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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
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
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section
13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES 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 the Registrant’s knowledge,
in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference on Part III of this Form
10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
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):
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o
Smaller reporting company þ
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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
The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was
approximately $1,548,000 based on the reported last sale price of common stock on April 30, 2008,
which was the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
Portions of the Registrant’s Form 10-K/A or proxy statement to be filed
within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K are incorporated by reference into Part III of this
Form 10-K.
The Business section and other parts of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”) contain
forward-looking statements relating to our business and strategy. These forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties. Many forward-looking statements are located in “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of
this Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “intends,”“anticipates,”“expects,”“believes,”“plans,”“predicts,” and similar terms. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results may differ significantly
from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such
differences include, but are not limited to, those set forth below in the section entitled “Risk
Factors” under Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K. We assume no obligation to revise or update any
forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.
As used in the Form 10-K, “SCO” and “OpenServer” are trademarks or registered trademarks of
our Company in the United States and other countries. “UNIX” and “UnixWare” are registered
trademarks of The Open Group in the United States and other countries. All other brand or product
names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify the products and services of, their
respective owners. As used herein, the “Company” or “us,”“we,”“ours,” or similar terms refer to
The SCO Group, Inc. and our subsidiaries.
Overview
We have ownership rights in the base UNIX operating system technology and are a provider of
UNIX-based products and services. We own the business related to this technology as well as
innovative mobile software technology. Our core business is to sell and service our UNIX software
products to small-to-medium sized businesses and franchisees or branch offices of Fortune 1000
businesses. The products that generate our UNIX revenue are OpenServer and UnixWare. Unless
certain assets are sold pursuant to the Amended Reorganization Plan filed by the Company with the
U.S. Bankruptcy Court on January 8, 2009, we intend to continue to develop, market and service our
UNIX products and services during the year ending October 31, 2009, while at the same time further
developing and marketing our mobility products and services for personal and professional
productivity-including the innovative FCmobilelife product being marketed by Franklin-Covey Co.
We will continue our ongoing efforts to establish and protect our intellectual property
rights, particularly relating to our ownership interest in the original UNIX source code, including
the appeal pending before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Recent Developments
Novell, Inc. Ruling
On August 10, 2007, the federal judge overseeing our lawsuit with Novell, Inc. (“Novell”)
ruled in favor of Novell on several of the summary judgment motions that were before the United
States District Court in Utah (the “Court”). The effect of these rulings was to significantly
reduce or to eliminate certain of the Company’s claims in both the Novell case (“Novell
Litigation”) and the IBM case, and possibly others (collectively, the “SCO Litigation”). The Court
ruled that Novell was the owner of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights that existed at the time of the
1995 Asset Purchase Agreement between Novell and Santa Cruz (the “APA”), and that Novell retained
broad rights to waive our contract claims against IBM. The Court ruled that we own the copyrights
to post-APA UnixWare code and derivatives and that we have certain other ownership rights in the
UNIX technology. We were directed to accept Novell’s waiver of the Company’s UNIX contract claims
against IBM. In addition, the Court determined that certain SCOsource licensing agreements that we
executed in fiscal year 2003 and thereafter included older SVRx licenses and that we were possibly
required to remit some portion of the proceeds to Novell. Over our objection, a bench trial was set
to begin on September 17, 2007, and the federal judge was to determine what portion, if any, of the
proceeds of the SCOsource agreements is attributable to such SVRx licenses and should be remitted
to Novell, as well as whether we had authority to enter into such SVRx licenses. Based on Novell’s
allegations, the potential payment to Novell for those SVRx licenses ranged from a de minimis
amount to in excess of $30,000,000, the latter amount being the amount claimed by Novell, plus
interest.
The trial of these issues, however, was automatically stayed as a result of our filing a
voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the
“Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the
“Bankruptcy Court”) on September 14, 2007. On October 4, 2007, Novell filed a Motion for Relief
from Automatic Stay. On November 27, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court modified the automatic stay to
permit Novell to pursue the trial scheduled in the Court on the allocation of proceeds from the
SCOsource agreements and the question of our alleged lack of authority to enter into them, but the
Bankruptcy Court retained jurisdiction to determine whether to impose a constructive trust on any
amounts found to be payable to Novell. The Bankruptcy Court also ruled that the automatic stay
applies to the SuSE arbitration proceeding pending in Europe. Upon the modification of the
automatic stay, the Court scheduled a four-day trial on those matters for which the Bankruptcy
Court modified the automatic stay, which started on April 29, 2008 and concluded on May 2, 2008.
On December 21, 2007, Novell filed a motion for summary judgment on the issue of whether we
had the authority to enter into the SCOsource licenses. The parties fully briefed the motion, and
the Court set oral argument on this and any other pending motions for summary judgment for April30, 2008. On March 7, 2008, we filed a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings on Novell’s Claims for
Money or Claim for Declaratory Relief, in which we argued, based on Novell’s version of the facts,
that either its claims for money from SCOsource agreements or its claim seeking a declaration that
SCO lacked the authority to enter into those agreements must fail. The Court heard oral arguments
on this motion, as well as Novell’s pending motion for summary judgment, on the second day of
trial, April 30, 2008.
From April 29 through May 2, 2008, the Court held a bench trial on Novell’s monetary claim for
certain portions of fees we received from the SCOsource agreements and on whether we had the
authority to enter into those agreements. Prior to the commencement of the trial, Novell conceded
that it would not be making a claim to a portion of the fees paid to us by Microsoft in 2003 and
Novell therefore reduced the principal amount of its claim to $19,979,561. After the trial and
arguments, the Court took all matters under advisement and stated it would attempt to issue a
ruling without undue delay.
On July 16, 2008, the Court entered its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order,
ruling that (1) the SCOsource agreements with Linux end-users were not SVRx licenses and therefore
Novell was not entitled to revenue from those agreements and that SCO had the authority to enter
into such agreements; (2) the 2003 SCOsource agreement with Microsoft contained an SVRx License
that was incidental to the UnixWare license in the agreement, and therefore we were authorized to
enter into the license and Novell was not entitled to revenue from the agreement; and (3) the 2003
SCOsource agreement with Sun was an unauthorized amendment of a prior UNIX buy out agreement, and
Novell was entitled to $2,547,817 of the revenue from the Sun agreement as attributable to that
amendment. The Court directed Novell to file a brief identifying the amount of prejudgment
interest it sought based on this award. On August 29, 2008, Novell filed an Unopposed Submission
Regarding Prejudgment Interest, informing the Court that the parties had agreed that Novell was
entitled to $918,122 in prejudgment interest through that date, plus $489 per day until the entry
of final judgment, based on the Court’s $2,547,817 award.
In its ruling of July 16, 2008, the Court also directed Novell to file a proposed Final
Judgment consistent with the Court’s trial and summary judgment orders. In its proposed submission
to the Court in compliance with this order, Novell took the position that final judgment could not
be entered because certain of our claims are stayed pending arbitration and the imposition of a
constructive trust remained an open question in the Bankruptcy Court. Subsequently, in order to
expedite the entry of final judgment, we sought to resolve these issues with Novell and agreed to
an extension of Novell’s deadline for filing its submission. Based on our tracing of Sun’s
payments under its 2003 SCOsource agreement, Novell agreed that only $625,487 of our current assets
were traceable as trust funds. We also proposed dismissing our stayed claims with prejudice on the
basis of the Court’s ruling that Novell owns the pre-APA UNIX copyrights in the Court’s summary
judgment order of August 10, 2007. On August 29, 2008, in its Submission Regarding the Entry of
Final Judgment, Novell informed the Court of the parties’ agreement as
to the trust amount, but Novell stood by its position that final judgment could not be entered in
light of the stayed claims. On September 15, 2008, we filed papers arguing for the entry of final
judgment.
On November 20, 2008, after further negotiations between the parties, the Court entered a
Final Judgment, incorporating the material rulings from the August 10, 2007 and July 16, 2008
rulings as explained above. On November 25, 2008, we filed a notice of appeal of that Final
Judgment, including the Court’s summary judgment order of August 10, 2007. The appeal before the
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit will proceed over the next several months with
briefing and then argument before the Court. On January 23, 2009, we filed an unopposed motion for
an expedited appeal. A decision on the appeal could be forthcoming in approximately the next ten
to fourteen months, unless we are successful in our motion that the Court handle the appeal on an
expedited basis.
As a result of the Court’s judgment against us, as of October 31, 2008, we have accrued
$3,518,000 for this contingent liability and related interest. However, we, continue to contest
this liability. We believe that this judgment is in error, and that we have strong grounds to have
the adverse rulings embodied in the Final Judgment overturned on appeal. However, in the event that
our assets are further depleted or frozen, we may not be in a financial position to appeal those
rulings.
Our management and board of directors determined that filing for relief under Chapter 11 of
the United States Bankruptcy Code on September 14, 2007 was appropriate and necessary.
Bankruptcy Filing
On September 14, 2007, The SCO Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, SCO Operations,
Inc. (collectively, the “Debtors”), filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the
United States Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Debtors’
Chapter 11 cases are being jointly administered under Case No. 07-11337(KG). The Debtors continue
to exercise control over their assets and operate their businesses as “debtors-in-possession” under
the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the
Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court. Our foreign subsidiaries were not included in
the filings. Our foreign subsidiaries, as non-debtors, are not subject to the requirements of the
Bankruptcy Code and are not subject to Bankruptcy Court supervision.
On September 18, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court granted the Debtors’ motions to maintain their
existing bank accounts and cash management systems, to pay pre-bankruptcy wage-related items, to
establish procedures relating to utility providers and to employ temporary employees.
As a result of the Chapter 11 filings, realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities
are subject to uncertainty. While operating as debtors-in-possession under the protection of
Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Debtors may sell or otherwise dispose of assets and
liquidate or settle liabilities for amounts other than those reflected in the consolidated
financial statements, in the ordinary course of business, or, if outside the ordinary course of
business, subject to Bankruptcy Court approval.
On February 13, 2008, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) with Stephen
Norris Capital Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SNCP”), whereby SNCP agreed to
provide financing to fund our plan of reorganization filed on February 29, 2008. On the same day,
we filed a disclosure statement in connection with the plan of reorganization, under the terms
contemplated by the MOU.
On February 29, 2008, the Debtors filed their joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization (the
“Plan”) and Disclosure Statement in Connection with the Plan (the “Disclosure Statement”). A
hearing to approve the adequacy of the Disclosure Statement was scheduled before the Bankruptcy
Court on April 2, 2008. The April 2, 2008 hearing proceeded as a status conference regarding the
Debtors’ progress towards a new Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Stephen Norris Capital
Partners, LLC. Therefore, the Debtors indicated that they were not presently seeking approval of
the adequacy of the Disclosure Statement, which would need to be amended to reflect the changes to
the MOU.
On May 12, 2008, the Debtors filed a motion seeking an extension of their exclusive periods to
submit and solicit acceptances of an amended or new plan of reorganization to August 11 and October13, 2008, respectively. A hearing to consider that motion was scheduled for June 17, 2008. The
Bankruptcy Court granted the motion on June 17, 2008. The Debtors filed another motion for an
extension of their exclusive periods to submit and solicit acceptances of a plan of reorganization
to a date 45 and 105 days, respectively, following an entry of a final judgment in the Novell
Litigation. The hearing on that motion was conducted on September 16, 2008, at which time the
Bankruptcy Court granted the motion for an extension of our exclusive periods to submit and solicit
acceptance of a plan of reorganization to December 31, 2008.
On January 8, 2009, the Debtors filed its Amended Reorganization Plan and Disclosure
statement. Under the proposed plan, we intend to hold an open auction to sell certain assets of
the Company including our mobility business assets and our OpenServer operating system assets and
business. Through this sale, the Debtors hope to obtain enough consideration to pay its creditors
and continue its operations as set forth in the plan. In the event that the asset sale does not
generate enough cash to meet the aforementioned objectives, we will scale back our operations and
costs, and initiate other strategies to implement the plan of reorganization. In the event that
certain Company assets are not sold, we will continue to sell and support our UNIX and mobility
business and will also focus on the following key provisions: (a) an enhanced pricing and discount
strategy, (b) an updated “True-up” licensing program with current customers, (c) reducing overall
operating costs (d) delivering SCO UNIX Virtual product lines for VMware and Hyper-V to allow SCO
legacy applications to run on modern hardware; and (e) shipping FCmobilelife and FCtasks for the
iPhone with a new pricing structure.
Under the priority scheme established by the Bankruptcy Code, unless creditors agree
otherwise, post-petition liabilities and prepetition liabilities must be satisfied in full before
stockholders are entitled to receive any distribution or retain any property under a plan of
reorganization. The ultimate recovery to creditors and/or stockholders, if any, will not be
determined until confirmation of a plan or plans of reorganization. No assurance can be given as to
what values, if any, will be ascribed in the Chapter 11 cases to each of these constituencies or
what types or amounts of distributions, if any, they would receive, or as to the timing of such
distributions, if any. A plan of reorganization could result in holders of our stock receiving no
distribution on account of their interests and cancellation of their existing stock. If certain
requirements of the Bankruptcy Code are met, a plan of reorganization can be confirmed
notwithstanding its rejection by the class comprising the interests of our equity security holders.
If our Plan is not confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court, it is unclear whether we would be able
to reorganize our businesses and what, if anything, holders of claims against us would ultimately
receive with respect to their claims. If an alternative reorganization could not be agreed upon, it
is possible that our bankruptcy case could be converted to a liquidation under Chapter 7 and we
would have to liquidate our assets, in which case it is likely that holders of claims would receive
substantially less favorable treatment than they would receive if we were to emerge as a viable,
reorganized entity; and stockholders would likely receive nothing from the liquidation.
As a result of the Court’s August 10, 2007 and July 16, 2008 rulings and the uncertainties
surrounding the confirmation of our Amended Reorganization Plan, among other matters, there is
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. In connections with these
developments, management recorded an impairment of the carrying value of our long-lived assets of
$276,000 during the year ended October 31, 2008.
UNIX Business
Background
Our core business focus is to serve the needs of small-to-medium sized businesses and branch
offices and franchisees of Fortune 1000 companies, by providing reliable, cost-effective UNIX
software technology for distributed, embedded and network-based systems. We also provide a full
range of pre- and post-sales technical support for all of our products, primarily focusing on
OpenServer and UnixWare. Additionally, we provide UNIX-based technical support services and
consulting services.
Our largest source of revenue for our core UNIX business is derived from our worldwide,
indirect, leveraged channel of partners, which includes distributors and independent solution
providers (collectively, “resellers”). We have employees or contractors in a number of countries
that provide support and services to customers and resellers. The other principal channel for
selling and marketing our products is through large corporations, which have a large number of
branch offices or franchisees. We access these corporations through their information technology
or purchasing departments. In addition, we sell our UNIX products to original equipment
manufacturers (“OEMs”).
The original UNIX operating system was conceived on the premise that an operating system
should be easily adapted to a broad range of hardware platforms and should provide a simple way of
developing programs. Over the years, the UNIX operating system has been adapted for almost every
OEM’s hardware architecture, and today UNIX has achieved the goal of seamlessly sharing data across
heterogeneous environments. We have certain ownership and other rights relating to the UNIX
operating system, which we, with approval from the Bankruptcy Court, intend to continue to enforce
and protect.
UNIX has had a long history of business implementation, and has a large and loyal base of both
customers and vendors that provide solutions and applications. On the Intel platform, our
OpenServer and UnixWare products represent a low-cost UNIX operating system available for
businesses. Our UNIX product offerings allow our customers to take advantage of the reliability of
UNIX at a relatively low cost. Today, we continue to focus and generate revenue from
small-to-medium business resellers as well as from large corporations, including numerous Fortune
1000 companies. We also have continuing relationships with hardware vendors and have received
certifications on many of the industry’s top hardware platforms.
Current Status and Strategy
Sales of our UNIX-based products and services have been declining over the last several years.
This decline in revenue has been primarily attributable to significant competition from
alternative operating systems, particularly Linux. Our expectation is that this trend will
continue as a result of continued competition, the negative ruling received from our litigation
with Novell, and our Chapter 11 filing.
We anticipate that our OpenServer and UnixWare products will continue to provide a future
revenue stream for our UNIX business. However, unless there is a change in the current operating
system environment, we expect revenue from these products will continue to decline. Both of these
UNIX products have a strong and loyal existing customer base of small-to-medium businesses and
enterprise customers and constitute a well-known brand with a reputation for quality and
reliability.
We also have a seasoned, mature sales channel of resellers focused on the small-to-medium
business market. This channel is a unique asset that should allow us to continue to provide
reliable UNIX operating systems for small-to-medium business customers.
Unless certain assets are sold as explained above, for the fiscal year ending October 31,2009, we plan to continue to focus our UNIX development resources on our current UNIX products. In
addition, we will focus other engineering resources on our mobility products and services for
personal and professional productivity. We expect that these mobility products and services will
enable easy, secure, real-time mobile access to all kinds of information stored in enterprise and
web-based systems without the need for direct connection between end-point devices and those
systems.
Our research and development efforts are described in more detail below in the subsection
entitled “Software Engineering and Development.”
Competition
We face direct competition in the operating system market from Linux operating system
providers, other non-UNIX operating system providers and other UNIX-based operating system
providers. In the operating system market, some of our competitors include International Business
Machines Corporation (“IBM”), Red Hat Inc. (“Red Hat”), Novell, Microsoft Corporation
(“Microsoft”), and Sun Microsystems (“Sun”). Operating systems, including Linux, are continuing to
aggressively take market share away from UNIX and our UNIX revenue has declined over the last
several years.
We believe that we compete favorably with many of our operating system competitors in a number
of respects, including product performance, functionality and networking capability.
Notwithstanding these factors, our revenue has declined over the last several years. Many of our
competitors are significantly larger than we are and have much greater access to funding, technical
expertise, marketing, and research and development. In addition, many of our competitors have
established brand recognition and market presence that may prevent us from obtaining or retaining
market share. Additionally, the assertion of our legal rights relating to our UNIX ownership, the
negative ruling in our litigation with Novell, and our recent Chapter 11 filing have resulted in us
becoming the focus of a significant amount of negative publicity from various sources that has to
some degree hampered our ability to compete favorably.
The success of our UNIX business will, in large measure, depend on the level of commitment and
certification we receive from industry partners and developers. In recent years, we have seen
hardware and software vendors as well as software developers turn their certification and
application development efforts toward Linux and elect not to continue to support or certify to our
UNIX operating system products. This trend continued for the year ended October 31, 2008, and we
believe that it will continue during the year ending October 31, 2009. If this trend does continue
as expected, our competitive position will continue to be adversely impacted and our future revenue
from our UNIX business will decline, possibly at an even faster rate than it has declined over the
last several years. The decline in our UNIX business may be accelerated if industry partners
withdraw their support from us as a result of our litigation with IBM, Novell and Red Hat (the “SCO
Litigation”) and our Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
The market for mobility products and services is relatively young, and we believe it is poised
for rapid growth. Competition is strong and takes numerous forms, including database vendors who
are providing mobile extensions of their current offerings as well as start-up companies and other
large corporations who are focusing on custom solutions based on proprietary middleware. We
believe that the landscape and competition will change rapidly and that no single company has
established firm leadership. The success of our mobility products and services offerings will
depend, in part, on the level of commitment and resources we are able to devote to these offerings,
the partnerships we are able to establish, our ability to attract and retain new customers and
partners, and the strength of our mobility offerings.
Products and Services
OpenServer. OpenServer is our UNIX-based offering targeted at small-to-medium businesses and
branch offices of large enterprises. Businesses use OpenServer to simplify and speed business
operations, better understand and respond to their customers’ needs and achieve a competitive
advantage. OpenServer excels at running multi-user, transaction and business applications,
communications gateways, and mail and messaging servers in both host and client/server
environments. We continue to fully support existing users of OpenServer, keeping the operating
system current as well as obtaining certain hardware certifications. The latest major release,
OpenServer 6, began shipping in June 2005.
UnixWare. UnixWare is our UNIX-based offering targeted at medium businesses and enterprise
customers. UnixWare is an advanced deployment platform for industry standard Intel processor
systems. UnixWare is a foundation for solutions where proven scalability, reliability and
affordability are critical. UnixWare includes enhancements and refinements to the UNIX platform,
representing added value for existing UnixWare customers. The latest major release of UnixWare,
UnixWare 7.1.4, began shipping in May 2004.
Other Products. In addition to OpenServer and UnixWare, we offer product maintenance and
additional UNIX-related products, such as SCOoffice Server, a UNIX-based e-mail and collaboration
system and other UNIX system add-ons.
Technical Support Services. We provide a full range of pre- and post-sale technical support
for all of our products, primarily focusing on OpenServer and UnixWare.
We also provide technical support to our partners, including resellers, hardware and software
vendors and solution providers, as well as directly supporting our end-user customers. Our
partners have
the option to direct their customers to us for technical support or to provide first-level
customer support themselves and utilize our technical expertise for second-tier support.
Technical support services include a range of options from single incident e-mail and
telephone support to dedicated “enterprise” level support agreements. Customers seeking additional
technical support directly from us may enter into service agreements that best suit their needs.
Other Services. Our other services include software development and programming, migration
tools and services and assisting customers with modernizing and integrating legacy applications
with web services. We assist our end-user customers and solution providers in planning, creating,
implementing and deploying business application solutions.
Mobility Products and Services. Our new Mobility Server product provides a secure, reliable
connection point between handheld devices and corporate infrastructure applications and servers; a
HipCheck Service which enables pro-active mobile administration for UNIX and Windows servers; a
Shout product which enables users to communicate multimedia messaging to groups of any size via a
mobile smart phone or rich media web landing page; and a Shout Postcard product which allows users
to send virtual postcards from their smart phone, and Me Inc. Mobile (branded FCmobilelife by
Franklin Covey Co., a collaborative time and task management tool which allows users to set
appointments, connect with others, create tasks, track goals and blog with associates using their
web browser or Smartphones such as Windows Mobile, Blackberry or iPhone devices.
Strategic Alliances
We have business alliances with a number of key global industry partners. These relationships
encompass product integration, two-way technology transfers, product certification, channel
partnerships and revenue generating initiatives in areas of product bundling, OEM agreements and
training and education. The objectives of these partnerships include providing complete hardware
and software UNIX solutions and mutually developing our sales and distribution channel by
coordinating marketing initiatives in creating awareness for our products. We also have alliances
with a number of solution providers who write and develop custom applications to run on UNIX
operating systems. Most of our small business customers that cannot afford high-end solutions or
an information technology staff rely on one of our channel partners for these services.
Maintaining these strategic alliances for the year ending October 31, 2009 will be critical to our
UNIX business. We intend to continue to keep relationships with key partners in certain vertical
markets such as retail point-of-sale, manufacturing, accounting and medical/pharmaceutical where
our UNIX operating systems have an existing presence. Our efforts to maintain or expand industry
partnerships may be adversely impacted by issues related to the SCO Litigation.
Sales and Marketing
Our UNIX sales and marketing and field operations are organized by geographic area: our
Americas division and our International division. Each division includes a sales organization,
field marketing, pre- and post-sales technical support, and local professional services personnel.
Americas. The Americas team has field sales and support personnel located around the United
States, Latin America and Canada. This region delivered approximately 43% of the total revenue for
the year ended October 31, 2008. The sales team is organized into Area Sales Managers (“ASMs”) who
each manage a specific geographic area and support our resellers and channel partners as well as
service our corporate account customer base, including OEM partners. ASMs have the following
specific roles:
•
Channel Sales – ASMs manage our relationships with our resellers and vertical
solution providers. Resellers sell numerous solutions to small business customers in
their geographic territory. Vertical solution providers provide bundled applications to
specific vertical markets, which include retail point-of-sale, manufacturing, accounting
and medical/pharmaceutical. Many of our resellers and vertical solution providers
purchase operating system platform products directly from us. In order to efficiently
support the thousands of smaller resellers and vertical solution providers, we contract
with major distributors in a two-tier distribution model.
Corporate Sales – ASMs also sell directly to our major corporate accounts with
branch offices or franchisees and other large corporations. Typically, these customers
have an existing suite of third-party or internally developed applications designed to run
on our dependable and scalable OpenServer or UnixWare operating systems. In many cases,
our operating system and the applications are then deployed in an identical fashion across
branch offices or franchisees.
International. The International region delivered approximately 57% of the total revenue for
the year ended October 31, 2008 and includes EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa) and
Asia Pacific. We have resources, employees or contractors in the United Kingdom, Germany, France,
Italy, China, Korea, Netherlands, Eastern Europe, India, and Japan. The country sales teams
perform the same functions as the Americas sales team, including channel sales, corporate account
sales and OEM sales. In the International division, particularly in smaller countries, one sales
representative will manage both channel and major account sales within that country. The
International division also uses local distributors in each location to process all channel orders.
We consider our indirect sales channel one of our most valuable assets. In addition to the
current revenue this channel produces, our reseller partners are valuable for the influence they
wield on the purchasing decisions of small and medium businesses. Our resellers are often not only
the primary point of contact for their business customers’ purchasing decisions, but are their
customers’ outsourced information technology department. The reach of our network of resellers
into the small and medium business community is broad as evidenced by our large install base of
servers running various versions of our OpenServer and UnixWare operating systems. A key to our
future success will be our ability to provide additional products and services to our reseller
channel and to communicate our product and corporate strategy to these resellers.
Our marketing efforts support our sales and distribution efforts, promotions and product
introductions, and include marketing activities to promote our UNIX and mobile products. Marketing
is focused on targeted campaigns, events, press releases, white papers and marketing literature.
In particular, our marketing strategy consists of:
•
branding our UNIX and mobile products through public relations and web marketing
activities;
•
maintaining an effective partner program to generate brand awareness and promote our
UNIX and mobile products; as well as
•
increasing public awareness of our UNIX and mobile products by participating in
strategic tradeshows, conferences and technology forums.
Information regarding financial data by segments, geographic regions and long-lived assets is
set forth in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements.
Software Engineering and Development
We have taken steps to improve our UNIX software products to maintain system reliability,
maintain backward compatibility, increase application support, provide broad hardware support,
better integrate widely used internet applications, improve usability, and increase system
performance. While we believe that these product enhancements will extend the lives and improve
the functionality of our UNIX products, they will not result in significant revenue increases in
the short-term due to the long adoption cycle for new operating system purchases and the length of
our operating system product sales cycle as well as the competition in our markets.
We also deploy engineering resources for our mobility products and services for personal and
professional productivity, as well as custom services for business, government and consumer users.
We expect these mobility products and services will enable easy, secure, real-time mobile access to
all kinds of information stored in enterprise and web-based systems without the need for direct
connection between end-point devices and those systems.
Our product development process is modeled to standard, commercial software engineering
practices and we apply these practices to ensure consistent product quality. As a result, we are
able to offer our platform products to OEM customers in several configurations without significant
additional effort.
We incurred $3,684,000, $6,077,000 and $8,045,000 in research and development expense during
the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
SCOsource Business
Background
We acquired our rights relating to the UNIX (including UnixWare) source code and derivative
works and certain other intellectual property rights when we purchased substantially all of the
assets and operations of the server and professional services groups of The Santa Cruz Operation,
Inc. in May 2001. The Santa Cruz Operation had previously acquired such UNIX source code and
certain intellectual property rights from Novell in 1995, which technology was initially developed
by AT&T Bell Labs. Through this process, we acquired all UNIX source code, source code license
agreements with thousands of UNIX vendors, certain UNIX intellectual property, all claims for
violation of the above mentioned UNIX licenses and other claims, and the control over UNIX
derivative works. The UNIX licenses we obtained have led to the development of several UNIX-based
operating systems, including but not limited to our own UnixWare and, to some extent OpenServer
products, IBM’s AIX, Sequent’s DYNIX/Ptx, Sun’s Solaris, SGI’s IRIX and Hewlett-Packard’s HP-UX.
