PART I
This Annual Report on Form 10-K is filed with respect to our fiscal year 2003. Each of our fiscal years ends on the Saturday closest to the last day of March. Our fiscal year 2003 ended on March 29, 2003. For purposes of consistent presentation, we have indicated in this report that each fiscal year ended "March 31" of the given year, even though the actual fiscal year end may have been on a different date.
CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). In addition, we may from time to time make oral forward-looking statements. These statements may generally be identified by the use of such words as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "will," or "shall," and include, but are not necessarily limited to, all of the statements marked below with an asterisk ("*"). Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and entail various risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. For a discussion of such factors, this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be read in conjunction with our 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders and
the "Risk Factors Affecting Future Operating Results," included elsewhere herein.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
Plantronics, Inc. ("Plantronics," "we," "our," or "us") has been helping people communicate easily and effectively for over 40 years. Our headsets make talking on the telephone a liberating and engaging experience, free from handsets and cords. From our earliest headsets, used by Neil Armstrong during the first moon landing, to our new cordless headsets for office telephones and mobile applications, our focus has not changed. Our mission is to enhance personal communications, by helping people who use communication equipment to do so more naturally, comfortably, and effectively.
We are a leading worldwide designer, manufacturer and marketer of lightweight communications headsets, telephone headset systems, accessories and related services. In addition, we manufacture and market specialty telephone products, such as telephones for the hearing-impaired and other related products for people with special communications needs.
Plantronics headsets are communications tools, providing freedom to use your hands while staying "connected," freedom to move around, and freedom from keyboards. People appreciate the superior sound quality, all-day comfort and reliability that differentiate our headsets from the competition. We apply a variety of technologies to develop superior products that meet the needs of our customers. Plantronics headsets are widely used in office and contact centers, in homes, and for mobile, computer, and other specialty applications. Plantronics' commitment to excellence is demonstrated by the audio quality of our digitally-enhanced PC headsets, the reliability of our mobile headsets and the superior comfort of our office and contact center solutions. Plantronics' broad compatibility with an extensive range of telephony systems has made us the headset of choice in contact centers worldwide.
We are a global company, and sell our broad range of communications products into more than 70 countries through a worldwide network of distributors, original equipment manufacturers ("OEM"), retailers and telephony service providers. We have well-developed distribution channels in North America and Europe, where the growth of phone-based customer support, telemarketing activities and deregulation of the telephone companies have led to more widespread use of telephone headsets. Our headsets continue to be widely used in contact centers in the Middle East, Africa, Australia, Asia and Latin America, with particular year over year growth in India, as many U.S. and European companies are setting up contact centers in that country. With the goal of increasing customer support and facilitating growth in India, we also opened an office there in fiscal 2003.
Plantronics' largest end user market is comprised of office users. We also sell headsets used in home office and residential applications. These end user groups have been identified as having long-term growth potential. Users in the office market consist primarily of business executives, mobile professionals, agents, brokers, lawyers, accountants, and others whose occupations and/or lifestyle may require extensive use of a telephone or a high degree of multi-tasking while on the telephone.
The use of headsets for mobile applications continues to be an area of concentration for Plantronics. These hands-free solutions enable our customers, including mobile professionals who travel as part of their job requirements, or professionals who are on the go, to stay "connected," providing clear calls and lightweight convenience while on the road or in the office. Using our headsets enables our customers to experience increased mobility, have both hands free to drive, and when used with voice recognition equipment, freedom from dial pads and keyboards.
Our headsets are purchased by a broad and diverse group of business customers worldwide, including telephone-operating companies, operators of private telephone networks, and governmental agencies. We distribute our products through specialized distributors, large electronics wholesalers, original equipment manufacturers, and retail channels, such as office supply stores, consumer electronics stores, mail order catalogs, warehouse clubs, and office supplies distributors. We sell certain products directly to governmental agencies and also distribute products to the government market through OEMs, distributors and other sales channels. Plantronics products may also be purchased from our website, www.plantronics.com.
