UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

 

Form 10-K

 

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-29440

 

 

 

 

SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

+49 89 95 95 5000

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, $0.001 par value, and associated Preferred Share Purchase Rights

(Title of Class)

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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 þ     No o

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Based on the closing sale price of the Registrant’s Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market System on June 30, 2008, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $35,159,238.

 

At March 23, 2009, the registrant had outstanding 15,743,515 shares of Common Stock.          

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCM Microsystems, Inc.

 

Form 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

SCM, the SCM logo, @MAXX, CHIPDRIVE, and SmartOS are registered trademarks and Opening the Digital World is a trademark of SCM Microsystems, Inc. Other product and brand names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the documents incorporated by reference in this Annual Report, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For example, statements, other than statements of historical facts regarding our strategy, future operations and growth, financial position, projected results, estimated revenues or losses, projected costs, prospects, plans, market trends, competition and objectives of management constitute forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “believe,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “may,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Although we believe that our expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements that we make in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our expectations change, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. We also caution you that such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, not all of which are known to us or within our control, and that actual events or results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. We disclose some of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations in the “Customers,” “Research and Development,” “Competition,” “Proprietary Information and Technology” and “Risk Factors” sections and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These cautionary statements qualify all of the forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.

 

 

Overview

 

SCM Microsystems, Inc. (“SCM,” the “Company,” “we” and “us”) was founded in 1990 in Munich, Germany and incorporated in 1996 under the laws of the state of Delaware. We design, develop and sell hardware and system solutions that enable people to conveniently and securely access digital content and services. We sell our secure digital access products in two market segments: Secure Authentication and Digital Media and Connectivity.

 

 

We sell our Secure Authentication products primarily to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) that typically either bundle our products with their own solutions, or repackage our products for resale to their customers. Our OEM customers typically sell our smart card reader technology to government contractors, systems integrators, large enterprises and computer manufacturers, as well as to banks and other financial institutions. In some cases, we also sell directly to system integrators and government contractors. We sell our CHIPDRIVE

 

 

¹ We revised our name for this market segment to “Secure Authentication” to better reflect the broader range of applications we now address, including contactless payment, electronic healthcare, logical and physical access and other applications that require secure authentication of users.

² We revised our name for this market segment to “Digital Media and Connectivity” to reflect the benefits of our readers as connectivity solutions.

solutions through resellers and the Internet. We sell our digital media readers primarily to major brand computer and photo processing equipment manufacturers. We sell and license our products through a direct sales and marketing organization, as well as through distributors, value added resellers and systems integrators worldwide.

 

On October 1, 2008, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with TranZfinity, Inc. (“TranZfinity”), pursuant to which SCM purchased 10 million shares of TranZfinity common stock, or 33.7% of TranZfinity’s outstanding shares (16.67% on a fully diluted basis), for an aggregate purchase price of $2.5 million. The transaction closed on October 2, 2008. We also entered into a Stockholders Agreement with TranZfinity and certain other stockholders of TranZfinity, which sets forth certain rights and privileges of SCM and the other stockholders of TranZfinity, including rights and privileges with respect to the composition of TranZfinity’s Board of Directors.

 

On December 10, 2008, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Hirsch Electronics Corporation (“Hirsch”), a privately held California Corporation that manufactures and sells physical access control and other security management systems. Our special meeting of stockholders to vote upon the merger was adjourned on March 23, 2009, and a new meeting is scheduled for April 16, 2009. We expect the closing of the proposed merger to occur once certain closing conditions have been met. Upon the closing of the proposed merger, Hirsch is expected to become a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of SCM and the securityholders of Hirsch will receive cash, shares of SCM common stock and warrants to purchase SCM common stock as consideration for the merger. For further discussion of the proposed merger, see Growth Strategies in Part I, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Recent Trends and Strategies for Growth

 

In 2006 and 2007, we directed significant attention to improving the efficiency of our operations, which resulted in a reduction in expenses from previous levels, close management of continuing expenditures and ongoing reductions in product and manufacturing costs. Top line revenue growth has been more difficult to effect, as U.S. and European government programs, which comprise a significant portion of our sales, have remained unpredictable in terms of timing and in some cases have experienced protracted delays.

 

In late 2007, we embarked on a multi-pronged strategy to expand and diversify our customer base, fully capture emerging market opportunities and accelerate long-term growth. The primary component of the strategy is the development of a range of new contactless and near field communication (NFC) infrastructure products to enable fast growing contactless applications and services for the electronic transaction market (including payment and ticketing), government and enterprise customers. Additionally, we are developing programs to market our existing product offerings into new geographic regions. To ensure appropriate resources for our contactless and expansion strategies, we have strengthened our management team with the addition of marketing, engineering and product management professionals from the contactless industry to execute our contactless product roadmap, including the hiring of our CEO, Felix Marx, in October 2007. Further, we have adopted a more active approach to partnering with other companies that can provide complementary resources and strengths. For example, in mid-2008, we collaborated with XIRING, a French security solutions company, to develop a mobile eHealth terminal for the German electronic health card system. In April 2008, we began working with TranZfinity, a provider of e-payment transactions solutions, to develop our @MAXX^® family of contactless readers and to provide application services for those readers; and in October 2008 we took an equity position in TranZfinity, as described above.

 

An additional component of our multi-pronged growth strategy is to actively seek merger and acquisition opportunities to expand our business, reinforce our market position in targeted areas and fully leverage our strengths and opportunities, such as our proposed merger with Hirsch, as described above. We believe our proposed merger with Hirsch supports our growth strategy, as we anticipate it will nearly double our revenues, diversify our customer base and position our company to better address the growing market demand for solutions that address both IT security and physical access.

 

We have been investing in new products, resources, programs and business development activities to support the growth strategies described above and in 2008 this has resulted in increased operating expenses year over year. We believe these investments are critical to the success of our growth strategies and we expect to continue to invest in these strategies in the future.

Overview of the Market for Secure Access and Authentication Solutions

 

Individuals, businesses, governments and educational institutions increasingly rely upon computer networks, the Internet and intranets for information, entertainment and services. The proliferation of and reliance upon electronic data and electronic transactions has created an increasing need to protect the integrity of digital data, as well as to control access to electronic networks and the devices that connect to them. For government entities and large corporate enterprises, there is a need to restrict and manage access to shared networks and intranets to prevent loss of proprietary data. In addition, there is a need to manage and monitor access to information stored on identification cards used in new government-driven programs around the world, such as electronic passports, driver’s licenses, citizen identification and electronic healthcare cards. In some cases, there may also be a need to expand the capability of electronic networks to protect or restrict access to physical facilities for corporate employees or government personnel. Finally, for consumers and online merchants or banks, there is a need to authenticate credit cardholders or bank clients for Internet-based or other electronic transactions without jeopardizing sensitive personal account information. In each of these areas, standards- based devices that easily interface with a PC or network to provide secure, controlled access to digital content or services are an easily deployed and effective solution.

 

The proliferation of personal computers in both the home and office, coupled with the increasing availability of personal devices that enable access to computer networks and the Internet, have created significant opportunities for electronic transactions of all sorts, including electronic payment, ticketing, e-government, electronic healthcare access and mobile banking. In government agencies and corporate enterprises, the desire to link disparate divisions or offices, reduce paperwork and streamline operations is also leading to the adoption of more computer- and network-based programs and processes. Network-based programs are also used to track and manage data about large groups of people; for example, citizens of a particular country. While the benefits of computer networks may be significant, network and Internet-based transactions also pose a significant threat of fraud, eavesdropping and data theft for both groups and individuals. To combat this threat, parties at both ends of the transaction must be assured of its integrity. Online merchants and consumers need assurance that customers are correctly identified and that the authenticity and confidentiality of information, such as a credit card number, is established and maintained. Corporate, government and other networks need security systems that safeguard the data of individuals and protect the network from manipulation or abuse, both from within and without the system.

 

Increasingly, large organizations such as corporations, government agencies and banks are adopting systems that protect the network, the information in it and the people using it by authenticating each user as the user logs on and off the network. Authentication of a user’s identity is typically accomplished by one of two approaches: passwords, which are codes known only by specific users; and tokens, which are user-specific physical devices that only authorized users possess. Passwords, while easier to use, are also less secure because they tend to be short and static, and are often transmitted without encryption. As a result, passwords are vulnerable to decoding or observation and subsequent use by unauthorized persons. Tokens range from simple thumb-sized objects to more complex devices capable of generating time-synchronized or challenge-response access codes. Certain token-based systems require both possession of the token itself and a personal identifier, such as a fingerprint or personal identification number, or PIN, to indicate that the token is being used by an authorized user. Such an approach, referred to as two-factor authentication, provides much greater security than single factor systems such as passwords or the simple possession of a token.

 

One example of a token used in two-factor authentication is the smart card, which contains an embedded microprocessor, memory and a secure operating system. In addition to their security capabilities, smart cards are able to store data such as account information, healthcare records, merchant coupons, still or video images and, in some cases, cash. Smart cards are typically about the size of a credit card and can easily be carried in a wallet or attached to a badge. Smaller cards designed for use with devices such as mobile phones are also increasingly being utilized. Depending on the application for which they are being used, smart cards can be designed to insert into a reader attached to a PC or other device, or can include wireless capabilities for contactless interface. Worldwide shipments of smart cards reached 4.5 billion in 2007 and are estimated to grow to nearly 5.4 billion in 2009 for applications ranging from mobile communications to corporate security to online banking, according to the European smart card industry organization, Eurosmart. Demand for readers used in conjunction with those cards is also expected to grow. For example, research firm Frost & Sullivan estimates that the worldwide volume of smart

card reader units will grow from 15.1 million in 2007 to 37.7 million in 2011. The combination of smart cards and readers provides a secure solution for network access, personal identification, electronic commerce and other transactions where authentication of the user is critical.

 

Market Opportunities

 

The market for secure access and authentication solutions in which we participate is experiencing unprecedented expansion, fueled by a few major trends: First, there are an increasing number of large government initiatives throughout the world, such as the Presidential Directive on Homeland Security (“HSPD-12”) in the U.S., the global mandate for electronic passports, national identification programs worldwide, and electronic healthcard (“eHealth”) programs in Germany, France and other European countries. Second, the demand for contactless devices that operate without a physical connection between the card and reader is also growing rapidly. Major deployments of contactless smart cards for payment, transport and electronic identification programs such as the forthcoming German national identification card, are driving growth in the market overall and compelling the industry to transition from the current environment of contact card interface to a contactless infrastructure. Third, NFC, a wireless connectivity technology that enables convenient short-range communications between electronic devices, is expected to become widely used on a global basis to enable contactless applications from mobile phones. This will require a major upgrade of legacy infrastructures to fully enable NFC applications such as payment, ticketing and customer loyalty/reward programs, and will create new markets for contactless infrastructure and NFC tokens.

 

Government Initiatives

 

In countries around the world, local and federal governments are utilizing smart card technology to authenticate citizens, employees or military personnel for programs such as network or physical access control, national ID, healthcare, storing digital certificates for online transactions, residency permits and visas and driver’s licenses. According to IMS Research Group, more than one billion smart cards will be used in identity programs by governments and other public bodies worldwide by 2010.

 

To date, the largest and one of the most advanced deployments of smart cards for digital security purposes has been the U.S. Department of Defense’s Common Access Card (“CAC”) program. Beginning in October 2000, the U.S. Department of Defense has distributed more than 17 million smart cards to military personnel and contractors. These cards are being used as the standard identification credential for military personnel, and are also being used for secure authentication and network access. In compliance with HSPD-12, since late 2006, the CAC card also has served as a standard identity credential that is both secure and interoperable across all federal agencies, regardless of which agency issued the card. To satisfy the technical requirements of HSPD-12, the National Institute for Standards and Technology developed Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 201— a U.S. federal government standard specifying personal identity verification requirements for federal employees and contractors. Under these specifications, personal identity verification cards must also include capabilities for contactless interface with security terminals at doorways and other entrances to provide secure physical access at government facilities.

 

In order to comply with HSPD-12, government facilities are replacing their existing access control credentials with personal identity verification cards and their existing CAC card readers with new FIPS 201-compliant smart card readers. The U.S. government’s decision to deploy an integrated, agency-wide, common smart card platform will continue to raise the awareness of smart card technology, and hence increase the demand for contactless smart card proximity readers in both public and private sectors, according to IMS Research Group.

 

Internationally, countries around the world have been working together under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organization over the last several years to define and develop standards for electronic passports based on contactless smart card technology. The goal of the program is to ensure that these e-passports cannot be copied or altered, and that the biometric facial image stored on the card could be used to positively identify the holder. With implementations beginning in 2005, more than 50 countries worldwide now issue electronic passports, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Macao, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

Countries around the world are also utilizing smart cards as identification credentials for programs such as national identification, residency and driver’s licenses. Electronic identification allow governments to better control the issuance of such identification credentials while enabling cardholders to remotely access government services. Countries utilizing electronic national identification cards include Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Countries issuing electronic driver’s licenses include Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

 

Many governments are also evaluating or making plans to develop electronic healthcare insurance and record systems, which would include smart card-based healthcare cards for participants. Mexico, China, India, Russia and Taiwan, as well as several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Turkey and the United Kingdom, are among the countries and regions that have already deployed or will deploy electronic healthcare cards to millions of healthcare users. These cards identify the user and store insurance and medical information that can be accessed by doctors and hospitals, among others. To date, one of the largest programs under development is in Germany, where pilot tests were set up in 2007. The German government plans to distribute 82 million new eHealth cards to citizens beginning in early 2009 and to put in place a corresponding network and card reader infrastructure for doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other healthcare providers during 2009.

 

Growth in the Contactless Market

 

With the mass deployment of electronic passport schemes on a global basis, contactless smart chip technology has proven its maturity and reliability when incorporated in secure documents. As a result other sovereign documents like national ID, driver licenses, residence permits, weapon licenses and the like are migrating to chip-based technology. The majority of new e-government implementations around the world have chosen contactless interface. Estimates from NXP Semiconductors predict that the growth of electronic identification solutions between 2006 and 2012 will be overwhelmingly contactless (an 80% growth rate) compared to a 37% growth rate for contact electronic identification.

 

In the financial industry, major credit card companies in many parts of the world are embracing smart card technology as a more secure way to safeguard electronic transactions and address the problems of fraud, identity theft and protection of privacy, the cost of which can be significant. The majority of credit cards issued worldwide now comply with the Europay Mastercard Visa standard for securing financial transactions using a smart card.

 

Along with the move to more secure chip-based payment cards, there is an increasing preference for the convenience of contactless systems to facilitate payments. In part, this is being fueled by a desire on the part of consumers to replace cash payments with electronic payments in a number of daily transactions, particularly those of small value. Over the last two years, electronic payment programs featuring cards equipped with contactless technology, such as such as Visa^® payWave^tm and MasterCard^® PayPass^tm, have become widespread in Europe and Asia and are expected to generate significant demand worldwide for smart cards and related technology going forward.

 

Contactless transactions are being made more convenient with the emergence of mobile phones as a logical and leading platform to enable secure electronic payments. With “smart device” capabilities, the mobile phone enables consumers to purchase goods and services electronically and conveniently, while ensuring security through individual authentication of the user. In effect, the mobile phone becomes an electronic wallet. Integration of contactless payment technology into mobile phones is expected to further spur demand for contactless technology over the next several years. According to the research firm Gartner Group, the number of consumers using mobile payment services via mobile phones and other devices is expected to grow from 32.9 million users in 2008 to 103.9 million in 2011.

