Lattice Semiconductor Corp 10-K for FY2023
Lattice Semiconductor Corp (LSCC)
About this 10-K
Lattice Semiconductor Corp filed this 10-K on February 16, 2024, covering the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023 (FY2023).
Headline figures
Fiscal year ended December 30, 2023, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Revenue
- $737.15M
- up 11.6% from $660.36M a year earlier
- Net income
- $259.06M
- up 44.8% from net income of $178.88M a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- $1.85
- up 45.7% from $1.27 a year earlier
| UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION | ||||
| Washington, D.C. 20549 | ||||
| FORM | ||||
| (Mark One) | ||||
| | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED | |||
|
| 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:
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| | |
| (State of Incorporation) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
| | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (
________________________________________________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| (Title of Class) | (Trading Symbol) | (Name of each exchange on which registered) |
| | | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐
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.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| | Accelerated filer ☐ | Non-accelerated filer ☐ |
| Smaller reporting company | Emerging growth company |
|
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes
| Aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of July 1, 2023 | $ | ||
| Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of February 12, 2024 | |||
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The information required by Part III of this Report, to the extent not set forth herein, is incorporated herein by reference from the registrant's definitive proxy statement relating to the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which definitive proxy statement shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this Report relates.
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
Page |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
| PART I |
|
|
|
| Item 1. |
|
||
| Item 1A. |
|
||
| Item 1B. |
|
||
| Item 1C. | Cybersecurity | 23 | |
| Item 2. |
|
||
| Item 3. |
|
||
| Item 4. |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
| PART II |
|
|
|
| Item 5. |
|
||
| Item 6. |
|
||
| Item 7. |
|
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
|
| Item 7A. |
|
||
| Item 8. |
|
||
| Item 9. |
|
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants On Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
|
| Item 9A. |
|
||
| Item 9B. |
|
||
| Item 9C. | Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections | 63 | |
|
|
|
|
|
| PART III |
|
|
|
| Item 10. |
|
||
| Item 11. |
|
||
| Item 12. |
|
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
|
| Item 13. |
|
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence |
|
| Item 14. |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
| PART IV |
|
|
|
| Item 15. |
|
||
|
|
|
||
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These involve estimates, assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Any statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. We use words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” "possible," “predict,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “future,” “potential,” and similar words or phrases to identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about: our target or expected financial performance and our ability to achieve those results; future impacts of the ongoing military conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, and in the Middle East, and the outbreak of new, or expansion of current, military conflicts or terrorism; the impact of any continuing trade or travel restrictions on the export and import of products between the U.S. and China; the impact of any deterioration in relations between Taiwan and China, and other factors affecting military, political, or economic conditions in Taiwan or elsewhere in Asia; the impact of tariffs, trade sanctions, license requirements or similar actions on our suppliers and customers; the impact of inflationary pressures; future impacts of global pandemics, epidemics, and other public health problems; the effects of climate change and disruptive natural disasters on us, our suppliers, and our consumers, including as a result of actions by governments, businesses, and consumers in response; our business strategy; our opportunities to increase our addressable market; our expectations and strategies regarding market trends and opportunities, including market drivers such as wireless and wireline communications infrastructure deployments, data center servers and networking equipment, client computing platforms, industrial Internet of Things, factory automation, robotics, automotive electronics, smart homes, prosumers, and other applications; our expectations regarding the growth of AI-related revenue; our beliefs about who we may compete with and whether we are differentiated from those competitors, as well as their potential capabilities; our expectations regarding our customer base and the impacts of our customers’ actions on our business; our expectations regarding both new and existing product offerings; our gross margin growth and our strategies to achieve gross margin growth and other financial results; our future investments in research and development; our ability to take advantage of the process technology development efforts of semiconductor foundries and apply those technologies when they become most economically beneficial to us and to our customers; the impact of changing foundries or OSATs (as defined below) or their failure to manufacture sufficient quantities of our products at acceptable yields, as well as the impact of problems with other subcontractors or distributors; the impact if we are unable to detect product defects; the impact if our insurance proves to be inadequate to resolve claims against us; whether we will experience seasonality or cyclicality and the resulting effects on our business; our expectations about our patent portfolio, including the expiration of patents, whether, when and where we will make future filings, and the value of the patents and associated licensing agreements generally and to our business, as well as risks arising from the licensing and sale of our patents; our ability to attract and retain personnel and their importance to our performance; future financial results or accounting treatments; our judgments involved in accounting matters, including revenue recognition, inventories and cost of revenue, and income taxes; actions we may take regarding the design and continued effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting; our use of cash; our beliefs regarding the adequacy of our liquidity, capital resources and facilities; the impact of our debt on our future operating and financial performance, as well as the impact if we breach a loan covenant; whether we will consider and act upon acquisition opportunities to extend our product, technology and product offerings and the impact of such opportunities on our business; our expectations regarding taxes, including unrecognized tax benefits, and tax adjustments and allowances; whether we will pursue future stock repurchases and how any future repurchases will be funded; the future price volatility of our stock and the effects of that volatility; our ability to prevent and respond to information technology system failures, security breaches and incidents, cyberattacks or fraud, and the occurrence and impact of such cybersecurity incidents; the costs of mitigating cybersecurity risks; the impact of artificial intelligence (“AI”); the impact of laws and regulations addressing privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity and our ability to comply with the same; our ability to comply with other laws and regulations, the costs of such compliance, and costs incurred if we fail to comply with such laws and regulations; and our beliefs regarding legal or administrative proceedings.
These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements expressed in the forward-looking statements. The key factors, among others, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include global economic conditions and uncertainty, including as a result of trade-related restrictions or tariffs; inflationary pressures; the effect of any downturn in the economy on capital markets and credit markets; the effects of global military conflicts, pandemics or widespread global health problems and the actions by governments, businesses, and individuals in response to the situation, the effects of which may give rise to or amplify the risks associated with many of these factors listed here; the concentration of our sales in certain end markets, particularly as it relates to the concentration of our sales in the Asia Pacific region; market acceptance and demand for our existing and new products; market and technology trends; our ability to achieve yield and quality improvements; our ability to protect, license and sell our intellectual property; shortages or increased costs in our supply chain; any disruption of our distributors or distribution channels; the impact of competitive products and pricing, especially by companies with great resources than us; unanticipated warranty claims; our failure to prevent or adequately respond to information technology system failures, security breaches and incidents, cyberattacks, or fraud; physical and transition disruptions and costs associated with climate change; unanticipated taxation requirements or positions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authority; unanticipated effects of tax reform; unfavorable results of legal proceedings; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; the sufficiency of our insurance coverage; the impact of our outstanding indebtedness on our strategic flexibility, liquidity and results of operations; the impact of strategic transactions; or unexpected impacts of accounting guidance. In addition, actual results are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to our overall business, including those more fully described herein and that are otherwise described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including, but not limited to, the items discussed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
You should not unduly rely on forward-looking statements because our actual results could differ materially from those expressed by us. In addition, any forward-looking statement applies only as of the date of this filing. We do not plan to, and undertake no obligation to, update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or new events, circumstances or developments, or otherwise.
PART I
Overview
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Lattice,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) develop technologies that we monetize through differentiated programmable logic semiconductor products, system solutions, design services, and licenses. Lattice is the low power programmable leader. We solve customer problems across the network, from the Edge to the Cloud, in the Communications, Computing, Industrial, Automotive, and Consumer markets. Our technology, long-standing relationships, and commitment to world-class support enable our customers to create a smart, secure, and connected world.
Our field programmable gate array ("FPGA") devices enable us to provide our customers with a strong, growing base of control, connect, and compute technologies. We believe there are multiple growth areas that will allow us to increase our addressable market. In particular, we believe there are several emerging trends in servers, infrastructure, and smart devices that are opportunities for Lattice:
| ● | With the growth of hyperscale data centers, our “processor agnostic” solutions are ideal for dataplane control and connect functions in enterprise and data center server applications. |
| ● | With the expected continued Communications infrastructure build-out from 5G deployment and beyond, as well as continued data center network expansion, Lattice solutions are being adopted to control and connect a variety of functions in critical systems. |
| ● | With the increase in electrification and the proliferation of sensors in smart factories, smart homes, and automobiles, our low power, small form factor solutions are ideal for everything from battery powered systems and sensor applications to embedded vision. |
| ● | With the increase in artificial intelligence ("AI") and a multitude of applications at the network edge, Lattice devices support applications like face detection, image recognition, and video analytics. |
| ● | With the demand for more hardware security in the Communications, Computing, Industrial, Automotive, and Consumer markets, our devices provide enhanced platform security. |
To serve these needs, customer solutions require power efficiency, memory bandwidth, processing power, and the ability to integrate complex functionality into a highly compact footprint. These requirements align with the capabilities of our FPGA devices. Our flexible, low power, small form factor, performance optimized FPGAs put us in a unique position to meet these growing market needs.
Our Markets and Customers
We sell our products globally in three end market groups: Communications and Computing, Industrial and Automotive, and Consumer. We also provide Intellectual Property ("IP") licensing and services to these end markets.
In the Communications and Computing Market, our solutions play key roles in computing systems such as servers and client devices, 5G wireless infrastructure, switches, routers, and other related applications.
Our Communications and Computing customers need to address a variety of challenges.
| ● | As client compute devices become smaller and smarter, there is a need for small form factor devices with power efficiency to interface with a variety of sensors and add intelligence. |
| ● | As server architectures become increasingly complex, customers need simplified control logic, enhanced hardware platform security, system status monitoring, and rigorous power and thermal management. |
| ● | Networks typically require progressively higher bandwidth and increased reliability as more data is demanded by connected devices. |
| ● | As wireless cellular sites become more compact, there is a growing requirement for smaller form factors optimized for low power consumption and thermal management. |
Lattice FPGAs help solve these customer problems. Our FPGAs are optimized for input/output ("I/O") expansion, hardware acceleration, and hardware management. Our FPGAs consume power at very low rates, which reduces operating costs. Their small form factor enables higher functional density in less space. Finally, our FPGAs are I/O rich, which allows for more connections with system application specific integrated circuits ("ASICs") and application specific standard products ("ASSPs").
Examples of where our products enable intelligent automation in the Industrial and Automotive Market include industrial Internet of Things ("IoT") and "Industry 4.0", machine vision, robotics, factory automation, advanced driver assistance systems ("ADAS"), and automotive infotainment.
Our Industrial and Automotive customers face numerous challenges:
| ● | As factories automate to improve efficiency and employee safety, sensors, machine vision, and robotics are proliferating, in turn requiring increasing amounts of data to be gathered, connected, and processed. |
| ● | Automobiles and other forms of transportation are also becoming smarter and more connected. Drivers and passengers are demanding better in-cabin experiences including entertainment, diagnostics, and enhanced safety — often involving multiple displays, cameras, and sensors. |
| ● | As factories and automotive manufacturers continue their evolution of computerization, power reduction, faster time to design-in and market, lower costs are becoming increasingly normal. |
Our product portfolio helps solve these challenges. Our small-sized, low-power FPGAs not only provide the I/O expansion, bridging, connectivity, and processing inherent in FPGAs, but they also form the backbone of several integrated solutions, including motor control, complete High Definition ("HD") camera and DVR solutions on a single FPGA device, and Human-Machine Interfaces ("HMI") on a chip.
In the Consumer Market, you can find our solutions making products smarter and smaller, including smart home devices, prosumer devices, sound bars, high end projectors, Augmented Reality ("AR") / Virtual Reality ("VR"), and wearables.
Our Consumer customers are driven by the need to deliver richer and more responsive experiences. They typically require:
| ● | More intelligence and computing power. Products need to be "always-on" and "always-aware." |
| ● | Longer battery lives for handheld devices and reduced energy consumption for plugged-in devices. |
| ● | Real-time transmission of higher resolution video content on larger screen sizes. |
| ● | Fast design cycles. Products must be quickly and easily differentiated. |
| ● | Smaller form factors. Products need to lay flatter on the wall or fit more easily into pockets. |
| ● | Various levels of video processing and analytics. |
Lattice FPGAs bring multiple benefits to these customers. An FPGA’s parallel architecture enables faster processing than competing devices, such as microcontrollers, allowing for a user experience with shorter pauses and fewer delays. Our FPGAs are among the most power efficient in the industry, enabling the application processor and other high-power components to remain dormant longer, resulting in longer battery life. Finally, with some of the industry’s smallest packages, we enable thinner and more compact end products.
Our proprietary solutions help our customers get their products to market faster than typical development cycles of custom ASICs. With re-programmability and flexibility, our FPGAs inherently allow our customers to have quicker product development. The time-to-market advantages of Lattice's solutions are critical given the shorter product life cycles in our customers’ end markets.
Our Products, Services, and Competition
We are focused on delivering FPGAs and related solutions to help solve our customers' problems. We also serve our customers with IP licensing and various other services.
Field Programmable Gate Arrays (“FPGAs”)
FPGAs are regular arrays of logic that can be custom-configured by the user through software. This programmability allows our customers flexibility and reduced time to market while allowing us to offer the chips to many different customers in many different markets. Lattice FPGA product families include:
| ● | The Lattice Avant™, Certus™ and LatticeECP™ device families are our “General Purpose FPGAs” and address a broad range of applications across multiple markets. They offer customers the optimal cost per gate, Digital Signal Processing ("DSP") capability, and Serialize-Deserialize ("SERDES") connectivity. ECP devices are optimized for the Communications and Computing market but also find significant use in the Industrial, Automotive, and Consumer markets. The latest introductions in our general purpose family, Lattice Avant-G™ and Lattice Avant-X™ FPGAs, are designed to solve key customer challenges by combining class-leading power efficiency, size and performance with an optimized feature set tailored to the needs of mid-range FPGA applications like sensor fusion, datapath networking, and AI. |
| ● | The Lattice Mach™ device family are our “Control & Security FPGAs” and are designed for platform management and security applications. They are control-oriented and offer optimized cost per I/O and cost per look-up table. Mach™ FPGAs are widely used across our three end market groups: Communications and Computing, Industrial and Automotive, and Consumer. The Lattice MachXO5T™-NX family, the latest devices built on the award-winning Lattice Nexus™ platform are the newest addition to the Mach™ FPGA family, bringing Lattice’s long-standing leadership in control FPGAs to a broader set of control function designs and applications for enterprise networking, machine vision, and industrial IoT. |
| ● | The Lattice iCE™ device family are our “Ultra Low Power FPGAs.” Their small size and ultra-low power make them the optimal products for each of our core segments where small form factor and customizing is required. The latest member of the family, the iCE40 UltraPlus™ device, is focused on IoT Edge devices with its AI capabilities, low power, and small form factor. |
| ● | The Lattice CrossLink™ device family are our "Video Connectivity FPGAs" and are optimized for high-speed video and sensor applications for the Industrial, Automotive, Communications, Computing, and Consumer markets. CrossLink combines the power and speed benefits of hardened video camera and display bridging cores with the flexibility of FPGA fabric and Lattice CrossLinkPlus™ devices provide users with instant-on capabilities for video display. Lattice CrossLink-NX™ FPGAs, built on the Lattice Nexus platform, provide the lowest power in the smallest packages in their class, higher performance, and high reliability. The latest device family – Lattice CrossLinkU-NX – are the industry’s first FPGAs with integrated USB device functionality in their class, designed to meet growing customer needs to simplify USB-based design for applications across the Computing, Industrial, Automotive, and Consumer markets. |
To enable our customers to get to market faster we support our FPGAs with IP cores, reference designs, development kits, and design software. We are investing in our design software, such as Lattice Radiant™, to deliver best-in-class tools that enable predictable design convergence, and Lattice Propel™ for unparalleled ease in creating embedded processor-based designs. We have developed integrated system-level solution stacks, including Lattice Automate™ for industrial automation and robotics, Lattice mVision™ for low power embedded vision, Lattice ORAN™ for robust control data security, flexible fronthaul synchronization, and low power hardware acceleration for secure, adaptable, Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) deployment, Lattice sensAI™ for Edge AI applications, Lattice Sentry™ for implementing hardware security, and our newest solution stack - Lattice Drive™ for advanced, flexible automotive system designs and applications. Further, we have application software such as Glance by Mirametrix™ that allows users to control the AI and computer vision experience of their end systems for Client computing, industrial, and automotive applications.
Depending on the application, we may compete with other FPGA vendors, as well as producers of ASICs, ASSPs, and microcontrollers. We believe that Lattice has developed products and solutions with differentiated advantages.
Legacy Semiconductor Products
We also sell Video Connectivity ASSPs, although we are not developing new products in this area and their support requirements are minimal.
IP Licensing and Services
Lattice has a broad set of technological capabilities and many U.S. and international patents. We generate revenue from our technology portfolio via upfront fees and on-going royalty payments through the following activities:
| ● | Standard IP Licensing - these activities include our participation in two consortia for the licensing of High-Definition Multimedia Interface™ ("HDMI") and Mobile High-Definition Link™ ("MHL") standard technologies to customers who adopt the technology into their products and voluntarily report their usage and royalties. The royalties are split among consortium members, including us. |
| ● | IP Core Licensing - some customers need Lattice’s technology for specific functions or features, but for various reasons are not able to use our silicon solutions. In those cases, we may license our IP cores, which they can integrate into their own ASICs. In contrast to the use of consortia, these licensing activities are generally performed internally. |
| ● | Patent Monetization - we consider sales of certain patents from our portfolio generally for technology that we are no longer actively developing. The revenue from these sales generally consists of upfront payments and potential future royalties. |
| ● | IP Services - we undergo projects and design services for customers who wish to develop specific solutions that harness our proven technology and expertise. |
Research and Development
We place a substantial emphasis on new product development, where return on investment is the key driver. We believe that continued investment in research and development is required to maintain and improve our competitive position. Our research and development activities are focused on new proprietary products, advanced packaging, existing product enhancements, software development tools, soft IP cores, and application focused hardware and software solutions. These research and development activities occur primarily at our sites in Hillsboro, Oregon; San Jose, California; Montreal, Canada; Shanghai, China; Muntinlupa City, Philippines; and Penang, Malaysia.
We believe that a continued commitment to research and development is essential to maintaining product leadership and providing a strong cadence of innovative new product offerings and, therefore, we expect to continue to make significant future investments in research and development.
Operations
We operate primarily as a fabless semiconductor provider and, therefore, we maintain strategic relationships with large, established semiconductor foundries to source our finished silicon wafers and manufacture our silicon products. This strategy allows us to focus our internal resources on product and market development and eliminate the fixed cost of owning and operating manufacturing facilities. We are able to take advantage of the ongoing advanced process technology development efforts of semiconductor foundries and apply those technologies when they become most economically beneficial to us and to our customers.
We rely on third party vendors to provide cost-effective and efficient supply chain services. Among other activities, these outsourced services relate to inventory management and warehousing, lead time management, order fulfillment, and the shipment of inventory to third party distributors.
Wafer Fabrication
Lattice partners with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company ("TSMC") to develop and manufacture on 16nm technology, which is used in our Avant platform of FPGA products, and to manufacture our 350nm, 130nm, 55nm and 40nm products. We partner with Samsung Semiconductor ("Samsung") to develop and manufacture the first low-power FPGA on 28nm fully depleted silicon-on-insulator ("FD-SOI") technology, which is used in our Nexus platform of FPGA products. We partner with United Microelectronics Corporation ("UMC") and its subsidiary United Semiconductor Japan Corporation ("USJC") to manufacture our products on its 130nm, 90nm, 65nm, and 40nm CMOS process technologies, as well as embedded flash memory in these process nodes. We partner with Seiko Epson ("Epson") to manufacture our 500nm, 350nm, 250nm and 180nm products.
We source silicon wafers from our foundry partners, TSMC, Samsung, UMC, USJC, and Epson, pursuant to agreements with each company and their respective affiliates. We negotiate wafer volumes, prices, and other terms with our foundry partners and their respective affiliates on a periodic basis.
Assembly
All of our assembly and test operations are performed by industry-leading outsourced assembly and test suppliers ("OSATs") with our primary supplier being Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. ("ASE"). We perform certain test operations as well as reliability and quality assurance processes internally during the development process. We have achieved and maintained ISO9001:2015 Quality Management Systems Certification and released a line of products qualified to the AEC-Q100 Reliability Standard in support of Automotive product offerings in addition to ISO26262 certification on both Automotive products and software.
After wafer fabrication and initial testing, we ship wafers to independent subcontractors for assembly. During assembly, wafers are separated into individual die and encapsulated in plastic packages. We have qualified two major assembly partners, ASE and Amkor Technology ("Amkor") and are second sourced where volume and customer requirements are necessary. All ASE and Amkor manufacturing of our products is in Asia. We negotiate assembly prices, volumes, and other terms with our assembly partners and their respective affiliates on a periodic basis.
We currently offer an extensive list of standard products in lead (Pb) free packaging. Our lead-free products meet the European Parliament Directive entitled "Restrictions on the use of Hazardous Substances" ("RoHS"). A select and growing subset of our RoHS compliant products are also offered with a "Halogen Free" material set.
Testing (Sort and Final Test)
We electrically sort test the die on most wafers prior to shipment for assembly. Wafer sort testing is primarily performed by ASE in Taiwan and Malaysia, Amkor in Japan, and our second source, King Yuan Electronics Co. (“KYEC”) in Taiwan.
Following assembly, but prior to customer shipment, each product undergoes final testing and quality assurance procedures. Final testing is performed by ASE and Amkor.
Sales and Revenue
We generate revenue by monetizing our technology designs and patents through product and technology sales. This involves distribution channel and direct sales of silicon-based hardware and silicon-enabling products, as well as the licensing or sale of IP that we have developed or acquired, some of which we use in our products, and certain design services that we may provide.
Sales and Customers
We primarily sell our products to customers from Lattice Semiconductor Corporation or our wholly-owned subsidiary, Lattice SG Pte. Ltd. Independent distributors are significant customers, and a substantial portion of our sales are made into this channel. Additionally, we sell both directly and through a network of independent manufacturers' representatives. We also employ a direct sales management and field applications engineering organization to support our end customers and indirect sales resources. End customers for our products are primarily Original Equipment Manufacturers ("OEMs") in the Communications and Computing, Industrial and Automotive, and Consumer end markets. Our sales team attempts to drive multi-generational design wins within these OEMs and leverages our distribution partners to grow our broad customer base.
We provide global technical support to our end customers with engineering staff based at our headquarters, product development centers, and selected field sales offices. We maintain numerous domestic and international field sales offices in major metropolitan areas.
