2024
Annual Report
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS:
In 2024, Universal Display experienced strong growth, marked
by outstanding financial achievements and continued
advancements in our operational and strategic roadmaps.
Driven by the ongoing proliferation of OLEDs across the
consumer electronics landscape, our revenue and earnings
reached new heights. This performance underscores our
unwavering commitment as a leader in the OLED ecosystem to
innovate, collaborate and grow. During the year, we:
•
Delivered record revenue and earnings. Revenue was $648
million, operating income was $239 million, and net income
was $222 million, or $4.65 per diluted share.
•
Ended the year with $928 million in cash, cash equivalents
and investments.
•
Strengthened our global partnerships, including signing
new long-term, multi-year agreements with Visionox.
In addition to a record-breaking year, we celebrated Universal
Display’s 30th anniversary, a significant milestone that invited
reflection on our journey from pioneering R&D startup to a
global industry leader. Our history is a testament to the power
of innovation and perseverance. From our late founder Sherwin
I. Seligsohn’s bold vision for an OLED future to the 17 years it
took to achieve profitability, relentless technological
breakthroughs and the robust partnerships we’ve built — our
story is one of resilience, adaptability, and excellence. We
believe this enduring legacy lays a strong foundation for the
vibrant future of growth we’re building.
Our Company was also recognized in 2024 for our dedication to
pushing boundaries, driving sustainable solutions and fostering
an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We were
one of Newsweek’s America’s Greenest Companies. Fast
Company named us one of its 2024 Best Workplaces for
Innovators in the Science and Technology category, and the
Forum of Executive Women listed us as a Champion of Board
Diversity for the fifth consecutive year. We were also awarded a
Silver rating for corporate social responsibility from EcoVadis for
the fourth year, placing us in the top 15% of respondents
worldwide.
Innovation and Leadership
Our unyielding focus on advancing OLED technology and
empowering our customers remains the cornerstone of our
strong leadership position. We are innovators, advancing our
portfolio of highly efficient, high-performing phosphorescent
reds, greens, yellows and forthcoming blues to support the
market of today and tomorrow.
Major breakthroughs and ongoing progress are continually
being achieved across key performance metrics, including
increased efficiency, extended lifetime, enhanced color points,
and a broad spectrum of additional performance indicators.
Since 1998, our brilliant team of scientists, engineers and
technicians has delivered a remarkable 8-fold improvement in
external quantum efficiency (EQE), resulting in significantly
greater OLED energy efficiency and device performance.
Concurrently, we’ve achieved more than an extraordinary
60,000-fold increase in material lifetime, setting new
benchmarks by leaps and bounds. Our broadening portfolio of
OLED technologies and UniversalPHOLED® materials enables our
customers to unlock power savings and create devices with
longer battery life; smaller batteries and thinner device profiles;
energy offsets for additional features, including 5G and AI; and
lower power consumption in displays and lighting products.
Regarding our forthcoming UniversalPHOLED blue, we believe
we are closer than ever, and that our commercialization of
phosphorescent blue will represent a transformative jump
forward in OLED technology. The journey has been challenging,
as all trailblazing breakthroughs are, and our teams continue to
work tirelessly. While not yet at the finish line, we are excited
about the strides we are making. Once commercialized, we
believe that our phosphorescent blue can increase the energy
efficiency of an OLED display by up to 25%. We believe our
phosphorescent blue will be a game-changer for the industry,
for consumers, and for us.
Looking Ahead
As we move into the next phase of our journey, we are excited
about the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead. We believe
there is a long and wide runway of growth for the OLED industry
and for our Company. Consumer products continue to evolve
with advanced features such as connectivity and artificial
intelligence. This makes the energy efficiency of our materials
and technologies ever more essential. Industry momentum
continues to build, with OLEDs reaching more than 50% of the
smartphone market for the first time in 2024 and an IT adoption
cycle that is fueling a new multi-year capex cycle now underway,
as well as the rise of OLEDs for automotive displays, TVs, AR/VR,
wearables and more!
We are optimistic about the future, though we are also mindful
of the macroeconomic uncertainties that may affect the global
landscape in 2025 and beyond. With our leadership position,
strong balance sheet and long-term vision, we have the
flexibility and resilience to continue making strategic and
operational investments to not only weather any storm but
emerge even stronger.
In closing, I thank our exceptional global UDC team for their
drive, desire, dedication and heart that elevate and shape
Universal Display’s unending accomplishments and
advancements. To our customers and partners, thank you for
the collaborations that create bright, beautiful and brilliant
products for displays and lighting. And to our shareholders,
thank you for your continued support as we deliver on our
vision of turning innovation into reality.
Steven V. Abramson
President & Chief Executive Officer
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
☒
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024
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 1-12031
UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Pennsylvania
23-2372688
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
250 Phillips Boulevard, Ewing, New Jersey
08618
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (609) 671-0980
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
OLED
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ 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 for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation
S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging
growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.
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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over
financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing
reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by
any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant computed by reference to the closing sale price
of the registrant’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market as of June 28, 2024, was $9,245,044,038. Solely for purposes of this calculation, all executive
officers and directors of the registrant and all beneficial owners of more than 10% of the registrant’s common stock (and their affiliates) were considered affiliates.
As of February 18, 2025, the registrant had outstanding 47,469,086 shares of common stock.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no
later than April 30, 2025 (the first business day after the 120th day following the end of the registrant's fiscal year), are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
Auditor Firm Id:
185
Auditor Name:
KPMG, LLP
Auditor Location:
Philadelphia, PA, USA
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
ITEM 1.
BUSINESS ..................................................................................................................................................................
3
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS .........................................................................................................................................................
18
ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS ......................................................................................................................
27
ITEM 1C.
CYBERSECURITY ....................................................................................................................................................
28
ITEM 2.
PROPERTIES .............................................................................................................................................................
28
ITEM 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ...........................................................................................................................................
29
ITEM 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES ...............................................................................................................................
29
PART II
ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES ..................................................................................................
30
ITEM 6.
RESERVED ................................................................................................................................................................
31
ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS ............................................................................................................................................................
32
ITEM 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK ............................................
38
ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA ............................................................................
38
ITEM 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE ............................................................................................................................................................
38
ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES ...........................................................................................................................
38
ITEM 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION. ..........................................................................................................................................
39
ITEM 9C.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS ...........................
39
PART III
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ....................................................
40
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION ..............................................................................................................................
40
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS ....................................................................................................................................
40
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE .........
40
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES ............................................................................................
40
PART IV
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES ..................................................................................
41
ITEM 16.
FORM 10-K SUMMARY ...........................................................................................................................................
43
1
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report and the documents incorporated by reference in this report contain some “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking
statements concern possible or assumed future events, results and business outcomes. These statements often include words such as
“believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “seek,” “will,” “may,” “project” or similar expressions. These statements
are based on assumptions that we have made in light of our experience in the industry, as well as our perceptions of historical trends,
current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances.
As you read and consider this report, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. You should
understand that these statements involve substantial risk and uncertainty and are not guarantees of future performance or results. They
depend on many factors that are discussed further under Item 1A (Risk Factors) below, including:
•
successful commercialization by organic light emitting diode (OLED) manufacturers of products incorporating our
OLED technologies and materials and their continued willingness to utilize our OLED technologies and materials;
•
the adequacy of protections afforded to us by the patents that we own or license and the cost to us of maintaining,
enforcing and defending those patents;
•
our ability to protect our patented and non-patented intellectual property in each of the jurisdictions in which our
materials are commercially utilized;
•
our ability to defend against third-party challenges to our existing and future intellectual property rights and associated
technology in each of the jurisdictions in which our customers operate;
•
our ability to maintain our competitive position following the expiration of our fundamental phosphorescent organic
light-emitting diode (PHOLED) patents;
•
our ability to maintain strategic relationships with manufacturers of OLED products and collaborate with our
customers in the development of next generation OLED technologies;
•
payments that we expect to receive under our existing contracts with OLED manufacturers and the terms of contracts
that we expect to enter into with OLED manufacturers in the future upon the entry of alternative OLED technologies;
•
the potential commercial applications of and future demand for our OLED technologies and materials, and of our
OLED products in general;
•
the stability of the global economy, consumer spending and global supply chains, as well as volatility in and disruption
of financial markets;
•
our ability to offer and our customers’ willingness to continue to purchase our materials in the event of substantial
increases in tariffs or export restrictions resulting from international trade or geopolitical disputes;
•
our customers' development and use of more efficient manufacturing material processing protocols and
complementary material technology advancements that result in the more efficient utilization of our materials, and
therefore reduce their requirements for our materials;
•
the comparative advantages and disadvantages of our OLED technologies and materials versus existing and future
competing technologies and materials in each of the jurisdictions in which our customers are located;
•
the outcomes of our ongoing and future research and development activities, and those of others, relating to OLED
technologies and materials, including advancements that may reduce the need for our PHOLED dopants and enable
the utilizations of alternative PHOLED technologies;
•
our ability to acquire and supply OLED materials and technologies at cost competitive pricing;
•
our ability to compete against third parties with resources greater than ours and that are based in countries where our
significant customers are located;
•
our ability to respond to and address malicious cybersecurity and IT infrastructure attacks;
•
our quarterly cash dividend policy;
•
our future OLED technology licensing and OLED material revenues and results of operations, including supply and
demand for our OLED materials; and
2
•
general economic and market conditions, including impacts resulting from pandemic outbreaks and geopolitical risks
and uncertainties given the international nature of our business.
Changes or developments in any of these areas could affect our financial results or results of operations and could cause actual
results to differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report or the documents incorporated by reference, as the case
may be. We do not undertake any duty to update, correct, modify, or supplement any of these forward-looking statements to reflect
events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
3
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Our Company
We are a leader in the research, development and commercialization of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies and
materials for use in display and solid-state lighting applications. OLEDs are thin, lightweight and power-efficient solid-state devices
that emit light that can be manufactured on both flexible and rigid substrates, making them highly suitable for use in full-color displays
and as lighting products. OLED displays are capturing a growing share of the display market, especially in the mobile phone, television,
monitor, wearable, tablet, notebook and personal computer, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and automotive markets. We
believe that this is because OLEDs offer potential advantages over competing display technologies with respect to power efficiency,
contrast ratio, viewing angle, video response time, form factor and manufacturing cost. We also believe that OLED lighting products
have the potential to replace many existing light sources in the future because of their high-power efficiency, excellent color rendering
index, low operating temperature and novel form factor. Our technology leadership, our current intellectual property position, and our
more than 20 years of experience working closely with leading OLED display manufacturers are some of the competitive advantages
that should enable us to continue to share in the revenues from OLED displays and lighting products as they continue to gain wider
adoption.
Our primary business strategy is to (1) develop new OLED materials and sell existing and new materials to product manufacturers
for display applications, such as mobile phones, televisions, monitors, wearables, tablets, portable media devices, notebook computers,
personal computers and automotive applications, and specialty lighting products; and (2) further develop and either license or otherwise
commercialize our proprietary OLED material, device design and manufacturing technologies to those manufacturers. We have
established a significant portfolio of proprietary OLED technologies and materials, primarily through our internal research and
development efforts and acquisitions of patents and patent applications, as well as maintaining long-standing, and establishing new
relationships with world-class universities, research institutions and strategic manufacturing partnerships. We currently own, exclusively
license or have the sole right to sublicense more than 6,500 patents issued and pending worldwide.
We manufacture and sell our proprietary OLED materials to customers for evaluation and use in commercial OLED products. We
also enter into agreements with manufacturers of OLED display and lighting products under which we grant them licenses to practice
under our patents and to use our proprietary know-how. At the same time, we work with these and other companies that are evaluating
our OLED material, device design and manufacturing technologies for possible use in commercial OLED display and lighting products.
Market Overview
The Display Panel Market
Thin, energy-efficient display panels that can be manufactured on glass or flexible substrates are essential for a wide variety of
portable consumer electronics products, such as mobile phones, AR/VR headsets, digital cameras, wearables, tablets and notebook
computers. Due to their narrow profile and light weight, flat panel displays are the display of choice for larger product applications, such
as computer monitors and televisions.
Liquid crystal displays, or LCDs, continue to dominate the flat panel display market. However, we believe that OLED displays
are an attractive alternative to LCDs, and OLED displays are gaining market share, because they offer a number of potential advantages,
including:
•
higher power efficiencies, thereby reducing energy consumption;
•
a thinner profile and lighter weight;
•
higher contrast ratios, leading to sharper picture images and graphics;
•
wider viewing angles;
•
deposition on non-rigid substrates which enable conformable and flexible displays;
•
faster response times for video and gaming; and
•
lower cost manufacturing methods and materials.
Based on these characteristics, product manufacturers have adopted small-area OLED displays for use in a wide variety of
electronic devices, such as smartphones, wearables, notebook computers and tablets. Manufacturers are increasingly commercializing
large-area OLED displays for use in televisions and monitors. We believe that if these efforts are successful, they could result in sizeable
markets for OLED displays.
4
Organic materials make technically possible the development of flexible displays for use in an entirely new array of product
applications. Such applications include display devices that fold in use, or conform to various shapes for wearable, rollable, industrial
and ruggedized applications. In addition, due to the inherent transparency of the organic materials and transparent electrode technologies,
OLEDs eventually may enable the production of transparent displays for use in products such as automotive windshields and windows
with embedded displays.
The Solid-State Lighting Market
Solid-state lighting relies on the direct conversion of electricity to visible light using semiconductor materials. By avoiding the
heat and plasma-producing processes of traditional incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps, respectively, solid-state lighting products
can have substantially higher energy conversion efficiencies and have been widely adopted in many countries around the world as the
use of non-efficient light sources has been curtailed through the adoption of regulatory standards for lighting products.
There are currently two basic types of solid-state lighting devices: inorganic light emitting diodes, or LEDs, and OLEDs. Current
commercial LED offerings are gnerally characterized by high operating temperatures and intense brightness which may make them less
desirable for many lighting applications.
OLEDs, on the other hand, can be designed to provide improved lighting characteristics because they can be larger in size and
can be viewed directly, without using diffusers that are required to temper the intense brightness of traditional LEDs. OLEDs can be
fabricated onto any suitable surface, including glass, plastic or metal foil, and could be cost-effective to manufacture in high volume.
Given these characteristics, product manufacturers are working on and have introduced limited product applications of OLEDs for
diffuse specialty lighting applications and ultimately general illumination. If these efforts are successful, we believe that OLED lighting
products could begin to be used for applications currently addressed by other existing lighting technologies, as well as for new
applications that take advantage of the OLED form factor. In particular, the ability of OLED technology to produce uniform illumination
over arbitrary shapes is making OLED lighting very attractive to the automobile industry as well as the digital signage industry.
Our Competitive Strengths
We believe that we currently are one of the leading technology developers in the OLED industry because we were the first
company to develop and commercialize PHOLED emitter technology. Our experienced management and research teams have built an
extensive intellectual property portfolio around our OLED technologies and materials, particularly with regard to PHOLED emitter
materials, which we continually seek to enhance and grow. We work diligently, through the delivery of high-quality commercial
products, superior technical support and customer service, to enable our industry-leading customers, which primarily are large display
manufacturers, to adopt our OLED technologies and materials through implementation of long-term commercial material supply and
patent and know-how license agreements. Our key competitive strengths include:
Technology Leadership
We are a recognized technology leader in the OLED industry. We, along with world-class academic partners, pioneered the
development of our UniversalPHOLED® phosphorescent OLED technologies, which can be used to produce OLEDs that are up to four
times more efficient than fluorescent OLEDs and significantly more efficient than current LCDs, which are illuminated using backlights.
We believe that our PHOLED technologies and materials will continue to be well-suited for industry usage in the commercial production
of OLED displays and lighting products.
Through our internal, innovative research, which has produced the majority of our most critical commercial technologies, our
relationships with supplier companies, such as PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG), and our existing and new academic partners, we believe that
we can continue to advance the technology we have already developed and commercialized, and that we will continue to discover and
develop other important OLED technologies, as well as novel OLED materials, that will facilitate further adoption of our various OLED
technologies by product manufacturers. To this end, we operate two state-of-the-art laboratories, or Application Centers, near our larger
customers in the Asia-Pacific region. These Application Centers have provided us and our customers with the ability to more quickly
evaluate, develop and bring to market our newest OLED materials and technologies.
Broad Portfolio of Intellectual Property
Generally, each of our commercial offerings is protected by multiple patents which can help us either to prevent or combat the
introduction of counterfeit and/or knock-off products that could potentially impact the market demand for our OLED materials and
technologies. Our strong patent and non-patented know-how portfolios in the areas of PHOLED emitter materials, complementary
PHOLED materials, OLED device designs, and OLED manufacturing technologies are reflective of our continued commitment to
5
innovate and invest. We believe that our extensive portfolio of patents and non-patented know-how provides us with a competitive
advantage in the OLED industry.
Through our internal development efforts, acquisitions, and long-standing relationships with academic partners, research
institutions and product manufacturers, we own, exclusively license or have the sole right to sublicense more than 6,500 patents issued
and pending worldwide. We continue to enhance and grow our OLED technology and materials patent portfolio organically through
internal research and development, partnering with third parties, and by acquisition. We also continue to accumulate valuable non-
patented technical know-how relating to our OLED technologies and materials.
Leading Supplier of UniversalPHOLED® Emitter Materials and Related Technology Licensing
We are the leading supplier of PHOLED emitter materials to OLED device manufacturers. The emitter material, which is designed
to efficiently convert electrical energy to a desired wavelength of light, is the key component in an OLED device. Our manufacturing
partner of over 20 years, PPG, continues to manufacture our materials for us, using proprietary manufacturing processes and know-how,
which materials we then qualify to our exacting product specifications and resell on a just-in-time basis to OLED device manufacturers.
We record revenues based on our sales of these materials to OLED device manufacturers. Our commercial supply agreements typically
require our customers to purchase minimum quantities of our materials, which purchases can be in the form of annual minimum purchase
undertakings or as a minimum percentage of their purchase requirements, or a combination of both.
Our commercial supply arrangements allow us to maintain close technical and business relationships with these OLED device
manufacturers purchasing our proprietary materials, and thereby further supports our technology licensing business. We do not directly
manufacture or sell OLED display or lighting products. Instead, we enter into non-exclusive licensing arrangements with OLED device
manufacturers, many of which also purchase our materials, that pay us fixed license fees and/or running royalties based on their sales
of licensed commercial products using our proprietary technology and patents. We believe this business model allows us to concentrate
on our core strengths of technology development and innovation, while at the same time provides significant operating leverage.
Long-Standing Customer Relationships
We have long-standing customer relationships with OLED device manufacturers that are using, or are evaluating for use, our
OLED materials in commercial OLED products. We have more than 20 years of experience in working closely with OLED device
manufacturers and have provided support to them in their commercialization of OLED technology by delivering customer-specific
solutions for red, green, and yellow emitter materials, or dopants.
We have a proven track record of delivering consistent, high-quality OLED material to our customers. We provide just-in-time
supply to our customers and serve as a sole source to them for many of our critical proprietary PHOLED dopant materials. We believe
that our unparalleled manufacturing partners, namely PPG, our well-established supply chain, our multi-tier quality testing, and our
product assurance protocols make us a preferred partner for our customers and for any large-scale OLED display manufacturer that
wants to deliver to high-quality international end-customers.
In 2024, our largest customers for our PHOLED materials included Samsung Display Co., Ltd. (SDC), LG Display Co., Ltd. (LG
Display), BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. (BOE), Tianma Micro-electronics Co., Ltd. (Tianma), Visionox Technology, Inc.
(Visionox), Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Technology Co., Ltd. (CSOT), and Japan Display, Inc. Other
licensed customers of our technology in 2024 included Sharp Corporation, AU Optronics Corporation (AU Optronics), Kaneka
Corporation, Pioneer Corporation, and OLEDWorks L.L.C.
6
Complementary UniversalPHOLED® Host Material Business
In addition to our proprietary UniversalPHOLED® emitter materials, we continue to develop, supply and offer for sale certain of
our proprietary phosphorescent host materials to OLED device manufacturers. In addition, we have entered into a number of host
material strategic partnerships through development agreements with OLED material partners that are focused on combining our
proprietary PHOLED emitters with hosts and other OLED materials of these companies in order to optimize the performance of our
emitters in our customers’ newest product designs. We do not believe that revenue from our host development and third-party
collaboration agreements will be significant compared with our emitter business. However, we believe that development and
collaborative relationships such as these are important for ensuring the continued success of the OLED industry and the broader adoption
of our PHOLED and other OLED technologies in the marketplace.
Experienced Management and Scientific Advisory Team
Our management team has significant experience in developing business models focused on licensing disruptive technologies in
high growth industries. The team has strong relationships with, and deep understandings of, our customers and their needs, the
commercial marketplace and the OLED industry on the whole. We believe our management team’s experience and long-standing
relationships are important to maintaining good and accommodating working relationships with our customers, particularly when we
are confronted with challenging technical, regulatory and trade issues given our international reach. In addition, we employ and contract
with some of the leading researchers in the industry, and we maintain a long-standing Scientific Advisory Board that includes industry
pioneers, namely Professor Stephen R. Forrest of the University of Michigan (Michigan) and Professor Mark E. Thompson of the
University of Southern California (USC).
Our Business Strategy
Our current business strategy is to continue to promote and expand our portfolio of OLED technologies and materials for
widespread use in OLED displays and lighting products. We generate revenues primarily by selling our proprietary OLED materials
and licensing our OLED technologies to display and lighting product manufacturers. We are presently focused on the following steps
to implement our business strategy:
Expand Our Collaborative Relationships with Leading Product Manufacturers and Developers
We collaborate and partner with leading manufacturers of displays and lighting products who are commercial licensees of our
OLED technologies and purchasers of our OLED materials. We also supply our proprietary OLED materials to manufacturers and
developers of OLED displays and lighting products for evaluation and for use in product development and for pre-commercial activities,
and we provide technical assistance and support to these manufacturers and developers to foster ongoing relationships and new
commercial agreements. We concentrate on working closely with OLED device manufacturers and developers because we believe that
the successful incorporation of our technologies and materials into commercial products is critical to their widespread adoption.
Enhance Our Existing Portfolio of PHOLED Technologies and Materials
We believe that a strong portfolio of proprietary OLED technologies and materials for both displays and lighting products is
critical to our continued success, particularly as the utilization of PHOLED technologies and materials expands in the marketplace.
Consequently, we are continually seeking to expand this portfolio through our internal development efforts, our collaborative
relationships with existing and new academic and other research partners, and other strategic opportunities, such as funding early-stage
startup companies whose technology may be synergistic to ours. Since the acquisition of the early fundamental research developed by
our initial academic partners in the late 1990’s, one of our primary goals has been and continues to be the development of new and
improved PHOLED technologies and materials with increased efficiencies, enhanced color gamut and extended lifetimes, which are
compatible with different manufacturing methods, so that they can be used by various manufacturers in a broad array of OLED display
and lighting products.
Develop Next-Generation Organic Technologies
We continue to conduct research and development activities relating to next-generation OLED technologies for both displays and
lighting products, including next generation emissive layer technologies and dry printing technologies such as organic vapor jet printing
(OVJP), which we discuss in more detail below. We also are funding research by existing and new academic partners and research
institutions on the use of OLED and other related technologies in other applications. Our focus on next-generation technologies is
designed to enable us to maintain our position as a leading provider of OLED and other organic electronics technologies and materials
as new markets emerge.
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Business and Geographic Markets
We derive revenue from the following:
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sales of OLED materials for evaluation, development and commercial manufacturing;
•
intellectual property and technology licensing;
•
technology development and support, including third-party collaboration efforts and providing support to third parties
for commercialization of their OLED products; and
•
contract research services in the areas of chemical synthesis research, development and commercialization for non-
OLED applications.
Most manufacturers of displays and lighting products who are or might potentially be interested in our OLED technologies and
materials are currently located outside of the United States, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. To provide on-the-ground support to
these manufacturers, we have established wholly-owned subsidiaries in Ireland, Korea, Japan, China and Hong Kong, as well as a
representative office in Taiwan. We have Application Centers in Hong Kong and Pangyo, South Korea, which allow our Asia-based
display manufacturers to evaluate our technology more quickly and incorporate the technology into their commercial designs. Our
wholly-owned subsidiary formed under the laws of the Republic of Ireland, UDC Ireland Ltd. (UDC Ireland), is responsible for all
material sales worldwide (excluding the United States) and for licensing and managing intellectual property and undertaking certain
other business transactions in all non-U.S. territories.
In 2024, we received a majority of our revenue from three customers domiciled in the Asia-Pacific region, BOE, LG Display and
SDC, from each of which we had revenue in excess of 10% of our consolidated revenue. Our business is heavily dependent on our
relationships with these customers. Substantially all revenue derived from our customers is denominated in U.S. dollars.
We generally enter into long-term agreements with our customers, which may include (1) a commercial supply agreement for the
purchase of specific OLED materials, and (2) patent and know-how license agreements that relate to the manufacture of display and
lighting devices. Generally, our commercial material supply agreements provide for multi-year purchase commitments, typically on a
price per gram basis, which entitle our customers to certain discounts, technical support on the use of our OLED materials in mass
production facilities, and access to certain future OLED materials. In order to secure preferential pricing and technology access, a
customer typically agrees to certain minimum purchase obligations which can be in the form of annual minimum purchase undertakings
or a percentage of their purchase requirements, or a combination of both. If a customer does not meet its minimum purchase obligations,
generally we would have the right to review pricing for future material sales and impose other financial penalties.
Our patent and know-how license agreements generally are made available to our customers for the manufacture of OLED devices.
In addition, we also may license to certain material company partners the right to manufacture certain OLED materials that are
complementary to our phosphorescent emitter materials. These licenses have included licenses to make host products and certain other
non-phosphorescent materials. We believe it is in our, and our customers’ best interests to facilitate the development of materials that
are complementary to our offerings and which assist our customers to produce more efficient and manufacturable devices with our
materials. These collaboration efforts are likely to generate additional licensing fees for us under our license agreements. Although our
customers generally pay us fixed license fees and/or running royalties for OLED licensed products that they manufacture, our material
partner licensees generally pay us a portion of their sales for materials that are developed under material collaboration agreements and
subsequently commercialized. To date, these material collaboration arrangements have not generated significant revenues for us.
For more information on our revenues, costs and expenses associated with our business, as well as a breakdown of revenues from
North America and foreign sources, please see our Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto, as well as “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included elsewhere in this report.
Our Technology and its Relation to OLED Technology and Structure
OLED devices are solid-state semiconductor devices made from thin films of organic material that emit light of various
wavelengths when electricity is selectively applied to the emissive layer of the device. OLED devices are typically referred to as
incorporating an “OLED stack.” OLED stacks vary in specific structure but those commonly used today may include a cathode, an
electron injection layer, an electron transport layer, an emissive layer, a hole transport layer, a hole injection layer and an anode, all of
which are placed on a substrate which may be made of a number of different materials, including glass, plastic and metal.
