t67114_10k.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009
Commission file number 000-21129
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Massachusetts |
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04-2911026 |
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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40 Middlesex Turnpike, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730 |
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
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(781) 276-4000 |
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(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of Each Class |
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Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
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Common Stock, par value $.01 per share |
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The Nasdaq Global Market |
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Yes o No x
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 o NO o
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 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. x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer o Accelerated Filer x Non-Accelerated Filer o
Smaller Reporting Company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
As of June 30, 2009 the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing sale price as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market, was approximately $48,629,658.
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of February 5, 2010 was 19,926,970.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement to be delivered to shareholders in connection with the registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 26, 2010 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
AWARE, INC.
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I |
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Item 1. |
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Business |
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Item 1A. |
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Risk Factors |
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Item 1B. |
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Unresolved Staff Comments |
17 |
Item 2. |
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Properties |
18 |
Item 3. |
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Legal Proceedings |
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Item 4. |
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Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
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PART II |
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Item 5. |
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Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities |
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Item 6. |
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Selected Financial Data |
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Item 7. |
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
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Item 7A. |
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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
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Item 8. |
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Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
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Item 9. |
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Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
53 |
Item 9A. |
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Controls and Procedures |
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Item 9B. |
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Other Information |
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PART III |
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Item 10. |
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Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance |
54 |
Item 11. |
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Executive Compensation |
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Item 12. |
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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
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Item 13. |
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Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence |
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Item 14. |
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Principal Accountant Fees and Services |
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PART IV |
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Item 15. |
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Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules |
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Signatures |
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Company Overview
We have been a leading supplier of innovative signal processing and digital communications products for imaging and telecommunications applications since the early 1990s.
Our digital communications technology has been widely adopted by industry standards bodies for Digital Subscriber Line (“DSL”). DSL enables phone companies to deliver broadband services, including Internet access, voice and television, over twisted pair copper telephone wires. DSL is the most widely used broadband technology
in the world, delivering broadband service to hundreds of millions of subscribers across the globe.
Until November 2009, we licensed DSL silicon intellectual property (“IP”) to enable semiconductor suppliers to manufacture and sell integrated circuits for the DSL industry. During 2009, our primary licensing customers were Ikanos Communications, Inc. (“Ikanos”), Infineon Technologies AG (“Infineon”)
and (Lantiq Deutschland GmbH (“Lantiq”). Lantiq was formerly a division within Infineon until its spinout in 2009. In November 2009, we closed a transaction involving the sale of our DSL and home networking silicon IP assets as well as certain patents to Lantiq. In addition, 41 Aware employees became employees of Lantiq as part of this transaction. As a result of this transaction, we will not be offering DSL or home networking silicon IP products for the foreseeable future. We will continue to support
Ikanos and continue to receive royalties from Ikanos and Lantiq for the use of our DSL technology in their products.
Our operations are now focused on expanding our biometrics product and service offerings as well as our DSL test and diagnostics product offerings.
Our biometrics software products leverage imaging and biometrics technologies developed by Aware over the past 20 years. We license and sell a broad range of software products that are used in biometric systems worldwide. Our products provide interoperable, standards-compliant, field-proven biometric functionality for enrollment of
fingerprints and facial images, biometric ID card personalization and reading, and transmission of biometric transactions throughout identification networks. Our products are utilized in biometrics systems for criminal justice, border management and credentialing applications through a customer base of OEMs and system integrators. We also sell to end-users such as government agencies. Our server-based Biometrics Services Platform (BioSP)™ is a modular, flexible software platform that enables developers,
integrators and end-users to rapidly build and deploy centralized multimodal biometric data processing solutions in support of a service-oriented architecture. The biometrics industry has benefited from the increased development of industry standards and supportive legislation since September 11, 2001. The use of biometrics in security, credentialing and border management applications is becoming pervasive. In addition, we offer professional services to certain customers to assist in the implementation of biometrics
systems. We also sell software products for medical and digital imaging applications based upon industry standards such as JPEG 2000 and JPIP.
Our test and diagnostics products leverage DSL technologies developed by Aware since the early 1990s. As phone companies expand their DSL offerings to include IPTV, video and triple play services, there is expected to be an increased need for test and diagnostics solutions that provide improved monitoring and troubleshooting of DSL
networks. We sell DSL test and diagnostics hardware and software products to pre-qualify, monitor and troubleshoot DSL service. We sell our hardware and software products to OEM suppliers of DSL test equipment, including automated testheads and handheld testers. We also sell our software products to telephone companies and network equipment suppliers. Our hardware products support all common DSL network architectures in single, easy-to-integrate modules. We enable broad connectivity for DSL test and diagnostics
applications by supporting interoperability across an extensive footprint of central office and customer premises equipment. Our Dr. DSL® software products support pre-qualification, provisioning, rate estimation, troubleshooting and maintenance applications. Our line diagnostics platform (LDP), an advanced test and diagnostics server-based software offering, provides a comprehensive, centralized system for analysis and diagnostics of a service provider’s DSL network. By utilizing equipment infrastructure
already in place for DSL service delivery, LDP enables a cost-effective means for service providers to ensure quality levels and troubleshoot their networks.
We have research and development activities underway to expand our product offerings and develop new technologies in biometrics and imaging as well as in communications test and diagnostics applications. We also play an active role at standards setting bodies so that we can anticipate and influence technology advances and changes in
industry requirements.
We are headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts. Our telephone number is (781) 276-4000, and our website is www.aware.com. Incorporated in Massachusetts in 1986, we employed 82 people as of December 31, 2009. Our stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol AWRE.
Our website provides a link to a third-party website through which our annual, quarterly and current reports, and amendments to those reports, are available free of charge. We believe these reports are made available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with, or furnish them to, the SEC. We do not maintain
or provide any information directly to the third-party website, and we are not responsible for its accuracy. You may also access our various SEC filings and reports at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Industry Background
Biometrics Industry Background. Biometric identification systems have traditionally used fingerprints as the primary means to identify individuals and they continue to be
pervasive in a wide variety of government applications. These systems gather fingerprints at enrollment stations and access control locations, and utilize transaction processing hardware and software and matching systems for identification. The emergence of digital fingerprint acquisition devices, compression, and standardized biometric transaction/interchange formats in the 1990s has enabled biometrics systems to process and match fingerprints faster. These electronic systems are also capable of being upgraded
to utilize biometrics other than or in addition to digital fingerprints, such as iris and facial images.
The capture and secure storage of biometric information over the past ten years has created a foundation for greater use of biometrics in government and commercial activities. The interest in using biometrics to improve security has continued to grow during this time. The emergence and adoption of industry standards for border control
and secure credential applications has increased the reach and use of biometrics in security applications. Legislation is driving many government programs now underway that require the use of biometric information in e-passports, visas and personal identification cards. Personal identity verification (“PIV”) and other secure credentialing systems are being employed by government agencies to standardize federal employee and contractor IDs and utilize them to control access to government facilities
and information systems. Other biometrics applications such as border management, and upgrades to state and local automated fingerprint identification systems (“AFIS”) used for fingerprint enrollments are also expected to present opportunities for vendors of biometrics products in the next several years. The use of biometric security systems by regulated segments of the financial, transportation and healthcare industries has also increased. As biometric security systems gain acceptance in new areas,
and as infrastructure build-outs take hold, new opportunities are emerging for biometrics solutions suppliers. The biometrics security systems market is also expected to grow as the use of new biometrics, other than or in addition to fingerprints, gain favor.
Vendors of the hardware and/or software component of biometric enrollment stations include Lockheed Martin Corporation (“Lockheed”), Cross Match Technologies, Inc. (“Cross Match”), Unisys Corporation (“Unisys”), Science Applications International Corporation (“SAIC”), L1 Identity Solutions,
Inc. (“L1”), Northrop Grumman Corporation (“Northrop”), Hewlett-Packard Electronic Data Systems (“EDS”) and NEC Corporation (“NEC”). Fingerprint matching and/or biometric transaction management systems are provided by companies such as Sagem Telecommunications (“Sagem”), NEC, Cogent Communications Group, Inc. (“Cogent”), and numerous system integrators.
DSL Industry Background. DSL technology allows telephone companies to offer high-speed data services and Internet Protocol television (“IPTV”) over their existing telephone wires. There are hundreds
of millions of DSL lines in service across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific region and Latin America.
As the demand for faster residential broadband service continues to grow, telephone companies are upgrading their networks to increase the data rates that are delivered to their residential customers. With higher data rates, phone companies can offer improved service offerings such as television via IPTV, as well as video and triple play
services. IPTV provides phone companies a means to deliver a superior and differentiated TV service by offering more channel selections, better quality and an improved user experience. Improved service offerings are expected to continue to drive increased demand for the fastest versions of DSL service over the next several years. Network upgrades for faster service require large financial expenditures and involve the deployment of fiber optic-based communications to points deeper in the access networks that are
closer to residential customers than typical central office locations. The resulting fiber-to-the-node (“FTTN”) networks also require that new equipment platforms be installed at fiber-fed points. These equipment platforms deploy ADSL2+ or VDSL2 technology over existing telephone wires to provide increased data rates and reliability. ADSL2+, standardized by the ITU in 2003, achieves data rates up to 24 Mbps upstream on phone lines as long as 3,000 feet. VDSL2, standardized in 2006, is the fastest
version of DSL providing data rates up to 100 Mbps.
As phone companies deploy higher data rates and video services, they also increasingly need improved solutions for testing, diagnosing and maintaining their DSL networks and services. The ADSL2+ and VDSL2 standards are the first DSL standards to incorporate test functionality for analyzing and diagnosing DSL networks, thus improving
a phone company’s ability to test and diagnose their network.
The DSL test and diagnostics infrastructure may incorporate dedicated hardware as well as software components and subsystems.
Automated test equipment (“ATE”) hardware is often used for testing and diagnosing DSL lines and services. The DSL ATE infrastructure typically involves the use of a centrally located testhead platform. At this location, information is gathered from the telephone network and used for remotely provisioning or troubleshooting
DSL service.
Information about DSL networks is also gathered using handheld testers. The information gathered in ATE and handhelds is generally made available to telephone companies’ operations organizations through a complex software network. This information assists telephone companies in pre-qualifying, analyzing and diagnosing problems
encountered during service deployment or during operation.
Software-based test solutions have begun to emerge in the industry as well. These solutions rely upon gathering test and diagnostic information from DSL infrastructure in place for delivering service.
Service providers are able to purchase DSL test and diagnostics hardware and software products from a number of companies including Alcatel-Lucent (“Alcatel”), Spirent Communications PLC (“Spirent”), Tollgrade Communications, Inc. (“Tollgrade”), JDS Uniphase Corporation (“JDS”), Sunrise
Communications, Inc. (“Sunrise”), Fluke Corporation (“Fluke”), Kurth Electronic GmbH (“Kurth”), Adaptive Spectrum and Signal Alignment Inc (“Assia”), and others.
Aware Biometrics and Imaging Products and Services
Aware has been a pioneer in the development of wavelet-based image compression technology since the late 1980s. Aware provides standards-compliant biometrics software tools that enable integrators, solution providers, and government agencies to compress, analyze, optimize, format, and transport biometric images and data according to
domestic and international standards.
Our biometrics and imaging products address:
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Data formatting and interchange software components that support NIST, ISO, INCITS, ICAO, and FIPS 201 standards and enable interoperability. |
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Image compression software components for fingerprint and facial image compression such as WSQ and JPEG2000. |
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Biometric ID cards. Our PIVSuite™ family of software development kits (SDKs) supports registration, identity proofing, ID card personalization and issuance applications in compliance with FIPS 201. CaptureSuite™ is a family of SDKs for automatic capture and processing of fingerprints. |
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Image processing for biometric quality analysis, capture and transaction processing applications. |
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Networking software for building and deploying multimodal biometric data workflow solutions. Our Biometrics Services Platform (BioSPTM) is a service-oriented platform for biometrics data processing and integration applications. BioSP supports the collection of biometrics
from a distributed network, and subsequent aggregation, analysis, processing and integration of this data into larger systems. |
We sell our biometrics software products to integrators, OEMs and government agencies. We supply a broad range of fingerprint and facial biometric functionality, including enrollment, ID personalization and reading, and networking. Our solutions address border control and management, secure credentialing, and fingerprint background check applications. We also sell medical
imaging and digital imaging software solutions. We have a large number of OEM customers in the biometrics, medical and digital imaging markets.
Beginning in 2007, we expanded our presence in the biometrics market by offering professional services to certain customers. Our professional services are focused on assisting customers with the design and development of systems for biometrics applications.
Aware DSL Test and Diagnostics Products
We have developed test and diagnostics hardware and software products based upon our universal DMT (UDMT™) and Dr. DSL technology. These products are designed to improve the ability of service providers to pre-qualify, provision, monitor, and troubleshoot DSL networks by enabling them to collect relevant information and diagnose
problems regarding their service offerings. The primary goal of these products is to reduce the costs associated with service set-up, troubleshooting and maintenance.
Aware’s UDMT modem modules can be software-configured to emulate both Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers (“DSLAMs”) at central office end of the line and customer premise equipment (“CPE”) at the remote customer of the line across a broad range of DSL technologies, including ADSL, ADSL2+, legacy
VDSL1/1.5 and VDSL2. A single UDMT module will support all common DSL network architectures so that test solutions can easily and cost-effectively interoperate with installed DSLAMs and CPE/gateways.
Our principal UDMT modem modules include the 450/455, 475, 550 and 600 model numbers. Each of these are easy-to-integrate, standard-compliant, modules for ADSL/2/2+ and VDSL networks. Each can be software configured to support DSLAM or CPE emulation.
We primarily sell our hardware products to OEMs who supply DSL automated test equipment and DSL handheld testers.
Aware’s Dr. DSL software modules perform pre-qualification, fault detection, line diagnostics and line analysis functionality. Dr. DSL software is utilized by our UDMT modules.
Our Dr. DSL Line Diagnostics Platform (“LDP”) is a server-based software platform that provides a comprehensive, centralized system for analysis and diagnostics of a service provider’s DSL lines. With LDP, we provide service providers with a software-based test solution that can use existing infrastructure to provide
provisioning and maintenance services. This enables telephone companies to perform analysis and diagnostics of traditional POTS and traditional and advanced DSL services, including IPTV and triple play services.
We primarily sell our Dr. DSL software products to automated test equipment, outside plant equipment, and DSL network equipment suppliers. We also sell to telephone companies.
Aware Strategy
Aware is focused on developing innovative products that deliver a strong value proposition to our customers. We have vast experience in the biometrics and DSL industries, a broad technology foundation in signal processing, image processing and communications and long-standing relationships with industry-leading OEMs and end users.
Key elements of our strategy include:
Develop innovative products for our target markets. Our technology forms the basis for our product developments in biometrics, imaging and communications applications. Our
research and development activities focus primarily on product developments that commercialize our technology into software and hardware products for these applications.
Commercialize software components and server-based solutions for biometrics applications. We have developed software products for fingerprint enrollment, border control
and secure credential applications. Our Biometrics Services Platform (BioSP) is a server-based software product for enrollment of biometric data for personal identity verification and other applications. We sell products and services primarily to OEM suppliers and systems integrators giving us broad exposure to the global biometrics market. We also sell directly to government agencies and other end-users.
Commercialize hardware and software solutions for DSL test and diagnostics applications. We have developed hardware modules and software solutions for pre-qualifying, provisioning,
and troubleshooting DSL networks. These products leverage our DSL expertise, test functionality inherent in ADSL2+ and VDSL2 standard-compliant solutions and relationships with certain semiconductor suppliers. We sell to automated test equipment manufacturers, network equipment manufacturers and service providers. We sell primarily through OEMs which enables us to gain broad exposure to growth in spending by phone companies on DSL test and diagnostics solutions. We also sell directly to phone companies.
Develop intellectual property for signal processing and communications applications. Over the past 20 years, we have developed a broad portfolio of intellectual property
assets including trade secrets, copyrighted materials, and US and foreign patents. We have pioneered the development of core technologies for signal processing and communications applications that address various industries, including biometrics and DSL. We actively promote our technologies at certain standards bodies. We are also involved in licensing or selling our patents as a means to commercialize our technology.
Research and Development
Our research and development activities are focused primarily on improving core technologies in communications and imaging and product developments in DSL test, biometrics and medical imaging.
Our biometrics and imaging engineering activities are focused on improving software product functionality and broadening our exposure to biometrics, medical and digital imaging applications. During 2009, we further improved the functionality in our software components for PIV and fingerprint enrollment applications, as well as in our
BioSP server-based software platform.
Our DSL test and diagnostics engineering activities involve improving the functionality of our DSL test and diagnostics hardware and software products to support phone company requirements for pre-qualifying, monitoring and troubleshooting advanced DSL services, including VDSL2 networks and IPTV deployments. During 2009, we introduced
new UDMT hardware modules, new functionality into our Dr. DSL software products, and improvements to our LDP server-based software platform for DSL test and diagnostic applications.
As of December 31, 2009, we had an engineering staff of 48 employees, representing 59% of our total employee staff. During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, research and development expenses charged to operations were $11.9 million, $13.2 million, and $10.9 million, respectively. In addition, because we provide engineering
development services to our customers, a portion of our total engineering costs has been allocated to cost of contract revenue. We expect that we will continue to invest substantial funds in research and development activities.
Sales and Marketing
Our principal sales and marketing strategy is to sell to OEMs and systems integrators in the market segments we are targeting. We license and sell our biometrics and digital imaging software products and provide professional services primarily to OEMs and systems integrators and, to a lesser extent, to government agencies. We license
and/or sell DSL test and diagnostics hardware and software products primarily to OEM customers, and also to service providers. We believe that decisions involving the selection of our technology and products are frequently made at senior levels within a prospective customer’s organization. Consequently, we often rely on presentations by our senior management to key employees at prospective customers.
As of December 31, 2009, there were 9 employees in our biometrics and digital imaging software sales organization, and 4 employees in our DSL test and diagnostics sales and marketing organization.
Ikanos and Lantiq are selling and/or developing integrated circuits based upon our licensed ADSL2+ technology. Lantiq is also selling and/or developing integrated circuits based upon our licensed VDSL2 technology. We derived approximately 19%, 12%, and 19% of our total revenue from Lantiq/Infineon in 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.
We also sell and/or license patents to interested parties. In 2008, we derived approximately 28% of our total revenue from Daphimo Co. B.V. LLC (“Daphimo”) for the sale of patents related to communications technology.
There were no test and diagnostics customers that represented more than 10% of our total revenue in 2009 or 2008. In 2007, we derived approximately 16% and 10% of our total revenue from Spirent and Alcatel, respectively.
There were no biometrics customers that represented more than 10% of our total revenue in 2009 or 2007. In 2008, we derived approximately 10% of our total revenue from Technology Management Group, Inc. (“TMG”).
All revenue in 2009, 2008, and 2007 was derived from unaffiliated customers.
Competition
The markets for our biometrics, medical and digital imaging software products and services are competitive and uncertain. We can give no assurance that the biometrics industry will grow. We can give no assurance that our products and services will succeed in the market. We can give no assurance that we will be able to compete effectively
or that competitive pressures will not seriously harm our business.
The markets for our DSL test and diagnostics hardware and software products are competitive and uncertain. We can give no assurance that phone companies will purchase significant quantities of products to test and maintain their DSL networks, or that if they do they will use our products. Our success as a supplier of hardware and software
products for DSL test and diagnostics depends in large part on the willingness and ability of OEM customers to design, build and sell automated test heads, hand-held testers, and DSLAMs that incorporate or work with our products. Our success also depends upon our ability to market and sell to service providers.
Our DSL, biometrics, and medical and digital imaging customers and/or their competitors have significantly greater financial, technological, manufacturing, marketing and personnel resources than we do. We can give no assurance that our OEM customers will continue to purchase products from us or that we will be able to compete effectively
or that competitive pressures will not seriously harm our business.
Patents and Intellectual Property
We rely on a combination of nondisclosure agreements and other contractual provisions, as well as patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright law to protect our proprietary rights. We have an active program to protect our proprietary technology through the filing of patents. As of December 31, 2009, we had approximately 130
U.S. and foreign patents, and approximately 200 pending patent applications pertaining to telecommunications and signal processing technology, image compression, video compression, audio compression, seismic data compression and optical applications.
Although we have patented certain aspects of our technology, we rely primarily on trade secrets to protect our intellectual property. We attempt to protect our trade secrets and other proprietary information through agreements with our customers, suppliers, employees and consultants, and through security measures. Each of our employees
is required to sign a non-disclosure and non-competition agreement. Although we intend to protect our rights vigorously, we cannot assure you that these measures will be successful. In addition, effective intellectual property protection may be unavailable or limited in certain foreign countries.
Third parties may assert exclusive patent, copyright and other intellectual property rights to technologies that are important to us. In the past, we have received claims from third parties suggesting that we may be obligated to license such intellectual property rights. If we were found to have infringed any third party’s patents,
we could be subject to substantial damages or an injunction preventing us from conducting our business.
Manufacturing
We rely on one third party contract manufacturer to assemble and test substantially all of our DSL hardware products. If this company was to terminate its arrangement with us or fail to provide the required capacity and quality on a timely basis, we would be unable to manufacture our products until replacement contract manufacturing
services could be obtained. To qualify a new contract manufacturer, familiarize it with our products, quality standards and other requirements, and commence production is a costly and time-consuming process. We cannot assure you that we would be able to establish alternative manufacturing relationships on acceptable terms. Although we make reasonable efforts to ensure that our contract manufacturer performs to our standards, our reliance on a single source limits our control over quality assurance and delivery
schedules. Defects in workmanship, unacceptable yields, and manufacturing disruptions and difficulties may impair our ability to manage inventory and cause delays in shipments and cancellation of orders that may adversely affect our relationships with current and prospective customers. As a result, our revenues and operating results may be harmed.
Our internal manufacturing capacity is limited to final test and assembly of certain products. Our current manufacturing systems have been adequate to manage current volumes of hardware products. However, our manufacturing systems have not been extensively tested by more complex hardware products or in volumes higher than that of our
current volumes. If our manufacturing systems are inadequate or have other problems, our revenues and operating results may be harmed.
We rely on single source suppliers for components and materials used in our DSL hardware products. Our dependence on single source suppliers involves several risks, including limited control over pricing, availability, quality, and delivery schedules. Any delays in delivery of such components or shortages of such components could cause
delays in the shipment of our products, which could significantly harm our business. Because of our reliance on these vendors, we may also be subject to increases in component costs. These increases could significantly harm our business. If any one or more of our single source suppliers cease to provide us with sufficient quantities of our components in a timely manner or on terms acceptable to us, we would have to seek alternative sources of supply. We could incur delays while we locate and engage alternative
qualified suppliers and we might be unable to engage alternative suppliers on favorable terms. We could incur substantial hardware and software redesign costs if we are required to replace the components. Any such disruption or increased expenses could harm our commercialization efforts and adversely affect our ability to generate revenues.
Employees
At December 31, 2009, we employed 82 people, including 48 in engineering, 17 in sales and marketing, 3 in manufacturing and 14 in finance and administration. Of these employees, 78 were based in Massachusetts. None of our employees is represented by a labor union. We consider our employee relations to be good.
We believe that our future success will depend in large part on the service of our technical, sales, marketing and senior management personnel and upon our ability to retain highly qualified technical, sales and marketing and managerial personnel. We cannot assure you that we will be able to retain our key managers and employees or
that we will be able to attract and retain additional highly qualified personnel in the future.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Some of the information in this Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,”
“continue” and similar words. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they: (1) discuss our future expectations; (2) contain projections of our future operating results or financial condition; or (3) state other “forward-looking” information. However, we may not be able to predict future events accurately. The risk factors listed in this section, as well as any cautionary language in this Form 10-K, provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that
may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations we describe in our forward-looking statements. You should be aware that the occurrence of any of the events described in these risk factors and elsewhere in this Form 10-K could materially and adversely affect our business. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
GENERAL BUSINESS RISKS
Our Quarterly Results are Unpredictable and May Fluctuate Significantly
Our quarterly revenue and operating results are difficult to predict and may fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter due to the unpredictably of our revenue components.
It is difficult for us to make accurate forecasts of product revenues. Product revenues consist of sales of test and diagnostics hardware and software as well as biometrics and medical imaging software. Sales of hardware and software products fluctuate based upon demand by our customers which is difficult to predict. We generally ship
customer orders as we receive them, and, therefore, we have no meaningful backlog of product orders. Since our product revenues include the sales of hardware products which typically have lower gross margins than our other sources of revenue, product gross margins and overall profitability are also difficult to predict.
Contract revenues are also unpredictable. Making accurate predictions of regarding the timing of contract revenues from new and existing customers is difficult.
It is also difficult for us to make accurate forecasts of royalty revenues. Royalties are typically recognized in the quarter when we receive a report from a customer detailing sales and royalties due from the prior quarter, such as from the shipment of licensed integrated circuits. Royalties depend upon customer revenues which can
be affected by factors beyond our ability to control or assess in advance. These factors include our customers’ ability to generate sales and fluctuating sales volumes and prices of products containing our technology.
Our business is subject to a variety of risks, which could materially adversely affect quarterly and annual operating results, including:
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market acceptance of our hardware and software products; |
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fluctuations in the demand for our hardware and software products; |
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competitive pressures resulting in lower software or hardware product revenues; |
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the loss of a significant OEM relationship or termination of a professional services project by a customer; |
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the loss by an OEM customer of a strategic relationship with an equipment company customer; |
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announcements or introductions of new technologies or products by us or our competitors; |
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delays or problems in the introduction or performance of enhancements or of future generations of our technology; |
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failures or problems in our hardware or software products; |
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pricing pressure from our competitors in the markets in which we compete; |
● |
delays in the adoption of new industry standards or changes in market perception of the value of new or existing standards; |
● |
personnel changes, particularly those involving engineering, technical, sales and marketing personnel; |
● |
costs associated with protecting our intellectual property; |
● |
the potential that customers could fail to make payments under their agreements with us; |
● |
hardware manufacturing issues, including yield problems in our hardware platforms, and inventory buildup and obsolescence; |
● |
product gross margins may be affected by various factors including, but not limited to, product mix, product life cycle, and provisions for excess and obsolete inventory; |
● |
new laws, changes to existing laws, or regulatory developments; and |
● |
general economic trends and other factors. |
As a result of these factors, we believe that period-to-period comparisons of our revenue levels and operating results are not necessarily meaningful. You should not rely on our quarterly revenue and operating results to predict our future performance.
