form10qq110.htm
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________
FORM 10-Q
________________
(Mark One)
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R
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010
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OR
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£
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 000-22339
________________
RAMBUS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
________________
Delaware
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94-3112828
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(State or other jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S. Employer
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incorporation or organization)
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Identification No.)
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4440 El Camino Real, Los Altos, CA 94022
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (650) 947-5000
________________
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes R No £
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes £ No £
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer R
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Accelerated filer £
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Non-accelerated filer £
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Smaller reporting company £
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes £ No R
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, was 114,574,919 as of March 31, 2010.
RAMBUS INC.
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PAGE
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3 |
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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Item 1. Financial Statements:
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5 |
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6 |
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7 |
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8 |
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37 |
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50 |
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51 |
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51 |
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51 |
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51 |
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65 |
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66 |
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66 |
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66 |
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66 |
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67 |
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68 |
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NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Quarterly Report”) contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, predictions regarding the following aspects of our future:
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Outcome and effect of current and potential future intellectual property litigation;
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Protection of intellectual property;
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Amounts owed under licensing agreements;
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Acquisitions, mergers or strategic transactions;
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Indemnification and technical support obligations;
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Success in the markets of our or our licensees’ products;
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Sources of competition;
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Research and development costs and improvements in technology;
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Sources, amounts and concentration of revenue, including royalties;
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Effects of changes in the economy and credit market on our industry and business;
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Deterioration of financial health of commercial counterparties and their ability to meet their obligations to us;
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Restructuring activities;
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Growth in our business;
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Pricing policies of our licensees;
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Success in renewing license agreements;
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Engineering, marketing and general and administration expenses;
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International licenses and operations, including our design facility in Bangalore, India;
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Issuances of our securities, which could involve restrictive covenants or be dilutive to our existing stockholders;
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Repurchases of our Common Stock pursuant to share repurchase programs;
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Realization of deferred tax assets/release of deferred tax valuation allowance;
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Methods, estimates and judgments in accounting policies;
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Adoption of new accounting pronouncements;
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Ability to identify, attract, motivate and retain qualified personnel;
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Trading price of our Common Stock;
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Consequences of the lawsuits related to the stock option investigation;
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The level and terms of our outstanding debt;
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Resolution of the governmental agency matters involving us;
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Internal control environment;
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Interest and other income, net; and
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Likelihood of paying dividends or repurchasing stock.
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You can identify these and other forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “future,” “shall,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “intends,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements also include the assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing statements.
Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on our assessment of information available to us at this time. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
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March 31,
2010
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December 31,
2009
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(In thousands, except shares
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and par value)
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ASSETS
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Current assets:
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Cash and cash equivalents
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$ |
400,921 |
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$ |
289,073 |
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Marketable securities
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267,752 |
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171,120 |
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Accounts receivable
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470 |
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949 |
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Prepaids and other current assets
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8,662 |
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8,700 |
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Deferred taxes
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587 |
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129 |
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Total current assets
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678,392 |
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469,971 |
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Restricted cash
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661 |
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639 |
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Deferred taxes, long-term
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1,604 |
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2,034 |
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Intangible assets, net
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22,105 |
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21,660 |
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Property and equipment, net
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37,972 |
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38,966 |
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Goodwill
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15,554 |
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15,554 |
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Other assets
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6,579 |
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7,045 |
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Total assets
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$ |
762,867 |
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$ |
555,869 |
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LIABILITIES
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Current liabilities:
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Accounts payable
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$ |
8,417 |
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$ |
8,972 |
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Accrued salaries and benefits
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14,136 |
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6,435 |
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Accrued litigation expenses
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4,555 |
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5,147 |
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Income taxes payable
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3,313 |
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486 |
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Non-cash obligation for construction in progress
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25,900 |
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25,100 |
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Other accrued liabilities
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7,386 |
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4,020 |
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Convertible notes
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— |
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136,032 |
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Total current liabilities
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63,707 |
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186,192 |
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Convertible notes
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114,757 |
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112,012 |
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Long-term income taxes payable
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2,042 |
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1,994 |
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Other long-term liabilities
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683 |
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344 |
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Total liabilities
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181,189 |
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300,542 |
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Commitments and contingencies
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Contingently redeemable common stock:
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Outstanding: 4,788,125 shares at March 31, 2010 and no shares at December 31, 2009
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113,500 |
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— |
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STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
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Convertible preferred stock, $.001 par value:
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Authorized: 5,000,000 shares
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Issued and outstanding: no shares at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009
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— |
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— |
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Common stock, $.001 par value:
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Authorized: 500,000,000 shares
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Issued and outstanding: 109,786,794 shares at March 31, 2010 and 105,934,157 shares at December 31, 2009
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110 |
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106 |
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Additional paid-in capital
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903,733 |
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818,992 |
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Accumulated deficit
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(435,427 |
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(563,858 |
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Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net
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(238 |
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87 |
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Total stockholders’ equity
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468,178 |
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255,327 |
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Total liabilities, contingently redeemable common stock and stockholders’ equity
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$ |
762,867 |
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$ |
555,869 |
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See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended
March 31,
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2010
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2009
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(In thousands, except per
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share amounts)
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Revenue:
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Royalties
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$ |
160,542 |
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$ |
26,169 |
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Contract revenue
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1,322 |
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1,165 |
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Total revenue
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161,864 |
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27,334 |
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Costs and expenses:
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Cost of revenue*
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1,854 |
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2,183 |
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Research and development*
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21,691 |
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17,837 |
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Marketing, general and administrative*
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31,527 |
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37,156 |
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Costs (recoveries) of restatement and related legal activities
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526 |
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(13,639 |
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Gain from settlement
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(95,900 |
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— |
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Total costs and expenses (recoveries)
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(40,302 |
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43,537 |
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Operating income (loss)
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202,166 |
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(16,203 |
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Interest income and other income (expense), net
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425 |
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1,440 |
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Interest expense
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(6,016 |
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(2,670 |
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Interest and other income (expense), net
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(5,591 |
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(1,230 |
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Income (loss) before income taxes
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196,575 |
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(17,433 |
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Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
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45,676 |
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(7 |
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Net income (loss)
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$ |
150,899 |
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$ |
(17,426 |
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Net income (loss) per share:
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Basic
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$ |
1.33 |
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$ |
(0.17 |
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Diluted
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$ |
1.28 |
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$ |
(0.17 |
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Weighted average shares used in per share calculation:
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Basic
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113,132 |
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104,376 |
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Diluted
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117,463 |
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104,376 |
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______________________
* Includes stock-based compensation:
Cost of revenue
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$ |
100 |
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$ |
390 |
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Research and development
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$ |
2,569 |
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$ |
2,740 |
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Marketing, general and administrative
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$ |
5,165 |
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$ |
5,289 |
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See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended
March 31,
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2010
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2009
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(In thousands)
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Cash flows from operating activities:
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Net income (loss)
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$ |
150,899 |
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$ |
(17,426 |
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Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
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Stock-based compensation
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7,834 |
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8,419 |
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Depreciation
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2,473 |
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2,807 |
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Amortization of intangible assets
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1,086 |
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806 |
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Non-cash interest expense and amortization of convertible debt issuance costs
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3,860 |
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2,670 |
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Deferred tax (benefit) provision
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(29 |
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95 |
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Impairment of investments
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— |
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164 |
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Change in assets and liabilities:
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Accounts receivable
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479 |
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316 |
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Prepaids and other assets
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26 |
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1,185 |
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Accounts payable
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(639 |
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8,647 |
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Accrued salaries and benefits and other accrued liabilities
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9,248 |
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(1,066 |
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Accrued litigation expenses
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(592 |
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(6,970 |
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Income taxes payable
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2,875 |
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(279 |
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Increase in restricted cash
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(22 |
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(5 |
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Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
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177,498 |
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(637 |
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Cash flows from investing activities:
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Purchases of property and equipment
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(534 |
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(708 |
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Purchases of marketable securities
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(136,519 |
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(83,508 |
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Maturities of marketable securities
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39,562 |
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90,493 |
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Acquisition of intangible assets
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— |
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(1,550 |
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Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
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(97,491 |
) |
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4,727 |
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Cash flows from financing activities:
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Payments under installment payment arrangement
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(400 |
) |
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— |
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Proceeds received from issuance of contingently redeemable common stock and common stock pursuant to the settlement agreement with Samsung
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192,000 |
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— |
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Proceeds received from issuance of common stock under employee stock plans
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3,664 |
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5,507 |
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Repayment of convertible senior notes
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(136,950 |
) |
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— |
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Repurchase and retirement of common stock
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(26,473 |
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— |
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Net cash provided by financing activities
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31,841 |
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5,507 |
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Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
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111,848 |
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9,597 |
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Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
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289,073 |
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116,241 |
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Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
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$ |
400,921 |
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$ |
125,838 |
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Non-cash investing and financing activities:
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Intangible assets acquired under installment payment arrangement
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$ |
1,531 |
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$ |
— |
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Increase in non-cash obligation for construction in progress
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$ |
800 |
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|
$ |
— |
|
See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Rambus Inc. (“Rambus” or the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Investments in entities with less than 20% ownership or in which the Company does not have the ability to significantly influence the operations of the investee are being accounted for using the cost method and are included in other assets.
In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) necessary to state fairly the financial position and results of operations for each interim period presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applicable to interim financial information. Certain information and Note disclosures included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted in these interim statements pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
2.
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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
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Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The amounts reported for cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities are considered to approximate fair value based upon comparable market information available at the respective balance sheet dates. The Company adopted the fair value measurement statement (Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”), effective January 1, 2008 for financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis. The statement applies to all financial assets and financial liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis and requires disclosure that establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. For the discussion regarding the impact of the adoption of the statement on the Company’s marketable securities, see Note 15, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments.” Additionally, the Company has adopted the fair value option for financial assets and financial liabilities statement, effective January 1, 2008. The Company has not elected the fair value option for financial instruments not already carried at fair value.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase. The Company maintains its cash balances with high quality financial institutions. The cash equivalent balances are invested in highly-rated and highly-liquid money market securities, such as money market funds.
Marketable Securities
Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, based on quoted market prices, with the unrealized gains or losses reported, net of tax, in stockholders’ equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity, both of which are included in interest and other income, net. Realized gains and losses are recorded on the specific identification method and are included in interest and other income, net. The Company reviews its investments in marketable securities for possible other than temporary impairments on a regular basis. If any
loss on investment is believed to be a credit loss, a charge will be recognized in operations. In evaluating whether a credit loss on a debt security has occurred, the Company considers the following factors: 1) the Company’s intent to sell the security, 2) if the Company intends to hold the security, whether or not it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of the security’s amortized cost basis, and 3) even if the Company intends to hold the security, whether or not the Company expects the security to recover the entire amortized cost basis. Due to the high credit quality and short term nature of the Company’s investments, there have been no credit losses recorded to date. The classification of funds between short-term and long-term is based on whether the securities are available for use in operations or other purposes.
Non-Marketable Securities
The Company has an investment in a non-marketable security of a private company which is carried at cost. The Company monitors the investments for other-than-temporary impairment and records appropriate reductions in carrying value when necessary. The non-marketable security is classified as other non-current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-06 which includes two major new disclosure requirements and clarifies two existing disclosure requirements related to fair value measurement. ASU 2010-06 is effective for interim or annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements as the Company only expanded its fair value disclosure to address this ASU (See Note 15, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments”).
In September 2009, the Emerging Issues Task Force (the “EITF”) reached final consensus under ASU No. 2009-13 on the issue related to revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. This issue addresses how to determine whether an arrangement involving multiple deliverables contains more than one unit of accounting and how arrangement consideration should be measured and allocated to the separate units of accounting. This issue is effective for the Company’s revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified on or after January 1, 2011. The Company will evaluate the impact of this issue on the Company’s financial statements when reviewing its new or materially modified revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables once this issue becomes effective.
In June 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-17 which improves financial reporting by enterprises involved with variable interest entities. This statement requires companies to perform an analysis to determine whether the Company’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity. This statement was effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2010. The Company evaluated its existing variable interest and concluded that it does not give it a controlling financial interest in variable interest entity; therefore, the adoption of this new statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In June 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-16 which improves the relevance, representational faithfulness, and comparability of the information that a reporting entity provides in its financial statements about a transfer of financial assets as well as the effects of a transfer on its financial position, financial performance, and cash flows and a transferor’s continuing involvement, if any, in transferred financial assets. The statement requires that a transferor recognize and initially measure at fair value all assets obtained (including a transferor’s beneficial interest) and liabilities incurred as a result of a transfer of financial assets accounted for as a sale. The statement was effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2010. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements as the Company does not currently transfer its financial assets.
3. Settlement Agreement with Samsung
On January 19, 2010, the Company, Samsung and certain related entities of Samsung entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) to release all claims against each other with respect to all outstanding litigation between them and certain other potential claims. Under the Settlement Agreement, Samsung has paid the Company $200.0 million in cash in two installments in the first quarter of 2010, and the parties released all claims against each other with respect to all outstanding litigation between them and certain other potential claims. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company and Samsung entered into a Semiconductor Patent License Agreement on January 19, 2010 (the “License Agreement”), under which Samsung licenses from the Company non-exclusive rights to certain Rambus patents and has agreed to pay the Company cash amounts equal to $25.0 million per quarter, commencing in the first quarter of 2010, subject to certain adjustments and conditions, over the next five years, as described in more details below. In addition, as part of the Settlement Agreement, Samsung purchased approximately 9.6 million shares of common stock of Rambus for cash pursuant to the terms of a
Stock Purchase Agreement dated January 19, 2010 (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), as described in more details below. Finally, pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company and Samsung signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding relating to discussions around a new generation of memory technologies. On an aggregate basis, Samsung is expected to make payments to the Company totaling approximately $900.0 million (subject to adjustments per the terms of the License Agreement) from these agreements (collectively, “Samsung Settlement”), of which $425.0 million has been paid through March 31, 2010. The remaining $475.0 million is expected to be paid in successive quarterly payments of approximately $25.0 million (subject to adjustments per the terms of the License Agreement) concluding in the three months ending December 31, 2014.
Under the License Agreement, the Company has granted to Samsung and its subsidiaries (i) a paid-up perpetual patent license for certain identified Samsung DRAM products (these Samsung DRAM products generally include all existing DRAM products aside from the Rambus proprietary products) and (ii) a five-year term patent license to all other semiconductor products. Each license is a non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-bearing, worldwide patent license, without the right to sublicense, solely under the applicable patent claims of Rambus for such licensed products, to make (including have made), use, sell, offer for sale and/or import such licensed products until the expiration or termination of the license pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement. The License Agreement requires that Samsung pay the Company cash payments over the next five years of (i) a fixed amount of $25.0 million each quarter during 2010 and the first two quarters of 2011, and (ii) thereafter, $25.0 million adjusted up or down based on certain levels of Samsung revenue for DRAM products licensed under the License Agreement for each quarter after 2010 and subject to a minimum of $10.0 million and a maximum of $40.0 million for each quarter. In addition, additional payments or certain adjustments to the payments by Samsung to the Company under the License Agreement may be due for certain acquisitions of businesses or assets by Samsung involving licensed products. The License Agreement and the licenses granted thereunder may be terminated upon a material breach by a party of its obligations under the agreement, a bankruptcy event involving a party or a change of control of Samsung subject to certain conditions.
