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EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - Prism Technologies Group, Inc.ex32-1.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - Prism Technologies Group, Inc.ex31-2.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - Prism Technologies Group, Inc.ex31-1.htm
EX-23.1 - EXHIBIT 23.1 - Prism Technologies Group, Inc.ex23-1.htm
EX-21.1 - EXHIBIT 21.1 - Prism Technologies Group, Inc.ex21-1.htm

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

 

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

  

for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016

or

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 001-35359

 

PRISM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

DELAWARE

(State or other jurisdiction of

Incorporation or organization)

94-3220749

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

101 Parkshore Drive, Suite 100

Folsom, California 95630

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(916) 932-2860

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

Title of each class

  

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock

  

OTCQB tier of the OTC Markets

 

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

 

None

(Title of Class)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES  ☐NO  ☒

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. YES ☐  NO  ☒

 

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  ☒ 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 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrants 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.  ☒

 

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

 

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES  ☐   NO  ☒

 

The aggregate market value of registrant’s voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of registrant, based upon the closing sale price of the common stock as of the last business day of registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter (June 30, 2016), as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market, was approximately $1,819,000. Registrant is a smaller reporting company as defined in Regulation S-K. Shares of common stock held by each officer, director and holder of 5% or more of the outstanding common stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

 

As of March 24, 2017, 10,073,688 shares of registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value, were outstanding. 

 

 DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with the registrant’s 2016 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference into Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

 

 

 

PRISM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.

 

Annual Report on Form 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016

 

Table of Contents

 

PART I

  

  

 

Item 1.

Business

1

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

5

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

12

Item 2.

Properties

12

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

12

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

13

  

  

 

PART II

  

  

 

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

13

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

14

Item 7.

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

14

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

21

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

21

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

22

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

22

Item 9B.

Other Information

22

  

  

 

PART III

  

  

 

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

23

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

23

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

23

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

23

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

23

  

  

 

PART IV

  

  

 

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

24

  

  

 

Signatures

25

Exhibit Index

26

 

 

 

 

            Unless otherwise indicated or required by the context, as used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” refer to Prism Technologies Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries that are consolidated in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).

 

Certain information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including information contained in “Item 7.—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” should be considered “forward-looking statements” as defined by Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this report other than historical information may be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements present (without limitation) the expectations, beliefs, plans and objectives of management and future financial performance and assumptions underlying, or judgments concerning, the matters discussed in the statements. The words “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project” and “expect,” and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks, estimates, assumptions and uncertainties, including: our ability to generate revenues from our business model; our ability to effectively and efficiently manage patent infringement litigation we initiate; the unpredictable nature of patent licensing and patent litigation; the risk that one or more of our patents will be declared invalid; the potential loss of key employees critical to the ongoing success of our business; potential adverse changes in the laws and regulations relating to patents and patent litigation; the risk that the combined company created by the acquisition of Prism will not be profitable and the possibility that the expected value creation from the acquisition of Prism will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; and changes in the taxation of the combined company’s income due to the disallowance or expiration of our net operating losses. A variety of factors could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expected and expressed in our forward-looking statements. Some important risk factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are described in “Item 1A.—Risk Factors.”

 

The list of factors that may affect future performance and the accuracy of forward-looking statements described in “Item 1A.—Risk Factors” is illustrative, but by no means exhaustive. Additional risk factors may be described from time to time in our future filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). All such risk factors are difficult to predict, contain material uncertainties that may affect actual results and may be beyond our control. Accordingly, all forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. Unless legally required, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Item 1.   Business.

 

Background

 

Prism Technologies Group, Inc. was originally incorporated in California in February 1995 and re-incorporated in Delaware in October 1996. The mailing address of our headquarters is 101 Parkshore Drive, Suite 100, Folsom, CA 95630, and the telephone number at that location is (916) 932-2860. Our principal website is www.przmgroup.com.

 

From our inception through December 21, 2011, we operated an online insurance marketplace that electronically matched consumers and providers of automobile, property, health, term life and small business insurance. We discontinued this business in connection with the sale of substantially all of our assets (the “Disposition”) to Bankrate, Inc. in a transaction that closed on December 21, 2011 (“Disposition Date”). On the Disposition Date and in connection with the Disposition, we changed our name from InsWeb Corporation to Internet Patents Corporation. Since the Disposition Date, our business has consisted of licensing and enforcing a portfolio of patents relating to technology that we developed or acquired.

 

On March 26, 2015 (the “Closing Date”), we completed our acquisition of Prism Technologies, LLC (“Prism”), with Prism becoming our wholly-owned subsidiary (the “Merger”). Prism is a Nebraska limited liability company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Prism has two primary operating subsidiaries: Secure Axcess, LLC, a Texas limited liability company and Millenium Biologix, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company. Prism also operates a patent licensing and enforcement business. Prism and its subsidiaries own a portfolio of patents with over 50 issued patents in the areas of computer and network security, semiconductors and medical technology. In September 2015, we changed our name to Prism Technologies Group, Inc. to better reflect the operations of the combined companies.

 

In the Merger, Prism’s former members received an aggregate of $16.5 million in cash and 3.5 million shares of our common stock. Subject to certain conditions, we also agreed to share future revenue related to Prism’s patents with Prism’s former members up to a maximum amount of approximately $49.5 million. Our board of directors and officers and Prism’s officers did not change following the Merger, except that Gregory J. Duman, a manager, executive officer and former member of Prism, was appointed to our board of directors.

 

1

 

 

Overview of our Business

 

Our future revenues, if any, are expected to consist of royalties from licensing our patents and damages for past infringement. In addition to general and administrative expenses, we expect to incur expenses associated with patent infringement litigation, including contingency fees arrangements with our attorneys and revenue sharing payments to third parties, both of which are typically based on a negotiated percentage of the gross settlement amount or award of money damages.

 

The importance of protecting inventions has been recognized in the United States since the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. Article I, section 8, of the U.S. Constitution authorizes Congress:

 

To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.

 

Patents in the United States are governed by the Patent Act (35 U.S. Code), which established the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the USPTO). The most common type of patent is a utility patent. Utility patents have a duration of twenty years from the date of filing, but are not enforceable until the day of issuance. To obtain protection under U.S. law, the applicant must submit a patent application to the USPTO, where it will be reviewed by an examiner to determine if the invention is patentable.

 

A patent owner is entitled to exclude others from making, selling or using the patented invention for the life of the patent, generally for a period of twenty years from our filing date, with some possible term extensions provided by statute. The patent holder may grant one or more licenses to the patented invention, typically allowing the licensee to make, use and/or sell the patented invention in return for a royalty paid to the patent owner. A patent owner also may sue and recover damages from unlicensed parties for past patent infringement and sometimes future royalties. Although we intend to attempt to negotiate a reasonable royalty for licenses to our patented technologies, we may not be able to reach a negotiated settlement with the accused infringer. In that case, we expect to vigorously litigate our infringement claims.

 

Patent infringement lawsuits often last more than two years from the date the complaint is filed until a trial is concluded, unless the parties are able to settle the dispute before the conclusion of the trial. The timeframe is influenced by a number of factors, including the jurisdiction in which the case is filed. Patent litigation also is costly. A 2015 report from the American Intellectual Property Law Association estimates that the median litigation cost of a patent infringement lawsuit is $5 million where the amount in controversy exceeds $25 million. The costs consist of outside and local counsel, associates, paralegal services, travel and living expenses, fees and costs for court reporters, copies, couriers, exhibit preparation, analytical testing, expert witnesses, translators, surveys, jury advisors and similar expenses. Patent holders, however, often enter into contingent fee arrangements under which outside counsel are paid a percentage of the proceeds from the litigation or settlement.

 

A third party sued for patent infringement often will challenge the validity of the patent-in-suit in an administrative proceeding before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the “USPTO”). Such proceedings can result in a final determination by the USPTO that some or all of the patent claims are not patentable. Unless the adverse patentability ruling from the USPTO is overturned on appeal, any pending or future litigation involving those claims would be dismissed. The post grant review process and subsequent appeals often take more than 18 months to complete.

 

2

 

 

Our Patent Portfolio

 

The following table describes our patent portfolio as of March 30, 2017:

 

Patent Family

Technology

Potential Market Applications

Gregg Patents

Device Authentication, Access to Protected Resources

Wireless and Mobile Commerce

Online Content Delivery Software Activation Corporate Systems Access

Banking and Financing Services

Electronic Commerce

Glazer Patents

Image Recognition, Web Site Authentication

Online Banking and Financial Services

Weber Patents

Multiple Screen Computer Display

Multi-Screen Computer / Gaming Devices

Pugh Patents

Synthetic Biomaterial Compound

Biotech

Wallace Patents

Encrypted Cookies

Electronic Commerce

Quizid Patents

Authentication Tokens

Electronic Commerce, Wireless & Mobile Commerce

System on Chip Patents

Secure Transactions

Multiple Applications including Software Defined Networks

Prism Technologies Group Patents

E-Commerce

Online retail and financial services

 

All of the patents described above, other than the Gregg Patents and the Prism Technologies Group Patents, were acquired from third parties, many of whom have a continuing right to receive a portion of the proceeds, if any, from our patent licensing and enforcement activities with respect to these acquired patents.

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2016, we had eight full-time employees, four of whom are parties to three-year employment agreements. We have never had a work stoppage among our employees, and no employees are currently represented under a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that our future success will depend in part on the continued service of our senior management.

 

Competition

 

Although other companies perform services similar to ours, we believe that each of our patents represents a unique technology. We therefore do not believe that we face direct competition in enforcing our patents. However, we may from time to time seek to acquire additional patents, and we expect to compete with other patent enforcement firms in acquiring additional patents. We may also compete with venture capital firms and various industry leaders for patent licensing opportunities. We also face a form of competition known as royalty stacking. Royalty stacking refers to situations in which a single product potentially infringes on many patents, and thus may bear multiple royalty burdens. Our customers’ willingness and ability to pay reasonable royalties is, in part, affected by the number of patents infringed by a particular customer product, the concentration of the holders of those patents, the customer’s cost of licensing those patents, and the profitability of the infringing product.

 

The key competitive factors include financial and management resources, the breadth and scope of the patent portfolio, experience in patent licensing, reputation as a licensee, litigation history and licensing strategy for the subject portfolio. Some of our competitors have more financial and management resources than we do.

 

3

 

 

Available Information

 

For further discussion concerning our business, see the information included in “Item 7.—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Item 8.—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

You may obtain free copies of our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, as well as other Corporate Governance Materials, on the investor relations tab on our website at http://ir.przmgroup.com, or by contacting our corporate office by calling (916) 932-2860, or by sending an e-mail message to info@przmgroup.com.

 

We electronically file our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Any materials we file with the SEC are accessible to the public at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The public may also utilize the SEC’s Internet website, which contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC website is http://www.sec.gov.

 

4

 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

There is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

The financial statements presented in this report have been prepared under the assumption that the Company will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts of liabilities that may result from uncertainty related to the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Our patent licensing business has generated minimal revenues and we have relied on our cash and investments to fund our operations. As of December 31, 2016 our cash and cash equivalents totaled $0.6 million. In addition to the expenses associated with the patent licensing business, such as salaries and overhead, we have notes payable of $4.0 million, including $3.2 million in installment payments due in 2017. We have implemented certain initiatives to preserve cash and we have discussed restructuring one of our notes payable with the note holder, but there can be no assurance that the discussions will be successful. We cannot estimate when we will receive revenues from our operations due to the uncertainty associated with patent litigation. We entered into two financing agreements in late 2016 for an aggregate of $750,000 (which are described in Note 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, included in "Item 8.-”Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this report), and we have implemented significant expense reduction initiatives, including a moratorium on salaries for most employees.  Unless we are able to defer or restructure our liabilities, substantially reduce our operating expenses, or receive revenues, we anticipate that our cash will be insufficient to fund our operations beyond the fourth quarter of 2017. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern within twelve months following the date of the filing of this Form 10-K. If our business does not generate revenues before our cash is exhausted and we are unable to raise capital on acceptable terms, we may need to cease operations and, as a result, investors could lose their investment.

 

Our revenues are unpredictable.

 

In 2015, we received a one-time payment in the amount of $700,000 in connection with our patent licensing and enforcement business. Other than this $700,000 payment, we have not generated any revenues since the closing of our asset sale to Bankrate, Inc. on December 21, 2011. We expect that future revenues from the patent licensing business, if any, will be unpredictable because of the significant uncertainty associated with patent licensing and patent enforcement litigation. In addition, defendants will often choose to appeal an adverse damage award, which will delay our receipt of revenue. For example, a jury awarded our subsidiary, Prism Technologies, LLC, $30 million in a patent infringement suit against Sprint Spectrum, LP. The jury verdict was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in March 2017, but no amount has been paid as of the date of this report. We will continue to incur salary, legal and other expenses of operating our business and our results of operations and financial condition will be materially, adversely affected if we fail to effectively manage overhead costs associated with patent licensing and enforcing patented technologies, become involved in expensive litigation or settlement proceedings (which may or may not have successful outcomes) or the patent licensing business does not perform to our expectations.

 

If the validity of any of our patents is challenged, our business may be harmed.

 

The success of the patent licensing business will depend on our ability to generate royalty fees from licensing technology. It is possible, however that one or more of our patents might be declared invalid if challenged. These challenges to the validity of our patents may be made by defendants in the course of litigation or by requesting a reexamination before the USPTO. Several of our patents have been subject to inter partes review or covered business methods proceedings before the USPTO. A final determination that some or all of the patent claims are not patentable might mean that we would be unable to pursue and generate further licensing revenues for that patent. For example, on July 24, 2015, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a trial court’s determination that our Dynamic Tabs patent did not meet the requirements for patent eligible subject matter. We did not appeal the Federal Circuit’s decision and the four cases involving the Dynamic Tabs patent have been terminated. Even if the claims in our patents are upheld as valid, we may incur significant legal and expert fees and costs in the litigation and/or the reexamination process, which may take several years to conclude and delay revenues. In addition, proceedings before the USPTO challenging the patentability of claims in previously issued patents are becoming more common and defendants may also use the pendency of any such action to delay or otherwise impair any pending litigation to enforce our patents.

 

5

 

 

Even if our patents are determined to be valid, third parties may choose to alter their business operations rather than pay us an on-going royalty.

 

We believe that our patents represent unique technologies that a wide range of third parties have or will find valuable to their operations. Nevertheless, we expect that litigation will often be needed to recover damages for past infringement of our patent rights and to incentivize the defendant to accept a license and pay royalties for future use of the technology. Defendants may, however, choose to modify their operations to work around the claims covered by our patents. In that case, such defendants would not pay us royalties for future use and our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects may be adversely affected.

