Qualcomm Inc 10-Q for FY2025 Q2
Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)
10-Q
2025-04-30
For: 2025-03-30
View Original
Added on
April 02, 2026
About this 10-Q
Qualcomm Inc filed this 10-Q on April 30, 2025, covering the quarter ended March 30, 2025 (FY2025 Q2).
Headline figures
Quarter ended March 30, 2025, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Revenue
- $10.98B
- up 16.9% from $9.39B a year earlier
- Net income
- $2.81B
- up 20.9% from net income of $2.33B a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- $2.52
- up 22.3% from $2.06 a year earlier
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
_____________________
FORM 10-Q
_____________________
(Mark one)
| QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the quarterly period ended March 30, 2025
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 0-19528
QUALCOMM Incorporated
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||||||||
| (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 each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
| | ||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically 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). Yes ☒ No ☐
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 is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No ☒
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock was 1,098 million at April 28, 2025.
QUALCOMM Incorporated
Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended March 30, 2025
| Page | ||||||||
3
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | ||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except par value amounts) | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | September 29, 2024 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Marketable securities | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | |||||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||
| Other current assets | |||||||||||
| Total current assets | |||||||||||
| Deferred tax assets | |||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | |||||||||||
| Goodwill | |||||||||||
| Other intangible assets, net | |||||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Trade accounts payable | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Payroll and other benefits related liabilities | |||||||||||
| Unearned revenues | |||||||||||
| Short-term debt | |||||||||||
| Other current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Unearned revenues | |||||||||||
| Long-term debt | |||||||||||
| Other liabilities | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities | |||||||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5) | |||||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||||||
Preferred stock, $ | |||||||||||
Common stock and paid-in capital, $ | |||||||||||
| Retained earnings | |||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | |||||||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | $ | |||||||||
| See accompanying notes. | ||||||||||||||
4
| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equipment and services | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Licensing | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total costs and expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
Investment and other income, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income from continuing operations before income taxes | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income from continuing operations | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discontinued operations, net of income taxes | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Discontinued operations | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Discontinued operations | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Shares used in per share calculations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| See accompanying notes. | ||||||||||||||
5
| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | ||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation gains (losses) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale debt securities | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
Other losses | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other reclassifications included in net income | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total other comprehensive income (loss) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive income | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| See accompanying notes. | ||||||||||||||
6
| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
| Six Months Ended | |||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | ||||||||||
| Operating Activities: | |||||||||||
| Net income from continuing operations | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | |||||||||||
Income tax provision less than income tax payments | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | |||||||||||
Net gains on marketable securities and other investments | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Impairment losses on other investments | |||||||||||
Other items | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | |||||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||
| Trade accounts payable | ( | ||||||||||
| Payroll, benefits and other liabilities | ( | ||||||||||
| Unearned revenues | ( | ||||||||||
| Net cash used by operating activities from discontinued operations | ( | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | |||||||||||
| Investing Activities: | |||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Purchases of debt and equity marketable securities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Proceeds from sales and maturities of debt and equity marketable securities | |||||||||||
| Acquisitions and other investments, net of cash acquired | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Proceeds from other investments | |||||||||||
Other items | ( | ||||||||||
Net cash used by investing activities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Financing Activities: | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from short-term debt | |||||||||||
| Repayment of short-term debt | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock | |||||||||||
| Repurchases and retirements of common stock | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Dividends paid | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Payments of tax withholdings related to vesting of share-based awards | ( | ( | |||||||||
Other items | ( | ||||||||||
| Net cash used by financing activities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | ( | ||||||||||
Net (decrease) increase in total cash and cash equivalents | ( | ||||||||||
Total cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period (including $ | |||||||||||
| Total cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
| See accompanying notes. | ||||||||||||||
7
| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total stockholders’ equity, beginning balance | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock and paid-in capital: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock issued under employee benefit plans | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchases and retirements of common stock | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax withholdings related to vesting of share-based payments | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
Common stock issued in acquisition | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at end of period | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retained earnings: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Repurchases and retirements of common stock | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance at end of period | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss) | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at end of period | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity, ending balance | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends per share announced | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| See accompanying notes. | ||||||||||||||
8
| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Update
Financial Statement Preparation. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and the instructions to Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the interim financial information includes all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended September 29, 2024. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire fiscal year.
We operate and report using a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the last Sunday in September. Each of the three and six months ended March 30, 2025 and March 24, 2024 included 13 weeks and 26 weeks, respectively. Our fiscal year for 2025 will include 52 weeks.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements.
Segment Reporting Disclosures: In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new requirements to disclose certain incremental segment information on an annual and interim basis, including (among other items) additional disclosure about significant segment expenses. We will adopt the new requirements for our annual periods starting in fiscal 2025 (and interim periods thereafter) on a retrospective basis.
Income Tax Disclosures: In December 2023, the FASB issued new requirements to disclose annually certain additional detailed income tax information related to the effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid, among other items. We will adopt the new requirements starting in fiscal 2026 on a retrospective basis.
Income Statement - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures: In November 2024, the FASB issued new requirements to disclose certain additional expense information on an annual and interim basis, including (among other items) the amounts of purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation and intangible asset amortization included within each income statement expense caption, as applicable. We will adopt the new requirements for our annual periods starting in fiscal 2028 (and interim periods thereafter) on a prospective basis.
Note 2. Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items
| Inventories (in millions) | |||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | September 29, 2024 | ||||||||||
| Raw materials | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Work-in-process | |||||||||||
| Finished goods | |||||||||||
| $ | $ | ||||||||||
We have multi-year capacity purchase commitments with certain suppliers of our integrated circuit products. Total advance payments related to multi-year capacity purchase commitments recorded on our condensed consolidated balance sheets at March 30, 2025 and September 29, 2024 were $2.7 billion and $3.0 billion, respectively, of which $1.6 billion and $765 million were recorded in other current assets, respectively, and $1.1 billion and $2.2 billion were recorded in other assets, respectively.
9
| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
Revenues. We disaggregate our revenues by segment (Note 6), by products and services (as presented on our condensed consolidated statements of operations), and for our QCT (Qualcomm CDMA Technologies) segment, by revenue stream, which is based on the industry and application in which our products are sold (as presented below). In certain cases, the determination of QCT revenues by industry and application requires the use of certain assumptions. Substantially all of QCT’s revenues consist of equipment revenues that are recognized at a point in time, and substantially all of QTL’s (Qualcomm Technology Licensing) revenues represent licensing revenues that are recognized over time and are principally from royalties generated through our licensees’ sales of mobile handsets.
QCT revenue streams were as follows (in millions):
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handsets (1) | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Automotive (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IoT (internet of things) (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total QCT revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Includes revenues from products sold for use in mobile handsets.
(2) Includes revenues from products sold for use in automobiles, including connectivity, digital cockpit and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving (AD).
(3) Primarily includes products sold for use in the following industries and applications: consumer (including personal computers (PCs), tablets, voice and music and extended reality (XR)), edge networking (including mobile broadband and wireless access points) and industrial (including handhelds, retail, tracking and logistics and utilities).
Revenues recognized from performance obligations satisfied (or partially satisfied) in previous periods generally include certain sales-based royalty revenues related to system software, certain amounts related to customer incentives and licensing revenues recognized related to devices sold in prior periods (including revenues resulting from certain settlements and adjustments to prior period royalty estimates, which include the impact of the reporting by our licensees of actual royalties due) and were as follows (in millions):
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues recognized from previously satisfied performance obligations | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Remaining performance obligations, which are primarily included in unearned revenues (as presented on our condensed consolidated balance sheets), represent the aggregate amount of the transaction price of certain customer contracts yet to be recognized as revenues as of the end of the reporting period and exclude revenues related to (a) contracts that have an original expected duration of one year or less and (b) sales-based royalties (i.e., future royalty revenues) pursuant to our license agreements. Our patent license agreements with key OEMs are generally long-term, with remaining terms expiring between fiscal 2027 and 2031 .
Concentrations. A significant portion of our revenues are concentrated with a small number of customers/licensees of our QCT and QTL segments. The comparability of customer/licensee concentrations for the periods presented are impacted by the timing of customer/licensee device launches and/or innovation cycles and other seasonal trends, among other fluctuations in demand. Revenues from each customer/licensee that were 10% or greater of total revenues were as follows:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Customer/licensee (x) | % | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Customer/licensee (y) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer/licensee (z) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
10
| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
Investment and Other Income, Net (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest and dividend income | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Net gains (losses) on marketable securities | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net (losses) gains on other investments | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net (losses) gains on deferred compensation plan assets | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment losses on other investments | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Discontinued Operations. On June 1, 2023, SSW Partners completed the sale of Veoneer’s Active Safety business to Magna International Inc. for net cash proceeds of $1.5 billion. On March 1, 2024, SSW Partners completed the sale of Veoneer’s Restraint Control Systems business (collectively with the Active Safety business, the Non-Arriver businesses) to American Industrial Partners Capital Fund VII. Through the date of disposition by SSW Partners, the results of operations and cash flows of Veoneer’s Non-Arriver businesses are presented as discontinued operations. Cash flows from investing and financing activities from discontinued operations reported for the periods presented were not material.
Note 3. Income Taxes
Note 4. Capital Stock
Stock Repurchase Program. During the first quarter of fiscal 2025, we utilized the remaining repurchase authority under the $10.0 billion stock repurchase program announced on October 12, 2021 and we began repurchases under the $15.0 billion stock repurchase program announced on November 6, 2024, which has no expiration date. At March 30, 2025, $12.5 billion remained authorized for repurchase under our stock repurchase program.
Shares Outstanding. Shares of common stock outstanding at March 30, 2025 were as follows (in millions):
Balance at September 29, 2024 | |||||
| Issued | |||||
| Repurchased | ( | ||||
Balance at March 30, 2025 | |||||
Dividends. On March 18, 2025, we announced an increase in our quarterly dividend per share of common stock from $0.85 to $0.89 , which is effective for dividends payable after March 27, 2025. On April 18, 2025 , we announced a cash dividend of $0.89 per share on our common stock, payable on June 26, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 5, 2025 .
11
| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
Earnings Per Common Share. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the combination of the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and the weighted-average number of dilutive common share equivalents, comprised of shares issuable under our share-based compensation plans, during the reporting period, using the treasury stock method. The following table provides information about the diluted earnings per share calculation (in millions):
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dilutive common share equivalents included in diluted shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares of common stock equivalents not included because the effect would be anti-dilutive or certain performance conditions were not satisfied at the end of the period | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal and Regulatory Proceedings.
Consumer Class Action Lawsuits: Beginning in January 2017, a number of consumer class action complaints were filed against us in the United States District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of California, each on behalf of a putative class of purchasers of cellular phones and other cellular devices. The cases filed in the Southern District of California were subsequently transferred to the Northern District of California. On July 11, 2017, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint alleging that we violated California and federal antitrust and unfair competition laws by, among other things, refusing to license standard-essential patents to our competitors, conditioning the supply of certain of our baseband chipsets on the purchaser first agreeing to license our entire patent portfolio, entering into exclusive deals with companies, including Apple Inc., and charging unreasonably high royalties that do not comply with our commitments to standard setting organizations. The complaint sought unspecified damages and disgorgement and/or restitution, as well as an order that we be enjoined from further unlawful conduct. On September 27, 2018, the court certified the class. We appealed the court’s class certification order to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Ninth Circuit). On September 29, 2021, the Ninth Circuit vacated the class certification order, ruling that the district court had failed to correctly assess the propriety of applying California law to a nationwide class, and remanded the case to the district court. On June 10, 2022, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, limiting the proposed class to California residents rather than a nationwide class. We filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint, and on January 6, 2023, the court issued an order granting in part and denying in part our motion to dismiss. We subsequently filed a motion for summary judgment on the plaintiffs’ remaining claims. The court granted our motion in its entirety and, on October 5, 2023, entered final judgment in Qualcomm’s favor. The plaintiffs appealed the decision to the Ninth Circuit. On February 25, 2025, the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling dismissing all but one of the plaintiffs’ claims with prejudice and dismissing the remaining claim without prejudice.
Beginning in November 2017, several other consumer class action complaints were filed against us in Canada (in the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Quebec Superior Court), Israel (in the Haifa District Court) and the United Kingdom (in the Competition Appeal Tribunal), each on behalf of a putative class of purchasers of cellular phones and other cellular devices, alleging violations of certain of those countries’ competition and consumer protection laws and seeking damages. The claims in these complaints are similar to those in the U.S. consumer class action complaints described above. These matters are at various stages of litigation, and we intend to continue to vigorously defend ourselves.
ParkerVision, Inc. v. QUALCOMM Incorporated: On May 1, 2014, ParkerVision filed a complaint against us in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida alleging that certain of our products infringed seven ParkerVision patents. On August 21, 2014, ParkerVision amended the complaint, alleging that we infringed 11 ParkerVision patents and sought damages and injunctive and other relief. ParkerVision subsequently reduced the number of patents asserted to three. The asserted patents are now expired, and injunctive relief is no longer available. ParkerVision continues to seek damages related to the sale of many of our radio frequency (RF) products sold between 2008 and 2018. On March 23, 2022, the district court entered judgment in our favor on all claims and closed the case. On April 20, 2022, ParkerVision filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit). On September 6, 2024, the Federal Circuit reversed the judgment of the district court, citing certain substantive and procedural issues, and remanded the case to the district court for further proceedings. We intend to continue to vigorously defend ourselves in this matter.
12
| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
Arm Ltd. v. QUALCOMM Incorporated: On August 31, 2022, Arm Ltd. (Arm) filed a complaint against us in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Our subsidiaries Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and NuVia, Inc. (Nuvia) are also named in the complaint. The complaint alleges that following our acquisition of Nuvia, we and Nuvia breached Nuvia’s Architecture License Agreement with Arm (the Nuvia ALA) by failing to comply with the termination obligations under the Nuvia ALA. Arm is seeking specific performance, including that we cease all use of and destroy any technology that was developed under the Nuvia ALA, including processor core technology (which Arm alleges includes our custom Qualcomm Oryon CPU cores). Arm’s complaint also contended that we violated the Lanham Act through trademark infringement and false designation of origin through unauthorized use of Arm’s trademarks and sought associated injunctive and declaratory relief; however, Arm dismissed these claims prior to trial. On September 30, 2022, we filed our Answer and Counterclaim in response to Arm’s complaint denying Arm’s claims. Our counterclaim seeks a declaratory judgment that we did not breach the Nuvia ALA or the Technology License Agreement between Nuvia and Arm, and that, following the acquisition of Nuvia, our architected cores (including all further developments, iterations or instantiations of the technology we acquired from Nuvia) and System-on-Chip (SoC) products incorporating such cores are fully licensed under our existing Architecture License Agreement with Arm (the Qualcomm ALA) and Technology License Agreement with Arm (the Qualcomm TLA). A trial was held beginning on December 16, 2024, and on December 20, 2024, the jury found that (i) Qualcomm did not breach the Nuvia ALA and (ii) Qualcomm CPUs that include designs acquired in the Nuvia acquisition are licensed under the Qualcomm ALA. The jury was unable to reach a verdict with respect to Arm’s claim as to whether Nuvia breached the Nuvia ALA. The parties have filed various post-trial motions in this matter, including motions for judgment as a matter of law. We intend to continue to vigorously defend ourselves against Arm’s claims in this matter.
On April 18, 2024, we filed a separate complaint (captioned QUALCOMM Incorporated v. Arm Ltd.) against Arm in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint alleges that Arm has breached the Qualcomm ALA by failing to provide certain deliverables that Arm is obligated to provide. The complaint seeks an order that Arm comply with its contractual obligations, damages, and additional relief. Arm moved to dismiss this complaint, and on October 30, 2024, the court denied Arm’s motion to dismiss. On December 16, 2024, we filed a First Amended Complaint, alleging additional causes of action based on Arm improperly seeking to terminate the Qualcomm ALA and improperly publicizing that it was seeking to terminate the Qualcomm ALA. Arm has moved to dismiss the First Amended Complaint. On March 27, 2025, we moved to file a Second Amended Complaint to add a claim that Arm has breached the Qualcomm TLA by failing to provide license offers at commercially reasonable prices and terms. Trial is scheduled to begin on March 9, 2026.
On October 22, 2024, Arm provided us with a notice alleging that we have breached the Qualcomm ALA by marketing products that contain CPUs that Arm alleges use designs, technology and code created by Nuvia employees prior to our acquisition of Nuvia; by seeking support and verification from Arm for additional products that use such alleged designs, technology and code; and by suing Arm for breach of the Qualcomm ALA. Arm’s notice asserts that it will have the right to terminate the Qualcomm ALA if such alleged breaches are not cured within 60 days of such notice. We disagree with Arm’s allegations, including that we are, or have been, in breach of the Qualcomm ALA. On January 8, 2025, Arm notified us that it was withdrawing its October 22, 2024 notice of breach and indicated that it has no current plan to terminate the Qualcomm ALA, while reserving its rights pending the outcome of the ongoing litigation.
Contingent Losses and Other Considerations: Litigation and investigations are inherently uncertain, and we face difficulties in evaluating or estimating likely outcomes or ranges of possible loss, particularly in antitrust and trade regulation investigations. We have no t recorded any accrual at March 30, 2025 for contingent losses associated with the pending matters described above based on our belief that losses, while reasonably possible, are not probable. Further, any possible amount or range of loss cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. The unfavorable resolution of one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. We are engaged in numerous other legal actions not described above (for example, our 2010 European Commission matter relating to the Icera complaint, and other matters arising in the ordinary course of our business, including those relating to employment matters or the initiation or defense of proceedings relating to intellectual property rights) and, while there can be no assurance, we believe that the ultimate outcome of these other legal actions will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
13
| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
Note 6. Segment Information
The table below presents revenues and earnings (loss) before income taxes (EBT) for reportable segments (in millions):
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| QCT | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| QTL | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| QSI | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reconciling items | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| EBT | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| QCT | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| QTL | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| QSI | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reconciling items | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
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| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
Reconciling items for revenues and EBT in the previous table were as follows (in millions):
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nonreportable segments | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Unallocated revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| EBT | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Unallocated revenues | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unallocated cost of revenues | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unallocated research and development expenses | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unallocated selling, general and administrative expenses | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
Unallocated other income | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unallocated interest expense | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unallocated investment and other income, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nonreportable segments | ( | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||
Certain revenues were not allocated to our segments in our management reports because they were not considered in evaluating segment results. Unallocated revenues in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2025 were comprised of licensing revenues resulting from a recent settlement of a licensing dispute.
Note 7. Fair Value Measurements and Marketable Securities
The following table presents our fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 30, 2025 (in millions):
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash equivalents | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate bonds and notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury securities and government-related securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total marketable securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative instruments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other investments (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets measured at fair value | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative instruments | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
Other liabilities (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities measured at fair value | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
(1) Other investments and other liabilities included in Level 1 are comprised of our deferred compensation plan assets and liabilities.
Long-term Debt. At March 30, 2025, the aggregate fair value of our outstanding fixed-rate notes, based on Level 2 inputs, was approximately $13.8 billion.
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| QUALCOMM Incorporated | ||||||||||||||
| NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | ||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||
Marketable Securities. At March 30, 2025 and September 29, 2024, our marketable securities were all classified as current and were primarily comprised of available-for-sale debt securities (the vast majority of which were corporate bonds and notes).
The contractual maturities of available-for-sale debt securities were as follows (in millions):
| March 30, 2025 | |||||
| Years to Maturity | |||||
| Less than one year | $ | ||||
| One to five years | |||||
| No single maturity date | |||||
| Total | $ | ||||
Debt securities with no single maturity date included mortgage- and asset-backed securities.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This information should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in “Part I, Item 1” of this Quarterly Report and with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2024 contained in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This Quarterly Report (including but not limited to this section titled Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) contains forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report. Additionally, statements concerning future matters such as our future business, prospects, results of operations or financial condition; research and development or technology investments; new or enhanced products, services or technologies; emerging industries or business models; design wins or product launches; industry, market or technology trends, dynamics or transitions; our expectations regarding future demand or supply conditions; strategic investments or acquisitions, and the anticipated timing or benefits thereof; legal or regulatory matters, including the expected impacts of pending tax or other regulatory changes; U.S./China trade or national security tensions; vertical integration by our customers; competition; annual effective tax rates; and other statements regarding matters that are not historical are also forward-looking statements.
Although forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report reflect our good faith judgment, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known by us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in or anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences in results and outcomes include without limitation those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” below, as well as those discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this Quarterly Report. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in this Quarterly Report, which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Overview
Revenues for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 were $11.0 billion, an increase of 17% compared to the year ago quarter, with net income of $2.8 billion, an increase of 21% compared to the year ago quarter. Key items from the second quarter of fiscal 2025 included:
•QCT revenues increased by 18% in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the year ago quarter, due to higher handsets, automotive and IoT revenues.
•QTL revenues remained approximately flat in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the year ago quarter.
Our Business and Operating Segments
We develop and commercialize foundational technologies and products used in mobile devices and other wireless products. We derive revenues principally from sales of integrated circuit products and licensing our intellectual property, including patents and other rights.
We are organized on the basis of products and services and have three reportable segments. We conduct business primarily through our QCT (Qualcomm CDMA Technologies) semiconductor business and our QTL (Qualcomm Technology Licensing) licensing business. Our QSI (Qualcomm Strategic Initiatives) reportable segment makes strategic investments. We also have nonreportable segments, including QGOV (Qualcomm Government Technologies) and our cloud computing processing initiative.
Our reportable segments are operated by QUALCOMM Incorporated and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Substantially all of our products and services businesses, including QCT, and substantially all of our engineering and research and development functions are operated by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of QUALCOMM Incorporated, and QTI’s subsidiaries. QTL is operated by QUALCOMM Incorporated, which owns the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Neither QTI nor any of its subsidiaries has any right, power or authority to grant any licenses or other rights under or to any patents owned by QUALCOMM Incorporated.
17
Seasonality. Many of our products and much of our intellectual property are incorporated into consumer wireless devices, which are subject to seasonality and other fluctuations in demand. Our revenues have historically fluctuated based on consumer demand for devices, as well as on the timing of customer/licensee device launches and/or innovation cycles (such as the transition to the next generation of wireless technologies). This has resulted in fluctuations in QCT revenues in advance of and during device launches incorporating our products (for example, certain major handset OEMs accelerated their premium-tier device launches into the first quarter of fiscal 2025) and in QTL revenues when licensees’ sales occur. These trends may or may not continue in the future. Further, the trends for QTL have been, and may in the future be, impacted by disputes and/or resolutions with licensees and/or governmental investigations or proceedings.
Results of Operations
Revenues (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equipment and services | $ | 9,359 | $ | 7,950 | $ | 1,409 | $ | 19,301 | $ | 16,266 | $ | 3,035 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Licensing | 1,620 | 1,439 | 181 | 3,348 | 3,059 | 289 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 10,979 | $ | 9,389 | $ | 1,590 | $ | 22,649 | $ | 19,325 | $ | 3,324 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Second quarter 2025 vs. 2024
The increase in revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was primarily due to:
+ $1.4 billion in higher equipment and services revenues from our QCT segment
+ $143 million in licensing revenues resulting from a recent settlement of a licensing dispute, which was not allocated to our segment results
First six months 2025 vs. 2024
The increase in revenues in the first six months of fiscal 2025 was primarily due to:
+ $3.0 billion in higher equipment and services revenues from our QCT segment
+ $143 million in licensing revenues resulting from a recent settlement of a licensing dispute, which was not allocated to our segment results
+ $76 million in higher licensing revenues from our QTL segment
| Costs and Expenses (in millions, except percentages) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | $ | 4,937 | $ | 4,106 | $ | 831 | $ | 10,098 | $ | 8,418 | $ | 1,680 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross margin | 55 | % | 56 | % | 55 | % | 56 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Second quarter 2025 vs. 2024
Gross margin percentage decreased in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 primarily due to a decrease in QCT gross margin.