Under the Stock Purchase Agreement, on January 19, 2010, Samsung purchased for cash from the Company 9.6 million shares of common stock of the Company (the “Shares”) with certain restrictions and put rights. The number of shares issued was based on a price per share equal to $20.885 (which was the average of the open and close trading price of Rambus common stock on The NASDAQ Global Select Market on January 15, 2010, the last trading day prior to the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement). The Shares represent approximately 8.3% of the total outstanding shares of Rambus common stock after giving effect to the issuance thereof. The issuance of the Shares by the Company to Samsung was made through a private transaction. The Stock Purchase Agreement provides Samsung a one-time put right, beginning 18 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement and extending to 19 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, to elect to put back to the Company up to 4.8 million of the Shares at the original issue price of $20.885 per share (for an aggregate purchase price of up to $100.0 million).
The Stock Purchase Agreement prohibits the transfer of the Shares by Samsung for 18 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, subject to certain exceptions. After expiration of the transfer restriction period, the Stock Purchase Agreement provides that Samsung may transfer a limited number of shares on a daily basis, provides Rambus with a right of first offer for proposed transfers above such daily limits, and, if no sale occurs to Rambus under the right of first offer, allows Samsung to transfer the Shares. Under the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company has also agreed that after the transfer restriction period, Samsung will have certain rights to register the Shares for sale under the securities laws of the United States, subject to customary terms and conditions.
In addition, until 18 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, subject to customary exceptions, Samsung is subject to a standstill agreement that prohibits Samsung from, among other things, acquiring additional shares of common stock of the Company, commencing or endorsing any tender offer or exchange offer for shares of common stock of the Company, participating in any solicitation of proxies with respect to voting any shares of common stock of the Company, or announcing or submitting any proposal or offer concerning any extraordinary transaction involving the Company. Samsung is also subject to a voting agreement under the Stock Purchase Agreement that provides that Samsung will vote its Shares in favor of routine proposals (related to election of directors, certain compensation matters, authorized share capital increases and approval of the independent auditors) that are recommended by the Board of Directors of the Company at any stockholder meeting. In all other matters, the voting agreement contained in the Stock Purchase Agreement requires that Samsung vote its Shares in the same proportion as the votes that are cast by all other holders of shares of common stock of the Company. The voting agreement under the Stock Purchase Agreement terminates (i) with respect to Shares that Samsung transfers in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Purchase Agreement, (ii) upon a change of control or bankruptcy event involving the Company or (iii) when Samsung owns less than 3% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company.
The Samsung Settlement is a multiple element arrangement for accounting purposes. For the multiple element arrangement, the Company identified each element of the arrangement and determined when those elements should be recognized. Using the accounting guidance from multiple element revenue arrangements, the Company allocated the consideration to each element using the estimated fair value of the elements. The Company considered several factors in determining the accounting fair
value of the elements of the Samsung Settlement which included a third party valuation using an income approach, the Black-Scholes option pricing model and a residual approach (collectively the "Fair Value"). The inputs and assumptions used in this valuation were from a market participant perspective and included projected revenue, royalty rates, estimated discount rates, useful lives and income tax rates, among others. The development of a number of these inputs and assumptions in the model requires a significant amount of management judgment and is based upon a number of factors, including the selection of industry comparables, market growth rates and other relevant factors. Changes in any number of these assumptions may have had a substantial impact on the Fair Value as assigned to each element. These inputs and assumptions represent management’s best estimates at the time of the transaction.
Based on the estimated Fair Value, the consideration of $900.0 million was allocated to the following elements:
(in millions)
|
|
Estimated Fair
Value
|
|
Settlement Agreement:
|
|
|
|
Antitrust litigation settlement
|
|
$ |
85.0 |
|
Settlement of past infringement
|
|
|
190.0 |
|
License Agreement
|
|
|
385.0 |
|
Stock Purchase Agreement
|
|
|
192.0 |
|
Memorandum of understanding (“MOU”)
|
|
|
— |
|
Residual value
|
|
|
48.0 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
900.0 |
|
The consideration of $900.0 million will be recognized in the Company’s financial statements as follows:
|
·
|
$575.0 million as revenue which represented the estimated Fair Value of the settlement of past infringement ($190.0 million) from the resolution of the infringement litigation and the patent license agreement ($385.0 million);
|
|
·
|
$133.0 million to gain from settlement which represented the Fair Value of the resolution of the antitrust litigation ($85.0 million) and the residual value of other elements ($48.0 million) where specific fair value could not be determined, which included other claims and counter claims released;
|
|
·
|
$192.0 million related to the Stock Purchase Agreement which included contingently redeemable common stock due to the restrictions and contractual put rights associated with those shares ($113.5 million) and restricted common stock issued to Samsung ($78.5 million).
|
During the first quarter of 2010, the Company received cash consideration of $425.0 million from Samsung. The amount allocated to the common stock issued to Samsung was allocated to contingently redeemable common stock ($113.5 million) and stockholders’ equity ($78.5 million). The remaining $233.0 million was allocated between revenue ($137.1 million) and gain from settlement ($95.9 million) based on the remaining elements’ estimated Fair Value.
The remaining $475.0 million is expected to be paid in successive quarterly payments of approximately $25.0 million (subject to adjustments per the terms of the License Agreement), concluding in the last quarter of 2014.
The first quarter of 2010 and the remaining future cash receipts from the agreements with Samsung are expected to be recognized as follows assuming no adjustments to the payments under the terms of the agreements:
|
|
|
Q1 2010 |
|
|
Remainder
of 2010
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
Estimated Fair
Value
|
|
(in millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$ |
137.1 |
|
|
$ |
44.1 |
|
|
$ |
93.8 |
|
|
$ |
100.0 |
|
|
$ |
100.0 |
|
|
$ |
100.0 |
|
|
$ |
575.0 |
|
Gain from settlement
|
|
|
95.9 |
|
|
|
30.9 |
|
|
|
6.2 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
133.0 |
|
Purchase of Rambus
Common Stock
|
|
|
192.0 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
192.0 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
425.0 |
|
|
$ |
75.0 |
|
|
$ |
100.0 |
|
|
$ |
100.0 |
|
|
$ |
100.0 |
|
|
$ |
100.0 |
|
|
$ |
900.0 |
|
4. Revenue Recognition
Overview
The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, it has delivered the product or performed the service, the fee is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured. If any of these criteria are not met, the Company defers recognizing the revenue until such time as all criteria are met. Determination of whether or not these criteria have been met may require the Company to make judgments, assumptions and estimates based upon current information and historical experience.
The Company’s revenue consists of royalty revenue and contract revenue generated from agreements with semiconductor companies, system companies and certain reseller arrangements. Royalty revenue consists of patent license and technology license royalties. Contract revenue consist of fixed license fees, fixed engineering fees and service fees associated with integration of the Company’s technology solutions into its customers’ products. Contract revenue may also include support or maintenance. Reseller arrangements generally provide for the pass-through of a percentage of the fees paid to the reseller by the reseller’s customer for use of the Company’s patent and technology licenses. The Company does not recognize revenue for these arrangements until it has received notice of revenue earned by and paid to the reseller, accompanied by the pass-through payment from the reseller. The Company does not pay commissions to the reseller for these arrangements.
In addition, the Company may enter into certain settlements of patent infringement disputes. The amount of consideration received upon any settlement (including but not limited to past royalty payments, future royalty payments and punitive damages) is allocated to each element of the settlement based on the estimated fair value of each element. In addition, revenues related to past royalties are recognized upon execution of the agreement by both parties, provided that the amounts are fixed or determinable, there are no significant obligations and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company does not recognize any revenue prior to execution of the agreement since there is no reliable basis on which it can estimate the amounts for royalties related to previous periods or assess collectability. Elements that are related to royalty revenue in nature (including but not limited to past royalty payments and future royalty payments) will be recorded as royalty revenue in the consolidated statements of operations. Elements that are not related to royalty revenue in nature (including but not limited to punitive damage and settlement) will be recorded as gain from settlement which is reflected as a separate line item within the operating expenses section in the consolidated statements of operations.
Many of the Company’s licensees have the right to cancel their licenses. In such arrangements, revenue is only recognized to the extent that is consistent with the cancellation provisions. Cancellation provisions within such contracts generally provide for a prospective cancellation with no refund of fees already remitted by customers for products provided and payment for services rendered prior to the date of cancellation. Unbilled receivables represent enforceable claims and are deemed collectible in connection with the Company’s revenue recognition policy.
Royalty Revenue
The Company recognizes royalty revenue upon notification by its licensees and when deemed collectible. The terms of the royalty agreements generally either require licensees to give the Company notification and to pay the royalties within 60 days of the end of the quarter during which the sales occur or are based on a fixed royalty that is due within 45 days of the end of the quarter. The Company has two types of royalty revenue: (1) patent license royalties and (2) technology license royalties.
Patent licenses. The Company licenses its broad portfolio of patented inventions to semiconductor and systems companies who use these inventions in the development and manufacture of their own products. Such licensing agreements may cover the license of part, or all, of the Company‘s patent portfolio. The Company generally recognizes revenue from these arrangements as amounts become due. The contractual terms of the agreements generally provide for payments over an extended period of time.
Technology licenses. Rambus develops proprietary and industry-standard chip interface products, such as RDRAMtm and XDRtm that Rambus provides to its customers under technology license agreements. These arrangements include royalties, which can be based on either a percentage of sales or number of units sold. Rambus recognizes revenue from these arrangements upon notification from the licensee of the royalties earned and when collectability is deemed reasonably assured.
Contract Revenue
The Company generally recognizes revenue using percentage of completion for development contracts related to licenses of its interface solutions, such as XDRtm and FlexIOtm that involve significant engineering and integration services. For all license and
service agreements accounted for using the percentage-of-completion method, the Company determines progress to completion using input measures based upon contract costs incurred compared to the total costs including the remaining estimated cost to completion. Part of these contract fees may be due upon the achievement of certain milestones, such as provision of certain deliverables by the Company or production of chips by the licensee. The remaining fees may be due on pre-determined dates and include significant up-front fees.
A provision for estimated losses on fixed price contracts is made, if necessary, in the period in which the loss becomes probable and can be reasonably estimated. If the Company determines that it is necessary to revise the estimates of the total costs required to complete a contract, the total amount of revenue recognized over the life of the contract would not be affected. However, to the extent the new assumptions regarding the total efforts necessary to complete a project are less than the original assumptions, the contract fees would be recognized sooner than originally expected. Conversely, if the newly estimated total efforts necessary to complete a project are longer than the original assumptions, the contract fees will be recognized over a longer period. As of March 31, 2010, the Company has accrued a liability of approximately $0.2 million related to estimated loss contracts.
If application of the percentage-of-completion method results in recognizable revenue prior to an invoicing event under a customer contract, the Company will recognize the revenue and record an unbilled receivable. Amounts invoiced to the Company’s customers in excess of recognizable revenue are recorded as deferred revenue. The timing and amounts invoiced to customers can vary significantly depending on specific contract terms and can therefore have a significant impact on deferred revenue or unbilled receivables in any given period.
The Company also recognizes revenue in accordance with software revenue recognition methods for development contracts related to licenses of its chip interface products that involve non-essential engineering services and post contract support (“PCS”). These software revenue recognition methods apply to all entities that earn revenue on products containing software, where software is not incidental to the product as a whole. Contract fees for the products and services provided under these arrangements are comprised of license fees and engineering service fees which are not essential to the functionality of the product. The Company’s rates for PCS and for engineering services are specific to each development contract and not standardized in terms of rates or length. Because of these characteristics, the Company does not have a sufficient population of contracts from which to derive vendor specific objective evidence for each of the elements.
Therefore, after the Company delivers the product, if the only undelivered element is PCS, the Company will recognize all revenue ratably over either the contractual PCS period or the period during which PCS is expected to be provided. The Company reviews assumptions regarding the PCS periods on a regular basis. If the Company determines that it is necessary to revise the estimates of the support periods, the total amount of revenue to be recognized over the life of the contract would not be affected.
5. Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Rambus’ comprehensive income (loss) consists of its net income (loss) plus other comprehensive loss consisting of unrealized losses, net, on marketable securities, net of taxes.
The components of comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, are as follows:
|
|
Three Months Ended
March 31,
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$ |
150,899 |
|
|
$ |
(17,426 |
) |
Other comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of tax
|
|
|
(325 |
) |
|
|
(537 |
) |
Total comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
$ |
150,574 |
|
|
$ |
(17,963 |
) |
6. Equity Incentive Plans and Stock-Based Compensation
Stock Option Plans
As of March 31, 2010, 5,635,263 shares of the 14,900,000 shares approved under the 2006 Plan remain available for grant. The 2006 Plan is now the Company’s only plan for providing stock-based incentive compensation to eligible employees, executive officers, non-employee directors and consultants.
A summary of shares available for grant under the Company’s plans is as follows:
|
|
Shares Available
for Grant
|
|
Shares available as of December 31, 2009
|
|
|
7,462,394 |
|
Stock options granted
|
|
|
(1,586,973 |
) |
Stock options forfeited
|
|
|
17,747 |
|
Stock options expired under former plans
|
|
|
(1,501 |
) |
Nonvested equity stock and stock units granted (1)
|
|
|
(256,404 |
) |
Total available for grant as of March 31, 2010
|
|
|
5,635,263 |
|
____________
(1)
|
For purposes of determining the number of shares available for grant under the 2006 Plan against the maximum number of shares authorized, each restricted stock granted reduces the number of shares available for grant by 1.5 shares and each restricted stock forfeited increases shares available for grant by 1.5 shares.
|
General Stock Option Information
The following table summarizes stock option activity under the 1997, 1999 and 2006 Plans for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and information regarding stock options outstanding, exercisable, and vested and expected to vest as of March 31, 2010.
|
|
Options Outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
Shares
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price Per Share
|
|
|
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
|
|
|
Aggregate Intrinsic
Value
|
|
|
|
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
Outstanding as of December 31, 2009
|
|
|
14,456,110 |
|
|
$ |
20.95 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options granted
|
|
|
1,586,973 |
|
|
|
22.83 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercised
|
|
|
(227,460 |
) |
|
|
14.83 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options forfeited
|
|
|
(17,747 |
) |
|
|
17.47 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding as of March 31, 2010
|
|
|
15,797,876 |
|
|
|
21.23 |
|
|
|
5.61 |
|
|
$ |
72,682 |
|
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2010
|
|
|
14,977,777 |
|
|
|
21.61 |
|
|
|
5.54 |
|
|
|
66,117 |
|
Options exercisable at March 31, 2010
|
|
|
10,550,502 |
|
|
|
22.88 |
|
|
|
4.40 |
|
|
|
48,092 |
|
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value for in-the-money options at March 31, 2010, based on the $21.85 closing stock price of Rambus’ Common Stock on March 31, 2010 on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, which would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options as of that date. The total number of in-the-money options outstanding and exercisable as of March 31, 2010 was 10,151,607 and 6,832,529, respectively.