 

We and our potential licensees serve markets that frequently undergo transitions in which products rapidly incorporate new features and performance standards on an industry-wide basis. As a result, our ability to prevent such workarounds by a defendant and to remain competitive in the future will depend on our ability to identify and ensure compliance with evolving industry standards.

 

Our success depends in part upon our ability to retain qualified legal counsel to represent us in licensing efforts and patent enforcement litigation.

 

The success of our patent licensing business depends upon our ability to retain qualified legal counsel to represent us in our patent enforcement activities. As such patent enforcement actions increase, it may become more difficult to find qualified legal counsel to handle all of our cases because legal counsel at larger law firms may have a conflict of interest with other clients, while legal counsel at smaller law firms may not have the resources to handle multiple lawsuits. In addition, contingency fee arrangements, although common in patent enforcement litigation, require legal counsel to be willing to devote substantial time to the case based on an expectation of a successful outcome. Accordingly, the Company must spend considerable time and resources evaluating a potential infringement case before it will be accepted by a law firm on a contingency basis.

 

We are dependent on certain key personnel, and the loss of such key personnel, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The success of our patent licensing and enforcement business largely depends on the skills, experience and efforts of key personnel, many of whom are highly skilled and would be difficult to replace. We have entered into three-year employment agreements and non-competition agreements with four Prism employees, but these agreements cannot guarantee their continued employment with us. For a variety of reasons, including our financial condition and the salary moratorium we implemented, a key employee could terminate his or her employment with us. The loss of any of our senior management or other key personnel could harm our ability to implement our business strategy and respond to the rapidly changing market conditions in which we operate. Our future success will depend to a significant extent on the ability of these executives to effectively drive execution of our business strategy, and on the ability of our management team to work together effectively.

 

Trial judges and juries often find it difficult to understand complex patent enforcement litigation, and as a result, we may need to appeal adverse decisions by lower courts in order to successfully enforce our patents.

 

It is difficult to predict the outcome of patent enforcement litigation at the trial level because juries and trial judges may find it hard to understand complex, patented technologies. As a result, there is a higher rate of successful appeals in patent enforcement litigation than other business litigation. Such appeals are expensive and time-consuming and result in increased costs and delayed revenue. Although we may diligently pursue enforcement litigation, we cannot predict with significant reliability the decisions made by juries and trial courts.

 

6

 

 

Our acquisition of patent portfolios may not be successful.

 

A substantial portion of the patent assets of Prism and its subsidiaries were acquired from third parties. We expect to continue to build our patent portfolio by acquisitions from third parties. The terms of any acquisition may require us to pay cash upfront, share a portion of future licensing proceeds, or both. Such acquisitions are subject to numerous risks, including the following:

 

 

our inability to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to any potential acquisition, or if we are able to enter into such agreement, our inability to consummate the potential acquisition;

 

 

difficulty in accurately forecasting financial and other benefits of the specific acquisition;

 

 

diversion of our management’s attention from other business concerns; and

 

 

failure of our due diligence process to identify significant issues with respect to patented technologies and patent portfolios, and other legal and financial contingencies.

 

Analyzing the validity and enforceability of patents is a complex and uncertain process and there can be no assurance that a patent that is acquired will produce positive returns on the investment.

 

We may, in certain circumstances, rely on representations, warranties and opinions made by third-parties that, if determined to be false or inaccurate, may expose us to certain material liabilities.

 

We may rely upon representations and warranties made by third parties from whom we acquire patents or the exclusive rights to license and enforce patents. We may also rely upon the opinions of purported experts. In certain instances, we may not have the opportunity to independently investigate and verify the facts upon which such representations, warranties and opinions are made. By relying on these representations, warranties and opinions, we may be exposed to liabilities in connection with the licensing and enforcement of certain patents and patent rights which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

 

Our patent licensing and enforcement activities are time-consuming and require significant management and financial resources.

 

Each of our patent licensing and enforcement activities could continue for years and consume significant financial and management resources. The counterparties to our licensing and enforcement activities may be large, well-financed companies with substantially greater resources than us. We cannot predict with any certainty the outcome of our licensing and enforcement efforts. In addition, even if we obtain favorable interim rulings or verdicts in particular litigation matters, such rulings may not be predictive of the ultimate resolution of the dispute. Also, we may become subject to claims or sanctions which may be costly or impossible to defend. Unfavorable or adverse outcomes may result in losses, exhaustion of our financial resources or other adverse effects which could adversely impact our ability to generate revenues.

 

Federal courts are becoming more crowded, and as a result, patent enforcement litigation is taking longer.

 

If we are required to litigate to enforce our patented technologies, our patent enforcement actions will be almost exclusively prosecuted in federal court. Federal trial courts that hear patent enforcement actions also hear criminal cases, which will take priority over patent enforcement actions. As a result, it is difficult to predict the length of time it will take to complete an enforcement action. Moreover, we believe an increasing number of civil lawsuits and criminal proceedings are coming before federal judges, increasing the risk of delays in patent enforcement actions which may in turn have an adverse effect on our business.

 

Our business and operations could suffer in the event of security breaches.

 

Attempts by others to gain unauthorized access to information technology systems are becoming more sophisticated. While we have not identified any material incidents of unauthorized access to date, the theft, unauthorized use or publication of our intellectual property or confidential business or personal information could harm our competitive or negotiating positions, reduce the value of our investment in research and development and other strategic initiatives, compromise our patent enforcement strategies or outlook, damage our reputation or otherwise adversely affect our business. In addition, to the extent that any future security breach results in inappropriate disclosure of our employees’, licensees’ or customers’ confidential or personal information, we may incur liability or additional costs to remedy any damages caused by such breach. We could also be impacted by existing and proposed laws and regulations, as well as government policies and practices related to cybersecurity, privacy and data protection.

 

7

 

 

We expect to depend upon relationships with others to provide technology-based opportunities that can develop into profitable royalty-bearing licenses and, if we are unable to maintain and generate new relationships, we may not be able to sustain existing levels of revenue or increase revenue.

 

We may apply for patents on technologies we develop, but we expect to depend increasingly upon the identification and acquisition of new patents and inventions through relationships with inventors, universities, research institutions, technology companies and others. If we are unable to demonstrate success in licensing acquired patents, it will be difficult to maintain those relationships, continue to grow new relationships and sustain revenue and growth.

 

Competition for the acquisition of high quality patent assets is intense and, as a result, we may not be able to grow our portfolio of technologies and patents.

 

We expect to encounter competition in the area of patent acquisition, including competition from venture capital firms and patent aggregators. Most of these competitors have more financial and human resources than we do. Our market share in one or more technology industries may be reduced as more companies seek to acquire these technologies, which could adversely impact our future revenue generation.

 

In connection with our patent enforcement actions, a court may rule that we violated certain statutory, regulatory, federal, local or governing rules or standards, which may expose us to certain material liabilities.

 

In connection with any of our patent enforcement actions, it is possible that a defendant may claim and/or a court may rule that we violated statutory authority, regulatory authority, federal rules, local court rules or governing standards relating to the substantive or procedural aspects of such enforcement actions. In such event, a court may issue monetary sanctions against us or award attorneys’ fees and/or expenses to a defendant, which if material, could harm our operating results and financial position. Even absent a finding that we violated a law or regulation, an unsuccessful lawsuit might result in a court order awarding the defendant certain costs associated with the lawsuit.

 

Usage of our net operating loss carryforwards may be limited as a result of an ownership change or otherwise.

 

Federal and state tax laws impose substantial restrictions on the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) in the event of an “ownership change,” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (as amended and together with any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Code”), and in certain other circumstances. On November 30, 2012, our stockholders approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation creating a Section 382 stockholder rights plan (the “Stockholder Rights Plan”) designed to preserve NOLs under Section 382 of the Code. If we experience an ownership change, the Company’s ability to fully utilize NOLs will be substantially limited, and the timing of the usage of NOLs could be substantially delayed, which could significantly impair the value of those benefits. The Stockholder Rights Plan is intended to act as a deterrent to any person or group from acquiring beneficial ownership of 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Our stockholders also approved that certain Section 382 Rights Agreement between us and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Rights Agreement”). Although our Stockholder Rights Plan and the Rights Agreement are designed to protect against the occurrence of an ownership change under Section 382 of the Code, there is no assurance that such an ownership change could not occur or that the utilization of our NOLs could not be otherwise restricted by legislative, judicial or regulatory developments. In addition, an ownership change could occur if we issue a significant number of new shares of common stock to raise capital.

 

Risks Related to the Merger

 

We may not realize the potential value and benefits created by the Merger.

 

As disclosed above in “Item 1.—Business,” we completed a merger with Prism on March 26, 2015, with Prism becoming our wholly-owned subsidiary. We may not be able to realize the expected potential value and benefits created by the Merger due to many factors, including the unpredictable nature of patent litigation. Based on our periodic evaluation of the recoverability of the asset recorded in connection with this transaction, we determined that the carrying value of the asset was in excess of fair value and therefore recorded impairment charges in the fourth quarter of 2015 and the second quarter of 2016. For more information, see Note 8 to our Combined Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

8

 

 

If we are unable to make the payments on the notes assumed in connection with the Merger, our business and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected.

 

As part of the Merger, we assumed $3.6 million in two discounted non-interest bearing notes payable, due in four semi-annual installments of $1,000,000 from June 2015 to December 2016. The notes include imputed interest of 12.0% per annum based on management’s assumptions about the risk associated with satisfying the payment obligations, including the fact that certain patents serve as security for the notes. The installment payment due on December 31, 2015 was deferred to June 30, 2016 with the consent of the note holder. We have not paid the installments due in June 2016 and December 2016, but we have discussed restructuring the notes payable with the notes holder. If we fail to negotiate a restructuring of the notes and do not pay any installment due, the note holder may assert the right to accelerate the entire outstanding balance, impose additional late charges, or contest our ownership of the patents serving as collateral. Any of these actions could result in additional expenses or delay revenues and our business would be materially harmed.

 

We may incur unforeseen or unexpected liabilities as a result of the Merger.

 

As a result of the Merger, Prism became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and Prism’s liabilities, including contingent liabilities, were consolidated with ours. There may be unforeseen or unexpected liabilities related to the Merger or Prism. Among other things, if Prism’s liabilities are greater than expected, or if there are obligations of Prism of which we were not aware at the time of completion of the Merger, our business and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

 

We may be required to make substantial cash payments to Prism’s former members.

 

Subject to certain conditions, in connection with the Merger we agreed to make future earnout payments to the members of Prism immediately prior to the Merger. An “Earnout Event” is defined in the merger agreement as receipt by Prism of any amount more than $16.5 million, minus the cash balance of Prism as of the Closing Date (the “Sharing Threshold”), in Prism Patent Proceeds from lawsuits filed by Prism on or prior to the Closing Date (“Open Suits”). “Prism Patent Proceeds” include total cash recoveries from litigation or settlement, royalties, license fees and proceeds from patent sales actually received by Prism in connection with its business; minus costs, expenses and fees associated with the production of such revenue (including sales commissions, attorneys’ contingency fees, expert fees and deferred purchase amounts paid to third parties); minus Prism cash operating expenses other than amortization and other noncash expenses for the applicable measurement period. Upon the occurrence of an Earnout Event, an earnout payment in cash equal to 70% of the amount of Prism Patent Proceeds from Open Suits exceeding the Sharing Threshold shall be paid to the former members of Prism, provided, however, that the aggregate amount of such earnout payments, including certain permitted pre-closing distributions, shall not exceed $55 million. As of December 31, 2016, such permitted pre-closing distributions were approximately $5.5 million, resulting in a maximum potential earnout payment of approximately $49.5 million.

 

Risks Related to the Industry

 

Our industry is subject to rapid technological change, uncertainty and shifting market opportunities.

 

Our success depends, in part, on our ability to define and keep pace with changes in industry standards, technological developments and varying customer requirements. Changes in industry standards and needs could adversely affect the development of, and demand for, our technology, rendering our technology currently under development obsolete and unmarketable. The patents and applications comprising our portfolio have fixed terms and, if we fail to anticipate or respond adequately to these changes through the development or acquisition of new patentable inventions, patents or other technology, we could miss a critical market opportunity, reducing or eliminating our ability to capitalize on our patents, technology solutions or both.

 

9

 

 

Potential patent and litigation reform legislation, USPTO rule changes, legislation affecting mechanisms for patent enforcement and available remedies, and unfavorable court decisions may affect our investments in research and development and our strategies for patent prosecution, licensing and enforcement and could have a material adverse effect on our licensing business as well as our business as a whole.

 

Potential changes to certain U.S. laws, rules and regulations may occur in the future, some or all of which may affect our research and development investments, patent prosecution costs, the scope of future patent coverage we secure, remedies that we may be entitled to in patent litigation, and attorneys’ fees or other remedies that could be sought against us, and may require us to reevaluate and modify our research and development activities and patent prosecution, licensing and enforcement strategies. In recent years, the U.S. Congress has considered multiple patent reform measures, including bills that would implement heightened pleadings requirements, fee-shifting, limitations on discovery, disclosure of real party-in-interest information and stays of customer suits. If passed, such bills could significantly increase the cost and risk of patent enforcement litigation. There can be no assurance that these bills, or similar future legislative developments, will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Rulings in our legal proceedings as well as those of third parties may also affect our strategies for patent prosecution, licensing and enforcement. For example, in recent years, U.S. courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, have taken some actions that have been viewed as unfavorable to patent holders, including the Company. Court decisions may change the law applicable to various patent law issues, such as, for example, patentability, validity, patent exhaustion, patent misuse, remedies, permissible licensing practices, claim construction and damages, in ways that are detrimental to the abilities of patentees to enforce patents and obtain damages awards.

 

Delays in getting patents issued by the USPTO could result in delays in recognizing revenues.

 

We will continue to pursue several patent applications currently pending before the USPTO and we intend to continue to apply for additional patents. In addition, we expect to acquire patent applications from third parties. Patent applications have been increasing each year and we believe it is resulting in longer delays in obtaining approval of pending patent applications. The application delays could cause delays in recognizing revenue from these patents and could cause us to miss opportunities to license patents before other competing technologies are developed or introduced into the market.

 

Risks Related to our Common Stock

 

Our stock price has been volatile and may continue to fluctuate widely.

 

The trading price of our common stock has been volatile. During the period from October 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016, the trading price per share of our common stock ranged from a high of $2.80 to a low of $0.14. On February 23, 2017, we voluntarily delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market and our stock began trading on the OTCQB Market under the symbol “PRZM”. The trading price of our common stock may be significantly affected by factors including actual or anticipated operating results, announcements regarding licensing or litigation developments, disputes concerning the validity of one or more of our patents, our limited trading volume and expectations regarding our future cash reserves. Any negative change in the public’s perception of the prospects of the patent licensing business could also depress our stock price regardless of our results.

  

Our common stock is considered a “penny stock” and may be difficult to sell.

