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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

     (Mark One)

     
[X]   Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003.

OR

     
[  ]   Transitional Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the transition period from:       to:

Commission File Number: 0-26660

ESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
CALIFORNIA
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  94-2928582
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

48401 FREMONT BOULEVARD
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA 94538

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(510) 492-1088

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  [X]    No  [  ]

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  [X]    No  [  ]

     As of August 1, 2003 the registrant had 38,667,743 shares of common stock outstanding.



 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 4. Disclosure Controls and Procedures
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
SIGNATURES
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT 10.49
EXHIBIT 10.50
EXHIBIT 10.51
EXHIBIT 31.1
EXHIBIT 31.2
EXHIBIT 32


Table of Contents

ESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

             
        Page
       
PART I   FINANCIAL INFORMATION     3  
Item 1.   Financial Statements (unaudited):     3  
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002     3  
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended and six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002     4  
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002     5  
    Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements     6  
Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     19  
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     38  
Item 4.   Disclosure Controls and Procedures     39  
PART II   OTHER INFORMATION     39  
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings     39  
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.     40  
Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K     42  
SIGNATURES         43  
INDEX TO EXHIBITS         44  

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)

ESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

                       
          June 30,   December 31,
          2003   2002
         
 
          (In thousands)
ASSETS
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 74,544     $ 138,072  
Short-term investments
    61,377       61,030  
Accounts receivable, net
    30,383       28,435  
Related party receivable — Vialta
    476       33  
Receivable — MediaTek
    45,000        
Inventories, net
    23,867       24,155  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    4,314       2,834  
 
   
     
 
 
Total current assets
    239,961       254,559  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    20,763       18,985  
Goodwill
    20,218       2,074  
Other intangible assets
    7,803       249  
Other assets
    8,981       5,735  
 
   
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 297,726     $ 281,602  
 
   
     
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  $ 39,265     $ 35,084  
Income tax payable and deferred income taxes
    36,576       9,474  
 
   
     
 
 
Total current liabilities
    75,841       44,558  
Non-current deferred tax liability
    10,813       7,676  
 
   
     
 
 
Total liabilities
    86,654       52,234  
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
               
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Common stock
    171,529       196,344  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 8)
    440       504  
Retained earnings
    39,103       32,520  
 
   
     
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity
    211,072       229,368  
 
   
     
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 297,726     $ 281,602  
 
   
     
 

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

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ESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

                                   
      Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
     
 
      2003   2002   2003   2002
     
 
 
 
              (In thousands, except per share data)        
Net revenues
  $ 30,996     $ 85,984     $ 64,143     $ 165,083  
Net revenues from related party — Vialta
    15       53       19       69  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Total net revenues
    31,011       86,037       64,162       165,152  
Cost of revenues
    20,982       50,817       44,358       95,656  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Gross profit
    10,029       35,220       19,804       69,496  
Operating expenses:
                               
 
Research and development
    7,330       7,043       13,586       13,424  
 
In-process research and development
    1,420             1,420        
 
Selling, general and administrative
    6,660       11,051       13,334       21,407  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Operating income (loss)
    (5,381 )     17,126       (8,536 )     34,665  
Non-operating income (loss), net
    44,187       1,085       45,131       (182 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income before provision for income taxes
    38,806       18,211       36,595       34,483  
Provision for income taxes
    22,905       889       22,807       775  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net income
  $ 15,901     $ 17,322     $ 13,788     $ 33,708  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net income per share:
                               
 
Basic
  $ 0.41     $ 0.38     $ 0.34     $ 0.75  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Diluted
  $ 0.40     $ 0.36     $ 0.34     $ 0.70  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Shares used in calculating net income per share:
                               
 
Basic
    38,683       45,147       40,164       44,692  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Diluted
    39,842       48,446       41,129       48,447  
 
   
     
     
     
 

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

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ESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

                         
            Six Months Ended June 30,
           
            2003   2002
           
 
              (In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net income
  $ 13,788     $ 33,708  
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
   
Depreciation and amortization
    2,277       3,549  
   
(Gain) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment
    1       (85 )
   
(Gain) loss from sale of investments
    (32 )     189  
   
Acquired in-process research and development
    1,420        
   
Write-down of investments
    1,986       2,912  
   
Gain on MediaTek settlement
    (45,000 )      
   
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisition related amounts:
               
     
Accounts receivable, net
    (764 )     8,051  
     
Related party receivable — Vialta
    (443 )     (1 )
     
Inventories, net
    2,248       (11,737 )
     
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (696 )     409  
     
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (1,064 )     2,523  
     
Related party payable — Vialta
          (111 )
     
Income tax payable and deferred income taxes
    23,250       3,774  
 
   
     
 
       
Net cash provided (used in) by operating activities
    (3,029 )     43,181  
 
   
     
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
 
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired
    (23,958 )      
 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    (2,660 )     (436 )
 
Sale of property, plant and equipment
    3       85  
 
Purchase of short-term investments
    (18,267 )     (45,597 )
 
Sale of short-term investments
    17,749       15,159  
 
Purchase of long-term investments
    (5,000 )     (5,212 )
 
Sale of long-term investments
          440  
 
Proceeds from sales of Cisco stock
          1,009  
 
   
     
 
       
Net cash used in investing activities
    (32,133 )     (34,552 )
 
   
     