As of March 31, 2010, there was $48.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost, net of expected forfeitures, related to non-vested stock-based compensation arrangements granted under the stock option plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.4 years. The total fair value of shares vested as of March 31, 2010 was $197.2 million.
Employee Stock Purchase Plans
No purchases were made under the Employee Stock Purchase Plans during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 respectively. As of March 31, 2010, 846,856 shares under the 2006 Purchase Plan remain available for issuance. As of March 31, 2010 there was $0.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. This cost is expected to be recognized over one month.
Stock-Based Compensation
For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company maintained stock plans covering a broad range of potential equity grants including stock options, nonvested equity stock and equity stock units and performance based instruments. In addition, the Company sponsors an ESPP, whereby eligible employees are entitled to purchase Common Stock semi-annually, by means of limited payroll deductions, at a 15% discount from the fair market value of the Common Stock as of specific dates.
Stock Options
During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, Rambus granted 1,586,973 and 1,349,769 stock options, respectively, with an estimated total grant-date fair value of $20.9 million and $8.6 million, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, Rambus recorded stock-based compensation related to stock options of $5.7 million and $6.6 million, respectively.
The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $1.9 million and $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Intrinsic value is the total value of exercised shares based on the price of the Company’s common stock at the time of exercise less the cash received from the employees to exercise the options.
During the three months ended March 31, 2010, net proceeds from employee stock option exercises totaled approximately $3.4 million.
Employee Stock Purchase Plans
For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded compensation expense related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan of $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively.
There were no tax benefits realized as a result of employee stock option exercises, stock purchase plan purchases, and vesting of equity stock and stock units for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 calculated in accordance with accounting for share-based payments.
Valuation Assumptions
The fair value of stock awards is estimated as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) option-pricing model assuming a dividend yield of 0% and the additional weighted-average assumptions as listed in the following tables:
|
|
Three Months Ended
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Stock Option Plans
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expected stock price volatility
|
|
|
61 |
% |
|
|
96 |
% |
Risk free interest rate
|
|
|
2.44 |
% |
|
|
1.76 |
% |
Expected term (in years)
|
|
|
5.9 |
|
|
|
5.3 |
|
Weighted-average fair value of stock options granted
|
|
$ |
13.18 |
|
|
$ |
6.38 |
|
No grants were made under the Employee Stock Purchase Plans during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.
Nonvested Equity Stock and Stock Units
For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company granted nonvested equity stock units to certain officers and employees totaling 170,936 shares under the 2006 Plan. These awards have a service condition, generally a service period of four years, except in the case of grants to directors, for which the service period is one year. The nonvested equity stock units were valued at the date of grant giving them a fair value of approximately $3.9 million. The Company occasionally grants nonvested equity stock units to its employees with vesting subject to the achievement of certain performance conditions related to revenue goals and/or other factors. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the achievement of certain performance conditions for certain performance equity stock units was considered probable, and as a result, the Company recognized an insignificant amount of stock-based compensation expense related to these performance stock units.
For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of approximately $1.6 million and $1.3 million, respectively, related to all outstanding unvested equity stock grants. Unrecognized stock-based compensation related to all nonvested equity stock grants, net of estimated forfeitures, was approximately $11.4 million at March 31, 2010. This is expected to be recognized over a weighted average of 2.3 years.
The following table reflects the activity related to nonvested equity stock and stock units for the three months ended March 31, 2010:
Nonvested Equity Stock and Stock Units
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
|
|
Nonvested at December 31, 2009
|
|
|
783,976 |
|
|
$ |
16.24 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
170,936 |
|
|
|
22.72 |
|
Vested
|
|
|
(111,977 |
) |
|
|
14.92 |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Nonvested at March 31, 2010
|
|
|
842,935 |
|
|
$ |
17.73 |
|
7. Marketable Securities
Rambus invests its excess cash and cash equivalents primarily in U.S. government agency and treasury notes, commercial paper, corporate notes and bonds, money market funds and municipal notes and bonds that mature within three years.
All cash equivalents and marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are summarized as follows:
|
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Book Value
|
|
|
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
|
|
|
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
|
|
|
Weighted
Rate of
Return
|
|
Money Market Funds
|
|
$ |
396,702 |
|
|
$ |
396,702 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
0.01 |
% |
U.S. Government Bonds and Notes
|
|
|
236,578 |
|
|
|
236,543 |
|
|
|
209 |
|
|
|
(174 |
) |
|
|
0.66 |
% |
Corporate Notes, Bonds and Commercial Paper
|
|
|
31,174 |
|
|
|
31,158 |
|
|
|
36 |
|
|
|
(20 |
) |
|
|
0.74 |
% |
Total cash equivalents and marketable securities
|
|
|
664,454 |
|
|
|
664,403 |
|
|
|
245 |
|
|
|
(194 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
|
4,219 |
|
|
|
4,219 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
|
|
$ |
668,673 |
|
|
$ |
668,622 |
|
|
$ |
245 |
|
|
$ |
(194 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Book Value
|
|
|
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
|
|
|
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
|
|
|
Weighted
Rate of
Return
|
|
Money Market Funds
|
|
$ |
280,908 |
|
|
$ |
280,908 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
0.01 |
% |
U.S. Government Bonds and Notes
|
|
|
138,829 |
|
|
|
138,521 |
|
|
|
377 |
|
|
|
(69 |
) |
|
|
1.09 |
% |
Corporate Notes, Bonds and Commercial Paper
|
|
|
32,291 |
|
|
|
32,222 |
|
|
|
70 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
1.89 |
% |
Total cash equivalents and marketable securities
|
|
|
452,028 |
|
|
|
451,651 |
|
|
|
447 |
|
|
|
(70 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
|
8,165 |
|
|
|
8,165 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
|
|
$ |
460,193 |
|
|
$ |
459,816 |
|
|
$ |
447 |
|
|
$ |
(70 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value on the balance sheets and classified as follows:
|
|
March 31,
2010
|
|
|
December 31,
2009
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
396,702 |
|
|
$ |
280,908 |
|
Short term marketable securities
|
|
|
267,752 |
|
|
|
171,120 |
|
Total cash equivalents and marketable securities
|
|
|
664,454 |
|
|
|
452,028 |
|
Cash
|
|
|
4,219 |
|
|
|
8,165 |
|
Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
|
|
$ |
668,673 |
|
|
$ |
460,193 |
|
The Company continues to invest in high quality, highly liquid debt securities that mature within three years. The Company holds all of its marketable securities as available-for-sale, marks them to market, and regularly reviews its portfolio to ensure adherence to its investment policy and to monitor individual investments for risk analysis, proper valuation, and unrealized losses that may be other than temporary. As of March 31, 2010, marketable debt securities with a fair value of $157.0 million, which mature within one year had insignificant unrealized losses. The Company has no intent to sell, there is no requirement to sell and the Company believes that it can recover the amortized cost of these investments. The Company has found no evidence of impairment due to credit losses in its portfolio. Therefore, these unrealized losses were recorded in other comprehensive income. However, the Company cannot provide
any assurance that its portfolio of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will not be impacted by adverse conditions in the financial markets, which may require the Company in the future to record an impairment charge for credit losses which could adversely impact its financial results.
The estimated fair value of cash equivalents and marketable securities classified by date of contractual maturity and the associated unrealized gain, net, at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are as follows:
|
|
As of
|
|
|
Unrealized Gain, net
|
|
|
|
March 31,
2010
|
|
|
December 31,
2009
|
|
|
March 31,
2010
|
|
|
December 31,
2009
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Contractual maturity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Due within one year
|
|
$ |
655,953 |
|
|
$ |
419,054 |
|
|
$ |
50 |
|
|
$ |
250 |
|
Due from one year through three years
|
|
|
8,501 |
|
|
|
32,974 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
127 |
|
|
|
$ |
664,454 |
|
|
$ |
452,028 |
|
|
$ |
51 |
|
|
$ |
377 |
|
The unrealized gains, net, were insignificant in relation to the Company’s total available-for-sale portfolio. The unrealized gains, net, can be primarily attributed to a combination of market conditions as well as the demand for and duration of the Company’s U.S. government bonds and notes. See Note 15, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” for fair value discussion regarding the Company’s cash equivalents and marketable securities.
8. Commitments and Contingencies
On December 15, 2009, the Company entered into a definitive triple net space lease agreement with MT SPE, LLC (the “Landlord”) whereby the Company leases approximately 125,000 square feet of office space located at 1040 Enterprise Way in Sunnyvale, California (the “Sunnyvale Lease”). The office space will be used for the Company’s corporate headquarters functions, as well as engineering, marketing and administrative operations and activities. The Company plans to move to the new premises in the second half of 2010 following completion of leasehold improvements. The Sunnyvale Lease has a term of 120 months from the commencement date. The initial annual base rent is $3.7 million, subject to a full abatement of rent for the first six months of the Sunnyvale Lease term. The annual base rent increases each year to certain fixed amounts over the course of the term as set forth in the Sunnyvale Lease and will be $4.8 million in the tenth year. In addition to the base rent, the Company will also pay operating expenses, insurance expenses, real estate taxes and a management fee. The Company has two options to extend the Sunnyvale Lease for a period of 60 months each and a one-time option to terminate the Sunnyvale Lease after 84 months in exchange for an early termination fee.
During the first quarter of 2010, the Company began a build-out of this facility and expects to incur approximately $11.5 million in construction costs. Under the terms of the Sunnyvale Lease, the landlord has agreed to reimburse the Company approximately $10.0 million of this amount. Because certain improvements to be constructed by the Company are considered structural in nature and the Company is responsible for any cost overruns, for accounting purposes the Company is treated as the owner of the construction project for the effect of lessee involvement in asset construction.
Therefore, the Company has capitalized $25.1 million in property and equipment based on the estimated fair value of the portion of the building that it will occupy with a corresponding liability for construction in progress. The fair value was determined as of December 15, 2009 using level 3 fair value inputs (See Note 15, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” for discussion on level 3 inputs) and the cost approach which measures the value of an asset as the cost to reconstruct or replace it with another asset of like utility.
Upon completion of construction, the Company will apply sale-leaseback accounting. At that time, the Company will determine whether the lease will be treated as a capital or operating lease.
On March 8, 2010, the Company entered into a lease agreement with Fogg-Brecksville Development Co. (the “Ohio Landlord”) for 24,814 square feet of space consisting of 7,158 square feet of office area and 17,656 square feet of warehouse area, located in Brecksville, Ohio (the “Ohio Lease”). The Company plans to move to the new premises in the third quarter of 2010 following completion of leasehold improvements. The warehouse area will be converted into office space and manufacturing space. The office space will be used for the Lighting and Display Technology (“LDT”) group’s engineering activities while the manufacturing space will be used for the manufacturer of prototypes for the LDT group. The Ohio Lease has a term of 60 months from the commencement date. The initial annual base rent is approximately $136,000. In addition to the base rent, the Company will also pay operating
expenses, insurance expenses, real estate taxes and a management fee. The Company has an option to extend the Lease for a period of 60 months.
During the first quarter of 2010, the Company began a build-out of this facility and expects to incur approximately $1.4 million in construction costs. Because certain improvements to be constructed by the Company are considered structural in nature and the Company is responsible for any cost overruns, for accounting purposes the Company is treated as the owner of the construction project for the effect of lessee involvement in asset construction.
Therefore, the Company has capitalized $0.8 million in property and equipment based on the estimated fair value of the portion of the building that it will occupy with a corresponding liability for construction in progress. The fair value was determined as of March 8, 2010 using level 3 fair value inputs and the cost approach which measures the value of an asset as the cost to reconstruct or replace it with another asset of like utility. Upon completion of construction in the third quarter of 2010, the Company will assess whether sale-leaseback accounting applies to this arrangement. At the end of the lease term in 2015, the Company has an option to renew the lease for an additional 60 months.
On June 29, 2009, the Company entered into an Indenture by and between the Company and U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee, relating to the issuance by the Company of $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5% convertible senior notes due June 15, 2014 (the “2014 Notes”). On July 10, 2009, an additional $22.5 million in aggregate principal amount of 2014 Notes were issued as a result of the underwriters exercising their overallotment option. The aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Notes outstanding as of March 31, 2010 was $172.5 million, offset by unamortized debt discount of $57.7 million in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The debt discount is currently being amortized over the remaining 51 months until maturity of the 2014 Notes on June 15, 2014. See Note 16, “Convertible Notes,” for additional details.
As of March 31, 2010, Rambus’ material contractual obligations are:
(in thousands)
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Remainder
of 2010
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
Contractual obligations(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leases (2)
|
|
$ |
51,740 |
|
|
$ |
7,197 |
|
|
$ |
5,163 |
|
|
$ |
5,197 |
|
|
$ |
4,477 |
|
|
$ |
4,580 |
|
|
$ |
25,126 |
|
Convertible notes
|
|
|
172,500 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
172,500 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Interest payments related
to convertible notes
|
|
|
36,276 |
|
|
|
6,469 |
|
|
|
8,625 |
|
|
|
8,625 |
|
|
|
8,625 |
|
|
|
3,932 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
260,516 |
|
|
$ |
13,666 |
|
|
$ |
13,788 |
|
|
$ |
13,822 |
|
|
$ |
13,102 |
|
|
$ |
181,012 |
|
|
$ |
25,126 |
|
____________
(1)
|
The above table does not reflect possible payments in connection with uncertain tax benefits of approximately $10.5 million, including $8.5 million recorded as a reduction of long-term deferred tax assets and $2.0 million in long-term income taxes payable, as of March 31, 2010. As noted below in Note 10, “Income Taxes,” although it is possible that some of the unrecognized tax benefits could be settled within the next 12 months, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the outcome at this time.
|
(2)
|
Includes both the Sunnyvale Lease and Ohio Lease.
|
Rent expense was approximately $1.8 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Deferred rent of $0.8 million as of March 31, 2010 was included primarily in current liabilities. Deferred rent of $0.7 million as of December 31, 2009 was included primarily in current liabilities.
Indemnifications
The Company enters into standard license agreements in the ordinary course of business. Although the Company does not indemnify most of its customers, there are times when an indemnification is a necessary means of doing business. Indemnifications cover customers for losses suffered or incurred by them as a result of any patent, copyright, or other intellectual property infringement claim by any third party with respect to the Company’s products. The maximum amount of indemnification the Company could be required to make under these agreements is generally limited to fees received by the Company.
