-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, IhBFw8A+J8q4enAXyArGd2RJ4S8GA7K8STjix6oh88DjG5q027fZbyuztADluDwy SDq9N1fzRJvTuKECGPWyNw== 0001104659-07-029661.txt : 20070420 0001104659-07-029661.hdr.sgml : 20070420 20070419215518 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-07-029661 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20060930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20070420 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070419 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ZORAN CORP \DE\ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001003022 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674] IRS NUMBER: 942794449 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-27246 FILM NUMBER: 07777215 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1390 KIFER ROAD CITY: SUNNYVALE STATE: CA ZIP: 94086 BUSINESS PHONE: 4085236500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1390 KIFER ROAD CITY: SUNNYVALE STATE: CA ZIP: 94086 10-Q 1 a07-10184_110q.htm 10-Q

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

x                               QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2006

OR

o                                  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                         to                               

Commission File No. 0-27246

ZORAN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

94-2794449

(State or other jurisdiction

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation or organization)

Identification Number)

 

1390 Kifer Road

Sunnyvale, California 94086

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(408) 523-6500

(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 o  No x

Indicate by check mark whether registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of “accelerated and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  x   Accelerated filer   o   Non accelerated-filer  o

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

As of November 9, 2006, there were outstanding 49,433,780 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share.

 




ZORAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q

INDEX

For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2006

 

Page

 

 

Explanatory Note Regarding Restatements

ii

 

 

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited):

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, as restated

1

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, as restated

2

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, as restated

3

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

4

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

25

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

35

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

38

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

39

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

52

 

 

 

Signatures

 

53

 

 

i




 

EXPLANATORY NOTE REGARDING RESTATEMENTS

In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 we have restated our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended September  30, 2005, and the related disclosures. The restatements reflected in this report include adjustments arising from an independent investigation of Zoran’s historical stock option practices and related accounting for option grants.  For more information on these matters, including a detailed discussion of the effect of the restatement, please refer to Note 2, “Restatement of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

ii




PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited):

ZORAN CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

 

 

September 30,
2006

 

December 31,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

(Restated) (1)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

86,551

 

$

78,856

 

Short-term investments

 

193,709

 

70,490

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

62,969

 

70,174

 

Inventories

 

45,247

 

32,616

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

7,643

 

11,746

 

Total current assets

 

396,119

 

263,882

 

Property and equipment, net

 

14,374

 

16,057

 

Other assets and investments

 

22,763

 

20,799

 

Goodwill

 

178,662

 

182,662

 

Intangible assets, net

 

81,338

 

119,231

 

 

 

$

693,256

 

$

602,631

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

38,224

 

$

38,999

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

52,214

 

54,769

 

Total current liabilities

 

90,438

 

93,768

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

12,282

 

11,939

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 105,000,000 shares authorized at
September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005; 49,403,869 shares issued and
outstanding as of September 30, 2006; and 45,426,912 shares issued and
outstanding as of December 31, 2005

 

49

 

45

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

803,464

 

738,253

 

Deferred stock-based compensation

 

 

(593

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

3,548

 

3,057

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(216,525

)

(243,838

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

590,536

 

496,924

 

 

 

$

693,256

 

$

602,631

 


(1) See Note 2, “Restatement of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

1




ZORAN CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

(Restated)(1)

 

 

 

(Restated)(1)

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hardware product revenues

 

$

115,602

 

$

104,208

 

$

323,007

 

$

244,107

 

Software and other revenues

 

13,777

 

13,276

 

40,755

 

42,340

 

License revenues related to litigation settlement

 

 

 

35,792

 

 

Total revenues

 

129,379

 

117,484

 

399,554

 

286,447

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of hardware product revenues

 

66,810

 

53,909

 

180,815

 

136,220

 

Research and development

 

25,255

 

23,682

 

74,729

 

65,292

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

25,907

 

22,275

 

80,917

 

69,869

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

12,423

 

12,757

 

37,893

 

37,518

 

Amortization of stock-based compensation resulting from business combinations

 

 

344

 

 

1,318

 

In process research and development

 

 

 

 

2,650

 

Total costs and expenses

 

130,395

 

112,967

 

374,354

 

312,867

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

(1,016

)

4,517

 

25,200

 

(26,420

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

3,079

 

646

 

7,539

 

1,726

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (loss), net

 

(281

)

32

 

496

 

(609

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

1,782

 

5,195

 

33,235

 

(25,303

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision of (benefit for) for income taxes

 

(70

)

1,200

 

5,921

 

1,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

1,852

 

$

3,995

 

$

27,314

 

$

(26,503

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net income (loss) per share

 

$

0.04

 

$

0.09

 

$

0.57

 

$

(0.60

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income (loss) per share

 

$

0.04

 

$

0.09

 

$

0.54

 

$

(0.60

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per share

 

49,333

 

44,877

 

48,013

 

43,942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per share

 

50,712

 

46,622

 

50,286

 

43,942

 


(1) See Note 2, “Restatement of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

2




ZORAN CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

(Restated)(1)

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

27,314

 

$

(26,503

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operations:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

7,093

 

7,727

 

Amortization

 

37,930

 

37,588

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

13,729

 

2,835

 

In process research and development

 

 

2,650

 

Changes in current assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

7,205

 

(20,496

)

Inventories

 

(12,631

)

22,915

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets

 

1,216

 

738

 

Accounts payable

 

(775

)

3,238

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities, goodwill and other long term liabilities

 

1,787

 

2,958

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

82,868

 

33,650

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(5,429

)

(6,419

)

Purchases of investments

 

(309,477

)

(15,723

)

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments

 

187,654

 

37,808

 

Acquisition of Oren Semiconductor, Inc. net of cash acquired

 

 

(27,567

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(127,252

)

(11,901

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

52,079

 

5,598

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

52,079

 

5,598

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

7,695

 

27,347

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

78,856

 

37,435

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

86,551

 

$

64,782

 


(1) See Note 2, “Restatement of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

3




ZORAN CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

1.              Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Zoran Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Zoran” or the “Company”) have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  However, certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments considered necessary, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented.  The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year or in any future period.  This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2006, included in the Company’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Revenues

Revenues for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 include $35.8 million in license payments related to the settlement of litigation, net of  withholding tax and amounts paid to holders of rights under certain patents involved in the litigation and amounts payable as legal fees. The license agreements provide for additional cash  royalty payments of up to $30.0 million payable in eleven quarterly installments which are recorded as software and other revenues when actual cash payments are received, net of amounts paid to holders of rights under certain patents involved in the litigation and amounts payable as legal fees. Accordingly, the Company recorded $1.5 million and $2.5 million as software and other revenues during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and as of September 30, 2006, up to $12.8 million in future royalty payments were payable to Zoran under these agreements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 establishes a common definition for fair value to be applied to US GAAP guidance requiring use of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosure about such fair value measurements. This statement is effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. The company is currently evaluating whether the adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In June 2006, the FASB published FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. This Interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. This Interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. This Interpretation is effective for the Company in fiscal years beginning January 1, 2007. The impact of the provisions of this Interpretation on the Company’s retained earnings is expected to be less than $5 million.

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140” (“SFAS No.155”).  SFAS No. 155 permits fair value remeasurement for hybrid financial instruments containing an embedded derivative which otherwise requires bifurcation.  This statement is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued by the Company after January 1, 2007.  The Company anticipates that the adoption of SFAS No. 155 will not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In December 2004, the FASB, issued SFAS No. 123(R),  “Share-Based Payment,” an Amendment of SFAS No. 123 (“SFAS No. 123(R)”).   SFAS No. 123(R) requires the Company to measure all employee stock-based compensation awards using a fair value method and record such expense in its consolidated financial statements.  In March 2005, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107, which provides the Staff’s views regarding interactions between SFAS No. 123(R) and certain SEC rules and regulations and provides interpretations of the valuation of share-based payments for public companies. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R) on a modified prospective

4




basis. As a result, the Company began to include stock-based compensation costs in its results of operations beginning with the quarter ended March 31, 2006.  See Note 3 “Stock-Based Compensation”.

2.                    Restatement of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Independent Investigation

On July 3, 2006, the Company announced that, at the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors had created a special committee of independent directors (“Special Committee”) to conduct a review of our historical stock option practices. As a result of its investigation, the Special Committee found, among other things, that some of the original measurement dates used by the Company for option grants were not adequately supported by contemporaneous records, and therefore the measurement dates used by us for accounting purposes required adjustment. The Special Committee concluded that the evidence did not establish that the errors which it identified resulted from fraud or intentional misconduct by our current senior management.

Based on the Special Committee’s findings and its own review of the facts, the Board of Directors concluded that there was no fraud or intentional misconduct by any current member of senior management.  The Board also concluded that it has confidence in the integrity of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Levy Gerzberg, and the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Karl Schneider.

Based on information obtained from the Special Committee’s review and additional work undertaken by the Company, management has concluded, and the Audit Committee has agreed, that the Company should restate certain previously filed financial statements, to reflect additional stock-based compensation expense with regard to certain past stock option grants. The corrections made in the restatements relate to options covering approximately 3.6 million shares. These adjustments, after tax, amounted to an additional stock-based compensation expense of $60,000 and $686,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 and $420,000 and $1,403,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 respectively. There was no tax impact of these additional expenses due to full valuation allowance on our tax assets.

In connection with the restatement, the Company is recording additional non-cash adjustments that were previously considered to be immaterial relating to the timing of revenue recognition, accrued expenses, amortization of premiums and discounts on investments and the amortization of stock-based compensation relating to a business combination in 2003.  The Company is also recording losses under Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 18 (“APB No. 18”), “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock,” to record the losses on investment of the prior 17% ownership of Oren Semiconductor, Inc. under the equity method of accounting which was subsequently acquired by Zoran in 2005.   These additional adjustments resulted in a cumulative expense of $1.3 million, including $0.2 million of tax expense, for the periods 2000 through 2005.

Through 2005, we applied Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB No. 25”), and its related interpretations, and provided the required pro forma disclosures under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” and SFAS No. 148 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure.” Under APB No. 25, non-cash, stock-based compensation expense was recognized for any option for which the exercise price was below the market price on the actual grant date. Because each of the options identified below (other than those which we have determined should be accounted for variably) was deemed to have an exercise price below the market price on the appropriate measurement date, we should have recognized a charge for each of those options under APB No. 25, in an amount equal to the number of shares covered by such options, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price and the market price on the appropriate measurement date. That expense should have been amortized over the vesting periods of the options. Starting in 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R). As a result, for 2006, the additional stock-based compensation expense required to be recorded for each of the options identified below was equal to the incremental fair value of those options on the appropriate measurement date over the remaining vesting periods of those options.  We did not record such stock-based compensation expenses under APB No. 25 or SFAS No. 123(R) in our previously issued financial statements, and that is the reason for the restatement in this report.  To correct our past accounting for stock options, we recorded additional pre-tax, non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of (a) $11.7 million for the periods 1997 to 2005 under APB No. 25 and (b) $60,000 and $420,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006 under SFAS No.123(R).  The fair value of the options is being recorded using the accelerated amortization method under FIN 28 over the respective vesting periods of the awards.

5




Consistent with the accounting literature and recent guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Company has organized the grants with respect to which an accounting adjustment is required into categories based on grant type and process by which the grant was finalized.  Based on the relevant facts and circumstances, the Company applied the controlling accounting standards to determine the measurement date for every grant within each category. The Company made accounting adjustments as required, resulting in stock-based compensation expense and related tax effects.  The Company organized the grants where adjustments were required as follows:

·                                          Company-wide option grants where optionees were added or grant amounts were changed after the option list was complete, or where insufficient contemporaneous documentation of the grant date exists.  For seven Company-wide refresh and retention grants made between 1998 and 2003, the Company determined that some employees who were omitted from the option grant list were added to the list after the stated grant date, and that the number of shares covered by option grants to some employees was not finally determined until after the stated grant date.  Further, in 2001 and 2002, insufficient contemporaneous documentation of the stated grant date existed.  As a result of these issues, the Company restated its historical financial statements to increase stock-based compensation expense by approximately $6.3 million, recognized over the vesting periods of the relevant options.

·                                          Re-priced options.  In August 2002, after consideration of relevant information, the Compensation Committee rescinded its April 2002 grant, and its June 2002 grant, to executives and other key employees.   The Company thereafter reissued the grants in August 2002.  At the time, in consultation with our external advisors, we determined that these transactions did not require variable accounting.  As a result of the Special Committee review of our historical stock option practices, we have reassessed the circumstances surrounding these transactions with our external advisors, and have determined that the grants should have been accounted for variably.  As a result, the Company restated its historical financial statements to increase stock-based compensation expense by a cumulative net amount of approximately $3.8 million, recognized over the vesting periods of these options.

·                                          Acquisition-related options.  The Company determined a grant given to retain employees hired in connection with an acquisition in October 2000 should have been accounted for variably.  As a result, the Company restated its historical financial statements to increase stock-based compensation expense by approximately $0.3 million, recognized over the vesting periods of these options.

·                                          Improper measurement dates for non-refresh stock option grants.  The Company revised the measurement dates for certain grants made to new hires and for promotional and other miscellaneous non-refresh grants made between 1997 and 2003 as a result of approvals that were obtained subsequent to the stated grant dates or as a result of administrative delays or errors and a small number of stock option grants to non-executives that were determined to have been established retrospectively. As a result, the Company restated its historical financial statements to increase stock-based compensation expense by approximately $1.3 million, recognized over the vesting periods of these options.

In the aggregate, we have recorded additional stock-based compensation expense for the periods 1997 through 2005 of approximately $11.7 million on stock option grants made from 1997 through 2003.

The incremental impact from recognizing stock-based compensation expense resulting from the investigation of past stock option grants is as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

Expense
(Benefit)

 

Fiscal Year

 

 

 

1997

 

$

190

 

1998

 

223

 

1999

 

123

 

2000

 

120

 

2001

 

1,385

 

2002

 

3,182

 

2003

 

5,299

 

Cumulative effect at December 27, 2003

 

10,522

 

2004

 

(1,476

)

2005

 

2,623

 

 

 

$

11,669

 

 

6




The cumulative effect of all of the restatements through December 31, 2003 increased additional paid-in capital by $10.7 million from $703.8 million to $714.5 million, increased accumulated deficit by $9.0 million from $156.4 million to $165.4 million, and decreased total stockholders’ equity by $0.7 million from $534.3 million to $533.6 million. All the restatements of financial statements, financial data and related disclosures described in this report are collectively referred to in this report as the “restatements.”

In December 2006, the Company amended options to purchase approximately 218,000 shares of common stock held by Dr. Gerzberg and Mr. Schneider, to increase the exercise price of those options to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the revised measurement date so that these options are no longer subject to IRC Section 409A.

We have not amended, and we do not intend to amend, any of our other previously filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K.  We have amended our Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2006 concurrent with the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, and we do not intend to amend any of our other previously filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods affected by the restatements.  We presented restated quarterly financial information for each of the quarters in 2006 and 2005 in “Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)” included in this report.

Restatement and Impact on Financial Statements

The income statement impacts of the restatements are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Cumulative
effect at
December
31, 2005

 

Year
Ended
December
31, 2005

 

Year
Ended
December
31, 2004

 

Cumulative
effect at
December
31, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss, as previously reported

 

 

 

$

(26,971

)

$

(47,354

)

 

 

Additional compensation (expense) benefit resulting from improper measurement dates for stock option grants, net of tax

 

$

(11,669

)

(2,623

)

1,476

 

$

(10,522

)

Other adjustments, net of tax

 

(1,374

)

(678

)

(2,230

)

1,534

 

Total increase to net loss

 

(13,043

)

(3,301

)

(754

)

(8,988

)

Net loss, as restated

 

 

 

(30,272

)

(48,108

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

1998

 

1997

 

 

 

 

 

Stock based compensation expense, as previously reported

 

$

(6,281

)

$

(292

)

$

(544

)

$

(99

)

$

 

$

 

$

 

Additional compensation expense resulting from improper measurement dates for stock option grants

 

(5,299

)

(3,182

)

(1,385

)

(120

)

(123

)

(223

)

(190

)

Stock based compensation expense, as restated

 

$

(11,580

)

$

(3,474

)

$

(1,929

)

$

(219

)

$

(123

)

$

(223

)

$

(190

)

 

 

7




In addition, the Company evaluated the impact of the restatements on its global tax provision. The Company and its subsidiaries file tax returns in multiple tax jurisdictions around the world. In certain jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, the United States and Israel, the Company is able to claim a tax deduction relative to stock options. In those jurisdictions, where a tax deduction is claimed, the Company has recorded deferred tax assets relative to the book compensation now recorded on the restated options.  As with our other deferred tax assets, the company recorded a full valuation allowance on all deferred tax assets relating to restated options.  The Company also believes that it should not have taken a United States tax deduction of $0.6 million in prior years for stock option related amounts pertaining to certain executives under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 162(m) which limits the deductibility of compensation above certain thresholds. The deferred tax asset and related valuation allowance have been adjusted accordingly.  The cumulative tax effect of all components of the restatements for 1997 to 2005 is an increase in tax expense of $200,000.