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
 
Repurchase of common stock
    (29,301 )     (38,829 )
 
Issuance of common stock from public offering
          45,181  
 
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan and stock option plans
    935       7,745  
 
   
     
 
       
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (28,366 )     14,097  
 
   
     
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (63,528 )     22,726  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    138,072       96,995  
 
   
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 74,544     $ 119,721  
 
   
     
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
               
 
Cash paid for income taxes
  $ (61 )   $ (237 )
 
Cash refund for income taxes
  $ 4     $ 3,340  

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

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ESS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

NOTE 1. NATURE OF BUSINESS

     We are a leading designer, developer and marketer of highly integrated digital processor chips and imaging sensor chips. Our digital processor chips are the primary processors driving digital video and audio players, including DVD, Video CD (“VCD”) and digital media players. Our imaging sensor chips offer advanced CMOS sensor and image processor solutions for digital still cameras and cellular camera phones. Our chips use multiple processors and a programmable architecture that enable us to offer a broad array of features and functionality. We have also developed an encoding processor to address the growing demand for the digital video recorder (“DVR”) and recordable DVD players. We believe that multi-featured DVD, DVR and recordable DVD players will serve as a platform for the digital home system (“DHS”), integrating various digital home entertainment and information delivery products into a single box. We are also a supplier of chips for use in modems, consumer digital audio, PC Audio and digital imaging semiconductor products. We outsource all of our chip fabrication and assembly as well as the majority of our test operations, allowing us to focus on our design and development strengths.

     We market our products worldwide through our direct sales force, distributors and sales representatives. Substantially all of our sales are to customers in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and Brazil. We employ sales and support personnel located outside of the United States in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Korea to support these international sales efforts. We expect that international sales will continue to represent a significant portion of our net revenues. In addition, substantially all of our products are manufactured, assembled and tested by independent third parties in Asia. We also have a limited number of employees engaged in research and development efforts outside of the United States. There are special risks associated with conducting business outside of the United States.

     ESS was incorporated in California in 1984 and became a public company in 1995. In April 1999, we expanded our business beyond the semiconductor segment by establishing Vialta, Inc. (“Vialta”), a subsidiary that would operate in the internet segment. In April 2001, our Board of Directors adopted a plan to distribute to our shareholders all of our shares in Vialta. The Vialta spin-off was completed on August 21, 2001. See Note 11, “Related Party Transactions.” On June 9, 2003, we acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Pictos Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pictos”). See Note 13, “Acquisition and Related Charges.”

NOTE 2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

     Our interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by us, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, as well as the accompanying Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, for the year ended December 31, 2002 included in our annual reports on Form 10-K. Interim financial results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year.

Reclassification

     Certain reclassifications are made to prior period financial data to conform with current period presentations.

Use of estimates

     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Stock-based compensation

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Table of Contents

     We account for stock-based compensation, including stock options granted under our various stock option plans and shares issued under the 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“Purchase Plan”), using the intrinsic value method prescribed in APB No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations. Compensation cost for stock options, if any, is recognized ratably over the vesting periods. Our policy is to grant options under our stock option plans with an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value of our common stock based on the closing price on the grant date. Our policy is to grant purchase options under the Purchase Plan with a purchase price equal to 85% of the lesser of the fair market value of the common stock on the enrollment date or on the purchase date. Unless otherwise specified, the purchase dates under the Purchase Plan are on the last business day of each April and October. There were no purchases under the Purchase Plan during this quarter. We provide additional pro forma disclosures as required under SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”) and SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure — an Amendment of SFAS No. 123.”

     Our reported net income and pro forma net income per share would have been as follows had compensation costs for options granted under our stock option plans and shares purchased under our Purchase Plan been determined based on the fair value method prescribed in SFAS 123.

                                   
      Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
     
 
      2003   2002   2003   2002
     
 
 
 
      (In thousands, except per share data)
Net income
                               
 
As reported
  $ 15,901     $ 17,322     $ 13,788     $ 33,708  
 
Amortization of stock compensation expense
    (2,292 )     (2,884 )     (4,636 )     (5,318 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Pro forma
  $ 13,609     $ 14,438     $ 9,152     $ 28,390  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net income per share — basic:
                               
 
As reported
  $ 0.41     $ 0.38     $ 0.34     $ 0.75  
 
Pro forma
  $ 0.35     $ 0.32     $ 0.23     $ 0.64  
Net income per share — diluted:
                               
 
As reported
  $ 0.40     $ 0.36     $ 0.34     $ 0.70  
 
Pro forma
  $ 0.34     $ 0.30     $ 0.22     $ 0.59  

     The fair value of each option granted under our stock option plans is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

                                 
    Employee Stock Option plans
   
    Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
   
 
    2003   2002   2003   2002
   
 
 
 
Expected dividend yield
    0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %
Weighted average risk-free interest rate
    1.70 %     2.94 %     1.71 %     2.96 %
Expected volatility
    94 %     99 %     94 %     99 %
Weighted average expected life (in years)
    3.20       4.20       3.18       4.13  

     Pro forma compensation expense for the purchase rights granted under the Purchase Plan was calculated using the Black-Scholes model with the following assumptions for three months and six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002:

                                 
    1995 Employee Stock Purchase plan
   
    Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
   
 
    2003   2002   2003   2002
   
 
 
 
Expected dividend yield
    0.0 %     0.0 %