Several securities fraud class actions, private lawsuits and shareholder derivative actions were filed in state and federal courts against certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors related to the stock option granting actions. As permitted
under Delaware law, the Company has agreements whereby its officers and directors are indemnified for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was serving, at the Company’s request in such capacity. The term of the indemnification period is for the officer’s or director’s term in such capacity. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. The Company has a director and officer insurance policy that reduces the Company’s exposure and enables the Company to recover a portion of future amounts to be paid. As a result of these indemnification agreements, the Company continues to make payments on behalf of current and former officers. As of March 31, 2010, the Company had made payments of approximately $12.1 million on their behalf, including $0.7 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2010. These payment were recorded under costs of restatement and related legal activities in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company received approximately $5.3 million from the former officers related to their settlement agreements with the Company in connection with the derivative and class action lawsuits which was comprised of approximately $4.5 million in cash received in the first quarter of 2009 as well as approximately 163,000 shares of the Company’s stock with a value of approximately $0.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company received $0.1 million from insurance settlements related to the defense of the Company, its directors and its officers which were recorded under costs (recoveries) of restatement and related legal activities in the consolidated statements of operations.
9. Stockholders’ Equity and Contingently Redeemable Common Stock
Contingently Redeemable Common Stock
On January 19, 2010, pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, Samsung purchased for cash the Shares with certain restrictions and put rights. The issuance of the Shares by the Company to Samsung was made through a private transaction. The Stock Purchase Agreement provides Samsung a one-time put right, beginning 18 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement and extending to 19 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, to elect to put back to the Company up to 4.8 million of the Shares at the original issue price of $20.885 per share (for an aggregate purchase price of up to $100.0 million). The 4.8 million shares have been recorded, at estimated Fair Value, as contingently redeemable common stock on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2010.
The Stock Purchase Agreement prohibits the transfer of the Shares by Samsung for 18 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, subject to certain exceptions. After expiration of the transfer restriction period, the Stock Purchase Agreement provides that Samsung may transfer a limited number of shares on a daily basis, provides the Company with a right of first offer for proposed transfers above such daily limits, and, if no sale occurs to the Company under the right of first offer, allows Samsung to transfer the Shares. Under the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company has also agreed that after the transfer restriction period, Samsung will have certain rights to register the Shares for sale under the securities laws of the United States, subject to customary terms and conditions.
The 9.6 million shares were accounted for as part of a multiple element arrangement where the Fair Value was determined to be $192.0 million as follows:
|
·
|
$113.5 million related to 4.8 million shares treated as contingently redeemable common stock due to the contractual put rights associated with those shares
|
|
·
|
$78.5 million related to the remaining 4.8 million shares treated as stockholders’ equity
|
See Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung,” for further discussion.
Share Repurchase Program
In October 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved a share repurchase program of its Common Stock, principally to reduce the dilutive effect of employee stock options and the issuance of shares to Samsung. Under this program, the Board approved the authorization to repurchase up to 19.0 million shares of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock over an undefined period of time. On February 25, 2010, the Board approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to an additional 12.5 million shares. Share repurchases under the program may be made through open market, established plan or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with all applicable securities laws, rules, and regulations. There is no expiration date applicable to the program. The new share repurchase program replaces the program authorized in October 2001.
During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company repurchased approximately 1.2 million shares of its Common Stock with an aggregate price of approximately $26.5 million. As of March 31, 2010, the Company had repurchased a cumulative total of
approximately 18.0 million shares of its Common Stock with an aggregate price of approximately $260.2 million since the commencement of the program in 2001. As of March 31, 2010, there remained an outstanding authorization to repurchase approximately 13.5 million shares of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.
The Company records stock repurchases as a reduction to stockholders’ equity. The Company records a portion of the purchase price of the repurchased shares as an increase to accumulated deficit when the cost of the shares repurchased exceeds the average original proceeds per share received from the issuance of Common Stock. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the cumulative price of the shares repurchased exceeded the proceeds received from the issuance of the same number of shares. The excess of $22.5 million was recorded as an increase to accumulated deficit for the three months ended March 31, 2010.
10. Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was 23.2% which is lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate applied to the Company’s income before taxes primarily due to a full valuation allowance on its U.S. net deferred tax assets, partially offset by foreign withholding taxes and U.S. and state alternative minimum taxes. The effective tax rate for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 was 0.1% which is lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate applied to the Company’s net loss primarily due to a full valuation allowance on its U.S. net deferred tax assets, foreign income taxes and state income taxes, partially offset by refundable research and development tax credits.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company paid withholding taxes of $42.6 million to the Korean tax authorities related to the payments received under the Settlement Agreement and License Agreement with Samsung. The Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $45.7 million for the quarter, which is primarily comprised of the Korean taxes and U.S. alternative minimum taxes. As the Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets, the Company’s tax provision is based primarily on the Korean taxes and U.S. and state alternative minimum taxes.
As of March 31, 2010, the Company’s consolidated balance sheets included net deferred tax assets, before valuation allowance, of approximately $119.6 million, which consists of net operating loss carryovers, tax credit carryovers, depreciation and amortization, employee stock-based compensation expenses and certain liabilities, partially reduced by deferred tax liabilities associated with the convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial cash settlements. As of March 31, 2010, a valuation allowance of $117.4 million has been maintained against the U.S. deferred tax assets. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, we reduced our deferred tax assets from $153.1 million to $119.6 million, and reduced our valuation allowance from $150.9 million to $117.4 million. This partial release of our valuation allowance offset our U.S. tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Management periodically evaluates the realizability of the Company’s net deferred tax assets based on all available evidence, both positive and negative. The realization of net deferred tax assets is solely dependent on the Company’s ability to generate sufficient future taxable income during periods prior to the expiration of tax statutes to fully utilize these assets. The Company intends to maintain the valuation allowance until sufficient positive evidence exists to support reversal of the valuation allowance.
The Company maintains liabilities for uncertain tax benefits within its non-current income taxes payable accounts. These liabilities involve judgment and estimation and are monitored by management based on the best information available including changes in tax regulations, the outcome of relevant court cases and other information.
As of March 31, 2010, the Company had $10.5 million of unrecognized tax benefits, including $7.5 million recorded as a reduction of long-term deferred tax assets, which is net of approximately $1.0 million of federal tax benefit, and including $2.0 million in long-term income taxes payable. If recognized, approximately $0.8 million would be recorded as an income tax benefit. No benefit would be recorded for the remaining unrecognized tax benefits as the recognition would require a corresponding increase in the valuation allowance. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had $10.4 million of unrecognized tax benefits, including $7.5 million recorded as a reduction of long-term deferred tax assets, which is net of approximately $0.9 million of federal tax benefits, and including $2.0 million in long-term income taxes payable.
Although it is possible that some of the unrecognized tax benefits could be settled within the next 12 months, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the outcome at this time.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of the income tax provision (benefit). At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, an insignificant amount of interest and penalties are included in long-term income taxes payable.
The Company files U.S. federal income tax returns as well as income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is currently under examination by the California Franchise Tax Board for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003 and the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004. Although the outcome of any tax audit is uncertain, the Company believes it has adequately provided for any additional taxes that may be required to be paid as a result of such examinations. If the Company determines that no payment will ultimately be required, the reversal of these tax liabilities may result in tax benefits being recognized in the period when that conclusion is reached. However, if an ultimate tax assessment exceeds the recorded tax liability for that item, an additional tax provision may need to be recorded. The impact of such adjustments in the Company’s tax accounts could have a material impact on the consolidated results of operations in future periods.
The Company is subject to examination by the IRS for the tax years ended 2006 through 2008. The Company is also subject to examination by the State of California for tax years ended 2005 through 2008. In addition, any R&D credit and net operating loss carryforwards generated in prior years and utilized in these or future years may also be subject to examination by the IRS and the State of California. The Company is also subject to examination in various other jurisdictions for various periods.
11. Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing the earnings (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares consist of incremental common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options, employee stock purchases, restricted stock and restricted stock units, and shares issuable upon the conversion of convertible notes. The dilutive effect of outstanding shares is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method. This method includes consideration of the amounts to be paid by the employees, the amount of excess tax benefits that would be recognized in equity if the instrument was exercised and the amount of unrecognized stock-based compensation related to future services. No potential dilutive common shares are included in the computation of any diluted per share amount when a net loss is reported. As discussed in Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung,” the Company reported approximately 4.8 million shares issued to Samsung as contingently redeemable common stock due to the contractual put rights associated with those shares. As such, the Company uses the two-class method for reporting earnings per share.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income (loss) per share:
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CRCS*
|
|
|
Other CS**
|
|
|
CRCS*
|
|
|
Other CS**
|
|
Basic net income (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allocation of undistributed earnings
|
|
$ |
5,109 |
|
|
$ |
145,790 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(17,426 |
) |
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
|
|
|
3,830 |
|
|
|
109,302 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
104,376 |
|
Basic net income (loss) per share
|
|
$ |
1.33 |
|
|
$ |
1.33 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(0.17 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted net income (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allocation of undistributed earnings for basic computation
|
|
$ |
5,109 |
|
|
$ |
145,790 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(17,426 |
) |
Reallocation of undistributed earnings
|
|
|
(188 |
) |
|
|
188 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Allocation of undistributed earnings for diluted computation
|
|
$ |
4,921 |
|
|
$ |
145,978 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(17,426 |
) |
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of shares used in basic computation
|
|
|
3,830 |
|
|
|
109,302 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
104,376 |
|
Dilutive potential shares from stock options, ESPP, Convertible notes and nonvested equity stock and stock units
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,331 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Number of shares used in diluted computation
|
|
|
3,830 |
|
|
|
113,633 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
104,376 |
|
Diluted net income (loss) per share
|
|
$ |
1.28 |
|
|
$ |
1.28 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(0.17 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
____________
* CRCS — Contingently Redeemable Common Stock
** Other CS — Common Stock other than CRCS
For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, options to purchase approximately 7.1 million and 14.3 million shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculation because they were anti-dilutive after considering proceeds from exercise, taxes and related unrecognized stock-based compensation expense. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, an additional 0.7 million shares, including nonvested equity stock and stock units, that would be dilutive have been excluded from the weighted average dilutive shares because there was a net loss for the period.
12.
|
Business Segments, Exports and Major Customers
|
Rambus has two operating segments: (1) the design, development and licensing of memory and logic interfaces and (2) lighting and optoelectronics, and other technologies. For reporting purposes, the two operating segments have been combined as the assets and operating results of the lighting and optoelectronics group are not considered significant as of March 31, 2010. One customer accounted for 85% of revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2010. Four customers accounted for 25%, 18%, 14% and 13%, respectively, of revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2009. Rambus expects that its revenue concentration will decrease over time as Rambus licenses new customers.
Rambus licenses its technologies and patents to customers in the Far East, North America, and Europe. Revenue from customers in the following geographic regions were recognized as follows (amounts in thousands):
|
|
Three Months Ended
March 31,
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Japan
|
|
$ |
19,036 |
|
|
$ |
21,811 |
|
North America
|
|
|
5,485 |
|
|
|
5,268 |
|
Taiwan
|
|
|
45 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
Korea
|
|
|
137,166 |
|
|
|
142 |
|
Singapore
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
43 |
|
Europe
|
|
|
132 |
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
$ |
161,864 |
|
|
$ |
27,334 |
|
At March 31, 2010, of the $38.0 million of total property and equipment, approximately $36.4 million are located in the United States, $1.4 million are located in India and $0.2 million are located in other foreign locations. At December 31, 2009, of the $39.0 million of total property and equipment, approximately $37.1 million are located in the United States, $1.6 million are located in India and $0.3 million were located in other foreign locations.
13. Amortizable Intangible Assets
The components of the Company’s intangible assets as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:
|
|
As of March 31, 2010
|
|
|
|
Gross Carrying
Amount
|
|
|
Accumulated
Amortization
|
|
|
Net Carrying
Amount
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
Patents
|
|
$ |
13,973 |
|
|
$ |
(7,285 |
) |
|
$ |
6,688 |
|
Intellectual property
|
|
|
10,384 |
|
|
|
(10,384 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Customer contracts and contractual relationships
|
|
|
4,050 |
|
|
|
(2,852 |
) |
|
|
1,198 |
|
Existing technology
|
|
|
17,550 |
|
|
|
(3,331 |
) |
|
|
14,219 |
|
Non-competition agreement
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
(100 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Total intangible assets
|
|
$ |
46,057 |
|
|
$ |
(23,952 |
) |
|
$ |
22,105 |
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
Gross Carrying
Amount
|
|
|
Accumulated
Amortization
|
|
|
Net Carrying
Amount
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
Patents
|
|
$ |
12,441 |
|
|
$ |
(6,876 |
) |
|
$ |
5,565 |
|
Intellectual property
|
|
|
10,384 |
|
|
|
(10,384 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Customer contracts and contractual relationships
|
|
|
4,050 |
|
|
|
(2,717 |
) |
|
|
1,333 |
|
Existing technology
|
|
|
17,550 |
|
|
|
(2,788 |
) |
|
|
14,762 |
|
Non-competition agreement
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
(100 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Total intangible assets
|
|
$ |
44,525 |
|
|
$ |
(22,865 |
) |
|
$ |
21,660 |
|
Amortization expense for intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 was $1.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively.
During the first quarter of 2010, the Company purchased patents related to memory and other applications in an asset acquisition for approximately $1.5 million.
The estimated future amortization expense of intangible assets as of March 31, 2010 was as follows (amounts in thousands):
Years Ending December 31:
|
|
Amount
|
|
2010 (remaining 9 months)
|
|
$ |
3,289 |
|
2011
|
|
|
4,054 |
|
2012
|
|
|
3,781 |
|
2013
|
|
|
3,475 |
|
2014
|
|
|
2,574 |
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
4,932 |
|
|
|
$ |
22,105 |
|
14. Litigation and Asserted Claims
Hynix Litigation
U.S District Court of the Northern District of California
On August 29, 2000, Hynix (formerly Hyundai) and various subsidiaries filed suit against Rambus in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint, as amended and narrowed through motion practice, asserts claims for fraud, violations of federal antitrust laws and deceptive practices in connection with Rambus’ participation in a standards setting organization called JEDEC, and seeks a declaratory judgment that the Rambus patents-in-suit are unenforceable, invalid and not infringed by Hynix, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees. Rambus denied Hynix’s claims and filed counterclaims for patent infringement against Hynix.
The case was divided into three phases. In the first phase, Hynix tried its unclean hands defense beginning on October 17, 2005 and concluding on November 1, 2005. In its January 4, 2006 Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the court held that Hynix’s unclean hands defense failed. Among other things, the court found that Rambus did not adopt its document retention policy in bad faith, did not engage in unlawful spoliation of evidence, and that while Rambus disposed of some relevant documents pursuant to its document retention policy, Hynix was not prejudiced by the destruction of Rambus documents. On January 19, 2009, Hynix filed a motion for reconsideration of the court’s unclean hands order and for summary judgment on the ground that the decision by the Delaware court in the pending Micron-Rambus litigation (described below) should be given preclusive effect. In its motion Hynix requested alternatively that the court’s unclean hands order be certified for appeal and that the remainder of the case be stayed. Rambus filed an opposition to Hynix’s motion on January 26, 2009, and a hearing was held on January 30, 2009. On February 3, 2009, the court denied Hynix’s motions and restated its conclusions that Rambus had not anticipated litigation until late 1999 and that Hynix had not demonstrated any prejudice from any alleged destruction of evidence.
