UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

Quarterly Report Pursuant To Section 13 Or 15(d) Of The

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 20192020

 

Commission file number 000-21129

 

AWARE, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Massachusetts04-2911026
(State or Other Jurisdiction of(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization) 

 

40 Middlesex Turnpike, Bedford, Massachusetts, 01730

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

 

(781) 276-4000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each ClassTrading SymbolName of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per shareAWREThe Nasdaq Global Market

 

Indicate by check 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.

YESx NO¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). YESx NO¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer," “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.:

 

Large Accelerated Filer¨Accelerated Filerx¨
Non-Accelerated Filer¨xSmaller Reporting Companyx
Emerging Growth Company¨ 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  YES¨   NOx

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of April 29, 201927, 2020 was21,551,445.

21,521,886.

 

 

 

 

 

AWARE, INC.

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 20192020

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 Page
PART IFINANCIAL INFORMATION 
   
Item 1.Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements 
  
 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 20192020 and December 31, 201820193
  
 Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 20192020 and March 31, 201820194
   
 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 20192020 and March 31, 201820195
  
 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 20192020 and March 31, 201820196
   
 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements7
   
Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations16
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk2117
   
Item 4.Controls and Procedures2122
   
PART IIOTHER INFORMATION 
   
Item 1.Legal Proceedings2223
   
Item 1A.Risk Factors22
Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds22
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures2223
   
Item 6.Exhibits2324
   
 Signatures2324

 

 2 

 

 

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1: CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AWARE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

 

 March 31,
2019
  December 31,
2018
  

March 31,

2020

  

December 31,

2019

 
ASSETS                
Current assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents $50,414  $51,612  $46,857  $47,742 
Accounts receivable, net  1,911   2,010   

1,939

   

2,487

 
Unbilled receivables  3,918   3,279   3,225   3,315 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  508   284   340   256 
Total current assets  56,751   57,185   52,361   53,800 
                
Property and equipment, net  3,995   4,085   3,909   3,755 
Deferred tax assets  5,180   5,171 
Long-term tax receivable  146   - 
Total assets $65,926  $66,441  $56,416  $57,555 
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable $173  $126  $215  $187 
Accrued expenses  1,225   1,319   1,176   1,096 
Deferred revenue  2,451   3,024   2,573   2,777 
Total current liabilities  3,849   4,469   3,964   4,060 
                
Long-term deferred revenue  65   75   44   60 
                
Commitments and contingent liabilities                
                
Stockholders’ equity:                
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding  -   -   -   - 
Common stock, $.01 par value; 70,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 21,551,445 as of March, 31, 2019 and 21,515,872 as of December 31, 2018  216   215 
Common stock, $.01 par value; 70,000,000 shares authorized; issued
and outstanding 21,521,886 as of March 31, 2020 and 21,442,781
as of December 31, 2019
  215   214 
Additional paid-in capital  96,262   96,376   96,287   96,255 
Accumulated deficit  (34,466)  (34,694)  (44,094)  (43,034)
Total stockholders’ equity  62,012   61,897   52,408   53,435 
                
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $65,926  $66,441  $56,416  $57,555 

 

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

 

 3 

 


AWARE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

 Three Months Ended
March 31,
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 2019  2018  2020  2019 
Revenue:                
Software licenses $1,537  $1,473  $1,969  $1,537 
Software maintenance  1,355   1,294   1,362   1,355 
Services  840   144   187   840 
Total revenue  3,732   2,911   3,518   3,732 
                
Costs and expenses:                
Cost of services  518   50   170   518 
Research and development  1,760   1,875   2,272   1,760 
Selling and marketing  826   924   1,285   826 
General and administrative  721   785   1,138   721 
Total costs and expenses  3,825   3,634   4,865   3,825 
        
Patent related income  49   -   -   49 
                
Operating loss  (44)  (723)  (1,347)  (44)
Interest income  275   162   148   275 
Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes  231   (561)  (1,199)  231 
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes  3   (66)  (139)  3 
Net income (loss) $228  $(495) $(1,060) $228 
                
Net income (loss) per share – basic $0.01  $(0.02) $(0.05) $0.01 
Net income (loss) per share – diluted $0.01  $(0.02) $(0.05) $0.01 
                
Weighted-average shares – basic  21,565   21,547   21,522   21,565 
Weighted-average shares - diluted  21,582   21,573   21,522   21,582 

  

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

 

 4 

 

 

AWARE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

  Three Months Ended 
  March 31, 
  2019  2018 
Cash flows from operating activities:        
Net income (loss) $228  $(495)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:        
Depreciation and amortization  110   122 
Stock-based compensation  14   24 
Changes in assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  99   124 
Unbilled receivables  (639)  196 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  (224)  (108)
Deferred tax assets  (9)  (92)
Accounts payable  47   68 
Accrued expenses  (105)  (120)
Accrued income taxes  11   14 
Deferred revenue  (583)  (536)
Net cash used in operating activities  (1,051)  (803)
         
Cash flows from investing activities:        
Purchases of property and equipment  (20)  (96)
Net cash used in investing activities  (20)  (96)
         
Cash flows from financing activities:        
Payments made for taxes of employees who surrendered shares related to unrestricted stock  (49)  (61)
Repurchase of common stock  (78)  - 
Net cash used in financing activities  (127)  (61)
         
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents  (1,198)  (960)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period  51,612   51,608 
         
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $50,414  $50,648 
         
Supplemental disclosure:        
Cash paid for income taxes $-  $8 

  Three Months Ended 
  March 31, 
  2020  2019 
Cash flows from operating activities:        
Net income (loss) $(1,060) $228 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
used in operating activities:
        
Depreciation and amortization  132   110 
Stock-based compensation  83   14 
Deferred tax assets  -   (9)
Changes in assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  548   99 
Unbilled receivables  90   (639)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  (84)  (224)
Long-term tax receivable  (146)  - 
Accounts payable  28   47 
Accrued expenses  80   (105)
Accrued income taxes  -   11 
Deferred revenue  (220)  (583)
Net cash used in operating activities  (549)  (1,051)
         
Cash flows from investing activities:        
Purchases of property and equipment  (286)  (20)
Net cash used in investing activities  (286)  (20)
         
Cash flows from financing activities:        
Payments made for taxes of employees who surrendered        
shares related to unrestricted stock  (50)  (49)
Repurchase of common stock  -   (78)
Net cash used in financing activities  (50)  (127)
         
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents  (885)  (1,198)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period  47,742   51,612 
         
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $46,857  $50,414 
         
Supplemental disclosure:        
Cash paid for income taxes $1  $- 

  

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

 

 5 

 

 

AWARE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2020

  Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2019 
     Additional     Total 
  Common Stock  Paid-In  (Accumulated  Stockholders’ 
  Shares  Amount  Capital  Deficit)  Equity 
                
