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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

 

 

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

 

For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015

OR

 

 

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 000-05449

 


 

COMARCO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

California

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation or Organization)

 

25541 Commercentre Drive, Lake Forest, CA

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

95-2088894

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

92630

(Zip Code)

 


 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

 

(949) 599-7400

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, $0.10 par value

 


 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.               Yes ☐ No ☒

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.           Yes ☐ No ☒

 

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

  

 
 

 

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer (do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company ☒

 

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

 

As of July 31, 2014, the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $2.3 million, based on the closing sales price of the registrant’s common stock as reported on the OTCQB market on such date. This calculation does not reflect a determination that persons are affiliates for any other purposes.

 

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of April 15, 2015 was 14,684,165.

 

Documents incorporated by reference:

Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year covered by this annual report are incorporated by reference into Part III of this annual report. With the exception of the portions of the Proxy Statement specifically incorporated herein by reference, the Proxy Statement is not deemed to be filed as part of this annual report.

 



 
 

 

 

COMARCO, INC.

FORM 10-K

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31, 2015

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

  

Page

PART I

  

 

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

  1

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

  3

ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

7

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

7

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

  8

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

  9

  

  

 

PART II

  

 

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

  9

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

  10

ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

  10

ITEM 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

  19

ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

  20

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

  40

ITEM 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

  40

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

  41

  

  

 

PART III

  

 

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

  41

ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

  41

ITEM 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

  41

ITEM 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

  41

ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

  41

  

  

 

PART IV

  

 

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

  42

 

 
 

 

 

PART I

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report on Form 10-K, including the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contains statements relating to our future plans and developments, financial goals and operating performance that are based on our current beliefs and assumptions. These statements constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “could,” “may,” “should,” and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not deemed to represent an all-inclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements as denoted in this report. Additionally, statements concerning future matters are forward-looking statements.

 

Although forward-looking statements in this report reflect the good faith judgment of our management, such statements are only based on facts and factors known by us as of the date of this report. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in or anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences in results and outcomes include, without limitation, those specifically addressed under the section below entitled “Risk Factors,” as well as those discussed elsewhere in this report and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, (“SEC”). Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

 

We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made throughout the entirety of this report, as well as our other SEC filings, which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.

 

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

 

General

 

Comarco, Inc. was incorporated in California in 1960 and its common stock has been publicly traded since 1971, when it was spun-off from Genge Industries, Inc. Comarco Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiary Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc. (“CWT”) was incorporated in the state of Delaware in September 1993. Comarco and CWT are collectively referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” “Comarco,” or the “Company”.

 

Through the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, we developed and designed innovative technologies and intellectual property that was used in power adapters to power and charge battery powered devices such as laptop computers, tablets, smart phones and readers. On August 19, 2013, Lenovo Information Products Co., Ltd. (“Lenovo”), then our only material customer, informed us that it intended to cease offering our Constellation product, the power adapter we designed and developed for Lenovo. Sales of the Constellation product to Lenovo accounted for materially all of our revenue for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2014 and 2013. Since the termination of our business relationship with Lenovo, we have generated de minimus revenue in future periods from the development, design, distribution or sale of any products. We anticipate that this trend will continue into the foreseeable future. We have effectively suspended traditional operations and are now primarily focused on potentially realizing value from our ongoing IP enforcement actions and other litigation as well as exploring opportunities to further expand, protect, and monetize our patent portfolio, including through the potential sale or licensing of our patent portfolio.

 

References to “fiscal” years in this report refer to our fiscal years ended January 31; for example, “fiscal 2015” refers to our fiscal year that ended on January 31, 2015.

 

We file or furnish annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available free of charge to the public via EDGAR through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Our SEC filings are also available on our website at http://www.comarco.com as soon as reasonably practical following the time that they are filed with or furnished to the SEC. In addition, any document we file or furnish with the SEC can be read at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. For further information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room, please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330.

 

 
1

 

 

Our Business

 

We have effectively suspended traditional operations and are now primarily focused on potentially realizing value from our ongoing IP enforcement actions and other litigation as well as exploring opportunities to further expand, protect, and monetize our patent portfolio, including through the potential sale or licensing of our patent portfolio.

 

Going Concern

 

Our management and our independent registered public accounting firm have questioned our ability to continue as a going concern as a result of our historical losses from operations and uncertainties surrounding our ability to raise additional funds. If we become unable to continue as a going concern, we may have to liquidate our assets, and might realize significantly less than the values at which they are carried on our consolidated financial statements, and shareholders may lose all or part of their investment in our common stock. (see “Risk Factors”). 

 

Working Capital

 

As of January 31, 2015, we had working capital of approximately $0.6 million. We believe that this working capital will allow us to discharge non-contingent and non-disputed liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business over the next twelve months.

 

Marketing, Sales, and Distribution

 

As we have effectively suspended traditional operations, resources previously focused on our limited marketing, sales or distribution activities have been directed toward the monetization of our patent portfolio. Therefore, we had no marketing, sales or distribution expenditures in fiscal year 2015 and limited expenditures in fiscal year 2014.

 

 

Key Customers

 

For fiscal year 2015, we had no customers. For fiscal year 2014, shipments to Lenovo, our only material customer, totaled $4.3 million. As discussed above, Lenovo terminated its relationship with us in August 2013 and we anticipate that we will generate no or de minimus revenue in future periods from the development, design, distribution or sale of our products. For more information regarding our customers, see Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this report.

 

Research and Development

 

During fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, our financial constraints limited our research and development investment to approximately $0 and $0.4 million, respectively. In addition, we currently only have full-time one employee, who is our Chief Executive Officer and President. As we have effectively suspended traditional operations, we anticipate engaging in extremely limited research and development activities for the foreseeable future.

 

Manufacturing and Suppliers

 

As we have effectively suspended traditional operations, our manufacturing activities and related commercial relations with suppliers are extremely limited and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future.

 

Patents, Trademarks and Other Intellectual Property

 

 Our future existence and success depend in large part on our proprietary technology, including our patents, trademarks and other intellectual property, on which we have commenced efforts to monetize through enforcement actions and licensing arrangements. We also regularly consider the possibility of selling some or all of our intellectual property portfolio. We generally rely upon patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret laws in the United States and in certain other countries, and upon confidentiality agreements with our employees, customers, and partners, to establish, maintain and protect our intellectual property rights in our proprietary technology. As of January 31, 2015, we had approximately 48 issued U.S. patents and 3 U.S. patent applications pending. We also have 38 foreign patents, however we are discontinuing maintenance of some of our foreign patents in order to focus our resources on monetization of our U.S. patent portfolio. 21 of our issued U.S. patents expired in April of 2014. However, these expired patents are still enforceable for any infringement that occurred during the last 6 years of the patent term and we are pursuing certain enforcement actions. The patents we believe to be the most valuable extend into 2024. Specifically, our patent portfolio addresses sophisticated charging challenges, including charging multiple devices simultaneously and analyzing power requirements of electronic devices, as well as light-weight compact dimensions. In addition, we have registered trademarks in the United States for ChargeSource® and SmartTip®.

 

 
2

 

 

Government Regulation

 

Many of our products are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign laws governing substances in products and their safe use, including laws regulating the manufacture and distribution of chemical substances and laws restricting the presence of certain substances in electronics products. While we have effectively suspended traditional operations and are no longer focused on manufacturing or selling products, if our existing products in the marketplace are found to be non-compliant with these laws, we could be subject to various liabilities and obligations, including sanctions, fines or product recalls.

 

Employees

 

As of April 1, 2015, we employed 1 full-time employee, who is our Chief Executive Officer and President. We also engage certain consultants on a part-time basis, including our Chief Accounting Officer. This significantly reduced headcount is the result of reductions in force targeted at reducing our cash burn.

 

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors, as well as the other information contained in this report, before deciding whether to invest in shares of our common stock. If any of the following risks continue or newly occur, our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects would further suffer. In that case, the trading price of our common stock would likely further decline and you might lose all or part of your investment in our common stock. The risks described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks that we currently do not know about or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also impair our operations and business results.

 

We effectively suspended our traditional operations as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2014. We are now primarily focused on potentially realizing value from our ongoing or future IP enforcement actions and other litigation as well as further exploring opportunities to expand, protect, and monetize our patent portfolio, including through the potential sale or licensing of some or all of our patent portfolio.  Our ability to generate positive cash flow, if any, from these activities is speculative and subject to a number of uncertainties. If we do not improve our cash position in the near term, we may be forced to cease operations, in which event you may lose your entire investment in us.

 

We have effectively suspended our traditional operations and are now primarily focused on potentially realizing value from our ongoing or future IP enforcement actions and other litigation as well as further exploring opportunities to expand, protect, and monetize our patent portfolio, including through the potential sale or licensing of some of all of our patent portfolio. While we have little experience or track record in generating revenues from these non-traditional methods, we have executed two settlement agreements through fiscal 2015. In the Chicony Power Technology, Co. Ltd., (“Chicony”) matter, effective as of May 15, 2014, Chicony entered into a settlement agreement with us that dismissed all claims between the two parties arising from the litigation. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, Chicony agreed to pay us $7.6 million. Settlement amounts of $4.0 million and $3.6 million were paid on May 16, 2014 and May 30, 2014, respectively. Of the $7.6 million, we received $6.5 million, net of $1.1 million in attorneys’ fees and other costs. In connection with the settlement, certain contract manufacturer costs payable to Chicony totaling $1.1 million were discharged and reflected as a reduction of cost of revenues. In our litigation with ACCO Brands USA LLC and its Computer Products Group division (collectively “Kensington”), on February 4, 2014, we entered into a confidential settlement and licensing agreement with an effective date of February 1, 2014 that established a forward royalty arrangement on sales of certain ACCO Brands products and dismissed all claims between the two parties arising from this matter. However, there can be no guarantees that we will execute additional agreements in the future.

 

      Our ability to generate revenue from ongoing or future litigation is subject to a number of significant uncertainties, including, but not limited to, our ability to retain counsel on an alternative fee structure or otherwise fund the cost of litigation and litigation counsel, the validity of our claims, our ability to succeed on the merits of our claims, interpretation of applicable contracts and laws (which in many cases are complex and potentially subject to competing interpretations), our ability to sustain operations through the final adjudication of our various litigation proceedings, and other uncertainties inherent in the litigation process. In addition, it is likely that we will become subject to counterclaims in any litigation to which we are a party, which may result in us being subject to damages or other obligations.

 

      Similarly, our ability to monetize our technology through licensing or sale is speculative and subject to a number of factors, including the outcome of litigation concerning our patent portfolio and the actual and perceived value of our intellectual property in the marketplace. To date, we have entered into two agreements to license our intellectual property to third parties, which have resulted in nominal revenues to date.

 

 
3

 

 

Due to the suspension of traditional business operations, any failure to realize value from our ongoing or future litigation or efforts to monetize our patent portfolio is expected to have a material adverse impact on our already limited financial resources, which could cause us to cease operations or otherwise cause you to lose your entire investment in us. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in generating revenue from any of these non-traditional sources.

 

Third parties may claim that we are infringing their intellectual property, and we could suffer significant litigation, settlement or licensing costs and expenses.

 

Third parties have claimed, and may in the future claim, that we are infringing on their intellectual property rights. These intellectual property infringement claims, whether we ultimately are found to be infringing on any third party’s intellectual property rights or not, are time-consuming, costly to defend, and divert resources and management attention away from our other priorities. We have previously been subject to litigation alleging that our products infringed on a third party’s intellectual property.

 

Infringement claims by third parties also could subject us to significant damage awards or fines or require us to pay large amounts to settle such claims.

 

Third parties may infringe our intellectual property rights, and we may be required to spend significant resources enforcing these rights or otherwise suffer competitive injury.

 

Due to our suspension of traditional operations, our success is highly dependent on our ability to monetize our proprietary technology. We generally rely upon patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret laws in the United States and in certain other countries, and upon confidentiality agreements with our employees, customers, and partners to establish and maintain our intellectual property rights in our proprietary technology. Our future and pending patent applications may not be issued with the scope we seek, if at all. In addition, we may not have sufficient capital to continue to prosecute and maintain our existing patents or new or existing patent applications. Others may independently develop similar proprietary technology or otherwise gain access to and disclose our proprietary information and technology, and our intellectual property rights could be challenged, invalidated, or circumvented by competitors or others, whether in the United States or in foreign countries. Our employees, customers, or partners also could breach our confidentiality agreements, for which we may not have an adequate remedy available. We also may not be able to timely detect the infringement of our intellectual property rights. Moreover, the laws of foreign countries may not afford the same protection to intellectual property rights as do the laws of the United States. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could harm our competitive position.

 

During fiscal 2012, we notified 11 companies, including ACCO Brands USA LLC and its Kensington Computer Products Group division (collectively “Kensington”), that we believe they are manufacturing and distributing products that infringe on one or more of our patents. One of the companies entered into a license agreement with us shortly after being notified of the infringement. Kensington entered into license agreement with us in settlement of time consuming and costly infringement litigation. On March 10, 2014, we filed a lawsuit against Targus Group International, Inc. (“Targus”) for patent infringement, breach of contract, intentional interference with contract, violation of business and professional codes, misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment (the “Federal Action”). Targus sought reexamination the patents at issue. The Federal Action was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice to re-filing the federal claims.  A state court action for Breach of Contract, Fraudulent Concealment, Unfair Competition and Accounting was then filed in the Orange County Superior Court on June 5, 2014 (the “State Court Action”).  On December 4, 2014, the Court ordered the State Court Action into Arbitration and the arbitration hearing is set for December 2015. In February 2015, we initiated litigation against Best Buy and Apple, Inc. To date, we have not taken any formal action against the remaining prior noticed alleged infringers, and at present we have not determined if or when we will do so. Whether or not we are successful in enforcing and protecting our intellectual property rights, litigation is time-consuming and costly, and may result in our intellectual property rights being held invalid or unenforceable.

 

We cannot be certain of the ultimate costs required to conclude our current litigation and may not be able to continue these proceedings.

 

On March 10, 2014, we filed a lawsuit against Targus seeking damages for patent infringement and breach of contract claims. We incurred approximately $0.6 million in non-contingent legal and related expert fees during fiscal 2014 related to the Chicony matter, which is net of approximately $0.4 million in payments made by our insurance carrier under a reservation of rights. Additionally, we incurred approximately $1.2 million in legal fees during fiscal 2014 related to the Kensington matter. We are unable to determine the future expenditures related to the Targus matter. The costs incurred for the current litigation may continue to significantly adversely impact our operating results and we may determine that due to the unpredictable nature of the costs and timing of the outcomes, we will no longer be able to peruse these actions.

 

Our strategy to license and/or monetize the value of our patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property through enforcement actions may not be successful.