The second phase of the Hynix-Rambus trial — on patent infringement, validity and damages — began on March 15, 2006, and was submitted to the jury on April 13, 2006. On April 24, 2006, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Rambus on all issues and awarded Rambus a total of approximately $307 million in damages, excluding prejudgment interest. Specifically, the jury found that each of the ten selected patent claims was supported by the written description, and was not anticipated or rendered obvious by prior art; therefore, none of the patent claims was invalid. The jury also found that Hynix infringed all eight of the patent claims for which the jury was asked to determine infringement; the court had previously determined on summary judgment that Hynix infringed the other two claims at issue in the trial. On July 14, 2006, the court granted Hynix’s motion for a new trial on the issue of damages unless Rambus agreed to a reduction of the total jury award to approximately $134 million. The court found that the record supported a maximum royalty rate of 1% for SDR SDRAM and 4.25% for DDR SDRAM, which the court applied to the stipulated U.S. sales of infringing Hynix products through December 31, 2005. On July 27, 2006, Rambus elected remittitur of the jury’s award to approximately $134 million. On August 30, 2006, the court awarded Rambus prejudgment interest for the period June 23, 2000 through December 31, 2005. Hynix filed a motion on July 7, 2008 to reduce the amount of remitted damages and any supplemental damages that the court may award, as well as to limit the products that could be affected by any injunction that the court may grant, on the grounds of patent exhaustion. Following a hearing on August 29, 2008, the court denied Hynix’s motion. In separate orders issued
December 2, 2008, January 16, 2009, and January 27, 2009, the court denied Hynix’s post-trial motions for judgment as a matter of law and new trial on infringement and validity.
On June 24, 2008, the court heard oral argument on Rambus’ motion to supplement the damages award and for equitable relief related to Hynix’s infringement of Rambus patents. On February 23, 2009, the court issued an order (1) granting Rambus’ motion for supplemental damages and prejudgment interest for the period after December 31, 2005, at the same rates ordered for the prior period; (2) denying Rambus’ motion for an injunction; and (3) ordering the parties to begin negotiations regarding the terms of a compulsory license regarding Hynix’s continued manufacture, use, and sale of infringing devices.
The third phase of the Hynix-Rambus trial involved Hynix’s affirmative JEDEC-related antitrust and fraud allegations against Rambus. On April 24, 2007, the court ordered a coordinated trial of certain common JEDEC-related claims alleged by the manufacturer parties (i.e., Hynix, Micron, Nanya and Samsung) and defenses asserted by Rambus in Hynix v Rambus, Case No. C 00-20905 RMW, and three other cases pending before the same court (Rambus Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. et al., Case No. 05-02298 RMW, Rambus Inc. v. Hynix Semiconductor Inc., et al., Case No. 05-00334, and Rambus Inc. v. Micron Technology, Inc., et al., Case No. C 06-00244 RMW, each described in further detail below). On December 14, 2007, the court excused Samsung from the coordinated trial based on Samsung’s agreement to certain conditions, including trial of its claims against Rambus by the court within six months following the conclusion of the coordinated trial. The coordinated trial involving Rambus, Hynix, Micron and Nanya began on January 29, 2008, and was submitted to the jury on March 25, 2008. On March 26, 2008, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Rambus and against Hynix, Micron, and Nanya on each of their claims. Specifically, the jury found that Hynix, Micron, and Nanya failed to meet their burden of proving that: (1) Rambus engaged in anticompetitive conduct; (2) Rambus made important representations that it did not have any intellectual property pertaining to the work of JEDEC and intended or reasonably expected that the representations would be heard by or repeated to others including Hynix, Micron or Nanya; (3) Rambus uttered deceptive half-truths about its intellectual property coverage or potential coverage of products compliant with synchronous DRAM standards then being considered by JEDEC by disclosing some facts but failing to disclose other important facts; or (4) JEDEC members shared a clearly defined expectation that members would disclose relevant knowledge they had about patent applications or the intent to file patent applications on technology being considered for adoption as a JEDEC standard. Hynix, Micron, and Nanya filed motions for a new trial and for judgment on certain of their equitable claims and defenses. A hearing on those motions was held on May 1, 2008. A further hearing on the equitable claims and defenses was held on May 27, 2008. On July 24, 2008, the court issued an order denying Hynix, Micron, and Nanya’s motions for new trial.
On March 3, 2009, the court issued an order rejecting Hynix, Micron, and Nanya’s equitable claims and defenses that had been tried during the coordinated trial. The court concluded (among other things) that (1) Rambus did not have an obligation to disclose pending or anticipated patent applications and had sound reasons for not doing so; (2) the evidence supported the jury’s finding that JEDEC members did not share a clearly defined expectation that members would disclose relevant knowledge they had about patent applications or the intent to file patent applications on technology being considered for adoption as a JEDEC standard; (3) the written JEDEC disclosure policies did not clearly require members to disclose information about patent applications and the intent to file patent applications in the future; (4) there was no clearly understood or legally enforceable agreement of JEDEC members to disclose information about patent applications or the intent to seek patents relevant to standards being discussed at JEDEC; (5) during the time Rambus attended JEDEC meetings, Rambus did not have any patent application pending that covered a JEDEC standard, and none of the patents in suit was applied for until well after Rambus resigned from JEDEC; (6) Rambus’s conduct at JEDEC did not constitute an estoppel or waiver of its rights to enforce its patents; (7) Hynix, Micron, and Nanya failed to carry their burden to prove their asserted waiver and estoppel defenses not directly based on Rambus’s conduct at JEDEC; (8) the evidence did not support a finding of any material misrepresentation, half truths or fraudulent concealment by Rambus related to JEDEC upon which Nanya relied; (9) the manufacturers failed to establish that Rambus violated unfair competition law by its conduct before JEDEC; (10) the evidence related to Rambus’s patent prosecution did not establish that Rambus unduly delayed in prosecuting the claims in suit; (11) Rambus did not unreasonably delay bringing its patent infringement claims; and (12) there is no basis for any unclean hands defense or unenforceability claim arising from Rambus’s conduct.
On March 10, 2009, the court entered final judgment against Hynix in the amount of approximately $397 million as follows: approximately $134 million for infringement through December 31, 2005; approximately $215 million for infringement from January 1, 2006 through January 31, 2009; and approximately $48 million in pre-judgment interest. Post-judgment interest is accruing at the statutory rate. In addition, the judgment orders Hynix to pay Rambus royalties on net sales for U.S. infringement after January 31, 2009 and before April 18, 2010 of 1% for SDR SDRAM and 4.25% for DDR DDR2, DDR3, GDDR, GDDR2 and GDDR3 SDRAM memory devices. On April 9, 2009, Rambus submitted its cost bill in the amount of approximately $0.85 million. On March 24, 2009, Hynix filed a motion under Rule 62 seeking relief from the requirement that it post a supersedeas bond in the full amount of the final judgment in order to stay its execution pending an appeal. Rambus filed a brief opposing Hynix’s motion on April 10, 2009. A hearing
on Hynix’s motion was heard on May 8, 2009. On May 14, 2009, the court granted Hynix’s motion in part and ordered that execution of the judgment be stayed on the condition that, within 45 days, Hynix post a supersedeas bond in the amount of $250 million and provide Rambus with documentation establishing a lien in Rambus’s favor on property owned by Hynix in Korea in the amount of the judgment not covered by the supersedeas bond. The court also ordered that Hynix pay the ongoing royalties set forth in the final judgment into an escrow account. Hynix posted the $250 million supersedeas bond on June 26, 2009. Hynix has deposited amounts into the escrow account pursuant to the court’s order regarding ongoing royalties. The escrowed funds will be released only upon agreement of the parties or further court order in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the escrow arrangement. On March 8, 2010, the court awarded costs to Rambus in the amount of approximately $0.76 million.
On April 6, 2009, Hynix filed its notice of appeal. On April 17, 2009, Rambus filed its notice of cross appeal. Hynix filed a motion to dismiss Rambus’ cross-appeal on July 1, 2009, and Rambus filed an opposition to Hynix’s motion on July 15, 2009. On July 23, 2009, Rambus and Hynix filed a joint motion to assign this appeal to the same panel hearing the appeal in the Micron Delaware case (discussed below) and to coordinate oral arguments of the two appeals. On August 17, 2009, the Federal Circuit issued an order 1) granting the joint motion to coordinate oral arguments of the two appeals; and 2) denying Hynix’s motion to dismiss Rambus’s cross-appeal. On August 31, 2009, Hynix filed its opening brief. On December 7, 2009, Rambus filed its answering and opening cross-appeal brief. Hynix’s reply and answering brief was filed February 16, 2010, and Rambus’s reply was filed February 23, 2010. Oral argument was held on April 5, 2010. No decision has been issued to date.
Micron Litigation
U.S District Court in Delaware: Case No. 00-792-SLR
On August 28, 2000, Micron filed suit against Rambus in the U.S. District Court for Delaware. The suit asserts violations of federal antitrust laws, deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, fraud and negligent misrepresentation in connection with Rambus’ participation in JEDEC. Micron seeks a declaration of monopolization by Rambus, compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, a declaratory judgment that eight Rambus patents are invalid and not infringed, and the award to Micron of a royalty-free license to the Rambus patents. Rambus has filed an answer and counterclaims disputing Micron’s claims and asserting infringement by Micron of 12 U.S. patents.
This case has been divided into three phases in the same general order as in the Hynix 00-20905 action: (1) unclean hands; (2) patent infringement; and (3) antitrust, equitable estoppel, and other JEDEC-related issues. A bench trial on Micron’s unclean hands defense began on November 8, 2007 and concluded on November 15, 2007. The court ordered post-trial briefing on the issue of when Rambus became obligated to preserve documents because it anticipated litigation. A hearing on that issue was held on May 20, 2008. The court ordered further post-trial briefing on the remaining issues from the unclean hands trial, and a hearing on those issues was held on September 19, 2008.
On January 9, 2009, the court issued an opinion in which it determined that Rambus had engaged in spoliation of evidence by failing to suspend general implementation of a document retention policy after the point at which the court determined that Rambus should have known litigation was reasonably foreseeable. The court issued an accompanying order declaring the 12 patents in suit unenforceable against Micron (the “Delaware Order”). On February 9, 2009, the court stayed all other proceedings pending appeal of the Delaware Order. On February 10, 2009, judgment was entered against Rambus and in favor of Micron on Rambus’ patent infringement claims and Micron’s corresponding claims for declaratory relief. On March 11, 2009, Rambus filed its notice of appeal. Rambus filed its opening brief on July 2, 2009. On July 24, 2009, Rambus filed a motion to assign this appeal to the same panel hearing the appeal in the Hynix case (discussed above) and to coordinate oral arguments of the two appeals. On August 8, 2009, Micron filed an opposition to Rambus’s motion to coordinate. On August 17, 2009, the Federal Circuit issued an order granting Rambus’s motion to coordinate oral arguments of the two appeals. On August 28, 2009, Micron filed its answering brief. On October 14, 2009, Rambus filed its reply brief. Oral argument was held on April 5, 2010. No decision has been issued to date.
U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California
On January 13, 2006, Rambus filed suit against Micron in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Rambus alleges that 14 Rambus patents are infringed by Micron’s DDR2, DDR3, GDDR3, and other advanced memory products. Rambus seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and injunctive relief. Micron has denied Rambus’ allegations and is alleging counterclaims for violations of federal antitrust laws, unfair trade practices, equitable estoppel, fraud and negligent misrepresentation in connection with Rambus’ participation in JEDEC. Micron seeks a declaration of monopolization by Rambus,
injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and a declaratory judgment of invalidity, unenforceability, and noninfringement of the 14 patents in suit.
As explained above, the court ordered a coordinated trial (without Samsung) of certain common JEDEC-related claims and defenses asserted in Hynix v Rambus, Case No. C 00-20905 RMW, Rambus Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. et al., Case No. 05-02298 RMW, Rambus Inc. v. Hynix Semiconductor Inc., et al., Case No. 05-00334, and Rambus Inc. v. Micron Technology, Inc., et al., Case No. C 06-00244 RMW. The coordinated trial involving Rambus, Hynix, Micron and Nanya began on January 29, 2008, and was submitted to the jury on March 25, 2008. On March 26, 2008, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Rambus and against Hynix, Micron, and Nanya on each of their claims. Specifically, the jury found that Hynix, Micron, and Nanya failed to meet their burden of proving that: (1) Rambus engaged in anticompetitive conduct; (2) Rambus made important representations that it did not have any intellectual property pertaining to the work of JEDEC and intended or reasonably expected that the representations would be heard by or repeated to others including Hynix, Micron or Nanya; (3) Rambus uttered deceptive half-truths about its intellectual property coverage or potential coverage of products compliant with synchronous DRAM standards then being considered by JEDEC by disclosing some facts but failing to disclose other important facts; or (4) JEDEC members shared a clearly defined expectation that members would disclose relevant knowledge they had about patent applications or the intent to file patent applications on technology being considered for adoption as a JEDEC standard. Hynix, Micron, and Nanya filed motions for a new trial and for judgment on certain of their equitable claims and defenses. A hearing on those motions was held on May 1, 2008. A further hearing on the equitable claims and defenses was held on May 27, 2008. On July 24, 2008, the court issued an order denying Hynix, Micron, and Nanya’s motions for new trial.
On March 3, 2009, the court issued an order rejecting Hynix, Micron, and Nanya’s equitable claims and defenses that had been tried during the coordinated trial. The court concluded (among other things) that (1) Rambus did not have an obligation to disclose pending or anticipated patent applications and had sound reasons for not doing so; (2) the evidence supported the jury’s finding that JEDEC members did not share a clearly defined expectation that members would disclose relevant knowledge they had about patent applications or the intent to file patent applications on technology being considered for adoption as a JEDEC standard; (3) the written JEDEC disclosure policies did not clearly require members to disclose information about patent applications and the intent to file patent applications in the future; (4) there was no clearly understood or legally enforceable agreement of JEDEC members to disclose information about patent applications or the intent to seek patents relevant to standards being discussed at JEDEC; (5) during the time Rambus attended JEDEC meetings, Rambus did not have any patent application pending that covered a JEDEC standard, and none of the patents in suit was applied for until well after Rambus resigned from JEDEC; (6) Rambus’s conduct at JEDEC did not constitute an estoppel or waiver of its rights to enforce its patents; (7) Hynix, Micron, and Nanya failed to carry their burden to prove their asserted waiver and estoppel defenses not directly based on Rambus’s conduct at JEDEC; (8) the evidence did not support a finding of any material misrepresentation, half truths or fraudulent concealment by Rambus related to JEDEC upon which Nanya relied; (9) the manufacturers failed to establish that Rambus violated unfair competition law by its conduct before JEDEC; (10) the evidence related to Rambus’s patent prosecution did not establish that Rambus unduly delayed in prosecuting the claims in suit; (11) Rambus did not unreasonably delay bringing its patent infringement claims; and (12) there is no basis for any unclean hands defense or unenforceability claim arising from Rambus’s conduct.