First six months 2025 vs. 2024
Gross margin percentage decreased in the first six months of fiscal 2025 primarily due to a decrease in the proportion of total revenues related to QTL licensing revenues (which have a higher margin contribution).
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| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 2,216 | $ | 2,236 | $ | (20) | $ | 4,446 | $ | 4,332 | $ | 114 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| % of revenues | 20 | % | 24 | % | 20 | % | 22 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Second quarter 2025 vs. 2024
The decrease in research and development expenses in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was primarily due to:
- $57 million decrease in expenses driven by the revaluation of our deferred compensation obligation (which resulted in a corresponding decrease in net gains on deferred compensation plan assets within investment and other income, net due to the revaluation of the related assets)
+ $20 million increase driven by higher costs related to the development of wireless and integrated circuit technologies (including investments in key growth and diversification opportunities), which included higher employee-related costs, offset by higher non-recurring engineering cost reimbursements
First six months 2025 vs. 2024
The increase in research and development expenses in the first six months of fiscal 2025 was primarily due to:
+ $120 million increase in share-based compensation expense
+ $81 million increase driven by higher costs related to the development of wireless and integrated circuit technologies (including investments in key growth and diversification opportunities), primarily driven by an increase in employee-related costs, partially offset by higher non-recurring engineering cost reimbursements
- $88 million decrease in expenses driven by the revaluation of our deferred compensation obligation
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | $ | 706 | $ | 707 | $ | (1) | $ | 1,430 | $ | 1,335 | $ | 95 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| % of revenues | 6 | % | 8 | % | 6 | % | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Second quarter 2025 vs. 2024
Selling, general and administrative expenses remained approximately flat in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 primarily due to:
- $37 million decrease in expenses driven by the revaluation of our deferred compensation obligation
+ $48 million increase in sales and marketing expenses
First six months 2025 vs. 2024
The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses in the first six months of fiscal 2025 was primarily due to:
+ $94 million increase in sales and marketing expenses
+ $29 million increase in share-based compensation expense
+ $29 million increase in employee-related expenses
- $56 million decrease in expenses driven by the revaluation of our deferred compensation obligation
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Interest Expense and Investment and Other Income, Net (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | 163 | $ | 172 | $ | (9) | $ | 326 | $ | 350 | $ | (24) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment and other income, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest and dividend income | $ | 167 | $ | 160 | $ | 7 | $ | 336 | $ | 312 | $ | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net gains (losses) on marketable securities | 18 | (3) | 21 | 37 | 8 | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net (losses) gains on other investments | (5) | 155 | (160) | 26 | 159 | (133) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net (losses) gains on deferred compensation plan assets | (34) | 62 | (96) | (20) | 126 | (146) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impairment losses on other investments | (16) | (50) | 34 | (41) | (62) | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 18 | 6 | 12 | 53 | (1) | 54 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 148 | $ | 330 | $ | (182) | $ | 391 | $ | 542 | $ | (151) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net gains on other investments in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2024 was primarily driven by certain of our QSI non-marketable equity investments.
Income Tax Expense (in millions, except percentages)
The following table summarizes the primary factors that caused our income tax provision to differ from the expected income tax provision at the U.S. federal statutory rate:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected income tax provision at federal statutory tax rate | $ | 652 | $ | 525 | $ | 1,415 | $ | 1,147 | |||||||||||||||
| Benefit from foreign-derived intangible income (FDII) deduction, excluding the impact of capitalizing research and development expenditures | (190) | (145) | (397) | (309) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit from FDII deduction related to capitalizing research and development expenditures | (110) | (133) | (263) | (323) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency (gain) loss related to foreign withholding tax receivable | (1) | 41 | 165 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Benefit related to the federal research and development tax credit | (45) | (59) | (119) | (135) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Excess tax benefit associated with share-based awards | (39) | (23) | (77) | (51) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 26 | 17 | 24 | 42 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | $ | 293 | $ | 223 | $ | 748 | $ | 373 | |||||||||||||||
| Effective tax rate | 9 | % | 9 | % | 11 | % | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||
We estimate our annual effective income tax rate to be 11% for fiscal 2025, which is lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate. Additional information regarding our annual effective income tax rate and income tax expense is provided in this Quarterly Report in “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Statements, Note 3. Income Taxes.”
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has announced a framework to implement a global minimum tax of 15% (referred to as Pillar Two). Certain countries have implemented or are in the process of implementing the Pillar Two legislation, which applies to us beginning in fiscal 2025. While we do not currently expect this to materially impact our consolidated financial statements, we continue to monitor the impact as countries implement legislation and the OECD provides additional guidance.
20
| Discontinued Operations (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discontinued operations, net of income taxes | $ | — | $ | 51 | $ | (51) | $ | — | $ | 6 | $ | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Discontinued operations in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2024 are related to the Non-Arriver businesses. Information regarding the Non-Arriver businesses is provided in this Quarterly Report in “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2. Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items - Discontinued Operations.”
Segment Results
The following should be read in conjunction with our financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 for each reportable segment included in this Quarterly Report in “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 6. Segment Information.”
QCT Segment (in millions, except percentages)
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handsets | $ | 6,929 | $ | 6,180 | $ | 749 | $ | 14,503 | $ | 12,867 | $ | 1,636 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Automotive | 959 | 603 | 356 | 1,920 | 1,201 | 719 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IoT (internet of things) | 1,581 | 1,243 | 338 | 3,130 | 2,381 | 749 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues (1) | $ | 9,469 | $ | 8,026 | $ | 1,443 | $ | 19,553 | $ | 16,449 | $ | 3,104 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| EBT (2) | $ | 2,857 | $ | 2,288 | $ | 569 | $ | 6,103 | $ | 4,881 | $ | 1,222 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| EBT as a % of revenues | 30 | % | 29 | % | 1 point | 31 | % | 30 | % | 1 point | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Descriptions of our three QCT revenue streams can be found in this Quarterly Report in “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2. Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items.”
(2) Earnings (loss) before income taxes.
Substantially all of QCT’s revenues consist of equipment and services revenues, which were $9.3 billion and $7.9 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 and 2024, respectively, and $19.2 billion and $16.2 billion in the first six months of fiscal 2025 and 2024, respectively. QCT handsets, automotive and IoT revenues mostly relate to sales of our Snapdragon platforms (which include processors and modems), stand-alone Mobile Data Modems, radio frequency transceiver, power management and wireless connectivity integrated chipsets as well as sales of 4G, 5G sub 6 and 5G millimeter wave RFFE products.
Second quarter 2025 vs. 2024
The increase in QCT revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was primarily due to:
+ higher handsets revenues, primarily due to $381 million in higher chipset shipments driven by certain major OEMs, and $368 million in higher revenues per chipset (primarily driven by higher average selling prices), both of which benefited from an increase in demand in premium-tier Snapdragon platforms
+ higher automotive revenues, primarily driven by an increase in shipments from new vehicle launches with our Snapdragon digital cockpit products
+ higher IoT revenues, primarily due to $410 million in higher shipments primarily across edge networking and industrial products
QCT EBT as a percentage of revenues increased in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 primarily due to:
+ higher revenues
- lower gross margin percentage, primarily driven by increased product costs, partially offset by increases in average selling prices
First six months 2025 vs. 2024
The increase in QCT revenues in the first six months of fiscal 2025 was primarily due to:
+ higher handsets revenues, primarily due to $854 million in higher revenues per chipset (primarily driven by higher average selling prices), and $783 million in higher chipset shipments driven by certain major OEMs, both of which benefited from an increase in demand in premium-tier Snapdragon platforms
21
+ higher IoT revenues, due to $924 million in higher shipments across consumer, edge networking and industrial products, partially offset by unfavorable product mix
+ higher automotive revenues, primarily driven by an increase in shipments from new vehicle launches with our Snapdragon digital cockpit products
QCT EBT as a percentage of revenues increased in the first six months of fiscal 2025 primarily due to:
+ higher revenues
- higher operating expenses, primarily driven by higher selling, general and administrative expenses
Gross margin percentage remained approximately flat in the first six months of fiscal 2025, primarily driven by higher product costs, partially offset by higher average selling prices.
QTL Segment (in millions, except percentages)
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Licensing revenues | $ | 1,319 | $ | 1,318 | $ | 1 | $ | 2,854 | $ | 2,778 | $ | 76 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| EBT | 929 | 933 | (4) | 2,086 | 2,013 | 73 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EBT as a % of revenues | 70 | % | 71 | % | -1 point | 73 | % | 72 | % | 1 point | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
During the second quarter of fiscal 2025, we executed final agreements for new long-term licenses with two key Chinese OEMs (for which the initial terms had expired). We also recently entered into comprehensive 4G and 5G license agreements with Transsion (a growing, China-headquartered OEM that sells primarily in developing regions). As a result of our agreements with Transsion, all outstanding litigation between the parties has been dismissed. QTL revenues for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2025 included estimated royalties due from Transsion for sales made in the March 2025 quarter. We did not record QTL revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from Huawei, whose license agreement has expired.
Second quarter 2025 vs. 2024
QTL licensing revenues and EBT remained approximately flat in the second quarter of fiscal 2025.
First six months 2025 vs. 2024
The increase in QTL licensing revenues in the first six months of fiscal 2025 was primarily due to:
+ $39 million increase in estimated sales of 3G/4G/5G-based multimode products
+ $37 million in higher royalty revenues recognized related to devices sold in prior periods
QTL EBT as a percentage of revenues increased in the first six months of fiscal 2025 primarily due to higher revenues.
QSI Segment (in millions)
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equipment and services revenues | $ | — | $ | 3 | $ | (3) | $ | — | $ | 16 | $ | (16) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
EBT | 10 | 96 | (86) | 29 | 107 | (78) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Second quarter and first six months 2025 vs. 2024
QSI EBT decreased in the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2025 primarily due to lower net gains on certain of our equity investments.
Looking Forward
We believe that 5G combined with high-performance, low-power computing and on-device artificial intelligence will continue to drive adoption of certain technologies that are already commonly used in smartphones by industries and applications beyond mobile handsets, such as automotive and IoT. We believe it is important that we remain a leader in 5G technology development, standardization, intellectual property creation and licensing, and a leading developer and supplier of 5G integrated circuit products in order to sustain and grow our business long-term.
As we look forward to the next several quarters:
•We continue to monitor the recent changes in global trade policy, including tariffs and related trade actions announced by the U.S., China and other countries. The degree to which such tariffs and other related actions impact
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our business, financial condition and results of operations will depend on future developments, which are uncertain. Changes to global trade policies may negatively impact demand, pricing and cost for our products and technologies, and contribute to the inherent uncertainties in estimating future customer demand, which may result in increased excess or obsolete inventory or reserve charges, negatively impacting our results of operations and cash flows. See “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report, including the Risk Factor titled “We operate in the highly cyclical semiconductor industry, which is subject to significant downturns. We are also susceptible to declines in global, regional and local economic conditions generally. Our stock price and financial results are subject to substantial quarterly and annual fluctuations due to these dynamics, among others.”
•We expect transitions to new generations of leading process technology nodes to continue to drive product cost increases from certain of our key semiconductor wafer suppliers.
•We expect continued intense competition, including from vertical integration by certain of our customers. Specifically, Apple began utilizing its own modem (rather than our products) in its recently released smartphone and we expect that Apple will increasingly use its own modem products, rather than our products, in its future devices, which will have a significant negative impact on our QCT revenues, results of operations and cash flows.
•Current U.S./China trade relations and/or national security protection policies may negatively impact our business, growth prospects and results of operations. See “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report, including the Risk Factor titled “A significant portion of our business is concentrated in China, and the risks of such concentration are exacerbated by U.S./China trade and national security tensions.”
We are also involved in certain legal proceedings, including those described in this Quarterly Report in “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies.” Litigation is inherently uncertain, and, while we intend to continue to vigorously defend ourselves in such matters, the unfavorable resolution of one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
In addition to the foregoing business and market-based matters, we continue to devote resources to working with and educating participants in the wireless industry and governments as to the benefits of our licensing programs and our extensive technology investments in promoting a highly competitive and innovative wireless industry. However, we expect that certain companies may be dissatisfied with the need to pay reasonable royalties for the use of our technologies and not welcome the success of our licensing programs in enabling new, highly cost-effective competitors to their products. Accordingly, such companies and/or governments or regulators may continue to challenge our business model in various forums throughout the world.
Further discussion of risks related to our business is provided in the section titled “Risk Factors” included in this Quarterly Report.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal sources of liquidity are our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, cash generated from operations and cash provided by our debt programs. The following tables present selected financial information related to our liquidity at March 30, 2025 and September 29, 2024 and for the first six months of fiscal 2025 and 2024 (in millions):
| March 30, 2025 | September 29, 2024 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 7,203 | $ | 7,849 | $ | (646) | |||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities | 6,643 | 5,451 | 1,192 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 13,846 | $ | 13,300 | $ | 546 | ||||||||||||||||||
Debt (1) | $ | 14,623 | $ | 14,634 | $ | (11) | |||||||||||||||||
(1) Includes our issued debt reported as long-term and $1.4 billion reported as short-term debt (which matures in May 2025). As of March 30, 2025 and September 29, 2024, our credit facility was undrawn, and we had no commercial paper outstanding.
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| Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 30, 2025 | March 24, 2024 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 7,141 | $ | 6,503 | $ | 638 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash used by investing activities | (1,960) | (2,195) | 235 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net cash used by financing activities | (5,789) | (3,621) | (2,168) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The net increase in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities for the first six months of fiscal 2025 was primarily due to net cash provided by operating activities, partially offset by $3.5 billion in payments to repurchase 22 million shares of our common stock, $1.9 billion in cash dividends paid, $609 million in payments of tax withholdings related to the vesting of share-based awards, $491 million in capital expenditures and $341 million in cash paid for acquisitions and other investments.
During the first six months of fiscal 2025, income taxes paid were in excess of our provision, negatively impacting net cash provided by operating activities. This was driven primarily by our installment payment for a one-time U.S. repatriation tax accrued in fiscal 2018 of $530 million and the adverse impact of the requirement to capitalize and amortize research and development expenditures for federal income tax purposes.
Net changes in our operating assets and liabilities for the first six months of fiscal 2025 negatively impacted our operating cash flows primarily from a decrease in payroll and other benefit related liabilities primarily driven by payments related to our employee cash incentive program. This was partially offset by a decrease in other assets primarily driven by utilization of prior advanced supply agreement payments.
Capital Return Program. Our stock repurchase program is subject to periodic evaluations to determine when and if repurchases are in the best interests of our stockholders, and we may accelerate, suspend, delay or discontinue repurchases at any time.
On March 18, 2025, we announced an increase in our quarterly dividend per share of common stock from $0.85 to $0.89, which is effective for dividends payable after March 27, 2025. We currently intend to continue to use cash dividends as a means of returning capital to stockholders, subject to capital availability and our view that cash dividends are in the best interests of our stockholders, among other factors. Additional information regarding our capital returns is provided in this Quarterly Report in “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 4. Capital Stock.”
Additional Capital Requirements. Expected working and other capital requirements are described in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K in “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” At March 30, 2025, other than for the changes disclosed in the “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements”, “Looking Forward” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in this Quarterly Report, there have been no other material changes to our expected working and other capital requirements described in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Further, regulatory authorities in certain jurisdictions have investigated our business practices and instituted proceedings against us and they or other regulatory authorities may do so in the future. Additionally, certain of our direct and indirect customers and licensees have pursued, and they or others may in the future pursue, litigation, arbitration or other strategies against us related to our business. Unfavorable resolutions of one or more of these matters have had and could in the future have a material adverse effect on our business, revenues, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. See “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report.
We believe, based on our current business plan and the facts and factors known by us, our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, our expected cash flow generated from operations and our expected financing activities will satisfy our working and other capital requirements for at least the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future. See “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report.
Recent Accounting Guidance
Information regarding recent accounting guidance and the impact of such guidance on our condensed consolidated financial statements is provided in this Quarterly Report in the “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Update.”
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Financial market risks related to interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and equity prices are described in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K. At March 30, 2025, there have been no material changes to the financial market risks described at September 29, 2024. While we are seeing and continue to monitor increased volatility in capital markets and economic uncertainty resulting from recent changes in global trade policy, including tariffs and related trade actions announced by the U.S., China and other countries, such developments to date have not had a significant impact to our financial market risks.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined under Rule 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Information regarding certain legal proceedings is provided in this Quarterly Report in “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies.”
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
You should consider each of the following factors in evaluating our business and our prospects, any of which could negatively impact our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, and require significant management time and attention. Further, 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 consider immaterial may also negatively impact our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, and require significant management time and attention. In such cases, the trading price of our common stock could decline. You should also consider the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report in evaluating our business and our prospects, including but not limited to our financial statements and the related notes, and “Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” References to “and,” “or” and “and/or” should be read to include the others, as appropriate.
Risk Factors Summary:
RISKS RELATED TO OUR OPERATING BUSINESSES
•We derive a significant portion of our revenues from a small number of customers and licensees, and particularly from their sale of premium-tier handset devices. If revenues derived from these customers or licensees decrease or the timing of such revenues fluctuates, our business and results of operations could be negatively affected.
•Our business, particularly our semiconductor business, may suffer as a result of our customers vertically integrating (i.e., developing their own integrated circuit products).
•A significant portion of our business is concentrated in China, and the risks of such concentration are exacerbated by U.S./China trade and national security tensions.
RISKS RELATED TO NEW INITIATIVES
•Our growth depends in part on our ability to extend our technologies and products into new and expanded product areas, and industries and applications beyond mobile handsets. Our research, development and other investments in these new and expanded product areas, industries and applications, and related technologies and products, as well as in our existing technologies and products, and new technologies, may not generate operating income or contribute to future results of operations that meet our expectations.
•We may engage in acquisitions and other strategic transactions or make investments, or be unable to consummate planned strategic acquisitions, which could adversely affect our results of operations or fail to enhance stockholder value.
RISKS RELATED TO SUPPLY AND MANUFACTURING
•We depend on a limited number of third-party suppliers for the procurement, manufacture, assembly and testing of our products manufactured in a fabless production model. If we fail to execute supply strategies that provide supply assurance, technology leadership and reasonable margins, our business and results of operations may be harmed. We are also subject to order and shipment uncertainties that could negatively impact our results of operations.
•There are numerous risks associated with the operation and control of our manufacturing facilities, including a higher portion of fixed costs relative to a fabless model; environmental compliance and liability; impacts related to climate change; exposure to natural disasters, health crises, geopolitical conflicts and cyber-attacks; timely supply of equipment and materials; and various manufacturing issues.
RISKS RELATED TO CYBERSECURITY OR MISAPPROPRIATION OF OUR CRITICAL INFORMATION
•Our business and operations could suffer in the event of security breaches of our IT systems, or other misappropriation of our technology, intellectual property or other proprietary or confidential information.
RISKS RELATED TO HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
•We may not be able to attract or retain qualified employees.
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RISKS SPECIFIC TO OUR LICENSING BUSINESS
•The continued and future success of our licensing programs requires us to continue to evolve our patent portfolio and to renew or renegotiate license agreements that are expiring.
•Efforts by some OEMs to avoid paying fair and reasonable royalties for the use of our intellectual property may require the investment of substantial management time and financial resources and may result in legal decisions or actions by governments, courts, regulators or agencies, Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) or other industry organizations that harm our business.
•Changes in our patent licensing practices, whether due to governmental investigations, legal challenges or otherwise, could adversely impact our business and results of operations.
RISKS RELATED TO REGULATORY AND LEGAL CHALLENGES
•Our business may suffer as a result of adverse rulings in governmental investigations or proceedings or other legal proceedings.
RISKS RELATED TO INDUSTRY DYNAMICS AND COMPETITION
•Our revenues depend on our customers’ and licensees’ sales of products and services based on CDMA, OFDMA and other communications technologies, including 5G, and customer demand for our products based on these technologies.
•Our industry is subject to intense competition in an environment of rapid technological change. Our success depends in part on our ability to adapt to such change and compete effectively; and such change and competition could result in decreased demand for our products and technologies or declining average selling prices for our products or those of our customers or licensees.
RISKS RELATED TO PRODUCT DEFECTS OR SECURITY VULNERABILITIES
•Failures in our products, or in the products of our customers or licensees, including those resulting from security vulnerabilities, defects or errors, could harm our business.
RISKS RELATED TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
•The enforcement and protection of our intellectual property may be expensive, could fail to prevent misappropriation or unauthorized use of our intellectual property, could result in the loss of our ability to enforce one or more patents, and could be adversely affected by changes in patent laws, by laws in certain foreign jurisdictions that may not effectively protect our intellectual property and by ineffective enforcement of laws in such jurisdictions.
•Claims by other companies that we infringe their intellectual property could adversely affect our business.
•Our use of open source software may harm our business.
GENERAL RISK FACTORS
•We operate in the highly cyclical semiconductor industry, which is subject to significant downturns. We are also susceptible to declines in global, regional and local economic conditions generally. Our stock price and financial results are subject to substantial quarterly and annual fluctuations due to these dynamics, among others.
•Geopolitical conflicts, natural disasters, pandemics and other health crises, and other factors outside of our control, could significantly disrupt our business.
•Our business may suffer due to the impact of, or our failure to comply with, the various existing, new or amended laws, regulations, policies or standards to which we are subject.
•There are risks associated with our debt.
•Tax liabilities could adversely affect our results of operations.
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Risk Factors:
RISKS RELATED TO OUR OPERATING BUSINESSES
We derive a significant portion of our revenues from a small number of customers and licensees, and particularly from their sale of premium-tier handset devices. If revenues derived from these customers or licensees decrease or the timing of such revenues fluctuates, our business and results of operations could be negatively affected.
We derive a significant portion of our revenues from a small number of customers and licensees, and particularly from their sale of premium-tier handset devices, and we expect this trend to continue in the foreseeable future. The mobile industry is experiencing and may continue to experience concentration of device share among a few companies, particularly at the premium tier, contributing to this trend. Certain Chinese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have increased and may continue to increase their device share in China and in certain regions outside of China, and we derive a significant portion of our revenues from a small number of these OEMs as well. See also “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2. Composition of Certain Financial Statement Items - Concentrations.”
In addition, a number of our largest customers have developed, are developing or may develop their own integrated circuit products, or may choose our competitors’ integrated circuit products, which they have in the past utilized, currently utilize and may in the future utilize in some or all of their devices, rather than our products, which could significantly reduce the revenues we derive from these customers. See also the Risk Factor titled “Our business, particularly our semiconductor business, may suffer as a result of our customers vertically integrating (i.e., developing their own integrated circuit products).”
Further, political actions, including trade and/or national security protection policies (for example, tariffs and other controls on imports or exports), or other actions by governments, particularly the U.S. and Chinese governments, have in the past, currently are and could in the future limit or prevent us from transacting business with certain of our customers, limit, prevent or discourage those customers from transacting business with us, or make it more expensive to do so, any of which could also significantly reduce the revenues we derive from these customers. See also the Risk Factor titled “A significant portion of our business is concentrated in China, and the risks of such concentration are exacerbated by U.S./China trade and national security tensions.”
In addition, we spend a significant amount of engineering and development time, funds and resources in understanding our key customers’ feedback and/or specifications and attempt to incorporate such input into our product launches and technologies. These efforts may not require or result in purchase commitments from such customers or we may have lower purchases from such customers than expected, and consequently, we may not achieve the anticipated revenues from these efforts, or these efforts may result in non-recoverable costs.
The loss of any one of our significant customers, a reduction in the purchases of our products by any of these customers or the cancellation of significant purchases by any of these customers, whether due to the use of their own integrated circuit products or our competitors’ integrated circuit products, government restrictions, a decline in global, regional or local economic conditions, a decline in consumer demand (or a shift in consumer demand away from new devices in favor of refurbished or secondhand devices), elevated inventory levels at our customers or otherwise, would reduce our revenues and could harm our ability to achieve or sustain expected results of operations. A delay of significant purchases, even if only temporary, would reduce our revenues in the period of the delay. Any such reduction in revenues would also impact our cash resources available for other purposes, such as research and development.