 

As noted above, during fiscal 2012 we notified 11 companies, including Kensington and Best Buy, that we believe they are manufacturing and/or distributing products that infringe on one or more of our patents. One of the companies entered into a license agreement with us shortly after being notified of the infringement. On February 4, 2014, Kensington entered into a settlement agreement and licensing agreement with us with an effective date of February 1, 2014 that dismissed all claims between the two parties arising from this matter. On March 10, 2014, we filed a lawsuit against Targus Group International, Inc. (“Targus”) for patent infringement, breach of contract, intentional interference with contract, violation of business and professional codes, misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment (the “Federal Action”). Targus sought reexamination the patents at issue. The Federal Action was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice to re-filing the federal claims.  A state court action for Breach of Contract, Fraudulent Concealment, Unfair Competition and Accounting was then filed in the Orange County Superior Court on June 5, 2014 (the “State Court Action”).  On December 4, 2014, the Court ordered the State Court Action into Arbitration and the arbitration hearing is set for December 2015. In February, 2015 we initiated litigation against Best Buy based on our belief that they have manufactured and/or distributed and/or sold products that infringe on one or more of our patents. We do not know the ultimate course or outcome of the remaining prior noticed infringers and we may not be successful in our efforts to monetize our intellectual property through these enforcement actions. Also in February we disclosed initiation of similar litigation against Apple, Inc.

 

 
4

 

  

A majority of our common stock is held by just a few shareholders, which will make it possible for them to have significant influence over the outcome of all matters submitted to our shareholders for approval and which influence may be alleged to conflict with our interests and the interests of other shareholders.

 

As of April 1, 2015, our two largest shareholders owned an aggregate of approximately 60% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership (“Elkhorn”) owned approximately 49% and Broadwood Partners, L.P. (“Broadwood”) owned approximately 11%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of our common stock at April 1, 2015. These shareholders, and Elkhorn in particular, will have significant influence over all matters submitted to our shareholders for approval including the election of our directors and other corporate actions. In addition, such influence by one or more of these shareholders could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting to purchase us, take us over, and/or reducing the market price offered for our common stock in such an event.

 

We are highly dependent on our one full-time employee, Tom Lanni.

 

Currently, we have one employee, Tom Lanni, who is our Chief Executive Officer and President. In addition to being our Chief Executive Officer, President and only full-time employee, Mr. Lanni has extensive knowledge concerning the technology underlying our patent portfolio as a result of his 20 year tenure with us. The loss of Mr. Lanni’s services could adversely impact our ability to maximize the value of our patent portfolio or otherwise negatively affect our operations.

 

Our quarterly operating results are subject to fluctuations and, if our operating results decline or are worse than expected, or if our litigation prospects decline materially, our stock price could fall.

 

We do not expect significant quarterly fluctuations in revenue as we have effectively suspended traditional operations. However, as we are now primarily focused on potentially realizing value from our ongoing IP enforcement actions and other litigation as well as exploring further opportunities to expand, protect, and monetize our patent portfolio, including through the potential sale or licensing of some or all of our patent portfolio, our expenses may vary considerably from month to month, which would directly impact our operating results. Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate for many reasons, including:

 

 

Our suspension of historic, traditional business operations which leaves us with no material, regular revenue sources, and leaves us vulnerable to any short or longer term increases in legal or other expense levels;

 

 

Our investment in or proceeds from our ongoing and any future litigation; and

 

 

Our ability to sell or license some or all of our patent portfolio.

 

Due to these and other factors, our past results are not reliable indicators of our future performance. In addition, a significant portion of our operating expenses are relatively fixed including operations in support of our administrative expense. If our operating results decline or are below expectations of securities analysts or investors, the market price of our stock may decline significantly.

 

 

We have concluded that our internal controls over financial reporting were not effective as of January 31, 2015 which could cause deficiencies in our financial reporting and investors to lose confidence in the reliability of our consolidated financial statements and result in a decrease in the value of our securities.

 

Our management has concluded that our internal controls over financial reporting were not effective as discussed in “Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” in Item 9A of this report. Specifically, our management has concluded that due to a lack of accounting and information technology staff there is a lack of segregation of duties necessary for an appropriate system of internal controls.

  

 
5

 

 

While we will continue to implement our internal controls over financial reporting, because of inherent limitations, our internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all material misstatements, errors or omissions. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness of internal controls to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with our policies or procedures may deteriorate. We cannot be certain in future periods that other control deficiencies that may constitute one or more “significant deficiencies” (as defined by the relevant auditing standards) or material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting will not be identified. If we fail to implement adequate internal controls, including any failure to implement or difficulty in implementing required new or improved controls, our business and results of operations could be harmed, the results of operations we report could be subject to adjustments, we could fail to be able to provide reasonable assurance as to our financial results or we could fail to meet our reporting obligations and there could be a material adverse effect on the price of our securities. Moreover, because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Our Restated Articles of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws contain provisions which may discourage attempts by others to acquire or merge with us, which could reduce the market value of our common stock.

 

Provisions of our Restated Articles of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws may discourage attempts by other companies to acquire or merge with us, which could reduce the market value of our common stock. These provisions include:

 

 

the authorization of our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock with such rights and preferences as may be determined by the Board of Directors, without the approval of our shareholders;

 

 

the prohibition of action by the written consent of the shareholders;

 

 

the establishment of advance notice requirements for director nominations and other proposals by shareholders for consideration at shareholder meetings;

 

 

the requirement that the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding common stock entitled to vote at a meeting are required to approve certain business combinations with interested shareholders; and

 

 

the requirement that the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding common stock entitled to vote at a meeting are required to approve certain changes to specific provisions of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (including those provisions described above).

 

Our stock price has been and will likely remain highly volatile.

 

The stock market in general, and the stock prices of technology companies in particular, have experienced fluctuations that may be unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. Broad market and industry stock price fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of shares of our common stock. The market price of our stock has exhibited significant price fluctuations, which makes our stock unsuitable for many investors. Our stock price may also be affected by the following factors:

 

 

Our quarterly operating results;

 

 

Realizing value from our ongoing or future litigation as well as the results of our exploring opportunities to expand, protect, and monetize our patent portfolio, including through the potential sale or licensing of some or all of our patent portfolio.

 

 

The timing and announcements of technological innovations or new products by our competitors or by us, and

 

 

Other events affecting other companies that investors deem comparable to us.

 

All of these factors, as well as others not discussed above, may contribute to the volatility of our stock price.

 

Because our common stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, you may find it difficult to dispose of or obtain quotations for our common stock 

 

Our common stock trades under the symbol “CMRO” on the over-the-counter market OTCQB. Because our stock trades in small quantities and trades over-the-counter, rather than on a national securities exchange, you may find it difficult to either economically purchase, dispose of, or obtain quotations on the price of our common stock.

 

 
6

 

 

We may be subject to penny stock regulations and restrictions, which could make it difficult for shareholders to sell their shares of our common stock.

 

SEC regulations generally define “penny stocks” as equity securities that have a market price of less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exemptions. If we do not fall within any exemptions from the “penny stock” definition, we will be subject to Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act, which regulations are commonly referred to as the “Penny Stock Rules.” The Penny Stock Rules impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers prior to selling penny stocks, which may make it burdensome to conduct transactions in our shares. If our shares are subject to the Penny Stock Rules, it may be difficult to buy or sell shares of our stock, and because it may be difficult to find quotations for shares of our stock, it may be impossible to accurately price an investment in our shares. In addition to the Penny Stock Rules, as an issuer of “penny stock” we are unable to utilize the safe harbor provisions of the Forward Looking Statements sections of the Exchange Act. There can be no assurance that our common stock will qualify for an exemption from the Penny Stock Rules, or that if an exemption currently exists, that we will continue to qualify for such exemption. In any event, we are subject to Section 15(b)(6) of the Exchange Act, which gives the SEC the authority to restrict any person from participating in a distribution of a penny stock if the SEC determines that such a restriction would be in the public interest.

 

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, sales practice requirements may also limit a shareholder's ability to buy and sell our common stock.

 

In addition to the Penny Stock Rules described above, FINRA has adopted rules that require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our common stock, which may limit your ability to buy and sell our stock and have an adverse effect on the market for our shares.

 

ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

 

Our headquarters are located in Lake Forest, California. We entered into an amended and restated lease agreement with the landlord during fiscal 2012, upon the expiration of our original lease. Under the amended and restated lease we rent approximately 9,971 square feet of office space. The lease for this facility expires on August 31, 2016.

 

 
7

 

 

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Comarco, Inc. vs. Best Buy Co., Inc., Case No. 8:15-cv-00256, United States District Court for the Central District of California

On February 13, 2015, we filed a lawsuit against Best Buy Co., Inc. (“Best Buy”) for patent infringement under the patent laws of the United States. The complaint alleges that certain Best Buy power charging products sold in the United States under the Rocketfish brand infringe the Company’s patented intellectual property. This lawsuit is part of the Company’s ongoing and accelerated efforts to methodically pursue those companies that the Company believes have infringed on the intellectual property estate that the Company has developed over the last 20 years.

 

Comarco, Inc. vs. Apple Inc., Case No. 8:15-cv-00145, United States District Court for the Central District of California 

On February 3, 2015, we filed a lawsuit against Apple, Inc. (“Apple”) for patent infringement. The complaint alleges that Apple products sold in the United States utilizing the Apple Lightning® power supply adapter system, including most iPad®, iPhone®, and iPod® products, infringe the Company’s patented intellectual property. This lawsuit represents Comarco’s most significant enforcement effort to date, and demonstrates the Company’s ongoing and accelerated efforts to methodically pursue those companies that the Company believes have infringed on the intellectual property estate that the Company has developed over the last 20 years.

 

Comarco, Inc. vs. Targus Group International, Inc., Case No. 8:14-cv-00361, Superior Court of California County of Orange – Central Justice Center. 

On March 10, 2014, we filed a lawsuit against Targus Group International, Inc. (“Targus”) for patent infringement, breach of contract, intentional interference with contract, violation of business and professional codes, misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment (the “Federal Action”). Targus sought reexamination the patents at issue. The Federal Action was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice to re-filing the federal claims.  A state court action for Breach of Contract, Fraudulent Concealment, Unfair Competition and Accounting was then filed in the Orange County Superior Court on June 5, 2014 (the “State Court Action”).  On December 4, 2014, the Court ordered the State Court Action into Arbitration and the arbitration hearing is set for December 2015. Comarco seeks $17,000,000 in damages as well as accounting and injunctive relief.

 

Chicony Power Technology Co., LTD., (“Chicony”) vs. Comarco, Inc., Case No. 30-2011-00470249, Superior Court of California County of Orange – Central Justice Center.  

Effective as of May 15, 2014, Chicony entered into a settlement agreement with us that dismissed all claims between the parties arising from the litigation referenced above. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, Chicony agreed to pay us $7.6 million. $4.0 million of the settlement amount was paid to us on May 16, 2014, with the balance of $3.6 million paid to us on May 30, 2014. We recorded a gain of $7.6 million associated with this settlement in fiscal 2015. Of the $7.6 million, we received $6.5 million, net of attorneys’ fees and other costs.

 

Further pursuant to the settlement agreement, each party released the other and its affiliates from any and all claims related to the subject matter of the litigation and we covenanted not to sue Chicony on the next 500,000 power adapters sold by Chicony after May 15, 2014 that we allege infringe on our intellectual property rights. The settlement agreement also contains other representations, warranties and covenants of both parties that are customary for an agreement of this type.

 

Acco Brands USA LLC (“Acco”) vs. Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc., Case No. 5:11-cv-04378-HRL, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. 

On September 1, 2011, ACCO Brands USA LLC and its Kensington Computer Products Group division (collectively “Kensington”) filed a lawsuit against us alleging that five of our patents relating to power technology are invalid and/or not infringed by products manufactured and/or sold by Kensington. On February 29, 2012, we denied these claims and filed a cross-complaint alleging infringement by Kensington of each of these five patents. Efforts to resolve the dispute, by court ordered mediation, have been unsuccessful. The trial date was scheduled for early 2014 and then postponed to mid-2014. On February 4, 2014, Kensington entered into a settlement and licensing agreement with the Company with an effective date of February 1, 2014 that dismissed all claims between the two parties arising from this matter.

 

In addition to the matters described above, we are from time to time involved in various legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of our business. The legal proceedings potentially cover a variety of allegations spanning our entire business. We are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of all such matters.

 

 
8

 

 

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Market Information

 

Our common stock trades under the symbol “CMRO” on the OTCQB. The following table sets forth, for the quarters indicated, the high and low last sale price information for our common stock as reported by OTC Markets Inc., a research service that compiles quote information reported on the National Association of Securities Dealers composite feed or other qualified inter-dealer quotation medium. These quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail markup, markdown or commissions, and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.

 

   

High

   

Low

 
                 

Year ended January 31, 2015:

               

First Quarter

  $ 0.30     $ 0.17  

Second Quarter

    0.29       0.16  

Third Quarter

    0.20       0.15  

Fourth Quarter

    0.19       0.14  

Year ended January 31, 2014:

               

First Quarter

  $ 0.25     $ 0.14  

Second Quarter

    0.29       0.16  

Third Quarter

    0.19       0.15  

Fourth Quarter

    0.19       0.16  

 

Holders

 

As of April 1, 2015, there were 293 holders of record of our common stock.

 

Dividends

 

We did not declare any dividends during fiscal 2015 or fiscal 2014. We do not expect to pay cash dividends in the near future, as we intend to retain any future earnings to fund working capital and operations. Any determinations to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors.

 

Repurchases

 

We did not repurchase any securities during fiscal years 2015 or 2014. 

 

 
9

 

 

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

   

Years Ended January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

   

2013

 
   

(In thousands, except per share data)

 
                         

Revenue

  $ -     $ 4,429     $ 6,338  

Cost of revenue

    (1,099 )     3,930       4,150  

Gross profit

    1,099       499       2,188  
                         

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    1,232       1,999       2,761  

Engineering and support expenses

    309       733       2,435  
      1,541       2,732       5,196  

Operating loss

    (442 )     (2,233 )     (3,008 )

Other income (loss), litigation settlement

    6,524       177       (2,582 )

Income (Loss) before income taxes

    6,082       (2,056 )     (5,590 )

Income tax expense

    42       2       2  

Net income (loss)

  $ 6,040     $ (2,058 )   $ (5,592 )
                         

Basic net (loss) per share:

  $ 0.41     $ (0.14 )   $ (0.74 )

Diluted net (loss) per share:

  $ 0.41     $ (0.14 )   $ (0.74 )
                         

Working capital (deficit)

  $ 644     $ (7,821 )   $ (6,935 )

Total assets

  $ 2,282     $ 1,337     $ 3,211  

Borrowings under loan agreement

  $ -     $ 1,167     $ 2,000  

Stockholders' equity (deficit)

  $ 657     $ (7,725 )   $ (6,774 )

 

 

ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Item 8 of this report as well as our risk factors included in Item 1A of this report. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” included in Item 1 of this report.

