SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  

  

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014

 

Or

  

  

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  

  

For the transition period from to

  

  

Commission file number 0-26083

 


INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

  

94-3220749

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

  

  

  

101 Parkshore Drive, Suite 100 Folsom, CA 95630

(Address of principal executive offices)

  

  

  

(916) 932-2860

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ☒    No ☐

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

  

Accelerated filer ☐

  

  

  

Non-accelerated filer ☐

  

Smaller reporting company ☒

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

  

 

The aggregate market value of registrant’s voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of registrant, based upon the closing sale price of the common stock as of the last business day of registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter (June 30, 2014), as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market, was approximately $13,633,000. Registrant is a smaller reporting company as defined in Regulation S-K. Shares of common stock held by each officer, director and holder of 5% or more of the outstanding common stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

 

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

 

The number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, on October 31, 2014 were 7,751,952 shares.

 



 
 

 

  

FORM 10-Q

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION

INDEX

 

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

ITEM 1:

Financial Statements (unaudited)

  

  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013

3

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

4

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

5

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013

6

  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

7

ITEM 2:

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

13

ITEM 4:

Controls and Procedures

17

  

  

  

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

17

ITEM 1:

Legal Proceedings

17

ITEM 1A:

Risk Factors

17

ITEM 6:

Exhibits

17

  

  

  

Signature

18

Certifications

  

 

 
2

 

  

PART I:

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

   

September 30,

   

December 31,

     

2014

   

2013

 

Assets

               

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 27,529     $ 30,113  

Short-term investments

    1,245       249  

Restricted cash equivalents

    800       1,000  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    220       144  

Total current assets

    29,794       31,506  

Property and equipment, net

    -       1  

Other assets

    29       29  

Total assets

  $ 29,823     $ 31,536                    

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 263     $ 220  

Accrued expenses

    217       253  

Total current liabilities

    480       473                    

Accrued lease obligation, noncurrent

    300       444  

Income tax liability

    101       101  

Other liabilities

    45       45  

Total liabilities

    926       1,063                    

Commitments and contingencies

                                 

Stockholders’ equity:

               

Common stock

    11       11  

Paid-in capital

    221,772       221,750  

Treasury stock

    (6,788

)

    (6,788

)

Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities

    (1

)

    -  

Accumulated deficit

    (186,097

)

    (184,500

)

Total stockholders’ equity

    28,897       30,473  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 29,823     $ 31,536  

 

See accompanying notes.

  

 
3

 

   

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

  

   

Three Months
Ended
September 30,

   

Nine Months
Ended
September 30,

     

2014

   

2013

   

2014

   

2013

                                   

Revenues

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -                                    

Operating expenses:

                               

General and administrative

    738       598       1,620       2,211  

Total operating expenses

    738       598       1,620       2,211  

Loss from operations

    (738

)

    (598

)

    (1,620

)

    (2,211

)

Other income, expense, net

    8       8       23       18  

Net loss before income taxes

    (730

)

    (590

)

    (1,597

)

    (2,193

)

Income tax provision

    -       -       -       -  

Net loss

    (730

)

    (590

)

    (1,597

)

    (2,193

)

                                 

Net loss per share:

                               

Basic and diluted

  $ (0.10

)

  $ (0.07

)

  $ (0.21

)

  $ (0.28

)

                                  Shares used in computing per share amounts                                

Basic and diluted

    7,752       7,752       7,752       7,752  

 

See accompanying notes.

  

 
4

 

   

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

 

(in thousands)

(unaudited) 

 

   

Three months ended
September 30,

   

Nine months ended
September 30,

     

2014

   

2013

   

2014

   

2013

                                   

Net loss

  $ (730

)

  $ (590

)

  $ (1,597

)

  $ (2,193

)

Other comprehensive loss:

                               

Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities

    1       1       -       -  

Other comprehensive gain before tax

    1       1       -       -  

Income tax provision related to comprehensive income

    -       -       -       -  

Other comprehensive gain, net of tax

    1       1       -       -  

Comprehensive loss

  $ (729

)

    (589

)

  $ (1,597

)

  $ (2,193

)

  

See accompanying notes.