Further, the concentration of device share among a few companies, and the corresponding purchasing power of these companies, may result in lower prices for our products, which could have an adverse effect on our revenues and margins. In addition, the timing and size of purchases by our significant customers may be impacted by the timing of such customers’ new or next generation product introductions, over which we have no control, and the timing and success of such introductions may cause our revenues and results of operations to fluctuate.
Apple purchases our MDM (or thin modem) products, which do not include our integrated application processor technology, and which have lower revenue and margin contributions than our combined modem and application processor products. Consequently, to the extent Apple devices using our MDM products take share from our customers who purchase our integrated modem and application processor products, our revenues and margins may be negatively impacted. Additionally, we expect that Apple will increasingly use its own modem products, rather than our products, in its future devices, which will have a significant negative impact on our QCT revenues, results of operations and cash flows.
The mobile industry has also experienced slowing growth in the premium-tier device segment due to, among other factors, a maturing premium-tier smartphone industry in which demand is increasingly driven by new product launches and innovation cycles. A reduction in sales of premium-tier devices, a reduction in sales of our premium-tier integrated circuit
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products (which have a higher revenue and margin contribution than our lower-tier integrated circuit products), a shift in share away from OEMs that utilize our premium-tier products, or a shift in consumer demand in favor of refurbished or secondhand devices, would reduce our revenues and margins and may harm our ability to achieve or sustain expected financial results. Any such reduction in revenues would also impact our cash resources available for other purposes, such as research and development.
Further, while we derive a portion of our revenues from areas outside of mobile handsets, e.g., from industries such as automotive and IoT, certain product categories within those industries may in themselves be subject to high levels of customer concentration.
Although we have more than 300 licensees, we derive a significant portion of our licensing revenues from a limited number of licensees, which includes a number of Chinese OEMs. In the event that one or more of our significant licensees fail to meet their reporting and payment obligations, or we are unable to renew or modify one or more of their license agreements under similar terms as their existing agreements, our revenues, results of operations and cash flows would be adversely impacted. Moreover, the success of our core licensing business depends in part on the ability of our licensees to continue to develop, introduce and deliver high-volume products that achieve and sustain customer acceptance. We do not have control over the product development, sales efforts or pricing of products by our licensees, and our licensees might not be successful in these efforts. Reductions in sales of our licensees’ products, or reductions in the average selling prices of such products without a sufficient increase in the volumes sold, would generally have an adverse effect on our licensing revenues.
Our business, particularly our semiconductor business, may suffer as a result of our customers vertically integrating (i.e., developing their own integrated circuit products).
Certain of our largest customers (for example, Samsung) develop their own integrated circuit products, which they have in the past utilized, and currently utilize, in certain of their devices and we expect will in the future utilize in some or all of their devices, rather than our products (and they have and may continue to sell their integrated circuit products to third parties, discretely or together with certain of their other products, in competition with us).
Apple has in the past utilized modem products of one of our competitors, rather than our products, for certain device launches. Additionally, in December 2019, Apple acquired Intel’s modem assets, and in February 2025, Apple launched a device that uses its own internally developed modem products, rather than our products. We expect that Apple will increasingly use its own modem products, rather than our products, in its future devices, which will have a significant negative impact on our QCT revenues, results of operations and cash flows.
Similarly, we derive a significant portion of our revenues from Chinese OEMs. Certain of our customers in China have developed, and others may in the future develop, their own integrated circuit products and use such integrated circuit products in their devices rather than our integrated circuit products, including due to pressure from or policies of the Chinese government (whose Made in China 2025 campaign, announced in 2015, targeted 70% semiconductor self-sufficiency by 2025), concerns over losing access to our integrated circuit products as a result of actual, threatened or potential U.S. or Chinese government actions or policies, including trade protection or national security policies, or other reasons. See also the Risk Factor titled “A significant portion of our business is concentrated in China, and the risks of such concentration are exacerbated by U.S./China trade and national security tensions.”
In addition, periodic supply/capacity constraints within the semiconductor industry may further incentivize our customers to vertically integrate in an effort to secure additional control over their supply chains.
If our customers begin using their own integrated circuit products rather than our products in some or all of their devices, or increase their use of their own integrated circuit products from current levels, our business, revenues, results of operations, cash flows and financial position could be materially adversely impacted. See also the Risk Factor titled “We derive a significant portion of our revenues from a small number of customers and licensees, and particularly from their sale of premium-tier handset devices. If revenues derived from these customers or licensees decrease or the timing of such revenues fluctuates, our business and results of operations could be negatively affected.”
A significant portion of our business is concentrated in China, and the risks of such concentration are exacerbated by U.S./China trade and national security tensions.
We derive a significant portion of our revenues from Chinese OEMs, and from non-Chinese OEMs that utilize our integrated circuit products in devices they sell into China, which has the largest number of smartphone users in the world. We also source certain critical integrated circuit products from suppliers in China.
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Due to various factors, including pressure, encouragement or incentives from, or policies of, the Chinese government (such as its Made in China 2025 campaign), concerns over losing access to our integrated circuit products as a result of actual, threatened or potential U.S. or Chinese government actions or policies, including trade protection or national security policies, or other reasons, some of our customers in China have developed, and others may in the future develop, their own integrated circuit products and use such integrated circuit products in their devices, or use our competitors’ integrated circuit products in their devices, rather than our products, which could materially harm our business, revenues, results of operations, cash flows and financial position. See also the Risk Factor titled “Our business, particularly our semiconductor business, may suffer as a result of our customers vertically integrating (i.e., developing their own integrated circuit products).”
Political actions, including trade protection and national security policies of the U.S. and Chinese governments, such as tariffs, bans or placing companies on restricted entity lists, have in the past, currently are and could in the future limit or prevent us from transacting business with certain of our Chinese customers or suppliers, limit, prevent or discourage certain of our Chinese customers or suppliers from transacting business with us, or make it more expensive to do so. Given our revenue concentration in China, if, due to actual, threatened or potential U.S. or Chinese government actions or policies: we were further limited in, or prohibited from, selling our integrated circuit products to Chinese customers; our non-Chinese OEM customers were limited in, or prohibited from, selling devices that incorporate our integrated circuit products into China; Chinese OEMs develop and use their own integrated circuit products or use our competitors’ integrated circuit products in some or all of their devices rather than our integrated circuit products; Chinese tariffs on our integrated circuit products or on devices which incorporate our integrated circuit products made purchasing such products or devices more expensive to our Chinese customers or Chinese consumers; or our Chinese licensees delay or cease making payments of license fees they owe us, our business, revenues, results of operations, cash flows and financial position could be materially harmed. Similarly, if, due to U.S. or Chinese government actions or policies, we were limited in or prohibited from obtaining critical integrated circuit products from our suppliers in China, or we or our customers were limited in or prohibited from selling in the United States products containing technologies with Chinese-origin content, our business, revenues, results of operations, cash flows and financial position could be materially harmed. See also the Risk Factors titled “We derive a significant portion of our revenues from a small number of customers and licensees, and particularly from their sale of premium-tier handset devices. If revenues derived from these customers or licensees decrease or the timing of such revenues fluctuates, our business and results of operations could be negatively affected” and “Our business, particularly our semiconductor business, may suffer as a result of our customers vertically integrating (i.e., developing their own integrated circuit products).”
For example, we previously sold 4G and other integrated circuit products, including Wi-Fi products, but excluding 5G products, to Huawei under export licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce. On May 7, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce informed us that it was revoking our license to export 4G and certain other integrated circuit products to Huawei, effective immediately, and we implemented procedures to immediately comply. Accordingly, we do not expect to receive any further product revenues from Huawei. Additionally, to the extent that Huawei’s devices take share from Chinese OEMs that utilize our products or from non-Chinese OEMs that utilize our products in devices they sell into China, our revenues, results of operations and cash flows could be further impacted.
Finally, government policies in China that regulate the amount and timing of funds that may flow out of the country have impacted and may continue to impact the timing of our receipt of, and/or ability to receive, payments from our customers and licensees in China, which may negatively impact our cash flows.
RISKS RELATED TO NEW INITIATIVES
Our growth depends in part on our ability to extend our technologies and products into new and expanded product areas, and industries and applications beyond mobile handsets. Our research, development and other investments in these new and expanded product areas, industries and applications, and related technologies and products, as well as in our existing technologies and products, and new technologies, may not generate operating income or contribute to future results of operations that meet our expectations.
While we continue to invest significant resources toward advancements of foundational technologies, including wireless connectivity, high-performance and low-power computing and on-device artificial intelligence (AI), we also invest in new and expanded product areas, and industries and applications beyond mobile handsets, by utilizing our existing technical and business expertise and through acquisitions or other strategic transactions.
In particular, our future growth depends in part on new and expanded product areas, and industries and applications beyond mobile handsets, such as automotive and IoT; our ability to develop leading and cost-effective technologies and products for these new and expanded product areas, industries and applications; and third parties incorporating our technologies and products into devices used in these product areas, industries and applications. Accordingly, we intend to
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continue to make substantial investments in these new and expanded product areas, industries and applications, and in developing related products and technologies. Our growth also depends significantly on our ability to develop and patent 5G and next-generation wireless technologies, and to develop and commercialize products using these technologies.
However, our research, development and other investments in these new and expanded product areas, industries and applications, and corresponding technologies and products, as well as in our existing technologies and products and new technologies in mobile handsets, may not succeed because, among other reasons: we may not be issued patents on the technologies we develop; the technologies we develop may not be incorporated into relevant standards; new and expanded product areas, industries and applications beyond mobile handsets, and consumer demand therein, may not develop or grow as anticipated; we may be unable to attract or retain employees with the necessary skills in such new and expanded product areas, industries and applications; our strategies or the strategies of our customers, licensees or partners may not be successful; alternate technologies or products may be better or may reduce the advantages we anticipate from our investments; competitors’ technologies or products may be more cost effective, have more capabilities or fewer limitations or be brought to market faster than our new technologies or products; we may not be able to develop, or our competitors may have more established and/or stronger, customer, vendor, distributor or other channel relationships; and competitors may have longer operating histories in industries and applications that are new to us. We may also underestimate the costs of, or overestimate the future revenues or margins that could result from, these investments, and these investments may not, or may take many years to, generate material returns.
For example, the automotive industry is subject to long design-in time frames, long product life cycles and a high degree of regulatory and safety requirements, necessitating suppliers to the industry to comply with stringent qualification processes, very low defect rates and high reliability standards, all of which results in significant barriers to entry and increased costs. Additionally, certain customers have adopted, and other customers may adopt, policies that require us to achieve certain sustainability, climate or other environmental, social and governance (ESG)-related targets, such as our 2040 net-zero global GHG emissions commitment and our interim GHG emissions reduction goals. If we fail to achieve ESG-related targets that meet our customers’ requirements or expectations, these customers may not purchase products or services from us.
If our products fail to perform to specifications, compete with the product quality of our competitors or meet quality or regulatory standards (including product safety and information security standards, which may differ by region, geography and industry, and which are particularly stringent in the automotive industry) or other standards (including sustainability or other ESG-related standards) of a particular industry or application, we may be unable to successfully expand our business in that industry or application, and our growth could be limited.
In addition, in order to successfully extend our technologies and products into new and expanded product areas, and industries and applications beyond mobile handsets, we may need to transition to new business models or transform aspects of our organization, and we may not be successful in doing so.
If we are not successful in extending our technologies and products into new and expanded product areas, and industries and applications beyond mobile handsets, if our new technologies and products are not successful, or if we are not successful in the time frames we anticipate, we may incur significant costs and asset impairments, our business and revenues may not grow or grow as anticipated, our revenues and margins may be negatively impacted, our stock price may decline and our reputation may be harmed.
We may engage in acquisitions and other strategic transactions or make investments, or be unable to consummate planned strategic acquisitions, which could adversely affect our results of operations or fail to enhance stockholder value.
We engage in acquisitions and other strategic transactions, including joint ventures, and make investments, which we believe are important to the future of our business. We routinely acquire businesses and other assets, including patents, technology and other intangible assets, enter into joint ventures or other strategic transactions, and purchase minority equity interests in or make loans to companies, including those that may be private and early-stage. Our strategic activities are generally focused on opening or expanding opportunities for our products and technologies, supporting the design and introduction of new products (or enhancing existing products) for mobile handsets, and furthering our growth and diversification strategy in industries and applications beyond mobile handsets. Many of our strategic activities entail a high degree of risk and require the use of significant amounts of capital, and investments may not become liquid for several years after the date of the investment, if at all. Our strategic activities may not be successful, generate financial returns or result in increased adoption or continued use of our technologies or products. We may underestimate the costs or overestimate the benefits, including product, revenue, cost and other synergies and growth opportunities that we expect to realize, and we may not achieve those benefits. In some cases, we may be required to consolidate or record our share of the earnings or losses of companies in which we have acquired ownership or variable interests. In addition, we have in the past recorded, and may in the future record, impairment or other charges related to our strategic activities. Any losses or impairment charges that we
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incur related to strategic activities will have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition, and we may continue to incur new or additional losses related to strategic assets or investments that we have not fully impaired or exited.
Achieving the anticipated benefits of business acquisitions depends in part upon our ability to integrate the businesses in an efficient and effective manner and achieve anticipated synergies, and we may not be successful in these efforts. Such integration is complex and time consuming and involves significant challenges, including, among others: retaining key employees; successfully integrating new employees, facilities, technology, products, processes, operations (including supply and manufacturing operations), sales and distribution channels, business models and business systems; retaining customers and suppliers of the businesses; consolidating research and development operations; minimizing the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business matters; consolidating corporate and administrative infrastructures; and managing the increased scale, complexity and globalization of our business, operations and employee base. We may not derive any commercial value from acquired technologies or products or from future technologies or products based on these technologies, and we may become subject to liabilities, including liabilities arising as a result of litigation, that are not covered by any indemnification protection that we may obtain. Additionally, we may not be successful in entering or expanding into new sales or distribution channels, business or operational models, geographic regions, industries and applications served by or adjacent to the associated businesses or in addressing potential new opportunities that may arise out of our strategic acquisitions.
Many of our acquisitions and other strategic investments require approval by the United States and/or foreign government agencies. Certain agencies in the past have, and may in the future, deny the transaction or fail to approve in a timely manner, resulting in us not realizing the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction. Future acquisitions or other strategic investments may be more difficult, complex or expensive to the extent that our reputation for our ability to consummate acquisitions has been or is in the future harmed. Further, if U.S./China relations remain strained, our ability to consummate any transaction that would require approval from the relevant regulatory agency(ies) in China may be severely impacted. In addition, acquisitions that we have completed could subsequently be reviewed and/or challenged by government agencies, which could result in fines, penalties or other liability, or requirements to divest all or a portion of an acquired business.
If we do not achieve the anticipated benefits of business acquisitions or other strategic activities, or if we are unable to consummate acquisitions or strategic investments that we consider important to the future of our business, our business and results of operations may be adversely affected, our growth and diversification strategy may not be successful, our stock price may decline and our reputation may be harmed.
RISKS RELATED TO SUPPLY AND MANUFACTURING
We depend on a limited number of third-party suppliers for the procurement, manufacture, assembly and testing of our products manufactured in a fabless production model. If we fail to execute supply strategies that provide supply assurance, technology leadership and reasonable margins, our business and results of operations may be harmed. We are also subject to order and shipment uncertainties that could negatively impact our results of operations.
We primarily utilize a fabless production model, which means that we do not own or operate foundries for the production of silicon wafers from which our integrated circuits are made. Other than the facilities we own that manufacture certain of our RFFE modules and RF (radio frequency) filter products, we rely on third-party suppliers to perform the manufacturing and assembly, and most of the testing, of our integrated circuits. Our suppliers are also responsible for the procurement of most of the raw materials used in the production of our integrated circuits. There are a limited number of such third-party suppliers, and even fewer who are capable of manufacturing at the leading process technology nodes, or who are willing to operate at older process technology nodes necessary for certain of our integrated circuit products. The semiconductor manufacturing foundries that supply our products are primarily located in Asia, as are the primary warehouses where we store finished goods for fulfillment of customer orders.
The following issues related to our third-party suppliers could have an adverse effect on our ability to meet customer demand and negatively impact our revenues, business operations, profitability and cash flows:
•our suppliers’ failure or inability to react to shifts in product demand, including situations where demand for integrated circuits exceeds suppliers’ capacity to meet that demand;
•a failure or inability by our suppliers to procure raw materials or allocate adequate raw materials for our products, or an increase in prices for raw materials or components;
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•an inability to procure or utilize raw materials, components or products from our suppliers due to government prohibitions or restrictions on transactions with certain countries and/or companies, and alternative suppliers, raw material sources or raw materials are not available or not available in acceptable time frames or upon acceptable terms;
•a failure by our suppliers to allocate adequate manufacturing, assembly or test capacity for our products;
•our suppliers’ failure or inability to develop or maintain, or a delay in developing or building out, manufacturing capacity for leading process technologies, including transitions to smaller geometry process technologies;
•the loss of a supplier or the failure or inability of a supplier to meet performance, quality or yield specifications or delivery schedules;
•additional expense or production delays as a result of qualifying a new supplier and commencing volume production or testing in the event of a loss of, or a decision to add or change, a supplier;
•natural disasters, the effects of climate change, acts of war or other geopolitical conflicts impacting the regions in which our suppliers and their manufacturing foundries or assembly, test or other facilities are located;
•health crises, including epidemics or pandemics, and government and business responses thereto, which impact our suppliers, including as a result of quarantines or closures;
•cyber-attacks on our suppliers’ information technology (IT) systems, including those related to their manufacturing foundries or assembly, test or other facilities;
•trade or national security protection policies, particularly U.S. or Chinese government policies, that limit or prevent us from transacting business with suppliers of critical integrated circuit products, or that limit or prevent such suppliers from transacting business with us or from procuring materials, machinery or technology necessary to manufacture goods for us; and
•any other reduction, interruption, delay or limitation in our product supply sources.
We rely on sole- or limited-source suppliers for certain products, which may exacerbate the risks identified above, and subject us to other significant risks, including poor product performance and reduced control over delivery schedules, manufacturing capability and yields, quality assurance, quantity and costs. While we have established and may in the future establish alternate suppliers for certain products, these suppliers may require significant amounts of time and levels of support to bring such products to production, both of which may increase for complex or leading process technologies. As a result, we may invest a significant amount of effort and resources and incur higher costs to support and maintain such alternate suppliers. Further, the elimination or limitation of a foundry supplier’s ability to manufacture components or products for us due to trade or national security protection policies could increase our vulnerability to sole- or limited-source arrangements and limit or prevent us from procuring critical components or products from those suppliers. Future consolidation of foundry suppliers could also increase our vulnerability to sole- or limited-source arrangements and reduce our suppliers’ willingness to negotiate pricing, which could negatively impact our ability to achieve cost reductions, increase our manufacturing costs and limit the amount of capacity available to us. Our arrangements with our suppliers may obligate us to incur costs to manufacture, assemble and test our products that do not decrease at the same rate as decreases in pricing to our customers. Our ability, and that of our suppliers, to develop or maintain leading process technologies, including transitions to smaller geometry process technologies (which adds risk to manufacturing yields and reliability), and to effectively compete with the manufacturing processes and performance of our competitors, could impact our ability to introduce new products and meet customer demand, could increase our costs (possibly decreasing our margins) and could subject us to the risk of excess inventories. Any of the above could negatively impact our business, results of operations and cash flows.
Although we have long-term contracts with our suppliers, some of these contracts do not provide for long-term capacity commitments. To the extent we do not have firm commitments from our suppliers over a specific time period or for any specific quantity, our suppliers may allocate, and in the past have allocated, capacity to the manufacture, assembly and testing of products for their other customers (including our competitors) while reducing or limiting capacity to manufacture, assemble or test our products, and such capacity may be limited based on our suppliers’ ability and willingness to invest in the capital required to manufacture in the leading process technologies. Our suppliers or potential alternate suppliers may also manufacture their own integrated circuits that compete with our products. Such suppliers have in the past allocated and may again allocate raw materials and manufacturing capacity to their own products and reduce or limit the production of our products. To the extent we do obtain long-term capacity commitments, we may incur additional costs related to those commitments or make non-refundable payments for capacity commitments that are not used. Further, certain of our suppliers have in the past attempted, and may in the future attempt, to unilaterally reduce their capacity commitments to us.
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Accordingly, capacity for our products may not be available when we need it. Finally, we may not receive reasonable pricing, manufacturing or delivery terms from our suppliers, and our ability to obtain favorable terms may be diminished during times of high demand and/or limited manufacturing capacity for integrated circuit products.
We cannot guarantee that the actions of our suppliers will not cause disruptions in our operations that could harm our ability to meet our delivery obligations to our customers or increase our cost of sales. To the extent we are unable to obtain adequate supply to meet our delivery obligations, we may be obligated to make payments to our customers for such shortfalls. From time to time, the global semiconductor industry experiences demand for integrated circuits that exceeds the industry’s capacity to meet that demand. Our ability to meet increased demand for our products has been in the past and may in the future be limited due to the inability to obtain the additional manufacturing, assembly and test capacity necessary to fully meet such demand. If we are unable to fully meet customer demand, this could result in lost sales opportunities, reduced revenue growth and harm to our customer relationships. These issues may be exacerbated if customers overstate their expected demand requirements in order to procure additional supply, which could negatively impact our ability to forecast and to allocate supply appropriately among our customers. The above issues may also be exacerbated with respect to our platform solutions, which already entail a great deal of complexity due to differing lead-times, technologies and suppliers for each integrated circuit product included in such solutions. Additionally, our suppliers have in the past and may in the future increase their prices during periods of capacity constraints, or for other reasons, thus increasing our costs. We expect transitions to new generations of leading process technology nodes to continue to drive product cost increases from certain of our key semiconductor wafer suppliers, which may negatively impact our margins.
We place orders with our suppliers using our and our customers’ forecasts of demand for our products, which are based on a number of assumptions and estimates. As we move to smaller geometry process technologies, the manufacturing lead-time increases. As a result, the orders we place with our suppliers are generally only partially covered by commitments from our customers. If we, or our customers, overestimate demand, or if demand is impacted by factors outside of our or our customers’ control, and such demand is not covered by a binding commitment from our customers, we may experience increased excess or obsolete inventory or reserve charges, which would negatively impact our results of operations. Further, to the extent our customers procure supply of our integrated circuit products beyond their current needs (i.e., build up inventory of our integrated circuit products), whether due to concerns over supply, overestimating demand and/or a decline in macroeconomic conditions, or otherwise, they may not purchase expected quantities of our products in subsequent quarters, which may negatively impact our revenues, results of operations and cash flows in such quarters.
See also the Risk Factor below titled “There are numerous risks associated with the operation and control of our manufacturing facilities, including a higher portion of fixed costs relative to a fabless model; environmental compliance and liability; impacts related to climate change; exposure to natural disasters, health crises, geopolitical conflicts and cyber-attacks; timely supply of equipment and materials; and various manufacturing issues” as similar risks, may be applicable to our third-party suppliers’ manufacturing facilities, which could result in disruptions to our business or additional costs to us, and negatively impact our results of operations.
There are numerous risks associated with the operation and control of our manufacturing facilities, including a higher portion of fixed costs relative to a fabless model; environmental compliance and liability; impacts related to climate change; exposure to natural disasters, health crises, geopolitical conflicts and cyber-attacks; timely supply of equipment and materials; and various manufacturing issues.
We operate various facilities that manufacture certain of our RFFE modules and RF filter products. Our manufacturing facilities are characterized by a higher portion of fixed costs relative to a fabless model. We may be faced with a decline in the utilization rates of our manufacturing facilities due to decreases in demand for our products, including in less favorable industry or macroeconomic environments, or due to our failure to win and/or retain designs with OEMs. As a result, from time to time our manufacturing facilities operate at lower capacity levels, while the fixed costs associated with such facilities continue to be incurred, resulting in lower gross profit.