 

Overview

 

Comarco, Inc. was incorporated in California in 1960 and its common stock has been publicly traded since 1971, when it was spun-off from Genge Industries, Inc. Comarco Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiary Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc. (“CWT”) was incorporated in the state of Delaware in September 1993. Comarco and CWT are collectively referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” “Comarco,” or the “Company”. Our operations consist solely of the operations of Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc. (“CWT”).

 

Going Concern Qualification

 

The financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates that we will realize value from our assets and satisfy our liabilities and commitments in the ordinary course of business. Our consolidated financial statements do not reflect any adjustments related to the outcome of this uncertainty. Our future is highly dependent on our ability to successfully resolve our current litigation, capitalize on our portfolio of patents, generate positive cash flows and obtain borrowings or raise capital to meet our liquidity needs.

  

 
10

 

 

We generated de minimis revenue during the year ended January 31, 2015. As previously announced in August 2013, Lenovo Information Products Co., Ltd. (“Lenovo”), our only material customer, notified us of their intention to cease offering our Constellation product, the power adapter we designed and developed for Lenovo, and terminated its relationship with us. We completed shipping product to Lenovo during our third quarter ended November 30, 2013. The loss of Lenovo as a customer has had a material adverse impact on our results of operations. We have reduced and/or eliminated certain operating expenses to minimize future losses and cash burn and will continue our efforts in this regard.

 

Two of our recent litigation matters have concluded. In the Chicony Power Technology, Co. Ltd., (“Chicony”) matter, effective as of May 15, 2014, Chicony entered into a settlement agreement with us that dismissed all claims between the two parties arising from the litigation. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, Chicony agreed to pay us $7.6 million. $4.0 million of the settlement amount was paid on May 16, 2014, with the balance of $3.6 million paid on May 30, 2014. Of the $7.6 million, we received $6.5 million, net of attorneys’ fees and other costs. Regarding our litigation with ACCO Brands USA LLC and its Computer Products Group division (collectively “Kensington”), on February 4, 2014, we entered into a settlement and licensing agreement with an effective date of February 1, 2014 that dismissed all claims between the two parties arising from this matter. As part of the settlement and licensing agreement with Kensington, we recorded $0.2 million in other income, net during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015.

 

On March 10, 2014, we filed a lawsuit against Targus Group International, Inc. (“Targus”) for patent infringement, breach of contract, intentional interference with contract, violation of business and professional codes, misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment (the “Federal Action”). Targus sought reexamination the patents at issue. The Federal Action was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice to re-filing the federal claims.  A state court action for Breach of Contract, Fraudulent Concealment, Unfair Competition and Accounting was then filed in the Orange County Superior Court on June 5, 2014 (the “State Court Action”).  On December 4, 2014, the Court ordered the State Court Action into Arbitration and the arbitration hearing is set for December 2015.

 

On February 13, 2015, we filed a lawsuit against Best Buy Co., Inc. (“Best Buy”) for patent infringement under the patent laws of the United States. The complaint alleges that certain Best Buy power charging products sold in the United States under the Rocketfish brand infringe the Company’s patented intellectual property. This lawsuit is part of the Company’s ongoing and accelerated efforts to methodically pursue those companies that the Company believes have infringed on the intellectual property estate that the Company has developed over the last 20 years.

 

On February 3, 2015, we filed a lawsuit against Apple, Inc. (“Apple”) for patent infringement. The complaint alleges that Apple products sold in the United States utilizing the Apple Lightning® power supply adapter system, including most iPad®, iPhone®, and iPod® products, infringe the Company’s patented intellectual property. This lawsuit represents Comarco’s most significant enforcement effort to date, and demonstrates the Company’s ongoing and accelerating efforts to methodically pursue those companies that the Company believes have infringed on the intellectual property estate that the Company has developed over the last 20 years.

 

We believe our patent portfolio covering key technical aspects of our products could potentially generate a future revenue stream based upon royalties paid to us by others for the use of some or all of our patents in third party products. We continue to explore opportunities to expand, protect, and monetize our patent portfolio, including through the sale or licensing of our patent portfolio. In the future, we may resume our traditional activities, if and when possible. However, there are no assurances that any of these possible opportunities will occur or be successful.

 

We had working capital totaling approximately $0.6 million as of January 31, 2015. We believe that this working capital will allow us to discharge non-contingent and non-disputed liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business over the next twelve months.

 

We continue to analyze a range of alternatives to build and/or preserve value for its stakeholders, including, but not limited to, exploring additional investment and incremental financing from current and/or new investors. We have in the recent past engaged advisors to assist in exploring strategic options for us as well as identifying potential partnerships for the purpose of monetizing some or all of the our patent portfolio and past, present, and future infringement claims. There can be no assurances that we will be successful in implementing any of these alternatives, or if implemented, that any of these alternatives will successfully preserve or increase shareholder value. 

 

  Business Strategy and Future Plans

 

Through the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, we developed and designed innovative technologies and intellectual property that were used in power adapters to power and charge battery powered devices such as laptop computers, tablets, smart phones and readers. On August 19, 2013, Lenovo Information Products Co., Ltd. (“Lenovo”), our only material customer, informed us that it intended to cease offering our Constellation product, the power adapter we designed and developed for Lenovo. Sales of the Constellation product to Lenovo accounted for materially all of our revenue for the fiscal years 2014 and 2013. We anticipate that we will generate de minimus revenue in future periods from the development, design, distribution or sale of any products. In the third quarter of fiscal quarter 2014, we have effectively suspended traditional operations and are now primarily focused on potentially realizing value from our ongoing IP enforcement actions and other litigation as well as further exploring opportunities to expand, protect, and monetize our patent portfolio, including through the potential sale or licensing of some or all of our patent portfolio. In the future, we may resume our traditional operations, if and when possible.

 

 
11

 

 

Company Trends and Uncertainties

 

Management currently considers the following additional trends, events, and uncertainties to be important to an understanding of our business:

 

Effective as of May 15, 2014, Chicony entered into a settlement agreement with us that dismissed all claims between the parties arising from the litigation referenced above. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, Chicony agreed to pay us $7.6 million. $4.0 million of the settlement amount was paid to us on May 16, 2014, with the balance of $3.6 million paid to us on May 30, 2014. We recorded a gain of $7.6 million associated with this settlement in fiscal 2015. Of the $7.6 million, we received $6.5 million, net of attorneys’ fees and other costs.

 

We have and will continue to analyze a range of alternatives to preserve and/or build value for our stakeholders, including, but not limited to, exploring additional investment and incremental financing from current and/or new investors, the engagement of advisors to assist in exploring strategic options for us as well as identifying potential partnerships for the purpose of monetizing some or all of our patent portfolio and past, present, and future infringement claims. There can be no assurances that we will be successful in implementing any of these alternatives, or if implemented, that any of these alternatives will successfully preserve or increase shareholder value.

 

We generated de minimis revenue for fiscal year ended January 31, 2015 compared to $4.4 million for fiscal year ended January 31, 2014. The decrease is attributable to the termination of sales to our principal customer Lenovo. In the third quarter of fiscal 2014, Lenovo terminated its relationship with us. We completed our final shipment of product to Lenovo during the third quarter ended October 31, 2013. We anticipate that we will generate de minimis revenue from the development, design, distribution or sale of any products.

 

On February 13, 2015, we filed a lawsuit against Best Buy Co., Inc. (“Best Buy”) for patent infringement under the patent laws of the United States. The complaint alleges that certain Best Buy power charging products sold in the United States under the Rocketfish brand infringe the Company’s patented intellectual property. This lawsuit is part of the Company’s ongoing and accelerated efforts to methodically pursue those companies that the Company believes have infringed on the intellectual property estate that the Company has developed over the last 20 years.

 

On February 3, 2015, we filed a lawsuit against Apple, Inc. (“Apple”) for patent infringement. The complaint alleges that Apple products sold in the United States utilizing the Apple Lightning® power supply adapter system, including most iPad®, iPhone®, and iPod® products, infringe the Company’s patented intellectual property. This lawsuit represents Comarco’s most significant enforcement effort to date, and demonstrates the Company’s ongoing and accelerated efforts to methodically pursue those companies that the Company believes have infringed on the intellectual property estate that the Company has developed over the last 20 years.

 

 

On March 10, 2014, we filed a lawsuit against Targus Group International, Inc. (“Targus”) for patent infringement, breach of contract, intentional interference with contract, violation of business and professional codes, misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment (the “Federal Action”). Targus sought reexamination the patents at issue. The Federal Action was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice to re-filing the federal claims.  A state court action for Breach of Contract, Fraudulent Concealment, Unfair Competition and Accounting was then filed in the Orange County Superior Court on June 5, 2014 (the “State Court Action”).  On December 4, 2014, the Court ordered the State Court Action into Arbitration and the arbitration hearing is set for December 2015.

 

We were previously party to litigation with ACCO Brands USA LLC and its Kensington Computer Products Group division (collectively “Kensington”). On February 4, 2014, Kensington entered into a settlement and licensing agreement with us with an effective date of February 1, 2014 that establishes a forward royalty based on the sale of certain ACCO/Kensington products and dismissed all claims between the two parties arising from this matter.

 

On August 6, 2013, we changed our legal representation with respect to our ongoing intellectual infringement and enforcement litigation and entered into an alternative fee arrangement in order to reduce our legal expenses.

  

On February 11, 2013, we entered into a Secured Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership (“Elkhorn”). Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, on February 11, 2013, Elkhorn made a $1,500,000 senior secured term loan (the “Elkhorn Loan”) to us.  The Elkhorn Loan bore interest at 7% per annum for the first year; increasing to 8.5% per annum thereafter, ranked senior in right of payment to all of our other indebtedness, was secured by a first priority security interest in all of the assets of Comarco and CWT, and was due and payable in full on November 30, 2014. See Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this report for additional information regarding the Loan Agreement, the Loan and certain related agreements. On June 3, 2014, the Company repaid the Elkhorn Loan in full.

  

 
12

 

 

Concurrent with the execution of the Loan Agreement, Elkhorn entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with us (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”). Pursuant to that Stock Purchase Agreement, we sold 6,250,000 shares of our common stock to Elkhorn at a price of $0.16 per share, resulting in an aggregate purchase price of $1.0 million. The purchase price of $0.16 per share paid by Elkhorn for those shares was determined by arms-length negotiations between Elkhorn and the members of a special committee of our Board of Directors, comprised of three of the directors who have no affiliation with Elkhorn and no financial interest, other than their interests solely as our shareholders, in either the loan or share transactions with Elkhorn. See Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this report for additional information regarding the Stock Purchase Agreement and certain related agreements.

 

As a result of our sale of the 6,250,000 shares of common stock to Elkhorn pursuant to the Elkhorn Stock Purchase Agreement, Elkhorn’s beneficial ownership increased from approximately 9% to approximately 49% of our outstanding voting stock, making Elkhorn our largest shareholder.

 

On August 13, 2014, the Company and Broadwood entered into an Amendment and Release Agreement that resolved the disputes between the Company and Broadwood concerning the July 2012 financing transaction with Broadwood. Pursuant to the Amendment and Release Agreement, the Company issued Broadwood a new stock purchase warrant (“New Warrant”) entitling it to purchase up to a total of 2,350,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price of $0.16 per share, in exchange for cancellation of the warrants issued (and additional warrants potentially issuable) from the July 2012 financing transaction. The New Warrant expires on July 27, 2020. In addition, the Company and Broadwood released each other from any and all claims concerning the July 2012 financing transaction and related matters.

 

 Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to apply accounting policies and make certain estimates and judgments. Our significant accounting policies are presented in Note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this report. Of our significant accounting policies, we believe the following are the most significant and involve a higher degree of uncertainty, subjectivity, and judgments. These policies involve estimates and judgments that are inherently uncertain. Changes in these estimates and judgments may significantly impact our annual and quarterly operating results.

 

 

Stock-based Compensation

 

We recognize compensation costs for all stock-based awards made to employees, consultants, and directors. The fair value of stock based awards is estimated on the date of grant, and is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period. We currently use either a Lattice Binomial or the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of our share-based payments. Both the Lattice Binomial and the Black-Scholes option-pricing model are based on a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected forfeiture rates, expected life, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends. The prevailing difference between the two models is the Lattice Binomial model’s ability to enhance the simple assumptions that underlie the Black-Sholes model. The Lattice Binomial model allows for assumptions such as risk-free rate of interest, volatility and exercise rate to vary over time reflecting a more realistic pattern of economic and behavioral occurrences. If the assumptions change under either model, stock-based compensation may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the past.

 

Derivative Liabilities

 

A derivative is an instrument whose value is “derived” from an underlying instrument or index such as a future, forward, swap, option contract, or other financial instrument with similar characteristics, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities. As a matter of policy, we do not invest in separable financial derivatives or engage in hedging transactions. However, we have entered into certain financing transactions in fiscal 2013 that involve financial equity instruments containing certain features that have resulted in the instruments being deemed derivatives. We may engage in other similar complex financing transactions in the future, but not with the intention to enter into derivative instruments. Derivatives are measured at fair value using the Monte Carlo simulation pricing model and marked to market through earnings. However, such new and/or complex instruments may have immature or limited markets. As a result, the pricing models used for valuation of derivatives often incorporate significant estimates and assumptions. Changes in these subjective assumptions can materially affect the estimate of the fair value of derivative liabilities and, consequently, the related amount recognized as loss due to change in fair value of derivative liabilities on the consolidated statement of operations. Furthermore, depending on the terms of a derivative, the valuation of derivatives may be removed from the financial statements upon exercise or conversion of the underlying instrument into some other security.

  

 
13

 

 

Income Taxes

 

We are required to estimate our provision for income taxes in each of the tax jurisdictions in which we conduct business. This process involves estimating our actual current tax expense in conjunction with the evaluation and measurement of temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of certain items for tax and accounting purposes. These temporary timing differences result in the establishment of deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are recorded on a net basis and included in our consolidated balance sheets. We then assess on a periodic basis the probability that our net deferred tax assets, if any, will be recovered. If after evaluating all of the positive and negative evidence, a conclusion is made that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be recovered, a valuation allowance is provided with a corresponding charge to tax expense to reserve the portion of the deferred tax assets which are estimated to be more likely than not to be realized.

 

Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities and any required valuation allowance. We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance on the entire deferred tax asset balance. This valuation allowance was established based on management’s overall assessment of risks and uncertainties related to our future ability to realize, and hence, utilize certain deferred tax assets, primarily consisting of net operating loss carry forwards and temporary differences. Due to the history of operating losses, the adjusted net deferred tax assets remained fully reserved as of January 31, 2015. We have a net operating loss carryforward of $40.7 million for federal and $33.6 million for state, which expire in increments through 2033. Based on a review performed in fiscal 2015, we concluded that a Section 382 ownership change did not occurred as a result of the Elkhorn transaction in fiscal 2014. 

