UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended January 31, 2013
Commission file number 0-11254
COPYTELE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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11-2622630 |
(State or other jurisdiction of |
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(I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) |
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Identification No.) |
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900 Walt Whitman Road |
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Melville, NY |
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11747 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
(631) 549-5900 |
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No ___
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 X 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.
Large accelerated filer [ ] Accelerated filer [ ]
Non-accelerated filer [ ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company [X]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ____ No X
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
On March 11, 2013, the registrant had outstanding 191,753,889 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, which is the registrant’s only class of common stock.
2
COPYTELE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
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(Unaudited) |
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ASSETS |
January 31, 2013 |
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October 31, 2012 | ||
Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
1,713,353 |
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$ |
339,693 |
Short-term investment in certificates of deposit |
- |
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500,000 | ||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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67,008 |
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82,326 |
Total current assets |
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1,780,361 |
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922,019 |
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Investment in Videocon Industries Limited global depository receipts, at market value |
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5,730,583 |
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4,728,367 |
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Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $43,357 and $2,185,525 respectively |
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11,331 |
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10,290 |
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Total assets |
$ |
7,522,275 |
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$ |
5,660,676 |
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LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accounts payable |
$ |
489,219 |
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$ |
304,523 |
Accrued liabilities |
582,062 |
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330,616 | ||
Derivative liability, at fair value |
1,180,000 |
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- | ||
Deferred revenue, non-refundable license fees |
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1,187,320 |
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1,187,320 |
Total current liabilities |
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3,438,601 |
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1,822,459 |
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Contingencies (Note 10) |
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Convertible debentures due September 2016, net of discount of $717,274 and $717,727, respectively |
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32,726 |
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32,273 |
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Convertible debentures due January 2015, net of discount of $1,390,038 |
374,962 |
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- | ||
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Loan payable to related party (Note 1) |
5,000,000 |
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5,000,000 | ||
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Shareholders’ deficiency: |
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Preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 500,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding |
- |
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- | ||
Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 185,104,037 and 184,979,037 shares issued and outstanding, respectively |
1,851,040 |
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1,849,790 | ||
Additional paid-in capital |
128,654,723 |
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127,693,160 | ||
Loan receivable from related party (Note 1) |
(5,000,000) |
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(5,000,000) | ||
Accumulated deficit |
(127,178,309) |
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(125,083,322) | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
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348,532 |
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(653,684) |
Total shareholders’ deficiency |
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(1,324,014) |
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(1,194,056) |
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Total liabilities and shareholders’ deficiency |
$ |
7,522,275 |
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$ |
5,660,676 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
COPYTELE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (UNAUDITED)
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For the Three Months Ended January 31, | ||||
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2013 |
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2012 | ||
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Net revenue |
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Revenue from sales of encryption products, net |
2,130 |
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2,525 | ||
Display technology license fee |
- |
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446,670 | ||
Total net revenue |
2,130 |
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449,195 | ||
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Cost of revenue and operating expenses |
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Cost of encryption products sold |
27,067 |
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737 | ||
Research and development expenses |
- |
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649,679 | ||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
2,047,862 |
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686,035 | ||
Total cost of revenue and operating expenses |
2,074,929 |
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1,336,451 | ||
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Loss from operations |
(2,072,799) |
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(887,256) | ||
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Interest expense |
(22,195) |
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- | ||
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Interest income |
7 |
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1,171 | ||
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Loss before income taxes |
(2,094,987) |
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(886,085) | ||
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Provision for income taxes |
- |
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- | ||
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Net loss |
(2,094,987) |
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(886,085) | ||
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Other comprehensive income (loss): |
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Unrealized gain (loss) on investment in Videocon Industries Limited |
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global depository receipts |
1,002,216 |
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(104,709) | ||
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Total comprehensive loss |
(1,092,771) |
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(990,794) | ||
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Net loss per share: |
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Basic and diluted |
(0.01) |
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0.00 | ||
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Weighted average common shares outstanding: |
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Basic and diluted |
184,998,059 |
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178,298,858 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
COPYTELE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIENCY
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2013 (UNAUDITED)
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Loan |
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Accumulated |
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Additional |
Receivable |
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Other |
Total | |
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Common Stock |
Paid-in |
From |
Accumulated |
Comprehensive |
Shareholders’ | ||
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Shares |
Par Value |
Capital |
Related Party |
Deficit |
Income (Loss) |
Deficiency | |
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Balance, October 31, 2012 |
184,979,037 |
$ 1,849,790 |
$ 127,693,160 |
$ (5,000,000) |
$ (125,083,322) |
$ (653,684) |
$ (1,194,056) | |
Stock option compensation to employees |
- |
- |
473,275 |
- |
- |
- |
473,275 | |
Stock option compensation to consultants |
- |
- |
241,928 |
- |
- |
- |
241,928 | |
Common stock issued to consultants |
125,000 |
1,250 |
24,375 |
- |
- |
- |
25,625 | |
Unrealized gain on investment in Videocon Industries Limited global depository receipts (Note 4) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1,002,216 |
1,002,216 | |
Warrants issued in connection with issuance of convertible debentures |
- |
- |
221,985 |
- |
- |
- |
221,985 | |
Net loss |
- | - | - | - |
(2,094,987) |
- |
(2,094,987) | |
Balance, January 31, 2013 |
185,104,037 |
$ 1,851,040 |
$ 128,654,723 |
$ (5,000,000 ) |
$ (127,178,309) |
$ 348,532 |
$ (1,324,014) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
COPYTELE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
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For the three months ended January 31, | ||
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2013 |
2012 | |
Cash flows from operating activities: |
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Payments to suppliers, employees and consultants |
$ (892,902) |
$ (659,782) | |
Cash received from sales of products and services |
2,130 |
2,525 | |
Interest received |
762 |
- | |
Net cash used in operating activities |
(890,010) |
(657,257) | |
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Cash flows from investing activities: |
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Disbursements to acquire short-term investments in certificates of deposit |
- |
(250,000) | |
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments in U.S. government securities and certificates of deposit |
500,000 |
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449,854 |
Proceeds from sale of Digital Info Security Co. Inc. common stock |
1,135 |
- | |
Payments for purchases of property and equipment |
(2,465) |
(850) | |
Net cash provided by investing activities |
498,670 |
199,004 | |
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Cash flows from financing activities: |
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Proceeds from issuance of convertible debentures |
1,765,000 |
- | |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options |
- |
147,250 | |
Net cash provided by financing activities |
1,765,000 |
147,250 | |
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Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
1,373,660 |
(311,003) | |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
339,693 |
774,040 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
$ 1,713,353 |
$ 463,037 | |
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Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
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Net loss |
$ (2,094,987) |
$ (886,085) | |
Stock option compensation to employees |
473,275 |
80,757 | |
Stock option compensation to consultants |
241,928 |
- | |
Common stock issued to employees pursuant to stock incentive plans |
- |
405,991 | |
Common stock issued to consultants |
25,625 |
36,719 | |
Warrants issued for fees in connection with issuance of convertible debentures |
7,166 |
- | |
Provision for excess inventory |
26,490 |
- | |
Amortization of convertible debenture discount |
5,234 |
- | |
Depreciation and amortization |
1,424 |
2,077 | |
Gain on sale of Digital Info Security Co., Inc. common stock |
(1,135) |
- | |
Other |
- |
(274) | |
Change in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
(11,172) |
- | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
436,142 |
150,228 | |
Deferred revenue |
- |
(446,670) | |
Net cash used in operating activities |
$ (890,010) |
$ (657,257) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
6
COPYTELE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
1. BUSINESS AND FUNDING
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation
As used herein, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “CopyTele” refers to CopyTele, Inc. Our principal operations include the development, acquisition, licensing, and enforcement of patented technologies. While in the past, the primary operations of the Company involved licensing in connection with the development of patented technologies, the primary operations of the Company are now patent licensing in connection with the unauthorized use of patented technologies and patent enforcement. We expect to first generate revenues and related cash flows from the licensing and enforcement of patents that we currently own. We are continuing to develop our patent portfolios through the filing and prosecution of patent applications and will initiate lawsuits, if necessary, to prevent the unauthorized use of our patented technologies. The changes in the primary operations of the Company included elimination of development efforts, accordingly, we are no longer incurring research and development expenses. Certain of our patents are encumbered due to arrangements previously entered into by the Company. Where we are able, we will take the steps necessary to remove any encumbrances that may inhibit our patent licensing and enforcement efforts. We expect to obtain the rights to license and enforce additional patents from third parties, and when necessary, will assist such parties in the further development of their portfolios through the filing of additional patent applications. We will likely initiate patent enforcement actions against unauthorized users of patented technologies on our own behalf and in conjunction with such third parties.
Our past operations also included the development, production and marketing of encryption products for use over several communications media. We do not anticipate developing or marketing any additional encryption products. During the three months ended January 31, 2013, we wrote-off our remaining inventory of encryption products of approximately $26,000.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2013, we commenced disposing of approximately $2,144,000 of fully depreciated assets, which primarily related to research and development activities. In addition, during the first quarter of fiscal 2013, we began to vacate and return a substantial portion of our facilities to the landlord for possible re-letting and recorded an expense of approximately $186,000 related to future rentals of unused facilities.
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CopyTele, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, CopyTele International Ltd. (“CopyTele International”) and CopyTele Marketing Inc. (“CopyTele Marketing”). CopyTele International and CopyTele Marketing were incorporated in the British Virgin Islands in fiscal year 2007. CopyTele International was formed for the purpose of holding an investment in global depository receipts of Videocon Industries Limited, an Indian company (“Videocon”). As of January 31, 2013, CopyTele Marketing was inactive. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
7
The results of operations for interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year or any interim period. Reference is made to the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012, for more extensive disclosures than contained in these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Unless otherwise indicated, all references in this Form 10-Q to “dollars” or “$” refer to US dollars.
Funding and Management’s Plans
Since our inception, we have met our liquidity and capital expenditure needs primarily through the proceeds from sales of common stock in our initial public offering and in private placements, upon exercise of warrants issued in connection with the private placements and our initial public offering, and upon the exercise of stock options. In addition, we have generated limited cash flows from sales of our encryption products and from license fees from Videocon related to our display technology pursuant to the Videocon License Agreement (as defined below). In May 2011, we entered into the AUO License Agreements (as defined below) with AU Optronics Corp., a Taiwanese company (“AUO”), and in June 2011 we received an initial license fee from AUO.
During the three months ended January 31, 2013, our cash used in operating activities was approximately $890,000. This resulted from payments to suppliers, employees and consultants of approximately $893,000, which was partially offset by cash of approximately $2,000 received from collections of accounts receivable related to sales of encryption products and interest received of approximately $1,000. Our cash provided by investing activities during the three months ended January 31, 2013 was approximately $499,000, which resulted from approximately $500,000 received upon the sale or maturities of short-term investments consisting of certificates of deposit and approximately $1,000 received from the sale of Digital Info Security Co. Inc. common stock partially offset by purchases of equipment of approximately $2,000. Our cash provided by financing activities during the three months ended January 31, 2013 was $1,765,000, which resulted from cash received from the issuance of convertible debentures and warrants in a private placement. As a result, our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at January 31, 2013 increased by approximately $873,000 to approximately $1,713,000 from approximately $840,000 at October 31, 2012.