On February 27, 2007, the Company elected to: (i) participate in the Internal Revenue Service remediation program 2007-18 and pay to the IRS, on behalf of affected and eligible employees (not including executive officers), their IRC 409A tax liabilities and penalties; (ii) participate in any similar remediation program that may be offered by any state for applicable state tax liabilities and penalties; (iii) act directly with any state not offering a similar remediation program to address any applicable tax liabilities and penalties on behalf of employees; and (iv) pay to such employees a “gross-up” payment to offset the associated federal and state income tax consequences.   The Company took this action because the vast majority of the holders of stock options issued by the Company that are now subject to re-measurement as a result of the Company’s option investigation were not involved in or aware of the stock option pricing determination.  Employees who exercised such options in 2006, other than executive officers at the time of option grant or entering into this program, will participate in this program.  The Company estimates that the total cash payments needed to deal with the adverse tax consequences of previously exercised discount priced options granted to non-officers will be approximately $0.8 million, which is expected to be recorded in 2007.

In addition, the Company may consider taking action to minimize the adverse tax consequences that may be incurred by the holders of unexercised discount options. Discount-priced stock options vesting after December 31, 2004 (“409A Affected Options”) subject U.S. option holders to a penalty tax under IRC Section 409A (and to similar penalty taxes under California and other state tax laws, as applicable). The Company may consider offering to amend the 409A Affected Options held by persons other than directors and executive officers to increase the exercise prices of those options to the market price of our common stock on the revised measurement date. The amended options would not be subject to taxation under IRC Section 409A. Under IRS regulations, the amendments for non-executives cannot be offered until after this Report is filed and do not need to be completed until December 31, 2007. The Company may also consider approving the payment of bonuses to holders of those amended options to compensate them for the resulting increase in their option exercise price. The amount of these bonuses would be effectively repaid to the Company if and when the options are exercised and the increased exercise price is paid (but there is no assurance that the options will be exercised).  The Company has not estimated the expense of any such bonus payments.

The restatement adjustments did not affect the Company’s previously reported cash and cash equivalents and investments balances. The following presents the effect of the restatement adjustments by financial statement line item for the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2005, and Statements of Operations and Statements of Cash Flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005.

8




CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

 

 

December 31,
2005

 

Adjustments

 

December 31,
2005

 

 

 

(As reported)

 

(Note 1)

 

(As restated)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

78,856

 

$

 

$

78,856

 

Short-term investments

 

70,490

 

 

70,490

 

Accounts receivable, net.

 

70,174

 

 

70,174

 

Inventories

 

32,616

 

 

32,616

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

11,746

 

 

11,746

 

Total current assets

 

263,882

 

 

263,882

 

Property and equipment, net

 

16,057

 

 

16,057

 

Other assets and investments

 

20,799

 

 

20,799

 

Goodwill

 

184,254

 

(1,592

)

182,662

 

Intangible assets, net

 

119,231

 

 

119,231

 

 

 

$

604,223

 

$

(1,592

)

$

602,631

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

38,999

 

$

 

$

38,999

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

53,937

 

832

 

54,769

 

Total current liabilities

 

92,936

 

832

 

93,768

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

11,939

 

 

11,939

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 105,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2005;
45,426,912 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2005

 

45

 

 

45

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

727,597

 

10,656

 

738,253

 

Deferred stock-based compensation

 

(593

)

 

(593

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

3,094

 

(37

)

3,057

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(230,795

)

(13,043

)

(243,838

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

499,348

 

(2,424

)

496,924

 

 

 

$

604,223

 

$

(1,592

)

$

602,631

 

 


(1)           The restated consolidated balance sheet for the fiscal year ended 2005 reflects a $13.0 million increase to accumulated deficit and a $10.7 million increase to additional paid-in capital primarily due to additional stock-based compensation recorded in connection with this restatement to correct prior year stock option-related accounting errors as described above and to reflect the cumulative impact of other adjustments that were previously considered to be immaterial. The $1.6 million decrease to goodwill is the impact of recording losses associated with our investment in Oren Semiconductor under the equity method of accounting and $0.8 million increase to accrued expenses and other liabilities relates to the accrual of royalty obligations that were previously not recorded at December 31, 2005.

 

9

 




CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

Three months Ended
September 30, 2005

 

Nine months Ended
September 30, 2005

 

 

 

As
previously
reported

 

Adjustments
(1)

 

As
restated

 

As
previously
reported

 

Adjustments
(1)

 

As
restated

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hardware product revenues

 

$

104,208

 

$

 

$

104,208

 

$

244,107

 

$

 

$

244,107

 

Software and other revenues

 

13,276

 

 

13,276

 

42,340

 

 

42,340

 

Total revenues

 

117,484

 

 

117,484

 

286,447

 

 

286,447

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of hardware product revenues*

 

53,660

 

249

 

53,909

 

135,860

 

360

 

136,220

 

Research and development*

 

23,469

 

213

 

23,682

 

64,890

 

402

 

65,292

 

Selling, general and administrative*

 

21,817

 

458

 

22,275

 

69,309

 

560

 

69,869

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

12,757

 

 

12,757

 

37,518

 

 

37,518

 

Amortization of stock-based compensation resulting from business combinations

 

344

 

 

344

 

1,318

 

 

1,318

 

In-process research and development

 

 

 

 

2,650

 

 

2,650

 

Total costs and expenses

 

112,047

 

920

 

112,967

 

311,545

 

1,322

 

312,867

 

Operating income (loss)

 

5,437

 

(920

)

4,517

 

(25,098

)

(1,322

)

(26,420

)

Interest income

 

689

 

(43

)

646

 

1,796

 

(70

)

1,726

 

Other income (loss), net

 

32

 

 

32

 

(391

)

(218

)

(609

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

6,158

 

(963

)

5,195

 

(23,693

)

(1,610

)

(25,303

)

Provision for income taxes

 

1,200

 

 

1,200

 

1,200

 

 

1,200

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

4,958

 

$

(963

)

$

3,995

 

$

(24,893

)

$

(1,610

)

$

(26,503

)

Basic net loss per share

 

$

0.11

 

$

(0.02

)

$

0.09

 

$

(0.57

)

$

(0.03

)

$

(0.60

)

Diluted net loss per share

 

$

0.11

 

$

(0.02

)

$

0.09

 

$

(0.57

)

$

(0.03

)

$

(0.60

)

Shares used to compute basic net loss per share

 

44,877

 

 

 

44,877

 

43,942

 

 

 

43,942

 

Shares used to compute diluted loss per share

 

46,622

 

 

 

46,622

 

43,942

 

 

 

43,942

 


* includes the following amounts related to employee equity awards

Cost of hardware product revenues

 

$

 

$

15

 

$

15

 

$

 

$

30

 

$

30

 

Research and development

 

$

 

$

213

 

$

213

 

$

 

$

436

 

$

436

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

$

114

 

$

458

 

$

572

 

$

114

 

$

937

 

$

1,051

 

(1) In addition to restating the consolidated financial statements in response to the Special Committee’s findings, the Company has recorded additional non-cash adjustments that were considered to be immaterial to our previously filed consolidated financial statements relating to the timing of revenue recognition, accrued expenses, amortization of premiums and discounts on investments, additional expense related to options granted to a consultant, and the amortization of stock-based compensation relating to a business combination in 2003.  In addition, the Company is also recording losses under APB Opinion No. 18 (“APB No. 18”), “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock,” to record the losses on investment of the prior 17% ownership of Oren Semiconductor, Inc. under the equity method of accounting which was subsequently acquired by Zoran in 2005.

10

 




CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2005

 

 

 

As
previously
reported

 

Adjustments

 

As
restated

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(24,893

)

$

(1,610

)

$

(26,503

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

7,727

 

 

7,727

 

Amortization

 

37,518

 

70

 

37,588

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

1,432

 

1,403

 

2,835

 

In-process research and development

 

2,650

 

 

 

2,650

 

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable.

 

(20,496

)

 

(20,496

)

Inventory

 

22,915

 

 

22,915

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets

 

650

 

88

 

738

 

Accounts payable

 

3,238

 

 

3,238

 

Accrued expenses and other liabilities, goodwill and other long term liabilities

 

2,909

 

49

 

2,958

 

Net cash provided by operating activities.

 

33,650

 

 

33,650

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(6,419

)

 

(6,419

)

Purchases of investments.

 

(15,723

)

 

(15,723

)

Proceeds from sales and maturities ofinvestments

 

37,808

 

 

37,808

 

Acquisition of Oren Semiconductor, Inc., net of cash acquired

 

(27,567

)

 

(27,567

)

Net cash used in investing activities.

 

(11,901

)

 

(11,901

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

5,598

 

 

5,598

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

5,598

 

 

5,598

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

27,347

 

 

27,347

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

37,435

 

 

37,435

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

64,782

 

$

 

$

64,782

 

 

3.                    Stock-Based Compensation

Effective January 1, 2006, Zoran adopted SFAS 123(R), using the modified prospective application transition method, which establishes accounting for stock-based awards exchanged for employee services.  Accordingly, stock-based compensation cost is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award, over the requisite service period.  The Company previously applied APB

11

 




No. 25 and related interpretations and provided the pro forma disclosures required by SFAS No. 123, “ Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS No. 123”).

Periods Prior to the Adoption of SFAS 123(R)

Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company provided the disclosures required under SFAS No. 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosures.”

The pro forma effect of recognizing compensation expense pursuant to SFAS No. 123 for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005 was as follows (in thousands except per-share amounts):

 

Three Months
Ended
September
30, 2005

 

Nine Months
Ended
September
30, 2005

 

 

 

(Restated)

 

(Restated)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders

 

$

3,995

 

$

(26,503

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add:
Stock-based compensation expense included in loss

 

1,144

 

2,835

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation expense determined under the fair value method

 

(6,172

)

(21,339

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss attributable to common stockholders

 

$

(1,033

)

$

(45,007

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.02

)

$

(1.02

)

Diluted

 

$

(0.02

)

$

(1.02

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share as restated attributable to common stockholders:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.09

 

$

(0.60

)

Diluted

 

$

0.09

 

$

(0.60

)

 

For purposes of this pro forma disclosure, the expense recognized was estimated using the accelerated amortization method under FIN 28 over the respective vesting periods of the awards. Due to the valuation allowance provided on our deferred tax assets, the Company has not recorded any tax benefits attributable to pro forma stock-based compensation.

Impact of Adoption of SFAS No. 123(R)

During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006, the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense for awards granted prior to but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006 as if the fair value method required for pro forma disclosure under SFAS No. 123 were in effect for expense recognition purposes adjusted for estimated forfeitures. For these awards, the Company has continued to recognize compensation expense using the accelerated amortization method. For stock-based awards granted after January 1, 2006, the Company recognized compensation expense based on the grant date fair value required under SFAS No. 123(R). For these awards, the Company recognized compensation expense using a straight-line amortization method. As SFAS No. 123(R) requires that stock-based compensation expense be based on awards that are ultimately expected to vest, estimated stock-based compensation for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 has been reduced for estimated forfeitures.  The adoption of SFAS No. 123(R)

12

 




resulted in a one-time benefit of $314,000 related to unvested awards for which compensation expense had already been recorded.

The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options, employee stock purchases and restricted stock unit grants for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 as recorded in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R) (in thousands):

 

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2006

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2006

 

Cost of hardware product revenues

 

$

129

 

$

420

 

Research and development

 

1,236

 

4,290

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

2,405

 

9,019

 

Total costs and expenses

 

$

3,770

 

$

13,729

 

 

The effect of recording stock-based compensation expense on basic and diluted net income per share was $0.07 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and $0.26 and $0.25 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.

Valuation Assumptions

For purposes of the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 and the requirements of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company estimates the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes valuation model using the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

 

Stock Option Plans

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Average expected term (years)

 

5.7

 

3.8

 

5.7

 

3.9

 

Expected volatility

 

68

%

66

%

71

%

69

%

Risk-free interest rate

 

4.8

%

4.0

%

4.8

%

3.8

%

Dividend yield

 

0

%

0

%

0

%

0

%

 

 

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plans

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Average expected term (years)

 

1.25

 

1.25

 

1.25

 

1.25

 

Expected volatility

 

58

%

45

%

58

%

47

%

Risk-free interest rate

 

2.3

%

3.7

%

2.3

%

3.3

%

Dividend yield

 

0

%

0

%

0

%

0

%

 

Expected Term:  The expected term represents the period that the Company’s stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding and was determined based on the Company’s historical experience with similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms of the stock-based awards and vesting schedules.

Expected Volatility:  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company modified its volatility assumption to use implied volatility for options granted during the quarter.  Previously, the Company used only historical volatility in deriving its volatility assumption.  Management believes that implied volatility appropriately reflects the market’s expectations of future volatility.

Risk-Free Interest Rate:  Management bases its assumptions regarding the risk-free interest rate on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with an equivalent remaining term.

13

 




 

Expected Dividend: The Company has not paid and does not anticipate paying any dividends in the near future.

Estimated Pre-vesting Forfeitures: When estimating forfeitures, the Company considers voluntary termination behavior based on actual historical information.

Stock Option Activity

The following is a summary of stock option activities:

 

Shares Underlying 
Outstanding Options

 

Weighted Average 
Exercise Price

 

Balances, December 31, 2005

 

12,955,585

 

$

16.32

 

Granted

 

361,565

 

$

21.15

 

Exercised

 

(3,653,935

)

$

13.59

 

Canceled

 

(1,452,153

)

$

23.54

 

Balances, September 30, 2006

 

8,211,062

 

$

16.47

 

 

Significant option groups outstanding as of September 30, 2006 and the related weighted average exercise price and contractual life information, are as follows:

 

 

Options Outstanding

 

Options Exercisable

 

Exercise Prices

 

Shares 
Underlying 
Options at
September 30,
2006

 

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual 
Life
(Years)

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Aggregate 
Intrinsic value
 (‘000)

 

Shares 
Underlying 
Options at
September 30,
2006

 

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual 
Life
(Years)

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Aggregate 
Intrinsic
value
 (‘000)

 

$0.00 to $9.99

 

603,285

 

5.21

 

$

6.24

 

$

5,937

 

479,201

 

4.86

 

$

6.39

 

$

4,641

 

$10.00 to $11.99

 

1,378,400

 

7.66

 

$

10.56

 

7,613

 

1,378,400

 

7.66

 

$

10.56

 

7,613

 

$12.00 to $14.99

 

1,640,680

 

6.58

 

$

13.00

 

5,048

 

1,362,710

 

6.11

 

$

12.86

 

4,388

 

$15.00 to $19.99

 

2,384,373

 

7.32

 

$

17.11

 

103

 

1,942,286

 

7.14

 

$

17.11

 

78

 

$20.00 to $25.99

 

1,809,728

 

6.92

 

$

24.04

 

 

1,564,350

 

6.51

 

$

24.21

 

 

$26.00 to $46.53

 

394,596

 

4.04

 

$

28.59

 

 

385,631

 

3.91

 

$

28.61

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

8,211,062

 

6.83

 

$

16.47

 

$

18,701

 

7,112,578

 

6.58

 

$

16.49

 

$

16,720

 

 

The weighted average grant date fair value of options, as determined under SFAS No. 123(R), granted during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $8.82 and $11.48 per share, respectively.

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $16.08 as of September 30, 2006, which would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options as of that date.  The total number of shares of common stock underlying in-the-money options exercisable as of September 30, 2006 was 3.4 million.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $0.4 million and $40.6 million, respectively.  The total cash received from employees as a result of employee stock option exercises during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was approximately $0.5 million and $49.7 million, respectively.  In connection with these exercises, there was no tax benefit realized by the Company due to the Company’s current loss position.

As of September 30, 2006, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options not yet recognized was $12.0 million after estimated forfeitures which are expected to be recognized over an estimated amortization period of four years.

The Company settles employee stock option exercises with newly issued common shares.

14




 Stock Option Plans

As of September 30, 2006, the Company had outstanding options for the purchase of 8.2 million shares of common stock held by employees and directors under the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”), 2005 Outside Directors Equity Plan, 2002 Stock Option Plan, 1995 Outside Directors Stock Option Plan, the 1993 Stock Option Plan and other various plans the Company assumed as a result of acquisitions.  As of September 30, 2006, 3,951,103 shares remained available for future grants and awards. Options and stock appreciation rights granted under the 2005 Plan must have exercise prices per share not less than the fair market value of Zoran common stock on the date of grant and may not be repriced without stockholder approval.  Such awards will vest and become exercisable upon conditions established by the Compensation Committee and may not have a term exceeding 10 years.

 Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units

Restricted shares and restricted stock units are granted under the 2005 Plan. On January 6, 2006, the Company filed a Tender Offer Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and commenced an offer to current employees to exchange outstanding options with exercise prices per share that were more than the greater of $20.00 and the closing sale price of Zoran common stock on the offer expiration date of February 6, 2006.  The exchange offer was approved by Zoran’s stockholders at their 2005 annual meeting. On February 6, 2006, the Company accepted for exchange options to purchase an aggregate of 1,060,536 shares of Zoran common stock having an exercise price greater than $22.48. Subject to the terms and conditions of the exchange, the Company granted 197,433 restricted shares of common stock or restricted stock units in exchange for the tendered options.  The shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units granted as part of this exchange vest over a period of two years.  None of the directors or executive officers was eligible for participation in the exchange offer.  This exchange was accounted as a modification under SFAS No. 123(R).  As of September 30, 2006, there was $0.4 million of total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to restricted shares and restricted stock units. This cost is expected to be recognized over the vesting period of two to four years.

