UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2002
or
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ______________ to ______________
Commission File Number 0-18672
ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
----------------------
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware 04-2621506
-------- ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization) Identification No.)
207 South Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
--------------------------------------- -----
(Address of Principal Executive Offices in the U.S.) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (617) 423-1072
--------------
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 [ ]
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's Common Stock, Par Value, as
of May 10, 2002 was 7,860,866 shares.
ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
INDEX
Part I. Financial Information Page
Item 1. Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2002
and December 31, 2001 3
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three
Months Ending March 31, 2002 and 2001 4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three
Months Ending March 31, 2002 and 2001 5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 6 - 9
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations 10 - 22
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk 22 - 23
Part II. Other Information
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 23
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 24
Signatures 25
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated Balance Sheets
March 31, 2002 December 31, 2001
(Unaudited) (Audited)
-------------------------------------
Assets
Current assets:
Cash $ 7,139,232 $ 5,252,058
Accounts receivable, net of reserves for doubtful
accounts, returns, and allowances of $2,086,282 at
March 31, 2002 and $2,816,449 at December 31, 2001 5,040,767 5,652,035
Inventories, net 8,008,806 11,083,143
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,066,197 999,662
---------- ----------
Total current assets 22,986,898 21,255,002
Property, plant and equipment, net 3,908,375 4,128,916
Net deferred tax assets - 2,012,844
Other assets 26,666 56,666
---------- ----------
Total assets $ 25,190,043 $ 29,185,324
========== ==========
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 2,985,575 $ 2,750,174
Accrued expenses 1,879,566 1,474,755
Current portion of long-term debt 192,289 139,201
--------- ---------
Total current liabilities 4,768,941 4,652,619
Long-term debt 5,653,567 5,745,368
Other non-current liabilities - 255,287
---------- ----------
Total liabilities 10,306,186 10,769,596
---------- ----------
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value. Authorized 25,000,000 shares;
issued and outstanding 7,860,866 shares at March 31, 2002
and at December 31, 2001 28,245,215 28,245,215
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) (13,126,260) (9,634,692)
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss) (235,098) (194,795)
---------- ----------
Total stockholders' equity 14,883,857 18,415,728
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 25,190,043 $ 29,185,324
========== ==========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ending
March 31,
2002 2001
-----------------------------------
Net sales $ 8,973,517 $ 10,026,687
Costs of goods sold 7,197,220 9,874,715
--------- ----------
Gross profit 1,776,297 151,972
Operating expenses:
Selling 1,663,345 2,223,192
General and administrative 882,869 1,635,545
Research and development 999,090 1,479,092
--------- ---------
Total operating expenses 3,545,304 5,337,829
--------- ---------
Operating income (loss) (1,769,007) (5,185,857)
Other income (expense):
Interest income 31,529 77,395
Interest (expense) (88,376) (100,698)
Equity in losses of affiliate (30,000) (69,714)
Other, net 121,843 64,239
-------- --------
Total other income (expense), net 34,996 (28,778)
-------- --------
Income (loss) before income
tax expense and extraordinary item (1,734,011) (5,214,635)
Income tax expense (benefit) 2,012,844 -
--------- ---------
Income (loss) before extraordinary item (3,746,855) (5,214,635)
Extraordinary gain on elimination of negative goodwill 255,287 -
Net income (loss) $ (3,491,568) $ (5,214,635)
=========== ===========
Earnings (loss) per common share before
extraordinary item (basic and diluted) $ (0.47) $ (0.66)
=========== ===========
Extraordinary gain on elimination of negative
goodwill (basic and diluted) $ 0.03 $ -
=========== ===========
Earnings (loss) per common share
(basic and diluted) $ (0.44) $ (0.66)
=========== ===========
Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares (basic and diluted) 7,860,866 7,860,866
=========== ===========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ending
March 31,
2002 2001
-----------------------------------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) $ (3,491,568) $ (5,214,635)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
provided by (used) in operating activities:
Extraordinary (gain) loss on elimination of negative
goodwill (255,287) -
Depreciation and amortization 233,527 409,210
Amortization of restricted stock - 24,960
Write-off of net deferred tax assets 2,012,844 -
Equity in losses of affiliate 30,000 69,714
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net 611,269 2,185,156
Inventories, net 3,074,336 4,624,523
Prepaid expenses and other assets (66,534) (434,683)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (169,410) (4,977,788)
---------- -----------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 1,979,177 (3,313,543)
---------- -----------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale of investment securities - 53
Investment in affiliate - (74,999)
Additions to property, plant and equipment (12,986) (269,804)
---------- ----------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (12,986) (344,750)
---------- ----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt - 6,000,000
Principal payments on long-term debt (38,714) (23,695)
---------- ----------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (38,714) 5,976,305
---------- ----------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (40,303) (148,780)
Net increase (decrease) in cash 1,887,174 2,169,232
Cash beginning of period 5,252,058 2,906,270
------------- -------------
Cash end of period $ 7,139,232 $ 5,075,502
============= =============
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest $ 88,376 $ 74,893
============= =============
Income taxes $ - $ -
============= =============
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(1) Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements of Zoom Technologies, Inc. (the
"Company") presented herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and do not
include all of the information and footnote disclosures required by accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These statements
should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements
and notes thereto for the year ending December 31, 2001 included in the
Company's 2001 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2002, the consolidated
statements of operations for the three months ending March 31, 2002 and 2001,
and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ending March
31, 2002 and 2001 are unaudited, but, in the opinion of management, include all
adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair
presentation of results for these interim periods.
The results of operations for the periods presented are not necessarily
indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year ending December 31,
2002.
(2) Liquidity
For the past three years, the Company has incurred negative cash flows from
operations. In 2001, the Company's net cash used in operating activities was
$2.6 million and net cash used in investing activities was $.8 million. In 2001,
the Company obtained a mortgage on its corporate headquarters, which provided
financing of $6 million. On December 31, 2001, Zoom had cash of approximately
$5.3 million. On March 31, 2002, Zoom had cash of approximately $7.1 million.
Currently, the Company does not have a debt facility from which it can borrow,
and it does not expect to obtain one on acceptable terms unless there is
operating performance improvement.
To conserve cash and manage its liquidity, the Company has implemented
expense reductions throughout 2001 and in the first quarter of 2002. The
employee headcount was 313 at December 31, 2000, and since then has been reduced
to 198 at March 31, 2002. The Company will continue to assess its cost structure
as it relates to its revenues and cash position in 2002, and may make further
reductions if these actions are deemed necessary.
In addition to expense reductions, the Company's liquidity in 2002 is
expected to be enhanced by the utilization of approximately $3 million of "no
charge" components, as a result of supply agreements entered in 2001. Under
these arrangements, the Company is committed to purchase at least $8 million of
components over the 30-month period commencing January 1, 2002, provided that
those components are offered at competitive terms and prices. The utilization of
"no-charge" components is expected to supplement the Company's cash flow in
2002, as it will be able to avoid the purchase and payment of an equivalent
dollar amount of inventory. Management believes that in the first quarter of
2002, the Company had a favorable impact to its cash flow from this arrangement
of approximately $1.0 million. The favorable impact to the Company's statement
of operations will be recognized on a delayed basis as a purchase discount over
the total number of components acquired through the supply agreement.
In 2000, the Company made a significant investment to build up its
broadband access products, particularly cable modems. However, the Company was
not able to penetrate the broadband modem and wireless local area network
markets to the extent it had expected. This resulted in the write down of the
inventory values by approximately $4.6 million in 2001 and $.2 million in the
first quarter of 2002. On December 31, 2001 the Company had $4.1 million net
inventory in excess broadband and wireless products and components. This
inventory was paid for in 2000 and 2001. Sales of products in 2002 using any
portion of this inventory is expected to enhance the Company's liquidity in
2002, as the Company will be able to avoid the purchase and payment of an
equivalent dollar amount of new materials. The Company is currently selling
cable modems and wireless products that consume a portion of this inventory and
is aggressively pursuing additional orders in markets worldwide. Of the $4.1
million net broadband and wireless inventory on hand on December 31, 2001, the
Company's remaining balance on March 31, 2002 was $2.9 million.
Additionally, during the past several years, the Company has experienced a
declining demand for its dial-up modem products. Trends including the bundling
by PC manufacturers of dial-up modems into computers and the increased
popularity of broadband modems lower the total available market through the
Company's sales channels. Because of this, the Company's dial-up modem sales are
unlikely to grow unless the Company's market share grows, or the new V.92 and
V.44 modem standards grow sales through the Company's channels. If the Company's
dial-up modem sales do not grow, the Company's future success will depend in
large part on its ability to successfully penetrate the broadband modem,
networking, and dialer markets.