8
Total employee compensation expense for the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $819,000 and $713,000, respectively. During the three-months ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, a significant portion of employee compensation consisted of the issuance of stock and stock options to employees. We recorded stock-based compensation expense, related to stock awards granted to employees, for the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012 of approximately $-0- and $406,000, respectively. We recorded stock-based compensation expense, related to stock options granted to employees and directors, for the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012 of approximately $473,000 and $81,000 respectively.
Based on currently available information, we believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, together with expected cash flows from patent licensing and enforcement, and other potential sources of cash flow may not be sufficient to enable us to continue our patent licensing and enforcement activities for at least 12 months. However, our projections of future cash needs and cash flows may differ from actual results. If current cash on hand and cash that may be generated from patent licensing and enforcement activities are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may seek to sell our investment securities or other financial assets or our debt or additional equity securities or obtain loans from various financial institutions where possible. The sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt could result in dilution to our shareholders. We can give no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows in the future (through licensing and enforcement of patents, or otherwise) to satisfy our liquidity requirements or sustain future operations, or that other sources of funding, such as sales of equity or debt, would be available, if needed, on favorable terms or at all. We can also give no assurance that we will have sufficient funds to repay our convertible debt at maturity in fiscal years 2015 or 2016. If we cannot obtain such funding if needed or if we cannot sufficiently reduce operating expenses, we would need to curtail or cease some or all of our operations.
As shown in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, we have incurred a net loss of approximately $2,095,000 during the three months ended January 31, 2013, and, as of that date, we have an accumulated deficit of approximately $127,178,000 and a net shareholders’ deficiency of approximately $1,324,000. These and the other factors described herein raise uncertainty about our ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are set forth above. The accompanying condensed financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. The report from our independent registered public accountants, KPMG LLP, dated January 29, 2013, included in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012, includes an explanatory paragraph related to our ability to continue as a going concern.
AU Optronics Corp.
In May 2011, we entered into an Exclusive License Agreement (the “EPD License Agreement”) and a License Agreement (the “Nano Display License Agreement”) with AUO (together the “AUO License Agreements”). Under the EPD License Agreement, we provided AUO with an exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license of our E-Paper ® Display patents and technology, in connection with AUO jointly developing products with CopyTele, including the right to sublicense the technology to third parties in connection with the joint development of such products. Under the Nano Display License Agreement, we provided AUO with a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license of our nFED Display patents and technology, in connection with AUO jointly developing products with CopyTele, with the right to consent to the granting of licenses of the technology to third parties.
9
Under the AUO License Agreements, AUO has agreed to pay CopyTele an aggregate license fee of up to $10 million, of which $3 million was paid by AUO in June 2011 and the remaining $7 million would have been payable upon completion of certain conditions for the respective technologies, in each case subject to a 20% foreign withholding tax. Accordingly, in June 2011 we received a payment from AUO, net of the withholding tax, of $2.4 million. In addition, the AUO License Agreements also provided for the basis for royalty payments by AUO to CopyTele.
On January 28, 2013, we terminated the AUO License Agreements due to numerous alleged material and continual breaches of the agreements by AUO. On January 28, 2013, we also filed a lawsuit in the United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of California against AUO and E Ink Corporation in connection with the AUO License Agreements, alleging breach of contract and other charges, and we are seeking compensatory, punitive, and treble damages (the “AUO/E Ink Lawsuit”). For more details on the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit, please see Note 9, “Contingences” herein. We can give no assurance as to the outcome of this litigation.
Related Party Transactions with Videocon Industries Limited
In November 2007, we entered into a Technology License Agreement (as amended in May 2008), (the “Videocon License Agreement”) with Videocon. In April 2008, the Indian Government approved the Videocon License Agreement. Under the Videocon License Agreement, we provided Videocon with a non-transferable, worldwide license of our technology for thin, flat, low voltage phosphor, nFED Display (the “Videocon Licensed Technology”), for Videocon to produce and market products incorporating displays utilizing the Videocon Licensed Technology. With the approval and support of Videocon, we entered into the Nano Display License Agreements for AUO to utilize their production facilities to produce our nFED Display for their own products and potentially for Videocon products. Additional licenses of the Videocon Licensed Technology to third parties require the joint agreement of CopyTele and Videocon and may require the consent of AUO, depending upon the outcome of CopyTele’s termination of the Nano Display License Agreement and the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit.
Under the terms of the Videocon License Agreement, we were scheduled to receive a license fee of $11 million from Videocon, payable in installments over a 27 month period and an agreed upon royalty from Videocon based on display sales by Videocon. The initial installment was received in May 2008 however; certain license fee payments were subsequently deferred. The deferral of the license fee payments is no longer in effect; however, we cannot give any assurance that additional license fee payments will be received. No such license fee payments were received from Videocon during the three months ended January 31, 2013 and fiscal years ended October 31, 2012 and 2011. As of January 31, 2013, we have received aggregate license fee payments from Videocon of $3.2 million and $7.8 million remains owed to us. We are not presently involved in development efforts with Videocon and it is not anticipated that such efforts will be resumed in the future. We have entered into discussions with Videocon regarding the disposition of the Videocon License Agreement.
10
At the same time we entered into the Videocon License Agreement in November 2007, we also entered into a Share Subscription Agreement (the “Share Subscription Agreement”) with Mars Overseas Limited, an affiliate of Videocon (“Mars Overseas”). Under the Share Subscription Agreement, Mars Overseas purchased 20,000,000 unregistered shares of our common stock (the “CopyTele Shares”) from us for an aggregate purchase price of $16,200,000. Also in November 2007, our wholly-owned subsidiary, CopyTele International Ltd. (“CopyTele International”), entered into a GDR Purchase Agreement with Global EPC Ventures Limited (“Global”), for CopyTele International to purchase from Global 1,495,845 global depository receipts of Videocon (the “Videocon GDRs”) for an aggregate purchase price of $16,200,000.
For the purpose of effecting a lock up of the Videocon GDRs and CopyTele Shares (collectively, the “Securities”) for a period of seven years, and therefore restricting both parties from selling or transferring the Securities during such period, CopyTele International and Mars Overseas entered into two Loan and Pledge Agreements in November 2007. The Videocon GDRs are to be held as security for a loan in the principal amount of $5,000,000 from Mars Overseas to CopyTele International, and the CopyTele Shares are similarly held as security for a loan in the principal amount of $5,000,000 from CopyTele International to Mars Overseas. The loans are for a period of seven years, do not bear interest, and prepayment of the loans will not release the lien on the Securities prior to end of the seven year period. The loan agreements provide for customary events of default, which may result in forfeiture of the Securities by the defaulting party, and also provide for the transfer to the respective parties, free and clear of any encumbrances under the agreements, any dividends, distributions, rights or other proceeds or benefits in respect of the Securities. The loan receivable from Mars Overseas is classified as a contra-equity under shareholders’ deficiency in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet because the loan receivable is secured by the CopyTele Shares and the Share Subscription Agreement and Loan and Pledge Agreement were entered into concurrently. We have entered into discussions with Videocon regarding the disposition of the Subscription Agreement, GDR Purchase Agreement, and Loan and Pledge Agreements. The outcome of these discussions and the disposition of the related assets and liabilities may have a material effect on our financial statements. We cannot presently estimate the timing or impact of any such resolution.
11
Revenue Recognition
Revenues from sales are recorded when all four of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery has occurred and title has transferred or services have been rendered; (iii) our price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.
We have assessed the revenue guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605-25 “Multiple-Element Arrangements” (“ASC 605-25”) to determine whether multiple deliverables in our arrangements with AUO represent separate units of accounting. Under the AUO License Agreements, we received initial license fees of $3 million, of aggregate license fees of up to $10 million. The additional $7 million in license fees are payable upon completion of certain conditions for the respective technologies. We have determined that the transfer of the licensed patents and technology and the effort involved in completion of the conditions for the respective technologies represent a single unit of accounting for each technology. Accordingly, using a proportional performance method, during the third quarter of fiscal year 2011 we began recognizing the $3 million initial license fees over the estimated periods that we expected to complete the conditions for the respective technologies. We have not recognized any portion of the $7 million of additional license fees as either deferred revenue or revenue as it is considered contingent revenue.
At each reporting period we assess the progress in completing our performance obligations under the AUO License Agreements and recognize license fee revenue over the remaining estimated period that we expect to complete the conditions for the respective technologies. On this basis, we reassessed the revenue recognition and commencing in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012, revenue recognition under the AUO License Agreements is suspended pending resolution of the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit. For more details on the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit, please see Note 9, “Contingencies” herein.
During the three month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012 we recognized approximately $-0- and $447,000, respectively, of license fee revenue from AUO. License fee payments received from AUO which are in excess of the amounts recognized as revenue (approximately $1,187,000 as of January 31, 2013) are recorded as non-refundable deferred revenue on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The AUO License Agreements also provide for the basis for royalty payments on future production, if any, by AUO to CopyTele, which we have determined represent separate units of accounting. We have not recognized any royalty income under the AUO License Agreements.
2. CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
Convertible Instruments
The Company accounts for hybrid contracts that feature conversion options in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging Activities,” (“ASC 815”) requires companies to bifurcate conversion options from their host instruments and account for them as free standing derivative financial instruments according to certain criteria. The criteria includes circumstances in which (a) the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative instrument are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract, (b) the hybrid instrument that embodies both the embedded derivative instrument and the host contract is not re-measured at fair value under otherwise applicable generally accepted accounting principles with changes in fair value reported in earnings as they occur and (c) a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative instrument would be considered a derivative instrument.
12
Conversion options that contain variable settlement features such as provisions to adjust the conversion price upon subsequent issuances of equity or equity linked securities at exercise prices more favorable than that featured in the hybrid contract generally result in their bifurcation from the host instrument.
The Company accounts for convertible instruments, when the Company has determined that the embedded conversion options should not be bifurcated from their host instruments, in accordance with ASC 470-20 “Debt with Conversion and Other Options” (“ASC 470-20”). Under ASC 470-20 the Company records, when necessary, discounts to convertible notes for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in debt instruments based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the note transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the note. The Company accounts for convertible instruments (when the Company has determined that the embedded conversion options should be bifurcated from their host instruments) in accordance with ASC 815. Under ASC 815, a portion of the proceeds received upon the issuance of the hybrid contract are allocated to the fair value of the derivative. The derivative is subsequently marked to market at each reporting date based on current fair value, with the changes in fair value reported in results of operations.
The conversion feature of the convertible debenture issued on January 25, 2013 qualified as an embedded derivative instrument and was bifurcated from the host convertible debenture. Accordingly, this instrument has been classified as a derivative liability in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2013. Derivative liabilities are initially recorded at fair value and are then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings during the reporting period.
Common Stock Purchase Warrants
The Company classifies as equity any contracts that (i) require physical settlement or net-share settlement or (ii) provides a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in the Company’s own shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement) providing that such contracts are indexed to the Company's own stock as defined in ASC 815-40 "Contracts in Entity's Own Equity". The Company classifies as assets or liabilities any contracts that (i) require net-cash settlement (including a requirement to net cash settle the contract if an event occurs and if that event is outside the Company’s control) or (ii) gives the counterparty a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement). The Company assesses classification of common stock purchase warrants and other free standing derivatives at each reporting date to determine whether a change in classification between assets and liabilities or equity is required.
