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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark One)
x |
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE |
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SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended July 31, 2002
OR
¨ |
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE |
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SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Commission File Number: 000-21287
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
|
95-3732595 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
|
(I.R.S. Employer Identification
No.) |
2381 Rosecrans Avenue
El Segundo, CA 90245
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(310) 536-0908
(Registrants
telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required 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 ¨
The number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding as of September 10, 2002 was 15,294,572.
SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Statements prompted by, qualified by or made in connection with such words as may, will, might, expect, would, will be, continue,
anticipates, estimates, expects, continuing, projects, plans, exploring, and believes and words of similar substance signal forward-looking statements.
Likewise, the use of such words in connection with or related to any discussion of or reference to Peerless Systems Corporations (Peerless or the Company) future business operations, opportunities or financial
performance sets apart forward-looking statements.
In particular, statements regarding the Companys outlook
for future business, financial performance and growth, including projected revenue, both quarterly and from specific sources, profit, spending, including spending on research and development efforts, costs, margins and the Companys cash
position, as well as statements regarding expectations for the digital imaging market, new product development and offerings, customer demand for the Companys products and services, market demand for products incorporating the Companys
technology, future prospects of the Company, and the impact on future performance of organizational and operational changes; all constitute forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and
projections about future events.
These forward-looking statements are just projections and estimations based upon
the information available to the Company at this time. Thus they involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties such that actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: a) changes in the marketplaces in which the Company offers its products; b) the failure of Peerless business to produce the projected financial results; c) the failure of
Peerless to maintain its margins due to changes in its business model in reaction to competitive pressures; d) the delay in or the non-acceptance by the market of new product and technology offerings; e) the inability of the Company to retain and
attract the technical talent to compete effectively in the marketplace for imaging; f) the failure of Peerless markets to achieve anticipated growth rates; g) unfavorable economic conditions resulting in decreased demand for original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) products using Peerless technology, making it difficult for the Company to obtain new licensing agreements; h) OEMs determinations not to proceed with development of products using Peerless
technology due to, among other things, changes in the demand for anticipated OEM products, age of Peerless technology, concerns about Peerless financial position and Peerless competitors offering alternative solutions; i) the lack
of acceptance of Peerless Internet printing technology by users in the hospitality markets; j) Peerless competitors coming to market with new products or alternative solutions that are superior or available at a lower cost or earlier
than anticipated or believed to be possible; k) the markets in imaging and networking may not grow to anticipated levels; l) the costs associated with the development and marketing of products for imaging and networking may be higher than currently
forecasted; m) an unfavorable outcome to the class action lawsuit presently being litigated; n) changes in demand for the Companys products and services based on market conditions and the competitiveness of Peerless products from both
technological and pricing perspectives; o) the Companys inability to maintain or further improve operating efficiencies or to further streamline operations; p) the impact on the Companys financials of any future need to expand the
organization to meet customer or market demands; q) continuing unfavorable world-wide economic conditions exacerbated by the terrorist attacks; r) incremental costs of operations arising out of changes in the law, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, regarding corporate governance, financial disclosure, auditor independence, corporate fraud and the accounting profession in general; and s) other factors affecting Peerless business and the forward-looking statements set forth herein.
Those risks and uncertainties include those set forth in pages 14 through 22 of this Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q.
Current and prospective stockholders are urged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company is under no
obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified in their
entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.
2
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
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Page No.
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PART IFINANCIAL INFORMATION |
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Item 1. |
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Financial Statements |
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4 |
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5 |
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6 |
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7 |
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Item 2. |
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12 |
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Item 3. |
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16 |
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PART IIOTHER INFORMATION |
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Item 1. |
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27 |
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Item 2. |
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27 |
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Item 3. |
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27 |
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Item 4. |
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27 |
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Item 5. |
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27 |
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Item 6. |
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28 |
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30 |
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31 |
TRADEMARKS
Memory Reduction Technology® (MRT), PeerlessPowered®,
WinExpress®, PeerlessPrint®, redipS®, AccelePrint®, SyntheSys® and QuickPrint® are registered trademarks of Peerless Systems Corporation.
MagicPrint, VersaPage and PerfecTone are trademarks of Peerless Systems
Corporation and are the subjects of applications pending for registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Peerless, PeerlessPage, ImageWorks and WebWorks are trademarks of Peerless Systems Corporation. Peerless Systems, P logo, and
Peerless logo are trademarks and service marks of Peerless Systems Corporation registered in Japan. RedipS is a trademark of Peerless Systems Corporation registered in Canada and in the European Community. PeerlessPrint is a trademark of Peerless
Systems Corporation that is the subject of an application for registration pending in Japan and the European Community. PeerlessPrint (in Katakana) is a trademark of Peerless Systems Corporation that is the subject of an application for registration
pending in Japan.
3
PART IFINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1Financial Statements.
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
(in thousands)
|
|
July 31, 2002
|
|
|
January 31, 2002
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
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|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
11,761 |
|
|
$ |
11,030 |
|
Short-term investments |
|
|
711 |
|
|
|
508 |
|
Trade accounts receivable, net |
|
|
3,338 |
|
|
|
5,158 |
|
Unbilled receivables |
|
|
670 |
|
|
|
160 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
941 |
|
|
|
537 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
17,421 |
|
|
|
17,393 |
|
Investments |
|
|
2,553 |
|
|
|
3,116 |
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
2,716 |
|
|
|
4,038 |
|
Income taxes receivable |
|
|
544 |
|
|
|
|
|
Other assets |
|
|
548 |
|
|
|
387 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
23,782 |
|
|
$ |
24,934 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Accounts payable |
|
$ |
746 |
|
|
$ |
742 |
|
Accrued wages |
|
|
700 |
|
|
|
1,033 |
|
Accrued compensated absences |
|
|
671 |
|
|
|
675 |
|
Other current liabilities |
|
|
2,600 |
|
|
|
2,482 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
1,645 |
|
|
|
1,827 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total current liabilities |
|
|
6,362 |
|
|
|
6,759 |
|
Other tax liabilities |
|
|
1,519 |
|
|
|
2,060 |
|
Deferred rent |
|
|
434 |
|
|
|
121 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total liabilities |
|
|
8,315 |
|
|
|
8,940 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock |
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
48,846 |
|
|
|
48,789 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(33,281 |
) |
|
|
(32,697 |
) |
Treasury stock |
|
|
(113 |
) |
|
|
(113 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total stockholders equity |
|
|
15,467 |
|
|
|
15,994 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
|
$ |
23,782 |
|
|
$ |
24,934 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
4
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
|
|
Three Months Ended July
31,
|
|
|
Six Months Ended July
31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2001
|
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product licensing |
|
$ |
5,687 |
|
|
$ |
5,227 |
|
|
$ |
12,561 |
|
|
$ |
9,605 |
|
Engineering services and maintenance |
|
|
932 |
|
|
|
1,364 |
|
|
|
2,625 |
|
|
|
3,169 |
|
Other |
|
|
473 |
|
|
|
748 |
|
|
|
505 |
|
|
|
1,269 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
|
7,092 |
|
|
|
7,339 |
|
|
|
15,691 |
|
|
|
14,043 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product licensing |
|
|
2,148 |
|
|
|
2,040 |
|
|
|
4,690 |
|
|
|
3,603 |
|
Engineering services and maintenance |
|
|
607 |
|
|
|
1,785 |
|
|
|
1,578 |
|
|
|
3,233 |
|
Other |
|
|
250 |
|
|
|
442 |
|
|
|
270 |
|
|
|
757 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of revenues |
|
|
3,005 |
|
|
|
4,267 |
|
|
|
6,538 |
|
|
|
7,593 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross margin |
|
|
4,087 |
|
|
|
3,072 |
|
|
|
9,153 |
|
|
|
6,450 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
|
2,449 |
|
|
|
3,390 |
|
|
|
4,951 |
|
|
|
6,684 |
|
Sales and marketing |
|
|
1,103 |
|
|
|
1,673 |
|
|
|
2,194 |
|
|
|
2,868 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
1,574 |
|
|
|
2,513 |
|
|
|
2,855 |
|
|
|
4,521 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
5,126 |
|
|
|
7,576 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
14,073 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(1,039 |
) |
|
|
(4,504 |
) |
|
|
(847 |
) |
|
|
(7,623 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,320 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,320 |
|
Interest income, net |
|
|
111 |
|
|
|
195 |
|
|
|
221 |
|
|
|
448 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other income |
|
|
111 |
|
|
|
2,515 |
|
|
|
221 |
|
|
|
2,768 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
|
(928 |
) |
|
|
(1,989 |
) |
|
|
(626 |
) |
|
|
(4,855 |
) |
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |
|
|
234 |
|
|
|
543 |
|
|
|
(42 |
) |
|
|
936 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(1,162 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,532 |
) |
|
$ |
(584 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,791 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss per sharebasic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.08 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.17 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.04 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.39 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common shares outstandingbasic and diluted |
|
|
15,241 |
|
|
|
14,926 |
|
|
|
15,265 |
|
|
|
14,966 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
5
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
|
|
Six Months Ended July
31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2001
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(584 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,791 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
820 |
|
|
|
1,117 |
|
Amortization of investment discounts and premiums |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
(10 |
) |
Amortization of deferred compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
32 |
|
Loss from lease amendment |
|
|
725 |
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade accounts receivable |
|
|
1,820 |
|
|
|
2,545 |
|
Unbilled receivables |
|
|
(510 |
) |
|
|
(178 |
) |
Income taxes receivable |
|
|
(544 |
) |
|
|
(276 |
) |
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
|
(551 |
) |
|
|
(120 |
) |
Long-term receivable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,500 |
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
604 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
(182 |
) |
|
|
521 |
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
(447 |
) |
|
|
(454 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
|
|
561 |
|
|
|
(510 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
|
(124 |
) |
|
|
(570 |
) |
Purchases of leasehold improvements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(244 |
) |
Purchases of available-for-sale securities |
|
|
(250 |
) |
|
|
(5,836 |
) |
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities |
|
|
600 |
|
|
|
9,993 |
|
Purchases of software licenses |
|
|
(113 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
148 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by investing activities |
|
|
113 |
|
|
|
3,491 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of common stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
102 |
|
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options |
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
Repurchase of common stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(113 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities |
|
|
57 |
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
731 |
|
|
|
2,978 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
|
|
11,030 |
|
|
|
12,073 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
|
$ |
11,761 |
|
|
$ |
15,051 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
6
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
1. Basis of Presentation:
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Peerless Systems Corporation (Peerless or the
Company) have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by generally
accepted accounting principles. The financial statements and notes herein are unaudited, but in the opinion of management, include all the adjustments (consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial
position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company. These statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto for the years ended January 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000 included in the Companys
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on May 1, 2002. The results of operations for the interim periods shown herein are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future interim period or for the entire year.
