UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

__________________

 

FORM 10-Q

 

Commission File Number: 0-21174

 

__________________

 

Avid Technology, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

One Park West

Tewksbury, Massachusetts 01876

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)

 

(978) 640-6789

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

__________________

 

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

 

Yes  x        No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

 

Yes  o        No  o

 

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

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes  o        No  x

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock as of November 12, 2009 was 37,488,361.

 

AVID TECHNOLOGY, INC.

 

FORM 10-Q

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. For this purpose, any statements contained in this quarterly report regarding our strategy, future plans or operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, and objectives of management, other than statements of historical facts, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond our control, including the factors discussed in Part I - Item 1A under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and as referenced in Part II - Item 1A of this report. In addition, the forward-looking statements contained herein represent our estimates only as of the date of this filing and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, whether to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

 

PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

AVID TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands except per share data, unaudited)

 

 

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

 

AVID TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

 

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

 

AVID TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

 

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

 

 

AVID TECHNOLOGY, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Avid Technology, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, “Avid” or the “Company”). These financial statements are unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of only normal, recurring adjustments, necessary for their fair statement. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for a full year. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q and therefore do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of operations, financial position and cash flows of the Company in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2008 was derived from Avid’s audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. The Company filed audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008 in its 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which included all information and footnotes necessary for such presentation. The financial statements contained in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K.

 

The Company’s preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. The most significant estimates reflected in these financial statements include revenue recognition, stock-based compensation expenses, restructuring costs, accounts receivable and sales allowances, inventory valuation, goodwill and intangible asset valuations, fair value measurements and income tax asset valuation allowances. Actual results could differ from the Company’s estimates.

 

On January 1, 2009, the Company transitioned to a new business structure that combined the previous Professional Video and Consumer Video units into a single Video reporting segment and consolidated its sales and marketing teams into a single customer-facing organization. As a result, the Company has reclassified its 2008 segment reporting to conform to the 2009 presentation. The change to the current presentation did not affect the Company’s consolidated operating results. See Note 16 for a summary of the Company’s revenues and contribution margin by reportable segment for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.

 

The Company evaluated subsequent events through November 16, 2009, the date of issuance of these financial statements, to determine if any event since September 30, 2009, the date of these financial statements, required disclosure in these statements. Subsequent to September 30, 2009, the Audit Committee has been conducting an investigation into the business and accounting practices with regard to the shipment of products and recognition of product revenue from certain distribution centers outside the United States. Based on the results of the investigation to date, the Company has determined that it had, in certain instances, erroneously recognized revenue prior to transfer of title and risk of loss to customers. The Company has recorded the estimated errors related to this matter in the financial statements for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and believes that the impact of any such errors on prior periods is not material. See also Item 4 of this Report on Form 10-Q. It is not expected that any changes to previously filed financial statements will be necessary as a result of the Audit Committee's investigation. The investigation is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2009. The Company determined that no other subsequent event required recognition or disclosure in these financial statements.

 

 

Net income (loss) per common share is presented for both basic earnings (loss) per share (“Basic EPS”) and diluted earnings (loss) per share (“Diluted EPS”). Basic EPS is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, excluding non-vested restricted stock held by employees. Diluted EPS is based on the weighted-average number of common shares and potential common shares outstanding during the period.

 

The following table sets forth (in thousands) potential common shares, on a weighted-average basis, that were considered anti-dilutive securities and excluded from the Diluted EPS calculations either because the sum of the exercise price per share and the unrecognized compensation cost per share was greater than the average market price of the Company’s common stock for the relevant period, or because they were considered contingently issuable. The contingently issuable potential common shares result from certain stock options and restricted stock units granted to the Company’s executive officers that vest based on performance and market conditions.

 

 

 

During periods of net loss, certain potential common shares that would otherwise be included in the Diluted EPS calculation are excluded because the effect would be anti-dilutive. The following table sets forth (in thousands) common stock equivalents that were excluded from the calculation of Diluted EPS due to the net loss for the relevant period.

 

 

 

Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) topic 820, Fair Value Measurements (formerly Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements), defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements. FASB ASC topic 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires the use of observable market data, when available, and prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value in the following categories:

 

 

 

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

On a recurring basis, the Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value, including cash equivalents, marketable securities and foreign-currency forward contracts. All of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities were classified as either Level 1 or Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy at September 30, 2009. Instruments valued using quoted market prices in active markets and classified as Level 1 are primarily money market securities and deferred compensation investments. Investments valued based on other observable inputs and classified as Level 2 include commercial paper; certificates of deposit; asset-backed obligations; discount notes; foreign currency contracts; and corporate, municipal, agency and foreign bonds.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s fair value hierarchy for financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2009 (in thousands):

 

 

The following table summarizes the costs (amortized costs of debt instruments) and fair values of the Company’s available for sale securities at September 30, 2009 (in thousands):

 

 

All fixed income securities held at September 30, 2009 had effective maturities of less than one year. All income generated from these investments has been recorded as interest income. The Company calculates realized gains and losses on a specific identification basis. Realized gains and losses from the sale of marketable securities were not material for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2009.

 

At September 30, 2009, there were no securities whose unrealized losses were deemed by the Company to be other-than-temporary impairments, as the Company has no intent to sell and it is not more likely than not the Company will be required to sell any investment with unrealized losses until it has recovered the full cost basis.

 

The Company uses the following valuation techniques to determine fair values of its investment instruments:

 

 

See Note 4 for information on the Company’s foreign currency forward contracts that are also measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

 

The following tables summarize the Company’s fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

The Company typically uses the following valuation techniques to determine fair values of assets and liabilities measured on a nonrecurring basis:

 

 

 

The Company has significant international operations and, therefore, the Company’s revenues, earnings, cash flows and financial position are exposed to foreign currency risk from foreign currency denominated receivables, payables and sales transactions, as well as net investments in foreign operations. The Company derives more than half of its revenues from customers outside the United States. This business is, for the most part, transacted through international subsidiaries and generally in the currency of the end-user customers. Therefore, the Company is exposed to the risks that changes in foreign currency could adversely affect its revenues, net income and cash flow. To hedge against the foreign exchange exposure of certain forecasted receivables, payables and cash balances of foreign subsidiaries, the Company enters into short-term foreign currency forward contracts. There are two objectives of the Company’s foreign currency forward contract program: (1) to offset any foreign exchange currency risk associated with cash receipts expected to be received from the Company’s customers over the next 30-day period and (2) to offset the impact of foreign currency exchange on the Company’s net monetary assets denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the legal entity. These forward contracts typically mature within 30 days of execution.

 

The changes in fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts intended to offset foreign currency exchange risk on forecasted cash flows and net monetary assets are recorded as gains or losses in the Company’s statement of operations in the period of change, because they do not meet the criteria of FASB ASC topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (formerly SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities), to be treated as hedges for accounting purposes.