Balance at December 31, 2018  21,516  $215  $96,376  ($34,694) $61,897 
                     
Issuance of unrestricted stock  69   1   (1)  -   - 
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes related to unrestricted stock  (14)  -   (49)  -   (49)
Stock-based compensation expense  -   -   14   -   14 
Repurchase of common stock  (20)  -   (78)  -   (78)
Net income  -   -   -   228   228 
                     
Balance at March 31, 2019  21,551  $216  $96,262  $(34,466) $62,012 

 

  Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2018 
  Common Stock  Additional
Paid-In
  (Accumulated  Stockholders’ 
  Shares  Amount  Capital  Deficit)  Equity 
                
Balance at December 31, 2017  21,493   215   96,246   (35,927)  60,534 
                     
Issuance of unrestricted stock  67   -   -   -   - 
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes related to unrestricted stock  (13)  -   (61)  -   (61)
Stock-based compensation expense  -   -   24   -   24 
Net income  -   -   -   (496)  (496)
                     
Balance at March 31, 2018  21,547  $215  $96,209  $(36,423) $60,001 
     Additional     Total 
  Common Stock  Paid-In  (Accumulated  Stockholders’ 
  Shares  Amount  Capital  Deficit)  Equity 
                
Balance at December 31, 2019  21,443  $214  $96,255  ($43,034) $53,435 
       ��             
   Issuance of unrestricted stock  94   1   (1)  -   - 
Shares surrendered by employees to
pay taxes related to unrestricted stock
  (15)  -   (50)  -   (50)
   Stock-based compensation expense  -   -   83   -   83 
   Net loss  -   -   -   (1,060)  (1,060)
                     
Balance at March 31, 2020  21,522  $215  $96,287  ($44,094) $52,408 

Three Month Period Ended March 31, 2019

     Additional     Total 
  Common Stock  Paid-In  (Accumulated  Stockholders’ 
  Shares  Amount  Capital  Deficit)  Equity 
                
Balance at December 31, 2018  21,516  $215  $96,376  ($34,694) $61,897 
                     
   Issuance of unrestricted stock  69   1   (1)  -   - 
Shares surrendered by employees to
pay taxes related to unrestricted stock
  (14)  -   (49)  -   (49)
   Stock-based compensation expense  -   -   14   -   14 
   Repurchase of common stock  (20)  -   (78)  -   (78)
   Net income  -   -   -   228   228 
                     
Balance at March 31, 2019  21,551  $216  $96,262  ($34,466) $62,012 

 

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

 

 6 

 

 

AWARE, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

A)Nature of Business. We are a leading provider of software and services to the biometrics industry. Our software products are used in government and commercial biometrics systems, which are capable of determining or verifying an individual’s identity. We also offer engineering services related to software customization, integration, and installation, as well as complete systems development. We sell our biometrics software products and services globally through systems integrators, OEMs, and directly to end user customers. We also derive a portion of our revenue from the sale of imaging software.

 

B)Basis of Presentation. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q and therefore do not include all information and notes necessary for a complete presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. We filed audited financial statements which included all information and notes necessary for such presentation for the two years ended December 31, 20182019 in conjunction with our 20182019 Annual Report on Form 10-K. This Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with that Form 10-K.

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of cash flows, and statements of stockholders’ equity reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of financial position at March 31, 2019,2020, and of operations and cash flows for the interim periods ended March 31, 20192020 and 2018.2019.

 

The results of operations for the interim period ended March 31, 20192020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year.

 

C)Revenue Recognition. Effective January 1, 2018,In accordance with ASC 606, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods and services. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration to which we adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), Topicexpect to be entitled to receive in exchange for these goods and services. In addition, ASC 606 Revenuerequires disclosures of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from Contractscontracts with Customers (“ASC 606”), using the full retrospective transition method.customers.

In accordance with ASC 606, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods and services. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled to receive in exchange for these goods and services. In addition, ASC 606 requires disclosures of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

 

The core principle of the standard is that we recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, we apply the following five step model:

 

1.Identify the contract with the customer;
2.Identify the performance obligations in the contract;
3.Determine the transaction price;
4.Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and
5.Recognize revenue when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied.

 

1) Identify the contract with the customer

 

A contract with a customer exists when (i) we enter into an enforceable contract with a customer that defines each party’s rights regarding the goods or services to be transferred and identifies the related payment terms, (ii) the contract has commercial substance, and (iii) we determine that collection of substantially all consideration for goods and services that are transferred is probable based on the customer’s intent and ability to pay the promised consideration. We apply judgment in determining the customer’s intent and ability to pay, which is based on a variety of factors including the customer’s historical payment experience, or in the case of a new customer, published credit and financial information pertaining to the customer.

 

 7 

 

 

We evaluate contract modifications for the impact on revenue recognition if they have been approved by both parties such that the enforceable rights and obligations under the contract have changed. Contract modifications are either accounted for using a cumulative effect adjustment or prospectively over the remaining term of the arrangement. The determination of which method is more appropriate depends on the nature of the modification, which we evaluate on a case-by-case basis.

 

We combine two or more contracts entered into at or near the same time with the same customer and account for them as a single contract if (i) the contracts are negotiated as a package with a common commercial objective, (ii) the amount of consideration to be paid in one contract depends on the price or performance of the other contract, or (iii) some or all of the goods or services in one contract would be combined with some or all of the goods and services in the other contract into a single performance obligation. If two or more contracts are combined, the consideration to be paid is aggregated and allocated to the individual performance obligations without regard to the consideration specified in the individual contracts.

 

2) Identify the performance obligations in the contract

 

Performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the goods and services that will be transferred to the customer that are both capable of being distinct, whereby the customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other available resources, and are distinct in the context of the contract, whereby the transfer of the good or service is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. To the extent a contract includes multiple promised goods and services, we apply judgment to determine whether promised goods and services are capable of being distinct and distinct in the context of the contract. If these criteria are not met, the promised goods and services are accounted for as a combined performance obligation. To identify performance obligations, we consider all of the goods or services promised in a contract regardless of whether they are explicitly stated or are implied by customary business practices.

 

3) Determine the transaction price

 

The transaction price is determined based on the consideration we expect to be entitled in exchange for transferring promised goods and services to the customer. Determining the transaction price requires significant judgment. To the extent the transaction price includes variable consideration, we estimate the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing either the expected value method or the most likely amount method depending on the nature of the variable consideration. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price if, in our judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue recognized under the contract will not occur. Any estimates, including the effect of the constraint on variable consideration, are evaluated at each reporting period. The amount of consideration is not adjusted for a significant financing component if the time between payment and the transfer of the related good or service is expected to be one year or less under the practical expedient in ASC 606-10-32-18. Our revenue arrangements are typically accounted for under such expedient, as payment is typically due within 30 to 60 days. As of March 31, 20192020 and 2018,2019, none of our contracts contained a significant financing component.