13
Table of Content
Convertible Debenture due September 2016
In September 2012, the Company received aggregate gross proceeds of $750,000 from the issuance of 8% convertible debentures due September 12, 2016 in a private placement, of which $300,000 was sold to the Company’s current Chairman and then Chief Executive Officer and one other director of the Company. The debentures pay interest quarterly and are convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $0.092 per share on or before September 12, 2016. The Company recorded a discount to the carrying amount of the debentures of approximately $717,000 related to the debentures’ beneficial conversion feature. The Company may prepay the debentures at any time without penalty upon 30 days prior notice. The Company also has the option to pay interest on the debentures in common stock. In February 2013, $600,000 principal amount of these debentures were converted into 6,521,736 shares of common stock and an additional 68,116 shares were issued in payment of accrued interest through the conversion date. The conversion of the debentures will result in the recording of a material charge to interest expense during the second quarter of fiscal 2013. $150,000 principal amount of debentures remain outstanding.
Convertible Debenture due January 2015
In January 2013, the Company received aggregate gross proceeds of $1,765,000 from the issuance of 8% convertible debentures due January 25, 2015 (“Convertible Debenture due January 2015”), of which $250,000 was received from our current President, Chief Executive Officer and director, and two other directors of the Company. The debentures pay interest quarterly and are convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $0.15 per share on or before January 25, 2015. The embedded conversion feature has certain weighted average anti-dilution protection provisions which would be triggered if the Company issues its common stock, or certain common stock equivalents, (as defined) at a price below $0.15 per share. The Company has the option to pay any interest on the debentures in common stock based on the average of the closing prices of our common stock for the 10 trading days immediately preceding the interest payment date. The Company also has the option to pay any interest on the debentures with additional debentures. The Company may prepay the debentures at any time without penalty upon 30 days prior notice but only if the sales price of the common stock is at least $.30 for 20 trading days in any 30-day trading period ending no more than 15 days before the Company’s prepayment notice. In conjunction with the issuance of the debentures, the Company issued warrants (the “Convertible Debenture Warrant”) to purchase 5,882,745 shares of its common stock. Each warrant grants the holder the right to purchase one share of the Company’s common stock at the purchase price of $0.30 per share on or before January 25, 2016. The Convertible Debenture Warrant may be exercised on a cashless basis only if there is not an effective registration statement covering such shares.
14
The Company determined, based upon authoritative guidance, that the conversion feature embedded within the Convertible Debenture due January 2016 should be valued separately and bifurcated from the host instrument and accounted for as a free-standing derivative liability and that the Convertible Debenture Warrant should also be valued and accounted for separately as an equity instrument.
The Company determined the fair value of each of the three elements included within the Convertible Debenture due January 2015. The debenture portion (without the conversion feature) bearing interest at 8% was determined to be a debt instrument with a fair value of $1,490,000. The embedded conversion feature was determined to be a derivative with a fair value of $1,180,000. The Convertible Debenture Warrant was determined to be an equity instrument with a fair value of $370,000. The Company determined the fair value of each of these instruments based upon the assumptions and methodologies as discussed below.
Since the Convertible Debenture Warrant was determined to be an equity instrument, the Company first computed the relative fair value of the Convertible Debenture due January 2015 (including the value of its conversion feature) with a fair value of $2,670,000 and the Convertible Debenture Warrant with a fair value of $370,000. Accordingly, the relative fair value of the Convertible Debenture Warrant and the Convertible Debenture due January 2015 (including the value of its conversion feature) was determined to be $214,819 and $1,550,181, respectively. Then, from the relative fair value of the Convertible Debenture due January 2015, the Company deducted in full the fair value of the embedded conversion feature of $1,180,000. The discount of $1,394,819 applied to the face value of the Convertible Debenture due January 2015 consists of the sum of the relative fair value of the Convertible Debenture Warrant of $214,819 and the full value of the bifurcated conversion option derivative liability of $1,180,000. The Convertible Debenture due January 2015 was recorded at a net value of $370,181, representing its face value of $1,765,000, less aggregate discounts for the derivative liability and warrant of $1,394,819, as summarized in the table below.
Face value of Convertible Debenture due January 2015 |
|
|
$ 1,765,000 |
Fair value of embedded conversion feature |
$ 1,180,000 |
|
|
Relative fair value of Convertible Debenture Warrant |
214,819 |
|
|
Discount |
$ 1,394,819 |
|
(1,394,819) |
Proceeds attributable to the Convertible Debenture due January 2015 |
|
|
|
Accordingly, the Company accounted for the full amount of the discount as an offset to the Convertible Debenture due January 2015, amortizable under the effective interest method over the term of the debenture.
15
The Company calculated the fair value of the embedded conversion feature of the Convertible Debenture due January 2015 using a Monte Carlo simulation, with the observable assumptions as provided in the table below. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the reporting entity’s embedded conversion feature are expected stock prices, levels of trading and liquidity of the Company stock, probability of default of the host instrument, and loss severity in the event of such default. Significant increases in the expected stock prices and expected liquidity would result in a significantly higher fair value measurement. Significant increases in either the probability or severity of default of the host instrument would result in a significantly lower fair value measurement.
|
|
As of January 25, 2013 and January 31, 2013 |
Stock price on valuation date |
|
$ 0.21 |
Conversion price |
|
$ 0.15 |
Stock premium for liquidity |
|
57% |
Term (years) |
|
2.00 |
Expected volatility |
|
110% |
Weighted average risk-free interest rate |
|
0.3% |
Trials |
|
100,000 |
Aggregate fair value |
|
$ 1,180,000 |
The Company calculated the fair value of the Convertible Debenture Warrant issued on January 25, 2013 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:
|
|
As of January 25, 2013 |
Stock price on valuation date |
|
$ 0.21 |
Exercise price |
|
$ 0.30 |
Stock premium for liquidity |
|
38% |
Term (years) |
|
3.00 |
Warrant exercise trigger price |
|
41% |
Expected volatility |
|
95% |
Weighted average risk-free interest rate |
|
0.4% |
Number of warrants |
|
5,882,745 |
Aggregate fair value |
|
$ 370,000 |
The Company determined the fair value of the Convertible Debenture due January 2015 by preparing an analysis of discounted cash flows, using a discount rate of 18.6%, which the Company deemed appropriate given the Company’s current risk scenarios.
16
The amortization of debt discount related to the Convertible Debenture due January 2015 was $4,781 for the three months ended January 31, 2013. The derivative liability related to the embedded conversion feature is revalued at each reporting period. There was no change in the fair value of the derivative liability at January 31, 2013 and accordingly during the three months ended January 31, 2013, no change in the fair value of the derivative was reported within the consolidated statement of operations.
In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Debenture due January 2015, the Company provided compensation to the placement agent consisting of a cash fee of $41,400 and a warrant for the purchase of 276,014 shares of the Company’s common stock (“Placement Agent Warrant”). The terms of the Placement Agent Warrant are identical to the terms of the Convertible Debenture Warrant, and using Black-Scholes, upon issuance, was determined to have a fair value of $17,360. Assumptions for the valuation of the Placement Agent Warrant were identical to those provided above for the Convertible Debenture Warrant. In addition, issuance costs included legal fees of approximately $25,000.
The sum of the issuance costs was $83,760, and this cost was allocated as provided below:
Attributable to: |
|
Accounting Treatment |
|
Amount |
The embedded conversion feature (derivative) |
|
Expensed as incurred |
|
$ 55,999 |
The 8% Convertible Debenture Warrant |
|
Charged to additional paid-in capital |
|
10,194
|
The 8% Convertible Debenture |
|
Recorded as deferred issuance costs and amortized under the interest method over the term of the 8% Convertible Debenture. |
|
17,567 |
Total |
|
|
|
$ 83,760 |
During the three months ended January 31, 2013, the Company amortized $-0- of deferred issuance costs, which when recorded, will be recorded as interest expense.
In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Debenture due January 2015, the Company has agreed to prepare and file a registration statement registering for resale the shares of its common stock which may be issued upon the conversion of the debenture consistent with the terms and conditions of the registration rights agreement the Company entered into with the holders of the registrable shares listed above. The company has agreed to file the registration statement by April 25, 2013 and use its best efforts to ensure that such registration statement would be declared effective by July 24, 2013.
17
If the Company is late in filing the registration statement, monetary penalties payable by the Company to each holder of registrable securities will commence to accrue and cumulate at a rate equal to one percent (1.0%) of the purchase price per share paid by such holder for the registrable securities for each full period of 30 days that the Company is late in filing the registration statement.
The Company has agreed to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement through the earlier of three years from the date of the issuance of the Convertible Debenture due January 2015 or until Rule 144 of the Securities Act is available to the holders to allow them to sell all of their registrable securities thereunder.
3. STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
We maintain stock equity incentive plans under which we may grant non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards, or stock units to employees, directors and consultants.
Stock Option Compensation Expense
We account for stock options granted to employees and directors using the accounting guidance in ASC 718 “Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). In accordance with ASC 718, we estimate the fair value of service based stock options on the date of grant, and performance based options when the achievement is considered probable, using the Black-Scholes pricing model. For options vesting if the trading price of the Company’s common stock exceeds two separate price targets we use a Monte Carlo Simulation in estimating the fair value at grant date. We recognize compensation expense for stock option awards over the requisite or implied service period of the grant. We recorded stock-based compensation expense of approximately $72,000 and $79,000, related to stock options granted to employees and directors during the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
In addition, we recorded stock-based compensation cost during the three months ended January 31, 2013 and 2012 of approximately $401,000 and $2,000, respectively, related to the amortization of compensation cost for stock options granted to employees and directors in prior periods but not yet vested. As of January 31, 2013, there was unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements for stock options granted to employees and directors, related to service based options of approximately $2,305,000 which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.5 years, related to options subject to market conditions of approximately $1,201,000 which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years and related to performance based options of approximately $795,000. As of January 31, 2013, we have not recognized any compensation cost related to performance based options as achievement was not considered probable.
We account for stock options granted to consultants using the accounting guidance included in ASC 505-50 “Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees” (“ASC 505-50”). In accordance with ASC 505-50, we estimate the fair value of service based stock options at each reporting period, and performance based options at each reporting period when the achievement is considered probable, using the Black-Scholes pricing model. For options vesting if the trading price of the Company’s common stock exceeds two separate price targets we estimate the fair value at each reporting period using a Monte Carlo Simulation. We did not issue any stock options to consultants during the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012.
18
We recorded consulting expense during the three months ended January 31, 2013 and 2012 of approximately $242,000 and $-0-, respectively, related to stock options granted in prior periods but not yet vested. As of January 31, 2013, there was unrecognized consulting expense related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements for stock options granted to consultants, related to service based options of approximately $1,405,000 which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.7 years, related to options subject to market conditions of approximately $881,000 which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years and related to performance based options of approximately $530,000. As of January 31, 2013, we have not recognized any compensation cost related to performance based options as achievement was not considered probable.