We provide free of charge through a link on our website access to our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after the reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
General Background
Over the past few years, we have broadened our product offerings to target the office, and the emerging mobile and computer markets. The proliferation of desktop computing makes communications headsets a product of choice in many occupations, because they permit the user to be more efficient in an ergonomically comfortable environment. Growing awareness of driver safety and resulting hands-free legislation has led to increased headset adoption for mobile phone users.
Headsets enhance the communications experience through:
MULTI-TASKING BENEFITS that allow people to use a computer, take notes and organize files while talking hands-free;
IMPROVED MOBILITY, for example, being able to talk more easily on a cellular or cordless phone while on the go;
WIRELESS FREEDOM, allowing people to take and make calls as they move freely around their home or office without cords or cables;
CONTRIBUTING to greater driving safety by enabling a person to have both hands free to drive while talking on a mobile phone;
VOICE COMMAND AND CONTROL that lets people take advantage of voice dialing to make the communications experience more natural and convenient;
BETTER SOUND QUALITY for telephone users by reducing background noise;
ERGONOMIC RELIEF from repetitive stress injuries and discomfort associated with placing a telephone handset between the shoulder and neck;
ENABLING EMERGING PC APPLICATIONS, including speech recognition, Internet telephony, gaming, and premium audio quality; and
PROVIDING GREATER PRIVACY than speakerphones.
MARKETS
Mobile use of headsets, particularly with cellular phones, is growing worldwide. The Plantronics mobile headset line is designed for the freedom and mobility of hands-free communications with the superior sound quality, stability and comfort that sets Plantronics headsets apart. Plantronics mobile, or M-Series headsets, come in a variety of styles, colors and types. Our headsets are designed to strict quality standards, including features that provide the very best user experience. These features include noise-canceling microphones that effectively reduce background noise and facilitate voice dialing, flexible earloops for a customizable fit and inline call answer/end buttons on some models so users don't have to handle or look at their phone.
In fiscal 2003 we shipped several new Bluetooth ™ products and we also announced the M3000 wireless headset for delivery in fiscal 2004. We plan to continue to develop Bluetooth based products designed for the mobile professional, to deliver wireless, hands-free communications with other Bluetooth products such as mobile phones and PDAs.
We have also added to our corded mobile headset line with the launch of the new MX100 earbud-style mobile headset in Summer 2002, which has quickly become one of our best-selling mobile products. Created as a fusion of fashion and technology, the MX100 uses our patented Flex Grip™ design for a stable, comfortable fit. Following the success of the MX100, we also announced the MX150 in Europe during the Spring of 2003. This headset uses the same basic design as the MX100, including Flex Grip, and adds a boom with a noise-canceling microphone for those users who need clearer conversations in noisier environments.
Our PC headset product revenues increased significantly from fiscal 2002 to fiscal 2003 primarily on the strength of new products such as our headsets for the Xbox Voice Communicator™, the economical .Audio™ line, and our digitally enhanced Universal Serial Bus ("USB") headsets. We believe that a number of fundamental factors are likely to increase our customers' need for PC headsets in the future, including Internet multimedia applications such as streaming audio and video, Internet telephony, on-line chat, and video conferencing.* Other factors that are expected to contribute to growth of this market include new advanced games and the addition of speech and voice capabilities to both Windows ™ and Office XP ™.
Walker and Ameriphone
With over 30 million people in the U.S. today suffering from some degree of hearing loss, the need for simple and accessible solutions are expected to continue to grow and we believe we are well positioned to serve these needs. Walker and Ameriphone deliver the most comprehensive range of special needs communications products from a single manufacturer and they serve the mild, moderate and severe hearing loss markets as well as the deaf community. Product distribution also includes audiologists and health care professionals, government programs, specialized distributors and retail.
Walker is a leading manufacturer of amplified telephone products delivering telecommunication solutions for the hearing impaired, handset and test set markets. A frontrunner in amplifying sound, Walker's solutions are found in consumer telephone products generally sold under the brand name Clarity, and custom applications requiring ruggedized equipment for use in very noisy environments and/or a superior sound experience. The company began in 1969 as a telecommunications manufacturer and was acquired by Plantronics in 1986.
On January 2, 2002 Plantronics acquired privately held Ameriphone®, Inc. of Garden Grove, CA and integrated it into our Walker product lines. Founded in 1977, Ameriphone is a recognized innovator in communications solutions for people with special needs.