 

Results of Operations

 

The following tables set forth certain items as a percentage of revenue from our audited consolidated statements of operations for fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014:

 

Revenue

 

We generated de minimis revenue for fiscal year ended January 31, 2015 compared to $4.4 million for fiscal year ended January 31, 2014. The decrease is attributable to a cessation of sales to our prior customer Lenovo. In the third quarter of fiscal 2014, Lenovo terminated its relationship with us. We completed our final shipment of product to Lenovo during the third quarter ended October 31, 2013. We anticipate that we will generate de minimis revenue from the development, design, distribution or sale of any products.

  

   

(in thousands)

         
   

Years Ended January 31,

         
   

2015

   

2014

   

% Change

 
                         

Revenue

  $ -     $ 4,429       -100 %

Operating loss

  $ (442 )   $ (2,233 )     80 %

Net income (loss)

  $ 6,040     $ (2,058 )     393 %

 

 
14

 

 

   

(in thousands)

         
   

Years Ended January 31,

         
   

2015

   

2014

   

% Change

 
                         

Revenue:

                       

Asia-Pacific

  $ -     $ 4,319       -100 %

North America

    -       73       -100 %

Europe

    -       37       -100 %
    $ -     $ 4,429       -100 %

   

(in thousands)

         
   

Years Ended January 31,

         
   

2015

   

2014

   

% Change

 
                         

Revenue:

                       

Lenovo

  $ -     $ 4,319       -100 %

Other

    -       110       -100 %
    $ -     $ 4,429       -100 %

 


   

(in thousands)

         
   

Years Ended January 31,

         
   

2015

   

2014

   

% Change

 
           

% of Total

           

% of Total

         

Cost of Revenue:

                                       

Product costs

  $ -       0 %   $ 2,994       76 %     -100 %

Supplier settlement

    (1,099 )     100 %     -       0 %     n/a  

Supply chain overhead

    -       0 %     534       14 %     -100 %

Inventory reserve and scrap charges

    -       0 %     402       10 %     -100 %
    $ (1,099 )     100 %   $ 3,930       100 %     -128 %
 

   

Years Ended January 31,

         
   

2015

   

2014

   

% Change

 
                         

Gross profit percent

    n/a       11 %     n/a  

Gross profit percent, excluding supplier settlement

    n/a       11 %     n/a  

 

 

Cost of revenue for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015 decreased by $5.0 compared to the corresponding period of fiscal 2014. The decrease is a result of us having $0 in revenue during fiscal 2015 and the settlement agreement with Chicony on May 14, 2014. As a result of this settlement agreement, the previously accrued obligation of $1.1 million to Chicony was legally dismissed and was reversed during the year ended January 31, 2015.

  

 
15

 

 

Operating Costs and Expenses

 

   

(in thousands)

         
   

Years Ended January 31,

         
   

2015

   

2014

   

% Change

 
           

% of Rev

           

% of Rev

         

Operating expenses:

                                       

Selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding corporate overhead

  $ 8       0 %   $ 32       1 %     -75 %

Corporate overhead

    1,533       0 %     1,967       44 %     -22 %

Engineering and support expenses

    309       0 %     733       17 %     -58 %
    $ 1,850       0 %   $ 2,732       62 %     -32 %

 

 

The fiscal 2015 decrease in operating expenses of $0.9 million compared to fiscal 2014 relates primarily to decreased legal expenses and personnel and related costs.

 

Corporate overhead consists of salaries and other personnel-related expenses of our accounting and finance, human resources and benefits, and other administrative personnel, as well as professional fees, directors’ fees, and other costs and expenses attributable to being a public company. The decrease of $0.4 million for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015 compared to the fiscal year ended January 31, 2014 relates primarily to decreased personnel and related costs and consulting expenses.

 

Engineering and support expenses generally consist of salaries, employer paid benefits, and other personnel related costs of our engineers and testing personnel, as well as facility and IT costs, professional and consulting fees, lab costs, material usages, and travel and related costs incurred in the development and support of our products. The fiscal 2015 decrease in engineering and support costs includes approximately $0.4 million in decreased legal fees primarily as result of alternative fee agreements we entered into with our legal counsel in the Chicony litigation and our other intellectual infringement and enforcement litigation matters.

 

Interest Expense, Net

 

Fiscal year 2015 interest expense, net relates to interest expense as well as amortization expense of the debt discount on the Elkhorn Loan. On June 3, 2014, the Company repaid the Elkhorn Loan in full.

 

During fiscal 2014, we incurred approximately $0.3 million in amortization of the loan discount. Additionally, interest expense of $0.1 million related to our Loan Agreement with Elkhorn was expensed as incurred.

 

Change in Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities

 

For fiscal 2015, the change in fair value of derivative liabilities is due to the Company repaying the Elkhorn Loan in full and as a result, the discount to the loan payable and related derivative liability were extinguished and charged to earnings for the year ended January 31, 2015.

 

For fiscal 2014, the change in fair value of derivative liabilities is the result of a decrease in the fair value of our derivative liabilities of $0.6 million. Our derivative liabilities consist of conversion features embedded in the Elkhorn Loan Agreement entered into in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 and warrants issued to Broadwood in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. (See Note 8 of Part II, Item 8 of this report)

 

Other Income, net

 

During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015, other income, net, was $6.7 million. We settled and were paid $7.6 million from Chicony. Of the $7.6 million, we received $6.5 million, net of attorneys’ fees and other costs. As a result of this settlement agreement, the previously accrued obligation of $1.1 million to Chicony was legally dismissed and was reversed during the year ended January 31, 2015. In addition, we received $0.2 million from a settlement and licensing agreement during the year ended January 31, 2015.

 

Income Taxes

 

Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities, and any required valuation allowance. We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance on the entire deferred tax asset balance. This valuation allowance was established based on management’s overall assessment of risks and uncertainties related to our future ability to realize, and hence, utilize certain deferred tax assets, primarily consisting of net operating loss carry forwards and temporary differences. Due to the history of operating losses, the adjusted net deferred tax assets remained fully reserved as of January 31, 2015.

 

 
16

 

 

During fiscal 2015, we recorded a net income of $6.1 million and recorded income tax expense of $42,000, which represents the minimum tax due in the state of California. The net deferred tax asset as of January 31, 2015 was $16.1 million, all of which is fully reserved.

 

During fiscal 2014, we recorded a net loss of $2.1 million and recorded income tax expense of $1,600, which represents the minimum tax due in the state of California. The net deferred tax asset as of January 31, 2014 was $16.7 million, all of which is fully reserved.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The following table is a summary of our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:

 

   

(in thousands)

 
   

Years Ended January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 
                 

Cash provided by (used in):

               

Operating activities

  $ 2,467     $ 443  

Investing activites

  $ 77     $ 19  

Financing activities

  $ (1,500 )   $ 530  


Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

The cash provided in operating activities during fiscal 2015 of $2.5 million is a result of net income of $6.1 million from our May 2014 litigation settlement with Chicony; offset by net non-cash amortization, stock option expense and change in fair value of derivative liabilities of $0.9 million offset by operating expenses paid of $2.7 million.

 

The cash provided in operating activities during fiscal 2014 of $0.4 million is a result of cash collected from customers and suppliers of $1.8 million, net of operating expenses paid of $1.4 million.

 

In fiscals 2014 and 2015, we continued a reduction in force across all departments in order to reduce our cash burn. While we anticipate that our cost cutting measures will reduce our cash burn during fiscal 2015, we may require further cost cutting measures and/or additional capital from debt or equity financing to fund our operations. We cannot be certain that such financing will be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

In fiscal years 2015 and 2014, we reduced our work force across all departments in order to reduce our cash burn. While our cost cutting measures reduced our cash burn during fiscal years 2014 and 2015, we may be required further cost cutting measures and/or obtain additional capital from debt or equity financing to fund our operations. We cannot be certain that such financing will be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all.

 

During fiscal 2014, we spent $9,000 in capital equipment purchases and received $28,000 in proceeds from the sale of equipment.

  

Cash Flows from Financing Activities; Loan Agreement & Credit Facility

 

On February 11, 2013, we entered into a Secured Loan Agreement (the “Elkhorn Loan Agreement”) and a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Elkhorn SPA”), and certain related agreements (collectively, the “Elkhorn Agreements”). Pursuant to those agreements, Elkhorn made a $1.5 million senior secured loan to us with a maturity date of November 30, 2014 (the “Elkhorn Loan”) and purchased a total of 6,250,000 shares of our common stock at a cash purchase price of $0.16 per share, generating an additional $1.0 million of cash for the Company. On February 11, 2013, we used approximately $2.1 million of the proceeds of $2.5 million from the Elkhorn Loan and the sale of the shares to Elkhorn to pay the entire principal amount of and all accrued interest on our July 2012 loan from Broadwood. On June 3, 2014, the Company repaid the Elkhorn Loan Agreement in full. (See Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this report).

 

 
17

 

 

Uncertainties Regarding Future Operations and the Funding of Liquidity Requirements for the Next 12 Months

 

As of January 31, 2015, we had working capital of approximately $0.6 million. We believe that this working capital will allow us to discharge non-contingent and non-disputed liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business over the next twelve months.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

In the course of our business operations, we incur certain commitments to make future payments under contracts such as operating leases and purchase orders. Payments under these contracts are summarized as follows as of January 31, 2015 (in thousands):

 

   

Payments due by Period

 

Long Term Debt Obligations

 

Less than

1 year

   

1 to 3 years

   

3 to 5 years

   

Total

 

Operating lease obligations

  $ 256       152       -     $ 408  

 

 

In addition to the amounts shown in the table above, we have unrecognized tax benefits in the amount of $0.8 million, which we are uncertain as to if or when such amounts may be settled.

 

We have a severance compensation agreement with our Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Lanni. This agreement requires us to pay Mr. Lanni, in the event of a termination of employment following a change of control of the Company or other circumstances, the amount of his then current annual base salary and the amount of any bonus amount the executive would have achieved for the year in which the termination occurs plus the acceleration of unvested options. We have not recorded any liability in the consolidated financial statements for this agreement.

 

Additionally, as a result of the Company’s sale of the 6,250,000 shares of common stock to Elkhorn (see Note 8), Elkhorn’s beneficial ownership of the Company has increased from approximately 9% to approximately 49% of the Company’s outstanding voting stock, making Elkhorn the Company’s largest shareholder and resulting in a change of control of 25% or more, as defined for purposes of the severance compensation agreement. Mr. Lanni has waived his right to receive payments under his severance compensation agreement as a result of the change in Elkhorn’s beneficial ownership of the Company.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Components of an Entity, which changes the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and modifies related disclosure requirements. The guidance applies prospectively to new disposals and new classifications of disposal groups as held for sale after the effective date. The standard is required to be adopted by public business entities in annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company will be required to adopt this ASU beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 2015. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. The Company does not anticipate that adopting this update will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

The FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period, (ASU 2014-12). The amendments in ASU 2014-12 require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period is treated as a performance condition. ASU 2014-12 becomes effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. The Company does not anticipate that adopting this update will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

The FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, which requires management to evaluate, at each annual and interim reporting period, whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and provide related disclosures. The ASU is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2017. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. The Company does not anticipate that adopting this update will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements as such matters are currently disclosed.

 

 
18

 

  

ITEM 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Not applicable.

 

 
19

 

 

ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

COMARCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  21

Financial Statements:

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets, January 31, 2015 and 2014

  22

Consolidated Statements of Operations, Years Ended January 31, 2015 and 2014

  23

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit), Years Ended January 31, 2015 and 2014

  24

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Years Ended January 31, 2015 and 2014

  25

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  26

Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, Years Ended January 31, 2015 and 2014

  45

 

All other schedules are omitted because the required information is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule or because the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.

 

 
20

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

Comarco, Inc.

Lake Forest, California

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Comarco, Inc. and subsidiary (the “Company”) as of January 31, 2015 and 2014 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ deficit, and cash flows for the years then ended. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Comarco, Inc. listed in Part IV, Item 15. These financial statements and the financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits include consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Comarco, Inc. and subsidiary as of January 31, 2015 and 2014 and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses and negative cash flow from operations, has negative working capital and faces uncertainties surrounding the Company’s ability to raise additional funds. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

/s/ SQUAR, MILNER, PETERSON, MIRANDA & WILLIAMSON, LLP

 

Newport Beach, California

April 30, 2015

 

 
21

 

 

COMARCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

 

 

   

January 31,

   

January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 

ASSETS

               

Current Assets

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 2,140     $ 1,096  

Accounts receivable, net of reserves of $0

    122       128  

Other current assets

    7       17  

Total current assets

    2,269       1,241  

Property and equipment, net

    8       14  

Restricted cash

    5       82  

Total assets

  $ 2,282     $ 1,337  
                 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT

               

Current Liabilities

               

Accounts payable

  $ 737     $ 4,363  

Accrued liabilities

    848       1,012  

Income taxes payable

    40       -  

Loan payable

    -       1,167  

Derivative liabilities

    -       2,520  

Total current liabilities

    1,625       9,062  

Total liabilities

    1,625       9,062  
                 

Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 13)

               
                 

Stockholders' Equity (Deficit):

               

Preferred stock, no par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding

    -       -  

Common stock, $0.10 par value, 50,625,000 shares authorized; 14,684,165 shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively

    1,468       1,468  

Additional paid-in capital

    18,322       15,980  

Accumulated deficit

    (19,133 )     (25,173 )

Total stockholders' equity (deficit)

    657       (7,725 )

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)

  $ 2,282     $ 1,337  

 

 
22

 

 

COMARCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

   

Years Ended January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 
                 
                 

Revenue

  $ -     $ 4,429  

Cost of revenue

    (1,099 )     3,930  

Gross profit

    1,099       499  
                 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    1,232       1,999  

Engineering and support expenses

    309       733  
      1,541       2,732  

Operating loss

    (442 )     (2,233 )

Interest expense, net

    (380 )     398  

Change in fair value of derivative liabilities

    226       (575 )

Other income, net - litigation settlement

    6,678       -  
                 

Income (loss) from operations before income taxes

    6,082       (2,056 )

Income tax expense

    42       2  

Net income (loss)

  $ 6,040     $ (2,058 )
                 

Basic loss per share:

  $ 0.41     $ (0.14 )

Diluted loss per share:

  $ 0.41     $ (0.14 )
                 

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

               

Basic

    14,684       14,397  

Diluted

    14,863       14,397  

 

 
23

 

 

COMARCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(In thousands, except share data)

 

           

Additional

                 
   

Common

   