2. Significant Accounting Policies:
Revenue Recognition: The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with Statement of Position 97-2 Software Revenue Recognition as amended by Statement of
Position 98-9. In November 2000, the Company adopted Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements and Emerging Issues Task Force 99-19, Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an
Agent. The adoptions did not impact the Companys revenue recognition policy.
Development license
revenues from the licensing of source code or software development kits (SDKs) for the Companys standard products are recognized upon delivery and acceptance by the customer of the software if no significant modification or
customization of the software is required and collection of the resulting receivable is probable. If modification or customization is essential to the functionality of the software, the development license revenues are recognized over the course of
the modification work.
The Company also enters into engineering services contracts with certain of its original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide turnkey solutions, adapting the Companys software and supporting electronics to specific OEM requirements. Revenues on such contracts are recognized over the course of the engineering work
on a percentage-of-completion basis. Progress-to-completion under percentage-of-completion is determined based on direct costs, consisting primarily of labor and materials, expended on the arrangement. The Company provides for any anticipated losses
on such contracts in the period in which such losses are first determinable. The Company accrued $88 and $91 for losses on contracts that experienced delays in completion at July 31, 2002 and January 31, 2002, respectively. Maintenance revenues are
recognized ratably over the term of the maintenance contract.
Recurring licensing revenues are derived from per
unit fees paid by the Companys customers upon manufacturing and subsequent commercial shipment of products incorporating Peerless technology and certain third party technology. These recurring licensing revenues are recognized on a per unit
basis as products are shipped commercially. In certain cases, the Company may sell a block license, that is, a specific quantity of licensed units that may be sold in the future, or the Company may require the customer to pay minimum royalty
commitments. Associated payments are typically made in one lump sum or extend over a period of four or more quarters. The Company generally recognizes revenues associated with block licenses and minimum royalty commitments on delivery and acceptance
of software, when collection of the resulting receivable is probable, when the fee is fixed and determinable, and when the Company has no future obligations. In cases where block licenses or minimum royalty commitments have extended payment terms
and the fees are not fixed and determinable, revenue is recognized as payments become due. Further, when earned royalties exceed minimum royalty commitments, revenues are recognized on a per unit basis as products are shipped commercially.
7
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
For fees on multiple element arrangements, values are allocated among
the elements based on vendor specific objective evidence of fair value (VSOE). If VSOE does not exist, all revenue for the arrangement is deferred until the earlier of the point at which such VSOE does exist or all elements of the
arrangement have been delivered. If an arrangement includes software and service elements, a determination is made as to whether the service element can be accounted for separately as services are performed.
Deferred revenue consists of prepayments of licensing fees and payments billed to customers in advance of revenue recognized on
engineering services contracts. Unbilled receivables arise when the revenue recognized on a contract exceeds billings due to timing differences related to billing milestones as specified in the contract.
3. Investments:
Investments consisted of the following:
|
|
July 31, 2002
|
|
January 31, 2002
|
Available-for-sale securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maturities within one year: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. government debt securities |
|
$ |
711 |
|
$ |
308 |
State and local government debt securities |
|
|
|
|
|
200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
711 |
|
|
508 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maturities after one year through five years: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. government debt securities |
|
|
1,753 |
|
|
1,916 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maturities after five years: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
800 |
|
|
1,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total investments |
|
$ |
3,264 |
|
$ |
3,624 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The fair value of available-for-sale securities at July 31, 2002
and January 31, 2002 approximated their carrying value (amortized cost). Unrealized gains or losses on securities were immaterial for all periods presented.
4. Legal Proceedings:
On August 28, 2000, a stockholder
class action lawsuit was filed against the Company and two of the Companys former officers. A second stockholder class action lawsuit was filed on September 19, 2000 against the Company and the same two former officers of the Company. On April
17, 2001, the Company was served with an Amended and Consolidated Complaint. These lawsuits allege a scheme to artificially inflate the Companys stock price and seek compensatory damages with interest and attorneys fees and expenses. A hearing
on the motion filed by the Company and the two former officers to dismiss the Amended and Consolidated Complaint was held on October 9, 2001. On January 14, 2002, the Court dismissed the First Amended and Consolidated Complaint and granted the
plaintiffs sixty days to file a Second Amended and Consolidated Complaint. The plaintiff class filed a Second Amended and Consolidated Complaint on March 15, 2002. On July 16, 2002, the Court granted the plaintiff class request to file a Third
Amended Complaint that was filed as of the date of the Courts order. Peerless believes all of the claims to be without merit and is responding accordingly.
8
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
5. Stock-based Compensation:
The Company applies APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations to account for
its stock option plans and employee stock purchase plan, and therefore does not recognize compensation expense for grants of stock options or shares sold under the Purchase Plan. Under SFAS No. 123, compensation cost would be recognized for the fair
value of the employee option rights and shares sold under the employee stock purchase plan. In determining the fair value, the Company used the Black-Scholes model, assumed no dividend per year, used expected lives ranging from 2 to 10 years,
expected volatility of 97.8% and 132.1% for the three and six months ended July 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, and risk free interest rates of 2.08% and 5.50% for the three and six months ended July 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The weighted
average per share fair values of options granted during the periods presented with exercise prices equal to market price on the date of grant were $1.02 and $1.47 for the three months ended July 31, 2002 and July 31, 2001, respectively, and $0.87
and $0.74 for the six months ended July 31, 2002 and July 31, 2001, respectively. There were no options granted with exercise prices below market price on the date of grant during any of the periods presented. Had compensation cost for the
Companys grants under stock-based compensation plans and shares sold under the Purchase Plan been determined consistent with SFAS No. 123, the Companys net losses and losses per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts
indicated below:
|
|
Three Months Ended July 31,
|
|
|
Six Months Ended July 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2001
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2001
|
|
Net loss as reported |
|
$ |
(1,162 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,532 |
) |
|
$ |
(584 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,791 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proforma net loss |
|
$ |
(2,018 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,111 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,295 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,949 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share as reported: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.08 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.17 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.04 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.39 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma net loss per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.13 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.28 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.15 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.60 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6. Concentration of Revenues:
During the second quarter of fiscal year 2003, two customers each generated greater than 10% of the revenues and collectively contributed
34% of revenues. Block license revenues for the same time period were 64% of revenues. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2002, five customers generated greater than 10% of the revenues, and collectively contributed 75% of revenues. Block
license revenues for that period accounted for 57% of revenues.
7. Lease Amendment
In the second quarter of fiscal year 2003, the Company amended the building lease of its headquarters in California, resulting
in a reduction of office space. The Company recorded charges of approximately $0.7 million for costs associated with the amendment of the lease and the write-off of certain leasehold improvements.
8. Segment Reporting:
Peerless provides software-based embedded imaging and networking technology for digital document products and provides directory and management software for networked storage devices and integrates
proprietary software into enterprise networks of original equipment manufacturers.
9
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
On January 29, 2002, the Company divested itself of the Netreon
storage management operations. As a result of this divestiture, in fiscal year 2003, the Company is solely engaged in Imaging operations. Prior to the divestiture, the Company viewed its operations as two segments: Imaging and Storage. The factors
that management used to identify the separate segments included customer base, products and technology. The factors used to measure the performance of the two segments included revenues, operating profit and staffing.