These operating systems are all derivatives of the original UNIX source code owned by us.
The success of our SCOsource business depends on our ability to protect and enforce our rights
to proprietary UNIX source code, copyrights and other licensing and intellectual property rights.
Intellectual Property Protection
Our intellectual property protection efforts rely primarily on a combination of contract
rights, copyright laws and an aggressive legal strategy. We also require that our employees and
consultants sign confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements. We also regulate access to, and
distribution of, our documentation and other proprietary information.
We cannot guarantee the success of our SCO Litigation and other efforts to protect and enforce
our intellectual property rights, but we will continue to seek to enforce and pursue these rights
through the judicial system including through the appeal we have recently filed with the United
States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Additionally, we cannot be certain that we will
succeed in preventing the future misappropriation of our proprietary information including
copyrights and other intellectual property rights or that we will be able to prevent the
unauthorized future use of our technology.
Employees
As of October 31, 2008, we had a total of 63 full-time equivalent employees. Of the total
employees, 21 were in product development, 24 in sales and marketing, 4 in services, 2 in customer
delivery and manufacturing, 2 in SCOsource and 10 in administration (which includes finance, human
resources, executive management and information systems). From time to time, we also engage
independent contractors to support our professional services, product development, sales and
marketing organizations. Our employees are not represented by any labor union and are not subject
to a collective bargaining agreement, and we have never experienced a work stoppage. In general,
we believe our relations with our employees are good. We anticipate a further reduction in force
as a result of our Amended Reorganization Plan and Disclosure Statement filed on January 8, 2009
with the Bankruptcy Court, in an effort to continue to reduce operating costs to allow us to emerge
from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the other
information contained in this Form 10-K, you should consider the following risk factors before
investing in our securities.
We do not have a history of profitable operations and our cash resources are limited.
Our year ended October 31, 2003 was the first and only full year we were profitable in our
operating history. Our profitability for the year ended October 31, 2003 resulted primarily from
our SCOsource business. For the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, we incurred net
losses of $8,687,000 $6,826,000 and $16,598,000, respectively. As of October 31, 2008, our
accumulated deficit was $267,053,000.
If our revenue from the sale of our UNIX products and services continues to decline, or if we
continue to devote significant cash resources to the SCO Litigation, we will need to further reduce
operating expenses to generate positive cash flows. During October 2006 and January 2008, we
implemented a reduction in force and decreased our ongoing operating expenses in an effort to
decrease our total costs. We may not be able to further reduce operating expenses without damaging
our ability to support our existing UNIX business. Additionally, we may not be able to achieve
profitability through additional cost-cutting actions.
As of October 31, 2008, we had a total of $1,237,000 in cash and cash equivalents and an
additional $1,534,000 is to be used to pursue the SCO Litigation and to cover any amounts required
to be put into constructive trust under the Novell judgment. Since October 31, 2004, we have spent
a total of $13,447,000 for expert, consulting and other costs and fees as agreed to in the
Engagement Agreement with our legal counsel in the SCO Litigation. Our limited cash resources may
not be sufficient to fund continuing losses from operations and the expenses of the SCO Litigation.
A long period of operating under Chapter 11 may harm our business.
A long period of operating under Chapter 11 could adversely affect our business and
operations. So long as the Chapter 11 cases continue, our senior management will be required to
spend a significant amount of time and effort dealing with the bankruptcy reorganization instead of
focusing exclusively on business operations. A prolonged period of operating under Chapter 11 may
also make it more difficult to attract and retain management and other key personnel necessary to
the success and growth of our business. In addition, the longer the Chapter 11 cases continue, the
more likely it is that our customers and suppliers will lose confidence in our ability to
successfully reorganize our businesses and seek to establish alternative commercial relationships.
Furthermore, so long as the Chapter 11 cases continue, we will be required to incur
substantial costs for professional fees and other expenses associated with the administration of
the cases. A prolonged continuation of the Chapter 11 cases may also require us to seek financing.
If we require financing during the Chapter 11 cases and we are unable to obtain the financing on
favorable terms or at all, our chances of successfully reorganizing our businesses may be seriously
jeopardized.
We may not be able to obtain confirmation of our Chapter 11 plan; we may not be able to emerge from
bankruptcy and our assets may be liquidated.
To successfully emerge from Chapter 11 as a viable entity, one must meet certain statutory
requirements with respect to adequacy of disclosure with respect to the Chapter 11 plan of
reorganization (the “Plan”), solicit and obtain the requisite acceptances of the Plan, and fulfill
other statutory conditions for confirmation. We may not receive the requisite acceptances to
confirm the Plan. Even if the requisite acceptances of the Plan are received, the Bankruptcy Court
may not confirm the Plan.
On February 29, 2008, we filed a Plan and a Disclosure Statement with the United States
Bankruptcy Court. A hearing for approval of the Disclosure Statement was scheduled before the
Bankruptcy Court on April 2, 2008. The April 2, 2008 hearing proceeded as a status conference
regarding our progress towards a new Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Stephen Norris
Capital Partners, LLC. Therefore, we indicated that we were not presently seeking approval of the
adequacy of the Disclosure Statement, which would need to be amended to reflect the changes to the
MOU.
On May 12, 2008, we filed a motion seeking an extension of our exclusive period to submit and
solicit acceptance to an amended or new plan of reorganization. At the hearing to consider that
motion on June 17, 2008, the Bankruptcy Court granted the motion. The Debtors filed another motion
for an extension of our exclusive periods to submit and solicit acceptances of a plan of
reorganization to a date 45
and 105 days, respectively, following the entry of a final judgment in the Novell Litigation. The
hearing on that motion was held on September 16, 2008. The Bankruptcy Court granted the motion
for an extension of our exclusive period to submit a plan of reorganization to December 31, 2008
and 60 days thereafter for the solicitation of acceptances of that plan.
On January 8, 2009, we filed our Amended Reorganization Plan and Disclosure Statement. Under
the proposed Plan, we intend to hold an open auction to sell certain assets including our mobility
business assets and our OpenServer operating system assets and business. Through this sale, we
hope to obtain enough consideration to pay our creditors and continue operations as set forth in
the Plan. In the event that the asset sale does not generate enough cash to meet the
aforementioned objectives, we will scale back our operations and costs, and initiate other
strategies to implement the plan of reorganization. In the event that certain SCO assets are not
sold, we will continue to sell and support our UNIX and mobility business and will also focus on
the following key provisions: (a) an enhanced pricing and discount strategy, (b) an updated
“True-up” licensing program with current customers, (c) reducing overall operating costs (d)
delivering SCO UNIX Virtual product lines for VMware and Hyper-V to allow SCO legacy applications
to run on modern hardware; and (e) shipping FCmobilelife and FCtasks for the iPhone with a new
pricing structure.
If our Plan is not confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court, it is unclear whether we would be able
to reorganize our businesses and what, if anything, holders of claims against us would ultimately
receive with respect to their claims. If an alternative reorganization could not be agreed upon, it
is possible that our bankruptcy case could be converted to a liquidation under Chapter 7 and we
would have to liquidate our assets, in which case it is likely that holders of claims would receive
substantially less favorable treatment than they would receive if we were to emerge as a viable,
reorganized entity and stockholders would likely receive nothing from the liquidation.
A plan of reorganization may result in holders of our common stock receiving no distribution on
account of their interests and cancellation of their common stock.
Under the priority scheme established by the Bankruptcy Code, unless creditors agree
otherwise, post-petition liabilities and prepetition liabilities must be satisfied in full before
stockholders are entitled to receive any distribution or retain any property under a plan of
reorganization. The ultimate recovery to creditors and/or stockholders, if any, will not be
determined until confirmation of a plan or plans of reorganization. No assurance can be given as to
what values, if any, will be ascribed in the Chapter 11 cases to each of these constituencies or
what types or amounts of distributions, if any, they would receive. No assurance can be provided
regarding the date any plan or plans of reorganization will be proposed, confirmed or consummated
or regarding when any distributions could be made to parties in interest. A plan of reorganization
could result in holders of our common stock receiving no distribution on account of their interests
and cancellation of their existing stock. If certain requirements of the Bankruptcy Code are met, a
plan of reorganization can be confirmed notwithstanding its rejection by the class comprising the
interests of our equity security holders. Therefore, an investment in our common stock is highly
speculative.
Operating under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code may restrict our ability to pursue our business
strategies.
Under the Bankruptcy Code, all debtors must obtain Bankruptcy Court approval to, among other
things:
•
sell assets outside the ordinary course of business;
•
consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets; and
In addition, if a trustee is appointed to operate the Debtors in Chapter 11 (or the case is
converted to a case under Chapter 7), the trustee would assume control of our assets, including the
SCO Litigation.
We suffered a significant setback in our lawsuit with Novell that has significantly limited our
claims and raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and we may not
prevail in our lawsuits with IBM, Novell and others.
On August 10, 2007, the Court ruled in favor of Novell on several of the summary judgment
motions that were pending. The effect of these rulings was to significantly reduce or to eliminate
certain of our claims in both the Novell and IBM cases, and possibly others. The Court ruled that
Novell was the owner of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights that existed at the time of the APA and
that Novell retained broad rights to waive our contract claims against IBM. The Court ruled that we
own the copyrights to post-APA UnixWare derivatives and that we have certain other ownership rights
in the UNIX technology. We were directed to accept Novell’s waiver of its UNIX contract claims
against IBM. In addition, the Court determined that certain SCOsource licensing agreements that we
executed in fiscal year 2003 and thereafter included older SVRx licenses and that we were possibly
required to remit some portion of the proceeds to Novell. Over our objection, a bench trial was set
to begin on September 17, 2007, and the federal judge was to determine what portion, if any, of the
proceeds of the SCOsource agreements were attributable to such SVRx licenses and should be remitted
to Novell, as well as whether we had authority to enter into such SVRx licenses. The potential
payment to Novell for those SVRx licenses ranged from a de minimis amount to in excess of
$30,000,000, the latter amount being the amount claimed by Novell, plus interest.
The trial of these issues, however, was automatically stayed as a result of our filing a
voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on September 14, 2007. On
October 4, 2007, Novell filed a Motion for Relief from Automatic Stay. On November 27, 2007, the
Bankruptcy Court modified the automatic stay to permit Novell to pursue the trial scheduled in the
Court in Utah on the allocation of proceeds from the SCOsource agreements and the question of SCO’s
alleged lack of authority to enter into them, but the Bankruptcy Court retained jurisdiction to
determine whether to impose a constructive trust on any amounts found to be payable to Novell.
From April 29 through May 2, 2008, the Court held a bench trial on Novell’s monetary claim for
certain portions of fees we received from the SCOsource agreements and whether we had the authority
to enter into those agreements. Prior to the commencement of the trial, Novell conceded that it
would not be making a claim to a portion of the fees paid to us by Microsoft in 2003 and Novell,
therefore, reduced the principal amount of its claim to $19,979,561. The Court also heard oral
argument on the motions filed by us and Novell. After the trial and arguments the Court took all
matters under advisement and stated that it would attempt to issue a ruling without undue delay.
On July 16, 2008, the Court entered its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order,
ruling that (1) the SCOsource agreements with Linux end-users were not SVRx licenses and therefore
Novell was not entitled to revenue from those agreements and that we had the authority to enter
into such agreements; (2) the 2003 SCOsource agreement with Microsoft contained an SVRx license
that was incidental to the UnixWare license in the agreement, and therefore we were authorized to
enter into the license and Novell was not entitled to revenue from the agreement; and (3) the 2003
SCOsource agreement with Sun was an unauthorized amendment of a prior UNIX buy out agreement, and
Novell was entitled to $2,547,817 of the revenue from the Sun agreement as attributable to that
amendment. The Court directed Novell to file a brief identifying the amount of prejudgment
interest it sought based on this award. On August 29, 2008, Novell filed an Unopposed Submission
Regarding Prejudgment Interest, informing the Court that the parties had agreed that Novell was
entitled to $918,122 in prejudgment interest through that date, plus $489 per day until the entry
of final judgment, based on the Court’s $2,547,817 award.
In its ruling of July 16, 2008, the Court also directed Novell to file a proposed Final
Judgment consistent with the Court’s trial and summary judgment orders. In its proposed submission
to the Court in compliance with this order, Novell took the position that final judgment could not
be entered because our claims were stayed pending arbitration and the imposition of a constructive
trust remained an open question in the Bankruptcy Court. Subsequently, in order to expedite the
entry of final judgment, we sought to resolve these issues with Novell and agreed to an extension
of Novell’s deadline for filing its submission. Based on our tracing of Sun’s payments under the
2003 SCOsource agreement, Novell agreed that only $625,487 of SCO’s current assets were traceable
as trust funds. We also proposed dismissing our stayed claims with prejudice on the basis of the
Court’s ruling that Novell owns the pre-APA UNIX copyrights in the Court’s summary judgment order
of August 10, 2007. On August 29, 2008, in its Submission Regarding the Entry of Final Judgment,
Novell informed the Court of the parties’ agreement as to the trust amount, but Novell stood by its
position that final judgment could not be entered in light of the stayed claims. On September 15,2008, we filed papers arguing for the entry of final judgment.
On November 20, 2008, after further negotiations between the parties, the Court entered a
Final Judgment, incorporating the material rulings from the August 10, 2007 and July 16, 2008
rulings as explained above. On November 25, 2008, we filed a notice of appeal of that Final
Judgment. The appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit will proceed
over the next several months with briefing and then argument before the Court. On January 23,2009, we filed an unopposed motion for an expedited appeal. A decision on the appeal could be
forthcoming in approximately the next ten to fourteen months, unless we are successful in our
motion that the Court handle the appeal on an expedited basis. We believe that we have a strong
basis for the appeal but we cannot predict or guarantee success on appeal; on average success on an
appeal such as this is less than fifty percent.
As a result of this Final Judgment against us, as of October 31, 2008,we have accrued
$3,518,000 for this contingent liability and related interest. However, we continue to contest
this liability. We believe that this judgment is in error, and that we have strong grounds to have
the adverse rulings embodied in the Final Judgment overturned upon appeal. However, in the event
that our assets are further depleted or frozen, we may not be in a financial position to appeal
those rulings.
Our management and board of directors determined that filing for relief under Chapter 11 of
the United States Bankruptcy Code on September 14, 2007 was appropriate and necessary. As a result
of both the Court’s August 10, 2007 order and our entry into Chapter 11, among other factors, there
is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern including continuing the SCO
Litigation or appealing the adverse ruling of August 10, 2007 and the July 16, 2008 order.
The lawsuits with IBM and Novell will continue to be costly. In the event that we are not
successful with the IBM or Novell motions, or the continuing litigation requires more cash than
expected, our business and operations would be materially harmed.
We must continue to pay for expert, consulting and other expenses through the conclusion of
our litigation with IBM and Novell. As we continue with discovery and other trial preparations, we
may be required to place additional amounts into the escrow account, which could further reduce our
liquidity position.
Our claims relating to our UNIX intellectual property may subject us to additional legal
proceedings.
In August 2003, Red Hat brought a lawsuit against us asserting that the Linux operating system
does not infringe our UNIX intellectual property rights and seeking a declaratory judgment for
non-infringement of copyrights and non-misappropriation of trade secrets. In addition, Red Hat
claims that we have engaged in false advertising in violation of the Lanham Act, deceptive trade
practices, unfair competition, tortious interference with prospective business opportunities, and
trade libel and disparagement. This case is currently stayed pending the resolution of our suit
against IBM and because of the bankruptcy cases. If Red Hat is successful in its claim against us,
our business and results of operations could be materially harmed.
Our Engagement Agreement with the Law Firms representing us in the SCO Litigation requires us to
pay for expert, consulting and other costs, which could harm our liquidity position.
On October 31, 2004, we entered into an engagement agreement (the “Engagement Agreement”) with
Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, Kevin McBride and Berger Singerman P.A. (the “Law Firms”). This
Engagement Agreement superseded and replaced the original engagement agreement that was entered
into in February 2003. The Engagement Agreement governs the relationship between the Law Firms and
us in connection with the Law Firms’ representation of us in the SCO Litigation. Berger Singerman
P.A. was a member of this group of Law Firms. With our consent, the engagement of this firm was
mutually terminated. The last payment received by Berger Singerman P.A. with regard to that
representation was on November 24, 2004.
We must pay one or more contingency fees upon any amount that we or our stockholders may
receive as a result of a settlement, judgment or a sale of the company. The contingency fee
amounts payable to the Law Firms will be, subject to certain credits and adjustments, as follows:
33 percent of any aggregate recovery amounts received up to $350,000,000;
•
plus 25 percent of any aggregate recovery amounts above $350,000,000 but less than or
equal to $700,000,000;
•
plus 20 percent of any aggregate recovery amounts in excess of $700,000,000.
The Engagement Agreement specifically provides that, except for the compensation obligations
specifically described above, we will not be obligated to pay any legal fees, whether hourly,
contingent or otherwise, to the Law Firms, or any other law firms that may be engaged by the Law
Firms, in connection with our SCO Litigation through the end of the current litigation between us
and IBM, including any appeals.
On June 5, 2006, we entered into an amendment to the Engagement Agreement and agreed with the
Law Firms to deposit an additional $5,000,000 into the escrow account to cover additional expert,
consulting and other expenses. During October 2006, we deposited an additional $5,000,000 into the
escrow account. In the event that we exhaust these funds, we must continue to pay for expert,
consulting and other expenses through the conclusion of our litigation with IBM. As we continue
with discovery and other trial preparations, we may be required to place additional amounts into
the escrow account, which could further reduce our liquidity position. As of October 31, 2008, we
had a total of $1,237,000 in cash and cash equivalents and an additional $1,554,000 of restricted
cash to be used to pursue the SCO Litigation and to cover any amounts required to be put into
constructive trust under the Novell judgment. Since October 31, 2004, we have spent a total of
$13,447,000 for expert, consulting and other costs and fees as agreed to in the Engagement
Agreement with the Law Firms in the SCO Litigation. In light of the Chapter 11 filings, these
arrangements are subject to Bankruptcy Court approval.
Developments in the SCO Litigation and fluctuations in our operating results or the failure of our
operating results to meet the expectations of public market analysts and investors may negatively
impact our stock price and our ability to continue in business.
Developments in the SCO Litigation and fluctuations in our operating results or our failure to
meet the expectations of analysts or investors, even in the short-term, could cause our stock price
to decline significantly. Because of the potential for fluctuations in our expenses related to the
SCO Litigation in any particular period, you should not rely on comparisons of our results of
operations as an indication of future performance.
Factors that may affect our results include:
•
our ability to operate effectively under Chapter 11 protection and changes in
business attitudes toward UNIX as a viable operating system compared to other
competing operating systems, especially Linux, as well as the possibility that the
automatic stay triggered by our Chapter 11 filing will be lifted or modified, or our
reorganization plan will not be confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court;
•
the outcome of pending litigation with Novell and pending motions for summary
judgment in our lawsuit with IBM, adverse rulings relating to IBM’s counterclaims, and
results of, developments in, or costs of the SCO Litigation as well as adverse
publicity regarding our business and the SCO Litigation;
•
changes in general economic conditions, such as recessions, that could affect
capital expenditures in the software industry;
•
the interest level of resellers in recommending our UNIX business solutions
to end users and the introduction, development, timing, competitive pricing and market
acceptance of our products and services and those of our competitors;
•
the contingency and other costs we may pay to the Law Firms representing us
in our efforts to establish and defend our intellectual property rights;
changes in attitudes of customers and partners due to the decline in our UNIX
business and our position against the inclusion of our UNIX code and derivative works
in Linux; and
•
the activities of short sellers.
We also experience fluctuations in operating results in interim periods in Europe and the Asia
Pacific region due to seasonal slowdowns and economic conditions in these areas. Seasonal
slowdowns in these regions typically occur during the summer months.
As a result of the factors listed above and elsewhere, it is possible that our results of
operations may be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors in any particular
period. This could cause our stock price to decline. If revenue falls below our expectations, and
we are unable to quickly reduce our spending in response, our operating results will be lower than
expected. Our stock price may fall in response to these events.
For a further description of recent developments in our litigation with Novell, see
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Recent
Developments, Novell, Inc. Ruling”. For a further description of the risks we face as a result of
filing for Chapter 11, see A long period of operating under Chapter 11 may harm our business, We
may not be able to obtain confirmation of our Chapter 11 plan, A plan of reorganization may result
in holders of our common stock receiving no distribution on account of their interests and
cancellation of their common stock, and Operating under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code may restrict our
ability to pursue our business strategies.
If we are unable to retain key personnel in an intensely competitive environment, our operations
could be adversely affected.
We need to retain our key management, technical and support personnel. Competition for
qualified professionals in the software industry is intense, and departures of existing personnel
could be disruptive to our business and might result in the departure of other employees. During
January 2008, we were required to reduce our operating expenses and eliminated certain positions
within our worldwide workforce in an effort to reduce operating costs. The loss or departure of
any officers or key employees could harm our ability to implement our business plan and could
adversely affect our operations. Our future success depends to a significant extent on the
continued service and coordination of our management team, particularly Darl C. McBride, our Chief
Executive Officer, and Ryan E. Tibbitts, our General Counsel. For a discussion of the risks we
face in attracting and retaining employees due to our Chapter 11 filing, see “A long period of
operating under Chapter 11 may harm our business.”
We operate in a highly competitive market and face significant competition from a variety of
current and potential sources; many of our current and potential competitors have greater financial
and technical resources than we do; thus, we may fail to compete effectively.
In the operating system market, our competitors include IBM, Red Hat, Novell, Sun, Microsoft,
and other UNIX and Linux distributors. These and other competitors are aggressively pursuing the
current UNIX operating system market. Many of these competitors have access to substantially
greater resources than we do. The major competitive alternative to our UNIX products is Linux.
The expansion of our competitors’ offerings may restrict the overall market available for our UNIX
products, including some markets where we have been successful in the past.
Our future success may depend in part on our ability to continue to meet the increasing needs
of our customers by supporting existing and emerging technologies. If we do not have the resources
to enhance our products to meet these evolving needs, we may not remain competitive and be able to
sustain our business. Additionally, because technological advancement in the UNIX operating system
market and alternative operating system markets is progressing at an advanced pace, we will have to
develop and introduce enhancements to our existing products and any new products on a timely basis
to keep pace with these developments, evolving industry standards, changing customer requirements
and keeping current on certifications. Our failure to meet any of these and other competitive
pressures may render our existing products and services obsolete, which would have an adverse
impact on our revenue and operations.
The success of our UNIX business will depend on the level of commitment and certification we
receive from industry partners and developers. In recent years, we have seen hardware and software
vendors as well as software developers turn their certification and application development efforts
toward Linux and elect not to continue to support or certify to our UNIX operating system products.
If this trend continues, our competitive position will be adversely impacted and our future
revenue from our UNIX business will decline. The decline in our UNIX business may be accelerated
if industry partners withdraw their support from us for any reason, including our SCO Litigation.
If the market for UNIX continues to contract, our business will be harmed.
Our revenue from the sale of UNIX products has declined over the last several years. This
decrease in revenue has been attributable primarily to increased competition from other operating
systems, particularly Linux, and from the negative publicity we have received from the SCO
Litigation. Our sales of UNIX products and services are primarily to existing customers. If the
demand for UNIX products continues to decline, and we are unable to develop UNIX products and
services that successfully address a market demand, our UNIX revenue will continue to decline,
industry participants may not certify to our operating system and products, we may not be able to
attract new customers or retain existing customers and our business and results of operations will
be adversely affected. Additionally, with the recent adverse summary judgment rulings in our
lawsuit with Novell and our entry into Chapter 11, customers may likely determine to no longer buy
our products and services. Because of the long adoption cycle for operating system purchases and
the long sales cycle of our operating system products, we may not be able to reverse these revenue
declines quickly.
We may lose the support of industry partners leading to an accelerated decline in our UNIX products
and services revenue.
The decline in our UNIX business, the recent rulings in our lawsuit with Novell and our filing
for protection under Chapter 11 may cause industry partners, developers, customers and hardware and
software vendors to choose not to support or certify to our UNIX operating system products. This
would lead to an increased decline in our UNIX products and services revenue and would adversely
impact our results of operations and liquidity.
We rely on our indirect sales channel for distribution of our products, and any disruption of our
channel at any level could adversely affect the sales of our products.
We have a two-tiered distribution channel. The relationships we have developed with resellers
allow us to offer our products and services to a much larger customer base than we would otherwise
be able to reach through our own direct sales and marketing efforts. Some solution providers also
purchase solutions through our resellers, and we anticipate they will continue to do so. Because
we usually sell indirectly through resellers, we cannot control the relationships through which
resellers, solution providers or equipment integrators purchase our products. In turn, we do not
control the presentation of our products to end users. Therefore, our sales could be affected by
disruptions in the relationships between us and our resellers, between our resellers and solution
providers, or between solution providers and end users. Also, resellers and solution providers may
choose not to emphasize our products to their customers. Any of these occurrences could diminish
the effectiveness of our distribution channel and lead to decreased sales.
Our foreign-based operations and sales are subject to the imposition of governmental controls and
taxes and fluctuations in currency exchange rates that could hurt our results.
We have employees or contractors in certain locations in Europe, the Middle East, Latin
America, and Asia. These foreign operations are subject to certain inherent risks, including:
•
potential loss of developed technology through piracy, misappropriation, or
more lenient laws regarding intellectual property protection;
•
imposition of governmental controls, including trade restrictions and other
tax requirements;
fluctuations in currency exchange rates and economic instability;
•
longer payment cycles for sales in foreign countries; and
•
seasonal reductions in business activity.
In addition, certain of our operating expenses are denominated in local currencies, creating
risk of foreign currency translation losses that could reduce our financial results and cash flows.
When we generate profits in foreign countries, our effective income tax rate is increased.
During the three months ended April 30, 2004, our India office was assessed withholding taxes
by the Government of India Income Tax Department. The Tax Department assessed a 15% withholding
tax on certain revenue transactions in India that the Tax Department deemed royalty revenue under
the Income Tax Act. We have filed an appeal with the Tax Department and believe that revenue from
our packaged software does not qualify for royalty treatment and therefore would not be subject to
withholding tax. However, we may be unsuccessful in our appeal against the Tax Department and be
obligated to pay the assessed taxable amounts. Because of our international operations, we may be
subject to additional withholding or other taxes from other international jurisdictions.
We have lost our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market as a result of our bankruptcy filing and the
loss of our listing has made our stock significantly less liquid and has significantly reduced its
value.
As a result of our having filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code,
Nasdaq used its authority under Marketplace Rules 4300, 4450(f) and IM-4300 to de-list our
securities from The Nasdaq Capital Market.
Upon delisting from the Nasdaq Capital Market, our stock is traded on the Pink Sheets. In
order to trade on the Pink Sheets, there must be market makers for our stock. Without a number of
market makers in our stock, our stock would be less liquid than it would otherwise be, and the
value of our stock could decrease. In addition, compliance with the rules and regulations of the
Exchange Act relating to “penny stock” may make it more difficult for holders of our common stock
to resell their shares to third parties or to otherwise dispose of them.
Our stock price is volatile.
The trading price for our common stock has been volatile during the last several years and our
share price has changed dramatically over short periods. We believe that changes in our stock price
are affected by the factors mentioned above as well as from changing public perceptions concerning
the strength of the SCO Litigation, developments in our Bankruptcy proceedings and other factors
beyond our control. Public perception can change quickly and without any change or development in
our underlying business or litigation position. An investment in our stock is subject to such
volatility and, consequently, is subject to significant risk.
There are risks associated with the potential exercise of our outstanding options.
