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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

 

ý

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

 

For the quarterly period ended October 31, 2004

 

OR

 

o

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

 

For the transition period from               to               

 

Commission file number 000-26209

 

 

Ditech Communications Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

94-2935531

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

 

 

825 East Middlefield Road
Mountain View, California 94043
(650) 623-1300

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to the filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

YES  ý   NO  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2of the Exchange Act). YES  ý  NO  o

 

As of November 30, 200434,418,499 shares of the Registrant’s common stock were outstanding.

 

 



 

DITECH COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.

Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2004 AND 2003

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2004 AND APRIL 30, 2004

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

SIX MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2004 AND 2003

 

 

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

ITEM 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

ITEM 3

Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

ITEM 4

Controls and Procedures

 

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

ITEM 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

ITEM 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

ITEM 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

ITEM 5.

Other Information

 

ITEM 6.

Exhibits

 

Signatures

 

 

 

2



 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM I. Financial Statements

 

Ditech Communications Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Revenue

 

$

24,253

 

$

14,487

 

$

49,793

 

$

25,204

 

Cost of goods sold

 

5,299

 

4,937

 

11,703

 

8,691

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

18,954

 

9,550

 

38,090

 

16,513

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and marketing

 

3,640

 

3,028

 

7,558

 

6,008

 

Research and development

 

3,973

 

2,603

 

7,517

 

5,168

 

General and administrative

 

1,564

 

1,285

 

3,283

 

2,576

 

Restructuring charge

 

 

 

 

1,016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

9,177

 

6,916

 

18,358

 

14,768

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

9,777

 

2,634

 

19,732

 

1,745

 

Other income, net

 

569

 

275

 

938

 

659

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before benefit from income taxes

 

10,346

 

2,909

 

20,670

 

2,404

 

Benefit from income taxes

 

(35,732

)

(17

)

(35,523

)

(6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

46,078

 

2,926

 

56,193

 

2,410

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discontinued operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

 

(34

)

 

(2,538

)

Income (loss) on disposition

 

(418

)

 

71

 

(6,892

)

Income tax provision (benefit)

 

(110

)

(1

)

(110

)

12

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

(308

)

(33

)

181

 

(9,442

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

45,770

 

$

2,893

 

$

56,374

 

$

(7,032

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From continuing operations

 

$

1.35

 

$

0.09

 

$

1.66

 

$

0.07

 

From discontinued operations

 

(0.01

)

 

0.01

 

(0.30

)

Basic net income (loss) per share

 

$

1.34

 

$

0.09

 

$

1.67

 

$

(0.23

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From continuing operations

 

$

1.28

 

$

0.09

 

$

1.56

 

$

0.08

 

From discontinued operations

 

(0.01

)

 

0.01

 

(0.30

)

Diluted net income (loss) per share

 

$

1.27

 

$

0.09

 

$

1.57

 

$

(0.22

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted shares used in per share calculation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

34,091

 

31,297

 

33,758

 

30,955

 

Diluted

 

36,172

 

32,558

 

35,902

 

32,021

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3



 

Ditech Communications Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

October 31,
2004

 

April 30,
2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

113,217

 

$

94,785

 

Short-term investments

 

42,292

 

30,724

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

7,536

 

6,544

 

Inventories

 

4,291

 

5,955

 

Deferred income taxes

 

28

 

 

Other current assets

 

1,881

 

2,168

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total current assets

 

169,245

 

140,176

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term investments

 

1,167

 

4,996

 

Property and equipment, net

 

4,437

 

3,603

 

Deferred income taxes

 

50,260

 

 

Other assets

 

1,349

 

1,773

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

226,458

 

$

150,548

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

2,185

 

$

2,123

 

Accrued expenses

 

6,901

 

8,885

 

Deferred revenue

 

442

 

2,450

 

Income taxes payable

 

1,594

 

1,690

 

Total current liabilities

 

11,122

 

15,148

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

304,773

 

281,223

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(89,412

)

(145,785

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

(25

)

(38

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

215,336

 

135,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

226,458

 

$

150,548

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4



 

Ditech Communications Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

Six months ended October 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

56,374

 

$

(7,032

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

1,296

 

1,711

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

344

 

6,021

 

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

 

159

 

 

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

 

14,908

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(50,288

)

 

Restructuring charges

 

 

995

 

Other

 

371

 

13

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(992

)

4,962

 

Inventories

 

1,664

 

(1,245

)

Other current assets

 

(429

)

(835

)

Income taxes

 

(106

)

(1

)

Accounts payable

 

(69

)

(146

)

Accrued expenses and other

 

(2,007

)

(843

)

Deferred revenue

 

(2,008

)

2,509

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

19,217

 

6,109

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(1,872

)

(786

)

Purchases of available for sale investments

 

(23,941

)

 

Sales and maturities of available for sale investments

 

15,844

 

 

Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations

 

542

 

1,554

 

Collection of note receivable

 

 

834

 

Additions to other assets

 

 

(366

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

(9,427

)

1,236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from employee stock plan issuances

 

8,642

 

6,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

8,642

 

6,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

18,432

 

13,495

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

94,785

 

94,495

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

113,217

 

$

107,990

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5



 

DITECH COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

 

1.             DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

Ditech Communications Corporation (the “Company”) designs, develops and markets telecommunications equipment for use in canceling echo and enhancing voice quality in voice calls over wireline and wireless telecommunications networks. The Company has established a direct sales force that sells its products in the U.S. and internationally.  In addition, the Company is expanding its utilization of value added resellers, distributors and original equipment manufacturers, primarily internationally.

 

2              SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of October 31, 2004, and for the three and six-month periods ended October 31, 2004 and 2003, together with the related notes, are unaudited but include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for the fair presentation, in all material respects, of the financial position and the operating results and cash flows for the interim date and periods presented. Results for the interim periods ended October 31, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year or future periods. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes thereto for the year ended April 30, 2004, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 2004, file number 000-26209.

 

In May 2003, the Company announced that it was exiting the optical communications portion of its business. In July 2003, the Company executed a sale of a substantial portion of the assets used in the optical business.  As a result, the optical business has been presented as a discontinued operation in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented.  See Note 4 for a further discussion of the discontinued operations.

 

Computation of Income (Loss) per Share

 

Basic income (loss) per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period less shares subject to repurchase, which are considered contingently issuable shares. Diluted income per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding, including the dilutive effect of stock options, using the treasury stock method, and common stock subject to repurchase. Diluted loss per share is calculated excluding the effects of all common stock equivalents, as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

 

A reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the calculation of the historical basic and diluted net income (loss) per share follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

6



 

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Historical net income (loss) per share, basic and diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

46,078

 

$

2,926

 

$

56,193

 

$

2,410

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

(308

)

(33

)

181

 

(9,442

)

Net income (loss)

 

$

45,770

 

$

2,893

 

$

56,374

 

$

(7,032

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding

 

34,092

 

31,300

 

33,760

 

30,958

 

Less stock subject to repurchase

 

1

 

3

 

2

 

3

 

Shares used in calculation of basic per share numbers

 

34,091

 

31,297

 

33,758

 

30,955

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

1.35

 

$

0.09

 

$

1.66

 

$

0.07

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

(0.01

)

 

0.01

 

(0.30

)

Net income (loss) per share

 

$

1.34

 

$

0.09

 

$

1.67

 

$

(0.23

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares used in calculation of basic per share numbers

 

34,092

 

31,300

 

33,758

 

30,955

 

Shares subject to repurchase

 

6

 

62

 

2

 

3

 

Dilutive effect of stock plans

 

2,074

 

1,196

 

2,142

 

1,063

 

Shares used in calculation of diluted per share numbers

 

36,172

 

32,558

 

35,902

 

32,021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

1.28

 

$

0.09

 

$

1.56

 

$

0.08

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

(0.01

)

 

0.01

 

(0.30

)

Net income (loss) per share

 

$

1.27

 

$

0.09

 

$

1.57

 

$

(0.22

)

 

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

For the three and six-month periods ended October 31, 2004, comprehensive income was $45.8 million and $56.4 million, respectively, and included the impact of unrealized gains and losses on investment securities, net of tax and foreign currency translation adjustments. The total comprehensive income (loss) for the three and six-month periods ended October 31, 2003 was $2.9 million and $(7.1) million, respectively, which reflected the impact of realizing a foreign currency translation adjustment due to the substantial liquidation of the Company’s international operations.

 

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

 

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-based Compensation,” (“SFAS 123”), encourages, but does not require, companies to record compensation cost for stock-based compensation plans at fair value. The Company accounts for grants of equity instruments to employees using the intrinsic value method described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and complies with the disclosure provisions of SFAS 123. Accordingly, compensation cost for stock options is measured as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the Company’s stock at the date of the grant over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock and is recognized over the vesting period of the related shares.

