ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Company Overview
We have been a leading supplier of innovative signal processing and digital communications technology for imaging and telecommunications applications since the early 1990s. Presently, our active business operations are focused on: i) biometrics and imaging software and services; and ii) Digital Subscriber Line (“DSL”) service assurance software and services.
Biometrics & Imaging. Our biometrics software products leverage imaging and biometrics technologies developed by Aware over the past 20 years. We sell a broad range of software products that are used in biometric systems worldwide for fingerprint, facial, and iris modalities. Primary applications of biometrics systems include law enforcement, border control, secure credentialing, national defense, access control, and background checks.
Our products provide interoperable, standards-compliant, field-proven biometric functionality and are used to capture, verify, format, compress and decompress biometric images as well as aggregate, analyze, process and transport those images around biometric systems. We also offer software engineering services to customers who require assistance with the design and development of biometric solutions. Specific services may involve customization of our software, installation services, or complete system development depending on customer needs and requirements. We also sell software products for medical and digital imaging applications based upon industry standards such as JPEG 2000 and JPIP.
We sell our biometrics software products and services to a large number of customers. We reach these customers through three principal channels of distribution: i) a systems integrator channel; ii) an OEM channel; and iii) directly to end-users, such as governments, their agencies, and corporate customers.
Sales of biometrics and imaging software and services represented 76% of our total revenue in 2012.
DSL Service Assurance. Our DSL service assurance products leverage DSL technologies developed by Aware since the early 1990s. Our DSL expertise has been acquired as a result of: i) our involvement in the design of DSL chipsets for more than a decade; ii) our involvement in the design and development of DSL hardware products; and iii) our participation in the development of DSL standards at the International Telecommunications Union. Telephone companies use DSL service assurance solutions to deliver high quality video and triple play services. Aware’s DSL service assurance solutions benefit from our Dr. DSL® Expert Technology, which leverages Aware’s deep DSL knowledge.
Our principal DSL service assurance product is our Line Diagnostics Platform (“LDP”) product. LDP is an advanced DSL diagnostics and performance optimization solution that lets broadband service providers manage their DSL networks more effectively. Service providers use Aware’s centralized LDP software to reduce DSL operational costs, extend service reach and improve the quality of their premium triple-play services. Aware’s LDP solution puts essential DSL test and management tools into a single, multi-vendor compatible platform for use by customer care and network operations teams as well as field technicians. We sell LDP directly to telephone companies.
Sales of DSL service assurance software and services represented 13% of our total revenue in 2012.
Prior to November 2009, we were a supplier of DSL silicon intellectual property to the semiconductor industry. We continue to receive royalties from two customers that use our DSL silicon IP in their DSL chipsets. DSL royalties represented 11% of our total revenue in 2012.
In 2012, we engaged in business activities, including patent monetization and the shutdown of our DSL service assurance hardware business, which had a significant impact on our financial results. We have not included any discussion of these activities in this Item 1, because we do not consider them to be an active or important part of our on-going business operations nor do they require a significant portion of our resources. These activities and their financial impact on 2012 have been described more fully in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
We have research and development activities underway to expand our product offerings and develop new technologies in biometrics and imaging as well as DSL service assurance applications.
We are headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts. Our telephone number is (781) 276-4000, and our website is www.aware.com. Incorporated in Massachusetts in 1986, we employed 73 people as of December 31, 2012. Our stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol AWRE.
Our website provides a link to a third-party website through which our annual, quarterly and current reports, and amendments to those reports, are available free of charge. We believe these reports are made available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with, or furnish them to, the SEC. We do not maintain or provide any information directly to the third-party website, and we are not responsible for its accuracy. You may also access our various SEC filings and reports at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Industry Background
Biometrics Industry Background. Biometric identification systems are used as a means to identify individuals for a variety of government and commercial security applications, such as law enforcement, national defense, border control, secure credentialing, access control and background checks. In the past, ink-based fingerprint cards were used to capture and analyze fingerprint images. The emergence of digital fingerprint acquisition devices, compression, and standardized biometric transaction/interchange formats in the 1990s enabled biometrics systems to identify individuals much faster and more accurately. Ink-based fingerprint cards are still used today, but are now being digitally scanned into biometric systems. Biometric matching systems are also capable of utilizing additional biometric modalities, such as iris and facial images, either in place of or in conjunction with fingerprints.
Biometrics applications generally operate on client/server-based computer networks. Enrollment workstations with peripheral capture devices are used to “enroll” individuals into biometrics systems. Either fixed enrollment workstations or mobile devices are used to capture, process, and format biometric images and then transport them in digital form to centralized matching systems for identification. Examples of capture peripherals include scanners for fingerprint images, cameras for iris and facial images, and handheld devices for mobile capture of fingerprint, iris, and facial images.
The substantial increase in computer processing power-for-price along with the development of technologies that facilitate ease of capture of high-quality biometric information have created a foundation for growing use of biometrics in both government and commercial security applications. The emergence and adoption of international biometrics standards has encouraged more participants in the market, enabling more modular and flexible solutions as opposed to “monolithic” solutions sourced from a single, large company.
The most established application for biometrics is law enforcement, where federal, state and local law enforcement agencies perform fingerprint enrollment and submission to automated fingerprint identification systems (“AFIS”). Law enforcement is expected to continue to present opportunities for vendors of biometrics products in the next several years.
Over the past decade, legislation has been introduced in a number of countries which mandates increased security. This legislation has driven many government programs that require the use of biometric information in applications such as e-passports, visas and personal identification cards. For example, personal identity verification (“PIV”) and other secure credentialing systems are being employed by U.S. government agencies to standardize federal employee and contractor IDs. Such systems are used to control access to government facilities and information systems.
There is also an increase in use of biometrics for border management applications, such as performing background checks on visa applicants and checking biometric watch lists as part of the customs process at international airports. The use of biometrics for background checks in regulated segments of the financial, transportation and healthcare industries has also increased. As biometric security systems gain acceptance in new areas, and as infrastructure build-outs take hold, new opportunities are emerging for biometrics solution suppliers. The biometrics market is also expected to grow as the performance of emerging biometric modalities improves.
Biometrics industry participants may be segmented into three broad categories: i) companies that provide biometric hardware and/or software solutions; ii) system integrators that bring together biometric hardware and software solutions from a variety of vendors to deliver customized biometrics systems for government and commercial customers; and iii) companies that provide biometric hardware and software solutions and are also systems integrators.
Examples of industry participants that function primarily as providers of biometrics hardware and/or software solutions include: i) Aware, Inc.; ii) Cross Match Technologies, Inc.; iii) Green Bit S.p.A.; iv) Suprema, Inc.; v) Cognitec Systems GmbH; vi) Iris ID Systems, Inc.; and vii) Iritech, Inc.
Examples of industry participants that function primarily as systems integrators include: i) Northrop Grumman Corporation; ii) Lockheed Martin Corporation; iii) Science Applications International Corporation; iv) Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Services; v) International Business Machines; vi) Fujitsu Limited; vii) Computer Science Corporation; vii) BAE Systems; viii) Accenture plc; ix) Raytheon Company; and x) Unisys Corporation.
Examples of industry participants that function as biometrics hardware and software solutions providers as well as systems integrators include: i) Safran Morpho, a division of the Safran Group Company; iii) 3M Cogent Inc.; and iii) NEC Corporation.
The end users of biometrics systems are typically local, state and federal governments and their agencies. To a lesser extent, end user customers also include commercial customers who use biometric systems primarily for access control and background checks.
DSL Service Assurance Industry Background. DSL technology allows telecommunications service providers to offer broadband services over their installed copper access networks. Today there are approximately 400 million DSL subscribers worldwide. With the recent deployment of new higher rate DSL technologies, such as ADSL2+ and VDSL2, service providers can increase average revenue per user by deploying new services based on these technologies. One of the more popular of these services is triple-play voice, data and Internet Protocol television (“IPTV”).
These new services tend to be more demanding on service providers, because they require higher quality network performance and stability. A DSL subscriber line capable of supporting basic internet applications may be unable to support triple-play services because of line impairments or other disturbers that can result in sporadic service problems, degraded picture quality and dissatisfied customers. As a result, service providers are looking for enhanced DSL service assurance tools for proactive maintenance and responsive troubleshooting of their networks. DSL service assurance tools may be categorized into hardware and software solutions.
Hardware solutions. There are two principal types of DSL service assurance equipment.
1.
Broadband Test Probes (also known as “testheads”) - Testheads are deployed by service providers in centralized locations, such as central offices or node-based equipment cabinets. This equipment allows them to provision or troubleshoot DSL service remotely from these central locations, which reduces the cost of sending technicians into the field.
2.
DSL Test Sets - Test sets are handheld devices that are used by technicians in the field to test and diagnose problems at customer premise locations.
DSL service assurance testhead and test set products are available from a number of suppliers, including Alcatel-Lucent (“Alcatel”); Spirent Communications PLC; Tollgrade Communications, Inc.; JDS Uniphase Corporation (“JDSU”); Sunrise Communications, Inc.; Fluke Corporation; NCI Technologies, Inc.; Exfo Inc.; and Kurth Electronic GmbH.
Software solutions. DSL service assurance software is software that resides in a service provider’s central network. This software makes use of service providers’ installed access network elements, such as Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers (“DSLAMs”) and customer premises equipment. Its purpose is to deliver DSL diagnostics and performance information that is used by customer care, technical support and network planning organizations to manage their DSL networks.
DSL service assurance software products are available from four principal suppliers, including Aware, Inc.; Alcatel; Ericsson LM Telephone Company; and Assia, Inc.
Aware Biometrics and Imaging Products and Services
Biometrics Software Products and Services
We supply a broad range of biometrics software products for fingerprint, facial, and iris modalities. Our products capture, verify, format, compress and decompress biometric images as well as aggregate, analyze, process and transport those images around biometric systems. Our software products are used in applications for border control, law enforcement, national defense, secure credentialing, access control, and background checks. We sell software maintenance contracts along with our software products. Software maintenance allows customers to receive: i) technical support; and ii) software updates if and when they are available.
We also offer engineering services to customers who require assistance with the design and development of biometric solutions. Specific services may involve customization of our software, installation services, or complete system development depending on customer needs and requirements.
We have four categories of biometrics software products that range from discrete software blocks that customers use to develop their own solutions to more complete applications that customers can use to reduce or eliminate their development times. Once customers sell systems that make use of these software products, they pay us software license fees based on the number of systems they sell.
The four categories of our biometrics software products are described below:
i)
Software Development Kits. Software development kits or (“SDKs”) consist of multiple software libraries, sample applications that show customers how to use the libraries, and documentation. Customers use our SDKs to design their own applications using our libraries. We consider these products to be commercial off-the-shelf (“COTS”) products because they are ready-made products not customized by us for any particular customer. Our SDK products and the functions they perform are:
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Products for hardware abstraction, autocapture, and quality assurance:
a)
FastCapture with LiveScan API;
b)
PreFace with Camera API;
c)
IrisCheck with IrisCam API;
d)
SequenceCheck; and
e)
Quality Check.
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Products for biometric data formatting, validation and reading according to ANSI/NIST, ISO/IEC, INCITS, ICAO, FIPS 201, and other U.S. and international standards:
a)
NISTPack;
b)
ICAOPack;
c)
PIVPack; and
d)
M1Pack.
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Products for compression and decompression of fingerprint and facial images:
a)
Aware WSQ; and
b)
Aware JPEG2000.
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Products for biometric authentication:
a)
AwareXM; and
b)
BioLog.
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Products for scanning and printing of fingerprint cards:
a)
AccuScan; and
b)
AccuPrint.
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Products for mobile devices:
a)
NISTPack Mobile
b)
ICAOPack Mobile
c)
PIVPack Mobile; and
d)
AwareXM Mobile.
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Bundles of products for specific applications:
a)
CaptureSuite - for capture of either live scan or card scan fingerprint images;
b)
PIVSuite - for registration, identity proofing, and ID card personalization, issuance, and reading; and
c)
ICAOSuite - for biometric and biographic enrollment, e-passport personalization and reading, and fingerprint verification.
ii)
Software components. Our software component products each include a user interface and one or more software libraries that perform a discrete set of functions. Software components allow customers to develop biometric applications more quickly than using our SDKs. Our set of products in this category is called BioComponents. BioComponents comprises modular, independent, self-contained software components that can operate either independently or in concert with each other performing a specific biometric task. Each biometric capture component has its own configurable user interface, and performs all tasks and workflows required for capture, hardware abstraction, and quality assurance.
iii)
Biometric applications. Our products in this category combine a user interface with multiple Aware software libraries into more complete biometrics applications. Our application products and the functions they perform are:
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Universal Registration Client (“URC”). URC is a configurable Windows-based application that performs a variety of biometric data capture, analysis, matching, formatting, and hardware abstraction functions.
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URC Mobile. URC Mobile is a software application for performing biometric enrollment, identification, and screening on mobile biometric devices, such as those used by military personnel in the field.
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FormScannerSE and FormScannerMB. These are two independent applications for scanning and processing of inked fingerprint cards.
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FormScannerSWFT. This product is a version of FormScannerSE that is preconfigured for use in compliance with the “Secure Web Fingerprint Transmission” program of the U.S. Department of Defense.