As of December 31, 2008, we have issued outstanding options to purchase up to approximately
5,188,000 shares of common stock with an average exercise price of $2.82 per share. The existence
of such rights to acquire common stock at fixed prices may prove a hindrance to our efforts to
raise future equity and debt funding, and the exercise of such rights will dilute the percentage
ownership interest of our stockholders and may dilute the value of their ownership. The possible
future sale of shares issuable on the exercise of outstanding options could adversely affect the
prevailing market price for our common stock. Further, the holders of the outstanding stock
options may exercise them at a time when we would otherwise be able to obtain additional equity
capital on terms more favorable to us.
Our stock price could decline further because of the activities of short sellers.
Our stock has attracted significant interest from short sellers. The activities of short
sellers could further reduce the price of our stock or inhibit increases in our stock price.
The right of our board of directors to authorize additional shares of preferred stock could
adversely impact the rights of holders of our common stock.
Our Board of Directors currently has the right, with respect to the 5,000,000 shares of our
preferred stock, to authorize the issuance of one or more additional series of our preferred stock
with such voting, dividend and other rights as our directors determine. The Board of Directors can
designate new series of preferred stock without the approval of the holders of our common stock.
The rights of holders of our common stock may be adversely affected by the rights of any holders of
additional shares of preferred stock that may be issued in the future, including without
limitation, further dilution of the equity ownership percentage of our holders of common stock and
their voting power if we issue preferred stock with voting rights. Additionally, the issuance of
preferred stock could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our
outstanding voting stock.
Our stockholder rights plan could make it more difficult for a hostile bid for our company or a
change of control transaction to succeed at current market prices for our stock.
We have adopted a stockholder rights plan. The power given to the Board of Directors by the
stockholder rights plan may make it more difficult for a change of control of our Company to occur
or for our Company to be acquired if the acquisition is opposed by our Board of Directors.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
We are headquartered in Lindon, Utah, where we lease administrative, sales and marketing
facilities. We lease additional facilities for administration, sales and marketing and product
development in Florham Park, New Jersey. The lease for our Lindon, Utah facilities expired
December 31, 2008 and is currently month-to-month. The lease for our Florham Park, New Jersey
facilities expires October 2013.
Our international field operations occupy leased facilities in France, Japan, Germany, India,
and the United Kingdom. The leases for these field operation facilities expire at various dates
through our fiscal year ending October 2011.
As indicated in Item 1, we have two business segments: UNIX and SCOsource. These segments use
substantially all of the properties, at least in part, and we retain the flexibility to use each of
our properties in whole or in part for each of our segments.
We believe that our existing facilities are adequate to meet current business and operating
requirements and that additional office space will be available to meet our needs if required.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Bankruptcy Filing
On September 14, 2007, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, SCO Operations, Inc.
(collectively, the “Debtors”), filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United
States Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Debtors’ Chapter
11 cases are being jointly administered under Case No. 07-11337(KG). The Debtors continue to
exercise control over their assets and operate their businesses as “debtors-in-possession” under
the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the
Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries were not
included in the filings. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries, as non-debtors, are not subject to the
requirements of the Bankruptcy Code and are not subject to Bankruptcy Court supervision.
On September 18, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court granted the Debtors’ motions to maintain their
existing bank accounts and cash management systems, to pay pre-bankruptcy wage-related items, to
establish procedures relating to utility providers and to employ temporary employees.
As a result of the Chapter 11 filings, realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities
are subject to uncertainty. While operating as debtors-in-possession under the protection of
Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Debtors may sell or otherwise dispose of assets and
liquidate or settle liabilities for amounts other than those reflected in the consolidated
financial statements, in the ordinary course of business, or, if outside the ordinary course of
business, subject to Bankruptcy Court approval.
On February 13, 2008, the Company entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) with
Stephen Norris Capital Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SNCP”), whereby SNCP
agreed to provide financing to fund the Company’s plan of reorganization filed on February 29,2008. On the same day, the Company filed its disclosure statement in connection with the plan of
reorganization, under the terms contemplated by the MOU.
On February 29, 2008, the Debtors filed their joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization (the
“Plan”) and Disclosure Statement in connection with the Plan (the “Disclosure Statement”). A
hearing to approve the adequacy of the Disclosure Statement was scheduled before the Bankruptcy
Court on April 2, 2008. The April 2, 2008 hearing proceeded as a status conference regarding the
Debtors’ progress towards a new Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Stephen Norris Capital
Partners, LLC. Therefore, the Debtors indicated that they were not presently seeking approval of
the adequacy of the Disclosure Statement, which would need to be amended to reflect the changes to
the MOU.
On May 12, 2008, the Debtors filed a motion seeking an extension of their exclusive periods to
submit and solicit acceptances of an amended or new plan of reorganization to August 11 and October13, 2008, respectively. A hearing to consider that motion was scheduled for June 17, 2008. The
Bankruptcy Court granted the motion on June 17, 2008. The Debtors filed another motion for an
extension of their exclusive periods to submit and solicit acceptances of a plan of reorganization
to a date 45 and 105 days, respectively, following an entry of a final judgment in the Novell
Litigation. The hearing on that motion was conducted on September 16, 2008, at which time, the
Bankruptcy Court granted the motion for an extension of our exclusive periods to submit and solicit
acceptance of a plan of reorganization to December 31, 2008.
On January 8, 2009, the Debtors filed its Amended Reorganization Plan and Disclosure
statement. Under the proposed plan, the Debtors intend to hold an open auction to sell certain of
its assets including its mobility business assets and its OpenServer operating system assets and
business. Through this sale, the Debtors hope to obtain enough consideration to pay its creditors
and continue its operations as set forth in the plan. In the event that the asset sale does not
generate enough cash to meet the aforementioned objectives, we will scale back our operations and
costs, and initiate other strategies to implement the plan of reorganization. In the event that
certain company assets are not sold, we will continue to sell and support our UNIX and mobility
business and will also focus on the following key provisions: (a) an enhanced pricing and discount
strategy, (b) an updated “True-up” licensing program with current customers, (c) reducing overall
operating costs (d) delivering SCO UNIX Virtual product lines for VMware and Hyper-V to allow SCO
legacy applications to run on modern hardware; and (e) shipping FCmobilelife and FCtasks for the
iPhone with a new pricing structure.
Under the priority scheme established by the Bankruptcy Code, unless creditors agree
otherwise, post-petition liabilities and prepetition liabilities must be satisfied in full before
stockholders are entitled to receive any distribution or retain any property under a plan of
reorganization. The ultimate recovery to creditors and/or stockholders, if any, will not be
determined until confirmation of a plan or plans of reorganization. No assurance can be given as to
what values, if any, will be ascribed in the Chapter 11 cases to each of these constituencies or
what types or amounts of distributions, if any, they would receive, or as to the timing of such
distributions, if any. A plan of reorganization could result in holders of the Company’s stock
receiving no distribution on account of their interests and cancellation of their existing stock.
If certain requirements of the Bankruptcy Code are met, a plan of reorganization can be confirmed
notwithstanding its rejection by the class comprising the interests of the Company’s equity
security holders.
Under the supervision of the Bankruptcy Court, the Company may decide to pursue various
strategic alternatives as deemed appropriate by the Company’s Board of Directors to serve the best
interests
of the Company and its stakeholders, including asset sales or strategic partnerships. For a
further description of our bankruptcy filing, see “Item 1—Recent Developments, Bankruptcy Filing.”
IBM Corporation
On or about March 6, 2003, we filed a civil complaint against IBM. The case is pending in the
United States District Court for the District of Utah, under the title The SCO Group, Inc. v.
International Business Machines Corporation, Civil No. 2:03CV0294. In this action we claim that
IBM breached its UNIX source code licenses (both the IBM and Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.
(“Sequent”) licenses) by disclosing restricted information concerning the UNIX source code and
derivative works and related information in connection with IBM’s efforts to promote the Linux
operating system. Our complaint includes, among other things, claims for breach of contract,
unfair competition, tortious interference and copyright infringement. We are seeking damages in an
amount to be proved at trial and seeking injunctive relief.
On or about March 6, 2003, we notified IBM that IBM was not in compliance with our UNIX source
code license agreement and on or about June 13, 2003, we delivered to IBM a notice of termination
of that agreement, which underlies IBM’s AIX software. On or about August 11, 2003, we sent a
similar notice terminating the Sequent source code license. IBM disputes our right to terminate
those licenses. If our termination of those licenses was valid we believe that IBM is exposed to
substantial damages and injunctive relief based on its continued use and distribution of the AIX
operating system. On June 9, 2003, Novell sent us a notice purporting to waive our claims against
IBM regarding its license breaches. We did not believe that Novell had the right to take any such
action relative to our UNIX source code rights.
On February 27, 2004, we filed a second amended complaint which alleges nine causes of action
that are similar to those set forth above, adds a new claim for copyright infringement, and removes
the claim for misappropriation of trade secrets. IBM filed an answer and 14 counterclaims. Among
other things, IBM asserted that we do not have the right to terminate its UNIX license and claimed
that we have breached the GNU General Public License and have infringed certain patents held by
IBM. IBM’s counterclaims include claims for breach of contract, violation of the Lanham Act,
unfair competition, intentional interference with prospective economic relations, unfair and
deceptive trade practices, promissory estoppel, patent infringement and a declaratory judgment
claim for non-infringement of copyrights. On October 6, 2005, IBM voluntarily dismissed with
prejudice its claims for patent infringement.
On December 22, 2005, we filed a voluminous report detailing IBM’s misuse of our proprietary
material. Our December 2005 report includes 293 total disclosures which we claim violate our
contractual rights and copyrights. These reports and the disclosures identified are the result of
analysis by experienced outside technical consultants.
On February 13, 2006, IBM filed a motion with the court seeking to limit our claims as set
forth in the December 2005 report. IBM argued that of the 293 items we had identified, 201 did not
meet the level of specificity required by the Court. IBM requested that we be limited to 93 items
set forth in the December 2005 filing which IBM claims meet the required level of specificity. On
June 28, 2006, the Magistrate Judge issued a ruling striking over 180 of our technology disclosures
from the case. This ruling is a limitation on the number of technology disclosures in our December
2005 filing, but means that over 100 of the challenged items remain in the case. On July 13, 2006,
we filed objections to the Magistrate Judge’s order with the District Court; those objections
challenge the process and the result embodied in the Magistrate Judge’s order. On November 29,2006, the District Court issued a ruling affirming the Magistrate Judge’s ruling of June 28, 2006.
The Company filed a motion to reconsider this ruling and a motion to amend its technology
disclosures of December 2005.
On June 8, 2006, IBM filed a motion to confine our claims to, and strike allegations in excess
of, the December 2005 disclosures. In this motion, IBM claims that our technology expert reports
go beyond the disclosures contained in our December 2005 submission to the Court and that those
expert reports should be restricted to that extent. On December 21, 2006, the Magistrate Judge
granted IBM’s motion. We filed objections to that order with the District Court.
Both parties have filed expert reports and substantially finished expert discovery. IBM filed
six motions for summary judgment which, if granted in whole or in substantial part, could resolve
our claims in IBM’s favor or substantially reduce our claims. We filed three motions for summary
judgment. The summary judgment motions were heard by the Court in March 2007 and a trial date has
been postponed pending resolution of the Novell matter.
As a result of the Court’s order of August 10, 2007, in the SCO v. Novell case, several of our
claims against IBM may be dismissed. These claims include our claims that IBM breached its UNIX
license agreement and our claims arising from our termination of IBM’s license. We believe that
the Court’s August 10, 2007 ruling does not resolve certain claims in the IBM case, or aspects of
those claims, including our claim for unfair competition arising out of the Project Monterey
initiative in the late 1990’s. IBM has taken the position that the Court’s ruling of August 10,2007 in the Novell case resolves all of our claims against IBM in IBM’s favor, but we dispute this
position. IBM’s counterclaims against us would remain in the case subject to pending motions for
summary judgment. The IBM case is also currently stayed due to our Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.
Novell, Inc.
On January 20, 2004, we filed suit in Utah state court against Novell, Inc. for slander of
title seeking relief for its alleged bad faith effort to interfere with our ownership of copyrights
related to our UNIX source code and derivative works and our UnixWare product. The case is pending
in the United States District Court for the District of Utah under the caption, The SCO Group, Inc.
v. Novell, Inc., Civil No. 2:04CV00139. In the lawsuit, we requested preliminary and permanent
injunctive relief as well as damages. Through these claims, we seek to require Novell to assign to
us all copyrights that we believe Novell has wrongfully registered, to prevent Novell from claiming
any ownership interest in those copyrights, and to require Novell to retract or withdraw all
representations it has made regarding its purported ownership of those copyrights and UNIX itself.
Novell filed two motions to dismiss claiming, among other things, that Novell’s false
statements were not issued with malice and are privileged under the law. The Court denied both of
Novell’s motions to dismiss. On July 29, 2005, Novell filed its answer and counterclaims against
us, asserting counterclaims for our alleged breaches of the Asset Purchase Agreement between Novell
and our predecessor-in-interest, The Santa Cruz Operation, for slander of title, restitution/unjust
enrichment, an accounting related to Novell’s retained interest in SVRx royalties stream, and for
declaratory relief regarding Novell’s alleged rights under the Asset Purchase Agreement. On or
about December 30, 2005, we filed a motion for leave to amend our complaint to assert additional
claims against Novell including copyright infringement, unfair competition and a breach of Novell’s
limited license to use our UNIX code. Novell consented to our filing of these additional claims.
On or about April 10, 2006, Novell filed a motion to stay the case in Utah pending a request
for arbitration that Novell and SuSE Linux, GmbH (“SuSE”) filed on the same date in the
International Court of Arbitration. Through these proceedings, Novell claims that we granted SuSE
the right to use our intellectual property through our participation in the UnitedLinux initiative
in 2002 and through its acquisition of SuSE, Novell acquired SuSE’s rights as a member of
UnitedLinux. On August 21, 2006, the District Court ordered that portions of claims relating to
the SuSE arbitration should be stayed pending the arbitration, but the other portions of claims in
the case should proceed.
The three-person arbitration panel has been selected for the SuSE arbitration but that process
is stayed by the bankruptcy cases.
In September 2006, Novell filed an Amended Counterclaim asserting nine claims for relief
including, among other things, claims for slander of title, breach of contract, declaratory relief
and claims for an accounting, and for a constructive trust over certain revenue we collected from
Sun and Microsoft in 2003. Novell moved for a preliminary injunction and partial summary judgment.
We opposed these filings and filed a cross-motion for partial summary judgment. Those motions
were argued on January 23, 2007, before the District Court. On December 1, 2006, Novell filed a
motion for summary judgment on its Fourth Counterclaim, asking the Court to rule that Novell had
retained broad waiver rights and other rights
over SVRx licenses it transferred under the 1995 Asset Purchase Agreement. With our
opposition to this motion, we filed our own cross motion for summary judgment, asking the Court to
rule that Novell’s retained rights are much narrower than it claims.
On April 9, 2007, we filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Novell’s First, Second,
and Fifth Causes of Action and for Summary Judgment on Novell’s First Counterclaim, arguing that
Novell transferred the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights under the plain language of the amended 1995
Asset Purchase Agreement, as confirmed by testimony of at least nine witnesses, including Novell’s
own CEO at the time of the Agreement. On April 20, 2007, Novell filed motions for summary judgment
asking the Court to rule that Novell retained the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights under the Asset
Purchase Agreement, that the Company did not meet its burden of establishing special damages on its
slander of title claim, that Novell retained broad rights to waive the Company’s contract claims
against IBM, and that the portion of the Company’s contract and unfair competition claims based on
non-compete provisions in the APA and a related agreement should not proceed to a jury trial. We
filed our own motions for summary judgment seeking a ruling that we own the UNIX and UnixWare
copyrights, and that Novell’s retained rights are much narrower than Novell now claims. On May 31
and June 4, 2007, the Court heard oral argument on these motions and the pending motion and
cross-motion for summary judgment on Novell’s Fourth Counterclaim, taking the motions under
advisement.
On August 10, 2007, the federal judge overseeing our lawsuit with Novell, Inc. (“Novell”)
ruled in favor of Novell on several of the summary judgment motions that were before the United
States District Court in Utah (the “Court”). The effect of these rulings was to significantly
reduce or eliminate certain of our claims in both the Novell case (the “Novell Litigation” and the
IBM case, and possibly others (collectively, the “SCO Litigation”). The Court ruled that Novell was
the owner of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights that existed at the time of the 1995 Asset Purchase
Agreement between Novell and The Santa Cruz Operations (the “APA”), and that Novell retained broad
rights to waive our contract claims against IBM. The Court also ruled that we own the copyrights to
post APA UnixWare derivatives and that we have certain other ownership rights in the UNIX
technology. We were directed to accept Novell’s waiver of our UNIX contract claims against IBM. In
addition, the Court determined that certain SCOsource licensing agreements that we executed in
fiscal year 2003 and thereafter included older SVRx licenses and that we were possibly required to
remit some portion of the proceeds to Novell. Over our objection, a bench trial was set to begin on
September 17, 2007, and the federal judge was to determine what portion, if any, of the proceeds of
the SCOsource agreements were attributable to such SVRx licenses and should be remitted to Novell
as well as whether we had authority to enter into such SVRx licenses. The potential payment to
Novell for those SVRx licenses ranged from a de minimis amount to in excess of $30,000,000, the
latter amount being the amount claimed by Novell, plus interest.
The trial of these issues, however, was automatically stayed as a result of our filing a
voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on September 14, 2007. On October 4, 2007,
Novell filed a Motion for Relief from Automatic Stay. On November 27, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court
modified the automatic stay to permit Novell to pursue the trial scheduled in the Court on the
allocation of proceeds from the SCOsource agreements and the question of our alleged lack of
authority to enter into them, but the Bankruptcy Court retained jurisdiction to determine whether
to impose a constructive trust on any amounts found to be payable to Novell. The Bankruptcy Court
also ruled that the bankruptcy automatic stay applies to the SuSE arbitration proceeding pending in
Europe. Upon the modification of the automatic stay, the Court scheduled a four-day trial on those
matters for which the Bankruptcy Court modified the automatic stay, which started on April 29, 2008
and concluded on May 2, 2008.
From April 29 through May 2, 2008, the Court held a bench trial on Novell’s monetary claim for
certain portions of fees we received from the SCOsource agreements and on whether we had the
authority to enter into those agreements, as explained above. Prior to the commencement of the
trial, Novell conceded that it would not be making a claim to a portion of the fees paid to us by
Microsoft in 2003 and Novell therefore reduced the principal amount of its claim to $19,979,561.
After the trial and arguments, the Court took all matters under advisement and stated that it would
attempt to issue a ruling without undue delay.
On December 21, 2007, Novell filed a motion for summary judgment on the issue of whether we
had the authority to enter into the SCOsource licenses. The parties fully briefed the motion, and
the Court set oral argument on this and any other pending motions for summary judgment for April30, 2008. On March 7, 2008, we filed a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings on Novell’s Claims for
Money or Claim for Declaratory Relief, in which we argued, based on Novell’s version of the facts,
that either its claims for money from SCOsource agreements or its claim seeking a declaration that
SCO lacked the authority to enter into those agreements must fail. The Court heard oral arguments
on this motion, as well as Novell’s pending motion for summary judgment, on the second day of
trial, April 30, 2008.
On July 16, 2008, the Court entered its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order,
ruling that (1) the SCOsource agreements with Linux end-users were not SVRx licenses and therefore
Novell is not entitled to revenue from those agreements and that we had the authority to enter into
such agreements; (2) the 2003 SCOsource agreement with Microsoft contained an SVRx license that was
incidental to the UnixWare license in the agreement, and therefore we were authorized to enter into
the license and Novell was not entitled to revenue from the agreement; and (3) the 2003 SCOsource
agreement with Sun was an unauthorized amendment of a prior UNIX buy out agreement, and Novell was
entitled to $2,547,817 of the revenue from the Sun agreement as attributable to that amendment. The
Court directed Novell to file a brief identifying the amount of prejudgment interest it sought
based on this award. On August 29, 2008, Novell filed an Unopposed Submission Regarding Prejudgment
Interest, informing the Court that the parties had agreed that Novell was entitled to $918,122 in
prejudgment interest through that date, plus $489 per day until the entry of final judgment, based
on the Court’s $2,547,817 award.
In its ruling of July 16, 2008, the Court also directed Novell to file a proposed Final
Judgment consistent with the Court’s trial and summary judgment orders. In its proposed submission
to the Court in compliance with this order, Novell took the position that final judgment could not
be entered because our claims were stayed pending arbitration and the imposition of a constructive
trust remained an open question in the Bankruptcy Court. Subsequently, in order to expedite the
entry of final judgment, we sought to resolve these issues with Novell and agreed to an extension
of Novell’s deadline for filing its submission. Based on our tracing of Sun’s payments under its
2003 SCOsource agreement, Novell agreed that only $625,487 of our current assets were traceable as
trust funds. We also proposed dismissing our stayed claims with prejudice on the basis of the
Court’s ruling that Novell owns the pre-APA UNIX copyrights in the Court’s summary judgment order
of August 10, 2007. On August 29, 2008, in its Submission Regarding the Entry of Final Judgment,
Novell informed the Court of the parties’ agreement as to the trust amount, but Novell stood by its
position that final judgment could not be entered in light of the stayed claims. On September 15,2008, we filed papers arguing for the entry of final judgment.
On November 20, 2008, after further negotiations between the parties, the Court entered a
Final Judgment, incorporating the material rulings from the August 10, 2007 and July 16, 2008
rulings as explained above. On November 25, 2008, we filed a notice of appeal of that Final
Judgment, including the Court’s summary judgment order of August 10, 2007. The appeal before the
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit will proceed over the next several months with
briefing and then argument before the Court. On January 23, 2009, we filed an unopposed motion for
an expedited appeal. A decision on the appeal could be forthcoming in approximately the next ten
to fourteen months, unless we are successful in our motion that the Court handle the appeal on an
expedited basis.
IPO Class Action Matter
In July 2001, we and several of our former officers and directors (the “Individual
Defendants”) were named as defendants in class action complaints alleging violations of the federal
securities laws in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York. On April 19,2002, plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Amended Complaint, which is now the operative complaint. The
complaint seeks unspecified damages and alleges violations of Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities
Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5
promulgated thereunder. Plaintiffs allege that the underwriter defendants agreed to allocate stock
in our initial public offering to certain investors in exchange for excessive and undisclosed
commissions and agreements by those investors to make additional purchases of stock in the
aftermarket at pre-determined prices. Plaintiffs
allege that the Registration Statement for the Company’s initial public offering was false and
misleading because it did not disclose these arrangements.
The action is being coordinated with approximately three hundred other nearly identical
actions filed against other companies. On October 9, 2002, the court dismissed the Individual
Defendants from the case without prejudice. This dismissal disposed of the Section 15 and 20(a)
control person claims without prejudice, since these claims were asserted only against the
Individual Defendants. On February 19, 2003, the Court denied the motion to dismiss with respect
to us.
On December 5, 2006, the Second Circuit vacated a decision by the district court granting
class certification in six “focus” cases, which are intended to serve as test cases. Plaintiffs
selected these six cases, which do not include us. On April 6, 2007, the Second Circuit panel
denied a petition for rehearing filed by the plaintiffs, but noted that the plaintiffs could ask
the district court to certify a more narrow class than the one that was rejected.
Prior to the Second Circuit’s December 5, 2006 ruling, a majority of the issuers, including
us, and their insurers had submitted a settlement agreement to the district court for approval. In
light of the Second Circuit opinion, the parties agreed that the settlement could not be approved.
On June 25, 2007, the district court approved a stipulation filed by the plaintiffs and the issuers
terminating the proposed settlement. On August 14, 2007, the plaintiffs filed amended complaints in
the six focus cases. The amended complaints include a number of changes, such as changes to the
definition of the purported class of investors, and the elimination of the individual defendants as
defendants. On September 27, 2007, the plaintiffs moved to certify a class in the six focus cases.
On November 14, 2007, the issuers and the underwriters named as defendants in the six focus cases
filed motions to dismiss the amended complaints against them. On March 26, 2008, the district
court dismissed the Securities Act claims of those members of the putative classes in the focus
cases who sold their securities for a price in excess of the initial offering price and those who
purchased outside the previously certified class period. With respect to all other claims, the
motions to dismiss were denied. We are awaiting a decision from the Court on the class
certification motion.
Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of
this matter. We have notified our underwriters and insurance companies of the existence of the
claims. We presently believe, after consultation with legal counsel, that the ultimate outcome of
this matter will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, liquidity or
financial position and will not exceed the $200,000 self-insured retention already paid or accrued
by us.
On November 20, 2008, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order, based on a stipulation of the
parties, that the plaintiffs in the IPO case would not pursue assets of the company in connection
with the case but would only look to insurance coverage to cover any damages that may be awarded to
plaintiffs in that case. On October 10, 2008, the judge in the IPO case granted plaintiffs’
request to withdraw, without prejudice, their motion for class certification in the case.
Red Hat, Inc.
On August 4, 2003, Red Hat, Inc. filed a complaint against us. The action is pending in the
United States District Court for the District of Delaware under the case caption, Red Hat, Inc. v.
The SCO Group, Inc., Civil No. 03-772. Red Hat asserts that the Linux operating system does not
infringe on our UNIX intellectual property rights and seeks a declaratory judgment for
non-infringement of copyrights and no misappropriation of trade secrets. In addition, Red Hat
claims we have engaged in false advertising in violation of the Lanham Act, deceptive trade
practices, unfair competition, tortious interference with prospective business opportunities, trade
libel and disparagement. On April 6, 2004, the court denied our motion to dismiss this case;
however, the court stayed the case and requested status reports every 90 days regarding the case
against IBM. Red Hat filed a motion for reconsideration, which the court denied on March 31, 2005.
We intend to vigorously defend this action. In the event that the stay is lifted, including the
bankruptcy stay, and Red Hat is allowed to pursue its claims, we will likely assert counterclaims
against Red Hat.
On March 2, 2004, we filed suit against AutoZone, Inc., in the Federal District Court for the
District of Nevada (the “Nevada District Court”). We brought a single claim for copyright
infringement based on AutoZone’s use of UNIX copyrighted materials in Linux and asked the Nevada
District Court to impose a preliminary injunction against AutoZone. On August 6, 2004, the Nevada
District Court granted AutoZone’s motion to stay the case pending resolution of the IBM, Novell,
and Red Hat litigations. During the limited discovery that the Nevada District Court permitted,
SCO confirmed that AutoZone had also made unauthorized use of materials from SCO’s OpenServer
operating system in migrating to Linux. On September 22, 2008, the Nevada District Court held a
status conference on the case and decided to lift the stay effective December 31, 2008. On January6, 2009, the assigned Magistrate Judge issued an order directing the parties to file a proposed
discovery plan and scheduling order by January 16, 2009. On that date, the parties filed a Joint
Discovery Plan and Scheduling Order proposing January 15, 2010, as the deadline for the parties to
complete fact discovery.
Other Matters
In April 2003, a former Indian distributor filed a claim in India, requesting summary judgment
for payment of approximately $1,428,000, and an order that we trade in India only through the
distributor and/or give a security deposit until the claim is paid. The distributor claims that we
are responsible to repurchase certain software products and to reimburse the distributor for
certain other operating costs. Management does not believe that we are responsible to reimburse
the distributor for any operating costs and also believes that the return rights related to any
remaining inventory have lapsed. The distributor additionally requested that the Indian courts
grant interim relief in the form of attachment of local assets. These requests for interim relief
have failed in the court, and discovery has commenced and hearings on the main claims have been
held and are ongoing. We intend to vigorously defend this action.
Pursuit and defense of the above-mentioned matters will be costly, and management expects the
costs for legal fees and related expenses will be substantial.