In fiscal years 2023, 2022, and 2021, sales to distributors accounted for approximately 87%, 89%, and 87%, respectively, of our net revenue. We depend on our distributors to sell our products to end customers, complete order fulfillment, and maintain sufficient inventory of our products. Our distributors also provide technical support and other value-added services to our end customers. We have multiple global distributors. We also have regional distribution in Asia, Japan, Europe, and Israel, and we sell through three major on-line distributors. Revenue from foreign sales as a percentage of total revenue was 82%, 86%, and 88% for fiscal 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. We assign revenue to geographies based on ship-to location of our customers. Both foreign and domestic sales are denominated in U.S. dollars.
Backlog
Our backlog consists of orders from distributors and certain OEMs that generally require delivery within the next year. Historically, our backlog has not been a predictor of future sales or customer demand for the following reasons:
| ● | Purchase orders, consistent with common industry practices, generally can be revised or canceled up to 60 days before the scheduled delivery date without significant penalty. |
| ● | A portion of our revenue comes from our "turns business," where the product is ordered and delivered within the same quarter. |
Seasonality
We periodically experience variability in our sales volumes and financial results due to seasonal trends in the end markets we serve, the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry, and general economic conditions.
IP, Patents, and Licensing
We seek to protect our products, technologies, and IP primarily through patents, trade secrets, copyrights, trademark registrations, licensing restrictions, confidentiality agreements, and other approaches designed to protect proprietary information. We hold numerous United States and international patents and have patent applications pending in the United States and internationally. In addition to protecting innovations designed into our products, our ownership and maintenance of patents is an important factor in the determination of our share of the royalties from the implementation of the HDMI standard. Our current patents will expire at various times over the next 20 years, subject to our payment of periodic maintenance fees. We believe that our patents have value, and we expect to file future patent applications in both the United States and abroad on significant inventions, as we deem appropriate. We have acquired various licenses from third parties to certain technologies that are implemented in IP cores or embedded in our products. These licenses support our continuing ability to make and sell these products to our customers. While our various IP rights are important to our success, we believe our business as a whole is not materially dependent on any particular patent or license, or any particular group of patents or licenses.
Human Capital Management
We provide a safe and positive work environment that emphasizes respect for individuals, ethical conduct, and learning and development that is facilitated by a direct employee engagement model. The health and safety of our employees is of utmost importance to us. We undertake appropriate actions to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and our business. Recognizing and respecting our global presence, we strive to maintain a diverse and inclusive workforce everywhere we operate. As of December 30, 2023, we had 1,156 employees worldwide.
We believe our employees are the foundation of our success and that our future growth depends, in part, on our ability to continue to attract and retain key executive, technical, sales, and management personnel. Due to our growth and cadence of new product introductions we are particularly focused on highly skilled engineers involved in the design, development, and support of new and existing products and processes. In order for us to attract the best talent, we provide a collaborative, diverse, inclusive, and innovative work environment, competitive compensation, and recognition to give our employees the opportunity to grow. We are focused on developing diverse teams and continuing to build an inclusive culture that inspires leadership, encourages innovative thinking, and supports the development and advancement of all.
Our human capital management objectives include identifying, recruiting, incentivizing, and integrating our existing and future employees. We strive to attract and retain talented employees by offering competitive compensation and benefits that support their health, financial, and emotional well-being. Our compensation philosophy is based on rewarding each employee’s individual and team contributions and striving to achieve equal pay for equal work. We use a combination of fixed and variable pay including base salary, bonuses, performance awards, and stock-based compensation. The principal purposes of our equity incentive plans are to attract, retain, and motivate employees through the granting of stock-based compensation awards. We offer employees benefits that vary by country and are designed to address local laws and cultures and to be competitive in the marketplace.
Corporate Information and Public Information Availability
Our corporate headquarters are located at 5555 NE Moore Court, Hillsboro, Oregon 97124, and our website is www.latticesemi.com. Information contained or referenced on our website is not incorporated by reference into, and does not form a part of, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol LSCC.
We make available, free of charge through the Investor Relations section of our website at ir.latticesemi.com, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and amendments to those reports and statements as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. You may also obtain free copies of these materials by contacting our Investor Relations Department at 5555 NE Moore Court, Hillsboro, Oregon 97124, telephone (503) 268-8000. Our SEC filings are also available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Our Investor Relations website also provides notifications of news or announcements regarding our financial performance and other items that may be material or of interest to our investors and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD, including SEC filings, press releases, earnings releases, and webcasts of our earnings calls. Further, corporate governance information, including our corporate governance policies, director code of ethics, code of conduct, board committee charters, conflict minerals report and conflict minerals policy, is also available on the investor relations section of our website.
The content on any website referred to in this filing is not incorporated by reference into this filing unless expressly noted otherwise.
The following risk factors and all of the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be carefully considered in their entirety before making an investment decision relating to our common stock. If any of the risks described below occur, our business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flows could be materially adversely affected, and the trading price of our common stock could decline. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results. Effects from global business or political events, and the related impacts to economic and operating conditions, may further affect the volatility or degree of known and unknown risks.
Risk Factor Summary
Factors Related to Economic, Political, Legal & Regulatory Business Conditions
| ● | Economic, political, and business conditions related to our global business. |
| ● | The impact of tariffs, trade sanctions or similar actions on our business. |
| ● | Legal and regulatory conditions related to our global business. |
| ● | The impact of pandemics or widespread global health problems on our business. |
Factors Related to Manufacturing our Products
| ● | Geopolitical exposure of our subcontractors that we rely on to supply silicon wafers, packaging, and testing to manufacture our semiconductor products. |
| ● | Our achievement of continued yield and quality improvements to meet our internal cost and customer quality goals, and the potential impact of shortages in, or increased costs of, wafers and other materials. |
| ● | Potential warranty claims and other costs related to our products. |
Factors Related to Intellectual Property
| ● | Fluctuations in our revenue and margins caused by the intellectual property licensing component of our business strategy. |
| ● | Material fluctuations in our revenue and gross margins caused by intermittent sales of patents and significant licensing transactions. |
| ● | Variability in our share of royalties for the HDMI standard as a result of our evolving participation in the HDMI standard. |
| ● | Our ability to protect our new and existing intellectual property rights. |
Factors Related to Overall Business & Operations
| ● | Proper functioning of our information technology systems, including in response to data breaches, cyberattacks, or cyber-fraud. |
| ● | Goodwill impairments and other impairments under U.S. GAAP that may impact our business. |
| ● | Changes to financial accounting standards applicable to us and any related changes to our business practices. |
| ● | Exposure to unanticipated tax consequences as a result of changes in effective tax rates, tax laws and our global organizational structure and operations. |
| ● | Weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and business processes. |
| ● | Our ability to compete with others to attract and retain key personnel, and any loss of, or inability to attract, such personnel. |
| ● | Our failure to adequately foresee and insure against risks related to our business. |
| ● | Limitations to our flexibility caused by incurring indebtedness. |
| ● | Risks relating to the use or application of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence ("AI") |
| ● | The impact of climate change and climate change-related policies & regulations on our business. |
Factors Related to Our Markets and Product Development
| ● | Cyclical market patterns and potential downturns in our industry or our end markets. |
| ● | Our ability to develop and introduce new products that achieve customer and market acceptance. |
| ● | Competition with companies that have significantly greater resources than us and numerous other product solutions. |
| ● | Our reliance on independent contractors and third parties to provide key services in our product development and operations. |
Factors Related to Our Sales and Revenue
| ● | Our dependence on our distributors and a concentrated group of end customers. |
| ● | Fluctuations in and the unpredictability of our business and our sales cycles. |
| ● | Accounting requirements related to sales through our distribution channel. |
General Risk Factors
| ● | Our operations are subject to the effects of rising inflation and recessionary concerns. |
| ● | Disruptions to our worldwide operations and supply chain due to natural or human-induced disasters. |
| ● | The trading price of our common stock has been and may continue to be subject to volatility. |
| ● | The impact of actual and potential litigation and unfavorable results of legal proceedings on our business. |
| ● | Disruption in and impacts of acquisitions, divestitures, strategic investments and strategic partnerships on our business. |
Factors Related to Economic, Political, Legal & Regulatory Business Conditions
Our global business operations expose us to various economic, political, and business risks, which could impact our business, operating results and financial condition.
We have significant domestic and international operations. Our international operations include foreign sales offices to support our international customers and distributors, which account for the majority of our revenue, and operational and research and development sites in China, the Philippines, Malaysia, and other Asian locations. In addition, we purchase our wafers from foreign foundries; have our commercial products assembled, packaged, and tested by subcontractors located outside of the United States; and rely on international service providers for a variety of services, including inventory management, lead time management, technical support, factory engagement meetings, and order fulfillment.
Worldwide political and economic conditions may create uncertainties that could adversely affect our business. For example, the military conflict between Israel and Hamas and the potential for regional expansion, the continuing military conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the financial and trade-related restrictions associated with Russia and Belarus and economic sanctions on certain individuals and entities in Russia and Belarus, may further disrupt global supply chains and could result in shortages of key materials that our suppliers and foundry partners require to satisfy our needs. Additionally, the U.S. government has implemented controls regarding semiconductor- and supercomputer-related products and restrictions affecting U.S. persons’ ability to send certain chips and chip-related technology and software to China without an export license. These, as well as future controls impacting the semiconductor ecosystem, may impact the global supply chain and could result in shortages of key materials that our suppliers and foundry partners require to satisfy our needs. Any deterioration in the relations between Taiwan and China, and other factors affecting military, political or economic conditions in Taiwan or elsewhere in Asia, could adversely impact our third-party manufacturing partners and suppliers located in the region, which could disrupt our business operations. Countries in Europe and Asia have proposed, or recently adopted, significant increases in their military budgets and the outbreak of new, or expansion of current, military conflicts could adversely affect our business. Furthermore, adverse macroeconomic conditions, such as rising inflation and labor shortages, may affect demand for our products or increase our product or labor costs, negatively impacting our revenues, gross margins, and overall financial results.
Our domestic and international business activities are subject to economic, political and regulatory risks, including: increased inflation; volatility in financial markets; fluctuations in consumer liquidity; changes in interest rates; price increases for materials and components; trade barriers or changes in trade policies; political instability; acts of war or terrorism; natural disasters; economic sanctions; weak economic conditions; environmental regulations; labor regulations; disruptions to labor markets; import and export regulations; tax or freight rates; duties; trade restrictions; interruptions in transportation or infrastructure; anti-corruption laws; domestic and foreign governmental regulations; potential vulnerability of and reduced protection for intellectual property; disruptions or delays in production or shipments; and instability or fluctuations in currency exchange rates, any of which could lead to decreased demand for our products or a change in our results of operation. Although our business has not been materially impacted by supply chain constraints, inflation, or labor market disruptions, events outside of our control could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results, and financial condition in the future. Uncertainty about future political and economic conditions makes forecasting demand and providing guidance difficult. Accordingly, our expectations are subject to change without warning and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them.
Our business could suffer as a result of tariffs and trade sanctions or similar actions.
The imposition by the United States of tariffs, sanctions or other restrictions on goods imported from outside of the United States or countermeasures imposed in response to such government actions could adversely affect our operations or our ability to sell our products globally, which could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition. The materials subject to these tariffs may impact the cost of raw materials used by our suppliers or in our customers’ products. The imposition of further tariffs by the United States on a broader range of imports, or further retaliatory trade measures taken in response to additional tariffs, could increase costs in our supply chain or reduce demand of our customers’ products, either of which could adversely affect our results of operations.
Our customers or suppliers could also become subject to U.S. regulatory scrutiny or export restrictions. For example, in 2019 the U.S. Justice Department filed criminal charges against one of our customers in China and imposed a licensing requirement on this customer with a policy of denial for some items, which has limited our ability to do business with this customer. In 2020, the U.S. imposed additional regulatory restrictions on the sale of U.S. controlled technology to customers in China. These restrictions include establishing additional licensing requirements in order to sell U.S.-originated technology for certain applications or to companies that participate in the Chinese national security supply chain. These restrictions also limit the fabrication of devices for certain Chinese companies where U.S. technology is involved in the fabrication process. Furthermore, in August 2020 the U.S. established additional licensing requirements for one of our China customers and its affiliates that limit any sales of products to that customer or for that customer’s products absent a license. The U.S. government may add additional Chinese companies to its restricted entity list or impose additional licensing requirements that we may be unable to meet in a timely manner or at all. Additionally, in October 2022 the U.S. government announced controls regarding semiconductor- and supercomputer-related products and restrictions affecting U.S. persons’ ability to send certain chips and chip-related technology and software to China without an export license, which may impact the global supply chain and could negatively affect our business. These controls and restrictions were revised by the U.S. government in October 2023 with the intent to further restrict China’s ability to obtain such technology and to enhance U.S. national security interests.
Where license requirements are imposed, there can be no assurance that the U.S. government will grant licenses to permit the continuation of business with these customers. Future sanctions similar to those imposed in the past and to those recently imposed could adversely affect our ability to earn revenue from these and similar customers. In addition, the imposition of sanctions or other restrictions on customers in China may cause those customers to seek domestic alternatives to our products and those of other United States semiconductor companies. Further, the Chinese government has developed an unreliable entity list, which limits the ability of companies on the list to engage in business with Chinese customers. We cannot predict what impact these and future actions, sanctions or criminal charges could have on our customers or suppliers, and therefore our business. If any of our other customers or suppliers become subject to sanctions or other regulatory scrutiny, if our customers are affected by tariffs or other government trade restrictions, or if we become subject to retaliatory regulatory measures, our business and financial condition could be adversely affected.
Our global business operations expose us to various legal and regulatory risks, which could impact our business, operating results and financial condition.
If we fail to comply with the many laws and regulations to which we are subject, both within the United States and internationally, we may be subject to significant fines, penalties or liabilities for noncompliance, which could harm our business and financial results. For example, we are subject to federal, state and foreign laws and regulations concerning data privacy and security, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR), and U.S. state and local laws that govern the privacy and security of information, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). Other countries outside of the European Union, including the United Kingdom and China, also have enacted robust legislation addressing privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity and providing for substantial penalties for noncompliance. These and other regulatory frameworks are evolving rapidly, and we anticipate that our efforts to comply with evolving laws and regulations addressing privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity will be a rigorous and time-intensive process that may increase our cost of doing business and may require us to change our policies and practices. Additionally, as a public company, we are subject to the requirements of federal securities laws, requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the rules and regulations of the SEC, and the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market. Noncompliance with these requirements could result in penalties, fines, liabilities, or reputational harm, which could harm our business or financial results. We are also subject to import/export regulations and applicable executive orders. These laws, regulations, and orders are complex, may change frequently and with limited notice, and have generally and may continue to become more stringent over time.
Any inability or perceived inability to adequately comply with applicable laws or regulations could result in claims, demands, and litigation by private actors or governmental authorities, investigations and other proceedings by governmental authorities, injunctive relief, fines, penalties, and other liabilities, any of which may harm our reputation and market position and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Pandemics or other widespread public health problems could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition in a material way.
Pandemics, epidemics or other widespread public health problems could negatively impact our business. Outbreaks have resulted, and could again, result in significant government measures to control the spread of disease, including, among others, restrictions on travel, manufacturing, and the movement of employees. Jurisdictions in which we operate have had varying responses to pandemic and other widespread public health problems and the impact of such responses is difficult to anticipate. If, for example, pandemics were to occur in ways that significantly disrupt the manufacture, shipment, and buying patterns of our products or the products of our customers, this may materially negatively impact our operating results, including revenue, gross margins, operating margins, cash flows and other operating results, and our overall business. Disruptions to manufacturing and shipping could also constrain our supplies, leading to operational delays, disruptions and inflationary pressures. Our customers may also experience closures of their manufacturing facilities or inability to obtain other components, either of which could negatively impact demand for our solutions.
The ultimate impact of a pandemic on our operations and financial performance depends on many factors that are not within our control, including, but not limited, to: governmental, business, and individuals’ responses; general economic uncertainty in key global markets; volatility in financial markets, labor markets, and supply chains; global economic conditions and levels of economic growth; and the pace of recovery when the pandemic subsides. Pandemics may negatively impact the overall economy and, as a result of the foregoing, could negatively impact our operating results and may do so in a material way. In particular, pandemics or other widespread public health problems may increase or change the severity of our other risks reported in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Factors Related to Manufacturing our Products
We rely on subcontractors to supply and fabricate silicon wafers and to perform assembly and test operations for our semiconductor products. If they are unable to do so on a timely and cost-effective basis in sufficient quantities and using competitive technologies, we may incur significant costs or delays.
We rely on foundries in Japan, Korea and Taiwan to supply and fabricate silicon wafers for our semiconductor products, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Semiconductor, United Microelectronics Corporation, and Seiko Epson. We rely on our OSATs in Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan to support the packaging and test of our products, including Advanced Semiconductor Engineering and Amkor Technology. Our success is dependent upon our ability to successfully partner with our foundry and OSAT suppliers and their ability to produce wafers and finished semiconductor products with competitive prices and performance attributes, including smaller process geometries, which ability may be impacted by labor market disruptions and rising inflation. Establishing, maintaining and managing multiple foundry and OSAT relationships requires the investment of management resources and costs.
If we fail to maintain our foundry and OSAT relationships, if these partners do not provide facilities and support for our development efforts, if they are insolvent or experience financial difficulty, if their operations are interrupted by a widespread public health hazard, or if we elect or are required to change foundries or OSATs, we may incur significant costs and delays. If our foundry or OSAT partners are unable to, or do not, manufacture sufficient quantities of our products at acceptable yields, we may be required to allocate the affected products among our customers, prematurely limit or discontinue the sales of certain products, or incur significant costs to transfer products to other foundries or OSATs, which could adversely affect our customer relationships and operating results. Further, our subcontractors are themselves subject to many of the same operational and business risks that we face and describe herein that, if occur and are disruptive to their operations, could adversely affect us.
Our margins are dependent on our achieving continued yield and quality improvements, cost reductions, and the supply and cost of wafers and materials.
We rely on obtaining yield, quality, productivity, and logistic improvements and corresponding cost reductions in the manufacture of existing products and on introducing new products that incorporate advanced features and other price/performance factors that enable us to increase revenues while maintaining acceptable margins. To the extent that such cost reductions and new product introductions do not occur in a timely manner, because of inflation, increases in personnel costs, employee turnover, or other factors, or that our products do not achieve market acceptance or market acceptance at acceptable pricing, our margins, operating results, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
Furthermore, worldwide manufacturing capacity for our products may be impacted by many factors which may impact availability and cost. If the demand for silicon wafers or assembly material exceeds market supply, or if suppliers increase prices to cover the cost of rising inflation, our supply of silicon wafers or assembly material could quickly become limited or prohibitively expensive. A shortage in manufacturing capacity could hinder our ability to meet product demand and therefore reduce our revenue. Silicon wafers constitute a material portion of our product cost, and if we are unable to purchase wafers at favorable prices, due to supply constraints, inflation, or other factors, our margins, results of operations, and financial condition may be adversely affected.
We may be subject to warranty claims and other costs related to our products.
In general, we warrant our products for varying lengths of time against non-conformance to our specifications and certain other defects. Because our products, including hardware, software, and intellectual property cores, are highly complex and increasingly incorporate advanced technology, our quality assurance programs may not detect all defects, whether these are specific manufacturing defects affecting individual products or these are systemic defects that could affect numerous shipments. Our inability to detect a defect could result in a diversion of our engineering resources from product development efforts, increased engineering expenses to remediate the defect, and increased costs due to customer accommodation or inventory impairment charges. On occasion, we have also repaired or replaced certain components, made software fixes, or refunded the purchase price or license fee paid by our customers due to product or software defects. Our insurance may be inadequate to protect against these issues. If there are significant product defects, the costs to remediate such defects, net of reimbursed amounts from our vendors, if any, or to resolve warranty claims may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and may harm our reputation.
Factors Related to Intellectual Property
The intellectual property licensing component of our business strategy increases our business risk and fluctuation of our revenue and margins.
Our business strategy includes licensing our intellectual property to companies that incorporate it into their technologies that address multiple markets, including markets where we participate and compete. Our Licensing and services revenue may be impacted by the introduction of new technologies by customers in place of the technologies we license, changes in the law that may weaken our ability to prevent the use of our patented technology by others, the expiration of our patents, and changes of demand or selling prices for products using licensed patents. We cannot assure that our licensing customers will continue to license our technology on commercially favorable terms or at all, or that these customers will introduce and sell products incorporating our technology, accurately report royalties owed to us, pay agreed upon royalties, honor agreed upon market restrictions, or maintain the confidentiality of our proprietary information, or will not infringe upon or misappropriate our intellectual property. Our intellectual property licensing agreements are complex and may depend upon many factors that require significant judgments, including completion of milestones, allocation of values to delivered items and customer acceptance.
Our sale of patents and intermittent significant licensing transactions can cause material fluctuations in our revenue and gross margins.
We have generated revenue from the sale of certain patents from our portfolio in the past, generally for non-core technology that we are no longer actively developing. While we plan to continue to monetize our patent portfolio through sales of non-core patents, we may not be able to realize adequate interest or prices for those patents. Accordingly, we cannot provide assurance that we will continue to generate revenue from these sales. In addition, although we seek to be strategic in our decisions to sell patents, we might incur reputational harm if a purchaser of our patents sues one of our customers for infringement of the purchased patent, and we might later decide to enter a space that requires the use of one or more of the patents we sold. In addition, as we sell groups of patents, we no longer have the opportunity to further sell or to license those patents and receive a continuing royalty stream.
Our Licensing and services revenue fluctuates, sometimes significantly, from period to period because it is heavily dependent on a few key transactions being completed in a given period, the timing of which is difficult to predict and may not match our expectations. Licensing and services revenue may include revenue from the sales of patents, which may be difficult to complete and which may have complex terms for the payment which affects revenue recognition. Because of its high margin, the Licensing and services revenue portion of our overall revenue can have a disproportionate impact on gross profit and profitability. In addition, generating revenue from patent sales and intellectual property licenses is a lengthy and complex process that may last beyond the period in which our efforts begin, and the accounting rules governing the recognition of revenue from patent sales and intellectual property licensing transactions are increasingly complex and require significant judgment. As a result, the amount of license revenue recognized in any period may differ significantly from our expectations.
Our participation in the HDMI standard is evolving, and our share of adopter fees and royalties for the HDMI standard is subject to variability.