We Have Experienced Net Losses
We had net losses in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005, and operating losses in 2006, 2007, and 2009. We may experience losses in the future if:
● |
the test and diagnostics or biometrics markets decline; |
● |
new and/or existing customers do not choose to use our software or hardware products; or |
● |
customers do not choose to license and/or buy our patents. |
Our Business is Subject to Rapid Technological Change
The telecommunications and biometrics industries are characterized by rapid technological change and uncertainty. In these industries, new generations of products are introduced regularly and evolutionary improvements to existing products are required. Therefore, we face risks that others could introduce competing technologies that
render our technologies and products less desirable or obsolete. Also, the announcement of new technologies could cause: i) our customers to delay purchasing our products; or ii) our customers’ customers to delay purchasing OEM products that incorporate our products. Either of these events could seriously harm our business.
We expect that our business will depend to a significant extent on our ability to introduce new generations of products as well as new technologies and products that keep pace with changes in these industries. We must continually devote significant engineering resources to achieving technical innovations and product developments. These
developments are complex and require long development cycles. Moreover, we may have to make substantial investments in technological innovations and product developments before we can determine their commercial viability. We may lack sufficient financial resources to fund future development. Revenue from technological innovations, even if successfully developed, may not be sufficient to recoup the costs of development.
Our Intellectual Property is Subject to Limited Protection
Because we are a technology provider, our ability to protect our intellectual property and to operate without infringing the intellectual property rights of others is critical to our success. We regard our technology as proprietary. Our patent portfolio includes approximately 130 U.S. and foreign patents as well as approximately
200 pending patent applications. We also rely on a combination of trade secrets, copyright and trademark law and non-disclosure agreements to protect our unpatented intellectual property. Despite these precautions, it may be possible for a third party to copy or otherwise obtain and use our technology without authorization.
We typically work closely with our customers, who may also be potential competitors, and provide them with proprietary know-how. Although our agreements contain non-disclosure provisions and other terms protecting our proprietary know-how and technology rights, it is possible that, despite these precautions, some of our customers might
obtain from us proprietary information that they could use to compete with us in the marketplace. Although we intend to defend our intellectual property as necessary, the steps we have taken may be inadequate to prevent misappropriation.
In the future, we may be involved in legal action to enforce our intellectual property rights relating to our patents, copyrights or trade secrets. Any such litigation could be costly and time-consuming for us, even if we were to prevail. Moreover, even if we are successful in protecting our proprietary information, our competitors
may independently develop technologies substantially equivalent or superior to our technology. The misappropriation of our technology or the development of competitive technology could seriously harm our business.
Our technology, software or hardware may infringe the intellectual property rights of others. A large and increasing number of participants in the telecommunications and compression industries have applied for or obtained patents. Some of these patent holders have demonstrated a readiness to commence litigation based on allegations of patent and other intellectual property infringement. Third parties
may assert patent, copyright and other intellectual property rights to technologies that are important to our business. In the past, we have received claims from other companies that our technology infringes their patent rights. Intellectual property rights can be uncertain and can involve complex legal and factual questions. We may infringe the proprietary rights of others, which could result in significant liability for us. If we were found to have infringed any third party’s patents, we could be subject
to substantial damages or an injunction preventing us from conducting our business.
Our Business May Be Affected by Government Regulations
The extensive regulation of the telecommunications industry by federal, state and foreign regulatory agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission, and various state public utility and service commissions, could affect us through the effects of such regulation on our customers and their customers. In addition, our business
may also be affected by the imposition of certain tariffs, duties and other import restrictions on components that our customers obtain from non-domestic suppliers or by the imposition of export restrictions on products sold internationally and incorporating our technology. Changes in current or future laws or regulations, in the United States or elsewhere, could seriously harm our business.
Current Economic Conditions, Including The Credit Crisis Affecting The Financial Markets And The Global Recession, Could Adversely Affect Our Business, Results Of Operations And Financial Condition
Over the past several years, the world’s financial markets have been experiencing turmoil, characterized by reductions in available credit, increased costs of credit, volatility in security prices, rating downgrades of investments and reduced valuations of securities generally. These events have materially and adversely impacted
the availability of financing to a wide variety of businesses, and the resulting uncertainty has led to reductions in capital investments, overall spending levels, future product plans, and sales projections across industries and markets. These trends could have a material adverse impact on our business, our ability to achieve targeted results of operations and our financial condition as a result of:
● |
reduced demand for our products or our customers’ products that incorporate our technology; |
● |
increased risk of order cancellations or delays; |
● |
increased pressure on the prices for our products or our customers’ products that incorporate our technology; |
● |
greater difficulty in collecting accounts receivable; and |
● |
risks to our liquidity, including the possibility that we might not have access to our cash when needed. |
We are unable to predict the likely duration and severity of disruptions in financial markets and adverse economic conditions in the U.S. and other countries, but the longer the duration, the greater the risks we face in operating our business.
We Must Make Judgments in the Process of Preparing Our Financial Statements
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and certain critical accounting policies that are relevant to our business. The application of these principles and policies requires us to make significant judgments and estimates. In the event that judgments and estimates we make are incorrect,
we may have to change them, which could materially affect our financial position and results of operations.
Moreover, accounting standards have been subject to rapid change and evolving interpretations by accounting standards setting organizations over the past few years. The implementation of new standards requires us to interpret and apply them appropriately. If our current interpretations or applications are later found to be incorrect,
our financial position and results of operations could be materially affected.
If We are Unable to Maintain Effective Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting, Investors Could Lose Confidence In The Reliability of Our Financial Statements, Which Could Result In a Decline in the Price of Our Common Stock
As a public company, we are required to enhance and test our financial, internal and management control systems to meet obligations imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Consistent with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC, management’s assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting
and the audit opinion of our independent registered accounting firm as to the effectiveness of our controls is required in connection with our filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. If we are unable to identify, implement and conclude that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting or if our independent auditors are unable to conclude that our internal controls over financial reporting are effective, investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which could
result in a decrease in the value of our common stock. Our assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting may also uncover weaknesses or other issues with these controls that could also result in adverse investor reaction.
Our Stock Price May Be Extremely Volatile
Volatility in our stock price may negatively affect the price you may receive for your shares of common stock and increases the risk that we could be the subject of costly securities litigation. The market price of our common stock has fluctuated substantially and could continue to fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including:
● |
quarterly fluctuations in our operating results; |
● |
changes in future financial guidance that we may provide to investors and public market analysts; |
● |
changes in our relationships with our customers; |
● |
announcements of technological innovations or new products by us, our customers or our competitors; |
● |
changes in DSL or biometrics market growth rates as well as investor perceptions regarding the investment opportunity that companies participating in the DSL or biometrics industry afford them; |
● |
changes in earnings estimates by public market analysts; |
● |
sales of our common stock; |
● |
our stock repurchase activities; and |
● |
developments or announcements with respect to industry standards, patents or proprietary rights. |
In addition, the equity markets have experienced volatility that has particularly affected the market prices of equity securities of many high technology companies and that often has been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of such companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price
of our common stock.
LICENSING PRODUCT LINE RISKS
We Sold Substantially All of the Assets of Our DSL Silicon IP Licensing Product Line, And This Product Line Will No Longer Contribute Meaningful Contract Revenues
In November 2009, we sold substantially all of the assets associated with our DSL and home networking licensing product line to Lantiq for $6.75 million. Lantiq is a newly formed fabless semiconductor company that was spun out of Infineon. Prior to the spinout, Infineon was our largest DSL licensing customer. The sale included: i)
our DSL and home networking technology products; ii) certain patents and patent applications related to these technologies; and iii) a group of 41 engineers and the equipment used by those engineers.
As a result of the sale, we will no longer license DSL silicon technology to semiconductor customers for the foreseeable future, nor are we deriving DSL contract revenue from Infineon or Lantiq. In 2009, 2008, and 2007, we derived approximately 19%, 12% and 19% of our total revenue from Infineon/Lantiq, including contract revenue and
royalties.
We Expect to Continue to Receive Royalty Revenues After the Sale to Lantiq; However Future Royalty Revenue May Decline Because of Factors That Are Beyond Our Control
Under the terms of our amended license with Lantiq, we expect to continue to receive royalties for DSL chipsets Lantiq sells. We also expect to continue to derive royalties and a minimal amount of contract revenue from Ikanos as our agreement with Ikanos remains in effect after the sale to Lantiq. Future royalties we may receive from
Lantiq and Ikanos are influenced by factors that are beyond our control, including:
● |
The competitiveness of DSL chipsets offered by Lantiq and Ikanos and the willingness of their customers to purchase DSL chipsets from them; |
● |
The promotional and marketing efforts of Lantiq and Ikanos; and |
● |
DSL market risks in general, including: i) industry wide chipset demand; and ii) competitive pressures and cyclical demand for DSL chipsets, which may result in reduced average selling prices and channel inventory build-up. |
Any or all of these factors may cause our royalty revenue to decline in the future.
Our Ability to Obtain, Sell, License, or Enforce Patents Could be Affected by New Laws, Regulations or Rules
We intend to continue to pursue the license, sale or enforcement of patents in our patent portfolio. Our patent portfolio includes approximately 130 U.S. and foreign patents as well as approximately 200 pending patent applications. We also have an active program to protect our proprietary technology through the filing of additional
patents. New laws, regulations or rules implemented either by Congress, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, foreign patent offices, or the courts that impact the patent application process, the patent enforcement process or the rights of patent holders could significantly increase our expenses related to patent prosecution or decrease revenues associated with our patents. While we are not aware that any such changes are likely to occur in the foreseeable future, we cannot assure you that such changes
will not occur.
BIOMETRICS PRODUCT LINE RISKS
Our Biometrics Product Line Faces Intense Competition
The markets for our biometrics products and services are competitive and uncertain. Many of our biometric software competitors have significantly greater financial, technological, marketing and personnel resources than we do. We also face intense competition from internal development teams within potential customers. We must convince
potential customers to purchase products and services from us rather than develop software or perform services internally. Furthermore, customers, who have already purchased from us, may choose to stop purchasing our software and develop their own software.
In addition, announcements or introductions of new technologies or products by our competitors may adversely affect our business.
Biometrics Software Business Risks
Our biometrics software business is subject to a variety of additional risks, which could materially adversely affect our revenue and operating results, including:
● |
market acceptance of our biometric technologies and products; |
● |
changes in contracting practices of government or law enforcement agencies; |
● |
the failure of the biometrics market to experience continued growth; |
● |
delays or problems in the introduction or performance of enhancements or of future generations of our technology; |
● |
failures or problems in our biometric software products; |
● |
delays in the adoption of new industry biometric standards or changes in market perception of the value of new or existing standards; |
● |
growth of proprietary biometric systems which do not conform to industry standards; |
● |
competitive pressures resulting in lower software product revenues; |
● |
personnel changes, particularly those involving engineering, technical and sales and marketing personnel; |
● |
costs associated with protecting our intellectual property; |
● |
litigation by third parties for alleged infringement of their proprietary rights; |
● |
the potential that customers could fail to make payments under their current contracts; |
● |
new laws, changes to existing laws, or regulatory developments; and |
● |
general economic trends and other factors. |
Biometrics Professional Services Business Risks
Our biometrics professional services business is subject to additional risks, which could materially adversely affect our revenue and operating results, including:
● |
our ability to structure and price technology contracts in a manner that is consistent with our business model; |
● |
our ability to structure ourselves to successfully bid on U.S. government contracts and meet the requirements of U.S. contracting rules and regulations; |
● |
our ability to deliver contract milestones: i) in a timely and cost efficient manner, and ii) in a form and condition acceptable to customers; |
● |
the risk that customers could terminate projects; |
● |
the risk that we rely substantially on third party contractors and consultants to deliver certain contract milestones; and |
● |
the potential that customers could fail to make payments under their contracts. |
TEST & DIAGNOSTIC PRODUCT LINE RISKS
Our DSL Test and Diagnostics Business Depends Upon a Limited Number of Customers, Therefore We Derive Revenue from a Small Number of Customers
There are a relatively limited number of OEM suppliers and service providers to which we can sell our DSL test and diagnostics products in a manner consistent with our business model. In 2007, we derived approximately 16% and 10% of our total revenue from Spirent and Alcatel, both of which are test and diagnostics customers. No single
test and diagnostics customer represented more than 10% of our total revenue in 2008 and 2009, although Spirent and Alcatel contributed significant revenue to our test and diagnostics business in those years.
If we fail to maintain relationships with our current customers or fail to establish a sufficient number of new customer relationships, our business could be seriously harmed. In addition, our current and prospective customers may use their superior size and bargaining power to demand terms that are unfavorable to us.
Our DSL Test and Diagnostics Business Faces Intense Competition
The markets for our DSL test and diagnostics hardware and software products are competitive and uncertain. Our success as a supplier of hardware and software products for DSL test and diagnostics depends in large part on:
● |
the willingness and ability of OEM customers to design, build and sell automated test heads, hand-held testers, and DSLAMs that incorporate or work with our products; |
● |
our ability to market and sell to service providers; and |
● |
our ability to provide effective sales, marketing, and customer service to our customers. |
Our OEM customers, their competitors and service providers have significantly greater financial, technological, manufacturing, marketing and personnel resources than we do. We can give no assurance that our customers will continue to purchase products from us or that we will be able to compete effectively or that competitive pressures
will not seriously harm our business.
The Success of Our DSL Test and Diagnostics Business Requires Telephone Companies to Install DSL Services in Volume
The success of our DSL test and diagnostics business depends upon telephone companies installing DSL services in significant volumes. Moreover, our business depends on capital equipment spending by telephone companies. If telephone companies reduce their budgets for or decide not to install or utilize equipment dedicated to DSL service
or test infrastructure, our test and diagnostics business could be harmed.
DSL services offered over telephone networks also compete with alternative broadband services that use other broadband network architectures, such as cable networks, fiber-to-the-home networks, and wireless networks. These alternative broadband networks may be more successful than DSL. If telephone companies cannot compete effectively
with alternative broadband services our test and diagnostics business could be harmed.
The Success of Our DSL Test and Diagnostics Products Depends On Our Ability to Develop Commercially Available Products in a Timely Fashion
Our success in developing and introducing, new and enhanced test and diagnostics products depends on the ability of our engineering organization to design and develop such products. Because of the complexity of our hardware and software products, it may take us a significant amount of time to develop commercially available products.
If we cannot successfully develop and introduce new and enhanced test and diagnostics products on a timely basis, our DSL test and diagnostics business could be seriously harmed.
If Our Test and Diagnostics Hardware and Software Products Have Quality Problems, Our Business Could Be Harmed
If our test and diagnostics products have actual or perceived reliability, quality, functionality or other problems, we may suffer reduced orders, higher manufacturing costs, inability to recognize revenue, delays in collecting accounts receivable and higher service, support and warranty expenses or inventory write-offs, among other
effects. We believe that the acceptance, volume production, timely delivery and customer satisfaction of our test and diagnostics products is important to our future financial results. As a result, any inability to correct any technical, reliability, parts shortages or other difficulties or to manufacture and ship our test and diagnostics products on a timely basis meeting customer requirements could damage our relationships and reputation with current and prospective customers, which would harm our revenues
and operating results. Any product problems that may require repair or replacement may adversely affect our customer and/or vendor relationships and have an impact on support costs, warranty reserves, or inventory reserves, among other effects.
We are Dependent On a Single Source Contract Manufacturer for the Manufacture of Our DSL Hardware Products, the Loss of Which Would Harm Our Business
We currently depend on one contract manufacturer to manufacture our DSL hardware products. If this company was to terminate its arrangement with us or fail to provide the required capacity and quality on a timely basis, we would be unable to manufacture our products until replacement contract manufacturing services could be obtained.
To qualify a new contract manufacturer, familiarize it with our products, quality standards and other requirements, and commence production is a costly and time-consuming process. We cannot assure you that we would be able to establish alternative manufacturing relationships on acceptable terms. Although we make reasonable efforts to ensure that our contract manufacturer performs to our standards, our reliance on a single source limits our control over quality assurance and delivery schedules. Defects in workmanship,
inadequate yields, and manufacturing disruptions and difficulties may impair our ability to manage inventory and cause delays in shipments and cancellation of orders that may adversely affect our relationships with current and prospective customers. As a result, our test and diagnostics business could be harmed.
Our Manufacturing Systems May Not Be Adequate For Our DSL Test and Diagnostics Hardware Product Offerings
Our manufacturing systems have been adequate to manage current product configurations and production volumes. However, our manufacturing systems have not been tested by more complex hardware products or by production volumes higher than current levels. If our manufacturing systems are inadequate or have other problems, our test and
diagnostics business could be harmed.
We are Dependent on Single Source Suppliers for Components in Our DSL Hardware Products
We rely on single source suppliers for components and materials used in our DSL hardware products. Our dependence on single source suppliers involves several risks, including limited control over pricing, availability, quality, and delivery schedules. Any delays in delivery of such components or shortages of such components could cause
delays in the shipment of our products, which could significantly harm our business. Because of our reliance on these vendors, we may also be subject to increases in component costs. These increases could significantly harm our business.
If any one or more of our single source suppliers cease to provide us with sufficient quantities of our components in a timely manner or on terms acceptable to us, we would have to seek alternative sources of supply. We could incur delays while we locate and engage alternative qualified suppliers and we might be unable to engage alternative
suppliers on favorable terms. We could incur substantial hardware and software redesign costs if we are required to replace the components. Any such disruption or increased expenses could harm our business.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We believe that our existing facilities are adequate for our current needs and that additional space sufficient to meet our needs for the foreseeable future will be available on reasonable terms. We currently occupy approximately:
1. |
72,000 square feet of office space in Bedford, Massachusetts, which serves as our headquarters. This site is used for our research and development, sales and marketing, and administrative activities. We own this facility. |
2. |
411 square feet of research and development space in Orinda, California. This facility is currently leased for a 3-year term, which expires on August 31, 2010. |
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time we are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our business. We are not party to any lawsuit or proceeding that, in our opinion, is likely to seriously harm our business.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock is the only class of stock we have outstanding, and it trades on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol AWRE. The following table sets forth the high and the low sales prices of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market for the periods indicated from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009.
|
|
First |
|
|
Second |
|
|
Third |
|
|
Fourth |
|
|
|
Quarter |
|
|
Quarter |
|
|
Quarter |
|
|
Quarter |
|
2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High |
|
$ |
2.35 |
|
|
$ |
2.99 |
|
|
$ |
3.02 |
|
|
$ |
2.90 |
|
Low |
|
|
1.60 |
|
|
|
1.83 |
|
|
|
2.25 |
|
|
|
1.94 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High |
|
$ |
4.30 |
|
|
$ |
3.96 |
|
|
$ |
3.39 |
|
|
$ |
2.96 |
|
Low |
|
|
3.65 |
|
|
|
2.85 |
|
|
|
2.43 |
|
|
|
1.58 |
|
As of February 5, 2010, we had approximately 125 shareholders of record. This number does not include shareholders from whom shares were held in a “nominee” or “street” name. We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and we anticipate that we will continue to reinvest any earnings to finance future operations.
We did not sell any equity securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 during the three months ended December 31, 2009.
Performance Graph
The following performance graph compares the performance of Aware’s cumulative stockholder return with that of a broad market index, the Nasdaq Composite Index, and a published industry index, the RDG Technology Composite Index. The cumulative stockholder returns for shares of Aware’s common stock and for the market and
industry indices are calculated assuming $100 was invested on December 31, 2004. Aware paid no cash dividends during the periods shown. The performance of the market and industry indices is shown on a total return, or dividends reinvested, basis.
|
|
Value of Investment ($) |
|
|
|
12/31/04 |
|
|
12/31/05 |
|
|
12/31/06 |
|
|
12/31/07 |
|
|
12/31/08 |
|
|
12/31/09 |
|
Aware, Inc. |
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
$ |
91.75 |
|
|
$ |
109.90 |
|
|
$ |
86.60 |
|
|
$ |
38.56 |
|
|
$ |
57.73 |
|
Nasdaq Composite Index |
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
101.33 |
|
|
|
114.01 |
|
|
|
123.71 |
|
|
|
73.11 |
|
|
|
105.61 |
|
RDG Technology Composite |
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
102.13 |
|
|
|
111.45 |
|
|
|
127.27 |
|
|
|
71.89 |
|
|
|
115.97 |
|
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Period
|
|
(a) Total Number of Shares
Purchased |
|
|
(b) Average Price Paid
per Share |
|
|
(c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(1) |
|
|
(d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs |
|
October 1, 2009 to December 31, 20091 |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
(1) |
On August 28, 2007, we issued a press release announcing that our board of directors had approved the repurchase from time to time through December 31, 2008 of up to $5,000,000 of our common stock. On October 29, 2008, we announced that our board of directors had approved an amendment to the program that increased the total amount of common stock
that may be repurchased from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000. The amendment also extended the period of time that shares may be repurchased from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2009. The repurchase program ended on December 31, 2009. |
|
|
|
During 2007 and 2008, we purchased 9,107 and 712,024 shares, respectively, at a total cost of $38,716 and $2,357,410, respectively, under this plan. We did not purchase any shares under the plan in 2009. |
|
|
(2) |
On March 5, 2009, we announced a modified Dutch auction tender offer to purchase up to 3,500,000 shares of our common stock at a price per share of not less than $2.20 and not greater than $2.60. The terms of the tender offer also provided the right for us to purchase up to an additional 2% of our shares if the offer was oversubscribed. The tender
offer closed on April 17, 2009, and on April 23, 2009 we repurchased 3,500,252 shares at $2.50 per share for a total cost of $9.0 million, including expenses. |
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
In the table below, we provide you with our selected consolidated financial data. We have prepared this information using our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005. When you read this selected financial data, it is important that you read it along with Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, our historical consolidated financial statements, and the related notes to the financial statements, which can be found in Item 8.
Year ended December 31, |
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(in thousands, except per share data) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statements of Operations Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
22,042 |
|
|
$ |
30,517 |
|
|
$ |
26,437 |
|
|
$ |
24,056 |
|
|
$ |
15,667 |
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
(5,482 |
) |
|
|
629 |
|
|
|
(1,830 |
) |
|
|
(399 |
) |
|
|
(3,618 |
) |
Gain on sale of assets |
|
|
6,230 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
|
982 |
|
|
|
1,776 |
|
|
|
160 |
|
|
|
1,034 |
|
|
|
(2,468 |
) |
Net income (loss) per share – basic |
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
Net income (loss) per share – diluted |
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
0.07 |
|
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and short-term investments |
|
$ |
39,669 |
|
|
$ |
45,516 |
|
|
$ |
38,055 |
|
|
$ |
37,834 |
|
|
$ |
36,763 |
|
Working capital |
|
|
42,209 |
|
|
|
47,288 |
|
|
|
45,031 |
|
|
|
41,372 |
|
|
|
39,124 |
|
Total assets |
|
|
51,454 |
|
|
|
57,546 |
|
|
|
56,383 |
|
|
|
54,586 |
|
|
|
49,741 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
3,094 |
|
|
|
3,023 |
|
|
|
3,147 |
|
|
|
3,216 |
|
|
|
2,238 |
|
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
|
48,360 |
|
|
|
54,523 |
|
|
|
53,236 |
|
|
|
51,370 |
|
|
|
47,503 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth, for the years indicated, certain line items from our consolidated statements of operations stated as a percentage of total revenue:
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
Revenue: |
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
Product sales |
|
|
70 |
% |
|
|
46 |
% |
|
|
66 |
% |
Contract revenue |
|
|
21 |
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
|
24 |
|
Royalties |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Total revenue |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of product sales |
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
Cost of contract revenue |
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
21 |
|
Research and development |
|
|
54 |
|
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
41 |
|
Selling and marketing |
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
Total costs and expenses |
|
|
125 |
|
|
|
98 |
|
|
|
107 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
(25 |
) |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on sale of assets |
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Interest income |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision for income taxes |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net income |
|
|
4 |
% |
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
Summary. Over the past three years, we have organized ourselves as one segment with three product lines. Our product lines have included: i) licensing products, ii) DSL test and diagnostics
products, and iii) biometrics products. Our results of operations for 2009, 2008, and 2007 reflect the financial impact of these three product lines.
Our licensing products have consisted of: i) DSL technology products, ii) home networking technology products, and iii) patents related to DSL, home networking and other technologies. Our technology products have been licensed to semiconductor companies that sell chipsets that incorporate our technology. Our patents are sold or licensed
to third parties interested in acquiring such patent rights.
Our test and diagnostics products consist of DSL hardware and software products that are used by telephone companies to improve the quality of their DSL service offerings. Our test and diagnostics products are typically sold to OEMs that incorporate our products into their products. Our OEM customers sell their equipment and software
products to telephone companies. We also market our test and diagnostics software directly to telephone companies.
Our biometrics products consist of software and services used in biometric systems. Biometric systems are used by governments and enterprises to verify the identification of people. Biometrics systems are used in applications such as border control, secure credentialing, and background checks. We typically sell our biometrics software
and services to OEMs and system integrators that incorporate our products into their biometrics hardware and software systems. We also sell a modest amount of medical imaging software that is included in our biometrics product line revenue.
On November 13, 2009, we completed a transaction in which we sold substantially all of the assets associated with our licensing product line to Lantiq for $6.75 million. Lantiq is a newly formed fabless semiconductor company that was spun out of Infineon, our largest DSL licensing customer. The sale included: i) our DSL and home networking
technology assets; ii) certain patents and patent applications related to those technology assets; iii) a group of 41 engineers; and iv) lab and computer equipment used by the transferred engineers.
As a result of the Lantiq transaction, we will no longer derive DSL contract revenue from Infineon or Lantiq. Over the past several years, contract revenue from Infineon has ranged from $0.5 million to $1.0 million per quarter. We amended and restated the existing license agreement between us and Infineon to provide Lantiq (as successor
to Infineon) certain non-exclusive licenses of our patent rights, and to continue Lantiq’s royalty obligations to Aware. We also expect to continue to derive contract revenue for engineering support and royalties per our existing agreements with Ikanos. We will not be pursuing new silicon intellectual property licensing customers for DSL or home networking applications for the foreseeable future. In addition, Aware subleased certain office and lab space to Lantiq at its main facilities in Bedford, Massachusetts.
