Item 1. Business
Overview
We are a provider of wireless broadband access solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Our broad range of products principally includes intelligent mobile hotspots, USB modems, embedded PCI and wireless PC-card modems, and communications and applications software. In addition, through our acquisition of Enfora, Inc. (“Enfora”) on November 30, 2010, our product portfolio was expanded to include asset-management solutions utilizing wireless technology and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications devices.
Our products operate on a majority of the world’s wireless networks. Our mobile hotspots and modems provide subscribers with secure and convenient high speed access to corporate, public and personal information through the Internet and enterprise networks. Our M2M products enable devices to communicate with each other and with server-based application infrastructure.
Our mobile-hotspot and modem customer base is comprised of wireless operators, including AT&T, Bell Mobility, Sprint, Telefonica, Verizon Wireless, Virgin Mobile, and Vodafone; laptop PC and other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Dell; as well as distributors and various companies in other vertical markets. Our M2M customer base is comprised of transportation companies, industrial companies, manufacturers of medical devices and geographical-location devices and providers of security systems. We have strategic relationships with several of these customers for technology development and marketing.
For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, net revenues recognized from sales of our products were $338.9 million, $337.4 million, and $321.0 million, respectively.
We were incorporated in 1996 under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Our Strategy
Our objective is to be a leading provider of wireless broadband access and M2M communications solutions. The key elements of our strategy are to:
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Broaden Our Product Offerings. We intend to diversify and continue to broaden our product lines in the following areas: intelligent mobile hotspots, communications and applications software, USB modems, embedded modules, asset-management solutions, and M2M communications devices.
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Expand Our Third Generation (3G) and Fourth Generation (4G) Wireless Product Offerings Worldwide. We intend to continue expanding our portfolio of wireless products with leading wireless operators and OEMs worldwide. Our products operate on every major wireless technology, including 3G networks: EV-DO, HSDPA and HSUPA; and 4G networks: LTE, dual carrier HSPA+, and WiMAX.
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Lead the Intelligent Mobile Hotspot Product Category. We developed the MiFi® Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, a new category in wireless mobile data devices. In May 2009, the first nationwide commercial deployment of MiFi hotspots was launched by Verizon Wireless. Since that time, approximately 20 additional operators around the world have commercially launched MiFi for both 3G and 4G technologies. We have multiple next-generation versions of MiFi hotspots currently in development and we plan to continue to lead the market with innovative MiFi products and software applications.
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Capitalize on Our Direct Relationships with Wireless Operators. We intend to continue to capitalize on our direct relationships with wireless operators in order to increase our worldwide market position. In the United States and internationally, we are working closely with wireless operators to introduce new products that will optimize their high-speed 4G wireless data networks. We are also working with wireless operators to expand the opportunities for M2M communications solutions.
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Leverage Strategic Relationships. We believe that strategic relationships with wireless carriers and enterprises that utilize mobile computing technology are critical to our ability to leverage sales opportunities and ensure that our technology investments address customer needs. Through strategic relationships, we believe that we can increase market penetration and differentiate our products by leveraging resources, including sales, marketing, and distribution systems. We also intend to address new market opportunities through innovation with our strategic partners.
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Continue to Target Key Vertical Market Opportunities and Penetrate New Markets. We believe that continuing developments in wireless technologies will create additional vertical market opportunities and more applications for our products. Currently, we market our wireless access and M2M solutions to key vertical industry segments by offering innovative products that are intended to increase productivity, reduce costs and create operational efficiencies.
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Increase the Value of Our Products. We will continue to add new features, functionality and intellectual property to our products and develop new services and software applications to enhance the overall value and ease of use that our products provide to our customers and end users.
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Acquire Companies that Accelerate the Growth of Our Business. We will continue to seek strategic acquisitions of companies in closely aligned businesses and technologies that will provide synergistic growth in revenue and profitability.
Our Segments
We operate in the wireless broadband technology industry in the following reportable segments:
(a) Mobile Computing Products-includes our MiFi products, USB and PC-card modems and embedded modules that enable data transmission ad services via cellular wireless networks.
(b) M2M Products and Solutions-includes our intelligent asset-management solutions utilizing wireless technology and M2M communications acquired with our acquisition of Enfora (Note 2).
For additional information our segments, see Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements.
Mobile Computing Products
We have a growing portfolio of leading-edge technology solutions that enable data transmission and services via cellular wireless networks. In 2010, our hotspots and modems operated primarily on third-generation (3G) wireless technology. In 2011, we plan to upgrade our entire line of hotspots and modems to fourth-generation (4G) air interfaces, including dual-carrier HSPA+, LTE and WiMax.
Below are major Mobile Computing product lines:
MiFi® Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is our flagship product. Introduced in 2009, it has quickly become a leading brand in mobile communications. MiFi hotspots are gaining acceptance as the best connectivity option for Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as the iPad, Kindle, tablets, PCs, MP3 players, and gaming devices. MiFi hotspots function by connecting to a cellular-telephone network and creating a secure Wi-Fi signal that can connect to as many as five devices simultaneously. We have sold approximately 2 million MiFi devices since launching this product family. MiFi hotspots accounted for 49%, 24%, and 0% of revenue in 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.
Our strategy for the MiFi platform is to add additional features beyond basic connectivity. In 2010 we introduced the MiFi OS, with on-board application processing and storage that has the capability to run software applications. We are optimistic that the MiFi OS will become a platform for a wide range of applications that will interface with the rapidly growing number of Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
Core Products, including USB and PC-Card Modems, continue to be widely-used devices to access wireless broadband networks. Like cell phones, they connect to the cellular network. We introduced both of these connectivity devices in North America, and continue to provide the most advanced wireless access in the industry. USB and PC-Card Modems accounted for 46%, 50%, and 73% of revenue in 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.
Embedded Modules are utilized in a wide range of computing devices, such as laptop PCs, netbooks and various other electronic products to provide wireless broadband access. Embedded modules accounted for 3%, 26%, and 27% of revenue in 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.
Embedded modules are expected to be a significant growth area for Novatel Wireless in 2011. A surge of new electronic devices, combined with the upgrade of wireless broadband networks to high-speed 4G technology, is providing us with new opportunities to provide embedded modules to OEMs. We are aggressively pursuing these opportunities, and have achieved design wins with a number of major manufacturers.
Our MobiLink mobile communications software suite, which resides on the mobile subscriber’s computing device, is an object-oriented application that enables a user to gain quick and simple access to advanced connectivity features such as SMS, multimedia messaging and virtual private networking. MobiLink also offers video telephony and wireless local area networks, or WLAN management capabilities. The MobiLink graphical user interface and underlying functionality are designed to be modular, easily configurable and expandable in order to enable our customers to differentiate their product offerings. MobiLink is engineered to work with all our wireless modems.
M2M Products and Solutions
Enfora was acquired on November 30, 2010, and therefore contributed to our 2010 revenue only during the month of December. This accounted for 2% of 2010 consolidated revenue. Our M2M products and wireless intelligent asset-management solutions acquired with Enfora operate primarily on second-generation wireless technology. We plan to upgrade these products to 3G and 4G technologies in cases where the improved performance provides a competitive advantage. Enfora’s product lines consist of the following:
Spider® MT, SA & AT Integrated Solutions & Accessories bring together essential elements for monitoring and managing mobile and fixed assets, vehicle tracking and telemetric, along with workforce tracking and management. These solutions are based on the N4A distributed intelligent architecture, which revolutionizes the way enterprise clients manage their assets through a robust series of software management tools. We add value by developing solutions to meet the needs of specific customers with a particular emphasis on select vertical markets including; transportation & logistics, security & asset tracking, industrial automation & smart grid, and remote patient monitoring. These solutions can then be scaled from the smallest fleet customer to company-wide enterprise deployments.
Enabler® III & HS Embedded Solutions are GSM based and are integrated into various products or equipment so that those assets may communicate with other computers. This is the essence of “machine-to-machine” applications-enabling back-end IT systems to receive data from remote assets. A common example is vehicle modules that transmit data about location, engine conditions, and abnormal situations to critical decision support or monitoring systems.
N4A™ Software and Design Services include software contained in our N4A Communications & Management asset monitoring and management services, and royalties for intellectual property. The category also includes design services that we provide to other companies, primarily for asset management solutions and custom product designs.
Customers
Our customer base is comprised of wireless operators, distributors, OEMs, and various companies in vertical markets. Our wireless-operator customers include AT&T, Bell Mobility, Sprint Nextel, Telefonica, Verizon Wireless, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone. OEM customers include Dell and Hewlett-Packard. The acquisition of Enfora significantly diversified our customer base, adding approximately 120 customers, including Linear Technology and United Technologies.
We also have strategic technology, development and marketing relationships with several of our customers.
Our strong customer relationships provide us with the opportunity to expand our market reach and sales.
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Wireless Operators and Distributors. By working closely with our wireless operator and distributor customers, we are able to drive demand for our products by combining our expertise in wireless technologies with our customers’ sales and marketing reach over a global subscriber base. Our customers also provide us with important services, including field trial participation, technical support, wireless data marketing and access to additional indirect distribution channels.
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OEMs. Our OEM customers integrate our products into devices that they manufacture and sell through their own direct sales forces and indirect distribution channels. Our products are capable of being integrated into a broad range of devices, including laptop PCs, notebooks, netbooks and other mobile computing devices. We seek to build strong relationships with our OEM partners by working closely with them and providing radio frequency, or RF, design consulting, performance optimization, software integration and customization and application engineering support during the integration of our products.
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M2M customers. We believe the M2M market provides substantial opportunities for growth. Machine-to-machine and smart-systems technologies are being integrated into a growing number of manufactured devices and machines-whether fixed, movable or fully mobile. We have strong positions in many of the high-growth segments of the M2M market. These include transportation, industrial automation, energy, security, and healthcare. We expect to work with these customers to develop customized solutions that incorporate our software and other intellectual property, providing significant product differentiation.
Strategic Relationships
We continue to develop and maintain strategic relationships with wireless and computing industry leaders like Alcatel-Lucent, Dell, QUALCOMM, Sprint Nextel, Verizon Wireless, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone and Telefonica. Enfora has strategic relationships with Texas Instruments, Motorola Mobility Holdings and major software vendors. Through strategic relationships, we have been able to increase market penetration by leveraging the resources and technology of our channel partners.
Sales and Marketing
We sell our Mobile Computing products primarily to wireless operators either directly or through strategic relationships, as well as to OEM partners and distributors located worldwide. Most of our Mobile Computing product sales to wireless operators and OEM partners are sold directly by our sales force, or to a lesser degree, through distributors.
In order to maintain strong sales relationships, we provide co-marketing, trade show support, product training and demo units for merchandising. We are also engaged in a wide variety of activities, such as awareness and lead generation programs as well as product marketing. Other marketing initiatives include public relations, seminars and co-branding with partners.
We sell our M2M Products and Solutions primarily to enterprises in the following industries: transportation; energy and industrial automation; security and safety; and medical monitoring. We sell our M2M Products and Solutions primarily through our own direct sales force in a model that is primarily direct touch with indirect fulfillment.
A significant portion of our mobile-computing broadband solutions revenue comes from a small number of customers. However, our M2M revenue comes from a global customer base.
Our net revenues from sales to Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel represented approximately 56% and 17%, respectively, of our total net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2010.
See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements for a discussion of our revenue and asset concentrations by geographic location.
Product Research and Development
Our Mobile Computing and M2M Products and Solutions development efforts are focused on innovative new wireless broadband solutions and improving the functionality, design and performance of our existing products. Our research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 were $48.9 million, $44.9 million, and $34.7 million, respectively. We did not recover any costs from vendor-funded development contracts during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. We recovered $1.7 million from vendor-funded development contracts during the year ended December 31, 2008.
In both segments, we intend to continue to identify and respond to our customers’ needs by introducing new product designs with an emphasis on supporting cutting edge wireless data technology, ease-of-use, performance, weight, cost and power consumption.
We manage our products through a structured life-cycle process, from identifying initial customer requirements through development and commercial introduction to eventual phase-out. During product development, emphasis is placed on innovation, time-to-market, performance, meeting industry standards and customer-product specifications, ease of integration, cost reduction, manufacturability, quality and reliability.
Our product development efforts leverage our core expertise in the following key technology areas:
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Advanced Radio Frequency and Hardware Design. Advanced Radio Frequency, or RF, design is a key technology that determines the performance of wireless devices. We have specialized in 700/800/900/1800/1900/2100 and 2500 MHz designs for digital cellular, packet data, CDMA, HSPA, WiMAX, and LTE technology. Our expertise in RF, baseband, and firmware technology contributes to the performance, cost advantages and small size of our products.
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Miniaturization and System Integration. Our expertise includes the integration of RF and baseband chipsets and PCB technologies. We will continue to augment our miniaturization technology, working to further reduce the size and cost of current and future products.
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Firmware Development. We have specialized in integrating and customizing 3G and 4G firmware to meet carrier and regulatory requirements. We supply end-to-end solutions to our customers that integrate the modem hardware, with customized firmware that runs on the modem processor and the modem-manager software that controls its operation.
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Embedded Operating System. We have developed an embedded operating system that runs applications on our mobile hotspot products.
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M2M Solutions. We have developed customized asset-tracking systems and service-delivery platforms that utilize advanced radio-frequency technology and specialized software that interfaces with the information technology systems of our customers.
Manufacturing and Operations
The hardware components used in our solutions are produced by contract manufacturers. Their services include component procurement, assembly, testing, quality control, fulfillment and delivery. We currently have manufacturing agreements in place with the following companies:
Mobile Computing Products
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LG Innotek Co., Ltd, or “LG Innotek”
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Inventec Appliances Corporation
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Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
M2M Products and Solutions
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Benchmark Electronics
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Flextronics
These contract manufacturers are located in Asia, primarily China, Thailand, and Korea, and are able to produce our products using relatively low-cost labor and modern state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
We outsource our manufacturing in an effort to:
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focus on our core competencies of design, development and marketing;
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minimize our capital expenditures and lease obligations;
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realize manufacturing economies of scale;
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achieve production scalability by adjusting manufacturing volumes to meet changes in demand; and
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access best-in-class component procurement and manufacturing resources.
We believe that additional manufacturing efficiencies are realized due to our product architecture and our commitment to process design. Direct materials for our products consist of custom tooled parts such as printed circuit boards, molded plastic components and fabricated metal components, semi-custom parts such as batteries and cables, as well as industry-standard components such as ASICs, RF power amplifiers, flash memory, transistors, integrated circuits, piezo-electric filters, duplexers, inductors, resistors and capacitors. Many of the components used in our products are similar to those used in cellular telephone handsets, helping to reduce our component costs through the use of standard parts.
Our operations organization manages our relationships with the contract manufacturers as well as other key suppliers. Our operations team focuses on supply chain management, quality, cost optimization, customer order management and new product introduction.
Intellectual Property
Mobile Computing Products
Our wireless broadband access solutions rely on and benefit from our portfolio of intellectual property, including patents and trademarks. We currently own 35 United States patents, two of which are also registered in Canada. In addition, we currently have 41 patent applications pending. From time to time, we also seek to have our patents registered in selected foreign jurisdictions. The patents that we currently own expire at various times between 2011 and 2023.
We have licensed software and other intellectual property for use in our products from third-parties, such as QUALCOMM. In the case of QUALCOMM, these licenses allow us to manufacture CDMA, UMTS, HSPA,
EV-DO, and LTE-based wireless modems and to sell or distribute them worldwide. In connection with such sales, we pay royalties to QUALCOMM. The license from QUALCOMM does not have a specified term and may be terminated by us or by QUALCOMM for cause or upon the occurrence of other specified events. In addition, we may terminate the licenses for any reason upon 60 days prior written notice. We have also granted to QUALCOMM a nontransferable, worldwide, nonexclusive, fully-paid and royalty-free license to use, in connection with wireless communications applications, certain of our intellectual property that incorporates the technology licensed to us by QUALCOMM. This license allows QUALCOMM to make, use, sell or dispose of such products and the related components.
We also hold a number of trademarks including Expedite, MiFi, MiFi OS, MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, MobiLink, Ovation, Conversa, NovaSpeed, NovaCore and NovaDrive.
M2M Products and Solutions
Our M2M products and solutions incorporate patents, licensed technology, and trade secrets gained from our deep experience at providing customized solutions for our customers.
We currently own three United States patents related to M2M products and solutions. In addition, we currently have 17 patent applications pending. From time to time, we also seek to have our patents registered in selected foreign jurisdictions. The patents that we currently own expire at various times between 2021 and 2024.
