarter of our fiscal 2014.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

There have been no material changes in the matters for which we make critical accounting policies and estimates in the preparation of our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2013 as compared to those disclosed in our 2013 Annual Report.

 

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Exchange Rate Information

 

We are a Delaware corporation and, under SEC requirements, must report our financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP. At the same time, our subsidiaries use the local currency as their functional currency. For example, the functional currency for Taiwan SemiLEDs is the NT dollar. The assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries are, therefore, translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at each balance sheet date, and income and expense accounts are translated at average exchange rates during the period. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded to a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within equity. Any gains and losses from transactions denominated in currencies other than their functional currencies are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations as a separate component of other income (expense). Due to exchange rate fluctuations, such translated amounts may vary from quarter to quarter even in circumstances where such amounts have not materially changed when denominated in their functional currencies.

 

The translations from NT dollars to U.S. dollars were made at the exchange rates as set forth in the statistical release of the Bank of Taiwan. On August 30, 2013, the exchange rate was 29.93 NT dollars to one U.S. dollar. On November 29, 2013, the exchange rate was 29.59 NT dollars to one U.S. dollar. On January 6, 2014, the exchange rate was 30.00 NT dollars to one U.S. dollar.

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, information concerning the number of NT dollars for which one U.S. dollar could be exchanged.

 

		NT dollars per U.S. dollar
		Average(1)		High		Low		Period-End
Fiscal 2012		29.86		30.68		28.95		29.93
Fiscal 2013		29.57		30.20		28.95		29.93
September 2013		29.68		29.83		29.54		29.57
October 2013		29.41		29.51		29.36		29.40
November 2013		29.52		29.61		29.40		29.59
December 2013		29.73		30.00		29.56		29.81
January 2014 (through January 6, 2014)		29.96		30.00		29.92		30.00

 

(1)                                 Annual averages calculated from month-end rates and monthly averages calculated from daily closing rates.

 

No representation is made that the NT dollar or U.S. dollar amounts referred to herein could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars or NT dollars, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended November 30, 2013 Compared to the Three Months Ended November 30, 2012

 

		Three Months Ended November 30,
		2013					2012
		$			% of Revenues		$			% of Revenues		Change $			Change %
		(in thousands)
LED chips		$	975		29	%	$	1,809		29	%	$	(834	)	(46	)%
LED components		1,187			34	%	2,433			39	%	(1,246		)	(51	)%
Lighting products		1,227			36	%	1,337			22	%	(110		)	(8	)%
Other revenues		28			1	%	648			10	%	(620		)	(96	)%
Total revenues, net		3,417			100	%	6,227			100	%	(2,810		)	(45	)%
Cost of revenues		5,754			168	%	9,515			153	%	(3,761		)	(40	)%
Gross loss		$	(2,337	)	(68	)%	$	(3,288	)	(53	)%	$	951		(29	)%

 

Revenues, net

 

Our revenues decreased by approximately 45% from $6.2 million for the three months ended November 30, 2012 to $3.4 million for the three months ended November 30, 2013. The $2.8 million decrease in revenues reflects a $1.2 million decrease in revenues attributable to sales of LED components, a $0.8 million decrease in revenues attributable to sales of LED chips, a $0.6 million decrease in other revenues and a $0.1 million decrease in revenues attributable to the sales of lighting products.

 

Revenues attributable to the sales of our LED chips represented 29% of our revenues for both the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012. For the three months ended November 30, 2013, the average selling price of our LED chips was 43% lower as compared to the three months ended November 30, 2012, reflecting primarily our sales of a significant volume of a category of lower-priced LED chips. The volume of LED chips sold for the three months ended November 30, 2013 was 5% lower than for the three months ended November 30, 2012, primarily due to our strategic shift to de-emphasize LED chips sales in selected markets where pricing pressure is significant, such as the general illumination and backlighting market segments, offset in part by the significant volume of the lower-priced LED chips sold, as discussed above. Our strategic decision to focus on the profitable segments within the niche LED markets, including the UV LED and architectural lighting, did not have a positive impact on our revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2013, primarily because we were unable to expand our sales and distribution channels in a timely manner to achieve our business objectives, and partly because these niche LED markets have smaller volume demand.