  

 
5

 

  

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

   

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

     

2014

   

2013

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net loss

  $ (1,597

)

  $ (2,193

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

               

Share-based compensation

    21       24  

Depreciation and amortization

    1       11  

Impairment of long-lived assets

    -       14  

Loss on disposal of equipment

    -       3  

Loss on sub-lease

    -       685                    

Net changes in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    (76

)

    (47

)

Other assets

    -       (2

)

Accounts payable

    43       173  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    (180

)

    (274

)

Other liabilities

    -       45  

Net cash used in operating activities

    (1,788

)

    (1,561

)

                 

Cash flows from investing activities:

               

Purchases of short-term investments

    (2,490

)

    (1,494

)

Redemption of short-term investments

    1,494       2,742  

Purchases of restricted cash equivalents and short-term investments

    -       (1,000

)

Redemption of restricted short-term investments

    200       1,000  

Change in interest receivable

    -       -  

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    (796

)

    1,248                    

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

    (2,584

)

    (313

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

    30,113       31,068  

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

  $ 27,529     $ 30,755  

 

See accompanying notes.

  

 
6

 

   

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(unaudited)

 

1. Business of Internet Patents Corporation

 

Internet Patents Corporation (“IPC”) was originally incorporated in California in February 1995 and re-incorporated in Delaware in October 1996, and is headquartered outside Sacramento, California. IPC’s headquarters mailing address is 101 Parkshore Drive, Suite 100, Folsom, CA 95630, and the telephone number at that location is (916) 932-2860. The principal IPC website is www.internetpatentscorporation.net.

 

From its inception through December 21, 2011, IPC operated an online insurance marketplace that electronically matched consumers and providers of automobile, property, health, term life, and small business insurance. IPC discontinued this business in connection with the sale of substantially all of its assets (the “Disposition”) to Bankrate, Inc. (“Bankrate”) in a transaction that closed on December 21, 2011 (“Disposition Date”).On the Disposition Date and in connection with the Disposition, the Company changed its name from InsWeb Corporation (“InsWeb”) to Internet Patents Corporation.

 

Since the Disposition Date, IPC’s business consists solely of plans to license and otherwise enforce its portfolio of seven e-commerce patents (“Patent Licensing Business”).  From its original incorporation, IPC was among the earliest companies operating exclusively online, and we employed a significant number of software and systems engineers to develop technology leveraging the power of the internet. Although our principal business focus at that time was online insurance lead generation, the problems that our technology experts faced were common to many e-commerce companies. IPC's innovative solutions to these problems are now covered by patents, and patent applications, that we believe apply to many e-commerce activities, including:

 

personalized product recommendations to web site visitors;

retargeting or remarketing to web site visitors;

online registration and application processes and forms;

maintaining consistent look and feel of web pages in multiple languages; and

generating quick or even real time product rate requests.

 

Under U.S. law, a patent owner is entitled to exclude others from making, selling or using the patented invention for the life of the patent, generally twenty years from its filing date, with some possible term extensions by statute. The patent holder may grant one or more licenses to the patented invention, typically allowing the licensee to make, use and/or sell the patented invention in return for a royalty paid to the patent owner. A patent owner also may sue and recover damages from unlicensed parties for past patent infringement and sometimes future royalties. Although we intend to attempt to negotiate a reasonable royalty for licenses to the patented technologies, we may not be able to reach a negotiated settlement with the accused infringer. In that case we expect to vigorously litigate our infringement claims. To date, none of the Company's patents has generated direct revenues or been subject to a final adjudication of its validity.

  

 
7

 

  

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

(unaudited)

2. Basis of Presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of IPC and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Goldrush Insurance Services, Inc. and InsWeb Insurance Services, Inc. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

 

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not contain all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly IPC’s financial position as of September 30, 2014 and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 and of cash flows for the nine months ended September30, 2014 and 2013. The financial data and other information disclosed in these notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements related to these periods are unaudited. The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period.