 

Our common stock is subject to certain rules and regulations relating to “penny stock.” Penny stocks are generally equity securities with a price of less than $5.00 (other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges, provided that current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system). The penny stock rules require a broker−dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document that provides information about penny stocks and the risks in the penny stock market. The broker−dealer must also provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker−dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. In addition, the penny stock rules generally require that prior to a transaction in a penny stock, the broker−dealer make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for a stock that becomes subject to the penny stock rules. Since the Company’s securities are subject to the penny stock rules, investors in the Company may find it more difficult to sell their securities.

 

10

 

 

Our adoption of the Stockholder Rights Plan and the Rights Agreement may reduce the attractiveness of our stock to investors because it limits the ability of persons or entities from acquiring a significant percentage of our outstanding stock.

 

The Stockholder Rights Plan and the Rights Agreement are intended to act as deterrents to any person or group, together with such person’s or group’s affiliates and associates, from being or becoming a beneficial owner of 4.9% or more of our common stock. The inability of some stockholders to acquire a significant position could substantially reduce the market liquidity of our common stock, making it more difficult for a stockholder to dispose of, or obtain accurate quotations for the price of, our common stock.

 

Delaware law and our charter documents contain provisions that could discourage or prevent a potential takeover, even if such a transaction would be beneficial to our stockholders.

 

Provisions of Delaware law and our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws could make the acquisition of the Company through a tender offer, a proxy contest or other means more difficult and could make the removal of incumbent directors and officers more difficult. We expect these provisions to discourage takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to first negotiate with our board of directors.

 

11

 

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 2.   Properties.

 

We have a non-cancelable twenty-four month lease through May 15, 2017 for approximately 650 square feet of office space in Folsom, California, which is currently our corporate headquarters. We also have a non-cancelable sixty month lease for approximately 2,200 square feet of office space in Omaha, Nebraska through August 31, 2017 and cancelable leases in Plano, Texas and Brentwood, Tennessee for an additional 1,100 square feet.

 

The Company had a non-cancelable five-year full-service lease through February 14, 2017 for approximately 16,000 square feet of office space in a building that housed our headquarters until May 2013. On April 16, 2013, we subleased this space for the remainder of our term at a rent that was less than our rent obligation to the landlord. As of December 31, 2016, we expect to receive $11,000 from the sub-lessee for the remainder of our lease.

 

Item 3.   Legal Proceedings.

 

We and our operating subsidiaries are often required to engage in litigation to enforce our patents and patent rights. The “Results of Operations” section in “Item 7.—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” describes the significant events relating to our patent licensing business.

 

In the ordinary course of business, we are the subject of, or party to, various pending or threatened legal actions, including various counterclaims in connection with our patent enforcement activities. We believe that any liability arising from these actions will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 

  

In connection with any of our patent enforcement actions, it is possible that a defendant may request and/or a court may rule that we have violated statutory authority, regulatory authority, federal rules, local court rules or governing standards relating to the substantive or procedural aspects of such enforcement actions. In such event, a court may issue monetary sanctions against us or our operating subsidiaries or award attorneys’ fees and/or expenses to defendant(s) in the action. Even absent a finding that we violated a law or regulation, an unsuccessful lawsuit might result in a court order that we pay certain costs to the defendant. These awards could be material and, if required to be paid by us or our operating subsidiaries, could materially harm our operating results and our financial position.

 

On March 19, 2015, Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”) sent Prism a letter demanding payment of a fee under an Advisory Agreement dated September 19, 2013 (the “Advisory Agreement”). Prism rejected the demand and on April 10, 2015, Maxim filed a Statement of Claim with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) to initiate arbitration of the dispute. In the Statement of Claim, Maxim alleged that Prism is liable for payment to Maxim of a percentage of the Merger consideration as an advisory fee under the Advisory Agreement. On April 6, 2016 the FINRA arbitration panel awarded Maxim $357,000, plus 9% interest from the date of the closing of the Merger. The Company paid the award and all accrued interest in the amount of $375,000 during the year ended December 31, 2016. The award relates to a pre-Merger dispute and reduces the maximum earnout payable to Prism’s former security holders.

 

12

 

 

Item 4.   Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

PART II

 

Item 5.   Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

During 2016, our common stock was quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “PRZM.” On February 23, 2017, we voluntarily delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market and our stock is now traded on the OTCQB Market under the same symbol. As of March 30, 2017, there were approximately 1,300 stockholders of record. Certain shares are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, and we are unable to determine the total number of stockholders represented by those record holders. The following table sets forth the high and low sales price per share of our common stock for each full quarterly period within the two most recent fiscal years, all as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market:

 

   

Price Range

 

Quarter Ended

 

High

   

Low

 

2016

               

December 31, 2016

  $ 0.41     $ 0.14  

September 30, 2016

  $ 0.29     $ 0.19  

June 30, 2016

  $ 0.45     $ 0.16  

March 31, 2016

  $ 0.99     $ 0.29  
                 

2015

               

December 31, 2015

  $ 2.80     $ 0.99  

September 30, 2015

  $ 3.18     $ 2.69  

June 30, 2015

  $ 3.15     $ 2.40  

March 31, 2015

  $ 2.86     $ 2.56  

 

We have not paid any cash dividends on our capital stock other than the special distribution of $5.00 per share that was paid to our stockholders on March 9, 2012 in conjunction with the Disposition. We do not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. 

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

We currently maintain two equity compensation plans that provide for the issuance of our common stock to employees, officers, directors, independent contractors and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries. These consist of the Prism Technologies Group, Inc. 2008 Stock Option Plan and the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, each of which has been approved by our stockholders. The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding options and shares reserved for future issuance under the foregoing plans as of December 31, 2016:

 

Plan Category

 

Number of

securities

to be issued upon

exercise of

outstanding

options,

warrants and

rights

(a)

   

Weighted average

exercise price of

outstanding

options,

warrants and

rights(b)

   

Number of

securities

remaining

available

for future issuance

under equity

compensation

plans

(excluding

securities

reflected in

column

(a))(c)

 
                         

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

    361,259     $ 2.69       1,192,602  

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

                 

 

13

 

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers 

 

None

 

Item 6.   Selected Financial Data.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Overview

 

From its inception through December 21, 2011, the Company operated an online insurance marketplace that electronically matched consumers and providers of automobile, property, health, term life and small business insurance. The Company discontinued this business in connection with the Disposition. As a result of the Disposition, we no longer conduct the insurance lead generation business, and have agreed not to reenter that business for a period of ten years from the Disposition Date.  

 

Since the Disposition Date, the Company has operated its patent licensing and enforcement business, which generated revenues of $0 and $0.7 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively. On the Closing Date, the Company completed a merger with Prism, with Prism becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Prism also operates a patent licensing and enforcement business. As a result of the Merger, the Company and its subsidiaries own a portfolio of patents with over 50 issued patents as of March 30, 2017 as described in “Item 1.—Business”.

 

In the Merger, the members of Prism received an aggregate of $16.5 million in cash and 3.5 million shares of our common stock. Subject to certain conditions, we have also agreed to make future earnout payments to the former security holders of Prism. Upon the occurrence of an Earnout Event, an earnout payment in cash equal to 70% of the amount of Prism Patent Proceeds exceeding the Sharing Threshold shall be paid to the former members of Prism, provided, however, that the aggregate amount of such earnout payments, including certain permitted pre-closing distributions, shall not exceed $55 million. As of December 31, 2016, such permitted pre-closing distributions were approximately $5.5 million, resulting in a maximum potential earnout payment of approximately $49.5 million.

 

14

 

 

Results of Operations

  

Significant Events Relating to Our Patent Licensing Business

 

On June 23, 2015, Prism won a jury verdict in its patent infringement lawsuit against Sprint Spectrum LP d/b/a Sprint PCS (“Sprint”). At the end of a seven-day trial in Omaha, Nebraska, the jury in the United States District Court (“USDC”) for the District of Nebraska found that Sprint’s network systems and methods infringe multiple claims of Prism’s U.S. Patent Nos. 8,387,155 and 8,127,345. Prism was awarded trial damages of $30 million, representing a reasonable royalty for Sprint’s infringement. No portion of the judgment has been paid by Sprint as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Sprint appealed the jury verdict and Prism appealed the District Court’s ruling that the jury verdict included amounts for future infringement. On March 6, 2017, a panel of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the trial court outcome in all respects. 

 

On October 30, 2015, a jury found that T-Mobile USA, Inc. did not infringe the asserted claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 8,387,155 and 8,127,345. On April 6, 2016, the District Court denied T-Mobile’s motion for judgment as a matter of law and its motion for attorney fees; the court also denied Prism’s motion for judgment as a matter of law and its motion for a new trial. Both parties have appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. No date for oral arguments has been scheduled.

 

On September 3, 2015, Secure Axcess, a subsidiary of Prism, settled its lawsuit filed in the United District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against GE Capital Bank, GE Capital Retail Bank (currently Synchrony Bank), General Electric Capital Corporation, and General Electric Company (collectively, “Defendants”) alleging that the Defendants infringed on U.S. Patent No. 7,631,191. In exchange for a license and release, the Defendants collectively made a one-time payment in the aggregate amount of $700,000. The payment, less the cost of revenues of $311,000, was received in September 2015.

 

The U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) issued two rulings on September 8, 2015 concerning the validity of U.S. Patent No. 7,631,191 B2 (the “Glazer” patent) owned by Secure Axcess, LLC, a subsidiary of Prism Technologies Group, Inc.

 

In CBM2014-00100 (consolidated with CBM2015-00009), the PTAB determined that claims 1–32 of the Glazer patent would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and the claims were, therefore, unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a).

 

In IPR2014-00475, the PTAB determined that claims 1–23 and 25-32 of the Glazer patent were unpatentable.

 

In a separate and third PTAB ruling on June 13, 2016 in CBM2015-00027, the PTAB determined that claims 1-5, 16, and 29-32 of the Glazer patent are unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103(a).

 

On February 21, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“Federal Circuit”) affirmed the PTAB ruling, without an opinion, in the IPR2014-00475 matter. The Federal Circuit, however, also ruled that the PTAB should not have instituted the proceedings in CBM2014-00100 because the Glazer patent claims do not constitute a “covered business method.” Accordingly, the Federal Circuit vacated the invalidity ruling in the CBM2014-00100 proceedings. However, on March 23, 2017, U.S. Bancorp filed a petition seeking a rehearing of the decision vacating the CBM proceedings. The CBM2015-00027 proceeding is stayed pending the final outcome of the Federal Circuit’s ruling in CBM2014-00100.

 

The Glazer patent is the subject of patent infringement litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Secure Axcess, LLC v. U.S. Bank, et al. 6:13-cv-00717-KNM), which has been stayed pending the IPR and CBM proceedings.

 

In March 2015, Secure Axcess filed lawsuits against six companies in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleging infringement of patents in the System on Chip patent family. Five of these cases have been dismissed, without prejudice, pursuant to Secure Axcess’ motion or by joint stipulations of dismissal. The defendant in the remaining case is HP Enterprise Services, LLC. On July 21, 2016, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas held a claim construction hearing in Secure Axcess, LLC v. HP Enterprise Services, LLC. The parties participated in a mediation on November 9, 2016, and reached settlement on February 3, 2017. That settlement does not have a material impact on our cash position or results of operations. 

 

15

 

 

Fiscal 2016 compared to Fiscal 2015

 

The following table sets forth selected statement of operations data with the respective percentage changes from the prior year (dollars in thousands):

 

   

2016

   

2015

   

% Change

from

the Prior

Year

2016

   

% Change

from

the Prior

Year

2015

 
                                 

Revenues

  $     $ 700       N/A       N/A  

Cost of revenues

          311       N/A       N/A  

Gross margin

          389       N/A       N/A  
                                 

Operating expenses:

                               

General and administrative

    4,811       4,289                                            12%       46

%

Amortization

    7,230       12,877       (44% )     N/A  

Impairment of long-lived assets

    2,209       23,847       (91% )     N/A  

Total operating expenses

    14,250       41,013       (65% )     1,532

%

Loss from operations

    (14,250

)

    (40,624

)

    (65% )     1,518

%

Other income

    2,055       19,901       (90% )     nm

%

Interest expense

    (694

)

    (920

)

    (25% )     nm  

Net loss before income taxes

    (12,889

)

    (21,643

)

    (40% )     818

%

Income tax benefit

    101       -       N/A       N/A  

Net loss

    (12,788

)

    (21,643

)

    (41% )     818

%

Comprehensive loss

  $ (12,788

)

  $ (21,643

)

    (41% )     818

%

 

Revenues. In 2016, we did not generate any revenues. In 2015, we generated $700,000 in revenues from our patent licensing and enforcement business. We expect revenues for 2017 and future periods, if any, will be unpredictable because of the significant uncertainty associated with patent licensing and patent enforcement litigation.

 

Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues consist of contingent fee based legal expenses and third party revenue share agreements, which grant the former owners of the respective patents or patent rights, the right to receive revenue or profit splits based upon future proceeds. We expect the cost of revenue amounts to vary in proportion to our patent licensing revenues.

 

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and related expenses, including employee benefits, facility costs, accounting and legal services and insurance for our general management, administrative and accounting personnel, as well as other general corporate expenses. General and administrative expenses increased from $4.3 million in 2015 to $4.8 million in 2016. The increase was primarily attributable to recognizing $0.9 million in 2016 for incentive compensation pursuant to a plan adopted by our board of directors on September 1, 2016. The increase was offset by the one-time accrual of $0.4 million in 2015 related to the Maxim arbitration award. (see Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, included in “Item 8.—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”). The Company’s operating initiatives are focused on preserving cash. The Company, therefore, expects general and administrative expenses for 2017 to increase due to non-cash related expenses, which include accruals for incentive compensation related expenses.

 

Amortization. Amortization expenses consisted of amortization of intangible assets of $7.2 million in 2016 and $12.9 million in 2015. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in the value of intangible assets from impairment charges of $2.2 million and $23.4 million in 2016 and 2015 respectively. Significant amortization expenses are expected for 2017 and beyond.

 

Impairment of long-lived assets. Impairment of long-lived assets (see Note 7 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, included in “Item 8.—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”) consists of impairment charges of $2.2 million and $23.8 million in 2016 and 2015 respectively, associated with our patent portfolio. These impairment charges were the result of significantly lower than anticipated revenues associated with the patent portfolio acquired in the Merger.

 

16

 

 

Other Income. Other income in 2016 was $2.1 million, consisting of a reduction in the fair value of the contingent consideration liability of $2.0 million and gain on sale of life insurance policies of $37,000. The reduction in the fair value of the contingent consideration liability resulted from a determination by the Company that the receipt of forecasted revenues would be delayed and the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated was less than its carrying amount. We also reassessed the fair value of the contingent consideration liability in 2015 due to lower than forecasted revenues and reduced the fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities by $19.9 million. We also recorded this decrease as other income. Other income for 2016 and 2015 also consisted of interest earned on our investment portfolio of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $3,000 and $14,000, respectively. We expect that other income will consist entirely of returns received from our investment portfolio in the near future, which will be negligible given the conservative nature of our investment policy, the current relatively low interest rates in the United States, and our use of cash to fund operations.