In these cases (except for the Hynix 00-20905 action), a hearing on claim construction and the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment on infringement and validity was held on June 4 and 5, 2008. On July 10, 2008, the court issued its claim construction order relating to the Farmwald/Horowitz patents in suit and denied Hynix, Micron, Nanya, and Samsung’s (collectively, the “Manufacturers”) motions for summary judgment of noninfringement and invalidity based on their proposed claim construction. The court issued claim construction orders relating to the Ware patents in suit on July 25 and August 27, 2008, and denied the Manufacturers’ motion for summary judgment of noninfringement of certain claims. On September 4, 2008, at the court’s direction, Rambus elected to proceed to trial on 12 patent claims, each from the Farmwald/Horowitz family. On September 16, 2008, Rambus granted a covenant not to assert any claim of patent infringement against the Manufacturers under the Ware patents in suit (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,493,789 and 6,496,897), and each party’s claims relating to those patents were dismissed with prejudice. On November 21, 2008, the court entered an order clarifying certain aspects of its July 10, 2008, claim construction order. On November 24, 2008, the court granted Rambus’ motion for summary judgment of direct infringement with respect to claim 16 of Rambus’ U.S. Patent No. 6,266,285 by the Manufacturers’ DDR2, DDR3, gDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4 memory chip products (except for Nanya’s DDR3 memory chip products). In the same order, the court denied the remainder of Rambus’ motion for summary judgment of infringement.
On January 19, 2009, Micron filed a motion for summary judgment on the ground that the Delaware Order should be given preclusive effect. Rambus filed an opposition to Micron’s motion on January 26, 2009, and a hearing was held on January 30, 2009. On February 3, 2009, the court entered a stay of this action pending resolution of Rambus’ appeal of the Delaware Order.
European Patent Infringement Cases
In 2001, Rambus filed suit against Micron in Mannheim, Germany, for infringement of European patent, EP 1 022 642. That suit has not been active. Two proceedings in Italy remain ongoing relating to Rambus’s claim that Micron is infringing European patent, EP 1 004 956, and Micron’s purported claim resulting from a seizure of evidence in Italy in 2000 carried out by Rambus pursuant to a court order.
DDR2, DDR3, gDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4 Litigation (“DDR2”)
U.S District Court in the Northern District of California
On January 25, 2005, Rambus filed a patent infringement suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California court against Hynix, Infineon, Nanya, and Inotera. Infineon and Inotera were subsequently dismissed from this litigation and Samsung was added as a defendant. Rambus alleges that certain of its patents are infringed by certain of the defendants’ SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3, gDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4 and other advanced memory products. Hynix, Samsung and Nanya have denied Rambus’ claims and asserted counterclaims against Rambus for, among other things, violations of federal antitrust laws, unfair trade practices, equitable estoppel, and fraud in connection with Rambus’ participation in JEDEC.
As explained above, the court ordered a coordinated trial of certain common JEDEC-related claims and defenses asserted in Hynix v Rambus, Case No. C 00-20905 RMW, Rambus Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. et al., Case No. 05-02298 RMW, Rambus Inc. v. Hynix Semiconductor Inc., et al., Case No. 05-00334, and Rambus Inc. v. Micron Technology, Inc., et al., Case No. C 06-00244 RMW. The court subsequently excused Samsung from the coordinated trial on December 14, 2007, based on Samsung’s agreement to certain conditions, including trial of its claims against Rambus within six months following the conclusion of the coordinated trial. The coordinated trial involving Rambus, Hynix, Micron and Nanya began on January 29, 2008, and was submitted to the jury on March 25, 2008. On March 26, 2008, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Rambus and against Hynix, Micron, and Nanya on each of their claims. Specifically, the jury found that Hynix, Micron, and Nanya failed to meet their burden of proving that: (1) Rambus engaged in anticompetitive conduct; (2) Rambus made important representations that it did not have any intellectual property pertaining to the work of JEDEC and intended or reasonably expected that the representations would be heard by or repeated to others including Hynix, Micron or Nanya; (3) Rambus uttered deceptive half- truths about its intellectual property coverage or potential coverage of products compliant with synchronous DRAM standards then being considered by JEDEC by disclosing some facts but failing to disclose other important facts; or (4) JEDEC members shared a clearly defined expectation that members would disclose relevant knowledge they had about patent applications or the intent to file patent applications on technology being considered for adoption as a JEDEC standard. Hynix, Micron, and Nanya filed motions for a new trial and for judgment on certain of their equitable claims and defenses. A hearing on those motions was held on May 1, 2008. A further hearing on the equitable claims and defenses was held on May 27, 2008. On July 24, 2008, the court issued an order denying Hynix, Micron, and Nanya’s motions for new trial.
On March 3, 2009, the court issued an order rejecting Hynix, Micron, and Nanya’s equitable claims and defenses that had been tried during the coordinated trial. The court concluded (among other things) that (1) Rambus did not have an obligation to disclose pending or anticipated patent applications and had sound reasons for not doing so; (2) the evidence supported the jury’s finding that JEDEC members did not share a clearly defined expectation that members would disclose relevant knowledge they had about patent applications or the intent to file patent applications on technology being considered for adoption as a JEDEC standard; (3) the written JEDEC disclosure policies did not clearly require members to disclose information about patent applications and the intent to file patent applications in the future; (4) there was no clearly understood or legally enforceable agreement of JEDEC members to disclose information about patent applications or the intent to seek patents relevant to standards being discussed at JEDEC; (5) during the time Rambus attended JEDEC meetings, Rambus did not have any patent application pending that covered a JEDEC standard, and none of the patents in suit was applied for until well after Rambus resigned from JEDEC; (6) Rambus’s conduct at JEDEC did not constitute an estoppel or waiver of its rights to enforce its patents; (7) Hynix, Micron, and Nanya failed to carry their burden to prove their asserted waiver and estoppel defenses not directly based on Rambus’s conduct at JEDEC; (8) the evidence did not support a finding of any material misrepresentation, half truths or fraudulent concealment by Rambus related to JEDEC upon which Nanya relied; (9) the manufacturers failed to establish that Rambus violated unfair competition law by its conduct before JEDEC; (10) the evidence related to Rambus’s patent prosecution did not establish that Rambus unduly delayed in prosecuting the claims in suit; (11) Rambus did not unreasonably delay bringing its patent infringement claims; and (12) there is no basis for any unclean hands defense or unenforceability claim arising from Rambus’s conduct.
In these cases (except for the Hynix 00-20905 action), a hearing on claim construction and the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment on infringement and validity was held on June 4 and 5, 2008. On July 10, 2008, the court issued its claim construction order
relating to the Farmwald/Horowitz patents in suit and denied the Manufacturers’ motions for summary judgment of noninfringement and invalidity based on their proposed claim construction. The court issued claim construction orders relating to the Ware patents in suit on July 25 and August 27, 2008, and denied the Manufacturers’ motion for summary judgment of noninfringement of certain claims. On September 4, 2008, at the court’s direction, Rambus elected to proceed to trial on 12 patent claims, each from the Farmwald/Horowitz family. On September 16, 2008, Rambus granted a covenant not to assert any claim of patent infringement against the Manufacturers under U.S. Patent Nos. 6,493,789 and 6,496,897, and each party’s claims relating to those patents were dismissed with prejudice. On November 21, 2008, the court entered an order clarifying certain aspects of its July 10, 2008, claim construction order. On November 24, 2008, the court granted Rambus’s motion for summary judgment of direct infringement with respect to claim 16 of Rambus’s U.S. Patent No. 6,266,285 by the Manufacturers’ DDR2, DDR3, gDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4 memory chip products (except for Nanya’s DDR3 memory chip products). In the same order, the court denied the remainder of Rambus’s motion for summary judgment of infringement.
On January 19, 2009, Samsung, Nanya, and Hynix filed motions for summary judgment on the ground that the Delaware Order should be given preclusive effect. Rambus filed opposition briefs to these motions on January 26, 2009, and a hearing was held on January 30, 2009. On February 3, 2009, the court entered a stay of this action pending resolution of Rambus’ appeal of the Delaware Order.
On January 19, 2010, Rambus and Samsung entered into a Settlement Agreement pursuant to which the parties released all claims against each other with respect to all outstanding litigation between them and certain other potential claims. The Settlement Agreement is described in further detail in Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung.” A stipulation and order of dismissal with prejudice of claims between Rambus and Samsung was entered on February 11, 2010.
European Commission Competition Directorate-General
On or about April 22, 2003, Rambus was notified by the European Commission Competition Directorate-General (Directorate) (the “European Commission”) that it had received complaints from Infineon and Hynix. Rambus answered the ensuing requests for information prompted by those complaints on June 16, 2003. Rambus obtained a copy of Infineon’s complaint to the European Commission in late July 2003, and on October 8, 2003, at the request of the European Commission, filed its response. The European Commission sent Rambus a further request for information on December 22, 2006, which Rambus answered on January 26, 2007. On August 1, 2007, Rambus received a statement of objections from the European Commission. The statement of objections alleges that through Rambus’ participation in the JEDEC standards setting organization and subsequent conduct, Rambus violated European Union competition law. Rambus filed a response to the statement of objections on October 31, 2007, and a hearing was held on December 4 and 5, 2007.
On December 9, 2009, the European Commission announced that it has reached a final settlement with Rambus to resolve the pending case. Under the terms of the settlement, the Commission made no finding of liability, and no fine will be assessed against Rambus. Rambus commits to offer licenses with maximum royalty rates for certain memory types and memory controllers on a forward-going basis (the “Commitment”). The Commitment is expressly made without any admission by Rambus of the allegations asserted against it. The Commitment also does not resolve any existing claims of infringement prior to the signing of any license with a prospective licensee, nor does it release or excuse any of the prospective licensees from damages or royalty obligations through the date of signing a license. Rambus offers licenses with maximum royalty rates for five-year worldwide licenses of 1.5% for DDR2, DDR3, GDDR3 and GDDR4 SDRAM memory types. Qualified licensees will enjoy a royalty holiday for SDR and DDR DRAM devices, subject to compliance with the terms of the license. In addition, Rambus offers licenses with maximum royalty rates for five-year worldwide licenses of 1.5% per unit for SDR memory controllers through April 2010, dropping to 1.0% thereafter, and royalty rates of 2.65% per unit for DDR, DDR2, DDR3, GDDR3 and GDDR4 memory controllers through April 2010, then dropping to 2.0%. The Commitment to license at the above rates remains valid for a period of five years from December 9, 2009. All royalty rates are applicable to future shipments only and do not affect liability, if any, for damages or royalties that accrued up to the time of the license grant.
Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco
On May 5, 2004, Rambus filed a lawsuit against Micron, Hynix, Infineon and Siemens in San Francisco Superior Court (the “San Francisco court”) seeking damages for conspiring to fix prices (California Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 16720 et seq.), conspiring to monopolize under the Cartwright Act (California Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 16720 et seq.), intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and unfair competition (California Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200 et seq.). This lawsuit alleges that there were concerted efforts beginning in the 1990s to deter innovation in the DRAM market and to boycott Rambus and/or deter market
acceptance of Rambus’ RDRAM product. Subsequently, Infineon and Siemens were dismissed from this action (as a result of a settlement with Infineon) and three Samsung-related entities were added as defendants.
A hearing on Rambus’ motion for summary judgment on the grounds that Micron’s cross-complaint is barred by the statute of limitations was held on August 1, 2008. At the hearing, the San Francisco court granted Rambus’ motion as to Micron’s first cause of action (alleged violation of California’s Cartwright Act) and continued the motion as to Micron’s second and third causes of action (alleged violation of unfair business practices act and alleged intentional interference with prospective economic advantage). No further order has issued on Rambus’ motion.
On November 25, 2008, Micron, Samsung, and Hynix filed eight motions for summary judgment on various grounds. On January 26, 2009, Rambus filed briefs in opposition to all eight motions. A hearing on these motions for summary judgment was held on March 4-6, March 16-17, and June 29, 2009. The court denied all eight motions. On June 17 and June 22, 2009, Micron, Samsung, and Hynix filed petitions requesting that the court of appeal issue writs directing the trial court to vacate two orders denying motions for summary judgment and enter orders granting the motions. In separate summary orders dated July 27 and August 13, 2009, the court of appeal denied the two petitions. On August 24, 2009, Micron, Samsung, and Hynix filed a petition requesting that the California Supreme Court review the court of appeals’ denial of one of their petitions. On October 22, 2009, the California Supreme Court denied the petition.
On March 10, 2009, defendants filed motions requesting that Rambus’ case be dismissed on the ground that the Delaware Order should be given preclusive effect. Rambus filed a brief opposing this request. The parties filed further briefs on the preclusive effect, if any, of the Delaware Order on April 3 and April 17, 2009. The parties submitted briefs on their allegations regarding alleged spoliation of evidence on April 20, 2009. A hearing on these issues was held on April 27 and June 1, 2009, at the conclusion of which the court denied defendants’ motion for issue preclusion and terminating sanctions. On June 19, 2009, Micron and Samsung filed petitions requesting that the court of appeal issue writs directing the trial court to vacate its order denying defendants’ motion for issue preclusion and terminating sanctions and enter an order granting the motion. Hynix filed a similar petition on June 23, 2009. On July 6, 2009, the court of appeal denied all three of these petitions. On July 16, 2009, Samsung and Micron filed petitions requesting that the California Supreme Court review the court of appeals’ denial of their petitions. On September 9, 2009, the California Supreme Court denied these petitions.
On January 19, 2010, Rambus and Samsung entered into a Settlement Agreement pursuant to which the parties released all claims against each other with respect to all outstanding litigation between them and certain other potential claims. The Settlement Agreement is described in further detail in Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung.” A stipulation of dismissal with prejudice of claims between Rambus and Samsung was filed on February 4, 2010.
Trial had been scheduled to begin on January 11, 2010. On January 13 and 21, 2010, a hearing was held on Micron’s emergency request for a two-month continuance. At the conclusion of the hearing, the request for continuance was granted. Trial is scheduled to commence on a date to be determined.
Stock Option Investigation Related Claims
On May 30, 2006, the Audit Committee commenced an internal investigation of the timing of past stock option grants and related accounting issues.
On May 31, 2006, the first of three shareholder derivative actions was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Rambus (as a nominal defendant) and certain current and former executives and board members. These actions have been consolidated for all purposes under the caption, In re Rambus Inc. Derivative Litigation, Master File No. C-06-3513-JF (N.D. Cal.), and Howard Chu and Gaetano Ruggieri were appointed lead plaintiffs. The consolidated complaint, as amended, alleges violations of certain federal and state securities laws as well as other state law causes of action. The complaint seeks disgorgement and damages in an unspecified amount, unspecified equitable relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs.
On August 22, 2006, another shareholder derivative action was filed in Delaware Chancery Court against Rambus (as a nominal defendant) and certain current and former executives and board members (Bell v. Tate et al., 2366-N (Del. Chancery)). On May 16, 2008, this case was dismissed pursuant to a notice filed by the plaintiff.
On August 30, 2007, another shareholder derivative action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Rambus (as a nominal defendant) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Francl v. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP et al.,
No. 07-Civ. 7650 (GBD)). On November 21, 2007, the New York court granted PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s motion to transfer the action to the Northern District of California.