Our technology and materials are most commonly utilized in the emissive layer; the materials in the emissive layer are the light-
generating component of the OLED stack. Many of our key technologies relate primarily to phosphorescent materials that efficiently
harvest energy for the direct and indirect emission of light, which we believe enable more energy efficient utilization of energy
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conversion to light relative to the use of fluorescent emitter materials that can also be used to generate light within the emissive layer of
the OLED device without the assistance of a phosphorescent material. We began selling phosphorescent emitter materials commercially
in 2003. A manufacturer will use a small amount of such material for each device through a process called “doping” into a host material.
The emitter material(s) and the host material(s) together form an emissive layer system. Depending on the nature of the OLED device,
the emissive materials and emissive layer system may be designed to emit different colors. We have commercially produced and sold
phosphorescent emitter materials that can produce red, yellow, green and light-blue light, which are combined in various ways for the
display and lighting markets.
Our current materials business, conducted outside the United States by UDC Ireland, is focused primarily on the delivery of such
energy efficient emissive enabling materials. We have also developed host materials for the emissive layer and began selling them
commercially in 2011. In addition to our materials, which are generally protected by patents covering various molecular structures, we
also have system and process patents that cover various fundamentally important aspects of the OLED device, device architectures, use
of materials in devices and OLED manufacturing processes. These patents are important to our licensing business because they enable
us to provide our business partners important OLED related technologies.
Our PHOLED Technologies
PHOLED technologies utilize specialized materials and device structures that enable OLEDs to achieve reduced power
consumption thereby providing an energy efficient product. Phosphorescent material can be utilized to enable energy efficient display
and lighting performance in multiple ways. The OLED device can be designed so that the energy is harvested, and the light is emitted
by the phosphorescent material which is typically referred to as a PHOLED, as is common in current OLED designs. There are OLED
design structures that propose combining phosphorescent and fluorescent materials in a common stack, such as device structures that
utilize phosphorescent material to harvest energy and then transfer the energy to another material to emit the light, such as thorough a
system referred to as phosphorescent sensitized fluorescence (“PSF”). We believe that without the use of a phosphorescent material,
traditional fluorescent OLEDs emit light through an inherently less efficient process. The use of a phosphorescent material to harvest
energy for the efficient emission of light, whether directly or indirectly, substantially reduces the power requirements of an OLED and
is useful in displays for hand-held devices, such as smartphones, where battery power is often a limiting factor. The efficient emission
of light through the use of phosphorescence technology is also important for large-area displays such as televisions, where higher device
efficiency and lower heat generation may enable longer product lifetimes and increased energy efficiency.
We have a strong intellectual property portfolio surrounding our existing PHOLED technologies and materials for both displays
and lighting products which we market under the UniversalPHOLED® brand. We devote a substantial portion of our efforts to
developing new and improved proprietary PHOLED materials and device architectures for red, green, yellow, blue and white OLED
devices. In 2024, we continued our commercial supply relationships with companies such as BOE, CSOT, LG Display, SDC, Tianma,
and Visionox to use our PHOLED materials to manufacture OLED displays. In addition, we have worked and continue to work closely
with customers evaluating and qualifying our proprietary PHOLED materials for commercial usage in both displays and lighting
products, and with other material suppliers to combine our PHOLED emitters with their phosphorescent hosts and other OLED materials.
Our Additional Proprietary OLED Technologies
Our intellectual property, research, development and commercialization efforts also encompass a number of other OLED device
and manufacturing technologies, including, but not limited to, the following:
FOLED ™ Flexible OLEDs
We are working on a number of technologies required for the fabrication of OLEDs on flexible substrates. Most other flat panel
displays are built on rigid glass substrates. In contrast, FOLEDs are OLEDs built on non-rigid substrates such as plastic or metal foil.
This has the potential to enhance durability and enable conformation to certain shapes or repeated bending or flexing. Many OLED
smartphone displays are built on plastic substrates including those produced by many of our customers. Several of our customers
demonstrated different foldable and rollable FOLED displays at recent Consumer Electronics Shows in Las Vegas, NV. The commercial
introduction of such FOLED product offerings demonstrates the viability of new display product applications, such as portable, roll-up
communications televisions, tablets, notebook computers and smartphones, as well as enhances the usefulness of such devices in
ruggedized, industrial and wearable computing systems. Manufacturers also may be able to produce FOLEDs using more efficient
continuous, or roll-to-roll, processing methods in the future. Our internal research and development efforts are expected to enhance and
promote the future adoption of consumer and industrial FOLED devices.
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OVJP® Organic Vapor Jet Printing
OLEDs could be manufactured using other processes as well, including OVJP. As a direct printing technique, OVJP technology
has the potential to offer high deposition rates for large-area OLEDs. In addition, OVJP technology reduces OLED material waste
associated with use of a shadow mask (i.e., the waste of material that deposits on the shadow mask itself when fabricating an OLED).
By comparison to inkjet printing, an OVJP process does not use liquid solvents and therefore the OLED materials utilized are not limited
by their viscosity or solvent solubility. OVJP also avoids generation of solvent wastes and eliminates the additional step of removing
residual solvent from the OLED device. In 2019, we installed a red-green-blue OVJP pilot tool at our Ewing, New Jersey facility, and
we continue to collaborate on OVJP technology development with Professor Forrest of Michigan. In June 2020, we formed a wholly-
owned subsidiary, OVJP Corporation (OVJP Corp) in California, as a Delaware corporation, which was founded to advance the
commercialization of our proprietary OVJP technology. In December 2024, we announced that the OVJP Corp facility in California
would be closing and OVJP operations would be relocated to our newly formed subsidiary, Universal Vapor Jet Corporation Pte. Ltd.
(UVJC) in Singapore, as well as continued operations in our Tech and Innovation Center in New Jersey. While we continue to focus on
the long-term opportunity in the large-area display market for OVJP, the industry’s current focus is on the growing demand for IT
capacity. Our UVJC subsidiary plans to assess additional market opportunities where this technology may be transformative. We believe
the successful implementation of OVJP technology has the potential to grow the market for our proprietary PHOLED materials and
technologies.
Our Strategic Relationships with Product Manufacturers
We have established early-stage evaluation programs, development and pre-commercial programs, and commercial arrangements
with a substantial number of manufacturers or potential manufacturers of OLED display and lighting products. Many of these
relationships are directed towards tailoring our proprietary OLED technologies and materials for use by individual manufacturers. Our
ultimate objective is to license our OLED technologies and sell our OLED materials to these manufacturers for their commercial
production of OLED products.
Relationships with OLED Display Manufacturers
We license our OLED technologies and patents to display manufacturers for use in commercial products and supply our
proprietary OLED materials to these manufacturers for both commercial use and evaluative purposes. We have been collaborating with
some of these display manufacturers for over 20 years.
We have been working with SDC and providing our PHOLED materials to SDC for evaluation since 2001. Under the terms of a
patent license agreement, we license our patents and technologies to SDC for its manufacture and sale of AMOLED (active-matrix
organic light-emitting diode) display products. Under the terms of a supplemental purchase agreement, we supply our proprietary
PHOLED materials to SDC for its use in manufacturing licensed products. We also continue to supply SDC with our proprietary
UniversalPHOLED materials for use in its development efforts under a 2001 joint development agreement.
On December 2, 2022, we entered into new patent license and supplemental purchase agreements with SDC, both with an effective
date of January 1, 2023. These agreements, which cover the manufacture and sale of specified OLED display materials, last through the
end of 2027 with an additional two-year extension option for SDC. Under these agreements, we are being paid a license fee, which
includes quarterly and annual payments over the agreement term. These agreements convey to SDC the non-exclusive right to use certain
of our intellectual property assets for a limited period of time that is less than the estimated life of the assets. The supplemental purchase
agreement provides for minimum annual purchase obligations of red and green phosphorescent emitter material from us for use in the
manufacture of licensed products. The minimum commitment is subject to SDC’s requirements for phosphorescent emitter materials
and our ability to meet these requirements over the term of the supplemental agreement. SDC is currently the largest manufacturer of
AMOLED displays for smartphones and other personal electronic devices and produces displays for a number of different smartphone
and electronic device manufacturers.
We have been working with LG Display and its affiliates for over 15 years. In 2015, we entered into an OLED patent license
agreement and an OLED commercial supply agreement with LG Display. The terms of these agreements have been extended through
the end of 2025. The patent license agreement provides LG Display a non-exclusive, royalty bearing portfolio license to make and sell
OLED displays under our patent portfolio. The patent license calls for license fees, prepaid royalties and running royalties on licensed
products. The OLED commercial supply agreement provides for the sales of materials for use by LG Display, which may include
phosphorescent emitters and host materials. The agreements provide for certain other minimum obligations relating to the volume of
material sales anticipated over the life of the agreements as well as minimum royalty revenue. LG Display is currently the largest
manufacturer of AMOLED displays for large-area televisions and produces display panels for a number of different television
manufacturers.
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In 2023, we entered into new long-term, multi-year agreements with BOE. Under these agreements, we have granted BOE non-
exclusive license rights under various patents owned or controlled by us to manufacture and sell OLED display products. We also supply
phosphorescent OLED materials to BOE for use in its licensed products.
In 2019, we entered into an evaluation and commercial supply relationship with CSOT. In 2020, we entered into long-term, multi-
year agreements with CSOT. Under these agreements, we have granted CSOT non-exclusive license rights under various patents owned
or controlled by us to manufacture and sell OLED display products. We also supply phosphorescent OLED materials to CSOT for use
in its licensed products.
In 2024, we entered into new long-term, multi-year agreements with Visionox Technology, Inc. (Visionox). Under these
agreements, we have granted Visionox non-exclusive license rights under various patents owned or controlled by us to manufacture and
sell OLED display products. Additionally, we supply phosphorescent OLED materials to Visionox for use in its licensed products.
In 2016, we entered into long-term, multi-year OLED patent license and material purchase agreements with Tianma. Under the
license agreement, we have granted Tianma non-exclusive license rights under various patents owned or controlled by us to manufacture
and sell OLED display products. The license agreement calls for license fees and running royalties on Tianma’s sales of licensed
products. Additionally, we supply phosphorescent OLED materials to Tianma for use in its licensed products. In 2021, we mutually
agreed to extend the terms of both the patent license and material purchase agreements for an additional multi-year term.
We have been collaborating with AU Optronics since 2001, and we continue to provide our proprietary PHOLED materials to
AU Optronics under a 2016 commercial supply agreement through which AU Optronics also has certain license rights.
We also continue to support numerous display manufacturers in their evaluation of our technologies and proprietary OLED
materials, through evaluation arrangements in which we provide our proprietary OLED materials to such manufacturers for limited scale
commercial production, evaluation and for purposes of development, manufacturing qualification and product testing. Many of these
strategic relationships have been in place for longer than a decade, and we continue to establish new relationships.
Relationships with OLED Lighting Manufacturers
We license our OLED technologies and patents to lighting manufacturers for use in commercial products and supply our
proprietary OLED materials to these manufacturers for both commercial use and evaluative purposes. Some of these strategic
relationships have also been in place for longer than a decade.
We continue to license our OLED patents, and to provide our OLED materials, to OLEDWorks for use in OLED lighting products
under patent license and commercial supply agreements signed in 2015. We have also extended the rights under these agreements to
OLEDWorks GmbH, the German company and facility that OLEDWorks acquired in 2015 from Philips Technologie GmbH.
We also have strategic relationships with Kaneka, Konica Minolta and Sumitomo, and continue to license our OLED patents and
technologies to these customers.
Similar to our arrangements with display manufacturers, we continue to support numerous lighting manufacturers in their
evaluation of our technologies and proprietary OLED materials, typically through evaluation agreements under which we provide our
proprietary OLED materials to such manufacturers for evaluation and potential commercial application.
Relationships with Manufacturers for Other Commercial Products
In addition to our relationships with lighting and display manufacturers, we have agreements and arrangements with manufacturers
or potential manufacturers to use our proprietary OLED technologies and materials in other commercial products, such as in automotive
interiors and exteriors.
Our OLED Materials Manufacturing Business
We supply our proprietary UniversalPHOLED® materials to display manufacturers, lighting manufacturers and others. These
materials are produced in batch quantities by PPG to our exacting product specifications using our manufacturing process and know-
how. We qualify each batch of emitters at our device qualification facilities to ensure that they meet required specifications, and we
store qualified product inventory for delivery to our customers. We believe that our inventory-carrying practices, along with the terms
under which we sell our OLED materials (including payment terms), are typical for the markets in which we operate. In 2024, we
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completed successful Recertification Audits on our ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems, our ISO 14001:2015 Environmental
Management Systems, and our ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.
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PPG
We have maintained a close working relationship with PPG since 2000. In 2011, we entered into an agreement with PPG, the term
of which, by amendment in February 2021, continues through December 31, 2025, and thereafter is automatically renewed for additional
one-year terms, unless terminated by us with prior notice of one year or terminated by PPG with prior notice of two years. Under that
agreement, PPG is responsible, under our direction, for manufacturing scale-up of our proprietary OLED materials, and for supplying
us with those materials. We use these materials for our own research and development as well as for resale to our customers, both for
their evaluation and for use in commercial OLED products. Through our collaboration with PPG, key raw materials are sourced from
multiple suppliers to ensure that we are able to meet the needs of our customers on a timely basis. We have not had any issues with
obtaining access to adequate amounts of any key raw materials.
In February 2021, we entered into an amendment to the PPG agreement extending the term of the agreement and specifying
operation and maintenance services that will be provided by PPG affiliate, PPG SCM Ireland Limited (PPG SCM), to UDC Ireland at
our manufacturing site in Shannon, Ireland, which we began leasing at such time for the production of our OLED materials. We
purchased the site in September 2023 and amended and restated the February 2021 amendment to the PPG agreement to reflect our
ownership and PPG SCM’s updated operation and maintenance services after such purchase. When fully operational, the facility is
expected to double our production capacity and allow for the diversification of our manufacturing base for phosphorescent emitters. The
first phase of facility improvements has been completed and operations commenced in June 2022. As with our initial agreement with
PPG, under our amended and restated 2021 amendment we compensate PPG on a cost-plus basis for the services provided at the Shannon
manufacturing facility.
Collaborations with Other OLED Material Manufacturers
We continued our non-exclusive collaborative relationships with OLED material manufacturing customers during 2024. Most of
these relationships are focused on combining our proprietary PHOLED emitting dopants with hosts and other OLED materials of these
companies in an effort to optimize our PHOLED emitting dopant products and deliver a high-performance system to the end customer.
Our product manufacturing customers are not required to purchase host materials from us. As a result, we do not believe these
collaboration efforts will generate significant revenue for us as compared to our dopant and licensing businesses. We believe, however,
that collaborative relationships such as these are important for ensuring success of the OLED industry and broader adoption of our
PHOLED and other OLED technologies.
Research and Development
Our research and development activities are focused on the advancement of our OLED technologies and materials for displays,
lighting and other applications. We conduct this research and development primarily internally and also through various relationships
with commercial business partners, academic partners, and research institutions. Our venture capital company, UDC Ventures LLC,
continues to seek to invest in companies that we believe are developing synergistic or complementary technologies to ours.
Internal Development Efforts
Ewing, New Jersey Facility
We conduct a substantial portion of our OLED development activities at our state-of-the-art development and testing facility in
Ewing, New Jersey. At this expanded facility, which now exceeds 50,000 square feet, we perform technology development, including
device and process optimization, prototype fabrication, manufacturing scale-up studies, process and product testing, characterization
and reliability studies, and technology transfer with our business partners.
Our Ewing facility houses multiple OLED deposition systems, including numerous display fabrication tools. In addition, the
facility contains equipment for substrate patterning, organic material deposition, display packaging, module assembly and extensive
testing in Class 100 and 100,000 clean rooms and opto-electronic test laboratories. Our facility also includes state-of-the-art synthetic
and analytical chemistry laboratories in which we conduct OLED materials research and make small quantities of new materials that we
then test in OLED devices.
Application Centers
In addition to our laboratory facilities in Ewing, New Jersey, we have Application Centers in Hong Kong and Pangyo, South
Korea. These centers, which include state-of-the-art OLED laboratories, better assist our Asia-based customers in their timely evaluation
and adoption of our proprietary PHOLED materials, know-how and technologies in their respective PHOLED designs. We purchased
the real estate housing our Application Center in Pangyo, South Korea in May 2023.
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Our Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization: Adesis, Inc.
In 2016, we acquired Adesis, Inc. (Adesis), a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that provides support
services to the OLED, pharma, biotech, catalysis and other industries. Adesis currently operates in its headquarters facility, which it
purchased in 2017 and consists of over 47,500 square feet in New Castle, Delaware, and in another, leased, over 40,000 square foot
facility in Wilmington, Delaware. As of December 31, 2024, Adesis employed a team of 139 research scientists, chemists, engineers
and laboratory technicians.
Although we expect to continue to utilize the majority of its technology research capacity for the benefit of our OLED technology
development, Adesis is expected to continue operating as a CDMO in the above-mentioned industries.
University-Sponsored Research
Original Academic Partners
We have long-standing relationships with Princeton University (Princeton) and USC for the conduct of research relating to our
OLED and other organic thin-film technologies and materials for applications such as displays and lighting. This research, subject to an
agreement entered into by the parties (as amended, the 1997 Amended License Agreement) had been performed at Princeton under the
direction of Professor Forrest and at USC under the direction of Professor Thompson. In 2006, Professor Forrest transferred to Michigan,
where we continue to fund his research.
Since 2006, in connection with Dr. Forrest’s transfer, we entered into a new sponsored research agreement with USC under which
we are funding organic electronics research being conducted by Drs. Forrest and Thompson (the 2006 Research Agreement). Work by
Professor Forrest is being funded through a subcontract between USC and Michigan.
The 2006 Research Agreement currently extends through April 2025, at which time the parties expect to extend the agreement.
We make payments under the 2006 Research Agreement to USC on a quarterly basis as actual expenses are incurred. As of December 31,
2024, we were obligated to pay USC up to $1.7 million for work to be performed during the remaining extended term.
Other Academic Relationships
Over the years, we have also entered into research agreements with various universities and research institutions that have been
able to provide tailored research capabilities and insights relating to our PHOLED technology. As the utilization of PHOLED technology
continues to expand, we intend to further engage key researchers at other universities and research institutions to help identify additional
fundamental technologies that could benefit PHOLED technology implementation.
Intellectual Property
Along with our personnel, our primary and most fundamental assets are patents and other intellectual property. This includes more
than 6,500 U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications that we own, exclusively license or have the sole right to sublicense. It also
includes a substantial body of non-patented technical know-how that we have accumulated over time.
Our Patents
Our research and development activities, conducted both internally and through collaborative programs with third parties, have
resulted in our filing of a substantial number of patent applications relating to our OLED technologies and materials. These patents that
we own represent, among other things, innovations beyond the original fundamental PHOLED conceptual patents that we license from
our university research partners, described below. Although many of these licensed fundamental conceptual patents have expired, our
internal research efforts include essential innovations that have generated commercially viable implementations of the original PHOLED
concepts and patents.
As of December 31, 2024, we owned more than 6,500 unexpired issued patents and pending patent applications around the world
in addition to the hundreds of patents and patent applications we exclusively license from our research partners, as discussed below.
Patents We License from Research Partners
We exclusively license patent rights from a number of university research partners. Generally, we sponsor scientific researchers
at universities to undertake pre-defined research programs, and in exchange we receive license rights to patents that may be developed
under the programs. As part of these programs, we may provide compensation in the form of support for research program-related
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activities, reimbursement for patent related costs, as well as providing for some forms of licensing and/or sublicensing fees for licensed
technology that is commercialized by us or our customers. We have expanded our sponsored research programs over the past 10 years
to include additional scientific researchers at a number of different institutions that we believe can provide breakthroughs in promising
new fields of research that may benefit the OLED marketplace. As of December 31, 2024, the patent rights we exclusively license from
all our university research partners included more than 600 issued patents and pending patent applications in jurisdictions around the
world. Under our university patent license agreements, we are generally free to sublicense to third parties all or any portion of the
licensed patent rights for the life of the licensed patents, though our rights are subject to termination for an uncured material breach or
default by us, or if we become bankrupt or insolvent.
As part of our university license agreements, we may be required to compensate the universities to the extent we, or our
sublicensees, utilize the licensed technology in commercial products. Under the 1997 Amended License Agreement we are required to
pay Princeton royalties for licensed products sold by us or our sublicensees. These royalties amount to 3% of the net sales price for
licensed products sold by us and 3% of the revenues we receive for licensed patents used by our sublicensees. We owed royalties under
the 1997 Amended License Agreement of $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Acquired Patents and Other Intellectual Property
From time to time we acquire patents and other intellectual property that we believe provide strategic business opportunities, such
as the patent and technology portfolio we acquired from Motorola Solutions, Inc. (f/k/a Motorola, Inc.) (Motorola) in 2011, Fujifilm
Corporation in 2012 and the following portfolios from BASF, and Merck KGaA:
Patents We Acquired from BASF
In 2016, UDC Ireland entered into an IP Transfer Agreement (the BASF Agreement) with BASF. Under the BASF Agreement,
BASF sold us more than 500 OLED-related patents and patent applications for a total cost of $96.0 million. The transactions
contemplated by the BASF Agreement were consummated on June 28, 2016.
Patents We Acquired from Merck KGaA
In 2023, UDC Ireland entered into a Patent Sale and License Agreement with Merck KGaA. Under this agreement, Merck KGaA
sold to UDC Ireland all of its rights, title and interest to over 550 of its owned and licensed OLED-related patents and patent applications
in exchange for a cash payment of $66.0 million. The Patent Sale and License Agreement contains customary representations, warranties
and covenants of the parties. UDC Ireland recorded the payment of $66.0 million as acquired technology, which is being amortized over
a period of 10 years. The transactions contemplated by the Merck KGaA Agreement were consummated on April 28, 2023.
Non-patented Technical Know-How
We have accumulated, and continue to accumulate, a substantial amount of non-patented technical know-how relating to OLED
technologies and materials. Where practicable, we share portions of this information with display manufacturers and other business
partners on a confidential basis. We also employ various methods to protect this information from unauthorized use or disclosure,
although no such methods can afford complete protection. Moreover, because we derive some of this information and know-how from
academic institutions, there is an increased potential for public disclosure. We also cannot prevent the actual independent development
of the same or similar information and know-how by third parties.
Competition
The industry in which we operate is highly competitive. We compete against alternative display technologies, in particular LCDs,
as well as other OLED technologies. We also compete in the lighting market against incumbent technologies, such as incandescent and
fluorescent bulbs, and inorganic LEDs, and against emerging technologies, such as other OLED technologies.
Display Panel Industry Competitors
Numerous domestic and foreign companies have developed or are developing and improving LCD, which includes quantum dot
LCDs (which are sometimes referred to as QLEDs), and other early-stage display technologies, including microLED technologies, that
are attempting to compete with our OLED display technologies. OLED display technologies compete with LCDs, QLEDs and other
display technologies for many product applications on the basis of lower power consumption, better contrast ratios, faster video rates,
form factor and lower manufacturing cost. However, other companies may succeed in continuing to improve these competing display
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technologies, or in developing new display technologies, that are superior to OLED display technologies in various respects. We cannot
predict the timing or extent to which such improvements or developments may occur.
Lighting Industry Competitors
Although there has been a movement to phase out traditional incandescent bulbs throughout many countries, traditional
incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps remain entrenched products in the lighting industry. In addition, compact fluorescent lamps
and solid-state LEDs have been introduced into the market and would compete with OLED lighting products. LEDs have realized
significant market adoption in the general lighting market. Having attributes different from fluorescent lamps and LEDs, OLEDs may
compete directly with these products for certain lighting applications. However, manufacturers of LEDs and compact fluorescent lamps
may succeed in more broadly adapting their products to various lighting applications, or others may develop competing solid-state
lighting technologies that are superior to OLEDs. Again, we cannot predict whether or when this might occur.
OLED Technologies and Materials Competitors
Eastman Kodak Company (Kodak) developed and patented the original fluorescent OLED technology in 1987. Cambridge Display
Technology, Ltd. (CDT), which was acquired by Sumitomo Chemical Company in 2007, developed and patented polymer OLED
technology in 1989. Display and lighting manufacturers, including customers of ours, are engaged in their own OLED research,
development and commercialization activities, and have developed and may continue to develop proprietary OLED technologies and
materials that are necessary or useful for commercial OLED devices. In addition, other material manufacturers, such as Sumitomo,
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Idemitsu Kosan), Merck KGaA, Kyulux Inc., Summer Sprout Technology, UIV OLED, Aglaia Tech, Jilin
OLED Photoelectric Materials Co., Ltd., and Nanjing Topto Semiconductor Materials Co., Ltd. are selling or sampling competing OLED
materials to customers, including companies to which we sell our proprietary PHOLED materials.
Our licensing business is based on our control of a broad portfolio of OLED-related device patents and technologies. We believe
this portfolio includes fundamental patents in the field of phosphorescent OLED materials and devices, as well as certain additional
complementary OLED technologies. As discussed above, alternative technologies, such as fluorescent OLED emitter materials, exist
and could be competitive to our phosphorescent OLED material solutions. However, fluorescent materials have characteristics that we
believe many market participants consider less desirable than those of phosphorescent materials. Suppliers of fluorescent emitter
materials include Solus Advanced Materials Co., Ltd., Dow Chemical (previously Gracel Display), Idemitsu Kosan and SFC Co. Ltd.
Fluorescent materials may also be viewed as complementary in that they can be used in the same OLED stack as phosphorescent
materials, and within the same emissive layer as phosphorescent materials to provide unique performance characteristics.
The competitive landscape with respect to our host materials business is characterized by a larger number of established chemical
material suppliers who have long-term relationships with many of our existing customers and licensees. We have elected to partner with
certain of these companies to manufacture and deliver host solutions to our customers, as well as selling our host materials directly to
device manufacturers. We believe our competitive advantage stems, in part, from our deep knowledge of our phosphorescent emitter
materials, which are complementary with the host solutions. We believe that our understanding of phosphorescent emitter materials
enables us to create host material solutions that are especially well suited for use with a certain class of emitter materials that are
implemented commercially today. However, we note that many of our technology partners have their own host solutions and the
competitive landscape includes many well-established companies such as Solus Advanced Materials Co., Ltd., Dow Chemical, Duksan
Neolux Co., Ltd., Idemitsu Kosan, Merck KGaA, NSCC, Beijing Sineva Technology Co., Ltd., China Ray, Lumilan, Eternal Material
Technology (EMT) and Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. These companies have significant resources, and some may aggressively pursue such
business in the future.
