e10vq
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
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þ |
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008
or
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o |
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 000-1158172
comScore, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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54-1955550 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization)
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Identification Number) |
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11465 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 200 |
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Reston, VA
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20190 |
(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code) |
(703) 483-2000
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
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 þ 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 the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o |
Accelerated filer o |
Non-accelerated filer þ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Smaller reporting company o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as
of the latest practicable date: As of May 14, 2008, there were 28,623,218 shares of the registrants
common stock outstanding.
comScore, Inc.
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I. |
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
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4 |
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Item 1. |
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Financial Statements |
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4 |
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Item 2. |
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Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
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19 |
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Item 3. |
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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk |
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31 |
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Item 4. |
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Controls and Procedures |
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32 |
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PART II. |
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OTHER INFORMATION |
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33 |
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Item 1. |
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Legal Proceedings |
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33 |
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Item 1A. |
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Risk Factors |
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33 |
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Item 2. |
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Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
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47 |
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Item 3. |
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Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
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48 |
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Item 4. |
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Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
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48 |
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Item 5. |
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Other Information |
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48 |
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Item 6. |
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Exhibits |
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48 |
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SIGNATURES |
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49 |
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EXHIBIT INDEX |
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50 |
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Exhibit 31.1
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Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
Exhibit 31.2
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Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
Exhibit 32.1
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Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
Exhibit 32.2
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Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
2
CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the sections entitled Managements Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Quantitative and Qualitative
Disclosure About Market Risk under Items 2 and 3, respectively, of Part I of this report, and the
sections entitled Legal Proceedings, Risk Factors, and Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
and Use of Proceeds under Items 1, 1A and 2, respectively, of Part II of this report, may contain
forward-looking statements. These statements may relate to, but are not limited to, expectations of
future operating results or financial performance, capital expenditures, introduction of new
products, regulatory compliance, plans for growth and future operations, as well as assumptions
relating to the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and
uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. These risks and other factors
include, but are not limited to, those listed under the section entitled Risk Factors in Item 1A
of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking
statements by terminology such as may, will, should, could, expect, plan, anticipate,
believe, estimate, predict, intend, potential, continue, seek or the negative of
these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Actual events
and/or results may differ materially.
We believe that it is important to communicate our future expectations to our investors.
However, there may be events in the future that we are not able to accurately predict or control
and that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations we describe in our
forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of
the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we do not plan to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of any new information, future events or
otherwise, other than through the filing of periodic reports in accordance with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Investors and potential investors should not place undue reliance
on our forward-looking statements. Before you invest in our common stock, you should be aware that
the occurrence of any of the events described in the Risk Factors section and elsewhere in this
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q could harm our business, prospects, operating results and financial
condition. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements
are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements.
3
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
COMSCORE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
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March 31, 2008 |
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December 31, 2007 |
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(Unaudited) |
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(In thousands, except share |
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and per share data) |
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Assets |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
54,139 |
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$ |
68,368 |
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Short-term investments |
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49,227 |
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28,449 |
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Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $277 and $234, respectively |
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24,796 |
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23,446 |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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1,947 |
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1,620 |
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Restricted cash |
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1,385 |
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Deferred tax asset |
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129 |
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176 |
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Total current assets |
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130,238 |
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123,444 |
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Long-term investments |
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8,271 |
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7,924 |
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Property and equipment, net |
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9,506 |
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6,867 |
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Other non-current assets |
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163 |
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168 |
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Long-term deferred tax asset |
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6,323 |
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7,888 |
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Intangible assets, net |
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10 |
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17 |
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Goodwill |
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1,364 |
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1,364 |
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Total assets |
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$ |
155,875 |
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$ |
147,672 |
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Liabilities and stockholders equity |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accounts payable |
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$ |
964 |
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$ |
1,140 |
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Accrued expenses |
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6,404 |
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6,838 |
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Deferred revenues |
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36,838 |
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33,045 |
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Deferred rent |
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366 |
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154 |
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Capital lease obligations |
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919 |
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900 |
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Total current liabilities |
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45,491 |
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42,077 |
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Capital lease obligations, long-term |
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740 |
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977 |
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Deferred rent, long-term |
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2,482 |
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181 |
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Total liabilities |
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48,713 |
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43,235 |
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Commitments and contingencies |
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Common Stock subject to put; 135,635 shares issued and outstanding at
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 |
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1,815 |
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1,815 |
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Stockholders equity |
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Preferred
stock, $0.001 par value per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized at
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007; no shares issued or
outstanding at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 |
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Common
stock, $0.001 par value per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized at
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007; 28,426,890 and 27,960,573
shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2008 and December 31,
2007, respectively |
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28 |
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28 |
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Treasury
stock, 97,002 and 24,677 shares at cost, at March 31, 2008
and December 31, 2007, respectively |
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(965 |
) |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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184,888 |
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183,433 |
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Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |
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(295 |
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1 |
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Accumulated deficit |
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(78,309 |
) |
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(80,840 |
) |
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Total stockholders equity |
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105,347 |
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102,622 |
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Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
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$ |
155,875 |
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$ |
147,672 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
4
COMSCORE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
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Three Months |
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Ended March 31, |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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(Unaudited) |
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(In thousands except share |
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and per share data |
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Revenues |
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$ |
26,370 |
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$ |
18,681 |
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Cost of revenues (excludes amortization of intangible assets
resulting from acquisitions shown below)(1) |
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7,017 |
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5,388 |
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Selling and marketing(1) |
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8,945 |
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6,451 |
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Research and development(1) |
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3,070 |
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2,556 |
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General and administrative(1) |
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3,886 |
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2,507 |
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Amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions |
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7 |
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293 |
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Total expenses from operations |
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22,925 |
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17,195 |
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Income from operations |
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3,445 |
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1,486 |
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Interest income, net |
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819 |
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97 |
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Loss from foreign currency |
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(55 |
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(8 |
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Revaluation of preferred stock warrant liabilities |
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11 |
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Income before income taxes |
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4,209 |
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1,586 |
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Provision for income taxes |
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(1,678 |
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(46 |
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Net income |
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2,531 |
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1,540 |
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Accretion of redeemable preferred stock |
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(885 |
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Net income attributable to common stockholders |
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$ |
2,531 |
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$ |
655 |
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Net income attributable to common stockholders per common share: |
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Basic |
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$ |
0.09 |
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$ |
0.00 |
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Diluted |
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$ |
0.08 |
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$ |
0.00 |
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Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculation
common stock: |
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Basic |
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28,200,934 |
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4,196,736 |
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Diluted |
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29,998,490 |
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4,196,736 |
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Net income attributable to common stockholders per common share
subject to put: |
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Basic |
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$ |
0.09 |
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$ |
0.09 |
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Diluted |
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$ |
0.08 |
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$ |
0.09 |
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Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculation
common share subject to put: |
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Basic and diluted |
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135,635 |
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347,635 |
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(1) Amortization of stock-based compensation is included in the
line items above as follows: |
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Cost of revenues |
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$ |
141 |
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$ |
9 |
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Selling and marketing |
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421 |
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39 |
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Research and development |
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114 |
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8 |
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General and administrative |
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467 |
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51 |
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Comprehensive income: |
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Net income |
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$ |
2,531 |
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$ |
1,540 |
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Other comprehensive income: |
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Foreign currency cumulative translation adjustment |
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(77 |
) |
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5 |
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Unrealized loss on marketable securities |
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(219 |
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Total comprehensive income |
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$ |
2,235 |
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$ |
1,545 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
5
COMSCORE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
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Three Months |
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Ended March 31, |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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(Unaudited) |
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(In thousands) |
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Operating activities |
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Net income |
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$ |
2,531 |
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$ |
1,540 |
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Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities: |
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Depreciation |
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1,035 |
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|
861 |
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Amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions |
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7 |
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293 |
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Provisions for bad debts |
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65 |
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51 |
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Stock-based compensation |
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1,143 |
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107 |
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Revaluation of preferred stock warrant liabilities |
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(11 |
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Amortization of deferred finance costs |
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1 |
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Deferred rent |
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(25 |
) |
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(37 |
) |
Deferred tax provision (benefit) |
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1,613 |
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(19 |
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Accounts receivable, net |
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(1,467 |
) |
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(843 |
) |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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(326 |
) |
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(3 |
) |
Other non-current assets |
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2 |
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(6 |
) |
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities |
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(648 |
) |
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(1,184 |
) |
Deferred rent |
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2,541 |
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Deferred revenues |
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3,864 |
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|
2,406 |
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Net cash provided by operating activities |
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|
10,335 |
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|
3,156 |
|
Investing activities |
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Recovery (payment of) restricted cash |
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1,385 |
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(2 |
) |
Purchase of investments |
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|
(51,793 |
) |
|
|
(1,575 |
) |
Sales and maturities of investments |
|
|
30,450 |
|
|
|
1,100 |
|
Purchase of property and equipment |
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|
(3,682 |
) |
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|
(494 |
) |
|
|
|
|
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Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(23,640 |
) |
|
|
(971 |
) |
Financing activities |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from the exercise of common stock options and warrants |
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|
369 |
|
|
|
140 |
|
Repurchase of common stock |
|
|
(965 |
) |
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|
|
|
Principal payments on capital lease obligations |
|
|
(218 |
) |
|
|
(665 |
) |
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|
|
|
|
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Net cash used in financing activities |
|
|
(814 |
) |
|
|
(525 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
|
|
(110 |
) |
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
(14,229 |
) |
|
|
1,674 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
|
|
68,368 |
|
|
|
5,032 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
|
$ |
54,139 |
|
|
$ |
6,706 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
cash flow disclosures |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accretion of preferred stock |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
885 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
6
COMSCORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Organization
comScore, Inc. (the Company), a Delaware corporation incorporated in August 1999, provides a
digital marketing intelligence platform that helps customers make better-informed business
decisions and implement more effective digital business strategies. The Companys products and
solutions offer customers insights into consumer behavior, including objective, detailed
information regarding usage of their online properties and those of their competitors, coupled with
information on consumer demographic characteristics, attitudes, lifestyles and offline behavior.
The Companys digital marketing intelligence platform is comprised of proprietary databases
and a computational infrastructure that measures, analyzes and reports on digital activity. The
foundation of the platform is data collected from a panel of more than two million Internet users
worldwide who have granted to the Company explicit permission to confidentially measure their
Internet usage patterns, online and certain offline buying behavior and other activities. By
applying advanced statistical methodologies to the panel data, the Company projects consumers
online behavior for the total online population and a wide variety of user categories.
On July 2, 2007, the Company completed its initial public offering (IPO) of common stock in
which the Company issued and sold 5,000,000 shares of its common stock at an issuance price of
$16.50 per share. In addition, selling stockholders, including officers and directors of the
Company or entities affiliated therewith, sold an aggregate of 1,095,000 shares of common stock,
which amount included the exercise of the underwriters over-allotment option in the IPO. The
Company raised a total of $82,500,000 in gross proceeds from the IPO, or approximately $73,116,000
in net proceeds after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of $5,775,000 and offering
costs of $3,609,000. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in the IPO by
the selling stockholders. Upon the closing of the IPO, all shares of convertible preferred stock
then outstanding automatically converted into 17,257,362 shares of common stock and all preferred
stock warrants converted into common stock warrants.
In connection with the IPO, the Companys Board of Directors and stockholders approved a
1-for-5 reverse stock split of the then outstanding common stock and convertible preferred stock
effective June 21, 2007. All share and per share amounts contained in these consolidated financial
statements have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its
wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been
eliminated upon consolidation. The Company consolidates investments where it has a controlling
financial interest as defined by Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) No. 51, Consolidated Financial
Statements, as amended by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 94, Consolidation
of all Majority-Owned Subsidiaries. The usual condition for controlling financial interest is
ownership of a majority of the voting interest and, therefore, as a general rule, ownership,
directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares is a condition indicating
consolidation. For investments in variable interest entities, as defined by Financial Accounting
Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, the
Company would consolidate when it is determined to be the primary beneficiary of a variable
interest entity. The Company does not have any variable interest entities.
Certain amounts in the prior period financial statements have been reclassified to conform to
the current period presentation.
Unaudited Interim Financial Information
The condensed consolidated financial statements included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q
have been prepared by the Company without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures
normally included in
consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. However, the
Company believes that the disclosures contained in this quarterly report comply with the
requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for a quarterly
report on Form 10-Q and are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The
condensed consolidated financial statements included herein, reflect all adjustments (consisting of
normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair
presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim
periods presented. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction
with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto
contained in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed March 11, 2008
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The results of operations for the three months ended March
31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be anticipated for the entire year ending
December 31, 2008 or thereafter. All references to March 31, 2008 and 2007 or to the three months
ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements are unaudited.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities
at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during
the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
7
COMSCORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Investments, and Restricted Cash
Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments. Cash and cash equivalents
consists primarily of bank deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and U.S. treasury bills.
Investments, which consist
principally of U.S. treasury notes and auction rate securities, are stated at fair market value. These securities
are accounted for as available-for-sale securities in accordance with SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments
in Debt and Equity Securities. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary,
if any, on available-for-sale securities are included in interest income. Interest and dividends on securities
classified as available-for-sale are included in interest income. The Company uses the specific
identification method to compute realized gains and losses on its investments.
The Company periodically
evaluates whether any declines in the fair value of investments are other-than-temporary. This evaluation consists
of a review of several factors, including but not limited to: the length of time and extent that a security has
been in an unrealized loss position; the near-term prospects for recovery of the market value of a security; and the
intent and ability of the Company to hold the security until the market value recovers. Declines in value below cost
for investments where it is considered probable that all contractual terms of the investment will be satisfied, due
primarily to changes in market demand, and not because of increased credit risk, and where the Company intends and
has the ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow a market recovery, are not assumed to
be other-than-temporary.
Interest income on investments was $857,000 and $190,000 for the three months ended March 31,
2008 and 2007, respectively.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and are non-interest bearing. The
Company generally grants uncollateralized credit terms to its customers and maintains an allowance
for doubtful accounts to reserve for potentially uncollectible receivables. Allowances are based on
managements judgment, which considers historical experience and specific knowledge of accounts
where collectibility may not be probable. The Company makes provisions based on historical bad debt
experience, a specific review of all significant outstanding invoices and an assessment of general
economic conditions. If the financial condition of a customer deteriorates, resulting in an
impairment of its ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Property and
equipment is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets,
ranging from three to five years. Assets under capital leases are recorded at their net present
value at the inception of the lease and are included in the appropriate asset category. Assets
under capital leases and leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the related lease
terms or their useful lives. Replacements and major improvements are capitalized; maintenance and
repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Amortization of assets under capital leases is included
within the expense category on the Statement of Operations in which the asset is deployed.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable
assets acquired and liabilities assumed when other businesses are acquired. The allocation of the
purchase price to intangible assets and goodwill involves the extensive use of managements
estimates and assumptions, and the result of the allocation process can have a significant impact
on future operating results. The Company estimates the fair value of identifiable intangible assets
acquired using several different valuation approaches, including the replacement cost, income and
market approaches. The replacement cost approach is based on determining the discrete cost of
replacing or reproducing a specific asset. The Company generally uses the replacement cost approach
for estimating the value of acquired technology/methodology assets. The income approach converts
the anticipated economic benefits that the Company assumes will be realized from a given asset into
value. Under this approach, value is measured as the present worth of anticipated future net cash
flows generated by an asset. The Company generally uses the income approach to value customer
relationship assets and non-compete agreements. The market approach compares the acquired asset to
similar assets that have been sold. The Company generally uses the market approach to value
trademarks and brand assets.
Under SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (SFAS 142), intangible assets with
finite lives are amortized over their useful lives while goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated
for potential impairment at least annually by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its
carrying value, including goodwill recorded by the reporting unit. If the carrying value exceeds the
fair value, impairment is measured by comparing the derived fair value of the goodwill to its
carrying value, and any impairment determined is recorded in the current period. In accordance with
SFAS 142, all of the Companys goodwill is associated with one reporting unit. Accordingly, on an
annual basis the Company performs the impairment assessment for goodwill required under SFAS 142 at
the enterprise level. The Company completed its annual impairment analysis as of October 1st for
2007 and determined that there was no impairment of goodwill. There have been no indicators of
impairment since the October 1, 2007 test through March 31, 2008.
Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized using the straight-line method over the
following useful lives:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Useful |
|
|
Lives |
|
|
(Years) |
Non-compete agreements |
|
|
3 to 4 |
|
Customer relationships |
|
|
1 to 3 |
|
Acquired methodologies/technology |
|
|
1 to 3 |
|
Trademarks and brands |
|
|
2 |
|
8
COMSCORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, including property and equipment, are reviewed for impairment whenever
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount should be addressed pursuant
to SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (SFAS 144).
Pursuant to SFAS 144, impairment is determined by comparing the carrying value of these long-lived
assets to an estimate of the future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the
assets and eventual disposition. In the event an impairment exists, a loss is recognized based on
the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset, which is generally
determined by using quoted market prices or valuation techniques such as the discounted present
value of expected future cash flows, appraisals, or other pricing models as appropriate. There were
no impairment charges recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007. In the
event that there are changes in the planned use of the Companys long-term assets or its expected
future undiscounted cash flows are reduced significantly, the Companys assessment of its ability
to recover the carrying value of these assets could change.
Foreign Currency Translation
The Company applies SFAS No. 52, Foreign Currency Translation, with respect to its
international operations. The functional currency of the Companys foreign subsidiaries is the
local currency. All assets
and liabilities are translated at the current exchange rate as of the end of the period, and
revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates in effect during the period. The
gain or loss resulting from the process of translating foreign currency financial statements into
U.S. dollars is included as a component of other comprehensive income. The Company incurred foreign
currency transaction losses of $55,000 and $8,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007. These losses primarily related to U.S. dollar and Euro denominated transactions within the
Companys foreign subsidiaries.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Staff
Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 104, Revenue Recognition (SAB 104). SAB 104 requires that four basic
criteria must be met prior to revenue recognition: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement
exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or the services have been rendered, (iii) the fee is fixed or
determinable and (iv) collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.
The Company generates revenues by providing access to the Companys online database or
delivering information obtained from the database, usually in the form of periodic reports.
Revenues are typically recognized on a straight-line basis over the period in which access to data
or reports are provided, which generally ranges from three to 24 months.
Revenues are also generated through survey services under contracts ranging in term from two
months to one year. Survey services consist of survey and questionnaire design with subsequent data
collection, analysis and reporting. Revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the
estimated data collection period once the survey or questionnaire has been delivered. Any change in
the estimated data collection period results in an adjustment to revenues recognized in future
periods.
Certain of the Companys arrangements contain multiple elements, consisting of the various
services the Company offers. Multiple element arrangements typically consist of a subscription to
the Companys online database combined with customized services. These arrangements are accounted
for in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with
Multiple Deliverables. The Company has determined that there is not objective and reliable evidence
of fair value for any of its services and, therefore, accounts for all elements in multiple
elements arrangements as a single unit of accounting. Access to data under the subscription element
is generally provided shortly after the execution of the contract. However, the initial delivery of
customized services generally occurs subsequent to contract execution. The Company recognizes the
entire arrangement fee over the performance period of the last deliverable. As a result, the total
arrangement fee is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period beginning with the
commencement of the last customized service delivered.