A description of the products and services provided by each segment is as follows:
|
|
|
Imaging provides to OEM customers imaging systems, page description languages, drivers, application specific integrated circuits, engineering services to modify
products for specific applications and maintenance for digital document products. Products can be purchased in source code form or can be modified using the Companys engineering services to modify for a specific application. License fees are
charged for the utilization of Imaging technology. |
|
|
|
Storage provided OEM storage customers Network Attached Storage (NAS) software developer kits that would allow NAS OEMs to provide NetWare or
Windows 2000 compatibility for their products. Products could have been purchased in source code form or modified using the Storage engineering services to modify for a specific application. License fees were charged for the utilization of the
Storage technology. The Company no longer provides products and service in this segment. |
The accounting policies used
to derive reportable segments results are generally the same as those described in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2002 in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Intersegment
transactions are not material. The Companys selling, general and administrative expenses are not identified by segments or accumulated in this manner due to, among other things, shared management and cross-utilization of personnel. Such
expenses related to the Companys Netreon, Inc. subsidiary are attributed to the Storage segment; all other such expenses incurred by the Company are allocated to the Imaging segment.
The table below presents segment information for the three months ending July 31:
|
|
Imaging
|
|
|
Storage
|
|
|
Total Segments
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
7,092 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
$ |
7,092 |
|
Operating loss |
|
|
(1,039 |
) |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
(1,039 |
) |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
390 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
390 |
|
Assets |
|
|
23,782 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
23,782 |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
89 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
89 |
|
|
2001 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
7,339 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
7,339 |
|
Operating loss |
|
|
(1,596 |
) |
|
|
(2,908 |
) |
|
|
(4,504 |
) |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
429 |
|
|
|
171 |
|
|
|
600 |
|
Assets |
|
|
30,671 |
|
|
|
1,346 |
|
|
|
32,017 |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
128 |
|
|
|
136 |
|
|
|
264 |
|
10
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Continued)
The table below presents segment information for the six months
ending July 31:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
Imaging
|
|
|
Storage
|
|
|
Segments
|
|
2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
15,691 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
$ |
15,691 |
|
Operating loss |
|
|
(847 |
) |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
(847 |
) |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
820 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
820 |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
237 |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
237 |
|
|
2001 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
14,043 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
14,043 |
|
Operating loss |
|
|
(2,440 |
) |
|
|
(5,183 |
) |
|
|
(7,623 |
) |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
893 |
|
|
|
224 |
|
|
|
1,117 |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
290 |
|
|
|
524 |
|
|
|
814 |
|
11
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not purely historical are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including without limitation, statements regarding Peerless Systems Corporations (Peerless or the
Company) expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. All forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about
the industry in which Peerless operates and managements beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore,
actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
Peerless, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Peerless Systems Imaging Products, Inc. (PSIP), is a provider of software-based imaging and networking
systems to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of digital document products. The Peerless imaging solution is based on a combination of software and imaging application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), which together
are designed to form a cost-effective imaging system that addresses virtually all sectors of the printing market, from low-end small office/home office (SOHO) inkjets to high-end laser digital color copiers and printers. The low-cost,
high performance printers and multifunction products (MFPs) that incorporate the Companys imaging solutions are increasingly replacing expensive standalone copiers and printers in corporate offices. Additionally, the Companys
embedded directory agent technology enables networked devices to use directory services. These directory services can authenticate users and administer their access rights. They also allow a device to list its configuration parameters in a central
directory on the network, and to configure itself automatically without the need for user intervention.
On
January 29, 2002, Peerless divested itself of the Netreon storage management operations while retaining the networking technology obtained from the 1999 acquisition of Netreon for the continuing integration into Peerless core imaging product
development. As a result of this transaction, certain amounts reported in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and for the remainder of fiscal year 2003 may not be comparable to those reported for fiscal year 2002. The operating loss of the divested
storage management operations was $(2.9) million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2002; in the first six months of fiscal year 2002, the operating loss was $(5.2) million. There were no revenues in either period. Please see Note 8 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements on Segment Reporting for more information.
The Company generates revenue from
its OEMs through the sale of imaging solutions in either turnkey or software development kit (SDK) form. Historically, OEM demand for turnkey solutions had exceeded demand for SDK solutions. However, in fiscal year 2000, the Company
experienced a shift in demand away from turnkey solutions towards demand for the Companys SDKs, particularly for its mature monochrome solutions. The Company has attempted to expand its solution offerings by incorporating related imaging and
networking technologies developed internally or licensed from third parties.
The Companys product licensing
revenues are comprised of both recurring per unit and block licensing revenues and development licensing fees for source code or SDKs. Licensing revenues are derived from per unit fees paid periodically by the Companys OEM customers upon
manufacturing and subsequent commercial shipment of products incorporating the Companys technology. Licensing revenues are also derived from arrangements in which the Company enables third party technology, such as solutions from Adobe Systems
Incorporated, WindRiver, Inc. and Novell Inc., to be used with its products.
12
Block licenses are per-unit licenses granted in large volume quantities to an OEM
for products either in or about to enter into distribution into the marketplace. Payment schedules for block licenses are negotiable and payment terms are often dependent on the size of the block and other terms and conditions of the block license
being acquired. Typically, payments are made in either one lump sum or over a period of four or more quarters. The Company generally recognizes revenues associated with block licenses on delivery and acceptance of software, when collection of the
resulting receivable is probable, when the fee is fixed and determinable, and when the Company has no future obligations. In cases where block licenses have extended payment terms and the fees are not fixed and determinable, revenue is recognized as
payments become due.
The Company also has engineering services revenues that are derived primarily from adapting
the Companys software and supporting electronics to specific OEM requirements. The Company provides its engineering services to OEMs seeking a turnkey imaging solution for their digital document products. The Companys maintenance
revenues are derived from software maintenance agreements. Maintenance revenues currently constitute a small portion of total revenue.
As part of the total solution offered to its OEMs, the Company developed a direct distribution channel for its ASIC chips. Under this fabless model, Peerless supplies ASIC chips from the foundry directly to the
OEMs through third party distributors Arrow Electronics and Marubun Corporation. The Company is responsible for marketing and sales administration, including the billings and collections to and from its OEMs and distributors, and the third party is
responsible for the coordination of production with the foundry, maintenance of necessary inventories, and providing just-in-time delivery to OEMs and distributors.
Currently, a limited number of customers provide a substantial portion of the Companys revenues. Therefore, the availability and successful closing of new contracts,
or modifications and additions to existing contracts with these customers may materially impact the Companys financial position and results of operations from quarter to quarter.
The current market in which the Company operates has been consolidating for the past several years, and the demand for the technology and products offered by the Company
has declined. Peerless technology addresses the worldwide market for printers (21-69 PPM) and MFPs (21-110 PPM). Both of these segments are key target markets for the Company. Unit volumes for these types of printers are projected by
International Data Corporation (IDC), an independent research company, to grow at lower rates than in years past. Available data indicate that retail prices are declining in these segments. There has been a decline in the number of
contracts that the Company has with OEMs under which the Company is currently performing services and granting licenses, and this decline is likely to continue along with the decline in demand for the technology and products the Company presently
offers. Competitors have merged into larger business units with the resulting strength to acquire and impose a competitive advantage in the Companys market segments.
The Company expects to experience a sequential decrease in revenues in the third quarter of fiscal year 2003, due to the timing of licensing revenues partially offset by an
expected increase in the level of engineering services with the completion of several turnkey efforts, and expects operating losses in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2003. The Company continues to meet sales resistance from its
customers. In the past, these OEMs have reduced the absolute number of new products being developed and in some instances, the OEMs have preferred to perform in-house development projects for the products that they are developing and/or planning to
launch. Although there have been fewer opportunities for the Company to sell its turnkey services and SDKs, the Company continued to support its current OEM controller customers in the digital printing devices business with its existing technology
and has sized the organization to provide the necessary support and maintenance. During the current fiscal year, the Company has invested in research and development and has developed and integrated new product technologies that the Company will
offer to its OEM customers in this and future quarters.
The Company has addressed the deterioration in demand for
its legacy products by the development of new technology, by sizing its organization to manage the current business requirements of imaging for digital document products and has adapted its pricing model to changing market conditions.
13
The Company continues to explore opportunities to enhance the value of the
Company, including development of new technologies, exploitation of new geographic market opportunities, exploration of new sales channels, mergers, acquisitions and/or divestitures. There is no assurance that the Company can or will be successful
in the pursuit of these opportunities that are expected to result in a growth in revenues. Failure to realize success in these opportunities could have a material adverse effect on the Companys operational results.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Companys principal source of liquidity is its cash and cash equivalents and investments, which, as of July 31, 2002, were $15.0 million in the aggregate.
Compared to January 31, 2002, total assets at July 31, 2002 decreased 5% to $23.8 million and stockholders equity decreased 3% to $15.5 million, primarily the result
of the loss from operations. The Companys cash and investment portfolio at July 31, 2002 was $15.0 million, up from $14.7 million as of January 31, 2002, and the ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 2.7:1, which is slightly
higher than the 2.6:1 as of January 31, 2002. The Companys operations provided $0.6 million in cash during the six months ended July 31, 2002, compared to $0.5 million in cash used by operations during the six months ended July 31, 2001.
