Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Policies

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Datawatch Corporation (the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2012 filed with the SEC. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, and include all adjustments necessary for fair presentation of the results of the interim periods presented. The operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued to provide additional evidence relative to certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments, which are evaluated on an on-going basis, that affect the amounts and disclosures reported in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates and judgments. In particular, significant estimates and judgments include those related to revenue recognition, the allowance for doubtful accounts, sales returns reserve, useful lives of property and equipment, and the valuation of net deferred tax assets, acquired intellectual property, other intangible assets and share-based awards.

Revenue Recognition

 Revenue Recognition

Revenue allocated to software products, specified upgrades and enhancements is recognized upon delivery of the related product, upgrades or enhancements. Revenue is allocated by vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) of fair value to post-contract customer support (primarily maintenance) and is recognized ratably over the term of the support, and revenue allocated using VSOE to service elements (primarily training and consulting) is recognized as the services are performed. The residual method of revenue recognition is used for multi-element arrangements when the VSOE of the fair value does not exist for one of the delivered elements. Under the residual method, the arrangement fee is recognized as follows: (1) the total fair value of the undelivered elements, as supported by VSOE, is deferred and subsequently recognized as such items are delivered or completed and (2) the difference between the total arrangement fee and the amount allocated to the undelivered elements is recognized as revenue related to the delivered elements.

The Company licenses its software products directly to end-users, through value added resellers and through distributors. Sales to distributors and resellers accounted for approximately 32% and 23% of total sales for the three months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Revenue from the sale of all software products is generally recognized at the time of shipment, provided there are no uncertainties surrounding product acceptance, the fee is fixed or determinable, collectability is reasonably assured, persuasive evidence of the arrangement exists and there are no significant obligations remaining. All of the Company’s software product offerings are considered to be “off-the-shelf” as such term is customarily defined. The Company’s software products can be installed and used by customers on their own with little or no configuration required. Multi-user licenses marketed by the Company are sold as a right to use the number of licenses, and the license fee revenue is recognized upon delivery of all software required to satisfy the number of licenses sold. Upon delivery, the licensing fee is payable without further delivery obligations to the Company.

Datawatch software products are generally sold in multiple element arrangements which may include software licenses, professional services and post-contract customer support. In such multiple element arrangements, the Company applies the residual method in determining revenue to be allocated to the software license. In applying the residual method, the Company deducts from the sale proceeds the VSOE of fair value of the professional services and post-contract customer support in determining the residual fair value of the software license. The VSOE of fair value of the services and post-contract customer support is based on the amounts charged for these elements when sold separately. Professional services include implementation, integration, training and consulting services with revenue recognized as the services are performed. These services are generally delivered on a time and materials basis, are billed on a current basis as the work is performed, and generally do not involve modification or customization of the software or any unusual acceptance clauses or terms. The Company has established VSOE of fair value for the majority of its professional services using the bell-shaped curve method. Post-contract customer support is typically provided under a maintenance agreement which provides technical support and rights to unspecified software maintenance updates and bug fixes on a when-and-if available basis. Revenue from post-contract customer support services is deferred and recognized ratably over the period of support (generally one year). Such deferred amounts are recorded as part of deferred revenue in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company has established VSOE of fair value for the majority of its post-contract customer support based on stated renewal rates only if the rate is determined to be substantive and falls within the Company’s customary pricing practices. VSOE of fair value for post-contract customer support through the Company’s distribution channel was established using the bell-shaped curve method. VSOE calculations are updated and reviewed quarterly.

The Company also licenses its enterprise software using a subscription model. At the time a customer enters into a binding agreement to purchase a subscription, the customer is invoiced for an initial 90 day service period and an account receivable and deferred revenue are recorded. Beginning on the date the software is installed at the customer site and available for use by the customer, and provided that all other criteria for revenue recognition are met, the deferred revenue amount is recognized ratably over the period the service is provided. The customer is then invoiced every 90 days and revenue is recognized ratably over the period of the subscription. The subscription arrangement includes software, maintenance and unspecified future upgrades on a when and if available basis including major version upgrades. The subscription renewal rate is the same as the initial subscription rate. Subscriptions can be cancelled by the customer at any time by providing 90 days prior written notice following the first year of the subscription term.

The Company’s software products are sold under warranty against certain defects in material and workmanship for a period of 30 days from the date of purchase. The Company also offers a 30 day money-back guarantee on its Monarch product sold directly to end-users. Additionally, the Company provides its distributors with stock-balancing rights. Revenue from the sale of software products to distributors and resellers is recognized at the time of shipment providing all other criteria for revenue recognition as stated above are met and (i) the distributor or reseller is unconditionally obligated to pay for the products, including no contingency as to product resale, (ii) the distributor or reseller has independent economic substance apart from the Company, (iii) the Company is not obligated for future performance to bring about product resale, and (iv) the amount of future returns can be reasonably estimated. The Company’s experience and history with its distributors and resellers allows for reasonable estimates of future returns. Among other things, estimates of potential future returns are made based on the inventory levels at, and the returns history with, the various distributors and resellers, which the Company monitors frequently.

Share-Based Compensation

 Share-Based Compensation

All share-based awards, including grants of employee stock options and restricted stock units, are recognized in the financial statements based on their fair value at date of grant.

