®
Acacia Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACIA) develops, manufactures
and sells high-speed coherent optical interconnect products that are
designed to transform communications networks through improvements
in performance, capacity and cost. Acacia Communications is
headquartered in Maynard, MA with offices worldwide.
Acacia Communications, Inc.
3 Mill & Main Place, Suite 400
Maynard, MA 01754
acacia-inc.com
ANNUAL
REPORT
2018
®
A message to our stockholders,
2018 was a challenging year for Acacia. The year began with slower demand, primarily from the China
market, which was further adversely impacted by the ZTE ban that went into effect in mid-April and lasted for
approximately three months. While these difficult conditions negatively impacted our revenue for the year, our
revenue grew in the second half of 2018 over the first half, driven primarily by sales to ZTE after the lifting of the
ban and sales of one of our newer products at one of our Tier-1 customers.
I am pleased that we were able to maintain focus on executing against our strategic initiatives and operational
efficiency objectives throughout the year despite these challenges. Specifically, we remained focused on
multiple product ramps, on our new product development and revenue diversification efforts and effectively
managed our operating expenses. We were also able to repurchase shares of common stock having
approximately $40 million in value under our stock repurchase program, and to close out 2018 with a stronger
balance sheet than we had at the end of 2017.
As a result of our key product development initiatives, we currently have more products in our portfolio than
ever before in our company’s history. In 2018, the breadth of our product portfolio enabled us to make progress
on our revenue diversification efforts, as sales of two of our newer products, CFP2-DCO and our standalone
PIC, ramped in production. We also transitioned our AC1200 module to production in the fourth quarter.
Our AC1200 coherent module has been featured in multiple network operator trials that have demonstrated its
performance advantages in a range of multi-haul applications, from edge DCI to submarine. These trials have
highlighted the high capacity and performance of this product and the additional benefits of our flexible 3D
shaping features that allow network operators to adapt the transmission characteristics of our AC1200 module
to improve their network utilization. In short, we are excited about the reception that this product has received
from our customers and the industry.
In 2018, we also saw increasing adoption of our CFP2-DCO module and its increased use in IP over DWDM
architectures, where transport optics are integrated into switch and router platforms. More than two years after
first sampling our CFP2-DCO module, it remains the only commercially available module in this form factor
supporting 200G transmission. Sales of this product substantially contributed to our 2018 revenue and led a
Tier-1 switch and router customer to exceed 10% of our total revenue for the full year.
Heading into 2019, we believe we are well-positioned with the strength of our product portfolio and our
increased Tier-1 customer engagements. Our products are currently differentiated across a range of
applications, from our low-power pluggable 200G CFP2-DCO to our AC1200 supporting high-performance
400G for submarine applications and high-capacity 600G for Edge DCI. Given our product differentiation and
the range of applications in which our products can be used, we believe we are helping our customers to be
well-positioned to compete in a wide range of applications in 2019.
Looking forward, we see significant industry momentum behind 400ZR modules currently being standardized
by the Optical Internetworking Forum. These 400ZR modules, which enable coherent optics in the same form
factors as client optics, allow transport optics to be integrated in switches without requiring a custom line card or
a reduction in switch capacity. These 400ZR modules target the Edge DCI market, which is projected to be the
fastest growing segment of the coherent interconnect market. In addition, adjacent applications being addressed
by standards bodies like Open ROADM, CableLabs, IEEE and ITU are anticipated to leverage 400ZR component
technology and pluggable DCO architectures. We believe the adoption of compact, pluggable DCO architectures
plays to Acacia’s strengths, including our team’s track record and expertise in designing industry leading low-
power DSP, silicon photonics and advanced packaging technologies. Acacia’s 400ZR module is currently in
development and we are targeting samples later in 2019 with a planned transition to production in mid-2020.
In a year where we had to navigate several challenges that, in many instances, were beyond our control, we
were able to remain focused on multiple product ramps, new product developments and revenue diversification.
Entering 2019, we believe Acacia is well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities ahead of us. This year is
also exciting for us in that it marks Acacia’s 10-year anniversary. I am most proud of the culture of innovation and
teamwork that we have created and maintained over the last 10 years and would like to thank the entire Acacia
team for their hard work and our customers, suppliers, partners and stockholders for your continued support.
Murugesan “Raj” Shanmugaraj
President and Chief Executive Officer
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
(Mark One)
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-37771
Acacia Communications, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
Three Mill and Main Place, Suite 400
Maynard, Massachusetts
(Address of principal executive offices)
27-0291921
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
01754
(Zip Code)
(978) 938-4896
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share
Name of each exchange on which registered
The Nasdaq Global Select Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes
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
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 such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has
been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes
No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant
to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to submit such files). Yes
No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not
contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by
reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and
“emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for
complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
No
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2018, the last
business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $946.1 million. Solely for purposes of this
disclosure, shares of common stock held by executive officers and directors of the registrant, and their affiliates, as of such date have been
excluded because such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of executive officers and directors as affiliates is not
necessarily a conclusive determination for any other purposes.
As of February 15, 2019, there were 40,258,201 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, $0.0001 par value, outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Business
Item No.
PART I
Item 1.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Properties
Legal Proceedings
PART II
Market for Registrant’s Common Shares, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Selected Financial Data
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks
Item 8.
Item 9.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9B. Other Information
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Item 12.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Page No.
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Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Statements
PART I
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of
historical fact contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including statements regarding our future results of operations
and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking
statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our
actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,”
“anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “will” or
“continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and
projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of
operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are subject to
a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions described in the section titled “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A below and
elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and
uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as
predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or
occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Some of the key factors
that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations include:
•
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•
•
•
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•
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our ability to sustain or increase revenue from our larger customers, generate revenues from new customers, or
offset the discontinuation of concentrated purchases by our larger customers with purchases by new or existing
customers;
our expectations regarding our expenses and revenue, our ability to maintain and expand gross profit, the
sufficiency of our cash resources and needs for additional financing;
our ability to produce products free of problems, defects, errors and vulnerabilities;
our anticipated growth strategies;
our expectations regarding competition;
the anticipated trends and challenges in our business and the market in which we operate;
our expectations regarding, and the capacity and stability of our, supply chain and manufacturing;
the size and growth of the potential markets for our products and the ability to serve those markets;
the scope, progress, expansion, and costs of developing and commercializing our products;
the timing, rate and degree of introducing any of our products into the market and the market acceptance of any
of our products;
our ability to establish and maintain development partnerships;
our ability to attract or retain key personnel;
our expectations regarding federal, state and foreign regulatory requirements, including export controls, tax law
changes and interpretations, economic sanctions and anti-corruption regulations;
regulatory or legislative developments in the United States and foreign countries, including trade policy and
tariffs and export control laws or regulations that could impede our ability to sell our products to our customer
ZTE Kangxun Telecom Co. Ltd. or any of its affiliates, together ZTE, or that could impede our ability to sell our
products to other customers in certain foreign jurisdictions, particularly in China; and
•
our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our products.
Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements
contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise.
1
Item 1.
Business
Overview
Our mission is to deliver high-speed coherent optical interconnect products that transform communications networks,
relied upon by cloud infrastructure operators and content and communication service providers, through improvements in
performance and capacity and reductions in associated costs. By implementing optical interconnect technology in a silicon-
based platform, a process we refer to as the siliconization of optical interconnect, we believe we are leading a disruption that is
analogous to the computing industry’s integration of multiple functions into a microprocessor. Our products fall into three
product groups: embedded modules, pluggable modules and semiconductors. Our embedded module and pluggable module
product groups consist of optical interconnect modules with transmission speeds ranging from 100 to 1,200 gigabits per second,
or Gbps, for use in long-haul, metro and inter-data center markets. Our semiconductor product group consists of our low-power
coherent digital signal processor application-specific integrated circuits, or DSP ASICs, and our silicon photonic integrated
circuits, or silicon PICs, which are either integrated into our embedded and pluggable modules or sold to customers on a
standalone basis for integration into internally developed or other merchant modules. We are also developing a 400ZR module
that will expand our pluggable module product group, and enable inter-data center transmission capacity of 400 Gbps in the
same compact pluggable form factors used for 400G client optics, including QSFP-DD and OSFP. Our modules perform a
majority of the digital signal processing and optical functions in optical interconnects and offer low power consumption, high
density and high speeds at attractive price points. Through the use of standard interfaces, our modules can be easily integrated
with customers’ network equipment. The advanced software in our modules enables increased configurability and automation,
provides insight into network and connection point characteristics and helps identify network performance problems, all of
which increase flexibility and reduce operating costs.
Our modules are rooted in our low-power coherent DSP ASICs and/or silicon PICs, which we have specifically
developed for our target markets. Our coherent DSP ASICs and silicon PICs are manufactured using complementary metal
oxide semiconductor, or CMOS. CMOS is a widely-used and cost-effective semiconductor process technology. Using CMOS
to siliconize optical interconnect technology enables us to integrate increasing functionality into our products, benefit from
higher yields and reliability associated with CMOS, capitalize on regular improvements in CMOS performance and density,
and reduce costs. Our use of CMOS also enables us to use outsourced foundry services rather than requiring custom fabrication
to manufacture our products. In addition, our use of CMOS and CMOS-compatible processes enables us to take advantage of
the technology, manufacturing and integration improvements driven by other computer and communications markets that rely
on CMOS.
Our engineering and management teams have extensive experience in optical systems and networking, digital signal
processing, large-scale ASIC design and verification, silicon photonic design and integration, system software development,
hardware design and high-speed electronics design. This broad expertise in a range of advanced technologies, methodologies
and processes enhances our innovation, design and development capabilities, and has enabled us, and we believe will continue
to enable us, to develop and introduce state-of-the-art optical interconnect modules, coherent DSP ASICs and silicon PICs. In
the course of our product development cycles, we engage with our customers as they design their current and next-generation
network equipment in order to gauge current and future market needs.
We sell our products through a direct sales force to leading network equipment manufacturers, network operators and
cloud service providers. Our revenues for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 were $339.9 million, $385.2
million and $478.4 million, respectively. Our net income for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 were $4.9
million, $38.5 million and $131.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, our total assets were $601.9
million, $611.3 million and $516.9 million, respectively.
Industry Background
Growing Demand for Bandwidth and Network Capacity
Global Internet Protocol, or IP, traffic is projected to more than triple from 4.1 exabytes per day in 2017 to 13.2 exabytes
per day in 2022, representing a projected 26% compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, according to Cisco’s Visual
Networking Index: Forecast and Trends, 2017-2022, dated November 2018, or the VNI Report. This projected rapid growth in
IP traffic is the result of several factors, including:
•
Increased data and video consumption. Over the last decade, the proliferation of new technologies, applications,
Web 2.0-based services and Internet-connected devices has led to increasing levels of Internet traffic and congestion
and the need for greater bandwidth. Video traffic, in particular, is growing rapidly, and placing significant strains on
network capacity. The VNI Report estimates that by 2022, video traffic will represent 82% of all global consumer IP
traffic, forecast to be 293 exabytes per month in 2022, up from 77 exabytes per month in 2017. According to the
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VNI Report, from 2017 to 2022, video traffic and all global consumer IP traffic are expected to increase by
projected 34% and 31% CAGRs, respectively.
• Growth in mobile and 4G/LTE/5G communications. The increasing demand for data- and video-intensive
content and applications on mobile devices is driving significant growth in mobile data and video traffic and has led
to the proliferation of advanced wireless communication technologies, such as 4G/LTE, which depend on wired
networks to function. Next generation 5G network build-outs anticipated over the next few years will drive the need
for higher capacity optical interfaces in backhaul and metro networks. According to the VNI Report, global mobile
data traffic is expected to increase nearly seven-fold from 2017 to 2022, a projected 46% CAGR, reaching 77.5
exabytes per month by 2022.
• Proliferation of cloud services. Enterprises are increasingly adopting cloud services to reduce IT costs and enable
more flexible operating models. Consumers are increasingly relying on cloud services to satisfy video, audio and
photo storage and sharing needs. Together, these factors are driving increased Internet traffic as cloud services are
accessed and used. According to the Cisco Global Cloud Index, dated November 2018, or the GCI Report, global
cloud data center traffic is expected to reach 19.5 zettabytes, or ZB, per year by 2021, up from 6.0 ZB per year in
2016, a projected 27% CAGR, and to represent 95% of total data center traffic by 2021, compared to 88% in 2016.
• Changing traffic patterns. Content service providers and data center operators are increasingly building their own
networks of connected data centers to handle the increasing amounts of data generated by today’s modern
applications that require more complex processing. The architectures of these connected data centers dramatically
increase the amount of data being transmitted within these data center networks. For example, virtual assistants like
Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri require significant processing in the cloud. As a result, the East-West, or E-W,
traffic created in response to processing these incoming requests are expected to be greater than the North-South, or
N-S, network utilization. As indicated by the GCI Report, it is estimated that by 2021, enterprises will move from an
85/15 mix of N-S/E-W traffic to a 15/85 mix with greater than five times more E-W traffic than that between the
servers and the requesting devices, such as desktops, mobile devices and IoT devices, among others.
• Adoption of the “Internet of Things.” Significant consumer, enterprise and governmental adoption of the
“Internet of Things,” which refers to the global network of Internet-connected devices embedded with electronics,
software and sensors, is anticipated to strain network capacity further and increase demand for bandwidth. The VNI
Report estimates that globally, there will be approximately 28.5 billion networked devices in 2022, up from 18
billion such devices in 2017.
Importance of Optical Interconnect Technologies
Optical equipment that interfaces directly with fiber relies on optical interconnect technologies that take digital signals
from network equipment, perform signal processing to convert the digital signals to optical signals for transmission over the
fiber network, and then perform the reverse functions on the receive side. These technologies also incorporate advanced signal
processing that can monitor, manage and reduce errors and signal impairment in the fiber connection between the transmit and
receive sides. Advanced optical interconnect technologies can enhance network performance by improving the capabilities and
increasing the capacities of optical equipment and routers and switches, while also reducing operating costs.
The key characteristics of advanced optical interconnect technologies that dictate performance and capacity include:
•
Speed. Speed refers to the rate at which information can be transmitted over an optical channel and is measured in
Gbps.
• Density. Density refers to the physical footprint of the optical interconnect technology. Density is primarily a
function of the size and power consumption of the technology.
• Robustness. Robustness refers to the ability of an optical interconnect technology to compensate for the signal
impairment that accumulates through the fiber network and prevent and correct errors introduced by the network.
• Power Consumption. Power consumption refers to the amount of electricity an optical interconnect technology
consumes. Lower power consumption permits improved density and product reliability, and results in lower
operating expense for electricity and cooling.
• Automation. Automation refers to the ability of an optical interconnect technology to handle network tasks that
historically were required to be performed manually, such as activation and channel provisioning.
• Manageability. Manageability refers to the ability of an optical interconnect technology to monitor network
performance and detect and address network issues easily and efficiently, which helps increase reliability and reduce
ongoing maintenance and operational needs.
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As they build their network service offerings, cloud and service providers and network equipment manufacturers weigh
these characteristics differently based on the particular demands and challenges they face. For example, cloud or service
providers operating long-haul networks that transmit large amounts of data between Boston and San Francisco have relatively
few connection points in their networks and may be more sensitive to speed and manageability of the optical interconnect
technology and less focused on power consumption. In contrast, metro network operators or cloud or service providers
operating inter-city or intra-city networks may face space and power constraints, as well as constantly changing workload
needs, and be most focused on density, power consumption and automation.
Improvements in these characteristics can lead to reductions in development costs for network equipment
manufacturers, who might otherwise need to develop their own optical interconnect technologies. In addition, improvements in
these characteristics can lead to reductions in acquisition and development costs for network equipment manufacturers who
incorporate third-party optical interconnect technologies into their equipment, which in turn can reduce capital costs for cloud
and service providers. Further, improvements in power consumption, automation and manageability can result in reduced
operating costs for cloud and service providers.
Coherent Interconnect Technologies
Traditional techniques for transmitting information via light signals over a fiber optic network used simple “on/off”
manipulation, or modulation, of the light signal. These traditional techniques are adequate for transmission speeds up to 10
Gbps, as separate optical equipment can be used to monitor the fiber connection and to compensate for the degradation of the
light signals when they travel through the fiber. At transmission speeds in excess of 10 Gbps, however, it becomes increasingly
difficult to compensate for the degradation of light signals using traditional techniques. In addition, these traditional techniques
require cumbersome and expensive equipment and do not meet network operators’ demands for high-quality signals. In the
mid-2000s, advanced modulation techniques enabled by coherent communications techniques and digital signal processing
were introduced to increase transmission speeds above 10 Gbps. However, these advanced modulation techniques required
significant changes in the underlying optical interconnect technologies and architecture.
Coherent communications is a more complex method of transmitting and receiving information via optical signals.
Coherent technologies enable greater utilization of complex formats that manipulate both a signal’s amplitude and its phase to
yield a higher data transmission rate with better resilience to signal degradation. Coherent communications enables powerful
digital signal processing to counter digitally the effects of signal degradation that were previously managed through an array of
discrete components and costly techniques, such as optical dispersion compensation. By taking advantage of coherent
communications technologies, some cloud and service providers are able to operate networks at transmission speeds of up to
400 Gbps today and are increasingly adopting technologies that enable 1,000 Gbps and above transmission speeds. These
providers require advanced coherent interconnect solutions.
Digital signal processing in coherent interconnect technologies takes place in an application-specific integrated circuit
known as a coherent DSP ASIC. Building a coherent DSP ASIC is a multi-disciplinary undertaking requiring advanced
knowledge of several complex technologies, such as optical systems, transmission, communications theory, digital signal
processing algorithms and mixed signal design, and the development and verification of complex communications ASICs. To
complete an interconnect solution, the coherent DSP ASIC must be used in conjunction with a number of photonic functions,
such as modulation and transmission/reception. These functions have traditionally been performed by several discrete, bulky,
expensive components that must be purchased by a network equipment manufacturer and designed into custom interface circuit
boards before deployment. The development of a photonic integrated circuit, or PIC, enables dramatic improvements in size
and cost by tightly integrating multiple photonic functions into a small integrated circuit.
Our Solution—The Siliconization of Optical Interconnect Technology
We have developed several families of high-speed coherent interconnect modules that reduce the complexity, size,
power consumption and cost of optical interconnect technology, while simultaneously improving network performance, speed
and accelerating the pace of innovation in the optical networking industry. We build these advanced optical interconnect
products using silicon, by implementing optical interconnect technology in a silicon-based platform, a process we refer to as
the siliconization of optical interconnect. The siliconization of optical interconnect allows us to integrate previously disparate
optical functions into a single solution, leading to significant improvements in density and cost and allowing us to benefit from
ongoing advances in CMOS. Our optical interconnect solution includes sophisticated modules that perform a majority of the
digital signal processing and optical functions required to process network traffic at transmission speeds of 100 Gbps and above
in long-haul, metro and inter-data center networks. Our modules meet the needs of cloud and service providers for optical
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interconnect products in a simple, open, high-performance form factor that can be easily integrated in a cost-effective manner
with existing network equipment.
Our optical interconnect products are powered by our internally developed and purpose-built coherent DSP ASICs and/
or silicon PICs. Our coherent DSP ASICs and silicon PICs are engineered to work together, and each integrates numerous
signal processing and optical functions that together deliver a complete, cost-effective high-speed coherent optical interconnect
solution in a small footprint that requires low power and provides significant automation and management capabilities. We
believe that our highly integrated optical interconnect modules, which are based on our coherent DSP ASIC and silicon PIC,
were, at the time of market introduction, the industry’s first interconnect modules to deliver transmission speeds of 100 Gbps
and higher. Prior to the introduction of our highly integrated optical interconnect modules, we believe that these transmission
speeds were not possible in modules in an industry standard form factor without sacrificing signal quality or other performance
characteristics. For example, our CFP- and CFP2-DCO modules, which are based on the industry-standard CFP and CFP2 form
factors, enable cloud and service providers to easily upgrade their existing metro and inter-data center networks to 100 Gbps
and 200 Gbps using their existing, deployed equipment chassis or newly designed network equipment with CFP slot
capabilities. Furthermore, by providing an integrated solution that incorporates digital signal processing and optical
functionality required to process and transmit data through a high-speed optical channel, our optical interconnect products
reduce the resource requirements of the network equipment manufacturers necessary to build and service equipment with high-
speed optical interconnect functionality.
We believe we were the first independent vendor to introduce at commercial scale both a coherent DSP ASIC and a
silicon PIC integrated into an optical interconnect module. By designing our silicon PIC in CMOS, which is widely used in the
semiconductor industry and generally does not require special packaging, we are able to reduce cost, increase reliability and
take advantage of the ongoing improvement of CMOS technology, as well as contract with foundries for the manufacture of
many of our products. Our silicon PIC incorporates several key optics functions, including modulation and transmission/
reception functions, and supports transmission distances for long-haul, metro and inter-data center applications. We believe that
our silicon PIC was the first commercially available PIC to include all of these functions over a broad range of transmission
distances. By building both our coherent DSP ASIC and our silicon PIC in CMOS, we can improve the performance and
efficiency of the optical interconnect technology and benefit from engineering synergies.
The advantages of our solution include:
•
Industry-leading speed, density and power consumption. We believe that our coherent DSP ASICs, silicon PICs
and 100 to 1,200 Gbps optical interconnect modules consume less power and have higher density than comparable
optical interconnect products. Our modules perform functions that have traditionally been provided by several
discrete pieces of network equipment.
• Breadth of integration. By integrating many photonic functions into our silicon PIC and further integrating our
silicon PIC in our modules, we enable simplified network equipment designs and reduce the amount of development
and optical engineering our customers would otherwise do internally, thereby freeing up their engineering resources
to focus on other networking functions.
•
Software intelligence. Our products incorporate software intelligence that automates tasks, such as channel
provisioning, and increases manageability through a high level of software features, including increased monitoring
and optimization.
• Cost-efficiency. We are able to offer our products at attractive price points as a result of the scale and process
benefits of our CMOS platforms. In addition, the performance capabilities of our products permit greater flexibility
and can reduce both design cost for the network equipment manufacturer and network design and ongoing
operational cost for the cloud or service provider.
• Ease of deployment. By leveraging industry-standard interfaces, our modules enable cloud and service providers
to immediately increase the speed and capacity of their networks by replacing their legacy 10 or 40 Gbps
components with our 100 to 1,200 Gbps modules in their existing equipment. Our modules can also easily be
deployed in next generation network equipment.
Our Competitive Strengths
Our goal is to maintain and extend our competitive advantages through rapid innovation delivering industry-leading
high-speed interconnect products to our customers by focusing on the following key areas:
• Leading provider of high-speed integrated optical interconnect modules. We believe we were the first
independent vendor to introduce at commercial scale both a coherent DSP ASIC and a silicon PIC integrated into an
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optical interconnect module capable of transmission speeds of 100 Gbps and above. Our modules solve many of the
shortcomings of existing interconnect solutions and meet the majority of a cloud or service provider’s interconnect
needs in a standard and compact form factor that can be easily integrated with other network equipment. Our
coherent DSP ASICs and silicon PICs enable us to offer advanced optical interconnect products with desirable
features such as high density, low power and high performance.
• Track record of rapid innovation driven by advanced design methodologies. We maximize the pace of
innovation through a number of measures, including the creation of an expanding tool box of digital signal
processing algorithms, ASIC implementations, CMOS-compatible optics subsystems and related intellectual
property, which enable us to develop complex products at a competitive pace by reusing and expanding existing
solutions. Our development, verification and test infrastructure and methodologies involve extensive automation,
which increase the speed and quality of our development. Our ability to innovate at a rapid pace enables us to offer
products purpose-built for different applications and based on the newest CMOS technology. We believe these
design, innovation and development capabilities have enabled us, and we believe will continue to enable us, to
develop and introduce state-of-the-art optical interconnect modules, coherent DSP ASICs and silicon PICs for use in
applications across multiple markets, including long-haul, metro and inter-data center.
• Leveraging the strength of CMOS for photonics. The density and cost of high-speed optical interconnect
products have traditionally been determined by the photonic components. Implementing the photonic components in
CMOS, and using CMOS as the platform for the integration of multiple discrete photonics functions, enables us to
significantly reduce the density and cost of our optical interconnect products compared to traditional approaches,
which typically rely on complex materials such as lithium niobate, which does not permit the same level of
integration, and does not benefit from the ongoing advances in CMOS technology driven by the entire electronics
industry.
• Proprietary software framework enables simplified configuration and deployment. We have made substantial
investments in the software components of our products, which we believe is key to increasing the performance and
reducing the capital expenditures and operating expenses associated with high-speed networks. Our software
framework also facilitates the integration of the many complex digital signal processing, ASIC, hardware and
optical functions required in high-speed interconnect technologies and enables our customers to integrate our
products easily into their existing networks. Through the use of software, we are able to configure the same product
to be deployed in various network types with different needs and requirements, without the need to modify or
reconfigure the network’s architecture, providing us with significant development and manufacturing efficiencies.
• Customer collaboration provides deep understanding of market needs. We collaborate closely with network
equipment manufacturers, as well as directly with many cloud and service providers, and solicit their input as they
design their network equipment and as we design our next-generation products. This provides us with deep insights
into the current and future needs of our customers and the market, which in turn enables us to develop and deliver
products that meet customer demands and anticipate market developments.
•
Strong management and engineering teams with significant industry expertise. We have deliberately built our
management and engineering teams, of which our founders remain a key part, to include personnel with extensive
experience in optical systems and networking, digital signal processing, large-scale ASIC design and verification,
silicon photonic integration, system software development, hardware design and high-speed electronics design. As
of December 31, 2018, approximately 77% of our employees are engineers or have other technical backgrounds,
and approximately 48% of our employees hold a Ph.D. or other advanced degree. Each element of our solution is
developed by experts in the relevant field. Our collaborative development culture encourages employees with
diverse experiences and expertise to work together to create innovative solutions.
Our Strategy
Our goal is to become the leading provider of high-speed interconnect technology that underpins the world’s data and
communication networks. To grow our business and achieve our mission, we are pursuing the following strategies:
• Continue to innovate and extend our technology leadership. Our coherent DSP ASICs and silicon PICs are at the
heart of our products’ abilities to deliver cost-efficient high performance. We intend to continue to invest in our
technology to deliver innovative and high-performance products and to identify and solve challenging interconnect
needs. We expect that our continued investments in research and development will enable us to expand and enhance
the capabilities of our CMOS-based products in order to continue to develop higher-capacity and higher-density
software-enabled products. We are also developing a 400ZR module that will expand our pluggable module product
group, and enable inter-data center transmission capacity of 400 Gbps in the same compact pluggable form factors
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used for 400G client optics, including QSFP-DD and OSFP. We also plan to continue to invest in silicon PIC
innovation and its optimization with our coherent DSP ASICs in order to serve the growing demand for bandwidth.
•
Increase penetration within our existing customer base. We focus heavily on the needs of our customers and
frequently innovate in partnership with them to deliver cost-effective products that meet their specific needs. As we
continue to enhance and expand our product groups, and as our existing customers seek to expand and improve their
network equipment technology, we believe there is potential to generate additional revenue through sales of existing
and new products to these customers.
• Continue to expand customer base. We believe there continues to be unmet need for high-speed, cost-efficient
interconnect products among cloud and service providers. Historically, our sales were primarily to network
equipment manufacturers that did not have internally developed coherent DSP ASICs. More recently, we have had
success in marketing and selling our products to network equipment manufacturers that have internally developed
their own coherent DSP ASICs. We believe that the benefits of our solution, supported by the success of existing
customers as references, will drive more network equipment manufacturers to purchase their interconnect products
from us. We plan to continue to acquire new customers through expanded sales and marketing and brand recognition
efforts.
• Grow into adjacent markets. We believe that growth in fiber optics-based communications is likely to accelerate,
partly driven by the cost and density advantages of our CMOS solution, and that this growth, together with
expansion in other markets that depend on high-speed networking capabilities, as well as adjacent markets, such as
access aggregation in 5G, Multi-System Operators and Fiber to the x, and intra-data center networking, will result in
demand for additional applications for our products. These adjacent markets often place a greater importance on
interoperability standards than traditional telecom applications. The purpose of the 400ZR project at the Optical
Internetworking Forum, and parallel efforts at CableLabs and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,
or IEEE, is to address this need for interoperability and, in some cases, consider additional specifications and
requirements of these adjacent market applications. We believe our ability to develop compact, pluggable, low-
power optical interconnect products will create further opportunities for us to serve new types of customers,
including companies that do not have sufficient optical engineering expertise to develop systems using current
interconnect technologies.
•
Selectively pursue investments, acquisitions or other strategic transactions. Although we are focused on
expanding our market share organically, we may pursue investments, acquisitions or other strategic transactions that
complement our existing business, represent a strategic fit and are consistent with our overall growth strategy.
Our Products
Our products fall into three product groups: embedded modules, pluggable modules and semiconductors. Our optical
interconnect technology products consist of families of high-capability, scalable, cost-efficient optical interconnect modules
that are rooted in our coherent DSP ASIC and silicon PIC components. Our embedded module and pluggable module product
groups consist of optical interconnect modules with transmission speeds ranging from 100 to 1,200 Gbps per module for use in
long-haul, metro and inter-data center markets. Our module products incorporate our proprietary advanced system-in-a-module
software, which, through a standardized interface, enables seamless installation, configuration and operation and a high level of
performance monitoring. Our semiconductor product group consists of our low-power coherent DSP ASICs and our silicon
PICs, which are either integrated into our embedded and pluggable modules or sold to customers on a standalone basis for
integration into internally developed or other merchant modules.
We have developed and manufacture, sell and support the following high-speed coherent interconnect modules and
components across three product groups:
Embedded Modules
AC1200 Flex Product Family
Our AC1200 product family, currently ramping in production, utilizes two wavelengths, with up to 600 Gbps capacity
each, and supports transmission capacity of up to 1,200 Gbps. Our AC1200 module is software configurable to optimize
transmission speeds, fiber capacity, compensation for signal impairment and power consumption for multiple network
applications, including inter-data center, metro, long-haul and submarine.
AC400 Flex Product Family
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Our AC400 Flex product family supports transmission capacities ranging from 100 to 400 Gbps per module in a 5” x 7”
form factor. Modules in our AC400 Flex product family are software configurable to optimize transmission speeds, fiber
capacity, compensation for signal impairment and power consumption for multiple network applications, including inter-data
center, metro, long-haul and submarine, spanning transmission distances up to 12,000 km and greater.
AC100-MSA Product Family
Our AC100-MSA product family supports 100 Gbps transmission speeds over distances of up to 12,000 km in an
industry-standard 5” x 7” form factor. The modules in our AC100-MSA product family rely on advanced soft decision forward
error correction, or FEC, and are mainly used in metro and long-haul network applications. This product is approaching the end
of its volume life cycle.
Pluggable Modules
CFP2-DCO Product Family
Our CFP2-DCO product family supports up to 200 Gbps transmission speeds, using QPSK, 8QAM and 16QAM
modulation, over distances of up to 2,500 km in an industry standard CFP2 form factor. The module supports interoperable
staircase FEC, as well as Acacia proprietary soft decision FEC, and is mainly used in inter-data center, metro and long-haul
network applications.
CFP2-ACO Product Family
Our CFP2-ACO product family supports transmission speeds of up to 200 Gbps over distances of up to 2,500 km using
an industry-standard, CFP2 pluggable form factor that was designed in accordance with the Implementation Agreement defined
by the Optical Internetworking Forum. This module has an analog electrical interface and a linear optical transmitter and
receiver that supports multiple modulation formats and transmission capabilities of 100 and 200 Gbps based on the selected
format. Our CFP2-ACO offers an optics-only solution for customers who currently rely on in-house DSP capabilities.
AC100-CFP Product Family
Our AC100-CFP product family supports 100 Gbps transmission speeds over distances of up to 2,500 km in an industry-
standard, pluggable CFP form factor. The modules in our AC100-CFP product family utilize our internally developed silicon
PIC technology and are mainly used in metro, inter-data center and long-haul network applications.
Semiconductors
DSP ASICs
Our coherent DSP ASICs incorporate our proprietary signal processing algorithms to meet the power and performance
requirements of the inter-data center, metro, long-haul and submarine markets. We selectively offer our coherent DSP ASIC as
a standalone component to customers designing their own coherent modules and line-cards.
Silicon PICs
Our coherent silicon PICs incorporate multiple coherent optical functions, such as transmission and reception, in a single
package. The high level of integration in our silicon PICs enables high density designs of coherent modules and linecards. We
selectively offer our silicon PIC as a standalone component to customers for designs that may or may not utilize our DSP
components.
Sales and Marketing
We curently market and sell our products through a direct sales force consisting of sales personnel and centralized and
field-based technical customer support and may in the future market and sell our products through third-party distributors. Our
sales force also works closely with our product line management personnel to support strategic sales activities.
Our products typically have a long sales cycle, requiring discussions with prospective customers in order to better
understand their network and system level requirements and technology roadmaps. Our customers are predominantly network
equipment manufacturers, network operators and cloud service providers and we have discussions with them regarding the
8
requirements of their end customers, which provides our sales force with insight into how our products will be integrated into
our customers’ solutions and how these systems will be deployed in the networks of their end customers. This sales process
requires us to develop strong customer relationships. The period of time from our initial contact with a prospective or current
customer to the receipt of purchase orders for high-volume production is frequently a year or more. Prospective customers
perform system and network level testing before equipment is deployed in a network carrying live traffic. We perform
extensive reliability and verification testing based on industry standards and as further guided by the requirements of our
customers. This phase of our sales cycle can take several months and purchase arrangements may not be entered into until after
this phase is completed. In addition, once the first purchase order is placed by a customer, it may take several months or longer
for that customer to increase the volume of its purchases.
We invest time and resources to meet with leading carriers and cloud service providers to understand network system
performance issues. These efforts provide us with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by carriers and cloud service
providers which, in turn, enables us to focus our future product and technology development efforts to address those
challenges. For example, understanding that several of our customers are planning to adopt technologies that enable up to 1,000
Gbps and higher transmission speeds, we are currently developing products to satisfy these requirements.
Our in-house sales personnel also assist customers with orders, delivery requirements and warranty returns. Our
technical support engineers respond to technical and product-related questions, provide simulation tools to enable customers to
optimize their optical link design and provide application support to customers who have incorporated our products into their
systems. In general, we have centralized our technical support operations at our corporate headquarters in Maynard,
Massachusetts. Our centralized customer support operations allow our technical customer support personnel to work directly
with our research and development and operations personnel on first-line customer technical support as well as escalated
specialized technical support, which reduces the time it takes to identify and address our customers’ issues and helps our
personnel maintain and improve upon their technical skills. We also provide first-line customer technical support to our
international customers on-site from our offices in California, China and Europe.