Our existing business relationships with SDC and other product manufacturers suggest that our OLED technologies and materials,
particularly our PHOLED technologies and materials, may achieve a significant level of market penetration in the display and lighting
industries. However, others, such as those working to develop thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and phosphorescent
sensitized fluorescence, may succeed in developing new OLED technologies, materials and alternative solutions that may supplement
or be utilized in place of ours. We cannot be sure of the extent to which product manufacturers will adopt and continue to utilize our
OLED technologies and materials for the production of commercial displays and lighting products.
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Our Venture Capital Business: UDC Ventures LLC
Our wholly-owned subsidiary, UDC Ventures LLC, is a corporate venture capital entity that funds companies we believe are
developing innovative products and technologies that may be synergistic or complementary to our business and/or business strategies
or which may otherwise provide favorable investment opportunities.
Human Capital
As of December 31, 2024, we had 468 active employees, none of whom are unionized. Of these employees, 345 are research
scientists, engineers and laboratory technicians at our domestic and international facilities. This team includes chemists, physicists,
engineers and technicians with physics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and organic/inorganic chemistry backgrounds,
and highly-trained theoreticians and experimentalists. We believe that relations with our employees are good.
Guided by our values, we are committed to creating a company where everyone is included and respected, and where we support
each other in reaching our full potential. We are committed to diverse representation across all levels of our workforce to reflect the
vibrant and thriving diversity of the communities in which we live and work. Women represent 40% of our executive management team,
16% of our leadership (Director level and above) and 22% of our total workforce, as well as 40% of our Board of Directors. We have
employees from over 25 countries in our workforce, and we believe that a diverse workforce made up of people with different ideas,
strengths, interests and cultural backgrounds drives employee and business success. In 2024 our voluntary turnover rate was 6%, and
we had an overall employee growth rate of 3%. Additional data, including historical turnover and diversity information, as well as our
corporate policies relating to our employee engagement and human capital, are updated on our website www.oled.com, and included in
our annual Corporate Responsibility Report.
Our Company History
Our corporation was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1985. Our business commenced in 1994
through the operations of a company then known as Universal Display Corporation, which had been incorporated under the laws of the
State of New Jersey. In 1995, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours merged into this New Jersey corporation. The surviving corporation
in this merger became a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours and changed its name to UDC, Inc. Simultaneously with the consummation
of this merger, we changed our name to Universal Display Corporation. UDC, Inc. functions as an operating subsidiary of ours and has
certain overlapping officers and directors. We have also formed or acquired other wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Universal
Display Corporation Hong Kong, Limited (2008), Universal Display Corporation Korea, Y.H. (2010), Universal Display Corporation
Japan GK (2011), UDC Ireland Limited (2012), Universal Display Corporation China, Ltd. (2016), Adesis, Inc. (2016), UDC Ventures
LLC (2019), OLED Material Manufacturing Limited (2020), OVJP Corporation (2020), and Universal Vapor Jet Corporation Pte. Ltd.
(2024), and we established a representative office in Taiwan (2011).
Our Compliance with Environmental Protection Laws
We are not aware of any material effects that compliance with Federal, state or local environmental protection laws or regulations
will have on our business. We have not incurred substantial costs to comply with any environmental protection laws or regulations, and
we do not anticipate having to do so in the foreseeable future.
Our Internet Site
Our Internet address is www.oled.com. We make available through our Internet website, free of charge, 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 Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we file such material with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). The SEC maintains a website that contains these reports as well as proxy
statements and information regarding issuers who file electronically, with the address www.sec.gov. In addition, we have made available
on our Internet website under the heading “Corporate Governance” the charter for the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, the
charter for the Human Capital Committee of our Board of Directors, the charter for the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee
of our Board of Directors, our Code of Ethics & Business Conduct for Employees, our Code of Conduct for Directors, and our Corporate
Governance Guidelines. We intend to make available on our Internet website any future amendments or waivers to our Code of Ethics
& Business Conduct for Employees and our Code of Conduct for Directors. The information on our Internet website is not part of this
report.
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INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our executive officers as of February 20, 2025:
Name
Age
Position
Steven V. Abramson
73
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Julia J. Brown
63
Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer
Janice K. Mahon
67
Senior Vice President of Technology Commercialization and General Manager,
Commercial Sales Business
Brian Millard
42
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Mauro Premutico
59
Senior Vice President, Planning, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
Our Board of Directors has appointed these executive officers to hold office until their successors are duly appointed.
Steven V. Abramson is our President and Chief Executive Officer, and has been a member of our Board of Directors since May
1996. Mr. Abramson served as our President and Chief Operating Officer from May 1996 through December 2007. From March 1992
to May 1996, Mr. Abramson was Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Treasurer of Roy F. Weston, Inc., a worldwide
environmental consulting and engineering firm. From December 1982 to December 1991, Mr. Abramson held various positions at
InterDigital, Inc., including General Counsel, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Technology Licensing Division.
Julia J. Brown, Ph.D. became our Executive Vice President in April 2021, prior to which she served as a Senior Vice President
since June 2008. She has been our Chief Technical Officer since June 2002 and joined us in June 1998 as our Vice President of
Technology Development. From 1991 to 1998, Dr. Brown was a Research Department Manager at Hughes Research Laboratories where
she directed the pilot line production of high-speed Indium Phosphide-based integrated circuits for insertion into advanced airborne
radar and satellite communication systems. Dr. Brown received an M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering/Electrophysics at USC and
a B.S.E.E. from Cornell University. Dr. Brown holds a number of distinguished elected awards including Fellow of the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Fellow of the Society of Information Display (SID), and the National Academy of
Engineers (NAE).
Janice K. Mahon became our Senior Vice President, Technology Commercialization and General Manager, Commercial Sales
Business in April 2021, and previously served as our Vice President of Technology Commercialization since January 1997, and General
Manager of our PHOLED Material Sales Business since January 2007. From 1992 to 1996, Ms. Mahon was Vice President of SAGE
Electrochromics, Inc., a thin-film electrochromic technology company, where she oversaw a variety of business development,
marketing, finance and administrative activities. From 1984 to 1989, Ms. Mahon was a Vice President and General Manager for Chronar
Corporation, a leading developer and manufacturer of amorphous silicon photovoltaic (PV) panels. Prior to that, Ms. Mahon worked as
Senior Engineer for the Industrial Chemicals Division of FMC Corporation. Ms. Mahon received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering
from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1979, and an M.B.A. from Harvard University in 1984. Ms. Mahon was a member of the
Technical Council of the FlexTech Alliance from 1997 through 2010, and a member of its Governing Board from 2008 through 2010.
Ms. Mahon was a member of the Board of Directors and Marketing Committee Chairperson of the OLED Association from 2009-2014.
Brian Millard is our Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Millard joined us in September 2022 with more
than 15 years of financial, operational and strategic experience across several industries. Prior to joining us, Mr. Millard served as Senior
Vice President, Finance and Corporate Controller at Emergent BioSolutions from January 2020 to September 2022 and as Vice
President, Corporate Controller from October 2017 to January 2020. Previously, Mr. Millard served as Vice President, Corporate
Controller at Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., from August 2015 to October 2017 and Assistant Corporate Controller from March 2014 to
August 2015. Mr. Millard also served in financial reporting leadership roles at Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. Mr. Millard began his
career at Deloitte & Touche LLP. He received his M.S. and B.B.A. degrees in accounting from James Madison University and is a
licensed certified public accountant.
Mauro Premutico has served as our Secretary since September 2022, and our Senior Vice President, Planning, and Chief Legal
Officer since April 2021. He previously served as our Vice President of Legal and General Manager of Patents and Licensing since
April 2012. Prior to joining us, Mr. Premutico was the Managing Vice President and Chief Patent Counsel for The Walt Disney Company
from 2009 to 2012, and Vice President of Intellectual Property and Associate General Counsel for Lenovo Group Ltd. from 2005 to
2009. Mr. Premutico received a J.D. from Boston University School of Law, an M.B.A. from Yale University, and a B.S.E.E. from
Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the following risks and uncertainties when reading this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following
factors, as well as other factors affecting our operating results and financial condition, could cause our actual future results and financial
condition to differ materially from those projected.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
If we cannot obtain and maintain appropriate patent and other intellectual property protection for our OLED technologies and
materials, our business will suffer.
The value of our OLED technologies and materials is dependent on our ability to secure and maintain appropriate patent and other
intellectual property rights protection. Although we own or license many patents respecting our OLED technologies and materials that
have already been issued, there can be no assurance that additional patents applied for will be obtained, or that any of these patents, once
issued, will afford commercially significant protection for our OLED technologies and materials, or will be found valid if challenged.
Also, there is no assurance that we will be successful in defending the validity of our current or future patents in pending and future
patent oppositions, invalidation trials, interferences, reexaminations, reissues, or other administrative or court proceedings. Moreover,
we have not obtained patent protection for some of our OLED technologies and materials in all foreign countries in which OLED
products or materials might be manufactured or sold.
We believe that the strength of our current intellectual property position results primarily from the essential nature of our
fundamental patents covering phosphorescent OLED devices and certain materials utilized in these devices. Certain of our existing
fundamental phosphorescent OLED patents expired in the United States in 2017 and 2019; and expired in other countries of the world
in 2018 and 2020. While we hold a wide range of additional patents and patent applications relating to our commercial OLED materials
and technologies whose expiration dates extend (and in the case of patent applications, will extend) beyond 2024, many of which are
also of importance in the OLED industry, none may be of an equally essential nature as our original fundamental patents, and therefore
our competitive position may be less certain as a result of the expiration of these patents.
We have more than 6,500 issued and pending patents relating to our OLED technologies. There is no assurance that these patents
and applications will not be challenged prior to their respective expirations in any of the jurisdictions in which they are utilized, or that
if challenged, we will be able to secure sufficient breadth of protection, and monetary and injunctive relief for the violation of our rights
to make up for the business harm resulting from such activities. Moreover, there can be no assurance that competitors will not develop
or produce competing PHOLED material designs that may be outside of our existing patents. There may also be fundamental new
advancements in the field of OLED technology that could enable the commercial use of older and unpatented PHOLED materials or the
adoption of new OLED materials that do not require the utilization of our proprietary PHOLED materials to achieve superior
performance characteristics.
We may become engaged in litigation to protect or enforce our patent and other intellectual property rights, or in International
Trade Commission proceedings to abate the importation of goods that would compete unfairly with those of our licensees. In addition,
we are participating in or have participated in, and in the future will likely have to participate in, interference, reissue, or reexamination
proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and opposition, nullity or other proceedings before foreign patent offices,
with respect to some of our patents or patent applications. All of these actions place our patents and other intellectual property rights at
risk and may result in substantial costs to us as well as a diversion of management attention from our business and operations. Moreover,
if successful, these actions could result in the loss of patent or other intellectual property rights protection for the key OLED technologies
and materials on which our business depends.
We rely, in part, on several non-patented proprietary technologies to operate our business. Others may independently develop the
same or similar technologies or otherwise obtain access to our unpatented technologies. Furthermore, these parties may obtain patent
protection for such technology, inhibiting or preventing us from practicing the technology. To protect our trade secrets, know-how and
other non-patented proprietary information, we require employees, consultants, financial advisors and strategic partners to enter into
confidentiality agreements. These agreements may not ultimately provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets, know-how or
other non-patented proprietary information. In particular, we may not be able to fully or adequately protect our proprietary information
as we conduct discussions with potential strategic partners.
Additionally, although we take many measures and implement safeguards to prevent unauthorized use, including by theft and
misuse, of our intellectual property and proprietary information, third parties may attempt to obtain, copy, reverse-engineer, use or
disclose, illegally or otherwise, such intellectual property and proprietary information. We also may face attempts by others to gain
unauthorized access through the Internet to our information technology systems or to our intellectual property, which might be the result
of industrial or other espionage or actions by hackers seeking to harm our company or its products. If we are unable to protect the
proprietary nature of our intellectual property and proprietary information, it will harm our business.
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We or our customers may incur substantial costs or lose important rights as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to our
patent and other intellectual property rights or with respect to our OLED materials business.
There are a number of other companies and organizations that have been issued patents and are filing patent applications relating
to OLED technologies and materials, including, without limitation, Kodak (substantially all of whose OLED assets were sold to a group
of LG companies in 2009), CDT (acquired by Sumitomo in 2007), Canon, Inc., Semiconductor Energy Laboratories Co., Idemitsu Kosan
and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. In addition, some of our customers such as SDC and LG Display have been issued patents and
are filing patent applications relating to OLED technologies and materials. As a result, there may be issued patents or pending patent
applications of third parties that would be infringed by the use of our OLED technologies or materials, thus subjecting our customers to
possible suits for patent infringement in the future. Such lawsuits could result in our customers being liable for damages or require our
customers to obtain additional licenses that could increase the cost of their products. This, in turn, could have an adverse effect on our
customers’ sales and thus our royalties or material sales revenues, or cause our customers to seek to renegotiate our royalty rates or
pricing. In addition, we have agreed to indemnify customers purchasing our OLED materials for commercial usage against certain claims
of patent infringement by third parties, as a result of which we may incur substantial legal costs in connection with defending these
customers from such claims.
Our licensees may also seek to avoid paying future royalties by attempting to have our patents declared invalid and unenforceable
by a court. Our licensees may be more likely to file such declaratory actions in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in MedImmune,
Inc. v. Genentech, Inc. (2007), in which the Court found that a licensee need not refuse to pay royalties and commit material breach of
the license agreement before bringing an action to declare a licensed U. S. patent invalid and unenforceable.
In addition, we may be required, from time-to-time, to assert our intellectual property rights by instituting legal proceedings
against others. We cannot be assured that we will be successful in enforcing our patents in any lawsuits we may commence. Defendants
in any litigation we may commence to enforce our patents may attempt to establish that our patents are invalid or are unenforceable.
Thus, any patent litigation we commence could lead to a determination that one or more of our patents are invalid or unenforceable. If
a third party succeeds in invalidating one or more of our patents, that party and others could compete more effectively against us. Our
ability to derive licensing revenues from products or technologies covered by these patents would also be adversely affected.
Whether our customers are defending the assertion of third-party intellectual property rights against their businesses arising as a
result of the use of our technology, or we are asserting our own intellectual property rights against others, such litigation can be complex,
costly, protracted and highly disruptive to our or our customers’ business operations by diverting the attention and energies of
management and key technical personnel. As a result, the pendency or adverse outcome of any intellectual property litigation to which
we or our customers are subject could disrupt business operations, require the incurrence of substantial costs and subject us or our
customers to significant liabilities, each of which could severely harm our business. Costs associated with these actions are likely to
increase as AMOLED products using our PHOLED and other OLED technologies and materials continue to enter the consumer
marketplace.
Plaintiffs in intellectual property cases often seek injunctive relief in addition to money damages. Any intellectual property
litigation commenced against our customers may force them to take actions that could be harmful to their businesses and thus to
revenues, including the halting of sales of products that incorporate or otherwise use our technology or materials.
Furthermore, the measure of damages in intellectual property litigation can be complex and is often subjective or uncertain. If our
customers were to be found liable for infringement of proprietary rights of a third party, the amount of damages they might have to pay
could be substantial and is difficult to predict. Decreased sales of our customers’ products incorporating our technology or materials
would have an adverse effect on our royalty revenues under existing licenses and material sales under our existing sales agreements.
Were this to occur, it would likely harm our ability to (i) obtain new licensees which would have an adverse effect on the terms of the
royalty arrangements we could enter into with any new licensees, and (ii) sell our UniversalPHOLED® materials to existing and new
customers. Moreover, to the extent any third party claims are directed specifically to materials supplied by us to our customers, we may
be required to incur significant costs associated with the defense of such claims and potential damages associated with such claims that
may be awarded against our customers.
As is commonplace in technology companies, we employ individuals who were previously employed at other technology
companies. To the extent our employees are involved in research areas that are similar to those areas in which they were involved at
their former employers, we may be subject to claims that such employees or we have, inadvertently or otherwise, used or disclosed the
alleged trade secrets or other proprietary information of the former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against such
claims. The costs associated with these actions or the loss of rights critical to our or our customers’ businesses could negatively impact
our revenues or cause our business to fail.
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Recent court decisions in various patent cases may make it more difficult for us to obtain future patents, enforce our patents against
third parties or obtain favorable judgments in cases where the patents are enforced.
Recent and continuously evolving changes in law in the various jurisdictions in which we operate may make it more difficult for
patent holders to secure future patents and/or enforce existing patents. As a result of the less rigid approach to assessing obviousness,
defending the validity of or obtaining patents may be more difficult.
Recent court decisions and changes in regulations may also impact the enforcement of our patents. For example, we may not be
able to enjoin certain third party uses of products or methods covered by our patents following the initial authorized sale, even where
those uses are expressly proscribed in an agreement with the buyer. Also, we may face increased difficulty enjoining infringement of
our patents. Some jurisdictions have held that an injunction should not automatically issue based on a finding of patent infringement,
but should be determined based on a test balancing considerations of the patentee’s interest, the infringer’s interest, and the public’s
interest. Obtaining enhanced damages for willful infringement of our patents may also be more difficult even in those cases where we
successfully prove a third party has infringed our patents, as a recent case set a more stringent standard for proving willful infringement.
Therefore, as a result of such rulings and principles, it may be more difficult for us to defend our currently issued patents, obtain
additional patents in the future or achieve the desired competitive effect even when our patents are enforced. If we are unable to so
defend our currently issued patents, or to obtain new patents for any reason, our business would suffer.
Risks Related to Our Business and Operations
If we cannot form and maintain lasting business relationships with OLED product manufacturers, our business strategy will fail.
Our business strategy ultimately depends upon our development and maintenance of commercial licensing and material supply
relationships with high-volume manufacturers of OLED products. We have entered into a limited number of such relationships from
which most of our material sales and licensing revenue are generated. Our other relationships with product manufacturers currently are
limited to technology development and the evaluation of our OLED technologies and materials for possible use in commercial products.
Some or all of these relationships may not succeed or, even if they are successful, may not result in the product manufacturers entering
into commercial licensing and material supply relationships with us.
Many of our agreements with product manufacturers last for only limited periods of time, such that our relationships with these
manufacturers will expire unless they are renewed. These product manufacturers may not agree to renew their relationships with us on
a continuing basis or may agree to do so on terms that are less favorable to us. In addition, we regularly continue working with product
manufacturers after our existing agreements with them have expired while we are attempting to negotiate contract extensions or new
agreements with them. Should our relationships with the various product manufacturers not continue or be renewed on less favorable
terms, or if we are not able to identify other product manufacturers and enter into contracts with them, our business may materially
suffer.
Our ability to enter into additional commercial licensing and material supply relationships, or to maintain our existing
relationships, may depend on our ability to make certain financial or other commitments. We might not be able, for financial or other
reasons, to enter into or continue these relationships on commercially acceptable terms, or at all. Failure to do so may cause our business
strategy to fail.
If we fail to continue to make advances in our OLED research and development activities, we might not succeed in continuing to
commercialize our OLED technologies and materials.
Further advances in our OLED technologies and materials depend, in part, on the success of the research and development work
we conduct, both alone and with our research partners. We cannot be certain that this work will yield additional advances in the research
and development of these technologies and materials.
Our research and development efforts remain subject to all of the risks associated with the development of new products based on
emerging and innovative technologies, including, without limitation, unanticipated technical or other problems and the possible
insufficiency of funds for completing development of these products. Technical problems may result in delays and cause us to incur
additional expenses that would increase our losses. If we cannot complete research and development of our OLED technologies and
materials successfully, or if we experience delays in completing research and development of our OLED technologies and materials for
use in potential commercial applications, particularly after incurring significant expenditures, our business may fail.
Conflicts or other problems may arise with our customers or joint development partners, resulting in renegotiation, breach or
termination of, or litigation related to, our agreements with them. This would adversely affect our revenues.
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Conflicts or other problems could arise between us and our customers or joint development partners, some of which we have made
strategic investments in, as to royalty rates, milestone payments or other commercial terms. Similarly, we may disagree with our
customers or joint development partners as to which party owns or has the right to commercialize intellectual property that is developed
during the course of the relationship or as to other non-commercial terms. If such a conflict were to arise, a customer or joint development
partner might attempt to compel renegotiation of certain terms of their agreement or terminate their agreement entirely, and we might
lose the royalty revenues, material sales revenues and other benefits of the agreement. Either we or the customer or joint development
partner might initiate litigation to determine commercial obligations, establish intellectual property rights or resolve other disputes under
the agreement. Such litigation could be costly to us and require substantial attention of management. If we were unsuccessful in such
litigation, we could lose the commercial benefits of the agreement, be liable for financial damages and suffer losses of intellectual
property or other rights that are the subject of dispute.
If our OLED technologies and materials are not feasible for broad-based product applications, we may not be able to continue to
generate revenues sufficient to support ongoing operations.
Our main business strategy is to sell our OLED materials and license our OLED technologies to manufacturers for incorporation
into the display and lighting products that they sell. Consequently, our success depends on the ability and willingness of manufacturers
to continue to develop, manufacture and sell commercial products integrating our technologies and materials.
Before product manufacturers will agree to expand the use of our OLED technologies and materials for wider scale commercial
production, they will likely require us to demonstrate to their satisfaction that our OLED technologies and materials are feasible for
broad-based product applications beyond current commercial application, such as smartphones, wearables and television displays. This,
in turn, may require additional advances in our technologies and materials, as well as those of others, for applications in a number of
areas, including, without limitation, advances with respect to the development of:
•
OLED materials with improved lifetimes, efficiencies and color coordinates for larger area full-color OLED displays
and general lighting products;
•
more robust OLED materials for use in more demanding large-scale manufacturing environments; and
•
scalable and cost-effective methods and technologies for the fabrication of large volume OLED materials and
products.
We cannot be certain that these advances will occur, and hence our OLED technologies and materials may not be feasible for
additional broad-based product applications and expansion.
Even if our OLED materials and technologies are technically feasible, they may not be further adopted by product manufacturers
for broad-based product applications.
The potential size, timing and viability of market opportunities targeted by us remain uncertain. Market acceptance of our OLED
materials and technologies beyond current product offerings and sales volumes will depend, in part, upon these materials and
technologies providing benefits comparable or superior to competing display and lighting technologies at an advantageous cost to
manufacturers, and the adoption of products incorporating these technologies by consumers. Many current and potential customers for
our OLED technologies utilize and have invested significant resources in competing technologies, and may, therefore, be reluctant to
redesign their products or manufacturing processes to incorporate our OLED technologies.
During the entire product development process for a new product, we face the risk that our materials or technologies will fail to
meet the manufacturer’s technical, performance or cost requirements or will be replaced by a competing product or alternative
technology. Even if we offer materials and technologies that are satisfactory to a product manufacturer, the manufacturer may choose
to delay or terminate its product development efforts for reasons unrelated to our materials or technologies. In addition, our agreements
with our customers do not require them to purchase our host materials to utilize our phosphorescent emitter materials, and those
customers may elect not to purchase our host materials.
Mass production of new mass market OLED products will require the availability of suitable manufacturing equipment,
components and materials, many of which are available only from a limited number of suppliers. In addition, there may be a number of
other technologies that manufacturers need to utilize in conjunction with our OLED technologies in order to bring these new OLED
products to the market. Thus, even if our OLED technologies are a viable alternative to competing approaches, if product manufacturers
are unable to obtain access to this equipment and these components, materials and other technologies, they may not utilize our OLED
technologies.
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There are numerous potential alternatives to OLEDs, which may limit our ability to commercialize our OLED technologies and
materials.
The display market remains dominated by displays based on LCD technology. Numerous companies are making substantial
investments in, and conducting research to improve characteristics of, LCDs; additionally, other competing display technologies have
been, or are being, developed, like microLED. A similar situation exists in the solid-state lighting market, which is currently dominated
by LED products. Advances in any of these various technologies may overcome their current limitations and permit them to become the
leading technologies in their field, either of which could limit the potential market for products utilizing our OLED technologies and
materials. This, in turn, would cause product manufacturers to avoid entering into commercial relationships with us, or to terminate or
not renew their existing relationships with us.
Other OLED technologies may be more successful or cost-effective than ours, which may limit the commercial adoption of our
OLED technologies and materials.
Our competitors have developed and continue to develop OLED technologies that differ from, compete with or reduce the
requirements for our OLED technologies. In particular, competing and complementary fluorescent and thermally activated delayed
fluorescence OLED technology may become a viable alternative or supplement to our phosphorescent OLED technology. Moreover,
our competitors may succeed in developing new OLED technologies that may become more cost-effective or have fewer limitations
than our OLED technologies. If our OLED technologies, and particularly our phosphorescent OLED technology, are unable to continue
to capture a substantial portion of the OLED product market, our business strategy may fail.
The consumer electronics industry experiences significant downturns from time to time, any of which may adversely affect the
demand for and pricing of our OLED technologies and materials.
Our success depends upon the ability and continuing willingness of our customers to manufacture and sell products utilizing our
technologies and materials, specifically our phosphorescent emitters and host materials, and the widespread acceptance of our customers’
products in the consumer marketplace. Any slowdown in the demand for our customers’ products or a decrease in our customers’ use
of or demand for our materials would adversely affect our material sales and royalty revenues and thus our business. Our customers’
decrease in the use of or demand for our materials may depend on several factors, including pricing, availability, continued technical
improvements and competitive product offerings. The markets for flat panel displays and lighting products are highly competitive.
Success in the market for end-user products that may integrate our OLED technologies and materials also depends on factors beyond
the control of our customers and us, including the cyclical and seasonal nature of the end-user markets that our customers serve, as well
as industry and general economic conditions.
The markets that we hope to penetrate have experienced significant periodic downturns, often in connection with, or in anticipation
of, declines in general economic conditions. These downturns have been characterized by lower product demand, production
overcapacity and erosion of average selling prices. Our business strategy is dependent on manufacturers building and selling products
that incorporate our OLED technologies and materials. Industry-wide fluctuations and downturns in the demand for displays and solid-
state lighting products could cause significant harm to our business.
Our customers may develop new or more efficient manufacturing processes, which may adversely affect demand for our OLED
materials.
By developing enhanced material processing methods and more efficient manufacturing techniques, our customers who purchase
our phosphorescent emitter and host materials could become more efficient in the utilization of our materials by developing designs that
require less materials on a per square meter basis, or by modifying their manufacturing process to make more efficient use of our
materials, which could limit or reduce the amount of materials they purchase from us. Thus, demand for our materials may not expand
in proportion to the number of OLED related products manufactured by our customers, and may result in reduced demand for our
materials and technologies relative to our customers' manufacture and sale of products made with such materials.
Epidemics, pandemics, disease outbreaks and other public health crises could have a material adverse effect on our operations and
business.
Epidemics and pandemics could negatively impact the global economy, disrupt consumer spending and global supply chains, and
create significant volatility and disruption of financial markets, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations. The extent of such impact would depend on factors such as the duration and severity of the
event, which would likely be difficult to predict.