INDUSTRY SEGMENTS AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS
We are engaged in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of telecommunications equipment including headsets, telephone headset systems and other specialty telecommunications products. We operate in one business segment. Our operations are organized to focus on three principal markets: office and contact center products, mobile and computer products, and other specialty products including products for customers with special communications needs. Information required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131 (Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information) can be found in the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes herein.
In fiscal 2001 and 2002, approximately 31.9% and 31.3% of our net sales were derived from sales to foreign customers, respectively. In fiscal 2003, non-U.S. sales accounted for approximately 32.2% of total net sales. Sales to foreign customers are generally subject to such additional risks as fluctuations in exchange rates, increased tariffs and the imposition of other trade barriers. In fiscal 2003, we continued to engage in hedging activities to protect our transaction exposure and mitigate exchange rate risks. We hedged our positions in both the Euro and the Great British Pound, which constitute the majority of our currency exposure. To the extent that we increase sales to foreign customers, or increase our transactions in foreign currencies, or that we are unsuccessful in our hedging strategies, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected by exchange rate fluctuations. In April of 2003, Plantronics began an additional hedging program to hedge a portion of Euro
and Great British Pound revenues with put and call option contracts.
PRODUCTS
Summary
Our product line consists of lightweight communications headsets, telephone headset systems, headset accessories and services, and specialty telephones and other products for customers with special communications needs. Our headset products incorporate unique features that we believe offer compelling performance advantages:
COMFORT. We believe our focus on ergonomics is critical to our success. We maintain what we believe is the industry's most extensive database for the design of comfortable headsets. Our database includes measurements from over 1,000 physical molds taken of different ear types. The measurements are digitized and stored in a CAD/CAM database along with critical head contour measurements. In addition, we have researched optimal weight distribution on the ear.
SOUND QUALITY. In designing our products, we have conducted headset sound quality (e.g. preference and intelligibility) research on many telephone systems in both listening and speaking modes. We believe we have achieved one of the industry's best signal-to-noise ratios, creating powerful noise-canceling designs (to substantially reduce background sounds in unusually loud environments), and a voice tube design that does not require precise positioning for proper functioning. The voice tube is ideal for most office and contact center environments, with the additional benefits of an attractive appearance, easy hygienic replacement, and lighter weight. The clear color and gently curved shape of the Plantronics' voice tube are registered trademarks of Plantronics.
DURABILITY. We have over forty years of experience understanding headset durability and have successfully incorporated this knowledge into our product designs that we believe enable our products to generally last longer than the best comparable competitive products.
In addition, to a complete line of industry-leading headsets, headset systems, headset telephones and amplifiers, we also provide headset accessories, which include Plantronics' replacement voice tubes, ear cushions, eartips and wind noise suppressors. These replacement parts allow end users to revitalize their headset to maintain maximum performance and comfort. We also sell a full line of accessory products, including handset lifters and in-use indicators, which allow our customers increased mobility and ease of use. In addition, we provide ongoing customer service and support to our customer base.
We believe our customer support and service programs offer competitive advantages, because our end users and customers have easy access to Plantronics' superior products and services. We consistently receive high customer satisfaction ratings for our products and services.
Headsets
TELEPHONY APPLICATIONS: Headsets for use with corded telephones generally consist of two distinct units. The "top" is the portion that the user wears. This portion is generally associated with the term "headset." The headset top contains the speaker and the microphone and a means to have these in the correct location for comfortable use. The headset "base," often referred to as an amplifier or telephone adapter, interfaces with the telephone or other equipment. The headset base is currently required in most standard telephone applications. Increasingly, the headset interface is being built into the corded telephone or contact center call distribution system with which the headset is being used, allowing use of the headset top alone.
MOBILE APPLICATIONS: Many mobile telephones (both cellular and portable units) come with a dedicated standard 2.5mm headset port, permitting the headset to be plugged directly into the telephone handset. On those mobile devices that do not have a standard headset port, we have special versions that fit directly into a non-standard headset port. As the adoption of headsets increases, we expect that more cordless telephones, cellular telephones and other devices will be equipped with headset interfaces.*
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS: Computers and other electronic equipment generally do not require a separate adapter and our headsets are designed to plug directly into either the computer's analog sound card or, in the case of our Digital Signal Processing (DSP) line, into the USB port of the computer.