During the six months ended July 31, 2002, $0.1 million in cash was provided by the Companys investing
activities. It is the Companys policy to invest the majority of its unused cash in low risk government and commercial debt securities. The Company has not historically purchased, nor does it expect to purchase in the future, derivative
instruments or enter into hedging transactions. During the first six months of fiscal year 2003, the Company invested $0.1 million in property, equipment and leasehold improvements, compared to $0.8 million invested during the first six months of
fiscal year 2002.
During the first six months of fiscal year 2003, cash and investments increased $0.4 million,
compared to a decrease of $1.3 million in the comparable six-month period ended July 31, 2001.
Although the
Company expects to end the current fiscal year with approximately $13 million in cash and investments, if the Company does not generate anticipated cash flow from sales, or if expenditures are greater than expected, the Company most likely will
reduce discretionary spending, which would require the Company to delay, scale back or eliminate some or all of its development efforts, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Companys business, results of operations and
prospects. Further, if the Company experiences negative cash flows greater than anticipated, and is unable to increase revenues or cut costs so that revenues generated from operating activities are sufficient to meet the Companys obligations,
the Company will be required to obtain additional capital from other sources. Such sources might include issuance of debt or equity securities, bank financing or other means that might be available to the Company to increase its working capital.
Under such circumstances, there is substantial doubt as to whether the Company would be able to obtain additional capital on commercially reasonable terms or at all. The inability to obtain such resources on commercially acceptable terms would have
a material adverse effect on the Company, its operations, liquidity and financial condition, its prospects and the scope of strategic alternatives and initiatives available to the Company. The Company does not have a credit facility.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Three and Six Months Ended July 31, 2002 and 2001
The Companys net loss in the second quarter of fiscal year 2003 was $(1.2) million, or $(0.08) per share, compared with a net loss of $(2.5) million, or $(0.17) per share, in the second quarter of fiscal year 2002. For the six
month period ending July 31, 2002, net loss was $(0.6) million, or $(0.04) per share, compared to a net loss of $(5.8) million, or $(0.39) per share for the same period in fiscal year 2002.
14
Consolidated revenues for the three and six months ended July 31, 2002 were $7.1
million and $15.7 million, respectively, compared to $7.3 million and $14.0 million for the comparable periods a year ago. The decrease in the three-month period was due primarily to a decline in engineering services and maintenance revenues. The
increase from in the six-month period was due primarily to higher product licensing fees earned, partially offset by lower engineering services and maintenance fees earned, in the recent six-month period.
Total cost of revenues were $3.0 million and $6.5 million for the three and six months ended July 31, 2002, respectively, compared to $4.3
million and $7.6 million for the comparable periods ended July 31, 2001. The decrease in the three-month period was due primarily to increased costs for projects nearing completion last year. The decrease in the six-month period was primarily due to
higher project costs in the prior year, partially offset by an increase in product licensing costs in the current year. Product licensing costs were $2.1 million and $4.7 million for the three and six months ended July 31, 2002, respectively,
compared to $2.0 million and $3.6 million for the comparable periods ended July 31, 2001. The increases in both comparative periods were primarily due to higher levels of licensing revenues.
The Companys gross margins were $4.1 million and $9.2 million for the three and six months ended July 31, 2002, respectively, compared to $3.1 million and $6.5
million for the comparable periods ended July 31, 2001. The improvement in gross margin in the three-month period was attributable primarily to the improved margins on the Companys engineering services efforts resulting from the high level of
OEM-requested design changes for projects that were nearing completion earned during the first quarter of fiscal year 2003. The improvement in gross margin in the six-month period was attributable primarily to increased costs for projects that were
nearing completion last year.
Total operating expenses for the three and six months ended July 31, 2002 decreased
to $5.1 million and $10.0 million, respectively, compared with $7.6 million and $14.1 million, respectively, for the comparable periods ended July 31, 2001.
|
|
|
Research and development expenses in the three months ended July 31, 2002 decreased 27.8% to $2.4 million from $3.4 million in the comparable period ended July
31, 2001. For the six months ended July 1, 2002, research and development costs decreased 25.9% to $5.0 million from $6.7 million in the comparable period ended July 31, 2001. These decreases are primarily due to the divestiture of Netreon. The
Company continues to invest in the future by funding research and development on technical solutions and continuing investments for imaging development programs. |
|
|
|
Sales and marketing expenses in the three months ended July 31, 2002 decreased 34.1% to $1.1 million from $1.7 million in the comparable period ending July 31,
2001. For the six months ended July 31, 2002, sales and marketing costs decreased 23.5% to $2.2 million from $2.9 million in the comparable period ended July 31, 2001. These decreases are primarily due to the divestiture of Netreon. The Company
remains focused on the penetration of new OEM customers, attendance at industry trade shows, and other opportunities to promote the Companys embedded imaging and network solutions. |
|
|
|
General and administrative expenses in the three months ended July 31, 2002 decreased 37.4% to $1.6 million from $2.5 million in the comparable period ending
July 31, 2001. For the six months ended July 31, 2002, general and administrative costs decreased 36.9% to $2.9 million from $4.5 million in the comparable period ended July 31, 2001. The decreases are primarily the result of decreased staffing
costs and lower legal, consulting and advisory fees. Included in general and administrative expenses in the three and six months ended July 31, 2002 was a write-off of approximately $0.7 million for the reduction in office space located at the
Companys headquarters, partially offset by a recouping of approximately $0.5 million in legal expenses associated with litigation. In spite of the write-off for the office space reduction, the Company expects a long-term financial benefit to
accrue from the change in its office lease through lower operating costs for rent and amortization of leasehold improvements. |
Interest income was $0.1 million and $0.2 million in the three and six months ended July 31, 2002, respectively, compared to $0.2 million and $0.4 million in the three and six months ended July 31,
2001, respectively. The decreases were due to decreased levels of investments and lower interest rates.
15
The provision for income taxes for the second quarter of fiscal year 2003 was
$0.2 million, compared to a provision for income taxes of $0.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2002. The tax provisions were the result of foreign income taxes paid. For the six months ended July 31, 2002, the Company had a tax benefit
of $42 thousand, compared to a tax provision of $0.9 million in the six months ended July 31, 2001. The tax benefit in the current year is primarily the result of a change in the tax code that allowed the Company to carry back losses to obtain a tax
refund of $0.5 million, offset by foreign income taxes paid. The Company has provided the valuation allowance on its net deferred tax assets because of the uncertainty with respect to the Companys ability to generate future taxable income to
realize the deferred tax assets.
As of July 31,
2002, the Company does not hold any positions in equity securities of other publicly traded companies.
The
Companys exposure to interest rate risk relates primarily to our non-equity investment portfolio. The primary objectives of the Companys investment activities are to preserve the principal while at the same time maximizing yields without
significantly increasing risk. To achieve this objective, the Company from time to time maintains its portfolio of cash equivalents, fixed rate debt instruments of the U.S. Government and high-quality corporate issuers and short-term investments in
money market funds. As discussed in Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report, as of July 31, 2002, we held approximately $3.3 million in total debt securities. Although the Company is subject to interest rate
risks in these investments, the Company believes an effective increase or decrease of 10% in interest rate percentages would not have a material adverse effect on its results from operations. Consequently, our interest rate risk is minimal.
The Company has not entered into any derivative financial instruments. Currently all of the Companys
contracts, including those involving foreign entities, are denominated in U.S. dollars and as a result, the Company has experienced no foreign exchange gains and losses to date. The Company has not engaged in foreign currency hedging activities to
date and has no intention of doing so.
Risks and Uncertainties
An investment in the Companys common stock involves a high degree of risk.
Peerless operates in a dynamic and rapidly changing industry that involves numerous risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only
ones the Company faces, and other risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not consider material at the time of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, may impair the Companys business or operations. If any of
the risks discussed below actually occur, the Companys business, financial condition, operating results or cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
Peerless has a history of losses and anticipates continued losses.
Although Peerless was profitable in the first fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2003, it incurred operating losses in the second quarter, and expects to incur operating losses in the third and fourth
quarters of fiscal year 2003. There is no assurance that the Company will be profitable in the future.
Future
losses will deplete the Companys capital resources, and projected decreases in expenses are not expected to offset the decline in revenues. The factors noted below have had and will continue to have a material adverse effect on the
Companys future revenues and/or results of operations.
The future demand for the Companys current
products is uncertain.
Peerless current technology and products have been in the marketplace for an
average of 23 months as of July 31, 2002. This represents a 15% increase from the average of 20 months that the Companys products had
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been in the marketplace as of July 31, 2001. The growth in the average age of current technology and products in the marketplace reflects the decline in demand for the Companys technology
and products. Although Peerless continues to license the Companys current technology and products to certain OEMs, there can be no assurance that the OEMs will continue to need or utilize the current technology and products the Company offers.
Peerless may be unable to develop new and enhanced products that achieve market acceptance.