We are party to certain other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business,
and management believes, after consultation with legal counsel, that the ultimate outcome of these
legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial
position or liquidity.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the three months ended
October 31, 2008.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Price of Our Common Stock
Our common stock initially traded on The Nasdaq National Market beginning in March 2000, and
traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market (formerly known as the Nasdaq SmallCap Market) from February
2003 to December 2007. In December 2007, our stock began trading on the Pink Sheets. In September
2002, we changed our trading symbol from “CALD” to “SCOX.” In December 2007, our trading symbol
changed to “SCOXQ.PK.” The table below sets forth the range of high and low closing prices of our
common stock as reported on The Nasdaq Capital Market or the Pink Sheets, as applicable, for the
last two years.
On January 14, 2009, the closing sales price for our common stock as reported on the Pink
Sheets was $0.13. As of January 14, 2009, there were 257 holders of common stock of record.
Dividend Policy
We have not historically declared or paid any cash dividends on shares of our common stock and
plan to retain our future earnings, if any, to fund the development and growth of our business. As
a result of our Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, we are restricted from making any distributions to equity
interests in the Company unless the distributions are approved under a plan of reorganization.
Further, the Bankruptcy Code prohibits equity distributions, unless all creditors are satisfied in
full.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
During the three months ended October 31, 2008, we did not purchase any of our equity
securities.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following selected financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K and in
conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations” appearing in Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K. The selected statement of operations
data for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 and the selected balance sheet data as of
October 31, 2008 and 2007 are derived from, and are qualified by reference to, the audited
consolidated financial statements and related notes in this Form 10-K.
The selected statement of operations data for the years ended October 31, 2005 and 2004 and
the selected balance sheet data as of October 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 are derived from audited
consolidated financial statements not appearing in this Form 10-K.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and
other parts of this Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by words such as “intends,”“anticipates,”“expects,”“believes,”“plans,”“predicts,” and similar terms. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results may differ significantly
from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such
differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the subsection entitled
“Forward-Looking Statements and Factors That May Affect Future Results and Financial Condition” and
the subsection entitled “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K. The following
discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes
thereto included in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K. All information presented herein is based
on our fiscal year ended October 31, 2008. We assume no obligation to revise or update any
forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.
Recent Developments
Novell, Inc. Ruling
On August 10, 2007, the federal judge overseeing our lawsuit with Novell, Inc. (“Novell”)
ruled in favor of Novell on several of the summary judgment motions that were before the United
States District Court in Utah (the “Court”). The effect of these rulings was to significantly
reduce or to eliminate certain of the Company’s claims in both the Novell case (“Novell
Litigation”) and the IBM case, and possibly others
(collectively, the “SCO Litigation”). The Court ruled that Novell was the owner of the UNIX
and UnixWare copyrights that existed at the time of the 1995 Asset Purchase Agreement between
Novell and
Santa Cruz (the “APA”), and that Novell retained broad rights to waive our contract claims
against IBM. The Court ruled that we own the copyrights to post-APA UnixWare derivatives and that
we have certain other ownership rights in the UNIX technology. We were directed to accept Novell’s
waiver of its UNIX contract claims against IBM. In addition, the Court determined that certain
SCOsource licensing agreements that we executed in fiscal year 2003 and thereafter included older
SVRx licenses and that we were possibly required to remit some portion of the proceeds to Novell.
Over our objection, a bench trial was set to begin on September 17, 2007, and the federal judge was
to determine what portion, if any, of the proceeds of the SCOsource agreements were attributable to
such SVRx licenses and should be remitted to Novell, as well as whether we had authority to enter
into such SVRx licenses. Based on Novell’s allegations, the potential payment to Novell for those
SVRx licenses ranged from a de minimis amount to in excess of $30,000,000, the latter amount being
the amount claimed by Novell, plus interest.
The trial of these issues, however, was automatically stayed as a result of our filing a
voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on September 14, 2007. On October 4, 2007,
Novell filed a Motion for Relief from Automatic Stay. On November 27, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court
modified the automatic stay to permit Novell to pursue the trial scheduled in the Court on the
allocation of proceeds from the SCOsource agreements and the question of our alleged lack of
authority to enter into them, but the Bankruptcy Court retained jurisdiction to determine whether
to impose a constructive trust on any amounts found to be payable to Novell. The Bankruptcy Court
also ruled that the automatic stay applies to the SuSE arbritation proceeding pending in Europe.
Upon the modification of the automatic stay, the Court scheduled a four-day trial on those matters
for which the Bankruptcy Court modified the automatic stay, which started on April 29, 2008 and
concluded on May 2, 2008.
On December 21, 2007, Novell filed a motion for summary judgment on the issue of whether we
had the authority to enter into the SCOsource licenses. The parties fully briefed the motion, and
the Court set oral argument on this and any other pending motions for summary judgment for April30, 2008. On March 7, 2008, we filed a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings on Novell’s Claims for
Money or Claim for Declaratory Relief, in which we argued, based on Novell’s version of the facts,
that either its claims for money from SCOsource agreements or its claim seeking a declaration that
SCO lacked the authority to enter into those agreements must fail. The Court heard oral arguments
on this motion, as well as Novell’s pending motion for summary judgment, on the second day of
trial, April 30, 2008.
From April 29 through May 2, 2008, the Court held a bench trial on Novell’s monetary claim for
certain portions of fees we received from the SCOsource agreements and on whether we had the
authority to enter into those agreements. Prior to the commencement of the trial, Novell conceded
that it would not be making a claim to a portion of the fees paid to us by Microsoft in 2003 and
Novell therefore reduced the principal amount of its claim to $19,979,561. After the trial and
arguments, the Court took all matters under advisement and stated that it would attempt to issue a
ruling without undue delay.
On July 16, 2008, the Court entered its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order,
ruling that (1) the SCOsource agreements with Linux end-users were not SVRx licenses and therefore
Novell was not entitled to revenue from those agreements and that we had the authority to enter
into such agreements; (2) the 2003 SCOsource agreement with Microsoft contained an SVRx license
that was incidental to the UnixWare license in the agreement, and therefore we were authorized to
enter into the license and Novell was not entitled to revenue from the agreement; and (3) the 2003
SCOsource agreement with Sun was an unauthorized amendment of a prior UNIX buy out agreement, and
Novell was entitled to $2,547,817 of the revenue from the Sun agreement as attributable to that
amendment. The Court directed Novell to file a brief identifying the amount of prejudgment interest
it sought based on this award. On August 29, 2008, Novell filed an Unopposed Submission Regarding
Prejudgment Interest, informing the Court that the parties had agreed that Novell was entitled to
$918,122 in prejudgment interest through that date, plus $489 per day until the entry of final
judgment, based on the Court’s $2,547,817 award.
In its ruling of July 16, 2008, the Court also directed Novell to file a proposed Final
Judgment consistent with the Court’s trial and summary judgment orders. In its proposed submission
to the Court in compliance with this order, Novell took the position that final judgment could not
be entered because certain of our claims were stayed pending arbitration and the imposition of a
constructive trust remained an
open question in the Bankruptcy Court. Subsequently, in order to expedite the entry of final
judgment, we sought to resolve these issues with Novell and agreed to an extension of Novell’s
deadline for filing its submission. Based on our tracing of Sun’s payments under its 2003
SCOsource agreement, Novell agreed that only $625,487 of our current assets were traceable as trust
funds. We also proposed dismissing our stayed claims with prejudice on the basis of the Court’s
ruling that Novell owns the pre-APA UNIX copyrights in the Court’s summary judgment order of August10, 2007. On August 29, 2008, in its Submission Regarding the Entry of Final Judgment, Novell
informed the Court of the parties’ agreement as to the trust amount, but Novell stood by its
position that final judgment could not be entered in light of the stayed claims. On September 15,2008, we filed papers arguing for the entry of final judgment.
On November 20, 2008, after further negotiations between the parties, the Court entered a
Final Judgment, incorporating the material rulings from the August 10, 2007 and July 16, 2008
rulings as explained above. On November 25, 2008, we filed a notice of appeal of that Final
Judgment, including the Court’s summary judgment order of August 10, 2007. The appeal before the
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit will proceed over the next several months with
briefing and then argument before the Court. On January 23, 2009, we filed an unopposed motion for
an expedited appeal. A decision on the appeal could be forthcoming in approximately the next ten
to fourteen months, unless we are successful in our motion that the Court handle the appeal on an
expedited basis.
As a result of the Court’s judgment against us, as of October 31, 2008. we have accrued
$3,518,000 for this contingent liability and related interest. However, we, continue to contest
this liability. We believe that this judgment is in error, and that we have strong grounds to have
the adverse rulings embodied in the Final Judgment overturned on appeal. However, in the event that
our assets are further depleted or frozen, we may not be in a financial position to appeal those
rulings.
Our management and board of directors determined that filing for relief under Chapter 11 of
the United States Bankruptcy Code on September 14, 2007 was appropriate and necessary.
Bankruptcy Filing
On September 14, 2007, The SCO Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, SCO Operations,
Inc. (collectively, the “Debtors”), filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the
United States Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Debtors’
Chapter 11 cases are being jointly administered under Case No. 07-11337(KG). The Debtors continue
to exercise control over their assets and operate their businesses as “debtors-in-possession” under
the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the
Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court. Our foreign subsidiaries were not included in
the filings. Our foreign subsidiaries, as non-debtors, are not subject to the requirements of the
Bankruptcy Code and are not subject to Bankruptcy Court supervision.
On September 18, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court granted the Debtors’ motions to maintain their
existing bank accounts and cash management systems, to pay pre-bankruptcy wage-related items, to
establish procedures relating to utility providers and to employ temporary employees.
As a result of the Chapter 11 filings, realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities
are subject to uncertainty. While operating as debtors-in-possession under the protection of
Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Debtors may sell or otherwise dispose of assets and
liquidate or settle liabilities for amounts other than those reflected in the consolidated
financial statements, in the ordinary course of business, or, if outside the ordinary course of
business, subject to Bankruptcy Court approval.
On February 13, 2008, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) with Stephen
Norris Capital Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SNCP”), whereby SNCP agreed to
provide financing to fund our plan of reorganization filed on February 29, 2008. On the same day,
we filed a disclosure statement in connection with the plan of reorganization, under the terms
contemplated by the MOU.
On February 29, 2008, the Debtors filed their joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization (the
“Plan”) and Disclosure Statement in Connection with the Plan (the “Disclosure Statement”). A
hearing to approve
the adequacy of the Disclosure Statement was scheduled before the Bankruptcy Court on April 2,2008. The April 2, 2008 hearing proceeded as a status conference regarding the Debtors’ progress
towards a new Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with SNCP. Therefore, the Debtors indicated that
they were not presently seeking approval of the adequacy of the Disclosure Statement, which would
need to be amended to reflect the changes to the MOU.
On May 12, 2008, the Debtors filed a motion seeking an extension of their exclusive periods to
submit and solicit acceptances of an amended or new plan of reorganization to August 11 and October13, 2008, respectively. A hearing to consider that motion was scheduled for June 17, 2008. The
Bankruptcy Court granted the motion on June 17, 2008. The Debtors filed another motion for an
extension of their exclusive periods to submit and solicit acceptances of a plan of reorganization
to a date 45 and 105 days, respectively, following an entry of a final judgment in the Novell
Litigation. The hearing on that motion was conducted on September 16, 2008 at which time the
Bankruptcy Court granted the motion for an extension of our exclusive periods to submit and solicit
acceptance of a plan of reorganization to December 31, 2008.
On January 8, 2009, the Debtors filed its Amended Reorganization Plan and Disclosure
statement. Under the proposed plan, the Debtors intend to hold an open auction to sell certain of
their assets including their mobility business assets and their OpenServer operating system assets
and business. Through this sale, the Debtors hope to obtain enough consideration to pay their
creditors and continue their operations as set forth in the plan. In the event that the asset sale
does not generate enough cash to meet the aforementioned objectives, we will scale back our
operations and costs, and initiate other strategies to implement the plan of reorganization. In the
event that certain company assets are not sold, we will continue to sell and support our UNIX and
mobility business and will also focus on the following key provisions: (a) an enhanced pricing and
discount strategy, (b) an updated “True-up” licensing program with current customers, (c) reducing
overall operating costs, (d) deliver SCO UNIX Virtual product lines for VMware and Hyper-V to allow
SCO legacy applications to run on modern hardware; (e) ship FCmobilelife and FCtasks for the iPhone
with a new pricing structure.
Under the priority scheme established by the Bankruptcy Code, unless creditors agree
otherwise, post-petition liabilities and prepetition liabilities must be satisfied in full before
stockholders are entitled to receive any distribution or retain any property under a plan of
reorganization. The ultimate recovery to creditors and/or stockholders, if any, will not be
determined until confirmation of a plan or plans of reorganization. No assurance can be given as to
what values, if any, will be ascribed in the Chapter 11 cases to each of these constituencies or
what types or amounts of distributions, if any, they would receive, or as to the timing of such
distributions, if any. A plan of reorganization could result in holders of our stock receiving no
distribution on account of their interests and cancellation of their existing stock. If certain
requirements of the Bankruptcy Code are met, a plan of reorganization can be confirmed
notwithstanding its rejection by the class comprising the interests of our equity security holders.
As a result of both the Court’s August 10, 2007 and July 16, 2008 ruling and the uncertainties
surrounding the confirmation of the Company’s Amended Reorganization Plan, among other matters,
there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. In
connection with these developments, management recorded an impairment of the carrying value of the
Company’s long-lived assets of $276,000 during the year ended October 31, 2008.
Business Focus
UNIX Business. Our UNIX business serves the needs of small-to-medium businesses as well as
replicated site franchisees of Fortune 1000 companies, by providing reliable, cost effective UNIX
software technology for distributed, embedded and network-based systems. Our UNIX business
includes our mobility product and services offerings. Our largest source of UNIX business revenue
is derived from existing customers through our worldwide, indirect, leveraged channel of partners,
which includes distributors and independent solution providers. We have a presence in a number of
countries that provide support and services to customers and resellers. The other principal
channel for selling and marketing our UNIX products is through existing customers that have a large
number of replicated sites or franchisees.
We access these companies through their information technology or purchasing departments with
our Area Sales Managers (“ASMs”) in the United States and through our reseller channel in countries
outside the United States. In addition, we also sell our operating system products to original
equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”). Our sales of UNIX products and services during the last several
years have been primarily to existing UNIX customers as opposed to newly acquired customers. Our
UNIX business revenue depends significantly on our ability to market and sell our products to
existing customers and to generate upgrades from existing customers.
The following table and footnote shows the operating results of the UNIX business for the
years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006:
2008
2007
2006
(In thousands)
Revenue
$
15,568
$
21,623
$
29,123
Cost of revenue
2,053
3,291
4,896
Gross margin
13,515
18,332
24,227
Sales and marketing
8,255
9,686
12,048
Research and development
3,684
6,077
7,666
General and administrative
3,657
5,527
6,669
Impairment of long-lived assets
276
—
—
Other (1)
—
—
2,371
Total operating expenses
15,872
21,290
28,754
Loss from operations
$
(2,357
)
$
(2,958
)
$
(4,527
)
(1)
Other expense for the year ended October 31, 2006 represented
amortization of intangibles. The intangibles became fully amortized in October
2006.
Revenue from our UNIX business decreased by $6,055,000, or 28%, for the year ended October 31,2008 compared to the year ended October 31, 2007. Revenue from our UNIX business decreased
$7,500,000, or 26%, for the year ended October 31, 2007 compared to the year ended October 31,2006. The revenue from our UNIX business has been declining over the last several years primarily
as a result of continued competition from alternative operating systems, particularly Linux and
from the negative publicity of the SCO Litigation. We believe that the inclusion of our UNIX code
and derivative works in Linux has been a contributor to the decline in our UNIX business revenue
because users of Linux generally do not pay for the operating system itself, but for services and
maintenance. The Linux operating system competes directly with our OpenServer and UnixWare
products and has taken significant market share from these products.
Operating expenses for our UNIX business were $28,754,000 for the year ended October 31, 2006
and were $21,290,000 for the year ended October 31, 2007 and decreased to $15,872,000 for the year
ended October 31, 2008. The decrease in operating expenses for the year ended October 31, 2008 was
primarily attributable to cost reduction strategies implemented in January 2008 including staff
reductions and related costs as a result of those reductions.
The decline in our UNIX business revenue may be accelerated if industry partners withdraw
their support as a result of our SCO Litigation or Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The decline in
our UNIX business, the SCO Litigation and our Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing may cause industry
partners, developers and hardware and software vendors to choose not to support or certify to our
UNIX operating system products. This would lead to an accelerated decline in revenue from our UNIX
business.
SCOsource Business. During the year ended October 31, 2003, we became aware that our UNIX
code and derivative works had been inappropriately included by others in the Linux operating
system. We believe the inclusion of UNIX code and derivative works in Linux has been a contributor
to the decline in our UNIX business because users of Linux generally do not pay for the operating
system itself, but pay for
services and maintenance. The Linux operating system competes directly with our OpenServer
and UnixWare products and has taken significant market share from these products.
In an effort to establish, protect and defend our UNIX intellectual property rights, we
initiated our SCOsource business. We have incurred significant legal costs in an effort to defend
and protect our UNIX intellectual property rights and subject to Bankruptcy Court approval, expect
that costs and expenses for this business for the year ending October 31, 2008 will be significant.
The following table shows the results of operations for the SCOsource business for the years
ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006:
2008
2007
2006
(In thousands)
Revenue
$
—
$
33
$
116
Cost of revenue
3,800
3,580
12,307
Gross deficit
(3,800
)
(3,547
)
(12,191
)
Sales and marketing
—
—
1
Research and development
—
—
379
General and administrative
—
—
259
Total operating expenses
—
—
639
Loss from operations
$
(3,800
)
$
(3,547
)
$
(12,830
)
Revenue from our SCOsource business for the years ended October 31, 2007 and 2006 was
primarily attributable to sales of our SCOsource IP agreements.
Cost of revenue from the SCOsource business was $12,307,000 for the year ended October 31,2006, $3,580,000 for the year ended October 31, 2007 and increased to $3,800,000 for the year ended
October 31, 2008. Cost of revenues for 2008 was principally due to the Court’s negative monetary
judgment related to the Novell claims against the Company of $2,548,000 and legal fees and other
costs of $1,252,000. Cost of revenue for 2006 and 2007 were primarily comprised of legal fees and
other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the SCO Litigation. During the year ended
October 31, 2006, we made the final quarterly payment of $2,000,000 to Boies, Schiller & Flexner
LLP and Kevin McBride (the “Law Firms”) (which quarterly payments ended during the three months
ended January 31, 2006). Berger Singerman, P.A. (“Berger”) was also a member of this group of Law
Firms. With the consent of the Company, the engagement of this firm was mutually terminated. The
last payment received by Berger was during November 2004. In addition to the expenses incurred
above, we must pay one or more contingency fees upon any amount that we or our stockholders may
receive as a result of a settlement, judgment, or a sale of our Company.
Because of the unique and unpredictable nature of the SCO Litigation, the occurrence and
timing of certain expenses such as damage, industry and technical review and other consultants is
difficult to predict, and it will be difficult to predict the total cost of revenue for the
upcoming quarters.
The decrease in operating expenses was primarily attributable to decreased personnel and
related costs.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles and our discussion and analysis of our financial condition
and results of operations requires us to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the
amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Note 2 of the
notes to consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K describes the
significant accounting policies and methods used in preparation of our consolidated financial
statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, current trends, future projections,
and on various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results
of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.
Actual results may differ from these estimates. We believe the following to
be our critical accounting estimates because they are important to the portrayal of our
financial position and results of operations and they are based on matters that are inherently
uncertain.
Our critical accounting policies and estimates include the following:
•
Revenue recognition;
•
Valuation allowances against deferred income tax assets;
•
Litigation reserves;
•
Useful lives and impairment of property and equipment; and
•
Allowances for doubtful accounts receivable.
Revenue Recognition. We recognize revenue in accordance with Statement of Position (“SOP”)
97-2, as modified by SOP 98-9. Our revenue has historically been from three sources: (i) product
license revenue, primarily from product sales to resellers, end users and OEMs; (ii) technical
support service revenue, primarily from providing technical support and consulting services to end
users; and (iii) revenue from SCOsource licensing.
We recognize product revenue upon shipment if a signed contract exists, the fee is fixed or
determinable, collection of the resulting receivable is probable and product returns are reasonably
estimable.
The majority of our revenue transactions relate to product-only sales. On occasion, we have
revenue transactions that have multiple elements (such as software products, maintenance, technical
support services, and other services). For software agreements that have multiple elements, we
allocate revenue to each component of the contract based on the relative fair value of the
elements. The fair value of each element is based on vendor specific objective evidence (”VSOE”).
VSOE is established when such elements are sold separately. We recognize revenue when the criteria
for product revenue recognition set forth above have been met. If VSOE of all undelivered elements
exists, but VSOE does not exist for one or more delivered elements, then revenue is recognized
using the residual method. Under the residual method, the fair value of the undelivered elements
is deferred and the remaining portion of the license fee is recognized as revenue in the period
when persuasive evidence of an arrangement is obtained assuming all other revenue recognition
criteria are met.
We recognize product revenue from OEMs when the software is sold by the OEM to an end-user
customer. Revenue from technical support services and consulting services is recognized as the
related services are performed. Revenue for maintenance is recognized ratably over the maintenance
period.
We consider an arrangement with payment terms longer than our normal business practice not to
be fixed or determinable and revenue is recognized when the fee becomes due. We typically provide
stock rotation rights for sales made through our distribution channel and sales to distributors are
recognized upon shipment by the distributor to end users. For direct sales not through our
distribution channel, sales are typically non-refundable and non-cancelable. We estimate our
product returns based on historical experience and maintain an allowance for estimated returns,
which is recorded as a reduction to accounts receivable and revenue.
Our SCOsource revenue to date has been primarily generated from agreements to utilize our UNIX
source code and related technology as well as from intellectual property compliance agreements. We
recognize revenue from SCOsource agreements when a signed contract exists, the fee is fixed or
determinable, collection of the receivable is probable and delivery has occurred. If the payment
terms extend beyond our normal payment terms, revenue is recognized as the payments become due.
Valuation Allowances Against Deferred Income Tax Assets. The amount, and ultimate
realization, of our deferred income tax assets depends, in part, upon the tax laws in effect, our
future earnings, if any, and other future events, the effects of which cannot be determined. We
provided a valuation allowance of $82,786,000 against our entire net deferred income tax assets as
of October 31, 2008. The valuation allowance was recorded because of our history of net operating
losses and the uncertainties regarding our future operating profitability and taxable income.
We are party to a number of legal matters described in more detail elsewhere in this Form
10-K, including under Part I, Item 3 – Legal Proceedings. Pursuit and defense of these matters will
be costly, and management expects the costs for legal fees and related expenses will be
substantial. As of October 31, 2008, we have accrued $3,518,000, including interest, for the
Novell claim as a result of the court order of July 16, 2008. This contingent liability is
included in the caption Liabilities Subject to Compromise. However, we continue to contest this
liability. We believe that this judgment is in error, and that we have strong grounds to overturn
it and the August 10, 2007 summary judgment upon appeal.
A material, negative impact on our results of operations or financial position from the Red
Hat, Inc., IPO Class Action, or Indian Distributor matters, or the IBM counterclaims may be
probable but not estimable. Because these matters are not estimable, we have not recorded any
reserves or contingencies related to these legal matters. In the event that our assumptions used to
evaluate these matters change in future periods, we may be required to record a liability for an
adverse outcome, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial
position and liquidity.
Useful Lives and Impairment of Property and Equipment. We review our long-lived assets for
impairment at each balance sheet date and when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is
considered impaired when the anticipated cumulative undiscounted cash flows of the related asset or
group of assets is less than the carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the
amount by which the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair market value of the long-lived asset.
Economic useful lives of long-lived assets are assessed and adjusted as circumstances dictate.
Due to uncertainties surrounding the Novell judgment and our ability to emerge from
bankruptcy, including confirmation of our plan of reorganization by the bankruptcy court, we
recorded an impairment of our long-lived assets of $276,000 during the year ended October 31, 2008.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable. We offer credit terms on the sale of our products
to a majority of our customers and require no collateral from these customers. We perform ongoing
credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition and maintain an allowance for doubtful
accounts receivable based upon our historical collection experience and a specific review of
customer balances to determine expected collectibility. Our policies for determining allowances
for doubtful accounts receivable have been applied consistently. Our allowance for doubtful
accounts receivable was $94,000 as of October 31, 2008. We have not experienced material
differences from the actual amounts provided for bad debts and our recorded estimates. However,
our actual bad debts in future periods may differ from our current estimates and the differences
may be material, which may have an adverse impact on our future accounts receivable and cash
position.
Revenue for the year ended October 31, 2008 decreased by $6,088,000, or 28%, from the year
ended October 31, 2007 and revenue for the year ended October 31, 2007 decreased by $7,583,000, or
26%, from the year ended October 31, 2006. These decreases were primarily attributable to
continued decreases in UNIX products and services revenue as a result of continued competition from
other operating systems, primarily Linux, and from continuing negative publicity from the SCO
Litigation and the Company’s filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy which have adversely impacted and
delayed our customers’ buying decisions.
Revenue generated from our UNIX business and SCOsource business is as follows:
2008
Change
2007
Change
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
UNIX revenue
$
15,568
(28
)%
$
21,623
(26
)%
$
29,123
Percentage of total revenue
100
%
100
%
100
%
SCOsource revenue
—
na
33
(72
)%
$
116
Percentage of total revenue
0
%
0
%
0
%
The decrease in revenue in the UNIX business of $6,055,000, or 28%, for the year ended October31, 2008 compared to the year ended October 31, 2007 and the decrease in revenue of $7,500,000 for
the year ended October 31, 2007 compared to the year ended October 31, 2006 were primarily
attributable to continued competition from other operating systems, particularly Linux, and from
continuing negative publicity from the SCO Litigation and our filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. We
believe that the inclusion of our UNIX code and derivative works in Linux has been a contributor to
the decline in our UNIX revenue
because users of Linux generally do not pay for the operating
system itself, but pay for services and maintenance. We anticipate that for the year ending
October 31, 2009 our
total UNIX revenue will decline from UNIX revenue generated in the year ended October 31, 2008
as a result of this continued competition and negative publicity.
SCOsource revenue decreased by $33,000 for the year ended October 31, 2008 compared to the
year ended October 31, 2007 and decreased by $83,000 for the year ended October 31, 2007 compared
to the year ended October 31, 2006. These decreases were primarily attributable to lower sales of
IP agreements.
Sales of our UNIX products and services during the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
were primarily to existing customers. Our UNIX business revenue depends significantly on our
ability to market our products to existing customers and to generate upgrades from existing
customers. Our UNIX revenue may be lower than currently anticipated if (i) we are not successful
with our existing customers, (ii) we lose the support of any of our existing hardware and software
vendors, or (iii) our key industry partners withdraw their marketing and certification support or
direct their support to our competitors.
Products Revenue
2008
Change
2007
Change
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
Product revenue
$
12,974
(26
)%
$
17,488
(27
)%
$
24,063
Percentage of total revenue
83
%
81
%
82
%
Our products revenue consists of software licenses for UNIX products such as OpenServer and
UnixWare, as well as sales of UNIX-related products. Products revenue also includes revenue
derived from OEMs, distribution partners and large end-user accounts. We rely heavily on our
two-tier distribution channel and any disruption in our distribution channel could have an adverse
impact on future revenue.
The decrease in products revenue of $4,514,000 from the year ended October 31, 2007 to the
year ended October 31, 2008 and the decrease in products revenue of $6,575,000 from the year ended
October 31, 2006 to the year ended October 31, 2007 were primarily attributable to decreased sales
of OpenServer and UnixWare products. These decreases primarily resulted from continued competition
in the operating system market, particularly Linux, and from continuing negative publicity from the
SCO Litigation and our filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy which have adversely impacted and delayed
our customers’ buying decisions. We believe that this competition from Linux will continue for the
year ending October 31, 2009 and future periods.
Our products revenue was derived primarily from sales of our OpenServer and UnixWare products.