HEADSET STYLES: Our headsets come in a wide variety of wearing styles that we believe suit the needs and preferences of all of our end user market segments.*
Plantronics Service and Repair
We support our product offerings with a technical assistance center to assist our customers with technical questions. Our worldwide service center operations provide a quick response to warranty support and out-of-warranty service needs.
We provide our customers a variety of ways that they can contact us for their support needs, including:
- Toll-free 800 support with multiple-language capabilities
- Web-based FAQ database
- Web-based question submission
- Live online chat
- Instant call-back support
In addition, we offer online user's manuals, installation guides, software updates, warranty information and our Quick Web and Quick Fax services.
Other Specialty Products
Walker and Ameriphone design, manufacture and market products for hearing-impaired customers with mild-to-severe hearing loss and other special communications needs. Walker's product offerings include their premier product line, the Clarity® power telephone with accessories, an extra loud ringer, an extra large lighted keypad, volume control circuitry as well as other features. Ameriphone's product line includes amplified telephones, text telephones ("TTY"s), notification systems, emergency response systems and other products for the hearing impaired, deaf and others with special needs. Ameriphone's products have been selected by a number of state programs that provide equipment to those in need, including two of the nation's largest programs, Florida's Telecommunications Relay, Inc. program ("FTRI") and California's Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program ("DDTP").
Plantronics' Special Products group manufactures custom headsets and other equipment for special applications that are not served by our standard headset product lines. From its first products used in the early days of the space program, Plantronics Special Products offering has grown to include over 800 different headset models. Customers such as NASA, the Federal Government, and 911 dispatch centers rely on Plantronics quality headsets for their unique communications needs, which may include custom headset configurations for specific applications.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Since our introduction of the original lightweight headset in 1962, enhancing communications has been the primary focus of our development efforts. As we have expanded globally, we have increased the scope of these efforts to support international product needs. We maintain an extensive database of head and ear shapes to assist in the development of our products. Our concern for ergonomics and our efforts to design in comfort and safety have resulted in such product innovations as a conformable loop designed to adapt to the ear, the unique off-the-ear design of our DuoPro headset, and the SoundGuard PlusTM system, which increases intelligibility and provides superior sound quality.
In the past fiscal year we have developed and launched a number of key products for the office and contact center, as well as for the mobile market. For the office and contact center, we extended the DuoPro headset family by offering a behind-the-head design for those users more accustomed to a Walkman®-type wearing style.
We also announced the CS50 (U.S.) and CS60 (International) wireless office headset systems with a self-contained wireless headset that gives office professionals the ability to stay in touch as they move around their workplace. While these products offer customers advanced office mobility solutions, they are also designed on a common platform that can accommodate other wireless technologies. For wireless convenience in the small office or home office, we announced the CT12 Cordless Headset Telephone in Spring of 2003, with our FireFly™ headset, which includes a boom-mounted in-use indicator so that others will know when users are talking on the phone.
We began shipping our M1000 Bluetooth wireless headset in fiscal 2003, and also announced the M3000 Bluetooth wireless headset in early 2003. The new M3000 is a compact, stylish design with a comprehensive feature set that includes excellent sound quality and longer talk times. Together, these wireless headsets offer hands-free convenience for mobile applications.
We have also extended our corded mobile headset line with the launch of the new MX100 earbud-style mobile headset, which has quickly become one of our best-selling mobile products. The MX100 uses our patented Flex Grip™ design for a stable, comfortable fit and AcuSpeak™ technology for superior sound quality. Following the success of the MX100 we have also introduced the MX150, which uses the same basic design as the MX100, including Flex Grip, and adds a boom with a noise-canceling microphone for those users who need clearer conversations in noisier environments.
We believe that new technologies such as Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") will be deployed at an ever-increasing rate. To that end, we continue development activities with OEM partners for VoIP solutions. As an example, we offer USB-to-headset adapters that allow users to connect Plantronics' professional H-series headsets to their computers for VoIP soft phone applications. We will also continue to invest in product development for this and other emerging technologies as appropriate to our business.