 

4) Allocate the transaction price to performance obligations in the contract

 

If the contract contains a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. Contracts that contain multiple performance obligations require an allocation of the transaction price to each performance obligation based on a relative standalone selling price (“SSP”) basis unless the transaction price is variable and meets the criteria to be allocated entirely to a performance obligation or to a distinct service that forms part of a single performance obligation. The consideration to be received is allocated among the separate performance obligations based on relative SSPs. The SSP is the price at which we would sell a promised good or service separately to a customer. The best estimate of SSP is the observable price of a good or service when we sell that good or service separately. A contractually stated price or a list price for a good or service may be the SSP of that good or service. We use a range of amounts to estimate SSP when we sell each of the goods and services separately and need to determine whether there is a discount that needs to be allocated based on the relative SSP of the various goods and services. In instances where SSP is not directly observable, such as when we do not sell the product or service separately, we typically determine the SSP using an adjusted market assessment approach using information that may include market conditions and other observable inputs. We typically have more than one SSP for individual goods and services due to the stratification of those goods and services by customers and circumstances. In these instances, we may use information such as the nature of the customer and distribution channel in determining the SSP.

 

 8 

 

 

5) Recognize revenue when or as we satisfy a performance obligation

 

We satisfy performance obligations either over time or at a point in time as discussed in further detail below. Revenue is recognized over time if 1) the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by our performance, 2) our performance creates or enhances an asset that the customer controls as the asset is created or enhanced, or 3) our performance does not create an asset with an alternative use to us and we have an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date. If we do not satisfy a performance obligation over time, the related performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time by transferring the control of a promised good or service to a customer.

 

We categorize revenue as software licenses, software maintenance, or services. In addition to the general revenue recognition policies described above, specific revenue recognition policies apply to each category of revenue.

 

Software licenses

 

Software licenses consist of revenue from the sale of software licenses for biometrics and imaging applications. Our software licenses are functional intellectual property and typically provide customers with the right to use our software under a perpetual license or subscription based model for either a fixed term or in perpetuity as it exists when made available to the customer. We recognize revenue from software licenses at a point in time upon delivery, provided all other revenue recognition criteria are met.

 

Software maintenance

 

Software maintenance consists of revenue from the sale of software maintenance contracts for biometrics and imaging software. Software maintenance contracts entitle customers to receive software support and software updates, if and when they become available, during the term of the maintenance contract. Software support and software updates are considered distinct services. However, these distinct services are considered a single performance obligation consisting of a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer to the customer. We recognize software maintenance revenue over time on a straight-line basis over the contract period.

 

Services

 

Service revenue consists of fees from biometrics customers for software engineering services we provide to them. We recognize services revenue over time as the services are delivered using an input method (i.e., labor hours incurred as a percentage of total labor hours budgeted), provided all other revenue recognition criteria are met.

 

Refer to Note G – Business Segments for further information on the disaggregation of revenue, including revenue by geography and category.

 

Arrangements with multiple performance obligations

 

In addition to selling software licenses, software maintenance and software services on a standalone basis, a significant portion of our contracts include multiple performance obligations. The various combinations of multiple performance obligations and our revenue recognition for each are described as follows:

 

9

Software licenses and software maintenance. When software licenses and software maintenance contracts are sold together, the software licenses and software maintenance are generally considered distinct performance obligations. The transaction price is allocated to the software licenses and the software maintenance based on relative SSP. Revenue allocated to the software licenses is recognized at a point in time upon delivery, provided all other revenue recognition criteria are met. Revenue allocated to the software maintenance is recognized over time on a straight-line basis over the contract period.

9

 

Software licenses and services. When software licenses and significant customization engineering services are sold together, they are accounted for as a combined performance obligation, as the software licenses are generally highly dependent on, and interrelated with, the associated services and therefore are not distinct performance obligations. Revenue for the combined performance obligation is recognized over time as the services are delivered using an input method (i.e., labor hours incurred as a percentage of total labor hours budgeted). When software licenses and standard implementation or consulting-type services are sold together, they are generally considered distinct performance obligations as the software licenses are not dependent on or interrelated with the associated services. The transaction price in these arrangements is allocated to the software licenses and services based on relative SSP. Revenue allocated to the software licenses is recognized at a point in time upon delivery, provided all other revenue recognition criteria are met. Revenue allocated to the services is recognized over time using an input method (i.e., labor hours incurred as a percentage of total labor hours budgeted). In arrangements with both software licenses and services, the software license portion of the arrangement is classified as software license revenue and the services portion is classified as services revenue in our consolidated statements of operations.

 

Software licenses, software maintenance and services. When we sell software licenses, software maintenance and software services together, we account for the individual performance obligations separately if they are distinct. The transaction price is allocated to the separate performance obligations based on relative SSP. Revenue allocated to the software licenses is recognized at a point in time upon delivery. Revenue allocated to the services is recognized over time using an input method (i.e., labor hours incurred as a percentage of total labor hours budgeted). Revenue for the software maintenance is recognized over time on a straight-line basis over the contract period. However, if the software services are significant customization engineering services, they are accounted for with the software licenses as a combined performance obligation, as stated above. Revenue for the combined performance obligation is recognized over time using an input method (i.e., labor hours incurred as a percentage of total labor hours budgeted).

 

Returns

 

We do not offer rights of return for our products and services in the normal course of business.

 

Customer Acceptance

 

Our contracts with customers generally do not include customer acceptance clauses.

 

Contract Balances

 

When the timing of our delivery of goods or services is different from the timing of payments made by customers, we recognize either a contract asset (performance precedes contractual due date) or a contract liability (customer payment precedes performance). Customers that prepay are represented by the deferred revenue below until the performance obligation is satisfied. Contract assets represent arrangements in which the good or service has been delivered but payment is not yet due. Our contract assets consist of unbilled receivables. Our contract liabilities consisted of deferred (unearned) revenue, which is generally related to software maintenance contracts. We classify deferred revenue as current or noncurrent based on the timing of when we expect to recognize revenue.