Fair Value Determination
In September 2012 we instituted changes to our operations as more fully described in Note 1. Prior to that date we separated the individuals we granted stock options to into three relatively homogenous groups, based on exercise and post-vesting employment termination behaviors. To determine the weighted average fair value of stock options on the date of grant, we took a weighted average of the assumptions used for each of these groups. Subsequent to that date individuals are included in a single group. The fair value of stock options granted to consultants is determined on an individual basis. The stock options we granted during the three months ended January 31, 2013 consisted of awards of options with 5-year terms, which vest over one year or options with 10-year terms which vest in three annual installments commencing November 30, 2013. The stock options we granted during the three months ended January 31, 2012 consisted of awards of options with 10-year terms which vested immediately.
The following weighted average assumptions were used in estimating the fair value of stock options granted during the three months ended January 31, 2013 and 2012.
19
|
For the Three Months Ended January 31, | |
|
2013 |
2012 |
Weighted average fair value at grant date |
$ .17 |
$ 0.08 |
Valuation assumptions: |
|
|
Expected life ( years) |
5.12 |
1.6 |
Expected volatility |
115.7% |
124% |
Risk-free interest rate |
.58% |
.20% |
Expected dividend yield |
0 |
0 |
We use the Black-Scholes pricing model in estimating the fair value of stock options which vest over a specific period of time or upon achieving cash milestones. The expected term of stock options represents the weighted average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding. For options granted prior to the change in our operations in September 2012, actual historical performance was used for awards exercised or cancelled. For awards that remained unexercised and outstanding, even exercise over the remaining contractual term was assumed. Each category was weighted for its relative size in the population and was then multiplied by the indicated expected term for each category to arrive at the expected term for the population. For options granted subsequent to the changes in our operations during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we used the simplified method to determine expected term. The simplified method was adopted since we do not believe that historical experience is representative of future performance because of the impact of the changes in our operations and the change in terms from historical options which vested immediately to terms including vesting periods of up to three years.
Under the Black-Scholes pricing model we estimated the expected volatility of our shares of common stock based upon the historical volatility of our share price over a period of time equal to the expected term of the options. We estimated the risk-free interest rate based on the implied yield available on the applicable grant date of a U.S. Treasury note with a term equal to the expected term of the underlying grants. We made the dividend yield assumption based on our history of not paying dividends and our expectation not to pay dividends in the future.
For options vesting if the trading price of the Company’s common stock exceeds two separate price targets we used a Monte Carlo Simulation in estimating the fair value.
Under ASC 718, the amount of stock-based compensation expense recognized is based on the portion of the awards that are ultimately expected to vest. Accordingly, if deemed necessary, we reduce the fair value of the stock option awards for expected forfeitures, which are forfeitures of the unvested portion of surrendered options. Based on our historical experience we have not reduced the amount of stock-based compensation expenses for anticipated forfeitures.
We will reconsider use of the Black-Scholes pricing model if additional information becomes available in the future that indicates another model would be more appropriate. If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the application of ASC 718 in future periods, the compensation expense that we record under ASC 718 may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period.
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Table of Content
Stock Option Activity
During the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, we granted options to employees and directors to purchase 1,180,000 and 950,000 shares, respectively, of common stock at weighted average exercise prices of $0.21 and $0.15 per share, respectively, pursuant to the CopyTele, Inc. 2010 Share Incentive Plan (the "2010 Share Plan). During the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, stock options to purchase -0- shares and 950,000 shares, respectively, of common stock were exercised with aggregate proceeds of approximately $-0- and $148,000, respectively.
Stock Option Plans
As of January 31, 2013, we have two stock option plans: the CopyTele, Inc. 2003 Share Incentive Plan (the "2003 Share Plan") and the 2010 Share Plan, which were adopted by our Board of Directors on April 21, 2003 and July 14, 2010, respectively.
The 2003 Share Plan provides for the grant of nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards and stock units to key employees and consultants. The maximum number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2003 Share Plan is 70,000,000 shares. The 2003 Share Plan was administered by the Stock Option Committee through June 2004, from June 2004 through July 2010, by the Board of Directors, from July 2010 through August 2012, by the Stock Option Committee, from August 2012 through November 2012, by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and since November 2012, by the Board of Directors, which determines the option price, term and provisions of each option. The exercise price with respect to all of the options granted under the 2003 Share Plan since its inception was equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock at the grant date. As of January 31, 2013, the 2003 Share Plan had 489,745 shares available for future grants. Information regarding the 2003 Share Plan for the three months ended January 31, 2013 is as follows:
|
|
Weighted |
Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
Options Outstanding at October 31, 2012 |
16,350,045 |
$ 0.72 |
|
Forfeited |
(441,200) |
$ 0.83 |
|
Options Outstanding at January 31, 2013 |
15,908,845 |
$ 0.71 |
$ 185,000 |
Options Exercisable at January 31, 2013 |
15,848,845 |
$ 0.71 |
$ 175,000 |
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding under the 2003 Share Plan as of January 31, 2013:
|
Stock Options Outstanding |
Stock Options Exercisable | |||||
|
Number |
Weighted (in years) |
Weighted |
Number |
Weighted (in years) |
Weighted | |
$0.07 - $0.37 |
2,070,000 |
3.72 |
$0.15 |
2,010,000 |
3.69 |
$0.16 | |
$0.43 - $0.70 |
5,384,770 |
2.70 |
$0.60 |
5,384,770 |
2.70 |
$0.60 | |
$0.74 - $0.92 |
6,199,075 |
3.52 |
$0.85 |
6,199,075 |
3.52 |
$0.85 | |
$1.04 - $1.46 |
2,255,000 |
2.98 |
$1.10 |
2,255,000 |
2.98 |
$1.10 |
21
The 2010 Share Plan provides for the grant of nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards and stock units to key employees and consultants. The maximum number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2010 Share Plan was initially 15,000,000 shares. On July 6, 2011, the 2010 Share Plan was amended by our Board of Directors to increase the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be granted to 27,000,000 shares, and on August 29, 2012, the maximum number of shares was further increased to 30,000,000 shares. Current and future non-employee directors are automatically granted nonqualified stock options to purchase up to 60,000 shares of common stock upon their initial election to the Board of Directors and 60,000 shares of common stock at the time of each subsequent annual meeting of our shareholders at which they are elected to the Board of Directors. The 2010 Share Plan was administered by the Stock Option Committee through August 2012, from August 2012 through November 2012, by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and since November 2012, by the Board of Directors, which determines the option price, term and provisions of each option. The exercise price with respect to all of the options granted under the 2010 Share Plan was equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock at the grant date. As of January 31, 2013, the 2010 Share Plan had 1,075,020 shares available for future grants. Information regarding the 2010 Share Plan for the three months ended January 31, 2013 is as follows:
|
|
Weighted |
Aggregate |
|
|
|
|
Options Outstanding at October 31, 2012 |
2,820,000 |
$0.25 |
|
Granted |
180,000 |
$0.20 |
|
Options Outstanding at January 31, 2013 |
3,000,000 |
$0.24 |
$76,000 |
Options Exercisable at January 31, 2013 |
2,000,000 |
$0.26 |
$51,000 |
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding under the 2010 Share Plan as of January 31, 2013:
|
Options Outstanding |
Options Exercisable | ||||
|
Number |
Weighted (in years) |
Weighted |
Number |
Weighted |
Weighted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$0.12 - $0.37 |
3,000,000 |
6.47 |
$0.24 |
2,000,000 |
5.47 |
$0.26 |
22
In addition to options granted under the 2003 Share Plan and the 2010 Share Plan, in September 2012, the Board of Directors approved the grant of stock options to purchase 41,500,000 shares and, during the three months ended January 31, 2013, the Board of Directors approved the grant of stock options to purchase 1 million shares.
Of the stock options granted in September 2012, nonqualified options to purchase 40,000,000 shares were issued to our new executive team, consisting of 16,000,000 stock options issued to our new President and Chief Executive Officer, 8,000,000 stock options issued to our new Senior Vice President of Engineering and 16,000,000 stock options issued to a new strategic advisor to the Company. These stock options have an exercise price of $0.2175 (the average of the high and the low sales price of the common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the approval of such options by the Board of Directors) and have a term of ten years. Half of these stock options vest in 36 equal monthly installments commencing on October 31, 2012, provided that if the grantees are terminated by the Company without cause, an additional 12 months of vesting will be accelerated and such accelerated options will become immediately exercisable. The balance of the stock options will vest in three equal installments upon achievement of a cash milestone and two stock price targets. As of January 31, 2013, we have not recognized any compensation cost related to cash milestone based options as achievement was not considered probable. As of January 31, 2013, 2,222,240 of these stock options were exercisable with an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $50,000. These stock options otherwise have the same terms and conditions as options granted under the Company’s 2010 Share Incentive Plan.
The remaining nonqualified stock options granted in September 2012 to purchase 1.5 million shares consisted of grants of 750,000 stock options to our Chairman in compensation for his service as interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as compensation for his prior service as a director, and 750,000 stock options to a director in compensation for his service in recruiting the Company’s new management team. These stock options have an exercise price of $0.2225 (the average of the high and low sales price on September 21, 2012). The options vest in 3 equal annual installments of 250,000 commencing on September 21, 2012 and have a term of ten years. As of January 31, 2013, 500,000 options were exercisable with an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $9,000. These stock options otherwise have the same terms and conditions as options granted under the Company’s 2010 Share Incentive Plan.
During the three months ended January 31, 2013, nonqualified stock options to purchase 1 million shares were granted to a director as additional compensation for service in recruiting the Company’s new management team. These stock options have an exercise price of $0.211 (the average of the high and low sales price on November 30, 2012 and vest 333,334 shares upon grant and 333,333 shares in two annual installments commencing November 30, 2014. The intrinsic value of these options as of January 31, 2013 was approximately $10,000. These stock options have a term of ten years and otherwise have the same terms and conditions as options granted under the Company’s 2010 Share Incentive Plan.
23
The following table summarizes information about the above stock options outstanding that were not granted under the 2003 Share Plan or the 2010 Share Plan as of January 31, 2013:
|
Options Outstanding |
Options Exercisable | ||||
|
Number |
Weighted (in years) |
Weighted |
Number |
Weighted |
Weighted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$0.21 - $0.22 |
42,500,000 |
9.64 |
$0.22 |
3,055,574 |
9.66 |
$0.22 |
Stock Awards
We account for stock awards granted to employees and consultants based on their grant date fair value, in accordance with ASC 718 and ASC 505-50, respectively. During the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, we issued -0- shares and 3,083,620 shares, respectively, of common stock to certain employees for services rendered, principally in lieu of cash compensation, pursuant to the 2010 Share Plan and the 2003 Share Plan. We recorded compensation expense for the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, of approximately $-0- and $406,000, respectively, for the shares of common stock issued to employees. In addition, during the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, we issued 125,000 shares and 290,470 shares, respectively, of common stock to consultants for services rendered pursuant to the 2010 Share Plan and the 2003 Share Plan. We recorded consulting expense for the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012 of approximately $26,000 and $37,000, respectively for the shares of common stock issued to consultants.
4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”) defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. In accordance with ASC 820, we have categorized our financial assets, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique, into a three-level fair value hierarchy as set forth below. If the inputs used to measure the financial instruments fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.