We have licensed software and other intellectual property for use in our products from various third-parties, such as Ericsson and Interdigital Communications Corporation. These licenses allow us to use the licensed intellectual property for the worldwide manufacture and sale of GSM-based wireless devices. We pay royalties in connection with such sales. The licenses do not have a specified term and may be terminated by either party for cause or upon the occurrence of other specified events.
We also hold a number of trademarks including Enfora, Spider, Enabling Information Anywhere, Enabler, Wide, and N4A.
Backlog
We do not believe that backlog is currently a meaningful indicator of our future business prospects due to the many variables, some of which are outside of our control, which could cause the actual volume of our product shipments to differ from those that comprise our backlog. Additionally, we sometimes have relatively short lead times between receipt of customer purchase orders and shipment of products.
Competition
The market for wireless broadband access and M2M solutions is rapidly evolving and highly competitive. It is likely to continue to be significantly affected by the evolution of new wireless technology standards, additional companies entering the market, new product introductions and the product pricing and other market activities of industry participants. We believe the principal competitive factors impacting the market for our products are price, form factor, time-to-market, features and functionality, performance, quality, and brand. To maintain and improve our competitive position, we must continue to develop new products and solutions, expand our customer base, grow our distribution network and leverage our strategic relationships. Significant progress was made during 2010 in terms of developing new products and expanding our customer base.
Our products compete with a variety of devices, including other wireless modems and mobile hotspots, wireless handsets, wireless handheld computing devices and M2M wireless solutions. Our current and potential competitors include:
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wireless data modem providers, such as Huawei, ZTE, Sierra Wireless, UTStarcom, Sony-Ericsson, LG Innotek and Samsung;
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wireless handset and infrastructure manufacturers, such as Motorola, Nokia, Siemens and Sony-Ericsson;
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wireless M2M module providers, such as Sierra Wireless, Telit Wireless Solutions, and Gemalto; and
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wireless chipset providers, such as QUALCOMM, Motorola, and Ericsson.
We believe that we have advantages over each of our primary competitors due in varying measure to the technical and engineering design of our products, the broad range of customized solutions that we offer, the ease-of-use of our products, our ability to adapt our products to specific customer needs and our competitive pricing. As the market for wireless data solutions expands, other entrants may seek to compete with us either directly or indirectly.
Employees
As of December 31, 2010, we had 489 employees, including 252 in research and development, 109 in sales and marketing, 64 in operations, and 64 in general and administrative functions. We also use the services of consultants and temporary workers from time to time. Our employees are not represented by any collective bargaining unit and we consider our relationship with our employees to be good.
Website Access to SEC Filings
We maintain an Internet website at www.novatelwireless.com. The information contained on our website or that can be accessed through our website does not constitute a part of this report. We make available, free of charge through our Internet website, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish this information to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.
Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
An investment in our common stock involves various risks. Before deciding to purchase, hold or sell our common stock, you should carefully consider the risks described below in addition to the other cautionary statements and risks described elsewhere in this report and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. The risks and uncertainties described below are those that we currently deem to be material, and do not represent all of the risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently do not consider material may in the future become material and impair our business operations. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business could be materially harmed, and our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. As a result, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you might lose all or part of your investment. You should also refer to the other information contained in this Form 10-K, including our financial statements and the related notes.
The market for wireless broadband data access products and services is rapidly evolving and highly competitive. We may be unable to compete effectively.
The market for wireless broadband data access products and services is rapidly evolving and highly competitive. We expect competition to continue to increase and intensify. Many of our competitors or potential competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, operational and marketing resources than we do. These competitors, for example, may be able to respond more rapidly or more effectively than we can to new or emerging technologies, changes in customer requirements, supplier related developments, or a shift in the business landscape. They also may devote greater or more effective resources than we do to the development, manufacture, promotion, sale, and post-sale support of their respective products and services.
Many of our current and potential competitors have more extensive customer bases and broader customer, supplier and other industry relationships that they can leverage to establish competitive dealings with many of our current and potential customers. Some of these companies also have more established and larger customer support organizations than we do. In addition, these companies may adopt more aggressive pricing policies or offer more attractive terms to customers than they currently do, or than we are able to do. They may bundle their competitive products with broader product offerings and may introduce new products and enhancements. Current and potential competitors might merge or otherwise establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with third parties to enhance their products or market position. In addition, at any time any given customer or supplier of ours could elect to enter our then existing line of business and thereafter compete with us, whether directly or indirectly. As a result, it is possible that new competitors or new or otherwise enhanced relationships among existing competitors may emerge and rapidly acquire significant market share to the detriment of our business.
Our wireless communications products currently compete with a variety of devices, including other wireless modems, wireless handsets, wireless handheld computing devices, wireless M2M devices and solutions as well as other wireless devices. Our current competitors include:
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wireless data modem providers, such as Huawei, ZTE, Option International, Sierra Wireless, Kyocera, UTStarcom and Sony-Ericsson;
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wireless handset providers, such as Motorola, Nokia, Siemens and Sony-Ericsson;
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wireless chipset providers, such as QUALCOMM and Ericsson;
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wireless M2M device and solution providers, such as Sierra Wireless, nPhase and Jasper Wireless, Inc.
We expect our competitors to continue to improve the features and performance of their current products and to introduce new products, services and technologies which, if successful, could reduce our sales and the market acceptance of our products, generate increased price competition and make our products obsolete. For our products to remain performance competitive, we must, among other things, continue to invest significant
resources (financial, human and otherwise) in, among other things, research and development, sales and marketing, and customer support. We cannot be sure that we will have or will continue to have sufficient resources to make these investments or that we will be able to make the technological advances necessary for our products to remain competitive. Increased competition could result in price reductions, fewer or smaller customer orders, reduced product margins and loss of our market share. Our failure to compete successfully could seriously harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we fail to develop and timely introduce new products successfully, we may lose key customers or product orders and our business could be harmed.
The development of new wireless data products requires technological innovation that can be difficult, lengthy and costly. In addition, wireless operators require that wireless data systems deployed on their networks comply with their own technical and product performance standards, which may differ from the standards our products are required to meet for other operators. This increases the complexity and might impact the timing of the product development and customer approval process. In addition, as we introduce new products or new versions of our existing products, our current customers may not require or desire the technological innovations of these products and may not purchase them or might purchase them in smaller quantities than we had expected.
Further, as part of our business, we enter into contracts with some customers pursuant to which we develop products for later sale to that customer. Our ability to generate future revenue and operating income under any such contracts depends upon, among other factors, our ability to timely and profitably develop products that are suitable for manufacturing in a cost effective manner and that meet defined product design, technical and performance specifications. Our ability to maximize the benefits of these contracts is subject to the following risks:
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We have priced the products to be sold under these contracts based on our estimated development, production, customer support and warranty costs. If these or other costs are actually higher than our estimated costs, our gross margins and operating margins on the corresponding products sold will be less than anticipated.
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If we are unable to commit the necessary engineering, program management and other resources or are otherwise unable to successfully develop products as required by the terms of these contracts, our customers might suspend or cancel the applicable program or terminate the related contracts, we may not be entitled to recover any costs that we incurred for research and development, sales and marketing, production and otherwise, and we may be subject to additional costs such as contractual penalties.
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If we fail to deliver in a timely manner a product that is suitable for manufacture in a cost effective manner or if a customer determines that a prototype product we delivered does not meet the agreed-upon specifications including receiving wireless operator approval, we may be unable to commercially launch the product, we may have to reduce the price we charge for this product if it does launch, or we may be required to pay damages to the customer. These circumstances may also result in excess or obsolete inventory charges that may materially impact our financial results.
If we are unable to successfully manage these risks or meet required delivery specifications or deadlines in connection with one or more of our key contracts, we may lose key customers or orders and our business could be harmed.
Any acquisitions we make could disrupt our business and harm our financial condition and results of operations.
As part of our business strategy, we review and intend to continue to review, acquisition opportunities that we believe would be advantageous or complementary to the development of our business. In November 2010, we completed our acquisition of Enfora. We may acquire additional businesses, assets, or technologies in the future. If we make any acquisitions, we could take any or all of the following actions, any one of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or share price:
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use a substantial portion of our available cash;
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incur substantial debt, which may not be available to us on favorable terms and may adversely affect our liquidity;
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issue equity or equity-based securities that would dilute existing stockholders’ percentage ownership;
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assume contingent liabilities; and
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take substantial charges in connection with acquired assets.
Acquisitions, including the Enfora acquisition, also entail numerous other risks, including: difficulties in assimilating acquired operations, products, technologies and personnel; unanticipated costs; diversion of management’s attention from existing operations; adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers; risks of entering markets in which we have limited or no prior experience; and potential loss of key employees from either our existing business or the acquired organization. Acquisitions may result in substantial accounting charges for restructuring and other expenses, amortization of purchased technology and intangible assets and stock-based compensation expense, any of which could materially adversely affect our operating results. We may not be able to realize the anticipated benefits of or successfully integrate with our existing business the businesses, products, technologies or personnel that we acquire, and our failure to do so could harm our business and operating results.
Weakness or deterioration in global economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
As a result of weak or deteriorating economic conditions globally, we could experience lower demand for our products, which could adversely impact our results of operations.
Additionally, there could be a number of related effects on our business resulting from weak economic conditions, including the insolvency of one or more of our suppliers resulting in product launch or product delivery delays, customer insolvencies resulting in that customer’s inability to order products from us or pay for already delivered product, an inability on the part of our customers to obtain credit to finance purchases of our products and reduced demand by the ultimate end-users of our products.
Although we continue to monitor market conditions, we cannot predict future market conditions or their impact on demand for our products.
Our failure to predict carrier and end user customer preferences among the many evolving wireless industry standards could hurt our ability to introduce and sell new products.
In our industry, it is critical to our success that we accurately anticipate evolving wireless technology standards and that our products comply with these standards in relevant respects. We are currently focused on engineering and manufacturing products that comply with several different wireless standards. Any failure of our products to comply with any one of these or future applicable standards could prevent or delay their introduction and require costly and time-consuming engineering changes. Additionally, if an insufficient number of wireless operators or subscribers adopt the standards to which we engineer our products, then sales of our new products designed to those standards could be materially harmed.
If we fail to develop and maintain strategic relationships, we may not be able to penetrate new markets.
A key element of our business strategy is to penetrate new markets by developing new products through strategic relationships with industry participants in wireless communications. We are currently investing, and plan to continue to invest, significant resources to develop these relationships. We believe that our success in penetrating new markets for our products will depend, in part, on our ability to develop and maintain these relationships and to cultivate additional or alternative relationships. There can be no assurance, however, that we
will be able to develop additional strategic relationships, that existing relationships will survive and successfully achieve their purposes or that the companies with whom we have strategic relationships will not form competing arrangements with others or determine to compete unilaterally with us.
We expect to continue to depend upon only a small number of our customers for a substantial portion of our revenues. Our business could be negatively affected by an adverse change in our dealings with these customers.
A significant portion of our net revenues come from only a few customers. Our revenue could be materially adversely affected if we are unable to retain the level of business of any of our significant customers and if we are unable to offset this loss fully from alternative customers. We expect that a small number of customers will continue to account for a substantial portion of our revenue for the foreseeable future and any impairment of our relationship with, or the material financial impairment of, these customers could adversely affect our business.
In addition, a majority of our current customers purchase our products pursuant to contracts that do not require them to purchase any specific minimum quantity of units other than the number of units ordered on an individual purchase order that might be issued to us from time to time. These customers have no contractual obligation to continue to purchase our products and if they do not continue to make purchases consistent with their historical purchase levels, our net revenue would decline if we are unable to increase sales from other existing or new customers.
In light of the limited number of leading wireless operators and OEMs that form our primary customer base, many of whom are already customers, it would be difficult to replace revenue resulting from the loss of any significant existing customer or from a material reduction in the volume of business we conduct with any significant existing customer. Consolidation among our customers may further concentrate our business to a more limited number of customers and expose us to increased risks relating to dependence on a limited number of customers, which dependence could adversely affect our operating results.
We have had to qualify, and are required to maintain our status, as a supplier for each of our customers. This is a lengthy process that involves the inspection and approval by each customer of our engineering, documentation, manufacturing and quality control procedures before that customer will place volume orders. Attempts to lessen the adverse effect of any loss of, or any material reduction in the volume of business we conduct with, any significant existing customer through the rapid addition of one or more new customers would be difficult because of these qualification requirements. Consequently, our business and operating results could be adversely affected by the loss of, or any material reduction in the volume of business we conduct with, any existing significant customer.
The sale of our products depends on the demand for broadband wireless access to enterprise networks and the internet.
The markets for broadband wireless access solutions are rapidly evolving, both technologically and competitively, and the successful sale of related products and services depends in part on the strength of the demand for wireless access to both enterprise networks and the Internet. At times, market demand for both wireless products and wireless access services for the transmission of data developed at a slower rate than we had anticipated and as a result our product sales did not generate sufficient revenue to cover our corresponding operating costs. The failure of these markets to continue to grow at the rate that we currently anticipate may adversely impact the growth in the demand for our products and our concomitant rate of growth, and as a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be harmed.
The marketability of our products may suffer if wireless telecommunications operators do not deliver acceptable wireless services.
The success of our business depends, in part, on the capacity, affordability, reliability and prevalence of wireless data networks provided by wireless telecommunications operators and on which our products operate.
Currently, various wireless telecommunications operators, either individually or jointly with us, sell our products in connection with the sale of their wireless data services to their customers. Growth in demand for wireless data access may be limited if, for example, wireless telecommunications operators cease or materially curtail operations, fail to offer services that customers consider valuable at acceptable prices, fail to maintain sufficient capacity to meet demand for wireless data access, delay the expansion of their wireless networks and services, fail to offer and maintain reliable wireless network services or fail to market their services effectively.
In addition, our future growth depends on the successful deployment of next generation wireless data networks provided by third parties, including those networks for which we are currently developing products. If these next generation networks are not deployed or widely accepted, or if deployment is delayed, there will be no market for the products we are developing to operate on these networks. If any of these events occurs, or if for any other reason the demand for wireless data access fails to grow, sales of our products will decline or remain stagnant and our business could be harmed.
If we do not properly manage the development of our business, we may experience significant strains on our management and operations and disruptions in our business.
Various risks arise if companies and industries quickly evolve. If our business or industry develops more quickly than our ability to respond, our ability to meet customer demand in a timely and efficient manner could be challenged. We may also experience development, certification or production delays as we seek to meet increased demand for our products or unanticipated product requirements. Our failure to properly manage the developments that we or our industry might experience could negatively impact our ability to execute on our operating plan then in effect and, accordingly, could have an adverse impact on our business, our cash flow and results of operations, and our reputation with our current or potential customers.
We currently rely on third parties to manufacture our products, which exposes us to a number of risks and uncertainties outside our control.
We currently outsource our manufacturing to LG Innotek, Inventec Appliances Corporation, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., Benchmark Electronics and Flextronics. If one of these third-party manufacturers were to experience delays, disruptions, capacity constraints or quality control problems in its manufacturing operations, product shipments to our customers could be delayed or rejected by them or our customers could consequently elect to cancel the underlying product purchase order, which would negatively impact our revenues and our competitive position and reputation. Further, if we are unable to manage successfully our relationship with a manufacturer, the quality and availability of our products may be harmed. None of our third-party manufacturers is obligated to supply us with a specific quantity of products, except as may be provided in a particular purchase order that we may submit to them and that has been accepted. Our third-party manufacturers could under some circumstances decline to accept new purchase orders from us or otherwise reduce their business with us. If a manufacturer stopped manufacturing our products for any reason or reduced manufacturing capacity, we may be unable to replace the lost manufacturing capacity on a timely and comparatively cost effective basis, which would adversely impact our operations. In addition, if a third-party manufacturer were to negatively change the product pricing and other terms under which it agrees to manufacture for us and we are unable to locate a suitable alternative manufacturer, our manufacturing costs could significantly increase.
Because we outsource the manufacture of all of our products, the cost, quality and availability of third-party manufacturing operations are essential to the successful production and sale of our products. Our reliance on third-party manufacturers exposes us to a number of risks which are outside our control, including:
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unexpected increases in manufacturing costs;
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interruptions in shipments if a third-party manufacturer is unable to complete production in a timely manner;
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inability to control quality of finished products;
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inability to control delivery schedules;
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inability to control production levels and to meet minimum volume commitments to our customers;
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inability to control manufacturing yield;
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inability to maintain adequate manufacturing capacity; and
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inability to secure adequate volumes of acceptable components at suitable prices or in a timely manner.