The following is a summary of restricted shares and restricted stock units activities:

 

 

Outstanding 
restricted shares 
and stock units

 

Weighted-
average grant- 
date fair value

 

Balances, December 31, 2005

 

65,333

 

$

13.59

 

Granted

 

197,433

 

$

21.56

 

Released

 

(64,986

)

$

19.56

 

Forfeited

 

(7,085

)

$

21.56

 

Balances, September 30, 2006

 

190,695

 

$

19.50

 

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company’s 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) was adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors in October 1995, and approved by its stockholders in December 1995.  The ESPP enables employees to purchase shares through payroll deductions at approximately 85% of the lesser of the fair value of common stock at the beginning of a 24-month offering period or the end of each six-month segment within such offering period.  The ESPP is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.  There were no purchases during the quarter ended September 30, 2006.  As of September 30, 2006, 2,311,447 shares were reserved and available for issuance under this plan.

3.              Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table presents the calculation of comprehensive income (loss) as required by SFAS 130 (“Reporting Comprehensive Income”).  The components of comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, are as follows (in thousands):

15




 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

(restated)

 

 

 

(restated)

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

1,852

 

$

3,995

 

$

27,314

 

$

(26,503

)

Change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net

 

1,060

 

217

 

491

 

1,794

 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

2,912

 

$

4,212

 

$

27,805

 

$

(24,709

)

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities.

4.              Short-term investments

The Company’s portfolio of short-term investments at September 30, 2006 was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Cost

 

Unrealized
Gains

 


Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

Corporate debt

 

$

88,160

 

$

16

 

$

(203

)

$

87,973

 

U.S. government securities

 

40,265

 

20

 

(72

)

40,213

 

Auction rate securities

 

47,100

 

 

 

47,100

 

Foreign bonds

 

10,016

 

1

 

(6

)

10,011

 

Municipal debt

 

3,000

 

 

 

3,000

 

Total fixed income securities

 

188,541

 

37

 

(281

)

188,297

 

Publicly traded equity securities

 

1,619

 

3,793

 

 

5,412

 

Total

 

$

190,160

 

$

3,830

 

$

(281

)

$

193,709

 

 

The Company’s portfolio of marketable securities at December 31, 2005 was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Cost

 


Unrealized
Gains

 


Unrealized
Losses

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

Corporate debt

 

$

26,211

 

$

 

$

(151

)

$

26,060

 

U.S. government securities

 

20,000

 

 

(151

)

19,849

 

Auction rate securities

 

15,125

 

 

 

15,125

 

Foreign bonds

 

4,474

 

 

(6

)

4,468

 

Total fixed income securities

 

65,810

 

 

(308

)

65,502

 

Publicly traded equity securities

 

1,623

 

3,365

 

 

4,988

 

Total

 

$

67,433

 

$

3,365

 

$

(308

)

$

70,490

 

 

The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of the Company’s fixed income securities at September 30, 2006 (in thousands):

 

 


Cost

 

Estimated
Fair
Value

 

Less than 1 year

 

$

85,409

 

$

85,239

 

Due in 1 to 2 years

 

38,126

 

38,096

 

Due in 2 to 5 years

 

17,906

 

17,862

 

Greater than 5 years*

 

47,100

 

47,100

 

Total fixed income securities

 

$

188,541

 

$

188,297

 


*Comprised of auction rate securities which have reset dates of 90 days or less but final expiration dates over 5 years.

 

16




5.   Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first in, first out) or market and consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Purchased parts and work in process

 

$

21,642

 

$

14,904

 

Finished goods

 

23,605

 

17,712

 

 

 

$

45,247

 

$

32,616

 

 

6.   Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

In accordance with SFAS 142, goodwill is not amortized.  The Company monitors the recoverability of goodwill recorded in connection with acquisitions, by reporting unit, annually, or sooner if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.  The Company performed the annual analysis as of September 30, 2006 and concluded that goodwill was not impaired, as the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value, including goodwill.

Components of Acquired Intangible Assets (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2006

 

December 31, 2005 (restated)

 

 

 

Life
(Years)

 

Gross
Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Net
Balance

 

Gross
Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Net
Balance

 

Amortized intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased technology

 

2-3

 

$

195,505

 

$

(133,612

)

$

61,893

 

$

195,505

 

$

(105,088

)

$

90,417

 

Patents

 

3-5

 

40,265

 

(27,120

)

13,145

 

40,265

 

(19,978

)

20,287

 

Customer base

 

3-5

 

13,860

 

(8,968

)

4,892

 

13,860

 

(7,123

)

6,737

 

Tradename and others

 

3-5

 

3,350

 

(1,942

)

1,408

 

3,350

 

(1,560

)

1,790

 

Total

 

 

 

$

252,980

 

$

(171,642

)

$

81,338

 

$

252,980

 

$

(133,749

)

$

119,231

 

 

Estimated future intangible amortization expense, based on current balances, as of September 30, 2006 is as follows (in thousands):

 

Remaining three months of 2006

 

$

12,169

 

Year ending December 31, 2007

 

43,224

 

Year ending December 31, 2008

 

23,315

 

Year ending December 31, 2009

 

1,820

 

Year ending December 31, 2010

 

810

 

 

 

$

81,338

 

 

Goodwill by reporting units was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

(restated)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer

 

$

173,023

 

$

176,623

 

Imaging

 

5,639

 

6,039

 

 

 

$

178,662

 

$

182,662

 

17




7.    Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes reflects the effective tax rate applied to earnings, excluding charges for amortization of intangible assets for the interim periods and a one-time charge of $4.3 million relating to the MediaTek settlement.  In addition, the Company recognized a benefit of $0.7 million related to the closure of a domestic income tax audit and a benefit of $1.4 million related to the expiration of the statute of limitations on a previously accrued domestic reserve.  The effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate due to utilization of previously unbenefitted operating losses and State of Israel tax benefits on foreign earnings.  The provision is due primarily to domestic income offset by previously unbenefitted purchased NOLs which when utilized reduce goodwill and not tax expense

8.   Segment Reporting

SFAS No. 131 establishes standards for the reporting by public business enterprises of information about operating segments, products and services, geographic areas, and major customers.  The method for determining what information to report is based on the manner in which management organizes the operating segments within the Company for making operational decisions and assessments of financial performance.  The Company’s chief operating decision-maker is considered to be the Chief Executive Officer.

The Company’s products are based on highly integrated application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs, and system-on-a-chip, or SOC, solutions.  The Company also licenses certain software and other intellectual property.  During the first quarter of 2006, the Company reorganized its operating structure to bring together its consumer electronic product lines under a single operating group, in recognition of the accelerating convergence of consumer products and the Company’s strategy of sharing technology among its various product lines.  The new Consumer group combines the former Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), Digital Television (DTV) and Mobile product groups whose operations were previously reported separately.  The Company will continue to report the operations of its Imaging group as a separate operating segment.

The Consumer group provides products for use in DVD players, recordable DVD players, standard and high definition digital television products, digital camera products and multimedia mobile phone products.  The Imaging group provides products used in digital copiers, laser and inkjet printers as well as multifunction peripherals.

The chief operating decision maker allocates resources to and evaluates operating segment performance based on net revenues and operating expenses of these segments.  The accounting policies of the operating segments are the same as those described in the summary of accounting policies.  No reportable segments have been aggregated.

18




Information about reported segment income or loss is as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

(restated)

 

 

 

(restated)

 

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer

 

$

109,681

 

$

95,825

 

$

342,997

 

$

220,911

 

Imaging

 

19,698

 

21,659

 

56,557

 

65,536

 

 

 

$

129,379

 

$

117,484

 

$

399,554

 

$

286,447

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer

 

$

102,806

 

$

85,690

 

$

289,781

 

$

226,300

 

Imaging

 

15,166

 

14,176

 

46,680

 

45,081

 

 

 

$

117,972

 

$

99,866

 

$

336,461

 

$

271,381

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contribution margin:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer

 

$

6,875

 

$

10,135

 

$

53,216

 

$

(5,389

)

Imaging

 

4,532

 

7,483

 

9,877

 

20,455

 

 

 

$

11,407

 

$

17,618

 

$

63,093

 

$

15,066

 

 

A reconciliation of the totals reported for the operating segments to the applicable line items in the consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
 September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

(restated)

 

 

 

(restated)

 

Contribution margin from operating segments

 

$

11,407

 

$

17,618

 

$

63,093

 

$

15,066

 

Amortization of intangibles

 

12,423

 

12,757

 

37,893

 

37,518

 

Amortization of stock compensation resulting from business combinations

 

 

344

 

 

1,318

 

In process research and development

 

 

 

 

2,650

 

Total operating income (loss)

 

$

(1,016

)

$

4,517

 

$

25,200

 

$

(26,420

)

 

Zoran maintains operations in Canada, China, Germany, Israel, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom and the United States.  Activities in Israel and the United States consist of corporate administration, product development, logistics and worldwide sales management.  Other foreign operations consist of sales, product development and technical support.

19




The geographic distribution of total revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
 September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Revenue from unaffiliated customers originating from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

China

 

$

49,728

 

$

46,330

 

$

136,281

 

$

114,879

 

Japan

 

29,544

 

31,415

 

84,539

 

83,128

 

Korea

 

7,369

 

7,267

 

22,687

 

15,611

 

Taiwan

 

21,809

 

19,519

 

103,897

 

34,851

 

United States

 

10,103

 

5,598

 

28,298

 

17,978

 

North America (excluding United States)

 

26

 

63

 

64

 

1,175

 

Other

 

10,800

 

7,292

 

23,788

 

18,825

 

Total revenues

 

$

129,379

 

$

117,484

 

$

399,554

 

$

286,447

 

 

For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006, one customer accounted for 14% and 11% of total revenues, respectively.  For the same periods of 2005, no customer accounted for more than 10% of total revenues.

As of September 30, 2006, three customers accounted for approximately 14%, 11% and 11% of total net accounts receivable, respectively and as of December 31, 2005 one customer accounted for approximately 14% of the net accounts receivable balance.

 9.  Employee Benefit Plans

Under Israeli law, the Company is required to make severance payments to its retired or dismissed Israeli employees and Israeli employees leaving its employment in certain other circumstances. The Company’s severance pay liability to its Israeli employees, which is calculated based on the salary of each employee multiplied by the years of such employee’s employment, is reflected in the Company’s balance sheet in other long-term liabilities on an accrual basis, and is partially funded by the purchase of insurance policies in the name of the employees. The surrender value of the insurance policies is recorded in other non-current assets. The severance pay expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $367,000 and $922,000 respectively.  The severance pay expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 were $63,000 and $125,000 respectively.

10.  Acquisition

Oren Semiconductor, Inc.

On June 10, 2005, Zoran completed the acquisition of Oren Semiconductor, Inc. (“Oren”), a privately-held provider of demodulator ICs for the global high definition television market.  Prior to this acquisition, Zoran had made investments in Oren that represented a 17% ownership interest with a net book value of $3.4 million at the time of acquisition.  Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, Zoran acquired the remaining 83% of Oren’s outstanding stock by means of a merger of Oren with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zoran, in consideration for which Zoran paid an aggregate of $28.4 million in cash and issued 1,188,061 shares of Zoran common stock valued at $12.9 million, for total consideration of $41.3 million, to the other stockholders of Oren and to employees holding Oren options.  As part of the restatement, the Company considered the requirements under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 18 (“APB No. 18”), “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock,” to record the gains or losses on investment of the prior 17% ownership under the equity method of accounting.  Based on the Company’s analysis, the prior financial results of the Company were restated to record the loss on investment.

The primary purpose of the acquisition was to obtain Oren’s demodulator IC technology for the global high definition television market.  This technology was combined with Zoran’s digital television technology to deliver a complete and cost-effective system solution for digital television makers. As of September 30, 2006, there have been no material variations from the underlying assumptions that were used in the original computation of the value of the acquired entity.

The transaction was accounted for under SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” using the purchase method of accounting.  The Company incurred approximately $375,000 for acquisition-related expenses consisting of financial advisory, legal and other consulting services.  The Company completed a valuation analysis and purchase price allocation. The results of operations of Oren have been included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. The acquisition resulted in goodwill of approximately

20




$33.9 million. In accordance with SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, goodwill will not be amortized and will be tested for impairment at least annually.  The Company does not expect goodwill to be deductible for tax purposes.

Allocation of the purchase price is as follows (restated) (in thousands):

Net liabilities acquired

 

$

(941

)

In process research and development

 

2,650

 

Intangible assets

 

9,100

 

Goodwill

 

33,897

 

 

 

$

44,706

 

 

Tangible assets were valued at estimates of their current fair values.  The purchase price exceeded the net assets acquired resulting in the recognition of goodwill and other intangible assets.  The amounts allocated to intangible assets include purchased technology totaling $7.0 million, trade name and other intangible assets totaling $1.25 million and customer base totaling $850,000 which are being amortized over their estimated useful lives of five years.

Approximately $2.7 million of the purchase price was allocated to in-process research and development which had not yet reached technological feasibility and had no alternative future use.  Accordingly, this amount was immediately expensed upon the acquisition date.  This amount was determined using management’s estimates including consultation with an independent appraiser.  The value of the in-process research and development was determined using a discounted cash flow method and factors including projected financial results, relative risk of successful development, time-value of money and level of completion.

Pro Forma Financial Information

The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents the combined results of operations of Zoran and Oren as if the acquisition had occurred as of the beginning of the period presented, after giving effect to certain adjustments, including amortization of intangibles. The unaudited pro forma financial information does not necessarily reflect the results of operations that would have occurred had the combined companies constituted a single entity during such periods, and is not necessarily indicative of results which may be obtained in the future.

 

 

Year Ended
December 31,

 

 

 

2005

 

 

 

(restated)

 

 

 

 

 

In thousands except for per share data:

 

 

 

Pro forma revenues

 

$

396,737

 

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss

 

$

(33,024

)

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share:

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(0.75

)

 

 

 

Diluted

 

$

(0.75

)

 

11.   Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic net income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted net income per share is calculated by using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the dilutive potential shares of common stock had been issued.  The dilutive effect of outstanding options and restricted stock for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 is reflected in diluted net income per share by application of the treasury stock method, which includes consideration of stock-based compensation required by SFAS No. 123(R).

 

21




The following table provides a reconciliation of the components of the basic and diluted net income (loss) per share computations (in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

(restated)

 

 

 

(restated)

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

1,852

 

$

3,995

 

$

27,314

 

$

(26,503

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

49,333

 

44,877

 

48,013

 

43,942

 

Effect of dilutive options, ESPP and restricted stock units

 

1,379

 

1,745

 

2,273

 

 

Dilutive weighted average shares

 

50,712

 

46,622

 

50,286

 

43,942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share: (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.04

 

$

0.09

 

$

0.57

 

$

(0.60

)

Diluted

 

$

0,04

 

$

0.09

 

$

0.54

 

$

(0.60

)


(1)    Net income for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 includes $4.0 million and $13.5 million, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense.  The effect of recording stock-based compensation expense on basic and diluted net income per share was $0.08 per share for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and $0.28 and $0.27 per share, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.

Options to purchase 4,475,000 and 7,412,000 shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, as these shares would have had an anti-dilutive effect.

Options to purchase 2,571,000 shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as these shares would have had an anti-dilutive effect.

Options to purchase 10,025,000 shares and 65,000 restricted stock units were excluded from the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 as these shares would have had an anti-dilutive effect

12.          Legal Proceedings

U.S. Attorney and SEC Investigations:  On July 3, 2006, Zoran disclosed in a press release that it received a grand jury subpoena from the office of the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California requesting documents from 1995 through the present referring to, relating to or involving stock options, and also received an informal inquiry from the SEC requesting documents related to Zoran’s stock option grants.  Zoran intends to cooperate fully in all government investigations.  These inquiries likely will require the Company to expend significant management time and incur significant legal and other expenses, and could result in civil and criminal actions seeking, among other things, injunctions against the Company and its officers and directors and the payment of significant fines and penalties by the Company and its officers and directors, which may adversely affect its results of operations and cash flow.  The Company cannot predict how long it will take to or how much more time and resources it will have to expend to resolve these government inquiries, nor can it predict the outcome of these inquiries. Also, there can be no assurance that other inquiries, investigations or actions will not be started by other United States federal or state regulatory agencies or by foreign governmental agencies.

Late SEC Filings and Nasdaq Delisting Proceedings Due to the Special Committee investigation and the resulting restatements, the Company did not file on time its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2006 and September 30, 2006 or its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. As a result, the Company received Nasdaq Staff Determination letters dated August 14, 2006, November 15, 2006, and March 20, 2007 stating that the Company  was not in compliance with the filing requirements of Marketplace Rule 4310(c)(14) and, therefore, that the Company’s stock was subject to delisting from the Nasdaq Global Select Market.  A hearing before a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel was held on September 27, 2006 and a decision to grant the Company’s request for continued listing on Nasdaq subject to certain conditions

22




occurred on December 28, 2006.  The Company has appealed this decision, and the Nasdaq Listing Council has determined to stay the December 28, 2006 Panel decision, and any future Panel determinations to suspend Zoran’s securities from trading, pending further action from the Listing Council.  On March 2, 2007, the Company provided the Listing Council with an additional submission for its consideration regarding continued listing.  The Listing Council will review the matter on the basis of the written record.