The Company's cash position at December 31, 2001 was $5.3 million and at
March 31, 2002 was $7.1 million. Management believes it has sufficient resources
to fund its planned operations over the next 12 months. However, if the Company
is unable to increase its revenues, reduce its expenses, or raise capital, the
Company's longer-term ability to continue as a going concern and achieve the
Company's intended business objectives could be adversely affected.
(3) Earnings Per Share
The reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and
diluted net loss per common share computations for the Company's reported net
loss is as follows:
Three Months Ending
March 31,
2002 2001
----------- -----------
Basic:
Net income (loss) $(3,491,568) $(5,214,635)
Weighted average shares outstanding 7,860,866 7,860,866
--------- ---------
Net income (loss) per share $ (.44) $ (.66)
Diluted:
Net income (loss) $(3,491,568) $(5,214,635)
Weighted average shares outstanding 7,860,866 7,860,866
Net effect of dilutive stock options
based on the treasury stock method
using average market price - -
Weighted average shares outstanding 7,860,866 7,860,866
--------- ---------
Net income (loss) per share $ (.44) $ (.66)
Potential common shares for which inclusion would have the effect of
increasing diluted earnings per share (i.e., antidilutive) are excluded from the
computation. Options to purchase 2,008 and 5,644 shares of common stock at March
31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, were outstanding, but not included in the
computation of diluted earnings per share as their effect would be antidilutive.
(4) Inventories
Inventories consist of the following: March 31, 2002 December 31, 2001
--------------- -----------------
Raw materials $ 4,569,297 $ 6,276,480
Work in process 1,496,810 462,389
Finished goods 1,942,699 4,344,274
--------- ---------
$ 8,008,806 $ 11,083,143
========= ==========
During the quarter ending March 31, 2002 the Company recorded lower of cost
or market write-downs of $174,904 related to broadband and wireless inventory.
(5) Comprehensive Income
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 130, "Reporting
Comprehensive Income" establishes rules for the reporting and display of
comprehensive income and its components; however, it has no impact on the
Company's net income (loss) or shareholders' equity. SFAS No. 130 requires all
changes in equity from non-owner sources to be included in the determination of
comprehensive income (loss).
The components of comprehensive loss, net of tax, are as follows:
Three Months Ending
March 31,
2002 2001
----------- ------------
Net income (loss) $(3,491,568) $(5,214,635)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (40,303) (148,780)
Net unrealized holding gain (loss) on
investment securities - 53
------------ ------------
Comprehensive income (loss) $(3,531,871) $(5,363,362)
============ ============
(6) Mortgage
On January 10, 2001 the Company obtained a mortgage for $6 million on its
real estate property located at 201 and 207 South Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
This is a 20-year direct reduction mortgage. The interest rate is fixed for one
year, based on the one-year Federal Home Loan Bank rate plus 2.5% per annum. The
rate is adjusted on January 10th of each calendar year commencing on January 10,
2002. The current rate of interest as of March 31, 2002 was 4.97% and interest
expense for the first quarter ending March 31, 2002 was $88,376.
(7) Income Taxes
At December 31, 2001, the Company's net deferred tax asset of $2.013
million was the result of the Company's specific tax planning strategy to sell
its headquarters building in Boston. In the first quarter ending March 31, 2002,
the Company recorded an income tax charge and valuation reserve of $2.013
million, which reduced its net deferred tax asset balance to zero. This
additional reserve reflects the Company's decision to discontinue its specific
tax planning strategy to sell its headquarters building in Boston in light of
the less favorable market conditions for the sale of that building.
(8) Segment and Geographic Information
The Company's operations are classified into one reportable segment. The
Company's domestic net sales and international sales for the three months ending
March 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, were comprised as follows:
Three Months Three Months
Ending % of Ending % of
March 31, 2002 Total March 31, 2001 Total
-------------- ----- -------------- -----
North America $ 5,398,878 60% $ 6,355,004 63%
International 3,574,639 40% 3,671,683 37%
---------- ---- --------- ----
Total $ 8,973,517 100% $10,026,687 100%
--------- ---- ---------- ----
(9) Extraordinary Gain
On January 1, 2002, the Company recorded an extraordinary gain of $255,287,
upon the adoption of SFAS No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" (SFAS
142). The gain resulted from the elimination of the remaining negative goodwill
on the Company's consolidated balance sheet related to a previous acquisition,
and was recorded in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 142.
(10) New Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 "Business Combinations" (SFAS
141) and SFAS No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" (SFAS 142). SFAS
141 requires all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 to be
accounted for using the purchase method. Under SFAS 142, goodwill and intangible
assets with indefinite lives are no longer amortized but are reviewed annually
(or more frequently if impairment indicators arise) for impairment. Separable
intangible assets that are not deemed to have indefinite lives will continue to
be amortized over their useful lives. The amortization provisions of SFAS 142
apply to goodwill and intangible assets acquired after June 30, 2001. With
respect to goodwill and intangible assets acquired prior to July 1, 2001, the
amortization and impairment provisions of SFAS 142 are effective upon the
adoption of SFAS 142. The Company was required to adopt SFAS 142 at the
beginning of 2002. The adoption of these accounting standards did not have any
material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements, other than
the extraordinary gain recognized during the first quarter of 2002 related to
the elimination of previously recognized negative goodwill (see note 9 to the
consolidated financial statements).
In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No.144, "Accounting for the Impairment
on Disposal of Long-Lived Assets" (SFAS 144), effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2001. This statement addresses the financial
accounting and reporting for the impairment and disposal of long-lived assets.
It supersedes SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
and Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of" (SFAS 121). Under the new rules, the
criteria required for classifying an asset as held-for-sale have been
significantly changed. Assets held-for-sale are stated at the lower of their
fair values or carrying amounts, and depreciation is no longer recognized. In
addition, the expected future operating losses from discontinued operations will
be displayed in discontinued operations in the period in which the losses are
incurred rather than as of the measurement date. More dispositions will qualify
for discontinued operations treatment in the statement of operations under the
new rules. The adoption of this statement on January 1, 2002 did not have a
material impact on the Company's operations or financial position.
FASB Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-14 "Accounting for Certain
Sales Incentives" addresses the recognition, measurement, and income statement
classification for certain types of sales incentives. The application of the
guidance in Issue No. 00-14 resulted in a change in the manner in which the
Company records certain types of discounts and sales and marketing incentives
that are provided to its customers. The Company has historically recorded
certain types of these incentives as marketing expenses. Under Issue No. 00-14,
beginning on January 1, 2002, the Company records these discounts and incentives
as reductions of revenue. In April 2001, the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force
reached a consensus on Issue No. 00-25 "Accounting for Consideration from a
Vendor to a Retailer in Connection with the Purchase or Promotion of the
Vendor's Products". Issue No. 00-25 addresses whether certain consideration
offered by a vendor to a distributor, including slotting fees, cooperative
advertising arrangements and "buy-down" programs, should be characterized as
operating expenses or reductions of revenue. Issue No. 00-14 and 00-25 were
implemented in the first quarter of 2002 and prior period reported amounts have
reclassified to conform to the new presentation. First quarter 2001 results have
been reclassified as follows:
Three Months Ending
March 31, 2001
Revenues:
As previously reported... $10,264,833
As reclassified...... 10,026,687
Sales and Marketing expenses:
As previously reported... 2,461,338
As reclassified..... 2,223,192
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with
the safe harbor statement and the risk factors contained herein and set forth in
our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Readers should also be cautioned that results of
any reported period are often not indicative of results for any future period.
Critical Accounting Policies
The following is a discussion of what we view as our more significant
accounting policies. These policies are also described in the notes to our
audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form
10-K. As described below, management judgments and estimates must be made and
used in connection with the preparation of our consolidated financial
statements. Material differences could result in the amount and timing of our
revenue and expenses for any period if we made different judgments or used
different estimates.
Revenue Recognition. We sell hardware products to our customers. The
products include dial-up modems, embedded modems, cable modems, PC cameras, ISDN
and ADSL modems, telephone dialers, and wireless and wired networking equipment.