We expect that quarterly engineering expenses associated with our licensing product line will decrease by $1.7 million to $2.0 million as a result of the transfer of 41 engineers to Lantiq.
After the sale of our licensing product line to Lantiq in November 2009, we have operated as one segment with two principal product lines: i) biometrics products; and ii) DSL test and diagnostics products. We expect that the Lantiq transaction will have a minimal impact on the future financial results of our biometrics and DSL test
and diagnostics product lines. As it relates to our DSL test business, Aware and Lantiq will cooperate with one another with respect to embedded wireline diagnostics technology and products.
Our net income in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $1.0 million, or $0.05 per share. These results reflect: i) a $6.2 million gain on the sale of assets to Lantiq and ii) licensing product results with 10 ½ months of historical revenue and expenses
and 1 ½ months of post-Lantiq transaction revenue and expenses. GAAP net income for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $1.8 million, or $0.07 per share.
The Company uses the non-GAAP information internally to evaluate its operating performance and believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors as they provide additional insight into the underlying operating results. Our non-GAAP net income excludes the effect of stock-based compensation expense. Non-GAAP net income for the
year ended December 31, 2009, excluding the effect of $1.7 million of stock-based compensation, was $2.7 million, or $0.13 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income for the year ended December 31, 2008, excluding the effect of $1.5 million of stock-based compensation, was $3.3 million, or $0.14 per diluted share. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is set forth in the table below (in thousands):
|
|
Years ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
GAAP net income |
|
$ |
982 |
|
|
$ |
1,776 |
|
|
$ |
160 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
1,737 |
|
|
|
1,505 |
|
|
|
1,138 |
|
Non-GAAP net income |
|
$ |
2,719 |
|
|
$ |
3,281 |
|
|
$ |
1,298 |
|
|
|
Years ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
GAAP net income per share |
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
0.07 |
|
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
Stock-based compensation per share |
|
|
0.08 |
|
|
|
0.07 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
Non-GAAP net income per share |
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
Product Sales
Product sales consist primarily of revenue from the sale of hardware and software products. Hardware products consist primarily of DSL test and diagnostics modules. Software products consist of software products, including maintenance contracts, for biometric, medical imaging and digital imaging applications, as well as DSL test and
diagnostics software.
Product sales increased 10% from $14.0 million in 2008 to $15.4 million in 2009. As a percentage of total revenue, product sales increased from 46% in 2008 to 70% in 2009. The dollar increase in product sales was primarily due to a $1.7 million increase in revenue from the sale of test and diagnostic hardware and software, which was
partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in revenue from the sale of biometrics software. The $1.7 million increase in revenue from the sale of test and diagnostic products was mainly attributable to: 1) a $1.3 million increase in software revenue from two large customers, and 2) a $0.4 million increase in hardware revenue. The $0.3 million decrease in revenue from the sale of biometrics software was primarily due to challenging economic conditions in the first half of 2009.
We do not expect the Lantiq transaction to materially affect future product sales.
Product sales decreased 20% from $17.5 million in 2007 to $14.0 million in 2008. As a percentage of total revenue, product sales decreased from 66% in 2007 to 46% in 2008. The dollar decrease in product sales was primarily due to a $5.4 million decrease in revenue from the sale of test and diagnostic hardware and software, which was
partially offset by a $1.9 million increase in revenue from the sale of biometrics software. The decrease in revenue from the sale of test and diagnostic products was mainly attributable to: 1) significant sales to three OEM customers in 2007 that did not reoccur at those volumes in 2008; and 2) a challenging telecommunications test equipment environment.
Contract Revenue
Contract revenue consists of patent, license and engineering service fees that we receive under agreements relating to the sale or license of Aware’s patents, DSL technology, DSL test and diagnostic technology, and biometrics
technology.
Contract revenue decreased 69% from $14.7 million in 2008 to $4.6 million in 2009. As a percentage of total revenue, contract revenue decreased from 48% in 2008 to 21% in 2009. The dollar decrease was primarily due to an $8.5 million sale of patents that occurred in 2008. There were no patent sales in 2009. Although there were no patent
sales in 2009, we intend to continue to sell and/or license additional patents in the future, subject to customer demand and favorable terms and conditions. Also in 2009, contract revenue decreased by $1.7 million for revenue from biometrics professional services contracts as a result of the completion of a significant project.
Contract revenue decreases from patent sales and biometrics professional services contracts were slightly offset by a $0.2 million increase in revenue from DSL technology contracts. Notwithstanding the small increase in 2009, we expect that contract revenue from DSL technology contracts will decline by $0.5 million to $1.0 million
per quarter as a result of the Lantiq transaction beginning in the first quarter of 2010. Contract revenue in future quarters is expected to consist of revenue from some or all of the following sources: 1) Ikanos; 2) biometrics technology contracts; and 3) sales and/or licenses of patents. We will not be pursuing new silicon IP licensing customers for DSL or home networking applications in the foreseeable future.
Contract revenue increased 131% from $6.3 million in 2007 to $14.7 million in 2008. As a percentage of total revenue, contract revenue increased from 24% in 2007 to 48% in 2008. The dollar increase was primarily due to an $8.5 million sale of patents relating to communications technology in 2008, whereas there were no patent sales
in 2007. Also in 2008, contract revenue increased by $2.8 million for revenue from biometrics professional services contracts as a result of our expansion into the biometrics services business. Contract revenue increases from patent sales and biometrics professional services contracts were partially offset by a $2.7 million decrease in revenue from DSL silicon IP contracts with our semiconductor customers.
Royalties
Royalties consist of royalty payments that we receive under agreements with our customers. We receive royalties from customers for rights to Aware technology and/or patents, typically associated with the incorporation of Aware technology and/or patents in customer chipsets or solutions.
Royalties increased 12% from $1.8 million in 2008 to $2.1 million in 2009. As a percentage of total revenue, royalties increased from 6% in 2008 to 9% in 2009. The dollar increase in royalties was due to a $0.3 million increase in DSL royalties from Lantiq/Infineon and Ikanos.
Our royalty revenue currently comes predominantly from ADSL chipset sales by Ikanos and ADSL and VDSL chipset sales by Lantiq (formerly Infineon). The Lantiq transaction will not alter the royalty obligations of Ikanos or Lantiq, which we expect to continue per the existing agreements with those parties. We remain uncertain as to whether
these licensees will be able to maintain their market shares and chipset prices in the face of intense competition, and whether our relationships with them will contribute meaningful royalties to us in the future. Also, as a result of the Lantiq transaction, we will not be pursuing new silicon intellectual property licensing customers for DSL or home networking applications in the foreseeable future that might lead to royalties from new customers.
Royalties decreased 30% from $2.6 million in 2007 to $1.8 million in 2008. As a percentage of total revenue, royalties decreased from 10% in 2007 to 6% in 2008. The dollar decrease in royalties was due to a $0.7 million decrease in DSL royalties, and a $0.1 million decrease in biometrics and medical imaging royalties.
Cost of Product Sales
Since the cost of software product sales is minimal, cost of product sales consists primarily of the cost of hardware product sales.
Cost of product sales increased 12% from $2.6 million in 2008 to $2.9 million in 2009. As a percentage of product sales, cost of product sales increased from 18% in 2008 to 19% in 2009, which resulted in gross margins on product sales decreasing from to 82% to 81%. The dollar increase in cost of product sales in 2009 was primarily
attributable to a $0.4 million increase in hardware product sales. The decrease in gross margins on product sales was primarily due to a slightly lower proportion of software sales in the product sales mix.
Cost of product sales decreased 35% from $4.0 million in 2007 to $2.6 million in 2008. As a percentage of product sales, cost of product sales decreased from 23% in 2007 to 18% in 2008, which resulted in gross margins on product sales increasing from 77% to 82%. The dollar decrease in cost of product sales in 2008 was attributable
to a $2.8 million decrease in hardware product sales. The increase in gross margins on product sales was primarily due to a greater proportion of software sales in the product sales mix.
Cost of Contract Revenue
Cost of contract revenue consists primarily of compensation costs for engineers and expenses for consultants, technology licensing fees, recruiting, supplies, equipment, depreciation and facilities associated with customer development projects. Our total engineering costs are allocated between cost of contract revenue and research
and development expense. In a given period, the allocation of engineering costs between cost of contract revenue and research and development is a function of the level of effort expended on each. Commencing in the fourth quarter of 2007, cost of contract revenue also includes direct expenses for third party contractors and consultants for biometrics professional services contracts.
Cost of contract revenue decreased 31% from $4.2 million in 2008 to $2.9 million in 2009. As a percentage of contract revenue, cost of contract revenue increased from 29% in 2008 to 63% in 2009, which resulted in gross margins on contract revenue decreasing from 71% to 37%. The $1.3 million decrease in cost of contract revenue was
primarily due to lower contract revenue from biometrics professional services contracts. The significant decrease in gross margins on contract revenue was due to: 1) no contract revenue from patent sales in 2009 as compared to $8.5 million of such revenue in 2008 (patent sales have had no associated cost of contract revenue); and 2) a decrease in contract revenue from biometrics contracts.
Cost of contract revenue decreased 23% from $5.4 million in 2007 to $4.2 million in 2008. As a percentage of contract revenue, cost of contract revenue decreased from 86% in 2007 to 29% in 2008, which resulted in gross margins on contract revenue increasing from 14% to 71%. The $1.2 million decrease in cost of contract revenue was
primarily due to lower DSL contract revenue. Lower cost of contract revenue from DSL contracts was partially offset by increased cost of contract revenue from biometrics professional services contracts, which was due to increased revenue from such contracts. The significant increase in gross margins on contract revenue was due to: 1) an $8.5 million patent sale which had no cost of contract revenue associated with it; and 2) an increase in contract revenue from biometrics contracts.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense consists primarily of compensation costs for engineers and expenses for consultants, recruiting, supplies, equipment, depreciation and facilities related to engineering projects to improve our communications, test, biometrics and imaging technology, as well as our software and hardware products. Our
total engineering costs are allocated between cost of contract revenue and research and development expense. In a given period, the allocation of engineering costs between cost of contract revenue and research and development is a function of the level of effort expended on each.
Research and development expense decreased 9% from $13.2 million in 2008 to $11.9 million in 2009. As a percentage of total revenue, research and development expense increased from 43% in 2008 to 54% in 2009. The dollar decrease in research and development expense was primarily due to: 1) lower engineering spending associated with
our licensing product line in the last 1 ½ months of the year as a result of the transfer of 41 engineers to Lantiq in mid-November 2009, and 2) lower engineering spending on our licensing product line in the first 10 ½ months of 2009 as compared with the same 10 ½ month period in 2008.
Prior to the closing of the Lantiq transaction in mid-November 2009, our research and development spending had been principally focused on developing analog and digital silicon IP solutions for broadband communications and home networking applications, developing test and diagnostics hardware and software, and developing biometrics
and imaging software. After the Lantiq transaction, our future research and development activities will be focused on developing biometrics and imaging software, and developing test and diagnostics hardware and software. We will also continue to expand our patent portfolio.
As a result of the Lantiq transaction, we expect that our future engineering expenses will decrease by $1.7 million to $2.0 million per quarter due to the transfer of 41 engineers to Lantiq. This future period expense reduction will appear on the research and development expense and cost of contract revenue lines of our consolidated
statements of operations as we allocate engineering expenses to both of these expense classifications. The full financial impact of this expense reduction will begin in the first quarter of 2010.
Research and development expense increased 21% from $10.9 million in 2007 to $13.2 million in 2008. As a percentage of total revenue, research and development expense increased from 41% in 2007 to 43% in 2008. The dollar increase in research and development expense was primarily due to a shift of engineering resources from DSL customer
contracts (i.e., cost of contract revenue) to internal development projects (i.e., research and development expense). This resource shift reduced the amount of engineering expenses we allocated to cost of contract revenue, which increased research and development expense to reflect our increased focus on internal projects.
Selling and Marketing Expense
Selling and marketing expense consists primarily of compensation costs for sales and marketing personnel, travel, advertising and promotion, recruiting, and facilities expense.
Sales and marketing expense were $4.7 million in 2008 and 2009. As a percentage of total revenue, sales and marketing expense increased from 16% in 2008 to 21% in 2009. Level sales and marketing expenses in 2009 were the result of higher spending in our biometrics sales organization, which was offset by lower spending in our licensing
sales organization.
Since the Lantiq transaction did not involve any of our sales or marketing personnel, the transaction will have a minimal impact on future sales and marketing expenses.
Sales and marketing expense increased 27% from $3.7 million in 2007 to $4.7 million in 2008. As a percentage of total revenue, sales and marketing expense increased from 14% in 2007 to 16% in 2008. The dollar increase in sales and marketing expense was mainly attributable to headcount growth in the biometrics sales organization, sales
commissions on higher biometrics software sales, and sales commissions related to higher contract revenue.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense consists primarily of compensation costs for administrative personnel, facility costs, bad debt, audit, legal, stock exchange and insurance expenses.
General and administrative expense decreased 2% from $5.2 million in 2008 to $5.1 million in 2009. As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expense increased from 17% in 2008 to 23% in 2009. The dollar decrease in general and administrative expense was mainly attributable to lower spending on legal fees for litigation and patent filings, which was
partially offset by higher stock-based compensation expenses.
Since the Lantiq transaction did not involve any of our administrative personnel, the transaction will have a minimal impact on future general and administrative expenses.
General and administrative expense increased 23% from $4.2 million in 2007 to $5.2 million in 2008. As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expense increased from 16% in 2007 to 17% in 2008. The dollar increase in general and administrative expense was mainly attributable to higher legal fees related to patent
filings and a lawsuit we filed against a customer, merit salary increases, and higher stock-based compensation expense.
Gain on Sale of Assets
We sold substantially all of the assets associated with our home networking and DSL technology to Lantiq for $6.75 million. We recorded a gain on the sale of assets of $6.2 million. The gain reflects $6.75 million of proceeds from Lantiq less the following items: i) the net book value of assets transferred to Lantiq; ii) the write-off
of certain prepaid assets that had no economic value after the sale; and iii) transaction costs.
Interest Income
Interest income decreased 80%, or $0.9 million, from $1.2 million in 2008 to $0.2 million in 2009. The dollar decrease in interest income was primarily due to a significant fall in money market interest rates during 2009.
Interest income decreased 42%, or $0.8 million, from $2.0 million in 2007 to $1.2 million in 2008. The dollar decrease in interest income was primarily due to a significant fall in money market interest rates during 2008. The decrease was also due to our decision to liquidate our portfolio of auction rate securities and longer term
debt instruments early in 2008 and invest the proceeds into a lower-yielding, shorter-term, money market fund.
Income Taxes
We are subject to income taxes in the United States and we use estimates in determining our provisions for income taxes. We account for income taxes in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740 (ASC 740), which is the asset and liability method for accounting and reporting for income taxes. Under ASC 740, deferred
tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using statutory rates.
We made no provision for income taxes in the years ended 2009, 2008 and 2007, except for $4,000, $16,000, and $26,000 of state excise taxes paid in each year, respectively.
As of December 31, 2009, we had U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards for income tax purposes of $47.6 million that expire beginning in 2010 and state net operating loss carryforwards of $10.3 million that expire beginning in 2010. We also had U.S. federal tax credits of $13.4 million that expire beginning in 2010
and state research and development credits of $7.1 million that expire beginning in 2010. The Internal Revenue Code contains provisions that limit the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards available to be used in any given year in the event of certain circumstances, including significant changes in ownership interests, as defined.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the realization of our deferred tax assets, based principally on our significant historical operating losses, we have provided a full valuation allowance against our various tax attributes. We will assess the level of valuation allowance
required in future periods. Should more positive than negative evidence regarding the realizability of tax attributes exist at a future point in time, the valuation allowance may be reduced or eliminated altogether. Reduction of the valuation
allowance, in whole or in part, would result in a non-cash reduction in income tax expense during the period of reduction.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Since our inception in March 1986, we have financed our activities primarily through the sale of stock, although in 2009 and 2008 we repurchased more of our stock than we issued. In the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, we received net proceeds from the issuance of stock under employee stock plans of $7,000, $0.4 million,
and $0.6 million, respectively. In the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, we spent $9.0 million, $2.4 million and $38,000, respectively, to repurchase our stock under a share repurchase program and a Dutch auction tender offer authorized by the board of directors.
In the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2007, our operating activities used net cash of $3.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively. Cash used in our operating activities in 2009 was primarily the result of an operating loss of $5.5 million, which was decreased for non-cash items related to depreciation and amortization of $0.8 million,
and stock-based compensation expense of $1.7 million, and which was increased by higher working capital requirements of $0.7 million. Cash used in our operating activities in 2007 was primarily the result of net income of $0.2 million, which was increased for non-cash items related to depreciation and amortization of $0.9 million, and stock-based compensation expense of $1.1 million, but which was more than offset by higher working capital requirements of $3.4 million. In the year ended December 31, 2008, our
operating activities provided net cash of $9.4 million. Cash provided by operating activities in 2008 was primarily the result of net income of $1.8 million, which was increased for non-cash items related to depreciation and amortization of $0.9 million, and stock-based compensation expense of $1.5 million. Also in 2008, we increased cash from operating activities by $5.2 million by lowering our working capital requirements.
In the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, we made capital expenditures of $0.2 million, $0.4 million, and $0.6 million, respectively. Capital expenditures in all three years primarily consisted of spending on computer hardware and software and laboratory equipment used principally in engineering activities. We have no material
commitments for capital expenditures. In the year ended December 31, 2009, we also received net proceeds from the sale of our licensing business of $6.7 million.
At December 31, 2009, we had cash and cash equivalents of $39.7 million. While we can not assure you that we will not require additional financing, or that such financing will be available to us, we believe that our cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next twelve months.
To date, inflation has not had a material impact on our financial results. There can be no assurance, however, that inflation will not adversely affect our financial results in the future.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We do not have any arrangements with unconsolidated entities, such as entities often referred to as structured finance, special purpose entities or variable interest entities which are often established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. Accordingly, we
are not exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had such relationships.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
We have various contractual obligations impacting our liquidity. The following represents our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2009 (in thousands):
|
|
|
Payments Due By Period |
|
Contractual Obligations |
|
|
Total |
|
|
Less than
1 year |
|
|
1-3 years |
|
|
3-5 years |
|
|
More than
5 years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating leases |
|
|
$ |
9 |
|
|
$ |
9 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Purchase orders |
|
|
|
984 |
|
|
|
984 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total |
|
|
$ |
993 |
|
|
$ |
993 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
We consider certain accounting policies related to revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, income taxes, inventories, and the allowance for doubtful accounts to be critical policies.
Revenue recognition. We derive our revenue from three sources (i) product revenue, which includes revenue from the sale of hardware and software products
for the DSL test and diagnostics market and software products for the biometrics, medical and digital imaging markets, (ii) contract revenue, which primarily includes engineering service fees for DSL and biometrics projects as well as patent sales and/or licenses, and (iii) royalties.
As prescribed by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, we recognize revenue when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the sales price is fixed or determinable, collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured, and delivery has occurred or services have been rendered.
We also apply the software revenue recognition principles set forth in section 965 of ASC 605, when recognizing software revenue.
As described below, we make significant judgments during the process of determining revenue for any particular accounting period.
In determining revenue recognition, we assess whether fees associated with revenue transactions are fixed or determinable based on the terms of the contract and based on payment terms. If the fee is not fixed or determinable, we defer the fee and recognize revenue as amounts become due and payable. We assess whether collection is reasonably
assured based on a number of factors, including past transaction history with the customer and the credit-worthiness of the customer. If we determine that collection of a fee is not reasonably assured, we defer the fee and recognize revenue at the time collection becomes reasonably assured.
In addition to these general revenue recognition judgments, we make specific judgments with respect to the recognition of multiple element revenue arrangements. When our agreements include the delivery of multiple revenue elements, such as software licenses, software maintenance or engineering services, we must assess whether we have
vendor specific evidence for undelivered elements and apply the principles set forth in ASC 605.
Our revenue recognition policies are described more fully in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Stock-Based Compensation. Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense
over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity award) under the provisions of ASC Topic 718.
We estimate the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes valuation model. This valuation model takes into account the exercise price of the award, as well as a variety of significant assumptions. These assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options include the expected term, the expected volatility of our stock
over the expected term, the risk-free interest rate over the expected term, and our expected annual dividend yield. We believe that the valuation technique and the approach utilized to develop the underlying assumptions are appropriate in calculating the fair values of stock options we grant to employees and directors which are subject to ASC 718 requirements. Estimates of fair value are not intended to predict actual future events or the value ultimately realized by persons who receive equity awards.
Income taxes. As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements we are required to estimate our actual current tax expense. We
must also estimate temporary and permanent differences that result from differing treatment of certain items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in our consolidated balance sheet. We must then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent we believe recovery is not likely, we must establish a valuation allowance. To the extent we establish a valuation allowance or
increase this allowance in a period for deferred tax assets, which have been recognized, we must include an expense with the tax provision in the statement of operations.
Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets, and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets. Our deferred tax assets primarily relate to net operating losses and research and development tax credits that we are carrying forward into future
tax periods. As of December 31, 2009, we had a total of $42.8 million of deferred tax assets for which we had recorded a full valuation allowance.
We adopted the guidance related to uncertain tax positions on January 1, 2007. The implementation of this guidance did not materially affect our financial position or results of operations. At the date of adoption of January 1, 2007 and also at December 31, 2007, 2008, and 2009 we had no unrecognized tax benefits. We recognize
interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.
Inventories. Inventories, which include materials and our contract manufacturer’s labor and overhead, are stated at the lower of cost (first-in,
first-out basis) or net realizable value. On a quarterly basis, we use consistent methodologies to evaluate all inventories for net realizable value. We record provisions for both excess and obsolete inventory when such write-downs or write-offs are identified through the quarterly review process. The inventory valuation is based upon assumptions about future demand, product mix and possible alternative uses.
Allowance for doubtful accounts. We make judgments as to our ability to collect outstanding receivables and provide allowances for receivables when collection
becomes doubtful. Provisions are made based upon a specific review of all significant outstanding invoices. If the judgments we make to determine the allowance for doubtful accounts do not reflect the future ability to collect outstanding receivables, additional provisions for doubtful accounts may be required.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
We describe below recent pronouncements that have had or may have a significant effect on our financial statements. We do not discuss recent pronouncements that are not anticipated to have an impact on or are unrelated to our financial condition, results of operations, or disclosures.
In June 2009, the FASB issued Update No. 2009-01, which establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the Codification) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles (GAAP). The Codification is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. We adopted the Codification when referring to GAAP in the third quarter of 2009. The adoption of the Codification did not have an impact on our consolidated results.
The FASB issued authoritative guidance related to subsequent events in May 2009, which establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. This guidance is set forth in Topic 855 in the Accounting
Standards Codification (ASC 855). ASC 855 provides guidance on the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements and the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions that occurred after
the balance sheet date. We adopted ASC 855 in the second quarter of 2009, and its application had no impact on our consolidated financial statements.
The FASB issued authoritative guidance for fair value measurements in September 2006, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures assets and liabilities measured at fair value in financial statements. This guidance is set forth in Topic 820 in the Accounting Standards Codification
(ASC 820). ASC 820 does not require any new fair value measurements but rather eliminates inconsistencies in guidance found in various prior accounting pronouncements. ASC 820 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. However, on February 6, 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which deferred the effective date of ASC 820 for one year for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring
basis. We adopted ASC 820 on January 1, 2008, except as it applies to those nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities as noted in the FASB’s February 6, 2008 guidance. We adopted the provisions of ASC 820 that relate to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities on January 1, 2009. The adoption of ASC 820 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In December 2007, the FASB issued authoritative guidance related to noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements, which was an amendment of ARB No. 51. This guidance is set forth in Topic 810 in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC 810). ASC 810 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for
the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. This accounting standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. We adopted ASC 810 on January 1, 2009. The adoption of ASC 810 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In December 2007, the FASB issued revised authoritative guidance for business combinations, which establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer in a business combination: i) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, an any noncontrolling interest in
the acquiree, ii) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase, and iii) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. This guidance is set forth in Topic 805 in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC 805). This accounting standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. We adopted ASC 805 on January 1, 2009.
The adoption of ASC 805 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows as of the date of adoption. ASC 805 will be applied to any future business combinations.
In October 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2009-13, “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements,” which amends ASC 605-25. ASU 2009-13 modifies how consideration is allocated for the purpose of revenue recognition when
an arrangement involves multiple deliverables and expands the related disclosure requirements. The guidance eliminates the residual method of revenue allocation, and requires that the vendor use its best estimate to allocate arrangement consideration between the deliverables in cases where neither vendor-specific objective evidence nor third-party evidence is available. ASU 2009-13 will be effective for us on January 1, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption
of ASU 2009-13 will have on our financial position and results of operations.
In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-14, “Certain Revenue Arrangements That Include Software Elements,” which amends ASC 985-605. ASU 2009-14 modifies the scope of the software revenue guidance in ASC 985-605 to exclude tangible products
that contain both software components and non-software components. ASU 2009-14 will be effective for us on January 1, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2009-14 will have on our financial position and results of operations.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our exposure to market risk relates primarily to our investment portfolio, and the effect that changes in interest rates would have on that portfolio. Our investment portfolio has included:
● |
Cash and cash equivalents, which consist of financial instruments with original maturities of three months or less; |
● |
Short-term investments, which consist of financial instruments with remaining maturities of twelve months or less, and auction rate securities that typically have interest reset dates of twenty-eight days; and |
● |
Investments, which consist of financial instruments that mature in three years or less. |
All of our investments meet the high quality standards specified in our investment policy. This policy dictates the maturity period and limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issue, issuer, and type of instrument.
As of December 31, 2009, our cash and cash equivalents of $39.7 million were invested in money market accounts. Due to the nature and short duration of these financial instruments, we do not expect that an increase in interest rates would result in any material loss to our investment portfolio. As of December 31, 2009, we had no investments
that matured in more than twelve months. We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.