23
Any downturn in U.S. or global economic conditions may have a significant adverse effect on our business.
There have been significant and sustained economic downturns in the U.S. and globally in the past. These downturns have placed
pressure on consumer demand, and the resulting impact on consumer spending has had a material adverse effect on the demand for
consumer electronic products. Similar downturns in the future may have a significant adverse effect on one or more of our licensees as
an enterprise, which could result in those licensees reducing their efforts to commercialize products that incorporate our OLED
technologies and materials. Consumer demand and the condition of the display and lighting industries may also be impacted by other
external factors such as war, terrorism, geopolitical uncertainties, trade wars, epidemics and other business interruptions. The impact of
these external factors is difficult to predict, and one or more of these factors could adversely impact the demand for our customers’
products, and thus our business.
Heightened levels of inflation and the potential worsening of macro-economic conditions, including slower growth or recession,
changes to fiscal and monetary policy, tighter credit, higher interest rates and currency fluctuations, present a risk for us, our suppliers
and the display and lighting industries in general. If inflation remains at current levels for an extended period, or increases, and we are
unable to successfully mitigate the impact, our costs are likely to increase, resulting in pressure on our profits, margins and cash flows,
particularly for existing fixed-price contracts. In addition, our business could be adversely impacted if our customers experience budget,
inflationary or other pressures, such as increases in the cost of borrowing from rising interest rates.
Many of our competitors have greater resources and are based in the same Asia-Pacific countries where our significant customers
are located, which may make it difficult for us to compete successfully against them.
The display and solid-state lighting industries are characterized by increasingly intense competition. Many of our competitors
have better name recognition and greater financial, technical, marketing, personnel and research capabilities than we do. Also, many of
them are based in the same Asia-Pacific countries where our customers’ operations are located, and as such they may receive preference
from such countries and/or not be subject to the same laws, regulations and requirements as we are. Because of these differences, we
may never be able to compete successfully in these markets or maintain any competitive advantages we are able to achieve over time.
If we cannot keep our key employees or hire other talented persons as we grow, our business might not succeed.
Our performance is substantially dependent on the continued services of our executive officers and other key technical and
managerial personnel, and on our ability to offer competitive salaries and benefits to these and our other employees. We do not have
employment agreements with any of our executive officers or other key technical or managerial personnel that require them to continue
to work for us for any specified period and, therefore, they could terminate their employment with us at any time. Additionally,
competition for highly skilled technical and managerial personnel is intense. We might not be able to attract, hire, train, retain and
motivate the highly skilled employees we need to be successful. If we fail to attract and retain the necessary technical and managerial
personnel, our business will suffer and might fail.
We rely solely on PPG to manufacture the OLED materials we use and sell to product manufacturers.
Our business prospects depend significantly on our ability to obtain proprietary OLED materials for our own use and for sale to
product manufacturers. Our agreement with PPG provides us with a source for these materials for development, evaluation and
commercial purposes. Our agreement with PPG currently runs through the end of 2025 and shall be automatically renewed for additional
one-year terms, unless terminated by us with prior notice of one year or terminated by PPG with prior notice of two years. Our inability
to continue obtaining these OLED materials from PPG or another source at cost-competitive prices and to continue obtaining these
OLED materials in sufficient quantities to meet our product manufacturers' current and future demands and timetables would have a
material adverse effect on our revenues and cost of goods sold relating to sales of these materials to OLED product manufacturers, as
well as on our ability to perform future development work.
Additionally, PPG manufactures our materials at facilities based in the United States and Ireland, which materials we then
predominantly export to our customers that have manufacturing locations in countries in the Asia-Pacific region. As a result, such
materials may be subject to tariffs, export restrictions or other barriers from or to these countries and/or customers.
Inflationary pressures and persistently high prices and uncertain availability of raw materials or other inputs used by us and our
suppliers, or instability in logistics and related costs, could negatively impact our profitability.
Increases in prices, including as a result of inflation and rising interest rates, for raw materials or other inputs that we and our
suppliers use in manufacturing our OLED materials, or increases in logistics and related costs, have led and may continue to lead to
higher production costs for our materials. In addition, any increase in the cost or reduced availability of critical materials for our OLED
materials could lead to higher production costs. Further, uncertain supply of such materials could disrupt our or our suppliers’ ability to
24
obtain such materials in a timely manner and/or could lead to increased costs. Geopolitical risks and crises, fluctuations in supply and
demand, fluctuations in interest rates, any weakening of the U.S. dollar, and other economic and political factors have created and may
continue to create pricing pressure for raw materials and other inputs. These inflationary pressures could, in turn, negatively impact our
profitability because we may not be able to pass these costs on to our customers or require our suppliers to absorb such costs.
We strive to maintain sufficient levels of inventory to accommodate our manufacturing customers. Inventory management relating
to our material sales is complex, and excess inventory may harm our business and cause it to suffer.
Inventory management remains an area of focus as we balance the need to maintain strategic inventory levels of our OLED
materials to ensure competitive lead times against the risk of inventory obsolescence because of rapidly changing technology and
customer requirements. As a just-in-time supplier to our customers, we carry sufficient inventory to accommodate their capacity
requirements, sometimes without firm purchase commitments. Our dependence on third-party manufacturers to provide our materials
to us exposes us to longer lead times than if we were a direct manufacturer, increasing our risk of inventory obsolescence comparatively.
Our customers may increase orders during periods of product shortages, cancel orders if their inventory is too high, or delay orders in
anticipation of new products. They also may adjust their orders in response to the supply and demand of their products by end-users, or
the supply and demand of our products and the products of our competitors that are available to them.
Inventory management risks are heightened when our largest customers launch new products and retire existing products. At such
times, these customers tend to change product designs and may introduce some of our new materials into new designs. The production
of these materials requires us to purchase essential raw material and commence manufacturing well in advance of receiving firm
customer orders for such materials. Accordingly, we are subject to the risk of unanticipated changes in our customers’ manufacturing
plans and designs. Unanticipated product cessation and product introduction delays or cancellation may cause us to order or produce
excess or insufficient inventory. Excess inventory of our OLED materials is subject to the risk of inventory obsolescence. In the event
that a substantial portion of our inventory becomes obsolete, it could have a material adverse effect on earnings due to the resulting costs
associated with the inventory impairment charges and inventory write-downs.
We are the sole source supplier for certain critical components used in OLED technologies, which subjects customers to risk if we
are unable to meet the demand for such components.
Our customers depend on us as the sole source for certain proprietary PHOLED materials used in manufacturing OLED products,
which makes them susceptible to supply shortages if we are unable to meet their demand for such components. A potential customer
could be hesitant to adopt OLED technology given the risks inherent in depending on a sole source for critical components and the
inability to establish alternate supply relationships. If we are unable to supply the components needed by our existing customers in a
timely manner, or if potential customers do not utilize OLED technology because of concerns about our ability to meet supply demands,
our business may materially suffer.
Because the vast majority of OLED product manufacturers are located in the Asia-Pacific region, we are subject to international
operational, financial, legal and political risks which may negatively impact our operations.
Many of our customers and prospective customers have a majority of their operations in countries other than the United States,
particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, and revenue outside the United States represents a majority of our total net revenue. We also
have offices in various countries located outside of the United States. Risks associated with our doing business outside of the United
States include, without limitation:
•
compliance with a wide variety of U.S. and foreign laws and regulations, including foreign anti-corruption and export
laws, and certain registration and licensing requirements for the OLED materials we sell;
•
legal uncertainties on doing business in certain countries or with certain parties regarding taxes, tariffs, quotas, export
controls, export licenses and other trade barriers;
•
economic instability in the countries of our customers, causing delays or reductions in orders for their products and
therefore our royalties;
•
political instability in the countries in which we and/or our customers operate, particularly in South Korea with respect
to South Korea's disputes with and proximity to North Korea, in Hong Kong relating to anti-government protests and
in Taiwan relating to its disputes with China;
•
third party theft or compromise of our products, technology, data or intellectual property, including by means of
counterfeiting or reverse-engineering;
•
difficulties in collecting accounts receivable and longer accounts receivable payment cycles;
25
•
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates for any revenues or expenses not denominated in U.S. dollars;
•
potentially adverse tax and tariff consequences
•
potential mandatory regulatory requirements in some jurisdictions that domestic manufacturers source at least a
portion of their critical OLED materials from domestic manufacturers; and
•
trade conflicts between and among various geopolitical factions that could result in trade restrictions being placed on
our business and sale of OLED materials.
Any of these factors could impair our ability to license our OLED technologies and sell our OLED materials, thereby harming our
business. Compliance with changing laws and regulations may involve significant costs or require changes in business practice that
could result in reduced profitability.
We rely on information technology systems to operate various elements of our business and a cyber-attack or other breach of our
systems, or those of third parties on whom we may rely, could subject us to liability or interrupt the operation of our business.
We are dependent on information technology systems to operate various elements of our business. A breakdown, invasion,
corruption, destruction or interruption of critical information technology systems by employees, others with authorized access to our
systems or unauthorized persons could negatively impact operations. In the ordinary course of business, we collect, store and transmit
important data and it is critical that we do so in a secure manner to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of such information.
Additionally, we outsource certain elements of our information technology systems to third parties. As a result of this outsourcing, our
third-party vendors may or could have access to our confidential information making such systems vulnerable. Data breaches of our
information technology systems, or those of our third-party vendors, may pose a risk that sensitive data may be exposed to unauthorized
persons or to the public. While we believe that we have taken appropriate security measures to protect our data and information
technology systems, and have been informed by our third-party vendors that they have as well, there can be no assurance that our efforts
will prevent breakdowns or breaches in our systems, or those of our third-party vendors, that could adversely affect our business.
Natural disasters or other unforeseen catastrophic events could unfavorably affect our business.
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tsunamis, or earthquakes, particularly in Asia-Pacific region, where many of our customers
are located, or the occurrence of other unforeseen catastrophic events, such a fire or flood, could unfavorably affect our business and
financial performance. Such events could unfavorably affect our customers in many ways, such as causing physical damage to one or
more of their properties, the temporary or permanent closure of one or more plants, the disruption or cessation of manufacturing of
product lines, and the temporary or long-term disruption in the supply or demand for their products. A resulting by-product of such
natural disasters or other unforeseen catastrophic events could be a temporary or long-term disruption in the supply of or demand for
our products.
Risks Related to Legal, Regulatory and Tax Matters
We may be subject to environmental and export laws and regulations, including without limitation those associated with the effects
of climate change, that impose additional compliance costs and that could negatively impact our business.
Changes in environmental and export laws or regulations of our products could result in higher operating and compliance expenses
and limit the markets in which we can manufacture and to which markets and customers we can export and sell our products. Changes
in environmental and export laws or regulations, including laws relating to manufacturing operations and export restrictions, also could
lead to new or additional investment in product designs and an increase in raw materials costs, and could increase our environmental
and export compliance expenditures. Some of these laws and regulations may be changed or augmented as governments and regulatory
bodies seek to address the effects of climate change and export compliance. If environmental and/or export laws or regulations are either
changed or adopted and impose additional operational restrictions and compliance requirements upon us or our products, they could
negatively impact our business, capital expenditures, results of operations and financial condition.
Our effective tax rate may increase or decrease.
We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining
our worldwide provision for income taxes. In the ordinary course of our business, there are many transactions and calculations where
the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. We are subject to audit by tax authorities where we do business. Although we believe that
our tax estimates and tax positions are reasonable, they could be materially affected by many factors including the final outcome of tax
audits and related litigation, the introduction of new tax accounting standards, legislation, regulations, and related interpretations, our
global mix of earnings and the realizability of deferred tax assets. An increase or decrease in our effective tax rate could have a material
adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
26
In addition, at any time, U.S. federal tax laws or the administrative interpretations of those laws may be changed. We also cannot
predict whether, when or to what extent other new U.S. federal tax laws, regulations, interpretations or rulings will be issued. As a result,
changes in U.S. federal tax laws could negatively impact our operating results, financial condition and business operations, and adversely
impact our shareholders.
Occasionally, changes in state and local tax laws or regulations are enacted that may result in an increase in our tax liability.
Shortfalls in tax revenues for states and municipalities in recent years may lead to an increase in the frequency and size of such changes.
If such changes occur, we may be required to pay additional taxes on our assets or income.
The Organization for Economic Development’s Base Erosion Profit Shifting Pillar 2.0 (BEPS Pillar 2.0) initiative provides a
minimum global tax rate of 15% for multinational organizations with a global turnover of €750 million or more. The Company is not
expected to reach this threshold in the coming year. Rules and regulations surrounding the BEPS Pillar 2.0 initiative are continually
evolving. At the current time, the impact and timing of BEPS Pillar II cannot be estimated.
Risks Related to Our Stock and Capitalization
We may require additional funding in the future in order to continue our business.
Our capital requirements have been and will continue to be significant. We may require additional funding in the future for the
research, development and commercialization of our OLED technologies and materials, to obtain and maintain patents and other
intellectual property rights in these technologies and materials, and for working capital and other purposes, the timing and amount of
which are difficult to ascertain. Our cash on hand may not be sufficient to meet all our future needs. When we need additional funds,
such funds may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we cannot obtain more money when needed, our business
might fail. Additionally, if we attempt to raise money in an offering of shares of our common stock, preferred stock, warrants or
depositary shares, or if we engage in acquisitions involving the issuance of such securities, the issuance of these shares will dilute our
then-existing shareholders.
The market price of our common stock may be highly volatile.
The market price of our common stock may be highly volatile, as has been the case with our common stock in the past as well as
the securities of many companies, particularly other emerging-growth companies in the technology industry. Factors such as the
following may have a significant impact on the market price of our common stock in the future:
•
our revenues, expenses and operating results;
•
announcements by us, by our licensors, customers, or our competitors of technological developments, new product
applications or contractual arrangements;
•
announcements relating to dividends and share repurchases; and
•
other factors affecting the display and solid-state lighting industries in general.
Our operating results may have significant period-to-period fluctuations, which would make it difficult to predict our future
performance.
Due to the current stage of commercialization of our OLED technologies and materials, current geopolitical risks, the limited
number of commercially successful consumer products utilizing our OLED technologies that customers have introduced in the
marketplace, the relatively short product lifetimes of these consumer products, and the significant development and manufacturing
objectives that we and our customers must achieve for the widespread inclusion of our OLED technologies in consumer products such
as mobile phones, tablets, television displays and lighting products, our quarterly operating results are difficult to predict and may vary
significantly from quarter to quarter.
We believe that period-to-period comparisons of our operating results are not a reliable indicator of our future performance at this
time. Among other factors affecting our period-to-period results, our license and technology development fees often consist of large
one-time, annual, semi-annual or quarterly payments, which may result in significant fluctuations in our revenues. In addition, our
reliance on a relatively small number of licensees with large volumes of consumer product sales makes our quarterly operating results
subject to our licensees’ specific plans and the success of their specific product offerings.
With respect to material sales, our sales are primarily dependent on purchases made by a relatively small number of customers.
In addition to the other factors described above relating to our customers’ sales opportunities, our quarter-to-quarter sales may be
27
materially impacted by our customers’ inventory management plans, which may vary substantially based on financial management
considerations, changes in their product mix plans, modified material processing techniques and manufacturing line modifications.
If, in some future period, our operating results or business outlook fall below the expectations of securities analysts or investors,
our stock price would be likely to decline and investors in our common stock may not be able to resell their shares at or above their
purchase price. Broad market, industry and global economic factors may also materially reduce the market price of our common stock,
regardless of our operating performance.
We can issue shares of preferred stock that may adversely affect the rights of shareholders of our common stock.
Our Articles of Incorporation authorize us to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock with designations, rights and
preferences determined from time-to-time by our Board of Directors. Accordingly, our Board of Directors is empowered, without
shareholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights superior to those of
shareholders of our common stock. For example, an issuance of shares of preferred stock could:
•
adversely affect the voting power of the shareholders of our common stock;
•
make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of us;
•
discourage bids for our common stock at a premium; or
•
otherwise adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
As of February 20, 2025, we have issued and outstanding 200,000 shares of Series A Nonconvertible Preferred Stock, all of which
are held by an entity controlled by members of the family of Sherwin I. Seligsohn, our late founder and former Chairman of the Board
of Directors. Our Board of Directors has authorized and issued other shares of preferred stock in the past, none of which are currently
outstanding, and may do so again at any time in the future.
Any decisions to reduce or discontinue paying cash dividends to our shareholders could cause the market price for our common
stock to decline.
In 2017, our Board of Directors began declaring quarterly cash dividends on our common stock, which we have consistently paid
since then and we intend to continue to pay in the future. However, payment of future cash dividends will be at the discretion of our
Board of Directors and will depend upon our results of operations, earnings, capital requirements, contractual restrictions and other
factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. As such, we may modify, suspend or cancel our cash dividend policy in any manner
and at any time. Any reduction or discontinuance by us of the payment of quarterly cash dividends could cause the market price of our
common stock to decline. Moreover, in the event our payment of quarterly cash dividends are reduced or discontinued, our failure or
inability to resume paying cash dividends at historical levels could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. There is no
guarantee that our common stock will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which current shareholders purchased their
shares.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
28
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
Recognizing the importance of assessing, identifying, and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats, we maintain a
cybersecurity program that is led by our management team and overseen by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. Material
risks from cybersecurity threats to our company may include, among other things, operational risks, intellectual property theft, fraud,
extortion, harm to employees or customers and violation of data privacy or security laws.
To identify and manage the risks from cybersecurity threats, our cybersecurity program includes various preventative, detection
and responsive measures, including without limitation the following: use of monitoring and detection software applications, ongoing
employee education and certification about cybersecurity threats, routine security access reviews, and the implementation of physical
security measures. As standard practice, we require third-party service providers that may electronically interact with or handle our
sensitive information to maintain an effective security management program and to notify us in the event of any known or suspected
cyber incident.
Members of our management team, most notably our Chief Financial Officer, who has responsibility for managing our Information
Technology and Security functions, are responsible for leading our cybersecurity program. Our management team meets regularly with
our information technology leadership personnel, including our Vice President, Head of Global Information Technology, who reports
to our Chief Financial Officer, to receive updates and data on cybersecurity management activities, including assessments on emerging
technologies and evaluations of recommended practices related to cybersecurity measures. Our Vice President, Head of Global
Information Technology, who has decades of information technology leadership experience, and our Chief Financial Officer maintain
their expertise through participating in events such as continuing education and training, and information-sharing collaborations. We
also retain a third-party Information Security consulting firm to advise on and assess our cybersecurity processes on an ongoing basis.
The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has oversight responsibility for our cybersecurity program. Our Chief Financial
Officer and Information Technology leadership provide periodic updates regarding our cybersecurity risk management strategy and
related activities to the Audit Committee, and provide other information as needed or requested to facilitate the committee’s oversight
of our cybersecurity risk. The chair of our Audit Committee, who previously founded and for 19 years led an information technology
consulting company that specialized in providing software and systems integration, business process and technical consulting to
multinational companies, holds a certification in Systemic Cyber Risk Governance for Corporate Directors. Other members of our full
Board of Directors, which also receives periodic briefings on cybersecurity matters, also have received professional education and
training related to cybersecurity.
Despite our efforts to manage the risk from cybersecurity threats, we may not be successful in preventing or mitigating a
cybersecurity incident that could have a material adverse effect on us. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors” for a further discussion of our
cybersecurity risks.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
As of December 31, 2024, our principal operating facilities were located at the following locations:
Location
Description of Use
Country
375 Phillips Blvd. Ewing, New Jersey
Corporate Offices and Research & Development
Laboratories
United States
250 Phillips Blvd. Ewing, New Jersey (1)
Corporate Offices and Manufacturing Logistics
United States
300 Phillips Blvd. Ewing, New Jersey (1)
Corporate and Collaboration Offices
United States
27 McCullough Drive New Castle, Delaware
Adesis Offices and Manufacturing Laboratories
United States
Shannon Industrial Estate, Shannon, County Clare (2)
Manufacturing Facility
Ireland
Block A, 7F. Korea Bio Park
700 Daewangpangyo-ro, Bundang-gu
Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13488, South Korea (3)
Application Center
South Korea
(1)
Approximately 88,000 square feet for the expansion of research and development activities, collaboration, manufacturing
logistics and other corporate functions.
(2)
Leased beginning in 2021 for production by PPG of our PHOLED materials and purchased in September 2023.
(3)
Leased beginning in 2017 and purchased in May 2023.
29
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Patent Related Challenges and Oppositions
Each major jurisdiction in the world that issues patents provides both third parties and applicants an opportunity to seek a further
review of an issued patent. The process for requesting and considering such reviews is specific to the jurisdiction that issued the patent
in question, and generally does not provide for claims of monetary damages or a review of specific claims of infringement. The
conclusions made by the reviewing administrative bodies tend to be appealable and generally are limited in scope and applicability to
the specific claims and jurisdiction in question.
We believe that opposition proceedings are frequently commenced in the ordinary course of business by third parties who may
believe that one or more claims in a patent do not comply with the technical or legal requirements of the specific jurisdiction in which
the patent was issued. We view these proceedings as reflective of its goal of obtaining the broadest legally permissible patent coverage
permitted in each jurisdiction. Once a proceeding is initiated, as a general matter, the issued patent continues to be presumed valid until
the jurisdiction’s applicable administrative body issues a final non-appealable decision. Depending on the jurisdiction, the outcome of
these proceedings could include affirmation, denial or modification of some or all of the originally issued claims. We believe that as
OLED technology becomes more established and its patent portfolio increases in size, so will the number of these proceedings.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
30
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our Common Stock
Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market website under the symbol “OLED.” As of February 20, 2025,
there were approximately 239 holders of record of our common stock.
During 2022, 2023 and 2024, we declared and paid cash dividends on our common stock. While we intend to pay regular quarterly
dividends in the future, payment of future cash dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our
results of operations, earnings, capital requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.
As such, we may modify, suspend or cancel our cash dividend policy in any manner and at any time.
31
Performance Graph
The performance graph below compares the change in the cumulative shareholder return of our common stock from December
31, 2019 to December 31, 2024, with the percentage change in the cumulative total return over the same period on (i) the Russell 2000
Index, and (ii) the S&P 500 Electronics Components Index. This performance graph assumes an initial investment of $100 on December
31, 2019 in each of our common stock, the Russell 2000 Index and the S&P 500 Electronics Components Index.
Cumulative Total Return
12/19
12/20
12/21
12/22
12/23
12/24
Universal Display Corp.
$ 100.00
$ 111.93
$
80.71
$
53.38
$
95.35
$
73.54
Russell 2000
100.00
119.96
137.74
109.59
128.14
142.93
S&P 500 Electronic Components
100.00
124.37
152.97
134.97
162.17
237.86
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The information required by this item with respect to our equity compensation plans will be set forth in our definitive Proxy
Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and herein by reference.
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
None.
32
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the
section entitled “Selected Financial Data” in this report and our Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes to this report.
This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and
projections. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those
indicated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, as more fully discussed in Item 1A of this report, entitled
“Risk Factors.”
OVERVIEW
We are a leader in the research, development and commercialization of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies and
materials for use in display applications, such as mobile phones, televisions, monitors, wearables, tablets, portable media devices,
notebook computers, personal computers and automotive applications, as well as specialty and general lighting products. Since 1994,
we have been engaged and expect to continue to be primarily engaged, in funding and performing research and development activities
relating to OLED technologies and materials, and commercializing these technologies and materials. We derive our revenue primarily
from the following:
•
sales of OLED materials for evaluation, development and commercial manufacturing;
•
intellectual property and technology licensing;
•
technology development and support, including third-party collaboration efforts and providing support to third parties
for commercialization of their OLED products; and
•
contract research services in the areas of chemical materials synthesis research, development and commercialization
for non-OLED applications.
Material sales relate to our sale of OLED materials for incorporation into our customers’ commercial OLED products or for their
OLED development and evaluation activities. Material sales are generally recognized at the time title passes, which is typically at the
time of shipment or at the time of delivery, depending upon the contractual agreement between the parties.
We receive license and royalty payments under certain commercial, development and technology evaluation agreements, some of
which are non-refundable advances. These payments may include royalty and license fees made pursuant to license agreements and also
license fees included as part of certain commercial supply agreements. These payments are included in the estimate of total contract
consideration by customer and recognized as revenue over the contract term based on material units sold at the estimated per unit fee
over the life of the contract.
On December 2, 2022, we entered into a commercial patent license agreement with Samsung Display Co., Ltd. (SDC), replacing
a previous license agreement that had been in place since 2018. This agreement, which covers the manufacture and sale of specified
OLED display materials, was effective as of January 1, 2023 and lasts through the end of 2027 with an additional two-year extension
option for SDC. Under this agreement, we are being paid a license fee, which includes quarterly and annual payments over the agreement
term. The agreement conveys to SDC the non-exclusive right to use certain of our intellectual property assets for a limited period of
time that is less than the estimated life of the assets.
At the same time that we entered into the current commercial license agreement with SDC, we also entered into a material purchase
agreement with SDC, which lasts for the same term as the license agreement and is subject to the same extension option. This new
material purchase agreement replaced a previous purchase agreement that had been in place since 2018. Under the material purchase
agreement, SDC agrees to purchase from us a minimum amount of red and green phosphorescent emitter materials for use in the
manufacture of licensed products. This minimum commitment is subject to SDC’s requirements for phosphorescent emitter materials
and our ability to meet these requirements over the term of the supplemental agreement.
In 2015, we entered into an OLED patent license agreement and an OLED commercial supply agreement with LG Display Co.,
Ltd. (LG Display). The terms of these agreements have been extended through the end of 2025. The patent license agreement provides
LG Display a non-exclusive, royalty bearing portfolio license to make and sell OLED displays under our patent portfolio. The patent
license calls for license fees, prepaid royalties and running royalties on licensed products. The OLED commercial supply agreement
provides for the sales of materials for use by LG Display, which may include phosphorescent emitters and host materials. The agreements
provide for certain other minimum obligations relating to the volume of material sales anticipated over the life of the agreements as well
as minimum royalty revenue.
33
In 2023, we entered into new long-term, multi-year agreements with BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. (BOE). Under these
agreements, we have granted BOE non-exclusive license rights under various patents owned or controlled by us to manufacture and sell
OLED display products. We also supply phosphorescent OLED materials to BOE for use in its licensed products.
In 2019, we entered into an evaluation and commercial supply relationship with Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor
Display Technology Co., Ltd. (CSOT). In 2020, we entered into long-term, multi-year agreements with CSOT. Under these agreements,
we have granted CSOT non-exclusive license rights under various patents owned or controlled by us to manufacture and sell OLED
display products. We also supply phosphorescent OLED materials to CSOT for use in its licensed products.