 

The following table sets forth the effect of the Company’s foreign currency forward contracts recorded as marketing and selling expenses in the Company’s statements of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

At September 30, 2009, and December 31, 2008, the Company had foreign currency forward contracts outstanding with notional values of $24.9 million and $39.7 million, respectively, as hedges against forecasted foreign currency denominated receivables, payables and cash balances. The following table sets forth the balance sheet location and fair values of the Company’s foreign currency forward contracts at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

 

See Note 3 for additional information on the fair value measurements for all financial assets and liabilities, including derivative assets and derivative liabilities, that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

 

Acquisition

 

On July 31, 2009, the Company acquired all the outstanding shares of MaxT Systems Inc. (“MaxT”), a Canada-based developer of server-based media management and editing technology, for cash, net of cash acquired, of $4.4 million. The Company performed a preliminary allocation of the purchase price resulting in $3.3 million allocated to amortizable identifiable intangible assets and the remaining $1.1 million to goodwill. In addition, the Company recorded related net deferred tax liabilities of $0.8 million, increasing the goodwill to $1.9 million. The goodwill, which reflects the value of the assembled workforce and the synergies the Company expects to realize by incorporating MaxT’s media management and editing technology into future solutions offered to customers, is reported within the Video segment and is not deductible for tax purposes.

 

The amortizable identifiable intangible assets acquired include developed technology of $2.3 million, customer relationships of $0.5 million, a patent of $0.3 million, non-compete agreements of $0.1 million and trade names of $0.1 million. The Company used the income approach to determine the values of the identifiable intangible assets. The income approach presumes that the value of an asset can be estimated by the net economic benefit to be received over the life of the asset discounted to present value. The weighted-average discount rate (or rate of return) used to determine the value of MaxT’s intangible assets was 22% and the effective tax rate used was 35%.

 

The values of the customer relationships and trade names are both being amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of one-half year, and the non-compete agreements and patent are being amortized over their estimated useful lives of one year and four and one-half years, respectively. The value of the developed technology is being amortized over the greater of the amount calculated using the ratio of current quarter revenues to the total of current quarter and anticipated future revenues, and the straight-line method, over the estimated useful life of four and one-half years. The weighted-average amortization period for the amortizable identifiable intangible assets is approximately three and one-half years. Amortization expense for these intangibles totaled $0.3 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009.

 

The Company is continuing its evaluation of the information necessary to determine the fair value of the acquired assets and liabilities of MaxT. Once this evaluation is complete, which in no event will occur more than one year from the date of acquisition, the Company will finalize the purchase price allocation.

 

The results of operations of MaxT have been included in the results of operations of the Company since the date of acquisition. The Company’s results of operations giving effect to the MaxT acquisition as if it had occurred at the beginning of 2008 would not differ materially from reported results.

 

Divestiture

 

During the third quarter of 2009, the Company recorded a loss on the sale of assets of $3.2 million related to the Company’s sale of the PCTV product line, which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2008. The loss resulted from the write-down of PCTV inventory classified as held-for-sale. At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company had inventory classified as held-for-sale of $1.3 million and $7.5 million, respectively, that was included in “other current assets” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill resulting from the Company’s acquisitions consisted of the following at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Identifiable Intangible Assets

 

Identifiable intangible assets resulting from the Company’s acquisitions consisted of the following at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

 

 

During the second quarter of 2009, the Company reduced the expected lives of certain trade name intangible assets as a result of a rebranding program initiated by the Company in April 2009. As a result of the change in these expected lives, the Company will record additional amortization expense of $0.7 million during 2009. Amortization expense related to all intangible assets in the aggregate was $3.3 million and $4.6 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $9.2 million and $16.8 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company expects amortization of these intangible assets to be approximately $3 million for the remainder of 2009, $9 million in 2010, $7 million in 2011, $4 million in 2012, $3 million in 2013, $2 million in 2014 and $4 million thereafter.

 

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowances, consisted of the following at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

 

The accounts receivable balances at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 excluded approximately $9.4 million and $8.4 million, respectively, for large solution sales and certain distributor sales that were invoiced, but for which revenues had not yet been recognized and payments were not then due.

 

 

Inventories consisted of the following at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

 

At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the finished goods inventory included inventory at customer locations of $16.5 million and $18.1 million, respectively, associated with products shipped to customers for which revenues had not yet been recognized.

 

 

Property and equipment, net, consisted of the following at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

Long-term liabilities consisted of the following at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Stock Option Purchase

 

In June 2009, the Company completed a cash tender offer for certain employee stock options. The tender offer applied to 547,133 outstanding stock options having an exercise price equal to or greater than $40.00 per share and granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option Plan (including the U.K. sub-plan), 1998 Stock Option Plan, 1997 Stock Option Plan, 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, and 1994 Stock Option Plan, as amended. Members of the Company’s Board of Directors, officers who file reports under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and members of the Company’s executive staff were not eligible to participate in this offer. Under the offer, eligible options with exercise prices equal to or greater than $40.00 and less than $50.00 per share were eligible to receive a cash payment of $1.50 per share, and eligible options with exercise prices equal to or greater than $50.00 per share were eligible to receive a cash payment of $1.00 per share.

 

Options to purchase a total of 419,042 shares of the Company’s common stock, of which 366,769 shares are available for future grant, were tendered under the offer for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $0.5 million paid in exchange for the cancellation of the eligible options. As a result of the tender offer, the Company incurred stock-based compensation charges of approximately $0.1 million in its condensed consolidated statements of operations during the second quarter of 2009. This is the first time the Company has offered to purchase outstanding stock options in exchange for cash, and there is no current intent to make another such offer in the future.

 

Stock Incentive Plans

 

Under its stock incentive plans, the Company may grant stock awards or options to purchase the Company’s common stock to employees, officers, directors (subject to certain restrictions) and consultants, generally at the market price on the date of grant. The options become exercisable over various periods, typically four years for employees and one year for non-employee directors, and have a maximum term of seven years. Restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards typically vest over four years. At September 30, 2009, 5,353,712 shares were available for issuance under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, including 1,095,992 that may alternatively be issued as awards of restricted stock or restricted stock units.

 

The Company records stock-based compensation cost for stock-based awards over the requisite service periods for the individual awards, which generally equals the vesting period. Stock-compensation expense is recognized using the straight-line attribution method. The Company generally uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock option grants. The Black-Scholes model relies on a number of key assumptions to calculate estimated fair values. The fair values of restricted stock awards, including restricted stock and restricted stock units, are based on the intrinsic values of the awards at the date of grant.

 

The following table sets forth the weighted-average key assumptions and fair value results for stock options with time-based vesting granted during the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008:

 

 

In December 2007, the Company began issuing options to purchase shares of Avid common stock that had vesting based on market conditions, specifically Avid’s stock price, or a combination of performance and market conditions. The compensation costs and derived service periods for stock option grants with vesting based on market conditions or a combination of performance and market conditions are estimated using the Monte Carlo valuation method. For stock option grants with vesting based on a combination of performance and market conditions, the compensation costs are also estimated using the Black-Scholes valuation method, and compensation costs for these grants are recorded based on the higher estimate for each vesting tranche. At September 30, 2009, the Company had 1,707,760 options outstanding that had vesting based on either market conditions or a combination of performance and market conditions.