Generally, contracts are non-refundable and non-cancelable. In the event a portion of a
contract is refundable, revenue recognition is delayed until the refund provisions lapse. A limited
number of customers have the right to cancel their contracts by providing a written notice of
cancellation. In the event that a customer cancels its contract, the customer is not entitled to a
refund for prior services, and will be charged for costs incurred plus services performed up to the
cancellation date.
Advance payments are recorded as deferred revenues until services are delivered or obligations
are met and revenue can be recognized. Deferred revenues represent the excess of amounts invoiced
over amounts recognized as revenues.
Stock-Based Compensation
Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for its stock-based compensation plans under
the recognition and measurement provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 (APB 25),
Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations, as permitted by SFAS No.
123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (SFAS 123). Effective January 1, 2006, the Company
adopted SFAS No. 123 (R), Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123R), including the fair value recognition
provisions, using the prospective method. Under SFAS 123R, a non-public company that previously
used the minimum value method for pro forma disclosure purposes is required to adopt the standard
using the prospective method. Under the prospective method, all awards granted, modified or settled
after the date of adoption are accounted for using the measurement, recognition and attribution
provisions of SFAS 123R. As a result, stock-based awards granted prior to the date of adoption of
SFAS 123R will continue to be accounted for
under APB 25 with no recognition of stock-based compensation in future periods, unless such awards
are modified or settled. Subsequent to the adoption of SFAS 123R, the Company estimates the value
of stock-based awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. For
stock-based awards subject to graded vesting, the Company has utilized the straight-line ratable
method for allocating compensation cost by period. In accordance with SFAS 123R, the Company
recorded stock-based compensation expense of $1.1million and $107,000 for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
9
COMSCORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for using the liability method in accordance with SFAS No. 109,
Accounting for Income Taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences in
recognizing certain income, expense and credit items for financial reporting purposes and tax
reporting purposes. Such deferred income taxes primarily relate to the difference between the tax
bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts. Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are measured by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to the future years in
which deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be settled or realized.
FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48),
Accounting for Uncertainty
in Income Taxes, an interpretation of SFAS No. 109 clarifies the accounting
for income taxes by prescribing that a company should use a
more-likely-than not recognition
threshold based on the technical merits of the tax position taken. Tax provisions that meet the
more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be measured as the largest amount of tax
benefits, determined on a cumulative probability basis, which is more likely than not to be
realized upon ultimate settlement in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on
derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting for interim periods, disclosure
and transition, and explicitly excludes income taxes from the scope of SFAS No. 5, Accounting for
Contingencies. As of March 31, 2008 and December 31,
2007, the
Company had unrecognized tax benefits of $71,000 on a tax effected
basis, all of which would effect the Companys tax rate if
recognized.
Earnings Per Share
The Company computes earnings per share in accordance with the provisions of FASB No. 128,
Earnings Per Share (SFAS 128). The Company has issued shares of common stock in connection with
business acquisitions that give the holders the right to require the Company to repurchase the
shares at a fixed price at a specified future date (Common Stock Subject to Put). The difference
between the fair value of the shares of Common Stock Subject to Put on the issuance date and the
price at which the Company may be required to repurchase those shares is being accreted over the
period from issuance to the first date at which the Company could be required to repurchase the
shares as a dividend to the holders. EITF Topic D-98, Classification and Measurement of Redeemable
Securities (EITF D-98) states that when a common shareholder has a contractual right to receive, at
share redemption, an amount that is other than fair value, such shareholder has received, in
substance, a preferential distribution. Under SFAS 128, entities with capital structures that
include classes of common stock with different dividend rates are required to apply the two-class
method of calculating earnings per share. Accordingly, the Company calculates earnings per share
for its common stock and its Common Stock Subject to Put using a method akin to the two-class
method under SFAS 128.
In addition, the Companys series of convertible redeemable preferred stock that were
outstanding until their automatic conversion upon the completion of the IPO on July 2, 2007 were
considered participating securities as they were entitled to an 8% noncumulative preferential
dividend before any dividends could be paid to common stockholders. The Company includes its
participating preferred stock in the computation of earnings per share using the two-class method
in accordance with EITF 03-06, Participating Securities and the Two Class Method under FASB
Statement No. 128 (EITF 03-06).
The two-class computation method for each period allocates the undistributed earnings or
losses to each participating security based on their respective rights to receive dividends. In
addition to undistributed earnings or losses, the accretion to their redemption or put prices is
also allocated to the Common Stock Subject to Put and the convertible redeemable preferred stock.
In periods of undistributed losses, all losses are allocated to common stock in accordance with
EITF 03-06 as the holders of Common Stock Subject to Put and participating preferred stock are not
required to fund losses nor are their redemption or put prices reduced as a result of losses
incurred. In periods of undistributed income, income is first allocated to the participating
preferred stock for their preferential dividend, currently $7.1 million per annum. Any
undistributed earnings remaining are then allocated to holders of common stock, Common Stock
Subject to Put and preferred stock (assuming conversion) on a pro rata basis. The total earnings or
losses allocated to each class of common stock are then divided by the weighted-average number of
shares outstanding for each class of common stock to determine basic earnings per share. EITF 03-06
does not require the presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share for securities other than
common stock; therefore, earnings per share is only computed for the Companys common stock.
Diluted earnings per share for common stock reflects the potential dilution that
could result if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or
converted into common stock. Diluted earnings per share assumes the exercise of stock
options and warrants using the treasury stock method. Diluted earnings per share does not
assume the conversion of the Companys convertible preferred stock using the if-converted
method as the result is anti-dilutive for the period prior to conversion. No potentially
dilutive securities are convertible or exercisable into shares of Common Stock Subject to
Put.
The following is a summary of common stock equivalents for the securities
outstanding during the respective periods that have been excluded from the earnings per
share calculations as their impact was anti-dilutive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
(Unaudited) |
Stock options and restricted stock units |
|
|
9,171 |
|
|
|
2,557,884 |
|
Convertible preferred stock warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
113,129 |
|
Common stock warrants |
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
62,057 |
|
Convertible preferred stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,257,362 |
|
10
COMSCORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
(In thousands, except |
|
|
|
share and per share data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calculation of basic and diluted net income per share two class method: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
2,531 |
|
|
$ |
1,540 |
|
Accretion of redeemable preferred stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(885 |
) |
Accretion of common stock subject to put |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(33 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Undistributed earnings |
|
|
2,531 |
|
|
|
622 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allocation of undistributed earnings: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock |
|
|
2,531 |
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
622 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total allocated earnings |
|
$ |
2,531 |
|
|
$ |
622 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income attributable to common stockholders per common share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
$ |
0.09 |
|
|
$ |
0.00 |
|
Diluted |
|
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
0.00 |
|
Weighted-average shares outstanding-common stock: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
|
28,200,934 |
|
|
|
4,196,736 |
|
Diluted |
|
|
29,998,490 |
|
|
|
4,196,736 |
|
Net income attributable to common stockholders per common share subject to put: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
$ |
0.09 |
|
|
$ |
0.09 |
|
Diluted |
|
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
0.09 |
|
Weighted-average shares outstanding-common stock subject to put: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
|
135,635 |
|
|
|
347,635 |
|
Diluted |
|
|
135,635 |
|
|
|
347,635 |
|
Recent Pronouncements
In December 2007, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 110 (SAB 110), which
expresses the views of the SEC staff regarding the use of a simplified method in developing an
estimate of expected term of plain vanilla share options in accordance with SFAS 123R. The use of
the simplified method, which was first described in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, was
scheduled to expire on December 31, 2007. SAB 110 extends the use of the simplified method for
plain vanilla awards in certain situations. The SEC staff does not expect the simplified method
to be used when sufficient information regarding exercise behavior, such as historical exercise
data or exercise information from external sources, becomes available. SAB 110 is effective January
1, 2008. The adoption of SAB 110 did not have a material impact on our consolidated results of
operations or financial position.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (SFAS
No. 141(R)). SFAS No. 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer
recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the
liabilities assumed, any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree and the goodwill acquired. SFAS
No. 141(R) also establishes disclosure requirements to enable the evaluation of the nature and
financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of
adopting the provisions of SFAS No. 141(R) on its consolidated results of operations and financial
position.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated
Financial Statements an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (SFAS No. 160). SFAS
No. 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards for ownership interests in subsidiaries held
by parties other than the parent, the amount of the consolidated net income attributable to the
parent and to the noncontrolling interest, changes in a parents ownership interest, and the
valuation of retained noncontrolling equity investments when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. SFAS
No. 160 also establishes disclosure requirements that clearly identify and distinquish between the
interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS No. 160 is effective
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The
Company is currently evaluating the
potential impact of adopting the provisions of SFAS No. 160 on its consolidated results of
operations and financial position.
11
COMSCORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS No. 157). The
purpose of this statement is to define fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value
and enhance disclosures about fair value measurements. The measurement and disclosure requirements
are effective for the Company as of January 1, 2008 and are applied prospectively. In February
2008, the FASB agreed to delay the effective date of SFAS No, 157 for all nonfinancial assets and
nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the
financial statements on a recurring basis, to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The
Company adopted SFAS No. 157 on January 1, 2008 except as it applies to those non-financial assets
and non-financial liabilities. The
adoption of SFAS No. 157 for financial assets and liabilities did not have a material impact
on our consolidated results of operations or financial position. See Note 3. Investments and Fair
Value Measurements.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and
Financial Liabilities (SFAS No. 159), to permit all entities to choose to elect, at specified
election dates, to measure eligible financial instruments at fair value. An entity shall report
unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings
at each subsequent reporting date, and recognize upfront costs and fees related to those items in
earnings as incurred and not deferred. If elected, SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted SFAS No. 159 on January 1, 2008, however,
the Company has not expanded its eligible items subject to the fair value option under SFAS No.159.
3. Investments and Fair Value Measurements
As of March 31, 2008, the Company had $4.5 million invested in auction rate
securities, all of which are classified as long-term investments on its consolidated
balance sheet. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had $30.3 million invested in
auction rate securities, of which $25.4 million are classified as current, short-term
investments and $4.9 million are classified as long-term investments on its consolidated
balance sheet.
Auction rate securities are generally long-term debt instruments that provide
liquidity through a Dutch auction process that resets the applicable interest rate at
pre-determined calendar intervals, generally every 28 days. This mechanism typically
allows existing investors to rollover their holdings and continue to own their
respective securities or liquidate their holdings by selling their securities at par
value. The Company generally invests in these securities for short periods of time as
part of its investment policy. However, the recent uncertainties in the credit markets
have prevented the Company and other investors from liquidating holdings of certain
auction rate securities in recent auctions because the amount of securities submitted
for sale has exceeded the amount of purchase orders. Accordingly, the Company continues
to hold these long-term securities and is due interest at a higher rate than similar
securities for which auctions have cleared. As December 31, 2007, these investments were
fully backed by AAA rated bonds and insured against loss of principal and interest by
bond insurers. However, certain bond insurers are experiencing financial difficulty and
have either had their credit ratings downgraded or have been placed on watch. As of
March 31, 2008, all investments maintained investment grade ratings. As of March 31,
2008 and December 31, 2007, five auction rate securities with a par value of $5.1
million had failed their most recent auction and are considered illiquid. These
securities were valued using a discounted cash flow model that takes into consideration
the financial condition of the issuers and the bond insurers, as well as the expected
date liquidity will be restored. If the credit ratings of the issuer, the bond insurers
or the collateral continues to deteriorate, we may further adjust the carrying value of
these investments.
The Company is uncertain as to when the liquidity issues relating to these
investments will improve. Accordingly, we classified these securities as non-current as
of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007.
Marketable securities, which are classified as available-for-sale, are summarized
below as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchased |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Aggregate |
|
|
Classification on Balance Sheet |
|
|
|
Amortized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Short-Term |
|
|
Long-Term |
|
|
|
Cost |
|
|
Gain |
|
|
Loss |
|
|
Value |
|
|
Investments |
|
|
Investments |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
As of March 31, 2008: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. treasury notes |
|
$ |
52,798 |
|
|
$ |
157 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
52,955 |
|
|
$ |
49,227 |
|
|
$ |
3,728 |
|
Auction rate securities |
|
|
5,100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(557 |
) |
|
|
4,543 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,543 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
57,898 |
|
|
$ |
157 |
|
|
$ |
(557 |
) |
|
$ |
57,498 |
|
|
$ |
49,227 |
|
|
$ |
8,271 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12
COMSCORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchased |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Aggregate |
|
|
Classification on Balance Sheet |
|
|
|
Amortized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Short-Term |
|
|
Long-Term |
|
|
|
Cost |
|
|
Gain |
|
|
Loss |
|
|
Value |
|
|
Investments |
|
|
Investments |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
As of December 31, 2007: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
US government debt securities |
|
$ |
6,005 |
|
|
$ |
38 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
6,043 |
|
|
$ |
2,999 |
|
|
$ |
3,044 |
|
Auction rate securities |
|
|
30,550 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(220 |
) |
|
|
30,330 |
|
|
|
25,450 |
|
|
|
4,880 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
36,555 |
|
|
$ |
38 |
|
|
$ |
(220 |
) |
|
$ |
36,373 |
|
|
$ |
28,449 |
|
|
$ |
7,924 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table summarizes the fair value and gross unrealized losses related
to available-for-sale securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time
that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, as of
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less Than 12 months |
|
|
More Than 12 months |
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross |
|
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
|
Value |
|
|
Loss |
|
|
Value |
|
|
Loss |
|
|
Value |
|
|
Loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of
March 31, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Auction rate securities |
|
$ |
4,543 |
|
|
$ |
(557 |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
4,543 |
|
|
$ |
(557 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
4,543 |
|
|
$ |
(557 |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
4,543 |
|
|
$ |
(557 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less Than 12 months |
|
|
More Than 12 months |
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross |
|
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
|
Value |
|
|
Loss |
|
|
Value |
|
|
Loss |
|
|
Value |
|
|
Loss |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
As of December 31, 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Auction rate securities |
|
$ |
30,330 |
|
|
$ |
(220 |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
30,330 |
|
|
$ |
(220 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
30,330 |
|
|
$ |
(220 |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
30,330 |
|
|
$ |
(220 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The unrealized losses on the investments were due primarily to changes in market
conditions and overall lack of demand for auction rate securities. For all investments,
it is expected that the investments will not be settled at a price less than the
amortized cost of the investment. Because the Company has the ability and intent to hold
these investments until an anticipated recovery of the fair value, the Company does not
consider these investments to be other-than temporarily impaired as of March 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company adopted SFAS No. 157, on January 1, 2008. SFAS No. 157 clarifies that fair value
is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to
transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is
a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants
would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, SFAS No.
157 establishes a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair
value as follows: (Level 1) observable inputs
such as quoted prices in active markets; (Level 2) inputs other than the quoted prices in
active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly; and (Level 3) unobservable inputs
in which there is little or no market data, which require the Company to develop its own
assumptions. This hierarchy requires the Company to use observable market data, when available, and
to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. On a recurring basis, the
Company measures its marketable securities at fair value and
determines the
appropriate classification level for each reporting period. The Company is required to use
significant judgments to make this determination.
13
COMSCORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
The Companys investment instruments are classified within Level 1 or Level 3 of the fair
value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices, broker or dealer quotations, or
alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. The types of instruments
valued based on quoted market prices in active markets include most U.S. government and agency
securities. Such instruments are generally classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
The types of instruments valued based on significant other unobservable inputs include
illiquid auction rate securities. Such instruments are generally classified within Level 3 of the
fair value hierarchy.
The fair value hierarchy of the Companys marketable securities at fair value as of March 31,
2008 is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair Value Measurements at |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reporting Date Using |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quoted Prices |
|
|
Significant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in Active |
|
|
Other |
|
|
Significant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Markets for |
|
|
Observable |
|
|
Unobservable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Identical Assets |
|
|
Inputs |
|
|
Inputs |
|
Description |
|
March 31, 2008 |
|
|
(Level 1) |
|
|
(Level 2) |
|
|
(Level 3) |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. treasury notes |
|
$ |
52,955 |
|
|
$ |
52,955 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Auction rate securities |
|
|
4,543 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,543 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
57,498 |
|
|
$ |
52,955 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
4,543 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the major
classes of assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term |
|
|
Long-term |
|
|
|
Investments |
|
|
Investments |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
Balance on January 1, 2008 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
4,880 |
|
Transfers in and/or (out) of Level 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,350 |
|
Total losses realized/unrealized included in earnings |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total losses included in other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(337 |
) |
Settlements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,350 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance on March 31, 2008 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
4,543 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2008, there were no gains or losses included in earnings that
were attributable to the unrealized gains or losses related to Level 3 assets held at March 31,
2008.
14
COMSCORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
4. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, including equipment under capital lease obligations, consists of the
following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2008 |
|
|
December 31, 2007 |
|
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computer equipment |
|
$ |
12,146 |
|
|
$ |
16,050 |
|
Computer software |
|
|
2,684 |
|
|
|
2,529 |
|
Office equipment and furniture |
|
|
1,936 |
|
|
|
1,408 |
|
Leasehold improvements |
|
|
3,209 |
|
|
|
1,070 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,975 |
|
|
|
21,057 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(10,469 |
) |
|
|
(14,190 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,506 |
|
|
$ |
6,867 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During
the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company capitalized $2.5 million
of leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures and office equipment associated with landlord
allowances received in connection with our Chicago office lease (see Note 5).
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, $4.7 million of fully depreciated assets were
written off.
For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, total depreciation expense was $1.0
million and $861,000, respectively.
5. Commitments and Contingencies
Leases
In December 2007, the Company entered into a 10 year lease with a new landlord for
approximately 62,000 square feet of new office space for their corporate headquarters. The Company
expects to move its corporate headquarters in June 2008 when its current lease expires. In
connection with this lease, the Company expects to record approximately $5.2 million of deferred
rent and capitalized assets as result of landlord allowances and abatements. The deferred rent
will be applied to rent expense recognized by the Company over the lease term.
In August 2007, the Company entered into a 10 year lease with a new landlord for approximately
28,000 square feet of new office space for its Chicago office. The Company moved its Chicago office
in March 2008. In connection with this lease, the landlord provided $2.5 million in tenant
allowances which the Company recorded as deferred rent and capitalized assets. The deferred rent
will be applied to rent expense recognized by the Company over the lease term.
Contingencies
On March 6, 2008, the Company opened a $5.0 million revolving line of credit with an interest
rate equal to the BBA LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin based upon the funded debt to
unrestricted EBITDA ratio. This line of credit is available through March 6, 2009. As of March 31,
2008, no amounts were borrowed against the line of credit. The agreement contains no restrictive
covenants.
As of March 31, 2008, the Company is required to maintain letters of credit in the amount of
approximately $3.8 million as additional security deposit pertaining to operating leases. As of December 31, 2007, certain letters of credit were collateralized by $1.4 million in certificates of
deposit which were included in Restricted Cash in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of March 31,
2008, the security deposits were collateralized by the line of credit, reducing availability under
the facility, and the restrictions were removed from the $1.4 million of certificates of deposit
which were reclassified to cash and cash equivalents.