 

These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in IPC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other information as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The December 31, 2013 condensed consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The Company believes the disclosures in its notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. IPC has evaluated subsequent events through the time of filing these financial statements. Based upon the evaluation, there was no material impact on the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern” (Subtopic 205-40) which amends the current guidance in ASC Topic 205 by adding Subtopic 40. Subtopic 40 requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events that in aggregate would raise substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for one year from the date the financial statements are issued or available to be issued. If substantial doubt existed, management would be required to make certain disclosures related to nature of the substantial doubt and under certain circumstances, how that substantial doubt would be mitigated. This amendment is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and for subsequent interim and annual periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the effects, if any, adoption of this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

  

 
8

 

  

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

(unaudited)

 

3.  Fair Value Measurements

 

The following table presents the assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2014 (in thousands):

 

   

September 30,

                             

2014

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

 

Assets:

                               

Cash equivalents

  $ 27,342     $ 27,342     $ —     $ —  

Short-term investments

    1,245       1,245       —       —  

Restricted cash equivalents

    800       800                  

Total assets at fair value

  $ 29,387     $ 29,387     $ —     $ —  

 

The following table presents the assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

 

   

December 31,

                             

2013

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

 

Assets:

                               

Cash equivalents

  $ 29,315     $ 29,315     $ —     $ —  

Short-term investments

    249       249                  

Restricted cash equivalents

    1,000       1,000       —       —  

Total assets at fair value

  $ 30,564     $ 30,564     $ —     $ —  

 

Cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash equivalents include certificates of deposit, money market deposit accounts and money market funds. The carrying value of these cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash equivalents approximates fair value. For these securities, IPC uses quoted prices in active markets for identical assets to determine their fair value and are considered to be Level 1 instruments.

 

4. Restricted Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

 

A portion of the cash equivalents and short-term investments are used as collateral for a letter of credit of the same amount which secures the Company’s remaining obligations under the office space lease for IPC’s former corporate headquarters. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the portions used as collateral consisted of $0.8 million and $1.0 million each, respectively.

  

 
9

 

  

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

(unaudited)

5. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

 

   

September 30,

2014

   

December 31,

2013

                   

Accrued lease obligations

  $ 193     $ 229  

Other

    24       24       $ 217     $ 253  

 

For the quarter ended June 30, 2013, IPC recorded a net charge of $606,000 to record an accrual for its continuing lease obligations relating to IPC’s former headquarters in Rancho Cordova, California. During the quarter ended June 30, 2013, IPC discontinued using this facility and subleased the entire premises to an unrelated business for the remainder of IPC’s lease term. In evaluating our continuing lease obligations for this facility, IPC must make assumptions regarding the estimated future sublease income relative to this facility. These estimates and assumptions are affected by area-specific conditions such as new commercial development, market occupancy rates and future market prices. As a result of the current conditions in the real estate market where this IPC property is located and the inherent risks associated with its sub-lessee, the Company recorded a charge of $606,000 in the quarter ended June 30, 2013, representing the difference between IPC’s lease obligations and broker fees associated with this facility and the sub-lease income it expects to receive through February 2017, the expiration of our leasehold interest. Also included in the charge is an impaired asset for leasehold improvements of $14,000. The charge was offset by the unamortized portion of deferred rent, as rent expense was recognized on a straight-line base over the life of the lease. The Company recorded this charge in the statement of operations in general and administrative expenses. If this estimate or the related assumptions change in the future, IPC may be required to record a charge to increase its existing accrual.

 

6. Net Loss Per Share

 

Basic net loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted net loss per share is a measure of the potential dilution that would occur if stock options had been exercised.