 

The following table sets forth the weighted-average key assumptions and fair value results for stock options with vesting based on market conditions or a combination of performance and market conditions granted during the three-and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008:

 

 

The Company estimates forfeiture rates at the time awards are made based on historical turnover rates and applies these rates in the calculation of estimated compensation cost. At September 30, 2009, the Company’s annualized estimated forfeiture rates were 0% for non-employee director awards, and 10% for both executive management staff and other employee awards.

 

The following table summarizes changes in the Company’s stock options during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009:

 

 

 

The aggregate intrinsic values of stock options exercised during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 were approximately $0.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively. Cash amounts received from the exercise of stock options were $0.2 million and $1.2 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company did not realize any actual tax benefit from the tax deductions for stock option exercises during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 due to the full valuation allowance on the Company’s U.S. deferred tax assets.

 

The following table summarizes changes in the Company’s non-vested restricted stock units during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009:

 

 

 

The following table summarizes changes in the Company’s non-vested restricted stock during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009:

 

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

On February 27, 2008, the Company’s board of directors approved the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). The amended plan became effective May 1, 2008, the first day of the next offering period under the plan, and offers shares for purchase at a price equal to 85% of the closing price on the applicable offering period termination date. Shares issued under the ESPP are considered compensatory under FASB ASC subtopic 718-50, Compensation-Stock Compensation: Employee Stock Purchase Plans (formerly SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment). Accordingly, the Company is required to assign fair value to, and record compensation expense for, shares issued from the ESPP starting May 1, 2008. Prior to May 1, 2008, shares were authorized for issuance at a price equal to 95% of the closing price on the applicable offering period termination date, and shares offered under this arrangement were considered noncompensatory.

 

The following table sets forth the weighted-average key assumptions and fair value results for shares issued under the ESPP for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and the three- and five-month periods ended September 30, 2008:

 

 

At September 30, 2009, 874,822 shares remained available for issuance under the ESPP.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

Stock-based compensation was included in the following captions in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):

 

 

 

At September 30, 2009, the Company had $31.5 million of unrecognized compensation costs before forfeitures related to non-vested stock-based compensation awards granted under its stock-based compensation plans. These costs will be recognized over the next four and one-half years.

 

 

A stock repurchase program was approved by the Company’s board of directors in April 2007, which authorized the Company to repurchase up to $100 million of the Company’s common stock through transactions on the open market, in block trades or otherwise. In February 2008, the Company’s board of directors approved a $100 million increase in the authorized funds for the repurchase of the Company’s common stock. During 2007, the Company repurchased 809,236 shares of the Company’s common stock under the program for a total purchase price, including commissions, of $26.6 million, or $32.92 per share. During 2008, the Company repurchased an additional 4,254,397 shares of the Company’s common stock for a total purchase price, including commissions, of $93.2 million. The average price per share paid for the shares repurchased during 2008, including commissions, was $21.90. At September 30, 2009, $80.3 million remained available for future stock repurchases under the program. This stock repurchase program is being funded through working capital and has no expiration date.

 

During the first and third quarters of 2009, the Company repurchased 10,482 shares and 1,983 shares of restricted stock from an employee to pay required withholding taxes upon the vesting of restricted stock.

 

At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, treasury shares held by the Company totaled 4,910,245 shares and 5,207,711 shares, respectively.

 

 

During the second quarter of 2009, the Company identified $0.7 million of income tax reserves related to a foreign subsidiary that were provided for, but not included in the reconciliation of uncertain tax positions presented in Note H of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008 in the Company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K. During the second quarter of 2009, the Company also identified $0.7 million of new tax reserves for uncertain tax positions. During the third quarter of 2009, the Company’s tax reserves decreased by $2.8 million, with $2.1 million of the decrease related to the completion of a foreign tax audit and $0.7 million related to tax attributes in a foreign subsidiary that were deemed more likely than not to be realized. During the third quarter, the Company also released $0.6 million of a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets in a foreign subsidiary due to additional income forecasted in the subsidiary. At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, total unrecognized tax benefits were $2.5 million and $3.7 million, respectively, including $0.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively, for related accrued interest and penalties.

 

 

The Company receives inquiries from time to time claiming possible patent infringement by the Company. If any infringement is determined to exist, the Company may seek licenses or settlements. In addition, as a normal incidence of the nature of the Company’s business, various claims, charges and litigation have been asserted or commenced from time to time against the Company arising from or related to contractual or employee relations, intellectual property rights or product performance. Settlements related to any such claims are generally included in the “general and administrative expenses” caption in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Management does not believe these claims will have a material adverse effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Company.

 

On May 24, 2007, David Engelke and Bryan Engelke filed a complaint against the Company’s Pinnacle subsidiary in Pinellas County (Florida) Circuit Court, claiming that Pinnacle breached certain contracts among them and that the Engelkes are entitled to indemnification for damages awarded against them and attorneys’ fees incurred in litigation with a third party. The complaint, which sought damages of approximately $17 million, was served on September 4, 2007. On September 28, 2007, the Florida appellate court reversed the damages award for which the Engelkes seek indemnification, and, on remand, the Pinellas County Circuit Court on June 25, 2009 reduced the damages award to approximately $6.5 million plus pre-judgment interest of approximately $2.0 million. The Engelkes have appealed the remanded judgment. Because the Company cannot predict the outcome of this action at this time, no costs have been accrued for any loss contingency; however, the Company does not expect this matter to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

From time to time, the Company provides indemnification provisions in agreements with customers covering potential claims by third parties of intellectual property infringement. These agreements generally provide that the Company will indemnify customers for losses incurred in connection with an infringement claim brought by a third party with respect to the Company’s products. These indemnification provisions generally offer perpetual coverage for infringement claims based upon the products covered by the agreement. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification provisions is theoretically unlimited; however, to date, the Company has not incurred material costs related to these indemnification provisions. As a result, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification provisions is minimal.

 

As permitted under Delaware law and pursuant to the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, the Company is obligated to indemnify its current and former officers and directors for certain events that occur or occurred while the officer or director is or was serving in such capacity. The term of the indemnification period is for each respective officer’s or director’s lifetime. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification obligations is unlimited; however, the Company has mitigated the exposure through the purchase of directors and officers insurance, which is intended to limit the risk and, in most cases, enable the Company to recover all or a portion of any future amounts paid. As a result of this insurance coverage, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification obligations is minimal.

