-----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, BGZZhupwXrNK+IaJoIsw95rn+oeb7HvB2QV27GqH8OuFRvF1fsZ9HoOQcq+6RRPy WC3Ls5yTJr+FAlMea7rO6w== 0001193125-10-055409.txt : 20100312 0001193125-10-055409.hdr.sgml : 20100312 20100312162737 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-10-055409 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 9 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20091231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20100312 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20100312 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ORCHID CELLMARK INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001107216 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-TESTING LABORATORIES [8734] IRS NUMBER: 223392819 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-30267 FILM NUMBER: 10678100 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4390 US ROUTE ONE CITY: PRINCETON STATE: NJ ZIP: 08540 BUSINESS PHONE: 6097502200 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4390 US ROUTE ONE CITY: PRINCETON STATE: NJ ZIP: 08540 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ORCHID BIOSCIENCES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20000217 10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009

 

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

For the transition period from              to                 

Commission file number: 000-30267

 

 

ORCHID CELLMARK INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   22-3392819
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
4390 US Route One, Princeton, NJ   08540
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (609) 750-2200

 

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $.001 Par Value Per Share   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
Preferred Share Purchase Rights   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:

None

(Title of Class)

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    x

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

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨

   Accelerated filer  ¨    

Non-accelerated filer  ¨ (do not check if a smaller reporting company)

   Smaller reporting company  x

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

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (without admitting that any person whose shares are not included in such calculation is an affiliate) computed by reference to the price at which the common stock was last sold as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was approximately $34,293,454.

As of March 11, 2010, the registrant had 29,966,562 shares of common stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Certain information required in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 26, 2010.

 

 

 


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ORCHID CELLMARK INC.

FORM 10-K

INDEX

 

          Page
   PART I   

ITEM 1.

  

BUSINESS

   1

ITEM 1A.

  

RISK FACTORS

   9

ITEM 1B.

  

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

   20

ITEM 2.

  

PROPERTIES

   20

ITEM 3.

  

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

   21

ITEM 4.

  

[RESERVED]

   22
   PART II   

ITEM 5.

   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES    23

ITEM 6.

   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA    24

ITEM 7.

   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS    25

ITEM 7A.

   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK    43

ITEM 8.

   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA    44

ITEM 9.

   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE    72

ITEM 9A.

   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES    72

ITEM 9B.

   OTHER INFORMATION    73
   PART III   

ITEM 10.

   DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE    74

ITEM 11.

   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION    74

ITEM 12.

   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS    74

ITEM 13.

   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE    74

ITEM 14.

   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES    74
   PART IV   

ITEM 15.

   EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES    75

SIGNATURES

   79


Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1. BUSINESS

The following Business section contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors. See Item 1A. Risk Factors below for a discussion of these factors.

Orchid Cellmark Inc. including all its subsidiaries and affiliates are collectively referred to herein as the “Company,” “us” or “we.”

We are engaged in the provision of DNA testing services that generate genetic profile information by analyzing an organism’s unique genetic identity. We also provide non-DNA forensic laboratory services.

The process of identifying unique variations in a genome is referred to as DNA testing. An individual’s identity can be confirmed with almost absolute certainty through DNA testing. First used to establish human identity in 1985, DNA testing is the standard method used for forensic identification and to confirm paternity and other family relationships. DNA testing is also used in agricultural applications for selective trait breeding and related applications. DNA testing is sometimes also referred to in the industry as DNA fingerprinting, DNA typing, DNA profiling or genotyping.

Our business is primarily focused on DNA testing for human identity. We provide DNA testing services for forensic, family relationship and, to a lesser extent, security applications. Forensic DNA testing is primarily used in the following ways: to establish and maintain DNA profile databases of individuals arrested for or convicted of crimes; to analyze and compare evidence from crime scenes with these databases to identify possible suspects; and to confirm that a suspect committed a particular crime or to exonerate a falsely accused or convicted person. Forensic DNA testing can also be used to confirm a victim’s identity. Family relationship DNA testing is used to establish whether two or more people are genetically related. It is most often used to determine a biological father in a paternity case. It can also be used to confirm a genetic relationship for purposes of immigration, adoption, estate settlement, genealogy and ancestry. DNA testing also is used by individuals and employers in security applications to establish and store a person’s genetic profile for identification purposes in the event of an emergency or accident.

We also provide DNA testing services for agricultural applications, primarily in selective trait breeding. We provide agricultural susceptibility testing to enable farmers to breed sheep resistant to scrapie, a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the nervous systems of sheep and goats. We also provide genetic marker analysis in animals that can be used to confirm relationships.

We have operations in the United States, or the US, and in the United Kingdom, or the UK, and the majority of our current customers are based in these two countries. We provide our DNA testing services to various government agencies, private individuals and commercial companies. During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, we recorded total revenues of $59.1 million, $57.6 million and $60.3 million, respectively, of which $29.6 million, $31.2 million and $30.3 million, respectively, were from our US operations. We recorded international revenues, primarily in the UK, of $ 29.5 million, $26.4 million and $30.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of our revenues in 2009 or 2008. Our former arrangement with LGC Ltd., or LGC, accounted for approximately 21% of our total revenues in 2007.

Our principal executive offices are located at 4390 US Route One, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540. Our telephone number is (609) 750-2200 and our website address is www.orchidcellmark.com. Our Corporate Code of Business Conduct and Ethics as well as our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to these reports, which have been filed with the Securities

 

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and Exchange Commission, or SEC, are available free of charge through the Investor Relations section on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials have been electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The public may also read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may also obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Because we file reports and other information with the SEC electronically, the public may obtain access to those documents at the SEC’s internet website: www.sec.gov. We include our website address in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as an inactive textual reference only.

Background

All living organisms contain DNA, which encodes genetic information in cells. DNA determines the structure, function and behavior of cells and individual hereditary characteristics. DNA was first used to confirm human identity in 1985 and has since been used to revolutionize many applications involving individual identification, particularly in connection with forensic investigations. The introduction of DNA testing into the criminal justice system, both in the US and abroad, has been characterized as the most significant improvement in forensic science since the introduction of fingerprinting over 100 years ago. DNA evidence left behind at a crime scene affords prosecutors a means of identifying a suspect with almost absolute certainty. In addition, DNA evidence has proved to be the best currently available method for a wrongfully accused individual to prove his or her innocence.

After the first phase of the human genome sequence was completed in 2000, attention turned from mapping the sequence of the genome to identifying genetic differences between individuals and applying this knowledge to the healthcare and other related fields. Scientists have analyzed large portions of DNA to determine the sequence of nucleotide bases within the human genome and within the genomes of plant and animal species. Scientists hope to understand and use this molecular level knowledge to transform traditional approaches to medicine, agriculture and other fields. The increasing availability of non-human genomic data is driving the use of genetic variability information for animal identification, which is expected to produce improved characteristics in livestock or crops and protect humans against animal-borne diseases.

Technologies Utilized

All DNA testing currently used for identity purposes examines specific segments of DNA that exhibit variability between different individuals and animals. Two forms of such variability are known as short tandem repeats, or STRs, which we utilize in DNA testing services for forensic, family relationship and security applications, and single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, which we utilize in DNA testing services for agricultural applications and in some of our forensic DNA testing services.

STRs

An STR is a portion of DNA in which small segments are repeated a variable number of times. Typically, there are 10 to 25 possible variations of a given human STR marker, with each person having just one or two variations. By looking at a moderate number of STRs, a DNA profile is determined that is virtually unique for each individual. STRs are the most common genetic markers used in the industry to determine identity in forensic, paternity and security applications.

A DNA profile can be determined from any type of biological specimen containing nuclear DNA, including blood or a tissue sample, such as a cheek swab. These specimens may be used for determining profiles of suspects, victims and criminals and for paternity testing. The STR markers used to establish a person’s identity are selected specifically to be able to confirm identity without inadvertently providing other information about the individual, such as information concerning the individual’s current health or susceptibility to certain diseases or adverse responses to medications.

 

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A DNA profile can also be determined from DNA contained in biological evidence from a crime scene, such as blood stains, semen, hair, skin, bone, teeth and even minute traces of saliva resident on items such as cigarette butts and postage stamps. DNA profiles derived from crime scene evidence can be compared with that of a suspect or victim, and can be catalogued in a database for future comparison, much like fingerprints. DNA testing can also be used to confirm that a suspect committed a particular crime or exonerate a falsely accused or convicted person. In various countries around the world, DNA samples are collected from suspected or convicted criminals, profiled and entered into national databases. Evidence from crime scenes in which no suspect has yet been identified can be analyzed and compared with this database to possibly identify a suspect. In the US, there are 13 standard STR markers that are analyzed by public and private forensic laboratories to establish DNA profiles. These profiles can then be uploaded to the FBI-managed national criminal database known as the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, as well as to individual state databases. In the UK, 10 standard STR markers are used to compile the UK National DNA Database, or NDNAD.

DNA testing may also be used in paternity and other family relationship testing. Since DNA markers are inherited, the profile of a child can be compared with that of the alleged father to confirm or exclude him as the child’s biological father. Similarly, DNA markers can prove family relationships for several other purposes including individuals immigrating to a country or for children being adopted. Individuals and employers have also used DNA testing to establish and store a person’s genetic identity for future reference in the event of an emergency or accident.

SNPs

The second form of variability in DNA involves a change in a SNP, which is the most common form of genetic variation. We use SNPs to determine commercially desirable qualities, such as disease resistance, in animals. Analyzing SNPs in animals can also provide animal breeders with genetic data relating to such characteristics as meat quality and milk production. We also use SNPs for some of our forensic DNA testing services.

Testing Services

In the human identity area, we provide DNA testing services for forensic, family relationship and, to a lesser extent, security applications. In agricultural applications, we provide DNA testing services for selective trait breeding.

Based on our review of publicly available information regarding contract sizes and competitor activity, supplemented by industry publications and third-party market assessment data, we believe we are one of the largest providers of forensic and family relationship testing in the US, and we are also a recognized leading provider of such services in the UK. Based on these same sources, we believe that the US and UK are some of the largest existing markets for DNA testing services today, and the majority of our current customers are based in these countries. We conduct forensic DNA testing primarily for government agencies. We perform family relationship testing services for both government agencies and private individuals. We market security DNA testing services to government agencies, commercial companies and private individuals. We perform agricultural DNA testing services for government agencies and members of the agricultural community. We have four accredited laboratories in the US and one in the UK, which provide all of our DNA testing services. We currently are in the process of consolidating our US testing facilities into two laboratories.

In the US and UK, a significant amount of our current testing activity is under established contracts with a number of different government agencies. These contracts are usually awarded through a sealed bid process and, when awarded, typically have a term from one to three years. We believe that our experience as a reliable provider of services to government agencies is a valued credential that can be used in securing both new contracts and renewing existing contracts.

 

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We intend to continue to develop and evaluate new technologies for enhancing our laboratory processes, including instrumentation, automation and new testing methodologies, which we expect will enable us to reduce our costs and improve the quality of our service offerings. All of the reagents and instruments utilized in our services are highly specialized. We currently purchase the majority of reagents and other components for use in our DNA testing services from a single supplier. While comparable reagent kits and instruments are available from multiple suppliers in the event of a supply problem, switching suppliers would require obtaining the approval of certain of our customers and may necessitate changing instruments on which we perform DNA testing services, which could require significant capital investment.

Human Identity DNA Testing Services

Forensic DNA Testing Services

We are a leading forensic DNA testing provider and are known for the high quality of our services and the expertise of our staff. We test a variety of forensic evidence samples collected at crime scenes, also known as casework. Testing services can implicate or exclude a known suspect, or may, in the absence of a suspect, generate a DNA profile of a perpetrator for use in searching criminal DNA databases. Although the majority of forensic testing services are done for criminal justice agencies, we also provide testing services for defense attorneys. Casework testing is provided on an individual case basis or under contract. Government contract services are usually awarded through a competitive bid process in which specifications are issued in the form of a request for proposal, or RFP, or in the form of an invitation to bid, or ITB, and vendors respond with a sealed bid by a specified date. These contracts typically have a term of one to three years.

In addition to casework testing, we also provide DNA identification profiles of individuals for inclusion in national, state and local criminal DNA databases. In the US, DNA specimens are collected from convicted criminals and certain arrestees and are tested by our laboratories to provide DNA profiles for inclusion in the CODIS database, as well as individual state databases. In the UK, under the UK Police and Criminal Evidence Act, or PACE, DNA specimens are also collected from certain arrestees and are tested in our UK laboratory to provide DNA profiles for inclusion in the NDNAD. DNA evidence from criminal cases with no known suspects may be screened against these databases to help identify a possible suspect.

In the US, as of November 2009, the CODIS database stored the DNA profiles of over 7.6 million convicted offenders and over 294,000 forensic case DNA profiles. To date, more than 100,000 criminal investigations have been aided in the US by matching DNA profiles generated from crime scene evidence against the CODIS database. In the UK, the NDNAD currently stores more than 4.8 million DNA profiles, and through the use of this database more than 364,000 suspect to crime scene matches have been made since the database’s inception in 1995. We anticipate volume growth in CODIS and a relatively stable market for NDNAD work based on legislation in both the US and the UK. In the US, there have been a number of contracts awarded by states to address the backlog of cases with no known suspect for screening against the CODIS database. At this time, 44 states have passed legislation requiring DNA profiling of felons and 21 states have passed legislation requiring DNA profiling of arrestees. DNA testing also is starting to be used in the US for non-violent crimes like burglary and auto theft. The UK has had considerable success using DNA evidence to solve these types of property crimes.

Our forensic testing services are performed in our accredited facilities located in Nashville, Tennessee, Dallas, Texas, and in Abingdon, UK. On January 14, 2010, we announced the consolidation of our Nashville, Tennessee forensic DNA testing facility into our Dallas, Texas facility. We expect to complete this consolidation and close the Nashville facility by August 31, 2010. We believe this consolidation may lead to additional operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability. During the first quarter of 2009, we completed the process of integrating the testing services performed in our former New Orleans facility acquired from ReliaGene Technologies, Inc., or ReliaGene, into our other US facilities and closed the New Orleans facility. We anticipate that our current facilities should serve our near term capacity needs for forensic

 

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testing services. We have selectively focused certain services in specific facilities, where appropriate, to maximize economies of scale, and at the same time have implemented activities to decrease costs and increase capacity as appropriate. As part of the planned consolidation of our US forensic DNA testing facilities into our Dallas, Texas facility, we are establishing a new CODIS laboratory in our Dallas facility. We have leased additional space at our Dallas location to build this new laboratory. To establish this CODIS facility, we will need to make certain capital expenditures, hire additional laboratory personnel, procure and install equipment, validate our CODIS processes and gain applicable forensic accreditations.

Our forensic testing facilities in the US are accredited by the American Society of Crime Lab Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board, or ASCLD/LAB, and the National Forensic Science Testing Center, or NFSTC. All of our forensic testing facilities also maintain ISO 17025 Forensic Quality Services, or FQS-I, accreditation and our UK forensic testing laboratory also maintains ISO 9001:2000 accreditation.

The value of DNA testing in solving crimes is increasingly being recognized and we anticipate that federal and state governments in the US will allocate greater resources to support wider use of DNA testing. This is evidenced by the US legislation known as “The Justice for All Act of 2004,” encompassed in the US DNA Testing Initiative, in which the federal government indicated its intent to allocate more than $1 billion over fiscal years 2005 to 2009 towards reducing the backlog of forensic testing that currently exists in the US criminal justice system. New federal legislation is being considered to reduce the national rape kit backlog and clear thousands of existing rape kits in police and government crime lab storage facilities. Although no statistical database exists for the exact number of untested rape kits held in evidence backlog in the US, some estimates of the backlog put the number between 180,000 and 400,000 kits. For example, nearly 10,000 untested sexual assault kits in Los Angeles were recently identified. Additional federal legislation in the US was passed that allows for a significant expansion of forensic DNA testing of arrestees and includes provisions for DNA testing of illegal immigrants. Through a process directed by the National Institute of Justice, or NIJ, states may apply for federal funds to assist in testing the enormous backlog of untested cases with no known suspect. Portions of the funds awarded to the states are designated for outsourcing to private sector laboratories. Contracts are awarded through the NIJ or by the states receiving the federal funds under competitive procurement. Such contracts are awarded based on a matrix of criteria including price, experience, capacity and quality, and are usually for a term of one to three years with options to extend under certain circumstances. Virtually all contracts require ASCLD/LAB, ISO 17025 FQS-I or NFSTC accreditation.

We provide a full range of forensic DNA testing services to UK police forces, from the routine analysis of DNA samples for submission to the NDNAD to the analysis of evidence for the most serious crimes. This testing is provided through our UK facility. UK government funding for DNA analysis increased significantly in past years through its DNA Expansion Plan and we believe that the UK government and police forces will continue to support the use of DNA testing in forensic cases. In 2008, the UK established the National Procurement Plan, a formalized bidding process under which police forces collectively tender their forensic work for bid.

Prior to April 30, 2008, a significant portion of our UK revenues were derived through our agreement with LGC Ltd., or LGC. LGC is a provider of analytical and diagnostic services and one of our competitors in providing DNA testing services in the UK. Our prior agreement with LGC was terminated effective July 15, 2007 and we then entered into a series of temporary extension agreements with LGC which have terminated. Our focus is on providing our services directly to UK police forces. In 2006, we were successful in winning forensic work with different UK police forces and, in February 2008, we were awarded, overall, a significant portion of the service packages we bid on in the North West/South West and Wales regional tender. We were awarded work from nine of the fourteen police forces that participated in this tender. Under the terms of the award, we are providing forensic services, including DNA testing of database crime scene samples, forensic casework and database testing services under the UK Police and Criminal Evidence Act, or PACE, for multiple police forces that collectively tendered their work. This award followed a rigorous and competitive bidding process. We believe that the actions we have taken to date have enabled us to successfully transition from our prior reliance on revenues derived from LGC to directly providing these services to police forces in the UK. In addition, we

 

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expect the remaining police forces in the UK to solicit initial tenders for forensic services through the UK’s National Procurement Plan by the end of 2011.

Each of our forensic DNA testing facilities has broad capabilities in handling the complex evidence samples related to casework. Further, we have developed, and continue to develop, processes and procedures designed to allow us to handle larger testing volumes to the extent required under specific contracts, or in response to the expanding government initiatives to reduce the backlog of no-suspect cases. We have continued to expand our service offerings in forensic testing with new technology or novel approaches for special cases, new services to help solve non-violent crimes and our DNA Express Service, which provides accelerated testing services at a premium price in the US market. Specialty testing services include Y chromosome STR analysis, which is important in sexual assault analysis, as well as mitochondrial DNA testing and SNP based testing, both of which are beneficial in analyzing very small or extremely degraded DNA samples. We believe that DNA testing of non-violent or property crime evidence is a growth area for our forensics business. Recent studies have shown that the DNA testing of property crime evidence is twice as effective as fingerprinting when both types of evidence are available and DNA testing of property crimes can reduce annual property crime rates.

Family Relationship DNA Testing Services

Family relationship DNA testing is used to establish that two or more people are genetically related, and is most often used to determine a biological father of a particular child in a paternity case. It can also be used to confirm a genetic relationship for purposes of immigration, adoption, estate settlement, genealogy, ancestry and storing genetic profiles. We offer paternity DNA testing services to both governmental agencies and private customers. Laboratory testing is done in our accredited laboratories located in East Lansing, Michigan, Dayton, Ohio and Abingdon, UK. On October 20, 2009, we announced the consolidation of our East Lansing, Michigan paternity testing operations into our Dayton, Ohio facility. We expect to complete this consolidation and close the East Lansing facility by July 1, 2010. We believe this consolidation may lead to additional operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability. We completed the process of integrating the testing services performed in our former New Orleans facility acquired from ReliaGene into our other facilities and closed this facility.

Government paternity testing

The government paternity testing market in the US and UK, which comprises the majority of our paternity testing services, involves tests ordered by state or county governmental agencies commonly referred to as Child Support Enforcement Agencies, or CSEAs. In the US, CSEAs are required by law to identify the biological father of a child if the child is born out of wedlock, or in the case of divorce, if a presumptive father files a successful motion to have biological paternity questioned. In the US, effective October 1, 2006, the federal government decreased its reimbursement percentage of the costs of paternity testing incurred by CSEAs from 90% to 66%, which has caused us to experience severe pricing pressure in our government funded paternity services. The federal government reimburses the CSEAs, provided they abide by certain federal regulations. These regulations, which have aided the expansion of the market, provide incentives to the CSEAs to increase effectiveness and efficiency in their paternity establishment measures. We provide services to our government paternity clients under contracts which typically have a term of one to three years and are awarded in a competitive bidding process. The contract bidding process is highly competitive and the criteria used to determine the awards vary. Typically, specifications are issued in the form of a RFP or ITB and vendors respond with a sealed bid by a specified date. In some cases, contracts are awarded solely on the basis of price, while in other cases, a scoring matrix to achieve the desired mix of price, quality and service is used. In the UK, there is only one child support agency, administered by the Department for Work and Pensions, responsible for helping to identify the biological father of a child. We were selected in a competitive bidding process as the exclusive provider of such paternity testing services to this agency in 2005 and this contract has been extended through May 2010.

 

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Private paternity testing

Private paternity testing is relationship DNA testing marketed and provided to private individuals. Our private paternity DNA testing services are provided in the US and UK to members of the public and legal and healthcare professionals. In addition to offering services directly to individuals, we have relationships with firms and individuals acting as our marketing agents in the US. We typically supply products and materials to these marketing agents and in return, the agent agrees to exclusively utilize our services for their customers seeking private paternity testing.

Immigration and other DNA testing

We also provide testing services to private individuals wishing to immigrate to the US, Canada and the UK, as well as to certain foreign government immigration agencies. This testing is done to verify claimed family relationships for visa applications. We provide this testing under contract or from an approved vendor list.

Our other DNA testing services include testing which is designed to help identify workers on high-risk assignments in the event of an emergency or accident, to confirm Native American genetic lineage for tribal enrollment and DNA profiling to allow individuals to preserve their genetic history.

Agricultural DNA Testing Services

Scrapie Genotyping

Through our facility in the UK, we conduct genotyping services under the UK government’s project to help British farmers breed sheep with reduced susceptibility to the animal disease scrapie. The project has been part of the National Scrapie Plan, or NSP, for the UK developed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, or DEFRA, in conjunction with the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Departments in Scotland and Wales. Scrapie, one of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, is an untreatable, fatal disease, similar to mad-cow disease that affects sheep worldwide. Our genotyping service identifies sheep with SNPs associated with a genetic resistance to scrapie. DEFRA has provided the testing free of charge to sheep farmers as part of the NSP in order to help farmers breed sheep that are less susceptible to this disease. At the end of 2008, over 3 million sheep had been tested under the scheme and a significant improvement in the resistance to scrapie had been established in the UK flock. Our current agreement with DEFRA expires in September 2010. DEFRA will continue to have a requirement for scrapie genotyping for monitoring purposes but we anticipate that it will be at a much reduced volume and it is uncertain that we will be awarded a new contract for such testing. Therefore we expect our future agricultural testing services revenues will not be significant to our operating results.

Intellectual Property

We currently own, or have exclusive licenses to, 36 US issued patents and 72 foreign issued patents. Additionally, we have 4 pending patent applications. Of our existing patent portfolio, both issued and pending, approximately one-half primarily relates to microfluidic technology. The microfluidic technology patents do not relate to our business of DNA testing services. The remainder of our patent portfolio includes methods to identify and utilize SNPs. We have sought and intend to continue to seek patent protection for certain uses of SNPs in the genetic testing field. In cases where novel uses of SNPs have already been patented by a third party, we may need to obtain a license for the use of this technology to make use of or sell services or products using such technology. As of December 31, 2009, the majority of patents that we own or exclusively license have approximately five years remaining before they expire.

Our patent strategy is to protect existing intellectual property relevant to our focused business of DNA testing services. We rely on both patent and trade secret protection of our intellectual property. However, we cannot be certain that patents will be issued from any of our patent applications or that any issued patents will have sufficient breadth to offer meaningful protection. In addition, issued patents owned by us or patents licensed

 

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to us may be successfully challenged, invalidated, circumvented or determined to be unenforceable so that our patent rights would not create an effective competitive barrier. The laws of some foreign countries may not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as US laws. Our existing patent portfolio continues to reflect our international scope and includes pursuing patent protection mainly in North America and Europe.

We continue to maintain a number of out-license agreements that rely on technology we own claimed under US patent numbers 5,888,819, 6,013,431 and 6,004,744. We also provide agricultural testing services that rely on the technology claimed in the aforementioned patents, as well as technology we exclusively license claimed under patent number 5,846,710. We license these patents under exclusive agreements with Saint Louis University.

We further attempt to protect our trade secrets by entering into confidentiality agreements with third parties, employees and consultants. Our employees and certain of our consultants also sign agreements requiring that they assign to us their interests in discoveries, inventions, patents and copyrights arising from their work for us, maintain the confidentiality of our intellectual property and refrain from unfair competition with us during their employment and, in some cases, for a period of time after their employment with us, which includes solicitation of our employees and customers. We cannot assure you that these agreements will not be breached or invalidated. In addition, we cannot assure you that third parties will not independently discover or invent competing technologies or reverse engineer our trade secrets or other technologies.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains references to some of our trademarked products and services, for which we have filed registration applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office. All other trademarks or trade names referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are the property of their respective owners.

Government Regulation

In the US, the paternity and forensic testing industries are not regulated by any governmental agency. Rather, each industry establishes and maintains standards and quality through voluntary third-party accreditation. The most widely recognized body covering paternity testing is the American Association of Blood Banks, or AABB. For forensic testing, the principal US entities that afford accreditation are ASCLD/LAB and NFSTC. All of our US facilities are accredited by the appropriate agency relative to the type of testing performed at that facility. Many of our contracts require us to maintain some or all of these accreditations.

In the UK, the NDNAD requires us, as a provider of forensic testing in the UK, to comply with the ISO 17025 standards described above.

In the US and UK, we are also subject to numerous environmental and safety laws and regulations, including those governing the use and disposal of hazardous materials. The cost of any possible violation of these regulations could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Employees

As of December 31, 2009, we had 466 employees. None of our employees are represented by a collective bargaining agreement, nor have we experienced any work stoppages. We believe that we maintain good relationships with our employees. Our success will depend in part on our ability to attract and retain skilled and experienced employees, including our ability to recruit an adequate number of trained DNA analysts.

Competition

In each of our markets, we compete with other companies offering services that are similar to those that we offer. In addition, in the US, government laboratories also provide forensic DNA testing services for their jurisdictions, which is a significant share of the testing done in the US. Some of our competitors have greater

 

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financial, operational, sales and marketing resources and more experience in research and development and commercialization than we have. Other competitors have been acquired during the last 18 months by private equity firms and may have additional resources through such acquisitions. Moreover, some competitors may have greater name recognition than we do, and may offer discounts on their services or products as a competitive tactic.

In the field of forensic DNA testing, our competitors include the following entities: GlobalOptions Group, Sorenson Genomics and Laboratory Corporation of America in the US, along with Forensic Science Service, LGC and Key Forensics in the UK. Our competitors in the field of family relationship testing include the following entities: Laboratory Corporation of America, DNA Diagnostics, Sorenson Genomics and Paternity Testing Corporation in the US, along with Crucial Genetics, Anglia DNA, LGC, Forensic Science Service, DadCheck, DNA Bioscience, The Paternity Company, DNA Now and DNA Diagnostics in the UK.

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

If any of the matters included in the following risks were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or prospects could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the value of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business

If we fail to maintain the service contracts we have with various governmental agencies or fail to enter into additional contracts, we would lose a significant source of revenues.

We currently derive almost all of our revenues from the forensic, family relationship and agricultural testing fields. These services are heavily dependent upon contracts with various governmental agencies, which are typically open to bids and usually have a term from one to three years. The process and criteria for these awards are typically complex and highly competitive, particularly with respect to the price of the services offered. Bid awards also are subject to protests which can be expensive to prosecute or defend and which may delay the awarding of a contract. Although we have not previously been debarred or disqualified for breach or non-performance of any contract, if such debarment or disqualification were to occur, we may not be awarded future government contracts. For example, we expect the police forces in the UK to solicit initial tenders for forensic services through the UK’s National Procurement Plan by the end of 2011. If we are unable to successfully bid on a significant portion of this work, our UK revenues and results of operations could be adversely affected. We may not be able to maintain any of our existing governmental contracts or be the successful bidder on any additional governmental contracts which may become available in the future, or we may not be able to negotiate terms acceptable to us in connection with any governmental contract awarded to us, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

The markets in which we participate are very competitive and price sensitive, and if we do not compete effectively, our operating results may be harmed.

The markets for DNA testing services in the US and the UK are very competitive and we expect competition to intensify in the future. Pricing pressures and increased competition generally could result in reduced sales, reduced margins or our failure to increase market share. In each of our markets, we compete with other companies offering services that are similar to those that we offer. In both the US and the UK, we have experienced lower average selling prices per sample as a result of significant price competition. In addition, in the US, government laboratories also provide forensic DNA testing services for their jurisdictions, which is a significant portion of all forensic DNA testing done in the US. Some of our competitors have greater financial, operational, sales and marketing resources and more experience in research and development and commercialization than us. Other competitors have been acquired during the last 18 months by private equity firms and may have additional resources through such acquisitions. Moreover, some competitors may have greater name recognition than us, and may offer discounts on their services or products as a competitive tactic.

 

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Many of our customers, or the contracts on which we bid, are price sensitive, and a critical aspect of our business is determining the appropriate prices for our services. As the market for our services matures, or as new competitors compete with our services, we may be unable to renew our agreements with existing customers, attract new customers at the same price or based on the same pricing model as previously used, or win competitive bids with governmental agencies. As a result, it is possible that competitive dynamics in our market may require us to change our pricing model or reduce our prices, which could harm our revenue, gross margin and operating results. In addition, our ability to obtain awards under the UK’s National Procurement Plan will directly impact our UK revenues over the next few years, and if our bidding under this plan is unsuccessful, our business, results of operation and financial condition could be adversely impacted.

We cannot guarantee the receipt of work or revenues from our government contracts.

We regularly compete in an open bid forum in order to secure or renew contracts with various law enforcement and governmental agencies for the provision of DNA-based testing services. A contract award may be subject to funding obligations by the applicable government and there can be no assurances that such funding will be renewed. Many contracts with governmental agencies allow for the agency to terminate a contract at any time if funding is not available to pay for our services. There also may be operational factors that disrupt the flow of work to us. For example, a previous shipment of samples from a state lab under a CODIS contract was delayed because the state did not have adequate personnel to prepare the samples for shipment to our test facility. Thus, we are not always able to rely on a fixed amount of revenue based on services provided under these contracts. These administrative and operational issues are beyond our control and may delay the receipt of work under an award, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition during a given fiscal period.

We cannot guarantee that we will be awarded a significant portion of the service packages under the UK’s National Procurement Plan.

We expect the police forces in the UK to solicit initial tenders for forensics services through the UK’s National Procurement Plan, a formalized bidding process implemented in 2008, by the end of 2011. Although we were awarded a significant portion of the service packages we bid on in the North West/South West and Wales regional tender, we cannot guarantee that we will win a significant portion of the service packages under the National Procurement Plan. If we are unsuccessful in securing a sufficient number of service packages under the National Procurement Plan, our results of operations and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.