The Company has no asserted claims as of March 31, 2008, but is from time to time exposed to
unasserted potential claims encountered in the normal course of business. Although the outcome of
any legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the final
resolution of these matters will not materially affect the Companys consolidated financial
position or results of operations
6. Income Taxes
As of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company had a valuation allowance of $21.4
million and $21.3 million, respectively, against certain deferred tax assets, which consisted
principally of net operating loss carryforwards. Prior to December 31, 2007, management believed
that, based on a number of factors, the available objective evidence
created sufficient uncertainty
regarding the realizability of the deferred tax assets such that a full valuation allowance was
required. As of December 31, 2007, the Company concluded that it
was more likely than not that a
portion of its deferred tax assets would be utilized in subsequent years and that a reduction in the
deferred tax asset valuation allowance was necessary. In determining the amount of deferred tax
assets to recognize, the Company considered its history of profitability, the history of its
industry, the overall amount of the deferred tax assets and the timeframe over which it would take
to utilize the deferred tax assets prior to their expiration. Given the relatively limited history
of profitability and the fact that the online marketing industry is a young and developing
industry, the Company concluded that it was appropriate to consider future taxable
income (exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards) for a limited period of one
year into the future. As a result, the Company reversed a portion of its valuation allowance and
recognized a net deferred tax asset of $8.1 million as of
December 31, 2007.
As of March 31, 2008, the Company has
concluded that there were no events during the quarter that would result in a revaluation
of its valuation allowance against deferred tax assets but
will continue to evaluate its valuation allowance position on a regular basis. To
the extent that the Company determines that all or a portion of its valuation allowance is no
longer necessary, the Company will recognize an income tax benefit in the period such determination
is made for the reversal of the valuation allowance. It is expected that any such reduction of the
Companys valuation allowance would have a material impact on the Companys results from operations
The Companys tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of its annual
effective tax rate for each of its legal entities in accordance with the interim reporting
requirements of SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, APB Opinion No. 28, Interim Financial
Reporting, and FASB Interpretation No. 18 Accounting for Income Taxes in Interim Periods an
interpretation of APB Opinion No. 28. Accordingly, the Company has estimated its annual effective
tax rate for the full year and applied that rate to its income before taxes in determining its tax
expense for the three months ended March 31, 2008. During the three months ended March 31, 2008
and 2007 the Company recorded an income tax provision of $1.7 million and $46,000, respectively.
The tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was due primarily to current taxes of
$65,000 and the utilization of the Companys U.S. deferred tax assets of $1.7 million, offset by a
discrete release of the valuation allowance of $111,000 associated with a foreign entity. The tax
provision for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was comprised of an income tax expense of
$65,000, reflecting the Companys U.S. alternative minimum tax and was partly offset by a decrease
of $19,000 in the deferred tax liability associated with a temporary difference related to certain
acquired intangible assets.
The utilization of the Companys U.S. deferred tax assets for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was
entirely offset by a corresponding release of the valuation allowance.
15
COMSCORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
As
of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company has $71,000 of unrecognized tax benefit liabilities. The
Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and
various states and foreign jurisdictions. For income tax returns filed by the Company, the Company
is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local tax examinations by tax authorities for years
before 2003, although carryforward tax attributes that were generated prior to 2003 may still be
adjusted upon examination by tax authorities if they either have been or will be utilized.
The Company recognizes accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in the tax
expense account. Penalties, if incurred, would also be recognized as a component of income tax
expense. As of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the amount of accrued interest expense on unrecognized tax benefits
was not material.
The exercise of stock options during the first quarter of 2008 and 2007 generated an
income tax deduction equal to the excess of the fair market value over the exercise price.
In accordance with SFAS 123R, the Company will not recognize a deferred tax asset with
respect to the excess stock compensation deductions until those deductions actually reduce
our income tax liability. As such, we have not recorded a deferred tax asset related to the
net operating losses resulting from the exercise of these stock options in the accompanying
financial statements. At such time as we utilize these net operating losses to reduce income
tax payable, the tax benefit will be recorded as an increase in additional paid-in capital.
7. Stockholders Equity
1999 Stock Option Plan and 2007 Equity Incentive Plan
Prior to the effective date of the registration statement for the Companys IPO on June 26,
2007, eligible employees and non-employees were granted options to purchase shares of the Companys
common stock, restricted stock or restricted stock units pursuant to the Companys 1999 Stock Plan
(the 1999 Plan). Upon the effective date of the registration statement of the Companys IPO, the
Company ceased using the 1999 Plan for the issuance of new equity awards. Upon the closing of the
Companys IPO on July 2, 2007, the Company established its 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2007
Plan and together with the 1999 Plan, the Plans). The 1999 Plan will continue to govern the
terms and conditions of outstanding awards granted thereunder. The Plans provide for the issuance
of a maximum of 5.4 million shares of common stock. The exercise price is determined by the Board
of Directors, which is generally equal to fair value for incentive stock options and is determined
on a per-grant basis for nonqualified options. The vesting period of options granted under the
Plans is determined by the Board of Directors, generally ratably over a four-year period. The
options expire 10 years from the date of the grant. As of March 31, 2008, 1,425,094 shares were
available for grant under the 2007 Plan.
16
COMSCORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, no stock options were granted. A summary of the Plans
is presented below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average |
|
Aggregate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted- |
|
Remaining |
|
Intrinsic |
|
|
Number of |
|
Average |
|
Contractual |
|
Value (in |
|
|
Shares |
|
Exercise Price |
|
Term (in years) |
|
thousands) |
Options outstanding at December 31, 2007 |
|
|
2,039,434 |
|
|
$ |
2.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options granted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercised |
|
|
202,768 |
|
|
$ |
1.57 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
4,077 |
|
Options forfeited |
|
|
12,448 |
|
|
$ |
5.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options expired |
|
|
83 |
|
|
$ |
7.03 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options outstanding at March 31, 2008 |
|
|
1,824,135 |
|
|
$ |
2.03 |
|
|
|
6.31 |
|
|
$ |
32,886 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercisable at March 31, 2008 |
|
|
1,488,760 |
|
|
$ |
1.27 |
|
|
|
6.00 |
|
|
$ |
27,972 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
aggregate intrinsic value for options outstanding and exercisable is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of
the underlying stock option awards and the closing market price of the Companys common stock at
March 31, 2008. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock option awards exercised was determined at
the date of the option exercise. As of March 31, 2008, total unrecognized compensation expense
related to non-vested stock options granted prior to that date is estimated at $677,000, which the
Company expects to recognize over a weighted average period of approximately 1.27 years. Total
unrecognized compensation expense is estimated and may be increased or decreased in future periods
for subsequent grants or forfeitures.
The Companys nonvested stock awards are comprised of restricted stock and restricted stock
units. The Company has a right of repurchase on such shares that lapse at a rate of twenty-five
percent (25%) of the total shares awarded at each successive anniversary of the initial award date,
provided that the employee continues to provide services to the Company. In the event that an
employee terminates their employment with the Company, any shares that remain unvested and
consequently subject to the right of repurchase shall be automatically reacquired by the Company at
the original purchase price paid by the employee. As of
March 31, 2008, 47,450 forfeited shares of restricted stock have
been repurchased by the Company at no cost. A summary of the status for nonvested stock
awards as of March 31, 2008 is presented as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Number |
|
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted |
|
|
of Shares |
|
|
Average |
|
|
|
Restricted |
|
|
Stock |
|
|
Underlying |
|
|
Grant-Date Fair |
|
Nonvested Stock Awards |
|
Stock |
|
|
Units |
|
|
Awards |
|
|
Value |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonvested at December 31, 2007 |
|
|
771,783 |
|
|
|
63,727 |
|
|
|
835,510 |
|
|
$ |
14.08 |
|
Granted |
|
|
325,356 |
|
|
|
27,932 |
|
|
|
353,288 |
|
|
|
22.62 |
|
Vested |
|
|
143,381 |
|
|
|
12,575 |
|
|
|
155,956 |
|
|
|
11.25 |
|
Forfeited |
|
|
22,773 |
|
|
|
10,702 |
|
|
|
33,475 |
|
|
|
17.07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonvested at March 31, 2008 |
|
|
930,985 |
|
|
|
68,382 |
|
|
|
999,367 |
|
|
$ |
17.44 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The aggregate intrinsic value for all non-vested shares of restricted common stock and
restricted stock units outstanding as of March 31, 2008 was $20.0 million. The weighted average
remaining contractual life for all non-vested shares of restricted common stock and restricted
stock units as of March 31, 2008 was 3.4 years.
We granted nonvested stock awards at no cost to recipients during the three months ended March
31, 2008. As of March 31, 2008, total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested
restricted stock and restricted stock units was $16.2 million, which the Company expects to
recognize over a weighted average period of approximately 2.22 years. Total unrecognized
compensation expense may be increased or decreased in future periods for subsequent grants or
forfeitures.
Of the 155,956 shares of the Companys restricted stock and restricted stock units vesting on
March 25, 2008, the Company repurchased 49,552 shares on
March 25, 2008 at an aggregate purchase
price of approximately $965,000 pursuant to the stockholders right under the
Plans to elect to use common stock to satisfy tax withholding
obligations.
Shares Reserved for Issuance
At March 31, 2008, the Company had reserved for future issuance the following shares of common
stock upon the exercise of options and warrants:
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock available for future issuances under the Plans |
|
|
1,425,094 |
|
Common stock available for outstanding options and restricted stock units |
|
|
1,892,517 |
|
Common stock warrants |
|
|
26,375 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,343,986 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
COMSCORE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
8. Related Party Transactions
During December 2007, the Company entered
into a services agreement with an aggregated value of approximately $150,000
with a third party for which the Chairman of the Board of the Company is also a member of the third partys board of
directors. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the related project was completed and the Company issued
payments for services performed to the third party in the amount of $124,000. The Company entered into another
services arrangement with the same third party for an aggregated value of $78,000 during the three months ended
March 31, 2008. As of March 31, 2008, $78,000 was payable to the third party.
On August 1, 2003, the Company entered into a Licensing and Services Agreement with a
counterparty that until November 27, 2006 was a stockholder of the Company. Pursuant to the terms
of the Licensing and Services Agreement, the Company granted the counterparty a license to certain
digital marketing intelligence data and products. During each of the three month periods ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007 the
Company recognized revenues of $925,000. In relation to this counterparty, there were no
outstanding amounts included in our accounts receivable balance as of March 31, 2008 and December
31, 2007.
9. Geographic Information
The Company attributes revenues to customers based on the location of the customer. The
composition of the Companys sales to unaffiliated customers between those in the United States and
those in other locations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 is set forth below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
United States |
|
$ |
23,017 |
|
|
$ |
16,884 |
|
Canada |
|
|
1,413 |
|
|
|
845 |
|
United Kingdom/Other |
|
|
1,940 |
|
|
|
952 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Revenues |
|
$ |
26,370 |
|
|
$ |
18,681 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The composition of the Companys property, plant and equipment between those in the United
States and those in other countries as of the end of each year is set forth below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
United States |
|
$ |
9,212 |
|
|
$ |
6,527 |
|
Canada |
|
|
148 |
|
|
|
183 |
|
United Kingdom/Other |
|
|
146 |
|
|
|
157 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
9,506 |
|
|
$ |
6,867 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations
should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes to
those statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In addition to
historical financial information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking
statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results and timing of
selected events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as
a result of many factors, including those discussed under Risk factors and elsewhere in this
document. See also Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements at the beginning of this
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Overview
We provide a leading digital marketing intelligence platform that helps our customers make
better-informed business decisions and implement more effective digital business strategies. Our
products and solutions offer our customers deep insights into consumer behavior, including
objective, detailed information regarding usage of their online properties and those of their
competitors, coupled with information on consumer demographic characteristics, attitudes,
lifestyles and offline behavior.
Our digital marketing intelligence platform is comprised of proprietary databases and a
computational infrastructure that measures, analyzes and reports on digital activity. The
foundation of our platform is data collected from our comScore panel of more than two million
Internet users worldwide who have granted us explicit permission to confidentially measure their
Internet usage patterns, online and certain offline buying behavior and other activities. By
applying advanced statistical methodologies to our panel data, we project consumers online
behavior for the total online population and a wide variety of user categories.
We deliver our digital marketing intelligence through our comScore Media Metrix product family
and through our comScore Marketing Solutions products. Media Metrix delivers digital media
intelligence by providing an independent, third-party measurement of the size, behavior and
characteristics of Web site and online advertising network audiences among home, work and
university Internet users as well as insight into the effectiveness of online advertising. Our
Marketing Solutions products combine the proprietary information gathered from the comScore panel
with the vertical industry expertise of comScore analysts to deliver digital marketing
intelligence, including the measurement of online advertising effectiveness, customized for
specific industries. We typically deliver our Media Metrix products electronically in the form of
weekly, monthly or quarterly reports. Customers can access current and historical Media Metrix data
and analyze these data anytime online. Our Marketing Solutions products are typically delivered on
a monthly, quarterly or ad hoc basis through electronic reports and analyses.
19
Our company was founded in August 1999. By 2000, we had established a panel of Internet users
and began delivering digital marketing intelligence products that measured online browsing and
buying behavior to our first customers. We also introduced netScore, our initial syndicated
Internet audience measurement product. We accelerated our introduction of new products in 2003 with
the launch of Plan Metrix (formerly AiM 2.0), qSearch, the Campaign R/F (Reach and Frequency)
analysis system and product offerings that measure online activity at the local market level. By
2004, we had built a global panel of over two million Internet users. In that year, in cooperation
with Arbitron, we launched a service that provides ratings of online radio audiences. In 2005, we
expanded our presence in Europe by opening an office in London. In 2006, we continued to expand our
measurement capabilities with the launch of World Metrix, a product that provides worldwide data on
digital media usage, and Video Metrix, our product that measures the audience for streaming online
video. In 2007, we completed our initial public offering, resulting in the sale and issuance by us
of 5,000,000 shares of our common stock. We also launched 10 new products including Campaign
Metrix, qSearch 2.0, Ad Metrix, Segment Metrix and comScore Marketer.
We have complemented our internal development initiatives with select acquisitions. On June 6,
2002, we acquired certain Media Metrix assets from Jupiter Media Metrix, Inc. Through this
acquisition, we acquired certain Internet audience measurement services that report details of Web
site usage and visitor demographics. On July 28, 2004, we acquired the outstanding stock of Denaro
and Associates, Inc, otherwise known as Q2 Brand Intelligence, Inc. or Q2, to improve our ability
to provide our customers more robust survey research integrated with our underlying digital
marketing intelligence platform. The total cost of the acquisition was approximately $3.3 million,
consisting of cash and shares of our common stock. On January 4, 2005, we acquired the assets and
assumed certain liabilities of SurveySite Inc., or SurveySite. Through this acquisition, we
acquired proprietary Internet-based data-collection technologies and increased our customer
penetration and revenues in the survey business. The total cost of the acquisition was
approximately $3.6 million, consisting of cash and shares of our common stock.
Our total revenues have grown to $87.2 million during the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2007 and $26.4 million for the first
quarter of 2008
from $15.4 million during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2003. By comparison, our total expenses
from operations have grown to $76.5 million for the year ended 2007 and
$22.9 million for the first quarter of 2008 from
$35.2 million during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2003. The growth in
our revenues has been primarily the result of:
|
|
|
increased sales to existing customers, as a result of our efforts to deepen our
relationships with these clients by increasing their awareness of, and confidence in, the
value of our digital marketing intelligence platform; |
|
|
|
|
growth in our customer base through the addition of new customers; |
|
|
|
|
increases in the prices of our products and services; |
|
|
|
|
the sales of new products to existing and new customers; and |
|
|
|
|
growth in sales outside of the U.S. as a result of entering into new international markets. |
As of March 31, 2008, we had 948 customers, compared to 334 as of January 31, 2003. We sell
most of our products through our direct sales force. We established an inside sales force dedicated
to selling comScore Marketer, which was launched in the fourth quarter of 2007.
Our Revenues
We derive our revenues primarily from the fees that we charge for subscription-based products
and customized projects. We define subscription-based revenues as revenues that we generate from
products that we deliver to a customer on a recurring basis. We define project revenues as revenues
that we generate from customized projects that are performed for a specific customer on a
non-recurring basis. We market our subscription-based products, customized projects and survey
services within the comScore Media Metrix product family and through comScore Marketing Solutions.
A significant characteristic of our business model is our large percentage of
subscription-based contracts. Subscription-based revenues accounted for 78% of our total revenues
in 2004 and decreased to 70% of total revenues in 2005 primarily due to the acquisition of
SurveySite. Subscription-based revenue increased to 75% of total revenues in 2006, to 79% of total
revenues in 2007 and to 81% during the three months ending March 31, 2008.
Many of our customers who initially purchased a customized project have subsequently purchased
one of our subscription-based products. Similarly, many of our subscription-based customers have
subsequently purchased additional customized projects.
Historically, we have generated most of our revenues from the sale and delivery of our
products to companies and organizations located within the United States. We intend to expand our
international revenues by selling our products and deploying our direct sales force model in
additional international markets in the future. For the year ended December 31, 2007, our
international revenues were $10.1 million, an
increase of $4.4 million, or 76% over international revenues of $5.7 million for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2006. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, our international revenues
were $3.4 million, an increase of $1.6 million or 88% over international revenues of $1.8
million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. International revenues comprised approximately
9%, 12% and 13% of our total revenues for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 and the
three months ended March 31, 2008, respectively.
We anticipate that revenues from our U.S. customers will continue to constitute the
substantial majority of our revenues, but we expect that revenues from customers outside of the
U.S. will increase as a percentage of total revenues as we build greater international recognition
of our brand and expand our sales operations globally.
20
Subscription Revenues
We generate a significant proportion of our subscription-based revenues from our Media Metrix
product family. Products within the Media Metrix family include Media Metrix 2.0, Plan Metrix,
World Metrix and Video Metrix. Additionally, we recently launched Ad Metrix and comScore Marketer
in the second half or 2007. These product offerings provide subscribers with intelligence on
digital media usage, audience characteristics, audience demographics and online and offline
purchasing behavior. Customers who subscribe to our Media Metrix products are provided with login
IDs to our Web site, have access to our database and can generate reports at anytime.
We also generate subscription-based revenues from certain reports and analyses provided
through comScore Marketing Solutions, if that work is procured by customers for at least a nine
month period and the customer enters into an agreement to continue or extend the work. Through our
Marketing Solutions products, we deliver digital marketing intelligence relating to specific
industries, such as automotive, consumer packaged goods, entertainment, financial services, media,
pharmaceutical, retail, technology, telecommunications and travel. This marketing intelligence
leverages our global consumer panel and extensive database to deliver information unique to a
particular customers needs on a recurring schedule, as well as on a continual-access basis. Our
Marketing Solutions customer agreements typically include a fixed fee with an initial term of at
least one year. We also provide these products on a non-subscription basis as described under
Project Revenues below.
In addition, we generate subscription-based revenues from survey products that we sell to our
customers. In conducting our surveys, we generally use our global Internet user panel. After
questionnaires are distributed to the panel members and completed, we compile their responses and
then deliver our findings to the customer, who also has ongoing access to the survey response data
as they are compiled and updated over time. These data include responses and information collected
from the actual survey questionnaire and can also include behavioral information that we passively
collect from our panelists. If a customer contractually commits to having a survey conducted on a
recurring basis, we classify the revenues generated from such survey products as subscription-based
revenues. Our contracts for survey services typically include a fixed fee with terms that range
from two months to one year.
Project Revenues
We generate project revenues by providing customized information reports to our customers on a
nonrecurring basis through comScore Marketing Solutions. For example, a customer in the media
industry might request a custom report that profiles the behavior of the customers active online
users and contrasts their market share and loyalty with similar metrics for a competitors online
user base. If this customer continues to request the report beyond an initial project term of at
least nine months and enters into an agreement to purchase the report on a recurring basis, we
begin to classify these future revenues as subscription-based.