We generally do not sell software or services. We earn a small amount of royalty
revenue. We derive our revenue primarily from the sales of hardware products to
three types of customers:
o computer peripherals retailers,
o computer product distributors, and
o original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
We sell a very small amount of our hardware products to direct consumers
and to customers via the Internet. We recognize revenue for all three types of
our customers at the point when the customers take legal ownership of the
delivered products. Legal ownership passes from Zoom to the customer based on
the point specified in signed contracts and purchase orders, which are both used
extensively. Many of our customer contracts or purchase orders specify that
ownership passes to the customer at the destination. Since it would be
impractical to verify ownership change for each individual delivery to the
destination point, we estimate the day the customer receives delivery based on
our ship date and the carrier's published delivery schedule specific to the
freight class and location.
Our revenues are reduced by certain events which are characteristic of
hardware sales to computer peripherals retailers. These events are product
returns, price protection refunds, store rebates, and consumer mail-in rebates.
Each of these is accounted for as a reduction of revenue based on careful
management estimates, which are reconciled to actual customer or end-consumer
refunds and credits on a monthly or quarterly basis. The estimates for product
returns are based on recent historical trends plus estimates for returns
prompted by events such as new product introductions, announced stock rotations,
and announced customer store closings. We analyze historical returns, current
economic trends, and changes in customer demand and acceptance of our products
when evaluating the adequacy of sales return allowances. Our estimates for price
protection refunds require a detailed understanding and tracking by customer and
by sales program. Estimated price protection refunds are recorded in the same
period as the announcement of a pricing change. Information from customer
inventory-on-hand reports or from direct communications with the customers is
used to estimate the refund, which is recorded as a reserve against accounts
receivable and a reduction of current period revenue. Our estimates for consumer
mail-in rebates are comprised of actual rebate claims processed by the rebate
redemption centers plus an accrual for an estimated lag in processing. Our
estimates for store rebates are comprised of actual credit requests from the
eligible customers.
On January 1, 2002, we adopted FASB Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No.
00-14 "Accounting for Certain Sales Incentives" and Issue No. 00-25 "Accounting
for Consideration from a Vendor to a Retailer in Connection with the Purchase or
Promotion of the Vendor's Products." The application of the guidance in Issue
No. 00-14 and No. 00-25 resulted in a change in the manner in which we record
certain types of discounts and sales and marketing incentives that are provided
to our customers. We had historically recorded these incentives as selling
expenses. Under Issue No. 00-14 and No. 00-25, we are now recording these
incentives as reductions of revenue for the current and prior periods. This
change reduced revenues, which, in turn, reduced gross margins. The offset was
an equal reduction of selling expenses. There was not a change in net income
(loss) for either the historical periods restated or the quarter ending March
31, 2002 (see note 10 to the consolidated financial statements). To ensure that
the discounts and sales and marketing incentives are recorded in the proper
period, we perform extensive tracking and documenting by customer, by period,
and by type of marketing event. This tracking includes reconciliation to the
accounts receivable records for deductions taken by our customers for these
discounts and incentives.
Accounts Receivable Valuation. We establish accounts receivable reserves
for product returns, store rebates, consumer mail-in rebates, price protection
refunds, and bad debts. These reserves are drawn down as actual credits are
issued to the customer's accounts. We purchase accounts receivable insurance on
virtually all of our customer invoices. In recent years, if any customer
receivable could not be insured and we determined that collection of a fee was
not reasonably assured, we did not accept the customer's order. Our total year
bad-debt write-offs for 2000 and 2001 were .3% and .2% of total revenue,
respectively.
Inventory Valuation and Cost of Goods Sold. Inventory is valued on a
standard cost basis where the material standards are periodically updated for
current material pricing. Reserves for obsolete inventory are established by
management based on usability reviews performed each quarter. Our reserves
against this inventory range from 0% to 100%, based on management's estimate of
the probability that the materials will not be consumed. At March 31, 2002, 52%
of the cost value of the inventory that was excess to our projected five-month
usage was covered by our obsolescence reserve. We follow a different process for
our broadband and wireless inventory. We do not believe that at the present time
we can reliably determine the usability of our broadband inventory because of
the inherent unpredictability of securing orders with the large cable operators
and telephone companies that currently represent the majority of our
opportunities for broadband product sales. In the second half of 2000, when
industry expectations were very high for expansion of the broadband and wireless
markets, we purchased parts to support our aggressive forecast for a ramp-up of
sales of cable modems, ADSL modems, and wireless networking products. This
resulted in a significant inventory position of materials. During 2001, the
market selling prices for the broadband and wireless products declined
significantly because of an industry-wide oversupply. During 2001, and to a
lesser extent in the first quarter of 2002 (see note 4 to the consolidated
financial statements), the sales prices for some of the products dropped below
our cost and accordingly, we then valued our inventory on a "lower of cost or
market" basis. Our valuation process involves comparing our cost to the selling
prices each quarter, and if the selling price of a product is less than the "if
completed" cost of our inventory, we permanently write-down the inventory on a
"lower of cost or market" basis.
We have entered into supply arrangements with suppliers of some components
that include price and other concessions, including no-charge components, for
meeting certain purchase requirements or commitments. Under these arrangements,
we are committed to purchase at least $8.0 million of components over the
30-month period commencing on January 1, 2002, provided that those components
are offered at competitive terms and prices. We are also required to purchase
either a minimum percentage, as measured by unit purchases or dollar amount of
components from a supplier over a two-year period commencing on January 1, 2002.
In connection with these arrangements, we are entitled to receive at least $3.0
million of no-charge components, based upon the supplier's market price for the
components, and other pricing concessions based upon our purchase volumes. We
received $1.2 million of these no-charge components in the fourth quarter of
2001. At December 31, 2001, the gross inventory value of $1.2 million was offset
by a $1.2 million reserve in inventory, yielding a net inventory value of zero.
We have received an additional $1.8 million of no-charge components in the first
quarter of 2002. At March 31, 2002, the gross inventory value of these no-charge
components was $2.7 million, offset by a $2.9 million reserve in inventory,
yielding a net inventory value of ($.2) million for inventory acquired under
these arrangements. We expect that the remaining $2.7 million value of "no
charge" components will be consumed in our manufacturing process and shipped in
finished products to customers during the remainder of 2002. If this occurs, our
cash flow in 2002 is expected to improve by $3.0 million, as we expect to avoid
the purchase and payment of an equivalent dollar amount. In the first quarter of
2002, our purchases and payment of the components in question were approximately
$1.0 million less than our previous run-rate. Our statement of operations will
reflect the $3.0 million of favorability as we ship products containing the
components acquired under these supply arrangements. In the quarter ending March
31, 2002 the favorable impact of this arrangement to our statement of operations
was less than $.1 million.
Valuation and Impairment of Deferred Tax Assets. As part of the process of
preparing our consolidated financial statements we are required to estimate the
recoverability of our deferred tax assets. This process involves the estimation
of our actual current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences
resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes.
These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are
included in our consolidated balance sheet. We must then assess the likelihood
that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to
the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we must establish a valuation
allowance. To the extent we establish a valuation allowance or increase this
allowance in a period, we must include an expense within the tax provision in
the statement of operations.
Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision
for income taxes and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred
tax assets in accordance with the provisions of the Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." In 2001, we
recorded a $3.8 million income tax charge to reflect an additional increase in
our deferred tax asset valuation allowance. This is equal to 100% of the tax
benefits derived from our 2001 pre-tax losses and certain of our pre-tax losses
incurred prior to 2001. Management's decision to record the valuation allowance
was based on the uncertain recoverability of the deferred tax asset balance. At
December 31, 2001, a portion of our net deferred tax asset was supported by our
specific tax planning strategy to sell our appreciated headquarters building in
Boston. The amount of the projected tax benefit from this sale was used to
support the $2.013 million deferred tax asset remaining on our balance sheet as
of December 31, 2001. In our first quarter ending March 31, 2002, we recorded an
additional income tax charge and valuation reserve, which reduced our net
deferred tax asset balance to zero. This additional reserve reflects our
decision to discontinue our specific tax planning strategy to sell our
headquarters building in Boston in light of the less favorable market conditions
for the sale of such building.
Results of Operations
We recorded net sales of $9.0 million for our first quarter ending March
31, 2002, down 11% from $10.0 million in the first quarter of 2001. We reported
an operating loss of $1.8 million for the first quarter of 2002, compared to an
operating loss of $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2001. We reported a net
loss of $3.5 million for our first quarter ending March 31, 2002 compared to a
net loss of $5.2 million for the first quarter ending March 31, 2001. The net
loss of $3.5 million for the first quarter of 2002 consisted of the operating
loss of $1.8 million, a non-cash tax expense of $2.0 million, and a non-cash
extraordinary gain of $.3 million. Loss per share improved as we reported a loss
of $0.44 for the first quarter of 2002 compared to a loss of $0.66 for the first
quarter of 2001.
