10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005

 

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 000-27978

 


 

POLYCOM, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   94-3128324

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

4750 Willow Road, Pleasanton, California   94588
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(925) 924-6000

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 


 

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

 

None

 

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

 

Common Stock, $0.0005 par value, per share

Preferred Share Rights (currently attached to and trading only with Common Stock)

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  x

  Accelerated filer  ¨   Non-accelerated Filer  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 in Exchange Act)    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

As of June 30, 2005, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, there were 96,527,340 shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding and the aggregate market value of such shares held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based on the closing sale price of such shares on the Nasdaq National Market on June 30, 2005, was approximately $1,437,648,531. Shares of Common Stock held by each executive officer and director and by each person who beneficially owns 5% or more of the outstanding Common Stock have been excluded in that such persons may under certain circumstances be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of executive officer or affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

 

86,969,844 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock were outstanding as of February 28, 2006.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE.

 

Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Such Proxy Statement will be filed within 120 days of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 



SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Some of the statements under the sections entitled “Business,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in the documents incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, constitute forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “believe,” “could,” “anticipate,” “would,” “might,” “plan,” “expect,” “will,” “intend,” “potential,” and similar expressions or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and situations, including those disclosed in “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity or performance expressed or implied by these statements.

 

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

 

GENERAL

 

We are a leading global provider of a line of high-quality, easy-to-use communications equipment that enables enterprise users to more effectively conduct video, voice, data and web communications. Our offerings are organized along four product lines: Video Communications, Voice Communications, Network Systems, and Services. For reporting purposes, we aggregate Video Communications and Voice Communications into one segment named Communications and report Network Systems and Services as separate segments.

 

Our products are unified under The Polycom Accelerated Communications Architecture, a framework of common technology principles and objectives for intelligent, standards-based communications. This architecture is designed to facilitate interoperability among systems in a multi-vendor ecosystem, leverage common features across a variety of products and streamline management processes. The Polycom Accelerated Communications Architecture serves as the enabling platform for unified collaborative communication, our corporate vision of a unified communications environment for employees, customers and partners to communicate in a dispersed workplace.

 

The shift from circuit-switched telephony networks to Internet Protocol (IP) based networks is a significant driver for Polycom’s collaborative communications markets and for our business. In 2005, for instance, our Voice over IP (VoIP) products grew faster than any other product line in the company. In addition, over half of our group video products and essentially all of our desktop video products were shipped to connect to IP environments rather than legacy ISDN networks. Strategically, Polycom is investing much of its research, development, sales and marketing efforts into delivering a superior IP-based collaborative communications solution, using Polycom proprietary technology in the evolving, standards-based IP communications environment. Our goal is to deliver best of breed collaborative communications solutions that integrate into any enterprise call management system or instant message environment.

 

Our business operates in three segments, Communications, Network Systems and Services. Our Communications segment includes videoconferencing collaboration products and voice communications products and accounted for 72% of our revenues in 2005. Our Network Systems segment includes our MGC and ReadiVoice® series of media servers, our ReadiManager network management product, our

 

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PathNavigator call processing server, and our other network management and scheduling software and accounted for 16% of revenues in 2005. Our Services segment includes a wide range of professional service and support offerings to our resellers and directly to some end-user customers and accounted for 12% of revenues in 2005. In addition, we acquired DSTMedia Technology Co., Ltd. (DSTMedia), a small Beijing, China based company, in August 2005 and its products are included in our Communications and Network Systems segments. Also, in January 2004 we acquired Voyant Technologies, Inc. and its voice bridging products and services are included in our Network Systems and Services segments, respectively. See Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on our segments, including a summary of our segment revenues, segment contribution margin, segment inventory and revenue by geography. A discussion of factors potentially affecting our operations is set forth in “Risk Factors,” in Item 1A.

 

In January 2003, we sold certain fixed assets and intellectual property rights relating to our network access product line. Our Consolidated Financial Statements reflect our network access product line as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, or SFAS 144. The results of operations of our network access product line have been classified as discontinued, and prior periods have been reclassified, including the reallocation of general overhead charges to our three remaining reporting segments. See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on our discontinued operations. Unless otherwise indicated, the following discussion relates to our continuing operations.

 

We have established relationships with leading communications and technology firms to assist us in developing, marketing, distributing and manufacturing our products. For example, we have agreements with Avaya and Cisco Systems to develop and market voice-over-IP, or VoIP, and video communications products. We have formed strategic relationships with leading companies such as Avaya to jointly develop IP telephony-enabled video solutions and for Avaya to sell and service other Polycom products globally. We also have a co-development and marketing agreement with Microsoft to integrate our respective desktop, conference room, and network hardware and software solutions. We sell our products through a broad network of channel partners, including distributors, value-added resellers, systems integrators, leading communications service providers and retailers. In late 2002 and 2003, we implemented changes to our channel partner contracts and changes to our channel partner strategy, mainly in North America, which resulted in a smaller number of channel partners, a change in the mix of our channel partners and a shift to a model with more direct interaction between us and our end-user customers. In 2004, we began to expand this channel partner strategy globally, which resulted in a shift to a model with more direct interaction between us and our end-user customers. In 2005, we changed our cooperative marketing model with our channel partners, resulting in Polycom taking more control over these channel marketing expenditures. We also launched several programs aimed at driving a higher level of Polycom business through our channel partners. We manufacture our products through a low-cost, outsourced model optimized for quality, reliability and fulfillment agility.

 

We were incorporated in December 1990 in Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 4750 Willow Road, Pleasanton, California 94588, and our telephone number at this location is (925) 924-6000. Our Internet Website address is www.polycom.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to such reports are available, free of charge, on our Internet website under “Investor Relations—Financial Summaries—Financial and SEC Filings,” as soon as reasonably practicable after we file electronically such material with, or furnish it to, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Information on our website does not constitute a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The public may also read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding us that we file electronically with the SEC.

 

Polycom and the Polycom logo are registered trademarks of Polycom, Inc. This Annual Report on Form 10-K also includes other trade names, trademarks and service marks of ours and of other companies.

 

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MARKETS AND PRODUCTS

 

Communications Segment

 

Video Conferencing

 

Video communication is an emerging method of more natural and effective collaboration among individuals separated by distance. With the increasing availability of broadband services, migration to IP networks and advances in video conferencing technology, many enterprises and government entities are now seeking communications equipment capable of utilizing available bandwidth to enable real-time and on-demand video conferencing. Globalization, outsourcing, mobility and travel restrictions are workplace realities during a period when organizations are striving for faster decision-making, faster time-to-market and the leveraging of their resources. Polycom’s collaborative communications products bridge that gap through the use of video conferencing, coupled with our voice communications and web-based content sharing. We provide solutions suited for the Enterprise, Government, Education, and Healthcare vertical markets.

 

Polycom offers a family of video conferencing products. Our VSX and V-series product lines comprise a suite of high-performance, cost-effective and easy-to-use group video conferencing systems. Our Polycom PVX desktop video conferencing product extends professional-grade video conferencing to the desktop or laptop PC. Multiple options exist to incorporate high resolution data sharing and collaboration into the video conference: the People+Content family of peripherals allows users of our VSX and V-series products to more easily incorporate content, documents and audiovisual effects into their video conferencing sessions. Our video conferencing products are compatible with international standards and are in use in more than 30 countries.

 

The following table lists our video conferencing products, their key features and typical U.S. list prices:

 

Video Conferencing Products


  

Key Features


  

Typical US List

Price


Polycom Executive Collection   

•      High performance video system

   $49,999-$77,999
    

•      Integrated high fidelity audio

    
    

•      Premium plasma displays

    
VSX Group Video Conferencing systems (VSX 5000, 7000s, 7000e and 8000)   

•      High-quality, enhanced video and voice delivered at 30 frames per second and up to 60 fields per second, and Siren 14 CD-like audio

   $3,999-$18,549
    

•      Easy to use graphical interface

    
    

•      Embedded Web functionality and content sharing

    
    

•      IP and ISDN connectivity

    
    

•      Up to 4-site multipoint capability with cascading (IP, ISDN and mixed)

    
    

•      H.264 advanced video compression for highest quality video at lower call data rates

    
    

•      Can be integrated with SoundStation VTX conference phone, allowing users to dial a video call using their phone keypad

    
VSX 3000   

•      Designed for the Executive Desktop—high quality video conferencing system that doubles as a PC display

   $4,999-$6,499
    

•      Integrated camera, microphone, speakers, codec and display

    
    

•      IP and ISDN network connectivity

    
    

•      Up to 4-site multipoint capability with cascading (IP, ISDN and mixed)

    
    

•      H.264 advanced video compression for highest quality video at lower call data rates

    

 

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Video Conferencing Products


  

Key Features


  

Typical US List

Price


V500   

•      High quality, affordable video calling system for small businesses and telecommuters

   $1,999-$3,499
    

•      Integrated camera and codec easily connects to any television display

    
    

•      IP and ISDN network connectivity

    
People+Content   

•      Video peripheral used to incorporate live data, documents and visual effects from a laptop directly into a videoconferencing session

   $1,999
    

•      Dynamic dual stream capability, People + Content, allows user to present content while maintaining face-to-face contact

    
Polycom PVX   

•      Business-quality video conferencing software enables professional-grade desktop video conferencing

   $149
    

•      Full motion video delivered at up to 30 frames per second

    
    

•      Integrated content sharing and collaboration

    

 

Voice Communications

 

Our voice communications products enhance business communications. A majority of Polycom’s voice products feature our patented Acoustic Clarity Technology which allows simultaneous conversations (full duplex) and minimizes background noise, echoes, word clipping and distortion.

 

Our Vortex® series of rack-mounted voice conferencing products provide solutions for larger, high-end conference rooms, training rooms, auditoriums, courtrooms, classrooms and other permanent installations. These integrated room solutions can be used as a stand alone audio system or can be used in combination with a video system to significantly enhance the voice quality and microphone pick up. All of our voice end-points are compatible with international standards and are in use in more than 30 countries.

 

The convergence of voice and data networks is allowing VoIP telephony systems to address many needs of today’s enterprises, including reducing costs, new productivity enhancing applications, simplifying network management and converging voice and data networks. VoIP telephony systems enable corporations to distribute a single network across multiple offices or remote locations, and reduce the cost of managing communications networks by allowing remote provisioning. These converged systems also provide a platform for enterprises to rapidly build applications to meet specific business demands. We have established relationships with Alcatel, Avaya, Broadsoft, Cisco Systems, Digium, Interactive Intelligence, Lucent Technologies, Nortel, Pingtel, Sphere Communications, Sylantro and Vonexus to collaborate in the development, marketing and distribution of our VoIP conferencing and/or handset products, depending upon the partner.

 

The following table lists our voice communications products, their key features and typical U.S. list prices:

 

Voice Communication Products


  

Key Features


  

Typical US List

Price


Vortex EF 2241,

Vortex EF 2280

  

•      Multi-channel acoustic echo and noise cancellation for installed conferencing applications

   $3,995-$4,615
    

•      Integrated, automatic mixing of up to 8 microphones and 4 auxiliary audio sources, depending on model

    

 

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Voice Communication Products


  

Key Features


  

Typical US List

Price


Vortex EF 2210,

Vortex EF 2211

  

•      Single channel acoustic echo and noise cancellation for installed conferencing applications

   $1,995-$2,695
SoundStation VTX 1000   

•      High fidelity voice quality—featuring Polycom’s Acoustic Clarity Technology and WIDEBAND audio. Full duplex and echo cancellation capabilities that facilitate conversations without clipping or distortion

   $1,299-$1,799
    

•      Room coverage for large room environments—talk from up to 20 feet away from the microphone

    
    

•      Microphones that track the person speaking and active noise reduction and automatic gain control to remove background noise

    
    

•      Integration with Polycom VSX video

    
SoundStation2   

•      Polycom’s Acoustic Clarity Technology. Full duplex and echo cancellation capabilities that facilitate conversations without clipping or distortion

   $499-$699
    

•      Microphones that track the person speaking and active noise reduction and automatic gain control to remove background noise

    
    

•      Ability to connect with most cell phones and use in environments without an analog line.

    
SoundStation 2W   

•      Wireless voice featuring Polycom’s Acoustic Clarity Technology. Full duplex and echo cancellation capabilities that facilitate conversations without clipping or distortion

   $699-$899
    

•      Microphones that track the person speaking and active noise reduction and automatic gain control to remove background noise

    
    

•      Up to 24 hours talk time (160 hours stand by time) and enhanced security with 64 bit encryption

    
    

•      Ability to connect with most cell phones and use in environments without an analog line

    
    

•      Expandable model for external microphone connection in larger rooms

    
SoundStation IP   

•      Polycom’s Acoustic Clarity Technology. Full duplex and echo cancellation capabilities that facilitate natural conversations without clipping or distortion

   $999-$1,099
    

•      Supports multiple IP protocols and is field upgradeable

    
    

•      Expandable model for external microphone connection in larger rooms

    

 

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Voice Communication Products


  

Key Features


  

Typical US List

Price


SoundPoint IP 301, 501 and 601   

•      Full-featured, standards based Voice over IP desktop telephones featuring professional full duplex hands free communication and handset capabilities

   $180-$399
    

•      SoundPoint IP 301 supports up to 2 lines, SoundPoint IP 501 supports up to 3 lines and SoundPoint IP 601 supports up to 6 lines

    
    

•      Supports multiple IP protocols

    
    

•      High resolution graphical LCD display for applications and ease of use

    
SoundPoint IP Expansion Module   

•      Augments SoundPoint IP 601 with a high-resolution graphical LCD

   $399
    

•      Adds 14 multifunctional line keys for line registration, call appearance, or speed dial

    
QSX   

•      Web appliance that is secure and enables cost-effective web conferencing.

   $1,299-$1,599
VoiceStation® 100   

•      High-quality voice conferencing product for smaller offices

   $299
SoundPoint Pro   

•      Integrated, high-quality speakerphone with handset feature

•      Multi-functional handset, with professional hands free communication capabilities

   $199-$299

 

Network Systems Segment

 

As enterprises, educational institutions, government agencies and other organizations look to provide integrated video, voice and content sharing applications, they face the challenge of interconnecting various network types, network protocols, transmission speeds and end-points. These customers require network systems designed to resolve these complex interoperability, multipoint connectivity and security issues. In this context, we believe the service provider market will also become increasingly important to our business as end-user customers, by purchasing our network systems products to provide bridging and gateway services to their customer base. Polycom network systems must ensure a consistent level of high quality service by intelligently matching end-user applications to available network resources. Further, our network systems must satisfy end-users who demand video, voice, data and web communications sessions that are easy to establish and manage.

 

Polycom’s network systems products provide a broad range of video, voice, data and web communication capabilities. Our MGC-25, MGC-50 and MGC-100 media servers provide seamless network connectivity and are scalable across packet-based broadband networks and traditional circuit-switched networks for both video and voice multipoint conferencing. We enable Unified Conferencing, providing the ability to join a multipoint call regardless of the type of end point or network. The ability to permit IP, circuit switched voice and ISDN video to be in the same conference is unique to Polycom.

 

ReadiVoice is a reservation-less voice conferencing system with installations at the world’s 10 largest conferencing service providers. ReadiVoice operates on the InnoVox® 480 and 4000 media servers. These high-density, carrier-class platforms contain no single points of failure and are designed to provide maximum system availability and flexibility with virtually zero downtime. ReadiVoice routing also allows for scalability, network redundancy, and the ability to geographically distribute media servers.

 

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Our line of network systems products also includes a suite of software products that enable the easy integration and management of the network and endpoints and allows for easy web collaboration.