In the second quarter of 2007, we launched Campaign Metrix, a suite of products that enables
our customers to measure their return on investment from their investment in digital marketing
campaigns and that we believe will help their revenue growth. Project revenues from Campaign Metrix
will be generated when a customer accesses or downloads a report through our Web site. Pricing for
our Campaign Metrix product is presently based on the scope of the information provided in the
report generated by the customer.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on
our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the U.S. The preparation of these financial statements requires us
to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the amounts reported in our financial
statements and the accompanying notes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on
various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results
may differ from these estimates. While our significant accounting policies are described in more
detail in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included
in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our annual
report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, we believe the following accounting policies to be the most critical to the
judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenues in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition (SAB 104). SAB 104 requires that four basic criteria must be
met prior to revenue recognition: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery
has occurred or the services have been rendered, (iii) the fee is fixed or determinable, and (iv)
collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.
We generate revenues by providing access to our online database or delivering information
obtained from our database, usually in the form of periodic reports. Revenues are typically
recognized on a straight-line basis over the period in which access to data or reports are
provided, which generally ranges from three to 24 months.
We also generate revenues through survey services under contracts ranging in term from two
months to one year. Our survey services consist of survey and questionnaire design with subsequent
data collection, analysis and reporting. We recognize revenues on a straight-line basis over the
estimated data collection period once the survey or questionnaire design has been delivered. Any
change in the estimated data collection period results in an adjustment to revenues recognized in
future periods.
21
Certain of our arrangements contain multiple elements, consisting of the various services we
offer. Multiple element arrangements typically consist of a subscription to our online database
combined with customized services. These arrangements are accounted for in accordance with Emerging
Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables. We have
determined that there is not objective and reliable evidence of fair value for any of our services
and, therefore, account for all elements in multiple elements arrangements as a single unit of
accounting. Access to data under the subscription element is generally provided shortly after the
execution of the contract. However, the initial delivery of customized services generally occurs
subsequent to contract execution. We recognize the entire arrangement fee over the performance
period of the last deliverable. As a result, the total arrangement fee is recognized on a
straight-line basis over the period beginning with the commencement of the last customized service
delivered.
Generally, our contracts are non-refundable and non-cancelable. In the event a portion of a
contract is refundable, revenue recognition is delayed until the refund provisions lapse. A limited
number of customers have the right to cancel their contracts by providing us with written notice of
cancellation. In the event that a customer cancels its contract, it is not entitled to a refund for
prior services, and it will be charged for costs incurred plus services performed up to the
cancellation date.
Advance payments are recorded as deferred revenues until services are delivered or obligations
are met and revenue can be recognized. Deferred revenues represent the excess of amounts invoiced
over amounts recognized as revenues.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
We manage credit risk on accounts receivable by performing credit evaluations of our customers
on a selective basis, by reviewing our accounts and contracts and by providing appropriate
allowances for uncollectible amounts. Allowances are based on managements judgment, which
considers historical experience and specific knowledge of accounts that may not be collectible. We
make provisions based on our historical bad debt experience, a specific review of all significant
outstanding invoices and an assessment of general economic conditions. If the financial condition
of a customer deteriorates, resulting in an impairment of its ability to make payments, additional
allowances may be required.
Income Taxes
Our tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of our annual effective
tax rate for each of our legal entities in accordance with the interim reporting requirements of
SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, APB Opinion No. 28, Interim Financial Reporting, and
FASB Interpretation No. 18, Accounting for Income Taxes in Interim Periods an interpretation of
APB Opinion No. 28. Accordingly, we have estimated our annual effective tax rate for the full year
and applied that rate to our income before taxes in determining our tax expense for the three
months ended March 31, 2008. During the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, we recognized
an income tax provision of $1.7 million and $46,000, respectively. The tax provision for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 was due primarily to current taxes of $65,000 and the utilization of
our U.S. deferred tax assets of $1.7 million, offset by a discrete release of the valuation
allowance of $111,000 associated with a foreign entity. The tax provision for the three months
ended March 31, 2007 was comprised of an income tax expense of $65,000, reflecting our U.S.
alternative minimum tax and was partly offset by a decrease of $19,000 in the deferred tax
liability associated with a temporary difference related to certain acquired intangible assets.
The utilization of our U.S. deferred tax assets for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was
entirely offset by a corresponding release of valuation allowance.
As
of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 we had $71,000 of unrecognized tax benefit liabilities.
We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various states and foreign
jurisdictions. We are not subject to U.S. federal, state and local tax examinations by tax
authorities for years before 2003, although carryforward tax attributes that were generated prior
to 2003 may still be adjusted upon examination by tax authorities if they either have been or will
be utilized.
We recognize accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in the tax expense account.
Penalties, if incurred, would also be recognized as a component of income tax expense. As of March
31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the amount of accrued interest expense on unrecognized tax benefits was not material.
As of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, we had a valuation allowance of $21.4 million and
$21.3 million, respectively, against certain deferred tax assets, which consisted principally of
net operating loss carryforwards. Prior to December 31, 2007, management believed that, based on a
number of factors, the available objective evidence created sufficient uncertainty regarding the
realizability of the deferred tax assets such that a full valuation allowance was required. As of
December 31, 2007, we concluded that it is more likely than not that a portion of its deferred tax
assets would be utilized in subsequent years and that a reduction in the deferred tax asset
valuation allowance was necessary. In determining the amount of deferred tax assets to recognize,
we considered its history of profitability, the history of its industry, the overall amount of the
deferred tax assets and the timeframe over which it would take to utilize the deferred tax assets
prior to their expiration. Given the relatively limited history of profitability and the fact that
the online marketing industry is a young and developing industry, we concluded that it was
appropriate to consider future taxable income (exclusive of reversing temporary
differences and carryforwards) for a limited period of one year into the future. As a result, we
reversed a portion of our valuation allowance and recognized a net deferred tax asset of $8.1
million as of December 31, 2007.
22
As
of March 31, 2008, we concluded that there were no events during
the quarter that would result in a revaluation of our valuation
allowance against deferred tax assets but we will continue to evaluate our valuation allowance position
on a regular basis. To the extent that we determine that all or a portion of our valuation
allowance is no longer necessary, we will recognize an income tax benefit in the period such
determination is made for the reversal of the valuation allowance. It is expected that any such reduction
of our valuation allowance would have a material impact on our results from operations.
The exercise of stock options during 2008 and 2007 generated an income tax deduction
equal to the excess of the fair market value over the exercise price. In accordance with
SFAS No. 123R, Share Based Compensation (SFAS No. 123R), we will not recognize a deferred
tax asset with respect to the excess stock compensation deductions until those deductions
actually reduce our income tax liability. As such, we have not recorded a deferred tax asset
related to the net operating losses resulting from the exercise of these stock options in
the accompanying financial statements. At such time as we utilize these net operating losses
to reduce income tax payable, the tax benefit will be recorded as an increase in additional
paid in capital.
FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN
48), Accounting for
Uncertainty
in Income Taxes, an interpretation of SFAS No. 109 clarifies the accounting
for income taxes by prescribing that a company should use a more-likely-than-not recognition
threshold based on the technical merits of the tax position taken. Tax provisions that meet the
more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be measured as the largest amount of tax
benefits, determined on a cumulative probability basis, which is more likely than not to be
realized upon ultimate settlement in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on
derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting for interim periods, disclosure
and transition, and explicitly excludes income taxes from the scope of SFAS No. 5, Accounting for
Contingencies. As of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, we had unrecognized tax
benefits of $71,000 on a tax effected basis.
Stock-Based Compensation
Through December 31, 2005, as permitted by SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation (SFAS 123), we applied the intrinsic value method for accounting for stock-based
compensation as set forth in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees (APB 25). For purposes of the pro forma disclosures required under SFAS 123, we
used the minimum-value method to estimate the fair value of our stock-based awards. On January 1,
2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123R, Share-Based Compensation (SFAS 123R). Under SFAS 123R, a non-public
company that previously used the minimum value method for pro forma disclosure purposes is required
to adopt the standard using the prospective method. Under the prospective method, all awards
granted, modified or settled after the date of adoption are accounted for using the measurement,
recognition and attribution provisions of SFAS 123R. As a result, stock-based awards granted prior
to the date of adoption of SFAS 123R will continue to be accounted for under APB 25 with no
recognition of stock-based compensation in future periods, unless such awards are modified or
settled.
Subsequent to the adoption of SFAS 123R, we estimate the fair value of our stock-based awards
on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The determination of fair value
using the Black-Scholes model requires a number of complex and subjective variables. One key input
into the model is the estimated fair value of our common stock on the date of grant. Prior to our
IPO, our board of directors estimated the fair value of our common stock for the purpose of
determining stock-based compensation expense. Our board utilized
valuation methodologies commonly used in the valuation of private company equity securities for
purposes of estimating the fair value of our common stock.
Other key variables in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model include the expected volatility
of our common stock price, the expected term of the award and the risk-free interest rate. In
addition, under SFAS 123R, we are required to estimate forfeitures of unvested awards when
recognizing compensation expense. If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the
application of SFAS 123R in future periods, the compensation expense we record may differ
significantly from what we have previously recorded.
At March 31, 2008, total estimated unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested
stock-based awards granted prior to that date was $16.8 million, which is expected to be recognized
over a weighted-average period of 2.18 years.
We expect stock-based compensation expense to increase in absolute dollars as a result of the
adoption of SFAS 123R as options that were granted at the beginning of 2006 and beyond vest.
Beginning in 2007, we made use of restricted stock awards and reduced our use of stock options as a
form of stock-based compensation. The actual amount of stock-based compensation expense we record
in any fiscal period will depend on a number of factors, including the number of shares subject to
the stock options issued, the fair value of our common stock at the time of issuance and the
expected volatility of our stock price over time.
23
Seasonality
Historically, a slightly higher percentage of our customers have renewed their subscription
products with us toward the end of the fourth quarter. While we execute projects for our customers
throughout the year, we have historically experienced a slight upturn in our project-based business
in the fourth quarter. We have historically had seasonally high costs in the first half of our
fiscal year associated with higher payroll taxes, vacation accruals and a ramp up of hiring in our
sales force and technology groups to support our anticipated revenue growth.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth selected consolidated statements of operations data as a
percentage of total revenues for each of the periods indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues |
|
|
26.6 |
|
|
|
28.8 |
|
Selling and marketing |
|
|
33.9 |
|
|
|
34.5 |
|
Research and development |
|
|
11.6 |
|
|
|
13.7 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
14.7 |
|
|
|
13.4 |
|
Amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.6 |
|
|
|
|
Total expenses from operations |
|
|
86.8 |
|
|
|
92.0 |
|
|
|
|
Income from operations |
|
|
13.2 |
|
|
|
8.0 |
|
Interest income, net |
|
|
3.1 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
Loss from foreign currency |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Revaluation of preferred stock warrant liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes |
|
|
16.1 |
|
|
|
8.5 |
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
|
(6.4 |
) |
|
|
(0.3 |
) |
Net income |
|
|
9.7 |
|
|
|
8.2 |
|
Accretion of redeemable preferred stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4.7 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income attributable to common stockholders |
|
|
9.7 |
% |
|
|
3.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
Change |
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
2007 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues |
|
$ |
26,370 |
|
|
$ |
18,681 |
|
|
$ |
7,689 |
|
|
|
41.2 |
% |
24
Total revenues increased by approximately $7.7 million in the three months ended March 31,
2008 as compared to the same period in 2007. The revenue growth was
primarily due to increased sales to our existing customer base and
growth of our customer base. Our total
customer base grew by a net increase of 205 customers to 948 customers at March 31, 2008 from 743
at March 31, 2007. Sales to existing
customers based in the U.S. totaling $19.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2008, which
was $5.1 million higher than in the same period in 2007. In addition, revenues in the three months
ended March 31, 2008 from new U.S. customers were $3.3 million, an increase of approximately $1.0
million as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007. Revenues from customers outside of
the U.S. totaled approximately $3.4 million, or approximately 13% of total revenues, in the three
months ended March 31, 2008, which was an increase of $1.6 million as compared to the same periods
in 2007. This increase was due primarily to our ongoing expansion efforts in Europe, plus continued
growth in Canada.
We experienced continued revenue growth in both our subscription revenues, which increased by
approximately $7.0 million from $14.5 million in the three month ended March 31, 2007 to $21.5
million in the three months ended March 31, 2008, and, to a
lesser extent, our project-based
revenues, which increased by $700,000 from $4.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2007 to
over $4.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2008.
Cost of Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
Change |
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
|
% |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost of revenues |
|
$ |
7,017 |
|
|
$ |
5,388 |
|
|
$ |
1,629 |
|
|
|
30.2 |
% |
As a percentage of revenues |
|
|
26.6 |
% |
|
|
28.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues consists primarily of expenses related to operating our network
infrastructure, producing our products, and the recruitment, maintenance and support of our
consumer panels. Expenses associated with these areas include the salaries, stock compensation, and
related personnel expenses of network operations, survey operations, custom analytics and technical
support, all of which are expensed as they are incurred. Cost of revenues also includes data
collection costs for our products, operational costs associated with our data centers, including
depreciation expense associated with computer equipment, and allocated overhead.
Cost of revenues increased by approximately $1.6 million during the three months ended March
31, 2008 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007. This increase was primarily due to
an approximately $878,000 increase in employee salaries, benefits, and stock compensation costs
associated with an expanded workforce supporting a larger product and customer base. We experienced
an increase of approximately $461,000 in increased costs paid to outside service vendors and
incentives to our panel members related to the development of our products. We also experienced
increases in panel, data and bandwidth costs of $290,000 to support our consumer panel. Cost of
revenues declined as a percentage of revenues by 2.2 percentage points during the three months
ended March 31, 2008 over the same period in 2007. This decrease was primarily due to the increase
in revenues as described above and a moderation of the increase in costs to build and maintain our
panel. In addition, the headcount and costs associated with our technology staff grew at a lower
rate than our growth in revenues.
We expect cost of revenues to increase in absolute dollar amounts as we seek to grow our
business but vary as a percentage of revenues depending on whether we benefit from investments in
our panel and network infrastructure.
Selling and Marketing Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
Change |
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
|
% |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total selling and marketing expense |
|
$ |
8,945 |
|
|
$ |
6,451 |
|
|
$ |
2,494 |
|
|
|
38.7 |
% |
As a percentage of revenues |
|
|
33.9 |
% |
|
|
34.5 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25
Selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits,
commissions, bonuses, and stock compensation paid to our direct sales force and
industry analysts, as well as costs related to online and offline advertising, product
management, industry conferences, promotional materials, public relations, other sales
and marketing programs, and allocated overhead, including rent and depreciation. All
selling and marketing costs are expensed as they are incurred. Commission plans are
developed for our account managers with criteria and size of sales quotas that vary
depending upon the individuals role. Commissions are paid to a salesperson and are
expensed as selling and marketing costs when a sales contract is executed by both the
customer and us. In the case of multi-year agreements, one year of commissions is paid
initially, with the remaining amounts paid at the beginning of the succeeding years.
Selling and marketing expenses increased by $2.5 million during the three months
ended March 31, 2008 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007. This
increase was primarily due to a $1.7 million increase in employee salaries, benefits
and related costs associated with an increase in account management personnel for our
sales force, the formation of our product management team, our expansion in foreign
markets and an increase in commission and bonus costs associated with increased
revenues. We also experienced a $343,000 increase in non-cash stock-based compensation
as compared to the same period in 2007. Our selling and marketing headcount totaled 212
employees as of March 31, 2008, an increase of 47 employees as compared to March 31,
2007. In addition, we experienced increases in consulting costs related to the
development and launch of new products and advertising costs. Selling and marketing
expenses as a percentage of revenues decreased in the three months ended March 31, 2008
as compared to the same period in 2007 due to increased sales generated by the
additional sales personnel hired during the course of 2007.
We expect selling and marketing expenses to increase in absolute dollar amounts as
we continue to grow our selling and marketing efforts but to vary in future periods as
a percentage of revenues depending on whether we benefit from increased productivity in
our sales force and from increased revenues resulting in part from our ongoing
marketing initiatives.
26
Research and Development Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
Change |
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
|
% |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total research and
development expense |
|
$ |
3,070 |
|
|
$ |
2,556 |
|
|
$ |
514 |
|
|
|
20.1 |
% |
As a percentage of revenues |
|
|
11.6 |
% |
|
|
13.7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development expenses include new product development costs, consisting primarily
of salaries, benefits, stock compensation and related costs for personnel associated with research
and development activities, fees paid to third parties to develop new products and allocated
overhead, including rent and depreciation.
Research and development expenses increased by $514,000 during the three months ended March
31, 2008 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007. This increase was primarily due to a
$538,000 increase in employee salaries, benefits, stock compensation and related costs associated
with the increase in headcount and our continued focus on developing new products. We also
experienced a small decrease in costs paid to outsourced service providers to support our
development of new products. Research and development costs decreased as a percentage of revenues
for the three months ended March 31, 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007 primarily due to
our growth in revenues outpacing our investments in research and development.
We expect research and development expenses to increase in absolute dollar amounts as we
continue to enhance and expand our product offerings. As a result of the size and diversity of our
panel and our historical investment in our technology infrastructure, we expect that we will be
able to develop new products with moderate increases in research and development spending as
compared to our growth in revenues.
General and Administrative Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
Change |
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
|
% |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total general and
administrative expense |
|
$ |
3,886 |
|
|
$ |
2,507 |
|
|
$ |
1,379 |
|
|
|
55.0 |
% |
As a percentage of revenues |
|
|
14.7 |
% |
|
|
13.4 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits, stock
compensation, and related expenses for executive management, finance, accounting, human capital,
legal, information technology and other administrative functions, as well as professional fees,
overhead, including allocated rent and depreciation, and expenses incurred for other general
corporate purposes.
General and administrative expenses increased by $1.4 million during the three months ended
March 31, 2008 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007. This increase was primarily
due to increased costs associated with our obligations as a public company that did not apply in
the first quarter of 2007. Our professional fees, insurance costs, franchise taxes and board
compensation increased by approximately $423,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2008 as
compared to the same period in 2007. We also experienced increases in employee salaries, benefits
and related costs of almost $255,000 associated with our expanding finance, legal and human capital
departments. In addition, non-cash stock-based compensation increased $416,000 as compared to the
prior year. General and administrative expenses also increased to a lesser extent due to our
investment to support further revenue growth. General and administrative expenses as a percentage
of revenue increased in 2008 primarily due to the increased costs associated with being a public
company.
27
We expect general and administrative expenses to increase on an absolute basis in future
annual periods as we continue to incur increased costs associated with being a public company. Operating as a
public company will present additional management and reporting requirements that will
significantly increase our directors and officers liability insurance premiums and professional
fees associated with our quarterly and annual reporting obligations,
including accounting and auditing fees, legal fees and
costs related to Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance.
Amortization Expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
Change |
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
|
% |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
(In thousands) |
Total amortization expense |
|
$ |
7 |
|
|
$ |
293 |
|
|
$ |
(286 |
) |
|
|
(97.6 |
)% |
As a percentage of revenues |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
1.6 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization expense consists of charges related to the amortization of intangible assets
associated with past acquisitions.
Amortization expense decreased $286,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2008 as
compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007 because certain intangible assets related to
previous acquisitions were fully amortized during 2007.
Absent additional acquisitions, we expect amortization expense to continue to decline as the
remaining amount of intangible assets related to previous acquisitions is amortized.