 

Interest Expense. Interest expense was $694,000 and $920,000 for 2016 and 2015, respectively. For both 2016 and 2015, interest expense consisted of imputed interest related to assuming certain debt from Prism in the Merger and imputed interest associated with the contingent consideration payable to Prism’s former security holders. Additional information related to the Merger is included in Notes 3 and 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, included in “Item 8.—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” In 2016, interest expense of $14,000 was also recognized for accreted interest on two non-recourse financing agreements; $500,000 was received from an unrelated party on December 23, 2016 and $250,000 was received from Hussein A. Enan, Chairman and CEO of the Company, on December 30, 2016. We expect that interest expense will continue to be significant over the next several years.

 

Income Taxes. We recognized an income tax benefit of $101,000 for 2016. We recognized no expense for, and did not receive a benefit from income taxes for 2015.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. We had no off-balance sheet arrangements in 2016 or 2015.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our Consolidated Financial Statements which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be 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 may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Assessment of Impairment of Goodwill, Intangibles, and Other Long-Lived Assets. Current accounting standards require that we assess the recoverability of our finite lived acquisition-related intangible assets and other long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the remaining value of the assets recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets is potentially impaired. In order to determine if a potential impairment has occurred, management must make various assumptions about the estimated fair value of the asset by evaluating future business prospects and estimated future cash flows. For some assets, our estimated fair value is dependent upon predicting which of our products will be successful. This success is dependent upon several factors, such as which operating platforms will be successful in the marketplace. Also, our revenue and earnings are dependent on our ability to meet our product release schedules. Judgments and assumptions about future cash flows and remaining useful lives are complex and often subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, significant negative industry or economic trends, significant changes in the manner of our use of the assets or the strategy of our overall business and significant under-performance relative to projected future operating results. When we consider such assets to be impaired, the amount of impairment we recognize is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value.

 

17

 

 

In assessing impairment on our goodwill, we first analyze qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The qualitative factors we assess include long-term prospects of our performance, share price trends and market capitalization, and Company specific events. If we conclude it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, we do not need to perform the two-step impairment test. If based on that assessment, we believe it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, a two-step goodwill impairment test will be performed. The first step measures for impairment by applying fair value-based tests at the reporting unit level. The second step (if necessary) measures the amount of impairment by applying fair value-based tests to the individual assets and liabilities within each reporting unit. Reporting units are determined by the components of operating segments that constitute a business for which (1) discrete financial information is available, (2) segment management regularly reviews the operating results of that component, and (3) whether the component has dissimilar economic characteristics to other components.

 

Revenue Recognition. In general, patent licensing arrangements are expected to provide for the payment of contractually determined fees in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by us. Complex revenue arrangements may require significant judgments, assumptions and estimates about when substantial delivery of contract elements will occur, whether any significant ongoing obligations exist subsequent to contract execution, whether collectability is reasonably assured and determination of the appropriate period in which the completion of the earning process occurs.

 

We recognize revenue when (i) persuasive evidence of a contractual arrangement between us and the licensee exists, which create legally enforceable rights and obligations, (ii) the license agreement is delivered to the licensee, based upon the point at which control of the license transfers to the licensee, (iii) the price to the licensee is fixed or determinable and represents the amount of consideration to which we expect to be entitled to in exchange for transferring the license agreement to a licensee, and (iv) the collectability of consideration to which we are entitled to is reasonably assured.

 

Fair Value Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP often requires us to determine the fair value of a particular item in order to fairly present our financial statements. Without an independent market or another representative transaction, determining the fair value of a particular item requires us to make several assumptions that are inherently difficult to predict and can have a material impact on the accounting.

 

There are various valuation techniques used to estimate fair value. These include (1) the market approach where market transactions for identical or comparable assets or liabilities are used to determine the fair value, (2) the income approach, which uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts (for example, future cash flows or future earnings) to a single present value amount, and (3) the cost approach, which is based on the amount that would be required to replace an asset. For many of our fair value estimates, including our estimates of the fair value of acquired intangible assets, we use the income approach. Using the income approach requires the use of financial models, which require us to make various estimates including, but not limited to (1) the potential future cash flows for the asset or liability being measured, (2) the timing of receipt or payment of those future cash flows, (3) the time value of money associated with the expected receipt or payment of such cash flows, and (4) the inherent risk associated with the cash flows (risk premium). Making these cash flow estimates is inherently difficult and subjective, and if any of the estimates used to determine the fair value using the income approach turns out to be inaccurate, our financial results may be negatively impacted. Furthermore, relatively small changes in many of these estimates can have a significant impact to the estimated fair value resulting from the financial models or the related accounting conclusion reached. For example, a relatively small change in the estimated fair value of an asset may change a conclusion as to whether an asset is impaired. 

 

While we are required to make certain fair value assessments associated with the accounting for several types of transactions, the following areas are the most sensitive to these assessments.

 

Business Combinations. We must estimate the fair value of assets acquired, liabilities and contingencies assumed, acquired patent portfolios, and contingent consideration issued in a business combination. Our assessment of the estimated fair value of each of these can have a material effect on our reported results as intangible assets are amortized over various estimated useful lives. Furthermore, the estimated fair value assigned to an acquired asset or liability has a direct impact on the amount we recognize as goodwill, which is an asset that is not amortized. Determining the fair value of assets acquired requires an assessment of the related expected future cash flows. Determining the fair value of contingent consideration requires an assessment of the probability-weighted expected future cash flows over the period in which the obligation is expected to be settled, and applying a discount rate that appropriately captures the risk associated with the obligation. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the contingent consideration payable are forecasted earnings. Significant changes in forecasted earnings would result in significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. This fair value assessment is also required in periods subsequent to a business combination. Such estimates are inherently difficult and subjective and can have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

18

 

 

   Share-Based Compensation. We account for share-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” Under the provisions of ASC 718, share-based compensation cost is generally estimated at the grant date based on the award’s fair value as calculated by the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) option-pricing model. The BSM option-pricing model requires various highly judgmental assumptions including expected option life, volatility and forfeiture rates. If any of the assumptions used in the BSM option-pricing model change significantly, share-based compensation expense may differ materially in the future from that recorded in the current period. Generally, compensation cost is recognized over the requisite service period. However, to the extent performance conditions affect the vesting of an award, compensation cost will be recognized only if the performance condition is satisfied. Compensation cost will not be recognized and any previously recognized compensation cost will be reversed if the performance condition is not satisfied.

 

Income Taxes. Under the asset and liability method prescribed under ASC 740, “Income Taxes”, we recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized or settled.

 

Current accounting standards in the United States prescribe a recognition threshold and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in an enterprise's tax returns. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively. We do not believe there will be any material changes in our unrecognized tax positions over the next twelve months.

For tax return purposes, we had NOLs at December 31, 2016 of approximately $155.8 and $21.1 million for federal income tax and state income tax purposes, respectively. Included in these amounts are unrealized federal and state net operating loss deductions resulting from stock option exercises of approximately $10.3 million and $8.4 million respectively. The benefit of these unrealized stock option-related deductions has not been included in deferred tax assets and will be recognized as a credit to additional paid-in capital when realized. Federal NOLs begin to expire in 2019. State NOLs begin to expire in 2028.

The carrying value of our deferred tax assets, which was approximately $61.1 million at December 31, 2016, is dependent upon our ability to generate sufficient future taxable income. We have established a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets to reflect the uncertainty of realizing the deferred tax benefits, given historical losses. A valuation allowance is required when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. This assessment requires a review and consideration of all available positive and negative evidence, including our past and future performance, the market environment in which we operate, the utilization of tax attributes in the past, and the length of carryforward periods and evaluation of potential tax planning strategies. We expect to continue to maintain a full valuation allowance until an appropriate level of profitability is sustained or we are able to develop tax strategies that would enable us to conclude that it is more likely than not that a portion of our deferred tax assets would be realizable.

 

Derivative instruments. We assess whether activities which provide capital to fund our operations include embedded features that are derivative instruments. If a derivative instrument is embedded, the instrument is accounted for separately from the host contract. Changes in fair value are recognized in other income or loss, consistent with the underlying derivative instrument. As a result, any change in the value of our derivative instrument would be substantially offset by an opposite change in the value of the underlying derivative item. We do not use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Since this activity is not part of our normal course of business, we consider the risk in this area to be low.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Summarized cash flow information is as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2016

   

2015

 

Cash Flows provided by (used in):

               
                 

Operating activities

  $ (3,688

)

  $ (4,450

)

                 

Investing activities

    1,771       (15,931

)

                 

Financing activities

    750       (1,000

)

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

  $ (1,167

)

  $ (21,381

)

 

 

19

 

 

 At December 31, 2016, our principal source of liquidity was $0.6 million in cash and cash equivalents. We adhere to an investment policy with minimal market or settlement risk with our current holdings. Accordingly, substantially all of our invested assets are in the form of certificates of deposit issued by highly rated banking institutions. There are no restrictions or limitations regarding access to the $0.6 million in cash and cash equivalents.

 

In 2016, net cash used in operating activities was $3.7 million, primarily consisting of our net loss of $12.8 million, gain on reduction of contingent consideration of $2.0 million and income tax benefit of $0.1 million. This was partially offset by $1.0 million primarily due to increases in accrued expenses, accounts payable and decreases in prepaid expenses and other assets, impairment of long-lived assets of $2.2 million, amortization of intangibles of $7.2 million, imputed interest on contingent consideration and notes payable of $0.7 million and stock-based compensation of $0.1 million.

 

In 2015, net cash used in operating activities was $4.5 million, primarily consisting of our net loss of $21.6 million, gain on reduction of contingent consideration of $19.9 million and cash used of $0.7 million primarily due to increases in prepaid expenses and other current assets and decreases in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities. This was partially offset by impairment of long-lived assets of $23.8 million, amortization of intangibles of $12.9 million, imputed interest on contingent consideration and notes payable of $0.9 million and stock-based compensation of $0.1 million.

 

In 2016, net cash provided by investing activities was $1.8 million, due to redemptions of short-term investments of $1.5 million , redemptions of restricted cash equivalents of $0.2 million and sale of life settlement contracts of $0.1 million. 

 

In 2015, net cash used in investing activities was $15.9 million, due to the purchase of Prism, net of cash, acquired for $16.1 million and purchases of short-term investments of $1.5 million, offset by redemptions of short-term investments of $1.5 million and redemptions of restricted cash equivalents of $0.2 million. 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities in 2016 was $0.8 million, as we entered into two non-recourse financing agreements: $0.5 million was received from a third party on December 23, 2016 and $0.3 million was received on December 30, 2016 from Hussein A. Enan, CEO and Chairman of the Company.

 

Net cash used in financing activities in 2015 was $1.0 million, due to an installment payment due on June 30, 2015. A $1.0 million installment payment due on December 31, 2015 was postponed with the consent of the note holder.

   

As of December 31, 2016, our cash and cash equivalents totaled $0.6 million. In addition to the expenses associated with the patent licensing business, such as salaries and overhead, we have notes payable of $4.0 million, including $3.2 million in installment payments due in 2017. With the consent of the note holder, these installment payments have not been paid as of the date of this report. We have implemented certain initiatives to preserve cash and we have discussed restructuring one of our notes payable with the note holder, but there can be no assurance that the discussions will be successful. We cannot estimate when we will receive revenues from our operations due to the uncertainty associated with patent litigation. We entered into two financing agreements in late 2016 for an aggregate of $750,000 (which are described in Note 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, included in "Item 8.-”Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this report), and we have implemented significant expense reduction initiatives, including a moratorium on salaries for most employees. Unless we are able to defer or restructure our liabilities, substantially reduce our operating expenses, or receive revenues, we anticipate that our cash will be insufficient to fund our operations beyond the fourth quarter of 2017. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern within twelve months following the date of the filing of this Form 10-K. If our business does not generate revenues before our cash is exhausted and we are unable to raise capital on acceptable terms, we may need to cease operations and, as a result, investors could lose their investment.

 

 

20

 

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements follow below on pages F-1 to F-27.

 

21

 

 

PRISM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.

 

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

F-2

  

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015

F-3

  

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

F-4

  

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

F-5

  

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

F-6

  

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

F-7

  

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-8

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Prism Technologies Group, Inc.

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Prism Technologies Group, Inc. as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2016. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements 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. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits 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, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Prism Technologies Group, Inc. at December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has incurred losses since inception and has a working capital deficiency as of December 31, 2016, which raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. 

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

 

Roseville, California

March 31, 2017  

 

F-2

 

 

PRISM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

   

December 31,

 
   

2016

   

2015

 

Assets

               

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 589     $ 1,756  

Short-term investments

          1,494  

Restricted cash equivalents

    400       600  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    599       639  

Total current assets

    1,588       4,489  

Intangible assets, net

    15,255       24,694  

Goodwill

    54       54  

Other assets

    22       63  

Total assets

  $ 16,919     $ 29,300  
                 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 384     $ 267  

Accrued expenses

    1,508       575  

Accrued contingent consideration, current

          3,525  

Notes payable, net

    3,298       2,838  
Derivative liability     405        

Debt due to related party

    252        

Total current liabilities

    5,847       7,205  
                 

Accrued contingent consideration, non-current

    11,539       9,704  

Accrued lease obligation, non-current

          49  

Income tax liability

          101  

Other liabilities

    45       45  

Total liabilities

    17,431       17,104  
                 

Stockholders’ equity (deficit):

               

Convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized: 5,000 shares; no shares issued or outstanding at 2016 and 2015

           

Common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized: 25,000 shares; 14,533 shares issued and 10,074 shares outstanding at 2016 and 2015, respectively

    15       15  

Paid-in capital

    231,374       231,294  

Treasury stock, 4,459 shares at 2016 and 2015, respectively

    (10,323

)

    (10,323

)

Accumulated deficit

    (221,578

)

    (208,790

)

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

    (512

)

    12,196  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)

  $ 16,919     $ 29,300  

 

See accompanying notes.

 

F-3

 

 

PRISM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2016

   

2015

 

Revenues

  $     $ 700  

Cost of revenues

          311  

Gross Margin

          389  
                 

Operating expenses:

               

General and administrative

    4,811       4,289  

Depreciation and amortization

    7,230       12,877  

Impairment of long-lived assets

    2,209       23,847  

Total operating expenses

    14,250       41,013  

Loss from operations

    (14,250

)

    (40,624

)

Other income

    2,055       19,901  

Interest expense

    (694

)

    (920

)

Net loss before income taxes

    (12,889

)

    (21,643

)

      (12,889

)

    (21,643

)

Income tax benefit

    101       -  

Net loss

    (12,788

)

    (21,643

)

Net loss per share:

               

Basic and diluted

  $ (1.27

)

  $ (2.34

)

Shares used in computing loss per share:

               

Basic and diluted

    10,074       9,268  

 

See accompanying notes.