Other products revenue consists mainly of product maintenance and other UNIX-related products.
Revenue for these products was as follows:
2008
Change
2007
Change
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
OpenServer revenue
$
8,814
(18
)%
$
10,729
(24
)%
$
14,098
Percentage of products revenue
68
%
62
%
59
%
UnixWare revenue
3,032
(37
)%
$
4,782
(36
)%
$
7,521
Percentage of products revenue
23
%
27
%
31
%
Other products revenue
1,128
(43
)%
$
1,977
(19
)%
$
2,444
Percentage of products revenue
9
%
11
%
10
%
The decreases in revenue for OpenServer and UnixWare and other products are all primarily the
result of continued competition, particularly from the Linux operating system providers and from
continuing negative publicity from the SCO Litigation and our filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The
decrease in other products revenue is primarily attributable to decreased sales of UNIX-related
products and decreased sales of product maintenance, which is sold separately from the product.
We initiated our SCOsource business for the purpose of protecting and defending our
intellectual property rights in our UNIX source code and derivative works. SCOsource revenue for
the years ended October 31, 2007 and 2006 was primarily attributable to SCOsource IP agreements.
We entered into no such agreements in 2008.
Services Revenue
2008
Change
2007
Change
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
Services revenue
$
2,594
(37
)%
$
4,135
(18
)%
$
5,060
Percentage of total revenue
17
%
19
%
18
%
Services revenue consists primarily of annual and incidental technical support fees,
engineering services fees, professional services and consulting fees. These fees are typically
charged and invoiced separately from UNIX products sales. The decrease in services revenue of
$1,541,000, or 37%, from the year ended October 31, 2007 to the year ended October 31, 2008 and the
decrease in services revenue of $925,000, or 18%, from the year ended October 31, 2006 to the year
ended October 31, 2007 were primarily attributable to a decrease in products revenue, decreased
professional services revenue and fewer renewals of support and engineering services contracts.
The majority of our support and professional services revenue is derived from services for
UNIX-based operating system products. Our future level of services revenue depends in part on our
ability to generate UNIX products revenue from new customers as well as to renew annual support and
services agreements with existing UNIX customers.
Cost of Products Revenue
2008
Change
2007
Change
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
Cost of products revenue
$
858
(35
)%
$
1,329
(36
)%
$
2,064
Percentage of products revenue
7
%
8
%
9
%
Cost of products revenue consists of manufacturing costs, royalties to third-party vendors,
technology costs and overhead costs. Cost of products revenue decreased by $471,000, or 35%, from
the year ended October 31, 2007 to the year ended October 31, 2008 and cost of products revenue
decreased by $735,000, or 36%, from the year ended October 31, 2006 to the year ended October 31,2007. These decreases in cost of products revenue were primarily attributable to lower products
revenue, as margins did not vary significantly.
For the year ending October 31, 2009, we expect the dollar amount of our cost of products
revenue to be less than the year ended October 31, 2008 and the percentage of costs of products
revenue to be consistent with the percentage achieved during the year ended October 31, 2007.
Cost of SCOsource Revenue
2008
Change
2007
Change
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
Cost of SCOsource revenue
$
3,800
6
%
$
3,580
(71
)%
$
12,307
Cost of SCOsource revenue includes legal and professional fees incurred in connection with our
SCO Litigation, the salaries and related personnel costs of SCOsource employees, and an allocation
of corporate costs.
Cost of SCOsource revenue increased by $220,000, or 6%, from the year ended October 31, 2007
to the year ended October 31, 2008 and was due to the $2,548,000 judgment in the Novell litigation
for an unauthorized amendment to a prior UNIX agreement with Sun as previously mentioned under
Recent Developments, which is partially offset by significant decreases in services provided by
technical, industry, damage and other experts in connection with the SCO Litigation. Cost of
SCOsource revenue decreased by $8,727,000, or 71%, from the year ended October 31, 2006 to the year
ended October 31, 2007 and was primarily attributable to the absence of the $2,000,000 quarterly
payment and related expense to the Law Firms (which quarterly payments ended during the first
quarter of fiscal 2006), and significant decreases in services provided by technical, industry,
damage and other experts in connection with the SCO Litigation. In addition to the expenses
discussed above, we must also pay one
or more contingency fees upon any amount we or our stockholders may receive as a result of a
settlement, judgment, or a sale of our Company.
We anticipate that the dollar amount of our cost of SCOsource revenue for the year ending
October 31, 2009 will be lower than the year ended October 31, 2008, assuming the Bankruptcy Court
approves any such expenditures. However, future legal fees may include contingency payments made
to the Law Firms as a result of a settlement, judgment, or a sale of our Company, which could cause
the cost of SCOsource revenue for the year ending October 31, 2009 to be higher than the year ended
October 31, 2008.
Cost of Services Revenue
2008
Change
2007
Change
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
Cost of service revenue
$
1,195
(39
)%
$
1,962
(31
)%
$
2,832
Percentage of service revenue
46
%
47
%
56
%
Cost of services revenue includes the salaries and related personnel costs of employees
delivering services revenue as well as third-party service agreements. Cost of services revenue
decreased by $767,000, or 39%, from the year ended October 31, 2007 to the year ended October 31,2008 and cost of services revenue decreased by $870,000, or 31%, from the year ended October 31,2006 to the year ended October 31, 2007 and was primarily attributable to reduced employee and
employee-related costs.
For the year ending October 31, 2009, we expect the dollar amount of our cost of services
revenue to be less than that incurred for the year ended October 31, 2008 and that cost of services
revenue as a percentage of services revenue will be consistent to that generated for the year ended
October 31, 2008.
Sales and Marketing
2008
Change
2007
Change
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
Sales and marketing expense
$
8,255
(15
)%
$
9,686
(20
)%
$
12,049
Percentage of total revenue
53
%
45
%
41
%
Sales and marketing expenses consist of the salaries, commissions and other personnel costs of
employees involved in the revenue generation process, as well as advertising and corporate
allocations. Sales and marketing expense decreased by $1,431,000, or 15%, from the year ended
October 31, 2007 to the year ended October 31, 2008 and $2,363,000, or 20%, from the year ended
October 31, 2006 to the year ended October 31, 2007. These decreases were primarily attributable
to lower commissions, lower travel expenses, reduced discretionary marketing spending and lower
co-operative advertising as a result of lower revenue. Included in sales and marketing expense
for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, was $184,000, $376,000 and $371,000,
respectively, for stock-based compensation.
For the year ending October 31, 2009, we anticipate that the dollar amount of sales and
marketing expense will decrease from the year ended October 31, 2008.
Research and development expenses consist of the salaries and benefits of software engineers,
consulting expenses and corporate allocations. Research and development expenses decreased by
$2,393,000, or 39%, from the year ended October 31, 2007 to the year ended October 31, 2008 and
$1,968,000, or 24%, from the year ended October 31, 2006 to the year ended October 31, 2007. These
decreases were primarily attributable to reduced employee and employee-related costs. Included
in research and development expense for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, was
$52,000, $201,000 and $140,000, respectively, for stock-based compensation.
For the year ending October 31, 2009, we anticipate that the dollar amount of research and
development expenses will decrease from the year ended October 31, 2008.
General and Administrative
2008
Change
2007
Change
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
General and administrative expense
$
3,657
(34
)%
$
5,527
(20
)%
$
6,928
Percentage of total revenue
23
%
26
%
24
%
General and administrative expenses consist of the salaries and benefits of finance, human
resources, and executive management and expenses for professional services such as legal and
accounting services and corporate allocations. General and administrative expense decreased by
$1,870,000, or 34%, from the year ended October 31, 2007 to the year ended October 31, 2008 and
$1,401,000, or 20%, from the year ended October 31, 2006 to the year ended October 31, 2007. These
decreases were primarily attributable to reduced personnel and personnel-related costs as a result
of a reduction in headcount. Included in general and administrative expense for the years ended
October 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, was $316,000, $1,002,000 and $974,000, respectively, for
stock-based compensation.
For the year ending October 31, 2009, we anticipate that the dollar amount of general and
administrative expenses will decrease from the year ended October 31, 2008.
Impairment of long-lived assets
2008
Change
2007
Change
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
Impairment of assets
$
276
na
$
—
na
$
—
Percentage of total revenue
1.8
%
0
%
0
%
During the year ended October 31, 2008, we recorded an asset impairment of $276,000 relating
to our property and equipment. This impairment was recorded due to the uncertainties surrounding
the Novell Litigation, and our ability to emerge from bankruptcy, including confirmation of our
plan of reorganization by the Bankruptcy Court.
Amortization of Intangibles
2008
Change
2007
Change
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
Amortization of intangibles
$
—
na
$
—
na
$
2,371
Percentage of total revenue
0
%
0
%
8
%
During the year ended October 31, 2006, we recorded $2,371,000 for the amortization of
intangible assets with finite lives. As of October 31, 2006, all intangible assets had been fully
amortized.
We account for our ownership interests in companies in which we own at least 20% and less than
50% using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, we record our portion of the
entities’ net income or net loss in our consolidated statements of operations. As of October 31,2008, the carrying value of our investment of $365,000 was for our 30% ownership in a Chinese
company.
During the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, we recorded a $17,000 net loss,
$108,000 net income, and $91,000 net income, respectively, representing our portion of the net
income or net loss in this entity.
Reorganization items
2008
Change
2007
Change
2006
(Dollars in thousands)
Reorganization items
$
1,773
153
%
$
700
na
$
—
Reorganization items for the years ended October 31, 2008 and 2007 are due to legal and
professional fees associated with our filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2007.
Other Income,(Expense) net
Other income, (expense) net, consisted of the following components for the years ended October31, 2008, 2007 and 2006:
2008
2007
2006
(In thousands)
Interest expense
$
(970
)
$
—
$
—
Interest income
135
441
720
Other income, net
381
67
39
Total other income (expense),net
$
(454
)
$
508
$
759
Interest expense for the year ended October 31, 2008 is due to the interest assessed in the
July 16, 2008 court order in the Novell Litigation as discussed in Recent Developments.
The decrease in interest income was primarily attributable to lower cash and cash equivalent
balances.
The increase in other income, net, of $314,000, for the year ended October 31, 2008 from the
year ended October 31, 2007 was primarily attributable to a net gain on the sale of intellectual
property.
Provision for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was
$286,000, $237,000, and $91,000, respectively. The provision for income taxes is primarily related
to earnings in foreign subsidiaries as well as from withholding taxes on revenue generated in
certain foreign locations.
The increases in the provision for income taxes for the year ended October 31, 2008 compared
to the year ended October 31, 2007 and for the year ended October 31, 2007 compared to the year
ended October 31, 2006 were primarily attributable to an increase in income taxes associated with
our foreign subsidiaries.
As of October 31, 2008, we had net operating loss carry-forwards for U.S. federal and state
income tax reporting purposes of approximately $181,570,000 that expire at various dates between
2021 and 2028. The Internal Revenue Code contains provisions under Section 382 which limit our
ability to utilize net operating losses in the event that we have experienced a more than 50%
change in ownership over a three-year period. Our current estimates indicate that due to ownership
changes which have occurred, approximately $130,736,000 of the net operating losses are currently
subject to an annual
limitation of $3,041,000, but may be further limited by additional ownership
changes which may occur in the future. As stated above, the net operating loss carry-forwards
expire between 2021 and 2028, allowing us to utilize approximately $60,820,000 of the limited net
operating loss carry-forwards over a 20-year period. The balance of the net operating loss
carry-forwards of approximately $50,834,000
is not currently subject to a limitation, but if ownership changes occur in the future, this
amount also may be subject to limitations under Section 382.
We had net deferred income tax assets, including net operating loss carry-forwards and other
temporary differences between book and tax deductions, totaling approximately $82,786,000 as of
October 31, 2008. A valuation allowance in the amount of $82,786,000 has been recorded as of
October 31, 2008 as a result of uncertainties regarding the ultimate realizability of any of the
net deferred income tax assets.
Quarterly Results of Operations
The following table sets forth certain unaudited quarterly statement of operations data for
the last eight quarters. This information has been derived from our unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements, which, in management’s opinion, have been prepared on the same
basis as the audited financial statements and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal
recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the information for the quarters
presented. This information should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial
statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the operating results
for any future period.
Factors that may affect quarterly results include:
•
the impact of the recent negative ruling in our litigation with Novell and our upcoming
trial with Novell and our Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing;
•
the interest level of solution providers in recommending UNIX business solutions to end
users as well as the changing business attitudes toward UNIX as a viable operating system
alternative to other competing systems, especially Linux;
•
the contingency fees we may pay to the Law Firms representing us in the SCO Litigation;
•
the level, magnitude and timing of SCOsource license revenue;
the amount of legal fees and related expenses incurred in connection with the SCO
Litigation;
•
the introduction, development, timing, competitive pricing and market acceptance of our
products and services and those of our competitors; and
•
changes in general economic conditions that could affect capital expenditures in the
UNIX market.
As a result of the factors listed above and elsewhere in the “Forward-Looking Statements and
Factors That May Affect Future Results and Financial Condition” and “Risk Factors” sections of this
Form 10-K, it is possible that in some future periods our results of operations may fall below
management’s expectations as well as the expectations of public market analysts and investors. If
revenue falls below management’s expectations in any quarter and we are unable to reduce expenses,
our operating results will be lower than expected.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
On September 14, 2007, The SCO Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, SCO Operations,
Inc. (the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of
Delaware (the “Bankruptcy Court”). The Debtors are operating their businesses as
“debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court. Our foreign
subsidiaries were not included in the filings and continue their business operations without
supervision from the Bankruptcy Court and are not subject to the requirements of the Bankruptcy
Code. We filed a plan of reorganization with the Bankruptcy Court on January 8, 2009. For a
further description of our bankruptcy filing, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Recent Developments, Bankruptcy Filing”.
We intend to maintain business operations throughout the reorganization process. Subject to
Bankruptcy Court approval, we will use our cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and subsequent
cash inflows to meet our working capital needs throughout the reorganization process.
Our cash and cash equivalents balance decreased from $5,554,000 as of October 31, 2007 to
$1,237,000 as of October 31, 2008. As of October 31, 2008, we also have $2,308,000 classified as
restricted cash, of which $1,554,000 is set aside to cover experts and other costs related to our
SCO Litigation and to cover any amounts required to be put into constructive trust under the Novell
judgment and $754,000 is for royalties payable to Novell for Novell’s retained binary royalty
stream. During the year ended October 31, 2008, we expended a significant amount of cash for
experts and other costs related to the SCO Litigation. Subject to approval by the Bankruptcy
Court, we intend to use the cash as of October 31, 2008 to pursue our SCO Litigation and to run our
UNIX business.
Our net cash used in operating activities during the year ended October 31, 2008 was
$4,276,000 and was attributable to a loss from operations of $6,157,000, payments for bankruptcy
and reorganization expenses of $1,968,000 offset in part, by non-cash items of $1,335,000 and
changes in operating assets and liabilities of $2,514,000. Our working capital decreased from
$6,445,000 as of October 31, 2007 to $2,273,000 as of October 31, 2008.
Our net cash used in operating activities during the year ended October 31, 2007 was
$2,546,000 and was attributable to a loss from operations of $6,505,000, payments for bankruptcy
and reorganization expenses of $584,000 offset in part, by non-cash items of $2,139,000 and changes
in operating assets and liabilities of $2,404,000. Our working capital decreased from $7,144,000
as of October 31, 2006 to $6,445,000 as of October 31, 2007.
Our net cash used in operating activities during the year ended October 31, 2006 was
$13,310,000 and was attributable to a net loss of $16,598,000, and changes in operating assets and
liabilities of $1,440,000, offset, in part, by non-cash items of $4,728,000. Our working capital
decreased from $8,669,000 as of October 31, 2005 to $7,144,000 as of October 31, 2006.
Our investing activities have historically consisted of equipment purchases and the purchase and
sale of available-for-sale marketable securities. During the year ended October 31, 2008, cash
used by
investing
activities was $42,000, which was primarily a result of purchases of equipment of
$157,000 partially offset by a dividend received from our minority investment interest in a Chinese
company.
During the year ended October 31, 2007, cash provided by investing activities was $2,159,000,
which was primarily a result of proceeds from the sale of available-for-sale marketable securities
of $2,249,000, offset, in part, by purchases of equipment of $90,000.
During the year ended October 31, 2006, cash provided by investing activities was $3,884,000,
which was primarily a result of sales, net of purchases, of available-for-sale securities of
$3,916,000 and a dividend received from our minority interest in a Chinese company of $308,000,
offset, in part, by the purchase of property and equipment of $340,000.
Our financing activities provided $22,000 of cash during the year ended October 31, 2008. The
source of cash from financing activities was the sale of common stock through our employee stock
purchase plan (“ESPP”).
Our financing activities provided $493,000 of cash during the year ended October 31, 2007.
The primary sources of cash were from the exercise of options to acquire common stock of $57,000
and proceeds of $436,000 received from the sale of common stock through our ESPP.
Our financing activities provided $10,425,000 of cash during the year ended October 31, 2006
and were comprised of proceeds, net of offering costs, of $9,809,000 from the sale of common stock
in a private placement, proceeds of $613,000 received from the sale of common stock through our
ESPP and proceeds of $35,000 from the exercise of options to acquire shares of our common stock,
offset, in part, by the repurchase of shares of our common stock made in connection with the
completion of our rescission offer of $32,000.
Our net accounts receivable balance decreased from $3,365,000 as of October 31, 2007 to
$2,801,000 as of October 31, 2008, primarily as a result of lower invoicing and revenue during the
three months ended October 31, 2008 as compared to the three months ended October 31, 2007. The
majority of our accounts receivable balance is current and our allowance for doubtful accounts
receivables was $94,000 as of October 31, 2008, which represented approximately 3% of our gross
accounts receivable balance. This allowance as a percentage of gross accounts receivable is
consistent with our experience in prior periods, and we expect this trend to continue. Our
write-offs of uncollectible accounts during the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were
not significant.
As described elsewhere in this Form 10-K, we are continuing to pay for expert, consulting and
other expenses relating to the SCO Litigation. These expenses have been material for the years
ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006. For the year ending October 31, 2009, we expect that these
expenses will decrease, but will continue to be material to our financial statements and cash
position.
In addition to the cash expenditures mentioned above, we must also pay one or more contingency
fees upon any amount we or our stockholders may receive as a result of a settlement, judgment, or a
sale of our Company. The contingency fee amounts payable to the Law Firms will be, subject to
certain credits and adjustments, as follows:
•
33 percent of any aggregate recovery amounts received up to $350,000,000;
•
plus 25 percent of any aggregate recovery amounts above $350,000,000 but less than or
equal to $700,000,000;
•
plus 20 percent of any aggregate recovery amounts in excess of $700,000,000.
The Engagement Agreement provides that, except for the compensation obligations specifically
described above, we will not be obligated to pay any legal fees, whether hourly, contingent or
otherwise, to the Law Firms, or any other law firms that may be engaged by the Law Firms, in
connection with the SCO Litigation through the end of the current litigation between us and IBM,
including any appeals.
We have entered into operating leases for our corporate offices located in the United States
and our international sales offices. We have commitments under these leases that extend through
the year ending October 31, 2011.
The following table summarizes our contractual operating lease obligations as of October 31,2008:
Less than
More than
Total
1 year
1-3 years
3-5 years
5 years
(Dollars in thousands)
Operating lease obligations
$
1,300
$
354
$
720
$
226
$
—
As of October 31, 2008, we did not have any long-term debt obligations, purchase obligations,
other long-term liabilities or material capital lease obligations.
Our ability to reduce costs to offset revenue declines in our UNIX business is limited because
of contractual commitments to maintain and support our existing UNIX customers. The decline in our
UNIX business may be accelerated if industry partners withdraw their support as a result of the SCO
Litigation or our Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. In addition, the SCO Litigation or our Chapter 11
bankruptcy filing may cause industry partners, developers and hardware and software vendors to
choose not to support or certify to our UNIX operating system products. This would lead to an
accelerated decline in our UNIX products and services revenue. If our UNIX products and services
revenue is less than expected, our liquidity will be adversely impacted.
In the event that cash required to fund operations and strategic initiatives exceeds our
current cash resources, we will be required to reduce costs and perhaps raise additional capital.
We may not be able to reduce costs in a manner that does not impair our ability to maintain our
UNIX business and pursue the SCO Litigation. We may not be able to raise capital for any number of
reasons including those listed under the section “Risk Factors”under Part I, Item 1A of this Form
10-K. Additional equity financing may not be available to us on favorable terms or not at all, and
may be dilutive to our existing stockholders. In addition, if our stock price declines, we may not
be able to access the public equity markets on acceptable terms, if at all. Our ability to effect
acquisitions for our common stock would also be impaired. The restructuring imposed by the
Bankruptcy Court may also adversely affect our ability to raise debt or equity capital.
On August 10, 2007, the federal judge overseeing our lawsuit with Novell ruled in favor of
Novell on several of the summary judgment motions that were before the Court. The effect of these
rulings was to significantly reduce or to eliminate certain of our claims in both the Novell and
IBM cases, and possibly others. The Court ruled that Novell was the owner of the UNIX and UnixWare
copyrights that existed at the time of the 1995 Asset Purchase Agreement and that Novell retained
broad rights to waive our contract claims against IBM. The Court ruled that we own the copyrights
to post 1995 derivatives and that we have certain other ownership rights in the UNIX technology.
We were directed to accept Novell’s waiver of our UNIX contract claims against IBM. In addition,
the Court determined that certain SCOsource licensing agreements included older SVRx licenses and
that we were possibly required to remit some portion of the proceeds to Novell.
On July 16, 2008, the Court entered its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order,
ruling that (1) the SCOsource agreements with Linux end-users were not SVRx licenses and therefore
Novell was not entitled to revenue from those agreements and that we had the authority to enter
into such agreements; (2) the 2003 SCOsource agreement with Microsoft contained an SVRx license
that was incidental to the UnixWare license in the agreement, and therefore we were authorized to
enter into the license and Novell was not entitled to revenue from the agreement; and (3) the 2003
SCOsource agreement with Sun was an unauthorized amendment of a prior UNIX buy out agreement, and
Novell was entitled to $2,547,817 of the revenue from the Sun agreement as attributable to that
amendment. The Court directed Novell to file a brief identifying the amount of prejudgment interest
it sought based on this award. On August 29, 2008, Novell filed an Unopposed Submission Regarding
Prejudgment Interest, informing the Court that the parties had
agreed that Novell was entitled to $918,122 in prejudgment interest through that date, plus
$489 per day until the entry of final judgment, based on the Court’s $2,547,817 award.
In its ruling of July 16, 2008, the Court also directed Novell to file a proposed Final
Judgment consistent with the Court’s trial and summary judgment orders. In its proposed submission
to the Court in compliance with this order, Novell took the position that final judgment could not
be entered because certain of our claims are stayed pending arbitration and the imposition of a
constructive trust remained an open question in the Bankruptcy Court. Subsequently, in order to
expedite the entry of final judgment, we sought to resolve these issues with Novell and agreed to
an extension of Novell’s deadline for filing its submission. Based on our tracing of Sun’s
payments under its 2003 SCOsource agreement, Novell agreed that only $625,487 of our current assets
were traceable as trust funds. We also proposed dismissing our stayed claims with prejudice on the
basis of the Court’s ruling that Novell owns the pre-APA UNIX copyrights in the Court’s summary
judgment order of August 10, 2007. On August 29, 2008, in its Submission Regarding the Entry of
Final Judgment, Novell informed the Court of the parties’ agreement as to the trust amount, but
Novell stood by its position that final judgment could not be entered in light of the stayed
claims. On September 15, 2008, we filed papers arguing for the entry of final judgment.
On November 20, 2008, after further negotiations between the parties, the Court entered a
Final Judgment, incorporating the material rulings from the August 10, 2007 and July 16, 2008
rulings as explained above. On November 25, 2008, we filed a notice of appeal of that Final
Judgment, including the Court’s summary judgment order of August 10, 2007. The appeal before the
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit will proceed over the next several months with
briefing and then argument before the Court. On January 23, 2009, we filed an unopposed motion for
an expedited appeal. A decision on the appeal could be forthcoming in approximately the next ten
to fourteen months, unless we are successful in our motion that the Court handle the appeal on an
expedited basis.
As a result of the Court’s judgment against us, as of October 31, 2008, we have accrued
$3,518,000 for this contingent liability and related interest. However, we, continue to contest
this liability. We believe that this judgment is in error, and that we have strong grounds to have
the adverse rulings embodied in the Final Judgment overturned on appeal. However, in the event that
our assets are further depleted or frozen, we may not be in a financial position to appeal those
rulings.
Our management and Board of Directors determined that filing for relief under Chapter 11 of
the United States Bankruptcy Code was appropriate and necessary. On January 8, 2009, we filed our
Amended Reorganization Plan and Disclosure Statement with the Bankruptcy Court. Under the proposed
plan, we intend to hold an open auction to sell certain assets including our mobility business
assets and our OpenServer operating system assets and business. Through this sale, we hope to
obtain enough consideration to pay our creditors and continue our operations as set forth in the
plan. Confirmation of our Amended Reorganization Plan is subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy
Court, among other things. As a result of both the Court’s August 10, 2007 and July 16, 2008
rulings and the uncertainties surrounding the confirmation of our Amended Reorganization Plan,
among other matters, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
In connection with these developments, management recorded an impairment of the carrying value of
our long-lived assets of $276,000 during the year ended October 31, 2008.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Interpretation No. 48,
“Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,”or FIN No. 48. FIN No. 48 prescribes a recognition
threshold and measurement process for recording in the financial statements uncertain tax positions
taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Additionally, FIN No. 48 provides guidance on the
de-recognition, classification, accounting in interim periods and disclosure requirements for
uncertain tax positions. The provisions of FIN No. 48 became effective for us beginning November1, 2007. FIN 48 requires additional annual disclosures and was adopted by the Company on November1, 2007.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 (SFAS No.157), Fair Value Measurements. SFAS
No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted
accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157
applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the
Board having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the
relevant measurement attribute. Accordingly, SFAS No. 157 does not require any new fair value
measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of SFAS
No. 157 is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position
or liquidity.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans,”an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and
132(R). SFAS No. 158 requires recognition of the over funded or under funded status of defined
benefit pension and other postretirement plans as an asset or liability in the balance sheet and
changes in that funded status to be recognized in comprehensive loss in the year in which the
changes occur. SFAS No. 158 also requires measurement of the funded status of a plan as of the
date of the balance sheet. The recognition provisions of SFAS No. 158 are effective for the fiscal
year beginning November 1, 2006, while the measurement date provisions are effective for the fiscal
year beginning November 1, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 158 is not expected to have a material
impact on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets
and Financial Liabilities — including an amendment of FAS 115.”SFAS No. 159 allows companies to
choose, at specified election dates, to measure eligible financial assets and liabilities at fair
value that are not otherwise required to be measured at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses
shall be reported on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each
subsequent reporting date. SFAS No. 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements.
SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and will be applied
prospectively. The adoption of SFAS No. 159 is not expected to have a material impact on our
results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations.”SFAS No. 141R
amends SFAS No. 141 and provides revised guidance for recognizing and measuring identifiable assets
and goodwill acquired, liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree. It
also provides disclosure requirements to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the
nature and financial effects of the business combination. It is effective for fiscal years
beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and will be applied prospectively. The adoption of SFAS No.
141R is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or
liquidity.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated
Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51.”SFAS No. 160 requires that ownership interests
in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent, and the amount of consolidated net income,
be clearly identified, labeled, and presented in the consolidated financial statements. It also
requires that once a subsidiary is de-consolidated, any retained noncontrolling equity investment
in the former subsidiary be initially measured at fair value. Sufficient disclosures are required
to clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the
noncontrolling owners. It is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and
requires retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority
interests. All other requirements shall be applied prospectively. The adoption of SFAS No. 160 is
not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position or
liquidity.
