UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

For the quarterly period ended November 30, 2017

or

For the transition period from            to           

Commission File Number: 001-34992

 

SemiLEDs Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

+886-37-586788

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes ☒  No ☐

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

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 3,543,915 shares of common stock, par value $0.0000056 per share, outstanding as of January 8, 2018.

 

 

 

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SEMILEDS CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q for the Quarter Ended November 30, 2017

INDEX

 

 

 

 

 

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

SEMILEDS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands of U.S. dollars and shares, except par value)

 

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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SEMILEDS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands of U.S. dollars and shares, except per share data)

 

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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SEMILEDS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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SEMILEDS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

(In thousands of U.S. dollars and shares)

 

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SEMILEDS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

 

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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SEMILEDS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Business

SemiLEDs Corporation (“SemiLEDs” or the “parent company”) was incorporated in Delaware on January 4, 2005 and is a holding company for various wholly owned subsidiaries. SemiLEDs and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) develop, manufacture and sell high performance light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). The Company’s core products are LED components, as well as LED chips and lighting products. LED components have become the most important part of its business. A portion of the Company’s business consists of the sale of contract manufactured LED products. The Company’s customers are concentrated in a few select markets, including Taiwan, the United States and China.

As of November 30, 2017, SemiLEDs had five wholly owned subsidiaries. SemiLEDs Optoelectronics Co., Ltd., or Taiwan SemiLEDs, is the Company’s wholly owned operating subsidiary, where a substantial portion of the assets is held and located, and where a portion of our research, development, manufacturing and sales activities take place. Taiwan SemiLEDs owns a 100% equity interest in Taiwan Bandaoti Zhaoming Co., Ltd., formerly known as Silicon Base Development, Inc., which is engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and a substantial portion of marketing and sale of LED components, and where most of the Company’s employees are based.

SemiLEDs’ common stock began trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LEDS” on December 8, 2010 and was transferred to the NASDAQ Capital Market effective November 5, 2015 where it continues to trade under the same symbol.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation —The Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and applicable provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting. Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. Accordingly, these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on November 29, 2017. The unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of August 31, 2017 included herein was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date.

The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of November 30, 2017, the statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, the statement of changes in equity for the three months ended November 30, 2017, and the statements of cash flows for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016. The results for the three months ended November 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending August 31, 2018.

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business are dependent on, among other things, the Company’s ability to operate profitably, to generate cash flows from operations, and to pursue financing arrangements to support its working capital requirements.

The Company has suffered losses from operations of $4.3 million and $20.6 million, and used net cash in operating activities of $2.1 million and $3.4 million for the years ended August 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Gross profit on product sales was $82 thousand for the year ended August 31, 2017 and gross loss was $4.9 million for the year ended August 31, 2016. Loss from operations and net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended November 30, 2017 were $865 thousand and $60 thousand, respectively. Further, at November 30, 2017, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents was down to $3.4 million. These facts and conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. However, management believes that it has developed a liquidity plan, as summarized below, that, if executed successfully, should provide sufficient liquidity to meet the Company’s obligations as they become due for a reasonable period of time, and allow the development of its core business.

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While the Company's management believes that the measures described in the above liquidity plan will be adequate to satisfy its liquidity requirements for the twelve months after the date that the financial statements are issued, there is no assurance that the liquidity plan will be successfully implemented. Failure to successfully implement the liquidity plan may have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations and financial position, and may adversely affect its ability to continue as a going concern. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of recorded assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities or any other adjustments that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

Principles of Consolidation —The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of SemiLEDs and its consolidated subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated during consolidation.