 

There is significant long-term opportunity for companies that can provide contactless solutions that enable mobile phones and other personal devices to support secure electronic payment and banking transactions.

 

Major contactless technology standards include ISO14443 A and B, MIFARE^tm, FeliCa^®. In Japan, the contactless technology standard known as FeliCa is widely used for applications such as payment, transport, loyalty

and mobile communications. Developed by Sony, FeliCa is the most mature contactless technology in the world today. Growth in FeliCa-enabled devices both within and beyond Japan is expected to be significant over the next several years.

 

Growth in Near Field Communication Market

 

As noted above, mobile phones are emerging as the preferred platform to enable contactless applications, in particular secure electronic payments. NFC is fast becoming the preferred technology to enable secure short-range wireless connectivity for mobile phones and other personal mobile devices. Based on the 13.56 Mhz frequency, NFC is a wireless connectivity technology with a short-range of one to four inches. An NFC device can communicate with both existing ISO 14443 smart cards and readers, as well as with other NFC devices, and is thereby compatible with existing contactless infrastructures already in use for public transportation and payment. According to ABI Research, the volume of NFC-enabled chipsets supporting the mobile phone market will grow from zero units in 2005 to 419 million units in 2012, an average annual growth rate of 161%.

 

Smart USB Tokens

 

As a result of the major trends driving growth in secure access and authentication solutions described above, there is complementary and growing demand for small, portable tokens that bridge the gap between NFC-enabled mobile phones and a notebook or desktop PC. Smart USB tokens combine mobility with the ease of a USB interface to PCs and other computing devices and the capability to accept a smart card in either standard size or the smaller SIM card format. Such tokens secure authentication for applications including banking, payment, access control and data storage.

 

SCM’s Secure Authentication Products

 

We offer a full range of smart card reader technology solutions to address the need for smart card-based security for a range of applications and environments, including PCs, networks, physical facilities and authentication programs. Our products include both contact and contactless smart card readers and terminals, USB tokens, application specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”) and small office productivity packages based on smart cards, sold under our CHIPDRIVE brand. We sell our readers and terminals, tokens and ASICs primarily to PC OEMs, smart card solutions providers and government systems integrators to support specific programs, such as e-health cards, secure mobile banking or the U.S. government personal identity verification program; as well as to OEMs that incorporate our products into their devices, such as PCs or keyboards. We sell our CHIPDRIVE small office productivity packages primarily to end users via retail channels and the Internet. Sales of our Secure Authentication products accounted for approximately 84% of our total revenue in 2008, approximately 80% in 2007 and approximately 71% in 2006. Additional discussion of our Secure Authentication business is contained in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Smart Card Readers

 

SCM is one of the world’s leading suppliers of smart card readers for security-oriented applications. Our smart card readers are hardware devices that connect either externally or internally with a computer or other processing platform to verify the identity of, or authenticate, the user, and thus control access. Much like a lock works with a key, SCM’s readers work with a smart card to admit or deny access to a computer or network, or to authenticate the card holder for identification and access to facilities, programs or services. They offer incremental levels of protection against unauthorized use, from simple PC Card reader devices to more complex PIN entry systems, which require both a smart card and a user’s personal identification number to authenticate the user. Our readers are utilized to authenticate users in order to support security programs and applications for corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. These security programs and applications include secure network logon; personal identification for programs such as healthcare delivery, driver’s licenses and electronic passports; secure mobile banking; digital signatures; and secure e-commerce.

 

SCM’s reader devices employ an open-systems architecture that provides compatibility across a range of hardware platforms and software environments and accommodates remote upgrades so that compatibility can be

maintained as the security infrastructure evolves. We have made significant investments in software embedded within our products to enable our smart card readers and components to read the majority of smart cards in the world, regardless of manufacturer or application. Our smart card readers are also available with a variety of interfaces, including biometric (fingerprint), wireless/contactless, keypad, USB, PCMCIA, ExpressCard^® and serial port, and offer various combinations of interfaces integrated into one device in order to further increase the level of security.

 

SCM’s smart card reader product line includes:

 

 

SCM’s smart card readers are developed in compliance with relevant industry standards related to the applications for which they will be used, including PC/SC, Europay Mastercard Visa, FINREAD and Common Criteria. For example, many of our readers, including the SCRx31 Secure Card Reader line, conform to Europay Mastercard Visa international standards for financial transactions. We typically customize our smart card readers with unique casing designs and configurations to address the specific requirements of each customer.

 

Smart USB Tokens

 

SCM’s @MAXX family of personal contactless tokens is designed to securely support a broad range of applications. When connected to a PC, the tokens support the establishment of a secure channel to content and services available on the PC or a remote system. Unplugged, they fully leverage existing contactless infrastructures by enabling multiple services and applications such as contactless payment, contactless public transport ticketing or access to facilities. A planned NFC version of the @MAXX token is designed to enable legacy infrastructures (such as PCs or point of sales terminals) to become NFC enabled devices and, for example, enable smart phones that are not equipped with NFC to become NFC-enabled mobile devices, provided there is a USB connection.

ASICs/Chip Sets

 

SCM’s ASICs provide smart card interface capabilities for embedded platforms, such as desktop computers or keyboards. We offer two levels of ASICs to provide both basic smart card interface capability and support for multiple interfaces and reader devices. All of SCM’s ASICs comply with all relevant security standards for applications in the smart card industry. In addition, our advanced chip allows on-board flash upgrades for future firmware and application enhancements. We have a unique position in the market, with the ability to offer dedicated smart reader/writer, single chip solutions with embedded FLASH for secure firmware upgrade in the field (to prevent obsolescence) for our own products as well as to be integrated in PCs, keyboards and other devices.

 

CHIPDRIVE Productivity Solutions

 

We offer several CHIPDRIVE packages, consisting of smart cards, readers and software applications, for small and medium-sized businesses. These products support applications such as smart card-enabled logon to Microsoft^® Windows^® and smart card-based, secure electronic time recording.

 

Overview of the Market for Digital Media Connectivity Solutions

 

Digital cameras have rapidly saturated the consumer market over the last few years, with 80% of U.S. households predicted to own a digital camera by 2010, according to Gartner Group. Camera phones have also gained rapid popularity; in fact, 15% of consumers declare their phones to be their primary picture-taking device, according to an October 2007 survey from InfoTrends. InfoTrends estimates that U.S. output of digital photo prints will grow from 13.2 billion prints in 2005 to 16 billion by 2009. Digital flash media cards, which store digital images on the majority of digital cameras and some camera phones, are the key driver behind digital print growth. Higher capacity memory cards allow digital camera users to take more pictures before having to download images or swap out the card. As card capacities increase, more time is needed to download images. This uses more of the camera’s battery life, which already may be insufficient for many camera owners. To print without draining the camera battery, the digital flash media card can be removed and inserted into a card reader — on a PC, printer or kiosk — to download and print images.

 

Retail photo kiosks and minilabs, which give instant, high-quality printouts of digital images, make printing photos more convenient for the consumer and typically provide higher quality prints than home printers. As flash memory card capacities increase and digital cameras continue to proliferate, SCM believes consumers will increasingly use photo kiosks and minilabs to download and print their digital pictures. Each photo kiosk or minilab requires a variety of media card readers to download images from the various media cards in use in digital cameras on the market.

 

SCM’s Digital Media and Connectivity Products

 

SCM offers digital media readers that provide an interface to the various formats of digital media cards to download digital images and other content. We sell our digital media readers primarily to photo kiosk manufacturers. Our digital media readers allow photo kiosk makers and others to build digital flash media interface capabilities into their products and provide interface capabilities for all major memory card formats, including PCMCIA I and II, CompactFlash^® I and II, MultiMediaCardtm, Secure Digital Card^®, SmartMedia^tm, Sony Memory Stick^® and xD-Picture Card^tm. Sales of our Digital Media and Connectivity products accounted for approximately 16% of our total revenue in 2008, approximately 20% in 2007 and approximately 29% in 2006. Additional discussion of our Digital Media and Connectivity business is contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

SCM’s digital media readers leverage our interface chips to enable each reader slot to read multiple types of cards. Our digital media reader product line includes:

 

 

 

Technology

 

Many of the markets in which we participate are in their early stages of development and it is expected that they will continue to evolve. For example, early markets typically require complete hardware solutions, but over time requirements shift to critical components such as silicon or software as OEM customers increase their knowledge and sales volumes of the technologies being provided. We are committed to developing products using standards compliant technologies. Our core technologies, listed below, leverage our development efforts to benefit customers across our product lines and markets.

 

Silicon Strategy

 

We have implemented a number of core interface and processing technologies into our silicon chips. We have also selected what we believe to be the best available silicon from outside suppliers based on desired functionality, and have embedded our core interface and processing technologies in order to meet time-to-market requirements. We currently utilize the foundry services of external suppliers to produce our ASICs for smart cards readers, and we use chips and antenna components from third-party suppliers in our contactless smart card readers. We expect to continue to maintain a balance between our own silicon and the use of third-party devices.

 

Firmware and Drivers

 

For our Secure Authentication products, including contact and contactless readers, we have developed interface technology that provides interoperability between PCs and smart cards from many different smart card manufacturers and with many different operating systems. SCM’s interoperable architecture includes an International Standards Organization-compliant layer as well as an additional layer for supporting non-International Standard Organization-compliant smart cards. Through proprietary integrated circuits and firmware, our smart card readers can be updated electronically to accommodate new types of smart cards without the need to change the reader’s hardware. For our Digital Media and Connectivity products, we have developed interface technology that provides interoperability and compatibility between various digital appliances, computer platforms and flash memory cards. For complex terminals for electronic healthcare and other markets, we have chosen to use Linux^®-based embedded firmware, which helps to provide the base layers for writing higher levels of application software. All SCM products are offered with the necessary device drivers for major operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Windows Vista^tm, Linux and MAC OS^®.

 

Complete Hardware Solutions

 

We provide complete hardware solutions for a range of secure digital access applications, and can customize these solutions in terms of physical design and product feature set to accommodate the specific requirements of each customer. For example, we have designed and manufactured smart card readers that incorporate specific features, such as a transparent case and removable USB cable, to address the needs of specific OEM customers.

 

Customers

 

Our products are targeted at government contractors and systems integrators, as well as manufacturers of computers, computer components, consumer electronics and photo processing equipment. Sales to a relatively small number of customers historically have accounted for a significant percentage of our total sales. Sales to our top ten customers accounted for approximately 58% of revenue in fiscal 2008, 61% of revenue in fiscal 2007 and 53% of revenue in fiscal 2006. In 2008, Tx Systems, Inc and Flextronics America, LLC (formerly Solectron) each accounted for more than 10% of revenue. In 2007, Envoy Data Corporation accounted for more than 10% of revenue. In 2006, Flextronics America, LLC accounted for more than 10% of revenue. We expect that sales of our products to a limited number of customers will continue to account for a high percentage of our total sales for the

foreseeable future. The loss or reduction of orders from a significant customer, including losses or reductions due to manufacturing, reliability or other difficulties associated with our products, changes in customer buying patterns, or market, economic or competitive conditions in the digital information security business, could harm our business and operating results.

 

Sales and Marketing

 

We utilize a direct sales and marketing organization, supplemented by distributors, value added resellers, systems integrators, resellers and Internet sales. As of December 31, 2008, SCM had 38 full-time employees engaged in sales and marketing activities. Our direct sales staff solicits prospective customers, provides technical advice and support with respect to our products and works closely with customers, distributors and OEMs. In support of our sales efforts, we conduct sales training courses, targeted marketing programs and advertising, and ongoing customer and third-party communications programs, and we participate in trade shows.

 

Backlog

 

We typically do not maintain a significant level of backlog. As a result, revenue in any quarter depends on contracts entered into or orders booked and shipped in that quarter. Sales are made primarily pursuant to purchase orders for current delivery or agreements covering purchases over a period of time. Our customer contracts generally do not require fixed long-term purchase commitments. In view of our order and shipment patterns, and because of the possibility of customer changes in delivery schedules or cancellation of orders, we do not believe that such agreements provide meaningful backlog figures or are necessarily indicative of actual sales for any succeeding period.

 

Collaborative Industry Relationships

 

We are a contributor in various national and global standardization bodies and industry consortia, and are party to collaborative arrangements with a number of third parties. We evaluate, on an ongoing basis, potential strategic alliances and intend to continue to pursue such relationships. Our future success will depend in part on the success of our current arrangements and our ability to establish additional arrangements. These arrangements may not result in commercially successful products.

 

DIN — SCM is a member of DIN, the German Institute for Standardization, which develops norms and standards as a service to industry, the state and society as a whole. A registered non-profit association, DIN has been based in Berlin since 1917. DIN’s primary task is to work closely with its stakeholders to develop consensus-based standards that meet market requirements. Some 26,000 experts contribute their skills and experience to the standardization process. By agreement with the German federal government, DIN is the acknowledged national standards body that represents German interests in European and international standards organizations. 90% of the standards work now carried out by DIN is international in nature.

 

NETC@RDS — SCM is a member of the NETC@RDS initiative, which is devoted to establishing improved health care access and administration procedures for mobile citizens in the European Union (EU), using the electronic European Health Insurance Card. We are a technology provider to the NETC@RDS project and have participated in market validation tests which included 85 pilot sites in 10 EU member states.

 

NFC Forum — SCM is a principal member of the NFC Forum and was recently named chair of the NFC Forum’s Devices Working Group. The NFC Forum is a non-profit industry association whose mission is to advance the use of NFC technology by developing specifications, ensuring interoperability among devices and services, and educating the market about NFC technology, which is a type of radio frequency technology that allows for secure transference of data between a card and reader over distances of not more than a few inches, and is an important technology for contactless payment applications. The NFC Forum consists of 150+ global member companies, including leading mobile communications, semiconductor and consumer electronics firms. NFC Forum members are currently developing specifications for a modular NFC device architecture, protocols for interoperable data exchange and device-independent service delivery, device discovery, and device capability.

PCMCIA — SCM is a member of the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, or PCMCIA, an international standards body and trade association with more than 100 member companies. We have been a member of PCMCIA since 1990. PCMCIA was founded in 1989 to establish standards for integrated circuit cards and to promote interchangeability among mobile PCs.

 

PC/SC Workgroup — SCM is an associate member of the PC/SC workgroup, a consortium of technology companies that seeks to set the standard for integrating smart cards and smart card readers into the mainstream computing environment.

 

Share Security Formats Cooperation (SSFC) — SCM is a customer partner of SSFC, an alliance of leading Japanese technology companies that aims to establish a securely shared new data format for contactless smart cards, enabling multiple security applications to be managed using a single smart card.

 

Silicon Trust — SCM is a member of Silicon Trust, an industry forum sponsored by Infineon Technologies that focuses on silicon based security solutions, including smart cards, biometrics, and trusted platforms.

 

Smart Card Alliance — SCM is a member of the Smart Card Alliance, a U.S.-based, multi-industry association of member firms working to accelerate the widespread acceptance of multiple applications for smart card technology. We are also a member of Smart Card Alliance’s Leadership Council.