Although we promote ethical business practices and our operations personnel periodically visit and monitor the operations of our manufacturers, we do not control the manufacturers or their labor practices. If our current manufacturers, or any other third-party manufacturer which we may use in the future, violate United States or foreign laws or regulations, we may be subjected to extra duties, significant monetary penalties, adverse publicity, the seizure and forfeiture of products that we are attempting to import or the loss of our import privileges. The effects of these factors could render the conduct of our business in a particular country undesirable or impractical and have a negative impact on our operating results.
We might forecast customer demand incorrectly and order the manufacture of excess or insufficient quantities of particular products.
We have historically placed purchase orders with our manufacturers at least three months prior to the scheduled delivery of the corresponding finished goods to our customer. In some instances, due to the length of component lead times, we might need to place manufacturing orders with our contract manufacturers solely on the basis of our receipt of a good-faith but non-binding customer forecast of the quantity and timing of the customer’s expected purchases from us. Accordingly, if the actual number and timing of delivery of units that a customer orders from us on the subsequently issued purchase order differs materially from the number of units in respect of which we contractually ordered our manufacturer to procure component parts, we might be unable to obtain adequate quantities of components in time to meet our customers’ binding delivery requirements or, alternatively, we might accumulate excess inventory that we are unable to timely use or resell, if at all. Our operating results and financial condition have been in the past and may in the future be materially adversely affected by our ability to manage our current or finished goods inventory levels and respond to short-term or unexpected shifts in customer demand as to quantities or our customer’s product delivery schedule.
We depend on sole source suppliers for some components used in our products. The availability and sale of those finished products would be harmed if any of these suppliers is not able to meet our demand and production schedule and alternative suitable components are not available on acceptable terms, if at all.
Our products contain a variety of components, some of which are procured from single suppliers. These components include both tooled parts and industry-standard parts, some of which are also used in cellular telephone handsets. From time to time, certain components used in our products have been in short supply worldwide or their anticipated commercial introduction has been delayed or their availability has been subsequently interrupted for reasons outside our control. For example, some of our product components are manufactured in Japan, which recently experienced a significant earthquake. Although to date, we have not received any reports of damage to our supplier facilities, some of these manufacturers experienced temporary suspension of production due to power outages. If there is a shortage or interruption in the availability to us of any such components, and we cannot timely obtain a commercially and technologically suitable substitute or make sufficient and timely design or other product modifications to permit the use of such a substitute component, we may not be able to timely deliver sufficient quantities of our products to satisfy our contractual obligations and particular revenue expectations. Moreover, even if we timely locate a substitute part (or locate the originally specified component from a parts broker) and its price materially exceeds the original cost of the component in our costed bill of materials, then our results of operations would be adversely affected.
We contract with a number of suppliers in Japan. As a result of the effects of the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan, our Japanese suppliers may be unable to deliver sufficient quantities of components or
may be unable to deliver components in a timely manner, which could have a material adverse affect on our results of operations.
We are currently party to litigation that could be costly to defend and distracting to management.
As of the date of this report, a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of persons who allegedly purchased our common stock between February 27, 2007 and November 10, 2008. The lawsuit names us and certain of our current and former officers as defendants. The complaint alleges generally that we issued materially false and misleading statements during the relevant time period regarding the strength of our products and market share, our financial results and internal controls.
Also as of the date of this report, we have been named as a nominal defendant in a purported shareholder derivative lawsuit filed in California state court. The complaint also names as defendants certain of our current and former officers and directors. The complaint alleges claims for breach of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment and gross mismanagement.
Additional litigation may be initiated against us based on the alleged false statements at issue in the pending litigation. We cannot predict the outcome of the existing lawsuits or the likelihood that further proceedings will be instituted against us. The cost of defending against these lawsuits or any future lawsuits may be high, and these legal proceedings may also result in the diversion of our management’s time and attention away from our business. In the event that there is an adverse ruling in any legal proceeding, we may be required to make payments to third parties that could harm our business or financial results.
Third parties may claim that our products, or components within our products, infringe on their intellectual property rights. These claims may result in substantial costs, diversion of resources and management attention, harm to our reputation or interference with our current or prospective customer or supplier relations.
Third parties have in the past and may claim in the future that we, or our customers or suppliers, have violated their intellectual property rights. Defending an infringement or misappropriation claim, for example, regardless of the merits or success of the claim, could result in our incurring substantial legal and other costs. These claims could also divert our engineering and other human resources and management attention and cause harm to our reputation. These claims can be difficult and costly to assess and defend. A successful infringement claim related to our products could result in, among other things, our becoming liable for damages and litigation costs or unexpected and costly engineering changes to affected products.
In addition, any finding that our products infringe (or in some instances, our customer’s reasonable conclusion that a bona fide infringement claim is likely to be made with respect to such products) could have other negative consequences. Those consequences could include prohibiting us from further use of the intellectual property, causing us to have to modify our product design, if possible, so it does not infringe, or causing us to have to license the intellectual property at issue, incurring licensing fees, some of which could be retroactive. Upon a finding of infringement, we or one of our suppliers may also have to develop a non-infringing alternative, which if available could be costly, and delay or prevent sales of affected products.
A number of putative patent infringement claims have been filed by various plaintiffs in a number of U.S. District Courts against us and/or numerous third parties, some of whom are our customers. These cases generally allege that the defendants’ use, sale and importation of specified products and/or processes constitutes infringement of certain U.S. patents allegedly owned by each plaintiff. Under certain circumstances, we may have an obligation to indemnify and/or defend our customers against these lawsuits.
Our business depends on our continued ability to license necessary third-party technology, which we may not be able to do on commercially competitive terms, if at all.
We license technology from third parties for the development of our products. We have licensed from third parties, such as QUALCOMM, software, patents and other intellectual property for use in our products and from
time to time we may elect or be required to license additional intellectual property. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our third-party licenses or that these licenses or the technologies that are the subject of these licenses will not be the subject of dispute or litigation, or that additional third-party licenses will be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. The inability to maintain or obtain third-party licenses required for our products or to develop new products and product enhancements could require us to seek to obtain substitute technology of lower quality or performance standards, if such exists, or at greater cost, which could seriously harm our competitive position, revenue and prospects.
We are subject to the risks of doing business internationally.
In addition to our manufacturing activities in Asia, a significant portion of our research and development staff is located in Canada and significant portion of our sales activity has taken place in Europe. These international business activities expose the Company to additional business risks, including:
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difficulty in managing sales, research and development operations and post-sales logistics and support across these continents;
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changes in a specific country’s or region’s political or economic conditions, particularly in emerging markets, and changes in diplomatic and trade relationships;
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less effective protection of intellectual property and general exposure to different legal processes, standards and expectations;
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trade protection measures and import or export licensing requirements;
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potentially negative consequences from changes in tax laws;
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increased expenses associated with customizing products for different countries;
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unexpected changes in regulatory requirements resulting in unanticipated costs and delays;
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longer collection cycles and difficulties in collecting accounts receivable;
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longer sales cycles;
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international terrorism;
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loss or damage to products in transit;
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international dock strikes or other transportation delays; and
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court ordered injunctions in a given jurisdiction in connection with alleged intellectual property rights infringement by our products or components contained with our products which might prohibit the importation, sale or offer for sale of our products in the jurisdiction subject to such injunction.
Any disruption in our ability to obtain products from our foreign manufacturers or in our ability to conduct international operations and sales could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our international business activities expose the Company to fluctuations in exchange rates between the United States dollar and foreign currencies which may materially affect our operating results.
A portion of our revenues are generated from sales agreements denominated in foreign currencies, and we expect to enter into additional such agreements as we expand our international customer base. Additionally, a significant portion of our research and development staff is located in Canada and paid in Canadian dollars. As a result, we are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We attempt to manage this risk, in part, by minimizing the effects of volatility on cash flows by identifying forecasted transactions exposed to these risks and using foreign exchange forward contracts. Since there is a high correlation between the hedging instruments and the underlying exposures, the gains and losses on these underlying exposures are generally offset by
reciprocal changes in the value of the hedging instruments. We use derivative financial instruments as risk management tools and not for trading or speculative purposes. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that we will not incur foreign currency losses or that foreign exchange forward contracts we may enter into to reduce the risk of such losses will be successful.
Our products, including our proprietary or third party software contained in our products, may contain errors or defects, which could prevent or decrease their market acceptance and lead to unanticipated costs or other adverse business consequences.
Our products are technologically complex and must meet stringent industry, regulatory and customer requirements. We must develop our hardware and software products quickly to keep pace with the rapidly changing and technologically advanced wireless communications market. Products as sophisticated as ours may contain undetected errors or defects, especially when first introduced or when new models or versions are released. Our products may not be free from errors or defects at the time commercial shipments have begun, which could result in the rejection of our products, the loss of an existing or potential customer or the failure to obtain one, damage to our reputation, lost revenue, diverted development resources, increased customer service and support costs, unanticipated warranty claims, and the payment of monetary damages to our customers.
Our quarterly operating results may vary significantly from quarter to quarter and may cause our stock price to fluctuate.
Our future quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly and may fall short of or exceed the expectations of securities analysts, investors or management. If this occurs, the market price of our stock could fluctuate, in some cases materially. The following factors may cause fluctuations in our operating results:
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Decreases in revenue or increases in operating expenses. We budget our operating expenses based on anticipated sales, and a significant portion of our sales and marketing, research and development and general and administrative costs are fixed, at least in the short term. If revenue decreases, due to pricing pressures or otherwise, or does not increase as planned and we are unable to reduce our operating costs quickly and sufficiently, our operating results could be materially adversely affected.
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Product mix. The product mix of our sales affects profit margins in any given quarter. As our business evolves and the revenue from the product mix of our sales varies from quarter to quarter, our operating results will likely fluctuate in ways that might not be directly proportionate to the fluctuation in revenue.
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New product introductions. As we introduce new products, the timing of these introductions within any given quarter will affect our quarterly operating results. We may have difficulty predicting the timing of new product introductions and the market acceptance of these new products. If products and services are introduced earlier or later than anticipated, or if market acceptance is unexpectedly high or low, our quarterly operating results may fluctuate unexpectedly.
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Lengthy sales cycle. The length of time between the date of initial contact with a potential customer and the execution of and product delivery under a contract may take several months or longer, and is subject to delays or interruptions over which we have little or no control. The sale of our products is subject to delays from, among other things, our customers’ budgeting, product testing and vendor approval mechanics, and competitive evaluation processes that typically accompany significant information technology purchasing decisions. As a result, our ability to anticipate the timing and volume of sales to specific customers is limited, and the delay or failure to complete one or more large transactions could cause our operating results to vary significantly from quarter to quarter.
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Foreign currency. We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In particular, fluctuations in the Euro currency may have a significant impact on our future operating results and gross margins. Our attempts to minimize the effects of volatility in foreign currencies on cash flows may not be successful.
Due to these and other factors, our results of operations may fluctuate substantially in the future and quarter-to-quarter comparisons may not be reliable indicators of future operating or share price performance.
We may not be able to maintain and expand our business if we are not able to hire, retain and manage additional qualified personnel.
Our success in the future depends in part on the continued contribution of our executive, technical, engineering, sales, marketing, operations and administrative personnel. The success of our acquisitions, such as Enfora, depends in part on our retention and integration of key personnel from the acquired company or business. Recruiting and retaining skilled personnel in the wireless communications industry, including software and hardware engineers, is highly competitive.
Although we may enter into employment agreements with members of our senior management and other key personnel in the future, currently only Peter Leparulo, the Company’s Chairman and CEO, is a party to an employment agreement. If we are not able to attract or retain qualified personnel in the future, or if we experience delays in hiring required personnel, particularly qualified engineers, we may not be able to maintain and expand our business.
Any changes to existing accounting pronouncements or taxation rules or practices may cause adverse fluctuations in our reported results of operations or affect how we conduct our business.
A change in accounting pronouncements or taxation rules or practices can have a significant effect on our reported results and may affect our reporting of transactions completed before the change is effective. New accounting pronouncements, taxation rules and varying interpretations of accounting pronouncements or taxation rules have occurred in the past and may occur in the future. The change to existing rules, future changes, if any, or the need for us to modify a current tax position may adversely affect our reported financial results or the way we conduct our business.
We may not be able to develop products that comply with applicable government regulations.
Our products must comply with government regulations. For example, in the United States, the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, regulates many aspects of communications devices, including radiation of electromagnetic energy, biological safety and rules for devices to be connected to telephone networks. In addition to the federal government, some states have adopted regulations applicable to our products. Radio frequency devices, which include our modems, must be approved by obtaining equipment authorization from the FCC prior to being offered for sale. Regulatory requirements in Canada, Europe, Asia and other jurisdictions must also be met. Additionally, we cannot anticipate the effect that changes in domestic or foreign government regulations may have on our ability to develop and sell products in the future. Failure to comply with existing or evolving government regulations or to obtain timely regulatory approvals or certificates for our products could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations or cash flows.
Failure or circumvention of our controls and procedures could seriously harm our business.
Any system of control and procedures, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the controls and procedures are met. Acquired companies or businesses are likely to have different standards, controls, contracts, procedures and policies, making it more difficult to implement and harmonize company-wide financial, accounting, billing, information and other systems. Acquisitions of privately held companies, such as Enfora, and/or non-US companies are particularly challenging because their prior practices in these areas may not meet the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and public accounting standards. The failure or circumvention of our controls, policies and procedures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties
Our principal executive offices are located in San Diego, California where we lease approximately 89,000 square feet under an arrangement that expires in December 2015. In connection with our acquisition of Enfora, Inc., we lease approximately 42,000 square feet in Richardson, Texas under a lease arrangement that expires in October 2014. In Calgary, Canada, we lease approximately 24,000 square feet for certain aspects of our research and development organization under a lease that expires in September 2012. In Basingstoke, United Kingdom, we lease approximately 4,000 square feet for our European staff under a lease agreement that expires in December 2011. In Shanghai, China, we lease approximately 600 square meters for our Chinese staff under a lease agreement that expires in June 2012. We also lease space in various geographic locations abroad primarily for sales and support personnel or for temporary facilities. We believe that our existing facilities are adequate to meet our current needs and that we can renew our existing leases or obtain alternative space on terms that would not have a material impact on our financial condition.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
On September 15, 2008 and September 18, 2008, two putative securities class action lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California on behalf of persons who allegedly purchased our stock between February 5, 2007 and August 19, 2008. On December 11, 2008, these lawsuits were consolidated into a single action entitled Backe v. Novatel Wireless, Inc., et al., Case No. 08-CV-01689-H (RBB) (Consolidated with Case No. 08-CV-01714-H (RBB)) (U.S.D.C., S.D. Cal.). In May 2010, the district court re-captioned the case In re Novatel Wireless Securities Litigation. The plaintiffs filed the consolidated complaint on behalf of persons who allegedly purchased our stock between February 27, 2007 and November 10, 2008. The consolidated complaint names the Company and certain of our current and former officers as defendants. The consolidated complaint alleges generally that we issued materially false and misleading statements during the relevant time period regarding the strength of our products and market share, our financial results and our internal controls. The plaintiffs are seeking an unspecified amount of damages and costs. The court has denied defendants’ motions to dismiss. In May 2010, the court entered an order granting the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification and certified a class of purchasers of our common stock between February 27, 2007 and September 15, 2008. On February 14, 2011, following extensive discovery, we filed a motion for summary judgment on all of plaintiffs’ claims. The motion is set for hearing on March 21, 2011. The court has set a trial date of May 10, 2011. The Company intends to defend this litigation vigorously.
On October 8, 2008, a purported shareholder, Jerry Rosenbaum, filed a derivative action in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of San Diego, against the Company, as nominal defendant, and certain of our current and former officers and directors, as defendants. Two other purported shareholders, Mark Campos and Chris Arnsdorf, separately filed substantially similar lawsuits in the same court on October 20, 2008 and November 5, 2008, respectively. On October 16, 2009, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint. The consolidated complaint, Case No. 37-2008-00093576-CU-NP-CTL, alleges claims for breaches of fiduciary duties, violations of certain provisions of the California Corporations Code, unjust enrichment, and gross mismanagement. In February 2010, the court granted the defendants’ motion to stay the action pending the resolution of the federal securities class action described above. In July 2010, the parties executed a memorandum of understanding setting forth the terms to be included in a contemplated settlement. Any settlement would be subject to court approval. The memorandum of understanding does not contemplate any restitution from the defendants. Following execution of the memorandum of understanding, plaintiffs conducted certain confirmatory discovery and sought to negotiate a fee award as part of the terms to be included in a stipulation of settlement. Plaintiffs have since purported to terminate the memorandum of understanding. On January 28, 2011, the court held an informal status conference, at which plaintiffs requested that the court lift the stay of the action. The court declined plaintiffs’ request. Following certain additional confirmatory discovery, we anticipate seeking to enforce the terms of the parties’ memorandum of understanding.