Interest Income, Net
Interest income consists primarily of interest earned from investments, such as auction rate
securities, and our cash and cash equivalent balances. Interest expense is incurred due to capital
leases pursuant to several equipment loan and security agreements and a line of credit that we have
entered into in order to finance the lease of various hardware and other equipment purchases. Our
capital lease obligations are secured by a senior security interest in eligible equipment.
Interest income, net for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $819,000 as compared to
$97,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007. The increase of $722,000 during the three months
ended March 31, 2008 reflects the net effect of interest income that we earned on our cash and
investment balances partially offset by the interest expense associated with the capital leases
that we had in place in each period. The increase in interest income, net is primarily due to the
increase in our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments balance as compared to the prior
year period due to increased operating cashflows and the IPO proceeds. We also continued to reduce the outstanding
balance on our outstanding capital lease obligations.
We anticipate that interest income, net may decrease in future periods due to lower interest
rates earned on our investments.
Loss from Foreign Currency
The functional currency of our foreign subsidiaries is the local currency. All assets
and liabilities are translated at the current exchange rates as of the end of the period,
and revenues and expenses are translated at average rates in effect during the period. The
gain or loss resulting from the process of translating the foreign currency financial
statements into U.S. dollars is included as a component of other comprehensive income.
Primarily due to the strength of the Canadian dollar and Euro, during the three months
ended March 31, 2008, we recorded a loss of $55,000 as compared to a loss of $8,000 during
the three months ended March 31, 2007. Our foreign currency transactions are recorded as a
result of fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar,
Euro and British Pound.
Provision for Income Taxes
During the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, we recorded an income tax provision of
$1.7 million and $46,000, respectively. The tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2008
was due primarily to current taxes of $65,000 and the utilization of our U.S. deferred tax assets
of $1.7 million, offset by a discrete release of the valuation allowance of $111,000 associated
with a foreign entity. The tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was comprised
of an income tax expense of $65,000, reflecting our U.S. alternative minimum tax and was partly
offset by a decrease of $19,000 in the deferred tax liability associated with a temporary
difference related to
certain acquired intangible assets. The utilization of our U.S. deferred tax assets for the three
months ended March 31, 2007 was entirely offset by the corresponding release of valuation
allowance.
28
Recent Pronouncements
Recent accounting pronouncements are detailed in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial
Statements included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table summarizes our cash flows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
$ |
10,335 |
|
|
$ |
3,156 |
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(23,640 |
) |
|
|
(971 |
) |
Net cash used in financing activities |
|
|
(814 |
) |
|
|
(525 |
) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
|
|
(110 |
) |
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash
equivalents |
|
$ |
(14,229 |
) |
|
$ |
1,674 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prior to our initial public offering, which closed on July 2, 2007, we funded our operations
and met our capital expenditure requirements primarily with venture capital and private equity
funding. In five separate issuances of preferred stock, from Series A on September 27, 1999 to
Series E on August 1, 2003, we have raised over $88 million from a number of institutional
investors. The proceeds from all of these issuances have been used for general business purposes,
with the exception of the Series E Preferred Stock offering, which was partially used to extinguish
a $1.5 million bank note. The conversion of our preferred stock occurred upon the closing of our
initial public offering.
On July 2, 2007, we completed our initial public offering and issued 5,000,000 shares of our
common stock and received gross proceeds of $82.5 million. Net proceeds were $73.1 million after
deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering costs.
Our principal uses of cash historically have consisted of payroll and other operating expenses
and payments related to the purchase of equipment primarily to support our consumer panel and
technical infrastructure required to support our customer base. Since the beginning of 2005, we
have purchased over $8.2 million in property and equipment, exclusive of $2.5 million of property
and equipment funded through landlord allowances received in connection with our Chicago office
lease, made $5.2 million in principal payments on capital lease obligations, and spent $600,000 as
the cash component of consideration paid for acquisitions.
As of March 31, 2008, our principal sources of liquidity consisted of cash, cash equivalents
and short-term investments of $103.4 million. As of March 31, 2008, we held $8.3 million in
long-term investments consisting of $4.6 million in auction rate securities and $3.7 million in
other long-term fixed income securities. We generally invest in these auction rate securities for
short periods of time as part of our investment policy. However, the recent uncertainties in the
credit markets have prevented us and other investors from liquidating holdings of auction rate
securities in recent auctions for these securities because the amount of securities submitted for
sale has exceeded the amount of purchase orders. Accordingly, we still hold these long-term
securities and are due interest at a higher rate than similar securities for which auctions have
cleared. None of these investments are mortgage backed securities or collateralized debt
obligations. As of March 31, 2008, these investments were fully backed by investment grade bonds
and are insured against loss of principal and interest by bond insurers whose ratings are under
review and have been downgraded in some cases. These securities were valued using a discounted cash
flow model that takes into consideration the financial condition of the issuers and the bond
insurers as well as the expected date liquidity will be restored. If the credit ratings of the
issuer, the bond insurers or the collateral continue to deteriorate, we may further adjust the
carrying value of these investments. We are uncertain as to when the liquidity issues relating to
these investments will improve. Accordingly, we classified these securities as long-term.
29
Operating Activities
Our cash flows from operating activities are significantly influenced by our investments in
personnel and infrastructure to support the anticipated growth in our business, increases in the
number of customers using our products and the amount and timing of payments made by these
customers.
We generated approximately $10.3 million of net cash from operating activities during the
three months ended March 31, 2008. The significant components of cash flows from operations were
net income of $2.5 million, adjusted for $2.2 million in non-cash depreciation, amortization and
stock-based compensation expenses, and a $3.9 million increase in amounts collected from customers
in advance of when we recognize revenues as a result of our growing customer base, $1.6 million in
deferred income taxes and a $2.5 million increase in deferred rent associated with landlord
leasehold improvement allowances received in connection with our new Chicago office lease, offset
by a $1.5 million increase in accounts receivable, a $648,000 decrease in accounts payable and
accrued expenses and a $324,000 increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets.
We generated approximately $3.2 million of net cash from operating activities during the three
months ended March 31, 2007. The significant components of cash flows from operations were net
income of $1.5 million, adjusted for $1.3 million in non-cash depreciation and amortization and
stock-based compensation expenses, a $2.4 million increase in amounts collected from customers in
advance of when we recognize revenues as a result of our growing customer base, offset by a
$843,000 increase in accounts receivable and a $1.2 million decrease in accounts payable and
accrued expenses.
Investing Activities
Our primary investing activities have consisted of purchases of computer network equipment to
support our Internet user panel and maintenance of our database, furniture and equipment to support
our operations, and payments related to the acquisition of several companies. As our customer base
continues to expand, we expect purchases of technical infrastructure equipment to grow in absolute
dollars. The extent of these investments will be affected by our ability to expand relationships
with existing customers, grow our customer base, introduce new digital formats and increase our
international presence.
We used $23.6 million of net cash in investing activities during the three months ended March
31, 2008, a net $21.3 million of which was used to purchase investments. In addition, $3.7 million
was used to purchase property and equipment to maintain and expand our technology and
infrastructure. Of this amount, $2.5 million was funded through landlord
allowances received in connection with our Chicago office lease. We also removed the restrictions
associated with certain certificates of deposit that served as collateral for letters of credit
associated with office leases and the related $1.4 million was reclassified to cash and cash
equivalents.
We used $971,000 of net cash in investing activities during the three months ended March 31,
2007, a net $475,000 of which was used to purchase investments and $494,000 of which was used to
purchase property and equipment to maintain and expand our technology and infrastructure.
We expect to achieve greater economies of scale and operating leverage as we expand our
customer base and utilize our Internet user panel and technical infrastructure more efficiently.
While we anticipate that it will be necessary for us to continue to invest in our Internet user
panel, technical infrastructure and technical personnel to support the combination of an increased
customer base, new products, international expansion and new digital market intelligence formats,
we believe that these investment requirements will be less than the revenue growth generated by
these actions. This should result in a lower rate of growth in our capital expenditures to support
our technical infrastructure. In any given period, the timing of our incremental capital
expenditure requirements could impact our cost of revenues, both in absolute dollars and as a
percentage of revenues.
Financing Activities
Our primary financing activities from 2004 until mid-2007 consisted of financings to fund the
acquisition of capital assets. We entered into an equipment lease agreement with GE Capital in 2003
and a line of credit agreement with GE Capital in 2005, both of which were paid in full in 2007, to
finance the purchase of hardware and other computer equipment to support our business growth. These
borrowings were secured by a senior security interest in the equipment acquired under the facility.
In March 2006, we entered into an equipment lease agreement with Banc of America Leasing & Capital,
LLC to finance the purchase of new hardware and other computer equipment as we continue to expand
our technology infrastructure in support of our business growth. This agreement included a $5
million line of credit which expired December 31, 2007.
On July 2, 2007, we completed our initial public offering, in which we issued and sold
5,000,000 shares of our common stock for approximately $73.1 million, which amount reflects the net
proceeds received by us in that offering.
We used $814,000 of cash during the three months ended March 31, 2008 from financing
activities. This included $965,000 for shares repurchased by us pursuant to the exercise by stock
incentive plan participants of their right to elect to use common stock to satisfy their tax
withholding obligations. In addition we used $218,000 to make payments on our capital lease
obligations offset by $369,000 in proceeds from the exercise of our common stock options and
warrants.
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We used $525,000 of net cash in financing activities during the three months ended March 31,
2007. We used $665,000 to make payments on our capital lease obligations partially offset by
$140,000 in proceeds from the exercise of our common stock options.
We do not have any special purpose entities, and other than operating leases for office space,
described below, we do not engage in off-balance sheet financing arrangements.
Contractual Obligations and Known Future Cash Requirements
Our principal lease commitments consist of obligations under leases for office space and
computer and telecommunications equipment. We finance the purchase of some of our computer
equipment under a capital lease arrangement over a period of 36 months. Our purchase obligations
relate to outstanding orders to purchase computer equipment and are typically small; they do not
materially impact our overall liquidity. On March 6, 2008, the Company opened a $5.0 million
revolving line of credit with an interest rate equal to the BBA LIBOR rate plus an applicable
margin. This line of credit is available through March 6, 2009.
As of March 31, 2008, no amounts
were borrowed against the line of credit and $3.8 million of letters of credit were outstanding,
leaving $1.2 million available for additional letters of credit. The agreement
includes no restrictive covenants.
Future Capital Requirements
We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments and operating
cash flow, will be sufficient to meet our projected operating and capital expenditure requirements
for at least the next twelve months. In addition, we expect that the net proceeds from our IPO will
provide us with the financial flexibility to execute our strategic objectives, including the
ability to make acquisitions and strategic investments. Our ability to generate cash, however, is
subject to our performance, general economic conditions, industry trends and other factors. To the
extent that funds from our IPO combined with existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term
investments and operating cash flow are insufficient to fund our future activities and
requirements, we may need to raise additional funds through public or private equity or debt
financing.
For the ninety-day period beginning January 4, 2008, the former shareholders of SurveySite had
the right to sell 135,635 shares of common stock back to us for an aggregate price of approximately
$1.8 million, or $13.35 per share. Subsequent to March 31, 2008, the put right associated with all
of the 135,635 shares expired unexercised and the carrying value of the shares of $1.8 million was
reclassified to common stock and additional paid in capital.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements (as defined in Item 303 of regulation S-K).
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our financial position due to adverse
changes in financial market prices and rates. We do not hold or issue financial instruments for
trading purposes or have any derivative financial instruments. To date, most payments made under
our contracts are denominated in U.S. dollars and we have not experienced material gains or losses
as a result of transactions denominated in foreign currencies. As of March 31, 2008, our cash
reserves were maintained in bank deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, treasury bills,
treasury notes, and auction rate securities totaling $111.6 million. These securities, like all
fixed income instruments, are subject to interest rate risk and will decline in value if market
interest rates increase. We have the ability to hold our fixed income investments until maturity
and, therefore, we would not expect to experience any material adverse impact in income or cash
flow.
Foreign Currency Risk
A portion of our revenues and expenses from business operations in foreign countries are
derived from transactions denominated in currencies other than each countrys functional currency.
As such, we have exposure to adverse changes in exchange rates associated with revenues and
operating expenses of our foreign operations, but we believe this exposure to be immaterial at this
time. As such, we do not currently engage in any transactions that hedge foreign currency exchange
rate risk. As we grow our international operations, our exposure to foreign currency risk could
become more significant.
Interest Rate Sensitivity
As of March 31, 2008, our principal sources of liquidity consisted of cash, cash equivalents
and short-term investments of $103.4 million. These amounts were invested primarily in certificates
of deposit, U.S. treasury bills and U.S. treasury notes. The cash and cash equivalents are held for
working capital purposes. We do not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes. We
believe that we do not have any material exposure to changes in the fair value as a result of
changes in interest rates. Declines in interest rates, however, will reduce future investment
income. If overall interest rates fell by 10% during the three months ended March 31, 2008, our
interest income would have declined approximately $86,000, assuming consistent investment levels.
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Adjustable Rate Securities
As of March 31, 2008, we held $8.3 million in long-term investments consisting of $4.6 million
in auction rate securities and $3.7million in U.S. treasury notes. We generally invest in these
securities for short periods of time as part of our investment policy. However, the recent
uncertainties in the credit markets have prevented us and other investors from liquidating holdings
of auction rate securities in recent auctions for these securities because the amount of securities
submitted for sale has exceeded the amount of purchase orders. Accordingly, we still hold these
long-term securities and are due interest at a higher rate than similar securities for which
auctions have cleared. None of these investments are mortgage backed securities or collateralized
debt obligations. As of March 31, 2008, all investments maintained investment grade ratings. These
securities were valued using a discounted cash flow model that takes into consideration the
financial condition of the issuers and the bond insurers as well as the expected date liquidity
will be restored. If the credit ratings of the issuer, the bond insurers or the collateral
continues to deteriorate, we may further adjust the carrying value of these investments. We are
uncertain as to when the liquidity issues relating to these investments will improve. Accordingly,
we classified these securities as long-term as of March 31, 2008.
We believe we will be able to liquidate our auction rate securities without significant loss,
and we currently believe these securities are not permanently impaired, based on the underlying
credit value of the companies backing the bonds and the bond insurers; however, it could take until
the final maturity of the underlying notes to recover our investment. We currently have the ability
and intent to hold the remaining adjustable rate securities, until market stability is restored
with respect to these securities. We believe that, even allowing for the reclassification of these
securities to long-term and the possible requirement to hold all such securities for an indefinite
period of time, our remaining cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments will be
sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs and to execute our
current business plan.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the
effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the Exchange Act) Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by
this report (the Evaluation Date), have concluded that as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure
controls and procedures are effective, in all material respects, to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in the reports that we file and submit under the Exchange Act (i) is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required and (ii) is accumulated and
communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during
the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we are involved in various legal proceedings arising from the normal course
of business activities. We are not presently a party to any pending legal proceedings the outcome
of which we believe, if determined adversely to us, would individually or in the aggregate have a
material adverse impact on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial
position.
Item 1a. Risk Factors
An investment in our common stock involves a substantial risk of loss. You should carefully
consider these risk factors, together with all of the other information included herewith, before
you decide to purchase shares of our common stock. The occurrence of any of the following risks
could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results. In that
case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose part or all of your
investment.
Risks Related to Our Business and Our Technologies
If we are not able to maintain a panel of sufficient size and scope, or if the costs of maintaining
our panel materially increase, our business would be harmed.
We believe that the quality, size and scope of our Internet user panel are critical to our
business. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to maintain a panel of
sufficient size and scope to provide the quality of marketing intelligence that our customers
demand from our products. If we fail to maintain a panel of sufficient size and scope, customers
might decline to purchase our products or renew their subscriptions, our reputation could be
damaged and our business could be materially and adversely affected. We expect that our panel costs
may increase and may comprise a greater portion of our cost of revenues in the future. The costs
associated with maintaining and improving the quality, size and scope of our panel are dependent on
many factors, many of which are beyond our control, including the participation rate of potential
panel members, the turnover among existing panel members and requirements for active participation
of panel members, such as completing survey questionnaires. Concerns over the potential
unauthorized disclosure of personal information or the classification of our software as spyware
or adware may cause existing panel members to uninstall our software or may discourage potential
panel members from installing our software. To the extent we experience greater turnover, or churn,
in our panel than we have historically experienced, these costs would increase more rapidly. We
also have terminated and may in the future terminate relationships with service providers whose
practices we believe may not comply with our privacy policies, and have removed and may in the
future remove panel members obtained through such service providers. Such actions may result in
increased costs for recruiting additional panel members. In addition, publishing content on the
Internet and purchasing advertising space on Web sites may become more expensive or restrictive in
the future, which could decrease the availability and increase the cost of advertising the
incentives we offer to panel members. To the extent that such additional expenses are not
accompanied by increased revenues, our operating margins would be reduced and our financial results
would be adversely affected.
Our quarterly results of operations may fluctuate in the future. As a result, we may fail to meet
or exceed the expectations of securities analysts or investors, which could cause our stock price
to decline.
Our quarterly results of operations may fluctuate as a result of a variety of factors, many of
which are outside of our control. If our quarterly revenues or results of operations do not meet or
exceed the expectations of securities analysts or investors, the price of our common stock could
decline substantially. In addition to the other risk factors set forth in this Risk Factors
section, factors that may cause fluctuations in our quarterly revenues or results of operations
include:
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our ability to increase sales to existing customers and attract new customers; |
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our failure to accurately estimate or control costs; |
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our revenue recognition policies related to the timing of contract renewals,
delivery of products and duration of contracts and the corresponding timing
of revenue recognition; |
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the mix of subscription-based versus project-based revenues; |
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the impact on our contract renewal rates, in particular for our
subscription-based products, caused by our customers budgetary constraints,
competition, customer dissatisfaction, customer corporate restructuring or
change in control, or our customers actual or perceived lack of need for our
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the potential loss of significant customers; |
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the effect of revenues generated from significant one-time projects; |
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the amount and timing of capital expenditures and operating costs related to the maintenance and
expansion of our operations and infrastructure; |
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the timing and success of new product introductions by us or our competitors; |
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variations in the demand for our products and the implementation cycles of our products by our customers; |
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changes in our pricing and discounting policies or those of our competitors; |
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service outages, other technical difficulties or security breaches; |
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limitations relating to the capacity of our networks, systems and processes; |
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maintaining appropriate staffing levels and capabilities relative to projected growth; |
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adverse judgments or settlements in legal disputes; |
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the timing of costs related to the development or acquisition of technologies, services or businesses to support our
existing customer base and potential growth opportunities; |
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the timing of any additional reversal of our deferred tax valuation allowance; and |
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general economic, industry and market conditions and those conditions specific to Internet usage and online businesses. |
We believe that our quarterly revenues and results of operations on a year-over-year and
sequential quarter-over-quarter basis may vary significantly in the future and that
period-to-period comparisons of our operating results may not be meaningful. You should not rely on
the results of prior quarters as an indication of future performance.
Material defects or errors in our data collection and analysis systems could damage our reputation,
result in significant costs to us and impair our ability to sell our products.