 

Teletrust — SCM is a member of Teletrust, a German organization whose goal is to provide a legally accepted means to adopt digital signatures. Digital signatures are encrypted personal identifiers, typically stored on a secure smart card, which allow for a high level of security through internationally accepted authentication methods. We are also a member of the smart card terminal committee of Teletrust, which defines the standards for connecting smart cards to computers for applications such as secure electronic commerce over the Internet.

 

Other — SCM is also a member of several digital flash media card organizations, including CompactFlash Association, Memory Stick Developers Forum, MultiMediaCard Association, SD Card Association, SSFDC SmartMedia Forum, xD-Picture Card Forum, Photo Marketing Association International and USB Implementers Forum.

 

Research and Development

 

To date, we have made substantial investments in research and development, particularly in the areas of smart card-based physical and network access devices and digital connectivity and interface devices. Our engineering design teams work cross-functionally with marketing managers, applications engineers and customers to develop products and product enhancements to meet customer and market requirements. We also strive to develop and maintain close relationships with key suppliers of components and technologies in order to be able to quickly introduce new products that incorporate the latest technological advances. Our future success will depend upon our ability to develop and to introduce new products that keep pace with technological developments and emerging industry standards while addressing the increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers.

 

We focus the bulk of our research and development activities on the development of products for new and emerging market opportunities. Research and development expenses were approximately $3.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 and $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. As of December 31, 2008, we had 73 full-time employees engaged in research and development activities, including software and hardware engineering, testing and quality assurance and technical documentation. The majority of our research and development activities occur in India.

 

Manufacturing and Sources of Supply

 

We utilize the services of contract manufacturers in Singapore and China to manufacture our products and components. We have implemented a global sourcing strategy that we believe enables us to achieve economies of scale and uniform quality standards for our products, and to support gross margins. In the event any of our contract manufacturers are unable or unwilling to continue to manufacture our products, we may have to rely on other current manufacturing sources or identify and qualify new contract manufacturers. Any significant delay in our

ability to obtain adequate supplies of our products from current or alternative sources would harm our business and operating results.

 

We believe that our success will depend in large part on our ability to provide quality products and services while ensuring the highest level of security for our products during the manufacturing process. We have a formal quality control program to satisfy our customers’ requirements for high quality and reliable products. To ensure that products manufactured by others are consistent with our standards, we manage all key aspects of the production process, including establishing product specifications, selecting the components to be used to produce our products, selecting the suppliers of these components and negotiating the prices for certain of these components. In addition, we work with our suppliers to improve process control and product design. As of December 31, 2008, we had 9 full-time employees engaged in manufacturing and logistics activities, focused on coordinating product management and supply chain activities between SCM and our contract manufacturers.

 

On an ongoing basis, we analyze the need to add alternative sources for both our products and components. Even so, we rely upon a limited number of suppliers for some key components of our products. For example, we currently utilize the foundry services of external suppliers to produce our ASICs for smart cards readers, and we use chips and antenna components from third-party suppliers in our contactless smart card readers. Wherever possible, we have added additional sources of supply for mechanical components such as printed circuit boards or casing. However, a risk remains that we may be adversely impacted by an inadequate supply of components, price increases, late deliveries or poor component quality. Additionally, components may not be available in a timely fashion or at all, particularly if larger companies have ordered more significant volumes of the components, and if demand is great, higher prices may be charged for components. Disruption or termination of the supply of components or software used in our products could delay shipments of our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. These delays could also damage relationships with current and prospective customers.

 

Competition

 

The Secure Authentication and Digital Media and Connectivity markets are competitive and characterized by rapidly changing technology. We believe that competition in these markets is likely to intensify as a result of anticipated increased demand for digital access products. We currently experience competition from a number of sources, including:

 

 

We also experience indirect competition from certain of our customers who currently offer alternative products or are expected to introduce competitive products in the future. We may in the future face competition from these and other parties that develop digital data security products based upon approaches similar to or different from those employed by us. In addition, the market for secure authentication and digital media transfer products may ultimately be dominated by approaches other than the approach marketed by us. We believe that the principal competitive factors affecting the market for our products include:

 

 

 

While we believe that we compete favorably with respect to these factors, we may not be able to continue to successfully compete due to these or other factors. Competitive pressures we face could materially and adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

Proprietary Technology and Intellectual Property

 

Our success depends significantly upon our proprietary technology. We currently rely on a combination of patent, copyright and trademark laws, trade secrets, confidentiality agreements and contractual provisions to protect our proprietary rights, which afford only limited protection. Although we often seek to protect our proprietary technology through patents, it is possible that no new patents will be issued, that our proprietary products or technologies are not patentable, and that any issued patent will fail to provide us with any competitive advantages.

 

There has been a great deal of litigation in the technology industry regarding intellectual property rights and from time to time we may be required to use litigation to protect our proprietary technology. This may result in our incurring substantial costs and there is no assurance that we would be successful in any such litigation. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our products or to use our proprietary information and software without authorization. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect proprietary and intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. Because many of our products are sold and a substantial portion of our business is conducted outside the United States, our exposure to intellectual property risks may be higher. Our means of protecting our proprietary and intellectual property rights may not be adequate. There is a risk that our competitors will independently develop similar technology, duplicate our products or design around our patents or other intellectual property rights. If we are unsuccessful in protecting our intellectual property or our products or technologies are duplicated by others, our business could be harmed.

 

In addition, we have from time to time received claims that we are infringing upon third parties’ intellectual property rights. Future disputes with third parties may arise and these disputes may not be resolved on terms acceptable to us. As the number of products and competitors in our target markets grow, the likelihood of infringement claims also increases. Any claims or litigation may be time-consuming and costly, divert management resources, cause product shipment delays, or require us to redesign our products, accept product returns or to write off inventory. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

SCM owns approximately 30 patent families (designs, patents and utility models) comprising a total of 100 individual or regional filings, covering products, mechanical designs and ideas for our Secure Authentication and Digital Media and Connectivity businesses. Additionally, we leverage our own ASIC designs for smart card interface in our reader devices. None of our patents are material to our business.

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2008, SCM had 147 full-time employees, of which 73 were engaged in engineering, research and development; 38 were engaged in sales and marketing; nine were engaged in manufacturing and logistics; and 27 were engaged in general management and administration. We are not subject to any collective bargaining agreements and, to our knowledge, none of our employees are currently represented by a labor union. To date, we have experienced no work stoppages and believe that our employee relations are generally good.

 

Foreign Operations; Properties

 

Our corporate headquarters are in Ismaning, Germany. We also lease small sales and marketing facilities in California, Japan and Hong Kong. Research and development activities are conducted from our facility in Chennai, India. We consider these properties as adequate for our business needs.

Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, we could become subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of business or could be a defendant in lawsuits. While the outcome of such claims or other proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, our management expects that any such liabilities, to the extent not provided for by insurance or otherwise, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

On March 18, 2009, a complaint was filed by Secure Keyboards, Ltd. and two of its general partners, Luis Villalobos and Howard B. Miller in Los Angeles Superior Court. The complaint names the Company, Felix Marx, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and Hirsch, as defendants, and asserts multiple causes of action, including interference with contract, in connection with the proposed merger of the Company and Hirsch. The Plaintiffs are seeking damages, including approximately $20,200,000, and declaratory relief. See Part I, Item 3, Legal Proceedings, for additional information about this pending litigation.

 

Availability of SEC Filings

 

We make available through our website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Our Internet address is www.scmmicro.com. The content on our website is not, nor should be deemed to be, incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

Our business and results of operations are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that you should be aware of, some of which are described below. The risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the following risk factors described below are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks, uncertainties and other factors not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. Any of the risks, uncertainties and other factors could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or product market share and could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline substantially.

 

We have incurred operating losses and may not achieve profitability.

 

We have a history of losses with an accumulated deficit of $202.2 million as of December 31, 2008. In the future, we may not be able to achieve expected results, including any guidance or outlook we may provide from time to time; we may continue to incur losses and we may be unable to achieve or maintain profitability.

 

Our quarterly and annual operating results will likely fluctuate.

 

Our quarterly and annual operating results have varied greatly in the past and will likely vary greatly in the future depending upon a number of factors. Many of these factors are beyond our control. Our revenues, gross profit and operating results may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter due to, among other things:

 

 

 

Due to these and other factors, our revenues may not increase or even remain at their current levels. Because a majority of our operating expenses are fixed, a small variation in our revenues can cause significant variations in our operational results from quarter to quarter and our operating results may vary significantly in future periods. Therefore, our historical results may not be a reliable indicator of our future performance.

 

It is difficult to estimate operating results prior to the end of a quarter.

 

We do not typically maintain a significant level of backlog. As a result, revenue in any quarter depends on contracts entered into or orders booked and shipped in that quarter. Historically, many of our customers have tended to make a significant portion of their purchases towards the end of the quarter, in part because they believe they are able to negotiate lower prices and more favorable terms. This trend makes predicting revenues difficult. The timing of closing larger orders increases the risk of quarter-to-quarter fluctuation in revenues. If orders forecasted for a specific group of customers for a particular quarter are not realized or revenues are not otherwise recognized in that quarter, our operating results for that quarter could be materially adversely affected. In addition, from time to time, we may experience unexpected increases or decreases in demand for our products resulting from fluctuations in our customers’ budgets, purchasing patterns or deployment schedules. These occurrences are not always predictable and can have a significant impact on our results in the period in which they occur.

 

We are subject to a lengthy sales cycle and additional delays could result in significant fluctuations in our quarterly operating results.

 

Our initial sales cycle for a new customer usually takes a minimum of six to nine months. During this sales cycle, we may expend substantial financial and managerial resources with no assurance that a sale will ultimately result. The length of a new customer’s sales cycle depends on a number of factors, many of which we may not be able to control. These factors include the customer’s product and technical requirements and the level of competition we face for that customer’s business. Any delays in the sales cycle for new customers could delay or reduce our receipt of new revenue and could cause us to expend more resources to obtain new customer wins. If we are unsuccessful in managing sales cycles, our business could be adversely affected.

Our listing on both the NASDAQ Stock Market and the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange exposes our stock price to additional risks of fluctuation.

 

Our common stock is listed both on the NASDAQ Stock Market and the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and we typically experience the majority of our trading on the Prime Standard. Because of this, factors that would not otherwise affect a stock traded solely on the NASDAQ Stock Market may cause our stock price to fluctuate. For example, European investors may react differently and more positively or negatively than investors in the United States to events such as acquisitions, dispositions, one-time charges and higher or lower than expected revenue or earnings announcements. A significant positive or negative reaction by investors in Europe to such events could cause our stock price to increase or decrease significantly. The European economy and market conditions in general, or downturns on the Prime Standard specifically, regardless of the NASDAQ Stock Market conditions, also could negatively impact our stock price.

 

Our stock price has been and is likely to remain volatile.

 

Over the past few years, the NASDAQ Stock Market and the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Exchange have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have particularly affected the market prices of the stocks of technology companies. Volatility in our stock price on either or both exchanges may result from a number of factors, including, among others:

 

 

In the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been the object of securities class action litigation. If we were the object of securities class action litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources.

 

We have incurred and will incur significant expenses as a result of our proposed merger with Hirsch, which has reduced and will reduce the amount of capital available to fund our business.

 

We have incurred, and will continue to incur, significant expenses related to our proposed merger with Hirsch. These expenses include investment banking fees, legal fees, accounting fees, and printing and other costs already incurred, and are expected to include a net cash outlay of approximately $10 million related to payment for Hirsch shares. There may also be unanticipated costs related to the proposed merger. As a result, the capital available to fund our activities has been and is expected to be further reduced. During 2009, if we are unsuccessful in securing sufficient sales of terminals for the German eHealth program, or in generating sufficient new revenues from the

contactless market, then we would likely continue to require cash to fund our operations. The remaining cash available to us might not be adequate in subsequent years.

 

If our proposed merger with Hirsch occurs, we may not realize all of its anticipated benefits.

 

To be successful after the proposed merger, SCM and Hirsch will need to combine and integrate the businesses and operations of our separate companies. The combination of two independent companies is a complex, costly and time-consuming process. As a result, after the closing of the proposed merger, our combined company will be required to devote significant management attention and resources to integrating the diverse business practices and operations of both SCM and Hirsch. The integration process may divert the attention of our executive officers and management from day-to-day operations and disrupt either or both of our businesses and, if implemented ineffectively, preclude realization of the full benefits of the transaction expected by us and by Hirsch. We have not recently completed a merger or acquisition comparable in size or scope to this transaction. The possible failure of our combined company, after the proposed merger, to meet the challenges involved in successfully integrating Hirsch’s operations with ours or otherwise to realize any of the anticipated benefits of the proposed merger could cause an interruption of, or a loss of momentum in, the activities of our combined company and could adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, the contemplated integration of our two companies may result in unanticipated problems, expenses, liabilities, competitive responses and loss of customer relationships, and may cause our stock price to decline. The difficulties of combining the operations of the companies may include, among others:

 

 

In addition, even if the businesses and operations of SCM and Hirsch are integrated successfully, the combined company may not fully realize the expected benefits of the proposed merger, including sales or growth opportunities that were anticipated, within the anticipated time frame, or at all. Further, because the businesses of SCM and Hirsch differ, the results of operations of our combined company and the market price of our common stock after the closing of the proposed merger may be affected by factors different from those existing prior to the merger and may suffer as a result of the merger. As a result, we cannot assure you that the combination of the businesses and operations of SCM with Hirsch will result in the realization of the full benefits anticipated from the proposed merger.

 

Our proposed merger with Hirsch may not occur.

 

If we are unable to secure the approval of our stockholders to issue new securities related to our proposed merger with Hirsch, the proposed merger will not occur. Even if the proposed merger is approved by our stockholders and the shareholders of Hirsch, specified conditions must be satisfied or waived to complete the proposed merger. We cannot assure you that all of the conditions will be satisfied, and if the conditions are not satisfied or waived, the proposed merger will not occur or will be delayed, which would result in the loss of some or all of the expected benefits of the proposed merger.

 

We may incur substantial costs or other damages associated with pending or future litigation related to the proposed merger of the Company and Hirsch, which may prevent or delay the closing of the proposed merger, and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

On March 18, 2009, Secure Keyboards, Ltd. (“Secure Keyboards”) and two of its general partners, Luis Villalobos and Howard B. Miller, filed a complaint against the Company, Felix Marx, our Chief Executive Officer, and Hirsch, in Los Angeles Superior Court. The complaint alleges multiple causes of action, including interference with contract, in connection with the proposed merger of SCM and Hirsch and a 1994 settlement agreement entered into among Secure Keyboards, Hirsch, and Secure Networks, Ltd (the “Settlement Agreement”). In addition, other potential lawsuits arising out of the proposed merger could seek to enjoin consummation of the merger or, in the alternative, to rescind the merger, as well as monetary damages. Even if such litigation is ultimately proven to lack merit, these actions could prevent or delay the closing of the merger. Any conclusion of such litigation in a manner adverse to us could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the cost of defending this litigation, even if resolved favorably, could be substantial. Such litigation could also substantially divert the attention of management and resources in general.

 

If the Company and Secure Keyboards cannot resolve the litigation arising out of the proposed merger, and the general partners do not consent to become a party to and be bound by the letter of understanding or consent to the merger, a condition to the Company’s obligation to close the proposed merger will not have been satisfied.