If we fail to provide adequate service levels to police forces under the U.K. National Procurement Plan, we may be required to issue service credits which would reduce the amounts payable for our services and adversely affect our business.

Under the National Procurement Plan in the U.K., we are contractually obligated to meet certain service levels, such as turnaround time, when delivering forensic services to participating police forces. If we fail to meet these service levels, the applicable police force is entitled to a service credit which reduces the amount payable to us by 2% to 10% depending on the degree of the service failure. In such event, the amounts payable for our services could be significantly reduced and our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Work awarded to us in the UK may be subject to unanticipated TUPE expenses.

DNA testing work awarded to us in the UK may be subject to the hiring or compensatory obligations under the UK’s Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment), or TUPE, regulations. TUPE is the UK employment legislation that governs the transfer of employment obligations from one party to another. If we are unable to properly anticipate the amount of TUPE-related expenses, we may not realize the benefits of a DNA

 

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testing contract awarded to us. If we are obligated to pay a significant amount of TUPE-related expenses in connection with any award, our results of operations financial condition could be adversely affected.

International sales are subject to increased costs and other risks, which could affect our revenues.

Our business includes international sales which are subject to certain inherent risks, including difficulties in collecting accounts receivable, potentially longer payment cycles, increased costs associated with maintaining international marketing efforts, currency fluctuations as they impact reported results, changes in regulatory requirements and difficulties in enforcement of contractual obligations and intellectual property rights. During 2009, we derived approximately 50% of our revenues from international sales. The significant percentage of our revenue derived from our UK operations makes us vulnerable to future fluctuations in the exchange rate. For the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to 2008, our UK revenues were unfavorably impacted approximately 15% as a result of the exchange rate movement of the British pound as compared to the US dollar, and future material adverse exchange rate movements would have an additional unfavorable translation impact on our consolidated financial results.

If general economic trends continue to decline, trends in government spending and, therefore, demand for DNA testing services may change and reduce demand for our services, which would have a materially negative impact on our business.

A majority of our revenue is derived from contracts with various law enforcement and governmental agencies for the provision of DNA-based testing services. Many national, state and local government entities are currently experiencing severe financial distress due to global economic conditions. Current economic conditions may adversely affect the ability of our government customers to fund their operating budgets. During the year ended December 31, 2009, a few government customers sought price reductions from all vendors and suppliers, including DNA testing providers like us because of budgetary concerns. As a result our government customers may reduce budgets, which could have a negative effect on our revenue, gross margin and operating results. Any adverse impact of economic conditions on us is difficult to predict but it may result in reductions in demand for our DNA testing services. If events negatively impact the economy, our results of operations may be adversely affected.

Changes in outsourcing trends for forensic DNA testing could adversely affect our operating results and growth rate.

Our forensic revenues depend greatly on the expenditures made by government entities for DNA testing for forensic casework and CODIS. Accordingly, economic factors and industry trends that affect our government customers also affect our business. For example, the practice of many state governments in the US has been to engage outside organizations like us to conduct forensic DNA testing. This practice has grown significantly in the last decade, and we have benefited from this trend. However, if this trend was to change and states were to reduce the amount of forensic DNA testing they outsource, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

If government funding is not available to reduce the rape kit backlog or if this work is not outsourced to private laboratories, our business may be adversely affected.

A significant portion of our North American forensic revenue in 2009 was derived from contracts with various law enforcement and governmental agencies for the provision of DNA testing services related to rape kits held in evidence backlog. Although the Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on this topic in December 2009, there is no assurance that the reduction of the rape kit backlog will be adequately funded by federal or state governments or that such work will be outsourced to private laboratories such as us. If government funding is not made available to reduce the rape kit backlog or if such rape kits are not outsourced to private laboratories such as us, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

 

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Recent turmoil across various sectors of the financial markets may negatively impact our business.

In recent years, the various sectors of the credit markets and the financial services industry have been experiencing a period of unprecedented turmoil and upheaval characterized by the disruption in credit markets and availability of credit and other financing, the failure, bankruptcy, collapse or sale of various financial institutions and an unprecedented level of intervention from the US and foreign governments. While the ultimate outcome of these events cannot be predicted, they may have a material adverse effect on our ability to obtain financing necessary to effectively execute our long-term strategies, and this could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The change in the method of awarding CODIS contracts has adversely affected our CODIS business.

Prior to 2008, the NIJ administered all federally-funded CODIS awards to the participating states, including the selection of the DNA testing vendor. Starting in 2008, however, the states were given the option to apply for grants from the NIJ and administer the awards directly. Each state would then select the vendor, or vendors, to process their DNA samples, rather than the NIJ making that selection. As a result of this new award option, the number of states issuing CODIS bids in 2008 and 2009 decreased significantly. We believe that backlogs of DNA samples at the state level are increasing and that states will eventually move to administer the awards in order to bring down backlogs. We also believe that excess CODIS capacity has been built-up in the private sector and this may affect pricing in the future. If states do not seek competitive bids for this CODIS work in a timely manner or if we are unsuccessful in securing a sufficient number of CODIS awards at acceptable prices in the future, our results of operations and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.

We are currently consolidating our US paternity testing and forensic testing operations, and if we fail to manage these consolidations, our business may suffer.

We currently are consolidating our US laboratory testing facilities. On October 20, 2009, we announced the consolidation of our East Lansing, Michigan paternity testing operations into our Dayton, Ohio facility. We expect to complete this consolidation and close our East Lansing facility by July 1, 2010. On January 14, 2010, we announced the consolidation of our Nashville, Tennessee forensic DNA testing facility to our Dallas, Texas facility. We expect to complete this consolidation and close our Nashville facility by August 31, 2010. We believe these consolidations may lead to additional operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability. We currently expect to incur cash expenditures in connection with these consolidations of $1.8 million to $2.3 million in the aggregate. These consolidations could strain our operational, human and financial resources. If we fail to properly manage these consolidations, our results of operations and financial condition might be adversely affected. Consolidating facilities also includes transferring certain customer work from one facility to another. A failure to properly manage these customer transfers could result in the loss of business. In order to manage these consolidations, we must:

 

   

successfully integrate additional work at our existing paternity testing and forensic testing facilities;

 

   

successfully integrate new and transferring employees into our expanded testing facilities in Dayton, Ohio and Dallas, Texas;

 

   

continue to improve operating efficiencies;

 

   

successfully transfer customer work from our East Lansing Michigan facility to our Dayton, Ohio facility and from our Nashville, Tennessee facility to our Dallas, Texas facility;

 

   

successfully expand our Dallas, Texas facility to establish a dedicated CODIS laboratory that is accredited and capable of full production testing; and

 

   

successfully attract additional technical personnel for our testing facilities in Dayton, Ohio and Dallas, Texas.

 

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We currently are building a new CODIS laboratory at our Dallas, Texas facility, and if we fail to properly manage the establishment of this new laboratory, our business may suffer.

As part of the consolidation of our US forensic testing laboratories, we are establishing a new CODIS laboratory in our Dallas, Texas facility. We have leased additional space at our Dallas location and will need to make certain capital expenditures to build this new laboratory. If we fail to properly manage the establishment of this new CODIS laboratory, our results of operations and financial condition might be adversely affected. In order to manage the establishment of this new CODIS laboratory, we must:

 

   

successfully transfer laboratory personnel from our Nashville facility to the Dallas facility;

 

   

successfully hire additional laboratory personnel for this new facility;

 

   

successfully procure and install laboratory equipment in the new CODIS facility;

 

   

successfully validate our CODIS processes for the new laboratory; and

 

   

successfully gain applicable forensic accreditations.

If we fail to build this new facility on a timely basis or fail to obtain the proper forensic accreditations, our business might be adversely affected.

If we fail to comply with industry regulations and accreditations, we may not be able to provide certain services at our laboratories.

All of our laboratory facilities must comply with various industry regulations and accreditation standards in order to continue to provide our paternity testing, forensic casework testing and CODIS testing. For example, our paternity laboratories in the U.S. have obtained accreditation from the AABB in order to provide paternity testing, and our forensic laboratories in the U.S. are accredited by from ASCLD/LAB and NFSTC. In addition, our UK laboratory must maintain ISO 17025 accreditation in order to continue to provide forensic testing services. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our accreditations with any of these authorities as requirements and standards may change from time to time. The loss of our accreditations could adversely affect our existing contracts which, in many cases, require that we maintain these accreditations, and could adversely affect our ability to enter into new contracts. As a result the loss of any such accreditation, our revenues could be eliminated or significantly reduced.

Our testing activities also involve the controlled use of hazardous materials. We are subject to laws and regulations governing the use, storage, handling and disposal of such materials and certain waste products, as well as the conveyance, processing and storage of biological specimens. If we were in violation of any laws or regulations pertaining to the handling or use of hazardous materials, the remediation costs could be significant and could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We currently rely primarily on a single supplier for the majority of reagents and other components we need for the performance of our DNA testing services.

We utilize one supplier through which we purchase the majority of reagents and other components for use in our DNA testing services. In the event that we are unable to obtain supplies from this supplier, we do have the ability to purchase reagents and components from other suppliers. However, if we had to switch to a different supplier or multiple suppliers, we would be required to obtain the approval of certain of our customers and we also may be required to change the instruments on which we perform DNA testing services, which could require significant capital investment. In addition, we receive and expect to continue to receive substantial discounts based upon reaching a specific threshold of purchases per year of reagents and other components from our current supplier. If we fail to reach the required threshold of purchases in any one year, our future discounts on purchases of reagents and other components from our current supplier would decrease, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

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Our future sales and marketing efforts may not be successful in achieving revenue growth.

We plan to continue to market our services to governmental agencies, commercial companies and private individuals. Our ability to successfully obtain new business, and where appropriate, enter into and maintain agreements with our customers, depends in part on the quality and pricing of our services. If we are unable to successfully implement our marketing plans, fail to maintain or enhance the quality of our services, or fail to offer attractive pricing for our services, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

We have limited sales and marketing resources, and as a result, we may not achieve our expected levels of revenue.

We currently have limited sales and marketing resources and we are subject to the possibility that our competitors may recruit our employees. As of December 31, 2009, only one of our key sales and marketing employees had an employment contract with us. We also do not maintain key man life insurance policies for any of our key sales and marketing employees. Our sales and marketing resources are used to market our services to governmental agencies, commercial companies and private individuals. If our limited sales and marketing resources become inadequate, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Future acquisitions or mergers could disrupt our ongoing operations, increase our expenses and adversely affect our revenues.

Although we have no commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions or mergers at present, we anticipate that a portion of our future growth may be accomplished either by acquiring or merging with existing businesses. Factors that will affect the success of any potential acquisition or merger to be made by us include our ability to integrate acquired personnel, operations, products and technologies into our organization effectively, to motivate personnel and to retain customers of acquired or merged businesses. We may not be able to identify suitable acquisition or merger opportunities, obtain necessary financing for an acquisition on acceptable terms or successfully integrate acquired personnel and operations. While we have not experienced material disruption to our ongoing business or distraction to our management and employees as a result of past acquisitions, we may experience such disruptions or distractions in the future.

We had an accumulated deficit of $326 million as of December 31, 2009. If we fail to reach profitability and need to raise additional capital to fund our current and future operating plans or obtain such capital on unfavorable terms, then we may have to take further cost-cutting measures.

We have expended significant resources developing our facilities and funding commercialization activities. As a result, we have incurred significant losses to date. We had net losses of $1.5 million, $4.5 million and $3.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. We anticipate that our existing cash on hand will be sufficient to fund our operations at least through the next twelve months. If we fail to reach cash flow self sufficiency, however, we may need to raise additional funds through the sale of equity, convertible debt or equity-linked securities and we may have to further review our existing operations to determine new cost cutting measures, such as further consolidation of operational facilities and reductions in staff. We may not be able to raise additional funds or raise funds on terms that are acceptable to us. If financing is not available to us in the future, or is not available on terms acceptable to us, we may not be able to fund our future operating needs. If we raise funds through equity or convertible securities, our stockholders may experience dilution and our stock price may decline.

We may be held liable for any inaccuracies associated with our services, which may require us to defend ourselves in costly litigation.

We provide forensic, family relationship and agricultural testing services. Claims may be brought against us for incorrect identification of family relationships or other inaccuracies. Litigation of these claims in most cases

 

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is covered by our existing insurance policies. However, we could expend significant funds during any litigation proceeding brought against us and litigation can be a distraction to management and our operations. If a court were to require us to pay damages that are not covered by our existing insurance policies, the amount of such damages could significantly harm our financial condition, and even if covered, damages could exceed our insurance policy coverage limits. Our current professional liability insurance policy contains a maximum coverage limitation of $10 million. We have been named a defendant in a number of minor suits relating to our DNA testing services, including claims of incorrect results. However, none of the outcomes of these suits have had a material adverse effect on our business to date.

Our improvement of existing technologies and our ability to capture and develop future technologies to be utilized in our service offerings may not be commercially successful, which could adversely affect our revenues.

We are currently developing and commercializing a limited number of services based on our technologies in DNA testing of humans and for agricultural purposes. These services involve uses of products, software and technologies that require validation for commercial application, and we cannot assure you that we or our customers will be able to recognize a cost-effective, commercial benefit in using our technology. In addition, any assays we develop utilizing SNP analysis technology may not be useful in assisting in food safety testing. Only a limited number of companies have developed or commercialized services based on SNP technology to date. Accordingly, even if we or our customers are successful in developing effective assays utilizing SNP technology for food safety testing, we cannot assure you that these discoveries will lead to commercially successful service offerings. If we fail to successfully develop our SNP technologies or any services based on such technologies, we may not achieve a competitive position in the market.

We may be unable to hire an adequate number of DNA analysts or successfully apply new technology.

Our growth and future operating results will depend, in part, upon our ability to recruit an adequate number of trained DNA analysts. Our growth and future operating results will also depend, in part, upon our ability to apply new technologies to automate and improve our DNA testing services to take advantage of new technologies. There can be no assurance that our development efforts will result in any additional commercially viable or successful improvements or efficiencies to our testing processes. Any potential improvements to the testing process may require substantial additional investment and possibly regulatory approvals, prior to implementation. Our inability to recruit trained DNA analysts, attract laboratory personnel for our expanded facility in Dallas, Texas, develop improvements to our testing processes, increase efficiencies, or achieve market acceptance of such improvements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our ability to provide services may be seriously impaired by the occurrence of a natural disaster affecting any one or more of our laboratories.

Should we experience the occurrence of a natural disaster affecting one or more of our laboratories such that we would be unable to continue to provide services out of a particular facility for an extended period of time, and we were not able to scale up operations at our other facilities in order to continue to provide such services, we would be at risk of losing significant contractual revenue from governmental agencies. Many of our governmental agency contracts allow for the agency to terminate the contract early if we become unable to continue to render such services for an extended period of time, usually 90 days or more, for any reason, including the occurrence of a natural disaster. While we have multiple facilities, and may be able to shift operations from one facility to another in the event of a natural disaster, thereby mitigating the effects thereof, we cannot assure you that any such transition will occur or be successful, particularly in light of our ongoing consolidation of our US facilities.

 

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Although we carry insurance for recovery in the instance of a natural disaster, the limits of this insurance are $24 million, and it is possible that our coverage will not be the same in all locations or that a loss in such an instance could exceed our ability to recover such costs.

Our success will depend partly on our ability to operate without misappropriating the intellectual property rights of others.

We may be sued for infringing, or may initiate litigation to determine that we are not infringing, on the intellectual property rights of others. Intellectual property litigation is costly, and could adversely affect our results of operations. If we do not prevail in any intellectual property litigation, we might have to pay damages, and we could be required to stop the infringing activity, or be required to obtain a license to or design around the intellectual property in question. If we are unable to obtain a required license on acceptable terms, or are unable to practice non-infringing technologies or processes, we may be unable to sell some of our services, which would result in reduced revenues. We are named a defendant in a patent litigation matter. However, we believe we had the right to practice such technology by virtue of a third-party agreement, and we are actively engaged in defending this litigation. Other than the foregoing, we are not aware of any assertions that we are misappropriating the intellectual property rights of others.

The scope of our issued patents may not provide us with adequate protection of our intellectual property, which would harm our competitive position.

Any issued patents that cover our proprietary technologies may not provide us with substantial protection or be commercially beneficial to us. In addition, we may not be able to obtain new patents for technologies and services material to our business. The issuance of a patent may be challenged with respect to its validity or its enforceability. The US Patent and Trademark Office (or a court of appropriate jurisdiction), or any one of a number of foreign patent offices where we have pursued patent protection, may invalidate one or more of our patents. In addition, third parties may have patents of their own which could, if asserted, prevent us from practicing our proprietary technologies, including the methods we use to conduct DNA testing. If we are otherwise unable to practice our patented technologies, we may not be able to commercialize our technologies or services.

We may need to initiate lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents and other intellectual property rights, which could result in the forfeiture of these rights.

In order to protect or enforce our patent rights, we may need to initiate patent litigation against third parties. These lawsuits could be expensive, take significant time and divert management’s attention from other business concerns. These lawsuits could result in the invalidation or a limitation in the scope of our patents or forfeiture of the rights associated with our patents. We cannot assure you that we will prevail in any future litigation or that a court will not find damages or award other remedies in favor of the opposing party in any of these suits. We also may not have the resources to aggressively protect and enforce existing protection. During the course of these suits, there may be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions and other interim proceedings or developments in the litigation. Securities analysts or investors may perceive these announcements to be negative, which could cause the market price of our stock to decline.

Other rights and measures that we rely upon to protect our intellectual property may not be adequate to protect our services and could reduce our ability to compete in the market.

In addition to patents, we rely on a combination of trade secrets, copyright and trademark laws, non-disclosure agreements and other contractual provisions and technical measures to protect our intellectual property rights. While we require employees, collaborators, consultants and other third parties to enter into confidentiality and/or non-disclosure agreements where appropriate, any of the following could still occur:

 

   

the agreements may be breached;

 

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we may have inadequate remedies for any breach;

 

   

proprietary information could be disclosed to our competitors; or

 

   

others may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or disclose such technologies.

To our knowledge, we have never been materially harmed by a breach under any of the circumstances listed above. However, if our intellectual property is disclosed or misappropriated, it would harm both our ability to protect our rights and our competitive position. The pursuit of a remedy for such an alleged breach may require a substantial amount of our resources, time, effort and expenses.

We may be required to record additional significant charges to earnings if our goodwill becomes impaired.

Under generally accepted accounting principles in the US, we review our goodwill for impairment each year as of December 31 and when certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of our goodwill may not be recoverable, we must record a charge against our earnings for the period in question. Our goodwill may become impaired due to factors such as a decline in our stock price and market capitalization, reduced estimates of future cash flows and slower growth rates in our industry. Estimates of future cash flows are based on long-term financial forecasts of our operations, which are subject to change if actual results differ materially from the estimates. If we are required to record a charge to earnings in our financial statements during a period in which an impairment of our goodwill is determined to exist, our results of operations for the period would be negatively impacted.

Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and other tax benefits may be limited.

As of December 31, 2009, we had $250.0 million and $66.2 million of federal and state net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards, respectively, available to offset future taxable income. Some of our federal and state NOL carryforwards have begun to expire. Utilization of our NOL carryforwards to offset future taxable income, if any, may be substantially limited due to the “change of ownership” provisions in the Tax Reform Act of 1986, or the Act. The Act provides for a limitation on the annual use of NOL carryforwards and research and development credits following certain ownership changes, as defined by the Act, which could significantly limit our ability to utilize or sell these carryforwards and research and development credits. We have determined that an ownership change, as defined by the Act, occurred in 1999 and as a result $41.4 million of our NOL carryforwards are limited. We may have experienced other ownership changes as a result of past financings and may experience others in connection with future financings. Accordingly, our ability to utilize the aforementioned federal NOL carryforwards may be further limited.

Risks Associated with Our Common Stock

Future issuance of our securities may dilute the ownership interests of our stockholders.

Our Board of Directors has the authority to issue shares of preferred stock and to determine the price, preferences, privileges and other terms of those shares. Our Board of Directors may exercise this authority without any further approval of our stockholders. Additionally, if we need to raise additional funds through the sale of equity, convertible debt or equity-linked securities, your percentage ownership in us on a diluted basis will be reduced. These transactions may dilute the value of our outstanding common stock. We may also issue securities that have rights, preferences and privileges senior to our common stock.

There are a limited number of stockholders who have significant control over our common stock, allowing them to have significant influence over the outcome of all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, which may conflict with the interests of our other stockholders.

Four of our principal stockholders (stockholders owning 5% or more of our common stock) beneficially owned approximately 41% of the outstanding shares of common stock at December 31, 2009, and such

 

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stockholders will have significant influence over the outcome of all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of our directors and other corporate actions. In addition, such influence by these stockholders could have the effect of delaying or impeding a change in control and could have an adverse effect on the market price of our stock.

We have various mechanisms in place that stockholders may not consider favorable, which may discourage takeover attempts and may prevent or frustrate attempts by stockholders to change our direction or management.

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as well as Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and our adoption of a stockholder rights plan, may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control or the ability of stockholders to change our direction or management, even if the changes would be beneficial to stockholders. These provisions:

 

   

authorize the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock that could be designated and issued by our Board of Directors to increase the number of outstanding shares and thwart a takeover attempt;

 

   

create a classified board of directors with staggered, three-year terms, which may lengthen the time required to gain control of our Board of Directors;

 

   

prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors, which will allow a majority of stockholders to control the election of all directors;

 

   

require super-majority voting to effect certain amendments to our certificate of incorporation and by-laws;

 

   

limit who may call special meetings of stockholders;

 

   

prohibit stockholder action by written consent, which requires all stockholder actions to be taken at a meeting of stockholders; and

 

   

establish advance notice requirements for nominations of candidates for election to our Board of Directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings.

In addition, pursuant to our stockholder rights plan, each share of our common stock has an associated preferred share purchase right. The rights will not trade separately from the common stock until, and are generally exercisable only upon, the acquisition or the potential acquisition through tender offer by a person or group of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock.

Our stock price has been, and likely will continue to be, volatile and your investment may suffer a decline in value.

The market prices for securities of companies quoted on The NASDAQ Stock Market, or NASDAQ, including our market price, have in the past been, and are likely to continue in the future to be, very volatile. Between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009, the closing price of our common stock ranged from a low of $0.47 to a high of $5.50. The market price of our common stock has been, and likely will continue to be, subject to substantial volatility depending upon many factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

 

   

announcements regarding the results of development efforts by us or our competitors;

 

   

announcements regarding the acquisition of technologies or companies by us or our competitors;

 

   

changes in our existing development or licensing arrangements or formation of new development or licensing arrangements;

 

   

the loss of existing business;

 

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our inability to secure new contractual relationships for our DNA testing services or new volume of testing samples at acceptable prices;

 

   

technological innovations or new service offerings developed by us or our competitors;

 

   

changes in our intellectual property portfolio;

 

   

developments or disputes concerning our proprietary rights;

 

   

issuance of new or changed securities analysts’ reports and/or recommendations applicable to us;

 

   

additions or departures of our key personnel;

 

   

our operating losses; and

 

   

continued economic uncertainty with respect to the valuation of certain technology companies and other market conditions.

The liquidity of our common stock could be adversely affected if we are delisted from the NASDAQ Global Market.

Pursuant to NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5810, we are required to have a minimum bid price of at least $1.00. The closing price of our common stock was below $1.00 per share from November 20, 2008 through April 29, 2009. The closing price of our common stock has remained above $1.00 per share since May 5, 2009 and we currently are in compliance with this listing requirement. On March 1, 2010, the closing price of our common stock was $1.42.

There can be no assurance, however, that the closing price of our common stock will remain above $1.00 per share or that we will otherwise be able to maintain the listing of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market. Delisting from NASDAQ would make trading our common stock more difficult for investors, potentially leading to further declines in our share price. Without a NASDAQ listing, stockholders may have a difficult time getting a quote for the sale or purchase of our stock, the sale or purchase of our stock would likely be made more difficult and the trading volume and liquidity of our stock would likely decline. Delisting from NASDAQ would also result in negative publicity and would also make it more difficult for us to raise additional capital. The absence of such a listing may adversely affect the acceptance of our common stock as currency or the value accorded it by other parties. Further, if we are delisted, we would also incur additional costs under state blue sky laws in connection with any sales of our securities. These requirements could severely limit the market liquidity of our common stock and the ability of our stockholders to sell our common stock in the secondary market.

If faced with delisting, we would have an opportunity to appeal NASDAQ’s determination or we may submit an application to transfer the listing of our common stock to the NASDAQ Capital Market. Alternatively, if our common stock is delisted by NASDAQ, our common stock would be eligible to trade on the OTC Bulletin Board, another over-the-counter quotation system, or on the pink sheets where an investor may find it more difficult to dispose of or obtain accurate quotations as to the market value of our common stock. We cannot assure you that our common stock, if delisted from the NASDAQ Global Market, will be listed on a national securities exchange, a national quotation service, the OTC Bulletin Board or the pink sheets.

If we are delisted from the NASDAQ Global Market and we are not able to transfer the listing of our common stock to the NASDAQ Capital Market, our common stock likely will become a “penny stock.” In general, regulations of the SEC define a “penny stock” to be an equity security that is not listed on a national securities exchange and that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. If our common stock becomes a penny stock, additional sales practice requirements would be imposed on broker-dealers that sell such securities to persons other than certain qualified investors. For transactions involving a penny stock, unless exempt, a broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to the sale. In addition, the rules on penny stocks

 

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require delivery, prior to and after any penny stock transaction, of disclosures required by the SEC. If our common stock were subject to the rules on penny stocks, the market liquidity for our common stock could be severely and adversely affected. Accordingly, the ability of holders of our common stock to sell their shares in the secondary market may also be adversely affected.

Fluctuations in our operating results may negatively impact our stock price.

Our revenues and results of operations have fluctuated significantly in the past and these fluctuations are likely to continue in the future due to a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control. These factors include:

 

   

the timing of US federal funding for forensic DNA testing through the NIJ and that of state agencies;

 

   

our ability to secure new contractual relationships for forensic, family relationship and agricultural testing or retain existing relationships upon contract expirations;

 

   

the successful consolidation of our US operations;

 

   

the volume and timing of testing samples received in our laboratories for testing services;

 

   

the number of trained DNA analysts which are available to process the samples for testing services;

 

   

the number, timing and significance of new services introduced by our competitors;

 

   

our ability to develop, market and introduce new services on a timely basis;

 

   

our ability to maintain and grow the volume of forensic testing services in the UK through directly providing our services to UK police forces and winning awards under the National Procurement Plan;

 

   

changes in the cost, quality and availability of intellectual property and components required to perform our services; and

 

   

availability of commercial and government funding to researchers who use our services.

Fixed operating costs associated with our technologies and services, as well as personnel costs, marketing and sales programs and overhead costs, account for a substantial portion of our operating expenses. We cannot adjust these expenses quickly in the short term. If our testing volumes and related pricing decline due to market pressure, our revenues will decline and we may not be able to reduce our operating expenses accordingly. Our loss of revenues and failure to reduce operating expenses would harm our operating results. In addition, market and other conditions may require certain non-cash charges such as impairment charges related to long-lived assets and restructuring charges to be recorded by us in future periods. If our operating results in any quarter or quarters fail to meet the expectations of public market analysts or investors, the market price of our common stock is likely to fall. We cannot assure you that your investment in our common stock will not fluctuate significantly.

One or more of these factors or events could significantly harm our business and cause a decline in the price of our common stock in the public market.

Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

Item 2. PROPERTIES

We lease an approximately 11,000 square foot facility in Princeton, New Jersey, which serves as our corporate headquarters. We lease an approximately 26,000 square foot facility in Dallas, Texas, an approximately 18,000 square foot facility in Nashville, Tennessee, an approximately 17,000 square foot facility in Dayton, Ohio

 

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and an approximately 9,000 square foot facility in East Lansing, Michigan. In October 2009 and January 2010, we announced the consolidation of our US paternity testing services and US forensic testing services, respectively. As a result of these consolidations, we are in the process of closing our East Lancing, Michigan facility and consolidating its operations into our Dayton, Ohio facility and closing our Nashville, Tennessee facility and consolidating its operations into our Dallas, Texas facility. We are also building out a new CODIS laboratory in our Dallas facility. We expect these consolidations and build out to be completed in the third quarter of 2010. We also completed the closure of our facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, acquired as part of our purchase of ReliaGene, in the first quarter of 2010. In addition, we lease a total of approximately 58,000 square feet in two UK locations, Abingdon, which houses our UK headquarters and laboratories, and Chorley, our satellite facility that we set up to help service the work we were awarded under North West/South West and Wales regional tender. We currently believe our facilities are sufficient to meet our space requirements through at least the next twelve months.

Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On or about November 21, 2001, a complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York naming us as a defendant, along with certain of our former officers and underwriters. An amended complaint was filed on April 19, 2002. The complaint, as amended, purportedly was filed on behalf of persons purchasing our stock between May 4, 2000 and December 6, 2000, and alleges violations of Sections 11, 12(a)(2) and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. The amended complaint alleges that, in connection with our May 5, 2000 initial public offering, or IPO, the defendants failed to disclose additional and excessive commissions purportedly solicited by and paid to the underwriter defendants in exchange for allocating shares of our stock to preferred customers and alleged agreements among the underwriter defendants and preferred customers tying the allocation of IPO shares to agreements to make additional aftermarket purchases at pre-determined prices. Plaintiffs claim that the failure to disclose these alleged arrangements made our registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC in May 2000 and the prospectus, a part of the registration statement, materially false and misleading. On or about July 15, 2002, we filed a motion to dismiss all of the claims against us and our former officers. On October 9, 2002, the Court dismissed without prejudice only our former officers, Dale R. Pfost and Donald R. Marvin, from the litigation in exchange for us entering into a tolling agreement with plaintiffs’ executive committee. On February 19, 2003, we received notice of the Court’s decision to dismiss the Section 10(b) claims against us. Plaintiffs and the defendant issuers involved in related IPO securities litigation, including us, have agreed in principal on a settlement that, upon a one-time surety payment by the defendant issuers’ insurers, would release the defendant issuers and the individual officers and directors from claims and any future payments or out-of-pocket costs. On March 10, 2005, the Court issued a memorandum and order (i) preliminarily approving the settlement, contingent on the parties’ agreement on modifications of the proposed bar order in the settlement documents, (ii) certifying the parties’ proposed settlement classes, (iii) certifying the proposed class representatives for the purposes of the settlement only and (iv) setting a further hearing for the purposes of (a) making a final determination as to the form, substance and program of notice of proposed settlement and (b) scheduling a public fairness hearing in order to determine whether the settlement can be finally approved by the Court. On April 24, 2006, the Court held a fairness hearing and took the motion for final approval under advisement. On October 5, 2009, the Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for an order of final approval of the settlement, plan of allocation and certification of the class. Such settlement does not require any payment by us to the plaintiffs.

In related proceedings against the underwriters, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled on December 5, 2006 that the certification by the District Court for the Southern District of New York of class actions against the underwriters in six “focus” cases was vacated and remanded for further proceedings. In so doing, the Second Circuit ruled that “the cases pending on this appeal may not be certified as class actions.” On April 6, 2007, the Second Circuit denied the plaintiffs’ petition for rehearing, and no further appeals have been taken.