In Q1 2002 unit volume and average selling price both declined in our
primary revenue product category, dial-up modems, and revenues declined both
inside and outside North America, reflecting continuing weakness in the dial-up
modem market. Partially offsetting the decline in dial-up modems was an increase
in sales of cable modems and other product categories in Q1 2002 compared to Q1
2001 and the recording of $.3 million in Q1 2002 of revenue for a retroactive
royalty payment from an Internet Service Provider.
Our gross profit increased to $1.8 million in Q1 2002 from $.2 million in
Q1 2001. This increase reflected an improvement in our gross profit percentage
to 20% of net sales in Q1 2002 from 2% in Q1 2001. In the first quarter of 2001,
our gross margins were adversely impacted by a $2.6 million write down of
inventory, primarily relating to our broadband modems and wireless networking
products. In the first quarter of 2002, we had an inventory write-down of $.2
million related to wireless networking products. Our gross margins in fiscal
2002 were positively impacted by reduced costs of materials due to more
favorable supply contracts (as noted above under Critical Accounting Policies )
and the retroactive royalty payment received as noted above. The improvements
were partially offset by reduced sales pricing in Q1 2002, and generally higher
revenue dilution for price protection, customer discounts, and sales rebates in
Q1 2002 compared to Q1 2001.
Our operating expenses decreased by $1.8 million to $3.5 million in Q1 2002
from $5.3 million in Q1 2001. The decrease of $1.8 million was comprised of
lower selling expenses of $.6 million, lower general and administrative expenses
of $.8 million, and lower research and development expenses of $.5 million. We
have reduced our worldwide staff from 289 employees on March 31, 2001 to 198
employees on March 31, 2002. We also continue to maintain a temporary wage
freeze and controls on discretionary spending.
Selling expenses in Q1 2002 decreased to $1.7 million or 18.5% of net sales
from $2.2 million or 22.2% of net sales in Q1 2001. Selling expenses were lower
primarily because lower co-operative advertising expenses, lower personnel
costs, and lower outbound freight costs.
General and administrative expenses were $0.9 million or 9.8% of net sales
in Q1 2002 compared to $1.6 million or 16.3% of net sales in Q1 2001. General
and administrative expenses were lower, primarily because of lower personnel
costs, lower depreciation and amortization, and lower bank fees. Our general and
administrative expenses in Q1 2001 included goodwill amortization of $.2
million, compared to no amortization in Q1 2002, as a result of the write-off of
our goodwill assets in Q4 2001.
Research and development expenses decreased to $1.0 million or 11.1% of net
sales in Q1 2002 from $1.5 million or 14.8% of net sales in Q1 2001. Research
and development costs decreased primarily as a result of reduced personnel
costs. Development and support continues on all of our product lines.
Other income (expense), net changed from expense of $.03 million in Q1 2001
to income of $.03 million in Q1 2002. Included in other income (expense) are
interest income (expense), other income and non-interest income, and equity in
losses of an affiliate.
o Interest Income. Interest income decreased to $.03 million in Q1 2002 from
$.08 million in Q1 2001. The decrease was the result of our lower earned
interest rate and a slightly higher average invested cash balance during Q1
2002 compared to Q1 2001. The average interest rate earned in 2002 was
approximately 350 basis points lower in Q1 2002 than in Q1 2001.
o Interest expense. Interest expense decreased to $.09 million in Q1 2002
from $.1 million in Q1 2001. The interest expense decrease is due to a
lower interest rate for the $6.0 million mortgage taken out in January 2001
on our headquarters building. This interest is adjusted annually in
January of each year.
o Equity in losses of affiliate. Our affiliate equity losses were $.03
million in Q1 2002 compared to $.07 million in Q1 2001. Our investment
balance in the affiliate has been reduced to $.027 million at March 31,
2002.
o Other Income, Net. Other income and non-interest income increased to $.12
million in Q1 2002 from $0.06 million in Q1 2001. The main reason for the
increase was the reversal of a reserve for $0.1 million relating to a
dispute involving a deposit that was resolved in March 2002. Other activity
in this account includes foreign exchange losses which were $.05 million in
Q1 2002 and a slightly lower rental income Q1 2002 compared to Q1 2001.
Income tax expense was $2.0 million in Q1 2002 compared to zero in Q1 2001.
We recorded income tax expense of $2.0 million and a corresponding valuation
reserve against our net deferred tax asset balance of $2.0 million at December
31, 2001. The net deferred tax asset balance at March 31, 2002 is zero. This
reserve is discussed in further detail under the caption "Critical Accounting
Policies" set forth herein.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We ended the first quarter of 2002 with cash of $7.1 million and working
capital of $16.6 million.
Operating activities generated $2.0 million in cash during the first
quarter of 2002. Cash provided from operating activities included a reduction of
inventory of $3.1 million, a reduction of our deferred income tax asset of $2.0
million, and a reduction of accounts receivable of $.6 million. Cash used in
operating activities included our net loss of $3.5 million and a decrease of
accounts payable and accrued expenses of $.2 million. The reduction of inventory
was primarily attributable to reduced inventory purchases and sales of excess
broadband and wireless inventory. The $2.0 million reduction in our deferred tax
asset offsets the $2.0 million income tax expense recorded as part of our net
loss for the quarter, comprising a non-cash accounting adjustment. Our decrease
in accounts receivable reflects our lower sales volume.
Investing activities used $.01 million in cash for capital expenditures
during the first quarter of 2002. We do not have any significant capital
commitments and we anticipate that we will continue with modest investments in
equipment and in improvements to our facilities during the year.
During the first quarter of 2002, we used cash for financing activities of
$.04 million for three monthly principal payments on our $6.0 million mortgage
on our headquarters facility. Principal on the loan is amortized on a 20-year
basis. The interest rate is adjusted annually in January of each year based on
the one-year Federal Home Loan Bank rate plus 2.5 % per annum. The interest rate
for the current year is 4.97%.
Currently we do not have a debt facility from which we can borrow, and we
do not expect to obtain one on acceptable terms unless there is operating
performance improvement. However, we believe we would be able to obtain
additional funds, if and when required, by factoring accounts receivable. We
have engaged in preliminary negotiations with a financial organization, but we
do not plan to put anything in place until and unless it is necessary since
there would be an up-front cost to finalize the arrangement.
To conserve cash and manage our liquidity, we have reduced our worldwide
staff from 289 employees on March 31, 2001 to 198 employees on March 31, 2002.
We continue to maintain our temporary wage freeze and our controls on
discretionary spending. We will continue to assess our cost structure as it
relates to our revenues and cash position in the remainder 2002, and we may make
further reductions if the actions are deemed necessary.
In addition to expense reductions, our liquidity in 2002 is expected to be
enhanced by the utilization of approximately $3.0 million of "no charge"
components as a result of supply agreements entered in 2001. Under these
arrangements, we are committed to purchase at least $8.0 million of components
over the 30-month period commencing January 1, 2002, provided that those
components are offered at competitive terms and prices. The utilization of
"no-charge" components is expected to supplement our cash flow in 2002, as we
will be able to avoid the purchase and payment of an equivalent dollar amount of
inventory. We believe that we have had a favorable impact to our cash flow in
the first quarter of 2002 resulting from this arrangement of approximately $1.0
million.
On December 31, 2001, we had $4.1 million net inventory in broadband and
wireless products and components. This inventory was paid for in 2000 and 2001.
Sales of products in 2002 using any portion of this inventory will enhance our
liquidity in 2002, as we will be able to avoid the purchase and payment of an
equivalent dollar amount of new materials. We are currently selling cable modems
and wireless products that consume a portion of this inventory and we are
aggressively pursuing additional orders in markets worldwide. Of the $4.1
million net broadband and wireless inventory on hand on December 31, 2001, our
remaining balance on March 31, 2002 was $2.9 million.
Our cash position at December 31, 2001 was $5.3 million, which improved to
$7.1 million at March 31, 2002. We believe we have sufficient resources to fund
our planned operations over the next 12 months. However, if we are unable to
increase our revenues, reduce our expenses, or raise capital, our longer-term
ability to continue as a going concern and achieve our intended business
objectives could be adversely affected. See "Risk Factors" below, for further
information with respect to events and uncertainties that could harm our
business, operating results, and financial condition.