 

Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, Hirsch is obligated to pay royalty payments in connection with the purchase of patented technology. In connection with the signing of the merger agreement with Hirsch, Robert Parsons and Lawrence Midland, as two of the four general partners of Secure Keyboards, delivered a letter of understanding to the Company, as amended and restated on January 30, 2009. Among other conditions, the obligation of the Company to complete the proposed merger is subject to the Company’s receipt or waiver of Secure Keyboards’ consent to the proposed merger and waiver of any rights to notice pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement (with such consent executed by each of its four respective general partners), and the consent of each of the other two general partners of Secure Keyboards to become a party to and be bound by the letter of understanding delivered to the Company by Robert Parsons and Lawrence Midland.

 

As described above, on March 18, 2009, Secure Keyboards and Luis Villalobos and Howard B. Miller, the two general partners not currently a party to the letter of understanding, filed a complaint against the Company alleging, among other actions, interference with contract. The complaint alleges that the letter of understanding interfered with the Settlement Agreement in a manner which harmed Secure Keyboards’ interests.

 

If the parties are not able to resolve the matter and the Company is not able to obtain Luis Villalobos and Howard B. Miller’s consent to the merger and to become a party to and be bound by the letter of understanding, a condition to the Company’s obligation to close the merger will not be satisfied and, if the Company decides not to waive this condition, the merger will not be consummated.

 

If our proposed merger with Hirsch is not consummated, we may not be successful in our strategy to grow revenue and become profitable.

 

One of the components of our growth strategy is to increase our revenues and operational scale through merger and acquisition activities. If the proposed merger with Hirsch is not consummated, then we may not be able to increase our revenues or operational scale as rapidly as we have planned, or at all. If we are unable to increase our revenues or operational scale, we may not be able to fully leverage our global infrastructure, or to pursue our other growth strategies effectively. We may elect to pursue mergers or acquisitions with other companies, and there is no guarantee that these efforts will be successful. Additionally, if the proposed merger with Hirsch is not consummated, then the financial and other resources that we have expended on the proposed merger may not be recoverable.

 

The issuance of shares of SCM common stock to Hirsch shareholders in connection with the proposed merger will substantially reduce the percentage ownership of current SCM stockholders.

 

If the proposed merger with Hirsch is completed, we expect that, based on shares of Hirsch common stock outstanding as of February 10, 2009, we will pay, in the aggregate, approximately $14.1 million in cash and issue approximately 9,411,470 shares of SCM common stock, and warrants to purchase an additional 4,705,735 shares of

SCM common stock, as consideration for the outstanding shares of Hirsch common stock. Following the proposed merger, current holders of Hirsch stock are expected to own approximately 37% of the shares of SCM common stock outstanding and current holders of SCM stock are expected to own approximately 63% of the shares of SCM common stock outstanding. SCM stockholders will continue to own their existing shares of SCM common stock, which will not be affected by the proposed merger, other than by the dilution resulting from the issuance of the merger consideration described above. Based on existing warrants to purchase shares of Hirsch common stock outstanding as of February 10, 2009 and excluding the additional warrants to be issued to Hirsch directors for service in 2008, we also expect to issue warrants to purchase approximately 164,618 shares of SCM common stock to the holders of Hirsch warrants to purchase Hirsch common stock, in connection with the proposed merger. If all of the existing options to purchase shares of Hirsch common stock outstanding as of February 10, 2009 were exercised, we would issue up to an additional 250,000 shares of SCM common stock and warrants to purchase 125,000 shares of SCM common stock to current holders of Hirsch options as merger consideration. The issuance of the shares of SCM common stock and warrants to purchase SCM common stock described above will cause a significant reduction in the relative percentage interests of current SCM stockholders in earnings, voting, and liquidation, book and market value.

 

SCM common stock has historically traded at a very low volume. If we complete the proposed merger with Hirsch, the market price of SCM common stock could decline as a result of the large number of shares that would become eligible for sale in the future.

 

The new shares of SCM common stock to be issued as merger consideration in connection with the proposed merger with Hirsch will become saleable beginning six months after the effective time of the proposed merger and the warrants to purchase shares of SCM common stock will be exercisable for two years following the third anniversary of the effective time of the proposed merger. Consequently, after such periods, a substantial number of additional shares of SCM common stock would be eligible for resale in the public market. Stockholders of SCM and former shareholders of Hirsch may not wish to continue to invest in the operations of the combined company after the proposed merger with SCM, or for other reasons, may wish to dispose of some or all of their interests in SCM. Sales of substantial numbers of shares of both the newly issued and the existing SCM common stock in the public market following the closing of the proposed merger could adversely affect the market price of our stock.

 

If the proposed merger is completed, Hirsch’s current shareholders will own a large percentage of SCM common stock, and will have significant influence over the outcome of corporate actions requiring stockholder approval; the former Hirsch shareholders’ priorities for our business may be different from ours or our other stockholders.

 

If the proposed merger is completed, the former Hirsch shareholders are expected to beneficially own approximately 37% of SCM’s common stock and the former SCM stockholders are expected to beneficially own approximately 63% of SCM’s common stock. Accordingly, the former Hirsch shareholders would be able to significantly influence the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the SCM stockholders for approval, including the election of directors, any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of SCM’s assets or any other significant corporate transaction, such that such former shareholders of Hirsch could delay or prevent a change of control of SCM, even if such a change of control would benefit our other stockholders. The interests of the former Hirsch shareholders may differ from the interests of other stockholders.

 

We may not have uncovered all the risks associated with the proposed merger with Hirsch and a significant liability may be discovered.

 

There may be risks that we failed to discover in the course of performing our due diligence investigations related to the proposed merger with Hirsch, which could result in significant liabilities. In connection with the acquisition of Hirsch, we expect that a subsidiary of SCM will assume all of Hirsch’s liabilities, both pre-existing and contingent, as a matter of law upon the exchange of all Hirsch shares of common stock. The merger agreement between us and Hirsch did not provide for our indemnification by the former Hirsch shareholders against any of Hirsch’s liabilities, should they arise or become known after the closing of the proposed merger. Furthermore, there is no escrow account or indemnity agreement protecting us in the event of any breach of Hirsch’s representations and warranties in the merger agreement. While we attempted to minimize risks by conducting due diligence that we deemed appropriate under the circumstances, we may not have identified all existing or potential risks. Any

significant liability that may arise may harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects by requiring us to expend significant funds to satisfy such liability.

 

The representations and warranties contained in the merger agreement between SCM and Hirsch were made solely for purposes of the contract among SCM, Hirsch, and the merger subsidiaries, and used as a tool for allocating risk among the parties, and therefore they may not accurately characterize the actual state of facts or conditions of SCM or Hirsch.

 

The representations and warranties contained in the merger agreement between SCM and Hirsch were made solely for purposes of the contract among SCM, Hirsch, and the merger subsidiaries, and are used for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties, rather than establishing matters of facts. Because the representations and warranties may not accurately characterize the actual state of facts or conditions of SCM or Hirsch, no third party should rely upon the representations and warranties in the merger agreement as statements of factual information.

 

The amount of merger consideration is fixed and not subject to adjustment based on the market price of our common stock. As a result, we may pay a higher price for the merger if our stock price increases.

 

The merger consideration to be received by the holders of the shares of Hirsch common stock in the proposed merger includes shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock. The merger agreement does not include an exchange ratio or adjustment mechanism based on the market price of our common stock for the determination of the amount of merger consideration that will be paid. Increases in the value of our common stock will result in a higher price being paid by us for Hirsch common stock and more value received by Hirsch shareholders in the proposed merger. Additionally, we will not have the right to terminate or renegotiate the merger agreement or to re-solicit proxies as a result of any increase in the value of our outstanding common stock.

 

The financial projections for both our business and Hirsch’s business that were prepared in connection with our proposed merger with Hirsch are only estimates of future results and there is no assurance that actual results will not be different.

 

In connection with the contemplated merger with Hirsch, we and Hirsch each created financial projections of our respective businesses. These financial projections are only estimates of possible future operating results and not guarantees of future performance. The future operating results of each company and of the combined company will be affected by numerous factors, including those discussed in this “Risk Factors” section of this Annual Report on 10-K. The actual operating results will likely differ from these financial projections.

 

Provisions of the merger agreement regarding the payment of a termination fee by us to Hirsch could negatively affect our business operations if the merger agreement is terminated.

 

Provisions of the merger agreement and ancillary agreements between SCM and Hirsch provide that, in the case that the merger agreement is terminated, in certain circumstances one party may be obligated to pay to the other a termination fee of $1.5 million, plus an amount equal to all out-of-pocket expenses incurred (excluding the cost of employee time). If we were to be required to pay the termination fee and reimbursement expenses to Hirsch, the results of our business operations could be adversely impacted.

 

The date on which the proposed merger with Hirsch will close is uncertain.

 

The date on which the proposed merger with Hirsch will close depends on the satisfaction of the closing conditions set forth in the merger agreement, or the waiver of those conditions by the parties thereto. While we and Hirsch expect to complete the proposed merger in the first half of 2009, the completion date of the proposed merger might be later than expected because of unforeseen events.

 

Disruption in the global financial markets may adversely impact the availability and cost of credit.

 

In the future, we may seek to raise additional funds. Our ability to obtain financing for acquisitions or other general corporate and commercial purposes depends on our operating and financial performance and is also subject to prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors beyond our control. Recently, global credit markets and the financial services industry have been experiencing a period of unprecedented turmoil characterized by the bankruptcy, failure or sale of various financial institutions. As a result, an unprecedented level of intervention from the United States and other governments has been seen. As a result of such disruption, our

ability to raise capital may be severely restricted and the cost of raising capital through such markets or privately may increase significantly at a time when we would like, or need, to do so. Either of these events could have an impact on our flexibility to pursue additional expansion or acquisition opportunities, make capital expenditures, or make another discretionary use of cash and could adversely impact our financial results. In any case, there can be no assurance that such funds, if available at all, can be obtained on terms reasonable to us. If we are able to obtain additional capital, the aggregate percentage ownership of our existing stockholders may be reduced. In addition, any new securities that we issue may have rights senior to those of our common stock.

 

Disruption in the global financial markets may adversely impact SCM’s customers and customer spending patterns and we could experience heightened credit risk to our accounts receivable.

 

The current financial crisis may cause consumers, businesses and governments to defer purchases in response to tighter credit, decreased cash availability and declining consumer confidence. Accordingly, demand for our products could decrease and differ materially from our current expectations. Further, some of our customers may require substantial financing in order to fund their operations and make purchases from us. The inability of these customers to obtain sufficient credit to finance purchases of our products and meet their payment obligations to us, or possible insolvencies of our customers, could result in decreased customer demand, an impaired ability for us to collect on outstanding accounts receivable, significant delays in accounts receivable payments, and significant write-offs of accounts receivable, each of which could adversely impact our financial results.

 

Additionally, we are exposed to credit risk in our accounts receivable, and this risk is heightened in times of economic weakness. We distribute our products both through third-party resellers and directly to certain customers. A majority of our outstanding trade receivables are not covered by collateral or credit insurance. We may not be able to monitor and limit our exposure to credit risk on our trade and non-trade receivables, we may not be effective in limiting credit risk and avoiding losses.

 

Disruption in the global financial markets may adversely impact our suppliers.

 

Our ability to meet customers’ demands depends, in part, on our ability to obtain timely and adequate delivery of quality materials, parts and components or products from our suppliers. Certain of our components are available only from a single source or limited sources. If certain key suppliers were to become capacity constrained or insolvent as a result of the financial crisis, it could result in a reduction or interruption in supplies or a significant increase in the price of supplies, each of which would adversely impact our financial results. In addition, credit constraints at key suppliers could result in accelerated payment of accounts payable by us, impacting our cash flow.

 

A significant portion of our sales typically comes from a small number of customers and the loss of one or more of these customers or variability in the timing of orders could negatively impact our operating results.

 

Our products are generally targeted at OEM customers in the consumer electronics, digital photo processing and computer industries, as well as the government sector, the financial sector and corporate enterprises. Sales to a relatively small number of customers historically have accounted for a significant percentage of our revenues. Sales to our top ten customers accounted for approximately 58% of revenue in 2008, 61% of revenue in 2007 and 53% of revenue in 2006. We expect that sales of our products to a relatively small number of customers will continue to account for a high percentage of our total sales for the foreseeable future, particularly in our Digital Media and Connectivity business, where approximately two-thirds of our business has typically been generated by two or three customers. The loss of a customer or reduction of orders from a significant customer, including those due to product performance issues, changes in customer buying patterns, or market, economic or competitive conditions in our market segments, could significantly lower our revenues in any period and would increase our dependence on a smaller group of our remaining customers. For example, in the third quarter of 2008, sales of our digital media readers were significantly lower than in previous quarters due to reduced orders from one major customer in this business. Variations in the timing or patterns of customer orders could also increase our dependence on other customers in any particular period. Dependence on a small number of customers and variations in order levels period to period could result in decreased revenues, decreased margins, and/or inventory or receivables write-offs and otherwise harm our business and operating results.

Sales of our products depend on the development of emerging applications in our target markets and on diversifying and expanding our customer base in new markets and geographic regions, and with new products.

 

We sell our products primarily to address emerging applications that have not yet reached a stage of mass adoption or deployment. For example, we sell our smart card readers for use in various smart card-based security programs in Europe, such as electronic driver’s licenses, national IDs and e-passports, which are applications that are not yet widely implemented. In recent months, we also have focused on expanding sales of existing product lines into new geographic markets and diversifying and expanding our customer base. For example, we have recently added sales resources to target authentication programs in the government and enterprise sectors in Asia, and have begun to target the photo kiosk markets in Europe and Asia. We also have initiated business development activities aimed at penetrating the worldwide financial services and enterprise markets with new contactless reader products. We introduced the first of these products in October 2008. Because the markets for our products are still emerging, demand for our products is subject to variability from period to period. There is no assurance that demand will become more predictable as additional smart card programs demonstrate success. If demand for products to enable smart card-based security applications does not develop further and grow sufficiently, our revenue and gross profit margins could decline or fail to grow. We cannot predict the future growth rate, if any, or size or composition of the market for any of our products. Our target markets have not consistently grown or developed as quickly as we have expected, and we have experienced delays in the development of new products designed to take advantage of new market opportunities. Since new target markets are still evolving, it is difficult to assess the competitive environment or the size of the market that may develop. The demand and market acceptance for our products, as is common for new technologies, is subject to high levels of uncertainty and risk and may be influenced by various factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

 

A significant portion of our revenue is dependent upon sales to government programs, which are impacted by uncertainty of timelines and budgetary allocations, as well as by delays in developing standards for information technology (“IT”) projects and in coordinating all aspects of large smart card-based security programs.