 

 10 

 

 

The following table presents changes in our contract assets and liabilities during the three months ended March 31, 20182019 and 20192020 (in thousands):

 

    Revenue      
 Balance at Recognized      
 Beginning of In Advance of     Balance at End of 
 Period Billings Billings Period 
Three months ended March 31, 2018                
Contract assets:                
Unbilled receivables $1,429  $33  $(229) $1,233 
                 Balance at Beginning of Period  Revenue Recognized
In Advance of Billings
  Billings  Balance at End of Period 
Three months ended March 31, 2019                                
Contract assets:                     ��          
Unbilled receivables $3,279  $1,059  $(420) $3,918  $3,279  $1,059  $(420) $3,918 
                
Three months ended March 31, 2020                
Contract assets:                
Unbilled receivables $3,315  $183  $(273) $3,225 

 

  Balance at          
  Beginning of     Revenue  Balance at End of 
  Period  Billings  Recognized  Period 
Three months ended March 31, 2018                
Contract liabilities:                
Deferred revenue $2,932  $758  $(1,294) $2,396 
                 
Three months ended March 31, 2019                
Contract liabilities:                
Deferred revenue $3,099  $772  $(1,355) $2,516 

  Balance at Beginning of Period  Billings  Revenue
Recognized
  Balance at End of Period 
Three months ended March 31, 2019                
Contract liabilities:                
   Deferred revenue $3,099  $772  $(1,355) $2,516 
                 
Three months ended March 31, 2020                
Contract liabilities:                
   Deferred revenue $2,837  $1,148  $(1,368) $2,617 

 

Remaining Performance Obligations

 

Remaining performance obligations represent the transaction price from contracts for which work has not been performed or goods and services have not been delivered. We expect to recognize revenue on approximately 97%66% of the remaining performance obligations over the next 12 months, with the remainder recognized thereafter. As of March 31, 2019 and 2018,2020 the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations for software maintenance contracts with a duration greater than one year was $0.1$1.4 million.

 

Contract Costs

 

We recognize an other asset for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if we expect the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year. We have determined that certain sales commissions meet the requirements to be capitalized, and we amortize these costs on a consistent basis with the pattern of transfer of the goods and services in the contract. Total capitalized costs to obtain a contract were immaterial during the periods presented and are included in other current and long-term assets on our consolidated balance sheets.

 

We apply a practical expedient to expense costs as incurred for costs to obtain a contract when the amortization period is one year or less. These costs include sales commissions on software maintenance contracts with a contract period of one year or less as sales commissions paid on contract renewals are commensurate with those paid on the initial contract.

 

D)Fair Value Measurements.The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Codification defines fair value, and establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to the unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the FASB Codification are: i) Level 1 – valuations that are based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date; ii) Level 2 – valuations that are based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; and iii) Level 3 – valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

 

Cash and cash equivalents, which primarily include money market mutual funds, were $50.4$46.9 million and $51.6$47.7 million as of March 31, 20192020 and December 31, 2018,2019, respectively. We classified our cash equivalents of $48.1$46.3 million and $47.9$46.2 million as of March 31, 20192020 and December 31, 20182019, respectively, within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices.

 

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As of March 31, 2020, our assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and whose carrying values approximate their respective fair values included the following (in thousands):

  Fair Value Measurement at March 31, 2020 Using: 
  Quoted Prices in Active Markets for
Identical Assets
  Significant Other Observable Inputs  Significant Unobservable Inputs 
  (Level 1)  (Level 2)  (Level 3) 
Money market funds (included in cash and cash equivalents) $46,322  $-  $- 
    Total $46,322  $-  $- 

As of December 31, 2019, our assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and whose carrying values approximate their respective fair values includeincluded the following (in thousands):

 

  Fair Value Measurement at March 31, 2019 Using: 
  Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
  Significant Other
Observable Inputs
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
  (Level 1)  (Level 2)  (Level 3) 
Money market funds (included in cash and cash equivalents) $48,136         
Total $48,136  $-  $- 

As of December 31, 2018, our assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and whose carrying values approximate their respective fair values include the following (in thousands):

 Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2018 Using:  Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2019 Using: 
 Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
 Significant Other
Observable Inputs
 Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
  Quoted Prices in Active Markets for
Identical Assets
 Significant Other Observable Inputs  Significant Unobservable Inputs 
 (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3)  (Level 1)  (Level 2)  (Level 3) 
Money market funds (included in cash and cash equivalents) $47,939          $46,174  $-  $- 
Total $47,939  $-  $-  $46,174  $-  $- 

 

E)Computation of Earnings per Share.Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income or loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income or loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares had been issued. For the purposes of this calculation, stock options are considered common stock equivalents in periods in which they have a dilutive effect. Stock options that are anti-dilutive are excluded from the calculation. Potential common stock equivalents of 68,681 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were not included in the per share calculation for diluted earnings per share, because we had a net loss and the effect of their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

 

Net income (loss) per share is calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

 

 Three Months Ended
March 31,
  

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
 2019 2018  2020  2019 
          
Net income (loss) $228  $(495) $(1,060) $228 
                
Shares outstanding:                
Weighted-average common shares outstanding  21,565   21,547   21,522   21,565 
Additional dilutive common stock equivalents  17   26   -   17 
Diluted shares outstanding  21,582   21,573   21,522   21,582 
                
Net income (loss) per share – basic $0.01  $(0.02) $(0.05) $0.01 
Net income (loss) per share - diluted $0.01  $(0.02) $(0.05) $0.01 

 

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F)Stock-Based Compensation.The following table presents stock-based employee compensation expenses included in our unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

  

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
 2019  2018  2020  2019 
          
Cost of services $1  $-  $1  $1 
Research and development  3   5   4   3 
Selling and marketing  -   1   25   - 
General and administrative  10   18   53   10 
Stock-based compensation expense $14  $24  $83  $14 

 

Stock Option Grants. We may grant stock options under our 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan although we have not granted any stock options since the first quarter of 2012.Plan. When we grant stock options, we estimate their fair value using the Black-Scholes valuation model. This valuation model takes into account the exercise price of the award, as well as a variety of significant assumptions. The assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options include the expected term, the expected volatility of our stock over the expected term, the risk-free interest rate over the expected term, and our expected annual dividend yield. We believe that the valuation technique and the approach utilized to develop the underlying assumptions are appropriate in calculating the fair values of our stock options. Estimates of fair value are not intended to predict actual future events or the value ultimately realized by persons who receive equity awards.

 

We did not grant any stock options during the three months ended March 31, 2019 or 2020.

Unrestricted Stock Grants. We also grant unrestricted shares of stock under our 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan. Stock-based compensation expense for stock grants is determined based on the fair market value of our stock on the date of grant, provided the number of shares in the grant is fixed on the grant date.

 

We granted shares of unrestricted stock in 20192020 and 20182019 that affected financial results for the three month periods ended March 31, 20192020 and 2018. These grants are2019. The accounting treatment of unrestricted stock awards is described below.below:

 

2019 Grant.On March 25, 2019,27, 2020, we granted 143,000210,000 shares of unrestricted stock to directors, officers and employees. The shares will be issued in two equal installments shortly after June 30, 20192020 and December 31, 2019,2020, provided each grantee is serving as a director, officer or employee on those dates. The total stock-based compensation expense related to this grant is $547,000,$533,000, of which $14,000$10,000 was charged to expense in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and we2020. We anticipate the remaining $533,000$523,000 will be charged to expense ratably over the remaining three quarters of 2020.