Shareholder Class Actions and Derivative Litigation Relating to Historical Stock Option Practices: As discussed further below, certain persons and entities identifying themselves as shareholders of Zoran have filed class action complaints against the Company and derivative actions purporting to assert claims on behalf of and in the name of the Company against various of the Company’s current and former directors and officers relating to its historical accounting for stock options.

Zucker v. Zoran Corporation, et al..  On August 10, 2006, a securities class action complaint was filed against Zoran and certain of its officers and directors in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, alleging violations of federal securities laws.  The Court selected Middlesex Pension Fund as lead plaintiff and approved lead plaintiff’s selection of counsel for the class.  Plaintiff filed an amended complaint on February 1, 2007 and a second amended complaint on February 20, 2007.  On March 8, 2007, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss.  On March 20, 2007, lead plaintiff filed a notice voluntarily dismissing the action with prejudice as to the lead plaintiff.

NCEA-IBEW Pension Fund (The Decatur Plan) v. Galil, et al.  On June 12, 2006, a purported shareholder derivative action was filed by the Decatur Plan against Zoran as a nominal defendant and certain of its  officers and directors in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, alleging, inter alia, violations of federal and state securities laws and breaches of fiduciary duty.  On December 4, 2006, Decatur Plan filed a notice of voluntary dismissal.

Pfeiffer v. Zoran Corporation et al.  On September 7, 2006, a purported shareholder derivative action was filed by Milton Pfeiffer against Zoran as a nominal defendant and certain of its officers and directors in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, alleging, inter alia, violations of federal securities laws and breaches of fiduciary duties.

Gerald del Rosario v. Aharon et al.  On September 26, 2006, a purported shareholder derivative action was filed by Gerald del Rosario against Zoran as a nominal defendant and certain of its current and former officers and directors in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, alleging, inter alia, violations of federal securities laws and breaches of fiduciary duty.  On December 8, 2006, the Court issued an order consolidating the Del Rosario action with the Pfeiffer action.  The Court selected del Rosario as lead plaintiff and approved lead plaintiff’s selection of counsel for the consolidated derivative action.  Plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint on March 14, 2007.

Barone v. Gerzberg et al.; Durco v. Gerzberg et al.  On October 23, 2006, two purported shareholder derivative actions were filed by Moshe Barone and John Durco against Zoran as a nominal defendant and certain of its current and former officers and directors in the California Superior Court of Santa Clara County, alleging, inter alia, violations of state securities laws and breaches of fiduciary duty.  On January 24, 2007 the Court consolidated the Barone and Durco actions, appointed Messrs. Barone and Durco as co-lead plaintiffs and approved their selection of counsel for the consolidated derivative action.  Co-Lead Plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint on March 26, 2007.

On February 20, 2007, the Company filed a complaint against ArcSoft Inc. in the California Superior Court for the County of Alameda, seeking, payment of $4 million in principal, together with accrued interest then in the amount of approximately $525,000, under four separate convertible promissory notes.  On February 28, 2007, the Company filed an application with the Court seeking to attach assets of ArcSoft as security for the payment of its obligations under the notes.  The notes represent amounts loaned by the Company to ArcSoft in 2004 in connection with a transaction involving the transfer to ArcSoft of rights related to a software product then under development and related agreements regarding the continued development and commercialization of the product.  On March 28, 2007, ArcSoft filed an answer denying liability under the notes and asserting various affirmative defenses.  ArcSoft also filed a cross complaint alleging fraud in the inducement of the business arrangement, fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract and of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and unjust enrichment and seeking monetary damages of more than $6.9 million.  The hearing on our application for an attachment is currently scheduled for May 14, 2007.

Indemnification Obligations. Subject to certain limitations, the Company is obligated to indemnify its current and former directors, officers and employees in connection with the investigation of the Company’s historical stock option practices and related government inquiries and litigation. These obligations arise under the terms of the Company’s certificate of incorporation, its bylaws, applicable contracts, and Delaware and California law. The obligation to indemnify generally means that the Company is required to pay or reimburse the individuals’ reasonable legal expenses and possibly damages and other liabilities incurred in connection with these matters. The Company is currently paying or reimbursing legal expenses being incurred in connection with these matters by a number of its current and former directors, officers and employees.

Other Legal Matters. The Company is named from time to time as a party to lawsuits in the normal course of its business. Litigation, in general, and intellectual property and securities litigation in particular, can be expensive and disruptive to normal business operations. Moreover, the results of legal proceedings are difficult to predict.

23




13.                Subsequent Events

On February 27, 2007, the Company elected to: (i) participate in the Internal Revenue Service remediation program 2007-18 and pay to the IRS, on behalf of affected and eligible employees (not including executive officers), their IRC 409A tax liabilities and penalties; (ii) participate in any similar remediation program that may be offered by any state for applicable state tax liabilities and penalties; (iii), act directly with any state not offering a similar remediation program to address any applicable tax liabilities and penalties on behalf of employees; and (iv) pay to such employees a “gross-up” payment to offset the associated federal and state income tax consequences.   The Company took this action because the vast majority of the holders of stock options issued by the Company that are now subject to re-measurement as a result of the Company’s option investigation were not involved in or aware of the stock option pricing determination.  Employees who exercised such options in 2006, other than executive officers at the time of option grant or entering into this program, will participate in this program.  The Company estimates that the total cash payments needed to deal with the adverse tax consequences of previously exercised discount priced options granted to non-officers will be approximately $0.8 million, which is expected to be recorded in 2007.

In addition, the Company may consider taking action to minimize the adverse tax consequences that may be incurred by the holders of unexercised discount options. Discount-priced stock options vesting after December 31, 2004 (“409A Affected Options”) subject U.S. option holders to a penalty tax under IRC Section 409A (and to similar penalty taxes under California and other state tax laws, as applicable). The Company may consider offering to amend the 409A Affected Options held by persons other than directors and executive officers to increase the exercise prices of those options to the market price of our common stock on the revised measurement date. The amended options would not be subject to taxation under IRC Section 409A. Under IRS regulations, the amendments for non-executives cannot be offered until after this Report is filed and do not need to be completed until December 31, 2007. The Company may also consider approving the payment of bonuses to holders of those amended options to compensate them for the resulting increase in their option exercise price. The amount of these bonuses would be effectively repaid to the Company if and when the options are exercised and the increased exercise price is paid (but there is no assurance that the options will be exercised).  The Company has not estimated the expense of any such bonus payments.

Two executive officer option holders were subject to a December 31, 2006 deadline to accomplish any amendment of 409A Affected Options in accordance with IRS guidelines. Accordingly, in December 2006, the Company amended the 409A Affected Options held by Dr. Gerzberg and Mr. Schneider to increase the exercise price of those options to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the revised measurement date so that these options are no longer subject to a penalty tax under IRC Section 409A.

24




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

This report includes a number of forward-looking statements which reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors” below. In this report, the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “future” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

The following information has been adjusted to reflect the restatement of the Company’s financial results, which is more fully described in the “Explanatory Note” immediately preceding Part I, Item 1 and in Note 2, “Restatement of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Restatements

On July 3, 2006, the Company announced that, at the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors had created a special committee of independent directors (“Special Committee”) to conduct a review of our historical stock option practices. As a result of its investigation, the Special Committee found, among other things, that some of the original measurement dates used by the Company for option grants were not adequately supported by contemporaneous records, and therefore the measurement dates used by us for accounting purposes required adjustment. The Special Committee concluded that the evidence did not establish that the errors which it identified resulted from fraud or intentional misconduct by our current senior management.

Based on the Special Committee’s findings and its own review of the facts, the Board of Directors concluded that there was no fraud or intentional misconduct by any current member of senior management.  The Board also concluded that it has confidence in the integrity of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Levy Gerzberg, and the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Karl Schneider.

Based on information obtained from the Special Committee’s review and additional work undertaken by the Company, management has concluded, and the Audit Committee has agreed, that the Company should restate certain previously filed financial statements, to reflect additional stock-based compensation expense with regard to certain past stock option grants. The corrections made in the restatements relate to options covering approximately 3.6 million shares. These adjustments, after tax, amounted to an additional stock-based compensation expense of $60,000 and $686,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 and $420,000 and $1,404,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 respectively. There was no tax impact of these additional stock-based compensation expenses due to the full valuation allowance on our tax assets.

In connection with the restatement, the Company is recording additional non-cash adjustments that were previously considered to be immaterial relating to the timing of revenue recognition, accrued expenses, amortization of premiums and discounts on investments, additional expense related to options granted to a consultant, and the amortization of stock-based compensation relating to a business combination in 2003.  The Company is also recording losses under Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 18 (“APB No. 18”), “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock,” to record the losses on investment of the prior 17% ownership of Oren Semiconductor, Inc. under the equity method of accounting which was subsequently acquired by Zoran in 2005.   These additional adjustments resulted in a cumulative expense of $1.3 million, including $0.2 million of tax expense, for the periods 2000 through 2005.

Through 2005, we applied APB No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and its related interpretations, and provided the required pro forma disclosures under (“APB No. 25”) of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” and SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure.”  Under APB No. 25, non-cash, stock-based compensation expense was recognized for any option for which the exercise price was below the market price of our common stock on the actual grant date. Because each of the options identified below (other than those which we have determined should be accounted for variably) was deemed to have an exercise price below the market price on the appropriate measurement date, we should have recognized a charge for each of those options under APB No. 25, in an amount equal to the number of shares covered by such options, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price and the market price on the appropriate measurement date. That expense should have been amortized over the vesting periods of the options. Starting in 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment.” As a result, for 2006, the additional stock-based compensation expense required to be recorded for each of the options identified below was equal to the incremental fair value of those options on the appropriate measurement date over the remaining vesting periods of those options.  We did not record such stock-based compensation expenses under APB No. 25 or SFAS No. 123(R) in our previously issued financial statements, and that is the reason for the restatement in this report.  To correct our past accounting for stock options, we recorded additional pre-tax, non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of (a) $11.7 million for the periods 1997 to 2005 under APB No. 25 and (b) $60,000 and $420,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006 under SFAS No. 123(R).  The fair value of the options is being recorded using the accelerated amortization method under FIN 28 over the respective vesting periods of the awards.

Consistent with the accounting literature and recent guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Company has organized the grants with respect to which an accounting adjustment is required into categories based on grant type and process by which the grant was finalized.  Based on the relevant facts and circumstances, the Company applied the relevant accounting standards to determine the measurement date for every grant within each category. The Company recorded accounting adjustments as required, resulting in stock-based compensation expense and related tax effects.  The Company organized the grants where adjustments were required as follows:

·                                          Company-wide option grants where optionees were added or grant amounts were changed after the option list was complete, or where insufficient contemporaneous documentation of the grant date exists.  For seven Company-wide refresh and retention grants made between 1998 and 2003, the Company determined that some employees who were omitted from the option grant list were added to the list after the stated grant date, and that the number of shares covered by option grants to some employees was not finally determined until after the stated grant date.  Further, in 2001 and

25




2002, insufficient contemporaneous documentation of the stated grant date existed.  As a result of these issues, the Company restated its historical financial statements to increase stock-based compensation expense by approximately $6.3 million, recognized over the vesting periods of the relevant options.

·                                          Re-priced options. In August 2002, after consideration of relevant information, the Compensation Committee rescinded its April 2002 grant, and its June 2002 grant, to executives and other key employees.  The Company thereafter reissued the grants in August 2002.  At the time, in consultation with our external advisors, we determined that these transactions did not require variable accounting.  As a result of the Special Committee review of our historical option practices, we have reassessed the circumstances surrounding these transactions with our external advisors and have determined that the grants should have been accounted for variably.  As a result, the Company restated its historical financial statements to increase stock-based compensation expense by a cumulative net amount of approximately $3.8 million, recognized over the vesting periods of these options.

·                                          Acquisition-related options.  The Company determined a grant given to retain employees hired in connection with an acquisition in October 2000 should have been accounted for variably.  As a result, the Company restated its historical financial statements to increase stock-based compensation expense by approximately $267,000, recognized over the vesting periods of these options.

·                                          Improper measurement dates for non-refresh stock option grants.  The Company revised the measurement dates for certain grants made to new hires and for promotional and other miscellaneous non-refresh grants made between 1997 and 2003 as a result of approvals that were obtained subsequent to the stated grant dates or as a result of administrative delays or errors and a small number of stock option grants to non-executives that were determined to have been established retrospectively. As a result, the Company restated its historical financial statements to increase stock-based compensation expense by approximately $1.3 million, recognized over the vesting periods of these options.

In the aggregate, we have recorded additional stock-based compensation expense for the periods 1997 through 2005 of approximately $11.7 million on stock option grants made from 1997 through 2003.

The incremental impact from recognizing stock-based compensation expense resulting from the investigation of past stock option grants is as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

 

Expense
(Benefit)

 

Fiscal Year

 

 

 

1997

 

$

190

 

1998

 

223

 

1999

 

123

 

2000

 

120

 

2001

 

1,385

 

2002

 

3,182

 

2003

 

5,299

 

Cumulative effect at December 21, 2003

 

10,522

 

2004

 

(1,476

)

2005

 

2,623

 

 

 

$

11,669

 

 

The cumulative effect of all of the restatements up through December 31, 2003 increased additional paid-in capital by $10.7 million from $703.8 million to $714.5 million, increased accumulated deficit by $9.0 million from $156.4 million to $165.4 million, and decreased total stockholders’ equity by $0.7 million from $534.3 million to $533.6 million. All the restatements of financial statements, financial data and related disclosures described in this report are collectively referred to in this report as the “restatements.”

26




In December 2006, the Company amended options to purchase approximately 218,000 shares of common stock held by Dr. Gerzberg and Mr. Schneider, to increase the exercise price of those options to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the revised measurement date so that these options are no longer subject to IRC Section 409A.

We have not amended, and we do not intend to amend, any of our other previously filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K.  We have amended our Quarterly Report for the period ended March 31, 2006 concurrent with the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, and we do not intend to amend, any of our other previously filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods affected by the restatements.  We presented restated quarterly financial information for each of the quarters in 2006 and 2005 in “Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2006.

The impact of the restatements is disclosed in Note 2, “Restatement of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The restatements did not have a material impact on our analysis of results of operations, financial position and changes in financial position included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our previously filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, we have not updated those discussions and analyses.

Internal Controls

Based on the definition of “material weakness” in the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s Auditing Standard No. 2, An Audit of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Performed in Conjunction With an Audit of Financial Statements, the restatement of financial statements in prior filings with the SEC is a strong indicator of the existence of a “material weakness” in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting. However, the Company has concluded that the control deficiencies that resulted in the restatement of the previously issued consolidated financial statements did not constitute a material weakness as of September 30, 2006 because management determined that as of September 30, 2006 the Company’s internal controls were effective.

For a more complete discussion of remedial measures and our controls and procedures, please refer to Item 4 — Controls and Procedures.

The SEC may disagree with the manner in which we have accounted for and reported, or not reported, the financial impact of past option grant measurement date errors, and there is a risk that its inquiry could lead to circumstances in which we may have to further restate our prior financial statements, amend prior filings with the SEC, or otherwise take other actions not currently contemplated. In addition, the SEC may issue guidance on disclosure requirements related to the financial impact of past option grant measurement date errors that may require us to amend this filing or prior filings with the SEC to provide additional disclosures pursuant to this guidance. Any such circumstance could also lead to future delays in filing our subsequent SEC reports and delisting of our common stock from the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

As a result of the investigation of its historical option practices, we analyzed Zoran’s internal control over financial reporting for periods before January 1, 2003, and determined that the Company did not have sufficient safeguards in place to monitor its control practices regarding stock option pricing and related financial reporting and to foster an effective flow of information between those responsible for stock option pricing and those responsible for financial reporting. Inadequate training, communication and coordination in and among the Company’s human resources, stock administration, legal and finance functions prevented the Company from assuring that stock options were priced and accounted for correctly, primarily for the years 1997 through 2002.

From 2003 through 2005, in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and evolving accounting guidance, the Company implemented improved procedures, processes and systems to provide additional safeguards and greater internal control over its stock option granting and administration. These improvements included:

·                  Documenting and assessing the design and operation of internal controls;

·                  Segregating responsibilities, adding reviews and reconciliations, and redefining roles and responsibilities;

·                  Implementing a new equity accounting system and a new stock administration function; and

·                  Implementing, prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the practice of using the receipt of the final Board or Compensation Committee approval as the grant and measurement date for stock option grants.

27




As a result of the recommendations of the Special Committee of our Board of Directors and deliberations of the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, we have adopted the following policies governing all stock option grants:

·                  All option grants must be approved by the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors; the authority to approve option grants may not be delegated.

·                  Option grants (including officer, vice president, rank and file, promotional and new hire grants) are generally considered at regularly scheduled quarterly meetings of the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors, and action may not be taken by unanimous written consent. 

·                  Grants are generally effective as of the later of (i) the second trading day following the Company’s public announcement of its financial results for the preceding quarter or (ii) the date of the Board or committee meeting.  

·                  Grants should be recorded promptly in the Company’s option accounting database, and grantees should receive prompt written notification of their grants.

·                  The annual focal review process will identify a specific date to complete the process of generating recommended grant amounts, after which the recommendations will be submitted to the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors for approval.

·                  Board or committee minutes are to be drafted and circulated to directors for comment as soon as reasonably possible.

The Special Committee investigation and the Company’s related activities discovered no stock option grant after December 31, 2003 that required accounting adjustments.