Paid-in

   

Accumulated

         
   

Stock

   

Capital

   

Deficit

   

Total

 

Balance at January 31, 2013

7,635,039 shares

    764       15,577       (23,115 )     (6,774 )

Net loss

    -       -       (2,058 )     (2,058 )

Common stock issued

    644       344       -       988  

Issuance of 187,300 shares of common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units

    18       (18 )     -       -  

Issuance of 420,000 shares of restricted common stock

    42       -       -       42  

Stock based compensation expense

    -       77       -       77  

Balance at January 31, 2014

14,684,165 shares

  $ 1,468     $ 15,980     $ (25,173 )   $ (7,725 )
                                 

Net income

    -       -       6,040       6,040  

Issuance of Broadwood replacement warrants

    -       2,294       -       2,294  

Stock based compensation expense

    -       48       -       48  

Balance at January 31, 2015

14,684,165 shares

  $ 1,468     $ 18,322     $ (19,133 )   $ 657  

 

 
24

 

 

COMARCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands except share data)

 

 

   

Years Ended

 
   

January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 
                 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

               

Net income (loss)

  $ 6,040     $ (2,058 )

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) from continuing operations to net cash used in operating activities:

               

Depreciation and amortization

    6       55  

Loss on sale/retirement of property and equipment

    -       32  

Amortization of loan discount

    333       291  

Stock-based compensation expense

    48       77  

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable

    6       16  

Provision for obsolete inventory

    -       631  

Change in fair value of derivative liabilities

    (226 )     (570 )

Supplier settlement

    (1,099 )     (60 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

               

Accounts receivable due from customers

    -       1,307  

Accounts receivable due from suppliers

    -       518  

Inventory

    -       (165 )

Other assets

    10       (17 )

Accounts payable

    (2,527 )     675  

Accrued liabilities

    (164 )     (289 )

Income taxes

    40       -  

Net cash provided by operating activities

    2,467       443  
                 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

               

Purchases of property and equipment

    -       (9 )

Change in restricted cash

    77       28  

Net cash provided by investing activites

    77       19  
                 
                 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

               

Loan proceeds

    -       1,500  

Loan repayment

    (1,500 )     (2,000 )

Net proceeds from common stock issued

    -       1,030  

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

    (1,500 )     530  
                 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

    1,044       992  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

    1,096       104  

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

  $ 2,140     $ 1,096  
                 

Noncash investing and financing activities:

               

Debt discount recorded upon issuance of convertible debt

  $ -     $ 624  

Loss on retired fixed assets at contract manufacturers

  $ -     $ 60  

Issuance of Broadwood replacement warrants

  $ 2,294     $ -  
                 

Supplementary disclosures of cash flow information:

               

Cash paid for interest

  $ 68     $ 76  

Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds

  $ 2     $ 2  

 

 
25

 

 

COMARCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.

Organization

 

Comarco, Inc. was incorporated in California in 1960 and its common stock has been publicly traded since 1971, when it was spun-off from Genge Industries, Inc. Comarco Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiary Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc. (“CWT”) was incorporated in the state of Delaware in September 1993. Comarco and CWT are collectively referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” “Comarco,” or the “Company”.

 

 

2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

The summary of our significant accounting policies presented below is designed to assist the reader in understanding our consolidated financial statements. Such financial statements and related notes are the representations of our management, who are responsible for their integrity and objectivity. In the opinion of management, these accounting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America in all material respects, and have been consistently applied in preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Comarco, Inc. and CWT. All material intercompany balances, transactions, and profits have been eliminated.

 

Future Operations, Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates that we will realize our assets and satisfy our liabilities and commitments in the ordinary course of business. Our consolidated financial statements do not reflect any adjustments related to the outcome of this uncertainty. Our future is highly dependent on our ability to successfully resolve our current litigation, capitalize on our portfolio of patents, generate positive cash flows and obtain borrowings or raise capital to meet our liquidity needs.

 

As previously announced in August 2013, Lenovo Information Products Co., Ltd. (“Lenovo”), our only material customer, notified us of their intention to cease offering our Constellation product, the power adapter we designed and developed for Lenovo, and terminated its relationship with us. We completed shipping product to Lenovo during our third quarter ended November 30, 2013. The loss of Lenovo as a customer has had a material adverse impact on our results of operations. We have reduced and/or eliminated certain operating expenses to minimize future losses and cash burn and will continue our efforts in this regard.

 

Two of our recent litigation matters have concluded. In the Chicony Power Technology, Co. Ltd., (“Chicony”) matter, effective as of May 15, 2014, Chicony entered into a settlement agreement with us that dismissed all claims between the two parties arising from the litigation. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, Chicony agreed to pay us $7.6 million. Settlement amounts of $4.0 million and $3.6 million were paid on May 16, 2014 and May 30, 2014, respectively. Of the $7.6 million, we received $6.5 million, net of $1.1 million in attorneys’ fees and other costs. In connection with the settlement, certain contract manufacturer costs payable to Chicony totaling $1.1 million were discharged and reflected as a reduction of cost of revenues. In our litigation with ACCO Brands USA LLC and its Computer Products Group division (collectively “Kensington”), on February 4, 2014, we entered into a confidential settlement and licensing agreement with an effective date of February 1, 2014 that establishes a forward royalty program and dismissed all claims between the two parties arising from this matter.

 

On March 10, 2014, we filed a lawsuit against Targus Group International, Inc. (“Targus”) for patent infringement, breach of contract, intentional interference with contract, violation of business and professional codes, misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment (the “Federal Action”). Targus sought reexamination the patents at issue. The Federal Action was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice to re-filing the federal claims.  A state court action for Breach of Contract, Fraudulent Concealment, Unfair Competition and Accounting was then filed in the Orange County Superior Court on June 5, 2014 (the “State Court Action”).  On December 4, 2014, the Court ordered the State Court Action into Arbitration and the arbitration hearing is set for December 2015.

 

On February 13, 2015, we filed a lawsuit against Best Buy Co., Inc. (“Best Buy”) for patent infringement under the patent laws of the United States. The complaint alleges that certain Best Buy power charging products sold in the United States under the Rocketfish brand infringe the Company’s patented intellectual property. This lawsuit is part of the Company’s ongoing and accelerated efforts to methodically pursue those companies that the Company believes have infringed on the intellectual property estate that the Company has developed over the last 20 years.

 

On February 3, 2015, we filed a lawsuit against Apple, Inc. (“Apple”) for patent infringement. The complaint alleges that Apple products sold in the United States utilizing the Apple Lightning® power supply adapter system, including most iPad®, iPhone®, and iPod® products, infringe the Company’s patented intellectual property. This lawsuit represents Comarco’s most significant enforcement effort to date, and demonstrates the Company’s ongoing and accelerated efforts to methodically pursue those companies that the Company believes have infringed on the intellectual property estate that the Company has developed over the last 20 years.

 

 
26

 

 

We believe that our patent portfolio covering key technical aspects of our products could potentially generate a future revenue stream based upon royalties paid to us by others for the use of some or all of our patents in third party products. We continue to explore opportunities to expand, protect, and monetize our patent portfolio, including through the sale or licensing of our patent portfolio. We may or may not resume our traditional activities of providing innovative charging solutions for battery powered devices. There are no assurances that any of these possible opportunities or activities will occur or be successful.

 

We had working capital totaling approximately $0.6 million as of January 31, 2015. We are currently generating de minimis revenues and have ceased traditional operations. Our future is highly dependent on our ability to successfully resolve our current litigation, capitalize on our portfolio of patents, generate positive cash flows and obtain borrowings or raise capital to meet our future liquidity needs.

 

We continue to analyze a range of alternatives to build and/or preserve value for our stakeholders, including, but not limited to, exploring additional investment and incremental financing from current and/or new investors, the engagement of advisors to assist in exploring strategic options for us as well as identifying potential partnerships for the purpose of monetizing some or all of the our patent portfolio and past, present, and future infringement claims. There can be no assurances that we will be successful in implementing any of these alternatives, or if implemented, that any of these alternatives will successfully preserve or increase shareholder value. 

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the years reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

 

Certain accounting principles require subjective and complex judgments to be used in the preparation of financial statements. Accordingly, a different financial presentation could result depending on the judgments, estimates, or assumptions that are used. Such estimates and assumptions include, but are not specifically limited to, those required in the assessment of the impairment of long-lived assets, allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, valuation of derivative liabilities and determination of stock-based compensation.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue from product sales was recognized upon shipment of products provided there were no uncertainties regarding customer acceptance, persuasive evidence of an arrangement existed, the sales price was fixed or determinable, and collectability was probable. Generally, our products were shipped FOB named point of shipment, whether it was Lake Forest, CA which was the location of our corporate headquarters, or China, the shipping point for most of our contract manufacturers.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

All highly liquid investments with original maturity dates of three months or less when acquired are classified as cash and cash equivalents. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents approximates the amounts shown in the consolidated financial statements. Cash and cash equivalents are generally maintained in uninsured accounts, typically Eurodollar deposits with daily liquidity, which are subject to investment risk including possible loss of principal invested.

 

Restricted Cash

 

Our restricted cash balances are secured by separate bank accounts and represent a $5,000 which serves as collateral for credit card chargebacks associated with our internet website. During fiscal 2015, $77,000 letter of credit that formally served as the security deposit for our corporate office lease was cancelled and we are in the process of renewing this letter of credit.

  

 
27

 

 

Accounts Receivable due from Suppliers

 

Oftentimes we were able to source components locally that we later sold to our contract manufacturers, who built the finished goods, and other suppliers. This was especially the case when new products were initially introduced into production. Sales to our contract manufacturers (or “CMs”) and other suppliers were excluded from revenue and were recorded as a reduction to cost of revenue. During fiscal 2013, our relationship with Power System Technologies, Ltd. (formerly Flextronics Electronics) the CM who builds the product we sell to Lenovo transitioned from a relationship where we directly sourced just a few components in the bill of material to a process where we directly sourced all of the component parts in the bill of material. As of January 31, 2015, the entire accounts receivable due from suppliers balance was from Zheng Ge Electrical Co., Ltd. (“Zheng Ge”), a tip supplier for the Bronx product, which was subject to a recall. As of January 31, 2015, we did not provide an allowance for doubtful accounts against the Zheng Ge receivable as there is a larger offsetting liability to Zheng Ge.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Additions, improvements, and major renewals are capitalized; maintenance, repairs, and minor renewals are expensed as incurred. Depreciation and amortization is calculated on a straight-line basis over the expected useful lives of the property and equipment. The expected useful lives of office furnishings and fixtures are five to seven years, and of equipment and purchased software are two to five years. The expected useful life of tooling equipment, molds used for pre-production and mass production of our power adapters, is 18 months. The expected useful life of leasehold improvements, which is included in office furnishings and fixtures, is the lesser of the term of the lease or five years.

 

We evaluate property and equipment for impairment when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying amounts. Factors considered important which could trigger an impairment review include, but are not limited to, significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of use of the assets or the strategy for our overall business, and significant negative industry or economic trends. If such assets are identified to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. We did not experience any changes in our business or circumstances to require an impairment analysis nor did we recognize any impairment charges during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

Assets to be disposed of are separately presented in the consolidated balance sheets and reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell, and are no longer depreciated.

 

Research and Development Costs

 

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred and are reported as engineering and support costs. During fiscal years 2015 and 2014, we incurred $0 and approximately $0.4 million in research and development expense, respectively.

 

Income Taxes

 

As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our provision for income taxes in each of the tax jurisdictions in which we conducts business. This process involves estimating our actual current tax expense in conjunction with the evaluation and measurement of temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of certain items for tax and accounting purposes. These temporary timing differences result in the establishment of deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are recorded on a net basis and included in our consolidated balance sheets. On a periodic basis, we assess the probability that our net deferred tax assets, if any, will be recovered. If after evaluating all of the positive and negative evidence, we conclude that it is more likely than not that we will not recover some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets, a valuation allowance is provided with a corresponding charge to tax expense to reserve the portion of the deferred tax assets which are estimated to be more likely than not to be realized.

 

Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities, and any required valuation allowance. We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance on the entire deferred tax asset balance. This valuation allowance was established based on management’s overall assessment of risks and uncertainties related to our future ability to realize, and hence, utilize certain deferred tax assets, primarily consisting of net operating loss carry forwards and temporary differences. Due to the history of operating losses, the adjusted net deferred tax assets remain fully reserved as of January 31, 2015.

 

We apply the uncertain tax provisions of the Income Taxes Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification”), which interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement criteria for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The topic also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest, and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.

 

 
28

 

 

During fiscal 2015, we recorded a net income of $6.1 million and recorded income tax expense of $42,000, which represents the alternative minimum tax due in the state of California. The net deferred tax asset of $16.1 million at January 31, 2015 continues to be fully reserved.

 

During fiscal 2014, we recorded a net loss of $2.1 million and recorded income tax expense of $1,600, which represents the minimum tax due in the state of California. The net deferred tax asset of $16.7 million at January 31, 2014, $1.1 million of which relates to net operating losses created in fiscal 2014, continues to be fully reserved.

 

Advertising

 

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising incurred during fiscal 2015 and 2014 totaled $0 and approximately $2,000, respectively.

 

Warranty Costs

 

We provide limited warranties for products for a period generally not to exceed 24 months. We accrue for the estimated cost of warranties at the time revenue is recognized. The accrual is consistent with our actual claims experience. Should actual warranty claim rates differ from our estimates, revisions to the liability would be required.

 

Derivative Liabilities

 

A derivative is an instrument whose value is “derived” from an underlying instrument or index such as a future, forward, swap, option contract, or other financial instrument with similar characteristics, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities. As a matter of policy, the Company does not invest in separable financial derivatives or engage in hedging transactions. However, the Company entered into certain financing transactions in fiscal 2013 that involved financial equity instruments containing certain features that have resulted in the instruments being deemed derivatives. The Company may engage in other similar complex financing transactions in the future, but not with the intention to enter into derivative instruments. Derivatives are measured at fair value using the Monte Carlo simulation pricing model and marked to market through earnings. However, such new and/or complex instruments may have immature or limited markets. As a result, the pricing models used for valuation of derivatives often incorporate significant estimates and assumptions. Changes in these subjective assumptions can materially affect the estimate of the fair value of derivative liabilities and, consequently, the related amount recognized as loss due to change in fair value of derivative liabilities on the consolidated statement of operations. Furthermore, depending on the terms of a derivative, the valuation of derivatives may be removed from the financial statements upon exercise or conversion of the underlying instrument into some other security.

 

We evaluate free-standing derivative instruments to properly classify such instruments within stockholders’ equity or as liabilities in our financial statements. Our policy is to settle instruments indexed to our common shares on a first-in-first-out basis.