 

Large government programs are a primary target for our Secure Authentication business, as smart card technology is increasingly used to enable applications ranging from paying taxes online, to citizen identification, to receiving health care. Historically, we have sold a significant proportion of our Secure Authentication products to the U.S. government for PC and network access by military and federal employees, and these sales have been an important component of our overall revenue. In recent periods, we have experienced a significant decrease in sales of our external smart card readers to the U.S. government, primarily due to weaker demand in this market as a result of ongoing project and budget delays and a movement by the U.S. government towards purchasing computer equipment with embedded reader capabilities. We continue to believe that we remain a leading supplier of smart card reader technology to the U.S. government market and that we are not losing share to competitors. However, lower overall market demand and the replacement of external smart card reader sales with sales of lower-priced

interface chips for embedded readers have resulted in reduced revenue from the U.S. government sector, which we believe is not likely to consistently return to previous levels. We anticipate that a significant portion of our future revenues will come from government programs outside the U.S., such as national identity, e-government, e-health and others applications. We currently supply smart card readers for various government programs in Europe and Asia and are actively targeting additional programs in these areas as well as in Latin America. We also have spent significant resources developing a range of e-health smart card terminals for the German government’s electronic health card program. However, the timing of government smart card programs is not always certain and delays in program implementation are common. For example, while the German government has stated that it plans to distribute new electronic health cards to its citizens beginning in early 2009, and to put in place a corresponding network and card reader infrastructure during 2009, there have already been delays in this program and the actual timing of equipment and card deployments in the German e-health program remain uncertain. The continued delay of government projects for any reason could negatively impact our sales.

 

Some of our sales are made through distributors, and the loss of such distributors could result in decreased revenue.

 

We currently use distributors to sell some of our products, primarily into markets or customers where the distributor may have closer relationships or greater access than we do. Distribution arrangements are intended to benefit both us and the distributor, and may be long- or short-term relationships, depending on market conditions, competition in the marketplace and other factors. If we are unable to maintain effective distribution channels, there could be a reduction in the amount of product we are able to sell, and our revenues could decrease.

 

Our products may have defects, which could damage our reputation, decrease market acceptance of our products, cause us to lose customers and revenue and result in costly litigation or liability.

 

Products such as our smart card readers and digital media readers may contain defects for many reasons, including defective design or manufacture, defective material or software interoperability issues. Often, these defects are not detected until after the products have been shipped. If any of our products contain defects or perceived defects or have reliability, quality or compatibility problems or perceived problems, our reputation might be damaged significantly, we could lose or experience a delay in market acceptance of the affected product or products and we might be unable to retain existing customers or attract new customers. In addition, these defects could interrupt or delay sales or our ability to recognize revenue for products shipped. In the event of an actual or perceived defect or other problem, we may need to invest significant capital, technical, managerial and other resources to investigate and correct the potential defect or problem and potentially divert these resources from other development efforts. If we are unable to provide a solution to the potential defect or problem that is acceptable to our customers, we may be required to incur substantial product recall, repair and replacement and even litigation costs. These costs could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

We provide warranties on certain product sales, which range from twelve to twenty-four months, and allowances for estimated warranty costs are recorded during the period of sale. The determination of such allowances requires us to make estimates of product return rates and expected costs to repair or to replace the products under warranty. We currently establish warranty reserves based on historical warranty costs for each product line combined with liability estimates based on the prior twelve months’ sales activities. If actual return rates and/or repair and replacement costs differ significantly from our estimates, adjustments to recognize additional cost of sales may be required in future periods.

 

In addition, because our customers rely on our Secure Authentication products to prevent unauthorized access to PCs, networks or facilities, a malfunction of or design defect in our products (or even a perceived defect) could result in legal or warranty claims against us for damages resulting from security breaches. If such claims are adversely decided against us, the potential liability could be substantial and have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. Furthermore, the publicity associated with any such claim, whether or not decided against us, could adversely affect our reputation. In addition, a well-publicized security breach involving smart card-based or other security systems could adversely affect the market’s perception of products like ours in general, or our products in particular, regardless of whether the breach is actual or attributable to our products. Any of the foregoing events could cause demand for our products to decline, which would cause our business and operating results to suffer.

If we do not accurately anticipate the correct mix of products that will be sold, we may be required to record charges related to excess inventories.

 

Due to the unpredictable nature of the demand for our products, we are required to place orders with our suppliers for components, finished products and services in advance of actual customer commitments to purchase these products. Significant unanticipated fluctuations in demand could result in costly excess production or inventories. In order to minimize the negative financial impact of excess production, we may be required to significantly reduce the sales price of the product to increase demand, which in turn could result in a reduction in the value of the original inventory purchase. If we were to determine that we could not utilize or sell this inventory, we may be required to write down its value, which we have done in the past. Writing down inventory or reducing product prices could adversely impact our cost of revenues and financial condition.

 

Our business could suffer if our third-party manufacturers cannot meet production requirements.

 

Our products are manufactured outside the United States by contract manufacturers. Our reliance on foreign manufacturing poses a number of risks, including, but not limited to:

 

 

The use of contract manufacturing requires us to exercise strong planning and management in order to ensure that our products are manufactured on schedule, to correct specifications and to a high standard of quality. If any of our contract manufacturers cannot meet our production requirements, we may be required to rely on other contract manufacturing sources or identify and qualify new contract manufacturers. We may be unable to identify or qualify new contract manufacturers in a timely manner or at all or with reasonable terms and these new manufacturers may not allocate sufficient capacity to us in order to meet our requirements. Any significant delay in our ability to obtain adequate supplies of our products from our current or alternative manufacturers would materially and adversely affect our business and operating results. In addition, if we are not successful at managing the contract manufacturing process, the quality of our products could be jeopardized or inventories could be too low or too high, which could result in damage to our reputation with our customers and in the marketplace, as well as possible write-offs of excess inventory.

 

We have a limited number of suppliers of key components, and may experience difficulties in obtaining components for which there is significant demand.

 

We rely upon a limited number of suppliers for some key components of our products. For example, we currently utilize the foundry services of external suppliers to produce our ASICs for smart cards readers, and we use chips and antenna components from third-party suppliers in our contactless smart card readers. Our reliance on a limited number of suppliers may expose us to various risks including, without limitation, an inadequate supply of components, price increases, late deliveries and poor component quality. In addition, some of the basic components we use in our products, such as digital flash media, may at any time be in great demand. This could result in components not being available to us in a timely manner or at all, particularly if larger companies have ordered more significant volumes of those components, or in higher prices being charged for components. Disruption or

termination of the supply of components or software used in our products could delay shipments of these products. These delays could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results and could also damage relationships with current and prospective customers.

 

Our future success will depend on our ability to keep pace with technological change and meet the needs of our target markets and customers.

 

The markets for our products are characterized by rapidly changing technology and the need to meet market requirements and to differentiate our products through technological enhancements, and in some cases, price. Our customers’ needs change, new technologies are introduced into the market, and industry standards are still evolving. As a result, product life cycles are often short and difficult to predict, and frequently we must develop new products quickly in order to remain competitive in light of new market requirements. Rapid changes in technology, or the adoption of new industry standards, could render our existing products obsolete and unmarketable. If a product is deemed to be obsolete or unmarketable, then we might have to reduce revenue expectations or write down inventories for that product. We may also lose market share.

 

Our future success will depend upon our ability to enhance our current products and to develop and introduce new products with clearly differentiated benefits that address the increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers and that keep pace with technological developments, new competitive product offerings and emerging industry standards. We must be able to demonstrate that our products have features or functions that are clearly differentiated from existing or anticipated competitive offerings, or we may be unsuccessful in selling these products. In addition, in cases where we are selected to supply products based on features or capabilities that are still under development, we must be able to complete our product design and delivery process on a timely basis, or risk losing current and any future revenue from those products. In developing our products, we must collaborate closely with our customers, suppliers and other strategic partners to ensure that critical development, marketing and distribution projects proceed in a coordinated manner. Also, this collaboration is important because these relationships increase our exposure to information necessary to anticipate trends and plan product development. If any of our current relationships terminate or otherwise deteriorate, or if we are unable to enter into future alliances that provide us with comparable insight into market trends, our product development and marketing efforts may be adversely affected, and we could lose sales. We expect that our product development efforts will continue to require substantial investments and we may not have sufficient resources to make the necessary investments.

 

In some cases, we depend upon partners who provide one or more components of the overall solution for a customer in conjunction with our products. If our partners do not adapt their products and technologies to new market or distribution requirements, or if their products do not work well, then we may not be able to sell our products into certain markets.

 

Because we operate in markets for which industry-wide standards have not yet been fully set, it is possible that any standards eventually adopted could prove disadvantageous to or incompatible with our business model and product lines. If any of the standards supported by us do not achieve or sustain market acceptance, our business and operating results would be materially and adversely affected.

 

Our markets are highly competitive.

 

The markets for our products are competitive and characterized by rapidly changing technology. We believe that the principal competitive factors affecting the markets for our products include:

 

 

We currently experience competition from a number of companies in each of our target market segments and we believe that competition in our markets is likely to intensify as a result of anticipated increased demand for secure digital access products. We may not be successful in competing against offerings from other companies and could lose business as a result.

We also experience indirect competition from certain of our customers who currently offer alternative products or are expected to introduce competitive products in the future. For example, we sell our products to many OEMs who incorporate our products into their offerings or who resell our products in order to provide a more complete solution to their customers. If our OEM customers develop their own products to replace ours, this would result in a loss of sales to those customers, as well as increased competition for our products in the marketplace. In addition, these OEM customers could cancel outstanding orders for our products, which could cause us to write down inventory already designated for those customers. We may in the future face competition from these and other parties that develop digital data security products based upon approaches similar to or different from those employed by us. In addition, the market for digital information security and access control products may ultimately be dominated by approaches other than the approach marketed by us.

 

Many of our current and potential competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, marketing, purchasing and other resources than we do. As a result, our competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies or standards and to changes in customer requirements. Our competitors may also be able to devote greater resources to the development, promotion and sale of products and may be able to deliver competitive products at a lower end user price. Current and potential competitors have established or may establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with third parties to increase the ability of their products to address the needs of our prospective customers. Therefore, new competitors, or alliances among competitors, may emerge and rapidly acquire significant market share. Increased competition is likely to result in price reductions, reduced operating margins and loss of market share.

 

We may choose to take back unsold inventory from our customers.

 

If demand is less than anticipated, customers may ask that we accept returned products that they do not believe they can sell. With the exception of our retail CHIPDRIVE products, we do not have a policy relating to product returns. However, we may determine that it is in our best interest to accept returns in order to maintain good relations with our customers. If we were to accept product returns, we may be required to take additional inventory reserves to reflect the decreased market value of slow-selling returned inventory, even if the products are in good working order.

 

Changes in tax laws or the interpretation thereof, adverse tax audits and other tax matters may adversely affect our future results.

 

A number of factors may impact our tax position, including:

 

 

Any of these factors could make it more difficult for us to project or achieve expected tax results. An increase or decrease in our tax liabilities due to these or other factors could adversely affect our financial results in future periods.

 

Large stock holdings outside the U.S. make it difficult for us to achieve quorum at stockholder meetings and this could restrict, delay or prevent our ability to implement future corporate actions, as well as have other effects, such as the delisting of our stock from the NASDAQ Stock Market.

 

To achieve a quorum at a regular or special stockholder meeting, at least one-third of all shares of our stock entitled to vote must be present at such a meeting in person or by proxy. In addition, certain actions, including the approval of a significant transaction, may require approval of a majority of the total number of SCM’s shares then

outstanding. As of February 11, 2009, the record date for our Special Meeting of Stockholders, approximately 50% of our shares outstanding were held by retail stockholders in Germany, through German banks and brokers. Securities regulations and business customs in Germany result in very few German banks and brokers providing our proxy materials to our stockholders in Germany and in very few German stockholders voting their shares even when they do receive such materials. In addition, the absence of a routine “broker non-vote” in Germany typically requires the stockholder to return the proxy card to us before the votes it represents can be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum.

 

As a result, it is often difficult and costly for us, and requires considerable management resources, to achieve a quorum at annual and special meetings of our stockholders. If we are unable to achieve a quorum at a future annual or special meeting of our stockholders, corporate actions requiring stockholder approval could be restricted, delayed or even prevented. These include, but are not limited to, actions and transactions that may be of benefit to our stockholders, part of our strategic plan or necessary for our corporate governance, such as our proposed merger with Hirsch and related actions and corporate mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, sales or reorganizations, financings, stock incentive plans or the election of directors. Even if we are able to achieve a quorum for a particular meeting, some of these actions or transactions require the approval of a majority of the total number of our shares then outstanding, and we may not be successful in obtaining such approval. The failure to hold an annual meeting of stockholders may also result in our being out of compliance with Delaware law and the qualitative listing requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market, each of which requires us to hold an annual meeting of our stockholders. Our inability to obtain a quorum at any such meeting may not be an adequate excuse for such failure. Lack of compliance with the qualitative listing requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market could result in the delisting of our common stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market. Either of these events would divert management’s attention from our operations and would likely be costly and could also have an adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.

 

One of our directors is a partner in the largest shareholder of SCM, and both of them have significant influence over the outcome of corporate actions requiring board and shareholder approval, respectively; the shareholder’s priorities for our business may be different from ours or our other shareholders.

 

As of December 31, 2008, Lincoln Vale European Partners (“Lincoln Vale”) holds nearly 10% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Dr. Hans Liebler, one of our directors, is a partner of Lincoln Vale and may also be deemed to beneficially own, either directly or indirectly through limited partnerships, the shares invested by Lincoln Vale in SCM. Accordingly, Dr. Liebler and/or Lincoln Vale could have significant influence over the outcome of corporate actions requiring board and shareholder approval, respectively, including the election of directors, any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets or any other significant corporate transaction. In addition, Dr. Liebler and/or Lincoln Vale could delay or prevent a change of control of SCM, even if such a change of control would benefit our other shareholders. We cannot assure you that Lincoln Vale’s objectives are aligned with those of the other shareholders.

 

We have global operations, which require significant financial, managerial and administrative resources.

 

Our business model includes the management of separate product lines that address disparate market opportunities that are geographically dispersed. While there is some shared technology across our products, each product line requires significant research and development effort to address the evolving needs of our customers and markets. To support our development and sales efforts, we maintain company offices and business operations in several locations around the world, including Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan and the United States. We also must manage contract manufacturers in several different countries, including China and Singapore. Managing our various development, sales, administrative and manufacturing operations places a significant burden on our financial systems and has contributed to a level of operational spending that is disproportionately high compared to our current revenue levels.

Operating in diverse geographic locations also imposes significant burdens on our managerial resources. In particular, our management must:

 

 

Any failure to effectively manage our operations globally could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

We conduct a significant portion of our operations outside the United States. Economic, political, regulatory and other risks associated with international sales and operations could have an adverse effect on our results of operation.

 

In addition to our corporate headquarters being located in Germany, we conduct a substantial portion of our business in Europe and Asia. Approximately 57% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2008, 49% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 57% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2006 was derived from customers located outside the United States. Because a significant number of our principal customers are located in other countries, we anticipate that international sales will continue to account for a substantial portion of our revenues. As a result, a significant portion of our sales and operations may continue to be subject to risks associated with foreign operations, any of which could impact our sales and/or our operational performance. These risks include, but are not limited to:

 

 

Fluctuations in the valuation of foreign currencies could impact costs and/or revenues we disclose in U.S. dollars, and could result in foreign currency losses.