Commitments
During 2001, we entered into an agreement to purchase the ground lease for
a manufacturing facility located at 27 Drydock Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts
(the "Drydock Building"). In connection with the proposed purchase of the
Drydock Building, we paid $513,500 which was held in escrow as a deposit pending
the closing of the transaction. Of this deposit, $25,000 was nonrefundable. When
Zoom was unable to obtain acceptable financing the Seller (the current
leaseholder) retained the deposit pending resolution of some disputed facts
concerning Zoom's withdrawal from the transaction under the terms of the
Purchase and Sale Agreement. While we believed that we were entitled to a return
of the $488,500 refundable portion of the deposit plus interest, the seller
directed the escrow agent to hold the funds pending resolution of the dispute.
As an alternative to pursing legal remedies to obtain a return of the
deposit, we pursued an arrangement to acquire the Drydock Building in
partnership with the following individuals: Frank B. Manning, President and a
director of Zoom; Peter R. Kramer, Executive Vice President and a director of
Zoom; Bruce M. Kramer, Peter Kramer's brother; and a third party. Under this
arrangement, these individuals, either directly or through entities controlled
by them, joined together with us as of March 29, 2002 to form the Zoom Group
LLC, a Massachusetts limited liability company ("Zoom Group") to purchase the
Drydock Building. Zoom and each of the investors owns a 20% interest in the Zoom
Group. The managers of the Zoom Group are Peter Kramer and the third party.
There are no special allocations among the members of the Zoom Group, and each
member is required to contribute his or its proportionate amount of capital in
return for its 20% interest.
Effective as of March 29, 2002, we entered into a Reinstatement Agreement,
Assignment Agreement and Second Amendment to Agreement of Purchase and Sale with
the Zoom Group and the owner of the Drydock ground lease. Under this
Reinstatement Agreement, the original purchase agreement for the Drydock
Building was amended and reinstated, and we assigned our rights under the
purchase agreement to the Zoom Group, together with rights to the $488,500
refundable portion of the deposit plus interest. In connection with this
transaction, under a separate letter agreement, the other members of the Zoom
Group paid us $390,800 ($97,700 each), representing their proportionate share of
the deposit assigned to the Zoom Group. As a result, our remaining interest in
the deposit is $97,700. As part of the reinstatement of the purchase agreement,
the members of the Zoom Group agreed that an additional $25,000 of the $488,500
deposit would be nonrefundable, $5,000 of which has been allocated to each
investor.
Under the Reinstatement Agreement, the Zoom Group agreed to purchase the
Drydock Building, subject to financing and other contingencies, for a purchase
price of $6.1 million, subject to adjustment. Under this arrangement, the Zoom
Group is required to seek nonrecourse financing that meets specified criteria in
the amount of at least $3.8 or $4.0 million, depending upon the purchase price.
If the closing takes place, each member of the Zoom Group has initially agreed
to contribute up to $540,000 to fund the cash portion of the purchase price plus
initial working capital. These initial capital contributions include each
member's share of the deposit. If the purchase does not close and the
nonrefundable portion of the deposit is returned, each member will receive
$92,700 plus interest. If the purchase does not close and the seller is
permitted to retain the deposit, each member will lose the entire amount of its
$97,700 deposit and we will have no obligation to reimburse the other members
for any of the $390,800 paid to us to cover their share of the total deposit.
Under the Zoom Group Operating Agreement, following the closing of the
purchase of the Drydock Building, we will have both the right to sell our
interest in the Zoom Group to the other members of the Zoom Group, and the right
to purchase the other members' entire interests in the Zoom Group. Our right of
sale expires on January 5, 2003. Should we exercise our sale right, we would be
entitled to recover the full amount of all refundable investments (the $92,700
refundable portion of the $97,700 deposit and any additional investment made in
the Zoom Group.) For example, if Zoom contributed $540,000, including its
deposit, toward the purchase of the Drydock Building and initial working
capital, we would have the right to sell our interest to the other Zoom members
for $535,000 (the $540,000 that Zoom contributed less the $5,000 nonrefundable
portion of the deposit). If we exercise this right, the other members will be
jointly and severally liable to pay this amount within ninety (90) days. Our
right to purchase the interests of the other members of the Zoom Group expires
on December 31, 2005. Under our right to purchase, we have the option to
purchase all the interests of the other members of the Zoom Group for a purchase
price determined in accordance with a prearranged formula based upon the initial
purchase price of the Drydock Building plus 20% a year, prorated after the first
year. We have no obligation to exercise either our purchase or sale right, and
no member of the Zoom Group has any right to require us to do so. Any decision
to exercise any of these rights will be made by the independent directors of
Zoom.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 "Business Combinations" (SFAS
141) and SFAS No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" (SFAS 142). SFAS
141 requires all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 to be
accounted for using the purchase method. Under SFAS 142, goodwill and intangible
assets with indefinite lives are no longer amortized but are reviewed annually
(or more frequently if impairment indicators arise) for impairment. Separable
intangible assets that are not deemed to have indefinite lives will continue to
be amortized over their useful lives (but with no maximum life). The
amortization provisions of SFAS 142 apply to goodwill and intangible assets
acquired after June 30, 2001. With respect to goodwill and intangible assets
acquired prior to July 1, 2001, the amortization and impairment provisions of
SFAS 142 are effective upon the adoption of SFAS 142. The Company was required
to adopt SFAS 142 at the beginning of 2002. The adoption of these accounting
standards did not have any material effect on the Company's consolidated
financial statements, other than the extraordinary gain recognized during the
first quarter of 2002 related to the elimination of previously recognized
negative goodwill (see note 9 to the consolidated financial statements).
In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No.144, "Accounting for the Impairment
on Disposal of Long-Lived Assets" (SFAS 144), effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2001. This statement addresses the financial
accounting and reporting for the impairment and disposal of long-lived assets.
It supersedes SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
and Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of" (SFAS 121). Under the new rules, the
criteria required for classifying an asset as held-for-sale have been
significantly changed. Assets held-for-sale are stated at the lower of their
fair values or carrying amounts, and depreciation is no longer recognized. In
addition, the expected future operating losses from discontinued operations will
be displayed in discontinued operations in the period in which the losses are
incurred rather than as of the measurement date. More dispositions will qualify
for discontinued operations treatment in the statement of operations under the
new rules. The adoption of this statement on January 1, 2002 did not have a
material impact on our operations or financial position.
FASB Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-14 "Accounting for Certain
Sales Incentives" addresses the recognition, measurement, and income statement
classification for certain types of sales incentives. The application of the
guidance in Issue No. 00-14 resulted in a change in the manner in which the
Company records certain types of discounts and sales and marketing incentives
that are provided to its customers. The Company has historically recorded these
incentives as selling expenses. Under Issue No. 00-14, beginning on January 1,
2002, the Company records these discounts and incentives as reductions of
revenue. In April 2001, the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force reached a consensus
on Issue No. 00-25 "Accounting for Consideration from a Vendor to a Retailer in
Connection with the Purchase or Promotion of the Vendor's Products". Issue No.
00-25 addresses whether certain consideration offered by a vendor to a
distributor, including slotting fees, cooperative advertising arrangements and
"buy-down" programs, should be characterized as operating expenses or reductions
of revenue. Issue No. 00-14 and 00-25 were implemented in the first fiscal
quarter of 2002 and prior period reported amounts have reclassified to conform
to the new presentation (see note 10 to the consolidated financial statements).
RISK FACTORS
This report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties, such as statements of our objectives, expectations and
intentions. The cautionary statements made in this report should be read as
applicable to all forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this
report. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed herein.
Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those
discussed below, as well as those discussed elsewhere in this report.
Our revenues have declined and we have incurred significant losses and used
significant cash in operations over the last three years.
We incurred a net loss of $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2002 and net
losses of approximately $18.3 million in fiscal 2001, $3.1 million in fiscal
2000, and $1.4 million in fiscal 1999. During 1999 through 2001, our revenue
declined from $64.1 million in 1999 to $59.8 million in 2000 and $43.7 million
in 2001. In the first quarter of 2002, our revenue was $9.0 million, an 11%
decline from the prior year's first quarter. The cash used in operations during
1999 through 2001 was $2.6 million in 2001, $8.0 million in 2000, and $2.7
million in 1999. In the first quarter of 2002, our cash generated from
operations increased by $2.0 million. As of March 31, 2002 we had net working
capital of $16.6 million including cash of $7.1 million.
We attribute the decline of our business primarily to a decline in the
retail dial-up modem market, and delays in our penetration of the broadband
modem and wireless local area network markets. We anticipate that we will
continue to incur significant expenses for the foreseeable future as we:
o continue to develop and seek appropriate approvals for our dial-up modem,
broadband access, wireless local area network, Internet gateway, and dialer
products; and
o continue to make efforts to expand our sales channels internationally, and
into new channels appropriate to our new product areas.