ITEM 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To Board of Directors and Stockholders of Aware, Inc.:
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15 (a) (1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aware, Inc, and its subsidiary at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008
and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15 (a) (2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company
maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control
over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule, and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated 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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included 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, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial
reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations
of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies
or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 12, 2010
AWARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
39,669 |
|
|
$ |
45,516 |
|
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $30 in 2009 and $30 in 2008) |
|
|
3,565 |
|
|
|
2,211 |
|
Inventories |
|
|
1,113 |
|
|
|
1,656 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
363 |
|
|
|
598 |
|
Total current assets |
|
|
44,710 |
|
|
|
49,981 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
6,744 |
|
|
|
7,463 |
|
Other assets, net |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
102 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
51,454 |
|
|
$ |
57,546 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
327 |
|
|
$ |
466 |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
127 |
|
|
|
241 |
|
Accrued compensation |
|
|
1,202 |
|
|
|
1,480 |
|
Accrued professional |
|
|
282 |
|
|
|
167 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
563 |
|
|
|
339 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
2,501 |
|
|
|
2,693 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term deferred revenue |
|
|
593 |
|
|
|
330 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 8) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Common stock, $.01 par value; shares authorized, 70,000,000 in 2009 and 2008; issued and outstanding, 19,809,315 in 2009 and 23,281,204 in 2008 |
|
|
198 |
|
|
|
233 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
76,032 |
|
|
|
83,143 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(27,870 |
) |
|
|
(28,853 |
) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
|
48,360 |
|
|
|
54,523 |
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
|
$ |
51,454 |
|
|
$ |
57,546 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. |
AWARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
|
|
Years ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product sales |
|
$ |
15,376 |
|
|
$ |
14,022 |
|
|
$ |
17,491 |
|
Contract revenue |
|
|
4,611 |
|
|
|
14,658 |
|
|
|
6,337 |
|
Royalties |
|
|
2,055 |
|
|
|
1,837 |
|
|
|
2,609 |
|
Total revenue |
|
|
22,042 |
|
|
|
30,517 |
|
|
|
26,437 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of product sales |
|
|
2,887 |
|
|
|
2,589 |
|
|
|
3,998 |
|
Cost of contract revenue |
|
|
2,896 |
|
|
|
4,180 |
|
|
|
5,425 |
|
Research and development |
|
|
11,920 |
|
|
|
13,171 |
|
|
|
10,869 |
|
Selling and marketing |
|
|
4,707 |
|
|
|
4,739 |
|
|
|
3,738 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
5,114 |
|
|
|
5,209 |
|
|
|
4,237 |
|
Total costs and expenses |
|
|
27,524 |
|
|
|
29,888 |
|
|
|
28,267 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
(5,482 |
) |
|
|
629 |
|
|
|
(1,830 |
) |
Gain on sale of assets |
|
|
6,230 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Interest income |
|
|
238 |
|
|
|
1,163 |
|
|
|
2,016 |
|
Income before provision for income taxes |
|
|
986 |
|
|
|
1,792 |
|
|
|
186 |
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
982 |
|
|
$ |
1,776 |
|
|
$ |
160 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share – basic |
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
Net income per share – diluted |
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
0.07 |
|
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares – basic |
|
|
20,869 |
|
|
|
23,638 |
|
|
|
23,738 |
|
Weighted average shares – diluted |
|
|
20,874 |
|
|
|
23,697 |
|
|
|
25,084 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
AWARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
|
|
Years ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
982 |
|
|
$ |
1,776 |
|
|
$ |
160 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
823 |
|
|
|
921 |
|
|
|
878 |
|
Provision for doubtful accounts |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(25 |
) |
|
|
(20 |
) |
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
1,737 |
|
|
|
1,505 |
|
|
|
1,138 |
|
Gain on sale of assets |
|
|
(6,230 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Increase (decrease) from changes in assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable |
|
|
(1,353 |
) |
|
|
5,475 |
|
|
|
(2,903 |
) |
Inventories |
|
|
542 |
|
|
|
(232 |
) |
|
|
(605 |
) |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
131 |
|
|
|
110 |
|
|
|
160 |
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
(139 |
) |
|
|
(473 |
) |
|
|
247 |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
(377 |
) |
|
|
423 |
|
|
|
69 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
487 |
|
|
|
(74 |
) |
|
|
(386 |
) |
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities |
|
|
(3,397 |
) |
|
|
9,406 |
|
|
|
(1,262 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
|
(168 |
) |
|
|
(445 |
) |
|
|
(559 |
) |
Proceeds from sale of assets, net |
|
|
6,661 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Sales of investments |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
38,743 |
|
|
|
24,497 |
|
Purchases of investments |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(2,000 |
) |
|
|
(30,009 |
) |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
|
6,493 |
|
|
|
36,298 |
|
|
|
(6,071 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of common stock |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
363 |
|
|
|
647 |
|
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes related to unrestricted stock |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(41 |
) |
Repurchase of common stock |
|
|
(8,950 |
) |
|
|
(2,357 |
) |
|
|
(38 |
) |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
|
|
(8,943 |
) |
|
|
(1,994 |
) |
|
|
568 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
(5,847 |
) |
|
|
43,710 |
|
|
|
(6,765 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year |
|
|
45,516 |
|
|
|
1,806 |
|
|
|
8,571 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year |
|
$ |
39,669 |
|
|
$ |
45,516 |
|
|
$ |
1,806 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
AWARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
Common Stock |
|
|
Paid-In |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Stockholders’ |
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Capital |
|
|
Deficit |
|
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2006 |
|
|
23,643 |
|
|
$ |
236 |
|
|
$ |
81,923 |
|
|
$ |
(30,789 |
) |
|
$ |
51,370 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of common stock options |
|
|
198 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
632 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
635 |
|
Repurchase of common stock |
|
|
(9 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(38 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(38 |
) |
Issuance of unrestricted stock |
|
|
29 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
153 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
153 |
|
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes related to unrestricted stock |
|
|
(8 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(41 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(41 |
) |
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
985 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
985 |
|
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
160 |
|
|
|
160 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2007 |
|
|
23,855 |
|
|
|
239 |
|
|
|
83,626 |
|
|
|
(30,629 |
) |
|
|
53,236 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of common stock options |
|
|
136 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
358 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
359 |
|
Repurchase of common stock |
|
|
(712 |
) |
|
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
(2,350 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,357 |
) |
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,505 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,505 |
|
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,776 |
|
|
|
1,776 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2008 |
|
|
23,281 |
|
|
|
233 |
|
|
|
83,143 |
|
|
|
(28,853 |
) |
|
|
54,523 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of common stock options |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
Repurchase of common stock |
|
|
(3,500 |
) |
|
|
(35 |
) |
|
|
(8,915 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,950 |
) |
Issuance of unrestricted stock |
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,737 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,737 |
|
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
982 |
|
|
|
982 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2009 |
|
|
19,809 |
|
|
$ |
198 |
|
|
$ |
76,032 |
|
|
$ |
(27,870 |
) |
|
$ |
48,360 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We are a leading supplier of products for the biometrics and Digital Subscriber Line (“DSL”) test industries. We sell software products for biometrics and imaging applications and hardware and software products for DSL test and diagnostics applications. We sell our software products for biometrics, medical and digital
imaging applications and professional services for biometrics primarily through an OEM sales channel. We sell our DSL test hardware and software products primarily through an OEM sales channel. We also sell and/or license patents related to communications, signal processing, and compression technologies.
2. |
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Basis of Presentation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aware, Inc. and its subsidiary. All significant intercompany transactions
have been eliminated. We evaluated subsequent events through February 12, 2010, the date of financial statement issuance.
Fair Value Measurements - The FASB issued authoritative guidance for fair value measurements in September 2006, which defines fair value, establishes a framework
for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures for assets and liabilities measured at fair value in financial statements. This guidance is set forth in FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820 (ASC 820). We adopted the provisions of ASC 820 as of January 1, 2008, for our financial instruments. Although the adoption of ASC 820 did not materially impact our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow, we are now required to provide additional disclosures as part of our financial statements.
The fair value guidance establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly
observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.
For recognition purposes, on a recurring basis we are required to measure available for sale investments at fair value. We had no available for sale investments as of December 31, 2009 or December 31, 2008.
Our cash and cash equivalents, including money market securities, are also classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices.
Cash and Cash Equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of demand deposits and money market funds, which are stated at cost, which approximates
fair value.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Accounts are charged to the allowance for doubtful accounts as they are deemed uncollectible based on a periodic review
of the accounts.
Inventories – Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”)
method. We evaluate all inventories for net realizable value on a quarterly basis, and record provisions for excess and obsolete inventory when required.
Property and Equipment – Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment is provided using the straight-line
method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Upon retirement or sale, the costs of the assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in the determination of income or loss. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The estimated useful lives of assets used by us are:
|
Building and improvements |
30 years |
|
Building improvements |
5 to 20 years |
|
Furniture and fixtures |
5 years |
|
Computer, office & manufacturing equipment |
3 years |
|
Purchased software |
3 years |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets – We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the
carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable or that the useful lives of these assets are no longer appropriate. Each impairment test is based on a comparison of the undiscounted cash flows to the recorded value of the asset. If an impairment is indicated, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value. The cash flow estimates used to identify the potential impairment reflect our best estimates using appropriate assumptions and projections at that time. We believe that no significant impairment
of our long-lived assets has occurred as of December 31, 2009 and 2008.
Revenue Recognition – We recognize revenue by applying the principles in FASB Topic ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. Our general revenue recognition policy
is to recognize revenue when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the sales price is fixed or determinable, collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured, and delivery has occurred or services have been rendered.
Persuasive evidence of an arrangement: We use contracts signed by both the customer and us or written purchase orders issued by the customer as evidence of an arrangement.
Product delivery: We deem delivery to have occurred: (i) upon shipment when products are shipped FOB shipping point, or (ii) upon delivery at a customer’s location when
products are shipped FOB destination. If customer acceptance provisions apply, revenue is not recognized until delivery has occurred and we have received such acceptance. If we are required to provide installation services, which is rare under our OEM business model, revenue is not recognized until installation is complete.
Fixed or determinable fee: We consider fees to be fixed or determinable if the fee is not subject to refund or adjustment and the payment terms are within normal established
practices. If the fee is not fixed or determinable, we recognize the revenue as amounts become due and payable.
Collection is deemed probable: We conduct a credit review for all significant transactions at the time of the arrangement to determine the credit-worthiness of the customer.
Collection is deemed probable if we expect that the customer will pay amounts under the arrangement as payments become due.
We categorize revenue as product sales, contract revenue, or royalties depending on the nature of the revenue. In addition to the general revenue recognition policies described above, specific revenue recognition policies apply to each category of revenue.
Product sales
Product sales consist of revenue from the sale of hardware and software products. Specific revenue recognition policies for product sales are:
Hardware product sales. Hardware product sales consist of revenue from the sale of DSL test and diagnostic hardware products. Hardware products are typically sold independently
of other revenue elements, such as software, services and maintenance. Accordingly, the terms of hardware sales generally do not contain provisions that obligate us to provide additional products or services after shipment. Additionally, we do not grant return rights other than normal warranty rights of return. We recognize hardware revenue upon delivery.
Software product sales. Software product sales consist of revenue from the sale of biometrics and digital imaging software products as well as DSL test and diagnostics software.
Software product sales from these product lines include: i) software licenses and ii) maintenance contracts that entitle customers to technical support and product updates during the contract period. We do not grant return rights other than normal warranty rights of return. We recognize software revenue by applying the software revenue recognition principles embodied in section 965 of ASC Topic 605.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
When software licenses or maintenance contracts are sold separately, we recognize software license revenue upon delivery and maintenance contract revenue ratably over the related contract period. When software licenses and maintenance contracts are sold together, we generally recognize software license revenue upon delivery, provided we
have vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) for the fair value of the maintenance contract fee, and we generally recognize the fair value of maintenance contract revenue ratably over the related contract period. If we do not have VSOE for the fair value of the maintenance contract fee, we recognize software license and maintenance contract revenue ratably over the related contract period.
We recognize maintenance contract revenue upon delivery of software licenses when: i) customers purchase maintenance with their initial purchase of software licenses; ii) the maintenance contract period is for a period of one year or less, iii) the estimated cost of providing maintenance services during the contract period is insignificant,
and iv) unspecified upgrades offered during PCS arrangements historically have been and are expected to continue to be minimal and infrequent.
Contract revenue
Contract revenue primarily consists of: i) engineering service fees from DSL silicon customers for product development projects or ongoing engineering support; ii) engineering service fees from biometrics customers for professional services; and iii) patent fees from the license and/or sale of patents. Our specific revenue recognition
policies for each source of contract revenue are as follows:
DSL engineering services fees. In recent years, DSL engineering services have been primarily sold separately. We recognize contract revenue from these agreements as engineering
services are performed or as contract milestones are achieved.
Biometrics engineering services fees. Biometrics engineering services are either sold separately or as part of a multiple element transaction. When sold separately, we recognize
contract revenue from these agreements as engineering services are performed or as contract milestones are achieved. When biometrics engineering services are sold with other revenue elements, such as software licenses and/or maintenance contracts, our revenue recognition policy is as follows.
● |
Services and software. When engineering services and software licenses are sold together, the total fee is generally recognized by applying contract accounting. We have adopted the percentage-of-completion
method of contract accounting and we use an output method (i.e., contract milestones) to determine our completion percentage. The software license portion of the arrangement is classified as product sales and the engineering services portion is classified as contract revenue. |
● |
Services, software and maintenance. When we sell services, software and maintenance together, revenue is recognized as follows: i) maintenance revenue is separated from the other two elements
and is recognized ratably over the related contract period; provided we have VSOE for the fair value of the maintenance element; and ii) the total fee from the software license and engineering service elements is recognized by applying the contract accounting method described in the previous paragraph. If we do not have VSOE for the fair value of the maintenance element, we recognize revenue for the entire arrangement ratably over a period that begins at the start of the engineering services project and ends
when all elements of the arrangement have been delivered. |
Patent fees. We recognize revenue from patent fees upon delivery of patents, provided there are no significant post delivery obligations.
Royalties
Royalty revenue consists of royalties we receive under technology licensing agreements with customers that have incorporated our intellectual property into their products. Since we cannot reasonably estimate royalty revenue, such revenue is generally recognized in the quarter in which a final report is received from a customer. Royalty
reports are typically received in the quarter immediately following the quarter in which sales of royalty-bearing products occur. The terms of our agreements generally require customers to give notification to us and to pay royalties within 45 to 60 days of the end of each quarter.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Income Taxes – We compute deferred income taxes based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using
enacted rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. We establish a valuation allowance to offset temporary deductible differences, net operating loss carryforwards and tax credits when it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
Capitalization of Software Costs – We capitalize certain internally developed software development costs after technological feasibility of the product
has been established. No software costs were capitalized for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, because such costs incurred subsequent to the establishment of technological feasibility, but prior to commercial availability, were immaterial.
Research and Development Costs – Costs incurred in the research and development of our products are expensed as incurred.
Concentration of Credit Risk – At December 31, 2009 and 2008, we had cash and investments, in excess of federally insured deposit limits of approximately
$39.6 and $45.4 million, respectively.
Concentration of credit risk with respect to net accounts receivable consists of $0.9 million, $0.7 million, $0.3 million, and $0.2 million with four customers, respectively, at December 31, 2009 and $0.5 million, $0.3 million, and $0.2 million with three customers, respectively, at December 31, 2008.
Stock-Based Compensation – We grant stock options to our employees and directors. Such grants are for a fixed number of shares with an exercise price
equal to the fair value of the shares at the date of grant. We adopted the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 718, Stock Compensation, which establishes accounting for equity instruments exchanged for employee services. Under the provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity award). We use the Black-Scholes valuation
model to estimate the fair value of service condition awards. This valuation model takes into account the exercise price of the award, as well as a variety of significant assumptions. These assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options include the expected term, the expected volatility of our stock over the expected term, the risk-free interest rate over the expected term, and our expected annual dividend yield. We recognize compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service
period.
We also award unrestricted stock to our employees under our 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan. We record the fair value of such awards as stock-based compensation expense in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718.
Computation of Earnings per Share – Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued. For the purposes of this calculation, stock options are considered common stock equivalents in periods in which they have a dilutive effect. Stock options that are antidilutive are excluded from the calculation.
Use of Estimates – The
preparation of our financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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 amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include revenue recognition, reserves for doubtful accounts, reserves for excess and obsolete inventory, useful lives
of fixed assets, valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets, and accrued liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments – The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses
approximate fair value because of their short-term nature.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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, including foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities. For the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, comprehensive income was not materially different from net income.
Advertising Costs – Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were not material for 2009, 2008, and 2007.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements – We describe below recent pronouncements that have had or may have a significant effect on our financial statements.
We do not discuss recent pronouncements that are not anticipated to have an impact on or are unrelated to our financial condition, results of operations, or disclosures.
In June 2009, the FASB issued Update No. 2009-01, which establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the Codification) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles (GAAP). The Codification is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. We adopted the Codification when referring to GAAP in the third quarter of 2009. The adoption of the Codification did not have an impact on our consolidated results.
The FASB issued authoritative guidance related to subsequent events in May 2009, which establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. This guidance is set forth in Topic 855 in the Accounting
Standards Codification (ASC 855). ASC 855 provides guidance on the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements and the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions that occurred after
the balance sheet date. We adopted ASC 855 in the second quarter of 2009, and its application had no impact on our consolidated financial statements.
The FASB issued authoritative guidance for fair value measurements in September 2006, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures assets and liabilities measured at fair value in financial statements. This guidance is set forth in Topic 820 in the Accounting Standards Codification
(ASC 820). ASC 820 does not require any new fair value measurements but rather eliminates inconsistencies in guidance found in various prior accounting pronouncements. ASC 820 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. However, on February 6, 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which deferred the effective date of ASC 820 for one year for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring
basis. We adopted ASC 820 on January 1, 2008, except as it applies to those nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities as noted in the FASB’s February 6, 2008 guidance. We adopted the provisions of ASC 820 that relate to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities on January 1, 2009. The adoption of ASC 820 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In December 2007, the FASB issued authoritative guidance related to noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements, which was an amendment of ARB No. 51. This guidance is set forth in Topic 810 in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC 810). ASC 810 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling
interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. This accounting standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. We adopted ASC 810 on January 1, 2009. The adoption of ASC 810 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
In December 2007, the FASB issued revised authoritative guidance for business combinations, which establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer in a business combination: i) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, an any noncontrolling interest in the
acquiree, ii) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase, and iii) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. This guidance is set forth in Topic 805 in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC 805). This accounting standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. We adopted ASC 805 on January 1, 2009. The
adoption of ASC 805 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows as of the date of adoption. ASC 805 will be applied to any future business combinations.
In October 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2009-13, “Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements,” which amends ASC 605-25. ASU 2009-13 modifies how consideration is allocated for the purpose of revenue recognition when an
arrangement involves multiple deliverables and expands the related disclosure requirements. The guidance eliminates the residual method of revenue allocation, and requires that the vendor use its best estimate to allocate arrangement consideration between the deliverables in cases where neither vendor-specific objective evidence nor third-party evidence is available. ASU 2009-13 will be effective for us on January 1, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption
of ASU 2009-13 will have on our financial position and results of operations.
In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-14, “Certain Revenue Arrangements That Include Software Elements,” which amends ASC 985-605. ASU 2009-14 modifies the scope of the software revenue guidance in ASC 985-605 to exclude tangible products
that contain both software components and non-software components. ASU 2009-14 will be effective for us on January 1, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2009-14 will have on our financial position and results of operations.
Segments – We organize ourselves as one segment
reporting to the chief operating decision-maker. We have sales outside of the United States, which are described in Note 9. All long-lived assets are maintained in the United States.
On November 13, 2009, we completed a transaction in which we sold substantially all of the assets associated with our licensing product line to Lantiq Broadband Holdco, Inc. and Lantiq Deutschland GmbH (“Lantiq”) for $6.75 million. Lantiq is a newly formed fabless semiconductor company that was spun out of Infineon, our largest
DSL licensing customer. The sale included: i) our DSL and home networking technology assets; ii) certain patents and patent applications related to those technology assets; iii) a group of 41 engineers; and iv) lab and computer equipment used by the transferred engineers.
We recorded a gain on the sale of assets of $6.2 million. The gain reflects $6.75 million of proceeds less the following items: i) the net book value of assets transferred to Lantiq; ii) the write-off of certain prepaid assets that had no economic value after the sale; and iii) transaction costs. Included in the assets transferred to Lantiq
were property and equipment, principally lab and computer equipment, which had a cost of $1.9 million and a net book value of $124,000.
Inventories consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
Raw materials |
|
$ |
1,112 |
|
|
$ |
1,650 |
|
|
Finished goods |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
1,113 |
|
|
$ |
1,656 |
|
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
5. |
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT |
Property and equipment consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
Land |
|
$ |
1,080 |
|
|
$ |
1,080 |
|
Building and improvements |
|
|
8,869 |
|
|
|
8,869 |
|
Computer equipment |
|
|
1,272 |
|
|
|
2,065 |
|
Purchased software |
|
|
257 |
|
|
|
1,241 |
|
Furniture and fixtures |
|
|
820 |
|
|
|
817 |
|
Office equipment |
|
|
209 |
|
|
|
203 |
|
Manufacturing equipment |
|
|
76 |
|
|
|
76 |
|
Total |
|
|
12,583 |
|
|
|
14,351 |
|
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(5,839 |
) |
|
|
(6,888 |
) |
Property and equipment, net |
|
$ |
6,744 |
|
|
$ |
7,463 |
|
Depreciation expense amounted to $0.8 million, $0.9 million, and $0.8 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively. In 2009 and 2008, we identified $58,000 and $7.9 million, respectively, of fully depreciated assets no longer in use, and retired the assets and related accumulated depreciation. In
2009, we also sold assets with a cost of $1.9 million and a net book value of $124,000 in connection with the Lantiq asset sale.
Deferred tax assets are attributable to the following at December 31 (in thousands):
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
Federal net operating loss carryforwards |
|
$ |
15,872 |
|
|
$ |
15,679 |
|
|
Research and development and other tax credit carryforwards |
|
|
18,116 |
|
|
|
17,208 |
|
|
State net operating loss carryforwards |
|
|
599 |
|
|
|
660 |
|
|
Capitalized research and development costs |
|
|
4,719 |
|
|
|
6,245 |
|
|
Other |
|
|
3,464 |
|
|
|
2,689 |
|
|
Total |
|
|
42,770 |
|
|
|
42,481 |
|
|
Less valuation allowance |
|
|
(42,770 |
) |
|
|
(42,481 |
) |
|
Deferred tax assets, net |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate to the effective tax rate is as follows: |
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
Federal statutory rate |
|
|
34 |
% |
|
|
34 |
% |
|
|
34 |
% |
|
State rate, net of federal benefit |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
(16 |
) |
|
Tax credits |
|
|
(88 |
) |
|
|
(52 |
) |
|
|
(545 |
) |
|
Change in valuation allowance |
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
504 |
|
|
Nondeductible compensation expense |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
31 |
|
|
Other |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
Effective tax rate |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
14 |
% |
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
At December 31, 2009, we had federal net operating loss (“NOL”) and research and development credit carryforwards of approximately $47.6 million and $13.4 million respectively, expiring in 2010 through various dates up through 2029. In 2009, approximately $766,000 of NOLs and $52,000 of research and development credits expired
unused. Based on an analysis that we performed under Internal Revenue Code Section 382 on our NOLs generated for the period 1997 through 2009, we have not experienced a change in ownership as defined by Section 382, and, therefore, the NOLs are not currently under any Section 382 limitation. We also have approximately $730,000 of additional federal NOLs and $15,000 of additional research and development credits for 1995 that are currently being assessed under Section 382. Until we complete our review, these NOLs
and research and development credits have not been included as a deferred tax asset and are not included in the balance noted above. If, upon completion of our review, these NOLs are included as a deferred tax asset, they will likely be subject to a full valuation allowance. All NOLs incurred prior to 1995 have expired unused.
For state purposes, we had state NOLs and research and development credit carryforwards of approximately $10.3 million and $7.1 million respectively, expiring in 2010 through various dates up to 2024. In 2009, approximately $1.2 million of state NOLs expired unused and no research and development credits expired unused.
Subsequent ownership changes, as defined in Section 382, could limit the amount of net operating loss carryforwards and research and development credits that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income.
We recorded a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets because we determined that it was more likely than not that such deferred tax assets may not be realized. Our decision to reserve deferred tax assets was primarily due to a history of net operating losses incurred in recent years, and the uncertainty of the timing of
future taxable income. If we generate sustained future taxable income against which these tax attributes may be applied, some portion or all of the valuation allowance would be reversed.
We did not record a provision for income taxes in 2009, 2008, and 2007 due to tax net operating losses and the uncertainty of the timing of profitability in future periods. However, in 2009, 2008 and 2007 we paid immaterial amounts of state excise taxes.
Gross deferred tax assets include cumulative deductions for stock options in excess of book expense of $63.1 million. None of the benefit related to these options has been reflected in equity. Therefore, the portion of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance related to the tax benefit of these options must be recorded to equity, when
the tax benefit is realized. The estimated federal amount of this benefit is $23.1 million, and the estimated state amount is $2.0 for a total amount of $25.1 million.
We adopted the FASB’s guidance related to uncertain tax provisions on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of this guidance, we recognized no material adjustment in the liability for unrecognized income tax benefits. At the adoption date of January 1, 2007 and also at December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2009, we had
no unrecognized tax benefits.