 

The following table reconciles the numerator and denominator used to calculate basic and diluted net loss per share of common stock (In thousands, except per share amounts):

 

   

Three months ended

September 30,

   

Nine months ended

September 30,

     

2014

   

2013

   

2014

   

2013

                                   

Numerator for basic and diluted net loss per share:

                               

Net loss available to common stockholders

  $ (730

)

  $ (590

)

  $ (1,597

)

  $ (2,193

)

                                 

Denominator for net loss per share:

                               

Basic and diluted —weighted average shares of common stock outstanding

    7,752       7,752       7,752       7,752                                    

Net loss per share:

                               

Basic and diluted

  $ (0.10

)

  $ (0.07

)

  $ (0.21

)

  $ (0.28

)

  

 
10

 

  

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

(unaudited)

 

6. Net Loss Per Share (continued)

 

 Potentially dilutive securities are not included in the diluted net loss calculation, because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive given the Company’s net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, there were no shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of stock options and therefore none were included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share, as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, 320 and 822 shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of stock options are not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share, as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

 

7. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Leases

 

IPC has a non-cancelable 24 month lease through May 15, 2015 for approximately 800 square feet of office space in Folsom, California, which is currently IPC’s corporate headquarters.

 

IPC has a non-cancelable 5-year full-service lease through February 14, 2017 for approximately 16,000 square feet of office space in a building that housed IPC’s headquarters until May 2013. The facility is located in Rancho Cordova, California. The lease includes negotiated annual increases in the monthly rental payments. On April 16, 2013, IPC subleased this space for the remainder of IPC’s term. The monthly sublease rent is less than IPC’s rent obligation to the landlord. As of September 30, 2014, IPC is expected to receive $329,000 from the sub-lessee for the remainder of IPC’s lease.

 

Until expiration of the lease in September 2014, IPC also leased approximately 10,000 square feet of office space in San Francisco, California. This facility was fully subleased to two tenants.

 

 8. Options and Equity

 

As of September 30, 2014, there was no unrecognized compensation cost for all stock options outstanding, as all options became fully vested on December 11, 2011, which was ten days prior to the Disposition Date, in accordance with the IPC Stock Option and Executive Plans. All subsequent grants have been fully vested on the date of issuance.

 

The 2008 Stock Option Plan provides that each non-employee director receive a fully-vested option to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock on July 1st (or the first business day thereafter) of each year in which the director remains in office. Pursuant to the Option Plan, on July 1, 2014 and July 1, 2013, fully-vested options to purchase 5,000 shares of common stock were granted to each of the three non-employee directors with exercise prices of $3.15 and $3.56 respectively. The Company recognized $21,000 in stock compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and $24,000 for the comparable periods in 2013.

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 there were no common share issuances associated with the exercise of stock options. 

 
11

 

 

 

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

(unaudited)

 

9. Subsequent Event

 

On November 11, 2014 IPC announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to merge with Prism Technologies, a Nebraska limited liability company. Following the acquisition, Prism will be a wholly owned subsidiary of IPC and will operate the patent enforcement business for all Prism and IPC patents.

 

Prism and its subsidiaries currently own or have rights to a patent portfolio consisting of nine patent families incorporating 61 issued and six pending patents in the computer and network security, semiconductors and medical technology spaces. Prism continues to develop and acquire new technologies and is committed to ongoing research and development efforts in several fields, including computer and network security, wearable computing, and secure transaction processing. Prism has been granted several new key patents on its inventions and has several open patent applications. Prism began its licensing efforts in 2004 and has extensive relationships with law firms specializing in patent licensing and patent infringement litigation. To date, it has licensed its technology to over 30 companies, including Microsoft, Research-In-Motion, VeriSign, Adobe, National Instruments, Bank of America and Harris Bancorp.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, in exchange for all of the outstanding equity of Prism, IPC will pay $16.5 million in cash, less any debt that is not related to the acquisition of patents and issue 3.5 million shares of its common stock to Prism security holders at closing.  IPC has also agreed to share future revenue related to Prism’s patents with Prism’s former security holders. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, IPC, through ownership of Prism, will retain the first $16.5 million in Prism Patent Proceeds received after Closing, less any cash remaining in Prism at the time of closing. Prism’s former security holders will receive 70% of subsequent Prism Patent Proceeds, up to $55 million. The maximum revenue share of $55 million to be paid to Prism’s former security holders would be reduced by any distributions of Prism Patent Proceeds that are made by Prism prior to closing. After the maximum earnout is achieved, IPC will retain all future Prism Patent Proceeds.  Prism Patent Proceeds is defined in the Merger Agreement as total recoveries from litigation, licensing, and patent sales minus production expenses (e.g. legal fees and costs paid to third parties); and minus cash operating expenses incurred by Prism.