 

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As a result of the Second Circuit’s ruling, the plaintiffs and the issuers stipulated on June 22, 2007 that the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement with Defendant Issuers and Individuals, which was originally submitted to the Court on June 10, 2004, was terminated, which resolved the motion for final approval of the class action settlement with the issuers and individual defendants. The Court entered the parties’ stipulation as an Order on June 25, 2007. As a result of these developments, the plaintiffs have filed amended complaints against the underwriters and “focus case” issuers and individuals and are attempting to certify a class action.

In response to the amended complaints, the underwriters and “focus case” issuers moved to dismiss the amended complaints. On March 26, 2008, the motion to dismiss was granted in part and denied in part. As a result, the Court will proceed with the plaintiffs’ amended complaints against the underwriters and “focus case” issuers to determine whether class actions can be certified.

We are a defendant in litigation pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entitled Enzo Biochem, Inc. et al. (Enzo) v. Amersham PLC, et al. (Amersham), filed in October 2002. By their complaint, plaintiffs allege that certain defendants (i) breached their distributorship agreements by selling certain products for commercial development (which they allege was not authorized), (ii) infringed plaintiffs’ patents through the sale and use of certain products, and (iii) are liable for unfair competition and tortious interference with contractual relations. We did not have a contractual relationship with plaintiffs, but we are alleged to have purchased the product at issue from one of the other defendants. We have sold the business unit that was allegedly engaged in the unlawful conduct. As a result, there is no relevant injunctive relief to be sought from us. The complaint seeks damages in an undisclosed amount. Most of the fact discovery in the case has been taken, and a Markman hearing to construe the patent claims was conducted in early July 2005. On July 17, 2006, the Court ruled in our favor on its construction of the patents asserted against us, and the co-defendants, including us, moved for summary judgment on all claims against us in January 2007. A hearing on the defendants’ motions for summary judgment occurred on July 17-18, 2007, and the Court reserved ruling on the motions, taking them under advisement. Such matter has been delayed due to the death of the judge and the assignment of a new judge.

In other litigation brought by Enzo against another defendant under the same patents asserted against us, a Connecticut Federal Court has invalidated the patents asserted there and asserted against us in the New York case. That decision is on appeal. As a result of these developments, the defendants in the Enzo v. Amersham case requested a conference before the Court in order to determine how to proceed. Such conference was held on March 4, 2008 and the Court has not yet ruled on such determination.

On June 5, 2008, we and Beckman Coulter, Inc. filed suit against Sequenom, Inc. (Sequenom) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California alleging infringement of U.S. patent numbers 5,888,819, 6,004,744 and 6,537,748. This lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief. Sequenom filed an answer and counterclaims on August 15, 2008. A reply to the counterclaims was filed on August 29, 2008. On June 22, 2009, the parties filed a stipulation of dismissal which dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice.

On February 12, 2010, a complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin by Genetic Technologies Limited naming us as a defendant, along with eight other companies. The complaint, entitled Genetic Technologies Limited v. Beckman Coulter, Inc., et al., alleges that the defendants infringed U.S. Patent No. 5,612,179 through the sale and use of certain products and services. There is no request for injunctive relief by the plaintiff. We have not been served with the complaint as of yet. We believe the allegations are without merit and intend to vigorously defend ourselves against such claims.

Additionally, we have certain other claims against us arising from the normal course of our business. The ultimate resolution of such matters, including those cases disclosed above, in the opinion of management, will not have a material effect on our financial position and liquidity, but could have a material impact on our results of operations for any reporting period.

Item 4. [RESERVED.]

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “ORCH.” The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices for our common stock as reported by NASDAQ:

 

     Common Stock
     High    Low

2009:

     

First Quarter

   $ .75    $ .46

Second Quarter

     1.73      .58

Third Quarter

     2.20      1.40

Fourth Quarter

     1.88      1.41

2008:

     

First Quarter

   $ 5.72    $ 2.54

Second Quarter

     3.46      2.10

Third Quarter

     3.65      2.13

Fourth Quarter

     2.88      0.54

On March 11, 2010, the closing sale price of our common stock was $1.76.

Stockholders

As of March 11, 2010, there were 358 stockholders of record.

Dividends

We have not paid dividends to our common stockholders since our inception and do not plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future, as we currently intend to retain earnings, if any, to finance our growth.

 

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Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

     Year ended December 31  
     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Consolidated statements of operations data:

          

Total revenues

   $   59,062      $   57,595      $   60,303      $ 56,854      $ 61,609   

Operating expenses:

          

Cost of service revenues

     38,549        40,287        40,230        39,705        37,496   

Research and development

     834        846        1,045        1,228        1,616   

Marketing and sales

     4,905        5,860        6,021        6,766        8,744   

General and administrative

     14,497        16,076        15,385        18,980        20,383   

Impairment of assets

     —          —          —          —          255   

Restructuring

     161        —          (75     437        2,514   

Amortization of intangible assets

     1,860        1,895        1,806        1,765        1,763   
                                        

Total operating expenses

     60,806        64,964        64,412        68,881        72,771   
                                        

Operating loss

     (1,744     (7,369     (4,109     (12,027     (11,162

Total other income (expense), net

     167        1,180        1,162        899        2,069   
                                        

Loss before income taxes

     (1,577     (6,189     (2,947     (11,128     (9,093

Income tax benefit (expense)

     35        1,708        (20     (143     (346
                                        

Net loss

   $ (1,542   $ (4,481   $ (2,967   $ (11,271   $ (9,439
                                        

Basic and diluted net loss per share allocable to common stockholders

   $ (0.05   $ (0.15   $ (0.10   $ (0.45   $ (0.39
                                        

Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share allocable to common stockholders

     29,935        29,935        29,583        24,892        24,284   
                                        
     December 31  
     2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  

Consolidated balance sheet data:

          

Cash, cash equivalents and available-for- sale securities

   $ 18,125      $ 14,998      $ 20,918      $ 24,144      $ 23,198   

Working capital

     25,161        21,466        25,455        29,973        22,835   

Total assets

     52,842        50,649        62,129        60,616        61,669   

Long-term debt, less current portion

     —          —          337        —          —     

Total stockholders’ equity

     45,649        44,368        52,433        50,906        45,477   

 

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Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as of December 31, 2009 and for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and the selected financial data included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

OVERVIEW

We are engaged in the provision of DNA testing services that generate genetic profile information by analyzing an organism’s unique genetic identity. We focus our business on DNA testing primarily for human identity and, to a lesser extent, agricultural applications. In the human identity area, we principally provide DNA testing services for forensic, family relationship and, to a lesser extent, security applications. Forensic DNA testing is primarily used to confirm that a suspect committed a particular crime, to exonerate an innocent person or to establish or maintain databases of individuals convicted of crimes or, in some instances, arrested in connection with crimes. We are also engaged in the provision of non-DNA forensic laboratory services. Family relationship DNA testing is used to establish whether two or more people are genetically related. DNA testing is used by individuals and employers in security applications to establish or store a person’s genetic profile for identification purposes in the event of an emergency or accident. In agricultural applications, we provide DNA testing services for selective trait breeding.

We have operations in the US and in the UK and the majority of our current customers are based in these two countries. Our forensic, family relationship and security DNA testing services are conducted in both the US and the UK, while all of our agricultural DNA testing services are conducted in the UK. Based on our review of publicly available information regarding contract sizes and competitor activity, supplemented by industry publications and third-party market assessment data, we believe that the US and UK are two of the largest existing markets for DNA testing services today. In the US and UK, a significant amount of our current testing activity is under established non-exclusive contracts with government agencies. These contracts are usually awarded through a sealed bid process and, when awarded, typically have a term from one to three years. We believe that our experience and reputation as a reliable provider of services to government agencies is a valued credential that can be used in securing both new contracts and renewing existing contracts.

Our operations in the US accounted for 50 %, 54% and 50% of our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. We continue to experience significant price competition in our forensics and paternity testing businesses. As a result, we are focused on improving our operational execution to increase throughput in our laboratories and lower aggregate operating costs. In particular, in our forensics business we have reduced our sample processing time and decreased the number of samples that need to be retested. In addition, we believe that our forensic and paternity laboratory testing volumes, combined with the business that we acquired as part of the acquisition of ReliaGene have increased our operational efficiencies. On October 20, 2009, we announced a planned consolidation of our East Lansing, Michigan paternity testing operations into our Dayton, Ohio facility. On January 14, 2010, we announced a planned consolidation of our Nashville, Tennessee forensic DNA testing facility into our Dallas, Texas facility. We believe these consolidations may lead to additional operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability.

Our operations in the UK accounted for 50 %, 46% and 50% of our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Prior to 2009, a significant portion of our UK revenues were derived through our agreement with LGC Ltd., or LGC. LGC is a provider of analytical and diagnostic services and one of our competitors in providing DNA testing services in the UK. Our prior agreement with LGC was terminated effective July 15, 2007 and we then entered into a series of temporary extension agreements with LGC, which have terminated. Our focus is on providing our services directly to UK police forces. In 2006, we

 

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were successful in winning forensic work directly with UK police forces and, in February 2008, we were awarded, overall, a significant portion of the service packages we bid on in the North West/South West and Wales regional tender. We were awarded work from nine of the fourteen police forces that participated in this tender. Under the terms of the award, we are providing forensic services, including DNA testing of database crime scene samples, forensic casework and database testing services under the UK’s Police and Criminal Evidence Act, or PACE, for multiple police forces that collectively tendered their work. This award followed a rigorous and competitive bidding process. We believe that the actions we have taken to date have enabled us to successfully transition from our prior reliance on revenues derived from LGC to directly providing these services to police forces in the UK. In addition, we expect the remaining police forces in the UK to solicit initial tenders for forensic services through the UK’s National Procurement Plan by the end of 2011.

Operating Highlights

Our revenues are predominately generated from DNA testing services provided to our customers. Our costs and expenses include costs of service revenues, research and development expenses, marketing and sales expenses, general and administrative expenses, amortization expense and other income and expense. Costs of service revenues consist primarily of salaries and related personnel costs, laboratory supplies, fees paid for the collection of samples, depreciation and facility expenses. Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and related costs, laboratory supplies and other expenses related to the design, development, testing and enhancement of our services. Marketing and sales expenses consist of salaries and benefits for marketing and sales personnel within our organization and all related costs of selling and marketing our services. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related expenses for executive, finance and administrative personnel, professional fees, insurance and other corporate expenses.

Our operating results improved for the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to 2008. Overall, for the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2008, total revenues increased approximately 3% and gross margin, as percentage of service revenues, increased to approximately 34% from approximately 30%. For the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to 2008, our UK revenues were unfavorably impacted approximately 15% as a result of the exchange rate movement of the British pound as compared to the US dollar. Excluding the adverse effect of exchange rate movements, in local currency terms we experienced an increase in revenue of 32%, primarily due to increases in forensics, paternity and immigration testing services, partially offset by continued decreases in agriculture revenues. In the US, we experienced increases in forensic casework, which was offset by decreases in testing services involving DNA profile uploads into CODIS and individual state databases, as well as decreases in revenues for paternity testing services The increase in gross margin, as a percentage of service revenue, was the result of added sample volumes for our forensics testing services in the UK and forensics casework testing services in the US, as well as reductions in personnel and supply expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2009, our operating expenses, other than cost of service revenues, decreased by approximately 10% as compared to the same period in 2008, as a result of decreased general and administrative and marketing and sales expenses, in particular decreased personnel costs and professional fees, as well as the impact of the exchange rate movement of the British pound as compared to the US dollar.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008

The following table sets forth a year-over-year comparison of the components of our net loss for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

     2009     2008     $ Change     % Change  
     (In thousands)        

Total revenues

   $ 59,062      $ 57,595      $ 1,467      3

Cost of service revenues

     38,549        40,287        (1,738   (4

Research and development

     834        846        (12   (1

Marketing and sales

     4,905        5,860        (955   (16

General and administrative

     14,497        16,076        (1,579   (10

Restructuring expense

     161        —          161      >100   

Amortization of intangible assets

     1,860        1,895        (35   (2

Total other income, net

     167        1,180        (1,013   (86

Income tax benefit (expense)

     35        1,708        (1,673   (98

Net loss

     (1,542     (4,481     2,939      66   

Revenues

Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009 of $59.1 million represented an increase of approximately $1.5 million, or approximately 3%, as compared to revenues of $57.6 million for 2008.

Our US service revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009 of $28.6 million decreased by approximately $2.4 million, or approximately 8%, as compared to $31.0 million for 2008, primarily due to a significant decrease in CODIS business and individual state database testing services from 2008, and lower average selling price per sample as a result of significant price competition, as well as decreased revenues from paternity testing services.

Revenues from our UK-based testing services increased by $3.2 million, or approximately 12%, to $29.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $26.4 million for 2008. For the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to 2008, our UK revenues were unfavorably impacted approximately 15% as a result of the exchange rate movement of the British pound as compared to the US dollar. Despite the adverse effect of exchange rate movements, our UK-based revenue increase was driven by an increase in forensics revenues, as work awarded under the North West/South West and Wales’s regional tender and other work has replaced and surpassed revenues previously generated under our expired arrangement with LGC.

We previously performed forensic testing services for several police forces throughout the UK through our subcontractor agreement with LGC. Prior to 2009, a significant portion of our UK revenues were derived through our agreement with LGC. LGC is a provider of analytical and diagnostic services and one of our competitors in providing DNA testing services in the UK. Our agreement with LGC was terminated effective July 15, 2007 and we then entered into a series of temporary extension agreements with LGC, which have terminated. Our focus is on providing our services directly to UK police forces. In 2006, we were successful in winning forensic work directly with UK police forces and, in February 2008, we were awarded, overall, a significant portion of the service packages we bid on in the North West/South West and Wales regional tender. We were awarded work from nine of the fourteen police forces that participated in this tender. Under the terms of the award, we are providing forensic services, including DNA testing of database crime scene samples, forensic casework and PACE samples for multiple police forces that collectively tendered their work. This award followed a rigorous and competitive bidding process. In addition, we expect the remaining police forces in the UK to solicit initial tenders for forensic services through the UK’s National Procurement Plan by the end of 2011.

 

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During the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, we recognized $985 thousand and $230 thousand, respectively, in other revenues, specifically license revenues attributable to a patent license agreement.

Cost of Service Revenues

Cost of service revenues was $38.5 million, or approximately 66% of service revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $40.3 million, or approximately 70% of service revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2008. For year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to the comparable period in 2008, our UK cost of service revenues were favorably impacted by approximately 15% as a result of the exchange rate movement of the British pound as compared to the US dollar. In the US, cost of service revenues for year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to the comparable period in 2008, decreased due to lower personnel costs and to lower lab supply costs as a result of process improvements. Our gross margin percentage increased by approximately four percentage points from 30% for year ended December 31, 2008 to 34% for the year ended December 31, 2009. This increase is a result of added sample volumes for our forensics testing services in the UK, productivity enhancements in the US and the UK, as well as reductions in personnel and supply expenses in the US. On October 20, 2009, we announced a planned consolidation of our East Lansing, Michigan paternity testing operations into our Dayton, Ohio facility. On January 14, 2010, we announced a planned consolidation of our Nashville, Tennessee forensic DNA testing facility into our Dallas, Texas facility. We believe these consolidations may lead to additional operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability.

Research and Development

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009 were $834 thousand, a decrease of $12 thousand, as compared to $846 thousand during 2008. The decrease in research and development expenses was primarily due to the impact of the exchange rate movement of the British pound as compared to the US dollar.

Marketing and Sales

Marketing and sales expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009 were $4.9 million, a decrease of $955 thousand as compared to $5.9 million during the prior year. The decrease in marketing and sales expenses was primarily due to decreased personnel, travel and postage costs and the impact of the exchange rate movement of the British pound as compared to the US dollar.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2009 were $14.5 million, a decrease of $ 1.6 million as compared to $16.1 million during 2008. The decrease in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to decreased professional fees, including non-recurring legal fees related to a sizable state paternity contract that was awarded to the Company and protested by a competitor in 2008 and the impact of the exchange rate movement of the British pound as compared to the US dollar.

Restructuring

During the year ended December 31, 2009, we recognized $161 thousand in restructuring expenses related to the consolidation of our East Lansing, Michigan paternity testing operations into our Dayton, Ohio facility. We announced this planned consolidation on October 20, 2009 and expect to complete this consolidation and close the East Lansing facility by July 1, 2010. The expenses in 2009 relate primarily to employee severance costs and facility closure costs.

 

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We currently expect to incur restructuring charges and cash expenditures in connection with this consolidation of $775 thousand to $1.0 million in the aggregate, which includes: severance and retention bonuses for employees in the range of $450 thousand to $550 thousand; relocation costs for employees relocating from the East Lansing facility in the range of $50 thousand to $75 thousand; recruiting and training costs for the Dayton facility in connection with the transfer of work from the East Lansing facility of approximately $50 thousand; lease termination costs in the range of $150 thousand to $200; thousand and equipment relocation and reinstallation costs in the range of $75 thousand to $125 thousand. A substantial portion of these charges and expenditures are expected to be reported in first and second quarters of 2010. We currently expect to offset these restructuring charges and expenditures through annual cost savings of approximately $1.0 million from operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability.

A summary of the restructuring activity in 2009 is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Workforce
Reduction
   Facility
Costs
   Total

Restructuring charges recorded in 2009

   $ 142    $ —      $ 142

Cash payments in 2009

        
                    

Restructuring liability as of December 31, 2009

   $ 142    $ —      $ 142
                    

On January 14, 2010 we announced the consolidation of our Nashville, Tennessee forensic DNA testing facility into our Dallas, Texas facility. We expect to complete this consolidation by August 31, 2010. We currently expect to incur restructuring charges and cash expenditures in connection with this action of $1.0 million to $1.3 million in the aggregate, which includes: severance and retention bonuses for employees in the range of $540 thousand to $680 thousand; relocation costs for employees relocating from the Nashville facility in the range of $85 thousand to $110 thousand; recruiting and training costs in our Dallas facility in connection with the transfer of work from the Nashville facility of approximately $50 thousand; lease termination costs in the range of $50 thousand to $100 thousand and equipment relocation and reinstallation costs in the range of $300 thousand to $360 thousand. A substantial portion of these charges are expected to be reported in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2010. We currently expect to offset these restructuring charges and expenditures through annual cost savings of approximately $1.4 million from operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

During each of the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, we recorded $1.9 million of amortization expense.

Total Other Income, Net

Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $107 thousand, compared to $369 thousand during the prior year. The decrease in interest income was due to lower interest rates.

Interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was $2 thousand and $38 thousand, respectively. This interest expense was related to debt assumed as result of the acquisition of ReliaGene in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Other income for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $62 thousand, primarily consisting of finance charges received on outstanding receivables. Other income for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $849 thousand, primarily consisting of net non-cash gains from changes in the fair value of certain liabilities.

 

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Income Tax Expense

During the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, we recorded an income tax benefit of $35 thousand and $1.7 million, respectively.

During 2009, we recognized a current foreign tax expense of $168 thousand. Included in this expense is a current benefit of $192 thousand relating to certain allowances and deductions taken on our tax returns.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, we recognized a current foreign tax benefit of $193 thousand, including a tax benefit of $175 thousand due to a write down in our unrecognized income tax benefits, and a deferred foreign tax benefit of $47 thousand, primarily for our business in the UK; as well as a tax benefit of $1.5 million associated with the sale of some of our state NOL carryforwards. No tax benefit was recorded relating to our US business’ losses as management deemed that it was not likely than such tax benefit would be realized.

Net Loss

For the year ended December 31, 2009, we reported a net loss of $1.5 million, which represented a decrease of 66% as compared to a net loss of $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

The following table sets forth a year-over-year comparison of the components of our net loss for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007:

 

     2008     2007     $ Change     % Change  
     (In thousands)        

Total revenues

   $ 57,595      $ 60,303      $ (2,708   (4 )% 

Cost of service revenues

     40,287        40,230        57      0   

Research and development

     846        1,045        (199   (19

Marketing and sales

     5,860        6,021        (161   (3

General and administrative

     16,076        15,385        691      4   

Restructuring expense (benefit)

     —          (75     75      (100

Amortization of intangible assets

     1,895        1,806        89      5   

Total other income, net

     1,180        1,162        18      2   

Income tax benefit (expense)

     1,708        (20     1,728      >(100

Net loss

     (4,481     (2,967     (1,514   51   

Revenues

Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2008 of $57.6 million represented a decrease of approximately $2.7 million, or approximately 4%, as compared to revenues of $60.3 million for 2007.

Our US service revenues for the year ended December 31, 2008 of $31.0 million increased by $929 thousand, or approximately 3%, as compared to $30.1 million for 2007, primarily due to the impact of the acquisition of ReliaGene and increased volume in our government paternity testing services. The increases in government paternity revenues were partly offset by declines in revenues from our forensic casework testing and CODIS services due to lower average selling price per sample as a result of significant price competition and from our private paternity testing services due to lower volume.

Revenues from our UK-based testing services decreased by $3.6 million, or approximately 12%, to $26.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $30.0 million for 2007. For the year ended

 

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December 31, 2008, as compared to 2007, our UK revenues were unfavorably impacted approximately 8% as a result of the exchange rate movement of the British pound as compared to the US dollar. Excluding the adverse effect of exchange rate movements, our UK-based revenues declined due to decreased volume in agricultural and immigration testing services. These decreases were partially offset by increased forensics revenues in local currency terms, as work awarded under the North West/South West and Wales regional tender and pilot work has replaced revenues previously generated under our expired LGC agreement.

We previously performed forensic testing services for several police forces throughout the UK through our subcontractor agreement with LGC. Revenues derived through the LGC agreement accounted for approximately 6% and 21% of our total revenues and approximately 12% and 42% of our UK revenues for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Our agreement with LGC was terminated effective July 15, 2007 and we then entered into a series of temporary extension agreements with LGC. LGC is now providing DNA testing services directly to several police forces in the UK that were previously serviced by us on a subcontract basis. We continue to provide some DNA testing services to police forces through LGC on a limited basis. We also continue to focus on providing our services directly to UK police forces. In 2006, we were successful in winning forensic work with different UK police forces and, in February 2008, we were awarded, overall, a significant portion of the service packages we bid on in the North West/South West and Wales regional tender. We were awarded work from nine of the fourteen police forces that participated in this tender. Under the terms of the award, we are providing forensic services, including DNA testing of database crime scene samples, forensic casework and PACE samples for multiple police forces that collectively tendered their work. This award followed a rigorous and competitive bidding process. In addition, we expect the remaining police forces in the UK to tender their work through the UK’s National Procurement Plan. We submitted our first tender under the National Procurement Plan in the first quarter of 2009, with tendering expected to continue through a 24-month period.

Under the terms of our agreement with the DEFRA, we conducted genotyping services offered to sheep farmers under the NSP, which was designed to help British farmers breed sheep with reduced genetic susceptibility to the disease. Our agreement with DEFRA expired in March 2009. DEFRA will continue to have a requirement for scrapie genotyping for monitoring purposes but at a much reduced volume and it is uncertain that we will be awarded the contract for such testing. Therefore we expect our future agricultural testing services revenues will not be significant to our operating results.

During the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we recognized $230 thousand and $255 thousand, respectively, in other revenues, specifically license revenues.

Cost of Service Revenues

Cost of service revenues was $40.3 million, or approximately 70% of service revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to $40.2 million, or approximately 67% of service revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2007. The increase in cost of service revenues primarily reflects increased laboratory personnel costs, partially offset by decreased depreciation expense. Our gross margin, as a percentage of service revenue, decreased from 33% for the year ended December 31, 2007 to 30% for year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in gross margin percentage was the result of the adverse impact of lower margin forensics revenues replacing the DNA testing volumes related to the loss of former LGC business, the buildup of casework management capabilities in the UK to service the business we won under the North West/South West and Wales regional tender prior to performing services and generating revenues under the new contracts, and reduced sample volumes for our UK based forensic, agricultural and immigration testing services. A decrease in average selling price per sample in our US forensic casework and CODIS testing services also negatively impacted the gross margin. For the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to 2007, our UK cost of service revenues decreased by approximately 8% as a result of the exchange rate movement of the British pound as compared to the US dollar.

 

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Research and Development

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $846 thousand, a decrease of $199 thousand, as compared to $1.0 million during 2007. The decrease in research and development expenses was primarily due to reduced personnel and supplies costs.

Marketing and Sales

Marketing and sales expenses for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $5.9 million, a decrease of $161 thousand as compared to $6.0 million during the prior year. The decrease in marketing and sales expenses was primarily due to decreased personnel, travel and postage costs. The decrease was partially offset by increased web-related advertising costs.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $16.1 million, an increase of $691 thousand, as compared to $15.4 million during 2007. The increase in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to increased professional fees, including non-recurring legal fees related to a sizable state paternity contract that was awarded to us and protested by a competitor. These increases in professional fees were partially offset by decreases in personnel costs, consulting, relocation and insurance expenses.

Restructuring

We recorded a restructuring benefit of $75 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2007 as a result of favorable settlement of an employee obligation that was accrued at December 31, 2006.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

During the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we recorded $1.9 and $1.8 million of amortization expense, respectively. The increase in amortization expense is due to the acquisition of additional intangible assets as part of our acquisition of ReliaGene in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Total Other Income, Net

Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $369 thousand, compared to $1.0 million during the prior year. The decrease in interest income was due to lower interest rates and average cash balances in 2008.

Interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $38 thousand and $11 thousand, respectively. This interest expense was related to debt assumed as result of the acquisition of ReliaGene in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Other income for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $849 thousand, primarily consisting of net non-cash gains from changes in the fair value of a lease guarantee and penalty payment accrual, partially offset by a royalty liability expense. Other income for the year ended December 31, 2007 was $138 thousand, primarily a result of a non-cash gain from a reduction in the fair value of a lease guarantee liability, partially offset by accruals of certain non-operating expenses.

Income Tax Expense

During the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we recorded an income tax benefit of $1.7 million and an income tax expense of $20 thousand, respectively.

 

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For the year ended December 31, 2008, we recognized a current foreign tax benefit of $193 thousand, including a tax benefit of $175 thousand due to a write down in our unrecognized income tax benefits, and a deferred foreign tax benefit of $47 thousand, primarily for our business in the UK; as well as a tax benefit of $1.5 million associated with the sale of some of our state NOL carryforwards. No tax benefit was recorded relating to our US business’ losses as management deemed that it was not likely than such tax benefit would be realized.

For the year ended December 31, 2007, we recognized current foreign tax expense of $1.1 million and deferred foreign tax expense of $68 thousand, primarily for our profitable business in the UK. In addition, we recorded a tax benefit of $1.1 million associated with the sale of some of our state NOL carryforwards. No tax benefit was recorded relating to our US business’ losses as management deemed that it was not likely than such tax benefit would be realized.

Net Loss

For the year ended December 31, 2008, we reported a net loss of $4.5 million, which represented an increase of 51% as compared to a net loss of $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of December 31, 2009, we had $18.1 million in cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities as compared to $15.0 million as of December 31, 2008. Working capital increased to $25.2 million at December 31, 2009 from $21.5 million at December 31, 2008. This increase in working capital was primarily a result of the effect cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, we had no short or long-term debt obligations.

Sources of Liquidity

Our primary sources of liquidity have been issuances of our securities and other capital raising activities.

The following table sets forth a year-over-year comparison of the components of our liquidity and capital resources for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

     (In thousands)     $
Change
   %
Change
 
     2009     2008       

Cash provided by (used in):

         

Operating activities

   $ 3,639      $   (2,331   $   5,970    >100

Investing activities

     (10,420     (1,163     370    32   

Financing activities

     (338     (425     87    20   

Net cash provided by operations for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $3.6 million, compared with net cash used in operations of approximately $2.3 million for the prior year. The change in operating cash flows was mainly a result of a decreased net loss and an increase in our accounts receivable for the year ended December 31, 2009 as compared to 2008. Investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2009 of $10.4 million primarily consisted of $9.6 million for the purchase of available for sale securities, as well as $793 thousand in capital expenditures as compared to investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2008 of $1.2 million, primarily consisting of $1.9 million in capital expenditures, partially offset by the release of $958 thousand of restricted cash. Financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 primarily consisted of repayments of debt obligations of $338 and $425 thousand, respectively.

ReliaGene Debt

As part of the acquisition of ReliaGene on October 31, 2007, we assumed $948 thousand in debt comprised of a line of credit and various notes payable with outstanding balances of $260 thousand and $688 thousand,

 

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respectively. The line of credit was fully paid off during 2008 with a then outstanding balance of $170 thousand. The notes payable, which were secured by ReliaGene’s equipment, had interest rates ranging from 4.50% to 8.50% and maturity dates ranging from June 30, 2009 through September 5, 2011. In April 2009, we fully paid off the ReliaGene notes payable, along with all accrued interest.

Expected Uses of Liquidity in 2010

Throughout 2010, we plan to continue making investments in our business. We expect the following to be significant uses of liquidity: cost of service revenues, salaries and related personnel costs, laboratory supplies, fees for the collection of samples, facility expenses, marketing expenses and general and administrative costs. Actual expenditures may vary substantially from our estimates. We also expect to make capital expenditures related to the expansion of our Dallas facility to build a new CODIS laboratory and the expansion of our UK facilities in Abingdon and Chorley. In addition, we may make additional investments in future acquisitions of businesses or technologies which would increase our capital expenditures.

We believe that our existing cash on hand will be sufficient to fund our operations at least through the next twelve months. We may need to raise additional capital to fund future growth opportunities or to operate our ongoing business activities if our future results of operations fall below our expectations. However, we may not be able to raise additional funds or raise funds on terms that are acceptable to us. If future financing is not available to us, or is not available on terms acceptable to us, we may not be able to fund our future needs. If we raise funds through equity or convertible securities, our stockholders may experience dilution and our stock price may decline.

We cannot assure you that our business or operations will not change in a manner that would consume available resources more rapidly than anticipated. We also cannot assure you that we will not require substantial additional funding before we can achieve profitable operations. We also may need additional capital if we seek to acquire other businesses or technologies.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

We maintained multiple contractual commitments as of December 31, 2009 which will support our future business operations. Such commitments relate to noncancelable operating lease arrangements, debt obligations and a lease guarantee. We have identified and quantified the most significant of these commitments in the following table.

 

     Payments due by period
     Total    Less Than
1 Year
   1-3
Years
   3-5
Years
   More Than
5 Years
     (In thousands)

Contractual obligations:

              

Operating lease obligations (1)

   $ 5,432    $ 1,801    $ 1,947    $ 781    $ 903
                                  

Total contractual obligations

   $ 5,432    $ 1,801    $ 1,947    $ 781    $ 903
                                  

 

(1) Such amounts represent future minimum rental commitments for office space and equipment leased under noncancelable operating lease arrangements.

In connection with the sale of assets and liabilities of our Diagnostics business to Tepnel Life Sciences, PLC, or Tepnel, in 2004, we were required to sign an unconditional guarantee related to the lease for the Stamford, Connecticut based laboratory, which was assigned to Tepnel. The fair value of the guarantee amounted zero as of December 31, 2008. We valued the guarantee based on the existing terms and conditions of the lease, an estimated vacancy period of the space prior to subleasing the space, and the likelihood of Tepnel breaching its obligation under the assigned lease. The lease terminates in April of 2010. Minimum remaining rents under the

 

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assigned lease totaled zero and $755 thousand as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Based on Tepnel’s continuing performance under the sublease and a review of risks associated with the guarantee, in 2008, we revised our estimate for the Tepnel lease guarantee. As a result, we recorded a benefit of $739 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2008, included in other income, net.