On September 24, 2010, NovAtel, Inc., a Canadian company (“NovAtel Canada”) filed a trademark infringement lawsuit entitled NovAtel, Inc. v. Novatel Wireless Technologies, Ltd., et al, Action No. 1001-14265 in the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta Canada, Judicial District of Calgary. The Statement of Claim alleges that Novatel Wireless Technologies, Ltd., Novatel Wireless Solutions, Inc. and Novatel Wireless, Inc. (collectively, the “Company”) are infringing NovAtel Canada’s purported rights in the “Novatel” trademark in breach of a settlement agreement between NovAtel Canada and the Company. The Company intends to defend this litigation vigorously.
Item 4.
Item 4. Reserved
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Common Stock Data
Shares of our common stock are quoted and traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “NVTL.” The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of our common stock as reported by The Nasdaq Global Select Market.
Number of Stockholders of Record
Our outstanding capital stock consists of a single class of common stock. As of March 14, 2011 there were approximately 53 holders of record of our common stock. Because many of the shares of our common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these record holders.
Dividends
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on any shares of our capital stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds for use in the operation and development of our business and, therefore, do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination relating to our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on a number of factors, including future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and future prospects and other factors the board of directors may deem relevant.
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company’s common stock between December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2010 with the cumulative total return of (i) the Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S.) Index (“Nasdaq Composite Index”) and (ii) the Nasdaq Telecommunications Index (the “Nasdaq Telecom Index”), over the same period. This graph assumes the investment of $100.00 on December 31, 2005 in the common stock of the Company, the Nasdaq Composite Index and the Nasdaq Telecom Index and assumes the reinvestment of any dividends. The stockholder return shown on the graph below should not be considered indicative of future stockholder returns and the Company will not make or endorse any predictions as to future stockholder returns.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” appearing elsewhere in this report. The selected consolidated statements of operations data presented below for each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, and the consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2010 and 2009 are derived from our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. The selected consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are derived from audited consolidated financial statements not included in this report.
(1) The Company reclassified deferred tax assets arising from its liability for uncertain tax positions against the balance of its liability for its uncertain tax positions. This reclassification was applied to the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 and amount to $5.1 million, $3.3 million and $1.7 million, respectively.
Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion of our consolidated financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. This report contains certain forward-looking statements relating to future events or our future financial performance. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this report. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this information which speaks only as of the date of this report. We are not obligated to update this information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent we are required to do so in connection with our obligation to file reports with the SEC. For a discussion of the important risks related to our business and future operating performance, see the discussion under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and under the caption “Factors Which May Influence Future Results of Operations” below. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this report might not occur.
Overview and Background
We are a provider of wireless broadband access solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Our broad range of products principally includes intelligent mobile hotspots, USB modems, embedded PCI and wireless PC-card modems and communications and applications software. In addition, through our acquisition of Enfora Inc. (“Enfora”) on November 30, 2010, we provide asset-management solutions utilizing wireless technology and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications devices.
Our products operate on a majority of the world’s wireless networks. Our mobile hotspots and modems provide subscribers with secure and convenient high speed access to corporate, public and personal information through wireless broadband and enterprise networks. Our M2M products enable devices to communicate with each other and with server-based application infrastructure.
Our customer base is comprised of wireless operators, distributors, OEMs, and various companies in vertical markets. Our strong customer relationships provide us with the opportunity to expand our market reach and sales. We also are working to expand our product lines into adjacent markets that use wireless broadband technology.
We sell our wireless broadband solutions primarily to wireless operators either directly or through strategic relationships, as well as to OEM partners and distributors located worldwide. Most of our mobile-computing product sales to wireless operators and OEM partners are sold directly by our sales force, or to a lesser degree, through distributors. We sell our M2M solutions primarily to enterprises in the following industries: transportation; energy and industrial automation; security and safety; and medical monitoring. We sell our M2M solutions almost entirely through our own direct sales force.
We intend to continue to identify and respond to our customers’ needs by introducing new product designs with an emphasis on supporting cutting edge wide area network, or WAN, technology, ease-of-use, performance, size, weight, cost and power consumption. We manage our products through a structured life cycle process, from identifying initial customer requirements through development and commercial introduction to eventual phase-out. During product development, emphasis is placed on time-to-market, meeting industry standards and customer product specifications, ease of integration, cost reduction, manufacturability, quality and reliability.
The hardware components used in our solutions are produced by contract manufacturers. Their services include component procurement, assembly, testing, quality control, fulfillment and delivery. We have agreements with LG Innotek; Inventec Appliances Corporation, or IAC; Hon Hai Precision Industry co., LTD; Benchmark Electronics; and Flextronics for the outsourced manufacturing of our products. Under our manufacturing agreements, contract manufacturers provide us with services including component procurement, product manufacturing, final assembly, testing, quality control, fulfillment and delivery. In addition, we have an agreement with Mobiltron for certain distribution, fulfillment and repair services related to our business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, or EMEA.
Factors Which May Influence Future Results of Operations
We have entered into and expect to continue to enter into new customer contracts for the development and supply of our products. This may place significant demands on our resources.
As a result of weak economic conditions globally, we have experienced lower demand for our products relative to the prior year, which has adversely impacted our results of operations. While general economic conditions have shown some recent improvement, market competition remains intense. As a result of this competitive pressure, demand for our products may continue to fluctuate unexpectedly, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Net Revenues. We believe that our future net revenues will be influenced largely by the speed and breadth of the demand for wireless access to data through the use of next generation networks including demand for 3G and 4G products, 3G and 4G data access services, particularly in North America, Europe and Asia; customer acceptance for our new products that address these markets, including our MiFi line of Intelligent Mobile Hotspots; and our ability to meet customer demand. Factors that could potentially affect customer demand for our products include the following:
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economic environment and related market conditions;
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increased competition from other wireless data modem suppliers as well as suppliers of emerging devices that contain a wireless data access feature;
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demand for broadband access services and networks;
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use of the Internet;
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rate of change to new products;
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timing of deployment of 4G networks by wireless operators;
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decreased demand for EV-DO and HSPA products; and
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changes in technologies.
We anticipate introducing additional products during the next twelve months, including 4G broadband-access products, M2M solutions and software applications and platforms. We continue to develop and maintain strategic relationships with wireless and computing industry leaders like Alcatel-Lucent, Dell, QUALCOMM, Sprint Nextel, Verizon Wireless, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone, Telefonica, Texas Instruments, Motorola Mobility Holdings and major software vendors. Through strategic relationships, we have been able to increase market penetration by leveraging the resources of our channel partners, including their access to distribution resources, increased sales opportunities and market opportunities.
As a result of the extremely competitive market for wireless devices, we have experienced significant downward pressure on the average selling price of our products. This pressure has the potential to materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition in future periods and we cannot predict the magnitude or timing of future reductions in the average selling price of our products.
Cost of Net Revenues. All costs associated with our contract manufacturers, as well as distribution, fulfillment and repair services are included in our cost of net revenues. Cost of net revenues also includes warranty costs, amortization of intangible assets, royalties, operations group expenses, costs associated with the Company’s cancellation of purchase orders, costs related to outside services and costs related to inventory adjustments, including write downs for excess and obsolete inventory. Inventory adjustments are impacted primarily by demand for our products, which is influenced by the factors discussed above.
Operating Costs and Expenses. Many of our products target wireless operators and other customers in North America, Europe, and Asia. We will likely develop new products to serve these markets, resulting in increased
research and development expenses. We have in the past and expect to continue to incur these expenses in future periods prior to recognizing net revenues from sales of these products.
Our operating costs consist of four primary categories: research and development costs; sales and marketing; general and administrative costs; and amortization of acquired intangibles.
Research and development are at the core of our ability to produce innovative, leading-edge products. This category consists primarily of engineers and technicians who design and test our highly complex products. As we work to expand our portfolio of products and remain competitive, it may be necessary to increase our research and development costs in the future.
Sales and marketing expense consists primarily of our sales force and product-marketing professionals. In order to maintain strong sales relationships, we provide co-marketing, trade show support, product training and demo units for merchandising. We are also engaged in a wide variety of activities, such as awareness and lead generation programs as well as product marketing. Other marketing initiatives include public relations, seminars and co-branding with partners.
General and administrative expenses include primarily corporate functions such as accounting, human resources, legal, administrative support, and professional fees. This category also includes the expenses needed to operate as a publicly-traded company, including Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, SEC filings, stock-exchange fees, and investor-relations expense. General and administrative expenses have been relatively stable and are not directly related to revenue levels.
Amortization of acquired intangibles include the amortization of customer relationships, covenant-not-to-compete agreements and trade name intangible assets purchased through the acquisition of Enfora.
As part of our business strategy, we review, and intend to continue to review, acquisition opportunities that we believe would be advantageous or complementary to the development of our business. If we make any acquisitions, we may incur substantial expenditures in conjunction with the acquisition process and the subsequent assimilation of any acquired business, products, technologies or personnel.
Merger & Acquisition Activities
In June 2010, we submitted a bid to purchase certain assets of Cinterion, a company in the cellular machine-to-machine communications industry, in connection with an insolvency proceeding. We were not the successful bidder. In connection with the bid, we borrowed $30 million under a bridge loan facility in June 2010 and subsequently repaid all of the outstanding loan amount in July 2010.
In November 2010, we completed the acquisition of Enfora for approximately $77.5 million in cash, and contingent future cash consideration of up to $6.0 million based on future earnings of Enfora. We estimated the fair value of future contingent consideration related to the Enfora acquisition to be approximately $0.9 million. The cash consideration paid at closing of the acquisition was based on a cash payment of $64.5 million and an additional cash payment of $13.0 million for an agreed upon amount of Enfora working capital. In connection with the acquisition, the holders of outstanding Enfora common stock, preferred stock, and vested stock options received total cash of approximately $58.0 million, Enfora’s debt holders received approximately $16.2 million to pay outstanding debt facilities, and other Enfora acquisition related liabilities of $3.3 million were settled. The acquisition was financed with our existing cash resources.
Our participation in these merger and acquisition activities resulted in the following significant impacts to our results of operations during the year ended December 31, 2010:
•
We recognized $3.1 million of interest and debt issuance costs related to the issuance of the short-term debt facility in June 2010 and its subsequent repayment in July 2010. The costs were recorded in interest (expense) income, net.
•
During the quarter ended June 30, 2010 we recorded a foreign exchange gain of $2.9 million in connection with the conversion of our Euro-denominated escrow funds into U.S. dollars following completion of the Cinterion auction. This foreign exchange gain was offset by $1.2 million paid for put options to hedge our Euro exposure during the bidding process. The realized foreign exchange gain and the cost of the put options were recorded in other income (expense).
•
In connection with our bid for Cinterion and acquisition of Enfora, we incurred $3.9 million in legal, advisory and professional fees unrelated to the bridge loan facility, which were recorded as general and administrative expenses.
•
Enfora’s results of operations and estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed were included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements beginning November 30, 2010. Enfora contributed $6.5 million to our consolidated revenues in 2010.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations expressed as a percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated.
Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2009
Net revenues. Net revenues were approximately $338.9 million during 2010, an increase of approximately $1.5 million or 0.5% compared to 2009. Net revenues for EV-DO product driven technology amounted to approximately $292.9 million in 2010, an increase of approximately $1.8 million or 0.6% compared to 2009. We benefited from the strong sales of our MiFi product during 2010 that contributed to the increase in EV-DO net revenues. EV-DO products are primarily sold in the North American market and represented approximately 86.4% of net revenues in the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to 86.3% in the same period in 2009. The increase from MiFi sales was partially offset by a decline in embedded module sales due to the presence of competing products available to OEMs and the lack of significant sales to content delivery device customers during 2010.
Net revenues for High Speed Packet Access (“HSPA”) product driven technology amounted to approximately $42.2 million in 2010, a decline of approximately $2.2 million or 5.0% compared to 2009. This decrease resulted primarily from a decline in our embedded modules and Ovation product sales due to the presence of competing products available to OEMs and wireless carriers primarily located in the European market. HSPA product revenues remained relatively flat as a percentage of net revenues representing 13% of net revenues in each of the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. We believe the European market remains, and is expected to remain, intensely competitive for the foreseeable future.
Net revenues also included approximately $6.5 million in 2010 related to our Enfora acquisition that was completed on November 30, 2010.
Cost of net revenues. Cost of net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2010 was approximately $272.6 million, or 80.4% of net revenues, as compared to approximately $249.8 million, or 74.0% of net revenues in 2009. The primary driver of the increase in cost of net revenues as a percentage of net revenues compared to 2009 was a decline in average selling prices that exceeded the rate of decrease in per unit product costs. Cost of net revenues as a percentage of net revenues is expected to fluctuate in future quarters depending on the mix of products sold, competitive pricing, new product introduction costs and other factors.
Cost of net revenues also included approximately $6.3 million in 2010 from our M2M Products and Solutions segment, including amortization costs of $658,000 related to purchased intangibles and a fair value inventory valuation increase of $1.2 million in connection with our Enfora acquisition.
Increased competitive pressures may continue to negatively impact the average sales prices of our products. This may require us in future periods to record inventory write downs to reflect lower of cost or market adjustments and revalue certain assets that may become impaired.
Gross profit. Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2010 was approximately $66.3 million, or 19.6% of net revenues, as compared to approximately $87.7 million, or 26.0% of net revenues in 2009. The decrease was primarily attributable to the changes in cost of net revenues discussed above. We expect that our gross profit percentage will continue to fluctuate from quarter to quarter depending on product mix, competitive selling prices, our ability to reduce product costs and changes in unit volume.
Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2010 were approximately $48.9 million, or 14.4% of net revenues, compared to approximately $44.9 million, or 13.3% of net revenues in 2009. This increase was primarily due to increase in headcount and an increase in product testing and certification costs in the current year to support expanded research and development activities. We believe that focused investments in research and development are critical to our future growth and competitive position in the marketplace and are directly related to timely development of new and enhanced products that are central to our core business strategy. As such, we expect to make further investments in research and development to remain competitive.
Research and development expenses also included approximately $837,000 in 2010 from our M2M Products and Solutions segment related to our Enfora acquisition.
Research and development expenses as a percentage of revenue are expected to fluctuate in future quarters depending on the amount of revenue recognized, and potential variation in the costs associated with the development of our products, including the number and complexity of the products under development and the progress of the development activities with respect to those products. We may increase our investment in research and development to continue to provide innovative products and services.
Sales and marketing expenses. Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2010 were approximately $21.0 million, or 6.2% of net revenues, compared to approximately $19.9 million or 5.9% of net
revenues in 2009. The increase was due primarily to an increase in salaries and related expenses, an increase in expenses related to cooperative marketing and advertising to support marketing efforts for our MiFi product primarily during the first quarter of 2010.
Sales and marketing expenses also included approximately $825,000 in 2010 from our M2M Products and Solutions segment related to our Enfora acquisition.
While managing sales and marketing expenses relative to net revenues, we expect to continue to make selected investments in sales and marketing as we introduce new products, market existing products, expand our distribution channels and focus on key customers around the world.
General and administrative expenses and amortization of acquired intangibles. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2010 were approximately $21.2 million, or 6.3% of net revenues, compared to approximately $20.2 million, or 6.0% of net revenues in 2009. Amortization of acquired intangibles were approximately $179,000 in 2010 were related to intangible assets purchased from Enfora. The increase over the prior year was primarily related to merger and acquisition costs of $3.9 million, partially offset by reductions in other expenses in 2010.
Interest income (expense). Interest income (expense), net, for the year ended December 31, 2010 was approximately $2.5 million of net expense as compared to net interest income of approximately $1.4 million in 2009. Our net interest expense during 2010 is primarily related to interest charges, and debt issuance costs in connection with our repayment of the bridge loan facility during the third quarter of 2010. In addition, the Company’s interest income declined as a result of the liquidation of our investment holdings to facilitate our bid for Cinterion in the second quarter of 2010, the purchase of Enfora in the fourth quarter of 2010, and the overall decline in average yields experienced during the year ended December 31, 2010.
Other income, net. Other income, net for the year ended December 31, 2010 increased by approximately $1.6 million, to approximately $2.0 million, compared to approximately $315,000 of other income in 2009. The increase in other income was primarily driven by a $2.9 million foreign exchange gain realized upon conversion of the Euro-denominated bid funds into U.S. dollars in July 2010 at the conclusion of the bidding process for Cinterion. The gain was offset by $1.2 million in premiums paid for protective put options we utilized to hedge our Euro exposure during the bidding process for Cinterion in the second quarter of 2010. These puts expired unexercised on June 25, 2010.