 

Immediately following the closing of the transaction,  Prism’s former equity owners are expected to own approximately 31% of the outstanding common stock of the combined company (or approximately 34% of the outstanding common stock of the combined company calculated on a fully diluted basis).

 

Completion of the transaction, which is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2015, will be subject to approval by IPC's shareholders, the members of Prism, and other customary closing conditions.

 

 
12

 

 

 

 ITEM 2.       MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and in particular Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains “forward-looking statements” with respect to IPC’s future financial performance. The words or phrases “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and IPC cautions you that any forward-looking information provided by, or on behalf of, IPC is not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, some of which are beyond IPC’s control, including, but not limited to, the unpredictable nature of patent licensing and patent litigation; potential changes in the laws and regulations relating to patents and patent litigation; the risk that we are not currently engaged in the patent licensing business, and our patent portfolio has never generated revenues; future changes we may make in our patent licensing strategy; changes in the taxation of income due to the disallowance or expiration of the Company’s net operating losses; and litigation in which IPC is a party. These risks and uncertainties, as well as other risks and uncertainties, which are described in greater detail in IPC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause IPC’s actual results to differ materially from historical results or those currently anticipated. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to IPC on the date hereof, and IPC assumes no obligation to update such statements.

 

Overview

 

IPC’s business consists solely of plans to license and otherwise enforce its portfolio of seven e-commerce patents (“Patent Licensing Business”).  From its original incorporation, IPC was among the earliest companies operating exclusively online, and we employed a significant number of software and systems engineers to develop technology leveraging the power of the internet. Although our principal business focus at that time was online insurance lead generation, the problems that our technology experts faced were common to many e-commerce companies. IPC's innovative solutions to these problems are now covered by patents, and patent applications, that we believe apply to many e-commerce activities, including:

 

personalized product recommendations to web site visitors;

retargeting or remarketing to web site visitors;

online registration and application processes and forms;

maintaining consistent look and feel of web pages in multiple languages; and

generating quick or even real time product rate requests.

 

During 2012 IPC filed patent infringement lawsuits against six companies. Two of the companies are alleged to infringe the Event Log patent; four companies are alleged to infringe the Dynamic Tabs patent. Each of the lawsuits was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and trial dates for the lawsuits have not been set. The following table summarizes the status of current litigation:

 

 

In our suit against TellApart and eBags alleging infringement of the Event Log patent, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) granted the Defendants’ petition for ex parte re-examination of the Event Log patent. The US District Court granted Defendants’ motion to stay the litigation for the duration of the USPTO’s re-examination. IPC has appealed the Office Action rejecting the Event Log patent claims to the USPTO Patent Appeals Board.

 

 

 

 

The four separate Dynamic Tabs cases we filed against the Active Network, the General, Quinstreet and Tree.com were reassigned to a single judge. On September 24, 2013, the court ruled that the Dynamic Tabs patent was invalid for lack of patent-eligible subject matter and granted a motion to dismiss filed by The General. The court later dismissed the cases against the other three defendants on the same basis.  On October 23, 2013, IPC appealed the dismissal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Oral argument in the appeal was held on August 6, 2014.

 

Our future revenues are expected to consist of the royalties from licensing the patents and damages for past infringement. We expect significant resistance from entities that we believe infringe one or more of our patents, especially until the validity of the patents can be established. Patent infringement litigation can be expensive and often takes several years to reach the trial stage. The appeals process, or reexaminations of our patents by the US Patent and Trademark Office, could result in further delays in receiving royalties or damage awards. For these reasons, IPC cannot estimate what revenues, if any, it will receive in 2014. In addition to general and administrative expenses, including salaries and benefits, rent and utilities, we will incur expenses associated with patent infringement litigation and being a public company. We cannot predict if we will generate revenues or be profitable in 2014.