In November 2007, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 109 (SAB No. 109). SAB No. 109
expresses the staff’s views regarding written loan commitments that are accounted for at fair value
through earnings under generally accepted accounting principles. In December 2007, the SEC issued
Staff Accounting Bulleting 110 (SAB No. 110). SAB No. 110 expresses the staff’s view regarding the
use of the “simplified” method, as discussed in Staff Accounting Bulletin 107, in developing an
estimate of the expected term of “plain vanilla” share options in accordance with SFAS No. 123R,
“Accounting for Share Based Payments”. SAB No. 109 and SAB No. 110 did not have a material impact
on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS No. 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of
Intangible Assets”, (FSP 142-3). FSP 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in
developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized
intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. FSP 142-3 is effective
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 (our 2010 fiscal year). The adoption of FSP FAS
No. 142-3 is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations, financial
position or liquidity.
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles”, (SFAS No. 162), which becomes effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) amendments to US Auditing Standards (AU) Section
411, The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
SFAS No. 162 identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the
principles to be used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that
are presented in conformity with US GAAP. SFAS No. 162 is not expected to have an impact on the
Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
In June 2008, the FASB ratified FSP No. EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted
in Share-Based Payment Transactions are Participating Securities”(FSP No. EITF 03-6-1), which
addresses whether instruments granted in share-based payment awards are participating securities
prior to vesting and, therefore, must be included in the earnings allocation in calculating
earnings per share under the two-class method described in SFAS No. 128, “Earnings per Share”(SFAS
No. 128). FSP No. EITF 03-6-1 requires that unvested share-based payment awards that contain
non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend-equivalents be treated as participating securities
in calculating earnings per share. FSP No. EITF 03-6-1 is effective for financial statements issued
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 (our 2010 fiscal year), and interim periods
within those fiscal years, and shall be applied retrospectively to all prior periods. The Company
is currently evaluating the impact of adopting FSP No. EITF 03-6-1 on its consolidated results of
operations.
Forward-Looking Statements and Factors That May Affect Future Results and Financial Condition
With the exception of historical facts, the statements contained in Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations are “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which reflect our
current expectations and beliefs regarding our future results of operations, performance and
achievements. The section entitled “Business” above in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-K also
includes forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and
are based upon assumptions and beliefs that may or may not materialize. These forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning:
•
Our intention to continue to pursue our appeal of the adverse rulings in the Court’s
August 10, 2007 and July 16, 2008 orders in the Novell Litigation, and our belief
concerning the strength of our appeal;
•
Our intention to maintain business operations throughout the reorganization process;
•
Our intention to use our cash, restricted cash and subsequent cash inflows to meet our
working capital needs throughout the reorganization process;
•
Our intention to continue operating, to have our plan of reorganization confirmed with
the Bankruptcy Court and to pursue the strategy described in the plan;
•
Our intention to vigorously defend legal claims and counterclaims brought against us by
others;
•
Our belief that our allowance for doubtful accounts receivable is adequate and that
write-offs of uncollectible accounts will not materially exceed that allowance;
•
The strength of our intellectual property rights and contractual claims regarding UNIX
generally and specifically the strength of our claim that unauthorized UNIX source code
and derivatives of UNIX source code are prevalent in Linux;
•
Our belief that competition from Linux will continue during the year ending October 31,2009 and future periods;
Our expectation that we will continue to be unable to predict the amount and timing of
SCOsource revenue, and when generated, the revenue will be sporadic and dependent on the
outcome of the SCO Litigation;
•
Our expectation that future services revenue will depend in part on our ability to
generate UNIX products revenue from new customers as well as the renewal of annual support
and services agreements from existing UNIX customers;
•
Our expectation that for the year ending October 31, 2009, our total UNIX revenue will
decline from UNIX revenue generated in the year ended October 31, 2008 as a result of
continued competition and negative publicity;
•
Our intention to use cash to run our UNIX business and pursue the SCO Litigation;
•
Our intention to continue to pay for expert, consulting and other expenses through the
conclusion of our litigation with IBM, and our expectation that although these expenses
are expected to decrease for the year ending October 31, 2009, as compared to the year
ended October 31, 2008, that they will continue to be material to our financial
statements;
•
Our intention to continue our UNIX development and marketing efforts while at the same
time developing and marketing our mobility products and services;
•
Our belief that the market for mobility products and services is poised for rapid
growth;
•
Our belief that the success of our mobility products and services offerings will
depend, in part, on the level of commitment and resources we are able to devote to these
offerings, the partnerships we are able to establish, our ability to attract and retain
new customers and partners, and the strength of our mobility offerings;
•
Our operating strategy to continue to support our existing users of our UNIX operating
system products and protect our intellectual property rights;
•
Our belief that our OpenServer and UnixWare products will continue to provide a revenue
stream in the year ending October 31, 2009, and our belief that revenue from such products
will continue to decline;
•
Our expectation that our sales channel should continue to provide reliable UNIX
operating systems for small-to-medium business customers;
•
Our expectation that hardware and software vendors, as well as software developers,
will continue to turn their certification and application development efforts toward Linux
and may elect not to continue to support or certify to our UNIX operating system products;
•
Our intention to continue to pursue the SCO Litigation and run our UNIX business,
subject to Bankruptcy Court approval;
•
Our expectation that maintaining our strategic alliances with solution providers during
the year ending October 31, 2009 will be critical to the success of our UNIX business;
•
Our intention to keep our relationships with key partners in certain vertical markets;
•
Our belief that our bad debts and our allowance for doubtful accounts receivable will
remain consistent with our prior experience;
•
Our expectation that future services revenue will depend, in part, on our ability to
generate UNIX products revenue from new customers as well as the renewal of annual support
and services agreements from existing UNIX customers;
•
Our belief that a key to our future success will be our ability to provide additional
products and services to our reseller channel and to communicate our product and corporate
strategy to these resellers;
•
Our expectation that enhancements to our UNIX software products will not result in
significant revenue increases in the short-term;
•
Our belief that a movement in interest rates, either up or down of up to 2%, would not
have a material adverse impact on our cash;
•
Our expectation for the year ending October 31, 2009 that the dollar amount of expert,
consulting and other expenses relating to our litigation with IBM will decrease, although
it will continue to be material to our financial statements and cash position;
•
Our expectation for the year ending October 31, 2009 that the dollar amount of our cost
of products revenue will be lower than the dollar amount of our cost of products revenue
during the
year ended October 31, 2008 and the percentage of products revenue to be consistent with
the percentage achieved during the year ended October 31, 2008;
•
Our expectation for the year ending October 31, 2009 that the dollar amount of our cost
of SCOsource revenue will be lower than for the year ended October 31, 2008, exclusive of
any potential contingency payments;
•
Our expectation for the year ending October 31, 2009 that the dollar amount of our cost
of services revenue will be less than the dollar amount of our cost of services revenue
incurred for the year ended October 31, 2008 and that the cost of services revenue as a
percentage of revenue will be consistent to that generated for the year ended October 31,2008;
•
Our expectation for the year ending October 31, 2009 that the dollar amount of our
sales and marketing expenses will decrease from the year ended October 31, 2008;
•
Our expectation for the year ending October 31, 2009 that the dollar amount of our
research and development expenses will decrease from the year ended October 31, 2008;
•
Our expectation for the year ending October 31, 2009 that the dollar amount of our
general and administrative expenses will decrease from the year ended October 31, 2008;
and
•
Our belief that certain legal actions to which we are a party will not have a material
adverse effect on us.
We wish to caution readers that our operating results are subject to various risks and
uncertainties that could cause our actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those
discussed or anticipated, including the resolution of the SCO Litigation, competition from other
operating systems, particularly Linux, the amount and timing of SCOsource revenue, our ability to
enhance our UNIX operating systems and maintain our UNIX business, the outcomes and developments in
our reorganization process under Chapter 11, the impact of the Chapter 11 proceedings on our other
pending litigation, our cash balances and available cash, continued competitive pressure on our
operating system products, which could impact our results of operations, adverse developments in
and increased or unforeseen legal costs related to the Company’s litigation, the inability to
devote sufficient resources to the development and marketing of our products, including the Me Inc.
mobile services and development platform, and the possibility that customers and companies with
whom we have formed partnerships will decide to terminate or reduce their relationships with us,
and the factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A-Risk Factors. We also wish to advise readers not to
place any undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this report, which reflect
our beliefs and expectations only as of the date of this report. We assume no obligation to update
or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances or any changes in
our beliefs or expectations, other than as required by law.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Foreign Currency Risk. We have foreign offices and operations in Europe and Asia. As a
result, a portion of our revenue is derived from sales to customers outside the United States. Our
international revenue is primarily denominated in U.S. dollars, Euros and United Kingdom Pounds.
Most of the operating expenses related to our foreign-based operations are denominated in foreign
currencies and therefore operating results are affected by changes in the U.S. dollar exchange rate
in relation to foreign currencies such as the Euro, among others. If the U.S. dollar weakens
compared to the Euro and other currencies, our operating expenses for foreign operations will be
higher when translated back into U.S. dollars. Our revenue can also be affected by general
economic conditions in the United States, Europe and other international markets. Our results of
operations may be affected in the short term by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
Interest Rate Risk. The primary objective of our cash management strategy is to invest
available funds in a manner that assures safety and liquidity and maximizes yield within such
constraints. We believe that a hypothetical movement in interest rates, either up or down of up to
2%, would not have a material adverse impact on our cash and cash equivalents. We do not borrow
money for short-term investment purposes.
Investment Risk. We have historically invested in equity instruments of privately held and
public companies in the technology industry for business and strategic purposes. Investments are
accounted for under the cost method if our ownership is less than 20 percent and we are not able to
exercise influence
over operations. Our investment policy is to regularly review the assumptions and operating
performance of these companies and to record impairment losses when events and circumstances
indicate that these investments may be impaired. As of October 31, 2008, we did not hold any cost
method investments. As of October 31, 2008, the carrying value of our equity method investment of
$365,000 was for our 30% ownership in a Chinese company.
The stock market in general, and the market for shares of technology companies in particular,
has experienced price fluctuations. In addition, factors such as new product introductions by our
competitors, developments in the SCO Litigation, or development in our reorganization process under
Chapter 11 may have a significant impact on the market price of our common stock. Furthermore,
quarter-to-quarter fluctuations in our results of operations may have a significant impact on the
market price of our common stock. These conditions could cause the price of our common stock to
fluctuate substantially over short periods of time.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Board of Directors and Stockholders of
The SCO Group, Inc.:
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of The SCO Group, Inc. (Debtor-in-Possession)
and subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) as of October 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related
consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity (deficit) and
cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended October 31, 2008. Our audits also
included the financial statement schedule as of and for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and
2006 listed in the Index at Item 8. These financial statements and the financial statement
schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and the 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 audits to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes considerations 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. An audit
also includes 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, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material
respects, the consolidated financial position of The SCO Group, Inc. (Debtor-in-Possession) and
subsidiaries as of October 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended October 31, 2008 in conformity with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the 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.
As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, The SCO Group, Inc. and one of its wholly
owned subsidiaries have filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy
Code. The accompanying financial statements do not purport to reflect or provide for the
consequences of the bankruptcy proceedings. In particular, the accompanying financial statements do
not purport to show (a) as to assets, their realizable value on a liquidation basis or their
availability to satisfy liabilities; (b) as to prepetition liabilities, the amounts that may be
allowed for claims or contingencies, or the status and priority thereof; (c) as to stockholder
accounts, the effect of any changes that may be made in the capitalization of The SCO Group, Inc.
and subsidiaries; or (d) as to operations, the effect of any changes that may be made in their
business.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will
continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company is a
debtor-in-possession under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, has experienced
significant and continuing net losses, and is faced with substantial contingent liabilities as a
result of certain adverse legal rulings. These conditions, among others, raise substantial doubt
about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans regarding those matters also
are described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result
from the outcome of these uncertainties.
THE SCO GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (DEBTORS-IN-POSSESSION)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(1) DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS AND GOING CONCERN
The Company was originally incorporated as Caldera Systems, Inc. (“Caldera Systems”), a Utah
corporation, on August 21, 1998, and reincorporated as a Delaware corporation on March 6, 2000. In
March 2000, Caldera Systems completed an initial public offering of its common stock.
On May 7, 2001, Caldera International, Inc. (“Caldera”) was formed as a holding company to own
Caldera Systems and to acquire substantially all of the assets, liabilities and operations of the
server and professional services groups of The Santa Cruz Operation, which changed its name to
Tarantella, Inc. and was subsequently acquired by Sun Microsystems, Inc. (“Sun”). The Santa Cruz
Operation developed and marketed server software related to networked business computing and was
one of the leading providers of UNIX server operating systems. In addition, these operations
provided professional services related to implementing and maintaining UNIX system software
products. The acquisition provided Caldera with international offices and a distribution channel
with resellers throughout the world. Subsequent to this acquisition, the Company has primarily
sold UNIX-based products and services.
On May 16, 2003, Caldera’s stockholders approved an amendment to Caldera’s certificate of
incorporation that changed Caldera’s name to The SCO Group, Inc. (the “Company”).
The Company’s business focuses on marketing reliable, cost-effective UNIX software products
and related services for the small-to-medium sized business market, including replicated site
franchises of Fortune 1000 companies. In 2003, the Company established its SCOsource business to
protect and defend its intellectual property surrounding the UNIX operating system which it
acquired from The Santa Cruz Operation.
The Company incurred a net loss of $8,687,000 for the year ended October 31, 2008 and during
that same year used cash of $4,276,000 in its operating activities. A significant portion of the
net loss and the cash used in operating activities resulted from the Company operating under
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. During the year ended October 31, 2008, the Company incurred
expenses of $1,773,000 and made cash payments of $1,968,000 in its effort to reorganize under
Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Another significant portion of the net loss and cash used in operating
activities was associated with the Company protecting and defending its intellectual property
rights. The Company has an accumulated deficit of $267,053,000 as of October 31, 2008 and minimal
working capital of $2,355,000. As of October 31, 2008, the Company had a total of $1,237,000 in
cash and cash equivalents and $2,308,000 in restricted cash, of which $1,554,000 is designated to
pay for experts, consultants and other expenses in the SCO Litigation and to cover any amounts
required to be placed in constructive trust under the Novell judgment. The remaining $754,000 of
restricted cash is earmarked to pay Novell, Inc. for its retained binary royalty stream.
Novell, Inc. Ruling.
On August 10, 2007, the federal judge overseeing the Company’s lawsuit with Novell, Inc.
(“Novell”) ruled in favor of Novell on several of the summary judgment motions that were before the
United States District Court in Utah (the “Court”). The effect of these rulings was to
significantly reduce or to eliminate certain of the Company’s claims in both the Novell case
(“Novell Litigation”) and the IBM case, and possibly others (collectively, the “SCO Litigation”).
The Court ruled that Novell was the owner of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights that existed at the
time of the 1995 Asset Purchase Agreement between Novell and The Santa Cruz Operation (the “APA”),
and that Novell retained broad rights to waive the Company’s contract claims against IBM. The Court
ruled that the Company owns the copyrights to post-APA UnixWare code and derivatives and that it
has certain other ownership rights in the UNIX technology. The Company was directed to accept
Novell’s waiver of its UNIX contract claims against IBM. In addition, the Court determined that
certain SCOsource licensing agreements that SCO executed in fiscal year 2003 and thereafter
included older SVRx licenses and that SCO was possibly required
to remit some portion of the proceeds to Novell. Over the Company’s objection, a bench trial was
set to begin on September 17, 2007, and the federal judge was to determine what portion, if any, of
the proceeds of the SCOsource agreements is attributable to such SVRx licenses and should be
remitted to Novell, as well as whether SCO had authority to enter into such SVRx licenses. Based on
Novell’s allegations, the potential payment to Novell for those
SVRx licenses ranged from a de
minimis amount to in excess of $30,000,000, the latter amount being the amount claimed by Novell,
plus interest.
The trial of these issues, however, was automatically stayed as a result of the Company’s
filing a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the
United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on September 14, 2007. On October 4,2007, Novell filed a Motion for Relief from Automatic Stay. On November 27, 2007, the Bankruptcy
Court modified the automatic stay to permit Novell to pursue the trial scheduled in the Court on
the allocation of proceeds from the SCOsource agreements and the question of the Company’s alleged
lack of authority to enter into them, but the Bankruptcy Court retained jurisdiction to determine
whether to impose a constructive trust on any amounts found to be payable to Novell. The Bankruptcy
Court also ruled that the automatic stay applies to the SuSE arbitration proceeding pending in
Europe. Upon the modification of the automatic stay, the Court scheduled a four-day trial on those
matters for which the Bankruptcy Court modified the automatic stay, which started on April 29, 2008
and concluded on May 2, 2008.
Prior to the commencement of the four-day trial, Novell conceded that it would not be making a
claim to a portion of the fees paid to the Company by Microsoft in 2003 and Novell therefore
reduced the principal amount of its claim to $19,979,561. After the trial and arguments, the Court
took all matters under advisement and stated that it would attempt to issue a ruling without undue
delay.
On July 16, 2008, the Court entered its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order,
ruling that (1) the SCOsource agreements with Linux end-users were not SVRx licenses and therefore
Novell was not entitled to revenue from those agreements and that SCO had the authority to enter
into such agreements; (2) the 2003 SCOsource agreement with Microsoft contained an SVRx license
that was incidental to the UnixWare license in the agreement, and therefore the Company was
authorized to enter into the license and Novell was not entitled to revenue from the agreement; and
(3) the 2003 SCOsource agreement with Sun was an unauthorized amendment of a prior UNIX buy out
agreement, and Novell was entitled to $2,547,817 of the revenue from the Sun agreement as
attributable to that amendment. The Court directed Novell to file a brief identifying the amount of
prejudgment interest it sought based on this award. On August 29, 2008, Novell filed an Unopposed
Submission Regarding Prejudgment Interest, informing the Court that the parties had agreed that
Novell was entitled to $918,122 in prejudgment interest through that date, plus $489 per day until
the entry of final judgment, based on the Court’s $2,547,817 award.
In its ruling of July 16, 2008, the Court also directed Novell to file a proposed Final
Judgment consistent with the Court’s trial and summary judgment orders. In its proposed submission
to the Court in compliance with this order, Novell took the position that final judgment could not
be entered because certain of SCO claims are stayed pending arbitration and the imposition of a
constructive trust remained an open question in the Bankruptcy Court. Subsequently, in order to
expedite the entry of final judgment, the Company sought to resolve these issues with Novell and
agreed to an extension of Novell’s deadline for filing its submission. Based on the Company’s
tracing of Sun’s payments under its 2003 SCOsource agreement, Novell agreed that only $625,487 of
SCO’s current assets were traceable as trust funds. SCO also proposed dismissing its stayed claims
with prejudice on the basis of the Court’s ruling that Novell owns the pre-APA UNIX copyrights in
the Court’s summary judgment order of August 10, 2007. On August 29, 2008, in its Submission
Regarding the Entry of Final Judgment, Novell informed the Court of the parties’ agreement as to
the trust amount, but Novell stood by its position that final judgment could not be entered in
light of the stayed claims. On September 15, 2008, the Company filed papers arguing for the entry
of final judgment.
On November 20, 2008, after further negotiations between the parties, the Court entered a
Final Judgment, incorporating the material rulings from the August 10, 2007 and July 16, 2008
rulings as explained above. On November 25, 2008, the Company filed a notice of appeal of that
Final Judgment, including adverse rulings in the Court’s summary judgment motion of August 10,2007. The appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit will proceed over
the next several months with briefing and then argument before the Court. On January 23, 2009, the
Company filed an unopposed motion for an expedited appeal. A decision on the appeal could
be forthcoming in approximately the next ten to fourteen months, unless the Company is successful
in its motion that the Court handle the appeal on an expedited basis.
As a result of the Court’s judgment against the Company, as of October 31, 2008, the Company
has accrued $3,518,000 for this contingent liability and related interest. However, the Company
continues to contest
this liability. The Company believes that this order is in error, and that
SCO has strong grounds to have the adverse rulings embodied in the Final Judgment overturned on
appeal. However, in the event that the Company’s assets are further depleted or frozen, the Company
may not be in a financial position to appeal those rulings.
The Company’s management and board of directors determined that filing for relief under
Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code on September 14, 2007 was appropriate and
necessary.
Bankruptcy Filing
On September 14, 2007, The SCO Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, SCO Operations,
Inc. (collectively, the “Debtors”), filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the
United States Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Debtors’
Chapter 11 cases are being jointly administered under Case No. 07-11337(KG). The Debtors continue
to exercise control over their assets and operate their businesses as “debtors-in-possession” under
the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the
Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries were not
included in the filings. The Company’s foreign subsidiaries, as non-debtors, are not subject to the
requirements of the Bankruptcy Code and are not subject to Bankruptcy Court supervision.
On September 18, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court granted the Debtors’ motions to maintain their
existing bank accounts and cash management systems, to pay pre-bankruptcy wage-related items, to
establish procedures relating to utility providers and to employ temporary employees.
As a result of the Chapter 11 filings, realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities
are subject to uncertainty. While operating as debtors-in-possession under the protection of
Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Debtors may sell or otherwise dispose of assets and
liquidate or settle liabilities for amounts other than those reflected in the consolidated
financial statements, in the ordinary course of business, or, if outside the ordinary course of
business, subject to Bankruptcy Court approval.
On February 13, 2008, the Company entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) with
Stephen Norris Capital Partners, LLC (“SNCP”), a Delaware limited liability company, whereby SNCP
agreed to provide financing to fund the Company’s plan of reorganization filed on February 29,2008. On the same day, the Debtors filed a disclosure statement in connection with the plan of
reorganization, under the terms contemplated by the MOU.
On February 29, 2008, the Debtors filed their joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization (the
“Plan”) and Disclosure Statement in Connection with the Plan (the “Disclosure Statement”). A
hearing to approve the adequacy of the Disclosure Statement was scheduled before the Bankruptcy
Court on April 2, 2008. The April 2, 2008 hearing proceeded as a status conference regarding the
Debtors’ progress towards a new MOU with SNCP. Therefore, the Debtors indicated that they were not
presently seeking approval of the adequacy of the Disclosure Statement, which would need to be
amended to reflect the changes to the MOU.
On May 12, 2008, the Debtors filed a motion seeking an extension of their exclusive periods to
submit and solicit acceptances of an amended or new plan of reorganization to August 11 and October13, 2008, respectively. A hearing to consider that motion was scheduled for June 17, 2008. The
Bankruptcy Court granted the motion on June 17, 2008. The Debtors filed another motion for an
extension of their exclusive periods to submit and solicit acceptances of a plan of reorganization
to a date 45 and 105 days, respectively, following an entry of a final judgment in the Novell
Litigation. The hearing on that motion was conducted on September 16, 2008, at which time the
Bankruptcy Court granted the motion for an extension of their exclusive periods to submit and
solicit acceptance of a plan of reorganization to December 31, 2008.
On January 8, 2009, the Debtors filed their Amended Reorganization Plan and Disclosure
statement. Under the proposed plan, the Debtors intend to hold an open auction to sell certain
assets of the Company including its mobility business assets and its OpenServer operating system
assets and business. Through this sale, the Debtors
hope to obtain enough consideration to pay their creditors and continue their operations as set
forth in the plan. In the event that the asset sale does not generate enough cash to meet the
aforementioned objectives, the Company will scale back its operations and costs, and initiate other
strategies to implement the plan of reorganization. In the event that certain SCO assets are not
sold, SCO will continue to sell and support its UNIX and mobility businesses and will also focus on
the following key provisions: (a) an enhanced pricing and discount strategy, (b) an updated
“True-up” licensing program with current customers, (c) reducing overall operating costs, (d)
delivering SCO UNIX Virtual product lines for VMware and Hyper-V to allow SCO legacy applications
to run on modern hardware; and (e) shipping FCmobilelife and FCtasks for the iPhone with a new
pricing structure
Under the priority scheme established by the Bankruptcy Code, unless creditors agree
otherwise, post-petition liabilities and prepetition liabilities must be satisfied in full before
stockholders are entitled to receive any distribution or retain any property under a plan of
reorganization. The ultimate recovery to creditors and/or stockholders, if any, will not be
determined until confirmation of a plan or plans of reorganization. No assurance can be given as to
what values, if any, will be ascribed in the Chapter 11 cases to each of these constituencies or
what types or amounts of distributions, if any, they would receive, or as to the timing of such
distributions, if any. A plan of reorganization could result in holders of the Company’s stock
receiving no distribution on account of their interests and cancellation of their existing stock.
If certain requirements of the Bankruptcy Code are met, a plan of reorganization can be confirmed
notwithstanding its rejection by the class comprising the interests of our equity security holders.
If the Debtors’ plan is not confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court, it is unclear whether the
Company would be able to reorganize its businesses and what, if anything, holders of claims against
the Company would ultimately receive with respect to their claims. If an alternative reorganization
could not be agreed upon, it is possible that the Debtors’ bankruptcy cases could be converted to a
liquidation under Chapter 7 and the Company would have to liquidate its assets, in which case it is
likely that holders of claims would receive substantially less favorable treatment than they would
receive if we were to emerge as a viable, reorganized entity, and stockholders would likely receive
nothing from the liquidation.
As a result of both the Court’s August 10, 2007 and July 16, 2008 rulings in the Novell
litigation and the uncertainties surrounding the confirmation of the Debtors’ Amended
Reorganization Plan, among other matters, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to
continue as a going concern. In connection with these developments, management recorded an
impairment of the carrying value of the Company’s long-lived assets of $276,000 in the year ended
October 31, 2008.
Going Concern
The Debtors are operating pursuant to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and continuation of
the Company as a going concern is contingent upon, among other things, the Debtors’ ability (i) to
construct and obtain confirmation of a plan of reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code; (ii) to
reduce payroll and benefits costs and liabilities under the bankruptcy process; (iii) to achieve
profitability; (iv) to achieve sufficient cash flows from operations; and (v) to obtain financing
sources to meet the Company’s future liquidity needs. The negative operating trends the Company is
experiencing as well as the aforementioned judgment in favor of Novell create substantial doubt as
to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial
statements do not reflect any adjustments relating to the recoverability of assets and the
classification of liabilities that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties. In
addition, the acceptance by the Bankruptcy Court of a plan of reorganization could materially
change the amounts and classifications reported in the consolidated financial statements. The
consolidated financial statements do not give effect to any adjustments to the carrying value of
assets or amounts of liabilities that might be necessary as a consequence of confirmation of a plan
or reorganization.
(2) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. This
presentation contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the
ordinary course of business. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements do
not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability of
assets and the classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable
to continue as a going concern.
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement of Position 90-7, Financial
Reporting by Entities in Reorganization under Bankruptcy Code (“SOP 90-7”), which is applicable to
companies under Chapter
11 of the Bankruptcy Code, generally does not change the manner in which
financial statements are prepared. It does, however, require among other disclosures that the
financial statements for periods subsequent to the filing of the Chapter 11 petition distinguish
transactions and events that are directly associated with the reorganization from the ongoing
operations of the business. Revenues, expenses, realized gains and losses, and provisions for
losses that can be directly associated with the reorganization and restructuring of the business
must be reported separately as reorganization items in the statements of operations. The balance
sheets must distinguish prepetition liabilities subject to compromise from both those prepetition
liabilities that are not subject to compromise and from post-petition liabilities. Liabilities
that may be affected by a plan of reorganization must be reported at the amounts expected to be
allowed, even if they may be settled for lesser amounts. In addition, reorganization items must be
disclosed separately in the statements of cash flows.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the
financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Key estimates in the accompanying
consolidated financial statements include, among others, revenue recognition, allowances for
doubtful accounts receivable, useful lives and impairment of long-lived assets, litigation
reserves, and valuation allowances against deferred income tax assets.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned
operating subsidiaries after all inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.