Investments in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee but not a controlling financial interest, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are not consolidated. These investments are in joint ventures that are not subject to consolidation under the variable interest model, and for which the Company: (i) does not have a majority voting interest that would allow it to control the investee, or (ii) has a majority voting interest but for which other shareholders have significant participating rights, but for which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies. Under the equity method, investments are stated at cost after adding or removing the Company’s portion of equity in undistributed earnings or losses, respectively. The Company’s investment in these equity‑method entities is reported in the consolidated balance sheets in investments in unconsolidated entities, and the Company’s share of the income or loss of these equity‑method entities, after the elimination of unrealized intercompany profits, is reported in the consolidated statements of operations in equity in losses from unconsolidated entities. When net losses from an equity‑method investee exceed its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the investment is reduced to zero. The Company then suspends using the equity method to provide for additional losses unless the Company has guaranteed obligations or is otherwise committed to provide further financial support to the equity‑method investee. The Company resumes accounting for the investment under the equity method if the investee subsequently returns to profitability and the Company’s share of the investee’s income exceeds its share of the cumulative losses that have not been previously recognized during the period the equity method is suspended.

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Investments in entities that are not consolidated or accounted for under the equity method are accounted for using the cost method. Under the cost method, investments are reported at cost on the consolidated balance sheets in investments in unconsolidated entities, and dividend income, if any, received is reported in the consolidated statements of operations in equity in losses from unconsolidated entities.

If the fair value of an equity‑method or cost‑method investment declines below its respective carrying amount and the decline is determined to be other‑than‑temporary, the investment will be written down to its fair value.

Use of Estimates —The preparation of unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements on the basis that the Company will continue as a going concern, the collectibility of accounts receivable, inventory net realizable values, realization of deferred tax assets, valuation of stock-based compensation expense, the useful lives of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, the recoverability of the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and investments in unconsolidated entities, the fair value of acquired tangible and intangible assets, income tax uncertainties, provision for potential litigation costs and other contingencies. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and also on assumptions that it believes are reasonable. Management assesses these estimates on a regular basis; however, actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties —The Company is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s future financial position or results of operations, which risks and uncertainties include, among others: it has incurred significant losses over the past few years, any inability of the Company to compete in a rapidly evolving market and to respond quickly and effectively to changing market requirements, any inability of the Company to grow its revenue and/or maintain or increase its margins, it may experience fluctuations in its revenues and operating results, any inability of the Company to protect its intellectual property rights, claims by others that the Company infringes their proprietary technology, and any inability of the Company to raise additional funds in the future.

Concentration of Supply Risk —Some of the components and technologies used in the Company’s products are purchased and licensed from a limited number of sources and some of the Company’s products are produced by a limited number of contract manufacturers. The loss of any of these suppliers and contract manufacturers may cause the Company to incur transition costs to another supplier or contract manufacturer, result in delays in the manufacturing and delivery of the Company’s products, or cause it to carry excess or obsolete inventory. The Company relies on a limited number of such suppliers and contract manufacturers for the fulfillment of its customer orders. Any failure of such suppliers and contract manufacturers to perform could have an adverse effect upon the Company’s reputation and its ability to distribute its products or satisfy customers’ orders, which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Concentration of Credit Risk —Financial instruments that subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable.

The Company keeps its cash and cash equivalents in demand deposits with prominent banks of high credit quality and invests only in money market funds. Deposits held with banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. As of November 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017, cash and cash equivalents of the Company consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

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The Company’s revenues are substantially derived from the sales of LED products. A significant portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from a limited number of customers and sales are concentrated in a few select markets. Management performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral on accounts receivable. Management evaluates the need to establish an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated potential credit losses at each reporting period. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the management’s assessment of the collectibility of its customer accounts. Management regularly reviews the allowance by considering certain factors, such as historical experience, industry data, credit quality, age of accounts receivable balances and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay.

Net revenues generated from sales to the top ten customers represented 66% and 67% of the Company’s total net revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Company’s revenues have been concentrated in a few select markets, including Taiwan, the United States, and China (including Hong Kong). Net revenues generated from sales to customers in these markets, in the aggregate, accounted for 64% and 76% of the Company’s net revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Noncontrolling Interests —Noncontrolling interests are classified in the consolidated statements of operations as part of consolidated net income (loss) and the accumulated amount of noncontrolling interests in the consolidated balance sheets as part of equity. Changes in ownership interest in a consolidated subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control are accounted for as an equity transaction. If a change in ownership of a consolidated subsidiary results in loss of control and deconsolidation, any retained ownership interests are remeasured with the gain or loss reported in net earnings. On March 1, 2017, the 93% equity interest subsidiary, Ning Xiang was dissolved. The assets, liability and certain employees of Ning Xiang were merged into its holding company, Taiwan Bandaoti Zhaoming Co., Ltd. An amount of $46 thousand was paid for the acquisition of the Ning Xiang non-controlling interests. As a result of this payment, non-controlling interest in the Company was reduced to zero.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. The guidance provides clarity and reduces diversity in practice and cost and complexity when accounting for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. This standard will be effective for the Company on September 1, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This standard requires a financial asset (or group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. This standard will be effective for the Company on September 1, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which is intended to improve financial reporting on leasing transactions. This standard requires a lessee to record on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by lease terms of more than 12 months. This standard will be effective for the Company on September 1, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The

ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The FASB has subsequently issued multiple ASUs which amend and clarify the guidance. This standard will be effective for the Company on September 1, 2018. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements. Management has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on the Company’s ongoing financial reporting.

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3. Balance Sheet Components

Inventories

Inventories as of November 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

Inventory write-downs to estimated net realizable values were $206 thousand and $196 thousand for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment as of November 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets as of November 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

The Company sold 4 patents on October 25, 2017 for a total of $500 thousand.

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4. Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

The Company’s ownership interest and carrying amounts of investments in unconsolidated entities as of November 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017 consisted of the following (in thousands, except percentages):

 

 

There were no dividends received from unconsolidated entities through November 30, 2017.

Equity Method Investments

The Company owns a 49% equity interest in China SemiLEDs. However, this investment has a carrying amount of zero as a result of a previously recognized impairment.

Cost Method Investments

The fair values of the Company’s cost method investments are not readily available. All cost method investments are assessed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The Company recognized an other-than-temporary impairment loss of $352 thousand on our cost method investments in Intematix for the year ended August 31, 2017 based on the excess of the carrying amount over the estimated recoverable value. The recoverable value of the investment was determined based on the Company’s best estimate of the amount that could be realized from the investment, which considered the latest financial information.

5. Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Lease Agreements —The Company has several operating leases with unrelated parties, primarily for land, plant and office spaces in Taiwan, which include cancellable and noncancellable leases and which expire at various dates between February 2018 and December 2020. Lease expense related to these noncancellable operating leases were $112 thousand for both three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

The aggregate future noncancellable minimum rental payments for the Company’s operating leases as of November 30, 2017 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

Purchase Obligations —The Company had purchase commitments for inventory, property, plant and equipment in the amount of $1.5 million as of both November 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017.

Litigation —The Company is directly or indirectly involved from time to time in various claims or legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company recognizes a liability when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable. There is significant judgment required in assessing both the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome and whether the amount of loss, if any, can be reasonably estimated.

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On June 21, 2017, Well Thrive Ltd. (“Well Thrive”) filed a complaint against SemiLEDs Corporation in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint alleges that Well Thrive is entitled to return of $500 thousand paid toward a note purchase pursuant to a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) effective July 6, 2016 with Dr. Peter Chiou, which was assigned to Well Thrive on August 4, 2016. Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, we have retained the $500 thousand payment as liquidated damages. Well Thrive alleges that the liquidated damages provision is unenforceable as an illegal penalty and does not reflect the amount of purported damages.

Well Thrive and the Company are currently negotiating a mutual release agreement, but there can be no assurance if or when the agreement will be executed. 

Except as described above, as of November 30, 2017, there was no pending or threatened litigation that could have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

6. Stock-based Compensation

The Company currently has one equity incentive plan (the “2010 Plan”), which provides for awards in the form of restricted shares, stock units, stock options or stock appreciation rights to the Company’s employees, officers, directors and consultants. In April 2014, SemiLEDs’ stockholders approved an amendment to the 2010 Plan that increased the number of shares authorized for issuance under the plan by an additional 250 thousand shares. Prior to SemiLEDs’ initial public offering, the Company had another stock-based compensation plan (the “2005 Plan”), but awards are made from the 2010 Plan after the initial public offering. Options outstanding under the 2005 Plan continue to be governed by its existing terms.