We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2009, we had no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
7. |
EQUITY AND STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS |
At December 31, 2009, we have three stock-based compensation plans, which are described below:
Fixed Stock Option Plans – We have two fixed option plans. Under the 1996 Stock Option Plan (“1996 Plan”), we may grant incentive stock
options or nonqualified stock options to our employees and directors for up to 6,100,000 shares of common stock. Under the 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan (“2001 Plan”), we may grant nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) or stock awards to our employees and directors for up to 8,000,000 shares of common stock. The term “stock option” or “option” in this Note includes SARs as SARs share most of the characteristics of options with the principal
exception being that they are settled in cash instead of stock. Moreover, SARs represented approximately 1.8% of total options and SARs outstanding at December 31, 2009.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Under both plans, options are granted at an exercise price as determined by the Board of Directors and have terms ranging from four to a maximum of ten years. Our options generally vest over three to five years, although we have granted options that are 50% or fully vested on the date of grant. As of December 31, 2009, there were 3,734,871
shares available for grant under the 2001 Plan, and no shares available under the 1996 Plan.
During 2009 and 2007, we awarded unrestricted stock to our employees under the 2001 Plan. In 2009, 25,000 shares were distributed representing $60,000 of stock-based compensation expense that was charged against gain on sale of assets in connection with the Lantiq transaction. In 2007, 20,744 net shares were distributed representing $153,000
of stock-based compensation expense. We did not award any unrestricted stock in 2008.
The following table presents stock-based employee compensation expenses included in our consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
Cost of product sales |
|
$ |
10 |
|
|
$ |
11 |
|
|
$ |
13 |
|
|
Cost of contract revenue |
|
|
114 |
|
|
|
135 |
|
|
|
176 |
|
|
Research and development |
|
|
521 |
|
|
|
611 |
|
|
|
483 |
|
|
Selling and marketing |
|
|
293 |
|
|
|
186 |
|
|
|
119 |
|
|
General and administrative |
|
|
799 |
|
|
|
562 |
|
|
|
347 |
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
$ |
1,737 |
|
|
$ |
1,505 |
|
|
$ |
1,138 |
|
We estimate the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes valuation model. This valuation model takes into account the exercise price of the award, as well as a variety of significant assumptions. These assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options include the expected term, the expected volatility of our stock
over the expected term, the risk-free interest rate over the expected term, and our expected annual dividend yield. We believe that the valuation technique and the approach utilized to develop the underlying assumptions are appropriate in calculating the fair values of our stock options granted in the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007. Estimates of fair value are not intended to predict actual future events or the value ultimately realized by persons who receive equity awards.
In 2009, the compensation committee of the board of directors approved an amendment to certain director and officer stock options that extended the period of time option holders have to exercise upon termination from the company. This stock option modification resulted in a non-cash stock-based compensation charge of approximately $282,000
of which $251,000 was charged to expense in 2009, and $31,000 will be amortized to expense over the next two years.
Assumptions used to determine the fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, using the Black-Scholes valuation model were:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, 2009 |
|
Year Ended December 31, 2008 |
|
Year Ended December 31, 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expected term(1) |
|
6.58-6.73 years |
|
6.70-7.16 years |
|
6.25 years |
|
|
Expected volatility factor(2) |
|
60-62% |
|
51-54% |
|
51-56% |
|
|
Risk-free interest rate(3) |
|
1.76-2.47% |
|
2.17-3.16% |
|
3.80-4.73% |
|
|
Expected annual dividend yield |
|
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The expected term for each grant for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 were determined based on the historical average term of grants issued over the past seven years. The expected term for each grant for the year ended December 31, 2007 was determined as the midpoint between the vesting date and the end of the contractual
term, also known as the “simplified method” for estimating the expected term described by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB 107”). |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
The expected volatility for each grant is estimated based on an average of historical volatility over a period of time which we believe to be representative of our future volatility. |
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
|
(3) |
The risk-free interest rate for each grant is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for a period equal to the expected term of the stock option. |
We do not estimate our forfeiture rates as the actual forfeiture rate is known at the end of each reporting period due to the timing of our stock option vesting.
A summary of the transactions of our two fixed stock option plans for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007 are presented below:
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|
Outstanding at beginning of year |
|
|
7,538,993 |
|
|
$ |
4.68 |
|
|
|
6,974,705 |
|
|
$ |
4.84 |
|
|
|
6,489,812 |
|
|
$ |
4.80 |
|
Granted |
|
|
113,400 |
|
|
|
2.51 |
|
|
|
1,093,200 |
|
|
|
3.57 |
|
|
|
737,000 |
|
|
|
4.79 |
|
Exercised |
|
|
(187 |
) |
|
|
1.68 |
|
|
|
(136,158 |
) |
|
|
2.64 |
|
|
|
(197,853 |
) |
|
|
3.21 |
|
Forfeited or cancelled |
|
|
(1,632,234 |
) |
|
|
5.48 |
|
|
|
(392,754 |
) |
|
|
5.13 |
|
|
|
(54,254 |
) |
|
|
5.87 |
|
Outstanding at end of year |
|
|
6,019,972 |
|
|
$ |
4.42 |
|
|
|
7,538,993 |
|
|
$ |
4.68 |
|
|
|
6,974,705 |
|
|
$ |
4.84 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercisable at year end |
|
|
5,269,969 |
|
|
$ |
4.51 |
|
|
|
6,059,397 |
|
|
$ |
4.80 |
|
|
|
5,809,280 |
|
|
$ |
4.80 |
|
All options granted during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 had exercise prices equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant, and the weighted average grant date fair values of options granted were $1.51, $1.97, and $2.66, respectively.
At December 31, 2009, the weighted average remaining contractual term for total options outstanding and total options exercisable was approximately 5 years for each.
At December 31, 2009, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and options exercisable was zero for both as each group of options was out-of-the money by approximately $9.8 million and $9.0 million, respectively. The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock exceeds the
exercise price of the option. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2009 was approximately $146.
The following table summarizes the stock options outstanding at December 31, 2009:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options Outstanding |
|
Options Exercisable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise Price
Range |
|
|
Number |
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price |
|
Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (in years) |
|
Number |
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price |
|
$0 to $3 |
|
|
|
733,368 |
|
$ |
2.83 |
|
|
5.08 |
|
|
667,140 |
|
$ |
2.86 |
|
$3 to $4 |
|
|
|
2,798,442 |
|
|
3.39 |
|
|
5.22 |
|
|
2,313,502 |
|
|
3.34 |
|
$4 to $5 |
|
|
|
288,650 |
|
|
4.64 |
|
|
7.78 |
|
|
169,249 |
|
|
4.65 |
|
$5 to $6 |
|
|
|
530,762 |
|
|
5.18 |
|
|
3.82 |
|
|
451,673 |
|
|
5.20 |
|
$6 to $7 |
|
|
|
1,599,500 |
|
|
6.08 |
|
|
5.00 |
|
|
1,599,155 |
|
|
6.08 |
|
$7 to $10 |
|
|
|
43,000 |
|
|
7.71 |
|
|
1.47 |
|
|
43,000 |
|
|
7.71 |
|
$10 to $63 |
|
|
|
26,250 |
|
|
35.54 |
|
|
0.45 |
|
|
26,250 |
|
|
35.54 |
|
|
|
|
|
6,019,972 |
|
$ |
4.42 |
|
|
5.10 |
|
|
5,269,969 |
|
$ |
4.51 |
|
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
At December 31, 2009, unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options was approximately $1.6 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 years.
We initiated an employee option exchange program on December 14, 2009, which provided eligible rank and file employees the right to exchange eligible options outstanding for shares of unrestricted stock. There were a total of 1,129,555 options eligible for exchange into 247,137 shares of unrestricted stock. Exchange ratios for each eligible
grant were determined using the fair values of options and Aware’s common stock immediately prior to the initiation of the program. Under the terms of the program employees had until January 12, 2010 to tender their options. Upon consummation of the program in 2010, eligible employees exchanged 820,481 options for 178,314 shares of unrestricted stock.
We issue common stock from previously authorized but unissued shares to satisfy option exercises and purchases under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan - In June 1996, we adopted an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP Plan”) under which eligible employees could
purchase common stock at a price equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the common stock at the beginning or end of each six-month offering period. On November 29, 2005 we amended the ESPP Plan to provide that eligible employees may purchase common stock at a price equal to 95% of the fair market value of the common stock as of the end of each six-month offering period. There is no stock-based compensation expense related to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan because it is not considered a compensatory
plan. The plan does not have a look-back feature, and has a minimal discount of 5% of the fair market value of the common stock as of the end of each six-month offering period. Participation in the ESPP Plan is limited to 6% of an employee’s compensation, may be terminated at any time by the employee and automatically ends on termination of employment. A total of 350,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance. As of December 31, 2009 there were 129,484 shares available for future issuance
under the ESPP Plan. We issued 3,176, 2,362, and 2,465 common shares under the ESPP Plan in 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively.
Stockholder Rights Plan - In October 2001, our board of directors adopted a stockholder rights plan and declared a dividend distribution of one share purchase
right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of our common stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 15, 2001. Each share of common stock issued after that date also will carry with it one Right, subject to certain exceptions. Each Right, when it becomes exercisable, will entitle the record holder to purchase from us one ten-thousandth of a share of series A preferred stock at an exercise price of $40.00 subject to adjustment.
The Rights become exercisable upon the earliest of the following dates: (i) the date on which we first publicly announce that a person or group has become an acquiring person, or (ii) the date, if any, that our board of directors may designate following the commencement of, or first public disclosure of an intent to commence, a tender
or exchange offer which could result in the potential buyer becoming a beneficial owner of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock. Under these circumstances, holders of Rights will be entitled to purchase, for the exercise price, the preferred stock equivalent of common stock having a market value of two times the exercise price. The Rights expire on October 2, 2011, and may be redeemed by us for $.001 per Right.
On September 6, 2007, our Board of Directors determined that it would be advisable to amend the Rights Agreement to exempt John B. Stafford, Jr., John S. Stafford, III, and James M. Stafford and their respective affiliates from the definition of “Acquiring Person” in the Rights Agreement. Accordingly, on September 6, 2007,
we executed Amendment No.1 to the Rights Agreement with Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as successor rights agent to implement this amendment.
Share Repurchase Program - On August 28, 2007, we announced a stock repurchase program to purchase up to $5.0 million of our common stock, subject to market
conditions and other factors. Any purchases under our stock repurchase program may be made from time to time without prior notice. On October 29, 2008, we announced that the program had been amended to increase the total amount of common stock that may be repurchased from $5.0 million to $10.0 million and to extend the period of time that shares may be repurchased from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, we had repurchased 721,131 shares of common stock at a total cost of $2.4
million under this program. The repurchase program ended on December 31, 2009.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
On March 5, 2009, we announced a modified Dutch auction self-tender offer to purchase up to 3,500,000 shares, or approximately 15%, of our outstanding common stock (including the associated preferred share purchase rights), at a price in the range of $2.20 to $2.60 per share, for a maximum aggregate purchase price of approximately $9.1
million. The terms of the tender offer also provided the right for us to purchase up to an additional 2% of our shares if the offer was oversubscribed.
The tender offer closed on April 17, 2009, and on April 23, 2009 we repurchased 3,500,252 shares at $2.50 per share for a total cost of $9.0 million, including expenses.
8. |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES |
Lease Commitments – We own our principal office and research facility in Bedford, Massachusetts, which we have occupied since November 1997. We conduct
a portion of our activities in a leased facility in California under a non-cancelable operating lease that expires in 2010. The future minimum rental payments on this lease in 2010 are $9,000.
Rental expense was approximately $13,000, $21,000, and $34,000 in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Litigation - There are no material pending legal proceedings to which we are a party or to which any of our properties are subject which, either individually
or in the aggregate, are expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations.
Guarantees and Indemnification Obligations – We enter into agreements
in the ordinary course of business that require us: i) to perform under the terms of the contracts, ii) to protect the confidentiality of our customers’ intellectual property, and iii) to indemnify customers, including indemnification against third party claims alleging infringement of intellectual property rights. We also have agreements with each of our directors and executive officers to indemnify such directors or executive officers, to the extent legally permissible, against all liabilities reasonably
incurred in connection with any action in which such individual may be involved by reason of such individual being or having been a director or officer of the Company.
Given the nature of the above obligations and agreements, we are unable to make a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amount that we could be required to pay. Historically, we have not made any significant payments on the above guarantees and indemnifications and no amount has been accrued in the accompanying consolidated financial
statements with respect to these guarantees and indemnifications.
9. |
BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS |
We manage the business as one segment and conduct our operations in the United States. We sell our products and technology to domestic and international customers. Revenues were generated from the following geographic regions (in thousands):
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
United States |
|
$ |
12,235 |
|
|
$ |
24,070 |
|
|
$ |
15,508 |
|
|
Germany |
|
|
5,375 |
|
|
|
4,881 |
|
|
|
5,759 |
|
|
Rest of world |
|
|
4,432 |
|
|
|
1,566 |
|
|
|
5,170 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
22,042 |
|
|
$ |
30,517 |
|
|
$ |
26,437 |
|
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The portion of total revenue that was derived from major customers was as follows:
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
Customer A |
|
|
19 |
% |
|
|
12 |
% |
|
|
19 |
% |
|
Customer B |
|
|
8 |
% |
|
|
4 |
% |
|
|
16 |
% |
|
Customer C |
|
|
6 |
% |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
|
10 |
% |
|
Customer D |
|
|
4 |
% |
|
|
10 |
% |
|
|
- |
|
|
Customer E |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
28 |
% |
|
|
- |
|
10. |
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN |
In 1994, we established a qualified 401(k) Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) under which employees are allowed to contribute certain percentages of their pay, up to the maximum allowed under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our contributions to the Plan are at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Our contributions
were approximately $363,000, $326,000, and $297,000 in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Net income per share is calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
982 |
|
|
$ |
1,776 |
|
|
$ |
160 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
|
|
20,869 |
|
|
|
23,638 |
|
|
|
23,738 |
|
Additional dilutive common stock equivalents |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
59 |
|
|
|
1,346 |
|
Diluted shares outstanding |
|
|
20,874 |
|
|
|
23,697 |
|
|
|
25,084 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share – basic |
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
Net income per share – diluted |
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
0.07 |
|
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
For the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, options to purchase 5,970,722, 6,739,957, and 2,471,025 shares of common stock at weighted average exercise prices of $4.44, $4.89, and $7.13 per share, respectively, were outstanding, but were not included in
the computation of diluted EPS because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and thus would be anti-dilutive.
12. |
QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – UNAUDITED |
The following table presents unaudited quarterly operating results for each of our quarters in the two-year period ended December 31, 2009 (in thousands, except per share data):
|
|
2009 Quarters Ended |
|
|
|
March 31 |
|
|
June 30 |
|
|
September 30 |
|
|
December 31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
4,573 |
|
|
$ |
5,764 |
|
|
$ |
6,220 |
|
|
$ |
5,486 |
|
Gross profit |
|
|
3,152 |
|
|
|
3,812 |
|
|
|
4,646 |
|
|
|
4,649 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(2,253 |
) |
|
|
(1,646 |
) |
|
|
(1,163 |
) |
|
|
(419 |
) |
Gain on sale of assets |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
6,230 |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
|
(2,131 |
) |
|
|
(1,586 |
) |
|
|
(1,133 |
) |
|
|
5,834 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per share – basic |
|
$ |
(0.09 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.08 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.06 |
) |
|
$ |
0.29 |
|
Net income (loss) per share – diluted |
|
$ |
(0.09 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.08 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.06 |
) |
|
$ |
0.29 |
|
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
2008 Quarters Ended |
|
|
|
March 31 |
|
|
June 30 |
|
|
September 30 |
|
|
December 31 |
|
Revenue |
|
$ |
5,876 |
|
|
$ |
6,167 |
|
|
$ |
6,390 |
|
|
$ |
12,084 |
|
Gross profit |
|
|
4,034 |
|
|
|
4,414 |
|
|
|
4,497 |
|
|
|
10,803 |
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
(1,656 |
) |
|
|
(1,568 |
) |
|
|
(904 |
) |
|
|
4,757 |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
|
(1,282 |
) |
|
|
(1,257 |
) |
|
|
(663 |
) |
|
|
4,978 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per share – basic |
|
$ |
(0.05 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.05 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.03 |
) |
|
$ |
0.21 |
|
Net income (loss) per share – diluted |
|
$ |
(0.05 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.05 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.03 |
) |
|
$ |
0.21 |
|
Quarterly amounts may not sum to annual amounts due to rounding and dilution.
We initiated an employee option exchange program that began on December 14, 2009 and ended on January 12, 2010. Under the terms of the program, eligible rank and file employees had the right to exchange eligible options outstanding for shares of unrestricted stock. There were a total of 1,129,555 options eligible for exchange into 247,137
shares of unrestricted stock. Exchange ratios for each eligible grant were determined using the fair values of options and Aware’s common stock immediately prior to the initiation of the program. When the program ended on January 12, 2010, eligible employees had exchanged 820,481 options for 178,314 shares of unrestricted stock.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts – Years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007
(in thousands)
Col. A |
|
Col. B |
|
|
Col. C(1) |
|
|
Col. C(2) |
|
|
Col. D |
|
|
Col. E |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at |
|
|
Charged to |
|
|
Charged |
|
|
Deductions |
|
|
Balance |
|
|
|
Beginning |
|
|
Costs and |
|
|
to Other |
|
|
Charged to |
|
|
at End |
|
|
|
of Period |
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
Accounts |
|
|
Reserves |
|
|
of Period |
|
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009 |
|
$ |
30 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
30 |
|
2008 |
|
$ |
55 |
|
|
$ |
(25 |
) |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
30 |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
97 |
|
|
$ |
(20 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
22 |
|
|
$ |
55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inventory reserves: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009 |
|
$ |
738 |
|
|
$ |
399 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
1,137 |
|
2008 |
|
$ |
409 |
|
|
$ |
316 |
|
|
$ |
13 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
738 |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
313 |
|
|
$ |
102 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
6 |
|
|
$ |
409 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warranty reserves: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009 |
|
$ |
118 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
118 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
2008 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
118 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
118 |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009 |
|
$ |
42,481 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
289 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
42,770 |
|
2008 |
|
$ |
42,825 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
(344 |
) |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
42,481 |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
43,772 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
(947 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
42,825 |
|
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Based
on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.
Evaluation of Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we concluded that there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarterly period ended December 31, 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably
likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation
of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework,
our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by Item 10 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained in the sections captioned “Directors and Executive Officers”, “Corporate Governance” and “Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Proxy Statement that will be delivered to our shareholders in connection with our May 26, 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by Item 11 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained in the section captioned “Executive Compensation” in the Proxy Statement that will be delivered to our shareholders
in connection with our May 26, 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by Item 12 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained in the section captioned “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” in
the Proxy Statement that will be delivered to our shareholders in connection with our May 26, 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information, if any, required by Item 13 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained in the sections captioned “Corporate Governance” and “Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions” in the Proxy Statement that will be delivered to our shareholders in connection with our May 26, 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by Item 14 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained in the section captioned “Independent Accountants” in the Proxy Statement that will be delivered to our shareholders
in connection with our May 26, 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(a) Financial Statements and Exhibits:
|
Page |
(1) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
33 |
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 |
34 |
Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009 |
35 |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009 |
36 |
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009 |
37 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
38 |
(2) Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts |
52 |
(3) Exhibits:
The exhibits listed below are filed with or incorporated by reference in this report.
|
Exhibit No. |
|
Description of Exhibit |
|
|
3.1 |
|
Amended and Restated Articles of Organization, as amended (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
3.2 |
|
Amended and Restated By-Laws (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 10, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
4.1 |
|
Rights Agreement dated as of October 2, 2001 between Aware, Inc. and Equiserve Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (filed as Exhibit 4(a) to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 3, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
4.2 |
|
Terms of Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock of Aware, Inc. (attached as Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto). |
|
4.3 |
|
Form of Right Certificate (attached as Exhibit B to the Rights Agreement filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto). |
|
4.4 |
|
Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement dated September 6, 2007 between Aware, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
10.1* |
|
1996 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated (filed as Annex A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 11, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
10.2* |
|
1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended and restated (filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 29, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
10.3* |
|
Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
10.4* |
|
2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 99(d)(4) to the Company’s Schedule TO filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
10.5* |
|
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan for options granted to executive officers and directors prior to May 21, 2008 (filed as Exhibit 10.6 to Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
10.6* |
|
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan for options granted to executive officers and directors from and after May 21, 2008 (filed as Exhibit 10.8 to Company’s Form 8-K on May 22, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference) |
|
10.7* |
|
Offer letter dated December 17, 2007 by and between Richard Moberg and Aware, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 99.2 to Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
10.8 |
|
Asset Purchase Agreement by and between Aware, Inc. and Lantiq Broadband Holdco, Inc. and Lantiq Deutschland GmbH dated October 14, 2009. |
|
21.1 |
|
Subsidiaries of Registrant. |
|
23.1 |
|
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. |
|
31.1 |
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
|
31.2 |
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
|
32.1 |
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
*Management contract or compensatory plan.
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.
|
AWARE, INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Edmund C. Reiter |
|
Edmund C. Reiter, President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
Date: February 12, 2010 |
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on the 12th day of February 2010.
|
Signature |
|
|
|
Title |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Michael A. Tzannes |
|
Executive Chairman, Director |
Michael A. Tzannes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Edmund C. Reiter |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer, Director |
Edmund C. Reiter |
|
(Principal Executive Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Richard P. Moberg |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Richard P. Moberg |
|
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ John K. Kerr |
|
Director |
|
John K. Kerr |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ G. David Forney, Jr. |
|
Director |
|
G. David Forney, Jr. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Adrian F. Kruse |
|
Director |
|
Adrian F. Kruse |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Mark G. McGrath |
|
Director |
|
Mark G. McGrath |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Charles K. Stewart |
|
Director |
|
Charles K. Stewart |
|
|
|
|
57
ex10-8.htm
Exhibit 10.8
ASSET
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is dated as of this 14th day of
October, 2009, by and between Aware, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (“Seller”), Lantiq
Broadband Holdco Inc., a Delaware corporation (‘Lantiq US”), and
Lantiq Deutschland GmbH, a company organized and existing under the laws of
Germany (“Lantiq
Germany,” and together with Lantiq US, “Purchasers”). Capitalized
terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in
Article
11.
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
Seller is engaged in the business of designing, developing and licensing DSL
Technology and Home Networking Technology (the “Business”);
and
WHEREAS,
Seller desires to sell to Purchasers and Purchasers desire to purchase and
assume from Seller certain of the assets and liabilities of the Business, as
more particularly set forth herein.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained
herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Article
1
PURCHASE & SALE OF
PURCHASED ASSETS
1.1 Purchased
Assets.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Seller shall
sell, convey, transfer, assign and deliver to Lantiq Germany, and Seller shall
cause Lantiq Germany to purchase and acquire
from Seller, all of Seller’s right, title and interest in, to and under the
following assets, in each case free and clear of all Liens except the Outbound
IP Licenses (collectively, the “Lantiq Germany Purchased
Assets”):
(i) the
Seller Technology;
(ii) the
patents and patent applications identified in the Patent Assignment Agreement
attached hereto as Schedule
1.1(a)(i), as
well as any foreign or multinational counterparts thereof (collectively, the
“Purchased
Patents”); and
(iii) the
Intellectual Property Rights (other than patent rights) related to or used in
connection with the Seller Technology (the “Purchased Non-Patent
IP”).
(b) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Seller shall
sell, convey, transfer, assign and deliver to Lantiq US, and Seller shall
cause Lantiq
US to purchase and
acquire from Seller, all of Seller’s right, title and interest in, to and under
the following assets, in each case free and clear of all Liens except the
Outbound IP Licenses (collectively, the “Lantiq US Purchased
Assets,” and together with the Lantiq Germany Purchased Assets, the
“Purchased
Assets”):
(i) the
tangible machinery, equipment and other tangible assets used by or for the
Business, including without limitation the assets set forth on Schedule
1.1(b)(i) (the “Purchased Fixed
Assets”);
(ii) the
Licenses or other Contracts, including without limitation the Licenses and
Contracts set forth on Schedule
1.1(b)(ii), under
which Seller has acquired from another Person any right to use or other rights
or interest in any software, technology, or other tangible or intangible assets
constituting a component of, related to or used in the Purchased Assets or the
Business to the extent such agreements are assignable without the prior written
consent of another Person (the “Purchased Inbound License
Agreements”);
(iii) all
rights, causes of action, claims, demands and privileges of Seller, whether now
existing or hereafter arising, liquidated or unliquidated,
fixed or contingent, against manufacturers, vendors, subcontractors or other
third parties that relate to any of the Purchased Assets transferred hereunder,
including, without limitation, all product warranties thereon and any causes of
action, claims and rights Seller may have under any insurance contracts or
policies insuring the Purchased Assets but excluding any causes of action, claims and rights of
Seller, whether now existing or hereafter arising, under any Outbound IP License
(collectively, the “Transferred Assets
Rights”);
(iv) all
rights to offer employment to the Specified Employees; and
(v) all
documentation, specifications and other technical data necessary for the
development, manufacture, distribution or sale of the Purchased Assets
(including the Seller Proprietary Rights) and all written documentation,
specifications and other technical data useful for the development, manufacture,
distribution or sale of the Purchased Assets (including the Seller Proprietary
Rights) which are in Seller’s possession or control.
1.2 Excluded Assets.
Purchased Assets include only what is specifically identified in Section
1.1 hereof, and
all of Seller’s other assets are expressly excluded from the purchase and sale
contemplated hereby and thus the Seller shall retain, and Purchasers shall not
purchase, such assets including, without limitation, the following
(collectively, the “Excluded
Assets”):
(a) any cash,
bank accounts, accounts receivable, deposits, prepaid expenses, unearned
insurance premiums, furniture or leaseholds of real property of Seller, or
sales, marketing, accounting, finance, legal, office administration and other
similar functions which may have been supplied to Seller;
(b) all
guarantees, warranties, indemnities and similar rights in favor of Seller with
respect to products to the extent sold prior to the Closing Date;
(c) any and
all Contracts listed on Schedule
1.2(c) entered
into prior to the Closing Date pursuant to which Seller has granted to any
Person any express right to use, exercise, or otherwise practice any right under
any Purchased Asset (the “Outbound IP
Licenses”);
(d) the
License Seller receives from ARC Cores International (“ARC”) to the ARC
processor cores pursuant to a Design License Agreement and Design-User
Sublicense Agreement entered into between Seller and ARC (it being agreed that
Purchaser shall continue to receive the License to the ARC Materials delineated
in Section
4.1.4 of the DSL License Agreement);
(e) any patents and patent applications relating to
the Seller Technology and not specifically identified in the Patent Assignment
Agreement attached hereto as Schedule
1.1(b), as well
as any foreign or multinational counterparts of such non-listed patents and
patent applications (collectively, the “Non-Purchased
Patents”);
(f) any
right, title or interest in and to the Overlapping Technology except as provided
pursuant to the DSL License Agreement; and
(g) any
right, title or interest in and to any asset other than those specifically
identified as Purchased Assets pursuant to Section
1.1
hereof.