In December 2002, we executed an asset purchase agreement with an acquiring party, pursuant to which we sold such acquiring party certain assets related to our SNPs and SNPstream business. Included in the assets sold was a license agreement between us and a licensee, including the royalties due under such license. Since December 2002, the licensee continued to send royalty payments of approximately $80 thousand per year under the license to us. Such royalty payments are in the aggregate amount of $415 thousand, including $29 thousand received during the three months ended September 30, 2008 but not recorded as revenue. In the third quarter of 2008, the acquiring party demanded that we pay the royalties received under the license with the licensee and that we direct the licensee to send all future royalty payments and royalty reports to the acquiring party. We gave such directions to the licensee on October 16, 2008. On November 10, 2008 we paid the acquiring party $415 thousand in settlement of such claim.

Several of our operating leases contain clauses that could require us to restore the leased premises to their original condition. Based upon the nature of our leasehold improvements and historical experience in exiting leases with similar clauses, we believe there is a minimal probability of us incurring a material restoration expense and as such, we have not recorded an accrual for these obligations.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

None.

Limitation on the Use of Our NOL Carryforwards

New Jersey NOL Program

We sold certain state net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards in accordance with the State of New Jersey’s Corporation Business Tax Benefit Certificate Transfer program, or the Program, and generated cash benefits of $1.5 million, $1.1 million and $749 thousand for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Program allowed certain high technology and biotechnology companies to sell unused NOL carryforwards to other New Jersey-based corporation business taxpayers. The carryforward period for our pre-qualified losses under this program expired January 1, 2009.

As of December 31, 2009, we have $250.0 million and $66.2 million of federal and state NOL carryforwards, respectively, available to offset future taxable income. Some of the federal and state NOL carryforwards that we have generated or acquired have begun to expire. Utilization of our NOL carryforwards to offset future taxable income, if any, may be substantially limited due to the “change of ownership” provisions in the Tax Reform Act of 1986, or the Act. The Act provides for a limitation on the annual use of NOL carryforwards and research and development credits following certain ownership changes, as defined by the Act, which could significantly limit our ability to utilize or sell these carryforwards and research and development credits. We have determined that an ownership change, as defined by the Act, occurred in 1999 and as a result $41.4 million of our NOL carryforwards are limited. We may have experienced other ownership changes as a result of past financings and may experience others in connection with future financings. Accordingly, our ability to utilize the aforementioned federal NOL carryforwards may be further limited.

At December 31, 2009, we had New Jersey research and development and federal foreign tax credit carryforwards of $3.8 million, which will begin expiring in 2022 and 2017, respectively. As a result of our acquisitions of GeneScreen, Inc. and Lifecodes Corporation, we acquired federal NOL carryforwards of $4.5 million and $2.0 million, respectively, of which $1.5 million has expired. We also may receive tax benefits in the future relating to stock option deductions that will not be reflected in the results of operations.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

Our critical accounting policies are as follows:

 

   

revenue recognition

 

   

stock-based compensation

 

   

valuation of goodwill and other long-lived assets

 

   

income taxes

Revenue Recognition

We recognize DNA laboratory services revenues at the time test results are completed and reported, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Deferred revenues represent the unearned portion of payments received in advance of tests being completed and reported. Unbilled receivables represent revenue which has been earned on completed and reported tests, but has not been billed to the customer. Revenues from license arrangements, including license fees creditable against future royalty obligations of the licensee, as well as patent license agreements, are recognized when an arrangement is entered into if we have no significant continuing involvement under the terms of the arrangement. If we have significant continuing involvement under such an arrangement, license fees are deferred and recognized over the estimated performance period. Management has made estimates and assumptions relating to the performance period, which are subject to change. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could affect the amount of revenues from licenses reported in any given period.

Stock-Based Compensation

Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted the provisions of, and account for stock-based compensation in accordance with, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or FAS, No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, or FAS 123(R). Under the fair value recognition provisions of this statement, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period. We have applied the modified prospective method of adoption, under which prior periods are not restated for comparative purposes. Under the modified prospective method, FAS 123(R) applies to new awards and to awards that were outstanding as of December 31, 2005 that are subsequently modified, repurchased or cancelled. Compensation expense recognized during the year ended December 31, 2006 includes expense for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of, December 31, 2005, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of FAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and expense for all share-based payments granted subsequent to December 31, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of FAS 123(R). Stock-based compensation is classified within cost of service revenues, research and development, marketing and sales and general and administrative on the consolidated statement of operations.

Stock options granted to employees, which are granted with an exercise price equal to or greater than the fair market value of our common stock at the date of grant, in general vest in four years in equal monthly installments and have a maximum term of ten years. Stock options granted to our Board of Directors in general vest in three years in equal monthly installments and have a maximum term of ten years.

We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of options granted, which requires the input of highly subjective assumptions. These assumptions include estimating the length of time employees will retain their vested stock options before exercising them, the estimated volatility of our common stock price over the expected term, the number of options that will ultimately not vest and the expected dividend yield. Changes in the subjective assumptions can materially affect the estimate of the fair value of stock-based compensation and, consequently, the related amount recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. The

 

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expected volatility assumption is based on the daily historical volatility of our stock price, over the expected term of the option. Our stock options are considered “plain vanilla” options based on the guidance in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin, or SAB, No. 107, Share-Based Payment, or SAB 107, as amended by SAB No. 110, Share-Based Payment, or SAB 110, and as such we have elected to use the “simplified” method, whereby we have assumed that all options will be exercised midway between the vesting date and the contractual term of the option to determine the expected term of the option. We will continue to use the simplified method until we have the historical data necessary to provide a reasonable estimate of expected life in accordance with SAB 107, as amended by SAB 110. We have not paid dividends since our inception, nor do we expect to pay any dividends for the foreseeable future, thus the expected dividend yield assumption is zero. As stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statement of operations is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, the amount of expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. FAS 123(R) requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience.

Valuation of Goodwill and Other Long-lived Assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets acquired in a business combination that are determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but instead tested for impairment at least annually in the fourth quarter or between annual tests in the presence of impairment indicators such as:

 

   

significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results;

 

   

significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for our overall business;

 

   

significant negative industry or economic trends;

 

   

a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate;

 

   

a more-likely-than-not expectation of sale or disposal of a reporting unit or a significant portion thereof;

 

   

significant decrease in the market value of our common stock; and

 

   

a significant decrease in the market value of the assets.

Judgment is required in determining the existence of these factors and its effect on any impairment determination.

The fair value of our reporting units is determined considering the income, the market or the transaction valuation approaches or a combination thereof. Under the income approach, the fair value of the reporting unit is based on the present value of the reporting unit’s expected estimated future cash flows. Under the market approach, the value of the reporting unit is based on an analysis of publicly traded companies in similar lines of business. Under the transaction approach, the value of the reporting unit is based on market transactions of similar businesses.

The process of evaluating the potential impairment of goodwill is subjective and requires significant judgment at many points during the analysis. In estimating the fair value of our reporting units for the purposes of our annual or interim analyses, we make estimates and judgments about the future cash flows, operating trends, discount rates, and other variables of these businesses. Although our cash flow forecasts are based on assumptions that are consistent with the plans and estimates we use to manage the underlying businesses, there is significant judgment in determining the cash flows attributable to these businesses. We also consider our market capitalization on the date we perform the analysis.

 

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Our other long-lived assets consist primarily of fixed assets and amortizable intangible assets. We review other long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that we will not be able to recover the asset’s carrying amount. Such events or circumstances include, but are not limited to, a significant decrease in the fair value of the underlying business or asset, a significant decrease in the benefits realized from the acquired business, or a significant change in the operations of the acquired business or use of an asset.

Recoverability of other long-lived assets is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of the asset (asset group) to estimated undiscounted cash flows of the asset group. If the carrying amount of an asset group exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value.

We performed an annual assessment of goodwill as of December 31, 2009 and concluded that goodwill was not impaired. We performed an impairment assessment of our long-lived assets as of December 31, 2009 and concluded that our long-lived assets were not impaired.

Income Taxes

We have generated NOL carryforwards for tax purposes since inception. As of December 31, 2009, these NOL carryforwards have resulted in NOL carryforwards of $250.0 million and $66.2 million for federal and state income tax purposes, respectively. In addition, certain charges recorded in the current and prior years were not currently deductible for income tax purposes. These differences result in gross deferred tax assets. We must assess the likelihood that the gross deferred tax assets, net of any deferred tax liabilities, will be recovered from future taxable income. To the extent we believe the recovery is not likely, we have established a valuation allowance.

Significant management judgment is required in determining this valuation allowance. We have recorded a valuation allowance of $94.8 million as of December 31, 2009, due to uncertainties related to our ability to utilize some of our net deferred tax assets, primarily consisting of NOL carryforwards, before they expire. The valuation allowance is based on our estimates of taxable income and the period over which the net deferred tax assets will be recoverable.

Conversely, if we are profitable in the future at levels which cause management to conclude that it is more likely than not that we will realize all or a portion of the net deferred tax assets for which a valuation has been recorded, we would record the estimated net realizable value of the net deferred tax asset at that time and would then record income taxes on our US operations at a rate equal to our combined federal and state effective rate of approximately 37%.

We adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48), on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we recognized no material adjustment in the liability for unrecognized income tax benefits. As of January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007, the unrecognized tax benefits amounted to approximately $175 thousand, including an immaterial amount for accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, all of which would our effective tax rate if recognized. During the year ended December 31, 2009 we increased our reserve for unrecognized tax benefits by $225 thousand relating to certain allowances and deductions taken on our tax returns. During the year ended December 31, 2008, as a result of expired statutes of limitations, we recognized a previously unrecognized income tax benefit of $175 thousand. We recognized interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. The tax years 2007 and 2008 remain open to examination by the UK taxing authorities and the tax years 2006 to 2008 remain open to examination by the US taxing authorities. In addition, the US taxing authorities may examine the tax years from the Company’s inception in 1995 through 2005, but generally are barred from adjusting the tax liabilities in excess of the net operating losses generated in any of those tax years. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate is $225 thousand.

 

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Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FAS No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles — a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162 or FAS 168 (FASB ASC 105-10). FAS 168 replaces all previously issued accounting standards and establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM (FASB ASC) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP. FAS 168 is effective for all interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The FASB ASC is not intended to change existing GAAP. The adoption of this pronouncement will only result in changes to our financial statement disclosure and periodic reporting references. As such, the adoption of this pronouncement has no effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In order to facilitate the transition to the FASB ASC, we have elected to show all references to GAAP within this Annual Report on Form 10-K as usual along with a parenthetical FASB ASC reference.

Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted all the provisions of FAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (FAS 157) (FASB ASC 820-10). FAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FAS 157 is applicable whenever another accounting pronouncement requires or permits assets and liabilities to be measured at fair value. FAS 157 does not expand or require any new fair value measures, however, the application of this statement may change current practice. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted FAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (FAS 141(R)), which replaces FAS No. 141, Business Combinations (FASB ASC 805-20). FAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the goodwill acquired. This statement also establishes disclosure requirements which will enable users to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. FAS 141(R) applies prospectively to a company’s business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2009. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements, however it may have an impact on future business combinations.

Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. 142-3, Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets (FSP 142-3) (FASB ASC 350-30). FSP 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing assumptions about renewal or extension used in estimating the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FAS 142 Goodwill and Intangible Assets (FASB ASC 350-10). FSP 142-3 is intended to improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FAS 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under FAS 141(R) and other GAAP. The measurement provisions of this standard apply only to intangible assets of the Company acquired on or after January 1, 2009. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2009 we adopted EITF Issue No. 07-5, Determining Whether an Instrument (or Embedded Feature) Is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock (EITF 07-5) (FASB ASC 815-40). EITF 07-5 provides that an entity should use a two step approach to evaluate whether an equity-linked financial instrument (or embedded feature) is indexed to its own stock, including evaluating the instrument’s contingent exercise and settlement provisions. It also clarifies the impact of foreign currency denominated strike prices and market-based employee stock option valuation instruments on the evaluation. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted EITF Issue No. 08-5, Issuer’s Accounting for Liabilities Measured at Fair Value With a Third-Party Credit Enhancement (EITF 08-5) (FASB ASC 820-10). EITF 08-5 provides guidance for measuring liabilities issued with an attached third-party credit enhancement (such as a guarantee). It clarifies that the issuer of a liability with a third-party credit enhancement (such as a guarantee) should not include the effect of the credit enhancement in the fair value measurement of the liability. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2009, the FASB issued FAS 165, Subsequent Events (FAS 165) (FASB ASC 855-10). FAS 165 sets forth the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may have occurred for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements and the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date. We adopted FAS 165 as of June 30, 2009, which was the required effective date. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In accordance with FAS 165, we evaluated subsequent events through March 12, 2010 which is the date these consolidated financial statements were issued. All subsequent events requiring recognition as of December 31, 2009 have been incorporated into these consolidated financial statements herein.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements. These statements address or may address the following subjects:

 

   

our expectation of the amount and timing of future revenues, expenses and other items affecting the results of our operations;

 

   

our expectation that, with the increasing availability of non-human genomic data, improved characteristics in livestock or crops will be produced to protect humans against animal-borne diseases;

 

   

our belief that scientists hope to understand and use DNA molecular level knowledge to transform traditional approaches to medicine, agriculture and other fields;

 

   

our belief that our forensic and paternity laboratory testing volumes, combined with those of ReliaGene, have increased our operational efficiencies;

 

   

our expectation to complete the consolidation of our Nashville, Tennessee forensic DNA testing facility into our Dallas, Texas facility by August 31, 2010;

 

   

our belief that the consolidation of our Nashville, Tennessee forensic DNA testing facility into our Dallas, Texas facility may lead to additional operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability;

 

   

our expectation to complete the consolidation of our East Lansing, Michigan paternity testing operations into our Dayton, Ohio facility by July 1, 2010;

 

   

our belief that the consolidation of East Lansing, Michigan paternity testing operations into our Dayton, Ohio facility may lead to additional operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability;

 

   

our expectation that we will incur restructuring charges and cash expenditures in connection with the consolidation of our East Lansing, Michigan paternity testing operations into our Dayton, Ohio facility of $775 thousand to $1.0 million in the aggregate, which includes: severance and retention bonuses for employees in the range of $450 thousand to $550 thousand; relocation costs for employees relocating from the East Lansing facility in the range of $50 thousand to $75 thousand; recruiting and training

 

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costs for the Dayton facility in connection with the transfer of work from the East Lansing facility of approximately $50 thousand; lease termination costs in the range of $150 thousand to $200 thousand; and equipment relocation and reinstallation costs in the range of $75 thousand to $125 thousand;

 

   

our expectation that a substantial portion of the restructuring charges and expenditures in connection with the consolidation of our East Lansing, Michigan paternity testing operations into our Dayton, Ohio facility will be reported in first and second quarters of 2010;

 

   

our expectation that we will offset the restructuring charges and expenditures in connection with the consolidation of our East Lansing, Michigan paternity testing operations into our Dayton, Ohio facility through annual cost savings of approximately $1.0 million from operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability;

 

   

our expectation that we will incur restructuring charges and cash expenditures in connection with the consolidation of our Nashville, Tennessee forensic DNA testing facility into our Dallas, Texas facility of $1.0 million to $1.3 million in the aggregate, which includes: severance and retention bonuses for employees in the range of $540 thousand to $680 thousand; relocation costs for employees relocating from the Nashville facility in the range of $85 thousand to $110 thousand; recruiting and training costs in our Dallas facility in connection with the transfer of work from the Nashville facility of approximately $50 thousand; lease termination costs in the range of $50 thousand to $100 thousand; and equipment relocation and reinstallation costs in the range of $300 thousand to $360 thousand;

 

   

our expectation that a substantial portion of the restructuring charges and expenditures in connection with the consolidation of our Nashville, Tennessee forensic DNA testing facility into our Dallas, Texas facility will be reported in second, third and fourth quarters of 2010;

 

   

our expectation that we will offset the restructuring charges and expenditures in connection with the consolidation of our Nashville, Tennessee forensic DNA testing facility into our Dallas, Texas facility through annual cost savings of approximately $1.4 million from operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability;

 

   

our belief that the UK government and police forces will continue to support the use of DNA testing in forensic cases;

 

   

our belief that DNA testing of non-violent or property crime evidence is a growth area for our forensics business;

 

   

our belief that we maintain good relationships with our employees;

 

   

our expectation that the competition for DNA testing services will intensify in the future;

 

   

our belief that states are building up their backlogs of DNA samples and that such states will eventually move to administer the awards in order to bring down the backlog;

 

   

our belief that excess CODIS capacity has been built-up in the private sector and this may affect pricing in the future;

 

   

our belief that believe the consolidations of forensic and paternity facilities may lead to additional operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability;

 

   

our belief that our experience and reputation as a reliable provider of services to government agencies is a valued credential that can be used in securing both new contracts and renewing existing contracts;

 

   

our belief that the actions we have taken to date have placed us in a position to successfully transition from our prior reliance on revenues derived from LGC to directly providing DNA testing services to police forces in the UK;

 

   

our expectation that the remaining police forces in the UK will solicit initial tenders for forensic services through the UK’s National Procurement Plan by the end of 2011;

 

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our expectation that our future agricultural testing services revenues will not be significant to our operating results;

 

   

our belief that we are one of the largest providers of forensic and family relationship testing in the US and that we are also a recognized leading provider of such services in the UK;

 

   

our belief that the US and UK are some of the largest existing markets for DNA testing services today;

 

   

our intention to develop and evaluate new technologies to enhance our laboratory processes, including instrumentation, automation and new testing methodologies;

 

   

our expectation that our instrumentation, automation and new testing methodologies will enable us to reduce our costs for and improve the quality of our service offerings;

 

   

our anticipation that the volume of CODIS testing will grow in the US and that the market for NDNAD work will be relatively stable based on legislation in the US and the UK;

 

   

our anticipation that our current facilities should serve our near term capacity needs;

 

   

our anticipation that federal and state governments in the US will allocate greater resources to support wider use of DNA testing;

 

   

our expectation that our award under the North West/South West and Wales regional tender in the UK will result in significant revenues;

 

   

our intention to seek and continue to seek patent protection for novel uses of SNPs in the genetic testing field;

 

   

our intention to continue to concentrate on protection of our intellectual property as it relates to our DNA testing services;

 

   

our expectation that we will continue to receive substantial discounts based upon reaching a specific threshold of purchases per year of reagents and other components from our current supplier;

 

   

our anticipation that our existing cash on hand will be sufficient to fund our operations at least through the next twelve months;

 

   

our anticipation that a portion of our future growth may be accomplished either by acquiring or merging with existing businesses;

 

   

our plan to continue to market our services to governments, commercial companies and private individuals;

 

   

our belief that litigation claims arising against us from the normal course of business will not have a material effect on our financial position and liquidity, but could have a material impact on our results of operations for any reporting period;

 

   

our expectation to not pay any dividends in the foreseeable future;

 

   

our intention to retain earnings, if any, to finance our growth;

 

   

our plan to continue to make investments in our business;

 

   

our expectation about our significant uses of liquidity;

 

   

our expectation that the adoption of various recently issued accounting pronouncements will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements;

 

   

our belief that the probability of us incurring a material restoration expense upon exiting our operating leases is minimal; and

 

   

our expectation that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will not prevent all error and all fraud.

 

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While management makes its best efforts to be accurate in making forward-looking statements, such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially, including the risks and uncertainties discussed throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the cautionary information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” appearing in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Sensitivity

Our exposure to market risk is principally confined to our cash equivalents, which are conservative in nature, with a focus on preservation of capital. Due to the short-term nature of our investments and our investment policies and procedures, we have determined that the risks associated with interest rate fluctuations related to these financial instruments are not material to our business. As of December 31, 2009, we had no short-term or long-term debt obligations.

Foreign Currency Risk

Our business derives a substantial portion of its revenues from international operations. We record the majority of our foreign operational transactions, including all cash inflows and outflows, in the local currency, British Pound. We record all of our US operational transactions, including cash inflows and outflows, in US dollars. We expect that international sales may continue to represent a significant portion of our revenue. The significant percentage of our revenue derived from our UK operations makes us vulnerable to future fluctuations in the exchange rate. For the year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to 2008, our UK revenues were unfavorably impacted approximately 15%, as a result of the exchange rate movement of the British pound as compared to the US dollar and future material adverse exchange rate movements would have an additional unfavorable translation impact on our consolidated financial results. We are prepared to hedge against any fluctuations in foreign currencies should such fluctuations have a material economic impact on us, although we have not engaged in hedging activities to date.

 

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Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

ORCHID CELLMARK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule

 

     Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   45

Consolidated Financial Statements:

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008

   46

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

   47

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

   48

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

   49

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   50

Financial Statement Schedule: Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

   80

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareholders

Orchid Cellmark Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Orchid Cellmark Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive loss, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009. Our audits of the basic financial statements included the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15 (2). These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Orchid Cellmark Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

/s/ Grant Thornton LLP

New York, New York

March 12, 2010

 

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ORCHID CELLMARK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 2009 and 2008

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

     2009     2008  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 8,600      $ 14,998   

Available-for-sale securities

     9,525        —     

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $397 and $533 as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively

     11,128        9,826   

Inventory

     1,542        1,262   

Prepaids and other current assets

     1,127        1,392   
                

Total current assets

     31,922        27,478   

Fixed assets, net

     4,803        5,859   

Goodwill

     9,423        9,336   

Other intangibles, net

     5,763        7,570   

Other assets

     931        406   
                

Total assets

   $ 52,842      $ 50,649   
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 2,762      $ 2,544   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     3,071        2,288   

Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt

     —          338   

Deferred revenue

     928        842   
                

Total current liabilities

     6,761        6,012   

Long-term debt

     —          —     

Other liabilities

     432        269   
                

Total liabilities

     7,193        6,281   

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock; authorized 5,000,000 shares

    

Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock; $0.001 per share par value; designated 5 shares; no shares issued or outstanding

     —          —     

Series A junior participating preferred stock; designated 1,000,000 shares; no shares issued or outstanding

     —          —     

Common stock; $0.001 par value; authorized 150,000,000 shares; issued 30,098,269 at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively

     30        30   

Additional paid-in capital

     372,877        371,377   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     343        (980

Treasury stock at cost, 163,259 common shares at December 31, 2009 and 2008

     (1,587     (1,587

Accumulated deficit

     (326,014     (324,472
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     45,649        44,368   
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 52,842      $ 50,649   
                

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ORCHID CELLMARK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     2009     2008     2007  

Revenues:

      

Service revenues

   $ 58,077      $ 57,365      $ 60,048   

Other revenues

     985        230        255   
                        

Total revenues

     59,062        57,595        60,303   
                        

Operating expenses:

      

Cost of service revenues

     38,549        40,287        40,230   

Research and development

     834        846        1,045   

Marketing and sales

     4,905        5,860        6,021   

General and administrative

     14,497        16,076        15,385   

Restructuring

     161        —          (75

Amortization of intangible assets

     1,860        1,895        1,806   
                        

Total operating expenses

     60,806        64,964        64,412   
                        

Operating loss

     (1,744     (7,369     (4,109

Other income (expense):

      

Interest income

     107        369        1,035   

Interest expense

     (2     (38     (11

Other income

     62        849        138   
                        

Total other income, net

     167        1,180        1,162   
                        

Loss before income taxes

     (1,577     (6,189     (2,947

Income tax benefit (expense)

     35        1,708        (20
                        

Net loss

   $ (1,542   $ (4,481   $ (2,967
                        

Basic and diluted net loss per share

   $ (0.05   $ (0.15   $ (0.10
                        

Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share

     29,935        29,935        29,583   
                        

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ORCHID CELLMARK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Loss

Years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

(In thousands)

 

     Common Stock    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Treasury
Stock
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
     Number of
Shares
   Amount           

Balance at January 1, 2007

   29,482    $ 29    $ 366,080      $ 3,408      $ (1,587   $ (317,024   $ 50,906   

Net loss

   —        —        —          —          —          (2,967     (2,967

Foreign currency translation adjustment

   —        —        —          444        —          —          444   

Comprehensive loss

                   (2,523

Issuance of common stock for acquisition

   560      1      2,912        —          —          —          2,913   

Issuance costs of common stock in private placement

   —        —        (77     —          —          —          (77

Issuance of common stock from exercise of stock options

   14      —        24        —          —          —          24   

Stock-based compensation expense

   41      —        1,190        —          —          —          1,190   

Balance at December 31, 2007

   30,097    $ 30    $ 370,129      $ 3,852      $ (1,587   $ (319,991   $ 52,433   
                                                    

Net loss

   —        —        —          —          —          (4,481     (4,481

Foreign currency translation adjustment

   —        —        —          (4,832     —          —          (4,832

Comprehensive loss

                   (9,313

Issuance of common stock from exercise of stock options

   1      —        2        —          —          —          2   

Stock-based compensation expense

   —        —        1,246        —          —          —          1,246   

Balance at December 31, 2008

   30,098    $ 30    $ 371,377      $ (980   $ (1,587   $ (324,472   $ 44,368   
                                                    

Net loss

   —        —        —          —          —          (1,542     (1,542

Foreign currency translation adjustment

   —        —        —          1,306        —          —          1,306   

Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities

   —        —        —          17        —          —          17   
                      

Comprehensive loss

                   (219
                      

Stock-based compensation expense

   —        —        1,500        —          —          —          1,500   
                                                    

Balance at December 31, 2009

   30,098    $ 30    $ 372,877      $ 343      $ (1,587   $ (326,014   $ 45,649   
                                                    

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

(In thousands)

 

     2009     2008     2007  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net loss

   $ (1,542   $ (4,481   $ (2,967

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

      

Non-cash compensation expense

     1,500        1,246        1,190   

Depreciation and amortization

     3,908        4,477        4,669   

Bad debt expense

     188        (36     60   

Loss on sale of assets

     40        8        123   

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

      

Accounts receivable

     (1,198     (1,905     3,062   

Inventory

     (281     (88     (301

Prepaids and other current assets

     265        698        (292

Other assets

     (491     11        61   

Accounts payable

     218        945        (744

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including restructuring

     575        (2,080     (1,063

Deferred revenue

     86        (184     19   

Income taxes payable

     208        (425     (470

Other liabilities

     163        (517     (327
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     3,639        (2,331     3,020   
                        

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Purchases of available-for-sale securities

     (9,627     —          —     

Capital expenditures

     (793     (2,121     (1,154

Decrease in restricted cash

     —          958        —     

Proceeds from sale of assets

     —          —          23   

Acquisition of ReliaGene Technologies, Inc., net of cash acquired

     —          —          (5,021
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (10,420     (1,163     (6,152
                        

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     —          2        24   

Issuance costs of common stock in private placement

     —          —          (77

Repayment of debt

     (338 )     (427 )     (183 )

Payments of patent obligation liability

     —          —          (149
                        

Net cash (used in) financing activities

     (338     (425     (385
                        

Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents

     704        (2,001     291   

Unrealized gain/(loss) on available-for-sale securities

     17        —          —     
                        

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (6,398     (5,920     (3,226

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     14,998        20,918        24,144   
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 8,600      $ 14,998      $ 20,918   
                        

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing and investing activities:

      

Stock issued for acquisition of ReliaGene Technologies, Inc.

   $ —        $ —        $ 2,913   

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

      

Cash paid during the year for interest

   $ 2      $ 38      $ 11   

Cash paid during the year for taxes

     84        836        1,477   

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ORCHID CELLMARK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and Business Activities

Orchid Cellmark Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company) are engaged in the provision of DNA testing services that generate genetic profile information by analyzing an organism’s unique genetic identity. The Company focuses its business on DNA testing primarily for human identity and, to a lesser extent, agricultural applications. In the human identity area, the Company provides DNA testing services for forensic, family relationship and, to a lesser extent, security applications. Forensic DNA testing is primarily used to confirm that a suspect committed a particular crime, to exonerate an innocent person or to establish or maintain databases of individuals convicted of crimes or, in some instances, arrested in connection with crimes. The Company is also engaged in the provision of non-DNA forensic laboratory services. Family relationship DNA testing is used to establish whether two or more people are genetically related. DNA testing is used by individuals and employers in security applications to establish or store a person’s genetic profile for identification purposes in the event of an emergency or accident. In agricultural applications, the Company provides DNA testing services for selective trait breeding. The Company has operations in the United States (US), and in the United Kingdom (UK), and the majority of its current customers are based in these two countries. The Company’s forensic, family relationship and security DNA testing services are conducted in both the US and the UK, while all of its agricultural DNA testing services are conducted in the UK. The Company was organized under the laws of the state of Delaware on March 8, 1995.

Consolidated Financial Statements

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Available-for-sale securities

The Company accounts for fair value measurements of its available-for-sale securities under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” and FSP FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions that Are Not Orderly” (FASB ASC 820-10). FAS 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e., the exit price). FASB ASC Section No. 820-10-35 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The three tiers include:

 

  (i) Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

 

  (ii) Level 2 — inputs other than quoted prices included within Level that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, or quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets.

 

  (iii) Level 3 — unobservable inputs for which little or no market data exists, requiring management to develop its own assumptions.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Our available-for-sale securities have been classified as Level 1. These investments have initially been valued at the transaction price and subsequently valued typically utilizing third party pricing services. The pricing validate the prices provided by our third party pricing services by reviewing their pricing methods and matrices, obtaining market values from other pricing sources and analyzing pricing data in certain instances. The unrealized gains and losses in such securities are reflected, net of tax, in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash, cash equivalents, available-for-sale securities, and accounts receivable. The Company maintains cash investments primarily in money market securities, U.S. Treasury and government agency securities. The Company maintains its holdings in cash in excess of federally insured amounts and in cash equivalents with high credit-quality financial institutions in order to minimize credit risk exposure.

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of customers and the fact that the Company’s accounts receivable is largely comprised of amounts owed by government agencies. The Company performs periodic credit evaluation of its customers’ financial condition and generally does not require a deposit from government agencies or private institutions. The Company believes that individual private customers for paternity testing represent the most significant credit risk and generally requires a deposit for all or a portion of the services to be rendered to such customer. The Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts, reducing the receivables balance to an amount it estimates is collectible from its customers. Estimates used in determining the allowance for doubtful accounts are based on historical collection experience, current trends, aging of accounts receivable, and periodic credit evaluations of the Company’s customers’ financial condition. When aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, such as in the case of bankruptcy filings or deterioration in the customer’s operating results or financial position, the Company records a specific reserve for bad debt to reduce the related receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes is collectible. Accounts are also reviewed for potential write-off on a case by case basis. Accounts deemed uncollectible are written off, net of expected recoveries. If circumstances related to specific customers change, the Company’s estimates of the recoverability of receivables could be further adjusted.

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets, which consist of lab equipment, furniture and fixtures, computers and software, are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation, which is computed on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Leasehold improvements, which are also included in fixed assets, are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation, which is computed on the straight-line basis over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the lease term. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Upon retirement or other disposition of fixed assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gains or losses, if any, are reflected in earnings.

The following is a summary of the estimated useful lives of the Company’s fixed assets:

 

     Useful Life

Laboratory equipment

   5 years

Computers and software

   3 years

Furniture and fixtures

   7 years

Leasehold improvements

   Life of lease or useful
life if shorter

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Inventory

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out method.