We are subject to many complex environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and rules in each jurisdiction in which we operate our manufacturing and other facilities. The regulatory landscape in these areas continues to evolve, and we anticipate additional laws, regulations and rules in the future. In particular, new, or changes in, environmental and climate change laws, regulations or rules, including relating to greenhouse gas emissions, could lead to new or additional investments in production processes and could increase environmental compliance expenditures. In addition, certain environmental laws impose strict, and in certain circumstances joint and several, liability on current or previous owners or operators of real property, or parties who arranged for hazardous substances to be sent to disposal or treatment facilities, for the cost of investigation, removal or remediation of hazardous substances. As a result, we may incur clean-up costs in connection with any such removal or remediation efforts, as well as other third-party claims in connection with contaminated sites. In addition, we could be held liable for consequences arising out of human exposure to hazardous substances or other
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environmental damage. If we, or companies or facilities we acquire or have acquired, in the past failed or in the future fail to comply with any such laws and regulations, then we could incur regulatory penalties, fines and legal liabilities; suspension of production; significant compliance requirements; alteration of our manufacturing, assembly or test processes; restriction on our ability to modify or expand our facilities; damage to our reputation; and restrictions on our operations or sales. We are also required to obtain and maintain environmental permits from governmental authorities for certain of our operations. We cannot make assurances that we will at all times be in compliance with such laws, regulations, rules and permits. See also the risk factor titled “Our business may suffer due to the impact of, or our failure to comply with, the various existing, new or amended laws, regulations, policies or standards to which we are subject.”
Climate change concerns and the potential resulting environmental impact may result in new environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that may affect us, our suppliers and our customers. Such laws or regulations could cause us to incur additional direct costs for compliance, including costs associated with changes to manufacturing processes or the procurement of raw materials used in manufacturing processes, as well as increased indirect costs resulting from our customers, suppliers or both incurring additional compliance costs that are passed on to us. These costs may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, climate change could cause certain natural disasters, such as drought, wildfires, storms, flooding or rising sea levels, to occur more frequently or with greater intensity, which could pose physical risks to our manufacturing facilities or our suppliers’ facilities, could disrupt the availability of water necessary for the operation of such facilities, and could increase or decrease temperatures resulting in increased operating costs and/or business disruption.
We have manufacturing facilities in Asia and Europe, and the primary warehouses where we store finished goods are located in Asia. If tsunamis, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, drought or other natural disasters, effects of climate change, acts of war or other geopolitical conflicts were to damage, destroy or disrupt any of these facilities, it could disrupt our operations, cease or delay production and shipments of inventory and result in costly repairs, replacements or other costs and lost business. In addition, natural disasters, effects of climate change, acts of war or other geopolitical conflicts may result in disruptions in transportation, distribution channels and supply chains and significant increases in the prices of raw materials. Further, health crises, including epidemics or pandemics, and government and business responses thereto, could affect our manufacturing facilities, including by resulting in quarantines and/or closures, which could result in disruptions to and potential closures of our manufacturing operations. Our manufacturing operations could also be disrupted by cyber-attacks on our IT systems, as described in the Risk Factor below titled “Our business and operations could suffer in the event of security breaches of our IT systems, or other misappropriation of our technology, intellectual property or other proprietary or confidential information.”
Our manufacturing operations depend on securing raw materials, equipment and other supplies in adequate quality and quantity in a timely manner from multiple suppliers, and in some cases, we rely on a limited number of suppliers, including in some cases sole suppliers, particularly in Asia. There may be cases where supplies of raw materials, equipment and other products are interrupted or limited by natural disaster, geopolitical conflict, accident or some other event affecting a supplier or source of raw materials; supply is suspended due to quality or other issues; there is a shortage of supply due to a rapid increase in demand; and/or we or our suppliers are prohibited from utilizing certain raw materials, or products or components that incorporate such raw materials, due to government restrictions related to the countries from which such raw materials originate, and acceptable alternative suppliers, raw materials or raw materials sources are not available or not available in acceptable time frames or upon acceptable terms, among others, which could impact production and prevent us from supplying our products to our customers. If the supply-demand balance is disrupted, it may considerably increase costs of manufacturing due to increased prices we pay for raw materials. From time to time, suppliers may extend lead times, limit amounts supplied to us or increase prices due to capacity constraints or other factors. Additionally, supply and costs of raw materials, equipment and other products may be negatively impacted by trade and/or national security protection policies, such as tariffs, or actions by governments that limit or prevent us from transacting business with certain countries or companies or that limit or prevent certain companies from transacting business with us, or trade tensions, particularly with countries in Asia. Further, it may be difficult or impossible to substitute one piece of equipment for another or replace one type of material with another. A failure by our suppliers to deliver our requirements could result in disruptions to our manufacturing operations.
Our manufacturing processes are highly complex, require advanced and costly equipment and must be continuously modified to improve yields and performance. Difficulties in the production process can reduce yields or interrupt production, and as a result, we may not be able to deliver our products or do so in a timely, cost-effective or competitive manner. Further, to remain competitive and meet customer demand, we may be required to improve our facilities and process technologies and carry out extensive research and development, each of which may require investment of significant amounts of capital and may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
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From time to time, we purchase equipment to meet expected customer demand in advance of any purchase orders or long-term purchase commitments. Further, we typically begin manufacturing our products using our or our customers’ forecasts of demand for our products, which are based on a number of assumptions and estimates and may not be covered by long-term purchase commitments. As a result, we may incur increased inventory and manufacturing costs and/or record impairment charges to the extent anticipated sales ultimately do not materialize or are lower than expected. If we or our customers overestimate demand, or if demand is impacted by factors outside of our or our customers’ control, and such demand is not covered by a binding commitment from our customers, we may experience higher inventory carrying and operating costs and/or increased excess or obsolete inventory or reserve charges, which would negatively impact our results of operations.
RISKS RELATED TO CYBERSECURITY OR MISAPPROPRIATION OF OUR CRITICAL INFORMATION
Our business and operations could suffer in the event of security breaches of our IT systems, or other misappropriation of our technology, intellectual property or other proprietary or confidential information.
The successful operation of various functions within our business, as well as the protection of our intellectual property and other proprietary or confidential information, depend in part on the security and functionality of our IT systems. Third parties regularly attempt to gain unauthorized access to our IT systems, and many such attacks are increasingly more sophisticated. These attacks, which might be related to industrial, corporate or other espionage, criminal hackers or state-sponsored intrusions, include trying to covertly introduce malware to our computers and networks, including those in our manufacturing operations, exploiting vulnerabilities in hardware, software or other IT infrastructure and impersonating authorized users, among others. We are also subject to ransom-style cyber-attacks, which could expose our confidential or proprietary information, demand payment of money and/or impact our IT systems and cause widespread disruption to our business, including our manufacturing operations. Third parties that store and/or process our confidential information, or that provide products, software or services used in our IT infrastructure, are subject to similar attacks, which could also result in malware being introduced into our IT infrastructure, e.g., through the third parties’ software and/or software updates. Such attacks could result in the misappropriation, theft, misuse, disclosure, loss or destruction of the technology, intellectual property, or the proprietary, confidential or personal information, of us or our employees, customers, licensees, suppliers or other third parties, as well as damage to or disruptions in our IT systems. Any damage to or disruptions in our IT systems as a result of cyber-attacks or for other reasons, such as issues related to third-party software or services used in our IT infrastructure, could significantly disrupt our business operations.
Although we maintain a cybersecurity program to manage cybersecurity risks, as described in the “Cybersecurity” section of our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K, we cannot anticipate, detect, repel or implement fully effective preventative measures against all cybersecurity threats, particularly because the techniques used are increasingly sophisticated and constantly evolving. For example, as AI continues to evolve, cyber-attackers could also use AI to develop malicious code and increasingly sophisticated phishing attempts. As part of our cybersecurity program, we seek to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in our IT systems and software (including third party software used in our IT systems) that could be exploited by hackers or other malicious actors. However, we may not be aware of all such vulnerabilities, and we may fail to identify and/or remediate such vulnerabilities before they are exploited. Attempts to gain unauthorized access to our IT systems or other attacks have in the past, in certain instances and to certain degrees, been successful (but have not caused significant harm), and may in the future be successful, and in some cases, we might be unaware of an incident or its magnitude and effects.
In addition, employees and former employees, in particular former employees who become employees of our competitors, customers, licensees or other third parties, including state actors, have in the past and may in the future misappropriate, wrongfully use, publish or provide to our competitors, customers, licensees or other third parties, including state actors, our technology, intellectual property or other proprietary or confidential information. This risk is exacerbated as competitors for talent, particularly engineering talent, increasingly attempt to hire our employees. See also the Risk Factor titled “We may not be able to attract or retain qualified employees.” Similarly, we provide access to certain of our technology, intellectual property and other proprietary or confidential information to our direct and indirect customers and licensees and certain of our consultants, who have in the past and may in the future wrongfully use such technology, intellectual property or information, or wrongfully disclose such technology, intellectual property or information to third parties, including our competitors or state actors. We also provide access to certain of our technology, intellectual property and other proprietary or confidential information to certain of our joint venture partners, including those affiliated with state actors and including in foreign jurisdictions where ownership restrictions may require us to take a minority ownership interest in the joint venture. Such joint venture partners may wrongfully use such technology, intellectual property or information, or wrongfully disclose such technology, intellectual property or information to third parties, including our competitors or state actors. Our technology, intellectual property and other proprietary or confidential information that we have provided to
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customers, licensees or other business partners could also be wrongfully obtained by third parties through cyber-attacks on such customers’, licensees’ or other business partners’ IT systems.
The misappropriation, theft, misuse, disclosure, loss or destruction of the technology, intellectual property, or the proprietary, confidential or personal information, of us or our employees, customers, licensees, suppliers or other third parties, could harm our competitive position, reduce the value of our investment in research and development and other strategic initiatives, cause us to lose business, damage our reputation, subject us to legal or regulatory proceedings, cause us to incur other loss or liability and otherwise adversely affect our business. We expect to continue to devote significant resources to the security of our IT systems, and our technology, intellectual property and proprietary and confidential information.
Further, certain countries in which we operate have implemented, and other countries or regions may implement, cybersecurity laws that require our overall IT security environment to meet certain standards and/or be certified. Such laws may be complex, ambiguous and subject to interpretation, which may create uncertainty regarding compliance. As a result, our efforts to comply with such laws may be expensive and may fail, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, our contracts with certain of our customers require us to obtain cybersecurity certifications for our IT systems. Failure to obtain or maintain the necessary cybersecurity certifications could result in loss of future revenues, damage to our customer relationships and reputation, and a shift of business to our competitors.
RISKS RELATED TO HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
We may not be able to attract or retain qualified employees.
Our future success depends upon the continued service of our executive officers and other key management and technical personnel, and on our ability to continue to identify, attract, retain and motivate them. Implementing our business strategy requires specialized engineering and other talent, as our revenues are highly dependent on technological and product innovations. In addition, in order to extend our business into certain new and expanded product areas and industries and applications beyond mobile handsets, we need to attract, retain and motivate engineering and other technical personnel with specialized skills in these areas, and these skills are in high demand among our competitors. The market for employees in our industry is extremely competitive, and competitors for talent, particularly engineering talent, increasingly attempt to hire, and to varying degrees have been successful in hiring, our employees or employment candidates, including by establishing or expanding local offices near our headquarters in San Diego, California. Further, the increased availability of remote working arrangements has expanded the pool of companies that can compete for our employees and employment candidates. A number of such competitors for talent are significantly larger than us and/or offer compensation in excess of what we offer or other benefits that we do not offer, including remote work policies that may be perceived as more favorable than ours. Further, existing immigration laws make it more difficult for us to recruit and retain highly skilled foreign national graduates of universities in the United States, making the pool of available talent even smaller.
If we are unable to attract or retain qualified employees or fail to maintain employee productivity due to any of the factors described above or for other reasons, our business could be adversely impacted.
RISKS SPECIFIC TO OUR LICENSING BUSINESS
The continued and future success of our licensing programs requires us to continue to evolve our patent portfolio and to renew or renegotiate license agreements that are expiring.
We own a very strong portfolio of issued and pending patents related to 3G, 4G, 5G and other technologies. It is critical that we continue to evolve our patent portfolio, particularly in 5G and next-generation technologies. If we do not maintain a strong portfolio that is applicable to current and future standards, products and services, our future licensing revenues could be negatively impacted.
The patent license agreements that generate a significant portion of our licensing revenues are effective for a specified term. To receive royalties after the expiration date of the specified term, we will need to extend or modify such license agreements or enter into new license agreements with the applicable licensees. We might not be able to extend or modify such license agreements, or enter into new license agreements, without negatively affecting the material terms and conditions of our license agreements with such licensees, and such modifications or new agreements may negatively impact our revenues. In some circumstances, we may extend, modify or enter into new license agreements as a result of arbitration or litigation, and terms imposed by arbitrators or courts may be less favorable to us than existing terms, and may impact the financial or other terms of license agreements not subject to the litigation or arbitration. If there is a delay in extending, modifying or entering into a new license agreement with a licensee, there would be a delay in our ability to recognize revenues related to that licensee’s product sales. Further, if we are unable to reach agreement on such modifications or new
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agreements, it could result in patent infringement and/or other litigation with such licensees. Finally, certain of our license agreements contain binding renewal provisions which provide that if the parties are unable to agree upon the terms and conditions of a new license agreement by a specified date, either party may initiate binding arbitration proceedings to establish such terms and conditions, which would become effective immediately after the expiration of the prior agreement. Nonetheless, in either event, we may not be able to recognize some or any revenues related to that licensee’s product sales until such new license agreement is finalized.
Efforts by some OEMs to avoid paying fair and reasonable royalties for the use of our intellectual property may require the investment of substantial management time and financial resources and may result in legal decisions or actions by governments, courts, regulators or agencies, Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) or other industry organizations that harm our business.
From time to time, companies initiate various strategies to attempt to negotiate, renegotiate, reduce and/or eliminate their need to pay royalties to us for the use of our intellectual property. These strategies have included: (i) litigation, often alleging infringement of patents held by such companies, patent misuse, patent exhaustion, patent invalidity or unenforceability of our patents or licenses, alleging that we do not license our patents on fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory (FRAND) terms, or alleging some form of unfair competition or competition law violation; (ii) taking positions contrary to our understanding (and/or the plain language) of their contracts with us; (iii) appeals to governmental authorities; (iv) collective action, including working with wireless operators, standards bodies, other like-minded companies and organizations, on both formal and informal bases, to adopt intellectual property policies and practices that could have the effect of limiting returns on intellectual property innovations; (v) lobbying governmental regulators and elected officials for the purpose of seeking the reduction of royalty rates or the base on which royalties are calculated, seeking to impose some form of compulsory licensing or weakening a patent holder’s ability to enforce its rights or obtain a fair return for such rights; and (vi) attempts by licensees to shift their royalty obligation to their suppliers in order to make royalty collection more difficult or reduce the amount of royalties collected.
In addition, certain licensees have disputed, underreported, underpaid, not reported or not paid royalties owed to us under their license agreements or reported to us in a manner that is not in compliance with their contractual obligations, and certain companies have yet to enter into or have delayed entering into or renewing license agreements with us for their use of our intellectual property, and they or others may engage in such behavior in the future. The fact that one or more licensees dispute, underreport, underpay, do not report or do not pay royalties owed to us may encourage other licensees to take similar actions or not renew their existing license agreements, and may encourage other licensees or unlicensed companies to delay entering into, or to not enter into, new license agreements. Further, to the extent such licensees and companies increase their device share, the negative impact of their underreporting, underpayment, non-payment or non-reporting on our business, revenues, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition will be exacerbated.
We have been in the past and are currently subject to various litigation and/or governmental investigations and proceedings. Certain of these matters are described in this Quarterly Report in “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies.” We may become subject to other litigation or governmental investigations or proceedings in the future. Additionally, certain of our direct and indirect customers and licensees have pursued, and others may in the future pursue, litigation or arbitration against us related to our business. Unfavorable resolutions of one or more of these matters have had and could in the future have a material adverse effect on our business, revenues, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. See also the Risk Factors below titled “Changes in our patent licensing practices, whether due to governmental investigations, legal challenges or otherwise, could adversely impact our business and results of operations” and “Our business may suffer as a result of adverse rulings in governmental investigations or proceedings or other legal proceedings.”
In addition, in connection with our participation in SDOs, we, like other patent owners, generally have made contractual commitments to such organizations to license those of our patents that would necessarily be infringed by standard-compliant products as set forth in those commitments (referred to as standard-essential patents). Some manufacturers and users of standard-compliant products advance interpretations of these commitments that are adverse to our licensing business, including interpretations that would limit the amount of royalties that we could collect on the licensing of our standard-essential patent portfolio.
Further, some third parties have proposed significant changes to existing intellectual property policies for implementation by SDOs and other industry organizations with the goal of significantly devaluing standard-essential patents. For example, some have put forth proposals which would require a maximum aggregate intellectual property royalty rate for the use of all standard-essential patents owned by all of the member companies to be applied to the selling price of any product implementing the relevant standard. They have further proposed that such maximum aggregate royalty rate be apportioned to each member company with standard-essential patents based upon the number of standard-essential patents
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held by such company. Others have proposed that injunctions should not be an available remedy for infringement of standard-essential patents and have made proposals that could severely limit damage awards and other remedies by courts for patent infringement (e.g., by limiting the base upon which the royalty rate may be applied). A number of these strategies are purportedly based on interpretations of the policies of certain SDOs concerning the licensing of patents that are or may be essential to industry standards and on our (or other companies’) alleged failure to abide by these policies.
Some SDOs, courts and governmental agencies have adopted, and may in the future adopt, some or all of these interpretations or proposals in a manner adverse to our interests, including in litigation to which we may not be a party. Further, SDOs in certain countries may attempt to modify widely accepted standards and claim the resulting standard as their own. In addition, governments have in the past and may in the future propose and/or enact policies concerning standard-essential patents that may have various consequences, some of which may be detrimental, such as by devaluing standard-essential patents or disrupting worldwide technology standards.
We expect that such proposals, interpretations and strategies will continue in the future, and if successful, our business model would be harmed, either by limiting or eliminating our ability to collect royalties (or by reducing the royalties we can collect) on all or a portion of our standard-essential patent portfolio, limiting our return on investment with respect to new technologies, limiting our ability to seek injunctions against infringers of our standard-essential patents, constraining our ability to make licensing commitments when submitting our technologies for inclusion in future standards (which could make our technologies less likely to be included in such standards) or forcing us to work outside of SDOs or other industry groups to promote our new technologies, and our revenues, results of operations and cash flows could be negatively impacted. In addition, the legal and other costs associated with asserting or defending our positions have been and may in the future be significant. We expect that such challenges, regardless of their merits, will continue into the foreseeable future and will require the investment of substantial management time and financial resources.
Due to the higher margin contribution of our licensing business relative to our chipset business, any reduction in licensing revenues could have a disproportionate impact on the cash resources we have available for other purposes, such as research and development.
Changes in our patent licensing practices, whether due to governmental investigations, legal challenges or otherwise, could adversely impact our business and results of operations.
As described in the Risk Factor below titled “Our business may suffer as a result of adverse rulings in governmental investigations or proceedings or other legal proceedings,” we have been in the past, currently are and may in the future be subject to various governmental investigations and/or legal proceedings challenging our patent licensing practices. Certain of these matters are described in this Quarterly Report in “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies.” We believe that one intent of certain of these governmental investigations and legal proceedings has been to reduce the amount of royalties that licensees are required to pay to us for their use of our intellectual property.
If we were required to reduce the royalty rates in our patent license agreements, our revenues, earnings and cash flows would be negatively impacted absent a sufficient increase in the volume of sales of devices upon which royalties are paid. Similarly, if we were required to reduce the base on which our royalties are calculated (e.g., license at the chipset level rather than at the device level), our revenues, earnings and cash flows would be negatively impacted unless there was a sufficient increase in the volume of sales of devices upon which royalties are paid or we were able to increase our royalty rates to offset the decrease in revenues resulting from such lower royalty base.
If we were required to grant patent licenses to chipset manufacturers or other component suppliers (which could lead to implementing a more complex, multi-level licensing structure in which we license certain portions of our patent portfolio to chipset manufacturers or other component suppliers and other portions to OEMs), we would incur additional transaction costs, which may be significant, and we could incur delays in recognizing revenues until license negotiations were completed. In addition, our licensing revenues and earnings would be negatively impacted if we were not able to obtain, in the aggregate, equivalent revenues under such a multi-level licensing structure.
If we were required to sell chipsets to OEMs that do not have a license to our patents, our licensing programs could be negatively impacted by patent exhaustion claims raised by such unlicensed OEMs (i.e., claims that our sale of chipsets to such OEMs forecloses us from asserting any patents substantially embodied by the chipsets against such OEMs). Such sales could provide OEMs with a defense in the event we asserted our patents against them to obtain licensing revenue for those patents. Moreover, such a requirement could negatively impact our ability to maintain our licensing program for products that do not use our chipsets. This could have a material adverse effect on our licensing programs and our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
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To the extent that we were required to implement any of these licensing and/or business practices, including by modifying or renegotiating our existing license agreements or pursuing other commercial arrangements, we would incur additional transaction costs, which may be significant, we could incur delays in recognizing revenues until license negotiations were completed, and our business, revenues, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be harmed. The impact of any such changes to our licensing practices could vary widely and by jurisdiction, depending on the specific outcomes and the geographic scope of such outcomes. In addition, if we were required to make modifications to our licensing practices in one jurisdiction, licensees or governmental agencies in other jurisdictions may attempt to obtain similar outcomes for themselves or for such other jurisdictions, as applicable, which could result in increased legal costs and further harm to our business, revenues, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
RISKS RELATED TO REGULATORY AND LEGAL CHALLENGES
Our business may suffer as a result of adverse rulings in governmental investigations or proceedings or other legal proceedings.
We have been in the past and currently are subject to various governmental investigations and/or legal proceedings. Certain of these matters are described in this Quarterly Report in “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies.” Key allegations or findings in those matters include or have in the past included, among others: that we violate FRAND licensing commitments by refusing to grant licenses to chipset manufacturers; that our royalty rates are too high; that the base on which our royalties are calculated should be something less than the wholesale (i.e., licensee’s) selling price of the applicable device (minus certain permitted deductions); that we unlawfully require customers to execute a patent license before we sell them cellular modem chipsets; that we have entered into exclusive agreements with chipset customers that foreclose competition; that we leverage our position in baseband chipsets in the RFFE space; and that we violate antitrust laws and engage in anticompetitive conduct and unfair methods of competition. We may become subject to other litigation or governmental investigations or proceedings in the future.
Unfavorable resolutions of one or more of these matters have had and could in the future have a material adverse effect on our business, revenues, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. Depending on the matter, various remedies that could result from an unfavorable resolution include, among others: the loss of our ability to enforce one or more of our patents; injunctions; monetary damages, fines or other orders to pay money; the issuance of orders to cease certain conduct or modify our business practices, such as requiring us to reduce our royalty rates, reduce the base on which our royalties are calculated, grant patent licenses to chipset manufacturers or other component suppliers, sell chipsets to unlicensed OEMs or modify or renegotiate some or all of our existing license agreements; and determinations that some or all of our license agreements are invalid or unenforceable. In addition, a governmental body in a particular country or region may successfully assert and impose remedies with effects that extend beyond the borders of that country or region. If some or all of our license agreements are declared invalid or unenforceable and/or we are required to renegotiate these license agreements, we may not receive, or may not be able to recognize, some or any licensing or royalty revenues under the impacted license agreements unless and until we enter into new license agreements; and even licensees whose license agreements are not impacted may demand to renegotiate their agreements or invoke the dispute resolution provision in their agreements, and we may not be able to recognize some or any revenues under such agreements. The renegotiation of license agreements could result in terms that are less favorable to us than existing terms, or lead to arbitration or litigation to resolve the licensing terms, which could also be less favorable to us than existing terms, and each of which could take months or years. Licensees may underreport, underpay, not report or not pay royalties owed to us pending the conclusion of such negotiations, arbitration or litigation. In addition, we may be sued for alleged overpayments of past royalties paid to us, including private antitrust actions seeking treble damages under U.S. antitrust laws. The occurrence of any of the above could have a material adverse effect on our business, revenues, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, and our stock price could decline, possibly significantly, in which case we may have to significantly cut costs and other uses of cash, including in research and development, significantly impairing our ability to maintain product and technology leadership and invest in next generation technologies. Further, depending on the breadth and severity of the circumstances above, we may have to reduce, suspend or eliminate our capital return programs, and our ability to timely pay our indebtedness may be impacted.