A total of 521 thousand and 635 thousand shares was reserved for issuance under the 2005 Plan and 2010 Plan as of November 30, 2017 and 2016. As of November 30, 2017 and 2016, there were 255 thousand and 352 thousand shares of common stock available for future issuance under the equity incentive plans.

In March 2017, SemiLEDs granted 5 thousand restricted stock units to its directors that vest 100% on the earlier of March 31, 2018 and the date of the next annual meeting. The grant-date fair value of the restricted stock units was $3.18 per unit.

During fiscal 2016, SemiLEDs granted 8 thousand restricted stock units in April 2016 to its directors that vest 100% on the earlier of April 12, 2017 and the date of the next annual meeting. The grant-date fair value of the restricted stock units was $3.40 per unit.

The grant date fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires inputs including the market price of SemiLEDs’ common stock on the date of grant, the term that the stock options are expected to be outstanding, the implied stock volatilities of several of the Company’s publicly-traded peers over the expected term of stock options, risk-free interest rate and expected dividend. Each of these inputs is subjective and generally requires significant judgment to determine. The grant date fair value of stock units is based upon the market price of SemiLEDs’ common stock on the date of the grant. This fair value is amortized to compensation expense over the vesting term.

Stock-based compensation expense is recorded net of estimated forfeitures such that expense is recorded only for those stock-based awards that are expected to vest. A forfeiture rate is estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from initial estimates. A forfeiture rate of zero is estimated for stock-based awards with vesting term that is less than or equal to one year from the date of grant.

A summary of the stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

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7. Net Loss Per Share of Common Stock

The following stock-based compensation plan awards were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share of common stock for the periods presented because including them would have been anti-dilutive (in thousands of shares):

 

 

8. Income Taxes

The Company’s income (loss) before income taxes for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

As of both November 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits related to tax positions taken in prior periods. The Company files income tax returns in the United States, various U.S. states and certain foreign jurisdictions. The tax years 2005 through 2017 remain open in most jurisdictions. The Company is not currently under examination by income tax authorities in federal, state or foreign jurisdictions.

9. Subsequent Events    

As part of our cost reduction efforts, during the second quarter ending February 28, 2018, we intend to move and consolidate our LED packaging facility to our headquarters in Chunan, Taiwan, after the lease ends on February 28, 2018.  We estimate the total costs of moving the LED packaging facility would be $120 thousand.

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

Forward Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or this Quarterly Report, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report, including statements regarding the future results of operations of SemiLEDs Corporation, or “we,” “our” or the “Company,” and financial position, strategy and plans, and our expectations for future operations, including the execution of our restructuring plan and any resulting cost savings, are forward-looking statements. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “should,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “design,” “intend,” “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. These factors include, among other things,

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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. We have not assumed any obligation to, and you should not expect us to, update or revise these statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information on the significant risks that could affect the outcome of these forward-looking statements, see Item 1A “Risk Factors” in Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017, or the 2017 Annual Report, and those contained in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report, and other information provided from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon and should be read in conjunction with the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes and other information included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, in our 2017 Annual Report, and in other filings with the SEC.

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Company Overview

We develop, manufacture and sell light emitting diode (LED) chips and LED components. Our products are used for general lighting applications, including street lights and commercial, industrial, system and residential lighting. Our LED chips may also be used in specialty industrial applications, such as ultraviolet, or UV, curing of polymers, LED light therapy in medical/cosmetic applications, counterfeit detection, LED lighting for horticulture applications, architectural lighting and entertainment lighting.

Utilizing our patented and proprietary technology, our manufacturing process begins by growing upon the surface of a sapphire wafer, or substrate, several very thin separate semiconductive crystalline layers of gallium nitride, or GaN, a process known as epitaxial growth, on top of which a mirror-like reflective silver layer is then deposited. After the subsequent addition of a copper alloy layer and finally the removal of the sapphire substrate, we further process this multiple-layered material to create individual vertical LED chips.