Income tax expense (benefit). Income tax expense was approximately $7.9 million for fiscal 2010. The difference between the federal and state statutory combined benefit rate of 36% and our income tax expense for 2010 is primarily due to a $17.9 million increase in our valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets. The increase in the valuation allowance includes $14.8 million of valuation allowance recorded during the second quarter of 2010 against U.S.-based deferred tax assets generated prior to 2010, a $4.8 million release of U.S.-based deferred tax asset valuation allowance upon the acquisition of Enfora, and an additional $7.9 million of valuation allowance on deferred tax assets generated in 2010. The valuation allowance and additional items impacting the 2010 income tax expense are discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements. Also, we recorded a $2.9 million tax benefit related to the carryback of our net operating loss in 2010.
Net income (loss). For the year ended December 31, 2010, we reported a net loss of approximately $33.4 million, as compared to net income of approximately $3.9 million in 2009. As discussed above, net loss was negatively impacted by decreases in gross profit, increases in operating expenses and changes in our valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.
Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2008
Net revenues. Net revenues were $337.4 million during 2009, an increase of $16.4 million or 5.1% compared to 2008. Net revenues for EV-DO product driven technology amounted to $291.1 million in 2009, an increase of $106.6 million or 57.8% compared to 2008. We benefited from strong sales of our MiFi product
primarily during the second half of 2009 that contributed significantly to the increase in EV-DO net revenues. In addition, EV-DO net revenues were positively impacted by embedded module sales during the first half of 2009 primarily driven by sales to a content delivery device customer. However, sales of embedded modules to laptop manufacturers significantly decreased year over year due to the impact of competing products available to OEMs during 2009. EV-DO products are primarily sold in the North American market and represented approximately 86.3% of net revenues in the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 57.5% in the same period in 2008.
Net revenues for HSPA product driven technology amounted to $44.4 million in 2009, a decline of $91.2 million or 67.2% compared to 2008. The decrease in sales of HSPA products was primarily due to intense competitive pressure resulting in a steep decline in demand for our products in Europe. HSPA products represented approximately 13.1% of net revenues in the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 42.2% in the same period in 2008.
Cost of net revenues. Cost of net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $249.8 million, or 74.0% of net revenues, as compared to $252.2 million, or 78.6% of net revenues in 2008. The primary driver of the decrease in cost of net revenues in 2009 as a percentage of net revenues as compared to 2008 was a more favorable sales mix toward products with higher gross margins.
Additionally, cost of revenues in 2008 was negatively impacted by inventory write downs to the lower of cost or market in 2008 as compared to 2009. Cost of revenues in 2009 included a $2.3 million inventory write down compared to a $5.9 million write down recorded in 2008. The higher inventory write down in 2008 resulted primarily from the effects of lower average sales prices and demand for our HSPA products due to competitive pressures and the slowdown of global economies.
Gross profit. Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $87.7 million, or 26.0% of net revenues, as compared to $68.7 million, or 21.4% of net revenues in 2008. The increase was primarily attributable to the changes in product mix of net revenues and cost of revenues as discussed above.
Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009 were $44.9 million, or 13.3% of net revenues, compared to $34.7 million, or 10.8% of net revenues in 2008. This increase was primarily due to an increase in headcount, higher stock-based compensation expenses, an increase in product testing and certification costs in the current year to support expanded research and development activities.
Sales and marketing expenses. Sales and marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009 were $19.9 million, or 5.9% of net revenues, compared to $18.2 million or 5.7% of net revenues in 2008. This increase was due primarily to an increase in cooperative marketing and advertising funds to support the launch of new products including MiFi. Although total sales and marketing expenses increased 9.1% during 2009, it remained relatively flat as a percentage of net revenues during 2009.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009 were $20.2 million, or 6.0% of net revenues, compared to $21.6 million, or 6.7% of net revenues in 2008. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to lower bad debt expense and lower professional fees. Professional fees were significantly impacted during 2009 by approximately $2.1 million in legal fees related to our ongoing class action securities litigation and our intellectual property device indemnification obligations as further discussed in Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. During 2008, we incurred $4.0 million in professional fees and related expenses as a result of our internal review of revenue cut-off procedures, internal controls, and accounting related to certain customer contracts.
Interest income (expense). Net interest income decreased by approximately $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 2008. Although our average cash and marketable securities balance increased period over period, average yields decreased.
Other income (expense). Other income for the year ended December 31, 2009 increased by approximately $1.0 million, to $315,000 of income compared to $729,000 of expense in 2008. This increase was primarily due to the year-over-year strengthening of the Euro and the related foreign exchange impact on our respective Euro denominated accounts receivable and cash balances. Also, our gross exposure to Euro-based financial balances decreased year over year due to decreased Euro-based sales.
Income tax expense (benefit). Income tax expense was approximately $527,000 for fiscal 2009, which represents an annual effective tax rate of 12%. The difference between the federal and state statutory combined rate of 36% and our effective tax rate for 2009 is primarily due to the recognition of an approximately $1.4 million benefit in 2009 related to a derecognition of our uncertain tax liability, a benefit of $3.0 million from the impact of research and development tax credits, a $1.1 million tax expense impact of accounting for share-based compensation and a $1.2 million increase in our valuation allowance for our deferred tax assets.
In the third quarter of 2009, we reduced our uncertain tax liability by approximately $3.1 million, including a related interest accrual of approximately $240,000, due to the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to the 2005 taxable year and the completion of the examination of our 2006 federal tax return. Approximately $1.4 million of this amount benefited the 2009 tax provision as a discrete item.
During 2009, we recorded an additional tax expense of approximately $1.1 million associated with share-based compensation. Also, during 2009, management evaluated our deferred tax valuation allowance and determined that valuation allowance should be increased by approximately $1.2 million based on uncertainty associated with our ability to utilize increased deferred tax assets.
Net income (loss). For the year ended December 31, 2009, we reported net income of $3.9 million, as compared to net loss of approximately $1.2 million in 2008. Although operating expenses increased during 2009 compared to the same period last year, net income was favorably impacted by the increases in net revenues and gross margin percentage as discussed above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal sources of liquidity are our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and cash generated from operations. We do not currently have a revolving credit facility or similar loan agreement.
In September 2009, we filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that will allow us to sell up to $125 million of equity, debt or other securities described in the registration statement in one or more offerings by us from time to time. As set forth in the shelf registration statement, the net proceeds from the sale of our securities may be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions. As of the date of this report, we had not issued any securities under this registration statement.
Working Capital, Cash and Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities
The following table presents working capital, cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities:
(1) Included in working capital.
The significant components of our decrease in working capital as of December 31, 2010 compared to the prior year was primarily net cash used for our acquisition of Enfora in the fourth quarter of 2010 of $72.2 million. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable of $27.3 million, which is due to various factors, including an increase in fourth quarter sales volume in 2010, the timing of sales and the timing of related collections. In addition, our inventory and accounts payable balances increased due to expected product launches in fiscal 2011.
As of December 31, 2010, our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities decreased $78.2 million as compared to December 31, 2009, primarily due to consideration paid in connection with our acquisition of Enfora. See the discussion of cash equivalents, short and long-term marketable securities by major security type in Note 3 in the consolidated financial statements, and the discussion of market risk that follows in Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Interest Rate Risk
Our investment portfolio is maintained in accordance with our investment policy that defines allowable investments, specifies credit quality standards and limits our credit exposure to any single issuer. The fair value of our cash equivalents and marketable securities is subject to change as a result of changes in market interest rates and investment risk related to the issuers’ credit worthiness. At December 31, 2010, we had $97.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, all of which are stated at fair value. Changes in market interest rates would not be expected to have a material impact on the fair value of our $5.4 million in cash equivalents at December 31, 2010, as these consisted of money market funds with the value of all of our cash equivalents determined based on “Level 1” inputs, which consist of quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.
At December 31, 2010, substantially all of our marketable securities are invested in fixed income products. As such, our investments in fixed-rate instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. The market value of fixed-rate securities may be adversely impacted due to an increase in interest rates, while floating rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates decline. Due in part to these factors, our future investment market values and income may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates or if the decline in fair value of our publicly traded debt investments is judged to be other-than-temporary. Using a model that estimates the aggregate yield to maturity of our investment portfolio, we estimate that 100 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates would, however, decrease or increase, respectively, our $80 million in marketable securities by approximately $327,000.
However, because any debt securities we hold are classified as available-for-sale (within the meaning of ASC Topic 320), no gains or losses are realized in the income statement due to changes in interest rates unless such securities are sold prior to maturity or unless declines in value are determined to be other-than-temporary. These securities are reported at fair value with the related unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of shareholders’ equity, net of tax.
We do not utilize derivative instruments or other financial contracts to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates in our investment portfolio.
Credit Risk
We maintain our cash and cash equivalents and our marketable securities, which include various security holdings, types and maturities, with a number of financial institutions. Although the global credit crisis appears
to have abated somewhat, credit risk remains. As of the date of this report, we have not identified any significant credit risk associated with any of the financial institutions that maintain our portfolio of cash and cash equivalents and our marketable securities. However, our ability to support our working capital needs depends, in part, on our available cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. As a result, any significant decrease in the value of our investments may materially adversely impact our ability to support our working capital needs.
We place our cash investments in instruments that meet credit quality standards specified in our investment policy guidelines at the time the investments are made. At December 31, 2010, we have cash and cash equivalents of $17.4 million. Of this $17.4 million, $12.0 million is held in cash demand deposits. Our $5.4 million in cash equivalents at December 31, 2010 was held in money market investments. These money market funds attempt to maintain a net asset value (NAV) of $1 per unit of investment. Should the underlying investments held by these money market funds suffer significant losses to market value due to interest rate changes or perceived counterparty risk, the NAV of these money market funds may suffer declines below the targeted $1 NAV. We hold money market funds that target a balance of investment return and preservation of invested capital through diversified holdings. As such, we do not believe we currently have significant exposure to NAV declines for our money market holdings.
At December 31, 2010, we had $80.5 million invested in our portfolio of marketable securities. Our investment policy guidelines limit the amount of credit exposure to any one issue, issuer or type of instrument. The fair value of our marketable securities at December 31, 2010 was determined based on “Level 2” inputs, which were derived based on quoted prices for identical or similar assets, which had few transactions near the measurement period.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We generate Euro-denominated accounts receivable from sales to customers that are members of the European Union, and we lack significant Euro-denominated purchases and trade liabilities to offset our exposure to this Euro denominated accounts receivable activity. During the year ended December 31, 2010, Euro-denominated revenue was approximately $15.7 million. As a result, we are exposed to market risk arising from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, principally change in the value of the Euro versus the U.S. Dollar. To mitigate this risk, we enter into foreign exchange contracts, principally forward currency foreign exchange contracts. These forward currency foreign exchange contracts cover a portion, generally 50% to 80%, but may cover up to 100%, of our Euro-based financial assets.
At December 31, 2010, we had approximately $3.9 million (2.9 million) of Euro-denominated financial assets, as compared to $4.0 million (3.0 million) in forward currency foreign exchange contracts with expiration dates of 125 days or less. At December 31, 2010, we recorded an unrealized loss of approximately $8,000 on our outstanding forward contracts. In addition, at December 31, 2010, we recorded approximately $11,000 in unrealized foreign currency losses related to our outstanding Euro-denominated accounts receivable balances. Both the unrealized gain on the outstanding forward contracts and the unrealized losses on outstanding Euro-denominated receivables were recorded in other income and expense in our consolidated statement of operations.
Assuming a translation of our Euro-denominated revenue for the year ended December 31, 2010 at an average Euro-to-U.S. Dollar exchange rate of $1.32 and a uniform ten percent strengthening or weakening of this exchange rate, we estimate that income before income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2010 would increase or decrease, respectively, by approximately $1.6 million. This analysis does not give effect to any forward currency foreign exchange contracts that may be used to hedge foreign currency risk.
Actual gains and losses in the future may differ materially from the hypothetical gains and losses discussed above based on fluctuations in interest and foreign currency exchange rates and our actual exposure and hedging transactions.
Our sales to non-European Union countries are typically denominated in U.S. Dollars. Competitive conditions in the markets in which we operate may limit our ability to increase prices in the event of adverse changes in currency exchange rates. Sales of these products are affected by the value of the U.S. Dollar relative to other currencies, and in particular, the Euro. Any long-term strengthening of the U.S. dollar could depress the demand for these U.S. manufactured products, reduce sales, or cause us to reduce per unit selling prices.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The index to our consolidated financial statements and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm appears in Part IV of this report.
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports to the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial and accounting officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by SEC rules, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial and accounting officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2010, the end of the period covered by this report. Based on the foregoing, our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2010.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
An evaluation was also performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial and accounting officer, of any change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter and that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Except as disclosed below, that evaluation did not identify any change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our latest fiscal quarter and that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that internal controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies and procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework set forth in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010.
Management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of the recent acquisition of Enfora, Inc. which merged with Novatel Wireless, Inc. on November 30, 2010 and which was included in the 2010 consolidated financial statements of Novatel Wireless, Inc. and consisted of $22.1 million and $13.8 million of total and net assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2010 and $6.5 million and $77,000 of net revenues and operating income, respectively, for the year then ended.
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has also audited our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, as stated in their report which is included herein.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Novatel Wireless, Inc.:
We have audited Novatel Wireless Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Novatel Wireless, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (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 financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (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 financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As indicated in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of Enfora, Inc., which is included in the 2010 consolidated financial statements of Novatel Wireless, Inc. and constituted $22.1 million and $13.8 million of total and net assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2010 and $6.5 million and $77,000 of revenues and operating income, respectively, for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of Novatel Wireless, Inc. also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Enfora, Inc.
In our opinion, Novatel Wireless, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Novatel Wireless, Inc. as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive net income (loss), and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2010 of Novatel Wireless, Inc. and our report dated March 16, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
San Diego, California
March 16, 2011
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
(a) Identification of Directors. The information under the caption “Election of Directors” appearing in the Proxy Statement to be filed for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Identification of Executive Officers. The information under the caption “Executive Officers” appearing in the Proxy Statement to be filed for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
(c) Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. The information under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” appearing in the Proxy Statement to be filed for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
(d) Code of Ethics. We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which, together with the policies referred to therein, is applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is intended to cover all areas of professional conduct, including conflicts of interest, disclosure obligations, insider trading and confidential information, as well as compliance with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to our business. We encourage all employees, officers and directors to promptly report any violations of any of our policies. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on our website at www.novatelwireless.com in the Investor tab under “Corporate Governance.” In the event that a substantive amendment to, or a waiver from, a provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer or principal financial and accounting officer is necessary, we intend to post such information on our website.
(e) Audit Committee. The information under the caption “The Board, Its Committees and Its Compensation-Audit Committee” appearing in the Proxy Statement to be filed for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information under the headings “Executive Compensation,” “The Board, Its Committees and Its Compensation-Director Compensation,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Compensation Committee Report” appearing in the Proxy Statement to be filed for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information under the headings “Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” appearing in the Proxy Statement to be filed for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information under the headings “Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Parties” and “The Board, Its Committees and Its Compensation-Director Independence” appearing in the Proxy Statement to be filed for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information under the heading “Independent Public Accountants” appearing in the Proxy Statement to be filed for the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) 1. Index to consolidated financial statements
See Index to consolidated financial statements on page.
2. Index to financial statement schedules
The following financial statement schedules for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, and related notes thereto.
Schedules not listed above have been omitted because they are not applicable or are not required or the information required to be set forth therein is included in the consolidated financial statements or related notes thereto.
(b) Exhibits
The following Exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into this report:
* Management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement
** Filed herewith
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.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Know all men by these presents, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Peter Leparulo and Kenneth Leddon, or either of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
S-1
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
Financial Statement Schedule II
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share data)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Novatel Wireless, Inc. (the “Company”) is a provider of wireless broadband access solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Our broad range of products principally includes intelligent mobile hotspots, USB modems, embedded PCI and wireless PC-card modems, and communications and applications software. In addition, through our acquisition of Enfora Inc. (“Enfora”) on November 30, 2010, we provide asset-management solutions utilizing wireless technology and machine-to-machine (“M2M”) communications devices.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Reclassifications
The Company reclassified the deferred tax asset arising from its liability for uncertain tax positions against the balance of its liability for its unrecognized tax benefits. This reclassification was applied to the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009 and amounted to $5.1 million. This reclassification did not impact net income (loss) or total stockholders’ equity.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosure of contingent liabilities. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Significant estimates include allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, provision for excess and obsolete inventory, valuation of intangible and long-lived assets, valuation of contingent consideration, royalty costs, provision for warranty costs, income taxes and share-based compensation expense.