24
Financial assets and liabilities recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets are categorized based on the inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:
Level 1 - Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market which we have the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2 - Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on quoted market prices in markets where trading occurs infrequently or whose values are based on quoted prices of instruments with similar attributes in active markets.
Level 3 – Financial assets and liabilities whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. These inputs reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the asset and liabilities. We do not currently have any Level 3 financial assets.
The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of January 31, 2013:
|
Level 1 |
|
Level 2 |
|
Level 3 |
|
Total |
Money market funds – Cash and cash equivalents |
$ 1,713,353 |
|
$ - |
|
$ - |
|
$ 1,713,353 |
Videocon Industries Limited global depository receipts |
5,730,583 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
5,730,583 |
Total financial assets |
$ 7,443,936 |
|
$ - |
|
$ - |
|
$ 7,443,936 |
The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2012:
|
Level 1 |
|
Level 2 |
|
Level 3 |
|
Total |
Money market funds – Cash and cash equivalents |
$ 339,693 |
|
$ - |
|
$ - |
|
$ 339,693 |
U.S. government securities - Cash and cash equivalents |
- |
|
500,000 |
|
- |
|
500,000 |
Videocon Industries Limited global depository receipts |
4,728,367 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
4,728,367 |
Total financial assets |
$ 5,068,060 |
|
$ 500,000 |
|
$ - |
|
$ 5,568,060 |
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We did not have any financial liabilities that were required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2012. The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of January 31, 2013:
|
Level 1 |
|
Level 2 |
|
Level 3 |
|
Total |
Derivative liability |
$ - |
|
$ - |
|
$ 1,180,000 |
|
$ 1,180,000 |
The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in the fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
|
For the Three Months Ending January 31, 2013 | |
Beginning balance |
$ |
- |
Aggregate fair value of bifurcated conversion feature issued |
1,180,000 | |
Change in fair value of bifurcated conversion feature |
|
- |
Ending balance |
$ |
1,180,000 |
The bifurcated conversion feature is accounted for as a derivative liability and is measured at fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation model and is classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.
The significant assumptions and valuation methods that the Company used to determine fair value and the change in fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instrument are discussed in Note 2 (Convertible Debentures). The development and determination of the unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements and fair value calculations are the responsibility of the Company’s Principal Financial Officer with support from the Company’s consultants.
In accordance with the provisions of ASC 815, the Company presents the bifurcated conversion feature liability at fair value in its condensed consolidated balance sheet, with the corresponding changes in fair value, if any, recorded in the Company’s condensed statements of operations for the applicable reporting periods. As disclosed in Note 2, the Company computed the fair value of the derivative liability at the date of issuance and the reporting date of January 31, 2013 using the Monte Carlo simulation model.
The Company developed the assumptions that were used as follows: The stock price on the valuation date of the Company’s common stock was derived from the trading history of the Company’s common stock. The stock premium for liquidity was computed as the premium required to adjust for the effect of the additional time that it would be expected to take for the market to absorb the converted shares and warrant exercises, given the Company’s current trading volume. The term represents the remaining contractual term of the derivative; the volatility rate was developed based on analysis of the Company’s historical volatility; the risk free interest rate was obtained from publicly available US Treasury yield curve rates; the dividend yield is zero because the Company has not paid dividends and does not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
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Our non financial assets that are measured on a non-recurring basis include our property and equipment which are measured using fair value techniques whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate a condition of impairment exists. The estimated fair value of accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates their individual carrying amounts due to the short term nature of these measurements. It is impractical to determine the fair value of the loan receivable and loan payable to the related party given the nature of these loans. The convertible debentures have been reported net of the discount for the beneficial conversion features and related warrants. Cash and cash equivalents are stated at carrying value which approximates fair value. These assets and liabilities were not presented in the preceding table.
5. INVESTMENTS
Short-term Investments
At October 31, 2012, we had marketable securities consisting of certificates of deposit of approximately $500,000, which were classified as "available-for-sale securities" and reported at fair value.
Investment in Videocon
Our investment in Videocon is classified as an "available-for-sale security" and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from operations and reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity. The original cost basis of $16,200,000 was determined using the specific identification method. The fair value of the Videocon GDRs is based on the price on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, which price is based on the underlying price of Videocon’s equity shares which are traded on stock exchanges in India with prices quoted in rupees.
ASC 320 “Investments-Debt and Equity Securities” (“ASC 320”) and SEC guidance on other than temporary impairments of certain investments in equity securities requires an evaluation to determine if the decline in fair value of an investment is either temporary or other than temporary. Unless evidence exists to support a realizable value equal to or greater than the carrying cost of the investment, an other than temporary impairment should be recorded. At each reporting period we assess our investment in Videocon to determine if a decline that is other than temporary has occurred. As of January 31, 2013, on a cumulative basis, write-down of the investment of approximately $10,818,000 was recorded and a new cost basis of approximately $5,382,000 was established. The fair value of investment in Videocon as of January 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, and the unrealized gain for the three month period ended January 31, 2013, are as follows:
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|
|
Investment in Videocon |
Fair Value as of October 31, 2012 |
|
$ 4,728,367 |
Reversal of unrealized loss at October 31, 2012 |
|
653,684 |
Unrealized gain |
|
348,532 |
Fair Value as of January 31, 2013 |
|
$ 5,730,583 |
Investment in ZQX Advisors, LLC
In August 2009, we entered into an Engagement Agreement with ZQX Advisors, LLC (“ZQX”) to assist us in seeking business opportunities and licenses for our electrophoretic display technology. Concurrently with entering into the Engagement Agreement, we acquired a 19.5% ownership interest in ZQX. In exchange for the 19.5% ownership interest and for the services to be rendered by ZQX, we issued 800,000 unregistered shares of common stock as well as warrants to purchase an additional 500,000 unregistered shares of common stock, half of which are exercisable at $0.37 per share and the other half at $0.555 per share to ZQX. The warrants are exercisable at any time after August 19, 2010 and expire on August 19, 2019. We have classified our interest in ZQX of $91,000 as a reduction of additional paid-in capital within shareholders’ equity since this investment in ZQX consists entirely of our equity securities. On January 21, 2013, we terminated the Engagement Agreement with ZQX, but currently retain our 19.5% interest in ZQX.
6. NET LOSS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK
In accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share”, basic net loss per common share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net loss per common share (“Diluted EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common share equivalents and convertible securities then outstanding. Diluted EPS for all periods presented is the same as Basic EPS, as the inclusion of the effect of common share equivalents then outstanding would be anti-dilutive. For this reason, excluded from the calculation of Diluted EPS for the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, were stock options to purchase 61,408,845 and 18,602,045 shares respectively, and warrants to purchase 13,658,759 and 7,500,000 shares, respectively and debentures convertible into 19,919,425 shares and -0- shares respectively.
7. EFFECT OF RECENTLY ADOPTED AND ISSUED PRONOUNCEMENTS
In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-12 (“ASU 2011-12”), Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. This amendment defers the effective date of the requirement to present separate line items on the income statement for reclassification adjustments of items out of accumulated other comprehensive income into net income. ASU 2011-12 is effective at the same time as Accounting Standards Update 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”), so that entities will not be required to comply with the presentation requirements in ASU 2011-05 that this ASU 2011-12 is deferring. ASUs 2011-12 and 2011-05 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted ASUs 2011-05 and 2011-12 on November 1, 2012 and has presented comprehensive income using the one-statement approach.
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In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The amendments in ASU 2013-02 do not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements. However, ASU 2013-02 requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by respective line items of net income but only if amounts reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide additional details about these amounts. ASU 2013-02 is effective in the second quarter of fiscal year 2013 and is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In October 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2012-04 (“ASU 2012-04”), Technical Corrections and Improvements. The amendments in this update cover a wide range of topics and include technical corrections and improvements to the Accounting Standards Codification. The amendments in ASU 2012-04 will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted ASU 2012-04 on February 1, 2013. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2012-04 to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In October 2012, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2012-03 (“ASU 2012-03”), Technical Amendments and Corrections to SEC Sections. ASU 2012-03 is issued to amend certain SEC paragraphs in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, including Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin, Technical Amendments, and Corrections Related to FASB Accounting Codification. The amendments in ASU 2012-03 will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted ASU 2012-03 on February 1, 2013. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2012-03 to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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8. INCOME TAXES
We file Federal and New York State income tax returns. Due to net operating losses, the statute of limitations remains open since the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997. We account for interest and penalties related to income tax matters in selling, general and administrative expenses. There are no unrecognized income tax benefits as of January 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012.
9. SEGMENT INFORMATION
We follow the accounting guidance of ASC 280 “Segment Reporting” (“ASC 280”). Reportable operating segments are determined based on management’s approach. The management approach, as defined by ASC 280, is based on the way that the chief operating decision-maker organizes the segments within an enterprise for making operating decisions and assessing performance. In the past, the primary operations of the Company involved licensing in connection with and the development of patented technologies. Commencing in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012 the Company’s primary operations involve patent licensing in connection with the unauthorized use of patented technologies and patent enforcement. Prior to the change in the primary operations of the Company, the chief operating decision-maker managed the enterprise in two segments: (i) Display Technology and (ii) Encryption Products and Services. Subsequent to the change, the chief operating decision-maker manages the enterprise as a single segment which includes the licensing and enforcement of patents from both of the previous segments.
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10. CONTINGENCES
On January 28, 2013, we filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against AUO and E Ink in connection with the AUO License Agreements, alleging breach of contract and other charges, and are seeking compensatory, punitive, and treble damages. In addition to numerous material breaches by AUO of the AUO License Agreements, the Complaint alleges that AUO and E Ink conspired to obtain rights to CopyTele’s ePaper® Electrophoretic Display technology, and CopyTele’s Nano Field Emission Display technology. CopyTele alleges that such activities violated several State and Federal anti-trust and unfair competition statutes for which punitive and/or treble damages are applicable. We can give no assurance as to the potential outcome of this litigation.
On January 28, 2013, CopyTele also initiated a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against E Ink, regarding certain patents owned by CopyTele pertaining to CopyTele’s ePaper® Electrophoretic Display technology. CopyTele alleges that E Ink has infringed and continues to infringe such patents in connection with the manufacture, sale, use, and importation of eReaders, and other devices with electrophoretic displays. We can give no assurance as to the potential outcome of this litigation.
Commencing in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012 the primary operations of the Company involved patent licensing in connection with the unauthorized use of patented technologies and patent enforcement. In connection with any of our patent enforcement actions, it is possible that a defendant may request and/or a court may rule that we have violated statutory authority, regulatory authority, federal rules, local court rules, or governing standards relating to the substantive or procedural aspects of such enforcement actions. In such event, a court may issue monetary sanctions against us or award attorney's fees and/or expenses to a defendant(s), which could be material.