 

The following table lists our network systems products, their key features and typical U.S. list prices:

 

Network Systems Products


  

Key Features


  

Typical US List

Price


MGC-100   

•      Multipoint control units for service providers, enterprises, education and government institutions and workgroups

   $283,900-$525,500
    

•      Voice, video and content conferencing bridge

    
    

•      Embedded multi-network, multi-protocol gateway

    
    

•      Supports multiple standards for video, voice and content

    
    

•      Supports end-points at connection rates up to 2 Mbps

    
    

•      Interfaces with 10/100 Ethernet, E-1 or T-1 lines

    
MGC-50   

•      Multipoint control units for service providers, enterprises, education and government institutions and workgroups

   $63,000-$209,700
    

•      Voice, video and data conferencing bridge

    
    

•      Embedded multi-network, multi-protocol gateway

    
    

•      Supports multiple standards for video, voice and content

    
    

•      Supports end-points at connection rates up to 2 Mbps

    
    

•      Interfaces with 10/100 Ethernet, E-1 or T-1 lines

    
MGC-25   

•      Supports IP and ISDN video conferencing, video gateway applications, PSTN and IP voice conferencing as well as Polycom’s new unified conferencing

   $22,000-$79,950
    

•      Supports features such as H.264, People + Content, Pro-Motion Video, and Siren 14 wideband audio

    
ReadiVoice   

•      Reservation-less voice conferencing solution for PSTN and SIP networks

   $300,000-$1M plus
    

•      High port density and high availability to support carrier-class environment

    
    

•      Intelligent Network Call Routing technology leverages Signaling System 7 (SS7) or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

    
ReadiManager SE200   

•      Integrated appliance includes scheduling, device management, conference management and gate keeping functions

   $34,000-$99,750
    

•      Task oriented user interface

    
    

•      Quick installation and configuration

    

 

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Network Systems Products


  

Key Features


  

Typical US List

Price


PathNavigator   

•     Advanced Gatekeeper for IP and ISDN video calls

   $1,249-$49,999
    

•     Intelligent routing engine, greatly simplifying how a call is processed through a conferencing network

    
    

•     Polycom OneDial makes video calls easier for end-users

    
V2IU   

•     Voice and video conferencing firewall

   $1,999-$52,600
    

•     Standards based

    
    

•     Suited for enterprise and hosted service provider solutions

    

 

Services Segment

 

To assist our end-user customers in implementing and managing their video conferencing, voice communication products and network systems products, on a global basis, we offer a comprehensive line of professional and maintenance services. These services are offered directly by us or through our worldwide channel partner network.

 

We also offer installation services and a complete range of training offerings. Our training program provides our resellers and end-user customers with educational services to ensure effective operation of our products. For the ongoing support of our end-user customers, we provide maintenance services, including telephone support, parts exchange, on-site assistance and direct access to our support engineers for real-time troubleshooting of our products.

 

We believe that service and support are critical components of customer satisfaction. In 2005, we invested in new spare parts depots in both Brazil and Toronto to better service our customers both north and south of the US borders. In Asia we invested in and officially opened a new call center in Australia. The continued expansion into the Asia region will allow us to sell service and further demonstrates our commitment to providing premier quality service worldwide. Our support services are flexible and available for every Polycom product deployed in IP, ISDN or mixed network environments.

 

The Polycom Certified Service Partner (CSP) program was implemented in 2005. The CSP program certifies Polycom’s service and support channel partners by verifying their performance in providing customers with 24x7 support, fast response times, call center support, and stringent training in Polycom solutions and IP networking. The CSP program requires certified partners to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction in order to achieve annual recertification. Polycom and its CSP partners are jointly able to offer maintenance and diagnostic service and support. The Polycom CSP program requires that certified partners demonstrate expertise in virtually all aspects of Polycom technology and associated network environments. The Polycom CSP program is an annual certification that recognizes a channel partner’s expertise and service capabilities, and their ongoing focus on customer satisfaction as measured through service performance metrics. The CSP program is currently in progress, and several Polycom channel partners are in the application and audit process for certification. The Polycom Partner Service Program (PPSP), comparable to CSP, was launched in Europe during 2005.

 

Maintenance and support prices vary by model, number of systems and program options. Prices generally range from 4% to 15% of product list price depending on the product and the level of service selected. All services may not be available on all products.

 

We also offer Professional Services solutions which include:

 

Implementation Service: The core offering includes project management, a pre-installation survey, database development and configuration, on-site installation, testing and onsite administrator training.

 

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IP Network Consulting: This offering is designed to aid clients deploying or transitioning large complex voice and video conferencing solutions to an IP based network environment or for those customers experiencing performance issues within their collaboration environment.

 

Performance Benchmarking and Best Practices Assessment: This is a highly structured program that gives a clear understanding of what a conferencing network can really deliver and how to reduce network costs, streamline usage processes, and improve efficiency and quality of service.

 

Advanced Project Management: Offers a single solution that ensures a smooth deployment of voice and video solutions. The offering includes a single point of contact, development of the project plan, management of relationships with all parties involved in the project, management implementation and project review.

 

Voice Conferencing Integration: For Voice bridges, this solution is recommended for the integration of applications, installation, configuration and testing of integrated ReadiVoice or OCI solutions. Industry experts and a single point of contact ensure smooth implementation and expert project management, and ensure that applications are integrated with the conferencing solution.

 

COMPETITION

 

We continue to face significant competition for products in our Communications segment, which, by their nature, are subject to rapid technological change. In video communications, our major competitors include Tandberg and a number of other companies including Aethra, Avistar, D-Link, Huawei, Kedacom, NEC, Panasonic, Sony, VCON, VTEL and ZTE, as well as various smaller or new industry entrants, such as LifeSize. Some of these companies have substantial financial resources, as well as production, marketing, engineering and other capabilities with which to develop, manufacture, market and sell their products. In addition, Tandberg has entered into an agreement to further their strategic relationship with Cisco Systems whereby Tandberg provides Cisco with technology that is co-branded and sold by Cisco. We believe we will face increasing competition from alternative video communications solutions that employ new technologies, or new combinations of technologies, from companies such as Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft, and WebEx that enable web-based or network-based video and collaboration communications. We expect competition to persist and increase in the future in this area.

 

In voice communications our major competitors include Aethra, ClearOne Communications, Konftel, Mitel and other companies that offer lower cost, full-duplex speakerphones. In the VoIP desktop space, there are several low cost manufacturers in Asia and Europe that are emerging. In addition, there are notable PBX and IP Call Manager manufacturers that compete in the standards based IP space including Alcatel, Avaya, Cisco Systems, Mitel, Nortel and Siemens. Furthermore, all major telephony manufacturers produce hands-free speakerphone units that cost less than our voice communications products.

 

Our video network systems business has significant competition from RADVISION, and a number of other companies, including Cisco Systems, who resell RADVISION’s products, Tandberg and Huawei, as well as various smaller or new industry entrants. Our audio network systems business has significant competition from companies such as Avaya, Cisco and Compunetix.

 

For our services business, we see the competition coming from a number of companies, including Cisco Systems and Nortel, and we believe these vendors and their resellers will look at our products as potential multi-vendor third party service revenue streams, in addition to trying to provide one service solution to their customers. Third party maintenance companies are also a threat to our service base, and, as the industry continues to grow, more third party resources are being devoted to servicing our industry.

 

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TECHNOLOGY

 

We intend to continue to invest in and leverage our core technologies to develop, enhance and market our communications endpoints, infrastructure elements, enabling tools and overall products and product enhancements. These core technologies in our product offerings include the following:

 

Video System Architectures. We continue to develop on its “Common Architecture,” first introduced in the VSX product family. While conventional systems require extensive tuning and rewriting to adapt their software algorithms to each specific hardware design, the Common Architecture delivers performance levels that are almost independent of the hardware configuration. This platform enables faster development of innovative new features and improvements across the whole range of video products.

 

Firewall and NAT Traversal. The ability to place video calls through company firewalls and NAT (network address translation) structures easily but securely is of high importance. Some other systems do this using tunneling, a technique that disguises data by hiding it inside a wrapper. However, tunneling violates many corporate security philosophies because it can conceal damaging content, such as viruses and spyware, from corporate perimeter network protections. In response to this problem, Polycom has developed Application Aware Networking, a technology that addresses the need for security while remaining compatible with 323-aware firewalls and session border controllers, compliant with corporate security requirements, and backwards compatible with 323-compatible voice and video endpoints. By combining multiple technologies, we believe this optimizes performance by finding and using the shortest possible path for video and voice routing, as well as providing traffic management to ensure that live voice and video receive high quality network performance. We will continue to invest in solutions for security and firewall issues to ensure a safe, trouble-free connection for video, voice and content.

 

Interactive Stereo Audio. The ability to conduct fully interactive conversations in a multi-channel environment such as stereo brings important benefits to a conference. With Polycom’s proprietary full-duplex stereo technology, sharing of the full acoustic environment between remote locations enables a more immersive conferencing experience, closely approximating physical co-location of participants.

 

Enhanced Wideband Audio. We continue to make significant investments in the development of key audio technologies to provide improved fidelity in conferencing and point-to-point environments. We currently provide wideband audio, using our industry-developed standard, G.722.1, in our voice, video and network products.

 

IP Protocols and Telephony. We continue to invest heavily in the technologies that enable IP communications and telephony. The multiple protocols, such as Session Initiation Protocol, or SIP, Media Gateway Control Protocol, or MGCP, and H.323, applications, feature sets, and environments of IP telephony all require significant attention and innovative new solutions to operate flawlessly with a communications link that is fundamentally different from the traditional analog telephone line.

 

Versatile Media Bridging. By developing new architectures, algorithms and techniques, we are continuing to extend our base of bridging products. Our focus on basic architectures continues to enable configuration flexibility, enhanced product function, cost reduction, and the applicability of design elements in multiple products and environments.

 

Content Collaboration Technology. New extensions of our content collaboration technologies bring versatility, ease of use, and performance to users and groups in an increasing number of environments. These technologies allow productive data conferencing, whether web-based, IP-based, or plus-content.

 

Industry Standards Leadership. We continue our active role in industry leadership in numerous standards activities. Our technical expertise and management contributions are in roles as editor, contributor and other capacities in world and regional standards committees. These include ITU-T Study Group 16, Internet Engineering Task Force, International Multimedia Telecommunications Consortium and Telecommunications

 

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Industry Association, and also cover emerging technology areas such as media coding, communications protocols, endpoint requirements, and industry interoperation.

 

Digital Acoustic Processing. We continue to enhance and develop our advanced acoustic processing to extend advanced generation voice sharing and enhancement technologies. These continuing investments are resulting in improvements in naturalness, range, sensitivity and trouble-free usability. We are also developing algorithms and techniques to improve our media performance in a broad range of room environments.

 

Conferencing Integration and Management. We continue to invest in a new generation of integrated system management tools that increase the security, reliability, and ease of operation of the elements of its systems. Our Global Management System, or GMS, is a client/server system for meeting and device coordination and management via integrated network control. This improves the reliability and accessibility of network systems and helps assure completeness and uniformity among users.

 

RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

 

We believe that our future success depends in part on our ability to continue to enhance existing products and to develop new products that maintain technological competitiveness. Our current product development efforts focus principally on our Communications and Network Systems product families. The markets for these products are characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions and require a significant investment in research and development. We intend to expand upon these product platforms through the development of software options, upgrades and future product generations. In addition, we plan to allocate more of our resources to the integration of our products with those of other companies and on joint initiatives with our strategic partners. However, we cannot assure you that these products will be made commercially available as expected or otherwise on a timely and cost-effective basis or that, if introduced, these products will achieve market acceptance.

 

Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred and totaled approximately $91.5 million in 2005, $92.1 million in 2004 and $72.6 million in 2003. We believe that significant investments in research and development are required to remain competitive since technological competitiveness is key to our future success. We intend to continue to make substantial investments in product and technology development. We also intend to continue to participate in the development of various teleconferencing industry standards, which are or may be incorporated into our products.

 

SALES AND DISTRIBUTION

 

We market and sell our products through a broad worldwide network of channel partners, which includes distributors, value-added resellers, and retailers and, in some cases, we market and sell our products directly to leading communications service providers. These partners include AT&T (including SBC), BT, Cisco, Digital China, GBH, Genedis, Imago Micro, Ingram Micro, Nanjing Southern, Princeton Technology, Review Video, SKC Communications, T2 Supply, Tech Data, Telus, Unitel and WireOne. Many of these partners sell a variety of communication products and/or services and, with our products, offer a complete product portfolio.

 

Through our direct-touch sales force, we sell with our channel partners, which we believe better enables us to sell the benefits of our solutions. This strategy enables us to have more direct interaction with our end-user customers. We believe that it is important to maintain a close working relationship with these customers in order to meet their demands for sales and support on a multinational basis. Our partners are required to be certified for certain network systems and video products that we believe yield a higher level of end-user customer satisfaction. Channel partners that stock product maintain a limited amount of inventory and for some channel partners and certain network system products, we drop ship directly to their end-user customers as opposed to having these partners carry inventory. We plan to continue to focus on the enterprise, government, education and healthcare vertical markets, working with new and existing channel partners. To complement our sales efforts,

 

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we advertise in trade and general business print media and participate in a wide array of trade shows and public relations activities.

 

We typically ship products within a short time after we receive an order and, therefore, backlog has not been a good indicator of future revenues. We include in backlog open product orders for which we expect to ship or services which we expect to bill and record revenue in the following quarter. Once billed, unrecorded service revenue is included in deferred revenue. As of December 31, 2005, our order backlog was $38.1 million as compared to $20.1 million at December 31, 2004.

 

We have historically focused our sales efforts in regions of the world where we believe customers have begun to invest significantly in conferencing equipment and services. Based on the global nature of this customer demand, our sales and service staff and our channel footprint has spread into all major regions. As such, we manage our global sales and distribution process in the four theatres of North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. We have established product distribution centers in the United States, Europe and Asia in order to best serve our global customers base, which have increased the costs associated with our international operations.

 

A substantial majority of our revenues are from value-added resellers, distributors, service providers and retailers. No customer accounted for more than 10% of our total revenues or Services segment revenues in 2005, 2004 or 2003. In 2005 one channel partner accounted for 11% of our Communications segment revenues. No one customer accounted for more than 10% of our Communications segment revenues in 2004 and 2003. No one customer accounted for more than 10% of our Network Systems segment revenues in 2005 and 2004. In 2003, our Network Systems segment had two channel partners that, together, represented approximately 21% of Network Systems segment revenues. We believe it is unlikely that the loss of any one of these channel partners would have a long term material adverse affect on the revenues of these segments as we believe end-users would likely purchase our products from a different channel partner. However, a loss of any one of these channel partners could have a material adverse impact during the transition period. In 2004, we began selling our audio network systems, a product line obtained through the Voyant acquisition, direct to end users and the revenues in the Network Systems segment from end users are subject to more variability than our revenues from our reseller customers. The loss of one or more of the audio network system customers could have a material impact on our Network Systems segment and consolidated revenues.

 

CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUPPORT

 

We believe that service and support are critical components of customer satisfaction. Although our resellers maintain and provide technical support to their end-user customers, we provide a wide range of service and support offerings to our resellers, service providers and directly to some end-user customers. Service revenues for our communications and network systems products are included in our services segment. See Note 17 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

We provide warranty support for all of our products. The warranty period is generally one to three years for hardware products and ninety days for software media and repaired parts. In addition to warranty, we provide professional services offerings. Professional services consist of planning and needs analysis for end-users; design services, such as room design and custom solutions, providing customized videoconferencing solutions to meet each end-user’s unique requirements; and project management, installation and training, which provide end-users with effective implementation of videoconferencing systems and the transition to IP networks. Additional professional service offerings include benchmarking and best practice assessments as well as voice conferencing integration. All services are sold both directly to end-user customers and through our resellers. Service programs for local and international resellers range from reselling our service offerings to providing back-end support for servicing end-users. All maintenance services are delivered on a worldwide basis from several integrated support centers located in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, India, China, Japan, Mexico and Brazil. Spare parts are stocked at strategic locations around the world to meet response time commitments to customers and resellers. We utilize direct field service staff as well as resellers and third-party service providers to perform installation and on-site repairs. We deliver all other services through a combination of in-house

 

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personnel as well as outside contractors. In addition, a technical service center hotline provides a full range of telephone support to our resellers and to end-user customers, and we offer electronic support via the World Wide Web. We maintain contracts with a number of different vendors throughout the world to provide certain services, including front line technical telephone support in North America, on-site field support and logistics.

 

MANUFACTURING

 

We subcontract essentially all of our voice and video product lines to Celestica, a third-party contract manufacturer. We use Celestica’s facilities in Thailand, China and Singapore. Further, our video network systems products are manufactured in Israel, although we do have the capability to perform some testing and final assembly in Atlanta, Georgia, China and Thailand for one of the video network systems products and in Westminster, Colorado for one of our audio network systems product lines. We also subcontract the manufacture of our audio network systems products to several suppliers in the United States.

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND OTHER PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

 

While we rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and confidentiality procedures to protect our proprietary rights, we believe that factors such as technological and creative skills of our personnel, new product developments, frequent product enhancements, name recognition and reliable product maintenance are more essential to establishing and maintaining a technology leadership position. We currently have one hundred and fourteen United States patents issued covering our products. The expiration of these patents range from 2006 to 2020. In addition, we currently have one hundred and nine foreign patents issued whose expirations range from 2006 to 2020. Further, we have one hundred and thirty United States patents pending covering our conferencing and our network systems products and one hundred and sixty foreign patent applications pending. Polycom, Polyspan, SoundStation Premier, ShowStation, SoundPoint, SoundStation, ViewStation, Polycom logos and others are registered trademarks of Polycom, and, MeetingSite, ViaVideo, iPower, VoiceStation, SoundStation Premier Satellite, iPriority, Clarity by Polycom, SoundStation product configuration and others are trademarks of Polycom in the U.S. and various countries. According to federal and state law, Polycom’s trademark protection will continue for as long as we continue to use our trademarks in connection with the products and services of Polycom. See Item 3. “Legal Proceedings” for a description of our current legal proceedings.