 

The Company, through third parties, provides lease financing options to its customers, including end users and, on a limited basis, resellers. During the terms of these leases, which are generally three years, the Company may remain liable for any unpaid principal balance upon default by the customer, but such liability is limited in the aggregate based on a percentage of initial amounts funded or, in certain cases, amounts of unpaid balances. At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company’s maximum recourse exposure totaled approximately $2.9 million and $4.6 million, respectively. The Company records revenues from these transactions upon the shipment of products, provided that all other revenue recognition criteria, including collectibility being reasonably assured, are met. Because the Company has been providing financing options to its customers for many years, the Company has a substantial history of collecting under these arrangements without providing significant refunds or concessions to the end user, reseller or financing party. To date, the payment default loss has consistently been between 2% and 4% per year of the original funded amount. The Company maintains a reserve for estimated losses under recourse lease programs based on historical default rates applied to the funded amount outstanding at period end. At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company’s accruals for estimated losses were $1.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

 

The Company provides warranties on externally sourced and internally developed hardware. For internally developed hardware and in cases where the warranty granted to customers for externally sourced hardware is greater than that provided by the manufacturer, the Company records an accrual for the related liability based on historical trends and actual material and labor costs. The warranty period for the Company’s products is generally 90 days to one year, but can extend up to five years depending on the manufacturer’s warranty or local law.

 

The following table sets forth activity for the Company’s product warranty accrual for the nine-month periods ended September 30 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Total comprehensive loss, net of taxes, consists of net loss and the net changes in foreign currency translation adjustment and net unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities and other investments. The following is a summary of the Company’s comprehensive loss for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Since the acquisition of Pinnacle Systems, Inc. in 2005 and through 2008, the Company was organized into three strategic business units, Professional Video, Audio, and Consumer Video, each of which was a reportable segment. On January 1, 2009, the Company transitioned to a new business structure that combined the previous Professional Video and Consumer Video units into a single Video reporting segment. The Company also consolidated its sales and marketing teams, which had previously been aligned with the reporting segments, into a single customer-facing organization. Consequently, most marketing and selling expenses are no longer managed by or controlled at the segment level and are, therefore, excluded from the calculation of segment contribution margin. The Company also continues to exclude certain other costs and expenses when evaluating reportable segment performance and profitability, including general and administrative expenses, corporate research and development expenses, the amortization and impairment of acquired intangible assets, stock-based compensation expenses and restructuring expenses. The Company has revised the prior period segment disclosures to conform to the current presentation. The change to the current presentation did not affect the Company’s consolidated operating results.

 

The following is a summary of the Company’s revenues and contribution margin by reportable segment for the three-and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 and a reconciliation of segment contribution margin to total consolidated operating loss for each period (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

In October 2008, the Company initiated a company-wide restructuring plan (the “Plan”) that included a reduction in force of approximately 500 positions, including employees related to product line divestitures, and the closure of all or parts of some facilities worldwide. The Plan is intended to improve operational efficiencies. In connection with the Plan, during the fourth quarter of 2008 the Company recorded restructuring charges of $20.4 million related to employee termination costs and $0.5 million for the closure of three small facilities. In addition, as a result of the decision to sell the PCTV product line, the Company recorded a non-cash restructuring charge of $1.9 million in cost of revenues related to the write-down of inventory. Of the total restructuring charge of $22.8 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2008, $16.9 million related to the Video segment, $3.3 million related to the Audio segment and $2.6 million related to corporate operations.

 

During the first nine months of 2009, the Company recorded new restructuring charges totaling $16.4 million under the Plan, of which $7.9 million related to the closure of all or part of eleven facilities, including non-cash charges of $1.3 million resulting from the retirement of fixed assets; $7.7 million related to the termination of the employment of approximately 200 additional employees; and a non-cash charge of $0.8 million, recorded in cost of revenues, related to the write-down of PCTV inventory not included in assets held-for-sale. These charges included restructuring activities initiated during the third quarter of 2009 under the Plan, which were the result of increased economic pressures and the expansion of the Company’s global development program, resulted in charges of $4.6 million and $3.6 million related to severance and lease obligations, respectively. The third quarter activities included an additional reduction in force of approximately 150 positions and the closure of one floor of the Audio segment’s Daly City, California facility. As a result of the Daly City facility actions, the Company anticipates that additional restructuring charges of approximately $4 million, including additional non-cash charges of $1 million, will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2009.

 

 

Also during the first nine months of 2009, the Company recorded revisions of $1.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively, to previously recorded restructuring estimates for severance and facility obligations related to the Plan. Plan restructuring charges recorded in the first nine months of 2009 included $6.4 million related to corporate operations, $5.0 million related to the Video segment and $5.0 million related to the Audio segment. In connection with restructuring actions taken under the Plan, the Company has incurred or expects to incur total restructuring charges of approximately $45 million.

 

During the first quarter of 2008, the Company initiated restructuring plans within its Video business unit and corporate operations to eliminate duplicative business functions and improve operational efficiencies. During the first quarter of 2008, restructuring charges of $1.2 million were recorded under these plans related to employee termination costs for 20 employees, primarily in the marketing and selling teams and general and administrative teams. During the second quarter of 2008, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $1.0 million under these plans primarily related to employee termination costs for 26 employees, mainly in the research and development teams and sales and marketing teams. During the third quarter of 2008, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $2.0 million under these plans primarily related to employee termination costs for 45 employees, mainly in the research and development teams and general and administrative teams. During the third quarter of 2009, the Company recorded a final revision for these restructuring activities that resulted in a recovery of ($0.1) million. Also during 2008, restructuring charges totaling $0.2 million were recorded for revised estimates of previously initiated restructuring plans.

 

The Company recorded the facility-related restructuring charges and, prior to the fourth quarter of 2008, the employee-related restructuring charges in accordance with the guidance of FASB ASC topic 420, Liabilities: Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations (formerly SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities). Since the fourth quarter of 2008, as a result of changes in the Company’s policies related to the calculation of severance benefits, the Company has accounted for employee-related restructuring charges as an ongoing benefit arrangement in accordance with FASB ASC topic 712, Compensation – Nonretirement Postemployment Benefits (formerly SFAS No. 112, Employers’ Accounting for Postemployment Benefits). Restructuring charges and accruals require significant estimates and assumptions, including sub-lease income assumptions. These estimates and assumptions are monitored on at least a quarterly basis for changes in circumstances and any corresponding adjustments to the accrual are recorded in the Company’s statement of operations in the period when such changes are known.

 

The following table sets forth the activity in the restructuring accruals for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 (in thousands):

 

 

The employee-related accruals at September 30, 2009 represent severance and outplacement costs to former employees that will be paid out within the next twelve months and are, therefore, included in the caption “accrued expenses and other current liabilities” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2009.

 

The facilities-related accruals at September 30, 2009 represent estimated losses, net of subleases, on space vacated as part of the Company’s restructuring actions. The leases, and payments against the amounts accrued, will extend through 2017 unless the Company is able to negotiate earlier terminations. Of the total facilities-related accruals, $5.2 million is included in the caption “accrued expenses and other current liabilities” and $1.7 million is included in the caption “long-term liabilities” in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2009.