28




 

Related Proceedings

U.S. Attorney and SEC Requests.  On July 3, 2006, Zoran disclosed in a press release that it received a grand jury subpoena from the office of the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California requesting documents from 1995 through the present referring to, relating to or involving stock options, and also received an informal inquiry from the SEC requesting documents related to Zoran’s stock option grants.  Zoran intends to cooperate fully in all government inquiries or investigations.  There is no assurance that we will not be subject to inquiries related to our stock option grant practices by other federal, state or foreign regulatory agencies. All such inquiries are likely to require us to continue to expend significant management time and incur significant legal and other expenses, and could result in civil and criminal actions seeking injunctions, fines or other sanctions that could adversely affect our business and financial results.

Shareholder Class Actions and Derivative Litigation Relating to Historical Stock Option Practices: As discussed under Part II—Item 1—Legal Proceedings above, certain persons and entities identifying themselves as shareholders of Zoran have filed class action complaints against the Company and derivative actions purporting to assert claims on behalf of and in the name of the Company against various of the Company’s current and former directors and officers relating to Zoran’s historical accounting for and disclosures related to stock options. There may be additional lawsuits of this nature filed in the future.  We cannot predict the outcome of any such litigation, or the amount of time and expenses that will be required to resolve them.  If these lawsuits become time consuming and expensive, or if there are unfavorable outcomes in any of these cases, there could be a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Cost of Related Proceedings and Restated Financial Statements. We have incurred substantial expenses for legal, accounting, tax and other professional services in connection with the Special Committee investigation, our own related review work, the preparation of the restated financial statements, the SEC and Department of Justice matters and inquiries from other government agencies, and the related litigation. We have recorded expenses of $5.8 million in aggregate through 2006 and we expect to incur additional costs in the future.

Restatement and Impact on Financial Statements

The following information has been adjusted to reflect the restatement of the Company’s financial results, which is more fully described in the “Explanatory Note” immediately preceding Part I, Item 1 and in Note 2, “Restatement of Consolidated Financial Statements” in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In connection with the restatement, the Company is recording additional non-cash adjustments that were previously considered to be immaterial relating to the limiting of revenue recognition, accrued expenses, amortization of premiums and discounts on investments, additional expense related to options granted to a consultant, and the calculation of amortization of stock-based compensation relating to a business combination in 2003.

For additional information, refer to “Note 2—Restatement of Consolidated Financial Statements,” in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

29




The income statement impact of the restatements are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Cumulative
effect at
December
31, 2005

 

Year
Ended
December
31, 2005

 

Year
Ended
December
31, 2004

 

Cumulative
effect at
December
31, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss, as previously reported

 

 

 

$

(26,971

)

$

(47,354

)

 

 

Additional compensation (expense) benefit resulting from improper measurement dates for stock option grants, net of tax

 

$

(11,669

)

(2,623

)

1,476

 

$

(10,522

)

Other adjustments, net of tax

 

(1,374

)

(678

)

(2,230

)

1,534

 

Total increase to net loss

 

(13,043

)

(3,301

)

(754

)

(8,988

)

Net loss, as restated

 

 

 

(30,272

)

(48,108

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

1998

 

1997

 

 

 

 

 

Stock based compensation expense, as previously reported

 

$

(6,281

)

$

(292

)

$

(544

)

$

(99

)

$

 

$

 

$

 

Additional compensation expense resulting from improper measurement dates for stock option grants

 

(5,299

)

(3,182

)

(1,385

)

(120

)

(123

)

(223

)

(190

)

Stock based compensation expense, as restated

 

$

(11,580

)

$

(3,474

)

$

(1,929

)

$

(219

)

$

(123

)

$

(223

)

$

(190

)

 

30




Overview

Our products consist of integrated circuits and related products used in digital versatile disc players, or DVDs, movie and home theater systems, digital cameras and video editing systems.  We also provide integrated circuits, software and platforms for digital television applications that enable the delivery and display of digital video content through a set-top box or television as well as digital imaging products consisting of semiconductor hardware and software that enable users to print, scan, process and transmit documents to computer peripherals that perform printing functions.  Subsequent to our acquisition of Emblaze Semiconductor Ltd. on July 8, 2004, we also provide high performance, low-power application processors, technology and products for the multimedia mobile telephone market.  Through the acquisition of Oren Semiconductor, Inc. on June 10, 2005, we obtained Oren’s demodulator IC technology for the global high definition television market.

We derive most of our revenues from the sale of our integrated circuit products.  Historically, average selling prices in the semiconductor industry in general, and for our products in particular, have decreased over the life of a particular product.  Average selling prices for our hardware products have fluctuated substantially from period to period, primarily as a result of changes in our customer mix of original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, sales versus sales to resellers and the transition from low-volume to high-volume production.  In the past, we have periodically reduced the prices of some of our products in order to better penetrate the consumer market.  We believe that, as our product lines continue to mature and competitive markets evolve, we are likely to experience further declines in the average selling prices of our products, although we cannot predict the timing and amount of such future changes with any certainty.

Our cost of hardware product revenues consists primarily of fabrication costs, assembly and test costs, and the cost of materials and overhead from operations.  If we are unable to reduce our cost of hardware product revenues to offset anticipated decreases in average selling prices, our product gross margins will decrease.  We expect both product and customer mix to continue to fluctuate in future periods, causing fluctuations in margins.

We also derive revenue from licensing our software and other intellectual property.  Licensing revenue includes one-time license fees and royalties based on the number of units distributed by the licensee.  Quarterly licensing revenue can be significantly affected by the timing of a small number of licensing transactions, each accounting for substantial revenues.  Accordingly, licensing revenues have fluctuated, and will continue to fluctuate, on a quarterly basis.  In addition, we have historically generated a portion of our total revenues from development contracts, primarily with key customers, although development revenue has declined substantially as a percentage of total revenues over the past several years.  These development contracts have provided us with partial funding for the development of some of our products.  These development contracts provide for license and milestone payments which are recorded as development revenue.  We classify all development costs, including costs related to these development contracts, as research and development expenses.  We retain ownership of the intellectual property developed by us under these development contracts.  While we intend to continue to enter into development contracts with certain strategic partners, we expect development revenue to continue to decline as a percentage of total revenues.

We recognize software license revenues in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Position (SOP) No. 97-2, “Software Revenue Recognition, as amended by SOP No. 98-9, Modification of SOP No. 97-2, Software Revenue Recognition, With Respect to Certain Transactions”. Our software license agreements typically include obligations to provide maintenance and other support over a fixed term and allow for renewal of maintenance services on an annual basis. We determine the fair value of our maintenance obligations with reference to substantive renewal rates within the agreement or objective evidence of fair value as required under SOP No. 97-2. Maintenance and support revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the arrangement.  We also receive royalty revenues based on per unit shipments of products embedding our software which we recognize upon receipt of a royalty report from the customer, typically one quarter in arrears.

Our research and development expenses consist of salaries and related costs of employees engaged in ongoing research, design and development activities and costs of engineering materials and supplies.  We are a party to research and development agreements with the Chief Scientist in Israel’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Israel-United States Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation, which fund up to 50% of incurred project costs for approved products up to specified contract maximums.  These agreements require us to use our best efforts to achieve specified results and require us to pay royalties at rates of 3% to 5% of resulting product sales, and up to 30% of resulting license revenues, up to a maximum of 100% to 150% of total funding received.  Reported research and development expenses are net of these grants, which fluctuate from period to period.  We believe that significant investments in research and development are required for us to remain competitive, and we expect to continue to devote significant resources to product development, although such expenses as a percentage of total revenues may fluctuate.

 

31




Our selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee-related expenses, sales commissions, product promotion and other professional services.  We expect that selling, general and administrative expenses will continue to increase to support our anticipated growth.

We conduct a material amount of our research and development and certain sales and marketing and administrative operations in our foreign subsidiary offices.  As a result, some of our expenses are incurred in foreign currency.  To date, substantially all of our hardware product revenues and our software and other revenues have been denominated in U.S. dollars and most costs of hardware product revenues have been incurred in U.S. dollars.  We expect that most of our revenues and costs of revenue will continue to be denominated and incurred in U.S. dollars for the foreseeable future.  We have not experienced material losses or gains as a result of currency exchange rate fluctuations and have not engaged in hedging transactions to reduce our exposure to such fluctuations.  We may in the future elect to take action to reduce our foreign exchange risk.

Our effective income tax rate has benefited from the availability of previously unbenefitted net operating losses which we have utilized to reduce taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes and by our Israel based subsidiary’s status as an “Approved Enterprise” under Israeli law, which provides a ten-year tax holiday for income attributable to a portion of our operations in Israel.  Our U.S. federal net operating losses expire at various times between 2017 and 2024 and the benefits from our subsidiary’s Approved Enterprise status expire at various times beginning in 2008.

Recent Acquisition

On June 10, 2005, we completed our acquisition of Oren Semiconductor, Inc. (“Oren”), a privately-held provider of demodulator ICs for the global high definition television market.  Prior to this acquisition, we had made investments in Oren that represented a 17% ownership interest with a net book value of $3.4 million at the time of acquisition. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, we acquired the remaining 83% of Oren’s outstanding stock by means of a merger of Oren with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zoran, in consideration for which we paid an aggregate of $28.4 million in cash and issued 1,188,061 shares of Zoran common stock valued at $12.9 million, for total consideration of $41.3 million, to the other stockholders of Oren and to employees holding Oren options.  The acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting.

Following the completion of the acquisition, the results of operations of Oren have been included in our consolidated financial statements.  In addition, we recorded losses under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 18 (“APB No. 18”), “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock,” to record the losses on investment of the prior 17% ownership of Oren Semiconductor, Inc. under the equity method of accounting.  Accordingly, our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 include Oren’s operations for the full year; our results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2005 include Oren’s operations between June 10, 2005 and December 31, 2005 and $218,000 representing our portion of the losses incurred by Oren between January 1, 2005 and June 10, 2005; and our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2004 do not include Oren’s operations.

Segments

Our products are based on highly integrated application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs, and system-on-a-chip, or SOC, solutions.  We also license certain software and other intellectual property.  During the first quarter of 2006, we reorganized our operating structure to bring together our consumer electronic product lines under a single operating group, in recognition of the accelerating convergence of consumer products and our strategy of sharing technology among our various product lines.  The new Consumer operating segment combines the former Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), Digital Television (DTV) and Mobile product groups whose operations were previously reported separately.  We will continue to report the operations of our Imaging group as a separate operating segment.

Results of Operations

Revenues

Total revenues increased 10.1% to $129.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $117.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005.  This increase was a result of a $13.9 million increase in Consumer segment revenues primarily due to increases in hardware product revenues across all product lines. This increase was partially offset by a $2.0 million decrease in Imaging segment revenues for the three month period ended September 30, 2006, compared to the same period in 2005, primarily due to decrease in unit shipments . For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, total revenues increased 39.5% to $399.6 million compared to $286.4 million recorded during the same period of 2005. This increase was primarily due to increase in Consumer

32




segment revenues by $122.2 million. Within the Consumer segment, license revenues related to the litigation settlement accounted for $35.8 million of the increase and the remaining increase of $86.4 million was primarily as a result of increase in hardware product revenues by $87.4 million across all product lines. This increase was partially offset by a $9.0 million decrease in Imaging segment revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to the same period in 2005 primarily due to a $8.5 million decrease in hardware product revenues due to decrease in unit shipments.

Hardware product revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $115.6 million compared to $104.2 million for the comparable period of the prior year. The increase in hardware product revenues was driven by growth in Consumer segment product revenues. Within the Consumer segment, hardware product revenues increased $6.2 million in the DTV product line, $4.2 million in the Mobile product line and $3.3 million in the DVD product line, in each case driven by increased unit shipments. Hardware product revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $323.0 million compared to $244.1 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase was also due to an increase in Consumer segment product revenues. Within the Consumer segment, hardware product revenues increased $43.4 million in the Mobile product line, $30.9 million in the DTV product line and $13.1 million in the DVD product line, in each case driven by increased unit shipments.

Software and other revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $13.8 million compared to $13.3 million for the comparable period of the prior year. The increase in software and other revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006 reflected a $0.3 million increase in Imaging segment revenues and a $0.2 million increase in Consumer segment revenues. Software and other revenues were $40.8 million and $42.3 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The decrease in software and other revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 reflected a $1.0 million decrease in Consumer segment revenues and a $0.5 million decrease in Imaging segment revenues. These changes were primarily due to the timing of new agreements.

Cost of Hardware Product Revenues

Cost of hardware product revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $66.8 million compared to $53.9 million for the comparable period of the prior year and $180.8 million and $136.2 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in costs was primarily a result of the corresponding increase in hardware product revenues.  As a percentage of hardware product revenues, hardware product costs were 57.8% and 56.0%, respectively,  for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006, compared to 51.7% and 55.8%, respectively, for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005 . Hardware product costs for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005 included adjustments resulting in a decrease in inventory allowance. Excluding the benefit of the net reduction in the inventory allowance, hardware product costs as a percentage of hardware product revenues would have been 57.3 % and 58.9 %, respectively, for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005. The decrease in hardware product costs as a percentage of hardware product revenues for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 (excluding the effect of the reduction in the inventory allowance) reflected a change in product mix as revenues from the lower margin DVD segment represented a smaller proportion of total hardware product revenue with a relative increase in revenue from the higher margin Mobile and DTV segments.

Research and Development

Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $25.3 million compared to $23.7 million for the comparable period of the prior year and $74.7 million and $65.3 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was primarily due to stock-based compensation expenses of $1.2 million recorded in the current quarter as a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), compared with stock-based compensation expense of $0.2 million and $0.4 million in the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2005 prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) .  The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was primarily due to stock-based compensation expenses of $4.3 million recorded in the current period, the inclusion of the operations of Oren which was acquired in June 2005 for the full 2006 periods as well as continued investments in research and development across all of our segments.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $25.9 million compared to $22.3 million for the comparable period of the prior year and $80.9 million and $69.9 million for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was primarily due to stock-based compensation expenses of $2.4 million recorded in the current quarter as a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), compared with stock-based compensation expense of $0.4 million and $0.6 million in the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2005 prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R)  and increased legal costs. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was primarily due to

33




stock-based compensation expenses of $9.0 million recorded in the current period, increase in the allowance for doubtful accounts by $3.2 million and the inclusion of the operations of Oren which was acquired in June 2005 for the full 2006 periods.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006, we incurred charges of $12.4 million and $37.9 million, respectively, related to the amortization of intangible assets compared to $12.8 million and $37.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively.  At September 30, 2006, we had approximately $81.3 million in net intangible assets acquired through the Oak, Emblaze and Oren acquisitions which we will continue to amortize on a straight line basis through 2010.

Amortization of stock compensation resulting from business combinations

As a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) during the first quarter of 2006, we now record a charge for all stock-based compensation expenses as described in Note 2 to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.  As a result, we no longer record a separate charge for Amortization of stock compensation resulting from business combinations.  For the three and nine months periods ended September 30, 2005, we recorded charges of $344,000 and $1.3 million,  respectively,  related to the Amortization of stock compensation resulting from business combinations primarily as a result of stock options granted in connection with the Oak acquisition.

Interest and Other Income

Interest and other income were $2.8 million and $8.1 million, respectively, for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006, compared to $ 679,000 and $1.1 million for the same periods of 2005.  These increases were a result of an increase in interest income as a result of our higher average cash and short term investment balances and net realized gains in investments of $1.0 million recorded during the first quarter of 2006.

Provision for Income Taxes

We recorded a tax benefit of $70,000 and a tax provision of $5.9 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006. We recorded a tax provision of $1.2 million for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005. The provision for income taxes reflects the estimated annualized effective tax rate applied to earnings excluding charges for amortization of intangible assets for the interim periods and a one time charge of $4.3 million for tax expense related to the Media-Tek settlement. The effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate due to utilization of previously unbenefitted net operating losses and State of Israel tax benefits on foreign earnings.  At September 30, 2006, we continue to carry a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets as management has determined that it is more likely than not that our deferred tax assets may not be realized.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At September 30, 2006, we had $86.6 million of cash and cash equivalents, $193.7 million of short-term investments and $305.7 million of working capital.

Our operating activities generated cash of $82.8 million during the first nine months of 2006, primarily due to net income of $27.3 million adjusted for non-cash items such as amortization of $37.9 million, depreciation of $7.1 million and stock-based compensation expense of $13.7 million.  Cash provided by operations also increased due to a decrease of $7.2 million in accounts receivable due to the timing of collections and a net increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, goodwill and other long term liabilities totaling $1.0 million.  These increases were partially offset by a $12.6 million increase in inventories to meet the increasing demand for our products.

Cash used in investing activities was $127.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, principally reflecting the net purchase of investments of $121.8 million. In addition we spent $5.4 million for purchases of property and equipment.

Cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $52.1 million consisting of proceeds received from issuances of common stock through exercises of employee stock options and proceeds from the sale of stock under our employee stock purchase plan.

Net cash provided by operating activities during the first nine months of 2005 was $33.7 million.  While we recorded a net loss of $26.5 million, this loss included non-cash charges for depreciation of property and equipment of $7.7 million, amortization of $37.6

34




million and stock-based compensation of $2.8 million.  Changes in current assets and liabilities resulted in additional cash totaling $9.4 million which included a $22.9 million decrease in inventory and a $6.1 million increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, offset by a $20.5 million increase in accounts receivable. The changes in inventory and accounts receivable were primarily the result of an increase in shipments during the quarter ended September 30, 2005 due to normal seasonal factors.