1.3 Assumed
Liabilities. From and after the Closing, Purchasers shall
assume and agree to defend, pay, discharge and perform as and when due only
those Liabilities of Seller arising out of, or related to, the ownership, use or
operation of the Purchased Assets to the extent arising out of facts, events or
circumstances occurring after the Closing, including any Liabilities related to
any Specified Employees for services performed by such employees after the
Closing on behalf of Purchasers (collectively, the “Assumed
Liabilities”).
1.4 Excluded
Liabilities. Except for those Liabilities assumed by
Purchasers pursuant to Section
1.3 hereof,
Purchasers shall not assume and shall not be liable for any Liabilities of any
kind or nature whatsoever of Seller, and Seller shall retain and be solely
responsible for the defense, payment, discharge and performance as and when due
of all Liabilities of Seller that are not Assumed Liabilities, including,
without limitation, Liabilities resulting from, arising out of or related to any
(a) Excluded Asset, (b) Taxes, (c) indebtedness for borrowed money or deferred
purchase price for property, (d) inter-company payables, loans or other
inter-company Liabilities of any kind or nature, (e) breach of contract, breach
of warranty, tort, infringement, violation of law or environmental, health or
safety matter of any kind or nature arising, in whole or in part, out of facts,
events, circumstances, actions or inactions occurring prior to the Closing, (f)
litigation, claim, assessment, action, suit, proceeding, order, judgment, decree
or investigation of any kind or nature arising out of facts, events,
circumstances, actions or inactions occurring prior to the Closing, (g) Employee
Plan, (h) employment and employee benefits-related claims, obligations and
Liabilities of current or former employees, officers, directors or consultants
arising at any time and relating to their employment with Seller, (i) employment
and employee benefits-related claims, obligations and Liabilities of the
Specified Employees incurred in relation to the employee’s period of employment
with Seller prior to and including the Closing Date, and (j) fees, costs or
expenses incurred by Seller in connection with the preparation, negotiation,
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other transactions
contemplated hereby (collectively, the “Excluded
Liabilities”).
1.5 Amendment and Restatement of
DSL License Agreement. Notwithstanding the purchase and sale
of the Purchased Assets hereunder, Seller and Purchasers agree that the License
Agreement entered into between Infineon Technologies AG and Seller with an
effective date of October 1, 2007 shall be amended and re-stated as of the
Closing Date in accordance with the form attached hereto as Schedule
1.5. In
particular and for the avoidance of doubt, Seller and Purchasers agree that no
term or condition set forth in this Agreement shall excuse Infineon Technologies
AG (or its assignee) from complying with its obligations under the DSL License
Agreement to pay Seller royalties for its sales of ADSL Products and VDSL
Products pursuant to the royalty provisions of Appendix B of the DSL License
Agreement. If there is a conflict between this Agreement and the DSL
License Agreement with respect to Infineon Technologies AG’s (or its assignee’s)
obligations to pay Seller royalties for its sales of ADSL Products and VDSL
Products, the terms of the DSL License Agreement shall govern.
1.6 Existing Support
Agreements. Seller and Infineon Technologies AG are parties to
Amendment No. 3, Amendment No. 6, Amendment No. 7 and Amendment No. 8 to the DSL
License Agreement which cover development work and additional engineering
support and technical support Seller provides to Purchaser. On the Closing
Date, Seller and Purchasers agree that Amendment No. 3, Amendment No. 6,
Amendment No. 7 and Amendment No. 8 shall immediately terminate. Seller
and Purchasers agree that Purchasers shall pay to Seller within thirty (30) days
following the Closing Date a pro rata amount for development work and additional
engineering and technical support provided by Seller for which Purchasers have
not yet paid Seller. On the Closing Date, Seller shall provide Purchasers
with an invoice detailing the pro rata amount due.
1.7 Seller and Purchaser Test
& Diagnostic Cooperation. Seller and Purchasers agree to
cooperate with respect to Seller’s development of test and diagnostic products
as specified in Schedule
1.7.
1.8 Purchaser Lease of Seller
Real Property. Beginning immediately after the Closing Date,
Seller agrees to lease to Lantiq US office and lab space at Seller’s facilities
at 40 Middlesex Turnpike, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730 subject to the terms of
form of Lease Agreement attached hereto as Schedule
1.8.
1.9 Purchase
Price. At the Closing, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein, Purchasers shall pay to Seller, in consideration
for the purchase of the Purchased Assets and the assumption of the Assumed
Liabilities, an aggregate amount equal to $6,750,000.00 (the “Purchase Price”) by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing
by Seller not less than two (2) business days prior to the Closing.
1.10 Closing. Subject
to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions contained in this Agreement, the
closing of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Assets and assignment and
assumption of the Assumed Liabilities (the “Closing”) will take
place on the date that is five (5) business days following the satisfaction or
waiver of each of the conditions set forth in
Article 5 (other
than those that by their terms are to be satisfied or waived at the Closing), or
at such other time as may be mutually agreeable to Seller and
Purchasers. The date of the Closing is herein referred to as the
“Closing
Date.” At the Closing, (a) Seller shall deliver to Purchasers
the Purchased Assets, (b) Purchasers shall deliver to Seller the Purchase Price
and shall assume the Assumed Liabilities, and (c) Seller and Purchasers and
their respective Affiliates shall deliver the documents, certificates and other
instruments that are required to be delivered by or on behalf of such Person
under Article 2
hereof and as may reasonably be required to effect the transfer by Seller to
Purchasers of the Purchased Assets and the assumption by Purchasers of the
Assumed Liabilities pursuant to and as contemplated by this
Agreement. All events which shall occur at the Closing shall be
deemed to occur simultaneously.
1.11 Transfer
Taxes. Purchasers and Seller shall each be responsible
for and pay, as and when due, one-half of the payment of any transfer taxes
arising out of or in connection with the Closing; provided that Seller
shall remain responsible for any other Taxes (including any Taxes based on
income, sales Taxes, use Taxes or VAT) incurred in connection with Seller’s
conduct of the Business and use or ownership of the Purchased Assets prior to
the Closing Date.
Article
2
CLOSING
DELIVERIES
2.1 Conditions to Purchasers’
Obligations. The obligations of Purchasers to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment of
the following conditions as of the Closing Date:
(a) The
representations and warranties set forth in Article 4 hereof
shall be true and correct in all material respects and the representations and
warranties set forth in Article 4 which are
qualified by materiality shall be true and correct in all respects, in each case
at and as of the Closing Date as though then made and as though the Closing Date
were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout such representations
and warranties.
(b) Seller
shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of the
covenants and agreements required to be performed by it under this Agreement on
or prior to the Closing.
(c) No
action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or threatened before any
Governmental Entity wherein an unfavorable judgment or ruling would prevent the
performance of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby,
declare unlawful the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, cause such
transactions to be rescinded or materially and adversely affect the right of
Seller to own or operate the Business, and no judgment, decree, injunction,
order or ruling shall have been entered which has any of the foregoing
effects.
(d) On or
prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall have delivered or caused to be delivered
to Purchasers or Purchasers’ counsel all of the following:
(i) a
certificate from Seller, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Purchasers, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that the preconditions
specified in Sections
2.1(a) and
2.1(b) have been
satisfied;
(ii) the Bill
of Sale and Assumption of Liabilities Agreement attached hereto as Schedule 2.1(d)(ii)
executed by Seller;
(iii) the
Patent Assignment Agreement attached hereto as Schedule
1.1(a)(i)
executed by Seller;
(iv) the
Amended and Restated DSL License Agreement attached hereto as Schedule
1.5 executed by
Seller;
(v) the Lease
Agreement attached hereto as Schedule
1.8 executed by
Seller;
(vi) copies of
all third party, governmental and regulatory consents, approvals, filings,
releases, terminations, payoff letters, etc. required in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, provided, however, with respect
to Purchased Inbound License Agreements, only to the extent such agreements are
assignable without the prior written consent of another Person;
(vii) a
non-foreign affidavit, dated as of the Closing Date, sworn under penalty of
perjury and in form and substance required under the Treasury Regulations issued
pursuant to Code §1445 stating that Seller is not a “Foreign Person” as defined
in Code §1445; and
(viii) such
other documents or instruments as Purchasers may reasonably request to effect
the transactions contemplated hereby.
(e) All
proceedings to be taken by Seller in connection with the consummation of the
Closing and the other transactions contemplated hereby and all certificates,
instruments and other documents required to be delivered by Seller to effect the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to Buyer.
(f) The
closing of the transactions contemplated by that certain Asset Purchase
Agreement, dated as of July 7, 2009, by and between Infineon Technologies AG, a
stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) under the laws of the Federal Republic of
Germany, and Wireline Holding S.á.r.l., a company incorporated as a société á
responsibilité limitée and existing under the laws of the Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg, shall have occurred.
Any
condition specified in this Section
2.1 may be waived
by Purchasers; provided that no such
waiver shall be effective unless it is set forth in a writing executed by each
Purchaser or unless each Purchaser agrees in writing to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement without fulfillment of such
condition.
2.2 Conditions to Seller’s
Obligations. The obligations of Seller to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the fulfillment of the
following conditions as of the Closing Date:
(a) The
representations and warranties set forth in Article 5 shall be
true and correct in all material respects and the representations and warranties
set forth in Article
5 which are qualified by materiality shall be true and correct in all
respects, in each case at and as of the Closing Date as though then made and as
though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement
throughout such representations and warranties.
(b) Each
Purchaser shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of
the covenants and agreements required to be performed by it under this Agreement
on or prior to the Closing, including, but not limited to, delivering the
Purchase Price in accordance with Section
1.9
above.
(c) On or
prior to the Closing Date, Purchasers shall have delivered to Seller or Seller’s
counsel all of the following:
(i) a
certificate from each Buyer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Seller, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that the preconditions specified
in Sections
2.2(a) and
2.2(b) have been
satisfied;
(ii) the Bill
of Sale and Assumption of Liabilities Agreement attached hereto as Schedule 2.1(d)(ii)
executed by each Purchaser;
(iii) the
Patent Assignment Agreement attached hereto as Schedule
1.1(a)(i) executed by
Lantiq Germany;
(iv) the
Amended and Restated DSL License Agreement attached hereto as Schedule
1.5 executed by
Lantiq Germany;
(v) the Lease
Agreement attached hereto as Schedule
1.8 executed by
Lantiq US; and
(vi) such
other documents or instruments as Seller may reasonably request to effect the
transactions contemplated hereby
(d) All
proceedings to be taken by each Purchaser in connection with the consummation of
the Closing and the other transactions contemplated hereby and all certificates,
instruments and other documents required to be delivered by each Purchaser to
effect the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in
form and substance to Seller.
Any
condition specified in this Section
2.2 may be waived
by Seller; provided that no such
waiver shall be effective against Seller unless it is set forth in writing
executed by Seller or unless Seller agrees in writing to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the fulfillment of such
condition.
Article
3
COVENANTS PRIOR TO
CLOSING
3.1 Covenants of
Seller. Prior to the Closing, unless Purchasers otherwise
agree in writing, Seller shall:
(a) carry on
the Business in substantially the same manner as presently conducted and use
commercially reasonable efforts to keep the organization and properties of the
Business intact and in good operating condition and repair, including its
present business operations, physical facilities, Seller Technology, Seller
Proprietary Rights, working conditions and employees;
(b) not
transfer, license or encumber any of the Purchased Assets;
(c) use
commercially reasonable efforts to keep available the services of the Specified
Employees and to preserve the present business relationships with all customers,
suppliers and others having business dealings with Seller;
(d) not
increase or otherwise change the rate or nature of the compensation (including
wages, salaries, bonuses and benefits under pension, profit sharing, deferred
compensation and similar plans or programs) which is paid or payable to any
Specified Employee, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice or as specified in Schedule
4.20(i);
(e) not
change, amend, terminate or otherwise modify any material Contract in any
respect that would result in a material adverse change in the
Business;
(f) promptly
(once Seller obtains knowledge thereof) inform Purchasers in writing of any
breach of the representations and warranties contained in Article 4 hereof or
any breach of any covenant hereunder by Seller;
(g) comply
with all material legal requirements and contractual liabilities applicable to
the operations of the Business and pay all applicable Taxes when due and
payable;
(h) not make
or change any election, change an annual accounting period, adopt or change any
accounting method, file any amended Tax return, enter into any closing
agreement, settlement or other agreement or arrangement with respect to Tax
claims, returns, refunds or limitation periods;
(i) cooperate
with Purchasers and use commercially reasonable efforts and take such actions to
cause the conditions to Purchasers’ obligation to close to be satisfied
(including, without limitation, the execution and delivery of all agreements
contemplated hereunder to be so executed and delivered);
(j) confer on
a regular and reasonable basis with representatives of each Purchaser to report
on operational matters and the general status of ongoing operations of the
Business;
(k) provide,
and cause its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees,
attorneys, accountants and other agents to provide, Purchasers and their
accounting, legal, funding sources and other representatives full and complete
access at all reasonable times to Seller’s officers, personnel, suppliers and
distributors, consultants, attorneys, accountants and facilities and to
business, financial, legal, accounting, regulatory, tax, compensation and other
data and information concerning the Purchased Assets and Assumed Liabilities,
subject to any confidentiality obligations Seller (and its Affiliates) may owe
to third parties; and
(l) not agree
to undertake any of the foregoing.
3.2 Covenants of
Purchasers. Prior to the Closing, each Purchaser
shall:
(a) promptly
(once it obtains knowledge thereof) inform Seller in writing of any breaches of
the representations and warranties contained in Article 5 or any breach of any
covenant hereunder by Purchasers;
(b) cooperate
with Seller and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the conditions
to Seller’s obligation to close to be satisfied (including, without limitation,
the execution and delivery of all agreements contemplated hereunder to be so
executed and delivered); and
(c) confer on
a regular and reasonable basis with representatives of Seller to
report on the general status of the transactions contemplated in Section
2.1(f).
Article
4
SELLER’S REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
Seller’s Representations and
Warranties. Seller represents and warrants to Purchasers that
as of the date of hereof and as of the Closing:
4.1 Formation; Good
Standing. Seller is a corporation duly formed, validly
existing, and in good standing under the laws of Massachusetts and is qualified
to do business in the jurisdiction of organization.
4.2 Subsidiaries. Seller
has one subsidiary, Aware Security Corporation, which does not own or use, and
has not owned or used, any assets or properties related in any way to the
Purchased Assets or the Non-Purchased Patents, Overlapping Technology or any of
the technology related thereto or any other rights in the Business.
4.3 Authorization. Seller
has the full legal right, power and authority to enter into and perform the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the agreements and other
documents contemplated hereby, without need for any approval, license, or notice
to any court, Governmental Entity or other Person or entity. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the documents
contemplated hereby by Seller and the consummation by Seller of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action of Seller, and no vote of the shareholders of Seller is
necessary to approve this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. This Agreement and the agreements and other documents
contemplated hereby evidence the legal, valid and binding obligations of Seller,
enforceable against Seller in accordance with their terms.
4.4 No Default or
Violation. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by Seller and the consummation by Seller of the transactions
contemplated hereby do not and will not: conflict with Seller’s Articles of
Organization or By-laws; violate any law, regulation, order, judgment or decree;
or result in a default or acceleration of any material obligation under, or give
rise to any material obligation under, any agreement or instrument. No waiver,
consent, approval or authorization of any person is required to be made or
obtained by Seller in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the
assignment by Seller to Purchasers of the Purchased Assets.
4.5 Title to Properties; Absence
of Liens and Encumbrances. Seller has the full right to sell,
transfer, and assign all of the Purchased Assets to Purchasers, and has good
title thereto (and will, at the Closing, sell, transfer and assign to Purchasers
good title to all of such Purchased Assets) and to all such assets and
properties and rights contemplated to be licensed to (or the subject of any
license to) Purchasers in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except the Outbound IP
Licenses. All of the Purchased Assets and all of the assets,
properties and rights contemplated to be licensed to (or the subject of any
license to) Purchasers in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement constitute in all material respects all of the assets, properties and
rights of Seller or any of its Affiliates used or held for use with respect to
the Business.
4.6 Litigation. Except
as set forth in Schedule
4.6, there are no
actions, suits, proceedings or investigations relating to the Purchased Assets,
the Business or any of the assets, properties and rights contemplated to be
licensed to (or the subject of any license to) Purchasers in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement pending or, to knowledge of Seller,
threatened against Seller, Seller’s Affiliates or Seller’s customers or
licensees or any of their properties, at law or in equity, before any court or
governmental agency, and Seller does not know of any circumstances that would
give rise to any such action, suit, proceeding or investigation. Neither Seller
nor any of its properties is subject to any order, writ, injunction, decree or
judgment of any court or governmental agency relating to the Purchased
Assets.
4.7 Product
Warranty. There have been no material warranty or product
liability claims asserted by any customer or other person against Seller with
respect to the Seller Technology, any of the other Purchased Assets or any of
the assets, properties and rights contemplated to be licensed to Purchasers
under the DSL License Agreement. Each product sold, leased, licensed
or delivered by Seller included in the Purchased Assets has been in material
conformity with all applicable material contractual commitments and express and
implied warranties.
4.8 Taxes. Seller
(a) has duly and timely filed all federal, state and other Tax returns and
reports required to be filed by the laws of any jurisdiction to which it or any
of the Purchased Assets is or has been subject, (b) has paid in full to the
proper governmental agencies all federal, state and other Taxes (including,
without limitation, all sales, use, withholding and payroll taxes), interest,
assessments, fees, and other governmental charges due or claimed to be due on
account of its assets, properties, income or operations, and (c) has withheld,
collected and paid to the proper governmental agencies all amounts that it has
been required by law to withhold or collect.
4.9 Legal Compliance.
Seller has obtained all material governmental or other consents, licenses,
permits or approvals (federal, state, foreign or local) required for the lawful
conduct of Seller’s business and the ownership of Seller’s assets and
properties, including the Purchased Assets, and all such consents, licenses,
permits and approvals are in full force and effect in all material respects, and
Seller has conducted its business and the ownership of its assets and properties
in compliance with all applicable law in all material respects.
4.10 Customers. Schedule
4.10 contains a
true and complete list of all current customers, users and licensees of the
Seller Technology.
4.11 Condition. All
material machinery, equipment and other tangible assets included in the
Purchased Assets are in good operating condition and repair, ordinary wear and
tear excepted.
4.12 Suppliers. Schedule
4.12 contains a
true and complete list of all vendors from or through whom Seller has purchased
material goods (for sale or lease) or services related to the Purchased Assets
and summarizes all contractual arrangements for continued supply from each such
firm. Seller has no currently existing material open purchase orders or
contracts with vendors or other suppliers of materials or services related to
the Purchased Assets.
4.13 Patents, Trademarks and
Other Intangible Personal Property.
(a) Seller
owns, or otherwise possesses, legally enforceable rights to use all Purchased
Patents, copyrights, and any applications therefor, domain names, maskworks, net
lists, schematics, technology, know-how, trade secrets, algorithms, computer
software programs or applications (in both source code and object code form),
and all trademarks, trade names and service marks and all other Intellectual
Property Rights included in the Purchased Assets (the “Seller Proprietary
Rights”), including those set forth on Schedule
4.13(b) free and
clear of any and all liens, charges, security interests and other encumbrances
whatsoever. With the exception of any Contract listed on the
Schedules hereto, Seller is not a party to any Contract related to any Purchased
Asset, including any such agreement whereby any such Purchased Asset is licensed
to any third party on an exclusive basis or whereby the manufacture, sale,
distribution or other use of any Purchased Asset, or the enforcement of any
right relating to any Purchased Asset is restricted. Except as set
forth in this Section
4.13 and on Schedule
4.13(b) hereto,
all of Seller’s rights in and to Seller Proprietary Rights, including (if
applicable) the right to create derivatives, are freely assignable in its own
name and Seller is under no obligation to obtain any approval or consent for use
of any of Seller Proprietary Rights. The Seller Proprietary Rights,
together with all Intellectual Property Rights licensed pursuant to the DSL
License Agreement, represent all of Seller’s Intellectual Property Rights
related to the operation of the Business and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not alter, impair or extinguish
any Seller Proprietary Rights and any rights therein or thereto. To
Seller’s knowledge, Seller has, where applicable, complied with its obligations
with regard to the Purchased Patents to any technical standards organizations in
all material respects.
(b) Set forth
on Schedule
4.13(b) is a
complete list of all registrations (and applications for registration) for
Intellectual Property Rights (including domain names and computer software
programs or applications) included in the Seller Proprietary Rights, specifying,
where applicable, the jurisdictions in which each such Seller Proprietary Right
has been issued or registered or in which an application for such issuance and
registration has been filed, including the respective registration or
application numbers and the names of all registered owners.
(c) Seller is
not obligated to pay any royalties or other compensation to any third party in
respect of its ownership, use or license of any of the Seller Proprietary
Rights, except to the parties listed in Schedule
4.13(c).
(d) Set forth
on Schedule
4.13(d) is a
complete list of all Contracts as to which Seller is a party and pursuant to
which Seller or any other person is authorized to use any Seller Proprietary
Right. Seller is not in breach, default or other violation of any
Contract described on such list. The Contracts are in full force and
effect and are binding and enforceable against each of the parties thereto in
accordance with their respective terms. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Seller, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, will not cause Seller to be in violation or default under any Contract,
nor entitle any other party to any Contract to terminate or modify such
Contract.
(e) All of
the registrations (and applications for registration) for Seller Proprietary
Rights set forth on Schedule
4.13(b)
as issued by, or filed with the United States Patent and
Trademark Office or Register of Copyrights or the corresponding offices of other
countries listed on Schedule
4.13(b), have
been duly issued or filed, as the case may be, and have
been properly maintained and renewed in accordance with all applicable
provisions of law and administrative regulations in the United States and each
such other country. Seller has used commercially reasonable efforts
to protect its rights in the Seller Proprietary Rights and has reasonably
maintained the confidentiality of its trade secrets, pending patent
applications, know-how and other confidential Seller Proprietary Rights, and
there have been no acts or omissions by Seller, the result of which would be to
materially compromise the rights of Seller to apply for or enforce appropriate
legal protection of such Seller Proprietary Rights.
(f) Except
for any Patents that may be necessary to comply with a Standard, the use of the
Seller Proprietary Rights in the manner used by the Seller prior to the Closing
Date does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any copyright,
patent, trademark, service mark, trade secret or other third party Intellectual
Property Right, and no claims with respect to the Purchased Assets (including
the Seller Proprietary Rights and any of the assets, properties and rights
contemplated to be licensed to (or the subject of any license to) Purchasers in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) have been
asserted or are threatened by any person nor is Seller aware of any valid
grounds for any claims (i) that the manufacture, development, sale, licensing or
use of the Purchased Assets as developed, sold or licensed or used by Seller,
infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates on any copyright, patent,
trademark, service mark, trade secret or other third party Intellectual Property
Right, (ii) against the use by Seller of any trademarks, service marks,
trade names, trade secrets, copyrights, Patents, technology, know-how or
computer software programs and applications included in or used in connection
with the Purchased Assets (including the Seller Proprietary Rights) or (iii)
challenging the ownership by Seller, validity or effectiveness of any of the
Purchased Assets (including the Seller Proprietary Rights). No
Purchased Assets (including the Seller Proprietary Rights) are subject to any
outstanding decree, order, judgment, or stipulation restricting in any manner
the licensing thereof by Seller.
(g) Each
former and current employee, officer and consultant of Seller working or who has
worked with the Purchased Assets has executed an employment agreement which
covers items, including confidentiality, non-competition, trade secrets,
invention disclosures and intellectual property ownership in substantially the
form attached hereto as Schedule
4.13(g) providing
Seller with title and ownership to Seller Proprietary Rights developed or used
by Seller and agreeing to maintain the confidentiality of Seller Proprietary
Rights and Seller’s other confidential information. To the knowledge
of Seller, no employee, officer or consultant of Seller is in violation of any
term of any employment or consulting contract, proprietary information and
inventions agreement, non-competition agreement, or any other contract or
agreement relating to the relationship of any such employee, officer or
consultant with Seller or any previous employer.
(h) All
documentation, specifications and other technical data necessary for the
development, manufacture, distribution or sale of the Purchased Assets
(including the Seller Proprietary Rights) and all written documentation,
specifications and other technical data useful for the development, manufacture,
distribution or sale of the Purchased Assets (including the Seller Proprietary
Rights) which are in Seller’s possession or control will be delivered to
Purchasers as part of the Purchased Assets (including the Seller Proprietary
Rights).
(i) The use
of any software that constitutes part of the Seller Proprietary Rights by the
Seller has been in compliance with the terms of any open source license for any
open source code included in the Seller Proprietary Rights.
(j) The
Purchased Assets do not contain open source software.
4.14 Outbound IP
License. Schedule
1.2(c) lists each
Outbound IP License. None of such instruments or documents has been
modified or amended, whether in writing, by custom or usage or otherwise and all
of such instruments and documents are in full force and effect in accordance
with their respective terms.
4.15 Purchased Inbound License
Agreements. Seller is in compliance with all of its
obligations arising under the Purchased Inbound License Agreements in all
material respects, and there is no amount due under the Purchased Inbound
License Agreements for goods and services provided to Seller prior to the
Closing. Neither Seller nor, to Seller’s knowledge, any other party
to any of the Purchased Inbound License Agreements is in breach, default or
other violation thereunder. There has been no claim that there has
been any such default, breach or failure to comply and there are no existing
facts or conditions known to Seller that, with or without the passage of time,
notice or both, will result in a default under, breach of, or failure to comply
with any term or provision of a Purchased Inbound License
Agreement.