Other than the foregoing, we are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings. We are party to claims and complaints that arise in the ordinary course of business. We believe that any liability that may ultimately result from the resolution of these matters will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
GENERAL
As used herein, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company”, “CopyTele” or “CTI” means CopyTele, Inc. unless otherwise indicated. CTI currently owns 53 U.S. patents and 11 U.S. patent applications. Our principal operations include the development, acquisition, licensing, and enforcement of patented technologies. While in the past, the primary operations of the Company involved licensing in connection with the development of patented technologies, the primary operations of the Company are now patent licensing in connection with the unauthorized use of patented technologies and patent enforcement. We expect to first generate revenues and related cash flows from the licensing and enforcement of patents that we currently own. We are continuing to develop our patent portfolios through the filing and prosecution of patent applications and will initiate lawsuits, if necessary, to prevent the unauthorized use of our patented technologies. The changes in the primary operations of the Company included elimination of development efforts, accordingly, we are no longer incurring research and development expenses. Certain of our patents are encumbered due to arrangements previously entered into by the Company. Where we are able, we will take the steps necessary to remove any encumbrances that may inhibit our patent licensing and enforcement efforts. We expect to obtain the rights to license and enforce additional patents from third parties, and when necessary, will assist such parties in the further development of their patent portfolios through the filing of additional patent applications. In the ordinary course of our business we will likely initiate patent enforcement actions against unauthorized users of patented technologies on our own behalf and in conjunction with such third parties.
Our past operations also included the development, production and marketing of encryption products for use over several communications media. We do not anticipate developing or marketing any additional encryption products. During the three months ended January 31, 2013, we wrote-off our remaining inventory of encryption products of approximately $26,000.
In connection with the change in the primary operations of the Company during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012, we have discontinued research and development activities, reduced our employee count from 19 to 7, and begun to vacate and return portions of our facilities to the landlord for possible re-letting.
Patent Monetization and Patent Assertion
Patent monetization is the generation of revenue and proceeds from patents and patented technologies (“Patent Monetization”). Patent assertion is a specialized type of Patent Monetization where a patent owner, or a representative of the patent owner, seeks to prohibit or collect royalties from the unauthorized manufacture, sale, and use of the owner’s patented invention (“Patent Assertion”). CTI’s new business model is Patent Monetization and Patent Assertion. We currently own 53 U.S. patents and 11 U.S. patent applications, which are mainly grouped into 4 patent portfolios: Key Based Encryption (“KB Encryption”); ePaper® Electrophoretic Display (“ePaper® Display”); Nano Field Emission Display (“nFED Display”); and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Display (“MEMS Display”).
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Key Based Encryption
Portfolio covering the generation and management of encryption keys used for securing e-mail, text messages, data, voice and facsimile. This type of encryption technology is commonly used for cloud based storage and email archiving, to comply with HIPAA and other regulations regarding the safeguarding of personal information. KB Encryption can also be used for protecting sensitive cellular, satellite, and local area network communications.
ePaper® Electrophoretic Display
Fundamental portfolio covering the underlying chemistry, manufacturing, assembly, and internal operations of core electrophoretic technology used in the worlds’ most popular eReader devices. Coverage includes both the particles, and the suspension, which are the primary elements used to create highly reflective grey scale images to simulate reading on paper.
Nano Field Emission Display
Portfolio covering a new type of flat panel display consisting of low voltage color phosphors, specially coated carbon nanotubes, nano materials to generate secondary electrons, and ionized noble gas, resulting in a bright, sharp, high contrast color image. This is emerging technology that would result in a flat panel display utilizing less power, with better picture quality and lower manufacturing costs.
Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Display
Portfolio covering vanadium dioxide coated pixels that electrically modulate light at extremely high speeds to form an image. Additional coverage on use of electrostatic force to move pixel sized membranes that create a color image. These are emerging, low voltage, display technologies with numerous potential commercial applications.
Patent Monetization and Patent Assertion Activities
On January 28, 2013, CTI initiated a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against E Ink, regarding certain patents owned by CTI pertaining to CTI’s ePaper® Electrophoretic Display technology. CTI alleges that E Ink has infringed and continues to infringe such patents in connection with the manufacture, sale, use, and importation of electrophoretic displays.
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Table of Content
Prior Agreements
AU Optronics Corp.
In May 2011, we entered into an Exclusive License Agreement (the “EPD License Agreement”) and a License Agreement (the “Nano Display License Agreement”) with AU Optronics Corp. (“AUO”) (together the “AUO License Agreements”). Under the EPD License Agreement, we provided AUO with an exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license of our E-Paper® Display patents and technology, in connection with AUO jointly developing products with CTI, including the right to sublicense the technology to third parties in connection with the joint development of such products. Under the Nano Display License Agreement, we provided AUO with a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license of our nFED Display patents and technology, in connection with AUO jointly developing products with CTI, with the right to consent to the granting of licenses of the technology to third parties.
On January 28, 2013, we terminated the AUO License Agreements due to numerous alleged material and continual breaches of the agreements by AUO. On January 28, 2013, we also filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against AUO and E Ink in connection with the AUO License Agreements, alleging breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraudulent inducement, unjust enrichment, unfair business practices, attempted monopolization, and other charges, and we are seeking compensatory, punitive, and treble damages (the “AUO/E Ink Lawsuit”). A copy of the Complaint filed in the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit is available at www.CopyTele.com. For more details on the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit, please see “Item 3, Legal Proceedings” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012.
Videocon Industries Limited
In November 2007, we entered into a Technology License Agreement (as amended in May 2008), (the “Videocon License Agreement”) with Videocon. In April 2008, the Indian Government approved the Videocon License Agreement. Under the Videocon License Agreement, we provided Videocon with a non-transferable, worldwide license of our nFED Display technology, for Videocon to produce and market products incorporating nFED Displays. With the approval and support of Videocon, we entered into the Nano Display License Agreement for AUO to utilize their production facilities to produce nFED Displays for their own products and potentially for Videocon products. Additional licenses of the nFED Display technology require the joint agreement of CTI and Videocon, and may require the consent of AUO, depending upon the outcome of CTI’s termination of the Nano Display License Agreement and the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit. We have entered into discussions with Videocon regarding the disposition of the Videocon License Agreement.
Under the terms of the Videocon License Agreement, we were scheduled to receive a license fee of $11 million from Videocon, payable in installments over a 27 month period and an agreed upon royalty from Videocon based on display sales by Videocon. The initial installment was received in May 2008 however; certain license fee payments were subsequently deferred. The deferral of the license fee payments is no longer in effect; however, we cannot give any assurance that additional license fees will be received. No such license fee payments were received from Videocon during the three months ended January 31, 2013 and fiscal years ended October 31, 2012 and 2011. As of January 31, 2013, we have received aggregate license fee payments from Videocon of $3.2 million and $7.8 million remains owed to us.
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At the same time we entered into the Videocon License Agreement in November 2007, we also entered into a Share Subscription Agreement (the “Share Subscription Agreement”) with Mars Overseas Limited, an affiliate of Videocon (“Mars Overseas”). Under the Share Subscription Agreement, Mars Overseas purchased 20,000,000 unregistered shares of our common stock (the “CopyTele Shares”) from us for an aggregate purchase price of $16,200,000. Also in November 2007, our wholly-owned subsidiary, CopyTele International Ltd. (“CopyTele International”), entered into a GDR Purchase Agreement with Global EPC Ventures Limited (“Global”), for CopyTele International to purchase from Global 1,495,845 global depository receipts of Videocon (the “Videocon GDRs”) for an aggregate purchase price of $16,200,000.
For the purpose of effecting a lock up of the Videocon GDRs and CopyTele Shares (collectively, the “Securities”) for a period of seven years, and therefore restricting both parties from selling or transferring the Securities during such period, CopyTele International and Mars Overseas entered into two Loan and Pledge Agreements in November 2007. The Videocon GDRs are to be held as security for a loan in the principal amount of $5,000,000 from Mars Overseas to CopyTele International, and the CopyTele Shares are similarly held as security for a loan in the principal amount of $5,000,000 from CopyTele International to Mars Overseas. The loans are for a period of seven years, do not bear interest, and prepayment of the loans will not release the lien on the Securities prior to end of the seven year period. The loan agreements provide for customary events of default, which may result in forfeiture of the Securities by the defaulting party, and also provide for the transfer to the respective parties, free and clear of any encumbrances under the agreements, any dividends, distributions, rights or other proceeds or benefits in respect of the Securities. The loan receivable from Mars Overseas is classified as a contra-equity under shareholders’ deficiency in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet, because the loan receivable is secured by the CopyTele Shares and the Share Subscription Agreement and Loan and Pledge Agreement were entered into concurrently. We have entered into discussions with Videocon regarding the disposition of the Subscription Agreement, GDR Purchase Agreement, and Loan and Pledge Agreements. The outcome of these discussions and the disposition of the related assets and liabilities may have a material effect on our financial statements. We cannot presently estimate the timing or impact of any such resolution.
In reviewing Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, you should refer to our condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes related thereto.
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICES
Our condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. As such, we are required to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that management believes are reasonable based upon the information available. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods.
We believe the following critical accounting polices affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements. For additional discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues from sales are recorded when all four of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery has occurred and title has transferred or services have been rendered; (iii) our price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.
We have assessed the revenue guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605-25 “Multiple-Element Arrangements” (“ASC 605-25”) to determine whether multiple deliverables in our arrangements with AUO represent separate units of accounting. Under the AUO License Agreements, we received initial license fees of $3 million, of aggregate license fees of up to $10 million. The additional $7 million in license fees are payable upon completion of certain conditions for the respective technologies. We have determined that the transfer of the licensed patents and technology and the effort involved in completion of the conditions for the respective technologies represent a single unit of accounting for each technology. Accordingly, using a proportional performance method, during the third quarter of fiscal year 2011 we began recognizing the $3 million initial license fees over the estimated periods that we expected to complete the conditions for the respective technologies. We have not recognized any portion of the $7 million of additional license fees as either deferred revenue or revenue as it is considered contingent revenue.
At each reporting period we assess the progress in completing our performance obligations under the AUO License Agreements and recognize license fee revenue over the remaining estimated period that we expect to complete the conditions for the respective technologies. On this basis, we reassessed the revenue recognition and commencing in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012, revenue recognition under the AUO License Agreements is suspended pending resolution of the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit. For more details on the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit, please see Note 10, “Contingencies” to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
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During the three month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012 we recognized approximately $-0- and $447,000, respectively, of license fee revenue from AUO. License fee payments received from AUO which are in excess of the amounts recognized as revenue (approximately $1,187,000 as of January 31, 2013) are recorded as non-refundable deferred revenue on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The AUO License Agreements also provide for the basis for royalty payments on future production, if any, by AUO to CTI, which we have determined represent separate units of accounting. We have not recognized any royalty income under the AUO License Agreements.
We classify our investment securities as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses, net of the related tax effect, on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until realized. Realized gains and losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities are determined on a specific identification basis. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned.
We monitor the value of our investments for indicators of impairment, including changes in market conditions and the operating results of the underlying investment that may result in the inability to recover the carrying value of the investment. During fiscal year 2012 we discontinued utilizing Volga–Svet, Ltd., a Russian corporation (“Volga”), for contract research and development work. In evaluating our investment in Volga at October 31, 2012, we determined that the discontinuation of funding from CTI and lack of available financial information from Volga has impaired the value of our investment in Volga.