Peerless currently derives substantially all of its revenues from licensing and sale of the Companys embedded imaging
software and products and the sublicensing of third party technologies. Peerless expects that revenue from embedded imaging products will continue to account for a substantial portion of revenues during fiscal year 2003 and beyond. The
Companys future success also depends in part on the Companys ability to address the rapidly changing needs of potential customers in the marketplace, to introduce high-quality, cost-effective products, product enhancements and services
on a timely basis, and to keep pace with technological developments and emerging industry standards. The Companys failure to achieve its business plan to develop and to successfully introduce new products and product enhancements in the
Companys prime markets is likely to materially and adversely affect the Companys business and financial results.
Peerless relies on relationships with certain customers and any change in those relationships will harm the Companys business.
During the second quarter of fiscal year 2003, two customers, Oki Data Corporation and Konica Corporation, each generated greater than 10% of the Companys revenues and collectively contributed
34% of revenues. Block license revenues for the same time period totaled $4.5 million, or 64% of revenues. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2002, five customers, Oki Data Corporation, Konica Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation, Ricoh
Company, Ltd. and Marubun Corporation, each generated greater than 10% of the revenues, and collectively contributed 75% of revenues. Block license revenues during the second quarter of fiscal year 2002 were $4.2 million, or 57% of revenues.
A limited number of OEM customers continue to provide a substantial portion of Peerless revenues. There
presently are only a small number of OEM customers in the digital document product market to which the Company can market its technology and services. Therefore, the Companys ability to offset a significant decrease in the revenues from a
particular customer or to replace a lost customer is severely constrained. A reduction in business from just one customer providing a significant portion of the Companys revenues can have a material adverse effect on the Companys
operating results.
International political instability may increase the cost of doing business and disrupt the
Companys business.
Increased international political instability, disruption in air transportation and
further enhanced security measures as a result of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, the conflict in Afghanistan, political turmoil in South Asia and the hostilities in the Middle East, may hinder the Companys ability to do business and may
increase its costs. The increased instability may, for example, negatively impact the reliability and cost of transportation, negatively impact the desire of the Companys employees and customers to travel, adversely affect the ability to
obtain adequate insurance at reasonable rates, or require the Company to take extra security precautions for operations. In addition, to the extent that air and other transportation is delayed or disrupted, the operations of Peerless OEMs and
suppliers may be disrupted, and if such political instability or hostilities continue or increase, the business results for the Company could be harmed.
The Companys revenue from engineering services is subject to significant fluctuations.
Peerless has experienced a significant reduction in the financial performance of its engineering services that has been caused by many factors, including:
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product development delays (see Peerless must adapt to technology trends and evolving industry standards or the Company will not be competitive
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third party delays; and |
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loss of new engineering services contracts. |
There can be no assurance that these and similar factors will not continue to impact future engineering services results adversely.
Peerless licensing revenue is subject to significant fluctuations.
The Companys recurring licensing revenue model has shifted from per-unit royalties paid upon OEM shipment of its product and guaranteed quarterly minimum royalties to a model that results in
revenues associated with the sale of SDKs and block licenses. The reliance on block licenses has occurred due to aging OEM products in the marketplace, OEM demands in negotiating licensing agreements, reductions in the number of OEM products
shipping and a design win mix that changed from object code licensing arrangements to SDKs. Revenues may continue to fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter as the number and value of design wins vary, or if the signing of block licenses are
delayed or the licensing opportunities are lost to competitors. Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on the Companys operating results.
Peerless may be unable to accurately estimate the Companys revenues from product licensing and as a result may be required to adjust the Companys revenues in
the future.
In addition to block licenses, Peerless recurring product licensing revenues are dependent
on the timing and accuracy of product sales reports received from OEM customers non-block license agreements. These reports are provided on a calendar quarter basis and, in any event, are subject to delay and potential revision by the OEM.
Therefore, the Company must estimate the entire recurring product licensing revenues for the last month of each fiscal quarter. The Company must also estimate all quarterly and annual revenues from an OEM when the report from such OEM is not
received in a timely manner. In the event that the Company is unable to estimate such revenues accurately prior to reporting quarterly or annual results, the Company may be required to adjust recorded revenues in subsequent periods.
Peerless must adapt to technology trends and evolving industry standards or the Company will not be competitive.
The marketplace for Peerless products and services is characterized by rapidly changing technology,
evolving industry standards and needs, frequent new product introductions, knowledgeable OEMs with financial strength and negotiating leverage greater than the Companys own, and a high degree of competition. Peerless success has always
depended on the achievement of new design wins followed by OEM deployment of associated new digital document products with attendant license fees, and the regular and continued introduction of new and enhanced technology and services to the
Companys OEMs on a timely and cost-effective basis. The shortfall of the acceptance by OEMs of the Companys technology has been further exacerbated by less than projected deliveries of digital document products by the Companys OEM
customers to the marketplace due to the recent slow down in business and economic activity.
There can be no
assurance that the product solutions and technology of the Companys competitors or the OEMs themselves will not render the Companys technology or the Companys OEMs products technically or fiscally noncompetitive or obsolete.
If Peerless or its OEMs fail to anticipate or respond adequately to the rapidly changing technology and evolving industry standards and needs, or any significant delay in development or introduction of new and enhanced products and services, it
could result in a loss of competitiveness and/or revenues. Such actions would have a material adverse effect on the Companys operating results.
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The industry for imaging systems for digital document products involves
intense competition and rapid technological changes and the Companys business may suffer if its competitors develop superior technology.
The market for imaging systems for digital document products is highly competitive and characterized by continuous pressure to enhance performance, to introduce new features and to accelerate the
release of new products. Peerless competes on the basis of technology expertise, product functionality, development time and price. Peerless technology and services primarily compete with solutions developed internally by OEMs. Virtually all
of the Companys OEM customers have significant investments in their existing solutions and have the substantial resources necessary to enhance existing products and to develop future products. These OEMs possess or may develop competing
imaging systems technologies and may implement these systems into their products, thereby replacing the Companys current or proposed technologies, eliminating a need for the Companys services and products and limiting the Companys
future opportunities. Therefore, Peerless is required to persuade these OEMs to outsource the development of their imaging systems to the Company and to provide products and solutions to these OEMs that cost-effectively compete with their internally
developed products. Peerless also competes with software and engineering services provided in the digital document product marketplace by other systems suppliers to OEMs.
As the industry continues to develop, competition and pricing pressures will increase from OEMs, existing competitors and other companies that may enter the Companys
existing or future markets with similar or substitute solutions that may be less costly or provide better performance or functionality. Peerless anticipates increasing competition for the Companys color products under development, particularly
as new competitors develop and enter products in this marketplace. Some of the Companys existing competitors, many of the Companys potential competitors, and virtually all of the Companys OEM customers have substantially greater
financial, technical, marketing and sales resources than Peerless. In the event that price competition increases, competitive pressures could require the Company to reduce the amount of royalties received on new licenses and to reduce the cost of
the Companys engineering services in order to maintain existing business and generate additional product licensing revenues. This could reduce profit margins and result in losses and a decrease in market share. No assurance can be given as to
the Companys ability to compete favorably with the internal development capabilities of the Companys current and prospective OEM customers or with other third party digital imaging system suppliers, and the inability to do so would have
a material adverse effect on the Companys operating results.
If Peerless is not in compliance with the
Companys licensing agreements, Peerless may lose the Companys rights to sublicense technology; the Companys competitors are aggressively pursuing the sale of licensed third party technology.
Peerless currently sublicenses third party technologies to the Companys OEM customers, which sublicenses account for over 50% of the
Companys gross revenues. Such sublicense agreements are non-exclusive. If Peerless is determined not to be in compliance with the Companys agreements with its licensors, Peerless may forfeit the Companys right to sublicense these
technologies. Likewise, if such sublicense agreements were canceled, Peerless would lose the Companys right to sublicense these technologies. Additionally, the licensing of these technologies has become very competitive with competitors
possessing substantially greater financial and technical resources and market penetration than Peerless. As competitors are pursuing aggressive strategies to obtain similar rights as held by Peerless to sublicense these third party technologies,
there is no assurance that Peerless can remain competitive in the marketplace if one or more competitors are successful.
The Companys reserves for accounts receivable may not be adequate.
The
Companys net trade accounts receivable declined to $3.3 million as of July 31, 2002, down from $5.2 million as of January 31, 2002, reflecting significant collections from several major customers and lower level of sales. Although Peerless
believes that the Companys reserves for accounts receivable are adequate for the
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remainder of fiscal year 2003, there can be no assurance this is the case. If the Companys reserves for accounts receivable are inadequate, it could have a material adverse effect on the
Companys results of operations.
The Companys business may suffer if the Companys third party
distributors are unable to distribute the Companys products and address customer needs effectively.
Peerless has developed a fabless distribution model for the sale of ASICs. Peerless has no direct distribution experience and places reliance on third party distributors to maintain inventories to address OEM needs,
manage manufacturing logistics, and distribute the product in a timely manner. There can be no assurance that these distribution agreements will be maintained or will prove adequate to meet the Companys needs and contractual requirements.
Peerless relies on certain third party providers for applications to develop the Companys ASICs. As a
result, Peerless is vulnerable to any problems experienced by these providers, which may delay product shipments to the Companys customers.