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Forensic Workbench. Forensic Workbench is a software application for the categorization, processing, and standards-compliant formatting of biometric images and demographic data.
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WebEnroll. WebEnroll provides a reference application with applets for browser-based enrollment of biographic data, fingerprints, and facial images.
iv)
Server-based solutions. Our product in this category is called Biometrics Services Platform or BioSPTM. This product is used to build and deploy server-based biometric data processing and workflow solutions. BioSP supports the collection of biometric images from a distributed network, and the subsequent aggregation, analysis, processing and integration of this data into larger systems.
Imaging Software Products
We also sell products used in applications involving medical and advanced imaging.
Medical Imaging Products. Aware provides modular, off-the-shelf, software products that enable healthcare IT systems with advanced, high-performance processing, distribution, and display of medical images and data. Our products are designed to be used by system integrators and solution providers to enhance their offerings with advanced medical imaging features and capabilities. Our medical imaging products include:
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AccuRad™ ImageShare Server is a software application that provides fast, efficient, and versatile viewing of medical images. We offer software modules that target specific applications, including:
o
WebView - for efficient distribution and browser-based viewing of radiological images.
o
XDS-1 - for efficient distribution and browser-based viewing of radiological images in compliance with the Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise profile for cross-enterprise document sharing.
o
Pathology - for efficient distribution and browser-based viewing of pathology images, which are extremely large.
o
Direct - for distribution of web links to images in secure, Direct emails, and subsequent distribution and browser-based viewing of radiology or pathology images.
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AccuRad REM Server collects radiation exposure estimation data, and then stores and analyzes the data as it becomes available to calculate exposure information near real-time.
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AccuRad SDKs provide optimized, standards-compliant implementations of JPEG 2000 image compression standards.
Advanced Imaging Products. Aware also provides the following imaging products:
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ArchivePack is used by libraries to store and distribute large digital imagery, such as are found in historical archives. Aware technology enables images to be compressed for efficient storage and viewed remotely and efficiently over networks.
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SeisPact is used by the oil exploration industry for the efficient storage and satellite transmission of seismic data from ships.
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Aware’s JPEG 2000 image compression software may be used for a wide variety of applications where compression and decompression of still imagery is required.
Aware DSL Service Assurance Products
Aware’s DSL service assurance software solutions are used by telecommunication service providers and telecom hardware and software suppliers to improve the rate, reach and quality of DSL services. Aware’s diagnostics and management software has been deployed on DSL subscriber lines around the world.
Aware’s DSL service assurance solutions benefit from our Dr. DSL® Expert Technology which leverages Aware’s deep DSL knowledge. Our DSL expertise has been acquired as a result of: i) our involvement in the design of DSL chipsets for more than a decade; ii) our involvement in the design and development of DSL hardware products; and iii) our participation in the development of DSL standards at the International Telecommunications Union.
Our principal DSL service assurance product is our Line Diagnostics Platform (“LDP”) software product, which incorporates our core Dr. DSL technology. LDP is an advanced DSL diagnostics and performance optimization solution that lets broadband service providers manage their DSL networks more effectively. Service providers use Aware’s centralized LDP software to reduce DSL operational costs, extend service reach and improve the quality of their premium triple-play services. Aware’s LDP solution puts essential DSL test and management tools into a single, multi-vendor compatible platform for use by customer care and network operations teams as well as field technicians.
Aware’s Strategy
Aware’s principal strategy is to sell software products and services that deliver a strong value proposition to our customers. We have decades of experience in the biometrics, imaging and DSL industries; a broad technology foundation in signal processing image processing and communications; and long-standing relationships with channel partners and end users.
Key elements of our strategy include:
Product development strategy. Our product strategy is to develop high quality, full-featured software products that leverage our technological strengths in signal processing, image processing and communications. We identify applications where we can exploit these technologies to develop innovative products that meet the needs of our customers. To date, this strategy has resulted in three principal product lines: i) biometrics, ii) imaging, and iii) DSL service assurance.
Biometric product line. Our biometrics product line includes products that are used to biometrically identify individuals for applications such as law enforcement, border control, national defense, secure credentialing, access control, and background checks.
Imaging product line. Our imaging product line includes products that are used to compress, decompress, distribute and display images for applications such as medical imaging and digital archiving.
DSL service assurance product line. Our DSL service assurance product line includes software products that are used by service providers to pre-qualify, provision, and troubleshoot their DSL networks.
Product sales strategy. Our product sales strategy is to employ an approach that relies on a combination of channel partners and direct sales. The sales approach used in any given sales situation depends on the circumstances of the opportunity.
Biometric product line. Our biometrics products are primarily sold through an OEM channel to hardware and software solutions suppliers and through a systems integrator channel. These two channels have given us broad exposure to the global biometrics market. When the sales situation calls for a direct approach, we also sell our biometrics products directly to end-users, such as government agencies, branches of the military, and corporate customers.
Imaging product line. Our imaging products are primarily sold to OEM suppliers who bundle our software products into their hardware products.
DSL service assurance product line. To date, our DSL service assurance software products have been primarily sold directly to DSL services providers and OEM suppliers.
Services strategy. Our services strategy is to offer engineering services to customers whenever we can help them derive the greatest value from their investment in our software products. Services projects may take several forms including: i) development projects in which we use our expertise to build complete applications for customers based on our software products; ii) customization services in which we customize our software products to meet customer specifications and requirements; or iii) installation services. One of our key strategic objectives is to continue to grow the services portion of our business, particularly in our biometrics product line.
Biometrics product line growth strategy. We intend to grow our biometrics business through a combination of: i) investments in our internal engineering and sales staff to develop and sell new and enhanced products; and/or ii) investments in biometrics software companies to acquire products and technology we do not currently own. We will only make internal and external investments if we believe the cost is reasonable relative to the potential revenue growth such investments may produce. In the short run, these investments may cause the profitability of our biometrics business to decline.
Research and Development
Our research and development activities are focused primarily on improving our core technologies and products for our biometrics, medical imaging, and DSL service assurance product lines. As of December 31, 2012, we had an engineering staff of 46 employees, representing 63% of our total employee staff.
Our biometrics and imaging engineering activities are focused on improving software product functionality and broadening our exposure to biometrics, medical and imaging applications. During 2012, we further improved the functionality of our SDKs, components, and applications, as well as in our BioSP server-based software platform. We also introduced new biometrics software products, including FormScannerSWFT. We also introduced new medical imaging products, including AccuRad ImageShare Server software modules.
Our DSL service assurance engineering activities involve improving the functionality of our software products to support service provider requirements for service qualification, line diagnostics, network monitoring and performance optimization of advanced DSL services. During 2012, we focused on improvements to our LDP software platform for DSL test and diagnostic applications.
During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, research and development expenses charged to operations were $5.7 million, $5.3 million, and $5.9 million, respectively. In addition, because we provide engineering development services to our customers, a portion of our total engineering costs has been allocated to cost of services. We expect that we will continue to invest substantial funds in research and development activities.
Sales and Marketing
As of December 31, 2012, we had a total of 15 employees in our sales and marketing organization. Of this total, 10 were focused on selling biometrics and imaging software products and services; 4 were focused on selling DSL service assurance products; and 1 was engaged in corporate marketing activities.
All of our revenue in 2012, 2011, and 2010 was derived from unaffiliated customers.
Our sales and marketing strategy varies by product line as follows:
Biometrics - We sell our biometrics software products and services to a large number of customers. We reach these customers through three principal channels of distribution:
i)
Systems integrator channel - we sell to systems integrators that incorporate our products into biometrics systems that are delivered primarily to government end users.
ii)
OEM channel - we sell to hardware and software solution providers that incorporate our products into their hardware and software products. Their products are generally sold to systems integrators or government end users.
iii)
Direct channel - we also sell directly to governments and their agencies, as well as commercial customers.
No single biometrics customer represented more than 10% of our total revenue in 2012, 2011, or 2010.
Medical & Advanced Imaging - We sell our medical and advanced imaging products primarily through an OEM channel to hardware and software solution providers and through a systems integrator channel. No single medical & imaging customer represented more than 10% of our total revenue in 2012, 2011, or 2010.
DSL Service Assurance - We sell our DSL service assurance software products either: i) through an OEM channel to hardware and/or software solution providers; or ii) directly to telephone companies.
No single DSL service assurance software customer represented more than 10% of our total revenue in 2012, 2011 or 2010.
Competition
The markets for our biometrics and imaging software products and services are competitive and uncertain. We compete against: i) other companies that provide biometric software solutions; and ii) fully diversified companies that provide biometric software solutions and also act as systems integrators. We can give no assurance that: i) our products and services will succeed in the market; ii) that we will be able to compete effectively; or iii) that competitive pressures will not seriously harm our business.
The markets for our DSL service assurance software products are competitive and uncertain. We compete against several competitors that have dedicated more resources to this market than we have. Our success depends upon our ability to market and sell our LDP software product to service providers and systems integrators in sufficient volumes to support our business. We can give no assurance that: i) LDP will succeed in the market; ii) that we will be able to compete effectively; or iii) that competitive pressures will not seriously harm our business.
Many of our biometrics, imaging and DSL service assurance competitors have significantly greater financial, technological, marketing and personnel resources than we do. We can give no assurance that our customers will continue to purchase products from us or that we will be able to compete effectively in obtaining new customers to grow our business.
Patents and Intellectual Property
We rely on a combination of nondisclosure agreements and other contractual provisions, as well as patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright law to protect our proprietary rights. We have an active program to protect our proprietary technology through the filing of patents. As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately 103 U.S. and foreign patents, and approximately 88 pending patent applications pertaining to communications and signal processing technologies, including DSL service assurance, biometrics imaging, and medical imaging compression.
Although we have patented certain aspects of our technology, we rely primarily on trade secrets to protect our intellectual property. We attempt to protect our trade secrets and other proprietary information through agreements with our customers, suppliers, employees and consultants, and through security measures. Each of our employees is required to sign a non-disclosure and non-competition agreement. Although we intend to protect our rights vigorously, we cannot assure you that these measures will be successful. In addition, effective intellectual property protection may be unavailable or limited in certain foreign countries.
Third parties may assert exclusive patent, copyright and other intellectual property rights to technologies that are important to us. From time to time, we receive claims from third parties suggesting that we may be obligated to license such intellectual property rights. If we were found to have infringed any third party’s patents, we could be subject to substantial damages or an injunction preventing us from conducting our business.
Employees
At December 31, 2012, we employed 73 people, including 46 in engineering, 15 in sales and marketing, and 12 in finance and administration. Of these employees, 71 were based in Massachusetts. None of our employees is represented by a labor union. We consider our employee relations to be good.
We believe that our future success will depend in large part on the service of our technical, sales, marketing and senior management personnel and upon our ability to retain highly qualified technical, sales and marketing and managerial personnel. We cannot assure you that we will be able to retain our key managers and employees or that we will be able to attract and retain additional highly qualified personnel in the future.
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Some of the information in this Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue” and similar words. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they: (1) discuss our future expectations; (2) contain projections of our future operating results or financial condition; or (3) state other “forward-looking” information. However, we may not be able to predict future events accurately. The risk factors listed in this section, as well as any cautionary language in this Form 10-K, provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations we describe in our forward-looking statements. You should be aware that the occurrence of any of the events described in these risk factors and elsewhere in this Form 10-K could materially and adversely affect our business. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
GENERAL BUSINESS RISKS
Our Quarterly Results are Unpredictable and May Fluctuate Significantly
Our quarterly revenue and operating results are difficult to predict and may fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter due to the unpredictably of our revenue components.
Software license revenue. It is difficult for us to make accurate forecasts of software license revenue, because sales of software licenses fluctuate based upon demand by our customers, which is difficult to predict. We generally deliver customer orders as we receive them, and, therefore, we have no meaningful backlog of orders.
Services revenue. It is difficult for us to predict when we will enter into services contracts with customers and when we will deliver the related services under those contracts.
Royalty revenue. It is also difficult for us to make accurate forecasts of DSL chipset royalty revenue. Royalties depend upon customer revenues which can be affected by factors beyond our ability to control or assess in advance. These factors include our customers’ ability to generate sales and fluctuating sales volumes and prices of products containing our technology.
Our business is subject to a variety of risks, which could materially adversely affect quarterly and annual operating results, including:
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market acceptance of our products;
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fluctuations in the demand for our products,
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reduced government funding of biometrics programs by the United States and foreign governments;
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competitive pressures resulting in lower revenue;
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the loss of a significant OEM or system integrator customer relationship;
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the loss by one of our OEM customers of one of its significant customers;
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the termination of a significant services project by a customer;
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announcements or introductions of new technologies or products by us or our competitors;
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delays or problems in the introduction or performance of enhancements or of future generations of our products;
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failures or problems in our software products;
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pricing pressure from our competitors in the markets in which we compete;
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delays in the adoption of new industry standards or changes in market perception of the value of new or existing standards;
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personnel changes, particularly those involving engineering, technical, sales and marketing personnel;
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costs associated with protecting our intellectual property;
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the potential that customers could fail to make payments under their agreements with us;
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new laws, changes to existing laws, or regulatory developments; and
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general economic trends and other factors.