Difficult global economic conditions, tight credit markets, volatile equity, foreign currency and energy markets and declines in consumer spending have combined to increase the uncertainty inherent in these estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates, particularly those related to the condition of the economy.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of acquisition. Cash and cash equivalents consist of demand deposits and money market funds. Cash and cash equivalents are recorded at market value, which approximates cost. Gains and losses associated with the Company’s foreign currency denominated demand deposits are recorded as a component of other income (expense).
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable
The Company provides an allowance for its accounts receivable for estimated losses that may result from its customers’ inability to pay. The Company determines the amount of the allowance by analyzing known uncollectible accounts, aged receivables, economic conditions, historical losses, and changes in customer payment cycles and our customers’ credit-worthiness. Amounts later determined and specifically identified to be uncollectible are charged or written off against this allowance. To minimize the likelihood of uncollectibility,
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
the Company reviews its customers’ credit-worthiness periodically based on credit scores generated by independent credit reporting services, its experience with its customers and the economic condition of its customers’ industries. Material differences may result in the amount and timing of expense for any period if the Company were to make different judgments or utilize different estimates. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers deteriorates resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.
Marketable Securities
Marketable securities consist of highly liquid investments with a maturity of greater than three months when purchased. All of the Company’s marketable securities are treated as “available-for-sale” as defined in this accounting guidance. While it is the Company’s intent to hold such securities until maturity, the Company may sell certain securities for cash flow purposes. Thus, the Company’s marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are carried on the balance sheet at fair value with the related unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of stockholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses on the sale of marketable securities are determined using the specific-identification method. The Company determines the fair value of its financial assets and liabilities by reference to the hierarchy of inputs which consists of three levels: Level 1 fair values are valuations based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity has the ability to access; Level 2 fair values are those valuations based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; and Level 3 fair values are valuations based on inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
All securities whose maturity or sale is expected within one year are classified as “current” on the consolidated balance sheet. All other securities are classified as “long term” on the consolidated balance sheet.
Inventories and Provision for Excess and Obsolete Inventory
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market. Shipping and handling costs are classified as a component of cost of net revenues in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company reviews the components of its inventory and its inventory purchase commitments on a regular basis for excess and obsolete inventory based on estimated future usage and sales. Write-downs in inventory value or losses on inventory purchase commitments depend on various items, including factors related to customer demand, economic and competitive conditions, technological advances or new product introductions by the Company or its customers that vary from its current expectations. Whenever inventory is written down, a new cost basis is established and the inventory is not subsequently written up if market conditions improve.
The Company believes that, when made, the estimates used in calculating the inventory provision are reasonable and properly reflect the risk of excess and obsolete inventory. If customer demand for the Company’s inventory is substantially less than its estimates, inventory write-downs may be required, which could have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial statements.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method. Test equipment, computer equipment, purchased software, furniture, and fixtures and product tooling are depreciated over lives ranging from eighteen months to five years and leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the related remaining lease period or useful life. Amortization of assets held under capital leases is included in depreciation expense.
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Expenditures for major renewals and betterments that extend the useful lives of existing property and equipment are capitalized and depreciated. Upon retirement or disposition of property and equipment, any resulting gain or loss is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets include purchased intangible assets acquired from Enfora and the costs of non-exclusive and perpetual worldwide software technology licenses. These costs are amortized on an accelerated basis or on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, depending on the anticipated utilization of the asset. License fees are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the term of the license or an estimate of their useful life, ranging from one to three years. Backlog is amortized on an accelerated basis based on the anticipated utilization over five months. Developed technology is amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives, ranging from five to eight years. Covenant-not-to-complete agreements are amortized over the term of the agreements, ranging from one to two years. Customer relationships and trade names are amortized on a straight-line basis over ten years.
Long-Lived Assets
The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of the unamortized balances of its long-lived assets, including property and equipment and intangible assets, to determine whether impairment of these assets has occurred or whether a revision to the related amortization periods should be made. When the carrying value of an asset exceeds the associated undiscounted expected future cash flows, it is considered to be impaired and is written down to fair value. Fair value is determined based on an evaluation of the assets associated undiscounted future cash flows or appraised value. This evaluation is based on management’s projections of the undiscounted future cash flows associated with each class of asset. If management’s evaluation indicates that the carrying values of these assets are impaired, such impairment is recognized by a reduction of the applicable asset carrying value to its estimated fair value and is expensed as a part of continuing operations.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquired enterprise over the fair value assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Goodwill is allocated as of the date of the business combination to the reporting units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the business combination. Goodwill is considered to be impaired if the Company determines that the carrying value of the reporting unit to which the goodwill has been assigned exceeds its estimated fair value. The Company plans to perform its annual goodwill impairment test each year at the beginning of the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its fair value.
Contingent Consideration
Contingent consideration is recorded at the acquisition date estimated fair value of the contingent payment for all acquisitions. The fair value of the contingent consideration is remeasured at each reporting period with any adjustments in fair value included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.
Revenue Recognition
The Company’s revenue is principally generated from the sale of wireless modems to wireless operators, OEM customers and value added resellers and distributors. In addition, the Company generates revenue from the sale of asset-management solutions utilizing wireless technology and M2M communication devices to transportation and industrial companies, medical device manufacturers and security system providers. Revenue
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
from product sales is recognized upon the later of transfer of title or shipment of the product to the customer. Where the transfer of title or risk of loss is contingent on the customer’s acceptance of the product, the Company will not recognize revenue until both title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer. The Company records deferred revenue for cash payments received from customers in advance of when revenue recognition criteria are met. The Company has granted price protection to certain customers in accordance with the provisions of the respective contracts and tracks pricing and other terms offered to customers buying similar products to assess compliance with these provisions. The Company estimates the amount of price protection for current period product sales utilizing historical experience and information regarding customer inventory levels. To date, the Company has not incurred material price protection obligations. Revenues from sales to certain customers are subject to cooperative advertising allowances. Cooperative advertising allowances are recorded as an operating expense to the extent that the advertising benefit is separable from the revenue transaction and the fair value of that advertising benefit is determinable. To the extent that such allowances either do not provide a separable benefit to the Company, or the fair value of the advertising benefit cannot be reliably estimated, such amounts are recorded as a reduction of revenue. The Company establishes reserves for estimated product returns allowances in the period in which revenue is recognized. In estimating future product returns, the Company considers various factors, including the Company’s stated return policies and practices and historical trends.
In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-13. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance on January 1, 2010 on a prospective basis, which did not have a material impact upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements since prior to 2010 we had minimal arrangements that would be impacted by this guidance. This standard modifies the revenue recognition guidance for arrangements that involve the delivery of multiple elements, such as product, software, services and support, to a customer at different times as part of a single revenue generating transaction. The standard provides principles and application guidance to determine whether multiple deliverables exist, how the individual deliverables should be separated and how to allocate the revenue in the arrangement among those separate deliverables. Specifically, it modifies the separation criteria by eliminating the criterion that requires objective and reliable evidence of fair value for the undelivered item(s), and eliminates the use of the residual method of allocation and instead requires that arrangement consideration be allocated, at the inception of the arrangement, to all deliverables based on their relative selling price.
Under ASU 2009-13, in multiple element arrangements, the total consideration received from customers must be allocated to the elements based on a relative selling price. The new accounting guidance establishes a hierarchy to determine the selling price to be used for allocating revenue to deliverables as follows: (i) vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value (“VSOE”), (ii) third-party evidence of selling price (“TPE”), and (iii) best estimate of the selling price (“ESP”). Because the Company has neither VSOE nor TPE, revenue has been based on the Company’s ESP. Amounts allocated to the delivered hardware and the related essential software are recognized at the time of the sale provided all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. Amounts allocated to post contract support (“PCS”) are recognized on a straight-line basis over the PCS period, usually twelve months.
The Company’s process for determining its ESP for deliverables without VSOE or TPE considers multiple factors that may vary depending upon the unique facts and circumstances related to each deliverable. Its prices are determined based upon cost to produce the Company’s products, expected order quantities and acceptance in the marketplace. In addition, when developing ESPs for products the Company may consider other factors as appropriate including the pricing of competitive alternatives if they exist, and product-specific business objectives.
The Company accounts for multiple element arrangements that primarily consist of software licenses and PCS by allocating revenue to each element based on vendor specific evidence of fair value. If the Company cannot objectively determine the fair value of any undelivered element included in such multiple-element arrangements, the entire revenue and cost of revenue for such arrangements are recognized as revenue ratably
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
over the term of the PCS or the delivery of the services, whichever is longer. For multi-element arrangements which also include services that are essential to the operation of the software, the revenue and cost of revenue for such arrangements are generally deferred until the services essential to the operation of the software have been performed, at which point the entire revenue and cost of revenue for such arrangements are recognized as revenue ratably over the remaining term of the PCS or the delivery of non-essential services, whichever is longer.
In October 2009, the FASB also issued ASU 2009-14, to amend the scope of arrangements under existing software revenue recognition authoritative literature to exclude tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver a product’s essential functionality. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance on January 1, 2010, which did not have a material impact upon its consolidated financial statements.
For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, the Company has not recorded any significant revenues from multiple element or software arrangements.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Warranty Costs
The Company accrues warranty costs based on estimates of future warranty related replacement, repairs or rework of products. Our warranty policy generally provides one to three years of coverage for products following the date of purchase. The Company’s policy is to accrue the estimated cost of warranty coverage as a component of cost of revenue in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations at the time revenue is recognized. In estimating its future warranty obligations the Company considers various factors, including the historical frequency and volume of claims, and the cost to replace or repair products under warranty. The warranty provision for its products is determined by using a financial model to estimate future warranty costs. The Company’s financial model takes into consideration actual product failure rates; estimated replacement, repair or rework expenses; and potential risks associated with our different products. The risk levels, warranty cost information, and failure rates used within this model are reviewed throughout the year and updated, if and when, these inputs change.
Royalty Costs
The Company has intellectual property license agreements which generally require the Company to make royalty payments based on a percentage of the revenue generated by sales of products incorporating the licensed technology. The Company recognizes royalty obligations in accordance with the terms of the respective royalty agreements. Royalty costs are recorded as a component of cost of revenues in the period when incurred.
Income Taxes
The Company recognizes federal, state and foreign current tax liabilities or assets based on our estimate of taxes payable to or refundable by tax authorities in the current fiscal year. The Company also recognizes federal, state and foreign deferred tax liabilities or assets based on the Company’s estimate of future tax effects attributable to temporary differences and carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.
Deferred tax assets are reduced by valuation allowances if, based on the consideration of all available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company evaluates deferred income taxes on a quarterly basis to determine if valuation allowances are required by considering available evidence. If the Company is unable to generate sufficient future taxable income in certain
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
tax jurisdictions, or if there is a material change in the actual effective tax rates or time period within which the underlying temporary differences become taxable or deductible, the Company could be required to increase its valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets which could result in a decrease in the Company’s effective tax rate and an adverse impact on operating results. The Company will continue to evaluate the necessity of the valuation allowance based on the remaining deferred tax assets.
The Company follows the accounting guidance related to financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions. The Company recognizes the impact of an uncertain income tax position on an income tax return at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant taxing authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained.
Derivatives and Hedging
The Company’s derivative financial instruments consist solely of foreign currency forward exchange contracts. The purpose of these derivative instruments is to hedge the Company’s economic exposure associated with accounts receivable and cash balances denominated in Euros. The Company’s forward contracts do not qualify as accounting hedges. As a result, the Company marks-to-market the forward contracts and includes unrealized gains and losses in the current period as a component of other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations.
Litigation
The Company is currently involved in certain legal proceedings. The Company will record a loss when the Company determines information available prior to the issuance of the financial statements indicates the loss is both probable and estimable. Where a liability is probable and there is a range of estimated loss with no best estimate in the range, the Company records the minimum estimated liability related to the claim. As additional information becomes available, the Company assesses the potential liability related to the Company’s pending litigation and revises its estimates, if necessary. The Company’s policy is to expense litigation costs as incurred.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company has granted stock options to employees and restricted stock units. The Company also at times has had an employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”) for eligible employees. The Company measures the compensation cost associated with all share-based payments based on grant date fair values. The fair value of each employee stock option and employee stock purchase right is estimated on the date of grant using an option pricing model that meets certain requirements. The Company currently uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of our stock options and stock purchase rights. The Black-Scholes model is considered an acceptable model but the fair values generated by it may not be indicative of the actual fair values of our equity awards as it does not consider certain factors important to those awards to employees, such as continued employment and periodic vesting requirements as well as limited transferability. The determination of the fair value of share-based payment awards utilizing the Black-Scholes model is affected by our stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected term, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends.
For grants of stock options, the Company uses a blend of historical and implied volatility for traded options on its stock in order to estimate the expected volatility assumption required in the Black-Scholes model. The Company’s use of a blended volatility estimate in computing the expected volatility assumption for stock options is based on its belief that while that implied volatility is representative of expected future volatility, the historical volatility over the expected term of the award is also an indicator of expected future volatility. Due to the short duration of employee stock purchase rights under our ESPP, the Company utilizes historical volatility in order to estimate the expected volatility assumption of the Black-Scholes model.
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The expected term of stock options granted is estimated using the average of the vesting date, the contractual term and historical experience. The expected term of an employee stock purchase right is the contractual term of that right. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on observed interest rates appropriate for the expected terms of our stock options and employee stock purchase rights. The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s history and expectation of no dividend payouts. The fair value of the Company’s restricted stock units is based on the closing market price of its common stock on the date of grant. The Company will evaluate the assumptions used to value stock awards on a quarterly basis. If factors change and the Company employs different assumptions, share-based compensation expense may differ significantly from what it has recorded in the past. If there are any modifications or cancellations of the underlying unvested securities, the Company may be required to accelerate, increase or cancel any remaining unearned share-based compensation expense. To the extent that the Company grants additional equity securities to employees or it assumes unvested securities in connection with any acquisitions, its share-based compensation expense will be increased by the additional unearned compensation resulting from those additional grants or acquisitions.
Compensation cost associated with grants of restricted stock units are measured at fair value, which has historically been the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant.
The Company recognizes share-based compensation expense using the straight-line method for awards that contain only service conditions. For awards that contain performance conditions, the Company recognizes the share-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis for each vesting tranche. The Company estimates forfeitures at the time of grant and revises these estimates, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company estimates its forfeiture rate assumption for all types of share based compensation awards based historical forfeiture rates related to each category of award.
Computation of Net Income (Loss) Per Share
The Company computes basic and diluted per share data for all periods for which a statement of operations is presented. Basic net income (loss) per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of shares that were outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to acquire common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Potential dilutive securities are excluded from the diluted EPS computation in loss periods as their effect would be anti-dilutive.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value due to their short-term nature. The Company performs credit evaluations of key customers and management believes it is not exposed to significant credit risk on its accounts receivable in excess of established reserves.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net earnings and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-16, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, guidance that expands the interim and annual disclosure requirements of fair value measurements, including the information about movement of assets between Level 1 and 2 of the three-tier fair value hierarchy established
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
under its fair value measurement guidance. This guidance also requires separate disclosure for purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs using Level 3 methodologies. Except for the detailed disclosure in the Level 3 reconciliation, which is effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, all the other disclosures under this guidance became effective during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. We adopted the relevant provisions of this guidance effective January 1, 2010, which did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
In April 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-17, “Revenue Recognition-Milestone Method”, which provides guidance on when it may be appropriate to apply the milestone method of revenue recognition for research or development transactions. Under the milestone method of revenue recognition, a vendor can recognize consideration that is contingent upon achievement of a milestone as revenue in the period in which the milestone is achieved only if the milestone meets all criteria that are considered to be substantive. Accordingly, this ASU provides guidance on the definition of a milestone and determining whether a milestone is substantive. This accounting guidance is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2010. We have adopted this guidance effective July 1, 2010, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2010, the FASB updated its guidance related to when to perform step two of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. The updated guidance requires that for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount, and entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company does not expect adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
In December 2010, the FASB updated its guidance related to disclosure of supplementary pro forma information for business combinations. The updated guidance requires that if comparative financial statements are presented, the pro forma revenue and earnings of the combined entity for the comparable prior reporting period should be reported as though the acquisition date for all business combinations that occurred during the current year had been as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The updated guidance is effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted. The Company has adopted the updated guidance for its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.