We account for stock options granted to employees and directors using the accounting guidance in ASC 718. We recognize compensation expense for stock option awards over the requisite or implied service period of the grant. We recorded stock-based compensation expense, related to stock options granted to employees and directors, of approximately $473,000 and $81,000 during the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. We account for stock options granted to consultants using the accounting guidance under ASC 505-50. We recognized consulting expense for stock options granted to non-employee consultants during the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, of $242,000 and $-0-, respectively. See Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.
We account for stock awards granted to employees and consultants based on their grant date fair value, in accordance with ASC 718 and ASC 505-50, respectively. We recorded stock-based compensation expense for the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, of approximately $-0- and $406,000, respectively, for the shares of common stock issued to employees. In addition, we recorded consulting expense for the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012 of approximately $26,000 and $37,000, respectively, for the shares of common stock issued to consultants.
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Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of stock-based awards requires judgment, including estimating stock price volatility, forfeiture rates and expected term. If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the application of ASC 718 and ASC 505-50 in future periods, the compensation expense that we record may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period. See Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.
The Company accounts for hybrid contracts that feature conversion options in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging Activities,” (“ASC 815”) requires companies to bifurcate conversion options from their host instruments and account for them as free standing derivative financial instruments according to certain criteria. The criteria includes circumstances in which (a) the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative instrument are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract, (b) the hybrid instrument that embodies both the embedded derivative instrument and the host contract is not re-measured at fair value under otherwise applicable generally accepted accounting principles with changes in fair value reported in earnings as they occur and (c) a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative instrument would be considered a derivative instrument.
Conversion options that contain variable settlement features such as provisions to adjust the conversion price upon subsequent issuances of equity or equity linked securities at exercise prices more favorable than that featured in the hybrid contract generally result in their bifurcation from the host instrument.
The Company accounts for convertible instruments, when the Company has determined that the embedded conversion options should not be bifurcated from their host instruments, in accordance with ASC 470-20 “Debt with Conversion and Other Options” (“ASC 470-20”). Under ASC 470-20 the Company records, when necessary, discounts to convertible notes for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in debt instruments based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the note transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the note. The Company accounts for convertible instruments (when the Company has determined that the embedded conversion options should be bifurcated from their host instruments) in accordance with ASC 815. Under ASC 815, a portion of the proceeds received upon the issuance of the hybrid contract are allocated to the fair value of the derivative. The derivative is subsequently marked to market at each reporting date based on current fair value, with the changes in fair value reported in results of operations.
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The conversion feature of the convertible debenture issued on January 25, 2013 qualified as an embedded derivative instrument and was bifurcated from the host convertible debenture. Accordingly, this instrument has been classified as a derivative liability in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2013. Derivative liabilities are initially recorded at fair value and are then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings during the reporting period.
In light of the change in our primary operations to Patent Monetization and Patent Assertion from research, development and licensing, the comparison of our results of operations may have limited future value.
Three months ended January 31, 2013 compared with three months ended January 31, 2012
Net Revenue
Net revenue decreased by approximately $447,000 in the three months ended January 31, 2013, to approximately $2,000, as compared to approximately $449,000 in the comparable prior-year period. Revenue during the prior year period from display technology license fees of approximately $447,000 was related to the AUO License Agreements. We did not record revenue from display technology license fees during the current year period. Revenue recognition of license fees has been suspended pending resolution of the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit. See “- General” above in this Item 2. Revenue from sales of encryption products was approximately $2,000 in the three months ended January 31, 2013, as compared to approximately $3,000 in the comparable prior-year period.
Cost of Encryption Products Sold
The cost of encryption products sold increased by approximately $26,000 in the three months ended January 31, 2013, to approximately $27,000, as compared to approximately $1,000 in the comparable prior-year period. During the three months ended January 31, 2013 we wrote-off our remaining inventory of encryption products of approximately $26,000.
Research and Development Expenses
We have discontinued all research and development activity during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012. Accordingly, research and development expenses have decreased to $-0- in the three months ended January 31, 2013 from approximately $650,000 during the prior year period.
39
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by approximately $1,362,000 to approximately $2,048,000 in the three months ended January 31, 2013, from approximately $686,000 in the comparable prior-year period. The increase in the current period reflected the effect of discontinuing research and development activities in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012, including the discontinuation of allocating certain overhead cost to research and development expense. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was principally due to an increase in employee stock option expense of approximately $393,000, an increase in consultant stock option expense of approximately $242,000, an increase in legal and accounting fees of approximately $189,000, an increase in shareholder relations expense of approximately $98,000, and an increase in employee compensation and related costs, other than stock option expense, of approximately $64,000. In addition, during the first quarter of fiscal 2013 we began to vacate and return a substantial portion of our facilities to the landlord for possible re-letting and recorded an expense of approximately $186,000 related to future rentals of unused facilities. The additional legal and accounting fees and shareholder relations expense are related to the Company’s restructuring, which commenced in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012 and the lawsuit filed against AUO and E Ink in January 2013.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased to approximately $22,000 in the three month period ended January 31, 2013 from $-0- in the prior year period, due to interest expense and amortization of debt discount recorded in connection with the convertible debentures issued in September 2012 and January 2013.
Interest Income
Interest income decreased to $-0- in the current period compared to approximately $1,000 in the three months ended January 31, 2012.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Since our inception, we have met our liquidity and capital expenditure needs primarily through the proceeds from sales of common stock in our initial public offering and in private placements, upon exercise of warrants issued in connection with the private placements and our initial public offering, and upon the exercise of stock options. In addition, we have generated limited cash flows from sales of our encryption products and from license fees from Videocon related to our display technology pursuant to the Videocon License Agreement (as defined above). In May 2011, we entered into the AUO License Agreements (as defined above) with AUO, and in June 2011 we received an initial license fee from AUO.
In September 2012, we received aggregate gross proceeds of $750,000 from the issuance of 8% convertible debentures due September 12, 2016 in a private placement, of which $300,000 was sold to our current Chairman and then Chief Executive Officer and one other director of the Company. The debentures pay interest quarterly and are convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $0.092 per share on or before September 12, 2016. We recorded a discount to the carrying amount of the debentures of approximately $717,000 related to the debentures’ beneficial conversion feature. We may prepay the debentures at any time without penalty upon 30 days prior notice. We also have the option to pay interest on the debentures in common stock. In February 2013, $600,000 principal amount of these debentures were converted into 6,521,736 shares of common stock and an additional 68,116 shares were issued in payment of accrued interest through the conversion date. The conversion of the debentures will result in the recording of a material charge to interest expense during the second quarter of fiscal 2013. $150,000 principal amount of debentures remain outstanding.
40
In January 2013, we received aggregate gross proceeds of $1,765,000 from the issuance of 8% convertible debentures due January 25, 2015, of which $250,000 was received from our current President, Chief Executive Officer and director, and two other directors of the Company. The debentures pay interest quarterly and are convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $0.15 per share on or before January 25, 2015. The embedded conversion feature has certain weighted average anti-dilution protection provisions which would be triggered if the Company issues its common stock, or certain common stock equivalents, (as defined) at a price below $0.15 per share. We have the option to pay any interest on the debentures in common stock based on the average of the closing prices of our common stock for the 10 trading days immediately preceding the interest payment date. We also have the option to pay any interest on the debentures with additional debentures. We may prepay the debentures at any time without penalty upon 30 days prior notice but only if the sales price of the common stock on the principal market on which the common stock is primarily listed and quoted for trading is at least $.30 for 20 trading days in any 30-day trading period ending no more than 15 days before the Company’s prepayment notice. In conjunction with the issuance of the debentures, we issued warrants to purchase 5,882,745 shares of our common stock. Each warrant grants the holder the right to purchase one share of our common stock at the purchase price of $0.30 per share on or before January 25, 2016. In connection with the sale of debentures, we paid a placement fee of approximately $41,000 and issued the placement agent a warrant to purchase 276,014 shares of common stock with identical provisions as warrants issued with the debentures. We also agreed to register the common stock issuable upon conversion of the debentures and exercise of the warrants. The warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis only if there is not an effective registration statement covering such shares.
During the three months ended January 31, 2013, our cash used in operating activities was approximately $890,000. This resulted from payments to suppliers, employees and consultants of approximately $893,000, which was offset by cash of approximately $2,000 received from collections of accounts receivable related to sales of encryption products and interest received of approximately $1,000. Our cash provided by investing activities during the three months ended January 31, 2013 was approximately $499,000, which resulted from approximately $500,000 received upon the sale or maturities of short-term investments consisting of certificates of deposit and approximately $1,000 received from the sale of Digital Info Security Co. Inc. common stock offset by purchases of equipment of approximately $2,000. Our cash provided by financing activities during the three months ended January 31, 2013 was $1,765,000, which resulted from cash received from the sale of convertible debentures and warrants in a private placement. As a result, our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at January 31, 2013 increased by approximately $873,000 to approximately $1,713,000 from approximately $840,000 at October 31, 2012.
41
Prepaid expenses and other current assets decreased by approximately $15,000, to approximately $67,000 at January 31, 2013 from approximately $82,000 at October 31, 2012, primarily as a result of the write off of inventory, which was classified as other current assets, of approximately $26,000, offset by the recording of deferred convertible debenture issuance costs of approximately $17,000. Investment in Videocon is recorded at fair value and increased by approximately $1,002,000, to approximately $5,731,000 at January 31, 2013 from approximately $4,728,000 at the end of fiscal year 2012, as a result of an increase in the underlying price of Videocon’s equity shares which are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Property and equipment, net of depreciation, was approximately $11,000 at January 31, 2013 and approximately $10,000 at October 31, 2012. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased by approximately $436,000 from approximately $635,000 at the end of fiscal year 2012 to approximately $1,071,000 at January 31, 2013, as a result of the timing of payments and an increase in certain expenses related to the changes in our business. The fair value of derivatives, related to the convertible debentures issued during the first quarter of fiscal year 2013, was approximately $1,180,000 at January 31, 2013 and $-0- at October 31, 2012. Deferred revenue remained at approximately $1,187,000 at January 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012. Convertible debentures due 2016 were approximately $33,000 at January 31, 2013 and approximately $32,000 at October 31, 2012. Convertible debentures due 2015, which were issued during the first quarter of fiscal year 2013, were approximately $375,000 as of January 31, 2013. Loan payable, which is due in December 2014, remained at $5,000,000 at January 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012. Loan receivable, which is classified as a contra-equity under shareholders’ deficiency in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet and is due in December 2014, remained at $5,000,000 at January 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012. As a result of these changes, working capital deficit at January 31, 2013 was approximately $1,658,000 compared to working capital deficit of approximately $900,000 at October 31, 2012.
Under the AUO License Agreements, AUO had agreed to pay CTI an aggregate license fee of up to $10 million, of which $3 million was paid by AUO in June 2011 and the remaining $7 million would have been payable upon completion of certain conditions for the respective technologies, in each case subject to a 20% foreign withholding tax. Accordingly, in June 2011 we received a payment from AUO, net of the withholding tax, of $2.4 million. In addition, the AUO License Agreements also provided for the basis for royalty payments by AUO to CTI.