In September 2019, we granted 15,000 shares of unrestricted stock to an officer, which were issued in January 2020. The total stock-based compensation expense related to this grant was $41,000 and was expensed in 2019

In September 2019, we granted 80,000 shares of unrestricted stock to an officer, which are to be issued in four equal installments shortly after September 19, 2020, September 19, 2021, September 19, 2022 and September 19, 2023, provided the grantee is serving as a director, officer or employee on those dates. The total stock-based compensation expense related to this grant is $220,000, of which $16,000 was charged to expense in 2019 and $14,000 was charged to expense in the first quarter of 2020. We anticipate the remaining $190,000 will be charged to expense ratably over the next fourteen quarters.

In October 2019, we granted 7,500 shares of unrestricted stock to an officer, which were issued in January 2020. The total stock-based compensation expense related to this grant was $22,000 and was expensed in 2019.

 

In October 2019, we granted 40,000 shares of unrestricted stock to an officer, which are to be issued in four equal installments shortly after October 1, 2020, October 1, 2021, October 1, 2022 and October 1, 2023, provided the grantee is serving as a director, officer or employee on those dates. The total stock-based compensation expense related to this grant is $117,000, of which $7,000 was charged to expense in 2019 and $7,000 was charged to expense in the first quarter of 2020. We anticipate the remaining $103,000 will be charged to expense ratably over the next fourteen quarters.

2018 Grant.

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In March 2018,2019, we granted 138,000143,000 shares of unrestricted stock to directors, officers and employees. The shares were issued in two equal installments shortly after June 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2018.2019. We expensed the entire $580,000$547,000 of stock-based compensation expense related to this grant in 2018. the year ended December 31, 2019. There was no unamortized stock-based compensation charge associated with this stock grant as of December 31, 2019.

We issued shares of common stock related to thisthe March 2019 grant as follows: i) 57,59258,548 net shares of common stock were issued in early July 20182019 after employees surrendered 11,40812,952 shares for which we paid $51,000$43,000 of withholding taxes on their behalf; and ii) 55,27856,605 net shares of common stock were issued in early January 20192020 after employees surrendered 13,72214,895 shares for which we paid $49,000$50,000 of withholding taxes on their behalf.

Performance Share Award. In September 2019, we granted 20,000 shares of stock to an officer as a performance share award under our 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan. The shares were issued in September 2019 and were forfeitable if the grantee was not serving as a director, officer or employee on March 19, 2020. Stock-based compensation expense for this stock grant was determined based on the fair market value of our stock on the date of grant, as the number of shares in the grant was fixed on the grant date. The total stock-based compensation expense related to this grant was $55,000, of which $31,000 was charged to expense in 2019 and $24,000 was charged to expense in the first quarter of 2020.

In October 2019, we granted 10,000 shares of stock to an officer as a performance share award under our 2001 Nonqualified Stock Plan. The shares were issued in October 2019 and were forfeitable if the grantee was not serving as a director, officer or employee on April 1, 2020. Stock-based compensation expense for this stock grant was determined based on the fair market value of our stock on the date of grant, as the number of shares in the grant was fixed on the grant date. The total stock-based compensation expense related to this grant was $29,000, of which $15,000 was charged to expense in 2019 and $14,000 was charged to expense in the first quarter of 2020.

 

G)Business Segments. We organize ourselves into a single segment that reports to the chief operating decision maker.

 

We conduct our operations in the United States and sell our products and services to domestic and international customers. Revenues were generated from the following geographic regions for the three months ended March 31, 20192020 and 20182019 (in thousands):

 

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 Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended 
 March 31,  March 31, 
 2019  2018  2020  2019 
          
United States $1,723  $2,069  $2,011  $1,723 
United Kingdom  880   134   687   880 
Rest of World  1,129   708   820   1,129 
 $3,732  $2,911  $3,518  $3,732 

 

Revenue by product group for the three months ended March 31, 20192020 and 20182019 was (in thousands):

 

 Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended 
 March 31,  March 31, 
 2019  2018  2020  2019 
          
Biometrics $3,472  $2,485  $3,263  $3,472 
Imaging  260   426   255   260 
 $3,732  $2,911  $3,518  $3,732 

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Revenue by timing of transfer of goods or services for the three months ended March 31, 20192020 and 20182019 was (in thousands):

 

 Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended 
 March 31,  March 31, 
 2019  2018  2020  2019 
          
Goods or services transferred at a point in time $1,172  $1,474 ��$1,952  $1,172 
Goods or services transferred over time  2,560   1,437   1,566   2,560 
 $3,732  $2,911  $3,518  $3,732 

 

H)Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted.

FASB ASU No. 2016-13. In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This new standard replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. For trade and other receivables, loans, and other financial instruments, entities will be required to use a forward-looking expected loss model rather than the incurred loss model for recognizing credit losses which reflects losses that are probable. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will also be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a reduction in the amortized cost basis of the securities. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We are currently evaluating the effect this standard will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

With the exception of the standard discussed above, there have been no other recently issued accounting pronouncements that are of significance or potential significance to us that we have not adopted as of March 31, 2019.

I)Income Taxes.Income tax expensebenefit was $3,000$0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.2020. Income tax benefit was $66,000 for the three monthsmonth period ended March 31, 2018. Income2020 and income tax expense for the three month period ended March 31, 2019 and income tax benefit for the three month period ended March 31, 2018 were based on the U.S. statutory rate of 21%, increased by state income taxes, and reduced by permanent adjustments and research tax credits.

 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The Act contained specific relief and stimulus measures including allowing net operating losses originating in 2018 through 2020 to be carried back five years to offset taxable income in the carryback period.

14

 

Separately, the enactment of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act in 2017 allowed taxpayers to claim a refund for alternative minimum tax credits over a period of years. The CARES Act enacted during the quarter allows for the entire amount of the credit to be refunded in 2020.

We have reviewed the impact of the CARES Act enactment on the income tax provision and have determined that, as a result of the net operating loss carryback provision, we can obtain a tax benefit if we were to carry back the forecasted 2020 net operating loss to the five year carryback period.

The carryback of the estimated loss would result in a refundable alternative minimum tax credit of approximately $736,000 and an increase in research credit carryforwards previously utilized. The alternative minimum tax credit can be refunded in the future, if we decide to carry back the loss reported on the filed 2020 tax return instead of electing to carry the loss forward. Due to the recent loss history and continued uncertainty surrounding our future projections of income, we will benefit from the current year loss to the extent of the available tax refund and will maintain a full valuation allowance on all other deferred tax assets, including any increase in research credit carryforward resulting from a potential carryback.

As of the end of the period, we have not made a determination on whether to elect to carry forward the 2020 operating loss, however, the alternative minimum tax refund potential on carryback represents a minimum tax benefit we can obtain from the estimated 2020 loss. We can realize a tax benefit to the extent of the carryback refund potential as it is considered a source of income against which to utilize the 2020 estimated loss.