We share HDMI royalties with the other HDMI Founders based on an allocation formula, which is reviewed generally every three years. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, the HDMI Founders adopted a new agreement covering the five-year period beginning January 1, 2018. The HDMI Founders are currently negotiating a new agreement covering the next sharing period beginning January 1, 2023. The amount of our portion of the royalty allocation is dependent on the royalties generated by adopter sales of royalty-bearing HDMI technology, which are subject to variability in economic trends particularly in the market for consumer electronics.
If we are unable to adequately protect our new and existing intellectual property rights globally, our financial results and our ability to compete effectively may suffer.
Our success depends in part on our proprietary technology, and we rely upon patent, copyright, trade secret, mask work, and trademark laws to protect our intellectual property globally. We intend to continue to protect our proprietary technology, however, we may be unsuccessful in asserting our intellectual property rights or such rights may be invalidated, violated, circumvented, or challenged. From time to time, third parties, including our competitors, have asserted against us patent, copyright, and other intellectual property rights to technologies that are important to us. Third parties may attempt to misappropriate our intellectual property through electronic or other means or assert infringement claims against us in the future. Such assertions by third parties may result in costly litigation, indemnity claims, or other legal actions, and we may not prevail in such matters or be able to license any valid and infringed patents from third parties on commercially reasonable terms. This could result in the loss of our ability to import and sell our products or require us to pay costly royalties to third parties in connection with sales of our products. Any infringement claim, indemnification claim, or impairment or loss of use of our intellectual property could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Factors Related to Overall Business & Operations
Our business depends on the use of information technology systems. A failure of these systems, cybersecurity incidents, or cyber-fraud may cause business disruptions, compromise our intellectual property or other sensitive information, or result in losses.
We rely on information technology ("IT") networks and systems to collect, process, maintain, use, share, disseminate, and dispose of our information and manage our operations, including financial reporting. Our IT systems are subject to power and telecommunication outages and other system failures. Further, despite our current security measures, our IT systems may be vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and suffer cybersecurity incidents. These systems are also supported by subcontractors and third-party providers who may also be subject to power and telecommunication outages or other general system failures and cybersecurity threats and cybersecurity incidents. The legal, regulatory and contractual environments surrounding information security, data privacy, and data protection are complex and evolving. We continue to commit significant resources to implementing new systems to standardize our processes worldwide and to develop our capabilities in these areas. We are focused on realizing the full analytical functionality of these conversions, which can be extremely complex, in part, because of the wide range of legacy systems and processes that must be integrated.
In the normal course of business, we may implement new or updated IT systems and, as a result, we may experience delays or disruptions in the integration of these systems, or the related procedures or controls. The policies and security measures established with our IT systems may be vulnerable to cybersecurity incidents such as security breaches and cyberattacks, or cyber-fraud. We may also encounter corruption or loss of data, an inability to accurately process or record transactions, and security or technical reliability issues. All of these could harm our ability to conduct core operating functions such as processing invoices, shipping and receiving, recording and reporting financial and management information on a timely and accurate basis, and could impact our internal control compliance efforts. If the technical solution or end user training are inadequate, it could limit our ability to manufacture and ship products as planned. Moreover, the proper functioning of the internal processes that the IT systems and networks support relies on qualified employees. Competition for qualified employees has generally increased across the economy in the United States, which, if we experience employee turnover, could lead to disruptions in our processes, inadequate end user training or difficulty updating our IT systems and networks.
We maintain sensitive data on our networks and on the networks of our business partners and third-party providers, including proprietary and confidential information relating to our intellectual property, personnel, and business, and that of our customers and third-party providers. Companies have been increasingly subject to a wide variety of cybersecurity incidents such as cyberattacks, hacking, phishing, malware, ransomware, and other attempts to gain unauthorized access to systems or data, or to engage in fraudulent behavior. Cyberattacks have become more prevalent, sophisticated and much harder to detect and defend against and it is often difficult to anticipate or detect such incidents on a timely basis and to assess the damage caused by them. In addition, our agreements with third-party providers, including but not limited to the liability limitations and insurance provisions contained in such agreements, may be inadequate to cover the liability, if any, associated with any security breaches. Increasing geopolitical tensions or conflicts have also created, and may continue to create, a heightened risk of cyberattacks, and AI and other evolving technologies may also increase the prevalence and impact of cyberattacks. Our policies and security measures cannot guarantee security, and our IT infrastructure, including our networks and systems, may be vulnerable to security breaches and cybersecurity incidents, cyberattacks, or cyber-fraud. In the past, third parties have attempted to penetrate and/or infect our network and systems with malicious software and phishing attacks in an effort to gain access to our network and systems. In addition, we are subject to the risk of third parties falsifying invoices and similar fraud, including by obtaining unauthorized access to our vendors’ and business partners’ networks. Although past threats and incidents have not resulted in a material adverse effect, we may incur material losses related to cybersecurity and other threats or incidents in the future.
In some circumstances, we may partner with third-party providers and provide them with certain data, including sensitive data, or the ability to access or otherwise process such data. These third parties also face substantial security risks from a variety of sources. There can be no assurance that any security measures that we or our third-party service providers have implemented will be effective against current or future security threats, and we cannot guarantee that our systems and networks or those of our third-party service providers have not been breached or otherwise compromised, or that they and any software in our or their supply chains do not contain bugs, vulnerabilities, or compromised code that could result in a breach of or disruption to our systems and networks or the systems and networks of third parties that support us and our services. If any of our third-party providers fails to adopt or adhere to adequate data security practices, or suffers a security breach or incident, any data, including sensitive data, that we provide them or that they otherwise may access or process for us may be improperly accessed, used, disclosed, modified, lost, destroyed, or rendered unavailable. Any security breaches or incidents that we or our third-party providers may suffer could compromise our intellectual property, expose sensitive business information and otherwise result in unauthorized access to or disclosure, modification, misuse, loss, destruction, or other processing of sensitive information. We may need to expend significant financial and development resources to analyze, correct, eliminate, or work around errors or defects or to eliminate or otherwise address security vulnerabilities, and we and our third-party service providers may face difficulties or delays in identifying or otherwise responding to any potential security breach or incident.
Further, the increase in cyberattacks has resulted in an increased focus on cybersecurity by certain government agencies. Any cyberattack or other security breach or cybersecurity incident that we or our third-party providers may suffer, or the perception that any such attack, breach, or incident has occurred, could result in a loss of customer confidence in our security measures, damage to our brand, reputation, and market position, result in unauthorized access to or disclosure, modification, misuse, loss, corruption, unavailability, or destruction of our data or other sensitive data that we or our third-party providers process or maintain, disrupt normal business operations, require us to spend material resources to investigate or correct any breach or incident and to prevent future security breaches and incidents, expose us to legal claims and liabilities, including litigation, regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, and indemnity obligations, and adversely affect our revenues and operating results. Further, any such actual or perceived breach or incident, and any claims, demands, litigation, or investigations or enforcement actions related to cybersecurity could cause us to incur significant remediation costs, result in product development delays, disrupt key business operations, and divert attention of management and key IT resources. In addition, we may incur loss as a result of cyber-fraud, such as those experienced by other companies by making unauthorized payments irrespective of robust internal controls.
Failure or disruptions of our IT systems or difficulties or delays in maintaining, managing, and integrating them could adversely affect our controls and procedures and could impact our ability to perform necessary operations, which could materially adversely affect our business.
The costs of maintaining our cybersecurity risk management program, as well as the costs of mitigating cybersecurity risks, are significant and are likely to increase in the future. These costs include, but are not limited to, maintaining software and services to prevent and detect cybersecurity threats and incidents, retaining the services of cybersecurity providers; compliance costs arising out of existing and future cybersecurity, data protection and privacy laws and regulations; and costs related to maintaining redundant networks, data backups and other damage-mitigation measures.
We cannot be certain that our insurance coverage will be adequate for cybersecurity liabilities incurred and, will cover any indemnification claims against us relating to any incident, that insurance will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all, or that any insurer will not deny coverage as to any future claim. The successful assertion of one or more large claims against us that exceed available insurance coverage, or the occurrence of changes in our insurance policies, including premium increases or the imposition of large deductible or co-insurance requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our financial condition, operating results, and reputation.
We compete with others to attract and retain key personnel, and any loss of, or inability to attract, such personnel could adversely affect our ability to compete effectively.
We depend on the efforts and abilities of certain key members of management and other technical personnel. Our future success depends, in part, upon our ability to retain such personnel and attract and retain other highly qualified personnel, particularly product engineers who can respond to market demands and required product innovation. Competition for such personnel has been increasing generally throughout the economy, and we may not be successful in hiring or retaining new or existing qualified personnel. If we lose existing qualified personnel or are unable to hire new qualified personnel, as needed, we could have difficulty competing in our highly competitive and innovative environment.
Our insurance may not adequately cover certain risks and, as a result, our financial condition and results may be adversely affected.
We carry insurance customary for companies in our industry, including, but not limited to, liability, property, and casualty; workers' compensation; cyber liability; and business interruption insurance. We also insure our employees for basic medical expenses. In addition, we have insurance contracts that provide director and officer liability coverage for our directors and officers. Other than the specific areas mentioned above, we are self-insured with respect to most other risks and exposures, and the insurance we carry in many cases is subject to a significant policy deductible or other limitation before coverage applies. Based on management's assessment and judgment, we have determined that it is more cost effective to self-insure against certain risks than to incur the insurance premium costs. The risks and exposures for which we self-insure include, but are not limited to, certain natural disasters, certain product defects, certain matters for which we indemnify third parties, political risk, certain theft, patent infringement, and employment practice matters. Should there be a catastrophic loss due to an uninsured event (such as an earthquake) or a loss due to adverse occurrences in any area in which we are self-insured, our financial condition or operating results could be adversely affected.
We may incur indebtedness which could reduce our strategic flexibility and liquidity and may have other adverse effects on our results of operations.
Our amended and restated credit agreement, dated September 1, 2022 (the “2022 Credit Agreement”) allows us to draw up to $350 million. While as of December 30, 2023, we had no borrowings outstanding under the 2022 Credit Agreement, the incurrence of indebtedness could impact the Company. Our obligations under the 2022 Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain of our U.S. subsidiaries meeting materiality thresholds set forth in the 2022 Credit Agreement, and the revolving loans under the 2022 Credit Agreement may be reborrowed and repaid at our discretion, with any remaining outstanding principal amount due and payable on the maturity date of the revolving loan facility on September 1, 2027. Our ability to meet our debt service obligations depends upon our operating and financial performance, which is subject to general economic and competitive conditions and to financial, business and other factors affecting our operations, many of which are beyond our control. If we are unable to service our debt, we may need to sell material assets, restructure or refinance our debt, or seek additional equity capital. Prevailing economic conditions and global credit markets could adversely impact our ability to sell material assets, restructure or refinance our debt on terms acceptable to us, or at all, or we may not be able to restructure or refinance our debt without incurring significant additional fees and expenses.
The 2022 Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants limiting the ability of the Company and our subsidiaries to, among other things, incur debt, grant liens, undergo certain fundamental changes, make investments, make certain restricted payments, dispose of assets, enter into transactions with affiliates, and enter into burdensome agreements, in each case, subject to limitations and exceptions set forth in the 2022 Credit Agreement. We are also required to maintain compliance with a total net leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio, in each case, determined in accordance with the terms of the 2022 Credit Agreement.
The amount and terms of our indebtedness, as well as our credit rating, could have important consequences, including the following:
| ● | we may be more vulnerable to economic downturns, less able to withstand competitive pressures, and less flexible in responding to changing business and economic conditions; |
| ● | our cash flow from operations may be allocated to the payment of outstanding indebtedness, and not to research and development, operations or business growth; |
| ● | we might not generate sufficient cash flow from operations or other sources to enable us to meet our payment obligations under the facility and to fund other liquidity needs; |
| ● | our ability to make distributions to our stockholders in a sale or liquidation may be limited until any balance on the facility is repaid in full; and |
| ● | our ability to incur additional debt, including for working capital, acquisitions, or other needs, is more limited. |
If we breach a loan covenant, the lenders could accelerate the repayment of the facility. We might not have sufficient assets to repay our indebtedness upon acceleration. If we are unable to repay or refinance the indebtedness upon acceleration or at maturity, the lenders could initiate a bankruptcy proceeding against us or collection proceedings with respect to our assets and subsidiaries securing the facility, which could materially decrease the value of our common stock.
Unfavorable or uncertain market conditions and risks relating to the adoption, use or application of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (“AI”), by our customers and in our business, may impact financial results and could result in reputational and financial harm and liability.
The adoption of AI solutions may not develop in the manner or in the time periods we anticipate and as the markets for AI solutions are still developing, demand for these products may be unpredictable and may vary significantly from one period to another. These factors may adversely impact demand for our AI related products including our products that support AI solutions. In addition, compliance with government regulations and unfavorable developments with evolving laws and regulations worldwide related to these products and suppliers may increase the costs related to the development of AI products and solutions and limit global adoption, which may also adversely impact demand for our AI related products.
Concerns relating to the responsible use of new and evolving technologies, such as AI, in our and our customers’ products and services may result in reputational and financial harm and liability. We and our customers are increasingly building AI capabilities into many products and services. AI poses emerging ethical issues and presents risks and challenges that could affect its adoption, and therefore our business. If we or our customers enable or offer solutions that draw controversy due to their perceived or actual impact on society, such as AI solutions that have unintended consequences or are controversial, we may experience reputational harm, competitive harm or legal liability.
Additionally, while we restrict the use of third-party and open source AI tools, such as ChatGPT, the internal governance of the adoption of these technologies can be challenging, and our employees and consultants may use these tools on an unauthorized basis and our partners may use these tools, which poses additional risks relating to the protection of data, including the potential exposure of our proprietary confidential information to unauthorized recipients and the misuse of our or third-party intellectual property. Use of AI tools may result in allegations or claims against us related to violation of third-party intellectual property rights, unauthorized access to or use of proprietary information and failure to comply with open source software requirements. AI tools may also produce inaccurate responses that could lead to errors in our decision-making, product development or other business activities, which could have a negative impact on our business, operating results and financial condition. Our ability to mitigate these risks will depend on our continued effective maintaining, training, monitoring and enforcement of appropriate policies and procedures governing the use of AI tools, and the results of any such use, by us or our partners.
Climate change and climate change-related policies and regulations may have a long-term impact on our business.
Climate-related risks are inherent wherever our business is conducted. Global climate change is causing, and is projected to continue to cause, an increase in the frequency and intensity of certain natural disasters and adverse weather, such as drought, wildfires, storms, sea-level rise, flooding, heat waves, and cold waves, occurring more frequently or with greater intensity. Such extreme events are driving changes in market dynamics, stakeholder expectations, and local, national and international climate change policies and regulations, any of which could result in disruptions to us, our suppliers, vendors, customers and logistics hubs, and may impact employees’ abilities to commute or to work from home effectively. These disruptions could make it more difficult and costly for us to deliver our products and services, obtain components or other supplies through our supply chain, maintain, or resume operations or perform other critical corporate functions, and could reduce customer demand for our products and services.
The increasing concern over climate change could also result in transition risks such as shifting customer preferences. Changing customer preferences may result in increased expectations regarding our solutions, products, and services, including the use of packaging materials and other components in our products and their environmental impact. These expectations may cause us to incur additional costs or make other changes to our operations to respond to them, which could adversely affect our financial results. If we fail to manage transition risks and customer expectations in an effective manner, customer demand for our solutions, products, and services could diminish, and our profitability could suffer. Concerns over climate change, as well as the adoption of new laws or regulations, may also impact market dynamics and may result in shifts in customer expectations, preferences, or requirements, which may require us to change our practices or incur increased costs or adversely impact customer demand for our products and services.
Additionally, concerns over climate change have resulted in, and are expected to continue to result in, the adoption of legal and regulatory requirements designed to address climate change, as well as legal and regulatory requirements requiring certain climate-related disclosures. Where new laws or regulations are more stringent than current legal or regulatory requirements, we may experience increased compliance burdens and costs to meet such obligations. These laws could cause us to incur additional direct costs for compliance, as well as indirect costs resulting from our customers, suppliers or both incurring additional compliance costs that are passed on to us. These legal and regulatory requirements, as well as investor expectations, on corporate environmental and social responsibility practices and disclosure, are subject to change, can be unpredictable, and may be difficult and expensive for us to comply with, given the complexity of our supply chain and our significant outsourced manufacturing. If we are unable to comply, or are unable to cause our suppliers or subcontractors to comply, with such policies or provisions or meet the requirements of our customers and investors, a customers may stop purchasing products form us or an investor may sell their shares, and may take legal action against us, which could harm our reputation, revenue, and results of operations.
Climate change also may reduce the availability or increase the cost of insurance for these negative impacts of natural disasters by contributing to an increase in the incidence and severity of such natural disasters. Ultimately, the impacts of climate change, whether involving physical risks (such as disruptions resulting from climate-related events or rising sea levels) or transition risks (such as regulatory changes, changes in market dynamics or increased operating costs, including the cost of insurance) are expected to be widespread and unpredictable and may materially adversely affect our business and financial results.
Factors Related to Our Markets and Product Development
The semiconductor industry routinely experiences cyclical market patterns and our products are used across different end markets. A significant downturn in the industry or in any of these end markets could cause a meaningful reduction in demand for our products and adversely affect our operating results.
The semiconductor industry is highly cyclical and subject to downturns, such as we are currently seeing, and our revenue and gross margin can fluctuate significantly due to such downturns. These downturns can be severe and prolonged and can result in price erosion and weak demand for our products. Weak demand for our products resulting from general economic conditions affecting the end markets we serve, or the semiconductor industry specifically, and reduced spending by our customers can result, and in the past has resulted, in diminished product demand, high inventory levels, erosion of average selling prices, excess and obsolete inventories and corresponding inventory write-downs. Our expense levels are based, in part, on our expectations of future sales. Many of our expenses, particularly those relating to facilities, capital equipment, and other overhead, are relatively fixed. We might be unable to reduce spending quickly enough to compensate for reductions in sales. Accordingly, shortfalls in sales could adversely affect our operating results. Furthermore, any significant upturn in the semiconductor industry could result in increased competition for access to raw materials and third-party service providers.
Additionally, our products are used across different end markets, and demand for our products is difficult to predict and may vary within or among our Industrial and Automotive, Communications and Computing, and Consumer end markets. Our target markets may not grow or develop as we currently expect, and demand may increase or change in one or more of our end markets, and changes in demand may reduce our revenue, lower our gross margin and effect our operating results. We have experienced concentrations of revenue at certain customers and within certain end markets, and we regularly compete for design opportunities at these customers and within these markets. Any deterioration in these end markets, reductions in the magnitude of revenue streams, our inability to meet design and pricing requirements, or volatility in demand for our products could lead to a reduction in our revenue and adversely affect our operating results. Our success in our end markets depends on many factors, including the strength or financial performance of the customers in our end markets, our ability to timely meet rapidly changing product requirements, market needs, and our ability to maintain design wins across different markets and customers to dampen the effects of market volatility. The dynamics of the markets in which we operate make prediction of and timely reaction to such events difficult.
Due to these and other factors, our past results may not be reliable predictors of our future results. If we are unable to accomplish any of the foregoing, or to offset the volatility of cyclical changes in the semiconductor industry or our end markets through diversification into other markets, these factors could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results.
Our success and future revenue depend on our ability to develop and introduce new products that achieve customer and market acceptance.
We compete in a dynamic environment characterized by rapid technology and product evolution, generally followed by a relatively longer process of ramping up to volume production on advanced technologies. Our end customers’ continued use of our products is frequently reevaluated, as certain of our customers' product life cycles are relatively short and they continually develop new products. The selection process for our products to be included in our customers' new products is highly competitive. There are no guarantees that our products will be included in the next generation of products introduced by these customers. Additionally, our markets are also characterized by evolving industry standards and increased demand for more features and performance, which requires higher levels of integration and more advanced process technology. Our competitive position and success depend on our ability to innovate, develop, and introduce new products that compete effectively on the basis of price, density, functionality, power consumption, form factor, and performance, and our ability to address the evolving needs of the markets we serve, among other things. With increased introduction of new products, we expect revenue related to mature products to decline over time in a normal product life cycle. As a result, we may be increasingly dependent on revenue derived from our newer products.
Our future growth and the success of new product introductions depend upon numerous factors, including:
| ● | timely completion and introduction of new product designs; |
| ● | ability to generate new design opportunities and design wins, including those which result in sales of significant volume; |
| ● | achievement of necessary volume of production to achieve acceptable cost; |
| ● | availability of specialized field application engineering resources supporting demand creation and customer adoption of new products; |
| ● | ability to utilize advanced manufacturing process technologies; |
| ● | achieving acceptable yields and obtaining adequate production capacity from our wafer foundries and assembly and test subcontractors; |
| ● | ability to obtain advanced packaging; |
| ● | availability of supporting software design tools; |
| ● | utilization of predefined IP logic; |
| ● | customer acceptance of advanced features in our new products; and |
| ● | market acceptance of our customers' products. |
The failure of any of these factors, among others, could adversely affect our product innovation, development and introduction efforts and our financial condition and results of operations.
We compete against companies that have significantly greater resources than us and numerous other product solutions.
The semiconductor industry is highly competitive and many of our direct and indirect competitors have substantially greater financial, technological, manufacturing, marketing, and sales resources than us. Consolidation in our industry may increasingly mean that our competitors have greater consolidated resources, or other synergies, including the ability to attract qualified employee or incorporate higher costs into product and service prices, that could put us at a competitive disadvantage. We currently compete directly with companies that have licensed our technology or have developed similar products, as well as numerous semiconductor companies that offer products based on alternative solutions, such as applications processor, application specific standard product, microcontroller, analog, and digital signal processing technologies. Competition from these semiconductor companies may intensify as we offer more products in any of our end markets. These competitors include established, multinational semiconductor companies, as well as emerging companies.
We depend on independent contractors and third parties to provide key services in our product development and operations, and any disruption of their services, or an increase in cost of these services, could negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.
We depend on subcontractors to provide cost effective and efficient services in our product development and supply chain functions, including test and assembly services, software and hardware development, support of intellectual property cores, inventory management, lead time management, technical support, and order fulfillment.