 

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, which is incorporated into FASB ASC topic 105. SFAS No. 168 replaces SFAS No. 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and establishes only two levels of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), authoritative and nonauthoritative. Upon adoption the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification”) becomes the single source for authoritative, nongovernmental GAAP, except for rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. All other non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature not included in the Codification will become non-authoritative. This standard is effective for financial statements for interim or annual reporting periods ending after September 15, 2009. Accordingly, the Company began to use the new guidelines and numbering system prescribed by the Codification when referring to GAAP in the financial statements for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009. As the Codification was not intended to change or alter existing GAAP, it did not have any impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

In October 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2009-13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, an amendment to FASB ASC topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and Update No. 2009-14, Certain Revenue Arrangements That Include Software Elements, an amendment to FASB ASC subtopic 985-605, Software – Revenue Recognition (the “Updates”). The Updates provide guidance on arrangements that include software elements, including tangible products that have software components that are essential to the functionality of the tangible product and will no longer be within the scope of the software revenue recognition guidance, and software-enabled products that will now be subject to other relevant revenue recognition guidance. The Updates also provide authoritative guidance on revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables that are outside the scope of the software revenue recognition guidance. Under the new guidance, when vendor specific objective evidence or third party evidence for deliverables in an arrangement cannot be determined, a best estimate of the selling price is required to separate deliverables and allocate arrangement consideration using the relative selling price method. The Updates also include new disclosure requirements on how the application of the relative selling price method affects the timing and amount of revenue recognition. The Updates must be adopted in the same period using the same transition method and are effective prospectively, with retrospective adoption permitted, for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, or January 1, 2011 for Avid. Early adoption is also permitted; however, early adoption during an interim period requires retrospective application from the beginning of the fiscal year. The Company is currently assessing the timing and method of adoption, as well as the possible impact of this guidance on its financial position and results of operations.

 

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

 

Our Company

 

We create digital audio and video technology used to make the most listened to, most watched and most loved media in the world – from the most prestigious and award-winning feature films, music recordings, television shows, live concert tours and news broadcasts, to music and movies made at home. Some of our most influential and pioneering solutions include Media Composer, Pro Tools, Avid Unity, Interplay, Oxygen 8, Sibelius and Pinnacle Studio. Our mission is to inspire passion, unleash creativity and enable our customers to realize their dreams in a digital world. Anyone who enjoys movies, television or music has almost certainly experienced the work of content creators who use our solutions to bring their creative visions to life.

 

We operate our business based on the following five customer-centric strategic principles:

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are deeply committed to the long-term success of our company and that of our customers. In 2008, we initiated a significant transformation of our business that included, among other things, establishing a new management team, developing a new corporate strategy, restructuring our internal organization, improving operational efficiencies, divesting non-core product lines and reducing the size of our workforce. We have established a strategic and organizational foundation from which we are positioned to build momentum in our core business and expand our operating margins with the ultimate goal of sustainable growth.

 

As part of this transformation, on January 1, 2009 we transitioned to a new business structure that combined our previous Professional Video and Consumer Video business units into a single Video reporting segment and features a single customer-facing organization. The transition to a single customer-facing organization better aligns us with the realities of many of our customers who either depend on, or would benefit from, an integrated solution that encompasses multiple Avid product and brand families. It also enables us to leverage our deep domain expertise, brand recognition and technology synergies across customer market segments. See Note 16 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of this report for a summary of our revenues and contribution margin by reportable segment for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.

 

We routinely post important information for investors on the Investors page of our website at www.avid.com.

 

Financial Summary

 

Our revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2009 were $152.1 million, a decrease of 30% compared to the same period last year. By business unit, Video revenues decreased 36% and Audio revenues decreased 18%. Our revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $454.3 million, a decrease of 29% compared to the same period last year. By business unit, Video revenues decreased 36% and Audio revenues decreased 16%. Of the $148.6 million decrease in Video revenues during the first nine months of 2009, decreases of $43.2 million and $5.2 million for Video product revenues and Video services revenues, respectively, were attributable to divested or exited product lines.

 

Our gross margins for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 improved to 53.2% and 51.0%, respectively, from 47.3% and 47.6% for the comparable periods in 2008. The improvements for both the three-and nine-month periods were largely the result of our transition to a single company-wide production and delivery organization and the divestiture of lower-margin products. The favorable adjustment of a royalty accrual in the second quarter of 2009 was also a significant contributing factor for the improvement for the nine-month period.

 

Our operating expenses for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 were $100.1 million and $286.5 million, respectively, compared to $167.9 million and $401.1 million for the same periods in 2008. Operating expenses for the 2008 periods included charges of $51.3 million for the impairment of goodwill and an intangible asset recorded in the third quarter of 2008. The remaining decreases of $16.5 million and $63.3 million, respectively, were primarily the result of our business transformation, including product line divestitures and a restructuring plan initiated in the fourth quarter of 2008. Prior to the third quarter of 2009, this restructuring plan had resulted in a reduction in force of more than 500 positions, including employees associated with product line divestitures, and the closure of all or parts of twelve facilities worldwide.

 

During the third quarter of 2009, as a result of increased economic pressures and the expansion of our global development program, we broadened the restructuring plan to include an additional reduction in force of approximately 150 positions and the closure of one floor of our Audio segment’s Daly City, California facility. As a result, we recorded new restructuring charges of $8.2 million in the third quarter of 2009, which included a non-cash charge of $1.0 million related to the retirement of fixed assets in Daly City. As a result of the Daly City facility action, we anticipate that additional restructuring charges of approximately $4 million, including additional non-cash charges of $1 million, will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2009.

 

In connection with restructuring actions initiated in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first nine months of 2009, we have incurred or expect to incur total restructuring charges of approximately $45 million, which primarily represent cash expenditures. We expect annual cost savings of approximately $65 million to result from these actions, some of which are already reflected in our 2009 results. Cash expenditures resulting from restructuring obligations totaled approximately $21.6 million during the first nine months of 2009. We may engage in additional cost reduction programs, including restructuring actions, in the future as a result of changing economic conditions as well as our ongoing business transformation.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We make estimates and assumptions in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. However, actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

We believe that our critical accounting policies are those related to revenue recognition and allowances for product returns and exchanges, stock-based compensation, allowances for bad debts and reserves for recourse under financing transactions, inventories, business combinations, goodwill and intangible assets, divestitures, fair value measurements, and income tax assets. We believe these policies are critical because they are important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations, and they require us to make judgments and estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. Our critical accounting policies may be found in our

 

2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” under the heading “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates.”

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Net Revenues

 

Our net revenues are derived mainly from sales of computer-based digital, nonlinear media-editing and finishing systems and related peripherals, including shared-storage systems, software licenses, and related professional services and maintenance contracts.

 

 

 

 

The decreases in Video product revenues for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, compared to the same periods in 2008, included decreases of $13.1 million and $43.2 million, respectively, due to divested or exited product lines. For both periods, compared to the same periods in 2008, Video product revenues were down for all products in all geographic regions, largely due to lower sales volumes. We believe unfavorable macroeconomic conditions were the most significant factor in the decreases in our revenues for both periods. Throughout this year for example, broadcasters have had to deal with the financial challenges of decreasing

 

advertising revenue, and capital expenditure budgets for many of our customers have been reduced as a result of tight credit markets. Internationally, changes in currency exchange rates also contributed to the decreases in our Video product revenues for the periods.