 

Revenues attributable to the sales of our LED components represented 34% and 39% of our revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The decrease in revenues attributable to sales of LED components was due to a 60% decrease in the volume of LED components sold, offset in part by a 24% increase in the average selling price of LED components. The volume of LED components sold decreased primarily due to a continued slowdown in demand for a category of older generation products in our LED components portfolio and a decline in sales of a category of lower-priced LED components that we sell particularly to distributor customers. Although we launched several new LED components products in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 and during fiscal 2013, we were unable to expand our sales and distribution channels in a timely manner, which negatively impacted our revenues generated from the sales of LED components for the three months ended November 30, 2013. In addition, continued weak economic, political and market conditions in Russia, one of our target markets, have also led to reduced purchases of our products by some of our customers. The average selling price of LED components was 24% higher primarily due to a shift in our product mix to a reduced proportion of the lower-priced LED components for the three months ended November 30, 2013.

 

Revenues attributable to the sales of lighting products represented 36% and 22% of our revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Revenues attributable to the sales of lighting products was higher for the three months ended November 30, 2012 primarily due to several non-recurring project-based orders for LED lights products.

 

Our other revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2013 was not significant. Other revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2012 consisted primarily of revenues attributable to the sales of scrap and raw materials, and the provision of services.

 

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Cost of Revenues

 

Our cost of revenues decreased by 40% from $9.5 million for the three months ended November 30, 2012 to $5.8 million for the three months ended November 30, 2013. The decrease in cost of revenues was primarily due to lower sales for the three months ended November 30, 2013 as a result of lower sales volume for our LED chips and LED components, and decreases in inventory valuation adjustments for both our LED chips and LED components. Inventory write-downs decreased from $0.7 million for the three months ended November 30, 2012 to $0.2 million for the three months ended November 30, 2013.

 

Gross Loss

 

Our gross loss decreased from a loss of $3.3 million for the three months ended November 30, 2012 to a loss of $2.3 million for the three months ended November 30, 2013. Our gross margin percentage was negative 68% for the three months ended November 30, 2013, as compared to negative 53% for the three months ended November 30, 2012, as a consequence of excess capacity charges for our LED chips and LED components. Factory utilization was lower for the three months ended November 30, 2013 primarily due to lower sales, as more fully described above.

 

Operating Expenses

 

		Three Months Ended November 30,
		2013					2012
		$			% of Revenues		$			% of Revenues		Change $			Change %
		(in thousands)
Research and development		$	1,126		33	%	$	1,223		20	%	$	(97	)	(8	)%
Selling, general and administrative		2,644			77	%	3,663			59	%	(1,019		)	(28	)%
Total operating expenses		$	3,770		110	%	$	4,886		78	%	$	(1,116	)	(23	)%

 

Research and development.  Our research and development expenses decreased from $1.2 million for the three months ended November 30, 2012 to $1.1 million for the three months ended November 30, 2013. The decrease was primarily due to a $0.1 million decrease in materials and supplies used in research and development.

 

Selling, general and administrative.  Our selling, general and administrative expenses decreased from $3.7 million for the three months ended November 30, 2012 to $2.6 million for the three months ended November 30, 2013. The decrease was mainly attributable to a $0.7 million decrease in bad debt expense and a $0.4 million decrease in professional service expenses, mainly legal, audit and advisory services. Bad debt expense for the three months ended November 30, 2012 was $0.7 million, primarily attributable to two customers. We have ceased making sales to these customers and initiated legal action to recover the amount due from one of these customers. We incurred a higher legal expenses associated with patents for the three months ended November 30, 2012. Our audit and advisory expenses were also higher for the three months ended November 30, 2012 primarily due to the audit related to China SemiLEDs and the additional cost related to XBRL compliance.

 

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