Our operations and operating results may be adversely affected if we experience problems with our subcontractors that impact the delivery of product to our customers. These problems may include: schedule delays or defects in software or hardware development deliverables; prolonged inability to obtain wafers or packaging materials with competitive performance and cost attributes; inability to achieve adequate yields or timely delivery; inability to meet customer timelines or demands; disruption or defects in assembly, test, or shipping services; or delays in stabilizing manufacturing processes or ramping up volume for new products. If our third-party supply chain providers were to reduce or discontinue services for us or their operations are disrupted as a result of a fire, earthquake, act of terrorism, political unrest, governmental uncertainty, war, disease, or other natural disaster or catastrophic event, weak economic conditions, inflation, recession, labor market disruptions, or any other reason, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Factors Related to Our Sales and Revenue
Our revenues depend on our relationships with our distributors and on a concentrated group of end customers. An adverse change in the relationships with, or performance of, our distributors, or any reduction in the use of our products by our end customers, could harm our sales and significantly decrease our revenue.
We depend on a concentrated group of distributors to sell our products to end customers, complete order fulfillment, maintain sufficient inventory of our products and provide services to our end customers. In fiscal 2023, revenue attributable to sales to distributors accounted for 87% of our total revenue, with two distributors accounting for 52% of total revenue. We have significant outstanding receivables with our top distributors, and expect our distributors to generate a significant portion of our revenue in the future. Any adverse change to our relationships or agreements with our distributors, a failure by one or more of our distributors to perform its obligations to us, a reduction in a distributor's business volume with us, or consolidation in the distribution industry could have a material impact on our business, including a reduction in our access to certain end customers, or our ability to sell our products.
If our relationships with any material customers were to diminish, if these customers were to develop their own solutions or adopt alternative solutions or competitors' solutions, if any one or more of our concentrated groups of customers were to experience significantly adverse financial conditions, including as a result of inflation, economic slowdown or recession, or labor market disruptions, or if as a result of trade disputes or sanctions these customers were restricted from purchasing our products, our results could be adversely affected.
In addition, the inability of customers to obtain credit, the insolvency of one or more customers, or tariffs applicable to our customers’ products, could impact our sales. Any of these effects could impact our ability to effectively manage inventory levels and collect receivables, require additional restructuring actions, and decrease our revenue and profitability.
The nature of our business and length of our sales cycle makes our revenue, gross margin, net income, and inventory subject to fluctuation and difficult to accurately predict.
A number of factors, including how products are manufactured to support end markets, yield, wafer pricing, cost of packaging raw materials, product mix, market acceptance of our new products, competitive pricing dynamics, product quality, geographic and/or end market mix, and pricing strategies, can cause our revenue, gross margins, net income, and inventory to fluctuate significantly either positively or negatively from period to period.
We have limited visibility into the demand for our products, particularly new products, because demand for our products depends upon our products being designed into our end customers' products and those products achieving market acceptance. During our sales cycle, our customers typically test and evaluate our products prior to deciding to include our products into the design of their own products, and then require additional time to begin volume production of their products. This lengthy sales cycle may cause us to incur significant expenses, which could be exacerbated by rising inflation, significant production delays, or additional inventory costs before we receive a customer order that may be delayed or never get placed. A key strategic customer may demand certain design or production resources to meet their requirements or work on a specific solution, which could cause delays in our normal development schedule and result in significant investment of our resources or missed opportunities with other potential customers. We may incur these expenses without generating revenue from our products to offset the expenses.
While our sales cycles are typically long, our average product life cycles can be short as a result of the rapidly changing technology environment in which we operate. From time to time, our inventory levels may be higher than historical norms due to inventory build decisions aimed at meeting expected demand, ramping for new products, reducing direct material cost, or enabling responsiveness to expected demand. In the event the expected demand does not materialize, or if our short sales cycle does not generate sufficient revenue, we may be subject to incremental excess and obsolescence costs.
These factors make it difficult for us to accurately forecast future sales and project quarterly revenues. The difficulty in forecasting future sales weakens our ability to project our inventory requirements, which could result, and in the past has resulted, in inventory write-downs or failure to meet customer product demands in a timely manner. While we may issue guidance, difficulty in forecasting financial performance, relative customer and product mix, and the unpredictability of unknown variables and their impact on our financial performance may impair the accuracy of our forward-looking financial measures.
Accounting requirements related to sales through our distribution channel could result in our reporting revenue in excess of demand.
Revenue recognition standards require recognition of revenue based on estimates and may require us to record revenue from distributors that is in excess of actual end customer demand. Since we have limited ability to forecast inventory levels of our end customers, we depend on the timeliness and accuracy of resale reports from our distributors. Late or inaccurate resale reports could mask significant build-up of inventories in our distribution channel, have a detrimental effect on our ability to properly recognize revenue, and impact our ability to forecast future sales. An inventory build-up in our distribution channel could result in a slowdown in orders, requests for returns from customers, or requests to move out planned shipments. If our distributors do not ultimately sell the inventory and our estimates change, we could be required to materially correct our recognized revenue in a future period, depending on actual results. Any failure to manage these challenges could disrupt or reduce sales of our products and unfavorably impact our financial results.
General Risk Factors
Business disruptions could seriously harm our future revenue, cash flows, and financial condition and increase our costs and expenses.
Our worldwide operations and supply chain could be disrupted by natural or human-induced disasters including, but not limited to, earthquakes, tsunamis, or floods; hurricanes, cyclones, or typhoons; fires, or other extreme weather conditions; power or water shortages; telecommunications failures; materials scarcity and price volatility; manufacturing equipment failures; IT system failures; cybersecurity attacks; data breaches; medical epidemics or pandemics; terrorist acts, civil unrest, military actions, conflicts, or wars; or other natural or man-made disasters or catastrophic events.
The occurrence of any of these business disruptions could adversely affect our competitive position and result in significant losses, decrease demand for our products, seriously harm our revenue, profitability and financial condition, increase our costs and expenses, make it difficult or impossible to provide services or deliver products to our customers or to receive components from our suppliers, create delays and inefficiencies in our supply chain, result in the need to impose employee travel restrictions, and require substantial expenditures and recovery time in order to fully resume operations. The impacts and frequency of any of the above could furthermore be exacerbated by climate change, particularly in countries where we, or our suppliers or customers, operate that have limited infrastructure and disaster recovery resources.
Our operations and those of our significant suppliers and distributors could be adversely affected if manufacturing, logistics, or other operations in key locations, including logistics hubs in Asia, are disrupted for any reason, such as those described above or other economic, business, labor, environmental, public health, regulatory or political reasons. In addition, even if our operations are unaffected or recover quickly, if our customers cannot timely resume their own operations due to a catastrophic event, they may reduce or cancel their orders, or these events could otherwise result in a decrease in demand for our products. Although it is impossible to completely predict the occurrences or consequences of any such events, forecasting disruptive events and building additional resiliency into our operations accordingly will become an increasing business imperative.
The trading price of our common stock has been and may continue to be subject to volatility in response to a variety of factors.
Our common stock has experienced substantial price volatility in the past and may continue to do so in the future. Additionally, the technology industry and the stock market as a whole has experienced extreme volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of particular companies. The trading price of our common stock has and may continue to fluctuate widely due to various factors, including, but not limited to, actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition and operating results; changes in financial estimates by us or financial or other market estimates and ratings by securities and other analysts; our ability to develop new products, enter new market segments, gain market share, manage cybersecurity and litigation risk, diversify our customer base, and successfully secure manufacturing capacity; news regarding our products or products of our competitors; any mergers, acquisitions or divestitures of assets undertaken by us; inflationary conditions, interest rate changes, and recessionary concerns; regulatory changes to international trade policies, economic sanctions, or export controls, such as new licensing requirements for exporting certain chip-related technology to China; terrorist acts or acts of war, including the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia; epidemics and pandemics; trading activity in our common stock, including stock repurchases, actions by institutional or other large stockholders, or our inclusion in market indices; or general economic, industry, and market conditions worldwide.
The volatility of our stock may cause the value of a stockholder’s investment to change rapidly. Investors in our common stock may not realize any return on their investment in us and may lose some or all of their investment. Additionally, if our stock price declines, it may be more difficult for us to raise capital and may have other adverse effects on our business. Stock price fluctuations could impact the value of our equity compensation, which could affect our ability to recruit and retain employees. Volatility in the trading price of our common stock could also result in the filing of securities class action litigation matters, which could result in substantial costs and the diversion of management time and resources. For these reasons, investors should not rely on recent or historical trends to predict future trading prices of our common stock, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Litigation and unfavorable results of legal proceedings could adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
From time to time, we are subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise out of the ordinary conduct of our business. Certain claims may not yet be resolved, including but not limited to any that are discussed under Note 14 - Contingencies to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report, and additional claims may arise in the future. Results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. Regardless of merit or outcome, claims or litigation may be both time-consuming and disruptive to our operations and cause significant expense and diversion of management attention and we may enter into material settlements to avoid these risks. Should we fail to prevail in certain matters or enter into a material settlement, we may be faced with significant monetary damages or injunctive relief against us that could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and operating results and certain portions of our business.
Acquisitions, divestitures, strategic investments and strategic partnerships could disrupt our business and adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
We may pursue growth opportunities by acquiring complementary businesses, solutions or technologies through strategic transactions, investments or partnerships. The identification of suitable acquisition, strategic investment or strategic partnership candidates can be costly and time consuming and can distract our management team from our current operations. If such strategic transactions require us to seek additional debt or equity financing, we may not be able to obtain such financing on terms favorable to us or at all, and such transaction may adversely affect our liquidity and capital structure. We may also choose to divest certain non-core assets, which divestitures could lead to charges against earnings and may expose us to additional liabilities and risks. Any strategic transaction might not strengthen our competitive position, may increase some of our risks, and may be viewed negatively by our customers, partners or investors. Even if we successfully complete a strategic transaction, we may not be able to effectively integrate the acquired business, technology, systems, control environment, solutions, personnel or operations into our business or global tax structure. We may experience unexpected changes in how we are required to account for strategic transactions pursuant to U.S. GAAP and may not achieve the anticipated benefits of any strategic transaction. We may incur unexpected costs, claims or liabilities that we incur during the strategic transaction or that we assume from the acquired company, or we may discover adverse conditions post acquisition for which we have limited or no recourse. We may also be a target for unsolicited acquisition or business combination offers. Appropriately reviewing and responding to any such offer can be costly and complex, and diverts the efforts and attention of management.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Our cybersecurity risk management process is a component of our overall enterprise risk management process, through which our Chief Executive Officer and other members of senior management assess, identify, and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats we face. Our cybersecurity process seeks to protect our information systems by managing and reducing material risks from cybersecurity threats and by responding to and mitigating cybersecurity incidents. The Board of Directors (the “Board”), and the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”), provide oversight of our cybersecurity risk management process. The Audit Committee reviews our cybersecurity program and cybersecurity risk management process quarterly, and our Board reviews our cybersecurity program annually. Our cybersecurity program is directly managed by the Chief Information Officer (“CIO”), who is experienced in information systems and cybersecurity and whose team is responsible for leading enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategy, policy, standards, architecture, and processes. The CIO provides periodic updates to our Board and Audit Committee, as well as our Chief Executive Officer and other members of our senior management. These updates cover the Company’s material cybersecurity threats, the status of projects to strengthen our cybersecurity posture, and assessments of the cybersecurity program. Our cybersecurity risk management process is evaluated by internal and external cybersecurity experts, and the material results of those reviews are reported to senior management and the Board and Audit Committee as part of their oversight role. We also engage with third-party service providers deemed to have subject matter expertise in cybersecurity matters, industry participants, and law enforcement communities as part of our continuing efforts to evaluate and enhance the effectiveness of our cybersecurity policies and processes. We require each third-party service provider to certify that they implement and maintain appropriate security measures in connection with their work with us, and to promptly report any suspected breach of its security measures that may affect us. We use various tools and methodologies to manage cybersecurity risk and to prevent, detect, and mitigate cybersecurity incidents. Our tools and methodologies are tested regularly, including vulnerability scans, red-teaming exercises and other penetration testing, and review of cybersecurity threat intelligence feeds. We face risks from cybersecurity threats that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or reputation. We have experienced, and will continue to experience, cybersecurity incidents in the normal course of our business. However, prior cybersecurity incidents have not had a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. See “Risk Factors – Factors Related to Overall Business & Operations – Our business depends on the use of information technology systems. A failure of these systems, cybersecurity incidents, or cyber-fraud may cause business disruptions, compromise our intellectual property or other sensitive information, or result in losses.”
We lease a 47,800 square foot space in Hillsboro, Oregon as our corporate headquarters and a research and development facility through October 2028.
In San Jose, California, we have 98,874 square feet under lease through September 2026, of which we use 49,579 square feet primarily for research and development. During 2019, we vacated a 23,680 square foot office space in Portland, Oregon, which we have subleased through the end of the lease in March 2025.
In Muntinlupa City, Philippines, we lease a total of 50,503 square feet through May 2025 for research and development and operations facilities. In Shanghai, China, we lease 68,027 square feet through May 2024 for research and development operations. In Penang, Malaysia, we lease 23,272 square feet through September 2029 for research and development and operations facilities. We also lease office facilities in multiple other metropolitan locations for our domestic and international sales staff. We believe that our existing facilities are suitable and adequate for our current and foreseeable future needs.
The information contained under the heading "Legal Matters" in Note 14 - Contingencies to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report is incorporated by reference into this Part I, Item 3. Also, see “Litigation and unfavorable results of legal proceedings could adversely affect our financial condition and operating results” in “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "LSCC".
Holders
As of February 12, 2024, we had approximately 160 stockholders of record.
Dividends
The payment of dividends on our common stock is within the discretion of our Board of Directors. We intend to retain earnings to finance our business. We have never paid cash dividends.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
On August 8, 2022, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a stock repurchase program pursuant to which up to $150 million of outstanding common stock could be repurchased from time to time (the "2023 Repurchase Program"). The duration of the 2023 Repurchase Program was through December 30, 2023. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, we repurchased 872,994 shares for $50.2 million, or an average price paid per share of $57.49, under the 2023 Repurchase Program. All repurchases were open market transactions funded from available working capital. All shares repurchased pursuant to the 2023 Repurchase Program were retired by the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. We repurchased a total of 1,224,443 shares for $80.2 million, or an average price paid per share of $65.50, during fiscal year 2023.
On November 30, 2023, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a stock repurchase program pursuant to which up to an additional $250 million of outstanding common stock could be repurchased from time to time (the "2024 Repurchase Program"). The duration of the 2024 Repurchase Program is through December 28, 2024. No shares were repurchased under the 2024 Repurchase Program during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023.
The following table contains information regarding our repurchases of our common stock that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023:
| Period |
Total Number of Shares Purchased |
Average Price Paid per Share |
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (a) |
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs ($M) (b) |
||||||||||||
| October 1, 2023 through October 28, 2023 |
— | $ | — | — | $ | 99.7 | ||||||||||
| October 29, 2023 through November 25, 2023 |
838,602 | $ | 57.46 | 838,602 | $ | 51.5 | ||||||||||
| November 26, 2023 through December 30, 2023 |
34,392 | $ | 58.37 | 34,392 | $ | 250.0 | ||||||||||
| Total |
872,994 | $ | 57.49 | 872,994 | $ | 250.0 | ||||||||||
| (a) | All repurchases during the quarter were open-market transactions funded from available working capital made under the authorization from our Board of Directors to purchase up to $150.0 million of our common stock announced August 8, 2022 | |
| (b) | At December 30, 2023, this amount consists of the remaining portion of the $250 million program authorized through December 28, 2024 that was announced November 30, 2023. The remaining portion of the $150 million program authorized through December 30, 2023 expired with no additional shares repurchased. |
Comparison of Total Cumulative Stockholder Return
The following graph shows the five-year comparison of cumulative stockholder return on our common stock, the Standard and Poor's (“S&P”) 500 Index and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (“PHLX”) from December 2018 through December 2023. Cumulative stockholder return assumes $100 invested at the beginning of the period in our common stock, the S&P and PHLX. Historical stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
Lattice Cumulative Stockholder Return
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Lattice,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) develop technologies that we monetize through differentiated programmable logic semiconductor products, silicon-enabling products, system solutions, design services, and licenses. Lattice is the low power programmable leader. We solve customer problems across the network, from the Edge to the Cloud, in the growing communications, computing, industrial, automotive, and consumer markets. Our technology, long-standing relationships, and commitment to world-class support lets our customers quickly and easily unleash their innovation to create a smart, secure, and connected world.
Lattice has focused its strategy on delivering programmable logic products and related solutions based on low power, small size, and ease of use. We also serve our customers with IP licensing and various other services. Our product development activities include new proprietary products, advanced packaging, existing product enhancements, software development tools, soft IP, and system solutions for high-growth applications such as Edge AI, 5G infrastructure, platform security, and factory automation.
This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Part II, Item 8. "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this report. Discussions of results for prior periods (fiscal 2022 compared to fiscal 2021) are incorporated by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Impact of Global Economic Activity on our Business
Increased financial market volatility, inflationary pressure, rising interest rates, recessionary concerns, uncertainty in the financial and banking industry, and geopolitical tension continue to impact business globally and may impact our operations by causing disruption to our labor markets and supply chains. The extent to which increased financial market volatility, inflationary pressures, global pandemics, and related uncertainty will impact our business activities will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time. Additionally, our business is impacted by the cyclic correction affecting the broader semiconductor industry, which has seen softened demand across our end markets and customers reducing or rebalancing their inventory levels.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
Critical accounting policies are those that are both most important to the portrayal of a company's financial condition and results of operations, and that require management's most difficult, subjective, and complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments affecting the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, knowledge of current conditions, and our beliefs of what could occur in the future considering available information. While we believe that our estimates, assumptions, and judgments are reasonable, they are based on information available when made, and because of the uncertainty inherent in these matters, actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis.
We believe the following accounting policies and the related estimates are critical in the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations, and require management's most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments. See Note 1 - Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report for further information on the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
We recognize revenue upon satisfaction of performance obligations when control of promised goods or services has been transferred to our customers. We measure revenue based on the amount of consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for products or services. For revenue recognized on both sales to distributors and related to royalties, the amount of consideration we expect to be entitled to receive is based on estimates that require assumptions and judgments relating to trends in recent and historical activity. See Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report for further information on our recognition of revenue. Sales to most distributors are made under terms allowing certain price adjustments upon sale to their end customers and limited rights of return of our products held in their inventory. The revenue recognized based on estimated price adjustments and stock rotation reserves may be materially different from the actual consideration received if the actual distributor price adjustments and stock rotation returns differ significantly from the historical trends used in the estimates.
Inventories and Cost of Revenue
Inventories are stated at the lower of actual cost (determined using the first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value. We review and set standard costs quarterly to approximate current actual manufacturing costs. Our manufacturing overhead standards for product costs are calculated assuming full absorption of actual spending over actual costs. The valuation of inventory requires us to estimate excess or obsolete inventory. Material assumptions we use to estimate necessary inventory carrying value adjustments can be unique to each product and are based on specific facts and circumstances. In determining provisions for excess or obsolete products, we consider assumptions such as changes in business and economic conditions, projected customer demand for our products, and changes in technology or customer requirements. The creation of such provisions results in a write-down of inventory to net realizable value and a charge to Cost of revenue. If in any period we anticipate a change in assumptions such as future market or economic conditions to be less favorable than our previous estimates, additional inventory write-downs may be required and would be reflected in Cost of revenue, resulting in a negative impact to our gross margin in that period. If in any period we are able to sell inventories that had been written down to a level below the ultimate realized selling price in a previous period, related revenue would be recorded with a lower or no offsetting charge to Cost of revenue resulting in a net benefit to our gross margin in that period.
Accounting for Income Taxes
We are required to estimate our provision for income taxes and amounts ultimately payable or recoverable in numerous tax jurisdictions around the world. These estimates involve significant judgment and interpretations of regulations and are inherently complex. Resolution of income tax treatments in individual jurisdictions may not be known for many years after completion of the applicable year. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements using enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the difference is expected to reverse.
Valuation allowances are provided to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount that in management’s judgment is more-likely-than-not to be recoverable against future taxable income. The determination of a valuation allowance and when it should be released requires complex judgment. In assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets, we regularly evaluate both positive and negative evidence that may exist and consider whether it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. In determining the need to establish or maintain a valuation allowance, we consider the four sources of jurisdictional taxable income: (i) future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences; (ii) future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards; (iii) taxable income in prior carryback year(s) if carryback is permitted under the tax law; and (iv) viable and prudent tax planning strategies.
Through the end of fiscal 2023, we demonstrated consistent and continued profitability over the preceding three-year period. In assessing the realizability of the deferred tax assets, we considered our operating environment and estimates about our ability to generate taxable income in future periods within the United States. As a result, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, we concluded that our history of profitable operating results, including the current period results, along with our expectations about generating sufficient U.S. Federal taxable income, provided sufficient positive evidence supporting the realizability of our U.S. Federal deferred tax assets. Accordingly, we reduced the valuation allowance against a significant portion of our U.S. deferred tax assets resulting in the inclusion of $56.9 million of U.S. Federal deferred tax assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance against our state deferred tax assets due to insufficient income sources. We will continue to evaluate both positive and negative evidence in future periods to determine if we will realize the deferred tax assets. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable could be adjusted if sufficient positive evidence exists. We do not maintain a valuation allowance in any foreign jurisdictions as we have concluded that it is more likely than not that we will realize those net deferred tax assets in the future periods.
As part of our regular financial review process, we also assess the likelihood that our tax reporting positions will ultimately be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. To the extent it is determined it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that some portion or all of a tax reporting position will ultimately not be recognized and sustained, a provision for unrecognized tax benefit is provided by either reducing the applicable deferred tax asset or accruing an income tax liability. Our judgment regarding the sustainability of our tax reporting positions may change in the future due to changes in U.S. or international tax laws and other factors. These changes, if any, may require material adjustments to the related deferred tax assets or accrued income tax liabilities and an accompanying reduction or increase in income tax expense which may result in a corresponding increase or decrease in net income in the period when such determinations are made. We recognize the tax impact of including certain foreign earnings in U.S. taxable income as a period cost.