Although we have reduced our operating expense levels significantly, our
revenues must increase or we will continue to incur operating losses. We cannot
guarantee that our expenditures will significantly increase or halt the decline
in our revenues. Although we believe that we have sufficient resources to fund
our planned operations over the next year, if we fail to increase our revenues,
our longer-term ability to stay in business and to achieve our intended business
objectives could be adversely effected. Our continuing losses and use of cash
could also adversely affect our ability to fund the growth of our business
should our strategies prove successful.
To stay in business we may require future additional funding which we may be
unable to obtain on favorable terms, if at all.
Over the next twelve months, we may require additional financing for our
operations either to fund losses beyond those we anticipate or to fund growth in
our inventory and accounts receivable should growth occur. We currently do not
have a debt facility from which we can borrow and we do not expect to obtain one
on acceptable terms unless our operating performance improved. Additional
financing may not be available to us on a timely basis if at all, or on terms
acceptable to us. If we fail to obtain acceptable additional financing when
needed, we may be required to further reduce planned expenditures or forego
business opportunities, which could reduce our revenues, increase our losses,
and harm our business. Moreover, additional equity financing could dilute the
per share value of our common stock held by current shareholders, while
additional debt financing could restrict our ability to make capital
expenditures or incur additional indebtedness, all of which would impede our
ability to succeed.
Our existing indebtedness could prevent us from obtaining additional financing
and harm our liquidity.
In January 2001, we obtained a $6 million, 20 year direct reduction
mortgage from a bank, secured by our owned real estate in Boston, Massachusetts.
Our outstanding indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to obtain
additional financing for working capital, acquisitions, or other purposes. Our
existing indebtedness could also make us more vulnerable to economic downturns
and competitive pressures, make it more difficult to obtain additional debt
financing, and adversely affect our liquidity. In the event of a cash shortfall,
we could be forced to reduce other expenditures to meet our requirements with
respect to our outstanding debt. Our ability to meet our obligations will be
dependent upon our future performance, which will be subject to financial,
business and other factors affecting our operations. Many of these factors are
beyond our control. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from
operations in the future to service our debt, we may be required to refinance
all or a portion of these obligations or obtain additional financing in order to
stay in business.
Our revenues and operating results have been adversely affected because of a
decline in average selling prices for our dial-up modems and because of the
decline in the retail market for dial-up modems.
The dial-up modem industry has been characterized by declining average
selling prices and a declining retail market. The decline in average selling
prices is due to a number of factors, including technological change, lower
component costs, and competition. The decline in the size of the retail market
for dial-up modems is primarily due to the inclusion of dial-up modems as a
standard feature contained in new PCs, and the advent of broadband products. As
the market for cable and ADSL modems matures and competition between cable and
ADSL service providers intensifies, it is likely that there will be increased
retail distribution of cable and ADSL modems. While increased retail sale of
broadband modems could increase our sales of these products, it could further
reduce demand for our dial-up modems. Decreasing average selling prices and
reduced demand for our dial-up modems would result in decreased revenue for
dial-up modems. In addition, we have experienced and we may in the future
experience substantial period to period fluctuations in operating results.
We believe that our future success will depend in large part on our ability to
more successfully penetrate the broadband modem markets, which have been
challenging markets, with significant barriers to entry.
With the shrinking of the dial-up modem market, we believe that our future
success will depend in large part on our ability to more successfully penetrate
the broadband, cable and ADSL, modem markets. These markets have been
challenging markets, with significant barriers to entry, that have adversely
affected our sales to these markets. Although some cable and ADSL modems are
sold at retail, the high volume purchasers of these modems are concentrated in a
relatively few large cable, telecommunications, and internet service providers
which offer broadband modem services to their customers. These customers,
particularly cable services providers, also have extensive and varied approval
processes for modems to be approved for use on their network that can be
expensive, time consuming, and continue to evolve. Successfully penetrating the
broadband modem market therefore presents a number of challenges including:
o the current limited retail market for broadband modems;
o the relatively small number of cable, telecommunications and internet
service provider customers that make up a substantial part of the market
for broadband modems;
o the significant bargaining power of these large volume purchasers;
o the time consuming, expensive, uncertain and varied approval process of the
various cable service providers; and
o the strong relationships with cable service providers enjoyed by incumbents
cable equipment providers like Motorola and Scientific Atlanta.
Our initial sales of broadband products have been adversely affected by all
of these factors. We cannot assure that we will be able to successfully
penetrate these markets.
Continued fluctuations in our operating results could cause the market price of
our common stock to fall.
Our operating results have fluctuated in the past and are likely to
fluctuate in the future. It is possible that our revenues and operating results
will be below the expectations of investors in future quarters. If we fail to
meet or surpass the expectations of investors, the market price of our common
stock will most likely fall. Factors that have affected and may in the future
affect our operating results include:
o the overall demand for dial-up, cable and ADSL modems, wireless local area
network products, Internet gateway products, dialers, and other
communications products;
o the timing of new product announcements and releases by us and our
competitors;
o successful testing, qualification and approval of our products, such as
Cablelabs(R) qualification of cable modems, telephone company qualification
of ADSL modems, approval by service providers for use on their networks,
and governmental approvals;
o variations in the number and mix of products we sell;
o the timing of customer orders and adjustments of delivery schedules to
accommodate our customers' programs;
o the availability of components, materials and labor necessary to produce
our products;
o the timing and level of expenditures in anticipation of future sales;
o pricing and other competitive conditions; and
o seasonality.
Our customer base is concentrated and the loss of one or more of our customers
could harm our business.
Relatively few customers have accounted for a significant portion of our
net sales. In fiscal 2001, approximately 53% of our net sales were attributable
to four customers, each of whom accounted for more than 10% of our net sales. In
Q1 2002, approximately 52% of our net sales were attributable to four customers,
each of whom accounted for 10% or more of our net sales. Because our customer
base is concentrated, a loss of one or more of these significant customers or a
reduction or delay in orders or a default in payment from any of our top
customers could significantly reduce our sales which would materially harm our
business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Our failure to meet changing customer requirements and emerging industry
standards would adversely impact our ability to sell our products.
The market for PC communications products and high-speed broadband access
products is characterized by aggressive pricing practices, continually changing
customer demand patterns, rapid technological advances, emerging industry
standards and short product life cycles. Some of our product developments and
enhancements have taken longer than planned and have delayed the availability of
our products, which adversely affected our sales and profitability in the past.
Any significant delays in the future may adversely impact our ability to sell
our products, and our results of operations and financial condition may be
adversely affected. Our future success will depend in large part upon our
ability to:
o identify and respond to emerging technological trends in the market;
o develop and maintain competitive products that meet changing customer
demands;
o enhance our products by adding innovative features that differentiate our
products from those of our competitors;
o bring products to market on a timely basis;
o introduce products that have competitive prices;
o manage our product transitions, inventory levels and manufacturing
processes efficiently;
o respond effectively to new technological changes or new product
announcements by others;
Our product cycles tend to be short, and we may incur significant
non-recoverable expenses or devote significant resources to sales that do not
occur when anticipated. In the rapidly changing technology environment in which
we operate, product cycles tend to be short. Therefore, the resources we devote
to product development, sales and marketing may not generate material revenues
for us. In addition, short product cycles has resulted in and may in the future
result in excess and obsolete inventory, which has had and may in the future
have an adverse affect on our results of operations. In an effort to develop
innovative products and technology, we have incurred and may in the future incur
substantial development, sales, marketing, and inventory costs. If we are unable
to recover these costs, our financial condition and operating results could be
adversely affected. In addition, if we sell our products at reduced prices in
anticipation of cost reductions and we still have higher cost products in
inventory, our business would be harmed and our results of operations and
financial condition would be adversely affected.
Our operating results have been adversely affected because of price protection
programs.
Our operating results have been adversely affected by reductions in average
selling prices because we gave credits to some of our customers as a result of
contractual price protection guarantees. Specifically, when we reduce the price
for a product, the customer receives a credit for the difference between the
customer's most recent purchase price and our reduced price for the product, for
all unsold product at the time of the price reduction. For fiscal 2001, we
recorded a reduction of revenue of $.9 million for customer price protection. In
Q1 2002, we recorded a reduction of revenue of $.1 million for price protection.
We may be subject to product returns resulting from defects, or from
overstocking of our products. Product returns could result in the failure to
attain market acceptance of our products, which would harm our business.