 

The classification of a derivative instrument is reassessed at each balance sheet date. If the classification changes as a result of events during a reporting period, the instrument is reclassified as of the date of the event that caused the reclassification. There is no limit on the number of times a contract may be reclassified.

 

During the second quarter of fiscal 2013, we adopted the guidance, as codified in Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 815-40, Derivatives and HedgingAccounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock,that requires us to apply a two-step model in determining whether a financial instrument or an embedded feature is indexed to our own stock and thus enables it to qualify for equity classification. The warrants issued to Broadwood Partners, L.P. (“Broadwood”) contained provisions that adjusted the exercise price in the event of certain dilutive issuance of our securities (see Note 7). Accordingly, the Company considered the warrants to be subject to price protection and classified them as derivative liabilities at the date of issuance with a fair value of $1.4 million and a corresponding discount to the underlying loan payable (see Note 7). On August 13, 2014, we entered into an Amendment and Release Agreement that canceled and replaced the Broadwood warrants. Accordingly, the derivative liability associated with the Broadwood warrants was reversed on the cancellation date and the replacement warrants, which qualified for classification as equity, were added to additional paid in capital.

 

Additionally, during the first quarter of fiscal 2014, we entered into a Loan Agreement with Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership (“Elkhorn”) which contained convertible provisions that allow Elkhorn to convert the loan into common stock. The conversion price could have been adjusted in the event of certain dilutive issuance of our securities. Accordingly, the Company considered the convertible debt to be subject to price protection and created a discount to the underlying loan payable and classified that fair value as derivative liabilities at the date of issuance with a fair value of $0.6 million (see Note 7). On June 3, 2014, the Company repaid the Elkhorn Loan in full and as a result, the discount to the loan payable and related derivative liability were extinguished and charged to earnings for the year ended January 31, 2015.

 

 
29

 

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

Our cash and cash equivalents are principally on deposit in a non-insured short-term asset management account at a large financial institution. Accounts receivable potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk. We generally do not require collateral for accounts receivable. When required, we maintain allowances for credit losses, and to date such losses have been within management’s expectations. Once a specific account receivable has been reserved for as potentially uncollectible, our policy is to continue to pursue collections for a period of up to one year prior to recording a receivable write-off.

 

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

 

Basic net (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period excluding the dilutive effect of potential common stock, which for us consists solely of stock awards. Diluted earnings per share reflects the dilution that would result from the exercise of all dilutive stock awards outstanding during the period. The effect of such potential common stock is computed using the treasury stock method (see Note 11).

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

We grant stock awards, restricted stock and restricted stock units for a fixed number of shares to employees, consultants, and directors with an exercise or grant price equal to the fair value of the shares at the date of grant.

 

We account for stock-based compensation using the modified prospective method, which requires measurement of compensation cost for all stock awards at fair value on date of grant and recognition of compensation over the service period for awards expected to vest.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable due suppliers, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, a short-term loan and derivative liabilities. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities are considered to be representative of their respective fair values because of the short-term nature of those instruments.

  

Legal expense classification

 

Our legal expenses are classified in either selling, general, and administrative expenses or engineering and support expenses depending on the nature of the legal expense. All legal expenses incurred related to our intellectual property, including associated litigation expense and maintenance of our patent portfolio, are included in engineering and support expenses in our consolidated statement of operations. All other legal expenses, including all other litigation expense and public company legal expense are included in selling, general, and administrative expenses in our consolidated statement of operations. The legal expense included in selling, general and administrative expenses during fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 was $0.4 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

 

 Subsequent Events

 

Management has evaluated events subsequent to January 31, 2015 through the date the accompanying consolidated financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for transactions and other events that may require adjustment of and/or disclosure in such financial statements.

 

  

3.

Customer and Supplier Concentrations

 

Substantially all of the Company’s revenue was derived from a single customer, Lenovo, in fiscal 2014. As discussed in Note 2 above, in August 2013, Lenovo notified us of their intention to cease offering Comarco’s product to its customers. We shipped approximately 20,000 of our Constellation units to Lenovo and 11,000 field replacement units to Lenovo affiliates during our third quarter of fiscal 2014, and we have no further orders from Lenovo or their affiliates. The loss of Lenovo has had a material adverse impact on our revenues and results of operations.

  

 
30

 

 

The customers providing 10 percent or more of our revenue for either of the years ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 are listed below (in thousands, except percentages).

 

   

Years Ended January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 

Total revenue

  $ -       100 %   $ 4,429       100 %
                                 

Customer concentration:

                               

Lenovo Information Products Co., Ltd.

  $ -       0 %   $ 4,319       98 %
    $ -       0 %   $ 4,319       98 %

 

Our revenues by geographic location for the years ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 are listed below (in thousands, except percentages).

 

   

Years Ended January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 

Revenue:

                               

Asia-Pacific

  $ -       0 %   $ 4,319       98 %

North America

    -       0 %     73       2 %

Europe

    -       0 %     37       1 %
    $ -       0 %   $ 4,429       100 %

 

The suppliers comprising 10 percent or more of our gross accounts receivable due from suppliers at either January 31, 2015 or 2014 are listed below (in thousands, except percentages).

 

   

Years Ended January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 

Total gross accounts receivable due from suppliers

  $ 122       100 %   $ 128       100 %

Supplier concentration:

                               

Zheng Ge Electrical Co., Ltd.

  $ 122       100 %   $ 122       95 %
    $ 122       100 %   $ 122       95 %

 

Zheng Ge Electrical Co., Ltd. (“Zheng Ge”) was a tip supplier for the Bronx product, which was subject to a recall. We previously sourced some of the component parts that Zheng Ge used in the manufacture of the tips. We ceased paying Zheng Ge during the course of the product recall while we investigated the manufacturing defect which ultimately caused the recall and, likewise, Zheng Ge ceased paying us.

 

The suppliers and other vendors comprising 10 percent or more of our gross accounts payable at either January 31, 2015 or 2014 are listed below (in thousands, except percentages).

 

   

Years Ended January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 
                                 

Total gross accounts payable

  $ 737       100 %   $ 4,363       100 %

Supplier concentration:

                               

Chicony Power Technology, Co. Ltd.

  $ -       0 %   $ 1,100       25 %

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

    432       59 %     1,953       45 %
    $ 432       59 %   $ 3,053       70 %

 

Chicony Power Technology, Co. Ltd., (“Chicony”) was the manufacturer of the Bronx product, which was subject to a recall. We had been in litigation with Chicony (see Note 13). Effective May 15, 2014, Chicony entered into a settlement agreement with us that dismissed all claims between the two parties arising from the litigation. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, Chicony agreed to pay us $7.6 million in cash. $4.0 million of the settlement amount was paid on May 16, 2014, with the balance of $3.6 million paid on May 30, 2014. Of the $7.6 million, we received $6.5 million, net of $1.1 million in attorneys’ fees and other costs. As a result of the settlement agreement, $1.1 million of contract manufacturer obligations to Chicony have been legally dismissed and reversed as of July 31, 2014. The dismissed obligations are reflected in Cost of Revenues for the year ended January 31, 2015.

 

 
31

 

 

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP (“Pillsbury”) was our former legal counsel for the Kensington litigation as well as other patent and intellectual property matters (see Note 13). On May 28, 2014, we entered into an agreement with Pillsbury in which we paid Pillsbury a lump sum of $1.5 million and the remaining balance of $0.4 million (“the Balance”) was modified and is to be paid, if at all, in the event Comarco obtains any monetary recovery, whether through settlement, judgment or otherwise, from or as a result of the Targus Lawsuit and/or any of the additional lawsuits. The amount payable shall be equal to the Balance plus 20% per annum, compounded annually from the Effective Date of May 28, 2014. In connection with this partial repayment, no gain was recognized.

 

 

4.

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):

 

   

January 31,

   

January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 
                 

Office furnishing and fixtures

  $ 605     $ 605  

Equipment

    973       973  

Purchased software

    66       66  
      1,644       1,644  

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

    (1,636 )     (1,630 )
    $ 8     $ 14  

 

We held equipment, primarily tooling and fixtures at various contract manufacturer locations in China related to our customer, Lenovo. As of January 31, 2014, we retired all fixed assets at these contract manufacturer locations.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense for fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 totaled $6,000 and $55,000, respectively.

 

 

5.

Accrued Liabilities

 

Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

 

   

January 31,

   

January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 
                 

Uninvoiced materials and services received

  $ 331     $ 458  

Accrued legal and professional fees

    138       161  

Accrued payroll and related expenses

    38       58  

Accrued warranty

    4       20  

Other

    337       315  
    $ 848     $ 1,012  

 

 

As of January 31, 2015, approximately $0.3 million or 98 percent of total uninvoiced materials and services of $0.3 million, respectively, included in accrued liabilities, were due to Zheng Ge Electrical Co. Ltd. (“Zheng Ge”).

 

 

6.

Loan Agreement

 

Secured Loan Agreement with Elkhorn Partners.

 

On February 11, 2013, the Company and Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership (“Elkhorn”), entered into a Secured Loan Agreement (the “Elkhorn Loan Agreement”) and a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Elkhorn SPA”), and certain related agreements, which are described below (collectively, the “Elkhorn Agreements”). Pursuant to those Elkhorn Agreements, Elkhorn made a $1.5 million senior secured loan to the Company with a maturity date of November 30, 2014 (the “Elkhorn Loan”) and purchased a total of 6,250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a cash purchase price of $0.16 per share, generating an additional $1.0 million of cash for the Company. The average of the closing prices of the Company’s common stock in the over-the-counter market for the five trading days immediately preceding February 11, 2013 was $0.14 per share and, for the 29 trading days that began on January 2, 2013 and ended on February 8, 2013, was $0.158 per share. On February 11, 2013, the Company used approximately $2.1 million of the proceeds of $2.5 million from the Elkhorn Loan and the sale of the shares to Elkhorn to pay the entire principal amount of and all accrued interest on the Broadwood Loan (described below). On June 3, 2014, the Company repaid the Elkhorn Loan Agreement in full.

 

 
32

 

 

The Elkhorn Loan, which was evidenced by a promissory note issued by the Company to Elkhorn, bore interest at 7% for the first 12 months of the Elkhorn Loan, increasing to 8.5% thereafter and continuing until the Elkhorn Loan was paid in full.

 

The Elkhorn Loan Agreement provided that if and to the extent the Company did not pay the Elkhorn Loan in full by its Maturity Date, then Elkhorn would have had the right, at its option (but not the obligation), to convert the then unpaid balance of the Elkhorn Loan, in whole or in part, into shares of Company common stock at a conversion price of $0.25 per share. That conversion price was subject to possible adjustment on (i) certain sales of Company common stock at a price lower than $0.25 per share, (ii) stock splits of, stock dividends on and any reclassification of the Company’s outstanding shares, and (iii) certain mergers or reorganizations of the Company, as provided in Article III of the Elkhorn Loan Agreement. This conversion feature created a derivative liability that is described in Note 7.

 

Elkhorn Stock Purchase Agreement

 

Concurrently with the Company’s entry into the Elkhorn Loan Agreement, the Company and Elkhorn entered into the Elkhorn SPA Agreement. Pursuant to that Elkhorn SPA Agreement, the Company sold 6,250,000 shares of its common stock to Elkhorn at a price of $0.16 per share, resulting in an aggregate purchase price of $1.0 million.

 

Broadwood Term Loan Agreement, Stock Purchase Agreement and Stock Purchase Warrants

 

The Company entered into a Senior Secured Six Month Term Loan Agreement dated July 27, 2012 (the “Broadwood Loan Agreement”) with Broadwood, a partnership managed by Broadwood Capital, Inc., the general partner of Broadwood. Broadwood is a significant shareholder of the Company.

 

Pursuant to that Broadwood Loan Agreement, Broadwood made a $2,000,000 senior secured six month loan (the “Broadwood Loan”) to the Company and to CWT, as co-borrower. The Broadwood Loan bore interest at 5% per annum, ranked senior in right of payment to all other indebtedness of the Company and was due and payable in full on January 28, 2013.

  

Concurrently with the execution of the Broadwood Loan Agreement, the Company and Broadwood entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Broadwood SPA”). That agreement provided for the purchase by Broadwood of up to 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price of $1.00 per share, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the Broadwood SPA. As consideration for the Broadwood Loan and Broadwood’s entry into the Broadwood SPA, the Company concurrently issued stock purchase warrants to Broadwood (the “Broadwood Warrant”) entitling it to purchase up to a total of 1,704,546 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price of $1.00 per share, at any time through July 2020.

 

Also, the Company also entered into a Warrant Commitment Letter, which provided that if the Company raised less than $3.0 million from sales of equity securities to other investors during the six month term of the Broadwood Loan, then Broadwood would receive an additional warrant (the “Broadwood Additional Warrant”) entitling it to purchase, also at a price of $1.00 per share, an amount of shares of the Company’s common stock to be determined based on a formula in the Warrant Commitment Letter, with such amount not to exceed 1,000,000 additional shares. The exercise price of the Broadwood Warrant and Broadwood Additional Warrant was subject to adjustment if the Company completed subsequent financings at a price less than the exercise price of the Broadwood warrants.

 

In early 2013, a dispute arose between the Company and Broadwood concerning Broadwood’s obligations under the Broadwood SPA and the Company’s obligations under the Broadwood Warrant and the Warrant Commitment Letter. On August 13, 2014, the Company and Broadwood entered into an Amendment and Release Agreement that resolved these disputes. Pursuant to the Amendment and Release Agreement, the Company issued Broadwood a new stock purchase warrant (“New Warrant”) entitling it to purchase up to a total of 2,350,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price of $0.16 per share, in exchange for cancellation of the Broadwood Warrant and any obligation of the Company to issue the Broadwood Additional Warrant. The New Warrant expires on July 27, 2020. In addition, the Company and Broadwood released each other from any and all claims concerning the Broadwood Loan Agreement, Broadwood SPA and related matters. The derivative liability associated with the Broadwood Warrant was reversed on the cancellation date. The New Warrant qualified for classification as equity and was added to additional paid-in capital.

 

 
33

 

 

7.

Fair Value Measurements

 

We follow FASB ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures" (“ASC 820”), in connection with assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis subsequent to initial recognition. The guidance applies to our derivative liabilities. We had no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis for any period reported.

 

ASC 820 requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories. We measure the fair value of applicable financial and non-financial assets based on the following fair value hierarchy:

 

Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2: Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

 

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

 

The hierarchy noted above requires us to minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to use observable market data, if available, when determining fair value.

 

The fair value of our recorded derivative liabilities is determined based on unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data, which is a Level 3 classification. We record derivative liabilities on our balance sheet at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in our consolidated statements of operations.