Results of Operations
Key elements of our Consolidated Statements of Operations, including as a percentage of revenue, are presented in the following table:
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue |
$ | 737,154 | 100.0 | % | $ | 660,356 | 100.0 | % | $ | 515,327 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||
| Gross margin |
514,670 | 69.8 | 452,050 | 68.5 | 321,675 | 62.4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development |
159,770 | 21.7 | 135,767 | 20.6 | 110,518 | 21.4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and, administrative |
137,244 | 18.6 | 122,076 | 18.5 | 105,617 | 20.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets |
3,478 | 0.5 | 3,778 | 0.6 | 2,613 | 0.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring |
1,908 | 0.3 | 2,551 | 0.4 | 940 | 0.2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition related |
— | — | 511 | 0.1 | 1,171 | 0.2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Income from operations |
$ | 212,270 | 28.8 | % | $ | 187,367 | 28.4 | % | $ | 100,816 | 19.6 | % | ||||||||||||
Revenue
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
% Change in |
|||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||
| Revenue |
$ | 737,154 | $ | 660,356 | $ | 515,327 | 11.6 | % | 28.1 | % | ||||||||||
Revenue increased $76.8 million, or 11.6%, in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022, primarily from increased demand for our products used in industrial automation, robotics applications, and data center servers, partially offset by lower demand for our products used in wireless infrastructure and consumer applications.
Revenue by End Market
We sell our products globally to a broad base of customers in three primary end market groups: Communications and Computing, Industrial and Automotive, and Consumer. Across our end markets, our products are increasingly used for Artificial Intelligence ("AI")-related applications, including device usage in AI-optimized servers in data centers, AI-enabled PCs, and AI-enabled robotics and ADAS systems, among others. We also provide IP licensing and services to our end markets.
Within these end markets, there are multiple drivers, including:
| • |
Communications and Computing: data center servers and networking equipment, client computing platforms, and wireless and wireline communications infrastructure deployments, |
|
| • |
Industrial and Automotive: factory automation, robotics, automotive electronics, and industrial IoT, |
|
| • |
Consumer: smart home, prosumer, and other applications. |
The end market data we use is derived from data provided to us by our customers. With a diverse base of customers who may manufacture end products spanning multiple end markets, the assignment of revenue to a specific end market requires the use of judgment. We also recognize certain revenue for which end customers and end markets are not yet known. We assign this revenue first to a specific end market using historical and anticipated usage of the specific products, if possible, and allocate the remainder to the end markets based on either historical usage for each product family or industry application data for certain product types.
The following are examples of end market applications for the fiscal years presented:
| Communications and Computing |
Industrial and Automotive |
Consumer |
| Wireless |
Security and Surveillance |
Cameras |
| Wireline |
Machine Vision |
Displays |
| Data Backhaul |
Industrial Automation |
Wearables |
| Server Computing |
Robotics |
Televisions |
| Client Computing |
Automotive |
Home Theater |
| Data Storage |
Drones |
|
The composition of our revenue by end market is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
% Change in |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Communications and Computing |
$ | 257,536 | 34.9 | % | $ | 282,913 | 42.8 | % | $ | 227,911 | 44.2 | % | (9.0 | )% | 24.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Industrial and Automotive |
433,482 | 58.8 | 319,398 | 48.4 | 226,260 | 43.9 | 35.7 | 41.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consumer |
46,136 | 6.3 | 58,045 | 8.8 | 61,156 | 11.9 | (20.5 | ) | (5.1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue |
$ | 737,154 | 100.0 | % | $ | 660,356 | 100.0 | % | $ | 515,327 | 100.0 | % | 11.6 | % | 28.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Revenue from the Communications and Computing end market decreased by 9% in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022 primarily due to softer end market demand in both wireless and wireline communications infrastructure, partially offset by strong demand in data center applications.
Revenue from the Industrial and Automotive end market increased by 36% in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022, primarily due to strong customer adoption in a broad range of applications, including industrial automation and robotics. Growth in Automotive was driven by the adoption of new designs in advanced driver assistance ("ADAS") and infotainment applications.
Revenue from the Consumer end market decreased by 21% in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022 primarily due to macroeconomic weakness in Consumer.
While we do not consider AI applications as a distinct end market, we expect AI-related revenue to grow over the next few years based on the growing pipeline of AI-related design wins.
Revenue by Geography
We have a diverse base of customers where distributors represent a significant portion of our total revenue. Our revenue by geographical market is based on the ship-to location of our customers, which can vary from time to time. Revenue from Asia decreased in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022 primarily due to the macroeconomic environment in the region, while revenue from the Americas and Europe increased due to increased demand in these regions driven by our Industrial and Automotive end market.
The composition of our revenue by geography is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
% Change in |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asia |
$ | 443,765 | 60.2 | % | $ | 464,904 | 70.5 | % | $ | 384,568 | 74.6 | % | (4.5 | )% | 20.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Americas |
145,839 | 19.8 | 100,260 | 15.2 | 80,870 | 15.7 | 45.5 | 24.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe |
147,550 | 20.0 | 95,192 | 14.3 | 49,889 | 9.7 | 55.0 | 90.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue |
$ | 737,154 | 100.0 | % | $ | 660,356 | 100.0 | % | $ | 515,327 | 100.0 | % | 11.6 | % | 28.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Revenue from Customers
We sell our products to independent distributors and directly to customers. Distributors have historically accounted for a significant portion of our total revenue, and the distributors noted below individually accounted for more than 10% of our total revenue in certain periods covered by this report.
The composition of our revenue by customer is presented in the following table:
| % of Total Revenue |
||||||||||||
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
||||||||||
| 2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
||||||||||
| Arrow |
31.6 | % | 28.5 | % | 27.1 | % | ||||||
| Weikeng |
20.5 | 30.3 | 37.2 | |||||||||
| Future |
12.6 | 8.3 | 6.5 | |||||||||
| Macnica |
10.8 | 9.7 | 6.6 | |||||||||
| Other distributors |
11.9 | 12.7 | 9.9 | |||||||||
| All distributors |
87.4 | 89.5 | 87.3 | |||||||||
| Direct customers |
12.6 | 10.5 | 12.7 | |||||||||
| Total revenue |
100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||
Gross margin
The composition of our gross margin, including as a percentage of revenue, is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
|||||||||
| Gross margin |
$ | 514,670 | $ | 452,050 | $ | 321,675 | ||||||
| Gross margin percentage |
69.8 | % | 68.5 | % | 62.4 | % | ||||||
Gross margin percentage increased 130 basis points from fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2023. Improved margins were driven by benefits from our gross margin expansion strategy including mix.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expense
The composition of our Research and development expense, including as a percentage of revenue, is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
% Change in |
|||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||
| Research and development |
$ | 159,770 | $ | 135,767 | $ | 110,518 | 17.7 | % | 22.8 | % | ||||||||||
| Percentage of revenue |
21.7 | % | 20.6 | % | 21.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
Research and development expense includes costs for compensation and benefits, stock-based compensation, engineering wafers, depreciation and amortization, licenses, and outside engineering services. These expenditures are for the design of new products, IP cores, processes, packaging, and software solutions.
The increase in Research and development expense for fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022 was due primarily to increased headcount-related costs, including stock-based compensation, as we continue to invest in our long-term product roadmap, and depreciation and amortization related to our research and development equipment.
We believe that investing in research and development is important to delivering innovative products to our customers and, therefore, we expect to continue to increase our investment in research and development.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expense
The composition of our Selling, general, and administrative expense, including as a percentage of revenue, is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
% Change in |
|||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||
| Selling, general, and administrative |
$ | 137,244 | $ | 122,076 | $ | 105,617 | 12.4 | % | 15.6 | % | ||||||||||
| Percentage of revenue |
18.6 | % | 18.5 | % | 20.5 | % | ||||||||||||||
Selling, general, and administrative expense includes costs for compensation and benefits related to selling, general, and administrative employees, commissions, depreciation, professional and outside services, trade show, and travel expenses.
The increase in Selling, general, and administrative expense for fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022 was due primarily to increased headcount-related costs, including stock-based compensation and other costs, related to demand creation to support the growth of our business.
Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets
The composition of our Amortization of acquired intangible assets, including as a percentage of revenue, is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
% Change in |
|||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets |
$ | 3,478 | $ | 3,778 | $ | 2,613 | (7.9 | )% | 44.6 | % | ||||||||||
| Percentage of revenue |
0.5 | % | 0.6 | % | 0.5 | % | ||||||||||||||
The decrease in Amortization of acquired intangible assets for fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022 was due to the end of the amortization period during the first quarter of fiscal 2022 for acquired intangible assets from previous acquisitions.
Restructuring
The composition of our Restructuring activity, including as a percentage of revenue, is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
% Change in |
|||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||
| Restructuring |
$ | 1,908 | $ | 2,551 | $ | 940 | (25.2 | )% | 171.4 | % | ||||||||||
| Percentage of revenue |
0.3 | % | 0.4 | % | 0.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
Restructuring activity is generally comprised of expenses resulting from workforce reductions, cancellation of contracts, and consolidation of our facilities. Details of our restructuring plans and expenses incurred under them are discussed in Note 8 - Restructuring to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Restructuring costs decreased in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022 due to lower costs in the current year periods for severance compared to higher costs in the prior year periods for lease right-of-use impairment and contract termination fees.
Acquisition Related Charges
The composition of our Acquisition related charges, including as a percentage of revenue, is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
% Change in |
|||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||
| Acquisition related |
$ | — | $ | 511 | $ | 1,171 | (100.0 | )% | (56.4 | )% | ||||||||||
| Percentage of revenue |
— | % | 0.1 | % | 0.2 | % | ||||||||||||||
Acquisition related charges include legal and professional fees directly related to acquisitions. For fiscal 2022 and 2021, Acquisition related charges were attributable to our acquisition of Mirametrix in November 2021 and were comprised primarily of professional services including legal and accounting fees, as well as closing costs.
Interest Income (Expense), net
The composition of our Interest income (expense), net, including as a percentage of revenue, is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
% Change in |
|||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||
| Interest income (expense), net |
$ | 2,041 | $ | (4,146 | ) | $ | (2,738 | ) | (149.2 | )% | 51.4 | % | ||||||||
| Percentage of revenue |
0.3 | % | (0.6 | )% | (0.5 | )% | ||||||||||||||
The change in Interest income (expense) for fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022 was driven by increased interest income, coupled with lower interest expense as we paid off the outstanding balance of our long-term debt during the third quarter of fiscal 2023.
Other Income (Expense), net
The composition of our Other income (expense), net, including as a percentage of revenue, is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
% Change in |
|||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net |
$ | 545 | $ | (1,109 | ) | $ | (452 | ) | (149.1 | )% | 145.4 | % | ||||||||
| Percentage of revenue |
0.1 | % | (0.2 | )% | (0.1 | )% | ||||||||||||||
For fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022, the change in Other income (expense), net was primarily due to a research credit of $0.9 million in the current year compared to the non-recurrence of $0.7 million of loss on the refinancing of our long-term debt in the prior year, and to foreign currency effects.
Income Taxes
The composition of our Income tax (benefit) expense is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
% Change in |
|||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
2023 |
2022 |
|||||||||||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense |
$ | (44,205 | ) | $ | 3,230 | $ | 1,704 | (100+)% | 89.6 | % | ||||||||||
Our Income tax (benefit) expense includes taxes on foreign income and withholding taxes, partially offset by benefits resulting from excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, we reduced the valuation allowance against a significant portion of our U.S. deferred tax assets resulting in the inclusion of $56.9 million of U.S. Federal deferred tax assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The income tax benefit from the release of a portion of the valuation allowance was partially offset by an increase in expense in fiscal 2023 as compared to fiscal 2022 primarily due to increased worldwide income and U.S. tax on foreign operations.
We updated our evaluation of the valuation allowance position in the United States through December 30, 2023. In making this evaluation, we considered our operating environment and estimates about our ability to generate taxable income in future periods within the United States. As a result of our consistent and continued profitability over the preceding three-year period and our expectations about generating sufficient U.S. Federal taxable income, we have determined that there is sufficient evidence that our U.S. Federal deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized.
We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance against our state deferred tax assets due to insufficient income sources. We will continue to evaluate both positive and negative evidence in future periods to determine if we will realize those deferred tax assets. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable could be adjusted if sufficient positive evidence exists. We do not maintain a valuation allowance in any foreign jurisdictions as we have concluded that it is more likely than not that we will realize those net deferred tax assets in the future periods. Details of our deferred tax assets and valuation allowance are discussed in Note 12 - Income Taxes to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following sections discuss material changes in our financial condition from the end of fiscal 2022, including the effects of changes in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the effects of our credit arrangements and contractual obligations on our liquidity and capital resources. There continues to be uncertainty around the extent of market volatility, inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, recessionary concerns, uncertainty in the financial and banking industry, and geopolitical tension, which may impact our liquidity and working capital needs in future periods.
We have historically financed our operating and capital resource requirements through cash flows from operations, and from the issuance of long-term debt to fund acquisitions. Cash provided by or used in operating activities will fluctuate from period to period due to fluctuations in operating results, the timing and collection of accounts receivable, and required inventory levels, among other things. We believe that our financial resources, including current cash and cash equivalents, cash flow from operating activities, and our credit facilities, will be sufficient to meet our liquidity and working capital needs through at least the next 12 months. On September 1, 2022, we entered into our 2022 Credit Agreement, as described in Note 7 - Long-Term Debt to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report. As of December 30, 2023, we did not have significant long-term commitments for capital expenditures. For further information on our cash commitments for operating lease liabilities, see Note 9 - Leases to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
In the future, we may continue to consider acquisition opportunities to further extend our product or technology portfolios and further expand our product offerings. In connection with funding capital expenditures, acquisitions, securing additional wafer supply, increasing our working capital, or other operations, we may seek to obtain equity or additional debt financing. We may also seek to obtain equity or additional debt financing if we experience downturns or cyclical fluctuations in our business that are more severe or longer than we anticipated when determining our current working capital needs.
Liquidity
Cash and cash equivalents
| (In thousands) |
December 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | $ Change |
% Change |
||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 128,317 | $ | 145,722 | $ | (17,405 | ) | (11.9 | )% | |||||||
As of December 30, 2023, we had Cash and cash equivalents of $128.3 million, of which approximately $36.1 million in Cash and cash equivalents was held by our foreign subsidiaries. We manage our global cash requirements considering, among other things, (i) available funds among our subsidiaries through which we conduct business, (ii) the geographic location of our liquidity needs, and (iii) the cost to access international cash balances. The repatriation of non-US earnings may require us to withhold and pay foreign income tax on dividends. This should not result in our recording significant additional tax expense as we have accrued expense based on current withholding rates. As of December 30, 2023, we could access all cash held by our foreign subsidiaries without incurring significant additional expense.
The net decrease in Cash and cash equivalents of $17.4 million between December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was primarily driven by cash flows from the following activities:
Operating activities — Cash provided by operating activities results from net income adjusted for certain non-cash items and changes in assets and liabilities. Cash provided by operating activities was $269.6 million in fiscal 2023 compared to $238.8 million in fiscal 2022. This increase of $30.8 million was primarily driven by an increase of $40.1 million provided by improved operating performance, partially offset by $9.3 million of changes in working capital, primarily from cash used by accrued liabilities, payroll obligations, and accounts payable, net of cash provided by inventories.
Investing activities — Investing cash flows consist primarily of transactions related to capital expenditures and payments for software and intellectual property licenses. Net cash used by investing activities in fiscal 2023 was $33.3 million compared to $34.9 million in fiscal 2022. This $1.6 million decrease was primarily a result of decreased capital expenditures.
Financing activities — Financing cash flows consist primarily of activity on our long-term debt, repurchases of common stock, tax payments related to the net share settlement of restricted stock units, and proceeds from the exercise of options to acquire common stock. Net cash used by financing activities in fiscal 2023 was $253.7 million compared to $188.1 million in fiscal 2022. This $65.6 million increase was due to the following activities. During fiscal 2023, we made discretionary payments totaling $130.0 million on our revolving loans under the 2022 Credit Agreement, an increase of $99.8 million from the $30.2 million of net payment and refinancing activity on our long-term debt in fiscal 2022. We repurchased approximately 1.2 million shares of common stock for $80.0 million in fiscal 2023 compared to repurchases of approximately 2.0 million shares of common stock for $110.1 million in fiscal 2022. Payments for tax withholdings on vesting of RSUs partially offset by employee exercises of stock options used net cash flows of $43.7 million in fiscal 2023, a decrease of approximately $4.1 million from the net $47.8 million used in fiscal 2022.
Accounts receivable, net
| (In thousands) |
December 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | $ Change |
% Change |
||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net |
$ | 104,373 | $ | 94,018 | $ | 10,355 | 11.0 | % | ||||||||
| Days sales outstanding - Overall |
56 | 49 | 7 | |||||||||||||
Accounts receivable, net as of December 30, 2023 increased by approximately $10.4 million, or approximately 11%, compared to December 31, 2022. This resulted primarily from the timing of when our customers wanted our products to be shipped during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. We calculate Days sales outstanding on the basis of a 365-day year as Accounts receivable, net at the end of the quarter divided by sales during the quarter annualized and then multiplied by 365.
Inventories
| (In thousands) |
December 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | $ Change |
% Change |
||||||||||||
| Inventories |
$ | 98,826 | $ | 110,375 | $ | (11,549 | ) | (10.5 | )% | |||||||
| Days of inventory on hand |
175 | 187 | (12 | ) | ||||||||||||
Inventories as of December 30, 2023 decreased $11.5 million, or approximately 11%, compared to December 31, 2022 primarily as a result of increased product shipments to meet customer demand.
The Days of inventory on hand ratio compares the inventory balance at the end of a quarter to the cost of sales in that quarter. We calculate Days of inventory on hand on the basis of a 365-day year as Inventories at the end of the quarter divided by Cost of sales during the quarter annualized and then multiplied by 365.
Credit Arrangements
On September 1, 2022, we entered into our 2022 Credit Agreement. The details of this arrangement are described in Note 7 - Long-Term Debt to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report. As of December 30, 2023, we had no used or unused credit arrangements beyond the secured revolving loan facility described in the 2022 Credit Agreement.
Share Repurchase Program
See "Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities" under Part II, Item 5 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information about the share repurchase program.
New Accounting Pronouncements
The information contained under the heading "New Accounting Pronouncements" in Note 1 - Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this report is incorporated by reference into this Part II, Item 7.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our financial position due to adverse changes in financial market prices and rates. Our market risk exposure is primarily a result of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. We assess these risks on a regular basis and have established policies that are designed to protect against the adverse effects of these and other potential exposures.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
While our revenues and the majority of our expenses are denominated in U.S. dollars, our financial position and results of operations are subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk as a result of having various international subsidiary and branch operations. Historically, exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk has not had a material impact on our results from operations. At times in the past, we have entered into foreign currency forward exchange contracts in relation to certain activities, which mitigated the foreign currency exchange rate exposure from an economic perspective, but these were not designated as "effective" hedges under U.S. GAAP.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest Income
Our interest income is sensitive to changes in the general level of interest rates. As of December 30, 2023, a hypothetical 100 basis point change in interest rates would have resulted in less than $1.5 million change in interest income.
Interest Expense
We may be exposed to interest rate risk via the terms of our 2022 Credit Agreement, which specifies an interest rate on revolving loans that consists of a variable-rate of interest and an applicable margin. While we have drawn from this credit facility in the past, we have no borrowings outstanding as of December 30, 2023. If we borrow from the credit facility in the future, we will again be exposed to interest rate fluctuations.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
| Index to Consolidated Financial Statements: | Page | |
|
|
| |
| Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ( | (PCAOB ID: |
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share data) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
|||||||||
| Revenue |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Cost of revenue |
||||||||||||
| Gross margin |
||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||
| Research and development |
||||||||||||
| Selling, general, and administrative |
||||||||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets |
||||||||||||
| Restructuring |
||||||||||||
| Acquisition related |
||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses |
||||||||||||
| Income from operations |
||||||||||||
| Interest income (expense), net |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Other income (expense), net |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Income before income taxes |
||||||||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Net income |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Net income per share: |
||||||||||||
| Basic |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Diluted |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Shares used in per share calculations: |
||||||||||||
| Basic |
||||||||||||
| Diluted |
||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
|||||||||
| Net income |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss): |
||||||||||||
| Translation adjustment |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Change in actuarial valuation of defined benefit pension, net of tax |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Comprehensive income |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| December 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| (In thousands, except share and par value data) | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses | ||||||||
| Inventories, net | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | ||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | ||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | ||||||||
| Intangible assets, net | ||||||||
| Goodwill | ||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | ||||||||
| Other long-term assets | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued liabilities | ||||||||
| Accrued payroll obligations | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| Long-term debt | ||||||||
| Long-term operating lease liabilities, net of current portion | ||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| Contingencies (Note 14) | ||||||||
| Stockholders' equity: | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, $ par value, shares authorized, issued and outstanding | ||||||||
| Common stock, $ par value, shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding as of December 30, 2023 and shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
| Retained earnings (Accumulated deficit) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders' equity | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| Year Ended |
||||||||||||
| December 30, |
December 31, |
January 1, |
||||||||||
| (In thousands) |
2023 |
2022 |
2022 |
|||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||||||
| Net income |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense |
||||||||||||
| Change in deferred income tax provision |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Amortization of right-of-use assets |
||||||||||||
| Impairment of operating lease right-of-use asset |
||||||||||||
| Other non-cash adjustments |
||||||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: |
||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Inventories, net |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Accounts payable |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Accrued liabilities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Accrued payroll obligations |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current and long-term portions |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
||||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Cash paid for software and intellectual property licenses |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Cash paid for business acquisition, net of cash acquired |
( |
) | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||||||
| Restricted stock unit tax withholdings |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock |
||||||||||||
| Repurchase of common stock |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Proceeds from long-term debt, net of issuance costs |
||||||||||||
| Repayment of long-term debt |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Effect of exchange rate change on cash |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||
| Beginning cash and cash equivalents |
||||||||||||
| Ending cash and cash equivalents |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information and non-cash investing and financing activities: |
||||||||||||
| Interest paid |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Income taxes paid, net of refunds |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Operating lease payments |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accrued purchases of plant and equipment |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations |
$ | $ | $ | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
| Retained | Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Additional | Earnings | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ($.01 par value) |
Paid-in |
(Accumulated |
Comprehensive |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except par value data) |
Shares |
Amount |
Capital |
Deficit) |
Income (Loss) |
Total |
||||||||||||||||||
| Balances, January 2, 2021 |
$ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Components of comprehensive income, net of tax: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income |
— | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) |
— | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock issued in connection with employee equity incentive plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense |
— | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase of common stock |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| Balances, January 1, 2022 |
$ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Components of comprehensive income, net of tax: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income |
— | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) |
— | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock issued in connection with employee equity incentive plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense |
— | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase of common stock |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| Balances, December 31, 2022 |
$ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Components of comprehensive income, net of tax: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income |
— | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) |
— | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock issued in connection with employee equity incentive plans, net of shares withheld for employee taxes |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense |
— | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchase of common stock |
( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||
| Balances, December 30, 2023 |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("U.S. GAAP") and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). They include the accounts of Lattice and its subsidiaries after the elimination of all intercompany balances and transactions.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments affecting the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, knowledge of current conditions, and our beliefs of what could occur in the future considering available information. While we believe that our estimates, assumptions, and judgments are reasonable, they are based on information available when made, and because of the uncertainty inherent in these matters, the actual results that we experience may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis.
Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.
Fiscal Reporting Periods
We report based on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to December 31. Our fiscal 2023, 2022, and 2021 were all 52-week years that ended on December 30, 2023, December 31, 2022, and January 1, 2022, respectively. All references to quarterly or annual financial results are references to the results for the relevant fiscal period.
Concentrations of Risk
Potential exposure to concentrations of risk may impact revenue, accounts receivable, and supply of wafers for our new products.
Distributors have historically accounted for a significant portion of our total revenue. Certain of our largest distributors each account for more than 10% of our total revenue and our net accounts receivable. Revenue attributable to distributors as a percentage of total revenue is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||
| December 30, | December 31, | January 1, | ||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Arrow | % | % | % | |||||||||
| Weikeng | ||||||||||||
| Future | ||||||||||||
| Macnica | ||||||||||||
| Other distributors | ||||||||||||
| Revenue attributable to distributors | % | % | % | |||||||||
of these distributors each accounted for more than 10% of net accounts receivable at certain dates presented. At December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, Arrow accounted for approximately
Concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is mitigated by our credit and collection process including active management of collections, credit limits, routine credit evaluations for essentially all customers, and secure transactions with letters of credit or advance payments where appropriate. We regularly review our allowance for doubtful accounts and the aging of our accounts receivable.
We rely on a limited number of foundries for our wafer purchases. We seek to mitigate the concentration of supply risk by establishing, maintaining, and managing multiple foundry relationships; however, certain of our products are sourced from a single foundry and changing from one foundry to another can have a significant cost, or create delays in production or shipments, among other factors.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
We consider all investments that are readily convertible into cash and that have original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of highly liquid investments in time deposits or money market accounts and are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. Deposits with financial institutions at times exceed Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits.
Foreign Exchange and Translation of Foreign Currencies
While our revenues and the majority of our expenses are denominated in U.S. dollars, we also have international subsidiaries and branch operations that conduct some transactions in currencies that differ from the functional currency of that entity. Gains or losses from foreign exchange rate fluctuations on balances denominated in currencies that differ from the functional currencies are reflected in Other income (expense), net.
We translate accounts denominated in foreign currencies in accordance with ASC 830, “Foreign Currency Matters,” using the current rate method under which asset and liability accounts are translated at the current rate, while stockholders' equity accounts are translated at the appropriate historical rates, and revenue and expense accounts are translated at average monthly exchange rates. Translation adjustments related to the consolidation of foreign subsidiary financial statements are reflected in Accumulated other comprehensive loss in Stockholders' equity (See our Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity).
Revenue Recognition
Under the terms of ASC 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers", we recognize revenue when we satisfy performance obligations as evidenced by the transfer of control of our products or services to customers. For sales to distributors, we have concluded that our contracts are with the distributor, rather than with the distributor’s end customer, as we hold a contract bearing enforceable rights and obligations only with the distributor. Our revenue is derived primarily from sales of silicon-based products, with additional revenue from sales of silicon-enabling products. We consider customer purchase orders, which in some cases are governed by master sales agreements, to be the contracts with a customer. For each contract, we consider our promise to transfer each distinct product to be the identified performance obligations. Revenue for product sales is recognized at the time of product shipment, as determined by the agreed upon contract shipping terms.
Our Licensing and services revenue is comprised of revenue from our IP core licensing activity, patent monetization activities, design services, and royalty and adopter fee revenue from our standards activities. These activities are complementary to our product sales and help us to monetize our IP associated with our technology and standards. We consider licensing arrangements with our customers and agreements with the standards consortia of which we are a member to be the contract. For each contract, we consider the promise to deliver a license that grants the customer the right to use the IP, as well as any professional services provided under the contract, as distinct performance obligations. We recognize license revenue at the point in time that control of the license transfers to the customer, which is generally upon delivery, or as usage occurs.
We measure revenue based on the amount of consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for products or services. Variable consideration is estimated and reflected as an adjustment to the transaction price. We determine variable consideration, which consists primarily of various sales price concessions, by estimating the most likely amount of consideration we expect to receive from the customer based on an analysis of historical rebate claims over a period of time considered adequate to account for current pricing and business trends. Sales rebates earned by customers are offset against their receivable balances. Rebates earned by customers when they do not have outstanding receivable balances are recorded within Accrued liabilities. Revenue related to licensing and services, which includes HDMI and MHL standards revenue, as well as certain IP licenses, includes variable consideration in the form of usage-based royalties.
We generally provide an assurance warranty that our products will substantially conform to the published specifications for twelve months from the date of shipment. In some cases, the warranty period may be longer than twelve months. We do not separately price or sell the assurance warranty. Our liability is limited to either a credit equal to the purchase price or replacement of the defective part. Under the practical expedient provided by ASC 340, we generally expense sales commissions when incurred because the amortization period would be less than one year. We record these costs within Selling, general, and administrative expenses. Substantially all of our performance obligations are satisfied within twelve months.
Inventories and Cost of Revenue
Inventories are stated at the lower of actual cost (determined using the first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value. We review and set standard costs quarterly to approximate current actual manufacturing costs. Our manufacturing overhead standards for product costs are calculated assuming full absorption of actual spending over actual costs. The valuation of inventory requires us to estimate excess or obsolete inventory. Material assumptions we use to estimate necessary inventory carrying value adjustments can be unique to each product and are based on specific facts and circumstances. In determining provisions for excess or obsolete products, we consider assumptions such as changes in business and economic conditions, projected customer demand for our products, and changes in technology or customer requirements. The creation of such provisions results in a write-down of inventory to net realizable value and a charge to Cost of revenue. Lower of cost or net realizable value is based on assumptions such as recent historical sales activity and selling prices, as well as estimates of future sales activity and selling prices. Shipping and handling costs are included in Cost of revenue in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, generally to years for equipment and software, and to years for tooling. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the non-cancelable lease term or the estimated useful life of the assets. We capitalize costs for the fabrication of masks used by our foundry partners to manufacture our products. The capitalized mask costs begin depreciating to Cost of revenue once the products go into production, and depreciation is straight-lined over a three-year period, which is the expected useful life of the mask. Upon disposal of property and equipment, the accounts are relieved of the costs and related accumulated depreciation and amortization, and resulting gains or losses are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for recognized gains and losses. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.
Business Combinations
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, under which we allocate the purchase price paid for a company to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is measured as the excess of purchase price over the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Determining the fair value of identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management to make assumptions, estimates, and judgments that are based on all available information, including comparable market data and information obtained from our management and the management of the acquired companies. The estimation of the fair values of the intangible assets requires significant judgment and the use of valuation techniques including primarily the income approach. Consideration is given to all relevant factors that might affect the fair value such as estimates of future revenues and costs, present value factors, and the estimated useful lives of intangible assets. We expense acquisition-related costs in the period incurred.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, which consist primarily of property and equipment, amortizable intangible assets, and right-of-use assets, are carried on our financial statements based on their cost less accumulated depreciation or amortization. We monitor the carrying value of our long-lived assets for potential impairment and test the recoverability of such assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. These events or changes in circumstances, including management decisions pertaining to such assets, are referred to as impairment indicators. If an impairment indicator occurs, we perform a test of recoverability by comparing the carrying value of the asset group to its undiscounted expected future cash flows. If the carrying values are in excess of undiscounted expected future cash flows, we measure any impairment by comparing the fair value of the asset group to its carrying value. Fair value is generally determined by considering (i) internally developed discounted projected cash flow analysis of the asset group; (ii) actual third-party valuations; and/or (iii) information available regarding the current market for similar asset groups. If the fair value of the asset group is determined to be less than the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment in the amount of the difference is recorded in the period that the impairment indicator occurs and is included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Estimating future cash flows requires significant judgment and projections may vary from the cash flows eventually realized, which could impact our ability to accurately assess whether an asset has been impaired.
Valuation of Goodwill
Goodwill is an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. Goodwill is not amortized, but is instead tested for impairment annually during the fourth quarter and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable. When evaluating whether goodwill is impaired, we make a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the reporting unit's fair value is less than the carrying amount. If the qualitative assessment determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying amount, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared with its carrying value (including goodwill). If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, then goodwill impairment exists for the reporting unit. The impairment loss, if any, is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, no further impairment analysis is needed. For purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, we currently operate as a single reporting unit.
Leases
We account for leases under the terms of ASC 842, "Leases," which requires lessees to record assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Under this guidance, we apply the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for all asset classes.
Right-of-use ("ROU") assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized on the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we determine the present value of lease payments using an incremental borrowing rate based on information from our commercial bank for an equivalent borrowing and term in the respective region as of the lease commencement date. At inception, we determine if an arrangement is a lease, if it includes options to extend or terminate the lease, and if it is reasonably certain that we will exercise the options. Lease cost, representing lease payments over the term of the lease and any capitalizable direct costs less any incentives received, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term as lease expense. We have operating leases for corporate offices, sales offices, research and development facilities, storage facilities, and a data center.
The exercise of lease renewal options is at our sole discretion. When deemed reasonably certain of exercise, the renewal options are included in the determination of the lease term and lease payment obligation, respectively. For our leases that contain variable lease payments, residual value guarantees, or restrictive covenants, we have concluded that these inputs are not significant to the determination of the ROU asset and lease liability.
Research and Development
Research and development expenses include costs for compensation and benefits, engineering wafers, depreciation and amortization, licenses and masks, and outside engineering services. These expenditures are for the design of new products, intellectual property cores, processes, packaging, and software solutions. Research and development costs are generally expensed as incurred, with certain licensed technology agreements capitalized as intangible assets and amortized to Research and development expense over their estimated useful lives.
Restructuring
Expenses associated with exit or disposal activities are recognized when incurred under ASC 420, “Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations,” for everything except severance expenses and vacated leased facilities. Because we have a history of paying severance benefits, the cost of severance benefits associated with a restructuring plan is recorded when such costs are probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated in accordance with ASC 712, “Compensation - Nonretirement Postemployment Benefits.” When leased facilities are vacated, the amount of any ROU asset impairment is calculated in accordance with ASC 360, "Property, Plant, and Equipment" and recorded as a part of Restructuring. Expenses from other exit or disposal activities, including the cancellation of software contracts and engineering tools or the abandonment of long-lived assets, are recorded as a part of Restructuring.
Accounting for Income Taxes
We are required to estimate our provision for income taxes and amounts ultimately payable or recoverable in numerous tax jurisdictions around the world. These estimates involve significant judgment and interpretations of regulations and are inherently complex. Resolution of income tax treatments in individual jurisdictions may not be known for many years after completion of the applicable year. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements using enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the difference is expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount that in management’s judgment is more-likely-than-not to be recoverable against future taxable income. The determination of a valuation allowance and when it should be released requires complex judgment.
In assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets, we evaluate both positive and negative evidence that may exist and consider whether it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Any adjustment to the net deferred tax asset valuation allowance is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the period that the adjustment is determined to be required.
Our income tax calculations are based on application of the respective U.S. federal, state or foreign tax law. Our tax filings, however, are subject to audit by the relevant tax authorities. Accordingly, we recognize tax liabilities based upon our estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due when such estimates are more-likely-than-not to be sustained. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. To the extent the final tax liabilities are different than the amounts originally accrued, the increases or decreases as well as any interest or penalties are recorded as income tax expense or benefit in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. We recognize the tax impact of including certain foreign earnings in U.S. taxable income as a period cost.
Stock-Based Compensation
We estimate the fair value of share-based awards consistent with the provisions of ASC 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation.” We value RSUs using the closing market price on the date of grant, and we value stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We have also granted RSUs with a market condition or a performance condition to certain executives. The terms of these grants, including achievement criteria and vesting schedules, are detailed under the heading "Market-Based and Performance-Based Awards — Grants" in "Note 10 - Stock-Based Compensation Plans." Our current practice is to issue new shares to satisfy option exercises. For RSUs, we issue new shares when awards vest and withhold a portion of these shares on behalf of employees to satisfy the minimum statutory tax withholding requirements.
Segment Information
As of December 30, 2023, we had
Note 2 - Net Income Per Share
Our calculation of the diluted share count includes the number of shares from our equity awards with market conditions or performance conditions that would be issuable under the terms of such awards at the end of the reporting period. For equity awards with a market condition, the number of shares included in the diluted share count as of the end of each period presented is determined by measuring the achievement of the market condition as of the end of the respective reporting periods. For equity awards with a performance condition, the number of shares that qualified for vesting as of the end of each period presented are included in the diluted share count when the condition for their issuance was satisfied by the end of the respective reporting periods. See "Note 10 - Stock-Based Compensation Plans" for further discussion of our equity awards with market or performance conditions.
A summary of basic and diluted Net income per share is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||
| December 30, | December 31, | January 1, | ||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share data) | 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Shares used in basic Net income per share | ||||||||||||
| Dilutive effect of stock options, RSUs, ESPP shares, and equity awards with a market condition or performance condition | ||||||||||||
| Shares used in diluted Net income per share | ||||||||||||
| Basic Net income per share | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Diluted Net income per share | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
The computation of diluted Net income per share excludes the effects of stock options, RSUs, ESPP shares, and equity awards with a market condition or performance condition that are antidilutive, aggregating to approximately the following number of shares:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||
| December 30, | December 31, | January 1, | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||
| Stock options, RSUs, ESPP shares, and equity awards with a market condition or performance condition excluded as they are antidilutive | ||||||||||||
Note 3 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following tables provide information about revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by channel and by geographical market, based on ship-to location of the customer:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue by Channel | December 30, | December 31, | January 1, | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributors | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Direct | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue by Geographical Market | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| China | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Japan | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Asia | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Asia | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Americas | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Europe | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | $ | % | $ | % | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Contract Balances
Our contract assets relate to our rights to consideration for licenses and royalties due to us as a member of the HDMI Founders consortium. The balance results primarily from the amount of estimated revenue related to HDMI that we have recognized to date, but which has not yet been distributed to us by the HDMI licensing agent. Contract assets are recorded in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The following table summarizes activity during the periods presented:
| (In thousands) | ||||
| Contract assets as of January 1, 2022 | $ | |||
| Revenues recorded during the period | ||||
| Transferred to Accounts receivable or collected | ( | ) | ||
| Contract assets as of December 31, 2022 | $ | |||
| Revenues recorded during the period | ||||
| Transferred to Accounts receivable or collected | ( | ) | ||
| Contract assets as of December 30, 2023 | $ |
Contract liabilities are included in Accrued liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table summarizes activity during the periods presented:
| (In thousands) | ||||
| Contract liabilities as of January 1, 2022 | $ | |||
| Prepaid customer deposit | ||||
| Accruals for estimated future stock rotation and scrap returns | ||||
| Less: Release of accruals for recognized stock rotation and scrap returns | ( | ) | ||
| Contract liabilities as of December 31, 2022 | $ | |||
| Less: Product shipments from prepaid customer deposit | ( | ) | ||
| Accruals for estimated future stock rotation and scrap returns | ||||
| Less: Release of accruals for recognized stock rotation and scrap returns | ( | ) | ||
| Contract liabilities as of December 30, 2023 | $ |
Note 4 - Balance Sheet Components
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable do not bear interest and are shown net of an allowance for expected lifetime credit losses, which reflects our best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable balance. We determine this allowance through an assessment of known troubled accounts, analysis of our accounts receivable aging, historical experience, expectations for future economic conditions, management judgment, and other available evidence.
| December 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| Accounts receivable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Less: Allowance for credit losses | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses | $ | $ | ||||||
We had no material bad debt expense in fiscal 2023, 2022, or 2021.
Inventories
| December 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| Work in progress | $ | $ | ||||||
| Finished goods | ||||||||
| Total inventories, net | $ | $ | ||||||
Accrued Liabilities
Included in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are the following balances:
| December 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| Liability for non-cancelable contracts | $ | $ | ||||||
| Contract liabilities | ||||||||
| Current portion of operating lease liabilities | ||||||||
| Foreign, VAT, and other taxes payable | ||||||||
| Other accrued liabilities | ||||||||
| Total accrued liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
Note 5 - Property and Equipment
| December 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| Production equipment and software | $ | $ | ||||||
| Leasehold improvements | ||||||||
| Office furniture and equipment | ||||||||
| Accumulated depreciation and amortization | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total property and equipment, net | $ | $ | ||||||
For fiscal years 2023, 2022, and 2021 depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment was $
Property and Equipment – Geographic Information
Our Property and equipment, net by country at the end of each period was as follows:
| December 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| United States | $ | $ | ||||||
| Taiwan | ||||||||
| Philippines | ||||||||
| China | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Total foreign property and equipment, net | ||||||||
| Total property and equipment, net | $ | $ | ||||||
Note 6 - Intangible Assets and Goodwill
In connection with our previous acquisitions, we have recorded identifiable intangible assets related to existing technology, customer relationships, trade names, and trademarks, based on guidance for determining fair value under the provisions of ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements." We are amortizing the intangible assets using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. Additionally, we have entered into license agreements for third-party technology and recorded them as intangible assets. These licenses are being amortized to Research and development expense over their estimated useful lives. No impairment charges relating to acquired intangible assets were recorded for fiscal 2023, 2022, or 2021.
The following tables summarize the details of our Intangible assets, net as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
| December 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years) | Gross | Accumulated Amortization | Intangible assets, net | |||||||||||
| Existing technology | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||
| Customer relationships | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
| Trade name / trademarks | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
| Licensed technology | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
| Total identified intangible assets | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||
| December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | Weighted Average Amortization Period (in years) | Gross | Accumulated Amortization | Intangible assets, net | |||||||||||
| Existing technology | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||
| Customer relationships | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
| Trade name / trademarks | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
| Licensed technology | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
| Total identified intangible assets | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||
We recorded amortization expense related to intangible assets on the Consolidated Statements of Operations as presented in the following table:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||
| December 30, | December 31, | January 1, | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||
| Research and development | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Amortization of acquired intangible assets | ||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
The annual expected amortization expense of acquired intangible assets is as follows:
| Fiscal year | (In thousands) | |||
| 2024 | $ | |||
| 2025 | ||||
| 2026 | ||||
| 2027 | ||||
| 2028 | ||||
| Thereafter | ||||
| Total | $ | |||
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the underlying net tangible and intangible assets. The goodwill balance at December 30, 2023 is comprised of approximately $
On September 1, 2022, we entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “2022 Credit Agreement”), which provides for a five-year secured revolving loan facility with an aggregate principal amount of up to $
We drew down an initial $
At our option, the revolving loans accrue interest at a per annum rate based on ranges determined by our consolidated total leverage ratio of either (i) the base rate (as defined in the 2022 Credit Agreement) plus a margin ranging from
With the amendment of our 2019 Credit Agreement pursuant to the 2022 Credit Agreement, we capitalized $
The revolving loans under the 2022 Credit Agreement may be repaid and reborrowed at our discretion, with any remaining outstanding principal amount due and payable on the maturity date of the revolving loans on September 1, 2027. During fiscal 2023, we made discretionary payments totaling $
The fair value of our long-term debt approximates the carrying value, which is reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:
| December 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
| Principal amount | $ | $ | ||||||
| Unamortized original issuance discount and debt costs | ( | ) | ||||||
| Long-term debt, net of unamortized debt issue costs | $ | $ | ||||||
Interest expense related to our long-term debt is included in Interest expense on our Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||
| December 30, | December 31, | January 1, | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||
| Contractual interest | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Amortization of original issuance discount and debt costs | ||||||||||||
| Total interest expense related to long-term debt | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
In the third quarter of 2023, our management approved and executed an internal restructuring plan (the “Q3 2023 Plan”), which included a targeted workforce reduction intended to reorganize critical roles and focus skillsets in key growth markets. We incurred restructuring costs of approximately $
In September 2022, our management approved and implemented additional contract cancellations and workforce reductions under the Q2 2019 Sales Plan, an internal restructuring plan that our management approved and executed in April 2019. The Q2 2019 Sales Plan focused on a restructuring of the global sales organization through cancellation of certain contracts and a workforce reduction. Under the Q2 2019 Sales Plan, we incurred
In June 2017, our Board of Directors approved an internal restructuring plan (the "June 2017 Plan"), which included actions, among others, to reconfigure our use of certain leased properties. Under the June 2017 Plan, we incurred restructuring costs of approximately $
These costs, and adjustments on previous plans, are recorded to Restructuring on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The restructuring accrual balance is presented in Accrued liabilities and in Other long-term liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The following table displays the activity related to our restructuring plans:
| (In thousands) | Severance & Related (1) | Lease Termination & Fixed Assets | Other (2) | Total | ||||||||||||
| Accrued Restructuring at January 2, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Restructuring | ||||||||||||||||
| Costs paid or otherwise settled | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Accrued Restructuring at January 1, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Restructuring | ||||||||||||||||
| Costs paid or otherwise settled | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Accrued Restructuring at December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Restructuring | ||||||||||||||||
| Costs paid or otherwise settled | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Accrued Restructuring at December 30, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| (1) | Includes employee relocation costs and outplacement costs | |
| (2) | Includes termination fees on the cancellation of certain contracts |
We have operating leases for corporate offices, sales offices, research and development facilities, storage facilities, and a data center, all of which are leased under operating leases that expire at various times through 2029. Our leases have remaining lease terms of less than
The following table presents the lease balance classifications within the Consolidated Balance Sheets and summarizes their activity during fiscal 2023:
| Operating lease right-of-use assets |
(In thousands) |
|||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 |
$ | |||
| Right-of-use assets obtained for new lease contracts during the period |
||||
| Amortization of right-of-use assets during the period |
( |
) | ||
| Adjustments for present value and foreign currency effects |
( |
) | ||
| Balance as of December 30, 2023 |
$ | |||
| Operating lease liabilities |
(In thousands) |
|||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 |
$ | |||
| Lease liabilities incurred for new lease contracts during the period |
||||
| Accretion of lease liabilities |
||||
| Operating cash used for payments on lease liabilities |
( |
) | ||
| Adjustments for present value and foreign currency effects |
( |
) | ||
| Balance as of December 30, 2023 |
||||
| Less: Current portion of operating lease liabilities (included in Accrued liabilities) |
( |
) | ||
| Long-term operating lease liabilities, net of current portion |
$ | |||
Lease obligations for facilities restructured prior to the adoption of Topic 842 totaled approximately $
Maturities of operating lease liabilities as of December 30, 2023 are as follows:
| Fiscal year |
(In thousands) |
|||
| 2024 |
$ | |||
| 2025 |
||||
| 2026 |
||||
| 2027 |
||||
| 2028 |
||||
| Thereafter |
||||
| Total lease payments |
||||
| Less: amount representing interest |
( |
) | ||
| Total lease liabilities |
$ | |||
Note 10 - Stock-Based Compensation Plans
Employee and Director Stock Options, Restricted Stock, and ESPP Plans
As of December 30, 2023, we have two active equity incentive plans, the "2023 Equity Incentive Plan" (which was adopted in 2023 and superseded the "2013 Incentive Plan"such that
We also maintain the 2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("2012 ESPP"), pursuant to which eligible employees may contribute through payroll deductions up to
At December 30, 2023, a total of
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Total stock-based compensation expense included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations is presented in the following table:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||
| December 30, | December 31, | January 1, | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||
| Cost of revenue | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Research and development | ||||||||||||
| Selling, general, and administrative | ||||||||||||
| Total stock-based compensation | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
The income tax benefit related to total stock-based compensation expense was $
ESPP and Stock Options
The fair values of the shares expected to be issued under the employee stock purchase plan and of each option award on the date of grant were estimated using the Black-Scholes valuation model and the assumptions noted in the following table. No new stock options were granted during fiscal 2023, 2022, or 2021. The expected volatility of both ESPP shares and stock options is based on the daily historical volatility of our stock price, measured over the ESPP purchase period or the expected term of the option. The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yield on a U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issue with a remaining term closest to the expected term of the option. The expected term is based on historical vested option exercises and includes an estimate of the expected term for options that are fully vested and outstanding. Dividend yield has no valuation impact, as we have not paid any cash dividends since inception and do not intend to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
The following table summarizes the assumptions used in the valuation of ESPP compensation for the periods presented:
| Year Ended | ||||||
| December 30, | December 31, | January 1, | ||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | ||||
| Employee Stock Purchase Plan | ||||||
| Weighted average expected volatility | | | | |||
| Weighted average risk-free interest rate | | | | |||
| Expected term (in months) | | | | |||
The weighted average fair values for the ESPP, calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the noted assumptions for the ESPP, were $
At December 30, 2023, there was
The following table summarizes our stock option activity and related information for the year ended December 30, 2023:
| (Shares and aggregate intrinsic value in thousands) | Shares | Weighted average exercise price | Weighted average remaining contractual term (years) | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | ||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Granted | ||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Forfeited or expired | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 30, 2023 | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Vested and expected to vest at December 30, 2023 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Exercisable, December 30, 2023 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value (the difference between the Company's closing stock price on the last trading day of the fiscal year and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on that day. This amount changes based on the fair market value of the Company's stock. Total intrinsic value of options exercised for fiscal 2023, 2022, and 2021 was $
Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Awards
The following table summarizes the activity for our time-based RSUs for the year ended December 30, 2023:
| (Shares in thousands) | Shares | Weighted average grant date fair value | ||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | $ | |||||||
| Granted | ||||||||
| Vested | ( | ) | ||||||
| Forfeited or expired | ( | ) | ||||||
| Balance, December 30, 2023 | $ | |||||||
At December 30, 2023, there was $
Market-Based and Performance-Based Awards
In 2021 through 2023, we granted awards of RSUs with either a market condition or a performance condition to certain executives.