Our data collection and analysis systems are complex and may contain material defects or
errors. In addition, the large amount of data that we collect may cause errors in our data
collection and analysis systems. Any defect in our panelist data collection software, network
systems, statistical projections or other methodologies could result in:
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loss of customers; |
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damage to our brand; |
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lost or delayed market acceptance and sales of our products; |
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interruptions in the availability of our products; |
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the incurrence of substantial costs to correct any material defect or error; |
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sales credits, refunds or liability to our customers; |
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diversion of development resources; and |
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increased warranty and insurance costs. |
Any material defect or error in our data collection systems could adversely affect our
reputation and operating results.
Our business may be harmed if we deliver, or are perceived to deliver, inaccurate information to
our customers to the media or to the public generally.
If the information that we provide to our customers, to the media, or to the public is
inaccurate, or perceived to be inaccurate, our brand may be harmed. The information that we collect
or that is included in our databases and the statistical projections that we provide to our
customers, to the media or to the public may contain or be perceived to
contain inaccuracies. These projections may be viewed as an important measure for the success of
certain businesses, especially those businesses with a large online presence. Any inaccuracy or
perceived inaccuracy in the data reported by us about such businesses may potentially affect the
market perception of such businesses and result in claims or litigation around the accuracy of our
data, or the appropriateness of our methodology, and could harm our brand. Any dissatisfaction by
our customers or the media with our digital marketing intelligence, measurement or data collection
and statistical projection methodologies, whether as a result of inaccuracies, perceived
inaccuracies, or otherwise, could have an adverse effect on our ability to retain existing
customers and attract new customers and could harm our brand. Additionally, we could be
contractually required to pay damages, which could be substantial, to certain of our customers if
the information we provide to them is found to be inaccurate. Any liability that we incur or any
harm to our brand that we suffer because of actual or perceived irregularities or inaccuracies in
the data we deliver to our customers could harm our business.
Our business may be harmed if we change our methodologies or the scope of information we collect.
We have in the past and may in the future change our methodologies or the scope of information
we collect. Such changes may result from identified deficiencies in current methodologies,
development of more advanced methodologies, changes in our business plans or expressed or perceived
needs of our customers or potential customers. Any such changes or perceived changes, or our
inability to accurately or adequately communicate to our customers and the media such changes and
the potential implications of such changes on the data we have published or will publish in the
future, may result in customer dissatisfaction, particularly if certain information is no longer
collected or information collected in future periods is not comparable with information collected
in prior periods. For example, in 2002, we integrated our existing methodologies with those of
Jupiter Media Metrix, which we had recently acquired. As part of this process, we discontinued
reporting certain metrics. Some customers were dissatisfied and either terminated their
subscriptions or failed to renew their subscriptions because of
these changes. Future changes to our methodologies or the information we collect may cause
similar customer dissatisfaction and result in loss of customers.
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We may lose customers or be liable to certain customers if we provide poor service or if our
products do not comply with our customer agreements.
Errors in our systems resulting from the large amount of data that we collect, store and
manage could cause the information that we collect to be incomplete or to contain inaccuracies that
our customers regard as significant. The failure or inability of our systems, networks and
processes to adequately handle the data in a high quality and consistent manner could result in the
loss of customers. In addition, we may be liable to certain of our customers for damages they may
incur resulting from these events, such as loss of business, loss of future revenues, breach of
contract or loss of goodwill to their business.
Our insurance policies may not cover any claim against us for loss of data, inaccuracies in
data or other indirect or consequential damages and defending a lawsuit, regardless of its merit,
could be costly and divert managements attention. Adequate insurance coverage may not be available
in the future on acceptable terms, or at all. Any such developments could adversely affect our
business and results of operations.
Concern over spyware and privacy, including any violations of privacy laws or perceived misuse of
personal information, could cause public relations problems and could impair our ability to recruit
panelists or maintain a panel of sufficient size and scope, which in turn could adversely affect
our ability to provide our products.
Any perception of our practices as an invasion of privacy, whether legal or illegal, may
subject us to public criticism. Existing and future privacy laws and increasing sensitivity of
consumers to unauthorized disclosures and use of personal information may create negative public
reaction related to our business practices. Public concern has increased recently regarding certain
kinds of downloadable software known as spyware and adware. These concerns might cause users to
refrain from downloading software from the Internet, including our proprietary technology, which
could make it difficult to recruit additional panelists or maintain a panel of sufficient size and
scope to provide meaningful marketing intelligence. In response to spyware and adware concerns,
numerous programs are available, many of which are available for free, that claim to identify and
remove spyware and adware from users computers. Some of these anti-spyware programs have in the
past identified, and may in the future
identify, our software as spyware or as a potential spyware application. We actively seek to
prevent the inclusion of our software on lists of spyware applications or potential spyware
applications, to apply best industry practices for obtaining appropriate consent from panelists and
protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our panelist data and to comply with existing privacy
laws. However, to the extent that we are not successful, and anti-spyware programs classify our
software as spyware or as a potential spyware application, or third party service providers fail
to comply with our privacy or data security requirements, our brand may be harmed and users may
refrain from downloading these programs or may uninstall our software. Any resulting reputational
harm, potential claims asserted against us or decrease in the size or scope of our panel could
reduce the demand for our products, increase the cost of recruiting panelists and adversely affect
our ability to provide our products to our customers. Any of these effects could harm our business.
Any unauthorized disclosure or theft of private information we gather could harm our business.
Unauthorized disclosure of personally identifiable information regarding Web site visitors,
whether through breach of our secure network by an unauthorized party, employee theft or misuse, or
otherwise, could harm our business. If there were an inadvertent disclosure of personally
identifiable information, or if a third party were to gain unauthorized access to the personally
identifiable information we possess, our operations could be seriously disrupted and we could be
subject to claims or litigation arising from damages suffered by panel members or pursuant to the
agreements with our customers. In addition, we could incur significant costs in complying with the
multitude of state, federal and foreign laws regarding the unauthorized disclosure of personal
information. For example, California law requires companies that maintain data on California
residents to inform individuals of any security breaches that result in their personal information
being stolen. Finally, any perceived or actual unauthorized disclosure of the information we
collect could harm our reputation, substantially impair our ability to attract and retain panelists
and have an adverse impact on our business.
The market for digital marketing intelligence is at an early stage of development, and if it does
not develop, or develops more slowly than expected, our business will be harmed.
The market for digital marketing intelligence products is at a relatively early stage of
development, and it is uncertain whether these products will achieve high levels of demand and
increased market acceptance. Our success will depend to a substantial extent on the willingness of
companies to increase their use of such products. Factors that may affect market acceptance
include:
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the reliability of digital marketing intelligence products; |
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public concern regarding privacy and data security; |
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decisions of our customers and potential customers to develop digital
marketing intelligence capabilities internally rather than purchasing
such products from third-party suppliers like us; |
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decisions by industry associations in the United States or in other
countries that result in association-directed awards, on behalf of
their members, of digital measurement contracts to one or a limited
number of competitive vendors; |
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the ability to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction; and |
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the rate of growth in eCommerce, online advertising and digital media.
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The market for our products may not develop further, or may develop more slowly than we
expect, either of which could adversely affect our business and operating results.
We have a limited operating history and may not be able to achieve financial or operational
success.
We were incorporated in 1999 and introduced our first syndicated Internet audience measurement
product in 2000. Many of our other products were first introduced during the past few years.
Accordingly, we are still in the early stages of development and have only a limited operating
history upon which our business can be evaluated. You should evaluate our likelihood of financial
and operational success in light of the risks, uncertainties, expenses, delays and difficulties
associated with an early-stage business in an evolving market, some of which may be beyond our
control, including:
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our ability to successfully manage any growth we may achieve in the future; |
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the risks associated with operating a business in international markets, including Asia and Europe; and |
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our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, technologies or services. |
We have a history of significant net losses, may incur significant net losses in the future and may
not maintain profitability.
Although we achieved net income in 2007 and 2006 of $19.3 million and $5.7 million,
respectively, we have incurred significant losses in prior periods, including net losses of $4.4
million and $3.2 million in 2005 and 2004, respectively. We cannot assure you that we will continue
to sustain or increase profitability in the future. As of March 31, 2008, we had an accumulated
deficit of $78.3 million. Because a large portion of our costs are fixed, we may not be able to
reduce or maintain our expenses in response to any decrease in our revenues, which would adversely
affect our operating results. In addition, we expect operating expenses to increase as we implement
certain growth initiatives, which include, among other things, the development of new products,
expansion of our infrastructure, plans for international expansion and general and administrative
expenses associated with being a public company. If our revenues do not increase to offset these
expected increases in costs and operating expenses, our operating results would be materially and
adversely affected. You should not consider our revenue growth in recent periods as indicative of
our future performance, as our operating results for future periods are subject to numerous
uncertainties.
The market for digital marketing intelligence is highly competitive, and if we cannot compete
effectively, our revenues will decline and our business will be harmed.
The market for digital marketing intelligence is highly competitive and is evolving rapidly.
We compete primarily with providers of digital media intelligence and related analytical products
and services. We also compete with providers of marketing services and solutions, with full-service
survey providers and with internal solutions developed by customers and potential customers. Our
principal competitors include:
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large and small companies that provide data and analysis of consumers
online behavior, including Compete Inc., Hitwise Pty. Ltd , Quantcast
and Nielsen/NetRatings; |
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online advertising companies that provide measurement of online ad
effectiveness, including aQuantive, Inc., DoubleClick Inc.,
ValueClick, Inc. and WPP Group plc; |
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companies that provide audience ratings for TV, radio and other media
that have extended or may extend their current services, particularly
in certain international markets, to the measurement of digital media,
including Arbitron Inc., Nielsen Media Research, Inc. and Taylor
Nelson Sofres plc; |
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analytical services companies that provide customers with detailed
information of behavior on their own Web sites, including Omniture,
Inc., Visual Sciences and WebTrends Corporation; |
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full-service market research firms and survey providers that may
measure online behavior and attitudes, including Harris Interactive
Inc., Ipsos Group, Taylor Nelson Sofres plc and The Nielsen Company;
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specialty information providers for certain industries that we serve,
including IMS Health Incorporated (healthcare) and Telephia, Inc.
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Some of our current competitors have longer operating histories, access to larger customer
bases and substantially greater resources than we do. As a result, these competitors may be able to
devote greater resources to marketing and promotional campaigns, panel retention, panel development
or development of systems and technologies than we can. In addition, some of our competitors may
adopt more aggressive pricing policies. Furthermore, large software companies, Internet portals and
database management companies may enter our market or enhance their current offerings, either by
developing competing services or by acquiring our competitors, and could leverage their significant
resources and pre-existing relationships with our current and potential customers.
If we are unable to compete successfully against our current and future competitors, we may
not be able to retain and acquire customers, and we may consequently experience a decline in
revenues, reduced operating margins, loss of market share and diminished value from our products.
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We may encounter difficulties managing our growth, which could adversely affect our results of
operations.
We have experienced significant growth in recent periods. We have substantially expanded our
overall business, customer base, headcount, data collection and processing infrastructure and
operating procedures as our business has grown. We increased our total number of full time
employees to 452 employees as of December 31, 2007 from 176 employees as of December 31, 2003, and
we expect to continue to expand our workforce to meet our strategic objectives. In addition, during
this same period, we made substantial investments in our network infrastructure operations as a
result of our growth. We believe that we will need to continue to effectively manage and expand our
organization, operations and facilities in order to accommodate our expected future growth. If we
continue to grow, our current systems and facilities may not be adequate. Our need to effectively
manage our operations and growth requires that we continue to assess and improve our operational,
financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures. If we are not able to
efficiently and effectively manage our growth, our business may be impaired.
If the Internet advertising and eCommerce markets develop more slowly than we expect, our business
will suffer.
Our future success will depend on continued growth in the use of the Internet as an
advertising medium, a continued increase in eCommerce spending and the proliferation of the
Internet as a platform for a wide variety of consumer activities. These markets are evolving
rapidly, and it is not certain that their current growth trends will continue.
The adoption of Internet advertising, particularly by advertisers that have historically
relied on traditional offline media, requires the acceptance of new approaches to conducting
business. Advertisers may perceive Internet advertising to be less effective than traditional
advertising for marketing their products. They may also be unwilling to pay premium rates for
online advertising that is targeted at specific segments of users based on their demographic
profile or Internet behavior. The online advertising and eCommerce markets may also be adversely
affected by privacy issues relating to such targeted advertising, including that which makes use of
personalized information, or online behavioral information. Furthermore, online merchants may not
be able to establish online commerce models that are cost effective and may not learn how to
effectively compete with other Web sites or offline merchants. In addition, consumers may not
continue to shift their spending on goods and services from offline outlets to the Internet. As a
result, growth in the use of the Internet for eCommerce may not continue at a rapid rate, or the
Internet may not be adopted as a medium of commerce by a broad base of customers or companies
worldwide. Because of the foregoing factors, among others, the market for Internet advertising and
eCommerce may not continue to grow at significant rates. If these markets do not continue to
develop, or if they develop more slowly than expected, our business will suffer.
Our growth depends upon our ability to retain existing large customers and add new large customers;
however, to the extent we are successful in doing so, our ability to maintain profitability and
positive cash flow may be impaired.
Our success depends in part on our ability to sell our products to large customers and on the
renewal of the subscriptions of those customers in subsequent years. For the years ended December
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, we derived over 37%, 39% and 41%, respectively, of our total revenues from
our top 10 customers. The loss of any one or more of those customers could decrease our revenues
and harm our current and future operating results. The addition of new large customers or increases
in sales to existing large customers may require particularly long implementation periods and other
costs, which may adversely affect our profitability. To compete effectively, we have in the past
been, and may in the future be, forced to offer significant discounts to maintain existing
customers or acquire other large customers. In addition, we may be forced to reduce or withdraw
from our relationships with certain existing customers or refrain from acquiring certain new
customers in order to acquire or maintain relationships with important large customers. As a
result, new large customers or increased usage of our products by large customers may cause our
profits to decline and our ability to sell our products to other customers could be adversely
affected.
We derive a significant portion of our revenues from a single customer, Microsoft Corporation.
For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, we derived approximately 13%, 12% and 14%,
respectively, of our total revenues from Microsoft. If Microsoft were to cease or substantially
reduce its use of our products, our revenues and earnings might decline.
If we fail to develop our brand, our business may suffer.
We believe that building and maintaining awareness of comScore and our portfolio of products
in a cost-effective manner is critical to achieving widespread acceptance of our current and future
products and is an important element in attracting new customers. We rely on our relationships with
the media and the exposure we receive from numerous citations of our data by media outlets to build
brand awareness and credibility among our customers and the marketplace. Furthermore, we believe
that brand recognition will become more important for us as competition in our market increases.
Our brands success will depend on the effectiveness of our marketing efforts and on our ability to
provide reliable and valuable products to our customers at competitive prices. Our brand marketing
activities may not yield increased revenues, and even if they do, any increased revenues may not
offset the expenses we incur in attempting to build our brand. If we fail to successfully market
our brand, we may fail to attract new customers, retain existing customers or attract media
coverage to the extent necessary to realize a sufficient return on our brand-building efforts, and
our business and results of operations could suffer.
Failure to effectively expand our sales and marketing capabilities could harm our ability to
increase our customer base and achieve broader market acceptance of our products.
Increasing our customer base and achieving broader market acceptance of our products will
depend to a significant extent on our ability to expand our sales and marketing operations. We
expect to continue to rely on our direct sales force to obtain new customers. We plan to continue
to expand our direct sales force both domestically and internationally. We believe that there is
significant competition for direct sales
personnel with the sales skills and technical knowledge that we require. Our ability to
achieve significant growth in revenues in the future will depend, in large part, on our success in
recruiting, training and retaining sufficient numbers of direct sales personnel. In general, new
hires require significant training and substantial experience before becoming productive. Our
recent hires and planned hires may not become as productive as we require, and we may be unable to
hire or retain sufficient numbers of qualified individuals in the future in the markets where we
currently operate or where we seek to conduct business. Our business will be seriously harmed if
the efforts to expand our sales and marketing capabilities are not successful or if they do not
generate a sufficient increase in revenues.
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We have limited experience with respect to our pricing model, and if the prices we charge for our
products are unacceptable to our customers, our revenues and operating results will be harmed.
We have limited experience in determining the prices for our products that our existing and
potential customers will find acceptable. As the market for our products matures, or as new
competitors introduce new products or services that compete with ours, we may be unable to renew
our agreements with existing customers or attract new customers at the prices we have historically
charged. As a result, it is possible that future competitive dynamics in our market may require us
to reduce our prices, which could have an adverse effect on our revenues, profitability and
operating results.
We derive a significant portion of our revenues from sales of our subscription-based digital
marketing intelligence products. If our customers terminate or fail to renew their subscriptions,
our business could suffer.
We currently derive a significant portion of our revenues from our subscription-based digital
marketing intelligence products. Subscription-based products accounted for 79%, 75% and 70% of our
revenues in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. However, if our customers terminate their
subscriptions for our products, do not renew their subscriptions, delay renewals of their
subscriptions or renew on terms less favorable to us, our revenues could decline and our business
could suffer.
Our customers have no obligation to renew after the expiration of their initial subscription
period, which is typically one year, and we cannot assure you that current subscriptions will be
renewed at the same or higher price levels, if at all. Some of our customers have elected not to
renew their subscription agreements with us in the past. If we experience a change of control, as
defined in such agreements, some of our customers have the right to terminate their subscriptions.
Moreover, some of our major customers have the right to cancel their subscription agreements
without cause at any time. We have limited historical data with respect to rates of customer
subscription renewals, so we cannot accurately predict future customer renewal rates. Our customer
renewal rates may decline or fluctuate as a result of a number of factors, including customer
satisfaction or dissatisfaction with our products, the prices or functionality of our products, the
prices or functionality of products offered by our competitors, mergers and acquisitions affecting
our customer base or reductions in our customers spending levels.
If we are unable to sell additional products to our existing customers or attract new customers,
our revenue growth will be adversely affected.
To increase our revenues, we believe we must sell additional products to existing customers
and regularly add new customers. If our existing and prospective customers do not perceive our
products to be of sufficient value and quality, we may not be able to increase sales to existing
customers and attract new customers, and our operating results will be adversely affected.
We depend on third parties for data that is critical to our business, and our business could suffer
if we cannot continue to obtain data from these suppliers.
We rely on third-party data sources for information regarding certain offline activities of
and demographic information regarding our panelists. The availability and accuracy of these data is
important to the continuation and development of our products that link online activity to offline
purchases. If this information is not available to us at commercially reasonable terms, or is found
to be inaccurate, it could harm our reputation, business and financial performance.
System failures or delays in the operation of our computer and communications systems may harm our
business.
Our success depends on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of our computer and
communications systems and the third-party data centers we use. Our ability to collect and report
accurate data may be interrupted by a number of factors, including our inability to access the
Internet, the failure of our network or software systems, computer viruses, security breaches or
variability in user traffic on customer Web sites. A failure of our network or data gathering
procedures could impede the processing of data, cause the corruption or loss of data or prevent the
timely delivery of our products.
In the future, we may need to expand our network and systems at a more rapid pace than we have
in the past. Our network or systems may not be capable of meeting the demand for increased
capacity, or we may incur additional unanticipated expenses to accommodate these capacity demands.
In addition, we may lose valuable data, be unable to obtain or provide data on a timely basis or
our network may temporarily shut down if we fail to adequately expand or maintain our network
capabilities to meet future requirements. Any lapse in our ability to collect or transmit data may
decrease the value of our products and prevent us from providing the data requested by our
customers. Any disruption in our network processing or loss of Internet user data may damage our
reputation and result in the loss of customers, and our business and results of operations could be
adversely affected.