Customers
The number of customers who have purchased and deployed our products has increased from eight in 2011 to more than
30 during 2018. We have historically generated most of our revenue from a limited number of customers. In 2018, 2017 and
2016, our five largest customers in each period (which differed by period) collectively accounted for 74%, 70% and 78% of our
revenue, respectively. In 2018, ZTE, Infinera Corporation, or Infinera, which on October 1, 2018 acquired another of our
customers, Coriant, Inc, or Coriant, including all 2018 revenue from Infinera and Coriant, ADVA Optical Networking North
America, Inc., or ADVA, and Cisco Systems, Inc. and its affiliates, together Cisco, accounted for 20%, 17%, 15% and 14% of
our revenue, respectively. In 2017, ZTE, ADVA and Coriant accounted for 30%, 15% and 11% of our revenue, respectively. In
2016, ZTE and ADVA accounted for 32% and 26% of our revenue, respectively.
Manufacturing
We utilize a range of CMOS and CMOS-compatible processes to develop and manufacture the coherent DSP ASICs,
silicon PICs and other components that are designed into our modules. We select the semiconductor process and foundry that
provides the best combination of performance, cost and feature attributes necessary for our products.
We engage two contract manufacturers to test, build and inspect modules incorporating our coherent DSP ASICs, silicon
PICs and other components for high-volume production of our products. These contract manufacturers also implement many
customer-specific configurations and packaging requirements before shipment to our customers. We build the test systems used
by our contract manufacturers. We also directly manufacture prototype products during initial new product introduction. We
believe our outsourced manufacturing model enables us to focus our resources and expertise on the design, sale, support and
marketing of our products to best meet customer requirements. We also believe that this manufacturing model provides us with
the flexibility required to respond to new market opportunities and changes in customer demand, simplifies the scope of our
operations and administrative processes and significantly reduces our working capital requirements, while providing the ability
to scale production rapidly.
We subject our contract manufacturers, fabrication foundries and the suppliers of standard, as well as our custom-
designed, components to qualification requirements in order to meet the high quality and reliability standards required of our
products. Our engineers and supply chain personnel work closely with our contract manufacturers and fabrication foundries to
increase yield, reduce manufacturing costs, improve product quality and ensure that component sourcing strategies are in place
to support our manufacturing needs.
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Research and Development
Our engineering group has extensive experience in optical systems and networking, digital signal processing, ASIC
development and design, silicon photonic integration, system software development and high-speed electronics design. As of
December 31, 2018, approximately 77% of all our employees are engineers or have other technical backgrounds, and
approximately 48% of all our employees hold a Ph.D. or other advanced degree. We utilize our hardware and software
expertise to integrate coherent DSP ASICs and silicon PICs into high-speed interconnect products that are compatible with
industry-standard form factor, interfaces and power consumption requirements. We participate in industry groups such as Open
ROADM, Optical Internetworking Forum, CableLabs and IEEE to help drive the industry towards standardization that allows
for the integration of our products into diverse optical systems. In addition, we offer our integration expertise to our customers
to help expedite their adoption of new products.
We use simulation tools at many levels of product development, reducing the number of design errors and the need for
costly and time consuming development cycles. Our simulation environment makes use of industry standard computer aided
design tools as well as models and tools that are developed internally. Our simulation tools also allow us to make efficient
tradeoffs between power consumption, size and performance early in the development cycle. We believe this contributes to the
ability of our products to deliver superior performance with low power consumption.
Our research and development facilities are located in Maynard, Massachusetts, Holmdel, New Jersey, San Jose,
California, Ottawa, Canada, Bengaluru, India and Wooburn Green, United Kingdom. We have devoted approximately 116,000
square feet of space to our research and development facilities, which we expect to increase in the future. Our research and
development facilities are equipped with industry standard test equipment, including optical spectrum analyzers, high-speed
sampling oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, wafer probes, wafer saws, optical network and Ethernet test sets, thousands of
kilometers of optical fiber and associated optical amplifiers and other optical test equipment. We use these facilities to conduct
comprehensive testing and validation procedures on internally produced chips, components and products before transferring
production to our contract manufacturers for commercial, higher-volume manufacturing.
As research and development is critical to our continuing success, we are committed to maintaining high levels of
research and development over the long term. We incurred research and development expenses of $102.4 million, $92.0 million
and $75.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Intellectual Property
Our success and ability to compete depend substantially upon our core technology and intellectual property rights. We
generally rely on patent, trademark and copyright laws, trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect our
intellectual property rights. In addition, we generally require employees and consultants to execute appropriate non-disclosure
and proprietary rights agreements. These agreements acknowledge our exclusive ownership of intellectual property developed
for us and require that all proprietary information remain confidential.
We maintain a program designed to identify technology that is appropriate for patent and trade secret protection, and we
file patent applications in the United States and, when appropriate, certain other countries for inventions that we consider
significant. As of December 31, 2018, we had 52 patents granted in the United States and three patents granted in foreign
jurisdictions, which expire between 2027 and 2037. We also had 63 patent applications pending in the United States, five patent
applications pending under Patent Cooperation Treaty filings, 20 pending foreign patent applications. Although our business is
not materially dependent upon any one patent, our patent rights and the products made and sold under our patents, taken as a
whole, are a significant element of our business. In addition to patents, we also possess other intellectual property, including
trademarks, know-how, trade secrets, design rights and copyrights. We control access to and use of our software, technology
and other proprietary information through internal and external controls, including contractual protections with employees,
contractors, customers and partners. Our software is protected by U.S. and international copyright, patent and trade secret laws.
Despite our efforts to protect our software, technology and other proprietary information, unauthorized parties may still copy or
otherwise obtain and use our software, technology and other proprietary information. In addition, we have expanded our
international operations, and effective patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret protection may not be available or may be
limited in foreign countries.
Companies in the industry in which we operate frequently are sued or receive informal claims of patent infringement or
infringement of other intellectual property rights. We have, from time to time, received such claims from companies, including
from competitors and customers, some of which have substantially more resources and have been developing relevant
technology for much longer than us. As we become more successful, we believe that competitors will be more likely to try to
develop products that are similar to ours and that may infringe our proprietary rights. It may also be more likely that
10
competitors or other third parties will claim that our products infringe their proprietary rights. Successful claims of
infringement by a third party, if any, could result in significant penalties or injunctions that could prevent us from selling some
of our products in certain markets, result in settlements or judgments that require payment of significant royalties or damages
or require us to expend time and money to develop non-infringing products. We cannot assure you that we do not currently
infringe, or that we will not in the future infringe, upon any third-party patents or other proprietary rights.
Competition
The optical communications markets are highly competitive and rapidly evolving. We compete with domestic and
international companies, many of which have substantially greater financial and other resources than we do. We encounter
substantial competition in most of our markets, although we believe we have few competitors that compete with us across all
our product lines and markets. Our principal competitors in one or more of our product lines or markets include Finisar, Fujitsu
Optical Components, Inphi, Lumentum Holdings, NEL, Neophotonics and Sumitomo Electric Industries. We also compete with
internally developed coherent interconnect solutions of certain network equipment manufacturers, including Ciena, Huawei and
Nokia (formerly Alcatel-Lucent). Finally, we face competition from optical interconnect modules that are the result of joint
developments among certain of the competitors listed above. Consolidation in the optical systems and components industry has
increased in recent years, and future consolidation could further intensify the competitive pressures that we face.
The principal competitive factors upon which we compete include performance, low power consumption, rapid
innovation, breadth of product line, availability, product reliability, reputation, level of integration and cost, multi-sourcing and
selling price. We believe that we compete effectively by offering high levels of customer value through high speed, high
density, low power consumption, broad integration of photonic functions, software intelligence for configuration, control and
monitoring, cost-efficiency, ease of deployment and collaborative product design. We cannot be certain we will continue to
compete effectively.
We also may face competition from companies that may expand into our industry and introduce additional competitive
products. The same standardization that allows for the integration of our products into diverse optical systems carries the side
effect of lowing the competitive threshold for new market entrants. Existing and potential customers and strategic partners are
also potential competitors. These customers may internally develop or acquire additional competitive products or technologies,
selectively, or through consolidation of the companies in our industry, which may cause them to reduce or cease their purchases
from us.
Government Regulation
Our products and services are subject to export controls, including the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export
Administration Regulations and economic and trade sanctions regulations administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s
Office of Foreign Assets Controls, and similar laws and regulations that apply in other jurisdictions in which we distribute or
sell our products and services. Export control and economic sanctions laws and regulations include restrictions and prohibitions
on the sale or supply of certain products and services and on our transfer of parts, components, and related technical
information and know-how to certain countries, regions, governments, persons and entities. For example, on April 15, 2018, the
U.S. Department of Commerce activated a denial order against ZTE and an affiliated company based on adverse findings
relating to the activities covered by ZTE’s 2016 settlement with the U.S. Department of Commerce to resolve charges of export
control violations by ZTE. This denial order added ZTE and the affiliate to the “Denied Persons List,” suspending U.S. export
privileges of ZTE and the affiliate, prohibiting them from participating in transactions subject to U.S. Department of Commerce
export control regulations, and prohibiting other businesses and individuals, including us, from certain activities in support of
ZTE’s business. On June 8, 2018, ZTE and the U.S. Department of Commerce reached a new settlement imposing additional
penalties and compliance measures upon ZTE, pursuant to which the denial order was terminated and ZTE was removed from
the Denied Persons List effective July 13, 2018. Although this further U.S. Department of Commerce action authorized us to
resume sales to and related activities involving ZTE, there can be no guarantee that the U.S. Congress or U.S. regulatory
authorities will not take future legislative or regulatory action that may materially interfere with our ability to make sales to
ZTE or other of our customers, particularly in China. Even without such action, we would be prohibited from exporting our
products to any foreign recipient if we have knowledge that a violation of U.S. export regulations has occurred, is about to
occur, or is intended to occur in connection with the item. In addition, various countries regulate the importation of certain
products, through import permitting and licensing requirements, and have enacted laws that could limit our ability to distribute
our products. The exportation, re-exportation, transfers within foreign countries, and importation of our products, including by
our partners, must comply with these laws and regulations.
We are also subject to various domestic and international anti-corruption laws, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act, and similar anti-bribery and anti-kickback laws and regulations in other places where we
11
do business. These laws and regulations generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from offering or making
improper payments to governmental, political and certain international organization officials for the purpose of obtaining,
retaining or directing business. Our exposure for violating these laws and regulations increases as our international presence
expands and as we increase sales and operations in foreign jurisdictions.
In addition, we are subject to, or are expected to facilitate our customers’ compliance with, environmental, health and
safety laws and regulations in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate or sell our products. These laws and regulations
govern, among other things, the handling and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, employee health and safety and the
use of hazardous materials in, and the recycling of, our products.
Employees
As of December 31, 2018, we employed 386 full-time employees, consisting of 192 in research and development, 98 in
operations, which includes manufacturing, supply chain, quality control and assurance, 96 in executive, sales, general and
administrative, and five part-time employees. We have never had a work stoppage, and none of our employees is represented by
a labor organization or under any collective bargaining arrangements. We consider our employee relations to be good.
Our Corporate Information
We were incorporated in the State of Delaware in June 2009. Our principal executive offices are located at Three Mill
and Main Place, Suite 400, Maynard, MA 01754, and our telephone number at that address is (978) 938-4896. Our website
address is www.acacia-inc.com.
“Acacia Communications®,” “Acacia®,” “Connecting at the Speed of Light®,” our logo, and other trademarks or
tradenames of Acacia Communications, Inc. appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are our property. This Annual
Report on Form 10-K also contains trademarks and trade names of other companies, which are the property of their respective
owners. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may appear
without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest
extent under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and trade names.
Available Information
We make available free of charge through our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. We make these reports available through our website as
soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such reports with, or furnish such reports to, the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or SEC. We also make available, free of charge on our website, the reports filed with the SEC by our
executive officers, directors and 10% stockholders pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably
practicable after copies of such filings are provided to us by the reporting persons. The information contained on, or that can be
accessed through, our website is neither a part of, nor incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
12
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
The following risk factors and other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be carefully
considered. These risk factors may be important to understanding other statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The
following information should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes in Part II, Item 8, “Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not
presently known to us or that we presently deem less significant may also impair our business operations. Please see page 1 of
this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of some of the forward-looking statements that are qualified by these risk
factors. If any of these risks occurs, our business, financial condition, operating results, cash flow and prospects could be
materially and adversely affected.
Because of the following factors, as well as other factors affecting our financial condition and operating results, past
financial performance should not be considered to be a reliable indicator of future performance, and investors should not use
historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We depend on a limited number of customers for a significant percentage of our revenue and the loss or temporary loss of a
major customer for any reason could harm our financial condition.
We have historically generated most of our revenue from a limited number of customers. In 2018, 2017 and 2016, our
five largest customers in each period (which differed by period) collectively accounted for 74%, 70% and 78% respectively, of
our revenue. In 2018, ZTE, Infinera, which on October 1, 2018 acquired another of our customers, Coriant, including all 2018
revenue from Infinera and Coriant, ADVA and Cisco accounted for 20%, 17%, 15% and 14% of our revenue, respectively. In
2017, ZTE, ADVA and Coriant accounted for 30%, 15% and 11% of our revenue, respectively. In 2016, ZTE and ADVA
accounted for 32% and 26% of our revenue, respectively. As a consequence of the concentrated nature of our customer base,
our quarterly revenue and results of operations may fluctuate from quarter to quarter and are difficult to estimate, and any
cancellation of orders or any acceleration or delay in anticipated product purchases or the acceptance of shipped products by
our larger customers or any government-mandated inability to sell to any of our larger customers could materially affect our
revenue and results of operations in any quarterly period.
For example, on April 15, 2018, the U.S. Department of Commerce activated a denial order against ZTE and an
affiliated company based on adverse findings relating to the activities covered by ZTE’s 2016 settlement with the U.S.
Department of Commerce to resolve charges of export control violations by ZTE. This denial order added ZTE and the affiliate
to the “Denied Persons List,” suspending U.S. export privileges of ZTE and the affiliate, prohibiting them from participating in
transactions subject to U.S. Department of Commerce export control regulations, and prohibiting other businesses and
individuals, including us, from certain activities in support of ZTE’s business. On June 8, 2018, ZTE and the U.S. Department
of Commerce reached a new settlement imposing additional penalties and compliance measures upon ZTE, pursuant to which
the denial order was terminated and ZTE was removed from the Denied Persons List effective July 13, 2018. Although this
further U.S. Department of Commerce action authorized us to resume sales to and related activities involving ZTE, any
violations by ZTE of the latest settlement may trigger a new, ten-year denial order. We may need to suspend our business with
ZTE or other customers if we conclude or are notified by the U.S. Department of Commerce that such business presents an
unacceptable risk of noncompliance with U.S. regulations, or if we determine that continued business with such customers is
not feasible or desirable.
We may be unable to sustain or increase our revenue from our larger customers, grow revenues with new or other
existing customers at the rate we anticipate or at all, or offset the discontinuation of concentrated purchases by our larger
customers with purchases by new or existing customers. These larger customers may also reduce or discontinue their purchases
of our products in the event they transition to internally developed products or determine to divide their purchases of our
products between us and a second source. We expect that such concentrated purchases will continue to contribute materially to
our revenue for the foreseeable future and that our results of operations may fluctuate materially as a result of such larger
customers’ buying patterns. For example, one of our larger customers made significant purchases in the first quarter of 2018
and reduced orders substantially in the second quarter of 2018 before returning to a higher level of purchasing in the second
half of 2018. We have experienced similar unevenness in purchases by our larger customers in prior years. Further, the markets
our customers sell into may experience slower deployment than anticipated or these customers may lose market share with their
end customers. In addition, we have seen, and may in the future see consolidation of our customer base which could result in
loss of customers, reduced purchases or may increase the concentration of our customer purchases. The loss or temporary loss
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of such customers, or a significant delay or reduction in their purchases, could materially harm our business, financial
condition, results of operations and prospects.
The future success of our business is substantially dependent on our successful development and release of new products.
The markets for our products are characterized by changes and improvements in existing technologies and the
introduction of new technology approaches. The future success of our business will depend in large part upon the continuing
relevance of our technological capabilities, our ability to interpret customer and market requirements in advance of product
deliveries and our ability to introduce in a timely manner new products that address our customers’ requirements for more cost-
effective bandwidth solutions. The development of new products is a complex process, and we may experience delays and
failures in completing the development, qualification, introduction and volume ramp of new products. Our successful product
development depends on a number of factors, including the following:
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the accurate prediction of market requirements, changes in technology and evolving standards;
the availability of qualified product designers and technologies needed to solve difficult design challenges in a cost-
effective, reliable manner;
our ability to design products that meet customers’ cost, size, acceptance and specification criteria and performance
requirements, as well as requirements and specifications established by industry groups or standards bodies;
our ability to manufacture new products with acceptable quality and manufacturing yields in a sufficient quantity to
meet customer demand and according to customer needs;
our ability to offer new products at competitive prices;
our dependence on suppliers to deliver in a timely manner materials that are critical components of our products;
our dependence on single-source supplier and the impact of industry-wide component constraints;
our dependence on third-party manufacturers to successfully manufacture our products in accordance with the
specifications that we and our customers require;
the identification of and entry into new markets for our products;
the acceptance of our customers’ products by the market and the lifecycle of such products; and
our ability to deliver products in a timely manner within our customers’ product planning and deployment cycle.
In general, a new product development effort may last two years or longer, and requires significant investments in
engineering hours, third-party development costs, equipment, prototypes and sample materials, as well as sales and marketing
expenses, which will not be recouped if the product launch is unsuccessful. We may not be able to design and introduce new
products in a timely or cost-efficient manner, and our new products may be costlier to develop, may fail to meet the
requirements of the market or our customers, or may be adopted by customers slower than we expect. In that case, we may not
reach our expected level of production orders and may lose market share, which could adversely affect our ability to maintain
our current revenue levels or resume revenue growth.
The failure to increase sales of our products to our customers and expand our customer base as anticipated could adversely
affect our future revenue and business.
We believe that our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to expand sales of our products to our existing
customers for use in a customer’s existing or new product offerings. Our future success will also depend on our ability to
continue to expand our customer base and drive the adoption of our products in adjacent markets. Our efforts to increase
product sales to new and existing customers may generate less revenue than anticipated or take longer than anticipated. Further,
our customers may elect to develop in-house modules, purchase modules that incorporate our DSP ASICs from alternate
sources, or purchase lower-cost components, such as our DSP ASICs or silicon PICs, in place of modules, which could
negatively affect our revenue. If we are unable to increase sales to our new and existing customers, expand our customer base
or expand into adjacent markets as anticipated, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be
adversely affected.
Product quality problems, defects, errors or vulnerabilities in our products could harm our reputation and adversely affect
our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
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We produce highly complex products that incorporate advanced technologies and that we believe to be state-of-the-art
for our industry. Despite our testing prior to their release, our products may contain undetected defects or errors, including
design, contract manufacturing or supplier quality issues, especially when first introduced or when new versions are released.
Product defects or errors have in the past and in the future could affect the performance of our products and could delay the
development or release of new products or new versions of products. Allegations of unsatisfactory performance could cause us
to lose revenue or market share, damage our reputation in the market and with customers, increase our warranty costs and
related returns which would negatively impact our gross margins, cause us to incur substantial costs in redesigning the
products, cause us to lose significant customers, subject us to liability for damages or divert our resources from other tasks, any
one of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. For
example, we experienced a negative impact on product performance in the second quarter of 2017 in connection with the
quality issue at one of our contract manufacturers, as described in Note 12, Commitments and Contingencies of the “Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements” contained in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which we refer to as the
Quality Issue. This resulted in a charge to the cost of revenue in our income statement during the second quarter of 2017.
From time to time, we have had to replace certain components of products that we had shipped and provide remediation
in response to the discovery of defects or bugs, including deficiencies in components provided by our suppliers and failures in
software protocols or defective component batches resulting in reliability issues, in such products, and we may be required to
do so in the future. We may also be required to provide full replacements, refunds or extend warranty terms for such defective
products. Such remediation could have a material effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects.
Quality control problems in manufacturing could result in delays in product shipments to customers or in quality problems
with our products which could adversely affect our business.
We have and in the future may again experience quality control problems in our manufacturing operations or the
manufacturing operations of our contract manufacturers. For example, we experienced product quality control problems in the
second quarter of 2017 in connection with the Quality Issue. If we are unable to promptly identify and correct certain quality
issues in our products prior to the products’ being shipped to customers, failure of our deployed products could cause failures in
our customers’ products, which could require us to issue a product recall or trigger epidemic failure claims pursuant to our
customer contracts, which may require us to indemnify or pay liquidated damages to affected customers, repair or replace
damaged products, or discontinue or significantly delay shipments. Quality control problems with materials provided by
suppliers may adversely impact our ability to ship our products to customers. Undetected quality problems may prompt
unexpected product returns and adversely affect warranty costs. As a result, we could experience a decline in revenue from
existing customers or the loss of a customer entirely, or incur additional costs that would adversely affect our gross margins. In
addition, even if a problem is identified and corrected at the manufacturing stage, product shipments to our customers could be
delayed, which would negatively affect our revenue, competitive position and reputation.
If we fail to accurately predict market requirements or market demand for our products, our business, competitive position
and operating results will suffer.
We operate in a dynamic and competitive industry and use significant resources to develop new products for existing
and new markets. After we have developed a product, there is no guarantee that our customers will integrate our product into
their equipment or devices and, ultimately, bring the equipment and devices incorporating our product to market, including
because we may be considered a sole-source supplier with a relatively limited operating history or, with respect to certain of
our products, because we have enabled a second source supplier who may capture market share. In addition, there is no
guarantee that cloud, network and communications service providers will ultimately choose to purchase network equipment
that incorporates our products. In these situations, we may never produce or deliver significant quantities of our products, even
after incurring substantial development expenses. From the time a customer elects to integrate our interconnect technology into
their product, it typically takes 18 to 24 months for high-volume production of that product to commence. After volume
production begins, we cannot be assured that the equipment or devices incorporating our product will gain market acceptance
by network operators.
If we fail to accurately predict and interpret market requirements or market demand for our new products, our business
and growth prospects will be harmed. If high-speed networks are deployed to a lesser extent or more slowly than we currently
anticipate, we may not realize anticipated benefits from our investments in research and development. For example, starting in
2017 our industry has been experiencing a slowdown in the rate of new network deployments in the China long-haul and metro
network markets, which, when combined with weakening prices and excess inventory, has resulted in a corresponding
slowdown in the order rate of certain of our Chinese customers. The combined impact of governmental policy and the cyclical
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nature of a major market has made it difficult to predict demand from Chinese customers. As a result, our business, competitive
position, market share and operating results have experienced, and may continue to experience, pressure.
As demand for our products in one market grows, demand in another market may decrease. For example, if we sell our
products directly to content providers in addition to network equipment manufacturers, our sales to network equipment
manufacturers may decrease due to reduced demand from their customers or due to dissatisfaction by network equipment
manufacturers with this change in our business model. Further, the inter-data center market is subject to upgrade cycles and
volatility driven by changing priorities. In addition, even in the event of expansion in our markets, we may not experience a
corresponding increase in demand for our products or competition may drive pricing pressure. Any reduction in demand in one
market that is not offset by an increase in demand in another market could adversely affect our market share or results of
operations.
We may not be able to maintain or improve our gross margins.
We may not be able to maintain or improve our gross margins. Factors such as significant decreases in our revenue, slow
introductions of new products, our failure to effectively reduce the cost of existing products, our failure to maintain or improve
our product mix or pricing, changes in customer demand or share allocation, annual, semi-annual or quarterly price reductions
in excess of industry forecasts and pricing discounts required under the terms of our customer contracts, pricing pressure
resulting from increased competition, the availability of superior, ‘good enough’ or lower-cost technologies, market
consolidation or the potential for future macroeconomic or market volatility to reduce sales volumes have and may continue to
adversely impact our gross margins. Our gross margins could also be adversely affected by unfavorable production yields or
variances, increases in or the inability to secure appropriate periodic decreases in costs of components and materials, the timing
changes in our inventory, warranty costs and quality-related returns, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, potential
inability to reduce manufacturing costs in response to any decrease in our revenue and possible exposure to inventory valuation
reserves. Our competitors have a history of reducing their prices to increase or avoid losing market share, and we may have to
reduce our prices to continue to effectively compete. If we are unable to maintain or improve our gross margins, our financial
results will be adversely affected.
We generate a significant portion of our revenue from international sales and rely on foreign manufacturers to make our
products, and therefore are subject to additional risks associated with our international operations.
Since January 1, 2013, we have shipped our products to customers located in 21 foreign countries. In 2018, 2017 and
2016, we derived 83%, 84% and 82%, respectively, of our revenue from sales to customers with ship-to locations outside the
United States. A significant portion of our international sales are made to customers with ship-to locations in China. In 2018,
2017 and 2016, we derived 29%, 39% and 41%, respectively, of our revenue from sales to customers with ship-to locations in
China. We also work with manufacturing facilities outside of the United States. We have expanded, and in the future may
further expand, our international operations to locate additional functions related to the development, manufacturing and sale of
our products outside of the United States. Our international operations are subject to inherent risks, and our results of
operations could be adversely affected by a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:
• U.S. or foreign governmental action, such as export control or import restrictions, that could prevent or significantly
hinder our ability to sell our products to certain customers or customers in certain foreign jurisdictions or build our
products internationally;
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greater difficulty in enforcing contracts and accounts receivable obligations and longer collection periods;
difficulties in managing and staffing international offices, and the increased travel, infrastructure and legal
compliance costs associated with multiple international locations;
the impact of general economic and political conditions in economies outside the United States, including the
uncertainty related to the pending withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, commonly known
as Brexit, and heightened economic and political uncertainty within and among other European Union member
states;
tariff and trade barriers, changes in custom and duties requirements or compliance interpretations and other
regulatory requirements or contractual limitations on our ability to sell or develop our products in certain foreign
markets and our ability to pass through to our customers any tariff or trade costs imposed on our products;
heightened risk of unfair or corrupt business practices in certain geographies and of improper or fraudulent sales
arrangements that may impact financial results and result in restatements of, or irregularities in, financial statements;
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greater difficulty documenting and testing our internal controls;
reduced protection for intellectual property rights in some countries;
potentially adverse tax consequences, including further reform to the U.S. tax code and international tax rules such
as the base erosion and profit shifting initiative;
the effects of changes in currency exchange rates;
changes in service provider and government spending patterns;
social, political and economic instability;
higher incidence of corruption or unethical business practices that could expose us to liability or damage our
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natural disasters, health epidemics and acts of war or terrorism.
The U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the Tax Act, enacted in December 2017, brings about far-ranging changes to the
existing corporate tax system and establishes a quasi-territorial system for taxing foreign-source income of multinational
corporations. It is not known what specific additional measures might be proposed or how they would be implemented or
enforced, or what effect emerging tax reform or other near-term Congressional action may have on other companies’ or our
business practices. Further, pending or new legislation or executive action in the United States that could significantly increase
our cost of manufacturing and, consequently, adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, may be
enacted.
In addition, international customers may also require that we comply with additional testing or customization of our
products to conform to local regulations or other standards, including environmental considerations, which could materially
increase the costs to sell our products in those markets.
As we continue to operate on an international basis, our success will depend, in large part, on our ability to anticipate
and effectively manage these and other risks associated with our international operations. Our failure to manage any of these
risks could harm our international operations and reduce our international sales.
Changes in U.S. trade policies could disrupt global supply, manufacturing and customer relationships, which may
materially increase costs of components contained in our products, increase our manufacturing costs and make our
products more expensive or unavailable in foreign markets.
The current U.S. Administration has made significant changes to U.S. trade policy, including new or increased tariffs on
a broad range of goods imported into the United States, particularly from China, with additional tariffs and other actions still
under consideration. Since we rely primarily upon non-U.S. manufacturers to make our products, such actions, whether adopted
or threatened, and the perceived negative effect of such actions, could have a disproportionate impact on us and make our
products more expensive and less competitive in domestic markets. Further, these changes in U.S. trade policy have triggered
retaliatory protectionist actions by affected countries, the continuation or expansion of which could restrict our ability to do
business in or with affected countries or could prohibit, reduce or discourage purchases of our products by foreign customers,
leading to increased costs of components contained in our products, increased costs of manufacturing our products, and higher
prices and reduced demand for our products in foreign markets. For example, there are risks that the Chinese government may,
among other things, impose additional or increased tariffs on imports of U.S. goods, require Chinese companies to use more
local suppliers, compel companies that do business in China to partner with local companies and provide incentives to
government-backed local customers to buy from local suppliers rather than companies like ours. In addition, foreign
governments may pursue internal programs and policies to develop domestic technologies that reduce foreign customers’
demand for our products. For example, China’s Made in China 2025 program aims to build industries in numerous
technological sectors, including 5G mobile communications, among others. As a result, risk of doing business in China is likely
to increase, if it has not already, including the risk of theft of intellectual property and data and potentially different treatment of
foreign owned intellectual property rights and data than that owned or developed in China. Changes in, and responses to, U.S.
trade policy could reduce the competitiveness of our products through increased costs and cause our sales and revenues to drop,
which could materially and adversely impact our business and results of operations. Moreover, escalating and retaliatory tariffs
or other protectionist measures among the U.S. and other countries may depress the overall economic condition of countries in
which our customers are located, such as China, which could harm our business.
We are subject to government regulation, including import, export, economic sanctions, privacy, and anti-corruption laws
and regulations that may limit our sales opportunities, expose us to liability and increase our costs.
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We are subject to those government regulations that relate to various aspects of our business. Government regulations
that are applicable to us are increasingly prevalent, continue to evolve and vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
Our products are subject to export controls, including the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Administration
Regulations and economic and trade sanctions regulations administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign
Assets Controls, and similar laws and regulations that apply in other jurisdictions in which we distribute or sell our products.
Export control and economic sanctions laws and regulations include restrictions and prohibitions on the sale or supply of
certain products and on our transfer of parts, components, and related technical information and know-how to certain countries,
regions, governments, persons and entities. For example, on April 15, 2018, the U.S. Department of Commerce activated a
denial order against ZTE and an affiliated company based on adverse findings relating to the activities covered by ZTE’s 2016
settlement with the U.S. Department of Commerce to resolve charges of export control violations by ZTE. This denial order
added ZTE and the affiliate to the “Denied Persons List,” suspending U.S. export privileges of ZTE and the affiliate,
prohibiting them from participating in transactions subject to U.S. Department of Commerce export control regulations, and
prohibiting other businesses and individuals, including us, from certain activities in support of ZTE’s business. On June 8,
2018, ZTE and the U.S. Department of Commerce reached a new settlement imposing additional penalties and compliance
measures upon ZTE, pursuant to which the denial order was terminated and ZTE was removed from the Denied Persons List
effective July 13, 2018. Although this further U.S. Department of Commerce action authorized us to resume sales to and related
activities involving ZTE, any violations by ZTE of the latest settlement may trigger a new ten-year denial order. We may need
to suspend our business with ZTE or other customers, suppliers or partners, if we conclude or are notified by the U.S.
Department of Commerce that such business presents an unacceptable risk of noncompliance with U.S. regulations, or if we
determine that continued business with such customers, suppliers or partners is not feasible or desirable.
There can be no guarantee that the U.S. Congress or U.S. regulatory authorities will not take future legislative or
regulatory action that may materially interfere with our ability to make sales to ZTE or other of our customers, particularly in
China. For example, a bipartisan coalition in the U.S. Congress has introduced legislation that, if enacted, would require the
President to impose export denial orders on Chinese telecommunication companies, specifically targeting ZTE and Huawei
Technologies Company, if they are found to have violated U.S. export or sanctions laws and regulations. Separate
governmental actions in the U.S. and other countries may reduce the overall demand for products offered by Chinese
telecommunications companies, including from ZTE, which may decrease overall demand for our products in this region.
Even without such action, we would be prohibited from exporting our products to any foreign recipient if we have
knowledge that a violation of U.S. export regulations has occurred, is about to occur, or is intended to occur in connection with
the item. In addition, our suppliers may restrict our rights to use their components in products destined for end users or end uses
that present heightened regulatory or reputational risks, and some customers may decline to purchase our products that contain
parts or components from, or that were manufactured by, suppliers and service providers that present heightened regulatory or
reputational risks. The loss or temporary loss of customers as a result of such future regulatory or supply chain limitations
could materially harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Further, our association with such
customers could subject us to actual or perceived reputational harm among current or prospective investors in our common
stock, suppliers or customers, customers of our customers, other parties doing business with us, or the general public. Any such
reputational harm could result in the loss of investors in our common stock, suppliers or customers, which could harm our
business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.
In addition, various countries regulate the importation of certain products, through import permitting and licensing
requirements, and have enacted laws that could limit our ability to distribute our products. Exports, re-exports, transfers within
foreign countries and imports of our products, including by our partners, must comply with these laws and regulations, and any
violations may result in reputational harm, government investigations, penalties and/or a denial or curtailment of our ability to
export our products. Complying with export control and sanctions laws for a particular sale may be time consuming, may
increase our costs and may result in the delay or loss of sales opportunities. Although we take precautions to prevent our
products from being provided in violation of such laws and regulations, if we are found to be in violation of U.S. sanctions or
export control laws, we and the individuals working for us could incur substantial fines and penalties. Changes in export,
sanctions or import laws or regulations may delay the introduction and sale of our products in international markets, cause us to
spend resources to seek necessary government authorizations or to develop different versions of our products, or, in some cases,
prevent the export or import of our products to certain countries, regions, governments, persons or entities altogether, any of
which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We are required to comply with various data protection laws and regulations in each of the states and countries where
we maintain offices or conduct business, including laws and regulations relating to data privacy, security, and breach
notification and reporting. These laws and regulations, known as data protection regulations, are complex, frequently conflict
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with one another, and have become more onerous in recent years. Complying with existing and future regulatory requirements
relating to data privacy, security and breach response could cause us to incur substantial expenses and may require us to change
our business practices in a manner that could harm our business and any non-compliance may result in lawsuits, regulatory
fines, or other actions or liability. Our business may also be harmed if these privacy-related laws or any newly adopted privacy-
related laws are interpreted or implemented in a manner that is inconsistent among different states and countries or inconsistent
with our current policies and practices, or those of our customers, suppliers, or other business partners. If we or our suppliers
fail to comply with such laws or regulations, we could face sanctions for such noncompliance, and our customers may refuse to
purchase our products, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
We are also subject to various domestic and international anti-corruption laws, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act, as well as other similar anti-bribery and anti-kickback laws and regulations. These laws
and regulations generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from offering or making improper payments to non-U.S.
officials for the purpose of obtaining, retaining or directing business. Our exposure for violating these laws and regulations
increases as our international presence expands and as we increase sales and operations in foreign jurisdictions.
The markets in which we operate are highly competitive.
The market for high-speed optical interconnect technology is highly competitive. We are aware of a number of
companies that have developed or are developing coherent DSP ASICs, coherent and non-coherent PICs, 100 to 1,000 Gbps
and above modules and indium phosphide based optics, among other technologies, that compete directly with some or all of our
current and proposed product offerings.