We have a number of new product and core technology development programs underway to further broaden our product line. One benefit of this focus on technology has been a number of key patent disclosures and filings by us over the past year. In addition, we have accelerated our time to market on a number of products through fast and flexible product development processes that incorporate intelligent reuse of platform and product architecture hardware. These process improvements take advantage of economies of scale resulting from platform reuse.
Most of our research and development is carried out by our in-house engineering staff in the United States and the United Kingdom. We are in the process of implementing a distributed product development model with design groups in Mexico and Asia to supplement our in-house engineering capabilities. Research, development and engineering expenditures were $27.0 million, $30.3 million and $33.9 million for fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003, respectively. While we believe that substantial investment in research and development is necessary to maintain and grow our position in the industry, due to our heavy investment in 2003 and the related pipeline of new products as well as improvements in our development process, we expect our spending for research, development and engineering in fiscal 2004 to decrease somewhat compared to fiscal 2003.*
Our product development efforts are directed toward both enhancing our existing products and developing new products that capitalize on our core technology and expand our product offerings to new user markets. The success of new product introductions is dependent on a number of factors, including appropriate new product selection, timely completion and introduction of new product designs, cost-effective manufacturing of such products, quality of new products, the acceptance of new technologies such as Bluetooth, and general market acceptance of new products. To be successful in the future, we must be able to develop new products, qualify these products with our customers, successfully introduce these products to the market on a timely basis, and commence and sustain volume production to meet customer demands. Although we have attempted to determine the specific needs of the telephony, mobile, computer, residential and home office user markets, there can be no assurance that the market nich
es identified will, in fact, materialize or that our existing and future products designed for these markets will gain substantial market acceptance. Further, assuming the markets develop and our products meet customer needs, there is no assurance that such new products can be manufactured cost effectively and in sufficient volumes to meet the potential demand.
The technology of telephone headsets has traditionally evolved slowly. Historically, our product life cycles are three to five years, prior to introduction of the next generation of products, which usually include stylistic changes and quality improvements, but such trends are based on similar technology. Our newer emerging technology products, particularly in the mobile and computer markets, are exhibiting shorter life cycles more in line with the consumer electronics market, and are consequently more sensitive to market trends and fashion. We believe that future changes in technology will come at a faster pace. Our future success will be dependent in part on our ability to develop products that utilize new technologies and to adapt to changing market trends quickly. In addition, to avoid product obsolescence, we will have to monitor technological changes in telephony, as well as users' demands for new technologies. Failure to keep pace with future technological changes could materially
adversely affect our revenues and operating results.
SALES AND DISTRIBUTION
We have a well-established multilevel worldwide distribution network. Our principal customers are distributors, retailers, carriers, and OEM partners.
Commercial distributors represent our largest sales channel. This channel is comprised of headset specialists, national wholesalers, and regional wholesalers. The wholesalers typically offer a wide variety of products from multiple vendors to both resellers and end users. This distribution channel generally maintains inventory of our products, and our revenues may be affected by our distributors' fluctuating inventory levels even when market demand is stable. In fiscal 2003, we continued to reduce our order lead times and channel inventory levels.
The retail channel is our second largest channel and consists of office supply and consumer electronics retailers, consumer products and office supply distributors, catalog and mail order companies, and mass merchants. Retailers primarily sell headsets to corporate customers, small businesses, and to individuals who use them for a variety of purposes both personal and professional. The retail channel also maintains substantial inventory of Plantronics' products.
Contact center OEMs and manufacturers of automatic call distributor systems ("ACD"s) and other telecommunications and computer equipment also utilize Plantronics headsets. Contact center equipment OEMs do not typically manufacture their own peripheral products, and therefore distribute our headsets under their own private label, or as a Plantronics branded product.
Mobile telephone OEMs include both manufacturers of mobile handsets and wireless carriers. Wireless carriers do not manufacture headsets, but distribute our headsets as a Plantronics branded product or under their own private label. Mobile handset OEM's who buy from us primarily provide Plantronics' manufactured product designed for them and sold under their private label.