As a result of these factors, we believe that period-to-period comparisons of our revenue levels and operating results are not necessarily meaningful. You should not rely on our quarterly revenue and operating results to predict our future performance.
We Continue to Receive DSL Chipset Royalty Revenue; However Future Royalty Revenue May Decline Because of Factors That Are Beyond Our Control
We sold substantially all of the assets associated with our DSL chipset licensing product line to Lantiq Deutschland GmBH (“Lantiq”) in 2009. Under the terms of our agreements with Lantiq, we continue to receive royalties for DSL chipsets Lantiq sells. We also continue to derive royalties from Ikanos Communications, Inc. (“Ikanos”) as our Ikanos agreement remained in effect after the sale to Lantiq. Future royalties we may receive from Lantiq and Ikanos are influenced by factors that are beyond our control, including:
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The willingness of Lantiq and Ikanos to continue to offer DSL chipsets that incorporate our intellectual property;
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The competitiveness of DSL chipsets offered by Lantiq and Ikanos and the willingness of their customers to purchase DSL chipsets from them;
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The promotional and marketing efforts of Lantiq and Ikanos; and
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DSL market risks in general, including: i) industry wide chipset demand; and ii) competitive pressures and cyclical demand for DSL chipsets, which may result in reduced average selling prices and channel inventory build-up.
Any or all of these factors may cause our royalty revenue to decline in the future.
Our Business is Subject to Rapid Technological Change
The biometrics, imaging, and DSL service assurance industries are characterized by rapid technological change and uncertainty. In these industries, new generations of products are introduced regularly and evolutionary improvements to existing products are required. Therefore, we face risks that others could introduce competing technologies and products that render our technologies and products less desirable or obsolete. Also, the announcement of new technologies and products could cause: i) our customers to delay purchasing our products; or ii) our customers’ customers to delay purchasing OEM products that incorporate our products. Either of these events could seriously harm our business.
We expect that our business will depend to a significant extent on our ability to introduce new generations of products as well as new technologies and products that keep pace with changes in these industries. We must continually devote significant engineering resources to achieving technical innovations and product developments. These developments are complex and require long development cycles. Moreover, we may have to make substantial investments in technological innovations and product developments before we can determine their commercial viability. We may lack sufficient financial resources to fund future development. Revenue from technological innovations, even if successfully developed, may not be sufficient to recoup the costs of development.
Our Intellectual Property is Subject to Limited Protection
Because we are a technology provider, our ability to protect our intellectual property and to operate without infringing the intellectual property rights of others is critical to our success. We regard our technology as proprietary. Our patent portfolio includes approximately 103 U.S. and foreign patents as well as approximately 88 pending patent applications. We also rely on a combination of trade secrets, copyright and trademark law and non-disclosure agreements to protect our unpatented intellectual property. Despite these precautions, it may be possible for a third party to copy or otherwise obtain and use our technology without authorization.
We typically work closely with our customers, who may also be potential competitors, and provide them with proprietary know-how. Although our agreements contain non-disclosure provisions and other terms protecting our proprietary know-how and technology rights, it is possible that, despite these precautions, some of our customers might obtain from us proprietary information that they could use to compete with us in the marketplace. Although we intend to defend our intellectual property as necessary, the steps we have taken may be inadequate to prevent misappropriation.
In the future, we may be involved in legal action to enforce our intellectual property rights relating to our patents, copyrights or trade secrets. Any such litigation could be costly and time-consuming for us, even if we were to prevail. Moreover, even if we are successful in protecting our proprietary information, our competitors may independently develop technologies substantially equivalent or superior to our technology. The misappropriation of our technology or the development of competitive technology could seriously harm our business.
Our technology and software may infringe the intellectual property rights of others. A large and increasing number of participants in the technology industry, including companies known as non-practicing entities or NPEs, have applied for or obtained patents. Some of these patent holders have demonstrated a readiness to commence litigation based on allegations of patent infringement. Third parties may assert patent, copyright and other intellectual property rights to technologies that are important to our business. From time to time, we receive claims from other companies that our technology infringes their patent rights. Intellectual property rights can be uncertain and can involve complex legal and factual questions. We may infringe the proprietary rights of others, which could result in significant liability for us. If we were found to have infringed any third party’s patents, we could be subject to substantial damages or an injunction preventing us from conducting our business.
Our Ability to Obtain or Enforce Patents Could be Affected by New Laws, Regulations or Rules
We have an active program to protect our proprietary technology through the filing of additional patents. New laws, regulations or rules implemented either by Congress, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, foreign patent offices, or the courts that impact the patent application process, the patent enforcement process or the rights of patent holders could significantly increase our expenses related to patents.
Our Business May Be Adversely Affected By Our Use of Open Source Software
The software industry is making increasing use of open source software in the development of products. We also integrate certain open source software components from third parties into our software. Open source licenses may require that the software code in those components or the software into which they are integrated be freely accessible under open source terms. While we take precautions to protect open source software, we cannot exclude the possibility that third-party claims may require us to make freely accessible under open source terms a product of ours or non-Aware software upon which we depend. If we were required to make our software freely available, our business could be seriously harmed.
Our Business May Be Affected by Government Regulations
Extensive regulation by federal, state, and foreign regulatory agencies could adversely affect us in ways that are difficult for us to predict. In addition, our business may also be adversely affected by: i) the imposition of tariffs, duties and other import restrictions on goods and services we purchase from non-domestic suppliers; or ii) by the imposition of export restrictions on products we sell internationally. Changes in current or future laws or regulations, in the United States or elsewhere, could seriously harm our business.
Adverse Economic Conditions Could Harm Our Business
Unfavorable changes in economic conditions, including recessions, inflation, turmoil in financial markets, or other changes in economic conditions, could harm our business, results of operations, and financial conditions as a result of:
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reduced demand for our products or our customers’ products that incorporate our technology;
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increased risk of order cancellations or delays;
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increased pressure on the prices for our products or our customers’ products that incorporate our technology;
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greater difficulty in collecting accounts receivable; and
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risks to our liquidity, including the possibility that we might not have access to our cash when needed.
We are unable to predict the timing, duration, and severity of any such adverse economic conditions in the U.S. and other countries, but the longer the duration, the greater the risks we face in operating our business.
We Must Make Judgments in the Process of Preparing Our Financial Statements
We prepare our financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and certain critical accounting policies that are relevant to our business. The application of these principles and policies requires us to make significant judgments and estimates. In the event that our judgments and estimates differ from actual results, we may have to change them, which could materially affect our financial position and results of operations.
Moreover, accounting standards have been subject to rapid change and evolving interpretations by accounting standards setting organizations over the past few years. The implementation of new standards requires us to interpret and apply them appropriately. If our current interpretations or applications are later found to be incorrect, our financial position and results of operations could be materially affected.
If We are Unable to Maintain Effective Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting, Investors Could Lose Confidence In The Reliability of Our Financial Statements, Which Could Result In a Decline in the Price of Our Common Stock
As a public company, we are required to enhance and test our financial, internal and management control systems to meet obligations imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Consistent with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC, management’s assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting and the audit opinion of our independent registered accounting firm as to the effectiveness of our controls is required in connection with our filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. If we are unable to identify, implement and conclude that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting or if our independent auditors are unable to conclude that our internal controls over financial reporting are effective, investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which could result in a decrease in the value of our common stock. Our assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting may also uncover weaknesses or other issues with these controls that could also result in adverse investor reaction.
Our Stock Price May Be Extremely Volatile
Volatility in our stock price may negatively affect the price you may receive for your shares of common stock and increases the risk that we could be the subject of costly securities litigation. The market price of our common stock has fluctuated substantially and could continue to fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including:
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quarterly fluctuations in our operating results;
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changes in future financial guidance that we may provide to investors and public market analysts;
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changes in our relationships with our customers;
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announcements of technological innovations or new products by us, our customers or our competitors;
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changes in the growth rates of the markets in which we participate as well as investor perceptions regarding the investment opportunity that companies participating in the those markets afford them;
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changes in earnings estimates by public market analysts;
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key personnel losses;
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sales of our common stock;
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our stock repurchase activities;
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corporate actions we may initiate, such as spin-offs or other corporate reorganizations; and
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developments or announcements with respect to industry standards, patents or proprietary rights.
In addition, the equity markets have experienced volatility that has particularly affected the market prices of equity securities of many high technology companies and that often has been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of such companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
BIOMETRICS & IMAGING PRODUCT LINE RISKS
Our Biometrics & Imaging Product Line Faces Intense Competition
The markets for our biometrics and imaging products and services are competitive and uncertain.
In recent years there has been consolidation in the biometrics industry that has resulted in three large companies that provide biometrics software and hardware products as well as system integration services. Aware and its partners must compete against these competitors who have significantly greater financial, technological, marketing and personnel resources than we do.
We also face intense competition from internal development teams within potential customers and from low cost competitors in developing and other foreign countries. We must convince potential customers to purchase products and services from us rather than develop software or perform services internally. Furthermore, customers who have already purchased from us may choose to stop purchasing our software and develop their own software.
In addition, announcements or introductions of new technologies or products by our competitors may adversely affect our business.
Biometrics & Imaging Software Business Risks
Our biometrics and imaging software business is subject to a variety of additional risks, which could materially adversely affect our revenue and operating results, including:
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market acceptance of our biometric and imaging technologies and products;
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changes in contracting practices of government or law enforcement agencies;
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the failure of the biometrics and imaging markets to continue to grow;
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delays or problems in the introduction or performance of enhancements or of future generations of our products;
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reduced government funding of biometrics programs by the United States and foreign governments;
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low cost products from competitors in developing and other foreign countries;
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failures or problems in our biometrics and imaging software products;
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delays in the adoption of new industry biometric standards or changes in market perception of the value of new or existing standards;
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growth of proprietary biometric systems which do not conform to industry standards;
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competitive pressures resulting in lower software product revenues;
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the availability of free open source software that competes with our software products;
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personnel changes, particularly those involving engineering, technical and sales and marketing personnel;
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the ability to identify and hire qualified engineering, technical and sales and marketing personnel;
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costs associated with protecting our intellectual property;
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litigation by third parties for alleged infringement of their proprietary rights;
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the potential that customers could fail to make payments under their current contracts;
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new laws, changes to existing laws, or regulatory developments; and
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general economic trends and other factors.
Biometrics Services Business Risks
Our biometrics services business is subject to additional risks, which could materially adversely affect our revenue and operating results, including:
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our ability to structure and price engineering services contracts in a manner that is consistent with our business model;
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our ability to structure ourselves to successfully bid on U.S. government contracts and meet the requirements of U.S. contracting rules and regulations;
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our ability to deliver contract milestones: i) in a timely and cost efficient manner, and ii) in a form and condition acceptable to customers;
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the risk that customers could terminate projects; and
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the potential that customers could fail to make payments under their service contracts.
DSL SERVICE ASSURANCE PRODUCT LINE RISKS
Our Success as a Supplier of DSL Service Assurance Software Products Depends on Our Ability to Sell Our Line Diagnostics Product to DSL Service Providers
Our two principal DSL service assurance software products are: i) our Line Diagnostics Platform (“LDP”) product; and ii) our Dr. DSL product. We believe that our success as a supplier of DSL service assurance software depends on our ability to sell our LDP software product to DSL service providers. If we fail to sell LDP in sufficient volumes by obtaining new DSL service providers or maintaining current customer relationships, our business could be seriously harmed.
Our DSL Service Assurance Software Products, and LDP in Particular, Face Intense Competition
The DSL service assurance market into which we sell our DSL service assurance software products is competitive. In particular, we face intense competition from several competitors who compete against our LDP product. These competitors have more mature product offerings, larger market shares, and larger sales organizations than we do. Our ability to effectively compete against these competitors and others who may enter the market depends in large part on our ability:
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to develop our LDP product so that it can compete against product offerings from Alcatel, Assia, and others;
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to market and sell LDP to DSL service providers;
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to scale LDP so that it operates effectively in DSL service provider networks; and
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to provide effective customer service and support.
We can give no assurance that we will be able to compete effectively in this market or that competitive pressures will not seriously harm our business.
There Are a Limited Number of Customers to Which We Can Sell Our DSL Service Assurance Software Products, Therefore Our Success Depends on a Small Number of Customers
There are a relatively limited number of DSL service providers to which we can sell our LDP software product in a manner consistent with our business model. Such customers are limited to telephone company service providers who: i) maintain DSL networks and ii) wish to use software solutions instead of hardware solutions to maintain those networks. Once a service provider decides to adopt a DSL service assurance software product from a supplier, they generally deploy that one solution instead of multiple solutions from multiple vendors thereby reducing the possibility of future sales to that customer. In addition, our current and prospective service provider customers may use their superior size and bargaining power to demand terms that are unfavorable to us.
There is also a limited number of OEM suppliers to which we can sell our Dr. DSL software. If we fail to maintain relationships with our current OEM customers or fail to establish relationships with new customers, our business could be seriously harmed. In addition, our current and prospective OEM customers may use their superior size and bargaining power to demand terms that are unfavorable to us.