 

Video services revenues are derived primarily from maintenance contracts, professional and installation services, and training. The decreases in Video services revenues for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, compared to the same periods in 2008, included decreases of $1.9 million and $5.2 million, respectively, related to divested or exited product lines. The remaining decreases of $3.3 million and $7.6 million for the three- and nine-month periods, respectively, were largely the result of decreases in both maintenance and professional services revenues. The decreases in maintenance revenues were primarily the result of changes in currency exchange rates, while the decreases in professional services revenues were largely due to lower volumes of services provided.

 

The decreases in Audio product revenues for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, compared to the same periods in 2008, were primarily due to lower revenues on lower volumes of our higher-end audio product lines, which we believe largely resulted from decreased capital expenditure budgets for our customers of these high-end products. For the nine-month period, lower product revenues in Europe, which we believe were largely attributable to unfavorable macroeconomic conditions and changes in currency exchange rates, also contributed significantly to our decrease in Audio product revenues.

 

Net revenues derived through indirect channels were 67% and 66% of our net revenues for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 71% for both 2008 periods.

 

Sales to customers outside the United States accounted for 57% and 56% of our net revenues for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 60% for both 2008 periods.

 

Gross Margin

 

Cost of revenues consists primarily of costs associated with:

 

 

Cost of revenues also includes amortization of technology, which represents the amortization of developed technology assets acquired in business combinations. Amortization of technology is described further in the “Amortization of Intangible Assets” section below. Cost of revenues for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 included a charge of $0.8 million for the write-down of inventory related to the divestiture of our PCTV product line in the fourth quarter of 2008.

 

Gross margins fluctuate based on factors such as the mix of products and services sold, the cost and proportion of third-party hardware and software included in the products sold, the offering of product upgrades, price discounts and other sales promotion programs, the distribution channels through which products are sold, the timing of new product introductions and currency exchange rate fluctuations.

 

 

 

 

Our transition to a single company-wide production and delivery organization and the divestiture of lower-margin product lines were contributing factors to our improved product gross margins for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, compared to the same periods last year. In addition, a favorable adjustment of $2.1 million to a royalty accrual recorded during the second quarter of 2009 was a significant contributing factor to the improvement for the nine-month period. These improvements were partially offset by the impact on revenues of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

 

The increases in services gross margin were primarily the result of improved efficiencies from our creation of a single customer-facing service organization.

 

Research and Development

 

Research and development expenses include costs associated with the development of new products and the enhancement of existing products, and consist primarily of employee salaries and benefits, facilities costs, depreciation, costs for consulting and temporary employees, and prototype and other development expenses.

 

 

 

 

The decreases in research and development expenses for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, compared to the same periods in 2008, were primarily due to decreased personnel-related costs of $6.4 million and $19.9 million, respectively, both resulting from reduced headcount. In addition, a $2.5 million decrease in computer hardware and supplies expenses was a contributing factor to the improvement for the nine-month period. The increases in research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues for both the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 were the result of the decreases in revenues for the periods compared to the same periods in 2008.

 

Marketing and Selling

 

Marketing and selling expenses consist primarily of employee salaries and benefits for selling, marketing and pre-sales customer support personnel; commissions; travel expenses; advertising and promotional expenses; and facilities costs.

 

 

 

 

The decrease in marketing and selling expenses for the three-month period ended September 30, 2009, compared to the same period in 2008, was largely due to lower personnel-related costs and a decrease in corporate facility and information technology infrastructure allocations. Personnel-related costs decreased $5.5 million, primarily due to decreased headcount. Corporate facility and information technology infrastructure allocations decreased $1.0 million, primarily resulting from the closure of certain facilities and improved operating efficiencies related to our corporate transformation initiated in 2008.

 

The decrease in marketing and selling expenses for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009, compared to the same period in 2008, was largely due to lower personnel-related costs; decreased advertising, tradeshow and other promotional expenses; decreased travel and entertainment expenses; and lower corporate facility and information technology infrastructure allocations. Personnel-related costs decreased $16.7 million, primarily due to decreased headcount; advertising, tradeshow and other promotional expenses decreased $6.5 million; travel and entertainment expenses decreased $3.1 million; and corporate facility and information technology infrastructure allocations decreased $2.6 million, primarily resulting from the closure of certain facilities and improved operating efficiencies related to our corporate transformation initiated in 2008.

 

The increases in marketing and selling expenses as a percentage of revenues for both the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 were the result of the decreases in revenues for the periods compared to the same periods in 2008.

 

General and Administrative

 

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee salaries and benefits for administrative, executive, finance and legal personnel; audit, legal and strategic consulting fees; and insurance, information systems and facilities costs. Information systems and facilities costs reported within general and administrative expenses are net of allocations to other expenses categories.

 

 

 

 

The decreases in general and administrative expenses for both the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, compared to the same periods in 2008, were due to lower personnel-related costs and decreases in consulting and outside services expenses. The personnel-related costs were lower by $3.8 million and $11.3 million for the three- and nine-month periods, respectively, and were the result of reduced headcount. The decreases in consulting and outside services expenses for the three- and nine-month periods were $2.4 million and $7.0 million, respectively, and were largely the result of the absence of consulting costs, present in the second and third quarters of 2008, related to the strategic review and transformation of our business.

 

The decreases in general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues for both the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, compared to the same periods in 2008, were the result of proportionally larger decreases in expenses than the decreases in revenues for the 2009 periods.

 

Amortization of Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets result from acquisitions and include developed technology, customer-related intangibles, trade names and other identifiable intangible assets with finite lives. With the exception of developed technology, these intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method. Developed technology is amortized over the greater of (1) the amount calculated using the ratio of current quarter revenues to the total of current quarter and anticipated future revenues over the estimated useful life of the developed technology, and (2) the straight-line method over each developed technology’s remaining useful life. Amortization of developed technology is recorded within cost of revenues. Amortization of customer-related intangibles, trade names and other identifiable intangible assets is recorded within operating expenses.

 

 

 

 

For both the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, compared to the same periods in 2008, the decreases in amortization of intangible assets recorded in cost of revenues were primarily the result of the completion during 2008 and early 2009 of the amortization of certain developed technologies related to our acquisitions of Pinnacle, Sundance and M-Audio; partially offset by amortization resulting from the acquisition of MaxT Systems Inc. in the third quarter of 2009. The decreases in amortization recorded in operating expenses for the same periods were primarily the result of the impairments of intangible assets recorded in the third and fourth quarters of 2008.

 

Impairment of Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification section 350-20-35, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other: Goodwill: Subsequent Measurement (formerly SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets), goodwill is tested for impairment when events and circumstances occur that indicate that the recorded goodwill may be impaired. In September 2008, as a result of a decrease in market value for, and the expected sale of, our PCTV product line, which has historically accounted for a significant portion of Consumer Video segment revenues, we tested the goodwill assigned to our then Consumer Video reporting unit for impairment. Because the book value of the Consumer Video goodwill exceeded the implied fair value by $46.6 million, we recorded this amount as an impairment loss during the quarter ended September 30, 2008. In connection with this goodwill impairment loss, we also tested the Consumer Video identifiable intangible assets for impairment. As a result, we determined that a trade name intangible asset was impaired, and we recorded an impairment loss of $4.7 million to write this asset down to its then-current fair value. During the fourth quarter of 2008, we completed the sale of our PCTV product line, and on January 1, 2009, the remainder of our Consumer Video operating unit was combined with our Professional Video business unit to form a single Video reporting segment.