Computer OEMs include both manufacturers of computer hardware (including personal computers and specialized components and accessories for personal computers) and software. Many companies do not typically manufacture headsets but look to us for bundling our headsets with their products. Bundling configurations include product bundled with Plantronics-labeled headsets, product bundled with headsets privately labeled by the OEM, or product co-branded with Plantronics and the OEM.
The telephony service provider channel is comprised of telephone service providers that purchase headsets from us for use by their own agents. Certain of these service providers also resell headsets to their customers.
We also make direct sales to certain government agencies, including NASA and the FAA. In addition, certain of our distributors are authorized resellers under a GSA schedule price list and sell our products to government customers pursuant to that agreement.
We maintain a direct sales force worldwide to provide ongoing customer support and service globally. We also retain commissioned manufacturers' representatives to assist in selling through the retail channel.
BACKLOG
Our backlog of unfilled orders was $22.8 million on March 31, 2003 compared to $17.3 million at the end of fiscal 2002. We include in backlog all purchase orders scheduled for delivery over the next 12 months. As part of our commitment to customer service, our goal has been to ship products to meet customers' requested shipment dates. The majority of our orders are fulfilled within two to five business days. Our backlog is occasionally subject to cancellation or rescheduling by the customer on short notice with little or no penalty. We do not believe our backlog as of any particular date is indicative of actual sales for any future period and therefore should not be used as a measure of future revenue.
COMPETITION
The market for our products is highly competitive. We compete in several different markets, specifically the office and contact center, mobile and computer and other specialty markets. There are a number of different competitors in each of these market niches. We believe the principal competitive factors in each market are product features, comfort and fit, product reliability, customer service and support, reputation, distribution, ability to meet delivery schedules, price, warranty terms and product life. Our primary competitor is GN Netcom, a subsidiary of GN Great Nordic Ltd., a Danish telecommunications conglomerate. GN Netcom has acquired nine companies since 1996 and is well positioned to compete with us in the office, contact center and mobile markets. In addition, Labtec, Inc., a subsidiary of Logitech, is a significant competitor in the computer headset market.
The office market, including both traditional and small or home office, and residential markets, involves the sale of headsets for connection to single-line or office telephone systems, wireless and cordless telephones and computers. There is indirect competition from speakerphones. Competitors in the contact center user market also sell headsets for use in the office market.
In the contact center market, we face different competitors depending on the channel of distribution and the geographic location. We anticipate that we may face additional indirect competition in this market from technological advances such as wireless. Although we have historically competed very successfully in the contact center market, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue our leadership position in that market.
Competitors in the mobile market generally come from outside the contact center market. They include the mobile phone manufacturers who typically outsource phone accessories like headsets, and companies that focus primarily on the mobile and/or cordless phone accessories markets. There is indirect competition from hands-free car kits that also allow users to drive with both hands on the wheel. Important competitive factors in the mobile market include product styling, product reliability, product features, competitive pricing, sound quality, comfort and fit, ability to meet delivery schedules, customer service and support, reputation, distribution, warranty terms, and product life.
In the computer market, we compete for business in both the retail channel and through OEMs. We face competition principally from established computer peripheral vendors. These vendors have established relationships with their distribution channels, enabling them to gain broad and deep global distribution. There is indirect competition from stand-alone microphones and loudspeakers for use with computers. Competition through the retail channel is based upon differentiated retail packaging, superior microphone and speaker performance, price and headset style and color. Competition for OEM business is based upon meeting their unique requirements in their timeframes, unique styling, competitive pricing, and consistent quality with low defect rates.
The residential market involves the sale of headsets, telephones and other specialty products for use by the hearing impaired and other customers with special communications needs, and single and multi-line corded and cordless headset telephone solutions. This market is principally served by the retail channel and through certain OEMs. Our competition in the residential market comes principally from competitors in the mobile and computer markets and, in the case of our Walker Clarity and Ameriphone amplified telephones for the hearing impaired, from certain niche market manufacturers of similar products.