On October 18, 2006, the Board of Directors formed a Special Litigation Committee (the “SLC”) to evaluate potential claims or other actions arising from the stock option granting activities. The Board of Directors appointed J. Thomas Bentley, Chairman of the Audit Committee, and Abraham Sofaer, a retired federal judge and Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, both of whom joined the Rambus Board of Directors in 2005, to comprise the SLC.
On August 24, 2007, the final written report setting forth the findings of the SLC was filed with the court. As set forth in its report, the SLC determined that all claims should be terminated and dismissed against the named defendants in In re Rambus Inc. Derivative Litigation with the exception of claims against named defendant Ed Larsen, who served as Vice President, Human Resources from September 1996 until December 1999, and then Senior Vice President, Administration until July 2004. The SLC entered into settlement agreements with certain former officers of Rambus. The aggregate value of the settlements to Rambus exceeds $5.3 million in cash as well as substantial additional value to Rambus relating to the relinquishment of claims to over 2.7 million stock options. On October 5, 2007, Rambus filed a motion to terminate in accordance with the SLC’s recommendations. Subsequently, the parties settled In re Rambus Inc. Derivative Litigation and Francl v. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP et al., No. 07-Civ. 7650 (GBD). The settlement provided for a payment by Rambus of $2.0 million and dismissal with prejudice of all claims against all defendants, with the exception of claims against Ed Larsen, in these actions. The $2.0 million was accrued for during the quarter ended June 30, 2008 within accrued litigation expenses and paid in January 2009. A final approval hearing was held on January 16, 2009, and an order of final approval was entered on January 20, 2009.
On July 17, 2006, the first of six class action lawsuits was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Rambus and certain current and former executives and board members. These lawsuits were consolidated under the caption, In re Rambus Inc. Securities Litigation, C-06-4346-JF (N.D. Cal.). The settlement of this action was preliminarily approved by the court on March 5, 2008. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Rambus paid $18.3 million into a settlement fund on March 17, 2008. Some alleged class members requested exclusion from the settlement. A final fairness hearing was held on May 14, 2008. That same day the court entered an order granting final approval of the settlement agreement and entered judgment dismissing with prejudice all claims against all defendants in the consolidated class action litigation.
On March 1, 2007, a pro se lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of California by two alleged Rambus shareholders against Rambus, certain current and former executives and board members, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Kelley et al. v. Rambus, Inc. et al. C-07-01238-JF (N.D. Cal.)). This action was consolidated with a substantially identical pro se lawsuit filed by another purported Rambus shareholder against the same parties. The consolidated complaint against Rambus alleges violations of federal and state securities laws, and state law claims for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Following several rounds of motions to dismiss, on April 17, 2008, the court dismissed all claims with prejudice except for plaintiffs’ claims under sections 14(a) and 18(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as to which leave to amend was granted. On June 2, 2008, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint containing substantially the same allegations as the prior complaint although limited to claims under sections 14(a) and 18(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Rambus’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint was heard on September 12, 2008. On December 9, 2008, the court granted Rambus’ motion and entered judgment in favor of Rambus. Plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal on December 15, 2008. Plaintiffs’ filed their opening brief on April 13, 2009. Rambus opposed on May 29, 2009, and plaintiffs filed a reply brief on June 12, 2009. No date has been set for oral argument.
On September 11, 2008, the same pro se plaintiffs filed a separate lawsuit in Santa Clara County Superior Court against Rambus, certain current and former executives and board members, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Kelley et al. v. Rambus, Inc. et al., Case No. 1-08-CV-122444). The complaint alleges violations of certain California state securities statues as well as fraud and negligent misrepresentation based on substantially the same underlying factual allegations contained in the pro se lawsuit filed in federal court. On November 24, 2008, Rambus filed a motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, stay this case in light of the first-filed federal action. On January 12, 2009, Rambus filed a demurrer to plaintiffs’ complaint on the ground that it was barred by the doctrine of claim preclusion. A hearing on Rambus’ motions was held on February 27, 2009. The court granted Rambus’s motion to stay the case pending the outcome of the appeal in the federal action and denied the remainder of the motions without prejudice.
On August 25, 2008, an amended complaint was filed by certain individuals and entities in Santa Clara County Superior Court against Rambus, certain current and former executives and board members, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Steele et al. v. Rambus Inc. et al., Case No. 1-08-CV-113682). The amended complaint alleges violations of certain California state securities statues as well as fraud and negligent misrepresentation. On October 10, 2008, Rambus filed a demurrer to the amended complaint. A hearing was held on January 9, 2009. On January 12, 2009, the court sustained Rambus’ demurrer without prejudice. Plaintiffs filed a second
amended complaint on February 13, 2009, containing the same causes of action as the previous complaint. On March 17, 2009, Rambus filed a demurrer to the second amended complaint. A hearing was held on May 22, 2009. On May 26, 2009, the court sustained in part and overruled in part Rambus’s demurrer. On June 5, 2009, Rambus filed an answer denying plaintiffs’ remaining allegations. Discovery is ongoing.
NVIDIA Litigation
U.S District Court in the Northern District of California
On July 10, 2008, Rambus filed suit against NVIDIA Corporation (“NVIDIA”) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that NVIDIA’s products with memory controllers for SDR, DDR, DDRx, GDDR, and GDDRy (where DDRx and GDDRy includes at least DDR2, DDR3 and GDDR3) technologies infringe 17 patents. On September 16, 2008, Rambus granted a covenant not to assert any claim of patent infringement against NVIDIA under U.S. Patent Nos. 6,493,789 and 6,496,897, accordingly 15 patents remain in suit. On December 30, 2008, the court granted NVIDIA’s motion to stay this case as to Rambus’ claims that NVIDIA’s products infringe nine patents that are also the subject of proceedings in front of the International Trade Commission (described below), and denied NVIDIA’s motion to stay the remainder of Rambus’ patent infringement claims. Certain limited discovery is proceeding. A case management conference is scheduled for June 18, 2010.
On July 11, 2008, one day after Rambus filed suit, NVIDIA filed its own action against Rambus in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina alleging that Rambus committed antitrust violations of the Sherman Act; committed antitrust violations of North Carolina law; and engaged in unfair and deceptive practices in violation of North Carolina law. NVIDIA seeks injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs. This case has been transferred and consolidated into Rambus’s patent infringement case. Rambus filed a motion to dismiss NVIDIA’s claims prior to transfer of the action to California, and no decision has issued to date.
International Trade Commission
On November 6, 2008, Rambus filed a complaint with the U. S. International Trade Commission (the “ITC”) requesting the commencement of an investigation pertaining to NVIDIA products. The complaint seeks an exclusion order barring the importation, sale for importation, or sale after importation of products that infringe nine Rambus patents from the Ware and Barth families of patents. The accused products include NVIDIA products that incorporate DDR, DDR2, DDR3, LPDDR, GDDR, GDDR2, and GDDR3 memory controllers, including graphics processors, and media and communications processors. The complaint names NVIDIA as a proposed respondent, as well as companies whose products incorporate accused NVIDIA products and are imported into the United States. Additional respondents include: Asustek Computer Inc. and Asus Computer International, BFG Technologies, Biostar Microtech and Biostar Microtech International Corp., Diablotek Inc., EVGA Corp., G.B.T. Inc. and Giga-Byte Technology Co., Hewlett-Packard, MSI Computer Corp. and Micro-Star International Co., Palit Multimedia Inc. and Palit Microsystems Ltd., Pine Technology Holdings, and Sparkle Computer Co.
On December 4, 2008, the ITC instituted the investigation. A hearing on claim construction was held on March 24, 2009, and a claim construction order issued on June 22, 2009. On June 5, 2009, Rambus moved to withdraw from the investigation four of the asserted patents and certain claims of a fifth asserted patent in order to simplify the investigation, streamline the final hearing, and conserve Commission resources. A final hearing before the administrative law judge was held October 13-20, 2009, and the parties submitted two rounds of post-hearing briefs.
On January 22, 2010, the administrative law judge issued a final initial determination holding that the importation of the accused NVIDIA products violates section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 1337 because they infringe seventeen claims of three asserted Barth patents. The administrative law judge held that the accused NVIDIA products literally infringe all asserted claims of each asserted Barth and Ware patent, that they infringe three asserted claims under the doctrine of equivalents, that respondents contribute to and induce infringement of all asserted claims, and that the asserted patents are not unenforceable due to unclean hands or equitable estoppel. The administrative law judge held that the asserted Barth patents are not invalid for anticipation or obviousness and are not obvious for double patenting. The administrative law judge further held that, while the accused products infringed eight claims of the two asserted Ware patents and that those patents are not unenforceable due to inequitable conduct, no violation has occurred because the asserted Ware patents are invalid due to anticipation and obviousness. The administrative law judge recommended that the ITC issue (1) a limited exclusion order prohibiting the unlicensed importation of accused products by any respondent; and (2) a cease and desist order prohibiting domestic respondents from engaging in certain activities in the United States
with respect to the accused products. On February 12, 2010, the parties’ filed petitions asking the full Commission to review certain aspects of the final initial determination.
On March 25, 2010, the ITC determined to review certain obviousness findings regarding the Barth patents and certain obviousness and anticipation findings regarding the Ware patents. The parties have submitted briefing on these issues and on the issue of remedy and bonding. The final determination from the ITC is due May 24, 2010.
Potential Future Litigation
In addition to the litigation described above, participants in the DRAM and controller markets continue to adopt Rambus technologies into various products. Rambus has notified many of these companies of their use of Rambus technology and continues to evaluate how to proceed on these matters.
There can be no assurance that any ongoing or future litigation will be successful. Rambus spends substantial company resources defending its intellectual property in litigation, which may continue for the foreseeable future given the multiple pending litigations. The outcomes of these litigations — as well as any delay in their resolution — could affect Rambus’ ability to license its intellectual property in the future.
The Company records a contingent liability when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable in accordance with accounting for contingencies.
15. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value measurement statement defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which the Company would transact, and the Company considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and risk of non-performance.
The Company’s financial instruments are measured and recorded at fair value, except for cost method investments. The Company’s non-financial assets, such as goodwill, intangible assets, and property, plant and equipment, are measured at fair value when there is an indicator of impairment and recorded at fair value only when an impairment charge is recognized.
Fair Value Hierarchy
The fair value measurement statement requires disclosure that establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. The statement requires fair value measurement be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
The Company uses unadjusted quotes to determine fair value. The financial assets in Level 1 include money market funds.
Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
The Company uses observable pricing inputs including benchmark yields, reported trades, and broker/dealer quotes. The financial assets in Level 2 include U.S. government bonds and notes, corporate notes, commercial paper and municipal bonds and notes.
Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).
The financial assets in Level 3 include a cost investment whose value is determined using inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the fair value measurements.
The Company tests the pricing inputs by obtaining prices from two different sources for the same security on a sample of its portfolio. The Company has not adjusted the pricing inputs it has obtained. The following table presents the financial instruments that are carried at fair value and summarizes the valuation of our cash equivalents and marketable securities by the above pricing levels as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
|
|
As of March 31, 2010
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Quoted
Market
Prices in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
|
|
|
Significant
Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
|
|
|
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
Money market funds
|
|
$ |
396,702 |
|
|
$ |
396,702 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
U.S. government bonds and notes
|
|
|
236,578 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
236,578 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Corporate notes, bonds and commercial paper
|
|
|
31,174 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
31,174 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total available-for-sale debt securities
|
|
$ |
664,454 |
|
|
$ |
396,702 |
|
|
$ |
267,752 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Quoted
Market
Prices in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
|
|
|
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
|
|
|
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
Money market funds
|
|
$ |
280,908 |
|
|
$ |
280,908 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
U.S. government bonds and notes
|
|
|
138,829 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
138,829 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Corporate notes, bonds and commercial paper
|
|
|
32,291 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
32,291 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total available-for-sale debt securities
|
|
$ |
452,028 |
|
|
$ |
280,908 |
|
|
$ |
171,120 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
The Company made an investment of $2.0 million in a non-marketable security of a private company during the third quarter of 2009. The Company will monitor the investment for other-than-temporary impairment and record appropriate reductions in carrying value when necessary. The Company evaluated the fair value of the investment in the non-marketable security as of March 31, 2010 and determined that there were no events that caused a decrease in its fair value below the carrying cost.
The following table presents the financial instruments that are measured and carried at cost on a nonrecurring basis as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
|
|
As of March 31, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Carrying
Value
|
|
|
Quoted
Market
Prices in
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
|
|
|
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
|
|
|
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
|
|
|
Impairment Charges for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
|
|
Investment in non-marketable security
|
|
$ |
2,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Carrying
Value
|
|
|
Quoted
Market
Prices in
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
|
|
|
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
|
|
|
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
|
|
|
Impairment Charges for the
Year Ended
December 31, 2009
|
|
Investment in non-marketable security
|
|
$ |
2,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
2,000 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
The following table presents the financial instruments that are not carried at fair value but which require fair value disclosure as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
|
|
As of March 31, 2010
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2009
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Face
Value
|
|
|
Carrying
Value
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Face
Value
|
|
|
Carrying
Value
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014
|
|
$ |
172,500 |
|
|
$ |
114,757 |
|
|
$ |
237,840 |
|
|
$ |
172,500 |
|
|
$ |
112,012 |
|
|
$ |
261,160 |
|
Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2010
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
136,950 |
|
|
|
136,032 |
|
|
|
142,599 |
|
Total Convertible notes
|
|
$ |
172,500 |
|
|
$ |
114,757 |
|
|
$ |
237,840 |
|
|
$ |
309,450 |
|
|
$ |
248,044 |
|
|
$ |
403,759 |
|
The fair value of the convertible notes at each balance sheet date is determined based on recent quoted market prices for these notes. As discussed in Note 16, “Convertible Notes,” as of March 31, 2010, the convertible notes are carried at face value of $172.5 million less any unamortized debt discount. The carrying value of other financial instruments, including cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other payables, approximates fair value due to their short maturities.
The Company monitors its investments for other than temporary losses by considering current factors, including the economic environment, market conditions, operational performance and other specific factors relating to the business underlying the investment, reductions in carrying values when necessary and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time which may be sufficient for anticipated recovery in the market. Any other than temporary loss is reported under “Interest and other income, net” in the consolidated statement of operations. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company has not incurred any impairment loss on its investments.
16. Convertible Notes
The Company’s convertible notes are shown in the following table.
(in thousands)
|
|
As of
March 31,
2010
|
|
|
As of
December 31,
2009
|
|
5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014
|
|
$ |
172,500 |
|
|
$ |
172,500 |
|
Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2010
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
136,950 |
|
Total principal amount of convertible notes
|
|
|
172,500 |
|
|
|
309,450 |
|
Unamortized discount
|
|
|
(57,743 |
) |
|
|
(61,406 |
) |
Total convertible notes
|
|
$ |
114,757 |
|
|
$ |
248,044 |
|
Less current portion
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(136,032 |
) |
Total long-term convertible notes
|
|
$ |
114,757 |
|
|
$ |
112,012 |
|
5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014. On June 29, 2009, the Company issued $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5% convertible senior notes due June 15, 2014. As of the date of issuance, the Company determined that the liability component of the 2014 Notes was approximately $92.4 million and the equity component was approximately $57.6 million. On July 10, 2009, an additional $22.5 million of the 2014 Notes were issued as a result of the underwriters exercising their overallotment option. As of the date of issuance of the $22.5 million 2014 Notes, the Company determined that the liability component was approximately $14.3 million and the equity component was approximately $8.2 million. The unamortized discount related to the 2014 Notes is being amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over five years through June 2014.