 

The Company applies Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 and related Interpretations in accounting for its stock option plans. If compensation cost for the Company’s stock option plan had been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates for awards under those plans consistent with the method of SFAS 123, the Company’s net income (loss) for the three and six-month periods ended October 31, 2004 and 2003 would have been adjusted to the pro forma amounts indicated in the following table (in thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited):

 

7



 

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Net income (loss) as reported

 

$

45,770

 

$

2,893

 

$

56,374

 

$

(7,032

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add: Stock-based compensation expense included in reported net income (loss), net of applicable tax effects

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deduct: Stock-based compensation determined under the fair value method for all stock awards, net of applicable taxes

 

(2,383

)

(1,812

)

(4,261

)

(378

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma net income (loss)

 

$

43,387

 

$

1,081

 

$

52,113

 

$

(7,410

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basis net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

1.34

 

$

0.09

 

$

1.67

 

$

(0.23

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma

 

$

1.27

 

$

0.03

 

$

1.54

 

$

(0.24

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income (loss) per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

$

1.27

 

$

0.09

 

$

1.57

 

$

(0.22

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma

 

$

1.20

 

$

0.03

 

$

1.45

 

$

(0.23

)

 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Based on the Company’s normal review of recently issued accounting standards it believes, based on the facts currently available during its review, that the recently issued standards are not applicable to its business or they will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

3.             BALANCE SHEET ACCOUNTS

 

Inventories comprised (in thousands, unaudited):

 

 

 

October 31,
2004

 

April 30,
2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raw materials

 

$

444

 

$

1,527

 

Work in progress

 

39

 

46

 

Finished goods

 

3,808

 

4,382

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

4,291

 

$

5,955

 

 

 

Accrued expenses comprised (in thousands, unaudited):

 

 

 

October 31,
2004

 

April 30,
2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued employee related

 

$

2,859

 

$

3,883

 

Accrued warranty

 

2,087

 

1,980

 

Accrued restructuring and discontinued operations costs

 

329

 

1,064

 

Other accrued expenses

 

1,626

 

1,958

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

6,901

 

$

8,885

 

 

8



 

Warranties. The Company provides for future warranty costs upon shipment of its products. The specific terms and conditions of those warranties may vary depending upon the product sold, the customer and the country in which it does business. However, the Company’s warranties generally start from the shipment date and continue for a period of two to five years. As part of the sale of the Company’s optical business to JDS Uniphase (“JDSU”), see Note 4, the Company has retained its warranty obligations for optical products sold prior to July 16, 2003.  Pursuant to the terms of the agreement with JDSU, JDSU will perform warranty repairs on the Company’s behalf and then bill the Company for the cost of those services at rates stipulated in the agreement.

 

Because the Company’s products are manufactured to a standardized specification and products are internally tested to these specifications prior to shipment, the Company historically has experienced minimal warranty costs. Factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the number of installed units, historical experience and management’s judgment regarding anticipated rates of warranty claims and cost per claim. The Company assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities every quarter and makes adjustments to the liability, if necessary.

 

Changes in the warranty liability, which is included as a component of “Accrued expenses” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, during the period are as follows (in thousands, unaudited):

 

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of the beginning of the fiscal period

 

$

2,137

 

$

1,613

 

$

1,980

 

$

1,588

 

Provision for warranties issued during fiscal period

 

107

 

172

 

391

 

356

 

Warranty costs incurred during fiscal period

 

(112

)

(100

)

(239

)

(279

)

Other adjustments to the liability (including changes in estimates for pre-existing warranties) during fiscal period

 

(45

)

 

(45

)

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of October 31

 

$

2,087

 

$

1,685

 

$

2,087

 

$

1,685

 

 

 

Guarantees and Indemnifications. As is customary in the Company’s industry and as required by law in the U.S. and certain other jurisdictions, certain of the Company’s contracts provide remedies to its customers, such as defense, settlement, or payment of judgment for intellectual property claims related to the use of the Company’s products. From time to time, the Company indemnifies customers against combinations of losses, expenses, or liabilities arising from various trigger events related to the sale and the use of the Company’s products and services. In addition, from time to time, the Company also provides protection to customers against claims related to undiscovered liabilities, additional product liability or environmental obligations. In the Company’s experience, claims made under such indemnifications are rare. In connection with the sale of the Company’s echo cancellation software technology to Texas Instruments (TI) in April 2002 and the sale of the Company’s optical business to JDSU in July 2003, the Company indemnified TI and JDSU for various matters. The indemnifications to TI expired without any claims made against them and the Company believes the estimated fair value of the indemnifications made to JDSU will not have a material affect on future operations.

 

As permitted or required under Delaware law and to the maximum extent allowable under that law, the Company has certain obligations to indemnify its current and former officers and directors for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was serving at the Company’s request in such capacity. These indemnification obligations are valid as long as the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner that a person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification obligations is unlimited; however, the Company has a director and officer insurance policy that limits the Company’s exposure and enables the Company to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. As a result of the Company’s insurance policy coverage, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification obligations is minimal.

 

4.             DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

On July 16, 2003, the Company completed the primary step as part of exiting of its optical communications business through the sale of a large portion of the assets of its optical communications business to JDSU, pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”).  The assets sold consisted primarily of inventory, certain specified optical-related equipment and intellectual property rights, which were sold for an aggregate purchase price of up to approximately $6.5 million in cash, of which (i) approximately $1.4 million was paid to the Company at closing, (ii) $225,000 due one year from the closing (subject to reduction in the event any successful indemnification claims are made against the Company), and (iii) up to an additional $4.9 million to be paid to

 

9



 

the Company, which is comprised of up to $973,000 based on the level of inventory consumed by JDSU, and up to $4.0 million based on revenues generated by the optical business acquired by JDSU through June 30, 2005, if any.  Additionally, JDSU had the right to require the Company to reimburse JDSU for any purchased but unused inventory at June 30, 2004, up to $2.0 million, which right expired as of July 31, 2004.  JDSU also has indemnification rights in connection with the performance of certain warranty obligations relating to optical products that were sold by the Company on or prior to July 16, 2003. The Company and JDSU are currently evaluating the remaining obligations of each party.  However, the Company does not expect that the outcome of these discussions will have a material affect on its financial statements.  As of October 31, 2004, the Company had recognized sales proceeds aggregating $2.9 million related to the sale of the optical business to JDSU.

 

Subsequent to the sale to JDSU, the Company has aggressively pursued the disposition, through sale, sublease or abandonment, of assets not included in the Purchase Agreement and the facility leases for the Company’s Australian and United Kingdom optical research facilities. As of October 31, 2004, the Company had disposed of all optical assets not acquired by JDSU and had negotiated out of the leases for the Australian and United Kingdom optical research facilities.  Certain information with respect to the discontinued optical communications business’ operations is summarized below (in thousands, unaudited):

 

 

 

Three months ended
October 31, 2003

 

Six months ended
October 31, 2003

 

Revenue

 

$

 

$

1,656

 

Gross profit (loss)

 

 

269

 

Operating expenses

 

34

 

2,807

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

(34

)

(2,538

)

 

There were no operating results for the optical business for the three and six-month periods ended October 31, 2004.

 

The following table shows the components of the gain (loss) from the disposal of the Company’s discontinued operations for the three and six-month periods ended October 31, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands, unaudited):

 

 

 

Three months ended October 31,

 

Six months ended October 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Proceeds from Sale

 

$

(462

)

$

 

$

(55

)

$

2,571

 

Less: Net book value of assets sold

 

 

 

 

4,671

 

Transaction Costs

 

(23

)

 

(68

)

221

 

Gain (loss) on sale

 

(439

)

 

13

 

(2,321

)

Costs to exit remainder of optical business

 

(21

)

 

(58

)

4,571

 

Income (loss) on disposition

 

(418

)

 

71

 

(6,892

)

Tax provision (benefit)

 

(110

)

(1

)

(110

)

12

 

Total gain (loss) on disposal

 

$

(308

)

$

1

 

$

181

 

$

(6,904

)

 

Due to the Company’s net operating loss carry forward position and related  valuation allowance release, an $110,000 tax benefit was recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2005 associated with the loss on the disposal of the optical business.  The costs of exiting the optical business, recorded in July 2003, included severance and related costs for optical employees not hired by JDSU of $1.6 million, of which amount $1.5 million had been paid as of October 31, 2004. In addition in July 2003, the Company recorded initial provisions related to impairment of optical assets not acquired by JDSU of $2.7 million and realized losses associated with abandonment of facility leases related to the Company’s UK and Australian optical development operations of $275,000.  As of October 31, 2004, the Company has resolved all loss contingencies related to closing the optical business with the exception of certain potential matters related to the closure of the Company’s international optical operations, for which the Company believes the maximum unreserved exposure is no more than $300,000. The Company is currently negotiating to mitigate these costs; as a result a probable and estimable loss has not been incurred.  At such time that a loss becomes probable and estimable related to this matter, the Company will record such loss provision as an additional adjustment to the loss from exiting the optical business.

 

5.             RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

 

As a result of the Company’s decision to exit the optical communications business in the first quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company incurred certain restructuring charges associated with general costs that did not qualify for discontinued operations treatment.  The restructuring was designed to reduce the level of certain general costs that were deemed excess as a result of the Company’s decision

 

10



 

to exit its optical business and included a loss reserve for excess leased space in the Company’s Mountain View headquarters and severance of certain corporate level employees.

 

As a result of this restructuring, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $1.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2004, which have been classified as operating expenses. The following paragraphs provide detailed information on each of the components of these restructuring charges.

 

Workforce Reduction. The restructuring resulted in the termination of two employees whose focus was primarily corporate in nature. The workforce reductions were substantially completed in the first quarter of fiscal 2004. The Company recorded a workforce reduction charge of approximately $21,000 relating to severance pay and continuation of certain fringe benefits for the impacted employees.

 

Lease Loss Provision. The Company recorded a $995,000 restructuring charge associated with the abandonment of excess leased space in its Mountain View headquarters.  The charge was based on the monthly rental and related costs on the abandoned space of approximately 11,000 square feet less the anticipated sublease income that the Company hoped to derive from the space based on current market conditions in the Mountain View area and impairment of leasehold improvements associated with the abandoned space. In March 2004, the Company determined, based on the more rapid than planned expansion of its business and expansion of its development efforts into packet based voice products, that it would need to move back into the Mountain View space previously abandoned as part of exiting the optical business.  As a result, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company reversed the then unused portion of this lease loss provision of $741,000.

 

All of the costs associated with the severances and related benefits have been paid.

 

6.             Borrowing Agreement

 

Effective August 25, 2004, the Company renewed its $2.0 million operating line of credit with its bank.  The renewed line of credit, which expires on July 31, 2005, carries the same basic terms as the original line of credit with some reduction and/or elimination of certain of the financial covenants.  As of October 31, 2004, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the line of credit.