2. Merger and Acquisition Activities
Cinterion
In June 2010, the Company submitted a bid to purchase certain assets of Cinterion, a company in the cellular machine-to-machine communications industry, in connection with an insolvency proceeding. The Company was not the successful bidder at the conclusion of the process on June 28, 2010. In connection with the bid, the Company borrowed $30.0 million under a bridge loan facility in June 2010 which was subsequently repaid in July 2010. The Company recognized $3.1 million of debt issuance costs related to the bridge loan facility. This amount was recorded as interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010. The Company also realized a $1.7 million of foreign currency gain, net of hedging transaction costs, to address foreign currency risk also related to the bid. This amount was recorded in other income in the consolidated statement of operations during the year ended December 31, 2010. The Company
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
also incurred $1.3 million in legal, advisory and professional fees related to the acquisition bid, which were recorded and classified as general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations during the year ended December 31, 2010.
Enfora
On November 30, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of Enfora, a Texas-based provider of intelligent asset-management solutions utilizing wireless technology and M2M communications. The acquisition of Enfora diversifies the Company’s customer base and product lines into adjacent markets and advances the Company’s strategy of providing intelligent devices to all end markets-enterprise, consumer and vertical applications.
Enfora’s results of operations and estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed were included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements beginning November 30, 2010. The revenue and operating results contributed by Enfora during the year ended December 31, 2010 are disclosed in our Segment Information and Concentrations of Risk footnote (see Note 10). Acquisition costs related to the merger of Enfora of $1.9 million were recorded and classified as general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations during the year ended December 31, 2010.
Acquisition consideration
Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, the Company paid cash of $64.5 million and additional cash of $13.0 million for an agreed upon amount of Enfora working capital. The Company has also agreed to pay additional consideration (“contingent consideration”) of up to $6.0 million based on the operating results of Enfora for the 15 month period from October 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011. The estimated fair value of this contingent consideration is $0.9 million, resulting in total cash to be paid of $78.4 million. The liability for contingent consideration is included in other long-term liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2010.
Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation
The Company accounted for the transaction using the acquisition method and, accordingly, the consideration has been allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the basis of their respective estimated fair values on the acquisition date as set forth below. The excess of the purchase price over the preliminary net tangible assets and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recorded as goodwill. The purchase price was allocated using the information available and is preliminary. The Company may adjust the preliminary purchase price allocation after obtaining more information regarding preliminary estimates of net deferred tax assets and potential limitations on their use. The Company’s allocation of the total purchase price is summarized below (in thousands):
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The goodwill resulting from the merger consists largely of the expectation that the combination will allow the Company to be uniquely positioned to benefit from the anticipated growth in wireless broadband access and M2M markets. All of the goodwill was assigned to the M2M Products and Solutions segment. Approximately $10.7 million of goodwill is deductible for tax purposes as a result of the Enfora acquisition.
Valuation of Intangible Assets Acquired
The following table sets forth the components of intangible assets acquired in connection with the Enfora acquisition (in thousands):
Developed technology represents the fair values of Enfora products that have reached technological feasibility and are a part of Enfora’s product lines. Backlog represents the fair value of Enfora’s customer submitted sales orders. Customer relationships represent the fair value of Enfora’s acquired customer list and its associated after-tax cash flow projected over its remaining useful life. Covenant-not-to-compete agreements represent the fair values of Enfora’s future revenues lost to certain parties if they were to compete against the Company in the absence of a non-compete agreement. Trade names represent the fair values of brand and name recognition associated with the marketing of Enfora’s products and services.
The estimated fair values of acquired intangible assets were determined using the valuation methodology deemed to be the most appropriate for each type of asset being valued. Each of the valuation methodologies used were methods under the income approach. The developed technologies, backlog and customer relationships used the multi-period excess earnings method under a revenue splitting technique. The trade name valuation used the relief from royalty method. The covenant-not-to-compete agreements valuation used the “with and without” method.
Actual and Pro Forma Results of Enfora Acquisition
The amounts of revenue and net loss of Enfora included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations from the acquisition date, through the period ended December 31, 2010, are as follows (in thousands):
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table presents the unaudited pro forma results for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. The unaudited pro forma financial information for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 combines the results of operations of Novatel Wireless and Enfora as though the companies had been combined as of the beginning of fiscal 2009. The pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved if the acquisition and related borrowings had taken place at the beginning of fiscal 2009. The following unaudited pro forma results presented include amortization charges for acquired intangible assets, inventory fair value adjustments, eliminations of intercompany transactions, adjustments to interest expense, reduction in share-based compensation and related tax effects (in thousands, except per share data):
3. Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities
The Company’s fair value measurements relate to its cash equivalents and foreign exchange forward contracts, which are classified pursuant to authoritative guidance for fair value measurements. The Company places its cash equivalents in instruments that meet credit quality standards, specified in its investment policy guidelines. These guidelines also limit the amount of credit exposure to any one issue, issuer or type of instrument.
The Company’s cash equivalents consist of its investment in money market securities. The Company values its investments in money market securities based on quoted market prices in active markets (Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy).
The Company’s investment portfolio consists primarily of investment-grade corporate bonds, municipal bonds, time deposits and government and agency securities. These types of financial instruments are valued based on quoted prices in markets that are not active, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency (Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy). From time to time, the Company may utilize foreign exchange forward contracts. These contracts are valued using pricing models that take into account the currency rates as of the balance sheet date (Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy). The contingent consideration liability represents future amounts the Company may be required to pay in conjunction with its Enfora acquisition at November 30, 2010 (see Note 2). The Company estimates the fair value of the contingent consideration liability using probability-weighted scenarios calculated at net present value (level 3 of the fair value hierarchy).
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table summarizes the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with the authoritative guidance for fair value measurements as of December 31, 2010 (in thousands):
There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 securities during the twelve months ended December 31, 2010. All of our long-term marketable securities had maturities of between one and two years in duration at December 31, 2010.
As of December 31, 2010, the total amount of outstanding foreign exchange forward contracts amounted to 3.0 million ($4.0 million using the exchange rate of $1.33 at December 31, 2010). These contracts are used to hedge the Company’s Euro-denominated cash and accounts receivable balances. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded an unrealized loss of $8,000, and an unrealized gain of $30,000, respectively, on its outstanding foreign currency forward exchange contracts.
For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded losses of $38,000, gains of $446,000 and losses of $323,000, respectively, on its Euro denominated foreign exchange forward contracts. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded foreign currency gains and losses on foreign currency denominated transactions of approximately $1.7 million gain, $420,000 loss and $406,000 loss, respectively. The gains during the twelve months ended December 31, 2010 primarily relate to a $2.9 million foreign currency gain realized on the liquidation of the Company’s cash holdings in Euros at the conclusion of the insolvency proceeding for the sale of Cinterion. In addition to the foreign exchange forward contact activity described above, during the second quarter of 2010 the Company paid $1.2 million to enter into several Euro-denominated put options to hedge the foreign currency risk associated with its cash holdings in Euros related to the Cinterion bid process. These put options expired unexercised on June 25, 2010.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
All recorded gains and losses (including the $1.2 million in expense for premiums paid on Euro-denominated put options) on foreign exchange transactions are recorded in other income (expense), net, within the consolidated statements of operations.
4. Financial Statement Details
Marketable Securities
The Company’s portfolio of available-for-sale securities by contractual maturity consists of the following (in thousands):
At December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded net unrealized gains of $21,000 and $15,000, respectively. The Company’s net unrealized gains are the result of market conditions affecting fixed-income securities and are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheets.
At December 31, 2010, the Company did not have any investments in individual securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position deemed to be temporary for more than twelve months. Considering the high quality of our investment securities and our historical investment management trends, the Company believes that the unrealized losses at December 31, 2010 represent a temporary condition and will not result in realized losses on sale or maturity of the securities.
Inventories
Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consists of the following (in thousands):
The carrying values of long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the recorded value cannot be recovered from the undiscounted future cash flows. When the carrying value of an asset exceeds the associated undiscounted expected future cash flows, it is considered to be impaired and is written down to fair value, which is determined based on either undiscounted future cash flows or appraised values. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded $167,000, $92,000 and $638,000, respectively, in its cost of net revenues as a result of its impairment analysis.
Depreciation and amortization expense relating to property and equipment was $10.0 million, $11.4 million and $10.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):
The Company monitors its intangible and long-lived asset balances and conducts formal tests on at least an annual basis or earlier when impairment indicators are present. There was no impairment loss recorded for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company recorded $202,000, in its cost of net revenues as a result of its impairment analysis.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Amortization expense relating to intangible licenses was $744,000, $1.6 million and $1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Amortization expense related to licenses obtained for research purposes is recorded within research and development expense in the consolidated statements of operations. Amortization expense related to licenses obtained for commercial products is recorded in cost of revenues in the consolidated statements of operations.
Amortization expense of $658,000 related to developed technology and backlog acquired during 2010 was recorded in cost of net revenues in the consolidated financial statements. Amortization expense of $179,000 related to customer relationships, non-compete agreements, and trademarks acquired during 2010 was recorded in amortization of acquired intangibles in the consolidated statements of operations.
Future estimated amortization expense is as follows (in thousands):
At December 31, 2010, the weighted average remaining useful life of the Company’s intangible assets is 7.5 years.
Goodwill
Goodwill was allocated to the Company’s business segments as of December 31, 2010 as follows (in thousands):
During fiscal 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of Enfora, Inc. which resulted in the recognition of $22.3 million in goodwill. The Company will evaluate goodwill on an annual basis as of the beginning of its fourth fiscal quarter and whenever events and changes in circumstances indicate that there may be a potential impairment.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):
5. Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income or loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.
Potentially dilutive securities (consisting of options, warrants, restricted stock and employee stock purchase plan withholdings using the treasury stock method) are excluded from the diluted EPS computation in loss periods and when the effect using the treasury stock method would result in a decrease in shares.
The following table sets forth the computation of diluted weighted average common and potential common shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively (in thousands).
Weighted average options, warrants, restricted stock units and ESPP shares to purchase a total of 3,675,163 shares, 3,149,937 shares and 3,833,226 shares of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as their effect was anti-dilutive.
6. Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred Stock
The Company has a total of 2,000,000 shares of Series A and Series B preferred stock authorized for issuance at a par value of $0.001 per share. No preferred shares are currently issued or outstanding.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Common Shares Reserved for Future Issuance
The Company has reserved shares of common stock for possible future issuance as of December 31, 2010 as follows (in thousands):
Treasury Stock
During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company repurchased a total of 2,435,853 shares of its outstanding common stock for $25.0 million. The Repurchase Program was completed in the third quarter of 2008. The Company currently holds these repurchased shares as treasury stock.
7. Stock Incentive and Employee Stock Purchase Plans
During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company granted awards under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2009 Plan”). The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors administers the plan.
Under the 2009 Plan, a maximum of 2.5 million shares of common stock may be issued upon the exercise of stock options, in the form of restricted stock, or in settlement of restricted stock units or other awards, including awards with alternative vesting schedules such as performance-based criteria.
For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the following table presents total share-based compensation expense in each functional line item on our consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
The per share fair values of stock options granted in connection with stock incentive plans and rights granted in connection with employee stock purchase plans have been estimated with the following weighted average assumptions.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Stock Options
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determines eligibility, vesting schedules and exercise prices for options granted. Options granted under the 2009 Plan and previous plans generally have a term of ten years, and in the case of new hires, generally vest and become exercisable at the rate of 25% after one year and ratably on a monthly basis over a period of thirty-six months thereafter. Subsequent option grants to existing employees generally vest and become exercisable ratably on a monthly basis over a period of 48 months measured from the date of grant.
A summary of stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2010 is presented below (dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data):
The total intrinsic value of options exercised to purchase common stock during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was approximately $364,000, $633,000 and $26,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, total unrecognized share-based compensation cost related to unvested stock options was $5.5 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 2.3 years. The total fair value of option awards recognized as expense during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was approximately $3.5 million, $3.6 million and $3.5 million, respectively. The weighted average fair value of option awards granted during years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $3.62, $4.07 and $3.82, respectively.
Restricted Stock Units
The Company may issue restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that, upon satisfaction of vesting conditions, allow for employees and non-employee directors to receive common stock. Issuances of such awards reduce common stock available under the 2009 Plan for stock incentive awards. The Company measures compensation cost associated with grants of RSUs at fair value, which is generally the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant.
During 2010, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, pursuant to the 2009 Plan, awarded employees a total of 620,236 RSUs, including 235,900 RSUs to Enfora employees in connection with the acquisition (the “Enfora RSUs”), at fair values ranging from $6.95 per share to $9.76 per share. Generally, one-third of the shares underlying each grant become issuable on the anniversary of each grant date, assuming continued employment or other qualifying service to the Company through such date. However, one-fourth of the shares underlying each grant of the Enfora RSUs become issuable on the anniversary of each grant date, assuming continued employment or other qualifying service to the Company through such date. Based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock price at the grant dates, the Company estimated the aggregate fair value of these awards at approximately $5.0 million. The estimated fair value of these awards is being amortized to compensation expense for each grant on a straight-line basis over the estimated service period.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
During 2009, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, awarded a total of 424,416 RSUs to employees at fair values ranging from $5.51 per share to $11.83 per share. Generally, one-third of the shares underlying each grant become issuable on the anniversary of each grant date, assuming continued employment or other qualifying service to the Company through such date. Based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock price at the grant dates, the Company estimated the aggregate fair value of these awards at approximately $2.5 million. The estimated fair value of these awards is being amortized to compensation expense for each grant on a straight-line basis, which is predominately over a three-year service period.
During 2008, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, awarded a total of 83,595 RSUs to employees at fair values ranging from $3.00 per share to $3.50 per share. One-third of the shares underlying each grant becomes issuable on January 16, 2009, 2010, and 2011, assuming continued employment or other qualifying service to the Company through such date. The Company estimated the aggregate fair value of these awards to the employees at approximately $263,000, based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock price at the grant date. The estimated fair value of these awards is being amortized to compensation expense for each grant on a straight-line basis over the three-year service period.
During 2007, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, awarded a total of 106,773 RSUs to employees and six non-employee directors at fair values ranging $10.40 per share to $25.22 per share. The shares underlying the RSUs become issuable in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, assuming continued employment or other qualifying service to the Company through each vesting date. The Company estimated the aggregate fair value of these awards to the employees and non- employee directors at approximately $1.3 million, based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock price at the grant date. Compensation cost is being amortized to compensation expense for each grant on straight-line basis over the three-year service period.
In January 2007 and October 2007, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors also awarded a total of 100,000 RSUs and 150,000 RSUs to certain executives and to the Company’s Executive Chairman, respectively, at fair values of $10.40 and $25.49 per share, respectively. One-third of the shares underlying each grant became issuable annually each January, commencing in 2008, subject to achievement of specific operating metrics in fiscal 2007 and continued employment through each vesting date. As of December 31, 2007, all of the operating metrics had been achieved resulting in satisfaction of the performance conditions for the awards. The Company estimated the aggregate fair value of these awards at approximately $4.8 million, which was amortized to compensation expense on a straight-line basis for each vesting tranche. The total fair value of these performance based RSUs recognized as expense during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was approximately $654,000 and $1.8 million, respectively. No performance based equity awards were made to executives for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008.
A summary of restricted stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2010 is presented below (shares in thousands):
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
As of December 31, 2010, there was $4.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested RSUs. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.3 years. The total fair value of RSUs recognized as expense during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $1.7 million, $2.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively.
2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company’s 2000 ESPP permits eligible employees of the Company to purchase newly issued shares of common stock, at a price equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market value on (i) the first day of the offering period or (ii) the last day of each six-month purchase period, through payroll deductions of up to 10% of their annual cash compensation. In June 2009, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the ESPP to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the ESPP by 750,000 shares, extend the term of the ESPP to June 2019, cease the automatic annual increase in the number of shares available for issuance under the ESPP and make certain other technical changes.
During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company issued 514,540, 425,941 and 78,050 shares, respectively, under the ESPP. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company received $1.7 million, $1.3 million and $726,000, respectively, in cash through employee withholdings.
On November 4, 2010, the Company announced the termination of the ESPP as of November 15, 2010 due to a lack of available shares. The cancellation of the awards was accounted for as a repurchase for no consideration. The previously unrecognized compensation cost as of November 15, 2010 of $316,000 was fully expensed in the fourth quarter of 2010.
The total fair value of ESPP awards recognized as expense during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $944,000, $1.2 million and $494,000, respectively.