Competitors may be able to more quickly and effectively:
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develop or respond either directly or in partnership with other market participants to new technologies or technical
standards;
react to changing customer requirements and expectations;
devote needed resources to the development, production, promotion and sale of products;
attain high manufacturing yields on new product designs;
establish and take advantage of operations in lower-cost regions;
bring relevant products to the market or enable their customers to bring relevant products to the market through a
faster integration cycle; and
deliver competitive products, including products incorporating our DSP ASICs and PICs, at lower prices, with lower
gross margins or at lower costs than our products.
In order to expand market acceptance of our products, we must differentiate our products from those of our competition
while continuing to meet the changing needs of our customers. We cannot provide assurance that we will be successful in
making this differentiation or increasing acceptance of our products as we have limited resources dedicated to marketing of our
products. In addition, we may take other steps to expand market acceptance of our products, including through strategic
transactions or otherwise, which steps may not be successful and may lead to a decrease in our revenues either in the short-term
or long-term. The same standardization that allows for the integration of our products into diverse optical systems carries the
side effect of lowing the competitive threshold for new market entrants. Established companies in related industries or newly
funded companies targeting markets we serve, such as semiconductor manufacturers and data communications providers, may
also have significantly more resources than we do and may in the future develop and offer competing products. Further,
companies that have historically been competitors or industry participants on the component level have in the past and may
continue to establish joint ventures or other strategic partnerships to compete with our products. All of these risks may be
increased if the market were to further consolidate through mergers or other business combinations between our competitors or
if more capital is invested in the market to create additional competitors.
We may not be able to compete successfully with our competitors and aggressive competition in the market may result in
lower prices for our products and/or decreased gross margins. New technology and investments from existing competitors and
competitive threats from newly funded companies may erode our technology and product advantages and slow our overall
growth and profitability. Any such development could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
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Our sales cycles can be long and unpredictable, and our sales efforts require considerable effort and expense. As a result,
our sales and revenue are difficult to predict and may vary substantially from period to period, which may cause our results
of operations to fluctuate significantly.
The timing of our sales and revenue recognition is difficult to predict because of the length and unpredictability of our
products’ sales cycles. A sales cycle is the period between initial contact with a prospective network equipment manufacturer
customer and any sale of our products. Customer orders are complex and difficult to complete because prospective customers
generally consider a number of factors over an extended period of time before committing to purchase the products we sell.
Customers often view the purchase of our products as a significant and strategic decision and require considerable time to
evaluate, test and qualify our products prior to making a purchase decision and placing an order. The length of time that
customers devote to their evaluation, contract negotiation and budgeting processes varies significantly. Our products’ sales
cycles can be lengthy in certain cases. During the sales cycle, we expend significant time and money on sales and marketing
activities and make investments in evaluation equipment, all of which lower our operating margins, particularly if no sale
occurs or if the sale is delayed as a result of extended qualification processes or delays from our customers’ customers. Even if
a customer decides to purchase our products, there are many factors affecting the timing of our recognition of revenue, which
makes our revenue difficult to forecast. For example, there may be unexpected delays in a customer’s internal procurement
processes.
Even after a customer makes a purchase, there may be circumstances or terms relating to the purchase that delay our
ability to recognize revenue from that purchase. For example, recognizing revenue from the sale of our products may be subject
to delivery to the customer or their carrier or the products may be placed into a remote stocking location. In addition, the
significance and timing of our product enhancements, and the introduction of new or similar products by our competitors, may
also affect customers’ purchases both in the short-term and long-term. Further, our customers’ solutions often require
components from other optical providers and any inability by those providers to ship products or maintain continuity of supply
could have an impact on the sales of our customers, which impact could pass through to us. For all of these reasons, it is
difficult to predict whether a sale will be completed, the particular period in which a sale will be completed or the period in
which revenue from a sale will be recognized. If our sales cycles lengthen, our revenue could be lower than expected, which
would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
The industry in which we operate is volatile and subject to significant cyclicality.
Industries focused on semiconductor and optical network technologies can be volatile and highly cyclical. The markets
are characterized by constant and rapid technological change and price erosion, increasing effects of competition, and frequent
new product introductions and technology displacement, including those driven by fragmented and proprietary system designs.
The industries are further impacted by evolving technical standards, short product life cycles both for semiconductors and
optical technologies and for many of the end products in which they are used, and changes in end market demand, as the
industry has recently experienced across China, as well as within inter-data center and metro markets. In addition, product
demand in the markets in which we compete is tied to the aggregate capital expenditures of telecommunications and network
and content service providers as they build out and upgrade their network infrastructure. Capital expenditures can be highly
cyclical due to the importance and focus of local initiatives, such as the ongoing telecommunications build out and upgrade in
China and the expansion of the inter-data center market, government funding and other factors, thus resulting in wide
fluctuations in product supply and demand. From time to time, these factors, together with changes in general economic
conditions, have caused significant industry upturns and downturns that have had a direct impact on the financial stability of
our customers, their customers and our suppliers. Periods of industry downturns have been characterized by diminished
demand for products, unanticipated declines in telecommunications and communications system capital expenditures, industry
consolidation, excess capacity compared to demand, high inventory levels and periods of inventory adjustment, under-
utilization of manufacturing capacity, changes in revenue mix and erosion of average selling prices, any of which could result
in an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We expect our business to continue to be
subject to cyclical downturns, such as the one experienced throughout 2017 in China, even when overall economic conditions
are relatively stable. To the extent we cannot offset recessionary periods or periods of reduced growth that may occur in the
industry or in our target markets in particular through increased market share or otherwise, our business can be adversely
affected, revenue may decline and our financial condition and results of operations may be harmed. In addition, in any future
economic downturn or periods of inflationary increase we may be unable to reduce our costs quickly enough to maintain
profitability levels.
If we fail to attract, retain and motivate key personnel our business could suffer.
Our business depends on the services of highly qualified employees in a variety of disciplines, including optical systems
and networking, digital signal processing, large-scale ASIC design and verification, mixed-signal ASIC design, silicon photonic
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integration, system software development, hardware design and high-speed electronics design. Our success depends on the
skills, experience and performance of these employees and members of our senior management team, as well as our ability to
attract and retain other highly qualified management and technical personnel. There is intense competition for qualified
personnel in our industry and a limited number of qualified personnel with expertise in the areas that are relevant to our
business, and as a result we may not be able to attract and retain the personnel necessary for the expansion and success of our
business. All of our founders are currently employees of our company. The loss of services of any of our founders, other
members of our senior management team or key personnel, or our inability to continue to attract qualified personnel, could
have a material adverse effect on our business.
Customer requirements for new products, as well as specifications established by industry groups and standards bodies, are
increasingly challenging, which could lead to significant executional risk in designing such products or make our products
obsolete. We may incur significant expenses long before we can recognize revenue from new products, if at all, due to the
costs and length of research, development and manufacturing process cycles.
Network equipment manufacturers seek increased performance optical interconnect products, at lower prices and in
smaller and lower-power designs. These requirements can be technically challenging, and are sometimes customer-specific,
which can require numerous design iterations. Because of the increasing level of complexity of design requirements, including
stringent customer-imposed acceptance criteria and specifications established by industry groups or standards bodies, executing
on our product development goals is difficult and sometimes unpredictable. These difficulties could result in product sampling
delays and/or missing targets on key specifications and customer requirements and acceptance criteria. Our failure to meet our
customers’ requirements could result in our customers seeking alternative suppliers, which would adversely affect our
reputation and results of operations.
We design our products to conform to regulations established by governments and to standards set by industry groups
and standards bodies worldwide. Various industry groups are currently considering whether and to what extent to create
standards applicable to our current products or those under development. Because certain of our products are designed to
conform to current specific industry standards, if competing or new standards emerge that are preferred by our customers, or if
our customers prefer a proprietary solution, we may have to make significant expenditures to develop new products. If our
customers adopt new or competing industry standards with which our products are not compatible, or industry groups adopt
standards or governments issue regulations with which our products are not compatible, our existing products would become
less desirable to our customers and our net revenues and results of operations would suffer.
Additionally, we and our competitors often incur significant research and development and sales and marketing costs for
products that, at the earliest, will be purchased by our customers long after much of the cost is incurred and, in some cases, may
never be purchased due to changes in industry or customer requirements in the interim.
We depend on third parties for a significant portion of the fabrication, assembly and testing of our products.
The fabrication, assembly and testing of our products is done by third-party contract manufacturers and foundries. As a
result, we face competition for manufacturing capacity in the open market. We rely on foundries to manufacture wafers and on
third-party contract manufacturers to assemble, test and manufacture substantially all of our coherent DSP ASICs, silicon PICs,
modules and other components. Our contract manufacturers implement any customer-specific configurations and packaging
before customer shipments. Accordingly, we cannot directly control our product delivery schedules and quality assurance. This
lack of control has in the past and in the future could result in product shortages or quality assurance problems. For example,
we experienced product shortages in the second quarter of 2017 in connection with the Quality Issue. These issues have in the
past and in the future could delay shipments of our products, increase our assembly or testing costs or lead to costly epidemic
failure claims. In addition, the consolidation of contract manufacturers and foundries, as well as the increasing capital intensity
and complexity associated with fabrication in smaller process geometries, has limited the number of available contract
manufacturers and foundries and increased our dependence on a smaller number of contract manufacturers and foundries. The
limited number of contract manufacturers or foundries could also increase the costs of components or manufacturing and
adversely affect our results of operations, including our gross margins. In addition, to the extent we engage additional contract
manufacturers or foundries, introduce new products with new manufacturers or foundries, move existing production lines to
new manufacturers or foundries and/or vertically integrate processes by assuming new responsibilities internally, we could
experience supply disruptions during the transition process.
Because we rely on third-party contract manufacturers and foundries, we face several significant risks in addition to
those discussed above, including:
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a lack of guaranteed supply of manufactured wafers and other raw and finished components and incorporated
products and potential higher wafer, component and incorporated product prices due to limited and, at times, single-
source, suppliers and industry-wide component constraints;
the limited availability of, or potential delays in obtaining access to, key process and leading edge technologies;
the location of contract manufacturers and foundries in regions that are subject to earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis
and other natural disasters;
competition with our contract manufacturers’ or foundries’ other customers when contract manufacturers or
foundries allocate capacity or supply during periods of capacity constraint or supply shortages; and
potential regulatory changes, including in the United States, that could in the future prohibit, or increase our costs
relating to, the use of contract manufacturers and foundries in certain regions.
The manufacture of our products is a highly complex and technologically demanding process that utilizes many state of
the art manufacturing processes and specialized components. Our foundries, suppliers, and contract manufacturers have from
time to time experienced lower than anticipated manufacturing yields for our wafers or PIC components and modules. This
often occurs during the production or assembly of new products or the installation and start-up of new process technologies and
can occur even in mature processes due to break downs in mechanical systems, process controls, clean room controls,
equipment failures, environmental controls and conditions, calibration errors and the handling of the material from station to
station as well as damage resulting from the shipment and handling of the products to various points of processing and from
changes to and turnover of trained personnel that assemble, test and package our products.
We depend on a limited number of suppliers, some of which are sole sources, and our business could be disrupted if they are
unable to meet our needs.
We depend on a limited number of suppliers of the key materials, including silicon wafers, substrate materials and
components, equipment used to manufacture and test our products, and key design tools used in the design, testing and
manufacturing of our products. Some of these suppliers are sole sources and in certain instances we face capacity competition
from some of our suppliers. With some of these suppliers, we do not have long-term agreements and instead purchase materials
and equipment through a purchase order process. As a result, these suppliers may stop supplying us materials and equipment,
limit the allocation of supply and equipment to us due to increased industry demand or significantly increase their prices at any
time with little or no advance notice. Our reliance on sole source suppliers or a limited number of suppliers could result in
delivery problems, reduced control over product pricing and quality, and our inability to identify and qualify another supplier in
a timely manner. Some of our suppliers may experience quality, manufacturing or financial difficulties that could cause them to
terminate development efforts related to, or prevent them from supplying to us in desired quantities, or at all, materials, or
equipment used in, the design and manufacture of our products. In addition, our suppliers, including our sole source suppliers,
may experience manufacturing delays or shut downs due to circumstances beyond their control such as labor issues, political
unrest or natural disasters. Our suppliers, including our sole source suppliers, could also determine to discontinue the
manufacture of materials, components, equipment or tools that may be difficult for us to obtain from alternative sources. In
addition, the suppliers of design tools that we rely on may not maintain or advance the capabilities of their tools in a manner
sufficient to meet the technological requirements for us to design advanced products or provide such tools to us at reasonable
prices. Further, the industry in which our suppliers operate is subject to a trend of consolidation. To the extent this trend
continues, we may become dependent on even fewer suppliers to meet our material and equipment needs. In the event we need
to establish relationships with additional suppliers, doing so may be a time-consuming process and require that we agree to
terms, including on costs, that are less favorable to us, and there are no assurances that we would be able to enter into necessary
arrangements with these additional suppliers in time to avoid supply constraints in sole sourced components.
Any supply deficiencies or industry allocation shortages relating to the materials, equipment or tools we use to design
and manufacture our products could materially and adversely affect our ability to fulfill customer orders and our results of
operations. Lead times for the purchase of certain materials, equipment and tools from suppliers have increased and in some
instances, have exceeded the lead times provided to us by our customers. In some cases, these lead time increases have limited
our ability to respond to or meet customer demand. We have in the past and may in the future, experience delays or reductions
in supply shipments, which could reduce our revenue and profitability. In addition, potential regulatory changes, including in
the United States, could in the future prohibit, or increase our costs relating to, the use of suppliers in certain regions. If key
components or materials are unavailable, our costs would increase and our revenue would decline.
We may not be able to manufacture our products in volumes or at times sufficient to meet customer demands, which could
result in delayed or lost revenue and harm to our reputation.
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Given the high level of sophisticated functionality embedded in our products, our manufacturing processes are complex
and often involve more than one manufacturer. This complexity may result in lower manufacturing yields and may make it
more difficult for our current and future contract manufacturers to scale to higher production volumes. If we are unable to
manufacture our products in volumes or at times sufficient to meet demand, our customers could postpone or cancel orders or
seek alternative suppliers for these products, or lower cost, easier to manufacture competitive products, which would harm our
reputation and adversely affect our results of operations.
If our customers do not qualify our manufacturing lines or the manufacturing lines of our subcontractors for volume
shipments, our operating results could suffer.
Our manufacturing lines have passed our qualification standards, as well as our technical standards. However, our
customers may also require that our manufacturing lines pass their specific qualification standards and that we, and any
subcontractors that we may use, be registered under international quality standards. In addition, many of our customers require
that we maintain our ISO certification. In the event we are unable to maintain process controls required to maintain ISO
certification, or in the event we fail to pass the ISO certification audit for any reason, we could lose our ISO certification. In
addition, we may encounter quality control issues in the future as a result of relocating our manufacturing lines or ramping new
products to full volume production. We may be unable to obtain customer qualification of our or our subcontractors’
manufacturing lines or we may experience delays in obtaining customer qualification of our or our subcontractors’
manufacturing lines. Such delays or failure to obtain qualifications would harm our operating results and customer
relationships. If we introduce new contract manufacturers and move any production lines from existing internal or external
facilities, the new production lines will likely need to be re-qualified with our customers. Any delay in the qualification of our
or our subcontractors’ manufacturing lines may adversely affect our operations and financial results. Any delay in the
qualification or requalification of our or our subcontractors’ manufacturing lines may delay the manufacturing of our products
or require us to divert resources away from other areas of our business, which could adversely affect our operations and
financial results.
Our results of operations may suffer if we do not effectively manage our inventory, and we may continue to incur inventory-
related charges.
We need to manage our inventory of component parts and finished goods effectively to meet changing customer
requirements. Accurately forecasting customers’ product needs is difficult. Our product demand forecasts are based on multiple
assumptions, each of which may introduce error into our estimates. In the event we overestimate customer demand, we may
allocate resources to manufacturing products that we may not be able to sell. As a result, we could hold excess or obsolete
inventory, which would reduce our profit margins and adversely affect our financial results. Conversely, if we underestimate
customer demand or if sufficient manufacturing capacity or critical components are unavailable, we could forego revenue
opportunities, lose market share and damage our customer relationships.
Also, due to our industry’s use of inventory management techniques, such as direct order fulfillment, to reduce inventory
levels and the period of time inventory is held, any disruption in the supply chain could lead to more immediate shortages in
product or component supply. Additionally, any enterprise system failures, including implementing new systems or upgrading
existing systems that help us manage our financial, purchasing, inventory, sales, invoicing and product return functions, could
harm our ability to fulfill orders and interrupt other billing and logistical processes.
Some of our products and supplies have in the past, and may in the future, become obsolete or be deemed excess while
in inventory due to rapidly changing customer specifications, changes to product structure, components or bills of material as a
result of engineering changes, or a decrease in customer demand. We also have exposure to contractual liabilities to our
contract manufacturers for inventories purchased by them on our behalf, based on our forecasted requirements, which may
become excess or obsolete. Our inventory balances also represent an investment of cash. To the extent our inventory turns are
slower than we anticipate based on historical practice, our cash conversion cycle extends and more of our cash remains
invested in working capital. If we are not able to manage our inventory effectively, we may need to write down the value of
some of our existing inventory or write off non-saleable or obsolete inventory. We have from time to time incurred significant
inventory-related charges and taken excess or obsolete inventory from our contract manufacturers. Incurring any such charges
or taking any such inventory in future periods could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
Certain of our customers may require that we ship our finished products to a central location, which is not controlled by
us. If that facility is damaged, or if our relationship with that facility deteriorates, we may suffer losses or be forced to find an
alternate facility. In addition, revenue is only recognized once our customers take delivery of the products from this location,
rather than when we ship them, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. We often lack insight into
when customers will take delivery of our products, making it difficult to forecast our revenue.
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Our operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our current business and future prospects and may increase the risk
associated with investments by investors in our common stock.
We were founded in 2009 and shipped our first products in 2011. Our relatively limited operating history, combined with
the rapidly evolving, complex, cyclical and competitive nature and consolidation of our industry, suppliers, manufacturers and
customers, make it difficult to evaluate our current business and future prospects. We have encountered and may continue to
encounter risks and difficulties frequently experienced by companies in constantly evolving, complex industries, including
unpredictable and volatile revenues and increased expenses as we seek to grow our business. If we do not manage these risks
and overcome these difficulties successfully, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be
adversely affected, and the market price of our common stock could decline. Further, we have limited historic financial data,
and we operate in a rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive market. As such, any predictions about our future revenue
and expenses may not be as accurate as they would be if we had a longer operating history or operated in a more predictable
market.
Since we began commercial shipments of our products, our revenue, gross profit and results of operations have varied
and are likely to continue to vary from quarter to quarter due to a number of factors, many of which are not within our control.
It is difficult for us to accurately forecast our future revenue and gross profit and plan expenses accordingly and, therefore, it is
difficult for us to predict our future results of operations.
Our revenue growth rate in prior periods is not likely to be indicative of our future growth or performance.
Our revenue growth rate in prior periods is not likely to be indicative of our future growth or performance. During 2016
and 2015, we experienced revenue growth rates of 100% and 63%, respectively, as compared to the immediately preceding
annual period. Conversely, during 2018 and 2017 our revenue declined 12% and 19%, respectively, as compared to the
immediately preceding annual period. The revenue growth rates we experienced in 2016 and 2015 are not likely to be repeated
in future periods. Our revenue for any prior annual period should not be relied upon as any indication of our future revenue or
revenue growth. If we are unable to maintain consistent revenue or revenue growth, our business, financial condition, results of
operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected.
We have had a history of operating losses, and we may not maintain or increase our profitability.
Although we were profitable in the years ended December 31, 2014 through 2017, we incurred operating losses in 2009
through 2013 and again in 2018. We may not be able to return to, sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis
and have experienced variability on a quarter to quarter basis. If we are unable to return to, sustain or increase profitability, the
market value of our stock may decline, and investors in our common stock could lose all or a part of their investment.
We may not be able to successfully manage our business if we are unable to improve our internal systems, processes and
controls.
In order to effectively manage our operations and any future growth, we need to continue to improve our internal
systems, processes and controls. We may not be able to successfully implement improvements to these systems, processes and
controls in an efficient, cost effective or timely manner. In addition, our systems and processes may not prevent or detect all
errors, omissions or fraud. We may experience difficulties in managing improvements to our systems or processes and controls,
which could impair our ability to provide products to our customers in a timely manner, causing us to lose customers, limit us
to smaller deployments of our products or increase our technical support costs.
If we do not effectively expand and train our direct sales force, we may be unable to add new customers or increase sales to
our existing customers, and our business will be adversely affected.
We depend on our direct sales force to increase sales with existing customers and to obtain new customers. As such, we
have invested and will continue to invest in our sales organization. In recent periods, we have been adding personnel and other
resources to our sales function as we focus on growing our business, entering new markets and increasing our market share,
and we expect to incur additional expenses in expanding our sales personnel in order to achieve revenue growth. There is
significant competition for sales and sales operations personnel with the skills and technical knowledge that we require. Our
ability to achieve significant revenue growth will depend, in large part, on our success in recruiting, training, retaining and
integrating sufficient numbers of sales personnel to support our growth, particularly in international markets. New hires require
significant training and may take significant time before they achieve full productivity. Additional personnel may not become
productive as quickly as we expect, and we may be unable to hire, retain or integrate into our corporate culture sufficient
numbers of qualified individuals in the markets where we do business or plan to do business. If we are unable to hire, integrate
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and train a sufficient number of effective sales personnel, or the sales personnel we hire are not successful in increasing sales to
our existing customer base or obtaining new customers, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects
will be adversely affected.
Most of our long-term customer contracts do not commit customers to specified purchase commitments, and our customers
may decrease, cancel or delay their purchases at any time with little or no advance notice to us.
Most of our customers purchase our products pursuant to individual purchase orders or contracts that do not contain
purchase commitments. Although some of our customers have committed, subject to agreed upon terms and conditions,
including reschedule and cancellation rights, to purchase a specified share of their required volume for a particular product
from us, monitoring and enforcing these commitments can be difficult. Some customers provide us with their expected, non-
binding forecasts for our products several months in advance, but customers may decrease, cancel or delay purchase orders
already in place, and the impact of any such actions may be intensified given our dependence on a small number of large
customers. If any of our major customers decrease, stop or delay purchasing our products, or change the mix of our products
that they are purchasing, for any reason, our business and results of operations would be harmed. For example, one of our
larger customers provided a non-binding forecast for 2018, but actual orders were approximately 40% lower than the forecasted
amount. Also, several of our customers have historically experienced period-to-period demand variability or elected to defer
purchases scheduled for the fourth quarter into the first quarter of the following year, resulting in a decrease in our anticipated
revenue during the fourth quarter. Our customers often lack visibility to end customer demand, and in the event that any of our
customers lose significant market share with one or more end customers, those losses could pass through to us and materially
and adversely affect our results of operations. Cancellation or delays of such orders may cause us to fail to achieve our short-
term and long-term financial and operating goals and result in excess and obsolete inventory.
Acquisitions or other strategic transactions that we may pursue in the future, whether or not consummated, could result in
operating and financial difficulties.
We may in the future acquire businesses or assets or engage in other strategic transactions in an effort to increase our
growth, enhance our ability to compete, complement our product offerings, enter new and adjacent markets, obtain access to
additional technical resources, enhance our intellectual property rights, expand market acceptance of our products or pursue
other competitive opportunities. If we seek acquisitions, we may not be able to identify suitable acquisition candidates at prices
we consider appropriate. We are in an industry that is actively consolidating and, as a result, there is no guarantee that we will
successfully and satisfactorily bid against third parties, including competitors, if we identify a target we seek to acquire.
We cannot readily predict the timing or size of our future acquisitions or other strategic transactions, or the success of
such acquisitions or transactions. Failure to successfully execute on any future acquisition or other strategic transactions could
have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
To the extent that we consummate acquisitions, we may face financial risks as a result, including increased costs
associated with merged or acquired operations, increased indebtedness, economic dilution to gross and operating profit and
earnings per share, or unanticipated costs and liabilities, including the impairment of assets and expenses associated with
restructuring costs and reserves, the failure to realize expected synergies and unforeseen accounting charges. We would also
face operational risks, such as difficulties in integrating the operations, retention of key personnel and our ability to maintain
and support products of the acquired businesses, disrupting their or our ongoing business, increasing the complexity of our
business, failing to successfully further develop the combined, acquired or remaining technology, and impairing management
resources and management’s relationships with employees and customers as a result of changes in their ownership and
management. Further, the evaluation and negotiation of potential acquisitions, as well as the integration of an acquired
business, may divert management time and other resources.
If we are unable to successfully carry out any future acquisition or other strategic transaction, our business, financial
condition and prospects for growth could suffer. In addition, we may not realize the benefits of any future acquisition or other
strategic transaction to the extent anticipated and the perception of the effectiveness of our management team and our company
may suffer in the marketplace. Further, even if we are able to achieve the long-term benefits associated with any future
acquisition or other strategic transaction, our short-term financial conditions may be materially and adversely affected.
We may need additional equity, debt or other financing in the future, which we may not be able to obtain on acceptable
terms, or at all, and any additional financing may result in restrictions on our operations or substantial dilution to our
stockholders.
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We may need to raise funds in the future, for example, to develop new technologies, expand our business or acquire
complementary businesses. We may try to raise additional funds through public or private financings, strategic relationships or
other arrangements. Our ability to obtain debt or equity funding will depend on a number of factors, including market
conditions, interest rates, our operating performance and investor interest. Additional funding may not be available to us on
acceptable terms or at all. If adequate funding is not available, we may be required to reduce expenditures, including curtailing
our growth strategies and reducing our product development efforts, or forgo acquisition opportunities. If we succeed in raising
additional funds through the issuance of equity or convertible securities, then the issuance could result in substantial dilution to
existing stockholders. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of debt securities or preferred stock, these new
securities would have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of the holders of our common stock. In addition, any
preferred equity issuance or debt financing that we may obtain in the future could have restrictive covenants relating to our
capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain
additional capital and to pursue business opportunities, including potential acquisitions.
If our estimates or judgments relating to our critical accounting policies are based on assumptions that change or prove to
be incorrect, our results of operations could fall below expectations of securities analysts and investors, resulting in a
decline in the market price of our stock.
The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America, or GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our
consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other
assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, as described in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the results of
which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets, liabilities, equity, revenue and expenses that are
not readily apparent from other sources. Significant assumptions and estimates used in preparing our consolidated financial
statements include those related to revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, inventories and the related contract
manufacturing liabilities and income taxes. If our assumptions change or if actual circumstances differ from those in our
assumptions, our results of operations may be adversely affected and may fall below the expectations of securities analysts and
investors, resulting in a decline in the market price of our stock.
We may face product liability and other types of claims, which could be expensive and time consuming and result in
substantial damages to us and increases in our insurance rates.
Despite quality assurance measures, defects may occur in our products. The occurrence of any defects in our products
could give rise to product liability or epidemic failure claims, which could divert management’s attention from our core
business, be expensive to defend, result in the loss of key customer contracts and result in sizable damage awards against us
and, depending on the nature or scope of any network outage caused by a defect in or epidemic failure related to our products,
could also harm our reputation. Our current insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover these claims. Moreover, in the
future, we may not be able to obtain insurance in amount or scope sufficient to provide us with adequate coverage against
potential liabilities. Any product liability claims brought against us, with or without merit, could increase our product liability
insurance rates or prevent us from securing continuing coverage, could harm our reputation in the industry and reduce product
sales. We would need to pay any product losses in excess of our insurance coverage out of cash reserves, harming our financial
condition and adversely affecting our financial performance and operating results.
In addition, we have also been forced to expend significant resources in the defense of the matters brought against us
as described in Part I, Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and we may need to continue to do so
in the future. Class action, derivative lawsuits and other securities or other litigation, whether successful or not, could result in
substantial costs, damage, indemnification or settlement awards and divert management’s attention and resources from running
our business, which could materially harm our reputation, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business and operating results may be adversely affected by natural disasters, health epidemics or other catastrophic
events beyond our control.
Our internal manufacturing headquarters and new product introduction labs, design facilities, assembly and test
facilities, and supply chain, and those of our contract manufacturers, are subject to risks associated with natural disasters, such
as earthquakes, fires, tsunami, typhoons, volcanic activity, floods and health epidemics as well as other events beyond our
control such as power loss, facilities structural damage, telecommunications failures and uncertainties arising out of terrorist
attacks in the United States and armed conflicts or terrorist attacks overseas. The majority of our semiconductor products are
currently fabricated and assembled in China, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan. The majority of the internal and outsourced
assembly and test facilities we utilize or plan to utilize are located in China and Thailand, and some of our internal design,
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assembly and test facilities are located in California (design only), New Jersey and Massachusetts, regions with severe weather
activity and, in the case of California, above average seismic activity. In addition, our research and development personnel are
concentrated primarily in our headquarters in Maynard, Massachusetts and in our research center in Holmdel, New Jersey. Any
catastrophic loss or significant damage to any of these facilities or facilities we use in the future would likely disrupt our
operations, delay production, and adversely affect our product development schedules, shipments and revenue. In addition, any
such catastrophic loss or significant damage could result in significant expense to repair or replace the facility and could
significantly curtail our research and development efforts in a particular product area or primary market, which could have a
material adverse effect on our operations and operating results.
Breaches, failures or interruptions of our cybersecurity systems could degrade our ability to conduct our business
operations and deliver products to our customers, compromise the integrity of the software embedded in our products, result
in significant data losses and the theft of our intellectual property, damage our reputation, expose us to liability to third
parties and require us to incur significant additional costs to maintain the security of our networks and data.
We increasingly depend upon our information technology, or IT, systems to conduct virtually all of our business
operations, ranging from our internal operations and product development and manufacturing activities to our marketing and
sales efforts and communications with our customers and business partners. Computer programmers may attempt to penetrate
our network security, or that of our website and email services, and misappropriate our proprietary information, provide false or
misleading instructions to our personnel, embed malicious code in our products or cause interruptions of our service. Because
the techniques used by such computer programmers to access or sabotage networks change frequently and may not be
recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques. In addition, sophisticated hardware
and operating system software and applications that we produce or procure from third parties may contain defects in design or
manufacture, including “bugs” and other problems that could unexpectedly interfere with the operation of the system. We have
also outsourced a number of our business functions to third-party contractors, including our manufacturers and logistics
providers, and our business operations also depend, in part, on the success of our contractors’ own cybersecurity measures and
adherence to their contractual obligations to us, including in connection with their use of and access to our systems.
Additionally, we depend upon our employees, customers, suppliers, manufacturers, contractors and other third parties, or our
related parties, to appropriately handle confidential data and deploy our IT resources in a safe and secure fashion that does not
expose our network systems to security breaches and the loss of data. Data may be accessed or modified improperly as a result
of related party theft, error or malfeasance and third parties may attempt to fraudulently induce our related parties into
disclosing sensitive information such as user names, passwords or other information in order to gain access to our data or IT
systems or our related parties’ data or IT systems. Accordingly, if our cybersecurity systems and those of our related parties fail
to protect against unauthorized access, sophisticated cyberattacks and the mishandling of data by our related parties, our ability
to conduct our business effectively could be damaged in a number of ways, including:
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sensitive data regarding our related parties or business, including intellectual property and other proprietary data,
could be stolen;
our electronic communications systems, including email and other methods, could be disrupted, and our ability to
conduct our business operations could be seriously damaged until such systems can be restored;
our ability to process customer orders and deliver products could be degraded or disrupted, resulting in delays in
revenue recognition; and
defects and security vulnerabilities could be introduced into the software embedded in or used in the development of
our products, thereby damaging the reputation and perceived reliability and security of our products.
The steps we have taken to protect our intellectual property rights and data may be inadequate to protect such assets
from disclosure or theft by third parties. If unauthorized disclosure or theft were to occur, we might not be able to prevent
others from using what we regard as our intellectual property and data to compete with us. Existing trade secret, copyright,
patent and trademark laws offer only limited protection. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect our
intellectual property rights and data or allow enforcement of confidentiality covenants to the same extent as the laws of the
United States. For example, doing business in China poses risks, including but not limited to, theft of intellectual property and
data and potentially different treatment of foreign owned intellectual property rights and data than that owned or developed in
China. If we have to resort to legal proceedings to enforce our intellectual property rights or protect our data, the proceedings
could be burdensome, protracted and expensive and could involve a high degree of risk and be unsuccessful.
Should any of the above events occur, we could be subject to significant claims for liability from our customers and
regulatory actions from governmental agencies, including sanctions and civil or criminal penalties. In addition, our ability to
protect our intellectual property rights could be compromised and our reputation and competitive position could be
significantly harmed. Additionally, we could incur significant costs in order to upgrade our cybersecurity systems and
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remediate damages. Consequently, our competitive position, reputation, financial performance and results of operations could
be adversely affected.
We are subject to environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, which could subject us to liabilities, increase our
costs or restrict our business or operations in the future.
Our manufacturing operations and our products are subject to a variety of environmental, health and safety laws and
regulations in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate or sell our products. These laws and regulations govern, among
other things, the handling and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, employee health and safety and the use of
hazardous materials in, and the recycling of, our products. Failure to comply with present and future environmental, health or
safety requirements, or the identification of contamination, could cause us to incur substantial costs, monetary fines, civil or
criminal penalties and curtailment of operations. In addition, these laws and regulations have increasingly become more
stringent over time. The identification of presently unidentified environmental conditions, more vigorous enforcement of
current environmental, health and safety requirements by regulatory agencies, the enactment of more stringent laws and
regulations or other unanticipated events could restrict our ability to use or expand our facilities, require us to incur additional
expenses or require us to modify our manufacturing processes or the contents of our products, which could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we do not achieve the anticipated financial, operational and effective tax rate efficiencies expected from our corporate tax
structure, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
In 2015, we implemented a reorganization of our corporate structure and intercompany relationships to more closely
align our corporate structure with the international nature of our business activities. This corporate restructuring has allowed us
to achieve financial and operational efficiencies and to reduce our overall effective tax rate through changes in our international
procurement, manufacturing and sales operations, and in the ways we develop, own and use certain intellectual property. This
corporate restructuring has also allowed us to achieve financial and operational efficiencies. We cannot provide assurance that
these tax benefits and efficiencies will continue into future periods. Our efforts in connection with this corporate restructuring
have required and will continue to require us to incur expenses for which we may not realize related benefits. If any of the tax
benefits is challenged by the applicable taxing authorities upon audit or if there are adverse changes in domestic or international
tax laws, including any legislation enacted in pursuance of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Initiative, described below, our
results of operations may be negatively affected. In addition, if we do not operate our business in a manner that is consistent
with this corporate restructuring or any applicable tax laws, we may fail to achieve the financial, operational and effective tax
rate efficiencies that we anticipate and our results of operations may be negatively affected.