Cash used in investing activities was $11.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, reflecting $27.6 million used in the acquisition of Oren and purchases of property and equipment totaling $6.4 million, partially offset by the net sales and maturities of investments of $22.1 million.

Cash provided by financing activities was $5.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 attributable to the issuance of common stock during the period.

At September 30, 2006, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.  Accordingly, we are not exposed to the type of financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such relationships.

We believe that our current balances of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, and anticipated cash flow from operations, will satisfy our anticipated working capital and capital expenditure requirements at least through the next 12 months.  Nonetheless, our future capital requirements may vary materially from those now planned and will depend on many factors including, but not limited to:

·                  the levels at which we maintain inventories and accounts receivable;

·                  the market acceptance of our products;

·                  the levels of promotion and advertising required to launch our new products or to enter markets and attain a competitive position in the marketplace;

·                  our business, product, capital expenditure and research and development plans and technology roadmap;

·                  volume pricing concessions;

·                  capital improvements to new and existing facilities;

·                  technological advances;

·                  the response of competitors to our products; and

·                  our relationships with our suppliers and customers.

In addition, we may require an increase in the level of working capital to accommodate planned growth, hiring and infrastructure needs.  Additional capital may also be required for additional acquisitions of businesses, products or technologies.

To the extent that our existing resources and cash generated from operations are insufficient to fund our future activities, we may need to raise additional funds through public or private financings or borrowings.  If additional funds are raised through the issuance of debt securities, these securities could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to holders of common stock, and the terms of this debt could impose restrictions on our operations.  The sale of additional equity or convertible debt securities could result in additional dilution to our stockholders.  We cannot be certain that additional financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.  If we are unable to obtain this additional financing, we may be required to reduce the scope of our planned product development and sales and marketing efforts, which could harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to financial market risks including changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.

The fair value of our investment portfolio or related income would not be significantly impacted by either a 10% increase or decrease in interest rates due mainly to the short-term nature of the major portion of our investment portfolio.

35




A majority of our revenue and capital spending is transacted in U.S. dollars, although a portion of the cost of our operations, relating mainly to our personnel and facilities in Israel, is incurred in New Israeli Shekels.  As a result, we bear the risk that the rate of inflation in Israel or the decline in the value of U.S. dollars compared to the New Israeli Shekel will increase our costs as expressed in U.S. dollars ..  We have not engaged in hedging transactions to reduce our exposure to fluctuations that may arise from changes in foreign exchange rates.  Based on our overall currency rate exposure at September 30, 2006, a near-term 10% appreciation or depreciation of the New Israeli Shekel would have an immaterial affect on our financial condition.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of its disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2006.  The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely discussions regarding required disclosures.

Management’s Consideration of the Restatement

As disclosed in Note 2, “Restatement of Consolidated Financial Statements,” to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, we restated previously issued financial statements to record incremental non-cash stock based compensation charges under APB No. 25 in the amount of $11.7 million between 1997 and 2005 and an additional $0.4 million in 2006 under SFAS No. 123(R). These accounting errors arose from the use of incorrect stock option grant measurement dates for grants made during the period 1997 to 2003.

 

36




In coming to the conclusion that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2006, management considered control deficiencies related to the stock option granting process that resulted in the need to restate our previously issued financial statements.

During fiscal year 2004 in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Company implemented improved procedures, processes and systems to provide additional safeguards and greater internal control over its stock option granting and administration. These improvements included:

·                  Segregating responsibilities, adding reviews and reconciliations, and redefining roles and responsibilities in the human resources function;

·                  Upgrading systems and system controls that support the grant process and improving the accuracy and timeliness of accounting for grants, including robust documentation of grant approvals and usage of a hosted stock administration system; and

·                  Obtaining and training more qualified competent individuals in the human resources and stock administration function.

The Company believes that these changes remediated the historical control deficiency. Consequently, the stock option grand process did not constitute a control deficiency as of December 31, 2006.

Changes to Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2006 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

37




Background of Restatement

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

U.S. Attorney and SEC Investigations:  On July 3, 2006, Zoran disclosed in a press release that it received a grand jury subpoena from the office of the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California requesting documents from 1995 through the present referring to, relating to or involving stock options, and also received an informal inquiry from the SEC requesting documents related to Zoran’s stock option grants.  Zoran intends to cooperate fully in all government investigations.  These inquiries likely will require the Company to expend significant management time and incur significant legal and other expenses, and could result in civil and criminal actions seeking, among other things, injunctions against the Company and its officers and directors and the payment of significant fines and penalties by the Company and its officers and directors, which may adversely affect its results of operations and cash flow.  The Company cannot predict how long it will take to or how much more time and resources it will have to expend to resolve these government inquiries, nor can it predict the outcome of these inquiries. Also, there can be no assurance that other inquiries, investigations or actions will not be started by other United States federal or state regulatory agencies or by foreign governmental agencies.

Late SEC Filings and Nasdaq Delisting Proceedings Due to the Special Committee investigation and the resulting restatements, the Company did not file on time its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2006 and September 30, 2006. As a result, the Company received Nasdaq Staff Determination letters, dated August 14, 2006, November 15, 2006, and March 20, 2007 stating that it was not in compliance with the filing requirements of Marketplace Rule 4310(c)(14) and, therefore, that the Company’s stock was subject to delisting from the Nasdaq Global Select Market.  A hearing before a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel was held on September 27, 2006 and a decision to grant the Company’s request for continued listing on Nasdaq subject to certain conditions occurred on December 28, 2006.  The Company has appealed this decision, and the Nasdaq Listing Council has determined to stay the December 28, 2006 Panel decision, and any future Panel determinations to suspend Zoran’s securities from trading, pending further action from the Listing Council.  On March 2, 2007, the Company provided the Listing Council with an additional submission for its consideration regarding continued listing.  The Listing Council will review the matter on the basis of the written record.

Shareholder Class Actions and Derivative Litigation Relating to Historical Stock Option Practices: As discussed further below, certain persons and entities identifying themselves as shareholders of Zoran have filed class action complaints against the Company and derivative actions purporting to assert claims on behalf of and in the name of the Company against various of the Company’s current and former directors and officers relating to its historical accounting for stock options.

Zucker v. Zoran Corporation, et al..  On August 10, 2006, a securities class action complaint was filed against Zoran and certain of its officers and directors in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, alleging violations of federal securities laws.  The Court selected Middlesex Pension Fund as lead plaintiff and approved lead plaintiff’s selection of counsel for the class.  Plaintiff filed an amended complaint on February 1, 2007 and a second amended complaint on February 20, 2007.  On March 8, 2007, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss.  On March 20, 2007, lead plaintiff filed a notice voluntarily dismissing the action with prejudice as to the lead plaintiff.

NCEA-IBEW Pension Fund (The Decatur Plan) v. Galil, et al.  On June 12, 2006, a purported shareholder derivative action was filed by the Decatur Plan against Zoran as a nominal defendant and certain of its  officers and directors in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, alleging, inter alia, violations of federal and state securities laws and breaches of fiduciary duty.  On December 4, 2006, Decatur Plan filed a notice of voluntary dismissal.

Pfeiffer v. Zoran Corporation et al.  On September 7, 2006, a purported shareholder derivative action was filed by Milton Pfeiffer against Zoran as a nominal defendant and certain of its officers and directors in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, alleging, inter alia, violations of federal securities laws and breaches of fiduciary duties.

Gerald del Rosario v. Aharon et al.  On September 26, 2006, a purported shareholder derivative action was filed by Gerald del Rosario against Zoran as a nominal defendant and certain of its current and former officers and directors in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, alleging, inter alia, violations of federal securities laws and breaches of fiduciary duty.  On December 8, 2006, the Court issued an order consolidating the Del Rosario action with the Pfeiffer action. 

38




The Court selected del Rosario as lead plaintiff and approved lead plaintiff’s selection of counsel for the consolidated derivative action.  Plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint on March 14, 2007.

Barone v. Gerzberg et al.; Durco v. Gerzberg et al.  On October 23, 2006, two purported shareholder derivative actions were filed by Moshe Barone and John Durco against Zoran as a nominal defendant and certain of its current and former officers and directors in the California Superior Court of Santa Clara County, alleging, inter alia, violations of state securities laws and breaches of fiduciary duty.  On January 24, 2007 the Court consolidated the Barone and Durco actions, appointed Messrs. Barone and Durco as co-lead plaintiffs and approved their selection of counsel for the consolidated derivative action.  Co-Lead Plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint on March 26, 2007.

On February 20, 2007, the Company filed a complaint against ArcSoft Inc. in the California Superior Court for the County of Alameda, seeking payment of $4 million in principal, together with accrued interest then in the amount of approximately $525,000, under four separate convertible promissory notes. On February 28, 2007, the Company filed an application with the Court seeking to attach assets of ArcSoft as security for the payment of its obligations under the notes. The notes represent amounts loaned by the Company to ArcSoft in 2004 in connection with a transaction involving the transfer to ArcSoft of rights related to the software product then under development and related agreements regarding the continued development and commercialization of the product. On March 28, 2007, ArcSoft filed an answer denying liability under the notes and asserting various affirmative defenses. ArcSoft also filed a cross complaint alleging fraud in the inducement of the business arrangement, fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract and of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and unjust enrichment and seeking monetary damages of more than $6.9 million. The hearing on our application for an attachment is currently schedules for May 14, 2007.

Indemnification Obligations. Subject to certain limitations, the Company is obligated to indemnify its current and former directors, officers and employees in connection with the investigation of the Company’s historical stock option practices and related government inquiries and litigation. These obligations arise under the terms of the Company’s certificate of incorporation, its bylaws, applicable contracts, and Delaware and California law. The obligation to indemnify generally means that the Company is required to pay or reimburse the individuals’ reasonable legal expenses and possibly damages and other liabilities incurred in connection with these matters. The Company is currently paying or reimbursing legal expenses being incurred in connection with these matters by a number of its current and former directors, officers and employees.

Other Legal Matters. The Company is named from time to time as a party to lawsuits in the normal course of its business. Litigation, in general, and intellectual property and securities litigation in particular, can be expensive and disruptive to normal business operations. Moreover, the results of legal proceedings are difficult to predict.

Item 1A.   Risk Factors

Our future business, operating results and financial condition are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described below.

The discovery that the appropriate measurement dates for financial accounting purposes of certain stock option grants differed from the recorded grant dates of those awards has had, and may continue to have, a material adverse effect on our financial results.

We cannot predict the outcome of the pending government inquiries or stockholder lawsuits, and we may face additional government actions, stockholder lawsuits and other legal proceedings related to our historical stock option practices and the remedial actions we have taken. All of these events have required us, and will continue to require us, to expend significant management time and incur significant accounting, legal, and other expenses. This could divert attention and resources from the operation of our business and adversely affects our financial condition and results of operations.

The independent investigation of our historical stock option practices and resulting restatements has been time consuming and expensive, and has had a material adverse effect on our financial performance.

The independent investigation of our historical stock option practices and resulting restatement activities have required us to expend significant management time and incur significant accounting, legal and other expenses totaling $5.8 million in 2006 and we expect to incur additional costs in the future periods.  The resulting restatements have had a material adverse effect on our results of operations. We have recorded additional stock-based compensation expense of $11.7 million for stock option grants, recognized over the periods from 1997 to 2005. There was no tax impact of these additional stock-based compensation expenses due to the full valuation allowance on our tax assets.  In addition, we have recorded other adjustments previously considered to be immaterial totaling $1.3 million (net of tax of $0.2 million.)  As a result, our restated consolidated financial statements reflect an overall decrease in net income of $13.0 million for the period of 1997 to 2005.  The effect of the restatement adjustments on our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2005 resulted in a $2.4 million decrease in stockholders’ equity.

39




Ongoing government inquiries relating to our historical stock option practices are time consuming and expensive and could result in injunctions, fines and penalties that may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The inquiries by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California (“USAO”) and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) into our historical stock option practices are ongoing. We have cooperated with the USAO and the SEC and intend to continue to do so. The period of time necessary to resolve these inquiries is uncertain, and we cannot predict the outcome of these inquiries or whether we will face additional government inquiries, investigations or other actions related to our historical stock option practices. These inquiries will likely require us to continue to expend significant management time and incur significant legal and other expenses, and could result in civil and criminal actions seeking, among other things, injunctions against the Company and the payment of significant fines and penalties by the Company, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.

We have not been in compliance with SEC reporting requirements and Nasdaq listing requirements and may continue to face compliance issues with both. If we are unable to remain in compliance with SEC reporting requirements and Nasdaq listing requirements, there may be a material adverse effect on us and our stockholders.

Due to the independent investigation and resulting restatements, in recent periods we were unable to file our periodic reports with the SEC on time and faced the possibility of delisting of our stock from the Nasdaq Global Select Market. As a result of our delay in filing periodic reports on a timely basis, we will not be eligible to use a registration statement on Form S-3 to register offers and sales of our securities until all periodic reports have been timely filed for at least 12 months then If the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council concludes that we are not in compliance with applicable listing requirements, then we may be unable to maintain an effective listing of our stock on a national securities exchange. If this happens, the price of our stock and the ability of our stockholders to trade in our stock could be adversely affected. In addition, we would be subject to a number of restrictions regarding the registration of our stock under federal securities laws, and we would not be able to issue stock options or other equity awards to our employees or non-employees or allow them to exercise their outstanding options, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

We have been named as a party to stockholder derivative and class action lawsuits relating to our historical stock option practices, and we may be named in additional lawsuits in the future. This litigation could become time consuming and expensive and could result in the payment of significant judgments and settlements, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

In connection with our historical stock option practices and resulting restatements, a number of derivative actions were filed against certain of our current and former directors, officers and certain other individuals purporting to assert claims on Zoran’s behalf. In addition, a securities class action complaint was filed against us and certain of our current and former officers and our current directors, seeking damages related to our historical stock option practices. There may be additional lawsuits of this nature filed in the future. We cannot predict the outcome of these lawsuits, nor can we predict the amount of time and expense that will be required to resolve these lawsuits. If these lawsuits become time consuming and expensive, or if there are unfavorable outcomes in any of these cases, there could be a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our insurance coverage will not cover our total liabilities and expenses in these lawsuits, in part because we have a significant deductible on certain aspects of the coverage. In addition,  we are obligated to indemnify our current and former directors, officers and employees in connection with the investigation of our historical stock option practices and the related government inquiries and litigation. We currently hold insurance policies for the benefit of our directors and officers, although our insurance coverage may not be sufficient in some or all of these matters. Furthermore, the insurers may seek to deny or limit coverage in some or all of these matters, in which case we may have to self-fund all or a substantial portion of our indemnification obligations.

We are subject to the risks of additional lawsuits from former officers and employees in connection with our historical stock option practices, the resulting restatements, and the remedial measures we have taken.

In addition to the possibilities that there may be additional governmental actions and shareholder lawsuits against us, we may be sued or taken to arbitration by former officers and employees in connection with their stock options and other matters. These lawsuits may be time consuming and expensive, and cause further distraction from the operation of our business. The adverse resolution of any specific lawsuit could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Failure to maintain effective internal controls may cause us to delay filing our periodic reports with the SEC, affect our Nasdaq listing, and adversely affect our stock price.

We are required to include a report of management on internal control over financial reporting in our Annual Report on Form 10-K that contains an assessment by management of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, our

40




independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting.  The restatement of financial statements in prior filings with the SEC is a strong indicator of the existence of a “material weakness” in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting. However, we have concluded that the control deficiencies that resulted in the restatement of the previously issued consolidated financial statements did not constitute a material weakness as of December 31, 2006 because management determined that as of December 31, 2006 there were effective controls designed and in place to prevent or detect a material misstatement and therefore the likelihood of stock-based compensation, deferred compensation and deferred tax assets being materially misstated is not more than remote.

The SEC may disagree with the manner in which we have accounted for and reported, or not reported, the financial impact of past option grant measurement date errors, and there is a risk that its inquiry could lead to circumstances in which we may have to further restate our prior financial statements, amend prior filings with the SEC, or otherwise take other actions not currently contemplated. In addition, the SEC may issue guidance or disclosure requirements related to the financial impact of past option grant measurement date errors that may require us to amend this filing or prior filings with the SEC to provide additional disclosures pursuant to this guidance. Any such circumstance could also lead to future delays in filing our subsequent SEC reports and delisting of our common stock from the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

It may be difficult or costly to obtain director and officer liability insurance coverage as a result of our stock options problems.

We expect that the issues arising from our historical stock option grant practices and the related accounting will make it more difficult to obtain director and officer insurance coverage in the future.  If we are able to obtain this coverage, it could be significantly more costly than in the past, which would have an adverse effect on our financial results and cash flow. As a result of this and related factors, our directors and officers could face increased risks of personal liability in connection with the performance of their duties. As a result, we may have difficultly attracting and retaining qualified directors and officers, which could adversely affect our business.

Our annual revenues and operating results fluctuate due to a variety of factors, which may result in volatility or a decline in the prices of our common stock.