 

7.             Income Taxes

 

In October 2004, based on the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods that the Company’s deferred tax assets are deductible, the Company determined that it was more likely than not that certain of its deferred tax assets are expected to be realized and therefore released $50.3 million of valuation allowance.  The reversal of the valuation allowance resulted in the recognition of income tax benefits to continuing operations and discontinued operations of $35.8 million and $110,000, respectively.  In addition, the Company recognized a credit of $14.3 million to additional paid-in capital for the portion of the deferred tax asset attributable to benefits from the exercise of employee stock options.  As of October 31, 2004, the Company has a remaining valuation allowance of approximately $5.6 million.  The majority of this remaining allowance will be released over the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2005 as a result of the requirement under SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” to use an annualized effective tax rate for each interim period during the year, including current year interim periods after a valuation allowance release has occurred.

 

The Company’s deferred tax assets, net comprised (in thousands):

 

 

 

October 31,

 

April 30,

 

 

 

2004

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets

 

$

55,926

 

$

52,229

 

Valuation allowance

 

(5,638

)

(52,229

)

Deferred tax assets, net

 

$

50,288

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term deferred tax assets, net

 

$

28

 

$

 

Long-term deferred tax assets, net

 

50,260

 

 

Deferred tax assets, net

 

$

50,288

 

$

 

 

11



The Company’s benefit from income taxes comprised (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended October 31,

 

Six months ended October 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interim period provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

$

116

 

$

(17

)

$

325

 

$

(6

)

Release of valuation allowance

 

(35,848

)

 

(35,848

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

(35,732

)

$

(17

)

$

(35,523

)

$

(6

)

 

 

8.             Reportable Segments and Geographic Information

 

As a result of the Company exiting the optical communications business in the first quarter of fiscal 2004, that segment has been reported as a discontinued operation in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented.  As such, the Company currently operates in a single segment, voice processing products.

 

Geographic revenue information comprises (in thousands, unaudited):

 

 

 

Three months ended October 31,

 

Six months ended October 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USA

 

$

22,619

 

$

12,839

 

$

47,022

 

$

23,077

 

Far East

 

662

 

491

 

1,240

 

716

 

Europe

 

265

 

691

 

796

 

880

 

Canada

 

544

 

466

 

556

 

503

 

Latin America

 

163

 

 

179

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

24,253

 

$

14,487

 

$

49,793

 

$

25,204

 

 

 

Sales for the three and six-month periods ended October 31, 2004 each included two customers (49.0% and 41.8%) and (45.3% and 42.3%), respectively, that represented greater than 10% of total revenue. Sales for the three and six-month periods ended October 31, 2003 included two customers (55.3% and 26.0%) and three customers (44.2%, 26.4% and 15.7%), respectively, that represented greater than 10% of total revenue.  At October 31, 2004, two customers - represented greater than 10% of accounts receivable (68% and 22% of accounts receivable).  At April 30, 2004, two customers represented greater than 10% of accounts receivable (77% and 11% of accounts receivable).

 

As of October 31, 2004 and April 30, 2004, the Company maintained its property and equipment in the following countries (in thousands, unaudited):

 

 

 

October 31, 2004

 

April 30, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USA

 

$

4,391

 

$

3,552

 

United Kingdom

 

46

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

4,437

 

$

3,603

 

 

12



 

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

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto for the year ended April 30, 2004, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 2004. The discussion in this Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed here. See “Future Growth and Operating Results Subject to Risk” at the end of this Item 2 for factors that could cause future results to differ materially.

 

Overview

 

We design, develop and market equipment used in building, expanding and modernizing voice communication over telecommunications networks. Our initial entrance into the voice processing market was focused on echo cancellation. Since entering the voice processing market, we have continued to refine our echo cancellation products to meet the needs of the ever-changing telecommunications marketplace. Our more recent product introductions have leveraged off the processing capacity of our newer hardware platforms to offer not only echo cancellation but also new Voice Quality Assurance (VQA) features including noise reduction, acoustic echo cancellation, voice level control and noise compensation through enhanced voice intelligibility. We are currently selling our seventh generation echo cancellation product, which began production shipments in the third quarter of fiscal 2004.

 

Since becoming a public company in June 1999, our financial success has been primarily predicated on the success of the domestic wire-line and more recently wireless carriers. During fiscal 2000 and the first half of fiscal 2001, we benefited from the rapid expansion in domestic wire-line infrastructure spending to support increasing demand expectations due to customer growth and the expectations of increased demand from internet traffic. In the latter half of fiscal 2001, as the promise of the internet’s growth waned we, along with virtually every other telecommunications equipment supplier, experienced a significant decline in revenues due to a dramatic decline in infrastructure spending by domestic carriers. Over the last three years, wire-line carriers have experienced a modest recovery in spending while wireless carriers have experienced more rapid growth. We expect that our near term revenues will continue to be heavily influenced by the buying trends in the domestic wireless market but expect to see increased demand internationally as our newer voice processing platforms, running our VQA software begin to achieve broader market acceptance.

 

Exit of Optical Business.  In May 2003, we announced a change to our strategic direction. We decided to focus all of our assets in continuing to grow our voice processing business, including our echo cancellation and new VQA features, and as a result we decided to sell our optical communications business. In July 2003, we completed the primary step in our planned exit of our optical communications business through the sale of a large portion of the assets and the technology of the optical communications business to JDS Uniphase Corporation (“JDSU”).  The assets sold consisted primarily of inventory, certain specified optical-related equipment and intellectual property rights, which were sold for an aggregate purchase price of up to approximately $6.5 million in cash, of which (i) approximately $1.4 million was paid at closing, (ii) $225,000 due one year from the closing (subject to reduction in the event any successful indemnification claims are made against us), and (iii) up to an additional $4.9 million to be paid to us, which is comprised of up to $973,000 based on the level of inventory consumed by JDSU, and up to $4.0 million based on revenues generated by the optical business acquired by JDSU through June 30, 2005, if any.  Additionally, JDSU had the right to require us to reimburse JDSU for any purchased but unused inventory at June 30, 2004, up to $2.0 million, which right expired as of July 31, 2004. JDSU also has indemnification rights in connection with the performance of certain warranty obligations relating to optical products that were sold by us on or prior to July 16, 2003.  We and JDSU are currently evaluating the remaining obligations of each party.   As of October 31, 2004, we had recognized sales proceeds aggregating $2.9 million related to the sale of our optical business to JDSU.

 

We have sold or abandoned all of the assets not purchased by JDSU.  As a result of exiting the optical business, our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations reflect the optical business as a discontinued operation for all periods presented. See Note 4 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Our Customer Base.  Historically the majority of our sales have been to customers in the United States. These customers accounted for approximately 94% of our revenue in the first half of fiscal 2005, and 92% and 84% of our revenue in fiscal 2004 and 2003, respectively. However, sales to some of our U.S. customers may eventually be deployed internationally, especially in the case of any original equipment manufacturer that distributes overseas. Although international sales have increased in real terms from $2.1 million in the first half of fiscal 2004 to $2.8 million in the first half of fiscal 2005, the overall magnitude of the revenue growth from our larger domestic customers has resulted in the international business being a smaller percentage of overall revenue. To date, the vast majority of our international sales have been export sales and denominated in U.S. dollars. We expect that as we expand shipments of our newer voice processing products, which are targeted at GSM networks, international revenue will begin to become a larger percentage of our overall revenue, and could decrease the percentage of our revenues that are denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

13



 

Our revenue historically has come from a small number of customers. Our five largest customers accounted for approximately 94% of revenue in the first six months of fiscal 2005, and 86% and 81% of our revenue in fiscal 2004 and 2003, respectively. Sales to our two largest customers alone in the three and six-month periods ended October 31, 2004 were 91% and 88%, respectively.  Consequently, the loss of any one of these customers, without an offsetting increase in revenue from existing or new customers, would have a negative and substantial effect in our business.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates.  The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make certain estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and related disclosures. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis, including those related to our revenues, allowance for bad debts, provisions for inventories, warranties and recovery of deferred income taxes receivable. Estimates are based on our historical experience and other assumptions that we consider reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual future results may differ from these estimates in the event that facts and circumstances vary from our expectations. To the extent there are material differences between our ongoing estimates and the ultimate actual results, our future results of operations will be affected as adjustments to our estimates are required. We believe that the following critical accounting policies affect the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

 

Revenue Recognition—In applying our revenue recognition and allowance for doubtful accounts policies that are outlined in our Form 10-K filed on July 14, 2004, the level of judgment is generally relatively limited, as the vast majority of our revenue has been generated by a handful of relatively long-standing customer relationships. These customers are some of the largest wire-line and wireless carriers in the United States and our relationships with them are documented in contracts, which clearly highlight potential revenue recognition issues, such as passage of title and risk of loss. As of October 31, 2004, we had deferred $2.2 million of revenue. To the extent that we have received cash for some or all of a given deferred revenue transaction, it is reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as a deferred revenue liability. However, to the extent that cash has not been collected against the deferred revenue transaction, the deferred revenue is reflected as a reduction in the corresponding account receivable balance. Of the $2.2 million of revenue deferred as of October 31, 2004, approximately 62% was associated with deferrals from our largest customers due to contractual terms. In dealing with the remaining smaller customers, we closely evaluate the credit risk of these customers. In those cases where credit risk is deemed to be high, we either mitigate the risk by having the customer post a letter of credit, which we can draw against on a specified date to effectively provide reasonable assurance of collection, or we defer the revenue until customer payment is received. At October 31, 2004, the total amount of revenue deferred due to our assessment that collection was not reasonably assured as of shipment was $735,000.