 

Our annual goodwill impairment testing, which is scheduled to take place in the fourth quarter of 2009, could result in the recording of additional goodwill and intangible asset impairment. During the fourth quarter, we also establish our forecasts and budget for the following year. Based on the current market conditions and our forecast expectations, we do not anticipate that such impairments will be recorded; however, changes in these or other factors could result in the recording of impairments during the three months ending December 31, 2009. At our last impairment test date, the fair values of our Video and Audio reporting units exceeded their carrying values by 25% and 13%, respectively. There were no interim indicators of impairment during the three months ended September 30, 2009. See Note 6 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of this report for the goodwill assigned to each of our reporting segments and details of our identifiable intangible assets. For further information regarding our policy for testing goodwill and intangible asset impairment, including the methodologies, assumptions and estimates applied to our 2008 impairment testing, please see our critical accounting policy for “Goodwill and Intangible Assets” found in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” under the heading “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates.”

 

Restructuring Costs, Net

 

In October 2008, we initiated a company-wide restructuring plan that included a reduction in force of approximately 500 positions, including employees related to our product line divestitures, and the closure of all or parts of some of our worldwide facilities. The restructuring plan is intended to improve operational efficiencies. In connection with the plan, during the fourth quarter of 2008, we recorded restructuring charges of $20.4 million related to employee termination costs and $0.5 million for the closure of three small facilities. In addition, as a result of the decision to sell the PCTV product line, we recorded a non-cash restructuring charge of $1.9 million in cost of revenues related to the write-down of inventory.

 

 

During the first nine months of 2009, we recorded new restructuring charges totaling $16.4 million, of which $7.9 million related to the closure of all or part of eleven facilities; $7.7 million related to the termination of the employment of approximately 200 additional employees; and $0.8 million, recorded in cost of revenues, related to the write-down of PCTV inventory. Restructuring activities initiated during the third quarter of 2009 include the closure of one floor of our Audio segment’s Daly City, California facility. As a result of the Daly City facility actions, we anticipate that additional restructuring charges of approximately $4 million, including additional non-cash charges of $1 million, will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2009. Also during the first nine months of 2009, we recorded revisions of $1.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively, to previously recorded restructuring estimates for severance and facility obligations related to this plan.

 

During the first quarter of 2008, we initiated restructuring plans within our Video business unit and corporate operations to eliminate duplicative business functions and improve operational efficiencies. During the first quarter of 2008, we recorded restructuring charges of $1.2 million under these plans related to employee termination costs for 20 employees, primarily in the marketing and selling teams and general and administrative teams. During the second quarter of 2008, we recorded restructuring charges of $1.0 million under these plans primarily related to employee termination costs for 26 employees, primarily in the research and development teams and sales and marketing teams. During the third quarter of 2008, we recorded restructuring charges of $2.0 million under these plans primarily related to employee termination costs for 45 employees, primarily in the research and development teams and general and administrative teams.

 

Loss on Sales of Assets

 

During the third quarter of 2009, we recorded a loss on the sale of assets of $3.2 million related to our sale of the PCTV product line, which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2008. The loss resulted from the write-down of PCTV inventory classified as held-for-sale.

 

Interest and Other Income (Expense), Net

 

Interest and other income (expense), net, generally consists of interest income and interest expense.

 

 

 

 

The decreases in interest and other income (expense), net for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, compared to the same periods in 2008, were primarily the result of lower interest rates paid on cash balances, as well as lower average cash balances. Additionally, for the three month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, an increase in interest and other expenses during the 2009 period was a significant factor in the net expense for the period.

 

(Benefit from) Provision for Income Taxes, Net

 

 

 

 

Our effective tax rate, which represents a tax benefit as a percentage of loss before income taxes, was 8% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009. Our effective tax rate, which represents a tax provision as a percentage of loss before income taxes, was (3%) for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008. The primary reasons for the change from a tax provision to a tax benefit were favorable discrete tax benefits of $2.8 million from the net release of income tax reserves primarily related to the completion of a foreign tax audit, $1.6 million for cumulative adjustments of prior year tax provisions to actual tax return filings, $1.0 million from the utilization of unused research and development tax credits and $0.6 million from the partial release of a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets in a foreign subsidiary. No tax benefit is provided for losses generated in the United States due to the full valuation allowance on our U.S. deferred tax assets.

 

Excluding the impact of our valuation allowance, our effective tax rates would have been 48% and 16%, respectively, for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008. These rates may differ from the federal statutory rate of 35% due to the net benefits recorded for discrete tax items, the impact of permanent differences in the United States, and the mix of income and losses in foreign jurisdictions, which have tax rates that differ from the statutory rate.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Current Cash Flows and Commitments

 

We have funded our operations in recent years through cash flows from operations and stock option exercises. At September 30, 2009, our principal sources of liquidity included cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaling $103.0 million.

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $32.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to $6.0 million provided by operating activities for the same period in 2008. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, net cash used in operating activities primarily reflected our net loss adjusted for depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation expense, as well as changes in working capital items, in particular decreases in accrued liabilities and deferred revenues, partially offset by a decrease in accounts receivable. The decrease in accrued liabilities during the first nine months of 2009 was the result of cash expenditures related to restructuring obligations, as well as payments for other obligations accrued at December 31, 2008, including taxes, royalties and tariffs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, net cash provided by operating activities primarily reflected our net loss adjusted for depreciation and amortization, goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges, and stock-based compensation, as well as changes in working capital items, in particular a decrease in accounts receivable, partially offset by an increase in inventories and decreases in accounts payable, accrued expenses and income taxes payable.

 

 

Accounts receivable decreased $17.0 million to $86.5 million at September 30, 2009 from $103.5 million at December 31, 2008. These balances are net of allowances for sales returns, bad debts and customer rebates, all of which we estimate and record based primarily on historical experience. The decrease in accounts receivable was primarily the result of the effect of the decrease in revenues in the third quarter of 2009, compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. Days sales outstanding increased from 45 days at December 31, 2008 to 51 days at September 30, 2009.

 

At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we held inventory in the amounts of $91.7 million and $95.8 million, respectively. These balances included stockroom, spares and demonstration equipment inventories at various locations, as well as inventory at customer sites related to shipments for which we had not yet recognized revenue. We review all inventory balances regularly for excess quantities or potential obsolescence and make appropriate adjustments as needed to write down the inventories to reflect their estimated realizable value. We source inventory products and components pursuant to purchase orders placed from time to time.