Currently, Peerless relies on two independent parties, IBM Microelectronics and NEC Microelectronics, each of which provides unique application specific integrated circuits incorporating the
Companys imaging technology for use by the Companys OEMs. These sole source providers are subject to materials shortages, excess demand, reduction in capacity and/or other factors that may disrupt the flow of goods to the Companys
customers thereby adversely affecting the Companys customer relationships. Any such disruption could limit or delay production or shipment of the products incorporating the Companys technology, which could have a material adverse effect
on the Companys operating results.
Peerless relies on relationships with Adobe Systems Incorporated,
Novell Inc., and Wind River Systems, Inc. and any change in those relationships will harm the Companys business.
The Company has licensing agreements with Adobe Systems Incorporated, Novell Inc., and Wind River Systems, Inc. to bundle and sublicense their licensed products with the Companys licensed software. These relationships accounted
for $4.3 million in revenues and an associated $1.8 million in cost of revenues during the second quarter of fiscal year 2003. Should the agreement with either vendor be terminated or canceled, there is no assurance that the Company could replace
that source of revenue within a short period of time, if at all. Such an event would have a material adverse effect on the Companys operating results.
The Company is currently in discussions with Adobe Systems Incorporated and Canon Inc. to remedy a contract dispute, which, if not remedied, could result in the loss of the Adobe agreement and harm
to the Companys business.
Peerless is in negotiations with Adobe Systems Incorporated and Canon Inc.
regarding the sublicense agreement between Peerless and Canon. The sublicense did not include several terms required to be included in all OEM sublicenses by Peerless license with Adobe. Although Adobe has indicated to Peerless that it has no
current intention to pursue claims for alleged breach of the Adobe license agreement, Adobe has not agreed to waive the requirement that the missing terms be included in the Canon sublicense. Adobe has notified Peerless that it expects Peerless to
resolve the issues by November 20, 2002. If Peerless is unable to amend the Canon sublicense in a manner that is acceptable to both Canon and Adobe, Adobe may terminate its license agreement with Peerless and take other legal action against
Peerless. Although Peerless believes that it will be able to resolve the issues in manner acceptable to both Adobe and Canon, there is no assurance that Peerless will be able to do so. Termination of the Adobe agreement would have a material adverse
effect on Peerless future operating results. Approximately 60% of Peerless revenue for fiscal year ended January 31, 2002 and approximately 57% of Peerless revenue for the six months ended July 31, 2002 are derived from its
licensing arrangement with Adobe Systems Incorporated. See Peerless relies on relationships with Adobe Systems Incorporated, Novell, Inc. and Wind River Systems, Inc. and any change in those relationships will harm the Companys
business.
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Peerless may be unable to respond quickly to changes in demand.
Most of the Companys costs and expenses are related to costs of engineering services and maintenance,
product development, other personnel costs, marketing programs and facilities. The level of spending for such costs and expenses is based, in significant part, on the Companys expectations of future revenues and anticipated OEM commitments and
thus cannot be adjusted quickly. As in fiscal year 2002, if such commitments do not materialize or are terminated or if revenues are below expectations, costs and expenses will continue to be incurred and the Companys quarterly and annual
operating results will be materially and adversely affected.
Peerless is dependent on key personnel and on
employee retention and recruiting for the Companys future success.
Peerless is largely dependent upon
the skills and efforts of the Companys senior management and other officers and key employees. The Companys future success will continue to depend in large part upon the Companys ability to retain and attract highly skilled
managerial, engineering, sales, marketing and operations personnel, many of whom are in great demand. Competition for such personnel is intense. The loss of key personnel or the inability to hire or retain qualified personnel has had and could
continue to have a material adverse effect on the Companys operating results.
The Companys
international activities may expose the Company to risks associated with currency fluctuations.
Peerless is
substantially dependent on the Companys international business activities. The international market for products incorporating the Companys technology is highly competitive, and Peerless faces substantial competition in this market from
technologies developed internally by the Companys OEMs.
Risks inherent in the Companys international
business activities also include:
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disruptions by terrorists of normal channels of distribution; |
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disruptions by terrorists of normal communications lines; |
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major currency rate fluctuations; |
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changes in the economic condition of foreign countries; |
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the imposition of government controls; |
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tailoring of products to local requirements; |
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changes in tariffs and taxes; and |
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the burdens of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws and regulations, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Companys operating
results. |
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Although all of the Companys contracts are, and Peerless expects that the
Companys future contracts will be, denominated in U.S. dollars, there can be no assurance that the Companys contracts with international OEMs in the future will be denominated in U.S. dollars. If any of the Companys contracts are
denominated in foreign currencies, Peerless will be subject to major risks associated with currency fluctuations, which could have a material adverse effect on the Companys operating results.
Demand from Pacific Rim customers has continued to and may continue to decline.
During the past several years, and continuing into fiscal year 2003, the Pacific Rim economies have been financially depressed. As a
result, companies in the imaging industry have reported negative financial impacts attributable to a decrease in demand from Pacific Rim customers. The Companys Pacific Rim customers are comprised primarily of companies headquartered in Japan.
These Japanese OEMs sell products containing the Companys technology primarily in the North American, European, and Asian marketplaces. These revenues havedeclined and there can be no assurance that revenues from Japanese OEMs will not
continue to decline in future quarters.
The Companys stock price may experience extreme price and volume
fluctuations.
The Companys common stock has experienced price volatility. In the 60-day period ending
September 10, 2002, the closing price of the stock ranged from $0.90 per share to $1.40 per share, and, since the beginning of fiscal year 2002, the stock has closed as low as $0.53 per share. Such price volatility may occur in the future. Factors
that could affect the trading price of the Companys common stock include:
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macroeconomic conditions; |
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actual or anticipated fluctuations in quarterly results of operations; |
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announcements of new products or significant technological innovations by the Company or the Companys competitors; |
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developments or disputes with respect to proprietary rights; |
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losses of major OEM customers; |
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general trends in the industry; and |
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overall market conditions, and other factors. |
In addition, the stock market historically has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, which have particularly affected the market price of securities of many related high technology
companies and which at times have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of such companies.
Peerless is subject to securities litigation which is expensive and results in a diversion of resources. Peerless could be subject to additional litigation due to the volatility of the Companys stock price or for other
reasons.
Securities class action litigation has become increasingly common in recent years. Technology
companies are frequently the subjects of such litigation. Securities class action litigation is particularly common following periods of market volatility and significant fluctuations in companies stock prices. In fiscal year 2001, Peerless
and two of the Companys former officers were named in two separate shareholder class action lawsuits. The first was filed on August 28, 2000; the second was filed on September 19, 2000. On April 17, 2001, the Company was served with an Amended
and Consolidated Complaint. These lawsuits allege a scheme to artificially inflate the Companys stock price based on alleged misleading public announcements and seek compensatory damages
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with interest and attorneys fees and expenses. Peerless believes all of the claims to be without merit. A hearing on the motion filed by the Company and the two former officers to dismiss the
Amended and Consolidated Co mplaint was held on October 9, 2001. By an order dated January 14, 2002, the Court dismissed the First Amended and Consolidated Complaint without prejudice and granted the plaintiffs sixty days to file a Second Amended
and Consolidated Complaint. The plaintiff class filed a Second Amended and Consolidated Complaint on March 15, 2002. On July 16, 2002, the Court granted the plaintiff class request to file a Third Amended Complaint that was filed as of the
date of the Courts order. Litigation is often expensive and diverts managements attention and resources, which could materially and adversely affect business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Future sales of the Companys common stock may affect the market price of the Companys common stock.
As of September 10, 2002, Peerless had 15,294,572 shares of common stock outstanding, which does not include 2,647,634 shares
subject to options outstanding as of such date under stock option plans that are exercisable at prices ranging from $0.39 to $22.375 per share. Management cannot predict the effect, if any, that future sales of common stock or the availability of
shares of common stock for future sale will have on the market price of common stock prevailing from time to time. Certain holders of the Companys common stock have registration rights with respect to their shares. Sales of substantial amounts
of common stock (including shares issued upon the exercise of stock options), or the perception that such sales could occur, may materially and adversely affect prevailing market prices for common stock.
The Companys common stock may be removed from listing on the Nasdaq National Market and thus the liquidity of our common stock
may be reduced.
Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4450(a)(5) requires companies listed on the Nasdaq National Market to
maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 over a 30 trading day period. On February 23, 2001, Peerless received a notice from Nasdaq indicating that Peerless had failed to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 over a 30 trading day period as required by
Marketplace Rule 4450(a)(5) and that Peerless had until May 24, 2001 to regain compliance. On May 21, 2001, Peerless received notice from Nasdaq that Peerless had regained compliance. If Peerless is unable to maintain compliance with these rules,
the Companys common stock may become subject to being removed from listing on the Nasdaq National Market. Trading in the Companys common stock after a delisting, if any, would likely be conducted in the over-the-counter markets in the
so-called pink sheets or the National Association of Securities Dealers Electronic Bulletin Board and could also be subject to additional restrictions. As a consequence of a delisting, the Companys stockholders would find it
more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate quotations as to the market value of, the Companys common stock. In addition, a delisting would make the Companys common stock substantially less attractive as collateral for margin and
purpose loans, for investment by financial institutions under their internal policies or state legal investment laws or as consideration in future capital raising transactions. Although the Companys common stock had a minimum bid of less than
$1.00 for three consecutive days beginning September 3, 2002, as of September 10, 2002, the Companys common stock was trading at $1.25.