The Tax Act, enacted in December 2017, makes far-ranging changes to the existing U.S. corporate tax system. This
legislation establishes a quasi-territorial system for taxing foreign-source income of multinational corporations and, among
other items and with varying effective dates, includes changes to U.S. federal tax rates, an additional minimum tax measured in
part by “base erosion payments” involving certain members of affiliated groups, significant limitations on the deductibility of
interest expense and changes to the rules governing taxable and tax-free cross-border transfers of intangible property. Certain
changes to the U.S. corporate tax system resulting from the Tax Act, mainly that foreign earnings are now subject to U.S. taxes,
have, and are expected to continue to, negatively affect the financial, operational and effective tax rate efficiencies of this
corporate restructuring.
The implementation of our corporate restructuring increases the likelihood that unfavorable tax law changes, unfavorable
government review of our tax returns, changes in our geographic earnings mix or imposition of withholding taxes on
repatriated earnings could have an adverse effect on our effective tax rate and our operating results.
We have expanded and will likely continue to expand our operations into multiple non-U.S. jurisdictions in connection
with our 2015 corporate restructuring, including those having tax rates higher and lower than those we are subject to in the
United States. As a result, our effective tax rate will be influenced by the amounts of income and expense attributed to each
such jurisdiction, which is materially affected by our valuation and pricing of intercompany transactions, both of which can be
based on significant management assumptions or estimates. If such amounts were to change so as to increase the amounts of
our net income subject to taxation in higher tax jurisdictions, or if we were to commence operations in jurisdictions assessing
relatively higher tax rates, our effective tax rate could be adversely affected. As a result of our corporate restructuring, we will
be subject to periodic audits or other reviews by tax authorities in the jurisdictions in which we conduct our activities in the
future and there is a risk that the tax authorities could challenge our tax positions, including the assumptions and estimates on
which we base the valuation and pricing of intercompany transactions.
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The recently-enacted Act establishes a quasi-territorial system for taxing foreign-source income of multinational
corporations and other tax proposals are being considered by legislative bodies in some of the foreign jurisdictions in which we
operate that could negatively affect our effective tax rate and other tax liabilities.
We cannot predict the form or timing of potential legislative changes, but any newly enacted tax law could have a
material adverse impact on our tax provision, net income and cash flows. This could result in additional tax liabilities or other
adjustments to our historical results.
The final determination of our income tax liability may be materially different from our income tax provision.
The final determination of our income tax liability, which includes the impact of our corporate restructuring, may be
materially different from our income tax provision. We are subject to income taxes in the United States and, as a result of our
corporate restructuring, have become subject to income taxes in international jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in
determining our worldwide provision for income taxes. In the ordinary course of our business, there are some transactions
where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Additionally, our calculations of income taxes are based on our
interpretations of applicable tax laws in the jurisdictions in which we file or will file as a result of the implemented corporate
restructuring. Although we believe our tax estimates, which include the impact of anticipated tax benefits in connection with
our corporate restructuring, are and will be appropriate, the ultimate tax outcome may materially differ from the tax amounts
recorded in our consolidated financial statements and may materially affect our income tax provision, net income or cash flows
in the period or periods for which such determination is made.
We are also subject to periodic examination of our income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, in the
United States and will be subject to periodic examination of our income tax returns by taxing authorities in other tax
jurisdictions. For example, we have been selected for examination by the IRS for our 2014 through 2017 tax years. We assess
and will continue to assess on a regular basis the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to
determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. The outcomes from these examinations may have an adverse effect
on our operating results and financial condition.
Furthermore, our provision for income tax could increase as we further expand our international operations, adopt new
products or undertake intercompany transactions in light of acquisitions, changing tax laws, expiring rulings and our current
and anticipated business and operational requirements.
Our ability to utilize certain net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards may be limited under Sections
382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code.
As of December 31, 2018, we had net operating loss carryforward amounts, or NOLs, of approximately $61.9 million
and $87.4 million for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes, respectively, and tax credit carryforward amounts of
approximately $10.6 million and $15.3 million for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes, respectively. The state net
operating loss carryforwards and portions of the federal net operating loss carryforward will expire at various dates beginning
in 2029 through 2038. Federal net operating loss carryforwards generated after December 31, 2017 are subject to carryforward
indefinitely. The federal and state tax credit carryforwards will expire at various dates beginning in 2019 through 2038 and $0.6
million of such carryforwards will expire between 2019 and 2021 if not used. Utilization of these net operating loss and tax
credit carryforward amounts could be subject to a substantial annual limitation if ownership changes under Sections 382 and
383 of the Internal Revenue Code and similar state provisions are triggered by changes in the ownership of our capital stock.
Our existing NOLs may be subject to limitations arising from previous ownership changes, including in connection with our
initial public offering, or IPO, a follow-on offering in 2016, and any future follow-on public offerings. Future changes in our
stock ownership, some of which are outside of our control, could result in an ownership change. There is also a risk that due to
regulatory and legislative changes, such as suspensions on the use of NOLs, or other unforeseen reasons, our existing NOLs
could expire or otherwise be unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities. Additionally, state NOLs generated in one state
generally cannot be used to offset income generated in another state. For these reasons, we may be limited in our ability to fully
utilize the tax benefit from the use of our NOLs, even if our profitability would otherwise allow for it.
We are a multinational organization faced with increasingly complex tax issues in many jurisdictions, and we could be
obligated to pay additional taxes in various jurisdictions, including in the United States.
As a multinational organization, we are subject to taxation in jurisdictions around the world with increasingly complex
tax laws, the application of which can be uncertain. The amount of taxes we pay in these jurisdictions could increase
substantially as a result of changes in the applicable tax principles, including increased tax rates, new tax laws or revised
interpretations of existing tax laws and precedents, which could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and operating
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results. In addition, the authorities in these jurisdictions could review our tax returns and impose additional tax, interest and
penalties, and the authorities could claim that various withholding requirements apply to us or our subsidiaries or assert that
benefits of tax treaties are not available to us or our subsidiaries, any of which could have a material impact on us and the
results of our operations.
There is growing pressure in many jurisdictions (including the United States) and from multinational organizations such
as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD, and the European Union, or EU, to amend
existing international tax rules in order to render them more responsive to current global business practices. For example, the
OECD has published measures for reform of the international tax rules as a product of its Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, or
BEPS, initiative, which aims to standardize and modernize global tax policy and was endorsed by the G20 finance ministers.
Many of the initiatives in the BEPS package will require amendments to the domestic tax legislation of various jurisdictions.
Separately, the EU is asserting that a number of country-specific favorable tax regimes and rulings in certain member states
may violate, or have violated, EU law, and may require rebates of some or all of the associated tax benefits to be paid by
benefited taxpayers in particular case. Depending on the final form of the BEPS guidance and the legislation ultimately enacted
by the OECD members, BEPS could have material adverse consequences on our effective tax rate, the amount of tax we pay
and on our financial position and results of operations. Certain changes to the U.S. corporate tax system resulting from the Tax
Act, mainly that foreign earnings are now subject to U.S. income taxes, have had, and are expected to continue to have, a
negative effect on our financial, operational and effective tax rate efficiencies.
Other legislative and regulatory proposals may also affect our tax position or our business practices and operations,
depending on whether and in what form they may ultimately take effect. Although we monitor these developments, due to the
unpredictability and interdependency of these potential changes, it is very difficult to assess to what extent these changes may
be implemented in the United States and other jurisdictions in which we conduct our business or to what extent these changes
may impact the way in which we conduct our business or our effective tax rate due to the unpredictability and interdependency
of these potential changes. Changes in tax laws and related regulations and practices could have a material adverse effect on
our business operations, effective tax rate and financial position and results of operations.
We are exposed to credit risk and fluctuations in the market values of our investment portfolio.
Credit ratings and pricing of our domestic and international investments can be negatively affected by liquidity, credit
deterioration, financial results, economic risk, political risk, sovereign risk or other factors. As a result, the value and liquidity
of our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities may fluctuate substantially. Therefore, although we have not realized
any significant losses on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, future fluctuations in their value could result in a
significant realized loss.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
Our products may infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which could result in expensive litigation or require us
to obtain a license to use the technology from third parties, or we may be prohibited from selling certain products in the
future.
Companies in the industry in which we operate frequently are sued or receive informal claims of patent infringement or
infringement of other intellectual property rights. We have, from time to time, received such claims from companies, including
from competitors, suppliers and customers, some of whom have substantially more resources and have been developing
relevant technologies for much longer than us.
Third parties may in the future assert claims against us concerning our existing products or with respect to future
products under development, or with respect to products that we may acquire through acquisitions. We have entered into and
may in the future enter into indemnification obligations in favor of our customers that could be triggered upon an allegation or
finding that we are infringing other parties’ proprietary rights. If we do infringe a third party’s rights and are unable to provide a
sufficient work around, we may need to negotiate with holders of those rights in order to obtain a license to those rights or
otherwise settle any infringement claim. A party that makes a claim of infringement against us may obtain an injunction
preventing us from shipping products containing the allegedly infringing technology. We have from time to time received
notices from third parties alleging infringement of their intellectual property and, in some cases, have entered into license
agreements with such third parties with respect to such intellectual property. Any license agreements that we wish to enter into
the future with respect to intellectual property rights may not be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
Generally, a license, if granted, would include payments of up-front fees, ongoing royalties or both. These payments or other
terms, including any that restrict our ability to utilize the licensed technology in specified markets or geographic locations,
could have a significant adverse effect on our operating results. In addition, in the event we are granted such a license, it is
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possible the license would be non-exclusive and other parties, including competitors, may be able to utilize such technology.
Our larger competitors may be able to obtain licenses or cross-license their technology on better terms than we can, which
could put us at a competitive disadvantage. In addition, our larger competitors may be able to buy such technology and
preclude us from licensing or using such technology.
We may not in all cases be able to resolve allegations of infringement through licensing arrangements, settlement,
alternative designs or otherwise. We may take legal action to determine the validity and scope of the third-party rights or to
defend against any allegations of infringement. Holders of intellectual property rights could become more aggressive in
alleging infringement of their intellectual property rights and we may be the subject of such claims asserted by a third party. For
example, as described further in Part I, Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, on January 21, 2016,
ViaSat, Inc. filed a suit against us alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith
and fair dealing and misappropriation of trade secrets. In the course of pursuing any of these means or defending against any
lawsuits filed against us, we could incur significant costs and diversion of our resources and our management’s attention. Due
to the competitive nature of our industry, it is unlikely that we could increase our prices to cover such costs. In addition, such
claims could result in significant penalties or injunctions that could prevent us from selling some of our products in certain
markets or result in settlements or judgments that require payment of significant royalties or damages.
Our intellectual property rights are valuable, and any inability to protect them could reduce the value of our products,
services and brand.
Our future success will depend, in large part, upon our intellectual property rights, including patents, copyrights, design
rights, trade secrets, trademarks and know-how. We maintain a program of identifying technology appropriate for patent and
trade secret protection. Our practice is to require employees and consultants to execute non-disclosure and proprietary rights
agreements upon commencement of employment or consulting arrangements. These agreements acknowledge our exclusive
ownership of all intellectual property developed by the individuals during their work for us and require that all proprietary
information disclosed will remain confidential. Such agreements may not be enforceable in full or in part in all jurisdictions
and any breach could have a negative effect on our business and our remedy for such breach may be limited.
Despite our efforts, these measures can only provide limited protection. Unauthorized third parties may try to copy or
reverse engineer portions of our products, may breach our cybersecurity defenses or may otherwise obtain and use our
intellectual property. Patents owned by us may be invalidated, circumvented or challenged. Any of our pending or future patent
applications, whether or not being currently challenged, may not be issued with the scope of the claims we seek, if at all. Legal
standards relating to the validity, enforceability and scope of protection of intellectual property rights in other countries are
uncertain and may afford little or no effective protection for our proprietary rights. Consequently, we may be unable to prevent
our intellectual property rights from being exploited abroad. Policing the unauthorized use of our proprietary rights is
expensive, difficult and, in some cases, impossible. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce or defend our
intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others.
Such litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of management resources, either of which could harm our
business. Accordingly, despite our efforts, we may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing upon or misappropriating
our intellectual property. If we cannot protect our proprietary technology against unauthorized copying or use, we may not
remain competitive.
Furthermore, many of our current and potential competitors have the ability to dedicate substantially greater resources to
developing and protecting their technology or intellectual property rights than we do. In addition, our attempts to protect our
proprietary technology and intellectual property rights may be further limited as our employees may be recruited by our current
or future competitors and may take with them significant knowledge of our proprietary information. Consequently, others may
develop services and methodologies that are similar or superior to our services and methodologies or may design around our
intellectual property.
We may be subject to intellectual property litigation that could divert our resources.
In recent years, there has been significant litigation involving patents and other intellectual property rights in our
industry. As we continue to gain greater market visibility, we face a higher risk of being the subject of intellectual property
infringement claims. The risk of patent litigation has been amplified by the increase in the number of a type of patent holder,
which we refer to as a non-practicing entity, whose sole business is to assert such claims. We could incur substantial costs in
prosecuting or defending any intellectual property litigation. If we sue to enforce our rights or are sued by a third party that
claims that our products infringe its rights, the litigation could be expensive and could divert our management resources.
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Confidentiality arrangements with employees and others may not adequately prevent disclosure of trade secrets and other
proprietary information.
We have devoted substantial resources to the development of our technology, business operations and business plans. In
order to protect our trade secrets and proprietary information, we rely in significant part on confidentiality arrangements with
our employees, licensees, independent contractors, advisers, channel partners, resellers and customers. These arrangements
may not be effective to prevent disclosure of confidential information, including trade secrets, and may not provide an adequate
remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. In addition, if others independently discover trade
secrets and proprietary information, we would not be able to assert trade secret rights against such parties. Effective trade secret
protection may not be available in every country in which our services are available or where we have employees or
independent contractors. The loss of trade secret protection could make it easier for third parties to compete with our products
by copying functionality. In addition, any changes in, or unexpected interpretations of, the trade secret and employment laws in
any country in which we operate may compromise our ability to enforce our trade secret and intellectual property rights. Costly
and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to
obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive business position.
We may be subject to damages resulting from claims that our employees or contractors have wrongfully used or disclosed
alleged trade secrets of their former employees or other parties.
We could in the future be subject to claims that employees or contractors, or we, have inadvertently or otherwise used or
disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of our competitors or other parties. Litigation may be necessary to
defend against these claims. If we fail in defending against such claims, a court could order us to pay substantial damages and
prohibit us from using technologies or features that are essential to our products, if such technologies or features are found to
incorporate or be derived from the trade secrets or other proprietary information of these parties. In addition, we may lose
valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. A loss of key personnel or their work product could hamper or prevent our
ability to develop, market and support potential products or enhancements, which could severely harm our business. Even if we
are successful in defending against these claims, such litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to
management.
We license technology from third parties, and our inability to maintain those licenses could harm our business.
We incorporate technology, including software, which we license from third parties into our products. We cannot be
certain that our licensors are not infringing the intellectual property rights of third parties or that our licensors have sufficient
rights to the licensed intellectual property in all jurisdictions in which we may sell our products. Some of our agreements with
our licensors may be terminated for convenience by them. If we are unable to continue to license any of this technology
because of intellectual property infringement claims brought by third parties against our licensors or against us, or if we are
unable to continue our license agreements or enter into new licenses on commercially reasonable terms, our ability to develop
and sell products containing that technology would be severely limited, and our business could be harmed. Additionally, if we
are unable to license necessary technology from third parties, we may be forced to acquire, at the same or higher cost, or
expend additional resources to develop alternative technology of lower quality or performance standards. This would limit and
delay our ability to offer new or competitive products and increase our costs of production. As a result, our margins, market
share and operating results could be significantly harmed.
The use of open source software in our offerings may expose us to additional risks and harm our intellectual property.
Open source software is typically freely accessible, usable and modifiable. Certain open source software licenses require
a user who intends to distribute the open source software as a component of the user’s software to disclose publicly part or all
of the source code to the user’s software. In addition, certain open source software licenses require the user of such software to
make any derivative works of the open source code available to others on unfavorable terms or at no cost. This can subject
previously proprietary software to open source license terms.
We monitor and control our use of open source software that goes into or is used by our products in an effort to avoid
unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our ability to successfully commercialize our products and believe that our
compliance with the obligations under the various applicable licenses has mitigated the risks that we have triggered any such
conditions or restrictions. However, such use may have inadvertently occurred in the development and offering of proprietary
software on our products. Additionally, if a third-party software provider has incorporated certain types of open source software
into software that we have licensed from such third party, we could be subject to the obligations and requirements of the
applicable open source software licenses. This could harm our intellectual property position and have a material adverse effect
on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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The terms of many open source software licenses have not been interpreted by U.S. or foreign courts, and there is a risk
that those licenses could be construed in a manner that imposes unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our ability to
successfully commercialize our products. For example, certain open source software licenses may be interpreted to require that
we offer the software on our products that include the open source software for no cost; that we make available the source code
for modifications or derivative works we create based upon, incorporating or using the open source software (or that we grant
third parties the right to decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, or otherwise derive such source code); that we license such
modifications or derivative works under the terms of the particular open source license; or that otherwise impose limitations,
restrictions or conditions on our ability to use, license, host, or distribute our products in a manner that limits our ability to
successfully commercialize our products.
We could, therefore, be subject to claims alleging that we have not complied with the restrictions or limitations of the
applicable open source software license terms or that our use of open source software infringes the intellectual property rights
of a third party. In that event, we could incur significant legal expenses, be subject to significant damages, be enjoined from
further sale and distribution of the software on our products that uses the open source software, be required to pay a license fee,
be forced to reengineer the software on our products, or be required to comply with the foregoing conditions of the open source
software licenses (including the release of the source code to our proprietary software), any of which could adversely affect our
business. Even if these claims do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor or without significant cash settlements, the
time and resources necessary to resolve them could harm our business, results of operations, financial condition and reputation.
Additionally, the use of open source software can lead to greater risks than the use of third-party commercial software,
as open source software does not come with warranties or other contractual protections regarding indemnification, infringement
claims or the quality of the code.
Risks Related to the Ownership of Our Common Stock
Our stock price has been and may continue to be volatile and investors in our common stock may be unable to sell their
shares at or above the price at which they were purchased.
The trading prices of the securities of technology companies, including technology companies in the industry in which
we operate, have been highly volatile. Some of the factors that may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate
include:
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price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time;
volatility in the market price and trading volume of comparable companies, in particular optical industry peer
companies;
actual or anticipated changes in our earnings or fluctuations in our operating results or in the expectations of
securities analysts covering our industry or issuing market projection reports;
announcements of technological innovations, new products, strategic alliances or other transactions, or significant
agreements by us or by our competitors;
announcements by our customers regarding significant increases or decreases in capital expenditures and their
results of operations;
failure to accurately predict and interpret market requirements or market demand for our products;
departure of key personnel;
litigation involving us or that may be perceived as having an impact on our business;
changes in general economic, industry and market conditions and trends, including the economic slowdown and
delayed deployment and network expansion in China and the uncertainty related to Brexit;
investors’ general perception of us;
significant short interest in our stock;
sales of large blocks of our stock;
loss of any of our key customers;
a lack of guaranteed supply of manufactured wafers and other raw and finished components and incorporated
products;
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changes in regulations or legislation in the United States and other jurisdictions in which we do business, including
domestic and international tax reform, trade policy and tariffs and export controls that could impede our ability to
sell our products to our customers in certain foreign jurisdictions, particularly in China; and
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actions or announcements by activist shareholders or others.
In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action and
shareholder derivative litigation has often been brought against that company. See Part I, Item 3, “Legal Proceedings” in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K for information concerning litigation initiated against us and certain of our executive officers and
directors and certain other defendants. Because of the volatility of our stock price, we may become the target of additional
securities litigation in the future. Class action, derivative lawsuits and other securities litigation, whether successful or not,
could result in substantial costs, damage, indemnification or settlement awards and divert management’s attention and
resources from running our business, which could materially harm our reputations, financial condition and results of operations.
Our quarterly operating results or other operating metrics have fluctuated significantly, and they are likely to continue to do
so, which could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline.
Our quarterly operating results and other operating metrics have fluctuated in the past and are likely to continue to do so
in the future. We expect that this trend will continue as a result of a number of factors, many of which are outside of our control
and may be difficult to predict, including:
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the level of demand for our products and our ability to maintain and increase our customer base;
the timing and success of new product introductions by us or our competitors or any other change in the competitive
landscape of our market;
the mix of products sold in a quarter;
export control laws, tariffs, developments in trade policy or regulations that could impede our ability to sell our
products to certain customers or other customers in certain foreign jurisdictions;
pricing pressure as a result of competition or otherwise or price discounts negotiated by our customers;
our ability to ramp production of new products with our contract manufacturers;
delays or disruptions in our supply or manufacturing chain;
our ability to reduce manufacturing costs;
errors in our forecasting of the demand for our products, which could lead to lower revenue or increased costs;
seasonal and period-over-period buying patterns of some of our customers;
introduction of new products, with initial sales at relatively small volumes with resulting higher product costs;
increases in and timing of sales and marketing, research and development and other operating expenses that we may
incur to grow and expand our operations and to remain competitive;
insolvency, credit consolidation or other difficulties faced by our customers, affecting their ability to purchase or
pay for our products;
insolvency, credit consolidation, or other difficulties confronting our suppliers and contract manufacturers leading to
disruptions in our supply or distribution chain;
levels of product order rescheduling, cancellations, returns and contractual price protection rights, including the
impact of product quality problems on our reputation;
adverse litigation judgments, settlements or other litigation-related costs;
product recalls, regulatory proceedings or other adverse publicity about our products;
fluctuations in foreign exchange rates;
the impact of the Tax Act and other legislative and regulatory proposals to reform U.S. taxation of international
business activities;
costs related to the acquisition of businesses, talent, technologies or intellectual property, including potentially
significant amortization costs and possible write-downs; and
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general economic conditions in either domestic or international markets, particularly the impact of any economic
slowdown in China.
Any one of the factors above or the cumulative effect of some of the factors above may result in significant fluctuations
in our operating results.
The variability and unpredictability of our quarterly operating results or other operating metrics could result in our
failure to meet our expectations or those of any analysts that cover us or investors in our common stock with respect to revenue
or other operating results for a particular period. If we fail to meet or exceed such expectations for these or any other reasons,
the market price of our common stock could fall substantially, and we could face costly lawsuits, including securities class
action suits.
Because we do not expect to pay any dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future, returns to investors in our
common stock will be limited to any increase in the value of our common stock.
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate that we will pay any cash dividends to
holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future. Instead, we plan to retain any earnings to maintain and expand our
existing operations. Accordingly, investors in our common stock must rely on sales of their common stock after price
appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any return on their investment.
The concentration of our capital stock ownership with insiders will likely limit certain common stock investors’ ability to
influence corporate matters including the ability to influence the outcome of director elections and other matters requiring
stockholder approval.
As of February 15, 2019, our directors and executive officers and their affiliates beneficially owned, in the aggregate,
more than 22% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these stockholders, acting together, could have significant
influence over the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of directors, and any
merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, and over the management and affairs of our company. This
concentration of ownership may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company and might
affect the market price of our common stock.
A significant portion of our total outstanding shares may be sold into the public market at any time, which could cause the
market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time, subject to
periodic trading restrictions imposed on our executive officers, directors and other insiders under our insider trading policy and
other securities regulations. These sales, or the market perception that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell
shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock. As of February 15, 2019 we had 40,258,201 shares of common
stock outstanding, all of which were available for sale, subject to any applicable volume limitations under federal securities
laws with respect to affiliate sales.
In addition, as of February 15, 2019, there were 1,065,019 shares subject to outstanding options, 2,533,839 shares
subject to outstanding restricted stock units, or RSUs, and an additional 5,273,740 shares reserved for future issuance under our
equity incentive plans that will become eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by any applicable vesting
requirements and the restrictions imposed on our affiliates under Rule 144.
Moreover, the holders of an aggregate of approximately 6,700,000 shares of our common stock as of February 15, 2019
have rights, subject to some conditions, to require us to file one or more registration statements covering their shares or to
include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other stockholders. If we were to register these
shares for resale, they could be freely sold in the public market. If these additional shares are sold, or if it is perceived that they
will be sold, in the public market, the trading price of our common stock could decline.
Anti-takeover provisions in our restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, as well as
provisions of Delaware law, might discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or changes in our
management and, therefore, depress the trading price of our common stock.
Our restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law contain provisions that may
discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control that stockholders may consider favorable,
including transactions in which an investor in our common stock might otherwise receive a premium for their shares of our
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common stock. These provisions may also prevent or delay attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management.
Our corporate governance documents include provisions:
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establishing a classified board of directors with staggered three-year terms so that not all members of our board are
elected at one time;
providing that directors may be removed by stockholders only for cause and only with a vote of the holders of at
least 75% of the issued and outstanding shares of voting stock;
limiting the ability of our stockholders to call and bring business before special meetings and to take action by
written consent in lieu of a meeting;
requiring advance notice of stockholder proposals for business to be conducted at meetings of our stockholders and
for nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors;
authorizing blank check preferred stock, which could be issued with voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights
superior to our common stock; and
limiting the liability of, and providing indemnification to, our directors and officers.
As a Delaware corporation, we are also subject to provisions of Delaware law, including Section 203 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, which limits the ability of stockholders holding more than 15% of our outstanding voting stock from
engaging in certain business combinations with us. Any provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or
amended and restated by-laws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the
opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our common stock, and could also affect the price that
some investors in our common stock are willing to pay for our common stock.
The existence of the foregoing provisions and anti-takeover measures could limit the price that investors in our common
stock might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. They could also deter potential acquirers of our
company, thereby reducing the likelihood that an investor in our common stock could receive a premium for their common
stock in an acquisition.
Our restated certificate provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for
substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable
judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.
Our restated certificate provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the exclusive forum for any
derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a
claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws; or
any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The choice of forum provision may limit
a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or
other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees. Alternatively,
if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or
unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which
could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
We have incurred and expect that we will continue to incur increased costs and demands upon management as a result of
complying with the laws and regulations affecting public companies. These increased costs and demands could adversely
affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
As a public company, we will continue to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. We are subject to the
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act, and the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or Nasdaq, and other applicable securities
rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective
disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. These requirements have increased and will continue to
increase our legal, accounting and financial compliance costs and have made and will continue to make some activities more
time consuming and costly.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we assess the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting annually and the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures quarterly. Pursuant to Section 404
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, we are required to furnish a report by our management on the effectiveness
of our internal control over financial reporting and an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by
36
our independent registered public accounting firm. Compliance with Section 404, including documentation and evaluation of
our internal control over financial reporting is both costly and challenging. If we are not able to comply with the requirements
of Section 404 in a timely manner, or if we or our independent registered public accounting firm identifies deficiencies in our
internal control over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, the market price of our stock could decline
and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which would require
additional financial and management resources and could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Furthermore, investor perceptions of our company may suffer if deficiencies are found, and this could cause a decline in
the market price of our stock. Irrespective of compliance with Section 404, any failure of our internal control over financial
reporting could have a material adverse effect on our stated operating results and harm our reputation.
In addition, changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure are creating
uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs and making some activities more time
consuming. These laws, regulations, and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of
specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and
governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by
ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We have and will continue to invest resources to comply with
evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this investment has and may result in increased general and administrative
expense and a diversion of management’s time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. If our
efforts to comply with new laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing
bodies, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us and our business may be harmed.
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.
Properties
Our corporate headquarters are located in Maynard, Massachusetts, where we occupy approximately 121,000 square feet
pursuant to a lease expiring in February 2025. We also occupy approximately 46,000 square feet at our research center in
Holmdel, New Jersey, pursuant to a lease expiring in December 2023, and lease office space in various other domestic and
international locations. We believe that our current facilities are suitable and adequate to meet our current needs. We intend to
add new facilities or expand existing facilities as we add employees, and we believe that suitable additional or substitute space
will be available as needed to accommodate any such expansion of our operations.
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
On January 21, 2016, ViaSat, Inc. filed a lawsuit in California state court, later removed to the U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of California, against us alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of
good faith and fair dealing and misappropriation of trade secrets. On February 19, 2016, we responded to ViaSat’s lawsuit and
alleged counterclaims against ViaSat including, among other things, patent misappropriation, breach of contract, breach of the
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition, which ViaSat denied
in its response filed March 16, 2016. On September 28, 2018 the matter was remanded back to California state court and is
currently pending a scheduling conference with the judge. The parties are in the process of briefing summary judgment motions
in anticipation of a trial in California state court scheduled for June 2019. While it is not possible to predict the outcome of this
matter with certainty, based on the information available to us today, we currently believe that this lawsuit will not have a
material adverse effect on our business or our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
On July 28, 2017, we filed a lawsuit in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Superior Court - Business Litigation
Session against ViaSat asserting commercial disparagement, libel, slander of title, unfair competition, intentional interference
with advantageous relations and intentional interference with contractual relations. On April 5, 2018, ViaSat responded to our
action and alleged counterclaims including, among other things, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good
faith and fair dealing, misappropriation of trade secrets, and unfair competition. On December 13, 2018, the Massachusetts
court entered an order staying the Massachusetts litigation pending resolution of the California state court action discussed in
the preceding paragraph. During the stay of the Massachusetts litigation, Acacia may conduct and complete certain non-party
discovery as provided in the court’s order. While it is not possible to predict the outcome of this matter with certainty, based on
the information available to us today, we currently believe that this lawsuit will not have a material adverse effect on our
business or our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
37
The California and Massachusetts lawsuits are both pending resolution, discovery is closed in the California action filed
by ViaSat and ongoing in the Massachusetts action filed by us, subject to the conditions of the order to stay.
Between August and October 2017, four purported securities class action complaints were filed in the U.S. District Court
for the District of Massachusetts against us and certain of our executive officers, among other defendants. The complaints are
captioned Tharp v. Acacia Communications, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-11504 (D. Mass.), filed August 14, 2017; Zhang v.
Acacia Communications, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-11518 (D. Mass.), filed August 16, 2017; Kebler v. Acacia
Communications, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-11695 (D. Mass.), filed September 7, 2017; and Rollhaus v. Acacia
Communications, Inc., et al., Case No. 17-cv-11988 (D. Mass.), filed October 13, 2017. In November 2017, the court
consolidated these four securities class actions (under docket number 1:17-cv-11504) and appointed lead plaintiffs for the
consolidated action. Lead plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended class action complaint on January 8, 2018. The amended
complaint asserted claims against us and certain of our directors and executive officers, among other defendants, and alleged
that some or all of the defendants violated Sections 11, 12(a)(2) and/or 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and/
or 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by making allegedly false and/or
misleading statements regarding, among other matters, demand for our products, our financial guidance, and/or our quality
control process as it relates to the Quality Issue. The amended complaint sought, among other relief, unspecified compensatory
damages, rescission, attorneys’ fees, and costs. All defendants filed motions to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint on
February 9, 2018. On June 15, 2018, the court granted defendants’ motions to dismiss and denied plaintiffs leave to file an
amended complaint. On June 25, 2018, the court entered judgment and dismissed the case against all the defendants. No notice
of appeal has been filed.
In November and December 2017, three purported shareholder derivative lawsuits were filed in the United States
District Court for the District of Massachusetts against certain of our directors and executive officers (Murugesan Shanmugaraj,
John Gavin, Francis Murphy, Eric Swanson, Peter Chung, Benny Mikkelsen, Stan Reiss, John Ritchie, Vincent Roche,
Mehrdad Givehchi, Bhupendra Shah and Christian Rasmussen) and the company as a nominal defendant. A fourth purported
shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed against the same defendants in the same court on March 13, 2018. The complaints are
captioned Colgan v. Shanmugaraj et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-12350 (D. Mass.), filed November 29, 2017; Wong v. Shanmugaraj
et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-12550 (D. Mass.), filed December 22, 2017; Dennis v. Shanmugaraj et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-12571
(D. Mass.), filed December 28, 2017; and Farah-Franco et al. v. Shanmugaraj et al., Case No. 1:18-cv-10465 (D. Mass), filed
March 13, 2018. The court has consolidated these complaints with the class actions (under docket number 1:17-cv-11504).
The court appointed lead plaintiffs for the consolidated derivative actions on April 20, 2018. On May 1, 2018, plaintiff
Dennis voluntarily dismissed his case without prejudice. Lead plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended derivative complaint on
May 30, 2018. The amended derivative complaint generally alleges that the individual defendants breached fiduciary duties
owed to the company by making or causing the company to make allegedly false and/or misleading statements regarding,
among other matters, demand for our products, our financial guidance, and/or our quality control process as it relates to the
Quality Issue, and by selling stock in Acacia with knowledge of those allegedly false and/or misleading statements. The
complaint also alleges that certain individual defendants caused the company to issue an allegedly false and/or misleading
proxy statement on or about April 6, 2017 regarding, among other matters, the reelection of certain directors. The complaint
purports to assert derivative claims for violation of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933; Sections 10(b), 14(a), and 29(b) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder; breach of fiduciary duty; insider trading;
waste of corporate assets; and unjust enrichment. The complaint seeks to recover on behalf of the company for any liability it
incurs as a result of the individual defendants’ alleged misconduct. The complaint also seeks declaratory, equitable and
monetary relief, restitution, and attorneys’ fees and costs.
On April 9, 2018, a purported shareholder filed a complaint against us in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware
seeking to inspect certain of our books and records pursuant to 8 Del. C. §220, or Section 220. The complaint is captioned
Silberberg v. Acacia Communications, Inc., Case No. 2018-0262-TMR (Del. Ch.). We filed our answer on April 27, 2018. The
plaintiff filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings on May 1, 2018. We filed our cross-motion for judgment on the pleadings
and opposition on May 11, 2018. The plaintiff replied on May 16, 2018. The Court held a telephonic hearing on these motions
on May 29, 2018. On June 1, 2018, the Chancery Court granted the plaintiff’s motion and entered judgment for the plaintiff,
and we thereafter produced documents to the shareholder pursuant to his Section 220 demand.
On July 19, 2018, the parties reached an agreement in principle to settle the above-referenced derivative litigation and
Section 220 litigation, contingent on approval by the court in the District of Massachusetts hearing the consolidated derivative
actions. We adopted certain corporate governance changes as part of the settlement.
On September 14, 2018, the parties executed their Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement, Compromise and Release,
and the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary approval of the settlement. On September 17, 2018, the court issued an order
38
preliminarily approving the settlement, requiring notice of the settlement be issued to our shareholders, and scheduling a
hearing to consider final approval of the settlement. On November 7, 2018, the plaintiffs filed a motion for final approval of the
settlement and a motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses. On November 28, 2018, the defendants filed an
opposition to plaintiffs’ motion for attorneys’ fees and expenses. The court held a hearing to consider final settlement approval
and the plaintiffs’ request for an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses on December 19, 2018. The court approved the
settlement and indicated that it would schedule a further evidentiary hearing on the motion for attorneys’ fees and expenses.