 

A significant portion of our business is conducted in foreign currencies, principally the euro. Fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar will continue to cause currency exchange gains and losses. If a significant portion of operating expenses are incurred in a foreign currency such as the euro, and revenues are generated in U.S. dollars, exchange rate fluctuations might have a positive or negative net financial impact on these transactions, depending on whether the U.S. dollar devalues or revalues compared to the euro. For example, excluding a one-time severance payment made to our former chief executive officer in the second quarter of 2007, our general and administrative expenses in the first half of 2008 were higher than in the same period of the previous year, primarily due to the devaluation of the dollar as compared with the euro. In addition, the valuation of current

assets and liabilities that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency can result in currency exchange gains and losses. For example when an SCM subsidiary has the euro as the functional currency, and this subsidiary has a receivable in U.S. dollars, a devaluation of the U.S. dollar against the euro of 10% would result in a foreign exchange loss of the reporting entity of 10% of the value of the underlying U.S. dollar receivable. We cannot predict the effect of exchange rate fluctuations upon future quarterly and annual operating results. The effect of currency exchange rate changes may increase or decrease our costs and/or revenues in any given quarter, and we may experience currency losses in the future. To date, we have not adopted a hedging program to protect our company against the risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations.

 

Our key personnel and directors are critical to our business, and such key personnel may not remain with us in the future.

 

We depend on the continued employment of our senior executive officers and other key management and technical personnel. If any of our key personnel were to leave and not be replaced with sufficiently qualified and experienced personnel, our business could be adversely affected. In particular, our current strategy to penetrate the market for contactless payment solutions is heavily dependent on the vision, leadership and experience of our chief executive officer, Felix Marx.

 

We also believe that our future success will depend in large part on our ability to attract and retain highly qualified technical and management personnel. However, competition for such personnel is intense. We may not be able to retain our key technical and management employees or to attract, assimilate or retain other highly qualified technical and management personnel in the future.

 

Likewise, as a small, dual-traded company, we are challenged to identify, attract and retain experienced professionals with diverse skills and backgrounds who are qualified and willing to serve on our Board of Directors. The increased burden of regulatory compliance under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 creates additional liability and exposure for directors and financial losses in our business and lack of growth in our stock price make it difficult for us to offer attractive director compensation packages. If we are not able to attract and retain qualified board members, our ability to practice a high level of corporate governance could be impaired.

 

We are subject to a lengthy sales cycle and additional delays could result in significant fluctuations in our quarterly operating results.

 

Our initial sales cycle for a new customer usually takes a minimum of six to nine months. During this sales cycle, we may expend substantial financial and managerial resources with no assurance that a sale will ultimately result. The length of a new customer’s sales cycle depends on a number of factors, many of which we may not be able to control. These factors include the customer’s product and technical requirements and the level of competition we face for that customer’s business. Any delays in the sales cycle for new customers could delay or reduce our receipt of new revenue and could cause us to expend more resources to obtain new customer wins. If we are unsuccessful in managing sales cycles, our business could be adversely affected.

 

We face risks associated with strategic transactions.

 

A component of our ongoing business strategy is to seek to buy businesses, products and technologies that complement or augment our existing businesses, products and technologies. We have in the past acquired or made, and from time to time in the future may acquire or make, investments in companies, products and technologies that we believe are complementary to our existing businesses, products and technologies.

 

For example, on October 1, 2008, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with TranZfinity, Inc., a privately held entity, pursuant to which we purchased 33.7% of the outstanding shares of TranZfinity common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $2.5 million. The investment is inherently high risk as the market for technologies or products manufactured by the entity in its early stage at the time of the investment by us and such market may never be significant.

 

Any acquisition could expose us to significant risks, including, without limitation, the use of our limited cash balances or potentially dilutive stock offerings to fund such acquisitions; costs of any necessary financing, which

may not be available on reasonable terms or at all; accounting charges we might incur in connection with such acquisitions; the difficulty and expense of integrating personnel, technologies, customer, supplier and distributor relationships, marketing efforts and facilities acquired through acquisitions; integrating internal controls over financial reporting; discovering and correcting deficiencies in internal controls and other regulatory compliance, data adequacy and integrity, product quality and product liabilities; diversion of our management resources; failure to realize anticipated benefits; costly fees for legal and transaction-related services; and the unanticipated assumption of liabilities. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. We may not be successful with any such acquisition.

 

Acquisitions and strategic investments may also lead to substantial increases in non-current assets, including goodwill. Write-downs of these assets due to unforeseen business developments may materially and adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our business strategy also contemplates divesting portions of our business from time to time, if and when we believe we would be able to realize greater value for our stockholders in so doing. We have in the past sold, and may from time to time in the future sell, all or one or more portions of our business. Any divestiture or disposition could expose us to significant risks, including, without limitation, costly fees for legal and transaction-related services; diversion of management resources; loss of key personnel; and reduction in revenue. Further, we may be required to retain or indemnify the buyer against certain liabilities and obligations in connection with any such divestiture or disposition and we may also become subject to third-party claims arising out of such divestiture or disposition. In addition, we may not achieve the expected price in a divestiture transaction. Failure to overcome these risks could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

We may be exposed to risks of intellectual property infringement by third parties.

 

Our success depends significantly upon our proprietary technology. We currently rely on a combination of patent, copyright and trademark laws, trade secrets, confidentiality agreements and contractual provisions to protect our proprietary rights, which afford only limited protection. We may not be successful in protecting our proprietary technology through patents, it is possible that no new patents will be issued, that our proprietary products or technologies are not patentable or that any issued patent will fail to provide us with any competitive advantages.

 

There has been a great deal of litigation in the technology industry regarding intellectual property rights, and from time to time we may be required to use litigation to protect our proprietary technology. This may result in our incurring substantial costs and we may not be successful in any such litigation.

 

Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our products or to use our proprietary information and software without authorization. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect proprietary and intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. Because many of our products are sold and a significant portion of our business is conducted outside the United States, our exposure to intellectual property risks may be higher. Our means of protecting our proprietary and intellectual property rights may not be adequate. There is a risk that our competitors will independently develop similar technology or duplicate our products or design around patents or other intellectual property rights. If we are unsuccessful in protecting our intellectual property or our products or technologies are duplicated by others, our business could be harmed.

 

Changes to financial accounting standards may affect our results of operations and cause us to change our business practices.

 

We prepare our financial statements to conform with U.S. GAAP. These accounting principles are subject to interpretation by the Financial Standards Accounting Board, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Securities and Exchange Commission and various other bodies formed to interpret and create appropriate accounting rules and policies. A change in those rules or policies could have a significant effect on our reported results and may affect our reporting of transactions completed before a change is announced. Any changes in accounting rules or policies in the future may result in significant accounting charges.

We face costs and risks associated with maintaining effective internal controls over financial reporting, and if we fail to achieve and maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting, our business, results of operations and financial condition, and investors’ confidence in us could be materially affected.

 

Under Sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, our management is required to make certain assessments and certifications regarding our disclosure controls and internal controls over financial reporting. We have dedicated, and expect to continue to dedicate, significant management, financial and other resources in connection with our compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The process of maintaining and evaluating the effectiveness of these controls is expensive, time-consuming and requires significant attention from our management and staff. During the course of our evaluation, we may identify areas requiring improvement and may be required to design enhanced processes and controls to address issues identified through this review. This could result in significant delays and costs to us and require us to divert substantial resources, including management time from other activities. We have found a material weakness in our internal controls in the past and we cannot be certain in the future that we will be able to report that our controls are without material weakness or to complete our evaluation of those controls in a timely fashion.

 

If we fail to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls or internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to rely on the integrity of our financial results, which could result in inaccurate or late reporting of our financial results and investigation by regulatory authorities. If we fail to achieve and maintain adequate internal controls the financial position of our business could be harmed; current and potential future shareholders could lose confidence in us and/or our reported financial results, which may cause a negative effect on the trading price of our common stock; and we could be exposed to litigation or regulatory proceedings, which may be costly or divert management attention.

 

In addition, all internal control systems, no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because there are inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of control can provide absolute assurance, that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been or will be detected. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures. Any failure of our internal control systems to be effective could adversely affect our business.

 

We face risks from litigation.

 

In addition to the litigation described above, from time to time, we may be subject to litigation, which could include, among other things, claims regarding infringement of the intellectual property rights of third parties, product defects, employment-related claims, and claims related to acquisitions, dispositions or restructurings. Any such claims or litigation may be time-consuming and costly, divert management resources, cause product shipment delays, require us to redesign our products, require us to accept returns of products and to write off inventory, or have other adverse effects on our business. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and could require us to pay significant monetary damages.

 

We expect the likelihood of intellectual property infringement and misappropriation claims may increase as the number of products and competitors in our markets grows and as we increasingly incorporate third-party technology into our products. As a result of infringement claims, we could be required to license intellectual property from a third-party or redesign our products. Licenses may not be offered when we need them or on acceptable terms. If we do obtain licenses from third parties, we may be required to pay license fees or royalty payments or we may be required to license some of our intellectual property to others in return for such licenses. If we are unable to obtain a license that is necessary for us or our third-party manufacturers to manufacture our allegedly infringing products, we could be required to suspend the manufacture of products or stop our suppliers from using processes that may infringe the rights of third parties. We may also be unsuccessful in redesigning our products. Our suppliers and customers may be subject to infringement claims based on intellectual property included in our products. We have historically agreed to indemnify our suppliers and customers for patent infringement claims relating to our products. The scope of this indemnity varies, but may, in some instances, include indemnification for damages and expenses, including attorney’s fees. We may periodically engage in litigation as a

result of these indemnification obligations. Our insurance policies exclude coverage for third-party claims for patent infringement.

 

Provisions in our agreements, charter documents, Delaware law and our rights plan may delay or prevent the acquisition of SCM by another company, which could decrease the value of your shares.

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law contain provisions that could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us or enter into a material transaction with us without the consent of our Board of Directors. These provisions include a classified Board of Directors and limitations on actions by our stockholders by written consent. Delaware law imposes some restrictions on mergers and other business combinations between us and any holder of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock. In addition, our Board of Directors has the right to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval, which could be used to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer.

 

We have adopted a stockholder rights plan. The triggering and exercise of the rights would cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on terms or in a manner not approved by our Board of Directors, except pursuant to an offer conditioned upon redemption of the rights. While the rights are not intended to prevent a takeover of our company, they may have the effect of rendering more difficult or discouraging an acquisition of us that was deemed to be undesirable by our Board of Directors.

 

These provisions will apply even if the offer were to be considered adequate by some of our stockholders. Because these provisions may be deemed to discourage a change of control, they may delay or prevent the acquisition of our company, which could decrease the value of our common stock.

 

You may experience dilution of your ownership interests due to the future issuance of additional shares of our stock, and future sales of shares of our common stock could have an adverse effect on our stock price.

 

From time to time, in the future we may issue previously authorized and unissued securities, resulting in the dilution of the ownership interests of our current stockholders. We are currently authorized to issue up to 40,000,000 shares of common stock. As of March 23, 2009, 15,743,515 shares of common stock were outstanding.

 

In connection with the proposed merger with Hirsch, we expect to issue approximately 9,411,470 shares of SCM common stock, and warrants to purchase an additional 4,705,735 shares of SCM common stock, as consideration for the outstanding shares of Hirsch common stock.

 

In 2007, our Board of Directors and our stockholders approved our 2007 stock option plan, under which options to purchase 1.5 million shares of our common stock may be granted. As of December 31, 2008, an aggregate of approximately 3.0 million shares of common stock was reserved for future issuance under our stock option plans, of which 1.8 million shares were subject to outstanding options. We may issue additional shares of our common stock or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for shares of common stock in connection with the hiring of personnel, future acquisitions, future private placements, or future public offerings of our securities for capital raising or for other business purposes. If we issue additional securities, the aggregate percentage ownership of our existing stockholders will be reduced. In addition, any new securities that we issue may have rights senior to those of our common stock.

 

In addition, the potential issuance of additional shares of common stock or preferred stock, or the perception that such issuances could occur, may create downward pressure on the trading price of our common stock.

 

 

None.

 

Our corporate headquarters are in Ismaning, Germany, where we lease approximately 22,000 square feet pursuant to a lease agreement that expires in November 2013. We also lease small sales and marketing facilities in California and in Japan. In California, we lease approximately 6,200 square feet pursuant to a lease agreement that expires in September 2009 and in Japan, we lease approximately 2,100 square feet pursuant to a lease agreement that expires in September 2010. We own a research and development facility of approximately 17,600 square feet in Chennai, India. We consider these properties as adequate for our business needs.

 

We also lease approximately 69,000 square feet at a facility in Guilford, Connecticut, where the lease term expires February 2011. During 2003, we discontinued operations at the Guilford facility and we are currently attempting to sublease the unused space.

 

 

On March 18, 2009, Secure Keyboards and two of its general partners, Luis Villalobos and Howard B. Miller, filed a complaint against the Company, Felix Marx, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and Hirsch, in Los Angeles Superior Court (Case No. SC102226). The complaint asserts multiple causes of action, including interference with contract, in connection with the prospective merger of the Company and Hirsch and the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement calls for royalty payments to be made from Hirsch to each of Secure Keyboards and Secure Networks, Ltd. The complaint alleges that the letter of understanding interfered with the Settlement Agreement in a manner which harmed Secure Keyboards’ interests. The Plaintiffs are seeking damages, including approximately $20,200,000, and declaratory relief. The initial case management review and conference is scheduled for July 6, 2009. We believe that the claims in this case are without merit and we intend to defend the case vigorously, but until a final decision is made with respect to the Plaintiffs’ allegations, no assurances can be given that the ultimate disposition of this case will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

From time to time, we could be subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of business or could be a defendant in lawsuits. While the outcome of such claims or other proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, our management expects that any such liabilities, to the extent not provided for by insurance or otherwise, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

 

None.

 

 

Price Range of Common Stock; Number of Holders; Dividends

 

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market’s National Market under the symbol “SCMM” and on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “SMY.” According to data available at March 6, 2009, we estimate we had approximately 11,038 stockholders of record and beneficial stockholders. Not represented in this figure are individual stockholders in Germany whose custodian banks do not release stockholder information to us. The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices of our common stock for the periods indicated.

 

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock or other securities. We currently anticipate that we will retain all of our future earnings for use in the expansion and operation of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

The disclosure required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is included in Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Stock Performance Graph

 

The following performance graph compares the cumulative total return to holders of our common stock since December 31, 2003, to the cumulative total return over such period of the NASDAQ Composite index and the RDG Technology Index.

 

The performance graph assumes that $100 was invested on December 31, 2003 in our common stock and in each of the comparative indices. The performance graph further assumes that such amount was initially invested in our common stock at a price of $7.72 per share, the closing price on December 31, 2003.

 

Our historic stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

 

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*

Among SCM Microsystems, Inc., The NASDAQ Composite Index

And The RDG Technology Composite Index

 

 

 

 

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

None.

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

None.

 

The table below has been restated to account for the sale of our DTV solutions business in fiscal 2006 and the sale of our retail Digital Media and Video business in fiscal 2003, with both businesses accounted for as discontinued operations.

