Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes pursuant to the provisions of ASC 740, Income Taxes, which requires an asset and liability approach to accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted statutory tax rates in effect at the balance sheet date. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets when uncertainty exists regarding the realizability of the deferred tax assets. The Company had net deferred tax assets of $840,000 and $898,000 as of April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively.

The Company has significant deferred tax assets arising primarily from net operating loss ("NOL") carry forwards in the U.S., California and in Germany. Ultimately, the realization of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon the Company’s generation of sufficient future taxable income to enable it to use net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards during those periods in which such carry forwards can be utilized by the Company under applicable tax laws. In evaluating Versant’s ability to utilize its deferred tax assets, management of the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including past operating results in the most recent fiscal years and an assessment of expected future results of operations on a jurisdiction by jurisdiction basis.

The Company has experienced substantial past tax losses in its U.S. operations. Due to the lack of forecast future taxable income and the relative size of the Company’s Federal and California net operating loss carry forwards, considerable uncertainty exists that the Company will realize these deferred tax assets. Based on this objective evidence, a full valuation allowance has been recorded against the Company’s deferred tax assets related to its U.S. operations.

The Company has also experienced substantial past tax losses in its European operations. In its most recent fiscal years, the Company has generated taxable income and begun to utilize its deferred tax assets related to its German net operating loss carry forwards. Management of the Company has forecast taxable income for its European operations in fiscal year 2012. The global economic downturn has negatively impacted the Company’s operating results in all regions. The Company has experienced declining revenues as economic conditions have remained difficult. Given the uncertainty of the macroeconomic environment, future revenues and operating results are difficult to forecast. Therefore, management has concluded it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefit of its deferred tax assets related to its German net operating loss carry forwards only to the extent of its expected taxable income in fiscal year 2012.

Significant management judgment is required to determine when, in the future, it will become more likely than not that additional net deferred tax assets will be realized. Management will continue to assess the realizability of the tax benefit available based on actual and forecast operating results. Management does not anticipate significant changes to its uncertain tax positions through October 31, 2012.

The provision for income tax (benefit) expense consisted of the following (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
	April 30,		April 30,			April 30,		April 30,
	2012		2011			2012		2011
Income tax (benefit) expense:
Federal and state	$	—	$	—		$	4	$	—
Foreign - Europe	92		(80		)	207		30
Foreign - India	—		—			67		—
Foreign withholding	15		5			15		9
Total current	107		(75		)	293		39

The provision for income tax expense differs from the amount estimated by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before taxes, primarily due to foreign income taxed at other than U.S. rates, foreign withholding taxes and state taxes.

The Company is subject to U.S. federal income taxes and to income taxes in various states in the U.S. as well as in foreign jurisdictions. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or foreign tax examinations by tax authorities for tax years before 2005. However, with respect to tax years no longer subject to examination due to expiration of the statute of limitations, income may nevertheless be recomputed for the purpose of determining the amount of NOL that may be carried over to “open” years.

In conjunction with the wind-down of the Company's operations in India, an income tax inspection was conducted. Additional taxes and penalties of approximately $67,000 were imposed as a result of this inspection, which have been included in our income tax provision for the six months ended April 30, 2012.