The total estimated benefit of the alternative minimum tax refund of $736,000 is included in our projection of our annual effective rate and results in a year to date benefit of approximately $146,000 as of March 31, 2019, we had2020. We recorded the year to date tax benefit as a total of $5.2 million of deferredlong term tax assets for which we had recorded no valuation allowance. We have assessed the need for a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets.  Based on our assessment of future sources of income, including reversing deferred tax liabilities, and future earnings, we have determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized, and therefore there is no valuation allowance required for the deferred tax assets. We will continue to assess the level of valuation allowance in future periods. Should evidence regarding the realizability of tax assets change at a future point in time, the valuation allowance will be adjusted accordingly.receivable.

 

J)I)Income from patent arrangement. We entered into an arrangement with an unaffiliated third party in 2010 under which we assigned certain patents in return for royalties on proceeds from patent monetization efforts by the third party. The third party has engaged in various patent monetization activities, including enforcement, litigation and licensing. In the three months ended March 31, 2020, there was no revenue from this arrangement. In the three months ended March 31, 2019, the third party reported and we recorded $49,000 of income from this arrangement. In the three months ended March 31, 2018, there was no income from this arrangement.

 

We continue to have a contractual relationship with this third party. However, we are unable to predict how much more income we might receive from this arrangement, if any, because we do not know whether any patent monetization efforts by the third party will be successful.

 15 

 

Future patent sales are likely to be minimal as our remaining patents and patent applications pertain primarily to biometrics and imaging compression. Our current intent is to retain these patents for use in the business.

J)Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements.FASB ASU No. 2019-12. In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The ASU was issued to reduce the complexity of the reporting information for financial statement users. We adopted the standard on January 1, 2020. The adoption of the standard does not result in any adjustment to our financial statements.

K)Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses of Financial Instruments, which changes the methodology for measuring credit losses on financial instruments and the timing of when such losses are recorded.  This guidance was to be effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842) Effective Dates, which deferred the effective dates for us, as a smaller reporting company, until fiscal year 2023. We are continuing to assess the impact of the standard on our consolidated financial statements.

16

 

ITEM 2:

ITEM 2:

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Cautionary Statement for Purposes of the “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

 

Some of the information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue” and similar words. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they: (1) discuss our future expectations; (2) contain projections of our future operating results or financial condition; or (3) state other “forward-looking” information. However, we may not be able to predict future events accurately. The risk factors listed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, as well as any cautionary language in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations we describe in our forward-looking statements. You should be aware that the occurrence of any of the events described in these risk factors and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q could materially and adversely affect our business.

Summary of Operations

 

We are primarily engaged in the development and sale of biometrics products, solutions and services. Our software products are used in government and commercial biometrics systems and applications and fulfill a broad range of functions critical to identify or authenticate people.secure biometric enrollment, authentication, identification and transactions. Principal government applications of biometrics systems include border control, visitorvisa applicant screening, law enforcement, national defense, intelligence, secure credentialing, access control, and background checks. Principal commercial applications include: i) user enrollment and authentication used for login and access to mobile devices, computers, networks, and software programs; ii) user authentication for financial transactions and purchases (online and in-person); iii) physical access control to buildings,buildings; and iv) screening and background checksidentity proofing of prospective employees and customers. We sell our biometrics software products and services globally through a multifaceted distribution strategy using systems integrators, and OEMs, VARs, partners, and directly to end user customers. We also derive a portion of our revenue from the sale of imaging software licenses to OEMs and systems integrators that incorporate our software into medical imaging products and medical systems.

 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have been unable to: (i) conduct face-to-face meetings with customers and prospective customers, (ii) present in-person demonstrations of our software solutions, (iii) attend trade shows and conferences which typically generate future sales opportunities or (iv) meet with prospective strategic partners . We believe that these effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will likely have an adverse impact on our revenue over the next several quarters.

Summary of Financial Results

 

We use revenue and operating incomeresults of operations to summarize financial results as we believe these measurements are the most meaningful way to understand our operating performance.

 

Revenue and operating loss for the three months ended March 31, 20192020 were $3.7$3.5 million and $44,000,$1.3 million, respectively. These results compared to revenue of $2.9$3.7 million and operating loss of $0.7 million in$44,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Higher2019. Lower revenue and operating income in the current three month period werewas primarily due to: i) higherto lower services revenue ii)that was partially offset by higher biometrics software license sales,revenue. Higher operating loss in the current three month period was primarily due to lower revenue and iii) income from a patent arrangement. This was partially offset by: i) lower imaging software license sales; and ii) higher total costs andoperating expenses.

 

These and all other financial results are discussed in more detail in the results of operations section that follows.

 

17

Results of Operations

Software licenses. Software licenses consist of revenue from the sale of biometrics and imaging software products. Sales of software products depend on our ability to win proposals to supply software for biometrics systems projects either directly to end user customers or indirectly through channel partners.

 

16

Software license revenue increased 4%28% from $1.47$1.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 20182019 to $1.54$2.0 million in the same three month period in 2019.2020. As a percentage of total revenue, software license revenue decreasedincreased from 51%41% in the first quarter of 20182019 to 41%56% in the current year quarter. The $63,000dollar increase in software license revenue was primarily due to a $264,000$0.4 million increase in biometrics software license sales, which was partially offset by a $201,000 decrease in imaging software license sales. The reasons for the changes in biometrics and imaging software licenseslicense sales were:

 

i)Biometrics software licenses – Biometrics software license sales were $1.34$1.75 million in the first quarter of 20192020 versus $1.08$1.34 million in the same quarter last year. The dollar increase was primarily due to higher software license sales to a direct government customer, and to a lesser extent higher revenue from the software license agreement we entered into with a systems integrator in the second quarter of 2018. We recognized $246,000 of software license revenue from this agreement in the first quarter of 2019. We also provide engineering services to this systems integrator pursuant to this arrangement. We expect our development effort on this project to continue for approximately the next two to three quarters.commercial customers.

 

ii)Imaging software licenses – Imaging software license sales were $0.2 million$217,000 in the first quarter of 20192020 versus $0.4 million$193,000 in the same quarter last year. The dollar decreaseincrease was primarily due to lowerslightly higher imaging software license sales in the first three months of 2019 versus the same month period in 2018.to our imaging customers.

 

As described in the strategy section of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, our market strategy is to continue to focus on our legacy government biometrics markets and expand into new commercial biometrics markets. We are unable to predict future revenue from commercial markets as these are emerging markets.

Software maintenance. Software maintenance consists of revenue from the sale of software maintenance contracts. Software maintenance contracts entitle customers to receive software support and software updates, if and when they become available, during the term of the contract.

 

Software maintenance revenue increased 5% from $1.3was $1.4 million infor both the three months ended March 31, 2018 to $1.4 million in the same three month period in 2019.2019 and 2020. As a percentage of total revenue, software maintenance revenue decreasedincreased from 44%36% in the first quarter of 20182019 to 36%39% in the current year quarter. The dollar increase in software maintenance revenue was primarily due to higher retention of maintenance renewals during the quarter.