In 2024, we entered into new long-term, multi-year agreements with Visionox Technology, Inc. (Visionox). Under these
agreements, we have granted Visionox non-exclusive license rights under various patents owned or controlled by us to manufacture and
sell OLED display products. Additionally, we supply phosphorescent OLED materials to Visionox for use in its licensed products.
In 2016, we entered into long-term, multi-year OLED patent license and material purchase agreements with Tianma Micro-
electronics Co., Ltd. (Tianma). Under the license agreement, we have granted Tianma non-exclusive license rights under various patents
owned or controlled by us to manufacture and sell OLED display products. The license agreement calls for license fees and running
royalties on Tianma’s sales of licensed products. Additionally, we supply phosphorescent OLED materials to Tianma for use in its
licensed products. In 2021, we mutually agreed to extend the terms of both the patent license and material purchase agreements for an
additional multi-year term.
In 2016, we acquired Adesis, Inc. (Adesis) which has operations in New Castle and Wilmington, Delaware. Adesis is a contract
development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that provides support services on a contractual basis to third-party customers in
the OLED, pharma, biotech, catalysis and other industries. As of December 31, 2024, Adesis employed a team of 139 research scientists,
chemists, engineers and laboratory technicians. Prior to our acquisition of Adesis, we utilized more than 50% of Adesis’ technology
service and production output. We continue to utilize a significant portion of its technology research capacity for the benefit of our
OLED technology development, and Adesis uses the remaining capacity to operate as a CDMO by providing contract research services
for non-OLED applications to third-party customers in the above-mentioned industries. Contract research services revenue is earned by
providing chemical materials synthesis research, development and commercialization for non-OLED applications on a contractual basis
for those third-party customers.
In June 2020, we formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, OVJP Corporation (OVJP Corp) in California, as a Delaware corporation,
which was founded to advance the commercialization of our proprietary Organic Vapor Jet Printing (OVJP) technology. In December
2024, we announced that the OVJP Corp facility in California would be closing and OVJP operations would be relocated to our newly
formed subsidiary, Universal Vapor Jet Corporation Pte. Ltd. (UVJC) in Singapore, as well as continued operations in our Tech and
Innovation Center in New Jersey. While we continue to focus on the long-term opportunity in the large-area display market for OVJP,
the industry’s current focus is on the growing demand for IT capacity. Our UVJC subsidiary plans to assess additional market
opportunities where this technology may be transformative. As a result of the planned closure of the OVJP Corp location in California,
we determined to record $8.9 million of restructuring costs for the year ended December 31, 2024.
In February 2021, we announced the establishment of a new manufacturing site in Shannon, Ireland and an agreement between
UDC Ireland Limited and PPG for the production of our OLED materials. We purchased the site during September 2023. When fully
operational, the new facility is expected to double our production capacity and allow for the diversification of our manufacturing base
for phosphorescent emitters. The first phase of facility improvements has been completed and operations commenced in June 2022.
We also generate technology development and support revenue earned from development and technology evaluation agreements
and commercialization assistance fees.
We anticipate fluctuations in our annual and quarterly results of operations due to uncertainty regarding, among other factors:
•
the timing, cost and volume of sales of our OLED materials;
•
the timing of our receipt of license fees and royalties, as well as fees for future technology development and
evaluation;
•
the timing and magnitude of expenditures we may incur in connection with our ongoing research and development
and patent-related activities; and
•
the timing and financial consequences of our formation of new business relationships and alliances.
34
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our Consolidated Financial Statements,
which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial
statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect our reported assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and other
financial information. Actual results may differ significantly from our estimates under other assumptions and conditions.
We believe that our accounting policies related to revenue recognition and deferred revenue and income taxes, as described below,
are our “critical accounting policies” as contemplated by the SEC. These policies, which have been reviewed with our Audit Committee,
are discussed in greater detail below.
Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue
Material sales relate to the sale of our OLED materials for incorporation into our customers’ commercial OLED products or for
their OLED development and evaluation activities. Revenue associated with material sales is generally recognized at the time title
passes, which is typically at the time of shipment or at the time of delivery, depending upon the contractual agreement between the
parties. Revenue may be recognized after control of the material passes in the event the transaction price includes variable consideration.
For example, a customer may be provided an extended opportunity to stock materials prior to use in mass production and given a general
right of return not conditioned on breaches of warranties associated with the specific product. In such circumstances, revenue will be
recognized at the earlier of the expiration of the customer’s general right of return or once it becomes unlikely that the customer will
exercise its right of return.
The vast majority of revenue attributed to material sales is determined through technology license agreements and material supply
agreements the terms of which are jointly agreed upon with our customers. The remaining revenue recognized is in the form of contract
research services revenue earned by our subsidiary, Adesis, Inc., and our occasional material sales to smaller customers. None of the
revenue recognized during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 or 2022 resulted solely from royalty or license fee arrangements
as to which there were not associated material sales.
The rights and benefits to our OLED technologies are conveyed to the customer through technology license agreements and
material supply agreements. We believe that the licenses and materials sold under these combined agreements are not distinct from each
other for financial reporting purposes and as such, are accounted for as a single performance obligation. Accordingly, total contract
consideration is estimated and recognized over the contract term based on material units sold at the estimated per unit fee over the life
of the contract. Total contract consideration is allocated to material sales and royalty and licensing fees on the Consolidated Statements
of Income based on contract pricing.
Various estimates are relied upon to recognize revenue. We estimate total material units to be purchased by our customers over
the contract term based on historical trends, industry estimates and our forecast process. Our management uses the expected value
method to estimate the material per unit fee. Additionally, our management estimates the sales-based portion of royalty revenue based
on the estimated net sales revenue of our customers over the contract term.
Accounting for Income Taxes
We are subject to income taxes in both the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgments and estimates are required in
evaluating our tax positions for future realization and determining our provision for income taxes. Our income tax expense, deferred tax
assets and liabilities, and reserves for unrecognized tax benefits reflect management's best assessment of estimated future taxes to be
paid.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, we consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of our
deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on our ability to generate future
taxable income to obtain benefit from the reversal of temporary differences, net operating loss carryforwards and tax credits. As part of
our assessment, we consider the scheduled reversal of deferred tax assets and liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax
planning strategies.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, based on our previous earnings history, a current evaluation of expected future taxable
income and other evidence, we determined to retain the valuation allowance that relates to New Jersey research and development credits
and unrealized loss on investments. In addition, a portion of the investment loss was realized resulting in a capital loss carryforward that
is not more likely than not to be used within the carryforward period. As such, we provided a valuation allowance against the capital
loss. There are no indicators against the realizability of the remaining net deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from our
assessments if adequate taxable income is generated in future periods. To the extent we establish a new valuation allowance or change
a previously established valuation allowance in a future period, income tax expense will be impacted.
35
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
For a discussion of our results of operations comparison for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, refer to our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed on February 22, 2024.
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
(Decrease) Increase
REVENUE:
Material sales
$
365,419 $
322,029 $
43,390
Royalty and license fees
266,820
238,389
28,431
Contract research services
15,445
16,011
(566 )
Total revenue
647,684
576,429
71,255
COST OF SALES
148,461
135,376
13,085
Gross margin
499,223
441,053
58,170
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Research and development
157,187
130,481
26,706
Selling, general and administrative
74,286
67,387
6,899
Amortization of acquired technology and other intangible assets
18,200
15,993
2,207
Patent costs
8,699
9,356
(657 )
Royalty and license expense
2,048
647
1,401
Total operating expenses
260,420
223,864
36,556
OPERATING INCOME
238,803
217,189
21,614
Interest income, net
40,682
28,166
12,516
Other loss, net
(7,357 )
(184 )
(7,173 )
Interest and other loss, net
33,325
27,982
5,343
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
272,128
245,171
26,957
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
(50,049 )
(42,160 )
(7,889 )
NET INCOME
$
222,079 $
203,011 $
19,068
Revenue
Our total material sales were $365.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $322.0 million for the year
ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 13% with an increase in unit material volume of 15%. The increase in material sales was
primarily due to strengthened demand for our emitter materials, partially offset by changes in customer mix.
•
Green emitter sales for the year ended December 31, 2024, which include our yellow-green emitters, were $272.4
million as compared to $243.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, with unit material volumes increasing
by 12%.
•
Red emitter sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $88.5 million as compared to $73.2 million for the year
ended December 31, 2023, with unit material volumes increasing by 25%.
Revenue from royalty and license fees was $266.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to $238.4 million
for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 12%. The increase in royalty and license fees was primarily the result of higher
unit material volume and changes in customer mix.
36
The cumulative catch-up adjustment recorded to revenue arising from changes in estimates of transaction price, net was $10.8
million for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to $10.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. For the years ended
December 31, 2024 and 2023, the adjustment resulted from an increase in the average price per gram that was primarily due to the
decrease in anticipated demand by several of our customers over the remaining lives of their contracts.
Contract research services revenue was $15.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to $16.0 million for the
year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of 4%. The decrease in contract research services revenue was primarily due to the timing
of completion of several contract research projects by our subsidiary, Adesis, during the year ended December 31, 2023. Revenue from
contract research services consists of revenue earned by Adesis, which provides support services on a contractual basis to third-party
customers in the pharma, biotech, catalysis and other industries.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by $13.1 million as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023,
primarily due to an increase in the level of material sales and product mix, partially offset by a $5.4 million decrease in inventory reserve
expense. As a result of the increase in revenue from material sales and royalty and license fees, gross margin for the year ended
December 31, 2024 increased by $58.2 million as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, with gross margin as a percentage
of revenue remaining consistent at 77%.
Research and development
Research and development expenses increased to $157.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $130.5
million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily due to an increase in
PPG development activity, including new product development and commencement of development activities in Shannon, Ireland, and
OVJP Corp reorganization expenses. As a result of the planned closure of OVJP Corp's California location, we recorded $8.9 million of
restructuring costs for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Selling, general and administrative
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $74.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to
$67.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to
an increase in employee-related expenses, including higher salaries expenses and stock-based compensation.
Amortization of acquired technology and other intangible assets
Amortization of acquired technology and other intangible assets was $18.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as
compared to $16.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was due to the commencement of amortization expense
associated with the Merck KGaA patent acquisition that was completed in April 2023. See Note 7 in Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements for further discussion.
Patent costs
Patent costs decreased to $8.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $9.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2023. The results in the current year reflected lower internal prosecution related costs.
Royalty and license expense
Royalty and license expense increased to $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $647,000 for the
year ended December 31, 2023. This increase was due to a one-time expense of $1.5 million in connection with an amendment to our
existing amended license agreement, effective as of October 9, 1997, with Princeton University and the University of Southern
California.
Interest and other loss, net
Interest income, net was $40.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $28.2 million for the year ended
December 31, 2023. The increase in interest income, net was primarily due to an increase in bond yields on available-for-sale
investments held during the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the prior year as well as higher available-for-sale investment
balances. Other loss, net primarily consisted of net exchange gains and losses on foreign currency transactions and rental income. We
37
recorded other loss, net of $7.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to $184,000 for the year ended December 31,
2023. The increase in other loss, net during the year ended December 31, 2024 was due to a $7.2 million foreign exchange loss that was
caused by the fluctuation in the Korean Won to the U.S. Dollar exchange rate and resulting remeasurement of a Korean Won-
denominated withholding tax receivable.
Income tax expense
We are subject to income taxes in both the United States and foreign jurisdictions. The effective income tax rate was 18.4% and
17.2% for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and we recorded income tax expense of $50.0 million and $42.2
million, respectively, for those periods.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. As of December 31, 2024, we
had cash and cash equivalents of $99.0 million, short-term investments of $393.7 million, and long-term U.S. Government bond
investments of $435.5 million for a total of $928.2 million. This compares to cash and cash equivalents of $92.0 million, short-term
investments of $422.1 million, and long-term U.S. Government bond investments of $285.5 million for a total of $799.6 million as of
December 31, 2023.
Cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $253.7 million resulting from $222.1 million of
net income and an increase of $56.9 million due to non-cash items including stock-based compensation, depreciation, and amortization
of intangibles, partially offset by a $25.3 million reduction due to changes in our operating assets and liabilities. Changes in our operating
assets and liabilities related to an increase in other assets of $26.2 million, a decrease in deferred revenue of $26.1 million, an increase
in inventory of $7.2 million and a decrease in other liabilities of $2.4 million, partially offset by a decrease in accounts receivable of
$26.2 million and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $10.4 million.
Cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $154.8 million resulting from $203.0 million of
net income and an increase of $55.3 million due to non-cash items including depreciation, stock-based compensation, and amortization
of intangibles, partially offset by a $103.5 million reduction due to changes in our operating assets and liabilities. Changes in our
operating assets and liabilities related to an increase in accounts receivable of $47.2 million, an increase in other assets of $37.1 million,
a decrease in other liabilities of $26.5 million and a decrease in deferred revenue of $4.2 million, partially offset by a decrease in
inventory of $7.4 million and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $4.1 million.
Cash used in investing activities was $164.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $83.3 million for the
year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was due to the timing of maturities and purchases of investments resulting in net purchases
of $121.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to net sales and maturities of $43.1 million for the year ended
December 31, 2023, partially offset by a decrease in purchases of intangibles and property and equipment of $83.7 million. The increase
in property and equipment and intangibles during the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to the Merck KGaA patent
acquisition and the purchases of the Shannon facility and the South Korea application center.
Cash used in financing activities was $82.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $72.9 million for the
year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was due to an increase in the cash payment of dividends in the current year of $9.4 million
and an increase in the payment of withholding taxes related to stock-based compensation to employees of $180,000, partially offset by
an increase in the proceeds from issuance of common stock of $208,000.
Working capital was $774.4 million as of December 31, 2024, as compared to $798.3 million as of December 31, 2023. The
decrease was primarily due to decreases in short-term investments and accounts receivable and an increase in accounts payable.
Several significant contractual obligations are anticipated to be incurred in future periods and include payments for retirement
benefit plan obligations, lease obligations and PPG inventory commitments. Payments towards the retirement plan obligations
commenced during fiscal year 2023 and are expected to total $79.6 million over the remaining life of the plan. Existing lease obligations
are $4.3 million for fiscal year 2025, $4.4 million for fiscal year 2026, $4.3 million for fiscal year 2027 and $12.1 million thereafter.
Existing PPG inventory commitments are $46.5 million and will fluctuate based on PPG production needs to fulfill our demand for
commercial emitter material.
38
We anticipate, based on our internal forecasts and assumptions relating to our operations (including, among others, assumptions
regarding our working capital requirements, the progress of our research and development efforts, the availability of sources of funding
for our research and development work, and the timing and costs associated with the preparation, filing, prosecution, maintenance,
defense and enforcement of our patents and patent applications), that we have sufficient cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments to meet our obligations for at least the next twelve months.
We believe that potential additional financing sources for us include long-term and short-term borrowings and public and private
sales of our equity and debt securities. It should be noted, however, that additional funding may be required in the future for research,
development and commercialization of our OLED technologies and materials, to obtain, maintain and enforce patents respecting these
technologies and materials, and for working capital and other purposes, the timing and amount of which are difficult to ascertain. There
can be no assurance that additional funds will be available to us when needed, on commercially reasonable terms or at all, particularly
in the current economic environment.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Recently issued accounting pronouncements are addressed in Note 2 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
included herein.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We do not utilize financial instruments for trading purposes and hold no derivative financial instruments, other financial
instruments or derivative commodity instruments that could expose us to significant market risk other than our investments disclosed in
“Fair Value Measurements” in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. We generally invest in investment
grade financial instruments to reduce our exposure related to investments. Our primary market risk exposure with regard to such financial
instruments is to changes in interest rates, which would impact interest income earned on investments. However, based upon the
conservative nature of our investment portfolio and current experience, we do not believe a decrease in investment yields would have a
material negative effect on our interest income.
Substantially all our revenue is derived from outside of North America and primarily denominated in U.S. dollars and therefore
we bear no significant foreign exchange risk from routine customer sales transactions. However, due to a withholding tax receivable
denominated in Korean Won, we do bear foreign exchange risk from fluctuations in the Korean Won to U.S. dollar exchange rate and
resulting remeasurement.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes to those statements are attached to this report beginning on page F-
1.
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, evaluated the effectiveness
of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2024. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report, are effective
to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed or submitted under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s
rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure. However, a controls system, no matter how well designed and
operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the controls system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide
absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.
39
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The report of management on our internal control over financial reporting and the associated attestation report of our independent
registered public accounting firm are set forth in Item 8 of this report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2024 that have
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
None.
40
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information with respect to this item is set forth in our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
which is to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission no later than April 30, 2025 (the first business day after the 120th
day following the end of our fiscal year) (our Proxy Statement), and which is incorporated herein by reference. Information regarding
our executive officers is included at the end of Item 1 in Part I of this report.
We have insider trading policies governing transactions in our securities by our directors, officers and employees that are designed
to promote compliance with applicable insider trading laws, rules and regulations. Copies of our insider trading policies are filed with
this Annual Report on Form 10-K as Exhibit 19.1 and 19.2, respectively.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information with respect to this item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information with respect to this item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information with respect to this item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Information with respect to this item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement, and is incorporated herein by reference.
41
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(1) Financial Statements:
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting ............................................................................................
F-2
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm .........................................................................................................
F-3
Consolidated Balance Sheets ..........................................................................................................................................................
F-6
Consolidated Statements of Income ...............................................................................................................................................
F-7
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income ......................................................................................................................
F-8
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity ..........................................................................................................................
F-9
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows .........................................................................................................................................
F-10
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ...................................................................................................................................
F-11
(2) Financial Statement Schedules:
None.
(3) Exhibits:
The following is a list of the exhibits filed as part of this report. Where so indicated by footnote, exhibits that were previously
filed are incorporated by reference. For exhibits incorporated by reference, the location of the exhibit in the previous filing is indicated
parenthetically, together with a reference to the filing indicated by footnote.
Exhibit
Number
Description
3.1
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the registrant (1)
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the registrant (2)
4
Description of Securities (3)
10.1#
Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement between the registrant and Steven V. Abramson, dated as of
November 4, 2008 (4)
10.2#
Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement between the registrant and Julia J. Brown, dated as of November 4,
2008 (4)
10.3#
Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement between the registrant and Janice K. Mahon, dated as of November
4, 2008 (4)
10.4#
Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement between the registrant and Mauro Premutico, dated April 16, 2012
(5)
10.5#
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated as of April 1, 2010 (6)
10.6
1997 Amended License Agreement among the registrant, The Trustees of Princeton University and the University of
Southern California, dated as of October 9, 1997 (7)
10.7
Amendment #1 to the Amended License Agreement among the registrant, the Trustees of Princeton University and the
University of Southern California, dated as of August 7, 2003 (8)
10.8
Amendment #2 to the Amended License Agreement among the registrant, the Trustees of Princeton University, the
University of Southern California and the Regents of the University of Michigan, dated as of January 1, 2006 (9)
10.9
Amended and Restated OLED Materials Supply and Service Agreement between the registrant and PPG Industries, Inc.,
dated as of October 1, 2011 (10)
10.10+
Amended and Restated Amendment, dated February 20, 2024, to Amended and Restated OLED Materials Supply and
Service Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2011, between the Registrant and PPG Industries, Inc.(18)
10.11#
Universal Display Corporation Annual Incentive Plan (11)
10.12#
Form Agreement - Restricted Stock Unit Grant Letter(18)
42
10.13#
Form Agreement - Performance Stock Unit Grant Letter(18)
10.14#
Universal Display Corporation 2014 Equity Compensation Plan (12)
10.15#
Amendment 2015-1, dated March 3, 2015, to Universal Display Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (13)
10.16+
IP Transfer Agreement, dated June 28, 2016 by and between UDC Ireland Limited and BASF SE (14)
10.17#
Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement between the registrant and Brian Millard, dated as of September 6,
2022 (11)
10.18#
Amendment to Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement, dated May 31, 2023, between the registrant and Brian
Millard (15)
10.19#
Restricted Stock Grant Unit Agreement between the registrant and Brian Millard, dated as of September 6, 2022 (11)
10.20+
OLED Patent License Agreement between UDC Ireland Limited and Samsung Display Co., Ltd., dated as of December 2,
2022 (11)
10.21+
Supplemental OLED Material Purchase Agreement between UDC Ireland Limited and Samsung Display Co., Ltd., dated
as of December 2, 2022 (11)
10.22#
Universal Display Corporation 2023 Equity Compensation Plan (16)
10.23#
UDC, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (17)
19.1*
Universal Display Corporation Employee Insider Trading Policy
19.2*
Universal Display Corporation Officer, Director, Finance and Legal Employee Insider Trading Policy
21*
Subsidiaries of the registrant
23.1*
Consent of KPMG LLP
31.1*
Certifications of Steven V. Abramson, Chief Executive Officer, as required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
31.2*
Certifications of Brian Millard, Chief Financial Officer, as required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
32.1**
Certifications of Steven V. Abramson, Chief Executive Officer, as required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b), and by
18 U.S.C. Section 1350. (This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Further, this exhibit shall not be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.)
32.2**
Certifications of Brian Millard, Chief Financial Officer, as required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b), and by 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350. (This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Further, this exhibit shall not be deemed to be incorporated
by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.)
97#
Universal Display Corporation Compensation Recoupment Policy(18)
101.INS*
Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL
tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema with Embedded Linkbase Documents (Calculation; Definition; Label;
Presentation)
104
The cover page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, formatted in Inline XBRL
(included in Item 101.INS)
Explanation of footnotes to listing of exhibits:
* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.
# Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
+ Either (1) confidential treatment has been accorded to certain portions of this exhibit pursuant to Rule 406 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or (2) portions of this exhibit have been
omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
43
(1)
Filed as an Exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, filed with the SEC on August 9,
2018.
(2)
Filed as an Exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, filed with the SEC on March 1,
2004.
(3)
Filed as an Exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February
20, 2020.
(4)
Filed as an Exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on March 12,
2009.
(5)
Filed as an Exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, filed with the SEC on August 8,
2012.
(6)
Filed as an Exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, filed with the SEC on May 10,
2010.
(7)
Filed as an Exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10K-SB for the year ended December 31, 1997, filed with the SEC on March
31, 1998.
(8)
Filed as an Exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, filed with the SEC on
November 10, 2003.
(9)
Filed as an Exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, filed with the SEC on August 9,
2006.
(10) Filed as an Exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, filed with the SEC on
November 8, 2011.
(11) Filed as an Exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February
23, 2023.
(12) Filed as Exhibit A to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting filed with the SEC on April 25,
2014.
(13) Filed as an Exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2015.
(14) Filed as an Exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, filed with the SEC on August 4,
2016.
(15) Filed as an Exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 1, 2023.
(16) Filed as Annex A to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting filed with the SEC on April 20,
2023.
(17) Filed as an Exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 2, 2023.
(18) Filed as an Exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February
22, 2024.
Note: Any of the exhibits listed in the foregoing index not included with this report may be obtained, without charge, by writing
to Mauro Premutico, Secretary, Universal Display Corporation, 250 Phillips Boulevard, Ewing, New Jersey 08618.
(b) The exhibits required to be filed by us with this report are listed above.
(c) The Consolidated Financial Statement schedules required to be filed by us with this report are listed above.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
44
SIGNATURES
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.
UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION
By: /s/ Brian Millard
Brian Millard
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Date: February 20, 2025
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.
Name
Title
Date
/s/ Steven V. Abramson President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer)
February 20, 2025
Steven V. Abramson
/s/ Brian Millard
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
February 20, 2025
Brian Millard
(principal financial and accounting officer)
/s/ Sidney D. Rosenblatt
Chair of the Board of Directors
February 20, 2025
Sidney D. Rosenblatt
/s/ Elizabeth H. Gemmill Lead Independent Director
February 20, 2025
Elizabeth H. Gemmill
/s/ Nigel Brown
Director
February 20, 2025
Nigel Brown
/s/ Cynthia J. Comparin
Director
February 20, 2025
Cynthia J. Comparin
/s/ Richard C. Elias
Director
February 20, 2025
Richard C. Elias
/s/ C. Keith Hartley
Director
February 20, 2025
C. Keith Hartley
/s/ Celia M. Joseph
Director
February 20, 2025
Celia M. Joseph
/s/ Lawrence Lacerte
Director
February 20, 2025
Lawrence Lacerte
/s/ Joan Lau
Director
February 20, 2025
Joan Lau
/s/ April Walker
Director
February 20, 2025
April Walker
F-1
UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated Financial Statements:
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting ................................................................................
F-2
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ..............................................................................................
F-3
Consolidated Balance Sheets ..............................................................................................................................................
F-6
Consolidated Statements of Income ....................................................................................................................................
F-7
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income ..........................................................................................................
F-8
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity ..............................................................................................................
F-9
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows .............................................................................................................................
F-10
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements .......................................................................................................................
F-11
F-2
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for Universal
Display Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Company). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our system of internal control over financial reporting includes
those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with 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
(iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the
Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
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.
Management performed an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31,
2024 based upon criteria in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of
the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, management determined that the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024, based on the criteria in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued
by COSO.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, has been attested to by KPMG LLP,
an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report which appears on the following page.
Steven V. Abramson
President and Chief Executive Officer
Brian Millard
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
February 20, 2025
F-3
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Universal Display Corporation:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Universal Display Corporation and subsidiaries' (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated
Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of
income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December
31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated February 20, 2025 expressed
an unqualified opinion on those consolidated 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 of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting,
assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control
based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included 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/ KPMG LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
February 20, 2025
F-4
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Universal Display Corporation:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Universal Display Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as
of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated
financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position
of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, 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 20, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements
that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are
material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The
communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a
whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or
on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Estimated per unit fee for long-term OLED contracts
As discussed in Notes 2 and 21 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company recognizes revenue for organic light emitting
diode (OLED) sales to customers with long-term contracts (i.e., over 1 year in length) using certain estimates. Revenue is determined
by estimating total contract consideration expected to be received over the term of the contract and recognized based on material units
sold during the period at their estimated per unit fee. The estimated per unit fee includes fixed amounts designated in contracts with
customers as license fees and royalty fees, as well as estimates of material units to be sold. The Company uses internal and external
data to estimate material units to be sold over the contract terms.
We identified the assessment of the estimated per unit fee for long-term OLED contracts as a critical audit matter. The estimated per
unit fee was dependent upon the estimates of total material units to be sold. Significant auditor judgment was required in evaluating
the forecasted material unit sales, as changes in the estimates could significantly affect the estimated per unit fee.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the
operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the critical audit matter. This included controls related to the Company’s
revenue recognition process, including the Company’s review and approval of forecasted quantities of material unit sales of OLED
products. We assessed the Company’s forecasting policies and procedures and the inputs used in the estimation process. This
F-5
assessment included considering the availability of other relevant sources of data used for developing the estimate and evaluating any
potential management bias. Additionally, we inspected the forecast calculations for a selection of OLED contracts and compared the
per-material unit prices used against the respective contract terms. We compared the OLED material unit sales forecast to internal
operating and production budgets, and we compared the forecasted OLED material unit sales to the results of inquiries of Company
personnel, third party market data, and analyst reports. We assessed the Company’s ability to accurately forecast OLED material unit
sales by comparing recent historical forecasts to actual results and evaluating the Company’s conclusions regarding the reasons for
changes in the current year’s estimates as compared to prior estimates.