The Success of Our DSL Service Assurance Software Products, and LDP in Particular, Depends On Our Ability to Develop Commercially Viable Products in a Timely Fashion
Our success in developing and introducing new and enhanced DSL service assurance products depends on the ability of our engineering organization to design and develop such products. Because of the complexity of our software products, it may take us a significant amount of time to develop new products. Moreover, such products must be commercially viable in terms of their features and pricing. If we cannot successfully introduce new commercially viable products on a timely basis, our business could be seriously harmed.
If Our DSL Service Assurance Software Products Have Other Quality Problems, Our Business Could Be Harmed
If our DSL service assurance software products have actual or perceived reliability, quality, functionality or other problems, we may suffer reduced orders, inability to recognize revenue, delays in collecting accounts receivable, higher service costs, and higher support and related costs among other effects. We believe that the acceptance, timely delivery and customer satisfaction of our DSL service assurance software products is important to our future financial results. As a result, any inability to correct any technical, reliability, or other difficulties or to deliver our products on a timely basis meeting customer requirements could damage our relationships and reputation with current and prospective customers, which would harm our revenues and operating results.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We believe that our existing facilities are adequate for our current needs and that additional space sufficient to meet our needs for the foreseeable future will be available on reasonable terms. We currently occupy approximately 72,000 square feet of office space in Bedford, Massachusetts, which serves as our headquarters. This site is used for our research and development, sales and marketing, and administrative activities. We own this facility.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time we are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our business. We are not party to any lawsuit or proceeding that, in our opinion, is likely to seriously harm our business.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock is the only class of stock we have outstanding, and it trades on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol AWRE. The following table sets forth the high and the low sales prices of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market for the periods indicated from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012.
As of February 7, 2013, we had approximately 116 shareholders of record. This number does not include shareholders from whom shares were held in a “nominee” or “street” name. We paid no dividends in 2011. In 2012, we paid a special cash dividend of $1.15 per share on May 25, 2012 and another special cash dividend of $1.80 per share on December 17, 2012. We anticipate that we will continue to reinvest any earnings to finance future operations although we may also pay additional special cash dividends if our board of directors deems it appropriate.
We did not sell any equity securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 during the three months ended December 31, 2012.
Stock Performance Graph
The following stock performance graph compares the performance of Aware’s cumulative stockholder return with that of a broad market index, the Nasdaq Composite Index, and a published industry index, the RDG Technology Composite Index. The cumulative stockholder returns for shares of Aware’s common stock and for the market and industry indices are calculated assuming $100 was invested on December 31, 2007. Aware paid no cash dividends in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. In 2012, we paid special cash dividends of $2.95 per share. The performance of the market and industry indices is shown on a total return, or dividend reinvested, basis.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Aware, Inc., the NASDAQ Composite Index, and the RDG Technology Composite Index
*$100 invested on 12/31/07 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal year ending December 31.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated financial and operating data set forth below with respect to our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are derived from the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The data for fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 are derived from previously filed consolidated financial statements after giving effect to discontinued operations. The data set forth below should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” our historical consolidated financial statements, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements, which can be found in Item 7
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth, for the years indicated, certain line items from our consolidated statements of comprehensive income stated as a percentage of total revenue:
Summary of Operations
Presently, our active business operations are focused on: i) biometrics and imaging software and services; and ii) Digital Subscriber Line (“DSL”) service assurance software and services.
Biometrics & Imaging. Our biometrics products consist of software and services used in biometric systems, and our imaging products consist of software used primarily in medical imaging applications. Biometrics systems are used in applications such as law enforcement, border control, national defense, secure credentialing, access control and background checks. We typically sell our biometrics software and services to: i) systems integrators that incorporate our software products into biometrics systems that they are developing on behalf of their customers; ii) OEMs that incorporate our products into their biometrics hardware and software solutions; and iii) directly to government agencies that are deploying biometrics systems. Our imaging software is primarily sold to OEMs and systems integrators that incorporate our software into their medical and imaging products.
DSL Service Assurance. Our DSL service assurance products consist of DSL software products that are used by telephone companies to improve the quality of their DSL service offerings. We sell our DSL service assurance software products through OEMs and directly to telephone companies.
Other Activities in 2012. In addition to our core biometrics and imaging and DSL service assurance business, there were four other business activities that affected our financial results in 2012:
i)
Prior to November 2009, we were a supplier of DSL silicon intellectual property to the semiconductor industry. We continue to receive royalties from two customers that use our DSL silicon IP in their DSL chipsets. Such royalties represented 11% of our total revenue in 2012.
ii)
During 2012 we executed on a strategy to monetize a significant portion of our patent portfolio that was unrelated to our biometrics and DSL service assurance product lines. In 2011, we engaged an intellectual property law firm to help us conduct a process to sell these patents. The process produced two significant patent sales for a total of $86.4 million of net gains in 2012. The two patent sales are described below:
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On April 26, 2012, we entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated third party to sell a portion of our patent portfolio pertaining to wireless technology for $75.0 million. The proceeds from the sale were reduced by $3.8 million of transaction costs, which consisted primarily of fees from the law firm that assisted us in the sale. The transaction closed on June 21, 2012 and resulted in a gain of $71.2 million.
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On August 22, 2012, we entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated third party to sell a portion of our patent portfolio pertaining to digital subscriber line (“DSL”) technology for $16.0 million. The proceeds from the sale were reduced by $0.8 million of transaction costs, which also consisted primarily of fees from the law firm that assisted us in the sale. The transaction closed on September 21, 2012 and resulted in a gain of $15.2 million
The majority of the remaining patents in our patent portfolio pertain to our biometrics and imaging and DSL service assurance software product lines. At the current time, we do not intend to pursue patent monetization alternatives for these patents. We believe that the wireless and DSL patent sales in 2012 will have no material impact on our biometrics and imaging and DSL service assurance software product lines.
iii)
In December 2010, we entered into an arrangement with an unaffiliated third party under which we assigned certain patents in return for royalties on proceeds from patent monetization efforts by the third party. In December 2012, we received a royalty statement from this entity and recorded $1.1 million of income on a separate line of the consolidated statements of comprehensive income entitled “Income from patent arrangement.”
Based on information provided to us by the third party, we may receive additional income from this arrangement in the first quarter of 2013. We estimate that income could be in the range of $400,000 to $800,000 depending on a variety of factors. Beyond the first quarter of 2013, we are unable to predict how much more income we might receive from this arrangement, if any, because we do not know whether any patent monetization efforts by the third party will be successful.
iv)
In January 2012, our Board of Directors approved the shutdown of our DSL service assurance hardware product line which was previously a component of our DSL Service Assurance Segment. During 2012, we completed the shutdown and determined that we will no longer have any significant continuing involvement with or cash flows from this product line. Accordingly, the results of our DSL service assurance hardware product line have been reported as discontinued operations.
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to the DSL service assurance hardware product line was (in thousands):
Summary of Financial Results
For the year ended December 31, 2012, we had net income of $72.3 million, or $3.28 per share. For the year ended December 31, 2011, we had net income of $2.6 million, or $0.12 per share. For the year ended December 31, 2010, we had net income of $180,000, or $0.01 per share.
2012 compared to 2011. The increase in net income in 2012 compared to 2011 was primarily due to significant patent related income we received in 2012. Excluding patent related income, operating income increased by $1.0 million from $3.3 million in 2011 to $4.3 million in 2012. The $1.0 million increase was primarily due to: i) increased revenue and profitability in our biometrics and imaging business; and ii) lower general and administrative expenses, which were partially offset by higher losses in our DSL service assurance software business. Net income also benefited from the shutdown of our discontinued DSL service assurance hardware business which produced a net gain of $0.4 million in 2012 as compared to a loss of $0.8 million in 2011.
2011 compared to 2010. The increase in net income in 2011 compared to 2010 was primarily attributable to: i) significantly higher revenue and profitability in our biometrics and imaging business; and ii) lower general and administrative expenses. Increased profitability related to these sources was partially offset by: i) higher losses in our DSL service assurance software business; ii) higher losses in our discontinued DSL service assurance hardware business; and iii) a decline in other income.
Software Licenses
Software licenses were previously included as a component of a revenue category we called “Product Sales.” Software licenses consist of revenue from the sale of software licenses for biometrics and imaging, and DSL service assurance applications.
Software license revenue increased 9% from $10.3 million in 2011 to $11.3 million in 2012. As a percentage of total revenue, software license revenue increased from 53% in 2011 to 57% in 2012. The dollar increase in software license revenue was primarily due to a $1.7 million increase in revenue from the sale of biometrics and imaging software, which was offset by $0.7 million decrease in revenue from the sale of DSL service assurance software.
The $1.7 million increase in revenue from the sale of biometrics and imaging software licenses was primarily due to increased sales of biometrics software products. The increase in biometrics product sales was primarily due to the following factors: i) license purchases by legacy and new system integrator customers for large projects in which they were engaged; ii) a large direct sale to a U.S. government agency; iii) the addition of new sales representatives; and iv) the expanded use of non-employee sales agents outside the United States. We also believe that our license sales may be benefitting from recent consolidation in the biometrics industry that has left relatively few U.S. suppliers of biometrics software. We believe the U.S. government and its agencies would prefer to procure biometrics software from U.S. based and owned suppliers, if feasible, because of national security concerns.
The $0.7 million decrease in DSL service assurance software license revenue was primarily due to lower license revenue from several telecom suppliers that use our core Dr. DSL technology in their products, and, to a lesser degree, lower sales of our LDP software product.
Software license revenue decreased 1% from $10.4 million in 2010 to $10.3 million in 2011. As a percentage of total revenue, software license revenue decreased from 61% in 2010 to 53% in 2011. The dollar decrease in software license revenue was primarily due to a $1.0 million decrease in revenue from the sale of DSL service assurance software, which was partially offset by a $0.9 million increase in revenue from the sale of biometrics and imaging software.
The $1.0 million decrease in DSL service assurance software license revenue was primarily due to lower sales of our LDP software. In 2010, we closed two LDP sales transactions with telephone companies and recognized a majority of the revenue from those agreements in 2010. While we recognized some additional revenue from one of the 2010 sales transactions in 2011, there were no new significant sales of LDP software in 2011. The $0.9 million increase in revenue from the sale of biometrics and imaging software was primarily due to a number of larger-sized license transactions with OEMs, systems integrators and end users in 2011.
Software Maintenance
Software maintenance was previously included as a component of a revenue category we called “Product Sales.” Software maintenance consists of revenue from the sale of software maintenance contracts for biometrics and imaging, and DSL service assurance software. Software maintenance contracts entitle customers to receive software support and software updates if and when they become available.
Software maintenance revenue increased 25% from $2.7 million in 2011 to $3.4 million in 2012. As a percentage of total revenue, software maintenance revenue increased from 14% in 2011 to 17% in 2012. The dollar increase in software maintenance revenue was primarily due to a $0.5 million increase in revenue from biometrics and imaging maintenance contracts, and a $0.2 million increase in revenue from DSL service assurance maintenance contracts.
The $0.5 million increase in revenue from biometrics and imaging maintenance contracts was primarily due to: 1) higher software license sales in 2012 which generally included the purchase of software maintenance; and 2) renewals of maintenance contracts sold in years prior to 2012. The $0.2 million increase in revenue from DSL service assurance maintenance contracts was primarily due to the commencement of a maintenance contract with an LDP software customer in the fourth quarter of 2011, which resulted in a full year of maintenance revenue in 2012 versus one quarter in 2011.
Software maintenance revenue increased 33% from $2.0 million in 2010 to $2.7 million in 2011. As a percentage of total revenue, software maintenance revenue increased from 12% in 2010 to 14% in 2011. The dollar increase in software maintenance revenue was primarily due to a $0.6 million increase in revenue from biometrics and imaging maintenance contracts, and a $0.1 million increase in revenue from DSL service assurance maintenance contracts.
The $0.6 million increase in revenue from biometrics and imaging maintenance contracts was primarily due to: 1) higher software license sales in 2011 which generally included the purchase of software maintenance; and 2) renewals of maintenance contracts sold in years prior to 2011. The $0.1 million increase in revenue from DSL service assurance maintenance contracts was primarily due to maintenance revenue from two LDP telephone company customers who purchased LDP software in 2010.
Services
Services primarily consist of engineering service fees related to: i) our biometrics and imaging product line; ii) our DSL service assurance software product line; and iii) a legacy DSL silicon contract.
Services decreased 30% from $4.3 million in 2011 to $3.0 million in 2012. As a percentage of total revenue, services decreased from 22% in 2011 to 15% in 2012. The dollar decrease in services revenue was primarily due to a $1.1 million decrease in revenue from biometrics services, and a $0.2 million decrease in revenue from DSL service assurance services.
The $1.1 million decrease in revenue from biometrics services in 2012 was primarily due to lower services revenue from two larger customers. One customer project ended in late 2011 and produced little revenue in 2012 after a significant amount of revenue in 2011. The other customer project wound down over the course of 2012 and resulted in significantly less revenue in 2012 compared to 2011 when the project was most active. Services revenue derived from all other customers in 2012 and 2011 was approximately similar in both years. While we are attempting to grow our biometrics services business, we are unable to predict whether services revenue will trend upward or downward in future periods because forecasting the timing of the receipt of new customer service contracts and when the related services will be delivered is difficult.