  

F-4

 

 

PRISM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(Amounts in thousands)

 

   

Year ended

December 31,

 
   

2016

   

2015

 
                 

Net loss

  $ (12,788

)

  $ (21,643

)

Comprehensive loss

  $ (12,788

)

  $ (21,643

)

 

See accompanying notes.

 

F-5

 

 

PRISM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

(Amounts in thousands)

 

   

Common Stock

   

Paid-in

   

Treasury Stock

   

Accumulated

         
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Capital

   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Deficit

   

Total

 
                                                         

Balance at December 31, 2014

    11,033     $ 11     $ 221,771       (4,459

)

  $ (10,323

)

  $ (187,147

)

  $ 24,312  

Share-based compensation

    3,500       4       9,376                         9,380  

Repurchase of common stock

                    147                         147  

Net loss

                                  (21,643

)

    (21,643

)

                                                         

Balance at December 31, 2015

    14,533     $ 15     $ 231,294       (4,459

)

  $ (10,323

)

  $ (208,790

)

  $ 12,196  

Share-based compensation

                80                         80  

Net loss

                                  (12,788

)

    (12,788

)

Balance at December 31, 2016

    14,533     $ 15     $ 231,374       (4,459

)

  $ (10,323

)

  $ (221,578

)

  $ (512

)

 

See accompanying notes.

  

F-6

 

 

PRISM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 (Amounts in thousands)

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2016

   

2015

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net loss

  $ (12,788

)

  $ (21,643

)

                 

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

               

Share-based compensation

    80       147  

Amortization

    7,230       12,877  

Impairment of long-lived assets

    2,209       23,847  

Imputed interest expense on contingent consideration

    321       648  

Interest expense on notes payable

    367       268  
Gain on sale of life settlement contracts     (37 )      

Gain on revaluation of contingent consideration

    (2,011

)

    (19,888

)

                 

Net changes in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    41       (493

)

Accounts payable

    117

 

    (12

)

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    933       (201

)

Accrued lease obligation

    (49

)

     

Income tax benefit

    (101

)

     

Net cash used in operating activities

    (3,688

)

    (4,450

)

                 

Cash flows from investing activities:

               

Purchase of Prism, net of cash acquired

          (16,131

)

Purchases of short-term investments

          (1,494

)

Redemptions of short-term investments

    1,494       1,494  

Redemptions of restricted cash equivalents

    200       200  
Sale of life settlement contracts     77        

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    1,771       (15,931

)

                 

Cash flows from financing activities:

               

Repayment of note payable

          (1,000

)

Issuance of note payable

    500        

Proceeds from issuance of debt due to related party

    250        

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    750       (1,000

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

    (1,167

)

    (21,381

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

    1,756       23,137  

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

  $ 589     $ 1,756  

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information and non-cash transactions:

 

In connection with our acquisition of Prism, the Company paid cash, assumed liabilities and issued common stock as follows:

 

   

2016

   

2015

 

Cash paid for acquisition

  $     $ 16,500  

Contingent consideration

          32,411  

Issuance of common stock

          9,380  

Value of net assets acquired

  $     $ 58,291  
                 

Liabilities assumed

  $     $ 3,611  

 

The Company paid no interest or taxes for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. 

 

See accompanying notes. 

 

F-7

 

 

PRISM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.

Business of Prism Technologies Group, Inc.

 

Prism Technologies Group, Inc. was originally incorporated in California in February 1995 and re-incorporated in Delaware in October 1996. The mailing address of our headquarters is 101 Parkshore Drive, Suite 100, Folsom, CA 95630, and the telephone number at that location is (916) 932-2860. Our principal website is www.przmgroup.com.

 

From our inception through December 21, 2011, we operated an online insurance marketplace that electronically matched consumers and providers of automobile, property, health, term life and small business insurance. We discontinued this business in connection with the sale of substantially all of our assets (the “Disposition”) to Bankrate, Inc. in a transaction that closed on December 21, 2011 (“Disposition Date”). On the Disposition Date and in connection with the Disposition, we changed our name from InsWeb Corporation (“InsWeb”) to Internet Patents Corporation. Since the Disposition Date, our business has consisted of licensing and enforcing a portfolio of patents relating to technology that we developed or acquired.

 

On March 26, 2015, we completed our acquisition of Prism Technologies, LLC (“Prism”), with Prism becoming our wholly-owned subsidiary (the “Merger”). Prism is a Nebraska limited liability company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Prism has two primary operating subsidiaries: Secure Axcess, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and Millenium Biologix, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company. Prism also operates a patent licensing and enforcement business. Prism and its subsidiaries own a portfolio of patents with over 50 issued patents and patent applications in the areas of computer and network security, semiconductors and medical technology. In September 2015, we changed our name to Prism Technologies Group, Inc. to better reflect the operations of the combined companies.

 

In the Merger, Prism’s former members received an aggregate of $16.5 million in cash and 3.5 million shares of our common stock. Subject to certain conditions, we also agreed to share future revenue related to Prism’s patents with Prism’s former members up to a maximum amount of approximately $49.5 million. Our board of directors and officers and Prism’s officers did not change following the Merger, except that Gregory J. Duman, a manager, executive officer and former member of Prism, was appointed to our board of directors.

 

Our future revenues, if any, are expected to consist of royalties from licensing our patents and damages for past infringement of our patents. In addition to general and administrative expenses, we expect to incur expenses associated with patent infringement litigation, including contingency fees arrangements with our attorneys and revenue sharing payments to third parties, both of which are typically based on a negotiated percentage of the gross settlement amount or award of money damages.

 

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared under the assumption that the Company will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business.  The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts of liabilities that may result from uncertainty related to the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

 

We have incurred operating losses since our inception and have a working capital deficiency as of December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, our cash and cash equivalents totaled $0.6 million.  In addition to the expenses associated with the patent licensing business, such as salaries and overhead, we have notes payable of $4.0 million, including $3.2 million in installment payments due in 2017.  With the consent of the note holder, these installment payments have not been paid as of the date of this report.  The remaining notes payables and related party debt are payable, as outlined in Note 6, when certain revenue-related milestones are achieved.  We cannot estimate when we will receive revenues from our operations due to the uncertainty associated with patent litigation. Unless we are able to defer or restructure our liabilities, substantially reduce our operating expenses, or receive revenues, we anticipate that our cash will be insufficient to fund our operations beyond the fourth quarter of 2017.  These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern within twelve months following the date of the filing of this Form 10-K.

 

We have implemented certain initiatives to preserve cash and we have discussed restructuring our long term liabilities with the note holder, but there can be no assurance that the discussions will be successful.  We have implemented significant expense reduction initiatives, including a moratorium on salaries for most employees.  If our business does not generate revenues before our cash is exhausted and we are unable to raise capital on acceptable terms, we may need to cease operations and, as a result, investors could lose their investment.

 

The audit report covering these financial statements includes an explanatory paragraph that describes conditions that raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

 

As discussed elsewhere in this report, our plans include mitigating the conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. In addition to our continued cost containment efforts, these plans include:

 

 

the possible restructuring of existing debt;

 

As of March 15, 2017, we are no longer required to maintain $400,000 in restricted cash equivalents to support a letter of credit related to our former office lease; and

 

as discussed in Note 12, on March 06, 2017, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit unanimously affirmed the $30 million patent infringement verdict in favor of the Company's subsidiary, Prism Technologies LLC ("Prism"), against Sprint Spectrum LP d/b/a Sprint PCS ("Sprint"). No portion of the judgment has been paid as of the date of this report, and further appeals are possible.

F-8

 

 

2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of presentation

 

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Goldrush Insurance Services, Inc. and Prism. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

The Company recognizes in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet. For non-recognized subsequent events that must be disclosed to keep the financial statements from being misleading, an entity is required to disclose the nature of the event as well as an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. 

 

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Investments with maturities greater than three months at the date of purchase, but less than one year, are classified as short-term investments. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are stated at cost, which approximates fair value, given the relatively short duration of the underlying securities.

 

Revenue recognition

 

In general, patent licensing arrangements are expected to provide for the payment of contractually determined fees in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company. Complex revenue arrangements may require significant judgments, assumptions and estimates about when substantial delivery of contract elements will occur, whether any significant ongoing obligations exist subsequent to contract execution, whether collectability is reasonably assured and determination of the appropriate period in which the completion of the earning process occurs.

 

The Company recognizes revenue when (i) persuasive evidence of a contractual arrangement between the Company and the licensee exists, which create legally enforceable rights and obligations, (ii) the license agreement is delivered to the licensee, based upon the point at which control of the license transfers to the licensee, (iii) the price to the licensee is fixed or determinable and represents the amount of consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for transferring the license agreement to a licensee, and (iv) the collectability of consideration to which the Company is entitled to is reasonably assured.

 

Business Combination Accounting 

  

We account for acquisitions in accordance with ASC 805 “Business Combinations.” Accordingly, the net assets acquired were recorded at their estimated fair values and Prism’s operating results are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements from March 26, 2015 (the “Closing Date”). We recognize, separately from goodwill, the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated acquisition date fair values. Goodwill is measured and recognized as of the acquisition date as the excess of: (a) the aggregate of the fair value of consideration transferred, the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree (if any) and the acquisition date fair value of our previously held equity interest in the acquiree (if any), over (b) the fair value of net assets acquired and liabilities assumed. At the acquisition date, we measured the fair values of all assets acquired and liabilities assumed that arise from contractual contingencies.  The Company measures the fair values of all noncontractual contingencies if, as of the acquisition date, it is more likely than not that the contingency will give rise to an asset or liability. While we use our best estimates and assumptions as a part of the purchase price allocation process to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, our estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company will record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the consolidated statements of operations. Prism’s operations are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of the Closing Date. Acquisition related costs associated with a business combination are expensed as incurred.

 

F-9

 

 

2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

Intangible Assets

 

The fair value amount assigned to each acquired patent asset is being amortized on a straight-line basis, depending on the patent, over a period ranging from 1.5 to 6.5 years, depending on the patent. The amortization period of the entire acquired patent portfolio is a weighted average of 4.8 years and was determined using the estimated life of each patent, which is represented by the period over which 100% of the expected discounted cash flows are received, and then using a weighted average approach based on the value of the patent and the estimated life.

 

The amortization period of the covenants not to compete with Prism’s officers is three years; the expected term of the agreements.

 

The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets, including intangible assets subject to amortization in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 360, Property, Plant and Equipment. ASC 360 requires the recognition of impairment losses related to long-lived assets in the event the net carrying value of such assets exceeds fair value. The Company assesses the impairment of its long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the intangible asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Significant judgment is required in determining whether a potential indicator of impairment of the assets exists and in estimating future cash flows for any necessary impairment tests. Recoverability of the long-lived and intangible assets to be held and used is measured by the comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such an asset is considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

 

The Company recorded impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 of $2.2 million and $23.8 million respectively, associated with the patent portfolio it acquired from Prism. The fair value of the acquired intangible assets were based on estimated future cash flows to be generated from the patent portfolio to be received from Prism by the Company, discounted using a rate commensurate with the risk involved. See Note 7 for further discussion.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of:  (a) the aggregate of the fair value of consideration transferred, the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree (if any) and the acquisition date fair value of the Company’s previously held equity interest in the acquiree (if any), over (b)  the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.  Goodwill, deemed to have an indefinite life is subject to periodic impairment testing as described below. 

 

Goodwill is tested for impairment on a periodic basis, and at least annually in the fourth quarter of the year.  In the first step of testing for goodwill and intangible assets impairment, we will estimate the fair value of the net assets associated with the goodwill.  If the fair value of these net assets is greater than the carrying value of the net assets, including goodwill, then there will be no impairment.  If the fair value is less than the carrying value, then we would perform a second step and determine the fair value of the goodwill. In this second step, the fair value of goodwill is determined by deducting the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities from the fair value of the reporting unit as a whole, as if that reporting unit had just been acquired and the purchase price were being initially allocated.  If the fair value of the goodwill is less than its carrying value for a reporting unit, an impairment charge would be recorded to earnings in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

In addition, the Company would evaluate goodwill for impairment if events or circumstances change between annual tests indicating a possible impairment.  Examples of such events or circumstances include the following:

 

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

●    a more likely than not expectation that a segment or a significant portion thereof will be sold; or

●    the testing for recoverability of a significant asset group within the segment.

 

F-10

 

 

 

2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

Derivative instruments

 

We assess whether activities which provide capital to fund our operations include embedded features that are derivatives instruments. If a derivative instrument is embedded, the instrument is accounted for separately from the host contract. Changes in fair value are recognized in other income or loss, consistent with the underlying derivative instrument. As a result, any change in the value of our derivative instrument would be substantially offset by an opposite change in the value of the underlying derivative item. We do not use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Since this activity is not part of our normal course of business, we consider the risk in this area to be low.

 

Concentration of risk—credit

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, as defined by ASC 825, “Financial Instruments,” consist principally of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. We deposit are cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments with various domestic financial institutions. Such deposits may exceed federal deposit insurance limits.

 

The Company’s cash equivalents and investments consist of diversified investment grade securities. Our investment policy limits the amount of credit exposure to investments in any one issue, and we believe no significant concentration of credit risk exists with respect to these investments.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we had no customers or accounts receivable.

 

Share-Based Payments

 

The Company accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” Under the provisions of ASC 718, share-based compensation is generally estimated at the grant date based on the award’s fair value as calculated by the Black-Scholes-Merton (BSM) option-pricing model. The BSM option-pricing model requires various highly judgmental assumptions including expected option life, volatility, and forfeiture rates. If any of the assumptions used in the BSM option-pricing model change significantly, share-based compensation expense may differ materially in the future from that recorded in the current period. Generally, compensation cost is recognized over the requisite service period. However, to the extent performance conditions affect the vesting of an award, compensation cost will be recognized only if the performance condition is satisfied. Compensation cost will not be recognized, and any previously recognized compensation cost will be reversed, if the performance condition is not satisfied.

 

The Company recognizes compensation costs for stock-based payments to employees and our board of directors, based on their grant-date fair value on a straight-line approach over the service period for which such awards are expected to vest. The fair value of stock options granted pursuant to our 1997 Stock Option Plan and our 2008 Stock Option Plan respectively, is determined using the BSM option-pricing model. The determination of fair value is affected by our stock price, as well as assumptions regarding subjective and complex variables such as expected employee exercise behavior and our expected stock price volatility over the expected term of the award. Generally, our assumptions are based on historical information and judgment is required to determine if historical trends may be indicators of future outcomes. The key assumptions for the BSM option-pricing model calculation are:

 

Expected term. The expected term represents the period that our share-based awards are expected to be outstanding. Our expected term was determined based on historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms of the share-based awards, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior.