Business Combinations, Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The Company accounts for business combinations under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 141, Business Combinations (FAS 141) (FASB ASC 805-10), which requires that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations. FAS 141 also specifies criteria intangible assets acquired in a purchase method business combination must meet to be recognized and reported apart from goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess purchase price over the fair value of the tangible net assets and intangible assets acquired in a business combination. In accordance with FAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (FAS 142) ) (FASB ASC 350-10), goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but instead tested for impairment annually, or more frequently as needed when events or changes have occurred that would suggest an impairment of the asset. Impairment of goodwill is assessed by determining whether the fair values of the applicable reporting units exceed their carrying values. The evaluation of fair value requires the use of projections, estimates and assumptions as to the future performance of the operations in performing a discounted cash flow analysis, as well as assumptions regarding sales and earnings multiples that would be applied in comparable acquisitions. Intangible assets acquired as a result of a business combination are recorded at their fair value at the acquisition date. Intangible assets acquired individually are recorded at their acquisition cost. Definite lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of

In accordance with FAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (FAS 144) (FASB ASC 360-10), the Company reviews long-lived assets and intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to dispose.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the asset and liability method prescribed by FAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (FASB ASC 740). Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities, and net operating loss (NOL) and credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using tax rates in effect for the years in which the items are expected to reverse. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by a valuation allowance for any tax benefits which are not expected to be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that such tax rate changes are enacted. In certain situations, a taxing authority may challenge positions that the Company has adopted in the income tax filings. Accordingly, the Company may apply different tax treatment for these selected transactions in filing its tax return than for financial reporting purposes. The Company regularly assesses its uncertain tax position and records a liability if appropriate. The liability is utilized or reversed once the statute of limitations has expired or the matter is otherwise resolved.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes DNA laboratory services revenues at the time test results are completed and reported if persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Deferred revenues represent the unearned portion of payments received in advance of tests being completed and reported. Unbilled receivables represent revenue which has been earned on completed and reported tests, but has not been billed to the customer. Revenues from license arrangements, including license fees creditable against future royalty obligations of the licensee, are recognized when an arrangement is entered into if the Company has no significant continuing involvement under the terms of the arrangement. If the Company has significant continuing involvement under such an arrangement, license fees are deferred and recognized over the estimated performance period. Management has made estimates and assumptions relating to the performance period, which are subject to change. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could affect the amount of revenues from licenses reported in any given period.

Research and Development

Costs incurred for research and product development, including salaries and related personnel costs, fees paid to consultants and outside service providers, and material costs for prototypes and test units, are expensed as incurred. The Company recognizes research and development expenses in the period incurred and in accordance with the specific contractual performance terms of such research agreements. Costs incurred in obtaining technology licenses and development of software is charged to research and development expense if the technology licensed or the software being developed has not reached technological feasibility.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with US generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions that it believes to be relevant under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. In particular, judgment is used in areas such as the allowance for doubtful accounts, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, accrual of bonuses, lease guarantee liability, stock-based compensation and income taxes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments. The carrying amount of available for sale securities approximate their fair value based on quoted market prices as of December 31, 2009.

Foreign Currency Translation

The balance sheets of foreign subsidiaries are translated into US dollars at current year-end rates, and the statements of operations are translated at average monthly rates during each monthly period. Net exchange gains or losses resulting from the translation of foreign financial statements and the effect of exchange rate changes on intercompany transactions of a long-term investment nature are accumulated and credited or charged directly to a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Any foreign currency gains or losses related to transactions are charged to other income (expense), net.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Net Loss Per Share

Net loss per share is computed in accordance with FAS No. 128, Earnings Per Share (FAS 128) (FASB ASC 260-10) by dividing the net loss allocable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. The Company has certain options which have not been used in the calculation of diluted net loss per share allocable to common stockholders because to do so would be anti-dilutive. As such, the numerator and the denominator used in computing both basic and diluted net loss per share allocable to common stockholders for each year presented are equal.

Advertising

The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred.

Sales and Value Added Taxes

Sales and value added (VAT) taxes collected from customers are excluded from revenues. The obligation is included in accrued liabilities until the taxes are remitted to the appropriate taxing authorities.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FAS No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles — a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162 or FAS 168 (FASB ASC 105-10). FAS 168 replaces all previously issued accounting standards and establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM (FASB ASC) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP. FAS 168 is effective for all interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The FASB ASC is not intended to change existing US GAAP. The adoption of this pronouncement will only result in changes to the Company’s financial statement disclosure and periodic reporting references. As such, the adoption of this pronouncement has no effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In order to facilitate the transition to the FASB ASC, the Company has elected to show all references to GAAP within this Annual Report on Form 10-K as usual along with a parenthetical FASB ASC reference.

Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted all the provisions of FAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (FAS 157) (FASB ASC 820-10). FAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. FAS 157 is applicable whenever another accounting pronouncement requires or permits assets and liabilities to be measured at fair value. FAS 157 does not expand or require any new fair value measures, however, the application of this statement may change current practice. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted FAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (FAS 141(R)), which replaces FAS No. 141, Business Combinations (FASB ASC 805-20). FAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the goodwill acquired. This statement also establishes disclosure requirements which will enable users to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. FAS 141(R) applies prospectively to a company’s business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2009. The implementation of this standard

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, however, it may have an impact on future business combinations.

Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. 142-3, Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets (FSP 142-3) (FASB ASC 350-30). FSP 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing assumptions about renewal or extension used in estimating the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FAS 142, Goodwill and Intangible Assets (FASB ASC 350-10). FSP 142-3 is intended to improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FAS 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under FAS 141(R) and other GAAP. The measurement provisions of this standard apply only to intangible assets of the Company acquired on or after January 1, 2009. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted EITF Issue No. 07-5, Determining Whether an Instrument (or Embedded Feature) Is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock (EITF 07-5) (FASB ASC 815-40). EITF 07-5 provides that an entity should use a two step approach to evaluate whether an equity-linked financial instrument (or embedded feature) is indexed to its own stock, including evaluating the instrument’s contingent exercise and settlement provisions. It also clarifies the impact of foreign currency denominated strike prices and market-based employee stock option valuation instruments on the evaluation. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted EITF Issue No. 08-5, Issuer’s Accounting for Liabilities Measured at Fair Value With a Third-Party Credit Enhancement (EITF 08-5) (FASB ASC 820-10). EITF 08-5 provides guidance for measuring liabilities issued with an attached third-party credit enhancement (such as a guarantee). It clarifies that the issuer of a liability with a third-party credit enhancement (such as a guarantee) should not include the effect of the credit enhancement in the fair value measurement of the liability. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2009, the FASB issued FAS 165, Subsequent Events (FAS 165) (FASB ASC 855-10). FAS 165 sets forth the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may have occurred for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements and the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date. The Company adopted FAS 165 as of June 30, 2009, which was the required effective date. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In accordance with FAS 165, the Company has evaluated subsequent events through March 12, 2010, which is the date these consolidated financial statements were issued. All subsequent events requiring recognition as of December 31, 2009 have been incorporated into these consolidated financial statements herein.

(2) Stock-based Compensation

During 1995, the Company established the 1995 Stock Incentive Plan (the 1995 Plan), which provided for the granting of restricted common stock or incentive and nonqualified stock options to the Company’s directors, employees and consultants. An aggregate of 700,000 shares of the Company’s common stock was authorized for issuance under the 1995 Plan, which expired by its terms on November 28, 2005.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

During 2000, the Board of Directors and stockholders of the Company approved the 2000 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Incentive Plan (the 2000 Plan) for the issuance of common stock, incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options to the Company’s employees, directors and consultants. The Company was originally authorized to issue options for up to 900,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the 2000 Plan. On June 8, 2005, at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the stockholders approved the Company’s Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Plan (the 2005 Plan). The 2005 Plan amended and restated in its entirety the 2000 Plan. The 2005 Plan authorizes the grant of up to approximately 1,700,000 shares plus the number of additional shares as described in the 2005 Plan, for the issuance of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock grants and other stock-based awards to the Company’s employees, directors and consultants. On June 21, 2007, at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the stockholders approved an amendment to the 2005 Plan to increase the aggregate number of shares available for issuance under the 2005 Plan by 2,000,000 shares. The 2005 Plan also specifies other terms such as eligibility, annual limits and the grant of awards thereunder. The 1995 Plan and the 2005 Plan provide that in the event of a change in control in the beneficial ownership of the Company, as defined therein, all options may, at the discretion of the compensation committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to the change in control.

Stock options granted under the 2005 Plan are granted at a price equal to or greater than the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. Stock options granted to employees in general vest over four years in equal monthly installments and have a maximum term of ten years. Stock options granted to the Company’s Board of Directors in general vest over three years in equal monthly installments and have a maximum term of ten years. The Company issues new shares of its common stock upon exercise of stock options.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of, and accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with, FAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (FAS 123(R)) ) (FASB ASC 718-10). Under the fair value recognition provisions of this statement, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period. The Company has applied the modified prospective method of adoption, under which prior periods are not restated for comparative purposes. Under the modified prospective method, FAS 123(R) applies to new awards and to awards that were outstanding as of December 31, 2005 that are subsequently modified, repurchased or cancelled. Compensation expense recognized during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 includes expense for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of, December 31, 2005, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of FAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and expense for all share-based payments granted subsequent to December 31, 2005, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of FAS 123(R). Stock-based compensation is classified within cost of service revenues, research and development, marketing and sales and general and administrative expense in the consolidated statement of operations. As stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statement of operations is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, the amount of expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. FAS 123(R) requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience.

In November 2005, the FASB issued FSP No. 123(R)-3, Transition Election Related to Accounting for the Tax Effects of Share-Based Payment Awards. The Company has elected not to adopt the short-cut method to calculate the beginning balance of the hypothetical additional paid-in-capital (APIC) pool of the excess tax benefits upon the Company’s adoption of FAS 123(R). Utilizing the long-haul method, the Company has determined that it has no hypothetical APIC pool that can be utilized to offset future shortfalls that may be incurred.

 

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The Company’s option grants include options which qualify as incentive stock options (ISO) for income tax purposes. The treatment of the potential tax deduction, if any, related to ISOs may cause variability in the Company’s effective tax rate in future periods. In the period the compensation cost related to ISOs is recorded, a corresponding tax benefit is not recorded as it is assumed that the Company will not receive a tax deduction upon the exercise of such ISOs. The Company may be eligible for tax deductions in subsequent periods to the extent that there is a disqualifying disposition of the common stock underlying the ISO. The Company also receives a tax deduction upon the exercise of nonqualified stock options. In cases where the Company receives a tax deduction, the Company would record a tax benefit through the consolidated statement of operations in an amount not to exceed the corresponding cumulative compensation cost recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the particular option multiplied by the statutory tax rate. Any incremental tax benefit received by the Company in excess of the tax benefit recorded in the consolidated statement of operations would be recorded directly to APIC when realized.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of options granted, which requires the input of highly subjective assumptions. The Company’s assumptions used in recognizing compensation expense in the consolidated statement of operations include estimating the length of time employees will retain their vested stock options before exercising them, the estimated volatility of the Company’s common stock price over the expected term and the number of options that will ultimately not vest. Changes in the subjective assumptions can materially affect the estimate of the fair value of stock-based compensation and, consequently, the related amount of compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.

The following weighted average assumptions were used in valuing the options granted during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007:

 

     2009     2008     2007  

Risk-free interest rate

   3.39   3.46   4.41

Volatility

   75   80   80

Expected option term

   6 years      6 years      6 years   

Expected dividend yield

   0   0   0

The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon the US Treasury yields in effect at the time of grant for a term that approximates the expected term of the option. The expected volatility assumption is based on the daily historical volatility of the Company’s stock price over the expected term of the option. The Company’s stock options are considered “plain vanilla” options based on the guidance in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 107, Share-Based Payment (SAB 107), as amended by SAB No. 110, Share-Based Payment (SAB 110), and as such the Company has elected the use of the “simplified” method, whereby the Company has assumed that all options will be exercised midway between the vesting date and the contractual term of the option to determine the expected term of the option The Company will continue to use the simplified method until it has the historical data necessary to provide a reasonable estimate of expected life, in accordance with SAB 107, as amended by SAB 110. As the Company has not paid dividends since inception, nor does it expect to pay any dividends for the foreseeable future, the expected dividend yield assumption is zero.

Net loss for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 includes $1.5 million, $1.2 million and $1.2 million, respectively, of compensation costs related to stock-based compensation arrangements, including $207 thousand and $331 thousand related to the grant of 41,050 and 100,000 fully vested shares of common stock to the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer in December 2007 and 2006, respectively, pursuant to his amended employment agreement. The Company did not capitalize any of the compensation costs for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 in fixed assets, inventory or other assets. The Company has not

 

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benefited from a tax deduction for stock option exercises due to net losses for the periods during which the options were exercised.

Information with respect to outstanding options under the plans at December 2007, 2008 and 2009 and changes during the years presented is as follows:

 

     Shares     Weighted average
exercise price
   Weighted average
remaining

contractual term
   Aggregate
intrinsic
value

Options outstanding at January 1, 2007

   1,419,053      $ 9.09      

Granted

   444,812        4.93      

Exercised

   (14,235     1.71      

Cancelled

   (195,615     8.27      
              

Options outstanding at December 31, 2007

   1,653,925      $ 8.13    7.60    $ 906,000
                        
     Shares     Weighted average
exercise price
   Weighted average
remaining

contractual term
   Aggregate
intrinsic
value

Options outstanding at January 1, 2008

   1,653,925      $ 8.13      

Granted

   614,468        3.05      

Exercised

   (875     2.18      

Forfeited

   (56,026     4.52      

Expired

   (48,688     7.78      
              

Options outstanding at December 31, 2008

   2,162,804      $ 6.79    7.35    $ 0
                        
     Shares     Weighted average
exercise price
   Weighted average
remaining

contractual term
   Aggregate
intrinsic
value

Options outstanding at January 1, 2009

   2,162,804      $ 6.79      

Granted

   690,314        1.58      

Exercised

   —          —        

Cancelled

   (295,893     10.49      
                  

Options outstanding at December 31, 2009

   2,557,225      $ 4.95    7.42    $ 83,300
                        

Options exercisable at December 31, 2009

   1,622,977      $ 6.26    6.56    $ 29,856
                        

Additional information about the Company’s share-based payments is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Year ended December 31,
     2009    2008    2007

Total intrinsic value of options exercised

   $ —      $ 2    $ 51

Net cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options

     —        2      24

Weighted average grant date fair value per share of options granted

     1.08      2.15      3.52

 

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As of December 31, 2009, there was $1.6 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.01 years.

(3) Inventory

Inventory is comprised of the following at December 31, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):

 

     2009    2008

Raw materials

   $ 1,001    $ 832

Work in progress

     533      426

Finished goods

     8      4
             
   $ 1,542    $ 1,262
             

Raw materials consist mainly of reagents, enzymes, chemicals and plates used in DNA testing. Work in progress consists mainly of case work not yet completed and DNA testing kits that are being processed. Finished goods consist mainly of DNA testing kits that have not yet been shipped.

(4) Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are comprised of the following at December 31, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):

 

     2009     2008  

Laboratory equipment

   $ 14,141      $ 13,405   

Computers and software

     6,628        6,122   

Leasehold improvements

     5,223        5,454   

Furniture and fixtures

     1,702        1,529   
                
     27,694        26,510   

Less accumulated depreciation

     (22,891     (20,651
                
   $ 4,803      $ 5,859   
                

Depreciation expense for the Company’s fixed assets for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 amounted to $2.0 million, $2.6 million and $2.9 million, respectively.

(5) Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities are comprised of the following at December 31, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):

 

     2009    2008

VAT and other taxes

   $ 1,415    $ 966

Professional fees

     240      441

Employee compensation

     475      376

Facility related accruals

     380      273

Restructuring

     142      40

Other

     419      192
             
   $ 3,071    $ 2,288
             

 

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(6) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The following table sets forth the activity for goodwill during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):

 

Balance as of December 31, 2007

   $ 9,519   

Goodwill recorded from the acquisition of ReliaGene Technologies, Inc. (ReliaGene)

     146   

Effect of foreign currency translation

     (329
        

Balance as of December 31, 2008

     9,336   

Effect of foreign currency translation

     87   
        

Balance as of December 31, 2009

   $ 9,423   
        

The Company has performed an annual assessment of goodwill as required under the provisions of FAS 142, and concluded that goodwill was not impaired. The Company performed an impairment assessment as of December 31, 2009 and concluded that its long-lived assets were not impaired.

The following table sets forth the Company’s other intangible assets at December 31, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands):

 

     2009    2008
     Cost (1)    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net    Cost (1)    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net

Customer list

   $ 7,264    $ (5,262   $ 2,002    $ 6,741    $ (4,178   $ 2,563

Patents and know-how

     4,899      (3,240     1,659      4,894      (2,820     2,074

Trademark/tradename

     4,263      (3,131     1,132      4,194      (2,731     1,463

Base technology

     6,019      (5,049     970      5,978      (4,516     1,462

Non-compete agreements

     20      (20     —        20      (12     8
                                           

Totals

   $ 22,465    $ (16,702   $ 5,763    $ 21,827    $ (14,257   $ 7,570
                                           

 

(1) Cost includes the cumulative historical effect of foreign currency translation on intangible assets acquired in a prior business combination. This cumulative historical effect of foreign currency translation amounted to $201 thousand and $4 thousand as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

The Company’s expected future amortization expense related to intangible assets over the next five years is as follows (in thousands):

 

2010

   $ 1,858

2011

     1,444

2012

     727

2013

     656

2014

     236

(7) Restructuring

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company recognized $161 thousand in restructuring expenses related to the consolidation of the Company’s East Lansing, Michigan paternity testing operations into

 

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the Company’s Dayton, Ohio facility. The Company announced this planned consolidation on October 20, 2009 and expects to complete this consolidation and close the East Lansing facility by July 1, 2010. The expenses in 2009 relate primarily to employee severance costs and facility closure costs.

The Company currently expects to incur restructuring charges and cash expenditures in connection with this consolidation of $775 thousand to $1.0 million in the aggregate, which includes: severance and retention bonuses for employees in the range of $450 thousand to $550 thousand; relocation costs for employees relocating from the East Lansing facility in the range of $50 thousand to $75 thousand; recruiting and training costs for the Dayton facility in connection with the transfer of work from the East Lansing facility of approximately $50 thousand; lease termination costs in the range of $150 thousand to $200 thousand; and equipment relocation and reinstallation costs in the range of $75 thousand to $125 thousand. A substantial portion of these charges and expenditures are expected to be reported in first and second quarters of 2010. The Company currently expects to offset these restructuring charges and expenditures through annual cost savings of approximately $1 million from operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability.

A summary of the restructuring activity in 2009 is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Workforce
Reduction
   Facility
Costs
   Total

Restructuring charges recorded in 2009

   $ 142    $ —      $ 142

Cash payments in 2009

        
                    

Restructuring liability as of December 31, 2009

   $ 142    $ —      $ 142
                    

(8) Debt

As part of the acquisition of ReliaGene on October 31, 2007, we assumed $948 thousand in debt comprised of a line of credit and various notes payable with outstanding balances of $260 thousand and $688 thousand, respectively. The line of credit was fully paid off during 2008 with a then outstanding balance of $170 thousand. The notes payable, which were secured by ReliaGene’s equipment, had interest rates ranging from 4.50% to 8.50% and maturity dates ranging from June 30, 2009 through September 5, 2011. In April 2009, we fully paid off the ReliaGene notes payable, along with all accrued interest. At December 31, 2008, the outstanding balance for the notes payable was $338 thousand, which was classified as current portion of long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheet.

(9) Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is based on loss from continuing operations before income taxes reported for financial statement purposes. The components are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  

United States

   $ (3,295   $ (6,107   $ (5,912

Foreign

     1,719        (82     2,965   
                        

Loss before income taxes

   $ (1,576   $ (6,189   $ (2,947
                        

 

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The components of income tax expense (benefit) are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  

Current income tax expense (benefit):

      

State

   $ —        $ (1,468   $ (1,149

Foreign

     168        (193     1,101   
                        

Total current expense (benefit)

     168        (1,661     (48

Deferred foreign tax expense (benefit)

     (203     (47     68   
                        

Income tax expense (benefit)

   $ (35   $ (1,708   $ 20   
                        

During 2009, the Company recognized a current foreign tax expense of $168 thousand. Included in the expense is a current benefit of $192 thousand relating to certain allowances and deductions taken on our tax returns.

During 2008, the Company recognized a current foreign tax benefit of $193 thousand, primarily from the reversal of a reserve for tax return positions taken on its UK subsidiary tax return filings as a result of expired statutes of limitations and a deferred foreign tax benefit of $47 thousand. In addition, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $1.5 million associated with the sale of some of its state NOL carryforwards. No tax benefit was recorded relating to our US business’ losses or other US deferred tax assets as management deemed that it was not more likely than not that such tax benefit would be realized.

During 2007, the Company recognized current foreign tax expense of $1.1 million and deferred foreign tax expense of $68 thousand, primarily for its profitable business in the UK. In addition, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $1.1 million associated with the sale of some of its state NOL carryforwards during the fourth quarter of 2007. No tax benefit was recorded relating to the Company’s US business’ losses or other deferred tax assets as management deemed that it was not likely than such tax benefit would be realized.

The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48) (FASB ASC 740), on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized no material adjustment in the liability for unrecognized income tax benefits. As of January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007, the unrecognized tax benefits amounted to approximately $175 thousand, including an immaterial amount for accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, all of which would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. During the year ended December 31, 2009 the Company increased its reserve for unrecognized tax benefits by $225 thousand relating to certain allowances and deductions taken on its tax returns. During the year ended December 31, 2008, as a result of expired statutes of limitations, the Company recognized a previously unrecognized income tax benefit of $175 thousand. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. The tax years 2007 and 2008 remain open to examination by the UK taxing authorities and the tax years 2006 to 2008 remain open to examination by the US taxing authorities. In addition, the US taxing authorities may examine the tax years from the Company’s inception in 1995 through 2005, but are barred from adjusting the tax liabilities in excess of the net operating losses generated in any of those tax years. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate is $225 thousand.

 

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A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):

 

Balance at January 1, 2008

   $ 175   

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

     —     

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     —     

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     —     

Lapse of statute

     (175

Settlements

     —     
        

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ —     

Additions for tax positions of prior years

     225   

Reductions for tax positions of prior years

     —     

Lapse of statute

     —     

Settlements

     —     
        

Balance at December 31, 2009

   $ 225   
        

The tax effects of temporary differences and loss and credit carryforwards that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities of the Company at December 31, 2009 and 2008 are presented below (in thousands):

 

     2009     2008  

Deferred tax assets:

    

Bad debt allowance and inventory reserve

   $ 78      $ 186   

Stock-based compensation

     1,141        729   

Deferred revenue

     211        219   

NOL carryforwards

     89,073        94,619   

Research and development and foreign tax credits

     3,812        4,194   

Accrued restructuring expenses

     94        104   

Accrued expenses

     92        19   

Amortization and depreciation

     2,707        2,201   

Investments

     280        308   
                

Total gross deferred tax assets

     97,488        102,579   

Less valuation allowance

     (94,848     (99,990
                

Net deferred tax assets

     2,640        2,589   

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Intangible assets

     (1,847     (2,242
                

Net deferred taxes

   $ 793      $ 347   
                

At December 31, 2009 and 2008, valuation allowances of $94.8 million and $100.0 million, respectively, have been recognized to offset the net deferred tax assets related to the US operations of the Company, as realization of these assets is uncertain. The net change in the valuation allowance for 2009 and 2008 was a decrease of $5.1 million and a decrease of $888 thousand, respectively, related primarily to amortization, depreciation, and the expiration of state NOL carryforwards.

As of December 31, 2009, the Company has $250.0 million and $66.2 million of federal and state NOL carryforwards, respectively, available to offset future taxable income. Some of the federal and state NOL

 

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carryforwards the Company has generated or acquired have begun to expire. Utilization of our NOL carryforwards to offset future taxable income, if any, may be substantially limited due to the “change of ownership” provisions in the Tax Reform Act of 1986, or the Act. The Act provides for a limitation on the annual use of NOL carryforwards and research and development credits following certain ownership changes, as defined by the Act, which could significantly limit our ability to utilize or sell these carryforwards and research and development credits. The Company has determined that an ownership change, as defined by the Act, occurred in 1999 and as a result $41.4 million of our NOL carryforwards are limited. The Company may have experienced other ownership changes as a result of past financings and may experience others in connection with future financings. Accordingly, our ability to utilize the aforementioned federal NOL carryforwards may be further limited.

At December 31, 2009, the Company had New Jersey research and development and federal foreign tax credit carryforwards of $3.8 million, which will begin expiring in 2022 and 2017, respectively. As a result of the Company’s acquisitions of GeneScreen, Inc. and Lifecodes Corporation, the Company acquired federal NOL carryforwards of $4.5 million and $2.0 million, respectively, of which $1.5 million has expired.

The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $35 thousand in 2009, an income tax benefit of $1.7 million in 2008, and an income tax expense of $20 thousand in 2007. The following table represents a reconciliation of the Company’s income tax expense to amounts computed by applying the statutory US federal income tax rate of 35% to loss before income taxes (in thousands):

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  

Computed expected tax benefit

   $ (552   $ (2,166   $ (1,031

State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit

     (64     (1,468     (1,114

Foreign operations

     (625     (37     (185

Write down of unrecognized income tax benefits

     —          (175     —     

Permanent differences

     85        545        397   

Expiration of tax attribute carryforwards

     1,727        —          —     

Change in effective state tax rate

     4,536        —          —     

Change in valuation allowance

     (5,142     1,593        1,953   
                        
   $ (35   $ (1,708   $ 20   
                        

The Company sold certain state NOL carryforwards in accordance with the state of New Jersey’s Corporation Business Tax Benefit Certificate Transfer program (the Program) and generated benefits of $1.5 million and $1.1 million for 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Program allows certain high technology and biotechnology companies to sell unused NOL carryforwards to other New Jersey corporation business taxpayers. During 2008 and 2007, the Company completed the sale of $21.3 million and $15.4 million, respectively, of its New Jersey NOL carryforwards. The carryforward period for the Company’s pre-qualified losses under this program expired January 1, 2009.

The Company has made no provision for US taxes on cumulative earnings of foreign subsidiaries as those earnings are intended to be reinvested for an indefinite period of time. The Company’s cumulative undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries amounted to $8.8 million at December 31, 2009. Determination of the potential amount of unrecognized deferred US income tax liability related to such reinvested income is not practicable because of numerous assumptions associated with this hypothetical calculation. However, foreign tax credits

 

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would be available to reduce some portion of this amount. As of December 31, 2009 and based on tax laws in effect as of this date, it is the Company’s intention to indefinitely reinvest the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries.

(10) Significant Customers and Geographic Information

During the years ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company did not have a customer significant enough to generate 10% or more of its total revenues. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company generated $12.5 million or 21% of its total revenues through an agreement with one customer.

The Company has significant international operations, primarily in the UK. During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, the Company recorded revenues from international customers of $29.5 million, or 50%, $26.4 million, or 46% and $30.0 million, or 50%, respectively, of total revenues.

At December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company has long-lived assets of $2.7 million and $3.3 million located in the US, and $2.1 million and $2.5 million located in the UK, respectively.

(11) Common Stock Offerings

On November 21, 2006, the Company entered into definitive agreements with certain new and existing institutional investors to raise $14.0 million in gross proceeds ($13.1 million in net proceeds after direct transaction costs) in a common stock private placement. Pursuant to the agreements, the Company sold approximately 4,875,000 shares of common stock at $2.88 per share. The transaction closed on November 21, 2006.

On February 26, 2004, the Company entered into definitive agreements with new and existing institutional investors to raise $30.3 million in gross proceeds ($26.1 million in net proceeds after direct transaction costs) in a common stock private placement. The transaction closed on February 27, 2004. Pursuant to the agreements, the Company sold approximately 3,158,000 shares of common stock at $9.60 per share and granted the investors four-year warrants to purchase an additional approximately 632,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $11.48 per share, all of which expired by their terms and without exercise on February 27, 2008. The Company determined that the securities purchase agreement did not expressly provide that the shares issuable upon the exercise of the warrants had to be registered and there were no express or implied remedies to the warrant holders that would indicate that the Company was required to net-cash settle the warrants in the event of delivery of unregistered shares in settlement of the contract. In accordance with the guidance in the FASB’s EITF Issue No. 00-19, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock, the Company accounted for the warrants issued in this transaction as part of permanent equity.

(12) Stockholder Rights Plan

On May 16, 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan (Rights Plan), which is designed to protect the Company’s stockholders in the event of any takeover offer. On May 16, 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (a Right) for each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 31, 2001 (the Record Date). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A junior participating preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, at an initial purchase price of $40.00 in cash, subject to adjustment.

 

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Initially, the Rights will be attached to all common stock certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the common stock and a Distribution Date, as defined in the Rights Plan, will occur if certain events as described below transpire. Rights will also be attached to all shares of common stock issued following the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date. The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at the close of business on May 16, 2011, unless earlier redeemed by the Company. The Distribution Date has not occurred as of December 31, 2009.

In the event that a person or a group of affiliated or associated persons becomes the beneficial owner of more than 15% of the then outstanding shares of common stock (except pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of common stock which the Board of Directors determines to be fair to, and otherwise in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, that number of shares of common stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) which equals the exercise price of the Right divided by one-half of the current market price (as defined in the Rights Plan) of the common stock at the date of the occurrence of the event. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of any of the events set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company. In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, or, more than 50% of the Company’s assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which equals the exercise price of the Right divided by one-half of the current market price (as defined in the Rights Plan) of such common stock at the date of the occurrence of the event.

(13) Employee Stock Purchase Plan

During the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2003 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP). The ESPP has not yet been implemented and there are no plans to implement the ESPP at this time. Employees who own more than 5% of the Company’s stock may not participate in the ESPP. At the beginning of an offering period, as defined in the ESPP document, each participant receives an option to purchase shares of common stock at the end of each accumulation period, at an exercise price equal to the lesser of 85% of (i) the fair market value of the common stock on the last trading day before the start of the applicable offering period, or (ii) the fair market value of the common stock on the last trading day of the accumulation period. The maximum number of shares that may be purchased by any participant in the ESPP in an accumulation period is 25,000 shares. No participant may purchase shares having an aggregate fair market value greater than $25 thousand in any calendar year. A total of 650,000 shares of the Company’s common stock are reserved for issuance under the ESPP as of December 31, 2009. The ESPP may be amended, suspended or terminated at any time by the Board of Directors. Amendments affecting any increase in the number of shares available under the ESPP and any other amendment to the extent required by applicable law or regulation shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders.

(14) Employee Benefit Plan

The Company sponsors a defined contribution 401(k) savings plan (the 401(k) Plan) covering all US-based employees of the Company. Participants can contribute up to 15% of their pretax annual compensation to the 401(k) Plan, subject to certain limitations. The Company matches 50% of the participant’s contribution, up to 4% of compensation. For the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, the Company’s contributions amounted to $146 thousand, $161 thousand and $168 thousand, respectively, in accordance with the terms of the 401(k) Plan.