 

 
13

 

  

Results of Operations

 

Revenues

 

To date, IPC’s has received no revenues from its Patent Licensing Business. Due to the events described above relating to the Event Log patent litigation and the Dynamic Tabs patent litigation, as well as the unpredictable nature of the Patent Licensing Business generally, IPC is unable to predict whether it will receive revenues during the remainder of 2014.

 

Operating Expenses

 

   

Three months ended

September 30,

   

Percentage

change from

 

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

2014

   

2013

   

prior period

                           

General and administrative

  $ 738     $ 598       23 %

 

   

Nine months ended

September 30,

   

Percentage

change from

 

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

2014

   

2013

   

prior period

                           

General and administrative

  $ 1,620     $ 2,211       (27

%)

 

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and related expenses, including employee benefits, facility costs, accounting and legal services and insurance for our general management, administrative and accounting personnel, as well as other general corporate expenses. General and administrative expenses increased to $738,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 from $598,000 for the comparable period in 2013. The increase was primarily due to increases in professional services, legal expenses and accounting fees. General and administrative expenses decreased to $1,620,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from $2,211,000 for the comparable period in 2013. The decrease is primarily due to the charge, described in Note 5, of $606,000 in the quarter ended June 30, 2013 to record an accrual for lease obligations relating to IPC’s former headquarters. General and administrative expenses for the remainder of 2014are expected to increase slightly over the current quarter.

 

Other Income. Other Income was $8,000 and $23,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 as compared to $8,000 and $18,000 for the comparable periods in 2013. Other Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 consists of interest earned on IPC’s investment portfolio of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. IPC expects that Other Income will consist entirely of returns received from its investment portfolio in the near future, which will be negligible given the conservative nature of IPC’s investment policy and the current economic conditions in the United States.

 

Income Taxes. Internet Patents Corporation recognized no expense for and did not receive a benefit from income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.

  

 
14

 

  

Critical Accounting Policies

 

IPC’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based on IPC’s consolidated financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires IPC to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. IPC bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. IPC believes the following critical accounting policies affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

 

 Income Taxes.

 

Under the asset and liability method prescribed under ASC 740, “Income Taxes”, IPC recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized or settled.

 

For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. At September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, IPC had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively ($0.1 million of which, if recognized, would affect IPC’s effective tax rate). IPC does not believe there will be any material changes in its unrecognized tax positions over the next twelve months.

 

For tax return purposes, IPC had net operating loss carry forwards at September 30, 2014 of approximately $145.5 million and $29.8 million for federal income tax and state income tax purposes, respectively. Included in these amounts are unrealized federal and state net operating loss deductions resulting from stock option exercises of approximately $10.3 million each. The benefit of these unrealized stock option-related deductions has not been included in deferred tax assets and will be recognized as a credit to additional paid-in capital when realized. Federal and state net operating loss carry forwards begin expiring in 2019 and 2014, respectively.

 

The carrying value of our deferred tax assets, which was approximately $48.3 million at September 30, 2014, is dependent upon our ability to generate sufficient future taxable income. We have established a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets to reflect the uncertainty of realizing the deferred tax benefits, given historical losses. A valuation allowance is required when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. This assessment requires a review and consideration of all available positive and negative evidence, including our past and future performance, the market environment in which we operate, the utilization of tax attributes in the past, and the length of carryforward periods and evaluation of potential tax planning strategies. We expect to continue to maintain a full valuation allowance until an appropriate level of profitability is sustained or we are able to develop tax strategies that would enable us to conclude that it is more likely than not that a portion of our deferred tax assets would be realizable.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Summarized cash flow information is as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Nine months ended

September 30,

     

2014

   

2013

 