The parties subsequently reached agreement on an agreed attorneys’ fee award of $0.7 million and an agreed immaterial
expense award. A portion of the fee and expense awards is expected to be reimbursed to us by our insurance carrier. On January
23, 2019, the court issued an order granting final approval to the settlement, including the agreed upon awards of attorneys’
fees and expenses. The court entered final judgment on January 24, 2019.
We intend to continue to engage in a vigorous defense of the ongoing litigation described above. However, we are
unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, and, therefore cannot estimate possible losses or ranges of losses,
if any, or the materiality of any such losses. An unfavorable resolution of these matters in any reporting period may have a
material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows for that period. In addition, the timing of the final resolution
of these proceedings is uncertain. We will incur litigation and other expenses as a result of these proceedings, which could have
a material impact on our business, consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
In addition, from time to time we may become involved in legal proceedings or be subject to claims arising in the
ordinary course of our business. Although the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we currently
believe that the final outcome of these ordinary course matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business or on our
consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse
impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
39
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Shares, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Market Information
Our common stock has been listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ACIA” since May 13, 2016.
Holders
As of the close of business on February 15, 2019, there were approximately 29 holders of record of our common stock
according to the records of our transfer agent. A greater number of holders of our common stock are “street name” or beneficial
owners, whose shares of record are held by banks, brokers and other financial institutions.
Dividend Policy
We have never declared or paid any dividends on our capital stock. We intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance
the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any
future determination to declare dividends will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors and applicable law, and will
depend on various factors, including our results of operations, financial condition, prospects and any other factors deemed
relevant by our board of directors.
40
Performance Graph
This performance graph shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that
section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Exchange Act.
The following graph compares the cumulative total return to stockholders for our common shares for the period from
May 13, 2016 (the date our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market) through December 31, 2018
with the Nasdaq Composite Index and the market sector Nasdaq Telecommunications Index. The comparison assumes an
investment of $100 is made on May 13, 2016 in our common shares and in each of the indices and in the case of the indices it
also assumes reinvestment of all dividends. The performance shown is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Use of Proceeds
None.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchaser
The following table provides the Company’s share repurchase activity during the three months ended December 31,
2018:
Period
October 1 - 31, 2018
November 1 - 30, 2018
December 1 - 31, 2018
Total
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
Average Price
Paid per Share
— $
174,659
464,773
639,432
$
—
42.16
42.25
42.22
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or Programs (1)
334,302
$
508,961
973,734
973,734
$
41
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares
that May Yet Be Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
47,300,388
39,932,736
—
—
(1) Our board of directors approved the repurchase by us of our common stock having a value of up to $60.0 million in the
aggregate pursuant to the repurchase program we publicly announced on May 3, 2018. The repurchase program expired on
December 31, 2018.
42
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
The consolidated income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, and the selected
consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, are derived from our audited consolidated financial
statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated income statement data
for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 and the selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
has been derived from our audited financial statements not appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our historical
results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in any future period. You should read the following selected
consolidated financial data in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.
Consolidated Income Statement Data:
Revenue
Cost of revenue(1)
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Research and development(1)
Sales, general and administrative(1)
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment
Total operating expenses
(Loss) income from operations
Total other income (expense), net
(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes
(Benefit) provision for income taxes
Net income
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic
Diluted
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
$ 339,891
192,771
147,120
$ 385,166
217,326
167,840
$ 478,412
257,425
220,987
$ 239,056
145,350
93,706
$ 146,234
93,558
52,676
102,406
51,864
—
154,270
(7,150)
6,746
(404)
(5,320)
4,916
0.12
0.12
$
$
$
$
$
$
92,027
38,807
(47)
130,787
37,053
3,250
40,303
1,795
38,508
75,696
27,676
25
103,397
117,590
(2,969)
114,621
(16,956)
$ 131,577
0.99
0.92
$
$
3.77
3.22
$
$
$
38,645
13,124
—
51,769
41,937
(2,132)
39,805
(715)
40,520
1.18
0.91
$
$
$
28,471
6,615
108
35,194
17,482
(1,029)
16,453
2,933
13,520
0.31
0.23
(1) Stock-based compensation included in the consolidated statements of income data above was as follows:
Cost of revenue
Research and development
Sales, general and administrative
Total stock-based compensation
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Year Ended December 31,
$
$
2,075
17,564
9,975
29,614
$
$
1,993
14,150
7,230
23,373
(in thousands)
1,629
$
12,347
6,769
20,745
$
$
$
75
561
189
825
$
$
17
258
132
407
43
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Working capital
Total assets
Long-term debt, including current portion
Total liabilities
Redeemable convertible preferred stock
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)
December 31,
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
(in thousands)
$
$
$
60,444
339,424
370,445
601,859
—
99,132
—
502,727
$
67,495
297,115
361,621
611,250
—
109,200
—
502,050
206,402
104,004
381,707
516,936
—
82,141
—
434,795
$
27,610
—
55,147
130,744
—
51,948
70,780
8,016
21,128
—
31,710
65,660
2,115
28,409
66,427
(29,176)
44
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations together with our
consolidated financial statements and the related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and
beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could
cause or contribute to these differences include those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K,
particularly in the section titled “Risk Factors.”
Company Overview
Our mission is to deliver high-speed coherent optical interconnect products that transform communications networks,
relied upon by cloud infrastructure operators and content and communication service providers, through improvements in
performance and capacity and reductions in associated costs. By implementing optical interconnect technology in a silicon-
based platform, a process we refer to as the siliconization of optical interconnect, we believe we are leading a disruption that is
analogous to the computing industry’s integration of multiple functions into a microprocessor. Our products fall into three
product groups: embedded modules, pluggable modules and semiconductors. Our embedded module and pluggable module
product groups consist of optical interconnect modules with transmission speeds ranging from 100 to 1,200 gigabits per second,
or Gbps, for use in long-haul, metro and inter-data center markets. Our semiconductor product group consists of our low-power
coherent digital signal processor application-specific integrated circuits, or DSP ASICs, and our silicon photonic integrated
circuits, or silicon PICs, which are either integrated into our embedded and pluggable modules or sold to customers on a
standalone basis for integration into internally developed or other merchant modules. We are also developing a 400ZR module
that will expand our pluggable module product group, and enable inter-data center transmission capacity of 400 Gbps in the
same compact pluggable form factors used for 400G client optics, including QSFP-DD and OSFP. Our modules perform a
majority of the digital signal processing and optical functions in optical interconnects and offer low power consumption, high
density and high speeds at attractive price points.
Key Factors Affecting our Performance
We believe that our future success will depend on many factors, including our ability to expand sales of our products to
our existing customers, expand our customer base and drive the adoption of our products in adjacent markets. While these areas
present significant opportunity, they also present risks that we must manage to ensure successful results. See Part I, Item 1A,
“Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on form 10-K for a discussion of these risks. If we are unable to address these challenges,
our business could be adversely affected.
Network Service Provider Investment in High-Speed Optical Equipment. Cloud and service providers are continuing to
invest in higher capacity networks to support the continued growth in demand for data traffic. We believe that 100 to 1,200
Gbps coherent optical technologies will continue to replace older technologies in long-haul, metro and inter-data center
networks. Our business and results depend on the continued investment by network service providers in these advanced
networks.
Expanding Sales to Existing Customer Base. We expect that a substantial portion of our future sales will be follow-on
sales to existing customers. One of our sales strategies is to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction by delivering our
products with compelling value propositions. We believe that our current customers present us with significant opportunities for
additional product sales given the existing and expected market share of these customers and our prior sales experience with
them. We also believe that our customers will continue to design our products into their network equipment products in an
effort to maintain and potentially grow their market share over time as growth in the overall market for optical interconnect
technology continues to grow. Our customers have historically shown a high propensity to purchase new products from us over
multiple quarters and in many cases over multiple years. In addition, several of our customers have elected to integrate an
increasing number of our products into their network equipment product lines.
Adding New Customers. We believe that the metro and inter-data center markets are still in the early stages of
adoption. We intend to add new customers over time by continuing to invest in our technology and business development team
to capitalize on these new opportunities and through potential strategic transactions. Our products and technology have
accelerated the rate at which optical interconnect technology can be easily deployed and designed into newer generation
network equipment, thus making it easier to integrate our products across many system applications. Generally, we educate
prospective customers in these markets about the technical merits and capabilities of our products, the potential cost savings of
our products and the costs of designing and utilizing internally developed solutions. We build relationships with prospective
45
customers at all levels in a customer’s organizational hierarchy. We believe that customer references combined with our product
and technology strengths and capabilities have been, and will continue to be, an important factor in winning new business.
Selling More Highly Integrated and Higher-Performance Products. Our results of operations have been, and we
believe will continue to be, affected by our ability to design and sell more highly integrated products with improved
performance and increased functionality. We aim to grow our revenue and expand our margins by enabling customers to
transition from previously deployed 10 and 40 Gbps solutions to our 100 to 1,200 Gbps modules and demonstrate the value
proposition to the growing number of metro and inter-data center network equipment designers and manufacturers. Our ability
to maintain our current revenue levels and sustain our gross margins will depend, in part, upon our continued sales of our
newer, more integrated and higher performance products, and our quarterly results of operations can be significantly impacted
by the mix of products sold during the period.
Investing in Research and Development for Growth. We believe that the market for our optical interconnect technology
products is still in the early stages of adoption and we intend to continue investing for long-term growth. We expect to continue
to invest heavily in coherent digital signal processing, optics integration, silicon photonics, hardware engineering and software,
all of which afford ongoing vertical integration of components into our core technologies. By investing in research and
development, we believe we will be well positioned to continue to design new products and grow our business and take
advantage of our large market opportunity. We expect that our results of operations will be impacted by the timing and size of
these investments.
Customer Concentration. In 2018, 2017 and 2016, our five largest customers in each period (which differed by period)
collectively accounted for 74%, 70%, and 78% of our revenue, respectively. We expect continued variability in our customer
concentration and timing of sales on a quarterly and annual basis. In addition, we have provided, and may in the future provide,
annual and semi-annual pricing reductions and pricing discounts to large volume customers, which may result in lower margins
for the period in which such sales occur. Our gross margins may also fluctuate as a result of the timing of such sales and the
mix of products sold to large volume customers.
Key Components of our Results of Operations
Revenue
We derive substantially all of our revenue from the sale of our products, which we sell through our direct sales force. We
sell a substantial majority of our products to network equipment manufacturers for ultimate sale to communications and content
service providers and data center and cloud infrastructure operators, which we refer to together as cloud and service providers,
and we expect network equipment manufacturer customers to be the primary market for our products for the foreseeable future.
Our negotiated terms and conditions of sale do not allow for product returns.
Our revenue is affected by changes in the number, product mix and average selling prices of our products. Our product
revenue is typically characterized by a life cycle that begins with sales of pre-production samples and prototypes followed by
the sale of early production models with higher average selling prices and lower volumes, followed by broader market
adoption, higher volumes, and average selling prices that are lower than initial levels. In addition, our product revenue may be
affected by contractual commitments to significant customers that obligate us to reduce the selling price of our products on an
annual or semi-annual basis.
Cost of Revenue
Our cost of revenue is comprised primarily of the costs of procuring goods from our contract manufacturers and other
suppliers. In addition, cost of revenue includes assembly, test, quality assurance, warranty and logistics-related fees, impacts of
manufacturing yield, depreciation, general overhead costs and costs associated with excess and obsolete inventory.
Personnel-related expenses include salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation, as well as consulting fees for those
personnel engaged in the management of our contract manufacturers, new product manufacturing activities, logistical support,
manufacturing and test engineering and supply chain management.
Gross Profit
Our gross profit has been, and may in the future be, influenced by several factors including changes in product mix,
sales of more highly integrated products, target end markets for our products, pricing due to competitive pressure and favorable
and unfavorable changes in production costs, including global demand for electronic components used in our products. As
46
some products mature and unit volumes increase, the average selling prices of those products may decline. These declines often
coincide with improvements in manufacturing yields and lower wafer, component, assembly and test costs, which lower
production costs and may offset some of the margin reduction that results from lower selling prices. We anticipate that our
newer modules, which integrate our silicon PIC, will contribute higher gross profit over time than some of our older products,
because the integration of our silicon PIC into these products eliminates the need for us to purchase several high-cost discrete
components for the same level of functionality, thus improving margins on these products. In addition, we have shifted the
manufacturing of the majority of our high volume products to contract manufacturers located in lower-cost regions, which
generally decreases the cost of the manufacturing of these products and correspondingly improves margins. However, the
current U.S. President, members of his Administration, and other public officials, including members of the current U.S.
Congress, continue to signal a willingness to revise, renegotiate, or terminate various multilateral trade agreements under which
U.S. companies currently exchange products and services around the world, and to impose new taxes on certain goods imported
into the United States or other adverse consequences on companies importing certain goods into the United States. Since we
rely primarily upon non-U.S. manufacturers to make our products, such steps, if adopted, could make our products more
expensive and less competitive in the U.S. market. There can be no assurance that pending or future legislation or executive
action in the United States that could significantly increase our cost of manufacturing our high volume products and decrease
our margins will not be enacted. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading
“Risks Related to our Business and Industry—We generate a significant portion of our revenue from international sales and
rely on foreign manufacturers to make our products, and therefore are subject to additional risks associated with our
international operations” for further information.
Although we primarily procure and sell our products in U.S. dollars, our contract manufacturers incur many costs,
including labor and component costs, in other currencies. To the extent that the exchange rates move unfavorably for our
contract manufacturers, they may try to pass resulting costs on to us, which could have a material effect on our future average
unit costs. Our gross profit may fluctuate from period to period as a result of changes in average selling prices related to new
product introductions, existing product transitions into larger scale commercial volumes, maturity of a product within its life
cycle, the effect of prototype and sample sales and resulting mix of modules or semiconductors within our product groups. In
future periods, we may hedge certain significant transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Operating Expenses
We classify our operating expenses as research and development and sales, general and administrative expenses.
• Research and development expenses consist primarily of salary and benefit expenses, including stock-based
compensation, for employees and costs for contractors engaged in research, design and development activities
incurred directly, and with support from, external vendors, such as outsourced research and development costs, as
well as costs for prototypes, depreciation, purchased intellectual property, facilities and travel. In future periods, we
may hedge certain significant outsourced research and development transactions denominated in currencies other
than the U.S. dollar. Over time, we expect our research and development costs to increase in absolute dollars as we
continue making significant investments in developing new products and new technologies, including with respect
to increased performance and smaller industry-standard form factors.
•
Sales, general and administrative expenses include salary and benefit expenses, including stock-based
compensation, for employees and costs for contractors engaged in sales, marketing, customer service, technical
support, and general and administrative activities, as well as the costs of legal and other professional services
expenses, trade shows, marketing programs, promotional materials, bad debt expense, facilities, general liability
insurance and travel. Over time, we expect our sales, general and administrative expenses to increase in absolute
dollars primarily due to our continued efforts to expand our business.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net consists of interest income earned on our cash and investment balances, foreign currency
transaction gains and losses, and, until our 2016 initial public offering, losses on the revaluation of our redeemable convertible
preferred stock warrant liability. To date, we have not utilized derivatives to hedge our foreign exchange risk as we believe the
risk to be immaterial to our results of operations. In future periods, we may hedge certain significant transactions denominated
in currencies other than the U.S. dollar as we expand our international operations.
(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes
47
We are subject to income taxes in the United States and foreign jurisdictions in which we do business. These foreign
jurisdictions have statutory tax rates different from those in the United States. Our effective tax rates will vary depending on the
relative proportion of foreign to U.S. income, the absorption of foreign tax credits, changes in corporate structure, changes in
the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities and changes in tax laws and interpretations of those laws. We plan to
regularly assess the likelihood of outcomes that could result from the examination of our tax returns by the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service, or IRS, and other tax authorities to determine the adequacy of our income tax reserves and expense. Should
actual events or results differ from our then-current expectations, charges or credits to our (benefit) provision for income taxes
may become necessary. Any such adjustments could have a significant effect on our results of operations. See Part I, Item 1A,
“Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Risks Related to our Business and Industry—The final
determination of our income tax liability may be materially different from our income tax provision” for further information.
Results of Operations
The following tables set forth the components of our consolidated income statements for each of the periods presented
and as a percentage of revenue for those periods. The period-to-period comparison of operating results is not necessarily
indicative of results for future periods.
Consolidated Income Statement Data:
Revenue
Cost of revenue(1)
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Research and development(1)
Sales, general and administrative(1)
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment
Total operating expenses
(Loss) income from operations
Total other income (expense), net
(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes
(Benefit) provision for income taxes
Net income
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
(in thousands)
2016
$
$
$
339,891
192,771
147,120
$
385,166
217,326
167,840
102,406
51,864
—
154,270
(7,150)
6,746
(404)
(5,320)
4,916
$
92,027
38,807
(47)
130,787
37,053
3,250
40,303
1,795
38,508
$
478,412
257,425
220,987
75,696
27,676
25
103,397
117,590
(2,969)
114,621
(16,956)
131,577
(1) Stock-based compensation included in the consolidated income statement data was as follows:
Cost of revenue
Research and development
Sales, general and administrative
Total stock-based compensation
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
(in thousands)
2,075
17,564
9,975
29,614
$
$
1,993
14,150
7,230
23,373
$
$
$
$
1,629
12,347
6,769
20,745
48
Revenue
Cost of revenue
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Research and development
Sales, general and administrative
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment
Total operating expenses
(Loss) income from operations
Total other income (expense), net
(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes
(Benefit) provision for income taxes
Net income
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
100 %
57 %
43 %
30 %
15 %
—
45 %
(2)%
2 %
— %
(2)%
1 %
100%
56%
44%
24%
10%
—
34%
10%
1%
10%
—%
10%
100 %
54 %
46 %
16 %
6 %
—
22 %
25 %
(1)%
24 %
(4)%
28 %
Percentages in the table above are based on actual values. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2017
Revenue
Revenue by product type and the related changes during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
Year Ended
As a % of
Year Ended
As a % of
Change in
December 31, 2018
Total Revenue
December 31, 2017
Total Revenue
$
%
Embedded Modules
Pluggable Modules
Semiconductors
Total revenue
$
$
77,286
189,533
73,072
339,891
(dollars in thousands)
23% $
56%
21%
100% $
113,381
210,652
61,133
385,166
29% $
55%
16%
100% $
(36,095)
(21,119)
11,939
(45,275)
(32)%
(10)%
20 %
(12)%
Revenue decreased by $45.3 million, or 12%, to $339.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 from $385.2
million in the year ended December 31, 2017. The decrease was primarily due to a $36.1 million decrease in sales of our
embedded modules and a $21.1 million decrease in sales of our pluggable modules, partially offset by an $11.9 million increase
in sales of our semiconductors. In the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we derived 29% and 39%, respectively, of our
revenue from sales to customers with ship-to locations in China.
Cost of Revenue and Gross Profit
Cost of revenue
Gross profit percentage
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
Change in
$
%
(dollars in thousands)
$
192,771
$
217,326
$
(24,555)
(11)%
43.3%
43.6%
Cost of revenue decreased $24.6 million, or 11%, to $192.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 from $217.3
million in the year ended December 31, 2017. The decrease was mainly due to decreased sales volumes.
Our gross profit percentage was generally consistent at 43.3% in the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 43.6%
in the year ended December 31, 2017.
49
Research and Development
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
Change in
$
%
Research and development
$
102,406
$
(dollars in thousands)
92,027
$
10,379
11%
Research and development expense increased $10.4 million, or 11%, to $102.4 million in the year ended December 31,
2018 from $92.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2017, due to a $10.5 million increase in personnel-related and other
costs and a $3.3 million increase in prototype development costs as we continued investing in our product and technology
roadmap, partially offset by a $3.4 million decrease related to the timing of milestone payments associated with outsourcing
and development related to our DSP ASIC program.
Sales, General and Administrative
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
Change in
$
%
Sales, general and administrative
$
51,864
$
(dollars in thousands)
38,807
$
13,057
34%
Sales, general and administrative expenses increased $13.1 million, or 34%, to $51.9 million in the year ended
December 31, 2018 from $38.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2017, due to a $7.7 million increase in personnel-
related and other costs as we increased sales and customer support staffing and related support resources, as well as a $5.4
million increase in professional service expenses. The increase in professional service expenses was primarily attributable to
increased legal expenses, including costs incurred in connection with the securities class action complaint, which was
dismissed on June 25, 2018, and the shareholder derivative and Section 220 litigation, which was settled on January 24, 2019.
Other Income, Net
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
Change in
$
%
(dollars in thousands)
Total other income, net
$
6,746
$
3,250
$
3,496
108%
Total other income, net increased $3.5 million, or 108%, to $6.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 from
$3.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 due to a $3.8 million increase in interest income earned from marketable
securities.
(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
Change in
$
%
(Benefit) provision for income taxes
Effective tax rate
$
$
(5,320)
1,317%
(dollars in thousands)
1,795
$
(7,115)
4%
(396)%
1,313 %
The benefit from income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $5.3 million compared to a provision for
income taxes of $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The benefit from income taxes recorded in the year
ended December 31, 2018 is primarily a result of our pre-tax loss position in the year ended December 31, 2018, the
recognition of excess tax benefits from the taxable compensation on share-based awards recognized in the year ended
December 31, 2018 and federal and state research and development credits. These tax benefits are partially offset by an
increase in U.S. tax as a result of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the Tax Act, which subjects foreign earnings to U.S. taxes.
50
The provision for income taxes recorded in the year ended December 31, 2017 was primarily a result of the impact of U.S. tax
reform including the one-time transition tax on such earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax-deferred
and the re-measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities to the new U.S. federal corporate tax rate of 21%. Our historical
provision for income taxes is not necessarily reflective of our future results of operations.
Taxable income in any jurisdiction is dependent upon acceptance of our operational practices and intercompany
transfer pricing by local tax authorities as being on an arm’s length basis. Due to inconsistencies in application of the arm’s
length standard among taxing authorities, as well as lack of adequate treaty-based protection, transfer pricing challenges by tax
authorities could, if successful, substantially increase our income tax expense.
Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2016
Revenue
Revenue by product type and the related changes during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:
Year Ended
As a % of
Year Ended
As a % of
Change in
December 31, 2017
Total Revenue
December 31, 2016
Total Revenue
$
%
Embedded Modules
Pluggable Modules
Semiconductors
Total revenue
$
$
113,381
210,652
61,133
385,166
(dollars in thousands)
29% $
55%
16%
100% $
113,887
297,547
66,978
478,412
24% $
62%
14%
100% $
(506)
(86,895)
(5,845)
(93,246)
— %
(29)%
(9)%
(19)%
Revenue decreased by $93.2 million, or 19%, to $385.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 from $478.4
million in the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease was primarily due to an $86.9 million decrease in sales of our
pluggable modules and a $5.8 million decrease in sales of our semiconductors. In the years ended December 31, 2017 and
2016, we derived 39% and 41%, respectively, of our revenue from sales to customers with ship-to locations in China.
Cost of Revenue and Gross Profit
Cost of revenue
Gross profit percentage
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
Change in
$
%
(dollars in thousands)
$
217,326
$
257,425
$
(40,099)
(16)%
43.6%
46.2%
Cost of revenue decreased $40.1 million, or 16%, to $217.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 from $257.4
million in the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease was mainly due to decreased sales volumes.
Our gross profit percentage decreased to 43.6% in the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 46.2% in the year
ended December 31, 2016. The decrease was primarily due to increased costs related to the quality issue at one of our
manufacturers, as described in Note 12, Commitments and Contingencies of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
contained in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, or Quality Issue, as well as the impact of fixed costs relative
to the current period revenue volume and continued investments in future technologies.
Research and Development
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
Change in
$
%
Research and development
$
92,027
$
51
(dollars in thousands)
75,696
$
16,331
22%
Research and development expense increased $16.3 million, or 22%, to $92.0 million in the year ended December 31,
2017 from $75.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2016, due to a $14.8 million increase in personnel-related and other
costs mainly attributable to hiring of additional engineers and quality personnel, and a $3.2 million increase in depreciation
expense as we continue investing in future technologies. These increases were partially offset by a $1.7 million decrease related
to the timing of our prototype development projects.
Sales, General and Administrative
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
Change in
$
%
Sales, general and administrative
$
38,807
$
(dollars in thousands)
27,676
$
11,131
40%
Sales, general and administrative expenses increased $11.1 million, or 40%, to $38.8 million in the year ended
December 31, 2017 from $27.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2016, due to a $6.4 million increase in personnel-
related and other costs to support our growth and the continued requirements of being a public company, and a $4.6 million
increase in professional services expense, which was primarily attributable to increased legal expenses related to the matters
described in Part I, Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
Change in
$
%
(dollars in thousands)
Total other income (expense), net
$
3,250
$
(2,969) $
6,219
(209)%
Total other income, net was $3.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to other expense, net of
$3.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2017, other income, net was mainly
comprised of interest income from marketable securities of $3.4 million. During the year ended December 31, 2016, other
expense, net, was mainly comprised of a $3.4 million loss from revaluation of our preferred stock warrant liability. The
preferred stock warrants were converted to common stock warrants during the second quarter of 2016 and as a result, there was
no fair value adjustment during the year ended December 31, 2017.
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
Effective tax rate
Year Ended December 31,
Change in
2017
$
2016
(dollars in thousands)
$
1,795
$
(16,956)
$
18,751
4%
(15)%
%
(111)%
19 %
The provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $1.8 million compared to a benefit from
income taxes of $17.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Approximately 80% of our revenues are derived from
sales to customers located outside the U.S. A significant percentage of our pre-tax income in the years ended December 31,
2017 and 2016 was generated internationally in jurisdictions with lower tax rates than the U.S. federal rate. Despite this, the
increase in our effective tax rate of 19% primarily resulted from the impact of U.S. tax reform including the one-time transition
tax on such earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax-deferred and the re-measurement of deferred tax
assets and liabilities to the new U.S. federal corporate tax rate of 21%. Our historical provision for income taxes is not
necessarily reflective of our future results of operations.
Taxable income in any jurisdiction is dependent upon acceptance of our operational practices and intercompany transfer
pricing by local tax authorities as being on an arm’s length basis. Due to inconsistencies in application of the arm’s length
52
standard among taxing authorities, as well as lack of adequate treaty-based protection, transfer pricing challenges by tax
authorities could, if successful, substantially increase our income tax expense.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Working capital
Net cash provided by operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
$
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
(in thousands)
$
60,444
339,424
370,445
83,085
(56,237)
(33,899)
$
67,495
297,115
361,621
61,893
(207,907)
5,477
206,402
104,004
381,707
102,844
(121,491)
199,069
Since 2014, we have funded our operations primarily through cash generated from operations. In May 2016, we
completed our IPO in which we received aggregate proceeds of $97.8 million, net of underwriters’ discounts and commissions,
before deducting offering costs of approximately $4.3 million. In October 2016, we completed a follow-on offering in which
we received aggregate proceeds of $116.8 million, net of underwriters’ discounts and commissions, before deducting offering
costs of approximately $1.2 million. As of December 31, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents totaling $60.4 million,
marketable securities of $339.4 million and accounts receivable of $90.8 million.
We believe our existing cash balances and anticipated cash flow from future operations will be sufficient to meet our
working capital and capital expenditure needs for at least the next 12 months and the foreseeable future. Our future capital
requirements may vary materially from those currently planned and will depend on many factors, including our rate of revenue
growth, the timing and extent of spending on research and development efforts and other business initiatives, purchases of
capital equipment to support our growth, the expansion of sales and marketing activities, any expansion of our business through
acquisitions of or investments in complementary products, technologies or businesses, the use of working capital to purchase
additional inventory, the timing of new product introductions, market acceptance of our products and overall economic
conditions. To the extent that current and anticipated future sources of liquidity are insufficient to fund our future business
activities and requirements, we may be required to seek additional equity or debt financing. In the event additional financing is
required from outside sources, we may not be able to raise it on terms acceptable to us or at all.
On April 30, 2018, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program for the repurchase of up to $60.0
million of our common stock, of which $39.7 million was used to repurchase shares in 2018 prior to the program’s expiration
on December 31, 2018.
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities consists primarily of net income adjusted for certain non-cash items, including
depreciation expense, stock-based compensation expense, loss on the change in fair value of our preferred stock warrant
liability, deferred income taxes and other non-cash (benefits) charges, net, as well as the effect of changes in working capital.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $83.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2018, as compared to $61.9
million in the year ended December 31, 2017. The increase of $21.2 million was primarily due to a $26.9 million increase in
cash related to changes in operating assets and liabilities and a $27.9 million increase in non-cash expense items primarily
consisting of stock-based compensation, depreciation expense, deferred income taxes and the change in fair value of our
preferred stock warrant liability, which was partially offset by a $33.6 million decrease in net income. Changes in cash flows
related to operating assets and liabilities primarily consisted of a $67.3 million increase in cash due to a decreased inventory
balance as compared to December 31, 2017, an $18.5 million increase in cash due to the timing of prepaids and other assets and
an $8.9 million increase in cash due to the timing of deferred revenue. These increases were partially offset by a $33.3 million
decrease in cash due to the timing of payments of income taxes, a $25.8 million decrease in cash due to the timing of accounts
receivable collections in the fourth quarter of 2018 and an $8.7 million decrease in cash due to the timing of payments
associated with our accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $61.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $102.8
million in the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease of $37.7 million was primarily due to a $93.1 million decrease in
53
net income and a $3.4 million decrease in non-cash expense items primarily consisting of stock-based compensation,
depreciation expense, deferred income taxes and the change in fair value of our preferred stock warrant liability, which was
partially offset by a $58.8 million increase in cash related to changes in operating assets and liabilities. Changes in cash flows
related to operating assets and liabilities primarily consisted of an $88.4 million increase in cash due to the timing of accounts
receivable collections in the fourth quarter of 2017, a $21.0 million increase in cash due to the timing of payments of income
taxes, a $5.8 million increase in cash due to deferred revenue related to the timing of shipments in the fourth quarter of 2017
and a $3.8 million increase in cash due to the timing of prepaids and other assets. These increases were partially offset by a
$33.1 million decrease in cash due to the timing of payments associated with our accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and a
$26.8 million decrease in cash due to an increased inventory balance as compared to December 31, 2017.
Investing Activities
Our investing activities have consisted primarily of purchases, sales and maturities of marketable securities and
purchases of lab and engineering equipment to support the development of new products and increase our manufacturing
capacity to meet customer demand for existing products. In addition, our investing activities include expansion of, and
improvements to, our leased facilities. We expect that we will continue to invest in these areas in line with growth in product
demand.
Net cash used in investing activities in the year ended December 31, 2018 was $56.2 million, as compared to $207.9
million in the year ended December 31, 2017. The decrease was primarily due to a decreased investment of $152.3 million, net,
into marketable securities during the year ended December 31, 2018.
Net cash used in investing activities in the year ended December 31, 2017 was $207.9 million, as compared to $121.5
million in the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was primarily due to the investment of an additional $89.7 million,
net, into marketable securities during the year ended December 31, 2017, partially offset by a $3.1 million decrease in property
and equipment purchases.
Financing Activities
Our financing activities have consisted primarily of proceeds received from the completion of our IPO and follow-on
offering, net of issuance costs, proceeds from the issuance of common stock under our stock-based compensation plans and
payments to acquire treasury stock. In 2016, our financing activities also included payment of taxes on behalf of our employees
related to the net share settlement of RSUs. During the fourth quarter of 2016, we began requiring our employees to sell a
portion of the shares they receive upon the vesting of RSUs in order to cover any required tax withholdings, referred to as sell-
to-cover, rather than our previous approach of net share settlement. The transition was completed in November 2016. As a
result, we do not expect tax withholdings payments related to the net share settlement of RSUs to be a material use of cash in
future periods.
Net cash used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2018 was $33.9 million, as compared to net
cash provided by financing activities of $5.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2017. The decrease is primarily
attributable to the repurchase of $39.7 million of our common stock pursuant to our stock repurchase program that expired on
December 31, 2018.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, cash provided by financing activities was mainly attributable to the
completion of our IPO and follow-on offerings in which we received aggregate proceeds of $214.6 million, net of underwriters’
discounts and commissions, before deduction of offering expenses of approximately $5.5 million. In addition, during the year
ended December 31, 2016, we paid $14.6 million for employee withholding tax obligations related to the distribution of vested
RSUs on a net settlement basis.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Our principal commitments consist of purchase obligations, operating lease payments for our facilities and income taxes
payable as a result of tax legislation enacted in December 2017. The following table summarizes these contractual obligations
at December 31, 2018. Future events could cause actual payments to differ from these estimates.
54
Operating leases (1)
Purchase obligations (2)
Income taxes payable (3)
Unrecognized tax benefits (4)
Total
Payments due by period
Total
Less than 1
Year
1-3 Years
3-5 Years
More Than
5 Years
$
$
26,463
44,547
8,791
3,034
82,835
$
$
3,888
44,547
—
—
48,435
(in thousands)
8,674
$
—
1,674
—
10,348
$
$
$
8,649
—
2,407
—
11,056
$
$
5,252
—
4,710
—
9,962
(1) Our principal facilities are located in Maynard, Massachusetts and Holmdel, New Jersey and are leased under non-
cancelable operating leases that expire in February 2025, with respect to the Massachusetts facility, and December
2023, with respect to the New Jersey facility. We also lease office space in various locations with expiration dates
between 2019 and 2027. Several of the lease agreements include leasehold improvement incentives, escalating lease
payments, renewal provisions and other provisions which require us to pay taxes, insurance, maintenance costs or
defined rent increases. All of our facility leases are accounted for as operating leases. Rent expense is recorded over the
lease terms on a straight-line basis. Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $4.7
million, $5.2 million, and $1.3 million, respectively.
Future minimum lease payments due under these non-cancelable lease agreements as of December 31, 2018, are as
follows (in thousands):
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Thereafter
Total
Amounts
3,888
4,280
4,394
4,248
4,401
5,252
26,463
$
$
(2) Our purchase obligations primarily consist of outstanding purchase orders with our contract manufacturers for
inventory and other third parties for the manufacturing of our wafers. Our relationships with these vendors typically
allow for the cancellation of outstanding purchase orders, but require payments of all expenses incurred through the
date of cancellation. Other obligations include future non-inventory purchases and commitments related to future fixed
asset purchases.
(3) Income taxes payable relates to taxes owed as a result of the one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign
subsidiaries that were previously tax-deferred until the enactment of the Tax Act in December 2017. The Tax Act allows
the tax liability to be paid on an installment basis over eight years.
(4) We had $5.0 million of uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2018. Included in the balance of unrecognized tax
benefits as of December 31, 2018 are $3.0 million of tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax
rate, which have been accrued for as a long-term liability on our consolidated balance sheet. We are not able to provide
reasonably reliable estimates of future payments relating to these obligations.