 

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(15) Commitments and Contingencies

The Company leases office and laboratory facilities and certain equipment under non-cancelable operating lease arrangements. Several of the Company’s facility leases contain renewal options and rent escalation clauses. Rent expense amounted to $1.9 million in 2009, $2.0 million in 2008 and $1.9 million in 2007. Future minimum rental commitments required by such leases as of December 31, 2009 are as follows (in thousands):

 

2010

   $ 1,801

2011

     1,104

2012

     844

2013

     392

2014

     388

Thereafter

     903
      
   $ 5,432
      

In connection with the sale of assets and liabilities of the Company’s Diagnostics business to Tepnel Life Sciences, PLC (Tepnel) in 2004, the Company was required to sign an unconditional guarantee related to the lease for the Stamford, Connecticut based laboratory, which was assigned to Tepnel. The fair value of the guarantee amounted to zero, respectively, for December 31, 2009 and 2008. The Company valued the guarantee based on the existing terms and conditions of the lease, an estimated vacancy period of the space prior to subleasing the space, and the likelihood of Tepnel breaching its obligation under the assigned lease. The lease terminates in April of 2010. Minimum remaining rents under the assigned lease totaled $755 thousand as of December 31, 2008. Based on Tepnel’s continuing performance under the sublease and a review of risks associated with the guarantee, in 2008, the Company revised its estimate for the Tepnel lease guarantee. As a result, the Company recorded a benefit of $739 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2008, included in other income, net.

Several of the Company’s operating leases contain clauses that could require it to restore the leased premises to their original condition. Based upon the nature of the Company’s leasehold improvements and historical experience in exiting leases with similar clauses, the Company believes there is a minimal probability of it incurring a material restoration expense and as such, has not recorded an accrual for these obligations.

(16) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The accumulated balances for each classification of items within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Foreign
currency
translation
    Unrealized
gains
(losses) on
securities
   Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
 

Balance at January 1, 2007

   $ 3,408      $ —      $ 3,408   

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     444        —        444   
                       

Balance at December 31, 2007

     3,852        —        3,852   

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     (4,832     —        (4,832
                       

Balance at December 31, 2008

     (980     —        (980

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     1,306        17      1,323   
                       

Balance at December 31, 2009

   $ 326      $ 17    $ 343   
                       

 

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(17) Related Party Transactions

During the three months ended June 30, 2008, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with L.E.K. Consulting LLP (L.E.K), of which Kenneth Noonan, Ph.D., a director of the Company, is a partner. The Company paid L.E.K. fees of $150 thousand in connection with their services, which were completed during the three months ended September 30, 2008.

(18) Legal Proceedings

On or about November 21, 2001, a complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York naming the Company as a defendant, along with certain of the Company’s former officers and underwriters. An amended complaint was filed on April 19, 2002. The complaint, as amended, purportedly was filed on behalf of persons purchasing the Company’s stock between May 4, 2000 and December 6, 2000, and alleges violations of Sections 11, 12(a)(2) and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. The amended complaint alleges that, in connection with the Company’s May 5, 2000 initial public offering, or IPO, the defendants failed to disclose additional and excessive commissions purportedly solicited by and paid to the underwriter defendants in exchange for allocating shares of the Company’s stock to preferred customers and alleged agreements among the underwriter defendants and preferred customers tying the allocation of IPO shares to agreements to make additional aftermarket purchases at pre-determined prices. Plaintiffs claim that the failure to disclose these alleged arrangements made the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC in May 2000 and the prospectus, a part of the registration statement, materially false and misleading. On or about July 15, 2002, the Company filed a motion to dismiss all of the claims against the Company and the Company’s former officers. On October 9, 2002, the Court dismissed without prejudice only the Company’s former officers, Dale R. Pfost and Donald R. Marvin, from the litigation in exchange for the Company entering into a tolling agreement with plaintiffs’ executive committee. On February 19, 2003, the Company received notice of the Court’s decision to dismiss the Section 10(b) claims against the Company. Plaintiffs and the defendant issuers involved in related IPO securities litigation, including us, have agreed in principal on a settlement that, upon a one-time surety payment by the defendant issuers’ insurers, would release the defendant issuers and the individual officers and directors from claims and any future payments or out-of-pocket costs. On March 10, 2005, the Court issued a memorandum and order (i) preliminarily approving the settlement, contingent on the parties’ agreement on modifications of the proposed bar order in the settlement documents, (ii) certifying the parties’ proposed settlement classes, (iii) certifying the proposed class representatives for the purposes of the settlement only and (iv) setting a further hearing for the purposes of (a) making a final determination as to the form, substance and program of notice of proposed settlement and (b) scheduling a public fairness hearing in order to determine whether the settlement can be finally approved by the Court. On April 24, 2006, the Court held a fairness hearing and took the motion for final approval under advisement. On October 5, 2009, the Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for an order of final approval of the settlement, plan of allocation and certification of the class. Such settlement does not require any payment by the Company to the plaintiffs.

In related proceedings against the underwriters, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled on December 5, 2006 that the certification by the District Court for the Southern District of New York of class actions against the underwriters in six “focus” cases was vacated and remanded for further proceedings. In so doing, the Second Circuit ruled that “the cases pending on this appeal may not be certified as class actions.” On April 6, 2007, the Second Circuit denied the plaintiffs’ petition for rehearing, and no further appeals have been taken.

As a result of the Second Circuit’s ruling, the plaintiffs and the issuers stipulated on June 22, 2007 that the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement with Defendant Issuers and Individuals, which was originally submitted

 

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to the Court on June 10, 2004, was terminated, which resolved the motion for final approval of the class action settlement with the issuers and individual defendants. The Court entered the parties’ stipulation as an Order on June 25, 2007. As a result of these developments, the plaintiffs have filed amended complaints against the underwriters and “focus case” issuers and individuals and are attempting to certify a class action.

In response to the amended complaints, the underwriters and “focus case” issuers moved to dismiss the amended complaints. On March 26, 2008, the motion to dismiss was granted in part and denied in part. As a result, the Court will proceed with the plaintiffs’ amended complaints against the underwriters and “focus case” issuers to determine whether class actions can be certified.

The Company is a defendant in litigation pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entitled Enzo Biochem, Inc. et al. (Enzo) v. Amersham PLC, et al. (Amersham), filed in October 2002. By their complaint, plaintiffs allege that certain defendants (i) breached their distributorship agreements by selling certain products for commercial development (which they allege was not authorized), (ii) infringed plaintiffs’ patents through the sale and use of certain products, and (iii) are liable for unfair competition and tortious interference with contractual relations. The Company did not have a contractual relationship with plaintiffs, but the Company is alleged to have purchased the product at issue from one of the other defendants. The Company sold the business unit that was allegedly engaged in the unlawful conduct. As a result, there is no relevant injunctive relief to be sought from the Company. The complaint seeks damages in an undisclosed amount. Most of the fact discovery in the case has been taken, and a Markman hearing to construe the patent claims was conducted in early July 2005. On July 17, 2006, the Court ruled in the Company’s favor on its construction of the patents asserted against the Company, and the co-defendants, including the Company, moved for summary judgment on all claims against the Company in January 2007. A hearing on the defendants’ motions for summary judgment occurred on July 17-18, 2007, and the Court reserved ruling on the motions, taking them under advisement. Such matter has been delayed due to the death of the judge and the assignment of a new judge.

In other litigation brought by Enzo against another defendant under the same patents asserted against the Company, a Connecticut Federal Court has invalidated the patents asserted there and asserted against the Company in the New York case. That decision is on appeal. As a result of these developments, the defendants in the Enzo v. Amersham case requested a conference before the Court in order to determine how to proceed. Such conference was held on March 4, 2008 and the Court has not yet ruled on such determination.

On June 5, 2008, the Company and Beckman Coulter, Inc. filed suit against Sequenom, Inc, or Sequenom, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California alleging infringement of U.S. patent numbers 5,888,819, 6,004,744 and 6,537,748. This lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief. Sequenom filed an answer and counterclaims on August 15, 2008. A reply to the counterclaims was filed on August 29, 2008. On June 22, 2009, the parties filed a stipulation of dismissal which dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice.

On February 12, 2010, a complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin by Genetic Technologies Limited naming the Company as a defendant, along with eight other companies. The complaint, entitled Genetic Technologies Limited v. Beckman Coulter, Inc., et al., alleges that the defendants infringed U.S. Patent No. 5,612,179 through the sale and use of certain products and services. There is no request for injunctive relief by the plaintiff. The Company has not been served with the complaint as of yet. The Company believes the allegations are without merit and intends to vigorously defend the Company against such claims.

Additionally, the Company has certain other claims against us arising from the normal course of our business. The ultimate resolution of such matters, including those cases disclosed above, in the opinion of

 

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management, will not have a material effect on our financial position and liquidity, but could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations for any reporting period.

(19) Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

The following tables represent certain unaudited consolidated quarterly financial information for each of the quarters in 2009 and 2008. In the opinion of the Company’s management, this quarterly information has been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and includes all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, except as disclosed below) necessary to present fairly the information for the periods presented (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Quarters ended
     March 31,
2009
    June 30,
2009
    September 30,
2009
    December 31,
2009

Total revenues

   $ 13,965      $ 14,687      $ 14,674      $ 15,737

Gross margin

     4,785        5,130        4,876        5,723

Loss before income taxes

     (1,029     (465     (426     344

Net income (loss)

     (1,172     (603     (625     858

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share

   $ (0.04   $ (0.02   $ (0.02   $ 0.03

 

     Quarters ended  
     March 31,
2008
    June 30,
2008
    September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2008
 

Total revenues

   $ 14,527      $ 15,224      $ 14,872      $ 12,972   

Gross margin

     4,091        5,001        4,372        3,844   

Loss before income taxes

     (2,520     (1,224     (1,327     (1,118

Net income (loss)

     (2,274     (1,221     (1,459     473   

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share

   $ (0.08   $ (0.04   $ (0.05   $ 0.02   

During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company granted a worldwide license to Illumina, Inc. for the commercial development of the Company’s proprietary single base nucleotide extension technology for the diagnostic and forensic fields. Under the terms of the license transaction, the Company received a fee of $850 thousand as well as the potential of an additional $150 thousand in contingent milestone payments. During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company recognized $850 thousand as revenues. The Company does not have future material obligations related to Illumina. The Company will also collect royalties received by Illumina through any subcontracting arrangements. Additionally, the licensing agreement allows the Company to purchase certain Illumina product offerings utilizing the patents as a preferred customer. Under the agreement, Orchid Cellmark reserves the rights to use the licensed patents for all fields of use.

During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company revised its estimates for liabilities associated with accrued bonuses and the Tepnel lease guarantee and recorded a benefit of $233 thousand, included in cost of service revenues, general and administrative, marketing and sales and research and development expenses, and a benefit of $185 thousand, included in other income, net, respectively.

(20) Subsequent Event

On January 14, 2010, the Company announced the consolidation of its Nashville, Tennessee forensic DNA testing facility into its Dallas, Texas facility. The Company expects to complete this consolidation and close the Nashville facility by August 31, 2010. The Company currently expects to incur restructuring charges and cash

 

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expenditures in connection with this action of $1.0 million to $1.3 million in the aggregate, which includes: severance and retention bonuses for employees in the range of $540 thousand to $680 thousand; relocation costs for employees relocating from the Nashville facility in the range of $85 thousand to $110 thousand; recruiting and training costs in its Dallas facility in connection with the transfer of work from the Nashville facility of approximately $50 thousand; lease termination costs in the range of $50 thousand to $100 thousand; and equipment relocation and reinstallation costs in the range of $300 thousand to $360 thousand. A substantial portion of these charges are expected to be reported in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2010. The Company currently expects to offset these restructuring charges and expenditures through annual cost savings of approximately $1.4 million from operational efficiencies, plant and equipment cost reductions and increased scalability.

 

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Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

 

Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, have concluded that, based on such evaluation, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control system is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our President and principal executive officer and principal financial officer and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that:

 

   

pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and disposition of assets;

 

   

provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with the authorization of our management and directors; and

 

   

provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

Because of inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009. In making this assessment, they used the control criteria framework of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations, or COSO, of the Treadway Commission published in its report entitled Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on this evaluation, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009 based on those criteria.

 

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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation of such internal control that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls.

The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective at that reasonable assurance level. However, our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within an organization have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake.

Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving our stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

For information concerning the results of matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders on October 7, 2009, please refer to Item 4 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009 filed with the SEC on October 30, 2009.

Stockholders who wish to present any stockholder proposal or director nomination for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which we expect to hold on May 26, 2010, must deliver notice to us no later than the close of business on March 29, 2010 and must comply with the requirements of the SEC in order for any such stockholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement relating to the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Stockholder proposals and director nominations delivered after such time will not be considered at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Management proxies may confer discretionary authority to vote on the matters presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders by a stockholder in accordance with the proxy rules of the SEC. All stockholder proposals and director nominations should be marked for the attention of Corporate Secretary, Orchid Cellmark Inc., 4390 US Route One, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.

 

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PART III

 

Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The response to this item is incorporated by reference from the discussion responsive thereto under the captions “Management and Corporate Governance,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics” and “Stockholder Proposals and Nominations for Director” in our Proxy Statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The response to this item is incorporated by reference from the discussion responsive thereto under the captions “Executive Officer and Director Compensation” and “Management and Corporate Governance—Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” in our Proxy Statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The response to this item is incorporated by reference from the discussion responsive thereto under the captions “Security Ownership” and “Executive Officer and Director Compensation—Equity Compensation Plan Information” in our Proxy Statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The response to this item is incorporated by reference from the discussion responsive thereto under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” and “Management and Corporate Governance—The Board of Directors” in our Proxy Statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The response to this item is incorporated by reference from the discussion responsive thereto under the caption “Ratification of Appointment of Grant Thornton LLP” in our Proxy Statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

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PART IV

 

Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(1) Financial Statements. See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at Item 8, page 37 of this report.

 

(2) Financial Statement Schedules.

Schedule II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

(3) Exhibits

The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

3.1(1)      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated May 10, 2000 (filed as Exhibit 3.1)
3.2(1)      Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated June 12, 2001 (filed as Exhibit 3.2)
3.3(1)      Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated June 14, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 3.3)
3.4(2)      Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated March 30, 2004 (filed as Exhibit 4.10)
3.5(2)      Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated June 14, 2005 (filed as Exhibit 4.11)
3.6(1)      Certificate of Designation, Preferences, and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Registrant, dated August 1, 2001 (filed as Exhibit 3.4)
3.7(3)      Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant, dated March 31, 2003 (filed as Exhibit 3.1)
3.8(4)      Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.1)
4.1(5)      Specimen certificate for share of common stock (filed as Exhibit 4.1)
4.2(6)      Rights Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2001, by and between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, which includes the form of Certificate of Designation setting forth the terms of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, as Exhibit A, the form of rights certificate as Exhibit B and the summary of rights to purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit C. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, printed rights certificates will not be mailed until after the Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) (filed as Exhibit 4.1)
4.3(3)      First Amendment to Rights Agreement by and between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent, dated as of March 31, 2003 (filed as Exhibit 10.3)
10.1(7)††    1995 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, including form of stock option certificate for incentive and non-statutory stock options (filed as Exhibit 10.1)
10.2(7)††    2000 Employee, Director, Consultant Stock Plan, including form of stock option agreement for non-statutory and incentive stock options (filed as Exhibit 10.2)
10.3(8)††    The Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Plan and the form of stock option agreement for non-statutory and incentive stock options (filed as Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3, respectively)

 

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Exhibit
Number

  

Description

10.4(7)††        Executive Benefit Program, including Executive Deferred Compensation Plan and Executive Severance Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.3)
10.5(9)††        Lifecodes Corporation 1992 Employee Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 99.2)
10.6(9)††        Lifecodes Corporation 1995 Employee Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 99.3)
10.7(9)††        Lifecodes Corporation 1998 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 99.4)
10.8(10)†      Commercial Services Agreement effective September 17, 2001 between the Registrant and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (filed as Exhibit 10.22)
10.9(10)†      Amended Patent Assignment and License Agreement dated July 7, 2003 by and between the Registrant, GeneCo Pty Ltd, Diatech Pty Ltd and Queensland University of Technology (filed as Exhibit 10.25)
10.10(10)†      Exclusive Patent License Agreement dated October 1, 2003 between the Registrant and Saint Louis University (filed as Exhibit 10.26)
10.11(10)†      Settlement Agreement dated August 6, 2002 between the Registrant and Saint Louis University (filed as Exhibit 10.27)
10.12(10)        Amendment No. 1 to Settlement Agreement dated October 1, 2003 between the Registrant and Saint Louis University (filed as Exhibit 10.28)
10.13(11)††    Director Compensation Policy, effective January 1, 2004 (filed as Exhibit 10.18)
10.14(12)        NWI Lease Agreement between the Registrant and NWI Warehouse Group L.P. dated February 15, 1996 for the facility located at 1400 Donelson Pike, Suite A-15, Nashville, Tennessee, 37217 (filed as Exhibit 10.1)
10.15(12)        Lease Agreement Amendment No. 1 between the Registrant and Duke-Weeks Realty L.P. dated January 23, 2001 for the facility located at 1400 Donelson Pike, Suite A-15, Nashville, Tennessee, 37217 (filed as Exhibit 10.2)
10.16(12)        Lease Agreement Amendment No. 2 between the Registrant and Duke Realty Limited Partnership dated August 8, 2005 for the facility located at 1400 Donelson Pike, Suite A-15, Nashville, Tennessee, 37217 (filed as Exhibit 10.3)
10.17(12)        Lease Agreement between the Registrant and Valwood Service Center I, Ltd. effective October 15, 2005 for the facility located at 13988 Diplomat Drive, Suite 100, Farmers Branch, Texas, 75234 (filed as Exhibit 10.4)
10.18(12)        Lease Agreement between the Registrant and Valwood Service Center I, Ltd. effective December 15, 2005 for the facility located at 13988 Diplomat Drive, Suite 100, Farmers Branch, Texas, 75234 (filed as Exhibit 10.5)
10.19(13)††    Employment Agreement dated March 8, 2006 between the Registrant and Thomas A. Bologna (filed as Exhibit 99.1)
10.20(14)        Letter Agreement by and between College Road Associates, Limited Partnership and the Registrant, dated January 18, 2005 (filed as Exhibit 10.27)
10.21(14)        Amendment No. 1 to Lease Agreement by and between Bellemead Development Corporation and the Registrant, dated November 1, 2005 (filed as Exhibit 10.28)
10.22(14)†      Letter Agreement and Product Loan Agreement between the Registrant and Applied Biosystems, dated January 5, 2006 (filed as Exhibit 10.30)

 

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10.23(15)††    Addendum to Employment Agreement dated March 8, 2006 between the Registrant and Thomas A. Bologna
10.24(11)††    Employment Agreement dated as of October 5, 2007 between the Registrant and James F. Smith (filed as Exhibit 10.31)
10.25(11)††    Employment Agreement dated as of November 19, 2007 between the Registrant and William J. Thomas (filed as Exhibit 10.33)
10.26(16)††    Employment Agreement dated as of May 13, 2008 between the Registrant and Jeffrey S. Boschwitz (filed as Exhibit 10.1)
10.27                 Lease Agreement dated December 15, 2009 between Duft Enterprises Corp. and the Registrant for the facility located at 635 Columbia St., New Westminster, British Columbia (filed herewith)
10.28††            Executive Compensation Program (filed herewith)
21.1                   Subsidiaries of the Registrant (filed herewith)
23.1                   Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
31.1                   Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2                   Certification of Principal Financial and Accounting Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1                   Certifications of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Portions of this Exhibit were omitted and have been filed separately with the Secretary of the SEC pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment thereof.
†† Management or compensatory plan.
(1) Previously filed with the SEC as Exhibits to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002 as filed with the SEC on August 14, 2002 (File No. 000-30267).
(2) Previously filed with the SEC as Exhibits to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-8 as filed with the SEC on June 29, 2005 (File No. 333-126227).
(3) Previously filed with the SEC as Exhibits to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on April 2, 2003 (File No. 000-30267).
(4) Previously filed with the SEC as an Exhibit to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on September 7, 2007 (File No. 000-30267).
(5) Previously filed with the SEC as an Exhibit to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2001 as filed with the SEC on November 14, 2001 (File No. 000-30267).
(6) Previously filed with the SEC as an Exhibit to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s registration statement on Form 8-A as filed with the SEC on August 3, 2001 (File No. 000-30267).
(7) Previously filed with the SEC as Exhibits to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-1, as amended, as originally filed with the SEC on February 18, 2000 (File No. 333-30774).
(8) Previously filed with the SEC as Exhibits to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on June 14, 2005 (File No. 000-30267).
(9)

Previously filed with the SEC as Exhibits to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-8 as filed with the SEC on January 15, 2002 (File No. 333-76744).

 

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(11) Previously filed with the SEC as Exhibits to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the SEC on March 12, 2008 (File No. 000-30267).
(12) Previously filed with the SEC as Exhibits to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2005 as filed with the SEC on November 9, 2005 (File No. 000-30267).
(13) Previously filed with the SEC as an Exhibit to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on March 9, 2006 (File No. 000-30267).
(14) Previously filed with the SEC as Exhibits to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 as filed with the SEC on May 24, 2006 (File No. 000-30267).
(15) Previously filed with the SEC as Exhibits to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 as filed with the SEC on March 15, 2007 (File No. 000-30267).
(16) Previously filed with the SEC as an Exhibit to, and incorporated herein by reference from, the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2008 as filed with the SEC on August 1, 2008 (File No. 000-30267).

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

    ORCHID CELLMARK INC.

Date: March 12, 2010

    By:   /s/    THOMAS A. BOLOGNA        
       

Thomas A. Bologna

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated below and on the dates indicated.

 

   

Signatures

  

Title

 

Date

By:      

/S/    THOMAS A. BOLOGNA        

Thomas A. Bologna

  

President and Chief Executive

Officer (Principal Executive

Officer)

  March 12, 2010
By:  

/S/    JAMES F. SMITH        

James F. Smith

  

Vice President and Chief Financial

Officer (Principal Financial and

Accounting Officer)

  March 12, 2010
By:  

/S/    JAMES BEERY        

James Beery

   Chairman of the Board   March 12, 2010
By:  

/S/    JAMES HART PH.D.        

James Hart Ph.D.

   Director   March 12, 2010
By:  

/S/    SIDNEY M. HECHT, PH.D.        

Sidney M. Hecht, Ph.D.

   Director   March 12, 2010
By:  

/S/    KENNETH D. NOONAN, PH.D.        

Kenneth D. Noonan, Ph.D.

   Director   March 12, 2010
By:  

/S/    NICOLE S. WILLIAMS        

Nicole S. Williams

   Director   March 12, 2010

 

79


Table of Contents

Schedule II

ORCHID CELLMARK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007

(In thousands)

 

Column A

   Column B    Column C    Column D    Column E

Description

   Balance at
beginning
of period
   Charged to
costs and
expenses
    Charged to
other
accounts (net) (1)
   Deductions (2)    Balance at
end of period

2009

             

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 533    $ 188      $ —      $ 324    $ 397
                                   

2008

             

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 799    $ (36   $ —      $ 230    $ 533
                                   

2007

             

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 822    $ 60      $ 26    $ 109    $ 799
                                   

 

(1) Consists of the value of the ReliaGene allowance for doubtful accounts at the acquisition date.
(2) Deductions primarily consist of accounts receivable write-offs and reserve adjustments.

 

80

EX-10.27 2 dex1027.htm LEASE AGREEMENT Lease Agreement

Exhibit 10.27

LEASE AGREEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              Page
1.0      SUMMARY OF TERMS    3
  1.1     

TERMS

   3
  1.2     

DEFINITIONS

   4
2.0      DEMISE AND TERM    6
  2.1     

DEMISE, PREMISES

   6
  2.2     

TERM

   6
  2.3     

LICENSE TO USE COMMON AREAS

   6
3.0      RENT AND OTHER PAYMENTS    6
  3.1     

RENT

   6
  3.2     

ADDITIONAL RENT

   7
  3.3     

PAYMENT OF TAXES

   7
  3.4     

TENANT TAXES

   7
  3.5     

RIGHT OF APPEAL

   7
  3.6     

COMMON COSTS

   7
  3.7     

OTHER EXPENSES AND OUTLAYS

   8
  3.8     

BUSINESS TAX, ETC

   8
  3.9     

EVIDENCE OF PAYMENTS

   8
  3.10     

DEPOSIT

   8
4.0      TENANT’S OPERATING COVENANTS    8
  4.1     

PAY RENT

   8
  4.2     

USE OF PREMISES

   8
  4.3     

NO NUISANCE ETC.

   9
  4.4     

COMPLY WITH LAWS

   9
  4.5     

COMPLY WITH RULES

   9
  4.6     

SIGNS

   9
  4.7     

UTILITIES

   9
  4.8     

CARE OF PREMISES

   9
  4.9     

DAMAGING EQUIPMENT

   9
  4.10   

CARRYING ON BUSINESS

   9
  4.11   

DAMAGE TO PREMISES

   10
  4.12   

NOTICE OF DAMAGES OR DEFECTS

   10
5.0      REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS    10
  5.1     

REPAIRS

   10
  5.2     

RIGHT TO INSPECT AND REPAIR

   10
  5.3     

LANDLORD’S CONSENT REQUIRED

   10
  5.4     

CARRYING OUT IMPROVEMENTS

   10
  5.5     

TENANT’S REMOVAL OF FIXTURES, ETC

   11
  5.6     

GOODS, CHATTELS NOT TO BE DISPOSED OF

   11
  5.7     

MANDATORY REMOVAL OF FIXTURES, ETC

   11
  5.8     

LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES

   11
  5.9     

NO REPRESENTATIONS BY LANDLORD

   11

 

– 1 –


6.0      INSURANCE AND INDEMNIFICATION    11
  6.1     

TENANT INSURANCE

   11
  6.2     

ACTS CONFLICTING WITH INSURANCE

   12
  6.3     

INDEMNITY TO LANDLORD

   13
  6.4     

RESPONSIBILITY FOR INJURIES, LOSS, DAMAGE

   13
  6.5     

NO LIABILITY FOR INDIRECT DAMAGES

   13
7.0      DISPOSITIONS    14
  7.1     

ASSIGNING OR SUBLETTING

   14
  7.2     

SUBORDINATION

   14
  7.3     

SALE BY LANDLORD

   14
  7.4     

PEACEFUL SURRENDER

   14
8.0      LANDLORD’S COVENANTS    15
  8.1     

QUIET ENJOYMENT

   15
  8.2     

LANDLORD’S COVENANTS

   15
  8.3     

LANDLORD’S WORK

   17
  8.4     

LANDLORD’S RIGHT TO INSPECT, LANDLORD SIGNS

   18
9.0      DEFAULT    18
  9.1     

DEFAULT

   18
  9.2     

BANKRUPTCY, ETC.

   18
  9.3     

CERTAIN CONSEQUENCES OF RE-ENTRY

   18
  9.4     

LANDLORD MAY PERFORM TENANT’S OBLIGATIONS

   19
  9.5     

INABILITY TO PERFORM

   19
  9.6     

DISTRESS

   19
  9.7     

LANDLORD’S COSTS IN ENFORCING LEASE

   19
  9.8     

RIGHTS CUMULATIVE

   19
  9.9     

WAIVER

   19
  9.10   

INTEREST

   20
10.0      DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION/EXPROPRIATION    20
  10.1     

DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION OF PREMISES

   20
  10.2     

EXPROPRIATION

   21
  10.3     

DEMOLITION

   21
11.0      MISCELLANEOUS    21
  11.1     

LANDLORD-TENANT RELATIONSHIP

   21
  11.2     

ENUREMENT

   21
  11.3     

HOLDING OVER

   21
  11.4     

REGISTRATION

   21
  11.5     

NO CHANGES OR WAIVERS

   22
  11.6     

NOTICES

   22
  11.7     

CERTIFICATES

   22
  11.8     

BRITISH COLUMBIA LAW

   22
  11.9     

INTERPRETATION

   22
  11.10   

PROVISIONS SEVERABLE

   22
  11.11   

HEADINGS

   22
  11.12   

COUNTERPARTS

   22
  11.13   

OPTION TO RENEW

   22

 

– 2 –


SCHEDULES

 

SCHEDULE ‘A’   - Plan of Premises
SCHEDULE ‘B’   - Rules and Regulations
SCHEDULE ‘C’   - Covenantor’s Provisions
    Environmental Covenants
SCHEDULE ‘D’   – Lease Terms

THIS LEASE dated for reference the 15th day of December, 2009.

BETWEEN:

Duft Enterprises Corp.

635 Columbia Street

New Westminster, BC

V3M 1A7

(the “Landlord”)

 

AND:      Orchid Cellmark ULC

635 Columbia Street

New Westminster, BC

V3M 1A7

(the “Tenant”)

1.0 SUMMARY OF TERMS

1.1 TERMS. Subject to any inconsistency between these summary terms and the remainder of this Lease, the following terms are a part of this Lease:

 

(1)    Property Legal Description    Lot 21, Block 13, Plan 2620 otherwise known as
      635 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 1A7
(2)    Description of Tenant:    Orchid Cellmark ULC
   Address for Tenant:    635 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 1A7
(3)    Operating Name:    Orchid Cellmark ULC
(4)    Description of Covenantor:    <>
(5)    Address of Covenantor:    <>
(6)    Premises:    Outlined in thick black or red line on Schedule “A”
(7)    Address of Premises:    635 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 1A7
(8)    Gross Area:    See Schedule D
(9)    Term:    three years from January 1, 2010 (the “Lease
      Commencement Date”)
(10)    Termination Date:    December 31, 2012
(11)    Renewal Term:    <>Year Option to Renew
(12)    Notice of Renewal:    Six full months written notice

 

– 3 –


(13)    Rent:    See Schedule D
(14)    Proportionate Share of CAM:    See Schedule D
   Estimated CAM    See Schedule D
   GST    See Schedule D
   Total payment    See Schedule D
(15)    Deposit Received:    $8,704.69
(16)    Percentage Rent:    <>
(17)    Notice to Vacate:    <>
(18)    Permitted Use of Premises:    Professional services or business offices
(19)    Fixturing Period:    <>
(20)    Base Rent Free:    <>

In the event of any inconsistencies between this paragraph and the other provisions of this Lease, the other provisions of the lease will prevail.

1.2 DEFINITIONS. In this Lease, unless otherwise stated, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

  (1) Business Day” means every day except Sundays and statutory holidays;

 

  (2) Business Hours” means the hours on Business Days from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday;

 

  (3) Common Areas” means all parts of the Property and Building from time to time designated as common areas by the Landlord, including hallways, common washrooms, roofs, parking areas, stairwells, sidewalks, common loading areas, administration offices, telephone, meter rooms, valve, mechanical, mail and janitor rooms and storage areas not occupied by tenants of the Building and landscaped areas;

 

  (4) “Common Costs” means all costs, expenses, charges and outlays, without duplication, in connection with or related to the maintenance, repair, management and operation of the Common Areas and the Property, including but not limited to, but subject to the proviso contained in this section 1.1(5):

 

  (i) all risk commercial form of fire and comprehensive insurance policy with replacement value coverage on the Property and the Building; public liability insurance; rental loss insurance for a maximum period of eighteen months; earthquake and all other insurance coverage in relation to the Property and Building the Landlord places;

 

  (ii) heating ventilation and air conditioning costs, electricity, hot and cold water, gas, oil, telephone, utilities, painting, window cleaning, garbage collection and removal, snow removal, gardening, landscaping, security and janitorial services; replacing fixtures, ballasts and tubes; costs of washrooms in the Common Areas; roof repairs and replacements;

 

  (iii) an allowance for depreciation of personal property, fixtures and equipment used in operating, repairing and/or maintaining the Property, calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  (iv) license fees payable by the Landlord in relation to the Property and Building; installations, additions or other work to the Property of Building made as a result of any government requirement;

 

– 4 –


  (v) fees, salaries, benefits and other remuneration of on-site employees and consultants providing services in relation to the operation, management repair, and maintenance of the Property and Building;

 

  (vi) all other expenses, costs, charges and outlays whatsoever in connection with or related to the Common Areas and the maintenance, repair, management and operation of the Common Areas, save and except for structural expenses and Landlord’s non-operating expenses; and

 

  (vii) an allowance for the Landlord’s overhead, management and administrative costs not to exceed five percent (5%) of the Gross Rent payable by the Tenant to the Landlord under this Lease.