/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
February 20, 2025
F-6
UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
98,980 $
91,985
Short-term investments
393,690
422,137
Accounts receivable
113,648
139,850
Inventory
182,938
175,795
Other current assets
110,575
87,365
Total current assets
899,831
917,132
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net of accumulated depreciation of $169,877 and $143,908
195,239
175,150
ACQUIRED TECHNOLOGY, net of accumulated amortization of $203,621 and $186,850
73,554
90,325
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of accumulated amortization of $11,842 and $10,414
5,446
6,874
GOODWILL
15,535
15,535
INVESTMENTS
457,593
299,548
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
78,320
59,108
OTHER ASSETS
106,815
105,289
TOTAL ASSETS
$
1,832,333 $
1,668,961
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable
$
36,590 $
10,933
Accrued expenses
46,026
52,080
Deferred revenue
33,074
47,713
Other current liabilities
9,720
8,096
Total current liabilities
125,410
118,822
DEFERRED REVENUE
537
12,006
RETIREMENT PLAN BENEFIT LIABILITY
54,450
52,249
OTHER LIABILITIES
35,411
38,658
Total liabilities
215,808
221,735
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 18)
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, 5,000,000 shares authorized, 200,000
shares of Series A Nonconvertible Preferred Stock issued and outstanding
(liquidation value of $7.50 per share or $1,500)
2
2
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 48,834,541
and 48,731,026 shares issued, and 47,468,893 and 47,365,378 shares outstanding at
December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
488
487
Additional paid-in capital
723,719
699,554
Retained earnings
934,655
789,553
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,055 )
(1,086 )
Treasury stock, at cost (1,365,648 shares at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023)
(41,284 )
(41,284 )
Total shareholders’ equity
1,616,525
1,447,226
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
1,832,333 $
1,668,961
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-7
UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
2022
REVENUE:
Material sales
$
365,419 $
322,029 $
331,081
Royalty and license fees
266,820
238,389
267,115
Contract research services
15,445
16,011
18,423
Total revenue
647,684
576,429
616,619
COST OF SALES
148,461
135,376
127,896
Gross margin
499,223
441,053
488,723
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Research and development
157,187
130,481
117,062
Selling, general and administrative
74,286
67,387
77,886
Amortization of acquired technology and other intangible assets
18,200
15,993
17,459
Patent costs
8,699
9,356
8,329
Royalty and license expense
2,048
647
877
Total operating expenses
260,420
223,864
221,613
OPERATING INCOME
238,803
217,189
267,110
Interest income, net
40,682
28,166
7,811
Other loss, net
(7,357 )
(184 )
(6,691 )
Interest and other loss, net
33,325
27,982
1,120
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
272,128
245,171
268,230
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
(50,049 )
(42,160 )
(58,169 )
NET INCOME
$
222,079 $
203,011 $
210,061
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:
BASIC
$
4.66 $
4.25 $
4.41
DILUTED
$
4.65 $
4.24 $
4.40
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN COMPUTING
NET
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:
BASIC
47,548,931
47,559,669
47,390,352
DILUTED
47,652,662
47,622,763
47,468,507
CASH DIVIDEND DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
$
1.60 $
1.40 $
1.20
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-8
UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
2022
NET INCOME
$
222,079 $
203,011
$
210,061
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX:
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax
of none, none and $65, respectively
411
8,745
(7,745 )
Employee benefit plan:
Actuarial gain on retirement plan, net of tax of $178, ($2,168)
and ($1,667), respectively
(559 )
7,207
5,971
Amortization of prior service cost, actuarial loss and curtailment charge
for
retirement plan included in net periodic pension costs,
net of tax of ($84), ($299) and ($569), respectively
261
996
2,037
Net change in employee benefit plan
(298 )
8,203
8,008
Change in cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment
(82 )
418
(480 )
TOTAL OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
31
17,366
(217 )
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
$
222,110 $
220,377
$
209,844
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands, except for share data)
Series A
Nonconvertible
Additional
Accumulated
Other
Total
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Paid-in
Retained
Comprehensive
Treasury Stock
Shareholders’
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Capital
Earnings
(Loss) Income
Shares
Amount
Equity
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2021
200,000
$
2
49,065,924
$
491
$
658,728
$
500,212
$
(18,235 )
1,365,648
$
(41,284 )
$
1,099,914
Net income
—
—
—
—
—
210,061
—
—
—
210,061
Other comprehensive loss
—
—
—
—
—
—
(217 )
—
—
(217 )
Cash dividends declared
—
—
—
—
—
(56,996 )
—
—
—
(56,996 )
Stock-based compensation and ESPP activity,
net of taxes withheld
—
—
70,106
—
22,607
—
—
—
—
22,607
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2022
200,000
2
49,136,030
491
681,335
653,277
(18,452 )
1,365,648
(41,284 )
1,275,369
Net income
—
—
—
—
—
203,011
—
—
—
203,011
Other comprehensive income
—
—
—
—
—
—
17,366
—
—
17,366
Cash dividends declared
—
—
—
—
—
(66,735 )
—
—
—
(66,735 )
Stock-based compensation and ESPP activity,
net of taxes withheld
—
—
(405,004 )
(4 )
18,219
—
—
—
—
18,215
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2023
200,000
2
48,731,026
487
699,554
789,553
(1,086 )
1,365,648
(41,284 )
1,447,226
Net income
—
—
—
—
—
222,079
—
—
—
222,079
Other comprehensive income
—
—
—
—
—
—
31
—
—
31
Cash dividends declared
—
—
—
—
—
(76,977 )
—
—
—
(76,977 )
Stock-based compensation and ESPP activity,
net of taxes withheld
—
—
103,515
1
24,165
—
—
—
—
24,166
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2024
200,000
$
2
48,834,541
$
488
$
723,719
$
934,655
$
(1,055 )
1,365,648
$
(41,284 )
$
1,616,525
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-9
F-10
UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
2022
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income
$
222,079
$
203,011
$
210,061
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation
25,940
27,409
24,815
Impairment of property and equipment and right-of-use asset due to OVJP restructuring
7,498
—
—
Amortization of intangibles
18,200
15,993
17,459
Amortization of premium and discount on investments, net
(7,399 )
(11,603 )
(6,461 )
Impairment of minority investments
—
—
6,962
Stock-based compensation
30,032
24,109
29,946
Deferred income tax benefit
(19,117 )
(3,766 )
(26,946 )
Retirement plan expense, net of benefit payments
1,808
3,129
5,276
Decrease (increase) in assets:
Accounts receivable
26,202
(47,186 )
14,975
Inventory
(7,143 )
7,425
(49,060 )
Other current assets
(23,210 )
(41,574 )
(24,843 )
Other assets
(2,968 )
4,450
25,971
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
10,357
4,047
3,338
Other current liabilities
1,269
(21,481 )
20,917
Deferred revenue
(26,108 )
(4,159 )
(93,203 )
Other liabilities
(3,700 )
(5,027 )
(32,392 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
253,740
154,777
126,815
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment
(42,637 )
(59,792 )
(42,497 )
Purchase of intangibles
—
(66,563 )
(4,709 )
Purchases of investments
(594,848 )
(531,103 )
(701,993 )
Proceeds from sale and maturity of investments
473,075
574,165
468,456
Net cash used in investing activities
(164,410 )
(83,293 )
(280,743 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
2,220
2,012
1,570
Payment of withholding taxes related to stock-based compensation to employees
(8,386 )
(8,206 )
(9,209 )
Cash dividends paid
(76,169 )
(66,735 )
(56,996 )
Net cash used in financing activities
(82,335 )
(72,929 )
(64,635 )
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
6,995
(1,445 )
(218,563 )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR
91,985
93,430
311,993
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR
$
98,980
$
91,985
$
93,430
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities
$
411
$
8,938
$
(8,100 )
Common stock issued to Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board
that was earned and accrued for in a previous period
300
300
300
Net change in accounts payable and accrued expenses related to purchases
of property and equipment
(9,448 )
678
3,069
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds
71,973
96,176
72,347
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-11
UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
BUSINESS:
Universal Display Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Company) is a leader in the research, development and commercialization
of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies and materials for use in display and solid-state lighting applications. OLEDs are
thin, lightweight and power-efficient solid-state devices that emit light and can be manufactured on both flexible and rigid substrates,
making them highly suitable for use in full-color displays and as lighting products. OLED displays are capturing a growing share of the
display market, especially in the mobile phone, television, monitor, wearable, tablet, notebook and personal computer, augmented reality
(AR), virtual reality (VR) and automotive markets. The Company believes this is because OLEDs offer potential advantages over
competing display technologies with respect to power efficiency, contrast ratio, viewing angle, video response time, form factor and
manufacturing cost. The Company also believes that OLED lighting products have the potential to replace many existing light sources
in the future because of their high-power efficiency, excellent color rendering index, low operating temperature and novel form factor.
The Company’s technology leadership, intellectual property position, and more than 20 years of experience working closely with leading
OLED display manufacturers are some of the competitive advantages that should enable the Company to continue to share in the
revenues from OLED displays and lighting products as they continue to gain wider adoption.
The Company’s primary business strategy is to (1) develop new OLED materials and sell existing and new materials to product
manufacturers of products for display applications, such as mobile phones, televisions, monitors, wearables, tablets, portable media
devices, notebook computers, personal computers and automotive applications, and specialty lighting products; and (2) further develop
and either license or otherwise commercialize the Company’s proprietary OLED material, device design and manufacturing technologies
to those manufacturers. The Company has established a significant portfolio of proprietary OLED technologies and materials, primarily
through internal research and development efforts and acquisitions of patents and patent applications, as well as maintaining long-
standing, and establishing new relationships with world-class universities, research institutions and strategic manufacturing partnerships.
The Company currently owns, exclusively licenses or has the sole right to sublicense more than 6,500 patents issued and pending
worldwide.
The Company manufactures and sells its proprietary OLED materials to customers for evaluation and use in commercial OLED
products. The Company also enters into agreements with manufacturers of OLED display and lighting products under which it grants
them licenses to practice under the Company’s patents and to use the Company's proprietary know-how. At the same time, the Company
works with these and other companies that are evaluating the Company's OLED material, device design and manufacturing technologies
for possible use in commercial OLED display and lighting products.
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
Principles of Consolidation
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Universal Display Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries,
UDC, Inc., UDC Ireland Limited (UDC Ireland), Universal Display Corporation Hong Kong, Limited, Universal Display Corporation
Korea, Y.H. (UDC Korea), Universal Display Corporation Japan GK, Universal Display Corporation China, Ltd., Adesis, Inc. (Adesis),
UDC Ventures LLC, OVJP Corporation (OVJP Corp), OLED Material Manufacturing Limited (OMM) and Universal Vapor Jet
Corporation Pte. Ltd. (UVJC). All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.
Segment Information
The Company has one reportable business segment, namely OLED technologies and materials. The Company also performs
contract development and manufacturing support services through its subsidiary, Adesis, as well as research and development activities
in organic vapor jet printing (OVJP) technology. However, these latter two activities do not rise to the level of significance to qualify
as reportable segments and as such, are combined into the single OLED Materials reportable segment OLED materials managed on a
consolidated basis. Factors that went into this determination included examining the nature and significance of the various business
activities the Company engages in, and the availability of discrete data for those business activities.
The Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) is its President and Chief Executive Officer. The President and Chief
Executive Officer is the highest level of management responsible for the allocation of the Company’s resources and acts as the “assessor
of the financial performance” of the Company. In a review of the financial decision making process, it was determined that the CODM
primarily utilizes information consistent with that already incorporated in the existing consolidated financial statements. These measures
include revenue, operating expense, net income and assets. As such, the Consolidated Financial Statements presentation is consistent
with how the Company's CODM evaluates the results of operations and formulates strategic decisions about the business.
F-12
Reclassification of Prior Year Presentation
Certain prior year adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities have been reclassified on the
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to conform to the current year presentation. Stock-based compensation activity has been
consolidated and includes stock-based compensation to employees, Board of Directors, and Scientific Advisory Board.
Certain prior year adjustments have been reclassified on the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity to conform to the
current year presentation. Stock-based compensation and ESPP activity, net of taxes withheld has been consolidated and includes
issuance of common stock to employees, shares withheld for employee taxes, issuance of common stock to Board of Directors and
Scientific Advisory Board, cancellation of restricted stock units and issuance of common stock to employees under an ESPP.
Management’s Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. The estimates made are principally in the areas of revenue recognition including estimates of material unit sales and royalties,
the useful life of acquired intangibles, lease liabilities, right-of-use assets, the use and recoverability of inventories, intangibles,
investments and income taxes including realization of deferred tax assets, stock-based compensation and retirement benefit plan
liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments
The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity (maturity at the purchase date) of
three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company classifies its remaining investments as available-for-sale. These securities
(excluding minority equity investments) are carried at fair market value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in shareholders’
equity. Gains or losses on securities sold are based on the specific identification method.
Trade Accounts Receivable
Trade accounts receivable are stated at the amount the Company expects to collect and do not bear interest. The Company
considers the following factors when determining the collectability of specific customer accounts: customer credit-worthiness, past
transaction history with the customer, current economic industry trends, and changes in customer payment terms. The Company’s
accounts receivable balance is a result of chemical sales, royalties and license fees. These receivables have historically been paid timely.
Due to the nature of the accounts receivable balance, the Company believes there is no significant collection risk. If the financial
condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, adversely affecting their ability to make payments, allowances for credit
losses would be required. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the allowance for credit losses was $175,000 and $166,000, respectively.
Inventories
Inventories consist of raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods, and are stated at the lower of cost, determined on a first-
in, first-out basis, or net realizable value. Inventory valuation and firm committed purchase order assessments are performed on a
quarterly basis and those items that are identified to be obsolete or in excess of forecasted usage are written down to their estimated
realizable value. Estimates of realizable value are based upon management’s analyses and assumptions, including, but not limited to,
forecasted sales levels by product, expected product lifecycle, product development plans and future demand requirements. A 12-month
rolling forecast based on factors, including, but not limited to, production cycles, anticipated product orders, marketing forecasts,
backlog, and shipment activities is used in the inventory analysis. If market conditions are less favorable than forecasts or actual demand
from customers is lower than estimates, additional inventory write-downs may be required. If demand is higher than expected,
inventories that had previously been written down may be sold.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of 30 years for
buildings, 15 years for building improvements, and three to seven years for office and lab equipment and furniture and fixtures. Repair
and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred. Additions and betterments are capitalized.
Major renewals and improvements are capitalized, and minor replacements, maintenance, and repairs are charged to current
operations as incurred. Upon retirement or disposal of assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the
Consolidated Balance Sheets and any gain or loss is reflected in other operating expenses.
F-13
Certain costs of computer software obtained for internal use are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over three years.
Costs for maintenance and training, as well as the cost of software that does not add functionality to an existing system, are expensed as
incurred.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Company management continually evaluates whether events or changes in circumstances might indicate that the remaining
estimated useful life of long-lived assets may warrant revision, or that the remaining balance may not be recoverable. When factors
indicate that long-lived assets should be evaluated for possible impairment, the Company uses an estimate of the related undiscounted
cash flows in measuring whether the long-lived asset should be written down to fair value. Measurement of the amount of impairment
would be based on generally accepted valuation methodologies, as deemed appropriate.
As a result of the planned closure of OVJP Corp's location in California and related restructuring, the Company determined to
record a $7.5 million impairment of property and equipment and right-of-use asset for the year ended December 31, 2024. As of
December 31, 2024, Company management believed that no additional revision to the remaining useful lives or write-down of the
Company’s long-lived assets was required, and similarly, no such revisions were required for the years ended December 31, 2023 or
2022.
Goodwill and Purchased Intangible Assets
Goodwill is tested for impairment in the fourth fiscal quarter and, when specific circumstances dictate, between annual tests. If
after assessing the totality of events or circumstances as those described in the qualitative assessment, it is determined that it is more
likely than not the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then a quantitative goodwill impairment test will be
performed. Under the quantitative test, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared to its carrying amount including goodwill. If the
fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit would be considered not impaired. However,
if the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss would be recognized in the amount equal to the
excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The Company performed its annual impairment
assessment as of December 31, 2024 utilizing a qualitative assessment and concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair value
of Adesis is greater than its carrying value. Future impairment tests will continue to be performed annually in the fiscal fourth quarter,
or sooner if a triggering event occurs. As of December 31, 2024, no indications of impairment existed.
Purchased intangible assets with finite lives are carried at cost, less accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed over the
estimated useful lives of the respective assets.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying values of accounts receivable, other current assets, accounts payable and other current liabilities approximate fair
value in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements due to the short-term nature of those instruments. The Company’s other
financial instruments, which include cash equivalents and investments (excluding minority equity investments) are carried at fair value.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in
an orderly transaction between market participants based on the highest and best use of the asset or liability. The Company uses valuation
techniques to measure fair value that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Observable
inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are based on market data obtained from sources
independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability
based on the best information available in the circumstances.
F-14
Minority Equity Investments
The Company accounts for minority equity investments in companies that are not accounted for under the equity method as equity
securities without readily determinable fair values. The value of these securities is based on original cost less impairments, if any, plus
or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or similar investment in the same
issuer. Under this method, the share of income or loss of such companies is not included in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The
carrying value of these investments is included in investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company’s policy is to recognize an impairment in the value of its minority equity investments when evidence of an
impairment exists. Factors considered in the assessment include a significant adverse change in the regulatory, economic, or
technological environment, the completion of new equity financing that may indicate a decrease in value, the failure to complete new
equity financing arrangements after seeking to raise additional funds, or the commencement of proceedings under which the assets of
the business may be placed in receivership or liquidated to satisfy the claims of debt and equity stakeholders. The impairment in the
value of minority equity investments is included in the other loss, net line item on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Leases
The Company is a lessee in operating leases primarily incurred to facilitate manufacturing, research and development, and selling,
general and administrative activities. At contract inception, the Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease, and if so
recognizes a right-of-use asset and lease liability at the lease commencement date. For operating leases, the lease liability is measured
at the present value of the unpaid lease payments at the lease commencement date, whereas for finance leases, the lease liability is
initially measured at the present value of the unpaid lease payments and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the interest
method. Operating lease right-of-use assets are included in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The short-term portion of
operating lease liabilities is included in other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the long-term portion is included
in other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had no leases that qualified as financing
arrangements.
Key estimates and judgments include how the Company determines the discount rate used to discount the unpaid lease payments
to present value and the lease term. The Company monitors for events or changes in circumstances that could potentially require
recognizing an impairment loss.
Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue
Material sales relate to the Company’s sale of its OLED materials for incorporation into its customers’ commercial OLED products
or for their OLED development and evaluation activities. Revenue associated with material sales is generally recognized at the time title
passes, which is typically at the time of shipment or at the time of delivery, depending upon the contractual agreement between the
parties. Revenue may be recognized after control of the material passes in the event the transaction price includes variable consideration.
For example, a customer may be provided an extended opportunity to stock materials prior to use in mass production and given a general
right of return not conditioned on breaches of warranties associated with the specific product. In such circumstances, revenue will be
recognized at the earlier of the expiration of the customer’s general right of return or once it becomes unlikely that the customer will
exercise its right of return.
The vast majority of revenue attributed to material sales is determined through technology license agreements and material supply
agreements the terms of which are jointly agreed upon with the Company’s customers. The remaining revenue recognized is in the form
of contract research services revenue earned by the Company’s subsidiary, Adesis, Inc., and the Company’s occasional material sales
to smaller customers. None of the revenue recognized during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 or 2022 resulted solely from
royalty or license fee arrangements as to which there were not associated material sales.
The rights and benefits to the Company’s OLED technologies are conveyed to the customer through technology license
agreements and material supply agreements. The Company believes that the licenses and materials sold under these combined
agreements are not distinct from each other for financial reporting purposes and as such, they are accounted for as a single performance
obligation. Accordingly, total contract consideration is estimated and recognized over the contract term based on material units sold at
the estimated per unit fee over the life of the contract. Total contract consideration is allocated to material sales and royalty and licensing
fees on the Consolidated Statements of Income based on contract pricing.
Various estimates are relied upon to recognize revenue. The Company estimates total material units to be purchased by its
customers over the contract term based on historical trends, industry estimates and its forecast process. Management uses the expected
value method to estimate the material per unit fee. Additionally, management estimates the sales-based portion of royalty revenue based
on the estimated net sales revenue of its customers over the contract term.
F-15
Contract research services revenue is revenue earned by Adesis by providing chemical materials synthesis research, development
and commercialization for non-OLED applications on a contractual basis. These services range from intermediates for structure-activity
relationship studies, reference agents and building blocks for combinatorial synthesis, re-synthesis of key intermediates, specialty
organic chemistry needs, and selective toll manufacturing. These services are provided to third-party pharmaceutical and life sciences
firms and other technology firms at fixed costs or predetermined rates on a contract basis. Revenue is recognized as services are
performed with billing schedules and payment terms negotiated on a contract-by-contract basis. Payments received in excess of revenue
recognized are recorded as deferred revenue. In other cases, services may be provided and revenue is recognized before the customer is
invoiced. In these cases, revenue recognized will exceed amounts billed and the difference, representing amounts which are currently
unbillable to the customer pursuant to contractual terms, is recorded as an unbilled receivable.
Technology development and support revenue is revenue earned from development and technology evaluation agreements and
commercialization assistance fees. Technology development and support revenue is included in contract research services on the
Consolidated Statements of Income.
On December 2, 2022, the Company entered into a commercial patent license agreement with Samsung Display Co., Ltd. (SDC),
replacing a previous license agreement that had been in place since 2018. This agreement, which covers the manufacture and sale of
specified OLED display materials, was effective as of January 1, 2023 and lasts through the end of 2027 with an additional two-year
extension option for SDC. Under this agreement, the Company is being paid a license fee, which includes quarterly and annual payments
over the agreement term. The agreement conveys to SDC the non-exclusive right to use certain of the Company's intellectual property
assets for a limited period of time that is less than the estimated life of the assets.
At the same time the Company entered into the current commercial license agreement with SDC, the Company also entered into
a new supplemental material purchase agreement with SDC, which lasts for the same term as the license agreement and is subject to the
same extension option. This new material purchase agreement replaced a previous purchase agreement that had been in place since
2018. Under the supplemental material purchase agreement, SDC agrees to purchase red and green phosphorescent emitter materials
from the Company for use in the manufacture of licensed products. This amount purchased is subject to SDC’s requirements for
phosphorescent emitter materials and the Company’s ability to meet these requirements over the term of the supplemental agreement.
In 2015, the Company entered into an OLED patent license agreement and an OLED commercial supply agreement with LG
Display Co., Ltd. (LG Display). The terms of these agreements have been extended through the end of 2025. The patent license
agreement provides LG Display a non-exclusive, royalty bearing portfolio license to make and sell OLED displays under the Company's
patent portfolio. The patent license calls for license fees, prepaid royalties and running royalties on licensed products. The OLED
commercial supply agreement provides for the sale of materials for use by LG Display, which may include phosphorescent emitters and
host materials. The agreements provide for certain other minimum obligations relating to the volume of material sales anticipated over
the lives of the agreements as well as minimum royalty revenue.
In 2023, the Company entered into new long-term, multi-year agreements with BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. (BOE). Under
these agreements, the Company has granted BOE non-exclusive license rights under various patents owned or controlled by the
Company to manufacture and sell OLED display products. The Company supplies phosphorescent OLED materials to BOE for use in
its licensed products.
In 2019, the Company entered into an evaluation and commercial supply relationship with Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics
Semiconductor Display Technology Co., Ltd. (CSOT). In 2020, the Company entered into long-term, multi-year agreements with CSOT.
Under these agreements, the Company has granted CSOT non-exclusive license rights under various patents owned or controlled by the
Company to manufacture and sell OLED display products. The Company also supplies phosphorescent OLED materials to CSOT for
use in its licensed products.
In 2024, the Company entered into new long-term, multi-year agreements with Visionox Technology, Inc. (Visionox). Under
these agreements, the Company has granted Visionox non-exclusive license rights under various patents owned or controlled by the
Company to manufacture and sell OLED display products. Additionally, the Company supplies phosphorescent OLED materials to
Visionox for use in its licensed products.
In 2016, the Company entered into long-term, multi-year OLED patent license and material purchase agreements with Tianma
Micro-electronics Co., Ltd. (Tianma). Under the license agreement, the Company has granted Tianma non-exclusive license rights under
various patents owned or controlled by the Company to manufacture and sell OLED display products. The license agreement calls for
license fees and running royalties on licensed products. Additionally, the Company supplies phosphorescent OLED materials to Tianma
for use in its licensed products. In 2021, the parties extended the terms of both the patent license and material purchase agreements for
an additional multi-year-term.
F-16
All material sales transactions that are not variable consideration transactions are billed and due within 90 days and substantially
all are transacted in U.S. dollars.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales consists of labor and material costs associated with the production of materials processed at the facilities of the
Company's manufacturing partner, PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) and at the Company's internal facilities. The Company’s portion of cost
of sales also includes depreciation of manufacturing equipment, as well as manufacturing overhead costs and inventory adjustments for
excess and obsolete inventory.
Research and Development
Expenditures for research and development are charged to expense as incurred.
Restructuring
The Company has current restructuring initiatives taking place, and it is possible that the Company may engage in future
restructuring activities. Identifying and calculating the cost to exit these operations requires certain assumptions to be made, the most
significant of which are anticipated future liabilities, including leases and other contractual obligations, and the adjustment of property
and equipment to net realizable value. The Company believes the estimates are reasonable, considering the Company's knowledge of
the industries it operates in. However, significant judgment is required, and these estimates and assumptions may change as additional
information becomes available and facts or circumstances change.
In June 2020, the Company formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, OVJP Corp in California, as a Delaware corporation, which was
founded to advance the commercialization of the Company's proprietary OVJP technology. In December 2024, the Company announced
that the OVJP Corp facility in California would be closing and OVJP operations would be relocated to the Company's newly formed
subsidiary, UVJC in Singapore, as well as continued operations in the Company's Tech and Innovation Center in New Jersey. As a result
of the planned closure of OVJP Corp's location in California, the Company determined to record $8.9 million of restructuring costs for
the year ended December 31, 2024. The restructuring costs include impairment of property and equipment of $6.1 million, impairment
of the OVJP right-of-use asset of $1.4 million, $1.0 million of employee-related costs, and $400,000 of ancillary expenses. The OVJP
Corp restructuring costs are included in the research and development expense line item on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Patent Costs
Costs associated with patent applications, patent prosecution, patent defense and the maintenance of patents are charged to expense
as incurred. Costs to successfully defend a challenge to a patent are capitalized to the extent of an evident increase in the value of the
patent. Costs that relate to an unsuccessful outcome are charged to expense.