On January 28, 2013, we terminated the AUO License Agreements due to numerous alleged material and continual breaches of the agreements by AUO. On January 28, 2013, we also filed a lawsuit in the United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of California against AUO and E Ink in connection with the AUO License Agreements, alleging breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraudulent inducement, unjust enrichment, unfair business practices, attempted monopolization, and other charges, and we are seeking compensatory, punitive, and treble damages. For more details on the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit, please see “Item 3, Legal Proceedings” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012. We can give no assurance as to the potential outcome of this litigation.
42
Under the terms of the Videocon License Agreement, we were scheduled to receive a license fee of $11 million from Videocon, payable in installments over a 27 month period and an agreed upon royalty from Videocon based on display sales by Videocon. The initial installment was received in May 2008 however; certain license fee payments were subsequently deferred. The deferral of the license fee payments is no longer in effect; however, we cannot give any assurance that additional license fees will be received. No such license fee payments were received from Videocon during the three months ended January 31, 2013 and the fiscal years ended October 31, 2012 and 2011. As of January 31, 2013, we have received aggregate license fee payments from Videocon of $3.2 million and $7.8 million remains owed to us. We are not presently involved in development efforts with Videocon and it is not anticipated that such efforts will be resumed in the future. We have entered into discussions with Videocon regarding the disposition of the Videocon License Agreement.
Total employee compensation expense for the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $819,000 and $713,000, respectively. During the three-months ended January 31, 2013 and 2012, a significant portion of employee compensation consisted of the issuance of stock and stock options to employees in lieu of cash compensation. We recorded stock-based compensation expense, related to stock awards granted to employees, for the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012 of approximately $-0- and $406,000, respectively. We recorded stock-based compensation expense, related to stock options granted to employees and directors, for the three-month periods ended January 31, 2013 and 2012 of approximately $473,000 and $81,000 respectively.
Based on currently available information, we believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, together with expected cash flows from patent licensing and enforcement, and other potential sources of cash flow may not be sufficient to enable us to continue our patent licensing and enforcement activities for at least 12 months. However, our projections of future cash needs and cash flows may differ from actual results. If current cash on hand and cash that may be generated from patent licensing and enforcement activities are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may seek to sell our investment securities or other financial assets or our debt or additional equity securities or obtain loans from various financial institutions where possible. The sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt could result in dilution to our shareholders. We can give no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows in the future (through licensing and enforcement of patents, or otherwise) to satisfy our liquidity requirements or sustain future operations, or that other sources of funding, such as sales of equity or debt, would be available, if needed, on favorable terms or at all. We can also give no assurance that we will have sufficient funds to repay our convertible debt at maturity in fiscal years 2015 or 2016. If we cannot obtain such funding if needed or if we cannot sufficiently reduce operating expenses, we would need to curtail or cease some or all of our operations.
43
As shown in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, we have incurred a net loss of approximately $2,095,000 during the three months ended January 31, 2013, and, as of that date, we have an accumulated deficit of approximately $127,178,000 and a net shareholders’ deficiency of approximately $1,324,000. These and the other factors described herein raise uncertainty about our ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are set forth above. The accompanying condensed financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. The report from our independent registered public accountants, KPMG LLP, dated January 29, 2013, included in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012, includes an explanatory paragraph related to our ability to continue as a going concern.
The following table presents our expected cash requirements for contractual obligations outstanding as of January 31, 2013:
|
Payments Due by Period | ||||||||||||||
Contractual Obligations |
Less than 1 year |
1-3 years |
3-5 years |
After 5 years |
Total | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Non-cancelable Operating Leases |
$ |
313,000 |
$ |
260,000 |
$ |
- |
$ |
- |
$ |
573,000 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Convertible Debentures due 2016 (a) |
|
- |
|
- |
|
750,000 |
|
- |
|
750,000 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Convertible Debentures due 2015 |
|
- |
|
1,765,000 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
1,765,000 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Secured Loan Obligation to Mars Overseas |
|
- |
$ |
5,000,000 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
5,000,000 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Total Contractual Cash Obligations |
$ |
313,000 |
$ |
7,025,000 |
$ |
750,000 |
$ |
- |
$ |
8,088,000 |
44
(a) In February 2013, $600,000 principal amount of these debentures were converted into 6,521,736 shares of common stock and an additional 68,116 shares were issued in payment of accrued interest through the conversion date. $150,000 principal amount of debentures remain outstanding.
EFFECT OF RECENTLY ISSUED PRONOUNCEMENTS
Refer to Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements – “Effect of Recent Pronouncements” for discussion regarding the impact of recently adopted accounting pronouncements on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but rather reflect our current expectations concerning future events and results. We generally use the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “likely,” “will” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning our expectations, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012 under “Item 1A – “Risk Factors.” You should read this discussion and analysis along with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012 and the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Report. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this Report.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
At January 31, 2013, our investment in Videocon GDRs is recorded at fair value of approximately $5,731,000 and has exposure to additional price risk. The fair value of the Videocon GDRs is based on the underlying price of Videocon’s equity shares which are traded on stock exchanges in India with prices quoted in rupees. Accordingly, the fair value of the Videocon GDRs is subject to price risk and foreign exchange risk. The potential loss in fair value resulting from a hypothetical 10% adverse change in prices of Videocon equity shares quoted by Indian stock exchanges and in foreign currency exchange rates, as of January 31, 2013, amounts to approximately $573,000.
As a smaller reporting company, the Company is not required to provide the disclosures set forth in this Item.
45
Table of Content
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management including our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
46
On January 28, 2013, we filed a lawsuit in the United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of California against AUO and E Ink in connection with the EPD License Agreement and the Nano Display License Agreement, alleging breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraudulent inducement, unjust enrichment, unfair business practices, attempted monopolization, and other charges, and we are seeking compensatory, punitive, and treble damages. A copy of the Complaint filed in the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit is available at www.CopyTele.com.
In addition to numerous and continual material breaches by AUO of the EPD License Agreement, and the Nano Display License Agreement, the Complaint alleges that AUO and E Ink conspired to obtain rights to CTI’s ePaper® Electrophoretic Display technology, and CTI’s Nano Field Emission Display technology, through an elaborate scheme whereby AUO obtained certain rights to the technologies under the guise of jointly developing products with CTI, which products would compete with certain products manufactured by AUO and certain products manufactured and sold by E Ink. Instead of jointly developing products with CTI and competing with E Ink, AUO clandestinely agreed to sell its electrophoretic display business to E Ink, and attempted to include a license to CTI’s ePaper® Electrophoretic Display technology as part of the sale, with CTI receiving no consideration. CTI alleges that such activities violated several State and Federal anti-trust and unfair competition statutes for which punitive and/or treble damages are applicable.
On January 28, 2013, we also filed a separate lawsuit against E Ink for patent infringement. See “Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – General – Patent Monetization and Patent Assertion – Patent Monetization and Patent Assertion Actions”.
Other than the foregoing, we are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings. We are party to claims and complaints that arise in the ordinary course of business. We believe that any liability that may ultimately result from the resolution of these matters will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
On January 25, 2013 (the “Closing Date”), we completed a private placement with 20 accredited investors, including Robert A. Berman, the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and a director, Dr. Amit Kumar, a consultant and director of the Company, and Bruce Johnson, a director of the Company (the “Investors”), pursuant to which we sold $1,765,000 principal amount of 8% Convertible Debentures due 2015 (the “Debentures”) and warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase 5,882,745 shares of common stock of the Company (the “Warrant Shares”). The Debentures mature on January 25, 2015, bear interest at the rate of 8% payable quarterly and are convertible into shares (the “Conversion Shares”) of our common stock at a price per share of $0.15. The Company may prepay the Debentures at any time without penalty upon 30 days prior notice, but only if the sales price of the common stock on the principal market on which the common stock is primarily listed and quoted for trading is at least $0.30 for 20 trading days in any 30-day trading period ending no more than 15 days before the Company’s prepayment notice.
47
The Debentures contain full ratchet anti-dilution protection which means, that, subject to certain exceptions, if the Company sells shares of common stock (or securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock) at an effective price of less than $0.15 per share of common stock, the conversion price of the Debentures will be reduced to such lower effective sales price. The Debentures also provide for events of default which, if any of them occurs, would permit the principal of and accrued interest on the Debentures to become or to be declared due and payable, unless the event of default has been cured or the holder of the Debenture has waived in writing the event of default. If all of the Debentures are converted, the Company would issue 6,667 shares of common stock for each $1,000 principal amount of Debentures or 11,767,255 shares of its common stock in the aggregate. For each $1,000 principal amount of Debentures, the Company issued a Warrant to purchase 3,333 shares of common stock. Each Warrant grants the holder the right to purchase the Warrant Shares at the purchase price per share of $0.30 on or before January 25, 2016. If there is not an effective registration statement covering the Warrant Shares, the Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis.
Pursuant to the Debentures and Warrants, no Investor may convert or exercise such Investor’s Debenture or Warrant if such conversion or exercise would result in the Investor beneficially owning in excess of 4.99% of our then issued and outstanding common stock. A holder may, however, increase this limitation (but in no event exceed 9.99% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding) by providing the Company with 61 days’ notice that such holder wishes to increase this limitation.
In connection with this offering, the Company granted each investor registration rights with respect to the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares. The Company is obligated to use its reasonable best efforts to cause a registration statement registering for resale the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares to be filed no later than April 25, 2013 and must be declared effective no later than July 24, 2013. The Company is required to use it reasonable best efforts to keep the registration statement effective until the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares can be sold under Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act or such earlier date when all Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares have been sold publicly; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to keep the Registration Statement effective after January 25, 2016. If a registration statement covering the resale of the Conversion Shares is not filed within the 90-day period (the “Filing Default”), then on the date of the Filing Default and on each monthly anniversary (if the Filing Default has not been cured by such date) until the Filing Default is cured, the Company shall pay in cash to each Debenture holder liquidated damages equal to 1.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such holder for such Debentures then held by such holder. The liquidated damages will apply on a daily pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to curing of the Filing Default. The Company will not be liable for liquidated damages with respect to Warrant Shares.
48
In connection with this offering we paid The Benchmark Company LLC, as placement agent, a cash placement fee of $41,400 (or 6% of the aggregate purchase price from the investors they introduced to us) and issued to them warrants to purchase 276,014 shares of common stock (or 6% of the aggregate number of shares underlying the Debentures issued to the investors they introduced to us) upon the same terms as the Warrants issued in the offering.
The issuances of the securities referred to above (i) were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 3(b) or Section 4(2) of the Act, and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, based on the fact that all of the investors are “accredited investors,” as such term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D and (ii) were not subject to any underwriting discounts or commissions.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities. None
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures. Not Applicable.
(a) None
(b) There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to the Company’s board of directors.
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated March 18, 2013.
31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated March 18, 2013.
32.1 Statement of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code, dated March 18, 2013.
32.2 Statement of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code, dated March 18, 2013.
49
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
COPYTELE, INC.
|
|
|
By: /s/ Robert A. Berman |
|
|
|
Robert A. Berman |
|
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
March 18, 2013 |
|
|
(Principal Executive Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: /s/ Henry P. Herms |
|
|
|
Henry P. Herms |
|
|
|
Vice President - Finance and |
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer (Principal |
March 18, 2013 |
|
|
Financial and Accounting Officer) |