 

Inventory Valuation Allowances—In conjunction with our ongoing analysis of inventory valuation allowances, we are constantly monitoring projected demand on a product by product basis. Based on these projections we evaluate the levels of allowances required both for inventory on hand, as well as inventory on order from our contract manufacturers. Although we believe we have been reasonably successful in identifying allowance requirements in a timely manner, sudden changes in future buying patterns from our customers, either due to a shift in product interest and/or a complete pull back from their expected order levels has resulted in some larger than anticipated write-downs being recognized, such as the OC-3 write-down recorded in fiscal 2002. In the case of the OC-3 write-down, the complete pull back from the forecasted demand by the primary customer for this product resulted in a $3.5 million write-down of the OC-3 inventory. However, in 2003 the addition of a few new major customers helped to utilize a large portion of the inventory that had been written down resulting in approximately $2.2 million and $455,000 of previously written down inventory being sold in fiscal 2004 and 2003, respectively.   In the first half of fiscal 2005, we sold $403,000 of previously written down inventory.

 

Cost of Warranty—At the time that revenue is recognized, we accrue for the estimated costs of the warranty we offer on our products. We currently offer warranties on our products ranging from two to five years. The warranty generally provides that we will repair or replace any defective product within the term of the warranty. Our accrual for the estimated warranty is based on our historical experience and expectations of future conditions. To the extent we experience increased warranty claim activity or increased costs associated with servicing those claims, we may revise our estimated warranty accrual to reflect these additional exposures, which would result in a decrease in gross profits. As of October 31, 2004, we had recorded $2.1 million of accruals related to estimated future warranty costs. In general, we have been able to closely estimate the level of warranty exposure on our products, and the level of adjustment required to the reserve has been relatively insignificant. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

14



 

Accounting for Income Taxes -   We estimate our actual current tax exposure together with our temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items, such as valuation allowances for bad debts and inventory, for tax and accounting purposes. These temporary differences along with net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. At least once per quarter, we must assess the likelihood that our net deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent we believe that recovery is no longer more likely than not, we must establish a valuation allowance. Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and the liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets.

 

Beginning in fiscal 2002, we determined that a valuation allowance against our then existing deferred tax asset position was necessary. We based this decision on the fact that in the fourth quarter of 2002, we generated sufficient operating losses on a tax basis to fully recover all taxes paid in prior years. In addition, our expectations of limited profitability, if any, due to the softness in the telecommunication industry during fiscal 2003, combined with the significant tax losses generated by the sale of our echo cancellation software technology led us to conclude that the recovery of our deferred tax assets was no longer more likely than not. In October 2004, based on the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods that our deferred tax assets are deductible, we determined that it was more likely than not that certain of its deferred tax assets will be realized and therefore released the majority of the valuation allowance.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the components of the results of operations, as reflected in our statement of operations, as a percentage of sales.

 

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Revenue

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

Cost of goods sold

 

21.8

 

34.1

 

23.5

 

34.5

 

Gross profit

 

78.2

 

65.9

 

76.5

 

65.5

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and marketing

 

15.0

 

20.9

 

15.2

 

23.9

 

Research and development

 

16.4

 

18.0

 

15.1

 

20.5

 

General and administrative

 

6.4

 

8.8

 

6.6

 

10.2

 

Restructuring charge

 

 

 

 

4.0

 

Total operating expenses

 

37.8

 

47.7

 

36.9

 

58.6

 

Income from operations

 

40.4

 

18.2

 

39.6

 

6.9

 

Other income, net

 

2.3

 

1.9

 

1.9

 

2.6

 

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes

 

42.7

 

20.1

 

41.5

 

9.5

 

Benefit from income taxes

 

(147.3

)

(0.1

)

(71.3

)

(0.1

)

Income from continuing operations

 

190.0

 

20.2

 

112.8

 

9.6

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

(1.3

)

(0.2

)

0.4

 

(37.5

)

Net income (loss)

 

188.7

%

20.0

%

113.2

%

(27.9

)%

 

 

THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2004 AND 2003.

 

Revenue.

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Revenue

 

$

24,253

 

$

14,487

 

$

49,793

 

$

25,204

 

 

 

The increase in revenue during both the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005 was due to increased shipments to our two largest domestic wireless customers as they continue to expand and update their networks.  These two customers accounted for approximately 91% of our revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2005 as compared to 81% of the revenues in the second quarter last year and

 

15



 

accounted for 87% of our revenues in the first half of fiscal 2005 compared to 71% of the revenues in the first half of fiscal 2004.  The primary source of product revenue growth in both the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005 has come from our Broadband Voice Processor Flex (“BVP-Flex”) Echo Cancellation System, which was introduced in the third quarter of fiscal 2004 and has become the primary system purchased by our domestic customers. The second quarter of fiscal 2005 was the first quarter in more than two years  not to experience sequential growth, as a result of a delay in shipping a significant VQA order to an Asian customer and to a lesser extent, a softening of demand in the North America wireless market.  Although we do expect that sales of our BVP-Flex systems to our two largest domestic customers will remain the majority of our revenue for the foreseeable future, we believe that our future revenue growth will be dependent on the acceptance of our VQA products running on both our BVP-Flex and QVP platforms.  We currently believe we will see increased sales volumes of our VQA products on our QVP platforms in the second half of fiscal 2005 as the Asian customer order ships and as we see acceptance from other customers who have been evaluating this product.  However, because of the apparent softening of demand in the North America wireless market, we expect total revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2005 to be $20 to $21 million.  We currently expect fourth quarter results to approximate those achieved in the second quarter as we believe that we will see the sales volumes from our VQA products on our QVP platforms begin to increase.

 

Geographically, our second quarter fiscal 2005 revenue remained primarily domestic at 93% of total worldwide revenue, which is higher than the level of domestic sales of 89% realized in the second quarter last fiscal year.  Domestic revenue in the first six months of fiscal 2005 was 94% of worldwide revenue compared to 92% in the first six months of fiscal 2004.  While domestic sales continue to be the largest portion of our geographic revenue mix, we have begun to experience an increasing year-over-year trend in international revenue in terms of dollar volume.  The relatively flat trend in domestic geographic concentration is largely being driven by the rate of growth in demand from our major domestic customers, keeping pace with the growth in the smaller international portion of our business.  Although we have successfully added customers internationally, the size of their order levels does not compare with that of our major domestic customers.  We expect that in the coming quarters the international portion of our business will begin to grow as a percentage of overall sales as we begin to realize more sales of our VQA applications in the international marketplace.  However, we expect that our domestic customers will continue to represent the majority of our revenue for the foreseeable future.

 

Cost of Goods Sold.

 

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Cost of goods sold

 

$

5,299

 

$

4,937

 

$

11,703

 

$

8,691

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold consists of material costs, personnel costs for test, configuration and quality assurance, costs of licensed technology incorporated into our products, provisions for inventory and warranty expenses and other indirect costs. The increase in cost of goods sold for the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005 is primarily being driven by the increase in the business volume during second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005 as compared to fiscal 2004, which impacted not only the cost of the materials but also the level of installation support costs.  However, cost of goods sold did not grow in direct proportion to the increase in sales due to the factors discussed below in our analysis of gross profit.

 

Gross Profit.

 

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Gross profit

 

$

18,954

 

$

9,550

 

$

38,090

 

$

16,513

 

Gross margin %

 

78

%

66

%

77

%

66

%

 

 

The primary factor contributing to the increase in gross margin in the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005 was our favorable customer and product mix, as fiscal 2005 was heavily dominated by our BVP-Flex products, which have a higher overall margin than the products sold in fiscal 2004, and shipments to our largest customer from fiscal 2004 which had a somewhat lower margin than shipments to our largest customer in fiscal 2005.  Margins were also favorably impacted by the limited levels of excess and obsolete provisions in the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005, as virtually all of the product inventory identified as end of life near the end of fiscal 2004 was written down in fiscal 2004 leaving only minor levels of inventory other than our current QVP and BVP-Flex products.  Additionally, gross margins improved as relatively fixed manufacturing overhead costs represented a smaller percentage of revenue as revenue increased.  Better inventory management resulted in minimal inventory adjustments in the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005 as compared to fiscal 2004, thereby further helping to improve gross margins.  Finally, benefiting the second quarter of fiscal 2005 was lower warranty expense based on improved product reliability.  Partially offsetting the second quarter and

 

16



 

first half of fiscal 2005 gross margin increases were lower sales of previously written down inventory.  We expect that gross margins will trend down in the coming quarters as the mix of customers and products may not be as favorable as in the first half of fiscal 2005 as we expect the price we charge our international customers will decline as we expand the distribution of our products through OEM’s, value-added resellers and distributors.

 

Sales and Marketing.

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Sales and marketing

 

$

3,640

 

$

3,028

 

$

7,558

 

$

6,008

 

 

 

Sales and marketing expenses primarily consist of personnel costs, including commissions and costs associated with customer service, travel, trade shows and outside consulting services.  The increase in sales and marketing was largely due to increases in salary and related costs, which increased $550,000 and $1,235,000, respectively, in the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005, primarily due to incremental hiring of international sales and pre-sales support staff as well as domestic sales and pre-sales support staff focused on specific domestic opportunities.  Also impacting the first half of fiscal 2005 increase was a $295,000 increase in travel and related costs to support international product evaluations of our QVP product. Travel expense increased only slightly in the second quarter of fiscal 2005 as compared to second quarter of fiscal 2004.  We expect sales and marketing expenses to be flat to up in the coming quarter as we continue to invest in fostering new business opportunities worldwide.

 

Research and Development.

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Research and development

 

$

3,973

 

$

2,603

 

$

7,517

 

$

5,168

 

 

 

Research and development expenses primarily consist of personnel costs, contract consultants, materials and supplies used in the development of voice processing products. The increase in spending in the second quarter and first half of fiscal of 2005 as compared to fiscal 2004 was primarily related to increased salary and related costs of $465,000 and $905,000, respectively, and increased consulting and materials costs of $675,000 and $1,002,000, respectively.  These increases in spending were primarily associated with our initial research and development efforts for our new packet-based voice products.  Additionally, depreciation, allocations of facilities and information technology related costs and maintenance on software and equipment used by the engineering departments increased $210,000 and $378,000 in the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005, respectively.  This was due, in large part, to the increased demands from the larger engineering workforce needed to support our existing voice products, as well as our move into packet-based voice products.  We expect research and development expenses to increase in the coming quarter, as we continue to expand our development efforts on our packet-based voice products.