The carrying amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for cash
and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair values because of
the immediate or short-term maturities of these financial instruments. The fair values of
available-for-sale marketable securities are determined using quoted market prices for these
securities.
Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is the local foreign currency.
All assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at
the exchange rate prevailing on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at
average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Translation adjustments resulting from
translation of the subsidiaries’ accounts are recorded in accumulated other
comprehensive income. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included
as a component of other income in the consolidated statements of operations.
The Company considers all investments purchased with original maturities of three or fewer
months to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents were $0 and $1,926,000 as of October 31, 2008 and
2007, respectively. Cash was $1,237,000 and $3,628,000 as of October 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively. In October 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 temporarily
increased the FDIC deposit insurance from $100,000 to $250,000 per depositor through December 31,2009. The Company has $250,000 of cash that is federally insured. All remaining amounts of cash
as well as restricted cash exceed federally insured limits. To date, the Company has not
experienced a material loss or lack of access to its invested cash and cash equivalents. However,
no assurance can be provided that access to the Company’s invested cash and cash equivalents will
not be impacted by adverse economic conditions in the financial markets.
Restricted Cash and Payable to Novell, Inc.
Pursuant to the 1995 Asset Purchase Agreement and the Company’s acquisition of assets and
operations of The Santa Cruz Operation, the Company acts as an administrative agent in the
collection of royalty payments from a limited number of pre-existing Novell customers who continue
to deploy certain SVRx technology. Under the agency agreement, the Company collects payments from
such customers, receives 5% as an administrative fee and remits the remaining 95% to Novell on a
routine basis. The Company records the 5% administrative fee as revenue in its consolidated
statements of operations. The accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of October 31, 2008 and
2007 reflect amounts collected related to this agency agreement, but not yet remitted to Novell of
$754,000 and $1,266,000, respectively, as restricted cash and payable to Novell.
Restricted cash includes $1,554,000 set aside to cover experts and other costs related to the
Company’s SCO Litigation and to cover any amounts required to be put into constructive trust under
the Novell judgment.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable
The Company offers credit terms on the sale of the Company’s products to a majority of its
customers and requires no collateral from these customers. The Company performs ongoing credit
evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts
receivable based upon the Company’s historical experience and a specific review of accounts
receivable at the end of each year. As of October 31, 2008 and 2007, the allowance for doubtful
accounts receivable was $94,000 and $85,000, respectively.
Inventories
Inventories consist primarily of completed software products. Inventories are stated at the
lower of cost (using the first-in, first-out method) or market value. As of October 31, 2008 and
2007, inventories totaled $147,000 and $158,000, respectively. Inventories are included in other
current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Provisions, when required, are made to reduce excess and obsolete inventories to their
estimated net realizable value. Due to competitive pressures and technological innovation, it is
possible that estimates of the net realizable value could change in the near term.
Capitalized Software Costs
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 86, Accounting for
the Costs of Computer Software to be Sold, Leased or Otherwise Marketed, development costs incurred
in the research and development of new software products to be sold, leased or otherwise marketed
are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility in the form of a detailed program design
is established. Software development costs incurred after technological feasibility was
established and prior to product release were not material for the years ended October 31, 2008,
2007 and 2006. The Company has charged its software development costs to research and development
expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company
evaluates, at each balance sheet date, whether events and circumstances have occurred which
indicate possible impairment. The carrying value of a
long-lived asset is considered impaired when
the projected cumulative undiscounted cash flows of the related asset or group of assets is less
than the carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the
carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the long-lived asset.
During the year ended October 31, 2008, the Company recorded an asset impairment of $276,000
relating to its property and equipment. This impairment was recorded due to the continued decline
in revenues and operations, the uncertainties surrounding the Novell judgment, and the substantial
doubt as to the Company’s ability to emerge from bankruptcy and continue as a going concern.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization.
Computer equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of
the asset, which is typically three years. Furniture and fixtures and office equipment are
depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset, typically
three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the
shorter of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the remaining term of the applicable
lease.
Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense when incurred. Expenditures
for major renewals and betterments that extend the useful lives of existing equipment are
capitalized and depreciated. Upon retirement or disposition of property and equipment, the cost
and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss
is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.
Depreciation and amortization expense was $219,000, $306,000 and $302,000 during the years
ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Impairment of property and equipment was
$276,000 during the year ended October 31, 2008.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Statement of Position (“SOP”) 97-2, as
modified by SOP 98-9. The Company’s revenue has historically been from three sources: (i) product
license revenue, primarily from product sales to resellers, end users and original equipment
manufacturers (“OEMs”); (ii) technical support service revenue, primarily from providing technical
support and consulting services to end users; and (iii) revenue from SCOsource licensing.
The Company recognizes product revenue upon shipment if a signed contract exists, the fee is
fixed or determinable, collection of the resulting receivable is probable and product returns are
reasonably estimable.
The majority of the Company’s revenue transactions relate to product-only sales. On occasion,
the Company has revenue transactions that have multiple elements (such as software products,
maintenance, technical support services, and other services). For software agreements that have
multiple elements, the Company allocates revenue to each component of the contract based on the
relative fair values of the elements. The fair value of each element is based on vendor specific
objective evidence (“VSOE”). VSOE is established when such elements are sold separately. The
Company recognizes revenue when the criteria for product revenue recognition set forth above have
been met. If VSOE of all undelivered elements exists, but VSOE does not exist for one or more
delivered elements, then revenue is recognized using the residual method. Under the residual
method, the fair value of the undelivered elements is deferred and the remaining portion of the
license fee is recognized as revenue in the period when persuasive evidence of an arrangement is
obtained assuming all other revenue recognition criteria are met.
The Company recognizes product revenue from OEMs when the software is sold by the OEM to an
end-user customer. Revenue from technical support services and consulting services is recognized
as the related services are performed. Revenue for maintenance is recognized ratably over the
maintenance period.
The Company considers an arrangement with payment terms longer than the Company’s normal
business practice not to be fixed or determinable and revenue is recognized when the fee becomes
due. The Company
typically provides stock rotation rights for sales made through its distribution channel and
sales to distributors are recognized upon shipment by the distributor to end users. For direct
sales not through the Company’s distribution channel, sales are typically non-refundable and
non-cancelable. The Company estimates its product returns based
on historical experience and
maintains an allowance for estimated returns, which is recorded as a reduction to accounts
receivable and revenue.
The Company’s SCOsource revenue to date has been primarily generated from agreements to
utilize the Company’s UNIX source code as well as from intellectual property agreements. The
Company recognizes revenue from SCOsource agreements when a signed contract exists, the fee is
fixed or determinable, collection of the receivable is probable and delivery has occurred. If the
payment terms extend beyond the Company’s normal payment terms, revenue is recognized as the
payments become due.
Royalty Costs
Royalties paid by the Company on applications licensed from third parties that are
incorporated into the software products sold by the Company are expensed as cost of revenue on a
per unit basis as software products are sold. Royalties paid in advance of product sales are
included in other current assets and recorded as cost of revenue when the related products are
sold. During the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company incurred $376,000,
$486,000 and $862,000, respectively, of royalty expense.
Advertising
The Company expenses the cost of advertising as incurred. Advertising expenses totaled
$136,000, $308,000 and $620,000, respectively, for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
Income Taxes
The Company recognizes a liability or asset for the deferred income tax consequences of all
temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in
the consolidated financial statements that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in future
years when the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. These
deferred income tax assets or liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates that will be in
effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred income tax assets and
liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the
enactment date. Deferred income tax assets are reviewed periodically for recoverability, and
valuation allowances are provided when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred
income tax assets may not be realized. The Company has provided a valuation allowance against all
of its net deferred income tax assets because of its history of net operating losses and the
uncertainties regarding future operating profitability and taxable income.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss consists of net loss, foreign currency translation adjustments and
unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale marketable securities and is presented in the
accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Net Loss per Common Share
Basic net income or loss per common share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net income or
loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net income or loss per
common share (“Diluted EPS”) is computed by dividing net income or loss by the sum of the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding and the dilutive potential common share equivalents
then outstanding. Potential common share equivalents consist of the weighted average number of
shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants to acquire common
stock. If dilutive, the Company computes Diluted EPS using the treasury stock method.
Due to the fact that for all years presented, the Company has incurred net losses, common
share equivalents of 5,188,000, 5,251,000 and 4,957,000 for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007
and 2006, respectively, are not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per common share
because they are anti-dilutive.
The Company accounts for its investments in non-marketable securities under the cost method if
the Company owns less than 20 percent of the outstanding voting securities or under the equity
method if the Company owns more than 20 percent but less than 50 percent of the outstanding voting
securities.
In connection with the Company’s acquisition of the server and professional services groups
from The Santa Cruz Operation, it acquired a 30 percent ownership interest in SCO Software, China;
a joint venture in China. This investment is being accounted for using the equity method. As of
October 31, 2008, the Company’s investment balance in SCO Software, China was $365,000, which is
included in other assets. The Company’s other investments in non-marketable securities have been
fully impaired in prior years and do not have a carrying value as of October 31, 2008.
Income or loss recorded on the Company’s investments is recorded as equity in income or loss
of affiliates in the consolidated statements of operations and totaled $(17,000), $108,000 and
$91,000 for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Investment Impairments and Write-offs
Management routinely assesses the Company’s investments for impairment and adjusts the
carrying amounts to estimated realizable values when impairment has occurred. The Company did not
record any write-offs of investments during the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
(4) COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO RESCISSION
The Company believes certain shares and options granted under its Equity Compensation Plans
were issued without complying with registration or qualification requirements under federal
securities laws and the securities laws of certain states. As a result, certain Plan participants
have a right to rescind their purchases of shares under the Plans or recover damages if they no
longer own the shares or hold unexercised options, subject to applicable statutes of limitations.
Additionally, regulatory authorities may require the Company to pay fines or impose other
sanctions.
Accounting Series Release (“ASR”) No. 268 and Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Topic D-98
require stock subject to rescission or redemption requirements outside the control of the Company
to be classified outside of permanent equity. The exercise of the rescission right is at the
holders’ discretion, but exercise of that right may depend in part on the fair value of the
Company’s common stock which is outside of the Company’s and the holders’ control. Consequently,
common stock subject to rescission is classified as temporary equity.
In December 2005, the Company offered to rescind a total of 337,289 shares of common stock
issued under its 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) to current and former employees
while they resided in any of California, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, Utah, Texas or
Washington. These shares represented all of the ESPP shares the Company issued to residents of
these states for which a purchaser could claim a rescission right. The rescission offer was
intended to address the Company’s rescission liability relating to its federal and state securities
laws compliance issues by allowing the holders of the shares covered by the rescission offer to
rescind the underlying securities transactions and sell those securities back to the Company or
recover damages, as the case may be.
The rescission offer concluded on January 20, 2006. As of that date, 14 offerees accepted the
Company’s offer to rescind the purchase of approximately 7,300 shares. The Company made aggregate
payments to such offerees of approximately $41,500, which included approximately $31,800 for the
purchase of the shares and approximately $9,700 in statutory interest and damages. As a result of
the rescission offer, the Company believes it has extinguished its state rescission liability and
mitigated its federal rescission liability to anyone to whom the rescission offer was made for
noncompliance with the registration or qualification requirements of federal and state securities
laws as they relate to the shares issued under the ESPP. Upon the close of the rescission offer,
the Company reclassified the remainder of the common stock subject to rescission which totaled
$1,018,000 as additional paid-in capital in permanent equity.
During the year ended October 31, 1998, the Company adopted the 1998 Stock Option Plan (the
“1998 Plan”) that provided for the granting of nonqualified stock options to purchase shares of
common stock. On December 1, 1999, the Company’s board of directors approved the 1999 Omnibus
Stock Incentive Plan (the “1999 Plan”), which was intended to serve as the successor equity
incentive program to the 1998 Plan. The 1999 Plan allows for the grant of awards in the form of
incentive and non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, phantom
stock and stock bonuses. Awards may be granted to individuals in the Company’s employ or service.
On May 16, 2003, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2002 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan
(the “2002 Plan”) upon the recommendation of the board of directors. The 2002 Plan permits the
award of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, phantom stock rights, and
stock bonuses. Stock options may have an exercise price equal to, less than, or greater than the
fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant, except that the exercise price of
incentive stock options must be equal to or greater than the fair market value of the common stock
as of the date of grant.
On April 20, 2004, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2004 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan
(the “2004 Plan”) upon the recommendation of the board of directors. The 2004 Plan allows for the
award of up to 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and permits the award of stock
options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, phantom stock rights, and stock bonuses. The
2004 Plan incorporates an evergreen formula pursuant to which on each November 1, the aggregate
number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2004 Plan will increase by a number of shares
equal to 3% of the outstanding shares on the day preceding (October 31). The 2004 Plan is
administered by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors. The Compensation
Committee has the ability to determine the terms of the option, the exercise price, the number of
shares subject to each option, and the exercisability of the options. Stock options may have an
exercise price equal to, less than, or greater than the fair market value of the common stock on
the date of grant, except that the exercise price of incentive stock options must be equal to or
greater than the fair market value of the common stock as of the date of grant. Shares issued
pursuant to the 2004 Plan may be authorized and unissued shares, treasury shares or shares acquired
by the Company for purposes of the 2004 Plan.
Under the terms of the 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2004 Plans, options generally expire 10 years from
the date of grant or within 90 days of termination. Options granted under these plans generally
vest at 25% after the completion of 1 year of service and then 1/36 per month for the remaining 3
years and would be fully vested at the end of 4 years.
The board may suspend, revise, terminate or amend any of the option plans at any time;
provided, however, that stockholder approval must be obtained if and to the extent that the board
deems it appropriate to satisfy Section 162(m) of the Code, Section 422 of the Code or the rules of
any stock exchange on which the common stock is listed. No action under the option plans may,
without the consent of the participant, reduce the participant’s rights under any outstanding
award.
As of October 31, 2008, 494,000 shares were available for issuance under the 1999 Plan,
316,000 shares were available for issuance under the 2002 Plan, and 1,100,000 shares were available
for issuance under the 2004 Plan. A summary of stock option activity under the 1998, 1999, 2002,
and 2004 Plans for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 is as follows:
The weighted average fair value of options granted for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007
and 2006 was $0.23, $1.88 and $3.84, respectively. The intrinsic value of all options exercised
for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was approximately $0, $18,000 and $87,000,
respectively. There were no options exercised during the year ended October 31, 2008.
During the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company did not grant any stock
options with exercise prices that were less than the quoted market price of the Company’s common
stock. A summary of stock options outstanding and exercisable under the Company’s 1998, 1999, 2002
and 2004 Plans as of October 31, 2008 is as follows:
Options Outstanding
Options Exercisable
Weighted
Weighted
Weighted
Average
Average
Average
Options
Contractual
Exercise
Options
Exercise
Exercise Prices
Outstanding
Life
Price
Exercisable
Price
$0.08 - $ 1.10
2,081
7.10
years
$
0.55
1,113
$
0.79
$1.12 - $ 2.30
1,180
5.86
1.99
947
1.91
$3.00 - $ 3.78
559
6.83
3.68
431
3.68
$3.93 - $ 4.86
917
6.09
4.44
892
4.44
$5.05 - $24.00
451
4.89
11.08
451
11.08
5,188
6.42
years
$
2.82
3,834
$
3.45
As of October 31, 2008, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and options
exercisable was $0.
2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended, is designed to allow eligible employees of
the Company and its participating subsidiaries to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, at
semi-annual intervals, through periodic payroll deductions. A participant may contribute up to 10%
of his or her cash earnings through payroll deductions and the accumulated payroll deductions will
be applied to the purchase of shares on the participant’s behalf on each semi-annual purchase date
(the last business day in May and November). The purchase price per share will be 85% of the lower
of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the participant’s entry date into the
offering period or the fair market value on the semi-annual purchase date. Effective
for the purchase period beginning December 1, 2005, the look-back period for the plan was
reduced from 24 months to 6 months.
During the year ended October 31, 2008, approximately 116,000 shares were purchased at a price
of $0.19 per share. During the year ended October 31, 2007, approximately 339,000 shares were
purchased at prices ranging from $1.01 to $1.70 per share. During the year ended October 31, 2006,
approximately 180,000 shares were purchased at prices ranging from $3.38 to $3.54 per share.
The board had the option at any time to amend, modify or terminate the plan. This plan was
terminated on December 1, 2007.
Stock-based Compensation
Prior to October 31, 2005, as permitted under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(“SFAS”) No. 123, the Company accounted for its stock option plans following the recognition and
measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees, and related interpretations. Accordingly, no stock-based compensation expense
was reflected in the Company’s statements of operations as all options granted had an exercise
price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant and the related
number of shares granted was fixed at that point in time.
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 123(R),
Share Based Payment. This statement revised SFAS No. 123 by eliminating the option to account for
employee stock options under APB No. 25 and requiring companies to recognize the cost of employee
services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value
of those awards.
Effective November 1, 2005, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS
No. 123(R) using the modified prospective application method. Under this transition method, the
Company recorded compensation expense on a straight-line basis for: (a) the vesting of options
granted prior to November 1, 2005 (based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with
the original provisions of SFAS No. 123, and previously presented in the pro-forma note
disclosures), and (b) stock-based awards granted subsequent to November 1, 2005 (based on the
grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R)). The effect
of accounting for stock-based awards under SFAS No. 123(R) for the years ended October 31, 2008,
2007 and 2006 was to record $802,000, $1,908,000 and $1,802,000, respectively, of stock-based
compensation expense. For the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company has
allocated stock-based compensation expense to the following statement of operations captions:
2008
2007
2006
(In thousands)
Cost of products
$
4
$
7
$
19
Cost of SCOsource
220
282
231
Cost of services
26
41
67
Sales and marketing
184
376
371
Research and development
52
200
140
General and administrative
316
1,002
974
Total stock-based compensation
$
802
$
1,908
$
1,802
As of October 31, 2008, the total compensation cost related to non-vested stock options not
yet recognized was approximately $1,535,000 and the weighted-average period over which the total
compensation cost related to non-vested stock options is expected to be realized is 1.75 years.
With respect to stock options granted during the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006,
the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model are as follows:
2008
2007
2006
Risk-free interest rate
3.0
%
4.5
%
4.8
%
Expected dividend yield
0.0
%
0.0
%
0.0
%
Volatility
187.7
%
116.7
%
66.2
%
Expected exercise life (in years)
5.6
5.0
5.0
The estimated fair value of stock options and ESPP shares are amortized over the vesting
period of the award.
Repurchase of Common Stock
During the year ended October 31, 2006, the Company purchased 7,309 shares of its common stock
at a total cost of approximately $31,800 (excluding interest) in connection with its rescission
offer.
Stockholder Rights Plan
On August 10, 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan (the
“Rights Plan”) designed to deter coercive takeover tactics, including accumulation of shares in the
open market or through private transactions and to prevent an acquirer from gaining control of the
Company without offering a fair price to all of the Company’s stockholders.
Under the terms of the Rights Plan, Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock purchase
rights were distributed as a dividend at the rate of one right for each share of common stock of
the Company held by stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 30, 2004. The
Rights Plan would be triggered if a person or group acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of
the Company’s common stock other than pursuant to a board-approved tender or exchange offer or
commences, or publicly announces an intention to commence, a tender or exchange offer upon
consummation of which such person or group would beneficially own 15% or more of the Company’s
common stock. The value of the purchase rights is immaterial as of October 31, 2008.
Change in Control Agreements
On December 10, 2004, the Company entered into Change in Control Agreements with the following
officers: Darl C. McBride; Bert B. Young; Christopher Sontag; Jeff F. Hunsaker; and Ryan E.
Tibbitts (each, an “Officer”). In addition, on January 23, 2006, the Company entered into Change
in Control Agreements with two additional officers: Timothy Negris and Sandeep Gupta. Messers
Young, Sontag, Negris and Gupta are no longer employed with the Company.
Pursuant to the terms of each Agreement, the Officer agrees that he will not voluntarily leave
the employ of the Company in the event any individual, corporation, partnership, company or other
entity takes certain steps to effect a Change in Control (as defined in the Agreement) of the
Company, until the attempt to effect a Change in Control has terminated, or until a Change in
Control occurs.
If the Officer is still employed by the Company when a Change in Control occurs, any stock,
stock option or restricted stock granted to the Officer by the Company that would have become
vested upon continued employment by the Officer shall immediately vest in full and become
exercisable notwithstanding any provision to the contrary of such grant and shall remain
exercisable until it expires or terminates in accordance with its terms. Each Officer shall be
solely responsible for any taxes that arise or become due pursuant to the acceleration of vesting
that occurs pursuant to the Agreement. The adoption of this provision represented a modification
to the underlying stock option award for each Officer. In accordance with FASB Interpretation No.
44, Accounting for Certain Transactions Involving Stock Compensation, the Company calculated the
intrinsic value of the awards on the modification date which was approximately $2,012,000. No
expense has been recognized to date and no expense will be recognized until such time that a Change
in Control becomes probable.
On October 20, 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors approved 12 months of vesting on stock
option awards for employees who are non-executives in the event of a Change in Control. The
adoption of this provision represents a modification to the underlying stock option award and the
Company calculated the intrinsic value of the
awards on the modification date, which value was approximately $70,000. No expense has been
recognized to date and no expense will be recognized until such time that a Change in Control
becomes probable.
On March 26, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a modification to certain stock
option awards to allow for full vesting for employees who are non-executive officers in the event
of a Change in Control, as defined. The adoption of this provision represents a modification to
the outstanding underlying stock option awards. The Company determined that the fair value of the
awards on the modification date, in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R), was $0.
(6) INCOME TAXES
The net loss before income taxes consisted of the following components for the years ended
October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006:
2008
2007
2006
(In thousands)
Domestic U.S. Operations
$
(8,931
)
$
(7,263
)
$
(16,817
)
Foreign operations
530
674
310
Total
$
(8,401
)
$
(6,589
)
$
(16,507
)
The components of the provision for income taxes for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007
and 2006 are as follows:
2008
2007
2006
(In thousands)
Current
U.S. state
$
—
$
—
$
—
Non-U.S.
286
237
91
Total current
286
237
91
Deferred:
U.S. federal
(3,612
)
(1,902
)
(6,221
)
U.S. state
(600
)
(283
)
(925
)
Change in valuation allowance
4,216
2,185
7,146
Total deferred
—
—
—
Total provision for income taxes
$
286
$
237
$
91
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are calculated based on the differences between the
financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. They are measured by applying the
enacted tax rates and laws in effect for the years in which such differences are expected to
reverse.
The significant components of the Company’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of
October 31, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:
2008
2007
(In thousands)
Deferred income tax assets:
Net operating loss carry-forward
$
70,348
$
66,714
Intangible assets
5,161
6,248
Tax basis in excess of book basis
related to acquired assets
2,401
2,896
Reserves and accrued expenses
2,401
401
Stock compensation
1,743
1,434
Book depreciation in excess of tax
217
321
Deferred revenue
283
242
Basis difference in investments
232
181
Capital loss carry-forward
—
133
Total deferred income tax assets
82,786
78,570
Valuation allowance
(82,786
)
(78,570
)
Net deferred income tax assets
$
—
$
—
The amount, and ultimate realization, of the deferred income tax assets is dependent, in part,
upon the tax laws in effect, the Company’s future earnings, if any, and other future events, the
effects of which cannot be
determined. The Company has established a full valuation allowance against its net deferred
income tax assets. Management believes that as of October 31, 2008, the available objective
evidence creates sufficient uncertainty regarding the ultimate realizability of these deferred
income tax assets, that it is more likely than not that those assets will not be realized. As of
October 31, 2008, the Company has used the enacted federal statutory rate of 35% because the
benefit of the deferred income tax assets, if realized, will likely be 35%.
As of October 31, 2008, the Company had net operating loss carry-forwards for federal income
tax reporting purposes totaling approximately $181,570,000 that expire between 2021 and 2028.
Approximately $19,531,000 of this amount is a result of the exercise of employee stock options. If
and when recognized, the tax benefit of these exercises will be accounted for as a credit to
additional paid-in capital.
The Internal Revenue Code contains provisions under Section 382 which limit the Company’s
ability to utilize net operating loss carry-forwards in the event that the Company has experienced
a more than 50% change in ownership over a 3-year period. Current estimates prepared by the
Company indicate that due to ownership changes which have occurred, approximately $130,736,000 of
the net operating losses are currently subject to an annual limitation of $3,041,000, but may be
further limited by additional ownership changes which may occur in the future. As stated above,
the net operating loss carry-forwards expire between 2021 and 2028, allowing the Company to utilize
approximately $60,820,000 of the limited net operating loss carry-forwards over a 20-year period.
The balance of the net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $50,834,000 is not currently
subject to a limitation, but if ownership changes occur in the future, this amount also may be
subject to limitations under Section 382.
The differences between the provision for income taxes at the U.S. statutory rate and the
Company’s effective tax rate are as follows:
2008
2007
2006
Benefit at statutory rate
(35.0
)%
(35.0
)%
(35.0
)%
Permanent financial reporting to tax difference
0.1
%
0.2
%
0.2
%
Foreign income taxes
3.2
%
3.3
%
0.5
%
Change in valuation allowance
35.1
%
34.8
%
34.8
%
Total provision for income taxes
3.4
%
3.3
%
0.5
%
(7) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
IBM Corporation
On or about March 6, 2003, the Company filed a civil complaint against IBM. The case is
pending in the United States District Court for the District of Utah (the “Court”), under the title
The SCO Group, Inc. v. International Business Machines Corporation, Civil No. 2:03CV0294. In this
action, the Company claims that IBM breached its UNIX source code licenses (both the IBM and
Sequent Computer Systems, Inc. (“Sequent”) licenses) by disclosing restricted information
concerning the UNIX source code and derivative works and related information in connection with its
efforts to promote the Linux operating system. The Company’s complaint includes, among other
things, claims for breach of contract, unfair competition, tortious interference and copyright
infringement. The Company is seeking damages in an amount to be proved at trial and seeking
injunctive relief.
On or about March 6, 2003, the Company notified IBM that IBM was not in compliance with the
Company’s UNIX source code license agreement and on or about June 13, 2003, the Company delivered
to IBM a notice of termination of that agreement, which underlies IBM’s AIX software. On or about
August 11, 2003, the Company sent a similar notice terminating the Sequent source code license.
IBM disputes the Company’s right to terminate those licenses. If the Company’s termination of
those licenses was valid, the Company believes that IBM is exposed to substantial damages and
injunctive relief claims based on its continued use and distribution of the AIX operating system.
On June 9, 2003, Novell sent the Company a notice purporting to waive the Company’s claims against
IBM regarding its license breaches.
On February 27, 2004, the Company filed a second amended complaint which alleges nine causes
of action that are similar to those set forth above, added a new claim for copyright infringement,
and removed the claim for misappropriation of trade secrets. IBM filed an answer and 14
counterclaims. Among other things, IBM asserted that the Company does not have the right to
terminate its UNIX licenses and claimed that the Company breached the
GNU General Public License and infringed certain patents held by IBM. IBM’s counterclaims
include claims for breach of contract, violation of the Lanham Act, unfair competition, intentional
interference with prospective economic relations, unfair and deceptive trade practices, promissory
estoppel, patent infringement and a declaratory judgment claim for non-infringement of copyrights.
On October 6, 2005, IBM voluntarily dismissed with prejudice its claims for patent infringement.
On December 22, 2005, the Company filed a voluminous report detailing IBM’s misuse of the
Company’s proprietary material. The Company’s December 2005 report included 293 total disclosures,
which the Company claims violate its contractual rights and copyrights. The report and the
disclosures identified are the result of analysis by experienced outside technical consultants.