Market-Based and Performance-Based Awards — Grants
In the first and third quarters of fiscal 2023, and in the first quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, we granted awards of RSUs with a market condition to certain executives. Under the terms of these grants, the RSUs with a market condition vest over a -year period based on the Company's total shareholder return ("TSR") relative to a specified index. For the 2023 grants, the TSR condition is measured relative to the Russell 3000 index on either the third anniversary of the grant date, or equally on the first, second, and third anniversary of the grant date, depending on the executive. For the 2022 and 2021 grants, the TSR condition is measured relative to the Russell 2000 index on the third anniversary of the grant date. The awards may vest at
In the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we also granted awards of RSUs with a performance condition to certain executives, to specifically drive additional executive attention and focus on the Company’s revenue growth priorities. Under the terms of these grants, the RSUs with a performance condition will vest based on the Company generating specified levels of year-over-year revenue growth, which will be measured annually for one-fourth of the grants after each fiscal year-end through the end of fiscal 2024. Vesting of these awards scales for achievement of year-over-year revenue growth compared to certain targets, with maximum vesting up to
Market-Based and Performance-Based Awards — Vesting
For our awards with a market condition or a performance condition, we incurred stock-based compensation expense of approximately $
The following table summarizes the assumptions used at the grant date in the valuation of RSUs with a market or performance condition:
| Year Ended | ||||||
| December 30, | December 31, | January 1, | ||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | ||||
| Executive RSUs with a market condition or performance condition | ||||||
| Weighted average expected volatility | | | | |||
| Weighted average risk-free interest rate | | | | |||
| Expected term (years) | | | | |||
The following table summarizes the activity for our awards with a market condition or performance condition:
| (Shares in thousands) | Shares | Weighted average grant date fair value | ||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | $ | |||||||
| Granted | ||||||||
| Effect of vesting multiplier | ||||||||
| Vested | ( | ) | ||||||
| Balance, December 30, 2023 | $ | |||||||
Note 11 - Common Stock Repurchase Program
On August 8, 2022, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a stock repurchase program pursuant to which up to $
On November 30, 2023, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a stock repurchase program pursuant to which up to an additional $
We are subject to federal and state income tax as well as income tax in the various foreign jurisdictions in which we operate.
The domestic and foreign components of Income before income taxes were as follows:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||
| December 30, | December 31, | January 1, | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||
| Domestic | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Foreign | ||||||||||||
| Income before taxes | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
The components of Income tax (benefit) expense are as follows:
| Year Ended | ||||||||||||
| December 30, | December 31, | January 1, | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||
| Current: | ||||||||||||
| Federal | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| State | ||||||||||||
| Foreign | ||||||||||||
| Deferred: | ||||||||||||
| Federal | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| State | ||||||||||||
| Foreign | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | |||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying the applicable U.S. statutory federal income tax rate to pretax income as a result of the following differences:
| Year Ended | ||||||
| December 30, | December 31, | January 1, | ||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2022 | ||||
| % | % | % | ||||
| Statutory federal rate | |
|
| |||
| Adjustments for tax effects of: | ||||||
| State taxes, net |
|
|
| |||
| Federal tax credits |
|
|
| |||
| Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation |
| — |
| |||
| Foreign rate differential |
|
|
| |||
| U.S. tax on foreign operations | | | | |||
| Capital loss expiration | — | | | |||
| Valuation allowance |
|
|
| |||
| Change in uncertain tax benefit accrual | — |
|
| |||
| Other | — | | | |||
| Effective income tax rate |
|
|
| |||
We updated our evaluation of the valuation allowance position in the United States through December 30, 2023. In making this evaluation, we considered our operating environment and estimates about our ability to generate taxable income in future periods within the United States. As a result of our consistent and continued profitability over the preceding three-year period and our expectations about generating sufficient U.S. Federal taxable income, we have determined that there is sufficient evidence that our U.S. Federal deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, we reduced the valuation allowance against a significant portion of our U.S. deferred tax assets resulting in the inclusion of $
We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance against our state deferred tax assets due to insufficient income sources. We will continue to evaluate both positive and negative evidence in future periods to determine if we will realize the deferred tax assets. We do not maintain a valuation allowance in any foreign jurisdictions as we have concluded it is more likely than not that we will realize those net deferred tax assets in future periods.
The components of our net deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
| (In thousands) | December 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | ||||||||
| Intangible assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Net operating loss carry forwards | ||||||||
| Tax credit carry forwards | ||||||||
| Accrued liabilities and reserves | ||||||||
| Stock-based and deferred compensation | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Total deferred tax assets | ||||||||
| Less: valuation allowance | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net deferred tax assets | ||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||
| Fixed assets | ||||||||
| Unremitted earnings | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Total deferred tax liabilities | ||||||||
| Net deferred taxes | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Reported as: | ||||||||
| Deferred tax assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities (included in Other long-term liabilities) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net deferred taxes | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||
The following table displays the activity related to changes in our valuation allowance for deferred tax assets:
| Fiscal Years Ended | Balance at beginning | Charged (Credit) to costs and | Charged (credit) to other | Balance at end of | ||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | of period | expenses | accounts | period | ||||||||||||
| December 30, 2023 | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| January 1, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
At December 30, 2023, we had U.S. federal net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards (pretax) of approximately $
Future utilization of federal and state net operating losses and tax credit carry forwards may be limited if cumulative changes to ownership exceed 50% within any three-year period. However, if there is a significant change in ownership, future tax attribute utilization may be limited and NOL carryforwards and/or R&D credits will be reduced to reflect the limitation.
Foreign earnings may be subject to withholding taxes in local jurisdictions if they are distributed. At December 30, 2023, U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes were provided for on a cumulative total of approximately $
At December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, our unrecognized tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions were $
The following table summarizes the changes to unrecognized tax benefits for the fiscal years presented:
| (In thousands) | ||||
| Balance at January 2, 2021 | $ | |||
| Additions based on tax positions related to the current year | ||||
| Additions based on tax positions of prior years | ||||
| Additions due to acquisition | ||||
| Settlements | ( | ) | ||
| Reduction as a result of lapse of applicable statute of limitations | ( | ) | ||
| Balance at January 1, 2022 | ||||
| Additions based on tax positions related to the current year | ||||
| Additions based on tax positions of prior years | ||||
| Settlements | ( | ) | ||
| Reduction as a result of lapse of applicable statute of limitations | ( | ) | ||
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | ||||
| Additions based on tax positions related to the current year | ||||
| Additions based on tax positions of prior years | ||||
| Reductions for tax positions of prior years | ( | ) | ||
| Reduction as a result of lapse of applicable statute of limitations | ( | ) | ||
| Balance at December 30, 2023 | $ | |||
Our liability for uncertain tax positions (including penalties and interest) was $
At December 30, 2023, it is reasonably possible that $
The years that remain subject to examination are 2017 for federal income taxes, 2019 for state income taxes, and 2017 for foreign income taxes, including years ending thereafter. However, to the extent allowed by law, the tax authorities may have the right to examine prior periods where net operating losses or tax credits were generated and carried forward, and make adjustments up to the amount of the net operating losses or credit carryforward amount.
Note 13 - Employee Benefit Plans
Qualified Investment Plan
In 1990, we adopted a 401(k) tax-deferred savings plan, which provides all employees in the United States who meet certain eligibility requirements with an opportunity to accumulate funds for retirement. Participants may contribute up to the amount allowable as a deduction for federal income tax purposes. The plan does not allow investments in the Company's common stock. The plan allows for the Company to make discretionary matching contributions in cash. We recorded matching contributions of approximately $
Cash Incentive Plans
For 2023, 2022, and 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved the Cash Incentive Plan (the “Cash Plans”) for the respective fiscal year. The chief executive officer, other executive officers, and other members of senior management, including vice presidents and director-level employees, together with all other employees of the Company not on the Company's sales incentive plan are eligible to participate in the Cash Plans. Under the Cash Plans, individual cash incentive payments for the eligible employees will be based both on Company financial performance, as measured by achievement of operating income (before incentive plan accruals) and revenue goals within specified ranges established by the Compensation Committee, and Company performance, as measured by the achievement of personal management objectives. The Compensation Committee determines the performance of the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer and other participants based on the achievement of the management objectives established by the Compensation Committee during the first quarter of the respective fiscal year. We recorded approximately $
Legal Proceedings
On or about December 19, 2018, Steven A.W. De Jaray, Perienne De Jaray and Darrell R. Oswald (collectively, the “Plaintiffs”) commenced an action against the Company and several unnamed defendants in the Multnomah County Circuit Court of the State of Oregon, in connection with the sale of certain products by the Company to the Plaintiffs in or around 2008. The Plaintiffs alleged that we violated the Lanham Act, engaged in negligence, fraud, and breach of contract by failing to disclose to the Plaintiffs the export-controlled status of the subject parts. In January 2019, we removed the action to the United States District Court for the District of Oregon (the “Court”). On May 24, 2023, the Plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint, which added Apex-Micro Manufacturing Corporation as a plaintiff and removed the violation of the Lanham Act claim. The Plaintiffs sought damages of $
From time to time, we are exposed to certain additional asserted and unasserted potential claims. We review the status of each significant matter and assess its potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable and a range of possible losses can be estimated, we then accrue a liability for the estimated loss. Legal proceedings are subject to uncertainties, and the outcomes are difficult to predict. Because of such uncertainties, accruals are based only on the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, we reassess the potential liability related to pending claims and litigation and may revise estimates.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (the Company) as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 30, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 30, 2023, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 16, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
| Inventory Valuation | ||
| Description of the Matter | The Company's net inventory totaled $98.8 million as of December 30, 2023. As explained in “Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies” within the consolidated financial statements, the Company records inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value, and writes down inventories to net realizable value if it is obsolete or if quantities are in excess of projected customer demand. |
|
| Auditing management’s estimates of excess and obsolete inventory was challenging because the estimate is judgmental and considers a number of factors that are affected by market and economic conditions that are outside of the Company’s control. In particular, excess and obsolete inventory calculations are sensitive to significant assumptions that relate to projected customer demand for the Company’s products. |
||
| How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | We evaluated and tested the design and operating effectiveness of the Company's internal controls over the calculation of excess and obsolete inventory, including the determination of projected customer demand and related application against on-hand inventory. |
|
| Our audit procedures included, among others, evaluating the significant assumptions stated above and the underlying data used in management's excess and obsolete inventory assessment. We evaluated inventory levels compared to projected customer demand, historical sales, and specific product considerations. We also assessed the historical accuracy of management's estimates and performed sensitivity analyses to evaluate the changes in inventory valuation that would result from changes in significant assumptions. |
/s/
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2020.
February 16, 2024
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Lattice Semiconductor Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 30, 2023, and the related notes and our report dated February 16, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control OverFinancial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting 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 generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the 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 conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
San Jose, California
February 16, 2024
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants On Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
In connection with the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of December 30, 2023. These disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. Our disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that we accumulate and communicate correct information to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls are effective as of December 30, 2023.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding reliability of financial reporting and the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
| (i) |
pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; |
|
| (ii) |
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and |
|
| (iii) |
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. |
We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met, and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2023. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on this assessment, management concluded that, as of December 30, 2023, the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective.
Ernst & Young LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting and has issued its opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting, which appears on page 61 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans
On , Stephen Douglass, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement intended to satisfy the affirmative defense condition of Rule 10b5-1(c), pursuant to which an estimated aggregate of
On , Tracy Feanny, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, adopted a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement intended to satisfy the affirmative defense condition of Rule 10b5-1(c), pursuant to which an estimated aggregate of
On , Mark Jensen, a Lattice Director, adopted a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement intended to satisfy the affirmative defense condition of Rule 10b5-1(c), pursuant to which an estimated aggregate of
On , Sherri Luther, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, adopted a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement intended to satisfy the affirmative defense condition of Rule 10b5-1(c), pursuant to which an estimated aggregate of
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
PART III
Certain information required by Part III is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we will file not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report. With the exception of the information expressly incorporated by reference from the Proxy Statement, the Proxy Statement is not to be deemed filed as a part of this report.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Information regarding our directors that is required by this item is incorporated by reference from the information contained under the captions “Proposal 1: Election of Directors” and “Corporate Governance and Other Matters--Board Meetings and Committees” in the Proxy Statement. Information regarding our executive officers that is required by this item is incorporated by reference from the information contained under the caption "Executive Compensation--The Executive Officers of the Company” in the Proxy Statement.
Information regarding Section 16(a) reporting compliance that is required by this item is incorporated by reference from the information contained under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Proxy Statement.
We have adopted a Code of Conduct that applies to all of our directors, employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, and persons performing similar functions, consultants, contractors, and agents. The Code of Conduct is posted on our website at www.latticesemi.com. In fiscal 2022, we rescinded our Director Code of Ethics and expanded our Code of Conduct to cover directors, consultants, and agents. In addition, we revised our Code of Conduct to provide general guidance on how to handle ethical business decisions, and to expand and/or clarify provisions in the Code of Conduct related to antitrust, conflicts of interest, improper conduct and activities, and public disclosures. We also revised our Corporate Governance Policies to incorporate any items previously addressed in the Director Code of Conduct that the revised Code of Conduct did not address. Amendments to the Code of Conduct or any grant of a waiver from a provision of the Code of Conduct requiring disclosure under applicable SEC rules, if any, will be disclosed on our website at www.latticesemi.com.
Information about our Corporate Governance Policies and written committee charters for our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee are available free of charge on the Company's website at www.latticesemi.com and are available in print to any shareholder upon request.
Information regarding our Audit Committee that is required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the information concerning our Audit Committee contained under the caption “Corporate Governance and Other Matters--Board Meetings and Committees” in the Proxy Statement.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Clawback Policy
We recently adopted a written compensation recovery policy in accordance with applicable Nasdaq rules, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The policy provides that the Company will seek to recover any incentive-based compensation erroneously awarded to any current or former executive officer due to the material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date the Company determines that an accounting restatement is required.
The information contained under the captions “Executive Compensation,” "Director Compensation," “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” and “Compensation Committee Report” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information contained under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and "Equity Compensation Plan Information" in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information contained under the captions entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Corporate Governance and Other Matters--Director Independence” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information contained under the caption entitled “Proposal 5: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm--Audit and Related Fees” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
(a) List of Documents Filed as Part of this Report
(1) All financial statements
The following financial statements are filed as part of this report under Item 8.
| Consolidated Financial Statements: |
Page |
All other schedules have been omitted because the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the notes thereto, or is not applicable or required.
(2) Exhibits
| * | Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an Exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Item 15(b) thereof. |
| * | Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an Exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Item 15(b) thereof. |
| Exhibit Number | Description | ||
|
|
|
|
|
| 31.1 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
| 31.2 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
| 32.1 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
| 32.2 |
|
||
| 97.1 |
|
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation Compensation Recovery Policy |
|
| 101.INS |
|
Inline XBRL Instance Document (the Instance Document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 101.SCH |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 101.CAL |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 101.DEF |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 101.LAB |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 101.PRE |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
|
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File - formatted in Inline XBRL and included in Exhibit 101 |
||
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION |
|
| (Registrant) |
|
| By: |
/s/ Sherri Luther |
|
|
Sherri Luther Chief Financial Officer (Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| Date: |
February 16, 2024 |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints James Anderson and Sherri Luther, or either of them, his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for such person in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this report and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that either of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities indicated and on the dates indicated:
| Signature |
Title |
Date |
| Principal Executive |
|
|
| Officer | ||
| /s/ James Anderson |
|
February 16, 2024 |
| James Anderson |
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director |
|
| Principal Financial and |
|
|
| Accounting Officer |
|
|
| /s/ Sherri Luther |
|
February 16, 2024 |
| Sherri Luther |
Chief Financial Officer |
|
| Directors |
|
|
| /s/ Robin Abrams |
|
February 16, 2024 |
| Robin Abrams |
Director |
|
| /s/ Doug Bettinger | February 16, 2024 | |
| Doug Bettinger | Director | |
| /s/ Que Thanh Dallara | February 16, 2024 | |
| Que Thanh Dallara | Director | |
| /s/ John Forsyth | February 16, 2024 | |
| John Forsyth |
Director | |
| /s/ Mark Jensen |
|
February 16, 2024 |
| Mark Jensen |
Director |
|
| /s/ James Lederer |
|
February 16, 2024 |
| James Lederer |
Director |
|
| /s/ Jeff Richardson |
February 16, 2024 | |
| Jeff Richardson |
Director |
|
| /s/ Elizabeth Schwarting |
|
February 16, 2024 |
| Elizabeth Schwarting |
Director |
|
| /s/ Raejeanne Skillern |
|
February 16, 2024 |
| Raejeanne Skillern |
Director |
|
Exhibit 4.1
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
References to “Lattice” and the “Company” herein are, unless the context otherwise indicates, only to Lattice Semiconductor Corporation and not to any of its subsidiaries.
Description of Capital Stock
The following is a summary of the Company’s capital stock and certain provisions of its Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”) and Bylaws (the “Bylaws”). This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Certificate and the Bylaws.
Common Stock
Shares Outstanding. The Company is authorized to issue up to 300 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”).
Dividends. Subject to prior dividend rights of the holders of any shares of preferred stock of the Company (“Preferred Stock”), holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably dividends when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) out of funds legally available for that purpose. Delaware law allows a corporation to pay dividends only out of surplus, as determined under Delaware law.
Voting Rights. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Holders of shares of Common Stock do not have cumulative voting rights. This means a holder of a single share of Common Stock cannot cast more than one vote for each position to be filled on the Board. The directors of the Company are elected by a plurality of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors. On all other matters submitted to the stockholders, the affirmative vote of the majority of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy shall be the act of the shareholders.
Other Rights. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior liquidation preferences of holders of convertible preferred stock, if any, then outstanding. The shares of Common Stock are not subject to redemption by operation of a sinking fund or otherwise. Holders of shares of Common Stock are not currently entitled to pre-emptive rights or conversion rights or other subscription rights.
Fully Paid. The issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and non-assessable. This means the full purchase price for the outstanding shares of Common Stock has been paid and the holders of such shares will not be assessed any additional amounts for such shares. Any additional shares of Common Stock that the Company may issue in the future will also be fully paid and non-assessable.
Transfer Agent and Registrar. The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is Computershare Trust Company N.A.
Listing. Our Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the trading symbol “LSCC”.