 

Net cash flow used in investing activities was $12.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to $24.6 million for the same period in 2008. The net cash flow used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 primarily reflected $9.6 million used for the purchase of property and equipment. The net cash flow used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, primarily reflected $12.4 million used for the purchase of property and equipment and net purchases of $10.9 million resulting from the timing of the sale and purchase of marketable securities. Property and equipment purchases in both periods consisted primarily of computer hardware and software to support our research and development activities and information systems.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, cash used in financing activities was $0.4 million, compared to $92.5 million for the same period in 2008. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the cash used in financing activities primarily reflected $0.5 million used to repurchase stock options during the second quarter of 2009. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the cash used in financing activities primarily reflected the $93.2 million used for our stock repurchase program in the first quarter of that year.

 

A stock repurchase program was approved by our board of directors in April 2007, which authorized the repurchase of up to $100 million of our common stock through transactions on the open market, in block trades or otherwise. The program has no expiration date. In February 2008, our board of directors approved a $100 million increase in authorized funds for the repurchase of our common stock under this program. During 2007, we repurchased 809,236 shares of our common stock under the program for a total purchase price, including commissions, of $26.6 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we repurchased an additional 4,254,397 shares of our common stock for a total purchase price, including commissions, of $93.2 million, leaving $80.3 million authorized for future repurchases. The stock repurchase program is being funded through working capital.

 

In connection with restructuring activities during 2009 and prior periods, at September 30, 2009, we had restructuring accruals of $5.4 million and $6.9 million related to severance and lease obligations, respectively. Our future cash obligations for leases for which we have vacated the underlying facilities total approximately $10.2 million. The lease accruals represent the present value of the excess of our lease commitments on the vacated space over expected payments to be received on subleases of the relevant facilities. The lease payments will be made over the remaining terms of the leases, which have varying expiration dates through 2017, unless we are able to negotiate earlier terminations. The severance payments will be made during the next twelve months. During the fourth quarter of 2009, we will finalize the closure of one floor of our Audio segment’s Daly City, California facility. As a result of this closure, we anticipate that additional restructuring charges of approximately $4 million, including additional non-cash charges of $1 million, will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2009. At that time, our future cash obligations for leases for which we have vacated the underlying facilities will increase by approximately $4 million. All payments related to restructuring actions are expected to be funded through working capital. See Note 17 of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of this report for the restructuring costs and accruals activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

 

Our cash requirements vary depending upon factors such as our growth, capital expenditures, acquisitions of businesses or technologies and obligations under restructuring plans. We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and funds generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our operating cash requirements for at least the next twelve months. In the event that we require additional financing, we believe that we will be able to obtain such financing; however, there can be no assurance that we would be successful in doing so or that we could do so on favorable terms.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

We value our cash and investment instruments using quoted market prices, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. See Notes 3 and 4 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of this report for the disclosure of the fair values and the inputs used to determine the fair values of our financial assets and financial liabilities.

 

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

See Notes 3 and 18 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of this report for disclosure of the impact that recent accounting pronouncements have had or may have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

 

We have significant international operations and, therefore, our revenues, earnings, cash flows and financial position are exposed to foreign currency risk from foreign currency denominated receivables, payables, sales transactions and net investments in foreign operations.

 

We derive more than half of our revenues from customers outside the United States. This business is, for the most part, transacted through international subsidiaries and generally in the currency of the end-user customers. Therefore, we are exposed to the risks that changes in foreign currency could adversely affect our revenues, net income and cash flow. To hedge against the foreign exchange exposure of certain forecasted receivables, payables and cash balances, we enter into short-term foreign currency forward contracts. There are two objectives of our foreign currency forward-contract program: (1) to offset any foreign exchange currency risk associated with cash receipts expected to be received from our customers over the next 30-day period and (2) to offset the impact of foreign currency exchange on our net monetary assets denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the legal entity. These forward contracts typically mature within 30 days of execution. We record gains and losses associated with currency rate changes on these contracts in results of operations, offsetting gains and losses on the related assets and liabilities. The success of this hedging program depends on forecasts of transaction activity in the various currencies and contract rates versus financial statement rates. To the extent these forecasts are overstated or understated during periods of currency volatility, we could experience unanticipated currency gains or losses.

 

At September 30, 2009, we had foreign currency forward contracts outstanding with an aggregate notional value of $24.9 million, denominated in the euro, Canadian dollar and Japanese yen, as a hedge against actual and forecasted foreign currency denominated receivables, payables and cash balances. The mark-to-market effect associated with these contracts was a net unrealized loss of $0.3 million at September 30, 2009. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, net gains of $1.0 million resulting from the forward contracts were included in results of operations, and there were $0.6 million of net transaction and remeasurement gains on the related assets and liabilities.

 

Assuming the above-mentioned forecast of the hedged asset and liability positions is accurate, a hypothetical 10% change in the foreign currency exchange rates applied to both the foreign currency forward contracts and the underlying exposures would not have a material impact on our results of operations because the impact on the forward contracts as a result of the 10% change would at least partially offset the impact on the asset and liability positions of our foreign subsidiaries.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

At September 30, 2009, we held $103.0 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, including short-term corporate obligations, asset-backed securities and government-agency obligations. Marketable securities are classified as “available for sale” and are recorded on the balance sheet at market value, with any unrealized gain or loss recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). A hypothetical 10% increase or decrease in interest rates would not have a material impact on the fair market value of these instruments due to their short maturities.

 

 

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2009. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Security and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2009, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of that date, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective because of the identification of the material weakness discussed below.

 

A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the financial statements will not be prevented or detected. We determined that we had mistakenly recognized revenue prior to transfer of title and risk of loss to our customers on certain shipments made in Europe.  Accordingly, we have concluded that we have a material weakness in the design and operating effectiveness of our controls and procedures in Europe relating to ensuring that revenue is recognized only after transfer of title and risk of loss to the customer.

 

In light of this material weakness, we have performed additional analyses and procedures in order to conclude that our condensed consolidated financial statements for the period presented in this report are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America for such financial statements. We also believe that any impact arising from the material weakness relating to prior periods is not material to our financial statements for any such prior period. We are evaluating the action to be taken to remediate the material weakness identified above and plan to take that action as soon as practicable after that evaluation is complete.

 

No change in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2009 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

We are involved in legal proceedings from time to time arising from the normal course of business activities, including claims of alleged infringement of intellectual property rights and commercial, employment, piracy prosecution and other matters. We do not believe these matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations. However, our financial position or results of operations may be negatively affected by the unfavorable resolution of one or more of these proceedings.

 

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in Part I - Item 1A under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 in addition to the other information included or incorporated by reference in this quarterly report before making an investment decision regarding our common stock. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or operating results would likely suffer, possibly materially, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, there were no material changes to the risk factors that were disclosed in Part 1 - Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

 

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

The following table is a summary of our stock repurchases during the quarter ended September 30, 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The list of exhibits, which are filed or furnished with this report or which are incorporated herein by reference, is set forth in the Exhibit Index immediately preceding the exhibits and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

__________________________

#  Management contract or compensatory plan identified pursuant to Item 15(a)3.