8. Income Taxes
Total income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were allocated as follows (in thousands):
Income (loss) before taxes for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is comprised of the following (in thousands):
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is comprised of the following (in thousands):
The Company’s deferred tax assets consist of the following (in thousands):
The Company recognizes federal, state and foreign current tax liabilities or assets based on its estimate of taxes payable to or refundable by tax authorities in the current fiscal year. The Company also recognizes federal, state and foreign deferred tax liabilities or assets based on the Company’s estimate of future tax effects attributable to temporary differences and carry forwards. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce any deferred tax assets by the amount of any tax benefits that, based on available evidence and judgment, are not expected to be realized.
The Company assesses whether a valuation allowance should be recorded against its deferred tax assets based on the consideration of all available evidence, using a “more likely than not” realization standard. The four
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
sources of taxable income that must be considered in determining whether deferred tax assets will be realized are: (1) future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences (i.e., offset of gross deferred tax assets against gross deferred tax liabilities); (2) taxable income in prior carryback years, if carryback is permitted under the applicable tax law; (3) tax planning strategies; and (4) future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards.
After a review of the four sources of taxable income described above and after considering the possibility of being in a three year cumulative loss position at the end of 2010, the Company recognized an increase in the valuation allowance related to its U.S.-based deferred tax amounts, with a corresponding charge to income tax expense, of $14.8 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2010.
In assessing whether a valuation allowance is required, significant weight is to be given to evidence that can be objectively verified. A significant factor in the Company’s assessment at December 31, 2010 is that the Company is in a three-year historical cumulative loss position. This fact, combined with uncertain near-term market and economic conditions, reduced the Company’s ability to rely on projections of future taxable income in assessing the realizability of its deferred tax assets.
Related to the Company’s acquisition of Enfora on November 30, 2010, the Company assumed U.S.-based net deferred tax liabilities of $4.8 million. This net deferred tax liability predominantly resulted from the estimated future tax impact of fair values assigned to intangible assets purchased upon the acquisition of Enfora as offset by Enfora related estimated deferred tax assets resulting from net operating loss and research and development tax credit carry forwards generated prior to the acquisition of Enfora by the Company. Consistent with accounting guidance, the Company released $4.8 million of its U.S.-based valuation allowance related to the then existing 100% valuation allowance against the Company’s U.S.-based deferred tax assets.
At December 31, 2010, the allowance consisted of $18.9 million relating to the Company’s domestic tax assets and $2.9 million related to the Company’s Canadian deferred tax assets. At December 31, 2009, the allowance consisted of $2.2 million relating to the Company’s domestic net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and $1.7 million related to certain to the Company’s Canadian deferred tax assets.
The net unreserved portion of the Company’s remaining deferred tax assets at December 31, 2010 primarily related to research and development tax credits associated with the Company’s Canadian subsidiary.
During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded deferred income tax expense of $17.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively, related to the changes in the valuation allowances on deferred tax assets. During the year ended 2008, the Company recorded a deferred income tax expense of $1.4 million related to the changes in the valuation allowances on deferred tax assets.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The provision (benefit) for income taxes reconciles to the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 34% in 2010, 2009 and 2008 to income before provision for income taxes as follows (in thousands):
At December 31, 2010, the Company has U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $40.6 million. Federal net operating loss carryforwards expire at various dates from 2025 through 2029. The Company has California net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $12.9 million, which expire at various dates from 2014 through 2030. On October 8, 2010, the State of California extended tax legislation that, among other things, placed a moratorium on the use of net operating loss carryforwards and limited the use of certain tax credits to reduce state income tax liability in 2010 and 2011. The Company has a California research and development tax credit carryforwards of approximately $4.0 million. The California tax credits have no expiration date. The Company also has federal research and development tax credit carryforwards of approximately $2.4 million. The federal tax credits expire at various dates from 2024 through 2029.
It is the Company’s intention to reinvest undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries and thereby indefinitely postpone their remittance. Accordingly, no provision has been made for foreign withholding taxes on United States income taxes which may become payable if undistributed earnings of the foreign subsidiary were paid as dividends to the Company.
The Company follows the accounting guidance related to financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions. The Company recognizes the impact of an uncertain income tax position on an income tax return at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant taxing authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the total liability for unrecognized tax benefits was $12.0 million and $14.4 million, respectively, and is included in other long-term liabilities.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):
Included in the balances of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2010 are $9.7 million of tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. The Company’s estimate of these unrecognized tax benefits does not contemplate the potential impact of deferred tax asset valuation allowances.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded approximately $2.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively, of accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions.
In the third quarter of 2011, the Company may release $11.4 million of its liability for unrecognized tax benefits due to the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to the 2007 taxable year.
The Company and its subsidiaries file U.S., state, and foreign income tax returns in jurisdictions with various statutes of limitations. The California Franchise Tax Board is currently conducting an examination of the Company’s California income tax returns for 2006 and 2007. The Company is also subject to various federal income tax examinations for the 2001 through 2009 calendar years due to the availability of net operating loss carryforwards. The Company believes appropriate provisions for all outstanding issues have been made for all jurisdictions and all open years. However, because audit outcomes and the timing of audit settlements are subject to significant uncertainty, the Company’s current estimate of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits could increase or decrease for all open years.
9. Commitments and Contingencies
Capital Leases
The Company did not purchase equipment under capital leases during the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. During the years ended December 31, 2008, the Company purchased equipment under capital leases for $150,000. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, assets held under capital leases had a net book value of $154,000 and $348,000, respectively, net of accumulated amortization of $356,000 and $312,000, respectively.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following is a schedule by year of future minimum lease payments under capital leases together with the present value of the net minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2010 (in thousands):
Operating Leases
The Company leases its office space and certain equipment under non-cancelable operating leases with various terms through 2015. The minimum annual rent on the Company’s office space is subject to increases based on stated rental adjustment terms, property taxes and operating costs and contains rent concessions. For financial reporting purposes, rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Accordingly, rent expense recognized in excess of rent paid is reflected as deferred rent. Rental expense under operating leases in 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $3.5 million, $3.1 million and $3.0 million, respectively. The Company’s office space lease contains incentives in the form of reimbursement from the landlord for a portion of the costs of leasehold improvements incurred by the Company which are recorded to rent expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
The minimum future lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2010 are as follows (in thousands):
Committed Purchase Orders
The Company has entered into purchase commitments totaling approximately $144.1 million with certain contract manufacturers under which the Company has committed to buy a minimum amount of designated products between January 2011 and July 2011. In certain of these agreements, the Company may be required to acquire and pay for such products up to the prescribed minimum or forecasted purchases.
Royalties
The Company has license agreements which require it to make royalty payments generally based on a percentage of the sales price of its products using certain technologies. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company revised its estimate of its contingent liability for royalty costs and reduced its liability by
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
$2.3 million. The change in this estimate was reflected as a reduction of royalty expense in the year ended December 31, 2008. In the years ended 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company incurred royalty expense of $17.1 million, $19.1 million and $14.8 million, respectively.
Management Retention Agreements
During 2005 and 2004, the Company entered into management retention agreements with certain of the Company’s executive officers. The agreements entitle those employees to enumerated severance benefits if, within the one year period immediately following a change of control (as defined in the agreement) or at the direction of an acquirer in anticipation of such an event, the Company terminates the employee’s employment other than for cause or disability or the employee terminates his or her employment for good reason. These severance benefits would include a lump sum payment of three times the sum of the employee’s annual base salary then in effect and the applicable targeted annual bonus, continued employee benefits, accelerated vesting of the employee’s stock incentive awards, a tax equalization payment to eliminate the effects of any applicable excise tax and financial planning and outplacement services.
In November 2007, the Company entered into an employment agreement with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, with an initial term of three years. Under the agreement, Mr. Leparulo will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board and as the Company’s most senior officer. The agreement entitles Mr. Leparulo to enumerated severance benefits under various circumstances if Mr. Leparulo’s employment with the Company is terminated. These enumerated severance benefits vary according to whether (a) Mr. Leparulo’s employment with the Company is terminated within the one year period immediately following a change in control (as defined in the agreement) or at the direction of an acquirer in anticipation of such an event; (b) the Company terminates his employment other than for cause or he terminates his employment for good reason; or (c) the Company terminates his employment for cause or he terminates his employment for other than good reason. Depending on the cause of the employment termination, the enumerated severance benefits include a lump sum payment ranging from one to three years annual base salary then in effect, an additional lump sum bonus payment representing certain multiples of his targeted bonus, and varying periods of ongoing employee benefits including health care and outplacement services.
Legal Matters
The Company is, from time to time, party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. For example, the Company is currently named as a defendant or co-defendant in a number of patent infringement lawsuits in the U.S. and is indirectly participating in other U.S. patent infringement actions pursuant to its contractual indemnification obligations to certain customers. Based on evaluation of these matters and discussions with Company’s counsel, the Company believes that liabilities arising from or sums paid in settlement of these existing matters would not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
On September 15, 2008 and September 18, 2008, two putative securities class action lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California on behalf of persons who allegedly purchased our stock between February 5, 2007 and August 19, 2008. On December 11, 2008, these lawsuits were consolidated into a single action entitled Backe v. Novatel Wireless, Inc., et al., Case No. 08-CV-01689-H (RBB) (Consolidated with Case No. 08-CV-01714-H (RBB)) (U.S.D.C., S.D. Cal.). In May 2010, the district court re-captioned the case In re Novatel Wireless Securities Litigation. The plaintiffs filed the consolidated complaint on behalf of persons who allegedly purchased our stock between February 27, 2007 and November 10, 2008. The consolidated complaint names the Company and certain of our current and former officers as defendants. The consolidated complaint alleges generally that we issued materially false and misleading statements during the
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
relevant time period regarding the strength of our products and market share, our financial results and our internal controls. The plaintiffs are seeking an unspecified amount of damages and costs. The court has denied defendants’ motions to dismiss. In May 2010, the court entered an order granting the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification and certified a class of purchasers of Company common stock between February 27, 2007 and September 15, 2008. On February 14, 2011, following extensive discovery, the Company filed a motion for summary judgment on all of plaintiffs’ claims. The motion is set for hearing on March 21, 2011. The court has set a trial date of May 10, 2011. The Company intends to defend this litigation vigorously. We are unable at this time to estimate the effects of this lawsuit on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
On October 8, 2008, a purported shareholder, Jerry Rosenbaum, filed a derivative action in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of San Diego, against the Company, as nominal defendant, and certain of our current and former officers and directors, as defendants. Two other purported shareholders, Mark Campos and Chris Arnsdorf, separately filed substantially similar lawsuits in the same court on October 20, 2008 and November 5, 2008, respectively. On October 16, 2009, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint. The consolidated complaint, Case No. 37-2008-00093576-CU-NP-CTL, alleges claims for breaches of fiduciary duties, violations of certain provisions of the California Corporations Code, unjust enrichment, and gross mismanagement. In February 2010, the court granted the defendants’ motion to stay the action pending the resolution of the federal securities class action described above. In July 2010, the parties executed a memorandum of understanding setting forth the terms to be included in a contemplated settlement. Any settlement would be subject to court approval. The memorandum of understanding does not contemplate any restitution from the defendants. Following execution of the memorandum of understanding, plaintiffs conducted certain confirmatory discovery and sought to negotiate an award of legal fees as part of the terms to be included in a stipulation of settlement. Plaintiffs have since purported to terminate the memorandum of understanding. On January 28, 2011, the court held an informal status conference, at which plaintiffs requested that the court lift the stay of the action. The court declined plaintiffs’ request. Following certain additional confirmatory discovery, the Company anticipates seeking to enforce the terms of the parties’ memorandum of understanding. At this time the Company is unable to estimate the amount of attorneys fees that may be approved by the court.
Indemnification
In the normal course of business, the Company periodically enters into agreements that require the Company to indemnify and defend its customers for, among other things, claims alleging that the Company’s products infringe third-party patents or other intellectual property rights. The Company’s maximum exposure under these indemnification provisions cannot be estimated but the Company does not believe that there are any matters individually or collectively that would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition.
10. Segment Information and Concentrations of Risk
Segment Information
The Company operates in the wireless broadband technology industry and senior management makes decisions about allocating resources based on the following reportable segments:
Mobile Computing Products segment-includes our MiFi products, USB and PC-card modems and Embedded Modules that enable data transmission ad services via cellular wireless networks. All products within the segment represent a single product family.
M2M Products and Solutions segment-includes our intelligent asset-management solutions utilizing wireless technology and M2M communications acquired with our acquisition of Enfora (Note 2).
Segment revenues and segment operating income (loss) represent the primary financial measures used by senior management to assess performance and include the revenue, cost of goods sold, sales and operating
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
expenses for which management is held accountable. Segment expenses include sales and marketing, research and development, administration, and amortization expenses that are directly related to individual segments. Segment earnings (loss) also includes acquisition-related costs, purchase price amortization, restructuring and integration costs.
The table below presents revenue and income (loss) from operations for our reportable segments (in thousands):
The Company has operations in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. The following table details the geographic concentration of the Company’s assets in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia (in thousands):
The following table details the Company’s concentration of net revenues by geographic region based on shipping destination:
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Concentrations of Risk
Substantially all of the Company’s revenue is derived from sales of wireless access products. Any significant decline in market acceptance of the Company’s products or in the financial condition of the Company’s customers would have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
A significant portion of the Company’s revenue comes from a small number of customers. Two customers accounted for 55.7% and 17.1% of 2010 net revenues. Three customers accounted for 38.1%, 20.5% and 10.7% of 2009 net revenues. Four customers accounted for 26.2%, 16.1%, 15.4% and 12.6% of 2008 net revenues. All significant customers are included in the Company’s Mobile Computing Products segment.
The Company outsources its manufacturing to five third-party manufacturers. If they were to experience delays, disruptions, capacity constraints or quality control problems in its manufacturing operations, product shipments to the Company’s customers could be delayed or its customers could consequently elect to cancel the underlying order, which would negatively impact the Company’s revenues and results of operations.
11. Retirement Savings Plan
The Company has a defined contribution 401(k) retirement savings plan (the “Plan”). Substantially all of the Company’s U.S. employees are eligible to participate in the Plan after meeting certain minimum age and service requirements. Employees may make discretionary contributions to the Plan subject to Internal Revenue Service limitations. Employer matching contributions amounted to approximately $1.0 million, $858,000 and $803,000 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Employer matching contributions vest over a two-year period. The Company has a registered retirement savings plan for its Canadian employees. Substantially all of the Company’s Canadian employees are eligible to participate in this plan. Employees make discretionary contributions to the plan subject to local limitations. Employer contributions amounted to approximately $236,000, $472,000 and $223,000 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
12. Related Party Transactions
In December 2008, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company authorized the Company to engage Mr. John Ross as a consultant to the Company (the “Engagement”). Mr. Ross is currently a member of the Board and was previously employed by the Company from August 2000 until February 2007. Pursuant to the Engagement, Mr. Ross received a monthly fee of $15,000 in exchange for his providing consulting services to the Company with respect to certain strategic initiatives. Total payments made to Mr. Ross during the year ended December 31, 2009 under the Engagement were approximately $162,000. In November of 2009, Mr. Ross was hired by the Company in an executive role, at which point the Engagement was terminated.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
13. Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
The following is a summary of unaudited quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.
(1) During the third quarter of 2010, the Company corrected its income tax expense due to an error in its over accrual for uncertain tax positions for the three months ended June 30, 2010. The Company analyzed this accounting error and determined that it is immaterial to all prior periods impacted and to the current year financial statements. As a result of this analysis, the Company recorded the correcting entry related to this income tax expense adjustment in the quarter ended June 30, 2010. This adjustment resulted in a $777,000 favorable change to net loss and a $0.03 favorable change to basic and diluted net loss per common share in the second quarter of 2010.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Novatel Wireless, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Novatel Wireless, Inc. as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2010. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2010 listed in the index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule 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 audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes 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 Novatel Wireless, Inc. at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2010, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Novatel Wireless, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 16, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
San Diego, California
March 16, 2011
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Novatel Wireless, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows of Novatel Wireless, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) for the year ended December 31, 2008. In connection with our audit of these consolidated financial statements, we also have audited financial statement Schedule II for the year ended December 31, 2008. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement Schedule II based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and cash flows of Novatel Wireless, Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement Schedule II for the year ended December 31, 2008, 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.
/s/ KPMG LLP
San Diego, California
March 15, 2009
SCHEDULE II
NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
For the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following Exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Report on Form 10-K:
* Management contract, compensatory plan, or arrangement
** Filed herewith