 

The table below sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of our Level 3 financial instruments for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015 (in thousands):

 

                   

Change in estimated

         
           

Change in

   

fair value recognized

         
   

February 1,

   

Derivative

   

in results of

   

January 31,

 

Description

 

2014

   

Liabilities

   

operations

   

2015

 
                                 

Broadwood warrants

  $ 2,426     $ (2,294 )   $ (132 )   $ -  

Elkhorn conversion features

    94       -       (94 )     -  
    $ 2,520     $ (2,294 )   $ (226 )   $ -  

 

 On August 13, 2014, the Company entered into an Amendment and Release Agreement that canceled of the Broadwood Warrants (see Note 6 above). The derivative liability associated with the Broadwood Warrant was reversed on the cancellation date. The replacement warrants qualified for classification as equity and added to additional paid – in capital.

 

On June 3, 2014, the Company repaid the Elkhorn Loan in full and as a result, the discount to the loan payable and related derivative liability were extinguished and charged to earnings.

 

 

8.

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense on a consolidated basis consists of the following amounts (in thousands):

 

   

Years Ended January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 

Federal:

               

Current

  $     $  

Deferred

           

State:

               

Current

    42       2  

Deferred

           

Foreign:

               

Current

           
    $ 42     $ 2  

  

 
34

 

 

The effective income tax rate on loss from continuing operations differs from the United States statutory income tax rates for the reasons set forth in the table below (in thousands, except percentages).

 

   

Years Ended January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 
   

Amount

   

Percent Pretax Income

   

Amount

   

Percent Pretax Income

 

Income/(Loss) from operations before income taxes

  $ 6,082       100

%

  $ (2,056

)

    100

%

                                 

Computed “expected” income tax benefit on loss from operations before income taxes

  $ 2,068       34

%

  $ (699

)

    (34

)%

State tax, net of federal benefit

    387       6

%

    2       0

%

Tax credits

          0

%

          0

%

Change in valuation allowance

    (569

)

    (9

)%

    (1,074

)

    (52

)%

Permanent differences

    118       2

%

    (93

)

    (5

)%

Return to provision adjustments

          0

%

          0

%

Change in state tax rate

    (1,978

)

    (33

)%

    1,866       91

%

Other, net

    16       0

%

          0  

Income tax expense

  $ 42       1

%

  $ 2        

 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities at January 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in thousands):

 

   

January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 

Deferred tax assets:

               

Property and equipment, principally due to differing depreciation methods

    161       134  

Accruals and reserves

    206       124  

Net research and manufacturer investment credit carryforwards

    2,325       2,308  

Net operating losses

    13,151       13,904  

AMT credit carryforwards

    136       110  

Stock based compensation

    127       93  

Other

          2  

Total gross deferred tax assets

    16,106       16,675  

Less: valuation allowance

    (16,106

)

    (16,675

)

Net deferred tax assets

  $     $  

 

We have federal and state research and experimentation credit carryforwards of $1.7 million and $2.1 million, respectively, which expire through 2032. We have a net operating loss carryforward of $34.0 million for federal and $27.0 million for state, which expire in increments through 2033.

  

In assessing the probability that deferred tax assets will benefit future periods, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income. There was a full valuation allowance for deferred tax assets as of January 31, 2014, a decrease of $0.6 million during the fiscal year, based on management’s overall assessment of risks and uncertainties related to our future ability to realize, and hence utilize, the deferred tax assets.

 

A reconciliation of the beginning balance of our unrecognized tax benefits and the ending amount of unrecognized tax benefit is as follows (in thousands):

  

   

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

 

Balance at February 1, 2014

  $ 777  

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

     

Reductions due to lapses of statute of limitations

     

Tax positions of prior years

     

Balance at January 31, 2015

  $ 777  

 

The unrecognized tax benefits recorded above, if reversed, would not impact our effective tax rate since we maintain a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset. We recognize interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits in the income tax expense line item of the consolidated statement of operations.

  

 
35

 

 

We and our subsidiary, CWT, file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and in certain state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal examinations or state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2010 in those jurisdictions where returns have been filed.

 

 

9.

Stock Compensation

  

We have stock-based compensation plans under which outside directors, consultants, and employees are eligible to receive stock options and other equity-based awards. The stock option plans and a director stock option plan provide that officers, key employees, directors and consultants may be granted options to purchase up to 2,675,000 shares of our common stock at not less than 100 percent of the fair market value at the date of grant, unless the grantee is a 10 percent shareholder, in which case the price must not be less than 110 percent of the fair market value.

 

The Company’s former employee stock option plan (the “Prior Employee Plan”) expired during May 2005. As a result, no new options could be granted under the plan thereafter. This plan provided for the issuance of up to 825,000 shares of common stock. As of January 31, 2013, the Prior Employee Plan had 25,000 stock options outstanding. During December 2005, the Board of Directors approved and adopted the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”) covering 450,000 shares of common stock. The 2005 Plan was approved by the Company’s shareholders at its annual shareholders’ meeting in June 2006, and subsequently amended at its annual shareholders’ meeting in June 2008 to increase the number of shares issuable under the plan from 450,000 to 1,100,000 shares. In July 2011, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2011” Plan) covering 750,000 shares of common stock, as well as the shares that remained available for issuance under the 2005 Plan plus shares that were the subject of outstanding awards under the 2005 Plan, which again become available for grant under that plan. Thus, the 2011 Plan combines the 2011 Plan and the 2005 Plan. Under the 2011 Plan, we may grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance based awards to employees, consultants and directors. In addition, under the 2011 Plan, awards vest or become exercisable in installments determined by the compensation committee of our Board of Directors. The options granted under Prior Employee Plan expire as determined by the committee, but no later than ten years and one week after the date of grant (five years for 10 percent shareholders). The options granted under the 2011 and 2005 Plan expire as determined by the committee, but no later than ten years after the date of grant (five years for 10 percent shareholders).

 

During fiscal 2015, no restricted stock shares or stock options were granted. During fiscal 2014, 420,000 restricted stock shares were granted and no stock options were granted. The fair value of the restricted stock shares granted during fiscal 2014 was estimated using the stock price on the date of the grant of $0.18 and a forfeiture rate of 8.2 percent. During fiscal 2013, 300,000 restricted stock units were granted and 465,000 stock options were granted. The fair value of the restricted stock units granted during fiscal 2012 was estimated using the stock price on the date of the grant of $0.16 and a forfeiture rate of 10.63 percent.

 

The fair value of stock options is determined using a Lattice Binomial model for options with performance-based vesting tied to our stock price and the Black-Scholes valuation model for options with ratable term vesting. Both the Lattice Binomial and Black-Scholes valuation model require the input of subjective assumptions including estimating the length of time employees will retain their vested stock options before exercising them (the “expected term”), the estimated volatility of the common stock price over the expected term, and the number of options that will ultimately not complete their vesting requirements (“forfeitures”). Changes in these subjective assumptions can materially affect the estimate of fair value of stock-based compensation and, consequently, the related amount recognized as an expense on the consolidated statements of operations. We review our valuation assumptions at each grant date and, as a result, are likely to change our valuation assumptions used to value stock-based awards granted in future periods. The values derived from using either the Lattice Binomial or Black-Scholes model are recognized as expense over the vesting period, net of estimated forfeitures. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires significant judgment. Actual results, and future changes in estimates, may materially differ from our current estimates.

  

The stock-based compensation expense recognized under ASC Topic 718 is summarized in the table below (in thousands except per share amounts):

 

   

Years Ended

 
   

January 31,

 
   

2015

   

2014

 

Stock-based compensation expense

  $ 48     $ 77  

Impact on basic and diluted earnings per share

  $ (0.00 )   $ (0.01 )

 

 

The total compensation cost related to non-vested awards not yet recognized is approximately $7,800, which will be expensed over a weighted average remaining life of 2 months.

  

 
36

 

 

Transactions and other information related to restricted stock granted under these plans for the year ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 are summarized below:

 

   

Outstanding Restricted Stock

 
           

Weighted-Ave.

 
   

Number of

   

Exercise

 
   

Shares

   

Price

 

Balance, January 31, 2013

    -     $ -  

Restricted stock granted

    420,000       0.18  

Restricted stock forfeited

    -       -  

Balance, January 31, 2014

    420,000     $ 0.18  

Restricted stock granted

    -       -  

Restricted stock forfeited

    (70,000 )     0.18  

Balance, January 31, 2015

    350,000     $ 0.18  

 

At January 31, 2015 and 2014, the stock awards outstanding had no intrinsic value based upon closing market price of $0.14 and $0.17 per share, respectively.
 

The following table summarizes information about stock awards outstanding at January 31, 2015:

 

         

Awards Outstanding

   

Options Exercisable

 
                 

Weighted-Ave.

                         
 

Range of

   

Number

   

Remaining

   

Weighted-Ave.

   

Number

   

Weighted-Ave.

 
 

Exercise/Grant Prices

   

Outstanding

   

Contractual Life

   

Exercise/Grant Price

   

Exercisable

   

Exercise Price

 
  $ 0.40       465,000       7.70     $ 0.40       465,000     $ 0.40  
  $ 1.09       100,000       3.78       1.09       60,000       1.09  
  $ 4.90       15,000       3.08       4.90       15,000       4.90  
  $ 10.43       20,000       1.38       10.43       20,000       10.43  
            600,000               0.96       560,000       0.95  

 

 

Transactions and other information related to stock options granted under these plans for the years ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 are summarized below:

 

   

Outstanding Options

 
           

Weighted-Ave.

 
   

Number of

   

Exercise

 
   

Shares

   

Price

 

Balance, January 31, 2013

    764,500     $ 1.48  

Options granted

    -       -  

Options canceled or expired

    (126,000 )     2.77  

Options exercise

    -       -  

Balance, January 31, 2014

    638,500     $ 1.22  

Options granted

    -       -  

Options canceled or expired

    (38,500 )     5.32  

Options exercise

    -       -  

Balance, January 31, 2015

    600,000     $ 0.96  

Stock Options Exercisable at January 31, 2015

    560,000     $ 0.95  

 

There were 560,000 stock options exercisable at January 31, 2015 at a weighted-average exercise price of $0.95. Shares available under the plans for future grants at January 31, 2015 were 229,724 of which 194,500 represent shares that previously were expired, terminated or cancelled and have been added back to the plan and are available for future grants.

  

 
37

 

 

10.

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

 

We calculate basic income (loss) per share by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted income (loss) per share reflects the effects of potentially dilutive securities. Because we incurred net losses for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2014, basic and diluted loss per share were the same because the inclusion of 108,000, as of January 31, 2014, potential common shares related to outstanding stock awards in the calculation would have been antidilutive. The summary of the basic and diluted earnings per share computations is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

 

   

Year Ended

 
   

2015

   

2014

 
                 

Net income (loss)

  $ 6,040     $ (2,058 )

Basic net income (loss) per share:

               

Weighted-average shares outstanding-Basic

    14,684       14,397  

Basic net income (loss) per share

  $ 0.41     $ (0.14 )

Diluted net inome (loss) per share:

               

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic

    14,684       14,397  

Effect of potentially dilutive securities

    179       -  

Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted

    14,863       14,397  

Diluted net income (loss) per share

  $ 0.41     $ (0.14 )

 

 

11.

Employee Benefit Plans

 

We have a Savings and Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) that provides benefits to eligible employees. Under the Plan, as amended and restated effective February 1, 2012, employees are eligible to participate on the first of the month following 30 days of employment, provided they are at least 18 years of age, by contributing between 1 percent and 20 percent of pre-tax earnings. Company contributions match employee contributions at levels as specified in the Plan document. In addition, we may contribute a portion of our net profits as determined by our Board of Directors. Participants are vested immediately in their voluntary contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Company contributions plus actual earnings thereon generally vest ratably over a four year period. Company contributions, which consist of matching contributions, with respect to the Plan for the years ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 were approximately $0 and $21,000, respectively.

 

We have obligations to match employee contributions made to the Plan. Generally, our obligation is equal to 100 percent of up to 5 percent of employees’ contribution amounts. If we are unable to meet the requisite matching, the Plan may need to be amended.

 

12.

Commitments and Contingencies

 

Rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases, principally on our office space, were $0.4 million at January 31, 2015, payable as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Operating Leases

 

Fiscal Year:

       

2016

  $ 256  

2017

    152  

Total minimum lease payments

  $ 408  

 

Rental expense for the years ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 was approximately $0.3 million.

 

Executive Severance Commitments

 

We have a severance compensation agreement with our Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Lanni. This agreement requires us to pay Mr. Lanni, in the event of a termination of employment following a change of control of the Company or other circumstances, the amount of his then current annual base salary and the amount of any bonus amount the executive would have achieved for the year in which the termination occurs plus the acceleration of unvested options. We have not recorded any liability in the consolidated financial statements for this agreement.

 

Additionally, as a result of the Company’s sale of the 6,250,000 shares of common stock to Elkhorn (see Note 6), Elkhorn’s beneficial ownership of the Company has increased from approximately 9% to approximately 49% of the Company’s outstanding voting stock, making Elkhorn the Company’s largest shareholder and resulting in a change of control of more than 25%, as defined for purposes of the severance compensation agreement. Mr. Lanni has waived his right to receive payments under this agreement as a result of the change in Elkhorn’s beneficial ownership of the Company.

 

 
38

 

 

Executive and Board of Directors Compensation

 

On November 2, 2013, the Company approved a deferred compensation plan for its Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors. As of January 31, 2015 and 2014, no compensation expense has been accrued under this deferred compensation plan as its goal was not achieved.

 

Legal Contingencies

 

On February 13, 2015, we filed a lawsuit against Best Buy Co., Inc. (“Best Buy”) for patent infringement under the patent laws of the United States. The complaint alleges that certain Best Buy power charging products sold in the United States under the Rocketfish brand infringe the Company’s patented intellectual property. This lawsuit is part of the Company’s ongoing and accelerated efforts to methodically pursue those companies that the Company believes have infringed on the intellectual property estate that the Company has developed over the last 20 years.

 

On February 3, 2015, we filed a lawsuit against Apple, Inc. (“Apple”) for patent infringement. The complaint alleges that Apple products sold in the United States utilizing the Apple Lightning® power supply adapter system, including most iPad®, iPhone®, and iPod® products, infringe the Company’s patented intellectual property. This lawsuit represents Comarco’s most significant enforcement effort to date, and demonstrates the Company’s ongoing and accelerated efforts to methodically pursue those companies that the Company believes have infringed on the intellectual property estate that the Company has developed over the last 20 years.

 

On March 10, 2014, we filed a lawsuit against Targus Group International, Inc. for patent infringement, breach of contract, intentional interference with contract, violation of business and professional codes, misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment. Targus sought reexamination the patents at issue. The Federal Action was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice to re-filing the federal claims.  A state court action for Breach of Contract, Fraudulent Concealment, Unfair Competition and Accounting was then filed in the Orange County Superior Court on June 5, 2014.  On December 4, 2014, the Court ordered the State Court Action into Arbitration and the arbitration hearing is set for December 2015. We are seeking damages of at least $17 million. Although we intend to vigorously pursue our rights in this case, the outcome of this matter is not determinable as of the date of this report.