If our products contain undetected defects, errors, or failures, we could
face:
o delays in the development of our products;
o numerous product returns; and
o other losses to us or to our customers or end users.
Any of these occurrences could also result in the loss of or delay in
market acceptance of our products, either of which would reduce our sales and
harm our business. We are also exposed to the risk of product returns from our
customers as a result of contractual stock rotation privileges and our practice
of assisting some of our customers in balancing their inventories. Overstocking
has in the past led and may in the future lead too higher than normal returns.
Our failure to effectively manage our inventory levels could materially and
adversely affect our liquidity and harm our business.
During fiscal 2000, in anticipation of future sales of our recently
introduced broadband access products, particularly cable modems, we
significantly increased our inventory for these products. We also built up this
inventory in response to shortages of components for these products earlier in
that year. Since that time, most of these component shortages have been
alleviated. We have also had difficulty in generating significant orders for
some of our products, particularly broadband products, and as a result, we
experienced a significant increase in our inventory, to $21.9 million on
December 31, 2000 from $14.3 million on December 31, 1999. During fiscal 2001,
we were able to reduce our inventory levels to $11.1 million as a result of
sales, raw material returns to suppliers, and the write-down of value of some of
our inventory. At March 31, 2002, our inventory level is $8.0 million, a
reduction of $3.1 million from December 31, 2001 primarily attributable to
reduced inventory purchases and sales of excess broadband and wireless
inventory. Our failure to effectively manage our inventory may adversely affect
our liquidity and increases the risk of inventory obsolescence, a decline in
market value of the inventory, or losses from theft, fire, or other casualty.
We may be unable to produce sufficient quantities of our products because we
depend on third party manufacturers. If these third party manufacturers fail to
produce quality products in a timely manner, our ability to fulfill our customer
orders would be adversely impacted.
We use contract manufacturers to partially manufacture our products. We use
these third party manufacturers to help ensure low costs, rapid market entry,
and reliability. Any manufacturing disruption could impair our ability to
fulfill orders, and failure to fulfill orders would adversely affect our sales.
Although we currently use four contract manufacturers for the bulk of our
purchases, in some cases a given product is only provided by one of these
companies. The loss of the services of our any of our significant third party
manufacturers or a material adverse change in the business of or our
relationships with any of these manufacturers could harm our business. Since
third parties manufacture our products and we expect this to continue in the
future, our success will depend, in part, on the ability of third parties to
manufacture our products cost effectively and in sufficient quantities to meet
our customer demand.
We are subject to the following risks because of our reliance on third party
manufacturers:
o reduced management and control of component purchases;
o reduced control over delivery schedules;
o reduced control over quality assurance;
o reduced control over manufacturing yields;
o lack of adequate capacity during periods of excess demand;
o limited warranties on products supplied to us;
o potential increases in prices;
o interruption of supplies from assemblers as a result of a fire, natural
calamity, strike or other significant event; and
o misappropriation of our intellectual property.
We may be unable to produce sufficient quantities of our products because we
obtain key components from, and depend on, sole or limited source suppliers.
We obtain certain key parts, components, and equipment from sole or limited
sources of supply. For example, we purchase dial-up and broadband modem chipsets
from Conexant Systems (formerly Rockwell) and Agere Systems (formerly Lucent
Technologies). Integrated circuit product areas covered by one or both companies
include dial-up modems, ADSL modems, cable modems, networking, routers, and
gateways. We also purchase ADSL chipsets from Globespan and we purchase chipsets
for our wireless network interface cards from Intersil Corporation. In the past,
we have experienced delays in receiving shipments of modem chipsets from our
sole source suppliers. We may experience similar delays in the future. In
addition, some products may have other components that are available from only
one source. If we are unable to obtain a sufficient supply of components from
our current sources, we could experience difficulties in obtaining alternative
sources or in altering product designs to use alternative components. Resulting
delays or reductions in product shipments could damage relationships with our
customers and our customers could decide to purchase products from our
competitors. Inability to meet our customers' demand or a decision by one or
more of our customers to purchase products from our competitors could harm our
operating results.
Our failure to satisfy minimum purchase requirements or commitments we have with
our sole source suppliers could have an adverse affect on our results of
operations.
We have entered into supply arrangements with suppliers of some components
that include price and other concessions, including no-charge components, for
meeting minimum purchase requirements or commitments. Our business and results
of operations could be harmed if we fail to satisfy the minimum purchase
requirements or commitments contained in our supply arrangements.
The market for high-speed communications products and services has many
competing technologies and, as a result, the demand for our products and
services is uncertain.
The market for high-speed communications products and services has a number
of competing technologies. For instance, Internet access can be achieved by:
o using a standard telephone line and appropriate service for dial-up modems,
ISDN modems, or ADSL modems, possibly in combination;
o using a cable modem with a cable TV line and cable modem service;
o using a router and some type of modem to service the computers connected to
a local area network; or
o other approaches, including wireless links to the Internet.
Although we currently sell products that include these technologies, the
market for high-speed communication products and services is fragmented and
still in its development stage. The introduction of new products by competitors,
market acceptance of products based on new or alternative technologies, or the
emergence of new industry standards could render and have in the past rendered
our products less competitive or obsolete. If any of these events occur, we may
be unable to sustain or grow our business. In addition, if any of one or more of
the alternative technologies gain market share at the expense of another
technology, demand for our products may be reduced, and we may be unable to
sustain or grow our business.
We face significant competition, which could result in decreased demand for our
products or services.
We may be unable to compete successfully. A number of companies have
developed, or are expected to develop, products that compete or will compete
with our products. Furthermore, many of our current and potential competitors
have significantly greater resources than we do. Intense competition, rapid
technological change and evolving industry standards could decrease demand for
our products or make our products obsolete. Our competitors by product group
include the following:
o Dial-up modem competitors: Actiontec, Askey, Best Data, Creative Labs, GVC,
Intel, SONICblue, and US Robotics.
o Cable modem competitors: Motorola, Samsung, Scientific Atlanta, Thomson,
and Toshiba.
o ADSL modem competitors Siemens (formerly Efficient Networks) and Westell.
o Wireless Local Area Network competitors: 3Com, Agere, Buffalo Technologies,
Cisco Systems, D-link, Intel, Linksys, Proxim, and SMC.
The principal competitive factors in our industry include the following:
o product performance, features and reliability;
o price;
o product availability and lead times;
o size and stability of operations;
o breadth of product line;
o sales and distribution capability;
o tailoring of product to local market needs, sometimes including packaging,
documentation, software, and support in the local language;
o ease of use and technical support and service;
o relationships with providers of broadband access services; and
o compliance with industry standards.
Our business is dependent on the Internet and the development of the Internet
infrastructure.
Our success will depend in large part on increased use of the Internet to
increase the demand for high-speed communications products. Critical issues
concerning the commercial use of the Internet remain largely unresolved and are
likely to affect the development of the market for our products. These issues
include security, reliability, cost, ease of access, and quality of service.
Our success also will depend on the continued growth of the use of the
Internet by businesses, particularly for applications that utilize multimedia
content and that require high bandwidth. The recent growth in the use of the
Internet has caused frequent periods of performance degradation. This has
required the upgrade of routers, telecommunications links and other components
forming the infrastructure of the Internet by Internet service providers and
other organizations with links to the Internet.
Any perceived degradation in the performance of the Internet as a whole
could undermine the benefits of our products. Potentially increased performance
provided by our products and the products of others ultimately is limited by and
reliant upon the speed and reliability of the Internet backbone itself.
Consequently, the emergence and growth of the market for our products will
depend on improvements being made to the entire Internet infrastructure to
alleviate overloading.
Changes in current or future laws or governmental regulations that negatively
impact our products and technologies could harm our business.
The jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission, or the FCC,
extends to the entire United States communications industry including our
customers and their products and services that incorporate our products. Our
products are also required to meet the regulatory requirements of other
countries throughout the world where our products are sold. Obtaining government
regulatory approvals is time-consuming and very costly. In the past, we have
encountered delays in the introduction of our products, such as our cable
modems, as a result of government certifications. We may face further delays if
we are unable to comply with governmental regulations. Delays caused by the time
it takes to comply with regulatory requirements may result in cancellations or
postponements of product orders or purchases by our customers, which would harm
our business.
Our international operations are subject to a number of risks inherent in
international activities.