We package our LED chips into LED components, which we sell to distributors and a customer base that is heavily concentrated in a few select markets, including Taiwan, the United States and China (including Hong Kong). We also sell our “Enhanced Vertical,” or EV, LED product series in blue, white, green and UV in selected markets. We sell our LED chips to packagers or to distributors, who in turn sell to packagers. Our lighting products customers are primarily original design manufacturers, or ODMs, of lighting products and the end ‑ users of lighting devices. We also contract other manufacturers to produce for our sale certain LED products, and for certain aspects of our product fabrication, assembly and packaging processes, based on our design and technology requirements and under our quality control specifications and final inspection process.

We have developed advanced capabilities and proprietary know-how in:

These technical capabilities enable us to produce LED chips and LED component products. We entered into a Foundry Services and Licensing Agreement with an ODM partner in December 2015 to assist us with the restructuring of our chips manufacturing operations. We granted our ODM partner a royalty-free, non-transferable, nonexclusive license to use our technology and intellectual property for internal use by the ODM partner’s employees at its facilities for the purpose of manufacturing, testing and supplying us its products. The ODM partner is working with us to enable it to ODM vertical chips for us using our vertical technology. We believe these capabilities, know-how and partnership should also allow us to reduce our manufacturing costs and our dependence on sapphire, a costly raw material used in the production of sapphire-based LED devices.

We were incorporated in the State of Delaware on January 4, 2005 and sold our first LED chips in November 2005. We are a holding company for various wholly and majority owned subsidiaries. SemiLEDs Optoelectronics Co., Ltd., or Taiwan SemiLEDs, is our wholly owned operating subsidiary, where a substantial portion of our assets are held and located, where a portion of our research, development, manufacturing and sales activities take place. Taiwan SemiLEDs owns a 100% equity interest in Taiwan Bandaoti Zhaoming Co., Ltd., formerly known as Silicon Base Development, Inc., which is engaged in the research, development, manufacture, and substantial portion of marketing and sale of LED products, and where most of our employees are based.

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Key Factors Affecting Our Financial Condition, Results of Operations and Business

The following are key factors that we believe affect our financial condition, results of operations and business:

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

There have been no material changes in the matters for which we make critical accounting policies and estimates in the preparation of our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2017 as compared to those disclosed in our 2017 Annual Report.

Exchange Rate Information

We are a Delaware corporation and, under SEC requirements, must report our financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP. At the same time, our subsidiaries use the local currency as their functional currency. For example, the functional currency for Taiwan SemiLEDs is the NT dollar. The assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries are, therefore, translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at each balance sheet date, and income and expense accounts are translated at average exchange rates during the period. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded to a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within equity. Any gains and losses from transactions denominated in currencies other than their functional currencies are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations as a separate component of other income (expense). Due to exchange rate fluctuations, such translated amounts may vary from quarter to quarter even in circumstances where such amounts have not materially changed when denominated in their functional currencies.

The translations from NT dollars to U.S. dollars were made at the exchange rates as set forth in the statistical release of the Bank of Taiwan. On November 30, 2017, the exchange rate was 30.00 NT dollars to one U.S. dollar. On January 8, 2018, the exchange rate was 29.50 NT dollars to one U.S. dollar.

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The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, information concerning the number of NT dollars for which one U.S. dollar could be exchanged.

 

 

No representation is made that the NT dollar or U.S. dollar amounts referred to herein could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars or NT dollars, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended November 30, 2017 Compared to the Three Months Ended November 30, 2016

 

 

Revenues, net

Our revenues decreased by 26% to $2.0 million for the three months ended November 30, 2017 from $2.7 million for the three months ended November 30, 2016. The decrease in revenues was driven primarily by a $600 thousand decrease in sales of LED components and a $100 thousand decrease in sales of lighting products.

Revenues attributable to the sales of our LED chips represented 4% and 6% of our revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decrease of 55% in revenues attributable to sales of LED chips was the result of a decrease in the volume of LED chips sold, primarily due to our strategic plan to place greater emphasis on the sales of LED components rather than the sales of LED chips.

Revenues attributable to the sales of our LED components represented 70% and 73% of our revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decrease in revenues attributable to sales of LED components was primarily due to lower volume sold for the LED components product, offset in part by an increase in the volume sold for the UV LED product, which we particularly focus on within the niche LED markets. We have adopted a strategy to adjust our product mix by exiting certain high volume but low unit selling price product lines in response to the general trend of lower average selling prices for products that have been available in the market for some time and to focus on the profitable products.