 

We have licensing agreements with various suppliers for software incorporated into our products. For example, we license video communications source code from ADTRAN, Delcom, Mitsubishi, Simtrol, Skelmir, SNMP, and Software House, video algorithm protocols from DSP and UB Video, Windows software from Microsoft, development source code from Avaya, Hughes Software Systems, Ltd., In Focus Systems Inc., Nokia, Surf, Vocal Technologies Ltd. and Windriver, audio algorithms from D2 and Nortel Networks, Sipro, Telogy and Voiceage, and communication software from Konexx and RADVISION. These third-party software licenses may not continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. The termination or impairment of these licenses could result in delays or reductions in new product introductions or current product shipments until equivalent software could be developed, licensed and integrated, if at all possible, which would harm our business and results of operations. In addition, in November 2004, we entered into a patent cross-license agreement with Avistar Communications, Inc. (“Avistar”) and Collaboration Properties, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avistar (“CPI”), whereby non-exclusive, fully paid-up, worldwide patent licenses to each party’s respective patent portfolios were granted. See Note 12 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

EMPLOYEES

 

As of December 31, 2005, we employed a total of 1,636 persons, including 739 in sales, marketing and customer support, 494 in product development, 159 in manufacturing and 244 in finance and administration. Of these, 661 were outside of North America. We have experienced no work stoppages and believe our relationship with our employees is good.

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

INVESTORS SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISKS DESCRIBED BELOW BEFORE MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION. THE TRADING PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK COULD DECLINE SIGNIFICANTLY DUE TO ANY OF THESE RISKS, AND INVESTORS MAY LOSE ALL OR PART OF THEIR INVESTMENT. IN ASSESSING THESE RISKS, INVESTORS SHOULD ALSO REFER TO THE OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, INCLUDING OUR CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED NOTES.

 

If we fail to compete successfully domestically and internationally, our business and results of operations would be significantly harmed.

 

Competition that we face in our markets is intense. The principal competitive factors in the markets in which we presently compete and may compete in the future include:

 

    the ability to provide and sell a broad range of products and services that are responsive to changing technology and changing customer requirements;

 

    product performance;

 

    price;

 

    the ability to introduce new products, including products with price-performance advantages;

 

    the ability to reduce production costs;

 

    the ability to provide value-added features;

 

    the ability to successfully integrate our products with, and operate our products on, existing customer platforms;

 

    market presence; and

 

    the ability to extend credit to our partners.

 

We may not be able to compete successfully against our current or future competitors. We expect our competitors to continue to improve the performance of their current products and to introduce new products or new technologies that provide improved performance characteristics. New product introductions by our current or future competitors could cause a significant decline in sales or loss of market acceptance of our existing products and future products. We believe that the possible effects from ongoing competition may be the reduction in the prices of our products and our competitors’ products, the introduction of additional lower priced competitive products or the introduction of new products or product platforms that render our existing products or technologies obsolete. We expect this increased competitive pressure may lead to intensified price-based competition, resulting in lower prices and gross margins which would significantly harm our results of operations.

 

Competition that we face in certain of our international markets is different than that we face in North America and is currently based principally on price. For instance, we have noted additional competitors and increased pricing pressures in China, India and other parts of Asia contributing to the flat revenues that we have seen in Asia in the first and second quarters of 2005 and decreased revenues in the third quarter of 2005 as compared to the respective year ago periods. Although we had improved sequential performance in Asia in the fourth quarter of 2005, revenues are lower than the comparable year ago period, and we still see increased competition in this region, particularly in China. If such trends continue or if we are unable to compete effectively in these regions in terms of price, technology, product offerings or marketing strategies, our overall financial results may suffer.

 

Competition in each of our operating segments is intense, and the failure to perform in any of these segments could negatively affect our results of operations.

 

We face significant competition in the communications industry. In video communications, our major competitors include Tandberg and a number of other companies including Aethra, Avistar, D-Link, Huawei,

 

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Kedacom Technologies, NEC, Panasonic, Sony, VCON, VTEL and ZTE, as well as various smaller or new industry entrants. Some of these companies have substantial financial resources and production, marketing, engineering and other capabilities with which to develop, manufacture, market and sell their products. In addition, with advances in telecommunications standards, connectivity and video processing technology, next generation high definition video resolution technology and the increasing market acceptance of video communications, other established or new companies may develop or market products competitive with our video communications products or may partner with companies which have more substantial financial resources and production, marketing, engineering and other capabilities with which to develop, manufacture, market or sell their products and to bring their products to market more rapidly than we can. We may also underestimate the demand for particular products that incorporate new technologies. For instance, certain of our competitors are bringing products utilizing next generation high definition video resolution technology to market, which may result in a slowdown in our sales cycle and orders for our video products and a resulting impact on our video revenues as customers assess such new technologies, wait for a launch of competing products by us, or wait to make purchases until sales prices for such next generation products fall. Also, new strategic partnerships are regularly being formed and announced by our competitors, which may hinder our ability to effectively compete in those markets.

 

We have lost group video conferencing sales opportunities to our competitors, including to competitors in China who sell at lower price points. Although we saw improved performance in China in the fourth quarter of 2005, we expect to continue to face stiff competition, and our competitors may gain market share from us, due in part to their strategic relationships and their latest product offerings. In addition, we believe we will face increasing competition from alternative video communications solutions that employ new technologies or new combinations of technologies from companies such as Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft, and WebEx that enable web-based or network-based video and collaboration communications.

 

The market for voice communications equipment, including voice conferencing and desktop equipment, is highly competitive and also subject to rapid technological change, regulatory developments and emerging industry standards. We expect competition to persist and increase in the future in this area. In voice communications, our major competitors include Aethra, ClearOne Communications, Konftel, Mitel and other companies that offer lower cost, full-duplex speakerphones. There are also several low cost manufacturers in Asia and Europe that are emerging with VoIP desktop products competitive with ours. In addition, there are notable PBX and IP Call Manager manufacturers that compete with standards based IP products including Alcatel, Avaya, Cisco Systems, Mitel, Nortel and Siemens. Furthermore, all major telephony manufacturers produce hands-free speakerphone units that cost less than our voice communications products.

 

Our video network systems business has significant direct competition from RADVISION, and a number of other companies, including Cisco Systems, who resells RADVISION’s products, Tandberg, and Huawei, as well as from various smaller or new industry entrants. Our video network systems revenues have declined sequentially since the fourth quarter of 2004 and could continue to decline in 2006 as a result of sales lost to competitors as well as lower average selling prices due in part to competitive pressures. Our audio network systems business has significant competition from companies such as Avaya, Cisco, and Compunetix, which we continued to see in 2005. Although we intend to launch new network services product offerings, these new product offerings may be delayed or may not have as much of a positive impact on our network systems revenues as we anticipate.

 

For our services business, we see the competition coming from a number of companies, including Cisco Systems and Nortel, as we believe these vendors will look at our products as potential multi-vendor third party service revenue streams, in addition to trying to provide one service solution to their customers. Today third party maintenance companies are not a big threat to our service base, but as the industry continues to grow, this may become a concern over time. In addition, it is possible that we will see increased competition in all of our product lines to the extent that one or more of our competitors join together either through mutual agreement or acquisitions to form new partnerships to compete against us. These competitors on a stand-alone basis or on a

 

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combined basis could have more substantial financial resources and production, marketing, engineering and other capabilities with which to develop, manufacture, market and sell their products.

 

We face risks associated with our products and product development, including new product introductions and transitions.

 

Our success depends on our ability to assimilate new technologies in our products and to properly train our channel partners and sales force in the use of those products.

 

The markets for video and voice communications and network systems products are characterized by rapidly changing technology, such as the recent demand for high definition video technology and lower cost network systems products, evolving industry standards and frequent new product introductions. The success of our new products depends on several factors, including proper new product definition, product cost, timely completion and introduction of new products, proper positioning of new products in relation to our total product portfolio and their relative pricing, differentiation of new products from those of our competitors, and market acceptance of these products. Additionally, properly addressing the complexities associated with compatibility issues, channel partner and sales force training, technical and sales support, as well as field support, are also factors that may affect our success.

 

We continually need to educate and train our channel partners to avoid any confusion as to the desirability of the new product offering compared to our existing product offerings. During the last year, we have launched several new product offerings, and there is a risk that these new products could cause confusion among our channel partners and end-users, thereby causing them to delay purchases of any product until they determine if these products are more desirable products than our legacy products. For instance, in 2005, we introduced the VSX7000e and VSX7000s as successors to our legacy VSX 7000 product, which caused confusion among certain of our channel partners, some of whom delayed purchases of these new product offerings until they better understood the features and functionality of these products. Such delays in purchases could adversely affect our revenues, gross margins and operating results in the period of the delay.

 

The shift in communications from circuit-switched to IP-based technologies over time may require us to add new channel partners, enter new markets, such as the service provider market, which we entered into with the acquisition of Voyant in January 2004, and gain new core technological competencies. We are attempting to address these needs and the need to develop new products through our internal development efforts, joint developments with other companies and through acquisitions. We may not identify successful new product opportunities and develop and bring products to market in a timely manner. Further, as we introduce new products that can or will render existing products obsolete, these product transition cycles may not go smoothly, causing an increased risk of inventory obsolescence and relationship issues with our end user customers and channel partners. The failure of our new product development efforts, any inability to service or maintain the necessary third-party interoperability licenses, our inability to properly manage product transitions or to anticipate new product demand, or our inability to enter new markets would harm our business and results of operations.

 

We may experience delays in product introductions and our products may contain defects which could seriously harm our results of operations.

 

We have experienced delays in the introduction of certain new products and enhancements in the past. The delays in product release dates that we experienced in the past were due to factors such as unforeseen technology issues, manufacturing ramping issues and other factors, which we believe negatively impacted our sales revenue in the relevant periods. Any of these or other factors may occur again and delay our future product releases. In addition, we have occasionally terminated new product development efforts prior to any introduction of the new product.

 

Further, our video communications product development group is located in Massachusetts and Texas, our voice communications product development group is dispersed among California, Georgia, Massachusetts and

 

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Canada, and our network systems product development group is dispersed among Colorado, Georgia and Israel. Our need to manage large and geographically dispersed product development groups in our product lines results in certain inefficiencies and increased product development costs and creates an increased risk of delays in new product introductions.

 

We produce highly complex communications equipment, which includes both hardware and software and incorporates new technologies and component parts from different suppliers. Resolving product defect and technology issues could cause delays in new product introduction. Further, if such defects are not detected or cured prior to a new product launch, or are detected after a product has already been launched and cannot be cured or result in a product recall, such as our voluntary recall of the lithium ion batteries in our SoundStation 2W products in the first quarter of 2006, these events could result in the failure of a partial or entire product line, a temporary or permanent withdrawal of a product from the market, product reengineering expenses, and inventory costs.

 

Any delays in the future for new product offerings currently under development or any product defect issues or product recalls could adversely affect the market acceptance of these products, our ability to compete effectively in the market, and our reputation, and therefore, could lead to decreased product sales and could seriously harm our results of operations.

 

We face risks related to the adoption rate of new technologies.

 

We have invested significant resources developing products that are dependent on the adoption rate of new technologies. For example, our SoundStation IP and SoundPoint IP products are dependent on the roll out of voice-over-IP, or VoIP, technologies. In addition, VoIP products are traditionally sold through service providers. We may not be successful in expanding our current service provider network or maintaining a successful service provider network. The success of our VSX 3000 and PVX software application products depend on the increased use of desktop video collaboration technologies. Our QSX product depends on the acceptance of a new method of sharing data, which is a change in customer patterns that may or may not occur. Further, as we see the adoption rate of new technologies increase, our historical product sales may be negatively impacted.

 

The success of all of our products is also dependent on how quickly Session Initiation Protocol (or SIP), which is a signaling protocol for Internet conferencing, telephony, presence, events notification and instant messaging, firewall and Network Address Translation (or NAT) traversal, which is an Internet standard that enables a local-area network (or LAN) to use one set of IP addresses for internal traffic and a second set of addresses for external traffic, and call management integration technologies are deployed as new technologies and how quickly we adopt and integrate these new technologies into our existing and future products. The success of our V2IU and firewall traversal solutions will depend on market acceptance and the effect of current and potential competitors.

 

In addition, we continue to expend significant resources to develop new products or product enhancements based upon anticipated demand for new features and functionality, such as next generation high definition video resolution technology. If the use of new technologies that our future products are based on does not occur, or the development of suitable sales channels does not occur, or occurs more slowly than expected, or if our products that incorporate new technologies are not priced competitively or readily adopted, we may not be able to sell certain of our products in significant volumes and our business may be harmed.

 

Lower than expected market acceptance of our products, price competition and other price changes would negatively impact our business.

 

If the market does not accept our products, our profitability would likely be harmed. Our profitability could also be negatively affected in the future as a result of continuing competitive price pressures in the sale of video and voice conferencing equipment and network systems, which could cause us to reduce the prices for any of

 

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these products or discontinue one product with the intent of simplifying our product offering and enhancing sales of a similar product. Further, we have reduced prices in the past in order to expand the market for our products, and in the future, we may further reduce prices, introduce new products that carry lower margins in order to expand the market or stimulate demand for our products, or discontinue existing products as a means of stimulating growth in a similar product. In the future we may also separately charge for the initial year of service for our video conferencing products rather than have it combined as one price for the product and service. These actions might not have the desired result, and accordingly could have an adverse impact on our product margins and profitability. In addition, we anticipate that our gross margins will become more difficult to predict due to these types of changes, the wide range of margins associated with each of our product lines, and shifts in the mix of products sold. Our network systems products typically have higher gross margins than our other product lines. Therefore, our gross margins could decrease if we continue to experience decreases in our network systems product sales.

 

Product obsolescence, excess inventory and other asset impairment can negatively affect our results of operations.

 

We operate in a high technology industry which is subject to rapid and frequent technology and market demand changes. These changes can often render existing or developing technologies obsolete. In addition, the introduction of new products and any related actions to discontinue existing products can cause existing inventory to become obsolete. These obsolescence issues can require write-downs in inventory value when it is determined that the recorded value of existing inventory is greater than its fair market value. Also, the pace of change in technology development and in the release of new products has increased and is expected to continue to increase. If sales of one of these products has an unplanned negative effect on sales of another of our products, it could significantly increase the inventory levels of the negatively impacted product. For each of our products, the potential exists for new products to render existing products obsolete, cause inventories of existing products to increase, cause us to discontinue a product or reduce the demand for existing products.

 

Since 2001, we have purchased several businesses, which together include goodwill valued at approximately $359.1 million and other purchased intangible assets valued at approximately $20.3 million as of December 31, 2005. This represents a significant portion of the assets recorded on our balance sheet. Goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment at least annually or sooner under certain circumstances. Other intangible assets that are deemed to have finite useful lives will continue to be amortized over their useful lives but must be reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. Screening for and assessing whether impairment indicators exist, or if events or changes in circumstances have occurred, including market conditions, operating fundamentals, competition and general economic conditions, requires significant judgment. Additionally, changes in the high technology industry occur frequently and quickly. Therefore, we cannot assure you that a charge to operations will not occur as a result of future goodwill and intangible asset impairment tests. If impairment is deemed to exist, we would write down the recorded value of these intangible assets to their fair values, as we did in the fourth quarter of 2005, when we wrote down certain intangible assets associated with our acquisition of Voyant in the amount of $1.9 million. If and when these write-downs do occur, they could harm our business and results of operations.

 

In addition, we have made investments in private companies which we classify as “Other assets” on our balance sheet. The value of these investments is influenced by many factors, including the operating effectiveness of these companies, the overall health of these companies’ industries, the strength of the private equity markets and general market conditions. Due to these and other factors, we have recorded cumulative charges against earnings totaling $14.1 million associated with the impairment of these investments, including $1.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. As of December 31, 2005, our investments in private companies are valued at $5.9 million. We may make additional investments in private companies which would be subject to similar impairment risks, and these impairment risks may cause us to write down the recorded value of any such investments. Further, we cannot assure you that future inventory, investment, license, fixed asset or other asset write-downs will not happen. If future write-downs do occur, they could harm our business and results of operations.

 

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Failure to adequately service and support our products could harm our results of operations.