 

SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

 

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following information should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also urge readers to review and consider our disclosures describing various factors that could affect our business, including the disclosures under the headings “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Overview

 

SCM Microsystems designs, develops and sells hardware and system solutions that enable people to conveniently and securely access digital content and services. We sell our secure digital access products into two market segments: Secure Authentication and Digital Media and Connectivity. Our products are sold primarily to original equipment providers, or OEMs, who typically either bundle our products with their own solutions, or repackage our products for resale to their customers. Our OEM customers include: government contractors, systems integrators, large enterprises, computer manufacturers, as well as banks and other financial institutions for our smart card readers; and major brand computer and photo processing equipment manufacturers for our digital media readers. We sell our CHIPDRIVE solutions through resellers and the Internet. We sell and license our products through a direct sales and marketing organization, as well as through distributors, value added resellers and systems integrators worldwide.

 

Growth Strategies

 

We have put in place a number of strategies to grow revenues over the long-term, as discussed below.

 

Throughout most of 2007, our revenue growth strategy was primarily based on investing in new Secure Authentication products to address emerging smart card-based security programs in Europe, including e-passport, national ID and e-health. Additionally, we implemented programs to expand sales of our CHIPDRIVE business productivity solutions for small and medium-sized businesses to markets outside Germany. We also continued our traditional focus on the U.S. government market, providing smart card readers for authentication programs within various federal agencies; as well as providing digital media readers for the photo kiosk market in the U.S.

 

In late 2007, we embarked on a multi-pronged strategy to expand and diversify our customer base, fully capture emerging market opportunities and accelerate long-term growth. As part of this strategy, we added sales resources in Europe, Asia and the Americas to increase our ability to address current and future business opportunities, including the expansion of existing product lines into new geographic markets. For example, we added sales resources to target authentication programs in the government and enterprise sectors in Asia and we began targeting the photo kiosk markets in Europe and Asia. As sales cycles for government projects and design cycles for photo kiosks may take several quarters, we believe we will begin to realize revenue from these investments in the first half of 2009.

 

In early 2008, we implemented an additional growth strategy aimed at further diversifying and expanding our customer base by targeting the emerging contactless reader market. We have begun investing to develop new Secure Authentication products based on contactless technologies such as Near Field Communication and FeliCa^® and have initiated business development activities aimed at penetrating the worldwide financial services and enterprise markets with our contactless reader products. For example, in October 2008, we introduced the first in a family of new products called @MAXX that are aimed at the market for contactless applications.

 

To better leverage our own capabilities, we have also adopted a more active approach to partnering with other companies that can provide complementary resources and strengths. For example, in recent months we have worked together with XIRING, a French security solutions company, to develop a mobile eHealth terminal for the German electronic health card system. We have also taken an equity position in TranZfinity, a company with which we developed our @MAXX family of contactless readers and which has agreed to provide application services for those readers. Additionally, in December 2008 we announced our proposed merger with Hirsch.

 

On December 10, 2008, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Hirsch, a privately held California Corporation that manufactures and sells physical access control and other security management systems.

Our special meeting of stockholders to vote upon the merger was adjourned on March 23, 2009, and a new meeting is scheduled for April 16, 2009. We expect the closing of the proposed merger to occur once certain closing conditions have been met, including the approval of the stockholders of both companies and the resolution of the lawsuit filed by Secure Keyboards and its partners in connection with the proposed merger. (See Part I, Item 3, “Legal Proceedings”, for additional information about this pending litigation.) Upon the closing of the proposed merger, Hirsch is expected to become a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of SCM. In exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of Hirsch, the Hirsch securityholders will receive an aggregate of approximately $14.1 million in cash, 9,411,470 shares of SCM common stock and 4,705,735 warrants to purchase SCM common stock. In addition, each warrant to purchase shares of Hirsch common stock outstanding immediately prior to the merger will convert into a warrant to purchase shares of SCM common stock as multiplied by a conversion ratio. Following the merger, current Hirsch shareholders are expected to own approximately 37% of the shares of SCM common stock outstanding, and Lawrence Midland, a Hirsch director and president of Hirsch, is expected to join SCM’s Board of Directors and become executive vice president of the Hirsch Business Division of SCM.

 

Hirsch sells its products in many countries worldwide, through a dealer/systems integrator distributor channel. The majority of sales are in the United States, followed by Europe and Asia. Hirsch products are sold in every major industry segment, with the highest number of Hirsch sales occurring in market segments requiring a higher-than-average level of security effectiveness, such as government, critical infrastructure, banking, healthcare and education.

 

Our Board of Directors approved the proposed merger with Hirsch because they believe it presents a compelling strategic opportunity for SCM to strengthen our position in the security industry, expand our product offerings and customer base, and increase our operational scale, among other reasons. Our Board of Directors also believes the merger with Hirsch will position us to pursue and implement a strategy focused on the concept of convergence, the much anticipated industry trend which combines both the logical and physical methods of access for security systems.

 

To ensure appropriate resources for our contactless and expansion strategies, we have strengthened our management team with the addition of marketing, engineering and product management professionals from the contactless industry to execute our contactless product roadmap, including the hiring of our CEO, Felix Marx, in October 2007. We believe the expanded expertise of our management team strengthens our ability to anticipate and respond to market trends both in the traditional smart card industry and in the emerging market for contactless solutions.

 

We have invested in new products, resources and programs, as well as pursued the proposed merger with Hirsch, to support the growth strategies described above and this has resulted in increased operating expenses year over year. We believe these investments are critical to the success of our growth strategies and we expect to continue to invest in these strategies in the future.

 

Trends in our Business

 

In our continuing operations, we may experience significant variations in demand for our products quarter to quarter. This is particularly true for our Secure Authentication products, a significant proportion of which are currently sold for smart card-based ID programs run by various U.S., European and Asian governments. Sales of our smart card readers and chips for government programs are impacted by testing and compliance schedules of government bodies as well as roll-out schedules for application deployments, both of which contribute to variability in demand from quarter to quarter. Additionally, this business is typically subject to seasonality based on governmental budget cycles, with lowest sales in the first quarter and highest sales in the fourth quarter of each year.

 

Historically, we have sold a significant proportion of our Secure Authentication products to the U.S. government for PC and network access by military and federal employees, and these sales have been an important component of our overall revenue. However, during the first half of 2008, we experienced significantly weaker demand for our smart card readers from the U.S. government sector due to project and budget delays. Sales to the

U.S. government market increased in the second half of 2008, as some projects moved forward and as existing budgets were released prior to the U.S. presidential transition in January 2009.

 

During the past several quarters, we have also experienced an ongoing shift in the U.S. government market away from external reader devices and towards interface chips that provide embedded reader technology in laptops and keyboards. We have also sold high volumes of smart card interface chips for embedded readers to laptop and keyboard manufacturers in Asia that have partially offset the decrease in sales of our external readers; however, these chips have a lower average selling price than our external reader devices. Our sales in the U.S. decreased approximately 23% in 2008 compared with the prior year while sales to Asia increased 6% in the same period. We continue to believe that we remain a leading supplier of smart card reader technology to the U.S. government market and that we are not losing share to competitors. However, the shift in demand from external reader devices towards embedded readers in the U.S. government market has resulted and is likely to continue to result in reduced revenue opportunity for us.

 

During 2008, European sales increased approximately 13% compared with the prior year as we continued to target enterprise smart card-based security projects and expand sales of our CHIPDRIVE productivity solutions into new European regions. In recent months, we have experienced lower sales of our CHIPDRIVE products, which are sold through retail channels and the Internet, due to the global economic recession. We believe that the weak economic environment is also lengthening our sales cycles with new customers, particularly in new markets where we do not yet have a significant presence.

 

During 2009, we believe our most significant European revenue opportunity will come from the new electronic health card program in Germany, which the German government has announced will be implemented in phases over a 12-month period, beginning in April 2009. In anticipation of the April 2009 launch, over the past several months we have been adding new distributors in the German healthcare market and we have shipped our first eHealth terminals as advance stock for distributors for the German e-health program. Based on the German government’s plans to begin deploying cards and readers in April 2009, we expect the opportunity for SCM to sell significant volumes of eHealth terminals will begin in the second half of 2009.

 

Sales of our Digital Media and Connectivity products are less subject to variability based on market or project demands than sales of our Secure Authentication products; however, we are dependent on a small number of customers in both of our primary product segments, which can result in fluctuations in sales levels from one period to another. For example, during the second half of 2008, digital media reader sales were well below recent quarterly levels due to reduced orders from a major customer.

 

Both our Secure Authentication and Digital Media and Connectivity businesses are subject to ongoing pricing pressure. To counter this trend, we have implemented ongoing cost reduction programs that have resulted in ongoing improvements to our product margins. We believe we should be able to offset pricing pressure and material cost increases with ongoing improvements in our supply chain systems.

 

During 2008, we increased operational spending in order to develop card reader terminals for the electronic health card program in Germany and to invest in new products and business development programs in the contactless market. Given our progress towards our development goals, we expect our research and development expenses to decrease in 2009. We expect 2009 sales and marketing expenses to remain at current levels, reflecting our continued investment in our contactless and expansion strategies, and we expect general and administrative expenses to remain at higher than ordinary levels in 2009, due to the inclusion of transaction and integration-related expenses in connection with our proposed merger with Hirsch. We incurred approximately $1.4 million in merger-related expenses in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth our statements of operations as a percentage of net revenue for the periods indicated:

 

 

Revenue

 

The following table sets forth our annual revenues and year-to-year change in revenues by product segment for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

Fiscal 2008 Revenue Compared with Fiscal 2007 Revenue

 

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $28.4 million, a decrease of 7% from $30.4 million in 2007. This decrease was due primarily to a 23% decline in sales of our Digital Media and Connectivity products, as

well as, to a lesser extent, a 3% decrease in sales of our Secure Authentication products. Sales of our Secure Authentication products accounted for 84% of total revenue and sales of Digital Media and Connectivity products accounted for 16% of revenue in 2008.

 

Secure Authentication product revenue was $23.7 million in 2008, a decrease of 3% from $24.4 million in 2007. Our Secure Authentication product line principally consists of smart card readers and related chip technology that are primarily used in large security programs where smart cards are employed to authenticate the identity of people in order to control access to computers or computer networks; borders; buildings and other facilities; and services, such as health care. Also included in this business segment are our CHIPDRIVE software and reader solutions, which provide electronic timecard and other productivity applications for small and medium enterprises, and are primarily sold in Europe. The majority of revenue in our Secure Authentication business segment is government, financial or enterprise programs and is subject to significant variability based on the size and timing of customer orders.

 

The decrease in Secure Authentication product sales in 2008 compared with the prior year was primarily due to a significant reduction in sales of our smart card reader products for U.S. government authentication programs in the first two quarters of 2008, mainly due to project and budget delays. During 2008, we have also experienced an ongoing shift in the U.S. government market away from external reader devices and towards interface chips that provide embedded reader technology in laptops and keyboards. We have sold high volumes of smart card interface chips for embedded readers to laptop and keyboard manufacturers in Asia that have somewhat offset the decrease in sales of our external reader devices in the U.S.; however, these chips have a lower average selling price than our external reader devices.

 

The largest percentage of Secure Authentication product revenues in 2008 came equally from sales of readers for U.S. government projects to comply with Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 and other federal mandates, and sales of readers for electronic identification and other programs in Europe. Sales of smart card interface chips in Asia demonstrated the fastest rate of growth in 2008 of any of our products. Sales of our CHIPDRIVE business productivity solutions were relatively flat year to year.

 

Revenue from our Digital Media and Connectivity product line was $4.7 million in 2008, a decrease of 23% from $6.0 million in 2007. Our Digital Media and Connectivity product line consists of digital media readers and related ASIC technology used to provide an interface for flash memory cards, primarily embedded in digital photography kiosks, where the readers are used to download and print digital photos. Two to three customers, historically, have accounted for approximately two-thirds of sales in this business segment. As a result, revenue in our Digital Media and Connectivity product line can fluctuate significantly quarter to quarter due to variability in the size and timing of customer orders. The revenue decrease in 2008 was primarily due to reduced orders from a major customer in the second half of 2008.

 

Fiscal 2007 Revenue Compared with Fiscal 2006 Revenue

 

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2007 was $30.4 million, a decrease of 9% from $33.6 million in 2006. This decrease was due primarily to a 39% decline in sales of our Digital Media and Connectivity products, primarily due to the loss of a major customer at the beginning of 2007, offset in part by a 3% increase in sales of our Secure Authentication products. Sales of our Secure Authentication products accounted for 80% of total revenue in 2007 and sales of Digital Media and Connectivity products accounted for 20% of revenue.

 

Secure Authentication product revenue was $24.4 million in 2007, an increase of 3% from $23.7 million in 2006. In 2007, the composition of sales of our Secure Authentication products remained very similar to the prior year, except that within Europe, we had less revenue from the various government and other security programs that comprise the majority of our European sales, while our CHIPDRIVE products contributed a more significant amount of revenue.

 

Sales of readers for U.S. government projects to comply with Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 and other federal mandates comprised the largest percentage of total Secure Authentication sales in 2007, followed by sales of readers for electronic identification and other programs in Europe, sales of readers for enterprise security programs in Asia and sales of our CHIPDRIVE software and readers.

Revenue from our Digital Media and Connectivity product line was $6.0 million in 2007, a decrease of 39% from $9.9 million in 2006. The revenue decrease in 2007 was primarily due to the loss of a major customer at the beginning of that year. Sales to another major customer increased significantly in the second half of the year; however, this was not sufficient to offset the decrease in sales in the first half of the year.

 

Gross Profit

 

The following table sets forth our gross profit and year-to-year change in gross profit by product segment for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

Gross profit for 2008 was $12.5 million, or 44% of revenue. During 2008, gross profit was impacted by a more favorable mix of higher margin products overall and product cost reductions in our Secure Authentication business, offset by lower Digital Media and Connectivity product volumes. By product segment, gross profit for our Secure Authentication products was 46% and gross profit for our Digital Media and Connectivity products was 35% in 2008.

 

Gross profit for 2007 was $12.7 million, or 42% of revenue. During 2007, gross profit was impacted by a favorable mix of products sold, including our CHIPDRIVE products, better inventory management and product cost reductions, particularly in our Secure Authentication business. Offsetting these positive factors were low sales levels of Digital Media and Connectivity products in the first half of the year and low sales levels of Secure Authentication products in the second quarter of 2007, as well as pricing pressure over the last several quarters. By product segment, gross profit for our Secure Authentication products was 43% and gross profit for our Digital Media and Connectivity products was 36% in 2007.

 

Gross profit for 2006 was $11.9 million, or 35% of revenue. During 2006, gross profit for our Secure Authentication products was impacted by increased pricing pressure, offset by the effect of a more favorable product mix as we increased the number of contactless readers sold, particularly for e-passport applications. During the fourth quarter of 2006, we experienced an increase in gross profit in our Secure Authentication business primarily due to better inventory management and cost reduction programs established earlier in the year. In our Digital Media and Connectivity business, gross profit was impacted by pricing pressure, as well as by an increasing proportion of lower margin products sold.

 

We expect there will be some variation in our gross profit from period to period, as our gross profit has been and will continue to be affected by a variety of factors, including, without limitation, competition, the volume of sales in any given quarter, product configuration and mix, the availability of new products, product enhancements, software and services, inventory write-downs and the cost and availability of components.

Operating Expenses

 

Research and Development

 

 

Research and development expenses consist primarily of employee compensation and various external expenses for the development of hardware and firmware products. We focus the bulk of our research and development activities on the development of products for new and emerging market opportunities.