These challenges have required, and may in the future require, the investment of significant management time and attention and have resulted, and may in the future result, in significant legal costs.
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RISKS RELATED TO INDUSTRY DYNAMICS AND COMPETITION
Our revenues depend on our customers’ and licensees’ sales of products and services based on CDMA, OFDMA and other communications technologies, including 5G, and customer demand for our products based on these technologies.
We develop, patent and commercialize technology and products based on CDMA, OFDMA and other communications technologies, which are primarily wireless. We depend on our customers and licensees to develop devices and services based on these technologies to drive consumer demand for such devices, and to establish the selling prices for such devices (which impact the amount of royalties we receive for certain devices). Further, the timing of our shipments of our products is dependent on the timing of our customers’ and licensees’ deployments of new devices and services based on these technologies. Increasingly, we also depend on operators of wireless networks, our customers and licensees and other third parties to incorporate these technologies into new device types and into industries and applications beyond mobile handsets, such as automotive and IoT, among others.
Our revenues and growth in revenues could be negatively impacted, our business may be harmed and our substantial investments in these technologies may not provide us an adequate return, if: our customers’ and licensees’ sales of products, particularly premium-tier handset products, and services using these technologies, or average selling prices of such products, decline due to, for example, the maturity of smartphone penetration in developed regions, including China; we do not continue to maintain our intellectual property and technical leadership in 5G, including in ongoing 5G standardization efforts, or we fail to establish such leadership in future generations of wireless technology; we are unable to drive the adoption of our products into networks and devices, including devices beyond mobile handsets; consumers’ rates of replacement of smartphones and other devices decline; or there is a shift in consumer demand away from new devices in favor of refurbished or secondhand devices.
Our industry is subject to intense competition in an environment of rapid technological change. Our success depends in part on our ability to adapt to such change and compete effectively; and such change and competition could result in decreased demand for our products and technologies or declining average selling prices for our products or those of our customers or licensees.
Our products and technologies face significant competition. Competition may intensify as our current competitors expand their product offerings, improve their products or reduce the prices of their products as part of a strategy to maintain existing business and customers or attract new business and customers, as new opportunities develop, and as new competitors enter the industry. Competition in the semiconductor industry is affected by various factors that include, among others: OEM concentrations; vertical integration; competition in certain geographic regions; government intervention or support of national industries or competitors; the ability to maintain product differentiation in light of evolving industry standards and speed of technological change (including the transition to smaller geometry process technologies, the demand for always on, always connected capabilities, the increasing use of AI and machine learning technologies and the need to run complex AI-based applications on devices); access to capacity in the supply chain; and value-added features that drive selling prices and consumer demand for new devices.
We anticipate that additional competitors will introduce products as a result of growth opportunities in the industries in which we operate, the trend toward global expansion by foreign and domestic competitors, and technological and public policy changes. Additionally, the semiconductor industry has experienced and may continue to experience consolidation, which could result in significant changes to the competitive landscape. For example, if any key supplier of technologies and intellectual property to the semiconductor industry was sold to one of our competitors, it could negatively affect our ability to procure or license such technologies and intellectual property in the future, at all or upon acceptable terms, which could have wide-ranging impacts on our business and operations.
We expect that our future success will depend on, among other factors, our ability to:
•differentiate our integrated circuit products with innovative technologies across multiple products and features (e.g., modem, RFFE including millimeter wave (mmWave), graphics and other processors, camera, connectivity and on-device AI) and with smaller geometry process technologies that drive both performance and lower power consumption;
•develop and offer integrated circuit products at competitive cost and price points and to effectively cover all geographic regions and all device tiers;
•continue to be a leader in mobile, and drive the adoption of our technologies and integrated circuit products into the most popular device models and across a broad spectrum of devices in mobile, such as smartphones, tablets, PCs and other mobile computing devices;
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•increase or accelerate adoption of our technologies and products in industries and applications outside of mobile handsets, including automotive and IoT;
•maintain or accelerate demand for our integrated circuit products at the premium device tier, while also driving the adoption of our products into high, mid- and low-tier devices across all regions;
•remain a leader in 5G technology development, standardization, intellectual property creation and licensing, and develop, commercialize and remain a leading supplier of 5G integrated circuit products, including RFFE products;
•maintain access to sufficient capacity in the supply chain relative to our competitors to meet customer demand;
•create standalone value and contribute to the success of our existing businesses through acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic transactions, and by developing customer, licensee, vendor, distributor and other channel relationships in new industries and applications;
•identify potential acquisition targets that will grow or sustain our business or address strategic needs, reach agreement on terms acceptable to us, close the transactions and effectively integrate these new businesses, products, technologies and employees;
•provide leading products and technologies to OEMs, high level operating systems (HLOS) providers, operators, cloud providers and other industry participants as competitors, new industry entrants and other factors continue to affect the industry landscape;
•be a preferred partner and sustain preferred relationships providing integrated circuit products that support multiple operating system and infrastructure platforms to industry participants that effectively commercialize new devices using these platforms; and
•continue to develop brand recognition to effectively compete against better known companies in computing and other consumer driven segments and to deepen our presence in significant emerging regions.
We compete with many different semiconductor companies, ranging from multinational companies with integrated research and development, manufacturing, sales and marketing organizations across a broad spectrum of product lines, to companies that are focused on a single application, industry or standard product, including those that produce products for mobile handsets, automotive or IoT, among others. Most of these competitors compete with us with respect to some, but not all, of our businesses or product lines. Companies that design integrated circuits based on CDMA, OFDMA, Wi-Fi or their derivatives are generally competitors or potential competitors. Examples (some of which are strategic partners of ours in other areas) include Broadcom, HiSilicon, MediaTek, Mobileye, Nvidia, NXP Semiconductors, Qorvo, Samsung, Skyworks, Texas Instruments and UNISOC. Some of these current and potential competitors may have advantages over us that include, among others: motivation by our customers in certain circumstances to use our competitors’ integrated circuit products, to utilize their own internally-developed integrated circuit products and/or sell such products to others, or to utilize alternative technologies; lower cost structures or a willingness and ability to accept lower prices or lower margins for their products, particularly in China; foreign government support of other technologies, competitors or OEMs that sell devices that do not contain our integrated circuit products; better known brand names; ownership and control of manufacturing facilities and greater expertise in manufacturing processes; the development and sale of infrastructure equipment for wireless networks, which may enable such competitors to better optimize their integrated circuit products for performance on those networks; more extensive relationships with local distribution companies and OEMs in certain geographic regions (such as China); more experience in industries and applications beyond mobile handsets (such as automotive and IoT); and a more established presence in certain regions.
In addition, certain of our largest customers have in the past utilized, currently utilize and may in the future utilize our competitors’ integrated circuit products in some or all of their devices, rather than our products. Further, certain of those customers, such as Apple and Samsung, have developed, are developing or may develop their own integrated circuit products (effectively making them competitors), which they have in the past utilized, currently utilize or may in the future utilize in some or all of their devices, rather than our products. See also the Risk Factor titled “Our business, particularly our semiconductor business, may suffer as a result of our customers vertically integrating (i.e., developing their own integrated circuit products).”
Further, political actions, including trade and/or national security protection policies, or other actions by governments, particularly the U.S. and Chinese governments, have in the past, currently are and could in the future limit or prevent us from transacting business with certain of our customers or suppliers; limit, prevent or discourage certain of our customers or suppliers from transacting business with us; or make it more expensive to do so. This could advantage our competitors by enabling them with increased sales, economies of scale, operating income and/or cash flows, and/or enabling critical
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technology transfer, allowing them to increase their investments in technology development, research and development, and commercialization of products. See also the Risk Factor titled “A significant portion of our business is concentrated in China, and the risks of such concentration are exacerbated by U.S./China trade and national security tensions.”
Competition in any or all product areas or device tiers may result in the loss of business or customers, which would negatively impact our business, revenues, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. Such competition may also reduce average selling prices for our chipset products or the products of our customers and licensees. Certain of these dynamics are particularly pronounced in emerging regions and China where competitors may have lower cost structures or may have a willingness and ability to accept lower prices or lower margins on their products. Reductions in the average selling prices of our chipset products, without a corresponding increase in volumes, would negatively impact our revenues, and without corresponding decreases in average unit costs, would negatively impact our margins. In addition, reductions in the average selling prices of our licensees’ products, unless offset by an increase in volumes, would generally decrease total royalties payable to us, negatively impacting our licensing revenues.
RISKS RELATED TO PRODUCT DEFECTS OR SECURITY VULNERABILITIES
Failures in our products, or in the products of our customers or licensees, including those resulting from security vulnerabilities, defects or errors, could harm our business.
Our products are complex and may contain defects, errors or security vulnerabilities, or experience failures or unsatisfactory performance, due to any number of issues, including issues in materials, design, fabrication, packaging and/or use within a system. Development of products in new domains of technology, and the migration to integrated circuit technologies with smaller geometric feature sizes, increases complexity and adds risk to manufacturing yields and reliability, and increases the likelihood of product defects, errors or security vulnerabilities. Defects, errors, security vulnerabilities or other unintended functionality could also be introduced into our products by cyber-attacks or other actions by malicious actors, either directly or through third-party products or software used in our products or IT infrastructure. Further, because of the complexity of our products, defects, errors or security vulnerabilities might only be detected when the products are in use. Risks associated with product or technology defects, errors or security vulnerabilities are exacerbated by the fact that our customers typically integrate our products into consumer and other devices, including motor vehicles or motor vehicle systems. We routinely monitor for and assess security vulnerabilities in our products and offer remediation measures if appropriate. However, we may not be aware of all such vulnerabilities, and we may fail to identify and/or provide remediation measures for vulnerabilities (or our customers may fail to implement remediation measures) before they are exploited.
Our products may be used in devices that interact with untrusted systems or otherwise access untrusted content, which creates a risk of exposing the system hardware and software in those devices to malicious attacks. Further, security vulnerabilities in our products or the technologies we use could expose our customers, or end users of our customers’ products, to hackers or other unscrupulous third parties who develop and deploy malware that could attack our products or our customers’ products or IT infrastructure. Such attacks could result in the disruption of our customers’ businesses or the misappropriation, theft, misuse, disclosure, loss or destruction of the technology or intellectual property, or the proprietary, confidential or personal information, of our customers, their employees or the end users of our customers’ devices. While we continue to focus on this issue and take measures to safeguard our products from cybersecurity threats, device capabilities continue to evolve, enabling more elaborate functionality and applications, and increasing the risk of security failures, and techniques used to perpetrate cybersecurity attacks are increasingly sophisticated and constantly evolving. See also the Risk Factor titled “Our business and operations could suffer in the event of security breaches of our IT systems, or other misappropriation of our technology, intellectual property or other proprietary or confidential information.”
Our products may be responsible for critical functions in our customers’ products and networks. Failure of our products to perform to specifications, meet certain regulatory or industry standards (including product safety and information security standards, which may differ by region, geography and industry, and which are particularly stringent in the automotive industry), or other product defects, errors or security vulnerabilities, could lead to substantial damage to the products we sell to our customers, the devices into which our products are integrated and the end users of such devices, and potentially to our customers’ IT infrastructure. Such defects, errors or security vulnerabilities could give rise to significant costs, including costs related to developing solutions, recalling products or participating in customer recalls (for example, in the automotive industry), repairing or replacing defective products, writing down defective inventory or indemnification obligations under our agreements, and could result in the loss of sales and divert the attention of our engineering personnel from our product development efforts. In addition, defects, errors or security vulnerabilities in our products could result in failure to achieve market acceptance, a loss of design wins, a shifting of business to our competitors, and litigation or regulatory actions against us, and could harm our reputation, our relationships with customers and partners and our ability to attract new customers, as well as the perceptions of our brand. Other potential adverse impacts of product defects, errors or security vulnerabilities
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include shipment delays, write-offs of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, and losses on unfavorable purchase commitments. In addition, defects, errors or security vulnerabilities in the products of our customers or licensees could cause a delay or decrease in demand for the products into which our products are integrated, and thus for our products.
In addition, the occurrence of defects, errors or security vulnerabilities may give rise to product liability or other commercial claims, particularly if such defects, errors or security vulnerabilities in our products or the technology we use, or the products into which they are integrated, result in personal injury or death, or customer field actions (for example, in the automotive industry, where such term means automotive product-related service actions or repairs for defects, whether safety-related or not). If a product liability or other commercial claim is brought against us, the cost of defending the claim could be significant, and could divert the attention of our technical and management personnel and harm our business, even if we are successful. We may be named in product liability claims even if there is no evidence that our products caused the damage in question, and even though we may have indemnity from our customers, and such claims could result in significant costs and expenses. We may also be required to indemnify and/or defend our customers from product liability claims relating to our products. Further, our business liability insurance may be inadequate, may not cover the claims, and future coverage may be unavailable on acceptable terms, which could adversely impact our financial results. The above is exacerbated by the fact that our products may be used, and perform critical functions, in various high-risk applications such as: automobiles, including ADAS/AD functions; cameras and artificial intelligence, including home and enterprise security; home automation, including smoke and noxious gas detectors; medical condition monitoring; location and asset tracking and management, including wearables for child safety and elderly health; robotics, including public safety drones and autonomous municipality vehicles; and XR for treatment of phobias or PTSD, early detection of disorders or special needs, among others.
Accordingly, defects, errors or security vulnerabilities in our products or the technologies we use could have an adverse impact on us, on our customers and the end users of our customers’ products. If any of these risks materialize, there could be a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
RISKS RELATED TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The enforcement and protection of our intellectual property may be expensive, could fail to prevent misappropriation or unauthorized use of our intellectual property, could result in the loss of our ability to enforce one or more patents, and could be adversely affected by changes in patent laws, by laws in certain foreign jurisdictions that may not effectively protect our intellectual property and by ineffective enforcement of laws in such jurisdictions.
We rely primarily on patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, as well as nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements, international treaties and other methods, to protect our intellectual property, including our patent portfolio. Policing unauthorized use of our products, technologies and intellectual property is difficult and time consuming. The steps we have taken have not always prevented, and we cannot be certain the steps we take in the future will prevent, the misappropriation or unauthorized use of our products, technologies or intellectual property, particularly in foreign countries where the laws may not protect our rights as fully or as readily as U.S. laws or where the enforcement of such laws may be lacking or ineffective. See also the Risk Factor titled “Our business and operations could suffer in the event of security breaches of our IT systems, or other misappropriation of our technology, intellectual property or other proprietary or confidential information.”
Some industry participants who have a vested interest in devaluing patents in general, or standard-essential patents in particular, have mounted attacks on certain patent systems, increasing the likelihood of changes to established patent laws. We cannot predict with certainty the long-term effects of any potential changes. In the United States, Europe (including the United Kingdom), India, China and elsewhere, there is continued discussion regarding potential patent law changes, and there is current and potential future litigation regarding patents, the outcomes of which could be detrimental to our licensing business. Some proposed changes would apply to only standard-essential patents, and such changes may substantially alter the incentives to participate in standardization or develop standards-compliant products. See also the Risk Factor titled “Efforts by some OEMs to avoid paying fair and reasonable royalties for the use of our intellectual property may require the investment of substantial management time and financial resources and may result in legal decisions or actions by governments, courts, regulators or agencies, Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) or other industry organizations that harm our business.”
Further, the laws in certain foreign countries in which our patents are or may be licensed, or our products are or may be manufactured or sold, including certain countries in Asia, may not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws in the United States. In addition, we cannot be certain that the laws and policies of any country or the practices of any standards bodies, foreign or domestic, with respect to intellectual property enforcement or licensing or the adoption of standards, will not be changed in the future in ways that are detrimental to our licensing programs or to the sale or use of our products or technologies.
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We have had and may in the future have difficulty in certain circumstances in protecting or enforcing our intellectual property and contracts, including collecting royalties for use of our patent portfolio due to, among others: refusal by certain licensees to report and pay all or a portion of the royalties they owe to us; policies or political actions of governments, including trade protection and national security policies; challenges to our licensing practices under competition laws; adoption of mandatory licensing provisions by foreign jurisdictions; failure of foreign courts to recognize and enforce judgments of contract breach and damages issued by courts in the United States; and challenges before competition agencies to our licensing business or the pricing and integration of additional features and functionality into our chipset products. See also the Risk Factors titled “Efforts by some OEMs to avoid paying fair and reasonable royalties for the use of our intellectual property may require the investment of substantial management time and financial resources and may result in legal decisions or actions by governments, courts, regulators or agencies, Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) or other industry organizations that harm our business” and “Our business may suffer as a result of adverse rulings in governmental investigations or proceedings or other legal proceedings.”
We have engaged in litigation and arbitration in the past and may need to further litigate or arbitrate in the future to enforce our contract and/or intellectual property rights, protect our trade secrets or determine the validity and scope of proprietary rights of others. As a result of such litigation or arbitration, we could lose our ability to enforce one or more patents, portions of our license agreements could be determined to be invalid or unenforceable (which may in turn result in other licensees either not complying with their existing license agreements or initiating litigation or arbitration), license terms (including but not limited to royalty rates for the use of our intellectual property) could be imposed that are less favorable to us than existing terms, and we could incur substantial costs. Actions we take to enforce our contract or intellectual property rights could be costly and could absorb significant management time and attention, which, in turn, could negatively impact our results of operations and cash flows. Further, even a positive resolution to our enforcement efforts may take time to conclude, which may reduce our revenues and cash resources available for other purposes, such as research and development, in the periods prior to conclusion.
Additionally, although our license agreements generally provide us with the right to audit the books and records of licensees, audits can be expensive, time consuming, incomplete and subject to dispute. Further, certain licensees may not comply with the obligation to provide full access to their books and records. To the extent we do not aggressively enforce our rights under our license agreements, licensees may not comply with their existing license agreements, and to the extent we do not aggressively pursue unlicensed companies to enter into license agreements with us for their use of our intellectual property, other unlicensed companies may not enter into license agreements.
See also the Risk Factors titled “Efforts by some OEMs to avoid paying fair and reasonable royalties for the use of our intellectual property may require the investment of substantial management time and financial resources and may result in legal decisions or actions by governments, courts, regulators or agencies, Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) or other industry organizations that harm our business” and “Our business and operations could suffer in the event of security breaches of our IT systems, or other misappropriation of our technology, intellectual property or other proprietary or confidential information.”
Claims by other companies that we infringe their intellectual property could adversely affect our business.
From time to time, companies have asserted, and may again assert, patent, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property claims against us relating to our technologies or products, including those we have acquired from other companies. These claims have resulted and may again result in our involvement in litigation, and we are currently involved in such litigation, including certain matters described in this Quarterly Report in “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies.” We may not prevail in such litigation given, among other factors, the complex technical issues and inherent uncertainties in intellectual property litigation. If any of our products were found to infringe another company’s intellectual property, we could be subject to an injunction or be required to redesign our products, or to license such intellectual property or pay damages or other compensation to such other company (any of which could be costly). If we are unable to redesign our products, license such intellectual property used in our products or otherwise distribute our products (e.g., through a licensed supplier), we could be prohibited from making and selling our products. Similarly, our suppliers could be found to infringe another company’s intellectual property, and such suppliers could then be enjoined from providing products or services to us.
In any potential dispute involving us and another company’s patents, copyrights, trademarks or other intellectual property, our chipset foundries, semiconductor assembly and test providers and customers could also become the targets of litigation. We are contingently liable under certain product sales, services, license and other agreements to indemnify certain customers, chipset foundries and semiconductor assembly and test service providers against certain types of liability and damages arising from qualifying claims of patent infringement by products sold by us, or by intellectual property provided by us to our chipset foundries and semiconductor assembly and test service providers. Reimbursements under indemnification
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arrangements could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. Furthermore, litigation could severely disrupt the supply of our products and the businesses of our chipset customers and their customers, which in turn could harm our relationships with them and could result in a decline in our chipset sales or a reduction in our licensees’ sales, causing a corresponding decline in our chipset or licensing revenues. Any claims, regardless of their merit, could be time consuming to address, result in costly litigation, divert the efforts of our technical and management personnel, cause product release or shipment delays and/or cause damage to our customer relationships, any of which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows.
We may continue to be involved in litigation and may have to appear in front of administrative bodies (such as the United States International Trade Commission) to defend against patent assertions against our products by companies, some of whom are attempting to gain competitive advantage or leverage in licensing negotiations. We may not be successful in such proceedings, and if we are not, the range of possible outcomes is very broad and may include, for example, monetary damages or fines or other orders to pay money, royalty payments, injunctions on the sale of certain of our integrated circuit products (or on the sale of our customers’ devices using such products) or the issuance of orders to cease certain conduct or modify our business practices. Further, a governmental body in a particular country or region may assert, and may be successful in imposing, remedies with effects that extend beyond the borders of that country or region. In addition, a negative outcome in any such proceeding could severely disrupt the business of our customers and their wireless operator customers, which in turn could harm our relationships with them and could result in a decline in our chipset sales or a reduction in our licensees’ sales, causing corresponding declines in our chipset or licensing revenues.
Our use of open source software may harm our business.
Certain of our software and our suppliers’ software may contain or may be derived from “open source” software, and we have seen, and believe that we will continue to see, customers request that we develop products, including software associated with our integrated circuit products, that incorporate open source software elements and operate in an open source environment, which, under certain open source licenses, may offer accessibility to a portion of our products’ source code and may expose our related intellectual property to adverse licensing conditions. Licensing of such open source software may impose certain obligations on us if we were to distribute derivative works of that software. For example, these obligations may require us to make source code for the derivative works available to our customers in a manner that allows them to make such source code available to their customers, or to license such derivative works under a particular type of license that is different than what we customarily use to license our software. Furthermore, in the course of product development, we may make contributions to third-party open source projects that could subject our intellectual property to adverse licensing conditions. For example, to encourage the growth of a software ecosystem that is interoperable with our products, we may need to contribute certain implementations under the open source licensing terms that govern such projects, which may adversely impact our associated intellectual property. Developing open source products, while adequately protecting the intellectual property upon which our licensing programs depend, may prove burdensome and time-consuming under certain circumstances, thereby placing us at a competitive disadvantage, and we may not adequately protect our intellectual property.
GENERAL RISK FACTORS
We operate in the highly cyclical semiconductor industry, which is subject to significant downturns. We are also susceptible to declines in global, regional and local economic conditions generally. Our stock price and financial results are subject to substantial quarterly and annual fluctuations due to these dynamics, among others.
The semiconductor industry is highly cyclical, volatile, subject to downturns and characterized by constant and rapid technological change, price erosion, evolving technical standards, frequent new product introductions, short product life cycles and fluctuations in product supply and demand. Periods of downturns have been characterized by diminished demand for end-user products, high inventory levels, excess or obsolete inventory adjustments or reserves, underutilization of manufacturing capacity, changes in revenue mix and erosion of average selling prices. During such downturns, our revenues have declined, and our results of operations and financial condition have been adversely impacted. We expect our business to continue to be subject to such cyclical downturns.
In addition, recent changes in global trade policy, including tariffs and related trade actions announced by the U.S., China and other countries, have resulted in significant volatility in capital markets and increased economic uncertainty. The escalation of trade tensions and the implementation of additional trade barriers between the U.S. and its trading partners may have the effect of increasing prices and/or decreasing demand for end-user products incorporating our products (including wireless devices and connected vehicles, among others), and could result in a general economic slowdown or recession, any of which would have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, tariffs may increase the cost of certain supplies used in our business, which could result in increased operating expenses and reduced margins.
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Finally, continued uncertainty regarding global economic conditions and trade policy may make it harder for management to estimate the future performance of our business.