The $0.2 million decrease in revenue from DSL service assurance services was primarily due to lower service revenue from LDP customers who required engineering customization, and lower services revenue from our legacy DSL silicon customer that we include in our DSL service assurance business.
Services increased 116% from $2.0 million in 2010 to $4.3 million in 2011. As a percentage of total revenue, services increased from 12% in 2010 to 22% in 2011. The services dollar increase was primarily due to a $2.6 million increase in revenue from biometrics services, which was partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in service revenue from a patent licensing customer. The $2.6 million increase in revenue from biometrics services was primarily due to revenue we derived from two large customers as well as the growth of our services business with other commercial and government customers.
Royalties
Royalties consist of royalty payments we receive under DSL silicon contracts with Ikanos Communications, Inc. (“Ikanos”) and Lantiq Deutschland GmbH (“Lantiq”) for the right to incorporate our silicon IP in their DSL chipsets. The sale of our DSL silicon IP assets in 2009 did not alter the royalty obligations of these two customers to continue to make royalty payments.
Royalties were essentially unchanged at approximately $2.15 million in 2011 and 2012. As a percentage of total revenue, royalties were also unchanged at 11% in 2011 and 2012. Unchanged royalty revenue reflects higher DSL royalties from Lantiq that were offset by lower DSL royalties from Ikanos.
Royalties decreased 19% from $2.7 million in 2010 to $2.1 million in 2011. As a percentage of total revenue, royalties decreased from 15% in 2010 to 11% in 2011. The dollar decrease in royalties was due to a decrease in DSL royalties reported by Lantiq.
We are uncertain as to whether our two DSL IP licensees will be able to maintain sales of DSL chipsets that incorporate our DSL IP or whether they will continue to sell products that incorporate our DSL IP. Accordingly, we are unable to predict whether royalties will increase or decrease in future periods, although we believe that it is more likely that they will decrease than increase.
Cost of Services
Cost of services consists of engineering costs to complete customer engineering projects. Such costs primarily include: i) engineering salaries, stock-based compensation, fringe benefits, and facilities; and ii) engineering consultants and contractors.
Cost of services decreased 5% from $1.8 million in 2011 to $1.7 million in 2012. As a percentage of services revenue, cost of services increased from 41% in 2011 to 56% in 2012, which resulted in gross margins on service revenue decreasing from 59% to 44%. The $0.1 million decrease in cost of services was primarily due to: i) unchanged cost of services in our biometrics services business; and ii) a $0.1 million decrease in cost of services in our DSL service assurance business.
The $0.1 million decline in cost of services in our DSL service assurance business is commensurate with a $0.2 million decline in DSL service assurance revenue. Unchanged cost of services in our biometrics business on a $1.1 million decline in biometrics service revenue reflects higher costs per dollar of service revenue. Generally, the gross margin on a services contract is a function of: i) the nature of the project; ii) the level of engineering difficulty and cost to achieve contract milestones; and iii) how much we are able to charge for those milestones. The composition of service revenue in 2012 included customer projects that possessed characteristics that were not as profitable as those we delivered in 2011.
Cost of services increased 149% from $0.7 million in 2010 to $1.8 million in 2011. As a percentage of services revenue, cost of services increased from 36% in 2010 to 41% in 2011, which resulted in gross margins on service revenue decreasing from 64% to 59%. The $1.1 million increase in cost of services was primarily due to: i) $1.1 million increase in cost of services in our biometrics services business; and ii) unchanged cost of services on unchanged service revenue in our DSL service assurance business.
The $1.1 million increase in biometrics cost of services was primarily due to a $2.6 million increase in biometrics service revenue. The decrease in gross margins on service revenue was due to a greater proportion of services provided to government customers that have slightly lower margins than commercial customers in 2011 as compared to 2010.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense consists of costs for: i) engineering personnel, including salaries, stock-based compensation, fringe benefits, and facilities; ii) engineering consultants and contractors, and iii) other engineering expenses such as supplies, equipment depreciation, dues and memberships and travel. Engineering costs incurred to develop technology, products and patents related to our various product lines are classified as research and development expense. As described in the cost of services section, engineering costs incurred to provide engineering services for customer projects are classified as cost of services, and are not included in research and development expense.
The classification of total engineering costs to research and development expense and cost of services was (in thousands):
Research and development expense increased 9% from $5.3 million in 2011 to $5.7 million in 2012. As a percentage of total revenue, research and development expense increased from 27% in 2011 to 29% in 2012. The $0.4 million research and development expense was primarily due to: i) a $0.4 million increase in spending in our biometrics engineering organization, and ii) unchanged spending in our DSL service assurance engineering organization. Higher biometrics spending is primarily due to headcount growth in its engineering organization. As revenue and customer opportunities have grown in our biometrics business, we have hired additional engineers to keep up with that growth.
It should also be noted that in 2012 and 2011, we allocated approximately equal levels of engineering expenses to cost of services. Therefore, the change in research and development expense in 2012 compared to 2011 was not materially affected by the allocation of engineering resources between our internal development projects and customer service projects.
Research and development expense decreased 10% from $5.9 million in 2010 to $5.3 million in 2011. As a percentage of total revenue, research and development expense decreased from 34% in 2010 to 27% in 2011. As the table above indicates, total engineering costs increased by $0.5 million, which was primarily due to contractor and material costs incurred for a biometrics government services contract. Notwithstanding the increase in total engineering costs, research and development expense declined by $0.6 million. This decrease was primarily due to how we deployed our engineering resources in 2011. In 2011, our total engineering costs were $7.1 million, of which we classified $5.3 million to research and development cost and $1.8 million to cost of services based on the time spent on each activity. In 2010, our total engineering costs were $6.6 million, of which we classified $5.9 million to research and development cost and $0.7 million to cost of services. Therefore, the reduction of research and development expense in 2011 was primarily due to a greater deployment of engineering resources on customer services projects in the current year as compared to the previous year.
Our research and development activities are focused primarily on developing biometrics and imaging software; and DSL service assurance software.
Selling and Marketing Expense
Selling and marketing expense primarily consists of costs for: i) sales and marketing personnel, including salaries, sales commissions, stock-based compensation, fringe benefits, travel, and facilities; and ii) advertising and promotion expenses.
Selling and marketing expense increased 4% from $4.1 million in 2011 to $4.3 million in 2012. As a percentage of total revenue, selling and marketing expense increased from 21% in 2011 to 22% in 2012. The $0.2 million increase in selling and marketing expense was primarily due to expense growth in our biometrics sales organization for new sales employees, foreign sales agents and sales commissions. Expense increases from biometrics sales were partially offset by lower sales expenses in our DSL service assurance sales organization.
Selling and marketing expense increased 6% from $3.9 million in 2010 to $4.1 million in 2011. As a percentage of total revenue, selling and marketing expense decreased from 23% in 2010 to 21% in 2011. The $0.2 million increase in selling and marketing expense primarily reflects slightly higher sales expenses in our biometrics sales organization which was partially offset by lower sales expenses in our DSL service assurance sales organization.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense consists primarily of costs for: i) officers, directors and administrative personnel, including salaries, bonuses, director compensation, stock-based compensation, fringe benefits, and facilities; ii) professional fees, including legal and audit fees; iii) public company expenses; and iv) other administrative expenses, such as insurance costs and bad debt provisions.
General and administrative expense decreased 23% from $5.0 million in 2011 to $3.9 million in 2012. As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expense decreased from 26% in 2011 to 19% in 2012. The dollar decrease in general and administrative expense was primarily due to: i) $0.8 million of lower salary, severance, stock-based compensation and consulting expenses related to our former CEO; ii) $0.5 million of lower expenses related to our former Chairman whose expenses were classified as sales and marketing expense commencing in the fourth quarter of 2011 when his title and role changed; and iii) and $0.1 million of lower stock-based compensation expenses for other members of senior management and our administrative staff. Lower general and administrative expenses related to these three factors were partially offset by: i) $0.2 million of higher third party accounting fees to assist us with the tax accounting on gains on patent asset sales; and ii) $0.1 million of higher other administrative expenses.
General and administrative expense decreased 22% from $6.4 million in 2010 to $5.0 million in 2011. As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expense decreased from 38% in 2010 to 26% in 2011. The dollar decrease in general and administrative expense was mainly attributable to: i) lower legal fees related to patents and patent monetization activities of $1.0 million; ii) lower compensation expenses for directors and officers of $0.8 million; and iii) other administrative spending decreases of $0.2 million. These spending decreases were partially offset by $0.6 million of severance costs paid in 2011 to our former CEO upon his departure from the company.
Gain on Sale of Patent Assets
In 2011, we engaged an intellectual property law firm to help us conduct a process to sell a portion of our patent portfolio pertaining to wireless and certain DSL patents. The process produced two significant patent sales for a total of $86.4 million of net gains in 2012. The two patent sales are described below:
●
On April 26, 2012, we entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated third party to sell a portion of our patent portfolio pertaining to wireless technology for $75.0 million. The proceeds from the sale were reduced by $3.8 million of transaction costs, which consisted primarily of fees from the law firm that assisted us in the sale. The transaction closed on June 21, 2012 and resulted in a gain of $71.2 million.
●
On August 22, 2012, we entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated third party to sell a portion of our patent portfolio pertaining to digital subscriber line (“DSL”) technology for $16.0 million. The proceeds from the sale were reduced by $0.8 million of transaction costs, which also consisted primarily of fees from the law firm that assisted us in the sale. The transaction closed on September 21, 2012 and resulted in a gain of $15.2 million.
The majority of the remaining patents in our patent portfolio pertain to our biometrics and imaging and DSL service assurance software product lines. At the current time, we do not intend to pursue patent monetization alternatives for these patents.
Income from Patent Arrangement
In December 2010, we entered into an arrangement with an unaffiliated third party under which we assigned certain patents in return for royalties on proceeds from patent monetization efforts by the third party. In December 2012, we received a royalty statement from this entity and recorded $1.1 million of income.
Based on information provided to us by the third party, we may receive additional income from this arrangement in the first quarter of 2013. We estimate that income could be in the range of $400,000 to $800,000 depending on a variety of factors. Beyond the first quarter of 2013, we are unable to predict how much more income we might receive from this arrangement, if any, because we do not know whether any patent monetization efforts by the third party will be successful.
Other Income
We recorded $85,000 of other income in the year ended December 31, 2012. This amount represented realized gains on the sale of high yield bond investments.
We recorded $425,000 of other income in the year ended December 31, 2010. This amount represents proceeds from a legal settlement with a former customer.
Interest Income
Interest income increased 175%, or $144,000, from $83,000 in 2011 to $227,000 in 2012. The dollar increase was primarily due: i) interest income from high yield bonds; and ii) higher cash balances as a result of the patent sales in 2012.
Interest income decreased 8%, or $7,000, from $90,000 in 2010 to $83,000 in 2011. The dollar decrease in interest income was primarily due to a decline in money market interest rates during 2011.
Income Taxes
We are subject to income taxes in the United States and we use estimates in determining our provisions for income taxes. We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method for accounting and reporting income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using statutory rates.
We made a provision for income taxes related to continuing operations in the year ended 2012 of $20.2 million. We made no provision for income taxes in the years ended 2011 and 2010, except for $2,000 of state excise taxes in each year.
Gains on the sale of patent assets were primarily responsible for generating $92.1 million of pre-tax income from continuing operations in the year ended December 31, 2012. We used a significant portion of our available deferred tax assets to reduce income taxes on pre-tax income.
A substantial portion of the deferred tax assets we utilized comprised cumulative deductions for stock options in excess of book expense. Under income tax accounting rules, the portion of tax benefits attributable to such deductions must be recorded as an adjustment to equity versus a reduction of income tax expense. In the year ended December 31, 2012, the tax benefits from such stock-based awards were $14.4 million, which we recorded as an equity adjustment to additional paid-in capital.
Total income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $20.4 million, including $20.2 million that was recorded in continuing operations and $0.2 million that was recorded in discontinued operations. The Company’s actual tax liability for 2012 was $7.8 million as taxes that are currently payable were reduced by the $14.4 million equity adjustment mentioned above.
Income tax expense in 2012 was reduced by a $1.8 million reversal of the valuation allowance on our remaining deferred tax assets at December 31, 2012. We reversed the valuation allowance because based on all the available evidence, we believed that it is more likely than not that our deferred tax assets will be realizable. In reaching this determination, we evaluated: i) our most recent years operating results; ii) our future financial plans; and iii) the nature of the components comprising deferred tax assets at December 31, 2012.
We will continue to assess the level of valuation allowance required in future periods. Should evidence regarding the realizability of tax assets change at a future point in time, the valuation allowance will be adjusted accordingly.
Income (loss) from discontinued operation, net of income taxes.
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes reflects operating results from our DSL service assurance hardware product line that we shutdown during 2012.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
In recent years, we have financed the company with our cash balances, cash generated from operations, and cash received from the sale of patent assets. Equity financing has not been a meaningful source of financing for us in recent years. Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities are described below.