 

Expected volatility. We use the trading history of its common stock in determining an estimated volatility factor when using the Black-Scholes option-pricing formula to determine the fair value of options granted.

 

Risk-free interest rate. We base the risk-free interest rate used in the BSM option-pricing model on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with the same or substantially equivalent remaining term.

  

F-11

 

 

2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

Expected dividend. We have not paid any cash dividend, nor do we expect to pay future dividends on our capital stock other than the special distribution of $5.00 per share that was paid to our stockholders on March 9, 2012 in conjunction with the Disposition. Therefore, we use a zero value for the expected dividend value factor when using the Black-Scholes option-pricing formula to determine the fair value of options granted. 

 

Estimated forfeitures. ASC 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from initial estimates. When estimating forfeitures, we consider historical voluntary and involuntary termination behavior as well as analysis of actual option forfeitures.

 

Employee stock-based compensation expense is calculated based on awards ultimately expected to vest and is reduced for estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates and an adjustment to stock-based compensation expense will be recognized at that time.

 

Changes to our underlying stock price, our assumptions used in the BSM option-pricing model calculation and our forfeiture rate, as well as future equity granted or assumed through acquisitions could significantly impact the compensation expense we recognize. 

 

Income taxes

 

Under the asset and liability method prescribed under ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” we recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized or settled.

 

Current accounting standards in the United States prescribe a recognition threshold and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in an enterprise's tax returns. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively. We do not believe there will be any material changes in our unrecognized tax positions over the next twelve months.

 

The carrying value of our deferred tax assets, which was approximately $61.1 million at December 31, 2016, is dependent upon its ability to generate sufficient future taxable income. We have established a full valuation allowance against the net deferred tax assets to reflect the uncertainty of realizing the deferred tax benefits, given historical losses. A valuation allowance is required when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. This assessment requires a review and consideration of all available positive and negative evidence, including its past and future performance, the market environment in which we operate, the utilization of tax attributes in the past, and the length of carryforward periods and evaluation of potential tax planning strategies. We expect to continue to maintain a full valuation allowance until an appropriate level of profitability is sustained or we are able to develop tax strategies that would enable us to conclude that it is more likely than not that a portion of its deferred tax assets would be realizable.

 

Net loss per share

 

Basic and diluted net income per share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is a measure of the potential dilution that would occur if stock options had been exercised.

 

The following table reconciles the denominator used to calculate basic and diluted net loss per share of common stock:

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2016

   

2015

 
                 

Numerator for basic and diluted net loss per share:

               

Net loss available to common stockholders:

  $ (12,788

)

  $ (21,643

)

                 

Denominator for net loss per share:

               

Basic and diluted—weighted average shares of common stock outstanding

    10,074       9,268  
                 
Net loss per share                
    Basic and diluted as reported   $ (1.27 )   $ (2.34 )

 

F-12

 

 

Net loss per share (continued)

 

Potentially dilutive securities are not included in the diluted net income calculation, because we had a net loss from operations, net of tax. There were no antidilutive securities to be included in the calculation above as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern ("ASU 2014-15"). ASU 2014-15 requires management to evaluate for each annual and interim reporting period whether conditions or events give rise to substantial doubt that an entity has the ability to continue as a going concern within one year following issuance of the financial statements and requires specific disclosures regarding the conditions or events leading to substantial doubt. The Company adopted ASU 2014-15 effective December 31, 2016.  Our management has made this assessment in connection with preparing this Annual Report and, as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K, we believe that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. See Note 1 for further discussion.

 

On January 9, 2015, the FASB unanimously voted to approve Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-01, which eliminates the concept of extraordinary items in an entity’s income statement. The Company adopted ASU 2015-01 effective January 1, 2016. Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Topic 835-30), which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by this ASU. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, which clarified that debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements could continue to be presented as an asset and be subsequently amortized over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the arrangement. The Company adopted ASU 2015-03 effective January 1, 2016. Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments. ASU 2015-16 eliminates the requirement that an acquirer in a business combination account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively. Instead, an acquirer will recognize a measurement-period adjustment during the period in which it determines the amount of the adjustment. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, it is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In June 2014, the FASB issued guidance that applies to all reporting entities that grant their employees share-based payments in which the terms of the award provide that a performance target that affects vesting could be achieved after the requisite service period. It requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition and follows existing accounting guidance for the treatment of performance conditions. The standard will be effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The FASB issued this update to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The updated guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the update is permitted. We are currently evaluating the timing of adoption and impact of this new standard on our condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.

 

 

F-13

 

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements (continued)

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on our condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures. We have not yet selected a transition method nor have we determined the effect of the standard on our ongoing financial reporting. 

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, related to simplifications of employee share-based payment accounting. This pronouncement eliminates the APIC pool concept and requires that excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies be recorded in the income statement when awards are settled. The pronouncement also addresses simplifications related to statement of cash flows classification, accounting for forfeitures, and minimum statutory tax withholding requirements. The pronouncement is effective for annual periods (and for interim periods within those annual periods) beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, to its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.

 

3.

Acquisition and Purchase Accounting

 

On March 26, 2015, (“the Closing Date”), the Company completed its acquisition of Prism pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement. Prism is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Prism operates a patent licensing and enforcement business that complemented the Company’s business. Prism was acquired for a purchase price of $58.3 million paid in a combination of cash, stock and potential contingent earn-out payments as discussed further below. We account for acquisitions in accordance with ASC 805 “Business Combinations.” Accordingly, the net assets acquired were recorded at their estimated fair values and Prism’s operating results are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements from the Closing Date.

 

The maximum purchase price, exclusive of the discounting or probability reductions associated with the contingent consideration, is $75.4 million as of the Closing Date. The $75.4 million maximum purchase price is comprised of: (a) $16.5 million in cash ($1.3 million paid at Closing and $15.2 million paid in April, 2015); (b) $9.4 million associated with the issuance of 3.5 million shares of our common stock at Closing; and (c) a total of up to $49.5 million in cash in future contingent consideration.

 

Contingent Consideration

 

The contingent consideration payable to Prism’s former members consists of a share of future revenues related to lawsuits filed by Prism prior to the Closing Date (“Open Suits”). Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, we will retain the first $16.5 million in litigation or settlement proceeds received from Open Suits after closing (the “Sharing Threshold”), less any cash remaining in Prism at the time of closing. Prism’s former members will receive 70% of the litigation and settlement proceeds related to Open Suits in excess of the Sharing Threshold, up to $49.5 million. The contingent consideration is calculated quarterly and payable in the quarter following the period in which it is earned. Payments due for the quarters ended March 31, September 30 and December 31, are subject to 20% retention. The retention payments are due in conjunction with the earn-out payment for December 31. See Note 5 for fair value of the consideration.

 

F-14

 

 

3.

Acquisition and Purchase Accounting (continued)

 

The estimated fair values of the Prism purchase price are comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

Consideration paid on the Closing Date:

       

Cash payment (portion of $16.5 million cash consideration)

  $ 1,343  

Common stock

    9,380  
         

Consideration paid after the Closing Date:

       

Payable to Prism’s former members (remaining portion of $16.5 million cash consideration paid in April, 2015)

    15,157  

Contingent consideration expected to be paid

    49,500  

Discount on contingent consideration

    (17,089

)

   Total purchase price   $ 58,291  

 

A portion of the consideration at closing was the issuance of 3,500,000 new shares of our common stock. The closing price-per-share of our common stock on the acquisition date was $2.68.

 

The fair value of contingent consideration to be paid as of the date of acquisition is calculated based upon the time value of money and the probability assessment in achieving patent proceeds from Open Suits.

 

Purchase Price Allocation

 

The Company recognized $0.1 million in goodwill, representing the excess purchase consideration over acquired tangible and intangible assets and liabilities assumed. The goodwill relates to expected synergies and the assembled workforce of Prism.

 

The acquired intangible assets included a patent portfolio valued, for purchase price allocation purposes, at $59.0 million with a weighted average useful life of 3.7 years and $2.5 million of non-compete agreements with a weighted average useful life of three years.

 

Management determined the fair value of intangible assets based on a number of factors, including a third-party valuation, utilizing the income approach in conjunction with discussions with Prism’s management and certain forecasts prepared by Prism. The rate utilized to discount net cash flows to their present values was approximately 32% for the non-compete agreements and a range of 34-35% for the patent portfolio. The discount rates were determined using a weighted-average cost of capital which incorporated a number of factors which included the risk-free rate, the market premium, a company size premium and a company-specific premium for the non-compete agreements. In addition, for the patent portfolio, there was an additional premium applied.

 

The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the Closing Date.

 

   

(in thousands)

 
         

Acquired assets:

       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 369  

Intangible assets, net

    58,961  

Covenant not to compete

    2,457  

Other assets

    61  

Goodwill

    54  

Total assets acquired

    61,902  
         

Assumed liabilities:

       

Notes payable

    (3,570

)

Accounts payable and other liabilities

    (41

)

Total liabilities assumed

    (3,611

)

Total purchase price

  $ 58,291  

 

F-15

 

 

3.

Acquisition and Purchase Accounting (continued)

 

Based upon refinements to our accounting estimates, the total purchase price, net of liabilities assumed, was reduced from $60.2 million at March 31, 2015 to $58.3 million at June 30, 2015. The refinements consisted of a decrease in goodwill from $5.1 million to $0.1 million, offset by an increase in intangible assets from $58.3 million to $61.0 million. For the goodwill reduction as of June 30, 2015, the decrease in goodwill resulted from a revision to the revenue base used to calculate the contributory asset charges from a specific year to a range of years, pre and post-merger. In addition, the discount rates for the non-compete agreements and intangible assets were revised. The discount rate for the non-compete agreements increased from 27% to 32% to reflect the three-year term of these agreements. The discount rate for the intangible assets decreased from 37% to a range of 34-35% as a result of evaluating the projected cash flows from individual patents rather than the entire portfolio. The refinements were made based on information available as of the transaction date.

 

The fair value of the notes payable was determined, using an annual discount rate of 12.0% to discount the notes payable’s payment stream based on management’s assumptions about the risk associated with satisfying the payment obligations, including the fact that certain patents serve as security for the notes.

 

The Company incurred approximately $0 and $219,000 in acquisition-related expenses for the three months and year ended December 31, 2015, respectively. There were no acquisition-related expenses incurred during the year ended December 31, 2016. For the year ended December 31, 2015, $107,000 was related to legal expenses, $83,000 in accounting and valuation expenses and $29,000 in special stockholder meeting expenses. These costs are included in the consolidated statement of operations in general and administrative operating expenses for the three months and year ended December 31, 2015.

  

4.

Share-Based Payments

 

In July 1997, our board of directors adopted the 1997 Stock Option Plan (the “1997 Stock Option Plan”) and the Senior Executive Option Plan (the “Executive Plan”). Under the 1997 Stock Option Plan, our board of directors could issue incentive stock options to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and nonqualified stock options to employees, officers, directors, independent contractors and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries. Under the Executive Plan, our board of directors could issue nonqualified stock options to employees, officers and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries. Both of these plans terminated in July 2007.

 

F-16

 

 

4.

Share-Based Payments (continued)

 

In November 1998, our board of directors adopted the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”). The Purchase Plan permits eligible employees to purchase our common stock through payroll deductions, which may not exceed 15% of the employee’s base salary.

 

In May 2003, the 1997 Stock Option Plan was amended, with stockholder approval, to provide that each director would receive a fully-vested option to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock on July 1st (or the first business day thereafter) of each year in which the director remains in office.

 

The 1997 Stock Option Plan provided for an automatic annual increase in the share reserve, to be effective on the first day of each fiscal year, by a number of shares equal to 5% of the number of common shares outstanding as of the last day of the preceding fiscal year. With the expiration of the 1997 Stock Option Plan and the Executive Plan in July 2007, the Company’s board of directors authorized and stockholders approved the 2008 Stock Option Plan in February 2008 (the “2008 Stock Option Plan”). 1,500,000 shares of common stock were authorized for issuance under this plan. Options to purchase an aggregate of 500,000 shares have been granted under the 2008 Stock Option Plan with a contractual term ranging from two to five years.

 

On July 1, 2016 and 2015, pursuant to the 2008 Stock Option Plan, fully vested options to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock were granted to each of the three non-employee directors with an exercise price of $0.27 and $3.06 respectively. On June 11, 2015, pursuant to the 2008 Stock Option Plan, the Company granted 72,500 performance based stock options, 72,500 service based stock options and 70,000 stock options which vested immediately, to members of the Company’s management. The service based stock options vest 33% after one year and ratably over the next two years. The performance based stock options vest annually, if financial targets are met.

 

 On June 11, 2015, the Company granted 72,500 performance based stock options, 72,500 service based stock options and 70,000 stock options which vested immediately, to members of management. The service based stock options vest 33% after one year and ratably over the next two years. The performance based stock options vest annually, if financial targets are met.

 

As of December 31, 2016, there was $97,000 in unrecognized compensation cost for all stock options outstanding under the Company’s stock option plans. A portion of the unrecognized compensation cost relates to options to purchase 500,000 shares of common stock granted to five executive officers of Prism under employment agreements executed in connection with the Merger. The exercise price of all of the options granted to the executive officers of Prism is $2.68. One-half of the options granted to each such executive officer is serviced based and vest as follows: (i) 33.33% will vest upon the first anniversary of the first date of employment, and (ii) 1/24 of the remaining 66.67% will vest at the end of each of the 24 months following such anniversary, so long as the individual remains employed pursuant to the terms of his or her employment agreement.

 

The remaining one-half of the options granted to the executive officers of Prism are performance based and vest as follows: (i) 33.33% will vest upon the first anniversary of the first date of employment based on achievements measured against financial targets for such period; (ii) 33.33% will vest upon the second anniversary of the first date of employment based on achievements measured against financial targets for the second year of employment; and (iii) 33.34% will vest upon the third anniversary of the first date of employment based on achievements measured against financial targets for the third year of employment. The employee must remain employed for the service based and performance based options to vest; however, all unvested options will immediately vest upon: (A) termination of such person’s employment without good cause; or (B) the occurrence of a change of control as defined in such person’s employment agreement.

  

For the performance based options noted above, in accordance with ASC 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” a performance condition must be met for the award to vest and compensation cost will be recognized only if the performance condition is satisfied. The performance based option vesting criteria uses a tiered vesting structure between 0% to 100% based upon a comparison of annual licensing and enforcement outcomes to an annual target approved by the Company’s board of directors. The 2016 and 2017 financial targets have not been set by the Company’s board of directors, therefore no compensation costs will be recorded. As of December 31, 2016, 50% of the 2015 performance-based options have been vested.