A decline in global, regional or local economic conditions, or a slow-down in economic growth, particularly in geographic regions with high concentrations of wireless voice and data users or high concentrations of our customers or licensees, could also have adverse, wide-ranging effects on our business and financial results, including: a decrease in demand for our products and technologies; a decrease in demand for the products and services of our customers or licensees; the inability of our suppliers to deliver on their supply commitments to us, our inability to supply our products to our customers and/or the inability of our customers or licensees to supply their products to end users; the insolvency of key suppliers, customers or licensees; delays in reporting or payments from our customers or licensees; failures by counterparties; and/or negative effects on wireless device inventories. In addition, our customers’ and licensees’ ability to purchase or pay for our products and intellectual property and network operators’ ability to upgrade their wireless networks could be adversely affected, potentially leading to a reduction, cancellation or delay of orders for our products. Further, inflationary pressure may increase our costs, including employee compensation costs, reduce demand for our products or those of our customers or licensees due to increased prices of those products, or result in employee attrition to the extent our compensation does not keep up with inflation, particularly if our competitors’ compensation does.
Our stock price and financial results have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future. Factors that may have a significant impact on the market price of our stock and our financial results include those identified above and throughout this Risk Factors section, as well as: volatility of the stock market in general and technology and semiconductor companies in particular; announcements concerning us, our suppliers, our competitors or our customers or licensees, including any announcement concerning the initiation of, or any developments in, any lawsuit or governmental investigation or proceeding against us, or any announcement concerning the implementation of tariffs or other trade restrictions affecting our products or those of our significant customers; and variations between our actual financial results or guidance and expectations of securities analysts or investors, among others. In the past, securities class action litigation has been brought against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their securities, among other reasons. We have been in the past and may in the future be the target of securities litigation, which could result in substantial uninsured costs and divert management’s attention and our resources.
Geopolitical conflicts, natural disasters, pandemics and other health crises, and other factors outside of our control, could significantly disrupt our business.
We have operations and facilities in the United States and many other countries throughout the world. We derive a significant portion of our revenues from Chinese OEMs and from non-Chinese OEMs that utilize our integrated circuit products in devices they sell into China (which has the largest number of smartphone users in the world); our key suppliers and their manufacturing foundries and assembly, test and other facilities are primarily located in Taiwan and Korea; our manufacturing facilities for RFFE and RF products are located in China, Germany and Singapore; the primary warehouses where we store finished goods for fulfillment of customer orders are located in Singapore; and a significant portion of our workforce (including engineering and other technical personnel) is based in India. Acts of war, terrorism, geopolitical conflicts, political instability or tensions such as the current geopolitical tensions involving China and Taiwan, natural disasters, the effects of climate change, pandemics or other health crises affecting any of the regions in which we operate, and particularly those in which our customers, suppliers, manufacturing facilities and/or significant portions of our workforce are concentrated, could significantly disrupt our business by, among others: reducing demand for our products and services or end-user devices incorporating our products or intellectual property; impairing our customers’ or licensees’ ability to purchase or pay for our products, services or intellectual property; delaying or preventing our suppliers from providing us with critical components or raw materials; delaying or preventing our foundry or semiconductor assembly and test providers from manufacturing, assembling or testing our products; preventing us from manufacturing products or shipping finished products; damaging or destroying inventory; delaying or preventing network operators from upgrading their wireless networks to meet new technology standards; or preventing a significant number of our employees, or employees who perform critical functions, from performing their duties for us. For example, our business depends on our ability to receive consistent and reliable chipset supply from our foundry partners, particularly in Taiwan. Consequently, a significant or prolonged military or other geopolitical conflict involving China and Taiwan could severely limit or prevent us from receiving chipset supply from Taiwan, which would have a material adverse impact on our business (and likely on the semiconductor industry as a whole). In addition, acts of war, terrorism, geopolitical conflicts, political instability or tensions, natural disasters, the effects of climate change, pandemics or other health crises impacting any of these regions could also result in a decline in global, regional or local economic conditions generally, or increased volatility in financial markets, which could have adverse effects on our business and financial results. See also the Risk Factor titled “We operate in the highly cyclical semiconductor industry, which is subject to significant downturns. We are also susceptible to declines in global, regional and local economic conditions generally. Our stock price and financial results are subject to substantial quarterly and annual
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fluctuations due to these dynamics, among others.” Any such events may also have the effect of exacerbating the other risks discussed in this “Risk Factors” section.
Our business may suffer due to the impact of, or our failure to comply with, the various existing, new or amended laws, regulations, policies or standards to which we are subject.
Our business and products, and those of our customers and licensees, are subject to various laws, rules and regulations globally, as well as government policies and the specifications of international, national and regional communications standards bodies (collectively, Regulations). These include, among others, Regulations related to: patent licensing practices; antitrust, competition and competitive business practices; protection of intellectual property; cybersecurity; privacy and data protection; AI technologies; imports and exports, such as the U.S. Export Administration Regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce; trade and trade protection including tariffs; foreign policy and national security; the flow of funds out of certain countries (e.g., China); automotive industry safety, security and quality standards; environmental protection (including climate change), health and safety; supply chain, responsible sourcing (including the use of conflict minerals) and human rights; spectrum availability and license issuance; adoption of standards; taxation; labor, employment and human capital; corporate governance; public disclosure and reporting (including reporting of ESG-related data); and business conduct. Compliance with, or changes in the interpretation of, existing Regulations, the adoption of new Regulations, changes in the oversight of our activities by governments or standards bodies, or rulings in court, regulatory, administrative or other proceedings relating to such Regulations, among others, could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. See also the Risk Factors titled “Our business may suffer as a result of adverse rulings in governmental investigations or proceedings or other legal proceedings,” “Changes in our patent licensing practices, whether due to governmental investigations, legal challenges or otherwise, could adversely impact our business and results of operations,” “A significant portion of our business is concentrated in China, and the risks of such concentration are exacerbated by U.S./China trade and national security tensions,” “There are numerous risks associated with the operation and control of our manufacturing facilities, including a higher portion of fixed costs relative to a fabless model; environmental compliance and liability; impacts related to climate change; exposure to natural disasters, health crises, geopolitical conflicts and cyber-attacks; timely supply of equipment and materials; and various manufacturing issues,” and “Tax liabilities could adversely affect our results of operations.”
Regulations are complex and changing (which may create uncertainty regarding compliance), are subject to varying interpretations, and their application in practice may evolve over time. In addition, and especially in developing regulatory areas (for example, AI, privacy and data protection, and ESG-related reporting), Regulations may differ by country or by state within the United States, and may be conflicting in certain cases. As a result, our efforts to comply with Regulations may fail, particularly if there is ambiguity as to how they should be applied in practice. Failure to comply with any Regulation may adversely affect our business, results of operations and cash flows. New Regulations, or evolving interpretations thereof, may cause us to incur higher costs as we revise current practices, policies or procedures; may divert management time and attention to compliance activities; and may negatively impact our ability to conduct business in certain jurisdictions.
There are risks associated with our debt.
Our outstanding debt and any additional debt we incur may have negative consequences on our business, including, among others: requiring us to use cash to pay the principal of and interest on our debt, thereby reducing the amount of cash available for other purposes; limiting our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, stock repurchases, dividends, general corporate or other purposes; and limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business, industries or the market. Our ability to make payments of principal and interest on our debt depends upon our future performance, which is subject to economic and political conditions, industry cycles and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to service our debt, we may be required to, among others: refinance or restructure all or a portion of our debt; reduce or delay planned capital or operating expenditures; reduce, suspend or eliminate our dividend payments and/or our stock repurchase program; or sell selected assets. Such measures might not be sufficient to enable us to service our debt. In addition, any such refinancing, restructuring or sale of assets might not be available on economically favorable terms or at all, and if prevailing interest rates at the time of any such refinancing or restructuring are higher than our current rates, interest expense related to such refinancing or restructuring would increase. Further, if there are adverse changes in the ratings assigned to our debt securities by credit rating agencies, our borrowing costs, our ability to access debt financing in the future and the terms of such debt could be adversely affected.
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Tax liabilities could adversely affect our results of operations.
We are subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes. We regularly are subject to examination of our tax returns and reports by taxing authorities in the United States federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions, most notably in countries where we earn a routine return and the tax authorities believe substantial value-add activities are performed, as well as countries where we own intellectual property. The final determination of tax audits and any related legal proceedings could materially differ from amounts reflected in our income tax provisions and accruals. In such case, our income tax provision, results of operations and cash flows in the period or periods in which that determination is made could be negatively affected.
Tax rules may change in a manner that adversely affects our future reported results of operations or the way we conduct our business. Most of our income is taxable in the United States with a significant portion qualifying for preferential treatment as FDII (foreign-derived intangible income). Beginning in fiscal 2027, the effective tax rate for FDII increases from 13% to 16%. Further, if U.S. tax rates increase and/or the FDII deduction is eliminated or reduced, our provision for income taxes, results of operations and cash flows would be adversely (potentially materially) affected. Also, if our customers move manufacturing operations to the United States, our FDII deduction may be reduced. Further, if the requirement to capitalize certain research and development expenditures for federal income tax purposes is changed, as has been proposed by Congress, this would negatively affect our provision for income taxes and results of operations (although it would have a favorable impact on our cash flows from operations due to lower cash tax payments).
Further changes in the tax laws of foreign jurisdictions could arise as a result of the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project that was undertaken by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The OECD, representing a coalition of member countries, has made certain changes, including the Pillar Two framework, which imposes a minimum tax of 15% in each taxing jurisdiction. The OECD is contemplating additional changes to numerous long-standing tax principles. These changes, if and as adopted by countries, may increase tax uncertainty and may adversely affect our provision for income taxes, results of operations and cash flows.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our purchases of our common stock in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 were:
Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid Per Share (1) | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | (In thousands) | (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||
December 30, 2024 to January 26, 2025 | 1,013 | $ | 164.46 | 1,013 | $ | 14,110 | |||||||||||||||||
January 27, 2025 to February 23, 2025 | 3,599 | 171.88 | 3,599 | 13,491 | |||||||||||||||||||
February 24, 2025 to March 30, 2025 | 6,074 | 157.82 | 6,074 | 12,533 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 10,686 | 10,686 | |||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Average Price Paid Per Share excludes cash paid for commissions.
(2) On November 6, 2024, we announced a $15.0 billion stock repurchase program. The stock repurchase program has no expiration date. Shares withheld to satisfy statutory tax withholding requirements related to the vesting of share-based awards are not issued or considered stock repurchases under our stock repurchase program and, therefore, are excluded from the table above.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
During the quarter ended March 30, 2025, none of our directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
| Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | Form | Date of First Filing | Exhibit Number | Filed Herewith | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3.1 | 8-K | 3/7/2024 | 3.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3.2 | 8-K | 3/7/2024 | 3.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10.5 | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31.1 | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31.2 | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32.1 | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32.2 | X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101.INS | 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. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1)Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
QUALCOMM Incorporated | |||||
Dated: April 30, 2025 | /s/ Akash Palkhiwala | ||||
| Akash Palkhiwala | |||||
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer | |||||
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EXHIBIT 10.5
Amended and Restated
QUALCOMM Incorporated
2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan
| TABLE OF CONTENTS | |||||||||||
| Page | |||||||||||
| 1. | Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan | 1 | |||||||||
| 1.1 | Establishment | 1 | |||||||||
| 1.2 | Purpose | 1 | |||||||||
| 1.3 | Term of Plan | 1 | |||||||||
| 2. | Definitions and Construction | 1 | |||||||||
| 2.1 | Definitions | 1 | |||||||||
| 2.2 | Construction | 10 | |||||||||
| 3. | Administration | 10 | |||||||||
| 3.1 | Administration by the Committee | 10 | |||||||||
| 3.2 | Authority of Officers | 10 | |||||||||
| 3.3 | Administration with Respect to Insiders | 10 | |||||||||
| 3.4 | Powers of the Committee | 11 | |||||||||
| 3.5 | Indemnification | 12 | |||||||||
| 3.6 | Arbitration | 13 | |||||||||
| 3.7 | Repricing and Reload Options Prohibited | 13 | |||||||||
| 4. | Shares Subject to Plan | 13 | |||||||||
| 4.1 | Aggregate Number of Shares Issuable | 13 | |||||||||
| 4.2 | Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure | 15 | |||||||||
| 5. | Eligibility and Award Limitations | 15 | |||||||||
| 5.1 | Persons Eligible for Awards | 15 | |||||||||
| 5.2 | Participation | 16 | |||||||||
| 5.3 | Incentive Stock Option Limitations | 16 | |||||||||
| 5.4 | Award Limits | 16 | |||||||||
| 6. | Terms and Conditions of Options | 17 | |||||||||
| 6.1 | Exercise Price | 17 | |||||||||
| 6.2 | Exercisability and Term of Options | 17 | |||||||||
| 6.3 | Payment of Exercise Price | 18 | |||||||||
| 6.4 | Effect of Termination of Service | 19 | |||||||||
| 6.5 | Transferability of Options | 19 | |||||||||
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| TABLE OF CONTENTS | |||||||||||
| (continued) | |||||||||||
| Page | |||||||||||
| 7. | Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights | 19 | |||||||||
| 7.1 | Types of SARs Authorized | 19 | |||||||||
| 7.2 | Exercise Price | 20 | |||||||||
| 7.3 | Exercisability and Term of SARs | 20 | |||||||||
| 7.4 | Deemed Exercise of SARs | 20 | |||||||||
| 7.5 | Effect of Termination of Service | 20 | |||||||||
| 7.6 | Nontransferability of SARs | 20 | |||||||||
| 8. | Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Awards | 21 | |||||||||
| 8.1 | Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized | 21 | |||||||||
| 8.2 | Purchase Price | 21 | |||||||||
| 8.3 | Purchase Period | 21 | |||||||||
| 8.4 | Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer | 21 | |||||||||
| 8.5 | Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions | 21 | |||||||||
| 8.6 | Effect of Termination of Service | 22 | |||||||||
| 8.7 | Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights | 22 | |||||||||
| 9. | Terms and Conditions of Performance Awards | 22 | |||||||||
| 9.1 | Types of Performance Awards Authorized | 22 | |||||||||
| 9.2 | Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units | 22 | |||||||||
| 9.3 | Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula | 22 | |||||||||
| 9.4 | Measurement of Performance Goals | 22 | |||||||||
| 9.5 | Settlement of Performance Awards | 23 | |||||||||
| 9.6 | Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions | 23 | |||||||||
| 9.7 | Effect of Termination of Service | 24 | |||||||||
| 9.8 | Nontransferability of Performance Awards | 24 | |||||||||
| 10. | Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Awards | 25 | |||||||||
| 10.1 | Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards | 25 | |||||||||
| 10.2 | Vesting | 25 | |||||||||
| 10.3 | Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions | 25 | |||||||||
| 10.4 | Effect of Termination of Service | 26 | |||||||||
| 10.5 | Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards | 26 | |||||||||
| 10.6 | Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards | 26 | |||||||||
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| TABLE OF CONTENTS | |||||||||||
| (continued) | |||||||||||
| Page | |||||||||||
| 11. | Deferred Compensation Awards | 26 | |||||||||
| 11.1 | Establishment of Deferred Compensation Award Programs | 26 | |||||||||
| 11.2 | Terms and Conditions of Deferred Compensation Awards | 27 | |||||||||
| 12. | Other Stock-Based Awards | 28 | |||||||||
| 13. | Effect of Change in Control | 29 | |||||||||
| 13.1 | Effect of Change in Control on Awards | 29 | |||||||||
| 13.2 | Accelerated Vesting | 29 | |||||||||
| 13.3 | Assumption or Substitution | 30 | |||||||||
| 13.4 | Cash-Out of Outstanding Stock-Based Awards | 30 | |||||||||
| 13.5 | Appointment of Stockholder Representative | 31 | |||||||||
| 13.6 | No Automatic Vesting Acceleration | 31 | |||||||||
| 14. | Compliance with Law | 31 | |||||||||
| 15. | Tax Withholding | 31 | |||||||||
| 15.1 | Tax Withholding in General | 31 | |||||||||
| 15.2 | Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares | 32 | |||||||||
| 16. | Amendment or Termination of Plan | 32 | |||||||||
| 17. | Miscellaneous Provisions | 32 | |||||||||
| 17.1 | Repurchase Rights | 32 | |||||||||
| 17.2 | Forfeiture Events | 32 | |||||||||
| 17.3 | Provision of Information | 33 | |||||||||
| 17.4 | Electronic Delivery and Participation | 33 | |||||||||
| 17.5 | Change in Time Commitment | 33 | |||||||||
| 17.6 | Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director | 33 | |||||||||
| 17.7 | Rights as a Stockholder | 34 | |||||||||
| 17.8 | Fractional Shares | 34 | |||||||||
| 17.9 | Severability | 34 | |||||||||
| 17.10 | Beneficiary Designation | 34 | |||||||||
| 17.11 | Domestic Relations Order Transfers | 34 | |||||||||
| 17.12 | Awards in Substitution for Awards Granted by Other Companies | 34 | |||||||||
| 17.13 | Section 409A | 35 | |||||||||
| 17.14 | Unfunded Obligation | 36 | |||||||||
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Amended and Restated QUALCOMM Incorporated
2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan
2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan
1.ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN.
1.1Establishment.
(a)The QUALCOMM Incorporated 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) was originally established effective on the Effective Date. This amendment and restatement of the Plan is effective as of the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting, subject to its approval by the Company’s stockholders at the 2025 Annual Meeting. Certain capitalized terms used herein have the meanings set forth in Section 2 of the Plan.
(b)The Plan is the successor to the 2016 LTIP. As of the Effective Date: (i) no additional awards may be granted under the 2016 LTIP; and (ii) all awards granted under the 2016 LTIP that are outstanding on the Effective Date will remain subject to the terms of the 2016 LTIP (except to the extent such outstanding awards result in returning shares that become available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under this Plan as specified in Section 4.1). All Awards granted under this Plan will be subject to the terms of this Plan.
1.2Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract and retain the best qualified personnel to perform services for the Participating Company Group, by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group, by aligning their interests with interests of the Company’s stockholders, and by rewarding such persons for their services by tying a portion of their total compensation package to the success of the Company. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Compensation Awards and other Stock-Based Awards as described below.
1.3Term of Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until its termination by the Board or the Committee; provided, however, that any Incentive Stock Option shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the earlier of the date that the Plan was originally approved by the Committee or the stockholders of the Company.
2.DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.
2.1Definitions. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:
(a)“2016 LTIP” means the QUALCOMM Incorporated 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
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(b)"2025 Annual Meeting” means the annual meeting of stockholders of the Company held in 2025.
(c)“Acquiring Corporation” means in a Change in Control the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be.
(d)“Affiliate” means (i) an entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) an entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities. For this purpose, the term “control” (including the term “controlled by”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the relevant entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; or shall have such other meaning assigned to such term for the purposes of registration on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.
(e)“Award” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Award, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Restricted Stock Unit, Deferred Compensation Award or other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.
(f)“Award Agreement” means a written agreement (which may be in electronic form) between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award granted to the Participant.
(g)“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(h)A “Change in Control” shall mean an Ownership Change Event or a series of related Ownership Change Events in each case which is actually consummated (collectively, a “Transaction”) wherein the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company’s voting stock immediately before the Transaction, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company or, in the case of a Transaction described in Section 2.1(ff)(iii), the corporation or other business entity to which the assets of the Company were transferred (the “Transferee”), as the case may be. The Board shall determine in its discretion whether multiple sales or exchanges of the voting securities of the Company or multiple Ownership Change Events are related. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a Change in Control shall not include a Spinoff Transaction. In addition, a “Change in Control” shall occur in the event that individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date, whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board (such Change in Control, a “Board Change in Control”).
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or portion of any Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5). The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.
(i) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.
(j)“Committee” means the HR and Compensation Committee or other committee of the Board duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers as shall be specified by the Board. If no committee of the Board has been appointed to administer the Plan, the Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Committee granted herein, and, in any event, the Board may in its discretion exercise any or all of such powers. The Committee shall have the exclusive authority to administer the Plan and shall have all of the powers granted herein, including, without limitation, the power to amend or terminate the Plan at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable limitations imposed by law.
(k)“Company” means QUALCOMM Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, or any Successor.
(l)“Consultant” means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a member of the Board) to a Participating Company.
(m)“Deferred Compensation Award” means an Award of Stock Units granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.
(n)“Director” means a member of the Board or of the board of directors of any Participating Company.
(o)“Disability” means the Participant has been determined by the long-term disability insurer of the Participating Company Group as eligible for disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Participating Company Group or the Participant has been determined eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits by the Social Security Administration of the United States of America; provided, however that with respect to a Nonemployee Director, “Disability” means the Participant has been determined eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits by the Social Security Administration of the United States of America and also means the inability of the Participant, in the opinion of a qualified
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physician acceptable to the Company, to perform the duties of the Participant’s position with the Participating Company Group because of sickness or other physical or mental incapacity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may specify a different definition of Disability in any Award Agreement.
(p)“Dividend Equivalent” means a credit provided by the Plan, a Full-Value Award or a Deferred Compensation Award, to reflect an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one share of Stock for each share of Stock represented by such Award. No Dividend Equivalent credits shall be credited or paid with respect to any Option or SAR.
(q)“Effective Date” means March 8, 2023.
(r)“Employee” means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a member of the Board who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive Stock Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a member of the Board nor payment of a director’s fee shall be sufficient to cause a Nonemployee Director to be an Employee for purposes of the Plan. The Company shall determine in good faith and in the exercise of its discretion whether an individual has become or has ceased to be an Employee and the effective date of such individual’s employment or termination of employment, as the case may be. For purposes of an individual’s rights, if any, under the Plan, all such determinations by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive, notwithstanding that the Company or any court of law or governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary determination.
(s)“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(t)“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:
(i) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee as permitted under this Section 2.1(t), if, on such date, the Stock is listed on a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock as quoted on such national or regional securities exchange or market system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable, and, if there is no such closing price on the date of determination, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock under this Section 2.1(t)(i) shall be the closing price of a share of Stock on the next trading day following the day of determination.
(ii)Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine the Fair Market Value on the basis of the closing, high, low or average sale price of a share of Stock or the actual sale price of a share of Stock received by a
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Participant, on such date, the preceding trading day, the next succeeding trading day or an average determined over a period of trading days; provided, however, that, for purposes of determining the exercise price of Options (under Section 6.1) or SARs (under Section 7.2), the Fair Market Value shall not be less than the Fair Market Value determined under Section 2.1(t)(i). The Committee may vary its method of determination of the Fair Market Value as provided in this Section for different purposes under the Plan.
(iii)If, on such date, the Stock is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Committee in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse.
(u)“Full-Value Award” means any Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Unit, Performance Award, and Stock-Based Award based on the full value of shares of Stock granted under this Plan, and with respect to potential Returning Shares, such corresponding full-value award granted under the 2016 LTIP.
(v)“Good Reason” For purposes of all Award Agreements under the Plan for all Awards granted to Participants who are participants in the Qualcomm Incorporated Non-Executive Officer Change in Control Severance Plan, the definition of Good Reason that shall apply following a Change in Control that occurs pursuant to the last sentence of the definition of Change in Control, shall be the definition of Good Reason in the Qualcomm Incorporated Non-Executive Officer Change in Control Severance Plan; provided that if a subsequent Change in Control occurs that is not a Board Change in Control, then the definition of Good Reason in the applicable Award Agreement shall apply following such subsequent Change in Control.
(w)“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
(x)“Insider” means an Officer, a Director or any other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(y)“Materially Impair” means any amendment to the terms of the Award that materially adversely affects the Participant’s rights under the Award. A Participant's rights under an Award will not be deemed to have been Materially Impaired by any such amendment if the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines that the amendment, taken as a whole, does not materially impair the Participant's rights. For example, the following types of amendments to the terms of an Award do not Materially Impair the Participant’s rights under the Award: (i) imposition of reasonable restrictions on the minimum number of shares subject to an Option that may be exercised, (ii) to maintain the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (iii) to change the terms of an Incentive Stock Option in a manner that disqualifies, impairs or otherwise affects the qualified status of the Award as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code; (iv) to clarify the manner of
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exemption from, or to bring the Award into compliance with or qualify it for an exemption from, Section 409A; or (v) to comply with other applicable laws.