Cash used in operating activities

  $ (1,788 )    $ (1,561 ) 

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    (796 )     1,248  

  

 
15

 

  

At September 30, 2014, IPC’s principal source of liquidity was $28.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and $1.2 million in short-term investments. IPC adheres to an investment policy with minimal market or settlement risk with its current holdings. There are no restrictions or limitations regarding access to the $28.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and $1.2 million in short-term investments. Since inception, IPC has financed its operations primarily through the sale of preferred and common stock and cash flow from operations.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, net cash used in operating activities was $1.8 million, primarily consisting of our net loss adjusted for share-based compensation, depreciation and amortization of property and equipment of $1.6 million and cash used of $0.3 million, primarily due to a decrease in accrued expenses and increase in prepaid expenses. This was partially offset by an increase in accounts payable of $0.1 million.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, net cash used in operating activities was $1.6 million, primarily consisting of our net loss adjusted for share-based compensation, depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, impairment of long-lived assets and accrual for lease obligations of $2.2 million and cash used of $0.3 million, primarily due to decreases in accrued expenses and an increase in prepaid expenses. This was partially offset by increases in the accrual of lease obligations, accounts payable and other liabilities of $0.9 million.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, net cash used in investing activities was $0.8 million representing $2.5 million relating to the purchases of short-term investments, offset by redemptions of short-term investments of $1.5 million and redemptions of restricted cash equivalents of $0.2 million.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, net cash provided by investing activities was $1.2 million representing $1.5 million relating to the purchases of short-term investments and $1.0 million relating to purchases of restricted cash equivalents, offset by redemptions of short-term investments of $2.7 million and redemptions of restricted short-term investments of $1.0 million.

 

IPC has a non-cancelable 24 month lease though May 15, 2015 for approximately 800 square feet of office space in Folsom, California, which is currently IPC’s corporate headquarters.

 

IPC has a non-cancelable 5-year full service lease through February 14, 2017 for approximately 16,000 square feet of office space in the Sacramento area which housed IPC’s corporate headquarters until May 2013. IPC has two, consecutive options to extend the term for five years each at the prevailing market rent. On April 16, 2013, IPC subleased this space for the remainder of IPC’s term. The monthly sublease rent is less than IPC’s rent obligation to the landlord. Throughout the term of the lease, there is a reduction in collateral required under this non-cancelable lease. Effective, March 1, 2014, the letter of credit collateral requirement was reduced from $1.0 million to $0.8 million for the Company’s obligations under this non-cancelable lease. The collateral requirement will be reduced to $0.6 million, effective March 1, 2015 and $0.4 million, effective March 1, 2016. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, restricted cash equivalents consisted of $0.8 million and $1.0 million each, respectively.

 

Until expiration of the lease in September 2014, IPC also leased approximately 10,000 square feet of office space in San Francisco, California.  This facility was fully subleased by two tenants. See Note 7 of the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the subleases.

 

Future minimum lease commitments as of September 30, 2014 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

Years ending December 31

 

Future

minimum lease

commitments

 

2014

  $ 57  

2015

    216  

2016

    214  

Thereafter

    36       $ 523  

 

IPC currently anticipates that its cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet its anticipated cash needs to fund operations for at least the next 12 months.

  

 
16

 

   

ITEM 4.       CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a)

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report.

 

(b)

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2014 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

  

PART II:     OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.       LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

None

 

ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS.

 

There have been no material changes with respect to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,2013.

 

ITEM 6.       EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description of Document

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a).

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a).

32

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

 

 

101.INS*

 

XBRL Instance

 

 

 

101.SCH*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

 

 

 

101.CAL*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation

 

 

 

101.DEF*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition

 

 

 

101.LAB*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels

 

 

 

101.PRE*

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation

 

* XBRL information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

  

 
17

 

   

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

 

Dated: November 13, 2014

INTERNET PATENTS CORPORATION

  

(Registrant)

  

  

  

/s/ STEVEN J. YASUDA

  

Steven J. Yasuda

  

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer

 

18