 

In addition to the pending matters described above, we are, from time to time, involved in various legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of our business. We are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these matters.

 

13.

Legal

 

On April 26, 2011, Chicony, the contract manufacturer of the Bronx product that was the subject of a product recall, filed a complaint against us for breach of contract, seeking payment of $1.2 million for the alleged non-payment by us of amounts alleged by Chicony to be due it for products purchased from it by the Company. We denied liability and filed a cross-complaint on May 13, 2011 seeking the recovery of damages of $4.9 million caused by Chicony's failure to adhere to our technical specifications when manufacturing the Bronx product, which we believe resulted in the recall of the product. On April 16, 2013, the court approved our first-amended cross-complaint, which added intentional interference to our complaint and increased the damages we were seeking to at least $15.0 million. The trial date was held in October, 2013. In an effort to resolve this litigation before the previous trial date of April, 2013, we sent Chicony a settlement offer, which has since lapsed. On February 4, 2014, a jury returned a verdict in our favor and awarded us damages of approximately $10.8 million, offset by previously accrued liabilities of $1.1 million for a net award of approximately $9.7 million. Effective as of May 15, 2014, Chicony entered into a settlement agreement with us that dismissed all claims between the parties arising from the litigation referenced above. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, Chicony agreed to pay us $7.6 million in lieu of the jury’s net award of $9.7 million or any other related costs or fees. $4.0 million of the settlement amount was paid to us on May 16, 2014, with the balance of $3.6 million paid to us on May 30, 2014. We recorded a gain of $7.6 million associated with this settlement in the quarter ended July 31, 2014. As a result of the settlement agreement, the $1.1 million payable to Chicony for contract manufacturing costs has been legally dismissed and discharged and recorded as an offset to Cost of Revenues in the quarter ended July 31, 2014.

 

Further pursuant to the settlement agreement, each party released the other and its affiliates from any and all claims related to the subject matter of the litigation and we covenanted not to sue Chicony on the next 500,000 power adapters sold by Chicony after May 15, 2014 that we allege infringe on our intellectual property rights. The settlement agreement also contains other representations, warranties and covenants of both parties that are customary for an agreement of this type.

 

On September 1, 2011, subsequent to receiving an infringement notification from us, ACCO Brands USA LLC and its Kensington Computer Products Group division (collectively “Kensington”) filed a lawsuit against us alleging that five of our patents relating to power technology are invalid and/or not infringed by products made and/or sold by Kensington. On February 29, 2012, we denied these claims and filed a cross-complaint alleging infringement by Kensington of each of these five patents. A number of these patents are currently the subject of re-examination proceedings initiated by Kensington or other third parties. On February 4, 2014, Kensington entered into a settlement and licensing agreement with the Company with an effective date of February 1, 2014 that dismissed all claims between the two parties arising from the litigation referenced above.

 

 
39

 

 

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the periodic reports that we file or submit with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as such term is defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon this evaluation, our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as more fully explained below, have concluded that, as of January 31, 2015, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, and effected by the Company’s Board of Directors, management, and other personnel. These internal controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the reported financial information is presented fairly and in accordance with GAAP, that disclosures are adequate, and that the judgments inherent in the preparation of financial statements are reasonable. There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any system of internal control, including the possibility of human error and overriding of controls. Consequently, an effective internal control system can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance with respect to reporting financial information. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

 

Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework and criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was ineffective as of January 31, 2015. Our management’s finding of ineffective internal control over financial reporting results primarily from a lack of sufficient accounting and information technology staff which results in a lack of segregation of duties necessary for an appropriate system of internal controls. While the lack of effective internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015 did not result in any particular deficiency in our financial reporting for the fiscal year, management believes that the lack of effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting could result in a failure to provide reliable financial reporting in the future. In order to remedy our existing internal control deficiency, we will need raise additional capital or improve our working capital position to allow us to hire additional staff.

 

Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to either error or fraud will not occur at all or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks.

  

 
40

 

 

Because we are a smaller reporting company, the rules and regulations of the SEC do not require that we include a report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding our internal control over financial reporting.

  

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement, which will be filed within 120 days of January 31, 2015, and delivered to shareholders in connection with our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement, which will be filed within 120 days of January 31, 2015, and delivered to shareholders in connection with our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

ITEM 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement, which will be filed within 120 days of January 31, 2015, and delivered to shareholders in connection with our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

ITEM 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement, which will be filed within 120 days of January 31, 2015, and delivered to shareholders in connection with our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

 

The other information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to our definitive Proxy Statement, which will be filed within 120 days of January 31, 2015, and delivered to shareholders in connection with our 2015 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

 
41

 

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)

1.

Financial Statements (See Item 8 of this report)

 

 

 

 

2.

Financial Statement Schedule:

 

The following additional information for the years ended January 31, 2015 and 2014 is submitted herewith:

 

II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

 

All other schedules are omitted because the required information is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule or because the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.

 

 

3.

Exhibits

 

Articles of Incorporation; Bylaws

 

 

3.1

Restated Articles of Incorporation. The Restated Articles of Incorporation are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 12, 2000.

 

 

3.2

Amended and Restated By-Laws. The Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended through July 28, 2012, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.02 to the Company’s report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 14, 2012.

 

 

3.3

Certificate of Determination of Series A Participating Preferred Stock. The Certificate of Determination is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form 8-A (Filing No. 000-05449) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 2003.

 

Material Contracts

 

 

10.1

1995 Employee Stock Option Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 33-63219) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 5, 1995. *

 

 

10.2

2005 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 33-156518) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 31, 2008. *

 

 

10.3

2011 Equity Incentive Plan is incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 31, 2011. *

 

 

10.4

Amended and Restated Severance Agreement, dated June 11, 2007, between the Company and Thomas W. Lanni is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 15, 2007. *

 

 

10.5

Severance Compensation Agreement, dated August 28, 2007, between the Company and Alisha Charlton is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2008. *

 

  

 

10.6

Severance Compensation Agreement, dated June 23, 2010, between the Company and Donald McKeefery is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 14, 2012. *

 

 

10.7

Loan Agreement, dated July 27, 2012, by and among Comarco, Inc., Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc., and Broadwood Partners LP, together with copies of the Guarantee, the Pledge Agreement, each of the Security Agreements, and form of Promissory Note issued by the Company to evidence the Loan, attached as Exhibits B, C, D-1 and D-2 and F, respectively to the Loan Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2012.

 

 

10.8

Stock Purchase Agreement, dated July 27, 2012 by and among Comarco, Inc., Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc., and Broadwood Partners LP is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2013.

 

 

10.9

Form of the Common Stock Purchase Warrants issued by the Company to Broadwood on July 27, 2012 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2013.

  

 
42

 

 

 

10.10

Warrant Commitment Letter dated July 27, 2012, which provides for the possible issuance by the Company of the Additional Warrant to Broadwood is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2013.

 

 

10.11

Loan Agreement, dated February 12, 2013, by and among Comarco, Inc., Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc., and Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership together with copies of the Promissory Note, the Security Agreement and the Pledge Agreement attached as Exhibits A, B and C, respectively to the Loan Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2013.

 

 

10.12

Stock Purchase Agreement, dated February 11, 2013, by and among Comarco, Inc., Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc., and Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2013.

 

 

 

 

10.13

Mutual Release of All Claims executed between Comarco, Inc. and Hartford Casualty Insurance Company and Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest on August 26, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10 Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 13, 2013.**

     
  10.14 Settlement Agreement and Release, effective May 15, 2014, between Comarco, Inc. and Chicony Power Technology, Co. Ltd. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 19, 2014.
     
  10.15 Amendment and Release Agreement, dated August 13, 2014, by and among Broadwood Partners, L.P., Comarco, Inc. and Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 2014.
     
  10.16 Amended and Restated Common Stock Purchase Warrant, dated August 13, 2014, issued by Comarco, Inc. to Broadwood Partners, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 2014.

 

Other Exhibits

 

 

21.1

Subsidiaries of the Company†

 

 

 

 

23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – SQUAR, MILNER, PETERSON, MIRANDA &WILLIAMSON, LLP†

 

 

 

 

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002†

 

 

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002†

 

 

32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002+†

 

 

32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002+†

 

 

 

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document Ω

 

 

 

 

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document Ω

 

 

 

 

101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document Ω

 

 

 

 

101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Ω

 

 

 

 

101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document Ω

 

 

 

 

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document Ω

 


Filed herewith.

+

Furnished herewith.

*

These exhibits are identified as management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements of the registrant pursuant to Item 15 of Form 10-K.

**

Portions of this exhibit indicated in the body of the exhibit by “####” have been omitted pursuant to the Company’s request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the omitted material has been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Ω

Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulations S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of registration statement prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

 

 
43

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on April 30, 2015.

 

 

COMARCO, INC.

 

 

 

/s/ THOMAS W. LANNI

 

Thomas W. Lanni
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

We, the undersigned directors and officers of Comarco, Inc., do hereby constitute and appoint Thomas Lanni, as our true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with power of substitution, to do any and all acts and things in our name and behalf in our capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which such attorney-in-fact and agent may deem necessary or advisable to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including specifically but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments hereto; and we do hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

Title

Date

  

  

  

/s/ THOMAS W. LANNI

President and Chief Executive Officer

April 30, 2015

Thomas W. Lanni

(Principal Executive Officer), Director

 

  

  

  

/s/ Janet N. Gutkin

Chief Accounting Officer

April 30, 2015

Janet N. Gutkin

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

  

  

/s/ LOUIS E. SILVERMAN

Chairman of the Board,

April 30, 2015

Louis E. Silverman

Director

 

  

  

  

/s/ PAUL BOROWIEC

Director

April 30, 2015

Paul Borowiec

 

 

  

  

  

/s/ WAYNE CADWALLADER

Director

April 30, 2015

Wayne Cadwallader

 

 

  

  

  

/s/ RICHARD T. LEBUHN

Director

April 30, 2015

Richard T. LeBuhn

 

 

  

  

  

/s/ MICHAEL R. LEVIN

Director

April 30, 2015

Michael R. Levin

 

 

 

 
44

 

 

COMARCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

Years Ended January 31, 2015 and 2014

(In thousands)

 

   

Balance at Beginning of Year

   

Charged to Cost and Expense (Recovery)

   

Deductions

   

Other Changes Add (Deduct)

   

Balance at
End of Year

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts and provision for unbilled receivables (deducted from accounts receivable):

                                       

Year ended January 31, 2015

  $ 40     $     $     $ (40

)

  $  

Year ended January 31, 2014

  $ 24     $ 16     $     $     $ 40  

Allowance for deferred tax assets:

                                       

Year ended January 31, 2015

  $ 16,675     $     $     $ (569

)

  $ 16,106  

Year ended January 31, 2014

  $ 17,749     $     $     $ (1,074

)

  $ 16,675  

Reserve for obsolete inventory:

                                       

Year ended January 31, 2015

  $     $     $     $     $  

Year ended January 31, 2014

  $ 631     $     $     $ (631

)

  $  

 

 
45

 

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Description

 

3.1

Restated Articles of Incorporation. The Restated Articles of Incorporation are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 12, 2000.

 

3.2

Amended and Restated By-Laws. The Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended through July 28, 2012, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.02 to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 14, 2012.

 

3.3

Certificate of Determination of Series A Participating Preferred Stock. The Certificate of Determination is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form 8-A (Filing No. 000-05449) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 2003.

 

10.1

1995 Employee Stock Option Plan is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 33-63219) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 5, 1995. *

 

10.2

2005 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 33-156518) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 31, 2008. *

 

10.3

2011 Equity Incentive Plan is incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 31, 2011. *

 

10.4

Amended and Restated Severance Agreement, dated June 11, 2007, between the Company and Thomas W. Lanni is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 15, 2007. *

 

10.5

Severance Compensation Agreement, dated August 28, 2007, between the Company and Alisha Charlton is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2008. *

 

10.6

Severance Compensation Agreement, dated June 23, 2010, between the Company and Donald McKeefery is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 14, 2012. *

 

10.7

Loan Agreement, dated July 27, 2012, by and among Comarco, Inc., Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc., and Broadwood Partners LP, together with copies of the Guarantee, the Pledge Agreement, each of the Security Agreements, and form of Promissory Note issued by the Company to evidence the Loan, attached as Exhibits B, C, D-1 and D-2 and F, respectively to the Loan Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2012.

 

10.8

Stock Purchase Agreement, dated July 27, 2012 by and among Comarco, Inc., Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc., and Broadwood Partners LP is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2013.

 

10.9

Form of the Common Stock Purchase Warrants issued by the Company to Broadwood on July 27, 2012 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2013.

 

 
46

 

 

10.10

Warrant Commitment Letter dated July 27, 2012, which provides for the possible issuance by the Company of the Additional Warrant to Broadwood is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2013.

 

10.11

Loan Agreement, dated February 12, 2013, by and among Comarco, Inc., Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc., and Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership together with copies of the Promissory Note, the Security Agreement and the Pledge Agreement attached as Exhibits A, B and C, respectively to the Loan Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2013.

 

10.12

Stock Purchase Agreement, dated February 11, 2013, by and among Comarco, Inc., Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc., and Elkhorn Partners Limited Partnership is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2013.

 

 

10.13

Mutual Release of All Claims executed between Comarco, Inc. and Hartford Casualty Insurance Company and Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest on August 26, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10 Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 13, 2013.**

 

10.14

Settlement Agreement and Release, effective May 15, 2014, between Comarco, Inc. and Chicony Power Technology, Co. Ltd. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 19, 2014.

 

 

10.15

Amendment and Release Agreement, dated August 13, 2014, by and among Broadwood Partners, L.P., Comarco, Inc. and Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 2014.

 

 

10.16

Amended and Restated Common Stock Purchase Warrant, dated August 13, 2014, issued by Comarco, Inc. to Broadwood Partners, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 19, 2014.

 

 

21.1

Subsidiaries of the Company†

 

23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – SQUAR, MILNER, PETERSON, MIRANDA &WILLIAMSON, LLP†     

 

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002†

 

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002†

 

32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002+†

 

32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002+†

 

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document Ω

 

 

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document Ω

 

 

101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document Ω

 

 

101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Ω

 

 

101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document Ω

 

 

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document Ω

 

Filed herewith.

+

Furnished herewith.

*

These exhibits are identified as management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements of the Registrant pursuant to Item 15 of Form 10-K.

**

Portions of this exhibit indicated in the body of the exhibit by “####” have been omitted pursuant to the Company’s request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the omitted material has been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange

Ω

Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulations S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of registration statement prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

 

 

47