(z)“Non-Control Affiliate” means any entity in which any Participating Company has an ownership interest and which the Committee shall designate as a Non-Control Affiliate.
(aa)“Nonemployee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.
(bb)“Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
(cc)“Officer” means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company.
(dd)“Option” means an Award that provides the right to purchase Stock at a stated price for a specified period of time granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(ee)“Option Expiration Date” means the date of expiration of the Option’s term as set forth in the Award Agreement.
(ff)An “Ownership Change Event” shall be deemed to have occurred if any of the following transactions with respect to the Company are consummated: (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders of the Company of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board in its discretion, of the assets of the Company; or (iv) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(gg)“Parent Corporation” means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(hh)“Participant” means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.
(ii)“Participating Company” means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.
(jj)“Participating Company Group” means, at any point in time, all entities collectively which are then Participating Companies.
(kk)“Performance Award” means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.
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(ll)“Performance Award Formula” means, for any Performance Award, a formula or table established by the Committee pursuant to Section 9.3 of the Plan which provides the basis for computing the amount payable pursuant to a Performance Award at one or more threshold levels of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal(s) measured as of the end of the applicable Performance Period.
(mm)“Performance Goal” means a performance goal established by the Committee pursuant to Section 9.3 of the Plan.
(nn)“Performance Period” means a period established by the Committee pursuant to Section 9.3 of the Plan at the end of which one or more Performance Goals are to be measured.
(oo)“Performance Share” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan which provides for a payment of Shares (or cash equal to the Fair Market Value of Shares) based on satisfaction of Performance Goals established by the Committee pursuant to Section 9.
(pp)“Performance Unit” means any Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan which provides for the payment of cash based on the satisfaction of Performance Goals established by the Committee pursuant to Section 9, including but not limited to the Company’s Annual Cash Incentive Plan.
(qq)“Restricted Stock Award” means an Award of Restricted Stock.
(rr)“Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan, to receive a share of Stock or cash on a date determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 and the Participant’s Award Agreement.
(ss)“Restriction Period” means the period established in accordance with Section 8.4 of the Plan during which shares subject to a Restricted Stock Award are subject to Vesting Conditions.
(tt)“Returning Shares” means the following number of shares of Stock subject to awards granted under the 2016 LTIP or the Plan that were either outstanding as of December 15, 2024 or were granted under the Plan after December 15, 2024 and prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting:
(i) the number of any shares of Stock subject to stock options which expire, or for any reason are forfeited, cancelled, or terminated without being exercised, plus
(ii)the number of any shares of Stock subject to Full-Value Awards that are forfeited, cancelled, terminated, not earned due to any performance goal that is not met, or that fail to vest or that otherwise expire or are otherwise reacquired by the Company,
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in each case with the number of shares of Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan being increased by two (2) times the number of such shares of Stock, plus
(iii)the number of shares of Stock subject to any Full Value Awards which are paid in cash, exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company or any member of the Participating Company Group to satisfy any tax withholding or tax payment obligations related to such award, in each case with the number of shares of Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan being increased by two (2) times the number of such shares of Stock.
(uu)“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.
(vv)“SAR” or “Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award representing, for each share of Stock subject to such SAR, a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan to receive payment in any combination of shares of Stock or cash of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price.
(ww)“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(xx)“Service” means
(i) a Participant’s employment or service with the Participating Company Group, whether in the capacity of an Employee, a Director or a Consultant. A Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders Service to the Participating Company Group or a change in the Participating Company for which the Participant renders such Service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Service. Furthermore, only to such extent as may be provided by the Company’s leave policy, a Participant’s Service with the Participating Company Group shall not be deemed to have terminated if the Participant takes any military leave, sick leave, or other leave of absence approved by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence shall be treated as Service for purposes of vesting only to such extent as may be provided by the Company’s leave policy. The Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the entity for which the Participant performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company; except, and only for purposes of this Plan, if the entity for which Participant performs Service is a Subsidiary Corporation and ceases to be a Participating Company as a result of the distribution of the voting stock of such Subsidiary Corporation to the stockholders of the Company, Service shall not be deemed to have terminated as a result of such distribution. Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine whether the Participant’s Service has terminated and the effective date of such termination.
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because the Participating Company for which the Participant renders Service ceases to be a member of the Participating Company Group by reason of a Spinoff Transaction, nor shall Service be deemed to have
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terminated upon resumption of Service from the Spinoff Company to a Participating Company. For all purposes under this Plan, and only for purposes of this Plan, a Participant’s Service shall include Service, whether in the capacity of an Employee, Director or a Consultant, for the Spinoff Company provided a Participant was employed by the Participating Company Group immediately prior to the Spinoff Transaction.
In the event that the Participating Company for which Participant renders Service ceases to be a member of the Participating Company Group by reason of a Spinoff Transaction, the Company shall have the authority to impose any restrictions, including but not limited to, with respect to the method of payment of the exercise price of the Options held by such individuals, if the Company determines that such restrictions are necessary to comply with applicable local laws.
Further, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant resides outside the United States and the Participating Company for which the individual renders Service ceases to be a member of the Participating Company Group by reason of a Spinoff Transaction, the Company may consider such individual to have terminated his or her Service if it determines that there are material adverse tax, securities law or other regulatory consequences to the Participant, the Company or the former Participating Company as a result of the Spinoff Transaction. In this circumstance, the Company will, in its discretion, (i) equitably adjust the Participant’s Option to ensure that he or she maintains equivalent Option rights over the shares of common stock of the Spinoff Company for which he or she is employed following the Spinoff Transaction, or (ii) determine that the Participant’s Options shall fully vest and be fully exercisable and shall terminate if not exercised prior to such Spinoff Transaction or (iii) take any other action that, in its discretion, does not impair the rights of such Participant with respect to the Option.
(yy)“Spinoff Company” means a Participating Company which ceases to be such as a result of a Spinoff Transaction.
(zz)“Spinoff Transaction” means a transaction in which the voting stock of an entity in the Participating Company Group is distributed to the stockholders of a parent corporation as defined by Section 424(e) of the Code, of such entity.
(aaa)“Stock” means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.2 of the Plan.
(bbb)“Stock-Based Award” means any Award that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is otherwise based on, the Stock, including dividends on the Stock, but not limited to those Awards described in Sections 6 through 11 of the Plan.
(ccc)“Stock Unit” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan to receive a share of Stock or cash on a date determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 and the Participant’s Award Agreement.
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(ddd)“Subsidiary Corporation” means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(eee)“Successor” means a corporation into or with which the Company is merged or consolidated or which acquires all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and which is designated by the Board as a Successor for purposes of the Plan.
(fff)“Ten Percent Owner” means a Participant who, at the time an Option is granted to the Participant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a Participating Company (other than an Affiliate) within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.
(ggg)“Vesting Conditions” mean those conditions established in accordance with the Plan prior to the satisfaction of which shares subject to an Award remain subject to forfeiture or a repurchase option in favor of the Company upon the Participant’s termination of Service.
2.2Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
3.ADMINISTRATION.
3.1Administration by the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. All questions of interpretation of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award.
3.2Authority of Officers. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, determination or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or election. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may, in its discretion, delegate to a committee comprised of one or more Officers the authority to grant one or more Awards, without further approval of the Committee, to any Employee, other than a person who, at the time of such grant, is an Insider, and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Committee may determine; provided, however, that the Committee shall fix the maximum number of shares subject to Awards that may be granted by such Officers and each such Award shall conform to such other limits and guidelines as may be established from time to time by the Committee.
3.3Administration with Respect to Insiders. With respect to participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any, of Rule 16b-3.
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3.4Powers of the Committee. In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:
(a)to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock or units to be subject to each Award;
(b)to determine the type of Award granted and to designate Options as Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options;
(c)to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;
(d)to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any Award, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of Stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability, vesting and payment of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, (v) the Performance Award Formula, Performance Goals and Performance Period applicable to any Award and the extent to which such Performance Goals have been attained, (vi) the time of the expiration of any Award, (vii) the effect of the Participant’s termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (viii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
(e)to determine whether an Award will be settled in shares of Stock, cash, or in any combination thereof;
(f)to authorize, establish or approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;
(g)to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, except as provided in Section 3.7 (Repricing and Reload Options Prohibited); provided however, that, a Participant’s rights under any Award will not be Materially Impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (ii) such Participant consents in writing;
(h)to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including with respect to the period following a Participant’s termination of Service; provided however, that, a Participant’s rights under any Award will not be Materially Impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the affected Participant, and (ii) such Participant consents in writing;
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(i)to prohibit the exercise of any Option, SAR or other exercisable Award during a period of up to 30 days prior to the consummation of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of Stock or the share price of the Stock including any Change in Control, for reasons of administrative convenience;
(j)without the consent of the affected Participant and notwithstanding the provisions of any Award Agreement to the contrary, to unilaterally substitute at any time a Stock Appreciation Right providing for settlement solely in shares of Stock in place of any outstanding Option, provided that such Stock Appreciation Right covers the same number of shares of Stock and provides for the same exercise price (subject in each case to adjustment in accordance with Section 4.2) as the replaced Option, does not violate Section 3.7 (Repricing and Reload Options Prohibited) and otherwise provides substantially equivalent terms and conditions as the replaced Option, as determined by the Committee;
(k)to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt sub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws or regulations of or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted Awards;
(l)to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law;
(m) to establish required holding periods for Stock acquired pursuant to Awards; and
(n)to the extent permitted by applicable law, to delegate to any proper officer or officers the authority to grant, amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew one or more Awards, without further approval of the Committee, to any person eligible pursuant to Section 5, other than a person who, at the time of such grant, is an Insider; provided, however, that each such Award shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the appropriate standard form of Award Agreement authorized, established or approved by the Committee and shall conform to the provisions of the Plan and such other guidelines as shall be established from time to time by the Committee.
3.5Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or the Committee or as officers or employees of the Participating Company Group, members of the Board or the Committee and any officers or employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board, the Committee or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to
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which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.
3.6Arbitration. Any dispute or claim concerning any Awards granted (or not granted) pursuant to this Plan and any other disputes or claims relating to or arising out of the Plan shall be fully, finally and exclusively resolved by binding arbitration conducted pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association in San Diego, California. By accepting an Award, Participants and the Company waive their respective rights to have any such disputes or claims tried by a judge or jury.
3.7Repricing and Reload Options Prohibited. Except as provided in Section 4.2 (Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure), the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval: (a) amend or modify the terms of any outstanding Option or SAR to reduce the exercise price of such outstanding Option or SAR; (b) cancel, exchange or permit or accept the surrender of any outstanding Option or SAR in exchange for an Option or SAR with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Option or SAR; or (c) cancel, exchange or permit or accept the surrender of any outstanding Option or SAR in exchange for any other Award, cash or other securities for purposes of repricing such Option or SAR. No Option may be granted to any Participant on account of the use of Stock by the Participant to exercise a prior Option.
4.SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.
4.1Aggregate Number of Shares Issuable.
(a)Basic Limitation. The Stock issuable under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued Shares. Subject to the Share Count provisions of Section 4.1(b) and adjustment pursuant to Section 4.2, the aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan on and after the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting will be 70,550,818 shares of Stock, reduced by one (1) share subject to any Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, and two (2) shares subject to any Full-Value Award, in each case that is granted under the Plan after December 15, 2024 and prior to the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting, and increased by the number of any Returning Shares.
(b)Share Count.
(i)Shares issued pursuant to Awards under the Plan that are Full-Value Awards will count against the shares of Stock available for issuance under the
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Plan as two (2) shares of Stock for every one (1) share of Stock issued in connection with the Award.
(ii)Shares of Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of Options or SARs will count against the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan as one (1) share of Stock for every one (1) share to which such exercise relates. For purposes of clarity, the total number of shares of Stock subject to Options or SARs that are exercised and settled in Stock, shall be counted in full on a one-for-one basis against the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan, regardless of the number of shares of Stock actually issued upon settlement of the SARs or Options, and any shares of Stock that are exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company as full or partial payment of the exercise price of any Option or SAR, and any shares of Stock that are exchanged or withheld by the Company or any member of the Participating Company Group to satisfy any tax withholding or payment obligations related to any Option or SAR, shall not be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan.
(iii) If Awards are settled in cash, the Stock that would have been issued had there been no cash settlement shall not be counted against the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan.
(iv) Stock that is subject to Awards that are forfeited, terminated, cancelled, not earned due to any performance goal that is not met or that otherwise fail to vest or are reacquired by the Company, shall again be available for Awards under the Plan; provided that any one (1) share of Stock subject to any such Award that is a Full-Value Award shall be credited as two (2) shares of Stock when determining the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan.
(v)Stock exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company or any member of the Participating Company Group to satisfy the tax withholding or payment obligations related to any Full-Value Award shall again be available for issuance under the Plan; provided that any one (1) share of Stock so exchanged or withheld in connection with any Full-Value Award shall be credited as two (2) shares of Stock when determining the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, any shares of Stock exchanged or withheld by the Company or any member of the Participating Company Group to satisfy any tax withholding or payment obligations in excess of the maximum permitted statutory rate with respect to any Full Value Award shall not again be available for issuance under the Plan.
(vi) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of clarity: (1) any Stock that is tendered (by attestation or otherwise) or exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company (by net exercise or other means) as full or partial payment of the exercise price of any Option or SAR shall not be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan; (2) Stock exchanged by a Participant or withheld by the Company or any member of the Participating Company Group to satisfy the tax withholding or tax payment obligations related to any Option or SAR shall not be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan; (3) shares of Stock that are purchased or repurchased by the
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Company with Option proceeds shall not be available for subsequent Awards under the Plan; and (4) all shares of Stock covered by an SAR, to the extent that it is exercised and settled in shares of Stock, and whether or not shares of Stock are actually issued to the Participant upon exercise of the SAR, shall be considered issued or transferred pursuant to the Plan.
4.2Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company and the requirements of Sections 409A and 424 of the Code to the extent applicable, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting normal cash dividends) that has an effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number and kind of shares subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Awards, in the Award limits set forth in Section 5.4, and in the exercise or purchase price per share under any outstanding Award in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.” If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Awards are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation (the “New Shares”), the adjustment made pursuant to this Section may include the unilateral amendment of outstanding Options to provide that such Options are exercisable for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise price per share of, the outstanding Awards shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Board or the Committee, in its sole discretion, and subject to the requirements of Sections 409A and 424 of the Code to the extent applicable. Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number. The Committee shall also make such adjustments pursuant to this Section in the terms of any Award to reflect, or related to, such changes in the capital structure of the Company or distributions in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, including modification of Performance Goals, Performance Award Formulas and Performance Periods. The adjustments determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section shall be final, binding and conclusive.
5.ELIGIBILITY AND AWARD LIMITATIONS.
5.1Persons Eligible for Awards. Awards may be granted only to Employees, Consultants and Directors. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, “Employees,” “Consultants” and “Directors” shall include prospective Employees, prospective Consultants and prospective Directors to whom Awards are offered to be granted in connection with written offers of an employment or other service relationship with the Participating Company Group; provided, however, that no Stock subject to any such Award shall vest, become exercisable or be issued prior to the date on which such person commences Service.
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5.2Participation. Eligible persons may be granted more than one Award. However, eligibility in accordance with this Section shall not entitle any person to be granted an Award, or, having been granted an Award, to be granted an additional Award.
5.3Incentive Stock Option Limitations.
(a)Persons Eligible. An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to a person who, on the effective date of grant, is an Employee of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary Corporation (each being an “ISO-Qualifying Corporation”). Any person who is not an Employee of an ISO-Qualifying Corporation on the effective date of the grant of an Option to such person may be granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option granted to a prospective Employee upon the condition that such person become an Employee of an ISO-Qualifying Corporation shall be deemed granted effective on the date such person commences Service with an ISO-Qualifying Corporation, with an exercise price determined as of such date in accordance with Section 6.1.
(b)Fair Market Value Limitation. To the extent that Options designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock option plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year for stock having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portion of such Options which exceeds such amount shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section, Options designated as Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a limitation different from that set forth in this Section, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with respect to such Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section, the Participant may designate which portion of such Option the Participant is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first. Upon exercise, shares issued pursuant to each such portion shall be separately identified.
5.4Award Limits.
(a)Maximum Number of Shares Issuable Pursuant to Incentive Stock Options. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options is 119,950,000 shares.
(b)Limitation on Nonemployee Director Compensation. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the sum of (i) the aggregate grant date fair value (computed as of the date of grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting rules) of all Awards granted, plus (ii) the total amount payable in cash, for any calendar year to any individual for services rendered as a Nonemployee Director in that year shall not exceed $800,000; provided, however, that such limitation shall not apply to
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compensation payable to any individual for service as an Employee or Consultant or to any compensation that the Board determines is for special services or services beyond those required in the regular course of the duties of a Nonemployee Director.
6.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby and including such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time establish, subject to the provisions of the Plan.
6.1Exercise Price. The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall have an exercise price per share less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner qualifying under the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.
6.2Exercisability and Term of Options.
(a)Option Vesting and Exercisability. Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that (i) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such Option, (ii) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the effective date of grant of such Option, and (iii) no Option offered or be granted to a prospective Employee, prospective Consultant or prospective Director may become exercisable prior to the date on which such person commences Service. Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of an Option, any Option granted hereunder shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions, or the terms of the Plan.
(b)Participant Responsibility for Exercise of Option. Each Participant is responsible for taking any and all actions as may be required to exercise any Option in a timely manner, and for properly executing any documents as may be required for the exercise of an Option in accordance with such rules and procedures as may be established from time to time, provided, however, that the Committee may (but is not required to) include in any Award Agreement such provisions (if any) for automatic exercise of Options upon expiration or termination as it deems appropriate. By accepting an Award Agreement for an Option, a Participant acknowledges that information regarding the procedures and requirements for the exercise of any Option is available upon such Participant’s request. The Company shall have no duty or obligation to notify any Participant of the expiration date of any Option.
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6.3Payment of Exercise Price.
(a)Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent, (ii) by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value not less than the exercise price, (iii) provided that the Participant is an Employee, and not an Officer or Director (unless otherwise not prohibited by law, including, without limitation, any regulation promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion at the time the Option is exercised, by delivery of the Participant’s promissory note in a form approved by the Company for the aggregate exercise price, provided that, if the Company is incorporated in the State of Delaware, the Participant shall pay in cash that portion of the aggregate exercise price not less than the par value of the shares being acquired to the extent required by Delaware law, (iv) by net exercise of a Nonstatutory Stock Option whereby the Company will, at the time of exercise, reduce the number of shares of Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon the exercise of the Nonstatutory Stock Option by the largest whole number of shares having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is exercised and the Participant shall pay to the Company in cash at the time of exercise the remaining balance of such aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares of Stock to be issued, (v) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (vi) by any combination thereof. The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
(b)Limitations on Forms of Consideration.
(i)Tender of Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock to the extent such tender or attestation would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s Stock.
(ii)Payment by Promissory Note. No promissory note shall be permitted if the exercise of an Option using a promissory note would be a violation of any law. Any permitted promissory note shall be on such terms as the Committee shall determine. The Committee shall have the authority to permit or require the Participant to secure any promissory note used to exercise an Option with the shares of Stock acquired upon the exercise of the Option or with other collateral acceptable to the Company. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, if the Company at any time is subject to any regulations promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any law or regulation of any other governmental entity affecting the extension of credit in connection with the Company’s securities, any promissory note shall comply with such
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applicable regulations, and the Participant shall pay the unpaid principal and accrued interest, if any, to the extent necessary to comply with such applicable regulations.
6.4Effect of Termination of Service.
(a)Option Exercisability. Subject to earlier termination of the Option as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise provided by the Committee, an Option shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service only during the applicable time periods provided in the Award Agreement.
(b)Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless the Committee provides otherwise in the Award Agreement, if the exercise of an Option within the applicable time periods is prevented by the provisions of Section 14 below, the Option shall remain exercisable until three (3) months (or such longer period of time as determined by the Committee, in its discretion) after the date the Participant is notified by the Company that the Option is exercisable, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
(c)Extension if Participant Subject to Section 16(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a sale within the applicable time periods of shares acquired upon the exercise of the Option would subject the Participant to suit under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Option shall remain exercisable until the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) day following the date on which a sale of such shares by the Participant would no longer be subject to such suit, (ii) the one hundred and ninetieth (190th) day after the Participant’s termination of Service, or (iii) the Option Expiration Date.
6.5Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the Participant, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. Prior to the issuance of shares of Stock upon the exercise of an Option, the Option shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Options may not be transferred to third-party financial institutions for value.
7.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award and including such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time establish, subject to the provisions of the Plan.
7.1Types of SARs Authorized. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (a “Tandem SAR”) or may be granted independently of any Option (a “Freestanding SAR”). A Tandem SAR may be granted either concurrently with the grant of the related Option or at any time thereafter prior to the complete exercise, termination, expiration or cancellation of such related Option.
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7.2Exercise Price. The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option and (b) the exercise price per share subject to a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR.
7.3Exercisability and Term of SARs.
(a)Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent, and only to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable, subject to such provisions as the Committee may specify where the Tandem SAR is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option.
(b)Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR; provided, however, that no Freestanding SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR.
7.4Deemed Exercise of SARs. If, on the date on which an SAR would otherwise terminate or expire, the SAR by its terms remains exercisable immediately prior to such termination or expiration and, if so exercised, would result in a payment to the holder of such SAR, then any portion of such SAR which has not previously been exercised shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion. The Company may elect to discontinue the deemed exercise of SARs pursuant to this Section 7.4 at any time upon notice to a Participant or to apply the deemed exercise feature only to certain groups of Participants. The deemed exercise of a SAR pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall apply only to a SAR that has been timely accepted by a Participant under procedures specified by the Company from time to time.
7.5Effect of Termination of Service. Subject to earlier termination of the SAR as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the grant of an SAR and set forth in the Award Agreement, an SAR shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service only as provided in the Award Agreement.
7.6Nontransferability of SARs. During the lifetime of the Participant, an SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. Prior to the exercise of an SAR, the SAR shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
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8.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.
Restricted Stock Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award and including such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time establish, subject to the provisions of the Plan.
8.1Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized. Restricted Stock Awards may or may not require the payment of cash compensation for the Stock. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals. If either the grant of a Restricted Stock Award or the lapsing of the Restriction Period is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 9.3 through 9.5(a).
8.2Purchase Price. The purchase price, if any, for shares of Stock issuable under each Restricted Stock Award and the means of payment shall be established by the Committee in its discretion.
8.3Purchase Period. A Restricted Stock Award requiring the payment of cash consideration shall be exercisable within a period established by the Committee; provided, however, that no Restricted Stock Award granted to a prospective Employee, prospective Consultant or prospective Director may become exercisable prior to the date on which such person commences Service.
8.4Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer. Shares issued pursuant to any Restricted Stock Award may be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. During any Restriction Period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, such shares may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of other than as provided in the Award Agreement or as provided in Section 8.7. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder.
8.5Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions. Except as provided in this Section 8.5, Section 8.4 and any Award Agreement, during the Restriction Period applicable to shares subject to a Restricted Stock Award, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company holding shares of Stock, including the right to vote such shares and to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares to the extent specified by the Committee, provided that no dividends or distributions shall be paid on shares of Stock subject to Vesting Conditions except to the extent that such Vesting Conditions are satisfied. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.2, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award shall be immediately
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subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid or adjustments were made.
8.6Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the grant of a Restricted Stock Award and set forth in the Award Agreement, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or Disability), then the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any shares acquired by the Participant pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service in exchange for the payment of the purchase price, if any, paid by the Participant. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company.
8.7Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights. Prior to the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award, rights to acquire such shares shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
9.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE AWARDS.
Performance Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements which include such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time establish, subject to the provisions of the Plan.
9.1Types of Performance Awards Authorized. Performance Awards may be in the form of either Performance Shares or Performance Units.