 

General and Administrative.

 

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

General and administrative

 

$

1,564

 

$

1,285

 

$

3,283

 

$

2,576

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses primarily consist of personnel costs for corporate officers, finance and human resources personnel, as well as insurance, legal, accounting and consulting costs.  The second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005 increases in general and administrative spending were largely due to increased consulting and professional service costs related to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance work and international expansion, which resulted in an aggregate increase of over $290,000 and $570,000, respectively, of spending.  Additionally, legal and audit expense increased $106,000 in the first half of fiscal 2005 due to increased work related to analyzing potential international tax strategies and the set-up of international subsidiaries.  We expect general and administrative expense to increase by approximately 10% over the next two quarters as we continue to incur costs related to Sarbanes-Oxley and international expansion.

 

Restructuring Charges.  The restructuring charge in the first half of fiscal 2004 of $1.0 million reflects the recognition of costs associated with elimination of redundant personnel and facilities as a result of exiting our optical business, which costs did not qualify for discontinued operations treatment. These costs included $21,000 of severance and related benefits for the impacted employees, and a loss of $995,000 associated with the abandonment of approximately 11,000 square feet in our Mountain View headquarters.  As of the end of July 2003, virtually all of the severance and related costs had been paid. A substantial portion of the lease loss provision, $741,000, was reversed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 when it was determined that due to the larger than planned increase in

 

17



 

business volumes in fiscal 2004 and the expansion into the packet voice market, that we would need to move back into the Mountain View space originally abandoned when we exited the optical business.  There were no restructuring charges recorded in the first half of 2005.  See Note 5 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Other Income, Net.

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Other income, net

 

$

569

 

$

275

 

$

938

 

$

659

 

 

Other income, net consists of interest income on our invested cash and cash equivalent balances, as well as short and long-term investments, foreign currency activities, and a nominal amount of interest expense. The second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005 increase in other income, net was primarily attributable to higher interest income, due to our larger invested cash balance and an improvement in the return on our invested cash.

 

Income Taxes, Continuing Operations

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Benefit from income taxes

 

$

(35,732

)

$

(17

)

$

(35,523

)

$

(6

)

 

Income taxes consist of federal, state and foreign income taxes.  Our benefit for income taxes to continuing operations for the second quarter of 2005 and 2004 was $35.7 million and $17,000, respectively.  Our benefit for income taxes to continuing operations for the first half of fiscal 2005 and 2004 was $35.5 million and $6,000, respectively.  The benefit in fiscal 2005 includes the reversal of our valuation allowance against the majority of   our deferred tax assets. In October of 2004, we concluded that it was more likely than not that we would realize the benefit related to our deferred tax assets. Accordingly, we reduced the valuation allowance against the assets and recorded a tax benefit of $35.8 million.  The recognition of the deferred tax assets has no impact on our current period cash flows. The recognition of the deferred tax assets increased reported earnings per share due to the resulting benefit recorded in the statement of operations from the elimination of our valuation allowance. Partially offsetting the tax benefit recorded was income tax expense associated with income earned by our foreign subsidiaries and alternative minimum tax, which was $116,000 and $325,000 for the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005, respectively. We expect the tax rate to be less than 1% for the remainder of fiscal 2005 due to the release of the majority of a remaining $5.6 million valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.   The majority of this remaining allowance will be released as a result of the requirement under SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” to use an annualized effective tax rate for each interim period during the year, including current year interim periods after a valuation allowance release has occurred.

 

 

Income (loss) from Discontinued Operations

 

 

Three months ended
October 31,

 

Six months ended
October 31

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

 

$

(308

)

$

(33

)

$

181

 

$

(9,442

)

 

 

The first quarter of fiscal 2004 was the last quarter in which we had any operation of our discontinued optical business due to the sale of the majority of the business to JDSU and the abandonment of the remainder in that quarter.  Income (loss) from discontinued operations was ($308,000) and $181,000 in the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2005, respectively.  Those income (loss) amounts are net of an $110,000 income tax benefit related to the reversal of our valuation reserve on deferred tax assets.  Fiscal 2004 reflected the net loss on the sale of the optical technology, inventory and certain fixed assets to JDSU of approximately $2.3 million and other exit costs associated with abandoning that portion of the optical business not acquired by JDSU.  The other exit costs that totaled approximately $4.6 million included severance for optical employees not hired by JDSU, losses on the abandonment of our international optical development offices in the UK and Australia and the impairment of optical fixed assets and other assets not acquired by JDSU.  We expect that there will continue to be minor levels of activity associated with contingent consideration and resolution of indemnification obligations between JDSU and us, as well as final wind up costs of international optical operations.  See Note 4 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

As of October 31, 2004, we had cash and cash equivalents of $113.2 million as compared to $94.8 million at April 30, 2004. Additionally we had short-term and long-term investments of $42.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively as of October 31, 2004 as

 

18



 

compared to $30.7 million and $5.0 million at April 30, 2004. In August 2004, we renewed our line of credit to borrow up to $2.0 million for operating purposes, for which no borrowings were outstanding as of October 31, 2004. This line of credit expires on July 31, 2005. The credit facility is collateralized by - all of our current and future accounts receivable and inventory balances  and requires that we maintain certain financial covenants in order to be able to draw against the facility.

 

Since March 1997, we have satisfied the majority of our liquidity requirements through cash flow generated from operations, funds received from stock issued under our various stock plans and the proceeds from our initial and follow-on public offerings in fiscal 2000.

 

 

 

Six months ended
October 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

Cash flow from operating activities

 

$

19,217

 

$

6,109

 

 

 

The improvement in our cash flow from operations reflects the overall improvement in our operating results due in large part to increased product shipments. In addition, our exiting the optical communications business in the first quarter of fiscal 2004 also favorably impacted our operating results by eliminating all spending we had previously invested in this product line.  The combination of these two factors, while managing growth in our voice quality related operating expenses, has contributed to our return to profitability and positive cash flows from operating activities. The favorable improvements in operating results were partially offset by an unfavorable trend in our current assets and liabilities during the first six months of fiscal 2005 as compared to the first six months of fiscal 2004. This trend was largely due to the pay down of various liabilities, the recognition of revenue deferrals and increases in our accounts receivable balance as our average days sales outstanding at October 31, 2004 moved back to approximately 28 days as we expected. Although we expect to see positive cash flows from operations in the coming quarter, they may not be in the same ratio to earnings, largely due to expected increases in accounts receivable as new international customers  may  require somewhat longer payment terms, and increased inventory levels due to our introduction of new products.

 

 

 

Six months ended
October 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

Cash flow from investing activities

 

$

(9,427

)

$

1,236

 

 

 

The change in the trend of cash flows from investing activities is due to two key events.  First, in the latter half of fiscal 2004, we changed our investing strategy to include short-term and long-term investments designed to improve our overall return on invested funds, which for the first time resulted in us using cash in investing activities to purchase these short-term and long-term investments.  Partially offsetting this use of cash in fiscal 2005 and contributing to the positive cash flows from investing activities in fiscal 2004 was the collection of sales proceeds from the sale of our optical business in fiscal 2004 of $1.6 million as opposed to $508,000 of proceeds collected related to this sale, and $34,000 of other minor sales of our optical equipment, in fiscal 2005.  We expect that investing activities will continue to use cash in the coming quarter as we continue to utilize longer term investments to help improve the yield on invested cash.  We also plan to continue to invest in capital assets related to new product introductions and to support our efforts to introduce new products internationally.  In addition, the level of offset from the proceeds from sale of our optical business should not be as large in fiscal 2005, as we expect to receive only modest levels of cash from the sale of our optical business to JDSU.

 

 

 

Six months ended
October 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

Cash flow from financing activities

 

$

8,642

 

$

6,150

 

 

 

The increase in the trend of cash flow from financing activities in the first half of fiscal 2005 as compared to fiscal 2004 was largely due to funds received upon stock option exercises.  The limited level of option activity in fiscal 2004 was primarily due to a large portion of the options at that time only being marginally in the money or underwater during most of the first six months of fiscal 2004.  However, with our return to profitability and the improvement in our stock price, option activity has become more robust over the last few quarters.  Although we expect to continue to have positive cash flows from financing activities due to employee stock plan activity, the level of cash flow will vary depending on market conditions.  We further believe that it is unlikely that the cash flows will continue at the pace experienced in the latter part of fiscal 2004 and into the first six months of fiscal 2005.

 

We have no material commitments other than obligations under operating leases, particularly our facility leases and normal purchases of inventory, capital equipment and operating expenses, such as materials for research and development and consulting. We currently occupy approximately 61,000 square feet of space in the two buildings that form our Mountain View headquarters. This facility lease

 

19



 

expires in June 2006. We believe that the 61,000 square feet in Mountain View is adequate to meet our needs for the next twelve months.

 

 

 

 

 

Payments due by period

 

Contractual Obligations

 

Total

 

Less than
1 year

 

1 to 3
years

 

3 to 5
years

 

Over 5
years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

$

3,399

 

$

1,984

 

$

1,404

 

$

11

 

$

 

Purchase commitments

 

10,705

 

10,705

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

14,104

 

$

12,689

 

$

1,404

 

$

11

 

$

 

 

We believe that we will be able to satisfy our cash requirements for at least the next twelve months from our existing cash and investment balances and receipt of additional sales proceeds from the sale of our optical business. The ability to fund our operations beyond the next twelve months will be dependent on the overall demand of telecommunications providers for new capital equipment. Should our customers’ capital spending patterns deteriorate from their current levels, we could need to find additional sources of cash during the early part of fiscal 2007 or reduce our spending to protect our cash reserves.

 

Future Growth and Operating Results Subject to Risk

 

Our business and the value of our stock are subject to a number of risks, which are set out below. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or operating results could be materially adversely affected, which would likely have a corresponding impact on the value of our common stock. These risk factors should be carefully reviewed.