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Revenues attributable to the sales of lighting products represented 13% and 15% of our revenues for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Revenues attributable to the sales of lighting products were lower for the three months ended November 30, 2017 primarily due to a slowdown in demand on LED luminaries and fewer non-recurring project-based orders for LED lighting products, offset in part by a higher average selling price for the LED luminaries.

Cost of Revenues

Our cost of revenues decreased by 25% from $2.6 million for the three months ended November 30, 2016 to $2.0 million for the three months ended November 30, 2017. The decrease in cost of revenues was primarily due to the effect of our ongoing cost reduction efforts, a decrease in volume sold and decreases in depreciation expenses and idle capacity charges associated with property, plant and equipment.

Gross Profit

Our gross profit decreased from $116 thousand for the three months ended November 30, 2016 to $52 thousand for the three months ended November 30, 2017. The decrease as a consequence of the reduction in cost of revenues, as more fully described above.

Operating Expenses

 

 

Research and development.  Our research and development expenses were $184 thousand and $199 thousand for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in depreciation and amortization expense, and a decrease in payroll expense as a result of lower headcount.

Selling, general and administrative.  Our selling, general and administrative expenses decreased from $1.1 million for the three months ended November 30, 2016 to $733 thousand for the three months ended November 30, 2017. The decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease in payroll and stock based compensation, and decreases in various other expenses including professional service expenses.

Gain on disposal of long-lived assets.    We recognized a gain of $80 thousand on the disposal of long-lived assets for the three months ended November 30, 2016. Due to the excess capacity charges that we have suffered for a few years, considering the risk of technological obsolescence and according to the production plan built based on our sales forecast, we disposed of certain level of our idle equipment.

Other Income (Expenses)

 

 

Equity in loss from unconsolidated entities.  We sold all of our equity interest in SILQ in November 2016, and recognized a loss on sale of investment of $9 thousand for the three months ended November 30, 2016.

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Interest expenses, net.   The decrease in interest expenses, net was primarily due to the decrease in debt balance because of the continuous repayment of debt.

Other income, net.   Other income for the three months ended November 30, 2017 primarily consist of sales of patents offset by their commission expense and cost.  Other income for the three months ended November 30, 2016 primarily due to the favorable settlement of a lawsuit.

Foreign currency transaction loss, net.  We recognized net foreign currency transaction loss of $17 thousand and $51 thousand for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, primarily due to the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the NT dollar from bank deposits and accounts receivables held by Taiwan SemiLEDs and Taiwan Bandaoti Zhaoming Co., Ltd. in currency other than the functional currency of such subsidiaries.

Income Tax Expense

Our effective tax rate is expected to be approximately zero for fiscal 2018 and was zero for fiscal 2017, since Taiwan SemiLEDs incurred losses, and because we provided a full valuation allowance on all deferred tax assets, which consisted primarily of net operating loss carryforwards and foreign investment loss.

Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

 

 

We recognized net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of $6 thousand for the three months ended November 30, 2016, which was attributable to the share of the net losses of Ning Xiang held by the remaining noncontrolling holders. On March 1, 2017, the 93% equity interest subsidiary, Ning Xiang was dissolved. The assets, liability and certain employees of Ning Xiang were merged into its holding company, Taiwan Bandaoti Zhaoming Co., Ltd. An amount of $46 thousand was paid for the acquisition of the Ning Xiang non-controlling interests. As a result of this payment, non-controlling interest in the Company was reduced to zero.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of November 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of $3.4 million and $3.6 million, respectively, which were predominately held in U.S. dollar denominated demand deposits and/or money market funds.

As of January 8, 2018, we had no available credit facility.

Our long-term debt, which consisted of NT dollar denominated long-term notes, totaled $2.6 million and $2.7 million as of November 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017, respectively. These long-term notes carry interest rate of 1.62%, based on the annual time deposit rate plus a specific spread, as of both November 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017, are payable in monthly installments, and are secured by our property, plant and equipment. These long-term notes do not have prepayment penalties or balloon payments upon maturity.