Preferred Stock
The Board is authorized to issue up to 10 million shares of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series, to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of such shares and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The issuance of Preferred Stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company without further action by the stockholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of Common Stock. The issuance of Preferred Stock with voting and conversion rights may adversely affect the voting power of the holders of Common Stock, including the loss of voting control to others.
Anti-takeover Effects of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and Delaware Law
Some provisions of Delaware law, the Certificate and Bylaws could make the following more difficult:
|
● |
acquisition of the Company by means of a tender offer, |
|
● |
acquisition of the Company by means of a proxy contest or otherwise, or |
|
● |
removal of the Company’s incumbent officers and directors. |
These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage and prevent coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to first negotiate with the Board. They are also intended to provide our management with the flexibility to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability if our Board determines that a takeover is not in our best interests or the best interests of the stockholders. These provisions, however could have the effect of discouraging attempts to acquire us, which could deprive our stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of Common Stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices. The Company believes that the benefits of these provisions, including increased protection, give it the potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure the Company and outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover proposals, because negotiation of takeover proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Size of Board and Vacancies. The Bylaws provide that the Board will have one or more members, which number will be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board. We do not have a classified board. The Certificate and Bylaws contain provisions that establish specific procedures for appointing and removing members of the Board. Under the Certificate and the Bylaws, and subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock, if any, vacancies and newly created directorships on the Board may be filled only by a majority of directors then serving on the Board. Under the Certificate and Bylaws, directors may be removed, with or without cause by a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.
Stockholder Action by Written Consent. The Bylaws provide that stockholder action may be taken by written consent, if such written consent is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
Stockholder Meetings. Under the Bylaws, only the chairman of the Board, chief executive officer or a majority of the authorized number of directors on the Board may call special meetings of the Company’s stockholders.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals. The Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and nomination of candidates for election as directors.
Exclusive Jurisdiction. Under the Bylaws, unless we consent to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate or Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The Bylaws also provide that the federal district courts of the United States of America are the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a course of action under the Securities Act. This exclusive forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in our securities is deemed to have notice of and consented to this provision. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provisions, and the enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ charter documents has been challenged in legal proceedings.
Delaware Anti-takeover Law. The Company is subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“Section 203”), an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date such person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination or the transaction in which such person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person that, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The existence of this provision may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the Board, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of Common Stock held by stockholders.
No Cumulative Voting. Neither the Certificate nor Bylaws provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Undesignated Preferred Stock. The authorization of the Company’s undesignated Preferred Stock makes it possible for the Board to issue Preferred Stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of the Company.
Exhibit 10.12
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
2023 Cash Incentive Plan Summary
Purpose
The Lattice Cash Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) directly supports the achievement of business objectives while rewarding individual contribution. Employees will be compensated both for achievement of specific financial measures derived from the Company’s annual operating plan and corporate performance measured by the achievement of corporate MBOs. The Plan is established under the terms of and is governed by the Company’s 2013 Incentive Plan and the Plan accordingly is subject to administration by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”).
Effective Date
The Plan is effective the first day of the fiscal year as defined by the Lattice Finance Department.
Incentive Period
The Incentive Period is the fiscal year as defined by the Lattice Finance Department.
Incentive Payment
Incentives are paid annually following the close of the fiscal year, audit of the Company’s financial results for the year, determination of the achievement of Corporate MBOs and Compensation Committee approval of the proposed payment.
Eligibility
Regular employees become eligible to participate in the plan beginning on their hire date, except as otherwise provided under the heading Other General Provisions hereafter. Employees in Grade 16 and above (hereafter “Executives”) become eligible to participate as provided in their initial offer letter or Employment Agreement, as applicable.
Eligibility excludes the following:
|
• |
Those who are eligible under the Company’s Sales Incentive Plan (“SIP”); |
|
• |
Temporary employees (including interns) and contractors; and |
|
• |
Any other persons deemed ineligible by application of the provisions set forth under the heading "Other General Provisions" hereafter. |
Incentive Targets
Each participant will be assigned an incentive target (“Individual Target”) established under the Company’s compensation practices. The Individual Target, stated as a percentage of Eligible Wages, is the potential incentive amount that an employee may earn if all funding and performance criteria for the Incentive Period are met at 100% of target. Changes in the Individual Target during the fiscal year will be prorated as provided under the heading Other General Provisions hereafter.
Performance Metrics
The table below contains the three (3) performance metrics and their respective weights that are applied to determine the 2023 CIP pool funding. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approves the Corporate MBOs as well as the payout factor of the Corporate MBOs at the end of the preceding fiscal year. The determination of the Committee is final.
|
2023 Performance Metric |
Metric Weight |
|
1 - Financial Metric: Operating Income |
33.3% |
|
2 - Financial Metric: Revenue |
33.3% |
|
3 - Corporate MBOs |
33.3% |
|
Total |
100.0% |
Funding
Pool funding is based on the achievement of the financial metrics Revenue and Operating Income. No funding will take place until either the Revenue threshold or Operating Income threshold are achieved. Once the Revenue threshold or Operating Income threshold is attained, the Corporate MBOs will begin to payout and will be based on the Corporate MBOs payout factor approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The 2023 Corporate MBOs have a maximum payout factor of 200%.
Once each financial metric achieves its threshold, the metric will fund the plan on a linear basis starting with a payout factor of 0% and continuing until 100% target is reached; and once each financial metric achieves its Target, the metric will fund the plan on a linear basis above 100% until the maximum payout factor of 200%.
Operating Income is defined as Non-GAAP Operating Income.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reserves the right to adjust the financial metrics in the event the Company engages in non-ordinary course transactions, including without limitation, mergers, acquisitions or divestitures.
Employee Payout
At the end of the Incentive Period, employees will be eligible for an incentive based on the following formula.
Again in 2023, 100% of an employee’s incentive is variable based upon management discretion and is variable based on the CIP funding % and employee’s individual target.
Employee Payout = {[Employee’s Eligible Wages * Individual CIP Target] * [Weighted Company CIP Funding % * 0-200% Manager Discretion]}
Note: Lattice's Board Compensation Committee maintains the right to reduce or increase any amount payable under this Plan, including without limitation, any amounts payable on application of this formula.
Other General Provisions
Current Employees
Employee must be both a regular and active employee to participate in the plan. Employee payments will be prorated to exclude the number of calendar days the employee is not both a regular and active employee during the incentive period.
New Employees
New regular employees will be eligible to participate in the plan effective on the date they become actively employed. The employee payout will be prorated based on the number of calendar days they are actively employed during the incentive period.
Transfers
Regular employees that transfer either on to or off of the Sales Incentive Plan will have their employee payout prorated based on the number of calendar days they are eligible to participate in the Corporate Incentive Plan during the incentive period.
Changes in Incentive Targets
Changes in incentive targets will be prorated based on the number of calendar days the incentive target is in effect during the incentive period.
Leaves of Absence
Employee payments will be prorated to exclude the number of calendar days the employee is on leave during the incentive period, unless otherwise provided by local law.
Terminations - Voluntary and Involuntary
Employee must be in an active, eligible employment status as of the date incentive payments are actually paid to be eligible to receive an incentive payout for the prior Incentive Period and such incentive is not deemed to be earned until the payment date. No pro rata or partial payment will be paid for employees who are not actively employed on the date payments are made.
The following exception is applicable to all payments: An eligible employee whose termination date, as a result of an approved Employee Restructure Plan, is on or after the last day of the incentive period, but prior to the actual payment date shall remain eligible for an incentive payout for that plan year, subject to all other plan provisions.
Incentive Payments
Incentive payments will be made after the end of the fiscal year, once financial results have been determined and audited, and the Corporate MBOs have been reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors as provided above.
Eligible Wages
Eligible Wages means the 12-month base salary paid during the applicable incentive period, exclusive of any bonuses, allowances, or wage supplements, unless otherwise required by local law. In the case of hourly employees, Eligible Wages mean ordinary wages earned and paid exclusive of any overtime wages paid during the incentive period.
Taxing
All required and applicable taxes and deductions will be withheld from incentive payments.
Plan Administrators
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors will oversee the Plan. The Lattice Finance Department will make all determinations of the Revenue and Operating Income metrics. The Lattice Human Resources Department will administer the Plan.
Manager Discretion
100% of each employee’s CIP award is subject to manager discretion, which can vary from 0 – 200% of the final 2023 CIP funding %. Manager discretion is based upon an assessment of each employee’s relative contributions to Lattice’s success in 2023.
Company Discretion
Participation in this plan does not constitute a contract of employment with the Company for any specified period of time, nor is it an entitlement to participate in any other program or any future program. The Compensation Committee reserves the right to cancel, revise, interpret, and apply this Plan and its provisions and to reduce any amounts payable under its terms at its sole discretion. Changes to the Plan must be in writing. Changes impacting the Executives must be approved by the Compensation Committee. The Company’s senior employee of Human Resources, and CEO must approve any exceptions to the Plan.
Exhibit 21.1
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
|
|
Name |
|
Jurisdiction of Incorporation |
|
1. |
Lattice Semiconductor Limited |
|
Bermuda |
|
2. |
Lattice Semiconductor (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. |
|
China |
|
3. |
Lattice Semiconducteurs SARL |
|
France |
|
4. |
Lattice Semiconductor GmbH |
|
Germany |
|
5. |
Lattice Semiconductor (India) Pvt. Ltd. |
|
India |
|
6. |
Lattice Semiconductor SRL |
|
Italy |
|
7. |
Lattice Semiconductor KK |
|
Japan |
|
8 |
Lattice Semiconductor Korea Co. Ltd. |
|
Korea |
|
9. |
Lattice Semiconductor B.V. |
|
Netherlands |
|
10. |
Lattice Semiconductor (PH) Corporation |
|
Philippines |
|
11. |
Lattice SG Pte. Ltd. |
|
Singapore |
|
12. |
HDMI Licensing, LLC |
|
Delaware, USA |
|
13. |
MHL, LLC |
|
Delaware, USA |
|
14. |
SiBEAM, Inc. |
|
Delaware, USA |
|
15. |
Lattice Connectivity, LLC |
|
Delaware, USA |
|
16. |
Lattice Semiconductor International LLC |
|
Delaware, USA |
|
17. |
Lattice Semiconductor Operations LLC |
|
Delaware, USA |
|
18. |
SPMT, LLC |
|
Delaware, USA |
|
19. |
WirelessHD, LLC |
|
Delaware, USA |
|
20. |
Lattice Semiconductor UK Limited |
|
United Kingdom |
| 21. | Mirametrix Inc. | Canada | |
| 22. | Latticesemiconductor Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. | Malaysia |
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (No. 333-176133, No. 333-182047, No. 333-188455, No. 333-195888, No. 333-220987, No. 333-224933, No. 333-227153, No. 333-232337, No. 333-253594, and No. 333-271732) of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation of our reports dated February 16, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation for the year ended December 30, 2023.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
San Jose, California
February 16, 2024
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, James Anderson, certify that:
|
1. |
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation; |
|
2. |
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
|
3. |
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
|
4. |
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
|
(a) |
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
|
|
(b) |
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
|
|
(c) |
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
|
|
(d) |
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and |
|
5. |
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
|
(a) |
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
|
|
(b) |
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: February 16, 2024
|
/s/ James Anderson |
|
|
James Anderson |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Sherri Luther, certify that:
|
1. |
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation; |
|
2. |
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
|
3. |
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
|
4. |
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
|
(a) |
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
|
|
(b) |
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
|
|
(c) |
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
|
|
(d) |
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and |
|
5. |
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
|
(a) |
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
|
|
(b) |
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: February 16, 2024
|
/s/ Sherri Luther |
|
|
Sherri Luther |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (the Company) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2023 (the Report), I, James Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
|
(1) |
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
|
|
(2) |
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
A signed original of this written statement has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the SEC or its staff upon request.
|
|
/s/ James Anderson |
|
|
James Anderson |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
Date: February 16, 2024
Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (the Company) on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2023 (the Report), I, Sherri Luther, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
|
(1) |
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
|
(2) |
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
A signed original of this written statement has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the SEC or its staff upon request.
|
|
/s/ Sherri Luther |
|
|
Sherri Luther |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Date: February 16, 2024
Exhibit 97.1
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
COMPENSATION RECOVERY POLICY
As adopted on August 4, 2023
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (the “Company”) is committed to strong corporate governance. As part of this commitment, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has adopted this clawback policy called the Compensation Recovery Policy (the “Policy”). The Policy is intended to further the Company’s pay-for-performance philosophy and to comply with applicable law by providing for the reasonably prompt recovery of incentive-based compensation received by Executive Officers in the event of an Accounting Restatement.
Capitalized terms used in the Policy are defined below, and the definitions have substantive impact on its application so reviewing them carefully is important to your understanding. The application of the Policy to Executive Officers is not discretionary, except to the limited extent provided below, and applies without regard to whether an Executive Officer was at fault.
The Policy is intended to comply with, and will be interpreted in a manner consistent with, Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), with Exchange Act Rule 10D-1 and with the listing standards of the national securities exchange (the “Exchange”) on which the securities of the Company are listed, including any interpretive guidance provided by the Exchange.
Persons Covered by the Policy
The Policy is binding and enforceable against all Executive Officers. “Executive Officer” means each individual who is or was ever designated as an “officer” by the Board in accordance with Exchange Act Rule 16a-1(f). Each Executive Officer will be required to sign and return to the Company an acknowledgement that such Executive Officer will be bound by the terms and comply with the Policy. The failure to obtain such acknowledgement will have no impact on the applicability or enforceability of the Policy.
Administration of the Policy
The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Company’s Board of Directors has full delegated authority to administer the Policy. The Committee is authorized to interpret and construe the Policy and to make all determinations necessary, appropriate, or advisable for the administration of the Policy. In addition, if determined in the discretion of the Board, the Policy may be administered by the independent members of the Board or another committee of the Board made up of independent members of the Board, in which case all references to the Committee will be deemed to refer to the independent members of the Board or the other Board committee. All determinations of the Committee will be final and binding and will be given the maximum deference permitted by law.
Accounting Restatements Requiring Application of the Policy
If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period (an “Accounting Restatement”), then the Committee must determine the Excess Compensation, if any, that must be recovered. The Company’s obligation to recover Excess Compensation is not dependent on if or when the restated financial statements are filed.
Compensation Covered by the Policy
The Policy applies to certain Incentive-Based Compensation that is Received on or after October 2, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), during the Covered Period while the Company has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange. The Incentive-Based Compensation is considered “Clawback Eligible Incentive-Based Compensation” if the Incentive-Based Compensation is Received by a person after such person became an Executive Officer and the person served as an Executive Officer at any time during the performance period to which the Incentive-Based Compensation applies. The “Excess Compensation” that is subject to recovery under the Policy is the amount of Clawback Eligible Incentive-Based Compensation that exceeds the amount of Clawback Eligible Incentive-Based Compensation that otherwise would have been Received had such Clawback Eligible Incentive-Based Compensation been determined based on the restated amounts (this is referred to in the listings standards as “erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation”).
To determine the amount of Excess Compensation for Incentive-Based Compensation based on stock price or total shareholder return, where it is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in an Accounting Restatement, the amount must be based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the Accounting Restatement on the stock price or total shareholder return upon which the Incentive-Based Compensation was Received and the Company must maintain documentation of the determination of that reasonable estimate and provide the documentation to the Exchange.
“Incentive-Based Compensation” means any compensation that is granted, earned, or vested based wholly or in part upon the attainment of a Financial Reporting Measure.
The following items of compensation are not Incentive-Based Compensation under the Policy: salaries, bonuses paid solely at the discretion of the Committee or Board that are not paid from a bonus pool that is determined by satisfying a Financial Reporting Measure, bonuses paid solely upon satisfying one or more subjective standards and/or completion of a specified employment period, non-equity incentive plan awards earned solely upon satisfying one or more strategic measures or operational measures, and equity awards for which the grant is not contingent upon achieving any Financial Reporting Measure performance goal and vesting is contingent solely upon completion of a specified employment period (e.g., time-based vesting equity awards) and/or attaining one or more non-Financial Reporting Measures.
“Financial Reporting Measures” are measures that are determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing the Company’s financial statements, and any measures that are derived wholly or in part from such measures. Stock price and total shareholder return are also Financial Reporting Measures. A Financial Reporting Measure need not be presented within the financial statements or included in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Incentive-Based Compensation is “Received” under the Policy in the Company’s fiscal period during which the Financial Reporting Measure specified in the Incentive-Based Compensation award is attained, even if the payment, vesting, settlement or grant of the Incentive-Based Compensation occurs after the end of that period. For the avoidance of doubt, the Policy does not apply to Incentive-Based Compensation for which the Financial Reporting Measure is attained prior to the Effective Date.
“Covered Period” means the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the Accounting Restatement Determination Date. In addition, Covered Period can include certain transition periods resulting from a change in the Company’s fiscal year.
“Accounting Restatement Determination Date” means the earliest to occur of: (a) the date the Board, a committee of the Board, or one or more of the officers of the Company authorized to take such action if Board action is not required, concludes, or reasonably should have concluded, that the Company is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement; and (b) the date a court, regulator, or other legally authorized body directs the Company to prepare an Accounting Restatement.
Repayment of Excess Compensation
The Company must recover Excess Compensation reasonably promptly and Executive Officers are required to repay Excess Compensation to the Company. Subject to applicable law, the Company may recover Excess Compensation by requiring the Executive Officer to repay such amount to the Company by direct payment to the Company or such other means or combination of means as the Committee determines to be appropriate (these determinations do not need to be identical as to each Executive Officer). These means may include, but are not limited to:
|
(a) |
requiring reimbursement of cash Incentive-Based Compensation previously paid; |
|
(b) |
seeking recovery of any gain realized on the vesting, exercise, settlement, sale, transfer, or other disposition of any equity-based awards; |
|
(c) |
offsetting the amount to be recovered from any unpaid or future compensation to be paid by the Company or any affiliate of the Company to the Executive Officer to the extent permissible under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; |
|
(d) |
cancelling outstanding vested or unvested equity awards; and/or |
|
(e) |
taking any other remedial and recovery action permitted by law, as determined by the Committee. |
The repayment of Excess Compensation must be made by an Executive Officer notwithstanding any Executive Officer’s belief (whether or not legitimate) that the Excess Compensation had been previously earned under applicable law and therefore is not subject to clawback.
In addition to its rights to recovery under the Policy, the Company or any affiliate of the Company may take any legal actions it determines appropriate to enforce an Executive Officer’s obligations to the Company or its affiliate or to discipline an Executive Officer, including (without limitation) termination of employment, institution of civil proceedings, reporting of misconduct to appropriate governmental authorities, reduction of future compensation opportunities or change in role. The decision to take any actions described in the preceding sentence will not be subject to the approval of the Committee and can be made by the Board, any committee of the Board, or any duly authorized officer of the Company or of any applicable affiliate of the Company.
Limited Exceptions to the Policy
The Company must recover Excess Compensation in accordance with the Policy except to the limited extent that the conditions set forth below are met, and the Committee determines that recovery of the Excess Compensation would be impracticable:
|
(a) |
The direct expense paid to a third party to assist in enforcing the Policy would exceed the amount to be recovered. Before reaching this conclusion, the Company must make a reasonable attempt to recover the Excess Compensation, document the reasonable attempt(s) taken to so recover, and provide that documentation to the Exchange; or |
|
(b) |
Recovery would likely cause an otherwise tax-qualified retirement plan, under which benefits are broadly available to employees of the Company, to fail to meet the legal requirements as such. |
Other Important Information in the Policy
The Policy is in addition to the requirements of Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are applicable to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as well as any other applicable laws, regulatory requirements, or rules. With the exception of any compensation that is Received prior to the Effective Date, which compensation will remain subject to any clawback or other compensation recovery policy previously adopted by the Company, the Policy supersedes in full all of the clawback or other compensation recovery policies of the Company that were in effect prior to the Effective Date to the extent those policies were applicable to Executive Officers and the operative portions of those policies will have no further force or effect on or after the Effective Date.
Notwithstanding the terms of any of the Company’s organizational documents (including, but not limited to, the Company’s bylaws), any corporate policy or any contract (including, but not limited to, any indemnification agreement), neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company will indemnify or provide advancement for any Executive Officer against any loss of Excess Compensation. Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company will pay for or reimburse insurance premiums for an insurance policy that covers potential recovery obligations. In the event that pursuant to the Policy the Company is required to recover Excess Compensation from an Executive Officer who is no longer an employee, the Company will be entitled to seek recovery in order to comply with applicable law, regardless of the terms of any release of claims or separation agreement such individual may have signed.
The Committee or Board may review and modify the Policy from time to time.
If any provision of the Policy or the application of any such provision to any Executive Officer is adjudicated to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provisions of the Policy or the application of such provision to another Executive Officer, and the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions will be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to render any such provision or application enforceable.
This Policy, and any repayment of Erroneously Awarded Compensation pursuant to this Policy that is required to be disclosed in the Company's filings with the SEC, will be disclosed as required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, and related rules and regulations.
The Policy will terminate and no longer be enforceable when the Company ceases to be listed issuer within the meaning of Section 10D of the Exchange Act.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
|
● |
I acknowledge that I have received and read the Compensation Recovery Policy (the “Policy”) of Lattice Semiconductor Corporation (the “Company”). |
|
● |
I understand and acknowledge that the Policy applies to me, and all of my beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives and that the Company’s right to recovery in order to comply with applicable law will apply, regardless of the terms of any release of claims or separation agreement I have signed or will sign in the future. |
|
● |
I agree to be bound by and to comply with the Policy and understand that determinations of the Committee (as such term is used in the Policy) will be final and binding and will be given the maximum deference permitted by law. |
|
● |
I understand and agree that my current indemnification rights, whether in an individual agreement or the Company’s organizational documents, exclude the right to be indemnified for amounts required to be recovered under the Policy. |
|
● |
I understand that my failure to comply in all respects with the Policy is a basis for termination of my employment with the Company and any affiliate of the Company, as well as any other appropriate discipline. |
|
● |
I understand that neither the Policy, nor the application of the Policy to me, gives rise to a resignation for good reason (or similar concept) by me under any applicable employment agreement or arrangement. |
|
● |
I acknowledge that if I have questions concerning the meaning or application of the Policy, it is my responsibility to seek guidance from the Legal Department, Human Resources or my own personal advisers. |
|
● |
I acknowledge that neither this Acknowledgement nor the Policy is meant to constitute an employment contract. |
Please review and sign this form.
|
Executive Officer |
|
(name) |
|
(signature) |
|
(date) |