 

Research and development expenses were $3.9 million in 2008, up 25% from $3.1 million in 2007. The increase in research and development expenses in 2008 was primarily due to the development of new contactless Secure Authentication products and increased development activity related to card terminals for the German e-healthcard program.

 

In 2007 and 2006, we focused primarily on the development of smart card reader technology for the German e-healthcard program, electronic ID applications and the global e-passport market. Research and development expenses were $3.1 million in 2007, or 10% of revenue, compared with $3.8 million in 2006, or 11% of revenue, a decrease of 17%. This decrease was primarily due to a lower level of external resources used.

 

We expect our research and development expenses to vary based on future project demands and the markets we target. In the near term, we expect our research and development expense will decrease in 2009.

 

Selling and Marketing

 

 

Selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of employee compensation as well as tradeshow participation and other marketing and selling costs. We focus a significant proportion of our sales and marketing activities on new and emerging market opportunities, including e-health, contactless applications and business productivity solutions for small and medium-sized businesses.

 

Sales and marketing expenses were $9.6 million in 2008, up 46% from $6.6 million in 2007. The increase in sales and marketing expenses in 2008 was primarily due to the hiring of new sales resources during the year in Asia, Europe and the Americas to enhance our ability to address current and future business opportunities, as well as an increased level of marketing programs and travel expenses related to new business development activities. Also included in 2008 are approximately $0.2 million and $0.1 million in severance costs recorded in the second and fourth quarters of 2008, respectively.

 

Selling and marketing expenses were $6.6 million in 2007, or 22% of revenue, compared with $7.5 million in 2006, or 22% of revenue, a decrease of 12%. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in sales personnel and activities as a result of restructuring activities that occurred at the end of 2006.

 

In line with our strategy to continue investment in current and future business opportunities, we expect our selling and marketing expenses to remain at similar levels in 2009 compared to 2008.

General and Administrative

 

 

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation expenses for employees performing administrative functions, and professional fees arising from legal, auditing and other consulting services.

 

General and administrative expenses in 2008 were $8.1 million, up 13% from $7.1 million in 2007. Higher general and administrative expenses in 2008 primarily resulted from increased business development activities related to our strategy to expand and diversify our customer base and market opportunities. Additionally, the fourth quarter of 2008 included $1.4 million of legal, consulting, auditing and other expenses related to our proposed merger with Hirsch, as well as $0.1 million in severance costs. General and administrative expenses in 2008 were also impacted by the devaluation of the dollar in the first half of the year against foreign currencies, namely the euro, as we pay the majority of these expenses in local currency but account for those expenses in dollars.

 

In 2007, general and administrative expenses were $7.1 million, or 23% of revenue, compared with $7.5 million, or 22% of revenue in 2006, a decrease of 6%. The decrease primarily was due to the consolidation and transfer of our corporate finance and compliance functions from the U.S. to Germany and the completion of the transfer of local finance functions from Singapore and the U.S. to Germany at the end of 2006, offset in part by the payment of $1.4 million in severance and other costs related to our former CEO in the second quarter of 2007.

 

Amortization of Intangibles

 

Amortization of intangible assets was zero in 2008, $0.3 million in 2007 and $0.7 million in 2006.

 

Restructuring and Other Charges (Credits)

 

During 2006, we recorded restructuring and other charges of $1.4 million, primarily related to severance costs for general and administrative personnel that were affected by our decision to relocate corporate finance and compliance functions from the U.S. to Germany and local finance functions from the U.S. and Singapore to Germany, as well as the outsourcing of our manufacturing operations from our Singapore facility to contract manufacturers. Severance costs for manufacturing personnel of approximately $0.3 million have been recorded in cost of revenue (See Note 9 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K).

 

Gain on Sale of Assets

 

During 2008, we recorded $1.4 million gain on the sale of certain non-core patents that were unrelated to our current business. A further $0.1 million gain was realized on the sale of unused land.

 

Loss on Equity Investments

 

On October 1, 2008, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with TranZfinity, Inc. (“TranZfinity”), a privately held entity, pursuant to which we purchased 33.7% of the outstanding shares of TranZfinity common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $2.5 million. Net loss on equity investments of $0.3 million in 2008 relates to our share of the losses of our equity method investment in TranZfinity ($0.2 million) and amortization of the differences between SCM’s cost and underlying equity in net assets of TranZfinity ($0.1 million), subsequent to the date of investment.

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income consists of interest earned on invested cash.

Interest income resulting from cash balances was $0.8 million in 2008, $1.6 million in 2007 and $1.4 million in 2006. The reduction in interest income in 2008 reflects our reduced cash balance and the reduction in interest rates in 2008 compared to 2007. Higher interest income in 2007 compared with 2006 resulted primarily from higher interest rates in 2007.

 

Foreign Currency Gains and Losses and Other Income and Expense

 

We recorded foreign currency exchange losses and other expense of $2.6 million in 2008, $0.3 million in 2007 and $0.2 million in 2006. Changes in currency valuation in all periods presented were primarily a result of exchange rate movements between the U.S. dollar and the euro and the British pound.

 

Our foreign currency losses primarily result from the valuation of current assets and liabilities denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the respective entity in the local financial statements. Accordingly, these foreign currency losses are predominantly non-cash items.

 

Higher foreign exchange losses in 2008 were primarily the result of the weakening of the euro and the British pound versus the U.S. dollar during the second half of the year and the impact of these currency fluctuations on our accounting for intercompany balances. To reduce our exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange valuations, we have settled the significant intercompany balances that previously had contributed to foreign exchange gains and losses.

 

For both 2007 and 2006, foreign currency losses were $0.3 million. No other income was recorded in 2007, while other income was $0.1 million in 2006.

 

Income Taxes

 

In 2008, 2007 and 2006, we recorded provisions for income taxes of $0.8 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

 

For the 2008 period, $0.4 million related to deferred tax liabilities for undistributed earnings and profits of SCM subsidiaries, which are not considered to be permanently invested; $0.3 million income tax expense related to a foreign subsidiary with no loss carryforwards; and the remaining $0.1 million was primarily for minimum taxation, which could not be offset with operating loss carryforwards.

 

Income tax expense in the years 2007 and 2006 was primarily for minimum taxation, which could not be offset with operating loss carryforwards and tax expenses in a foreign subsidiary with no loss carryforwards.

 

Discontinued Operations

 

On May 22, 2006, we completed the sale of substantially all the assets and some of the liabilities associated with our DTV solutions business to Kudelski S.A. Revenue for the DTV solutions business was zero, $0.5 million and $13.5 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Operating gain (loss) for the DTV solutions business was $2,000, $0.1 million and $(1.3) million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Net gain (loss) for the DTV solutions business was $2,000, $0.1 million and $3.0 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

During 2003, we completed two transactions to sell our retail Digital Media and Video business. On July 25, 2003, we completed the sale of our digital video business to Pinnacle Systems and on August 1, 2003, we completed the sale of our retail digital media reader business to Zio Corporation.

 

We recorded no revenue for the retail Digital Media and Video business in 2008, 2007 or 2006. Operating loss for the retail Digital Media and Video business for the same periods was $0.3 million, $0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively. Net gain (loss) for the retail Digital Media and Video business was $(0.2), $(0.3) million and $0.5 million for 2008, 2007 and 2006 respectively.

 

During 2008, we recorded a net gain on disposal of discontinued operations of $0.6 million, primarily related to the termination of our lease agreement for premises leased in the UK, which resulted in a gain of $0.4 million. The remaining $0.2 million was primarily related to changes in estimates for lease commitments.

During 2007, we recorded a net gain on disposal of discontinued operations of $1.6 million, primarily related to the final payment received for the sale of the assets of the DTV solutions business.

 

During 2006, we recorded a net gain on disposal of discontinued operations of $5.2 million, primarily related to the sale of the assets of the DTV solutions business.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of December 31, 2008, our working capital, which we have defined as current assets less current liabilities, was $23.9 million, compared to $34.0 million as of December 31, 2007, a decrease of approximately $10.1 million. Current assets decreased by $9.9 million, resulting from a reduction in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $11.9 million and a reduction of other current assets of $0.3 million, partly offset by increases in inventories of $2.3 million and in accounts receivable of $0.1 million. Current liabilities increased by $0.2 million, resulting from higher accounts payable of $0.5 and higher income taxes payable of $0.1 million, partly offset by an decrease in accruals of $0.4 million.

 

In 2008, cash and cash equivalents increased by $2.0 million, as maturing short-term investments were not reinvested. While operating activities used $11.2 million in cash, investing activities provided $12.3 million. The effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents was an increase of $0.9 million.

 

Cash used in operating activities of $11.2 million was primarily due to a net loss of $10.1 million. The remaining $1.1 million cash used in operating activities resulted primarily from the net effect of changes in working capital. Cash provided in operating activities from discontinued operations was $0.2 million.

 

Cash provided in investing activities from continuing operations of $12.3 million resulted primarily from the maturity of short-term investments of $13.9 million and the proceeds from sale of assets totaling $1.6 million, of which $1.4 million related to the sale of certain non-core patents. Offsetting the increase was a $2.5 million investment to purchase 33.7% of the outstanding shares of TranZfinity, Inc., and $0.7 million related to capital expenditures, of which $0.3 million related to an exclusivity right with TranZfinity.

 

Cash provided by financing activities resulted from the issuance of common stock related to the Company’s stock option programs. At December 31, 2008, our outstanding stock options as a percentage of outstanding shares was 12%, unchanged from December 31, 2007.

 

During 2008, we used $11.5 million in cash to fund continuing operations. We currently expect that our current capital resources and available borrowings should be sufficient to meet our operating and capital requirements through at least the end of 2009.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an on-going basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to product returns, customer incentives, bad debts, inventories, asset impairment, deferred tax assets, accrued warranty reserves, restructuring costs, contingencies and litigation. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

Management believes the following critical accounting policies, among others, contain our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2007, FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (“SFAS No. 141(R)”). Under SFAS No. 141(R), an entity is required to recognize the assets acquired, liabilities assumed, contractual contingencies, and contingent consideration at their fair value on the acquisition date. It further requires that acquisition-related costs be recognized separately from the acquisition and expensed as incurred, restructuring costs generally be expensed in periods subsequent to the acquisition date, and changes in accounting for deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties after the measurement period impact income tax expense. In addition, acquired in-process research and development (IPR&D) is capitalized as an intangible asset and amortized over its estimated useful life. The adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) will change our accounting treatment for business combinations on a prospective basis beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51. SFAS No. 160 changes the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will be recharacterized as non-controlling interests and classified as a component of equity. SFAS No. 160 is effective for us on a prospective basis for business combinations with an acquisition date beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009. As of December 31, 2008, we did not have any minority interests.

 

On January 1, 2008, we adopted SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. SFAS No. 159 permits companies to choose to measure certain financial instruments and other items at fair value using an instrument-by-instrument election. The standard requires that unrealized gains and losses are reported in earnings for items measured using the fair value option. The adoption of SFAS No. 159 did not have an impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

On January 1, 2008, we adopted SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, for all financial assets and financial liabilities and for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (i.e., at least annually). SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and enhances fair value measurement disclosure. SFAS No. 157 does not change the accounting for those instruments that were, under previous GAAP, accounted for at cost or contract value. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements, and the resulting fair values calculated under SFAS No. 157 after adoption were not significantly different than the fair values that would have been calculated under previous guidance.

 

SFAS No. 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable objective inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs, which require additional reliance on our judgment, when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. SFAS No. 157 establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

 

We use the following classifications to measure different financial instruments at fair value, including an indication of the level in the fair value hierarchy in which each instrument is generally classified:

 

Cash equivalents include highly liquid debt investments (money market fund deposits, commercial paper and treasury bills) with maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition. These financial instruments are classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

Short-term investments consist of corporate notes and United States government agency instruments and are classified as available-for-sale. These financial instruments are classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. As of December 31, 2008, we have no short-term investments.

 

Assets that are measured and recognized at fair value on a recurring basis classified under the appropriate level of the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2008 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

As of December 31, 2008, there are no liabilities that are measured and recognized at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) 157-1, Application of FASB Statement No. 157 to FASB Statement No. 13 and Other Accounting Pronouncements that Address Fair Value Measurements for Purposes of Lease Classification or Measurement under Statement 13, and FSP 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157. FSP 157-1 amends SFAS No. 157 to remove certain leasing transactions from its scope. FSP 157-2 delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (i.e., at least annually), until the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2009. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 to non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have not entered into off-balance sheet arrangements, or issued guarantees to third parties.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The following summarizes expected cash requirements for contractual obligations as of December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

 

Purchases for inventories are highly dependent upon forecasts of the customers’ demand. Due to the uncertainty in demand from our customers, we may have to change, reschedule, or cancel purchases or purchase orders from our suppliers. These changes may lead to vendor cancellation charges on these purchases or contractual commitments.

 

The long-term income taxes payable of $0.2 million accounted for under FIN 48 as of December 31, 2008 are not included in the table above. We are unable to reliably estimate the timing of future payments related to these uncertain tax positions.

 

Foreign Currencies

 

We transact business in various foreign currencies, and accordingly, we are subject to exposure from adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates. This exposure is primarily related to local currency denominated sales and operating expenses in Europe, India and Japan, where we conduct business in both local currencies and U.S. dollars. We assess the need to utilize financial instruments to hedge foreign currency exposure on an ongoing basis.

 

Our foreign currency exchange gains and losses are primarily the result of the revaluation of intercompany receivables/payables (denominated in U.S. dollars) and trade receivables (denominated in a currency other than the functional currency) to the functional currency of the subsidiary. We have performed sensitivity analyses as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 using a modeling technique that evaluated the hypothetical impact of a 10% movement in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the functional currency of the subsidiary, with all other variables held constant, to determine the incremental transaction gains or losses that would have been incurred. The foreign exchange rates used were based on market rates in effect at each of December 31, 2008 and 2007. The results of this hypothetical sensitivity analysis indicated that a hypothetical 10% movement in foreign currency exchange rates would result in increased foreign currency gains or losses of $0.8 million and $0.9 million for 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Fixed Income Investments

 

We do not use derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio. We do, however, limit our exposure to interest rate and credit risk by establishing and strictly monitoring clear policies and guidelines for our fixed income portfolios. At the present time, the maximum duration of any investment in our portfolio is limited to less than one year. The guidelines also establish credit quality standards, limits on exposure to one issue or issuer, as well as to the type of instrument. Due to the limited duration and credit risk criteria we have established, our exposure to market and credit risk is not expected to be material.

 

At December 31, 2008, we had $20.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and no short-term investments. Based on our cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2008, a hypothetical 10% change in interest rates along the entire interest rate yield curve would not be expected to materially affect the fair value of our financial instruments that are exposed to changes in interest rates.

 

At December 31, 2007, we had $18.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and $13.8 million in short-term investments. Based on our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2007, a hypothetical 10% change in interest rates along the entire interest rate yield curve would not be expected to materially affect the fair value of our financial instruments that are exposed to changes in interest rates.

 

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

of SCM Microsystems, Inc.:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SCM Microsystems, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed at Item 15(a)(2) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of SCM Microsystems, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

 

WIRTSCHAFTSPRÜFUNGSGESELLSCHAFT

 

Munich, Germany

March 31, 2009

SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006