As we develop new generations of products and enter new markets, including the developing business and home office user markets, we anticipate facing additional competition from companies that currently do not offer communications headsets. Such companies may be larger, offer broader product lines and have substantially greater financial resources. Such competition could negatively affect pricing and gross margins. We believe that our experience in design and manufacture of comfortable and well-fitting headsets and the excellent acoustics of our products will assist us in our efforts to sell headset products in the face of this new competition.* However, there is no assurance that we will be able to compete successfully.
We believe that the following key factors enable us to maintain our position as a leading supplier of lightweight communications headsets:
- brand name recognition;
- high quality reputation;
- large, diverse distribution networks;
- strong customer service;
- diverse product offerings;
- ability to design safe and reliable products; and
- an understanding of regulations.
Although we believe we compete successfully with respect to these factors, if we do not compete successfully, it could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
MANUFACTURING AND SOURCES OF MATERIALS
The majority of our manufacturing operations consist of assembly and testing, most of which is performed at our facility in Mexico. We have substantially smaller manufacturing operations in California, and the United Kingdom. In addition, we outsource the manufacture of a limited number of products to third parties, typically in China.
We purchase the components for our headset products, including proprietary semi-custom integrated circuits, amplifier boards and other electrical components, from suppliers in Asia, Mexico, the United States, and Europe. Raw materials are procured to forecast. The majority of our components and subassemblies used in our manufacturing operations are obtained, or are reasonably available, from dual-source suppliers, although we do have a certain number of sole-source suppliers. Due to our dependence on single suppliers for certain chip sets, we could experience delays in development and/or the ability to meet our customer demand for new products.
We procure materials to meet forecasted customer requirements. Special products and large orders are quoted for delivery after receipt of orders at specific lead times. We maintain minimum levels of finished goods based on market demand in addition to inventories of raw materials, work in process and subassemblies and components.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
We are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations, including those governing the use, discharge and disposal of hazardous substances in the ordinary course of our manufacturing process. We believe that our current manufacturing operations comply in all material respects with applicable environmental laws and regulations. We have included in our financial statements a reserve of $1.5 million for possible environmental remediation related to one of our discontinued businesses. While no claims have been asserted against us in connection with this matter, there can be no assurance that such claims will not be asserted in the future or that any resulting liability will not exceed the amount of the reserve. It is possible that future environmental legislation may be enacted or current environmental legislation may be interpreted to create environmental liability with respect to our facilities or operations.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We maintain a program of seeking patent protection for our technologies when we believe it is commercially appropriate. As of April 30, 2003, we had 75 United States patents in force, expiring from 2003 to 2019. Some of these patents are also issued in certain foreign countries.
Our success will depend in part on our ability to obtain patents and preserve other intellectual property rights covering the design and operation of our products. We intend to continue to seek patents on our inventions when appropriate. The process of seeking patent protection can be lengthy and expensive, and there can be no assurance that patents will be issued for currently pending or future applications or that our existing patents or any new patents issued will be of sufficient scope or strength or provide meaningful protection or any commercial advantage to us. We may be subjected to, or may initiate, litigation or patent office interference proceedings, which may require significant financial and management resources. The failure to obtain necessary licenses or other rights or the advent of litigation arising out of any such intellectual property claims could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
We own registered trademarks with respect to the Plantronics and Ameriphone names as well as the names of many of our products and product features. We currently have United States and foreign trademark applications pending in connection with certain new products and product features. We have such trademark registrations in place on some or all of those marks in the United States and a number of countries throughout the world. We claim common law trademark rights in many of our products and/or product features. We also attempt to protect our trade secrets and other proprietary information through comprehensive security measures, including agreements with customers and suppliers, and proprietary information agreements with employees and consultants. We may seek copyright protection where we believe it is applicable. We own a number of domain name registrations and intend to seek more. There can be no assurance that our existing or future copyright registrations, trademarks, trade secrets or
domain names will be of sufficient scope or strength or provide meaningful protection or any commercial advantage to us.
EMPLOYEES
On March 31, 2003, we employed 2,726 people worldwide, including 1,995 in our manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico. No employees are currently covered by collective bargaining agreements or are members of any labor organization as far as we are aware. We have not experienced any work stoppages and believe that our employee relations are good. Set forth below is certain information regarding the executive officers of Plantronics and their ages as of April 30, 2003.