The Companys common stock may be subject to the penny stock regulations which may affect the ability of the holders to sell the Companys common stock.
If the Companys common stock were to be delisted from the Nasdaq National Market, it may become subject to regulation as
a penny stock. The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted regulations that generally define penny stock to be any equity security that has a market price or exercise price less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain
exceptions, including listing on the Nasdaq National Market. If the common stock is delisted from the Nasdaq National Market and no other exception applies, the Companys common stock may become subject to the Securities and Exchange
Commissions Penny Stock Rules, Rule 15g-1 through Rule 15g-9 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For transactions covered by these rules, the broker-dealer must
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make a special suitability determination for the purchase of such securities and have received the purchasers written consent to the transaction prior to the purchase. Additionally, a risk
disclosure document mandated by the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the penny stock market must be delivered to the purchaser prior to the transaction, unless the transaction satisfies one of the exemptions under the
rules. The broker-dealer must also disclose the commission payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative, current quotations for the securities and, if the broker-dealer is the sole market maker, the broker-dealer must disclose
this fact and the broker-dealers presumed control over the market. Monthly statements must be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock. Additionally, the rules may restrict the ability of broker-dealers to sell
the Companys common stock and may affect the ability of holders to sell the Companys common stock in the secondary market.
The Companys future investment income may fall below expectations due to adverse market conditions.
Market risk is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates. The Companys exposure to market rate risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to the
Companys investment portfolio. Peerless invests the Companys excess cash in fixed rate debt instruments of the U.S. Government and high-quality corporate issuers as well as floating rate money market funds. Interest rates on these
instruments have declined substantially. Peerless, by policy, limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate
securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates fall. Due in part to these factors, the Companys future
investment income may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates, or Peerless may suffer losses in principal if forced to sell securities before maturity, if they have declined in market value due to changes in interest rates.
Anti-takeover provisions in the Companys governing documents, in the Delaware General Corporations Law
and in certain contracts could discourage, delay or prevent the Companys acquisition that a stockholder may consider favorable.
Some of the provisions of the Companys certificate of incorporation, by-laws and Delaware law could, together or separately:
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delay or prevent a change in control; |
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limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of the Companys common stock. |
Furthermore, certain of the Companys agreements with strategic partners and customers require that Peerless give prior notice of a
change of control or they may terminate the agreement if the Company undergoes a change of control, without obtaining the prior written consent of such strategic partners and customers.
The Companys existing capital resources may not be sufficient and if Peerless is unable to raise additional capital, the Companys business may suffer.
The Companys cash and short-term investment portfolio was $12.5 million at July 31, 2002 and the
current ratio of assets to current liabilities was 2.7:1. For the six-month period ended July 31, 2002, Peerless operations provided $0.6 million in cash.
The Companys principal source of liquidity is the Companys cash and cash equivalents and investments, which, as July 31, 2002 were approximately $15.0 million in the aggregate. If Peerless
does not generate anticipated cash flow from licensing, or if expenditures are greater than expected, Peerless most likely will
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reduce discretionary spending, which could require a delay, scaling back or elimination of some or all of the Companys development efforts, any of which could have a material adverse effect
on the Companys business, results of operations and prospects. Furthermore, if Peerless experiences negative cash flows greater than anticipated, and Peerless is unable to increase revenues or cut costs so that revenues generated from
operating activities are sufficient to meet the Companys obligations, Peerless will be required to obtain additional capital from other sources. Such sources might include issuances of debt or equity securities, bank financing or other means
that might be available to increase the Companys working capital. Under such circumstances, there is substantial doubt as to whether Peerless would be able to obtain additional capital on commercially reasonable terms or at all. The inability
to obtain such resources on commercially acceptable terms could have a material adverse effect on the Companys operations, liquidity and financial condition, the Companys prospects and the scope of strategic alternatives and initiatives
available to the Company. Peerless does not have a credit facility.
If Peerless fails to adequately protect
the Companys intellectual property or face a claim of intellectual property infringement by a third party, Peerless could lose the Companys intellectual property rights or be liable for damages.
The Companys success is heavily dependent upon the Companys proprietary technology. To protect the Companys proprietary
rights, Peerless relies on a combination of patent, copyright, trade secret and trademark laws as well as the early implementation and enforcement of nondisclosure and other contractual restrictions. As part of the Companys confidentiality
procedures, Peerless policies are to enter into written nondisclosure agreements with the Companys employees, consultants, prospective customers, OEMs and strategic partners and to take affirmative steps to limit access to and
distribution of the Companys software, intellectual property and other proprietary information.
Despite
these efforts, Peerless may be unable to effectively protect the Companys proprietary rights and the enforcement of the Companys proprietary rights may be cost prohibitive. Unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain or
use the Companys products or technology. Monitoring unauthorized use of the Companys products is difficult. Peerless cannot be certain that the steps it takes to prevent unauthorized use of its technology, particularly in countries where
the laws may not protect proprietary rights as fully as in the United States, will be effective.
The
Companys source code also is protected as a trade secret. However, from time to time Peerless licenses the Companys source code to OEMs, which subjects the Company to the risk of unauthorized use or misappropriation despite the
contractual terms restricting disclosure and use. In addition, it may be possible for unauthorized third parties to copy the Companys products or to reverse engineer in order to obtain and subsequently use the Companys proprietary
information.
The Company holds ten patents issued in the United States, one of which is also issued in France,
Germany, Great Britain, Japan and Hong Kong. The issued patents relate to techniques developed by the Company for generating output for continuous synchronous raster output devices, such as laser printers, compressing data for use with output
devices, filtering techniques for use with output devices and communicating with peripheral devices over a network.
The Company also has six patent applications and two provisional applications pending in the United States, five applications pending in the European Patent Office, five applications pending in Japan, three applications pending in
Hong Kong, one application pending in Canada and one application pending in the Republic of China.
There can be
no assurance that patents Peerless holds will not be challenged or invalidated, that patents will issue from any of the Companys pending applications or that any claims allowed from existing or pending patents will be of sufficient scope or
strength (or issue in the countries where products incorporating the Companys technology may be sold) to provide meaningful protection or any commercial advantage to the
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Company. In any event, effective protection of intellectual property rights may be unavailable or limited in certain countries. The status of United States patent protection in the software
industry will evolve as the United States Patent and Trademark Office grants additional patents. Patents have been granted to fundamental technologies in software after the development of an industry around such technologies and patents may be
issued to third parties that relate to fundamental technologies related to the Companys technology.
As the
number of patents, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights in the Companys industry increases, products based on the Companys technologies may become the subjects of infringement claims. There can be no assurance
that third parties will not assert infringement claims against the Company in the future. Any such claims, regardless of merit, could be time consuming, result in costly litigation, cause product shipment delays or require the Company to enter into
royalty or licensing agreements. Such royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be available on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all, which could have a material adverse effect on the Companys operating results. In addition,
Peerless may initiate claims or litigation against third parties for infringement of the Companys proprietary rights or to establish the validity of the Companys proprietary rights. Litigation to determine the validity of any claims,
whether or not such litigation is determined in the Companys favor, could result in significant expenses and divert the efforts of the Companys technical and management personnel from productive tasks. In addition, Peerless may lack
sufficient resources to initiate a meritorious claim. In the event of an adverse ruling in any litigation regarding intellectual property, Peerless may be required to pay substantial damages, discontinue the use and sale of infringing products, and
expend significant resources to develop non-infringing technology or obtain licenses to infringing or substituted technology. The Companys failure to develop, or license on acceptable terms, a substitute technology if required could have a
material adverse effect on the Companys operating results.
Peerless may be unable to manage expansion
and growth effectively.
The Companys ability to implement the Companys business plan, develop and
offer products and manage expansion in rapidly developing and disparate marketplaces requires comprehensive and effective planning and management. The growth in the complexity of business relationships with current and potential customers and third
parties has placed, and will continue to place, a significant strain on management systems and resources. The Companys failure to continue to improve upon the operational, managerial and financial controls, reporting systems and procedures in
its imaging business or the Companys failure to expand and manage its workforce could have a material adverse effect on the Companys business and financial results.
Peerless may be unable to deploy the Companys employees effectively in connection with changing demands from the Companys OEM customers.
The industry in which Peerless operates has experienced significant downturns, both in the United States and abroad, often in
connection with, or in anticipation of, maturing product cycles and declines in general economic conditions. Over the past two years, Peerless has experienced a shift in OEM demand from the historically prevailing requirement for turnkey solutions
toward SDKs. Because Peerless has experienced a general decrease in demand for engineering services, engineering services resources have been re-deployed to research and development. Should this trend abruptly change, Peerless may be unable to
re-deploy labor effectively and in a timely manner, which inability could have a material adverse effect on the Companys operational results.
26
PART IIOTHER INFORMATION
Item 1Legal Proceedings.