 

WE DEPEND ON A LIMITED NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS FOR OUR PRODUCTS, THE LOSS OF ANY ONE OF WHICH COULD CAUSE OUR REVENUE TO DECREASE.

 

Our revenue historically has come from a small number of customers. Our five largest customers accounted for approximately 94% of our revenue in the first six months of fiscal 2005 and 86% and 81% of our revenue in fiscal 2004 and 2003, respectively.  Our two largest customers accounted for 45% and 42%, respectively, of our revenues in the first six months of fiscal 2005.  A customer may stop buying our products or significantly reduce its orders for our products for a number of reasons, including the acquisition of a customer by another company or a delay in a scheduled product introduction. If this happens, our revenue could be greatly reduced, which would materially and adversely affect our business. This occurred in fiscal 2001 when Qwest, then our largest customer, substantially discontinued purchasing our product due to the down turn in the telecommunications industry.

 

Due to continuing difficult economic conditions, many operators in the telecommunications industry have experienced financial difficulties, which have dramatically reduced their capital expenditures and, in some cases, resulted in their filing for bankruptcy or being acquired by other operators. We expect this trend to continue, which may result in our dependence on an even smaller customer base.

 

Certain domestic carriers have recently announced the potential softening of their capital spending plans, which we expect to have an immediate impact on this coming quarter’s revenues.  In addition, we can not predict the impact it may have on the fourth quarter and beyond due to  our customers’ relatively short order horizon.

 

WE ARE RELIANT SOLELY ON OUR VOICE QUALITY BUSINESS TO GENERATE REVENUE GROWTH AND PROFITABILITY, WHICH COULD LIMIT OUR RATE OF FUTURE REVENUE GROWTH.

 

We expect that, at least through the remainder fiscal 2005, our sole business will be the design, development and marketing of voice processing products.  However, the relatively small size of the overall echo cancellation portion of the voice market, which is where we have derived the majority of our revenues to date, could limit the rate of growth of our business.

 

OUR OPERATING RESULTS HAVE FLUCTUATED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE PAST, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THEY MAY CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR STOCK PRICE.

 

Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated significantly in the past and may fluctuate in the future as a result of several factors, some of which are outside of our control. If revenue experiences a significant decline in a quarter, as we experienced in the second half of fiscal 2001 and again in the second quarter of fiscal 2002, our operating results will be adversely affected because many of our expenses are relatively fixed. In particular, sales and marketing, research and development and general and administrative expenses do not change significantly with variations in revenue in a quarter. Adverse changes in our operating results could adversely affect our stock price.

 

OUR REVENUE MAY VARY FROM PERIOD TO PERIOD. Factors that could cause our revenue to fluctuate from period to period

 

20



 

include:

      changes in capital spending in the telecommunications industry and larger macroeconomic trends;

 

      the timing or cancellation of orders from, or shipments to, existing and new customers;

 

      delays outside of our control in obtaining necessary components from our suppliers;

 

      delays outside of our control in the installation of products for our customers;

 

      the timing of new product and service introductions by us, our customers, our partners or our competitors;

 

      delays in timing of revenue recognition, due to new contractual terms with customers;

 

      competitive pricing pressures;

 

      variations in the mix of products offered by us; and

 

      variations in our sales or distribution channels.

 

In particular, sales of our echo cancellation products typically come from our major customers ordering large quantities when they deploy a switching center. Consequently, we may get one or more large orders in one quarter from a customer and then no orders in the next quarter. As a result, our revenue may vary significantly from quarter to quarter.

 

Our customers may delay or rescind orders for our existing products in anticipation of the release of our or our competitors’ new products, as well as due to merger and acquisition activity as experienced by our new Asian customer in the second quarter of fiscal 2005. Further, if our or our competitors’ new products substantially replace the functionality of our existing products, our existing products may become obsolete, which could result in inventory write-downs, and/or we could be forced to sell them at reduced prices or even at a loss.

 

In addition, the sales cycle for our products is typically lengthy. Before ordering our products, our customers perform significant technical evaluations, which typically last up to 90 days or more for our base echo cancellation systems and up to 180 days or more for our newer VQA product offering. Once an order is placed, delivery times can vary depending on the product ordered. As a result, revenue forecasted for a specific customer for a particular quarter may not occur in that quarter. Because of the potential large size of our customers’ orders, this would adversely affect our revenue for the quarter.

 

OUR EXPENSES MAY VARY FROM PERIOD TO PERIOD. Many of our expenses do not vary with our revenue. Factors that could cause our expenses to fluctuate from period to period include:

 

      the extent of marketing and sales efforts necessary to promote and sell our products;

 

      the timing and extent of our research and development efforts;

 

      the availability and cost of key components for our products; and

 

•     the timing of personnel hiring.

 

If we incur such additional expenses in a quarter in which we do not experience increased revenue, our operating results would be adversely affected.

 

IF WE DO NOT SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOP AND INTRODUCE NEW PRODUCTS, OUR PRODUCTS MAY BECOME OBSOLETE.

 

We operate in an industry that experiences rapid technological change, and if we do not successfully develop and introduce new products and our existing products become obsolete due to product introductions by competitors, our revenues will decline. Even if we are successful in developing new products, we may not be able to successfully produce or market our new products in commercial quantities, or increase our overall sales levels. These risks are of particular concern when a new generation product is introduced. Although we believe we will achieve our product introduction dates, there is no guarantee that they will not be delayed.  The current product introductions, which are of greatest significance, are our new voice quality features, which are being offered on our new BVP-Flex and QVP voice processing hardware platforms.  We are currently experiencing numerous customer evaluations of these features around the world and realized our first modest levels of revenue from these new products in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004.  Although these evaluations are taking longer than we first anticipated, we expect more significant levels of revenue from these new

 

21



 

features during the remainder of fiscal 2005.  However, should the customer evaluation process become further protracted or the product not meet the customers’ expectations, the timing of our realization of any revenues from these new products could be delayed or not materialize at all.

 

We have in the past experienced, and in the future may experience, unforeseen delays in the development of our new products. For example, in fiscal 2002, sales of our fourth generation echo cancellers and our broadband system generated the majority of our echo revenue while sales of our fifth generation, OC-3 echo cancellation system fell short of our expectations due to a sudden decline in projected demand in the third quarter of fiscal 2002 from our primary targeted customer for this product, Qwest.  This unexpected drop in demand for the OC-3 product led to the write down of $3.5 million of excess inventory in the third quarter of fiscal 2002. Although we were eventually able to sell this product after having written it down, there can be no assurances that we will be able to sell additional written-down units in the future.

 

We must devote a substantial amount of resources in order to develop and achieve commercial acceptance of our new products; most recently, our BVP Flex and QVP hardware platforms and our voice quality features. Our new and/or existing products may not be able to address evolving demands in the telecommunications market in a timely or effective way. Even if they do, customers in these markets may purchase or otherwise implement competing products.

 

WE ANTICIPATE THAT AVERAGE SELLING PRICES FOR OUR PRODUCTS WILL DECLINE IN THE FUTURE, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO BE PROFITABLE.

 

We expect that the price we can charge our customers for our products will decline as new technologies become available, as we expand the distribution of products through OEMs, value-added resellers and distributors internationally and as competitors lower prices either as a result of reduced manufacturing costs or a strategy of cutting margins to achieve or maintain market share. If this occurs, our operating results will be adversely affected. We expect price reductions to be more pronounced, at least in the near term, due to our planned expansion internationally. While we intend to reduce our manufacturing costs in an attempt to maintain our margins and to introduce enhanced products with higher selling prices, we may not execute these programs on schedule. In addition, our competitors may drive down prices faster or lower than our planned cost reduction programs. Even if we can reduce our manufacturing costs, many of our operating costs will not decline immediately if revenue decreases due to price competition.

 

In order to respond to increasing competition and our anticipation that average-selling prices will decrease, we are attempting to reduce manufacturing costs of our new and existing products. If we do not reduce manufacturing costs and average selling prices decrease, our operating results will be adversely affected. Manufacturing is currently outsourced to a small number of contract manufacturers. We believe that our current contract manufacturing relationships provide us with competitive manufacturing costs for our products. However, if we or these contract manufacturers terminate any of these relationships, or if we otherwise establish new relationships, we may encounter problems in the transition of manufacturing to another contract manufacturer, which could temporarily increase our manufacturing costs and cause production delays.

 

WE FACE INTENSE COMPETITION, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE SALES OF OUR PRODUCTS.

 

The markets for our products are intensely competitive, continually evolving and subject to rapid technological change. We may not be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors, including our customers. Certain of our customers also have the ability to internally produce the equipment that they currently purchase from us. In such cases, we also compete with their internal product development capabilities. We expect that competition will increase in the future. We may not have the financial resources, technical expertise or marketing, manufacturing, distribution and support capabilities to compete successfully.

 

We face competition from two major direct manufacturers of stand-alone voice processing products, Tellabs and Natural Microsystems. The other competition in these markets comes from voice switch manufacturers. These manufacturers don’t sell voice processing products or compete in the stand-alone voice processing product market, but they integrate voice processing functionality within their switches, either as hardware modules or as software running on chips. A more widespread adoption of internal voice processing solutions would present an increased competitive threat to us, if the net result was the elimination of demand for our voice processing system products. With the downturn in spending in the telecommunications industry, service providers appear to be exploring these alternative sources of voice processing more thoroughly, while they wait for more robust capital spending budgets to return. If our customers decide to design these alternative sources of voice processing functionality into their future network expansion, it could adversely impact the speed and duration of our sales recovery.

 

Most of our competitors and potential competitors have substantially greater name recognition and technical, financial and marketing resources than we do. Such competitors may undertake more extensive marketing campaigns, adopt more aggressive pricing policies and devote substantially more resources to developing new products than we will.