 

The Company has reserved common shares for issuance in conjunction with the issuance of options underlying the Company’s stock option plans.

 

F-17

 

 

4.

Share-Based Payments (continued)

 

Options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2016 are as follows:

 

         

Options Outstanding

   

Options Currently Exercisable

 

Exercise Prices

   

Number

Outstanding

   

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Life (in years)

   

Number

Outstanding

   

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

 

(in thousands, except contractual life and exercise price amounts)

                                 
$0.27 - $0.27       15       4.50       15     $ 0.27  
$2.68 - $2.68       500       3.24       181       2.68  
$2.76 - $2.76       215       3.45       119       2.76  
$3.06 - $3.56       45       2.50       45       3.26  
            775       3.28       360     $ 2.68  

 

Share-based compensation expense resulting from stock options for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were included in income in the amount of $80,000 and $147,000, respectively.

 

The fair value of share-based awards granted pursuant to the Company’s stock option plans was estimated using the BSM option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

   

Year Ended December 31

 
   

2016

   

2015

 
                 

Expected term (in years)

    3.0       3.0  

Expected volatility

    2.19       0.37  

Risk-free interest rate

    0.71

%

    1.00

%

Expected dividend

           

Weighted-average fair value at grant date

  $ 0.13     $ 0.71  

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2016: 

 

(in thousands, except exercise price amounts and contractual term)

 

Options

Available for Grant

   

Options

Outstanding

   

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Term

(in years)

   

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

 

Balances, December 31, 2015

    594       765             $ 2.77  

Additional shares reserved

    202                      

Granted

    (15

)

    15             $ 0.27  

Canceled/forfeited

    5       (5

)

          $ 7.22  

Balances, December 31, 2016

    786       775       3.28     $ 2.69  

Vested and expected to vest

            775       3.28     $ 2.69  

Exercisable as of December 31, 2016

            360       3.27     $ 2.68  

 

F-18

 

 

4.

Share-Based Payments (continued)

 

As of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were 414,000 and 585,000 unvested options respectively.

 

There was no aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2016 and 2015. Aggregate intrinsic value represents the total intrinsic value (the aggregate difference between the closing stock price of our common stock of $0.30 and $1.02 on December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively and the exercise price for in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders if all options had been exercised on December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. There were no options exercised for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. The weighted-average remaining contractual terms of options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2016 and 2015 were 3.27 and 4.04 years, respectively.

 

No options were exercised and no cash was received from stock option exercises and purchases under the Purchase Plan for December 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

5.

Fair Value Measurements

 

The following table presents the assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 

   

December 31,

2016

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

 

Assets:

                               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 589     $ 589     $     $  

Short-term investments

                       

Restricted cash equivalents

    400       400              

Total assets at fair value

  $ 989     $ 989     $     $  

 

 

 

December 31,

2016

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent consideration

 

$

11,539

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

11,539

Derivative liability

 

 

405

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

405

Total liabilities at fair value

 

$

11,944

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

11,944

 

 

The following table presents the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

2015

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,756

 

 

$

1,756

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Short-term investments

 

 

1,494

 

 

 

1,494

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted cash equivalents

 

 

600

 

 

 

600

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets at fair value

 

$

3,850

 

 

$

3,850

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

   

December 31,

2015

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

 

Liabilities:

                               

Contingent consideration

  $ 13,229     $     $     $ 13,229  

Total liabilities at fair value

  $ 13,229     $     $     $ 13,229  

 

Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash equivalents include certificates of deposit, money market deposit accounts and money funds. The carrying value of these cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash equivalents approximate fair value. For these securities, we use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets to determine their fair value and are considered to be Level 1 instruments.

 

F-19

 

 

5.

Fair Value Measurements (continued)

 

The contingent consideration payable to Prism's former members consists of a share of future revenues related to lawsuits filed by Prism prior to the Closing Date ("Open Suits"). See Note 3 for further discussion. For this liability, we use valuation techniques based on management's assumptions and expectations that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement and is considered to be a Level 3 instrument.

 

As discussed in Note 6, on December 21, 2016 we entered into a non-recourse financing agreement by which the financing company provided the Company with $500,000 in cash. Under ASU 815, the repayment of the premium portion in addition to the principal is recorded as an embedded derivative. For this liability, we use valuation techniques based on management's assumptions and expectations that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement and is considered to be a Level 3 instrument. 

 

6.

Consolidated Financial Statement Details

 

Cash and cash equivalents 

 

Cash and cash equivalents consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Cash

 

$

586

 

 

$

143

 

Money market deposit accounts

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,556

 

Money market funds

 

 

3

 

 

 

57

 

   Total cash and cash equivalents

 

$

589

 

 

$

1,756

 

 

 The Company accounts for its short-term investments under ASC 320, "Investments - Debt and Equity Securities." Management determines the appropriate classification of its debt securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. We had no short-term investments at December 31, 2016 and $1.5 million at December 31, 2015.

 

Restricted cash equivalents

 

As of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, restricted cash equivalents consisted of $0.4 million and $0.6 million each, respectively. A portion of the cash equivalents is used as collateral for a letter of credit of the same amount, which secures our remaining rent obligations under the office space lease for our former corporate headquarters.

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Prepaid legal

 

$

450

 

 

$

452

 

Prepaid insurance

 

 

112

 

 

 

144

 

Prepaid rent

 

 

34

 

 

 

37

 

Other

 

 

3

 

 

 

6

 

   Total prepaid expenses and other current assets 

 

$

599

 

 

$

639

 

 

Property and equipment

 

Property and equipment, net, consists of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Computer and office equipment

 

$

35

 

 

$

35

 

Furniture and fixtures

 

 

360

 

 

 

360

 

Leasehold improvements

 

 

23

 

 

 

23

 

Software

 

 

23

 

 

 

23

 

   Total property and equipment 

 

 

441

 

 

 

441

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

 

(441

)

 

 

(441

)

   Total property and equipment, net

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

Depreciation expense was $0 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

F-20

 

 

6.

Consolidated Financial Statement Details (continued)

 

Other Assets

 

The Company owns several life insurance policies (also referred to as "life settlement contracts"). These life settlement contracts were part of the assets we acquired in the Merger. A life settlement contract is the payment of cash to an insured in return for an assignment of ownership or beneficial interest in, and the right to receive the value of, a life insurance policy upon the death of the insured. As the beneficial owner of the policies, we are required to pay the premiums to prevent a lapse. In 2016, the Company's premiums on these life settlement contracts were $40,000 and the Company anticipates paying $38,000 for each of the five succeeding fiscal years to keep the life settlement contracts in force. The reduction in premiums was due to the sale of two life insurance policies mentioned below.

 

Life settlement contracts are preliminarily recorded at cash surrender value, with premium payments classified as general and administrative and expensed as incurred. The Company paid $51,000 in premium payments on these life settlement contracts for the year ended December 31, 2015. The policies are not subject to amortization; however, we analyze the carrying value for the impairment annually. Based upon our analysis, no impairment was noted for the year ended December 31, 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company sold two life insurance policies with net proceeds of $37,000. The net proceeds from these life insurance policies were recognized in other income for the year ended December 31, 2016. The basis of $40,000 for these life insurance policies was recorded as a decrease in other assets in operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

 

Life settlement contracts consist of the following at December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

2016

 

Number of individual life insurance policies held

 

 

4

 

Aggregate face/maturity value of all policies

 

$

1,800

 

Cash surrender value of all policies

 

$

18

 

 

Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets, net, include the following amounts (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Goodwill

 

$

54

 

 

$

54

 

Patent portfolio

 

 

34,030

 

 

 

35,819

 

Covenant not to compete

 

 

1,332

 

 

 

1,752

 

              Total goodwill and other intangible assets

 

 

35,416

 

 

 

37,625

 

Accumulated amortization patent portfolio

 

 

(19,096

)

 

 

(12,249

)

Accumulated amortization covenant not to compete

 

 

(1,011

)

 

 

(628

)

Total goodwill and other intangible assets, net

 

$

15,309

 

 

$

24,748

 

 

Goodwill, the excess of the purchase price paid to former members of Prism over the fair market value of the net assets acquired, in the amount of $0.1 million was recorded as of the Closing Date. We did not have goodwill prior to the acquisition of Prism. 

 

F-21

 

 

6.

Consolidated Financial Statement Details (continued)

 

Intangible Assets (continued)

 

Acquisition-related intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated economic lives from 3 to 6.5 years. As of December 31, 2016, the weighted-average remaining useful life for acquisition-related intangible assets was approximately 2.6 years.

 

As of December 31, 2016, future amortization of acquisition-related intangibles that will be recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations is estimated as follows (in thousands): 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

2017

 

 

5,300

 

2018

 

 

5,099

 

2019

 

 

3,838

 

2020

 

 

588

 

2021

 

 

430

 

Thereafter

 

 

 

Total

 

$

15,255

 

 

Accrued expenses

 

Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Accrued lease obligations (see Note 8)

 

$

34

 

 

$

194

 

Maxim arbitration award

 

 

 

 

 

381

 

Payroll accrual

 

 

562

 

 

 

 

Incentive compensation accrual

 

 

912

 

 

 

 

   Total accrued expenses 

 

$

1,508

 

 

$

575

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2013, we discontinued using our corporate headquarters facility in Rancho Cordova, California and subleased the entire premises to an unrelated business for the remainder of our lease term. In evaluating our continuing lease obligations for this facility, we must make assumptions regarding the estimated future sublease income relative to this facility. These estimates and assumptions are affected by area-specific conditions such as new commercial development, market occupancy rates and future market prices. As a result of the current conditions in the real estate market where our property is located and the inherent risks associated with our sub-lessee, we recorded a charge of $606,000 in the year ended December 31, 2013, representing the difference between our lease obligations and broker fees associated with this facility and the sub-lease income we expect to receive through February 2017, the expiration of our leasehold interest. Also included in the charge is an impaired asset for leasehold improvements of $14,000. The charge was offset by the unamortized portion of deferred rent, as rent expense was recognized on a straight-line base over the life of the lease. We recorded this charge in the statement of operations in general and administrative expenses. If this estimate or the related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record a charge to increase our existing accrual.

 

Notes payable

 

As part of the Merger, we assumed $3.6 million in two discounted non-interest bearing notes payable, due in four semi-annual installments of $1,000,000 from June 2015 to December 2016. The notes include imputed interest at 12.0% recognized as interest expense, based on management's assumptions about the risk associated with satisfying the payment obligations, including the fact that certain patents serve as security for the notes.

 

On December 21, 2016, we entered into a non-recourse financing agreement by which the financing company provided the Company with $500,000 in cash in exchange for a portion of the proceeds we expect to receive in connection with the patent infringement litigation with Sprint Spectrum, L.P, pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Prism Technologies LLC v Sprint Spectrum L.P. D/B/A/ Sprint PCS; Case Nos. 16-1456 and 16-1457), and any related appeals or remands (collectively, the Sprint Litigation). After payment of any fees to the Company's litigation counsel, the financing party is entitled to receive:

 

F-22

 

 

Notes payable (continued)

 

●  two and half times the funding amount ($1.25 million) if repayment in full is made 18 months or less from the date of the funding agreement;

●  three times the funding amount ($1.5 million) if repayment in full is made after 18 months from the date of the funding agreement.

 

 

To the extent not recovered from the proceeds associated with the Sprint Litigation, however, the financing party is entitled to recover its principal ($500,000) from the proceeds of other current or future cases or patent license instituted by the Company's subsidiaries. In addition, the Company agreed to reimburse the financing company for certain outside costs totaling $59,000 for the non-recourse financing agreement with the unrelated party.

 

The balance of the notes payable as of December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year Ending December 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

Notes payable, assumed debt

 

$

3,062

 

Notes payable, net due from financing company

   

108

 

Add accreted interest

   

128

 

Fair Value

 

$

3,298

 

 

The installment payments due on December 31, 2015, June 30, 2016 and December 2016 have not been paid as of the date of this report. The Company has postponed payments of the notes payable upon permission from the note holder. 

 

On December 29, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a transaction by which Mr. Enan provided the Company with $250,000 in cash. In exchange, Mr. Enan is entitled to receive $625,000 when the Company's cumulative Net Cash Flow ("NCF") exceeds $7.5 million. NCF is measured as the cumulative cash received from revenue sources less all cumulative cash operating expenses incurred. The cash contribution is unsecured and non-convertible to equity. See further discussion of this transaction in Note 11.

 

The aggregate maturities of both non-recourse financing agreements as of December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year Ending December 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

Notes payable

 

$

250

 

Add accreted interest

 

 

2

 

Fair Value

 

$

252

 

 

Derivative instruments

 

Our primary objective in holding derivative instruments is to provide capital to fund our operations. Under Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-06, Derivatives and Hedging, (Topic 815) requires that in certain circumstances embedded derivatives be bifurcated from the host contract and accounted for separately. Embedded derivatives that are required to be bifurcated and accounted for separately are treated in the same manner as freestanding derivatives. As discussed in the Notes Payable section above, on December 21, 2016 we entered into a non-recourse financing agreement by which the financing company provided the Company with $500,000 in cash. Under ASU 815, the repayment of the premium portion in addition to the principal is recorded as an embedded derivative.

 

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

 

The fair values of our outstanding derivative instruments as of December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands):

 

Derivative Liabilities

Balance Sheet Location

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative liability

Derivative liability

 

 

 

 

405

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

$

405

 

 

F-23

 

 

7.

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

On the Closing Date, the Company completed its acquisition of Prism pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement. Prism was acquired for a purchase price of $58.3 million paid in a combination of cash, stock and potential contingent earn-out payments as discussed further below.

 

The maximum purchase price, exclusive of the discounting or probability reductions associated with the contingent consideration, is $75.4 million as of the Closing Date. The $75.4 million maximum purchase price is comprised of: (a) $16.5 million in cash ($1.3 million paid at Closing and $15.2 million paid in April, 2015); (b) $9.4 million associated with the issuance of 3.5 million shares of our common stock at Closing; and (c) a total of up to $49.5 million in cash in future contingent consideration.

 

When indicators are present, the Company evaluates the recoverability of the patent assets based on comparison to estimated undiscounted cash flows to the carrying value of the patent assets, discounted using a rate commensurate with the risk involved. Impairment charges have been recorded for 2016 and 2015:

 

    ● As a result of adverse litigation events in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company recorded impairment charges of $23.8 million which resulted in reducing the carrying value of the covenant not to compete by $0.7 million and reducing the carrying value of the patent portfolio by $22.7 million.

.

● As a result of delays in litigation events in the second quarter of 2016, the Company recorded impairment charges of $2.2 million as a result of reducing the carrying value of the covenant not to compete by $0.4 million and reducing the carrying value of the patent portfolio by $1.8 million.