On August 28, 2000, a stockholder
class action lawsuit was filed against the Company and two of the Companys former officers in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. A second stockholder class action lawsuit was filed on September 19, 2000
against the Company and the same two former officers of the Company in the same United States District Court. On April 17, 2001, the Company was served with an Amended and Consolidated Complaint. These lawsuits allege a scheme to artificially
inflate the Companys stock price based on alleged misleading public announcements and seek compensatory damages with interest and attorneys fees and expenses. A hearing on the motion filed by the Company and the two former officers to dismiss
the Amended and Consolidated Complaint was held on October 9, 2001. By an order dated January 14, 2002, the Court dismissed the First Amended and Consolidated Complaint without prejudice and granted the plaintiffs sixty days to file a Second Amended
and Consolidated Complaint. The plaintiff class filed a Second Amended and Consolidated Complaint on March 15, 2002. On July 16, 2002, the Court granted the plaintiff class request to file a Third Amended Complaint that was filed as of the
date of the Courts order. Peerless believes all of the claims to be without merit and is responding accordingly.
Item 2Changes in Securities.
None
Item 3Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None
Item 4Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
(a) The Company held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 20, 2002.
(b) Omitted pursuant to Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Form 10-Q.
(c) The three
matters voted upon at the meeting were: (i) to elect four directors to a one year term of office expiring at the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders in the year 2003 (Proposal One); (ii) to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP
as independent auditors of the Company for the year ending January 31, 2003 (Proposal Two); and (iii) to approve an amendment to the Companys 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan in order to increase the aggregate number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company authorized for issuance under such plan by 1,000,000 shares (Proposal Three).
(i) With respect to each of the nominees for directors, Mr. Robert G. Barrett received 13,220,417 shares in favor and 95,561 shares were withheld, Mr. Louis C. Cole received 13,221,627 shares in favor and 94,351
shares were withheld, Mr. Howard J. Nellor received 13,220,117 shares in favor and 95,861 shares were withheld, and Mr. Robert L. North received 13,220,317 shares in favor and 95,661 shares were withheld, and there were no abstentions or broker
non-votes. All nominees were declared to have been elected as directors to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders in the year 2003.
(ii) With respect to Proposal Two, 13,249,438 shares were in favor, 16,778 shares were against, 49,762 shares abstained, and zero broker
non-votes were withheld from voting with respect to such proposal. Proposal Two was declared to have been approved.
(iii) With respect to Proposal Three, 5,141,899 shares were in favor, 358,412 shares were against, 41,080 shares abstained, and 7,774,587 broker non-votes were withheld from voting with respect to such proposal.
Proposal Three was declared to have been approved.
(d) Not applicable.
Item 5Other Information.
None
27
Item 6Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.
(a) Exhibits:
10.24 |
|
Postscript Software Development License and Sublicense Agreement between Adobe Systems Incorporated and the Company
effective as of July 23, 1999.* |
10.25 |
|
Custom Sales Agreement between the Company and International Business Machines effective as of April 23,
2001.* |
10.26 |
|
Master Technology License Agreement dated January 16, 2000 between Konica Corporation and Peerless Systems
Corporation.* |
10.27 |
|
License Software Addendum #1 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Konica Corporation and the Company
effective as of January 16, 2000.* |
10.28 |
|
License Software Addendum #2 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Konica Corporation and the Company
effective as of January 19, 2000.* |
10.29 |
|
License Software Addendum #3 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Konica Corporation and the Company
effective as of July 21, 2000.* |
10.30 |
|
License Software Addendum #4 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Konica Corporation and the Company
effective as of March 1, 2001.* |
10.31 |
|
License Software Addendum #5 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Konica Corporation and the Company
effective as of July 1, 2001.* |
10.32 |
|
License Software Addendum #7 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Konica Corporation and the Company
effective as of January 1, 2002.* |
10.33 |
|
License Software Addendum #8 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Konica Corporation and the Company
effective as of January 1, 2002.* |
10.34 |
|
License Software Addendum #9 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Konica Corporation and the Company
effective as of January 1, 2002.* |
10.35 |
|
Master Technology License Agreement dated April 1, 1997 between Kyocera Corporation and Peerless Systems
Corporation. |
10.36 |
|
Licensed Software Addendum #1 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Kyocera Corporation and the
Company effective as of December 28, 1999.* |
10.37 |
|
Amendment #3 to Licensed Software Addendum #1 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Kyocera
Corporation and the Company effective as of September 28, 2001.* |
10.38 |
|
Licensed Software Addendum #3 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Kyocera Mita Corporation and the
Company effective as of May 1, 2002.* |
10.39 |
|
Master Technology License Agreement between Oki Data Corporation and Peerless Systems Imaging Products, Inc.*
|
10.40 |
|
Licensed System Addendum No. 1 to Master Technology License Agreement between Oki Data Corporation and Peerless
Systems Imaging Products, Inc.* |
10.41 |
|
Licensed System Addendum No. 2 to Master Technology License Agreement between Oki Data Corporation and Peerless
Systems Imaging Products, Inc.* |
10.42 |
|
Licensed System Addendum No. 3 to Master Technology License Agreement between Oki Data Corporation and Peerless
Systems Imaging Products, Inc. effective as of August 25, 2000.* |
10.43 |
|
Attachment #1 to Licensed System Addendum #3 by and between Oki Data Corporation and Peerless Systems Imaging
Products, Inc. dated March 1, 2001.* |
10.44 |
|
Attachment #2 to Licensed System Addendum #3 by and between Oki Data Corporation and Peerless Systems Imaging
Products, Inc. dated July 1, 2001.* |
10.45 |
|
Licensed System Addendum No. 4 to Master Technology License Agreement between Oki Data Corporation and Peerless
Systems Imaging Products, Inc. effective as of February 1, 2002.* |
10.46 |
|
Master Technology License Agreement dated April 1, 2000 between Seiko Epson Corporation and Peerless Systems Imaging
Products, Inc. |
10.47 |
|
Licensed System Addendum #1 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Seiko Epson Corporation and
Peerless Systems Imaging Products, Inc. dated April 1, 2000.* |
28
10.48 |
|
Licensed System Addendum #2 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Seiko Epson Corporation and
Peerless Systems Imaging Products, Inc.* |
10.49 |
|
Licensed System Addendum #3 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Seiko Epson Corporation and
Peerless Systems Imaging Products, Inc.* |
10.50 |
|
Attachment #1 to Licensed System Addendum #3 by and between Seiko Epson Corporation and Peerless Systems Imaging
Products, Inc. dated May 1, 2001.* |
10.51 |
|
Attachment #2 to Licensed System Addendum #3 by and between Seiko Epson Corporation and Peerless Systems Imaging
Products, Inc. dated July 23, 2001.* |
10.52 |
|
Licensed System Addendum #4 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Seiko Epson Corporation and
Peerless Systems Imaging Products, Inc. effective as of October 19, 2001.* |
10.53 |
|
Licensed System Addendum #5 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Seiko Epson Corporation and
Peerless Systems Imaging Products, Inc. effective as of December 1, 2001.* |
10.54 |
|
Licensed System Addendum #6 to Master Technology License Agreement by and between Seiko Epson Corporation and
Peerless Systems Imaging Products, Inc. effective as of April 30, 2002.* |
10.55 |
|
Nest Office SDK Development and Reseller Agreement Statement of Work 8 to BDA No. N-A-1 between and Novell, Inc. and
Peerless Systems Networking effective as of August 17, 1999.* |
10.56 |
|
Amendment No. 1 to Nest Office SDK Development and Reseller Agreement Statement of Work 8 to BDA No. N-A-1 between
and Novell, Inc. and Peerless Systems Networking effective as of August 17, 1999.* |
10.57 |
|
Business Development Agreement by and between Novell and Auco, Inc effective as of September 6, 1996.
|
99.1 |
|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbarnes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
* |
|
Subject to a Confidential Treatment Order |
(b) Reports on Form 8-K:
1. Form
8-K was filed as of June 3, 2002 reporting other events pursuant to Item 5 of Form 8-K and reporting Financial Schedules, Pro Forma Financials and Exhibits pursuant to Item 7 of Form 8-K.
29
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, the Registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized:
|
|
|
PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORPORATION |
|
Date: September 16, 2002 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ HOWARD J.
NELLOR
|
|
|
|
|
Howard J. Nellor President and
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
|
Date: September 16, 2002 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ WILLIAM R.
NEIL
|
|
|
|
|
William R. Neil Vice President
of Finance and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial
and Accounting Officer) |
30
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Howard J. Nellor, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Peerless Systems Corporation (the Report);
2. Based on my knowledge, the 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 Report; and
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this 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 Report.
Date: September 16, 2002 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ HOWARD J.
NELLOR
|
|
|
|
|
Howard J. Nellor President and
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, William
R. Neil, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of
Peerless Systems Corporation (the Report);
2. Based on my knowledge, this
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 Report; and
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and
other financial information included in this 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 Report.
Date: September 16, 2002 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ WILLIAM R.
NEIL
|
|
|
|
|
William R. Neil Vice President
of Finance and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
The foregoing certifications are being furnished solely to
accompany the Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, and are not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference to any filing of the Company, whether made
before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
31