Letters of Credit
As of December 31, 2018, we had outstanding letters of credit of $0.8 million issued to cover the security deposits on
the leases of the Maynard, Massachusetts, and the Holmdel, New Jersey facilities.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2018, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of
Regulation S-K.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
55
Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated
financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of America. In preparing our consolidated financial statements, we make estimates, assumptions and judgments that can have a
significant effect on our reported revenue, results of operations and net income, as well as on the value of certain assets and
liabilities on our balance sheet during and as of the reporting periods. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are
necessary because future events and their effects on our results and the value of our assets cannot be determined with certainty,
and are made based on our historical experience and on other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the
circumstances. These estimates may change as new events occur or additional information is obtained, and we may periodically
be faced with uncertainties, the outcomes of which are not within our control and may not be known for a prolonged period of
time. As the use of estimates is inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Our products are fully functional at the time of shipment and do not require production, modification or customization.
We apply the following five step approach when recognizing revenue: (1) identify the contract with a 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 a performance obligation is satisfied. The contract is generally a
customer purchase order and the performance obligation is to deliver a specific quantity of products at specified prices, which
represents the transaction price. Our agreements with our customers do not include rights of return. We recognize revenue when
transfer of control to our customers occurs, which is generally when products are shipped from our manufacturing facilities or
when delivered to the customer’s named location, in an amount reflecting the consideration we expect to be entitled to.
Inventories
Inventories mainly consist of raw materials and finished goods which are purchased from contract manufacturers and
other suppliers. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value on a first-in, first-out basis. Our assessment of
net realizable value requires the use of estimates, including an assessment of excess or obsolete inventories. We determine
excess and obsolete inventories based on an estimate of the future demand for our products within a specified time horizon,
generally 12 months. The estimates used for future demand are also used for near-term capacity planning and inventory
purchases, and are consistent with revenue forecast assumptions. If our demand forecast is greater than actual demand, we may
be required to record an excess inventory charge reflected in cost of goods sold, which would decrease gross profit. Any excess
or obsolete inventory write-downs taken establish a new cost basis for the underlying inventory and cannot be reversed if there
are subsequent increases in our demand forecast. If we are later able to sell such inventory, any related reserves would be
reversed in the period of sale.
Income Taxes
We utilize the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under which we recognize deferred tax assets
and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in our consolidated financial
statements and tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon the differences between the financial
statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities and for loss and credit carryforwards, using
enacted tax rates expected to be in effect in the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are
reduced by a valuation allowance if it is not more likely than not that these assets will be realized. We recognize the benefits of
uncertain tax positions that have been taken or that we expect to take on income tax returns if such tax positions are more likely
than not to be sustained.
We follow the authoritative guidance regarding accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, which prescribes a
recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position
taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We apply a variety of methodologies in making these estimates, including advice
and studies performed by independent subject matter experts, evaluation of public actions taken by the IRS and other taxing
authorities, as well as our own industry experience. We provide estimates for unrecognized tax benefits which may be subject
to material adjustments until matters are resolved with taxing authorities or statutes expire. If our estimates are not
representative of actual outcomes, our results of operations can be materially affected.
We must assess the likelihood that some portion or all of our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable
income within the respective jurisdictions, and to the extent we believe that recovery does not meet the “more-likely-than-not”
standard, we must establish a valuation allowance. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the
generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Some sources
of future taxable income are objective while others involve subjective assessments. Assessing subjective income sources
56
involves a review of our capability and willingness to implement certain tax planning strategies that will generate future taxable
income and an assessment of our experience in forecasting future taxable income. Management’s judgment is required in
determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against
our net deferred tax assets. In evaluating the need for a full or partial valuation allowance, all positive and negative evidence
must be considered, and the weight of that evidence, including our forecasts of taxable income over the applicable carryforward
periods, our current financial performance, our market environment and other factors.
As of each reporting date, our management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact its
view with regard to future realization of deferred tax assets. If we determine that our assessments on all or a portion of the
deferred tax assets will change in a future period, we will record material adjustments to the provision for income taxes in that
period.
The Tax Act was enacted on December 22, 2017. Among other changes, this legislation: reduced the U.S. federal
corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, required companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign
subsidiaries that were previously tax-deferred, created new taxes on certain foreign sourced earnings, provided a general
elimination of U.S. federal income taxes on dividends from foreign subsidiaries, included a new provision designed to currently
tax certain global intangible low-taxed income, or GILTI, of controlled foreign corporations, which allows for a deduction of up
to 50% of GILTI (subject to some limitations) and the possibility of using foreign tax credits, or FTCs, to reduce the resulting
income tax liability (also subject to some limitations), and limited the deduction for net operating loss carryovers generated in
the taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, to 80% of taxable income computed without regard to the deduction.
Accounting Standard Codification, or ASC, 740 requires filers to record the effect of tax law changes in the period enacted.
However, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, or SAB 118, that permits filers to record provisional amounts
during a measurement period ending no later than one year from the date of the legislation’s enactment. As of December 31,
2017, we had not completed our accounting for the tax effects of enactment of this legislation; however, we had made a
reasonable estimate of the effects on our existing deferred tax balances, the one-time transition tax and provisional state taxes
on future repatriations. For the items for which we were able to determine a reasonable estimate, we recognized a provisional
amount under SAB 118, which was included as a component of the income tax provision. The provisional amounts were
subject to revisions as we completed our analysis of the Tax Act, collected and prepared necessary data, and interpreted any
additional guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, IRS, Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, and other
standard-setting and regulatory bodies. The measurement period expired on December 22, 2018 and our accounting for the Tax
Act is complete. Changes to the provisional amounts recorded in 2017 for the effects of the Tax Act were not material.
As a result of the “deemed distributions” under the Tax Act, the impact of GILTI on our future foreign earnings and
the lack of certain foreign governments’ withholding tax imposed on dividends, we generally no longer take the position that
foreign earnings are permanently reinvested, except for our foreign operating subsidiaries that require an excess cash balance to
meet operating needs.
Stock-Based Compensation
We recognize compensation expense for equity awards based on the grant date fair value of the award. For equity
awards that vest based on a service condition, which constitute the majority of our outstanding equity awards, stock-based
compensation expense is recognized on a ratable basis over the requisite service period. When an equity award contains a
performance and/or market condition, we recognize stock-based compensation expense utilizing the accelerated attribution
method.
We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to measure the fair value of our option awards when they are granted.
Prior to our IPO, we estimated the value of common stock at the grant date with the help of an independent third-party service
provider. The expected volatility of employee option awards prior to 2017 was determined using the daily historical volatility
of companies we consider to be our peers. For options awarded in 2018, we determined expected volatility using a blend of our
historical volatility and the historical volatility of our peers. To determine our peer companies, we used the following criteria:
optical telecommunications companies; similar histories and relatively comparable financial leverage; sufficient public
company trading history; and in similar businesses and geographical markets. We used the stock price volatility over the
expected term of our granted options to calculate the expected volatility. The expected term of employee option awards is
determined using the average midpoint between vesting and the contractual term for outstanding awards, or “the simplified
method,” because we do not yet have a sufficient history of option exercises. We determine the risk-free interest rate on the
grant date of the award based on the rate of U.S. Treasury securities with maturities approximately equal to the estimated
expected term of the awards. We have not paid dividends and do not anticipate paying a cash dividend in the foreseeable future
and, accordingly, use an expected dividend yield of zero.
57
The following table summarizes the assumptions, other than fair value of our common stock, relating to our stock
options granted in the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2016. No stock options were granted in the year ended
December 31, 2017.
Risk-free interest rate
Expected dividend yield
Expected volatility
Expected term (in years)
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2.9%
None
53.5%
6.3
2016
1.2% - 1.6%
None
59.5% - 60.0%
6.3
In addition to the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, prior to the adoption of Accounting
Standards Update, or ASU, 2016-09, we estimated a forfeiture rate to calculate the stock-based compensation expense for our
awards. Our forfeiture rate was based on an analysis of our actual forfeitures. Changes in an estimated forfeiture rate can have a
significant effect on stock-based compensation expense as the cumulative effect of adjusting the rate is recognized in the period
the forfeiture estimate is changed. However, upon the adoption of ASU 2016-09 during the second quarter of 2016, we no
longer estimate a forfeiture rate. Rather, we account for forfeitures as they occur.
We will continue to use judgment in evaluating the expected volatility and expected term utilized in our stock-based
compensation expense calculations on a prospective basis. As we continue to accumulate additional data related to our common
stock, we may refine our estimates of expected volatility and expected term, which could materially affect our future stock-
based compensation expense to the extent we grant future stock option awards.
Stock-based compensation is measured using the fair value of our common stock on the grant date for time-vested
RSUs. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 we granted RSU awards to executives which had a market
condition or a market and a performance condition, in addition to a service condition. Determining the amount of stock-based
compensation to be recorded for these awards requires us to develop estimates to be used in calculating the grant-date fair value
of the awards. We calculate the grant-date fair value of these awards using the Monte Carlo simulation valuation model. The
Monte Carlo simulation model utilizes multiple input variables that determine the probability of satisfying the market or
performance conditions stipulated in the award grant and calculates the fair market value for the awards granted. The Monte
Carlo simulation model also uses stock price volatility and other variables to estimate the probability of satisfying the market or
performance conditions, including the possibility that the market condition may not be satisfied, and the resulting fair value of
the award. We use the historical volatility of multiple peer companies or, beginning in 2017, a blended rate of our actual
historical volatility and our peers volatility to determine the volatility input in the Monte Carlo simulation model. For the
performance-based RSUs, we also estimate the fair value using management’s best estimate of whether it is probable or not
probable that the performance objective will be satisfied, which is reassessed at each reporting period.
The expense related to these awards is recognized on an accelerated basis over the vesting period of the awards which
can vary. See Note 10, Stock Compensation Plans of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” contained in Part II,
Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information related to these market-based and performance-based awards.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 3, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements”
contained in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for analysis of recent accounting pronouncements that are
applicable to our business.
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks
Market risk is the risk of loss to future earnings, values or future cash flows that may result from changes in the price of
a financial instrument. The value of a financial instrument may change as a result of changes in interest rates, exchange rates,
commodity prices, equity prices and other market changes. We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our
business. These risks primarily include interest rate and foreign currency risks as follows:
Interest Rate Sensitivity
Our exposure to changes in interest rates relates primarily to interest earned on and the market value of our cash, cash
equivalents and marketable securities. Our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities consist of bank deposit accounts,
58
money market funds, repurchase agreements, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, asset-backed securities, U.S.
government securities and corporate debt securities. Our securities with fixed interest rates may have their market value
adversely impacted by a rise in interest rates. As a result, we may suffer losses in principal if we are forced to sell securities that
decline in market value due to changes in interest rates. However, because we classify our investments in debt securities as
available for sale, no gains or losses are recognized in the consolidated income statements unless such securities are sold prior
to maturity or incur an other-than-temporary decline in fair value. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates
would not have resulted in a material change to our financial position or results of operations as of and for the year ended
December 31, 2018. We do not believe that we have a material exposure to interest rate risk as our investment policy specifies
credit quality standards for our investments and limits the amount of credit exposure from any single issue, issuer or type of
investment.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
We are exposed to market risk related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Our operations outside of the
United States incur a portion of their operating expenses in foreign currencies, principally the Euro, but these expenses are
immaterial compared to our overall expenses. To date, the majority of our product sales and inventory purchases have been
denominated in U.S. dollars. In addition, the functional currency of all of our entities is the U.S. dollar. Accordingly, we have
limited exposure to foreign currency exchange rates. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, we recorded
foreign currency transaction losses of $0.4 million, $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively. These foreign currency
transaction losses have been recorded as a component of “other expense, net” in our consolidated income statements. We
believe that a 10% change in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and Euro would not materially impact our operating
results or financial position. To date, we have not entered into any foreign currency exchange contracts. In future periods, we
may hedge certain significant transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar as we expand our international
operations.
Inflation Risk
We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business. However, if global demand for the base
materials utilized in our suppliers’ components were to significantly increase for the components we purchase from our
suppliers to manufacture our products, our costs could become subject to significant inflationary pressures, and we may not be
able to fully offset such higher costs through price increases. Our inability or failure to do so could harm our business,
operating results and financial condition.
59
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Income Statements
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
60
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Acacia Communications, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Acacia Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries (the
“Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated income statements, statements of comprehensive
income, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the
period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion,
the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018
and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in
Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission and our report dated February 21, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due
to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial
statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included
examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also
included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the
overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 21, 2019
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2014.
61
ACACIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities - short-term
Accounts receivable
Inventory
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets
Marketable securities - long term
Property and equipment, net
Deferred tax asset
Other assets
Total assets
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Deferred revenue
Total current liabilities
Income taxes payable
Other long-term liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 5,000 shares authorized; none issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 150,000 shares authorized; 41,024 and 39,606
shares issued at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively
Treasury stock, at cost; 974 shares and none at December 31, 2018 and 2017,
respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Retained earnings
Total stockholders’ equity
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
60,444
264,660
90,831
25,511
12,598
454,044
74,764
26,643
38,717
7,691
601,859
46,650
31,848
5,101
83,599
8,791
6,742
99,132
—
4
(39,712)
360,267
(372)
182,540
502,727
601,859
$
67,495
211,933
86,602
62,232
18,985
447,247
85,182
28,175
41,901
8,745
611,250
47,819
37,234
573
85,626
21,034
2,540
109,200
—
4
—
324,944
(320)
177,422
502,050
611,250
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
62
ACACIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
$
339,891
$
385,166
$
Revenue
Cost of revenue
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Research and development
Sales, general and administrative
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment
Total operating expenses
(Loss) income from operations
Other income (expense), net:
Interest income, net
Change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability
Other expense, net
Total other income (expense), net
(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes
(Benefit) provision for income taxes
Net income
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock
Undistributed earnings attributable to participating securities
Net income attributable to common stockholders - basic and diluted
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic
Diluted
$
$
$
Weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share attributable
to common stockholders:
Basic
Diluted
192,771
147,120
102,406
51,864
—
154,270
(7,150)
7,209
—
(463)
6,746
(404)
(5,320)
4,916
—
—
4,916
0.12
0.12
40,259
41,997
$
$
$
217,326
167,840
92,027
38,807
(47)
130,787
37,053
3,389
—
(139)
3,250
40,303
1,795
38,508
—
—
38,508
0.99
0.92
38,920
41,690
$
$
$
478,412
257,425
220,987
75,696
27,676
25
103,397
117,590
453
(3,361)
(61)
(2,969)
114,621
(16,956)
131,577
(1,722)
(34,571)
95,284
3.77
3.22
25,307
29,585
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
63
ACACIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)
Net income
Other comprehensive loss:
Changes in unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of income taxes
of ($18), $118 and $11 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017
and 2016, respectively
Comprehensive income
$
$
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
4,916
$
38,508
$
131,577
(7)
4,909
$
(304)
38,204
$
(16)
131,561
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
64
ACACIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)
Balance at January 1, 2016
24,177
$ 70,780
6,669
$
1
— $
— $
— $
— $
8,015
$ 8,016
Redeemable
Convertible
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Treasury Stock
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
Retained
Earnings
Total
Accretion of preferred stock issuance costs
Accretion to redemption value
Conversion of redeemable convertible preferred
stock into common stock upon initial public
offering
Reclassification of preferred stock warrant liability
into additional paid-in capital upon conversion to
common stock warrants
Issuance of common stock upon public offerings,
net of offering costs incurred of $5,515
Vesting of restricted common stock
Exercise of common stock options
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of taxes paid
related to net share settlement
Issuance of common stock upon net exercise of
common stock warrants
Common stock issued under employee stock
purchase plan
Stock-based compensation expense
Unrealized losses on marketable securities, net of tax
of $11
Net income
Balance at December 31, 2016
Vesting of restricted common stock
Exercise of common stock options
Vesting of restricted stock units
Common stock issued under employee stock
purchase plan
Stock-based compensation expense
Unrealized losses on marketable securities, net of tax
of $118
Net income
94
1,628
(24,17
7)
(72,502)
24,177
5,780
85
622
356
240
69
2
1
—
—
—
—
(94)
(950)
72,500
6,615
209,035
1,286
(14,592)
1,348
20,745
(94)
(678)
(1,628)
72,502
6,615
209,036
—
1,286
(14,592)
—
1,348
20,745
(16)
(16)
— $
— 37,998
$
4
— $
— $ 295,893
$
(16)
$ 138,914
$434,795
131,577
131,577
85
699
745
79
—
—
—
2,755
—
2,923
23,373
—
2,755
—
2,923
23,373
(304)
38,508
38,508
(304)
Balance at December 31, 2017
— $
— 39,606
$
4
— $
— $ 324,944
$
(320)
$ 177,422
$502,050
Effect of adopted accounting standards (see Note 3)
(45)
202
157
Treasury stock acquired
Vesting of restricted common stock
Exercise of common stock options
Vesting of restricted stock units
Common stock issued under employee stock
purchase plan
Stock-based compensation expense
Unrealized losses on marketable securities, net of tax
of ($18)
Net income
974
(39,712)
21
489
782
126
—
—
—
2,512
—
3,301
29,510
(39,712)
—
2,512
—
3,301
29,510
(7)
4,916
4,916
(7)
Balance at December 31, 2018
— $
— 41,024
$
4
974
$(39,712)
$ 360,267
$
(372)
$ 182,540
$502,727
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
65
ACACIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
$
4,916
$
38,508
$
131,577
Depreciation
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment
Stock-based compensation
Deferred income taxes
Other non-cash (benefits) charges
Change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
Inventory
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Other assets
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Deferred revenue
Income taxes payable
Other long-term liabilities
Net cash provided by operating activities
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment
Purchases of marketable securities
Sales and maturities of marketable securities
Deposits
Net cash used in investing activities
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Payment of capital lease obligation
Proceeds from public offerings, net of underwriting discounts and commissions
Payment of public offering costs
Treasury stock acquired
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation plans
Employee taxes paid related to net share settlement of restricted stock units
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash—Beginning of period
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash—End of period
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
(Refunds received) cash paid for income taxes, net
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Capital expenditures incurred but not yet paid
Public offering costs incurred but not yet paid
Accretion of redemption value on redeemable convertible preferred stock
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock issuance costs
Conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock into common stock
Reclassification to additional paid-in capital of fair value of preferred stock warrant
liability upon conversion to common stock warrants
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
13,646
—
29,593
3,133
(799)
—
(4,229)
36,721
6,219
1,113
1,377
(5,467)
8,357
(12,243)
748
83,085
(14,660)
(382,438)
340,920
(59)
(56,237)
—
—
—
(39,712)
5,813
—
(33,899)
12,280
(47)
23,373
(18,368)
446
—
21,525
(30,551)
(6,540)
(4,618)
(2,371)
6,957
(548)
21,034
813
61,893
(14,112)
(436,594)
242,735
64
(207,907)
—
—
(201)
—
5,678
—
5,477
(7,051)
67,495
60,444
$
(140,537)
208,032
67,495
$
9,168
25
20,745
(12,344)
130
3,361
(66,867)
(3,761)
(10,921)
(612)
23,277
14,376
(6,387)
—
1,077
102,844
(17,254)
(118,676)
14,525
(86)
(121,491)
(34)
214,551
(3,490)
—
2,634
(14,592)
199,069
180,422
27,610
208,032
(5,053) $
1,465
$
3,099
196
$
— $
— $
— $
— $
— $
2,742
$
— $
— $
— $
— $
— $
1,982
200
1,628
94
72,502
6,615
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
66
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. NATURE OF THE BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
Acacia Communications, Inc. was incorporated on June 2, 2009, as a Delaware corporation. Acacia Communications,
Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”) are collectively referred to as the Company. The Company is a
leading provider of high-speed coherent optical interconnect products that transform communications networks relied upon by
cloud infrastructure operators and content and communication service providers through improvements in performance and
capacity and reductions in associated costs. Our products fall into three product groups: embedded modules, pluggable modules
and semiconductors. Our embedded module and pluggable module product groups consist of optical interconnect modules
with transmission speeds ranging from 100 to 1,200 gigabits per second, or Gbps, for use in long-haul, metro and inter-data
center markets. Our semiconductor product group consists of our low-power coherent digital signal processor application-
specific integrated circuits ("DSP ASICs") and our silicon photonic integrated circuits ("silicon PICs") which are either
integrated into our embedded and pluggable modules or sold to customers on a standalone basis for integration into internally
developed or other merchant modules. We are also developing a 400ZR module that will expand our pluggable module product
group, and enable inter-data center transmission capacity of 400 Gbps in the same compact pluggable form factors used for
400G client optics, including QSFP-DD and OSFP.
The Company is headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts, and has wholly-owned subsidiaries in North America,
Europe and Asia.
On May 18, 2016, the Company closed its initial public offering (“IPO”), in which the Company issued and sold
4,570,184 shares of common stock and certain selling stockholders sold an additional 604,816 shares, inclusive of the
underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares that was exercised in full. The price per share to the public was $23.00. The
Company received aggregate proceeds of approximately $97.8 million from the IPO, net of underwriters’ discounts and
commissions, before deduction of offering expenses of approximately $4.3 million. The Company received no proceeds from
the sale of shares by the selling stockholders. Upon the closing of the IPO, all shares of the Company’s outstanding redeemable
convertible preferred stock (the “preferred stock”) automatically converted into 24,177,495 shares of common stock.
On October 13, 2016, the Company closed a follow-on public offering in which the Company issued and sold 1,210,302
shares of common stock and certain selling stockholders sold an additional 3,289,698 shares. The underwriters’ option to
purchase up to an additional 675,000 shares from certain of the selling stockholders was not exercised. The price per share to
the public was $100.00. The Company received aggregate proceeds of $116.8 million from the follow-on offering, net of
underwriters’ discounts and commissions, before deduction of offering expenses of approximately $1.2 million. The Company
received no proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders.
2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of Acacia Communications, Inc., and
its Subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income consists of two components, net income and other comprehensive loss. Other comprehensive
loss refers to losses that are recorded as an element of stockholders’ equity but are excluded from net income. The Company’s
other comprehensive loss consists of net unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of the related tax
effect.
3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
67
Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue
The Company adopted Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic
606) (“ASC 606”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) effective January 1, 2018 using the modified
retrospective method. As a result, the Company is required to disclose the accounting policies in effect prior to January 1, 2018,
as well as the policies it has applied starting January 1, 2018.
Periods prior to January 1, 2018
The Company derives its revenue from the sale of its products. The Company recognized revenue when persuasive
evidence of an arrangement existed, delivery had occurred, the fee was fixed or determinable and collectability of the related
receivable was reasonably assured. The Company considered delivery of its products to have occurred once title and risk of loss
had been transferred. The Company’s products consist of hardware and software that function together to deliver the products’
essential functionality. The Company does not sell its software on a standalone basis.
At the time revenue is recognized, the Company establishes an accrual for estimated warranty expenses associated with
sales, recorded as a component of cost of revenue. The Company’s customers generally do not have return rights.
A limited number of revenue arrangements with the Company’s customers included more than one element and required
the application of ASC 605-25, Revenue Recognition—Multiple Element Arrangements. Arrangement consideration was
allocated to each element with standalone value based on the relative selling prices of all of the elements in the arrangement
using the fair value hierarchy.
The Company determined the relative selling price of elements based on prices charged for standalone products, when
sufficiently concentrated, and third-party evidence of similar elements, or, in the absence of these sources of evidence, based on
management’s best estimate of selling price. Revenue recognized from multiple-element arrangements accounted for less than
1% of the Company’s total revenue during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
Deferred revenue represented either advance payments from customers or billings to customers for which the revenue
recognition criteria had not been met. Deferred product costs represented products that had been billed to customers, for which
the revenue associated with the arrangement had been deferred as a result of not meeting the revenue recognition criteria. The
Company deferred the product costs until recognition of the related revenue occurred.
Periods commencing January 1, 2018
The Company generates all of its revenue from contracts with customers. The Company considers customer purchase
orders, which in many cases are governed by master purchasing agreements, to be contracts with customers. The Company’s
contracts with customers are generally for product only, and do not include other performance obligations such as services,
extended warranties or other material rights. As part of its assessment of each contract, the Company evaluates certain factors
including the customer’s ability to pay (or credit risk). For each contract, the Company considers the promise to transfer
products, each of which is distinct, to be the identified performance obligations. In determining the transaction price, the price
stated on the purchase order is typically fixed and represents the net consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled,
and therefore there is no variable consideration. As the Company’s standard payment terms are less than one year, the Company
has elected, as a practical expedient, to not assess whether a contract has a significant financing component. The Company
allocates the transaction price to each distinct product based on its relative standalone selling price. The product price as
specified on the purchase order is considered the standalone selling price as it is an observable source that depicts the price as if
sold to a similar customer in similar circumstances. Revenue is recognized when control of the product is transferred to the
customer (i.e., when the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied), which typically occurs upon shipment from the
Company’s manufacturing site or delivery to the customer’s named location. In determining whether control has transferred,
the Company considers if there is a present right to payment from the customer and when physical possession, legal title and
risks and rewards of ownership have transferred to the customer. The Company also considered certain customer contracts that
include acceptance clauses, but has concluded that delivery to the customer’s named location is the point at which the customer
is able to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from, the asset, and therefore the acceptance is
considered a formality that does not impact the timing of revenue recognition.
At times, the Company receives orders for products that may be delivered over multiple dates that may extend across
reporting periods. The Company invoices for each delivery upon shipment and recognizes revenues for each distinct product
delivered, assuming transfer of control has occurred. Generally, scheduled delivery dates are within one year, and the Company
has elected to use the optional exemption whereby revenues allocated to partially completed contracts with an expected
68
duration of one year or less are not disclosed. The transaction price related to contracts with unsatisfied performance
obligations with a duration of more than one year as of December 31, 2018 was $2.1 million.
The Company generally provides an assurance warranty that its products will substantially conform to the agreed-upon
specifications for 12 to 24 months from the date of shipment. The Company’s liability is limited to the cost of repair or
replacement of the defective part. The Company does not consider activities related to such warranties to be a separate
performance obligation. The terms and conditions of sale generally do not allow for refunds or product returns other than for
warranty repairs.
The Company has a limited number of customer contracts that provide for the performance of services or include
multiple performance obligations. Once the Company determines the performance obligations, the Company determines the
transaction price, which includes estimating the amount of variable consideration to be included in the transaction price, if any.
The Company then allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation in the contract based on a relative stand-alone
selling price method or using the variable consideration allocation exception if the required criteria are met. The corresponding
revenues are recognized as the related performance obligations are satisfied.
A receivable is recognized in the period the Company ships the product. Payment terms on invoiced amounts are based
on contractual terms with each customer. In some cases, if control of the product has not yet transferred to the customer or the
timing of the payments made by the customer precedes the Company’s fulfillment of the performance obligation, the Company
recognizes a contract liability that is classified as “deferred revenue.” Deferred product costs represent products that have been
billed to customers, for which the revenue associated with the arrangement has been deferred as a result of not meeting the
revenue recognition criteria. The Company defers the product costs until recognition of the related revenue occurs.
The Company has concluded that none of the costs it has incurred to obtain and fulfill its ASC 606 contracts meet the
capitalization criteria, and as such, there are no costs deferred and recognized as assets on the consolidated balance sheet at
December 31, 2018.
Cost of Revenue
The Company records all costs associated with its product sales in cost of revenue. These costs include the cost of
materials, contract manufacturing fees, shipping costs and quality assurance. Cost of revenue also includes indirect costs such
as warranty, excess and obsolete inventory charges, general overhead costs and depreciation.
Financial Instruments
Cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less upon
acquisition. Cash equivalents may consist of bank deposit accounts, money market funds, repurchase agreements, commercial
paper, certificates of deposit, asset-backed securities and corporate debt securities.
The Company’s marketable debt securities have been classified and accounted for as available-for-sale. Management
determines the appropriate classification of its investments at the time of purchase and reevaluates the classifications at each
balance sheet date. The Company classifies its investments in marketable debt securities as either short-term or long-term based
on each instrument’s underlying contractual maturity date. The Company’s investments in marketable debt securities are carried
at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss
in stockholders’ equity, with the exception of unrealized losses believed to be other-than-temporary which are reported in
earnings in the current period.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and
cash equivalents, marketable securities and accounts receivable. The majority of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are
at two financial institutions and the balances often exceed federally insured limits. Management believes that the financial
institutions that hold the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are financially creditworthy and, accordingly, minimal credit
risk exists with respect to those balances.
Marketable securities consist of investments in U.S. Treasury bonds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, asset-
backed securities and corporate debt securities. The main objective of the Company’s current investment policy is to preserve
capital and maintain liquidity. The Company seeks to limit the amount of investments in any single issuer. As a result, the
69
Company believes that, as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, its concentration of credit risk related to marketable securities was
not significant.
To minimize credit risk related to accounts receivable, ongoing credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition are
performed and the Company maintains allowances for potential credit losses as needed. The Company has determined that no
allowance is needed as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, as all accounts receivable balances are expected to be collected.
Inventory
Inventory, which consists of raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods, is stated at the lower of cost or net
realizable value, as determined on a specific cost basis and using the first-in, first-out convention. The Company reduces the
carrying value of inventory to its estimated net realizable value for those items that are potentially excess, obsolete or slow
moving based on changes in customer demand, technology developments or other economic factors. Such reductions in the
carrying value of inventory are recorded within cost of revenue in the consolidated income statements. Any excess or obsolete
inventory write-downs taken establish a new cost basis for the underlying inventory and cannot be reversed if there are
subsequent increases in the Company’s demand forecast. If the Company is later able to sell such inventory, any related
reserves would be reversed in the period of sale.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful
lives of the related assets. The costs of additions and improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are charged
to expense as incurred. The estimated useful lives of the Company’s property and equipment are as follows:
Engineering laboratory equipment
Computer software
Computer equipment
Furniture and fixtures
Leasehold improvements
3-7 years
1-3 years
3 years
3-7 years
Lesser of lease term or life of asset
When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the assets and related accumulated depreciation are derecognized from
the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated income statements.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
amount of the asset may not be recoverable. When such events occur, the Company compares the carrying amounts of the
assets to their estimated undiscounted future cash flows. If this comparison indicates that there is an impairment, the amount of
the impairment is calculated as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value. No impairments have been
recognized for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
Warranties
The Company’s standard warranty obligation to its customers provides for repair or replacement of a defective product
at the Company’s discretion for a period of time following purchase, generally between 12 and 24 months. Factors that affect
the warranty obligation include product failure rates, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting product
failures. In addition, from time to time, specific warranty accruals may be made if unforeseen technical problems arise. The
estimated cost associated with fulfilling the Company’s warranty obligation to customers is recorded in cost of revenue. Refer
to Note 12 for additional information regarding warranty activity.
Advertising Costs
The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the
Company did not incur any advertising expenses.
Research and Development Costs
70
The Company expenses all research and development costs as incurred. Research and development costs consist
primarily of salary and benefit expenses, including stock-based compensation, for employees, costs for contractors engaged in
research, design and development activities, costs incurred directly and with support from external vendors, such as outsourced
development costs, as well as support costs for prototypes, depreciation, purchased intellectual property, facilities and travel.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for share-based payment awards granted to employees at fair value, which is measured using the
fair value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date for time-vested restricted stock units (“RSUs”). Other input
assumptions are used to determine the valuation of performance- or market-based RSU awards, as well as in the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model for stock option awards and employee stock purchase rights. The measurement date for the fair value of
employee awards is the date of grant. For all time-vested awards, stock-based compensation costs are recognized as expense on
a ratable basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. For awards with market and/or
performance conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense using the accelerated attribution method.
Changes in Fair Value of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Warrant Liability
The Company’s redeemable convertible preferred stock warrants which existed prior to the Company’s IPO required
liability classification. At initial recognition, the warrants were recorded at their estimated fair value and subject to
remeasurement at each balance sheet date, with changes in fair value recognized as a component of total other income
(expense), net. In connection with the Company’s IPO, the warrants converted to common stock warrants and accordingly, the
Company remeasured the liability at the time of the IPO and then reclassified the redeemable convertible preferred stock
warrant liability to additional paid-in capital. See Note 9 for additional information. As of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016,
there were no longer any warrants outstanding.
Foreign Currency Transactions
The functional currency of the Company’s Subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. All monetary assets and liabilities
denominated in a foreign currency are revalued into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on the consolidated balance sheet date.
When transactions are required to be paid in the local currency of any Subsidiary, any resulting foreign currency transaction
gain or loss is recorded as a component of other expense, net, in the consolidated income statements. To date, foreign currency
transaction gain or loss associated with the Company’s Subsidiaries has not been significant. During the years ended
December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded foreign currency transaction losses of $0.4 million, $0.2 million
and $0.1 million, respectively.
Income Taxes
The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have
been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are
determined based upon the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets
and liabilities and for loss and credit carryforwards, using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect in the year in which the
differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is not more likely than not
that these assets will be realized.
The Company accrues liabilities for potential payments of tax to various tax authorities related to uncertain tax
positions. Liabilities are based on a determination of whether and how much of a tax benefit taken by the Company in its tax
filings or positions is more likely than not to be realized following resolution of any potential uncertainties related to the tax
benefit. Potential interest and penalties associated with such uncertain tax positions are recorded as a component of the
provision for income taxes, if applicable. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company identified $5.0 million and $4.5
million of gross uncertain tax positions, respectively. Included in those balances as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are $3.0
million and $2.3 million of tax benefits, respectively, that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. These have been
accrued for as long-term liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Operating Segments
The Company operates as one operating segment. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for
which separate financial information is regularly evaluated by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), which is the
Company’s chief executive officer, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s CODM
71
evaluates the Company’s financial information for the purpose of allocating resources and assessing the performance of these
resources on a consolidated basis.
Revenue by geographic country, based on ship-to destinations, which in certain instances may be the location of a
contract manufacturer rather than the Company’s end customer, was as follows (in thousands):
United States
China
Germany
Thailand
Other
Total revenue
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
$
$
56,839
98,906
58,711
68,217
57,218
339,891
$
$
60,723
148,431
57,051
48,016
70,945
385,166
$
$
87,678
194,917
114,678
33,136
48,003
478,412
Total long-lived assets by geographic country consisted of the following as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in
thousands):
United States
Thailand
China
Other
Total long-lived assets
December 31,
2018
2017
18,123
4,147
1,703
2,670
26,643
$
$
19,065
7,065
1,165
880
28,175
$
$
Net Income per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders
Up to and including the year ended December 31, 2016, the year in which the IPO occurred, basic and diluted net
income per share attributable to common stockholders is presented in conformity with the two-class method required for
participating securities. The Company considered its redeemable convertible preferred stock to be participating securities. In
the event a cash dividend was paid on common stock, the holders of redeemable convertible preferred stock were also entitled
to a proportionate share of any such dividend as if they were holders of common stock (on an as-if converted basis). The
holders of the redeemable convertible preferred stock did not have a contractual obligation to share in losses. In accordance
with the two-class method, earnings allocated to these participating securities and the related number of outstanding shares of
the participating securities, which included contractual participation rights in undistributed earnings, were excluded from the
computation of basic and diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, or ASC 606, which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in
Accounting Standard Codification 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”) and affects any entity that enters into contracts with
customers to transfer goods and services. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 and all related amendments for
all contracts not completed as of the adoption date using the modified retrospective method. The Company recognized the $0.2
million cumulative effect of initially applying ASC 606 as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The
comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those
periods.