 

22



WE NOW LICENSE OUR ECHO CANCELLATION SOFTWARE FROM TI, AND IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT WE EXPECT FROM TI, IT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR ECHO CANCELLATION SYSTEMS BUSINESS.

 

In April 2002, we sold our echo cancellation software technology and future revenue streams from our licenses of technology acquired from Telinnovation to TI, in return for cash and a long-term license of the echo cancellation software. Although the licensing agreement has strong guarantees of support for the software used in our products, if TI were to breach that agreement in some fashion, and not deliver complete and timely support to us, our success in the echo cancellation systems business could be adversely affected.

 

IF TI LICENSES ITS ECHO CANCELLATION SOFTWARE TO OTHER ECHO CANCELLATION SYSTEMS COMPANIES, THIS COULD INCREASE THE COMPETITIVE PRESSURES ON OUR ECHO CANCELLATION SYSTEMS BUSINESS.

 

Under the terms of the sale agreement of our echo cancellation software to TI, TI is precluded from licensing the software to other echo cancellation systems companies for a period of two years from the date of the sale and to two specified competitors for a period of four years from the date of sale.  If TI were to license its echo cancellation software to other echo cancellation systems companies now that the two year period has expired, it could increase the level of competition and adversely affect our success in our echo cancellation systems business.

 

WE OPERATE IN AN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCING RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, WHICH MAY MAKE OUR PRODUCTS OBSOLETE.

 

Our future success will depend on our ability to develop, introduce and market enhancements to our existing products and to introduce new products in a timely manner to meet our customers’ requirements. The markets we target are characterized by:

 

      rapid technological developments;

 

      frequent enhancements to existing products and new product introductions;

 

      changes in end user requirements; and

 

      evolving industry standards.

 

WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO THESE RAPID CHANGES. The emerging nature of these products and their rapid evolution will require us to continually improve the performance, features and reliability of our products, particularly in response to competitive product offerings. We may not be able to respond quickly and effectively to these developments. The introduction or market acceptance of products incorporating superior technologies or the emergence of alternative technologies and new industry standards could render our existing products, as well as our products currently under development, obsolete and unmarketable. In addition, we may have only a limited amount of time to penetrate certain markets, and we may not be successful in achieving widespread acceptance of our products before competitors offer products and services similar or superior to our products. We may fail to anticipate or respond on a cost-effective and timely basis to technological developments, changes in industry standards or end user requirements. We may also experience significant delays in product development or introduction. In addition, we may fail to release new products or to upgrade or enhance existing products on a timely basis.

 

WE MAY NEED TO MODIFY OUR PRODUCTS AS A RESULT OF CHANGES IN INDUSTRY STANDARDS. The emergence of new industry standards, whether through adoption by official standards committees or widespread use by service providers, could require us to redesign our products. If such standards become widespread, and our products are not in compliance, our current and potential customers may not purchase our products. The rapid development of new standards increases the risk that our competitors could develop and introduce new products or enhancements directed at new industry standards before us.

 

IF INCUMBENT AND EMERGING COMPETITIVE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE EXPERIENCE ANOTHER DOWNTURN OR REDUCTION IN GROWTH RATE, THE DEMAND FOR OUR PRODUCTS WILL DECREASE, WHICH WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.

 

We have experienced, and continue to experience, as have other companies in our sector, a slowdown in infrastructure spending by our customers. This trend of lower capital spending in the telecommunications industry contributed to the decline in our revenues, beginning in the second half of fiscal 2001, and although we have experienced some level of recovery in sales to these customers, sales have not fully recovered to the levels we saw prior to the decline in fiscal 2001.  We also believe that there is some minor stiffening in the domestic capital spending levels which could impact our third quarter revenue levels. Our success will continue to depend in large part on development, expansion and/or upgrade of voice and communications networks. We are subject to risks of growth constraints due to our current and planned dependence on domestic and international telecommunications service providers. These potential customers may be constrained for a number of reasons, including their limited capital resources, economic conditions, changes in regulation and consolidation.

 

23



 

SOME OF THE KEY COMPONENTS USED IN OUR PRODUCTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ONLY FROM SOLE SOURCES, THE LOSS OF WHICH COULD DELAY PRODUCT SHIPMENTS.

 

We rely on certain vendors as the sole source of certain key components that we use in our products. For example, we rely on TI as the sole source vendor for the digital signal processors used in our echo cancellation and voice enhancement products. We have no guaranteed supply arrangements with our vendors. Any extended interruption in the supply of these components would affect our ability to meet scheduled deliveries of our products to customers. If we are unable to obtain a sufficient supply of these components, we could experience difficulties in obtaining alternative sources or in altering product designs to use alternative components.

 

Resulting delays or reductions in product shipments could damage customer relationships, and we could lose customers and orders. Additionally, because these vendors are the sole source of these components, we are at risk that adverse increases in the price of these components could have negative impacts on the cost of our products or require us to find alternative, less expensive components, which would have to be designed into our products in an effort to avoid erosion in our product margin.

 

SOME SUPPLIERS OF KEY COMPONENTS MAY REDUCE THEIR INVENTORY LEVELS WHICH COULD RESULT IN LONGER LEAD TIMES FOR FUTURE COMPONENT PURCHASES AND ANY DELAYS IN FILLING OUR DEMAND MAY REDUCE OR DELAY OUR EXPECTED PRODUCT SHIPMENTS AND REVENUES.

 

Although we believe there are currently ample supplies of components for our products, it is possible that in the near-term component manufacturers may reduce their inventory levels and require firm orders before they manufacture components. This reduction in stocking levels could lead to extended lead times in the future. If we are unable to procure our planned quantities of materials from all prospective suppliers, and if we cannot use alternative components, we could experience revenue delays or reductions and potential harm to customer relationships. An example of this risk occurred in the third quarter of fiscal 2001 as two vendors supplying us with components used in our OC-3 product did not meet our total demand. As a result, the schedule shipment of our OC-3 product was delayed, which contributed to our revenue shortfall in that quarter.

 

WE MAY EXPERIENCE UNFORESEEN PROBLEMS AS WE DIVERSIFY OUR INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMER BASE, WHICH WOULD IMPAIR OUR ABILITY TO GROW OUR BUSINESS.

 

Historically, we have sold mostly to customers in North America. We are continuing to execute on our plans to expand our international presence through the establishment of new relationships with established international OEMs, value-added resellers and distributors. However, we may still be required to hire additional personnel for the overseas market, as we have seen over the last couple of quarters, and may incur other unforeseen expenditures related to our international expansion. Despite these efforts, our planned expansion overseas may not be successful. As we expand our sales focus further into international markets, we will face new and complex issues that we may not have faced before, such as expanded risk to currency fluctuations, longer payment cycles, manufacturing overseas, political or economic instability, potential adverse tax consequences and broadened import/export controls, which will put additional strain on our management personnel. In the past, the vast majority of our international sales have been denominated in U.S. dollars; however, in the future, we may be forced to denominate a greater amount of international sales in foreign currencies. Additionally, the number of installations we will be responsible for may increase as a result of our continued international expansion. In the past, we have experienced difficulties installing one of our echo cancellation products overseas. In addition, we may not be able to establish more relationships with international OEMs, value-added resellers and distributors. If we do not, our ability to increase sales could be materially impaired.

 

IF WE ARE UNABLE TO ASSERT THAT OUR INTERNAL CONTROLS ARE EFFECTIVE, OR IF OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS ARE UNABLE TO CONCUR WITH OUR ASSERTIONS AS TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR CONTROLS, UNDER SECTION 404 OF SARBANES-OXLEY, OUR STOCK PRICE WOULD BE ADVERSELY IMPACTED.

 

We are currently expending extensive internal and external resources to document and test our internal controls in preparation for issuing our annual assessment of our internal controls as required by Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley and the associated audit of those controls by our external auditors at the end of fiscal 2005.  Although we believe that we will be able to issue a positive assessment of our internal controls as part of our fiscal 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K, based on the work performed to date, there is no guarantee that ultimately we will be able to do so, or that our independent auditors will concur with our assessment, which could require us to expend even more resources to achieve the level of effectiveness deemed necessary by our auditors or could result in a qualified opinion from our auditors on our internal controls.  Because opinions on internal controls have not been required in the past, it is uncertain what impact, if any, a qualified opinion would have upon our stock price, although we would expect it to be adverse due to potential stockholder loss of confidence in our ability to report timely and accurate financial results.

 

24



 

IF WE LOSE THE SERVICES OF ANY OF OUR KEY MANAGEMENT OR KEY TECHNICAL PERSONNEL, OR ARE UNABLE TO RETAIN OR ATTRACT ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL PERSONNEL, OUR ABILITY TO CONDUCT AND EXPAND OUR BUSINESS COULD BE IMPAIRED.

 

We depend heavily on Timothy K. Montgomery, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and on other key management and technical personnel, for the conduct and development of our business and the development of our products. We have attempted to mitigate some of this risk through some key hires over the past couple of years. However, there is no guarantee that if we lost the services of one or more of these people for any reason, that it would not adversely affect our ability to conduct and expand our business and to develop new products. We believe that our future success will depend in large part upon our continued ability to attract, retain and motivate highly skilled employees. However, we may not be able to do so.

 

OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY WILL DEPEND, IN PART, ON OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, WHICH WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROTECT.

 

We may rely on a combination of patents, trade secrets, copyright and trademark laws, nondisclosure agreements and other contractual provisions and technical measures to protect our intellectual property rights. Nevertheless, such measures may not be adequate to safeguard the technology underlying our products. In addition, employees, consultants and others who participate in the development of our products may breach their agreements with us regarding our intellectual property, and we may not have adequate remedies for any such breach. In addition, we may not be able to effectively protect our intellectual property rights in certain countries. We may, for a variety of reasons, decide not to file for patent, copyright or trademark protection outside of the United States. We also realize that our trade secrets may become known through other means not currently foreseen by us. Notwithstanding our efforts to protect our intellectual property, our competitors may be able to develop products that are equal or superior to our products without infringing on any of our intellectual property rights.