 

Our products are becoming increasingly more complex and are incorporating more complex technologies, such as those included in our network systems products, our new video product offerings and our software products. This has increased the need for product warranty and service capabilities. If we cannot develop and train our internal support organization or maintain our relationship with our outside technical support provider, it could harm our business.

 

Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly and are not necessarily a good indicator of future performance.

 

Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated in the past and may vary significantly in the future as a result of a number of factors, many of which are out of our control. These factors include:

 

    fluctuations in demand for our products and services, principally due to (i) the changing global economic environment, (ii) increased competition as we have seen in Asia across all product lines and globally with respect to video and network systems product lines, and (iii) the development of new partnerships, such as the relationships between Tandberg and Cisco and Sony and Cisco in our video product line;

 

    the prices and performance of our products and those of our existing or potential new competitors, which can change rapidly due to technological innovations;

 

    the timing, size and mix of the orders for our products;

 

    whether growth of our VoIP product sales will negatively impact sales of our circuit-switched products and whether VoIP product sales will serve as an effective driver for sales of our IP-based video solutions, as we anticipate;

 

    the adoption of the new accounting pronouncement, SFAS 123R, “Share-Based Payments” that requires us to record compensation expense for shares issued under our stock plans beginning in the first quarter of 2006 and will have a material impact on our results of operations;

 

    slowing sales by our channel partners to their customers, which places further pressure on our channel partners to minimize inventory levels and reduce purchases of our products;

 

    changes to our channel partner programs, contracts and strategy that could result in a reduction in the number of channel partners or could cause more of our channel partners to add our competitors’ products to their portfolio;

 

    the level and mix of inventory that we hold to meet future demand;

 

    fluctuations in the level of international sales and our exposure to the impact of international currency fluctuations on both revenues and expenses;

 

    dependence on third party manufacturers and associated manufacturing costs;

 

    the magnitude of any costs that we must incur in the event of a product recall, such as our recent voluntary recall in the first quarter of 2006 of the lithium ion batteries in our SoundStation 2W products, or of costs associated with product warranty claims;

 

    the impact of seasonality on our various product lines and geographic regions;

 

    the impact of greater exposure to foreign currency fluctuations due to an increasing number of our product sales being denominated in non-U.S. dollar currencies; and

 

    adverse outcomes in intellectual property matters and the costs associated with asserting and enforcing our intellectual property portfolio.

 

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As a result of these and potentially other factors, we believe that period-to-period comparisons of our historical results of operations are not necessarily a good predictor of our future performance. If our future operating results are below the expectations of stock market securities analysts or investors, our stock price will likely decline.

 

We experience seasonal demand for our products and services, which may adversely impact our results of operations during certain periods.

 

Sales of some of our products have experienced seasonal fluctuations which have affected sequential growth rates for these products, particularly in our third and first quarters. For example, there is generally a slowdown for sales of our products in the European region in the third quarter of each year and sales to government entities typically slow in our fourth quarter and to a greater extent in our first quarter. In addition, sales of our video communications products have typically declined in the first quarter of the year compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year. Seasonal fluctuations could negatively affect our business, which could cause our operating results to fall short of anticipated results for such quarters, as they did in the first quarter of 2005.

 

General economic conditions may reduce our revenues and harm our business.

 

As our business has grown, we have become increasingly exposed to adverse changes in general economic conditions which can result in reductions in capital expenditures by end-user customers for our products, longer sales cycles, deferral or delay of purchase commitments for our products and increased competition. These factors adversely impacted our operating results in prior years. Any recurrence of these events could have a similar effect.

 

Our operating results are hard to predict as a significant amount of our sales may occur at the end of a quarter or are subject to contractual acceptance provisions.

 

The timing of our channel partner orders and product shipments can harm our operating results.

 

Our quarterly revenues and operating results depend upon the volume and timing of channel partner orders received during a given quarter and the percentage of each order that we are able to ship and recognize as revenue during each quarter, each of which is extremely difficult to forecast. Moreover, although we saw better sales linearity in the fourth quarter of 2005, in most prior periods, we have seen the majority of our orders in a given quarter shipped in the last month of that quarter and sometimes in the last few weeks of the quarter. Also, our order backlog has fluctuated significantly over our corporate history. Although in the last two quarters of 2005 our order backlog has increased, we believe that backlog levels will continue to fluctuate due to many factors such as ability of our sales force to generate orders linearly throughout the quarter, our ability to forecast revenue mix and plan our manufacturing accordingly, increased deferred revenue associated with our VSX products, customer request dates, timing of product acceptance where contractually required and ongoing service deferrals as service revenues increase as a percent of total revenue. In addition, orders from our channel partners are based on the level of demand from end-user customers. Any decline or uncertainty in end-user demand could significantly negatively impact end-user orders, which could in turn negatively affect orders from our channel partners in any given quarter. As a result, our backlog could decline in future quarters, even to zero. The return to historical linearity levels or any failure or delay in the closing of orders during the last part of a quarter would materially harm our operating results. Furthermore, we may be unable to ship products in the period we receive the order due to these or other factors, which would have an adverse impact on our operating results. In such events, the price of our common stock would decline.

 

Difficulty in estimating channel partner orders can harm our operating results, the establishment of product lead times to maximize our inventory efficiency and our focus on operations efficiency in the logistics area.

 

Revenues for any particular quarter are extremely difficult to predict with any degree of certainty. We typically ship products within a short time after we receive an order and therefore, backlog is not a good indicator

 

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of future revenues. In addition, orders from our channel partners are based on the level of demand from end-user customers. Any decline or uncertainty in end-user demand could negatively impact end-user orders, which could in turn significantly negatively affect orders from our channel partners in any given quarter. Accordingly, our expectations for both short and long-term future revenues are based almost exclusively on our own estimate of future demand and not on firm channel partner orders. Our expense levels are based largely on these estimates. In addition, the majority of our audio and video network system orders are received in the last month of a quarter, typically the last few weeks of that quarter; thus, the unpredictability of the receipt of these orders could negatively impact our future results. We historically have received a majority of our channel partner orders in the last month of a quarter and often in the last few weeks of the quarter. In the event that order linearity once again degrades to the levels we have experienced in the past, where the majority of our sales occurred in the last month of the quarter, or if for any reason orders and revenues do not meet our expectations in a particular period, we will be limited in our ability to reduce expenses quickly. Accordingly, any significant shortfall in demand for our products in relation to our expectations would have an adverse impact on our operating results.

 

Delays in receiving contractual acceptance may cause delays in our ability to recognize revenue, depending upon the timing and shipment of orders under such contracts.

 

An increasing number of our service provider contracts include product acceptance provisions which vary depending upon the type of product and individual terms of the contract. Accordingly, we defer revenue until the underlying acceptance criteria in any given contract have been met. Depending upon the acceptance terms, the timing of the receipt and subsequent shipment of an order may result in acceptance delays, may reduce the predictability of our revenues, and, consequently, may adversely impact our revenues and results of operations in any particular quarter.

 

We face risks related to our dependence on channel partners to sell our products.

 

To avoid confusion by our channel partners regarding our product offerings, we need to devote significant resources to educating and training them.

 

When we take any significant actions regarding our product offerings, or acquire new product offerings, it is important to educate and train our channel partners to avoid any confusion on the desirability of the new product offering in relation to our existing product offerings.

 

For instance, integrating acquired product offerings with ours has created confusion among our channel partners in the past and may continue to do so in the future. We will need to continue to devote significant resources to educate and train our channel partners about our product offerings. Channel confusion could also occur if we do not adequately train or educate the channel on our product families, especially in the cases where we simplify our product offerings by discontinuing one product in order to stimulate growth of a similar product. Ongoing confusion may lead to delays in ordering our products which would negatively affect our revenues.

 

Conflicts and competition with our channel partners and strategic partners could hurt sales of our products.

 

We have various OEM agreements with major telecommunications equipment manufacturers, such as Avaya, Cisco Systems and Nortel Networks, whereby we manufacture our products to work with the equipment of the OEM. These relationships can create conflicts with our other channel partners who directly compete with our OEM partners, or could create conflicts among our OEM partners who compete with each other, which could adversely affect revenues from these other channel partners or our OEM partners. Conflicts among our OEM partners could also make continued partnering with these OEM partners increasingly difficult. Because many of our channel partners also sell equipment that competes with our products, these channel partners could devote more attention to these other products which could harm our business. Channel conflicts could arise which cause channel partners to devote resources to other non-Polycom communications equipment, or to offer new products from our new and existing competitors, which would negatively affect our business or results of operations.

 

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Some of our current and future products are directly competitive with the products of our channel and strategic partners. For example, we have an agreement with Cisco Systems under which we ship SoundStation IP conference phones for resale by Cisco Systems. In addition, Cisco Systems sells a network systems product which is in direct competition with our network systems offerings. Also, Cisco Systems previously announced a partnership with Tandberg, one of our major competitors in the video communications business, pursuant to which Tandberg provides Cisco Systems with technology that is co-branded and sold by Cisco Systems. As a consequence of conflicts such as these, there is the potential for our channel and strategic partners to compete head-to-head with us and to significantly reduce their orders of our products or design our technology out of their products. In addition, competition with our partners in all of the markets in which we operate is likely to increase, potentially resulting in strains on our existing relationships with these companies. As an example, we are now competing in the voice-over-IP handset arena through service providers, which may cause our relationships with our IP PBX strategic partners to erode. Further, our strategic partners may acquire businesses that are competitive with us. Any such strain or acquisition could limit the potential contribution of our strategic relationships to our business, restrict our ability to form strategic relationships with these companies in the future and create additional competitive pressures on us, including downward pressure on our average selling prices, which would result in a decrease in both revenues and gross margins, any of which could harm our business.

 

We are subject to risks associated with our channel partners’ product inventories and product sell-through.

 

We sell a significant amount of our products to channel partners who maintain their own inventory of our products for sale to dealers and end-users. If these channel partners are unable to sell an adequate amount of their inventory of our products in a given quarter to dealers and end-users or if channel partners decide to decrease their inventories for any reason, such as a recurrence of global economic uncertainty and downturn in technology spending, the volume of our sales to these channel partners and our revenues would be negatively affected. While there has been some improvement in technology spending and the global economy, constraints in technology capital spending still exist and if these conditions recur in the future, our business and operating results will continue to be negatively affected. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2004 and 2005 and the first quarter of 2005, we experienced sequential decreases in absolute dollars in revenues from U.S. government entities. In addition, if channel partners decide to purchase more inventory, due to product availability or other reasons, than is required to satisfy end-user demand or if end-user demand does not keep pace with the additional inventory purchases, channel inventory could grow in any particular quarter, which could adversely affect product revenues in the subsequent quarter. In addition, we also face the risk that some of our channel partners have inventory levels in excess of future anticipated sales. If such sales do not occur in the time frame anticipated by these channel partners for any reason, these channel partners may substantially decrease the amount of product they order from us in subsequent periods, or product returns may exceed historical or predicted levels, which would harm our business. Moreover, if we choose to eliminate or reduce special cost or stocking incentive programs, quarterly revenues may fail to meet our expectations or be lower than historical levels.

 

Our revenue estimates associated with products stocked by some of our channel partners are based largely on end-user sales reports that our channel partners provide to us on a monthly basis. To date, we believe this data has been generally accurate. To the extent that this sales-out and channel inventory data is inaccurate or not received timely, we may not be able to make revenue estimates for future periods.

 

Changes to our channel partner programs or channel partner contracts may not be favorably received and as a result our channel partner relationships and results of operations may be adversely impacted.

 

Our channel partners are eligible to participate in various incentive programs, depending upon their contractual arrangements with us. As part of these arrangements, we have the right to make changes in our programs and launch new programs as business conditions warrant. For example, early in 2005, we announced changes to our co-op marketing programs, which affected how our partners utilize and claim credit for eligible marketing activities. These changes could upset our channel partners to the extent that they could add competitive products to their portfolios, delay advertising or sales of our products, or shift more emphasis to

 

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selling our competitors products, if not appropriately handled. There can be no assurance that our channel partners will be receptive to future changes and that we will receive the positive benefits that we are anticipating in making these program changes.

 

Further, we may elect to make changes to our channel partner contracts in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America, which could result in a change in the number and mix of channel partners, a smaller number of channel partners, and the same channel upset we experienced in North America when similar changes were made.

 

We are subject to risks associated with the success of the businesses of our channel partners.

 

Many of our channel partners that carry multiple Polycom products, and from whom we derive significant revenues, are thinly capitalized. Although we perform ongoing evaluations of the creditworthiness of our channel partners, the failure of these businesses to establish and sustain profitability, obtain financing or adequately fund capital expenditures could have a significant negative effect on our future revenue levels and profitability and our ability to collect our receivables. Further, while there has been some improvement in technology spending and the global economy, constraints in technology capital spending still exist and could cause more of our channel partners’ businesses to suffer or fail, which would harm our business.

 

Our channel partner contracts are typically short-term and early termination of these contracts may harm our results of operations.

 

We do not typically enter into long-term contracts with our channel partners, and we cannot be certain as to future order levels from our channel partners. When we do enter into a long-term contract, the contract is generally terminable at the convenience of the channel partner. In the event of an early termination by one of our major channel partners, we believe that the end-user customer would likely purchase from another one of our channel partners. If this did not occur and we were unable to rapidly replace that revenue source, its loss would harm our results of operations.

 

Difficulties we may encounter managing a substantially larger business could adversely affect our operating results.

 

If we fail to successfully attract and retain qualified personnel, our business will be harmed.

 

Our future success will depend in part on our continued ability to hire, assimilate and retain qualified personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense, and we may not be successful in attracting or retaining such personnel. In addition, provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related rules of the SEC and Nasdaq impose heightened personal liability on some of our key management personnel. The threat of such liability could make it more difficult to identify, hire and retain highly-skilled management personnel. In addition, from time to time, we may also decide to replace certain key personnel, such as we did recently in Asia by bringing in an interim managing director for the region, and such transitions may be disruptive to the affected function and our business, possibly on a longer term basis than we expected. Further, we have relied on our ability to grant stock options as a means of recruiting and retaining highly skilled personnel. Recent accounting regulations requiring the expensing of stock options will impair our future ability to provide these incentives without incurring significant compensation costs. The loss of any key employee, the failure of any key employee to perform in his or her current position or our inability to attract and retain skilled employees, particularly technical and management, as needed, could harm our business.

 

In addition, as we add more complex software product offerings, it will become increasingly important to retain and attract individuals who are skilled in managing and developing these complex software product offerings. Further, many of our key employees in Israel, who are responsible for development of our network systems products, are obligated to perform annual military reserve duty and may be called to active duty at any time under emergency conditions. The loss of the services of any executive officer or other key technical or management personnel could have an adverse and disruptive impact on their affected function and, consequently, materially harm our business or operations.

 

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We experienced significant growth in our business and operations due to internal expansion and business acquisitions during the last five years, and if we do not appropriately manage this growth and any future growth, our operating results will be negatively affected.

 

Our business has grown in recent years through both internal expansion and business acquisitions, and continued growth may cause a significant strain on our infrastructure, internal systems and managerial resources. To manage our growth effectively, we must continue to improve and expand our infrastructure, including information technology and financial operating and administrative systems and controls, and continue managing headcount, capital and processes in an efficient manner. Our productivity and the quality of our products may be adversely affected if we do not integrate and train our new employees quickly and effectively and coordinate among our executive, engineering, finance, marketing, sales, operations and customer support organizations, all of which add to the complexity of our organization and increase our operating expenses. We also may be less able to predict and effectively control our operating expenses due to the growth and increasing complexity of our business. In addition, our information technology systems may not grow at a sufficient rate to keep up with the processing and information demands placed on them by a much larger company. The efforts to continue to expand our information technology systems or our inability to do so could harm our business. Further, revenues may not grow at a sufficient rate to absorb the costs associated with a larger overall headcount.

 

Our future growth may require significant additional resources given that, as we increase our business operations in complexity and scale, we may have insufficient management capabilities and internal bandwidth to manage our growth and business effectively. We cannot assure you that resources will be available when we need them or that we will have sufficient capital to fund these potential resource needs. Also, as we assess our resources following our acquisitions, we will likely determine that redundancy in certain areas will require consolidation of these resources. Any organizational disruptions associated with the consolidation process could require further management attention and financial expenditures. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, if we experience a shortfall in resources or if we must take additional restructuring charges, our results of operations will be harmed.

 

Difficulties in integrating our acquisitions could adversely impact our business.

 

Difficulties in integrating past or future acquisitions could adversely affect our business.