See Note 4 for further disclosures and detail regarding revenue. As the impact of ASC 606 is not material to the
Company, there is no pro-forma disclosure presented as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than
Inventory (“ASU 2016-16”). ASU 2016-16 requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity
transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The amendments in ASU 2016-16 are effective for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2017, and were adopted by the Company in the first quarter of 2018. The amendments in
ASU 2016-16 were applied using a modified retrospective approach. As the Company has not had any intra-entity transfers of
assets in such period other than inventory, there has been no impact from the adoption of this standard.
72
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows - Restricted Cash (“ASU 2016-18”). The
amendments in ASU 2016-18 require that the statement of cash flows explain the change in total cash, cash equivalents and
restricted cash. ASU 2016-18 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those
fiscal years. The Company adopted the amendments in ASU 2016-18 in the first quarter of 2018 using a retrospective transition
method. Other than the revised statement of cash flows presentation of restricted cash in the prior periods presented, which
were immaterial, the adoption of ASU 2016-18 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial
statements. There is no impact to the cash flow statement for the year ended December 31, 2018 as there was no restricted cash
balance as of the beginning or end of the period.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220):
Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2018-02”). ASU
2018-02 allows an entity to reclassify stranded income tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax
Act”) from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings. The amendments in ASU 2018-02 are effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, including adoption in any interim period for
which financial statements have not yet been issued. The Company adopted and applied the ASU 2018-02 amendments in the
second quarter of 2018. The adoption of the ASU 2018-02 amendments resulted in a $0.1 million cumulative-effect adjustment
as of April 1, 2018, the first day of the Company’s second quarter of fiscal year 2018, between accumulated other
comprehensive loss and retained earnings for the amount of the stranded tax effects.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic
350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service
Contract (“ASU 2018-15”). ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting
arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain
internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The amendments in ASU
2018-15 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted
and applied the ASU 2018-15 amendments on a prospective basis as of July 1, 2018, the first day of the Company’s third
quarter of fiscal year 2018. The adoption of the ASU 2018-15 amendments resulted in approximately $0.2 million of
implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract being capitalized as of December 31, 2018.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit
Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 is intended to provide more decision-useful information
about expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each
reporting date. The main provisions include presenting financial assets measured at amortized cost at the amount expected to be
collected, which is net of an allowance for credit losses, and recording credit losses related to available-for-sale securities
through an allowance for credit losses. The amendments in ASU 2016-13 are effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2019, and must be applied using a modified retrospective approach with earlier adoption permitted for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company does not expect the adoption of this amendment to have a material
impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 will require
lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for virtually all leases. For the income
statement, ASU 2016-02 retains a dual model requiring leases to be classified as either operating or financing leases. Operating
leases will result in straight-line expense, and financing leases will have a front-loaded expense pattern with an interest expense
component. The amendments in ASU 2016-02 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and must be
applied using a modified retrospective approach with earlier adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance on
January 1, 2019, and expects to recognize a lease liability estimated between $14.8 million and $16.8 million, and a related
right-of-use asset estimated between $20.3 million and $22.3 million on its consolidated balance sheet, respectively, with the
difference attributable to prepaid and accrued rent payments. These adjustments will not have a material impact on the
Company’s consolidated income statement. The Company is continuing to finalize the impacts of the new standard, including
the discount rate to be applied in these valuations and increased leasing disclosures, as well as policy and process changes to
support the new standard.
4. REVENUE
The Company adopted ASC 606 effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The Company
recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying ASC 606 as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings.
The comparative information is accounted for in accordance with the previous revenue guidance, ASC 605, and has not been
73
restated. In accordance with ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue under the core principle to depict the transfer of
control to the Company’s customers in an amount reflecting the consideration the Company expects to be entitled. In order to
achieve that core principle, the Company applies the following five step approach: (1) identify the contract with a 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 a performance obligation is satisfied.
Revenue for product sales is recognized at the point in time when control transfers to the Company’s customers, which
is generally when products are shipped from the Company’s manufacturing facilities or when delivered to the customer’s
named location. When the Company performs shipping and handling activities after the transfer of control to the customer (e.g.,
when control transfers prior to delivery), they are considered to be fulfillment activities, and accordingly, the costs are accrued
for when the related revenue is recognized. Taxes collected on behalf of customers relating to product sales and remitted to
governmental authorities, principally sales taxes, are excluded from revenue.
The opening and closing balances of the Company’s deferred revenue and accounts receivable are as follows (in
thousands):
Year Ended December 31, 2018
Accounts Receivable
Deferred Revenue (Current)
Deferred Revenue (Non-current)
Balance at Beginning
of Period (1/1/18)
Increase
Balance at End of
Period
$
$
$
86,602
197
254
$
$
$
4,229
4,904
3,453
$
$
$
90,831
5,101
3,707
The amounts of revenue recognized in the period that were included in the opening deferred revenue balance were
immaterial for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in current and non-current deferred revenue is related to
billings to, or advance payments from, customers for which the Company has not yet fulfilled its performance obligations.
Deferred revenue not expected to be recognized within the Company’s operating cycle of one year is presented as a component
of “Other long-term liabilities” on the consolidated balance sheet.
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table provides information about disaggregated revenue based on product type. Further disaggregation of
revenue by geographic country can be found in Note 3.
Embedded Modules
Pluggable Modules
Semiconductors
Total revenue
5. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Year Ended
December 31, 2018
As a % of
Total Revenue
(dollars in thousands)
$
$
77,286
189,533
73,072
339,891
23%
56%
21%
100%
The following tables set forth the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and short- and long-term marketable securities as of
December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):
74
December 31, 2018
Gross Unrealized
Losses
Cash
Money market funds
U.S. treasury bonds
Commercial paper
Certificates of deposit
Asset-backed securities
Corporate debt securities
Total
Amortized
Cost
49,650
1,563
40,367
60,435
36,839
47,798
163,654
400,306
$
$
$
$
Gains
Less than One
Year
Greater than
One Year
Estimated
Fair Value
— $
—
—
—
13
1
9
23
$
— $
—
(9)
(13)
(12)
(63)
(239)
(336) $
— $
—
(3)
—
—
(22)
(100)
(125) $
49,650
1,563
40,355
60,422
36,840
47,714
163,324
399,868
Cash and
Cash
Equivalents
49,650
$
1,563
—
6,668
—
—
2,563
60,444
$
Marketable
Securities
$
$
—
—
40,355
53,754
36,840
47,714
160,761
339,424
Amortized Cost
Gains
Losses(1)
Gross Unrealized
Estimated Fair
Value
Cash and Cash
Equivalents
Marketable
Securities
December 31, 2017
$
43,223
$
— $
— $
43,223
$
43,223
$
Cash
Money market funds
Repurchase agreements
U.S. treasury bonds
Commercial paper
Certificates of deposit
Asset-backed securities
Corporate debt securities
11,070
12,500
26,316
60,623
34,993
33,374
142,960
—
—
—
—
6
1
9
—
—
(80)
(9)
(33)
(53)
(290)
(465) $
11,070
12,500
26,236
60,614
34,966
33,322
142,679
11,070
12,500
—
—
—
702
—
364,610
$
67,495
$
—
—
—
26,236
60,614
34,966
32,620
142,679
297,115
Total
$
365,059
$
16
$
(1) Losses represent marketable securities that were in loss positions for less than one year.
The proceeds from the sales and maturities of marketable securities, which were primarily reinvested and resulted in
realized gains and losses, were as follows (in thousands):
Proceeds from the sales and maturities of marketable securities
Realized gains
Realized losses
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
340,920
$
242,735
$
14,525
$
18
(109) $
$
16
(2) $
—
—
$
$
$
The contractual maturities of short-term and long-term marketable securities held at December 31, 2018 and 2017 are as
follows (in thousands):
Due within one year
Due after one year through four years
Total
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
Amortized Cost
Basis
264,959
74,902
Aggregate Fair
Value
264,660
$
Amortized Cost
Basis
212,137
$
74,764
85,426
339,861
$
339,424
$
297,563
$
$
Aggregate Fair
Value
$
$
211,933
85,182
297,115
At December 31, 2018, the Company believed that the unrealized losses on its available-for-sale investments were
temporary. The investments with unrealized losses consisted primarily of corporate debt securities. In making the determination
that the decline in fair value of these securities was temporary, the Company considered various factors, including, but not
limited to: the length of time each security was in an unrealized loss position; the extent to which fair value was less than cost;
the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuers; and the Company’s intent not to sell these securities and the
75
assessment that it is more likely than not that the Company would not be required to sell these securities before the recovery of
their amortized cost basis.
6. INVENTORY
Inventory consisted of the following as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):
Raw materials
Work-in-process
Finished goods
Inventory
December 31,
2018
2017
$
$
18,420
218
6,873
25,511
$
$
32,599
965
28,668
62,232
On April 15, 2018, the U.S. Department of Commerce imposed a seven-year denial of export privileges that prohibited
sales to ZTE Kangxun Telecom Co. Ltd. and certain of its affiliates, together ZTE, the Company’s largest customer (the “ZTE
Ban”). As a result, the Company recorded inventory write-offs of $3.9 million in the first quarter of 2018 related to finished
goods inventory that had either been designed specifically for ZTE, or had been intended for consumption by ZTE and had
become excess inventory due to the suspension of sales to ZTE. On June 8, 2018, ZTE and the U.S. Department of Commerce
reached a new settlement, pursuant to which the ZTE Ban was terminated and ZTE was removed from the Denied Persons List
effective July 13, 2018. As a result of the ZTE Ban being terminated, the Company was able to consume a portion of the ZTE
inventory, resulting in a remaining reserve of $1.0 million as of December 31, 2018.
7. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consisted of the following as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):
Engineering laboratory equipment
Computer software
Computer equipment
Furniture and fixtures
Leasehold improvements
Construction in progress
Total property and equipment
Less: Accumulated depreciation
Property and equipment, net
December 31,
2018
2017
$
$
50,590
3,132
6,018
3,227
3,581
1,279
67,827
(41,184)
26,643
$
$
39,433
2,281
4,380
3,041
2,282
4,591
56,008
(27,833)
28,175
Depreciation expense was $13.6 million, $12.3 million and $9.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017
and 2016, respectively.
8. ACCRUED LIABILITIES
Accrued liabilities consisted of the following as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):
Employee-related liabilities
Goods and services received not invoiced
Accrued manufacturing related expenses
Warranty reserve
Other accrued liabilities
Accrued liabilities
76
December 31,
2018
2017
8,509
3,592
2,342
8,220
9,185
31,848
$
$
5,233
12,827
4,007
8,306
6,861
37,234
$
$
9. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT
The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Fair value is determined based upon the exit
price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants,
as determined by either the principal market or the most advantageous market. Inputs used in the valuation techniques to derive
fair values are classified based on a three-level hierarchy, as follows:
Level 1—Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2—Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices
in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets), or model-derived valuations in which all
significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially
the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3—Unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of fair value of
assets or liabilities.
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be
cash equivalents. The Company’s investments are in money market funds, repurchase agreements, U.S. treasury bonds,
commercial paper, certificates of deposit, asset-backed securities and corporate debt securities, which are classified as Level 2
within the fair value hierarchy, were initially valued at the transaction price and subsequently valued at each reporting date
utilizing market-observable data. The market-observable data included reportable trades, benchmark yields, credit spreads,
broker/dealer quotes, bids, offers, current spot rates and other industry and economic events.
The fair value of these assets measured on a recurring basis was determined using the following inputs as of
December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):
Assets:
Money market funds
U.S. treasury bonds
Commercial paper
Certificates of deposit
Asset-backed securities
Corporate debt securities
Total
Assets:
Money market funds
Repurchase agreements
U.S. treasury bonds
Commercial paper
Certificates of deposit
Asset-backed securities
Corporate debt securities
Total
December 31, 2018
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total Fair
Value
— $
—
—
—
—
—
— $
1,563
40,355
60,422
36,840
47,714
163,324
350,218
$
$
— $
—
—
—
—
—
— $
1,563
40,355
60,422
36,840
47,714
163,324
350,218
December 31, 2017
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total Fair
Value
— $
—
—
—
—
—
—
— $
11,070
12,500
26,236
60,614
34,966
33,322
142,679
321,387
$
$
— $
—
—
—
—
—
—
— $
11,070
12,500
26,236
60,614
34,966
33,322
142,679
321,387
$
$
$
$
77
There were no transfers between fair value measurement levels during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
For certain other financial instruments, including accounts receivable, accounts payable and other current liabilities, the
carrying amounts approximate their fair value due to the relatively short maturity of these balances.
Preferred Stock Warrants
Prior to the closing of the Company’s IPO in May 2016, the Company remeasured the fair value of its preferred stock
warrants at each balance sheet date. Any changes in fair value were recognized as a component of other income (expense), net
in the consolidated income statements. The valuation technique used to measure fair value for the Company’s preferred stock
warrants, which were considered Level 3 fair value estimates within the fair value hierarchy, was the Black-Scholes option
pricing model. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s preferred stock
warrants were the fair value of the Company’s series B and series C preferred stock. The Company also utilized risk-free
interest rate, expected dividend yield, expected volatility and expected term as observable inputs in determining the fair value
of the preferred stock warrants. There is not a direct interrelationship between the unobservable inputs and the observable
inputs.
A summary of the changes in the Company’s preferred stock warrant liability measured at fair value using significant
unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the year ended December 31, 2016 is as follows (in thousands):
Preferred stock warrant liability at beginning of period
Change in fair value
Reclassification of preferred stock warrant liability to additional paid-in capital upon
conversion to common stock warrants
Preferred stock warrant liability at end of period
$
$
3,254
3,361
(6,615)
—
The warrants to purchase shares of preferred stock were converted into warrants to purchase shares of common stock
Year Ended December 31,
2016
upon the closing of the IPO.
10. STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS
The following table summarizes the classification of stock-based compensation in the consolidated income statements
for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
Cost of revenue
Research and development
Sales, general and administrative
Total stock-based compensation
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
$
$
2,075
17,564
9,975
29,614
$
$
1,993
14,150
7,230
23,373
$
$
1,629
12,347
6,769
20,745
The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense by award type for the years ended December 31,
2018, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):
Restricted stock units
Stock options
Employee stock purchase plan
Other awards
Total stock-based compensation
2009 Stock Plan
78
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
$
$
25,864
2,343
1,284
123
29,614
$
$
19,455
2,614
1,188
116
23,373
$
$
17,862
2,082
696
105
20,745
In November 2009, the Company adopted the 2009 Stock Plan, as amended in October 2015 and March 2016 (the “2009
Plan”). The 2009 Plan provided for the grant of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, RSUs and the right to
purchase restricted common stock to employees, officers, directors and advisors of the Company. Recipients of incentive stock
options and nonstatutory stock options are eligible to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price
equal to the estimated fair value of such stock on the grant date. Stock options and RSUs granted under the 2009 Plan generally
vest as follows (1) 20% on the first anniversary of the original vesting date, with the balance vesting monthly over the
remaining four years or (2) 25% on the first anniversary of the original vesting date, with the balance vesting monthly or
quarterly over the remaining three years, unless they contain specific performance and/or market-based vesting provisions. The
maximum term of stock options and RSUs granted under the 2009 Plan is ten and seven years, respectively.
The 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) became effective on May 12, 2016, at which time the Company
ceased granting equity awards under the 2009 Plan. The then outstanding equity awards granted under the 2009 Plan remain
outstanding, subject to the terms of the 2009 Plan and applicable award agreements, until such shares are issued under those
awards, by exercise of stock options or settlement of restricted awards, or until the awards terminate or expire by their terms.
When the 2016 Plan became effective, there were 497,302 remaining shares available for grant under the 2009 Plan which were
added to the reserves of the 2016 Plan.
2016 Equity Incentive Plan
The 2016 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights,
restricted stock awards, RSUs and other stock-based awards. Recipients of incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock
options are eligible to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price equal to the fair value of such stock
on the grant date. Stock options and RSUs granted under the 2016 Plan generally vest 25% on the first anniversary of the
original vesting date, with the balance vesting quarterly or annually over the remaining three years, unless they contain specific
performance and/or market-based vesting provisions. The maximum term of stock options granted under the 2016 Plan is ten
years.
The 2016 Plan will terminate ten years from the effective date, unless it is terminated earlier by the Company’s board of
directors. As of December 31, 2018, there were 3,203,355 shares available for future issuance. The number of shares reserved
for issuance under the 2016 Plan will increase automatically on the first day of each January through 2025 equal to the least of
(i) 3,600,000 shares of Common Stock, (ii) 4.0% of the outstanding shares on such date and (iii) an amount determined by the
board of directors. In December 2018, the board of directors approved a 4.0% increase to the 2016 Plan share pool pursuant to
the 2016 Plan’s evergreen provision. A maximum of 7,917,554 shares of the Company’s common stock are authorized for
issuance under the 2016 Plan following this increase.
Stock Options
The estimated grant-date fair value of the Company’s stock option awards issued to employees was calculated using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model. No stock option awards were issued to employees during the year ended December 31,
2017. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2016, the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model were as follows:
Risk-free interest rate
Expected dividend yield
Expected volatility
Expected term (in years)
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2.9%
None
53.5%
6.3
2016
1.2% - 1.6%
None
59.5% - 60.0%
6.3
Risk-free Interest Rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant
for zero coupon U.S. Treasury notes with maturities approximately equal to the option’s expected term.
Expected Dividend Yield. The expected dividend yield assumption is based on the fact that the Company has never
paid cash dividends and has no present intention to pay cash dividends.
Expected Volatility. For options awarded during 2016 and prior, as there was limited trading history associated with the
Company’s common stock during those periods, the expected volatility was derived from the average historical stock
volatilities of several unrelated public companies within the Company’s industry over a period equivalent to the expected term
of the stock option grants. For options awarded during 2018, the expected volatility was derived from a blend of average
79
historical stock volatilities of several unrelated public companies within the Company’s industry and the Company’s historical
volatility, both over a period equivalent to the expected term of the stock option grants.
Expected Term. The expected term represents the period that stock options awards are expected to be outstanding. For
option grants that are considered to be “plain vanilla,” the Company determines the expected term using the simplified method.
The simplified method deems the term to be the average of the time-to-vesting and the contractual life of the options. The
Company uses the simplified method because it does not have sufficient historical option exercise data to provide a reasonable
basis upon which to estimate the expected term.
Prior to the Company’s IPO, the fair value of the shares of common stock underlying stock options was historically
established by the Company’s board of directors, and was based in part upon a valuation provided by a third-party valuation
specialist. Subsequent to the completion of the IPO, the Company uses the market closing price of its common stock as
reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market to determine the fair value of the shares of common stock underlying stock
options.
A summary of stock option activity under the Company’s equity incentive plans for the year ended December 31, 2018
is as follows:
Outstanding at December 31, 2017
Granted
Exercised
Cancelled
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
Vested and expected to vest at:
December 31, 2018
Exercisable at:
December 31, 2018
Number of
Options
(in thousands)
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
$
1,634
10
$
(489) $
(39) $
$
1,116
1,116
837
$
$
8.34
28.77
5.22
11.48
9.78
9.78
7.38
Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
(in years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)
6.6
$
47,356
$
15,855
5.7
5.7
5.3
$
$
$
33,113
33,113
26,544
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, there was $2.5 million and $4.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost related
to unvested common stock options, which is expected to be recognized over weighted-average periods of 1.1 years and 2.2
years, respectively.
The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted was $15.58 and $11.82 during the years ended
December 31, 2018 and 2016, respectively. No stock options were granted by the Company during the year ended
December 31, 2017. The intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
was $15.9 million, $33.5 million and $35.0 million, respectively.
Restricted Stock Units
Prior to the IPO, the Company granted 1.3 million RSUs to employees, directors and executives under the 2009 Plan
which vest upon the satisfaction of both a service condition, generally a period of four years, and a performance condition,
referred to as the “Performance Awards.” The performance condition was satisfied upon the closing of the Company’s IPO on
May 18, 2016. No stock-based compensation expense had been recognized for the Performance Awards prior to the IPO
because an IPO is not considered probable until it occurs. In May 2016, the Company began recording stock-based
compensation expense based on the grant-date fair value of the Performance Awards using the accelerated attribution
method. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company recorded approximately $10.4 million of stock-based
compensation expense related to these Performance Awards, including the immediate recognition of approximately $4.9 million
of stock-based compensation expense upon closing of the Company’s IPO.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company granted 200,000 RSUs to executives which have a market
condition (“market-based RSUs”). The market-based RSUs vest upon achievement of specific stock price targets, provided that
if the price targets are not achieved on or prior to May 18, 2020, then such grant shall automatically terminate. The market
conditions were achieved in 2016, resulting in the recognition of $3.1 million of stock-based compensation expense related to
80
these RSUs during the year ended December 31, 2016. The Company estimated the fair value of the market-based RSUs using
a Monte Carlo valuation model on the date of grant, using the following assumptions:
Risk-free interest rate
Expected dividend yield
Expected volatility
Expected term (in years)
Grant date fair value of underlying shares
1.1%
None
58.9%
1.4
$22.00
During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company granted 461,000 RSUs to executive officers that include a
market condition and a performance condition in addition to a service condition (“2017 PRSUs”). Each 2017 PRSU represents
the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock when and if the applicable vesting conditions are satisfied. The
number of 2017 PRSUs that are subject to the service condition is determined based on the achievement of certain market and
performance objectives over a two-year period running from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2018 (the “Earned 2017
PRSUs”). Thirty-three percent of any Earned 2017 PRSUs will vest on the later of (i) March 17, 2019 and (ii) the date that the
number of Earned 2017 PRSUs is determined by the Compensation Committee after December 31, 2018. Thereafter, an
additional 33% of the Earned 2017 PRSUs will vest on March 17, 2020 and the remaining 34% of the Earned 2017 PRSUs will
vest on March 17, 2021. Vesting of Earned 2017 PRSUs is subject to the applicable officer’s continued provision of services to
the Company through the applicable vesting date. The number of 2017 PRSUs that become Earned 2017 PRSUs will be
determined based on the extent to which the Company achieves (i) a revenue growth objective, based on the compound annual
growth rate of the Company’s total revenue by measuring the Company’s revenue for fiscal year 2018 against the Company’s
revenue for fiscal year 2016 (the “Revenue Growth Objective”), and/or (ii) a stock price objective during the two-year period
(the “Stock Price Objective”). If neither the Revenue Growth Objective nor the Stock Price Objective is achieved, none of the
2017 PRSUs will become Earned 2017 PRSUs. Any 2017 PRSUs that do not become Earned 2017 PRSUs shall be forfeited
once the number of Earned 2017 PRSUs is determined by the Compensation Committee after December 31, 2018.
For the 2017 PRSUs, the related stock-based compensation expense is amortized using the accelerated method over the
vesting period of four years. During the performance period, the Company estimated the fair value of the 2017 PRSUs using
management’s best estimate of whether it was probable or not probable that the Revenue Growth Objective would be satisfied
using actual revenue results for audited periods or the most current available projections of future revenue performance at that
time, which was reassessed at each reporting period. Changes in the subjective and probability-based assumptions can
materially affect the estimate of fair value of stock-based compensation and consequently, the related amount recognized in the
Company’s consolidated income statements. The Company estimated the fair value of the 2017 PRSUs using a Monte Carlo
valuation model on the date of grant, using the following assumptions:
Risk-free interest rate
Expected dividend yield
Expected volatility
Expected term (in years)
Grant date fair value of underlying shares
1.3%
None
58.3%
1.8
$40.38 - $55.02
During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company granted awards covering up to a maximum of 94,854
performance-based RSUs to executive officers that include a market condition in addition to a service condition (“2018
PRSUs”). Each 2018 PRSU represents the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock when and if the
applicable vesting conditions are satisfied. The 2018 PRSUs are subject to performance-based vesting. The number of 2018
PRSUs that vest is measured based on the level of achievement of a performance objective over a three-year period (the
“Performance Period”) running from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020, as determined and certified by the
compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors following the end of the Performance Period. The level of
achievement will be determined based on the Company’s percentile achievement of relative total shareholder returns against an
external comparator group during the Performance Period (the “Relative TSR Objective”). Vesting of the 2018 PRSUs is also
subject to the applicable officer’s continued provision of services to the Company through the vesting date, except in the case
of death or disability where vesting will be pro-rated for time worked during the Performance Period. No 2018 PRSUs will vest
unless a threshold level of achievement of the Relative TSR Objective is achieved.
For the 2018 PRSUs, the related stock-based compensation expense is amortized using the accelerated method over the
vesting period of approximately three years. The Company estimated the fair value of the 2018 PRSUs using a Monte Carlo
valuation model on the date of grant, using the following assumptions:
81
Risk-free interest rate
Expected dividend yield
Expected volatility
Expected term (in years)
Grant date fair value of underlying shares
2.3%
None
51.4%
2.9
$34.59 - $39.02
All other RSUs granted to employees, executives and directors vest upon the satisfaction of a service condition,
generally over four years. The cost of RSUs with only a service condition is determined using the fair value of the Company’s
common stock on the date of grant, and compensation expense is generally recognized on a ratable basis over the requisite
vesting period.
As soon as practicable following each vesting date, the Company will issue to the holder of the RSUs the number of
shares of common stock equal to the aggregate number of RSUs that have vested. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
may, in its sole discretion, in lieu of issuing shares of common stock to the holder of the RSUs, pay the holder an amount in
cash equal to the fair market value of such shares of common stock. Through December 31, 2018, the Company has not settled
any vested RSUs with cash.
A summary of the changes in the Company’s RSUs during the year ended December 31, 2018 is as follows:
Outstanding at December 31, 2017
Granted
Vested
Cancelled
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
Restricted Shares
(in thousands)
Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
2,288
$
$
847
(782) $
(28) $
$
2,325
36.08
40.48
27.56
36.56
40.55
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, there was $52.5 million and $47.8 million of total unrecognized compensation cost
related to unvested RSUs, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years and 2.9 years, respectively.
Amended and Restated 2016 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company’s board of directors adopted the Amended and Restated 2016 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“2016
ESPP”), which became effective on May 18, 2016. As of December 31, 2018, there were 807,421 shares available for future
issuance under the 2016 ESPP. The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2016 ESPP will increase
automatically on the first day of each January through 2026, in an amount equal to the lowest of: (1) 900,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock; (2) 1.0% of the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on the first day
of the applicable fiscal year; and (3) an amount determined by the Company’s board of directors. In December 2018, the board
of directors determined no increase to the ESPP share pool was needed. A maximum of 1,081,047 shares of the Company’s
common stock are authorized for issuance under the ESPP Plan following this decision. The 2016 ESPP allows eligible
employees to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a discount through payroll deductions of up to 15% of
eligible compensation, subject to any plan limitations. The 2016 ESPP provides for 6-month offering periods beginning in May
and November of each year.
On each purchase date, eligible employees purchase common stock at a price per share equal to 85% of the lesser of the
fair market value of the Company’s common stock on (1) the first trading day of the applicable offering period and (2) the last
trading day of the applicable offering period.
The fair value of the awards issued under the 2016 ESPP to employees was estimated at the beginning of the offering
period using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
82
Risk-free interest rate
Expected dividend yield
Expected volatility
Expected term (in years)
Preferred Stock
Year Ended December 31,
2018
1.3 % - 2.1%
None
48.6 % - 66.4%
0.5
2017
0.5% - 1.0%
None
48.7% - 58.7%
0.5
2016
0.4%
None
57.3%
0.5
The Company has authorized the issuance of preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights,
designated from time to time by the board of directors. As of December 31, 2018, there were 5,000,000 shares of preferred
stock authorized with a par value of $0.0001 per share, and no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.
11. NET INCOME PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
Up to and including the year ended December 31, 2016, the year in which the IPO occurred, basic and diluted net
income per share attributable to common stockholders is presented in conformity with the two-class method required for
participating securities. The Company considered its redeemable convertible preferred stock to be participating securities. In
the event a cash dividend was paid on common stock, the holders of preferred stock were also entitled to a proportionate share
of any such dividend as if they were holders of common stock (on an as-if converted basis). The holders of the preferred stock
did not have a contractual obligation to share in losses. In accordance with the two-class method, earnings allocated to these
participating securities and the related number of outstanding shares of the participating securities, which included contractual
participation rights in undistributed earnings, were excluded from the computation of basic and diluted net income per share
attributable to common stockholders. As a result of the conversion of preferred stock on May 18, 2016, no earnings were
allocated to participating securities during 2017 and 2018.
The following table sets forth the computation of the Company’s basic and diluted net income per share attributable to
common stockholders (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Numerator:
Net income
Less: preferred stock accretion
Less: undistributed earnings attributable to participating securities
Net income attributable to common stockholders - basic and diluted
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share attributable to
common stockholders - basic
Dilutive effect of stock options, unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units,
preferred stock warrants and employee stock purchase plan
Weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share attributable to
common stockholders - diluted
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders
Basic
Diluted
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
$
4,916
—
—
$
38,508
—
—
$
4,916
$
38,508
$ 131,577
(1,722)
(34,571)
95,284
$
40,259
38,920
25,307
1,738
2,770
4,278
41,997
41,690
29,585
$
$
0.12
0.12
$
$
0.99
0.92
$
$
3.77
3.22
The following common stock equivalents (in thousands) were excluded from the computation of diluted net income per
share for the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive:
Options to purchase common stock
Unvested restricted stock units
Employee stock purchase plan
83
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
91
336
1
87
425
—
46
46
—
As discussed further in Note 10, in 2018 the Company granted a maximum of 94,854 2018 PRSUs to executives that
include a market condition and a service condition. An estimate of the number of shares contingently issuable based on average
market prices through December 31, 2018 has been included in the antidilutive table above.
12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Leases
The Company’s principal facilities are located in Maynard, Massachusetts, and Holmdel, New Jersey and are leased by
the Company under non-cancelable operating leases that expire in February 2025, with respect to the Massachusetts facility,
and December 2023, with respect to the New Jersey facility. The Company also leases office space in various locations with
expiration dates between 2019 and 2027. Several of the lease agreements include leasehold improvement incentives, escalating
lease payments, renewal provisions and other provisions which require the Company to pay taxes, insurance and maintenance
costs. All of the Company’s facility leases are accounted for as operating leases. Rent expense is recorded over the lease term
on a straight-line basis. Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $4.7 million, $5.2 million
and $1.3 million, respectively.
Future minimum lease payments due under these non-cancelable lease agreements as of December 31, 2018, are as
follows (in thousands):
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Thereafter
Total
Warranties
Amounts
3,888
4,280
4,394
4,248
4,401
5,252
26,463
$
$
The Company’s standard warranty obligation to its customers provides for repair or replacement of a defective product
at the Company’s discretion for a period of time following purchase, generally between 12 and 24 months. Factors that affect
the warranty obligation include product failure rates, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting product
failures. In addition, from time to time, specific warranty accruals may be made if unforeseen technical problems arise. The
estimated cost associated with fulfilling the Company’s warranty obligation to customers is recorded in cost of revenue.
In May 2017, the Company announced a Quality Issue at one of its three contract manufacturers that affected a portion
of the units manufactured by the contract manufacturer over approximately four months, which is estimated at approximately
1,300 AC400 units and 5,100 CFP units under warranty. Based on the ongoing evaluation of such units, the Company
established reserves to cover anticipated costs, including cost estimates for product repairs, rework of component inventory
with the contract manufacturer and rescreening costs associated with this Quality Issue. These costs are estimated based on the
results of completed testing in addition to yield, fall-out rates and component part recovery cost estimates based on the
Company’s historical experience.
Changes in the Company’s warranty liability, which is included as a component of accrued liabilities on the consolidated
balance sheets, are set forth in the table below (in thousands):
Warranty reserve, beginning of period
Provisions made to warranty reserve during the period
Charges against warranty reserve during the period
Warranty reserve, end of period
Legal Contingencies
84
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
$
$
8,306
$
2,158
$
11,775
(11,861)
8,220
$
16,597
(10,449)
8,306
$
763
5,058
(3,663)
2,158
On January 21, 2016, ViaSat, Inc. filed a lawsuit in California state court, later removed to the U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of California, against the Company alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of the implied
covenant of good faith and fair dealing and misappropriation of trade secrets. On February 19, 2016, the Company responded
to ViaSat’s lawsuit and alleged counterclaims against ViaSat including, among other things, patent misappropriation, breach of
contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair
competition, which ViaSat denied in its response filed March 16, 2016. On September 28, 2018 the matter was remanded back
to California state court and is currently pending a scheduling conference with the judge. The parties are in the process of
briefing summary judgment motions in anticipation of a trial in California state court scheduled for June 2019. While it is not
possible to predict the outcome of this matter with certainty, based on the information available to the Company today, the
Company currently believes that this lawsuit will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business or its
consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
On July 28, 2017, the Company filed a lawsuit in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Superior Court - Business
Litigation Session against ViaSat asserting commercial disparagement, libel, slander of title, unfair competition, intentional
interference with advantageous relations and intentional interference with contractual relations. On April 5, 2018, ViaSat
responded to the Company’s action and alleged counterclaims including, among other things, breach of contract, breach of the
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, misappropriation of trade secrets, and unfair competition. On December 13,
2018, the Massachusetts court entered an order staying the Massachusetts litigation pending resolution of the California state
court action discussed in the preceding paragraph. During the stay of the Massachusetts litigation, Acacia may conduct and
complete certain non-party discovery as provided in the court’s order. While it is not possible to predict the outcome of this
matter with certainty, based on the information available to us today, we currently believe that this lawsuit will not have a
material adverse effect on our business or our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The California and Massachusetts lawsuits are both pending resolution, discovery is closed in the California action filed
by ViaSat and ongoing in the Massachusetts action filed by the Company, subject to the conditions of the order to stay.
Between August and October 2017, four purported securities class action complaints were filed in the U.S. District Court
for the District of Massachusetts against the Company and certain of its executive officers, among other defendants. The
complaints are captioned Tharp v. Acacia Communications, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-11504 (D. Mass.), filed August 14,
2017; Zhang v. Acacia Communications, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-11518 (D. Mass.), filed August 16, 2017; Kebler v.