 

  (5) Gross Area” means the area of the Premises plus:

 

area of the Common Areas on the floor on which the Premises are located

   x   

area of the Premises

area of all premises set aside by the Landlord for leasing to tenants on the floor on which the Premises are located

all as measured in square feet by the Landlord’s British Columbia land surveyor in accordance with the measurement standards of the Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA);

 

  (6) Property” means the Building, surrounding lands and related improvements described in 1.1(1);

 

  (7) Proportionate Share” means the percentage in paragraph 1.1(14), calculated as that fraction which has as its numerator the area of the Premises and as its denominator the area of all leasable premises within the Building (excluding common, storage and parking areas), as calculated by the Landlord on the basis of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International measurement standards, which the parties agree shall be as set forth in Schedule D to this Lease;

 

  (8) Taxes” means all taxes, school taxes, local improvement taxes, sewer, water and utilities taxes, and all other rates, charges, duties, levies and assessments whatsoever whether municipal, governmental, provincial, federal, school or otherwise, imposed, assessed or charged on or in respect of the Property, the Building and all improvements, or on the Landlord on account of same, including all taxes in the future levied in lieu of or in replacement of the foregoing, but excluding any tax attracted by the Tenant’s improvements and equipment and otherwise payable by the Tenant under this Lease and any taxes assessed on the income or profits of the Landlord;

 

  (9) Tenant Taxes” means all goods and services taxes, value added taxes and other taxes, except Taxes as defined in subparagraph 1.2(8) rates, and assessments levied against the Landlord, the Tenant, the Property or the Premises in respect of or as a result of this Lease, the Gross Rent or Additional Rent, and/or any chattels, machinery, equipment, improvements or tenant’s fixtures erected or placed on or affixed to the Premises, by or on behalf of the Tenant, including all such taxes in the future levied in lieu of or in replacement of the foregoing; and

 

– 5 –


  (10) Term” means the term of this Lease described in paragraph 2.2 and any extensions and renewals.

2.0 DEMISE AND TERM

2.1 DEMISE, PREMISES. In consideration of the rents, covenants, conditions and agreements on the part of the Tenant to be paid, observed and performed, the Landlord demises and leases to the Tenant and the Tenant takes and rents on the terms of this Lease, the premises (the “Premises”) located at the address in British Columbia given in paragraph 1.1(7), outlined in thick black or red line on Schedule “A” to this Lease, consisting of a portion of a building (the “Building”) located on and forming part of the Property. The parties understand and agree that the amount of square feet leased to the Tenant as part of the Premises shall increase by 80 square feet when the stairwell to the basement is closed off (as contemplated by Section 8.2(14) below). The parties further understand and agree that the amount of Gross Rent plus GST payable under this Lease shall be as set forth on Schedule D to this Lease and such amounts payable shall be adjusted as set forth on Schedule D at such time as the stairwell to the basement is closed off.

2.2 TERM. To have and to hold the Premises unto the Tenant for the term given in paragraph 1.1(9), subject to the payment of Basic Rent and Additional Rent as herein defined and the fulfillment by the Tenant of its obligations under this Lease, unless earlier terminated as set out in this Lease.

2.3 LICENSE TO USE COMMON AREAS. The Landlord grants to the Tenant for the Term as an appurtenant part of this Lease, for use by the Tenant and its agents, invitees, servants, employees, licensees and customers, in common with the Landlord and other tenants and their respective agents, invitees, servants, employees, licensees and customers, the non-exclusive right and license to use the Common Areas for the purposes and subject to the covenants and conditions provided in this Lease. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such license of use includes:

 

  (1) the right to use the parking areas, if any (excluding those portions thereof allocated to a tenant or licensee) for the purposes of pedestrian and vehicular access to and from the Building and the parking of vehicles in parking spaces provided therein, and

 

  (2) the right to use the public washrooms, corridors, entrances and exits to buildings and all other facilities provided for common use and enjoyment as part of the Common Areas.

3.0 RENT AND OTHER PAYMENTS

3.1 RENT. Yielding to the Landlord during the Term, rent for the Premises, without set off or deduction, in Canadian money as follows:

 

  (1) rent and CAM (the “Gross Rent”), payable plus GST, in monthly payments in advance on the 1st day of every month, in the amounts set forth on Schedule D to this Lease (and as adjusted in accordance with Section 2.1 above); and

 

  (2) additional rent (“Additional Rent”), being all other amounts due and payable by the Tenant pursuant to this Lease plus GST. Unless otherwise specified in this Lease, the Tenant shall pay Additional Rent to the Landlord within seven days after written notice of it is given by the Landlord to the Tenant.

The Tenant shall make all payments required to be made by it under this Lease to the Landlord at its address set out on page one, or at any other address the Landlord from time to time designates by written notice to the Tenant.

 

– 6 –


If the Term begins or ends or there is any alteration in Gross Rent on any day other than when Basic Rent is payable under subparagraph 3.1(1), rent for the applicable fractions of a month will be adjusted pro rata.

3.2 ADDITIONAL RENT. All money payable by the Tenant under this Lease and money paid or costs incurred by the Landlord, which ought to have been paid or incurred by the Tenant to any party, or for which the Landlord is entitled to reimbursement from the Tenant:

 

  (1) will unless otherwise stipulated herein be payable by the Tenant to the Landlord as Additional Rent seven days after the Tenant has received written notice of same and

 

  (2) may be recovered by the Landlord as Additional Rent and by any and all remedies available to the Landlord for the recovery of rent.

3.3 PAYMENT OF TAXES. The Tenant shall pay to the Landlord the Tenant’s Proportionate Share of the Taxes as follows:

 

  (1)

the Landlord shall estimate the Taxes for each year of the term or its fiscal period, as the Landlord elects, and notify the Tenant in writing of its share. The Tenant shall pay 1/12th of the Landlord’s estimate of the Tenant’s Proportionate Share of the Taxes in advance with each monthly installment of Basic Rent payable throughout that period, which will be adjusted if the Landlord later re-estimates the Taxes for such period or the remaining portion; and

 

  (2) the Landlord shall advise the Tenant of the actual amount of Taxes for such period and the Tenant’s Proportionate Share of the Taxes after the end of such period in reasonable detail, which will be binding on the parties, unless the tenant gives written notice of objection within 60 days after receiving the same. Within 30 days after receipt of that advice from the Landlord, the Tenant shall pay to the Landlord any underpayment by the tenant of its Proportionate Share of the Taxes for the period or the Landlord shall credit the Tenant in respect of any overpayment.

3.4 TENANT TAXES. The Tenant shall pay to the Landlord all Tenant Taxes, within 10 Business Days after demand by the Landlord. If the Term of this Lease ends when the actual amount of the Tenant Taxes for that year is unknown, the Tenant shall, on or before the end of the Term, pay to the Landlord the Landlord’s estimate of Tenant Taxes for that year. A further adjustment, if necessary, will be made between the Landlord and the Tenant when the actual amount of the Tenant Taxes is known.

3.5 RIGHT OF APPEAL. The Tenant shall have the right at its own expense in the name of the Landlord to appeal any assessment, Taxes or Tenant Taxes imposed in respect of the Premises, but the Tenant shall indemnify the Landlord against all costs and charges arising from such appeals including all resulting increases in assessments or taxes.

3.6 COMMON COSTS. The Tenant shall pay to the Landlord its Proportionate Share of Common Costs as follows:

 

  (1) the Landlord shall estimate the Common Costs for each year of the Term or its fiscal period, as the Landlord elects, and notify the Tenant in writing of its share. The Tenant shall pay 1/12th of the Landlord’s estimate of the Tenant’s Proportionate Share of Common Costs in advance with each monthly installment of Basic Rent payable throughout that period, which will be adjusted if the Landlord later re-estimates the Common Costs for such period or the remaining portion;

 

– 7 –


  (2) the Landlord shall advise the Tenant of the actual amount of Common Costs for such period and the Tenant’s Proportionate Share after the end of such period in reasonable detail, which will be binding on the parties, unless the Tenant gives written notice of objection within 60 days after receiving same. Within 30 days after receipt of that advice from the Landlord, the Tenant shall pay to the Landlord any underpayment by the Tenant of its Proportionate Share of Common Costs for the period or the Landlord shall credit the Tenant in respect of any overpayment; and

 

  (3) if the Landlord is required to prepay any Common Costs or pay any Common Costs more frequently than required at the beginning of the Term, the Tenant shall pay to the Landlord its Proportionate Share of those Common Costs, within seven days after the written request of the Landlord, to allow the Landlord to pay those Common Costs in a timely manner.

3.7 OTHER EXPENSES AND OUTLAYS. Provided that the tenant is not required to make any structural repairs, the Tenant shall pay for all other expenses, costs and outlays whatsoever in connection with the Premises and this tenancy not otherwise set out in this Lease, with the intent that the Landlord shall have no expenses, costs, or outlays whatsoever in connection with the Premises or this tenancy except as specifically set out in this Lease.

3.8 BUSINESS TAX, ETC. The Tenant shall pay when due all business taxes and other taxes, charges, levies, licenses and expenses levied on the Tenant or Landlord in respect of the Tenant’s business, use or occupancy of the Premises including interest and penalties for late payment.

3.9 EVIDENCE OF PAYMENTS. The Tenant shall deliver to the Landlord from time to time evidence satisfactory to the Landlord of the payment by the Tenant of all payments required by the Tenant under this Lease, within seven days after written request by the Landlord.

3.10 DEPOSIT. A deposit in the amount set out in Section 1.1(15) hereto payable to the Landlord is delivered herewith to be held by the Landlord without any liability whatsoever on the part of the Landlord for the payment of interest thereon, to be applied first towards the gross rent due for the first and last months of the Term (the “Deposit”) for the faithful performance by the Tenant of the terms, covenants and conditions of this Offer to Lease and of the Lease during the Term. The Tenant understands and agrees that any portion of this Deposit may, at the Landlord’s option, be applied towards the payment of overdue or unpaid Rent or be applied as compensation to the Landlord for any loss or damage sustained with respect to the breach on the part of the Tenant of any terms, covenants and conditions of this Offer to Lease or the Lease, provided in all cases, however, that the Tenant’s liability is not limited to the amount of this Deposit. The Tenant shall pay to the Landlord any amount necessary to reinstate the amount, if any, remaining of the Deposit to a total equal to one month’s rent within five (5) days of receipt of written notice from the Landlord, failing which the Landlord shall have all rights and remedies as if such amount was rent in arrears.

4.0 TENANT’S OPERATING COVENANTS

4.1 PAY RENT. The Tenant shall pay to the Landlord, without notice or demand, the Gross Rent set out in Schedule D to this Lease in the manner provided by this Lease.

4.2 USE OF PREMISES. The Tenant shall not allow the Premises to be used for any purpose other than for the uses given in 1.1(18), nor by anyone other than the Tenant, its agents, employees and invitees. It is the Tenant’s sole responsibility to ensure that the Premises can be used for those purposes and to obtain any necessary permits, licenses and government approvals, at the Tenant’s cost.

 

– 8 –


4.3 NO NUISANCE ETC. The Tenant shall not permit to be carried on in the Premises any noisy, illegal, noxious, hazardous, immoral or offensive activity. The Tenant shall not permit anything to be done in or about the Premises which may cause or permit annoying noises or vibrations or offensive odors to issue from the Premises or which may cause nuisance, annoyance, damage or disturbance to the Landlord or the occupants or owners of the Property or other premises in the vicinity of the Property, so as in the opinion of the Landlord to render the Premises or the Property or any part thereof less desirable or injure the reputation thereof as a first-class building.

4.4 COMPLY WITH LAWS. The Tenant shall at its expense promptly comply with all laws, ordinances by-laws, regulations, requirements and recommendations of all government and other authorities or associations of insurance underwriters or agents applicable to the Tenant, its business or use of the Premises, and all related notices served on the Landlord or the Tenant.

4.5 COMPLY WITH RULES. The Tenant shall ensure that the rules and regulations set out in Schedule “B” with all variations and additions which the Landlord from time to time makes and of which the Landlord gives written notice to the Tenant, are strictly observed and performed by the Tenant, its agents, employees, invitees and customers. All such rules and regulations will be part of this Lease. The Landlord is not obligated to enforce the foregoing rules, regulations, terms, covenants or conditions in any other lease against any other tenant and the Landlord shall not be liable to the Tenant for the violation of same by any other tenant, its employees, agents or licensees.

4.6 SIGNS. The Tenant shall not place or allow any sign, notice, awning or advertisement on or visible from the outside of the Premises, the Building or any Common Area, without the prior written approval of the Landlord. The cost of same will be paid by the Tenant, unless otherwise specified in this Lease. The Landlord may prescribe a standard or pattern for the Tenant’s identification signs on the outside of the Premises or the Building. At the request of the Landlord not later than 180 days after the end of the Term, the Tenant shall at its own expense remove any or all of its signs, awnings and advertisements located on or about the Premises as designated by the Landlord and restore all portions of the Premises affected thereby to their former condition.

4.7 UTILITIES. The Tenant shall promptly pay all telephone, electric, oil, gas, water, garbage, scavenging and other utility charges in connection with or consumed on the Premises. If there is not a separate meter for measuring any utility used in the Premises, the Tenant shall pay to the Landlord in advance by monthly instalments the amount estimated by the Landlord from time to time as the Tenant’s share of such utilities. The Tenant shall immediately advise the Landlord of any appliances or machines installed by the Tenant likely to consume large amounts of electricity. The Tenant shall at the request of the Landlord from time to time deliver to the Landlord a list of all appliances, equipment and machines used in the Premises. If the Landlord pays any of the Tenant’s utilities, the Tenant shall immediately reimburse the Landlord.

4.8 CARE OF PREMISES. The Tenant shall take good care of the Premises, keep them in a clean, tidy and healthy condition in accordance with any governmental laws or regulations and in accordance with all directions, rules and regulations of the health officer, fire marshal, building inspector or other proper officers of the applicable municipality or other agencies having jurisdiction or the insurers of the Landlord, and not allow the Premises to become unsightly or hazardous.

4.9 DAMAGING EQUIPMENT. The Tenant shall not use the Premises so as to impair the efficient and proper operation of any HVAC or sprinkler system or other equipment located in or about the Premises.

4.10 CARRYING ON BUSINESS. The Tenant shall operate its business in a reputable and businesslike manner, and maintain reasonable hours of operation of its business.

 

– 9 –


4.11 DAMAGE TO PREMISES. The Tenant shall reimburse the Landlord for all costs incurred by the Landlord in repairing damage caused to the Premises, its furnishings and amenities and the Property as a result of the negligence, willful act or omission of the Tenant, its invitees, licensees, agents, employees, customers, clients or other persons in or about the Premises.

4.12 NOTICE OF DAMAGES OR DEFECTS. The Tenant shall give the Landlord prompt written notice of: any damage to or defect in the heating and air conditioning system, water pipes, plumbing system, gas pipes, telephone lines, or electric light; any other casualty, including without limitation damage by fire or water to the Premises or Property; or the presence of rodents or pests in or about the Premises or the Property; of which the Tenant or its agents or employees may be aware.

5.0 REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS

5.1 REPAIRS. The Tenant shall maintain, repair and keep the Premises, with all appurtenances, equipment and fixtures including locks, glass doors and windows in good order and repair as a careful owner would do, in accordance with the standard of the specifications of the building and the approval of the Landlord, save and except for reasonable wear and tear and structural repairs which are the responsibility of the Landlord. The Tenant is responsible for all damage to the Premises caused by its customers, clients, invitees or licensees.

5.2 RIGHT TO INSPECT AND REPAIR. The Landlord and its agent shall have the right at all times on at least 24 hours notice to enter the Premises, examine its condition, and the Tenant shall within 14 days after receipt of written notice, make the repairs and replacements the Landlord requires to comply with paragraph 5.1. If the Tenant fails to do so within that time, the Landlord or its agents may on reasonable notice enter the Premises and at the Tenant’s expense, perform and carry out those repairs and replacements, and the Landlord will not be liable to the Tenant for any inconvenience, annoyance, loss of business or any injury or damage suffered by the Tenant by reason of the Landlord effecting such repairs unless caused by the negligence of the Landlord, its agent or employees. The Landlord is entitled to enter the Premises without notice in the event of an emergency.

5.3 LANDLORD’S CONSENT REQUIRED. The Tenant shall not make any repairs, alterations, installations, additions, removals, or improvements (collectively “Improvements”) in or about the Premises or do anything which might affect the operation of the lighting, plumbing, water, HVAC, or structure of the Building without having submitted adequate plans and specifications to the Landlord and having obtained the Landlord’s prior written consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. All work consented to by the Landlord will be done at the Tenant’s expense and at the times and in the manner the Landlord requires by contractors or tradesman previously approved in writing by the Landlord. The Landlord warrants that the Premises meet the Landlord’s standards as of the Lease Commencement Date.

5.4 CARRYING OUT IMPROVEMENTS. The Tenant shall promptly pay for all authorized Improvements, obtain necessary approvals from all governmental authorities and carry them out in a good and workmanlike manner in accordance with high quality standards and all statutes, regulations, by-laws and directions of applicable governmental authorities. The Tenant shall also pay to the Landlord the amount of all increases of insurance premiums or Taxes resulting from any such transactions. All Improvements made by the Landlord or the Tenant on the Premises including but without restricting the foregoing, wall to wall carpeting, wall and floor coverings, light fixtures, electrical, plumbing and heating fixtures and supplies, partitions and built-in furniture, will be the property of the Landlord and considered as part of the Premises.

 

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5.5 TENANT’S REMOVAL OF FIXTURES, ETC. Subject to paragraph 5.4, the Tenant may at the end of the Term, remove from the Premises all movable and unattached furniture, machinery, fittings, shelving, supplies, counters, chattels and equipment brought onto the Premises by the Tenant constituting trade fixtures, but in removing them the Tenant shall not damage the Premises, and shall promptly repair any damage caused.

5.6 GOODS, CHATTELS NOT TO BE DISPOSED OF. The Tenant shall not except in the ordinary course of business remove from the Premises or sell in bulk any goods, chattels or fixtures until all Basic Rent and Additional Rent owing during the Term has been fully paid. The Tenant shall not under any circumstances remove from the Premises any plumbing, electrical, or HVAC fixtures or equipment or other building services.

5.7 MANDATORY REMOVAL OF FIXTURES, ETC. The Landlord may, by written notice to the Tenant not later than 90 days after the end of this Lease, require the Tenant to remove all or any part of the Tenant’s property and any fixtures, Improvements, or fittings to the Premises installed by the Tenant or by the Landlord on behalf of the Tenant and to restore the Premises to their condition at the beginning of the Term, ordinary wear and tear excepted, which will be done at the Tenant’s expense. The Tenant shall at its expense repair all resulting damage to the Premises, ordinary wear and tear excepted. If the Tenant does not remove them within 10 days after such written notice, the Landlord may do so and the Tenant shall immediately pay the reasonable cost of same to the Landlord. The Landlord shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to the Tenant’s property caused by that removal. Subject to the notice provision in the first sentence of this section, if the Tenant does not remove any of its property on the expiration of the Term or on the termination of this Lease by the Landlord in the event of the Tenant’s default, such property shall become the Landlord’s property.

5.8 LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES. The Tenant shall keep the Property free from and immediately discharge all liens, claims of lien and other encumbrances filed against the Premises, Property by or as a result of the actions or default of the Tenant or any contractor, subcontractor, supplier, consultant, worker or other person engaged by the Tenant or any contractor of the Tenant or for whom the Tenant is legally responsible or who has done work or provided labour, materials or services in respect of the Premises. If Tenant fails to do so, the Landlord may pay into Court or into a lawyer’s trust account the amount required to obtain a discharge of such lien or encumbrance. The Tenant shall pay to the Landlord all amounts paid or incurred and all actual legal and other fees, costs and disbursements in respect of those proceedings, on a full-indemnity basis. The Tenant shall also indemnify and save harmless the Landlord from and against all damages suffered by the Landlord as a result of those liens and encumbrances. Prior to permitting any work to be done on the Premises, at the request of the Landlord, the Tenant shall post and during the work keep posted in prominent locations on the Premises at least two notices signed by the Landlord indicating that the Landlord will not be responsible for such work or improvements. If requested by the Landlord, the Tenant shall allow the Landlord to post such notices, and shall not remove same.

5.9 NO REPRESENTATIONS BY LANDLORD. There are no promises, representations or undertakings by or binding on the Landlord with respect to any alteration, remodeling or decorating, or installation of equipment or fixtures in the Premises or the possible use(s) of the Premises or with respect to any other matter, except as expressly set out in this Lease.

6.0 INSURANCE AND INDEMNIFICATION

6.1 TENANT INSURANCE The Tenant shall maintain in force:

 

  (1) glass insurance, with the Landlord as a named insured and for the benefit of the Landlord and the Tenant, covering all glass and plate glass in or part of the Premises, including glass windows and doors, in an amount equal to its full insurable value;

 

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  (2) comprehensive general public liability insurance, for the benefit of the Landlord and the Tenant, in amounts (not less than $2,000,000.00 per incident). designated by the Landlord in respect of claims for injury, death or property damage; such comprehensive general liability insurance shall, for the Tenant’s benefit only, include contractual liability insurance in the form and of a nature broad enough to insure the obligations imposed upon the Tenant under the terms of this Lease,

 

  (3) insurance in respect of fire and other extended perils customarily contained in an extended coverage endorsement and insured against by a prudent owner covering leasehold improvements, fixtures, furniture, inventory, equipment and personal property of the Tenant to their full insurable value. Such insurance will include the Landlord as a named insured as its interest may appear with respect to insured leasehold improvements. The Tenant shall make such proceeds available toward the repair or replacement of the insured property if this Lease is not terminated; and

 

  (4) such other insurance as the Landlord requires as a prudent landlord agreed to by the Tenant.

The Tenant shall effect all insurance with insurers and brokers licensed to carry on business in British Columbia who are acceptable to the Landlord and on terms satisfactory to the Landlord acting reasonably, and shall at minimum contain insurance coverage against all perils and hazards normally covered by standard policies in British Columbia. All insurance policies will contain a cross liability clause in favour of the Landlord as if the Landlord and Tenant were separately insured and a clause requiring the insurer not to cancel, alter or fail to renew the insurance without first giving the Landlord at least 30 days prior written notice.

The Tenant shall supply the Landlord with a certificate signed by an insurance agent or insurance company setting out in detail the particulars of its insurance coverage at the beginning of the Term and with respect to any new policies at least 30 days before the end of the existing policies. In the event of any loss or damage to the Property or if requested by the Landlord, the Tenant shall provide a copy of the policies in force with respect to such insurance coverage. If the Tenant does not maintain in force any required insurance or provide proof of insurance, the Landlord may take out insurance it deems appropriate, pay the premiums, and the Tenant shall pay to the Landlord the amount of the premium on the next Basic Rent payment date. If both the Landlord and the Tenant have claims to be indemnified under any insurance, the insurance proceeds will be applied first to the settlement of the claim of the Landlord and the balance to the settlement of the claim of the Tenant.

6.2 ACTS CONFLICTING WITH INSURANCE. The Tenant shall not do or omit or permit anything to be done or omitted by its employees, agents, customers, licensees, subtenants, or assignees which may render void or voidable or conflict with the requirements of any insurance policy relating to the Property or regulations of fire insurance underwriters applicable to such policy, or which may increase the premiums payable in respect of any such policy. If any policy is cancelled or threatened to be cancelled because of:

 

  (1) any act or omission,

 

  (2) the actual or intended occupation of the Premises, or

 

  (3) the nature of the business carried on

by the Tenant, its employees, agents, customers, licensees, subtenants, or assignees the Landlord shall have the right at its option to terminate this Lease immediately by giving notice of termination to the

 

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Tenant. If the premiums payable in respect of any such policy are increased for any of the reasons given above in this paragraph 6.2, the Tenant shall at the Landlord’s request pay to the Landlord the amount by which those premiums are increased.

6.3 INDEMNITY TO LANDLORD. Except where the same is caused by the Landlord or for whom the Landlord is responsible in law, the Tenant shall indemnify and save harmless the Landlord from all liabilities, damages, costs, claims, suits and actions in connection with all:

 

  (1) breaches, and defaults in respect of any covenant, term or agreement of this Lease by the Tenant;

 

  (2) negligent or willful acts or omissions of the Tenant;

 

  (3) damage to property on or about the Premises, unless occurring solely as a result of the Landlord’s negligence; and

 

  (4) injuries to any licensee, invitee, agent or employee of the Tenant, and death resulting therefrom, occurring on or about the Premises as a result of a breach or default under this Lease, or any negligence or willful act, of the Tenant, its employees, agents, customers, invitees or licensees,

including all costs and actual reasonable legal fees and disbursements of the Landlord on a full-indemnity basis. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Lease, the indemnity in this paragraph 6.3 will under all circumstances survive the end of this Lease.

6.4 RESPONSIBILITY FOR INJURIES, LOSS, DAMAGE. The Landlord is not responsible for any injury to any person or for any loss of or damage to property of the Tenant or other occupants of the Premises or their invitees, licensees, agents, employees or other persons in the Premises or while such person or property is in or about the Premises, the Property, or any related areaways, parking areas, lawns, sidewalks, steps, truck ways, platforms, corridors or stairways, including, without limiting the foregoing, that caused by theft or breakage, or by steam, water, rain or snow which may leak into or flow from the Building, the Property, any nearby lands or premises or any other place, or for any injury to any person or loss or damage attributable to wiring, smoke, anything done or omitted by any other tenant or for any other loss whatsoever with respect to the Premises and any business carried on therein, unless caused by the negligence of the Landlord or for whom the Landlord is responsible in law.

6.5 NO LIABILITY FOR INDIRECT DAMAGES. The Landlord is not liable for indirect or consequential damages for personal discomfort or illness caused by or in respect of the heating of the Premises, or the operation of any air conditioning equipment, elevators, plumbing or other equipment in or about the Property, provided the Landlord promptly takes all steps reasonably required to remedy any failure in the operation of any of the above described services.

 

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7.0 DISPOSITIONS

7.1 ASSIGNING OR SUBLETTING. The Tenant shall not assign, sublet, transfer or enter into or a grant a license, concession, or right of occupancy (a “Disposition”) with respect to the Premises or any part without having previously requested in writing and obtained the written consent of the Landlord, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. Without limiting the foregoing, the Landlord must be satisfied as to the respectability, reputation and financial responsibility of the person or other entity (an “Assignee”) to whom the Tenant wishes to make a Disposition. The Landlord may, as a condition of consenting, require an Assignee to agree in writing with the Landlord to fulfill all the obligations of the Tenant under this Lease and all directors, officers and shareholders of the Assignee to guarantee those obligations, on terms prepared by the Landlord’s solicitors. The Tenant shall promptly deliver to the Landlord all information the Landlord reasonably requires in respect of the proposed Assignee including its name, address, the nature of its business, proof of its financial responsibility and reputation and a copy of the form of assignment or other Disposition document proposed to be used.

Any Disposition to which the Landlord has consented will not release the Tenant from any of its obligations under this Lease. The Landlord’s acceptance of Rent from an Assignee who the Landlord has not consented to will not constitute a waiver of the requirement for consent. The Tenant shall pay promptly after request all the Landlord’s actual legal and other costs incurred in connection with the Tenant’s request for consent. No Disposition will be made to anyone carrying on a business the Landlord is obligated to restrict because of any other lease or agreement.

If the Tenant is a non-reporting body corporate, any direct or indirect change in the control or beneficial ownership of the Tenant to any person not presently a shareholder of the Tenant, by transfer or issuance of shares or otherwise, will be deemed a Disposition and subject to all the foregoing provisions of this paragraph 7.1.

7.2 SUBORDINATION. This Lease is subject and subordinate to all debentures, mortgages or other financial encumbrances at anytime registered in the applicable Land Title Office or the Registrar of Companies against the Property, regardless of the dates of registration. The Tenant shall promptly from time to time execute and deliver to the Landlord all documents or assurances the Landlord requires to effect this subordination. Any documents signed by the Tenant to evidence the foregoing subordination will provide that if the Tenant fulfils its obligations under this Lease, it will remain in full force notwithstanding any action taken by an encumbrance holder in respect of the Premises to enforce its encumbrance.

7.3 SALE BY LANDLORD. In the event of a sale, transfer or lease by the Landlord of the Premises or the Property or the assignment by the Landlord of this Lease or any interest under this Lease, the Landlord shall, without further agreement, to the extent that such purchaser, transferee or lessee has become bound by the covenants and obligations of the Landlord under this Lease, be released and relieved of all liability and obligations under this Lease.

7.4 PEACEFUL SURRENDER. At the end of the Term, the Tenant shall immediately peaceably surrender and yield up to the Landlord the Premises, its appurtenances, and all fixtures, improvements, and modifications, in a state of cleanliness and good repair, order and condition as is required by this Lease, without notice from the Landlord and deliver to the Landlord all keys to the Premises in the possession of the Tenant.

 

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8.0 LANDLORD’S COVENANTS

8.1 QUIET ENJOYMENT. Upon the Tenant paying the rent and performing its other obligations under this Lease, the Tenant will be entitled to peaceably possess and enjoy the Premises for the Term without interruption or disturbance from the Landlord or any other persons lawfully claiming by, from or under the Landlord, except as specifically set out in this Lease.

8.2 LANDLORD’S COVENANTS. The Landlord covenants with the Tenant:

 

  (1) to pay the Taxes except the Tenant’s Taxes;

 

  (2) to insure and keep insured the Building to an amount not less than 80% of the replacement cost against all risk of loss or damage caused by or resulting from fire, lightning, explosion, malfunction or non-function of boilers, pipes or accessories in or upon the Building and all perils defined in the standard fire insurance peril supplementary contract customarily in use from time to time during the Term or any extensions thereof for similar structures;

 

  (3) to refund to the Tenant or, at the Landlord’s option, to credit against any amount owing by the Tenant to the Landlord , any excess payments made by the Tenant on account of the its Proportionate Share of the Taxes or Common Costs;

 

  (4) to provide heat to the Premises to an extent sufficient to maintain a reasonable temperature during Business Hours on Business Days, except during the making of repairs;

 

  (5) to supply water if possible and permissible by statute for washing and sanitary requirements of the Tenant and, at the Tenant’s request and expense, to make water available to the Premises for other reasonable uses of the Tenant;

 

  (6) to supply 110 volt electrical current to the premises sufficient for operating a normal business office;

 

  (7) to provide, maintain and operate during Business Hours on Business Days, except when repairs are being made, an air-conditioning system on an open floor basis, provided that the Landlord shall not be obliged to provide such air-conditioning:

 

  (1) in those areas of the Premises having exterior windows exposed to the sun where and when the Tenant fails to keep all such windows closed and to keep the window shading thereon fully closed,

 

  (2) in those areas of the Premises where the average amount of electric power supplied for illumination, business machines, office use and all purposes exceeds four watts per square foot of the Rentable Area,

 

  (3) in those areas of the Premises where the human occupation exceeds one person per hundred square feet of the Rentable Area,

 

  (4) in those areas of the Premises where the plans for extension of the air-conditioning system to service partitioned space has not been approved by the Landlord,

 

  (5) in those areas of the Premises partitioned and used as a storage area;

 

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  (8) there is no elevator installed in the Premises;

 

  (9) to permit the Tenant, its employees, agents, invitees and other persons lawfully requiring communication with the Tenant to have the use during Business Hours in common with others of the main entrance and stairways and corridors leading to the Premises. At times other than Business Hours, the Tenant, its employees, agents, invitees and persons lawfully requiring communication with the Tenant shall have access to the Building and to the Premises only in accordance with the rules and regulations attached hereto or subsequently adopted by the Landlord;

 

  (10) to permit the Tenant, its employees, agents and invitees in common with others entitled thereto to use the washrooms in the Building on the floor or floors in which the Premises are situate unless there are washrooms situated within the Premises.