Amortization of Acquired Technology
Amortization costs primarily relate to technology acquired from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (Merck KGaA) and BASF
SE (BASF). The Merck KGaA acquisition was completed on April 28, 2023 and the BASF acquisition was completed during the year
ended December 31, 2016. Acquisition costs are being amortized over a period of 10 years for the Merck KGaA and BASF patents.
Amortization of Other Intangible Assets
Other intangible assets from the Adesis acquisition are being amortized over a period of 10 to 15 years. See Note 7 for further
discussion.
Translation of Foreign Currency Financial Statements and Foreign Currency Transactions
The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency for the UDC Ireland and UDC Korea subsidiaries
are also the U.S. dollar and the functional currency for the OMM subsidiary and each of the Company's other Asia-Pacific foreign
subsidiaries is its respective local currency. The Company translates the amounts included in the Consolidated Statements of Income
from OMM and its Asia-Pacific foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars at weighted-average exchange rates, which the Company believes
are representative of the actual exchange rates on the dates of the transactions. The Company's OMM subsidiary and each of the
Company's other Asia-Pacific foreign subsidiaries' assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars from the local currency at the
actual exchange rates as of the end of each reporting date, and the Company records the resulting foreign exchange translation
F-17
adjustments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. The overall effect of the
translation of foreign currency and foreign currency transactions to date has been insignificant.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future
tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their
respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax
rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The
effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained.
Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount of which the likelihood of realization is greater than 50%. Changes
in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. The Company records interest and
penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of tax expense.
Share-Based Payment Awards
The Company recognizes in the Consolidated Statements of Income the grant-date fair value of equity-based awards such as shares
issued under employee stock purchase plans, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and performance unit awards issued to
employees and directors.
The grant-date fair value of stock awards is based on the closing price of the stock on the date of grant. The fair value of share-
based awards is recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, net of forfeitures. The
Company issues new shares upon the respective grant, exercise or vesting of the share-based payment awards, as applicable.
Performance unit awards are subject to either a performance-based or market-based vesting requirement. For performance-based
vesting, the grant-date fair value of the award, based on fair value of the Company's common stock, is recognized over the service period
based on an assessment of the likelihood that the applicable performance goals will be achieved, and compensation expense is
periodically adjusted based on actual and expected performance. Compensation expense for performance unit awards with market-based
vesting is calculated based on the estimated fair value as of the grant date utilizing a Monte Carlo simulation model and is recognized
over the service period on a straight-line basis.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity
Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions. Under this standard, a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not
considered in measuring the security's fair value. The standard also requires certain disclosures for equity securities that are subject to
contractual restrictions. The adoption of ASU 2022-03, beginning on January 1, 2024, did not have an impact on the Consolidated
Financial Statements and related disclosures.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment
Disclosures. The standard improves the reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about
significant segment expenses. The adoption of ASU 2023-07, during the annual period ended December 31, 2024, resulted in the
"Segment Information" disclosure included in Note 2.
Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (Topic 740). The standard
enhances to the annual income tax disclosures to address investor requests for more information about the tax risks and opportunities
present in an entity's worldwide operations. ASU 2023-09 becomes effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15,
2024, and the Company is evaluating the potential impact of this standard on its income tax disclosures.
In March 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-01, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718). The standard provides
guidance to reduce complexity and diversity in practice in determining whether a profits interest award is accounted for as a share-based
payment. Early adoption is permitted. This guidance can be applied either retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial
statements or prospectively to profits interest or similar awards granted or modified on or after the effective date for our application of
this guidance. The Company does not expect ASU 2024-01, which becomes effective for annual reporting periods after December 15,
2024 and interim periods within those annual periods, to have an impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense
Disaggregation Disclosures (Topic 220). The standard requires new financial statement disclosures disaggregating information about
F-18
prescribed categories underlying any relevant income statement expense caption. ASU 2024-03 becomes effective for annual reporting
periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The Company is evaluating the
potential impact of this standard on the Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.
3.
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND INVESTMENTS:
The Company’s portfolio of marketable fixed income securities consists of U.S. Government bonds and corporate bonds. The
Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity (maturity at the purchase date) of three months
or less to be cash equivalents. The Company classifies its remaining debt security investments as available-for-sale. These debt securities
are carried at fair market value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in shareholders’ equity. Gains or losses on securities sold are
based on the specific identification method.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The following table provides details regarding the Company’s portfolio of cash and cash equivalents (in thousands):
Cost or
Unrealized
Aggregate Fair
Cash and Cash Equivalents Classification
Amortized Cost
Gains
(Losses)
Market Value
December 31, 2024
Cash accounts in banking institutions
$
96,318 $
— $
— $
96,318
Money market accounts
2,662
—
—
2,662
$
98,980 $
— $
— $
98,980
December 31, 2023
Cash accounts in banking institutions
$
91,717 $
— $
— $
91,717
Money market accounts
268
—
—
268
$
91,985 $
— $
— $
91,985
Short-term Investments
The following table provides details regarding the Company’s portfolio of short-term investments (in thousands):
Cost or
Unrealized
Aggregate Fair
Short-term Investments Classification
Amortized Cost
Gains
(Losses)
Market Value
December 31, 2024
U.S. Government bonds
$
392,778 $
758 $
— $
393,536
Marketable securities (1)
142
12
—
154
$
392,920 $
770 $
— $
393,690
December 31, 2023
Corporate bonds
$
1,763 $
1 $
(5 ) $
1,759
U.S. Government bonds
420,769
303
(694 )
420,378
$
422,532 $
304 $
(699 ) $
422,137
(1)
Changes in aggregate fair market value recorded in other loss, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Long-term U.S. Government Bond Investments
The following table provides details regarding the Company’s portfolio of long-term investments (in thousands):
Cost or
Unrealized
Aggregate Fair
Long-term Investments Classification
Amortized Cost
Gains
(Losses)
Market Value
December 31, 2024
U.S. Government bonds
$
434,766 $
1,302 $
(595 ) $
435,473
$
434,766 $
1,302 $
(595 ) $
435,473
December 31, 2023
U.S. Government bonds
284,053
1,457
(8 ) $
285,502
$
284,053 $
1,457 $
(8 ) $
285,502
F-19
Minority Equity Investments and Convertible Notes
The Company’s portfolio of minority equity investments and convertible notes consists of investments in privately held early-
stage companies primarily motivated for the Company to gain early access to new technology and are passive in nature in that the
Company typically does not seek to obtain representation on the boards of directors of the companies in which it invests. Minority equity
investments and convertible notes are included in investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2024 and
December 31, 2023, the Company had minority equity investments in six and five entities, respectively, with a total carrying value of
$18.6 million and $14.0 million, respectively, accounted for as equity securities without readily determinable fair values. As of
December 31, 2024, the Company had two convertible note investments, with a total fair value of $3.5 million accounted for as
available-for-sale debt securities without readily determinable fair values. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had no convertible
note investments.
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not recognize an impairment in the value of its minority
equity investments.
4.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
The following table provides the assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2024
(in thousands):
Fair Value Measurements, Using
Total Carrying Value
as of December 31,
2024
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Short-term U.S. Government bonds
$
393,536 $
393,536 $
— $
—
Long-term U.S. Government bonds
435,473
435,473
—
—
Cash equivalents
2,662
2,662
—
—
Short-term Marketable Securities
154
154
—
—
The following table provides the assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023
(in thousands):
Fair Value Measurements, Using
Total Carrying Value
as of December 31,
2023
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Short-term U.S. Government bonds
$
420,378
420,378
—
—
Long-term U.S. Government bonds
285,502
285,502
—
—
Short-term Corporate bonds
1,759
1,759
—
—
Cash equivalents
268
268
—
—
F-20
Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are quoted prices
for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly
through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based
on management’s own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value. A financial asset’s or liability’s classification is
determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Changes in fair value of the debt investments are recorded as unrealized gains and losses in accumulated other comprehensive
loss on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and any credit losses on debt investments are recorded as an allowance for credit losses with
an offset recognized in other loss, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income. There were no credit losses on debt investments as of
December 31, 2024 or December 31, 2023.
5.
INVENTORY:
Inventory consisted of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
2024
2023
Raw materials
$
106,795
$
113,400
Work-in-process
16,374
9,433
Finished goods
59,769
52,962
Inventory
$
182,938
$
175,795
The Company recorded an increase in its inventory reserves of $3.1 million, $8.5 million and $3.6 million for the years ended
December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, due to excess inventory levels in certain products.
6.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Property and equipment, net consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
2024
2023
Land
$
12,230
$
12,230
Building and improvements
131,288
116,903
Office and lab equipment
159,448
148,465
Furniture, fixtures and computer related assets
16,858
18,970
Construction-in-progress
45,292
22,490
365,116
319,058
Less: Accumulated depreciation
(169,877 )
(143,908 )
Property and equipment, net
$
195,239
$
175,150
Depreciation expense was $25.9 million, $27.4 million and $24.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022,
respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded impairment expense of $6.1 million related to the planned
closure of OVJP Corp's California location and related restructuring. The increase in construction-in-progress during the year ended
December 31, 2024 was primarily due to the expansion of the Company's manufacturing facility in Shannon, Ireland and research and
development facility in Ewing, NJ.
7.
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS:
The Company monitors the recoverability of goodwill annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the
carrying value may not be recoverable. Purchased intangible assets subject to amortization consist of acquired technology and other
intangible assets that include trade names, customer relationships and developed intellectual property (IP) processes.
F-21
Acquired Technology
Acquired technology primarily consists of acquired license rights for patents and know-how obtained from Merck KGaA, BASF
and Fujifilm. These intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
2024
2023
Merck KGaA
66,012
66,012
BASF
95,989
95,989
Fujifilm
109,462
109,462
Other
5,712
5,712
277,175
277,175
Less: Accumulated amortization
(203,621 )
(186,850 )
Acquired technology, net
$
73,554
$
90,325
Amortization expense related to acquired technology was $16.8 million, $14.6 million and $16.0 million for the years ended
December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Amortization expense is included in amortization of acquired technology and other
intangible assets expense line item on the Consolidated Statements of Income and is expected to be $16.8 million in the year ending
December 31, 2025, $12.0 million in the year ending December 31, 2026, $7.2 million in each of the years ending December 31, 2027
and 2028, $7.1 million in the year ending December 31, 2029, and $23.3 million in total thereafter.
Merck KGaA Patent Acquisition
In April 2023, UDC Ireland entered into a Patent Sale and License Agreement with Merck KGaA. Under this agreement, Merck
KGaA sold to UDC Ireland all of its rights, title and interest to over 550 of its owned and licensed OLED-related patents and patent
applications in exchange for a cash payment of $66.0 million. The Patent Sale and License Agreement contains customary
representations, warranties and covenants of the parties. UDC Ireland recorded the payment of $66.0 million as acquired technology,
which is being amortized over a period of 10 years.
BASF Patent Acquisition
On June 28, 2016, UDC Ireland entered into and consummated an IP Transfer Agreement with BASF. Under the IP Transfer
Agreement, BASF sold to UDC Ireland all of its rights, title and interest to certain of its owned and co-owned intellectual property rights
relating to the composition, development, manufacture and use of OLED materials, including OLED lighting and display stack
technology, as well as certain tangible assets. The intellectual property includes knowhow and more than 500 issued and pending patents
in the area of phosphorescent materials and technologies. These assets were acquired in exchange for a cash payment of €86.8 million
($95.8 million). In addition, UDC Ireland also took on certain rights and obligations under three joint research and development
agreements to which BASF was a party. The IP Transfer Agreement also contains customary representations, warranties and covenants
of the parties. UDC Ireland recorded the payment of €86.8 million ($95.8 million) and acquisition costs incurred of $217,000 as acquired
technology, which is being amortized over a period of 10 years.
Other Intangible Assets
As a result of the Adesis acquisition in June 2016, the Company recorded $16.8 million of other intangible assets, including $10.5
million assigned to customer relationships with a weighted average life of 11.5 years, $4.8 million to internally developed IP, processes
and recipes with a weighted average life of 15 years, and $1.5 million to trade name and trademarks with a weighted average life of 10
years.
At December 31, 2024, these other intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31, 2024
Gross Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Net Carrying
Amount
Customer relationships
$
10,520
$
(7,718 ) $
2,802
Developed IP, processes and recipes
4,820
(2,708 )
2,112
Trade name/Trademarks
1,500
(1,268 )
232
Other
448
(148 )
300
Total identifiable other intangible assets
$
17,288
$
(11,842 ) $
5,446
F-22
Amortization expense related to other intangible assets was $1.4 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023,
and 2022. Amortization expense is included in amortization of acquired technology and other intangible assets expense line item on the
Consolidated Statements of Income and is expected to be $1.4 million for each of the next two fiscal years (2025 - 2026), $1.3 million
for the year ending December 31, 2027, $422,000 for the year ending December 31, 2028, $362,000 for the year ending December 31,
2029, and $602,000 in total thereafter.
Goodwill
As a result of the Adesis acquisition, the Company recorded $15.5 million of goodwill. The Company performs its annual
assessment of goodwill during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year unless events suggest an impairment may have been incurred in an
interim period using Adesis’ standalone financial operating performance information. Application of the goodwill impairment test
requires the exercise of judgment, including the determination of the fair value of each reporting unit, as Adesis is the reporting unit. As
part of the annual assessment of goodwill completed during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024, there were no significant
indicators to conclude that an impairment of the goodwill associated with the acquisition of Adesis had occurred.
8.
OTHER ASSETS:
Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
2024
2023
Long-term taxes receivable
$
52,899
$
60,146
Right-of-use assets
19,867
24,910
Long-term unbilled receivables
24,943
9,074
Long-term contract assets
6,528
9,278
Other long-term assets
2,578
1,881
Other assets
$
106,815
$
105,289
See Notes 9 and 20 for further explanation on right-of-use assets and long-term taxes receivable, respectively.
9.
LEASES:
The Company has entered into operating leases to facilitate the expansion of its manufacturing, research and development, and
selling, general and administrative activities. For purposes of calculating operating lease liabilities, lease terms may be deemed to include
options to extend or terminate the lease when those events are reasonably certain to occur. The interest rate implicit in lease contracts is
typically not readily determinable and as such the Company uses the appropriate incremental borrowing rate based on information
available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of the lease payments. Current lease agreements do not
contain any residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. As of December 31, 2024, the Company did not have any finance
leases and no additional operating leases that have not yet commenced.
The following table presents the Company’s operating lease cost and supplemental cash flow information related to the Company’s
operating leases (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
2022
Operating lease cost
$
4,343
$
4,639
$
4,436
Non-cash activity:
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations
$
—
$
1,072
$
4,750
The following table presents the Company’s operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities (in thousands):
December 31,
2024
2023
Right-of-use assets
$
19,867
$
24,910
Short-term lease liabilities
3,848
3,533
Long-term lease liabilities
19,135
22,855
F-23
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company determined to record an impairment due to the planned closure of OVJP
Corp's California location and related restructuring, including a $1.4 million right-of-use asset impairment.
The following table presents weighted average assumptions used to compute the Company’s right-of-use assets and lease
liabilities:
December 31, 2024
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)
6.0
Weighted average discount rate
3.8 %
As of December 31, 2024, current operating leases had remaining terms between two and seven years with options to extend the
lease terms.
Undiscounted future minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2024, by year and in the aggregate, having non-cancelable
lease terms in excess of one year were as follows (in thousands):
Maturities of
Operating Lease Liabilities
2025
$
4,305
2026
4,384
2027
4,305
2028
4,022
2029
2,585
Thereafter
5,466
Total lease payments
25,067
Less: imputed interest
(2,123 )
Present value of lease payments
$
22,944
10.
ACCRUED EXPENSES:
Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
2024
2023
Compensation
$
28,744
$
29,456
PPG Industries, Inc. agreement
7,759
11,962
Consulting
1,718
2,121
Professional fees
1,292
1,124
Royalties
1,048
647
Research and development agreements
852
822
Other
4,613
5,948
Accrued expenses
$
46,026
$
52,080
11.
RESEARCH AND LICENSE AGREEMENTS WITH ACADEMIC PARTNERS:
The Company has long-standing relationships with a number of academic institutions that undertake funded research projects,
including Princeton University (Princeton) and the University of Southern California (USC).
Under the current license agreement among the Company, Princeton and USC, the universities have granted the Company
worldwide, exclusive license rights, with rights to sublicense, to make, have made, use, lease and/or sell products and to practice
processes based on patent applications and issued patents arising out of research performed by the universities for the Company. The
Company recorded royalty expense in connection with this agreement of $2.0 million, $575,000 and $853,000 for the years ended
December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The Company also makes payments under the current research agreement with USC on a quarterly basis as actual expenses are
incurred. As of December 31, 2024, the Company was obligated to pay USC up to $1.7 million for work to be performed during the
F-24
remaining term. The Company recorded research and development expense in connection with work performed under the agreement of
$1.6 million, $1.1 million and $905,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
12.
OTHER LIABILITIES:
Other liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
2024
2023
Long-term lease liabilities
$
19,135
$
22,855
Long-term taxes payable
15,749
15,749
Other long-term liabilities
527
54
Other liabilities
$
35,411
$
38,658
See Notes 9 and 20 for further explanation on long-term lease liabilities and long-term taxes payable, respectively.
13.
EQUITY AND CASH COMPENSATION UNDER THE PPG AGREEMENTS:
On September 22, 2011, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated OLED Materials Supply and Service Agreement
with PPG (the New OLED Materials Agreement), which, effective as of October 1, 2011, replaced the original OLED Materials
Agreement with PPG. The term of the New OLED Materials Agreement, by amendment in February 2021, runs through December 31,
2025, and thereafter is automatically renewed for additional one-year terms, unless terminated by the Company by providing prior notice
of one year or terminated by PPG by providing prior notice of two years. The New OLED Materials Agreement contains provisions that
are substantially similar to those of the original OLED Materials Agreement. Under the New OLED Materials Agreement, PPG
continues to assist the Company in developing its proprietary OLED materials and supplying the Company with those materials for
evaluation purposes and for resale to its customers.
Under the New OLED Materials Agreement, the Company compensates PPG on a cost-plus basis for the services provided during
each calendar quarter. The Company is required to pay for some of these services in all cash. Up to 50% of the remaining services are
payable, at the Company’s sole discretion, in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock, with the balance payable in cash. The
actual number of shares of common stock issuable to PPG is determined based on the average closing price for the Company’s common
stock during a specified number of days prior to the end of each calendar half-year period ending on March 31 and September 30. If,
however, this average closing price is less than $20.00, the Company is required to compensate PPG in cash. No shares have been issued
for services rendered by PPG since the inception of the contract.
The Company is also required to reimburse PPG for raw materials used for research and development. The Company records the
purchases of these raw materials as a current asset until such materials are used for research and development efforts.
In February 2021, the Company entered into an amendment to the New OLED Materials Agreement extending the term of the
agreement and specifying operation and maintenance services to be provided by PPG affiliate, PPG SCM Ireland Limited (PPG SCM),
to UDC Ireland, at the Company’s manufacturing site in Shannon, Ireland that UDC Ireland’s wholly-owned subsidiary, OLED Material
Manufacturing Limited (OMM), began leasing at such time for the production of OLED materials. OMM purchased the site in September
2023 and the Company amended and restated the February 2021 amendment to reflect OMM’s ownership and PPG SCM’s updated
operation and maintenance services after such purchase. Facility improvements have been completed and operations commenced in
June 2022. As with the initial New OLED Materials Agreement, the Company compensates PPG on a cost-plus basis for the services
provided at the Shannon manufacturing facility.
The Company recorded research and development expense of $19.3 million, $9.1 million and $7.3 million for the years ended
December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, in relation to the cash portion of the reimbursement of expenses and work performed
by PPG, excluding amounts paid for commercial chemicals. The increase in PPG development activity during the year ended
December 31, 2024 was primarily due to new product development and commencement of development activities in Shannon, Ireland.
14.
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred Stock
The Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation authorize it to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of $0.01 par value
preferred stock with designations, rights and preferences determined from time-to-time by the Company’s Board of Directors.
F-25
Accordingly, the Company’s Board of Directors is empowered, without shareholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend,
liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights superior to those of shareholders of the Company’s common stock.
In 1995, the Company issued 200,000 shares of Series A Nonconvertible Preferred Stock (Series A) to American Biomimetics
Corporation (ABC) pursuant to a certain Technology Transfer Agreement between the Company and ABC. The Series A shares have a
liquidation value of $7.50 per share. Series A shareholders, as a single class, have the right to elect two members of the Company’s
Board of Directors. This right has never been exercised. Holders of the Series A shares are entitled to one vote per share on matters
which shareholders are generally entitled to vote. The Series A shareholders are not entitled to any dividends.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had issued 200,000 shares of preferred stock (consisting of the 200,000 shares of Series
A), all of which were outstanding.
Common Stock
The Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation authorize it to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of $0.01 par value
common stock. Each share of the Company’s common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters to be voted upon by the
shareholders.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had issued 48,834,541 shares of common stock, of which 47,468,893 were outstanding.
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company repurchased no shares of common stock.
Dividends
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company declared cash dividends of $1.60 per common share, or $77.0 million,
on the Company’s outstanding common stock. The Company paid out $76.2 million of cash dividends during the year ended
December 31, 2024.
On February 18, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a first quarter cash dividend of $0.45 per share to be paid on
March 31, 2025 to all shareholders of record of the Company's common stock as of the close of business on March 17, 2025. All future
dividends will be subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors.
F-26
15.
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS:
Amounts related to the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss were as follows (in thousands):
Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Available-for-
Sale-Securities
Net Unrealized
(Loss) Gain on
Retirement Plan (2)
Change in Cumulative
Foreign Currency
Translation Adjustment
Total
Affected Line items in the
Consolidated Statements of
Income
Balance January 1, 2022, net
of tax
$
(142 ) $
(18,019 ) $
(74 ) $
(18,235 )
Other comprehensive (loss)
gain
before reclassification
(7,745 )
5,971
(480 )
(2,254 )
Reclassification to net income
(1)
—
2,037
—
2,037
Selling, general
and administrative,
research and
development and
cost of sales
Change during period
(7,745 )
8,008
(480 )
(217 )
Balance December 31, 2022,
net of tax
(7,887 )
(10,011 )
(554 )
(18,452 )
Other comprehensive gain
before reclassification
8,745
7,207
418
16,370
Reclassification to net income
(1)
—
996
—
996
Selling, general
and administrative,
research and
development and
cost of sales
Change during period
8,745
8,203
418
17,366
Balance December 31, 2023,
net of tax
858
(1,808 )
(136 )
(1,086 )
Other comprehensive gain
(loss)
before reclassification
411
(559 )
(82 )
(230 )
Reclassification to net income
(1)
—
261
—
261
Selling, general
and administrative,
research and
development and
cost of sales
Change during period
411
(298 )
(82 )
31
Balance December 31, 2024,
net of tax
$
1,269 $
(2,106 ) $
(218 ) $
(1,055 )
(1)
The Company reclassified amortization of prior service cost, actuarial loss, curtailment charge and plan amendment cost for its retirement plan
from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income of $261,000, $1.0 million and $2.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2024,
2023 and 2022, respectively.
(2)
Refer to Note 17: Employee Retirement Plans
F-27
16.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION:
Equity Compensation Plan
On June 15, 2023, the shareholders of the Company voted to approve the Universal Display Corporation 2023 Equity
Compensation Plan (the “Equity Compensation Plan”), which replaced the Universal Display Corporation 2014 Equity Compensation
Plan. The Equity Compensation Plan provides for the granting of incentive and nonqualified stock options, shares of common stock,
stock appreciation rights and performance units to employees, directors and consultants of the Company. Stock options are exercisable
over periods determined by the Company’s Human Capital Committee, but for no longer than 10 years from the grant date. The total
number of shares that may be subject to awards under the Equity Compensation Plan is equal to the shares that were available for
issuance and not subject to an award under the 2014 Equity Compensation Plan at the time it was replaced by the Equity Compensation
Plan, subject to adjustment with respect to shares underlying any outstanding award granted under the Equity Compensation Plan or the
2014 Equity Compensation Plan that may expire, or be terminated, surrendered or forfeited for any reason, without issuance of such
shares. As of December 31, 2024, there were 1,362,361 shares that remained available to be granted under the Equity Compensation
Plan. The Equity Compensation Plan will terminate on June 15, 2033.
Restricted Stock Award and Units
The Company has issued restricted stock awards and units to employees and non-employees with vesting terms of one to five
years. The fair value is equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant for awards granted to employees.
Consistent with the accounting for equity-classified awards issued to employees, our equity-classified nonemployee share-based awards
are measured at the grant date fair value. Expense for restricted stock awards and units is amortized ratably over the vesting period for
the awards issued to employees and using a graded vesting method for the awards issued to non-employees.
The following table summarizes the activity related to restricted stock unit (RSU) share based payment awards:
Number of
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Unvested, January 1, 2024
216,486
$
149.68
Granted
103,344
177.65
Vested
(108,986 )
160.69
Forfeited
(16,473 )
156.11
Unvested, December 31, 2024
194,371
$
157.58
The weighted average grant-date fair value per unit of RSU awards granted was $177.65, $136.22 and $140.37 during the years
ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The grant date fair value of RSUs that vested during the year was $17.5 million
for the year ended December 31, 2024, $21.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $18.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 2022. The fair value of RSUs as of their respective vesting dates was $19.4 million for the year ended December 31,
2024, $18.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $15.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The following table summarizes the activity related to restricted stock award (RSA) share based payment awards:
Number of
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Unvested, January 1, 2024
17,547
$
170.96
Granted
1,616
185.82
Vested
(7,465 )
174.18
Forfeited
(11,698 )
170.96
Unvested, December 31, 2024
—
$
—
The weighted average grant-date fair value per award of RSA awards granted was $185.82, $126.87 and $148.35 during the years
ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The grant date fair value of RSAs that vested during the year was $1.3 million
for the year ended December 31, 2024, $3.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $8.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 2022. The fair value of RSAs as of their respective vesting dates was $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024,
$2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $6.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
F-28
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded, as compensation charges related to restricted
stock awards and units issued to employees and non-employees, selling, general and administrative expense of $14.8 million, $9.5
million and $14.3 million, respectively, cost of sales of $1.7 million, $1.9 million and $2.2 million, respectively, and research and
development expense of $5.3 million, $5.8 million and $6.1 million, respectively.
In connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards and units during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022,
38,728, 53,162 and 54,856 shares, respectively, with aggregate fair values of $7.0 million, $7.4 million and $8.4 million, respectively,
were withheld in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations and are reflected as a financing activity within the Consolidated Statements
of Cash Flows.
The Company has granted restricted stock units to non-employee members of the Board of Directors with quarterly vesting over
a period of approximately one year. The fair value is equal to the market price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant.
The restricted stock units are issued and expense is recognized ratably over the vesting period. For the years ended December 31, 2024,
2023 and 2022, the Company recorded compensation charges for services performed, related to all restricted stock units granted to non-
employee members of the Board of Directors, selling, general and administrative expense of $1.9 million, $1.5 million and $1.3 million,
respectively. In connection with the vesting of the restricted stock, the Company issued to non-employee members of the Board of
Directors 10,870, 13,016 and 8,784 shares during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
As of December 31, 2024, the total unrecognized expense related to all restricted stock awards and units was $19.1 million, which
the Company expects to recognize over a weighted average period of 1.73 years.
Performance Unit Awards
Each performance unit award is subject to both a performance-vesting requirement (either performance-based or market-based)
and a service-vesting requirement. The performance-based vesting requirement is tied to EBITDA and cash flow achievement, as
measured over a specific performance period. The market-based vesting requirement is tied to the Company's total shareholder return
(TSR) relative to the TSR of companies comprising the Nasdaq Electronics Components Index, as measured over a three-year
performance period. The maximum number of performance units that may vest based on performance is three times the shares granted.
Further, if the Company's performance falls below certain thresholds, the performance units will not vest at all.
The following table summarizes the activity related to performance unit awards (PSU) share based payment awards:
Number of
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Unvested, January 1, 2024
208,553
$
185.86
Granted
69,600
191.21
Vested
(18,722 )
220.11
Forfeited
(33,198 )
187.37
Unvested, December 31, 2024
226,233
$
180.24
During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company granted 69,600, 84,448 and 100,621 performance units,
respectively, of which 52,199, 63,335 and 75,465 units, respectively, are subject to performance-based vesting requirements and 17,401,
21,113 and 25,156 units, respectively, are subject to market-based vesting requirements, and which will vest over the terms described
above. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, there were none, none, and 1,268 incremental performance-based
shares, respectively, that vested resulting from an increased vesting factor based on Company performance. The weighted average grant
date fair value per unit of the performance unit awards granted was $191.21, $165.72 and $186.66 during the years ended December 31,
2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, as determined by the Company’s common stock on date of grant for the units with performance-
based vesting and a Monte-Carlo simulation for the units with market-based vesting. The grant date fair value of PSUs that vested during
the year was $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $1.9 million
for the year ended December 31, 2022. The fair value of PSUs as of their respective vesting dates was $3.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 2024, $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded, as compensation charges related to all
performance stock units, selling, general and administrative expense of $7.4 million, $2.6 million and $2.8 million, respectively, cost of
sales of $2.0 million, $770,000 and $940,000, respectively, and research and development expense of $3.2 million, $1.2 million and
$1.5 million, respectively.
F-29
In connection with the vesting of performance units during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, 8,160, 5,350 and
5,082 shares, respectively, with aggregate fair values of $1.4 million, $775,000 and $826,000, respectively, were withheld in satisfaction
of tax withholding obligations and are reflected as a financing activity within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
As of December 31, 2024, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to performance unit awards was $8.6 million,
which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted average period of 1.57 years.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
On April 7, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). The ESPP was
approved by the Company’s shareholders and became effective on June 25, 2009. The Company has reserved 1,000,000 shares of
common stock for issuance under the ESPP. Unless terminated by the Board of Directors, the ESPP will expire when all reserved shares
have been issued.
Eligible employees may elect to contribute to the ESPP through payroll deductions during consecutive three-month purchase
periods, the first of which began on July 1, 2009. Each employee who elects to participate will be deemed to have been granted an option
to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock on the first day of the purchase period. Unless the employee opts out during the
purchase period, the option will automatically be exercised on the last day of the period, which is the purchase date, based on the
employee’s accumulated contributions to the ESPP. The purchase price will equal 85% of the lesser of the closing price per share of
common stock on the first day of the period or the last business day of the period.
Employees may allocate up to 10% of their base compensation to purchase shares of common stock under the ESPP; however,
each employee may purchase no more than 12,500 shares on a given purchase date, and no employee may purchase more than $25,000
of common stock under the ESPP during a given calendar year.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company issued 15,230, 17,513 and 17,057 shares, respectively, of
its common stock under the ESPP, resulting in proceeds of $2.2 million, $2.0 million and $1.6 million, respectively. For the years ended
December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded charges of $130,000, $136,000 and $107,000, respectively, to selling,
general and administrative expense, $210,000, $167,000, $141,000, respectively, to cost of sales and $259,000, $240,000 and $224,000,
respectively, to research and development expense, related to the ESPP equal to the amount of the discount and the value of the look-
back feature.
Scientific Advisory Board Awards
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company granted a total of 1,616 and 2,366 shares, respectively, of
fully vested common stock to non-employee members of the Scientific Advisory Board for services performed in 2023 and 2022,
respectively. The fair value of the shares issued to members of the Scientific Advisory Board was $300,000 for both years ended
December 31, 2024 and 2023.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded as compensation charges related to all restricted
stock units awarded to non-employee members of the Scientific Advisory Board, whose unvested shares are marked-to-market each
reporting period, research and development expense of $242,000, $248,000 and $234,000, respectively.
17.
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS:
Defined Contribution Plan
The Company maintains the Universal Display Corporation 401(k) Plan (the Plan) in accordance with the provisions of Section
401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). The Plan covers substantially all full-time employees of the Company. Participants
may contribute up to 90% of their total compensation to the Plan, not to exceed the limit as defined in the Code. Once an employee is
eligible to participate in the Plan, the Company will make a non-elective contribution equal to 3% of the employee’s total compensation.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company contributed $1.7 million, $1.5 million and $1.4 million,
respectively, to the Plan.
Defined Benefit Plan
On March 18, 2010, the Human Capital Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company approved and adopted the
Universal Display Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP), effective as of April 1, 2010. On March 3, 2015, the
Human Capital Committee and the Board of Directors amended the SERP to include salary and bonus as part of the plan. Prior to this
F-30
amendment, the SERP benefit did not take into account any bonuses. The purpose of the SERP, which is unfunded, is to provide certain
of the Company’s key employees with supplemental pension benefits following a cessation of their employment and to encourage their
continued employment with the Company. As of December 31, 2024 there were seven participants in the SERP.
The SERP benefit is based on a percentage of the participant’s annual base salary and in certain cases, the participant's average
annual bonus for the most recent three fiscal years ending prior to the participant's date of termination of employment with the Company
for the life of the participant. For this purpose, annual base salary means 12 times the average monthly base salary paid or payable to
the participant during the 24-month period immediately preceding the participant’s date of termination of employment, or, if required,
the date of a change in control of the Company.
Under the SERP, if a participant resigns or is terminated without cause at or after age 65 and with at least 20 years of service, he
or she will be eligible to receive a SERP benefit. The benefit is based on a percentage of the participant’s annual base salary and bonus
for the life of the participant. This percentage is 50%, 25% or 15%, depending on the participant’s benefit class.
If a participant resigns at or after age 65 and with at least 15 years of service, he or she will be eligible to receive a prorated SERP
benefit. If a participant is terminated without cause or on account of a disability after at least 15 years of service, he or she will be eligible
to receive a prorated SERP benefit regardless of age. The prorated benefit in either case would be based on the participant’s number of
years of service (up to 20), divided by 20. In the event a participant is terminated for cause, his or her SERP benefit and any future
benefit payments are subject to immediate forfeiture.
The SERP benefit is payable in installments over 10 years, beginning at the later of age 65 or the date of the participant’s separation
from service. Payments are based on a present value calculation of the benefit amount for the actuarial remaining life expectancy of the
participant. This calculation is made as of the date benefit payments are to begin (later of age 65 or separation from service). If the
participant dies after reaching age 65, any future or remaining benefit payments are made to the participant’s beneficiary or estate. If the
participant dies before reaching age 65, the benefit is forfeited.
In the event of a change in control of the Company, each participant will become immediately vested in his or her SERP benefit.
Unless the participant’s benefit has already fully vested, if the participant has less than 20 years of service at the time of the change in
control, he or she will receive a prorated benefit based on his or her number of years of service (up to 20), divided by 20. If the change
in control qualifies as a “change in control event” for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, then each participant
(including former employees who are entitled to SERP benefits) will receive a lump sum cash payment equal to the present value of the
benefit immediately upon the change in control.
Certain of the Company’s executive officers are designated as special participants under the SERP. If these participants resign or
are terminated without cause after 20 years of service, or at or after age 65 and with at least 15 years of service, they will be eligible to
receive a SERP benefit. If they are terminated without cause or on account of a disability, they will be eligible to receive a prorated
SERP benefit regardless of age. The prorated benefit would be based on the participant’s number of years of service (up to 20), divided
by 20.
The SERP benefit for special participants is based on 50% of their annual base salary and bonus for their life and the life of their
surviving spouse, if any. Payments are based on a present value calculation of the benefit amount for the actuarial remaining life
expectancies of the participant and their surviving spouse, if any. If they die before reaching age 65, the benefit is not forfeited if the
surviving spouse, if any, lives until the participant would have reached age 65. If their spouse also dies before the participant would
have reached age 65, the benefit is forfeited.
The Company records amounts relating to the SERP based on calculations that incorporate various actuarial and other
assumptions, including discount rates, rate of compensation increases, retirement dates, and life expectancies. The net periodic costs are
recognized as employees render the services necessary to earn the SERP benefits.
In connection with the initiation and subsequent amendments of the SERP, the Company recorded cost related to prior service of
$2.3 million as accumulated other comprehensive loss as of December 31, 2024. The prior service cost is being amortized as a
component of net periodic pension cost over the average of the remaining service period of the employees expected to receive benefits
under the plan. The prior service cost expected to be amortized for the year ending December 31, 2025 is $23,000. In December 2022,
one of the participants retired and monthly SERP benefit payments commenced in January 2023. The total SERP benefit payments for
the year ended December 31, 2024 were $2.0 million.
F-31
Information relating to the Company’s plan is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of year
$
54,263
$
61,804
Service cost
837
951
Interest cost
2,641
2,898
Actuarial loss (gain)
737
(9,375 )
Benefit payments
(2,014 )
(2,015 )
Benefit obligation, end of year
56,464
54,263
Fair value of plan assets
—
—
Unfunded status of the plan, end of year
$
56,464
$
54,263
Current liability
$
2,014
$
2,014
Non-current liability
$
54,450
$
52,249
The accumulated benefit obligation for the plan was $54.9 million and $52.5 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023,
respectively. The actuarial gain of $9.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to a decrease in the total average
annual bonus for each of the participants during the most recent three fiscal years.
The components of net periodic pension cost were as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
2022
Service cost
$
837 $
951 $
1,287
Interest cost
2,641
2,898
1,383
Curtailment Charge
312
-
-
Amortization of prior service cost
33
815
1,119
Amortization of loss
—
480
1,487
Total net periodic benefit cost
$
3,823 $
5,144 $
5,276
The measurement date is the Company’s fiscal year end. The net periodic pension cost is based on assumptions determined at the
prior year end measurement date.
Assumptions used to determine the year end benefit obligation were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
Discount rate
5.20 %
4.74 %
Rate of compensation increases
3.50 %
3.50 %
Assumptions used to determine the net periodic pension cost were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
2022
Discount rate
4.74 %
4.94 %
2.16 %
Rate of compensation increases
3.50 %
3.50 %
3.50 %
Actuarial gains and losses are amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension cost over future
years based upon the average remaining service period of active plan participants, when the accumulation of such gains or losses exceeds
10% of the year end benefit obligation. The cost or benefit of plan changes that increase or decrease benefits for prior employee service
(prior service cost or credit) is included in the Company’s results of income on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service
period of active plan participants.
F-32
The estimated amounts to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into the net periodic pension cost in 2025 are
as follows (in thousands):
Amortization of prior service cost
$
23
Amortization of loss
—
Total
$
23
Benefit payments, which reflect estimated future service, are currently expected to be paid as follows (in thousands):
Year
Projected
Benefits
2025
$
2,014
2026
6,506
2027
6,887
2028
6,887
2029
6,887
2030-2034
36,112
Thereafter
14,351
18.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
Commitments
Under the current research agreement with USC, the Company is obligated to make certain payments to USC based on work
performed by it under that agreement, and by the University of Michigan (Michigan) under a subcontractor agreement that Michigan
has with USC.
Under the terms of the current license agreement among the Company, Princeton and USC, the Company makes royalty payments
to Princeton. See Note 11 for further explanation.
The Company has agreements with five executive officers and 11 senior level employees which provide for certain cash and other
benefits upon termination of employment of the officer or employee in connection with a change in control of the Company. If a covered
person’s employment is terminated in connection with the change in control, the person is entitled to a lump-sum cash payment equal
to two times (in the case of the executive officers) or either one or two times (in the case of the senior level employees) the sum of the
average annual base salary and bonus of the person and immediate vesting of all stock options and other equity awards that may be
outstanding at the date of the change in control, among other items.
In order to manage manufacturing lead times and help ensure adequate material supply, the Company entered into the New OLED
Materials Agreement (see Note 13) that allows PPG to procure and produce inventory based upon criteria as defined by the Company.
These purchase commitments consist of firm, noncancelable and unconditional commitments. In certain instances, this agreement allows
the Company the option to reschedule and adjust the Company’s requirements based on its business needs prior to firm orders being
placed. As of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company had purchase commitments for inventory of $46.5 million, $29.8 million
and $31.9 million, respectively.
Patent Related Challenges and Oppositions
Each major jurisdiction in the world that issues patents provides both third parties and applicants an opportunity to seek a further
review of an issued patent. The process for requesting and considering such reviews is specific to the jurisdiction that issued the patent
in question, and generally does not provide for claims of monetary damages or a review of specific claims of infringement. The
conclusions made by the reviewing administrative bodies tend to be appealable and generally are limited in scope and applicability to
the specific claims and jurisdiction in question.
The Company believes that opposition proceedings are frequently commenced in the ordinary course of business by third parties
who may believe that one or more claims in a patent do not comply with the technical or legal requirements of the specific jurisdiction
in which the patent was issued. The Company views these proceedings as reflective of its goal of obtaining the broadest legally
permissible patent coverage permitted in each jurisdiction. Once a proceeding is initiated, as a general matter, the issued patent continues
to be presumed valid until the jurisdiction’s applicable administrative body issues a final non-appealable decision. Depending on the
jurisdiction, the outcome of these proceedings could include affirmation, denial or modification of some or all of the originally issued
claims. The Company believes that as OLED technology becomes more established and its patent portfolio increases in size, so will the
number of these proceedings.
F-33
19.
CONCENTRATION OF RISK:
Revenues and accounts receivable from the Company's largest customers for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
were as follows (in thousands):
2024
2023
2022
Customer
% of Total
Revenue
Accounts
Receivable
% of Total
Revenue
Accounts
Receivable
% of Total
Revenue
Accounts
Receivable
A
43%
$
37,899
36%
$
38,105
41%
$
11,425
B
23%
25,751
23%
30,142
25%
24,440
C
16%
13,258
17%
38,529
16%
22,291
Revenues from outside of North America represented approximately 98%, 98%, and 97% of consolidated revenue for each of the
years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Revenues by geographic area are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Country
2024
2023
2022
South Korea
$
397,822 $
322,509 $
360,640
China
229,439
229,727
230,582
Japan
3,609
6,971
5,579
Other non-U.S. locations
2,456
4,411
3,829
Total non-U.S. locations
633,326
563,618
600,630
United States
14,358
12,811
15,989
Total revenue
$
647,684 $
576,429 $
616,619
The Company attributes revenue to different geographic areas on the basis of the location of the customer.
Property and equipment, net by geographic area are as follows (in thousands):
December 31,
Country
2024
2023
United States
$
117,496 $
118,250
Ireland
63,346
42,203
Other
14,397
14,697
Total long-lived assets
$
195,239
$
175,150
Substantially all chemical materials were purchased from one supplier. See Note 13.
20.
INCOME TAXES:
The components of income before income taxes are as follows (in thousands):
Year ended December 31,
2024
2023
2022
United States
$
72,823
$
71,514
$
77,205
Foreign
199,305
173,657
191,025
Income before income taxes
$
272,128
$
245,171
$
268,230
F-34
The components of the income tax expense are as follows (in thousands):
Year ended December 31,
2024
2023
2022
Current income tax (expense) benefit:
Federal
$
(34,199 ) $
(15,848 ) $
(51,980 )
State
(3,452 )
(3,048 )
(1,833 )
Foreign
(31,515 )
(27,030 )
(31,302 )
(69,166 )
(45,926 )
(85,115 )
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit:
Federal
16,799
(460 )
25,916
State
2,995
3,936
1,216
Foreign
(677 )
290
(186 )
19,117
3,766
26,946
Income tax expense
$
(50,049 ) $
(42,160 ) $
(58,169 )
Reconciliation of the statutory U.S. federal tax rate to the Company's effective tax rate is as follows:
Year ended December 31,
2024
2023
2022
Statutory U.S. federal income tax rate
21.0 %
21.0 %
21.0 %
Effect of foreign operations
(4.0 )
(4.0 )
(4.9 )
U.S. International Tax (Sub F, GILTI, FDII)
2.3
2.9
4.2
Research tax credits
(2.8 )
(2.4 )
(1.9 )
Redetermination of foreign tax credit utilization
—
(2.0 )
—
Nondeductible employee compensation
1.6
1.7
1.9
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
0.2
(0.2 )
0.1
Other
0.1
0.2
1.3
Effective tax rate
18.4 %
17.2 %
21.7 %
The following table summarizes Company tax credit carry forwards for tax return purposes as of December 31, 2024 (in
thousands):
Tax Benefit
Expiration Date
Tax credit carry forwards:
State research tax credits
$
9,356
2035-2039
Foreign tax credits
$
186
2032
Total credit carry forwards
$
9,542
F-35
Significant components of the Company's net deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
December 31,
2024
2023
Deferred tax asset:
Capitalized research expenditures
$
55,277
$
39,459
Retirement plan
13,633
12,555
Tax credit carry forwards
9,542
8,938
Accruals and reserves
6,988
7,180
Lease liabilities
6,073
6,671
Stock-based compensation
1,475
1,498
Deferred revenue
655
1,741
Other
2,783
1,362
96,426
79,404
Valuation allowance
(10,167 )
(9,551 )
Deferred tax assets
86,259
69,853
Deferred tax liability:
Lease Assets
(5,297 )
(6,302 )
Acquisition goodwill
(1,854 )
(1,549 )
Other
(788 )
(2,894 )
Deferred tax liabilities
(7,939 )
(10,745 )
Net deferred tax assets
$
78,320
$
59,108
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or
all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on the Company's ability
to generate future taxable income to obtain benefit from the reversal of temporary differences, net operating loss carryforwards and tax
credits. As part of its assessment, management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable
income, and tax planning strategies. During the year ended December 31, 2024, based on our previous earnings history, a current
evaluation of expected future taxable income and other evidence, we determined to retain the valuation allowance that relates to New
Jersey research and development credits and unrealized loss on investments. In addition, a portion of the investment loss was realized
resulting in a capital loss carryforward that is not more likely than not to be used within the carryforward period. As such, the company
provided a valuation allowance against the capital loss. There are no indicators against the realizability of the remaining net deferred tax
assets.
On December 27, 2018, the Korean Supreme Court, citing prior cases, held that only royalties paid with respect to Korean
registered patents are considered Korean source income and subject to Korean withholding tax under the applicable law and
interpretation of the Korea-U.S. Tax Treaty. The Company has incurred Korean withholding tax of $14.9 million for each of the years
ended December 31, 2018, through December 31, 2022. Based on the Korean Supreme Court decision, a tax refund request on behalf
of the Company was or will be filed with the Korean National Tax Service (KNTS) for the entire period from January 1, 2018, to
December 31, 2022. The Company received a formal rejection from the KNTS; and in May 2022 filed an appeal with the Korean Tax
Tribunal. On December 18, 2023, the Company received a formal rejection from the Tax Tribunal. Anticipating the rejection of the
appeal, in September 2023 the Company filed a petition to the District Court. The District Court is gathering information and has
scheduled another hearing for March 2025. The Company has been advised by a prominent Korean law firm that there is a more-likely-
than-not chance of success. As a result, the Company has recorded a long-term asset of $52.9 million and $60.1 million as of
December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively for the receipt of the Korean withholding tax. The Company also recorded foreign exchange
loss of $7.2 million and $732,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, due to the fluctuation of the Korean
Won to the U.S. Dollar and resulting remeasurement of this Won-denominated receivable. The Company will amend U.S. federal tax
returns for the 2018 to 2022 years when the anticipated refund from KNTS is received to offset the additional tax liability. The Company
has recorded a long-term liability of $15.7 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, for the estimated amounts due to the U.S. federal
government based on the amendment of the Company's U.S. tax returns, indicating that lower withholding amounts were required.
The Company is not subject to examinations by the federal tax authority for the years prior to 2021. The Company's state and
foreign tax returns are open for a period of generally three to four years. The Company closed an audit of the tax years 2019 and 2020
with the state of California, which resulted in no change to the return as filed.
The above estimates may change in the future and upon settlement.
F-36
21.
REVENUE RECOGNITION:
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The
standard establishes the principles that an entity shall apply to report useful information to users of financial statements about the nature,
amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows from a contract with a customer.
For each of the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded 98%, 97% and 97%, respectively, of its
revenue from OLED related sales and 2%, 3% and 3%, respectively, from the providing of services through Adesis.
Contract Balances
The following table provides information about assets and liabilities associated with the Company's contracts from customers (in
thousands):
As of December 31, 2024
Accounts receivable
$
113,648
Short-term unbilled receivables
30,473
Short-term contract assets
2,932
Long-term unbilled receivables
24,943
Long-term contract assets
6,528
Short-term deferred revenue
33,074
Long-term deferred revenue
537
Short-term and long-term unbilled receivables and contract assets are classified as other current assets and other assets,
respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Contract assets represent consideration related to the renewal of customer contracts
which is recognized over the contract term based on material units sold. The deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2024 will be
recognized as materials are shipped to customers over the remaining contract periods. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had
$19.5 million of backlog associated with committed purchase orders from its customers for phosphorescent emitter material. These
orders are anticipated to be fulfilled within the next 90 days.
Significant changes in the assets and liabilities balances associated with the Company's contracts from customers for the years
ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, 2024
Assets
Liabilities
Balance at December 31, 2023
$
42,134
$
(59,719 )
Revenue recognized that was previously included in deferred revenue, net
—
98,223
Increases due to cash received
—
(82,928 )
Cumulative catch-up adjustment arising from changes in estimates of
transaction price, net
—
10,813
Unbilled receivables recorded, net
165,781
—
Contract assets recorded, net
(2,516 )
—
Transferred to receivables from unbilled receivables
(140,523 )
Net change
22,742
26,108
Balance at December 31, 2024
$
64,876 $
(33,611 )
Year Ended December 31, 2023
Assets
Liabilities
Balance at December 31, 2022
$
38,457
$
(63,878 )
Revenue recognized that was previously included in deferred revenue, net
—
195,703
Increases due to cash received
—
(202,100 )
Cumulative catch-up adjustment arising from changes in estimates of
transaction price, net
—
10,556
Unbilled receivables recorded, net
41,659
—
Contract assets recorded, net
(2,407 )
—
Transferred to receivables from unbilled receivables
(35,575 )
Net change
3,677
4,159
Balance at December 31, 2023
$
42,134 $
(59,719 )
F-37
The cumulative catch-up adjustment arising from changes in estimates of transaction price, net was $10.8 million for the year
ended December 31, 2024 as compared to $10.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. These adjustments resulted from an
increase in the average price per gram that was primarily due to the decrease in anticipated demand by several of the Company's
customers over the remaining lives of their contracts.
22.
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:
The Company computes earnings per share in accordance with ASC Topic 260, Earnings per Share, which requires earnings per
share (EPS) for each class of stock to be calculated using the two-class method. The two-class method is an allocation of income between
the holders of common stock and the Company's participating security holders. Under the two-class method, income for the reporting
period is allocated between common shareholders and other security holders based on their respective participation rights in
undistributed income. Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents are
participating securities and, therefore, are included in computing earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method.
Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing net income allocated to common shareholders by the weighted-
average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period excluding unvested restricted stock units and performance units.
Net income allocated to the holders of the Company's unvested restricted stock awards is calculated based on the shareholders
proportionate share of weighted average shares of common stock outstanding on an if-converted basis.
For purposes of determining diluted net income per common share, basic net income per share is further adjusted to include the
effect of potential dilutive common shares outstanding, including restricted stock units, performance units and the impact of shares to
be issued under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
The following table is a reconciliation of net income and the shares used in calculating basic and diluted net income per common
share for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands, except share and per share data):
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
2022
Numerator:
Net income
$
222,079 $
203,011 $
210,061
Adjustment for Basic EPS:
Earnings allocated to unvested shareholders
(526 )
(993 )
(1,215 )
Adjusted net income
$
221,553 $
202,018 $
208,846
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding – Basic
47,548,931
47,559,669
47,390,352
Effect of dilutive shares:
Common stock equivalents arising from stock options and ESPP
1,780
2,173
2,340
Restricted stock awards and units and performance units
101,951
60,921
75,815
Weighted average common shares outstanding – Diluted
47,652,662
47,622,763
47,468,507
Net income per common share:
Basic
$
4.66 $
4.25 $
4.41
Diluted
$
4.65 $
4.24 $
4.40
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the combined effects of unvested restricted stock awards, restricted stock
units, performance unit awards and stock options of 18,015, 36,345 and 122,843, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of
diluted EPS as their impact would have been antidilutive.
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CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Princeton Crossroads Corporate Center
250 Phillips Boulevard
Ewing, NJ 08618
phone: 609.671.0980
fax: 609.671.0995
www.oled.com
CORPORATE COUNSEL
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
KPMG LLP
1735 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
TRANSFER AGENT & REGISTRAR
Equiniti Trust Company LLC
55 Challenger Road, Floor 2
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660
INQUIRIES
Inquiries concerning stock transfers, change of address and any
other account questions should be directed to:
Equiniti Trust Company LLC
55 Challenger Road, Floor 2
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660
phone: 800.937.5449 (toll-free), 718.921.8124 (local)
email: helpast@equiniti.com
All other investor inquiries should be directed to:
Universal Display Corporation
Investor Relations Department
250 Phillips Boulevard
Ewing, NJ 08618
phone: 609.964.5123
email: investor@oled.com