 

The events resulting in the reassessment of the patent assets described above also required a reassessment of the contingent consideration liability. Adjustments to the contingent consideration liability were made representing the difference between the contingent consideration as of the acquisition date and accrued imputed interest compared to the contingent consideration expected to be paid, based upon the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated. The fair value of the contingent liability was reduced by $2.0 million and $19.9 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

F-24

 

 

8.

Commitments and Contingencies

 

Leases

 

We have a non-cancelable 24 month lease through May 15, 2017 for approximately 650 square feet of office space in Folsom, California, which is currently our corporate headquarters. We also have a non-cancelable sixty month lease for approximately 2,200 square feet of office space in Omaha, Nebraska through August 31, 2017.

 

We have a non-cancelable five-year full-service lease through February 14, 2017 for approximately 16,000 square feet of office space in a building that housed our headquarters until May 2013. The lease includes negotiated annual increases in the monthly rental payments. On April 16, 2013, we subleased this space for the remainder of our term. The monthly sublease rent is less than our rent obligation to the landlord. As of December 31, 2016, we expect to receive $11,000 from the sub-lessee for the remainder of our lease.

 

Future minimum lease commitments as of December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

Years ending December 31,

 

Future

minimum lease

commitments

 

2017

 

$

98

 

 

Rent expense, net of sub-lease income and amortization of accrued lease obligations, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $120,000 and $88,000, respectively.

 

Future minimum sub-lease payments expected to be received as of December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

Years ending December 31,

 

Future

minimum sub-

lease

payments

 

2017

 

$

11

 

 

Litigation

 

In the ordinary course of business, we are the subject of, or party to, various pending or threatened legal actions, including various counterclaims in connection with our patent enforcement activities. We believe that any liability arising from these actions will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In connection with any of our patent enforcement actions, it is possible that a defendant may request and/or a court may rule that we have violated statutory authority, regulatory authority, federal rules, local court rules or governing standards relating to the substantive or procedural aspects of such enforcement actions. In such event, a court may issue monetary sanctions against us or our operating subsidiaries or award attorneys' fees and/or expenses to defendant(s) in the action, which could be material and, if required to be paid by us or our operating subsidiaries, could materially harm our operating results and our financial position.

 

F-25

 

 

8.

Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

 

On March 19, 2015, Maxim Group LLC ("Maxim") sent Prism a letter demanding payment of a fee under an Advisory Agreement dated September 19, 2013 (the "Advisory Agreement"). Prism rejected the demand and on April 10, 2015, Maxim filed a Statement of Claim with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") to initiate arbitration of the dispute. In the Statement of Claim, Maxim alleges that Prism is liable for payment to Maxim of a percentage of the Merger consideration as an advisory fee under the Advisory Agreement. Prism has answered the Statement of Claim and contested FINRA's jurisdiction. However, Prism also filed a declaratory judgment action in Nebraska state district court seeking a declaration that the Advisory Agreement is void, no advisory fee is owed and staying the FINRA arbitration proceeding. In the Nebraska state district court action Prism argues that: (i) Maxim did not introduce Prism to the Company and Prism did not seek Maxim's assistance with the Merger; (ii) Maxim was not registered as an investment advisor and cannot charge an advisory fee; and (iii) the advisory fee demanded by Maxim is grossly excessive under applicable law. On August 8, 2015, the Nebraska state district court denied our motion to stay, and an appeal has been made to the Nebraska Court of Appeals. While the appeal was pending, on April 6, 2016 the FINRA arbitration panel awarded Maxim $357,000, plus 9% interest from the date of the closing of the Merger. Prism has 30 days to decide whether to petition a federal court to vacate the award. Although the arbitration award to Maxim was paid by the Company, it relates to a pre-Merger dispute and reduced the maximum earnout payable to Prism's former security holders. The Company recognized $382,000 in operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015, which includes both the award and accrued interest from the date of closing until December 31, 2015. The Company paid the award and all accrued interest in the amount of $375,000 during the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

9.

Income Taxes

 

The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented below (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Net operating loss carryforwards

 

$

50,230

 

 

$

48,261

 

Tax credit carry forwards

 

 

981

 

 

 

981

 

Accruals and allowances

 

 

1,074

 

 

 

507

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

8,759

 

 

 

6,593

 

Other

 

 

13

 

 

 

20

 

Total deferred tax asset

 

 

61,057

 

 

 

56,362

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less valuation allowance

 

 

(61,057

)

 

 

(56,362

)

Net deferred tax asset

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

Due to uncertainty surrounding the realization of the favorable tax attributes in future tax returns, we recorded a valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset. The valuation allowance recorded for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased by $4,695,000 and for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased by $7,938,000.

 

For tax return purposes, we had NOLs at December 31, 2016 of approximately $155.8 million and $21.1 million for federal income tax and state income tax purposes, respectively. Included in these amounts are unrealized federal and state net operating loss deductions resulting from stock option exercises of approximately $10.3 million  and $8.4 million respectively. The benefit of these unrealized stock option-related deductions has not been included in deferred tax assets and will be recognized as a credit to additional paid-in capital when realized. Federal NOLs begin to expire in 2019. State NOLs begin to expire in 2028. We also had federal research and development credits of approximately $0.7 million which will begin expiring in 2018, and a federal alternative minimum tax credit of approximately $0.5 million, which does not expire.

 

We recognized an income tax benefit of $101,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016. We did not recognize any income tax expense or benefit for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

The effective tax rate for income taxes is different than the amount computed using the applicable statutory federal income tax rate with the difference for each year summarized below:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Federal tax at statutory rate

 

 

34.0

%

 

 

34.0

%

State taxes

 

 

5.8

%

 

 

5.8

%

Expiration of CA NOLs     (2.1 )%     (2.7 )%
Changes in state tax rates     (1.9 )%     —  %

Other

 

 

0.6

 %

 

 

(0.2

)%

Adjustment due to change in valuation allowance

 

 

(35.6

)%

 

 

(36.9

)%

 

 

 

0.8

 %

 

 

(0.0

)%

 

F-26

 

 

9.

Income Taxes (continued)

 

In 2016 and 2015, the federal statutory rate is 34% as this is the rate at which the Company expects to realize its deferred tax assets in the future.

 

Under the asset and liability method prescribed under ASC 740, "Income Taxes," we recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized or settled.

 

At December 31, 2016, we had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $0.2 million, (none of which, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate). We do not believe there will be any material changes in its unrecognized tax positions over the next twelve months.

 

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

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Balance at January 1

 

$

300

 

 

$

300

 

Increase (decrease) related to prior year tax positions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) related to current year tax positions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Settlements

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reductions due to lapse of applicable statute of limitations

 

 

101

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31

 

$

199

 

 

$

300

 

 

Interest and penalty costs related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, are classified as a component of income tax expense. We did not recognize any interest and penalty expense related to unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, due to immateriality.

 

10.

Other Income

 

The Company recognized other income in 2016 and 2015 in the amount of $2.1 million and $19.9 million respectively. As a result of the delay in forecasted revenues, the fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities were adjusted by $2.0 million based upon the deferral of cash flows on the balance sheet as of June 30, 2016. We recorded this decrease as other income. In June and September 2016, life insurance policies were also sold with net proceeds of $37,000 recognized as other income. As a result of adverse litigation events in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company reassessed the contingent consideration liability in connection with this transaction by comparing the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated relating to this liability to its carrying amount on the balance sheet as of December 31 2015. As a result of the lower than forecasted cash flows, the Company recorded $19.9 million as Other Income. Other Income for 2016 and 2015 also consisted of interest earned on our investment portfolio of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $3,000 and $14,000 respectively.

 

11.

Related Party Transaction

 

On December 29, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a transaction that was entered into on December 30, 2016, by which a related party, Hussein A. Enan, CEO and Chairman of the Company provided the Company with a loan of $250,000 in cash. In exchange, Mr. Enan is entitled to receive $625,000 when the Company's cumulative Net Cash Flow ("NCF") exceeds $7.5 million. NCF is measured as the cumulative cash received from revenue sources less all cumulative cash operating expenses incurred. The cash contribution is unsecured and non-convertible to equity.

 

12.

Subsequent Events

 

On March 6, 2017, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit unanimously affirmed the $30 million patent infringement verdict in favor of the Company's subsidiary, Prism Technologies LLC, against Sprint Spectrum LP d/b/a Sprint PCS ("Sprint"). No portion of the judgment has been paid as of the date of this report.

 

On February 28, 2017, the office lease for our former headquarters expired. On March 15, 2017, the landlord released the letter of credit covering the office space and the Company is no longer required to maintain $400,000 in restricted cash equivalents.

 

F-27

 

 

Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

None.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

 

 

(a)

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.

 

 

(b)

Management's report on internal control over financial reporting. Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.  Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, and under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that:

 

1.        pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

 

2.        provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being

           made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and

 

3.        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 its 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 condition or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  Based on our evaluation using criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2016.

 

This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.  Management's report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that permit us to provide only management's report in this annual report.

 

 

(c)

Changes in internal control over financial reporting. There has been no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2016 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B. Other Information.

 

None.

 

22

 

 

PART III

 

The SEC allows us to include information required in this report by referring to other documents or reports we have already filed or will soon be filing. This is called "incorporation by reference." We intend to file our definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report, and certain information that will be included therein is incorporated in this report by reference.

 

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

The information required by this Item 10 with respect to our management is incorporated by reference to information set forth in our definitive proxy statement under the heading "Management."

 

The information required by this Item 10 with respect to compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is incorporated by reference to information set forth in our definitive proxy statement under the heading "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance."

 

The information required by this Item 10 with respect to our code of ethics is incorporated by reference to information set forth in our definitive proxy statement under the heading "Proposal No. 1 -“ Election of Directors -  "Committee Charters and other Corporate Governance Materials."

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

 

The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated by reference to information set forth in our definitive proxy statement under the heading "Executive Compensation and Other Matters."

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

The information required by this Item 12 is incorporated by reference to information set forth in our definitive proxy statement under the heading "Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management."

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

The information required by this Item 13 is incorporated by reference to information set forth in our definitive proxy statement under the heading "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence."

 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

 

The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated by reference to information set forth in our definitive proxy statement under the heading "Principal Accounting Fees and Services."

 

23

 

 

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a)           The following documents are filed as part of this Form:

 

1.             Financial Statements:

 

  

Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015

 

F-3

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

 

F-4

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

 

F-5

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

 

F-6

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

 

F-7

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

F-8

 

2.            Financial Statement Schedules:

 

Schedules have been omitted because the required information is not present or not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedules or because the information required is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.

 

3.            Exhibits:

 

Reference is made to the accompanying Index to Exhibits. 

 

24

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on March 31, 2017.

 

  

PRISM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.

  

  

  

  

  

By:

/s/ HUSSEIN A. ENAN

  

  

Hussein A. Enan

 

 

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

 

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

 

Signature

  

Title

  

Date

  

  

  

  

  

/s/ HUSSEIN A. ENAN

  

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

  

March 31, 2017

Hussein A. Enan

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

/s/ STEVEN J. YASUDA

  

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  

March 31, 2017

Steven J. Yasuda

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

/s/ JAMES M. CORROON

  

Vice Chairman of the Board

  

March 31, 2017

James M. Corroon

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

/s/ DENNIS H. CHOOKASZIAN

  

Director

  

March 31, 2017

Dennis H. Chookaszian

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

/s/ GREGORY J. DUMAN

 

Director

 

March 31, 2017

Gregory J. Duman

 

 

 

 

 

25

 

 

PRISM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.

EXHIBITS TO FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description of Document

  

Method of Filing

  

  

  

  

  

2.1

  

Asset Purchase Agreement between the Company and Bankrate, Inc. dated as of October 10, 2011.

  

Filed as Exhibit 2.1 to registrant's Form 8-K filed on October 12, 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

2.2

  

Agreement of Plan of Merger among the Company, Strategic Concepts Acquisition Corp., Prism Technologies, LLC, and Gregory J. Duman, dated as of November 11, 2014.

  

Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on December 30, 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

  

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended by (a) the Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, dated December 18, 2001, (b) the Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company, dated November 23, 2011, (c) the Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, dated December 21, 2011, (d) the first Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated March 12, 2013, and (e) the second Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated March 12, 2013.

  

Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on December 30, 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

3.3

 

Bylaws of the Company.

  

Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 7, 1999.

 

 

 

 

 

3.4

  

Amendment to Article X of the Bylaws of the Company, adopted by the Board of Directors on February 2, 2011.

  

Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to registrant's Form 8-K filed on February 7, 2011.

  

  

 

  

  

4.1

  

Section 382 Rights Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2011, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as rights agent.

  

Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to registrant's Form 8-A filed on November 25, 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

10.1*

  

Form of Indemnity Agreement between the Company and the Company's directors and officers.

  

Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to registrant's Form S-1/A filed on July 21, 1999.

 

 

 

 

 

10.2*

  

1997 Stock Option Plan

  

Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to registrant's Form S-1/A filed on July 21, 1999.

 

 

 

 

 

10.3*

 

1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

  

Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to registrant's Form S-1 filed on May 7, 1999.

  

  

  

  

  

10.4*

  

2008 Stock Option Plan.

  

Included in registrant's definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed on February 15, 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

10.5*

  

Executive Retention and Severance Plan Amended and Restated as of December 22, 2008.

  

Filed as Exhibit 10.16 to registrant's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2009.

 

26

 

 

10.6

  

Office Lease between MSCP Capital Center Investors, LLC, as Landlord, and the Company, as Tenant, dated as of December 10, 2010.

  

Filed as Exhibit 99.1 to registrant's Form 8-K filed on December 28, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

10.7

  

First Lease Amendment between MSCP Capital Center Investors, LLC, as Landlord, and the Company, as Tenant, dated as of December 22, 2011.

  

Filed as Exhibit 10.26 to registrant's Form 8-K filed on December 28, 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

10.8

 

Employment Agreement between the Company and Gregory J. Duman dated March 20, 2015.

 

Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to registrant's Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

10.9

 

Non-competition agreement between the Company and Gregory J. Duman dated March 20, 2015.

 

Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to registrant's Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2015.

 

10.10

 

Litigation Funding Agreement dated December 15, 2016. 

 

Filed as Exhibit 10.10 to registrant's Form 8-K/A filed on February 27, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

14.1

 

The Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. 

 

Filed as Exhibit 14.1 to registrant's Form 10-K filed on March 29, 2004.

 

 

 

 

 

21.1

 

Subsidiaries of Company.

  

Filed herewith.

  

  

  

  

  

23.1

  

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

  

Filed herewith.

  

  

  

  

  

31.1

  

Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended.

  

Filed herewith.

  

  

  

  

  

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended.  

  

Fled herewith.

 

 

 

  

  

32.1

  

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

  

Filed herewith.

  

  

  

  

  

101

  

Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL)**

  

  

 

*

Constitutes a management contract or a compensatory plan or arrangement.

**

XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed as a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Section 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.