 

We have completed a number of acquisitions during our operating history. The process of integrating acquired companies into our operations requires significant resources and is time consuming, expensive and disruptive to our business. Failure to achieve the anticipated benefits of these acquisitions, to retain key personnel, or to successfully integrate the operations of these companies could harm our business, results of operations and cash flows. We may not realize the benefits we anticipate from these acquisitions because of the following significant challenges:

 

    potentially incompatible cultural differences between the two companies;

 

    incorporating the acquired company’s technology and products into our current and future product lines;

 

    potentially creating confusion in the marketplace by ineffectively distinguishing or marketing the product offerings of the newly acquired company with our existing product lines, such as we experienced in China with DSTMedia in 2005;

 

    geographic dispersion of operations;

 

    generating marketing demand for an expanded product line;

 

    the difficulty in leveraging the acquired company’s and our combined technologies and capabilities across all product lines and customer bases; and

 

    our inability to retain previous customers or employees of an acquired company.

 

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Further, certain of our acquisition agreements incorporate earn-out provisions in them. Such earn-out provisions entitle the former shareholders of the acquired companies to receive additional consideration upon the satisfaction of certain predetermined criteria. It is possible that disputes over unpaid earn-out amounts may result in litigation to the company, which could be costly and cause management distraction.

 

We have spent and will continue to spend significant resources identifying and acquiring businesses. The efficient and effective integration of our acquired businesses into our organization is critical to our growth. Any future acquisitions involve numerous risks including difficulties in integrating the operations, technologies and products of the acquired companies, the diversion of our management’s attention from other business concerns and the potential loss of key employees of the acquired companies. Failure to achieve the anticipated benefits of these and any future acquisitions or to successfully integrate the operations of the companies we acquire could also harm our business, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, we cannot assure you that we will not incur material charges in future quarters to reflect additional costs associated with past acquisitions or any future acquisitions we may make.

 

Our failure to implement our restructuring plan related to PictureTel facilities could adversely impact our business.

 

We had a liability of approximately $4.1 million at December 31, 2005 related to vacant and redundant facilities in connection with our acquisition of PictureTel, which is net of estimated sublease income we expect to generate. Our estimate of sublease income is based on current comparable rates for leases in the respective markets. If actual sublease income is lower than our estimates for any reason, if it takes us longer than we estimated to sublease these facilities, or if the associated cost of subleasing or terminating our lease obligations for these facilities is greater than we estimated, we would incur additional charges to operations which would harm our business, results of operations and cash flows. For example, we have an approximately 152,000 square foot building which is fully subleased to a third party for the length of our lease obligation. If this tenant were unable to fulfill, for any reason, their contractual obligations under the sublease, we would incur additional charges to operations which would harm our business. In addition, until our vacated and redundant facilities are subleased or the lease obligations for these facilities are terminated, we will continue to pay the contractual lease and facility operating expense obligations without any sublease income to offset these costs. Further, in the event that we agree to sublease a facility or terminate a lease obligation through a lease buyout or other means, we may incur a material cash outflow up to and potentially exceeding our recorded liability at the time of such transaction, which would harm our operating cash flows. To the extent that any such cash outflows or additional costs exceed the amount of our recorded liability related to the sublease or termination of these lease obligations, we could incur a charge to operations which would harm our business and adversely impact our results of operations.

 

We face risks related to our international operations and sales.

 

Because of our significant operations in Israel, we are subject to risks associated with the military, political and regulatory environment in Israel and the Middle East region.

 

The principal research and development and manufacturing facilities of our network systems group and many of that group’s suppliers are located in Israel. Political, economic and military conditions in Israel and the Middle East region directly affect our network systems group’s operations. A number of armed conflicts have taken place between Israel and its geographic neighbors. Current and future armed conflicts or political instability in the region may impair our ability to produce and sell our network systems products and could disrupt research or developmental activities. This instability could have an adverse impact on our results of operations. Further, the military action in Iraq or other countries in the region perceived as a threat by the United States government could result in additional unrest or cause Israel to be attacked, which would adversely affect our results of operations and harm our business.

 

The technology used to develop our current network systems products was developed in part with grants from the Israeli Office of the Chief Scientist. Under Israeli law, technology developed pursuant to grants from

 

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the Office of the Chief Scientist cannot be transferred to any person without the prior written consent of the Office of the Chief Scientist. The grants also contain restrictions on the ability to manufacture products developed with these grants outside of Israel. Approval to manufacture such products outside of Israel, if granted, is generally subject to an increase in the total amount to be repaid to the Office of the Chief Scientist of between 120% to 300% of the amount granted, depending on the extent of the manufacturing to be conducted outside of Israel. These restrictions on the ability to transfer certain of our technology to third parties or manufacture products outside Israel may adversely affect our operating results and the development of additional network systems products and significantly reduce the value of the technology. We are in the process of developing and implementing a disaster recovery plan for our network systems products that could provide for manufacturing to be performed outside of Israel on a limited basis today, and a more extended basis in the event of a disaster. Today, we are performing final test and assembly on a limited basis in Atlanta, Georgia and Thailand. The implementation of such a disaster recovery plan could subject us to additional payments to the Office of the Chief Scientist, which could adversely affect our operating results.

 

International sales and expenses represent an increasing portion of our revenues and operating expenses and risks inherent in international operations could harm our business.

 

International sales and expenses represent an increasing portion of our revenues and operating expenses, and we anticipate that international sales will continue to account for a significant portion of our revenues for the foreseeable future and that international operating expenses will continue to increase. International sales and expenses are subject to certain inherent risks, including the following:

 

    adverse economic conditions in international markets;

 

    potential foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;

 

    the near and long-term impact of the military action in Iraq or other hostilities;

 

    disruptions in business due to natural disasters, quarantines or other disruptions associated with infectious diseases or other events beyond our control;

 

    unexpected changes in regulatory requirements and tariffs;

 

    adverse economic impact of terrorist attacks and incidents and any military response to those attacks;

 

    difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations;

 

    longer payment cycles;

 

    problems in collecting accounts receivable; and

 

    potentially adverse tax consequences.

 

International revenues may fluctuate as a percentage of total revenues in the future as we introduce new products. These fluctuations are primarily the result of our practice of introducing new products in North America first and the additional time required for product homologation and regulatory approvals of new products in international markets. To the extent we are unable to expand international sales in a timely and cost-effective manner, especially in our core European markets of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, our business could be harmed. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain or increase international market demand for our products.

 

Although, to date, a substantial majority of our international sales have been denominated in U.S. currency, we expect that a growing number of sales will be denominated in non-U.S. currencies as more international customers request billing in their currency. For example, effective January 1, 2006, we began denominating a portion of our European product sales in Euros and our United Kingdom product sales in British Pounds. In addition, some of our competitors currently invoice in foreign currency, which could be a disadvantage to us in those markets where we do not. Our international operating expenses are denominated in foreign currency. As a

 

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result of these factors, we expect our business will be significantly more vulnerable to currency fluctuations, which could adversely impact our results of operations. For instance, in 2003 and 2004, our operating costs internationally increased as a result of the weakness in the U.S. dollar. These currency fluctuations were recorded in other income (expense) in our Consolidated Statement of Operations. We will continue to evaluate whether to, and are likely to decide to, expand the type of products we sell in selected foreign currencies in addition to the Euro and British Pound or may, for specific customer situations, choose to sell our products in foreign currencies, thereby further increasing our foreign exchange risk.

 

While we do not hedge for speculative purposes, as a result of our increased exposure to currency fluctuations, we from time to time engage in currency hedging activities to mitigate currency fluctuation exposure. Also, due to the recent denomination of our European product sales in Euros and of our United Kingdom product sales in British Pounds, we expect to increase our hedging activity. However, we have limited experience with these hedging activities, and they may not be successful, which could harm our operating results and financial condition. In addition, significant adverse changes in currency exchange rates could cause our products to become relatively more expensive to customers in a particular country, leading to a reduction in revenue or profitability in that country, as discounts may be temporarily or permanently affected.

 

We have limited supply sources for some key components of our products, and our operations could be harmed by supply interruptions, component defects or unavailability of these components.

 

Some key components used in our products are currently available from only one source and others are available from only a limited number of sources, including some key integrated circuits and optical elements. Because of such limited sources for component parts, we may have little or no ability to procure these parts on favorable pricing terms. We also obtain certain plastic housings, metal castings, batteries, and other components from suppliers located in China and certain Southeast Asia countries, and any political or economic instability in that region in the future, quarantines or other disruptions associated with infectious diseases, or future import restrictions, may cause delays or an inability to obtain these supplies. Further, we have suppliers in Israel and the military action in Iraq or war with other Middle Eastern countries perceived as a threat by the United States government may cause delays or an inability to obtain supplies for our network systems products. We have no raw material supply commitments from our suppliers and generally purchase components on a purchase order basis either directly or through our contract manufacturers. Some of the components included in our products, such as microprocessors and other integrated circuits, have from time to time been subject to limited allocations by suppliers. In addition, companies with limited or uncertain financial resources manufacture some of these components. Further, we do not always have direct control over the supply chain, as many of our component parts are procured for us by our contract manufacturers. In the event that we, or our contract manufacturers, are unable to obtain sufficient supplies of components, develop alternative sources as needed, or companies with limited financial resources go out of business, our operating results could be seriously harmed. Moreover, our operating results would be seriously harmed by receipt of a significant number of defective components, an increase in component prices, such as the recent increases for memory devices, or our inability to obtain lower component prices in response to competitive price reductions. Additionally, our video communications products are designed based on integrated circuits produced by Philips Semiconductor and Equator Technologies, a subsidiary of Pixelworks Inc., and cameras produced by Sony. If we could no longer obtain integrated circuits or cameras from these suppliers, we would incur substantial expense and take substantial time in redesigning our products to be compatible with components from other manufacturers, and we cannot assure you that we would be successful in obtaining these components from alternative sources in a timely or cost-effective manner. Additionally, both Sony and Philips compete with us in the video communications industry, which may adversely affect our ability to obtain necessary components. The failure to obtain adequate supplies of vital components could prevent or delay product shipments, which could harm our business. We also rely on the introduction schedules of some key components in the development or launch of new products. Any delays in the availability of these key components could harm our business. In addition, the business failure or financial instability of any supplier of these components could adversely affect our cash flows if we were to expend funds in some manner to ensure our supply of those components.

 

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Manufacturing disruption or capacity constraints would harm our business.

 

We subcontract the manufacture of our voice and video product lines to Celestica, a third-party contract manufacturer. We use Celestica’s facilities in Thailand, China and Singapore, and should there be any disruption in services due to natural disaster, terrorist acts, quarantines or other disruptions associated with infectious diseases, or other similar events, or economic or political difficulties in any of these countries or Asia or any other reason, such disruption would harm our business and results of operations. Also, Celestica’s facilities are currently the primary source manufacturer of these products, and if Celestica experiences an interruption in operations or otherwise suffers from capacity constraints, we would experience a delay in shipping these products which would have an immediate negative impact on our revenues. As a result, we may not be able to meet demand for our products, which could negatively affect revenues in the quarter of the disruption and harm our reputation. In addition, operating in the international environment exposes us to certain inherent risks, including unexpected changes in regulatory requirements and tariffs, difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations and potentially adverse tax consequences, all of which could harm our business and results of operations.

 

If we have insufficient proprietary rights or if we fail to protect those rights we have, our business would be materially impaired.

 

We rely on third-party license agreements and termination or impairment of these agreements may cause delays or reductions in product introductions or shipments which would harm our business.

 

We have licensing agreements with various suppliers for software incorporated into our products. For example, we license video communications source code from ADTRAN, Delcom, Mitsubishi, Simtrol, Skelmir, SNMP, and Software House, video algorithm protocols from DSP and UB Video, Windows software from Microsoft, development source code from Avaya, Hughes Software Systems, Ltd., In Focus Systems Inc., Nokia, Surf, Vocal Technologies Ltd. and Windriver, audio algorithms from D2 and Nortel Networks, Sipro, Telogy and Voiceage, and communication software from Konexx and RADVISION. In addition, certain of our products are developed and manufactured based largely or solely on third-party technology. These third-party software licenses and arrangements may not continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable or competitive terms, if at all. The termination or impairment of these licenses could result in delays or reductions in new product introductions or current product shipments until equivalent software could be developed, licensed and integrated, if at all possible, which would harm our business and results of operations. Further, if we are unable to obtain necessary technology licenses on commercially reasonable or competitive terms, we could be prohibited from marketing our products, could be forced to market products without certain features, or could incur substantial costs to redesign our products, defend legal actions, or pay damages.

 

We rely on patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets to protect our proprietary rights which may not be sufficient to protect our intellectual property.

 

We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and confidentiality procedures to protect our proprietary rights. Others may independently develop similar proprietary information and techniques or gain access to our intellectual property rights or disclose such technology. In addition, we cannot assure you that any patent or registered trademark owned by us will not be invalidated, circumvented or challenged in the U.S. or foreign countries or that the rights granted thereunder will provide competitive advantages to us or that any of our pending or future patent applications will be issued with the scope of the claims sought by us, if at all. Furthermore, others may develop similar products, duplicate our products or design around our patents. In addition, foreign intellectual property laws may not protect our intellectual property rights. Litigation may be necessary to enforce our patents and other intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets, to determine the validity of and scope of the proprietary rights of others, or to defend against claims of infringement or invalidity. Litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources which could harm our business, and we could ultimately be unsuccessful in protecting our intellectual property rights.

 

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We face and might in the future face intellectual property infringement claims and other litigation claims that might be costly to resolve and, if resolved adversely, may harm our operating results or financial condition.

 

We are a party to lawsuits (patent-related and otherwise) in the normal course of our business. For instance, we recently initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Codian. Litigation is often expensive, lengthy and disruptive to normal business operations. The results of, and costs associated with, complex litigation matters are difficult to predict, and the uncertainty associated with substantial unresolved lawsuits could harm our business, financial condition and reputation. Negative developments with respect to pending lawsuits could cause our stock price to decline, and an unfavorable resolution of any particular lawsuit could have an adverse and possibly material effect on our business and results of operations.

 

We expect that the number and significance of claims and legal proceedings that assert patent infringement claims or other intellectual property rights covering our products will increase as our business expands. In particular, we expect to face an increasing number of patent and copyright claims as the number of products and competitors in our industry grows and the functionality of video, voice, data and web conferencing products overlap. Any claims or proceedings against us, whether meritorious or not, could be time consuming, result in costly litigation, require significant amounts of management time, result in the diversion of significant operational resources, or require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements. Such royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be available on terms favorable to us or at all. An unfavorable outcome in any such claim or proceeding could have a material adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations for the period in which the unfavorable outcome occurs, and potentially in future periods. Further, any settlement announced by us may expose us to further claims against us by third parties seeking monetary or other damages which, even if unsuccessful, would divert management attention from the business and cause us to incur costs, possibly material, to defend such matters. For example, in November 2004, we settled our outstanding patent infringement litigation with Avistar Communications, Inc. (“Avistar”) and Collaboration Properties, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avistar, and, in connection with such settlement, paid $27.5 million.

 

Loss of government contracts could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

We sell our products, directly and indirectly, and provide services to governmental entities in accordance with certain regulated contractual arrangements. If we fail to report in accordance with, or otherwise fail to comply with, the terms of our government contracts, do not have a satisfactory outcome in government audits of our contracts, or otherwise violate regulatory requirements, the government could suspend or disbar us as a supplier and prohibit all sales of our product to government agencies. The United States General Services Administration (“US GSA”) is currently conducting a review of our governmental sales of products and services. Such review, if not deemed satisfactory by the US GSA, could result in further audits, which if such audits were not resolved satisfactorily, could result in our disqualification as an approved government supplier. Any suspension or disbarment of us as a government supplier would negatively affect our results of operations.

 

While we believe we currently have adequate internal control over financial reporting, we are required to evaluate our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and any adverse results from such evaluation could result in a loss of investor confidence in our financial reports and have an adverse effect on our stock price.

 

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 404), beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, we were required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting. Such report contains, among other matters, an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of our fiscal year, including a statement as to whether or not our internal control over financial reporting is effective. This assessment must include disclosure of any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting identified by management. Such report must also contain a statement that our independent registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report on management’s assessment of such internal control.

 

30


While we were able to assert in our Annual Report on Form 10-K that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2005, we must continue to monitor and assess our internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to assert in any future reporting period that our internal control over financial reporting is effective (or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to attest that our management’s report is fairly stated or they are unable to express an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal controls), we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which would have an adverse effect on our stock price.