 

OUR PRODUCTS EMPLOY TECHNOLOGY THAT MAY INFRINGE ON THE PROPRIETARY RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES, WHICH MAY EXPOSE US TO LITIGATION.

 

Although we do not believe that our products infringe the proprietary rights of any third parties, third parties may still assert infringement or invalidity claims (or claims for indemnification resulting from infringement claims) against us. Such assertions could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, irrespective of the validity or the successful assertion of such claims, we could incur significant costs in defending against such claims.

 

ACQUISITIONS AND INVESTMENTS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.

 

From time to time, we review acquisition and investment prospects that would complement our existing product offerings, augment our market coverage, secure supplies of critical materials or enhance our technological capabilities. Acquisitions or investments could result in a number of financial consequences, including:

 

      potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities;

 

      large one-time write-offs;

 

      reduced cash balances and related interest income;

 

      higher fixed expenses which require a higher level of revenues to maintain gross margins;

 

      the incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities; and

 

      amortization expenses related to other acquisition related intangible assets and impairment of goodwill.

 

Furthermore, acquisitions involve numerous operational risks, including:

 

      difficulties in the integration of operations, personnel, technologies, products and the information systems of the acquired companies;

 

      diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns;

 

      diversion of resources from our existing businesses, products or technologies;

 

      risks of entering geographic and business markets in which we have no or limited prior experience; and

 

      potential loss of key employees of acquired organizations.

 

25



 

Item 3—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Our exposure to market risk due to changes in the general level of United States interest rates relates primarily to our cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investment portfolios. Our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term and long-term investments are primarily maintained at three major financial institutions in the United States. As of October 31, 2004, we did not hold any derivative instruments. The primary objective of our investment activities is the preservation of principal while maximizing investment income and minimizing risk, and we attempt to achieve this by diversifying our portfolio in a variety of highly rated investment securities that have limited terms to maturity.  We do not hold any instruments for trading purposes.

 

Investment securities that have maturities of more than three months at the date of purchase but current maturities of less than one year are considered short-term investments.  Investment securities with remaining maturities of one year or more are considered long-term investments. Our short-term and long-term investments consist primarily of U.S. Government securities and corporate bonds, as well as, commercial paper, asset backed securities and certificates of deposit. Short-term and long-term investments are maintained at one major financial institution, are classified as available-for-sale, and are recorded on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value.

 

The following table presents the hypothetical changes in fair values of our investments as of October 31, 2004, based on a discounted cash flow calculation over the remaining term of each investment, that are sensitive to changes in interest rates (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Valuation of Securities Given
an Interest Rate Decrease of
X Basis Points

 

Fair Value as of October 31, 2004

 

Valuation of Securities Given
an Interest Rate Increase of
X Basis Points

 

 

 

(150 BPS)

 

(100 BPS)

 

(50 BPS)

 

 

 

50 BPS

 

100 BPS

 

150 BPS

 

Total investments

 

$

43,729

 

$

43,637

 

$

43,550

 

$

43,459

 

$

43,368

 

$

43,277

 

$

43,185

 

 

 

This compares to the hypothetical changes in fair values of our investments as of April 30, 2004, based on a discounted cash flow calculation over the remaining term of each investment, that are sensitive to changes in interest rates (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Valuation of Securities Given
an Interest Rate Decrease of
X Basis Points

 

Fair Value as of
April 30, 2004

 

Valuation of Securities Given
an Interest Rate Increase of
X Basis Points

 

 

 

(150 BPS)

 

(100 BPS)

 

(50 BPS)

 

 

 

50 BPS

 

100 BPS

 

150 BPS

 

Total investments

 

$

36,020

 

$

35,920

 

$

35,820

 

$

35,720

 

$

35,616

 

$

35,516

 

$

35,413

 

 

 

These instruments are not leveraged. The modeling technique used measures the change in fair values arising from selected potential changes in interest rates. Market changes reflect immediate hypothetical parallel shifts in the yield curve of plus or minus 50 basis points (BPS), 100 BPS, and 150 BPS over the remaining life of the investments, which shifts are representative of the historical movements in the Federal Funds Rate.

 

The following table presents our cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments subject to interest rate risk and their related weighted average interest rates as of October 31, 2004 and April 30, 2004 (in thousands). Carrying value approximates fair value.

 

 

 

October 31, 2004

 

April 30, 2004

 

 

 

Carrying
Value

 

Average
Interest Rate

 

Carrying
Value

 

Average
Interest Rate

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

113,217

 

1.28

%

$

94,785

 

0.95

%

Short-term investments

 

42,292

 

1.78

 

30,724

 

1.32

 

Long-term investments

 

1,167

 

1.59

 

4,996

 

1.75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

156,676

 

1.42

%

$

130,505

 

1.05

%

 

 

To date, the vast majority of our sales have been denominated in U.S. dollars. As only a small amount of foreign invoices are paid in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, our foreign exchange risk is considered immaterial to our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Item 4—Controls and Procedures

 

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of Timothy Montgomery, our principal executive

 

26



 

officer, and William Tamblyn, our principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of October 31, 2004. Based on this evaluation, Messrs. Montgomery and Tamblyn concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide a reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. It should be noted that a control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. For example, controls can be circumvented by a person’s individual acts, by collusion of two or more people or by management override of the control. Because a cost-effective control system can only provide reasonable assurance that the objectives of the control system are met, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

In addition, we reviewed our internal control over financial reporting, and there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended October 31, 2004, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

27



 

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.                LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We are subject to legal claims and proceedings that arise in the normal course of our business. While the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, we do not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve these matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

ITEM 2.                UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

None.

 

ITEM 3.                DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4.                SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

On September 17, 2004, we held our 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders at our corporate headquarters in Mountain View, California. Of the 33,869,102 shares entitled to vote at the meeting, 31,815,306 (93.93%) were represented. During this meeting the following matters were voted upon:

 

Matter

 

For

 

Against

 

Withheld/Abstain

 

Election of two directors to serve until the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William A. Hasler

 

24,933,955

 

 

6,881,351

 

Timothy K. Montgomery

 

27,986,736

 

 

3,828,570

 

 

Gregory M. Avis and Edwin L. Harper will continue in office as directors in the class of directors to be elected at our 2005 annual meeting of stockholders. Andrei M. Manoliu and David M. Sugishita will continue in office as directors in the class of directors to be elected at our 2006 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

 

 

For

 

Against

 

Withheld/Abstain

 

Broker
Non-votes

 

Amendment to the 1998 Stock Option Plan to increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the plan from 3,856,082 shares to 4,856,082 shares.

 

18,603,302

 

8,157,571

 

9,840

 

5,044,593

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP as the independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2005.

 

31,467,780

 

332,179

 

15,347

 

 

 

 

ITEM 5.                OTHER INFORMATION

 

Consistent with Section 10A (i) (2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as added by Section 202 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we are responsible for listing the non-audit services approved by our Audit Committee to be performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our external auditor. Non-audit services are defined as services other than those provided in connection with an audit or a review of the financial statements of Ditech. Since the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2005, the Audit Committee did not approve any new or recurring engagements with PricewaterhouseCoopers for non-audit services other than to conduct a change-of-control tax analysis for us.

 

28



 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

 

Description of document

2.3  

(1)

 

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2003, by and between Ditech Communications Corporation and JDS Uniphase Corporation

3.1  

(2)

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Ditech Communications Corporation

3.2  

(3)

 

Bylaws of Ditech Communications Corporation, as amended and restated on March 28, 2002

3.3  

(4)

 

Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock

4.1  

 

 

Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3

4.2  

(5)

 

Specimen Stock Certificate

4.3  

(4)

 

Rights Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2001 among Ditech Communications Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.

4.4  

(4)

 

Form of Rights Certificate

31.1

 

 

Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2

 

 

Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32   

 

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 


(1) Incorporated by reference from the exhibit with corresponding number from Ditech’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2003.

 

(2) Incorporated by reference from the exhibit with corresponding number from Ditech’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2000, filed December 13, 2000.

 

(3) Incorporated by reference from the exhibit with corresponding number from Ditech’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2002, filed July 29, 2002.

 

(4) Incorporated by reference from the exhibit with corresponding title from Ditech’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 30, 2001.

 

(5) Incorporated by reference from the exhibits with corresponding descriptions from Ditech’s Registration Statement (No. 333-75063), declared effective on June 9, 1999.

 

29



 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Ditech Communications Corporation

Date:

December 7, 2004

 

By:

/s/ WILLIAM J. TAMBLYN

 

 

 

William J. Tamblyn

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer (Principal Financial and Chief
Accounting Officer)

 

30



 

EXHIBIT LIST

 

Exhibit

 

Description of document

2.3  

(1)

 

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2003, by and between Ditech Communications Corporation and JDS Uniphase Corporation

3.1  

(2)

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Ditech Communications Corporation

3.2  

(3)

 

Bylaws of Ditech Communications Corporation, as amended and restated on March 28, 2002

3.3  

(4)

 

Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock

4.1  

 

 

Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3

4.2  

(5)

 

Specimen Stock Certificate

4.3  

(4)

 

Rights Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2001 among Ditech Communications Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.

4.4  

(4)

 

Form of Rights Certificate

31.1

 

 

Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2

 

 

Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32   

 

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 


(1) Incorporated by reference from the exhibit with corresponding number from Ditech’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2003.

 

(2) Incorporated by reference from the exhibit with corresponding number from Ditech’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2000, filed December 13, 2000.

 

(3) Incorporated by reference from the exhibit with corresponding number from Ditech’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2002, filed July 29, 2002.

 

(4) Incorporated by reference from the exhibit with corresponding title from Ditech’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 30, 2001.

 

(5) Incorporated by reference from the exhibits with corresponding descriptions from Ditech’s Registration Statement (No. 333-75063), declared effective on June 9, 1999.