The Company will pay cash interest at an annual rate of 5% of the principal amount at issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2009. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company made a payment of approximately $4.0 million related to the 2014 Notes. Issuance costs were approximately $5.1 million of which $3.2 million is related to the liability portion, which is being amortized to interest expense over five years (the expected term of the debt), and $1.9 million is related to the equity portion. The 2014 Notes are the Company’s general unsecured obligation, ranking equal in right of payment to all of the Company’s existing and future senior indebtedness, including the 2010 Notes, and are senior in right of payment to any of the Company’s future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the 2014 Notes.
The 2014 Notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an initial conversion rate of 51.8 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2014 Notes. This is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $19.31 per share of common stock. Holders may surrender their 2014 Notes for conversion prior to March 15, 2014 only under the following circumstances: (i) during any calendar quarter beginning after the calendar quarter ending September 30, 2009, and only during such calendar quarter, if the closing sale price of the Common Stock for 20 or more trading days in the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter exceeds 130% of the conversion price in effect on
the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, (ii) during the five business day period after any 10 consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of 2014 Notes for each trading day of such 10 consecutive trading day period was less than 98% of the product of the closing sale price of the Common Stock for such trading day and the applicable conversion rate, (iii) upon the occurrence of specified distributions to holders of the Common Stock, (iv) upon a fundamental change of the Company as specified in the Indenture governing the 2014 Notes, or (v) if the Company calls any or all of the 2014 Notes for redemption, at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the redemption date. On and after March 15, 2014, holders may convert their 2014 Notes at any time until the close of business on the third business day prior to the maturity date, regardless of the foregoing circumstances.
Upon conversion of the 2014 Notes, the Company will pay (i) cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount and the conversion value of the 2014 Notes and (ii) shares of the Company’s Common Stock for the remainder, if any, of the Company’s conversion obligation, in each case based on a daily conversion value calculated on a proportionate basis for each trading day in the 20 trading day conversion reference period as further specified in the Indenture.
The Company may not redeem the 2014 Notes at its option prior to June 15, 2012. At any time on or after June 15, 2012, the Company will have the right, at its option, to redeem the 2014 Notes in whole or in part for cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2014 Notes to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, if the closing sale price of the Common Stock for at least 20 of the 30 consecutive trading days immediately prior to any date the Company gives a notice of redemption is greater than 130% of the conversion price on the date of such notice.
Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, holders may require the Company to repurchase some or all of their 2014 Notes for cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2014 Notes being repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain fundamental changes, as that term is defined in the Indenture, the Company will, in certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for 2014 Notes converted in connection with such fundamental changes by a specified number of shares of Common Stock, not to exceed 15.5401 per $1,000 principal amount of the 2014 Notes.
The following events are considered “Events of Default” under the Indenture which may result in the acceleration of the maturity of the 2014 Notes:
|
(1)
|
default in the payment when due of any principal of any of the 2014 Notes at maturity, upon redemption or upon exercise of a repurchase right or otherwise;
|
|
(2)
|
default in the payment of any interest, including additional interest, if any, on any of the 2014 Notes, when the interest becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
|
|
(3)
|
the Company’s failure to deliver cash or cash and shares of Common Stock (including any additional shares deliverable as a result of a conversion in connection with a make-whole fundamental change) when required to be delivered upon the conversion of any 2014 Note;
|
|
(4)
|
default in the Company’s obligation to provide notice of the occurrence of a fundamental change when required by the Indenture;
|
|
(5)
|
the Company’s failure to comply with any of its other agreements in the 2014 Notes or the Indenture (other than those referred to in clauses (1) through (4) above) for 60 days after the Company’s receipt of written notice to the Company of such default from the trustee or to the Company and the trustee of such default from holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Notes then outstanding;
|
|
(6)
|
the Company’s failure to pay when due the principal of, or acceleration of, any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in excess of $30,000,000 principal amount, if such indebtedness is not discharged, or such acceleration is not annulled, by the end of a period of ten days after written notice to the Company by the trustee or to the Company and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Notes then outstanding; and
|
|
(7)
|
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to the Company or any of its material subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture).
|
If an event of default, other than an event of default in clause (7) above with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Notes then outstanding may declare the principal amount of, and accrued and unpaid interest, including additional interest, if any, on the 2014 Notes then outstanding to be immediately due and payable. If an event of default described in clause (7) above occurs with respect to the Company the principal amount of and accrued and unpaid interest, including additional interest, if any, on the 2014 Notes will automatically become immediately due and payable.
Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2010. On February 1, 2005, the Company issued $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of zero coupon convertible senior notes due February 1, 2010 to Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities as initial purchasers who then sold the 2010 Notes to institutional investors.
The 2010 Notes were unsecured senior obligations, ranking equally in right of payment with all of Rambus’ existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness, and senior in right of payment to any future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the 2010 Notes.
The 2010 Notes were convertible at any time prior to the close of business on the maturity date into, in respect of each $1,000 principal of the 2010 Notes:
|
•
|
cash in an amount equal to the lesser of
|
|
(1)
|
the principal amount of each note to be converted and
|
|
(2)
|
the “conversion value,” which is equal to (a) the applicable conversion rate, multiplied by (b) the applicable stock price, as defined.
|
|
•
|
if the conversion value is greater than the principal amount of each note, a number of shares of Rambus Common Stock (the “net shares”) equal to the sum of the daily share amounts, calculated as defined. However, in lieu of delivering net shares, Rambus, at its option, may deliver cash, or a combination of cash and shares of its Common Stock, with a value equal to the net shares amount.
|
The initial conversion price was $26.84 per share of Common Stock (which represented an initial conversion rate of 37.2585 shares of Rambus Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of the 2010 Notes). The initial conversion price was subject to certain adjustments, as specified in the indenture governing the 2010 Notes.
On February 1, 2010, the Company paid upon maturity the remaining $137.0 million in face value of the 2010 Notes.
Additional paid-in capital at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 includes $63.9 million related to the equity component of the 2014 Notes.
As of March 31, 2010, none of the conversion conditions were met related to the 2014 Notes. Therefore, the classification of the entire equity component for the 2014 Notes in permanent equity is appropriate as of March 31, 2010.
Interest expense related to the notes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:
|
|
Three Months Ended
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
2014 Notes coupon interest at a rate of 5%
|
|
$ |
2,156 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
2014 Notes amortization of discount at an additional effective interest rate of 11.7%
|
|
|
2,902 |
|
|
|
— |
|
2010 Notes amortization of discount at an effective interest rate of 8.4%
|
|
|
958 |
|
|
|
2,670 |
|
Total interest expense
|
|
$ |
6,016 |
|
|
$ |
2,670 |
|
17. Subsequent Event
In April 2010, the Company repurchased 0.5 million shares of Common Stock with an aggregate value of $12.7 million pursuant to the stock repurchase plan.
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to our expectations for future events and time periods. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding trends in future revenue or results of operations, gross margin or operating margin, expenses, earnings or losses from operations, synergies or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning developments, performance or industry ranking; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements regarding pending investigations, claims or disputes; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Generally, the words “anticipate,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “future,” “intends,” “may,” “should,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “projects” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in condition, significance, value and effect. As a result of the factors described herein, and in the documents incorporated herein by reference, including, in particular, those factors described under “Risk Factors,” we undertake no obligation to publicly disclose any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring subsequent to filing this report with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Rambus, RDRAMtm, XDRtm, FlexIOtm and FlexPhasetm are trademarks or registered trademarks of Rambus Inc. Other trademarks that may be mentioned in this annual report on Form 10-K are the property of their respective owners.
Industry terminology, used widely throughout this annual report, has been abbreviated and, as such, these abbreviations are defined below for your convenience:
Double Data Rate
|
DDR
|
Dynamic Random Access Memory
|
DRAM
|
Fully Buffered-Dual Inline Memory Module
|
FB-DIMM
|
Gigabits per second
|
Gb/s
|
Graphics Double Data Rate
|
GDDR
|
Input/Output
|
I/O
|
Lighting and Display Technology
|
LDT
|
Peripheral Component Interconnect
|
PCI
|
Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory
|
RDRAMtm
|
Single Data Rate
|
SDR
|
Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory
|
SDRAM
|
eXtreme Data Rate
|
XDRtm
|
From time to time we will refer to the abbreviated names of certain entities and, as such, have provided a chart to indicate the full names of those entities for your convenience.
Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
|
AMD
|
ARM Holdings plc
|
ARM
|
Elpida Memory, Inc.
|
Elpida
|
Fujitsu Limited
|
Fujitsu
|
Global Lighting Technologies, Inc.
|
GLT
|
Hewlett-Packard Company
|
Hewlett-Packard
|
Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.
|
Hynix
|
Infineon Technologies AG
|
Infineon
|
Inotera Memories, Inc.
|
Inotera
|
Intel Corporation
|
Intel
|
International Business Machines Corporation
|
IBM
|
Joint Electronic Device Engineering Councils
|
JEDEC
|
Micron Technologies, Inc.
|
Micron
|
Nanya Technology Corporation
|
Nanya
|
NEC Electronics Corporation
|
NEC
|
NVIDIA Corporation
|
NVIDIA
|
Optical Internetworking Forum
|
OIF
|
Qimonda AG (formerly Infineon’s DRAM operations)
|
Qimonda
|
Panasonic Corporation
|
Panasonic
|
Peripheral Component Interconnect — Special Interest Group
|
PCI-SIG
|
Renesas Technology Corporation
|
Renesas
|
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
|
Samsung
|
Sony Computer Electronics
|
Sony
|
Spansion, Inc.
|
Spansion
|
Texas Instruments Inc.
|
Texas Instruments
|
Toshiba Corporation
|
Toshiba
|
Business Overview
We are a premier intellectual property licensing company. Our primary focus is the design, development and licensing chip interface technologies and architectures that are foundational to nearly all digital electronics products. Our chip interface technologies aim to improve the performance, power efficiency, time-to-market and cost-effectiveness of our customers’ semiconductor and system products for computing, gaming and graphics, consumer electronics and mobile applications. The key elements of our strategy are as follows:
Innovate: Develop and patent our innovative technology to provide fundamental competitive advantage when incorporated into semiconductors and electronic systems.
Drive Adoption: Communicate the advantages of our patented innovations and technology to the industry and encourage its adoption through demonstrations and incorporation in the products of select customers.
Monetize: License our patented inventions and technology solutions to customers for use in their semiconductor and system products.
In December 2009, we added lighting technology to our portfolio of solutions through the acquisition of patented innovations and technology from Global Lighting Technologies Inc. (“GLT”). This technology is complementary to our chip interface technologies since it is intended to improve the visual capabilities, form factor, power efficiency and cost effectiveness of backlighting of LCD displays in products for computing, gaming and graphics, consumer electronics and mobile applications. Our new technology also has significant potential to enable cost-effective and power-efficient LED-based general lighting products.
As of March 31, 2010, our chip interface, lighting and other technologies are covered by approximately 970 U.S. and foreign patents. Additionally, we have approximately 670 patent applications pending. These patents and patent applications cover important inventions in memory and logic chip interfaces, optoelectronics and other technologies. Some of the patents and pending patent applications are derived from a common parent patent application or are foreign counterpart patent applications. We have a program to file applications for and obtain patents in the United States and in selected foreign countries where we believe filing for such protection is appropriate. In some instances, obtaining appropriate levels of protection may involve prosecuting continuation and counterpart patent applications based on a common parent application. We believe that our patented innovations provide our customers means to achieve higher performance, improved power efficiency, lower risk, and greater cost-effectiveness in their semiconductor and system products.
Our primary method of providing technology to our customers is through our patented innovations. We license our broad portfolio of patented inventions to semiconductor and system companies who use these inventions in the development and manufacture of their own products. Such licensing agreements may cover the license of part, or all, of our patent portfolio. Patent license agreements are generally royalty bearing.
We also develop a range of solutions including “leadership” (which are Rambus-proprietary solutions widely licensed to our customers) and industry-standard solutions that we provide to our customers under license for incorporation into their semiconductor and system products. Due to the often complex nature of implementing state-of-the art technology, we offer engineering services to our customers to help them successfully integrate our solutions into their semiconductors and systems. These technology license agreements may have both a fixed price (non-recurring) component and ongoing royalties. Engineering services are generally offered on a fixed price basis. Further, under technology licenses, our customers may receive licenses to our patents necessary to implement these solutions in their products with specific rights and restrictions to the applicable patents elaborated in their individual contracts with us.
Royalties represent a substantial majority of our total revenue. We derive the majority of our royalty revenue by licensing our broad portfolio of patents for chip interfaces to our customers. Such licenses may cover part or all of our patent portfolio. Leading semiconductor and system companies such as AMD, Fujitsu, Intel, Panasonic, Renesas Electronics, Samsung and Toshiba have licensed our patents for use in their own products.
We also derive additional revenue by licensing a range of technology solutions including our leadership architectures and industry-standard solutions to customers for use in their semiconductor and system products. Our customers include leading companies such as Elpida, IBM, Intel, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba. Due to the complex nature of implementing our technologies, we provide engineering services under certain of these licenses to help our customers successfully integrate our technology solutions into their
semiconductors and system products. Licensees also may receive, in addition to their technology license agreements, patent licenses as necessary to implement the technology in their products with specific rights and restrictions to the applicable patents elaborated in their individual contracts.
The remainder of our revenue is contract services revenue which includes license fees and engineering services fees. The timing and amounts invoiced to customers can vary significantly depending on specific contract terms and can therefore have a significant impact on deferred revenue or account receivables in any given period.
We intend to continue making significant expenditures associated with engineering, marketing, general and administration including litigation expenses, and expect that these costs and expenses will continue to be a significant percentage of revenue in future periods. Whether such expenses increase or decrease as a percentage of revenue will be substantially dependent upon the rate at which our revenue or expenses change.
Executive Summary
During the first quarter of 2010, we signed a significant settlement agreement with Samsung bringing the Company into a profit position for the period. See Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung,” for further discussion. We continue to pursue other revenue opportunities in order to grow our revenue. Additionally, we continue to keep costs under control, strengthen our business and attempt to reach agreements with those companies that we believe have infringed our patented technologies.
We also have taken several additional critical steps to better position ourselves to capitalize on opportunities with the improving economy. Research and development continues to play a key role in our efforts to maintain product innovations. Consistent with our strategy to expand our patent portfolio and diversify our business, we added lighting technology through the acquisition of patented innovations and technology from GLT in December 2009.
Our engineering expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased $3.6 million as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to added headcount due to our newly established Lighting and Display Technology (“LDT”) group in December 2009. As a percentage of revenue, engineering expenses decreased in 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 primar