We rely on a small number of third-party service providers to host and deliver our products, and
any interruptions or delays in services from these third parties could impair the delivery of our
products and harm our business.
We host our products and serve all of our customers from two third-party data center
facilities located in Virginia and Illinois. While we operate our equipment inside these
facilities, we do not control the operation of either of these facilities, and, depending on
service level requirements, we may not continue to operate or maintain redundant data center
facilities for all of our products or for all of our data, which could increase our vulnerability.
These facilities are vulnerable to damage or interruption from earthquakes, hurricanes, floods,
fires, power loss, telecommunications failures and similar events. They are also subject to
break-ins, computer viruses, sabotage, intentional acts of
vandalism and other misconduct. A natural disaster or an act of terrorism, a decision to close
the facilities without adequate notice or other unanticipated problems could result in lengthy
interruptions in availability of our products. We may also encounter capacity limitations at our
third-party data centers. Additionally, our data center facility agreements are of limited
durations, and our data center facilities have no obligation to renew their agreements with us on
commercially reasonable terms, if at all. Our agreement for our data center facility located in
Virginia expires on October, 2010, if not renewed, and our agreement for our data center facility
located in Illinois expires on July, 2009, if not renewed. Although we are not substantially
dependent on either data center facility because of planned redundancies, and although we currently
are able to migrate to alternative data centers, such a migration may result in an interruption or
delay in service. If we are unable to renew our agreements with the owners of the facilities on
commercially reasonable terms, or if we migrate to a new data center, we may experience delays in
delivering our products until an agreement with another data center facility can be arranged or the
migration to a new facility is completed.
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Further, we depend on access to the Internet through third-party bandwidth providers to
operate our business. If we lose the services of one or more of our bandwidth providers for any
reason, we could experience disruption in the delivery of our products or be required to retain the
services of a replacement bandwidth provider. It may be difficult for us to replace any lost
bandwidth on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, due to the large amount of bandwidth our
operations require.
Our operations also rely heavily on the availability of electrical power and cooling capacity,
which are also supplied by third-party providers. If we or the third-party data center operators
that we use to deliver our products were to experience a major power outage or if the cost of
electrical power increases significantly, our operations and profitability would be harmed. If we
or the third-party data centers that we use were to experience a major power outage, we would have
to rely on back-up generators, which may not function properly, and their supply may be inadequate.
Such a power outage could result in the disruption of our business. Additionally, if our current
facilities fail to have sufficient cooling capacity or availability of electrical power, we would
need to find alternative facilities.
Any errors, defects, disruptions or other performance problems with our products caused by
third parties could harm our reputation and may damage our business. Interruptions in the
availability of our products may reduce our revenues due to increased turnaround time to complete
projects, cause us to issue credits to customers, cause customers to terminate their subscription
and project agreements or adversely affect our renewal rates. Our business would be harmed if our
customers or potential customers believe our products are unreliable.
Because our long-term success depends, in part, on our ability to expand the sales of our products
to customers located outside of the United States, our business will become increasingly
susceptible to risks associated with international operations.
We have very limited experience operating in markets outside of the United States. Our
inexperience in operating our business outside of the United States may increase the risk that the
international expansion efforts we have begun to undertake will not be successful. In addition,
conducting international operations subjects us to new risks that we have not generally faced in
the United States. These risks include:
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recruitment and maintenance of a sufficiently large and representative panel both globally and in certain countries; |
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different customer needs and buying behavior than we are accustomed to in the United States; |
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difficulties and expenses associated with tailoring our products to local markets, including their translation into foreign languages; |
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difficulties in staffing and managing international operations; |
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longer accounts receivable payment cycles and difficulties in collecting accounts receivable; |
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potentially adverse tax consequences, including the complexities of foreign value-added taxes and restrictions on the repatriation of
earnings; |
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reduced or varied protection for intellectual property rights in some countries; |
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the burdens of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws and regulations; |
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fluctuations in currency exchange rates; |
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increased accounting and reporting burdens and complexities; and |
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political, social and economic instability abroad, terrorist attacks and security concerns. |
Additionally, operating in international markets requires significant management attention and
financial resources. We cannot be certain that the investments and additional resources required to
establish and maintain operations in other countries will hold their value or produce desired
levels of revenues or profitability. We cannot be certain that we will be able to maintain and
increase the size of the Internet user panel that we currently have in various countries or that we
will be able to recruit a representative sample for our audience measurement products. In addition,
there can be no assurance that Internet usage and eCommerce will continue to grow in international
markets. In addition, governmental authorities in various countries have different views regarding
regulatory oversight of the Internet. For example, the Chinese government has recently taken steps
to restrict the content available to Internet users in China.
The impact of any one or more of these risks could negatively affect or delay our plans to
expand our international business and, consequently, our future operating results.
If we fail to respond to technological developments, our products may become obsolete or less
competitive.
Our future success will depend in part on our ability to modify or enhance our products to
meet customer needs, to add functionality and to address technological advancements. For example,
online publishers and advertisers have recently started to use Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, or
AJAX, a development technique that allows Web applications to quickly make incremental updates
without having to refresh the entire Web page. AJAX may make page views a less useful metric for
measuring the usage and effectiveness of online media. If our products are not effective at
addressing evolving customer needs that result from increased AJAX usage, our business may be
harmed. Similarly, technological advances in the handheld device industry may lead to changes in
our customers requirements. For example, if certain handheld devices become the primary mode of
receiving content and conducting transactions on the Internet, and we are unable to adapt our
software to collect information from such devices, then we would not be able to report on online
activity. To remain competitive, we will need to develop new products that address these evolving
technologies and standards. However, we may be unsuccessful in identifying new product
opportunities or in developing or marketing new products in a timely or cost-effective manner. In
addition, our product innovations may not achieve the market penetration or price levels necessary
for profitability. If we are unable to develop enhancements to, and new features for, our existing
products or if we are unable to develop new products that keep pace with rapid technological
developments or changing industry standards, our products may become obsolete, less marketable and
less competitive, and our business will be harmed.
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The success of our business depends in large part on our ability to protect and enforce our
intellectual property rights.
We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, service mark, trademark and trade secret laws,
as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual restrictions, to establish and protect our
proprietary rights, all of which provide only limited protection. While we have filed a number of
patent applications and own two issued patents, we cannot assure you that any additional patents
will be issued with respect to any of our pending or future patent applications, nor can we assure
you that any patent issued to us will provide adequate protection, or that any patents issued to us
will not be challenged, invalidated, circumvented, or held to be unenforceable in actions against
alleged infringers. Also, we cannot assure you that any future trademark or service mark
registrations will be issued with respect to pending or future applications or that any of our
registered trademarks and service marks will be enforceable or provide adequate protection of our
proprietary rights. Furthermore, adequate (or any) patent, trademark, service mark, copyright and
trade secret protection may not be available in every country in which our services are available.
We endeavor to enter into agreements with our employees and contractors and with parties with
whom we do business in order to limit access to and disclosure of our proprietary information. We
cannot be certain that the steps we have taken will prevent unauthorized use of our technology or
the reverse engineering of our technology. Moreover, third parties might independently develop
technologies that are competitive to ours or that infringe upon our intellectual property. In
addition, the legal standards relating to the validity, enforceability and scope of protection of
intellectual property rights in Internet-related industries are uncertain and still evolving, both
in the United States and in other countries. The protection of our intellectual property rights may
depend on our legal actions against any infringers being successful. We cannot be sure any such
actions will be successful.
An assertion from a third party that we are infringing its intellectual property, whether such
assertions are valid or not, could subject us to costly and time-consuming litigation or expensive
licenses.
The Internet, software and technology industries are characterized by the existence of a large
number of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets and by frequent litigation based on
allegations of infringement or other violations of intellectual property rights, domestically or
internationally. As we grow and face increasing competition, the probability that one or more third
parties will make intellectual property rights claims against us increases. In such cases, our
technologies may be found to infringe on the intellectual property rights of others. Additionally,
many of our subscription agreements may require us to indemnify our customers for third-party
intellectual property infringement claims, which would increase our costs if we have to defend such
claims and may require that we pay damages and provide alternative services if there were an
adverse ruling in any such claims. Intellectual property claims could harm our relationships with
our customers, deter future customers from subscribing to our products or expose us to litigation.
Even if we are not a party to any litigation between a customer and a third party, an adverse
outcome in any such litigation could make it more difficult for us to defend against intellectual
property claims by the third party in any subsequent litigation in which we are a named party. Any
of these results could adversely affect our brand, business and results of operations.
One of our competitors has filed patent infringement lawsuits against others, demonstrating
this partys propensity for patent litigation. It is possible that this third party, or some other
third party, may bring an action against us, and thus cause us to incur the substantial costs and
risks of litigation. Any intellectual property rights claim against us or our customers, with or
without merit, could be time-consuming and expensive to litigate or settle and could divert
management resources and attention. An adverse determination also could prevent us from offering
our products to our customers and may require that we procure or develop substitute products that
do not infringe on other parties rights.
With respect to any intellectual property rights claim against us or our customers, we may
have to pay damages or stop using technology found to be in violation of a third partys rights. We
may have to seek a license for the technology, which may not be available on reasonable terms or at
all, may significantly increase our operating expenses or may significantly restrict our business
activities in one or more respects. We may also be required to develop alternative non-infringing
technology, which could require significant effort and expense. Any of these outcomes could
adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Domestic or foreign laws, regulations or enforcement actions may limit our ability to collect and
use information about Internet users or restrict or prohibit our product offerings, causing a
decrease in the value of our products and an adverse impact on the sales of our products.
Our business could be adversely impacted by existing or future laws or regulations of, or
actions by, domestic or foreign regulatory agencies. For example, privacy concerns could lead to
legislative, judicial and regulatory limitations on our ability to collect, maintain and use
information about Internet users in the United States and abroad. Various state legislatures, have
enacted legislation designed to protect Internet users privacy, for example by prohibiting
spyware. In recent years, similar legislation has been proposed in other states and at the federal
level and has been enacted in foreign countries, most notably by the European Union, which adopted
a privacy directive regulating the collection of personally identifiable information online. These
laws and regulations, if drafted or interpreted broadly, could be deemed to apply to the technology
we use, and could restrict our information collection methods, and the collection methods of third
parties from whom we may obtain data, or decrease the amount and utility of the information that we
would be permitted to collect. In addition, our ability to conduct business in certain foreign
jurisdictions, including China, is restricted by the laws, regulations and agency actions of those
jurisdictions. The costs of compliance with, and the other burdens imposed by, these and other laws
or regulatory actions may prevent us from selling our products or increase the costs associated
with selling our products, and may affect our ability to invest in or jointly develop products in
the United States and in foreign jurisdictions.
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In addition, failure to comply with these and other laws and regulations may result in, among
other things, administrative enforcement actions and fines, class action lawsuits and civil and
criminal liability. State attorneys general, governmental and non-governmental entities and private
persons may bring legal actions asserting that our methods of collecting, using and distributing
Web site visitor information are illegal or improper, which could require us to spend significant
time and resources defending these claims. For example, some companies that collect, use and
distribute Web site visitor information have been the subject of governmental investigations and
class-action lawsuits. Any such regulatory or civil action that is brought against us, even if
unsuccessful, may distract our managements attention, divert our resources, negatively affect our
public image or reputation among our panelists and customers and harm our business.
The impact of any of these current or future laws or regulations could make it more difficult
or expensive to attract or maintain panelists, particularly in affected jurisdictions, and could
adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Laws related to the regulation of the Internet could adversely affect our business.
Laws and regulations that apply to communications and commerce over the Internet are becoming
more prevalent. In particular, the growth and development of the market for eCommerce has prompted
calls for more stringent tax, consumer protection and privacy laws in the United States and abroad
that may impose additional burdens on companies conducting business online. The adoption,
modification or interpretation of laws or regulations relating to the Internet or our customers
digital operations could negatively affect the businesses of our customers and reduce their demand
for our products.
If we fail to respond to evolving industry standards, our products may become obsolete or less
competitive.
The market for our products is characterized by rapid technological advances, changes in
customer requirements, changes in protocols and evolving industry standards. For example, industry
associations such as the Advertising Research Foundation, the Council of American Survey Research
Organizations, the Internet Advertising Bureau, or IAB, and the Media Ratings Council have
independently initiated efforts to either review online market research methodologies or to develop
minimum standards for online market research. On April 19, 2007, we received a letter from the IAB,
citing discrepancies between our audience measurement data, those of our competitors and those
provided by the server logs of IABs member organizations. In its letter, the IAB asked us to
submit to an independent audit and accreditation process of our audience measurement systems and
processes. In September 2007, we began a full audit to obtain accreditation by the Media Ratings
Council. Any standards adopted by the IAB or similar organizations may lead to costly changes to
our procedures and methodologies. As a result, the cost of developing our digital marketing
intelligence products could increase. If we do not adhere to standards prescribed by the IAB or
other industry associations, our customers could choose to purchase products from competing
companies that meet such standards. Furthermore, industry associations based in countries outside
of the United States often endorse certain vendors or methodologies. If our methodologies fail to
receive an endorsement from an important industry association located in a foreign country,
advertising agencies, media companies and advertisers in that country may not purchase our
products. As a result, our efforts to further expand internationally could be adversely affected.
The success of our business depends on the continued growth of the Internet as a medium for
commerce, content, advertising and communications.
Expansion in the sales of our products depends on the continued acceptance of the Internet as
a platform for commerce, content, advertising and communications. The use of the Internet as a
medium for commerce, content, advertising and communications could be adversely impacted by delays
in the development or adoption of new standards and protocols to handle increased demands of
Internet activity, security, reliability, cost, ease-of-use, accessibility and quality-of-service.
The performance of the Internet and its acceptance as a medium for commerce, content commerce,
content, advertising and communications has been harmed by viruses, worms, and similar malicious
programs, and the Internet has experienced a variety of outages and other delays as a result of
damage to portions of its infrastructure. If for any reason the Internet does not remain a medium
for widespread commerce, content, advertising and communications, the demand for our products would
be significantly reduced, which would harm our business.
Conditions and changes in the national and global economic and political environments may adversely
affect our business and financial results.
Adverse economic conditions in markets in which we operate can harm our business. If economic
growth in the United States and other countries is slowed, customers may delay or reduce their
purchases of digital marketing intelligence products and services. These effects could result in
reductions in sales of our products, longer sales cycles, slower adoption of our products and
increased price competition. Weakness in
the consumer market could negatively affect the cash flow of our customers who could, in turn,
reduce their purchases of our products and services. Specific economic trends or softness in
digital marketing intelligence or advertising spending could have a direct impact on our business.
Any of these events would likely harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
Recent turmoil in the political environment in many parts of the world, including terrorist
activities and military actions, the continuing tension in and surrounding Iraq, and increases in
energy costs due to instability in oil-producing regions may continue to put pressure on global
economic conditions. If global economic and market conditions, or economic conditions in the United
States or other key markets deteriorate, we may experience material impacts on our business,
operating results, and financial condition.
We rely on our management team and need additional personnel to grow our business, and the loss of
one or more key employees or the inability to attract and retain qualified personnel could harm our
business.
Our success and future growth depends to a significant degree on the skills and continued
services of our management team, including our founders, Magid M. Abraham, Ph.D. and Gian M.
Fulgoni. Our future success also depends on our ability to retain, attract and motivate highly
skilled technical, managerial, marketing and customer service personnel, including members of our
management team. All of our employees work for us on an at-will basis. We plan to hire additional
personnel in all areas of our business, particularly for our sales, marketing and technology
development areas, both domestically and internationally, which will likely increase our recruiting
and hiring costs. Competition for these types of personnel is intense, particularly in the Internet
and software industries. As a result, we may be unable to successfully attract or retain qualified
personnel. Our inability to retain and attract the necessary personnel could adversely affect our
business.
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We may expand through investments in, acquisitions of, or the development of new products with
assistance from other companies, any of which may not be successful and may divert our managements
attention.
Our business strategy may include acquiring complementary products, technologies or
businesses. We also may enter into relationships with other businesses in order to expand our
product offerings, which could involve preferred or exclusive licenses, discount pricing or
investments in other companies.
Negotiating any such transactions could be time-consuming, difficult and expensive, and our
ability to close these transactions may be subject to regulatory or other approvals and other
conditions which are beyond our control. Consequently, we can make no assurances that any such
transactions, if undertaken and announced, would be completed.
An acquisition, investment or business relationship may result in unforeseen operating
difficulties and expenditures. In particular, we may encounter difficulties assimilating or
integrating the businesses, technologies, products, personnel or operations of the acquired
companies, particularly if the key personnel of the acquired company choose not to be employed by
us, and we may have difficulty retaining the customers of any acquired business due to changes in
management and ownership. Acquisitions may also disrupt our ongoing business, divert our resources
and require significant management attention that would otherwise be available for ongoing
development of our business. Moreover, we cannot assure you that the anticipated benefits of any
acquisition, investment or business relationship would be realized or that we would not be exposed
to unknown liabilities. In connection with any such transaction, we may:
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encounter difficulties retaining key employees of the acquired company or integrating diverse business cultures; |
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issue additional equity securities that would dilute the common stock held by existing stockholders; |
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incur large charges or substantial liabilities; |
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become subject to adverse tax consequences, substantial depreciation or deferred compensation charges; |
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use cash that we may need in the future to operate our business; and |
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incur debt on terms unfavorable to us or that we are unable to repay. |
The impact of any one or more of these factors could adversely affect our business or results
of operations or cause the price of our common stock to decline substantially.
Changes in, or interpretations of, accounting rules and regulations, including recent rules and
regulations regarding expensing of stock options, could result in unfavorable accounting charges or
cause us to change our compensation policies.
Accounting methods and policies, including policies governing revenue recognition, expenses
and accounting for stock options are continually subject to review, interpretation, and guidance
from relevant accounting authorities, including the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB,
and the SEC. Changes to, or interpretations of, accounting methods or policies in the future may
require us to reclassify, restate or otherwise change or revise our financial statements, including
those contained in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
On December 16, 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment ,
which is a revision of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (SFAS No. 123R). SFAS
No. 123R supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees , and amends SFAS
No. 95, Statement of Cash Flows . Generally, the approach in SFAS No. 123R is similar to the
approach described in SFAS No. 123. However, SFAS No. 123R requires all share-based payments to
employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement
based on their fair values. We were required to adopt SFAS No. 123R on January 1, 2006, and have
adopted it as of that date.
As permitted by SFAS No. 123, we accounted for share-based payments to employees through
December 31, 2005 using APB Opinion No. 25s intrinsic value method and, as such, generally
recognized no compensation cost for employee stock options. Accordingly, the adoption of SFAS No.
123Rs fair value method has had a significant impact on the presentation of our results of
operations, although it has not impacted our overall financial position. The long-term impact of
adoption of SFAS No. 123R cannot be predicted at this time because it will depend on levels of
share-based payments granted in the future and the assumptions for the variables which impact the
computation of the fair value of any such grants.
Historically, we have used stock options as part of our compensation programs to motivate and
retain existing employees and to attract new employees. Because we are now required to expense
stock options, we may choose to reduce our reliance on stock options as part of our compensation
packages. If we reduce our use of stock options, it may be more difficult for us to retain and
attract qualified employees. If we do not reduce our use of stock options, our expenses in future
periods may increase. Beginning in 2007, we issued restricted stock awards and restricted stock
units, and we expect to reduce our use of stock options as a form of stock-based compensation, but
we cannot be certain whether or how our stock-based compensation policy will change in the future.