Cash flow from operating activities
In the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, our operating activities provided net cash of $6.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively. In the year ended December 31, 2012, our operating activities used net cash of $15.3 million. A discussion of cash flow from operations for each of the last three years follows:
Year ended December 31, 2012. Cash used by operating activities of $15.3 million in 2012 was primarily the result of: i) cash provided by on-going operations of $6.7 million; less ii) income tax items on patent sales of $22.0 million. A discussion of each of these factors follows:
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Cash provided by on-going operations of $6.7 million was the result of: i) operating income before patent related income of $4.3 million; ii) income from discontinued operations of $0.4 million; iii) interest income and other income of $0.3 million; iv) adjustments for non-cash items related to depreciation and stock-based compensation of $0.5 million and $0.3 million, respectively; and v) changes in working capital components that increased cash by $0.9 million.
●
Cash provided by on-going operations of $6.7 million was reduced by $22.0 million of income tax items that were incurred as a result of our patent sales in 2012. The $22.0 million of income tax items comprises: i) $7.6 million of tax payments; and ii) $14.4 million of tax expense that is reduced by a tax benefit from excess stock-based compensation that must be presented as cash flows from financing activities under generally accepted accounting principles as opposed to an item that benefits cash flows from operating activities.
Year ended December 31, 2011. Cash provided by operations of $6.8 million in 2011 was primarily the result of net income of $2.6 million, which was increased for non-cash items related to depreciation and amortization of $0.5 million and stock-based compensation expense of $1.3 million. Cash provided by operations was also driven higher by a $2.7 million reduction in accounts receivable and inventory, which was partially offset by a $0.3 million reduction of liabilities.
Year ended December 31, 2010. Cash provided by operations of $0.7 million in 2010 was primarily the result of net income of $0.2 million, which was increased for non-cash items related to depreciation and amortization of $0.5 million, and stock-based compensation expense of $1.5 million. Cash provided by operations from these sources was reduced by a $2.0 million net increase in accounts receivable, inventory, and prepaid expenses, which was partially offset by a $0.5 million increase in liabilities.
Cash flow from investing activities
In the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, our investing activities used net cash of $1.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively. In the year ended December 31, 2012, our investing activities provided net cash of $85.1 million. A discussion of cash flow from investing activities for each of the last three years follows:
Year ended December 31, 2012. Cash provided by investing activities of $85.1 million in 2012 was primarily due to $86.4 million of net proceeds from the sale of patent assets. Cash provided from the sale of patent assets was reduced by: i) $0.1 million of capital expenditures; and ii) $1.2 million of net investment purchases.
Year ended December 31, 2011. Cash used by investing activities of $1.1 million in 2011 was primarily the result of $0.3 million of capital expenditures and $0.7 million used to purchase investments.
Year ended December 31, 2010. Cash used by investing activities of $0.3 million in 2010 was primarily the result of $0.1 million of capital expenditures, $0.1 million used to purchase other assets, and $0.1 million of expenses related to the sale of our DSL silicon intellectual property product line.
We have no material commitments for capital expenditures.
Cash flow from financing activities
In the year ended December 31, 2011, our financing activities provided net cash of $0.9 million. In the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2010, our financing investing activities used net cash of $45.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively. A discussion of cash flow from financing activities for each of the last three years follows:
Year ended December 31, 2012. Cash used by financing activities of $45.3 million in 2012 was primarily the result of $66.0 million of dividend payments and $0.2 million used to repurchase stock from employees in connection with stock issuances under a 2010 stock grant program. Cash usage by these two factors was partially offset by: i) $6.5 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options; and ii) a $14.4 million tax benefit related to excess stock-based compensation.
Year ended December 31, 2011. Cash provided by financing activities of $0.9 million in 2011 was primarily the result of $1.8 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options. Proceeds from stock option exercises were partially offset by $0.7 million used to repurchase our stock from a shareholder in a privately negotiated transaction, and $0.2 million used to repurchase stock from employees in connection with stock issuances under a 2010 stock grant program.
Year ended December 31, 2010. Cash used by financial activities of $0.2 million in 2010 was primarily the result of $0.2 million used to purchase stock from employees in connection with an employee option exchange program.
At December 31, 2012, we had cash and cash equivalents of $71.1 million and investments of $2.0 million. While we can not assure you that we will not require additional financing, or that such financing will be available to us, we believe that our cash and cash equivalents and investments will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next twelve months.
To date, inflation has not had a material impact on our financial results. There can be no assurance, however, that inflation will not adversely affect our financial results in the future.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We do not currently have any arrangements with unconsolidated entities, such as entities often referred to as structured finance, special purpose entities, or variable interest entities which are often established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. Accordingly, we are not exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk if we had such relationships.
During 2011 and 2012 we disclosed that we had a patent arrangement with an unaffiliated third party that we classified as a variable interest entity. We also disclosed that: i) we had no equity interest in this entity; ii) we were not contractually obligated to fund this entity, therefore our maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with this entity was zero; iii) we may receive royalties in the future if certain conditions are met; iv) we were not the primary beneficiary of this entity; v) we have not consolidated this entity’s results into our financial statements, therefore we carried the assets and liabilities of this entity in our balance sheet at zero; and vi) prior to September 30, 2012, this arrangement had no impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows in any previous periods.
In August 2012, certain contractual provisions of the arrangement were amended. As a result, the arrangement was no longer considered a variable interest entity under generally accepted accounting principles, and we ceased to classify it as such once the amendment was signed.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
We have various contractual obligations impacting our liquidity. The following represents our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
We consider certain accounting policies related to revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, income taxes, and the allowance for doubtful accounts to be critical policies.
Revenue recognition. We derive revenue from four sources: (i) software licenses, which includes revenue from the sale of biometrics and imaging, and DSL service assurance software products; (ii) software maintenance, which includes revenue from the sale of software maintenance contracts related to biometrics and imaging, and DSL service assurance software; (iii) services, which primarily includes engineering service fees; and (iv) royalties.
We recognize revenue when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the sales price is fixed or determinable, collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured, and delivery has occurred or services have been rendered. As described below, we make significant judgments during the process of determining revenue for any particular accounting period.
In determining revenue recognition, we assess whether fees associated with revenue transactions are fixed or determinable based on the terms of the contract and based on payment terms. If the fee is not fixed or determinable, we defer the fee and recognize revenue as amounts become due and payable. We assess whether collection is reasonably assured based on a number of factors, including past transaction history with the customer and the credit-worthiness of the customer. If we determine that collection of a fee is not reasonably assured, we defer the fee and recognize revenue at the time collection becomes reasonably assured.
We must also make judgments with respect to the recognition of revenue for multiple element revenue arrangements. We recognize revenue for multiple element arrangements as follows:
o
When software licenses and maintenance contracts are sold together, we recognize software license revenue upon delivery, provided we have vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) for the fair value of the maintenance contract fee, and we recognize the fair value of maintenance contract revenue ratably over the related contract period. If we do not have VSOE for the fair value of the maintenance contract fee, we recognize software license and maintenance contract revenue ratably over the related contract period.
o
When engineering services and software licenses are sold together, the total fee is generally recognized by applying contract accounting. We have adopted the percentage-of-completion method of contract accounting, and we primarily use an output method (i.e., based on contract milestones) to determine our completion percentage.
o
When we sell services, software licenses and maintenance together, revenue is recognized as follows: i) maintenance revenue is separated from the other two elements and is recognized ratably over the related contract period; provided we have VSOE for the fair value of the maintenance element; and ii) the total fee from the software license and engineering service elements is recognized by applying the contract accounting method described in the previous paragraph.
Our revenue recognition policies are described more fully in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Stock-Based Compensation. We grant stock options and stock to our employees and directors. We measure stock-based compensation cost at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and recognize it as expense over the applicable vesting period of the award using the straight-line basis.
We use the Black-Scholes valuation model to estimate the fair value of stock option awards. This valuation model takes into account the exercise price of the award, as well as a variety of significant assumptions. The assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options include the expected term, the expected volatility of our stock over the expected term, the risk-free interest rate over the expected term, and our expected annual dividend yield.
For stock awards, we determine the fair value of the award by using the fair market value of our stock on the date of grant; provided the number of shares in the grant is fixed on the grant date.
Income taxes. As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements we are required to estimate our actual current tax expense. We must also estimate temporary and permanent differences that result from differing treatment of certain items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in our consolidated balance sheet. We must then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent we believe recovery is not likely, we must establish a valuation allowance. To the extent we establish a valuation allowance or increase this allowance in a period for deferred tax assets, which have been recognized, we must include an expense with the tax provision in the statement of operations. Conversely, to the extent we decrease our valuation allowance in a period for deferred tax assets, which have been previously reserved, we must include a tax benefit with the tax provision in the statement of operations.
Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets, and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets. Our deferred tax assets primarily relate to temporary differences that result from differing treatment of certain items for tax and accounting purposes. As of December 31, 2012, we had a total of $1.8 million of deferred tax assets for which we had recorded no valuation allowance.
We will continue to assess the level of valuation allowance required in future periods. Should evidence regarding the realizability of tax assets change at a future point in time, the valuation allowance will be adjusted accordingly.
Allowance for doubtful accounts. We make judgments as to our ability to collect outstanding receivables and provide allowances for receivables when collection becomes doubtful. Provisions are made based upon a specific review of all significant outstanding invoices. If the judgments we make to determine the allowance for doubtful accounts do not reflect the future ability to collect outstanding receivables, additional provisions for doubtful accounts may be required.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
There were no recently issued accounting pronouncements applicable to us that we had not adopted as of December 31, 2012.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our exposure to market risk relates primarily to our investment portfolio, and the effect that changes in interest rates would have on that portfolio. Our investment portfolio at December 31, 2012 consisted of two elements:
1.
Cash and cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2012, our cash and cash equivalents of $71.1 million were primarily invested in money market funds. The money market funds were invested in high quality, short term financial instruments. Due to the nature, short duration, and professional management of these funds, we do not expect that a general increase in interest rates would result in any material loss.
2.
Investments. As of December 31, 2012, our investments of $2.0 million were invested in high yield bonds with two separate corporate debt issuers, both of which mature in 2015. While we are exposed to default risk, the high current yield of these bonds largely mitigates interest rate risk. Therefore, due to the high current yield and approximate three-year life of these instruments, we do not believe that a general increase in interest rates would result in any material loss.
We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Board of Directors and Stockholders of Aware, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Aware, Inc. (“the Company”) as of December 31, 2012, and the related consolidated statement of comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2012, and the financial statement schedule listed in Item 15. We also have audited Aware Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (a) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (b) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (c) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aware, Inc. as of December 31, 2012, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. Also in our opinion, Aware, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
/s/ McGladrey LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 19, 2013
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To Board of Directors and Stockholders of Aware, Inc.:
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15 (a) (1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aware, Inc. and its subsidiary at December 31, 2011 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2011 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2011 listed in the index appearing under Item 15 (a) (2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and on the financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 21, 2012 except for the effects of discontinued operations discussed in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements, as to which the date is February 19, 2013
AWARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
AWARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
AWARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
AWARE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
NATURE OF BUSINESS
We are a leading supplier of products for the biometrics and imaging and Digital Subscriber Line (“DSL”) service assurance industries. We sell software products for biometrics and imaging applications and DSL service assurance applications. We sell our software products for biometrics and imaging applications and professional services for biometrics through a systems integrator, OEM, and direct sales channel. We sell our DSL service assurance software products directly to DSL service providers and through an OEM sales channel.
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aware, Inc. and its subsidiary. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates - The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us 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 financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates included in the financial statements pertain to revenue recognition, reserves for doubtful accounts, useful lives of fixed assets, valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets, and accrued liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Fair Value Measurements - The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Codification defines fair value, and establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to the unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the FASB Codification are: i) Level 1 - valuations that are based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date; ii) Level 2 - valuations that are based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; and iii) Level 3 - valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
Cash and cash equivalents, which primarily include money market mutual funds, were $71.1 million and $46.6 million as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. We classified our cash equivalents of $67.1 million and $42.2 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices.
Our investments, which consist of high yield corporate debt securities, are also classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices. We categorize our investments as available-for-sale securities, and carry them at fair value in our financial statements. We had $2.0 million and $0.7 million of available-for-sale investments as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
As of December 31, 2012, our assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and whose carrying values approximate their respective fair values include the following (in thousands):
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As of December 31, 2011, our assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and whose carrying values approximate their respective fair values include the following (in thousands):
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents, which consist primarily of money market funds and demand deposits, which are stated at fair value. All highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. At certain times our cash balances at certain financial institutions exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation limits. The Company does not believe it is exposed to significant credit risk related to cash and cash equivalents.
Investments - At December 31, 2012 and 2011, we categorized all investment securities as available-for-sale, since we may liquidate these investments currently. In calculating realized gains and losses, cost is determined using specific identification. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of stockholders’ equity called Accumulated Comprehensive Income.
Realized gains on investments were $85,000 in the year ended December 31, 2012. There were no realized gains or losses on investments in the years ended December 31, 2011, and 2010.
Unrealized losses on investments were $50,000 and $20,000 in the years ended December 31, 2012, and 2011. There were no unrealized gains or losses on investments in the year ended December 31, 2010.
The amortized cost of our corporate debt securities was $2.06 million at December 31, 2012. All corporate debt securities comprising investments mature in 2015.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - Accounts are charged to the allowance for doubtful accounts as they are deemed uncollectible based on a periodic review of the accounts.