Property, plant and equipment pledged as collateral for our notes payable were $4.5 million and $4.6 million as of November 30, 2017 and August 31, 2017, respectively.

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We have incurred significant losses since inception, including net losses attributable to SemiLEDs stockholders of $4.1 million and $21.3 million during the years ended August 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Net cash used in operating activities for the year ended August 31, 2017 was $2.1 million. As of August 31, 2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of $3.6 million. We have undertaken actions to decrease losses incurred and implemented cost reduction programs in an effort to transform the Company into a profitable operation.

Based on our current financial projections and assuming the successful implementation of our liquidity plans, we believe that we will have sufficient sources of liquidity to fund our operations and capital expenditure plans for the next 12 months. However, there can be no assurances that our planned activities will be successful in reducing losses and preserving cash. If we are not able to generate positive cash flows from operations, we may need to consider alternative financing sources and seek additional funds through public or private equity financings or from other sources, or refinance our indebtedness, to support our working capital requirements or for other purposes. There can be no assurance that additional debt or equity financing will be available to us or that, if available, such financing will be available on terms favorable to us. Please see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” for more information on our liquidity plans.

Cash Flows

The following summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated has been derived from our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report (in thousands):

 

 

Cash Flows Used In Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities for the three month ended November 30, 2017 and 2016 was $60 thousand and $1.1 million, respectively. The cash flows used in operating activities for the three months ended November 30, 2017 was $1.1 million lower, primarily due to a decrease in cash used to pay for salary-related expenses due to the reduction of employees. In addition, a decrease in cash used to pay for materials and supplies used in production and research and development reflecting the effect of cost reduction.

Cash Flows Used In Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended November 30, 2017 was $93 thousand, consisting of $94 thousand in purchases of machinery and equipment, offset by a $1 thousand in proceeds from the sale of assets.

Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended November 30, 2016 was $28 thousand, consisting of $69 thousand in purchase of machinery and equipment and payment for development of intangible assets, offset by a $41 thousand in proceeds from the sale of investment in SILQ.

Cash Flows Used In Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016 was for repayments on long-term debt.

Capital Expenditures

We had capital expenditures of $94 thousand and $68 thousand for the three months ended November 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Our capital expenditures consisted primarily of the purchases of machinery and equipment, construction in progress, prepayments for our manufacturing facilities and prepayments for equipment purchases. We expect to continue investing in capital expenditures in the future as we expand our business operations and invest in such expansion of our production capacity as we deem appropriate under market conditions and customer demand. However, in response to controlling capital costs and maintaining financial flexibility, our management continues to monitor prices and, consistent with its existing contractual commitments, may decrease further its activity level and capital expenditures as appropriate.

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of November 30, 2017, we did not engage in any off-balance sheet arrangements. We do not have any interests in variable interest entities.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not applicable.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer, or CEO, and our chief financial officer, or CFO, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of November 30, 2017. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.

Based upon the aforementioned evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that, as of November 30, 2017, our disclosure controls and procedures are designed at a reasonable assurance level and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, 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 quarter ended November 30, 2017 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

Due to the complex technology required to compete successfully in the LED industry, participants in our industry are often engaged in significant intellectual property licensing arrangements, negotiations, disputes and litigation. We are directly or indirectly involved from time to time and may be named in various other claims or legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business or otherwise.

On June 21, 2017, Well Thrive Ltd. (“Well Thrive”) filed a complaint against SemiLEDs Corporation in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint alleges that Well Thrive was entitled to return of $500 thousand paid toward a note purchase pursuant to a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) effective July 6, 2016 with Dr. Peter Chiou, which was assigned to Well Thrive on August 4, 2016. Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, we retained the $500 thousand payment as liquidated damages. Well Thrive alleged that the liquidated damages provision was unenforceable as an illegal penalty and did not reflect the amount of purported damages.

Well Thrive and the Company are currently negotiating a mutual release agreement, but there can be no assurance if or when the agreement will be executed. 

Except as described above, there was no material pending legal proceedings or claims as of November 30, 2017.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There are no material changes related to risk factors from the risk factors described in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in Part I of our 2017 Annual Report.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

Repurchases

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

 

 

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