Our international sales accounted for approximately 29% of our revenues in
fiscal 1999, 29% in fiscal 2000 and 38% in fiscal 2001. In Q1 2002 our
international sales accounted for approximately 40% of our revenues. The
revenues we received from international sales were significantly impacted by our
Hayes European operation, which we began operating in March 1999. Currently our
operations are significantly dependent on our international operations, and may
be materially and adversely affected by many factors including:
o international regulatory and communications requirements and policy
changes;
o favoritism towards local suppliers;
o local language and technical support requirements;
o difficulties in inventory management, accounts receivable collection and
the management of distributors or representatives;
o difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations;
o political and economic changes and disruptions;
o governmental currency controls;
o shipping costs;
o currency exchange rate fluctuations; and
o tariff regulations.
We anticipate that our international sales will continue to account for a
significant percentage of our revenues. If foreign markets for our current and
future products develop more slowly than currently expected, our future results
of operations may be harmed.
Fluctuations in the foreign currency exchange rates in relation to the U.S.
dollar could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.
Changes in currency exchange rates that increase the relative value of the
U.S. dollar may make it more difficult for us to compete with foreign
manufacturers on price, or may otherwise have a material adverse effect on our
sales and operating results. A significant increase in our foreign currency
denominated sales would increase our risk associated with foreign currency
fluctuations.
Our future success will depend on the continued services of our executive
officers and key research and development personnel with expertise in hardware
and software development.
The loss of any of our executive officers or key research and development
personnel, the inability to attract or retain qualified personnel in the future
or delays in hiring skilled personnel could harm our business. Competition for
skilled personnel is significant. We may be unable to attract and retain all the
personnel necessary for the development of our business. In addition, the loss
of Frank B. Manning, our president and chief executive officer, or Peter Kramer,
our executive vice president, some other member of the management team, a key
engineer, or other key contributors, could harm our relations with our
customers, our ability to respond to technological change, and our business.
Our business may be harmed by acquisitions we may complete in the future.
We may pursue acquisitions of related businesses, technologies, product
lines, or products. Our identification of suitable acquisition candidates
involves risk inherent in assessing the values, strengths, weaknesses, risks and
profitability of acquisition candidates, including the effects of the possible
acquisition on our business, diversion of our management's attention, risk of
increased leverage, shareholder dilution, risk associated with unanticipated
problems; and risks associated with liabilities we assume.
We may have difficulty protecting our intellectual property.
Our ability to compete is heavily affected by our ability to protect our
intellectual property. We rely primarily on trade secret laws, confidentiality
procedures, patents, copyrights, trademarks, and licensing arrangements to
protect our intellectual property. The steps we take to protect our technology
may be inadequate. Existing trade secret, trademark and copyright laws offer
only limited protection. Our patents could be invalidated or circumvented. We
have more intellectual property assets in some countries than we do in others.
In addition, the laws of some foreign countries in which our products are or may
be developed, manufactured or sold may not protect our products or intellectual
property rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. This may
make the possibility of piracy of our technology and products more likely We
cannot assure that the steps that we have taken to protect our intellectual
property will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of our technology.
We could infringe the intellectual property rights of others.
Particular aspects of our technology could be found to infringe on the
intellectual property rights or patents of others. Other companies may hold or
obtain patents on inventions or may otherwise claim proprietary rights to
technology necessary to our business. We cannot predict the extent to which we
may be required to seek licenses. We cannot assure that the terms of any
licenses we may be required to seek will be reasonable. We are often indemnified
by our suppliers relative to certain intellectual property rights; but these
indemnifications do not cover all possible suits, and there is no guarantee that
a relevant indemnification will be honored by the indemnifying company.
Our executive officers and directors may control certain matters to be voted on
by the shareholders. These officers and directors may vote in a manner that is
not in your best interests.
Based upon information provided to us, our executive officers and directors
beneficially own, in the aggregate as of March 31, 2002, approximately 22.3% of
our outstanding common stock. As a result, these shareholders could
significantly influence certain matters to be voted on by the shareholders.
These matters include the election of directors, amendments to our certificate
of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions. These
executive officers and directors may vote as shareholders in a manner that is
not in your best interests.
The volatility of our stock price could adversely affect an investment in our
common stock.
The market price of our common stock has been and may continue to be highly
volatile. We believe that a variety of factors have caused and could in the
future cause the stock price of our common stock to fluctuate, including:
o announcements of developments related to our business, including
announcements of certification by the FCC or other regulatory authorities
of our products or our competitors products;
o quarterly fluctuations in our actual or anticipated operating results,
assets, liabilities, and order levels;
o general conditions in the US and worldwide economies;
o announcements of technological innovations;
o new products or product enhancements introduced by us or our competitors;
o developments in patents or other intellectual property rights and
litigation; and
o developments in our relationships with our customers and suppliers.
In addition, in recent years the stock market in general and the markets
for shares of small capitalization and "high-tech" companies in particular, have
experienced extreme price fluctuations which have often been unrelated to the
operating performance of affected companies. Any fluctuations in the future
could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the market price
of our common stock may decline.
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company owns financial instruments that are sensitive to market risks
as part of its investment portfolio. The investment portfolio is used to
preserve the Company's capital until it is required to fund operations,
including the Company's research and development activities. None of these
market-risk sensitive instruments are held for trading purposes. The Company
does not own derivative financial instruments in its investment portfolio. The
investment portfolio contains instruments that are subject to the risk of a
decline in interest rates.
Investment Rate Risk - The Company's investment portfolio consists entirely
of money market funds, which are subject to interest rate risk. Due to the short
duration and conservative nature of these instruments, the Company does not
believe that it has a material exposure to interest rate risk. The 20 year
mortgage of our headquarters building is a variable rate loan with the interest
rate adjusted annually. A 1% change in the interest rate would result in a
decrease or increase of approximately $60,000 of interest expense per year.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995
This report contains forward-looking information relating to Zoom's plans,
expectations and intentions, including statements relating to Zoom's dial-up
modem, cable modem, DSL modem, wireless networking, and dialer sales and
development activities, the anticipated growth of sales resulting from the V92
service rollout, the anticipated development of Zoom's markets and sales
channels, the anticipated level of demand for Zoom's products, the anticipated
impact of Zoom's cost-cutting initiatives, and Zoom's financial condition or
results of operations. Actual results may be materially different than those
expectations as a result of known and unknown risks, including: Zoom's
continuing losses; Zoom's ability to obtain additional financing for working
capital and other purposes; Zoom's ability to effectively manage its inventory;
uncertainty of new product development and introduction, including budget
overruns, project delays and the risk that newly introduced products may contain
undetected errors or defects or otherwise not perform as anticipated, and other
delays in shipments of products; the early stage of development of the cable and
DSL data communications markets, the uncertainty of market growth of those
markets, and Zoom's ability to more successfully penetrate those markets, which
have been challenging markets with significant barriers to entry; Zoom's
dependence on one or a limited number of suppliers for certain key components;
rapid technological change; competition; and other risks set forth in herein and
in Zoom's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Zoom
cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date made. Zoom expressly disclaims any
obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any
such statements to reflect any change in the Zoom's expectations or any change
in events, conditions or circumstance on which any such statement is based.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
At a special meeting of the shareholders of the Company held on February
15, 2002, the shareholders approved a special resolution pursuant to which the
Company was authorized to take actions to change its jurisdiction of
incorporation from Canada to the State of Delaware through a process called a
continuance in Canada and a domestication in Delaware. The transaction and
special resolution voted upon are described in detail in the Company's Proxy
Statement/Prospectus dated December 28, 2001 contained in the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-74266). The special
resolution was approved by shareholders of the Company as follows:
Votes For Votes Against Abstentions or Broker Non-Votes
3,497,233 16,136 26,524
On February 28, 2002, the Company completed the change in its jurisdiction
of incorporation from Canada to the State of Delaware and changed its name from
Zoom Telephonics, Inc. to Zoom Technologies, Inc.
ITEM 6 - Exhibits and reports on Form 8-K
(a) Exhibits Description Page
10.1 Operating Agreement, Zoom Group LLC dated
as of March 29, 2002. 26-57
10.2 Agreement between Zoom Telephonics, Inc. and
Members of the Zoom Group dated as of March 22,
2002. 58-60
10.3 Reinstatement Agreement, Assignment Agreement
and Second amendment of Purchase and Sale dated
as of March 29, 2002. 61-68
(b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Company during the quarter ending
March 31, 2002.
ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Date: May 14, 2002 By: /s/ Frank B. Manning
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Frank B. Manning, President
Date: May 14, 2002 By: /s/ Robert Crist
-------------------------------------------
Robert Crist, Vice President of Finance
and Chief Financial Officer (Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)