 

Changes in existing financial accounting standards or practices may adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Changes in existing accounting rules or practices, new accounting pronouncements, or varying interpretations of current accounting pronouncements could have a significant adverse effect on our results of operations or the manner in which we conduct our business. Further, such changes could potentially affect our reporting of transactions completed before such changes are effective. For example, in 2005, we were not required to record stock-based compensation charges to earnings in connection with stock options grants to our employees. However, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS 123R, “Stock-Based Payments,” which will require us to record stock-based compensation charges to earnings for employee stock option grants commencing in the first quarter of 2006. Such charges will negatively impact our earnings. For instance, the Company expects the compensation charges under SFAS 123R to reduce net income by approximately $15 to $20 million for fiscal 2006. In addition, future changes to various assumptions used to determine the fair value of awards issued or the amount and type of equity awards granted create uncertainty as to the amount of future stock-based compensation expense and make such amounts difficult to predict accurately.

 

Changes in tax rates could affect our future results.

 

The Company’s future effective tax rates could be favorably or unfavorably affected by changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities, or changes in tax laws or their interpretation. For instance, we recently announced an increase in our expected tax rate in 2006 due to the current lapse in the U.S. research and development tax credit, which may in fact adjust down again if the tax credit gets reinstated. The adoption of SFAS 123R will also add more variability to our future effective tax rates.

 

In addition, the Company is subject to the continuous examination of its income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for income taxes. There can be no assurance that the outcomes from these continuous examinations will not have an adverse affect on the Company’s net income and financial condition.

 

Business interruptions could adversely affect our operations.

 

Our operations are vulnerable to interruption by fire, earthquake, typhoon or other natural disaster, quarantines or other disruptions associated with infectious diseases, national catastrophe, terrorist activities, war, ongoing Iraqi disturbances, an attack on Israel, disruptions in our computing and communications infrastructure due to power loss, telecommunications failure, human error, physical or electronic security breaches and computer viruses, and other events beyond our control. We do not have a fully implemented detailed disaster recovery plan. In addition, our business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to compensate us for losses that may occur, and any losses or damages incurred by us could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

Our cash flow could fluctuate due to the potential difficulty of collecting our receivables and managing our inventories.

 

Over the past few years, we initiated significant investments in Europe and Asia to expand our business in these regions. In Europe and Asia, as with other international regions, credit terms are typically longer than in the

 

31


United States. Therefore, as Europe, Asia and other international regions grow as a percentage of our revenues, accounts receivable balances will likely increase as compared to previous years. Although, from time to time, we have been able to largely offset the effects of these influences through additional incentives offered to channel partners at the end of each quarter in the form of prepaid discounts, these additional incentives have lowered our profitability. In addition, the recurrence of economic uncertainty or downturn in technology spending in the United States may restrict the availability of capital which may delay our collections from our channel partners beyond our historical experience or may cause companies to file for bankruptcy, which occurred with Global Crossing, WorldCom and MCSi. Either of these conditions would harm our cash flow and days sales outstanding performance. Although in recent quarters our experience in collecting receivables has been good and we expect this trend to continue, there can be no assurance that it will continue.

 

Our days sales outstanding (DSO) metric is currently ranging from 40 to 46 days. However, we expect that our DSO metric will continue to fluctuate, and in all likelihood, will increase as revenues increase, as a result of fluctuations in revenue linearity, as a result of future acquisitions, as a result of a greater mix of international sales, or any other factors.

 

In addition, as we manage our business and focus on shorter shipment lead times for certain of our products and implement freight cost reduction programs, our inventory levels may increase, resulting in decreased inventory turns that could negatively impact our cash flow. For example, our inventory turns decreased from 7.7 turns in the fourth quarter of 2004 to 5.3 turns in the fourth quarter of 2005, and this trend may continue in future operating periods.

 

Our stock price fluctuates as a result of the conduct of our business and stock market fluctuations.

 

The market price of our common stock has from time to time experienced significant fluctuations. The market price of our common stock may be significantly affected by a variety of factors, including:

 

    statements or changes in opinions, ratings or earnings estimates made by brokerage firms or industry analysts relating to the market in which we do business, including competitors, partners, suppliers or telecommunications industry leaders or relating to us specifically, as has occurred recently;

 

    the announcement of new products or product enhancements by us or our competitors;

 

    technological innovations by us or our competitors;

 

    quarterly variations in our results of operations;

 

    general market conditions or market conditions specific to technology industries; and

 

    domestic and international macroeconomic factors.

 

In addition, the stock market continues to experience price and volume fluctuations. These fluctuations have had a substantial effect on the market prices for many high technology companies like us. These fluctuations are often unrelated to the operating performance of the specific companies.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

 

None.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

 

We are currently headquartered in an approximately 50,000 square foot leased facility in Pleasanton, California. This facility accommodates our executive and administrative operations. Our approximately 102,000 square foot leased facility in Milpitas, California houses research and development, manufacturing, marketing, sales and customer support operations for our voice communications business.

 

32


The majority of our video communications and service operations are located in an approximately 107,000 square foot leased facility in Andover, Massachusetts and an approximately 62,000 square foot leased facility in Austin, Texas. Our network systems operations occupy approximately 47,000 square feet in Petach Tikva, Israel and 32,000 square feet in Atlanta, Georgia, which facility is also shared with our installed voice business. Our audio network systems operations are located in an approximately 84,000 square foot leased facility located in Westminster, Colorado. In addition, we lease space in Vancouver, Canada for our VoIP development operation and in Burlington, Massachusetts for our advanced voice development operations. See Note 12 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

The Andover, Massachusetts lease was amended in November 2003. The original term of this lease, which would end in 2014, was amended to allow us to exit the facility in various stages through 2008 in exchange for certain cash payments. In June 2004, we entered into a termination agreement and related payment agreement for this facility which terminated the lease on all of the unoccupied space as of December 28, 2004. The agreement resulted in an acceleration of the termination payments that were previously scheduled through 2008. All amounts owing under the lease termination agreement were paid in January 2005.

 

We lease an approximately 55,000 square foot facility in Tracy, California for our North American and Latin American distribution center. Further, we utilize space at our manufacturing contractor in Thailand and our European distribution contractor in the United Kingdom and Netherlands to provide Asian and European distribution and repair centers, respectively.

 

Within the U.S., we lease office space, primarily for sales offices in various metropolitan locations, including: Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Herndon, Virginia; Irvine, California; New York, New York; and Dallas, Texas. Outside of the U.S, we lease offices in several countries, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom. Our facilities are leased pursuant to agreements that expire beginning in 2006 and extend out to 2018.

 

As a result of the acquisition of PictureTel completed in October 2001, we identified redundant facilities that we intend to terminate or sublease or have terminated or subleased. For example, we lease an approximately 152,000 square foot building which is fully subleased to a third party for which the sublease runs concurrent with our lease obligation. As a result, we are not currently showing a lease obligation related to this facility. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

We believe that our current facilities are adequate to meet our needs for the foreseeable future, and that suitable additional or alternative space will be available in the future on commercially reasonable terms as needed.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

From time to time, we are involved in claims and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. We expect that the number and significance of these matters will increase as our business expands. In particular, we expect to face an increasing number of patent and other intellectual property claims as the number of products and competitors in Polycom’s industry grows and the functionality of video, voice, data and web conferencing products overlap. Any claims or proceedings against us, whether meritorious or not, could be time consuming, result in costly litigation, require significant amounts of management time, result in the diversion of significant operational resources, or require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements which, if required, may not be available on terms favorable to us or at all. Based on currently available information, management does not believe that the ultimate outcomes of these unresolved matters, individually and in the aggregate, are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, liquidity or results of operations. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and our view of these matters may change in the future. Were an unfavorable outcome to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our financial

 

33


position and results of operations or liquidity for the period in which the unfavorable outcome occurs or becomes probable, and potentially in future periods.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

Not applicable.

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Our executive officers, and all persons chosen to become executive officers, and their ages and positions as of February 28, 2006, are as follows:

 

Name


   Age

  

Position(s)


Robert C. Hagerty*

   54    Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President

Michael R. Kourey*

   46    Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration, Chief Financial Officer, and Director

Sunil K. Bhalla

   49    Senior Vice President and General Manager, Voice Communications

Sayed M. Darwish

   40    Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Laura J. Durr

   45    Vice President and Worldwide Controller

James E. Ellett

   46    Senior Vice President and General Manager, Video Communications

Philip B. Keenan

   43    Senior Vice President and General Manager, Network Systems

Kim Niederman

   54    Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales

* Member of the Board of Directors.

 

Mr. Hagerty joined us in January 1997 as our President and Chief Operating Officer and as a member of our Board of Directors. In July 1998, Mr. Hagerty was named Chief Executive Officer. In March 2000, Mr. Hagerty was named Chairman of our Board of Directors. Prior to joining us, Mr. Hagerty served as President of Stylus Assets, Ltd., a developer of software and hardware products for fax, document management and Internet communications. He also held several key management positions with Logitech, Inc., including Operating Committee Member to the Office of the President, and Senior Vice President/General Manager of Logitech’s retail division and worldwide operations. In addition, Mr. Hagerty’s career history includes positions as Vice President, High Performance Products for Conner Peripherals, Director of Manufacturing Operations and General Manager for Signal Corporation, and Operations Manager for Digital Equipment Corporation. Mr. Hagerty currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Modulus Video, Inc. and Palm, Inc. Mr. Hagerty holds a B.S. in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, and an M.A. in Management from St. Mary’s College of California.

 

Mr. Kourey has been one of our directors since January 1999. Mr. Kourey has served as our Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration since January 1999 and as our Chief Financial Officer since January 1995. He also served as Vice President, Finance and Administration from January 1995 to January 1999, Vice President, Finance and Operations from July 1991 to January 1995, Secretary from June 1993 to May 2003 and Treasurer from May 2003 to May 2004. Mr. Kourey currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. and serves on the Advisory Board of the Business School at Santa Clara University. Prior to joining us, he was Vice President, Operations of Verilink Corporation. Mr. Kourey holds a B.S. in Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis, and an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University.

 

Mr. Bhalla joined us in February 2000 as our Senior Vice President and General Manager, Voice Communications. Before joining us, Mr. Bhalla served as Vice President of Polaroid Corporation’s Internet Business from October 1999 to January 2000 and also served as Polaroid’s Vice President and General Manager, Worldwide Digital Imaging Business from June 1998 to October 1999. Previously, Mr. Bhalla also held posts as

 

34


Director of Strategic Marketing at Computervision Corporation from September 1991 to June 1993, as well as senior management positions with Digital Equipment Corporation from September 1986 to August 1991. Mr. Bhalla is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program, Stanford University, holds a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and CAD/CAM from Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Institute of Technology, BHU, India.

 

Mr. Darwish joined us in August 2005 as our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Prior to joining Polycom, from December 2003 to August 2005, Mr. Darwish served in various legal positions at EMC Corporation, ultimately as Vice President and General Counsel for EMC Corporation’s Software Group, after EMC’s acquisition of Documentum, Inc., where he served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary from July 2000 to December 2003. Prior to that, Mr. Darwish served as Vice President and General Counsel for Luna Information Systems, served in various positions, including as General Counsel and Vice President, Legal and HR, for Forté Software, Inc. through its acquisition by Sun Microsystems, Inc., served as Corporate Counsel at Oracle Corporation, and was an associate in the law firm of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison. Mr. Darwish is a graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law, J.D. cum laude, and holds a B.S. in Mathematics and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois, Urbana.

 

Ms. Durr has served as our Vice President, Worldwide Controller and Principal Accounting Officer since March 2005. Ms. Durr joined us in March 2004 as our Assistant Controller. Prior to joining Polycom, Ms. Durr served as the Director of Finance & Administration for QuickSilver Technology, Inc. from February 2003 to March 2004, as an independent consultant from July 2002 to February 2003 and as the Corporate Controller for C Speed Corporation from April 2001 to June 2002. From October 1999 to October 2000, Ms. Durr was a business unit Controller at Lucent Technologies, Inc. after Lucent’s acquisition of International Network Services, where she served as the Corporate Controller from May 1995 to October 1999. Ms. Durr also spent six years in various capacities at Price Waterhouse LLP. Ms. Durr is a certified public accountant and holds a B.S. in Accounting from San Jose State University in San Jose, California.

 

Mr. Ellett joined us in February 2003 as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Video Communications. Before joining us, Mr. Ellett served as Vice President and General Manager of the Client Business Unit of Advanced Micro Devices. Prior to Advanced Micro Devices, Mr. Ellett held various general manager positions at Compaq Computer Corporation from November 1996 through February 2001. In addition, Mr. Ellett held positions at Cyrix Corporation, Digital Equipment Corporation and spent six years at Dell Computer Corporation in various positions in the Desktop Systems, Consumer Products and Portable Systems groups. Mr. Ellett holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.

 

Mr. Keenan has served as our Senior Vice President and General Manager, Network Systems since January 2003. Prior to that, Mr. Keenan served as our Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing from January 2002 to January 2003 and as our Senior Vice President and General Manager, Network Systems, from March 2001 to January 2002. Prior to joining us, Mr. Keenan served as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing of Accord Networks Ltd. from April 1998 until February 2001. Mr. Keenan served as the Vice President of International Sales for VideoServer, Inc. from May 1994 until February 1998. Mr. Keenan holds an honors degree in Mining Geology from Cardiff University in the United Kingdom.

 

Mr. Niederman joined us in January 2003 as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales. Prior to joining Polycom, Mr. Niederman served as President, CEO and founder of LongBoard, Inc., a leader in software-based IP services platforms. Mr. Niederman also served as President and CEO of Magellan Network Systems during 1999, Vice President, Worldwide Sales with start-up RadioLAN, Inc. from 1997 through 1999, and Vice President of Sales with FORE Systems, Inc. from 1995 through 1997. Mr. Niederman also held various positions at Cisco Systems from 1990 through 1995, including Director, Worldwide Sales of Cisco’s first business unit, Director, Central Operations and Region Manager, Central Area. Mr. Niederman holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Denver.

 

35


PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Price Range of Common Stock

 

The following table presents the high and low sale prices per share for our common stock as reported by the Nasdaq National Market, under the symbol PLCM, for the periods indicated.

 

     High

   Low

Year Ended December 31, 2004:

             

First Quarter

   $ 24.17    $ 18.44

Second Quarter

     23.50      18.37

Third Quarter

     22.38      16.73

Fourth Quarter

     24.07      19.58

Year Ended December 31, 2005:

             

First Quarter

   $ 23.55    $ 15.85

Second Quarter

     17.99      14.44

Third Quarter

     17.85      13.97

Fourth Quarter

     17.58      14.24

Year Ending December 31, 2006:

             

First Quarter (through February 28, 2006)

   $ 19.95    $ 15.13

 

On February 28, 2006 the last reported sale price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market was $19.42 per share. As of December 31, 2005, there were approximately 1,085 holders of record of our common stock. Because many of our shares of common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these record holders.

 

Dividend Policy

 

We have never declared or paid any cash dividend on our capital stock and do not anticipate, at this time, paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the near future. We currently intend to retain any future earnings for use in our business, future acquisitions or future purchases of our common stock.

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

The following table provides a month-to-month summary of the stock purchase activity during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2005:

 

Period


  

Total
Number of
Shares

Purchased


  

Average Price Paid

per Share


  

Total Number of
Shares Purchased

as Part of Publicly

Announced Plan


  

Approximate

Dollar Value of Shares

that May

Yet be

Purchased

Under the Plan


10/01/05 to 10/31/05

   1,110,000    $ 15.12    1,110,000    $ 187,587,000

11/01/05 to 11/30/05

   4,285,300      15.92    4,285,300    $ 119,373,000

12/01/05 to 12/31/05

   —        —      —      $ 119,373,000
    
  

  
      

Total

   5,395,300    $ 15.75    5,395,300       
    
  

  
      

 

On August 9, 2005, the Company announced that the Board of Directors had approved a $250 million share repurchase plan, which superseded all prior share repurchase plans, under which it would purchase shares in the open market from time to time. As of December 31, 2005, under the 2005 share repurchase plan, the Company had purchased approximately 8.1 million shares of its common stock in the open market for cash of $130.6 million. These shares of common stock have been retired and reclassified as authorized and unissued shares. The 2005 share repurchase plan does not have an expiration date but is limited by the dollar amount authorized.