Services.Services consist of fees we charge to perform software development, integration, installation, and customization services. Similar to software license revenue, services revenue depends on our ability to win biometrics systems projects either directly with end user customers or in conjunction with channel partners. Services revenue will fluctuate when we commence new projects and/or when we complete projects that were started in previous periods.

 

Services increasedrevenue decreased from $0.1$0.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 20182019 to $0.8$0.2 million in the same three month period in 2019.2020. As a percentage of total revenue, services increasedrevenue decreased from 5%23% in the first quarter of 20182019 to 23%5% in the current year quarter.

 

For the three month period ended March 31, 2019,2020, the dollar increasedecrease in services revenue was primarily due to higherlower services revenue in the current year quarter related to the software license agreement we entered into with a systems integrator in the second quarter of 2018 for a large project, and to a lesser extent higherlower service revenue from our otherdue to fewer service customers. projects.

We expect our development effort on this large project to continue for approximately the next two to three quarters.one more quarter.

 

Services backlog was $0.6$0.4 million as of March 31, 2019.2020.

 

Cost of Services.services.Cost of services consists of engineering costs to perform customer services projects. Such costs primarily include: i) engineering salaries, stock-based compensation, fringe benefits, and facilities; and ii) engineering consultants and contractors.

 

18

Cost of services increaseddecreased 67% from $50,000$518,000 in the three months ended March 31, 20182019 to $518,000$170,000 in the same three month period in 2019.2020. Cost of services as a percentage of services increased from 35%62% in the first quarter of 20182019 to 62%91% in the current year quarter, which means that gross margins decreased from 65%38% to 38%9%. The dollar increasedecrease in cost of services was primarily due to higher servicelower services revenue in the first quarter of 2019.2020.

 

17

Research and development expense.Research and development expense consists of costs for: i) engineering personnel, including salaries, stock-based compensation, fringe benefits, and facilities; ii) engineering consultants and contractors, and iii) other engineering expenses such as supplies, equipment depreciation, dues and memberships and travel. Engineering costs incurred to develop our technology and products are classified as research and development expense. As described in the cost of services section, engineering costs incurred to provide engineering services for customer projects are classified as cost of services, and are not included in research and development expense.

 

The classification of total engineering costs to research and development expense and cost of services was (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

  

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
 2019  2018  2020  2019 
          
Research and development expense $1,760  $1,875  $2,272  $1,760 
Cost of services  518   50   170   518 
Total engineering costs $2,278  $1,925  $2,442  $2,278 

 

Research and development expense decreased 6%increased 29% from $1.9$1.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 20182019 to $1.8$2.3 million in 2018.2020. As a percentage of total revenue, research and development expense decreasedincreased from 64% in 2018 to 47% in 2019. The decrease2019 to 65% in research and development expense was primarily due to the reallocation of engineers from internal development projects to customer services projects.2020.

 

As the table immediately above indicates, total engineering costs in the first quarter of 20192020 increased by $353,000$164,000 compared to the same period last year. The spending increase was primarily due to higher employee costs due to higher headcount, higher recruiting costs and to a lesser extent higher other costs. The increase was partially offset by lower spending on third-party development costs and higher employee costs. Higher spending onwith third-party development costs was due to a third-party vendor that wasvendors we engaged to assist in our software development. Our engineering headcount increased by one from the first quarter of 2018.

 

We anticipate that we will continue to focus our future research and development activities on enhancing our existing products and developing new products.products with our internal resources.

 

Selling and marketing expense. Selling and marketing expense primarily consists of costs for: i) sales and marketing personnel, including salaries, sales commissions, stock-based compensation, fringe benefits, travel, and facilities; and ii) advertising and promotion expenses.

 

Sales and marketing expense decreased 11%increased 56% from $924,000$0.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 20182019 to $826,000$1.3 million in the same three month period of 2019.2020. As a percentage of total revenue, sales and marketing expense decreasedincreased from 32%22% in the first three monthsquarter of 20182019 to 22%37% in the corresponding period in 2019.2020. The dollar decreaseincrease in sales and marketing expense was primarily due to: i) lowerto higher employee costs due to lowerhigher headcount ii) lower travel costs; and iii) lower advertisingto a lesser extent higher spending on sales agents, and tradeshowshigher other costs, whichincluding engagement of a third- party marketing firm. The increase was partially offset by higherlower sales commissions.

General and administrative expense.General and administrative expense consists primarily of costs for: i) officers, directors and administrative personnel, including salaries, bonuses, director compensation, stock-based compensation, fringe benefits, and facilities; ii) professional fees, including legal and audit fees; iii) public company expenses; and iv) other administrative expenses, such as insurance costs and bad debt provisions.

 

General and administrative expense decreased 8%increased 58% from $785,000$0.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 20182019 to $721,000$1.1 million in the same three month period in 2019.2020. As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expense decreasedincreased from 27%19% in the first three monthsquarter of 20182019 to 19%32% in the corresponding period in 2019.2020. The decreaseincrease in general and administrative expense was primarily due to: i) higher employee costs due to i) lower bonus expense;higher headcount; ii) higher legal fees; iii) higher recruiting fees; and ii) lower professional fees.iv) higher stock-based compensation expense.

 1819 

 

 

Patent related income.We entered into an arrangement with an unaffiliated third party in 2010 under which we assigned certain patents in return for royalties on proceeds from patent monetization efforts by the third party. The third party has engaged in various patent monetization activities, including enforcement, litigation and licensing. In the first quarter ofthree months ended March 31, 2020, there was no revenue from this arrangement. In the three months ended March 31, 2019, the third party reported and we recorded $49,000 of income from this arrangement. There was no such income in the three month period ended March 31, 2018.arrangement We continue to have a contractual relationship with this third party. However, we are unable to predict how much more income we might receive from this arrangement, if any, because we do not know whether any patent monetization efforts by the third party will be successful.

 

Interest income. Interest income increased 70%decreased 46% from $162,000$275,000 in the three months ended March 31, 20182019 to $275,000$148,000 in the same three month period in 2019.2020. For the three month period, the dollar increasedecrease in interest income was primarily due to higherlower interest rates within our money market accounts.accounts and to a lesser extent lower cash and cash equivalents balances.

Income taxes.Income tax expensebenefit was $3,000$0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.2020. Income tax benefit was $66,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Income tax expense for the three month period ended March 31, 2019 and income tax benefit for the three month period ended March 31, 2018 were2020 was based on the U.S. statutory rate of 21%, increased by state income taxes, and reduced by permanent adjustments and research tax credits.

 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The Act contained specific relief and stimulus measures including allowing net operating losses originating in 2018 through 2020 to be carried back five years to offset taxable income in the carryback period.

Separately, the enactment of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act in 2017 allowed taxpayers to claim a refund for alternative minimum tax credits over a period of years. The CARES Act enacted during the quarter allows for the entire amount of the credit to be refunded in 2020.