Our historical operating results have varied significantly from period to period due to a number of factors, including:

·                  fluctuation in demand for our products;

·                  the timing of new product introductions or enhancements by us and our competitors;

·                  the level of market acceptance of new and enhanced versions of our products and our customers’ products;

·                  the timing or cancellation of large customer orders;

·                  the length and variability of the sales cycle for our products;

·                  pricing policy changes by us and by our competitors and suppliers;

·                  the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry;

·                  the availability of development funding and the timing of development revenue;

·                  changes in the mix of products sold;

·                  seasonality in demand for our products;

·                  increased competition in product lines, and competitive pricing pressures; and

·                  the evolving and unpredictable nature of the markets for products incorporating our integrated circuits and embedded software.

We expect that our operating results will continue to fluctuate in the future as a result of these factors and a variety of other factors, including:

41




·                  the cost and availability of adequate foundry capacity;

·                  fluctuations in manufacturing yields;

·                  changes in or the emergence of new industry standards;

·                  failure to anticipate changing customer product requirements;

·                  the loss or gain of important customers;

·                  product obsolescence; and

·                  the amount of research and development expenses associated with new product introductions.

Our operating results could also be harmed by:

·                  economic conditions generally or in various geographic areas where we or our customers do business;

·                  terrorism and international conflicts or other crises;

·                  other conditions affecting the timing of customer orders;

·                  changes in governmental regulations that could affect our products;

·                  a downturn in the markets for our customers’ products, particularly the consumer electronics market;

·                  disruption in commercial activities associated with heightened security concerns affecting international travel and commerce;

·                  reduced demand for consumer electronic products due to a potential economic slowdown;

·                  tightened immigration controls that may adversely affect the residence status of key non-U.S. managers and technical employees in our U.S. facilities or our ability to hire new non-U.S. employees in such facilities; or

·                  potential expansion of armed conflict in the Middle East which could adversely affect our operations in Israel.

These factors are difficult or impossible to forecast.  We place orders with independent foundries several months in advance of the scheduled delivery date, often in advance of receiving non-cancelable orders from our customers.  This limits our ability to react to fluctuations in demand for their products.  If anticipated shipments in any quarter are canceled or do not occur as quickly as expected, or if we fail to foresee a technology change that could render a product obsolete, expense and inventory levels could be disproportionately high.  If anticipated license revenues in any quarter are canceled or do not occur, gross margins may be reduced.

A significant portion of our expenses are relatively fixed, and the timing of increases in expenses is based in large part on our forecast of future revenues.  As a result, if revenues do not meet our expectations, we may be unable to quickly adjust expenses to levels appropriate to actual revenues, which could harm our operating results.

Our customers experience fluctuating product cycles and seasonality, which causes their sales to fluctuate.

Because the markets that our customers serve are characterized by numerous new product introductions and rapid product enhancements, our operating results may vary significantly from quarter to quarter.  During the final production of a mature product, our customers typically exhaust their existing inventories of our products.  Consequently, orders for our products may decline in those circumstances, even if the products are incorporated into both mature products and replacement products.  A delay in a customer’s transition to commercial production of a replacement product would delay our ability to recover the lost sales from the discontinuation of the related mature product.  Our customers also experience significant seasonality in the sales of their consumer products, which affects their orders of our products.  Typically, the second half of the calendar year represents a disproportionate percentage of sales for our customers due to the holiday shopping period for consumer electronics products, and therefore, a disproportionate percentage of our sales.  We expect these seasonal sales fluctuations to continue for the foreseeable future.

Our ability to match production mix with the product mix needed to fill current orders and orders to be delivered in the given quarter may affect our ability to meet that quarter’s revenue forecast.  In addition, when responding to customers’ requests for shorter shipment

42




lead times, we manufacture products based on forecasts of customers’ demands.  These forecasts are based on multiple assumptions.  If we inaccurately forecast customer demand, we may hold inadequate, excess or obsolete inventory that would reduce our profit margins and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Our products are characterized by average selling prices that decline over relatively short time periods; if we are unable to reduce our costs or introduce new products with higher average selling prices, our financial results will suffer.

Average selling prices for our products decline over relatively short time periods, while many of our manufacturing costs are fixed. When our average selling prices decline, our revenues decline unless we are able to sell more units, and our gross margins decline unless we are able to reduce our manufacturing costs by a commensurate amount.  Our operating results suffer when gross margins decline.  We have experienced these problems, and we expect to continue to experience them in the future, although we cannot predict when they may occur or how severe they will be.

Product supply and demand in the semiconductor industry is subject to cyclical variations.

The semiconductor industry is subject to cyclical variations in product supply and demand.  Downturns in the industry often occur in connection with, or anticipation of, maturing product cycles for both semiconductor companies and their customers and declines in general economic conditions.  These downturns have been characterized by abrupt fluctuations in product demand, production over-capacity and accelerated decline of average selling prices.  In some cases, these downturns have lasted more than one year. We cannot predict whether we will achieve timely, cost-effective access to that capacity when needed, or when there will be a capacity shortage again in the future.  A downturn in the semiconductor industry could harm our sales and revenues if demand drops, or our gross margins if average selling prices decline.

Our success for the foreseeable future will depend on demand for integrated circuits for a limited number of applications.

In recent years, we have derived a substantial majority of our product revenues from the sale of integrated circuits for DVD and digital camera applications.  We expect that sales of our products for these applications will continue to account for a significant portion of our revenues for the foreseeable future. Our future financial performance will also depend on our ability to successfully develop and market new products in the digital television, HDTV and digital imaging markets.  If the markets for these products and applications decline or fail to develop as expected, or we are not successful in our efforts to market and sell our products to manufacturers who incorporate integrated circuits into these products, our financial results will be harmed.

Our financial performance is highly dependent on the timely and successful introduction of new and enhanced products.

Our financial performance depends in large part on our ability to successfully develop and market next-generation and new products in a rapidly changing technological environment.  If we fail to successfully identify new product opportunities and timely develop and introduce new products that achieve market acceptance, we may lose our market share and our future revenues and earnings may suffer.

In the consumer electronic market, our performance has been dependent on our successful development and timely introduction of integrated circuits for DVD players, DVD recorders, digital cameras, broadband digital television and HDTV.  These markets are characterized by the incorporation of a steadily increasing level of integration and numbers of features on a chip at the same or lower system cost, enabling original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, to continually improve the features or reduce the prices of the systems they sell.  If we are unable to continually develop and introduce integrated circuits with increasing levels of integration and new features at competitive prices, our operating results will suffer.

In the Imaging market, our performance has been dependent on our successful development and timely introduction of integrated circuits for printers and multi-function peripherals.  These markets are characterized by the incorporation of a steadily increasing level of integration and higher speeds on a chip at the same or lower system cost, enabling original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, to continually improve the performance and features or reduce the prices of the systems they sell.  If we are unable to develop and introduce integrated circuits with increasing levels of integration, performance and new features at competitive prices, our operating results will suffer. The performance of our software licensing business is dependent on our ability to develop and introduce new releases of our software, which incorporate new or enhanced printing standards, as well as performance enhancements required by our OEM customers. If we are unable to develop and release versions of our software supporting required standards and offering enhanced performance, our operating results will suffer.

43




We face competition or potential competition from companies with greater resources than ours, and if we are unable to compete effectively with these companies, our market share may decline and our business could be harmed.

The markets in which we compete are intensely competitive and are characterized by rapid technological change, declining average unit selling prices and rapid product obsolescence.  We expect competition to increase in the future from existing competitors and from other companies that may enter our existing or future markets with solutions which may be less costly or provide higher performance or more desirable features than our products.  Competition typically occurs at the design stage, when customers evaluate alternative design approaches requiring integrated circuits. Because of short product life cycles, there are frequent design win competitions for next-generation systems.

Our existing and potential competitors include many large domestic and international companies that have substantially greater financial, manufacturing, technological, market, distribution and other resources.  These competitors may also have broader product lines and longer standing relationships with customers and suppliers than we have.

Some of our principal competitors maintain their own semiconductor foundries and may therefore benefit from capacity, cost and technical advantages. Our principal competitors in the integrated audio and video devices for DVD applications include Cheertek, ESS, LSI Logic, Magnum Semiconductor, Matsushita, MediaTek, Renesas Technology, Samsung and Sunplus. In the markets for JPEG-based products for use in digital cameras, our principal competitors are in-house solutions developed and used by major Japanese OEMs, as well as products sold by Sunplus and Texas Instruments.  In the market for JPEG-based products for desktop video editing applications, our principal competitor is Sunplus.  Cirrus Logic (Crystal Semiconductor), Fujitsu, Freescale Semiconductor, STMicroelectronics and Yamaha are currently shipping Dolby Digital-based audio compression products.  Our principal competitors for digital semiconductor devices in the digital television market include Advanced Micro Devices, Broadcom, Renesas Technology, M-Star, Mediatek and ST Microelectronics.  Others who also participate in this market are ALi Corporation, Cheertek, Fujitsu, Genesis Microchip, NEC, Pixelworks and Trident Microsystems. Competitors in the Printer and Multifunction peripheral space include Sigmatel Inc., Marvell Semiconductor, TAK Imaging, Peerless Systems, Global Graphics and in-house captive suppliers.

We believe that growth of the DVD player market will be modest in the foreseeable future, and that continued strong competition will lead to further price reductions, and reduced profit margins. We also face significant competition in the digital Imaging and digital camera markets.  The future growth of both markets is highly dependent on OEMs continuing to outsource an increasing portion of their product development work. Many of our existing competitors, as well as OEM customers that are expected to compete with us in the future, have substantially greater financial, manufacturing, technical, marketing, distribution and other resources, broader product lines and longer standing relationships with customers than we have.  In addition, much of our future success is dependent on the success of our OEM customers.  If we or our OEM customers are unable to compete successfully against current and future competitors, we could experience price reductions, order cancellations and reduced gross margins, any one of which could harm our business.

We must keep pace with rapid technological changes and evolving industry standards to remain competitive.

Our future success will depend on our ability to anticipate and adapt to changes in technology and industry standards and our customers’ changing demands.  The consumer electronics market, in particular, is characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, frequent new product introductions, short product life cycles and increasing demand for higher levels of integration.  Our ability to adapt to these changes and to anticipate future standards, and the rate of adoption and acceptance of those standards, will be a significant factor in maintaining or improving our competitive position and prospects for growth.  If new industry standards emerge, our products or the products of our customers could become unmarketable or obsolete, and we could lose market share or be required to incur substantial unanticipated costs to comply with these new standards.

Our success will also depend on the successful development of new markets and the application and acceptance of new technologies and products in those new markets.  For example, our success will depend on the ability of our customers to develop new products and enhance existing products in the recordable DVD player market and products for the broadband digital television and HDTV markets and to introduce and promote those products successfully.  These markets may not continue to develop to the extent or in the time periods that we currently anticipate due to factors outside our control, such as delays in implementation of FCC 02-320 requiring all new televisions to include a digital receiver by February 2009. If new markets do not develop as we anticipate, or if our products do not gain widespread acceptance in these markets, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.  The emergence of new markets for our products is also dependent in part upon third parties developing and marketing content in a format compatible with commercial and consumer products that incorporate our products.  If this content is not available, manufacturers may not be able to sell products incorporating our products, and our sales would suffer.

44




We rely on independent foundries and contractors for the manufacture, assembly and testing of our integrated circuits and other hardware products, and the failure of any of these third parties to deliver products or otherwise perform as requested could damage our relationships with our customers and harm our sales and financial results.

We do not operate any manufacturing facilities, and we rely on independent foundries to manufacture substantially all of our products.  These independent foundries fabricate products for other companies and may also produce products of their own design.  From time to time, there are manufacturing capacity shortages in the semiconductor industry.  We do not have long-term supply contracts with any of our suppliers, including our principal supplier, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC.  Therefore, TSMC and our other suppliers are not obligated to manufacture products for us for any specific period, in any specific quantity or at any specified price, except as may be provided in a particular purchase order.

Our reliance on independent foundries involves a number of risks, including:

·                  the inability to obtain adequate manufacturing capacity;

·                  the unavailability of or interruption in access to certain process technologies necessary for manufacture of our products;

·                  lack of control over delivery schedules;

·                  lack of control over quality assurance;

·                  lack of control over manufacturing yields and cost; and

·                  potential misappropriation of our intellectual property.

In addition, TSMC and some of our other foundries are located in areas of the world that are subject to natural disasters such as earthquakes.  While the 1999 earthquake in Taiwan did not have a material impact on our independent foundries, a similar event centered near TSMC’s facility could severely reduce TSMC’s ability to manufacture our integrated circuits.  The loss of any of our manufacturers as a supplier, our inability to expand the supply of their products in response to increased demand, or our inability to obtain timely and adequate deliveries from our current or future suppliers due to a natural disaster or any other reason could delay or reduce shipments of our products.  Any of these circumstances could damage our relationships with current and prospective customers and harm our sales and financial results.

We also rely on a limited number of independent contractors for the assembly and testing of our products.  Our reliance on independent assembly and testing houses limits our control over delivery schedules, quality assurance and product cost.  Disruptions in the services provided by our assembly or testing houses or other circumstances that would require them to seek alternative sources of assembly or testing could lead to supply constraints or delays in the delivery of our products.  These constraints or delays could damage our relationships with current and prospective customers and harm our financial results.

Because foundry capacity is limited from time to time, we may be required to enter into costly long-term supply arrangements to secure foundry capacity.

If we are not able to obtain additional foundry capacity as required, our relationships with our customers would be harmed and our sales would likely be reduced.  In order to secure additional foundry capacity, we have considered, and may in the future need to consider, various arrangements with suppliers, which could include, among others:

·                  option payments or other prepayments to a foundry;

·                  nonrefundable deposits with or loans to foundries in exchange for capacity commitments;

·                  contracts that commit us to purchase specified quantities of silicon wafers over extended periods;

·                  issuance of our equity securities to a foundry;

·                  investment in a foundry;

·                  joint ventures; or

45




·                  other partnership relationships with foundries.

We may not be able to make any such arrangement in a timely fashion or at all, and such arrangements, if any, may not be on terms favorable to us.  Moreover, if we are able to secure foundry capacity, we may be obligated to utilize all of that capacity or incur penalties.  Such penalties may be expensive and could harm our financial results.

If our independent foundries do not achieve satisfactory yields, our relationships with our customers may be harmed.

The fabrication of silicon wafers is a complex process.  Minute levels of contaminants in the manufacturing environment, defects in photo masks used to print circuits on a wafer, difficulties in the fabrication process or other factors can cause a substantial portion of the integrated circuits on a wafer to be non-functional.  Many of these problems are difficult to detect at an early stage of the manufacturing process and may be time consuming and expensive to correct.  As a result, foundries often experience problems achieving acceptable yields, which are represented by the number of good integrated circuits as a proportion of the number of total integrated circuits on any particular wafer.  Poor yields from our independent foundries would reduce our ability to deliver our products to customers, harm our relationships with our customers and harm our business.

We are dependent upon our international sales and operations; economic, political or military events in a country where we make significant sales or have significant operations could interfere with our success or operations there and harm our business.

During 2006, only 7% of our total revenues were derived from North America sales.  We anticipate that international sales will continue to account for a substantial majority of our total revenues for the foreseeable future.  In addition, substantially all of our semiconductor products are manufactured, assembled and tested outside of the United States by independent foundries and subcontractors.

We are subject to a variety of risks inherent in doing business internationally, including:

·                  unexpected changes in regulatory requirements;

·                  fluctuations in exchange rates;

·                  political and economic instability;

·                  imposition of tariffs and other barriers and restrictions;

·                  the burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws; and

·                  health risks in a particular region.

A material amount of our research and development personnel and facilities and a portion of our sales and marketing personnel are located in Israel.  Political, economic and military conditions in Israel directly affect our operations.  Some of our employees in Israel are obligated to perform up to 39 days of military reserve duty annually.  The absence of these employees for significant periods during the work week may cause us to operate inefficiently during these periods.

Our operations in China are subject to the economic and political uncertainties affecting that country.  For example, the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth in the past decade, but such growth has been uneven across geographic and economic sectors.  This growth may decrease and any slowdown may have a negative effect on our business.  We also maintain offices in Taipei, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Seoul, Korea, and our operations are subject to the economic and political uncertainties affecting these countries as well.

The significant concentration of our manufacturing activities with third party foundries in Taiwan exposes us to the risk of political instability in Taiwan, including the potential for conflict between Taiwan and China.  We have several significant OEM customers in Japan, Korea and other parts of Asia.  Adverse economic circumstances in Japan and elsewhere in Asia could affect these customers’ willingness or ability to do business with us in the future or their success in developing and launching devices containing our products.

46




The prices of our products may become less competitive due to foreign exchange fluctuations.

Foreign currency fluctuations may affect the prices of our products.  Prices for our products are currently denominated in U.S. dollars for sales to our customers throughout the world.  If there is a significant devaluation of the currency in a specific country, the prices of our products will increase relative to that country’s currency, our products may be less competitive in that country and our revenues may be adversely affected.  Also, we cannot be sure that our international customers will continue to be willing to place orders denominated in U.S. dollars.  If they do not, our revenue and operating results will be subject to foreign exchange fluctuations.

Because we have significant operations in Israel, our business and future operating results could be harmed by future terrorist activity or military conflict.

We conduct a significant portion of our research and development and engineering activities at our design center in Haifa, Israel, a 109,700 square foot facility where we employ approximately 390 people.  We also conduct a portion of our sales and marketing operations at our Haifa facility. We have an additional 16,100 square foot facility in Kfar Netter, Israel, where we conduct research and development activities.