 

36


ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes thereto and with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which are included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

 

    Year Ended December 31,

 
    2005

    2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

 
    (in thousands, except per share data)  

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:

                                       

Revenues

                                       

Product revenues

  $ 511,462     $ 483,535     $ 381,439     $ 406,820     $ 344,406  

Service revenues

    69,197       56,717       38,984       45,271       22,425  
   


 


 


 


 


Total revenues

    580,659       540,252       420,423       452,091       366,831  
   


 


 


 


 


Cost of revenues

                                       

Cost of product revenues

    179,837       161,619       137,685       160,766       136,199  

Cost of service revenues

    39,680       37,092       27,892       26,747       9,046  
   


 


 


 


 


Total cost of revenues

    219,517       198,711       165,577       187,513       145,245  
   


 


 


 


 


Gross profit

    361,142       341,541       254,846       264,578       221,586  
   


 


 


 


 


Operating expenses

                                       

Sales and marketing

    142,719       120,699       101,884       97,105       71,844  

Research and development

    91,479       92,076       72,638       72,487       52,331  

General and administrative

    35,631       36,942       31,334       29,947       21,564  

Acquisition-related costs

    351       1,394       386       3,699       24,077  

Purchased in-process research and development

    300       4,600       —         900       52,642  

Amortization of purchased intangibles

    8,790       20,521       17,591       17,135       3,905  

Amortization of goodwill

    —         —         —         —         2,114  

Restructure costs

    633       1,387       5,029       1,657       —    

Litigation reserves and payments

    (93 )     20,951       —         (257 )     —    
   


 


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

    279,810       298,570       228,862       222,673       228,477  
   


 


 


 


 


Operating income (loss)

    81,332       42,971       25,984       41,905       (6,891 )

Interest income, net

    12,848       7,279       8,451       9,492       12,755  

Gain (loss) on strategic investments

    2,908       (12 )     (737 )     (7,465 )     (3,178 )

Other income (expense), net

    (5 )     (1,330 )     (1,774 )     527       (608 )
   


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes

    97,083       48,908       31,924       44,459       2,078  

Provision for income taxes

    34,722       14,332       8,958       11,675       20,379  
   


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) from continuing operations

    62,361       34,576       22,966       32,784       (18,301 )

Gain (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes

    —         296       (695 )     (6,024 )     (9,399 )

Gain from sale of discontinued operations, net of taxes

    384       477       552       —         —    
   


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

  $ 62,745     $ 35,349     $ 22,823     $ 26,760     $ (27,700 )
   


 


 


 


 


Basic net income (loss) per share:

                                       

Income (loss) per share from continuing operations

  $ 0.66     $ 0.36     $ 0.23     $ 0.33     $ (0.22 )

Income (loss) per share from discontinued operations, net of taxes

    —         —         (0.01 )     (0.06 )     (0.11 )

Gain per share from sale of discontinued operations, net of taxes

    —         —         0.01       —         —    
   


 


 


 


 


Basic net income (loss) per share

  $ 0.66     $ 0.36     $ 0.23     $ 0.27     $ (0.33 )
   


 


 


 


 


Diluted net income (loss) per share:

                                       

Income (loss) per share from continuing operations

  $ 0.65     $ 0.35     $ 0.23     $ 0.33     $ (0.22 )

Income (loss) per share from discontinued operations, net of taxes

    —         —         (0.01 )     (0.06 )     (0.11 )

Gain per share from sale of discontinued operations, net of taxes

    —         —         0.01       —         —    
   


 


 


 


 


Diluted net income (loss) per share

  $ 0.65     $ 0.35     $ 0.23     $ 0.27     $ (0.33 )
   


 


 


 


 


Weighted average shares outstanding for basic net income (loss) per share

    95,691       99,334       99,244       99,324       85,123  

Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted net income (loss) per share

    97,014       102,018       100,752       100,696       85,123  
    December 31,

 
    2005

    2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

 
    (in thousands)  

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

                                       

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

  $ 277,462     $ 214,340     $ 228,265     $ 193,861     $ 150,180  

Working capital

    246,240       171,303       194,015       202,913       201,649  

Total assets

    1,071,400       1,154,641       1,103,790       1,076,874       821,165  

Total long-term obligations

    23,033       15,874       32,519       37,996       26,579  

Total stockholders’ equity

    856,869       964,614       929,279       903,743       643,986  

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

YOU SHOULD READ THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED NOTES. EXCEPT FOR HISTORICAL INFORMATION, THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. WHEN USED IN THIS REPORT, THE WORDS “MAY,” “BELIEVE,” “COULD,” “ANTICIPATE,” “WOULD,” “MIGHT,” “PLAN,” “EXPECT,” “WILL,” “INTEND,” “POTENTIAL,” AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS OR THE NEGATIVE OF THESE TERMS ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, INCLUDING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, STATEMENTS REGARDING OUR ANTICIPATED PRODUCTS, CUSTOMER AND GEOGRAPHIC REVENUE LEVELS AND MIX, GROSS MARGINS, OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES AND OUR CHANNEL INVENTORY LEVELS, INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. OUR ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. FACTORS THAT MIGHT CAUSE FUTURE RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DISCUSSED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE DISCUSSED IN “RISK FACTORS” IN THIS DOCUMENT, AS WELL AS OTHER INFORMATION FOUND ELSEWHERE IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K.

 

Overview

 

We are a leading global provider of a line of high-quality, easy-to-use communications equipment that enables enterprise users to more effectively conduct video, voice, data and web communications. Our offerings are organized along four product lines: Video Communications, Voice Communications, Network Systems, and Services. For reporting purposes, we aggregate Video Communications and Voice Communications into one segment named Communications and report Network Systems and Services as separate segments.

 

Our products are unified under The Polycom Accelerated Communications Architecture, a framework of common technology principles and objectives for intelligent, standards-based communications. This architecture is designed to facilitate interoperability among systems in a multi-vendor ecosystem, leverage common features across a variety of products and streamline management processes. The Polycom Accelerated Communications Architecture serves as the enabling platform for unified collaborative communication, our corporate vision of a unified communications environment for employees, customers and partners to communicate in a dispersed workplace.

 

The shift from circuit-switched telephony networks to Internet Protocol (IP) based networks is a significant driver for Polycom’s collaborative communications markets and for our business. In 2005, for instance, our Voice over IP (VoIP) products grew faster than any other product line in the company. In addition, over half of our group video products and essentially all of our desktop video products were shipped to connect to IP environments rather than legacy ISDN networks. Strategically, Polycom is investing much of its research, development, sales and marketing efforts into delivering a superior IP-based collaborative communications solution, using Polycom proprietary technology in the evolving, standards-based IP communications environment.

 

In January 2003, we sold to Verilink Corporation, or Verilink, certain fixed assets and intellectual property rights relating to our network access product line, including our line of NetEngine integrated devices. Our Consolidated Financial Statements reflect our network access product line as discontinued operations in accordance with SFAS 144. The results of operations of our network access product line that was sold to Verilink have been classified as discontinued, and prior periods have been reclassified, including the reallocation of general overhead charges to our three remaining reporting segments. Unless otherwise indicated, the following discussion relates to our continuing operations. See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on our discontinued operations.

 

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On January 5, 2004, we completed our acquisition of Voyant Technologies, Inc., or Voyant, pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 21, 2003. Voyant designs and delivers group voice communication solutions and is a part of our Network Systems and Services segments. Voyant has been included in our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows from January 5, 2004, the date of acquisition.

 

On August 25, 2005, we completed our acquisition of DSTMedia Technology Co., Ltd., or DSTMedia, a privately held video solutions company headquartered in Beijing, China. DSTMedia designs and delivers video network systems solutions, as well as lower cost video IP solutions, and is included in our Communications and Network Systems segments. DSTMedia has been included in our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows from August 25, 2005, the date of acquisition.

 

Our consolidated revenues were $580.7 million in 2005 as compared to $540.3 million in 2004. The increase in revenues primarily reflects increased sales volumes of our voice and video communications products, and to a lesser extent, increases in service revenues. These increases were partially offset by decreased revenues from our network systems products. During 2005, we generated approximately $117.4 million in cash flow from operating activities, which after the impact of other investing and financing activities, resulted in a $92.9 million net increase in our total cash and cash equivalents.

 

Our Communications segment includes videoconferencing collaboration products and voice communications products and accounted for 72% of our revenues in 2005. Our Network Systems segment includes our MGC and ReadiVoice series of media servers, ReadiManager network management product, PathNavigator call processing server, and other network management and scheduling software and accounted for 16% of revenues in 2005. Our Services segment includes a wide range of professional service and support offerings to our resellers and directly to some end-user customers and accounted for 12% of revenues in 2005.

 

Competition that we face in our markets is intense and competition that we face in certain of our international markets is different than that we face in North America and is currently based principally on price. We have noted additional competitors and increased pricing pressures in China, India and other parts of Asia contributing to the flat revenues that we have seen in Asia in the first and second quarters of 2005 and decreased revenues in the third quarter of 2005 as compared to the respective year ago periods. Although we had improved sequential performance in Asia in the fourth quarter of 2005, revenues are lower than the comparable year ago period, and we still see increased competition in this region, particularly in China. If we are unable to compete effectively in these regions in terms of price, technology, product offerings or marketing strategies, our overall financial results may suffer.

 

Sales of some of our products have experienced seasonal fluctuations which have affected sequential growth rates for these products, particularly in our third and first quarters. There is generally a slowdown of sales in the European region in the third quarter of each year and sales to government entities typically slow in our fourth quarter and, to a greater extent, in our first quarter. In addition, sales of our video communications products have typically declined in the first quarter of the year compared to the fourth quarter of the prior year. Seasonal fluctuations could negatively affect our business, which could cause our operating results to fall short of anticipated results for such quarters, as they did in the first quarter of 2005.

 

The discussion of results of operations at the consolidated level is followed by a more detailed discussion of results of operations by segment. The discussion of our segment operating results is presented for the three years ended December 31, 2005, including Voyant’s results of operations from January 5, 2004 and DSTMedia’s results of operations from August 25, 2005.

 

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Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2005

 

The following table sets forth, as a percentage of total revenues (unless indicated otherwise), consolidated statements of operations data for the periods indicated.

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2005

    2004

    2003

 

Revenues

                  

Product revenues

   88 %   90 %   91 %

Service revenues

   12 %   10 %   9 %
    

 

 

Total revenues

   100 %   100 %   100 %

Cost of revenues

                  

Cost of product revenues as % of product revenues

   35 %   33 %   36 %

Cost of service revenues as % of service revenues

   57 %   65 %   72 %
    

 

 

Total cost of revenues

   38 %   37 %   39 %
    

 

 

Gross profit

   62 %   63 %   61 %
    

 

 

Operating expenses

                  

Sales and marketing

   25 %   22 %   24 %

Research and development

   16 %   17 %   18 %

General and administrative

   6 %   7 %   8 %

Acquisition-related costs

   0 %   0 %   0 %

Purchased in-process research and development

   0 %   1 %   0 %

Amortization and impairment of purchased intangibles

   1 %   4 %   4 %

Restructure costs

   0 %   0 %   1 %

Litigation reserves and payments

   0 %   4 %   0 %
    

 

 

Total operating expenses

   48 %   55 %   55 %
    

 

 

Operating income

   14 %   8 %   6 %

Interest income, net

   2 %   1 %   2 %

Gain (loss) on strategic investments

   1 %   0 %   0 %

Other expense, net

   0 %   0 %   (1 )%
    

 

 

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes

   17 %   9 %   7 %

Provision for income taxes

   6 %   2 %   2 %
    

 

 

Income from continuing operations

   11 %   7 %   5 %

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes

   0 %   0 %   0 %

Gain from sale of discontinued operations, net of taxes

   0 %   0 %   0 %
    

 

 

Net income

   11 %   7 %   5 %
    

 

 

 

Revenues

 

Total revenues for 2005 were $580.7 million, an increase of $40.4 million, or 7%, over 2004. The increase was due to increased sales volumes of our voice and video communications products, and to a lesser extent, increases in service revenues. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in network systems revenues. Video communications product revenues increased to $278.5 million for 2005 from $266.9 million in 2004, a 4% increase, primarily due to an increase in sales of our group video products, partially offset by decreases in our desktop video products. Voice communications product revenues increased to $138.8 million for 2005 from $107.7 million in 2004, a 29% increase, primarily as a result of increases in sales of our Voice-over-IP products and, to a lesser extent, increases in sales of our circuit switched products and installed voice products. Revenues from our Network Systems products for 2005 decreased 14% over 2004 from $108.9 million to $94.2 million, due primarily to decreased video network system revenues. Network system revenues were impacted by a

 

40


decrease in video network system volumes, as well as lower average selling prices, particularly on low end products, primarily as a result of increased competition. Services revenues increased to $69.2 million for 2005 from $56.7 million in 2004, primarily due to increased video-related services and video network system services, and to a lesser extent increases in audio network system services.

 

Total revenues for 2004 were $540.3 million, an increase of $119.8 million, or 29%, over 2003. The increase was due to increased network system revenues, which included revenues from the Voyant acquisition in 2004, increased sales volumes of our video and voice communications products, and to a lesser extent, increases in service revenues. Video communications product revenues increased to $266.9 million for 2004 from $237.6 million in 2003, a 12% increase, primarily due to an increase in sales of our group video products, partially offset by decreases in our desktop video products. Voice communications revenues increased to $107.7 million for 2004 from $76.4 million in 2003, a 41% increase, primarily as a result of increases in sales of our circuit switched products and Voice-over-IP products and, to a lesser extent, increases in our installed voice products. Revenues from our Network Systems products for 2004 increased 62% over 2003 from $67.4 million to $108.9 million, due primarily to sales of audio network systems as a result of our Voyant acquisition and to increases in video network system revenues. Services revenues increased to $56.7 million for 2004 from $39.0 million in 2003, primarily due to increased network system services as a result of the Voyant acquisition, which was partially offset by decreases in video-related services.

 

International sales, or revenues outside of Canada and the U.S., accounted for 41%, 42% and 46% of total revenues for 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. On a regional basis, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America accounted for 59%, 21%, 18% and 2%, respectively, of our total 2005 revenues. North America, Europe and Latin America revenues increased 9%, 11% and 29%, respectively, in 2005 over 2004, while Asia Pacific revenues decreased 4%. North America revenues increased as a result of an increase in voice and video communication product revenues, and to a lesser extent, increased service revenues. These increases were partially offset by decreases in network systems revenues. Europe revenues increased as a result of an increase in video and voice communication product revenues, and to a lesser extent, increased service revenues. These increases were partially offset by decreases in network systems revenues. Latin America revenues increased as a result of increased video and voice communication product revenues, and to a lesser extent, increases in network systems and services revenues. Asia Pacific revenues decreased primarily as a result of decreased video communication product revenues and network systems product revenues. These decreases were only partially offset by increases in voice communication product revenues and increased service revenues.

 

On a regional basis, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America accounted for 58%, 20%, 20% and 2%, respectively, of our total 2004 revenues. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America revenues increased 36%, 29%, 10% and 28%, respectively, in 2004 over 2003. North America revenues increased as a result of increased network systems and voice communication product revenues, and to a lesser extent, increased video communication product and services revenues. The increases in network systems and services were due in part to the Voyant acquisition. Europe revenues increased as a result of increased revenues in video and voice communication products, network systems and services revenues. Asia Pacific revenues increased as a result of increased network systems and voice communication product revenues, and to a lesser extent, increases in video communication product revenues and services. Latin America revenues increased primarily as a result of increased video communication revenues, and to a lesser extent, due to increases in voice communication product revenues, network systems and services revenues.

 

No one customer accounted for more than 10% of our total net revenues or our Services segment revenues in 2005, 2004 or 2003. In 2005, one channel partner accounted for 11% of our Communications segment revenues. No one customer accounted for more than 10% of our Communications segment revenues in 2004 or 2003. No one customer accounted for more than 10% of our Network Systems segment revenues in 2005 and 2004. In 2003, our Network Systems segment had two channel partners that, together, represented approximately 21% of Network Systems segment revenues. We believe it is unlikely that the loss of any or all of these channel partners would have a long term material adverse affect on our consolidated net revenues or segment net

 

41


revenues as we believe end-users would likely purchase our products from a different channel partner. However, a loss of any one of these channel partners could have a material adverse impact during the transition period. In 2004, we began selling our audio network systems, a product line obtained through the Voyant acquisition, direct to end users and the revenues in the Network Systems segment from end users are subject to more variability than our revenues from our reseller customers. The loss of one or more of the audio network system customers could have a material impact on our Network Systems segment and consolidated revenues.

 

In 2005, we made changes to our co-op marketing program that we provide to our channel partners that generally resulted in co-op funds being treated as a marketing expense rather than as a revenue reduction as it was previously. This change affected how our partners utilize and claim credit for eligible marketing activities and was intended to better leverage our collective marketing efforts. As a result of this change, revenues, gross profit and marketing expenses all increased in 2005 by the amount of co-op marketing dollars that would have previously been a reduction of revenues. This change had no effect on our net income or cash flows. In 2004 and 2003, we recorded approximately $10.2 million and $9.0 million, respectively, for co-op marketing programs as a reduction of revenues, which had the co-op marketing program changes been in effect for those years, revenues, gross profit and marketing expenses would have increased by approximately that amount.