We have reviewed the impact of the CARES Act enactment on the income tax provision and have determined that, as a result of the net operating loss carryback provision, we can obtain a tax benefit if we were to carry back the forecasted 2020 net operating loss to the five year carryback period.

The carryback of the estimated loss would result in a refundable alternative minimum tax credit of approximately $736,000 and an increase in research credit carryforwards previously utilized. The alternative minimum tax credit can be refunded in the future, if we decide to carry back the loss reported on the filed 2020 tax return instead of electing to carry the loss forward. Due to the recent loss history and continued uncertainty surrounding our future projections of income, we will benefit from the current year loss to the extent of the available tax refund and will maintain a full valuation allowance on all other deferred tax assets, including any increase in research credit carryforward resulting from a potential carryback.

As of the end of the period, we have not made a determination on whether to elect to carry forward the 2020 operating loss, however, the alternative minimum tax refund potential on carryback represents a minimum tax benefit we can obtain from the estimated 2020 loss. We can realize a tax benefit to the extent of the carryback refund potential as it is considered a source of income against which to utilize the 2020 estimated loss.

The total estimated benefit of the alternative minimum tax refund of $736,000 is included in our projection of our annual effective rate and results in a year to date benefit of approximately $146,000 as of March 31, 2019, we had2020. We recorded the year to date tax benefit as a total of $5.2 million of deferredlong term tax assets for which we had recorded no valuation allowance. We have assessed the need for a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets.  Based on our assessment of future sources of income, including reversing deferred tax liabilities, and future earnings, we have determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized, and therefore there is no valuation allowance required for the deferred tax assets. We will continue to assess the level of valuation allowance in future periods. Should evidence regarding the realizability of tax assets change at a future point in time, the valuation allowance will be adjusted accordingly.receivable.

 

 1920 

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

At March 31, 2019,2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of $50.4$46.9 million, which represented a decrease of $1.2$0.9 million from December 31, 2018.2019. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to the following factors:

 

Cash used in operations was $1.1$0.5 million in the first three months of 2019.2020. Cash used in operations was primarily the result of $1.4$1.1 million of net loss that was partially offset by $0.3 million of changes in assets and liabilities. Cash used from these sources was partially offset by $0.2 million of net incomeliabilities, and the add back of $0.1$0.2 million of non-cash items primarily for depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation.

 

Cash used in investing activities was $20,000$0.3 million in the first three months of 2019.2020. This cash usage consisted of purchases of property and equipment.

 

Cash used in financing activities was $127,000$50,000 in the first three months of 2019.2020. Financing activity cash usage was the result of $78,000 used to buy back stock under our stock repurchase program and $49,000$50,000 used to pay income taxes for employees who surrendered shares in connection with stock grants.

 

While we cannot assure you that we will not require additional financing, or that such financing will be available to us, we believe that our cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next twelve months.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

None.See Note J to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1.

 

 2021 

 

ITEM 3:

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Our exposure to market risk relates primarily to our investment portfolio, and the effect that changes in interest rates would have on that portfolio. Our investment portfolio at March 31, 2019 consisted of one element:

Cash and cash equivalents. As of March 31, 2019, our cash and cash equivalents of $50.4 million were primarily invested in money market funds. The money market funds were invested in high quality, short term financial instruments. Due to the nature, short duration, and professional management of these funds, we do not expect that a general increase in interest rates would result in any material loss.

We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.

 

ITEM 4:

Controls and Procedures

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 20192020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1:

Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time we are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our business. We are not party to any lawsuit or proceeding that, in our opinion, is likely to seriously harm our business.

 

ITEM 1A:

Risk Factors

 

The risks describedInvesting in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 includes a detailed discussion of our risk factors under the heading “Part I, Item 1A, 1A—Risk Factors,Factors.” Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes from such risk factors during the three months ended March 31, 2020. You should consider carefully the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018,2019, and all other information contained in or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q before making an investment decision. If any of the risks discussed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K or herein actually occur, they may materially harm our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows or growth prospects. As a result, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not yet identified or that we think are immaterial may also materially harm our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flows or growth prospects and adversely affectcould result in a complete loss of your investment.

While we expect the impacts of COVID-19 to have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The risk factors discussed in that Form 10-K do not identify all risks thatoperations, we face because our business operations could also be affected by additional factors that are not presently knownunable to uspredict the extent or that we currently consider to be immaterial to our operations. No material change in the risk factors discussed in that Form 10-K has occurred.

ITEM 2:nature of these impacts at this time.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have been unable to: (i) conduct face-to-face meetings with customers and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Period (a)
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
  (b)
Average Price
Paid per Share
  (c)
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs (1)
  (d)
Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar Value)
of Shares That May Yet Be
Purchased Under the Plans
or Programs
 
             
January 2019  -   -   -   - 
February 2019  7,670  $3.86   7,670   - 
March 2019  12,035  $4.02   12,035  $9,530,417 

(1) On April 24, 2018, we issued a press release announcing that our board of directors had approved the repurchase of up to $10,000,000prospective customers, (ii) present in-person demonstrations of our common stock from time to time through December 31, 2019. Duringsoftware solutions, (iii) attend trade shows and conferences which typically generate future sales opportunities or (iv) meet with prospective strategic partners . We believe that these effects caused by the three months ended March 31, 2019, we purchased 19,705 shares under this plan atCOVID-19 pandemic will likely have an aggregate purchase price of $77,962.

ITEM 4:

Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.adverse impact on our revenue over the next several quarters.

 

 2223 

 

 

ITEM 6:

Exhibits

 

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit 10.1*Separation Agreement between Aware, Inc. 2019 Executive Bonus Planand David J. Martin (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Aware, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 201930, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference).
Exhibit 10.2*Amendment to Employment Agreement between Aware, Inc. and Kevin T. Russell (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Aware, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference).
Exhibit 10.3*Amendment to Employment Agreement between Aware, Inc. and Robert A. Eckel (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Aware, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference).
Exhibit 10.4*Aware, Inc. 2020 Executive Bonus Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Aware, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference).
  
Exhibit 31.1Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  
Exhibit 31.2Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  
Exhibit 32.1Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  
Exhibit 101The following financial statements from Aware, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019,2020, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language), as follows:  (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 20192020 and December 31, 2018,2019, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 20192020 and March 31, 2018,2019, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 20192020 and March 31, 2018,2019, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 20192020 and March 31, 2018,2019, and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

*Management contract or compensatory plan.plan

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 AWARE, INC.
   
Date: May 3, 20191, 2020By:/s/ Kevin T. RussellRobert A. Eckel
  Kevin T. RussellRobert A. Eckel
  Chief Executive Officer & President General Counsel
   
Date: May 3, 20191, 2020By:/s/ David J. Martin
  David J. Martin
  Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  

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