42
Investors could lose confidence in our financial reports, and our business and stock price may be
adversely affected, if our internal control over financial reporting is found by management or by
our independent registered public accounting firm to not be adequate or if we disclose significant
existing or potential deficiencies or material weaknesses in those controls.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires us to include a report on our internal
control over financial reporting in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for each year beginning with the
year ending December 31, 2008. That report must include managements assessment of the
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of that and each
subsequent fiscal year. Additionally, our independent registered public accounting firm will be
required to issue a report on managements assessment of our internal control over financial
reporting and on their evaluation of the operating effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting.
We continue to evaluate our existing internal controls against the standards adopted by the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB. During the course of our ongoing evaluation of
our internal controls, we have in the past identified, and may in the future identify, areas
requiring improvement, and may have to design enhanced processes and controls to address issues
identified through this review. Remedying any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses that
we or our independent registered public accounting firm may identify could require us to incur
significant costs and expend significant time and management resources. We cannot assure you that
any of the measures we may implement to remedy any such deficiencies will effectively mitigate or
remedy such deficiencies. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the
work necessary for our management to issue its management report in a timely manner, or that we
will be able to complete any work required for our management to be able to conclude that our
internal control over financial reporting is operating effectively. If we are not able to complete
the assessment under Section 404 in a timely manner or to remedy any identified material
weaknesses, we and our independent registered public accounting firm would be unable to conclude
that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2008. If our
internal control over financial reporting is found by management or by our independent registered
public accountant to not be adequate or if we disclose significant existing or potential
deficiencies or material weaknesses in those controls, investors could lose confidence in our
financial reports, we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by The NASDAQ Global Market,
the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory authorities and our stock price could be
adversely affected.
A determination that there is a significant deficiency or material weakness in the
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting could also reduce our ability to
obtain financing or could increase the cost of any financing we obtain and require additional
expenditures to comply with applicable requirements.
Our net operating loss carryforwards may expire unutilized or underutilized, which could prevent us
from offsetting future taxable income.
We have experienced changes in control that have triggered the limitations of Section 382 of
the Internal Revenue Code on our net operating loss carryforwards. As a result, we may be limited
in the portion of net operating loss carryforwards that we can use in the future to offset taxable
income for U.S. Federal income tax purposes.
As of March 31, 2008, we had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards for tax
purposes of approximately $64.2 million and $47.3 million, respectively. These net operating loss
carryforwards begin to expire in 2020 for federal income tax reporting purposes and begin to expire
in 2010 for state income tax reporting purposes.
In addition, at March 31, 2008 we had aggregate net operating loss carryforwards for tax
purposes related to our foreign subsidiaries of $442,000, which begin to expire in 2010.
In
the three months ended March 31, 2008, and year ended December 31, 2007, deferred tax assets, before valuation
allowance, decreased approximately $1.7 million and $4.4 million, respectively, due to our use of
net operating loss carryforwards to offset taxable income.
As of March 31, 2008, we had a valuation allowance of $21.4 million against certain deferred
tax assets, which consisted principally of net operating loss carryforwards. We have continued to
evaluate our valuation allowance position on a regular basis. After weighing both the positive and
negative evidence, management believed that it was more likely than not that a portion of its
deferred tax assets will be realized. Therefore, during 2007, we recognized a deferred tax asset of
approximately $8.1 million based on our projected pre-tax income for 2008. If we determine that
future reversals of our valuation allowance are appropriate, it may have a material impact on our
results of operations.
During 2008, it is expected that the deferred tax asset recognized in 2007 will decrease each
quarter as the net deferred tax asset is utilized. Therefore, we expect that we will have a
normalized effective tax rate in the interim periods in 2008 for GAAP reporting purposes, with no
tax impact on operating and free cashflow. On a quarterly basis throughout 2008, we will
re-evaluate the realizability of our deferred tax assets for any material events. We will also
consider the impact of full-year 2008 operating results, additional evidence concerning the
predictability of our revenue streams and forecasts of future income.
We periodically assess the likelihood that we will be able to recover our deferred tax assets.
We consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, including historical levels of
income, expectations and risks associated with estimates of future taxable income and ongoing
prudent and feasible profits. As a result of this analysis of all available evidence, both positive
and negative, we concluded that a partial valuation allowance against deferred tax assets should be
applied as of December 31, 2007. Depending on our actual results in the future, there may be
sufficient positive evidence to support the conclusion that all or a
portion of our remaining valuation
allowance should be further reduced. To the extent we determine that all or a portion of our
valuation allowance is no longer necessary, we will recognize an income tax benefit in the period
such determination is made for the reversal of the valuation allowance. Once the valuation
allowance is eliminated or reduced, its reversal will no longer be available to offset our current
tax provision. These events could have a material impact on our reported results of operations.
We may require additional capital to support business growth, and this capital may not be available
on acceptable terms or at all.
We intend to continue to make investments to support our business growth and may require
additional funds to respond to business challenges, including the need to develop new products or
enhance our existing products, enhance our operating infrastructure and acquire complementary
businesses and technologies.
43
Accordingly, we may need to engage in equity or debt financings to secure additional funds. If
we raise additional funds through further issuances of equity or convertible debt securities, our
existing stockholders could suffer significant dilution, and any new equity securities we issue
could have rights, preferences and privileges superior to those of holders of our common stock. Any
debt financing secured by us in the future could include restrictive covenants relating to our
capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more
difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities, including
potential acquisitions. In addition, we may not be able to obtain additional financing on terms
favorable to us or at all. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms
satisfactory to us when we require it, our ability to continue to support our business growth and
to respond to business challenges could be significantly limited. In addition, the terms of any
additional equity or debt issuances may adversely affect the value and price of our common stock.
We face the risk of a decrease in our cash balances and losses in our investment portfolio.
Investment income has become a more substantial component of our net income. The ability to
achieve our investment objectives is affected by many factors, some of which are beyond our
control. We rely on third-party money managers to manage the majority of our investment portfolio
in a risk-controlled framework. Our cash is invested in high-quality fixed-income securities and is
affected by changes in interest rates. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors,
including governmental monetary policies and domestic and international economic and political
conditions.
The outlook for our investment income is dependent on the future direction of interest rates
and the amount of cash flows from operations that are available for investment. Any significant
decline in our investment income or the value of our investments as a result of falling interest
rates, deterioration in the credit of the securities in which we have invested, or general market
conditions, could have an adverse effect on our net income and cash position.
Our investment strategy attempts to manage interest rate risk and limit credit risk. By
policy, we only invest in what we view as very high quality debt securities, and our largest
holdings are short-term U.S. Government securities and high-quality, well-collateralized
asset-backed securities. We do not hold any sub-prime mortgages or structured investment vehicles.
We do not invest in below investment-grade securities.
Our investments in adjustable rate securities are subject to risks which may cause losses and
affect the liquidity of these investments.
As of March 31, 2008, our principal sources of liquidity consisted of cash, cash equivalents
and short-term investments of $103.4 million. As of March 31, 2008 we held $8.3 million in
long-term investments consisting of $4.6 million in auction rate
securities and $3.7 million in
other long-term fixed income securities. We generally invest in these securities for short periods
of time as part of our investment policy. Auctions for some of these adjustable rate securities
have failed, and there is no assurance that auctions on the remaining adjustable rate securities in
our investment portfolio will succeed in the future. An auction failure means that the parties
wishing to sell their securities could not do so. As a result, our ability to liquidate and fully
recover the carrying value of our adjustable rate securities in the near term may be limited or not
exist. These developments have resulted in the classification of some or all of these securities as
long-term investments in our consolidated financial statements.
The recent uncertainties in the credit markets have prevented us and other investors from
liquidating holdings of auction rate securities in recent auctions for these securities because the
amount of securities submitted for sale has exceeded the amount of purchase orders. Accordingly, we
still hold these long-term securities and are due interest at a higher rate than similar securities
for which auctions have cleared. None of these investments are mortgage backed securities or
collateralized debt obligations. As of December 31, 2007, these investments were fully backed by AAA
rated bonds and were insured against loss of principal and interest by bond insurers whose AAA
ratings are under review. However, certain bond insurers are
experiencing financial difficulty and have
either had their credit ratings downgraded or have been placed on watch. As of March 31, 2008, all investments
maintained investment grade ratings. These securities were valued using a discounted cash flow model that
takes into consideration the financial condition of the issuers and the bond insurers as well as
the expected date liquidity will be restored. If the credit ratings of the issuer, the bond
insurers or the collateral continues to deteriorate, we may further adjust the carrying value of
these investments. We are uncertain as to when the liquidity issues relating to these investments
will improve. Accordingly, we classified these securities as long-term as of March 31, 2008. If the
issuers of these adjustable rate securities are unable to successfully close future auctions and
their credit ratings deteriorate, we may in the future be required to record an impairment charge
on these investments. We may be required to wait until market stability is restored for these
instruments or until the final maturity of the underlying notes (up to 30 years) to recover our
investment.
Risks Related to the Securities Market and Ownership of our Common Stock
We cannot assure you that a market will continue to develop or exist for our common stock or what
the market price of our common stock will be.
Prior to our initial public offering, which was completed on July 2, 2007, there was no public
trading market for our common stock, and we cannot assure you that one will continue to develop or
be sustained. If a market does not continue to develop or is not sustained, it may be difficult for
you to sell your shares of common stock at an attractive price or at all. We cannot predict the
prices at which our common stock will trade.
The trading price of our common stock may be subject to significant fluctuations and volatility,
and our new stockholders may be unable to resell their shares at a profit.
The stock markets, in general, and the markets for technology stocks in particular, have
experienced high levels of volatility. The market for technology stocks has been extremely volatile
and frequently reaches levels that bear no relationship to the past or present operating
performance of those companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading
price of our common stock. In addition, the trading price of our common stock has been subject to
significant fluctuations and may continue to fluctuate or decline.
44
The price of our common stock in the market may be higher or lower than the price you pay,
depending on many factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be related to our
operating performance. It is possible that, in future quarters, our operating results may be below
the expectations of analysts or investors. As a result of these and other factors, the price of our
common stock may decline, possibly materially. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or
part of your investment in our common stock. Factors that could cause fluctuations in the trading
price of our common stock include the following:
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price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time; |
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volatility in the market price and trading volume of technology companies and of companies in our industry; |
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actual or anticipated changes or fluctuations in our operating results; |
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actual or anticipated changes in expectations regarding our performance by investors or securities analysts; |
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the failure of securities analysts to cover our common stock after this offering or changes in financial estimates by analysts; |
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actual or anticipated developments in our competitors businesses or the competitive landscape; |
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actual or perceived inaccuracies in, or dissatisfaction with, information we provide to our customers or the media; |
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litigation involving us, our industry or both; |
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regulatory developments; |
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privacy and security concerns, including public perception of our practices as an invasion of privacy; |
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general economic conditions and trends; |
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major catastrophic events; |
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sales of large blocks of our stock; |
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the timing and success of new product introductions or upgrades by us or our competitors; |
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changes in our pricing policies or payment terms or those of our competitors; |
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concerns relating to the security of our network and systems; |
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our ability to expand our operations, domestically and internationally, and the amount and timing of expenditures related to
this expansion; or |
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departures of key personnel. |
In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a companys securities,
securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. If our stock price
is volatile, we may become the target of securities litigation, which could result in substantial
costs and divert our managements attention and resources from our business. In addition,
volatility, lack of positive performance in our stock price or changes to our overall compensation
program, including our equity incentive program, may adversely affect our ability to retain key
employees.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if
they issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding our stock, our stock price and trading volume
could decline.
The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that
industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. If any of the analysts who cover
us issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding our stock, our stock price would likely
decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports
on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our
stock price or trading volume to decline.
Future sales of shares by existing stockholders could cause our stock price to decline.
If our existing stockholders sell, or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of
our common stock in the public market, the trading price of our common stock could decline. These
sales could also make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the
future at a time and price that we deem appropriate.
45
Insiders have substantial control over the outstanding shares of our common stock, which could
limit your ability to influence the outcome of key transactions, including a change of control.
Our directors, executive officers and each of our stockholders who own greater than 5% of our
outstanding common stock and their affiliates, in the aggregate, together beneficially own a
majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock. As a result, these stockholders, if acting
together, would be able to influence or control matters requiring approval by our stockholders,
including the election of directors and the approval of mergers, acquisitions or other
extraordinary transactions. They may have interests that differ from yours and may vote in a way
with which you disagree and which may be adverse to your interests. This concentration of ownership
may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change of control of our company, could
deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a
sale of our company and might affect the market price of our common stock.
We have incurred and will continue to incur increased costs and demands upon management as a result
of complying with the laws and regulations affecting a public company, which could adversely affect
our operating results.
As a public company, we have incurred and will continue to incur significant legal, accounting
and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002, as well as rules implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission and The NASDAQ
Stock Market, requires certain corporate governance practices for public companies. Our management
and other personnel devote a substantial amount of time to public reporting requirements and
corporate governance. These rules and regulations have significantly increased our legal and
financial compliance costs and made some activities more time-consuming and costly. We also have
incurred additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. If these costs
do not continue to be offset by increased revenues and improved financial performance, our
operating results would be adversely affected. These rules and regulations also make it more
difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may
be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to
obtain the same or similar coverage if these costs continue to rise. As a result, it may be more
difficult for us to attract and retain qualified people to serve on our board of directors or as
executive officers.
Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and under Delaware law might discourage,
delay or prevent a change of control of our company or changes in our management and, therefore,
depress the trading price of our common stock.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could depress the trading
price of our common stock by acting to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our
company or changes in our management that the stockholders of our company may deem advantageous.
These provisions:
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provide for a classified board of directors so that not all members of our board of directors are elected at one time; |
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authorize blank check preferred stock that our board of directors could issue to increase the number of outstanding
shares to discourage a takeover attempt; |
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prohibit stockholder action by written consent, which means that all stockholder actions must be taken at a meeting
of our stockholders; |
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prohibit stockholders from calling a special meeting of our stockholders; |
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provide that the board of directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal our bylaws; and |
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provide for advance notice requirements for nominations for elections to our board of directors or for proposing
matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings. |
Additionally, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which
prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations
with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date on which the
stockholder became an interested stockholder and which may discourage, delay or prevent a change
of control of our company.
46
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
(a) Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities during the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we issued and sold 4,020 shares of our common
stock that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, upon the net exercise
of warrants. These shares of common stock were issued in reliance upon the exemption from
registration provided in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and/or Regulation
D promulgated thereunder.
(b) Use of Proceeds from Sale of Registered Equity Securities
On June 26, 2007, our Registration Statements on Form S-1, as amended (Reg. Nos. 333-131740
and 333-144071) were declared effective in connection with the initial public offering of our
common stock, pursuant to which we registered an aggregate of 6,095,000 shares
of our common stock, of which we sold 5,000,000 shares and certain selling stockholders sold
1,095,000 shares, including the underwriters over-allotment, at a price to the public of $16.50
per share. The offering closed on July 2, 2007, and, as a result, we received net proceeds of
approximately $73.1 million (after underwriters discounts and commissions of approximately $5.8
million and additional offering-related costs of approximately $3.6 million), and the selling
stockholders received net proceeds of approximately $16.8 million (after underwriters discounts
and commissions of approximately $1.3 million). The managing underwriter of the offering was Credit
Suisse Securities (USA) LLC.
No payments for such expenses were made directly or indirectly to (i) any of our officers or
directors or their associates, (ii) any persons owning 10% or more of any class of our equity
securities, or (iii) any of our affiliates. We did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares
in the initial public offering by the selling stockholders.
The principal purposes of the offering were to create a public market for our common stock and
to facilitate our future access to the public equity markets, as well as to obtain additional
capital. Except as discussed below, we currently have no specific plans for the use of a
significant portion of the net proceeds of the offering. However, we anticipate that we will use
the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include working
capital, capital expenditures, other corporate expenses and acquisitions of complementary products,
technologies or businesses. We expect to use approximately $4 million of the net proceeds for
capital expenditures related to computer hardware and equipment as well as office improvements. We
currently have no agreements or commitments with respect to acquisitions of complementary products,
technologies or businesses. The timing and amount of our actual expenditures will be based on many
factors, including cash flows from operations and the anticipated growth of our business.
Pending the uses described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of
short-term, interest-bearing, investment grade securities. There has been no material change in the
planned use of proceeds from our initial public offering from that described in the final
prospectus filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) on June 28, 2007.
(c) Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we repurchased the following shares of common
stock in connection with certain restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards issued under our
Equity Incentive Plans:
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Maximum Number (or |
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Total Number of |
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Approximate Dollar |
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Shares (or Units) |
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Value) of Shares |
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Purchased as Part |
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(or Units) that May |
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Total Number of |
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of Publicly |
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Yet Be Purchased |
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Shares (or Units) |
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Average Price Per |
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Announced Plans of |
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Under the Plans or |
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Purchased(1) |
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Share (or Unit) |
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Programs |
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Programs |
January 1
January 31, 2008 |
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5,323 |
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|
$ |
0.00 |
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February 1 February 29, 2008 |
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650 |
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|
$ |
0.00 |
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|
|
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|
March 1
March 31, 2008 |
|
|
66,352 |
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$ |
14.54 |
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Total |
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72,325 |
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(1) |
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The shares included in the table above were repurchased either in connection with (i) our
exercise of the repurchase right afforded to us in connection with certain employee restricted
stock awards or (ii) the forfeiture of shares by an employee as payment of the minimum
statutory withholding taxes due upon the vesting of certain employee restricted stock and
restricted stock unit awards. |
For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the shares repurchased in connection with our
exercise of the repurchase right afforded to us upon the cessation of employment consisted of the
following:
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Total Number of |
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Average Price |
|
|
Shares Purchased |
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Per Share |
January 1
January 31, 2008 |
|
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5,323 |
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|
$ |
0.00 |
|
February 1 February 29, 2008 |
|
|
650 |
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|
$ |
0.00 |
|
March 1
March 31, 2008 |
|
|
16,800 |
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|
$ |
0.00 |
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Total |
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22,773 |
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The shares we repurchased in connection with the payment of minimum statutory withholding
taxes due upon the vesting of certain restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards were
repurchased at the then current fair market value of the shares. For the three months ended March
31, 2008, these shares consisted of the following:
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Total Number of |
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Average Price |
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Shares Purchased |
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Per Share |
January 1
January 31, 2008 |
|
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|
|
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|
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February 1 February 29, 2008 |
|
|
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|
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March 1
March 31, 2008 |
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49,552 |
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$ |
19.48 |
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Total |
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49,552 |
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47
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None
Item 5. Other Information
None
Item 6. Exhibits
The exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index attached hereto are filed or incorporated by
reference (as stated therein) as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
48
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
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comScore, Inc.
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/s/ John M. Green
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John M. Green |
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Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Duly Authorized Officer) |
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Date: May 15, 2008
49
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
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Exhibit |
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Number |
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Description |
3.1(1)
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Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (Exhibit 3.3) |
3.2(1)
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Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (Exhibit 3.4) |
31.1
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Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a 14(a) and Rule
15d 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
31.2
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|
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a 14(a) and Rule
15d 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
32.1
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|
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
32.2
|
|
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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(1) |
|
Incorporated by reference to the exhibits to the Registrants
Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, dated June 26, 2007
(No. 333-141740). The number given in parenthesis indicates the
corresponding exhibit number in such Form S-1. |
50