On February 13, 2006, IBM filed a motion with the Court seeking to limit the Company’s claims
as set forth in the December 2005 report. IBM argued that, of the 293 items the Company had
identified, 201 did not meet the level of specificity required by the Court. IBM requested that
the Company be limited to 93 items set forth in the December 2005 filing, which IBM claims meet the
required level of specificity. On June 28, 2006, the Magistrate Judge issued a ruling striking
over 180 of the technology disclosures challenged by the Company from its December 2005 filing.
This ruling is a limitation on the number of technology disclosures the Company made in its
December 2005 filing, but means that over 100 of the challenged items remain in the case. On July13, 2006, the Company filed objections to the Magistrate Judge’s order with the Court; those
objections challenged the process and the result embodied in the Magistrate Judge’s order. On
November 29, 2006, the Court issued a ruling affirming the Magistrate Judge’s ruling of June 28,2006. The Company filed a motion to reconsider this ruling and a motion to amend its technology
disclosures of December 2005.
On June 8, 2006, IBM filed a motion to confine the Company’s claims to, and strike allegations
in excess of, the December 2005 disclosures. In this motion, IBM claims that the Company’s
technology expert reports go beyond the disclosures contained in the Company’s December 2005
submission to the Court and that those expert reports should be restricted to that extent. On
December 21, 2006, the Magistrate Judge granted IBM’s motion. The Company filed objections to that
order with the Court.
Both parties filed expert reports and substantially finished expert discovery. IBM filed six
motions for summary judgment which, if granted in whole or in substantial part, could resolve the
Company’s claims in IBM’s favor or substantially reduce the Company’s claims. The Company filed
three motions for summary judgment.
As a result of the judge’s order of August 10, 2007, in the SCO v. Novell case, several of the
Company’s claims against IBM may be dismissed. These claims include its claims that IBM breached
its UNIX license agreements and the Company’s claims arising from its termination of IBM’s UNIX
licenses. The Company believes that the Court’s August 10, 2007 ruling does not resolve certain
claims in the case, or aspects of those claims, including the Company’s claim for unfair
competition arising out of the Project Monterey initiative in the late 1990’s. IBM has taken the
position that the Court’s ruling of August 10, 2007 in the Novell case resolves all of the
Company’s claims against IBM in IBM’s favor. The Company disputes this position. IBM’s
counterclaims against the Company remain in the case subject to pending motions for summary
judgment. The IBM case is also currently stayed due to the Company’s filing of Chapter 11
bankruptcy.
Novell, Inc.
On January 20, 2004, the Company filed suit in Utah state court against Novell, Inc. for
slander of title seeking relief for its alleged bad faith effort to interfere with the Company’s
ownership of copyrights related to the Company’s UNIX source code and derivative works and the
Company’s UnixWare product. The case proceeded in the United States District Court for the
District of Utah under the caption, The SCO Group, Inc. v. Novell, Inc., Civil No. 2:04CV00139. In
the lawsuit, the Company requested preliminary and permanent injunctive relief as well as damages.
Through these claims, the Company seeks to require Novell to assign to the Company all copyrights
that the Company believes Novell has wrongfully registered, to prevent Novell from claiming any
ownership interest in those copyrights, and to require Novell to retract or withdraw all
representations it has made regarding its purported ownership of those copyrights and UNIX itself.
Novell filed two motions to dismiss claiming, among other things, that Novell’s false
statements were not issued with malice and are privileged under the law. The court denied both of
Novell’s motions to dismiss. On July 29, 2005, Novell filed its answer and counterclaims against
the Company, asserting counterclaims for the
Company’s alleged breaches of the Asset Purchase Agreement between Novell and the Company’s
predecessor-in-interest, The Santa Cruz Operation, for slander of title, restitution/unjust
enrichment, an accounting related to Novell’s retained interest in SRVx royalties, and for
declaratory relief regarding Novell’s alleged rights under the Asset Purchase Agreement. On or
about December 30, 2005, the Company filed a motion for leave to amend its complaint to assert
additional claims against Novell including copyright infringement, unfair competition and a breach
of Novell’s limited license to use the Company’s UNIX code. Novell consented to the Company’s
filing of these additional claims.
On or about April 10, 2006, Novell filed a motion to stay the case in Utah pending a request
for arbitration that Novell and SuSE Linux, GmbH (“SuSE”) filed on the same date in the
International Court of Arbitration. Through these proceedings, Novell claims that the Company
granted SuSE the right to use its intellectual property through the Company’s participation in the
UnitedLinux initiative in 2002 and through its acquisition of SuSE, Novell acquired SuSE’s rights
as a member of UnitedLinux. On August 21, 2006, the court ordered that portions of claims relating
to the SuSE arbitration should be stayed pending the arbitration but the other portions of claims
in the case should proceed.
The three-person arbitration panel has been selected for the SuSE arbitration but that process
is stayed by the bankruptcy cases.
In September 2006, Novell filed an Amended Counterclaim asserting nine claims for relief
including, among other things, claims for slander of title, breach of contract, declaratory relief
and claims for an accounting, and for a constructive trust over certain revenue the Company
collected from Sun and Microsoft in 2003. In September 2006, Novell also filed a motion for
summary judgment or a preliminary injunction. The Company opposed the motion and filed a
cross-motion for summary judgment or partial summary judgment. Those motions were argued on
January 23, 2007, before the District Court in Utah. On December 1, 2006, Novell also filed a
motion for summary judgment on its Fourth Counterclaim, asking the court to rule that Novell had
retained broad waiver rights and other rights over SVRX licenses it transferred under the 1995
Asset Purchase Agreement. With the Company’s opposition to this motion, it filed its own cross
motion for summary judgment, asking the court to rule that Novell’s retained rights are much
narrower than it claims.
On April 9, 2007, the Company filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Its First,
Second, and Fifth Causes of Action and for Summary Judgment on Novell’s First Counterclaim, arguing
that Novell transferred the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights under the plain language of the amended
Asset Purchase Agreement, as confirmed by testimony of at least nine witnesses, including Novell’s
own CEO at the time of the Asset Purchase Agreement. On April 20, 2007, Novell filed motions for
summary judgment asking the court to rule that Novell retained the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights
under the 1995 Asset Purchase Agreement, that the Company did not meet its burden of establishing
special damages on its slander of title claim, that Novell retained broad rights to waive the
Company’s contract claims against IBM, and that the portion of the Company’s contract and
unfair-competition claims based on non-compete provisions in the APA and a related agreement should
not proceed to a jury trial. The Company filed its own motions for summary judgment seeking a
ruling that it owns the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights, and that Novell’s retained rights are much
narrower than Novell now claims. On May 31 and June 4, 2007, the court heard oral argument on
these motions and the pending motion and cross-motion for summary judgment on Novell’s Fourth
Counterclaim, taking the motions under advisement.
On August 10, 2007, the federal judge ruled in favor of Novell on several of the summary
judgment motions that were before the court. The effect of these rulings was to significantly
reduce or eliminate certain of the Company’s claims in both the Novell and IBM cases, and possibly
others. The court ruled that Novell was the owner of the UNIX and UnixWare copyrights that existed
at the time of the 1995 Asset Purchase Agreement and that Novell retained broad rights to waive the
Company’s contract claims against IBM. The court ruled that the Company owns the copyrights to
post 1995 derivatives and that the Company has certain other ownership rights in the UNIX
technology. The Company was directed to accept Novell’s waiver of its UNIX contract claims against
IBM. In addition, the court determined that certain SCOsource licensing agreements that the
Company executed in fiscal year 2003 included older SVRx licenses and that the Company was possibly
required to remit some portion of the proceeds to Novell. Over the Company’s objection, a bench
trial was set to begin on September 17, 2007 and the federal judge was to determine what portion,
if any, of the proceeds of the SCOsource agreements were attributable to such SVRx licenses and
should be remitted to Novell as well as whether the Company had authority
to enter into such SVRx licenses. The range of the payment to Novell was from a de minimis amount
to in excess of $30,000,000, the latter amount being the amount claimed by Novell, plus interest.
The trial of these issues, however, was automatically stayed as a result of the Company filing
a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on September 14, 2007. On October 4, 2007,
Novell filed a Motion for Relief from Automatic Stay. On November 27, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court
modified the automatic stay to permit Novell to pursue the trial scheduled in the court on the
allocation of proceeds from the SCOsource agreements and the question of the Company’s alleged lack
of authority to enter into them, but the Bankruptcy Court retained jurisdiction to determine
whether to impose a constructive trust on any amounts found to be payable to Novell. The Bankruptcy
Court also ruled that the bankruptcy stay applies to the SuSE arbitration proceeding pending in
Europe. Upon the modification of the automatic stay, the court scheduled a four-day trial, which
started on April 29, 2008 and concluded on May 2, 2008, on those matters for which the Bankruptcy
Court modified the automatic stay. Prior to the commencement of the trial, Novell conceded that it
would not be making a claim to a portion of the fees paid to the Company by Microsoft in 2003 and
Novell therefore reduced the principal amount of its claim to $19,979,561. After the trial and
arguments, the court took all matters under advisement and stated that it would attempt to issue a
ruling without undue delay.
On July 16, 2008, the court entered its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order,
ruling that (1) the SCOsource agreements with Linux end-users were not SVRx licenses and therefore
Novell was not entitled to revenue from those agreements and that SCO had the authority to enter
into such agreements; (2) the 2003 SCOsource agreement with Microsoft contained an SVRx license
that was incidental to the UnixWare license in the agreement, and therefore the Company was
authorized to enter into the license and Novell was not entitled to revenue from the agreement; and
(3) the 2003 SCOsource agreement with Sun was an unauthorized amendment of a prior UNIX buy out
agreement, and Novell was entitled to $2,547,817 of the revenue from the Sun agreement as
attributable to that amendment. The court directed Novell to file a brief identifying the amount of
prejudgment interest it sought based on this award. On August 29, 2008, Novell filed an Unopposed
Submission Regarding Prejudgment Interest, informing the court that the parties had agreed that
Novell was entitled to $918,122 in prejudgment interest through that date, plus $489 per day until
the entry of final judgment, based on the court’s $2,547,817 award.
In its ruling of July 16, 2008, the court also directed Novell to file a proposed Final
Judgment consistent with the court’s trial and summary judgment orders. In its proposed submission
to the court in compliance with this order, Novell took the position that final judgment could not
be entered because the Company’s claims were stayed pending arbitration and the imposition of a
constructive trust remained an open question in the Bankruptcy Court. Subsequently, in order to
expedite the entry of final judgment, the Company sought to resolve these issues with Novell and
agreed to an extension of Novell’s deadline for filing its submission. Based on the Company’s
tracing of Sun’s payments under its 2003 SCOsource agreement, Novell agreed that only $625,487 of
the Company’s current assets were traceable as trust funds. The Company also proposed dismissing
its stayed claims with prejudice on the basis of the court’s ruling that Novell owns the pre-APA
UNIX copyrights in the court’s summary judgment order of August 10, 2007. On August 29, 2008, in
its Submission Regarding the Entry of Final Judgment, Novell informed the court of the parties’
agreement as to the trust amount, but Novell stood by its position that final judgment could not be
entered in light of the stayed claims. On September 15, 2008, the Company filed papers arguing for
the entry of final judgment.
As a result of the court’s judgment against the Company, as of October 31, 2008, the Company
has accrued $3,518,000 for this contingent liability and related interest, which amount is included
in Liabilities Subject to Compromise. However, the Company continues to contest this liability.
The Company believes that this judgment is in error, and that the Company has strong grounds to
have the adverse rulings embodied in the Final Judgment overturned on appeal.
On November 20, 2008, after further negotiations between the parties, the court entered a
Final Judgment, incorporating the material rulings from the August 10, 2007 and July 16, 2008
rulings as explained above. On November 25, 2008, the Company filed a notice of appeal of that
Final Judgment, including the adverse rulings in the court’s summary judgment order of August 10,2007. The appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit will proceed over
the next several months with briefing and then argument before the court. On January 23, 2009, the
Company filed an unopposed motion for an expedited appeal. A decision on the appeal could
be forthcoming in approximately the next ten to fourteen months, unless the Company is
successful in its motion that the Court handle the appeal on an expedited basis.
IPO Class Action Matter
In July 2001, the Company and several of its former officers and directors (the “Individual
Defendants”) were named as defendants in class action complaints alleging violations of the federal
securities laws in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York. On April 19,2002, plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Amended Complaint, which is now the operative complaint. The
complaint seeks unspecified damages and alleges violations of Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities
Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5
promulgated thereunder. Plaintiffs allege that the underwriter defendants agreed to allocate stock
in the Company’s initial public offering to certain investors in exchange for excessive and
undisclosed commissions and agreements by those investors to make additional purchases of stock in
the aftermarket at pre-determined prices. Plaintiffs allege that the Registration Statement for
the Company’s initial public offering was false and misleading because it did not disclose these
arrangements.
The action is being coordinated with approximately three hundred other nearly identical
actions filed against other companies. On October 9, 2002, the court dismissed the Individual
Defendants from the case without prejudice. This dismissal disposed of the Section 15 and 20(a)
control person claims without prejudice, since these claims were asserted only against the
Individual Defendants. On February 19, 2003, the Court denied the motion to dismiss with respect
to the Company.
On December 5, 2006, the Second Circuit vacated a decision by the district court granting
class certification in six “focus” cases, which are intended to serve as test cases. Plaintiffs
selected these six cases, which do not include the Company. On April 6, 2007, the Second Circuit
panel denied a petition for rehearing filed by the plaintiffs, but noted that the plaintiffs could
ask the district court to certify a more narrow class than the one that was rejected.
Prior to the Second Circuit’s December 5, 2006 ruling, a majority of the issuers, including
the Company, and their insurers had submitted a settlement agreement to the district court for
approval. In light of the Second Circuit opinion, the parties agreed that the settlement could not
be approved. On June 25, 2007, the district court approved a stipulation filed by the plaintiffs
and the issuers terminating the proposed settlement. On August 14, 2007, the plaintiffs filed
amended complaints in the six focus cases. The amended complaints include a number of changes,
such as changes to the definition of the purported class of investors, and the elimination of the
individual defendants as defendants. On September 27, 2007, the plaintiffs moved to certify a
class in the six focus cases. On November 14, 2007, the issuers and the underwriters named as
defendants in the six focus cases filed motions to dismiss the amended complaints against them. On
March 26, 2008, the district court dismissed the Securities Act claims of those members of the
putative classes in the focus cases who sold their securities for a price in excess of the initial
offering price and those who purchased outside the previously certified class period. With respect
to all other claims, the motions to dismiss were denied. The Company is awaiting a decision from
the Court on the class certification motion.
Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, management cannot predict the ultimate
outcome of this matter. The Company has notified its underwriters and insurance companies of the
existence of the claims. Management presently believes, after consultation with legal counsel, that
the ultimate outcome of this matter will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s
results of operations, liquidity or financial position and will not exceed the $200,000
self-insured retention already paid or accrued by the Company.
On November 20, 2008, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order, based on a stipulation of the
parties, that the plaintiffs in the IPO case would not pursue assets of the Company in connection
with the case but would only look to insurance coverage to cover any damages that may be awarded to
plaintiffs in that case. On October 10, 2008, the judge in the IPO case granted plaintiffs’
request to withdraw, without prejudice, their motion for class certification in the case.
Red Hat, Inc.
On August 4, 2003, Red Hat, Inc. filed a complaint against the Company. The action is pending
in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware under the case caption, Red
Hat, Inc. v. The SCO
Group, Inc., Civil No. 03-772. Red Hat asserts that the Linux operating system does not
infringe on the Company’s UNIX intellectual property rights and seeks a declaratory judgment for
non-infringement of copyrights and no misappropriation of trade secrets. In addition, Red Hat
claims the Company has engaged in false advertising in violation of the Lanham Act, deceptive trade
practices, unfair competition, tortious interference with prospective business opportunities, trade
libel and disparagement. On April 6, 2004, the court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss this
case; however, the court stayed the case and requested status reports every 90 days regarding the
case against IBM. Red Hat filed a motion for reconsideration, which the court denied on March 31,2005. The Company intends to vigorously defend this action. In the event that the stay is lifted,
including the bankruptcy stay, and Red Hat is allowed to pursue its claims, the Company will likely
assert counterclaims against Red Hat.
AutoZone, Inc.
On March 2, 2004, the Company filed suit against AutoZone, Inc., in the Federal District Court
for the District of Nevada (the “Nevada District Court”). The Company brought a single claim for
copyright infringement based on AutoZone’s use of UNIX copyrighted materials in Linux and asked the
Nevada District Court to impose a preliminary injunction against AutoZone. On August 6, 2004, the
Nevada District Court granted AutoZone’s motion to stay the case pending resolution of the IBM,
Novell, and Red Hat litigations. During the limited discovery that the Nevada District Court
permitted, SCO confirmed that AutoZone had also made unauthorized use of materials from SCO’s
OpenServer operating system in migrating to Linux. On September 22, 2008, the Nevada District
Court held a status conference on the case and decided to lift the stay effective December 31,2008. On January 6, 2009, the assigned Magistrate Judge issued an order directing the parties to
file a proposed discovery plan and scheduling order by January 16, 2009. On that date, the parties
filed a Joint Discovery Plan and Scheduling Order proposing January 15, 2010 as the deadline for
the parties to complete fact discovery.
Other Matters
In April 2003, the Company’s former Indian distributor filed a claim in India, requesting
summary judgment for payment of approximately $1,428,000, and an order that the Company trade in
India only through the distributor and/or give a security deposit until the claim is paid. The
distributor claims that the Company is responsible to repurchase certain software products and to
reimburse the distributor for certain other operating costs. Management does not believe that the
Company is responsible to reimburse the distributor for any operating costs and also believes that
the return rights related to any remaining inventory have lapsed. The distributor additionally
requested that the Indian courts grant interim relief in the form of attachment of local assets.
These requests for interim relief have failed in the court, discovery has commenced, and hearings
on the main claims have been held and are ongoing. The Company intends to vigorously defend this
action.
Pursuit and defense of the above-mentioned matters will be costly, and management expects the
costs for legal fees and related expenses will be substantial. A material, negative impact on the
Company’s results of operations or financial position from the Red Hat, Inc., IPO Class Action, or
Indian Distributor matters, or the IBM or Novell counterclaims may be probable but not estimable.
The Company is a party to certain other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of
business, and management believes, after consultation with legal counsel, that the ultimate outcome
of these legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of
operations, financial position or liquidity.
Operating Lease Agreements
The Company has entered into operating leases for its offices located in the United States and
for international sales offices. The Company has commitments under these leases that extend
through the year ending October 31, 2013.
Total rent expense for all of the Company’s operating leases were $901,000, $1,398,000 and
$1,618,000 for the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Contingency Arrangement with Law Firms
On October 31, 2004, the Company entered into an engagement agreement (the “Engagement
Agreement”) with Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, Kevin McBride and Berger Singerman (the “Law
Firms”). This Engagement Agreement supercedes and replaces the original engagement agreement that
was entered into in February 2003. The Engagement Agreement governs the relationship between the
Company and the Law Firms in connection with their representation of the Company in the Company’s
current litigation between it and IBM, Novell, Red Hat, AutoZone and DaimlerChrysler (the “SCO
Litigation”). Berger Singerman P.A. was a member of this group of Law Firms. With the Company’s
consent, the engagement of this firm was mutually terminated. The last payment received by Berger
Singerman P.A. with regard to this representation was on November 24, 2004. The Company must pay
one or more contingency fees upon any amount the Company or its stockholders may receive as a
result of a settlement, judgment or a sale of the Company. The contingency fee amounts payable to
the Law Firms will be, subject to certain credits and adjustments, as follows:
•
33 percent of any aggregate recovery amounts received up to $350,000,000;
•
plus 25 percent of any aggregate recovery amounts above $350,000,000 but less than or
equal to $700,000,000;
•
plus 20 percent of any aggregate recovery amounts in excess of $700,000,000.
The Engagement Agreement specifically provides that, except for the compensation obligations
specifically described above, the Company will not be obligated to pay any legal fees, whether
hourly, contingent or otherwise, to the Law Firms, or any other law firms that may be engaged by
the Law Firms, in connection with the Company’s SCO Litigation through the end of the current
litigation between it and IBM, including any appeals.
(8) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Kevin McBride is a licensed attorney working on the SCO Litigation as part of the Engagement
Agreement and is also the brother of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Darl McBride. During
the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, Kevin McBride’s legal fees were paid by Boies,
Schiller & Flexner.
As part of the Engagement Agreement entered into on October 31, 2004, the Company started
paying directly to Kevin McBride services fees and reimbursable expenses associated with the SCO
Litigation, which were primarily for document management, outsourced technical and litigation
assistance, and travel expenses. During the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the
Company incurred expenses of approximately $256,000, $415,000 and $562,000, respectively, for
services and expenses of Kevin McBride.
(9) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
The Company maintains a 401(k) plan to which eligible participants may elect to make
contributions, subject to certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code. Under the terms of
the plan, the Company may make discretionary matching contributions up to predetermined limits to
partially match employee contributions to the plan. During the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007
and 2006, the Company contributed $59,000, $110,000 and $136,000, respectively, to the plan for
matching contributions.
(10) CONCENTRATION OF RISK
As of October 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had no customers who made up more than 10% of the
year-end accounts receivable balance.
During the years ended October 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company did not have any single
customer that accounted for more than 10% of total revenue.
The recent global economic crisis has caused a general tightening in the credit markets, lower
levels of liquidity, increases in the rates of default and bankruptcy, and extreme volatility in
credit, equity and fixed income markets. These macroeconomic developments could negatively affect
our business, operating results or financial condition in a number of ways. For example, current or
potential customers may be unable to fund software purchases, which could cause them to delay,
decrease or cancel purchases of our products and services or to not pay us or to delay paying us
for previously purchased products and services.
The Company’s resources are allocated and operating results managed to the operating income
(loss) level for each of the Company’s segments: UNIX and SCOsource. Both segments are based on
the Company’s UNIX intellectual property. The UNIX business sells and distributes UNIX products
and services through an extensive distribution channel and to corporate end-users and the SCOsource
business enforces and protects the Company’s UNIX intellectual property. Segment disclosures for
the Company are as follows:
The Company’s two geographic regions consist of the Americas and International. The
International division consists of EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa) and Asia. Any
financial amounts not directly attributable to either the Americas or International geographic
region are included in the corporate column. The following tables present the Company’s results of
operations by geographic region:
On November 24, 2008, the Company entered into a Dissolution Agreement and Termination
Agreement to dissolve its minority ownership in a Chinese company. Under the Agreement, the
Company received a dissolution payment of $370,000 in December 2008. Upon completion of the
dissolution of the Chinese company, the majority shareholder in the Chinese company will enter into
a distribution agreement with the Company.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. Under the supervision and with the
participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange
Act”)). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and
procedures were effective. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, we
recognize that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can only
provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objective, and management is required
to exercise its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and
procedures.
Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting. We are responsible
for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Our internal control over financial reporting is a process
designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent
or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only
reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our
internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2008. In making this assessment, we
used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
(COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that, as of October 31, 2008, our internal control
over financial reporting was effective.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit
the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting. There have been no changes in the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with our evaluation of
disclosure controls and procedures discussed above during the quarter ended October 31, 2008 or
subsequent to that date that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially
affect, the Company’s financial reporting. Should the Company further reduce its accounting
personnel, the ability to maintain segregation of incompatible duties in key functions may be
impaired.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by this item concerning our directors and executive officers will
be included in the Company’s Form 10-K/A or proxy statement to be filed within 120 days after the
end of the fiscal year covered by the this Form 10-K. Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to all employees, including employees of our
subsidiaries, as well as each member of our Board of Directors. The code of ethics is available at
our website at www.sco.com.
We intend to satisfy any disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an
amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of this code of ethics by posting such information on our
website, at the address specified above.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Information
with respect to this item
will be included in the Company’s Form 10-K/A or proxy statement to be filed within 120
days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.
Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters
Information with respect to this item
will be included in the Company’s Form 10-K/A or proxy statement to be filed within 120
days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.
Such information is incorporated herein
by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information with respect to this item
will be included in the Company’s Form 10-K/A or proxy statement to be filed within 120
days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.
Such
information is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Information with respect to this item
will be included in the Company’s Form 10-K/A or proxy statement to be filed within 120
days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K.
Such information is incorporated
herein by reference.
PART IV.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(1)
Consolidated Financial Statements: See Index to Consolidated Financial
Statements at Item 8 on page 54 of this report.
(2)
Financial Statement Schedule: See Index to Consolidated Financial
Statements at Item 8 on page 54 of this report.
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Caldera Systems,
Inc., Caldera International, Inc., now known as The SCO Group, Inc.
(the “Registrant”), and The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc., and related
amendments (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the
Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No.
333-45936)).
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation regarding consolidation of outstanding shares
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form 8-A12G/A (File No. 000-29911)).
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation regarding change of name to The SCO Group, Inc.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form 8-A12G/A (File No. 000-29911)).
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form
8-K filed on January 4, 2008 (File No. 000-29911).
3.6
Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 1, 2004
(File No. 000-29911)).
3.7
Certificate of Correction correcting the Certificate of Designation
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form
8-K filed on September 1, 2004 (File No. 000-29911)).
Amendment No. 1 to 1998 Stock Option Plan. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 (File No.
000-29911).
1999 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by
reference to Exhibits 10.4 through 10.8 of the Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-45936)).
10.5*
Amendment No. 5 to 1999 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 (File No.
000-29911).
10.6*
Amendment No. 6 to 1999 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 (File No.
000-29911).
10.7*
Form Notice of Grant of Stock Options for 1999 Omnibus Stock
Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the
Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2004 (File No. 000-29911).
10.8*
2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant’s Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-45936)).
10.9*
Amendment No. 2 to 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 (File No.
000-29911).
10.10*
Amendment No. 3 to 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 (File No.
000-29911).
10.11*
Amendment No. 4 to 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2003 (File No.
000-29911)).
Form Notice of Grant of Stock Options for 2002 Omnibus Stock
Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the
Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 27, 2006
(File No. 000-29911).
Independent Contractor Agreement by and among the Registrant and S2
Strategic Consulting, LLC, dated July 1, 2003 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003 (File No.
000-29911)).
Exchange Agreement dated as of February 5, 2004 among SCO, BayStar
Capital II, L.P. and Royal Bank of Canada (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 99.1 to SCO’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
on February 9, 2004 (File No. 000-29911)).
Letter Agreement dated October 31, 2004 among Boies, Schiller &
Flexner LLP, Kevin McBride, Berger Singerman and SCO (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on November 4, 2004 (File No. 000-29911)).
10.34*
First Amendment to the Letter Agreement dated October 31, 2004
among The SCO Group, Inc., Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, Kevin
McBride, and Berger Singerman (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
99.1 to SCO’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2006).
Form Notice of Grant of Stock Options for 2004 Omnibus Stock
Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to SCO’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 15, 2005 (File
No. 000-29911)).
10.37*
Form of Executive Officer Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2005 (File No.
000-29911)).
Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3 on Form S-1 filed on May 18, 2005 (File
No. 333-116732)).
America Sales Compensation Plan for Fiscal Year 2006 (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on January 27, 2006 (File No. 000-29911)).
10.45*
Sales Compensation Plan for Fiscal Year 2007 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on November 17, 2006 (File No. 000-29911)).
Consent of Tanner LC, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1
Certification of Darl C. McBride, President and Chief Executive
Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act,
as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
31.2
Certification of Kenneth R. Nielsen, Chief Financial Officer,
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, as
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of Darl C. McBride, President and Chief Executive
Officer, pursuant to Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United
States Code, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
Certification of Kenneth R. Nielsen, Chief Financial Officer,
pursuant to Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States
Code, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002.
*
These items identify a management contract or compensatory plan.
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused the report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, on January 29, 2009.
Chief Financial Officer/
Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.