Inventories - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. We evaluate all inventories for net realizable value on a quarterly basis, and record provisions for excess and obsolete inventory when required. Following the shutdown of our DSL service assurance hardware business, we no longer carried inventory.
Property and Equipment - Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Upon retirement or sale, the costs of the assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss on disposal is included in the determination of income or loss. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.
The estimated useful lives of assets used by us are:
Building
30 years
Building improvements
5 to 20 years
Furniture and fixtures
5 years
Computer, office & manufacturing equipment
3 years
Purchased software
3 years
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets - We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable or that the useful lives of these assets are no longer appropriate. Each impairment test is based on a comparison of the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets over their estimated economic life to the related carrying value of those assets to determine if the assets are impaired. If an impairment is indicated, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value. The cash flow estimates used to identify the potential impairment reflect our best estimates using appropriate assumptions and projections at that time. We believe that no significant impairment of our long-lived assets has occurred as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.
Revenue Recognition - We recognize revenue when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the sales price is fixed or determinable, collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured, and delivery has occurred or services have been rendered.
Persuasive evidence of an arrangement: We use contracts signed by both the customer and us or written purchase orders issued by the customer as evidence of an arrangement.
Product delivery: We deem delivery to have occurred: (i) upon shipment when products are shipped FOB shipping point, or (ii) upon delivery at a customer’s location when products are shipped FOB destination, or (iii) when software is delivered electronically. If customer acceptance provisions apply, revenue is not recognized until delivery has occurred and we have received such acceptance. If we are required to provide installation services, revenue is not recognized until installation is complete.
Fixed or determinable fee: We consider fees to be fixed or determinable if the fee is not subject to refund or adjustment and the payment terms are within normal established practices. If the fee is not fixed or determinable, we recognize the revenue as amounts become due and payable.
Collection is deemed probable: We conduct a credit review for all significant transactions at the time of the arrangement to determine the credit-worthiness of the customer. Collection is deemed probable if we expect that the customer will pay amounts under the arrangement as payments become due.
We categorize revenue as software licenses, software maintenance, services, or royalties. In addition to the general revenue recognition policies described above, specific revenue recognition policies apply to each category of revenue.
Software licenses
Software licenses consist of revenue from the sale of software licenses for biometrics, imaging, and DSL service assurance applications. We recognize revenue from software licenses upon delivery when licenses are sold in single element arrangements.
Software maintenance
Software maintenance consists of revenue from the sale of software maintenance contracts for biometrics, imaging, and DSL service assurance software. Software maintenance contracts entitle customers to receive software support and software updates, if and when they become available, during the term of the maintenance contract. We recognize software maintenance revenue ratably over the related contract period.
Services
Service revenue primarily consists of fees from biometrics and DSL service assurance customers for engineering services that we provide to them. We recognize services revenue as services are delivered when services are sold in single element arrangements.
Royalties
Royalty revenue consists of royalties we receive under DSL silicon IP contracts with customers that have incorporated our intellectual property into their products. Since we cannot reasonably estimate royalty revenue, such revenue is recognized in the quarter in which a final report is received from a customer. Royalty reports are typically received in the quarter immediately following the quarter in which sales of royalty-bearing products occur.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Multiple element arrangements
In addition to selling software licenses, software maintenance and services in single element arrangements, we also sell these three products as part of multiple element arrangements. The various combinations of multiple element arrangements and our revenue recognition for each are described as follows:
●
Software licenses and software maintenance. When software licenses and software maintenance contracts are sold together, we recognize software license revenue upon delivery, provided we have vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) for the fair value of the maintenance contract fee, and we recognize the fair value of maintenance contract revenue ratably over the related contract period. If we do not have VSOE for the fair value of the maintenance contract fee, we recognize software license and software maintenance revenue ratably over the related maintenance contract period.
●
Software licenses and services. When software licenses and engineering services are sold together, the total fee is generally recognized by applying contract accounting. We have adopted the percentage-of-completion method of contract accounting, and we generally use an output method (i.e., based on contract milestones) to determine our completion percentage. The software license portion of the arrangement is classified as software license revenue and the engineering services portion is classified as services revenue.
●
Software licenses, software maintenance and services. When we sell software licenses, software maintenance and services together, revenue is recognized as follows: i) software maintenance revenue is separated from the other two elements and is recognized ratably over the related software maintenance contract period; provided we have VSOE for the fair value of the maintenance element; and ii) the total fee from the software license and engineering service elements is recognized by applying the contract accounting method described in the previous paragraph.
Income Taxes - We compute deferred income taxes based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. We establish a valuation allowance to offset temporary deductible differences, net operating loss carryforwards and tax credits when it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the tax position. The evaluation of an uncertain tax position is based on factors that include, but are not limited to, changes in the tax law, the measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in tax returns, the effective settlement of matters subject to audit, and changes in facts or circumstances related to a tax position. Any changes to these estimates, based on the actual results obtained and/or a change in assumptions, could impact our tax provision in future periods. Interest and penalty charges, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits would be classified as a provision for income tax in the statement of income.
Capitalization of Software Costs - We capitalize certain internally developed software development costs after technological feasibility of the product has been established. No software costs were capitalized for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, because such costs incurred subsequent to the establishment of technological feasibility, but prior to commercial availability, were immaterial.
Research and Development Costs - Costs incurred in the research and development of our products are expensed as incurred.
Concentration of Credit Risk - At December 31, 2012 and 2011, we had cash and cash equivalents, in excess of federally insured deposit limits of approximately $70.8 million and $46.3 million, respectively.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Concentration of credit risk with respect to net accounts receivable consists of $1.1 million, $0.6 million, $0.5 million, $0.4 million and $0.3 million with five customers, respectively, at December 31, 2012, and $0.4 million, $0.4 million, $0.4 million, $0.2 million, $0.2 million and $0.2 million with six customers, respectively, at December 31, 2011.
Concentration of credit risk with respect to our investment portfolio consists of $1.0 million and $1.0 million with two issuers of corporate debt securities, respectively, at December 31, 2012, and $475,000 and $252,000 with two issuers of corporate debt securities, respectively, at December 31, 2011.
Stock-Based Compensation - We grant stock options and stock to our employees and directors. We measure stock-based compensation cost at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and recognize stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award.
We use the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the fair value of stock option awards. This valuation model takes into account the exercise price of the award, as well as a variety of significant assumptions. The assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options include the expected term, the expected volatility of our stock over the expected term, the risk-free interest rate over the expected term, and our expected annual dividend yield.
For stock awards, we determine the fair value of the award by using the fair market value of our stock on the date of grant; provided the number of shares in the grant is fixed on the grant date.
Computation of Earnings per Share - Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued. For the purposes of this calculation, stock options are considered common stock equivalents in periods in which they have a dilutive effect. Stock options that are antidilutive are excluded from the calculation.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments - The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of their short-term nature. The carrying amount of investments is based on the fair value of the individual securities in our investment portfolio.
Advertising Costs - Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were not material for 2012, 2011, and 2010.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements - There were no recently issued accounting pronouncements applicable to us that we had not adopted as of December 31, 2012.
Reclassifications - Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to be consistent with the current period presentation, particularly as a result of the discontinued operations presentation of our DSL service assurance hardware product line in 2012. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Segments - We organize ourselves into multiple segments reporting to the chief operating decision makers. We have sales outside of the United States, which are described in Note 10. All long-lived assets are maintained in the United States.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3.
PATENT RELATED INCOME
In the year ended December 31, 2012, we derived patent related income from two sources, which are described below:
Gain on sale of patent assets. In 2011, we engaged an intellectual property law firm to help us conduct a process to sell a portion of our patent portfolio pertaining to wireless and certain DSL patents. The process produced two significant patent sales for a total of $86.4 million of net gains in 2012. This income was included on a separate line of the consolidated statements of comprehensive income entitled “Gain on sale of patent assets.” The two patent sales are described below:
Wireless patent sale. On April 26, 2012, we entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated third party to sell a portion of our patent portfolio pertaining to wireless technology for $75.0 million. The proceeds from the sale were reduced by $3.8 million of transaction costs, which consisted primarily of fees from the law firm that assisted us in the sale. The transaction closed on June 21, 2012 and resulted in a gain of $71.2 million.
DSL patent sale. On August 22, 2012, we entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated third party to sell a portion of our patent portfolio pertaining to digital subscriber line (“DSL”) technology for $16.0 million. The proceeds from the sale were reduced by $0.8 million of transaction costs, which also consisted primarily of fees from the law firm that assisted us in the sale. The transaction closed on September 21, 2012 and resulted in a gain of $15.2 million.
Income from patent arrangement. In December 2010, we entered into an arrangement with an unaffiliated third party under which we assigned patents in return for royalties on proceeds from patent monetization efforts by the third party. In December 2012, we received a royalty statement from this entity and recorded $1.1 million of income on a separate line of the consolidated statements of comprehensive income entitled “Income from patent arrangement.”
4. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
In January 2012, our Board of Directors approved the shutdown of our DSL service assurance hardware product line which was previously a component of our DSL Service Assurance Segment. During 2012, we completed the shutdown and determined that we will no longer have any significant continuing involvement with or cash flows from this product line. Accordingly, the results of our DSL service assurance hardware product line have been included on a separate line of the consolidated statements of comprehensive income entitled “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes.”
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to the DSL service assurance hardware product line was (in thousands):
The consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 have been reclassified to reflect the effect of discontinued operations as set forth above.
There were no assets and a $10,000 warranty liability remaining on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 related to the DSL service assurance hardware product line.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We incurred one-time costs related to the shutdown of approximately $282,000, the majority of which were severance and employee-related costs. Such costs were incurred, paid, and included in income from discontinued operations during the year ended December 31, 2012.
5.
INVENTORIES
Following the shutdown of our DSL service assurance hardware business, we no longer carried inventory. Inventories consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):
6.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):
Depreciation expense amounted to $0.4 million, $0.5 million, and $0.5 million, in each of the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. In 2012, 2011 and 2010, we identified $958,000, $78,000 and $275,000, of fully depreciated assets no longer in use, and retired the assets and related accumulated depreciation.
7. INCOME TAXES
We made a provision for income taxes relating to continuing operations in the year ended 2012 of $20.2 million. We made no provision for income taxes in the years ended 2011 and 2010, except for $2,000 of state excise taxes in each year. The components of the provision for income taxes are as follows (in thousands):
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate to the effective tax rate is as follows:
Gains on the sale of patent assets were primarily responsible for generating $92.1 million of pre-tax income from continuing operations in the year ended December 31, 2012. We used a significant portion of our available deferred tax assets to reduce income taxes on pre-tax income.
A substantial portion of the deferred tax assets we utilized in 2012 comprised cumulative deductions for stock options in excess of book expense. Under income tax accounting rules, the portion of tax benefits attributable to such deductions must be recorded as an adjustment to equity versus a reduction of income tax expense. In the year ended December 31, 2012, the tax benefits from such stock-based awards were $14.4 million, which we recorded as an equity adjustment to additional paid-in capital.
Total income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $20.4 million, including $20.2 million that was recorded in continuing operations and $0.2 million that was recorded in discontinued operations. The Company’s actual tax liability for 2012 was $7.8 million as taxes that are currently payable were reduced by the $14.4 million equity adjustment mentioned above.
The principal components of deferred tax assets are as follows at December 31 (in thousands):
Income tax expense in 2012 was reduced by a $1.8 million reversal of the valuation allowance on our remaining deferred tax assets at December 31, 2012. We reversed the valuation allowance because based on all the available evidence, we believed that it is more likely than not that our deferred tax assets will be realizable. In reaching this determination, we evaluated: i) our most recent years results; ii) our future financial plans; and iii) the nature of the components comprising deferred tax assets at December 31, 2012.
We will continue to assess the level of valuation allowance required in future periods. Should evidence regarding the realizability of tax assets change at a future point in time, the valuation allowance will be adjusted accordingly.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As a result of significant taxable income in 2012 and the utilization of research and development credits thereon, we conducted a review to determine whether any of our prior year research and development tax credits represented an uncertain tax position. Based on that review, we determined that $1.9 million of federal credits and $1.0 million of state credits could not be supported and therefore, those credits were written off. In addition to the write-off, we also determined that $1.9 million of federal credits and $1.0 million of state credits represented an uncertain tax position for which we established a valuation allowance. A rollforward of the uncertain tax position related to our research and development tax credits is as follows (in thousands):
Uncertain tax positions of $2.6 million will impact our tax rate if realized. The difference between this amount and the total uncertain tax positions in the table above is the federal tax effect on state tax credits.
Net federal and state research and development credit carryforwards available at December 31, 2012 of $5.1 million and $0.7 million were not recorded as tax assets as these credits relate to excess stock compensation deductions that may not be recorded as tax assets under generally accepted accounting principles until the amounts have been utilized to reduce our tax liability. To the extent that these assets are used to reduce future taxes, the benefit will be recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.
Our policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2012, we had no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
The tax years from 1997 through 2012 are subject to examination by the IRS and state tax authorities.