4.16 Brokers’
Fees. Seller has no liability to pay any fees or commissions
to any broker, finder, or agent with respect to the Purchased Assets, the
execution of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereunder for which
Purchasers could become liable or obligated.
4.17 Solvency. Seller
is not now insolvent and will not be rendered insolvent by the transactions
contemplated hereunder. As used in this section, “insolvent” means
that the sum of the debts and other probable Liens of Seller exceeds the present
fair saleable value of Seller’s assets.
4.18 Foreign Corrupt
Practices. Except as described in Schedule
4.18, neither the
Seller nor any of its directors, officers or employees have, with respect to the
Business, the Purchased Assets or any government bid, (i) used any funds to
offer or provide any unlawful contributions, payments, gifts, gratuities or
entertainment, (ii) made any unlawful expenditures relating to political
activity to government officials or others, (iii) received notice of any payment
identified in (i) or (ii) above, or (iv) made or offered or solicited or
accepted any contributions, payments, gifts, gratuities, entertainment or any
other item or service or any value as a kickback, bribe or for any other reason
in violation of the laws, regulations or requirements of any Governmental
Entity, including but not limited to the Anti Kickback Act of 1986, as amended,
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the Truth in Negotiations
Act of 1962, as amended, the Anti Kickback Act of 1986, as amended, or the
Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act, as amended, or any FAR provision
implementing such laws, or other similar United States or foreign law, (v)
violated any requirements of the Defense Industrial Security Manual or the
Defense Industrial Security Regulation or any related security regulations, (vi)
made any material false statement to any official of a Governmental Body; nor
(vii) violated any other law applicable to a government bid.
4.19 Certain Business
Relationships Involving the Purchased
Assets. None of Seller’s directors, officers, employees or
shareholders has been a party to, or otherwise involved in, any business
arrangement or relationship involving the Purchased Assets within the past
twelve (12) months, and none of Seller’s directors, officers or employees own
any asset, tangible or intangible, that is used in the Business.
4.20 Specified
Employees.
(a) Schedule
6.6 contains a list of all
the Specified Employees, showing for each Specified Employee the name, title,
function, location, and the annual fixed salary or wages as of July 31,
2009 and aggregate annual target compensation for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2009. Except as set forth on Schedule
6.6, none of the
Specified Employees has entered into an early retirement arrangement with
Seller. None of the Specified Employees has given notice or otherwise
indicated in writing (or to the knowledge of Seller given any other indication)
that he or she intends to terminate his or her employment.
(b) Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.20(b), with
respect to the Specified Employees, Seller is not a party to any collective
bargaining agreement, similar written or material unwritten agreement or other
relationship with a union or other employee representative.
(c) Schedule
4.20(c) contains
a complete and accurate list of all Employee Plans in which any of the Specified
Employees participate or are entitled to participate.
(d) Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.20(d), with
respect to the Specified Employees, there is not presently pending or
existing, and to Seller’s knowledge there is not threatened, (i) any strike,
slowdown, picketing, work stoppage or other material labor dispute, or (ii) any
controversies between Seller and any of the Specified
Employees. Schedule
4.20(d) contains
a complete and accurate list of (i) all labor disputes of the kind mentioned
under Section
4.20(d)(i) above which have
happened in the last five (5) years prior to the date hereof, and (ii) all
actions, suits or other proceedings, including but not limited to lawsuits or
formally initiated conciliation/arbitration proceedings pending against Seller
by any Specified Employee or vice versa, involving works
councils or other employee representatives.
(e) Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.20(e), with
respect to the Specified Employees, Seller has no current or potential
obligation to provide post-employment health, life or other welfare benefits to
such employees other than as required under section 4980B of the U.S. Tax Code
or any similar applicable Law. With respect to the Specified
Employees or the Business, neither Seller nor any other entity that, together
with Seller, is or was (at a relevant time) treated as a single employer under
Section 414 of the U.S. Tax Code, has contributed to or has any liability with
respect to any plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or “multiemployer plan” (as
such term is defined under Section 3(37) of ERISA).
(f) Seller
has complied in all material respects with all laws applicable to the employment
of each of the Specified Employees and has violated no such law in any material
respect in connection with the operation of the Business. There do
not exist any pending or, to Seller’s knowledge, threatened claims (other than
routine undisputed claims for benefits), suits, actions or disputes relating to
any Specified Employee with respect to any Employee Plan.
(g) Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.20(g), Seller
has no Liabilities arising out of the employment, remuneration or hiring of any
of the Specified Employees prior to the Closing (and there is no basis for any
of the foregoing), other than ordinary payroll and benefit obligations that have
been fully accrued for in the ordinary course of business.
(h) With
respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, any notice required under any
law or collective bargaining agreement has been, or prior to the Closing will
be, given, and all bargaining obligations with any employee representative have
been, or prior to the Closing will be, satisfied.
(i) Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.20(i), the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not accelerate the time of the
payment or vesting of, or increase the amount of, or result in the forfeiture of
compensation or benefits for any Specified Employee under any Employee
Plan.
Article
5
PURCHASERS’ REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
Purchasers’ Representations
and Warranties. Each Purchaser hereby represents and warrants
to Seller as of the date hereof and as of the Closing that:
5.1 Due
Organization. Lantiq is a corporation duly incorporated,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Lantiq Germany is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of Germany.
5.2 Authority. Such
Purchaser has the full legal right, power and authority to enter into and
perform the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, without need for any
consent, approval, authorization, license or order of, or notice to, any court,
Governmental Entity or other Person or entity. The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby
by such Purchaser and the consummation by such Purchaser of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action of such Purchaser. This Agreement evidences the
legal, valid and binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against
Purchaser in accordance with its terms.
5.3 No Default or
Violation. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by such Purchaser and the consummation by such Purchaser of the
transactions contemplated hereby do not, and will not conflict with such
Purchaser’s Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws, violate any law, regulation,
order, judgment or decree by which such Purchaser is bound or violate any
Contract to which such Purchaser is a party.
5.4 Availability of
Funds. Such Purchaser currently has access to sufficient
immediately available funds in cash or cash equivalents, and shall at the
Closing have sufficient immediately available funds, in cash, to pay the
Purchase Price.
Article
6
CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF THE
PARTIES
Certain Obligations of the
Parties. The parties covenant and agree as
follows:
6.1 Covenant of Further
Assurances. Seller shall, at any time and from time to time
after the Closing, at its expense, execute, acknowledge, seal and deliver all
such instruments and documents, and do all such further things, as Purchasers
may reasonably request to perfect and effect the transfer and delivery to
Purchasers of any and all of the Purchased Assets or to transfer to or otherwise
obtain for Purchasers any consent, license, permit, registration or approval
necessary or desirable to accomplish the purchase of the Purchased Assets or to
enable Purchasers fully and without restriction to manufacture, distribute and
sell the Seller Technology.
6.2 Access to Information /
Interoperability Lab. From and after the Closing, Seller shall
give Purchasers and its representatives access at all reasonable times to the
facilities, properties, books, records, officers, employees and agents of Seller
as the same relate to the Purchased Assets. In addition, from and
after the Closing, Seller shall ensure that employees, contractors, agents and
other representatives of Purchasers shall continue to have physical access to
Seller’s interoperability lab (currently located in the Stewart lab on the
second floor of Seller’s facility in Bedford, Massachusetts ) and be permitted
to use the equipment located therein, as well as remote access to Seller’s data
and information used in connection therewith, on terms and conditions (including
hours and methods of access) no less favorable than Seller’s
employees.
6.3 Payment of Taxes;
Cooperation on Tax Matters.
(a) Seller
shall pay, promptly and when due, whether at the original time fixed therefor or
pursuant to any extension of time to pay or any agreement with tax authorities,
any and all taxes, fees and other charges that shall become due or shall have
accrued on account of the operation and conduct of Seller’s Technology on or
before the Closing or on account of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, provided, however,
that Seller shall not be required to pay any such tax, fee or charge if it is
contesting the validity or amount thereof through proper proceedings, in good
faith and with reasonable diligence if such contest does not, and will not, have
any adverse impact on Purchasers.
(b) Seller
and Purchasers shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested
by the other, in connection with the filing of Tax Returns of each of Seller and
each Purchaser or in connection with any audit, litigation or other proceeding
with respect to Taxes of the Business. Such cooperation shall include
the retention and (upon the other party’s request) the provision of records and
information which are reasonably relevant to any such audit, litigation or other
proceeding and making representatives available on a mutually convenient basis
to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided
hereunder.
6.4 Non-Competition;
Non-Solicitation; Non-Disclosure.
(a) During
the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the third anniversary of the
Closing Date (the “Non-Compete Period”),
Seller shall not, and shall not allow its Affiliates to, either directly or
indirectly, Participate in any Competitive Business. “Participate” includes
any direct or indirect ownership interest in any enterprise or participation in
the management of such enterprise, whether as an officer, director, employee,
partner, sole proprietor, agent, representative, executive, franchisor,
franchisee, creditor, owner or otherwise; provided that
ownership of less than 2% of the outstanding stock of any publicly-traded
corporation shall not be deemed to be Participating solely by the reason thereof
in any of its business. “Competitive Business” means any business
anywhere in the world engaged in any business that the Business conducts or
proposes to conduct as of the Closing Date (other than (i) pursuant to
relationships with Purchasers or any of its Affiliates, (ii) Seller’s continued
business with respect to the Outbound IP Licenses listed in Schedule
1.2, and
(iii) Seller’s continued business with respect to the licensing and/or sale of
Non-Purchased Patents).
(b) Seller
agrees, on behalf of itself and each of its Affiliates, that during the
Non-Compete Period, Seller shall not, directly or indirectly:
(i) induce or
attempt to induce any employee of either Purchaser, including the Specified
Employees, to leave the employ of such Purchaser; or
(ii) hire any
employee of either Purchaser without the prior written consent of such
Purchaser.
(c) Seller
agrees, on behalf of itself and each of its Affiliates, that during the period
beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the first anniversary of the Closing
Date, Seller shall not, directly or indirectly, employ or otherwise retain the
services of any Specified Employee (it being agreed that if a Specified Employee
accepts an employment position with a Purchaser or a third party and such
Purchaser or third party terminates the employment of such Specified Employee
prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, then, subject in all
circumstances to Section 6.4(b), this
Section 6.4(c)
shall not restrict Seller’s right to hire such Specified Employee following such
termination).
(d) Each
Purchaser agrees, on behalf of itself, that during the Non-Compete Period, it
shall not, directly or indirectly:
(i) induce or
attempt to induce any employee of Seller (other than the Specified Employees) to
leave the employ of Seller; or
(ii) hire any
employee of Seller (other than the Specified Employees) without the prior
written consent of Seller.
(e) Seller
shall keep confidential, and shall not disclose to any third party or use any
confidential or proprietary information or trade secret relating to the Seller
Technology or any other Purchased Asset, including, by way of example and
without limitation, vendor lists, customer lists, source code, know-how and
trade secrets, except to the extent such information is published for
dissemination to the general public by, or with the written consent of,
Purchasers. For avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything of the
foregoing, Seller may use any information retained in the unaided memories of
Seller’s employees who have had access to the Seller Technology or any other
Purchased Asset. An employee’s memory is unaided if the employee has
not intentionally memorized the information for the purpose of retaining and
subsequently using or disclosing it to a third party. It is
understood that no license or right of use under any Patent or patentable right,
copyright or trademark is granted or conveyed by this right under this
Agreement.
(f) Seller
acknowledges and agrees that (i) the restrictions contained in this Section
6.4 for the
benefit of Purchasers are reasonable in all respects (including with respect to
the subject matter, time period and geographical area) and are necessary to
protect the value of the Purchased Assets, (ii) Seller is primarily responsible
for the creation of such value and (ii) Purchasers would not have
consummated the transactions contemplated hereby without the restrictions
contained in this Section
6.4.
6.5 DSL License Agreement;
Assignment of Intellectual Property. Seller shall have
executed and delivered (i) the DSL License Agreement and (ii) assignments of all
necessary Seller Proprietary Rights including the Patent Assignment Agreement
attached hereto as Schedule
1.1(a)(i).
6.6 Employee
Matters.
(a) Employment
Offers. The employees of Seller as set forth in Schedule
6.6 (the “Specified Employee”)
shall continue to be employed by Seller at the Closing. At the
Closing, each Specified Employee shall be offered employment by Lantiq US, with
terms and conditions of employment, including base compensation, bonus
opportunity and benefits, that are substantially comparable in the aggregate to
those provided by Seller to such Specified Employee immediately prior to the
Closing (but not including any equity-based compensation); provided that nothing
in this Agreement shall limit the ability of Lantiq US (or one of its
Affiliates) to reduce the rate of compensation or benefits, or terminate the
employment, of any Specified Employee following acceptance of such
offer. Effective on the Closing Date, Seller shall terminate
and Lantiq US shall hire each Specified Employee who accepts such
offer of employment from Lantiq US or one of its Affiliates. Seller
hereby consents to Lantiq US (or one of its Affiliates) contacting each
Specified Employee with respect to the desire of such employee to enter the
employ of Lantiq US (or one of its Affiliates) and Seller shall cooperate in
good faith with and use its commercially reasonable efforts to assist Lantiq US
to cause such Specified Employees to accept such offer of
employment. Specified Employees will receive credit for such
employees’ period of employment with Seller for purposes of calculating future
accruals under any vacation program and for purposes of determining severance
pay under any applicable severance plan of Lantiq US; provided that Lantiq
US shall not assume any Liability for any retention, severance,
change-of-control or similar agreements between Seller or any of its Affiliates
and any of the Specified Employees in effect as of the Closing Date, and Seller
shall retain Liability for all obligations under any such retention, severance,
change-of-control or similar agreements. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary set forth herein, and for the avoidance of doubt, Seller shall also
remain solely liable and shall pay to each Specified Employee any and all wages,
salaries, vacation pay and compensation of any kind payable to any Specified
Employee for any period ending on or prior to the Closing
Date. Furthermore, Seller shall process final payroll payments to
Specified Employees with respect to the payroll period in which the Closing Date
occurs and such payments shall include all compensation and vacation pay that is
earned but unpaid as of the Closing Date and during the entire payroll period in
which the Closing Date occurs and shall be made on or as soon as reasonably
practicable following the Closing Date; provided that
Purchaser shall reimburse Seller within five (5) business days of receipt of an
invoice from Seller for the portion of such payments relating solely to
compensation earned during post-Closing periods, the employer’s portion of
payroll taxes on such post-Closing compensation (e.g., FICA) and employer
matching contributions on the portion of such post-Closing compensation that is
deferred under Seller’s 401(k) plan. Seller shall deliver to Lantiq
US as soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing Date all personnel files
and employment records relating to the Specified Employees who accept employment
offers from Lantiq US, provided that Seller
may retain one copy of such files and records for applicable legally-required
document retention purposes.
(b) COBRA. Seller
is wholly responsible for complying with all applicable health care continuation
coverage requirements under Section 4980B of the U.S. Tax Code or similar
applicable laws (“COBRA”) under
Seller’s group health plans with respect to Specified Employees (and covered
dependents) whose qualifying events occur while such Specified Employees (and
covered dependents) participate under Seller’s group health plan and Purchaser
is wholly responsible for complying with such coverage requirements under COBRA
under Purchaser’s group health plan with respect to employees (and covered
dependents) employed by Lantiq US or one of its Affiliates from and after the
Closing whose qualifying events occur while such employees (and covered
dependents) participate under Purchaser’s group health plan.
(c) Employee
Benefits. As of the day
immediately following the Closing Date and for six months following the Closing
Date, Lantiq US or one of its Affiliates
shall permit Specified Employees to be eligible to participate in employee plans
and benefit arrangements of Lantiq US (or such Affiliate) that provide benefits that
are substantially comparable in the aggregate to those provided by Seller to
such Specified Employees immediately prior to the Closing (but not including any
equity-based compensation) in accordance with the then prevailing terms of such
employee plans and benefit arrangements, provided that (i)
nothing herein shall prevent Lantiq US (or such Affiliate) from terminating the employment of any
such Specified Employee or modifying or terminating such plans from time to
time, (ii) for eligibility and vesting purposes under any such plan for which a
Specified Employee may be eligible after the Closing Date, Lantiq US (or such
Affiliate) shall ensure that service by
such Specified Employee with Seller shall be deemed to have been service with
Lantiq US (or such Affiliate), provided
such crediting of service does not result in a duplication of benefits, (iii)
all Specified Employees and their spouses and dependents who are covered under
Seller’s respective health plans at the time of the Closing shall be covered
immediately after the Closing Date, without any gap in coverage (and shall not
be excluded from coverage on account of any pre-existing condition) under a
group health plan of Lantiq US (or such
Affiliate), and (iv) Purchaser shall not be required to have a
replacement 401(k) plan in place immediately following the Closing Date as long
as Purchaser uses commercially reasonable efforts to adopt such plan as soon as
reasonably practicable following the Closing Date. Effective as of
the Closing Date, Seller shall take all such actions as are necessary to fully
vest Specified Employees in all of their account balances under Seller’s 401(k)
plan. Lantiq US and Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to permit Specified Employees to rollover their account balances under the
Seller’s 401(k) plan (in the form of cash and notes associated with plan loans)
to a 401(k) plan sponsored by Purchaser (or one of its Affiliates) as soon as
reasonably practicable on or after the Closing Date. Seller shall not
place any Specified Employees’ plan loans into default prior to the date of such
rollovers as long as such rollovers occur prior to the last day of the calendar
quarter following the calendar quarter in which the Closing Date
occurs. Notwithstanding anything in this Section
6.6 to the
contrary, if Lantiq US’s welfare benefit plans providing medical and dental
coverages have not been adopted and are not available to provide benefits to
Specified Employees on the day immediately following the Closing Date, Seller
shall take such actions as are necessary to permit Specified Employees (and
their covered dependents) to continue to participate under Seller’s group
medical and dental plans through December 31, 2009; provided that
Purchaser reimburses Seller for the cost of premiums for such coverage for each
full calendar month of coverage occurring during the period beginning on the
Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2009. As soon as reasonably
practicable after the date of this Agreement, Seller shall inform the Specified
Employees of the effect of the transaction contemplated under this Agreement on
such employees’ health-care and dependent-care flexible spending accounts,
including the fact that such employees may forfeit unused amounts under such
accounts if they do not incur sufficient reimbursable expenses prior to the
Closing Date.
(d) Certain Foreign National
Employees. The parties recognize that the Specified Employees
listed on Schedule
6.6(d) are in
nonimmigrant visa status or have applications for lawful permanent residence
pending with the relevant Governmental Entities (the “Affected
Foreign National Employees”). The
parties further recognize that new or amended petitions with respect to such
Affected Foreign National Employees may be required in certain of these cases
identified on Schedule
6.6(d), unless
Lantiq US (or any of its Affiliates, as the case may be) is deemed the
“successor-in- interest” to Seller (as such term is used in pronouncements by
the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”)) with respect
to such Affected Foreign National Employees. Accordingly, Lantiq US
hereby agrees to assume Seller’s obligations to the USCIS as
“successor-in-interest” under such pending applications with respect to the
related Affected Foreign National Employees (including any obligations arising
from or under attestations made in each certified and still effective Labor
Condition Application (“LCA”) filed by Seller
with respect to any such Affected Foreign National Employees); provided that such
assumption shall not grant to any such Affected Foreign National Employee any
rights enforceable by such employee against Lantiq US. Each party agrees to use
commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions as may reasonably be
requested at and following the Closing Date to document to the USCIS or such
other Governmental Entity, as the case may be, as may be necessary to
memorialize the “successor-in-interest” relationship with respect to any
Affected Foreign National Employees. Seller shall provide Purchaser with true
and complete copies of all applications, petitions and other documentation
related to the Affected Foreign National Employees’ immigration status on or
before the Closing Date.
6.7 Transitional IT
Assistance. Seller shall provide the IT Services, including
the following: (i) Separation Services to implement the Transitional Environment
and complete the Logical IT Carve-out pursuant to the High Level IT Carve-out
Project Plan attached hereto as Schedule 6.7(i); (ii)
Operational IT Services; and (iii) Separation Services pursuant to the Physical
IT Carve-out Project Plan which when completed will be attached hereto as Schedule
6.7(ii). The purpose of the IT Services is to allow Purchasers
to establish their own IT for the Business in due time, allowing Purchasers to
continue the uninterrupted operation of the Business during the IT Transition
Period until completion of the Physical IT Carve-out. The Operational
IT Services shall be provided for a period of eight (8) months
following the Closing, provided that
Purchasers shall have the right, in their sole discretion, to extend such period
no more than twice for up to eight (8) months per extension upon written notice
to Seller provided that Purchasers remain tenants in Seller’s premises pursuant
to the Lease in Schedule 1.8 (the
aforesaid period and any extension shall hereinafter be referred to as the
“IT Transition
Period”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchasers shall have
the right to terminate any or all of the IT Services on thirty (30) days written
notice to Seller. All Operational IT Services shall be based on the
“services as before” concept, meaning that with regard to quality and service
levels, and subject to the terms of this Agreement, the IT Services provided to
Purchasers hereunder shall be substantially the same as the corresponding IT
services provided to the Business by Seller prior to Closing. Seller will
collaborate and cooperate with Purchasers to facilitate timely completion of the
Physical IT Carve-out (e.g., providing migration of electronic data files in
mutually agreed formats). All IT Services shall be provided in a
professional and workmanlike manner and follow generally accepted best practices
for IT services. Seller and Purchasers shall each designate in
writing an individual to serve as its primary point of contact for all IT
Services, which individual shall be responsible for all communication between
the Parties related to the same and shall promptly discuss and attempt to
resolve technical issues as well as disputes arising out of or relating to this
Section 6.7;
provided that
any dispute that cannot be resolved within five (5) business days shall be
referred in writing to the respective higher ranking management of each
Party. In the event Seller experiences (or expects to experience) any
system downtime (including system maintenance activities), or otherwise changes
it systems in such a way that affects or may affect any IT Services, Seller
shall (a) notify Purchasers in advance in sufficient time to prepare for such
activities, (b) minimize the amount of time spent on such activities to the
extent possible and (c) treat Purchasers identically with respect to Seller with
respect to such downtime. Seller shall maintain a disaster recovery
program for the IT Services pertinent to Purchasers consistent with the disaster
recovery program in place for such services within Seller’s IT, and, in the
event of an emergency situation and the disaster recovery policy is placed into
effect, Seller will keep Purchasers informed of the status of recovery
plans. Seller shall not subcontract any IT Services without the prior
written consent of Purchasers. Purchasers shall not be required to
pay for any IT Services other than the Operational IT Services. For
the Operational IT Services, Lantiq Germany shall compensate Seller as further
described in Schedule
6.7.
Article
7
INDEMNIFICATION AND SURVIVAL
OF PROVISIONS
Indemnification and Survival
of Provisions.
7.1 Indemnification by
Seller. Seller hereby agrees that from and after the Closing
it shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Purchaser, their respective
Affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, stockholders, partners,
members, attorneys, accountants, agents, representatives and employees and their
heirs, successors and permitted assigns, each in their capacity as such (the
“Purchaser Indemnified
Parties”) from, against and in respect of any Damages imposed on,
sustained, incurred or suffered by, or asserted against, any of the Purchaser
Indemnified Parties, whether in respect of Third-Party claims, claims between
the parties hereto, or otherwise, directly or indirectly relating to, arising
out of or resulting from, (i) any breach of any representation or warranty
(ignoring, for purposes of this Section 7.1, any
qualification as to materiality contained therein) made by Seller contained in
this Agreement or any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement so long as
notice thereof is delivered to Seller during the period such representation or
warranty survives, (ii) any Excluded Liability or any failure to timely
discharge or fulfill any of the Excluded Liabilities, and (iii) any breach
of a covenant or agreement of Seller contained in this Agreement or any document
delivered pursuant to this Agreement. Damages include any and all
claims, costs, losses, expenses, liabilities or other damages, including
interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements by reason
of or otherwise arising out of any Excluded Liability or any breach by the other
party of a representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement
(collectively “Damages”).
7.2 Indemnification by
Purchasers. Purchasers hereby agree that from and after the
Closing they shall jointly and severally indemnify, defend and hold harmless
Seller, its Affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, stockholders,
partners, members, attorneys, accountants, agents, representatives and employees
and their heirs, successors and permitted assigns, each in their capacity as
such (the “ Seller
Indemnified Parties” ) from, against and in respect of any Damages
imposed on, sustained, incurred or suffered by, or asserted against, any of the
Seller Indemnified Parties, whether in respect of Third-Party claims, claims
between the parties hereto, or otherwise, directly or indirectly relating to,
arising out of or resulting from, (i) any breach of any representation or
warranty made by any Purchaser contained in this Agreement or any document
delivered pursuant to this Agreement so long as notice thereof is delivered to
Seller during the period such representation or warranty survives, (ii) any
Assumed Liability or any failure to timely discharge or fulfill any of the
Assumed Liabilities, and (iii) any breach of a covenant or agreement of
any Purchaser contained in this Agreement or any document delivered pursuant to
this Agreement.
7.3 Third Party
Claims. Each party (the “Indemnified Party”)
agrees to notify the other party (the “Indemnifying Party”)
of any Damages asserted by third parties that, in the opinion of Indemnified
Party, are reasonably likely to give rise to indemnification hereunder (“Third-Party
Claims”). The Indemnifying Party may (a) participate in the
defense of any Third-Party Claim or (b) upon written notice thereof, and written
acknowledgement without reservation of rights that the Indemnifying Party shall
be solely responsible for such Third Party Claim and all Damages relating
thereto (notwithstanding any limitations set forth in this Section 7 that would
otherwise apply with respect thereto, which shall not thereafter be applicable)
to the Indemnified Party, assume the defense of any Third-Party Claim, with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party; provided that the
party assuming the defense may not assume such defense if there exists a
conflict of interest between the positions of the Indemnified Party and such
Party with respect to such Third-Party Claim or if such Third-Party Claim seeks
equitable relief against the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party
agrees that it will not settle any Third-Party Claims without the consent of the
Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed. The Indemnified Party further agrees that if the
Indemnifying Party wishes to enter into a settlement with respect to a
Third-Party Claim on terms reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party, the
Indemnified Party will cooperate in such settlement, provided that such
settlement includes, as an unconditional term thereof, the giving by the third
party to the Indemnified Party and its Affiliates of a release from all
liability in respect of such Third-Party Claim.