Acacia Communications, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-11695 (D. Mass.), filed September 7, 2017; and Rollhaus v. Acacia
Communications, Inc., et al., Case No. 17-cv-11988 (D. Mass.), filed October 13, 2017. In November 2017, the court
consolidated these four securities class actions (under docket number 1:17-cv-11504) and appointed lead plaintiffs for the
consolidated action. Lead plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended class action complaint on January 8, 2018. The amended
complaint asserted claims against the Company and certain of its directors and executive officers, among other defendants, and
alleged that some or all of the defendants violated Sections 11, 12(a)(2) and/or 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections
10(b) and/or 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by making allegedly false
and/or misleading statements regarding, among other matters, demand for our products, our financial guidance, and/or our
quality control process as it relates to the Quality Issue. The amended complaint sought, among other relief, unspecified
compensatory damages, rescission, attorneys’ fees, and costs. All defendants filed motions to dismiss the consolidated amended
complaint on February 9, 2018. On June 15, 2018, the court granted defendants’ motions to dismiss and denied plaintiffs leave
to file an amended complaint. On June 25, 2018, the court entered judgment and dismissed the case against all the defendants.
No notice of appeal has been filed.
In November and December 2017, three purported shareholder derivative lawsuits were filed in the United States
District Court for the District of Massachusetts against certain of the Company’s directors and executive officers (Murugesan
Shanmugaraj, John Gavin, Francis Murphy, Eric Swanson, Peter Chung, Benny Mikkelsen, Stan Reiss, John Ritchie, Vincent
Roche, Mehrdad Givehchi, Bhupendra Shah and Christian Rasmussen) and the Company as a nominal defendant. A fourth
purported shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed against the same defendants in the same court on March 13, 2018. The
complaints are captioned Colgan v. Shanmugaraj et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-12350 (D. Mass.), filed November 29, 2017; Wong v.
Shanmugaraj et al., Case No. 1:17-cv-12550 (D. Mass.), filed December 22, 2017; Dennis v. Shanmugaraj et al., Case No.
1:17-cv-12571 (D. Mass.), filed December 28, 2017; and Farah-Franco et al. v. Shanmugaraj et al., Case No. 1:18-cv-10465
(D. Mass), filed March 13, 2018. The court has consolidated these complaints with the class actions (under docket number
1:17-cv-11504).
The court appointed lead plaintiffs for the consolidated derivative actions on April 20, 2018. On May 1, 2018, plaintiff
Dennis voluntarily dismissed his case without prejudice. Lead plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended derivative complaint on
May 30, 2018. The amended derivative complaint generally alleges that the individual defendants breached fiduciary duties
owed to the Company by making or causing the Company to make allegedly false and/or misleading statements regarding,
85
among other matters, demand for the Company’s products, the Company’s financial guidance, and/or the Company’s quality
control process as it relates to the Quality Issue, and by selling stock in Acacia with knowledge of those allegedly false and/or
misleading statements. The complaint also alleges that certain individual defendants caused the Company to issue an allegedly
false and/or misleading proxy statement on or about April 6, 2017 regarding, among other matters, the reelection of certain
directors. The complaint purports to assert derivative claims for violation of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933; Sections
10(b), 14(a), and 29(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder; breach of
fiduciary duty; insider trading; waste of corporate assets; and unjust enrichment. The complaint seeks to recover on behalf of
the Company for any liability it incurs as a result of the individual defendants’ alleged misconduct. The complaint also seeks
declaratory, equitable and monetary relief, restitution, and attorneys’ fees and costs.
On April 9, 2018, a purported shareholder filed a complaint against the Company in the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware seeking to inspect certain of the Company’s books and records pursuant to 8 Del. C. §220 (“Section 220”). The
complaint is captioned Silberberg v. Acacia Communications, Inc., Case No. 2018-0262-TMR (Del. Ch.). The Company filed
its answer on April 27, 2018. The plaintiff filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings on May 1, 2018. The Company filed its
cross-motion for judgment on the pleadings and opposition on May 11, 2018. The plaintiff replied on May 16, 2018. The Court
held a telephonic hearing on these motions on May 29, 2018. On June 1, 2018, the Chancery Court granted the plaintiff’s
motion and entered judgment for the plaintiff, and the Company thereafter produced documents to the shareholder pursuant to
his Section 220 demand.
On July 19, 2018, the parties reached an agreement in principle to settle the above-referenced derivative litigation and
Section 220 litigation, contingent on approval by the court in the District of Massachusetts hearing the consolidated derivative
actions. The Company adopted certain corporate governance changes as part of the settlement.
On September 14, 2018, the parties executed their Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement, Compromise and Release,
and the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary approval of the settlement. On September 17, 2018, the court issued an order
preliminarily approving the settlement, requiring notice of the settlement be issued to our shareholders, and scheduling a
hearing to consider final approval of the settlement. On November 7, 2018, the plaintiffs filed a motion for final approval of the
settlement and a motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses. On November 28, 2018, the defendants filed an
opposition to plaintiffs’ motion for attorneys’ fees and expenses. The court held a hearing to consider final settlement approval
and the plaintiffs’ request for an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses on December 19, 2018. The court approved the
settlement and indicated that it would schedule a further evidentiary hearing on the motion for attorneys’ fees and expenses.
The parties subsequently reached agreement on an agreed attorneys’ fee award of $0.7 million and an agreed immaterial
expense award. A portion of the fee and expense awards is expected to be reimbursed to the Company by its insurance carrier.
On January 23, 2019, the court issued an order granting final approval to the settlement, including the agreed upon awards of
attorneys’ fees and expenses. The court entered final judgment on January 24, 2019.
The Company intends to continue to engage in a vigorous defense of the ongoing litigation described above. However,
the Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, and, therefore cannot estimate possible losses or
ranges of losses, if any, or the materiality of any such losses. An unfavorable resolution of these matters in any reporting period
may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and cash flows for that period. In addition, the
timing of the final resolution of these proceedings is uncertain. The Company will incur litigation and other expenses as a result
of these proceedings, which could have a material impact on the Company’s business, consolidated financial position, results of
operations and cash flows.
In addition, from time to time the Company may become involved in legal proceedings or be subject to claims arising in
the ordinary course of its business. Although the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, the
Company currently believes that the final outcome of these ordinary course matters will not have a material adverse effect on
the Company’s business or on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Regardless of the
outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on the Company because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of
management resources and other factors.
Indemnification
In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into various agreements containing standard indemnification
provisions. The Company’s indemnification obligations under such provisions are typically in effect from the date of execution
of the applicable agreement through the end of the applicable statute of limitations. During the years ended December 31, 2018,
2017 and 2016, the Company did not experience any losses related to these indemnification obligations. The Company does not
expect significant claims related to these indemnification obligations, and consequently, has concluded that the fair value of
86
these obligations is not material. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, no amounts have been accrued related to
such indemnification provisions.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
In August 2018, the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors approved an amendment and
restatement of the Acacia Communications, Inc. Severance and Change in Control Benefits Plan (as amended and restated, the
“Severance Plan”), which provides severance benefits to certain of its executives, including its named executive officers, if the
executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or, only within 12 months following a change in control
of the Company, the executive terminates employment with the Company for good reason (as each of those terms is defined in
the Severance Plan).
Under the Severance Plan, if the Company terminates an eligible executive’s employment without cause prior to or more
than 12 months following a change in control of the Company (an “Involuntary Termination”), the executive is entitled to
(i) continue receiving his or her base salary for a specified period following the date of termination (in the case of the chief
executive officer, for 12 months, and, in the case of all other participants, for nine months), (ii) company contributions to the
cost of health care continuation under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), for U.S. based
eligible executives, or substantially equivalent medical benefits for non-U.S. based eligible executives, for up to 12 months
following the date of termination of employment (or, to the extent a non-U.S. based eligible executive is then receiving a
stipend from us in lieu of benefits coverage, continued payment of such stipend for up to 12 months following the date of
termination of employment), and (iii) the amount of any unpaid annual bonus determined by the board of directors to be
payable to the executive for any completed bonus period which ended prior to the date of such executive’s termination. In
addition, the executive’s outstanding equity awards that vest solely based on the passage of time will be accelerated and
become vested to the extent the award would have vested if the executive had remained employed through a specified period
following the date of termination (in the case of the chief executive officer, for 12 months, and, in the case of all other
participants, for nine months). The vesting of outstanding performance-based equity awards in connection with an Involuntary
Termination shall be dictated by the terms of the applicable award agreements.
The Severance Plan also provides that, if, within 12 months following a change in control of the Company, the Company
terminates an eligible executive’s employment without cause or such executive terminates his or her employment with the
Company for good reason (a “Change in Control Termination”), the executive is entitled to (i) a single lump-sum payment
equal to a multiple of his or her annual base salary (in the case of the chief executive officer, 2x and, in the case of all other
participants, 1x), (ii) a single lump sum payment in an amount equal to a multiple of his or her target annual bonus for the year
in which the termination of employment occurs (in the case of the chief executive officer, 1.5x and, in the case of all other
participants, 1x), (iii) company contributions to the cost of health care continuation under COBRA, for U.S. based eligible
executives, or substantially equivalent medical benefits for non-U.S. based eligible executives, for up to 12 months following
the date of termination of employment (or, to the extent a non-U.S. based eligible executive is then receiving a stipend from us
in lieu of benefits coverage, continued payment of such stipend for up to 12 months following the date of termination of
employment), and (iv) the amount of any unpaid annual bonus determined by the Company’s board of directors to be payable
to the executive for any completed bonus period which ended prior to the date of such executive’s termination. In addition, all
of the executive’s outstanding unvested time-based equity awards will immediately vest in full on the date of such termination.
The vesting of outstanding performance-based equity awards in connection with a Change in Control Termination shall be
dictated by the terms of the applicable award agreements.
In addition, the Severance Plan provides that, in the event of a termination due to the death or disability of an eligible
executive (a “Death or Disability Termination”), whether or not prior to or following a change in control of the Company, such
executive or his or her estate will be entitled to (i) the Involuntary Termination or Change in Control Termination severance
benefits, as applicable, set forth in the Severance Plan, (ii) the vesting in full of all of the executive’s outstanding equity awards
that vest solely based on the passage of time as of the date of such termination, and (iii) if in connection with an Involuntary
Termination, a single lump sum payment in an amount equal to a pro rata portion of his or her target annual bonus for the year
in which the termination of employment occurs. The vesting of outstanding performance-based equity awards in connection
with a Death or Disability Termination shall be dictated by the terms of the applicable award agreements.
All payments and benefits provided under the Severance Plan are contingent upon the execution and effectiveness of a
release of claims by the executive, or the executive’s personal representative or estate, in favor of the Company and continued
compliance with any proprietary information and inventions, nondisclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation (or similar)
agreement to which the Company and the executive are party.
87
13. INCOME TAXES
Income Tax Expense
The components of (loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes are as follows (in thousands):
United States
Foreign
Total
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
$
$
(35,832) $
35,428
(404) $
(30,030) $
70,333
40,303
$
4,305
110,316
114,621
The components of the (benefit) provision for income taxes are as follows (in thousands):
Current income tax (benefit) provision
Federal
State
Foreign
Total current income tax (benefit) provision
Deferred income tax benefit
Federal
State
Foreign
Total deferred income tax benefit
Total income tax (benefit) provision
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
$
$
$
(9,417) $
23
921
(8,473) $
2,944
480
(271)
3,153
(5,320) $
18,174
52
1,849
20,075
(14,108)
(4,083)
(89)
(18,280)
1,795
$
$
$
(8,090)
53
3,414
(4,623)
(5,797)
(6,168)
(368)
(12,333)
(16,956)
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was signed into law making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code.
Changes include, but are not limited to, a corporate tax rate decrease from 35% to 21% effective for tax years beginning after
December 31, 2017, the transition of U.S international taxation from a worldwide tax system to a territorial system, and a one-
time transition tax on the mandatory deemed repatriation of cumulative foreign earnings as of December 31, 2017.
Additionally, Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 ("SAB 118") was issued to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations
when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in
reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act. To the extent that a company’s
accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act was incomplete but was able to determine a reasonable estimate, it was
required to record a provisional estimate in the financial statements. The guidance provided for a provisional one-year
measurement period for entities to finalize their accounting for certain tax effects related to the Tax Act. In accordance with the
Tax Act and SAB 118, the Company recorded $31.4 million as a provisional income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2017,
the period in which the legislation was enacted. The total expense included $23.3 million related to the transition tax and $7.3
million related to the remeasurement of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities. In finalizing its analysis, the Company
recorded an immaterial amount of adjustments to the original provisional amounts. As of December 31, 2018, the Company has
completed the analysis based on legislative updates relating to the Tax Act currently available.
The Tax Act created a provision known as global intangible low-tax income (“GILTI”) that imposes a U.S. tax on certain
earnings of foreign subsidiaries that are subject to foreign tax below a certain threshold. The Company has made an accounting
policy election to reflect GILTI taxes, if any, as a current income tax expense in the period incurred.
As a result of the concept of “deemed distributions” under the Tax Act, the impact of GILTI on the Company’s future
foreign earnings and lack of certain foreign governments’ withholding tax imposed on dividends, the Company no longer takes
the position that most of its foreign earnings are permanently reinvested. For certain foreign operating subsidiaries, the
Company continues to take the position that earnings are permanently reinvested. The Company recorded a provisional tax
expense of $0.9 million for state taxes related to the repatriation of earnings which are no longer considered permanently
reinvested and an immaterial amount of adjustments to the original provisional amounts were made after the Company
finalized its analysis. As of December 31, 2018, there was $8.7 million of cumulative foreign earnings for which state income
taxes have not been provided.
88
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities
Significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2018 and 2017, are as follows (in
thousands):
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued expenses
Net operating loss carryforwards
Credit carryforwards
Stock-based compensation
Depreciation
Other
Total deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation
Other
Total deferred tax liabilities
Valuation allowance
Net deferred tax assets
December 31,
2018
2017
3,517
18,641
21,568
3,561
—
248
47,535
(1,567)
(868)
(2,435)
(6,383)
38,717
$
$
$
4,129
12,962
23,249
3,360
171
332
44,203
—
(886)
(886)
(1,416)
41,901
$
$
$
The Company accounts for deferred taxes under ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”) which involves weighing
positive and negative evidence concerning the realizability of the Company’s deferred tax assets in each jurisdiction. The
Company evaluated its ability to realize the benefit of its net deferred tax assets and weighed all available positive and negative
evidence both objective and subjective in nature. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, the weight given to
positive and negative evidence is commensurate with the extent to which the evidence may be objectively verified.
Consideration was given to negative evidence such as the duration and severity of losses, as well as the expiration and
limitation of tax attributes in various jurisdictions.
As of December 31, 2018, positive evidence included consolidated three-year cumulative profitability of $154.5 million
($(61.6) million for the United States only). Additionally, after implementing a corporate restructuring of its international
business in 2015 and determining that sufficient forecasted taxable income of appropriate character is expected to continue in
future years, the Company believes the weight of the objectively verifiable positive evidence coupled with the subjective
positive evidence from forecasted operating plans is sufficient to overcome the weight of any negative evidence, especially in
the U.S. where the new GILTI provisions from the Tax Act are expected to create significant amounts of U.S. taxable income in
future years. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company concluded it is more likely than not that it will realize
the benefit of $38.7 million of the Company’s net deferred tax assets. As a result, the Company continues to maintain a partial
valuation allowance of $6.4 million against its U.S. deferred tax assets, which include federal net operating loss and credit
carryforwards limited under IRC Section 382 as well as state and foreign net operating losses and credits accumulated in
jurisdictions in which management does not anticipate sufficient taxable income to utilize the credits. Management will
continue to assess the applicability of a valuation allowance at each reporting period.
As of December 31, 2017, positive evidence included consolidated three-year cumulative profitability of $194.7 million
($13.0 million for the United States only). Additionally, the Company’s objectively verifiable positive evidence coupled with
the subjective positive evidence from forecasted operating plans was sufficient to overcome the weight of any negative
evidence. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company concluded it is more likely than not that it will realize the
benefit of $41.9 million of the Company’s net deferred tax assets. As a result, the Company maintained a partial valuation
allowance of $1.4 million against its U.S. deferred tax assets, which included federal net operating loss and credit
carryforwards limited under IRC Section 382 as well as state credits accumulated in jurisdictions in which management does
not anticipate sufficient taxable income to utilize the credits.
As of December 31, 2016, positive evidence included consolidated three-year cumulative profitability of $170.9 million
(three-year cumulative loss of $59.5 million for the United States only). Additionally, the Company’s objectively verifiable
positive evidence coupled with the subjective positive evidence from forecasted operating plans was sufficient to overcome the
weight of any negative evidence. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company concluded it is more likely than not
that it will realize the benefit of $23.5 million of the Company’s net deferred tax assets. As a result, the Company maintained a
89
partial valuation allowance of $0.7 million against its U.S. deferred tax assets, which included federal net operating loss and
credit carryforwards limited under IRC Section 382 as well as state credits accumulated in jurisdictions in which management
does not anticipate sufficient taxable income to utilize the credits.
The table below summarizes changes in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2017
2018
Tax Rate
Beginning
Balance
$
$
$
554
734
1,416
Additions
Reductions
Ending
Balance
180
682
4,967
— $
— $
— $
734
1,416
6,383
A reconciliation of the (benefit) provision for income taxes computed at the statutory federal income tax rate to the
(benefit) provision for income taxes as reflected in the consolidated financial statements is as follows:
Provision for income taxes at statutory rate
Increases (decreases) resulting from:
Federal tax credits
Change in valuation allowance
State tax expense, net of federal benefit
Meals and entertainment
Stock-based compensation expense
Change in fair value of preferred stock warrants
Change in uncertain tax positions
Change in federal rate due to tax reform
Transition tax
APB23 state liability
Foreign rate differential
Foreign rate inclusion
Other
Effective income tax rate
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
21.0%
35.0%
35.0 %
1,304.6
(1,230.7)
1,058.0
(24.0)
384.1
—
(116.5)
—
(9.6)
(2.0)
1,598.6
(1,990.5)
323.8
1,316.8%
(15.3)
1.7
(8.0)
0.4
(32.9)
—
3.5
18.0
57.7
—
(55.5)
2.9
(3.0)
4.5%
(4.1)
0.2
(3.8)
0.1
(18.0)
1.0
1.9
—
—
—
(31.8)
4.5
0.2
(14.8)%
For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $5.3 million, representing an
effective tax rate of 1,316.8%. The effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory tax rate primarily as a result of the
jurisdictional mix of earnings and losses generated because of state income taxes and certain permanent expenses that are not
deductible, stock-based compensation excess tax benefits, federal and state research and development credits and the impact of
the Tax Act.
Tax Attributes
As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $61.9 million and $87.4 million of federal and state net operating loss
carryforwards, respectively, that expire at various dates through 2038. In addition, federal net operating loss carryforwards
generated after December 31, 2017 are subject to carryforward indefinitely. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had $10.6
million and $15.3 million of federal and state research and development and other credit carryforwards, respectively, that expire
at various dates through 2038.
Realization of the future tax benefits is dependent on many factors, including the Company’s ability to generate taxable
income within the net operating loss carryforward period. Utilization of some of the net operating loss carryforwards is subject
to an annual limitation due to the ownership percentage change limitations provided by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 and similar state provisions. The annual limitations will result in the expiration of $0.8 million of the federal net
operating loss carryforwards before utilization. The Company performed an Internal Revenue Code Section 382 study and
determined that utilization of its annual net operating losses for periods prior to 2014 are limited to approximately $4.8 million
90
per year through 2017, $2.3 million in 2018 and $1.4 million in years thereafter in connection with changes in control in 2009
and 2013. The Company’s operating loss carryforwards for years after 2013 are not limited.
Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
The Company recognizes, in its consolidated financial statements, the effect of a tax position when it is more likely than
not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. The aggregate changes in gross
unrecognized tax benefits during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):
Balance at December 31, 2016
Increases for the tax positions taken during the year
Balance at December 31, 2017
Increases for the tax positions taken during the year
Balance at December 31, 2018
$
$
$
3,078
1,426
4,504
470
4,974
The Company had $5.0 million and $4.5 million of uncertain tax positions during the years ended December 31, 2018
and 2017, respectively. Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are $3.0 million
and $2.3 million of tax benefits, respectively, that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. There are no material
amounts of interest or penalties recognized in the consolidated income statement or accrued on the consolidated balance sheet
for any period presented. The Company does not expect any material changes in these uncertain tax benefits within the next 12
months.
The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course
of business, the Company is potentially subject to examination by tax authorities throughout the United States and other foreign
jurisdictions in which the Company operates. All tax years since inception remain open to examination by major taxing
jurisdictions to which the Company is subject, as carryforward attributes generated in prior period tax years may still be
adjusted upon examination by the Internal Revenue Service or state tax authorities if they have or will be used in a future
period. The Company also files foreign tax returns in the foreign jurisdictions in which it operates when required. The
Company is currently being audited by the Internal Revenue Service for tax years 2014 through 2017. There are currently no
state or foreign examinations in process.
14. CONCENTRATIONS OF RISK
Customer Concentration
Customers with revenue equal to or greater than 10% of total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and
2016 were as follows:
A(1)
B
C
E
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
20%
15%
17% (2)
14%
30%
15%
11%
*
32%
26%
*
*
__________________________________________________________________________________________
*
(1)
(2)
Less than 10% of revenue in the period indicated
Customer A was subject to U.S. Department of Commerce restrictions that prevented sales to this customer from April
15, 2018 through July 13, 2018.
Customer C was acquired by one of the Company’s other customers on October 1, 2018. The figure in the table above
takes into account all revenue for the combined customer for the year ended December 31, 2018. Prior to the
acquisition, Customer C accounted for 17% of total revenue for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018.
Customers that accounted for equal to or greater than 10% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2018 and 2017 were
as follows:
91
A
B
C
D
F
December 31, 2018
30%
13%
*
10%
17%
December 31, 2017
15%
10%
19%
*
*
__________________________________________________________________________________________
*
Less than 10% of accounts receivable in the period indicated
Supplier Concentration
The Company’s most significant vendor spending is related to purchases from contract manufacturers and component
suppliers located in Japan, China, Thailand and the United States, from which the Company purchases a substantial portion of
its inventory. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, total purchases from each of the suppliers were as
follows:
W
X
Y
Z
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
*
18%
53%
*
*
19%
49%
10%
11%
37%
24%
18%
__________________________________________________________________________________________
*
Less than 10% of total purchases in the period indicated
The Company also outsources certain engineering projects to vendors located throughout the world. During the years
ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company incurred 18% and 16% of its total research and development costs with one
vendor. Costs incurred with this vendor were less than 10% of total research and development costs in the year ended
December 31, 2018.
15. RETIREMENT PLAN
The Company is the sponsor of a defined contribution savings plan for all qualified employees under Section 401(k) of
the Internal Revenue Code (the “401(k) Plan”). The 401(k) Plan allows participants to contribute a portion of their
compensation on a pre-tax basis up to an amount not to exceed the annual statutory limit applicable to each individual
participant. The Company is permitted to make discretionary matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan. Total matching
contributions during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 amounted to $1.6 million, $1.3 million and $0.8
million, respectively.
16. RELATED PARTIES
One of the Company’s directors, Vincent Roche, is also the President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the
board of directors of Analog Devices, Inc. (“ADI”). The Company, through its contract manufacturers, periodically purchases
supplies from ADI pursuant to purchase orders negotiated on an arm’s length basis between ADI and the Company’s contract
manufacturers at prevailing prices. These purchased supplies are used as content in certain of the Company’s manufactured
products. Based on shipments during the respective periods, the Company’s contract manufacturers made purchases from ADI
of approximately $3.8 million, $4.5 million, and $4.9 million, during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016,
respectively.
In 2018, the Company entered into a product development agreement with ADI related to the development of integrated
circuits for $1.5 million, of which $0.8 million of costs were incurred during the year ended December 31, 2018.
One of the Company’s directors, Peter Y. Chung, is also a member of the board of directors of MACOM Technology
Solutions, Inc. (“MACOM”). The Company, through its contract manufacturers, periodically purchases supplies from
MACOM. These purchased supplies are used as content in certain of the Company’s manufactured products. Based on
shipments, the Company’s contract manufacturers made purchases from MACOM of approximately $0.3 million and $0.8
million during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. The amount of purchases made by the Company from MACOM
were immaterial in the year ended December 31, 2016.
92
17. UNAUDITED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Revenue
Cost of revenue
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Research and development
Sales, general and administrative
Total operating expenses
(Loss) income from operations
Total other income, net
(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes
(Benefit) provision for income taxes
Net (loss) income
Net (loss) income per share:
Basic
Diluted
Revenue
Cost of revenue
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Research and development
Sales, general and administrative
Gain on disposal of property and equipment
Total operating expenses
Income (loss) from operations
Total other income, net
Income (loss) before (benefit) provision for income taxes
(Benefit) provision for income taxes
Net income (loss)
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic
Diluted
18. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
First
Second
Third
Fourth
2018
(in thousands)
$
72,941
48,870
24,071
$
65,003
39,798
25,205
24,445
14,288
38,733
(14,662)
1,283
(13,379)
(4,301)
(9,078) $
24,340
12,984
37,324
(12,119)
1,300
(10,819)
(7,574)
(3,245) $
94,814
49,981
44,833
24,696
12,134
36,830
8,003
2,011
10,014
1,863
8,151
(0.23) $
(0.23) $
(0.08) $
(0.08) $
0.20
0.19
2017
First
Second
Third
$
114,667
58,367
56,300
(in thousands)
$
78,898
53,516
25,382
104,998
58,856
46,142
17,728
8,691
—
26,419
29,881
407
30,288
(5,421)
35,709
0.93
0.86
$
$
$
22,734
9,368
(47)
32,055
(6,673)
826
(5,847)
(10,511)
4,664
0.12
0.11
$
$
$
27,135
10,105
—
37,240
8,902
969
9,871
(8,628)
18,499
0.47
0.44
$
107,133
54,122
53,011
28,925
12,458
41,383
11,628
2,152
13,780
4,692
9,088
0.23
0.22
Fourth
86,603
46,587
40,016
24,430
10,643
—
35,073
4,943
1,048
5,991
26,355
(20,364)
(0.52)
(0.52)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
On January 1, 2019, shares issuable under the Company’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan increased by 1,640,964 shares
in accordance with the automatic annual increase provision of such plan.
Effective February 14, 2019, the Company approved awards of time-based RSUs and performance-based RSUs to
certain of the Company’s executive officers, including 89,420 time-based RSUs and up to a maximum of 88,084 performance-
based RSUs, under the Company’s 2016 Plan. The time-based RSUs vest over a period of four years, subject to each officer’s
continued provision of services to the Company through the applicable vesting dates. The performance-based RSUs vest
subject to achievement of a performance objective at the end of a three-year period, as determined and certified by the
Company’s Compensation Committee. The performance objective is based on the Company’s percentile achievement of
relative total shareholder returns against an external comparator group over such period. The performance-based RSUs are
93
further subject to each officer’s continued provision of services to the Company through the applicable vesting dates, except in
the case of death or disability where vesting will be pro-rated for time worked.
94
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the
effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a- 15(e) and 15d- 15(e) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-
K. Based on such evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that as of such date,
our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.
Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial
officers and effected by the company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
•
•
•
Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and
dispositions of the assets of the company;
Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the
company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and,
Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018. In
making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated 2013 Framework.
Based on this assessment, our management concluded that, as of December 31, 2018, our internal control over financial
reporting is effective based on those criteria.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018 has been audited by Deloitte
& Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
Inherent Limitations of Internal Controls
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure
controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well
conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.
Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all
control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the
realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake.
Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by
management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about
the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all
potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of
compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control
system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
95
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recently completed fiscal quarter
that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
96
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Acacia Communications, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Acacia Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries (the
“Company”) as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued
by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company
maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on
criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018, of the Company and our
report dated February 21, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in
all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the
risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on
the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that
our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and
procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that
receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and
directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also,
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 21, 2019
97
Item 9B.
Other Information
None.
98
PART III
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The complete response to this Item regarding the backgrounds of our executive officers and directors and other
information required by Items 401, 405 and 407 of Regulation S-K will be contained in our definitive proxy statement for
our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees,
including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons
performing similar functions. A copy of the code is available on our website, www.acacia-inc.com. In addition, we intend to
post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or the Nasdaq Listing Rules concerning any amendments to, or
waivers from, any provision of the code.
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference herein to our definitive proxy statement for
our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference herein to our definitive proxy statement for
our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The information required by this item with respect to our equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference to our
Proxy Statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within
120 days of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference herein to our definitive proxy statement for
our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference herein to our definitive proxy statement for
our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) Financial Statements
PART IV
Our consolidated financial statements are set forth in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are
incorporated herein by reference.
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules
All financial schedules have been omitted because the required information is either presented in the consolidated
financial statements or the notes thereto or is not applicable or required.
99
(a)(3) Exhibits
The exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and Item 15(b) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K are listed in
the Exhibit Index below and are incorporated herein.
100
Exhibit
Description
Exhibit Index
3.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on May 24, 2016).
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on May 24, 2016).
Specimen stock certificate evidencing shares of common stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed December 21, 2015).
Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated April 17, 2013, by and among the Registrant and
the other parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1
filed December 21, 2015).
10.1
Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed December 21, 2015).
10.2*
2009 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement
on Form S-1 filed May 2, 2016).
10.3*
Forms of Stock Option Agreement under 2009 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed December 21, 2015).
10.4*
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under 2009 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to
the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed December 21, 2015).
10.5*
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under 2009 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed December 21, 2015).
10.6*
2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed February 24, 2016).
10.7*
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.7 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed February 24, 2016).
10.8*
10.9*
Form of Non-statutory Stock Option Agreement under 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.8 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed February 24, 2016).
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.9 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed February 24, 2016).
10.10*
Amended and Restated 2016 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed February 23, 2017).
10.11*
Amended and Restated Severance and Change in Control Benefits Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 2, 2018).
10.12†
General Conditions of Purchase, dated December 3, 2010, by and between the Registrant and ZTE
Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed
December 21, 2015).
10.13†
Master Supply Agreement, dated October 18, 2013, by and between the Registrant and Fujitsu Semiconductor
America, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed
December 21, 2015).
10.14†
Manufacturing Services Agreement, dated as of August 6, 2015, by and between the Registrant and Sanmina
Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed
December 21, 2015).
101
10.15
Lease, dated April 13, 2016, by and between the Registrant and AS Clock Tower Owner, LLC (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed May 2,
2016).
10.16
Commercial Lease, dated March 18, 2016, by and between the Registrant and Somerset Holmdel
Development I Urban Renewal, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to Amendment no. 2 to
Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed May 2, 2016).
21.1**
List of Subsidiaries.
23.1**
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
31.1**
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2**
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1***
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2***
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS**
XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
*
**
Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Filed herewith.
***
Furnished herewith.
†
Confidential treatment requested as to certain portions, which portions have been omitted and filed separately with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SIGNATURES
102
ACACIA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
/s/ Murugesan Shanmugaraj
Murugesan Shanmugaraj
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: February 21, 2019
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following
persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Murugesan Shanmugaraj
Murugesan Shanmugaraj
President, Chief Executive Officer and
Director (Principal Executive Officer)
February 21, 2019
/s/ John F. Gavin
John F. Gavin
/s/ Francis J. Murphy
Francis J. Murphy
/s/ Vincent Roche
Vincent Roche
/s/ David Aldrich
David Aldrich
/s/ Peter Y. Chung
Peter Y. Chung
/s/ Benny P. Mikkelsen
Benny P. Mikkelsen
/s/ Stan J. Reiss
Stan J. Reiss
/s/ John Ritchie
John Ritchie
/s/ Eric A. Swanson
Eric A. Swanson
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
February 21, 2019
Vice President and Corporate Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
February 21, 2019
Chairman of the Board of Directors
February 21, 2019
February 21, 2019
February 21, 2019
February 21, 2019
February 21, 2019
February 21, 2019
February 21, 2019
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
103
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MANAGEMENT TEAM
STOCKHOLDER INFORMATION
Murugesan “Raj” Shanmugaraj
President and Chief Executive Officer
Stock Listing
Nasdaq Global Select Market Symbol: ACIA
Vincent T. Roche
Chairman of the Acacia Board
President and CEO,
Analog Devices, Inc.
David J. Aldrich
Chairman of the Board,
Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
Peter Y. Chung
Managing Director and CEO,
Summit Partners
Stan J. Reiss
General Partner, Matrix Partners
John F. Gavin
Chief Financial Officer
Benny P. Mikkelsen
Founder and Chief Technical Officer
Christian J. Rasmussen
Founder, Vice President of Digital Signal
Processing and Optics
Mehrdad Givehchi
Founder, Vice President of Hardware
and Software
Transfer Agent & Registrar
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
250 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021
Independent Public Accountants
Deloitte & Touche LLP
200 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
Outside Legal Counsel
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Annual Stockholder Meeting
May 16, 2019, 10:00 a.m. EDT
3 Mill and Main Place, 3rd Floor, Suite 300
Maynard, MA 01754
John Ritchie
CFO and COO, Aerohive Networks, Inc.
Eric A. Swanson
Affiliate of the Research Laboratory
of Electronics, MIT
Eric L. Fisher
Vice President of Global Sales
Bhupendra C. Shah
Vice President of Engineering
Murugesan “Raj” Shanmugaraj
President and Chief Executive Officer
John P. Kavanagh
Senior Vice President of Operations
Benny P. Mikkelsen
Founder and Chief Technical Officer
Robert C. Bickle
Vice President of Quality,
Chief Quality Officer
Janene I. Asgeirsson
Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
John J. LoMedico
Vice President of Corporate Development
Renee M. Pianka
Chief Human Resources Officer
WORLDWIDE OFFICES
Headquarters
Europe
Asia Pacific
Acacia Communications, Inc.
3 Mill and Main Place, Suite 400
Maynard, MA 01754
North America
101 Crawfords Corner Rd
Building 1, Floor 4, Suite 1-406
Holmdel, NJ 07733
2700 Zanker Rd, Suite 160
San Jose, CA 95134
Acacia Communications (Canada) Limited
309 Legget Dr, Suite 300
Kanata, ON K2K 3A3, Canada
Acacia Communications (Ireland) Limited
Mary Rosse Centre 3
Holland Road
National Technology Park
Plassey
Limerick V94 HRK2 Ireland
Acacia Technologies (UK) Limited
First Floor Jupiter House Mercury Park
Wycombe Ln, Wooburn Green
High Wycombe HP10 0HH, UK
Acacia Communications (Shenzhen) Limited
Room A029A 5th Floor
Mango City Building, Yuehai Street,
Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518000
China
ACIA Communications Technology (India)
Private Limited
The Executive Centre
Ramaiah Soft Tech Park
Level 10, Wing – C
Kadubeesanahalli, Varthur Hobli
Bangalore – 560 103
Karnataka, India
®
Acacia Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACIA) develops, manufactures
and sells high-speed coherent optical interconnect products that are
designed to transform communications networks through improvements
in performance, capacity and cost. Acacia Communications is
headquartered in Maynard, MA with offices worldwide.
Acacia Communications, Inc.
3 Mill & Main Place, Suite 400
Maynard, MA 01754
acacia-inc.com
ANNUAL
REPORT
2018
®