8. EQUITY AND STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS
Our stock-based compensation plans are described below:
Fixed Stock Option Plans - We have two fixed option plans. Under our 1996 Stock Option Plan (“1996 Plan”), we were authorized to grant incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options to our employees and directors for up to 6,100,000 shares of common stock. There were no shares available for grant under the 1996 Plan as of December 31, 2012. Under our 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan (“2001 Plan”), we are authorized to grant nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights and stock awards to our employees and directors for up to 8,000,000 shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2012, there were 4,697,385 shares available for grant under the 2001 Plan.
Under both plans, options are granted at exercise prices as determined by the Board of Directors and have terms ranging from four to a maximum of ten years. Our options generally vest over three to five years, although we have granted options that are 50% or fully vested on the date of grant.
The following table presents stock-based employee compensation expenses included in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (in thousands):
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Stock-based compensation expenses in the preceding table include expenses associated with grants of: i) stock options; ii) stock appreciation rights (SARs); and iii) unrestricted shares of our common stock. The method used to determine stock-based compensation expense for each type of equity grant is described in the following paragraphs.
Stock Option and SAR Grants. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, we granted stock options for 50,000, 0, and 0 shares, respectively. No SARS were granted during the three year period ended December 31, 2012. We estimate the fair value of stock options and SARs using the Black-Scholes valuation model.
The Black-Scholes valuation model takes into account the exercise price of the award, as well as a variety of significant assumptions. The assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options and SARs include the expected term, the expected volatility of our stock over the expected term, the risk-free interest rate over the expected term, and our expected annual dividend yield. We believe that the valuation technique and the approach utilized to develop the underlying assumptions are appropriate in calculating the fair values of stock options granted in the year ended December 31, 2012. Estimates of fair value are not intended to predict actual future events or the value ultimately realized by persons who receive equity awards.
Specific assumptions used to determine the fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, using the Black-Scholes valuation model were:
(1) The expected term for each grant for the year ended December 31, 2012 was determined based on the contractual term of the option.
(2) The expected volatility for each grant is estimated based on an average of historical volatility over a period of time which we believe to be representative of our future volatility.
(3) The risk-free interest rate for each grant is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for a period equal to the expected term of the stock option.
We do not estimate our forfeiture rates as the actual forfeiture rate is known at the end of each reporting period due to the timing of our stock option vesting.
In the year ended December 31, 2010 we completed an employee option exchange program. Under the terms of the program, eligible rank and file employees had the right to exchange eligible vested and unvested stock options outstanding for shares of common stock. Exchange ratios for each eligible stock option were determined using the fair values of stock options and Aware’s common stock immediately prior to the initiation of the program. Employees exchanged 820,481 stock options for 178,314 shares of common stock. Employees were also allowed to surrender a portion of their common stock in return for the Company paying withholding taxes related to their stock grants. As a result of this provision, employees surrendered 60,659 shares of common stock and we paid approximately $161,000 of withholding taxes on their behalf. After the tax related share surrender, 117,655 net shares of common stock were issued to participating employees. The option exchange program had an insignificant impact on stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2010.
Unrestricted Stock Grants. Our 2001 Plan permits us to grant shares of unrestricted stock to our directors, officers and employees. Stock-based compensation expense for stock grants is determined based on the fair market value of our stock on the date of grant; provided the number of shares in the grant is fixed on the grant date.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We did not award any unrestricted stock during the year ended December 31, 2012. For the years ended December 31, 2011, and 2010, we awarded 105,000, and 575,443 shares, respectively. The accounting treatment of those awards is described below:
Year ended December 31, 2011. Our former President and CEO resigned in April 2011. As part of his separation arrangement he was granted 105,000 shares of common stock, which resulted in a stock-based compensation charge of $362,000. His grant contained a provision that allowed him to surrender a portion of his stock in return for the Company paying his related withholding taxes. He exercised that provision, and we issued 71,662 shares of common stock to him and paid $115,000 of withholding taxes on his behalf.
Year ended December 31, 2010. In July 2010, our compensation committee granted 575,443 shares of unrestricted stock, which included 102,040 shares to directors and 473,403 shares to officers and employees. Shares granted to directors and one employee representing a total of 111,163 shares were issued to those individuals in 2010, which resulted in a stock-based compensation charge of $281,000 in the year ended December 31, 2010.
All other shares granted to officers and employees representing a total of 464,280 shares were not issued in 2010. Those grants were issued to grantees in four increments on January 1, 2011, July 1, 2011, January 1, 2012, and July 1, 2012; provided that grantees were employed on each of those dates. The total stock-based compensation charge associated with these grants was amortized over the related two-year service period. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, $189,000, $443,000 and $293,000 of stock-based compensation expense was charged to expense, respectively. Share issuances in the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 under this portion of the 2010 stock grant were:
Year ended December 31, 2012. We issued a total of 151,574 shares; however grantees were again allowed to surrender a portion of their stock in return for the Company paying their related withholding taxes. As a result of this provision, grantees surrendered 33,441 shares of common stock and the Company paid approximately $174,000 of withholding taxes on their behalf. After the share surrender, 118,133 net shares of common stock were issued in 2012.
Year ended December 31, 2011. We issued a total of 194,986 shares; however grantees were allowed to surrender a portion of their stock in return for the Company paying their related withholding taxes. As a result of this provision, grantees surrendered 36,998 shares of common stock and the Company paid approximately $109,000 of withholding taxes on their behalf. After the share surrender, 157,988 net shares of common stock were issued in 2011.
A summary of stock option transactions for our two fixed stock option plans for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010 are presented below:
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The number of option shares vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2012 was 1,063,025 and those options had a weighted average exercise price of $5.63.
All options granted during the year ended December 31, 2012 had exercise prices equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant, and the weighted average grant date fair values of options granted were $2.38.
At December 31, 2012, the weighted average remaining contractual term for total options outstanding and total options exercisable was approximately 2 years for each.
At December 31, 2012, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and options exercisable was zero as each group of options was out-of-the money by approximately $0.2 million. The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2012 was approximately $3.7 million.
The following table summarizes the stock options outstanding at December 31, 2012:
At December 31, 2012, unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options was approximately $86,000, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.
We issue common stock from previously authorized but unissued shares to satisfy option exercises and purchases under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan - In June 1996, we adopted an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP Plan”) under which eligible employees could purchase common stock at a price equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the common stock at the beginning or end of each six-month offering period. On November 29, 2005 we amended the ESPP Plan to provide that eligible employees may purchase common stock at a price equal to 95% of the fair market value of the common stock as of the end of each six-month offering period. There is no stock-based compensation expense related to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan because it is not considered a compensatory plan. The plan does not have a look-back feature, and has a minimal discount of 5% of the fair market value of the common stock as of the end of each six-month offering period. Participation in the ESPP Plan is limited to 6% of an employee’s compensation, may be terminated at any time by the employee and automatically ends on termination of employment. A total of 350,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance. As of December 31, 2012 there were 116,155 shares available for future issuance under the ESPP Plan. We issued 4,661, 5,563, and 3,105, common shares under the ESPP Plan in 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Dividends - In April 2012, our board of directors declared a special cash dividend of $1.15 per share. The dividend was paid on May 25, 2012 to shareholders of record as of May 11, 2012. The total amount of the dividend paid was $25.5 million.
In November 2012, our board of directors declared a second special cash dividend of $1.80 per share. The dividend was paid on December 17, 2012 to shareholders of record as of December 3, 2012. The total amount of the dividend paid was $40.5 million.
Share Repurchases - In July 2011, we purchased 250,000 shares of our common stock at a price of $2.90 per share from a shareholder in a privately negotiated transaction. In addition, we paid a broker commission of 4 cents per share in connection with the transaction.
9.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
Lease Commitments - We own our principal office and research facility in Bedford, Massachusetts, which we have occupied since November 1997. We also conducted a portion of our activities in a leased facility in California under a non-cancelable operating lease that was set to expire in 2013. We terminated that lease in September 2012 by making a one-time payment of $15,000.
Rental expense, including the cost of the 2012 termination buyout of the California lease, was approximately $25,000, $17,000, and $16,000 in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Litigation - There are no material pending legal proceedings to which we are a party or to which any of our properties are subject which, either individually or in the aggregate, are expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations.
Guarantees and Indemnification Obligations - We enter into agreements in the ordinary course of business that require us: i) to perform under the terms of the contracts, ii) to protect the confidentiality of our customers’ intellectual property, and iii) to indemnify customers, including indemnification against third party claims alleging infringement of intellectual property rights. We also have agreements with each of our directors and executive officers to indemnify such directors or executive officers, to the extent legally permissible, against all liabilities reasonably incurred in connection with any action in which such individual may be involved by reason of such individual being or having been a director or officer of the Company.
Given the nature of the above obligations and agreements, we are unable to make a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amount that we could be required to pay. Historically, we have not made any significant payments on the above guarantees and indemnifications and no amount has been accrued in the accompanying consolidated financial statements with respect to these guarantees and indemnifications.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
10.
BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS
We organize ourselves into multiple segments reporting to the chief operating decision makers. The following table provides our reportable segment financial data for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands):
We conduct our operations in the United States and sell our products and services to domestic and international customers. Revenues were generated from the following geographic regions (in thousands):
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
There were no single customers from which we derived revenue that accounted for 10% or more of our total revenue in the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 or 2010.
11.
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
In 1994, we established a qualified 401(k) Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) under which employees are allowed to contribute certain percentages of their pay, up to the maximum allowed under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our contributions to the Plan are at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Our contributions were approximately $233,000, $239,000, and $239,000 in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
12.
NET INCOME PER SHARE
Net income per share is calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, options to purchase 821,838, 2,518,914, and 4,936,391 shares of common stock at weighted average exercise prices of $6.07, $4.62, and $4.36 per share, respectively, were outstanding, but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and thus would be anti-dilutive.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
12.
QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - UNAUDITED
The following table is a summary of certain items in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income for each of our quarters in the two-year period ended December 31, 2012 (in thousands, except per share data). The impact of the discontinued operations described in Note 4 is included in all periods.
Quarterly amounts may not sum to annual amounts due to rounding and dilution.
13. OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We do not currently have any arrangements with unconsolidated entities, such as entities often referred to as structured finance, special purpose entities, or variable interest entities which are often established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. Accordingly, we are not exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk if we had such relationships.
During 2011 and 2012 we disclosed that we had a patent arrangement with an unaffiliated third party that we classified as a variable interest entity. We also disclosed that: i) we had no equity interest in this entity; ii) we were not contractually obligated to fund this entity, therefore our maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with this entity was zero; iii) we may receive royalties in the future if certain conditions are met; iv) we were not the primary beneficiary of this entity; v) we have not consolidated this entity’s results into our financial statements, therefore we carried the assets and liabilities of this entity in our balance sheet at zero; and vi) prior to September 30, 2012, this arrangement had no impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows in any previous periods.
AWARE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
In August 2012, certain contractual provisions of the arrangement were amended. As a result, the arrangement was no longer considered a variable interest entity under generally accepted accounting principles, and we ceased to classify it as such once the amendment was signed.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts - Years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010
(in thousands)
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our co-chief executive officers and chief financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Based on this evaluation, our co-chief executive officers and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.
Evaluation of Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our co-chief executive officers and chief financial officer, we concluded that there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarterly period ended December 31, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13(a)-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal co-executive officers and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2012.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012 has been audited by McGladrey LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their audit report which is included herein.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by Item 10 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained in the sections captioned “Directors and Executive Officers”, “Corporate Governance” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Proxy Statement that will be delivered to our shareholders in connection with our May 22, 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by Item 11 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained in the section captioned “Executive Compensation” in the Proxy Statement that will be delivered to our shareholders in connection with our May 22, 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by Item 12 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained in the section captioned “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” in the Proxy Statement that will be delivered to our shareholders in connection with our May 22, 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information, if any, required by Item 13 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained in the sections captioned “Corporate Governance” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in the Proxy Statement that will be delivered to our shareholders in connection with our May 22, 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by Item 14 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained in the section captioned “Independent Accountants” in the Proxy Statement that will be delivered to our shareholders in connection with our May 22, 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(a) Financial Statements and Exhibits:
Page
(1) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(3) Exhibits:
The exhibits listed below are filed with or incorporated by reference in this report.
10.8*
Form of Unrestricted Stock Award for officers of Aware under the 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.9
Asset Purchase Agreement by and between Aware, Inc. and Lantiq Broadband Holdco, Inc. and Lantiq Deutschland GmbH dated October 14, 2009 (filed as Exhibit 10.8 to Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.10*
Separation Agreement dated April 1, 2011 between Aware, Inc. and Edmund C. Reiter (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.11*
Consulting Agreement dated April 1, 2011 between Aware, Inc. and Edmund C. Reiter (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).
16.1
Letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, dated as of September 4, 2012 (filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 4, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference).
21.1
Subsidiaries of Registrant.
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1
Certification of co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101**
The following financial statements from Aware, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language), as follows: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2012, December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2012, December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2012, December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010; and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
†Portions of this exhibit are omitted and were filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Company’s application requesting confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
*Management contract or compensatory plan.
**Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files in Exhibit 101 hereto shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to liability under those sections.
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.
By:
/s/ Richard P. Moberg
Richard P. Moberg
co-Chief Executive Officer & co-President
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
Date: February 19, 2013
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on the19th day of February 2013.