7.4 Claims
Procedure. If an Indemnified Party wishes to make a claim for
indemnification hereunder for Damages that do not result from a Third Party
Claim (a “ Direct
Claim” ), the Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party in
writing in general terms of such Direct Claim, the amount or the Indemnified
Party’s good faith estimated amount of damages sought thereunder to the extent
then ascertainable (which estimate shall not be conclusive of the final amount
of such Direct Claim), any other remedy sought thereunder, any relevant time
constraints relating thereto, the nature of the misrepresentation, breach of
warranty, covenant or obligation to which such item is related, and to the
extent known a reasonable summary of the facts underlying the claim. The
Indemnifying Party shall have a period of 30 days within which to respond
to any Direct Claim. If the Indemnifying Party does not respond within such
30-day period, the Indemnifying Party will be deemed to have accepted such
Claim. If the Indemnifying Party rejects all or any part of such Claim, Seller
and Purchasers shall attempt in good faith for 30 days to resolve such
claim. If no such agreement can be reached through good faith negotiation within
30 days, either Purchasers or Seller may thereafter commence an
action.
7.5 Survival of
Provisions. The representations and warranties of the parties
contained in this Agreement (other than those representations and warranties set
forth in Sections
4.1 through
4.5, inclusive,
Section
4.8, Sections
4.13(a) and
(c), and Sections
5.1 through
5.4, inclusive
(collectively, the “Fundamental
Representations”), which shall survive indefinitely without limitation)
and the right to make a claim for indemnification with respect to any
representation or warranty contained in this Agreement (other than any
Fundamental Representation) shall survive for a period of eighteen
(18) months following the Closing. All covenants and agreements of
the parties contained in this Agreement shall survive indefinitely without
limitation.
7.6 Limitation of
Liability. Each of Seller’s and Purchasers’ aggregate
liability with respect to the breach of a representation or warranty contained
in this Agreement (other than any Fundamental Representation) shall be strictly
limited to an amount equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the Purchase Price
and each of Seller’s and Purchasers’ aggregate liability with respect to the
breach of a Fundamental Representation shall be strictly limited to an amount
equal to the Purchase Price (as applicable, the “Cap”); provided that,
notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Indemnifying Party shall
have any liability to an Indemnified Party with respect to the breach of a
representation or warranty contained in this Agreement unless the
aggregate amount of all losses, damages, penalties, Taxes, costs, expenses or
other liabilities of any kind or nature, whether or not arising out of a
Third-Party Claim (collectively, “Losses”), incurred by
such Indemnified Party as a result of all such breaches cumulatively exceeds
$50,000, in which case the Indemnifying Party shall, subject to the Cap, be
liable for all such Losses in excess of $50,000.
Article
8
AMENDMENT AND
WAIVER
8.1 Amendment. This
Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any time by execution of an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties
hereto.
8.2 Extension;
Waiver. At any time prior to the Closing Date, Purchasers and
Seller may, to the extent legally allowed and in writing, (a) extend the
time for the performance of any of the obligations of the other party hereto,
(b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties made to
such party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, and
(c) waive compliance with any of the agreements, covenants or conditions
for the benefit of such party contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a
party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in
an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party.
Article
9
TERMINATION
9.1 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) by mutual
written consent of Seller, on the one hand, and Purchasers, on the other
hand;
(b) by either
Seller or Purchasers if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before January
31, 2009; provided, however,
that neither Seller nor Purchasers shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement
pursuant to this Section
9.1(b) if such
party’s or parties’ breach of this Agreement has prevented the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby at or prior to such time;
(c) by
Seller, upon written notice to Purchasers, if there has been a material
misrepresentation or material breach on the part of a Purchaser of any of its
representations, warranties or covenants set forth in this Agreement (and, if
capable of cure, such misrepresentation or breach is not cured to the reasonable
satisfaction of Seller within five (5) business days after Seller gives
Purchasers written notice thereof) or if events have occurred which
have made it impossible to satisfy a condition precedent to Seller’s obligations
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby unless Seller’s breach of
this Agreement has caused the condition to be unsatisfied; or
(d) by
Purchasers, upon written notice to Seller, if there has been a material
misrepresentation or material breach on the part of Seller of any of their
representations, warranties or covenants set forth in this Agreement (and, if
capable of cure, such misrepresentation or breach is not cured to the reasonable
satisfaction of Purchasers within five (5) business days after Purchasers give
Seller written notice thereof) or if events have occurred which have made it
impossible to satisfy a condition precedent to Purchasers’ obligations to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby unless a Purchaser’s breach of
this Agreement has caused the condition to be unsatisfied.
9.2 Effect of
Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement as
provided in Section
9.1, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability on the
part of any party to any other party or its stockholders, members, Affiliates,
directors or officers under this Agreement, except for the provisions of Section 6.4(d) and
Article 10
shall continue in full force and effect and except that nothing herein shall
relieve any party from liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to such
termination.
9.3 Delay in
Closing. In the event that this Agreement has not been
terminated and the Closing shall not have occurred by the later of (i) December
1, 2009 and (ii) the fifth (5th) business day following the satisfaction or
waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Section 2.1 (other
than those that by their terms are to be satisfied or waived at the Closing and
the condition set forth in Section 2.1(f)), and
the failure to so close is not caused in whole or in part by Seller, Purchasers
agree to reimburse Seller for Seller’s costs to carry on Seller’s G.hn
engineering portion of the Business in substantially the same manner as
presently conducted from such date until such time that the Closing shall occur
or this Agreement is terminated. Seller and Purchasers agree that
Purchasers shall pay to Seller a monthly amount equal to $306,243 based on
twenty one (21) full-time Specified Employees at an established man rate per
month of $14,583. Upon the earlier of the Closing or the termination
of this Agreement, Seller shall provide an invoice to Purchasers setting forth
the aggregate amount of the fees due to Seller through such date under this
Section 9.3,
with the monthly amount for the month in which the Closing occurs or this
Agreement is terminated being pro rated based upon the number of days that have
elapsed during such month from the commencement of Purchasers’ reimbursement
obligation under this Section 9.3 until the
Closing Date or the date of the termination of this Agreement, and Purchasers
shall pay the invoice upon receipt.
Article
10
MISCELLANEOUS
Miscellaneous.
10.1 Successors and
Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the
benefit of, and be enforceable by the legal representatives, agents, successors
and assigns of the parties.
10.2 Expenses. Each
party will be responsible for its own fees, costs and expenses, including
consultant, financial advisor, broker, account, counsel and other advisory fees,
costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation,
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement and the closing of the
transactions contemplated hereby, whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereby shall be consummated.
10.3 Notices. All
notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given if delivered by hand, sent by facsimile transmission with
confirmation of receipt, sent via a reputable overnight courier service, or
mailed by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid and return receipt
requested) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address
for a party as shall be specified by like notice), and shall be deemed given on
the date on which delivered by hand or otherwise on the date of receipt as
confirmed:
To Seller:
Aware, Inc.
40 Middlesex Turnpike
Bedford, Massachusetts
01730
Attn: General
Counsel
Facsimile No.: (781)
276-4001
To Purchasers:
Lantiq Broadband Holdco
Inc.
640 N. McCarthy Blvd.
Milpitas,
CA 95035
Attn: Imran
Hajimusa
Facsimile No.: (408)
503-1528
and
Lantiq Deutschland GmbH
Am Campeon 3
85579 Neubiberg, Germany
Attn: Guenther
Stang
Facsimile No.: 49 89 234
9552411
with copies to:
Golden Gate Capital
One Embarcadero Center, 39th
Floor
San Francisco,
CA 94111
Attn: John Knoll and Felix
Lo
Facsimile No.: (415)
983-2701
and
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
555 California Street, 27th
Floor
San Francisco,
CA 94104
Attn: Stephen D.
Oetgen
Facsimile No.: (415)
439-1500
10.4 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement and the other documents referred to
herein or delivered pursuant hereto embody the entire agreement and
understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to such subject
matter.
10.5 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in several counterparts (including by means of
telecopied, facsimile or portable data format (PDF) signature pages), each of
which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute
one and the same agreement.
10.6 Severability. If
any clause or provision of this Agreement is illegal, invalid or unenforceable
under present or future laws, then and in that event, it is the intention of the
parties hereto that the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected
thereby.
10.7 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed, interpreted, and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to
its principles of conflicts of laws.
10.8 Binding Effect;
Assignability. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns. This Agreement is not intended to confer upon any person
other than the parties hereto (and such parties’ respective successors and
assigns) any rights or remedies hereunder, except as otherwise expressly
provided herein. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights and
obligations of the parties hereunder shall be assigned or delegated, whether by
operation of law or otherwise, without the written consent of both parties
hereto; provided, however, that (i)
each party hereto may assign this Agreement in
whole or in part without the prior written consent of the other but upon written
notice in connection with an acquisition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the such party and (ii) Seller may assign this Agreement in whole
or in part without the prior written consent of Purchasers but upon written
notice in connection with an acquisition of Seller’s test and diagnostic
business (it being agreed and acknowledged that no such assignment shall relieve
Seller of any of its obligations or any other liability hereunder); provided, further, in no event may Seller assign the test and diagnostic
rights received from Purchasers under this Agreement or the DSL License
Agreement to a Person who is a competitor of Purchaser.
10.9 Confidentiality Regarding
Agreement. The parties agree that any disclosure of the
existence of or any terms of this Agreement or the relationship between the
parties shall be made only with the prior written agreement of both
parties. An exception to the above is allowed if either party is
required under United States Securities and Exchange Commission regulations or
other applicable law to disclose this Agreement; provided that the
party so required to disclose this Agreement must first consult with the other
parties hereto with respect to the form and substance of such
disclosure.
10.10 Specific
Performance. Seller and Purchasers acknowledge and agree that
in the event of a breach by the other party (or any of its Affiliates) of any of
this Agreement, monetary damages shall not constitute a sufficient
remedy. Accordingly, Seller and Purchasers agree that Seller and
Purchasers shall have the right, in addition to any other rights and remedies
existing in its favor, to enforce its rights and Seller’s and/or Purchasers’
obligations hereunder not only be an action or actions for damages but also by
an action or actions for specific performance, injunctive and/or other equitable
relief.
Article
11
CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS
11.1 Certain
Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following
capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
“ADSL2” shall mean the
high speed asymmetric DMT based DSL technology standardized by the International
Telecommunications Union and referred to as G.dmt.bis (which is the successor to
G.dmt, also known as G.992.1) including G.handshake (also known as ITU-T
G.994.1), and G.lite.bis (also know as “ITU-T G.992.4).
“ADSL2+” shall mean
the higher data rate ADSL standard standardized by the International
Telecommunications Union as a 3rd
member of the ADSL2 family.
“ADSL 128” shall mean
the asymmetric DSL technology which is designed to work with Purchasers’ (or
Purchasers’ Affiliates’) 128 kHz analog components.
“ADSL Products” shall
have the meaning as set forth in Section 1.41 of the
DSL License Agreement.
“Affected Foreign National
Employees”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.6(d).
“Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other
Person that as of the date of the Agreement or as of any subsequent date,
directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is
controlled by or is under common control with, such specified Person. For the
purposes of this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, the
terms “controlling,” “controlled by,” and “under common control with”) as
applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that
Person, whether through ownership of voting securities or by contract or
otherwise. With respect to Purchasers, the term “Affiliate” shall not
include Qimonda AG or any entity controlled by Qimonda AG. With
respect to Seller, the term “Affiliate”, solely when used in Sections 6.4(a),
6.4(b) and
6.4(c), shall
not include any non-employee director or any owner of ten percent (10%) or more
of Seller’s capital stock.
“Agreement” shall mean
this Asset Purchase Agreement, including (unless the context otherwise requires)
the Schedules and the certificates and instruments delivered in connection
herewith, or incorporated by reference, as the same may be amended or
supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Assumed Liabilities”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.3.
“Business” shall have
the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Cap” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7.6.
“Closing” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section
1.10.
“Closing Date” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
1.10.
“COBRA” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section
6.6(b).
“Competitive Business”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.4(a).
“Contract” shall mean
any legally binding agreement, lease, sublease, evidence of indebtedness,
mortgage, indenture, license, sublicense, purchase order, security agreement or
other contract, agreement, instrument or business arrangement (whether written
or oral).
“Damages” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section
7.1.
“Derivatives/Extensions”
shall mean any modification or enhancement of an xDSL Standard.
“Digital Subscriber
Line” (“DSL”) shall mean the technology that enables discrete multitone
(DMT) broadband communications over twisted pair telephone lines.
“Direct Claim” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
7.4.
“DSL License
Agreement” shall mean that certain License Agreement entered into between
Infineon Technologies AG and Seller with an effective date of October 1, 2007,
as amended and restated in connection with the transactions hereby in the form
attached hereto in Schedule
1.5.
“DSL Lite” shall mean
medium speed symmetric and asymmetric DMT based DSL technologies according to
the Standard known as “ADSL Lite” developed by the International
Telecommunications Union.
“DSL Technology” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 1.21 of the
DSL License Agreement.
“Employee Plan” shall
mean each written plan, program or policy providing for compensation, severance,
termination pay, pension benefits, retirement benefits, deferred compensation,
performance awards, stock or stock-related awards, fringe benefits (including
health, dental, vision, life, disability, sabbatical, accidental death and
dismemberment or other insurance benefits), or other employee benefits or
remuneration of any kind, whether funded or unfunded, including each “employee
benefit plan,” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, which is or has been
maintained by Seller for the benefit of any of its employees.
“ERISA” shall mean the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Excluded Assets”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.2.
“Excluded Liabilities”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.4.
“Full Rate ADSL” shall
mean high speed symmetric and asymmetric DMT based DSL technologies according to
the ANSI Standard T1E1, 4 T 413 or ITU G.992.1.
“G.hn” shall mean the
Home Networking currently being standardized at the ITU.
“Governmental Entity”
shall mean any domestic or foreign government (federal, state, provincial,
municipal, local or otherwise), any governmental body, agency, authority,
instrumentality, subdivision, court, or commission, or any other governmental
authority or instrumentality, or any quasi-government or private body exercising
an regulatory, taxing, importing or other governmental or quasi-governmental
authority.
“Home Networking”
shall mean the connection of multiple communication devices in the
home.
“Home Networking
Technology” shall mean the Home Networking technology based on Seller’s
Technology and modified to be standard compliant and work with G.hn and possible
predecessor and successor standards.
“Indemnified Party”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7.3.
“Indemnifying Party”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7.3.
“Intellectual Property
Rights” shall mean all intellectual property and proprietary rights
throughout the world, including the following: (a) Patents; (b) all
trade secrets and other rights in know-how and confidential or proprietary
information; (c) all copyrights, copyrights registrations and applications
therefor and all other rights corresponding thereto throughout the world;
(d) all mask works, mask work registrations and applications therefor, and
any equivalent or similar rights in semiconductor masks, layouts, architectures
or topology; (e) all industrial designs and any registrations and
applications therefor throughout the world; [(f) all rights in World Wide
Web addresses and domain names and applications and registrations therefor; and
(g) all trade names, logos, common law trademarks and service marks,
trademark and service mark registrations and applications therefor.
“Lantiq Germany” shall
have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
“Lantiq Germany Purchased
Assets” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.1.
“Lantiq US” shall have
the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Lantiq US Purchased
Assets” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.1.
“Liabilities” shall
mean any and all costs, expenses, charges, indebtedness, obligations, claims,
demands, assessments or other liabilities of a Person of any kind or nature,
whether absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent (or based upon any
contingency), known or unknown, fixed or otherwise, direct or indirect, or
whether due or to become due.
“Liens” shall mean any
mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind
(including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in
the nature thereof) or any agreement to file any of the foregoing, any sale of
receivables with recourse against a Person, and any filing or agreement to file
a financing statement as debtor under the Uniform Commercial Code or any similar
statute.
“License” shall mean
any Contract that grants a Person the right to use or otherwise enjoy the
benefits of any Intellectual Property Right.
“Losses” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section
7.6.
“Non-Compete Period”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.4(a).
“Non-Purchased
Patents” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.2(f).
“Outbound IP Licenses”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.2(c).
“Overlapping
Technology” shall mean certain Intellectual Property Rights (excluding
Patents licensed pursuant to the License Agreement) of Seller which are
currently, or have been in the past utilized by Seller in connection with the
development of both Seller’s DSL and/or Home Networking activities as well as in
Seller’s test and diagnostics products and are not primarily related to the
Seller Technology, including, without limitation, the Intellectual Property
Rights set for on Appendix H of the DSL License Agreement.
“Participate” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
6.4(a).
“Patents”(when used
alone and not in defined terms “Purchased Patents” and “Non-Purchased Patents”)
shall mean all United States and foreign patents and utility models and
applications therefor (including the patents issued therefrom) filed prior to
Closing and all reissues, divisions, re-examinations, renewals, extensions,
provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof, and equivalent or
similar rights anywhere in the world.
“Person” shall mean
any natural person, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership,
limited liability company or partnership, proprietorship, other business
organization, trust, union, association or Governmental Entity.
“Product” shall mean
an integrated circuit which implements one or more xDSL and/or Home Networking
Standard(s) and is sold or distributed by Purchasers and/or their
Affiliates.
“Purchase Price” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
1.9.
“Purchased Assets”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.1.
“Purchased Fixed
Assets” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.1(b)(i).
“Purchaser Indemnified
Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7.1.
“Purchased Inbound License
Agreements” shall have the meaning set
forth in Section
1.1(b)(ii).
“Purchased Non-Patent
IP” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.1(a)(iii).
“Purchased Patents”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1.1(a)(ii).
“Purchasers” shall
have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
“Seller” shall have
the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Seller Indemnified
Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7.2.
“Seller Proprietary
Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.13(a).
“Seller
Technology” shall mean all Technology
related to or used in connection with the Business as said Seller
Technology exists on the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date other than
Overlapping Technology and includes (i) with respect to the DSL Technology (all
of which, other than Overlapping Technology, shall be deemed, for the avoidance
of doubt, to be Seller Technology): (x) all Technology related to the following
digital chips: Cocomo, Geminax, Geminax CR, Aware Stratiphy2Plus test chip,
Amazon, Danube, Amazon S, Aware Hercules Test Chip, Aware Leto ATM-bonded
ADSL2Plus CPE Test Chip, Aware A0.2 Analog Front End, Aware Hercules2
Single-port VDSL2 CO/CPE, Vinax Rev1 CO/CPE, Vinax Rev2, Aware Hercules3
Multiport VDSL2 CO (2-2-4-4 configuration), and VR9 (including the Cocomo C
models) and (y) technology for the existing Aware AFE (50 Mhz) (including the
RTL source code, specifications, RTL verification environment, GDS, board
reference design and test characterization thereof, and any derivatives and
future versions thereof), and (ii) with respect to Home Networking Technology:
RTL source code, specifications, RTL verification environment, source code for
the microsequencer, C-models, Matlab models, and the laboratory test
environment.
“Specified Employees”
shall have the meaning set in Section
6.6(a).
“Standard” shall mean
a communication standard defined and announced by ANSI, ATIS, ETSI, the ITU or
any other standardization body which defined DSL and Home Networking standards
and/or possible successor standards.
“StratiPHY” shall mean
Seller’s family of DSL silicon intellectual property solutions.
“Subsidiary” shall
mean any Person in which Seller, directly or indirectly through subsidiaries or
otherwise, beneficially owns at least twenty percent (20%) of either the
equity interest in, or the voting control of, such Person, whether or not
existing on the date hereof.
“Taxes” shall mean all
taxes, however denominated, including any interest, penalties or other additions
to tax that may become payable in respect thereof, (a) imposed by any federal,
territorial, state, local or foreign government or any agency or political
subdivision of any such government, which taxes shall include, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, all income or profits taxes (including but not
limited to, federal, state and foreign income taxes), payroll and employee
withholding taxes, unemployment insurance contributions, social security taxes,
sales and use taxes, ad valorem taxes, excise taxes, franchise taxes, gross
receipts taxes, withholding taxes, business license taxes, occupation taxes,
real and personal property taxes, escheat liability or other similar property
rights (whether in connection with abandoned or unclaimed property or otherwise)
asserted by a Governmental Entity, stamp taxes, environmental taxes, transfer
taxes, workers’ compensation, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums and
other governmental charges, and other obligations of the same or of a similar
nature to any of the foregoing, which are required to be paid, withheld or
collected, (b) any liability for the payment of amounts referred to in (a) as a
result of being a member of any affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary
group, or (c) any liability for amounts referred to in (a) or (b) as a result of
any obligations to indemnify another person or as a result of being a successor
in interest or transferee of another person.
“Tax Return” shall
mean any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or
statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and
including any amendment thereof.
“Technology” shall
mean any or all of the following (but not the Intellectual Property Rights
therein or associated therewith): (a) works of authorship including computer
programs, source code and executable code, whether embodied in software,
firmware or otherwise, documentation, designs, files, verilog files, RTL files,
HDL, VHDL, netlists, records, data and mask works; (b) inventions (whether or
not patentable), improvements, and technology; (c) proprietary and confidential
information, including technical data and customer and supplier lists, trade
secrets and know how; (d) databases, data compilations and collections and
technical data; (e) logos, trade names, trade dress, trademarks, service marks,
World Wide Web addresses and domain names, tools, methods and processes; and all
instantiations of the foregoing in any form and embodied in any
media.
“Third Party Claim”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7.3.
“Transferred Assets
Rights” shall have the meaning set forth
in Section
1.1(b)(iii).
“U.S. Tax Code” shall
mean the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“VAT” shall mean value
added Taxes.
“VDSL1” shall mean the
International Telecommunications DMT VDSL 1 Standard and the ITU VDSL1 Standard
and any and all Derivatives/Extensions thereof.
“VDSL2” shall mean the
International Telecommunications DMT VDSL 2 Standard and the ITU VDSL2 Standard
and any and all Derivatives/Extensions thereof.
“VDSL Products” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 1.42 of the
DSL License Agreement.
[Signature
Page Follows]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed and delivered this Asset
Purchase Agreement under seal on the date first above written.
|
|
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AWARE,
INC.
|
|
|
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By:
|
/s/
Edmund C. Reiter
|
|
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Name:
|
Edmund
C. Reiter
|
|
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Title:
|
President
|
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LANTIQ
BROADBAND HOLDCO INC.
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By:
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/s/
John Knoll
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Name:
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John
Knoll
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Title:
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President
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|
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LANTIQ
DEUTSCHLAND GmbH
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By:
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/s/
John Knoll
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Name:
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John
Knoll
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Title:
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Managing
Director
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Index of
Schedules
Schedule
1.1(b)(ii) -
Purchased Inbound License Agreements
Schedule
1.2(c) - Outbound
IP Licenses/Customers/Customer Contracts
Schedule
1.5 - Amended and
Restated DSL License Agreement
Schedule
1.7 - Seller
and Purchasers Test & Diagnostic Cooperation
Schedule
1.8 - Lease
Agreement
Schedule 2.1(d)(ii) –
Bill of Sale and Assumption of Liabilities Agreement
Schedule
4.6 -
Litigation
Schedule
4.10 -
Customers
Schedule
4.12 -
Suppliers
Schedule
4.13(b) -
Patents/Trademarks/Copyrights and Any Applications
Schedule
4.13(c) -
Payments for Seller Proprietary Rights
Schedule
4.13(g) -
Employee Confidentiality Agreements
Schedule
4.18 - Foreign Corrupt Practices
Schedule
4.20(b) - Collective Bargaining Agreements
Schedule
4.20(e) - Post-Employment Benefits to Specified
Employees
Schedule
4.20(g) - Liabilities to Specified Employees
Schedule
4.20(i) - Effect of Transaction on Specified Employee
Benefits
Schedule
6.6 - Specified
Employees
Schedule
6.6(d) - Affected
Foreign National Employees
Schedule 6.7 - Transitional
IT Assistance
The
Schedules referred to above have been omitted in reliance on Item 601(b)(2)
of Regulation S-K. Aware will furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted
Schedule to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
request.
ex21-1.htm
Exhibit 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF REGISTRANT
Name of Organization |
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Jurisdiction |
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|
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|
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Aware Security Corporation |
Massachusetts |
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ex23-1.htm
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-15805, 333-45026, 333-62020, 333-106569 and 333-106570) of Aware, Inc. of our report dated February 12, 2010 relating to the consolidated financial statements, financial statement schedule,
and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 12, 2010
ex31-1.htm
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
I, Edmund C. Reiter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aware, Inc., certify that:
|
1. |
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Aware, Inc.; |
|
2. |
Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report; |
|
3. |
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report; |
|
4. |
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have: |
|
a) |
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared; |
|
b) |
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
|
c) |
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and |
|
d) |
disclosed in this annual report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
|
5. |
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function): |
|
a) |
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
|
b) |
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: |
February 12, 2010 |
|
|
/s/ Edmund C. Reiter |
|
|
|
|
|
Edmund C. Reiter |
|
|
|
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
ex31-2.htm
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
I, Richard P. Moberg, Chief Financial Officer of Aware, Inc., certify that:
|
1. |
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Aware, Inc.; |
|
2. |
Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report; |
|
3. |
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report; |
|
4. |
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have: |
|
a) |
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared; |
|
b) |
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
|
c) |
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and |
|
d) |
disclosed in this annual report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
|
5. |
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function): |
|
a) |
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
|
b) |
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: |
February 12, 2010 |
|
|
/s/ Richard P. Moberg |
|
|
|
|
|
Richard P. Moberg |
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
ex32-1.htm
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
(18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Aware, Inc. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifies, to the
best knowledge and belief of the signatory, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) |
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
(2) |
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
/s/ Edmund C. Reiter |
|
/s/ Richard P. Moberg |
|
Edmund C. Reiter |
|
Richard P. Moberg |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Date: February 12, 2010 |
|
Date: February 12, 2010 |
|
The certification set forth above is being furnished as an exhibit solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and is not being filed as part of the Form 10-K or as
a separate disclosure document of the Company or the certifying officers.