9.2Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units. The final value payable to the Participant in settlement of a Performance Award will be determined on the basis of the applicable Performance Award Formula as provided in Section 9.5.
9.3Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula. In granting each Performance Award, the Committee shall establish in writing the applicable Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and one or more Performance Goals which, when measured at the end of the Performance Period, shall determine on the basis of the Performance Award Formula the final value of the Performance Award to be paid to the Participant. The Company shall notify each Participant granted a Performance Award of the terms of such Award, including the Performance Period, Performance Goal(s) and Performance Award Formula.
9.4Measurement of Performance Goals. Performance Goals shall be established by the Committee on the basis of targets to be attained (“Performance Targets”)
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with respect to one or more measures of objective or subjective business, financial, individual performance or other performance criteria as determined by the Committee in its discretion (each, a “Performance Measure”) and set forth in the Award Agreement. Performance Targets may, but need not, include a minimum, maximum, target level and intermediate levels of performance, with the final value of a Performance Award determined under the applicable Performance Award Formula by the level attained during the applicable Performance Period. A Performance Target may be stated as an absolute value or as a value determined relative to an objective standard selected by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement.
9.5Settlement of Performance Awards.
(a)Determination of Final Value. As soon as practicable following the completion of the Performance Period applicable to a Performance Award, the Committee shall determine the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained and the resulting final value of the Award earned by the Participant and to be paid upon its settlement in accordance with the applicable Performance Award Formula.
(b)Discretionary Adjustment of Award Formula. In its discretion, the Committee may, either at the time it grants a Performance Award or at any time thereafter, provide for the positive or negative adjustment of the Performance Award Formula applicable to a Performance Award to reflect such Participant’s individual performance in his or her position with the Company or such other factors as the Committee may determine.
(c)Payment in Settlement of Performance Awards. As soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination in accordance with Sections 9.5(a) and (b), payment shall be made to each eligible Participant (or such Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to receive such payment by reason of the Participant’s death) of the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award. Payment of such amount shall be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee.
9.6Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting or dividend rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Performance Share Awards until the date of the issuance of such shares, if any (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Performance Share Award that the Participant shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock having a record date prior to the date on which the Performance Shares are settled or forfeited. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, such Dividend Equivalents, if any, shall be credited to the Participant in the form of additional whole Performance Shares as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock or, if Performance Shares are settled on or after the record date and before the date of payment of such cash dividend, on the record date. The number of additional Performance Shares to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on such date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Performance Shares previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock as of the date such Dividend Equivalents are credited. Dividend Equivalents shall
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be accumulated and paid only to the extent that Performance Shares become nonforfeitable and are paid, as determined by the Committee. Settlement of Dividend Equivalents may be made in cash, shares of Stock, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee, and may be paid on the same basis as settlement of the related Performance Share as provided in Section 9.5, except that fractional shares shall be paid in cash within thirty (30) days following the date of settlement of the Performance Share Award, except as may be provided in any Award Agreement or required to comply with applicable laws. Dividend Equivalents shall not be paid with respect to Performance Units. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.2, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Performance Share Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than normal cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Performance Share Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Performance Goals as are applicable to the Award.
9.7Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the grant of a Performance Award and set forth in the Award Agreement, the effect of a Participant’s termination of Service on the Performance Award shall be as follows:
(a)Death or Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death or Disability of the Participant before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, the final value of the Participant’s Performance Award shall be determined by the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been attained with respect to the entire Performance Period and shall be prorated based on the number of months of the Participant’s Service during the Performance Period. Payment shall be made following the end of the Performance Period in any manner permitted by Section 9.5.
(b)Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason except death or Disability before the completion of the Performance Period applicable to the Performance Award, such Award shall be forfeited in its entirety; provided, however, that in the event of an involuntary termination of the Participant’s Service other than for cause, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may waive the automatic forfeiture of all or any portion of any such Award.
9.8Nontransferability of Performance Awards. Prior to settlement in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, no Performance Award shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Performance Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
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10.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Award and such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time establish, subject to the provisions of the Plan.
10.1Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be conditioned on the attainment of one or more Performance Goals. If the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award is conditioned on the attainment of one of more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 9.3 through 9.5(b).
10.2Vesting. Restricted Stock Units may be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 9.4. If the Vesting Conditions of a Restricted Stock Unit Award are based on satisfaction of Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 9.3 through 9.5(a).
10.3Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting or dividend rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Restricted Stock Units until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Restricted Stock Unit Award that the Participant shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock having a record date prior to the date on which Restricted Stock Units held by such Participant are settled. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, such Dividend Equivalents, if any, shall be paid by crediting the Participant with additional whole Restricted Stock Units as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock or, if Restricted Stock Units are settled on or after the record date and before the date of payment of such cash dividend, on the record date. The number of additional Restricted Stock Units to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on such date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Restricted Stock Units previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock as of the date such Dividend Equivalents are credited. Such additional Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same time (or as soon thereafter as practicable) as the Restricted Stock Units originally subject to the Restricted Stock Unit Award, except that fractional shares may be settled in cash within thirty (30) days following the date of settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit Award, except as may be provided in any Award Agreement or required to comply with applicable laws. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.2, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award so that it represents the right to receive upon settlement any and all new,
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substituted or additional securities or other property (other than normal cash dividends) to which the Participant would entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Award, and all such new, substituted or additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as are applicable to the Award.
10.4Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the grant of a Restricted Stock Unit Award and set forth in the Award Agreement, if a Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary (including the Participant’s death or Disability), then the Participant shall forfeit to the Company any Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the Award which remain subject to Vesting Conditions as of the date of the Participant’s termination of Service.
10.5Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. The Company shall issue to a Participant on the date on which Restricted Stock Units subject to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Unit Award vest or on such other date determined by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement one (1) share of Stock (and/or any other new, substituted or additional securities or other property pursuant to an adjustment described in Section 10.3) for each Restricted Stock Unit then becoming vested or otherwise to be settled on such date, subject to the withholding of applicable taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if permitted by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, the Participant may elect in accordance with terms specified in the Award Agreement or such other conditions as the Committee may establish, to defer receipt of all or any portion of the shares of Stock or other property otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to this Section.
10.6Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Prior to the issuance of shares of Stock in settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit Award, the Award shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
11.DEFERRED COMPENSATION AWARDS.
11.1Establishment of Deferred Compensation Award Programs. This Section 11 shall not be effective unless and until the Committee determines to establish a program pursuant to this Section. The Committee, in its discretion and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, may establish one or more programs pursuant to the Plan under which:
(a)Participants designated by the Committee who are Directors, Insiders or otherwise among a select group of highly compensated Employees may irrevocably elect, prior to a date specified by the Committee, to reduce such Participant’s compensation otherwise payable in cash (subject to any minimum or maximum reductions imposed by the Committee) and to be granted automatically at such time or times as specified by the Committee one or more Awards of Stock Units with respect to such numbers of shares of Stock as
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determined in accordance with the rules of the program established by the Committee and having such other terms and conditions as established by the Committee.
(b)Participants designated by the Committee who are Insiders or otherwise among a select group of highly compensated Employees may irrevocably elect, prior to a date specified by the Committee, to be granted automatically an Award of Stock Units with respect to such number of shares of Stock and upon such other terms and conditions as established by the Committee in lieu of cash or shares of Stock otherwise issuable to such Participant upon the settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award or Performance Unit.
11.2Terms and Conditions of Deferred Compensation Awards. Deferred Compensation Awards granted pursuant to this Section 11 shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall from time to time establish. No such Deferred Compensation Award or purported Deferred Compensation Award shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Award Agreement. Award Agreements evidencing Deferred Compensation Awards may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a)Vesting Conditions. Deferred Compensation Awards maybe subject to any vesting conditions specified in the Award Agreement.
(b)Terms and Conditions of Stock Units.
(i)Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions. Participants shall have no voting or dividend rights with respect to shares of Stock represented by Stock Units until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). However, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award Agreement evidencing any Stock Unit that a Participant shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Stock having a record date prior to date on which Stock Units held by such Participant are settled. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, such Dividend Equivalents shall be paid by crediting the Participant with additional whole and/or fractional Stock Units as of the date of payment of such cash dividends on Stock or, if Stock Units are settled on or after the record date and before the date of payment of such cash dividend, on the record date. The number of additional Stock Units to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (a) the amount of cash dividends paid on such date with respect to the number of shares of Stock represented by the Stock Units previously credited to the Participant by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Stock as of the date such Dividend Equivalents are credited. Such additional Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same time (or as soon thereafter as practicable) as the Stock Units originally subject to the Stock Unit Award. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.2, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the
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Participant’s Stock Unit Award so that it represent the right to receive upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than normal cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Stock issuable upon settlement of the Award.
(ii)Settlement of Stock Unit Awards. A Participant electing to receive an Award of Stock Units pursuant to this Section 11 shall specify at the time of such election a settlement date with respect to such Award, subject to such conditions as the Committee or the Company may specify. The Company shall issue a number of whole shares of Stock equal to the number of whole Stock Units subject to the Stock Unit Award in settlement of such Award, except as otherwise provided by the Committee. Such shares of Stock shall be fully vested, and the Participant shall not be required to pay any additional consideration (other than applicable tax withholding) to acquire such shares. Any fractional Stock Unit subject to the Stock Unit Award shall be settled by the Company by payment in cash of an amount equal to the Fair Market Value as of the payment date of such fractional share.
(iii) Nontransferability of Stock Unit Awards. Prior to their settlement in accordance with the provision of the Plan, no Stock Unit Award shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All rights with respect to a Stock Unit Award granted to a Participant hereunder shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.
12.OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS.
In addition to the Awards set forth in Sections 6 through 11 above, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may carry out the purpose of this Plan by awarding Stock-Based Awards as it determines to be in the best interests of the Company and subject to such other terms and conditions as it deems necessary and appropriate.
Shares issued pursuant to any Stock-Based Award may be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Stock-Based Award. No dividends or distributions shall be paid on shares of Stock subject to any Stock-Based Award which are subject to Vesting Conditions except to the extent that such Vesting Conditions are satisfied. In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.2, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s Stock-Based Award shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Stock-Based Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid or adjustments were made.
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13.EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL.
13.1Effect of Change in Control on Awards. In the event of a Change in Control, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the definitive agreement entered into by the Company in connection with the Change in Control. Subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 409A, if applicable, the following provisions will apply to Awards in the event of a Change in Control, contingent upon the consummation of the Change in Control, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant or unless otherwise expressly provided by the Committee at the time of grant of an Award or in any Nonemployee Director compensation policy of the Company. The Committee need not take the same action or actions with respect to all Awards or portions thereof or with respect to all Participants and in each case may make such determination in its discretion and without the consent of any Participant (unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant or unless otherwise expressly provided by the Committee at the time of grant of an Award).
13.2Accelerated Vesting.
(a)Awards Held by Current Participants. In the event of a Change in Control in which the Acquiring Corporation does not assume or continue outstanding Awards or substitute similar stock awards for such outstanding Awards, then with respect to Awards that have not been assumed, continued or substituted and that are held by Participants whose Service has not terminated prior to the effective time of the Change in Control (referred to as the “Current Participants”), the vesting of such Awards (and, with respect to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the time when such Awards may be exercised) shall be accelerated in full (and with respect to Performance Awards, such vesting shall occur at either: (i) at 100% of the target level of performance, or (ii) at such applicable vesting level based on the level of achievement of performance goals through the date of the Change in Control or a specified date that is within ten (10) days prior to the Change in Control, in each case contingent upon the consummation of such Change in Control), and such Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to the effective time of the Change in Control, and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to such Awards shall lapse (contingent upon the consummation of the Change in Control).
(b)Awards Held by Persons Other than Current Participants. In the event of a Change in Control in which the surviving corporation or acquiring corporation (or its parent company) does not assume or continue such outstanding Awards or substitute similar stock awards for such outstanding Awards, then with respect to Awards that have not been assumed, continued or substituted and that are held by persons other than Current Participants, such Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) prior to the effective time of the Change in Control; provided, however, that any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to such Awards shall not terminate and may continue to be exercised notwithstanding the Change in Control.
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13.3Assumption or Substitution. In the event of a Change in Control, the Acquiring Corporation, may, without the consent of the Participant, either assume the Company’s rights and obligations under outstanding Awards or substitute for outstanding Awards substantially equivalent awards for the Acquiring Corporation’s stock. Any Awards which are neither assumed or substituted for by the Acquiring Corporation in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised or settled no later than immediately prior to the Change in Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise or settlement of Awards prior to the Change in Control and any consideration received pursuant to the Change in Control with respect to such shares shall continue to be subject to all applicable provisions of the Award Agreement evidencing such Award except as otherwise provided in such Award Agreement or pursuant to Section 13.1 or Section 13.2. Furthermore, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the corporation the stock of which is subject to the outstanding Awards immediately prior to an Ownership Change Event described in Section 2.1(ff)(i) constituting a Change in Control is the surviving or continuing corporation and immediately after such Ownership Change Event less than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of its voting stock is held by another corporation or by other corporations that are members of an affiliated group within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to the provisions of Section 1504(b) of the Code, the outstanding Awards shall not terminate unless the Board otherwise provides in its discretion.
13.4 Cash-Out of Outstanding Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may determine that, upon the consummation of a Change in Control in which the Acquiring Corporation does not assume or continue outstanding Awards or substitute similar stock awards for such outstanding Awards, then with respect to Awards that have not been assumed, continued or substituted and that are held by Current Participants each or any such Award denominated in shares of Stock or portion thereof outstanding immediately prior to the Change in Control and not previously exercised or settled shall be canceled in exchange for a payment with respect to each vested share (and each unvested share, if so determined by the Committee) of Stock subject to such canceled Award in (i) cash, (ii) stock of the Company or of a corporation or other business entity a party to the Change in Control, or (iii) other property which, in any such case, shall be in an amount having a Fair Market Value equal to the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control, reduced (but not below zero) by the exercise or purchase price per share, if any, under such Award. In the event such determination is made by the Committee, an Award having an exercise or purchase price per share equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Stock in the Change in Control may be canceled without notice or payment of consideration to the holder thereof. Payment pursuant to this Section (reduced by applicable withholding taxes, if any) shall be made to Current Participants in respect of the vested portions of their canceled Awards as soon as practicable following the date of the Change in Control and, to the extent applicable, in respect of the unvested portions of their canceled Awards in accordance with the vesting schedules applicable to such Awards or, if determined by the Committee and in compliance with Section 409A, as soon as practicable following the date of consummation of the Change in Control.
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13.5Appointment of Stockholder Representative. As a condition to the receipt of an Award under the Plan, a Participant will be deemed to have agreed that the Award will be subject to the terms of any agreement governing a Change in Control transaction involving the Company, including, without limitation, a provision for the appointment of a stockholder representative that is authorized to act on the Participant’s behalf.
13.6 No Automatic Vesting Acceleration. An Award may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after the consummation of a Change in Control as may be provided in the Award Agreement for such Award, in any other written agreement between the Company or any Participating Company and the Participant, or in any Nonemployee Director compensation policy of the Company, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration will occur.
14.COMPLIANCE WITH LAW.
The grant of Awards and the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to any Award shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law, including but not limited to laws with respect to such securities and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, no Award may be exercised or shares issued pursuant to an Award unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of such exercise or issuance be in effect with respect to the shares issuable pursuant to the Award or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable pursuant to the Award may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. As a condition to issuance of any Stock, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.
15.TAX WITHHOLDING.
15.1Tax Withholding in General. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under the Plan, or to require the Participant, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, including by means of a cashless exercise or net exercise of an Option, to make adequate provision for, the federal, state, local and foreign taxes, if any, required by law to be withheld by the Participating Company Group with respect to an Award or the shares acquired pursuant thereto. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock, to release shares of Stock from an escrow established pursuant to an Award Agreement, or to make any payment in cash under the Plan until the Participating Company Group’s tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Participant.
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15.2Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable to a Participant upon the exercise or settlement of an Award, or to accept from the Participant the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group. The Fair Market Value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall be determined by the Company in accordance with the Company’s withholding procedures and considering any applicable accounting consequences or cost. The Company may require a Participant to direct a broker, upon the vesting, exercise or settlement of an Award, to sell a portion of the shares subject to the Award determined by the Company in its discretion to be sufficient to cover the tax withholding obligations of any Participating Company and to remit an amount equal to such tax withholding obligations to such Participating Company in cash.
16.AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN.
The Board or the Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. However, without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Section 4.2), (b) no change in the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options, (c) no amendment of Section 3.7 and (d) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of the Company’s stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan may adversely affect any then outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant unless necessary to comply with any applicable law, regulation or rule.
17.MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
17.1Repurchase Rights. Shares issued under the Plan may be subject to one or more repurchase options, or other conditions and restrictions as determined by the Committee in its discretion at the time the Award is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at any time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
17.2Forfeiture Events.
(a)The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of Service for cause or any act by a Participant, whether before or after termination of Service, that would constitute cause for termination of Service, or any accounting restatement due to material noncompliance of the
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Company with any financial reporting requirements of securities laws as a result of which, and to the extent that, such reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment is required by applicable securities laws.
(b)All Awards granted under the Plan will be subject to recoupment in accordance with any clawback policy that the Company is required to adopt pursuant to the listing standards of any national securities exchange or association on which the Company’s securities are listed or as is otherwise required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law and any clawback policy that the Company otherwise adopts, to the extent applicable and permissible under applicable law.
(c)No recovery of compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions will constitute an event giving rise to a Participant’s right to voluntarily terminate employment upon a “resignation for good reason” or for a “constructive termination” or any similar term under any plan or agreement with the Company.
17.3Provision of Information. Each Participant shall be given access to information concerning the Company equivalent to that information generally made available to the Company’s common stockholders.
17.4Electronic Delivery and Participation. Any reference herein or in an Award Agreement to a “written” agreement or document will include any agreement or document delivered electronically, filed publicly at www.sec.gov (or any successor website thereto) or posted on the Company’s intranet (or other shared electronic medium controlled by the Company to which the Participant has access). By accepting any Award, the Participant consents to receive documents by electronic delivery and to participate in the Plan through any on-line electronic system established and maintained by the Plan Administrator or another third party selected by the Plan Administrator. The form of delivery of any Stock (e.g., a stock certificate or electronic entry evidencing such shares) shall be determined by the Company.
17.5Change in Time Commitment. In the event a Participant’s regular level of time commitment in the performance of his or her services for the Company and any Affiliates is reduced (for example, and without limitation, if the Participant is an Employee of the Company and the Employee has a change in status from a full-time Employee to a part-time Employee or takes an extended leave of absence) after the date of grant of any Award to the Participant, the Board may determine, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, to (i) make a corresponding reduction in the number of shares, amount of cash, or other property subject to any portion of such Award that is scheduled to vest or become payable after the date of such change in time commitment, and (ii) in lieu of or in combination with such a reduction, extend the vesting or payment schedule applicable to such Award. In the event of any such reduction, the Participant will have no right with respect to any portion of the Award that is so reduced or extended.
17.6Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director. No person, even though eligible pursuant to Section 5, shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under
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the Plan shall confer on any Participant a right to remain an Employee, Consultant or Director or interfere with or limit in any way any right of a Participating Company to terminate the Participant’s Service at any time. To the extent that an Employee of a Participating Company other than the Company receives an Award under the Plan, that Award shall in no event be understood or interpreted to mean that the Company is the Employee’s employer or that the Employee has an employment relationship with the Company.
17.7Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the date of the issuance of such shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are issued, except as provided in Section 4.2 or another provision of the Plan.
17.8Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares upon the exercise or settlement of any Award.
17.9Severability. If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of the Plan shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
17.10Beneficiary Designation. Subject to local laws and procedures and to the extent allowed in any Award Agreement, a Participant may file with the Company a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any benefit under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participant’s death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. If a married Participant designates a beneficiary other than the Participant’s spouse, the effectiveness of such designation may be subject to the consent of the Participant’s spouse. If a Participant dies without an effective designation of a beneficiary who is living at the time of the Participant’s death, the Company will pay any remaining unpaid benefits to the Participant’s legal representative.
17.11Domestic Relations Order Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, subject to the execution of transfer documentation in a format acceptable to the Company and subject to the approval of the Committee or a duly authorized Officer, an Award may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order.
17.12Awards in Substitution for Awards Granted by Other Companies. Awards may be granted under the Plan in substitution for or in connection with an assumption of employee, director and/or consultant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock unit or other stock-based awards granted by other entities to persons who are or who will become Employees, Consultants or Nonemployee Directors in respect of a Participating Company in connection with a distribution, merger or other reorganization by or with the
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granting entity or an affiliated entity, or the acquisition by a Participating Company, directly or indirectly, of all or a substantial part of the stock or assets of the granting entity. The Awards so granted may reflect the original terms of the related award being assumed or substituted for and need not comply with other specific terms of the Plan, Stock substituted for the securities covered by the original award and with the number of shares of Stock subject to such awards, as well as any exercise or purchase prices applicable to such awards, adjusted to account for differences in stock prices in connection with the transaction. Any shares of Stock that are issued or delivered and any Awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company, as a result of any such assumption or substitution in connection with any such transaction shall not be counted against the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan as specified in Section 4.1 or other limits on the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan, unless determined otherwise by the Board, and shall not be added back into the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan upon forfeiture or otherwise. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Participating Company or with which the Company or any Participating Company combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan as specified in Section 4.1 or other limits on the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan (and Shares subject to such Awards shall not be added to the shares of Stock available for issuance pursuant to Awards under the Plan); provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees, Consultants or Nonemployee Directors prior to such acquisition or combination.
17.13Section 409A. The Company intends that the Plan and Awards be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent applicable (including any amendments to or replacements of such section), and the Plan and the Awards shall be so construed, provided, however, the Company makes no representation that Awards shall be exempt from or comply with Section 409A. No Participating Company shall be liable for any tax, penalty or interest imposed on a Participant by Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, except as otherwise permitted by Section 409A, no payment in settlement of an Award providing for deferred compensation subject to Section 409A may be made to a Participant who is a “specified employee” (as defined by Section 409A) as of the date of the Participant’s separation from service before the date (the “Delayed Payment Date”) that is six (6) months and one (1) day after the date of such Participant’s separation from service, or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death. All such amounts that would, but for this paragraph, become payable prior to the Delayed Payment Date shall be accumulated and paid on the Delayed Payment Date.
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17.14Unfunded Obligation. Participants shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Participants pursuant to the Plan shall be unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. No Participating Company shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Committee or any Participating Company and a Participant, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participant’s creditors in any assets of any Participating Company. The Participants shall have no claim against any Participating Company for any changes in the value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan. Each Participating Company shall be responsible for making benefit payments pursuant to the Plan on behalf of its Participants or for reimbursing the Company for the cost of such payments, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion. In the event the respective Participating Company fails to make such payment or reimbursement, a Participant’s (or other individual’s) sole recourse shall be against the respective Participating Company, and not against the Company. A Participant’s acceptance of an Award pursuant to the Plan shall constitute agreement with this provision.
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EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Cristiano R. Amon, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of QUALCOMM Incorporated;
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 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 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.
Dated: April 30, 2025
| /s/ Cristiano R. Amon | |||||
| Cristiano R. Amon | |||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
EXHIBIT 31.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Akash Palkhiwala, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of QUALCOMM Incorporated;
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 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 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.
Dated: April 30, 2025
| /s/ Akash Palkhiwala | |||||
| Akash Palkhiwala | |||||
| Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer | |||||
EXHIBIT 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
(18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)
In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report of QUALCOMM Incorporated (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2025 (the “Report”), I, Cristiano R. Amon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1.The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) 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.
Dated: April 30, 2025
| /s/ Cristiano R. Amon | |||||
| Cristiano R. Amon | |||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
EXHIBIT 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
(18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350)
In connection with the accompanying Quarterly Report of QUALCOMM Incorporated (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2025 (the “Report”), I, Akash Palkhiwala, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1.The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) 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.
Dated: April 30, 2025
| /s/ Akash Palkhiwala | |||||
| Akash Palkhiwala | |||||
| Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer | |||||