 

We typically ship products within a short time after we receive an order, and, therefore backlog has not been a good indicator of future revenues. As of December 31, 2005, we had $38.1 million of order backlog as compared to $20.1 million at December 31, 2004. We include in backlog open product orders which we expect to ship or services which we expect to bill and record revenue for in the following quarter. Once billed, unrecorded service revenue is included in deferred revenue. We ended 2005 with a more significant amount of order backlog than our historical experience, primarily as a result of the level and timing of orders received and customer delivery dates requested outside of the quarter. We believe that the current level of backlog will continue to fluctuate and is dependent in part on our ability to forecast revenue mix and plan our manufacturing accordingly, deferred revenue associated with our VSX products, and ongoing service deferrals as service revenues increase as a percent of total revenue. In addition, orders from our channel partners are based on the level of demand from end-user customers. Any decline or uncertainty in end-user demand could negatively impact end-user orders, which in turn could negatively affect orders from our channel partners in any given quarter. As a result, our backlog could decline from current levels.

 

Cost of Revenues and Gross Margins

 

     Year Ended December 31,

    Increase
(Decrease) From
Prior Year


 

$ in thousands


   2005

    2004

    2003

    2005

    2004

 

Product Cost of Revenues

   $ 179,837     $ 161,619     $ 137,685     11 %   17 %

% of Product Revenues

     35 %     33 %     36 %   2 pts   (3 )pts

Product Gross Margins

     65 %     67 %     64 %   (2 )pts   3 pts

Service Cost of Revenues

   $ 39,680     $ 37,092     $ 27,892     7 %   33 %

% of Service Revenues

     57 %     65 %     72 %   (8 )pts   (7 )pts

Service Gross Margins

     43 %     35 %     28 %   8 pts   7 pts

Total Cost of Revenues

   $ 219,517     $ 198,711     $ 165,577     10 %   20 %

% of Total Revenues

     38 %     37 %     39 %   1 pt   (2 )pts

Total Gross Margin

     62 %     63 %     61 %   (1 )pt   2 pts

 

Cost of Product Revenues and Product Gross Margins

 

Cost of product revenues consists primarily of contract manufacturer costs, including material and direct labor, our manufacturing organization, tooling depreciation, warranty expense, freight expense, royalty payments and an allocation of overhead expenses, including facilities and IT costs. Generally, Network Systems segment products have a higher gross margin than our Communications segment products.

 

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Overall, product gross margins decreased by 2 percentage point in 2005 as compared to 2004 primarily as a result of decreased margins in our Network Systems segment. Network system margins were impacted by a decrease in video network system volumes, as well as lower average selling prices, particularly on low end products, primarily as a result of increased competition. Gross margins in our Communications segment were essentially flat year over year.

 

Additionally, in 2005, we made a change to our co-op marketing program that we provide to our channel partners that resulted in co-op funds being treated as a marketing expense rather than a revenue reduction as it was previously. As a result of this change, revenues, gross profit and marketing expenses all increased in 2005 by the amount of co-op marketing dollars that would have previously been a reduction of revenues. This change had no effect on our net income or cash flows. In 2004 and 2003, we recorded approximately $10.2 million and $9.0 million, respectively, for co-op marketing programs as a reduction of revenues, which had the co-op marketing program changes been in effect for those years, revenues, gross profit and marketing expenses would have increased by approximately that amount.

 

Overall, product gross margins increased by 3 percentage points in 2004 as compared to 2003 as a result of more favorable margins in our Communications and Network Systems segments. Video and voice communications product margins were favorably impacted due to increased volumes and improved product mix. Network system margins were favorably impacted by an increase in video system volumes and video system upgrades, which were partially offset by a mix shift to lower margin systems and lower gross margins on audio network products.

 

Cost of Service Revenues and Service Gross Margins

 

Cost of service revenues consists primarily of material and direct labor, depreciation, and an allocation of overhead expenses, including facilities and IT costs. Generally, services have a lower gross margin than our product gross margins.

 

Overall, service gross margins increased in 2005 as compared to 2004 as a result of revenues increasing at a faster pace than related service costs and higher margins on audio network systems services. Service gross margins were also favorably impacted by the amortization of deferred revenue associated with the first year of service on our VSX and V500 products that was included in the product price and amortized over the twelve months following shipment.

 

Overall, service gross margins increased in 2004 as compared to 2003 as a result of revenues increasing at a faster pace than related service costs and higher margins on audio network systems services as a result of the Voyant acquisition. Service gross margins were also favorably impacted by the amortization of deferred revenue associated with the first year of service on our VSX and V500 products that was included in the product price and amortized over the twelve months following shipment.

 

Forecasting future gross margin percentages is difficult, and there are a number of risks associated with maintaining our current gross margin levels. Uncertainties surrounding revenue levels and related production level variances, competition, changes in technology, changes in product mix, litigation outcomes and the potential of resulting royalties to third parties, manufacturing efficiencies of subcontractors, manufacturing and purchased part variances, warranty and recall costs and timing of sales over the next few quarters can cause our cost of revenues percentage to vary significantly. In addition, with the improvement in the economy, we may experience higher prices on commodity components that are included in our products, such as the cost increases for memory devices used in many of our products we experienced in 2004. Further, in late 2003 we began including one year of service with some of our video products which has lowered our gross margins for those products as a result of allocating a portion of our product revenue to deferred service revenue. However, service gross margins are favorably impacted when the deferred revenue is recorded as revenue. In addition, most, if not all of our future products may also have one year of service included with the product, thereby potentially impacting product gross margins negatively, depending on the pricing model we establish for those products.

 

43


In addition, cost variances associated with the manufacturing ramp of new products, or the write-off of initial inventory purchases due to product launch delays or the lack of market acceptance of our new products could occur, which would increase our cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues. In addition to the uncertainties listed above, cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues may increase due to a change in our mix of distribution channels and the mix of international versus North American revenues. Cost of revenues will also increase in 2006 as a result of increased compensation charges due to recording stock compensation expense beginning in the first quarter of 2006, as well as, annual merit increases and incentive accruals.

 

Sales and Marketing Expenses

 

     Year Ended December 31,

    Increase (Decrease)
From Prior Year


 

$ in thousands


   2005

    2004

    2003

    2005

    2004

 

Expenses

   $ 142,719     $ 120,699     $ 101,884     18 %   18 %

% of Total Revenues

     25 %     22 %     24 %   3 pts   (2 )pts

 

Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of salaries and commissions for our sales force, advertising and promotional expenses, product marketing, and an allocation of overhead expenses, including facilities and IT costs. Additionally, in January 2005, we made a change to our co-op marketing program that we provide to our channel partners that resulted in the co-op marketing funds generally being treated as a marketing expense rather than as a revenue reduction as it was previously. Sales and marketing expenses, except for direct marketing expenses, are not allocated to our segments.

 

The increase in sales and marketing expense as a percentage of revenues in 2005 as compared to 2004 is primarily due to a change to our co-op marketing program that we provide to our channel partners that resulted in co-op funds being treated as a marketing expense rather than a revenue reduction as it was in prior years. For 2004, we recorded approximately $10.2 million for co-op marketing programs as a reduction of revenues, which had the co-op marketing program changes been in effect for 2004, marketing expenses would have increased by approximately that amount. Excluding the effect of the co-op marketing change, sales and marketing expense as a percentage of revenue increased by 1% for 2005 as compared to 2004. The increase in absolute dollars in 2005 as compared to 2004 was due primarily to an increase in our sales headcount due to overall expansion of our sales effort, increased trade show and marketing event activities and the change to our co-op marketing program discussed above. This was partially offset by reduced spending on outside marketing services due to our consolidating these services to fewer vendors.

 

The decrease in sales and marketing expense as a percentage of revenues in 2004 as compared to 2003 is due to the increase in revenues over the year ago period. The increase in absolute dollars in 2004 over 2003 was due primarily to increased sales commissions, as a result of improved sales performance against quota, and to a lesser extent due to an increase in our sales and marketing headcount from the Voyant acquisition in January 2004. Additionally, marketing expenses were higher due to increased product launch and trade show activity during 2004.

 

We believe we will incur increased expenses, especially advertising, to expand the overall market for, drive market penetration of, and increase the adoption rate of our technology and products and to educate potential end-users as to the desirability of these products over competing products. We expect to continue to increase our sales and marketing expenses in absolute dollar amounts as we expand North American and international markets and increase our sales coverage in existing markets, market new products and expand the public sector. In addition, sales and marketing expenses will increase in 2006 as a result of increased compensation charges due to recording stock compensation expense beginning in the first quarter of 2006, as well as, annual merit increases and incentive accruals.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

     Year Ended December 31,

    Increase (Decrease)
From Prior Year


 

$ in thousands


   2005

    2004

    2003

    2005

    2004

 

Expenses

   $ 91,479     $ 92,076     $ 72,638     (1 )%   27 %

% of Total Revenues

     16 %     17 %     18 %   (1 )pt   (1 )pt

 

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Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred and consist primarily of compensation costs, outside services, expensed materials, depreciation and an allocation of overhead expenses, including facilities and IT costs.

 

Research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues for 2005 decreased slightly compared to 2004, primarily due to increasing revenues. Research and development expenses decreased in absolute dollars by 1% from $92.1 million in 2004 to $91.5 million in 2005. The decrease in absolute research and development expense dollars was primarily due to decreased headcount-related expenses and development spending in our Network Systems segment, which was partially offset by increases in research and development expenses in the Communications segment in 2005 as compared to 2004.

 

Research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues for 2004 decreased slightly compared to 2003, primarily due to increasing revenues. The increase in absolute research and development expense dollars to $92.1 million in 2004 as compared to $72.6 million in 2003, an increase of 27%, was primarily due to increased headcount, headcount-related expenses and development spending, which was partially a result of the Voyant acquisition in January 2004. Increases in research and development expenses occurred for the Network Systems segment and, also to a lesser extent, for the Communications segment in 2004 as compared to 2003.

 

We are currently investing research and development resources to enhance and upgrade the products that comprise our unified collaboration communications solutions, which encompasses products and services in all our segments. We anticipate committing a greater proportion of our research and development expenses toward the development of our software and infrastructure products, which are included in the Network Systems segment, to enhance the integration and interoperability of our entire product suite.

 

We believe that technological leadership is critical to our success and we are committed to continuing a high level of research and development to develop new technologies and to combat competitive pressures. Also, continued investment in new product initiatives will require significant research and development spending. We expect that research and development expenses in absolute dollars will increase in the future. In addition, research and development expenses will increase in 2006 as a result of increased compensation charges due to recording stock compensation expense beginning in the first quarter of 2006, as well as, annual merit increases and incentive accruals.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

     Year Ended December 31,

    Increase (Decrease)
From Prior Year


 

$ in thousands


   2005

    2004

    2003

    2005

    2004

 

Expenses

   $ 35,631     $ 36,942     $ 31,334     (4 )%   18 %

% of Total Revenues

     6 %     7 %     8 %   (1 )pt   (1 )pt

 

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation costs, professional service fees, allocation of overhead expenses, including facilities and IT costs, patent litigation costs, and bad debt expense. General and administrative expenses are not allocated to our segments.

 

As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased by 1 percentage point in 2005, as compared to 2004, due to the decrease in absolute dollars as well as the increase in revenues from the prior year. The decrease in spending in absolute dollars in general and administrative expenses in 2005 as compared to 2004 was primarily the result of decreased legal fees associated with litigation, partially offset by increased infrastructure costs. In 2005, the decrease in legal fees accounted for $3.1 million of the decrease, which was partially offset by increases in infrastructure costs of $1.3 million. The remaining changes are related to numerous smaller items.

 

As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased by 1 percentage point in 2004, as compared to 2003, due to the increase in revenues from the prior year. The increase in spending in absolute dollars in general and administrative expenses in 2004 as compared to 2003 was primarily the result of increased legal fees

 

45


associated with litigation, especially the CPI litigation, annual salary increases and accrued bonuses, increased infrastructure costs and outside services, including increased audit fees associated with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, partially offset by a decrease in bad debt expense as a result of improvements in our accounts receivable aging. In 2004, the increase in salary and related costs accounted for $2.1 million of the increase, the increase in legal fees accounted for $1.6 million of the increase, the increase in outside services accounted for $2.2 million of the increase and infrastructure costs accounted for $0.4 million of the increase. These increases were partially offset by decreases of $0.7 million in bad debt expense. The remaining changes are related to numerous smaller items. The acquisition of Voyant did not add significantly to our general and administrative expense.

 

Significant charges due to costs associated with litigation, including our ongoing litigation against Codian, or uncollectability of our receivables would increase our general and administrative expenses and negatively affect our profitability in the quarter they are recorded. Additionally, predicting the timing of bad debt expense associated with uncollectible receivables is difficult. Future general and administrative expense increases or decreases in absolute dollars are difficult to predict due to visibility of costs, including legal costs associated with defending claims against us as well as legal costs associated with asserting and enforcing our intellectual property portfolio and other factors. We believe that our general and administrative expenses will likely continue to increase in absolute dollar amounts in the future primarily as a result of expansion of our administrative staff and other costs related to supporting a larger company, increased costs associated with regulatory requirements and our continued investments in international regions. In addition, general and administrative expenses will increase in 2006 as a result of increased compensation charges due to recording stock compensation expense beginning in the first quarter of 2006, as well as, annual merit increases and incentive accruals.

 

Acquisition-related Costs

 

We recorded charges to operations of $0.4 million in 2005, $1.4 million in 2004 and $0.4 million in 2003 for acquisition-related costs. These charges primarily include outside financial advisory, accounting, legal and consulting fees and other direct merger-related expenses. The charges in 2005 primarily related to professional services costs to integrate DSTMedia, which we acquired in August 2005. The charges in 2004 primarily related to professional services costs to integrate Voyant after the acquisition in January 2004, and to a lesser extent, additional professional service fees related to the ongoing liquidation of international PictureTel legal entities. The charges in 2003 primarily related to professional services costs to integrate and liquidate the international PictureTel and Accord legal entities and to begin the integration of our acquisition of Voyant which closed in January 2004. If we acquire additional businesses in the future, we may incur material acquisition expenses related to these transactions.

 

Purchased In-process Research and Development

 

In 2005 and 2004, we incurred charges totaling $0.3 million and $4.6 million, respectively, for purchased in-process research and development. We did not incur any such charges in 2003. This research and development was acquired in 2005 as part of the DSTMedia acquisition and in 2004 as part of the Voyant acquisition, and was primarily related to development projects for the ReadiVoice series InnoVox 4000 media servers which was completed and commenced shipping in 2005. See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The amounts allocated to purchased in-process research and development were determined by management after considering, among other factors, the results of an independent appraisal based on established valuation techniques in the high-technology communications industry, and were expensed upon acquisition because technological feasibility had not been established and no future alternative uses existed for these in-process research and development projects. The income approach, which includes an analysis of the markets, cash flows and risks associated with achieving such cash flows, was the primary technique utilized in valuing the developed technology and in-process research and development for DSTMedia and Voyant. The estimated net free cash flows generated by the in-process research and development projects were discounted at rates ranging from 22% for DSTMedia and 35% to 40% for Voyant in relation to the stage of completion and the technical risks associated with achieving technology feasibility. At December 31, 2005, all significant in process research and development projects had been completed.

 

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Amortization and Impairment of Purchased Intangibles

 

In 2005, 2004 and 2003, we recorded $8.8 million, $20.5 million and $17.6 million, respectively, for amortization and impairment of purchased intangibles acquired in our acquisitions. Purchased intangible assets are being amortized to expense over their estimated useful lives, which range from several months to eight years. In 2005, $1.9 million of the $8.8 million expense related to the impairment of certain intangibles we acquired in the Voyant acquisition. There were no impairment charges in 2004 or 2003. The decrease in absolute dollars in 2005 as compared to 2004 was primarily due to the purchased intangibles related to the PictureTel, Circa and APSI acquisitions becoming fully amortized at December 31, 2004. The increase in absolute dollars in 2004 as compared to 2003 was primarily related to the Voyant acquisition and the resulting $32.2 million recorded for purchased intangibles, which accounted for $6.7 million of the $20.5 million expensed in 2004. Partially offsetting this increase related to Voyant were PictureTel intangibles which became fully amortized during the fourth quarter of 2004.

 

During the fourth quarters of 2005 and 2004, we completed our annual impairment test of purchased intangibles. The assessment of purchased intangibles impairment was conducted by comparing the fair value of the purchased intangible with its carrying amount as of that date. Based on the results of the 2005 impairment test, we determined that certain purchased intangible assets acquired as part of the Voyant acquisition had been impaired as of December 31, 2005 and we r