 

  (11) to provide janitorial services to the Premises at the request and expense of the Tenant. Such services shall be provided on Business Days only, excluding Saturdays, and after Business Hours only (except window cleaning), and shall include sweeping and cleaning of the floors and internal windows of the Premises, dusting of the desks, tables and other furniture of the Tenant, and removal of refuse from the Premises. Such services shall be provided at the Landlord’s direction without interference by the Tenant or its servants or employees, and the Landlord shall not be responsible for any act or omission on the part of the person or persons employed to perform such services;

 

  (12) to clean and maintain, if requested and at the expense of the Tenant, the light fixtures provided by the Landlord to the Premises, it being agreed by the Tenant that such cleaning and maintenance shall be performed exclusively by the Landlord or its contractors;

 

  (13) to show the Tenant’s name upon the directory board, if any, in the Building, but the Landlord shall, in its sole discretion, design the style of such identification and allocate the space on the directory board at the Tenant’s cost;

 

  (14) to modify the Premises during the Term, at the Landlord’s sole cost and expense, in accordance with the following and the floor plan attached to this Lease:

 

  (1) Construction to be scheduled when a new tenant rents the remaining 2/3 of the leasable space at the Building, all at times and in such a manner as to provide minimum disturbance to day to day operations and work schedule of the Tenant to the extent possible;

 

  (2) Remove 2 baseboard heaters;

 

  (3) Remove and reinstall kitchen wall “A”;

 

  (4) Remove and reinstall 5 large windows “F” and one sliding window “G”;

 

  (5) Install carpet in new office area “B”;

 

  (6) Install mud room wall “C”;

 

  (7) Install two new doors “D” and “E”;

 

  (8) Replace and repair ceiling where wall comes out;

 

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  (9) A/C duct to be relocated to provide A/C to mud room; and

 

  (10) Stairwell to be relocated.

 

  (15) Subject to Article 10, the Landlord shall at all times during the Term maintain and keep or cause to be maintained and kept in a good and substantial state of repair, and operating condition and well painted

 

  (1) the exterior of the Premises (and the Building), all structural parts of the Premises (and the Building), the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system, the plumbing, electrical and other utility and mechanical systems in the Premises and all parts thereof, the roof and the weatherproof membrane of the roof of the Building, repairs, maintenance and replacements covered by any warranty period, and any repairs resulting from acts, omissions, default or negligence of the Landlord and persons for whom the Landlord is responsible, consistent with the standards of a prudent owner;

 

  (2) the balance of the improvements in the Property consistent with the standards of a prudent owner;

and accordingly, the Landlord shall from time to time whenever required, diligently carry out or cause to be carried out all appropriate repairs, replacements, rebuilding and restoration. The Landlord shall make all repairs required hereunder in a good and workmanlike manner, with all due diligence and in accordance with all the laws and regulations of governmental authorities having jurisdiction applicable thereto.

The Landlord’s obligations to repair hereunder shall be subject to the Landlord recovering the costs of the same as part of the Common Costs, if applicable. Except in the case of an emergency, the Landlord shall give to the Tenant as much written notice as possible of its intention to do any work which might result in any material interference with access to, egress from or visibility of the Premises. All such work shall be commenced promptly, shall be proceeded with diligently and shall be completed within such minimum period of time as may be reasonable in the circumstances having regard to the nature of such work.

8.3 LANDLORD’S WORK The Landlord may but shall not be obligated to make additions, improvements, installations and repairs to the Property other than the Premises. In this regard the Landlord may cause any obstruction of or interference with the use or enjoyment of the Premises that may reasonably be necessary, and may interrupt or suspend the supply of electricity, water or other services when necessary. Until same is completed there will be no abatement in rent, nor shall the Landlord be liable as a result.

Provided the Landlord does not unreasonably interfere with the Tenant’s use and enjoyment of the Premises, and with reasonable notice to the Tenant, the Landlord and all persons authorized by the Landlord may but shall not be obligated to use, install, maintain or repair pipes, wires, ducts or other installations in, under or through the Premises for or in connection with the supply of any services deemed advisable by the Landlord or for any other purposes reasonably required by the Landlord in relation to the Premises or any other premises on the Property. Those services may include, without limitation gas, electricity, water, sanitation, HVAC, and fire protection.

Provided the Landlord does not unreasonably interfere with the Tenant’s use and enjoyment of the Premises, and with reasonable notice to the Tenant, the Landlord and all persons authorized by the Landlord may but shall not be obligated to enter the Premises and make all decorations, repairs, alterations, improvements or additions the Landlord considers advisable or as required to comply

 

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with governmental requirements and regulations. The Landlord and all persons authorized by the Landlord are allowed to take all necessary material into the Premises and the rent under this Lease will not abate during that work.

8.4 LANDLORD’S RIGHT TO INSPECT, LANDLORD SIGNS. Any persons may inspect the Premises at all reasonable times by delivering to the Tenant on at least 24 hours notice a written direction to that effect signed by the Landlord. The Landlord shall have the right during the last six months of the Term to place on the Premises and the Property, a sign or notice that the Premises are for rent and containing other related information, and the Tenant will not remove that notice or permit it to be removed. The Landlord shall also have the right at any time to place on the Property or Building a sign stating that the Property is for sale.

9.0 DEFAULT

9.1 DEFAULT. If at any time:

 

  (1) the Tenant does not make any payment of Basic Rent or Additional Rent when it is due and payable, or

 

  (2) the Tenant or any other occupant of the Premises violates or fails to observe or perform any other covenant, agreement or obligation in this Lease, which has not been cured 7 days after written notice of same has been given by the Landlord to the Tenant.

the Landlord, in addition to any other available remedies, may at its option immediately cancel and terminate this Lease, re-enter and take possession of the Premises by force if necessary without previous notice, remove all persons and property and use such force and assistance as the Landlord deems advisable to recover possession of the Premises. In such case, all right, title and interest of the Tenant under this Lease will immediately cease and expire and the Tenant shall pay to the Landlord all the Landlord’s expenses of retaking possession, including legal fees and disbursements on a full-indemnity basis. The Landlord shall not be liable for any loss or damage to the Tenant’s property or business caused by any reasonable acts of the Landlord in exercise of its rights and remedies under this Lease.

9.2 BANKRUPTCY, ETC. If this Lease or any of the goods or chattels of the Tenant are seized or taken in execution or in attachment by any creditor of the Tenant, or if the Tenant makes any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or if a receiver, receiver and manager or receiver-manager is appointed in respect of any of the assets of the Tenant on or about the Premises, or if the Tenant is wound up or takes the benefit of any Act for bankrupt or insolvent debtors, then at the election of the Landlord this Lease shall immediately be forfeited and void and the Basic Rent and Additional Rent for the current month and the next 3 months will immediately become due and payable. In such case the Landlord shall at any time thereafter be entitled to re-enter and repossess the Premises in the same manner and with the same rights and protections as under paragraph 9.1 above.

9.3 CERTAIN CONSEQUENCES OF RE-ENTRY. If the Landlord re-enters the Premises, without limiting any other remedies available to the Landlord:

 

  (1) the Tenant shall pay on the first day of every month the Basic Rent and Additional Rent for the balance of the intended term of this Lease as if re-entry had not been made, less the actual amount received by the Landlord after re-entry from any subsequent leasing for the balance of the intended term. The Landlord agrees to use all reasonable efforts to re-let the Premises;

 

  (2) the Landlord will be entitled to re-let the Premises and the Tenant will be responsible to the Landlord for all damages suffered by the Landlord as a result of the Tenant’s breach or default.

 

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Re-entry will not operate as a waiver or satisfaction in whole or in part of any right, claim or demand of the Landlord in connection with any breach or failure by the Tenant in respect of any of its obligations under this Lease.

9.4 LANDLORD MAY PERFORM TENANT’S OBLIGATIONS. If the Tenant fails to perform any of its obligations under this Lease, the Landlord may, if the Tenant has not remedied such failure within 15 business days after receiving notice thereof from the Landlord, cause the same to be performed and do all things necessary or incidental thereto, including without limitation the right to make repairs, installations, modifications, and spend money. All related payments, expenses, charges, fees and disbursements thereby incurred or paid by or on behalf of the Landlord will be immediately payable by the Tenant to the Landlord.

9.5 INABILITY TO PERFORM. The Landlord does not warrant that any obligation, service or facility to be performed or provided by it under this Lease or under any other agreement with the Tenant will be free from interruption or delay caused or required by maintenance, repairs, renewals, modifications, strikes, riots, insurrections, labour controversies, accidents, fuel shortages, government intervention, statute, law, force majeure, act of God or other causes beyond the Landlord’s reasonable control. During the period of such interruption the Landlord shall be relieved from such obligations, which will not be an eviction or disturbance of the Tenant’s enjoyment of the Premises, or render the Landlord liable in damages to the Tenant, or relieve the Tenant from its obligations under this Lease, provided the Landlord uses reasonable efforts to correct such interruption or delay.

9.6 DISTRESS. All the goods and personal property of the Tenant on the Premises or elsewhere will be liable to distress and sale by the Landlord for arrears of rent, including Basic Rent, Additional Rent and accelerated rent. None of the goods or personal property in the Premises will be exempt from distress or sale and the Tenant waives the benefit of all present and future statutes limiting or eliminating the Landlord’s right of distress. The Landlord may use all force it deems necessary to enter the Premises without being liable to any action or resulting loss or damage and the Tenant releases the Landlord from all actions, claims and demands in respect of such distress. The Landlord may follow any goods or personal property removed from the Premises by the Tenant for 90 days after such removal.

9.7 LANDLORD’S COSTS IN ENFORCING LEASE. In the event of a breach or default by the Tenant, the Landlord shall be entitled to collect from the Tenant immediately on demand, its actual costs and expenditures relating to such breach or the exercise of any right or remedy available to the Landlord under this Lease or otherwise, including without limitation its legal costs and disbursements on a full- indemnity basis.

9.8 RIGHTS CUMULATIVE. All rights and remedies of the Landlord under this Lease are cumulative and not alternative and are in addition to and do not restrict any other rights and remedies available to the Landlord in the event of any breach or default by the Tenant, which shall remain in full force and effect.

9.9 WAIVER. The failure of the Landlord to insist on strict performance of any obligation of the Tenant in this Lease or to exercise any right or option under this Lease will not be a waiver or relinquishment of that obligation or any other default under this Lease. The acceptance of any rent from or the performance of any obligation by anyone other than the Tenant will not be an admission by the Landlord of any right, title or interest of such person as a sub-tenant, assignee, transferee or otherwise in the place of the Tenant, nor shall it constitute a waiver of any breach of this Lease. If the Landlord makes an error in calculating or billing any money payable by the Tenant under this Lease, such will not be a waiver of the Landlord’s right to collect the money payable by the Tenant.

 

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9.10 INTEREST. The Tenant shall pay to the Landlord interest equal to the prime rate as announced by BMO Bank of Montreal plus 5% per year on all money payable by the Tenant pursuant to this Lease or which the Landlord has paid on behalf of the Tenant, which has become overdue, as long as such payments remain unpaid by the Tenant, which interest will be recoverable as Additional Rent.

10.0 DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION/EXPROPRIATION

10.1 DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION OF PREMISES.

 

  (1) If the Premises are damaged or destroyed by perils covered by the Landlord’s insurance policy with respect to the Premises and unless that damage is caused by the negligence or fault of the Tenant, its employees or agents, the Basic and Additional Rent will abate in the proportion that the area of the Premises rendered unfit for occupancy bears to the area of all of the Premises until the Premises are rebuilt, and the area of the Premises will be considered to be the Gross Area. Unless this Lease is terminated as herein provided, the Landlord shall to the extent that insurance proceeds are available repair the Premises, except for alterations or improvements made by the Tenant. The Landlord shall not be liable to the Tenant for any loss or damage suffered by the Tenant as a result of delay arising because of adjustment of insurance by the Landlord, labour troubles or any other cause beyond the Landlord’s reasonable control.

 

  (2) If the Premises are damaged or destroyed by any cause, and in the opinion of the Landlord the Premises cannot be rebuilt or made fit for the purposes of the Tenant within 120 days after the date of such damage or destruction, instead of rebuilding or making the Premises fit for the Tenant, either the Landlord or the Tenant may, at its option, terminate this Lease by giving the party notice of termination within 90 days of such damage or destruction.

 

  (3) Whether or not the Premises are damaged, if at least 40% of the rentable area of the Building is damaged or destroyed, and in the opinion of the Landlord acting reasonably that area cannot be rebuilt or made fit for tenants within 120 days after the damage or destruction, the Landlord may by written notice to the Tenant within 90 days after such damage or destruction, terminate this Lease.

 

  (4) If the Landlord or the Tenant gives a notice under subparagraphs 10.1(2) or (3), rent and any other payments for which the Tenant is liable under this Lease will be apportioned and paid to the date that the Tenant vacates the Premises. In such event, this Lease will cease to exist on the effective date of the notice, not less than 60 days after the Landlord or the Tenant gives the other party such notice. As of that effective date, the parties will not be liable to fulfill their obligations under this Lease and the Tenant shall surrender to the Landlord vacant possession of the Premises.

 

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10.2 EXPROPRIATION. If during the Term, all of the Premises are expropriated, condemned or otherwise taken by an authority having such power, the Term shall cease from the date of entry of that authority. If more than 30% of the area of the Premises is so acquired or condemned, this Lease will cease and terminate at either the Landlord’s or the Tenant’s option exercised by written notice to the other party not later than 10 days before the date (the “Expropriation Date”) on which possession is taken by that authority. If that option is not exercised, rent shall abate from the Expropriation Date in an amount mutually agreed on by the Landlord and the Tenant, or failing agreement, as determined by a sole arbitrator in accordance with the British Columbia Commercial Arbitration Act. In either event, the Landlord shall not be responsible for any loss, damage or expense suffered by the Tenant as a consequence of such acquisition, condemnation or taking, and either the Landlord or the Tenant or both shall be entitled to recover damages from that authority for the value of their interests and all other damages and expenses allowed by law.

10.3 DEMOLITION. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Lease, the Tenant acknowledges and agrees that the Landlord shall be entitled at any time during the Term, to terminate this Lease without compensation to the Tenant upon not less than one hundred eighty (180) days notice thereof to the Tenant in the event that the Landlord intends to demolish the Premises or the Building for such purposes as the Landlord may deem appropriate. The Tenant covenants and agrees to peaceably deliver to the Landlord vacant possession of the Premises on or before the termination date specified in any such termination notice which may be delivered by the Landlord in accordance with this Article 10.3.

11.0 MISCELLANEOUS

11 .1 LANDLORD-TENANT RELATIONSHIP. The Landlord and Tenant declare their relationship is not a joint venture or partnership, or any other relationship than that of Landlord and Tenant.

11.2 ENUREMENT. This Lease will enure to the benefit of and be binding on the parties and their executors, administrators, and permitted successors and assigns.

11.3 HOLDING OVER. If the Tenant holds over after the end of the Term, and the Landlord accepts rent from the Tenant, the new tenancy will be a month to month tenancy, subject to the terms and covenants herein applicable to a month to month tenancy, except that:

 

  (1) it will be subject to termination by the Landlord on one month’s written notice to the Tenant;

 

  (2) there will be no right of renewal; and

 

  (3) the monthly Basic Rent payable will be increased by 50% above the monthly Basic Rent last payable under this Lease.

11.4 REGISTRATION. The Landlord does not represent that this Lease can be registered and the Tenant will not register it without the Landlord’s approval. Any registration of this Lease by the Tenant will be the sole responsibility of the Tenant, who will pay all costs incurred by the Landlord in attempting to put the lease in registrable form including without limiting the foregoing, surveyor’s fees and disbursements, the cost of plans, and actual legal fees and disbursements on a full-indemnity basis. If this Lease is registered by the Tenant, the Tenant must clear this Lease from title at its own expense at the end of the Term.

 

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11.5 NO CHANGES OR WAIVERS. This Lease constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Premises except as contained in any written agreement previously entered into by the parties, but in the event of conflict between such agreement and this Lease, this Lease shall prevail. No changes to or waiver of any of this Lease will be binding or enforceable unless reduced to writing, attached to and executed by the Landlord and the Tenant. The Landlord’s agents have no authority to amend this Lease unless duly authorized in writing by the Landlord to do so.

11.6 NOTICES. Any notice, request, demand, direction, or statement required or permitted under this Lease to the Tenant or the Landlord will be sufficiently given if delivered in person or by courier, facsimile or e-mail or mailed in British Columbia by double registered mail postage prepaid, to their addresses on page one. Any notice will be deemed to have been given on the date delivered or if mailed as aforesaid, on the sixth day after it was mailed. Either party may at any time give written notice to the other party of a change of address for notices, after which the altered address will be the address of the notifying party for notices.

11.7 CERTIFICATES. On the request of either party (the “Requesting Party”), the other party shall from time to time promptly provide to the Requesting Party, or to any other third party designated by the Requesting Party, certificates in writing as to the then current status of this Lease, including whether it is in full force and effect, modified or unmodified, the rent payable under this Lease, the state of the accounts between the Landlord and Tenant, the existence or non-existence of defaults, and any other matters pertaining to this Lease as to which the Requesting Party shall request a certificate.

11.8 BRITISH COLUMBIA LAW. This Lease will be construed in accordance with the laws of British Columbia.

11.9 INTERPRETATION. If there are two or more Tenants, Covenantors or persons bound by the Tenant’s obligations under this Lease, their obligations are joint and several. All the obligations of the Tenant under this Lease are to be construed as covenants and agreements as though the words importing such covenants and agreements were used in each separate provision. All obligations of the Tenant are in force during the full Term, unless otherwise specified. The words “Tenant” or “Covenantor” (if applicable) and the personal pronoun “it” relating thereto and used therewith shall be read and construed as Tenants or Covenantors (if applicable) and “his”, “her”, or “its” or “their” respectively, as the number and gender of the party or parties referred to each require, and the number of the verb agreeing therewith will be construed and agreed with the said word or pronoun so substituted.

11.10 PROVISIONS SEVERABLE. If any provisions of this Lease are illegal or unenforceable, they will be considered separate and severable from this Lease and the remaining provisions will remain in force and be binding on the parties as if the severed provisions had not been included.

11.11 HEADINGS. The headings and index in this Lease do not form part of this Lease and are inserted for convenience of reference only.

11.12 COUNTERPARTS. This Lease may be executed in any number of counterparts, or by facsimile, each of which when delivered will be deemed to be an original, for all purposes and will constitute one and the same instrument, binding on the parties, notwithstanding that all the parties are not signatories of the same counterpart or facsimile.

11.13 OPTION TO RENEW. Provided that the Tenant is not in breach and has punctually met and performed each and every one of the covenants, provisos and agreements herein contained on the part of the Tenant to be performed in all material respects, the Landlord will, at the expiration of the Term and on the written request of the Tenant delivered or mailed to the Landlord not later than six months before the expiration of the Term, grant to the Tenant a renewal of this Lease of the Premises for a further term

 

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of <> years from the end of the Term on the same terms and conditions as in this Lease, except as to Base Rent, any abatements of rent, any contributions by the Landlord to the cost of Leasehold Improvements, any other incentives provided by the Landlord, and this right of renewal. The Landlord and the Tenant will make all reasonable efforts to reach agreement as to the annual rent for such <> year period not more than three months prior to the commencement of such <> year period and not less than two months prior to the commencement of such <> year period and failing such agreement such annual rent will be fixed under the provisions of the Commercial Arbitration Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 55, and will be the fair market rent for the Premises, having regard to the rent then currently being charged for premises of a like kind, of a like age and condition, and in comparable locations in the City of New Westminster. Such annual rent will in any event be not less than the annual rent fixed in respect of the previous period for which annual rent has been fixed under this Lease.

 

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WHEREFORE the parties to this Lease have executed this Lease as of the date first given above.

ORCHID CELLMARK ULC (“Tenant”)

Per:

 

/s/ William J. Thomas

Vice President and General Counsel

Duft Enterprises Corp. (“Landlord”)

Per:

 

/s/ Terrance Owen

Authorized Signatory

 

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SCHEDULE “A”

 

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1.1 SCHEDULE “B”

Rules and Regulations referred to in paragraph 4.5 of this Lease.

 

1. No animals will be allowed on the Premises at any time, and no birds or animals may be fed on the Property without permission by the Landlord.

 

2. The Premises will not be used as overnight sleeping accommodation, nor for manufacturing, nor for auction sales. The address of the Premises will not be given in an advertisement for labourers without the Landlord’s approval.

 

3. Windows will not be left open so as to admit rain or snow. All doors and windows will be securely closed and locked and all water faucets and electric lights (except display lighting) turned off before the Tenant leaves the Premises.

 

4. The Tenant shall not alter any existing locks nor attach any additional locks or similar devices to any door or window without the consent of the Landlord and the Landlord shall be permitted to retain one copy of all keys to the Premises.

 

5. The Tenant shall not make any duplicate keys without the consent of the Landlord. All keys in respect of the Premises and the Building will be delivered to the Landlord immediately after the lease has terminated.

 

6. The Tenant shall provide adequate receptacles for garbage and waste within the Premises and all of the Tenant’s garbage and waste will be placed in such containers.

 

7. The following conduct is prohibited in the Building and on the Property without the prior written consent of the Landlord: canvassing, soliciting or peddling; installation of vending machines; obstruction of any sidewalk, entrance, elevator, stairway, corridor, hall, window, door or any other area outside the Premises except for access to the Premises.

 

8. The Tenant shall not bring on the Premises any heavy equipment, motors, explosives, or other articles or substances of a dangerous nature, or anything else which might damage the Building or anything on the Property, without the consent of the Landlord. If it consents, the Landlord may prescribe the weight, time, and manner of the transportation or location of any heavy object brought into the Building or onto the Property.

 

9. Freight or bulky matter of any description shall only be received in or carried in the building during hours approved by the Landlord.

 

10. The Tenant shall employ efficient janitors or cleaners to wash and otherwise clean in a reasonable manner the Premises, including windows.

 

11. The Tenant shall keep properly painted the painted portions of the Premises, and will install in the Premises only such window shades, drapes and floor coverings, and to apply only such wall coverings and paints as are first approved in writing by the Landlord, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, and to cause the same to be installed or applied by competent workmen.

 

12. Outside normal business hours, the Landlord may:

 

  (a require all persons entering and leaving the Building to register in any book(s) kept at or near the night entrance,

 

  (b prevent any person who does not have a pass in a form approved by the Landlord from entering or leaving the Building, or

 

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  (c hold any person found in the Building without such pass under surveillance.

The Landlord shall have no responsibility for failure to enforce this rule.

 

13. The Tenant shall not affix any broadloom, carpeting or vinyl type flooring to the Premises by means of an insoluble adhesive or similar product except as approved by the Landlord.

 

14. Bicycles will not be brought inside or left outside the building on the Property, except secured to dedicated bicycle racks unless by permission of the Landlord.

 

15. The Tenant shall be liable to the Landlord for all injuries, damages, costs and expenses caused by the infraction of any of the foregoing rules and regulations by the Tenant or its employees, agents, invitees or licensee.

SCHEDULE “C”

12.1 COVENANTOR’S PROVISIONS. The Covenantor acknowledges having requested the Landlord to enter into this Lease with the Tenant, that it is a condition of the Landlord entering into this Lease that the Covenantor become a party to this Lease and in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration received by the Covenantor from the landlord, the receipt and adequacy of which is acknowledged by the Covenantor:

12.2 in addition to and distinct from the agreements in paragraphs 12.3 and 12.4, the Covenantor guarantees to the Landlord the payment by the Tenant of all rents and other money at any time owing by the Tenant under this Lease and guarantees to the Landlord the punctual performance of all other obligations of the Tenant under this Lease; and

12.3 in addition to and distinct from the agreements in subparagraphs 12.2 and 12.4, the Covenantor as a primary obligor and not as a guarantor, covenants and agrees with the Landlord to pay all money payable by the Tenant under this Lease, adopts as the Covenantor’s own covenants and agreements every obligation of the Tenant under this Lease , and covenants and agrees with the Landlord to observe and perform every such obligation; and

12.4 in addition to and distinct from the agreements in subparagraphs 12.2 and 12.3, the Covenantor covenants and agrees to indemnify and save harmless the Landlord from and against all losses, damages, expenses, costs and liabilities whatsoever which arise from or are caused by the default or breach of the Tenant under this Lease.

The liability and obligations of the Covenantor pursuant to the foregoing subparagraphs will be joint and several if the Covenantor is more than one person and will not be released or affected by the bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganisation or winding up of the tenant, nor by any act, omission, indulgence, release, postponement, waiver, extension or other thing whatsoever done by or consented to by the Tenant or the landlord, except for the payment in full of all money at anytime owing or payable under this Lease and the performance of all the Tenant’s obligations under this Lease.

ENVIRONMENTAL COVENANTS. The Tenant covenants and agrees with the Landlord to:

 

 

develop and use the Premises only in compliance with all Environmental Laws,

 

 

permit the Landlord to investigate the Premises, any goods on the Premises and the Tenant’s records at any time and from time to time to verify such compliance with Environmental Laws and this Lease,

 

 

sat the reasonable request of the Landlord, obtain from time to time at the Tenant’s cost, a report from an independent consultant designated or approved by the Landlord verifying compliance with Environmental Laws and this Lease or the extent of any non-compliance therewith,

 

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not store, manufacture, dispose, treat, generate, use, transport, remediate or release Environmental Contaminants on or from the Premises without notifying the Landlord in writing,

 

 

promptly remove any Environmental Contaminants from the Premises in a manner which conforms to Environmental Laws governing their removal, and

 

 

notify the Landlord in writing of:

(a) any enforcement, clean-up, removal, litigation or other governmental, regulatory, judicial or administrative action instituted, contemplated or threatened against the Tenants or the Premises pursuant to any Environmental Laws,

(b) all claims, actions, orders or investigations or threatened by any third party against the Tenant, the Premises relating to damage, contribution, cost recovery, compensation, loss or injuries resulting from any Environmental Contaminants or any breach of Environmental Laws, and

( c) the discovery of any Environmental Contaminants or any occurrence or condition on the Premises or any real property adjoining or in the vicinity of the Premises which could subject the Tenant or the Premises to any fines, penalties, orders or proceedings under any Environmental Laws.

The Tenant hereby authorizes the Landlord to make enquiries from time to time of any governmental authority with respect to the compliance by the Tenant with Environmental LAWS AND THE Tenant agrees that the Tenant will from time to time provide to the Landlord such written authorization as the Landlord may reasonably require in order to facilitate the obtaining of such information.

For the purposes of the above provisions of this paragraph:

Environmental Contaminants” means any contaminants, pollutants, hazardous, corrosive or toxic substances, flammable materials, explosive materials, radioactive materials, microwaves, urea formaldehyde, asbestos, compounds known as chlorobiphenyls, special waste and any other substance or material the storage, manufacture, disposal, treatment, generation, use, transport, remediation or release of which into the environment is prohibited, regulated, controlled or licensed under Environmental Laws, and

“Environmental Laws” means any laws, statutes, regulations, orders, bylaws, permits or lawful requirements of any governmental authority with respect to environmental protection or regulating, controlling, licensing or prohibiting Environmental Contaminants.

The Landlord agrees that, not withstanding any Environmental Laws to the contrary, the Tenant shall only be required to clean-up and remove from the Premises and the Property, any Environmental Contaminants which are situate on the Premises or the Property as a result of the Tenant’s use and occupation thereof. The Tenant shall, at its sole expense, conduct a Phase 1 Environmental Audit at the commencement of the Term and at the end of the Term to determine if any such clean-up and removal is to be carried out by the Tenant.

 

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EX-10.28 3 dex1028.htm EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM Executive Compensation Program

Exhibit 10.28

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM

The description of our executive compensation program set forth under the caption “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on pages 13 to 23 of our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 8, 2009, is incorporated herein by reference.

EX-21.1 4 dex211.htm SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT Subsidiaries of the Registrant

Exhibit 21.1

SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

GeneScreen, Inc.,

a Delaware corporation

Lifecodes Corporation,

a Delaware corporation

Orchid Cellmark Ltd.

a U.K. private limited company

Orchid Cellmark ULC.

a corporation organized under the laws of British Colombia

Reliagene Technologies, Inc.,

A Louisiana corporation

EX-23.1 5 dex231.htm CONSENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP Consent of Grant Thornton LLP

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We have issued our reports dated March 12, 2010, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule included in the Annual Report of Orchid Cellmark Inc. on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of said reports in the Registration Statements of Orchid Cellmark Inc. on Forms S-3 (File No. 333-60582, effective May 18, 2001, File No. 333-85550, effective April 16, 2002, File No. 333-98825, effective September 9, 2002, File No. 333-105732, effective June 5, 2003, and File No. 333-113892, effective May 27, 2004) and on Forms S-8 (File No. 333-53118, effective January 3, 2001, File No. 333-76744, effective January 15, 2002, File No. 333-126227, effective June 29, 2005, and File No. 333-146002, effective September 12, 2007).

/s/ Grant Thornton LLP

New York, New York

March 12, 2010

EX-31.1 6 dex311.htm SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF CEO Section 302 Certification of CEO

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS UNDER SECTION 302

I, Thomas A. Bologna, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Orchid Cellmark Inc.;

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 officers 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 officers 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.

Date:    March 12, 2010

 

/S/    THOMAS A. BOLOGNA        

Thomas A. Bologna

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

EX-31.2 7 dex312.htm SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF CFO Section 302 Certification of CFO

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS UNDER SECTION 302

I, James F. Smith, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Orchid Cellmark Inc.;

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 officers 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 officers 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.

Date: March 12, 2010

 

/S/    JAMES F. SMITH        

James F. Smith

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

EX-32.1 8 dex321.htm SECTION 906 CERTIFICATIONS Section 906 Certifications

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATIONS UNDER SECTION 906

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of Orchid Cellmark Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

The Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2009 (the “Form 10-K”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the information contained in the Form 10-K fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Dated:    March 12, 2010     /s/    THOMAS A. BOLOGNA        
   

Thomas A. Bologna

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Dated:    March 12, 2010     /s/    JAMES F. SMITH        
   

James F. Smith

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

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