The Company recognizes the fair value of share-based awards over the requisite service period of the individual awards, which generally equals the vesting period. All of the Company’s share-based awards are accounted for as equity instruments and there have been no liability awards granted to date. See additional share-based compensation disclosure in Note 5 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Concentration Of Credit Risks And Major Customers

Concentration of Credit Risks and Major Customers

The Company licenses its products and services to U.S. and non-U.S. distributors and other software resellers, as well as to end users, under customary credit terms. One distributor, Lifeboat Distribution, individually accounted for 23% and 6% of total revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Additionally, Lifeboat Distribution accounted for 22% and 19% of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2012, respectively. The Company licenses to Lifeboat Distribution under a distribution agreement which automatically renews for successive one-year terms unless terminated. In addition to Lifeboat Distribution, one additional customer, United Health Group, individually accounted for approximately 24% of total revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2011, which included 19% of sales directly to United Health Group and 5% of sales to United Health Group through a reseller. Also, one additional customer, Unisys Belgium, individually accounted for 24% of total accounts receivable at September 30, 2012. Other than these two customers, no other customer constitutes a significant portion (more than 10%) of revenues or accounts receivable for the periods presented. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral. Allowances are provided for anticipated doubtful accounts and sales returns based on management’s review of receivables, inventory and historical trends.

Capitalized Software Development Costs

Capitalized Software Development Costs

The Company capitalizes certain software development costs as well as purchased software upon achieving technological feasibility of the related products. Software development costs incurred and software purchased prior to achieving technological feasibility are charged to engineering and product development expense as incurred. Commencing upon initial product release, capitalized costs are amortized to cost of software licenses using the straight-line method over the estimated life of the product (which approximates the ratio that current gross revenues for a product bear to the total of current and anticipated future gross revenues for that product), which is generally 18 to 24 months. The net amount of capitalized software development costs was approximately $21,000 and $30,000 at December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2012, respectively. The Company did not capitalize any software development costs during the three months ended December 31, 2012. During the three months ended December 31, 2011, the Company capitalized approximately $43,000 of software development costs related to new products in development.

Intangible Asset - Intellectual Property

Intangible Asset – Intellectual Property

On March 30, 2012, the Company acquired intellectual property which consisted primarily of the source code underlying its Monarch Professional and Datawatch Data Pump products for a purchase price of $8,541,000. Additionally, the Company capitalized approximately $75,000 in closing costs and adjustments related to the acquisition. The intellectual property assets are being amortized to cost of software licenses using the straight-line method over the estimated life of the asset, which is five years. Amortization expense related to the intellectual property assets for the three months ended December 31, 2012 was $431,000. The estimated future amortization expense related to the intellectual property is as follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
Remainder of fiscal 2013	$	1,293
2014		1,723
2015		1,723
2016		1,723
2017		852
Total estimated future amortization expense	$	7,314

Other Intangible Assets

Other Intangible Assets

Other intangible assets consist of internally developed software, patents and customer lists acquired through business combinations. The values allocated to the majority of these intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the related asset and are recorded in cost of software licenses. The values allocated to customer relationships are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the related asset and are recorded in sales and marketing expenses. The values allocated to loan acquisition costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the related asset and are recorded in interest (expense) income and other income, net. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable and an impairment loss is recognized when it is probable that the estimated cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are provided for the tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes and operating loss carryforwards and credits. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce the net deferred tax assets to amounts the Company believes are more likely than not to be realized.

The Company follows the accounting guidance for uncertain tax positions. This guidance clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. It also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.

Cash And Equivalents

Cash and Equivalents

Cash and equivalents include cash on hand, cash deposited with banks and highly liquid securities consisting of money market investments with original maturities of 90 days or less.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is the price that would be received for an asset or the amount paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company is required to classify certain assets and liabilities based on the following fair value hierarchy. 

·Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets that are unadjusted and accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities; 

·Level 2 – Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or financial instruments for which significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; and 

·Level 3 – Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable. 

The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2012 (in thousands): 

	December 31, 2012											September 30, 2012
									Estimated										Estimated
	Fair Value Measurement								Fair			Fair Value Measurement							Fair
	Using Input Types								Value			Using Input Types							Value
	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3			Total			Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
Assets:
Money market funds	$	2,234	$	—		$	—	$	2,234		$	2,234	$	—		$	—	$	2,234
Total assets at fair value		2,234		—			—		2,234		$	2,234	$	—		$	—	$	2,234
Liablities:
Line of credit	$	900	$	—		$	—	$	900		$	900	$	—		$	—	$	900
Note payable		4,000							4,000			4,000		—			—		4,000
Debt discount		—		(978	)		—		(978	)		—		(1,017	)		—		(1,017	)
Total liabilities at fair value	$	4,900	$	(978	)	$	—	$	3,922		$	4,900	$	(1,017	)	$	—	$	3,883

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income” (“ASU 2011-05”). ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in equity. Under this standard, an entity can elect to present items of net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company adopted this standard in its fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2012 by including a new separate consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss).

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05” (“ASU 2011-12”). ASU 2011-12 supersedes certain paragraphs in ASU 2011-05 which pertain to how, when and where reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income are presented. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted this guidance in its fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2012.