Haifa was a principal target in the recent armed conflict in Northern Israel, and, accordingly, our facility and personnel in Haifa were at significant risk during that conflict.  Although we suffered no damage to our facilities or injury to our personnel during the recent conflicts, significant damage to our facilities in Israel, injury of our employees working there, or damage to the Israeli business or transportation infrastructure as a result of future military conflict or terrorist activity could materially affect our operations in Israel and harm our business.  In addition, some of our employees in Israel serve in the military reserve. Any prolonged absence of a substantial number of these employees could materially harm our business.

In addition to their impact on our operations in Israel, military conflict in the Middle East or future terrorist activities there or elsewhere in the world could harm our business as a result of a disruption in commercial activity affecting international commerce or a general economic slowdown and reduced demand for consumer electronic products.

The Israeli rate of inflation may negatively impact our costs if it exceeds the rate of devaluation of the New Israeli Shekel against the United States dollar.

A portion of the cost of our operations, relating mainly to our personnel and facilities in Israel, is incurred in New Israeli Shekels.  As a result, we bear the risk that the rate of inflation in Israel or the decline in the value of United States dollar compared to the New Israeli Shekel will increase our costs as expressed in United States dollars.  To date, we have not engaged in hedging transactions.  In the future, we may enter into currency hedging transactions to decrease the risk of financial exposure from fluctuations in the exchange rate of the United States dollar against the New Israeli Shekel.  These measures may not adequately protect us from the impact of inflation in Israel.

We derive most of our revenue from sales to a small number of large customers, and if we are not able to retain these customers, or they reschedule, reduce or cancel orders, our revenues would be reduced and our financial results would suffer.

Our largest customers have accounted for a substantial percentage of our revenues.  In 2005, no single customer accounted for more than 10% of our total revenues, although sales to our four largest customers accounted for 29% of our total revenues.  In 2004, one customer accounted for 11% of our total revenues while sales to our four largest customers accounted for 35% of our total revenues.  Sales to these large customers have varied significantly from year to year and will continue to fluctuate in the future.  These sales also may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter.  We may not be able to retain our key customers, or these customers may cancel purchase orders or reschedule or decrease their level of purchases from us.  Any substantial decrease or delay in sales to one or more of our key customers could harm our sales and financial results.  In addition, any difficulty in collecting amounts due from one or more key customers could harm our financial results.

Our products generally have long sales cycles and implementation periods, which increases our costs in obtaining orders and reduces the predictability of our operating results.

Our products are technologically complex.  Prospective customers generally must make a significant commitment of resources to test and evaluate our products and to integrate them into larger systems.  As a result, our sales processes are often subject to delays associated with lengthy approval processes that typically accompany the design and testing of new products.  The sales cycles of our products often last for many monthsLonger sales cycles require us to invest significant resources in attempting to make sales and delay the generation of revenue.

47




Long sales cycles also subject us to other risks, including customers’ budgetary constraints, internal acceptance reviews and cancellations.  In addition, orders expected in one quarter could shift to another because of the timing of customers’ purchase decisions.  The time required for our customers to incorporate our products into their own can vary significantly with the needs of our customers and generally exceeds several months, which further complicates our planning processes and reduces the predictability of our operating results.

We are not protected by long-term contracts with our customers.

We generally do not enter into long-term purchase contracts with our customers, and we cannot be certain as to future order levels from our customers.  Customers generally purchase our products subject to cancelable short-term purchase orders.  We cannot predict whether our current customers will continue to place orders, whether existing orders will be canceled, or whether customers who have ordered products will pay invoices for delivered products.  When we do enter into a long-term contract, the contract is generally terminable at the convenience of the customer.  Early termination by one of our major customers would harm our financial results.

Our products could contain defects, which could reduce sales of those products or result in claims against us.

We develop complex and evolving products.  Despite testing by us and our customers, errors may be found in existing or new products.  This could result in, among other things, a delay in recognition or loss of revenues, loss of market share or failure to achieve market acceptance.  These defects may cause us to incur significant warranty, support and repair costs, divert the attention of our engineering personnel from our product development efforts and harm our relationships with customers.  The occurrence of these problems could result in the delay or loss of market acceptance of our products and would likely harm our business.  Defects, integration issues or other performance problems in our products could result in financial or other damages to customers or could damage market acceptance of such products.  Our customers could also seek damages from us for their losses.  A product liability claim brought against us, even if unsuccessful, would likely be time consuming and costly to defend.

Regulation of our customers’ products may slow the process of introducing new products and could impair our ability to compete.

The Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, has broad jurisdiction over our target markets in the digital television business.  Various international entities or organizations may also regulate aspects of our business or the business of our customers.  Although our products are not directly subject to regulation by any agency, the transmission pipes, as well as much of the equipment into which our products are incorporated, are subject to direct government regulation.  For example, before they can be sold in the United States, advanced televisions and emerging interactive displays must be tested and certified by Underwriters Laboratories and meet FCC regulations.  Accordingly, the effects of regulation on our customers or the industries in which our customers operate may in turn harm our business.  FCC regulatory policies affecting the ability of cable operators or telephone companies to offer certain services and other terms on which these companies conduct their business may impede sales of our products.  In addition, our digital television business may also be adversely affected by the imposition of tariffs, duties and other import restrictions on our suppliers or by the imposition of export restrictions on products that we sell internationally.  Changes in current laws or regulations or the imposition of new laws or regulations in the United States or elsewhere could harm our business.  For example, any delays by the FCC in imposing its pending requirement that all new televisions have a digital receiver could have an adverse effect on our HDTV business.

Our ability to compete could be jeopardized if we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights.

Our success and ability to compete depend in large part upon protection of our proprietary technology.  We rely on a combination of patent, trade secret, copyright and trademark laws, non-disclosure and other contractual agreements and technical measures to protect our proprietary rights.  These agreements and measures may not be sufficient to protect our technology from third-party infringement, or to protect us from the claims of others.  Monitoring unauthorized use of our products is difficult, and we cannot be certain that the steps we have taken will prevent unauthorized use of our technology, particularly in foreign countries where the laws may not protect our proprietary rights as fully as in the United States.  The laws of certain foreign countries in which our products are or may be developed, manufactured or sold, including various countries in Asia, may not protect our products or intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States and thus make the possibility of piracy of our technology and products more likely in these countries.  If competitors are able to use our technology, our ability to compete effectively could be harmed.

The protection offered by patents is subject to numerous uncertainties.  For example, our competitors may be able to effectively design around our patents, or the patents may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented.  Those competitors may also independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to our technology.  Moreover, while we hold, or have applied for, patents

48




relating to the design of our products, some of our products are based in part on standards, for which we do not hold patents or other intellectual property rights.

We have generally limited access to and distribution of the source and object code of our software and other proprietary information.  With respect to our page description language software, SOC platform firmware and drivers for the digital office market and in limited circumstances with respect to firmware on SCS products, firmware and platforms for our DTV, DVDR products, we grant licenses that give our customers access to and restricted use of the source code of our software.  This access increases the likelihood of misappropriation or misuse of our technology.

Claims and litigation regarding intellectual property rights could seriously harm our business and require us to incur significant costs.

In recent years, there has been significant litigation in the United States involving patents and other intellectual property rights.  In the past, Zoran has been subject to claims and litigation regarding alleged infringement of other parties’ intellectual property rights, and both Oak and Zoran have been parties to a number of patent-related lawsuits, both as plaintiff and defendant.  We could become subject to additional litigation in the future, either to protect our intellectual property or as a result of allegations that we infringe others’ intellectual property rights.  Claims that our products infringe proprietary rights would force us to defend ourselves and possibly our customers or manufacturers against the alleged infringement.  Future litigation against us, if successful, could subject us to significant liability for damages or invalidation of our proprietary rights.  These lawsuits, regardless of their success, are time-consuming and expensive to resolve and require significant management time and attention.  Future intellectual property litigation could force us to do one or more of the following:

·                  stop selling products that incorporate the challenged intellectual property;

·                  obtain from the owner of the infringed intellectual property right a license to sell or use the relevant technology, which license may not be available on reasonable terms or at all;

·                  pay damages; or

·                  redesign those products that use such technology.

Although patent disputes in the semiconductor industry have often been settled through cross-licensing arrangements, we may not be able in any or every instance to settle an alleged patent infringement claim through a cross-licensing arrangement.  We have a more limited patent portfolio than many of our competitors.  If a successful claim is made against us or any of our customers and a license is not made available to us on commercially reasonable terms or we are required to pay substantial damages or awards, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially adversely affected.

If necessary licenses of third-party technology are not available to us or are very expensive, our products could become obsolete.

From time to time, we may be required to license technology from third parties to develop new products or product enhancements.  Third party licenses may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.  If we are unable to obtain any third-party license required to develop new products and product enhancements, we may have to obtain substitute technology of lower quality or performance standards or at greater cost, either of which could seriously harm the competitiveness of our products.

We rely on licenses to use various technologies that are material to our products.  We do not own the patents that underlie this license.  Our rights to use these technologies and employ the inventions claimed in the licensed patents are subject to our abiding by the terms of the licenses.  Under the license agreements we must fulfill confidentiality obligations and pay royalties.  If we fail to abide by the terms of the license, we would be unable to sell and market the products under license.  In addition, we do not control the prosecution of the patents subject to this license or the strategy for determining when such patents should be enforced.  As a result, we are dependent upon our licensor to determine the appropriate strategy for prosecuting and enforcing those patents.

If we are not able to apply our net operating losses against taxable income in future periods, our financial results will be harmed.

Our future net income and cash flow will be affected by our ability to apply our net operating losses, or NOLs, against taxable income in future periods. Our NOLs totaled approximately $185 million for federal and $36 million for state tax reporting purposes as of December 31, 2006. The Internal Revenue Code contains a number of provisions that limit the use of NOLs under certain

49




circumstances.  During 2006 we reduced the NOL deferred tax asset for amounts which we believe will expire before they become available for utilization. Changes in tax laws in the United States may further limit our ability to utilize these NOLs.  Any further limitation on our ability to utilize these respective NOLs could harm our financial condition.

Changes in, or interpretations of, tax rules and regulations may adversely affect our effective tax rates.

Unanticipated changes in our tax rates could affect our future results of operations. Our future effective tax rates could be unfavorably affected by changes in tax laws or the interpretation of tax laws, by unanticipated decreases in the amount of revenue or earnings in countries with low statutory tax rates, or by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities. While we believe our tax reserves adequately provide for any tax contingencies, the ultimate outcomes of any future tax audits are uncertain, and we can give no assurance as to whether an adverse result from one or more of them will have a material effect on our operating results and financial position.

Any additional acquisitions we make could disrupt our business and severely harm our financial condition.

We have made investments in, and acquisitions of other complementary companies, products and technologies, and we may acquire additional businesses, products or technologies in the future.  In the event of any future acquisitions, we could:

·                  issue stock that would dilute its current stockholders’ percentage ownership;

·                  incur debt;

·                  use a significant amount of our cash;

·                  assume liabilities;

·                  incur expenses related to the future impairment of goodwill and the amortization of other intangible assets; or

·                  incur other large write-offs immediately or in the future.

Our operation of any other acquired business will also involve numerous risks, including:

·                  problems combining the purchased operations, technologies or products;

·                  unanticipated costs;

·                  diversion of management’s attention from our core business;

·                  adverse effects on existing business relationships with customers;

·                  risks associated with entering markets in which we have no or limited prior experience; and

·                  potential loss of key employees, particularly those of the purchased organizations.

We may not be able to successfully complete the integration of the business, products or technologies or personnel that we might acquire in the future, and any failure to do so could disrupt our business and seriously harm our financial condition.

If our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets become impaired we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings.

Under generally accepted accounting principles, we review our amortizable intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is required to be tested for impairment at least annually. Factors that may be considered a change in circumstances indicating that the carrying value of our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets may not be recoverable include a decline in stock price and market capitalization, future cash flows, and slower growth rates in our industry. We may be required to record a significant charge to earnings in our financial statements during the period in which any impairment of our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets is determined resulting in an impact on our results of operations.

50




We may need additional funds to execute our business plan, and if we are unable to obtain such funds, we will not be able to expand our business as planned.

We may require substantial additional capital to finance our future growth, secure additional foundry capacity and fund our ongoing research and development activities during 2007 and beyond.  Our capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

·                  the levels at which we maintain inventory and accounts receivable;

·                  the market acceptance of our products;

·                  the levels of promotion and advertising required to launch our new products or to enter markets and attain a competitive position in the marketplace;

·                  our business, product, capital expenditure and research and development plans and technology roadmap;

·                  volume pricing concessions;

·                  capital improvements to new and existing facilities;

·                  technological advances;

·                  the response of competitors to our products; and

·                  our relationships with our suppliers and customers.

In addition, we may require an increase in the level of working capital to accommodate planned growth, hiring and infrastructure needs.  Additional capital may also be required for additional acquisitions of businesses, products or technologies.

If we fail to manage our future growth, if any, our business would be harmed.

We anticipate that our future growth, if any, will require us to recruit and hire a substantial number of new engineering, managerial, sales and marketing personnel.  Our ability to manage growth successfully will also require us to expand and improve administrative, operational, management and financial systems and controls.  Many of our key operations, including a material portion of our research and development operations and a significant portion of our sales and administrative operations are located in Israel.  A majority of our sales and marketing and certain of our research and development and administrative personnel, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and other officers, are based in the United States.  The geographic separation of these operations places additional strain on our resources and our ability to manage growth effectively.  If we are unable to manage growth effectively, our business will be harmed.

We rely on the services of our executive officers and other key personnel, whose knowledge of our business and industry would be extremely difficult to replace.

Our success depends to a significant degree upon the continuing contributions of our senior management.  Management and other employees may voluntarily terminate their employment with us at any time upon short notice.  The loss of key personnel could delay product development cycles or otherwise harm our business.  We believe that our future success will also depend in large part on our ability to attract, integrate and retain highly-skilled engineering, managerial, sales and marketing personnel, located in the United States, Israel and China.  Competition for such personnel is intense, and we may not be successful in attracting, integrating and retaining such personnel.  Failure to attract, integrate and retain key personnel could harm our ability to carry out our business strategy and compete with other companies.

Provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law could prevent or delay a change in control of Zoran.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law contain provisions that could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be beneficial to our stockholders.  These include provisions:

·                  prohibiting a merger with a party that has acquired control of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock, such as a party that has completed a successful tender offer, until three years after that party acquired control of 15% of our outstanding common stock;

51




·                  authorizing the issuance of up to 3,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock;

·                  eliminating stockholders’ rights to call a special meeting of stockholders; and

·                  requiring advance notice of any stockholder nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors.

Our stock price has fluctuated and may continue to fluctuate widely.

The market price of our common stock has fluctuated significantly since our initial public offering in 1995.  Between January 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006, the closing sale price of our common stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, ranged from a low of $8.97 to a high of $29.13.  The market price of our common stock is subject to significant fluctuations in the future in response to a variety of factors, including:

·                  results of regulatory investigations;

·                  announcements concerning our business or that of our competitors or customers;

·                  annual and quarterly variations in our operating results;

·                  changes in analysts’ earnings estimates;

·                  announcements of technological innovations;

·                  the introduction of new products or changes in product pricing policies by Zoran or its competitors;

·                  loss of key personnel;

·                  proprietary rights or other litigation;

·                  general conditions in the semiconductor industry; and

·                  developments in the financial markets.

In addition, the stock market has, from time to time, experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have particularly affected the market prices for semiconductor companies or technology companies generally and which have been unrelated to the operating performance of the affected companies.  Broad market fluctuations of this type may reduce the future market price of our common stock.

Item 6.  Exhibits

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a).

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a).

32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

52




SIGNATURES

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.

ZORAN CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:  April 19, 2007

/s/ Karl Schneider

 

 

Karl Schneider

 

Senior Vice President, Finance

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

(principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)

 

53



EX-31.1 2 a07-10184_1ex31d1.htm EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) OR 15D-14(A)

I, Levy Gerzberg, certify that:

1.             I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Zoran Corporation;

2.                                       Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.                                       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)                                  Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)                                 Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)                                  Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)                                 Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)                                  All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)                                 Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Dated:   April 19, 2007

/s/ Levy Gerzberg

 

Levy Gerzberg

 

President and

 

Chief Executive Officer

 



EX-31.2 3 a07-10184_1ex31d2.htm EX-31.2

 

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) OR 15D-14(A)

I, Karl Schneider, certify that:

1.                                      I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Zoran Corporation;

2.                                      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.                                      Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.                                      The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)                                  Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)                                 Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)                                  Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)                                 Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)                                  All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)                                 Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Dated: April 19, 2007

/s/ Karl Schneider

 

Karl Schneider

 

Senior Vice President, Finance and

 

Chief Financial Officer

 



EX-32.1 4 a07-10184_1ex32d1.htm EX-32.1

 

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Zoran Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2006, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Levy Gerzberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)   The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

 

Dated: April 19, 2007

 

/s/ Levy Gerzberg

 

 

Levy Gerzberg

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 



EX-32.2 5 a07-10184_1ex32d2.htm EX-32.2

 

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Zoran Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2006, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Karl Schneider, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

 

Dated: April 19, 2007

 

/s/ Karl Schneider

 

 

Karl Schneider

 

 

Senior Vice President, Finance and

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 



-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----